Cowboys and The Cupid Shuffle

I was the DJ at the Lame Town Street Dance last night, which was fun but I can't shake this whole "Cupid Shuffle" thing. You see, apparently cowboys like hip-hop songs that you can line dance to. They really like them, to the point where a DJ might get like, 7 or 8 requests to play the Cupid Shuffle over and over again. I didn't even know this song and dance existed, and then this:

Does anyone else find this odd yet strangely encouraging at the same time?

Who Am I Between Love and Fear?

I heard from two great men today: Alan Watts and Bill Hicks. The great thing about hearing these two pioneers back-to-back was how remarkably similar their views were. Alan Watts wondered who the "I" is that we think we are, and explained how we are an expression of the intelligence of the universe. Through hallucinogenic experiences and laughter, Bill Hicks realized that life is one big ride. They both understood something about our experience that points to the beauty of letting go so that we can see the truth in who we really are. And how hilarious that can be. Terrifying and liberating and hilarious. But we have to be willing to let go of that "I", that character that we play, to see that if we are not afraid, love will set us free.

Words, Bad

Words, Spoken

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." -John 1:1

We take language for granted much of the time. The words that come out of our mouth are just reflexive, a way to communicate in the moment. But the spoken word is an ancient, powerful force that can take on something deeper. Poets and storytellers have been working magic with words since human beings first started using spoken language. The live performance of spoken word can be a transformative event for the listener, much more profound and moving than listening to a recording or watching a video.

Last week I invited a few amazing friends and poets to come over and read some poetry for the Lame Town Review podcast. Inspired by my friend and talented poet Renee Podunovich (check out her blog at reneepodunovich.blogspot.com), I thought it would be fun to record some poetry for the podcast, but what transpired could never be captured in a recording. Listening to Renee, Russ, Laura, and Danielle read poetry aloud created a space that felt essential, and I think we all felt more connected somehow.

Check out the recordings of those poems and some good tunes in the latest Lame Town Review podcast by clicking HERE. It won't be as magical as it was in my backyard on that warm summer evening last week, but its still worth checking out. Word.

Soul Surfing

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a surfer. I don't want to surf, I want to be a surfer, to understand the waves and the ocean and the magnificent hydraulics involved. My best friend in junior high started buying Surfer magazine in 6th or 7th grade and we taped pictures of our favorite surfers in our lockers (Tom Carroll, Martin Potter, Mark Richards) . In Steamboat Springs, Colorado I guess this was our way of getting outside of the skiing/powder worship that surrounded us. Ever since I have been drawn to pictures and video of surfing, the way the rider is dwarfed by a huge wave, poised in a barrel of pure energy.

My fascination with surfing has never taken me to actually try surfing. I don't think I have even held a surfboard. In fact, I am pretty terrified of being way out in the ocean, contending with all that salty water, reefs, rocks and of course sharks. Yes, I probably watched Jaws at just the right age to be permanently damaged (you know what I mean, I'm sure). Now I feel too old and out of shape to ever pursue my surfing dream, too far away and too afraid.

But when I see a rider paddle up and stand, descend the face of a huge wave, bottom out and settle into a perfect tube, then get shot out in a blast of spray, it means something to me. Maybe I was a big wave Hawaiian surfer in a past life, maybe I just yearn to be at the mercy of nature like that. To ride a wave seems to be a beautiful act of freedom. Poised perfectly at ease in the void as the world swirls around, timeless and without fear.

Lame Town Revived

OK, let's try this again. Despite the fact that nearly two years have passed since the last post, I guess I'm back. There are all these cool templates now and the fonts are so much better. So I'll be back here again for a bit, ranting and raving alongside the social media tools that can now make blogging so much more interactive than way back in 2009. Or maybe it's just me, I'm probably more willing to just well, blog, and not worry so much about HTML codes and embedding media players. So yeah, I guess I'm back.