Vriendschap Village

No, that's not a typo. That's the dutch spelling of "Friendship Village" - the place I did a poetry reading this afternoon. It's a retirement community here in Pella for independant and assisted living.

I did a show for them last year, and they're a really fun crowd. Turns out quite a few in the crowd knew my grandparents way back when, so that always helps.

It may be one of the last few poetry venues for me for a while as well. Turns out my schedule is getting a little too hectic between speaking and youth group activities, and something had to give. So, for the time being, I'll only be doing local poetry shows for in and around Pella - and the occasional show if somebody fun like the Runnels church calls once a year.

Usually I only make what I can sell in books at these shows, and some weekends, that's just gas money or less. So, while I'll miss doing things like The Old Time Gospel Show dearly, I'll just have to look more forward to the Vriendschap Village and Runnels shows.

I have one more poetry show coming up next month, I think, in North English, and then I'll retire for a bit.

I got asked back for Convention again next year. That's the big Youth Unlimited youth event that I did this year in Salt Lake City, and last year in Flagstaff, AZ.

In '08 it's going to be in Boseman, Montana - just ninety miles from yellowstone and Old Faithful, so that should be pretty fun.

Next week I head to a Rally at the Pole event in Sioux Falls, SD on Wednesday, a Christian school chapel on Thursday morning, an old testament Bible class on Thursday afternoon, and then back to Canada on Saturday and Sunday!

Till next time,

Jason

Pipestone

I spent twelve hours in the car on Saturday as I drove up to Pipestone, MN to speak at a men's retreat with Troy, Dawn, and the rest of Jonah's Wale.

I left at ten a.m. and I got home at 2:30 a.m. That means I spent sixteen and a half hours away, and TWELVE of those were in the car. So here's a quick breakdown of what I listened to on the trusty cd player and ipod radio hookup thingy.

Cake - Comfort Eagle
Great album. Lots of folks say Cake stopped being as good when this album came out, but I love it. Not as much trumpet as their previous works, which is kind of disappointing, but it's still very good none-the-less.
Cake - Pressure Chief
Even better than Comfort Eagle in my opinion. This album's quickly becoming my favorite of Cake. Just a great mix of silly lyrics with an alternative rock drive behind them. And more trumpet!
Beck - Mutations
Great wierd and funky album. Almost a little too mellow for a drive in parts though.
White Stripes - White Blood Cells
I haven't listened to this album since the first few times after I bought it way back when Andrea was still in school. It's nothing less than fantastic. What a great band. I don't like all their stuff, but this, to me, is their best album.
Ben Folds - Rockin' the Suburbs
Ben's best album in my opinion. Lots of fun.
Ben Folds - Live
Ben Folds with the greatest audience participation song of all time . . .
Foo Fighters - One By One
A little harder than what I was in the mood for, but it still rocked.
Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
I don't love every song on this album, and I only listened to the electric side, but it still has some great stuff.
The Ricky Gervais Show on Podcast
I love me some Ricky Gervais. I have all three seasons downloaded to my ipod and I've listened to them (all thirteen hours of them) about seven or eight times. It's just three funny guys sitting around making fun of each other and laughing. It's the funniest thing I've ever heard. And it's British, which helps . . .

Till next time,

jason