tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22180529327860448302012-01-31T03:52:35.761-05:00Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.comBlogger2261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-8327674177682413612012-01-15T21:26:00.001-05:002012-01-15T21:27:47.196-05:00So I have been pretty delinquent on this here blog, but that's not likely to change. This year I read lots of crap and a few nice things. See list below. I do find it weird how often I re-read stuff looking back on these. Enjoy.<br /><br /><ul><li>A Storm of Swords, by George R.R. Martin</li><li>A Clash of Kings, by George R.R. Martin</li><li>A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin</li><li>Dune, by Frank Herbert</li><li>Crooked Little Vein, by Warren Ellis</li><li>The Alien Years, by Robert Silverberg</li><li>The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga</li><li>Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana, by Michael Azerrad</li><li>The Heaven Makers, by Frank Herbert</li><li>The Door Into Summer, by Robert A. Heinlein</li><li>Hard Boiled Wonderland &amp; The End Of The World, by Haruki Murakami</li><li>Kafka On The Shore, by Haruki Murakami</li><li>Rip It Up And Start Again: Postpunk <a href="tel:1978-1984">1978-1984</a>, by Simon Reynolds</li><li>The History of Indie Rock, by Jennifer Skancke</li><li>Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal, by David Konow</li><li>Night of the Claw, by Ramsey Campbell</li><li>The Mote in God's Eye, by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle</li><li>Airframe, by Michael Crichton</li><li>No Wave: Post-Punk. Underground. New York. <a href="tel:1976-1980">1976-1980</a>., by Thurston Moore and Byron Coley</li><li>The Reapers Are the Angels, by Alden Bell</li><li>Three Blind Mice, by Ed McBain</li><li>Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Eighth Annual Collection, ed. by Gardner Dozois</li><li>Nebula Award Showcase 2011, ed. by Kevin J. Anderson</li><li>7th Sigma, by Steven Gould</li><li>Time and Stars, by Poul Anderson</li><li>Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Lynn Varley</li><li>33 1/3: Electric Ladyland, by John Perry</li><li>Batman: Heart of Hush, by Paul Dini, Dustin Nguyen, and Derek Fridolfs</li><li>The Number of the Beast, by Robert A. Heinlein</li><li>Godplayer, by Robin Cook</li><li>Devil In a Blue Dress, by Walter Mosley</li><li>Will The Last Person to Leave the Planet Please Shut Off the Sun?, by Mike Resnick</li><li>Remembered Death, by Agatha Christie</li><li>Globalhead, by Bruce Sterling</li><li>Fountains of Paradise, by Arthur C. Clarke</li><li>Robin: Search for a Hero, by Nicieza, Williams II, and Bennett</li><li>Team Ups of the Brave and the Bold, by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz</li><li>Infinite Crisis, by Johns, Jimenez, Perez, Ordway, Reis, and Lanning</li><li>Batman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told, ed. by Dan Didio</li><li>The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes, by Neil Gaiman</li><li>Superman: The Coming of Atlas, by Robinson, Guedes, and Magalhaes</li><li>Batman: The Black Glove, by J.H. Williams III, and Tony S. Daniel</li><li>Superman/Batman: Enemies Amond Us, by Verheiden, Sciver, Clark, and Benitez</li><li>The Zombie Survival Guide, by Max Brooks</li><li>Superman: New Krypton, by Geoff Johns, James Robinson, and Sterling Gates</li><li>Countdown to Final Crisis Vol. 1, by Paul Dini and Various</li><li>God Bless John Wayne, by Kinky Friedman</li><li>Talking Guitars: A Masterclass with the World's Greats, by David Mead</li><li>Our Band Could Be Your Life, by Michael Azerrad</li><li>The General in His Labyrinth, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez</li><li>V for Vendetta, by Alan Moore and David Lloyd</li><li>Soldier Zero, by Stan Lee, Paul Cornell, and Javier Pina</li><li>Superman/Batman: The Search for Kryptonite, by Green, Johnson, Davis, and Banning</li><li>Nightwing: The Great Leap, by Tomasi, Morales, and Kramer</li><li>Superman/Batman: Supergirl, by Loeb Turner and Steigerwald</li><li>Superman/Batman: Vengeance, by Loeb, McGuinness and Vines</li><li>Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, by Loeb, McGuinness, and Vines</li><li>Catwoman: When In Rome, by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale</li><li>The Flash: Dead Heat, by Waid, Jimenez, and Ramos</li><li>Ultimate Iron Man II, by Orson Scott Card and Pasqual Ferry</li><li>X-Men Forever: Secret History of the Sentinels, by Claremont, Scott, and Smith</li><li>Identity Crisis, by Brad Meltzer, Rags Morales, and Michael Bair</li><li>Batman: Life After Death, by Tony S. Daniel</li><li>The Sands of Mars, by Arthur C. Clarke</li><li>White Fang, by Jack London</li><li>Tales From the "White Hart," by Arthur C. Clarke</li><li>Sandman: The Dreamhunters, by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell</li><li>Superman: Return to Krypton, ed. by Berganza</li><li>Titans: Lockdown, by Winick, McKeever and Porter</li><li>Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come, by Johns, Ross, Eaglesham, and Pasarin</li><li>Superman: Birthright, by Waid, Yu, and Alanguilan</li><li>Tales of Supernatural Law, by Batton Lash</li><li>Batman: A Death in the Family, by Starlin, Wolfman, Aparo and Perez</li><li>Flight: Vol. 5, ed. by Kazu Kibuishi</li><li>Starman Omnibus Vol. 3, by Robinson, Harris, and Von Grawbadger</li><li>The Sandman: The Kindly Ones, by Neil Gaiman</li><li>The Sandman: Dream Country, by Neil Gaiman</li><li>Dracula: The Company of Monsters, by Busiek Gregory and Godlewski</li><li>Blackest Night: Green Lantern Corps, Tomasi and Gleason</li><li>Superman for All Seasons, by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale</li><li>Saga of the Swamp Thing: Vol. 2, by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette and John Totleben</li><li>Saga of the Swamp Thing: Vol. 1, by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette and John Totleben</li><li>Batman: The Long Halloween, by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale</li><li>Justice Society of America: The Next Age, by Johns, Eaglesham, Thibert, and Jose</li><li>Dark Wolverine: The Prince, by Way, Liu, Camuncoli, and Edwards</li><li>Batman: Time and the Batman, by Grant Morrison</li><li>Green Lantern: Rebirth, Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver, and Prentis Rollins</li><li>The Incredible Hulk: Son of Banner, by Pak, Olivetti and Camuncoli</li><li>Superman: Kryptonite, by Darwyn Cooke and Tim Sale</li><li>The Flash: The Secret of Barry Allen, by Geoff Johns, Howard Porter, and Livesay</li><li>The Astounding Wolf-Man Vol. 1, by Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard</li><li>Batman: Battle for the Cowl, by Tony S. Daniel</li><li>The Sandman: A Game of You, by Neil Gaiman</li><li>Creepy Archives Vol. 4, ed. by Shawna Gore</li><li>Creepy Archives Vol. 2, ed. by Shawna Gore</li><li>Daredevil-Visionaries: Frank Miller Vol. 2, by Frank Miller</li><li>Showcase Presents: House of Secret's Vol. 2, ed. by Dan DiDio</li><li>Batman: The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul, by Grant Morrison and Paul Dini</li><li>Usagi Yojimbo: Return of the Black Soul, by Stan Sakai</li><li>Batman: Private Casebook, by Paul Dini, Dustin Nguyen, and Derek Fridolfs</li><li>Batman: R.I.P., by Sandu Florea, Lee arbett, and Trevor Scott</li><li>The Sandman: The Doll's House, by Neil Gaiman</li><li>Conan: Blood Stained Crown and Other Stories, by Busiek, Nicieza, Powell, Truman and Timm</li><li>All Star Superman, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely</li><li>Batman: Monsters, by Ellis, Grant, and Robinson</li><li>Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader, by Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert</li><li>Hellboy: Wake the Devil, by Mike Mignola</li><li>Hellboy: Seeds of Destruction, by Mike Mignola and John Byrne</li><li>Flash: Rebirth, by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Scriver</li><li>Concrete: Depths, by Paul Chadwick</li><li>B.P.R.D.: The Dead, by Mignola, Arcudi, and Davis</li><li>B.P.R.D.: 1947, by Mignola, Dysart, Ba, and Moon</li><li>DC Universe Illustrated, by Neal Adams</li><li>Hulk Visionaries 5, by Peter David</li><li>Batman: The Cult, Starlin, Wrightson, and Wray</li><li>The New Teen Titans Archives Vol. 1, by Marv Wolfman and George Perez</li><li>Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again, by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley</li><li>Thor/Iron Man: God Complex, by Abnett, Lanning, Eaton, and Mendoza</li><li>Captain America: Reborn, by Brubaker, Hitch, and Guice</li><li>The Death of Captain America: The Burden of Dreams, by Brubaker, Epting, Guice, and Perkins</li><li>Cosmic Odyssey, by Starlin, Mignola, and Garzon</li><li>Justice League International, by Giffen, Dematteis, and Maguire</li><li>Get Fuzzy: Groovitude, by Darby Conley</li><li>Amazing Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Slott, Gale, Martin and McKone</li><li>Batman in the Eighties, by various</li><li>Marvel: 1602, Neil Gaima, Andy Kubert, and Richard Isanove</li><li>Immortal Iron Fist: Last Iron Fist Story, by Brubaker, Fraction, and Aja</li><li>House of M, by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel</li><li>Essential Iron Man: Vol. 3, by various</li><li>The Trojan War, by Bernard Evslin</li><li>Pippi in the South Seas, by Astrid Lindgren</li><li>Blues All Around Me: The Autobiography of B.B. King, by B.B. King and David Ritz</li><li>Deep Blues, by Robert Palmer</li><li>In Griot Time: An American Guitarist in Mali, by Banning Eyre</li><li>How the West Was Weird, Vol. II: Twenty More Tales From the Weird, Wild West, ed. by Russ Anderson, Jr.</li><li>Native Tongue, by Carl Hiaasen</li><li>The Dreadful Lemon Sky, by John D. MacDonald</li><li>Tourist Season, by Carl Hiaasen</li><li>Nature Girl, by Carl Hiaasen</li><li>Sick Puppy, by Carl Hiaasen</li><li>Skin Tight, by Carl Hiaasen</li><li>Between a Heart and a Rock Place: A Memoir, by Pat Benatar and Pats Bale Cox</li><li>Skinny Dip, by Carl Hiaasen</li><li>21 Stories, by Graham Greene</li><li>The Dog Said Bow-Wow, by Michael Swanick</li><li>The Rolling Stone Interviews, ed. by Jann S. Wenner and Joe Levy</li><li>Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given, by Duane "Dog" Chapman</li><li>The Turnaround, by George P. Pelecanos</li><li>Shame the Devil, by George P. Pelecanos</li><li>Drama City, by George P. Pelecanos</li><li>The Autobiography of Malcolm X, by Malcolm X and ALex Haley</li><li>How We Are Hungry, by Dave Eggers</li><li>The Legacy of Heorot, by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Steven Barnes</li><li>Does God Play Dice?, by Stephen Hawkings</li><li>The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver</li><li>Becoming Jimi Hendrix: From Southern Crossroads to Psychedelic London, the Untold Story of a Musical Genius, by Steven Roby and Brad Schreiber</li><li>Sunrise Alley, by Catherine Asaro</li><li>This Crowded Earth, by Robert Bloch</li><li>Tales of the South Pacific, by James A. Michener</li><li>Interpreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri</li><li>Crunch!: A History of the Great American Potato Chip, by Dirk Burhans</li><li>Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston</li><li>To Build a Fire and Other Stories, by Jack London</li><li>The Old Man and The Sea, by Ernest Hemingway</li><li>What Is The What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng: A Novel, by Dave Eggers</li><li>The Wise Man's Fear, by Patrick Rothfuss</li><li>The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss</li><li>Tinkers, by Paul Harding</li><li>Cleopatra: A Life, by Stacy Schiff</li><li>The God of Small Things, by Arundhati Roy</li><li>Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad</li><li>Alan Lomax: The Man Who Recorded the World by John F. Szwed</li><li>Journals, by Kurt Cobain</li><li>What I'd Say to the Martians: And Other Veiled Threats, by Jack Handey</li><li>Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music, Irwin Chusid</li><li>Brain Wave, by Poul Anderson</li><li>Just Kids, by Patti Smith</li><li>A Visit From the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan</li><li>Jury Service, by Charles Stross and Cory Doctorow</li><li>The New Hugo Winners Vol. IV, ed. by Gregory Benford</li><li>Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse, ed. by John Joseph Adams</li><li>Redliners, by David Drake</li><li>The Night of the Long Knives, by Fritz Leiber</li><li>Lies My Teacher Told Me, by James W. Loewen</li><li>Begin Again: A Biography of John Cage, by Kenneth Silverman</li><li>The Real Frank Zappa Book, by Frank Zappa</li><li>Year's Best SF 5, ed. by David G. Hartwell</li><li>Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell</li><li>Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise, by David Feldman</li><li>The End, by Lemony Snicket</li><li>The Penultimate Peril, by Lemony Snicket</li><li>The Grim Grotto, by Lemony Snicket</li><li>The Slippery Slope, by Lemony Snicket</li><li>The Carnivorous Carnival, by Lemony Snicket</li><li>The Hostile Hospital, by Lemony Snicket</li><li>The Vile Village, by Lemony Snicket</li><li>The Ersatz Elevator, by Lemony Snicket</li><li>The Austere Acadamy, by Lemony Snicket</li><li>The Miserable Mill, by Lemony Snicket</li><li>The Wide Window, by Lemony Snicket</li><li>The Reptile Room, by Lemony Snicket</li><li>The Bad Beginning, by Lemony Snicket</li><li>Leviathon, by Scott Westerfeld</li><li>Years Best SF 1, ed. by David Hartwell</li><li>Six Short Stories, by P.G. Wodehouse</li><li>The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag, by Robert Heinlein</li><li>A Time of Changes, by Robert Silverberg</li><li>Slow River, by Nicola Griffith</li><li>The Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis</li><li>Camouflage, by Joe Haldeman</li><li>Rite of Passage, by Alexei Panshin</li><li>The Speed of Dark, by Elizabeth Moon</li><li>Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood</li><li>The Venging, by Greg Bear</li><li>Man Plus, by Frederik Pohl</li><li>The Rules of Chess, by Bruce Pandolfini</li><li>Breakfast of Champions, by Kurt Vonnegut</li><li>Richard Matheson Collection, by Richard Matheson</li><li>The Darwin Awards III: Survival of the Fittest, by Wendy Northcutt</li><li>The Darwin Awards II: Unnatural Selection, by Wendy Northcutt</li><li>Playback, by Raymond Chandler</li><li>The Man Who Sold the Moon, by Robert A. Heinlein</li><li>The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star, by Nikki Sixx and Ian Gittins</li><li>The Scarlet Ruse, by John D. MacDonald</li><li>Farewell My Lovely, by Raymond Chandler</li><li>A Tan and Sandy Silence, by John D. MacDonald</li><li>Dress Her In Indigo, by John D. MacDonald</li><li>Bright Orange Shroud, by John D. MacDonald</li><li>Cinnamon Skin, by John D. MacDonald</li><li>The Little Sister, by Raymond Chandler</li><li>The Girl Who Played with Fire, by Stieg Larsson</li><li>The Long Goodbye, by Raymond Chandler</li><li>Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut</li><li>The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson</li><li>Black Market, by James Patterson</li><li>The Conspiracy Club, by Jonathan Kellerman</li><li>Next, by Micheal Crichton</li><li>Lips Unsealed: A Memoir, by Belinda Carlisle</li><li>River of Gods, by Ian McDonald</li><li>Tendeleo's Story, by Ian McDonald</li><li>Brasyl, by Ian McDonald</li><li>Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins</li><li>Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins</li><li>Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins</li><li>Sourcery, by Terry Pratchett</li><li>Mort, by Terry Pratchett</li><li>Equal Rites, by Terry Pratchett</li><li>The Light Fantastic, by Terry Pratchett</li><li>The Colour of Magic, by Terry Pratchett</li><li>The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky</li><li>Fight Club, by Chuck Palahniuk</li><li>The Songs of Distant Earth, by Arthur C. Clarke</li><li>The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler</li><li>The Worlds of Robert Heinlein, by Robert Heinlein</li><li>High Fidelity, by Nick Hornby</li><li>Survivor, by Chuck Palahniuk</li><li>I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov</li><li>Sailing Alone Around the World, by Joshua Slocum</li><li>Bicycle Diaries, by David Byrne</li><li>The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein</li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-832767417768241361?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-37739217526578071272011-12-07T13:52:00.001-05:002011-12-07T13:52:42.144-05:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-69Wpo7rYPyU/Tt-1-sJ9i6I/AAAAAAAABfw/WKhlNo4-UBY/s1600/Photo12041532-762145.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-69Wpo7rYPyU/Tt-1-sJ9i6I/AAAAAAAABfw/WKhlNo4-UBY/s320/Photo12041532-762145.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683461343374314402" /></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-3773921752657807127?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-19417067460061771082011-12-04T15:19:00.003-05:002011-12-04T15:22:23.236-05:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDCJn-sDa_I/TtvVv66O5PI/AAAAAAAABfM/B9FynhneNf4/s1600/Photo11271633-751109.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDCJn-sDa_I/TtvVv66O5PI/AAAAAAAABfM/B9FynhneNf4/s320/Photo11271633-751109.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682370374102082802" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WMjTHDb5Um4/TtvVwCVWXEI/AAAAAAAABfU/LX9RTAORcNQ/s1600/Photo12021659-752583.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WMjTHDb5Um4/TtvVwCVWXEI/AAAAAAAABfU/LX9RTAORcNQ/s320/Photo12021659-752583.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682370376094866498" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3L6HrkjC46M/TtvVwXMwKII/AAAAAAAABfk/1tE8OyGEkbs/s1600/Photo11261306_1-753393.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3L6HrkjC46M/TtvVwXMwKII/AAAAAAAABfk/1tE8OyGEkbs/s320/Photo11261306_1-753393.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682370381695953026" border="0" /></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-1941706746006177108?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-77210285577718981102011-11-22T14:35:00.002-05:002011-11-25T12:12:58.091-05:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tk1o3d3_Qxo/Tsv5gnrSjtI/AAAAAAAABfA/C5L7ai110LM/s1600/Photo10302313-729942.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tk1o3d3_Qxo/Tsv5gnrSjtI/AAAAAAAABfA/C5L7ai110LM/s320/Photo10302313-729942.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677906094032326354" /></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-7721028557771898110?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-28081344821365050832011-11-20T23:11:00.002-05:002011-11-25T12:13:26.217-05:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R6UnAr1pW64/TsnPbdS98KI/AAAAAAAABe0/QiQJfhLUn1o/s1600/Photo11140646-785368.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R6UnAr1pW64/TsnPbdS98KI/AAAAAAAABe0/QiQJfhLUn1o/s320/Photo11140646-785368.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677296875904823458" /></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2808134482136505083?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-32034922817640284662011-11-19T09:41:00.002-05:002011-11-20T23:07:45.238-05:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iLl_MdVy9JY/TsfAEUrZ8iI/AAAAAAAABeo/-QQxo61lc0A/s1600/Photo11190728-780874.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iLl_MdVy9JY/TsfAEUrZ8iI/AAAAAAAABeo/-QQxo61lc0A/s320/Photo11190728-780874.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676717035826573858" border="0" /></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-3203492281764028466?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-21586039805104177012011-11-18T17:04:00.002-05:002011-11-18T17:05:15.208-05:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wp46jNGAc0c/TsbWWGjJTUI/AAAAAAAABec/A-mhrvJlLsk/s1600/Photo10122106-748231.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wp46jNGAc0c/TsbWWGjJTUI/AAAAAAAABec/A-mhrvJlLsk/s320/Photo10122106-748231.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676460055550577986" /></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2158603980510417701?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-22388648672131757522011-10-09T19:42:00.001-04:002011-10-09T19:50:19.236-04:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OLTuIUvJbNE/TpIxhVaBcDI/AAAAAAAABeQ/28JCsoJulk4/s1600/Photo10091844-781020.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OLTuIUvJbNE/TpIxhVaBcDI/AAAAAAAABeQ/28JCsoJulk4/s320/Photo10091844-781020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661642130309869618" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo">Today has been a pretty nice day. I put another layer of tung oil on the old project guitar (which has like 5 bazillion coats on it so far), and read some fun books. I also started my completely serious and awesome art noise project. Although Anal Fistula and Orphling are band names in the running I am up for some suggestions. At some point I will start some super cool website or just use one off of facebook or something. Right now Emily and I are dealing with our continuing internet issues by camping out at the local sbux and hijacking their free wifi. This is the sky we saw after dinner. Nice, huh? Also, be on the lookout for a new Greensboro band called Treebeard. The guys in the band are nice, but are always walking around in elf cloaks even when it is really hot out.<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2238864867213175752?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-77347970218219436822011-09-19T22:13:00.002-04:002011-09-20T08:16:33.074-04:00<p class="mobile-photo">So here is the fifth coat of tung oil on the guitar. Not looking too bad. I plan on finishing the can and then getting into the electronics. <br /></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tYwHtkwaMJw/Tnf2u0FbqGI/AAAAAAAABeI/eT_j7BLmX5E/s1600/Photo09192212_1-795319.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tYwHtkwaMJw/Tnf2u0FbqGI/AAAAAAAABeI/eT_j7BLmX5E/s320/Photo09192212_1-795319.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654259141302790242" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo">This week has been pretty awesome. I saw my friend Owen perform his new project on Saturday and it was awesome. I also got to check out the Brand New Life at Tate St. Fest. It was fun! Plus we had a chance to have dinner with Jed. I am about to head out to school and take my first Music Theory exam. I'm slightly nervous, but I have studied the heck out of our materials, so I think I will be okay.</p><p class="mobile-photo"><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-7734797021821943682?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-13139824766728664572011-09-16T22:52:00.002-04:002011-09-16T23:03:17.884-04:00<p class="mobile-photo">So I have added two more coats to the guitar. This pic is after the third coat of tung oil.<br /></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MMkLcTY2Wnk/TnQLd0O2PQI/AAAAAAAABd4/xjCGcd9epL0/s1600/Photo09131908-758804.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MMkLcTY2Wnk/TnQLd0O2PQI/AAAAAAAABd4/xjCGcd9epL0/s320/Photo09131908-758804.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653156039121845506" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo">And this one is after the fourth coat. <br /></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fb2vLXvwA2k/TnQLeTJWeKI/AAAAAAAABeA/2RapekN7ANw/s1600/Photo09162251-760685.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fb2vLXvwA2k/TnQLeTJWeKI/AAAAAAAABeA/2RapekN7ANw/s320/Photo09162251-760685.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653156047420291234" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo">I planned on adding a coat a day, but I got behind doing other more fun things (hanging out with my friend Matt and having dinner with Ma). The guitar is starting to look way more finished in person. The crap cell phone photos don't really do the gradual gradations in hue any justice. <br /></p><p class="mobile-photo">In other news, this looks to be a really exciting week/weekend. Tomorrow I am hanging out with Jed and going to Tate St. Festival and then going to the Green Bean to see my buddy Owen's release party. I work tomorrow and will be highly caffeinated for these two events. Also, the Wall is being shown at the Carolina theater Thursday, so I'm looking forward to that. And I have an exam next week. It seems exciting when I think about it, but writing it out just make Sat. and Thur. sound fun. I'm sure I will enjoy all of it though. <br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-1313982476672866457?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-38601570716505332962011-09-12T18:35:00.002-04:002011-09-12T18:47:13.168-04:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkebGselj2E/Tm6JS43dLeI/AAAAAAAABdo/c4qFb0m70Y4/s1600/Photo09121833-755243.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkebGselj2E/Tm6JS43dLeI/AAAAAAAABdo/c4qFb0m70Y4/s320/Photo09121833-755243.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651605539992186338" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tZnyEgDzxI4/Tm6JTP_k-MI/AAAAAAAABdw/DvYSw39nTKY/s1600/Photo09121834_3-756539.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tZnyEgDzxI4/Tm6JTP_k-MI/AAAAAAAABdw/DvYSw39nTKY/s320/Photo09121834_3-756539.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651605546200266946" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo">So today I invested in some gloves from the dollar store to hopefully prevent having the stickiest hands ever like I unfortunately had yesterday. It worked moderately well. The first coat was a barely noticeable difference from the bare wood, but today's coat was a little help. I will be honest and say that this angle makes it appear a deeper hue than it really is. I would be happy if this is how it ends up. I plan on adding coats until at least this batch of tung oil is gone. It is a relatively easy process, if a little time consuming. I'm hoping for a nice natural satin look that seems almost vintage (think Garcia's Alligator guitar). Tomorrow or Wed. I plan on starting on some of the wiring. I am still debating just using the stock bits or creating my own pickguard, sticking on the Mariposa pickups I have, and wiring in new pots and a decent 5 way switch (or even going crazy and sticking a fancy Brian May inspired switching system). I will honestly probably go for the stock setup, but it never hurts to dream a little!<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-3860157071650533296?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-88211941170450191812011-09-12T12:49:00.001-04:002011-09-12T18:41:54.611-04:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7wSa16GAXE0/Tm44goSzF5I/AAAAAAAABdQ/DkQBSiZCR9U/s1600/Photo09121141_1-773267.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7wSa16GAXE0/Tm44goSzF5I/AAAAAAAABdQ/DkQBSiZCR9U/s320/Photo09121141_1-773267.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651516715619784594" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eM3L0YnDejE/Tm44hJFdKSI/AAAAAAAABdY/JXvALVkofCA/s1600/Photo09121141-775375.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eM3L0YnDejE/Tm44hJFdKSI/AAAAAAAABdY/JXvALVkofCA/s320/Photo09121141-775375.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651516724422191394" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xSWeFMYM2wE/Tm44hiYVkjI/AAAAAAAABdg/zrHREvFCnzA/s1600/Photo09121140-777608.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xSWeFMYM2wE/Tm44hiYVkjI/AAAAAAAABdg/zrHREvFCnzA/s320/Photo09121140-777608.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651516731212272178" border="0" /></a></p>ZOMBIES!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-8821194117045019181?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-23808053302316807982011-09-12T09:53:00.002-04:002011-09-12T18:42:10.457-04:00<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X5g_tO3gzQQ/Tm4O2ovz9DI/AAAAAAAABdI/TAXCxotbGTg/s1600/Photo08311723_1-710375.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X5g_tO3gzQQ/Tm4O2ovz9DI/AAAAAAAABdI/TAXCxotbGTg/s320/Photo08311723_1-710375.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651470914210231346" border="0" /></a></p>Pretty sky<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2380805330231680798?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-7905336041476890592011-09-11T21:55:00.002-04:002011-09-11T22:02:53.574-04:00<p class="mobile-photo">Okay, so here are the first pics of the build. I didn't take any of the unassembled guitar because I was lazy, and these are just some really blurry pics from my cell phone. I think that I am going to leave the neck alone and just leave it as unstained wood. It feels really smooth and comfortable. I attached the tuning keys on the headstock (yay). I sanded the body down with progressively finer grit sandpaper and then used some canned air and a cloth to get all the dust off. I put on the first coat of tung oil and buffed it this afternoon. I plan on having the guitar look really natural, but will put at least 4 or 5 coats of oil on it. Hopefully that will darken it up a little bit. The body is super light and is made of paulonia (no clue what kind of wood it is). It feels like balsa. There were some dents and scratches in it from the factory. I tried to sand out some of the smaller little dents and big swathes of wood came away. Oops. This is just a cheap little build so I'm not very worried, but I still would like it to look at least halfway decent :)</p><p class="mobile-photo">I will apply another coat tomorrow and possibly fiddle with some of the electronics (although I don't really have any confidence there!). I am thinking about trying to make a different pickguard but the drop in easiness of the pre assembled one will probably appeal more to my lazy nature.</p><p class="mobile-photo"><br /></p><p class="mobile-photo"><br /></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1v-WIrqvD4s/Tm1mgHL1NEI/AAAAAAAABc4/pMrGQ9T0Lcs/s1600/Photo09112024_1-711884.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1v-WIrqvD4s/Tm1mgHL1NEI/AAAAAAAABc4/pMrGQ9T0Lcs/s320/Photo09112024_1-711884.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651285809290359874" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qnih23z4zI/Tm1mgYZrNxI/AAAAAAAABdA/OjmZa_H-uKA/s1600/Photo09112024-713267.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qnih23z4zI/Tm1mgYZrNxI/AAAAAAAABdA/OjmZa_H-uKA/s320/Photo09112024-713267.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651285813911828242" border="0" /></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-790533604147689059?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-54348926583397153932011-09-11T14:21:00.002-04:002011-09-11T14:24:24.524-04:00I will be starting my guitar project soon. It is a strat kit that Ems got me for my birthday. I have assembled most of the supplies/items/tools I think that I need and will begin construction this week (hopefully). I hope to document the build in this blog with photos and some commentary. School is going well, with Music Theory being my fave class. I look forward to our trip to Seattle soon. We have spent some quality time dining on coupons and raiding the free bin at Ed McKays.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-5434892658339715393?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-24504044875928042872011-09-03T00:32:00.001-04:002011-09-03T00:32:59.137-04:00Wow. I'm old. <br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2450404487592804287?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-46575899945716175332011-08-04T15:40:00.003-04:002011-08-04T15:43:43.137-04:00So it has been a hectic little period getting back into the groove of work/usa/general life junk. I have managed to start my coffee master re certification, go to a great show featuring my friend Owen's band Eszett (sp?), and I have plans for another show and a movie coming up! It is looking good. The apartment people are being really slow about actually fixing anything so it is a little rough in the old homestead at the moment. Hopefully next week will be the big "get everything done" point. Emily got another job to supplement her work at HPU which is awesome because it is really close to the house (she could walk or bike in 5-10 minutes to it). We are visiting Cornbread, doing some laundry, drinking all of ma's soda, and getting some more of our junk in Asheboro today before we go back home to see a screening of Monster Squad! Awesome! That's it for now.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-4657589994571617533?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-19197600441759585742011-07-21T23:28:00.002-04:002011-07-21T23:31:31.363-04:00So I'm typing this on my NEW COMPUTER! Whoo hoo! It's super cool and I really enjoy having a computer that stays on for more than 10 minutes at a time. I have started back to work at the bucks and it is going pretty well. I managed to pick up an extra shift this week which is good since Emily considers herself a "kept" woman now. We had the chance to go visit the niece and nephew this week and had a great time feeding Rody apple drink and enjoying our own beverages of lemonade for Emily and "poopie" drink for me. Delish! Our local cat is crying at me outside our window and I have to work a long shift tomorrow so that's it for now.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-1919760044175958574?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-62523642206821017792011-07-17T23:10:00.002-04:002011-07-17T23:15:41.839-04:00Emily and I are back in the US! We got home on July 1st and have been incredibly busy. We have a new/old apartment, I will be starting back at Starbucks tomorrow, Emily had a job interview, and tons of other little odds and ends that take up loads of time. Things will hopefully start settling down soon, as I am kind of tired! I had some semi-scary medical stuff come up that looks like it will be okay, and I have a new best dog friend. The highlight of our return has got to be seeing friends and family that we missed so much while we were abroad. My niece and nephew are absolutely incredible and beyond adorable. Spending time with them has been amazing. Hopefully we will be seeing a lot of them. Emily and I were extremely grateful to live for two weeks (+,-) with my mom. She was so helpful and it was a real treat to be able to have homecooked American food! My best friend Jed had a fantastic fourth of July party that featured a knockout fireworks display and really made us feel absurdly patriotic. That's all I have to say for now, so I am going to bed. <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-6252364220682101779?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-5806322856143482952011-06-28T01:18:00.001-04:002011-06-28T01:21:38.409-04:00Emily is out buying glasses, and I'm supposed to be packing. But I'm not. I slept until 12, and then read a bit, and now I'm playing on the interwebs. Most of my stuff is packed, but I will admit to a little bit of panic when I think about the whole ordeal of flying home. I will admit it. I don't travel well. I would love to say that I enjoy the process of traveling, reveling in the sights and sounds of cabs, planes, trains, etc. I would love to say that I treat each and every travel experience as a new way of relaxing and seeing the sights. But I don't. Usually I just tense up, get grumpy, and bull my way through it. Once I reach the destination I am usually okay. Sigh. It is disappointing how little one's self image matches reality.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-580632285614348295?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-84475126065763596062011-06-27T05:07:00.002-04:002011-06-27T05:14:12.244-04:00Today Emily and I were subjected to the mind numbing horror that is inputting grades. The foreign affairs office has worked hard to develop and perfect the most infuriating and inefficient method of doing so. After 4 hours of frustration and tedium we were told we would have to return tomorrow! AAACKKKK! <br /><br />The good news is that when they heard we would have to be driven to Shanghai at 3AM to make our plane, the school finally acquiesced to driving us up there on Thursday! Hurray! We made sure that they knew we needed a big car/van/semi to carry all the crap we have to take home with us. Hopefully it all will work out and the hotel will have an airport shuttle. It will make like (hopefully) much easier. We are almost done packing and are busy just finishing up with last minute visits, trips to buy Emily some new glasses, inputting grades, and cleaning up the apartment. It is going to be so great to be home!<br /><br />I already have the first few days back in America planned out and first on that list is meeting my new nephew!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-8447512606576359606?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-74634574223316036892011-06-24T00:25:00.002-04:002011-06-24T00:30:53.101-04:00Only one more week until we are winging our way home to the good old USA. It seems like this year has flown by, with tons of wonderful experiences and some very interesting times. I will admit to being a little nervous about the next step that Emily and I are taking in life. Moving to China was such a freeing experience, getting rid of almost all of our stuff and starting new in another country. But we are REALLY ready to be home. And now (having gotten rid of all our junk) we are really starting over. The plan right now is to move in with Ma for a few weeks until we figure out where we will live and job stuff. I will be going back to Starbucks for a while and will be attending GTCC's school of music this fall. I have a pretty good class schedule and Starbucks has always been great about working with me time-wise. Emily will be looking around for library type jobs that are semi-close to NC. We are so excited to go home and spend time with friends and family. I have a new nephew I haven't even met! Being away for so long makes you realize how much we took closeness and family for granted. I have lots of big plans when I get home and can't wait to see everyone!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-7463457422331603689?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-9302058733909283172011-06-12T00:58:00.002-04:002011-06-12T01:07:40.645-04:00So it is almost time for us to come home! We are very excited and incredibly busy getting exams and grades ready. But the big news is...OWEN!!! My "little" nephew was born last week and we couldn't be more excited. Emily and I cannot wait to get home to see him! I have regaled all my students with his size (converted to kilograms). Most of them don't believe me! Today marks six years that Emily and I have been together. It seems like such a short amount of time. We have done so much and look forward to a great future of even more excitement! I had to miss the final Pumpkin concert as it was delayed until today and we didn't want to spend 3pm-10pm of our six year anniversary at a overheated concert hall. But I have gotten a chance to go and play with the band a few times at their many different practice spaces. I've been reading a lot in my downtime, not playing guitar enough, trying to memorize all the countries of the world (I realized my geography was atrocious!), and listening to a lot of Afropop (my recent faves are Prince Nico Mbarga, Amadou and Mariam, and the Soweto Gospel Choir). Emily has been knitting toys for Audrey and Owen, watching some fun movies (Bill and Ted!) and cooking lots of delicious foods. Her tom kha is awesome! We can't wait to come home and try out some recipes on friends and family. We will be home so soon!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-930205873390928317?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-78418757307258478242011-05-23T21:52:00.002-04:002011-05-23T21:58:59.188-04:00One more month until we come home! We are pretty ready to get back to the states, especially since my new nephew is coming early! I am sad that I won't be home when he is born, but super excited to meet him when I get there. I'm 99% sure I will be able to go back to starbucks, my classes are all registered, and we already shipped most of our presents home. My obsession with afropop/highlife/benga music had a sad day today when I found out that we just missed superstars Amadou and Mariam in Shanghai last week! Oh well. Hopefully I will have a chance to see them in the future. I added afropop worldwide to my link list and encourage everyone to check it out. They have some great programs. My recent listening has been predominantly Hugh Tracey field recordings and King Sunny Ade. I just finished my book on Alan Lomax that was pretty interesting. He really did lot more than his father ever did, but I mostly just knew of his father's accomplishments. It was a fun (but longish) read. Unless I get overly ambitious I plan on reading a few simpler books in the next few days. I had to start reading more serious books after I realized how many YA books were featured at the top of the list. Now that there is more non-fiction and "adult" lit on the top I can go back to guilty pleasures. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-7841875730725847824?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-27963120314693218272011-05-20T12:29:00.002-04:002011-05-20T12:40:41.678-04:00Emily has put up some of the photos on her blog from the talent/speech show that we judged the other day. <br /><br />Today I was very busy. We loaded up almost all the gifts we have bought people and some clothes and junk that we wanted to take home but didn't have room to pack and lugged it all to the post office. Well, two post offices. The first one just sent us to the central post office. It ended up being three big ass boxes and cost us more than I would have liked to spend, but was still cheaper than it could have been. I think they had mercy on us because we looked so pathetic and lost. <br /><br />After the post office fun, we went to Starbucks with our friend Maggie and chowed down on chocolate covered espresso beans and iced coffees. Delicious! It almost makes me excited about going back to Starbucks when I get back just to chug down all those delicious free drinks. After coffee, we wandered through Tianyi and I bought even more presents (this time for my soon to be born nephew-and of course more stuff for my niece). So far this trip I have set out to buy gifts for certain people and end up with stuff for Audrey. I go to buy something for Ma or Anna, and BAM! Audrey has two new presents. I suppose she will be happy to see me even if no one else is!<br /><br />After shopping we visited the local DVD store (all bootleg, but very nicely done) and I bought my last film for my film class-DRAG ME TO HELL!!! BWA HA HA! They have no idea what they are in for. :)<br />Maggie took us to a nice cultural revolution themed restaurant where we had the best tofu I have ever had, some nice fish with peppers and bean sprouts, eggplant and green beans, cucumber (or as Maggie calls them "concubines") and soybeans. Yum! Easily one of the better meals I have had in China, although I doubt that many people in the themed era ate that well. I managed to spill tofu and pepper juice all over my shorts, so it looked like I had a very unfortunate accident. Luckily we took a taxi home. <br /><br />My obsession with African music continues, and I have been really enjoying soukous, music from Tanzania, and some strange desert blues. I also have become quite enamored of the photographer Hasisi Park. She took a beautiful beach/sunset/ocean picture that I really loved and a little research on the magical internet turned up her tumblr which I have added to my links list. SOme of her work is a little risque (although that is mostly work she was in, not photos she personally took). But I think that her Hawaii series (that she is working on now) and the photos from Korea are spectacular. It really makes me wish we had money to travel more, but I shouldn't be greedy (after all, we DID spend a month touring Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam!). <br /><br />Home Sooon!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2796312031469321827?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-60117338028930805182011-05-19T10:59:00.002-04:002011-05-19T11:04:12.728-04:00So I finally finished the Cobain Journals and have some mixed feelings. I love Kurt (or at least I loved his music) but I feel that he would have benefited from a little more education. I don't want to pass judgement and I won't argue with ideas, but the spelling errors alone just bugged me. Superficial, I know. Tonight Emily and I judged a talent/speech/forum contest at the "Eagle's Nest" here on campus. It was unbelievably hot. I will put some photos on facebook where you can see how red Emily was and how sweaty I was. We went with one of our students, Kina, who we teach IELTs crap for oral and written English. She is really funny and REALLY crazy. I also have fallen in love with a band who is not new, but was new to me. The Very Best. I only have the Warm Heart of Africa album (how sad is it that I still don't know how to underline on blogspot and still feel a twinge of guilt when typing some titles? I guess I could italicize it, but that just seems like too much work. Click this, move that, blah blah...what was I saying?)...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-6011733802893080518?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-77931912123200822192011-05-18T03:43:00.003-04:002011-05-18T04:02:11.395-04:00So internet is still not 100% (or even 50%). It pretty much sucks. Yesterday after I finished my blog it cut off for about 6 hours. Sigh. Other junk:<br />Looks like I may finish up the Cobain notebooks in a day or two. Finally stopped feeling guilty when I looked ahead at last page which reads, "Don't read my diary when I'm gone." But directly below that it says, "Ok, I'm going to work now, when you wake up this morning, please read my diary. Look through my things and figure me out." While I still had reservations, I will admit that most of the material is just drivel. It is impossible to judge though, because if people go through my notebooks when I die they will find all sorts of embarrassing vitriol and crap that I wouldn't want people to see. On the other hand if (for some bizarre reason) I'm famous and Emily wants to make a quick buck by selling it, then I suppose I would forgive her. It wouldn't embarrass me too badly since I would be dead. I am also reading a book about Alan Lomax that is really intriguing. It sparked many conversations between EM's and I about how China seems to be not so much building their own modern musical culture (esp. compared to countries like Jamaica or Kenya). Speaking of Kenya, I have been on the BIGGEST benga kick ever, but it is really hard to find many of the artists since I can't seem to get itunes to work and the internet is still very sporadic. Thank goodness for all the Rough Guides and Putumayo cds that I got from the library before I came. Two books that I read recently which I would highly recommend are A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, which just goes to show that near future speculative fiction (influenced by Sterling, Gibson, Stephenson) is now mainstream, just under a different heading. I loved the book, and found the ending just superb. The kid's devices and the people's credibility as value reminded my of the Sterling short story Maneki Neko (I think that was its name anyway...) The other book is Just Kids by Patti Smith. I really enjoyed it and it even inspired a few vivid dreams. Nice. That's it for now, still ready to come home and be amazingly active. It is really surprising all the crap you just take for granted (I know I REALLY did). I start school in the fall and until then will be all full up time-wise playing music with friends, reconnecting with all my old friends (esp. Jed and Danny), eating fresh salads (drooollll...), shopping without buying (just to enjoy it!), junk stores, and especially hanging out with my family (and my new nephew, who is still on pre-order). I have put up a bunch of new photos on facebook of some of my students, so check those out.<br />Bye!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-7793191212320082219?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-43604886038560506452011-05-17T02:42:00.002-04:002011-05-17T02:48:35.631-04:00Internet here has been sporadic at best, but last week it just stopped. I have spent many hours with the computer guy installing lots of fun invasive software on my computer. FUN! Now it seems to be working, but limits Skype calls to about 5 minutes, and also only occasionally lets me go to sites outside of wikipedia and yahoo. Oh well. I will admit to a large amount of internet withdrawal. I would like to be able to say that it taught me some important lesson about becoming to attached to the web, and how I broke those bonds; but instead I will just stay online for 10 straight hours, chainsmoke, and chug gallons of coffee, occasionally screaming "INTERNET!!! WHEEE!" and running in circles. Emily and I had a chance to go practice with our friends band Pumpkin who is having their farewell show in June. Luke (our friend, but also not his "real" name) asked me to sing a song or two. I must say that the band has gotten worse. It appears that every member they have had for the last 4 years will reunite (about 12-13 people) to play. Their set consists of pretty much the same set they have played at every concert with the addition of my original song (which I feel has been a little butchered) and "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga. Sigh. That's all for now, just enjoying being connected to the rest of the world (somewhat anyway).<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-4360488603856050645?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-26729979282507340062011-04-27T00:36:00.002-04:002011-04-27T00:48:01.419-04:00In class the other day we were talking about poetry and lyrics. One thing I have found in China is that creativity is stifled in the extreme. People tend to be good at recitation or at imitation, but creation is sorely lacking. My assignment for them was to write a spontaneous, original poem. I left the spelling mistakes because it makes it more impressive when you see what all they wrote correctly. These are kids who usually have to use an electronic dictionary to spell "orange." I was very impressed and decided to share some of the more interesting submissions.<br /><br />When I was child<br />I want to be a superman<br />when I am young<br />I want to be a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">totler</span><br />when I will old<br />I want to be a famous people<br />-Shelley<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I thought this was nice. Shelley normally doesn't say anything, so her attempt at tenses (while not particularly successful) was ambitious.</span><br /><br />When the sun is rising up<br />walk through<br />the lake is blue<br />Where swimming the goose<br />Do you remember your childhood<br />with happiness on you face<br />You never lost your wings<br />Please fly and believe you can do<br />On the cloud. Angles are smiling to you<br />Always...<br />-Joe<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I liked that Joe attempted to rhyme! He's a really funny kid who tries REALLY hard.</span><br /><br />Asleep, senseless of spring morning<br />I heard birds everywhere singing<br />the stormy night made so much noise<br />How many flowers dropped. Who knows?<br />-Vivian<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Vivian is Joe's desk partner and they worked together on their poems.</span><br /><br />"A List"<br />1. travel go abroad<br />2. appointment with star<br />3. to be a doctor<br />4. shoot a film<br />5. get married<br />6. fix a bike<br />7. invent a toy<br />8. dress designing<br />9. get the winning number in a band<br />10. cook sunrise with my family together<br />-Joy<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I think I like Joy's the best. Her "poem" is a simple list of things she wants to do before she dies (maybe). I assume she means "breakfast" when she says "cook sunrise."</span><br /><br />“Important People"<br />Oh, Mother! you looks like a flower<br />you bloom in every season<br />for world, you bring <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">colur</span><br />for me, you bring the big love<br />I hope I can keep you company<br />forever!<br />You are not only my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">motherm</span> but also my<br />idol.<br />-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">TiLa</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I think <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Tila</span> (creatively written <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">TiLa</span>) MAY have copied this, but I hope not because of the atrocious grammar. </span><br /><br />“The Youth. The Life."<br />The youth like a poem.<br />It <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">worths</span> everyone to chant.<br />The life like a picture.<br />it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">worths</span> everyone to paint.<br />In the spring, we can flying<br />idea. Launched a better future.<br />In the summer, we can<br />running, sweating.<br />In the fall, we can reading books<br />thinking more things about our life.<br />In the winter we can snowing.<br />Staying with the family.<br />-Jessica<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Jessica is the resident writer in the class. It's always the job she most wants, even though she is studying to become a tour guide. She wrote me a story once in Chinese. I couldn't read it though :)</span><br /><br />“The Distance of Smile"<br />I put down all my sadness and painful past<br />with shinning bravery and determined words<br />I give up the whole life of light sweet<br />In order to meet a butterfly and the laugh of her memories.<br /><br />I have already suffered a long wait<br />Like rivers, lakes, seas and oceans.<br />And one day, I will cross a whole desert<br />Never left, with my young romance.<br /><br />At last, under the mountains<br />I will find the softest wind, which belongs<br />To the most beautiful girl, then she smiles<br />To me, which distance is a mile.<br />-Wisdom<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Wisdom is by far my best Tourism student. He is obsessed with philosophy and his hero is Gandhi. The ladies consider him quite a poet and singer in his native tongue.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>I hope you enjoyed these as much as I did!<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2672997928250734006?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-60650828621879778202011-04-17T09:25:00.002-04:002011-04-17T09:36:21.260-04:00Mostly news, not much blues this time. Been listening to a lot of Zappa recently, pretty inspiring and daunting on the guitar front. I managed to get a chance to hang out with Pumpkin and was invited to guest with them at their last show. I was there for the ceremonial hand off of the rehearsal space to the new freshman (Holiday). It was pretty touching. They asked me to write something for the show so I wrote a cheesy but catchy little ska number. They were pretty delighted and had never really heard of ska before. Funny. I read the whole Series of Unfortunate Events set of books and really enjoyed them, although it got a little tedious. It is really interesting to get immersed in young adult/or children's fiction sometimes . The author did a great job of making sense of some pretty complicated themes for a fairly young audience. Most enjoyable. I have been struggling lately to fight my way through three different books, the Cobain journals (which I feel dirty and bad for reading since the cover specifically asks me not to), Blink by malcolm gladwell, and Inherent Vice, by THomas pynchon. The Pynchon book is surprisingly boring at the 25% mark, and I hope that it gets better soon. The children's books had more compelling descriptions than an occasionally pot smoking detective so far. The reviews on this book said it was like the Big Lebowski, but so far there has been a lack of humor. Blink is pretty interesting and full of fun facts, but I keep getting sidetracked by a desire to finish the Cobain book (but then guilt when I read it), forcing myself to read pynchon (and guilt when I don't read it), and just enjoying BLink. Oh well. As difficult decisions go it ain't so bad. Emily has been sick and finally gave it to me. I had hoped to end the second half of the great Chinese residency illness free, but it is not to be. I missed about a week (not being able to talk=not teaching) but managed to finagle it so that I only have to make up 2 classes (yay!). REally not giving a crap so much about quality as we head into the homestretch. Forgive the typos but I'm lazy. Emily says to tell you that she saw some girls sexy dancing at the local electronic store. I just read in my journal that we saw dogs being slaughtered at the local "mutton" grill two months ago. The end.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-6065082862187977820?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-69056545934219840172011-04-04T14:47:00.002-04:002011-04-04T14:52:16.452-04:00Emily got sick and I've been whiling away the time surfing on ebay. It's tax return time and even though this year I have to save the money for settling in when we get home I still have been looking. Usually at this time of year I get ye olde tax money and blow it on a guitar or something fun as well as paying off the old credit card. But this year I have to save it. Not that I haven't almost pulled the trigger on a few guitars! I got back out my guitar book and am trying to force myself to realize that practicing means actually learning not just the usual endless noodling that I so enjoy. I spent time getting a guitar here and now I have to find a way to get rid of it. It is much easier to acquire guitars in China than it is to sell them! Oh well. Not a big problem if I do say so. I did have an awesome thing happen this week. I got to talk to JED!!! It was his birthday and we fought skype until it let me give him a call. Good times! Can't wait to get home...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-6905654593421984017?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-91595732292415988142011-03-22T10:51:00.002-04:002011-03-22T11:01:46.988-04:00Another week under our belts. We just got assigned some more classes (ugh, night classes!) and were observed on Monday. I made a mean potato soup and Emily got all her hair chopped off. Emily has started to try to play guitar and is doing very well. She already knows 7 or 8 chords and can play through "Ripple" by Grateful Dead. It gives both of us something to do. I have been really slack lately, kind of in a rut. I am ready to come home and it just seems hard to invest in too much here. I plan on getting a little more motivated, maybe practicing guitar more and doing some exercises. Most of the time when I am not teaching or getting food, I just chill on the computer listening to music and reading comics or veg out with the kindle and my headphones. Lately I've read some pretty great books. I found a cool list of Nebula award winners and have been working my way haphazardly through it. Some I have read before or heard of but some are complete unknowns. I really enjoyed _The Speed of Dark_ by Elizabeth Moon and had only read some of her short stories in Asimov's or F&amp;SF. I've done so much reading that I have been feeling a little inspired to try writing some, but we'll see how that goes. That's it for now!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-9159573229241598814?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-8340716649055116982011-03-15T13:50:00.002-04:002011-03-15T13:54:01.219-04:00VPN hasn't been working much so I have been incommunicado from here and facebook for a while. I can't honestly say I missed facebook that much, but I did miss adding to my book list on here. Classes are continuing to toodle along. Emily and I were both assigned an extra class this week, hopefully that will be all we have for the semester. It is a class with only 2 students, which is a far cry from the normal 40-45 we usually have in a class. We are just trying to keep busy and warm. Our hearts go out to everyone in Japan right now.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-834071664905511698?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-43761808567142234622011-03-03T05:32:00.002-05:002011-03-03T05:37:56.739-05:00The first week of classes have ended and it all seems to be going pretty well. I am trying to be much better organized this semester, which is hard for me (as anyone who knows me will understand). I was really worried about my movie class but the kids seemed into it. Although I was worried I didn't have enough material in my first day notes, I only managed to get through half of them. <br /><br /><a href="http://goodnightdune.com/index.html">Here </a>is a cool link for a parody of Goodnight Moon, based on Dune that is really awesome. <br />I sent it to Mitch and I think he may be the only person who knows me who would enjoy it. Also check out <a href="http://www.eastbayri.com/detail/141480.html">this cool article</a>, that helps to give me some nice thoughts about raising children of my own.<br /><br />Emily and I are planning on having some Indian food tomorrow and working on writing out teaching plans. Not much else going on!<br />J<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-4376180856714223462?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-50742084413648524722011-02-27T08:55:00.002-05:002011-02-27T09:02:37.528-05:00Tomorrow Emily and I start teaching again for the spring semester. We are going back to Cixi on Mondays, which is not awesome but at least should be familiar. I have 3 oral English classes, 2 tourism classes, one IELTs speaking class, and a class on American cinema. I thought I would be excited about the cinema class, but it is such a pain to get movies with Chinese subtitles and the previous teacher had chosen some REALLY bad movies. I should get to bed, but I'm nervous about remembering all the names of my students tomorrow. Eeek! Emily and I have just been taking it easy since we got back from southeast Asia. Cooking, cleaning, watching tv on the internet, reading, and just general shenanigans. We are ready to come home and see family and hope this semester goes by just as quickly and easily as the first one. It looks like we won't be home until the beginning of July instead of mid to late June as we had hoped, but that's how the cards are dealt. Wish us luck for tomorrow!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-5074208441364852472?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-70235781660806812242011-02-20T23:18:00.002-05:002011-02-20T23:25:25.285-05:00Since Emily and I have been back we have been REALLY lazy. It pretty much sucks coming back to cold old China after such a magical vacation. I watched the remake of True Grit and loved it, but Emily hasn't found a western that can hold her attention yet. She has been watching a lot of Simpsons and Friends, and we both loved watching some Modern Family. How exciting to be able to blog about our internet/tv viewing! There's just not much going on. We made a pact to cook most of our food at home because we felt soooo much healthier on our trip. We suspect that food quality/cleanliness is the culprit. It seemed like we were always ill in China, which made it unpleasant. My one funny from being sick so long is that I was recommended some antibiotics for my persistent chest thing/illness and was taking them dutifully. Emily got some sniffles/hacking gross sinus infection and I looked online to see if the antibiotics would work for her (she's allergic to most of them). I discovered that not only were they banned in America, they also caused major neurological damage to 25% of the people who took them! Hurray! I stopped takng thema nd has seeeemmed to sufffer no ill effects ajkal;g8lohy agh..........................................<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-7023578166080681224?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-25812105836937181632011-02-18T10:35:00.002-05:002011-02-18T10:38:35.873-05:00We made it back to China today. I have a big post planned, but tonight I'm just too dang tired. We had a great time and met some great people. Only 5 more months until we come home, and we are ready for it. I really miss my family and Greensboro. I'm not sure what the future holds or what we will do there but hopefully we will be able to come back for at least a little while. Everyone send us you best wishes and positive thoughts for Emily to get a good job near home.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2581210583693718163?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-8095814847939595322011-02-10T08:28:00.001-05:002011-02-10T08:28:46.086-05:00We have finished Cambodia and are now in Vietnam. This has been an awe inspiring and incredible adventure/vacation but road weariness is beginning to set in. Waiting 12 hours for a 6 hour train is probably making me more grumpy/tired than usual. Emily and I are ready to go back and finish up our teaching so we can see our family. I think it was easier for Emily when her sister was here but we both miss family so much. The next few days on a secluded Vietnam beach should cheere right up. <p>Sent from my iPod<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-809581484793959532?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-37687997414642411702011-02-04T03:50:00.001-05:002011-02-04T03:50:42.277-05:00We are having such a great time, but we are riveted to and shocked by the violence in Cairo. The Chinese government are blocking almost all news about what is going on in Egypt. As so many journalists on the frontline said, &quot;The world needs to see this.&quot; We came to Cambodia yesterday and met a couple last night who is also teaching in china. It was nice to be able to talk with someone who is in similar circumstances as us. A casual hello turned into an almost three hour conversation. Tomorrow we go to Angkor Wat. <p>Sent from my iPod<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-3768799741464241170?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-42305635902478450272011-01-28T05:42:00.001-05:002011-01-28T05:42:57.329-05:00Today has been nice and slack. I woke up pretty late and watched some monkeys on the front porch. Then Emily went and had some breakfast with Jane and brought me some coffee. At about noon Emily and I went down and had lunch in town and visited some of the shops and walked out to the beach that is closest to us. We got home and Emily had some ice cream and we spent the rest of the afternoon reading on the porch and admiring the view. Unfortunately it seems Emily has caught a little cold. Tonight we plan on having a little supper in town and then more extra strenuous reading before an early bedtime so Emily can get some rest and hopefully get to feeling better. <br>J<br>Sent from my iPod<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-4230563590247845027?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-78405030870606959992011-01-27T09:58:00.001-05:002011-01-27T09:58:13.431-05:00We made it to Phi Phi Island today and it is really beautiful. The boat ride over was pretty magical. We are staying in a cool little bungalow. We have wireless in the little open air cafe that doubles as the reception area. Tomorrow we may go to monkey beach or just go through all the cool little shops. I have had some amazing food and really love it here. Cambodia and Vietnam have a lot to live up to because Thailand is amazing!<br>J<p>Sent from my iPod<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-7840503087060695999?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-17787777464251579152011-01-26T10:34:00.001-05:002011-01-26T10:34:31.844-05:00So we have made it to Thailand! It took forever to get here but we <br>finally made it. I am not sure what kind of Internet we will have for <br>most of the trip although we have excellent wireless here. The food is <br>amazing and it rivals Jamaica for natural beauty so far. Emily and I <br>are keeping a notebook so when I get home I can do a monster post. Our <br>&quot;computer&quot; for the trip is my iPod so as long as there is wireless we <br>should be able to check emails etc.<p>Sent from my iPod<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-1778777746425157915?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-48736081212268853372011-01-23T08:23:00.002-05:002011-01-24T12:13:29.764-05:00The bags are packed, kindles and ipods loaded and charged, sunglasses and silly straw hat set by the door with care. Tomorrow we head out! I will be gone for about 25 days, exploring Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Emily and I are super excited about it, and it was one of our big dreams when we came to China to have a chance and travel. What's weird is that China doesn't even seem like a destination anymore, it is just where we are! I may try and grab some internet time on the trip, but neither of us are taking computers (packing light, or at least we are for us!). I will try to take lots of pictures and will make sure I have a nice time at the beach in memory of everyone who is cold and in the snow right now.<br />Love,<br />J<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-4873608121226885337?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-66721338507941592762011-01-19T11:04:00.003-05:002011-01-19T11:10:37.620-05:00So it has been pretty slow around here. We put in our grades and were struck by just how inefficient everything is in China. I have been fighting off a little sick for a long time, but hopefully antibiotics will take care of it. Tomorrow is Emily's birthday and I think I am more excited than she is. It has been a wonderful trip with her. She has been my best friend, my support, and the absolute greatest thing that has ever happened to me. It really seems like yesterday that I met her at the movie theater. We are going to be headed out to Thailand next week and it really just seems magical. China has had some highs and lows, but I get so happy when I think of how awesome it is that we are here doing this! Being here, teaching, helping, getting to see cool stuff and get completely immersed in a whole different culture. I have learned so much here. Mostly about myself! Going to Thailand has been a dream for a long time and going with her makes it that much more special. I'm going to eat so much food there!!!<br />I've been reading a lot of stuff about society and our place in it, but not really sure if it will ever turn into anything solid in the terms of living. It is so easy to get inspired by speeches or by peoples words, but so hard to maintain that fire and drive when the book/pamphlet/webpage is done. Taking it beyond being read and turning it into something you try and live is a real task.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-6672133850794159276?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-29123552377761512422011-01-09T19:06:00.002-05:002011-01-09T19:14:13.629-05:00Hello everybody! So it has been a pretty busy weekend here in China. It was AWESOME! Emily and I were supposed to go to some ancient library at Moon Lake with a few of my students (who were to act as our tour guides). They didn't know where they were going so we just kind of bumbled around, but what fun it was! We ate candy covered oranges, took tons of photos, snuck into an all girls school (my students are adventurous), wondered through a cool old slum (finding a calendar from 1984 along the road was my fave part of this), wandered into the most unlikely and the most friendly temple of all time (seriously, these were some happy temple people. Even my students were astonished), and ate a delicious meal. At around 5 my students had to head home, so Emily and I went to the completely legal, but very cheap, and hmmm,-this-title-is-spelled-incorrectly, DVD store and I got ALL the Star Trek films. Emily's birthday is coming up so she got the three Back to the Future movies and the first 18 seasons of the Simpsons. Sunday Emily took our visa info to Jane (who we are going on our big trip with) and I napped, ate some delicious noodle thing, and watched the Simpsons all day. It was great.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2912355237776151242?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-56985652772023916292011-01-03T12:29:00.002-05:002011-01-03T12:39:05.702-05:00So this weekend I was sick with some stupid bug that has me stuck in bed. I managed to read a lot and wanted to share some of that with ya! I just finished David Byrne's Bicycle Diaries, and while it was interesting it was not what I expected. Byrne is a great artist and I REALLY like Talking Heads and his later solo efforts (especially the collaborations with Eno). His efforts to bring outside art and music to main stream's attention is also admirable. But the book just didn't do it for me. It seemed more a bunch of notes taken in a college bull session about cities and development and society. Like people being impressed with books you read in high school. It just didn't jibe with what I was wanting him to say. I suppose that this very rant is exactly what I was talking about, but it's late, I'm sick, and I don't care! I will happily look forward to giving anything else he writes a chance, but will be prepared not to be too disappointed.<br />One thing I have absolutely LOVED doing this weekend is reading a blog by a girl Emily knew in college called Going Slowly. It is really fantastic. Tara and Tyler are two people who are off on a huge cross the world trek on bikes. It is really well written and their adventures are fascinating. Reading the blog is like being there with them and I can't recommend it highly enough. If they turned it into a book I would read the heck out of it and give it to all my family as a present! <br />Another thing I have enjoyed doing is checking out Thailand and looking forward to all the good food I will be eating in just a month's time. Our trip to Thailand and Cambodia is all planned out, and we just need to get our Vietnam visas for that to be tied up too! I'm super excited and it's pretty much one of the reasons I wanted to come to China. China is not really all I had hoped it would be, but it certainly has stretched our horizons and shown us just what we really want/need in our everyday lives. Emily is sleeping now and I'm bored so I will watch an episode of Twilight Zone and then go to sleep.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-5698565277202391629?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-79539873436510533302010-12-31T23:25:00.002-05:002010-12-31T23:36:59.831-05:00So here is the reading list for 2010. It is a real tradition with me and has been infinitely useful to look back at these. Sort of like a photo album I can remember books by. Many warm feelings. Emily is out getting us some lunch and I am just puttering around here at the house. I seem to have already caught a bit of a bug in 2011, but hopefully that will clear up soon. The day is cold but sunny and I am basking in the sun and sipping some nice nescafe. This years list is pretty heavy on sequential author runs since this is the first year I have had a kindle. It is much easier to get fixated on one author and just keep feeding that hunger until you kind of burn out. I still have at least 76 pages of books loaded on the kindle and have already picked out the first few for 2011. It feels really weird to write that! So futuristic. <br /><ul><li>All the Myriad Ways, by Larry Niven<br /></li><li>The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman<br /></li><li>Limits, by Larry Niven<br /></li><li>Line War, by Neal Asher</li><li>Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, by David Sedaris<br /></li><li>Polity Agent, by Neal Asher</li><li>The Tank Lords, by David Drake<br /></li><li>Brass Man, by Neal Asher</li><li>Understand Western Culture, by Pam Wadeson</li><li>North American Folklore and Folk Customs, by Ellyn Sanna</li><li>Popeye Vol. 2, by Bob Sagendorf</li><li>Popeye Vol. 1, by Bob Sagendorg</li><li>Unusual Tales, by Ken Methold and Clare Vickers</li><li>Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town, by Cory Doctorow</li><li>Thirty Seconds, Thirty Days, by Asimov, Clarke, Sheckley, and Bradbury</li><li>The Line of Polity, by Neal Asher</li><li>A Place So Foreign and Eight More, by Cory Doctorow</li><li>Overclocked: Stories of the Future Present, by Cory Doctorow</li><li>Reflex, by Steven Gould</li><li>Girlfriend In a Coma, by Douglas Coupland</li><li>The Darwin Awards: Evolution In Action, by Wendy Northcutt</li><li>Snuff, by Chuck Palahniuk</li><li>Makers, by Cory Doctorow</li><li>The Scarlet Plague, by Jack London</li><li>The Gabble and Other Stories, by Neal Asher</li><li>Mason's Rats and Bioship, by Neal Asher</li><li>Shadow of The Scorpion, by Neal Asher</li><li>Prador Moon, by Neal Asher</li><li>One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesey</li><li>Blind Waves, by Steven Gould</li><li>Wildside, by Steven Gould</li><li>Flying Finish, by Dick Francis</li><li>The Danger, by Dick Francis</li><li>Under Orders, by Dick Francis</li><li>Come to Grief, by Dick Francis</li><li>Whip Hand, by Dick Francis</li><li>To the Hilt, by Dick Francis</li><li>Break In, by Dick Francis</li><li>Bolt, by Dick Francis</li><li>Twice Shy, by Dick Francis</li><li>The God Engines, by John Scalzi</li><li>To Outlive Eternity, by Poul Anderson</li><li>Hell To Pay, by George Pelecanos</li><li>Dead Cert, by Dick Francis</li><li>Life, by Keith Richards and James Fox</li><li>Bonecrack, by Dick Francis</li><li>Bolt, by Dick Francis</li><li>The Jungle:The Uncensored Original Edition, by Upton Sinclair</li><li>Hercule Poirot's Christmas, by Agatha Christie</li><li>Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie</li><li>The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</li><li>The Labours of Hercules, by Agatha Christie</li><li>Poirot Investigates, by Agatha Christie</li><li>Poirot's Early Cases, by Agatha Christie</li><li>And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie</li><li>The Casebook of Hercule Poirot, by Agatha Christie</li><li>Cannery Row, by John Steinbeck</li><li>The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie</li><li>Tortilla Flat, by John Steinbeck</li><li>Pirate Latitudes, by Michael Crichton</li><li>The Dharma Bums, by Jack Kerouac</li><li>Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse, ed. by John Joseph Adams</li><li>A Hole in Space, by Larry Niven</li><li>This Crowded Earth, by Robert Bloch</li><li>The Shape of Space, by Larry Niven</li><li>Solar, by Ian McEwan</li><li>The Mammoth Book of Zombies, ed. by Stephan Jones</li><li>The Reality Dysfunction, by Peter F. Hamilton</li><li>Garcia: An American Life, by Blair Jackson</li><li>Starliner, by David Drake</li><li>Ship Breaker, by Paulo Bacigalupi</li><li>Pump Six and Other Stories, by Paulo Bacigalupi</li><li>Gridlinked, by Neal Asher</li><li>Packing For Mars, by Mary Roach</li><li>Ringworld's Children, by Larry Niven</li><li>The Ringworld Throne, by Larry Niven</li><li>The Ringworld Engineers, by Larry Niven</li><li>Spin, by Robert Charles Wilson</li><li>Zima Blue and Other Stories, by Alastair Reynolds</li><li>Woman of Kleenex, Man of Steel, by Larry Niven</li><li>The Windup Girl, by Paulo Bacigalupi</li><li>Year's Best SF 15, ed. by David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer</li><li>Tales of Known Space, by Larry Niven</li><li>A Gift From Earth, by Larry Niven</li><li>World of Ptavvs, by Larry Niven</li><li>Ringworld, by Larry Niven</li><li>Protector, by Larry Niven</li><li>Red Shift, ed. by Al Sarrontonio</li><li>Anubis Gates, by Tim Powers</li><li>Africa Zero, by Neal Asher</li><li>The Ghost Brigades, by John Scalzi</li><li>Old Man's War, by John Scalzi</li><li>The Fall of Hyperion, by Dan Simmons</li><li>Hyperion, by Dan Simmons</li><li>Live Without a Net, ed. by Lou Anders</li><li>Break In, by Dick Francis</li><li>Typee, by Herman Melville</li><li>Orsinian Tales, by Ursula K. Le Guin</li><li>Longshot, by Dick Francis</li><li>Odds Against, by Dick Francis</li><li>Thirteen Moons, by Charles Frazier</li><li>Wild Horses, by Dick Francis</li><li>Field of Thirteen, by Dick Francis</li><li>Infinity Beach, by Jack McDevitt</li><li>Star Trek Omnibus Volume 1, by IDW</li><li>World War Z, by Max Brooks</li><li>The Dragons of Springplace, by Robert Reed</li><li>To the Hilt, by Dick Francis</li><li>Confessions of An Economic Hitman, by John Perkins</li><li>The Member of the Wedding, by Carson McCullers</li><li>Our Band Could Be Your Life, by Michael Azerrad</li><li>Get Fuzzy: Groovitude, by Darby Conley</li><li>Knockdown, by Dick Francis</li><li>Still a Few Bugs in the System, by G.B. Trudeau</li><li>Young Zaphond Plays It Safe, by Douglas Adams</li><li>The Californios, by Louis L'Amour</li><li>The Steampunk Trilogy, by Paul Di Filippo</li><li>Bill &amp; Ted's Most Excellent Adventures, Vol. 1, by Evan Dorkin</li><li>Star Trek Enterprise: The First Adventure, by Vonda N. McIntyre</li><li>Rose, by Jeff Smith and Charles Vess</li><li>Showcase Presents: Booster Gold, Vol. 1, by Dan Jurgens and John Byrne</li><li>The Mammoth Book of Extreme Science Fiction: New Generation Far-Future SF, ed. by Mike Ashley</li><li>The Steampunk Trilogy, by Paul Di Filippo</li><li>Star Trek 1, by James Blish</li><li>The Golden Apples of the Sun, by Ray Bradbury</li><li>Extraordinary Engines: The Definitive Steampunk Anthology, ed. by Nick Gevers</li><li>Miles Davis: Jazz Master, Pamela Dell</li><li>Coelura, Anne McCaffrey</li><li>The Game of Empire, by Poul Anderson</li><li>A Talent For War, by Jack McDevitt</li><li>The Story of Jazz Bop and Beyond, by Franck Bergerot and Arnaud Merlin</li><li>Space Stations, ed. by Martin H. Greenberg and John Helfers</li><li>The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook, by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht</li><li>Dark Star Safari, by Paul Theroux</li><li>Prey, by Micheal Crichton</li><li>The City Who Fought, by Anne McCaffrey and S.M. Stirling</li><li>Deepsix, by Jack McDevitt</li><li>X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Vol. 2-4, by Various</li><li>It's About That Time: Miles Davis On and Off Record, by Richard Cook</li><li>Batman Chronicles, Vol. 6, by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson</li><li>Essential Dr. Strange, Vol. 1, by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko</li><li>Fagin the Jew, by Will Eisner</li><li>Clawing at the Limits of Cool: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and the Greatest Jazz Collaboration Ever, by Farah Jasmine Griffin and Salim Washington</li><li>Isis and Osiris: To the Ends of the Earth, by Jeff Limke aand David Witt</li><li>Batman Illustrated: Vol. 1, by Neal Addams</li><li>Partnership, by Anne McCaffrey and Margaret Ball</li><li>Legion of Super-Heroes: Enemy Manifest, by Jim Shooter, Francis Manapul, and Livesay</li><li>Federations, ed. by John Joseph Adams</li><li>Miles Davis: A Biography, by Ian Carr</li><li>Microcosmic Tales, ed. by Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg, and Joseph Olander</li><li>The Rebel Worlds, by Poul Anderson</li><li>Batman: Ego and Other Tails, by Darwyn Cooke</li><li>Kingdom Come, by Mark Waid and Alex Ross</li><li>The Adventures of Daniel Boom and Loud Boy: Game On, by D.J. Steinberg and Brian Smith</li><li>The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara</li><li>A Graphic Biography of Che, by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon</li><li>Nylon Road, by Parsua Bashi</li><li>It's Not About the Bike, by Lance Armstrong</li><li>Off The Record: An Oral History of Popular Music, by Joe Smith</li><li>The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemmingway</li><li>Wonder Woman: Love and Murder, by Jodi Picoult</li><li>Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth, by Apostolos Doxiadis, Christos Papadimitriou, Alecos Papadatos, and Annie Di Donna</li><li>Maus II, by Art Spiegelman</li><li>Maus I, by Art Spiegelman</li><li>Only You Can Save Mankind, by Terry Pratchett</li><li>Wings, by Terry Pratchett</li><li>Diggers, by Terry Pratchett</li><li>Truckers, by Terry Pratchett</li><li>The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, by Terry Pratchett</li><li>Rainbow's End, by Vernor Vinge</li><li>Smile When You're Lying, by Chuck Thompson</li><li>Kinship With The Stars, Poul Anderson</li><li>The Ship Who Searched, by Anne McCaffrey &amp; Mercedes Lackey</li><li>Nation, by Terry Pratchett</li><li>Norwood, by Charles Portis</li><li>The Book of Exodus: The Making and Meaning of Bob Marley and the Wailers' Album of the Century, by Vivien Goldman</li><li>The Show I'll Never Forget, ed. by Sean Manning</li><li>The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Vol. 3, ed. by Jonathan Strahan</li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-7953987343651053330?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-45122822311565491062010-12-18T00:12:00.004-05:002010-12-19T02:48:41.074-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TQ22SxpFfHI/AAAAAAAABbg/zA44xFkd-JY/s1600/china%2Bpart%2B5%2B021.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TQ22SxpFfHI/AAAAAAAABbg/zA44xFkd-JY/s400/china%2Bpart%2B5%2B021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552294349297253490" border="0" /></a>Here's Emily with my new uke, Emus. She looks pretty doesn't she?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TQ22S3dcONI/AAAAAAAABbY/fwBuxF1jKzM/s1600/china%2Bpart%2B5%2B019.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TQ22S3dcONI/AAAAAAAABbY/fwBuxF1jKzM/s400/china%2Bpart%2B5%2B019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552294350859024594" border="0" /></a>This is our Christmas pig!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TQ22SqvsH0I/AAAAAAAABbQ/oj1akytpdTg/s1600/china%2Bpart%2B5%2B011.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TQ22SqvsH0I/AAAAAAAABbQ/oj1akytpdTg/s400/china%2Bpart%2B5%2B011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552294347445903170" border="0" /></a>Our friend Maggie and Emily at Heyi Plaza<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TQ22SWnAqWI/AAAAAAAABbI/YwlsyK_uGE8/s1600/china%2Bpart%2B5%2B009.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TQ22SWnAqWI/AAAAAAAABbI/YwlsyK_uGE8/s400/china%2Bpart%2B5%2B009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552294342040791394" border="0" /></a>Heyi Plaza, Emily's fave place to shop.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TQ22SHSknZI/AAAAAAAABbA/gh7FEbuLp3o/s1600/china%2Bpart%2B5%2B002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TQ22SHSknZI/AAAAAAAABbA/gh7FEbuLp3o/s400/china%2Bpart%2B5%2B002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552294337928535442" border="0" /></a>The snow starting in Ningbo on our campus.<br /><br />So it has been another long wait between blogs, but this time it was really just because I was lazy. I played another show here in China. It was pretty fun. It seems that their shows are a lot like the old rock shows they had in America, where a bunch of bands would come out and play 2-4 songs and not really a whole set. I played two songs, one on guitar and one on my uke. Emily and her sister got it in Shanghai for me. It is pretty fun and I hooked a piezo pickup in a plastic candy box to it so I can plug it in. The crowd seemed to enjoy it, but they mostly enjoy anybody singing. Abby is leaving for America tomorrow and Emily is pretty sad about it. She is over at Abby's house now to spend the night and spend some extra sister time with her. We haven't really been up to too much. The weather has been really cold, and it snowed which was exciting. The thing that we realized is that in Ningbo it is not as cold temp wise as Greensboro, but hardly anywhere has heat. Once you leave the house in the morning there will usually not be any heat in the buildings. So your classes, the bus, and just walking around in the cold all the time make it seem a lot colder. I enjoy the cold, but Em's hates it. She tends to just want to hibernate, while I want to go take a walk and take some pictures.<br />++couldn't find camera card, and so I just waited until the next day to finish this blog++<br />I've been listening to a bunch of old sci fi radio programs (namely Dimension X) on archive.org, and it is really awesome to hear the old radio programs on my nifty laptop in China! They have a lot of old shows available for download or streaming and they are pretty small files if you download them. We are not sure what we will be doing for the coming break. Initially we planned on going to Thailand, but have recently been invited to go with one of our friends on a trip to Cambodia and Vietnam. I would like to go to Thailand, but I am not sure if we will have the time. Emily and I are about to go and visit one of our friends Larkry (pronounced Lucky) that we met at our usual restaurant. She didn't go to college, but speaks pretty good english and likes to visit/practice with us. We are going to meet her at Starbucks as soon as I get off my lazy butt and get going. Not much else to report for now, but will try and think of something interesting later!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-4512282231156549106?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-19701734385799434002010-11-21T08:30:00.004-05:002010-11-21T08:56:23.877-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TOkhTZ7HFvI/AAAAAAAABa4/_qK6hFPN1mI/s1600/IMG_0971.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TOkhTZ7HFvI/AAAAAAAABa4/_qK6hFPN1mI/s400/IMG_0971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541997433716152050" border="0" /></a><br />Well it's been a long bit between posts, but I have been pretty busy. I played a Halloween festival here and added some pics from that. Their band is named Pumpkin and I wrote some lyrics for their song and played with them some. A lot of other bands played and were pretty good. It was called Halloween Rock Eve, but we just called it Pumpinfest. The TV tried to interview me but we ran off before they got around to me. It was really fun, and there were about 400 or so people there. I got sick for a bit but it seems to have cleared up. You can just buy antibiotics over the counter here. Not so great, but useful. We went to Hangzhou and had some adventures around West Lake, and we went to a Ningbo Conference and had lots of food and speakers. They invited me to play there but it was only 20 minutes of a tea break that they already had hired musicians for. Since I don't know any traditional Chinese music I sadly declined. I've been playing some with a band on Campus, but they are pretty terrible. Emily and I are thinking of trying to learn some traditional Chinese instrument and maybe get lessons. I went with Emily to see the new Harry Potter, didn't like it. We have been sneaking off to Starbucks for toffee nut lattes and chicken ceaser wraps. I am supposed to be judging a speech contest next month and Emily and I have both been assigned new classes to teach next week. I haven't been online much, and I have been practicing my guitar a lot. Emily and I are talking about all the stuff we want to do when we get home and we sure do miss everyone. Will try to put up some more later.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TOkhSue9UaI/AAAAAAAABaw/KcDNJ0XkvUs/s1600/IMG_0967.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TOkhSue9UaI/AAAAAAAABaw/KcDNJ0XkvUs/s400/IMG_0967.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541997422055346594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TOkhQx23rcI/AAAAAAAABao/OnnEmjmDPkQ/s1600/%25E4%25B8%2587%25E5%259C%25A3%25E6%2591%2587%25E6%25BB%259A%25E5%25A4%259C3.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/TOkhQx23rcI/AAAAAAAABao/OnnEmjmDPkQ/s400/%25E4%25B8%2587%25E5%259C%25A3%25E6%2591%2587%25E6%25BB%259A%25E5%25A4%259C3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541997388601208258" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-1970173438579943400?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-57173105660131882292010-10-24T09:03:00.003-04:002010-10-24T09:16:01.597-04:00Time seems to really fly here, and I think "How could I have crammed so much into so little time?"<br />But when I really think about it I realize I'm not doing THAT much. My classes are going well with the Thursday evening class being my favorite so far. The class is smaller so that may be it, but it just seems that the kids are more into it if you know what I mean!<br />My friend Luke, who is in a band named Pumpkin and has been instrumental (ha ha) in helping me find a music store/buying geetars, is having a music festival at his school. The band invited me to play and help them work on a song they were writing and I gladly accepted. The show is officially called Halloween Rock Eve, but Emily and I have dubbed it Pumpkinfest and that is what we will forever know it as! I was flattered that they asked and will do a 4 or 5 song solo set. I'm pretty nervous but also really excited to be doing something with music. I have been practicing pretty hard on my own, but it is really exciting to get together with them and finally have a chance to jam!<br />Emily has not felt well the past few days, we are hoping that it is just a little bug and nothing she will have to go to the hospital for. We have gone through a lot of television on DVD and streamed over the internet, but now we have just settled down to reading a bunch. I had never read much of Agatha Christie's work, but loved derivative fiction of her Hercule Poirot series. Emily got me that and some Steinbeck I was wanting and that has filled many pleasant rainy hours. It is the season for rain here in Ningbo, and we are biding our time, bustling out for groceries and hurrying back. Emily's sister is about to head out on a bunch of adventures soon, and we both wish her luck and good fortune with those. She writes about China in her own blog and is much funnier than me. I think she is one of the blogs I follow on the side bar.<br />If anyone has any reading suggestion for me than let me know as I am always happy to read a good book. I have a list on the side with what I have read the current year. I usually cap each year with a blog devoted to just the reading list so there are a few years cataloged here. To be completely honest, that's the only real reason that I have had this blog for so long. I used to enjoy venting on here from time to time, but now I just use it as a book list! Also, it is nice to have a place to put our news and sometimes a funny story or anecdote. I have REALLY tried to not be a "whiny" blog :)<br />I am off to bed now so I will see you next week at the latest!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-5717310566013188229?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-25384393350153265782010-10-17T00:23:00.002-04:002010-10-17T01:52:37.052-04:00So it is a lazy Sunday morning, and Emily is catching up on TV while I'm reading about guitars and jam bands. We have finally gotten what we think is going to be our final teaching schedule. I have classes on Monday, two on Tuesday and one class on both Wed. and Thur. It is nice to kind of have a more set schedule instead of just waiting around to see what we will teach (in suspense!). Emily went and watched a Chilean ballet last night, but I bowed out and stayed home to practice my geetar. My plan is to be good enough to play with my brother in law when I get home :)<br />One of my favorite things in China (that I honestly thought I was going to hate) is the drive to Cixi every Monday. It is really calming to just put on some music from the ipod and look out the window and see such a startling different view of China. We go past inner city, industrial centers, farms, shops, pretty much everything you can think of. It is really calming to see farmers in their fields working so early in the morning. <br />I've been reading a lot of Larry Niven recently. He has always been a fun author to read but I realized recently that he is definitely one of my favorites. I've also read a little Robert Bloch, and now I'm starting in on my Cormac McCarthy collection. The kindle is really a godsend, as there is very little English literature available here, especially in the amount that I read. And there is no way I could have brought that many books to China. <br />I really like the guitar store here but it is really far away. About an hour and fifteen minutes via bus. The owner is really nice and is looking into getting Emily a banjo. I hope she gets it so we can practice together and jam some. It is weird because we spend so much time together, but don't really do many of the same things (unless you count being on the internet as something).<br />We have had the chance to have a bunch of really good meals in China, but honestly the two that stick out most in my mind are Casa Maya, where we had some pretty good Mexican food, and McDonalds, where I had two cheeseburgers. I will never make fun of people that go to a foreign country and eat McDonalds again. I suppose it is silly, but we have definitely sampled the local cuisine by now. It was nice to have something so much like home. The only difference between McDonalds in China and in the US is that the servers are nice to you here.<br />That's all for now!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2538439335015326578?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-27068161449773782572010-09-24T09:04:00.002-04:002010-10-07T15:01:21.671-04:00Wowsa. I have not updated this in forever. Soooo, long story short:<br />We went to a Shanghai Opera, hung out with people at markets, watched someone almost fall off their scooter, went to Lowaitan (and ate FOUR entrees of Mexican food; we were very excited), Emily started cross stitching, I read a lot of books, we watched some TV (Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother mostly), made friends with the security guards by running past them and whistling like a train trying to catch some girls who left a purse in the taxi we had grabbed, played some guitar (started working on scales), joined a technomad group (fun!), danced around the apartment, visited some temples (one of which was 1,700 years old!), read a lot of funny junk online, debated maybe doing more traveling when we are done here (almost surely vetoed in honor of the bunny, but still under discussion), taught classes (I taught 5, Em’s taught 2), are planning on going to get some bikes, shopped and 5 million and 1 “cute” stores with Em’s, worked on lesson plans, tried to join QQ (mostly failed at that one...), danced around, and ate cookies and Dove bars. <br /><br />I’m not sure what we will do today, but there sure is a bunch here waiting for us! I will try to be on here more, keeping things updated and fleshing out the whole gap I just leapt in a single non-stop sentence, but I won’t make any promises! Lots of love!<br />JJ<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2706816144977378257?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-69926732923702754212010-09-18T09:24:00.000-04:002010-09-18T09:25:27.838-04:00So I have had a few crazy busy days. Emily and I have spent a couple of nice days with her sister and had some delicious meals. We had hot pot, which is absolutely amazing and is nice and hot (as the name implies). Emily and I also went with Abby to Pizza Hut! It is a “classy” date restaurant here in China with all sorts of really funky foods on the menu that they think might be American-ish like spaghetti noodles with mushrooms and bean sauce. Ick. The pizza was pretty good, though the staff was scandalized that we didn’t want any traditional pizza toppings like whole unpeeled shrimp and hot dogs. I got a sweet watch and Emily FINALLY found some yarn. Today we went adventuring after a hearty meal of cabbage and pork, cucumbers in spicy sauce, fried potatoes with dipping sauce, fried peanuts, shredded pork and celery, and mi fan. We walked pretty far and got lots of funny stares. Emily found some cool stores with nifty stuff she liked and I was the backpack pack mule. Next week we may venture out to Tianyi all on our own and possibly go on an expedition with one of Abby’s friends, Jane. Jane is very nice and lives in Abby’s building. We have met many cool people through Abby. Yesterday was super fun. We took a cab all the way to NIT and met up with a pen pal of mine whose English name is Luke. He is in a cool band called Pumpkin. We met up with him and hung out in Pumpkin’s practice space. Most of the band showed up and we got to jam and hang out with them for a while. Then they took us into town to a little guitar shop that they go to. It seems like a really insular and small (but very nice) music community here. The shop owner is good friends with them and he gave me a great deal on an acoustic guitar that was in the shop. It is a weird brand called Tanglewood from the UK. It is in pretty rough shape (the bridge had come off and is pretty sloppily reglued back on); it sounded better than all but one of the other acoustics there, and the one that sounded better was 1400 yuan, while this one was only 1000. It translates into roughly $150 (more than I would have paid in the US, but not so bad for a decent sounding guitar here in China). After that we went above the shop and jammed for just a bit in the rehearsal space the owner had set up. It was really fun. Then we went out and ate with Abby and had a sing a long at her apartment. A few days ago we went and talked with Maggie’s class. It was really surreal. They wanted photos with us and asked us to sing a Christmas song (we sang Jingle Bells). We agreed to sing to them on the condition that they sing us a traditional Chinese song. They agreed and promptly nominated one girl in the class to be the singer. She sang Celine Dion. I didn’t think it was Chinese, but didn’t argue with them. Tomorrow we go to Cixi to visit the campus and meet some students. We don’t really know what we will officially be doing, but we ahve to catch the bus at 6:50 and won’t get back until 5:30ish that afternoon. I plan on bringing the ipod and kindle :)<br />So far I only know of classes on Monday and Tuesday, as they still haven’t figured out the schedule for either Emily and I. We feel a little like frauds since we are just hanging out, the lesson plans that we have already written are long done, and it feels like we don’t really have much of a job to do. I am in no way complaining about the work not being bad, but I am ready to start doing the job I came here for so I can see what everyday life is really going to look like once classes start. I am eager to see what the year holds!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-6992673292370275421?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-55594821221163741372010-09-14T02:09:00.002-04:002010-09-14T02:15:10.023-04:00Today is a day of celebration! Emily got her computer up and running with the help of a very nice IT guy and we are back to being a two computer household. It makes me very happy and Emily wont stop dancing around the house. We are relieved to get her computer up and running so she will be less fractious but also it is good to have it as a backup. My computer has had some troubling issues the past few days with overheating and just shutting down. I'm not sure what's going on but I hope it will last the year. It will definitely get more rest with just one person using it now! I'm off to have a cuppa coffee and then maybe Em's and I will have an early dinner. We figured out how to order all on our own (without any helpful semi-english speaking person to translate) from our favorite restaurant. We are going to try a different one tonight so we can have more practice. It looks like we read the schedule wrong and wont be teaching for yet another week so I should have plenty of time to have awesome lesson plans all laid out. I also heard from my Chinese friend Luke and I may have someone to play music with soon. So it is exciting all around. I added lots of pictures to my facebook so everyone can check them out there.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-5559482122116374137?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-18454966075993895872010-09-12T22:37:00.001-04:002010-09-12T22:39:16.618-04:00We had an amazing dinner out last night with Abby and one of our Chinese friends named Maggie. She took us to a restaurant that specializes in Northern Chinese cooking which is predominantly spicy. I have NEVER had food that spicy! We had tofu with peppers and bacon in chili oil, beef with peppers and onions in chili oil, frog in the hottest chili oil concoction I have ever tasted, and cauliflower with ham, green onions, and green peppers with chili oil. It was a spicy meal. I wish I had eaten ice cream after! Supposedly I really like Northern Chinese cooking because I like dumplings and I like spicy. Another of our friends named Nina took us out and said I had a "Northern soul." That may be because I ate two plates of dumplings. We also had delicious beef joints that you got to wear gloves to eat. You picked all the meat off and then sucked the marrow out with a straw! Yum!!! We also were brave and rode the bus and a taxi all by ourselves! Now I have to go with Emily to get a bike, but I will add more later.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-1845496607599389587?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-83207605655999900852010-09-09T07:43:00.002-04:002010-09-09T07:49:35.979-04:00Today has been a very exciting day for Emily and I. We got a great lunch out at a restaurant our friend Maggie took us to, met some nice people at a convenience store, and had a great dinner with our department and the vice pres. of our school. The food was wonderful and so was the company. While the beginning of our trip was fraught with terror and uncertainty at all of the unknowns, the past few days have become quite easy. We have met and discussed most of our classes and Emily and I have written out our lesson plans. The whole thing seems to be coming together. Saturday Emily's sister is coming to Ningbo so we are very excited to have a familiar face around. Emily and I can't wait to see her and our hearts are already with her on the VERY long flight over. I have finally started catching up on my Doctor Who watching and Emily on her Dugger TV. So it is all coming together! Emily is excited because she is going to get some yarn soon. She wanted me to put that in. Also, I am finally getting used to my Kindle. I was not getting along with it, but it is starting to seem like a true friend (though still not as good as a print book).<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-8320760565599990085?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-47687161910698359422010-09-06T09:52:00.003-04:002010-09-06T10:02:01.296-04:00Today was very exciting. Emily and I started our teacher training and met some of the other people that we would be teaching with. They all seem very nice and we may have made some cute couple friends. Emily is excited to be around other people who speak English! We also bought the potable water for our apartment on our own for the first time. There is a complicated ticket/delivery system in place, but it is much simpler to just hand the nice water man cash. Then it is all done! Emily is still going to sleep VERY early in the evenings, but she managed to stay up all the way to 9pm today. She was quite sleepily proud of it. Dinner was an exciting affair at the local "hamburger" stand, where they serve chicken sandwiches and chicken nuggets with sides that include: fish on stick, corn on stick, fries on stick, or chicken leg. I think that nothing complements a chicken sandwich "hamburger" more than a chicken leg. It was super exciting because we got "western style" drinks. THEY HAD ICE!!! Mmmmm...ice. Then we bought ice cream and danced a little bit. The teacher training was very informative, and seems to be very well thought out and set up. The only downside is that, as we are the newbies, Emily and I will have to spend one day a week at a different campus. That doesn't sound too bad until you realize that the bus to there leaves at 7am and returns at 5pm. There is only one bus. The ride is over an hour. I teach 6 classes that day! It won't really be all that bad though since for the most part all of our lessons and plans are laid out for us. The head of our department knows her stuff and really made the process interesting and fun (or at least that's how it looks on paper!). It is time for bed now as I have another exciting day in China ahead of me tomorrow!<br />Love,<br />JJ<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-4768716191069835942?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-9663309541776289952010-09-04T02:11:00.001-04:002010-09-04T02:11:36.461-04:00<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;">While there have been enough interesting english translations here that we don't even notice them anymore, this one caught our eye.&nbsp; It came on the back of a shower poof we bought yesterday:<br><br>"Add some shower juice is it is it make foam to be abundant all over to wipe away, smooth and incomparable before taking a shower. Is it carry on keep-fit massage to whole body, let skin gloss extraordinarily of you happy easily to equal to, fine and smooth and rich flexibly, like bud being generally pleasant."<br><br>I just want to shower with it right away!!!<br><br>We have been unusually productive (for us) today, getting lots of the house clean and the rest of our stuff unpacked and stowed away.&nbsp; The house is looking good, and we are all full of funky snacks we bought at the grocery store.&nbsp; The plan is to head out to the streets tonight and hit up a noodle shop while shopping for a pillow for Em's and a watch for me.&nbsp; I REALLY need one!&nbsp; It is weird how I became dependent on my phone for the time, and I never realized how much I checked it.&nbsp; I'm off to bring in our laundry from the porch, so that's it for now.<br>JJ<br></td></tr></table><br> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-966330954177628995?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-41327429599250809192010-09-03T08:31:00.001-04:002010-09-03T08:31:07.511-04:00<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;">This is a test to see if blog via email works in case my sites get blocked again. Hope this shows up!<br>JJ<br></td></tr></table><br> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-4132742959925080919?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-16331860849820434542010-09-03T08:16:00.002-04:002010-09-03T08:25:19.479-04:00So we are finally in China! It has been a rough week but things are starting to look up. Today was filled with unpleasant medical tests but we did get to meet our boss who is super nice. We also finally got internet up and running. It is sporadic at best as many sites are blocked, but I will try to keep updating as we go along. Emily is sad because her mac cannot get on the interwebs here, so she will have to use my computer until we figure that out. The two of us have just started getting used to the time difference and hopefully have finished with the jet lag. Eating and shopping have been an adventure as everyone seems to know "Hello" and "bye bye" but that is about it. I brought waaaaay to much stuff, but it was freaky leaving our house, car, and rabbit at home so I overcompensated by bringing too much of the wrong things. I already wish I had more books! The kindle is nice, but I just can't get into it like I can a print book. The weather here is incredibly hot and humid, but everyone is very nice. I got a nice little fan shaped like a frog that keeps us nice and refreshed. We are debating setting up a common blog so that we don't repeat stories so I will let you know if that happens. No pics so far, but they will be forthcoming. Feel free to email us as we love hearing from people and miss everyone and everything. I got super exited on the bus today watching the Chinese version of American Idol when a contestant sang a Carrie Underwood song. I MUST be hurting for american culture :)<br /><br />That's it for now, more when I have the chance.<br />Love,<br />JJ<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-1633186084982043454?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-7899678555386678872010-08-29T01:11:00.003-04:002010-08-29T01:15:06.581-04:00We have one more day left here in Seattle and then we are on our way. The visit here has been awesome with some all time fave Jeremy spots checked and checked again. We hit up the sci fi museum which is totally badass, ate loads of good food, had a comfortable bed, went to an interstellar travel supply store, rode a boat, took some pics, and generally decompressed after the emotionally violent move out. I already miss my family but I think that this is going to be a great adventure that will be a defining point in my life. Succeed or fail it will be an adventure! Emily is sleeping quite soundly now and it is comforting to be with someone you love so much and can share such exciting adventures with. Thanks for everyone's help getting us out of Greensboro, we couldn't have done it without you. <br />J.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-789967855538667887?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-15381696029302422642010-08-24T02:34:00.002-04:002010-08-24T02:39:10.737-04:00It's like about 3am and I am wiped. We have been frantically getting stuff done and I am almost at the breaking point. I think when we get to China we will be so relived to have just made it that we won't even be nervous! We got all of our prescriptions and stuff today, and we are moving the stuff we are keeping to Ma's tomorrow. The plan so far is to be out by Wed. at 5. Then we should be crashing at our friend Dottie's and she will take us to the airport on Thur. We did a "planning" pack of all our stuff and it seems to mostly fit, so that's nice. I'm working in the office and Emily just crashed. Just wanted to put this up so everyone can be in the know. We sure have felt a lot of love from friends and family recently and it has been so nice. It makes it a little harder to leave to be honest. I think the hardest thing is leaving my niece. She is so wonderful and beautiful. I have to keep packing now, but I will update as soon as I have another chance.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-1538169602930242264?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-65637487416679221552010-08-16T18:51:00.001-04:002010-08-16T18:52:28.213-04:00One and a half weeks before I move to China. Tons left to do. Not a moment to spare. Netflix adds every season of Stargate to their watch instant. Sigh.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-6563748741667922155?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-24673169539043515922010-08-13T23:24:00.002-04:002010-08-14T00:26:19.372-04:00So I am supposed to be getting stuff ready for the yard sale, but instead I'm watching Star Trek movies, playing with the old Palm Pilot I just found, and eating onion rings and whoppers. As procrastination goes, it couldn't get much better. We are in no way ready for this yard sale, but SOMEBODY (not naming names) thought it would be better to have it THIS Sat. Oh well. We can have another if we have to. Everything seems to e coming together. We have most of our luggage, we found me shoes for a year (no small task), and all our papers seem to be in order. I have been really nervous about the move, but i have hit a pretty calm point as I realize that whatever happens, if I have my mind right, it will be all good. Or, in the words of Capt. Picard, "Cherish every moment, because it will never come again." I think I may be the first person ever to quote Generations. Sigh.<br /><br />I am not sure how often this will be updated, as the great chinese firewall puts the ixnay on ooglegay apps. Not that it would shock any of you since this is not updated very often at all. I'm looking into updates via email, or maybe just starting a new blog. The only reason I have kept this one is just for a sense of continuity. If anyone has any suggestions let me know. <br /><br />My last day at Starbucks was this week. It was a little tough to be leaving and I still don't think I completely believe it or have processed it. I can't even believe that it's only 2 weeks until we leave. Yikes. I am hoping to get out and see people and not just spend my time obsessing over what is not or not going with me. Right now I'm trying to catch up on my reading to do list and rereading books I particularly want (i.e. Sterling since he is not so available on da Kindle). I'm having a hard time getting connected with my Kindle, it just doesn't seem like reading a book. Emily loves hers and I am sure I will get used to it. The limited availability of english material in china and the difficulty in procuring enough to feed my voracious appetite makes Kindle the only sane option. <br /><br />I finished my electronic music class this summer and recorded a nice little ditty that I like pretty well. The teachers were very nice about me going to China and encouraged me to come back. It's funny but these recording engineering classes are really the first time I've ever LIKED school. The people are all kind of into the same stuff I am, and we all can get along and appreciate each other, even if some of our ideas are kind of weird. I am taking along a little digital studio to china so I can have something to record on. Maybe I will even get to record some cool Chinese bands. My email friend Luke in China has a band called Pumpkin that I cannot wait to hear.<br /><br />My movie just finished and that means I have to do some more work, or at least shift the piles around so emily will think I was being productive (until she reads this of course). That's it for now. I will try to find out what communication format I will be using to blog from China with in the next few days and put it up on here. We don't leave Greensboro until the 26th, so I have some time. <br />love<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2467316953904351592?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-19833610838040391152010-06-22T12:57:00.001-04:002010-06-22T12:57:12.776-04:00I just shook hands with Larry Gatlin!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-1983361083804039115?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-26484540717787750182010-06-20T15:10:00.001-04:002010-06-20T15:10:57.512-04:00I just shook Pete Seeger&#39;s hand! It was awesome!!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2648454071778775018?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-17088009201171991612010-05-31T20:49:00.002-04:002010-05-31T20:55:38.127-04:00I got a free chicken samich today. It was chicken, and samich. Emily got it for me from the store. It came with a cup of mints, free coffee until Jan., and one free ice cream coupon. Sweet. I worked muchas today. It was not so fun. But free samich made it better. Emily says she doesn't want to work this summer. I say, "Bad Emily!" But really I just want her to be happy. Emily dislikes work but also dislikes frugality. It does not usually work out so well. I am watching a great documentary about Athens Georgia during the 80s music scene boom. I want to move there after China, after moving back to gboro to finish recording college, after getting puppy. Pylon is sweet. Emily made a nice monster doll. She hopes to sell it for cost of living expenses for the summer. It may not work out. Cornbread does nothing all day. He has decided warm weather is not for animals wearing furry rabbit skin coats. I am selling lots of books on amazon. Let me know if you want something before I sell it. I am tired. There is homework to be done that I am putting off until tomorrow. I think that it is perhaps time for ice cream. Chunky monkey here I come.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-1708800920117199161?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-7393702971665600982010-05-16T21:34:00.001-04:002010-05-16T21:35:42.424-04:00<object data="http://flipnote.hatena.com/js/flipplayer_s.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="279" height="240"><param name="movie" value="http://flipnote.hatena.com/js/flipplayer_s.swf"></param><param name="FlashVars" value="did=51A73D40CE3160BE&amp;file=3160BE_09BDAA32ED618_002"></param></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-739370297166560098?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-7957460333333932852010-05-16T00:05:00.002-04:002010-05-16T00:13:25.116-04:00Netflix has added X-Files to its watch instant and I have been hooked! It is so much fun to re watch all these great shows. The big news is that Emily graduated! It was a fun little ceremony and her ma and sis came to see it. We ate a ginormous Chinese Buffet (literally the whole thing!) to celebrate. We are still waiting to hear word on our work visas for China, and are trying to get prepped. I spent most of this evening going through books, DVDs, and VHS trying to get rid of stuff. I have SOOOOOO many books. It is redonkulous. I recently got a kindle as there is a dearth of english language books in China for me to read. Emily and I have spent many an hour over the past week trying to build me a nice kindle library. I don't care for it much, but need to get used to it. There's just something about paper that is so much better. Emily assures me I will grow accustomed to the little "flash" it makes when you flip pages. Cornbread is perturbed by all of the hubbub. More news when I get it!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-795746033333393285?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-21402732605346510232010-05-06T02:40:00.003-04:002010-05-06T02:55:53.201-04:00So it has been a while, but I'm not gonna cry about it. Tons has happened but I really just wanted to get on here and write how much I LOOOOVE the Mountain Goats. Their music reminds me why I write, play, and listen to any audio format. I think "This Year" should be required listening in school. It would have helped me :)<br /><br />Things that start with "C," part 1:<br />Coffee. I spilled coffee all over my keyboard about 2 months ago. Many keys do not work. It is sad. Brevity good. Smile.<br /><br />Things that start with "C," part 2:<br />Certification. I just got certified at work as a "Coffee Master," which also starts with c, but lets not beat this horse to death. It was pretty cool and I got some fun gear, but it is really just a way to get me to more productively sell coffee. I really enjoyed learning the information though, and it did remind me that I actually had a passion for coffee, which is why I wanted to work for Sbux in the first place (besides the whole benefits thing).<br /><br />Things that start with "C," part 3:<br />Celebration! Emily and I had a fantastic reception and were delighted by how many family members were able to attend. We hope everyone had just as much fun as we did! It really was wonderful getting to see everyone and the whole thing came off just as we wanted.<br /><br />Things that start with "C," part 4:<br />Class. I take my last exam this semester in the morning, but the insomnia is kicking in. After that I am free for a week, then I am blessed to start Electronic Music! Synths and pro tools, midi and macs, here I come.<br /><br />Things that start with "C," part 5:<br />China. We are still waiting on our work visas to be approved before I make the whole shebang public at work and such, but so far it is looking very good. I am communicating with a cool cat named Luke who is gonna help me shop for guitars when I get there :)<br /><br />Things that start with "C," part 6:<br />Computer. Mitch got the laptop running, so I should be writing this on that, but I was in the office anyway... It works well and I have most of my stuff transferred, so now I need to get this one to ma.<br /><br />That's all for now.<br /><br />It's the pirate's life for me.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2140273260534651023?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-6516264522565259662010-01-16T08:51:00.002-05:002010-01-16T09:03:05.924-05:00So it was our final day in Jamaica. It was a beautiful day. First we started with a nice leisurely breakfast and then sat on the beach digesting for a few hours. The sun was out, and all was right with the world. By about the third drink I decided seashell hunting was in order. I found none. We read and sunned and had much fun. The resort had a beach jeopardy game that we handily won. Yessss. The trip to the luminous lagoon worked out and we scarfed some burgers and hopped into the super nice taxi. I had been a little worried about it because most taxis are corollas or nissan sunnys, but this one was the driver's personal suv. Sweet. The driver was a regular resort bus driver but had her son drive us down there. He was a little younger than us and a really cool guy. I felt a little bad because it was a hour and a half drive down there, and hour of sitting for him, and then an hour and a half back. He played the radio and told us stuff about the "real" Jamaica. It was pretty fun. In fact, he and Emily hit it off discussing the ins and outs of Snape's role in Harry Potter. It was pretty cool. The luminous lagoon was absolutely amazing. Disturbance in the water made all the little bio luminescent organisms flare up. We got to swim in the water, and it was like you were glowing. Each movement made the water sparkle and shimmer, leaving trails of light in the water. When you liften your hand/leg/beard out of the water all the little creatures would flare like sparks. To make them glow bright, the lagoon is totally dark. Floating on your back and looking at the stars reflected by brilliant points of light in the water was stunning. It is probably one of the most moving and amazing things I have ever seen. I feel like I can't describe it well enough to do it justice, so I have sort of stumbled about with it. Emily said it was like Avatar in real life. It is silly, but that is how all of natural Jamaica feels. Beautiful. I have to go pack now, but I will try to add some details later. <br />Love<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-651626452256525966?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-7130108934695320332010-01-15T10:08:00.001-05:002010-01-15T10:53:04.878-05:00So I got a little lazy, and this is my update for the past two days. Let's see, on Wed (day 5) Em's and I had a hearty breakfast (first the hotel brought us breakfast in bed, but we scoff at just one breakfast. So we went down and ate another!), sat on the beach, chased the surf, and looked for seashells. I also met this man named Carlton, who said he was my friend. He was not. I bought a drum and a cup and even brought the guy lunch (against resort rules). He gave me a necklace "for free" but all of his "handmade" items I later found at the regular tourist trap shops for half the price. Sigh. I thought we had something Carlton... 5 or 6 cups of coffee (and one nap) later, we caught the bus to the catamaran. It was a little rainy, but rum punch has a way of making every stormy boat ride into the best one! Emily got a little sick, but I was too busy laughing at a) people falling over, b) people drunkenly puking, c) people falling over more, and (of course) d) people falling over. It was soooo much fun. I just kept on drinking and dancing. When we got to the harbor we jumped off the boat and swam around. One drunk lady kept trying to float upside down, but we wouldn't let her. Emily was super excited because we got to take quality underwater photos of ourselves and also unsuspecting tourist butts. Good times. We finally got back on board and went home. One thing that was cool was that the catamaran launched from the first hotel built in Jamaica. It was really old and a little dilapidated, but was supremely awesome. It made you just want to go around and explore. It really wasn't that old, but being 10 feet off the ocean and predominantly open to the elements tends to wear on a place. Then we napped. Then we ate. Dinner was at the final restaurant in the hotel and was not very impressive. The food here has been weird, either it's awesome or it sucks. There is not much in between. So a lot of times it is a gamble. But the nice part about it is you can just keep on ordering whatever you want. <br />addendum: After dinner we went to bed, but woke up at 2am hungry and thirsty. So we went downstairs to the cantina and had hamburgers and french fries and sweet delicious Ting. Mmmmm...<br /><br /><br />Day 6<br />We awoke to a belly busting breakfast. Then I groaned for about 20 minutes. Emily went and sat on the beach while I napped for a bit, then I joined her. The drinks they serve are a little heavy handed on the alcohol, so we had to pace ourselves. The seller on the beach didn't have that much great stuff (I'm not sure if I explained in an earlier post, but each day a different local vendor gets to bring some items and set them up on the beach for us to peruse at our leisure. It' s cool because it helps local economy, and it is an easy / lazy way to get people presents). Emily had gone off to have brunch (the meal between breakfast and lunch here) and this guy comes paddling up on a surfboard with a wooden box mounted in the front and a "seat" in the back. So it was like a little flat bottom kayak. In the box he had tons of shells laid out. I was not so interested (I have my own shell pursuits thank you) when he lifted one to his lips and blew it like a big ol horn. I had to have one. Mine doesn't sound so much like a majestic horn as a mortally wounded donkey, but I will keep practicing. While I was doing that Emily was eating. Just as I got back, triumphantly waving my shell, she was mopping up the last drop of katsup with her last french fry, and immediately began asking about dinner. But it was time for shopping!!! I wasn't very excited about it (I'm not really into "things") but I couldn't keep emily away. So we loaded up and headed out. The driver first stopped at a local market with "homemade" items before taking us out to the real shopping center. I immediately got screwed on a purchase. Apparently my beard/face says two things to Jamaicans:<br />1. This guy is retarded.<br />2. He REEALLLLY wants to buy your pot.<br />When in fact only number one is true, that still doesn't stop them from offering me pot constantly. But I am easily duped and feel bad for sellers. Emily says that offering more than the asking price is "bad bargaining" but I feel guilty sometimes. Once we got to the real shopping center we picked up some t shirts, and some delicious beer ice cream. I loved it. I also got some souvenirs for peeps, and a steel drum!!! It sounds pretty awesome and I played and danced around with a shop lady. I wanted a bag from Jamaica too, so I made Emily bargain one down for me. It is sweet, with multiple pockets, rasta colors, a little thing that says "star space" and other choice accoutrements! She got it for me for $24, down from the original asking price of $27. I offered $ 30, but Emily thought that was the wrong plan and took over. We arrived home spent and dirty. The sad news yesterday was that we had planned all week to do Dunn's River Falls on friday. Then we noticed the board that said "Dunn's River Falls Everyday!!!" in big bright letters, and underneath in much smaller letters "except Friday." We were both a little heartbroken, because we already missed the reggae dance class (during the wedding), but there are bigger things in life to think about. Plus they have bacon, so all is not lost. We ate a big dinner and were going to check out the band (who has almost 70 friends on myspace, despite the staffs assurances that they were "very famous in Jamaica") but instead we watched the waves crash from our balcony and went to bed. So that catches us up for now, and I will try to add one tonight as well. <br />Peace, love, etc.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-713010893469532033?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-65090290724226727602010-01-12T22:48:00.000-05:002010-01-12T23:05:05.066-05:00So the biggest news is Emily and I are married! It was so much fun. We woke up this morning and got all prettied up (Emily got her hair done, nails did, etc.) and headed down. The weather was a little overcast and rainy so we did it in the old 1940s dining room (it reminded me of the Arlington, which made it even more special). They got us all married up with an awesome Jamaican minister, then we ate lots of cake. We even did the Jamaican "feeding the bird" photos. It was hilarious! They all loved our smurf cake toppers, and we even got props on our wedding music. Here's the track list (it was pretty short):<br />1. "It's Only Time" by Magnetic Fields<br />2. "Morning Sigh" by Health (the local one)<br />3. "Ring of Gold" by the Melodians<br />4. "Question" by Old 97s<br />Then we went out on a sweet photo shoot. The photographer was really fun and let us do silly things (i.e. Emily lying on piano, me with my butt in the air, Emily attempting to carry me, etc.) Trust me, you will see them! I have never seen Emily look more beautiful, and it was absolutely magical.<br />Then we went back to our room and napped (10:00 am weddings are hard, especially if you have french toast and bacon, but only two plates, for breakfast). Then they brought us champagne and chocolate (which emily licked off the plate, she has a problem...), and also fun "just married" t-shirts. While we were at dinner they turned down the bed and sprinkled flowers on it. Nice. Tomorrow they will bring us breakfast in bed and then we get massages. Life is pretty hard here for us :)<br />This afternoon we mostly puttered around and took photos, but did manage to catch a fantastic steel band this evening. I wanted one of their cds but they wanted $30 for it and it didn't even have the song I wanted so I passed on it. They were pretty awesome though. Another cool thing that happened today is that the photographer is also a musician and we started chatting about music (he was the one that liked the melodians). He invited us maybe (he had to check to make sure it was happening) to a locals club on Friday to check out the best local reggae/gospel/etc. talent. It sounds pretty cool and I hope we get to go. Tomorrow we have some shopping trip and then the catamaran cruise. We may try to slip in a little snorkeling. Going on the nine mile tour really whet my appetite to see more of the "real" jamaica, but I doubt that the shopping trip will take us outside normal tourist zones. But I can watch it while we drive through! That's pretty much it. The people in the information/internet center all got a pretty big kick out of me asking Emily just now if we did anything today besides get married. It sounds I little silly I suppose. Off to sleep now, have to get well rested to munch up that big ol breakfast! I think I've gained 50lbs here...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-6509029072422672760?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-87610402012139659662010-01-11T22:49:00.002-05:002010-01-11T23:03:33.603-05:00It's pretty late so I won't write too much. Today was crazy busy and I am exhausted. Nine Mile is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Jamaica is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Today's Lion Zion Bus (wink) carried us through a city, tiny towns, beautiful rain forest, fields, pastures, gorgeous island streams and majestic mountains. The drive was a little harrowing but our driver did a great job and we all came out okay. Marley's mountain home was simply stunning. We rested on his favorite meditating rock, saw his grave, checked out some gold records, etc. But by far the most amazing part was just being outside in such an amazing place. It was a spiritual fuel. That sort of sounds silly, but I believe it 100%.<br /><br />It was pretty chilly today (75 or so) and Em's and I debated about wearing a hoodie. Everyone here was bundled up in their finest winter gear. Our host this morning just shivered almost the whole time she was having breakfast. I love it here.<br /><br />Tomorrow I get married. Eek. I'm a little nervous just because it sort of crept up on me :)<br />I think that's gonna be it tonight. I am so dang tired. Emily and I are having a fantastic time, and seeing some incredible things. It is just nice to have such a total validation of our idea of having a magic wonderful wedding here. The trip has been great and even though some of the marriage stuff is just formality, icing on our proverbial cake relationship :), it is going to be wonderful to keep going on this trip with someone I absolutely love and adore. Things sometimes get rough, but I know that everything is going to be all right. (thanks bob)<br />Love and _Vm<br />jj<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-8761040201213965966?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-44902970174122462812010-01-10T21:46:00.002-05:002010-01-10T22:06:22.215-05:00Hello all! It's day two in Jamaica, and what a great day it was. Em's and I slept in and then opened up our beautiful double doors onto the balcony to have a little blue mountain coffee. Then we came down for breakfast, then a nap, then a snack, more coffee, made some reservations and appointments, took a nap, laid in the sun, napped had a snack, ate lunch, more sun, more napping, ate again, etc. I think you are beginning to get the picture. The day was slow and wonderful. It is storming a little, but that just adds some excitement! We ate dinner at the asian fusion restaurant (whose chef was the hardest person to understand ever!). I do well with the Jamaican patois, even though the staff seems to English it up a little with the other hotel guests (who are all "from foreign"), but the chef was from Vietnam and had a Vietnamese/Jamaican accent. Very tough. Her food was great though. There was hardly anyone in the place since it is just some no wall gazebos jutting out over the ocean on a little platform. It was a bit cold and windy (also some rain) but totally manageable. I ordered the beef appetizer three times it was so good! I think that is what prompted the chef to come give me her recipe! The highlight was a couple falling in the rain. I know that is evil, but it was hilarious. <br /><br />One thing that Emily said I should put up that I almost forgot about was a story from the bus ride. I have been offered weed twice, but the first was by far the most memorable. The day we got here I had been in heavily heated / air conditioned planes, hotel rooms, buses, etc. all day. That said, once we got to the immigration and custom line I was quite thirsty. The resort had a waiting room with free red stripe which I happily gulped. What I didn't think about was the bumpy, swervy, horn blowing 3 hour ride to the hotel. When the bus made a pit stop halfway through I was more than greatful. As I rushed into the boys room to pee I was also thinking about getting a Ting (local JA grapefruit soda) on the way out. Beer doesn't really quench thirst. I peed so long that eventually it was just me and the bus driver tinkling merrily away. He leaned over and said, "Hey mon, you like Bob Marley?" I was startled, and the conversation went a little like this:<br />"Huh?"<br />"I said, do ya like Bob Marley mon?"<br />"Who doesn't!" I exclaimed<br />"No mon, I mean BOB MARLEY," this last was accompanied by the international "I'm puffing on a joint" sign language.<br />"Oooohhh." I said. Then stood there looking startled. Keep in mind we are both still peeing.<br />"I can get it for ya mon, I got the best, jus' let me know."<br />"Your a good bus driver." Yes, that's what I said. He looked at me like I was retarded. I just nodded and said, "Real good. Thanks. Yeah. I'm good."<br />By this point I notice that I have stopped peeing, put up and stuff, flushed, and turned to face<br />him. It is always weird to talk to someone peeing anyway, but acting mildy "special" and then continuing the converstion mere inches from a urinal was just bizarre. I quicklty washed up and left, but still radiated shame. I am not cool.<br />I bought a Ting on the way out and chugged it in the bus. I tipped him quite well when we got off, thankful for his offer (maybe he thought I was cool enough) but embarrassed by my own lack of smoothness in the situation. <br /><br />That's about all. Tomorrow we go to mecca, BOB MARLEY'S birth/burial site! I am super psyched. I just finished a book about the making of Exodus and really wish I had brought my reggae rough guide. I even impressed (sort of) a staff person here with my rootsical knowledge. Maybe other peeps think just knowing marley is enough... Emily is ready to go so that's it for now. I'll try to add some tomorrow.<br /><br />_Vm = it means peace!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-4490297017412246281?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-34505971475267178212010-01-09T22:06:00.002-05:002010-01-09T22:21:03.847-05:00Emily and I woke up early this morning, had a snack and shower and they caught the hotel shuttle to the airport. Puffing my last preflight ciggy, I met a nice girl who had been trapped in airports for three days going from London to Vegas. It was 5:40 in the morning and she was sipping a beast light (ugh) and puffing away. Once on the plane I was psyched to listen to the dub playlist I had made for myself, but found that my cheap headphones didn't quite have the bass fidelity to make the lower sounds audible over airplane roar. It was all good though as I had loaded a lot of Miles. There is no better music to fly to than Miles! The plane was almost empty so we each got our own row. I spent most of the flight daydreaming about meeting cool musicians and thinking of ways to record stuff. Most specifically Craig and I, but also Mitch. I think it would be good practice and he really sounds great. I still haven't heard back from my "advisor" at GTCC yet, but I am only slightly worried. I alluded to going back to school in the last post but didn't go into detail. I am missing the first week of classes (oops) but as soon as I get back from Jamaica I am starting the recording engineering program at GTCC!. I signed up late so I didn't get all of the classes I wanted, but I'm excited about the ones I did get. The advisor guy I spoke to was helpful and cool.<br /><br />So Emily and I have gotten in and gotten settled. Our room is awesome and I am already so full of fried calamari and rum that I can't even see straight. We got in around 11 and then took an adventurous bus ride across the island. Our hotel is really old and cool, and I already have a nickname, Jesus. I flash the pope sign to the staff like it is a gang sign and they all seem to get quite a kick out of it! We ate, took a nap, ate, took a tour, ate, drank some, ate and then napped again. In just a bit we will go back to eat again. I think I will look like a big balloon when we are married. Nothing is going to fit! :)<br /><br />Not sure what our plans are for tomorrow, but it is sure to be fun. The place is beautiful, but it is definitely not "real" Jamaica. Hopefully we will get to see some of that, but we may able to. The drive up was amazing, and the mix of almost unbelievable wealth and poverty was insane. I felt like I was in some post-cyberpunk novel! Goats and digicell my friend!<br /><br />Emily says it is time to eat again, so I suppose that is it for now. I hope we can go see Marley's burial site tomorrow (got to pay respek) and will try to get online again in the evening and update. Don't worry there are lots of pics! Dottie, James, and Mary Ann gave Em's and I a sweet waterproof camera that I have been lugging around snapping everything in sight. <br />Love til next time<br /> _Vm<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-3450597147526717821?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-92137527311497446272010-01-08T19:01:00.001-05:002010-01-08T19:01:25.356-05:00So I have been amassing notes along the way for a huge monster blog and figured I might as well get them out of the way since I am getting married. This may not do them justic<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>e but it is all the light of day that they will probably ever see. I just put up the annual reading list and while I have no interest in going through an commenting on all of them I do have some thoughts on some of the more recent selections. First off:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Gilead </span>by Marilynne Robinson is one of the better books I have read this year. The story of a dying small town Kansas preacher who leaves a journal for his young son to read is WAY better than some of the other supposedly awesome books I was supposed to read. It is funny, but I found more spirituality in this than in any of the stuff from the Hare Krishna festival. That may sound like a weird statement, but I suppose I am always searching for something that moves me. And not just catharsis, but serious movement. A new angle or way to look at things. The book made me pull out my bible. Which should tell you something.<br /><br />Another great book i read recently was Genesis by Poul Anderson. He is one of my fave sci-fi writers and this book was pretty out there and awesome. It was admittedly a little abstract, but there were some really cool parts. Here is an excerpt that sums up in a pretty easy way the timeline of earth compressed into a year. I have seen others like this, but Anderson's writing and the simple beauty and wonder of so much time compressed into meaningful chunks made me smile.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span>"Lets split<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span></span>the difference and call the date three-point-six-five-billion B.C.E....then one day stands for ten million years. Life began when January the first did, and this is midnight December the thirty first, the stroke of the new year. So-along about April, single cels developed, nuclei, ribosomes, and the rest. The cells got together, algae broke oxygen free into the atmosphere, and by November the first trilobites were crawling over the sea floor. Life invaded the land around Thanksgiving. The dinosaurs appeared early in December. They perished on Christmas Day. The hominids parted company with the apes at noon today. Primitive Homo sapiens showed up maybe fifteen minutes ago. Recorded history had lasted less than one minute. And here they were, measuring the universe, ranging the Solar System, planning missions to the stars."<br />Poul Anderson, Genesis p. 16-17.<br /><br />It's stuff like that that makes me like sci fi. The thought and ideas that make you go, "cool." I hve in my notes the thought that I need to expand upon this, i.e. the connection of futurist Sterling with the ubiquity of iphones or rfids, or the connection of Gibson to the interwebs, but I don't think anyone but me would be really all that interested in it. Maybe it is something I need to find a stoner friend to talk with who would be equally amused/amazed. I was gonna write a whole bunch of other stuff but it is pretty late and we need to head out. So here are the brief versions.<br />-We loved Avatar. It was pretty<br />-Audrey is the cutest baby that ever existed. Period.<br />-I love my synth<br />-My professor Parke Puterbaugh wrote a badass book about Phish. It were good.<br />-I am taking classes at GTCC (more later)<br />-I sure am excited to be marrying emily. Got my dub mix all ready to go!<br />-We nailed down the reception location and date<br />-I bought a classical guitar for $15 (thanks Goodwill!)<br /><br />There's more but emily is insisting I finish packing and get in the car. So love to everyone that sees this and I hope I see you all soon.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-9213752731149744627?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-83339735904735155292010-01-08T11:52:00.001-05:002010-01-08T11:54:41.168-05:00So this is the 3rd or so year I have done this. It really helps to have a nice little list you can check back on when your memory fails you. Plus it is an easy way to update! So here it is...<br /><ul><li>The Sky People, S.M. Stirling</li><li>Sweet Chaos: The Grateful Dead's American Adventure, Carol Brightman</li><li>Dr. Identity or Farewell to Plaquedemia, D. Harlan Wilson</li><li>Phish: The Biography, Parke Puterbaugh</li><li>Prince: A Thief in the Temple, Brian Morton</li><li>Ororo: Before the Storm, Marc Sumerak &amp; Carlo Barberi</li><li>Yokkaiden Vol. 2, Nina Matsumoto</li><li>Gilead, Marilynne Robinson</li><li>Genesis, Poul Anderson</li><li>Consider the Lobster, And Other Essays, David Foster Wallace</li><li>99 More Unuseless Japanese Inventions: The Japanese Art of Chingodu, Kenji Kawakami</li><li>The Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics, annotations by David Dodd, foreward by Robert Hunter</li><li>Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, Barbara Kingsolver</li><li>The Amazing Spider-Man: Election Day, Guggenheim, Romita Jr., &amp; Kitson</li><li>Shadow of the Scorpion: A Novel of the Polity, Neal Asher</li><li>Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1: Power and Responsibility, Brian Micheal Bendis, Mark Bagley</li><li>Dutchman's Flat, Louis L'Amour</li><li>The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Volume 1, ed. by Jonathan Strahan</li><li>The Big Khan, Neil Kleid, Nicolas Cinquegrani</li><li>Tomorrowland: 10 Stories About the Future, compiled by Micheal Cart</li><li>The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Volume 2, ed. by Jonathan Strahan</li><li>There Ain't No Bugs On Me, Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Bruce Whatley</li><li>A.D. New Orleans After the Deluge, Josh Neufeld</li><li>Burn, James Patrick Kelly</li><li>Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!. Scott Morse</li><li>Space Boy, Orson Scott Card</li><li>A War of Gifts, Orson Scott Card</li><li>Generation A, Douglas Coupland</li><li>West of Dodge, Louis L'Amour</li><li>Clubbing, Andi Watson &amp; Josh Howard</li><li>Brass Man, Neal Asher</li><li>The Skinner, Neal Asher</li><li>Man-Kzin Wars IX, Niven, Anderson, Chafe, &amp; Colebatch</li><li>Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?, Neil Gaiman &amp; Andy Kubert</li><li>In the Garden of Iden, Kage Baker</li><li>The Collected Stories of Robert Silverberg Volume Four: Trips 1972-73, Robert Silverberg</li><li>Living With the Dead, Rock Scully with David Dalton</li><li>The Water of Life: A Tale of the Grateful Dead, Alan Trist &amp; Jim Carpenter</li><li>Prador Moon, Neal Asher</li><li>The Hunter, Richard Stark &amp; Darwyn Cooke</li><li>Hondo, Louis L'Amour</li><li>Concrete: Fragile Creature, Paul Chadwick</li><li>The Empress of Mars, Kage Baker</li><li>The Walk West: A Walk Across America 2, Peter &amp; Barbara Jenkins</li><li>Embroideries, Marjane Satrapi</li><li>Dark Horse: The Private Life of George Harrison, Geoffrey Giuliano</li><li>One More Saturday Night: Reflections with the Grateful Dead, Dead Family, and Dead Heads, Sandy Troy</li><li>There's a Hair in My Dirt!: A Worm's Story, Gary Larson</li><li>Black Milk, Robert Reed</li><li>With These Hands, Louis L'Amour</li><li>Supergirl: Beyond Good and Evil, Puckett, Kelley, Johnson &amp; Drew</li><li>Push, Freeman, Bernardin, Redondo &amp; Minier</li><li>Off the Mangrove Coast, Louis L'Amour</li><li>Mister X: The Archives, Dean Motter</li><li>May There Be a Road, Louis L'Amour</li><li>Heroes Volume 1, Various</li><li>Freddie and Me: A Coming of Age (Bohemian) Rhapsody, Mike Dawson</li><li>Children of the Sea, Daisuke Igarashi</li><li>Button, Button: Uncanny Stories, Richard Matheson</li><li>Beanworld: A Gift Comes!, Larry Marder</li><li>Batman: Face the Face, James Robinson, Don Kramer, &amp; Leonard Kirk</li><li>All Star Superman Volume 2, Grant Morrison &amp; Frank Quitely</li><li>Ultimate Power, Bendis, Straczynski, Loeb &amp; Land</li><li>Batman: Cacaphony, Kevin Smith &amp; Walt Flanagan</li><li>John Constantine: Hellblazer-The Roots of Coincidence, Andy Diggle &amp; Leonardo Manco</li><li>Jonah Hex: Bullets Don't Lie, Justin Gray, Darwyn Cooke, Jimmy Palmiotti &amp; J.H. Williams III</li><li>Gotham Central: Book Two-Jokers and Madmen, Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka &amp; Micheal Lark</li><li>Green Lantern: Rage of the Red Lanterns, Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Micke McKone &amp; Shane Davis</li><li>Zen Guitar, Philip Toshio Sudo</li><li>The Black Star Passes, John W. Campbell</li><li>The Engineer Reconditioned, Neal Asher</li><li>Glacier Terror, David Thompson</li><li>Winterkill, David Thompson</li><li>The Legend of the Mountain, Will Henry</li><li>Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Gabriel Garcia Marquez</li><li>No One Writes to the Colonel, Gabriel Garcia Marquez</li><li>Leaf Storm, Gabriel Garcia Marquez</li><li>Catch A Fire: The Life of Bob Marley, Timothy White</li><li>A Wrinkle In Time, Madeleine L'Engle</li><li>The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz</li><li>High Country Showdown, Ray Gaulden</li><li>Nemi II, Lise Myhre</li><li>Bob Marley: The Life of a Musical Legend, Gary Jeffrey &amp; Terry Riley</li><li>The First Fast Draw, Louis L'Amour</li><li>War Party, Louis L'Amour</li><li>The Rabbi's Cat 2, Joann Sfar</li><li>Tombstone: An Iliad of the Southwest, Walter Noble Burns</li><li>Harp, Pipe, &amp; Symphony, Paul Di Filippo</li><li>Reggae Bloodlines: In Search of the Music and Culture of Jamaica, Stephen Davis &amp; Peter Simon</li><li>Asimov's Choice: Black Holes and Bug-Eyed Monsters, ed. by Isaac Asimov</li><li>Trader to the Stars, Poul Anderson</li><li>Utah Blaine, Louis L'Amour</li><li>Tau Zero, Poul Anderson</li><li>High Trail, Vivian Breck</li><li>You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When it Monsoons: The World on One Cartoon a Day, Mo Willems</li><li>Green Arrow and Black Canary: A League of Their Own, Jusdd Winick, Mike Norton &amp; Wayne Faucher</li><li>The Surrogates: Flesh and Bone, Robert Venditti &amp; Brett Weldele</li><li>The League of Extraordinary Gentleman Century: 1910, Alan Moore &amp; Kevin O'Neill</li><li>Batman: The Man Who Laughs, Ed Brubaker, Doug Mahnke &amp; Patrick Zircher</li><li>Justice Society of America: Thy Kingdom Come, Geoff John, Alex Ross, Dale Eaglesham &amp; Fernando Pasarin</li><li>Starman Jones, Robert Heinlein</li><li>The New York Four, Brian Wood &amp; Ryan Kelly</li><li>Token, Alisa Kwitney &amp; Joelle Jones</li><li>The Big Book of Hell, Matt Groening</li><li>X-Men: Magneto-Testament, Pak &amp; Di Giandomenico</li><li>Nemi, Lise Myhre</li><li>Kitt Peak, Al Sarrantonio</li><li>Batman: Hush, Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, &amp; Scott Williams</li><li>The Sheriff of Yrnameer, Michael Rubens</li><li>The 14th Dalai Lama, Tetsu Saiwai</li><li>A Graphic Biography of Malcolm X, Andrew Helfer &amp; Randy DuBurke</li><li>The Mammoth Book of Best New Manga Vol. 3, ed. by Ilya</li><li>Batman: Harley and Ivy, Paul Dini, Judd Winick, Bruce Timm &amp; Joe Chiodo</li><li>Faking It: How to Seem Like a Better Person Without Actually Improving Yourself, Amir Blumenfeld, Neel Shah &amp; Ethan Trex</li><li>Joker, Brian Azzarello &amp; Lee Bermejo</li><li>Renegade: The Lost Books, Ted Dekker</li><li>Robin: A Hero Reborn, Grant, Dixon, etc.</li><li>Superman: The Coming of Atlas, James Robinson, Renato Guedes &amp; Wilson Magalhaes</li><li>A Drifting Life, Yoshihiro Tatsumi</li><li>Life Sucks, Jessica Abel, Gabe Soria &amp; Warren Pleece</li><li>More Science Braintwisters and Paradoxes, Christopher P. Jargocki</li><li>Footprints: The Life and Work of Wayne Shorter, Michelle Mercer</li><li>Punk Rock Etiquette: The Ultimate How to Guide for DIY, punk, indie, and underground bands, Travis Nichols</li><li>The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow, AJ Mackinnon</li><li>The Rabbi's Cat, Joann Sfar</li><li>Too Much Hopeless Savages Vol. 3, Van Meter, Norrie, Campbell</li><li>Putomayo Presents World Playground Multicultural Activity Kit (Super fun!)</li><li>The Happiest Man in the World: An Account of The Life of Poppa Neutrino, Alec Wilkinson</li><li>Clapton: The Autobiography, Eric Clapton</li><li>Rabbi Harvey Rides Again, Steve Sheinkin</li><li>JLA Unlimited: The Ties That Bind, Various</li><li>Iron and Silk, Mark Salzman</li><li>Mozart in the Jungle: Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music, Blair Tindall</li><li>The Universal Composer: Beethoven, Edmund Morris</li><li>Re-Gifters, Mike Carey, Sonny Liew &amp; Marc Hempel</li><li>Batman-Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, Grant Morrison &amp; Dave McKean</li><li>Dungeon-Monstres Vol. 2: The Dark Lord, Sfar, Trondheim &amp; Blanquet</li><li>The Eternal Smile, Gene Luen Yang &amp; Derek Kirk Kim</li><li>Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology, ed. by Jeff Yang, Parry Shen, Keith Chow &amp; Jerry Ma</li><li>The Strange Intruder, Arthur Catherall</li><li>Jean and Johnny, Beverly Cleary</li><li>Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates, David Cordingly</li><li>So You Want to Join the Peace Corps...What to Know Before You Go, Dillon Banerjee</li><li>More Than Drumming: Essays on African and Afro-Latin American Music and Musicians, ed. by Irene V. Jackson</li><li>The Stuff of Life: A Graphic Guide to Genetics and DNA, Mark Schultz with Zander and Kevin Cannon</li><li>America The Beautiful, Moon Unit Zappa</li><li>Runaways: Dead End Kids, Joss Whedon and Michael Ryan</li><li>Arab in America, Toufic El Rassi</li><li>Holes, Louis Sachar</li><li>Will Eisner's The Spirit-Book One, Darwyn Cooke</li><li>Vroom With a View-In Search of Italy's Dolce Vita on a '61 Vespa, Peter Moore</li><li>My Old Man and The Sea: A Fathers and Son Sail Around Cape Horn, David and Daniel Hays</li><li>Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 12: Grasscutter, Stan Sakai</li><li>The Real Frank Zappa, Frank Zappa with Peter Occhiogrosso</li><li>The Sunny Side, A.A. Milne</li><li>Black Jack Vol. 1, Osamu Tezuka</li><li>Redshift: Extreme Visions of Speculative Fiction, ed. by Al Sarrantonio</li><li>Tarzan of the Apes, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Burne Hogarth</li><li>Demo, Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan</li><li>Walt Disney: Creator of Magical Worlds, Charnan Simon</li><li>Walt Disney, Maxine Fisher</li><li>Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne</li><li>Like a Velvet Glove Cast In Iron, Daniel Clowes</li><li>The Batman Chronicles Volume 2, Various</li><li>Walt Disney's Donald Duck Adventures Vol. 6, Various</li><li>Walt Disney's Uncle $crooge Adventures the Barks/Rosa collection Vol. 1: "Land of the Pygmy Indians," and "War of the Wendigo," Carl Barks and Don Rosa</li><li>Walt Disney's Treasures Uncle Scrooge: A Little Something Special, Various</li><li>The Mysterious Stranger and Other Stories, Mark Twain</li><li>Pluto 001, Urasawa Tezuka</li><li>Graphic Classics: Oscar Wilde, Various</li><li>Ultimate X-Men: The Tomorrow People, Mark Millar with Adam and Andy Kubert</li><li>OMAC: One Man Army Corps, Jack Kirby</li><li>Comet in Moominland, Tove Jansson</li><li>Finn Family Moomintroll, Tove Jansson</li><li>We Gotta Get Out of This Place: The True, Tough Story of Women In Rock, Gerri Hirshey</li><li>The Soddyssey and Other Tales of Supernatural Law, Batton Lash</li><li>Spiderman: Doom with a View, Various</li><li>Spyboy: Final Exam, Peter David and Pop Mhan</li><li>Monster Zoo, Doug TenNapel</li><li>Street Figher Alpha: Vol. 1, Masahiko Nakahira</li><li>Fantastic Four: Monsters, Moles, Cowboys, and Coupons, Various</li><li>The Summer Book, Tove Jansson</li><li>Jo-Jo and the Fiendish Lot, Andrew Auseon</li><li>Sidescrollers, Matthew Loux</li><li>Light Brigade, Peter J. Tomasi &amp; Peter Snejberg</li><li>Graphic Classics: Jack London, Various</li><li>The Tale of One Bad Rat, Brian Talbot</li><li>Livewires: CLockwork Thugs, Yo!, Adam Warren &amp; Rick Mays</li><li>Justice League Unlimited Vol. 2, Various (delightful)</li><li>As The World Burns: 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Stay in Denial, Derrick Jensen &amp; Stephanie McMillan</li><li>The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, Gerard Way &amp; Gabriel Ba</li><li>Soundtrackers: Reggae, Bob Brunning</li><li>The Sun, Steele Hill and Michael Carlowicz</li><li>Beyond the Myth: The Story of Joan of Arc, Polly Schoyer Brooks</li><li>Distant Stars, Samuel R. Delany</li><li>My Brother, Jamaica Kincaid</li><li>Dororo Vol. 1, Osamu Tezuka</li><li>Interviews with B Science Fiction and Horror Movie Makers: Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Moguls, and Makeup, Tom Weaver</li><li>The Fifties, David Halberstam</li><li>Screening Space: The American Science Fiction Film, Vivian Sobchack</li><li>Against Interpretation, Susan Sontag</li><li>A People's History of American Empire, Howard Zinn, Mike Konopacki, and Paul Buhle</li><li>The Cockatrice Boys, Joan Aiken</li><li>One Love, One Heart: A History of Reggae, James Haskins</li><li>Moomin Vol. 3, Tove Jansson</li><li>The End League, Vol. 1: Ballad of Big Nothing, Rick Remender and Matt Broome</li><li>Ex Machina: Ex Cathedra, Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris</li><li>Meridian: FLying Solo, Barbara Kessel and Joshua Middleton</li><li>Fuzz &amp; Pluck: Splitsville, Ted Stearn</li><li>Girl Stories, Lauren R. Weinstein</li><li>Black Beauty, Walter Farley</li><li>Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe</li><li>Blue Beetle: Reach for the Stars, John Rogers and Rafael Albuquerque</li><li>Jamaican Warriors: Reggae, Roots, &amp; Culture, Stephen Foehr</li><li>Archie Americana Series: Best of the Sixties, Various</li><li>The Replacements-All Over But The Shouting: An Oral History, Jim Walsh</li><li>Owly-The Way Home &amp; The Bittersweet Summer, Andy Runton</li><li>The Castaways, Rob Vollmar &amp; Pablo G. Callejo</li><li>Garcia, the Editors of Rolling Stone</li><li>Action Philosophers! Vol. 1, Fred Van Lente &amp; Ryan Dunlavey</li><li>The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios, Yann Martel</li><li>The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, Tom Wolfe</li><li>Bourbon Island 1730, Appolo and Lewis Trondheim</li><li>Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music, Irwin Chusid</li><li>Accordion Crimes, E. Annie Proulx</li><li>Tortures of the Tower of London, G. Abbott</li><li>The Giver, Lois Lowry</li><li>The Unruly American Revolution, Gary B. Nash</li><li>Bill and Ted's Most Excellent Adventures Vol. 1 and 2, Evan Dorkin</li><li>Maximum Light, Nancy Kress</li><li>A Feast of Snakes, Harry Crews</li><li>Cash: The Autobiography, Johnny Cash (with Patrick Carr)</li><li>Houston, Houston, Do You Read?, James Triptree Jr.</li><li>Souls, Joanna Russ</li><li>The Saturn Game, Poul Anderson</li><li>Iceborn, Gregory Benford and Paul A. Carter</li><li>Galactic North, Alastair Reynolds</li><li>Crazy Loco, David Rice</li><li>Love Hina: Volumes 1-14, Ken Akamatsu</li><li>Nova, Samuel R. Delany</li><li>Beaker's Dozen, Nancy Kress</li><li>The New Space Opera, ed. by Gardner Dozois and Jonathan Strahan</li><li>Neutron Star, Larry Niven</li><li>The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Fifth Annual Collection, ed. by Gardner Dozois</li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-8333973590473515529?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-83780072216779140032009-12-09T02:35:00.002-05:002009-12-09T02:42:39.035-05:00Just coastin', how I do. Em's is sleeping beside me and I can't explain how excited I am that in just a little more than a month I will be married to her. Plus, Jamaica will be warm! We used the heat for the second time this season. I thought that the house was so well insulated by mold and old cat hair that we wouldn't even need it at all (after all, we never used it last year in the shoddy apartment). But apparently having one neighbor catty-cornered to us in the apartments who DID use heat was enough to get us through. Here we have no such heat sharing neighbor. The two of us freeze while Cornbread just looks delighted and fluffy. Stupid bunny. Emily suggested we try finding an energy efficient space heater since the house has baseboard heat with controls in every room. The heat works okay, but it only really warms up the bedroom. In the rest of the house you just have to huddle over it to get any real effect. I think some of the enjoyement is just psychological. We had spent evenings at the gym, or barnes and noble or the library, but they don't stay open that late (except the gym and who can stay there more than a couple of hours!). <br /><br />I worry a little that my frugality is trending toward miserliness, but am not too concerned as we are still being dutiful little consumers.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-8378007221677914003?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-73074378232455484952009-12-01T22:24:00.002-05:002009-12-01T22:51:47.718-05:00So it has once again been forever since I wrote anything, but I will admit I am beyond feeling any sort of self imposed guilt about it! I am <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lyin</span>' in bed sick from some stupid virus that I got at the accursed mall. To be completely honest there isn't really going to be anything of much interest in this post, so for the three people who read it you may now consider yourself warned. First off let's mention how wonderful archive.org is. I love it. Free media is sweet. I'm currently listening to a soundboard recording of a August 27<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>, 1972 Grateful Dead show, and the quality is amazing. Jerry's guitar on "Sing Me Back Home" almost makes me weep. That dead guy just blows me away. I've been playing guitar just around the house but haven't really been playing with anybody. I would like to start playing with Mitch more, but it just seems like time gets away from me. There's a dude at work I may try to jam with but that may or may not happen. So that's the music update.<br /><br />I just got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">skype</span> (i know, behind the times huh?) so hit me up if you want. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">skype</span> profile name is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">turtlepaw</span>1. I really enjoyed chatting with Abby on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">skype</span> calls she and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">emily</span> have. It is crazy talking and looking at someone in China. I suppose that although I consider myself fairly up on what is happening technology wise, I am pretty slow to adapt or use it much myself. And even when i do it is sporadic at best, but I thought I would give the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">skype</span> thing a try.<br /><br /><br />What else have I been up to? Mostly work and raiding the library. I doubt that many people check out the reading list off to the side, but it has been reliably updated and changed (way more than the actual blog itself!). This year I've had a bit more time for reading than the last couple of years. Being out of school does that for you! I've had lots of time for reading since I gave up the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ebay</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">craigslist</span> addiction. Less time on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">interweb</span>=more time for reading. Not that I'm not online still, it is usually on my phone though, and that time is pretty much exclusively email and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">wikipedia</span>. I'm a wiki junkie and not ashamed to admit it. <br /><br />Emily is finishing up her semester and ready for it, with wedding plans looming over her and the death house of moldy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">mcmolderson</span> providing us some constant fun. She is a little stressed, but I have no doubt that she is going to rock all of it, as she usually does. Not much she can't do!<br /><br />Pretty soon we will be winging our way to the land of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">rasta</span> and ting to pledge our lives to each other in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">irie</span> bliss for eternity (or at least most of it) and nerves are starting to set in. I think that we both feel unprepared for the reception family thing that has slowly been pushed back month by month. It is good because Abby will definitely be here, which is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">uber</span> important to Ems, but it is a little nerve wracking to not really know what's going on (although really I just put that for Emily because I figure that it will all work out and I can't really do much about it now if it wont then, see? But united front and all...). The ease of Jamaica makes the reception seem all the more difficult to worry about. I can't wait for the sand and sun as the weather dips colder and colder here. <br /><br />Work is going well and the season of hell is upon us. It has been a little busy and I will admit to having those terrible dreams at night where I am still serving obnoxious customers. I maintain my smile against all odds at work, but have no stomach for rudeness outside of work. Emily got cracked up because I went off on a rude diner at a restaurant we go to. Sometimes I wonder how people can treat other humans so rudely. What a sense of entitlement some people have. All rules of civility are lost when there is a counter or apron between people. <br /><br />On another topic, I am considering going back to school this spring! It depends on how I can swing financial aid/just out and out money stuff. I may need to sell some guitars (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">lol</span>).<br /><br />I'm using the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">eee</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">pc</span> that I gave <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">emily</span> because she doesn't really like it and I missed the slow little bugger. It is jumping and flickering oddly, and I am still adjusting to the keyboard, so please excuse the atrocious typos. I doubt I will correct them. <br />Love<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-7307437823245548495?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-6920888786673045042009-09-21T03:22:00.003-04:002009-09-21T03:54:09.583-04:00So it's been forever since I've put anything on here and I've been real busy. This isn't really an update. Mostly I just can't sleep. I was out of work all last week with an ear infection, bronchitis, and "flu like symptoms." Today (in about 3 1/2 hours actually) is my first day back at work. Tonight I mostly just read in bed, waiting for sleep to catch up to me. It didn't. So here I am, working on this thing. So what's been going on since the last post?<br />-Dad had his surgery, and is having a difficult time in recovery.<br />-Jed quit his job (hurray!)<br />-Emily started back at school<br />-The band kind of dissipated<br />-I'm still doing guitar stuff, working now more on construction and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ebay</span> doodling than technique.<br />-I got obsessed with reggae (the whole going to Jamaica thing)<br />-I read bunches (see the reading list for specifics)<br />-I saw bunches of great movies (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Outlander</span>, Band Slam, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ponyo</span> are the faves that spring to mind)<br />-Emily has been busy with knitting, sewing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">squishy</span> monsters, keeping me healthy, and learning (slowly) to love the Star Trek!<br />-The library must hate me because of my constant use of their online queue system (did I even spell that right?). I didn't think they even noticed my use of it until two of them at different times made a comment about it (I was a little embarrassed!).<br />-I joined the gym!<br />-I quit smoking, again! (brief explanation: I quit smoking last year, taking a drug from the doctor that made me terribly sick. I swore I would never smoke again just so I wouldn't have to quit. Months rolled by and I began my final semester at school. I won't say I was driven to smoke from the stress, mostly because that would be a lie. I did it because I liked it. And I'm sure some chemical part of me was still hooked on it. There was no smoking of normal ciggies for me though, I only smoked cloves, believing at the time-erroneously-that they were less harmful. I never really smoked them that much or that often, but I would definitely say that they were a habit. Now I'm trying to kick them, without drugs or anything that makes me poo/puke.)<br />-I like to find guitars for cheap on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Craigslist</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ebay</span> and buy them. I get too many and sell some. Then I cry and buy more. Overall I don't lose that much money, but it is an annoying little trend that I think Emily may strange me over. My current faves are a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Xaviere</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">tele</span>, a Regal acoustic, and a super cheap First Act. Total price for all three combined? $135!!!<br />-Emily and I are moving to a new house and performing the slowest paint job in the history of mankind. We have a nice brown stove. And yellow <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ceilings</span>. <br />-I bought a mower!!! Emily has already named it "Grasshopper." <br />That's it for now. I'm tired.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-692088878667304504?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-75063067356000513902009-07-13T23:49:00.004-04:002009-07-14T01:21:33.663-04:00Today Emily and I put down the deposit on our wedding, and we are sailing forward with all due speed. Please excuse the nautical crap, I just read a book about a guy who sailed a raft everywhere. Stuff like that kind of sinks in! We ended up deciding on Jamaica, and are staying at Tower Isle (formerly Ocho Rios, which was formerly Tower Isle...). We are having a beach wedding (I think) at 10 AM on Jan. 12. Hurray! Tomorrow is going to suck because my pa's having surgery and I just can't imagine how scared he must be. We will be heading up as soon as I'm off of work to check in and see how everyone is doing. Sorry to end on a sour note, but I'm all bushed. Okay, here's a few happy things:<br />-I saw my beautiful niece today and she looked a little like a pumpkin. Up until today I didn't know that we could pick our "nicknames," but now I do. Though they may try and call me JJ or uncle JJ I'm pretty sure that it won't take too much convincing for Audrey to call me my Uncle Name of choice: Uncle Butt. It makes me smile just to write it!<br />-A friend of mine has just reentered my life recently and I had a great conversation about the more spectral aspects of our world this afternoon. It was fun.<br />-I got 4 cds from the dollar store today that should have cost a lot more. I got the last two phish cds, the last Bjork, and one other that I won't say in case it embarrases Emily (the first name is a city in France, and the last is a hotel chain). I'll just say that the artists name rhymes with Flaris Bilton and leave it at that.<br /><br />Here's some recent photos: 2 from turtle paw practice, the Decemberists show, the tree of life in animal kingdom, and the summer solstice.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SlwE2nSZltI/AAAAAAAABZA/xja2r80DqNI/s1600-h/turtle+paw+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SlwE2nSZltI/AAAAAAAABZA/xja2r80DqNI/s400/turtle+paw+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358162992969651922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SlwE3Rux7XI/AAAAAAAABZI/pgfrzwBIqSI/s1600-h/turtle+paw+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SlwE3Rux7XI/AAAAAAAABZI/pgfrzwBIqSI/s400/turtle+paw+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358163004362976626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SlwE2F6R_7I/AAAAAAAABY4/9ph2pFTsUzQ/s1600-h/solstice+etc+017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SlwE2F6R_7I/AAAAAAAABY4/9ph2pFTsUzQ/s400/solstice+etc+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358162984010121138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SlwE1h_xhgI/AAAAAAAABYw/1xK3p7m31qE/s1600-h/solstice+etc+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SlwE1h_xhgI/AAAAAAAABYw/1xK3p7m31qE/s400/solstice+etc+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358162974369482242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SlwE1PBwXfI/AAAAAAAABYo/KX_0u8hiL_U/s1600-h/solstice+etc+100.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SlwE1PBwXfI/AAAAAAAABYo/KX_0u8hiL_U/s400/solstice+etc+100.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358162969277521394" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-7506306735600051390?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-54869331990902226332009-07-07T14:08:00.003-04:002009-07-07T14:18:54.597-04:00Hi again! Today Emily and I went to check out our options for a destination wedding, and it sounded really cool. So far I think our favorite is Jamaica. At first I was sort of anti-Jamaica, wanting to see some ruins and stuff south of the border. But the travel guy told us how much more difficult it was to get married there (whereas Jamaica is super worry free). The resort is all inclusive and it looks like the best deal financially. Emily was super excited.<br />In other news, we went over to my sweet niece's house the other day for a fun cookout (we kind of crashed it), and saw my dad and meyka after they had gotten back from their retreat. The retreat sounded fun and it seemed to have done them good, which is really all you want from something like that I suppose. It was the first time I had seen Dad in forever, so that was really nice. Mitch got me some new guitar strings put on, and Audrey bit my finger. A very satisfying evening.<br />Some people from work and I have been just messing around and jamming in the living room on some evenings. It is really fun and collective-y, less stressful than trying to be "in a band." My chops (never that good to begin with) really deteriorated after my surgery, so it has been a long road even getting back to where I was. The nice thing is that no one is really a virtuoso, so we all just have fun with it. <br />Speaking of music, I have run into an old high school friend a few times in the last week or so--Justin Hanna! He is doing well and it's really a kick in the pants to see someone that takes you back so much. Those may have not been the best years of my life and I was extremely unhappy (and also a little snotty as Anna remembered the other night!), but it makes me feel good to see people and realize how far I have come just as a person. <br />I'm heading out to the library now to return some books and a cd I could have sworn I returned (but then found sitting on top of my computer). More later!<br /><br />If anyone is out tonight come to the Blind Tiger to see the Brand New Life. They're a really great band and super fun. Plus it's free.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-5486933199090222633?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-33499779803713798712009-07-02T14:00:00.001-04:002009-07-02T14:00:46.185-04:00Today has been a pretty busy day so far. Emily and i woke up late and went to do laundry, then she went out to lunch. it looks like my battery is dying so thats all for now!<p>----------<br>Sent from AT&amp;T&#39;s Wireless network using Mobile Email<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-3349977980371379871?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-44468486473837072372009-06-30T14:41:00.003-04:002009-06-30T14:43:38.685-04:00Wow, I don't even know where to begin. I suppose the biggest news is that Emily and I got engaged. I was pretty relieved when she said yes! We have decided to try and get into peace corps as a married couple, and we are looking for a new apartment. Also I am hunting for jobs and selling stuff on craigslist/ebay/amazon like crazy. I work some (not enough hours) but it feels like it eats a lot of time. Emily is back in school. I got a new phone. That's all I can think of right now, but will try to (at some point) get back on a regular schedule of blogs. This absence is pitiful!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-4446848647383707237?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-54408404168825395172009-06-23T10:12:00.001-04:002009-06-23T10:12:16.995-04:00I think its time 2 look 4 a new job<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-5440840416882539517?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-64858409610712115782009-06-23T01:37:00.001-04:002009-06-23T01:37:38.076-04:00I got my phone charger so now i can do this from work on my breaks. I have tons 2 write about soon<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-6485840961071211578?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-31802563478738560432009-06-23T01:35:00.001-04:002009-06-23T01:35:10.526-04:00Hi<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-3180256347873856043?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-67351119160230749932009-05-23T04:53:00.002-04:002009-05-23T04:57:37.018-04:00So I know it has been forever since I have posted anything and tons has happened. I graduated, went back to work, cut off my beard, had a yard sale, found a great local band I like to go see, started getting another band together with some friends, and much more. But I'm not writing about that. I'm writing about how I can't sleep because I am so excited about going to Disney World tomorrow! I have the first leg of the drive and I know I should be sleeping, but I'm just too nervous and excited. I hope everyone who sees this has a nice week because I'm going to have a great one. When I get back I hopefully will be able to write a little more, plus I will add a link to the band's myspace (ooooh). <br />Love,<br />J.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-6735111916023074993?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-59104787960729101332009-05-02T01:32:00.002-04:002009-05-02T02:51:47.869-04:00I just finished a really interesting book called <span style="font-style: italic;">As The World Burns: 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Stay in Denial</span>. It is a little extreme, but very thought provoking. I don't think the writers would care much for me, but I respect what they stand for. Definitely food for thought. Here are some of the quotations that really stood out to me.<br /><br /><br />"Why do you hate violence that frees the victims of greater violence, even more than you hate the original violence?"<br /><br />"When someone is 'well-adjusted,' it means that they can tolerate whatever the norms of their society are, without being constantly upset and angry, right?"<br /><br />"You're too afraid and too small to even feel outrage at the system turning you into a drone."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Conversation in the book...</span><br />"Do you love God?"<br />"Of course."<br />"Do you love him so much that you would like to meet him tomorrow?"<br />"Now that you mention it, I don't love him quite that much. I, er, I prefer to love him at a distance."<br /><br />"The grain required to make enough ethanol to fill your tank just once could feed a human being for an entire year."<br /><br />"No Bunny Left Behind"<br /><br />"You think economic expansion needs to stop? Why do you hate America?"<br /><br />"Break all the addictions that are strangling your people. Unbrainwash them. Decolonize them."<br /><br />"People believe that bunnies are furry and cute and harmless. Why do they believe this? Because they are they've been told it over and over, in stories from Peter Cottontail to the Easter Bunny. It's all propaganda. Flopsy and Mopsy indeed. It's the Big Lie. Bunnies are not furry. They are not cute. They are not harmless. They are killing machines. They are terrorists. They have big legs for thumping. They surprise people."<br /><br />"Here's one more thing you <span style="font-style: italic;">must</span> understand. You, like everyone else, are an instrument, a tool, a tiny cog in a big machine. We all need to do our parts to keep this machine running. If too many gears get out of alignment or stop working altogether, the machine falls apart. What would happen if the crankshaft in your car started thinking for itself, started thinking it didn't want to be part of a car, didn't want to drive you someplace? What would happen if the sparkplugs started thinking for themselves, decided that they didn't want to fire if you were going someplace they didn't approve of? The machine would break down. Don't you see? You carry a gun. That gun is an instrument, a tool. That's all it is. What would happen if the gun decided not to shoot someone you wanted it to shoot? You need for that gun to do your bidding. And you are just like that gun. You are an instrument of those who wield you. Your job is not to think about how you are used-and this isn't just police officers: this is everyone-but do your job. They tell you who to aim at, and they tell you when to fire. You are expected to do that. You pull the trigger, and you expect the gun to fire. You do your job. The gun does its job. You are all part of the same machine. Do you understand?"<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-5910478796072910133?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-26774220197791843142009-04-07T02:37:00.007-04:002009-04-07T02:53:20.189-04:00I know I should be sleeping, but the promise of tomorrow (really today!) makes me quite excited. I'm grooving to live Animal Collective, planning recording stuff, polishing my resume, and procrastinating on finishing homework that's due tomorrow. But I feel good. Life huh? Sometimes it sucks, and sometimes it's awesome (even if you're screwing up). I've been reconnecting with music, with people, and with just the world around me a lot more lately. It's nice.<br /><br /><br />Oh yeah, AND THIS!!!<br /><br /><br /><object width="350" height="250"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dead.net/pretour/darkstar.swf"><embed src="http://www.dead.net/pretour/darkstar.swf" width="350" height="250"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-2677422019779184314?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-8955014328012466822009-04-06T17:53:00.001-04:002009-04-06T17:54:55.870-04:00How awesome is this shirt!!! The cool dudes at Topless Robot found this and I couldn't be more excited. You can check it out<a href="http://www.80stees.com/products/Krang-TMNT-T-shirt.asp"> here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sdp50dSyBWI/AAAAAAAABX4/gLMZcEUVESo/s1600-h/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_Brain-T.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sdp50dSyBWI/AAAAAAAABX4/gLMZcEUVESo/s400/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_Brain-T.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321699851815224674" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-895501432801246682?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-57369599905882343152009-04-05T13:16:00.002-04:002009-04-05T13:22:56.023-04:00...For the Whole World To See</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Death</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Drag City</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">*****</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 200%;"> This debut album from Detroit rockers Death is an excellent example of great modern garage music, but with a retro 1970s tinge, and there's a reason for that. The album was originally recorded in 1975. Death was a trio of African American brothers who were inspired to start playing rock after seeing a rock and roll concert (accounts differ as to whether it was Alice Cooper, the Stooges, or Grand Funk Railroad). Defying conventions of the day, these boys wanted to rock, and rock hard. The brothers were noticed by Columbia and Clive Davis who brought them into the studio to begin recording an album. It seems Clive liked everything about them except for that grisly name. An uncompromising band, they were booted from the studio halfway through the album recording because they would not change their name (brother David was planning a whole rock opera centered around a positive view of death, and felt that their moniker was important). </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 200%;"> The band pressed 500 copies of a single that they released before fading into obscurity, remembered only by the collectors who would feverishly bid on the precious pieces of wax online. Fast forward 30 odd years to a young son of one of the brothers hearing the single at a party. Recognizing his father's voice, he questioned his father about it and finally heard the story. A collector who had been obsessed with the vinyl single hooked the brothers up with Drag City. Fate and luck traveled a strange road and the whole original session was released this year. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 200%;"> The 7 song album boasts some incredible highs that carries it through some (very few) lows. The overall feel of the album is one of amped up adrenaline. The brother's instrumental skills are impressive, and their ferocity is stunning. The first tracks, “Keep on Knocking” and “Rock and Roll Victim” set an intense pace that the whole album follows except for the brief introspective interlude of “Let the World Turn,” which marks the resting phase of this short but intense album. The crowning achievement is the final track, “Politicians in My Eyes.” Although the album manages to display an incredibly prescient modernity throughout, this track feels like it could have been written and recorded just yesterday. The end of the track, with its fast paced, fever pitch instrumental jam will literally blow you away. The frantic whammy bar heavy guitar sections, the precise Dave Grohl-esque power drumming fight for and hold their own with a hurtling meteor of a bass line in “Politicians in Your Eyes” that leaves the listener gasping for breath. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 200%;"> Political, heartfelt, and deadly serious, Death firmly plants their footprint in the annals of rock. This album is well worth a listen and will most assuredly be a favorite in heavy rotation for anyone who great garage rock. Ultimately though the album creates a feeling of sadness. The contribution that Death could have made to rock and roll history had they reached higher levels of popularity cannot even be guessed, and the listener is left hungry for more. There may not be any new Death coming out, but thank the gods for this small blessing. Death's album, <span style="font-style: italic;">...For the Whole World to See</span>, is a crumb from the table of God that the angels of rock have sent.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-5736959990588234315?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-74297373767491798752009-04-01T12:33:00.003-04:002009-04-05T13:23:24.857-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SdOX3EhPYSI/AAAAAAAABXY/e_gI6q3L4jM/s1600-h/electronic+proj+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SdOX3EhPYSI/AAAAAAAABXY/e_gI6q3L4jM/s400/electronic+proj+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319762557216448802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SdOX20LCHII/AAAAAAAABXQ/sbMlaAf4k6o/s1600-h/electronic+proj+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SdOX20LCHII/AAAAAAAABXQ/sbMlaAf4k6o/s400/electronic+proj+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319762552828337282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SdOX2iM74WI/AAAAAAAABXI/iKVs3zecoEA/s1600-h/electronic+proj+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SdOX2iM74WI/AAAAAAAABXI/iKVs3zecoEA/s400/electronic+proj+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319762548004479330" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-7429737376749179875?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-53740162942836305372009-03-29T16:48:00.003-04:002009-03-29T16:52:51.393-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sc_e_Sa_oEI/AAAAAAAABWY/f5J3a1OxhwM/s1600-h/Emily%27s+camera+now+mine%21%21%21+080.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sc_e_Sa_oEI/AAAAAAAABWY/f5J3a1OxhwM/s400/Emily%27s+camera+now+mine%21%21%21+080.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318714863806029890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sc_e_d3faSI/AAAAAAAABWg/u7ebxaR8U8c/s1600-h/Emily%27s+camera+now+mine%21%21%21+081.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sc_e_d3faSI/AAAAAAAABWg/u7ebxaR8U8c/s400/Emily%27s+camera+now+mine%21%21%21+081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318714866878343458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sc_e_pMJsoI/AAAAAAAABWo/cRH1UiPrvao/s1600-h/Emily%27s+camera+now+mine%21%21%21+082.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sc_e_pMJsoI/AAAAAAAABWo/cRH1UiPrvao/s400/Emily%27s+camera+now+mine%21%21%21+082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318714869917790850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sc_e_oGtAYI/AAAAAAAABWw/VxKqhi_S-cM/s1600-h/Emily%27s+camera+now+mine%21%21%21+083.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sc_e_oGtAYI/AAAAAAAABWw/VxKqhi_S-cM/s400/Emily%27s+camera+now+mine%21%21%21+083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318714869626503554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sc_fAN0GKBI/AAAAAAAABW4/SHwh7QbSxKU/s1600-h/Emily%27s+camera+now+mine%21%21%21+084.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sc_fAN0GKBI/AAAAAAAABW4/SHwh7QbSxKU/s400/Emily%27s+camera+now+mine%21%21%21+084.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318714879749007378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sc_fhOXI6WI/AAAAAAAABXA/YY39g8BkIS0/s1600-h/Emily%27s+camera+now+mine%21%21%21+085.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/Sc_fhOXI6WI/AAAAAAAABXA/YY39g8BkIS0/s400/Emily%27s+camera+now+mine%21%21%21+085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318715446831671650" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-5374016294283630537?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-2092207210022903232009-03-29T02:06:00.003-04:002009-03-29T18:03:47.767-04:00So, it's been forever since I wrote anything on here, but it's not like a) anyone reads it, or b) it won't be forever until I write on it again. So here's what's been happenin'.<br />-I got a sweet guitar.<br />-Emily and I saw <span style="font-style: italic;">Monsters versus Aliens</span> and it rocked.<br />-We saw Unknown Hinson<br />-Emily is still in school, got cool internship at Guilford College Library<br />-I'm about to graduate (Aaaack)<br />-Cornbread ate some food and then pooped (and then ate it)<br />-I beat Emily at Monopoly<br />-I beat Emily at Life<br />-I beat Emily at Monopoly (again)<br />-I read a little (then kicked Emily's butt at Monopoly)<br />-I've been visiting the library a lot recently and scoopin' up them good free musics cds. The last two trips have been sweet, but the most recent one was a bust. Except for the Journey two disc essential greatest hits. Don't stop believin'.<br />-Emily got a cool new camera<br />-New camera and new guitar put us far into debt. Selling of blood will commence shortly.<br />-In a crazed desire to do something dramatic and fun to celebrate my graduation we booked a week long Disney trip. Yeah, I know it's crazy, but when else would we do it? After this I just spend the rest of my life paying off debt that we will gradually accrue that will choke our creativity and joy until Emily and I are just dried bags of skin, greasy fast food fat, and numb-minded television educated slobs who have trouble caring if the diabetes gets them before the most likely fatal chocking on a Rock Ola cheese fry. So we're doing it now. I'm more excited than Ems even knows (and she's pretty excited too, as is the travel agent who booked it for us). Of course this means that I will probably have to finally cash in on all those lovingly collected plastic bits, like my Star Wars legos (pew pew laser). I think that this is the perfect time to be selling high dollar Star Wars collectibles. Everyone just has money to burn, and what better investment than a 1" high lego Yoda?<br />Tonight we went and saw Hope for Agoldensummer, a sweet band from Georgia. Emily hadn't ever seen them and they are DEF a band to see live. I've decided that the Green Bean is the perfect venue for live music. I usually don't want to see a band that could play a larger venue. Unless it is outside. That's different. The band that opened for them was Our Horse Jethro and they were awesome. I had heard of them, but hadn't heard them until tonight.<br />Anywho, I should go to bed.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-209220721002290323?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-46329919316296348912009-02-21T01:04:00.005-05:002009-02-21T01:10:19.700-05:00I don't know why it has taken me so long to get back to writing anything for this blog. I suppose it was a combination of fatigue with writing <i>anything</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> with all the work I am doing for school and the pressure to write anything as nice as the last blog. It completely breaks my heart that I haven't been able to see Audrey as much as I want to. As I sit here and frantically try and get a handle on all the writing I have to do, I feel like the minutes and hours and days are just ticking by. I'm scared that I will miss her growing up. Hopefully once the fast track course is over I will have more time. </span> <p></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">So what else is new? I suppose it would be important to mention that I have been playing guitar for the first time in a long time. It is incredibly frustrating that skills don't really stay with you that well. In all honesty it seems like I didn't quit playing for very long, but it was about 3 years. I'm taking the time now to re-learn some things in a better way. The guitar playing can be directly linked to a resumed interest in music. For the past 3 or so years I just haven't been into music that much, which is funny considering how important it was to me for so much of my life. I would go through little fads of liking things, but I never really listened to it like I used to. No band or artist really excited me. This resumed interest owes its thanks to Parke Puterbaugh, a pretty awesome music journalist who teaches my History of Rock class at Guilford. He just comes at it in such a way that everything you hear has a new edge. It really makes you appreciate it. I suppose that's why he is such a great writer! He really knows how to present material. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I had a cool moment in class today when I was angrily chewing on a book by Gary Nash. My professor and advisor (sidenote: I never really knew why you sometimes used “adviser” and sometimes used “advisor.” The clearest explanation I can find is that the “English language is changing whether you like it or not and evolution does funny things to spellings,” and also that “advisor” usually has a little more weight) Alvis Dunn was saying that this book wouldn't make as much of an impact if the reader did not have a clear base of knowledge that they could mix it up with. He then pondered if current high school students were receiving that knowledge base anymore, and referenced one particularly great teacher at NW Guilford High that he had spoken/met with. I felt so great to say, “Oh, you mean Mr. Parrish right?” Even though I was a TERRIBLE student in Mr. P's class. I think I used the “My driveway was iced up” excuse for not being in class all the way to May. But anyhoo, Alvis thought I was cool. He didn't say it. But you know he did. I hope he reads this...</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></p>School is a little rough right now, and I had a kind of crap day so I'll wrap this up here before I start whining. Thank me later. <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-4632991931629634891?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-6909876236798666322009-01-29T21:14:00.004-05:002009-01-29T21:51:24.579-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I met my niece on Jan. 28th, 2009. </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is on the way to the hospital.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJkGK__SyI/AAAAAAAABVw/NJgMmL3OBww/s1600-h/Audrey+1+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJkGK__SyI/AAAAAAAABVw/NJgMmL3OBww/s320/Audrey+1+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296906168935861026" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Japanda was very excited.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJkGPT4_KI/AAAAAAAABVo/ppfNC7Xhcfk/s1600-h/Audrey+1+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJkGPT4_KI/AAAAAAAABVo/ppfNC7Xhcfk/s320/Audrey+1+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296906170093075618" border="0" /></a>Here's some doctor stuff.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjayGOdeI/AAAAAAAABVg/msBuvrh8Fng/s1600-h/Audrey+1+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjayGOdeI/AAAAAAAABVg/msBuvrh8Fng/s320/Audrey+1+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296905423516759522" border="0" /></a><br />This is Anna getting ready to pop.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJja-v-R5I/AAAAAAAABVY/MyXOlGmsQtA/s1600-h/Audrey+1+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJja-v-R5I/AAAAAAAABVY/MyXOlGmsQtA/s320/Audrey+1+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296905426913085330" border="0" /></a>This is Emily being excited.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjanX5c6I/AAAAAAAABVQ/TAxssYrA10Q/s1600-h/Audrey+1+013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjanX5c6I/AAAAAAAABVQ/TAxssYrA10Q/s320/Audrey+1+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296905420638090146" border="0" /></a>Anna wants me to take a picture (I did).<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjaakIJ0I/AAAAAAAABVI/EdKjwJMF6J8/s1600-h/Audrey+1+015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjaakIJ0I/AAAAAAAABVI/EdKjwJMF6J8/s320/Audrey+1+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296905417199724354" border="0" /></a>Mom was nervous.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjaa5l86I/AAAAAAAABVA/7zQyTEpHEcg/s1600-h/Audrey+1+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjaa5l86I/AAAAAAAABVA/7zQyTEpHEcg/s320/Audrey+1+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296905417289757602" border="0" /></a>Emily was too.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjL6t64FI/AAAAAAAABU4/FbimweMokLc/s1600-h/Audrey+1+019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjL6t64FI/AAAAAAAABU4/FbimweMokLc/s320/Audrey+1+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296905168132694098" border="0" /></a>In fact, everyone was nervous (and excited!).<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjLTjmuDI/AAAAAAAABUw/VfHl_V9P7jE/s1600-h/Audrey+1+020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjLTjmuDI/AAAAAAAABUw/VfHl_V9P7jE/s320/Audrey+1+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296905157620447282" border="0" /></a>Mitch was glowing when he strolled out to tell us the baby was here. Mom cheered.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjLfbc4XI/AAAAAAAABUo/LX8f7C7Z9ug/s1600-h/Audrey+1+021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjLfbc4XI/AAAAAAAABUo/LX8f7C7Z9ug/s320/Audrey+1+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296905160807473522" border="0" /></a>We watched a video of the sweet lil baby<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjLDWBW2I/AAAAAAAABUg/jQYm4K3LGmM/s1600-h/Audrey+1+022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjLDWBW2I/AAAAAAAABUg/jQYm4K3LGmM/s320/Audrey+1+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296905153268505442" border="0" /></a>The first time I met my beautiful niece.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjLGAAwoI/AAAAAAAABUY/K9tnaFEyi5s/s1600-h/Audrey+1+023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJjLGAAwoI/AAAAAAAABUY/K9tnaFEyi5s/s320/Audrey+1+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296905153981497986" border="0" /></a>This is how pretty the sky was on the day Audrey was born.<br /> It seemed like it was pretty just for her.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJi1X8_1-I/AAAAAAAABUQ/VPnJLBjH35w/s1600-h/Audrey+1+024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJi1X8_1-I/AAAAAAAABUQ/VPnJLBjH35w/s320/Audrey+1+024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296904780843571170" border="0" /></a>Everyone was thrilled to see the baby get washed up.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJi1EJYL-I/AAAAAAAABUI/c1Ie1fP07xs/s1600-h/Audrey+1+026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJi1EJYL-I/AAAAAAAABUI/c1Ie1fP07xs/s320/Audrey+1+026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296904775526789090" border="0" /></a>Tha's a clean baby!!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJi00lNwoI/AAAAAAAABUA/lMgT_KViL2A/s1600-h/Audrey+1+028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJi00lNwoI/AAAAAAAABUA/lMgT_KViL2A/s320/Audrey+1+028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296904771348578946" border="0" /></a>It doesn't get any cuter than this.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJi0zMAseI/AAAAAAAABT4/AUltQ4eC1Ng/s1600-h/Audrey+1+032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJi0zMAseI/AAAAAAAABT4/AUltQ4eC1Ng/s320/Audrey+1+032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296904770974429666" border="0" /></a>I was wrong...much cuter. <br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJi0hoMADI/AAAAAAAABTw/5rSd4ACO8hU/s1600-h/Audrey+1+033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tVA50YfaC4w/SYJi0hoMADI/AAAAAAAABTw/5rSd4ACO8hU/s320/Audrey+1+033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296904766260772914" border="0" /></a>It was truly a magical day, and love at first sight. We walked into the room and saw Anna cradling the baby to her chest, spent and exhausted after a long hard day. Anna looked up at Mom, then looked down at Audrey and started to cry in happiness. She said, "We made it!" and smiled through the tears. I don't think I have ever seen Anna look more beautiful. It was one of the happiest days of my life. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the world baby Audrey!<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-690987623679866632?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-40396321584659022182009-01-28T16:54:00.001-05:002009-01-28T16:54:31.653-05:00Audrey&#39;s here! 9 pounds 4 ounces!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-4039632158465902218?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2218052932786044830.post-69104652839001673532009-01-28T13:38:00.001-05:002009-01-28T13:38:34.839-05:00Little Aud is coming soon!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2218052932786044830-6910465283900167353?l=jeremiahpaddock.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jeremiah Paddockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00380870796463178106noreply@blogger.com0