TV (4/30)

Okay...enough of the deep stuff.

Here is another reason why I love my wife.

We like the same TV shows. Superfical? Shallow? Maybe... Essential? Absolutely!

Here are a smattering of what we are watching now.

FRINGE


PSYCH


EUREKA


COMMUNITY


UP ALL NIGHT


MODERN FAMILY


GRIMM


You get the idea...if you ever want to nerd out and chat us up about any of these shows...you are most welcome.

Rivals (3/30)

Some of you may know that B and I went to rival universities.

Out of all the rivalries...I suppose it is pretty tame (except if you are talking about Basketball). Briahnna attended Biola Univeristy in La Mirada, CA a private Christian liberal arts college and was enrolled in the Torrey Honors Institute (which would take a whole blog post to describe). Basically...the smart kids. I went to Azusa Pacific University and according to Biolans the among the heathens of Christian college students (you know all of our loose theology). :)

The reason I bring this up is because I am the first to admit I married up. :) In fact...it might actually cause me to live longer. Having similar college experiences has been important for our relationship since the way we interact with knowledge and truth informs us when we are working something out in our own faith journey. B is a constant inspiration as we try to follow the heart of God and love people like He loves us. The last couple years especially.

I should be more intentional...I should be more of the spiritual leader in the house...I should be more present with our family. Briahnna encourages me to be the man she knows that I can be. So...it goes with marrying a smart women. The man that I am reflects the support that I receive at home from Briahnna.

Cake Pops (Day 2/30)

Okay...pay no attention to the boy who has his arm around my daughter...not the focus of this post. The cake pops are (or more specifically...ice cream cone cake pops).  I was reminded of something today when Briahnna dropped them off...

B doesn't do things half-way. If we are going to bring special treats for Jadyn's unbirthday party at school...then we are going BRING them. :) Yeah...it was Jadyn's idea but this is one of the things that I love about my wife...she is not afraid to try something difficult. We like to say we are a little "risky".

I believe it was before we were actually married but I remember sitting with her as she did some health risk assessment. Something like...do you engage in "risky" behavior and they gave a bunch of different examples... To our surprise we were both labeled as risky. I would like to think that "risky" is the same attribute that allowed Briahnna to be convinced to move across the country to Georgia...or to get a tattoo that really meant something to her "de profundis"...or to get a dog right before the birth of our third child. Nevertheless...I was reminded that I value B's risk taking adventurous self...because after all...life is a grand adventure.

30 Days of Briahnna (Day One)

So today is exactly 30 days from Briahnna's 33rd birthday (sorry honey...cat's out of the bag). This year I have decided to start my gift a little early and attempt something that seems like a rite of passage for some bloggers. The 30 days of...(fill in the blank) series.

The next thirty days (up until B's big day) I will be blogging about her. This really is not hard to do...I feel  like I have lots of wonderful things to say about my amazing wife...the mother of my two children and soon to be third child! Whhhaaaaat!?! (Said with Shawn and Gus emphasis)

Let's start at the beginning shall we?

The day I first met B. You may have heard the story before. I was going to see my roommate's band (Misc. X) play at a club "the Garage" in Silverlake, CA (really hip part of Los Angeles - Beck lives(ed) there you know). I came with my other roommates who also happened to be in a band at the time (my band Paloma). Briahnna was with her roommates (one of who was dating the guitar player of Misc. X - my roommate). Are you following? The place was an absolute dive and there were rumors of weed being available via the sound guy...of course I didn't! Anyways...I spied her amidst her friends and they were talking about her interview at UCLA for a nursing position. She was very positive that she got the job and was in a celebratory mood. Besides just because gorgeous...she was filled with self-confidence and a sense of purpose. Someone who knew where they were going. We struck up a conversation at the end of the night and I told her that I worked with children with special needs as a one-on-one therapist. She told me about her half-brother who was autistic.

It was one of those things...by the time everyone was ready to leave...we were still talking. I left the club and could not stop thinking about her. I totally remember...being totally consumed with wanting to know everything about her (her likes/dislikes) and I made it my mission to find out. I know our friends made fun  of us that night but I felt not embarrassment.  I knew I had found someone special...turns out very special indeed.

Top 11 Albums of 2011

(or...my list is not your list)


This is my second annual list of albums I thought were outstanding for 2011. I know the specter of the sophomore slump so I will try my best to deliver the nuggets of musical wisdom you so admired last time around (so this is for you Justin). Let's start from the bottom...here we go!

11. Jonathan Coulton - Artificial Heart

I first heard Jonathan Coulton on The Sound of Young America and became intrigued with his work with They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh. Little did I know that Jonathan is probably best known from a song he wrote for the video game Portal which at the time of this writing had approximately 13.5 million views (yeah...you read that right.) Here it is if you are interested (Still Alive). But...I digress. Artificial Heart is solid song crafting with lyrics that are tongue-in-cheek but more honest than silly. The production is classic TMBG (cleverness and quirks abound) and is engaging all the way through. I doubt Artificial Heart made it on many lists this year but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Check out: "Glasses" and "Nemeses (feat. John Rederick)"

10. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Bon Iver (Justin Vernon) exhibits the best of where folk music is and is going. I am a sucker for layered instrumentation, vocals you have to pay attention too, and repetitive trance-like melodies. Call me a hipster I guess...Bon Iver's self titled album delivers on all three.  The other thing I like about this album is the "groovy-ness." At its heart Bon Iver is soulful and introspective as well as "locked in." Excellent attention to detail on creating a cinematic landscape to treat the ears and heart. According to Vernon's bio, he set himself up in a cabin in the woods of Wisconsin for three months to record his first album. Imagine if you had that amount of focus to complete something you were working on.  Check out: "Perth", "Holocene" and "Calgary"

9. Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See

The Arctic Monkeys (to me) are this year's Arcade Fire. Here is what I mean... before this year I did not really like them. Though I am not sure why... Suck It and See got under my skin (in a good way) and the more I listen the better it gets. I have to admit that I was not impressed the first time I listened through all the way but maybe I can liken it to a fine wine (or so they say) it gets better with age. Any-hoo... these are not the indie-pop darlings that I assumed... Suck It and See rocks hard (spring-tube-amps-rattling rockin'). Check out: "Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair", "Brick By Brick" and "She's Thunderstorms"


8. Washed Out - Within and Without

When I first played this album for Briahnna she said she thought was listening to an '80s movie soundtrack.  I think I have listened to more '80s-inspired music this year than I ever did in the actual '80s. Maybe because I was 12 when the 90s rolled around (insert "you're still a such a baby" comment by my older friends). Within and Without is the ultimate chill-out album...every song is easy on the ears and has just enough melancholy to be reminiscent of Tears for Fears and The Thompson Twins. Electro-pop goodness with reverb-buried vocals make an excellent combination. This is notably in the dance section of the record store (remember those?)...so tread carefully or you might run into someone from  Culture Club.  Check out: "Amor Fati", "Eyes Be Closed" and just for kicks..."Eyes Be Closed (live)"

7. Paul Simon - So Beautiful or So What

Another classic by one of my favorite artists of all time. When this album came out in April we happened to be watching SNL a few weeks later when he performed. I knew it was going to be something special.Think and updated version of Graceland with more introspective lyrics and fancier production. One of my favorite tracks is the first one off the album "Getting Ready For Christmas Day" which certainly does not "sound" like a Christmas song but is full of hope and anticipation and longing. I don't have time or the space to dissect all of Simon lyrics but almost every song tugs on something in you that makes you want to listen again. Like I said...classic. Check out: "Rewrite" and "The Afterlife"

6. The Decemberists - The King Is Dead

So...Colin Meloy (lead singer of The Decemberists) signed my copy of Wildwood (his children's fantasy novel which he wrote and his wife illustrated).  Okay...so maybe he did not do this in front of me...but I picked up a signed copy when the family and I were at the AJC (our ATL newspaper) Book Festival in Decatur, GA.  He and his wife were the keynote speakers...I know that has nothing to do with this album but I still think it is pretty cool. The King Is Dead gets high marks on hooks and its indie-pop sensibilities. After the first listen you will be singing along to many of the songs on the album...without even realizing you are doing it. The Decemberists use one of my favorite lyrical devices (making happy songs with sad lyrics). Very well done album and one I will be listening to a lot. <----- NOT ALOT Check out: "Calamity Song" and "Down By The Water"

5. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Ethereal, reverent, and transcendental... Fleet Foxes have given us a winner with Helplessness Blues. Combing melody and moodiness, Fleet Foxes soars with every song...you think you are listening to a movie soundtrack. "So now I am older, Than my mother and father, When they had their daughter, Now what does that say about me. Oh how could I dream of, Such a selfless and true love, Could I wash my hands of? Just lookin' out for me..." recounts their song "Montezuma" (<--- BTW - Brilliant stop motion video made by a fan no less).  Well done Fleet Foxes. Check out: "Helplessness Blues" and "Grown Ocean"


4. Gungor - Ghosts Upon the Earth

WoW (to quote Chris Paul). There is so much to be said about his album...the only reason it is number 4 is that I love 1, 2 and 3 so much. This is the obvious choice for the next in line. We had the pleasure of seeing Gungor at their CD release party at the Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta. They played the entire album along with a few songs off of their last album, Beautiful Things (another remarkable album in its own right).  Let me just say this...there is no other band I can sing all the lyrics to and feel like I am in authentic worship to God. This is not a "too bold" statement (for me anyways). Apart from their outstanding lyrics, the craftsmanship of each song makes my knees weak and my heart lie prostrate in front of an Almighty God. If this is what heaven sounds like...take me now. On a side-note, check this video out from Gungor's promotional material "When Death Dies" featuring this year's Sing-Off on NBC Champion Kevin Olusola (KO) on cello (yeah he beat-boxes while playing). Please check out: "Brother Moon" and "This Is Not the End"

3. Wilco - The Whole Love

I did not think its could get any better than Yankee Hotel Foxtrot but I stand corrected. If you are already a Wilco fan than I am preaching to the choir...BUT if you are not...there is no time like the present to jump on the Grammy nominated "Rock Album of the Year" bandwagon. Perhaps the most prolific band since The Beatles (I may be stepping over the line here) Wilco just keeping on ticking incarnation after incarnation. And guess what folks...every song on this album is good. Perhaps Jeff Tweedy's voice is not your favorite...I suppose it is not everyone's cup of tea but it settles nicely in between the thumping bass of John Stirratt and the rhythms of Glenn Kotche. A classic for sure... Check out: "Whole Love" and "I Might"



2. The Civil Wars - Barton Hallow

My good ol' buddy Jeff Johnston (@JLynnJohnston) turned me on to The Civil Wars...I have to give him props for touting last year's number 2, Mumford & Sons as well. Let me just say what exceptional singers these two performers are...no wonder they were able to go on tour with Adele and hold their own. The songs are simply gorgeous and emotion-packed... Nothing too slick about the production of this album except that everything stands out as bright and shiny like a chrome bumper. How this was missed for a Grammy nomination I do not understand. Check out: "20 Years", "Poison & Wine"and "Barton Hollow"


1. Adele - 21

Best. Album. Of. The. Year. Hands down... It would not surprise if every single song on this album is a "hit"...meaning Adele's royalty checks are going to be big. Deservedly so... the rhythm section is so good they might as well be The Roots and Adele's voice flies above and beyond the best on this list (and I think this is a pretty good list). Even the surprising cover of The Cure's "Love Song" stands out as stellar. I don't want to ruin the description of this album with too many words so I will just have to say. Buy this album...you won't regret it. Oh...and you know you have listened to "Someone Like You" for a good cry (see SNL sketch).Check out: Everything.



Honorable Mentions: Cage the Elephant - Thank You, Happy Birthday, Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong, Feist - Metals, Foo Fighters -Wasting Light, Givers - In Light, My Morning Jacket - Circuital, Mutemath - Odd Soul, R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now, Radiohead - The King of Limbs, St. Vincent - Strange Mercy, TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light, Twin Sister - In Heaven, Unknown Mortal Orchestra - self-titled, Beirut - The Rip Tide


Thanks for taking the time to read my list. If you are new to the blog... you can follow me on Twitter (@therealtimvegas or @think_inclusive). Please share if you like what you found here.

Blessings,

Tim and The Villegas Clan

Home, Family & Other Summer Musings

In our world summer has officially ended. It's a school night tonight, Tim will not be awake when I get home from work. The kids will be in bed before the sun sets and up before it rises. It feels like the end of an era though it has only been a few short months since we last lived that way.

 

Summer is a glorious time for our family. Tim is home. The amount of "family time" that we have increases exponentially. It is also a whirlwind of activity, work, vacation, etc.

 

Now that it's over I find myself trying to capture the ideas and feelings that this summer brought about. And, as has been the case these past few years the best way for me to do that has been to try to share it. Here goes.

 

Home: We capped off our summer with our annual trip back to SoCal and in all honesty this year was the hardest year to come back to Atlanta. (I cried...a lot) July marked our 3rd year in Georgia. Up until this year I would only refer to CA as "home" and GA was just where I lived at the time. When we were in Cali this time I found myself referring to GA as home. But when I'm here in GA I refer to CA as home. I find myself confused. It's almost like I am in the middle of both, belonging to each and yet not belonging to either. There's something so comforting in the familiarity of where you grew up. Sure it has changed some, but not enough to make it foreign. There's something I love about the foothills and mountains holding in the valleys and cities, the cozy and pretentious beach towns and even the highways with all the flashy billboards.

 

There was also something else that was impressed on me this summer that I've heard of but have never really felt. It was the sense that there is another home I belong to, a spiritual home. Perhaps it's because I've lived a good life that I've never really longed for another place, an unknown place. But I think it started this summer. It may be how overwhelmed I've become with this world, the brokenness, the suffering, etc (ex: the horn of Africa, homelessness, money crisis, war and political unrest) I've been listening to a lot of Andrew Peterson and he has a song called "The Reckoning" 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhQv6gFxIn8

It moves me and makes me realize that I do long for "the curtain to be lifted". I know that's very "christian-y" but it has been true for me and I don't know how else to explain it.

 

Family: I've already mentioned it before but this year my sense of "family" drastically changed. With that has come some distress but mostly just a whole lot of love. I know that part of my idea of home is where my family is. But now that my mind and emotions have identified many others as "family" that makes it even harder to pinpoint where home is. We have been incredibly fortunate to be given amazing blood family. This summer we got to spend time with them, even ones I haven't seen in years. And on the other side of that we've been given amazing non-blood family in the form of friends and co-workers. I am so thankful that God has made a way for my heart and mind to open up to this new definition of family but it also overwhelms me (a lot).

 

Other Musings: This section is mostly about inspiration in the form of creation. Be it the outdoors, my children, art, music, or the written word. I have been inspired in so many ways this summer through things being created and shared. This has manifested the most in the creations of those closest to me, Jadyn and Isaiah. As every parent knows, kids are a wonder. My own are awe inspiring and I see God in them every day (probably every minute of every day). Also, seeing my "baby sister" pregnant with her first child was surreal but beautiful. Her growing belly blew my mind (when did we grow up?). Then there were the many opportunities to be outside; camping, gardening, hiking, geocaching, beach trips etc. The world around me never ceases to amaze me when I have a little time to ponder it and be in it. Literature; we are reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan in our small group and it has been like a very gentle kick in the heart and soul. Music; Gungor and Andrew Peterson have reminded me of the sincerity, truth and emotion that can be displayed through lyric and music.

 

So what am I trying to say? Not sure exactly, other than I keep being taught and I keep trying to be teachable. I'm trying to put to use what I've learned with my actions and share a little of it. So there you go, you're welcome.

 

If you want to see some of the inspirations in picture form check out our Picasa site. So many great pics from the summer

https://picasaweb.google.com/briahnnavegas/Summer2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLiZmcqDrMTr5gE&feat=directlink

Hoping this summer has inspired you as much

Turning 5 Was Awesome!

And it is all thanks to you (all).

List of celebrations
-tepanyaki w/ Nonna, Michael, Gabriel and Avalon
-pool party at the Campbell Ranch
-Disneyland!!!
-brunch @ Bob's Big Boy
-tea time in Pasadena w/ Nana Ivy and Aunt Selena
-Art Party back in GA

= one lucky and loved girl

Blowing out the candles...again...and again....and again