Fetch

Today was a milestone! Kate and I taught Cora to fetch - in a round about way...

It started with a pillow. Then books. Clothes she'd left out. What's next?

Tomorrow groceries? And the next day...maybe if I leave the mower at one end of the yard, she'll mow all the way back to me. And just like that, I cut my mowing workout in 1/2.

I know, I'm a jerk.

-Ross

Cora Gets Sticky Fingers

Happy Friday,
Ross

Confess

I was listening to a message by Rob Bell recently on forgiveness. BRILLIANT! He spoke of its continual wave, the fact that it is often key and paramount to discipleship, because it directly influences "the internal posture of our heart."

To top that off, i'm producing a song in my studio with a friend who is hurting from the recent loss of a family friend to suicide.

All of that has combined to make some emotional soup of creativity which I had to write. Here's what came of it this morning...

CONFESS
(c) 2009 Ross Christopher Donaldson

CHORUS
Confess your sins to me and see
That escape of everything that's been
All tied up and strained against your heart
Holding you slave, holding you slave

VERSE 1
I see you and your shadows
I know you're broken down
You're hurting from your holdings
You're tired of the scoldings

Chorus

VERSE 2
Can you breathe like that
Can't you fake it another day
Or are you ready to be
Forgiven and set free

Chorus

BRIDGE
I'm a sinner
I'm a sinner
I'm a sinner

-----------------------------------------------

I hope something in all of that speaks...

There is a freedom.
There is a release.
There is promise!

Peace,
Ross

I Need Your Opinion

I'm getting ready to head to the printer with ONE of these designs and I need your help deciding which one is better...

Numero Uno...
Numero Dos...Gracias!
-Ross

Too Hot to Blog

Today, I drove past 2 banks displaying temps...

98 on one
105 on the other

BOTH are WAYYYYYY TOO HOT!!!

So, i'm schweaty and too hot to even blog.

Stay classy San Diego,
Ross

1/4 Century Violinist

Yesterday was my 28th birthday and it marked 1/4 century i've played the violin...25 years playing violin.
That's a long time. I should quit. Then again, at this point, it'd be like trying to forget to talk or write or breathe. I swear, I can't remember a time I haven't played - and that's pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

Welp ya'll...peace,
Ross

PSA...this is a public service ALERT!

Music lovers, hold on to your rears...

MUSE & U2 will be doing a hand full of North American shows this fall (sept 24th - oct 14th)!!!I hope the authorities have prepped an enormous staff of EMT for the blowing of minds that will be occurring nation wide!

-Ross

p.s. any regular readers that truly appreciate this blog can send free tickets my way :-) i will accept them.

Cora the Little Wanderer

She's getting SOOOO big!
-Ross

B-b-b-breakin' the Law

Here's a story you probably haven't heard; because its not a positive one for the administration:

Former Inspector General Gerald Walpin filed two reports exposing gross misappropriation of federal AmeriCorps funds by a prominent Barack Obama supporter and was shortly thereafter fired by the White House, circumstances he told WND are likely linked and others have called an outright illegal action by the administration.

"I think you have to look at the facts and the circumstances and reach your conclusions," Walpin said in a WND interview. "I will tell you that [my firing] came only after we had issued those two reports to Congress, and I don't think that's a coincidence."

Further, Walpin said, "I was fired for doing my job."

Independent federal inspectors general are supposed to be granted special protection from political interference – thanks in part to a law written by then-Sen. Barack Obama – to ensure they are free to investigate waste and fraud uninfluenced by political cronyism.

But after Walpin dared to push for action against the St. HOPE Academy program – run by Obama supporter and former NBA star Kevin Johnson – which had misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal AmeriCorps funds, he nonetheless found himself fired by the White House under circumstances that have led some to wonder if Obama has violated his own co-sponsored law in retaliation.

The irony of all of this is that the law was broken by the author of the law...shame shame.

According to the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008, written by Obama, inspectors general do not serve at the president's pleasure and therefore cannot be fired without 30 days notice and written cause for the decision sent to Congress.

The firing of Walpin, however, took on a very different form.

Walpin confirmed that on Wednesday evening he received a sudden and unexpected ultimatum from White House counsel Norman L. Eisen: Resign within the hour or suffer being fired.

I think Nixon's legacy is tainted (yes I said it) by his quote, "when the president does something, it is not illegal." I guess this administration is no different. Funny though, that even as the author of the law, he would break it. Sadder though that unless you turn off the TV and read, read, read political news, you'll never hear this story break.

So again, I'm not surprised in the administrations illegal behavior - its politics (republican, democrat - it happens). But the news media has a responsibility to deliver truth. And just because this paints a bad light on a liberal administration, doesn't mean you can neglect telling the truth.

Keeping you informed,
Ross

Flickering Pixels

I'm reading a fascinating book called Flickering Pixels, by Shane Hipps. Its a great commentary of how technology and faith dance, wrestle, and shape each other. He begins with explaining how the invention of the printing press changed everything! In pre-written culture, our minds were stronger, in that we were forced to remember facts, history, etc. Once we were able to write and pass on texts, the mind had to do far less in remembering.

Interesting.

Once the printing press came to light, the chaos and mystical side of faith was dampened in light of the new ways of linear thinking, systematic reasoning, and process.

Interesting again.

Hipps goes on to discuss that with each new technological jump, the old becomes irrelevant and obsolete - not gone, just obsolete (think horse drawn wagons...you can still ride one in the city at night as a tourist, but its by no means our way of preferred transportation).

Interesting once again.

But perhaps the most brilliant piece I've gathered from Hipps is his commentary on what technology does without our knowing - this is the dark side to its power. Via system, linear thought, post-modernism, etc, is the rejection of emotion. We've embraced a Western culture ideal that says FACT supersedes FAITH, which supersedes FEELING. The problem however is that this change over time has silently caused many to suppress the heart, thus deadening desire.

"That deep longing for life, love, and God fades. Instead, we come to expect less from life. We acquire the bland taste of a domesticated god who resides somewhere in our head. But our head is not for the divine. The head helps us understand the divine from a safe distance. This is a powerful and valuable enterprise to be sure, but there is a difference between knowing ABOUT God and knowing God."

Basically, you just need to pick up the book and read it for yourself. Its full of this good stuff!

Peace,
Ross

Cora Makes Animal Sounds

-Ross (& Cora)

Tonight, we'll be in the woods

Tonight Kate, Cora and I are going camping. I'm pumped! We haven't been in about a year; so Cora was much smaller then and snuggled a bit more.

We sold our souls to the "cheap-tent" demons and bought a 3 person crap tent from Dicks that will keep us dry and work fine at campsites. But this is no backpacking tent by any means. That day will come. That day will come.

But for tonight, I'm pumped for the sounds of locusts, late night campfire, roasted marshmallows, grilled hotdogs, campfire breakfasts (eggs, biscuits, sausage), and the freshness of the wild.

Adios, we're headin' to the woods!
-Ross

Tomato Pie

I apologize that this post is tardy by a week.

But it really all began 2 weeks ago after an NPR story about people's favorite dishes from around the country. At first I wrinkled my nose at this creation, but after thinking about it, I decided we MUST try it.

Tomato pie.

So last week Kate and I rounded the ingredients up and indulged.

Kate started by making a biscuity crust. After that you pile on a layer of tomatoes. On top of that goes a layer of vidalia onions. Then another layer of juicy red ones (tomatoes).

Then comes the real magic.

In a separate bowl you'll need to prepare a heavenly combination that sounds anything but heavenly (you'll just have to trust me).

You take a cup of mayo and mix that with a hearty portion of cheese (we used mozzarella). This turns into a cheesy paste - almost the consistency of a cheese ball.

Then spread that over the layers of tomatoes and onions.

Take your tomato pie and stick it in the oven for about 25 min on 400.

Then let your inhibitions go and enjoy yourself!

It's a must try and a great summer delight.

Enjoy!
-Ross

A Note Came in the Mail

I've written about the situation in Anapra, Mexico before, and have used my blog for education and hopeful enlightenment. Kate and I were blessed a few years back to build relationships with some great families, and have been able to continue to hear their stories, and occasionally help out wherever possible.

Last week we got this note in the mail, and thanks to Spanish on-line translators, I know what it says...

"ross and kate hello friends, I hope to receive this card are in good health in their work and their family are the best decades of my family and also to thank you for the support we received from you. for us has been a great blessing to receive your help. And every day we ask that God continue to bless at all what to do. My children and I are well thanks to my God, all are fine. receive a strong hug of my entire family and God bless you, thank you very much for everything."

The world is getting flatter folks!
-Ross & Kate

Individual. Vision. Community.

I was thinking today about movement and inspiration; the things that keep us going and motivate us towards our truest potentials and creative purposes. First of all, I think there's a certain amount of individual drive and push thats required. But I also believe there's a certain amount of community involvement that takes idea and fantasy to fruition and actuality.

It really starts with an individual passion and personal sense of urgency. (YOU dream something - big, small, whatever.) But then with the support and aide of a community "sold" on the idea and passionately behind the idea or task or risks involved, is the force that brings said idea to reality.

And then comes the 'tweener point that can either build on the community atmosphere or stop with at the individual level.

And that essential element is VISION.

A dream with an understood and solid VISION, and a community behind it, can be unstoppable!

So what's your dream? You have one. You may not be doing anything about it, but you have one (or many).

Have you taken dream to vision?

Do you have the support of a community?

How can you turn your dream into a movement?

Who's on your side?

Now's as good a time to start as any...

-Ross

Cora at the Pool

I love words.

That is why I started this blog over a year ago.

But sometimes, a video-short is just as good. Especially when my darling little girl looks so darn cute!

Hope you enjoy...



-Ross

take this to heart

Lets talk about some musical/performance no-no's today. Yesterday my buddy Jim and I were watching an Oasis concert on tv and everything was cool until we noticed the bassist using a capo. Survey says, XXX...nope, can't do that dude! Bassists don't use capos. Kids that are just learning the instrument SHOULDN'T use capos, but especially when you're shooting a live concert and your in a huge band like Oasis, you NEVER use a capo on your bass.

Its just lame.

And #2, shorts on band members. Ok, I'll concede a few can pull it off, but unless your in Blink182 or are Lars from Metallica, then put on some jeans and rock on. Check out this dude. There are so many major malfunctions here I don't know where to start.

shorts

sandals

opened Hawaiian shirt

blinding white undershirt TUCKED-in

a beautifully groomed lip sweater (ok, that's maybe the 1 thing he's got going for him that is actually good)

That's about it. Take this to heart.

Peace,
Ross