I was really sad to hear that my good friend Mandy’s mom was recently diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of cancer. As her mom is meeting this thing head on with chemo, Mandy, along with my other friend Mandy, is fighting back by running a triathlon to raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society whose efforts go toward research and support for the patients and their families. I’m really proud of her. To find out more (with ways to donate) check out Mandy’s Team in Training page: http://www.active.com/donate/tntrm/Mandy.

Go Mandy!

Banana nana fo fethan.

So this is old news by now, but as I mentioned in an earlier post, Ethan Luck will now be the drummer for Relient K. It is with extreme pleasure that I type that. I’ve been an Ethan fan for a number of years now, ever since Ace played a show with The Supertones in Moorhead, MN. He came up to Josh and me, introducing and ensconcing himself in the tenderer places in our hearts. I was immediately struck with how unaffectedly friendly he was. Just a good dude.

A few years later I got a chance to play in a band with him. It was my first time playing bass in a band; Ethan played the guitar. Those few days that the band lasted confirmed to me the awesomeness of Mr. Luck. He brought his wife Kalle along and I remember wishing that I could hang out with that couple a lot more often. They are such an encouragement to be around.

Then a year ago or so Ethan started coming out on the road with Relient K as a tech. It was great having him around all the time. A position on the back of the stage eventually opened up, and Ethan kindly offered his services. We accepted. Woohoo!

Next week we’re hitting the road for a few shows, and I’m excited to see how we do with Ethan holding down the fort. If you’re in the area come see us and make sure to welcome our new heavily tattooed gentle giant.

Me my mo methan.

Ethan.

Listening to "Sun King" from the album Abbey Road by The Beatles

So for my friend Whitney’s birthday party a bunch of us went ice skating. This was my third time; I first went when I was maybe 6 or so, then a few years ago Sarah and I went skating on our honeymoon. Needless to say I am not very good, but I at least didn’t fall down! That was a surprise. I, who sometimes have trouble rounding a corner on foot. The poor Mandy’s however did not fare so well, their bruised bodies living testimonies to reckless abandon of all speeds safe and prudent. My only goal for next time is to learn how to hockey stop. Ok that and a triple salchow lutz twist spin flip jump.

In completely unrelated news, we have a new official drummer :)

Listening to "Rainbow Connection" from the album Are a Drag by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

So this is a bit late, but I wanted to post a link to a tribute someone made to our RK flash Christmas episode. This girl did a remake of the entire thing on a freaking Magna Doodle and threw in some stuff of her own. It must have taken forever. Kudos!

Listening to "Say It Right" from the album Loose by Nelly Furtado

Kind of a random post today, but for some reason I’ve had a C.S. Lewis quote on my mind since seeing it on one of my dad’s newsletters. It’s from Mere Christianity:

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of — throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.

Beautiful.