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April 23, 2008

American Idol

Why does he keep getting through?

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 10:04 PM | Comments (4)

April 13, 2008

Pershing is a Hit!

I just got the new Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin cd, Pershing. It's great! I give it a resounding 4 out of 5 stars. You can go to their myspace account; they also have a link on npr where you can listen to their entire show at South by Southwest in Austin, TX. If you're in the St. Louis area they have a show tomorrow night, April 14th, at the Bluebird on Olive near downtown.

The album is filled with songs that shake hands with their former album, Broom, while moving to the next level that includes a healthy dose of hand claps, cowbells, and oooh-ing along the way. It's a mix of pop songs that exude an indie-cool flow from one song to the next with ease and warmth...you just want to put it on and hang out with your friends!
However, I got to say, Boring Fountain and Modern Mystery are lower points on the album for me, the rest of the collection is excellent and worthy of the good words it's been receiving! My favorites are Dead Right, an elegant warning of instant regret in choosing the wrong one, Some Constellation, a beautiful song that reminds me of someone that I can't remember, Think I Wanna Die, the lead single, and Heers, a philosophical thought at what we want to be when we grow up. Hope you enjoy!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 9:31 PM

Whining and Denying Away the Time

Everyday that I go to work I think of how I can make that day better than the one before. My mode of thinking usually goes something like this... "OK Nathan, you can do this." "Dude, this job pays really well...and you actually like the people you work with...you're blessed." "Not too much longer and you'll be in a better position somewhere else...just keep at it." "Man, it is busy today." "Why are there so many people?" "I'm tired" "I'm so sick of this job, I want something better." "It is soo hot in here." "I'm hungry." "There are so many needy customers today...what in the world?" This is the evolution of my thoughts on any given day at Kaldi's. Many of you know that I love my employer of the past few years, and that I love the product I sell and the people I work with...but honestly, I'm burned out and ready for something more. Therefore, I try to look forward and be present with a patient heart, but then, the complaining and whining begins as another workday brings new trials. I find myself in a constant state of complaint. No one has pointed this out to me, it's just my own observations of the current state of affairs in the world of Nathan.
Today's sermon was all about me...or at least it seemed that way. We looked at a passage from Paul's letter to the Phillipians, chapter 4, verses 2-13 to be exact. He actually wrote this letter from prison to encourage the grace of the Lord to a couple of women who had been in continued disagreements. This was a call of coming to the Lord and moving forward. He tells the church of Phillipi that he too has seen every circumstance and has been brought low, he has been in both abundance and need, yet it is in the Lord that joy will come. How often I forget who He is in my life...the Offerer of hope...and life.
As I have been working an hourly wage job for almost a year past when I finished grad school I feel like I deserve more. I feel like I've been working for more, and this seems unjust, and I therefore, feel valid in my bad mood that is filled with constant complaint. It starts with a slight feeling of dissapointment and then moves towards straight-up negativity and then snowballs to anger. At first I think that I'm just venting. However, as Greg, our pastor asked, "What if my venting is actually complaining?" Aaahh. I don't want to do that anymore.
I don't think it's normal to be OK with my situation and to simply be content with where God has placed me. He has me here for a reason, but, He has plans that are fulfilling, aside from the fact that He also has plans for my current situation as well. It seems that finding hope and glory in the present is the key.
How does one do that when they are in what seems to be a hopeless situation? As Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." What I see in this is a faithful man who recognizes that although life isn't easy and can be downright awful, we still have Someone to go to with our anxieties in life. It would be stupid of me to deny that this doesn't hurt or makes me sad. However, it is when I go to Him for comfort He will guard my heart and mind; yes, He will protect me.
As I think of this I am reminded of the passage from Psalms when David says, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." In the Psalm just before he asks the question, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest." What does this mean?
I think what we see is that God pulls His people to Him. He knows that we know the truth, and that He is always with us...even in dark times. In the grand scheme of things, I want to be reminded that it is a much better policy to pray and ask for help from Him, and others. I want to not go straight to complaint mode, but talk with Him about it and move forward. I don't want to go to the other side of the coin and simply deny that there is a problem either, but somewhere in in the middle. A place where I recognize what is true and a place where I recognize a need of a Savior. To ignore and pretend that things aren't as bad as they are is to also deny Him...in a weird, yet direct sort of way. We must find the in-between so that we can return to living.

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 8:18 PM | Comments (1)

Stop Lights, and Tickets, for Everyone!

It was Christmas Eve and I was laying around back home in Kingsport, Tennessee when my dad came into the room saying that I had received a piece of mail from the city of St. Louis. "Wow!" I thought, "Mayor Slay must have known that I was going to be away during the holiday season and therefore, sent me a card wishing a blessed Christmas for me and my family!" To my surprise, it wasn't a card colored with red and green and glitter, but, just the opposite...a ticket for running a red light, with a picture of my car "running the red light" attached. The bill was for $100. The funny part is that there are actually three pictures in which one of them I'm stopped at the red light before I make the turn. "Merry Freakin' Christmas to me," I thought. Before I go any further it should be mentioned that my "running of the red light" occurred at an intersection where I was the only car present...oh, and I was turning right. That's right...no cars, and I was turning right on red...at 11 a.m. in the morning, not exactly rush hour. There are cameras taking pictures of people running red lights all over St. Louis like this, 21 to be exact...and more to come.
When I received the letter and saw that there were pictures of me at first I was mad, but then I felt a little insecure, like someone had been following me to watch my every move...it was very Big Brother-like. I know the idea is that these types of machines are there to keep streets safe, but I can't help but think of the amount of revenue that is made along the way. According to the Riverfront Times, St. Louis has made $1.9 million in the first ten months since the instillation. In an article I read from RFT they say, "City Hall is also hesitant to advertise the additional $900,000 that's gone to Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions (ATS), the private company that installs and monitors the cameras, and then splits the fines with the city." Wow! This is a virtual money-making machine! Seems like there is a conflict of interest.
As I look into this new way to bring justice and safety to our town, I see the good, but I see the negatives as well. If running red lights is such a problem in St. Louis, which I'll agree that it is, then why are these gizmos located at intersections that may not be the most dangerous locations? Furthermore, if there is a ticket mailed to you with a picture of your car, who can prove that it's you in the driver seat? Your image is not going to appear in the photographs. Some say that this is a violation of your 5th Amendment rights. Many questions left to answer leaves me to ask what is the line between using this type of machinery and finding a fair way of punishing those that break the law?
Don't get me wrong...I'm fine with giving people what's coming to them when it comes to breaking the law, I just think that this mode is not appropriate. When you look at the data of how this equipment has been used in other states it doesn't necessarily show that drivers become safer. I think policemen should be giving the tickets. The use of cameras leaves things to a very black/white way of practicing justice...leaving no room grey areas such as my own experience.
Anyway, the red light fiasco is behind me personally. I can't believe that there are people at private companies that are getting rich on these things. I also can't believe that some of the intersections were chosen over other ones...and finally, I can't believe that people are actually going to stop when they remember, "Oh crap, this is one of those lights where you get the ticket."

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 8:04 PM | Comments (3)

Spring WAS Just Around the Corner

Hey Everybody!
Can you believe the weather of St. Louis? It was snowing this morning and I'm currently under a blanket on my sofa looking out the window at the dark clouds that continue to hang around long pass their welcome into the Spring season. Here are some pics that I took a few weeks ago when it had seemed that warmer weather was in our midst.

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 7:15 PM

April 10, 2008

Songs in the Key of K and Ray

Two of my best friends from childhood to the present time wrote a song for me a few years ago...

* To the tune of Mariah Carey's Always be my Baby

You'll always be a fart in me
I will poop you out eventually
Ooh don't you know you can't escape
Ooh don't you know I'm always constipated

Then I responded with a new version of Micheal Jackson's Man in the Mirror

I farted from the beans in my stomach
I farted from the beef and franks
Ain't nothin gonna stop it like the Beano and the Gas-X
If you want live your life in a better way
then eat some prunes everyday and stop that stank

Then Kami and Rachel responded with a new version of Jennifer Lopez's Jenny on the Block

Don't be fooled by the farts that I plop
I'm still, I'm still Nathan on the pot
I used to fart a little, now I fart a lot
Everywhere I go the people, they smell me

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 2:07 PM | Comments (1)

April 7, 2008

Remember the DAYS...

Last night I was hanging out with some people from church. Somehow we ended up talking about soap operas. It was pretty funny. We talked about Sami, and John and Marlena. Some people talked about how their grandmothers used to call them "stories." As in, "I have to watch my stories."

As I think about soap operas and what they culminate, it's anything but glamorous. There is always a relationship or two that are really broken, there's always someone pregnant with a child that may or may not be theirs (does that make sense?), there is always someone in the hospital and someone in court for some evil crime, oh ya, and the antagonist of the show...whether that be Salem or Pineville, is always getting away with their evil schemes. Stefano will never be convicted of murder and Sami will always get away with shady business in order to save her marriage with Lucas or Austin.
Anyway, I can't help but think about the fact that it's so fun to watch others amongst major drama as is the case with soap operas. Our own souls may be as messy as a soap opera, that's why it's so fun to watch and indulge. I must admit that I don't SPs that much anymore, but, every now and then when I'm craving relationship time I watch while I eat lunch. It's always interesting to see what's going on in Salem.

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 11:58 PM

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Hey there!
I hope all is well in your neck of the woods. Do you love bugs? I know I do. They are always sure to respond to my entries...so tried and true.
Anyway, so my favorite local-ish band (they're from Springfield, MO), is coming to town next Monday! SSLYBY has been in my realm for a little more than 3 years. They're great! If you're in town you should come to the Bluebird and see for yourself. Here's a video they released recently for their new album, Pershing. I admit that the video is pretty cheesy, but, hey, you can hear how great they are...kinda like early Weezer meets post-Clap Your Hands Say Ya!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 11:35 PM

April 2, 2008

Barcelona

I have a friend who recently asked me about Barcelona and my thoughts on the city. I told her that it was one of my favorites in the whole wide world...it's incredible! So, here's a few reasons why...

One word, Gaudi

(OK, to be exact, Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Gaudi House)

Another word, Mediterranean

And yet, another, Las Ramblas

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 10:24 PM | Comments (1)

April 1, 2008

Opening Day, a Success!

Although we only made it halfway through the 3rd inning, the Cards were back looking strong! Adam Wainwright, opening pitcher, had a good opening, although giving up one run he was throwing good from the mound. Pujols hit his first homerun and Yadi and Ankiel both brought two in with a single and double, respectively.

I was out with some friends and it felt good to see the Astros at San Diego. I love that baseball is finally back...now if we can just get past this March Madness rubbish we'll be set!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 10:24 AM | Comments (2)