Bryan Johnson (the evil wedding photographer in the post from yesterday...) has finally started to blog consistently and you should all check it out. Plenty of interesting tidbits and some great pictures - www.abryanphoto.com/blog
- j(w)s
I know you're wondering why I haven't written in quite some time. I have a few reasons:
My computer crashed last week and I got to talk with Dell support for 4 hours trying to recover my documents, pictures, and music. Pretty awesome. Apparently if you're not covered by a warranty anymore, Dell support guy Mac is forced to be really rude to you and let you know that he's helping you out of the goodness of his heart not because he has to. Thanks Mac... I'm so sorry I troubled you. I know you had better things to do like sit at your desk and answer the phone and help people who had warranties. I know thats a lot more fun than helping losers like me. However, Dell guy Jeremiah was actually really helpful and nice, so at least there's some good people out there at Dell. After running some test on my hard drive and seeing multiple error messages, I think I'm gonna have to get a new computer (hopefully a Mac... despite the fact that the name of the computer is the same as that of my "friendly" Dell guy), which is great considering I haven't even started working yet and have little money. Oh well.
I also got to hang out with Josh Sizemore this past week. He's pretty incredible. Claimed as being the best out of all the Sizemores by his siblings, Josh lived up to his reputation. He helped me write a song. I like it.
We were finally able to record some songs for Dwight last week, which is always fun. We recorded about 13 songs in 2 1/2 hours (granted, some were only about 30 seconds long). Dwight said he wet his pants when he got it. Chuck Hooten helped us record it, and I was reminded how great he is. One of the most talented people I know. You should get his cd on iTunes.
I went to a wedding in Huntsville this past weekend, too. It was a friend of mine from high school, so I got to see a bunch of my old friends which is always good. I also got to see my grandparents, which was definitely the best part of the trip. They're incredible. I wish everyone could meet them.
I'm heading to ATL tonight to train for my new job with Booster Enterprises for the next two days. It should be pretty fun. I feel like I'm about to get a lot more busy in the next couple weeks. AI auditions are still scheduled for Aug. 14th, and work starts Aug. 9th, and I have another wedding on Aug. 11th in Knoxville, TN. Oprah hates kids. I just saw her interact with a guest's kids on her show, and she didn't even get near them. Jesus loved children. Oprah should learn something from that. Oh... and Kathy Griffin says some horrible stuff, but she is one of the funniest women I've ever seen. I laughed out loud multiple times while watching her extremely inappropriate show. You should try to find the episode where she tries to be the red-headed Oprah. So funny. Ok. Thanks for stopping by.
Reminding you to back-up your computer documents and pictures,
Robby
then I got attacked by and evil wedding photographer but I kicked him in the face...
- j(w)s
Here is one of Robby drinking grits through a straw at Cracker Barrel today...its really not too exciting. I just like how easy it is to put up completely ridiculous stuff these days...
- j(w)s
Whenever me and my brother are together, one of our favorite things to so is watch ridiculous videos, movies, tv shows (and do Mad Libs) and laugh until we cry. Everything is so much funnier when we are together. So anyways, we have been watching Flight of the Conchords and the video below is so great. It basically consists of Jemaine trying to cheer up Bret because someone told him he was little.
- j(w)s
We haven't posted in a while. this has been a good lesson on how hard it is to be consistent.
We finally got to record some more this week and that was pretty exciting. Dwight, hope you like it. We may post a song or two if we can figure out an easy way to do so...
Ok, so Mad Libs are about the most ridiculous thing in the world. My brother, Robby and I went through about ten of them last night and they really brought out the adolescent in all of us. After you do one or two, it quits being funny unless you start to get really crude. Then it starts to be funny again. I just wish they weren't so inappropriate and we could post some of them.
- j(w)s
I wrote a complete song the other day. I'm pretty excited about it, too. I've never actually completed a song, so it's kind of a big deal. We'll see how it turns out once we record it. The tentative title is "Chances Are." Solid, right?
In other news... I bought a gerbil. How miserable would that be if it were true? Why would someone buy a gerbil? They smell awful and poop and pee on you. Sometimes they'll even bite you, and you're forced to spank them with a tiny wooden spoon. I did have a hamster one time named Peanut. He was the color and shape of a little peanut, so I think it was a pretty appropriate name. We probably should have named him "Chew Toy" because thats what he turned into one time when he escaped from his cage. My little dog whipped that thing all over the place and threw it against the wall before we were finally able to rescue it. I think he learned his lesson about staying in the cage after that. Rags, our dog, was probably spanked with a rolled-up newspaper which could have led to the loss of most of his teeth, his terrible case of scoliosis, some crazy skin disease, and cataract infested eyes. I'm still claiming all of those things came with old age, though. He was beautiful. Peanut died a while after the attack by Rags. It wasn't the attack that killed him, though, we think it was an unfortunate choking incident involving carrots. I told mom we needed to buy more seed for him to eat, but we just never got around to it. Seed really isn't even that expensive, but I guess Peanut just wasn't worth the price. We had a few other animals in the Stone household, and we loved them dearly. I'll have to write about them later. I regret to say that the list of pets includes a few cats. I still claim that they are the gayest animals ever, though.
Because you too can prevent hamster deaths,
Robby
I was just sitting here thinking about life and I realized that I turn 25 tomorrow. what a disaster. 25. a quarter of a century. that is one of the most depressing thoughts ever. I really need to start accomplishing something noteworthy. At least that's my initial reaction...don't even know how I feel about that innate need to prove my self-worth. Life is so interesting...
Me and Robby talked to Dwight for 58 minutes yesterday. It was pretty great. He is really far away though.
Our internet is out so that's why there were no posts yesterday. I'm too depressed to try and be funny right now.
- j(w)s
I played laser tag for 2 hours yesterday (yes... I'm a 12 year old). It was with the company I'm going to work for this coming year, Booster Enterprises, and it was actually a lot of fun. What was not fun was the shooting pain in my left elbow following this 2 hour adventure. I probably hit it on a wall or something and didn't even realize it due to the high amounts of adrenaline rushing through my body as I was stalked by members of the opposing team in a dark, techno blasting, black light room. Yeah... you want to play now, don't you? I'm not surprised. Just beware of the black hole in the far right corner of the complex. We lost a few employees in it, and I don't imagine we'll ever see them again. The last thing heard by one of those standing nearby was "You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips!" Not sure what he was getting at, but what a statement to leave this earth with, right?
Still feelin' that techno beat,
Robby
Kathy Lee Gifford: Good Morning Robby, so glad you could join us today...
Robby Stone: Thanks, you're pretty.
KLG: First things first, you obviously have an amazing voice, have you been singing your whole life?
RS: My whole life? Dumb question. But for your sake...sure.
KLG: Thats nice, has the enormity of winning American Idol sunk in yet?
RS: I like green beans, so yeah. I guess she will do.
KLG: How has your life changed over the last 6 months?
RS: I've learned that sometimes in life, you have to risk other's lives. It's hard, but necessary.
KLG: Musically, who is your biggest inspiration?
RS: Umm, probably Kirk Cameron. His work on "Who's the Boss" still amazes me.
KLG: I don't quite understand...but thats ok. What is your most memorable moment from the competition?
RS: Well, I used to be allergic to down sheets...so it really wasn't even possible. Thankfully I got over that during my third trimester.
KLG: So are there any girls in your life these days?
RS: When in Rome...
KLG: Tell me a little bit about the foundation you just started...
RS: I just really have a heart for wicker furniture so it made a lot of sense to start the "Wickedy Wack Foundation." Our goal is to rescue abused and forgotten wicker items, refurbish them, and supply thousands of less-fortunate children with complete outfits made of wicker. Shoes, pants, dresses, and especially under garments.
KLG: I'm sure some of them might appreciate that...do feel there is a big need for wicker clothing among the poverty-stricken children in this world?
RS: Are you serious?
KLG: I don't feel like we are getting very far with this interview, so last question...Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
RS: Probably under a down comforter, now that the reactions aren't as severe. But seriously, Milan is nice and I really like grapes a lot. I suspect they will both have something to do with it.
- Robby/j(w)s
...he still needs some polishing before hitting prime time.
This is a story involving a lovely girl named Erica Philhours. Erica, in addition to being asked to serve as a bridesmaid for her friend this past weekend, was given the job of transporting THE wedding cake from Edgar's Bakery to the wedding location, which is 2 hours away, due to a mistake in icing and the bride's need to leave before the cake could be fixed. Yes. That's right. 2 hours transporting a cake in a car in the middle of a hot summer day. Disaster is eminent. Erica and the guy who will be driving Erica to the wedding location arrive at Edgar's to find that the cake is finished; complete with 3 large layers of pink iced cake. Erica would have taken the boxed cake to the car and been on her way had the cake actually been boxed, but the bakery soon informed her that they "do not have boxes that large." Perfect. The bakery ladies then place the cake in the backseat propped up by a phonebook. Good thinking. Erica, having no other choice, sits in the other backseat to keep an eye on the cake. 20 minutes into the drive to pick-up a friend in Jasper on their way to the wedding the disaster begins. Though the air-conditioning was on full blast, large chunks of the icing begin to "plop" off of the back layers of the cake as the entire cake begins to get that shiny, "all the freakin' icing is going to melt off this cake" look and the top layer begins to slide around. Always a good sign. Erica soon realizes that she needs to turn the cake around so that the air can cool off the backside of the cake. She grasps the two ends of the cake tray and begins to turn the cake around. As the cake slowly turns, Erica's hand slips off of the tray and PUNCHES the cake! One huge blow in the bottom layer of the wedding cake! Amidst trying not to cry, Erica simply decides that it will be most beneficial to leave her fist in the cake until they reach thier friend in Jasper. Yes... you heard right. Erica rode 20 minutes with her fist in her friend's wedding cake. Hilarious. Upon arrival in Jasper, Erica assesses the damage and claims that "it looked like a small bomb had been planted into the side of the cake." Again... hilarious. The remaining portion of the trip was spent rotating the cake every 15 minutes in the front seat with air-conditioning blasting. The cake arrived safely at the destination minus the enormous hole in the bottom layer, large chunks of displaced icing, a slipped top layer, and a crack down the middle of the 2nd layer. Pretty much a bride's dream. Despite the unfortunate cake, the wedding turned out to be very nice and the cake was somewhat salvaged by the miracle workers who catered the wedding. Just thought you might enjoy this story as much as I did.
Reminding you that cake transportation is nearly impossible,
Robby
Because it's late and I occasionally like attention, I posted a random album of pictures Bryan has taken over the last few months:
http://samford.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2035321&l=855de&id=41801096
- j(w)s
So Bryan got a new corner loft/studio downtown and I stayed here all night watching the sunset and working. It's deathly quiet and nice to get some work done. Me and Robby and Tommy watched Freedom Writers last night. It reminded me a lot of my childhood...growing up caught between four warring clans, always wondering if someone was out to get you. It really forced me to grow up quickly. Oh, wait. That's Harry Potter's childhood, not mine. I lived on a farm riding horses and reading books about people whose lives were dangerous. It's a pretty good movie though. I could have cried if I had been in the mood.
Last night I was throwing football up at the sunset spot and I was trying to get Tommy to talk to some girl so I kept throwing the football near her. Finally, she got in the car to leave and for no reason whatsoever I launched the football at least 40 yards through the open window of her car and just about killed her. Some old lady was walking by right then and stopped and said 'You really should go throw that ball somewhere else.' Poor girl thought she was going to die. The sad thing is that she really did nothing to deserve it. I just love a good challenge though.
I'm retiring soon. Can't wait to see what my next career ends up being. I was going to work at that McDonald's in Vestavia but they tore it down.
Oh yeah, and I've got the perfect song for Robby's Idol audition...if I can only convince him to sing it.
- j(w)s
I randomly picked up Donald Miller's Searching For God Knows What today. I had forgotten how great that book was. I didn't read the whole thing, but just the little bit i read got me excited about life and the Lord...something I had been needing. So good...
Also, I counted and I have been to Panera 7 of the last 9 days. Not sure how I feel about that.
Finally, my favorite comment of the day belongs to Robby Stone: "i want to be the father of your children...and your children's children." (said to some girl whose children - and grandchildren - he will almost certainly not father)
- j(w)s
Laura Vandal and Robby decided to try and paint her dining room the color of a metallic wall they saw in Bridge to Terabithia...first they bought some brown paint and poured millions of tiny sparkles into it. That had an interesting result so next they bought some metallic gold paint and covered the sparkles with it. I have been sitting here all afternoon watching the progression and its pretty amazing. And by amazing, I mean really, really strange. Vandal is currently panicking cause her roommate is gonna freak out.
- j(w)s
I don't have one, but if I did, I bet Jeb would be pretty swell.
Creating new cousins one day at a time,
Robby
So, I took the MCAT today, and, as expected, it was pretty miserable. However, I remained fairly calm and energized throughout the entire 5 hour long process. Yeah... 5 hours of testing. Needless to say I'm quite relieved. I won't know my score for another 30 days, which still means that Jer and Dwight's dreams of me failing the test thereby forcing me to pursue a career in music might still come true. Time will tell.
In other news: floppy-eared jackal stopped by my house last night. What's that? You don't know floppy-eared jackal. Well... it's Kristen Seay. I know. It makes complete sense now doesn't it? Still not? Well... here:
I know. Uncanny resemblance. Kind of scary. Don't tell everyone, but we actually cropped a picture of a floppy-eared jackal's face and put it over part of Kristen's face in the above picture. I know! You can't even tell!!! I even have to look hard to see it!
The "1 down" part of my title obviously stands for the completion of the MCAT. The "1 to go" part represents my continued plans to audition for American Idol. Jeremiah, Tommy, and I sat at Whole Foods last night for 2.5 hours planning ways for me to definitely make it onto the show. Jer has some good ideas. It'll be interesting to see how it all turns out. I'm not gonna lie... I'm excited.
I also have some grapes in my refrigerator that have been sitting there for a while. I'm building up courage to eat them (see previous post entitled: "Grapes"). Ok. I'm tired.
Robby
My mom called about an hour ago, read me the following article about two american brothers who got gored by a bull today in Pamplona (one on each horn), - http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6778076,00.html - said that i probably shouldnt be alive and that she hoped I was having a good day. It was a great motherly phone call and a good reminder that it's the one year anniversary of me and Dwight's ridiculously unnecessary trip to Pamplona to run with the bulls. We really had no idea how dangerous it would actually be and it was interesting to read about some goats that got gored, too. Those goats are crazy. They run around like crazy and always get gored. Goats. Silly, silly goats. Gotta love 'em. Especially their cheese...soft, stupid cheese.
Robby high-jacked my post.
Anyways, if you go running with bulls, just understand that you really might die. It's probably the only time in my life when an animal was within a foot or two of killing me. Glad the Lord let us get through that one.
Oh well, try not to get gored...
- j(w)s
So one of my best friends from First Life (Kentucky is considered first life, birmingham is second life, italy is pretend life, just to get that all straight), Tommy, has been here all week and any time someone is in town visiting, I always end up being much more social and reading a lot less than usual. So anyways, for some reason we ended up going to movies two nights in row (Fracture at the dollar movies which was amazing, and Harry Potter at midnight on Tuesday which was a ridiculous idea and a completely unrealistic movie...yes, i said it, Harry Potter is unrealistic). So just wanted to mention that and say that everyone needs to be thinking about Robby tonight and tomorrow since he is taking the MCAT Friday. Pray that he fails miserably, thereby being forced into a career as a musician. The last thing this world needs is another doctor (sorry dad).
Just kidding about him failing...and the thing about the world not needing more doctors...i think there is actually some worldwide shortage, but it will be interesting to see how it all plays out. And I want to say hi to Dwight Castle because he is cool.
- j(w)s
So I was having breakfast with Ben at Panera yesterday (my third straight day eating breakfast at Panera) and he mentioned that Barack was speaking in town that night. It was ironic since the night before, me and Deet had both decided that we hated politics and the whole thing was a joke and we weren't going to vote/care anymore. But I decided to give it one last chance so me and Tommy and Sarah all went.
Basically, it was not exciting. I was honestly very disappointed in the whole thing. I guess the point of it was to be a rally, but i was hoping for at least a little intelligent conversation. There was none. Besides the fact that I was unimpressed (which just isn't a big deal), I was also shocked at how much his image has changed since I first heard about him a few years ago. I had no idea he would be so divisive and critical. Especially if you consider that this was during the Democratic Primary, his entire train of thought just made no sense to me. If any Democratic candidate hopes to separate himself from the crowd, criticizing George W will not help. The least original thing you can possibly do in politics these days is criticize George Bush and doing so will only alienate the 51% of the country who voted for him last time while contributing nothing to the Democratic base who is already deciding between people who hate Bush.
So anyways, I was disappointed. The $25 wasn't a big deal because in return I will probably save about 100 hours over the next year by not caring about the elections.
That's all I've got.
- j(w)s
Imagine this... you're sitting in the theater before a movie and the previews for "Coming Attractions" begin (also imagine that there are lice in your hair due to the low standards held by those who manage the dollar theater off of Lorna Road. However, you must remember it's a dollar theater. How much can you really expect?). You're soon drawn into a heart-warming story about a young boy with no parents who is charitably taken in by a hard-working writer (John Cusack). The boy, who claims that he's sent from Mars to study human nature (I know... gay. But at the time it seemed great), quickly forms a deep bond (not sexual) with the man who took him into his home and became his guardian. Bits of the story are quickly revealed (like a hooker's panties) and you find yourself thinking "I really think I want to see this!" The next moment the title appears on the screen, and you laugh and think "just kidding." There you have it... "Martian Child." Yep. That's the title. I'm being serious. You'll see.
Robby and Jeremiah (Our first combined post!!!)
So, it's been a really long time since either of us have posted...especially me. The whole blogging thing is a lot harder than I thought it would be. It just makes you realize that nothing you have to say is very important.
But here's a quick update on some random happenings...went to Charleston one weekend for a wedding. It's a cool place. Shot some 8mm movie stuff which will be online eventually. Also went to Sea Island in Georgia which apparently is supposed to be one of the best hotels in the world. It was amazing.
Thats not too exciting though...watched some Flight of the Conchords. You should watch "Business Time" -
Read some good books...Blue Ocean Strategy is really good as far as business stuff goes. When I don't desire God by John Piper is incredible.
Currently me and Tommy are sitting on the free-sale couch talking about life/chicks/the fact that we are gonna be lonely. Also, we are going to the Harry Potter premier tonight - which shouldn't help with the whole loneliness thing...
- j(w)s
