Freeing My Mind

Previously on Freeing My Mind: Spam bots declared war against us. A random lady encouraged Craig to get in shape (in a round-a-bout way).

Update: The bots are out of control. I actually think they might have self-actualized. At times I feel like they are having conversations with me. I figured this would happen one day. We give the machines too much information and they start to think for themselves. (See iRobot and Battlestar Galactica.) The most recent bots have names such as LED TV’s, Jesus Ressurrection (If that really is you Jesus, go ahead and repost your comment. I marked it as spam.) Free Viagra (I don’t know if this one is offering me Viagra for free or if it is a social justice issue and Viagra is hold up in a jail cell somewhere as a political prisoner.) and also random German names that give me my Google ranking for the day. I’m going to install a new spam filter. Hopefully that will help cut down on all of the oddly encouraging comments.

Lori and I are still working out hardcore. I haven’t been this dedicated in about 5 years. I’ve lost about 15 pounds in a week. Yeah, it’s been insane. Between my regular cardio and weight training, Lori has gotten me to try  a few of her workout videos. These women are crazy. They’re always telling you to breath and smile, but my body wants to grunt and grimace. One day I did a yoga video. This wasn’t some eastern meditation mixed with stretching, but 45 minutes of trying to will my body to form poses that the male body was not meant to form. I mentioned how difficult it was on my Facebook page. Within a few minutes I had someone telling me that any form of yoga was occultic. I might have been a little harsh with the guy and I actually felt bad when he removed his comment, but I’ve been a little frustrated with Facebook. In comes with the territory that many of my Facebook “friends” don’t actually know me. Lately it’s been difficult for me to make a simple comment about my day without it turning into something overly spiritual or even controversial. In some ways I understand the limits of text in conveying emotions and also the idea that I do have to think a little more about the way and what that I communicate. But should exercise that has to do with nostril breathing, posing and stretching really be a point of contention just because it’s called yoga. If we decided to forgo any activity that has ever had something to do with eastern religions or occult practices we probably wouldn’t even go to church or celebrate holidays.

I have an acquaintance who is the sister of a friend. Her name is Maggie Eckford. She’s a musician and just released her first EP. You guys should really check it out. God is really inspiring some great sounds through people that I’ve come across lately. I love that people are heading into the secular music arena with music that is both parabolic and feel-good.

I’ve got four different people editing my book. I know it seems strange, but I figured that having many viewpoints on edits would help me make decisions on what to change on what to leave. Throughout the process I’ve realized that receiving criticism isn’t my strong suit. My wife has been telling me this for years, but who actually listens to their spouse? This is especially true when it comes to something I’ve put my heart into. If you don’t like the fact that I did yoga, after a couple of minutes it’s kind of “so what”, but something that is the accumulation of the past 28 years of my life hits me a little harder. I assume it’s like having someone comment on your child’s inability or behavior. It really doesn’t matter if it’s true or not. There’s a defense response that flares up because part of you is in there. I’ve actually barely looked at any of the edits, so I’m trying to prepare myself. It would be a lot easier if editing a book consisted of red circles and smiley faces around large sections.

I hope everyone has a beautiful day. Be inspired by my boys the Paper Tongues.

A few things going on today: I just got Paper Tongues new album. If you’ve been following the blog, you’ve heard me talk about them. Amazingly talented guys and super feel-good music. If you only buy one track, my advice is “Everybody”. Check it on iTunes here and from their site here.

I took Monday and Tuesday just to chill. March was a bit crazy on me emotionally and spiritually. I finished the first draft of my book. I’m still playing around with title ideas, so not ready to reveal that just yet, but hopefully soon. Right now it’s with a few different people for editing, I’ll get it back and see what I like and don’t like with the edits. After that, I have to make a big decision about either going with a publisher or self-publishing. I’m pretty sure I could get a deal with a publisher, but how good the deal would be is another question. I don’t really like the idea of giving up the rights to my work, but I also want wide distribution.

How do I think people will respond to the book? Hopefully, overall very positive, but I’m sure I’ll get my share of criticism. I’m finally at a place where I am prepared for it and ready to just be me without worrying about the blow-back.

Part of the reason we had put our big move to San Francisco on the back burner was for me to finish the book. Now that I am in the home-stretch of getting that done, I’m ready to really start moving forward. Nothing is going to happen in April, I’ll be on the road for about three weeks and then I go to Indonesia around the first couple of weeks of May. After that, we plan on going to find a place and then making it there for good in the summer. In preparing, I’ve been really surprised just how different of a direction God is taking us. I’ve always said that in order to see what you’ve never seen, you have to do what you’ve never seen done. It’s gonna be a crazy journey, but hopefully we’re all ready. I’m going to be making a new video this weekend, a little longer and in more detail to give everybody a clearer update.

In the spirit of trying to make sure that I take in everything I can while we’re still in North Carolina, I’m trying to plan a rafting trip sometime this weekend. Hopefully all my friends can get away… you know who you are.

Last night, I had a lot of trouble sleeping. I think I had caffeine a little too late. It didn’t used to bother me, but I guess it’s just another sign that I’m getting older. I took a Benadryl to help me get to sleep, which seemed to help give me some insane dreams. One involved watching the initial casting of Growing Pains and Elisabeth Hasselbeck telling me that she was moving to San Francisco with us. As long as she at least tries to bring Whoopie Goldberg with her, I’m all for it.

Anyway, just a quick update. Much love.

Comment away.

Today’s inspiration is a children’s choir rendition of Jonathan Coulton’s song  “Still Alive” from the Valve’s video game Portal. This is so awesome. I hope the choir director still has his job.