Adrian Barnes' Blog

Feeding Ducks: The Musical

Adrian — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:29:02 +0000

The moment started innocently enough, Natalie and I going to Bowring Park to hit the playground and feed the ducks. Growing up in a house full of testosterone (I have three brothers), it’s easy to forget the subtle differences between how tasks are approached by the fairer gender. For example, “feed the ducks” to Natalie was apparently interpreted as: Pretend you’re in a low-budget Judy Garland musical where the lead character mumbles off-tune, defies authority, has a life and death experience and likes to scold wildlife. Executed to perfection…

U2: Every Breaking Wave

Adrian — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:56:48 +0000

U2 performing their new song Every Breaking Wave during their 2nd 360° Tour concert in Helsinki, Finland, Olympic Stadium on August 21, 2010. Lyrics at the bottom of this post:

Every breaking wave
On the shore
Tells the next one there’ll be one more

Every gambler knows
That to lose
Is what you’re really there for

Somewhere else, fearlessness
Now I’m speaking to an answer phone
Every silent leaf
On the breeze
Winter wouldn’t leave it alone

Ay hey now
Ay hey now

I don’t know if I’m that strong
I don’t know if I’m that strong
Don’t know if I’m that strong
To be somebody
To need someone

Every sailor knows that the sea
Is a friend made enemy
Every shipwrecked soul
Knows what it is
To live without intimacy
I thought I heard the master’s voice
It’s hard to listen while you preach

Like every broken wave
On the shore
This world’s as far as I can reach

Ay hey now
Ay hey now

I don’t know if I’m that strong
I don’t know if I’m that strong
Don’t know if I’m that strong
Got to be somebody
To need someone

The waves know
We’re on the rocks
Drowning is no sin

And you know
My heart is
The same place yours has been

We know
The fear of winning
Should we end before we begin

The waves know
We’re on the rocks
Drowning is no sin

You know
My heart is
The same place yours has been

We know
The fear of winning
Should we end before we begin

Voice of Encouragement

Adrian — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:11:57 +0000

When the circus clown dropped one of the balls he was juggling. Natalie, stands up and shouts (with as much sincerity as a 6 year-old can):

“That’s OK! We still think you’re doing a great job!”

Natalie Covering Dixie Chicks’ “Travelin’ Soldier”

Adrian — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:12:07 +0000

Natalie doing her rendition of the Dixie Chicks’ “Travelin’ Soldier” with diva outburst mastered when she false-starts (“darn it!”). Hard to believe she’s still looking for a record deal.

War Memorial

Adrian — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 19:55:11 +0000

Upon driving by a new war memorial being constructed near our home.

Natalie: “Mom, is that where the dead soldiers are going to be?”

Lisa: “No Natalie, it’s a memorial for the dead soldiers. There won’t be any bodies buried there.”

Natalie: *pause*

Natalie: “Oh…just heads?”

Band Of Horses: Infinite Arms

Adrian — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:03:54 +0000

Band of Horses, previously known as Horses, is a Seattle-based indie rock band with a unique sound. Their new album, Infinite Arms, hits stores on May 18 with Compliments (first video below from April 20 on Later with Jools Holland) as the first single. Also including another song, Is There a Ghost, off their last album, Cease to Begin from a 2007 appearance on Later with Jools Holland.

Animal Rescue

Adrian — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:59:04 +0000

A heart-warming tale about wildlife rescue emphasizing the need for Diego to clarify for his young audience, in no uncertain terms, that he only saves animals that are alive…with heads intact:

Day 1 @ 8:00pm: The Lie

Natalie: “William (a boy at her daycare) picked up a dead mouse at daycare today!”

Lisa: “Did you touch it?”

Natalie: “No”

Day 1 @ 8:15pm: The Spin

Lisa: “Natalie, are you sure you didn’t touch that dead mouse?”

Natalie: “Ok…I did but I just stroked his cute, furry belly“

Day 2 @ 8:00am: The Truth

Lisa: “Did the kids touch a dead mouse yesterday?”

Natasha (Daycare Provider): “Yes…Natalie brought a headless mouse into the house and said she was an animal rescuer”

Kids Are Annoying!

Adrian — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:34:58 +0000

Discussion driving around town:

Natalie: “I’m not going to have kids when I grow up.”

Adrian: “Why not?”

Natalie: “They’re annoying…”

Joanna Newsom: Have One On Me

Adrian — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:08:25 +0000

I couldn’t sleep last night as I was in the enthralls of a particularly stubborn sinus infection so I was begrudgingly flipping through late night television when I came across Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. I’m not a fan of Jimmy Fallon (his incessantly shifty and nervous behavior causes me anxiety) but I stopped channel surfing due to finger fatigue and found myself struck by the originality and authenticity of Joanna Newsom’s performance. I made a mental note this afternoon to see if last night’s over the counter drug binge (resulting in a semi-hallucinogenic state) temporarily clouded my musical palate. Definitely unique…Joanna’s latest album, Have One On Me, hit stores on February 23, 2010.

The Bravery: Stir The Blood

Adrian — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:26:09 +0000

A great way to discover new music is to start with a band/album you enjoy and utilize Amazon’s user purchase trend data to follow what folks worldwide are listening to that dig similar music. I came across New York-based The Bravery via this method and have thoroughly enjoyed listening to their discography’s Punk/New Age blend over the past few weeks. Their latest album, Stir The Blood, dropped on December 1, 2009.