BYE!

Off to Mexico in a couple of hours. Follow the journey at http://scottieinmexico.blogspot.com

Bless!

ADIOS AMIGOS!

This Saturday I'm departing with a group from Blueprint to build homes and classrooms in the slums of Tijuana, Mexico. We will be there for two and a half weeks. All going to plan, I'm gonna blog the experience day by day through the marvel of modern technology. I have started up a new blog, http://scottieinmexico.blogspot.com, but will also continue to post updates on this one. Arguments for looking at the other site may be:

a.) a nicer layout and tidier design job, or
b.)the two articles I've already posted on short-term missions and the effect of the NAFTA treaty on Mexican farm-workers.

Check it out!

SCOTT DONALDSON

Earlier this year I moved into 'The Goatshed', a flat in the heart of Newtown. To put this in perspective, there are two places where psych patients are released in Wellington. One of them Porirua, the other right here in Newtown. I was fortunate enough to meet one of these patients early on arrival. With no SKY television in his flat, 'low maintenance' Scott made our lounge home as long as summer cricket lasted. One day I accidentally left the lounge windows open as I went out only to find Scott had let himself in on my return.

With the end of summer came the possibility of claiming back our lounge and Scott hibernating away for the winter. No such luck. Low maintenance, an avid 'stags' fan, settled in for the Americas Cup and further extended his stay as the Rugby season arrived.

One benefit of Scott's presence is his vast knowledge of all things trivial about sport. During one match he recalled an incident while working at the Dunedin Grand Plaza when Carl Hayman took a young lady back to his room for the night after a test at the Brook. These facts are always nice when the game gets slow.

Essentially, Scott is a southern man through and through. One of the most colourful real-life characters I've ever encountered. He has an audio blog over at http://scottydonaldson.blogspot.com. Check it out, give it a chance - it's one of the funniest things I've heard in a long time.

TOP SONGS OF MY LIFETIME...

Inspired by Daryll's Post, I have decided to pull together the top 20 songs of my life so far.

It's a difficult process really. As a youngster I was a on a solid diet of The Beach Boys, Elton John, Simply Red, Michael Jackson & The New Kids on the Block. All lovingly spoonfed to me by my brother and sister (10 and 11 years older than me respectively). When I finally started to form my own taste for music (at age 9 or 10), I gladly absorbed everything MTV wanted me to as a member of their target demographic. My first album was Peter Andre. Then at 13 I finally stumbled up some more respectable artists. I remember being at a third form dance where Nirvana's 'Smells like teen spirit' was played. The song blew me away, I'd never heard anything like it before. Unfortunately the rebel within me was quickly quashed as I became a follower of Jesus later that year. The hope of identifying any of the greatest artists of my teen years was buried beneath a filthy torrent of CCM (DCtalk, Delirious, Audio Adrenaline, The Lads). While this music wasn't all bad, I've spent my time since youth group trying to catch up on the stuff that real artists are making.

I'm yet to rank, but am gradually assembling a collection of tracks that have changed my world. Here it is so far, please feel free to assist me in the process...

Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band: The Beatles
Sleep Now in the Fire: Rage Against the Machine
The Blowers Daughter: Damien Rice
Marching Bands of Manhattan: Death Cab for Cutie
Smells like Teen Spirit: Nirvana
Hallelujah: Leonrd Cohen performed by Jeff Buckley
Daniel: Elton John
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For: U2         
Where the Streets Have No Name: U2

And then there are a few sitting just outside list-status at the moment. Mostly because they are either too new for me or because of my anti-CCM bias. We'll see if they make it in later on...

Ingenium: Matt Holleman (this album was never released and he doesn't like people listening to it)
Invalid Litter Dept.: At the Drive In
Obsession: Delirious
Cicatriz ESP: The Mars Volta

UPDATE:

Tears in Heaven: Eric Clapton
Black or White: Michael Jackson

Huge songs when I was a youngin'...

      

ANOTHER UPDATE...

Where am I?
Still in Wellington, NZ. From September 22 to October the 5th I will be in Baja and Tijuana Mexico. After that onto LA and San Diego till the 9th and then back on Kiwi soil on the 10th. While I'm there I get to see Underoath at The Wiltern. Hot.

Why?
My first and last short-term mission. Hoping to reawaken the parts of me that are numb to the poverty I've seen on TV every day for the last 21 years.

What could possibly be more important than blogging?
'Deloused in the Comatorium' by 'The Mars Volta'. 8 years late on this album but yet again I got there.
Also, 'Relationship of Command' by 'At the Drive-in'. 14 years late here...

Finally, speaking at Blueprint this Sunday Night. If you're round town come by.

UPDATE

Where am I?
On holiday from the blogosphere
When will I be back?
When life becomes so boring I have to resort to commentary
What could possibly be more important than blogging?
Grace by Jeff Buckley. 13 years late on this album but I got there in the end...

PARENTAL GUIDANCE...

More dangerous and controversial than Mr Harvey? Surely not...

ONWARDS...

Great show in Palmy, leaving for Napier in a moment

Thanks to the dudes from Cord Willis for putting us up for the night.
If anyone is in Napier tonight, we're at the Chapman Pavilion from 8pm.

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I'm heading away for a few days on tour. If you're in Palmy North, Napier, Auckland or Hamilton, get along to one of these shows.

ZEAL KIDS

That last post got horribly serious all of a sudden. Here's a great youtube of some of the Zeal kids hanging at a party a few weeks back. Makes me wanna be back at high school...

hehehe...