ANNOTATED NATHANOGRAPHY

The Landmark Forum Experience

2008-06-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

This past week I spent my time, and by my time I mean 8am-10pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at the Landmark Forum. I'm finally pretty sure where I am with this whole thing...

Essentially, the Forum is a blueprint for living or a world-view or some other way of looking at life. Either way, it's a very humanist perspective, and it was amazing. I have never really understood what it was to search for meaning outside of Christ and a world that is eternal. People shared so many powerful stories and awful experiences from their past so much so that I was moved to tears for their sorrow and for my fortune (having great parents and a generally cush life).

There are two powerful realizations that I came away with though:

1.) What happened is not the same as my story about what happened (just stew on that for a bit).

2.) The past is in the past and the only way to truly have the freedom to live a powerful life is to declare that, and in that moment create your possibility for the future.

In the end, I have decided that if I didn't have a more powerful alternative, a.k.a. an eternal life that's bigger than me, I would live life through the world-view the Landmark Forum builds. After all, humanists are the best at being humans, but I want to be more than human, I'm being revolutionary for Christ, living forward now... through eternity! Amen.

Peace, NcB.

And Then She Was Older

2008-02-13T16:29:00.000-08:00

My wife turned 24 today, older than me once again, here are 24 reasons she's the best, many of which will make no sense to anyone but me:

1.) A classic beauty with self confidence and class.

2.) Makes up funny words.

3.) Pronounces real words funny.

4.) Works out every day, amazing self-discipline.

5.) Thoughtful... like her mother.

6.) Would die for her students.

7.) Makes me go on walks.

8.) Loves my family... even the extended ones.

9.) Looks better in my shirts than I do.

10.) Lets me grow a beard on vacation.

11.) Prays for me and us constantly.

12.) Spirit lead.

13.) Humble and respectful.

14.) Doesn't make me talk over my breakfast in the morning.

15.) Waits to eat with me when I get home late.

16.) Will try anything in the kitchen, best chef I know.

17.) Goes to seafood places with me even though she hates the smell.

18.) Gives me a hand-full of hair pins to put on my night stand.

19.) Watches Seinfeld reruns with me.

20.) Can be a UCLA fan even though I love SC

21.) Treats my friends better than I do.

22.) Honest... brutally honest.

23.) Pulls my hair when I have headaches.

24.) Has a heart for other young women.

I love you babs

Peace, NcB.

The Bowl Was Actually Super

2008-02-03T21:28:00.000-08:00

Honestly, I am trying to remember the last football game I enjoyed watching as much as the last one of the 2007-8 season (and no, I do not count the lame-bowl next weekend).

Here are the top ten reasons why today was great:

10.) Meatballs in sweet sauce.

9.) My puppy Reggie being the cutest.

8.) Tom Brady's smug confidence being wiped from his grill.

7.) Cactus Cooler.

6.) Looking at toddler pictures of Brie.

5.) Tom Petty's hair.

4.) Verbal rating of the pregame show's personalities' tie-tying skills.

3.) Waching Peyton cheer for Eli.

2.) The game finally being better than the commercials (man they sucked).

1.) Jayson Bennett, you have not lived until you have watched football with this freak.

Peace, NcB.

Commune

2008-01-29T12:08:00.000-08:00

Why not start a commune... No, I don't mean the kind from back in the day or those polygamist freak-fest things... I'm talking about a group of young friends all moving to a new place, planting a church and setting up shop for a great life together.

Now the back story... I went up to play a camp with my college band this past weekend, and now that we have all been away from graduation for close to two years, people are starting to think future and get itchy. We miss each other, the growth, friendships and love.

The general consensus is that we should leave So/Nor-Cal where we are all parked for now and travel to a distant land to set up shop and start a great life together. We are all pretty mobile, so it could be realistic, certainly in the next couple years.

Possible landing spots: Austin, Nashville, Colorado, Boise...

Never hurts to think, talk and pray... Anyone else want in?

Peace, NcB.

Stretch Yourself

2008-01-24T12:19:00.000-08:00

I have been linking to this below for a week or so, but I wanted to rep it a bit more for the mainstream.

Lindsey Trozzo, is a great friend of mine as well as a spiritual mentor, specifically in the areas of worship, spiritual discipline and the study of the Word. We played music and graduated from BIOLA University together

She is a graduate student at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, CA and she has started a new blog called A Great Many Things.

There she will be posting regular short articles about, "Thoughts and questions on life and spirituality."

Read these articles, involve yourself in the discussion, stretch yourself.

Peace, NcB.

All We Are

2008-01-23T21:20:00.000-08:00

All We Are (N. Brown)

You have fire in your eyes

And water on your tongue

Raging lion in the night

And a lamb to lay it down

You are everything we are and want

In its greatest form

And I give all I have to you my Lord

Come like a thief in the night

The tower stands ready

Your people are crying

"Give us the king, give us the king of glory"

You are everything we are and want

In its greatest form

And I give all I have to you my Lord.

You are beautiful

You are all we are

You are beautiful

You are, you are... beautiful

How long will we sing this song

How long to the great beyond

How long till we are all we are

How long...

You are beautiful

You are all we are

You are beautiful

You are, you are... beautiful

I Think I've Earned The Right

2008-01-20T20:24:00.000-08:00

Yes, I think I've earned the right. The right to post short blogs with no significance to anyone but me... So please, indulge me.

Straight up... I am in Eau Claire, WI, the town of my birth... and it's... hold your breath... 20 below zero outside. Yes, California, that "zero" as in that number below all the other numbers you've never heard of.

I have never frozen my a$$ off like this before. And I mean that literally.

Oh... yeah, and for those of you with "young eyes" I think my icy behind gives me the right to cuss with a currency cover-up... Wow, was that pointless.

Peace, NcB.

We Made It Through

2008-01-08T07:23:00.000-08:00

Here in SoCal, every once in a while, you really question the sanity of those who are around you.

About a week ago, New Years Day or so, we started hearing about the monsoon season that was approaching over the weekend. I have never seen newscast here in LA focused on anything other than crime or celebrities, but... oh yes... BUT... last week, Dallas, Johnny and all the other aptly named meteor-alities were finally getting their face time and were of course drooling at the chance to blow the storm of the century WAY out of proportion.

Last night, I watched the back-to-normal 11:00 news and sure enough, the top headlines followed:

1.) Presidential primary in NH.

2.) "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann" premiers.

3.) Dr. Phil goes to see Brittany in the looney bin.

4.) BCS National Championship game.

... oh... yeah... and an afterthought... The largest rainfall in the area was in Claremont which got 6.5 inches... 6.5 inches...? I have lived in three places that have gotten that in a hour...

You have to love SoCal.

Peace, NcB.

Tunes & Phlegm

2007-10-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes... I know, you are not an official blogger unless you post like twice a day minimum, but frankly, I'm too busy for that. So a couple per month is what you get, and I'll try to keep them worthwhile. Now, on to the meat...

Tunes: I have loved Thrice since the first time I left a show at Chain Reaction in Anaheim before they played back in 2001, a local O.C. band that made it big... More importantly though, I respect them as artists. They have gone from a modern Iron Maiden screamo act, to one of the most musically diverse acts in the industry. Their most recent effort, entitled The Alchemy Index, is a 4 part concept album thematically following the elements: Fire, Water, Earth and Air. The 4 EPs are being released two at a time, the first of which came out last week (Fire and Water). As you would expect, the songs on each of discs correspond with the given element in both music and lyric. But, more importantly than any of that creativity is the fact that is getting missed by most. The fact that Thrice is doing what no band has successfully done in the last 30 years... Bucking the hob-knobs of the major music industry and just letting their creativity rip, full-force in the same way that brought classic icons Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull to the bitter hate of the 70s rock rags and into the hearts of millions. Bottom line, if you don't listen to Thrice, you should, even if you "don't like hard music" you will appreciate them if you really give them a chance. I definitely recommend listening through their entire catalog in chronological order if you have, say... 5 free hours some Saturday. It will change your life.

In other news, I'm getting over a three-day flu and I have much phlegm.

Peace, NcB.

Woooooo!

2007-08-31T14:17:00.000-07:00

It's been a while, but I am glad to be back... B and I are heading down to San Diego tonight to watch the Padres destroy the Dodgers and fat-boy, cast-off David Wells at PetCo park. We are also staying the night in a hotel near the stadium. So with that said... Woooooo! for not having to drive home from San Diego late at night. Here's to a great Labor Day weekend for everyone out there.

Peace, NcB.

The Verdict

2007-08-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

Well people of the internation, the verdict is in! Eisley's Combinations wins... After listening through the likes of Eisley's latest work and Singularity by Mae, I cannot help but compare the two and choose a winner.

The reality is, Combinations is a strikingly original work of art that gleans influences from Stevie Nicks to Alanis Morissette and even moments of Sarah McLachlan while never straying from the oh so tasty indie song writing structures. The vocal stylings of Chantalle and Sherri DuPree could melt the wallpaper off a Civil War era plantation house and each song seems like it should be the theme of the next Zach Braff drug-downer-satire-comedy flick (e.g. Garden State). Moreover, the production quality of producer Richard Gibbs and his Malibu studio kills anything I've heard this year.

On the flip side, Singularity glides through ears, brain and out the other side without ever stopping for a truly memorable moment. Not to surprisingly, since signing to Capitol and scrapping their previously written material due to it's lack of radio-a-promotion-ability, the result is just a more clever Yellowcard with better tones and melodies. Now I will listen to it over and over for the next couple weeks in my car and have all the songs in my head for months to come, but what happened to the Mae I used to know writing story-book themed albums with interactive liner notes and a true dedication to the meaning of their acronym name (Multi-sensory Ascetic Experience). In the end... its good... but thats about it. I will throw down positive vibes for the song Just Let Go which I feel is one of the better pop-rock songs of the year.

Eisley: A-
Mae: C+

Peace, NcB.

Next Logical Step

2007-08-14T12:30:00.001-07:00

Well, my progression down the dark path of internet fads continues... I'm not proud of it, but I must, I cannot hold back, I will not be denied... I joined a fantasy football league with my coworkers............... ugh.

Peace, NcB.

New Tunes

2007-08-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to throw out a quick recco for a couple of my favorite indie bands that have new records coming out next week (8/14/07). Both bands I have seen live in the last year or so and both represent themselves well. They both have decent websites and Myspace pages with some of the new tunes on them so take a sec and hit the links below... Reviews to come for each album next week.

Eisley - Website - Myspace.

Mae - Website - Myspace.

Let me know what you think... Peace, NcB.

True L.O.V.E.

2007-08-05T19:37:00.000-07:00

The following is a tribute to Mike and Lindsey Trozzo, who were wed on August 4th, 2007.

L - Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the one who leads, guides and calls us (and them) to Himself and has guided this relationship in a powerful way. I am so happy I was / am an insider that got to see these two meet and grow in such a unique way.

O - Others... as in those who Mike and Linds care for more than themselves in both talk and walk every single day. Thanks for the countless conversations, laughs, words of wisdom, and talents.

V - Vital... to me, B, A, M, Z, A, E, C, M, J, K, etc... etc... etc... All first initials that will mean little to most but much to some. I know family is half a country away, but you are our family... our tribe... forever.

E - "Everything Laudable," one of my all-time favorite worship songs, written by Mrs. Trozzo herself back when she was Ms. Mosher, the Sycamores were Split the these two where just getting started. From day one, there was something special there, and I'm not just saying that.

What God has brought together let no man bring apart... Peace, NcB.

Sticky... Check.

2007-08-02T16:52:00.000-07:00

Well, as I write today, I sit in my hotel room in downtown Houston on the back end of a travel day from purgatory (notice... not as bad as hell). But, I am in one piece and feeling good, about to get ready to go have a nice meal with my wife. The purpose behind our trek here to H-Town is to celebrate the wedding of two of our best friends in the world, but I'll post more about them in a couple days.

Last night was a blast, B and I went to a secret taping of Rascal Flatts performing for Nissan Live Sets on Yahoo!. The show was on a literal sound stage at Fox Studios in Century City, them same stage where they filmed the "Leo dies in icy cold water" scene from Titanic. Only the set is now decked out with a truly bitchin' stage and sound system. So, to make a long story short the band played all of their hits and a few new cuts from their upcoming record (which were very clean) and also did some Q/A with the audience. Highlight of the night was when drummer, Jim Riley, lost a stick, and though he smoothly drew another from a nearby quiver, realized (with a look of anguish on his face I might add) that these takes need to be perfect for the audio/video recording... and yes... they stopped and started again... amazing and hilarious. After this performance, I am a true Rascal Flatts fan and look forward to seeing them again. Be sure to catch that live set when it's posted online. The Brown's grills should be plastered all over it.

Peace, NcB.

Speaking of Influences

2007-07-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

My favorite band, guitarist and on and on and on... Here is a great video courtesy of a great U2 Blog of U2's first American T.V. appearance. You can tell by the sparkle in Bono's eye that he knows he's going to be the biggest rock star in the world... Enjoy!

Peace, NcB.

Up'n'Runnin'

2007-07-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

Just getting this thing up and functioning. In the meantime, be sure to take some time and browse through some of the other sites and blogs I frequent (to the left).

Blistering fast weekends are fun... Order of events:
1.) Company picnic in H.B. w/ softball in the sun and the In-n-Out truck.
2.) David's Bridal Brea for B's bridesmaid dress.
3.) Yardwork, enough said.
4.) Dinner w/ Jony and Emily, some new gonna-be-good friends.
5.) 1 Beer (Fat Tire, for you connoisseurs out there).
6.) Sound check @ 7:00am Sunday.
7.) Drums = blisters.
8.) Lunch w/ family and the Wheelers.
9.) Softball, I suck.
10.) Wedding reception @ The Norconian... yes, that's right... The NORCOnian.

Peace, NcB.

iPeer Pressure Movement

2007-07-29T16:50:00.000-07:00

Well... Game over, I officially caved to what I call the iPeer Pressure Movement. A strange, yet powerful force which causes many normal people throughout the world to spawn online depictions of themselves. Originally rearing its ugly head years ago on low-tech message boards and currently found in the multi-million dollar networking sites (cough... M***** and F*******) and most recently, blogs.

Anyhow, I'm all in, a mind on paper... or... well... at least on inter-digital-paper-stuff...

More to come, peace.

NcB.