1. Song: The Load Out/Stay
   Artist: Jackson Browne
   Album: Running on Empty

   The song of life on the road and wanting to continue playing after the show is over. I really like the lyrics and how the song shifts into Stay by the Four Seasons. Too bad it’s not available on iTunes.

2. Song: The Wino and I Know
   Artist: Jimmy Buffett
   Album: Living and Dying in 3/4 Time

   My celebrity playlist would not be complete without something from Buffett. I’ve been a Parrothead for at lest a decade and while I celebrate the entire catalog, a playlist calls for a specific song. The Wino and I Know has been my favorite song by Jimmy Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band since the moment I heard the first riff. It’s got fun lyrics, a killer bridge, and a sound that just draws you in. How can you possibly go wrong?

3. Song: The Skies Won’t Fall
   Artist: Foundation
   Album: Foundation

   Foundation is a solo project by Ann Beretta frontman, Rob Huddleston. While Ann Beretta is upbeat and at times hard core, Foundation is soft and acoustic. It’s really hard to pick one song from the only Foundation album in existence (2001’s self-titled debut) but The Skies Won’t Fall is just as good as any. The song showcases the bands smooth sound that just demands to be repeated over and over again. According to Foundation’s MySpace page a new album is in the works which is very cool news!

4. Song: Where the Streets Have No Name
   Artist: U2
   Album: Joshua Tree

   If there is a song that speaks of more hope I don’t know about it. Someday we’ll find the place where we can take shelter from the poison rain. No matter what crap we go through, there is always hope for something better. For me, it’s where the streets have no name. Bono captures that ultimate hope in this wonderful song.

5. Song: When Your Mind’s Made Up
   Artist: Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
   Album: Music From the Motion Picture ‘Once’

   I’ve talked about Once before. The movie is incredible mainly because the music is so good. The song that is brought up every time the movie is mentioned, the one that won them the Oscar, is Falling Slowly. In my opinion, which is what makes up everything I write here, that’s not the best song in the movie/soundtrack. When Your Mind’s Made Up is nothing but pure passion and emotion on the part of Glen Hansard that’s translated to the listener. In the film, Glen and Marketa have finally saved up enough money to record. This song grabs the attention of the sound guy and shows the world (and themselves) that they really have something to be proud of. They’ve made it; they’ve done what it takes to chase their dreams. What’s happened in the past doesn’t matter and what will happen in the future is irrelevant. All that matters at that moment is the music.

6. Song: Blinded by the Light
   Artist: Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
   Album: The Roaring Silence

   Originally written and released by Bruce Springsteen but made popular by Manfred Mann, this song has some of the most intense lyrics ever written. Written about Springsteen’s early career, it’s like a crazy trip through dive bars in Jersey complete with very strange characters and situations.

7. Song: Move Away and Shine (In a Dream)
   Artist: Tim DeLaughter (The Polyphonic Spree)
   Album: ‘Thumbsucker’ Original Soundtrack

   I’m pretty sure The Polyphonic Spree is a cult. I remember seeing them on Conan years ago dancing around in their colored robes playing instruments and hitting beach balls in the air. That’s pretty cultish. Though, just because they are a cult doesn’t mean they can’t make really, really good music. Like another song on this list (that’s what they call a teaser) it’s impossible to listen to anything The Polyphonic Spree does without being put into a good mood (which might be how they get people to join their cult). This song was, more or less, the theme song for a little indie flick that I couldn’t tell you about if I tried. The song, however, is much more memorable. Don’t be afraid to break your comfort zone, get out there and shine. How can you not like that?

8. Song: Call Me, Call Me
   Artist: 菅野よう子 (The Seatbelts)
   Album: Blue

   In case you didn’t know, I’m a geek. I dig the internets, video games, and yes, some anime. One such work that I am especially fond of is Cowboy Bebop. It’s a short, 26 episode series about a group of bounty hunters who are forever broke in the year 2071. Call Me, Call Me plays during the climax of the series and wraps up one of the main characters story lines. It’s such a happy and sad moment that is heightened by the emotion in the song. One of the few songs The Seatbelts do that are in English, Call Me, Call Me is about looking for someone long ago lost, and hoping that they’re alright; something all of us can relate to.

9. Song: Along for the Ride
   Artist: Mates of State
   Album: All Day

   Mates of State is an interesting band. It consists of a husband and wife who play the drums and keyboard respectively. Needless to say this produces a very unique sound. They’ve been featured, of all things, in an AT&T commercial and in a prior post here. The first time I heard Along for the Ride was at a concert on Election Night 2004 in Tallahassee. They played the song with fellow touring group Bishop Allen. Like most of their music, it’s a fun, upbeat, song that is hard not to like.

10. Song: Walk of Life
    Artist: Dire Straits
    Album: Brothers in Arms

    It’s pretty impossible to hear this song and not be put into a good mood. I rediscovered this song after watching Space Camp with some friends a while back. I regret forgetting about it in the first place. It is now my ringtone and every time I get a phone call my coworkers start humming. It’s one of the most contagious songs out there. Good thing it’s a pretty good one.

There you have it, my ‘celebrity’ playlist. Like something here? Don’t like something here? Just want to argue about it? Let me know in the comments below.

A while back I had the library send me Jimmy Buffett’s Where is Joe Merchant?. For reasons I can’t seem to remember I didn’t start reading it until it was due. So I went onto the handy website and renewed it. Perfect. I took the book to the Bahamas and, shortly after horrendously injuring myself, decided to start reading it.

It’s a good book; silly story, even sillier characters, but a good read. The problem is I read slowly. I mean s.l.o.w.l.y. That and I don’t really make time to read, but that can be the topic for another day.

I used to read fast, well faster. Back in college I remember reading The DaVinci Code over the course of a week and Angels and Deamons even quicker. I even read The Client in a 24 hour period because it was due for a law class (which was taught by the teacher mentioned in the article that caused so much controversy).

Anyway, I somehow lost the ability to read quickly. Maybe the internet has destroyed the part of my brain required to do intellectual things like watching the news, reading, and knowing better than jumping off cliffs. Whatever it is, the library is starting to take notice. They’ve told me I cannot renew it again. Evidently three times is too many (yeah, I’ve had it that long, so what?). So I guess I have to read the remaining two hundred pages before the 11th or they send out the Library Police. You’d think that since I’m basically paying for the book anyway through my taxes they’d let me keep it till I’m done. Maybe I can get a discrimination lawsuit out of this. Oh, who am I kidding. It’d take me four years to read the lawyers paperwork.

• Participated in a 30 Hour Famine where a lot of Guitar Hero was played, not to mention oranges gleaned.
• Carried out One Night in January where over 300 people packed FUMCO’s Fellowship Hall to listen to the Rock of Ages Praise Band play U2 music and see how we can collectively change the world.
• Traveled to Tallahassee to see some old friends and enjoy a Jimmy Buffett show. (read more)
• Celebrated the 125th anniversuary of FUMCO.
• Took the high schoolers skiing in West Virginia and came back with three broken wrists between two people.
• Packed my office into a few very large boxes.
• Went to Chicago for the Willow Creek Shift Conference for youth workers.
• Ate dinner at Lou Malnati’s and the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago.
• Moved the church offices to our new building across the street.
• Took the youth to St. Luke’s to see Johnny Diaz and John Evans.

It’s been a very busy but fun few weeks. This week I get to unpack my office and then next week is Skylight on the Beach(es).

Also, during the last few weeks Mindless Chatter has been featured at CSS Tux as one of the “best dressed sites on the internet.” There have been additions to the site over the last few weeks so I’ve been pushed to the bottom of the page, but it’s still a pretty cool honor.

See you soon.

The show was great, of course, and even though I was behind the stage the view was great. It was a fun weekend 18 hours seeing old friends and enjoying some great music.

For those who care, you can find the set list here. It was cool seeing some old stuff including Pencil Thin Mustache, which I hadn’t seen in concert since 2003, as well as some others that I had never seen in concert like Bama Breeze, Changing Channels and the new rendition of Floridays. There were also a cool video called Here We Are (you can find it on iTunes) which shows Parrotheads through the years.

Anyway, it was a great show.

As many of you know I consider myself a loyal member of the Parrothead nation and have now attended seven Jimmy Buffett shows in Orlando, Tallahassee, Atlanta and now Jacksonville. I haven’t quite made it to the point where my car turns into a shark and I wear a grass skirt though it really can’t be that far off the horizon. Last night Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band played Jacksonville for the first time in almost twenty years and I was there, enjoying every minute of it. But before I get into the show, I’ve got to build up the story.

Sometimes it just comes down to who you know. My friend Kyle happens to work for the State of Florida and has a few connections that reach into the US Department of State. I won’t reveal the full extent of his connections here so as not to get anyone into possible trouble. But lets just say he knows a guy who knows a guy who is the attorney for the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Stadium. And wouldn’t you know that just happened to the venue where Bubba was playing? Needless to say a request was made and last Thursday afternoon word was passed down the preverbal grapevine that tickets would be waiting at will call for us. Plans were made and around two yesterday afternoon we left Tallahassee for I-10. There were just about a hundred and fifty miles between us and our Parrothead friends.

When we got to the stadium we knew things were on our side as we scored a parking space right next to the exit of the lot. Fighting to leave would not be a problem after the concert. Never having spent more then a fleeting moment in Jacksonville, we had no idea where we could score dinner before the show. What do you do in that situation? Ask a newsman. The guy pointed us to The Amsterdam Cafe right next to the stadium and dinner was had. The cheeseburgers, not quite in paradise but good none the less, seriously showed up minutes after we ordered. These guys were on the ball. Next stop, will call.

Here is where our troubles began. Kyle went up to will call to claim the tickets and was told that there was nothing in the computer under his name but from the sound of who left them, chances was they were in the marketing office. So we went there. These people didn’t really put second thought into it as the names we were dropping seemed too good to be true and when they couldn’t find our tickets either, decided to ignore us. After a frantic phone call to his connection–which resulted in voice mail–another attempt was made at will call with a different teller. This woman seemed to be in a friendlier mood then the first and decided to try all the names the tickets could possibly be under: Kyle’s, Kyle’s connection, Kyle’s connection’s attorney friend. At this point the woman told us to step aside and wait. Ten minutes later she arrived out of a side door with our tickets, Section 101, row B, seats 10-12. It was now only a matter of time.

Once the gates opened we hit up the t-shirt vendor, which was organized madness to say the least. Conversation was made with the woman in front of us about t-shirt selections and, of all things, how to be more visible on a dive boat. Once the purchases were made, it was time to find our seats. We had no idea where they were in relation to the stage as an arena map was nowhere to be found, though from the seat numbers they sounded good. Good is an understatement, these seats were great. Section 101 was on the left corner of the stage and Row B translated to the second row. So there we were, about forty-five minutes before show time and almost close enough to touch the stage. After some small talk with our local security guard, and the realization that people owned tickets to seats one through seven of our row–which didn’t exist–we were ready to go.

Prior to the show, while the owners of the phantom seats were straightening things out with guest services, beach balls were flying across the stadium. There was a little girl, no older then eight, waiting in front of us with her mom while her dad took care of their tickets. Every time a beach ball ended up in our general area (and by general area I mean about a four row radius) it was given to her and in her attempt to spike it into the crowd she would inevitably hit one of us in the face. This little girl is probably the only person in the stadium that was luckier then us last night as when guest services fixed their seating arrangement they ended up right in front of the stage–so close that the girl was able to hand Jimmy, while he was performing, a note she had written him. This netted the girl, upon his return for his first encore, one of Jimmy’s sandals.

Once everyone’s seating arrangements were taken care of, the show began. What a show it was. In typical Buffett fashion he played almost thirty songs, a good majority which was from his older, dust covered catalogue–this made me particularly happy. A few shameless segments, a video tribute to the late Johnny Carson, and two encores–one dedicated to the recently departed Hunter S. Thompson–and nearly three hours later the show was over and it was time to go home. By two in the morning, twelve hours after the journey began, I was in bed attempting to recharge my batteries in time for class this morning. And that is the story of how I acquired Buffett tickets and sat just off the stage and made eye contact with one of the greatest performers of the last few decades.

Let me start with a question. What do you think is the most popular page on my site–the article read more than any other? The answer, Article 50: Dawson’s Creek Series Finale. That’s right. Shannon’s article about the final episode of Dawson’s Creek is the most popular page on this site. Nearly one third of all site visits (27.52%) results in a viewing of this article; this is just under twice the amount that view the sites second most popular page, the index. Have I confused you? Ok, here’s the deal. My faithful readers, friends, family and what not who either have the site bookmarked or type the address in directly, result in a visit to the index. So how, then, does Shannon’s article double the viewing of the index? Two words, search engines.

For some reason, unknown to me, by searching for “Dawson’s Creek Series Finale” on pretty much every search engine brings my site up right near the top. For example, take Google (click here for a shortcut to the search). Now, if you attempted the search or are just taking my word for it, you’ll notice that Shannon’s article is THE SECOND RESULT ON THE PAGE! Yes, it results even higher than THE OFFICIAL DAWSON’S CREEK EPISODE GUIDE! How does this happen, I have no idea. However, I have been tracking the views of that page and a majority of them are from countries all around the world. My thoughts: the finale hit syndication around the world and people went online to get info on it. You’ll also notice that Shannon’s article has the most posted comments than any other article, but we’ll get to that later.

So enough about the Creek, what is the second most read article? Well, I’ll answer that with the second most searched for phrase. The second most searched for phrase which leads to my website is any combination of “nude youth camp,” naked volleyball,” “photos of nude teen girls,” etc. Figured it out yet? The second most read article is Article 59: Summer Camp, With a Twist. I’ll have you know that a lot of sites hide keywords (what the search engines search for) like sex and porn on their pages somewhere to get more traffic. But I do not stoop that low! No, I, the author of the one and only Lone Palm Creations, place words like sex, porn, nudism, and the Olsen Twins DIRECTLY in the body of my articles for the world to see–the result is still the same in the long run.

Anyway, enough about that crap. I want to take the time here to address some of the more, shall I say, special comments made throughout my website.

Visitor Harley, who has been traced back to London, comments on my article The Meaning of That as follows:

Zebras are black and white for cooling – as the wind passes over the white and black areas – it draws heat off the body more effectivly thanjust a solid colour…

To this I say, Harley thank you for the wonderful insight. I am really impressed that you know this and hope that, in the future when I attempt to make a joke, you continue to correct me and make sure my readers stay informed and in the know.

Reader Jasmine, who appears to be from Austin, Texas (don’t mess with her) left about a six page response to Shannon’s Creek article, and then, these interesting words:

i’m always looking for new ppl to talk to– especially since i watch a lot of tv, and NONE of my friends like the same shows i do,a nd i love to talk about my fave shows. but if u want to contact my, u should first now that i’m EXTREMELY weird and insane, and i HATE preps ans peps.

Hum… I’ve written about Hot or Not, though my new friend Jasmine (hi Jasmine) has got me thinking, LPC: Hook Ups. How’s an internet dating service sound? Look for it in the future.

Some guy from Tampa named George, in a comment also on the Dawson’s Creek article writes:

i want to have a 3 some with dawson and pacey

Yeah, ok George. Let me see if I can arrange that for you. I’ll add it to the list just below getting Jimmy Buffett to play a Lone Palm Creations benefit concert and having Katie Holmes become a regular author here.

And our finnal comment of the night was posted by Jeff in regards to Popular Culture:

justin, i hope you weren’t complaining about low rise jeans, they’re a good thing.

No Jeff, I am in fact a big fan of low rise jeans–especially when they’re on the Olsen Twins (I bet that’ll draw in some readers).

The long and short of it, the concert was very wet and muddy. Got to love the outdoor shows. A full set list will be added to the Buffett portion of my site when I feel like doing so. It wasn’t the best concert I’ve been to. I was glad to see that Jimmy played some stuff that he usually doesn’t, I enjoy that stuff more. Yes I’m a Parrothead but no I don’t cream myself every time I hear a song off Songs You Know By Heart. I’d rather hear him play “The Wino and I Know” or “That’s What Living is to Me” or “We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us About.” But, it seems like anyone that goes to the concerts anymore have only heard the songs Buffett has on Songs You Know By Heart which is all fine and dandy, but when it comes to other songs that they cant sing along to in a drunken stupor they then talk to their friends and ignore the concert. This again, is all fine and dandy but that prevents the true fans that are there to hear Buffett play, i.e. me, from actually hearing Bubba sing. During this concert I felt something I had never felt at a Buffett concert before, and that was detest. Namely because the one part of Jimmy’s show that I look forward to every year is his acoustic set. I love it because he plays songs that I love and they just sound wonderful acoustically. However this year I didn’t get to enjoy the acoustic set because of the people talking and gallivanting around the lawn section of the concert. I also did another thing that I hadn’t done at a Buffett concert before, and that was leave before the encores. I said at the time it was to beat the traffic as we were in dire need of gas, but I really didn’t want to stick around because I wasn’t going to enjoy them. I kick myself now of course seeing that Jimmy played “Southern Cross” as well as “Pacing the Cage” which I absolutely love, but, that’s the way it goes I guess. The only true saving grace amongst the mud and noise was that after trekking across THE ENTIRE mud covered concert venue in an effort to get closer to where we parked, I ran into Casey who promptly ran up to me which pretty much made my night. If it hadn’t been for her, I probably would have left the concert pretty pissed off and disappointed. So thank you Casey, you made my day, as you do every time I see you. After the concert we went back to my aunt’s where I slept more soundly then I have in weeks.

The next morning we got up and headed down to Orlando. Thankfully the 500 mile drive only took around six and a half hours. To recap I had traveled roughly 750 miles within a 24 hour period. And the weekend was just starting.

In Orlando I had friends from Tallahassee come into town to visit for Easter. Friday night we met up with Earl and Jessica which is always fun. We played Pictionary and joked around till late at night. The next day, we’re now to Saturday, led to Islands of Adventure.

My friends from school all went to the wonderful place known as IOA by us local freaks and had a great time. Lines weren’t horrible and the rides, as always were lots of fun. Every time I ride it, I can’t help but think of how cool the Spider-Man ride is. It’s probably the best ride ever. The day at the park was great. It was made even better because Ryan’s uncle got us all tickets. He came with us and was really a nice guy. This is a big thank you to Ryan’s uncle. After IOA came a well welcomed dinner and the movie Pumpkin which is, to say the least, interesting.

Then came Sunday, Easter Sunday. I went to church–both services–as I do on all “big occasion” Sundays though this time was accompanied by my friends from school. The services were, well, not great. The sermon was horrible and I had the pleasure of hearing it twice. If only our assistant pastor would be given the chance to speak because he is a lot more entertaining that our senior pastor–who thankfully will be leaving in June. At least our church’s Easter tradition of singing the Hallelujah Chorus was upheld. It sounded wonderful.

After church came the Easter festivities. This involved Easter egg hunting, badminton playing, and of course, lots and lots of eating — and some picture taking. Always love the Easter festivities. Then came the ride home.

Now it’s back to reality. The fun is over. I found out that I completely failed my finance test from last week and now passing the entire class could be in jeopardy. Returning to Tallahassee has brought me back to some situations I am tired of dealing with as well as opened me up to more that I have to deal with. Regardless of the situation, the test grades and what not, I always end up getting screwed in the end. But, c’est la vie, that’s life right? Emerson once wrote that “every sweet has it’s sour; every evil it’s good” which was so wonderfully retold in Vanilla Sky. I guess I’m tasting the sour right now. Hopefully the summer, which is now less than two weeks away, will bring something really sweet my way. And to think, I only have to get through five finals first!

Well that’s that. I know this article is a little drab but you gotta write about what you know right? At least that’s what Mark Twain once said. Mr. Twain also wrote the words that inspired Buffett’s “That’s What Living is to Me” that goes: “Be good and you will be lonesome/Be lonesome and you will be free/Live a lie, and you will live to regret it/That’s what living is to me.” Well, sometimes, that is what living is to me. Until next time.

Secondly, I have decided, along with the help of my friend the Supreme Evil, to start a mafia family. I have yet to decide, however, what nationality we will represent, or if any for that matter. It will probably end up being the first ever non-discriminating mafia legacy, unless of course we hate you, then well, you get the idea. I really don’t care how it works out so long as I have power, money, and access to lots of weapons. Because, after all, guns are cool. Not as cool as a Fiery Sword of Justice, but cool none-the-less.

Q. Is Caity responsible for any of this?
A. If by Caity you mean the one whom is middle-nameless and by responsible you mean forced me to watch Boondock Saints, then maybe, maybe not.

This was an eventful weekend, can you tell? Saturday morning I fought, for the better part of an hour, with Ticketmaster.com. Some people prefer to call Ticketmaster by it’s true unholy name, TicketBastard. I’m not going to take sides, but well, yeah. Ticketmaster is the devil and deserves a Fiery Sword up its… you get the idea. Long and the short of that topic is four tickets to April’s Jimmy Buffett concert in Atlanta have been purchased. The things I do…

Q. How fast does you’re mind work?
A. Faster than yours.

A. Yes. I told you so.
Q. Does it always work that fast?

A lot of you have been wondering, due to the general tone of my away messages (and probably fueled by the nature of this article) if I have completely lost my mind. The answer is no… well maybe. I would just like to set the record straight that Eternal Darkness is not a state of being rather a mere videogame. A very cool video game, but a video game regardless.

Anyway, that’s pretty much what is going on here. Spring Break is creeping closer and closer and in turn so is the Buffett concert and, apariently, the Renaissance Festival. So needless-to-say, there’s a lot on the horizon. (Side note: Ethan “Elder” Dickman has again moved. Address available upon request.) So, take care one and all and until we meet again:

And shepherds we shall be, for thee my lord for thee.
Power hath descended forth from thy hand so our feet may swiftly carry out thy command.
And we shall flow a river forth to thee and teaming with souls shall it ever be.
E Nomini Patri, E fili, E Spiritu Sancti.

As many of you know, I am an avid Parrothead. For those sole-less individuals out there, a Parrothead is a lover of Jimmy Buffett’s music. If you do not know who Jimmy Buffett is, well, you should be shot on site because you have no reason for living. Anyway, whether you knew it or not (and you should because it’s posted in a few places on my website) Lone Palm Creations gets it’s name from Jimmy Buffett’s song Lone Palm and I included the lyrics to said song on the About portion of my website. Well, in doing so I thought, why not provide all of Buffett’s lyrics as well as make them searchable? Hum, what a wonderful idea! So I come to you today announcing the launch of the Jimmy Buffett Lyrics Archive here on LPC. I hope you enjoy it and if not, well screw you!

Back in the day I also promised various authors would be giving their two cents here on LPC. Well, if you frequent my site you’ll notice that this is the case. A few people, other than myself have posted articles especially in the past few days so I thought it would be appropriate to introduce you to my current authors. My authors. Mwhahahahahahaha! Ok, anyway I’ve assembled a team so far of 5 people and they are, in no particular order:

Blakey-D, a madman back from the woods, who has settled in the apparently trashy and oh so immoral town of Daytona Beach, Florida.

Sarah is, well… I could tell you about Sarah, however, we’ll leave it all a mystery; it’s better this way for, well, protecting the not so innocent.

Shannon appears to be sweet and innocent, but this just masks the truth as she has secret lovers strategically placed all across the world.

OneAndOnlyWayne is a mild mannered Blockbuster employee by day, and a blood hungry warewolf by night.

Ok, so that is not really a truthful description of my authors… or is it? You’ll have to judge for yourself. For more information on the LPC team, check out the new Authors page and keep checking back for new articles from the almost legally insane, as well as myself of course.