A Cat Named Steve

Because Lucas can’t have all the fun.

Yesterday I perused Facebook.

It was an accident.  I was curious to see the lead singer of Anberlin’s Facebook page.  Saw the link in the comment section of Anberlin’s new video.  Which I was lead to by Twitter.  Don’t act like your internet shenanigans are any less sad/random.

I went to his page.  He had around 4,000 ‘friends.’  Back story.  I used to work for a label.  It was real.  We sold a fair amount of albums.  But like all labels, we died a painful, heartbreaking, career shattering, ill timed, dream-killing, finance-ruining death.  It was awesome.  Given the opportunity, at that point in my life, I would do it again in a heartbeat.  What I’m trying to say is:  this crap interest me.

Of the 4,000 friends he has, ten showed on the friends display.   I knew two of them.  One was a good buddy from High School.   I already knew he was real life friends with this guy, so I didn’t think much of it.  Facebook has algorithms that do that crap.  Randomly, the other individual was the lead dude from Relient K.  The label guy in me thought, ‘huh wonder if this is a public (fan) page or a personal page.  If it is a public page, I’m curious to see how many friends he has.’  (Their ‘new’ album if freaking sweet, but it’s not fan friendly.  I was curious about fan reaction.  Again, this crap interest me)

Relient K’s singer had around 400 friends.  A personal page.  Good for him.  Attempting to leave, I mistakenly clicked a random person. Low and behold.  We had a mutual friend.  Random.  The guy I clicked on was Asian and our mutual friend was the only Asian chick at my High School.  Random as hell.

Recently I scanned a news headline that stated this phenomenon.  It argued that everyone on Facebook is connected through no more than six people.  Wanting to see if this was true, I curiously started to click.  And I clicked.  And clicked.  And clicked.  The random mutual friends were astonishing.  People from college.  People from High School.  People from grade school.  Then something weird happened.   I started to see non-facebook-friend people I hadn’t thought about in years.

I found this dude who used to play in a great local Christian band that we all thought was the coolest.  Another guy who I swear I knew, but I could  not recall how or why.   Acquaintances I used to see here and there.  I kept clicking away.  Just clicking way.  Suddenly, I stumbled upon…her.

Her.

HER.

HER

I stopped.  My heart stopped beating.  Could it be?  I hadn’t seen her since High School.   She was a friend, of a friend, of a friend.   SWEET MERCIFUL CRAP.  Not counting the illustrious list of girls I have dated, this girl was subject to the biggest crush I had placed on any girl.  EVER.  Allow me to elaborate.

Three of four years ago I found out, over a phone call, she was going to be a party I couldn’t attend.  It had been six years since I had seen this girl.  I don’t think I had heard her name since High School.  My first reaction?  To loudly scream out the ‘F’ word in a car with unsuspecting friends.  Very rational.  The appropriate response regarding not being able to see a girl who I had been around for…ooo lets say three weeks.

Not going to lie.  Over the years, once or twice maybe,  I looked around Facebook to see if she was on it. Never found her.  Until now.

I couldn’t click away.  I had to do something.  My mind raced.  Do I add her as a friend?  No too stalkerish.  But you know what’s less stalkersih? Looking at a few of her pictures.  Yeah.  That’s way less stalkerish.

Then I saw it.  The nose.  She grew a gigantic nose.  I’m not saying that I’m Tom Cruise.  But regarding the opposite sex, we all have things that just kill any type of attraction.  Bad teeth and big noses do it for me.  And hers was gigantic.  Suddenly, I felt light.  So light.  I wish I could explain it.  It made no sense.  I swear I’m not shallow. I’m still coming to terms with my sudden freedom.

This is a true story.

Discuss.

What the heck was up with that touchdown Jesus thing?  Was God mad?  Was Jesus mad?   I’ll be honest, I hope in 2100 years there is a statue of this on a major national highway.  But let’s be honest.  I think this is a sign that the anti-christ is coming.  I’ll feed you baby birds.  1) The Bengals had a decent draft.  2) THE REDS ARE STILL IN CONTENTION FOR FIRST PLACE!!!!!! Holy Cow.  I used to be a big, big baseball kid.  In weight and enthusiasm.  Then the strike happened.  I lost a lot of faith.  Not sure why.  I can name every player on the reds 1990 World Series team.  I idolized this man.  I had a poster of the Nasty Boys for years. But after the strike, something happened.  I still love the game.  It’s just been hard to get into Reds baseball because they have been well…..average.  Not like Bengals crappy where it’s so bad, your despair seems to carries you through it all.  Just lukewarm.  Not good.  But not terrible. Anyways, I’m back on the bandwagon.  Call me fair-weather.  You might be right  I see it more like a prodigal son kind of thing.

Wait weren’t we talking about touchdown Jesus and the coming Apocalypse?   This is why my students love me.  So last week I was on vacation.  I just received a promotion.  Wich is why I have been so busy and have been neglecting you all.  My humble apologies.  SO last week, I’m at my mom’s in Phoenix.  I wake up. Check my Twitter, like a good twentysomething male.  And I see this.  Instantly, I knew it was the beginning of the end.  Why?  Because there is no way, in a sane world, touchdown Jesus burns down, and maybe five hundreds yards away, this thing still stands.  (If you’re from Dayton and went to Kings Island during your  youth, hopefully you get this)

While I’m at it:  HOW FREAKING AMAZING WAS JUNE 23 IN TERMS OF SPORTS?!!  The Reds won.  People were actually talking about soccer.  Like for real.   And that amazing tennis match.  Truly a unique day.

Also check out a band called Straight White Lines.  They’re pretty sweet.

Till next time…

Hooray!

Some Stuff That I Like

Gasoline Heart

A true rock band.  To sound like a thirteen hear old girl:  IMO one of the few real Christian bands left.  I’m not kidding.  Buy their album “You Know Who You Are.”  Then, quit being cheap  and purchase “Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used to Be.”  You’ll be a better person for it.

Art of Manliness

It’s okay ACNS faithful.  Once a while, go read another blog.  After your done with ours.  Then come straight back.  Or Steve D will hunt you down like the hockey fan he is.   I’m not kidding.  I don’t understand half of his tweets because they are about hockey.  Sorry, I’m what you would call an American.

How I Met Your Mother

It’s like Friends, but with an actual story.  Also I think Friends was geared towards chicks.  HIMYM is something dudes can enjoy.

Twitter.com/lukecarey

I’m just that good.

The Cincinnati Reds

First place! I’m starting to believe again.   Its because Eric Davis works in the front office.  I refuse to see any other reason.

The Bronze Episode

Such a cool band.  Violins.  Rock.  Emoish tendencies.  The good kind.  Not the neo green kind.    Get their EP.  Its good. I’m a little nervous that the rest of their stuff will wear out quickly.  But for now, this is a Luke Carey staple.  While you’re at it, listen to another Luke Carey staple:  You, Me, and Everyone We Know.  AKA Fall Out Boy without the suck.

Evil Stuff

1) Mike Brown

2) This guy

3) This guy

4) Mike Brown

5) Pittsburgh

Hypnotizing

For five years I have been wrestling with the idea of God’s will.   Five years ago I got dumped. Hardcore. It had never really happened to me.  We’re talking about serious relationships. Not write a note to Jen something something in kindergarten asking her to circle yes if she wanted to be my girlfriend or no if she didn’t.  (She circled no and the  seeds that would bloom in 2001 when I first heard Clarity were planted.)

Anyway, 2005, me, dumped. It was a long distance relationship. She was awesome. I thought I was awesome. She reached a point where she didn’t think I was so awesome anymore. It happens. But I was blindsided. Looking back on it, I don’t think it was so much the girl who made it hard. Great as she was/is. (We actually became pretty good friends later on.) The biggest problem was she felt God was calling her to end the relationship. I didn’t. At all.

One of the reasons I became a Christian was because I thought the idea of God having a will was great. I mean, He’s God. Why not follow it? By default it has to be better than mine. It just made sense. I liked the idea of a God with a plan. It was enjoyable. Still is. But as the years progressed it became a problem. And in 2005 it came to a halt. I’ve been in a Jacobean struggle ever since.

I know a lot of tools. I know a lot of good people. I know a lot of tools that move from girl to girl. I know a lot of good people who want to date other good people but spend years alone. Spare me the whole ‘girls like bad boys.’ Insecure girls like bad boys. But that’s another discussion. I’m talking about real relationships. The kind that involve the ‘L’ word. I’ve heard lots and lots of folks say, “God brought us together.” I didn’t use to doubt that. I do now. Kinda.

See when I was dumped, it was the exact opposite of what I, and I would dare say-prayerfully, thought God wanted. How could two prayerful people come up with two drastically different answers? How could a tool have so many relationships while another much better person come up with so little? I know this isn’t  “How could an all-powerful God let something like the Holocaust happen?’, but for me, it was a very hard concept to grasp. I think it’s because it was something I was experiencing as opposed to a theoretical discussion.

I wrestled with this for a long time. I think I’ve found my answer. Kinda. I think we sometime put too much on God. I think God puts people/things in our life, but it’s ultimately up to us regarding what we do with them. God can, in turn, bless these things. But it’s still up to us.  Maybe.

I often wonder if God has an opinion. As in, option ‘A’ might be best, but if you go with ‘B’, God isn’t going to think much of it. This could complete be heresy. This is just what I’m struggling with right now.

Ultimately, I believe God presents us with opportunities. We can either chose to take them or not. I find it rather hopeful that there will always be opportunities. Please feel free to post your comments below. I would love to see/discuss your thoughts on this matter. And remember: Chuck Norris tuned 70 recently. That’s nuts.

P.S.  I’m staring to think John Mayer doesn’t suck.

…but Pat Sajak owns a record label. Let me repeat this for you in case you missed it the first time: Pat Sajak owns a record label. I’ll feed you baby birds.

I’m a big fan of Drudge Report. The site is pure genius. So I’m on there and I see a link that reads : Sajak slams Obamacare. Sajak? Like Pat Sajak? Is his named spelled S-A-J-A-K? (Lets be honest, who has ever actually seen the man’s name is print) Desperately trying to avoid doing any sort of real work, I check it out. Huh. Pat Sajak is a conservative. Huh. Pat Sajak is somewhat well spoken. Huh. And Pa-OOOHHHHH my gosh he has a website. Click.

The face says it all. This dude is in his mid sixties. Look at that face! It’s literally too perfect. Almost creepy. Moving on. The first thing you read on his site is, “Congratulations!” Check ‘hear Pat Sajak say, “Congratulations”’ from the bucket list. Sweet merciful crap look at that face! It’s like wax or something. And he has projects!

Then I found it: Bojak Records. A record label. Pat Sajak owns a record label! Apparently Sajak and a friend stared it to release music from some lady named Jude Johnstone. If someone can find me a person who has actually bought an album from Bokaj Records, you will forever have my respect. All kidding aside, if this is in the Bible Code, I think its a sign of the coming of the Apocalypse.

Yeah.

Notre Dame.  Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Notre Dame.  Notre Dame.  To speak of you was to speak of love.  Of good ol’ Catholic domination.   Over the years, things have changed.  Lou Holtz retired, then went to South Carolina, left South Carolina, then slowly became the loveable but nutty and hard to understand grandfather of ESPN.  Let’s be honest:  For the past ten years that was the best part of Notre Dame athletics.

If the Franciscan University of Steubenville has to bring in the vest to come and speak on matters of faith and football, something is amiss.   As a (somewhat) rational Catholic male, I have to call it like I see it.

Notre Dame, I’m sorry, but its time to end this.

You have broken my heart for the last time. I put up with the horrendous defense. I put up with this guy.   Year after year of poor NCAA tournament performances.  But this?  Old Dominion?  Are you serious?  I had you going to the final four.   I know it was a pipe dream, but at least give me the sweet sixteen.  Or a second round birth at minimum.  How did it come to this?  Does Jesus hate you?  Does Jesus hate me?  None of this makes sense.  And all I see is more darkness for the future. You’re the Jon to my Kate.  Mike Brown to my Cincinnati.  This guy to Chicago.   Boomer to my Tyrol.

So I bid you adieu.  Don’t act like you didn’t see this coming.  Just so there is no confusion, let me be clear:  there is someone else. Since about 2002.  And let’s be honest:  you knew it’s been this way for a while.   So Notre Dame, I bid you adieu.  It’s all scarlet and grey from here on out.

(Well unless you win a BSC Bowl Game next year, then we’ll pretend this whole thing never happened.)

By the way, I’m Luke.  I’ll be blogging on here form time to time.  Sorry for the horrendous grammar.  You’re welcome for the awesomeness.