JamSmooth.com

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope this finds you doing well.

As many of you know, I have attended Buckhead Church for nearly 4 years. I am writing to let you know I will be going on a short-term mission trip with my church to Cambodia this spring, April 29th through May 8th. Our church has partnered with the New Life Church in Phnom Penh. I have been so blessed and this is a way for me to give back. I feel the call to return to Cambodia this year and I am thrilled to be going back.

This year our team will be constructing a classroom for New Life Orphanage in Phnom Penh. Last year in Batdambang, Cambodia we built walkways for the orphans there. Here are some photos from that trip: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamsmooth/sets/72157617640000670/

The reason for my letter is to create a support team who is willing to pray for our team, give towards this project, or both. We need wisdom as we travel to another culture and seek to meet their needs. Financially I need to raise $3,200 to cover the cost of expenses and airfare. I will be contributing at least $500 to this trip.

I will need all funds by April 9, 2010. Checks should be made out to Northpoint Ministries with Cambodia Construction – Phnom Penh – April 29 – May 8 in the memo line. Please write me at jam@jamsmooth.com if you would like to mail a check. All donations for this project are tax deductible. Also for tax purposes, please do not write my name on the check.

You may also donate securely online at https://ssl.northpoint.org/ssl/globalx/. Choose “Cambodia – Phnom Penh” from the country list and choose “Cambodia – Phnom Penh Construction – 4/29/10 – 05/08/10″ If you donate online then please type my name in the individual field. No amount is too small.

As I did last year, I will share each day of our trip through Facebook, Twitter and my blogs so that you may follow the journey.

Thank you for partnering with me in this amazing journey. If you have any questions please contact me.

James N. Staubes, Jr.

Digging into the crates. Zakk Wylde doesn’t do anything too flashy on this solo. He does gives us lots of melody. All the guitars on this song are great. From Ozzy’s 1991 record, No More Tears, here’s, “Mama I’m Coming Home.” One of my favorites from Ozzy.

I admit it. I have an Internet addiction. I love it. I love writing these posts that are all first drafts!

I couldn’t let my streak of posts die so here I am writing on the iPhone. The Internet connection through Comcast is down.

Being defeated by technology is not an outcome I accept. You must adapt and overcome.

Truth is I love you guys. I love the community that truly exists on the Internet. My addiction is to the connection and the ability to reach others.

That is not a bad thing at all.

My views on online dating are well documented. I think online dating is like gambling or playing the lottery. You are paying money for the chance to win a big a payout. Unfortunately for me the odds have not been in my favor. I am not saying it does not work. It does. My brother met his fiancé online.

When online dating works it works great, revealing opportunities to meet people you would never meet otherwise. That is also online dating’s biggest flaw.

When writing a profile, an immense challenge exists writing about yourself in a way that is funny, personable and original. Ultimately you are being judged on your looks. How else do you make a decision when everyone writes the same thing?

I know there are no guarantees with online dating and that’s my biggest gripe. If I’m paying you money for something I want a result. These sites only give access to meeting someone, they cannot guarantee it. I understand that.

Guess I did get something out of all my online dating, a novel. I have also made new friendships from online dating. In 2009 I met BG who has become a great friend to me. In 2006 I met AS who has proven to be an amazing friend. It hasn’t been a total disaster.

This last period of online dating will be my last. From here on out I’m focusing on meeting someone IRL.

What do you think about online dating? Has it worked for you? Have you ever tried? Why or why not? Do you think it’s easier or harder to meet someone IRL?

Growing up near the water in Savannah was a highlight of my youth. My grandparents owned a house in Vernonburg, Georgia. Vernonburg was on the southside of Savannah yet its own corporation separate from the city.

The house was built by Mr. Bauer, a German businessman, for whom my grandmother worked. After Mr. Bauer died he left the house to my grandparents. This place was magical. Many weekends you’d find our families there sailing, fishing, water skiing, cooking and grilling. As a kid I had no idea we were creating the memories of a lifetime.

Underneath the backyard there were rooms built for storing things like oars, life vests and other boating accessories. One of the rooms was a practice space where my uncle’s band played. My mom and aunt hand painted the room with an underwater scene. I remember the bathroom had “Neptune’s Throne” painted on the door.

My grandparents had a 40 foot sailboat that my grandfather, grandmother and 2 of their friends once piloted down to the Bahamas. I could write pages about my grandfather. He was an extraordinary man. A WWII B-17 pilot, an exacting carpenter who built a boat by hand and of course, a sailor.

Once I told him I wanted to learn to sail. He said ok and returned with a stack of about 7 books on sailing. He said to read those and to get back to him. He was joking but serious at the same time.

Another memory from childhood is this song from Christopher Cross. It holds a special place in my heart. I think about my grandfather and my childhood when I hear it. It brings back vivid memories of love and fun on the Vernon River.

February 2nd will mark 3 years since my grandfather passed away. I just want you to know how lucky I was to know a man like that. They truly don’t make them like that anymore.

Found out about this via Bob Lefsetz. It’s one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a while. Jimmy Fallon nails Neil Young. It’s almost the best “Neil Young” song I’ve heard in years. It seriously sounds like Neil Young lyrics.

What do you think?

I’ve heard this song about a zillion times at work and it never seems to get old. Great keys on this tune and some cool BGVs too. Let It Whip.

Since we’re talking about Don Henley let’s talk about great guitar solos. “Dirty Laundry,” has 2 epic solos. On the recording Steve Lukather plays the first one and Joe Walsh plays the second. I couldn’t find the studio recording online but I did find this outstanding live version. I’m not sure who the guy is taking the first solo. I am sure that it’s Atlanta’s own Peter Stroud taking the second solo. The both play the solos almost note for note from the original recording and they both kill it. Great song. Great guitar solo.

With certain things I’m a geek, an unabashed, proud geek. This weekend I was surrounded by WordPress geeks. I know a little HTML. I know what SEO means. I know how to install WordPress on a domain. I know how to check my Google Analytics. Yet these folks were on another level.

All I want is for my sites to look good, be easy to navigate and have good content. Honestly I’m not into all the coding and stuff happening in the background. I’d much rather be developing content.

Since I have a limited budget on my new WorkingInMusic.com project I’m doing everything myself. I’ve been installing different themes working to get my site looking decent. There is so much to learn. There is so much I don’t know.

That’s ok. I’m a music geek and I’m sure I know more about that than some of the WordPress geeks!

Friday and Saturday I attended the first annual Atlanta WordCamp. Check out my review on the Atlanta Metblog.