Keep your cameras where we can see them

Them Jane gals and i saddled up and headed to the windy city for a hot minute. For moments upon moments we’d been chit-chatting about a short trip north to the Museum of Science & Industry to experience the Fantastic World of Jim Henson exhibit. Well sir, that’s just about what we did. Our road trip began with some intense conversation regarding personal and family goals for the new year. Baby Jane decided that twenty-eleven would be the year of learning to fly solo on the potty. After about an hour’s worth of discussion, i reluctantly agreed. After all, i’ve put these gals through enough already. In what seemed like no time at all, we had been robbed by a hand full of toll booths, we plowed through two floors of IKEA, and finally found ourselves passed out in a Red Roof Inn.

The next day, i was awaken by a toddler feeding me bunny crackers while the soft glow of PBS Kids fell gently upon us. We lifted our tired bodies from the hotel linens, freshened up, and stepped out into the fresh winter snow as it beckoned us onward toward the heart of Chicago. Once we arrived at the museum, there was time to ride the rails from Chicago to Seattle and back again before our 12:45 appointment with the Muppets. On the way, we saw a cattle drive as well as a family picnic being interrupted by a ferocious bear. Outstanding.

When we were finally granted access to the Fantastic World of Jim Henson, we were informed that there was to be no personal video or photography taken during the tourof the exhibit. Grrrrrrr. Well, anyone who knows me is privy to the fact that i am nothing if not a stickler for rules. Therefore, i had to instead hijack the following imagery from the interwebs to present them as my own…

Regardless, we did see all of these things and so much more including silkscreen prints, sketches, ideas, storyboards, short films, fraggles, etcetera. Rather than not do justice, i’ll simply say that i left the exhibit quite inspired and with an even deeper appreciation for the artistry, craft, and vision of the dreamer, Jim Henson.

Thanks to the lovers, the dreamers, and you.

We used to vacation

Let me preface this by saying that the new year that is 2011 has found me in extremely sluggish form. Maybe it’s the post-holiday blahs. Maybe it’s the self-imagined urgency/weary frustration toward potty training. Maybe it’s the checklist of half-successful repair projects reminding me that they’re just that: half-successful. Did i use that colon correctly? Crap. Now that’s going to bother me as well.

Now, on to more pressing matters which are, in actuality, not at all pressing whatsoever. I have spent way too much time contemplating what to do or not do with this blog during the past four or five days. It’s quite embarrassing actually. And yet, there’s the heart-on-my-sleeve truth of it all. Again, this is all absolute ridiculousness. However, it’s been bugging the crap out of me. Now, after losing minutes of sleep over this decision of no importance, i’m happy to announce that this will remain our blogging home for 2011. Please hold your applause and allow yourself a moment to catch your breath.

So here we are, almost fourteen days into the new year, and our first post is spent rambling on about the greatest non-event in perhaps all of history. You’re welcome. All that being said, i’m gonna try real hard to be more frequent with my visits to ye olde companion. After all, them Jane gals and i are cookin’ up some new goodnes for the year upon us. Meanwhile, enjoy the following rendition of an olde tune as captured by a fly on the living room wall.

Dear Daisha – 11/05/10

Thanks for joining us. Enjoy every sandwich.

Don’t that make you feel beleaguered?

In sort of recent times, we concocted this video in the chilly snow in one take whilst the wee one was fast asleep (?) at nap time.

Yay for absurdity.

Holla-day jamz

Once again, it has been far too long since a little love has been given to this here blog. Well, with the Christmas season all upons, we’ve been rather active ’round these parts.

Here, for your consideration, we present a few get-down-on-it seasonally flavored numbers constructed in the Rockey home. You can click on any of the images below to be magically transported to a cornucopia of home-crafted vibes.

Dig

An aural supplement, episode 12

Running Time: 55:27 | File Size 64 MB
Download: .mp3
To subscribe to this podcast: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ARockeyHomeCompanion

Hector Laveta gets the Led out as he rambles through another hour of tasty cuts culled from our musical archives. By golly, if this ain’t the best way to begin an indulgent holiday weekend than what the heck? Savor the flavor.

1. Led Zeppelin “Ramble On”
2. Derek Webb “Jena & Jimmy”
3. Paul McCartney & Wings “Mrs. Vandebilt”
4. Nilsson “Gotta Get Up”
5. Fistful of Mercy “Father’s Son”
6. Bob Dylan “One More Night”
7. Bob Dylan “Country Pie”
8. Uncle Tupelo “Chickamauga”
9. Cat Power “Paths of Victory”
10. Great Lake Swimmers “Still”
11. The Tallest Man on Earth “Little River”
12. John Lennon “Hold On”
13. Spoon “Peace Like a River (Live)”
14. Jars of Clay “Mirrors & Smoke”
15. Arcade Fire “Deep Blue”
16. The New Pornographers “Hey, Snow White”

Arte Classe

"Happy Tiger Eat Your Friendly Face" by Papa Joel & Baby Jane (ink and coloured wax on ruled paper)

"Ugly Bird Making Babies" by Papa Joel & Baby Jane (ink and coloured wax on ruled paper)

Unfinished biz and our favorite muppet

It’s been far too long, but not for lack of wanting. Only for lack of trying. Sometimes trying is hard. Anyhow, we’ve been busy with making things, singing songs, and tending to little ones. Speaking of the little one, i had the greatest of intentions to type words about our family’s Muppet-induced fascination with one Mr. Mac Davis. It began with the purchase of a dvd from Half Price which featured three episodes of The Muppet Show. As is the trend, Baby Jane decided that this was the only thing she cared to watch for a good month or so. Consequently, our 2-year-old daughter is now familiar with Mac Davis. Quite honestly, i’ve become much more familiar with Mr. Davis myself going so far as to purchase his album “Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me” for two quarters from the clearance vinyl during a return visit to Half Price. However, the crown jewel of this only-slightly-ironic Mac Davis obsession was a conversation Baby Jane and i had whilst on our way to enjoy a tasty hibachi meal. It was a conversation concerning our favorite Muppets and it went something like this:

Yours truly: “Who’s your favorite Muppet?”

Baby Jane: “Kermit the Frog. And Daddy’s favorite is Fozzie Bear.”

Yours truly: “Who’s Mommy’s favorite?”

Baby Jane: “Ummmmm… Mmmmm…”

Yours truly: “Who’s Mommy’s favorite Muppet?”

Baby Jane: “Ummm… MAC DAVIS!”

So there you go. To be fair, our only real context for who Mac Davis is involves his relationship with the Muppets. Anyways, how many 2-year-olds know the man’s name. I should think he would consider it an honour. By the way, check out those eyes. No wonder Mama Jane finds him “dreamy”.

Speaking of dreamy, them Jane Gals and myself ventured to the backwoods of Noblesville at the onset of November for a private show amongst the trees.

Here’s a shot by my pal Lyndsay…

Here are some highlights: Forgot the power chord for my PA, sang half a Blind Melon song with a drunk girl, Played for two hours without a break, Watched Baby Jane boogie, Free chili, Stared at this dude directly across from me the entire time…

A few more public appearances are coming up before 2010 retires, including this one here…

See ya real soon.