Mixing, Rejoicing...

I just heard the first round of mixes for the upcoming <i>Broken Headphones</i> EP, and I've to say that in my completely biased opinion it's really good. Of course, ultimately, I can think whatever I want, but it's really what you folks think that determines whether I continue to do this or find a more steady job. It's a weird feeling, but this is a weird line of work. I feel at times a creeping anxiety that while I feel I can create a good work of art, I may not be able to really sell it. My education background is in the visual arts, and generally speaking, most of the guys we hold up as masters never really made any money off their art. They had to die first. And frankly, I'm not quite ready for something that drastic. I guess putting out a record isn't really a matter of life and death, but there's a lot of other stuff wrapped in that little cellophane package - feelings of purpose and self worth, purpose, and even questions of identity - so it's always with prayerful optimism tempered with a little anxiety that I put some new music out there and wait to see what happens. I'm really excited for you to hear the new songs... but not quite yet.

In some other news, I have to say a few words about one of my best friends and his wife, who after trying for a really long time to have a baby, are now pregnant. He called me yesterday, and I can't explain how good it was to hear the news. So many times in life we wonder why we can't have the things we want, especially when what we want is good. We can't help but ask eternal questions and possibly doubt our convictions and beliefs about the unseen forces that work in our lives, and to be perfectly honest, it sucks. It's hard to have faith in something unseen when what you see in your own life is frustration, fear, and doubt. It's hard to watch a friend hit a rough spot, but to his credit he never gave up hope. Frustration? Doubt? Yeah, I think he had a lot of that. But he wouldn't let loose of the hope that the God he believed in would not abandon him or leave him. And now that his prayers (and ours) have been answered, it all makes sense in hindsight.

It's inspiring to me to see someone cling to hope during such a tough season of frustration and doubt. Your true character shines through, and I hope to be more like you.

J.Lo's new MTV show...

...might be the worst television show ever. I can't be sure quite yet because the episode's not over.  Wait... J.Lo just rolled out the "this business is not for the faint of heart" line... so now I'm sure.

I Saw The Bus At the Airport (also, some New Music)

My good friend Franny came over from the West Coast to spend last week with the Harwells, and walking into the lovely Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta to wait for her flight, I walked right by the Bus. That's right - Jerome Bettis (formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers). I've seen a few "famous-type" people in the last few years, but never have I felt like I could actually walk over and say something to one of them. Not so with the Bus. I almost high-fived him as I walked by. But I've been to Hartsfield a few times, too, and I know that when you're there, all you really want to do is get the heck out, and I figured after a long flight, the last thing a guy would really want would be someone saying dumb things to him or asking for an autograph. I did stop to watch to see what kind of vehicle would pick him up at curbside (it was a black Range Rover), and while I did, I thought about the cool things I could have said. Cool things like:

1. "What are you doing at the airport? I thought you only took the bus!" (then reaching "up high" for a Todd-like high five)
2. "Hey, this ain't the bus station!" (then performing the "snap & guns")
3. And while waiting at curbside: "Hey, Jerome, the bus stops on the other side of the street!" (then pointing across the street to where the shuttle buses stop. This, like the previous two statements, aren't really funny, but in this case, I would actually provide Mr. Bettis with some factual information, thus making me helpful and a good citizen.)
4. Performing an unexpected stiff-arm spin-to-Heisman pose and exclaiming "You might be the Bus, but they call me the Vespa!" before running for my life.

I was glad to see him put his own bags in his car for some reason, and then I entered the Gates of Hell that is the Atlanta airport.

I've also posted on my Myspace page (myspace.com/jasonharwell) a little ear snack for those who are interested - an unmixed version of "Nothing Gold Can Stay" off my upcoming EP featuring Natalie Moon on background vox. I hope you enjoy!