~SR Uber Wootin Writers Blog #2-Sonja~

A few of you may remember when Steve had us discuss song lyrics a long long time ago. You had some awesome answers, so I figured we could try doing it again. This song is called Give Me Your Eyes.


Look down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight


Touch down on the cold black top
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breathe in the familiar shock
Of confusion, and chaos


All those people going somewhere, why have I never cared?


CHORUS:
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see


Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me 
To hide whats underneath
There's a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
To ashamed to tell his wife
He's out of work, he's buying time


All those people going somewhere, why have I never cared?


CHORUS


I've been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just move and pass me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way you see the people all along


Discuss: What does it mean to see through God's eyes? How can we do this? How does this fit in with what SR is doing? Have you ever truly felt you've seen things though God's eyes? Anything else that comes to mind when you read these lyrics is fine for discussion as well. These are just to get you started!

Tweet Time

You can start passing the word...I have decided to actually use my twitter account for fun things for anyone who wants to follow me that way...so go ahead and spread this onward...

I did change my username there..FYI...to make me easier to find.  You want to follow:

SRDrum_Steve

I will not tweet a lot, and it will usually be just updates on what I am doing, where I am, if I have fainted (HA!), and fun things from the road.  I WILL be testing it out for all followers on the Phoenix road trip starting next Monday...so if you want a virtual road trip with me, hop on board :)

Mixin' It Up (an official Steve post!)

Hey all...just wanted to share that I have the first five remixes of If I Had You...they are finally out!  If you do not know it...I am a HUGE remix fan, and have SOOO many mixes of my fave songs...and have been waiting for these since the first time I heard the song (way last Dec, 2009).  I am so glad that five mixes are out...and they are all incredible!!  In fact, I am going to change the version of the song we play to...the edit of it on this remix album is the same song but for whatever reason with added instruments and added vocals on top of vocals...and each addition is way cool so I figured we might as well listen to them and let the audience enjoy the additions as well.  This of course is contingent on actually playing to it...I will do that at my next practice following the Phoenix road trip.  I cannot see there is any difference in the song behind these additions so I think we are safe.  Usually an edit is not added too...it is usually subtracted from, but I guess this edit is a new kind for a new generation of remixers.  Not complaining about it for sure.  So you can all look forward to hearing it AND finding out if you can hear the additions.  The other versions are very happening but would take radical reworking of our drum parts...which I am not sure is in anyone's best interests...though it would be fun!!  Panic not...we will stick with our 8 months of work so far and leave it at that.

So, anyhow, I have seen and heard this more than ever this year, so I will let you play with it as a new Steve question.  

 To you, what is "an SR person"

Have fun and I will look forward to reading your thoughts on it!!

~SR Uber Wootin Writers Blog #1-Dee and Amanda~

Hey everyone it's Amanda and Dee. We are working on this first blog together. We are here to update you all when Steve can not do so. Our blogs are going to look a little different compared to Steve's blogs. Our titles will have our "club" name, (yes we made yet another club in SR) Our name is the "SR Uber Wootin Writers". There are six of us in the "club" for each blog we put up we have decided to number it and put our name on it so everyone knows who posted it.

In the "club" we have Dee Harr (From Warren,Ohio Site), Colleen Jones (From Warren, Ohio Site), Kristen Clark (From Columbia, Missouri Site), Jovanna LaPlant (From Minneapolis, Minnesota Site), Sonja Youngquist (From Minneapolis,Minnesota site) and last but not least Amanda Maser (From no site Georgia). We are going to be putting our names on each blog, so you can all ask questions to that person instead of you going to one of us and then us getting confused and stuff.

Our blogs will be about SR and our wonderful members and fans. I think we're going to be taking over the Member of the Week. We will have a different topic for each blog and if you have a topic idea you can let one of us know and we'll put it in the mix of other topics.

Steve is still going to put blogs up. He may not be able to post as often as he would like, but with his very busy and crazy schedule he sometimes needs some rest instead of updating us and thats ok.

Well we better wrap this up. Like we said if you have questions or anything just let us know. Untill next time!!! See ya!! Have a great day!!

TRULY...A NEW POST! The SSD/AL review :)

Well, for all those waiting, I am finally posting something new on here.  I am sorry that the summer got away from me; I always thought it could...and it did.  SO many shows, SO much travel, and SO MUCH HUMIDITY.  I am truly tired of it and I am truly wiped out...but today is at least better than yesterday...at least I am awake (for those worrying about that!)

It is hard to believe after all the work, planning, and stress, the first-ever Sizzlin' Summer Drummer Bash has come...and gone.  Isn't it amazing (and a little scary) how fast time can go when you look forward to something for so long...then the moment comes, and in a flash, it is gone.  That was what the entire SSD weekend seemed to be...a flash...and then...gone.  For now.  But, it will return next year...even better!  We learned a lot on how to execute it...and I will be excited to see us build on this next year.  However, even with that said, it will be hard to top it by much, because it was Sheltered Reality at its best.  On Friday, we touched many lives through a series of mission projects...some including drums, others not...but no matter what type of project it was, many people got to see SR members actively working with others, connecting to others, and making a difference.  I know for myself, I have thought long and hard about my new friends at the Hoyleton Children's Home...and missed them...though not for long, given that I am heading there in about one hour to do another show...and connection...and Taking A Chance to see if the home not only wants to be an ongoing mission project for the STL SR group, but wants to be a Drum Site for SR as well...more on this as it unfolds.  I have had the pleasure of hearing from many members that Friday was their favorite SR day...proving again that our mix of drums, music, and service FOR others is a truly awesome mix.

Then, Saturday was a record EIGHT hours of practice...7 before dinner and one more bonus hour after dinner!  WOW...and to think that many wanted to STILL keep going...what dedication...what an honor for me to see such energy...and what a great feeling to have If I Had You nearly 85% complete (still a bit more to go on this epic production, but it is getting there!!).

Then Sunday came...and the worship service kicked it off...with a great BBQ lunch in between with a ton of new friendships made...and the the show...complete with Amanda via live cellphone feed!  So many emotions came out of this show...new stories...new audience members...our first blind guest drummer!!  (Go Gabriel!)...and the kids from Hoyleton having a great time drumming with us!  Despite the heat...we rocked...and both of the new songs went over awesome with the audience!

Following all of this...after a shower and a quick dinner...Jordo and I went to see Allison Iraheta and Adam Lambert...minus Orianthi (who has sadly left the tour)...but what a concert!  First, a great place to see...we were 2nd row balcony but truly RIGHT over the stage (thanks to Ed from Granite City for that seating suggestion)...Allison was terrific live...but Adam...goodness...to see him sing live and use that incredible vocal range was unreal...he is beyond gifted and gave a great 75 min show...complete with an extended If I Had You...sadly though he is NOT a dancer and so no new choreography for the song from his show...but what he said about that song I wanted to share to end this post...he said that the song was the theme of the concert...and no matter how much money, power, celebrity, etc., you have...it makes no difference...it is about the connections you make to others and the love you share that is important in this world...what a great way for him to sum up the entire SSD weekend for me!

Starting TODAY...the blog will change, as I am going to share blogging privileges with the Woot Woot club!  That way, any of you can post for others...sharing about SR...and not waiting on me to find energy to finally get on here...it shall be a great way to expand the blog and keep it moving forward!

With that said...take care all...and happy end of summer drumming :)  See you all soon!!