"Somebody That I Used to Know..."

If you haven't seen this video from Walk Off the Earth, the Canadian, YouTube viral sensation (almost 36 million hits this month alone!) you must watch right here, right now.  There are kind of no words to describe it.  Just watch it- a few times, and then maybe a few more.  Make sure you get past the first 1.5 minutes to hear the haunting voice of Sarah Blackwood.  This collection of musicians is clearly talented, imaginative, inventive, and there is just some super crazy symbiotic sound they produce that transcends all conventional music.  Even if the song is a cover of Gotye's hit (FYI, he's coming to the Varsity Theater on April 4th, but unfortunately it's already sold out) I think they made it their own by mastering the solo guitar with ten hands on it.  Weird.  But it works.  Really, really well.  I see raw, eager talent, humor, commitment, and soul when I watch these guys.  I love it.  I showed it to my music loving eldest son and he was instantly mesmerized by their hypnotic, almost haunting melody.  Now check it out and let me know what you think.  Click here to watch the video...enjoy.  You will be singing- I guarantee it! 

Inspiration

Crazy, Colorful Man

by Christian Codding- age 6

African Pots

by Flynn Codding- age 8

I am going to take a moment to brag. My kids did these- Christian's in paint and Flynn's in chalk. It is amazing how much their art reflects their personalities. Christian's "Crazy, Colorful Man" is loud, layered, bold, expressive, and obviously chock full of color, just like him. Flynn's piece is subdued, controlled, restrained, perfectly "correct" and realistically shaded at every curve. I love them and they are framed in my house and I seriously admire them each day. I have yet to frame Cooper's "bubble people" pencil drawings that strangely resemble the sad creatures featured in the Zoloft commercials, but he's experimenting and we taped them all over his wall.

I am not an artist. I don't like drawing or painting and art projects were not much of an activity at home when my guys were little, which I think is why I am so in awe of what they are producing at school. How can my little jock produce such Picassoesque portraits? Where does my very literal, pragmatic son find the depth to create such an exceptional still life that it almost looks real?

They amaze me, these kids. They inspire me, these little boys. There is no end to what they can do and they are not bound by limits. Their world is wide open with possibilities, hopes and dreams, and I feel privileged that they bring me along for the ride each day.

Thanks boys, I love you.