Friday, February 22, 2008

the SPLENDOR that is Mila Thomas


One of my best friends has earned a new level of love and respect in my book... a one Mila Thomas... She has always been a great friend, but we got to really hang out on tuesday night and i really got to see all the fun i've been missing.... Writhing parody songs til 2 in the morning, gettin "bout it" with the crackheads in NW D.C., joaning out bums, making comments to arab parking tenant.... she's just plain good times... if you don't know her, you should!!!

The MADNESS continues....


OK... for those of you that don't know... I have ventured out of my normal realm of music and started listening to a lot of newer artists... with folk and "newgrass" feel... one of the best that i have come across thanks to Mila Thomas (she'll get her own blog... that's how cool she is) is "Hoots and Hellmouth".... aside from stage antics, they are seriously talented... check them out on you tube (type in hoots & hellmouth) or their website... below are the other artists websites... in closing I'll say this... i saw this tour three times in a row... in Charlottesville, Baltimore, and D.C.... and contemplated going to see them in Philly... but that would make me a super groupie... no thanks





Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Why D.C. Washington is the JAM!!!

Rarely, do I proffer the comment to people, "you're someone I'd like to be" with any sincerity... there are a few people though (My Brother, Jason Pelt, Colby Garman) but most recently added to the list is My good friend and brother in christ, D.C. Washington... As a mentor, he contiually brings me back to reality in the work place.... below is an e-mail that he sent me at work... it blew my mind.... Thanks D.C.

Got this from a friend today:
Below is a brief excerpt from a college friend's blog. He and his familywere staying in Ronald McDonald House in Houston while his (unborn) baby was getting some serious treatments. His observation below blew me away: There are sick kids of all stripes here: chubby-cheeked kids with, I guess, renal problems; bald-headed, gaunt kids fighting cancers; surgical-masked kids trying to elude allergens and bacteria to give their immune systems, compromised by powerful medications, as much fortitude to sustain the fight against whatever's trying to best their young, frail bodies. These kids' origins are as varied as their sicknesses. In a given day here, you'll hear Spanish, Arabic, and Vietnamese. Yesterday Christy met a couple from Panama whose mentally-handicapped son will have them here for another several months while he under goes treatment. They push him around in a wheelchair, and on two occasions I've heard them sing to him an operaticaria (whose title escapes me, but I'm sure you'd all recognize if you heard it). They sing to calm him, to love him. I've not seen a more gripping picture of love here than that: lavishing what is true and beautiful upon one whom they love so intensely but who can receive only the slightest sense of that intensity. Is that not the Father's love to us in the Cross: so intense (so amazing, so divine), yet so weakly grasped...

on the cover of the Rolling Stone

First of all, yes.... that's a Dr. Hook reference... secondly, last night the "Crew" and I went bowling... actually, we have been doing it every monday night... it's been so much fun. after coming back off a long weekend with my family, it was good to relax and see what all my friends are doing... and Sunday i made a new friend, Heather... I love to see the group expanding....

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Big Willie Style

So... We went to Williamsburg this weekend and Sydney couldn't of had more fun... it was nice to spend the weekend with Mom, Dad, Joshua, Jadey and Sydney.... pictures will be on the MySpace... www.myspace.com/sydsdad1022

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Here's why I love my friends...

Last night (and on into this morning) two of the most talented people I know came over and jammed for ever... thanks Bobby-O and Keilan... (Keilan is really talented... he plays the five string acoustic... HA!!!) Photos courtesy of Damian Barnette and Zach Castle

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Coming Back to the heart of worship...

Last night at Joshua and Jadey's house, we had a phenom time of christian fellowship... we got to go around the room (which was packed no less) and "bear eachother's burdens" and hear tell of the wonderful things Christ has been doing in our lives... This is not the "norm" for this Bible Study, however, I feel as if it was a great change of pace... possibly something to incorperate permanently...

Monday, February 4, 2008

Too "Fly" to be white guys

In case you've not been told... the Aviators are back! Also coming back would be the Wayfarers... Get some and get in the loop!



There is a Joy in the Journey




This sundays message was brought to the masses through Rev. Colby Garman... a PHENOMINAL young man with a talent of telling it like it is and doing so tactfully... the bottom line of the message... there are no doors you can hide behind from Christ....

For those who were in attendance, you needent be told the splendor of a one, D.C. Washington... for those who weren't there... YOU MISSED OUT! I would truly say one of the best worship services that I have attended in the last 24 years!!! May god continue to bless this powerful, talented messenger of his word... when I get to heaven, I hope I get a seat in the tenor section by D.C.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Whole lotta "Burke-in" goin on...



This photo was taken of the "Burke Boys" at my nephew's graduation from Marine Corps basic training... (Ohh-Rah!!!) The folks (in order from left to right) are Me(my hair kinda looks Jason Pelt-esque), My Nephew Matthew, My oldest brother Michael, Our Dad, and My older Brother Joshua...

"Train up a child in the way they should go..."



So... with my new endeavor to regain my love for music, I have made a few purchases... The bass, A Djembe (pronounced "Jem-Bay"), and sydney some mini-bongos... she has really taken to it as well... you can point to several different instruments and she can tell you what they are and what family they are in (i.e. she would say that a Djembe is a drum)... getting her started early....

Friday, February 1, 2008

SHE-REDDING Bass Licks





OK... for the most part, everyone knows that I "play at" the drums... but last night, I got to hang out with the Muti-Talented Bobby Oliveri, Ben Cartwright, and Keilan Creech... I got to try my hand at bass and mandolin, which was a blast, so much so that I'm buying a bass tonight... you can see below how entusiastic Bobby was... another late night of jamming... when will this madness stop? NEVER!!! I hope!!!