The Temptation of Aiden

In this video we see Aiden struggling with one of life's great questions:  

To eat the dogfood?  Or to not eat the dogfood?

Lets see how he does...

The Temptation of Aiden from Robert Jones on Vimeo.

Rob's Top 5 Albums of the Year

As a frequent peruser of various music-related blogs, magazines, and podcasts I always find that I enjoy the inevitable 'Top 10 Albums of the Year' list that every entity feels obligated to provide. These lists can help you get clued into bands that may have  snuck under your music radar earlier in the year. Or sometimes they may simply justify your own particular obsession with a favorite group ( Yes! # 2!! )

Anyway, I thought that it would be fun ( for me mostly ) to do a year-in-review list of my own. I'm no music critic, not by a long shot, but I know what I like and I figured that I may as well put it out there.  Maybe someone else will get to enjoy the songs that have been particularly exciting to me this year, and to be honest, I am also hoping that I'll get some suggestions to supplement my own favorites. I decided to keep it simple and forgo the full 'Top 10' list and instead stick with a 'Top 5', with an additional 'Favorite Song of the Year' designation tacked on for good measure. 

I had hoped that with each album I would be able to include at least one MP3 sample to give you a taste of each band's music. Unfortunately, as I attempted to work this out I found that putting copyrighted material onto Blogger is a very difficult/ mildly illegal endeavor. Oh well. As a not-nearly-as-good alternative I put a link to each bands Myspace page along with my own description. They all have full length audio clips of a selection of songs, along with the occasional music video. It's a little more work, but believe me, I wouldn't take the time to write about this music if I didn't think that it was pretty worth while.

Ok, my preface is getting a little wordy so here we go...

#5 -She & Him- Volume 1

This band is a collaboration of actress Zooey Deschanel (who wrote most of the songs on the album), and singer/songwriter M. Ward.  Much of the record has a 50's/ 60's throwback vibe, but the combination of Deschanel's sweetly imperfect voice and Ward's hushed accompaniment is succesful in making it sound refreshing and new.

Favorite Tracks: Sentimental Heart, You Really Got a Hold On Me,  Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?

#4- Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes

A new band this year, Fleet Foxes is a group that is both very talented and very bearded.  Their folky brand of pop music is somehow somber and catchy in the same moment. This album is an ideal soundtrack for the long winter months.

Favorite Tracks:  White Winter Hymnal, Tiger Mountain Peasent song, Ragged Wood

#3- Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend

 A band comprised of a group of friends who met at Columbia University these songs are less intelectual and more just plain fun.  This album is simple, clean and fresh sounding- a perfect antidote for some of the more melancholy music that I've enjoyed this year.

Favorite Tracks:  Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, M79, One

#2- Bon Iver- For Emma Forever Ago

Bon Iver, another new band, is really just one guy and his name is Justin Vernon.  This album is the end result of three months that Vernon spent in voluntary seclusion in a cabin in northern Wisconsin.  The sound is very low-tech, very intimate, very soulful, and very very good.

Favorite Tracks: Skinny Love, Lump Sum, Flume

#1- Mates of State- Rearrange Us

The fact that this husband and wife duo tours the country with their two kids and a diaper bag is enough to make me like them.  Add to that beautiful, soaring pop melodies, and lyrics dealing with the realities of marraige, kids and family and I'm about ready to swoon.  Along with being one of my new favorite bands, this is absolutely my favorite album of the year.

Favorite Tracks:  The Rearranger, Get Better, Blue and Gold Print, Help Help, My Only Offer

SONG OF THE YEAR...

This was a tough call.  

The front runners were: Tiger Mountain Peasent Song by Fleet Foxes, Rearranger by Mates of State, M79 by Vampire Weekend, Furr by Blitzen Trapper...

Ultimately the song that distinguished itself from the rest was Skinny Love by Bon Iver.  This track was good the first time I heard it, and seems to just keep getting better.  Simple, but layered with guitar and voice- I'm pretty sure I'll still be listening to this song in 2o years.  Now that's pretty good.

Note:  Ok, my extra long self-indulgent post is over.  More Aiden related pictures, videos, anecdotes and posts in the near future.  Promise!

Best Buds

It has been really fun(ny) to watch Aiden and Bailey's relationship grow.  When Aiden was first born, Bailey didn't pay much attention to him.  Bailey quickly became protective and interested in Aiden's little noises, and worried about his cries.  Now that Aiden is getting around and is pretty quick, Bailey is learning that some times he needs to just get away and go where Aiden can't get to him.  Aiden especially likes to grab Bailey's dog tags and tug on them.  Bailey has learned that Aiden doesn't like when Bailey licks his hands.  So, it usually turns into a little back and forth game between the two of them-Aiden grabs, Bailey licks, Aiden releases, repeat. As annoyed as Bailey may appear  at times, he does have a devotion to Aiden.  I do often catch them in moments together, but the camera is never close by.  After Aiden's bath every night I (Jen) lay him on our bed while he drinks his bottle and I drain the tub and clean up all his toys.  When I came back in to the bedroom, I caught them like this......

Luckily, this time, I was able to grab the camera and capture the moment.  It's moments like this that I do love that Aiden will grow up with a dog.  Of course, if you catch me in a moment when I am standing at the back door screaming at Bailey to come inside-I may have a different opinion.  But, in all seriousness, I am really glad that Aiden and Bailey have each other.

Kingsley, PA

This video is one that I took this past weekend when my Dad and I drove up to Kinglsey Pennsylvania.  For most of the people who read this blog the situation and context for this visit does not need any further explanation.  Still though, I had intended to give a lengthy background... tell the whole story.  What I found is that I just can't muster it right now.  Sorry.

Anyway, here is the video.

Just a note: Although nearly everything in the house was lost, my great aunt and uncle (who were it's former residents) are safe and sound.  That is just one of the many great blessings in the midst of a difficult situation.

Kiss of Death

If a hostile army of aliens sought to take over our planet by giving the human race exceptionaly slobbery kisses Aiden Jones would become their leader.

Watch out planet.

Andrew Wyeth

When the artist Andrew Wyeth passed away last week I heard the news with no small amount of disbelief.  At the the age of 93 (and still actively painting) it seemed that Wyeth had become a permanent fixture in the countryside around Chadds Ford Pennsylvania, as essential and timeless as the rolling hills and and brown fields that were his favorite subjects.  It was reported that he had passed away in his sleep.  As the facts sunk in, I found that this route seemed very reasonable, expected even.  I picture in my head the way that he slowly melted into the snowy hillside as his body slipped away.  This painting of his, entitled 'Spring' will always remind me of his death.

Given that I have always felt a stong connection to, and appreciation for Andrew Wyeth's paintings I decided that his passing away warranted a blog-moment for me to say just what it is that I find so striking, and so moving about this particular man's art.

The appreciation originaly grew from familiarity as I found that Wyeth's favorite subjects (the Chester County countryside, and the rugged coast of Maine) were also two of my favorite places.  Soon however, it was not the novelty of the location that drew me in but the images themselves.  Here are a few of his paintings that have been the ones that I have come back to time and time again.

In my favorite Andrew Wyeth painting "Snow Flurries" the subject is stark and almost barren: just the side of a snow dusted hill.  So simple it's almost abstract, but nothing captures the melancholy of a Pennsylvania winter, and the feelings that accompany it, better than this picture.

Despite being a painter who could render images in almost photo-realistic detail, his paintings are deeply emotional and moving, and more often the paintings are most striking for the things that are left out as opposed to how much could be included.  In this picture "Brown Swiss" there are no cows included as the title would suggest, only their hoofprints on the long empty pasture.

Andrew Wyeth's paintings seem to have always been full of symbolism and personal secrets.  Popping up again and again are tire tracks winding through brown fields.  Wyeth had said that these tracks represent time passing.

Once again, doing so much with so little.  This painting he considered a portrait of a fisherman friend in Maine.

When Jen and I went to the Wyeth exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art recently there were a few paintings displayed  that caught my eye that I had never really noted before.  This was one of them.  Something about it was very arresting at the time, and I remember pausing in front of it longer than most others.  I am not sure if this painting is intended to be as representative of death as it seems to be, but it has become one of my favorites and  it seems a fitting image for the situation.

Andrew Wyeth is one of the few artists, I think, who was fortunate enough to understand the full breadth of his impact and relevancy while he was still alive.  For that I am gald.  His passing brings sadness to this household and, I'm sure, many others around the world.

Moving On

Well, it's a couple days later and I'm only now working up enough energy to comment on the Eagle's lackluster season-ending game on Sunday.  Given that my expectations for this team had pretty much bottomed out a month ago this result really isn't all THAT hard to swallow.  I'm not that dissapointed about the game, maybe just a little let down because it seemed like maybe this would be the year that the Eagles would finally surprise me.  Eh...

Thats about all I can muster on the subject.  For some more coherently expressed thoughts I give you Michael Q. Benner.

So Close

Alright fellas, here's the deal: one more win and we go to the Superbowl.  The SUPERBOWL.  You know, that football game with the two teams, and all the hype, and the really funny commercials?  Yeah... that's the one.  Sound good? Ok good. Go get it done.

Go Eagles.

East Meets West

Last year, not long after Aiden was born into the icy world of a Pennsylvania winter, another baby was born far away in the warm and sunny climes of Los Angeles. What baby you ask? Why Ella of course!  Despite the fact that we have never met Ella (until now) we have loved watching her on Jay and Melody's blog as she grows up right along with Aiden.  

And just yesterday we were fortunate enough that Jay and Melody (and Ella) were in town visiting the McNally clan, and we were able to set up an East Coast/ West Coast blog playdate.  Both Aiden and Ella were a tad tentative at first.  I think that Aiden may have been swooning a little  bit over Ella's big brown eyes, and flowing head of hair.  And Ella may have been intimidated by Aiden's extra large cheeks, and his prowess in the bouncer.  

After a while though they both warmed up nicely (Aiden even tried to sit in Ella's lap a couple times) and it was pretty entertaining watching them play together.  We of course, like the dutiful blogging parents that we are, were snapping pictures the whole time- paparazzi style.  Here are some of my favorites, along with a short video of Aiden and Ella playing in the toy box.  Enjoy...

Aiden & Ella from Robert Jones on Vimeo.

Sweet Freedom

Here are some video clips of Aiden as he explores his world with ever increasing mobility.  The song playing in the background is approriately titled "You Are Free."


Crawl from Robert Jones on Vimeo.

Baby Bird

It turns out that yesterday we were winners in more ways than one: the Eagles won their game against the Giants (crazy!) and we got lots of cute pictures of Aiden in his Eagles jersey.  Yay! Here he is during his pre-game warmup.

Looking like a linebacker.

It may look as though he is cheering on the Eagles in this picture... look closely though, in fact he is focusing intently on something much more exciting: Baby Einstein.

Here's hoping for one more victory.  Arizona here we come!

Go Birds

I've been having some sports-related guilt these last few weeks.  If you recall, back in October we made a tiny bit of a fuss over the Phillies as they plowed their way through the MLB playoffs.  It was pretty darn exciting! And by the time I caught my breath and started paying attention to the Eagles it seemed like they were well on their way to another medicocre season.  I'll admit that I wrote them off weeks ago, and for a while it seemed as though they would live up to my rather low expectations.  

And yet somehow, here we are.  It's mid-January and later today most us will be sitting down to cheer for yet another improbable Philly sports team.  Even though in this house we will always be baseball first (I'm wearing my Phillies World Series sweatshirt as I type this) it's still exciting to see any Philly team flex their muscle.

If the Eagle's playoff run ends this afternoon 2008 will still be a Philly sports year for the ages.  But who knows? Maybe it won't end... who's up for another parade?

This counts, right...? PART 2

It took a little bit longer, but now he can't stop saying it.  So cute.


Mama from Robert Jones on Vimeo.

This counts, right...?

I know, I know- he's just repeating the sounds I'm making.  But still, it FEELS so good to hear him say it.  

I think that if I watched this video 50 times in a row it would make me smile every single time.

Dada from Robert Jones on Vimeo.

Note: Thanks to Jay on the tip to use Vimeo.  The video quality is way better then YouTube.  Good call!

A Holiday Recap

For sports fans in the know, there is nothing quite like ESPN's SportsCenter.  Missed the game? No problem.   SportsCenter can show you all the important moments in 30 seconds with witty commentary to boot.  Nice.

Now the reason I bring this up is because I've realized that instead of blogging a play-by-play of every minute of our Christmas ("...and then Aiden opened ANOTHER present...") I'd rather just do the highlights.  After all, the best part of our holiday was not necessarily the classic Christmas activities but all the special moments in between that were unique to this holiday, and that we'll remember long after we've forgotten which gifts we got from whom.

So anyway, here are some SportsCenter style highlights from Christmas 2008.

 

Christmas eve was spent with Mom and Dad Weidner.  Jen's Dad has been saving the 'state quarters' for the last decade or so.  This year he completed the collection, and here they are, displayed in this giant map which has officialy become our newest family heirloom.   

Aiden and me post Christmas Eve church service.  One lesson I learned:  Singing Slient Night with a lit candle becomes considerably harder when you are holding an increasingly squirmy and ever-so-curious baby.

Ah, yes Christmas morning breakfast.  Here are Jen's traditional sticky buns looking ooey-gooey and oh so delicious.  I am already excited about next year's batch.

Christmas Day brought on the usual present-opening frenzy, but there were a couple of gifts that stood out as especially memorable.  First and foremost was one that Gwyn brought home from Uganda.  She had a tailor there make matching tunics for Dad and Aiden.   Aiden's outfit even had a matching hat!

Another memorable gift were these calenders that Mom made of pictures from Maine.  Now we can look forward to our next Maine vacation all year long.

A few days after Christmas the Jones extended family rolled into town.  We packed a lot into a few short days.  There was the progressive dinner, games, gifts, food, Longwood Gardens and just hanging out.  This video is of Aiden's cousin Chloe.  Ok, not really cousin, but something like that- anyway she's so cute that who cares anyway...

Chloe from Robert Jones on Vimeo.

 

We all went to Longwood Gardens which, though packed with people, was a lush green relief from the bitter cold winter weather.  Here are some cousin pictures:

And a video...

Longwood Gardens from Robert Jones on Vimeo.

Our New Year's Eve was pretty chill.  Some friends, some games, some Champagne.  Perfect.  The night was most notable in that it was one last chance to squeeze in some time with Gwyn before she had to board a plane back to Uganda.  It was a great night, and a great way to end the year and start the new one.

Ok, here is a clip from one of our New Years Eve games, it's called Pop 5.  So to the outside observer this may just look like a a confused jumble of screaming crazies (correct), but if you were present this was a moment to remember.  Trust me.

The Pulp Fiction Round from Robert Jones on Vimeo.

Well thats a wrap for this post and for 2008.  Happy New Year everybody!