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Aravis

Of course every child is different, which is part of what makes being a parent so much fun. Ashley and Jude are learning to ride bikes without training wheels, and Aravis is giving herself manicures. She has seen Jess paint her toe and fingernails. Jess has even done Ashley and Aravis' toenails before. This past week, Aravis decided to take things into her own hands (no pun intended). She broke out the markers and headed off to her room. I actually am pretty impressed with how cleanly she pulled the whole thing off. Personally I prefer a single color for all ten fingers (eight fingers, two thumbs), but she's only three years old, and I'm kind of an old guy, so maybe she's onto something. Next time maybe I can tell you all about her other beauty salon adventures, including personal hair care and tattoo artistry...

Issac Brock's Old but Improved Modest Mouse

I don't suggest you buy this album! I don't think you'll like it!

But, that doesn't mean that it isn't a good and at sometimes great album.

I like Modest Mouse and have for the last 4 or 5 years. I like the sound of Issac Brock's voice, but I don't think you will. There are some tracks from his last album that sound like other indie songs. Most people would probobly have no problem listening to Float On and the Ocean Breathes Salty, but other tracks would turn you off. Issac Brock is pissed and it really comes through in his music. This new album has it's up tempoed songs (March Into The Sea/Dashboard/We've Got Everything), but it's still Brock's band, and he goes off from time to time.

Basically, I would say you might want to check out some of the songs mentioned above, before you try an entire album. Dashboard is my favorite song from the new album and will give you a good idea of the bands range.

I should mention that I told Matt that James Mercer (The Shins) appeared on this album. That is true but his vocals can only be heard on We've Got Everything.

This Old House

Remember how "Mom's Show" would come on every Saturday and we would gather around and watch Bob Vila (or that other guy) walk around and talk about old houses? The Silva Brothers were always my favorite part of the show. I'm sure they were saying interesting things but I couldn't get past their Boston accents. Norm was great too. Anyway, I was thinking of that show as I worked on this image (below) for a book cover. The author wanted a three story Bayou style plantation house with the "biggest widow walk ever" and also the bottom of the house had been washed out so now it was a grand ballroom and also there should be a grand staircase on the outside and also it should be surrounded by big old trees with moss and... well you get the idea. There was no way I was gonna be able to find a photo of that house. So I used this one and... well click on the image to see the magic.

Popular Dog

Over at his gmail account Dumb Dumb Dog has been getting some interesting mail, we thought you might enjoy reading part of a recent arrival:

Dear Dumb Dumb,

Am I enthusiastic about my wife's campaign for president? You bet I am. I know her better than anybody on earth, and she's got the best combination of mind and heart of everybody I've ever known.

All across the country, Hillary is campaigning with the signature wisdom, grace, and humor that make her a great candidate. I know that if we all work hard enough, those same traits will make her an even better president.

You and I know something about waging and winning presidential campaigns.

Winning the White House takes persistence, energy and effort -- not just from the candidate, but from a massive network of grassroots supporters.

Hillary's campaign is off to a great start. And this week, we're going to help take it to another level. Our goal: to demonstrate the range and breadth of Hillary's support by raising one million dollars in grassroots donations in a week's time.

Will you help me get our "One Week, One Million" campaign off to a powerful start?

Sincerely,



Bill Clinton

The Long Wait is Over

This video sat on the shelf for three months and is now ready to make it's national debut. Cut and ready in only five hours, enjoy!!!

Wincing The Night Away

So, on my last post on my blog, I mentioned that I didn't think that there would be a new album by The Shins this year, but I didn't say if I liked the newest album Wincing The Night Away. First of all I need to clear somthing up. This album actually came out on January 27th, 2007, so I meant they wouldn't have another album later this year.
I think that there is somthing about third albums. First albums kindof introduce us to a new group. Maybe a new sound, and some great singals. Second albums seem to just show that the band can come up with new material. But, the third album is when the band, in this case The Shins, have to prove that they can mature in every aspect of music making, and that they can come out with a great album. In the past two weeks I have listened to this album three or four times, every day. I still haven't found a song that I would call a singel. That isn't to say that I don't like some songs better, it's just that none seem seperate and above the album. All the songs work together to make this a sweet record. The first song is Sleeping Lessons. It seems to be taking you off into a daydream, into another world. It helps you get lost in this record. Phantom Limb, could easily be a stand alone song, but the track Pam Berry is it's into. The drums and bass on sealegs seems so unlike The Shins, but than James Mercer begins to sing and everything clicks. And, I can't listen to Red Rabbits and than not listen to the next track Turn On Me.
I think this a great album. It's nothing fancy but I am so hooked. I'll listen to some of my other music, but I always end up coming back to this record. So, don't get it unless your ready for the noise.
(Hey Matt, sorry it took so long to get my review out... what do think of this album)

Thomas Crum - in a Benjamin Crum film

Thomas, you are a goof!

See the film here

Drawing

This is a little sketch I did of when some of us were back-packing in the mountains of Colorado.

The Game

It was January 31st at 9:58 local time, I quickly placed my Halo 2 disc into my XBox 360. Seconds later the Bungie logo screen appeared, followed by Microsoft's... Within a minute I was logging into my "Live" account, and by 10:00 I was in a pregame lobby, awaiting my first Rumble Pit match of the night. Beginning at midnight (Eastern Time) thousands of Halo 2 players came together for three hours of online play, to qualify for entrance into the Halo 3 Beta.

A week later, those who had played for the three hours had to register at Halo3.com so that we could be the first to play the most anticipated game ever. I tried to register before I went to work, but the punks at Microsoft were probably still dinking their Starbucks and talking about how cool Zunes are. I have an amazing wife, who kindly checked in on the site throughout the day, and despite the bogged-down Microsoft server, was able to register me for the Beta...

A week after registration closed, I was sitting at the computer one night, and my MSN account popped up a message, informing me that I had some mail from Microsoft... It was here! I got into the Beta! Halo 3 is going to be the best video game ever in the history of the world. Perhaps better games will follow (Maybe Halo 4), but I've been waiting almost 30 years for this, and sometime this Spring I'll be online with the Beta, and hopefully by Thanksgiving we'll get the rest of the game.

Hopefully this hasn't come across as bragging or anything. Hopefully all of you will get the oppurtunity to play too. I'll even put out an open invitation to all of you; come on over and play whenever you want.

COLTS VS. BEARS

The ultimate Super Bowl match up. Colts and Manning versus Grossman and the Bears! Could there be a better Super Bowl match up?

Just Thinking

I just got off the phone with Peter. We talked about various things for about an hour but neither he nor our conversation has anything to do with this post. For some reason an idea just came to me that I want some feedback on. It's the idea that some people we meet are very much like mythical beings. For example, Gloria, the flower girl at Michal and my wedding was very often like a farry or sprite. How many of you remember Mr. Steele from Landisville? Think for a moment of him praying, now what does that remind you of?

I think Mr. Steele was an Ent. It's just an idea and I know it won't apply to everyone but I think we can all think of someone who remind us of a ficitional character or creature.

Horse Race

It hasn't quite been two weeks yet, but Dumb Dumb's newest Dlog is so imprtant and current that we felt it best to realease a couple days early. After much debate, we decided it is best to only post on his personal site (There is a link to the left, thanks Ben). There may be some objectionable content in this Dlog and in upcoming Dlogs, nothing that Simon and Garfunkle haven't already covered, but nevertheless best left off the family site. Dumb Dumb feels that there is some discrimination going down, but I think this is best.

Ladies and Gentlebeans

Today marks the next step in the saga of the Crum Family Blog. Today is the first day that the blog runs on the new Google Powered Blogger. Some of you (my family members) may not have Google accounts, if this is the case you will need to set one up next time you wish to post to the blog. Sorry if this is inconvenient, we will end up having a better site because of it.

Dlog

Dumb Dumb Dog has a few things to say, and today he begins with the first in a bi-weekly series.

New Years in Baltimore

Hey everyone, just wanted to forward this on to you all. Jessica, who came out with Michal and me to Baltimore, has just posted some pictures on her Flickr site. They're really good. Check them out [here].

Here's the picture she took of Stephen at the park.

Will and J-Dogg

So Ben posts a new video with a song by the same group (and from the same album) that I have a new video for (also featuring two of our brothers). Mine is not as produced but just as kick-A!!

Thief - a Benjamin Crum film

Check out my new film. Thomas, Jon and I worked on this one yesterday and I spent last night and this morning finishing it up. Nothing to fancy, just a little cold-weather fun. Enjoy!

Res-o-lut-ions

Every year I have the same problem with "New Year's Resolutions." I think of a really good one around February 10th.

But, looking back on the weeks prior to this discovery, I realize that I've already broken it many times. Examples of this include not eating chocolate or not watching movies or not talking in-depth about the new Harry Potter book before it comes out.

The last few years I have resolved not to make any resolutions. That didn't get me very far. I was disqualified from the start.

So this year, I'm just not going to resolve. At all.

Happy Freakin New Year

Happy new year y'all.