Ah, Memorial Day. It’s hard to have an “unofficial start to summer” when your kids have 6 weeks left in school and the temperature pretty much hovers around the same 20 degree variable 10 months a year. Alas, it’s summer and I’m excited about that.

We’ve had a hectic for a kick-off to a 3 day weekend. Last night we decided to take the trolley down to the Gasplamp district of San Diego to enjoy our family date night. While we got settled onto the trolley I got a text that my long-awaited iPhone app had finally released. (You get to submit and wait for Apple, no choice on a release date.) Tucking that distraction into the back of my mind we had a good evening of walking around downtown and eating at the Old Spaghetti Factory. [Just OK food, but the kids liked it.]

This morning I woke up and did a bit of PR to get things moving with the app. Then I dashed of to Del Mar to film a podcast segment with a comedian… who was funny despite it being 10 in the morning. From here we actually don’t know what we’re doing until Tuesday morning. I’m sure we’ll figure it out.

For now, I’m just chilling and listening to some music.

Here are the next 10 tunes flowing to my cranium. As always… completely random with my ratings included:

1. Fix You by Coldplay ***** (Love this free album!)

2. The Swing by Kimya Dawson ****

3. Make Someone Happy by Jimmy Durante ****

4. The Glory of It All by David Crowder Band ****

5. Stuck to You by Nikka Costa ****

6. I’m Sticking With You by The Velvet Underground ****

7. One by U2 *****

8. Can You Feel It? by David Crowder Band ***

9. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You by Charlie Hall ****

10. Hard Times by Ray Charles

Easter weekend 2009. As Kristen said on her blog, Easter is a completely different experience for us. For the first time in our kids lives we aren’t attached running around the church. The highlight of our Easter celebration, so far, was Thursday night’s Messianic Seder. If ever there was a kinesthetic learning time for a community group, this was it.

Yesterday I had the day off. Another first in my adult life! Kristen went to work in the morning and in the afternoon I drove up to LA to pick up Cathie, Patti‘s daughter. She is here this week thawing out from a long winter and helping us watch the kids on their Spring Break. A win-win! We got back about 8:30 and I think everyone had crashed out by 10:00. This morning, everyone… less Cathie… has crawled out of bed and is quietly going about their business. When Kristen gets back from her hike up Cowles Mountain I’ll be taking Stoney to dog beach for his weekly therepy of ocean and butt sniffing. I’m already looking forward to a great Easter service, a picnic with our refugee friends, and a great week next week.

So that’s my corner of the world this Saturday morning. Here are my next 10 tunes. As always, completely random… ratings included.

#1 Rain Down by David Crowder Band ****

#2 I Can’t Stop Loving You by Ray Charles *****

#3 Everything Glorious by David Crowder Band *****

#4 My Funny Valentine by Miles Davis *****

#5 Everything is Beautiful by Starfield ****

#6 This is Certain by Jake Smith ****

#7 Hollywood by Collective Soul *****

#8 All the Earth by Charlie Hall ***

#9 Elevation by U2 *****

#10 Slide by The Goo Goo Dolls *****

With Santa Ana winds bringing a warm weekend, we’re going to spend a lot of the day getting fresh air. As of right now we’re thinking tide pools and Pacific Beach… but that could change at any minute.

This morning is like most Saturday mornings. Coffee, kids slow to get up, and daddy listening to music. Here are the next 10 songs I’m listening to this morning. As always, completely random and ratings are included.

#1 Holy is the Lord by Chris Tomlin ****

#2 Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cindi Lauper ****

#3 Breakdown by Daughtry ***

#4 Wishing It Was by Santana ****

#5 You Were Meant for Me by Jewel ****

#6 Everything Glorious by David Crowder Band *****

#7 We Are Your by Charlie Hall ***

#8 Where Everybody Knows Your Name by Gary Portnoy *****

#9 Too Much Space by Lisa Germano ****

#10 Late Night, Early Town by Lloyd Cole *****

Well, that was more embarassing than normal.

I think things are settling in for us. The house is mostly unpacked with just a few things left to put together and sort out. Yesterday I worked a half day. After work we went to the beach, then dinner at The Corvette Diner in Hillcrest. This morning I’m headed to a test of some content YS is rolling out in Spring 09. Have I said lately I’m the luckiest guy alive? I love my job!

While I’m off doing all sorts of things today, music is a big part of my day. Here are the next 10 tunes I’m listening to. As always, this shuffle is totally random and ratings included.

#1 All Creatures of Our God and King by David Crowder* Band ****

#2 We Shine by Steve Fee ****

#3 Sending by Charlie Hall ****

#4 Bingo by Baby Jamz ****

#5 Always by Hillsong United ****

#6 Everything by Lifehouse ****

#7 The Bridge by Hans Zimmer ****

#8 Put a Penny in the Slot by Fionn Regan ****

#9 Tears of the Saints by Leeland ****

#10 No Matter What It Takes by Jeremy Camp ****

Not going to lie. This shuffle is lame. I mean, seriously?

With the 4th behind us we are on the fast track to packing and trying to get this house sold. This morning I have some stuff to do around the yard while Kristen is busy with the boxes. Of course, as always, music is a big part of my Saturday. So as I’m off to Tractor Supply and chasing the mower here are the next 10 tunes I’m listening to. 

As always, this is completely random with ratings included.

1. Falling Slowing by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova *****
2. Drifter by Decemberadio *****
3. My Heart Goes Out by Warren Barfield ****
4. The Solid Rock by Charlie Hall ****
5. Sending by Passion Worship Band ****
6. New Drug by Thousand Foot Krutch ****
7. Night Drive by Jimmy Eat World ****
8. You Were Meant for Me by Jewel ****
9. I Will Go by Starfield ****
10. Only Want to Be With You by Hootie & The Blowfish *****

I got a reminder that I forgot to do this last week. Last weekend was so wild I don’t even know if I opened iTunes. This weekend is slightly better. While we’ve got tons going on with trying to get the yard in shape for a graduation party, trying to get the house in shape for putting it on the market, soccer, my Acts class, and a few other things… music will be an integral part of that. More to the point, I’ll be listening to music when I’m working outside, getting ready for my Acts class, and installing some stuff around la casa de McLane. 

As always, these are the next 10 songs that popped up on my iTunes. Totally random, no cheating, ratings included.

1. Anyone Else But You by The Moldy Peaches ***** (You need the Juno soundtrack)
2. How Great Thou Art by Charlie Hall ****
3. All the Small Things by Blink-182 **** (Perfect after a hymn!)
4. …Neverending…. by David Crowder Band
5. Hollywood by Collective Soul *****
6. Always Love by Addison Road ****
7. Breakdown by Daughtry **** (For my American Idol moment this morning)
8. The Best is Yet to Come by Sevenglory ****
9. What a Friend by Jadon Lavik *****
10. Born Losers by Matthew Good ****

Saturday around the McLane house means a couple of things. First, it means yard work. Second, it means soccer. And third, it means music!

Here are the next 10 tunes I’m tapping my toes to while I do what I do. As always, totally random with rating included.

1. God’s Gonna Cut You Down by Johnny Cash *****
2. Pictures of You by The Last Goodnight ****
3. Everything by Jeremy Camp ****
4. Hiding Place by Starfield ****
5. Getting into You by Relient K ****
6. Graceland by Paul Simon ****
7. Let’s Dance by Hawk Nelson *****
8. Falling by the Wayside by People in Planes ****
9. How Great Thou Art by Charlie Hall *****
10. I’m Clean by Chris Sligh ****

It’s Saturday in all of its awesomeness. This morning Kristen is headed to some chick conference to learn about God and get pampered… because both are good things. That leaves daddy in charge until 3 and a full palate of kid goodness to enjoy. So, as I’m driving around to soccer games, McDonald’s, Dairy Queen, and any other junk food they demand here are the next 10 tunes piping through our minds. As always, these are random-tastic and ratings are included.

1. Head Over Heel by Sandra McCracken ****
2. New Creation by Tree63 ****
3. You Raise Me Up by Selah ****
4. Roxanne by The Police ****
5. Brighter Days by Leeland *****
6. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee by Charlie Hall ****
7. Don’t Give Up by Sanctus Real ****
8. Stars by David Crowder Band ****
9. Empty and Beautiful by Matt Maher *****
10. Hosanna by Starfield *****

This morning I’ll be teaching a class at Romeo Bible Institute on the Book of Acts. After that I’m coming home to start working on some template and structure changes at Youth Ministry Exchange. And at some point during the day Patti and her family are arriving from Albany, NY to hang out with us for their Spring Break. They were tired of their Gubanatorial sex scandal in their state so they thought they’d come to the Detroit area… where we know how to mix our mayoral sex scandals with bribery and dead strippers.

As I am finalizing my preparation for classes, my iTunes is rockin’ these next 10 songs. As always these are random, no cheating, ratings included.

1. Every Breath You Take by The Police ****
2. How Great Thou Art by Charlie Hall ****
3. Our Love is Loud by David Crowder Band ****
4. All I Want is You by Barry Louis Polisar *****
5. Anyone Else But You by Michael Cera and Ellen Page *****
6. Daddy by Jewel **** (Alright, that one is embarrassing!)
7.  Life is Beautiful by Vega4
8. I Hate Everything (but you) by Derek Webb ****
9. A Kiss to Build a Dream On by Louis Armstrong *****
10. One by U2 *****

Another quiet Saturday for the McLane’s. OK, that’s a lie. I’ve got a bunch of videos left to edit for church tomorrow and MainStreet on Monday night. But that’s besides the point! Here are the next 10 tunes streaming into my ears this Saturday before Christmas. As always, no cheating (I just press shuffle and start writing) and my ratings are included.

1.  Chanukah Song by Adam Sandler *****
2. Wish You Well by TFK *****
3. From the Inside Out by Hillsong United *****
4. The Glory of it All by David Crowder Band ****
5. You’re Worthy of My Praise by Passion Band ****
6. Homeby Great Northern ****
7. Awesome God by Chaz Shepherd ****
8. Stand Up by Everyday Sunday *****
9. The Rising Shout by Charlie Hall ***
10. The Adventure by Angels and Airwaves ****