I will chew your fingers clean off

Tracklisting

2012-03-07T10:27:00.000-05:00

Lines are being drawn

2012-03-06T23:23:00.001-05:00

Sounds have been recorded. Stories are being told. Lines are being drawn. Objects are coming soon. Stay tuned for further details.

Wink.

You're the best.

Evolution of an artist

2012-03-05T11:21:00.000-05:00

This morning, after a bowl of oatmeal and honey, baby jane presented us with this representation of her and the good doctor picking apples at the orchard. Apparently she woke up this morning and decided she was moving past her abstract period to a season of realistic portraiture. Good for you, kiddo.

Remember to remember

2012-02-29T22:08:00.002-05:00

My granddad was born on the 29th of february. He passed away a little over a month before baby jane came along. I spoke to my gramma on the phone this evening and we shared memories of the birthday boy. She recalled his last birthday four years ago. Gramma was picking him up from a senior care facility he'd been staying at briefly. The folks there had pulled out all the stops to make a big deal about his birthday, seeing as it only came around every four years. As they were loading up the car with all of granddad's belongings, they lost hold of the majestic balloon that served as a proclamation of the day's celebration. They watched that balloon disappear into the stratosphere.

A few months later, we said goodbye to granddad.

Before ending our conversation over the phone, gramma remembered aloud how much she enjoyed watching granddad interact with little children when they'd be out shopping for groceries. She said that he was particularly comforting toward those who appeared upset or distressed. I wish he could have been around to spend time with baby jane and the good doctor. I have a feeling they would have enjoyed some lovely moments together.

Until another time when heaven and earth become one...

<p>&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://joelrockey.bandcamp.com/track/aloha"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Aloha by Joel Rockey&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

New buds

2012-02-27T12:18:00.000-05:00

February provided us another opportunity to print some tees for the best buddies chapter at north central high school. Thanks to our sister and new mama, elisa for providing us with this opportunity two years in a row. Now, be dazzled by the following peek inside the printing process.

A word from our sponsor

2012-02-20T10:29:00.000-05:00

We've recently been raiding the archives to find gems such as this one from long long ago. Nobody wears a necktie with a tee shirt or pitches deadly kid toys quite like this shyster. Check out those pearly whites.

Nice of you to show up, snow.

2012-02-18T22:19:00.002-05:00

Hey guys. In case you were passed out in a necco heart-induced coma and missed it, this was the scene on tuesday morning. Well, by golly, we certainly weren't going to waste this rare opportunity to make tracks through some fresh powder.

Let's be honest, the good doctor wasn't quite sure what to make of all the chilly hubbub. And who can blame him? Come on, snow! You can't just leave town for weeks without calling or writing, and expect everything to be cool. The doctor don't play them games.

However, this chick harbors no resentment. She's all, "get over here, you freezin' mess of precipitation! We got us some catchin' up to do!" And how can you say no?

No worries, bro. Just stick close and we'll get through this together. Besides, in only a few short hours, that lovable scamp will have skipped town once again. Sigh.

One thursday afternoon

2012-02-10T00:03:00.002-05:00

If you're going to get a job done, don't get it done alone. Have some help. My helper is Stanley. I drink his blood and it ignites my go-gettums. Thanks, Stan.

Sweet Judy Blue-eyes is always hanging around to wish us all a good day. Judy, you really know how to point a fella in the right direction. Stay positive, kid.

Nothing inspires creativity like a four foot stretch of plywood fresh off the sanding block. Baby jane urges that i change out of my better trousers lest this coat of paint gets the best of me.

Goldilocks and the Ghost of Sweet Judy Blue-eyes.

Art rock.

Portrait of a little girl and her little dog. Behold the wonder and find yourself. Now it's your turn. Go make something.

What the Crap?

2012-02-06T12:31:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, you start finding things which you had forgotten existed. Maybe you forgot they existed for a reason. Maybe you hadn't really forgotten that they existed, but you like to pretend that you'd forgotten. After all, why do they exist in the first place? Why, after all these years, have you held on to them when you'd like to have forgotten them. I'll tell you why, Hamlet. Because, really, there's something kind of great about them. So now, without further ado, we present without commercial interruption this:

One for papaw

2012-01-17T20:05:00.001-05:00

It was brought to our attention that certain grandparents needed to see this photo.

Nice hat, elmer

2012-01-16T14:03:00.001-05:00

After a whirlwind holiday season, we pick up where we left off.

While you were away

2012-01-14T13:24:00.000-05:00

It's been a whirlwind of a month or so since we last corresponded. That's my way of explaining how lazy i am about typing words on this thing. I'd like to say that i'll be more frequent with the updates, but i can't promise that. After all, there are more pressing issues at hand. In case you missed one of the greatest nights EVER, you can read the recap at INDYREFUGEE(dot)COM. Needless to say, it was an amazing night of art, frivolity, and bringing awareness of burmese refugees to those in attendance.

Due to a smorgasbord of projects (and two kiddos) already demanding my attention, this holiday season's offering of sonic morsels was a collection of random, previously unreleased home recordings spanning the past five years or so. You can download all twenty one tracks at NOISETRADE(dot)COM/JOELROCKEY so you might as well go ahead and do that right now. Feel free to leave me a tip, but if you don't want to, that's cool too. Listen for baby jane chatting in the background of a few tracks. The cover art features what mama jane lovingly describes as a 'naked potato' shakin a tambourine. You make the call...

Now, a few random thoughts and observations from the past several weeks:
-We need more black licorice twists.
-Three-year-olds talk smack.
-Three-year olds think they're in charge.
-We can't have nice things.
-Families are messy.
-I'm really more of a sheep dog than a bear.
-Repurposed desktop art is still en vogue.
-The one with the beard is the one who leads.
-Sometimes what appears to be chicken pox is simply a possible case of hand, foot, and mouth.
-No one knows as much about anything as my friend JD does about Saved by the Bell.
-If you want a baby to poop don't feed him bananas.
-Love is realized fully only in its being shared with someone else.

That last one came out of the brass tacks discussion my pops and i have been chewing through regarding the apostle paul's letter to the corinthian church known more specifically as 1st corinthians. By the way, if i haven't mentioned it before, my pops is rad.

Finally, i was honoured to make the acquaintance of one miss jennifer (aka turquoise feathers) upon her request of my involvement in her short-run, handmade mag featuring five handmade artists. She's a rad lady with a pretty rad guy in his own right. Below is a snapshot of the piece she had me write up about the mustard room. You can take a look at all of the pages of the mag titled 'pen & needle' on her blog at these precise coordinates.

One last thought: It's much more fun to refer to muffins as 'M, U, double-F, Ins.' Try it.

Sounds you can feel

2011-11-29T09:56:00.001-05:00

Five long years ago, some stuff happened. This stuff would inspire much of the material found on a collection of songs that i wrote and recorded during the fallout. My friends Emily Rae and Old Man Johnson assisted with their hands and voices here and there during the recording process. Emily Rae (under a pseudonym) wrote some epic, cryptic liner notes. Upon release of the album, brothers from other mothers, Jason, Andrew, Ryan, and the Shuff joined me in sonic unison for a raucous rock show. The whole production and subsequent performance served as a sort of therapy.

Now, at long last, you can have a fresh copy of this album in the popular compact disc format. This limited edition of fifty includes a handprinted sleeve, a booklet with notes and such, a hand-painted disc, a miniature poster from the release show, and a handful of bonus tracks. You can get yourself a copy right HERE. Enjoy.

Most of the lyrics to the songs in question were composed on this electric Smith Corona whilst consuming an unhealthy volume of coffee.

Old Man Johnson pounds and kicks the old gretsch kit during the recording of "used to be so bored". See how the guiding light of goodness shines upon him trough the mustard room window?

Here's a candid shot of the banjo and i sharing an intimate moment during the recording of "through radio waves & passing sirens". Our relationship is frustrating at best, but we have our moments.

Here's myself and the brothers from other mothers kicking out the jamz while rehearsing for the album release party.

Later.

Doings & suches

2011-11-28T18:03:00.001-05:00

Super-busyness has been the haps round these parts of late. A great deal of it having to do with having two little people running and rolling around, but another deal of it having to do with creating goodness for this event called INDY REFUGEE NIGHT. You really oughta make plans to be there. Especially if you're into changing the world and such.

The last couple of days have seen our entire downstairs overrun with holiday decor, framing supplies, and dancing monkeys. This dude is ready to radio-disney your tryptophaned arse outta that thar lazy-boy and into the new year. Boo-shocka-locka-lu-ya!!!!!!

P.S. Thanks Papaw Horrell.

Where you need to be

2011-11-19T00:24:00.001-05:00

Peeps of all shapes and sizes, may i have your attention? Remember that time when you were asking me where you needed to be on the night of December 2nd, 2011? Well, i'll be a panda's pancreas if i ain't come to and suddenly up and remembered. Here's the skinny:

WHO? YOU, SUNSHINE!

WHAT? Photography, art, screening of Burma VJ, food, convo, jamz, photobooth, all in the name of raising awareness of Burmese refugees and their stories

WHEN? Friday, December 2, 2011 from 6:00 pm to the break-a-break-a-dawn (or around 10ish)

WHERE? Gallery 2 at The Harrison Center for the Arts in Indy(anapolis) (directions hizzle)

WHY? To change the world

HOW? Teamwork

If you're on the facebooks, soar on over to our page and punch "LIKE" right in the kisser. Also, you can read more about the whos, whats and whys at our website: INDYREFUGEE(dot)COM.

We can't wait to see you there.

P.S. You are the shiz.

Abandonment issues

2011-11-16T13:03:00.001-05:00

Telling stories

2011-11-14T14:38:00.000-05:00

We have amazing friends who have amazing stories to tell. We are falling in love with this family and they are teaching us so much. There are families all over indianapolis who have similar stories to there story. They are refugees from an oppressive, communist, military junta that has taken over their home in Burma. Too many of their new neighbors do not know their stories. They are a resilient, hopeful, and joyful people who have survived persecution for their ethnicity and religion for decades. With their help, we're hoping to create awareness of their journey, and avenues for action as we foster relationships with our new friends.

Please visit INDYrefugee(dot)com, y'alls.

By the way, that photo was taken by the always badass Katie Basbagill.

Just so you know.

Five long years later

2011-11-10T21:57:00.001-05:00

College pix

2011-11-01T21:34:00.004-04:00

An aural supplement, episode 17

2011-10-30T01:36:00.000-04:00

Running Time: 53:17 | File Size: 61 MB

Download: .mp3

To subscribe to this podcast: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ARockeyHomeCompanion

Just when you thought things couldn't get more irritating, the Laveta welcomes Ty Anaya, an old rival from his days at universidad, to bury another hatchet. Get ready to lose your teeth and scream, because that hardly-loveable scamp has missed you all and can't wait to tell you to get lost.

1. Gordon Gano & Frank Black "Run"

2. "Official Announcement"

3. Pixies "I Bleed"

4. Ralph Nielsen & The Chancellors "Scream"

5. Pink Floyd "In the Flesh?"

6. Tom Waits "Get Lost"

7. "The Vault of Horror"

8. Foster the People "Miss You"

9. "I Was a Teenage Werewolf"

10. Half-handed Cloud "Once, Twice, Three Times a Werewolf"

11. Daniel Johnston "Since I Lost My Tooth"

12. Richard Swift "Broken Finger Blues"

13. R.E.M. "Crush with Eyeliner"

14. Ryan Adams "I See Monsters"

15. Howlin' Wolf "Evil"

16. Elvis Costello & The Attractions "Go Away"

What a ride

2011-10-30T01:02:00.003-04:00

Thank you, saint louis cardinals, for one of the greatest series performances evah. Now we can start getting our kids to sleep at a more reasonable hour again like responsible parents.

Ship ahoy

2011-10-17T10:35:00.000-04:00

Now, anyone who knows my wife and i knows that we don't spend a great deal of time in front of the television watching sports. Chicks sticking screwdrivers in zombies faces? Sure. Meth cooks beating the ever-loving crap out of each other? Absolutely! Oh sure, i'll cheer on indianapolis during the super bowl like a diehard fan. Why, i'll even spend a couple hours with my bro at conseco fieldhouse cheering on the pacers. However, when it comes to the st. louis cardinals, we're talking about something very different.

Last night during the epic homerun derby/bullpen battle that was game six of the 2011 national league championship, mama jane confessed her enjoyment of watching baseball. We've spent the past week together with our 3-year-old daughter and 6-month-old son cheering the cards on to victory over the milwaukee brewers.

Now we have at least four more late nights to look forward to as they head to the series yet again.

Squiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrel!!!

Swinging for the fence

2011-10-13T12:45:00.001-04:00

Thanks to the inspiration provided by our pal, juli from cordinated, this dude will tell them how it is.

We make signage suitable for framing. Also, we sell tee shirts, just so you know, in case that wasn't clear.

Dr. Grabbyhands is moving up to the bigs as he makes the jump from the mommy juice right to gumming giant crispy bites of apple.

Baby jane has been acquainting herself with the game of baseball as we stay up late watching the Cards pound milwaukee into the ground to practice for the series against texas. Are we being too presumptuous?

The obligatory pumpkin patch post

2011-10-05T18:47:00.000-04:00

We never know what to expect during the annual patch outing. Sometimes the weather cooperates and sometimes we wish that it would. This year, the sun joined us for Dr. Sebresian's first trip to the apple works. In case you're not up to snuff on your Rockey family glossary terms, Dr. Sebresian is just one of the handles that Nolan James goes by. That's right the sun was shining, the pumpkins were plenty, and we only suffered a handful of meltdowns. See those pumpkins lying behind Baby Jane? Those were the two she picked out for her and her brother, the good doctor. That shot was snapped immediately following her decision to no longer carry the load.

Moments later... tears.

I'm still not exactly sure why.

Check out this dude gettin' his chill on. If anyone knows an alpaca who needs a place to crash, you can totally throw my digits his way.

The doctor and i had to talk this guy down. We promised him that we wouldn't feed him gravel like all the others. Come on folks, show these dudes some sympathy. They don't possess the discernment which so many of you take for granted.

It's alright, goat. The doctor and i are here for you.

Look who's pleased with himself after another day's work.

That's a satisfied customer.

Now go out and grab yourself a gourd, cut its guts out and toast yourself some seeds!

Birthday wishes from the goose

2011-09-30T10:59:00.000-04:00

Woops. Where has the time gone? We'll be selling some new and olde stuffs alongside our dear friend, Ms. Wendy, at the Harrison Center for the Arts next friday, october 7th. The event happens between 5pm and 10pm. Come check out all the rad vendors and meet new friends to share life with. You may slide on over to the IHE website for further details.

Ready, set, go.

If you missed the preceding linkage, click this one.

In other news,

Hooray for wood. More of these guys will be making an appearance in future times. Although it's tricky finding time between catching up with Pawn Stars and doing crap like this...

To be continued...

Holla at yer bros

2011-09-16T14:56:00.000-04:00

Get your holla for fifteen dolla. Choose your colour and we'll make it happen. Give a shout out to holla(at)themustardroom(dot)com to get the proverbial ball rolling, y'all.

Any guesses?

Nope. Try again.

Ooooooh! So close.

It's obviously a depiction of bunnies in the forest. And there's Yoda.

At least that's what the artist tells me.

Wished our dear friend K-baz fond bon voyage from the olde homestead as she prepped to travel the world once again. We spent an evening catching up with seasoned pals and acquainting ourselves with new ones. Check out our friend Zih chilling with Dr. Sugarman as Biak tries to pretend that he doesn't mind having to share. By the by, keep yourself up to snuff with what's going on with all these aforementioned folks involvement in the INDYrefugee project at indyrefugee.com.

All right?

Moving on...

This lil chick 'n' tiny dude are bros for life.

Labor intensive

2011-09-06T10:32:00.000-04:00

While other folks were busy taking a day off, we got busy getting it done. I'd like to say that we were responsible for the meticulously disassembled acorns, but that would be an obscene exaggeration of the truth. We met a group of young Chin girls at the park who deserve all the credit.

Lawn snuggling at the park is best when it's below eighty degrees.

In between taking walks to the park, sorting clothes, eating eggs, drinking coffee, balancing budgets, and sneezing our brains out, we managed to work some more on this song:

Now go open all your windows and sneeze your brains out.

I call him dad

2011-08-27T14:56:00.007-04:00

Do i blog about my pops enough? That's a ridiculous question. Of course i don't blog about my pops enough. I should blog about my pops some more. He's kind of a hero of mine. Don't tell him i said that though. I don't want things to be weird between the two of us. Take a look at that picture of him holding his grandson like a pro. Clearly, this is a guy who's no stranger to holding a baby.

Do you wanna know what else he's not a stranger to? Being rad. Oh yeah, and being ordained as a teaching elder, minister of the word and sacrament, and installed as associate pastor at southminster presbyterian church.

Anyhow, i'm super proud of my old man. So when he asked me if i would perform a song at his ordination ceremony, i was more than a little bit honoured by the invitation. Per his request, i revisited the interpretation of psalm 63 that i composed many moons ago. Here is that psalm as performed at my father's ordination on sunday, august 14...

Psalm 63 - 8-14-11

All this and blueberry pancakes

2011-08-26T22:57:00.006-04:00

We had us a mighty fine week full of tiny visitors from near and far. For the first time in baby jane's three years, we got to celebrate her birthday with the cousins from the pacific northwest. We call them robbie and kayleigh. We spent a great deal of time running laps through gramma connie's house and being schooled on the history of lego via a first-grader.

Our tomato garden was attacked by giant mutant caterpillars who almost made baby jane their dessert. Little did they know that they were being lured to their exit.

This little guy wandered far from home and found himself knocking on our garage door for assistance. Our animal rescue unit sprang into action and gave him a wet albeit non-private room where he could recuperate. Soon after, baby jane and i returned him to his natural habitat - the retention pond behind the vacant mexican restaurant.

Baby jane and her pal trotted off, hand in hand, to their first session of ballet class. It was a raging success full of pseudo-plies and dizzying spins. Despite baby jane's concerns with having a teacher in the class with her, she warmed to the young ladies leading from up front enough to not split early.

Finally, on the morning of august 23rd, baby jane officially transformed into a three-year-old. How else do you celebrate if not by sticking a giant 3 into a short stack of blueberry pancakes and lighting it on fire?

Say what you will about us rockeys, but you can't say we don't know how to party.

Eureka

2011-08-26T10:25:00.004-04:00

I've been literally banging my head against the wall trying to find the right combination of thisses and thatsies to capture the sounds for this current batch of sing songs. Recording is oft a hodgepodge effort which produces a varying degree of listenable and unlistenable output alike. After days and weeks of playing and recording onto laptops and digital devices and magnetic tape, i have married together all these into a wired monstrosity which sort of looks like this:

And so, recording moves forward...

For now.

However, in the end it will all go horribly wrong after fire and pitchforks bring judgment down upon my glorious monster. This, as we all know, is how the story goes.

Blues runs the game

2011-08-19T18:34:00.003-04:00

Dear people who may or may not frequent this blaugh (i will spell however i please, thank you very much), I'm terribly sorry for being such a stranger. I'll try harder next time. In the meanwhilst, please enjoy the latest installment of your favorite series of 39 second instructional videos.

An aural supplement, episode 16

2011-08-10T15:57:00.006-04:00

Running Time: 58:00 | File Size 54 MB

Download: .mp3

To subscribe to this podcast:http://feeds.feedburner.com/ARockeyHomeCompanion

The future jamz start now. Wrap your talons around another hour of sweet sonic goodness and bickering amongst olde fiends. Will our host be thrown out the window during this less-than-epic bout or will he remain unfazed? Regardless of the way it goes, one thing is clear; He's the man who loves you. Think about it.

1. Wilco “I'm The Man Who Loves You”

2. Ryan Adams "Dear Candy"

3. Fleetwood Mac "Think About It"

4. Lowercase Sunshine "San Jose"

5. The Kills "Future Starts Now"

6. Violent Femmes "Out the Window"

7. Ben Harper & The Relentless7 "Boots Like These"

8. Wilco "I Might"

9. Dolorean "The Unfazed"

10. Lost Revelers "Without You"

11. The Kinks "Starstruck"

12. Elvis Costello "Veronica (demo)"

13. Bowerbirds "In Our Talons"

14. The Band "We Can Talk About It"

15. Cat Stevens "Tea for the Tillerman"

16. Gillian Welch "The Way It Goes"

17. Sandra McCracken & Derek Webb "We Will Never Have Tonight Again"

Dog star

2011-08-08T12:31:00.002-04:00

This dude's got a real spuds mckenzie vibe going on. I believe he's waving the white flag of stardom. I uncovered this guy from a big box of prints and drawings dating back to over a decade ago. I think i scratched this guy whilst on a smoke break during my brief stint as a framer years ago. Check out those yellow teeth. Looks like he could've used a smoke break.

One louder

2011-08-05T15:10:00.003-04:00

Eleven years ago today i sat and pondered the next eleven years of my life with Mama Jane. Here's to just getting started.

All right

2011-08-04T09:57:00.000-04:00

Crucial, I think I wantcha

2011-08-02T22:01:00.003-04:00

Ooooooh. So hott. Maybe we should print more and more and more and more and more of things gorgeous mamas. Oh yes, we mos def should. Rawr.

Hair by olivia

2011-08-01T11:25:00.002-04:00

Mama jane sees a leaf, but i see a fairly accurate, slightly more balding likeness of dad's hair. Perhaps this may just be an illustrated prophecy of things to come.

The continuing story of a quack who's gone to the dogs

2011-07-28T23:28:00.004-04:00

Almost a year ago now, my bro from another mo moved clear out to NY with his lovely family. When i discovered that they would be back in the g-wood for a hot minute (aka two weeks) i begged and pleaded for a few hours of his precious time to hammer out some tracks in the mustard room. Always the gentleman, Dr. Bob obliged and we ended up spending two morning/afternoons constructing a couple tunes with nothing but some guitars, a hammond organ, a wash bucket, and our childlike optimism. We laid some healthy foundation for a few pieces of the new record we're finally getting around to making.

I only wish we had more time, but we bid Dr. Bob and his family a fond adieu as they trek back to the NY. I'm thrilled to death that we were able to get a couple of days playing and recording together. It was also a great delight to all of us (particularly baby jane) to have Dr. Bob's boy Jake hang with us during the first sesh. Our deepest gratitude goes out to the entire Dr. Bob family. Why not follow Dr. Bob on twitter @RS_Freeland?

Here we are rehearsing one of the tunes we spent some time on:

Smoke breaks

2011-07-28T21:24:00.001-04:00

The shape of things to come

2011-07-27T10:49:00.002-04:00

I might

2011-07-27T10:47:00.000-04:00

White and pink with blades of blue

2011-07-22T23:10:00.004-04:00

Baby transmissions

Hepcat getting the lead out

Ghetto scanner

2011-07-20T18:21:00.004-04:00

Ask m'lady and she'll tell you; I'm not often quick to turn down an opportunity to take on tasks which i may or may not have the ability to follow through on. These are the times when years of training in the art of creative problem solving produce magnificent results. For instance, when i promise a friend's mother that i have the resources and capability to transfer photographic slides to digital image files for use in a presentation to be given by the end of the week, well sir, digital files she shall receive. Pay no mind to the fact that i've not once tested the transparent materials adapter unit which accompanies our secondhand scanner. After all, such an advanced piece of technology surely possesses nothing but the ability to produce results. And when it doesn't, we throw the ol' camera atop the tripod and set up a contraption which looks an awful lot like this...

I don't know what fancy-pants company is presently out there doing these types of transfers for top dollar, but we're about to put those suckas under ground.

Olde friendse

2011-07-20T01:47:00.003-04:00

This week we've spent some quality and not-so-quality time with some olde friends. Some of them have collected a bit of dust over the passing of time, yet we help them to their feet, dust off their hind parts and hold their hands as they learn to walk again. They will dance again. Oh, yes. They will indeed dance again. Today, we spent a couple hours in the lavatory with this dude...

Folk slinger

2011-07-17T19:38:00.002-04:00

The more i listen to this, the more i feel that it will guide the direction of all future recording projects. Prepare to be dazzled.

Giddy Up, Episode One

2011-07-15T09:50:00.000-04:00

Because we at the mustard room have too much time on our hands, we have ventured into the realm of writing a series of short stories for children and adults alike. After reading and rereading stacks of children's books over the the past few years, we were inspired to tell the story of our own Propellerhead through the medium of illustration and word. Our efforts have resulted in the first installment of Giddy Up, the tale of one lad's journey to find his long lost leggy friend, the noble Pickles.

Each copy of Giddy Up, Episode One features twenty two 5.5" x 8.5" pages of words and illustrations in glorious black and white. Pick up your copy right here if you're into it.

The onesie

2011-07-14T11:10:00.002-04:00

Duckbilled rambler, as worn by doctor james.

An aural supplement, episode 15

2011-07-11T12:35:00.005-04:00

Running Time: 1:46:22 | File Size 98 MB

Download: .mp3
To subscribe to this podcast:http://feeds.feedburner.com/ARockeyHomeCompanion

This epic-long episode of An Aural Supplement has been been compiled by Reverend Rockey on his 35th birthday. Now for your listening pleasure is an aural trip from 1976 through 2011. Dig, y'all.

1. David Bowie “Golden Years”

2. Ramones "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow"

3. Elvis Costello & The Attractions "Big Boys"

4. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers "Even the Losers"

5. Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band "Sherry Darling"

6. Split Enz "History Never Repeats"

7. The Clash "Should I Stay or Should I Go"

8. Violent Femmes "Kiss Off"

9. Hüsker Dü
"Turn on the News"

10. R.E.M. "Can't Get There from Here"

11. Paul Simon "That Was Your Mother"

12. U2 "Trip Through Your Wires"

13. Pixies "Brick is Red"

14. Bob Dylan "Everything is Broken"

15. Daniel Johnston "True Love Will Find You in the End"

16. Uncle Tupelo "Looking for a Way Out"

17. Cracker "Happy Birthday to Me

18. The Breeders "Saints"

19. Beastie Boys "Flute Loop"

20. Finn "Eyes of the World"

21. Pearl Jam "Sometimes"

22. Guided by Voices "Jane of the Waking Universe"

23. Lucinda Williams "Concrete and Barbed Wire"

24. Tom Waits "Picture in a Frame"

25. The White Stripes "Hello Operator"

26. Ryan Adams "Gonna Make You Love Me"

27. Supergrass "Seen the Light"

28. Bill Mallonee "She's So Liquid"

29. Wilco "Theologians"

30. Beck "Rental Car"

31. Eddie Vedder "Goodbye"

32. Waterdeep "...And I Can't Sleep"

33. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy "Missing One"

34. The Avett Brothers "It Goes On"

35. Band of Horses "Older"

36. Josh Garrels "Farther Along"

Happy boogaloo

2011-07-11T09:40:00.000-04:00

It's not that i feel the need to throw a party for myself, but it just serves as the perfect catalyst for inviting a crapload of people over to the house to participate in some good time-havin'. It was only what seems like a few weeks ago when some friends and i were discussing the idea of an outdoor movie projected on the side of a house. While i've entertained the idea in the past, it was this conversation, and a forthcoming thirty-fifth birthday which finally set this thing in motion. The decision on which film to show as a feature presentation was an important one. It would have to be one which made a lasting impression with me from an early age well into adulthood. After much deliberation, the obvious choice was of course the 1985 masterpiece directed by budding filmmaker tim burton and starring paul reuben's childlike character pee-wee herman, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure.

We began making plans on how we would pull off this incredible feat. How would we affix a bed sheet to the broad face of the back exterior of our house? How, you ask? Why, duct tape of course. I called in a favor for a theater-style popcorn machine, borrowed a projector from some old friends, and braced myself for the impending 'disturbing the peace' call. Well sir, when the highly anticipated evening finally arrived, i never could have guessed what a success the entire event would be. We had over 65 guests throughout the evening including family, high school chums, college buds, new friends, old friends, & neighbors. Why, we had visitors travel from as far as Bowling Green and Fort Wayne to be a part of the festivities. When all was said and done, we had a back lawn full of folks from all seasons and sectors of life lounging and laughing together beneath an open sky occasionally lit by stray bottle rockets being fired from the adjacent apartment complex.

My deepest heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who came out to the rockey home to make the evening as spectacular as it possibly could have been. I'm not sure i could have asked for a better way to celebrate getting older.

Pool daze

2011-07-04T11:38:00.000-04:00

Dr. James, you might want to watch your back. Goldilocks is creeping up behind you and she's got big plans to make your first summer swim a memorable one.

Aw shucks. She just wants to nuzzle that sweet soft baby head of yours. Well, who can argue with that?

Happy fourth, dudes and duderellas.

Ready, set,

2011-07-03T10:53:00.000-04:00

Admittedly, i'm mostly just talk. Therefore, when i talk about recording music, usually it's all grandiose ideas and three years worth of gettin' a round tuit. Well sir/ma'am, i'm here to announce the kickstart of another season of recording some songs who have been sittin' around waiting on me for some time now.

Won't you join me on this magical expedition?

Here goes nothing.

This is huge

2011-07-02T00:08:00.000-04:00

What this gal is wearing around her neck are ceremonial poop-beads. One might probably assume that such a name would indicate the raw material used in crafting the pieces in question. However, in this particular case, these beads are worn during a celebratory dance around her living room after the performance of a bowel evacuation upon the throne of porcelain found in the family wash room. Not every resident of the rockey home receives such fanfare after taking the kids to the pool. No no. This kind of hullabaloo is reserved for one tenant only. This monumental occasion marks the end of a very brief season of changing the diapers of multiple tiny folk. Hoorah.

Following the first official poop in the pot, an observation was made by the perpetrator (or 'poop-etrator' as it were) which likened the product to a deuce of brown bananas.

Four years ago today

2011-06-29T09:54:00.000-04:00

lily constance rockey, june 29, 2007
hannah jane rockey, june 29, 2007

Four years ago today

2011-06-26T17:32:00.001-04:00

nathaniel david rockey, june 26, 2007

The anticipation builds

2011-06-22T13:26:00.000-04:00

It is no secret that our family has some super mad love for the muppets. This trailer has me more excited than ever about the new film, and quite honestly summoned a bit of moisture from my eyes.

We love our clients, part 1: Hair today, gone tomorrow

2011-06-20T04:15:00.000-04:00

What you are witnessing is an almost complete anthology of a three year relationship between the mustard room and westwood student ministries in cincinnati. This fruitful affair was birthed out of our ties to their mighty director, the incomparable mister joshua lemons. Way back in our early days of youth ministry at cgpc, mister lemons quickly established himself as a servant and leader among his peers. The two of us spent the second half of his high school career harnessing his passion and refining his gifts for youth ministry. Clearly it was no surprise that when he graduated from indiana wesleyan university a few years later he would go on to thrive in rallying others to love and care for young people like Jesus. Fortunately, for us, mister lemons reached out to us early on to provide graphics for and print t-shirts for their ministry's retreats and service projects. Not only have they been incredibly loyal clients of the mustard room over these past three years, but their patronage has served to help keep our families connected as well. It has been quite a delight to witness, from afar, the life unfolding before him and his high school lady/wife jennifer.

Three years later, mister lemon's lady has accepted a faculty position at the university of texas, and they have made the difficult decision to relocate to houston as they begin a new chapter in their journey. We wish them all the best, and remember, with great fondness, the collaborative endeavors which we enjoyed during their time at westwood.

Thanks again, mister joshua lemons. The mustard room salutes you!

Say yes to strangers

2011-06-12T22:37:00.000-04:00

The first semester of my freshman year of college i lived in a dorm with two dudes who i had never met before in my 18 years of life on this planet. Is was expected that i would share close living quarters with these strangers for the following nine months. I don't want to spin any bad vibes about either of these guys, but let's just say that one of them got intentionally locked out of the room on a particular evening. These are the kinds of shenanigans one can look forward to when being blindly paired with others. Imagine the uncertainty which enveloped me when i discovered that i would be sharing a booth at the indieana handicraft exchange with folks who i had never met in my 35 years on this planet. I nearly backed out for fear of having an ex-high school basketball player wrapped in nothing but a bath towel put his fist through something in a drunken rage accompanied by pantera. Yikes. Not again. Well, instead, i am here to tell you that i shared a tent for over eight hours with two of the most incredibly rad people. They are juli and dan of cordinated, and they make groovy guitar cables amongst other groovy things. We spent most of the day discussing lawn ornaments as defensive weapons, high art, fake and non-fake moustaches, and pants among other things.

Don't judge this cat. He's got his own problems.

Now, before parting for the evening, let me just bid a good morrow one more time to my belvedere-sporting pals from the windy city. Let us join forces again soon. And if you came out to see us yesterday, you are fan-steak-n-shake-tasket.

Livin the dream

2011-06-10T01:16:00.000-04:00

Wow. What a week. Or two. To be quite honest, i seem to have lost all concept of time and space. The time loss has been made evident in the fact that i was almost certain that four hours had passed in what my wife informed me was actually closer to one and a half hours. The space loss refers more to that of the entire ground level of our home which has become overrun with projects taken on by the mustard room. Working and dining have become indistinguishable. They now exist as one singular entity. What does science say on the matter? Do not tell me for i fear that theories would cause my face to collapse, and this would be a travesty to my new haircut.

So there's all that. Also, as is the annual routine, our lawn mower stopped working. Our lovely neighbors next door were away, and my inability to operate the key pad to their garage door forced me to break in to the home of our good friends just down the road. After hoisting their mower into the trunk of my granny mobile, i chased a long day of work with a hot stroll across every square inch of our lawn while my daughter painted trees with water. Upon completing this heroic task, i hoped to immediately return the stolen mower to the scene of the crime. I proceeded to squat uncomfortably next to the oily machine and awkwardly wrap my arms around the base in an attempt to heave it back into my vehicle's barely adequate trunk. Did i happen to mention that this was right after finishing the job while the engine was still hot as rocky mountain oysters? Oh, well it was. I don't know the degree of the burn on the inside of my left forearm, but it looks as if a zombie gave me a hickey.

All in all, it's been an eventful few days. I haven't even mentioned how i spent a whole day working on projects for cgpc. Wait a sec, isn't that the place where you got fired five years ago and had your heart ripped out and handed to you on a communion platter. Oh, hyperbole, how i love you so. Anyhoozit, we completed printing the 200+ t-shirts we had taken on for their vbs, and i spent the remainder of the day surrounded by ladies while editing videos. Jealous? Did i mention there was complimentary kung pow chicken involved? It's called "livin' the dream". Deal with it.

Last, but not loveliest, baby jane got sick and hurled twice after spending the day at the kamikaze pizza emporium while informing us several times that her tummy hurt. Woops. She pretty much chilled on the couch for the next 24 hours watching documentaries on oceanic life and cuddling with her mama & papa & baby brother & puke towel.

See you on saturday. Wink.

Get the goods

2011-06-08T16:14:00.000-04:00

Mister zippy and myself will be present and representing for the mustard room this saturday from noon to 8 pm at the indieana handicraft exchange. The event will be held in conjuction with the independent music & arts fest at the harrison center for the arts in picturesque downtown indianapolis. 100+ vendors will be selling super-rad, handmade goodies such as this...

Say hello to the new face of refinement: Belvedere. And for those of you who make purchases from the mustard room, you have one of these exciting pieces to look forward to as a bonus...

See you there, party animals.

An aural supplement, episode 14

2011-06-04T22:08:00.000-04:00

Running Time: 49:59 | File Size 46 MB

Download: .mp3
To subscribe to this podcast:http://feeds.feedburner.com/ARockeyHomeCompanion

More wet violence from the sky keeps this lone wolf in for the evening. Fear not, dudes and duderellas, for though the rains may come, Senor Laveta is up late with love for sale. Keep your eye on the skeeter's tweeter, y'all.

1. Tom Waits “Walking Spanish”

2. The Monkees "Mary Mary"

3. Big Sambo & The House Wreckers "The Rains Came"

4. Talking Heads "Love for Sale"

5. Jenny Lewis w/ Elvis Costello "Carpetbaggers"

6. Mike & Joel "Not Talking About Husbandry"

7. Nina Simone "Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter"

8. Pearl Jam "Red Mosquito"

9. Eddie Vedder "The Wolf"

10. Damien Jurado "Arkansas"

11. The Animals "It's My Life"

12. The Monkees "Ditty Diego - War Chant"

13. Double Dee & Steinski "Jazz"

14. The Beatles "Cayenne"

15. The Civil Wars "Barton Hallow"

16. 7 Worlds Collide (feat. Lisa Germano) "Reptile"

God likes people

2011-06-02T07:49:00.000-04:00

After spending another afternoon discussing plans for an epic project over coffee, i am once again so awed by the people i've been privileged to know and work with and call friends. This particular project in question will involve amazing photographs of amazing people who are refugees from burma living on the south side of indianapolis. Without divulging too many details, let's just say that mama jane and myself were given the distinct honour of introducing two amazing friends to one another which is already proving to be quite serendipitous. People are coming together to tell stories which need to be heard. We're hoping, in some small way, to help compel others to hear those stories.

More to come.

Day on

2011-05-30T12:11:00.001-04:00

This memorial day weekend has found us hitting the press hard to get this rather sizable tee shirt project completed in a timely manner. Here's a slice of the action featuring sonic accompaniment from guided by voices.

I am produced

2011-05-27T10:34:00.000-04:00

There are only a handful of days before this, and so - between changing diapers and playing tea set party - we have been working on trying to get this dude (detail above) completed for the festivities.

Also, there's a rather large tee shirt pressing we're doing for - get this - a place where we used to work and live until we were told to stop and had our hearts broken. Granted, that was over five years ago. Nevertheless, this project has helped in salving some of those wounds that have gone unattended and reopened from time to time. Not only are we hand-printing two sides of over two hundred tee shirts for their vbs, but we also created the artwork for both sides. To those who know who they are, we say, "thanks."

Sibs

2011-05-27T09:57:00.001-04:00

These kids dig each other.

Rainy day women #35

2011-05-26T16:54:00.000-04:00

Hail yes

2011-05-25T20:31:00.000-04:00

Geek out

2011-05-23T23:03:00.000-04:00

Does this do anything for you? Because i'm pretty sure i peed my pants a little.

Royale bummer

2011-05-19T15:18:00.000-04:00

After a brief visit with the ladies of the brew last night, baby jane came home with a handful of black & white funnies and a green crayola. She had spent part of the morning upon the living room floor violently breathing new monochromatic life into the likes of charlie brown and marmaduke before we noticed that several green streaks had worked their way into the carpet pattern. Needless to say, mama jane and myself were less than pleased. After determining that the incident was indeed an accident, we began spraying and scrubbing at the unintentional doodles at which baby jane remarked, "This is not going to be the best picnic ever."

An aural supplement, episode 13

2011-05-16T23:43:00.000-04:00

Running Time: 56:52 | File Size 52 MB

Download: .mp3
To subscribe to this podcast: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ARockeyHomeCompanion

While spring is in full swing, ye olde homestead is rolling deep in dirty diapers and dandy dance moves. Our old fiend, Hector, stops by for a smoke and a pancake while he spins some of our favorite records of late. So get up, buttercup, 'cos this sucka's going somewhere.

1. Brandi Carlile “Dreams”
2. Bob Dylan “Thunder on the Mountain”
3. Adele “Rolling in the Deep”

4. The Roots "Walk Alone"

5. Mavis Staples "You Are Not Alone"

6. Foo Fighters "Arlandria"

7. R.E.M. "Get Up"

8. Coconut Records "Mama"

9. Lucinda Williams "Buttercup (Kitchen Demo)

10. Frank Black & The Catholics "Southbound Levy"

11. Nilsson "Driving Along (Demo)"

12. Supergrass "Evening of the Day"

13. Paul Simon "Love is Eternal Sacred Light"

14. Paul Simon "Paranoia Blues (Demo)"

15. Paleface "You'll Get What You Want"

16. Nilsson "Driving Along"

17. Colin Hay "Going Somewhere"

Fresh fossils

2011-05-16T12:14:00.000-04:00

"Remember me?" she inquired without the slightest hint of irony.

Rain dogs

More weirdness involving an umbrella

Indiana dreaming

2011-05-14T08:54:00.000-04:00

As the indiana days go from bone cold to sloppy hot, we speak of longing for the sand and surf of lake michigan and her mighty dunes.

I may or may not be wrong, but it seems like the last time we found ourselves traipsing along those sandy shores was way back in the ought seven when mama jane and myself retreated from the world to hide away for a spell. I recall writing a few songs around the campfire. Upon our return, i began recording demos of these and others in preparation for a record project soon to be called 'kiss it all goodbye'. Among these demo recordings was the following diversion from the usual arrangement of a song often performed by the former super group, rebel robot. Cheers.

Inspired by actual conversations

2011-05-12T09:12:00.000-04:00

Past futures

2011-05-10T13:17:00.000-04:00

This was to be a major component in ushering in the year of twenty nine. Apparently, there was little demand for such a campaign.

This was a mere seedling which shall soon grow into the next epic mythology. Now you know.

Would you believe that this was discovered in a notebook from 1982?

Found

2011-05-09T10:27:00.000-04:00

In the grand tradition of giving you stuff we find in our yard, expect to receive this disembodied head in the near future. We wondered if you knew which GI Joe he is. Note the scar.

Love,
The Moormans

Shake loose them worried blues

2011-05-06T10:58:00.000-04:00

I slipped into this super sexy souvenir yesterday for the first time ever. It was a gift brought home from ma and pop horrell's visit to secret destinations around the world. Baby jane, upon catching a glimpse of me wrapped in its majesty, remarked, "I was worried that you didn't have a shirt like that."

Worry no longer, my child. Worry no longer.

Tightening the factory belt

2011-05-05T12:57:00.000-04:00

We got the projects piling up like pillow up in this joint. Thanks to those who we're either working with or soon to be working with for your biz. Also, be on the lookout for new and exciting the mustard room originals which will be coming y'alls way in the upcoming weeks.

Many of these aforementioned goods will be available here...

For more info on that, please skip on over to this corner of the interwebs.

Now, give it up for pancho & lefty...

New stories for young folks

2011-05-04T00:13:00.000-04:00

A lovely/totally rad couple named john & linda have asked us to be a part of their wedding by contributing some of the visual elements. Thus far, we've churned out the whimsical illustration featured on this save-the-date card which arrived at our front door monday afternoon.

Intelligence quotient

2011-05-02T02:01:00.000-04:00

So, here's the deal. I'm pushing a shopping cart through the parking lot of a certain grocery/super store on my way to pick up some prescriptions/ant-destroyer (two different items. sorry for the improper use of a slash. i really do feel awful about it). Well, anyhow, i've got my shopping buddy, baby jane, sitting shotgun in the retractable seat ready to coax me to the back of the store to spend a hot minute ogling over goldfish (real ones, not the crackers). We reach the road which runs between the parking lot and the grand entrance, and, like good scouts, we look both ways before continuing forward. A car approaches the stop sign which is positioned to keep pedestrians from getting plowed by frenzied drop-offs and primo space hopefuls. We politely allow the car to pass and wait patiently to cross next. It is clear, however, that the boat-toting truck immediately behind this car has decided that, because he was stopped behind the aforementioned car, therefore, he had fulfilled his obligation to stop at the actual stop sign. As baby jane and i are crossing over to the sidewalk-adorned entrance, the driver of this truck has decided not to wait for the toddler riding in the shopping cart to pass. He impatiently creeps forward, threatening to broadside us, while i lock eyes with him. I can tell by his sour expression that he is indeed receiving the "uncool, dude" mind-vibes i'm sending his way.

"What do we do when we come to a stop sign? i casually ask baby jane. "We stop," she replies quite frankly. "That's right, we stop."

So there you have it: A two and a half year old is smarter than a dude with a boat.

Case closed. You're dismissed.

Take me to the mardi gras

2011-04-29T20:13:00.000-04:00

Disclaimer express

2011-04-28T23:06:00.000-04:00

All characters depicted are fictional. Any similarity to actual leggy beasts, living or deceased, is purely coincidental.

Liquid

2011-04-26T23:29:00.000-04:00

Baby times equal good times, extended times at home with peoples of various shapes and sizes. A whole lot of gettin' real familiar with one another and the fluids we produce. Don't worry, we won't explore the details of that one. But i digress. As mentioned previously, tiny folks have a way of putting things in perspective for the older dudes and duderellas who painstakingly took the steps to bring them into this groaning world. Many other plans have been put on hiatus for a hot minute while we adapt to life as a family of four. Until then, there are treasures being mined, and projects bubbling just under the surface.

Back in june of twenty ten, i sat in the summer sweat shoppe and recorded a little ukulele-accompanied tune known as 'words'. In the same sitting, i scratched the surface a bit with this guy who we call 'okay'. Dig.

Go to sleep

2011-04-25T16:52:00.000-04:00

Back at the beginning of the month, before the lad joined us, we captured this impromptu lullaby per baby jane's request. Today it is made public as accompanied by moving pictures and silent films.

Cheers.

Potato guns and pigtails

2011-04-24T23:33:00.000-04:00

Now that mama jane and myself are responsible for not only one but two tiny human beings, i am discovering more and more ways in which they absolutely own me. I could watch our newborn son sleep all day long (which he does). The way he moves, and breathes, and sneezes, and cries, and makes indiscernible facial gestures, and doesn't sneeze demand new adjectives where all others used to describe babies, and life, and such fall short.

Then there's our precocious 2 and a half year old daughter. There she is. When our piece of crap coffee maker which was purchased for more than it's sorry self is worth spews my brew all over the kitchen counter again, there she is. There she is to tell me in her sweet yet stern little voice, "Just calm down daddy. It will be alright." Well crap. That's just about enough to put things in perspective. Do you want to know how many times she complained about her sandbox being flooded during the torrential downpour this weekend? Did you guess zero? Well, hike yourself to the cupboard and fetch yourself a cookie, hotshot. You're a mathematic maestro.

By the way, my coffee maker is crap and it's just about time to do something about that. I'm inclined to wonder if maybe a potato gun shouldn't be involved.

That's it for now. I've got to get back to watching my baby sleep.

Lo and behold

2011-04-23T00:19:00.000-04:00

We've been through some things with some folks. Maybe there's a novel what begs to be written based on some of it. Perhaps that's a stretch. Nevertheless, the real heavy shiz which hurts like hell to plow through can forge quite an impervious kinship with those who share similar journeys bisecting your own .

When we romp around the backyard with our kids hoisted high upon our shoulders, well sir, that there is a victory marked by some heavy scar tissue.

Photo Card

2011-04-22T22:33:00.001-04:00

Initial Impression Teal Baby Announcements

Announcements for all occasions: graduation, a new baby, or wedding.

View the entire collection of cards.

Clap your hands say meh

2011-04-21T20:10:00.000-04:00

"I have no doubt that the second this record becomes available there's somebody sitting in a basement at their computer with the word 'meh' already typed up, waiting to post a review." -jeff tweedy, regarding wilco's anticipated fall 2011 release on their dBpm label

No strings, no wires

2011-04-21T16:38:00.000-04:00

But in the meantime

2011-04-20T16:15:00.000-04:00

Sister, brother

2011-04-19T22:38:00.000-04:00

Try to pretend as though you like each other.

Watch her as she goes

2011-04-18T15:05:00.000-04:00

We're nearing a full week of life with little nolan james by our sides, and life at the rockey home is chill. There is a calm over our family that was absent during the first weeks following baby jane's introduction to the world. It wasn't her fault. It was no one's fault really. It just so happened that we were dealing with the gravity of actually bringing a child home with us after seven years, two miscarriages, and triplets who were stillborn just a year and change earlier. That would have been enough emotional baggage to deal with in and of itself. But by golly if we didn't have other puzzles to solve.

The biggest issues had to do with sleep or the lack thereof, and milk production... or the lack thereof. Baby jane was not getting enough to eat which led to endless crying which led to sleepless days and nights which led to all the adults in the house going completely mad. This is really an incomplete, light-hearted picture of the situation, but there's really no need to dwell on the specifics of the ensuing drama. Nevertheless, our family regained sanity once we began supplementing baby jane's diet with a bit of formula now and again. It wasn't the solution we had hoped for, but it was the only solution available. Needless to say, the kid pulled through and has grown into this ridiculously bright and joyful young lady who devours books and puzzles, draws like a maniac, and favors the musical stylings of brian wilson and paul mccartney.

Fast forward to the eventful eve of our son's birth. Smooth sailing was the name of the game, and it was mama jane who was at the helm. Two and a half years after our daughter was born, she walked into the labor & delivery ward and told them the way it would be. Asap, she was on her feet walking the halls to move labor along. She handled contractions like an olde pro. She demanded a jacuzzi of warm bath water to alleviate some of the pressure right before getting down to brass tacks. She spent less than twenty minutes pushing our boy into the world and celebrated the accuracy of her predictions regarding his boyness. She did all of this and more with no epidural, no pain meds, no tearing, and still remembers the details of that climactic moment of nolan's birth.

I may be somewhat biased and have certainly never been in the delivery room with another woman while she delivered a child, but i have the praise of medical professionals to back this claim up: my wife is a child-bearing champion. At least in a teaching hospital in downtown indianapolis, indiana, u.s.a., planet earth, milky way, she is acknowledged as a remarkable woman who has given a select few the rare opportunity to behold such a natural birth of a child. I will say it again as it is our son's namesake: a champion.

A while back our absolutely amazing friend, miss renee furrow who has been by our sides through the births of both children, had stumbled upon some research providing information which would possibly be helpful with the milk-supply issues this time around. So far, the mama/son nursing situation is running like a well-oiled machine. Mama is up, moving around, and feeling good. We're slowly starting to venture out of the home. Life as we know it is slowly turning upside down all over again.

There goes my hero.

Where the kids are alright

2011-04-17T23:25:00.000-04:00

Here's a drawing originally intended as a bonus to be sent cross-country along with a tasty t-shirt via u.s. postal service. Baby jane decided it needed to be hanging up in her room. Request granted.

This summer, love has a new name

2011-04-15T18:07:00.000-04:00

Dudes and duderellas, let it be known that plenty of wearables, etcetera, and such from the mustard room will be available for your purchasing pleasure at the summer 2011 indieana handicraft exchange. As usual, this summer's festivities will be held at the harrison center for the arts on saturday, june 11th from 12 noon to 8 o'clock in the pm. Details found hizzle.

Live from the mexican blanket

2011-04-14T16:49:00.000-04:00

The greatest impromptu cavalcade of non-specific puppets in the known universe. Big thanks to Sir Kermit T. Frog for donating his time to make a special guest appearance.

Boy oh boy oh boy

2011-04-13T16:30:00.001-04:00

On the 12th day of April, in the two-thousand and eleventh year of our Lord, Mister Nolan James Rockey entered this olde world weighing in at 7 pounds and 2 ounces. Mama Jane labored and delivered naturally in typical rawk star form, under the aid of zero pain meds, with myself and the always amazing Renee Furrow by her side. Cool. Calm. Collected.

What. A. Woman.

After less than twenty minutes of pushing, m'lady shouted, "I was right!" as our little boy was pulled into the hot white spotlights of the delivery room.

Super hawt.

To quote a friend regarding the responsibility of raising more than one child: "It just keeps getting better and stranger!" Bring on the strange! And also the orange popsicles!

Baby Jane agrees.

But before things get too strange, let's just enjoy this moment of zen.

I have yet to experience a greater display of the glory of our Creator than the fruit of all of our exhausting journeys through infertility and child loss.

How about now? Can we play outside now, daddy?

2011-04-11T22:56:00.000-04:00

Baby Jane spent some time relocating rocks around Mama's garden. This dude was found laying low in hopes that the tiny lady would pass by.

Them bradford buds be blooming.

Baby Jane learns to fly while Mama lays a phat bowl of mulch.

The most fun a kid can have with a sandbox full of plastic and rain water.

The most chill a kid can get in a tub full of bath bubbles.

These are the days of water and sand

2011-04-11T12:30:00.000-04:00

There is something happening here

2011-04-08T15:44:00.000-04:00

In short

2011-04-08T02:43:00.000-04:00

My dad (who really is a hero of mine) had a birthday this week and is celebrating by spending the week with his lady partner (my mom) just south of the hoosier state. I wanted to write about how rad he is and how we both just finished this mindbending book and discussed plans for deeper discussion.

However, it is 2:54 in the a.m. and me thinks the pillow it beckons me.

So instead, here's an incredibly flattering out-of-focus photo from the early nineties of the two of us in dope shorts singing a song that has haunted me on every return visit to olivet since.

Sweet dreams.

Take your shoes off

2011-04-07T15:34:00.001-04:00

Let them piggies dangle in the cool breeze.

Hide your kids, hide your wife

2011-04-05T02:00:00.000-04:00

This shady dude is the embodiment of baby-snatching. He's a bastard and he'll try and trick you with enchanting yo-yo tricks. Beware.