CBrajkovich Ramblings

Bluegrass is amazingly passionate and fast. Every player I’ve seen, whether they play the banjo, fiddle, or guitar have fingers that literally fly over the instruments. So when you see a family of boys playing bluegrass music on Ted, then you know that something special is going to happen. And after seeing the 5 minutes of play, you’re jaw hits the floor because they are so young (10, 14, and 15) and so incredibly talented to be able to play like this when they have yet to go out and experience life deep enough to play with such emotion. But when you happen to love what you do, the passion turns into talent simply because you’ve immersed yourself completely in the creative moments.

Sleepy Man Banjo Boys is the name of this talented trio who also happen to be brothers. All I can say is that I was never this talented at their age. Incredible Ted performance!

http://youtu.be/7m0VnzPFxew

Sometimes you just need to start your week on a lighter note. And GEICO has been providing some sweet clips that just perk you up that little bit that you need. Meet Antelope Night Vision – one of my new all-time favorite advertisements. After a weekend of commercialization that left many frightened or just shaking their heads, it’s good to just experience the joy of laughter without any worries that it’s going to cost you anything. This time, it’s not. Unless you’re counting your laugh lines as a cost of the joy of laughter. I think that most of us would happily pay that cost, huh? At least some companies are capable of laughter…

I love browsing through art sites that allow artists to showcase and offer their brilliant creations to others. Society 6 is one such site that I always return to for inspiration as the artists there are of such a high caliber. One artist in particular who always draws my eye is Alice X Zhang, because her style reminds me of those favorite moments when we got to use some colored chalk on a blank blackboard or sidewalk. Though she does things with strokes and colors that I could never touch in a million years.  I wanted to share a new favorite of her called The Lights. It’s got a feel of Harry Potter meets Venice and the magic simply couldn’t be contained. Go check out her offerings on Society 6 and get to know her on her Tumblr site. You’ll be amazed at what she creates.

And here’s one more favorite that she showcased on her site: All of Space and Time which features everyone’s favorite Tardis (see what I mean…magical):

I was browsing through this month’s Previews when I could only cry out tears of joy:

A new Michael Turner piece.

It still hard to reconcile that this amazingly talented man is no longer with us. While there are so many talented illustrators out there, Michael Turner was in a league that only a few belong in. Aspen Comics is still plugging away without their venerable leader, and putting out some great work, but I there’s always a reason for joy when you get a seldom-seen illustration by the man himself.

So, enjoy this moment and smile with me! Michael lives on through his art.

Give thanks for what you appreciate: the feel of falling rain against your skin, the riot of colors in nature, the emotions, the connections, the mystery, and the lessons. Everything that you hold dear.

It’s Thanksgiving – a day where we give thanks for all that’s good in life. For some, they’re thankful for the stuff they have. For others, they’re grateful for the ties. Whatever you’re thankful for, make sure that those choices that move you towards something meaningful. Like that carefree joy you feel when you’re completely in the moment and there’s nothing else to feel but the feeling itself.

To be thankful is to appreciate what you’ve got (and it’s way more than just material goods). To be gracious is to give something back so that others can be thankful. It’s the circle of life and we’re all actors in the play. And we’ve all got the ability to give the performance of our lives so that the play is a spectacular one that creates dreams. Look around you – what are some of the things that you want in your dream world? Once you have the answer, then go out and turn it into reality so that others can share in your moment of thankfulness.

May your holiday seasons be full of joy and warmth!

– thanks for the joy of this image by Lukas Kozmus, Piccsy and Colossal

Wong Fu Productions asks, “How many have you loved?”And do your loves fall into the categories of who, what, where, when and how? Is your last love the embodiment of all of these questions? Is your last love the compilations of all experiences you’ve ever had, which has made you into the person that you are today: the person who is finally ready to love the last completely?

We all know that love is complex and that it fills all of our senses. But are we really ready to use all of our senses at the right time with that right person – for the rest of time? Because that’s what love is. It’s more than the temporary infatuations of like. It’s much more than the first steps of first love. It’s what comes when you’re ready to put your experiences in play to  be with that partner that you finally choose. We all want love to last forever. But it’s up to all people involved to make that happen. And you really have to want it enough to fight for it. If you’re only in it half-heartedly, then it’s probably not going to be the last. The last is a choice that only you can make, because it will take all of you in order to sustain it.

The Last is is such a beautiful love story that needs to be shared. Just like LOVE…

Wow, this is turning into a musical week for me. I’ve found another musician that is wickedly good, and this one is a one man band by the name of GULL (aka Nathaniel Rappole). Who is that masked man, you say? And how an he make such amazing music all by himself?! I found out a little about him from Dangerous Minds site, but all you need to do is hear him play to know that he really is in a class all by himself. This performance in Austin is proof positive that you and I both need to go see him play live. Now, that’s MUSIC!

– what would I do without you, Reddit?!