The Real Tragedy of the World Trade Center
Posted by Troy | Filed under Culture, Faith, Thoughts
Illustration by Troy DeSahno
Sometimes even a poorly delivered message is still one worth hearing, and I wonder if the the saddest thing about the whole tragedy is that we didn’t get the message.
We like to think of ours as a nation made strong through the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness, but in reality we’re strong because of our unscathed ability to exploit, oppress, capitalize and conquer—all the while repressing any hint of remorse that might ever creep in (which I’m sure is slowly creating a collective psychological condition that will catch up with us when our nation hits mid-life). Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 911, Faith, Islam, nationalism, New York, original illustration
The Year of Scottie Pippen
Posted by Troy | Filed under Thoughts
Illustration by Troy DeShano
I’m not much into sports these days.
I love to play and if I’m ever walking down the street and a spontaneous game of hoops or soccer or whatever breaks out I’m armed with sneakers just in case.
But not volleyball… I make a conscious detour whenever I’m by the waterfront for fear that I’d somehow be tricked into a game of beach volleyball and lose the small commodum of respect that I’ve got in our town.
Of course I can’t really remember the last time I got caught up in a round of street ball while walking through town, in fact it’s been years since I’ve even shot hoops at all.
However… I was once a teenager and playing sports and watching sports and obsessing about sports all the time. (All three of which I realized as an adult were ultimately about girls.. something that hasn’t really come up in therapy yet, but I’m sure will sooner or later).
When I and my buddies would be playing pick-up or school games or big-man hoops on the low rims there would always be that moment where one of us would have his back up against the wall.
You’d be down big or need just one more hoop to make it to 21 or maybe just sick of missing your last few shots..
Tags: basketball, original illustration, scottie pippen, sports, wallpaper
Fall Soup and Adventurous Living
Posted by Troy | Filed under Last Night's Dinner, Thoughts
It must be fall because we’re eating a lot of soup.
Last week my wife fed two hungry construction workers with a big batch of broccoli cheese and another of butternut squash.
Since grocery-shopping happens rarely these days, creativity with garden vegetables (grown or gifted) is key in our house. On this day, all we had was some tomatoes, so the hunt for a good soup recipe began.
We found it very interesting that most recipes online for “homemade” tomato soup actually call for a can of tomato soup…
Wha??
Well we found one real recipe and it turned out pretty dang good. Especially with the homemade french bread.
Tomato soup is one of those things that I didn’t eat until I was an adult.
Over the past few years I’ve been making myself eat the foods that I don’t like but always thought that I should.
I didn’t eat olives until about 5 years ago and now they’re my favorite. Just thinking about olives makes me start slobberin.
When I was a kid I loved cottage cheese but hadn’t had it since then… until a couple weeks ago I made myself eat some.
Not too bad…
I can actually list quite a few foods that I considered pretty gross until I started eating them regularly that I now consider my favorites – coffee, grapefruit, stinky cheese, spinach, beer, sweet potatoes, asparagus, and more…
It’s like the more adventurous I get with my eating, the more I discover the things that satisfy me the most and bring me the most pleasure (and the surprise at how many of those things are healthy)
Sadaam Gets Weezer-ed
Posted by Troy | Filed under Thoughts
This photo and story would probably be more moving if Steve had died in the war. He didn’t die. He’s still alive. I’m glad.
My earliest Weezer-related memories are with Steve.
I remember digging the tape (the one I dubbed from the CD on my boombox) out of the console in the Monte Carlo and handing it to Steve in the passenger seat and saying “you have to hear this!”
He was a little hesitant becuause at the time he was trudging through some of his personal theology, trying to figure out if the standards of our church (which condemned any music with a rock beat) were true and his own…
Tags: death, trials, war, weezer, weezer week
White Jesus Loves You
Posted by Troy | Filed under Faith, Thoughts
Over the last 600 years, Jesus’s skin has grown fairer and fairer.
(I can’t be 100% certain, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have that Michael Jackson thing)
Today it’s pretty rare to see anyone’s vision of Jesus that doesn’t look like he’s originally from Wisconsin.
I’ve always wanted to make a serious mock-umentary (is that an oxymoron?) about Jesus and his humanity.
I’m working on a client project now that has at it’s center a mission to create a dialogue around racism and its effects in order that the conversation (especially the listening) might lead to understanding for some and healing for others.
In the midst of it I’m wondering how “White Jesus” has affected those of non-Caucasian decent.
How has it affected you?
Who Really Cares About Haiti
Posted by Troy | Filed under politics, Thoughts
I started paying attention to Wyclef Jean when I spotted Bob Dylan in one of his videos.
I really started paying attention when I heard about his charity and social development programs in Haiti.
Here is one man that cares about Haiti.
He may not be great at business or with personal finances…
His non-profit has definitely had some growing pains.
But he cared when no one else did.
One of the poorest and most desperate nations in the world is just outside the U.S.
It has been there for a long time.
Hurting for a really long time.
Nobody cared.
And though it’s been encouraging and inspiring to see individuals and communities across the U.S. contribute to healing Haiti right now…
It’s sad to realize what it took for us to even begin to care.
Check out Wyclef’s song “President” in the player and don’t forget to stay up-to-date with Strong Odors by becoming a fan on Facebook and following on Twitter.
Tags: Haiti, Wyclef Jean
My Brain Today
Posted by Troy | Filed under Culture, Thoughts
Bothersome
- The Superbowl
- The Bachelor/Biggest Loser/American Idol/Golden Globes/etc
- Jay Leno
- iPad
Interesting
- Health Care
- Romans 12
- Haiti Aid
- Grain Edit
- Destination Truth
- Animoto
Obsessed
- Worst Cooks in America
- Lost
- Vampire Weekend
- (500) Days of Summer
- Super Mario Wii
- Independent Lens
- Unitasking
Don’t forget to follow Strong Odors!
Tags: original illustration
Prediction for 2010: More Crap
Posted by Troy | Filed under Faith, Thoughts
Every time New Year’s Eve rolls around I think, “Phew… I’m happy that year is over…”
“Now on to the next… it’s gonna be great!”
Only to find a few weeks later the new year is just as tough as the last.
So what can you expect for 2010?
Tags: hope, original illustration, trials
The Happiest People
Posted by Troy | Filed under Culture, Thoughts
The happiest people I’ve ever met in my life are people who were struggling in some way.
—Pete Seeger
If you can find a way to see the documentary Pete Seeger: The Power of Song, it just might change your life.
Tags: pete seeger, quotes
Goodbye
Posted by Troy | Filed under Cancer, Strong Odors, Thoughts
Lost someone today.
You could lose half a day if you happened to sit down in the room with Tom. He loved theology and loved sharing his discoveries even more… Nothing really made him happier than talking about new things he was learning (regardless of whether you cared to sit and listen).
As he leaves mortality behind, I can’t help but wonder at the discoveries in store for him.
My brother Thunderbeard has been blogging about (among other things) the weeks leading up to his dad’s death.
Finding a way to emotionally understand their edgy past and courageously seek some sort of resolve in their relationship has been inspirational reading for me and spiritually nourishing for him.
Feel free to share a story about Tom in the comments and be sure to check out Thunderbeard. He’s my brother and I love him and my heart’s aching for him today.
Tags: Cancer, death, original illustration, strong odors
