The photos above are actually where you could have found me in July and I did just about everything I said in the July edition. We have had a ton of fun in Mangoland. Great music, great food, great friends and a surprise trip for Kendra’s 40th birthday and our 19th wedding anniversary. Uncle Bucky visited from Florida. The Wolfe family visited from Chico. On our trip, we visited with our old friend, Robb Gordon and then in a last minute change of plans we were treated to a behind the scenes tour of Universal Studios with college friend Fred Renner. We wrapped up the month with homeschooling blog friends Nate/Deb Perkins for a whirlwind weekend of activity.

On to the month of August…
YOU CAN FIND ME LISTENING TO THIS:

I picked up a digital copy of Buffett’s new live album called Encores, whose title is self-explanatory, containing acoustic arrangements from several recent concerts. This is a really fun album of Buffett’s oldest stuff and some new recordings. If you are inclined to check this out, I recommend taking a good listen to his cover of John Prine’s “A Big Old Goofy World.”

We are throwing a 40th birthday/luau for a friend, so I have downloaded a bunch of Hawaiian music. Steel guitar, the music of Iz, C and K, and any other island drum music I can find. If you know me (and even if you don’t), I’ll do anything to get Kenj into a grass skirt and coconuts for a little dancing (Grab your puka shells and join the fun, because “she’s still…a Hula girl at heart!”).

YOU CAN FIND ME HANGING OUT HERE:
As I type this we are still fully engaged in summer 2010 by swinging in the hammock chairs on the back porch. I just finished a great book about enjoying the things of summer and I just convinced Kendra that we need to have grilled fish, boiled shrimp and steamed corn for dinner. It has taken no convincing and she is busy looking up a recipe for pineapple peach salsa for the fish. Yup, life is pretty good here in the summer!
I recently clicked a tab on facebook that said, “I love being underwater.” This is an understatement. Since I was a little boy wearing Aquaman underoos, the pool has been one of my favorite spots. We have enjoyed very mellow temperatures here in the central valley this summer, but on most days one or more mangokids can be found in or around the pool and I can be found launching off the top of the waterfall in one of my signature dives.

YOU CAN FIND ME READING THIS:
I have not listened to one full sermon of Mark Driscoll (mostly because they are long and I have the attention span of a teenager drinking Red Bull), but there is something about the guy that makes people think I’m a fan/follower. After getting my new iPad (see below), I was looking for electronic books to see if I would actually like using the device. I also thought I would finally take the time and read the pastor that people think I am so fond of following, so I picked up an electronic copy of Religion Saves. Now I see the connection. Love the topic. Love the book. Love Driscoll’s style and his passion for the gospel. But, I’m not a man-follower and I still love Jesus a ton more! I’ll download a sermon or two next and give a listen to see if the comparison is valid!

I am an electronic gadget freak and a sucker for anything Apple creates, but this is still a great little device. You know what I notice? There are a lot of critics out there. I’ve already heard from family members and friends that think it was a ridiculous purchase. I can handle the truth and the truth is this: email, internet, the Bible, books, and whatever else I want for about .99 is sitting in my hand as I type this portion of theMangoTimes. Ridiculous? I think not! Anyhow, here’s my 10 second review: It’s not a laptop…it’s not a big iPhone. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. If you want to be on the front line of new technology and interacting with the world in a new way…get one…today. If not, go buy a PC and enjoy your experience with Windows. Meanwhile, I’ll be cruising the App Store…send me your suggestions.

That’s it for August! I hope to see you somewhere in Mangoland. Drop by or drop me a note! Remember to stay off the highways and the byways!

Quietly making noise,
Fletch

“Father’s Day in the Capitola sand”

“Swinging on the porch at Bass Lake”

“Lifeguard Nate” in action at the Riverbank Pool

Last weekend we hosted another concert in our home. StoryvilleLive swooped into our house in the afternoon and converted our downstairs to a coffee house/concert stage. Three of Storyville’s representatives literally donned white gloves as they moved furniture and set-up about 60 chairs for the evening concert. They served coffee and desserts, greeted the guests and then put our house completely back together when they were through! Great job Storyville!

StoryvilleLive Van, Music + Coffee = Freedom

About 60 guests filled our downstairs

Pierce Pettis filled our house with his music

Quietly Making Noise,
Fletch

Beginning at 4:00pm on Saturdays throughout the summer, we stop our family chores, fire up the grills, throw on swimsuits, and crank up the music on the porch as we celebrate the end of a long work week!

Here’s the deal. You and your family are welcome to join us, but remember we keep things very very low key. Basically, we are going to enjoy warm weather, good food, and cold drinks on the back porch as a family…if you would like to join us…that’s great!

Remember a few things for us: If you want to eat, bring food for your family. If your kids want to swim, bring suits and towels for them. The most important thing you need to bring is a desire to relax and kick back with us! As Jimmy Buffett would say all you need is a “License to Chill”

What about swimming?
Everyone is welcome in our pool. Boys, Girls, Dads, Moms…swim diapers on the non-potty trained and if your kids can’t swim, we need you to keep an eye on them! Other than that, just relax and have fun in the warm water!

What is this I hear about dancing? Do I need to know how?
Not at all. We may teach you a few moves, but dancing is not required, except for maybe the Hokey Pokey or the Limbo… Here’s how I look at it…if my mom gets up to dance, then you should be out on the dance floor with her!

Do you play anything other than Jimmy Buffett? I don’t think I want my kids learning his songs…
Yes, Kendra requires a 10:1 ratio of Buffett to non-Buffett music.

What’s this I hear about blender drinks?
Don’t believe everything you read in theMangoTimes…we do provide an orange cooler of ice water though…

What time do people typically leave?
In time to get up for church.
Often, there is a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning…

Can I bring someone with me?
Sure you can. If you are a friend of theMT, then so are your friends!

Hope you can join us!

Quietly making noise,
Fletch

A few months ago, I was approached by Storyville Coffee Company to host a live concert in my home. Since I have already hosted a few concerts before with our favorite in-home performer, Jon Troast, we seemed like a perfect match. This concert is a little different, because it is not just about great music, because the purpose is to spotlight a ministry called International Justice Mission.

Storyville Coffee has created an experience called Storyville Live.
From their website: “A Storyville Live concert is an opportunity for an evening of music, coffee, and community unlike any other. Our coming together also creates an opportunity to bring freedom to the millions of people around the world that are trapped in the atrocity of human trafficking. There are 27 million people today that are in slavery — not in slave-like conditions, in actual slavery. 27 million. We couldn’t believe it. We’re partnered with International Justice Mission, an organization that has created a blueprint to end slavery in our lifetime. The two main barriers are lack of awareness and lack of resources. Storyville Live provides both. By hosting or attending a concert, you’re making a difference.”

It is our mission to put slavery out of business for good.

Our specific concert is being hosted on Saturday, June 19th. We are excited to welcome the featured musician, Pierce Pettis. Your ticket includes the concert, dessert and coffee…what a deal! See the images for details and concert code! We would love you to join us!

Quietly making noise,
Fletch

Energy output? Well, I’m not sure what the caloric output is involved with a flick of a finger tip, but I’m sure it’s pretty low (down on the list near blinking or swallowing). Actually, I don’t think you even need to flick the switch, because I often just rub my hand down the wall until the light goes out. Either way, energy output is a non-issue!

Location? Also not an issue. It’s not like we hide light switches in our house. No, we typically put them right on the wall at hand height, conveniently located near the door for you to flick on your way in and out…

Memory? My kids always remember to turn the lights on when they enter a dark room, so it can’t be memory.

So, can someone tell me why I find well lit empty rooms throughout my house every single day? Spare me any comments about how I sound like my dad. For those of you that know my dad, he has used automatic motion-detector light switches for the past 25 years. I’ve commented in the past that he always looks like a wounded seagull walking around his house as he attempts to get the motion detector lights to “notice” him.

Quietly making noise,
Fletch