Introduction

I am a geek. I am a recovering Pentecostal pastor's kid. I am obsessed with music to an unhealthy degree.

That's really all you need to know, but here are some of the details:

I came fairly close to completing a Bachelor of Humanities degree but instead recently finished with a 'choose your own adventure' degree in 'Culture and Music' at Carleton University. More school is probably in my future (a PhD in anthropology or ethnomusicology perhaps?) but for now I am please to have escaped from the academy. It's nice to be a bookworm on my own terms again.

I once tried to run away from my pastor's kid upbringing by spending a year at a Christian commune in inner-city Chicago. A few years ago an old friend asked if I was Christian: I said I wasn't sure but that if I was, I was an "agnostic Christian with anarchist and universalist tendencies." These days, I tend to identify with the Quaker tradition.

Aside from working at a men's shelter run by said commune, being a TA for a Religion 101 class was one of most rewarding things I've done in my life. That is to say, I am fascinated, moved, and sometimes repulsed by religion.

I think 'truth' is complex, multi-faceted, and non-exclusive — more of an ideal to pursue than something ever achieved. I'd love it it if this blog led to dialogue of all kinds, so please leave comments and feel free to be in touch via e-mail.

I own a disgusting amount of musical recordings. Enduring interests include old acoustic blues, jazz, and country from the '20s and '30s, field recordings from pre-electric societies, and whatever I consider to be 'good' rock music. Newer interests I've recently been exploring include 'freak folk,' free jazz, and black or doom metal.

I helped record a version of the Beatitudes of which I'm quite proud. That led to becoming part of The Blessing Tree and a tour, which was a bit of a mixed experience. I also toured with Seth Martin and the Menders, which was a relentless great experience. I have some of my own music on myspace here, and on this youtube channel.

I now live and work at one of homes of L'Arche Ottawa. L'Arche is a community for people with and without mental handicaps.

Pleased to meet you.

[Last updated 2011-03-13]