Pat Dryburgh

so this weekend was kinda crazy. 3 shows in 18 hours. haha, but it was fun.

the first was at GTA. Matty Johnston and Trevor Howard played too, which was fun. The next was at gasp a bar. It was Paris Burning’s cd release party, and it was a blast! Met some great people, had a good time. Didn’t drink any (don’t worry, mom) only cos I don’t drink when I sing.

The next day I loaded up in a car with my amazing friends Kevin and Jenn, and headed out to Hanover to play with my other awesome friends, Dave and Tyler. My New Obsession took the stage after a 4 month break, and it was a lot of fun! I was worried a bit, but after a few glitches we pulled through and rocked it like we do.

Today I went to church. It was about Father’s day, obviously. It was alright. I’m kinda getting bored, just sitting there. I need to be involved. But, I guess one day.

anyways, that’s all for today. happy father’s day dad. and happy birthday mom.

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Well, I am down here in Nashville right now, soaking in the Gospel Music Association’s Music Week. It has been incredible so far, and it’s only been two nights! Tonight we shared a time of worship with lead worshippers Charlie Hall, David Crowder, and Chris Tomlin, with a fantastic message from Louie Giglio about the supremacy of Jesus. It was one of the most refreshing times of worship I have had in a long time.

After the worship time was a very intimate Songwriter’s Showcase featuring acoustic performances of this year’s best songs. Artists included Third Day, Matthew West, Joy Williams, Bebo Norman, Mark Hall of Casting Crowns, and many more.

We’ve also been meeting up with some home-grown bands, including Manic Drive, Starfield (who is releasing a new album in May), Jon Steingard of Hawk Nelson (who is releasing their new album on Tuesday), and a few more. We’ve also been hooking up with lots of artists and companies here in the US. It’s been a great experience so far, and we’ve got about 3-4 more days to go!

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I woke up at 8:30. This is a sleep in for me now-a-days. It was dream-worthy. I cleaned up my room, cleaned up myself, put some clothes on, went to the bank, got some money, paid my dad, and left home at around 10.

I got to Orangeville around noon, but had no idea where Francois’ place was. I text messaged him, and just drove around town a bit, trying to find roads I recognized (there were none).

Francois and James rescued me at around 12:30. We met up with Mike, and had some lunch at Wendies. At around 1, we made our way to Owen Sound. We were supposed to be there around 2:30, but no one was at the church when we showed up, so we went for some Tim’s. I got a gross hot chocolate that Francois liked, so he had some. I didn’t win anything.

We set up and sound checked in a few hours…Manic Drive was having some problems with their Moog, which was too bad. But, once everything was set up and ready to go, we just hung out in the back room, ate some pizza, and just chilled before we hit the stage. Francois and I went to the washroom to do some last minute prep work, and when we came out, realized that the rest of the band were already on the stage.

We came on, and the show began. 7 songs later, the set was done.

We hung out for quite a while with the fans, and just had a cool time chillin. We went to Montana’s after (my first time) and it was really good. Francois bought him, me and James a deep-fried cheesecake, and it was delicious.

We got back to O-Ville around 1:30, and fell asleep around 2.

My first Hello Kelly show.

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I want to live in the city. Not in the big houses in the city, or in one of those towns who have been eaten up by the city. I want to live right in the city, in the downtown. I want to know that at any given moment, a chafeur is ready and waiting at my door (with a 50ft bus in tow). I want to know that down the street, there’s a coffee shop that me and my friends (with whom I have highly intellectual conversations with) can hang out at, and order “the regular.” I want to know that outside my door is someone who is in need, who I have the ability (and hopefully the compassion) to help. I want to know that my girlfriend can come over any time she’d like, whether it’s right after school, or late at night after a fight with her folks. I want to be independent. I want to be free.

I’m trying to work on writing music again. I’ve been writing for my band, which is great, but I want to write for myself for a bit. I want to see how I can apply the things I’ve been learning about music can apply to other forms of music. I want to work on my piano again. I want to write a love song. I want to sing.

I am thinking about trying out for Canadian Idol. It’s coming to Waterloo and Toronto. I don’t know if I’d make it or not, but I at least want to give it a try.

Sarah is currently creating a masterful diet for me right now. If it works, I want her to publish it. I’ll be the spokesperson, and she can be the famous writer who gets to travel to the book stores and book clubs and sign people’s copies of first editions. I also want her to follow her dream of opening a coffee shop, so I can have free coffee.

I would really like to find a church in London that has people who are interested in discussing life, being thoughful and caring and intellectual, and yet are also cool people who like to have fun, hang out, spend time together. I really enjoy my time with Kevin and Jenn, but I’d like to find more Kevin and Jenn’s.

I guess I’ll just leave you with this for tonight.

“If my home is where my heart is then my home is in your arms”

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One of the hardest things to remember is that I’m human. I guess it gets lost in the mix; I’m an employee, I’m a boyfriend, I’m a friend, I’m a musician, I’m a designer. In all of these things, I try to be the best I can. Some things are easier than others, and some things are more frustrating than others, but I still hope to do my best in all of them. And yet, being human, at least in the way Jesus saw how a human should be, is not my forté. I don’t love people, in fact, I’ve had a hard time even liking people, even a little bit. I think all day about the areas I’d like to be better at, ie. environmentally friendly, helpful to those in need, etc. and yet, I don’t do anything to get any better.

I’m starting to feel anxious about music. I know that this is what I want to do, but I’m at a loss as to how to go about it. Here’s the conundrum: in order to play music, you must make money; in order to make money, you must work; in order to work, you must agree to work hours that may prohibit you from playing music. See what I mean? I had a good talk with Sarah last night, and I think that if were to be honest with myself and with you, I would have to say that I would honestly like to do music full-time for the rest of my life. I just have to figure out how I can go about that. I know I love playing with my band, and if that is how it will happen, then I am more than happy. The only thing is, I don’t know if the other guys are all on the same page in those terms. I don’t blame them, they have dreams and asparations they’ve had since they were young too. I just hope that possibly our dreams will line up, and we’ll be able to go full out with this and put as much energy as we can into it, so that it WILL become successful.

Anyways, that’s sort of me without a muzzle. Oh, what do you think of the new design? Tres chaud?

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I just finished cleaning my room today. It’s taken me about a week and a half. I know, that sounds like a long time, but I pretty much re-arranged the whole thing, took 4 big boxes of stuff down to the basement, re-organized, and pretty much just made myself a whole little apartment. I like the idea of rearranging, because it’s not that I’m going out and buying anything new to put in my room, I’m just taking what I have and making it work best to my situation.

I think that’s kind of how it is with us. I mean, I don’t have anything special about me. I don’t have a special talent, or a gift, or anything like that. I just have me. Sometimes I have to rearrange who I am to meet the needs of a situation, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But that’s the beauty of life; we’re given lots of trial-and-error.

I’ve been struggling with grace, again. It’s the one thing that is keeping me from God, I think. That and my stubborness. But, I have a hard time understanding how someone could love me. At all, really. The weird thing is, the reason changes every day. Sometimes I am prideful, feeling that I am above grace; above charity. Other times I feel I’m so far fallen that no cross could pick me back up. I already know the christian answer to this, so please save it.

I am kind of tired of asking questions, but somehow I think that’s all I’ll ever have. I don’t really expect to arrive anywhere in this life anymore. I guess I’m constantly travelling.

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i was told today at work that i don’t smile as much as i used to. maybe because work sucks? hello? would you be happy working for $9/hour putting friggin’ produce on the counter? i think not.

i don’t really know what else to talk about tonight. i had an amazing time with my loverly girlfriend sarah tonight. she is so good to me, and i love her so much. i’m sorry, i’m not trying to brag, but i am the luckiest man in the world. i really don’t deserve this.

my new obsession…it’s funny that i talk about this as if you’re interested. i know for a fact that there are some ebc’ers who intentionally avoid us. have you even heard us? do you even know what we’re about? clearly not.

i’m really excited about what’s happening in our little world right now. we’ve got a new guitarist and are looking to add another. we played in guelph on sunday night at d.fo’s church, and it was grand times. we played a new song and it went over really well, which has encouraged me as our new songs are (i think) much better than the crap we have now.

anyways, i dunno what else to say. so, there….i’m back on top.

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yesterday was eventful, to say the least.

i went to Stoney Creek Baptist church yesterday. I’m starting to like it more and more. Not necessarily the music, or the preaching, but just the overall atmosphere, the openess to it. I feel welcome, even when I dress up in my rockstar get-up (though, the old guy greeter yesterday had a bit of a shocked expression on his face when I came through the door). Sarah played piano again, and she was wonderful. I’m so impressed with her musical abilities. I just wish I told her more.

After church Sarah, her sister, and I went to the college and career’s kick off lunch. It was good times. The people there are very nice, and I actually look forward to being more a part of that (even though, once again, I have neither college nor career).

After this we went back to the K-house, got dressed up, and headed off to the Exodus in Peril/Hello Kelly show. I was under the impression that this was a college and career event for New Hope Community church…however, it most definitely was not. Instead, as we pulled into the drive, our eyes caught sight of several youth and pre-youth, awaiting entry into the concert. However, once things got rolling, a few older people joined in. Exodus in Peril, unfortunately, was stricken with sore-throatitis. However, I was impressed with their new guitarist. I look forward to seeing more with him.

After EiP was Hello Kelly. Honestly, I was not looking forward to seeing/hearing these guys. I had the impression that they were 99.9% hype, and that they were really not as talented as many liked to think. However, once they got started, I saw that my presuppositions were very untrue. I was very impressed with their musical abilities, song writing, stage presence, and everything else. To top it off, the two guys I met, Mike and Francois, were very nice. So, I say to Kelly, kudos to you.

After the show, we went to McDonalds, and then back to Sarah’s. Somewhere along the way, I lost my cell phone. I am still trying to find it, so please pray that things will work out.

Today, I wrote two songs. I may post one later.

I said earlier that I don’t have a career. Well, that was a little misleading. I don’t have a career, but I do now have a part-time job. I am working at purolator as a sorter. Basically, I put boxes on trucks. Sounds exciting, I know. But, it’ll hold me over for a while, until I can find another job. Much thanks goes to my brother, who had a bit of a hand in my acquiring this job. Thanks bro.

Anyways, that’s all for me. Anyone getting tired of these overly-long posts yet?

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So many things are running through my head right now. I have so much on my plate, so many things to juggle. I wish time would just slow down so I could catch up. It’s like there’s two conveyor belts, and I’m on the slow one, reaching across, trying to grab something on the other one so I am at least going the same pace as everyone else.

I’m still trying to find a job. Things with the church in Brampton aren’t going to work out. I’ve decided I’m going to focus on secular work. I don’t want to be tied up in a Christian job anymore. It’s just one more chain tying me to Christianity. I want to be free of all those chains, so that it’s only me holding on. No obligations, no responsibilities, just me and God, holding fast to one another.

I’ve begun to read Donald Miller’s new book. I’m excited, because it’s a book about being on a journey, about moving. I need to move. I’m beginning to grow roots, and I hate that. I need to be going somewhere, but right now there’s no place for me to go.

My relationship with God is sort of plateaued, and not at the top of a mountain. I hate this place, and yet it’s a place I know I need to travel before I can keep going. No, wait…it’s a place I need to wait before I can keep going.

Anyways, I hope everyone’s having a great first week back at school/first week before the beginning of school (depending on your circumstance). Let me know how everyone’s first week is!

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Got back last night from a weekend at Darien Lake. Rode the superman 3 times, which was awesome. Also, the light/fireworks/laser show at night was amazing! I really want to own a krypton-argon laser now.

Finished the last week at camp on Friday. Glad that’s done. Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but 7 weeks is enough for me. Overall the summer was pretty good. There were some issues with the directors and such, but other than that things went well. I learned a lot this summer, about waiting on God (in a real, practical sense), how if we trust God he’ll give us the desires of our hearts, and once again how fun spooning is.

Got a call from the church in Brampton…kinda playing phone tag with them right now. Hopefully we’ll get something worked out. I am really torn by this whole thing, wanting to go to work at an awesome church, and staying so that I can be with my amazing girlfriend. I really don’t want to leave Sarah, again, but as of right now that’s where things are lookin’ to go. Unless I get a call from New Hope Community Church in London sometime soon.

Anyways, that’s all I really want to write today. Take care.

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