Kaged Reality

Man, its been a long time since I sat down to intentionally write down my musings and conceptualizations of my life.  Okay, so maybe my commentary on handmade leather items, and hipster culture aren't exactly literary gold, but up until recently those were pretty much what I thought about.  Those were the things I  spent time, or should I say wasted time thinking about.

I realize that for the normal person, thinking about these things isn't really that big of a deal.  For the normal person, wondering if there is a separate "cat reality" where there is a cat Obama, and a Cat Mona Lisa isn't that  (this may have been a bad example of thought stream to use in a sentence with the word "normal") big of a time suck.  For me, however, these thoughts could very easily take up most of my day.  Multitasking is something that God did not see fit to bless me with (Vanessa would whole heatedly support this).  That said, Vanessa and I have been experiencing a lot of fairly significant Lifestyle changes that have forced me to reassess the value in what I think about, care about and more importantly, spend time worrying about.

Recently, my Vanny and I have decided have began the emotional journey to Foster Parenthood.  We are actually only a few weeks away from finishing our MAPP classes and being even closer to being licensed to be parents, isn't that a weird thing to say?  In fact, weird is a great descriptor to apply to my current state of mind and body, I just feel weird. The more i attempt to process this feeling of "weirdness", the more I start to understand that it would probably be more disconcerting if I felt nothing.  It would be way more comfortable and much easier to understand if I felt as though I was completely prepared for what God has in store for Van and I, and the tiny hearts and minds that will be in our care for an undetermined amount of time.  But good grief, I am so not prepared(please re-visit previous comment about separate cat reality).    I trust my wife, and I trust God (the best a tiny brained human can) and I trust that this place I am in is going to leave me as soon as that first tiny human is placed in our home.  God knows my heart, and he knows my spirit, therefore I believe with all of my heart that all of my worry, and feeling of unpreparedness and inadequacy will be suddenly less important when there are toys strewn about the house, and when I am suddenly more interested in playing with the kids, than spending time reading men's style blogs.  There will be failures, and we will have to learn fast, but  God has given me an amazing partner (hey boo), and a desire to serve.

"Now there are many varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are many varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God that empowers them all.
1 Cor 12:4-6


-Kage

Kaged Confession

I have a confession, or two.  First off, I am a crappy blogger.  At least I know this.  I told myself that I would stay on top of this, and be diligent about giving my followers some cool and different content.  Well, I dropped the ball on almost all of those counts, but I am back at least for today, so lets just focus on that super positive fact and move on.
This next confession is less surface and was born more out of constant self reflection and meditation (actually I was thinking about it whilst I two-sied yesterday).  I think I posess all the tools to be a great hipster, but I am severely lacking in the spirit.  I am constantly accused (yes it is almost always accusatory) of being a hipster for the way i dress, the music I like, my facial hair choices and pretty much my general likes and dislikes across the board.  That said, there are several things that have started to make me doubt this "hipster lifestyle" everyone seems so ready to accuse me of living.

his name is probably Dexter or Rufus.

-PBR is gross.  This statement would get me beat up by an hipster that heard me utter it in public, I mean "beat up" in figurative terms...these are hipsters we are talking about.       

-I actually care about things.  I very rarely feel apathetic, especially about things that matter, like religion, politics or the Golden Girls.

-Irony is not the motivation for every decision I make.  My facial hair is never ironic, its always very serious.

- I have way more than 2% body fat...wait, is that why they drink PBR?

I could go on, but I think I have made my point.


God Speed,
Kage

Kaged Creation

Manly Men

I was going through my normal blog roll, and stumbled across a video which led me to this site.  There is just something about creating something out of nothing with your hands (as opposed to magic...copperfield you rascal) that allows one to feel a very specific and focused sense of accomplishment.  Now, I feel that a disclaimer is in order, I am not a very "manly" dude.  I can't work with wood, or hang cabinets, or work on my car and maybe that's why videos like this, or men like this I should say provoke a severe sense of admiration and envy in me.  Is it just that those who can't do wish that they could, or do those that can ("manly" men) love doing these manly things because they feel the same sense of accomplishment?

-Kage

Kaged Entrepreneur

I know what you are saying.  Wow Grant, another denim video?  Well, this is indeed the second denim manufacturing video that I am posting, but I am posting this video with far different intent.  Listen to the words, and appreciate the creation just like the last video, but notice the subtle differences.  Notice the cool space, the history of this company, the very different view of success they have and also notice the giant chest of buttons....its awesome!  Enjoy.


-Kage

The Forecast | STRONGHOLD from www.theforecast.tv on Vimeo.

KAGED ESSENTIALS

I am back!  Yay, you better be saying yay.  I have been super busy as of late.  I have been in school after school. High School classrooms tend to be a true test of self confidence, and often times a great source for my self reflection.  In one of my classrooms the other day a volunteer made a comment that made me think.   It was a fairly benign comment in comparison to some of the honest quips teenagers seem to be built for, yet it got m thinking.  "Man, you have a lot of stuff in your pockets" a man in plaid pants (yeah, plaid) said to me.  I was somewhat taken aback, and responded with something like "thank you?".  I guess I hadn't ever thought about it.  I suppose I do carry more than most, but less than some.
The contents of a man's pockets says a lot about who that person is and what they care about.  I still have no idea what my "essentials" say about me, but I hope it has something to do with being ruggedly handsome and dangerously intelligent, but I am sure it has more boring connotations.  None the less, I carry what I like, and what I need.  I have titled  the picture of my pockets contents (in true Emily Henderson fashion) stylized functionality.  Vanny, that "Secrets from a Stylist" reference was just for you.

Leatherology initialed wallet, 32gb iphone, keys and awesome free keychain, RSA token from work, Vasoline chapstick, Swiss Army Pocket Knife, Waterman Pen, Handmade Chambray Pocket Square, Vintage Omega Seamaster Watch

Take a look at the contents of your pockets.  What do the contents say about you?  Also, check out this blog, and take a look at the crazy contents of pockets everywhere.

Kaged TGIF

So, its Friday.  I am swamped at work, and I have had a really hard time finding time to Blog.  It's shameful, I know.  Never the less, I present you with an amazing video that is inspiring on several levels (one of them being the sturdy mustache being sported by Taylor).  If you hate good music or have the attention span of a cocker spaniel then at least hang on until around 3:27 for something really great.  Happy Friday everyone!




Local Natives "Who Knows, Who Cares?"







GodSpeed,
Kage

Kaged Self Deprecation

Almost a year ago my wonderful wife truly became obsessed with blogs, specifically design blogs.  I blame her sister for the influence, but at least we have a nice looking home now, right?  Well, that love of blogs slowly crept into my life, and now I, myself am a friend of the blog.  I don't read home design blogs, mind you.  I leave that up to Vanny.  I have found a blog that I enjoy reading daily, and to be honest it has greatly helped me learn to be comfortable with who I am.  There are three blogs that are directly responsible for my own blog creation, and "the Hipstercrite" is most definitely most directly responsible.

She lives in Austin (perhaps my favorite city), she is a member of my generation, she has a great sense of humor and lastly, she is able to make fun of the box that people in my generation who listen to a certain type of music, dress a certain way and have spectacularly groomed facial hair (you realize I am describing myself right) are so often put into.

The box labeled Hipster is a box I have been trying to climb out of for years.  Who likes to be labeled?  Not this guy!  But my efforts were futile.  Never was the futility more evident than in my workplace.  I like to dress nice, I wear big glasses, apparently my musical taste is strange and I don't waste time or energy every morning shaving (please see grooming comment above).  I give up.  I can't fight it anymore.  So, instead I will follow the lead of my blogger friend (in reality she has no idea that I exist) and self deprecate until it isn't fun to talk about anymore.

In the spirit of said deprecation, I leave you with a youtube video that does it for me.  Enjoy, and please "Put A Bird On It".

Godspeed,
Kage

Kaged Facination

Oh Beard, How I miss you.

Alright, so maybe I comment on other people's facial hair a lot.  Maybe when I see someone with an amazing beard or mustache it makes me like them, and dream of us being friends, even though I most likely don't know them, and will never see them again.  What's the matter with that?  Until now, I have wondered just that, what is wrong with me?  Why do I respect and daydream over the luxurious locks of wonderfully managed chin whiskers?

(as my high school students would say) Psssh, I don't know.  But I do know this, I am not alone, and here is the proof.  This site is to fellow beard connoisseurs, what "The Sartorialist" or "The Style Blogger" are to clothes hounds.  It's not just about the clothes, though they are more than often amazing, and as for the style blogger, they are often a style inspiration for me.  It's about the people wearing them (or it when speaking of a beard).  There are few things that truly fascinate me more than beards and fashion, but people are one of them.  So, when I find something that is able to encapsulate them all it is such a great experience.  So go check out these blogs, if you already haven't and remember "creepers don't groom their beards".





Godspeed,
Kage

Kaged Generations

God has blessed me with the desire to work with teenagers.  Some of you will understand why i refer to that as a blessing, and if you have spent any time around teenagers these days you will understand the frustrations that come with it.  When i was a teenager it was instant messaging and email.  But somewhere along the way email became too slow, and teenagers now are used to immediate satisfaction as the ONLY form of satisfaction.  I heard this poem by Thomas R. Moore on NPR (yes, I realize that only further perpetuates the hipster stereotype) and it really hit home for me, and I may have even chuckled a little out loud, because the scene created in this poem is a scene I swear I have seen before.  Then I thought, "fiddlesticks (edited because my Mom hates it when I say Crap), am I becoming one of them?

The students are seated,

one to a table,

at tables for two,

ears wired,

laptops humming,

cell phones buzzing,

fingers texting,

iPods thumping,

toes drumming,

email flashing,

lattés cooling,

textbooks open,

reading for an exam

in Issues in Contemporary Culture 102.

-Thomas R. Moore

Godspeed,
Kage

Kaged Harmony

Pensive Jenny

Before I get too far into this post you should know that my wife is aware and alright with the knowledge I am about to drop on ya'll.  I have a slight crush on Jenny Lewis of former "Troop Beverly Hills" fame and current "musical hell cat" fame.  I feel like that nugget of honesty was important before I continue.

I have been listening to her most recent foray into musicdom and I am so into it (it felt worth noting that she is in love with her band mate).  I realize that there are some fantastic and more intelligent music reviewers out there, so I am going to spare you all the clearly biased and most likely poorly articulated review of this album.  Instead, I started to wonder (aside from my little crush on Miss Lewis) just what it is about her music that appeals to me, specifically in this newest project.  As I considered the various sounds, beats, lyrics, tones and melodies that went into this album it hit me, there was something about the meshing of her voice and his, something about the sound of two people who care deeply for one another creating music that makes it transcendent.

Fleetwood Mac, Mates of State, Edward Sharpe (Alexander) and Jade, Kanye West and himself  there are plenty more, but the fact remains, some of my favorite music is produced by 2 people who love each other just a little more than they love music.  What is it about these harmonies that draws me to this music?  My wife frequently "calls" which songs she thinks I will enjoy the most when we find a new band or listen to a new album, and she is rarely wrong.  So, is it just that I am attracted to a specific type of music?  Am I that musically closed minded, or does this idea of harmonious attraction resonate with you?

p.s.- Vanny, you are way cuter than Jenny.

p.p.s.-  sorry Jenny (just in case you found this blog, you didn't though)

Godspeed,
Kage

Kaged TGIF

It's FRIDAY!  Huzzah!  I have been swamped at work, so blogging has fallen by the wayside (anyone know why this term means what it means) this week, and for that I am sorry.  But on this Friday, I wanted to give you a nugget of inspirational coolness courtesy of R. Sargent Shriver who became the founding director of the Peace Corps and was integral to LBJ's war on poverty.  Also, this quote involves a fox, so this is a little bit for you, Vanny. 


"I never ride just to ride. I ride to catch a fox. I play baseball to make the team."

-Sarge Shriver 




Whatever you do, do it with purpose( Unless you are that vampire lady from the Bachelor, and in that case please stop).


Godspeed,
 Kage

Kaged Manliness

Shel is so Hard Core.

Kaged Face Blanket

PREFACE: If you don't know me at all or haven't spent more than ten minutes with me you may not know that I am borderline obsessed with beards/facial hair. I don't really know what it is about this follicular art form that makes me so happy, but I do know it's weird.

As I said in a previous post I recently started a "big boy" job where I have to wear slacks and deodorant and carry a briefcase. It is a weird chapter in my life, but I actually really love my job. The only thing that makes having this job difficult at times, is my lack of facial hair freedom.

I saw my whole face for the first time in 4 years about a week ago, and though my wife was and is frustrated that I did not vocalize my intentions to do some northern hemisphere landscaping, she told me that I look cute and younger, and she likes to be able to see what I looked like when we got married. Don't get me wrong, I love it when she thinks I am cute, mind you, I don't get it(i think it may be her penchant for older, graying men), but who doesn't enjoy a compliment? Here is the issue though, my face is FREEZING. It is literally 6 degrees outside with a wind chill below zero, oh, and I am from TEXAS! This has to rank with one of the worst grooming decisions I have ever made (probably number 2, after the "trimming" incident of '99). Logistically speaking this was a bad move, but emotionally speaking it may have even been a worse move. I feel as though I have lost a friend. Okay, that was dramatic, let me try again. I look weird. Better?

Now that you (hopefully) understand where my mind and face have been for the past week (this post is getting a little too long to be about a beard)let me cut to the chase. This morning when perusing one of my favorite blogs I came upon this.  After looking this beauty of a post over I have decided something, beards make handsome people more handsome, and they make somewhat strange looking fellas like me less strange looking (i never claimed to be a profound man).  Thank you George, Jim from the office and mostly you John a.k.a. Don for providing me with a little closure and perhaps some solace in knowing that within a week I will once again be bearded.

Godspeed,
Kage

Kaged Creativity

The job that I have forces me to think about creativity a lot, and to be honest I nothing allows me understand the greatness of God and the vastness of our world better than the mere act of creating.  You may think this post is getting all deep and theological and that may be causing you to tune out, or wonder where in tarnation this is going, but I say all this because when I see people creating things that I love it is more than inspiring, in fact it is almost indicting, like, "why aren't you doing this?"

This video is not new, and I have seen it on about 10 of my favorite blog sites, but I have not once skipped over it.  To think that this one guys can do this all by himself, and do it well.  And in the midst of this video if you find yourself wondering how denim can cause someone to reflect on God, then maybe you should go out an buy something that will make you happy that someone else made with their own hands and then maybe you will understand it a little better.  If you still don't get it after that, then I am sure there is an episode of sister wives on that you can go catch if you hurry.






Roy's Jeans - Video by Self Edge from Self Edge on Vimeo.


Godspeed,
Kage

Kaged Tardiness

I know this is late, but I have been pretty sick since the new year, and haven't exactly felt like blogging.  That said, here is a Ben Franklin quote to sum up my wishes for you in this New Year.

“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every New Year find you a better man.”  

-Benjamin Franklin

Godspeed,

Kage  

Kaged Fox

Well, its that time of year.  The time when we all say that we are going to change things and most of us do, at least for the month of January.  And so, I decided that instead of the run of the mill "resolution" post I would try something new.  So, this post will be dedicated to my favorite Fox.  These are the 7 things I DO NOT want to change about my sweet Dr. Van Mankin.

See told ya she was beautiful.

#1- I would never change the way she makes me feel about myself.  She makes me feel like I am the most handsome, kind and perfect man on the planet....which is about as accurate as saying that Ke$ha probably doesn't smell bad DISCLAIMER: I do not actually know for sure if Ke$ha smells bad, but man, doesnt she look like she smells like booze and corn chips?

#2- I wouldn't dream of ever changing the way she sings to  animals.  Vanessa loves our family, and that includes Dak the pup and Nora the naughty cat.  Each of them have several songs crafted in moments of joy specifically for their pleasure (even thought when Vanessa sings to Nora she usually gets a little cat tooth nibble as if to say, "you are embarrassing me").  Vanessa even makes up songs about the animals she wishes we owned, like a fox, a tiger and a raccoon.

#3- Change is not in the cards for my Fox's heart.  She has THE most tender and empathetic heart.  So kind that  it is hard for me to understand why she is crying over people she may have never met before.  Facebook has often served as an avenue for tears in our household.  From the death of family pets to the loss of a job, it doesn't matter if she hasn't seen them in a decade, she feels for them.  She has even been known to use her birthday monies ( I am trying out this word in the place of money, let me know how you think its going) to buy someone else a gift, which is something that I, sadly, am not as open to as I would like to be.

#4- Changing the way Vanessa waits until I fall asleep and then invades my side of the bed every night because she likes to snuggle will never happen ( I should not be admitting this one in a semi-public venue).  I know this one seems a bit silly, and if you spend time around us I will have most likely complained about this one, but despite what I say, I like waking up every morning and having her squished up against me.

#5- I would never in a million years change the way my Family loves my Boo.  The word "precious" seems to get thrown around a lot when my Mom references Vanny.  I know that word can have condescending connotations in certain settings, but my Mom is a Texan through and through, and precious is just part of the Texan woman's vocabulary.  But they only reserve it for the truly "precious", and my Fox fits into that Fox Box pretty perfectly.  Oh, and My nieces and nephew are pretty enthralled with her too.

#6- No one could ever change how beautiful she is.  This one may seem a little outwardly focused, but first of all, lets be honest my wife is hot (please see above picture) and secondly, I am not just talking about the way she looks, I am talking about the person she is, Duh.  She looks cute in her long johns, not mention the fact that I am excited to see how cute she looks everyday when she comes home from work, because I happen to be a fan of the way she puts herself together.  Most of all though she is who I want to be one day (except for the lady part).  She is by far the most beautiful person I will ever know.  All those aesthetically pleasing things are just icing on the cake, wonderful icing, but icing that would probably not be near as good if the cake was made of something gross like buffalo hair (gross, yet poignant, right) instead of something wonderful like hugs, and cookies and puppies in halloween costumes (three things i really like).

#7-  Lastly, but most unchangeable is her passion for seeking the Lord and urging me to do the same.  I know that one day our kids will grow up in a house that has been built on Christ.  Not church (the organization/buildings), or rules, or judgment but on an example that is steeped in Love and Compassion.  I have been going through a bit of a disenchanted with church phase, but Vanessa has urged me been consistent in her reminders that there is a place fir us out there.  I know that when I am angry at "Christians" (this was parenthetical on purpose), she will gently remind me that I am human just like them and therefore FAR from perfect.  I know that God is using her to give me a glimpse into what he looks like.

In closing, and only because all of this gushy stuff, though truthful has made me feel a bit open, My Fox is the bees knees.  I love you Vanny.

Godspeed,
Kage

Kaged Merriment

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

(please know this is not actually Santa Claus, it is an imposter.)

Godspeed,

Kage

Kaged Materialism

I suppose that honesty is something that is important when blogging, in fact the more I think about it,  it's pretty integral.  That being said I should tell you that I like things.  I wish I didn't but I do.  So, every week I will post something wonderful that I would one day like to own.  Today is the first installment of this weekly wonder-thing barrage.  Prepare yourself because I am starting off with a bang.

Tanner Goods eyeglass case

Its handmade and therefore, cooler (I’m such a hipster).

And, Bang!  Alright, so bang may not be the most appropriate inflection for this item, but its pretty awesome, right.  I wear glasses every day, all day.  I even have a pair of Rx sunglasses (nerd alert).  Because of my existence in nerd-dom I go through glasses cases pretty quickly.  This particular case is handmade in the United States, which is rad, and I bet it smells great.  Smells are big with me.  Tanner Goods makes all kinds of amazing leather goods.  My (daddy's girl) puppy will one day be the proud (and most likely unaware) owner of one of their dog collars.  She is a simple pup leading a simple life, mostly filled with chasing squirrels until she catches them and then licking them, but every now and then I like to spoil her.  

Check out the link, buy some tanner goods stuff, and if you want to, please remember that Christmas is coming soon, and my birthday is in March.  

Godspeed, 

Kage

Kaged Intent

 Chances are that if you have found your way to my Blog this early in my blogging career, you are most likely my mom, my wife or friends of theirs.  That said, and don’t think I am not grateful for the visitors I do have, starting a blog has proved much more difficult than my original intentions led me to believe it would be.  I set out what I thought to be the most efficient and novice way to begin my foray into the blogosphere in  these (4)  steps.

 Step 1: Figure out what you want to say 

Step 2: Pick a hip, catchy name that carries meaning 

Step 3: Get an account/design the blog 

 Step 4:  Create a literary, journalistic masterpiece using all the amazing and wonderful things I think about and experience.

Pretty easy, right?  Wrongo-Be-Bongo  friends.  It seems I had overlooked some pretty important things when attempting to follow the 4 step process I so elegantly and ignorantly crafted.  In fact I didn’t even make it past the first step before I was quickly seeing that maybe Blogging is for smart people, because what in the monkey butt was I going to say?  I told myself that this Blog would be about fashion, life, love, spirituality, films, music…all the things I enjoy about life, and that is still my intent, but a very frightening thought flashed through my brain, “why would anyone want to know what I thought about any of this stuff?.  I am still using denial puffed up by false confidence in order to move past this one.

Okay, so on to step 2.  It turns out when you are neither hip, nor catchy it is fairly difficult to come up with a name that is worthy of being described as such.  Never the less I mulled it over and came up with “Kaged”.  I will explain further why this name stuck in a later post.

Step 3 was easy.  The end.

LOHANATOR

Step 4 was in danger pretty quickly.  I am not the most intelligent of people, and as for journalistic prowess well, I am about as journalistic as Lindsay Lohan is classy.  But after some reflection and some procrastination I realized that if there is one thing that I know about it’s what I think and feel.  So, that is what you will get.  It may be more duct taped, then crafted, and more Ninja Turtles comic than literary, but that’s me.

So, here I am world, please be kind and remember I now have a venue to tell the world (my Mom) all about the way I see it.   

Godspeed,
Kage

Kaged Salutations

Much like the band "Nickleback" when attending the Grammy's, I feel like I don't belong.  Yet here I am, ready to contribute my thoughts and questions on life, love, film, spirituality,  literature,  fashion and as I have already established even some musical opinions.  Though I have no true expertise other than perhaps some insight into facial hair growth and grooming, even then its more of a hobby than a true field of study.  I will make it my mission to continue to give you, oh great Blogosphere, the fruits of my mind's labor.

Whether you came here on purpose or a search for an obscure Mexican American Wrestler named Los Kage` has brought you to my humble Blog, thank you for visiting.  I am excited about the possibilities of this blog, and I hope that one day you can say "Man, that post was inspiring and did not in any way make me want to kick this guy in the no no zone."  But until then I will wear an Athletic cup (a giant one, HIYO)(sorry) and hope that you enjoy what I have to say AND this awesome Ryan Berkley print of an Owl in a tie and what I think is a cardigan, although there are people out there who will try to convince you otherwise.

How do you think he tied his tie? 

Godspeed,
Kage