Silent Substitute

Taking Florida.

2011-11-30T20:02:00.001-06:00

THE WAIT IS OVER.

2010-05-21T13:15:00.000-05:00

Everybody Wants to Be A Country Star

2010-04-08T10:17:00.002-05:00

I couldn't resist sharing this song with you guys. Enjoy!

Calling (A serious blog post! Gasp!)

2010-03-24T18:01:00.027-05:00

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" Isaiah 6:8

Happy Easter, all!
Becca here. I wanted to hop on over and talk to you guys about an intimidating subject, one the sibs and I are finding more and more is something we want to focus on as (one of) our messages...are you ready?

Let's talk about calling.

It's something that gets oft overlooked in a culture where we're supposed to constantly ask ourselves where am I gonna go to college, who am I gonna marry, what do I wanna be when I grow up, and the like. We make our own plans for ourselves, forgetting that God has the best plan.

I wrote a song called "The Best Nights of My Life." It's about how amazing it is that God picked Christian music as a career for me and my siblings. It's so much fun and I wouldn't change it for anything.

Maybe you know what God is calling you to, but you're struggling with it somehow. Maybe you want to do something, take a step toward what God's calling you to, but you're afraid. Maybe you want to adopt, but things keep getting in the way...money, what other people will think, and so on. (A disclaimer: I don't believe adoption is a calling. It's just something we're supposed to do, something we SHOULD take for granted that it's going to be a special part of our lives. James 1:27, folks!) Maybe, like me, you're struggling with waiting on the Lord. You might feel He's promised you something, but it doesn't seem to be happening. All I can say is, be encouraged.

"Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land." (Psalm 37:34)

I think that's what God wants us to do--to be traveling steadily along His path, ready when He calls.

Language and Grammar.

2010-03-06T11:10:00.001-06:00

Hi! My name is Willie!!! I like exclamation points!!
SOME people think this unprofessional For example, when sending emails I like to put Thanks! or God Bless! at the end. But putting !! makes me seem like an obnoxious 15- year-old, apparently. (Oh wait.)
Not that there's anything wrong with periods, but which sounds friendlier:

Thanks!! or Thanks.

DING! DING! DING!
I would say the first one. But then again, I'm not that friendly.

You'll LOVE Totally Homemade Music Video #3 -- Every Meaning Intended

2010-02-19T22:26:00.003-06:00

Totally Homemade Music Video #3

And if you get the chance, please vote for us to open for TobyMac in Nashville (our favorite place!) Just register by clicking here, then go to Help! I Have Selective Hearing" and click "vote."

Thank you so much! God bless.
The McCanns

Mei Mei (Little Sister)

2010-02-16T09:43:00.003-06:00

Six years ago today, we were pacing the floor of a hotel room in China, anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new sister.

We didn’t know what to expect. When she arrived, she was so small, so scared, and so independent. She didn’t really like any of us at first. Little did we know how much this little girl would change our lives.

Stasia has taught me so much. She is a living, breathing example of what really matters in the Kingdom of Heaven. Stasia is grateful and content in all circumstances. She loves without condition. She is more concerned for others than herself. She loves to give, and is exceedingly thankful when she receives. She is joyful at all times.

This little girl is one of my best friends. It makes my day when she announces, with a huge smile on her face, “Meghan, you and me are kindred spirits…we’re like twins!” and “Meghan, one of my favorite things in life is to sit next to you.”

My family and I can hardly remember life before Stasia came. I think that’s because we didn’t really know how to live. We thought we were opening our home and hearts to her, but in reality, she opened our eyes to glimpse the Father’s heart.

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me”

-Matthew 18:3-5

The Nonfiction Blog, part 3 (aka, Becca whipping nonfiction's behind)

2010-02-03T17:12:00.041-06:00

Thanks commenter for suggesting The Heavenly Man. I'll have to steal it off Meghan's shelf sometime. But if you'll forgive me, I have a bone to pick with Meghan.

I notice Tozer didn't say "the function of a NONfiction book is..." No such specification. So try again.

And if we're gonna play a dead-people quotes game, you've come to the right place, sister. I can throw around plenty of quotes. Even from alive people.

Quotes from Dead People=

“A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading.” -C.S. Lewis

and

"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become." - C.S. Lewis

I don't really know what that means, but a lot of people think that if C.S. Lewis says something, it's true, so I win.

Quotes from Alive people=
There's this dude named Chuck Colson who's on KTIS. And if something is on KTIS, everybody KNOWS it's true. And HE says (he didn't actually write this, but close enough. It's an article on his website by one of my favorite authors Mary DeMuth, and you can go there to read the nonfictiony words under the subheads if you really must) there are ten good reasons for Christ-followers to read fiction. And these are them:

1. Our view of the world beyond our door widens.
2. We learn empathy as we walk in a character’s different-sized shoes.
3. God uses stories to heal.
4. Fiction unmasks us.
5. God’s redemptive story permeates.
6. Novels allow for paradox, causing us to ask the kinds of questions that help us search for God.
7. Reading novels critically helps us navigate the Scriptures better.
8. Reading a novel connects us to the Creator
9. Reading a novel builds community.
10. Reading stories brings us face to face with Jesus, the grand storyteller.

Mary also says...

"Our hearts are typically instructed through story, not bullet points. I’ve never experienced healing or salvation from a list. But people telling their stories and reading others’ stories in literature stay with me, move through my heart, and open an unexpected door for Jesus to heal me."

I win.

(Actually, I thought about just going, "I'll give you five good reasons," [that fiction is better] and counting off my fingers to make a fist like Lucy does in Charlie Brown, but that'd be kind of hard to display in a blog, so this is what you get.)

Love ya, sis. What should we argue about next? I'm so excited.
-Becca

The Nonfiction Blog, pt 2

2010-01-20T16:32:00.003-06:00

Becca, Becca, Becca...how could you be so misguided? Where did I go wrong? How could my own sister be so deceived about the benefits of non-fiction? Without it, we wouldn't have the amazing life stories we find in biographies. Even dicitonaries would be non-existent (and who doesn't love the thrill of learning the definition of a new word?) With nonfiction, we gain insight from the triumphs and mistakes and ideas of others.

And Becca! You who love to bake would be at a loss without cookbooks. You who speak Russian wouldn't have reached that distinction without Russian For Dummies, now would you?

As A.W. Tozer said, "The function of a good book is to stand like a signpost guiding the reader to the Truth and the Life." Where would we be without the life-giving truth of the Bible, as well as those masterpieces that guide one in the Christian life?

Just like a "slippery when wet" sign warns of oncoming disaster, the title "nonfiction" warns the fiction lover of just what's inside the book.

Now Becca, my dear, I recommend you start your nonfiction journey with....umm....hmm....uhhh...anyone have a nonfiction book that even Becca would love?

Meghan

The Nonfiction Blog

2010-01-15T11:55:00.016-06:00

I thought it was high time for a blog post on this subject. I know you were all dying of curiosity, thinking how our house must be fraught with tension about this problem:

My sister Meghan is totally a nonfiction person, and I'm fiction all the way. The sad part of this is that Meghan is the one who introduced me to fiction in the first place. Half the books I read are hand-me-downs from her closet, where she hides an extensive library of Susan May Warren and Dee Henderson books that would go unread if it weren't for me.

Don't worry. I am more than happy to rise to the occasion. But.

It's time someone came and laid down the nonfiction law. Which I'm here to do, with my own array of subheads and bulleted points.

Nonfiction is not fiction
The very name "nonfiction" goes to show that those nonfiction authors have nothing worth telling if they couldn't even come up with their own genre name. They had to go and leech off of fiction's! You see my point? Fiction is fiction. So nonfiction is...not fiction? What kind of description is that? It's like they took out an ad in the newspaper and went, "okay everybody! look at us! We're NOT FICTION so you should read us!"

Nonfiction is pointless
What are nonfiction books for? Learning how to solve various problems, whether it's how to live a more purposeful life, how to make money, how to lose weight, or how to fix your garbage disposal. Unfortunately, most nonfiction books spend 350 pages
A) telling you what your problem is
B) convincing you that they, as the author, have the all-inclusive answer as to how to solve it
C) conveniently dropping off the face of the earth before they get around to telling YOU what this elusive secret to having a perfect life is.
(Even Meghan agrees with me on this point, so don't go arguing.)

Nonfiction gives you a big head
People who read nonfiction think they're smart. Hey, I even have a Bible verse to support me on this one: "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil." (Proverbs 3:8) Okay, I realize that says nothing about nonfiction, but nonfiction in its modern forms didn't EXIST back in Solomon's time. (Whereas fiction DID. Because stories have existed since, like, people started writing them. Ha!) Me? I'm happy reading my fiction and letting people think I'm an airhead.

Miscellaneous Things I'm Right About

- C.S. Lewis is nonfiction, except his fiction books.
- If my name was Clive Staples, I would abbreviate it too.
- Meghan's probably going to come on here and refute this, but don't you worry. I am PREPARED to defend my friend religious fiction.
- Fiction is BETTER.

Disclaimer: Perhaps some people can read nonfiction and not have it affect their heads. Perhaps all this has nothing to do with nonfiction at all. Perhaps it does. Perhaps there are nonfiction books I've read myself that I don't mind because they don't go around advertising the fact that they are nonfiction.

Perhaps there are nonfiction authors out there who are kind enough to let you know what to do when your TV's power button hasn't been working for MONTHS and no one bothers to put new batteries in the remote and turn off the television in order to save your nerves.

Perhaps I'll go write a nonfiction book on why nonfiction is bad.

hearts.

-becca mccann

A Totally Homemade Christmas Song (Story behind the song)

2009-12-15T22:06:00.009-06:00

In case you didn't notice from my last post, I am a tad obsessed with Christmas music. I have an extensive list of Christmas songs that I want to cover and put on our yet-to-be-recorded Christmas CD. They're not very common offerings, because when too many people perform a song, the last just looks like they think they do it better than all those preceding. So you'll understand when I say that I would display my list except for Michael W. Smith could be a loyal follower of this blog just looking for ideas for the tracklisting of his next album.

Around Halloween, when I first broke out the Christmas music, I decided we should choose one of the carefully selected songs on Becca's Imaginary Silent Substitute Christmas CD, record it, and display it online for all you wonderful fans.

One problem: licensing. It's confusing and expensive. And since all the good Christmas songs more than a century old are, unfortunately, commonly done, there was only one solution: write one.

So I threw together "Hope is Alive," and Ryan recorded it for me. Hope you like it.
-Becca

Totally Homemade Music Video #2

2009-12-01T12:35:00.002-06:00

...yet another Christmas blog

2009-11-27T12:05:00.012-06:00

As far as Ryan writing a blog, let me just say: it's about time.

To the right is 16% of our Christmas movie collection. Today we filmed a very Christmasy Totally Homemade Music Video. Our house is filled with Christmas music, be it Nat King Cole, Point of Grace, or Family Force 5. (And yes, all of these are playing at the same time in near proximity.)

The overall mood in the McCann household (with FOUR stations playing Christmas music...yay!) has me thinking about...cheesecake. But no one will let me bake cheesecake, so I'm distracting myself, with more Christmas music. (Of course, it will just cause me to think more about cheesecake, but oh well. That's not such a bad thing.) I'm talking about the kind of Christmas music that just plain sounds like Christmas lights would if they had a sound. And then you go "OH MY GOSH! THIS IS THE PERFECT/BEST SONG!!!! EVER!!!!!"

So. The Best Christmas Albums Ever, According to One Member of the Band.
(Disclaimer: This list does not reflect the views of the remaining three-fourths of Silent Substitute)

5. Relient K, Let it Snow Baby, Let it Reindeer (if only for "I Celebrate the Day.")

4. Andy Williams, Andy Williams Christmas Album + Andy Williams, Merry Christmas

=
4. Bing Crosby, White Christmas

3. Nat King Cole, that one Christmas CD that doesn't have a name. Or a CD cover available online, apparently.

2. Point of Grace, A Christmas Story (especially with my personal addition, "All Is Well" from Winter Wonderland)

=
2. Vince Guaraldi Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas

1. Michael W. Smith, Christmastime

Actually, these were very stressful decisions, and I'm bound to be forgetting something.

Maybe I should go bake some cheesecake while I think about it.

Meghan's Book Blog

2009-11-23T18:37:00.001-06:00

For those of you who don’t know, I’m pretty much a nerd. In college, I enjoyed doing homework (most of the time). When I graduated, I actually missed that unending stream of reading and paper writing (sometimes). My four bookcases + closet overflowing with books keep getting fuller as the years go on. And it just wouldn’t do to keep their wisdom on the shelf. Thus, I have decided to share some of my beloved quotes with whoever will listen (or read).

For this blog, I have chosen one of my all time favorite books, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, by 19th century bishop J.C. Ryle. He states,

I fear much for many professing Christians. I see no sign of fighting in them, much less of victory. They never strike one stroke on the side of Christ. They are at peace with His enemies. They have no quarrel with sin. I warn you, this is not Christianity. This is not the way to heaven…
‘Be doers of the word, and not hearers only’. No victory—no crown! Fight and overcome! (James 1:22).
Young men and women, and specially those who have been brought up in religious families, I fear much for you. I fear lest you get a habit of giving way to every temptation. I fear lest you become afraid of saying, ‘No!’ to the world and the devil and, when sinners entice you, think it least trouble to consent. Beware, I do beseech you, of giving way. Every concession will make you weaker. Go into the world resolved to fight Christ’s battle, and fight your way on…
Be encouraged to fight on. The time is short. The Lord is at hand. The night is far spent. Millions as weak as you have fought the same fight. Not one of all those millions has been finally led captive by Satan. Mighty are your enemies, but the Captain of your salvation is mightier still. His arm, His grace and His Spirit shall hold you up. Cheer up. Be not cast down.
What though you lose a battle or two? You shall not lose all. What though you faint sometimes? You shall not be quite cast down. What though you fall seven times? You shall not be destroyed. Watch against sin, and sin shall not have dominion over you. Resist the devil, and he shall flee from you. Come out boldly from the world, and the world shall be obliged to let you go. You shall find yourselves in the end more than conquerors; you shall ‘overcome.’

Sounds rather important to me.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:3,4).

From Willie.

2009-11-21T23:28:00.000-06:00

Hello. I'm here to tell you about Shane. A 1953 western film that will change your life!! Okay, not quite. The TV show Daniel Boone WILL change your life, but maybe not Shane. That's not to say that Shane isn't a great film. Shane's got moral conflict, woven with intense characters. You should see it. Then you should go buy a season of Daniel Boone. I enjoy every single episode of Daniel Boone over and over and never tire of it. Anyway, back to Shane. It's a good film. I love it, it's wonderful. In my next blog I shall go more into detail about other great things. Such as Steve Taylor. That man is incredible!
Willie doesn't like you...unless you're reading this.

Ryan wrote a blog gasp

2009-11-18T19:40:00.001-06:00

Jane Austen. Goodness me... I never would have guessed that I would proudly praise that name.
The McCann household recently finished an incredibly entertaining and satisfying Jane Austen film experience. Granted, I have never read the books; so I'm sure many of you who have read them can tell me that I'm "missing out on the full experience" or that "the movies don't do them justice." And you may be right. But I will say that I love the cinematic renditions of Jane Austen's works. As does brother William.

Willie and I consider ourselves amateur movie critics--and we are always on the lookout for truly quality films. It could take hours to fully hash out our take on these few, so I guess I'll just tell you my favorites of our recent Jane trilogy.

Sense and Sensibility gets third place. While it was extremely gripping, it was slow to command my attention. It wasn't until about halfway through the film that it had me hooked. The film's greatest asset was that it had the most satisfying ending of the three. After seeing Elinor suffering over and over yet bottling it up, one was overjoyed (and relieved) when she was united with the one she loved.

Second place goes to Pride and Prejudice.
At times it felt a bit awkward, or even rushed (Like Mr. Darcy all of a sudden being like "I can't live with out you."). Also, it loses points for being a bit overproduced and Hollywoody--which amounted to feeling mushy. But overall it was just plain great. Great characters, great acting, the best scenery...I don't know... I just liked it.

The best of this fantastic group of films was Emma.
As a character-driven film, the lead is wonderfully unique. Emma's uniqueness causes countless humorous situations, which only adds to the goodness of the story. And Mr Knightley. By far the most admirable of Jane Austen's leading men. All the other men seemed unworthy of the heroine--but not Mr.Knightley.
Yes indeed, I am a fan.

Now having said all this, I must make one thing perfectly clear: I believe real-life romance is of the devil.
1 Corinthians, chapter 7. Mmhmm.

Wow, for a first blog I sure did good!
-Ryan

Happy Birthday to Me

2009-11-16T21:20:00.016-06:00

We took a trip to Our Second Favorite Place (the first being Franklin) this weekend in celebration of the most wonderful day of the year:

November 16!!!

(do you like the pretty colors?)

We thought we'd share some of the highlights with you.

· We had to have a picnic in the bus, in the parking lot of the ice cream shop since it was closed. Said ice cream shop is a tradition with us. Come to think of it, we have a lot of traditions involving ice cream, but that must just be because we're related to Becca.

· We only watched Disney Channel a little bit. We watched Food Network a lot, but this is also because we're related to Becca.

· We went to a park. Ryan and Willie had a stimulating conversation about...who knows what.

· We pretended it was Christmastide. And when Lite FM started playing Christmas music, we rejoiced. There's something altogether magical about Christmas music on the radio and not just in the CD player. Don't get me wrong, though, Christmas music in the CD player has a magic all of own.

· We went to Whole Foods. Becca ranted and raved for hours on how we're going to become "one of those people who TWEETS about working out and going to Whole Foods!"

And now she's going to say I told you so. So, I just have one thing to say about that:

This is a blog, not a tweet.

Smile.
Meghan.

(Just kidding. Happy Birthday Meghan. You'll never guess which of your dear siblings wrote this.)

Bad News.

2009-11-13T22:50:00.008-06:00

My voice is turning into a squeaking box, and according to Meghan I will sound like a frog soon. I know it's a tragedy to all who hear, but I can feel it coming on.

I always used to think it was rather romantic to lose one's voice. Romantic in an Anne-Shirley, oh-no-my-best-friend's-dying-of-smallpox-what-shall-I-do? way. But that's beside the point. I lost my voice in China in August. Which is part of the reason I had to sing into a hairbrush in this video.

But you can't really see the hairbrush, can you?

P.S. This is Becca.

P.S.S. We're opening for Remedy Drive next Saturday. You should come.

National Candy Corn Day

2009-10-30T16:52:00.009-05:00

Halloween preparation is in full swing in the McCann household. Minutes ago, Joey sat himself down at the kitchen table with a pile of paper and announced he was going to make a basket. "Because," he said, "Don't we find baskets on Halloween?"

Said Halloween preparations are rather slim because we don't go trick-or-treating.

Ah, yes. I could go on about tomorrow's holiday, pagan rituals, and the like, but I shan't. You can thank me, because I have been known to rant about such things.

We're secretly terrified of trick-or-treaters. Truly. Long ago we formed elaborate plans to terrify these cloaked wraiths to the very tips of their crooked noses in punishment for daring upon our territory. Plans that involved candy wrappers that the bearer wouldn't know had been opened, a swing set, and horse manure. Which was quite handy at the time because our horse was still alive.

Not quite sure how the swing set works in there. My memory becomes a tad foggy on this point.

We were quite certain the plans would succeed. Maybe they would have, if our parents had let us carry them out. Grown-ups, you know.

I am quite sure there must be a moral to this story. But now I have to go...Ryan and Willie are starting to fill up the "candy" bowl.

Evil laughter.

Remember to admire our pretty new myspace and watch Totally Homemade Music Video #1 again, and even if you've seen it 10 million times already, show it to your parents, teachers, enemies, and imaginary friends.

Hearts.
Becca

57 Days 'Til Christmas!

2009-10-28T17:53:00.009-05:00

Ryan and I were quite delighted to walk into Target and discover a winter wonderland. One’s day seems brighter just looking upon the aisles full of Christmasy colors. And realizing that Christmas is only 57 days away is even more exciting! It seems like Christmas comes earlier every year...and we couldn’t be happier about it! The moment the calendar turns to October, we’re ready for the holiday season. The Christmas music goes in the CD player, the candles are lit…the only thing missing is the tree. Which will arrive with great pomp the day after thanksgiving.

Today I discovered www.emailsanta.com. Now, being nearly a quarter of a century old, I did NOT email Santa, but I DID discover my "Naughty or Nice" rating, which was A+, I'll have you know, despite the fact that I threatened to give Santa rice cakes and other "healthy" food (rather than cookies) on Christmas Eve.

Now to make a list...
-Meghan (With a little help from Becca, who is not planning to give Santa rice cakes)

It's a music video!

2009-10-23T14:53:00.002-05:00

A homemade one, that is. Enjoy.

Silent Substitute and Trouble with TV

2009-10-16T12:54:00.005-05:00

It's called Murphy's Law, it's real, and it haunts me. The following story will show you how.

We have an old TV. Not a zillion years old, mind you, but it's not like the plasma screens of today, and why should it be? The only time we look at it is Sunday Movie Nights. It's not a problem.

Not long ago, the "off" button broke on our TV. You couldn't turn it off without using the remote. No biggie. Except, you see, I have a honed sense for these things--when there's a TV or computer on within a two-room radius of myself, I can sense it. I developed a new pet peeve to coincide with the breaking of the power button: the TV being left on, in its humming, black-screened state. A state my family seems to enjoy leaving it in. Either we are lazy, or we just enjoy the idea of the TV watching us. I have no idea. Nevertheless, the seemingly-constantly on television started to drive me crazy. And I know...it's not a very far drive.

Anyhoo. I learned to turn the TV off myself. I can do this, no problem, so I thought.

Wrong-o. Sunday night after Little Women, I picked up the remote to turn off the TV, and it wouldn't turn off. Willie informed me that the remote was broken.

Yes. Now, if it's a battery problem, no one has bothered to change them. The remote is still broken.

And our TV has been on, in said everlasting, black-screened humming state, for three days. Night and day. Night and day.

I am being driven to the end of my wits.

If you have sympathy for me, comment and tell me your pet peeve(s). Or send me a link to a picture of mellowcreme pumpkins. Well? It's cheaper than the real thing.

Ah, therapy.

We have some songs on iheartradio.com now, and we're hoping to get our plays up high. If you help us, I will love you forever. In fact, I will post a picture of YOUR favorite food in my next blog. We'll have a happy-blog-party. And who knows, maybe by then someone will have changed the batteries in our remote control :-D.

Becca

Oh, brother...The Continuing Story

2009-10-14T00:18:00.003-05:00

The sibs and I have an affinity for watching movies that are based on our favorite books from the growing up years. A few would be Anne of Green Gables, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Little Women (the 1949 version). Last night we watched Little Women for the first time in years, which triggered a rather amusing conversation between Ryan and Willie. They embarked on a very detailed evaluation of the leading men of said movies. Both agree that Mr. Darcy is a little too passive for Elizabeth Bennett. Neither were they happy with Professor Bhaer, Theodore Laurence, or John Brooke. And while Gilbert Blythe earns high marks with Willie, Ryan believes he is too immature for Anne.

In the words of Jo March, Christopher Columbus! Does not one meet the Silent Subbers Brothers' Standard of the epitome of manliness? Never fear. The boys concur that Mr. Knightley is the one leading man who earns the distinction of being "a quality guy."

In Ryan's words, "[Mr. Knightley] was a good man. He was noble and kind and wise and a good friend. He was just a good man."

There you have it, folks. If you want to be in good standing with Ryan and Willie, take some lessons from Mr. Knightley.

"I know no man more likely than Mr. Knightley...to do any thing really good-natured, useful, considerate, or benevolent....for an act of unostentatious kindness, there is nobody whom I would fix on more than on Mr. Knightley." - Emma by Jane Austen

How to Eat According to Ryan, by Willie

2009-10-10T12:33:00.000-05:00

Eat healthy. That is all.

Just kidding. Not about eating healthy though. Plus, men should work out. If already do, then work out MORE!

(By Willie)

It's Tough Being A Trendsetter

2009-10-09T16:21:00.009-05:00

Here's what I like to do: shop online.

I shop for real clothes as well as outfits I think Meghan should/would never wear, and I show them to her, saying "Don't you think you should get this for our next show?"
Many a time have I fooled her.

I am quite of the opinion Meghan should wear this to our next performance/gig: hyperlink

Or this: hyperlink #2

I'm sorta serious, sorta not.

Since Meghan likes to wear clothes more along classy lines, I don't always get what I want.

Also. As I often say, it's tough being a trendsetter, because pretty soon everyone else is wearing what you are. (And thus you have to come up with something new to wear.) I see evidence of this in the grocery store, of all places. Kids want to be me for Halloween now, you know.

Look at this.

Exhibit A:

(Me)

Exhibit B:

(A Kid Dressed Up For Halloween)

Oh, the trappings of fame.
I now leave you to tease Ryan's hair.
No, really. I'm going to tease him about it.

CU L8R.
Becca

The Number One Stress Reliever

2009-10-03T12:14:00.009-05:00

So, I spent this week making this video. I have been so wrapped up in it I didn't mind much that Ryan didn't blog. AGAIN. Actually, he did, on Thursday. But you see, my siblings don't know how to post blogs. I am the only technologically literate one. Alas, Ryan hasn't asked me to post the blog he wrote yet.

I am not going to remind him. I am going to wait and see if he realizes its absence. Little brothers, you know.

Besides, I have never actually seen this post. I have only heard rumors of its existence.

So. Making videos on our dinosaur of a computer (it has 512 MB of RAM) is a nightmare. I could do it on my laptop except that only has the leetle kind of firewire jack and our camera needs the big one. On the desktop, VideoStudio freezes every two seconds, and making a live montage on a frozen computer is not a happy event.

Now that it's done, I am celebrating by thinking about baking. I can't actually bake because my cousin is getting married today and we have to leave. Which is why the house is right now filled with the noise of hairdryers. (I can get ready in under five minutes, though, because I never dry my hair. It would blow up like Maddie's in The Suite Life episode where she goes on the blind date set up by London.)

Back to the baking. Because I am thinking these happy thoughts today, I decided to share them with you. So.

Becca's Five Favorite Recipes
5. Marshmallow Fondant
4. Fluffy Buttercream Frosting (most of the featured photos on this recipe are mine.)
3. Chocolate Cookie Buttercream Frosting
= 3. A Secret Gooey Chocolate Recipe I made up (it's Chocolate Cookie Buttercream Frosting + Pro Ganache
2. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
1. A Secret Fudge Recipe Which I Am Not Going to Share With You

You'll notice a prevalence of two things: a) frosting and b) butter

Okay, this is nowhere near all my favorites. But it makes me happy nonetheless.

a violent post

2009-09-29T17:49:00.000-05:00

Today I went to the doctor. I had some routine blood tests done, and got a few immunizations. Run of the mill, you say? Ah, but it is not every day that one faints over a few needles and pricks. This is what happened to me. Only they were done with the blood tests and shots. I stand up to get my shoes, and down, down, down, I go to the floor.
Get-well cards and chocolate are appreciated.
-Meghan

Oh, brother.

2009-09-23T11:11:00.020-05:00

I am employing a new technique with The Adventures of Your Friendly Neighborhood Silent Band. I tell my siblings when to blog, and they do it. For the entire week this tactic has been in existence, it has been successful. Except in Ryan's case. He has missed TWO blogs already. Tsk tsk.

We're on the road home now, and let me tell you. We watched Pride & Prejudice last night. It has been awhile since Ryan and Willie saw the Kiera Knightely version, and they found it to be a stimulating conversation piece.

Mostly this centered on Mr. Darcy. Is he as good-looking a hero as Orlando Bloom? Is Mr. Darcy buff? Who's more handsome, Mr. Knightely (from Emma) or Mr. Darcy?

I kid you not.

What is most interesting about this conversation is the girls in the band (those who should be the resident giggling schoolgirls) have no discussions of the kind. Meghan and I have more intelligent interests when we watch movies. The setting. The dialogue. Is this what happened in the book? Is the plot character-driven or milieu-driven?

Sigh.

-Becca

Better late than never, right?

2009-09-22T10:01:00.000-05:00

Becca is now the proud carrier of a driver's license.

2009-09-21T10:54:00.001-05:00

I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.
I had been to China twice. I knew what sights and smells and sounds to expect. But what I didn’t expect was to see such beautiful hearts of selflessness and servanthood in the orphans I would meet. I wasn’t prepared for the power of seeing love lived out in actions and in truth.

The first week of camp, my buddies were two teenage orphan girls. They didn’t come to camp with a goal of making sure they got to swim, eat ice cream, and make bracelets. Their goal there was to serve me. Jane and Nana went out of their way to make sure I had a place to sit, or a bowl of soup to eat.

We spoke two very different languages. And yet they communicated so much through their actions and in their smiles.

I hadn’t done anything to deserve their love. But they accepted me as a friend without reservation. The whole concept seemed a little upside down to me. Wasn’t I supposed to be there serving them?

But they were the ones that had it right-side up. “The greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves” (Luke 22:26).

During our second week of camp, most of the campers had physical or mental disabilities. My buddy was a four year old boy whose only “handicap” was a repaired cleft lip. How heartbreaking to think that this was likely the only reason he was abandoned.

I was privileged to watch the other volunteers as they interacted with their disabled buddies. Throughout the week, I saw this verse come to life through the people at camp:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant (Philippians 2:3-7).

Whether it was feeding, changing, cleaning up accidents, or even being painted head to toe with face paint, they loved in actions and in truth. They loved the ones that many would consider the outcast and the least – and they treated them as the greatest.

“Then he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest’” (Luke 9:48).

I saw children welcomed in Jesus’ name. I saw the beautiful hearts of “the least.” And these are the pictures that will stay with me forever.

So what did I learn in all of this? I realized that it doesn’t really do any good to sit around and think about what I should do for the Kingdom of Heaven. All I have is right now. And I am going to do something.

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:16-19).

-Meghan

So we're driving in our super cool minibus Bobathy right now. [comments by Becca.]

2009-09-19T17:48:00.002-05:00

Is there supposed to be a hyphen between mini and bus? [No.]
I love donuts. I had some at breakfast this morning and the were SUPER good! They were filled with filling! [that's raspberry jelly.] OH YEAH!! I love hotels. I could seriously watch Disney Channel and Fox News like 24/7. Except then, Becca would yell at me to turn the dang TV off [because MOM told you to!] Last night I kept saying I was going to turn it off. But I just couldn't. Sean Hannity was on, for crying out loud. I picked up the remote. It took me like two minutes after that to turn the power off.

We just arrived in Tennessee. You know what started playing on the radio?
“This is Home” by Switchfoot. [now that is significant.]

- Willie

Attack of the Deadly Microphone (Nashville Blog, #1)

2009-09-18T09:46:00.019-05:00

Update from the road!

A cute pizza place that we didn't go to in Clear Lake, Iowa.

Ready to rock.

I found these signs backstage at The Hub in Clear Lake. I wonder what the significance is?

This is how we do things on the road.

Look who broke two coffeepots in one week.

Simon says by the side of the road.

A cute town in Iowa that we don't know what it's called.
The absolute frilliest gas station bathroom we have ever been in.

I love the south. Does Iowa count?

My microphone has an annoying habit of falling of the stand. This is not only annoying, it is dangerous. Once it fell on my head and I suffered from an unsightly microphone-shaped gash on my forehead for forty-eight hours. Don't ask me how it happened. Anyway, we don't think there was a concussion.

So we have this cute old amp called a Vox. It doesn't actually work anymore, because I have very bad luck with amplifiers, hence my Egnater's recent blowing out and subsequent two-month (and counting) absence. (Extra points if you were at the show it blew up at!)

I miss my Egnater. Anyway, the Vox is a cute little thing and I have been afflicted of late with the desire to spray paint it white and bring it to our shows as a decoration onstage.

I shared this idea with my big brother.

No, Ryan says. We should sell it, he says. But as I pointed out, THE AMPLIFIER DOESN'T WORK. I don't know anyone who would buy a broken amp. The poor prospective buyer I'm sure would be at peace to know the Vox met with a happy retirement brightening up our stage.

Don't you agree?

- Becca

Birthday fun.

2009-09-11T19:34:00.000-05:00

2009-07-16T16:07:00.000-05:00

Getting Ready...

2009-07-03T22:09:00.002-05:00

How We Spend Summer Vacation

2009-06-26T14:35:00.012-05:00

How about some summer fun? We're hitting the road to all our favorite festivals, and giving you a sneak peak into what loops in our van's VCR.

I know, I know, you're just dying to know how it all turns out! Do Buster and Babs get thrown off the ship? Does the Psychotic Killer make a comeback? Does Plucky get to go on every ride until he barfs twice?

Other than repeated viewings of the most quotable movie EVER, here's what's going on within the world of Silent Substitute.

We're in the running to play at Lifelight Festival in Sioux Falls. We'd love love love it if you could vote for us here. We played on the Souled Out stage last year and had a great time, so we really appreciate your votes.

Meghan got a new guitar yesterday. We're keeping it hush-hush as to what it looks like. But we will show you a little teaser:

What does the rest look like? Ya gotta see a Silent Substitute show to find out. Come check us out at a festival.

Speaking of festivals... on Thursday, July 16, we'll be at Sonshine Festival on the main stage.

Yeah, you read that right.

4 pm. Great fun. Come see us.
More info at www.sonshinefestival.com

Much love.
Mickey, Ry, Becca, and Billy

Let's Go To The Movies #1

2009-05-28T12:13:00.011-05:00

You are cordially invited to a round-table discourse of films, featuring none other than YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SILENT BAND. This week, we introduce you to THE HANNAH MONTANA MOVIE. If you haven't seen the movie, we advise you not to read this review, as it contains spoilers.

Ryan: That was the first time all nine of us have gone to see a movie in the theater together since The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything.
Willie: When Ryan handed me the popcorn bag, the hallelujah chorus played and a light shone down. I'm on a roll. The last three movies I've been to I've had popcorn at. Once I went two years without having popcorn at a movie.
Ryan: Anyway, the movie was awesome.
Willie: Yeah.
Meghan: What we couldn't figure out was the transition from the concert to the music video. Was it in chronological order? Was the concert happening after the rest of the movie, to show that she was still Hannah even though she revealed her secret to the people in Tennessee?
Becca: That just goes to show ya how nice people are in Tennessee. And hey. What is the probability that she would be rushing to the show, minutes before it began? What about sound check?
Mom: She doesn't need to do a sound check. Somebody does it FOR her. You get that famous, and you won't have to do a sound check either.
Becca: Cool.
Meghan: What I didn't like was how the camera was different from the show. And there was a serious lack of Rico and Oliver.
Ryan: There should've been a laughing track.
Meghan: We haven't stopped singing the "Hoedown Throwdown" song since we saw it.
Stasia: Boom boom clap, boom de clap de clap.

What was everyone's favorite part?
Stasia: The squash. I want to BUY that movie when it comes out.
Joey: When he fell off the ladder, and the squash too.
Becca: Squash is a hard word to spell.
Willie: S-Q-U-A-S-H
Ryan: The whole scene--from when Lilly as Hannah came to Tennessee to the squash part--was the epitome of good ole Hannah Montana humor.
Willie: Shanghai Joey laughed harder at that part than anybody.
Ryan: but everyone would've laughed more if there had been a laughing track!

Let's comment on the character development.
Willie: They needed more Jackson.
Ryan: You know, alligators eat people. Because we just saw Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and the alligators ate all the people in that.
Willie: I actually thought that. As the alligator was going up to Jackson, I was like...NO! They can't do this! No, Jackson!
Meghan: The cameos were good, lotsa cameos.
Ryan: Who were the cameos?
Meghan: Taylor Swift, Rascall Flatts, Tyra Banks.
Ryan: Who's Tyra Banks?
Joey: (to Meghan): You're a Jedi now. Do you want green, red, or double-bladed?
Meghan: I like the blue and the green together.

Meghan: I didn't like all the loose ends that they can't go back now and resolve in the show. Like, they can't go back to Tennessee.
Ryan: That didn't bother me, just the lack of a laughing track.
Willie: (hums "The Climb.)
Ryan: I liked it.
Joey: What color lightsaber does the badguy have in Star Wars 2?
Ryan: All the badguys have red lightsabers, 'cause that's what Sith do.

Let's talk about themes. What about the moral content of the movie did you appreciate?
Willie: It had good messages. Don't be selfish, and don't talk back.
Ryan: It had way better messages than most movies these days. But it was ridiculous that their happiness hinged upon the romance plots. That's not realistic.
Becca: For once, though, a teen-queen movie had a positive view of parents. Her father was ready to intervene when her fame began to influence her. In the same vein, the climax featured the heroine actually making an UNSELFISH choice. That doesn't usually happen in today's movies. Remember What A Girl Wants? The end of the movie switched protagonists just so Daphne wouldn't have to make an unselfish choice in order to reach poetic justice. But in HM, Miley did make an unselfish choice--instead of idolizing being Hannah, she gave it up for the sake of her family. With no plans of going back. The black moment left her as "just Miley." I applaud.

So, two thumbs up?
Everybody: Two thumbs up!

New CD, new website, blog, video

2009-05-01T20:10:00.004-05:00

We are so humbled to have the famous and talented Shanghai Joey work out to our very own song...from the Do Make Room EP, which by the way is available now at www.silentsubstitute.com.
So, without further ado...