Foo's ball

smokin' supergrass.

rawk and grohl.

skin and bones

Quality thyme

Hanging' out in gramma's garden, teaching, performing, nesting, etcetera... I've discovered a fascination for photographs catching two individuals in a moment. Stories abound. Here are two such stories:

Also, my cousin ben will be a sophomore at my alma mater ball state university next spring. He's incredibly talented and has no idea what to do with it all. Here is a video he created for a contest last year with a little help from his brother tom.


peas and carrots.

Farewell old friend

We've spent more and more time with my grandmother and grandfather over these past couple of years as my grandfather's alzheimer's has progressed further and further along. It's been very difficult knowing that he really didn't know who i was that last year or two, but that didn't stop us from enjoying a great deal of conversation. Granted, he did most of the talking. He seemed to love the fact that i would sit and listen and engage him as he carried on. I wish i would have shared more time with him when actual conversation would have been possible. I wish we could have shared in spontaneous jam sessions - he on the hawaiian slide and me on the ukulele. I wish my grandmother still had her companion. I miss my grandfather. Yet however far gone he may have been in the latter months of his life, i've cherished the times we spent together. He made us cry and he made us laugh. His smile lit up a room. He was fond of my grandmother and smitten by her warmth and kindness. He was deeply in love with her even when nothing else around him was familiar. He was my mother's father.He was my grampa Glenn.
See ya later grampa.

Tree huggers

We grew a forest in our home. Soon to be shared with many.

I ran so far away

Today we bid a fond adieu to flock of seagulls candle.

No more tears children... no more tears.

Hannah Jane Rockey

Born June 29, 2007 at 4:46 am
8.8 ounces, 8.5 inches

Our feisty little Hannah Jane! You were always our fussy little kicker. When we would watch you on the ultrasound, the nurses always had the most difficult time measuring you as you would toss and turn and kick your strong legs. Maybe you would have used those well defined kickers to score soccer goals or run marathons. Maybe you would be a beautiful ballerina. When you were born, your mommy and daddy marveled at how big and beautiful you are. Your big round perfect face glowed like the full moon. Your peach fuzzy head even hinted to us that you'd grow a thick beautiful head of hair like your mommy. From the first day we ever discussed names for our future children, your mommy and daddy wanted to name our baby girl Hannah Jane. We've found ourselves tied deeply to the lamenting, longing and hoping of the infertile women of Scripture whom God, in His time, showed favor upon. Therefore, we wanted to call our first daughter Hannah after the mother of Samuel and Jane after your mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. There were times when we held on to the slight hope that you would be coming home with us even when we were quite sure your brother and sister would not be. But the three of you were meant to be together. We imagine you as the motherly one of the three of you. Your mommy and daddy know that even now you are dancing with your brother and sister before your King. We are so proud of you our gorgeous daughter. Your mommy and daddy love you now and always.

Lily Constance Rockey

Born June 29, 2007 at 1:47am
4.6 ounces, 7 inches

Our tiny little lily just waiting to blossom. Every time we saw you on the ultrasound, you were tucked away deep in your mommy's womb. Every time spring brings your mommy's lilies to bloom, we will think of our precious little baby girl. You were named not only after your mommy's favorite flower, but also after your strong grandmother. Like her you are small in stature, but strong with a giant heart. Your daddy cut your umbilical cord at your birth and touched your tiny hand with his finger as your tiny fingers curled around his. Your little mouth attempting to breathe the air your lungs were not ready for curled perfectly along your beautiful lips. You have plump ear lobes ready to be adorned by colorful jewelry. Perhaps you yourself would have spent hours crafting jewelry and other works of art; a quiet creative soul bringing beauty into the lives of everyone she meets. We can picture our nimble little girl curled up in a quiet place writing deeply moving sonnets about creation and her Creator. Whatever you might become, you are your mommy and daddy's deeply loved baby daughter. It's not difficult to imagine you planting your namesake alongside your mommy and grandmother. Your mommy who is a middle child just like you imagines you as precious and pure as a white lily. Your perfectly shaped legs are long and lovely like your mommy's which meet your feet at slender ankles. You were born with one leg held tightly to your tummy while you held the other long toward your head. Your personality brings us joy and laughter whether you're quietly dreaming or showing off for your mommy and daddy.

Nathaniel David Rockey

Born June 26th, 2007 at 8:32pm
9.5 ounces, 9 inches

When the doctors saw you in your mommy's belly, they called you sumo-baby because you were the biggest of them all. When we found out that our two little girls were going to have a brother, we were so overjoyed. Even in your mommy's womb, it was obvious that you were protective of your sisters. You appeared bigger than both of them but you guarded them so well. When you came out of your mommy's womb into this world, you had already entered the other side of life. Still, we held your tiny, beautiful, perfect body in our arms as glowing parents marveling over their brave little adventurer. For hours we wept tears of both sorrow and of joy asking unanswered questions. Why did you leave us so soon? We hardly got to know you yet we love you now as much as we ever have or ever could. It's hard to imagine what dreams of hopping from mountaintops and slaying dragons you would have had. One thing is for sure, you are your mommy and daddy's strong brave warrior. You are precious from the top of your perfect head to the bottom of your swollen foot. You're your mommy and daddy's darling son. We love you.

You liked to wave at us with your beautiful hands when we would peak in on you during the ultrasounds. Nathaniel, your daddy is so proud of you, ready at any opportunity to share photographs of his little boy. You were given the name David after your daddy's middle name. David is also the name of the young boy whom God chose to be King of Israel. He was small, yet brave and strong in his trust of the mighty God who loved him. He had a heart after God's own heart. You were beautifully and wonderfully made. Your life had and will continue to have a profound effect on so many people. Your tiny life is so big. You taught your mommy and daddy so much about life and love. We are so blessed and honored to be your mommy and daddy. We hope you know how great our love for you is. You are and will always be our beloved son, Nathaniel David.

Limb by limb we're starting again

Free download while supplies last!!!

Now you, yes you can own a digitalized copy of the analogously recorded lo-fi spectacular known near and narrow as "ghosts of christmas presence by joel rockey." By simply clicking on the link immediately following, you will be mere moments away from downloading a zip file containing a hi resolution cover image, original insert sleeve in printable PDF format and all ten tracks in glorious AAC just waiting to be burned onto a crispy new CD-R (cd-r not included). All that's required of you is that you must listen to it backward and forward and upside down while hanging from monkey bars in a chicken costume while whistling along to every tune... (use your discretion on that last one) Please enjoy and have a neat summer! BFF!

download GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PRESENCE now!

Act now... supplies are limited!

Share the hair

The reluctant hermit emerges from his cavernous dwelling once again in another attempt at assimilation.

He carefully walks his ever thinning line between social butterflies and social lepers.

What was never more than a glimmer of hope has all but surrendered to the already deafening cries which he imagines from women and children on the street.

"The beard! Destroy the beard!"

He will not be shaken.
He returns to the fold of silence and empty pages.

Whatever happened to...

Remember this young balloon toting pop star who helped navigate the dreams and aspirations of all americans toward peace on earth, walking on moons and domesticated wildlife? His name was Michael Jackson. The name may sound familiar as a pasty gentleman who uses the same name has found himself gracing the cover of many a tabloid in recent years. However, the young man pictured above performed a song which made innumerable turns around my record player as a child. I purchased the 45 rpm record for side A which ultimately saw very little needle time once I flipped that piece of vinyl over. From deep within the grooves of side B emerged a repetitive dance groove which sent me and my brother into a frenzy each time we heard it. I still own that 45... deep scratches, cracks and all. Ladies and gentlemen, as far as I'm concerned, "Thriller" was the B side of this lesser known Michael Jackson classic. Experience this joint as I did as a child and lose yourself in its hypnotic groove...

Can't Get Outta the Rain by Michael Jackson

American blood

I found this photo in a recent unpost...

Daniel Day-Lewis's portrayal of oil man Daniel Plainview character is brilliantly executed. His descent into madness is a frightening yet mesmerizing spectacle... on par with Orson Welles' George Foster Kane.

Checked out the film Great Wall of Sound...

often funny. ultimately moving.