New Computer

Hey Everyone,

I have alot of pictures to put up. Unfortunately my old apple laptop had a meltdown, and I need to get the photos off of it. The good news is that I have a shiny new netbook that is alot faster, and hopefully we can make it happen soon. In the meanwhile I have awesome news.

For those of you that don't already know, I got accepted to graduate school at UPenn for Urban Planning. So far, its the only school I have heard from, and they have yet to send me info about financial aid, but hopefully i'll get more good news on that end shortly.

In other good news, I finished a new song, Its called '71'( like the highway that runs through Cincinnati), and can be had here. Its a song that I started months ago, but couldn't finish until now. The song is from the viewpoint of a down-on-his-luck, mentally ill, homeless guy. Although the subject is sad, its no reflection of my current state. So don't worry. If anything, i'm happy right now, and psyched that I'm writing songs from new viewpoints. It feels like i'm starting to get somewhere.

In other news, I have a 2 week break coming up soon. My plan is to go to Lombok, climb a bunch of mountains, write some new songs, meet some new people, and have a much needed adventure.

The magic number is 81. And I hope that there is a party waiting for me when I get home. Hint Hint. Love you and miss you all.

-Thom

The Birdman

This is a gentleman that I met while wondering around in the backstreets of Yoyga.

A History of Heartbreak

Upon my Dad's suggestion, I wrote a new song (or rather finished an old one). I wish it was always this easy. Its called "A History of Heartbreak", and it has absolutely nothing to with my life, which feels awesome because all of my other songs are pretty personal. Growing Growing Growing.

http://www.4shared.com/file/227412125/32f7ee72/A_History_of_Heartbreak.html

New pictures/anecdotes/feelings are coming soon, I think.

Mr.Thoms and The English Club

Today in English Club we did a listening activity using Old Crow Medicine Show's Wagon Wheel. We learned about North Carolina, old time string bands, southern accents, nice long jokes (ha), hitchhiking, dogwood flowers, New England, Pine trees, coasts, banjos, poker, and of course wagon wheels. After a 5 or so listens, we recorded our own version. Here it is, Wagon Wheel by Mr.Thoms and The English Club. Enjoy.

SISWA SISWA

Here are some pictures of my students.The ones in uniforms are my English Club members from MAN 1, the school I work at. The younger ones, are underprivileged kids that I teach English on Wednesdays.

Things On Motorbikes #5

This edition of Things on Motorbikes is brought to you by the lovely Katie Bostdorff of Palembang, Sumatra. Thanks Katie!

Note: If you have awesome pictures of things on motorbikes (preferably in Indo or SE Asia), please feel free to send them to me at thomstead@gmail.com and I will put them up.

Things On Motorbikes #4

Phnom Penh, Cambodia