Don’t WATCH this movie! I wasted nearly 3 hours of my life watching this film. I really don’t like reviewing a movie negatively like this because I of all people now how much work goes into a project like this, but through no individual persons fault, this movie is just a big letdown. I thought the acting was really pretty good, it’s just a downer that goes on and on and on and really doesn’t have a point.

Here’s to you not spending 3 hours of your life trying to figure out this movie.
~Chris

“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.” – John Adams.

Live your life in full awareness of the freedoms we enjoy because of the sacrifices of the heroes in America’s history. Live well and make the most of these freedoms. We live in America, still the greatest country on earth!

Happy 4th of July!

~Chris

Do you know that I was a personal trainer for over a decade? One of my other passions in life besides flamenco guitar is health/fitness. I might post another Myth or two in the future because I’m getting so tired of seeing all of this mis-information out there.

So here it is…Myth #1…
You CANNOT spot reduce fat-loss. What does this mean? It means that ANY product or person or business or EXERCISE PRODUCT that says “We guarantee that you will lose that fat around your belly, hips, thighs, buttocks, eyelids, or whatever other body-part…FIRST or ONLY”….it’s a LIE. It’s a big FAT lie! Fat-loss is systemic…you will lose fat throughout your entire body system.

Think of it like this…when you take an aspirin for your headache, the aspirin doesn’t just affect your headache. It is in your blood stream and will affect your entire body.

So…before you go do 1,000 sit-ups to lose that tummy you’ve got…think again! Now, 1,000 sit-ups is exercise so you’ll be burning calories and if you burn more calories than you consume, you’ll lose weight. Yay! However you can burn those calories in any other way and you’ll lose weight too! However it will be weight-loss throughout your body, not just in your desired weight-loss area.

Happy Exercising!

Chris

For the last weekend of Feb. and into the beginning of March, Lena and I had the good fortune to go to Rapid City, SD. We had a wonderful time! I played in several concerts entitled, "Guitar Masters" at the Dahl Center for the Arts with 4 other amazing guitarists. I learned a LOT and it was an honor sharing the stage with all of them.

Lena and I both were able to teach workshops and perform a concert as well. We had AMAZING students and we culminated their workshop experience by incorporating them in our performance! That’s right, after only 3-4 days of workshops, our students were brave enough to get up on stage and perform! We were blessed with an amazing group!

Look at all my guitar students!
And here are Pete and Chris, so happy to be accompanying flamenco dance for the first time in their lives! (That’s Lena with her student, Wiyaca…dancing flamenco on stage for the first time in her life!)

(these photos are courtesy of my uncle, Richard Jacome)…here i am with him in Custer State Park…

After our concerts, Lena and I were able to see the sights all around Rapid City. My uncle took us to Custer State Park, where we were able to see LOTS of wildlife such as: Buffalo, Antelope, Wild Turkeys, White-Tailed Deer and lots of other fun animals such as prairie dogs!
Here’s a close up of a buffalo for you!

We also went to Mt. Rushmore (wow! what an inspiring work!) Here’s Lena, all inspired!

On our last day we took a drive to an amazing live paleontological site called Mammoth Site. It’s still being excavated and it’s a phenomenally impressive place to see. Over 50 mammoth’s fossils have been found there and they’ve only scratched the surface. Here are some photos for you…

This is a Mammoth cut-out…no live mammoths any more, silly!

Here’s Lena with a life-size replica of the Colombian Mammoth.

We got to meet a lot of wonderful new people throughout our stay in Rapid City, SD and we are SOOOOO looking forward to returning and being able to see everyone again. Here are some pictures we took with our dear friend Bob Fahey (Oh, and he’s an EXCEPTIONAL guitarist!).


Thanks so much Rapid City!!!
Ole! from Chris & Lena!!

since i’ve posted a blog on this site…I have been using my website blog instead, so please check that out when you get a chance…the link is www.chrisburtonjacome.com/blog

What’s been going on with me, you ask? Well, I am still working on my new CD and it is a LOT of work. This CD is so complex that it is just taking a long time to get through all of the material. I have 2 more songs to finish the guitar on and then after that the process will go much faster. With all of the touring I’ve been doing it’s been difficult to keep the process in a “flow”. It’s been a start/stop/pause kinda thing for a while…and now we’ll be stopping soon for a Holiday break. Hopefully I can get these guitar parts done before then…if not, i have kinda just gone to the attitude, “It will get done when it’s supposed to get done” to in lieu of feeling down about the project’s progress.

Speaking of the CD…I am going to log off and go practice again!

~CBJ

My quest for 30 wide-grip pull-ups in a row is getting closer. I was able to get 26 in a row the other day. I have been having some hand issues the last few days so i am not going to be doing any weight training or calisthenics until my hands feel better again. I don’t know what happened but it feels like i pulled the muscles that go all along the bottom of my palms. My chiropractor did some energy work on me last Friday and did a test where I hold my thumb and pinky together and he sees if he can pull them apart. I guess i’m not SUPPOSED to try so hard to hold them together but i was really pushing hard and he tried to pull them apart. My theory is that i strained my muscles that way.

My hands are definitely improving but it still hurts to play guitar…oh well, gotta keep plucking away!

Anyway, next week i’m hopeful i’ll be able to move up to 27 or 28 pull-ups in a row!

I’ll keep you posted…

CBJ

Alicia (living in Tucson, AZ) just sent me a link to her MySpace where she has a video of her playing my song, “Motivacion“.

Way to go Alicia! Keep on playing that GEE-TAR!!

“Motivation” as played by Alicia

Ole! Alicia,

~CBJ

Heard this song on the newest Old Navy Commercial…I TOTALLY DIG IT! I know this song will irritate A LOT of people…but not me!

~CBJ

If you are familiar with flamenco, such as actually being a flamenco dancer/guitarist/singer…you’ll probably enjoy this video much more…for those of you who aren’t a “flamenco” I would be really interested to hear what you think about this video.

It’s a spoof on one of the most celebrated flamenco families in history…

Have a great day, and enjoy!

~CBJ

PS…Thank you to Mele and Angelina for forwarding this on to me!

I met my dear friend Heather at the Rec Center at the U of A in Tucson, AZ. We go WAY back! She is awesome and I knew from the moment she told me about Shane that he was something special. So, they got married! I was honored to be asked to play at their ceremony. It was beautiful!

So, this is about Shane though…one cool dude. He is certainly affable, he is very calm, cool, collected and an all-around awesome dude. And I gotta tell you, he can take a picture! I am, quite obviously, a huge fan of him & his work and you’ll see why when you see his website and then, hopefully see his gallery in person.

So here’s the info:
www.shaneknight.com

His Gallery in Flagstaff, Arizona…

The Shane Knight Gallery
10 East Route 66
Historic Downtown
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
Phone: 1.928.556.1563

Have an Artful Day!!