Preview

A snippet from our forthcoming CD/DVD release...Tick-tock. Get the word out, yo.

Remembering Grandma Roy

There's alot that has happened personally as of late that I have not shared on this blog. There are several reasons for that, I'm sure. But as I was making Malt-o-Meal this morning (which Holly tells me is just chemicals playing at being malted grains), I remembered my Grandma Roy who passed away a few weeks back.

She got sick from the flu and then took a fall, which caused some bleeding in the brain. For several reasons (known and unknown) she passed away a few weeks later.

Strange thing...wondering how you should feel about a person's death, nay, a family member's death. I never cried. And I don't know if that means I'm calloused or if it's hard to contrive emotions when I won't actually feel the impact until next Christmas comes around and she's not there.

I hope this doesn't sound cold; it's just real. The day after my Grandma Roy died, my father called me to tell me that his mom was being recommended for hospice. Wow. When it rains, it pours, I guess.

When you do this, do it in memory of me.

Grandma, I eat this bowl of Malt-o-Meal in memory of you...all those summers you would take us for a week down to San Antonio, make us banana milkshakes and Malt-o-Meal, take us to the pool. You are loved and missed.

What I've Been Consuming

While several in our community have been fasting from particular forms of consumption, I have been partaking. Honestly, it felt like it had been forever since I had seen LOST, or a film, or even picked up a book or magazine.

So, things I've been consuming in no particular order:

Video
The Business of Being Born
A Scanner Darkly
City of God
Into the Wild
LOST (Finally caught up)

Books/Mags
How to Make Wine
Everyday Zen
A Hedonist in the Wine Cellar
The Economist
Geez

It feels normal. And right now, that feels kinda nice.

Hotel Utah

Well, it was an interesting night to say the least. I just dunno if The Cobalt Season is cut out for the average non-wine-serving bar. I think our stuff is just too nuanced for that environment. It was just so noisy. Peter Keller and the Wildwood Boys were great.

Anyway, at least they comped us with some MGD. Sick.

Get Your Tickets (and some mp3s, yo!)

If you buy your tickets in advance for the Album Release Party (April 18th), you can download all the new songs digitally...right now!

Yes, yes, you'll still be receiving the handsome CD/DVD set the night of the party. But you can satisfy your urge for hearing the new tunes now. How's that for instant gratification?

Just go here, get your tickets and I'll send you a link to start your download! Enjoy. And then come to the party, singing along!

(And don't worry, all you folks who already bought tickets will be receiving an email from me shortly!)

A Year of Firsts

This is a year of firsts...and I think it will continue to be so.

I just started an IRA for both Holly and I. Soon we'll also set up an education fund for Paxton. These are things I first railed against, then grew ambivalent toward, and now am participating in.

But don't take me for some sell-out schmo. That is, I did my homework.

Best thing I found out there is PAXWORLD. And today, I set up accounts for Holly and I. They were/are the most responsible investment company I could find.

It does still grind against me somewhat...philosophically anyway. Doesn't sound much like lilies and sparrows and all. But I'm not sure what to do about that.

This is Creeping Me Out

More here.

CraigBob Re-Emerges

He's so emerging that he is going post-blog.

Here.

Some Chinese Wisdom

High Virtue is non-virtuous;
Therefore it has Virtue.

Low Virtue never frees itself from virtuousness;
Therefore it has no Virtue.

High Virtue makes no fuss and has no private ends to serve.
Low Virtue not only fusses, but also serves private ends.

Failing Tao, man resorts to Virtue.
Failing Virtue, man resorts to humanity.
Failing humanity, man resorts to morality.
Failing morality, man resorts to ceremony.

Now, ceremony is the merest husk of faith and loyalty.
It is the beginning of all confusion and disorder.

Tao te Ching (38)

Home Stretch

Done Mixing. Now Mastering. Almost done.

Bush's 5-Year-Old

Thanks to Rick for his reflections.

Tuvan Throat Singing

Am I the only one who's not heard of this?

Open Shows

We have 2 available nights on our CA tour next month. If you're near one of these places and would like to host a show...or know someone who might, please email me.

Monday, 4/21 Central Coast
Friday, 4/25 Southern California (LA/Orange County)

Word. Hook us up!

Fire

Three-alarm fire in our neighborhood.

It's about 4 blocks from our house. Tons of us gathered to watch and see what was going to happen. It seemed like there was no threat of people being trapped inside. But certainly there will still be much to grieve...people losing their homes, the neighborhood having to rebuild, etc.

No More Wisdom (Teeth)

Say goodbye to these...

A Pastoral President

I was listening to NPR this afternoon. Commentators spoke of the impending recession, the falling dollar, the US governments inability to even catch up with the EU on reducing greenhouse emissions, etc.

And I thought at the end of the article, "What can I do?" Stop eating out? Or commit to eating out more and make less food at home? Commit to buying fewer or more new products? What will help my fellow man? And ought we stop touring? Or buy the new plug-in Prius when it comes out this fall?

People have complained about Obama being too much of a Carter, encouraging people to turn their heat down and wear sweaters. But honestly, is there any other way that this society will change? If we somehow expect to keep our same style of life, is there any way that real change will ever happen? And certainly I'm not waiting on the government to tell me how to "do my part." But still I feel that our next leader of the executive branch is going to have to pastor people into a better way.

Is this possible? I sure hope so...or we have dark days ahead.

Great Lake Swimmers

Thanks to Craig and Dan for turning me onto this Canadian jem. Nice, mellow, thoughtful. Perfect for a sunny day while you're inside. Also pairs nicely with rain.

New T-Shirts

Get yours today! They're available on the website.

Wear my son's likeness on your person!

Album Release Party

If you're planning on spending April 18th with us, best get your tickets here! And please, please...help get the word out!!!

Mixing.

Mixing.