Tabula Rasa

We are, of course, on the cusp of a new year. Is the glass half-full or half-empty? How we answer this question will impact our lives in tangible ways. What is on your horizon this coming year? What would you like to achieve? Where would you like to go? What would you like to be? Be it. Do it. Go there.

Merry Christmas

WAR

"You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war."
Albert Einstein

RAIN

It's raining here this morning. I love the sound of the rain. I enjoy a rainy day. It makes me introspective and hopeful for some reason. It brings out my creativity. It's the kind of day that I would like to spend writing, reading, or recording. I have to go to work today, so I guess that's not going to happen. It will probably be a bit slow this morning at the store.

Tomorrow night my brother's band, Sick Stooges, is having a Christmas bash at a club called the Venue. I am going to play a short set in support of new album, Well Enough Alone. My brother Roger will be kind enough to back me up on keyboards, so technically the Yale Brothers are playing. My brother is doing double duty, because Sick Stooges are playing as well. I don't play cover tunes (I have, but I choose not to as a rule anymore), and they are a classic rock act, so there should be a nice mix of music going on. Folky, country-rock from me, and classic rock from them.

FAINTING GOATS

This is strange.....

MBHS ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY CONCERT 2007

Tonight was the 2007 Christmas concert for the Myrtle Beach High School Orchestra. Actually, there are three levels of the orchestra. Sixth grade, Seventh and Eighth Grade, and High School. Every level does its own little set, and then they all play a couple of songs together. This will be the last one for my daughter Katie and her senior friends, because of course they are on their way to bigger and better things.

Katie got accepted by Boston College today. That makes four schools so far (a few more are still not heard from yet);

• Boston College (scholarship info to come)
  
• Tulane (with some scholarship)
• Clemson (With some scholarship)
• College of Charleston Honors College (scholarships not awarded yet)

I can't tell you how proud I am of Katie. She has worked so hard, and has always been self-motivated; nobody is pushing her, but the girl is driven to excellence. She is well balanced as a young adult, and she has a wonderful, compassionate spirit. I think her future will be bright, indeed. She is up for valedictorian if she stays the course. I have every reason to believe that she will.

My niece, Taylor is in the orchestra as well. She is in eighth grade, and she is another brain! This kid is amazing too.

Interview

Sean McGaughey, a wonderful Canadian songwriter and host of the For The Sake Of The Song podcast interviewed me last night for his show. We had a great conversation.
We talked about songwriting, the state of the music industry, and new media. I guess we have known each other about six months via the web, but this was the first time we actually spoke to one another ear to ear. Sean has got quite a few episodes ready to go, so it will be a little while before he posts my interview. I can't wait to hear his Trout Fishing In America episode. I have liked those guys for quite some time. Check him out. He's got a great show, and he is an excellent songwriter, and it goes without saying that he is a really nice guy.

Sublime Tuesday

It is an absolutely beautiful day here in Myrtle Beach. It's 75 degrees and clear and sunny. Not too shabby for mid-December. I rode my bike to work today and it was a wonderful ride in, and I look forward to the ride home, soaking up the scenery as I go.

A sublime Cigar

This is what I chose from my humidor this evening. It's a lovely night, so how about a sublime Montecristo from that small island south of Miami?

Generally Cubans are too strong for me, but this one is perfect in flavor, construction and draw. It's one of the best rolled and capped cigars I have seen in a while.

Quote:

By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong.
- Charles Wadsworth

Lappy Issues

I have been having issues with my Compaq laptop, but I think I might have resolved them. If for some reason I am incorrect I think I shall reinstall XP, wipe this baby clean, and start from scratch. I want a Mac, but I am fond of this little machine and I think the money should be better spent towards Katie’s education if the truth were told. If this machine stays stable, I am perfectly content to live with it for as long as it is serving its purpose. I am completely grateful for the service this little machine has given me. I want to upgrade only if absolutely necessary. Also, my car is in need of repair as well, so I think I need to be prudent and as frugal as possible here. It has been a learning experience anyway. I dig the adventure and the learning.

Right now I am updating iTunes. I am going to make it. I truly have my life on this machine.

Thanks Dave!

A quick shout out to my buddy Dave Slusher for playing my song, Just No Way, on the Dec 2 Evil Genius Chronicles Clambake! Those of you who know me know that I am a long time fan of Dave and his show, and I am glad that we're friends. As a matter of fact, he's one of the three guys that got me interested in new media in the first place. Go check out his Blog and his Podcast. You will not be disappointed.

Two Dollar Pistols

Betsy and I met up with Dave Slusher
at the SXSE to see the Two Dollar Pistols. It was an awesome night. After the fantastic potluck, my friend Ed Dennis opened the show with Darryl High with their new duo project Truckstop Daredevils. After them, the Two Dollar Pistols came on and rocked the house. There were a ton of people I knew there last night, and it was great to see everyone. This concert series is by far the best thing going in Myrtle Beach music-wise. People are there to listen and to have a good time. The music takes a front seat. It will certainly spoil any artist to play this room, I have no doubt.
I enjoyed talking to John Howie, Jr. for a few minutes and we swapped CD's. I gotta tell you. Their new record, Here Tomorrow, Gone Today, is nothing short of excellent. Do yourself a favor and pick one up.

Thanks to Jeff Roberts and everyone who keeps this train on the rails!

Pics in descending order...

1. Two Dollar Pistols
2. Jeff Roberts
3. Dave Slusher, Betsy, Me
4. Ed Dennis and I
5. Darryl High, Ed Dennis
6. John Howie, Jr.