track and treats

what is me?

life is good, hard, beautiful, ugly, full of revelation and confusing. all at the same time.

there are so many people in this world.

it blows my mind like the thought of Eternity does.

i'm in Chicago.

this morning i recorded a few original songs for a demo.

pretty emotional songs to come into full contact with so early in the day.

i was in a quirky/homey upstairs studio. this guy who does graffiti tagged these faces on bright yellow pillows. some of the coolest cushions i eva did see.

i haven't painted a pillow in a long time, i realized.

we were above an authentic mexican joint called the Burrito House.

i got a big one with extra avocado.

i usually never know what to order, and once i finally do...

i always wish i would have gotten something else.

i'm staying with my old friend Adam.

his roommate is a great hispanic Christian guy.

it was very refreshing talking with him about the Faith...

i don't think i'm as lost as i thought i was.

i can hear "Imagine" by John Lennon in the background while in my bedroom.

it feels soothing. i have a crock-pot on filled with water and a random idea of cough drops thrown in. this is supposed to help keep the air moist.

[editors note: i woke up the next morning with my socks boiling in the crock-pot. i kicked them off during the night & apparently they landed right in it! also, the water was yellow from the cough drops. you can only imagine my reaction.]

my voice is getting scratchy... the timing is just impeccable.

praying, neti-pot, halls, seclusion-no talking, lots of water... this should make me better by tomorrow's show.

red @ 3:32

beautiful

sad

oct 88

found something i drew when i was 5 years old:

it appears i was blue in the womb.

November 1st

we all do things in life that we regret.

different levels of gut wrenching, maybe.

but regrets nonetheless.

may we forgive outside forces, and may we forgive ourselves.

hello, November.

boo!

me and the little boy gettin' in the Halloween spirit.

and poor Soupie looks like she is wearing a mask.

but she got bit by something that made her snout swollen and eyes swell shut!

we think it was a snake.

those long lil doggies just love crawling in holes.

she's our halloweenier.

my happy place.

bits from Eureka

i took a trip of solitude to the mountains of Northern Arkansas this past June.

there's a monastery tucked away deep in the hills.

they also own an Inn of sorts down the road, or around the way, or up the bend.. whichever.

you're in virtual seclusion, and that's what mattered.

only $35 a night for a comfortable room, no TV, view of heaven, peace & quiet, full access to their kitchen, cozy library, and most noteworthy...permission to play their old piano.

before i left i had a long list of do's and don'ts.

i wanted to eat only organic, i wanted to finish at least 2 books, i wasn't going to get on the internet, etc.

as i was driving off, i took my list and threw it out of the window.

i felt liberated.

i'd never taken a trip like this before.

it was a time to spend with just ME to reflect, heal, and have fun.

i didn't want to have any set rules because if they got broken,

i might feel bad.

and i didn't want to chance feeling even the slightest tinge of disappointment during such a lovely and special occasion.

Raw Honey i bought from a mom & pop store in the mountains.

i discovered that Wheat Thins are really tasty dipped in it. sweet n salty meets gooey/crunchy.

i took this little book by my favorite author Kent Nerburn.

sub-titled "Living in the Spirit of the Prayer of St. Francis".

little did i know there would be a St. Francis retreat at the same place i was lodging a few days after i arrived.

also, i last saw the retreat's teacher, musician/monk John Michael Talbot, when i was a pre-teen. we were at an organic garden where they were dedicating a St. Francis statue.

John Michael stood in the middle of a field playing guitar and

singing Hallelujahs.

every sheep in that field stood erect like ivory statues, watching him play.

it was a holy sight, indeed.

JMT was part of the 70's country-rock band Mason Profitt before his spiritual enlightenment, so he'd acquired a decent fan base throughout the years.

the crowd, made up of small families, hippies, musicians, and other granola-esqe people, relaxed on blankets and quilts and watched the show. i can still feel the atmosphere. perfect Fall time weather. the smell of green.

i remember feeling extra alive.

synchronicity couldn't be ignored.

i ended up staying for the St. Francis retreat too.

lamby picture in the room. such a precious sketch. lambs are still my favorite. (well, and squirrels too!)