Shotgun update...

This has nothing to do with either a "shotgun wedding" or buying Vicki a gun for Christmas. As I said in an earlier post, I'm not giving her one, since she's WAY too good with it.

No, this is one of those "here's everything all at once" updates, to kind of clear the plate and make a clean start to December...

The Christmas CD: YES! It is finished!! Should be back in our hands by December 6th. I'll post an announcement soon, including the title and so on.

Employment: I am still part-time with CBH Ministries, and am LOVING it! I work in post-production for Down Gilead Lane, and it's really a good fit for me. Vicki is still in Database Services at Cornerstone, which she loves.

Way-late congratulations to my wife who was selected by her peers to be the 2007 Cornerstone University Staff Member Of The Year! As my friend Ruth would put it, I'm so proud of her, I'm bustin' my buttons. (hmmm... that last could also be an after-effect of Thanksgiving...)

The Anla'shok: my beloved bike is a work in progress. Steering and handlebars are still not quite right, and I've fallen off of it a few times, once really hurting my knee. So, we've still got some tweaking to do.

Weight and Health: Not so good. My weight is WAY up - I've been afraid to look at the scale to see if I've actually gotten back to where I started a few years ago. We are in process of getting insurance approval for gastric bypass surgery, but I keep dropping the ball and not completing a couple of tests needed. Things kind of got neglected when we were finishing the CD, so I really need the courage to get back on track.

In the meantime, walking across the room is really hard, standing is impossible, and I feel pretty much like I did before I started this whole thing. Folks at church might have noticed me limping a bit more as I climb down the stairs from the platform on Sunday mornings. And setting up for a gig by myself is almost more than I can do. Unfortunately, that means I have to call Vicki in more than I'd like to help with setup.

My Mom's House: did officially sell, so that's now behind us. We're trying to be wise in using the money, although I've probably not been wise enough. So, we'll do what we can with what we have. It's a great blessing not to have to think about it anymore.

Depression: I'm still taking my "happy pills," but the good news is that since I started working at CBH, I haven't needed to use the sleep meds. I've been falling asleep on my own. I still use a stimulant to help me get going in the morning, but that's alright. It's a real blessing to be able to fall asleep on my own.

Thankfulness: is pretty much where I live these days. God has once again shown His faithfulness, in so many ways, and I'm so undeserving of it. He is good, and I am humbled.

That's a good place to stop, don't ya think? :-D

Lord of all, today (and EVERY day) I give thanks...

For Vicki

For Ezri

For our family

For our church, and our Pastor

For our friends

For our jobs

For creative gifts used to give You glory

For sunshine on Thanksgiving day

For our home (messy as it is)

For the abundance that You give us, that we don't deserve

For things that aren't really necessary (like coffee) but are good

For music

For our country

For the New CD - thanks for helping us complete it!

For all those people You bring to mind on this day, and for what they mean to us

For Your Word

For turkey, potatoes (sweet, mashed, or otherwise), stuffing, pumpkin pie, and all those things we will consume today

For antacids, Pepto Bismol, Alka Seltzer, and all other things we may consume later today

For football, marching bands, and other festive things

For quiet, to take us away from all those distractions

For rest, for relaxation, for a break from routine (at least for some of us)

For those who work today so others can take a break

For Yourself, best gift of all

Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise!

The sound of silence...

Not much to say right now... because we're trying to finish up the Christmas CD and get it off to the plant for mastering and duplication. So, pardon my silence. Lots going on - just no time to tell you about it. :-D

If I was half the man my wife is...

As you will remember from a couple of weeks ago, this is my wife shooting a big ol' manly rifle...
And, here is my wife driving a big ol' manly truck...

As for me, I play my little tooty thingies...

And make stuff out of shiny bits of metal...

Weird, eh? I guess "normal" really is just a setting on the dryer. My father-in-law is a very patient man. He wanted a son-in-law... he got me. I don't golf. I don't watch sports. And, I knit. I think he likes me in spite of it all, but sometimes ya gotta wonder.

What a weird life. :-D

To gig, or not to gig?

So, here's a question for all 2.37 of you that read this thing... Is my music the sort of thing that you'd go out to hear?

Lemmie 'splain. I started to play in coffeehouses last March, and since then I've noticed one trend: nobody shows up. :-D No - that's not totally true. But even the owners of the places have noted that it seems REALLY empty on nights that I play. So, this begs the question - is the type of music I play live the sort of thing that people will take an evening out of their busy lives to come and hear?

My show schedule is getting light again, and I'm just wondering if it's worth the time and effort to fill it up again. Or, should I concentrate on other things. Coffeehouses don't pay to have an artist appear - revenue comes from tips and selling merch - CDs, etc. And, although everything in life isn't about the money, it is a factor.

Or, do I just need to do some major marketing, and give this thing a real go? I'm just not sure if the type of folks who would listen to my music are the type of folks who would come out and hear it at a coffeehouse.

So, anybody want to weigh in on this one? :-D