Dig Deeper

Thanks for your kind thoughts. I've been using this blog to think out loud. To explain my life. As much to me as to you. I've chosen to express these thoughts as part of my voice in this world. That being said I now realize something that I've been wrestling with for some time now. I've been feeling burnt out by the music business. But the truth is playing music energizes me. I feel good when I am in the middle of a song and people's heads are bobbing, hands clapping and feet stomping. I LOVE it when the applause washes over me. I know that I was put on this Earth to create song and to sing.

So what was causing the wear and tear? Everything that gets in the way of art. I have filled my life (literally) with tasks and obligations that suck every last second out of my artistic life and that suck every ounce of my creative energy away. I've done this in the name of financial security. In the end what I've done is shackle myself to low paying jobs that simply take away the joy of music.

I have hinted in this blog that I may give up. I know now that will never happen. Instead I will dig deeper and go further into the unknown. I have come to far to turn back now. I don't often turn around and see how much I have done or how far I have travelled. But I have been doing that lately. I must keep going...if not for the hope of reward, simply for the journey. When I was young I dreamed of flying and of ocean voyages. I dreamed of adventure and what a grand adventure I am on.

Face The Music

I've been having some trouble in my life this past winter/spring. Some of you know and many others have probably deduced as much through this blog. The thing is that I've spent my entire adult life working to be a musician. I have hardly put any energy into anything else in my life. Not my home, none of my relationships and certainly not my health. So I am faced now with the results of that choice. I am 40, overweight and definately lonely. I am however not depressed or at least not seriously depressed. I think this is the reason that I'm putting so much effort into my yard and my house these days. As I work through this period I want to remember to not let the pendulum swing too far the other way. I seek a balance to my life not a complete change. I don't want to stop the music, just let other things take their natural place in my life.

My Own Personal Easter

What I'm trying to find is my own renewal. I am seeking the rebirth of my seasons and the energy that comes after a long winter nap. I long to remember the feeling of expectation when you've spent all winter in school and Spring Break is just around the corner. Then comes the freedom of summer, of endless days hanging out at the beach or at the local hangout.

My friend David Newland writes about how he started late in the music business and how his goal is not to burn brightly and fade out but to simply burn for a long time. Let me add to that statement by saying that I not only want to burn for a long time but I want my light to grow stronger and stronger with each passing year.

I have started riding my bike to work and for small errands. My legs feel like rubber and I'm learning to dress better for the weather but overall I feel pretty good about it. Now if only I could figure out the spandex shorts I'd have it made.

A little reflection

This is a reflection of the work I did on an old section of fence in my backyard. It's also a metaphor for how I feel lately about my public life. I've spent the last 20 years trying to get people to know me and folks in the music industry to talk about me and I think I've finally suceeded. The strange thing is though it feels totally weird meeting someone and having them know all about you before you've had a chance to share anything.

The other day I met a lovely woman and sure enough she knew all about my career and had read through these pages. It left me wondering what was left to talk about? Of course I wanted to get to know more about her and I tried to spend my time that way but I felt like I had to defend myself or something. Not against anything in particular, just because my life has been so public.

So if you're reading this (and you know who you are) it's okay that you know about me and I'll deal with the feeling weird stuff soon enough. I just want you to know me, not just the performer. Sometimes they're the same guy but not always.

New Book & CD available!

I just finished my new book & CD - Acoustic Slide Blues (a method for bottleneck guitar). The book features tips and techniques for learning the arcane magic that is slide guitar. There are 17 exercises in Open D tuning, Open G tuning, Scales and Licks, turn arounds plus two songs to play. The CD has every exercise recorded along with tuning guides for Open D and Open G and includes 2 bonus acoustic blues tracks. One of the bonus tracks is the song Freight Train which is being recorded for release on my next CD (fall 2006) and the other song is Promised Land from my 2003 CD This Condition.

The books are available from me plus I'll be seeking select retailers as well. E-mail me for details.

Backyard plans

Recently I've been turning my attention to my plans for my backyard. I think it's the final melting of the snow that did it. I can see the grass, grey with dirt from the melt off and yet to rise with the rebirth of spring. Anyway it's all I can do to keep my mind off fixing up the yard.

It all started last year with the first 12 feet of fence. Now I have another fence to build (about 20 feet) and that will complete the fencing of my backyard. I also have to remove the small deck at the front of my house. It has some problems and I thought I'd rebuild it to make a more welcoming entrance to my house. The problem was what to do with the old deck materials. I like reusing whenever possible. Last night I hit upon the solution. Move the old deck to the back and turn it into a covered outside room!

So now I've been planning and pricing out materials. Preparing my cutting list and so on. Figuring out whether or not I need to sink footings for the deck or can I support it on deck blocks and patio stone. I have a journal with drawings and illustrations. First will be the new fence and then the deck project comes into play. Looks like I'll be busy all summer!

Ukulele Shelf Video

Here's the completed ukulele shelf video. Enjoy!

Ukulele Shelf

Here is my new Ukulele display shelf made entirely from a shipping pallet. I found the screws that hold it together in an old coffee tin left in my garage. I cut the lumber with a saw given to me and put it together with a screw gun that I got with my Club Z points. Total cost $0.00! Yep ZIP, NADA, ZILTCH. Not bad eh? I'll post a video in a day or so with the project as it progresses.

New MySpace Page

I have a new MySpace page. It's located at www.myspace.com/manitobahal. If you're wondering about the songs on the new CD, two of them are uploaded there for all to listen. I'm going to continue placing new songs there as I complete them. You can listen to them, download them and rate them. So surf on over and help me decide which tunes find the most favour with my listening public. Thanks.