6/2/2008
I had a great weekend in Arizona. It was so good to see my friends again in Tucson on Friday. Thank you Kandee and Latter-Day Cottage for putting on such a great event. As always, Corbin was fantastic and had an amazing performance. He has such a grasp for intriguing lyrics and melodies.

On Saturday, I was fortunate enough to be a part of the Music and Arts Festival in Mesa. Thanks to the Allen family for being so kind. You guys did a great job. I hope to be a part of it in the years to come.

I got to see Alex Boye and Cheri Call perform. Not only are they fantastic musicians, they are fantastic people. I also had the chance to catch up with Peter Breinholt and Ryan Shupe. I am such a big fan of all of these guys. If you would have told me 10 years ago that I would be casually conversing with these musical heroes, I wouldn't have believed you. I am so fortunate to be able to associate with such great people.

Thanks to everyone who continues to support me. I am very grateful.

5/27/2008
I love this time of year. Summer blockbusters are coming out. School is ending. Vacations that were planned in January are getting closer. I have found that the anticipation and planning of a vacation is usually more enjoyable than the actual execution of the vacation. There is so much to look forward to when you're planning: The food, the activities, and the people. When you're planning, you focus on the fun you will have. You usually don't take into consideration that the other families' kids have a low tolerance to sun, bad food, and bacteria in the wave pool. You just think, "Ooh! A water park! The kids will love being outside all day!" You don't think about the neighbor kids' problems until you're on your way home at the end of a long water-slide-filled day. The kids are sleeping in the back of the van. The sunburned neighbor kid is asleep on the back bench. Your favorite son is on the floor beneath him. As you're pulling into your driveway late at night, the queasy neighbor kid slowly sits up and mutters, "Oghughhh..." waking up your handsome son on the floor with a cascade of partially digested hot dogs, chips, Gatorade, Sprite, and powdered jelly-filled donuts. Then you pull your confused (yet extremely intelligent) son out of the van, strip off his swimsuit, and squirt him down in your front yard with the freezing water from the garden hose. Even though your son is only 9 years old and it's nighttime, he still gets embarrassed by being hosed down in the buff by his mom. You think, "Oh, he'll get over it." Guess what: I won't. I'm still afraid to walk outside at night naked. I still love you though, Mom.

2/16/2008
I’ve been cold before. I grew up in the Rocky Mountains. I went on the Boy Scout Klondike over-nighters. I’ve jumped in barely-thawed mountain lakes. I’ve stuck my tongue to frozen poles. I thought I knew what cold was. Then I went to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada during the bleak winter month of February. I’ve been cold, but I’ve never been deep-frozen. I’ve never had my nostrils constrict and freeze instantaneously. I’ve never had to plug in a car battery over night to prevent it from freezing. I’ve never had my fingertips nibbled by Old Man Frost Bite just by leaving them uncovered for mere seconds. I’ve never experienced tiny ice daggers piercing my lungs from the inside when I took a breath.

Despite the soul numbing weather, I loved my first trip over the northern border. The warm, kind people that I met made the cold more than bearable. I can see why people would want to stay in Edmonton. Everyone was quick to warm you with kind words, a smile, or a hug. During the concert, I mentioned my lack of proper head protection in the cold weather. Within seconds, a young man threw his toque on stage for me to keep. (Thank you again.) The whole time I was there, I felt the cold only when I was away from the wonderful people. Canadians are the warmest souls on earth. I am better for having met the people I met. Thank you Canada for existing. I look forward to returning to my home and native land. "If I believe in hope, if I believe in love, then I believe in you, Oh Canada!"

12/22/2007
I just finished watching Christmas Vacation. It has been a family tradition for years now. "’Tis the season to be Merry." "A whole quarter!" "Are you serious Clark?" "THE BLESSING!" These lines can be heard at my house throughout the year. Chevy Chase was at his peak. What a funny, funny man. It seems like he hasn’t been given roles where he can really shine for quite some time. Fletch, the Vacations (minus Vegas), Seems Like Old Times, Three Amigos (one of my top 3 films of all time). These were films where his subtle, sarcastic presence really came through. I miss Chevy most at Christmas.

Every day the kids and I have begged my wife to "open just one present. PLEASE?" She hasn’t budged in 22 days.

I hope your holidays are filled with fun traditions. See you next year!

…SQUIRREL!!

10/5/2007
I love the fall. It makes me feel so nostalgic.

I remember getting my drivers license in October.
I remember my first dance/date was in October.
I remember wrecking my mom's minivan on that first dance/date on a brick column at the end of my date's driveway.
I remember telling my parents that the van must have been hit by another car in the parking lot.

I remember going to a high school football game.
I remember cheering for the team.
I remember a kid lighting firecrackers in the bleachers.
I remember that kid standing next to me.
I remember he had a hard time getting the lighter to work.
I remember being kind enough to offer to help him.
I remember immediately regretting that action.
I remember the hand of the vice principal landing heavy on my shoulder.

I remember my wife's birthday.
I remember she was trying to trick me into thinking it was one day later.
I remember one year getting confused.
I remember getting in a lot of trouble for missing her birthday.
I remember arguing that I thought it was the following day.
I remember that I am always wrong and she is always right.
I love you, honey.
Happy Birthday?

8/27/2007
September will be busy for me. I'll be in UT, AZ and CO. Here's the schedule:

Saturday, Sept 8, 5:00 - 6:30 PM
REFLECTIONS BOOKSTORE
Meet and Greet
47 South Main Street
Brigham City, Utah 84302

Saturday, Sept 8, 8:00 PM
BRIGHAM CITY PEACH DAYS CELEBRATION
FREE Concert
Main Street Stage
43 North Main Street
Brigham City, Utah 84302
Information on Peach Days

Friday, Sept 14, 2 - 4 PM
LATTER DAY COTTAGE
Meet and Greet
7012 East Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, Arizona 85710
(520) 885-2635

Friday, Sept 14, 7:30 PM
CATALINA FOOTHILLS HIGH SCHOOL
Concert
4300 East Sunrise Drive
Tucson, Arizona 85718
Tickets: $8 - $12
Purchase tickets online

Saturday, Sept 15, 1 - 3 PM
PIONEER BOOKS AND GIFTS
Meet and Greet
2820 East University Drive #102
Mesa, AZ 85213
(480) 832-8433

Saturday, Sept 15, 7:30 PM
MOUNTAIN VIEW HIGH SCHOOL
Concert
2700 E. Brown Road
Mesa, Arizona 85213
Tickets: $10 - $15
Purchase tickets online
OR at
Pioneer Books and Gifts
2820 East University Drive #102
Mesa, AZ 85213
(480) 832-8433

Friday, Sept 21, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
MORONI BOOKS AND GIFTS
Meet and Greet
344 East Foothills Parkway
Fort Collins, CO 80525
(970) 493-4895

8/9/2007
Here's a little clip of me singing a new song - "Mistakes and Stowaways".