Looks like we got lucky with the weather this past Saturday. It was great to get out to Central Park with you guys for an afternoon of music. If you made it out there... THANKS! And, if you're new here... Welcome!

I know there are people who are reading this in other parts of the country and around the world. But, here in New York City.... this week is a little more like early-April than late-May. It's kinda cold and rainy this week. Like I said last week, these are the days when I like to do the "inside work". All different kinds of inside work.

One kind of inside work is to take care of the connection to the place where the songs come from. Y'know? Getting quiet... slowing down... listening to that little Voice that speaks to me clearly and gently through all the chatter of a normal day. That's the "inside work" that is the most important.

Then, there is also the "inside work" on a day like today like... um... cleaning the bathroom.

But, I also have a lot of writing to do and quite a few phone calls to make today to start putting together this benefit concert for the Fall. And very soon, I'm gonna be asking for alot of help from people like you... ordinary people like you and me.

I've gotta write a piece for a proposal to Mercy Corps. I've gotta ask my good friend Dennis Riley, (the guy who helped produce "Common Ground") to do a bit of research for me. And, I hafta ask James Marino to set up a special page on this website for information and updates about the progress we're making in this effort.

If you don't know what I'm talking about... in a nutshell, we're going to do a concert to help the ordinary people on the other side of the planet that are being caught in the crossfire, who's lives are being destroyed, who are being horribly hurt... and ignored... in the midst of this immoral and unAmerican war we prosecuted in Iraq. The thrust of this effort is simply this:

Ordinary People... Helping Ordinary People

EVERYTHING YOU WANNA KNOW ABOUT THE CONCERT...

...so far.

Ha! If you just took a few minutes to click on this link and read what's there, I have a feeling you are waaaaaay a head of most Americans in the "caring" department.

Gordon, who helped inspire this idea... and some friends.

Anyway, I'll be writing more about all of this as the summer goes on. But, this might be chance for all of us to work toward something that might make a differnce in some people's lives... ordinary people that we will never meet.

Y'know?

Listen, we're gonna have a wonderful summer here in New York City. We're gonna sing in Central Park. We're gonna have a lot of laughs. We'll make new friends out there... smile a lot. I'm sure I'll write a few new songs. I'm the luckiest manh alive. (Hell, the Yankees will even pass the Red Sox by the All Star break!) But, ignoring the disaster our government has created in another country is not an option. These ordinary people need our help.

What d'ya think? Wanna put on a concert with me? Wanna see if we can raise some money to go directly to these people?

And, listen... I'd really love it if you guys would keep showing up in the "Forum" (message board) over there. I'm really diggin' the thread about the "Favorite Lyrics" and the "Song Suggestions". I also appreciate the "Comments" people are making, and wanna thank those who are contributing "News" articles in the Iraq thread.

Thanks. We're gonna have a lot of fun this summer. And, hopefully, we'll do something Good.

Oh yeah... one more thing about this concert... there's another thing you should know about this.

It might turn ut to be something as small as a special afternoon in Central Park. Or, it might turn out to be something huge at Town Hall or The Hammerstein Ballroom. (Miracles happen everyday.) It might just be me... might just be me and Dodger... might just be me and the band and some local artists. It might turn out to be James Taylor and Nora Jones. Who knows? But, it will be something.

But, if Rep. Charles Rangel, or Mayor Bloomberg, or Sen. Ted Kennedy, or Gov. Pataki wanna lend a hand, offer their support, and say a few words.... the answer is "No". This concert is NOT for politicians.

(Same concept as the Little Rascals "He-man-Women-Hater's Club")

They are not allowed.

Sorry.

Ordinary People... Helping Ordinary People.

We'll see how it goes.

Thanks again.