Well... what d'ya think about this weekend?

Suddenly, it ain't lookin' so good weather-wise, hah?

I hope it clears up for all you people out there celebrating Mother's Day on Sunday. Y'know, even if the rain holds off tomorrow, the temperature doesn't even look like it's gonna break 60. So right now, I'd hafta say Sunday is lookin' like the best bet for singing in Central Park. If I do head out there on Sunday, and you guys are in town, come by with your Mom after brunch for a little while.

But, if we don't get to the park for an afternoon of music this weekend, we'll be out there soon enough. Just check back in here every morning okay? Check in here every day anyway. And, listen... if you live in another part of the country or another part of the world, this summer stay in touch by jumping into the "Forum" (message board) over there and saying "Hi".

Hey... could you pass the address for this page on to a few of your friends today? (There's a reason. I'll explain further down.)

Today, I'm running a few new songs to take out to "The Hill" this year. Yesterday, I was workin' that tune by Matchbox Twenty, "Unwell" and a couple of songs by a friend of mine, fellow songwriter Sam Leopold. I don't know how many of you have ever been to one of the SGA Songwriter's Circles down at the Red Lion in the Village each month. But, Sam is one of the great songwriters that I often get to share the stage with down there. He's written so many songs that I really dig. So, I decided to do a few myself this year. He writes songs that sneak up on you. Sometimes, they feel like one thing, but soon the poetry begins to let you in... as in his great song, "Supermarket".

I also wanna take a run at his songs, "Troubador" and "Writing on the Wall". Nobody does these songs like Sam. I just hope I can do them justice.

Yeah, hey listen... about yesterday's update...

I'm cool.

I'm just gonna stop thinking about it so much and just, y'know, do what I do. I'm gonna play the music that I hear in my heart and say what's on my mind like I always have. If some people don't like it, I reeeealllly can't give a shit. I'm having fun and I feel good. And, so are most of the people around me who are going along for the ride. I feel good about the work I'm lucky enough to be doing. I'm lucky to a part of an amazing circle of artists and friends. It's formed over the last several years... and, the circle is always growing.

Y'know, maybe the feeling is coming back.

This week, I've had several conversations with people and received emails from all over. "We take turns being angels... for one another." And, maybe the feeling is coming back. Maybe the passion is starting to awaken again in the good people of this country. I completely understand how so many people shut down after last November, especially in this town. We keep takin' it in the neck, especially people on the lower economic end of things. But, maybe it's time for people to awaken again, and pay attention to what's going on around them... in a good way. And, then try in whatever small way each of can, to do something about it... even if it's just to change something inside our own hearts.

Maybe.

I don't know. I'm makin' this up as I go along.

But, I've learned over the past 2 years that some people just don't get it. And, others get it... but, they turn their heads because they don't wanna see. Yeah, it's ugly. There are some very ugly and lost souls running things in Washington DC right now. Fear-based and selfish people.

Y'know, one small thing you can do is to form a community of your own.... just a community of awareness, where people are kind, smile at each other, laugh more than they don't, sing every chance they get... but, pay attention to this war, the injustice, "The Bad Guys" in this world... and, those people who just don't get it.

Maybe the time to begin is... um... right now!

Maybe today... copy the link to this website and send it to several people you know who are feeling caring human beings. Then ask them to pass it on to a few people they know. Perhaps you and your friends can make a point of talking about the things you find here at this website and in the "Forum". Maybe you can talk about the things you agree with, and the things I write that you have a problem with, and the times you think I'm completely full of shit. But... y'know, start the discussion. Talk about things that are real and that matter.

Not...

Maybe one day, by the end of the summer, we can all plan a HUGE concert to get together. A "Concert for REASON and LOVE". A concert for... "It's Just Us".

Hey, living with your eyes open doesn't hafta be depressing. Believe me... I know.

Like so many wonderful people have taught me over the years, I actually feel GOOD when I pay attention. It's a good feeling. As I've always said... "Anger can be a cancer, or it can be a motivator." I think Thomas Aquinas wrote something about the "virtue of anger". Something that maybe much of humankind has forgotten. Y'know, I'm still writing funny songs! I'm still writing songs about Love. But, I'm certainly gonna continue to write whatever songs want to be written... songs that might make the tiniest of differences for the better in this world.

So, also... please be sure everyday, to stop in the "Forum" for the News from Iraq.

We owe it to ourselves. We owe it to the hundreds of thousands of people who have died so far in this reprehensible war our nation started on false pretenses. We owe it to the 1,594 American kids who have been killed so far. We owe it to their families who are living with the pain.

Y'know? We really do.

Listen, whatever you're doing today, be cool to each other. Smile at a stranger. Enjoy the things you love. Hey... maybe I'll see you in the park this weekend.

Thanks for taking the time to read all this. Make this page your meeting place.

Pass this link on, okay?

Thanks again.