Well, another Sunday of summer rain.

I actually was very grateful to get a full day in at "The Hill" yesterday. If you joined me out there, thanks for showin' up. I was watching the sky in the morning, and when I first arrived at "The Hill" it was actually drizzling ever so slightly. But, we started singing, and the day got better and better in so many ways. Good to see so many beautiful faces out there. It was a very special kinda day for me, and one I will remember. Just being out there singing and doing what I do is a gift I never take for granted. But, yesterday... yesterday was special for a couple of personal reasons... a couple of new people I met. A few old friends who show up alot. Familiar faces. Good people. Music... good day.

If you were there, you may know what I'm talking about...

Thanks, again.

In a way, it's kinda good that it was raining this morning. Maybe a few more people who were planning to go the concert in Riverside Park today will check in. (That damned email system has been down for the past few days, and I haven't been able to alert anyone that the gig was cancelled for today... and, that we have to move the location for next Sunday.) Hopefully, everything will be up very soon.

(The "Contact" button over there and my personal email works if you wanna email me or the webmaster about anything. It's just the "email list" that's down. Separate system.)

Cool?

Okay, the Voices Together concert. Today, I'm heading back down to Staten Island to meet another man who may play a very key role in getting this benefit concert on it's feet in January... a former ambassador to the United Nations. My buddy, Dennis, is gonna head down there with me. This gig is gonna take a lot of work. But, y'know? It's never work if you love what you do. It's never work if you know you're doing what you're meant to be doing at any time in your life.

That's why it's sooooo easy for me to stand in the Sun singing and playing for 5 or 6 hours at a time.

I love making music. I love sharing the songs I write and that feeling of "The Hill". I know, with my entire being, that I'm doing exactly what I'm meant to be doing. It's kind of about service... first and foremost... seeing what you can put into this world rather than what you can get out of it. Ha! Goodness knows it's not for the money. Not for the attention. It just feels right... and Good. Putting the effort into this concert... feels the same way. And, at the same time...

... it's gonna be a really fun project to work on. It has been so far. No reason to separate the two feelings.

Do some Good, and have some... uh.... FUN!

The longest journey I ever had to make was from my head to my heart. I've got a feeling just about half the people I've met in my life live and operate from their heads. (I spent the first half of my life living that way.) Oh, we're human beings... so, I know we ALL feel what's in our hearts to different degrees. But, I've learned that, for me, there is a very subtle yet powerful difference between being impressed with the intellect, placing it in the lead... and, hearing that quiet, quiet little Voice that speaks through the heart. Nothin' wrong with havin' a good brain. I've actually got a pretty good one, and I'm grateful for that, too! It operates really well, and helps me do some pretty cool shit.

But, I try to listen to my heart first. It ultimately makes more sense for me. It ultimately makes for a Life that really feels... worthwhile.

And man! I didn't always feel that way about this life I'm livin'. But, I do now. And, now is all we've got.

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Just my thoughts and feelings on a Sunday of summer rain.

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Listen, lately I've been accused of caring just a little bit too much about what's happening in Iraq.

Um... tough.

Yeah, I'm just a singer/songwriter. But, ignoring what we are responsible for is an affront to my basic sense of decency. Shouldn't matter what you do for a living. If you're alive, ignoring the carnage and suffering in Iraq is just plain wrong. And, making excuses for it and spinning it is worse.

Over 100 innocent people were killed in another bombing yesterday. There is a civil war underway there, now. At leat 589 people killed in the first 17 days of July. Nearly 600 in 17 days!

Yes... there is a civil war in Iraq.

This concert isn't about politics. The reality is that the VAST majority of the casualties in that WAR are being suffered by the ordinary people over there... women, men and children. And, my friends and I have found a few people who are doing remarkable work in getting real help to these people... especially the children.

That's what this concert in January is gonna be about.

That's what this remarkable woman is doing... right now. Today. Her name is Elissa Montanti and she has more injured kids coming to the States this week. She's been to Iraq already 4 times, and cuts through the red tape and bullshit to get real help to these people.

Elissa Montanti

And, we're gonna help her.

In fact... you can help... RIGHT NOW!

I'm also gonna be meeting again with Elissa today, and I want her to keep getting the very practical help she needs right now.

Just as an aside... y'know, two of my sisters, (I've got 4 sisters) ... but, Irene and Kathleen saw this list I posted here on the website and actually went right out to a store, loaded up a car with many of the things on this list, and drove to Staten Island to deliver them personally to Elissa. Damn! I've got Good, Good extraordinary people in my life... friends and family. Dedicated, committed, good-hearted peoople of action. People who care.

Anyway, THANK YOU to everyone who has already reached out to Elissa at the Global Medical Relief Fund. She's one of the wonderful people we're planning this concert around for this coming January. Y'know, already such a good bunch of committed and good-hearted people are coming together to really make a difference in this effort.

This concert is gonna be something special... put up on a stage as inexpensively as we can make it happen. Marketed and advertised, nationally, with YOUR help. Word of mouth... email... person to person.

We're gonna need you... all of you.

In my heart, I see it a lot like "The Hill" in Central Park. Y'know, it's all about sharing music, laughs, smiles... and, a few tears. But, it's all good.

This concert, and the group of friends and colleagues that is putting it together, is called VoicesTogether. (Together... that means you, too.) We can really make a difference in these people's lives, and therefore make a real difference in the world.

You wanna fight terrorism?

Bandage a child's head.

You wanna be part of the real solution in the Middle East?

Fly a person to the United States and repair the leg that was blown off, or the eyes that were shredded, or the face that was burned when the US bombed Baghdad in 2003.

That's what Elissa is doing. And, we're gonna help her. You can help... RIGHT NOW!

Nothing as abstract as writing a check, but that wouldn't hurt either! Here's a list of things Elissa says she needs right now. (More kids who need help are flying here this Tuesday.)

Seriously. Email Elissa here...

info (at) globmed.org

...and ask which of these items she needs most, and mail 'em over to her. Ask if she needs anything else. If you know someone who works for Direct TV, see if you can get for them for free. Go ahead.

It's just us.

Playstation

(And this one is BIG!)
Gift Certificates for (Anyone can make this kind of a gift) Burger King, McDonald's, attractions and tickets such as to a zoo, and grocery store certificates.

Maybe you'll wanna email Elissa directly to see which of these things she needs most... so that HA! She doesn't get 15 Nintendos in the mail at once!

Here:

info (at) globmed.org

Okay, that's it for today.

And, if you have any ideas about how you can help with the VoicesTogether Concert, don't hesitate to drop me an email by hitting the "Contact" button over there.

Thanks again.