Hey... welcome to the website.

Y'know, I did a piece a couple of days ago about "Tradition".

Traditions are the weirdest things, sometimes. I mean, y'know, there are little traditions that I observe for myself like singing James Taylor's tune "Sweet Baby James" as my first song every single time I've ever played in Central Park for... for... well, a whole lotta years.

And then there are big, big and curious traditions like celebrating the birth of Jesu ben Josef who came to be known as Jesus.... on December 25th.... when historically that was almost definitely not the day on which he was born. That date was probably closer to April 17th, in the year 6 BC. That would be a much better guess. (But as Tevye says... "It's a tradition!") Don't get me wrong. I love this time of year.

But here 's a tradition you gotta here about!

Now, if you've been coming around here at all you know that this website is nothing if not educational.

HA!

But, a few years ago a lovely woman from Catalonia named Noemi, Spain shared something with me that I hafta pass on. She told me all about one of the Christmas customs in her part of the world... that just makes my jaw drop open.

Have you ever heard of the Christmas Shitting Log?

No... me neither.

But, it's real.

In Spanish it's CagaTio... shitting log.

What happens is that each family has a Caga Tio. And through the Christmas season, the kids all leave food and treats for their log before they go to school. While the kids are at school, the log eats the food they've left for it. (Like American kids leaving cookies for Santa Claus.) When the kids come home, it's a thrill to see the crumbs and leftovers near the log.

Then on January 6th, or Three Kings Day, the children throw a blanket over the log.... and sing the "shitting" song, while beating the log with sticks. (I'm not makin' this up!) Then, when they pull the blanket back... yep! The log has shit their presents.

It's a wonder to behold!

No kidding. It's hysterical. But, when Noemi told me the story she said, "Well, you have a big, fat, strange man sneak into your house while you are sleeping!!!"

She's right.

Still, I hadda go online and look this up!

"Caga Tio" - the Shitting Log!

This is sooooo cool!

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Man! I love people. We are just the weirdest things!

Okay I hafta run again! But before I get out of here, I think I might just make a few songs available as FREE downloads today. And, I'll be back with a more information about the first concert of 2009. It'll be a gig in which I can retire a set of songs that I'd written n the last 8 years of the worst presidency in American history. Some funny songs. Some pointed songs. But all of them tunes that I hope I will never have to play again!

In the meantime, here are a few tracks for you to download for free.

The Religion Song

Where's the Voice

Tom Cruise Scares Me

Lost on Bleecker Street

Wedding in Danville

Um.... if you're new around here, take a few minutes to it the ARCHIVE and browse through the site. There are lots of really fun Photoshop images, FREE songs to download, all kindsa stuff.

I'm be back later... or tomorrow.

Thanks for everything.