Hula hoop

Can you believe the first week of winter break is over? Where does the fuckin' time go, man? It goes by so fuckin' fast that I feel like I could wake up in the morning dead. Which. by the way, is from a song by The Band. "When You Awake."

I remember that song, farmboy. It was on that great album...

The Band, yeah. The self-titled one. Fuckin' amazing, man.

So Christmas is in just a few days. Are you prepared, farmboy?

My apartment is a mess, but other than that it's just little things, like wrapping presents and stuff. I don't do that much shopping, but I've bought all the presents. Bought a hula hoop for my niece that was made by a teacher at the school. I think she'll like it.

So I basically just have to remember to have some time by myself when my friend comes to town. And also I need to not be nervous or self-conscious. It's Christmas time, and that's a good time to be with people.

Friends and family...

I got 'em, man. I gotta enjoy them while I'm here.

farmboy karaoke

Hey, man. Good to see you.


Good to see you too, farmboy. I'm glad you came by. I've been wanting to ask you how the CD project is going.


It's on a short pause right now, while I figure out what I'm doing and what I want. It's amazing to me how much fuckin' work goes into making a recording, you know? I've done about half of the guitar tracks, man, and I gotta tell you, it's hard to sing without playing the guitar. Or I guess I'm just now used to it yet. It feels real weird. It's like farmboy karaoke or something.


But with practice, you'll get it, farmboy. I have faith that you'll ace this. You're a hard worker.


Yeah, I just gotta fuckin' force myself to do it. Which I can do. I can be pretty disciplined when it comes to musical practice. I just wish it was more fun, that's all.


Speaking of music and fun, man, I am just so obsessed with the Band. It's funny, but after Levon Helm passed away I wanted to hear the Band and it's just grown into massive proportions. Which is a great thing. I've been listening to their self-titled album and their first record. Man, I just fuckin' love them. What an education, man!


Do you think all that listening will affect your upcoming CD?


I hope so. I can think of worse influences, you know? I'd love it if it would affect my vocals, you know? Make them more soulful.


Sounds great, farmboy. I'm glad to hear that you're listening to other music besides your own.


It's been really good, man. Really stimulating. They're a great band, The Band. I'm hoping it will loosen me up a little bit and help me to accept the, for the lack of a better word, uniqueness of my voice.


I'd like to see you accept your voice, too.


Thanks, man. I don't know if it's possible, but I'm sure trying.

The "H" word

Hey, farmboy, how was the busy weekend?

Good, but busy. The comedy show Friday was really good. It had been years since I had been to a comedy club. I'm kinda amazed by stand-up, because they don't have a guitar to hide behind like singer/songwriter sorts do. Looks pretty terrifying to me. Stand up comedy, that is.

And you played last night...

Yeah, a benefit show for the coffeehouse. A night of sing-alongs...

A hootenanny!

Yeah, I guess. (laughs) You know, I got to be friends with these two folk music radio folks when I was a teenager and they hated hootenannies and that image and that word. It was the "H" word, you know.

But it was good. I led the audience in singing songs by the Band and the Carter Family, among others.

Hey, I'm at my brother's house and it's time for supper. Talk to you in the next couple days?

You got it, farmboy.

Cool, man.