My Beard

    (poem and illustration by Shel Silverstein)

I thought that I would never actually end up growing a long beard. I'd let it grow a quarter inch, or at best an inch long if it were a particularly busy month, but inevitably, I would get tired of the itch,  tired of the look and hastily shave it off.

I'm an unfussy guy when it comes to hair care in general. At 27, I've entered the distinguished ranks of bald men and have resigned my self to quick buzzes with a cheap, electric clipper. If you spread the cost of the clipper over the 3 or so years I've had it, I've probably spent less then $0.40 per haircut. There ARE some perks to going bald, folks.

Like I said, I'm unfussy. However, I've been letting my beard grow. Say what you will about the feral manliness of an un-groomed man mane on your face, let me tell you that it gets old pretty quick.

A few years ago, a couple of friends bought me a bottle of that stuff pictured above. It's called Wild Man Beard Conditioner (which you can purchase here). Since then, my beard is smoother, less itchy, and smells GREAT!

I guess what I'm getting at is: IF YOU HAVE A BEARD BUY SOME OF THIS STUFF!

That's all.

Seriously, I just rub a few drops of this elixir into my face hair and BLAM. Sweet smelling soft beardiosity. But, if this iteration doesn't float your hairy boat, check out some more options here, or also here.

I'm out.

Homely Details.

Hey everyone,

today I just want to share a story with you. It goes like this:

Duke Mu of Chin said to Po Lo:  "You are now advanced in years.  Is there any member of your family whom I could employ to look for horses in your stead?"    Po Lo replied:  "A good horse can be picked out by its general build and appearance.  But the superlative horse — one that raises no dust and leaves no tracks — is something evanescent and fleeting, elusive as thin air.  The talents of my sons lie on a lower plane altogether; they can tell a good horse when they see one, but they cannot tell a superlative horse.  I have a friend, however, one Chiu-fang Kao, a hawker of fuel and vegetables, who in things appertaining to horses is nowise my inferior.  Pray see him."

Duke Mu did so, and subsequently dispatched him on the quest for a steed.  Three months later, he returned with the news that he had found one.  "It is now in Shach'iu" he added.  "What kind of a horse is it?"  asked the Duke.  "Oh, it is a dun-colored mare," was the reply.  However, someone being sent to fetch it, the animal turned out to be a coal-black stallion!  Much displeased, the Duke sent for Po Lo.  "That friend of yours," he said, "whom I commissioned to look for a horse, has made a fine mess of it.  Why, he cannot even distinguish a beast's color or sex!  What on earth can he know about horses?"    Po Lo heaved a sigh of satisfaction.  "Has he really got as far as that?"  he cried.  "Ah, then he is worth ten thousand of me put together.  There is no comparison between us.  What Kao keeps in view is the spiritual mechanism.  In making sure of the essential, he forgets the homely details; intent on the inward qualities, he loses sight of the external.  He sees what he wants to see, and not what he does not want to see.  He looks at the things he ought to look at, and neglects those that need not be looked at.  So clever a judge of horses is Kao, that he has it in him to judge something better than horses."

       When the horse arrived, it turned out indeed to be a superlative animal.

This story is quoted in a J.D. Salinger story called Raise High the Roof Beams, Carpenters, a good read if you have the time.

What I like to hear...

What I like to hear, or "influences"



Anyone who knows me knows that one of my favorite bands is The Weakerthans. Songwriter John K Samson who fronts the band fills each ear catching, wonderfully singable song with an aesthetic of directness that always made me think of authors like Salinger and Hemingway. Straight forward story telling, with the sort of frank and intimate details that draw you deeper into the characters each time you listen.  

In high school I would sit and listen to the song "Left and Leaving" over and over again trying to write lyrics, but only managing to get distracted by the song. I labored over lyrics, hoping that I could achieve the same effortless feeling that pervades the Weakerthans' music. Lines like "headlights race toward the corner of the dining room, half illuminate a face before they disappear," or "My city's still breathing, but barely it's true through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, sparkled with broken glass." It gets me every time. 

If you haven't listened to the Weakerthans, pick up the album "Left and Leaving," then just listen to it all the way through. Go for a walk or a drive and just listen.

T-shirts and Album Art

 My new shirts arrived this week, and I'm pretty excited about them. Seems a bit surreal, though, to be honest, having my name on a t-shirt that is. These will be for sale at any and all shows coming up! They may even be available on my band camp site, so keep your eyes peeled.

Also, below is the cover for my new album, which I will be releasing in late May. The photo is courtesy of Diana Kraus. (http://dianacatherine.4ormat.com) Check her out!

Taking Photos

As production on my new album "Home and other Virtues" comes to a close, I got together today with my friend, co-worker and talented photographer Diana (http://dianacatherine.4ormat.com) to take some photos for the cover and who knows what else. It's never my favorite thing to have my picture taken, but it definitely helps to have the photographer be a friend. Excess photos will be put online, don't you worry.

Also, tonight I'm meeting with my friend Kevin Fedewa who is working on an illustration for the album as well. I'm super excited to be able to get some sketches up online, so keep your eyes peeled for  those.  

Coming soon...

Coming soon...

Song Lyric: "And a green balloon"

So, with the release of my new album coming, I thought I would share the lyrics to one of the new songs. It's called "and a green balloon"

Loudly, stomping on the sidewalk,
brand new dress and knee socks 
and a green balloon.

Fingers wrapped around the strand
that bound balloon to hand. 
Said mother, "do the best you can 
to hold on tight."

Anxious, waylaid by the street light,
fidget, frown, but sit tight holding mother's hand.

Stranger, eye's on her balloon 
says, "things they pass too soon,
so don't let go, the things we love
we tend to lose."

"…hold on tight"
"…don't let go"

Grandma sipping from her tea cup,
graying hair and make-up 
covers crows feet's lines. 

Winking, whispers in her ear, 
"grand daughter don't you fear.
Yes, things will fade, but make the most
while you're still here."

She took her green balloon
and loosed it on the sky, 
                                                                                                watching it dip and sway
                                                                                                among the power lines.


From childhood on, we are taught to treat things as precious and we cling to our possessions afraid to lose them. However, the little girl in this song finds the most joy in watching her possession float away from her.