Taking Care of Biscuits

I've spent the last week painting. I had a week off and my wife and I decided that it was time for a change. Unfortunately we didn't really like two of the three colors that we picked...but that's not the point of this post. (I guess that means I'll be painting this weekend as well.)

While we were painting on Saturday, we were listening to CBC Radio 2. Molly Johnson's show that comes on Saturday mornings is one of the coolest shows ever. I like Radio 2 because they play music that is fresh, by Canadian Singer/Songwriters that I've never heard of. And most of the stuff is not being played on any other stations (at least around here). Anyway, they happened to play a golden oldie...BTO's "Taking Care of Business". So of course, my two children started jumping and dancing to the song.

About an hour later, my son comes into the room, singing at the top of his lungs "Taking Care of Biscuits!" What does that mean? Babysitting baked goods?

Anyway...keep checking my Myspace page for upcoming concerts. I'll be posting the details there in the next couple of days.

Peace.

"People Make Me Happy"

On Saturday, I was sitting in Subway with my two year old daughter. We were sitting at a table next to a window, and the place was packed with people, most of whom were obviously taking a break from Christmas shopping. We, on the other hand, were in no rush.

As we leisurely ate our lunch, we watched a 5 foot robotic Santa dance and sing everytime someone passed. It was sort of annoying and a guy a few tables up from me was obviously bothered by the constant "Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!" Then it would break into a redition of "It's the most wonderful time of the year..." in a key thay was much too low. But my daughter loved it. I loved watching her because she was so content.

Then out of the blue, she said to me, "I'm happy". Naturally I asked her why she was happy and expected the standard answer which usually has to do with cookies. She thought hard. I knew she had a reason in her 2 year old brain but was having trouble finding words that could convey it. Then she slowly said..."People make me happy."

I knew what she meant - being out with Daddy and having his undivided attention made her happy. But I liked the way that she put it..."People make me happy." I think I might give that a shot this Christmas. I might make more of an effort to enjoy people, and then tell them how happy they make me.

Saturday Song Stories - "Restless Wanderer"

Restless wanderer is a song for my family. I love them. I wanted to write a song about them. I almost didn't include it because that sounds so cliche. So, I decided to write a song that admits my shortcomings, but also my good-intentions and desire to live up to the task at hand.

The line, "Lately I've been forming in myself the character of Cain", is reference to his disregard for his family members, and how when he had killed his brother, he lamented the fact that he would now be a restless wanderer on the earth (Genesis 4:12,14). This is how many men live their lives; wandering. Not by having affairs, maybe, but by not giving the spiritual care to their families that is required of them. To me, wandering is a metaphor for not living up to the high calling of fatherhood, and husbandhood (if that is a word) and giving more care to other things. Not settling down, I guess, or realizing just how much our actions affect our families.

In my opinion, this verse sums up the point of the song. "Little Ones with innocent eyes, reminding me to hope that the seeds I've sown in you will bear some fruit. If I've scattered weeds, I pray they're choked out by my love, both for my Savior and the love I have for you."

I really like this song because it is the most real one on the album. First of all, the false start in the intro (which my mother totally hated) is completely real. The other guy talking ("Any time.")is Dean Stairs, my producer. Secondly, as you may have noticed, there are some "accidental variations" in the chord progression at a couple of points, which I love. And thirdly, the whole song has a Blue-Rodeo doing a rough practice in a smoky room sort of vibe to it, almost like you shouldn't be there.