"Think I'll go out to Alberta..."

"...weather's about the same there in this cold snap"

Saskatoon Thursday January 31st

Debbie, Luke, David and I drove through to Saskatoon yesterday and on to Edmonton today. Roads are good, thankful for good conditions.

So I'm thinking about the new perspective that this trip to Alberta is going to afford us. It's been just over a month since we moved and though there are many exciting potentialities we haven't really done anything musically, (except of course just 'be' within the monophonic fabric that is creation) hehe. I believe that the month of February is going to be a significant and pivotal month for us, and one of more change with Rachy Rachel in our midst. With the art space coming along we can start actually playing with music. It's gonna be so cool to spend an evening at the Festival de Voyageur and head back to the "Seburn Warehouse Space" (as David called it in a video he put together recently) for music, song and celebration.

I just tried to post a link to facebook but this Ramada kiosk won't allow it. I should run anyways

January 25

Hmm. One month from my 44th birthday. Could be my half way point...I'd be glad to make it to 88. 7 days till the beginning of February. Dad pointed out last week that February this year is the only month that begins and ends with the same day, Friday. Plus it's a leap year! It also is the month for the Festival De Voyageur, the new provincial holiday "Louis Riel Day" - Feb 18th, which coincides with Dad's Birthday, right in the heart of the Festival.

Things should be starting to hum along down at 416 Des Meurons by then, Rachel will have been out here a few weeks upping the art factor hugely, the studio jam space will be further along, probably with some rough recorded material already, perhaps some performance pieces ready to share, some cafe seating, library / meditation space. I don't know if we'll have the "mondo-chord" built by then, or the harps but you never know...hmm "mondo-chord" that just came to me and warrants another post altogether.

But before all that we are heading out to Alberta for Luke's Wrestling tournament and to bring Rachel home. It's gonna be a quick visit. David Issac is coming with us to help with the drive home and Debbie Luke and Rachel will be flying back.

looking so forward to the next month

Clear Intentions - time to journal again

It's January 22nd 2008, really just over a month since we made the move to Manitoba. We've set up a house in Wolseley; 196 Evanson Street, and are settings up a creative space in St. Boniface; 416 Des Meurons. Each offer great creative and artisitc potential. Each space is requiring hours of time and money to make comfortable, useable, beautiful and viable.

Where we are right now is a result of our intentions. The "power of intention". I, however, have not always been great at making my intentions clear and have become muddled more than once. I want to choose this day to not shrink back from what I intend to do, but maybe more importantly and significantly, what is intended for me. That higher power, that Presence that moves and speaks, ever loving, ever promting, ever filling, endlessly creating! Creator of all may your intentions be fully met and fulfilled in this brief time that is my life. Really it's in the cultivating of that organic connection to creative energy that determines the results.

We are almost completely unpacked. Our back yard at Evanson is full of empty boxes. Even Des Meurons is getting there, but no matter how many physical boxes are emptied, the contents put in their place, there is so much unpacking to be done, so many dreams and intentions left to find their way to the surface and become usefull. hmm "useful" one L or two?

I'm thinking of Tim King down at "Presence" and his series of "Daily Downloads", a sort of live journal/teaching/meditative thing that gave voice to his intentions and heart. I remember how that touched me and gave me a sense of Presence throughout that leg of the journey. I suppose in my case, as a song writing musician it's more in the music in terms of communication, but I feel the need to raise my voice again in other ways, to try to make those intentions clear. Sort of the reason I began blogging a few years back. Some may argue that my blogging style is anything but clear...It's true I've felt so displaced and without a home for my ideas and my music that it often turns into talk. But as my zen guitar screen saver reminds me "Talk is one thing, Action is another". But in order to take proper action there must first be the proper words and language.

We're getting a "blower test" done today by Manitoba Hydro, we'll find out how to make this 100 year old house more energy effecient. Maybe that's what God is doing with me right now...blowing over my being to find out where I'm leaking so I can hold more of Him and be that intended blessing.

"Mean Tone" Guitar

Found this on "you tube". Check out the frets on this guys guitar. Pure Major 3rds and almost pure minor thirds very cool!

Finally, a third verse (thanks Sarah)

I'm coming from Athabasca
I've got my little black drum in hand
I bring it back from the River House
where it stayed 365 days

the drummers drummed the dancers danced
the piper played in true romance
got me thinkin' of Cypress hills
where humans have gathered for 7 thousand years

Manitou? could everything be Manitoba?

What have we done to Alberta?
"we scraped the earth to mine 'the sands' "
pump oil down to America
but there's no quenching the Imperial thirst

the rivers that once gave the children life
can't drink, can't fish, don't even wash your shirt
what are they gonna think in a hundred years
when they see our shame written in the dirt?

Manitou? could everything be Manitoba?
Manitou? could everything be Manitoba?

"Land where the Great Spirit Speaks and Moves"

Again I come from Athabasca
Sarah's got the drum in Kathmandu
well could you stop the noise long enough to hear
Little boys from nowhere make that drum sound clear

half way round the world I can hear the sound
but all you can smell is fossil fuel in the ground
Oh God could this be the year
when we wake up and so no to fear

Manitou? could everything be Manitoba?
Manitou? could everything be Manitoba?

"Land where the Great Spirit Speaks and Moves"

Spirited Energy

08 and so it begins again

2008! begin again. infinite possibilities await us.