Day 22 - 8/3/20 - Read Listen Breathe

To thine self be true
is what I’ve been told to do
talk about the way I should be
say my actions should equate my values
in order to be happy
they say happiness
is what we all must pursue
for all eternity
But is that really the way to live
sustainably?
Mmm

Well I don’t object
i believe intentions
must be met
by actions
otherwise who
the hell are you?
If they can’t say
oh in your eulogy
this human spreadobjectively
goodness, and
here’s the evidence
then what the hell are you doin’?
maybe you’re survivin’
and you’re doing for you
what is true
what is true

Do I even know anything?
question on the daily
All the things I’ve learned
that turned out to be wrong
all the things that the truth leaders tellin’ told
turned out they werebangin their own drum
So what music do I dance to?
when a rhythm that moves me,
might be wrong?
read, listen, breathe
and make a song of my own
and make a new song of my own
(whistling)

Day 21 - 8/2/20 - Rest Day

Rest days are important.

Day 20 - 8/1/20 - Junedog

(whistling)
Junedog is my second favorite dog
around
she owns this town
oh boy
She’s a little cattle dog
energetic tag along
pees with joy
every time she sees me
she’s got a bunch toys she likes
her favorite is named cookie
but when we’re outside
her go-to is her dookie

(whistling)

Juniper the heeler
like “bite your ankles” she won’t heal ya
but I still love her anyway
she’'ll play all day
retrieving sticksin water, forest, fields transfixed
till the sun goes down and her tongue comes out
the side of her mouth
all to say she’s wild and crazy
little fox-like
dingo, maybe
but I wouldn’t take her
no I wouldn’t take her
No I wouldn’t take her any other way!

(whistling)

Day 19 - 7/31/20 - S Santiam Hwy

I’m sitting in
a walmart parking lot
cuz my car is
on it’s last leg
my heart beating fast
check engine light flashing
almost fel like I’m at a rave
except the only music plain
is in my head
and the lights not from a stage
just saying my car is soon
dead
and my heart is racing
from pure anxiety

So I will breathe
slow and deep
cause there ain’t no bear
chasin’ me
it’s a battle I fight on the daily
I won’t let it get the
best of me

So what makes my mind such a mess?
what tightens, clamps down on my chest?
what makes a diamond factory
Out of my
body
what makes me see the worst in, everything
And why do I forget the tools I’ve gathered?
Forget the simple things that really matter?
That gratitude and breath work too
can make it all scatter

So I will breathe
slow and deep
cause there ain’t no bear
chasin’ me
it’s a battle I fight on the daily
I won’t let it get the
best of me

Day 18 - 7/30/20 - FAIL

I let the day get away from me, didn’t make it happen. It’s okay though: lesson learned.

Day 17 - 7/29/20 - There is still hope

Day 16 - 7/28/20 - Forever Turning

Day 15 - 7/27/20 - What makes the birds sing?

Oh in my wildest dreams
there’s a
Small house on fields of green
but if you look closely, you’ll see
all the colors in the rainbow
now follow me

Out the front door there’s a row of roses
a kiss of pink, red, yellow, for your noses
and good for mixin with honey, liquor, and tea
though there’s probably more,
let’s keep going

turn right
down the gravel driveway
say hi, over the fence
to all the animals you see
horses, cows, and a bunch of chickens
sheep and their lambs
cute as the dickens
here we go!

past the barn
and down around the bend
roll up your pants
time to jump in
we’ve got the garden
in all her glory
original reason
for my farming

since it’s late july
and the sun is riding high
let’s pick a bounty
mouth watering delight
cucumber, scallions, and mint
red string beans, red onion but don’t forget

them beets, what an earthy little treat
some kale and collards
gotta get those leafy greens
potatoes, and celery
to top it off
cause this basket is getting heavy!

from here, let’s walk
up that little hill
I know we’re tired
but the view will give you chills
under the shade of that walnut tree
you can see everything
it’s the view that makes the birds sing

And as we, walk back
through a big patch of green grass
an empty field fit for
grazin’ animals, next year you might ask
where’s your studio?
it’s the building just off the patio and that’s that!

Your tour of my wildest dreams
a steady rhythm on these
same 4 strings

And we’ll see, if we make it
to this beautiful oasis
and if we do I’ll have you over for dinner
please and thank you
(ooo’s)
(whistling)

Day 14 - 7/26/20 - Rest Day

On the first rest day (last Sunday), I thought, “Well this is bullshit. I will certainly just continue to make music next Sunday. A rest day?? Come on..”

I took the Day 14 rest day, and I took it very happily.

Day 13 - 7/25/20

Where do we go from here?
tell me tell me oh
who’s leading us now?
I wanna know I wanna know
so I won’t fear
cuz I hear the sounds the sounds of
boots on the ground
oh is the end is the end near?

but i believe
we will reach middle ground
I see we will get there eventually
is that naive of me
is that naive oh

Will all of the people
with all of the tools
be able to peice it together?
(or will we) go down in history
another lesson in the mystery
and start all over again

see we’re all divided
wish we could see the humanity in ourselves
we could be united
I feel we haven’t tried it
haven’t tried it

I believe
if we could just reach a middle ground
all around, we’d see the beauty
of eternity
at the cost of humility
can we? Can we let down our walls and

All of the people
spread all of the tools
and peice a new fabric together
and go down in history
a new lesson in the mystery
and start a new chapter begin

it’s hard
to find our way
but it’ll be harder
to start again
so who’s leadin’ us?
who’s couragious
fuck you if you’re just in it for the money (and power)

(Maybe)
All of the people
spread all of the tools
and peice a new fabric together
and go down in history
a new lesson in the mystery
and start a new chapter begin

Feeling the “challenge” today. Feeling completely uninspired, took it line by line for the entire song. I tried something new and recorded into Logic, starting with the Uke. However, I found that I needed to pick up the Ukulele and actually strum in order for lyrics to begin to flow… Curious. This song is a snapshot into my mental state, things that I’m working out in my brain. Enjoy?

Day 12 - 7/24/20

Day 11 - 7/23/24 - We'll Keep Trying

Instrumental track. Getting the gears turning for some cinematic background music.

Day 10 - 7/22/20 - Love alone won't do the watering

Two words
I’m sorry
I know I caused you pain
hot & heavy at first
but then I left you out
in the rain
and though you managed to
do what you needed to
i know that I
held you back

and the saddest thing
I can see what I did
and no goin’ back
it is what it is

the colors that you wear
bring life and joy
everywhere
and the scent that you give
I wanna live in it
it’s full of sunshine
and summertime

And the saddest thing
I can see what I did
and no goin’ back
it is what it is

Oh well there’s always
next year
we’ll be apart
for the wintertime
and in February
I’ll plant the seeds
that I had saved
and we’ll try again
Oh Tomato plant
you gave me
two good fruits
I’ll save the one
and use the second to
make something new
Oh Tomato plant
I promise
I love you

DAY 9 - 7/21-20 - Civil Unrest

I’ve got nothing special
to say today
got rocks rollin’ ‘round
in my brain
and the blood running through my veins
Is similar to quicksand
and it weighs the same
And though I
took a walk in the sunshine
was a good use of
my lunchtime
I must confess
my mind these days
is a mess
echoing the confusion,
in this civil unrest

I see many
points of view
pointin every finger
every which way
and I’ve pointed a few
that’s a thing I’ve learned
life ain’t a binary
save it for technology
And I don’t know
what’s right anymore
the truth that I knew
was just a lie
that was told
and the ones that
I used to trust
don’t make much sense
echoing the confusion
of this civil

and what’s it gonna take
for this to even out
common people, you and me
we gotta see the ones
that are really
pulling the strings
why they call us the commoners?
might be because we’ve got
more in common with eachother
than we’ve got with the
people in power
it’s a mess
echoing the confusion
Of this, civil unrest

I’ll try to do my best

Car broken into in February, quarantine begins in March… fast forward to now.

Day 8 - 7/20/21 - Light a fire in the Kitchen

Put your work bag away
and take off your shoes
crack open a cold drink
don’t matter the proof

pull out the quick fix
chips and dip or
veggies and hummus
pull out the Einstein lights
and get ready for company
put on your favorite song
light a fire in the kitchen
cuz tonight we’re havin’
a good ol’ time
puttin’ a pause on the pandemic

Be safe, but have some fun
with your family, or another loved one
whether a, roommate
or a tinder date
be safe, and have some fun

Now I prefer
sea salt & vinegar
jalapeno, or chips with a hint of lime
in an altered state of being
i kill a whole bag at a time
but with laughter in the air
video chat is there
I don’t care
cuz it’s all I can bear
I’ll do what I must
not to lose my mind

Be safe, but have some fun
with your family, or another loved one
whether a, roommate
or a tinder date
be safe, and have some fun

Hopefully we come out, of this
Learned a lesson
take care of yourselves, others
not just investments
shit I know you just wanted a
feel good song
but if we don’t learn to balance it all
there won’t be a next one

Be safe, but have some fun
with your family, or another loved one
whether a, roommate
or a tinder date
be safe, and have some fun

have some fun but watch out for that seltzer
and hydrate!
and just be sure you wear that liberty faceshield
don’t you hesitate!
just remember, be safe, and have some fun!

“Edison bulbs” is the term I was thinking of. Came out as “Einstein lights”. Brain is foggy from all these chips.

Day 7 - 7/19/20 - Rest

Rest day / Blog day / wtf just happened day

I’ve begun a 60 day songwriter challenge. Every day beginning July 13, 2020 and ending September 12, 2020 I will write, record, and upload a song + artwork. Every day, except today.

A coworker of mine who recently moved to LA reached out to me a couple weeks ago and strongly encouraged I join this challenge that she was gathering songwriter friends for. All in all, there are about 40 of us. Honestly, it’s kind of crazy. We use one of those texting apps where you can have multiple channels for different topics and whatnot. It’s staggering how much music is being every day in just this group alone. But, so far I’ve had a lot of fun with it. After day 4 you’ve become acutely aware that I’ve really gotten into the Ukulele recently.

After months and months of it just sitting on my shelf, I’m finally putting mine to work. It’s a tenor Ukulele, my Uncle and I built it last summer (check out day 4 for a glimpse into what those Uke build sessions were like).
I didn’t really start to get into it until recently, during a road trip to Yellowstone with my Dad and brother. It’s amazing how a thing can take on a whole new meaning when you put in the time and energy into building it yourself. While it took me months to really do anything with it, on that trip I started learning my own songs on it. I began with bangers like, “Cascadian Reign” and “Never Goodbye”. Then moved onto newer songs like, “Moonlight Medicine” (you can check out a clip of me playing “Cascadian Reign” on my Instagram here —> Watch).

As of today, Sunday June 19, I’ve written 5 songs on that Ukulele. They are each simply voice memos captured on my iPhone 7. The 6th song was not written on the Uke, but rather, on instruments built into the playground in a school yard and multi-track recorded via Garageband on my sister-in-law’s iPhone. The artwork for each day is pulled from different experience or times in my life that either felt related or is related; directly or just based on the lyrics.

We’ll see what my songwriter morphs into, and where it goes both in style and execution. The composition and the sound recording. I decided that since I’m so stoked on the whole thing, and I’ve already been texting these voice memos to family and friends, why not just start posting them in a central location?

Thanks so much for joining me on this journey. Please feel free to comment on each song, and tell me which ones I should polish up and release “for reals”.

AF

Day 6 - 7/18/20 - schoolyard

schoolyard

I’m in the middle of a circle
of fake rocks
set, for kids
it’s sad and so uncertain
when they’ll return and
learn, again
I remember my own time
in the school yard
played with friends
I learned so many lessons
i could never learn in books

But I was deceived by lies
set within racist views hateful
excuses of, history
i would choose

Truth, and all that goes with it
Prove, the golden rule exists
use, all we have learned and turn
those words that were written
into reality

all men were created equal
what, about the rest
stolen lands, stolen hands
one nation under, a white savior

I wish, we’d tell the kids
what really happened
set the foundation, begin
with the one thing that
will truly set us all free

Mak keeps reminding me, ‘Done is better than perfect.’ So this is a shot of the school this song was recorded at. It works.

Day 5 - 7/17/20 - I found it

I found it

I don’t see the rain
as a painful thing
not as a blanket covering
i see it as an offering
I see it as an offering
I see the life within
the good it brings
water is our everything
god make it pour
you’ve done it once before

yes I
found a place
between the sky
you could say
I’m on cloud nine
won’t you join me?
won’t you join me?
take a leap of faith
just try

I don’t see delay
as something frustrating
don’t find the need
to press things
forward, see
I welcome extra
time
better to get my mind
just right

A regular view looking out the kitchen door into the backyard in the house I grew up.

DAY 4 - 7/16/20 - If life gives you chickens

If life gives you chickens

Fix’n tools and eat’n tacos
that’s the life I want to lead
feed’n chickens and eat’n nachos
that’s the life I want to lead
when I go up to heaven
and tell St Pete it’s nice to meet
When I ask how I can help
here’s what he’ll say to me
Fixin tools and eat’n tacos
that’s the after life you will lead
feed’n chickens and eat’n nachos
that’s what your after life will be

It’s the beauty of life
creating with my hands
it’s the oldest tradition
we humans seem to have

Well there’s a couple of things, that
I’d like to do
bake bread and cultivate
my own starter too
and I’ve already mastered
brewing my own beer
see it’s a holiday tradition
what we use to fuel
the cheers
what we use, what we use
it’s the booze we choose to cheers

Chorus

Speakin’ of tradition
tried to keep fishin
in the fam
nephews wouldn’t quit bitchin’
almost gave up on the plan
and now that they are grown
some even with kids of their own
I see them coming ‘round
it’s the longest line I’ve thrown

Chorus

Our garden chickens. During my time as a farm hand in Anderson Valley, CA. The first verse was written by my Uncle!

DAY 3 - 7/15/20 - Kostabi

Kostabi

have you ever heard of
the artist
Kostabi?
Neither had I
before I made a stop
at his gallery, in New York City
I walked in with some friends
that I was with
we were visiting
we were all part of an artful kind of group
I’m still friends with those friends
in that group
when we walked inside
the gallery
we were handed cappuccinos
and books that were big as me
big and red
with gold lettering
i didn’t know
who the artist was, and
I still don’t know now

ain’t it sometimes
how it feels?
I think sometimes might need to heal
our over-inflated red and gold, ego
but maybe all we need
is to sit down and read
a big book full of past
memories

I still have the book
i put it in my bag
on the plane ride home
and sometimes take a look
open pages and wander
through them
it’s not my kind of thing
kind of weird
humanoid bowling pin beings
I’m sure there’s a reason but
it’s a weird aesthetic
like music you hear
that one time
and now it brings back
feelings, and images, emotional connection
tied to a time and place
even if the actual thing
you hear
ain’t even that pleasant
(whistling)

A quick photo I snapped on the actual trip to NYC I write about in ‘Kostabi’. We were on a mission to eat ‘the best pizza in NYC’ which was apparently not in Manhattan but across the river.