Hello everyone, I hope this week has been a good one for you!
I'm sitting here in my living room with the windows open. The cool air of fall is such a welcome change of pace. Christian and Kaitlyn are performing with the High School Marching Band right now. Heather and Madelyn went to watch. I opted to stay home and try to make progress on a number of fronts. Most of which, I'm sorry to say, are beating me at my own game.
Work=1 Jamie=0
Good thing I love what I do. It makes weeks like this easier to deal with. But if I told you that I never had an "I wish I worked at Target and could earn a decent living" thought this week. We'll... I'd be lying.
I still find myself pining to be a full time recording artist from time to time. But I just don't think that's realistic at this point in my life. I watch music sales dwindle on a daily basis and see bands canceling tours because they can't afford the gasoline without tour support from the label. It's a mess. Fortunately, I still have an audience from the Guardian days who are constantly sending emails of support asking if I'm ever gonna' release something new...or the daily question: Is Guardian going to reform?
Well, I can tell you the Guardian machine has had a number of false re-starts over the past few years. Enough that It's killed most of my excitement. I'm super stoked about the Argentina show in December...Playing with the guys I spent an entire decade with, playing the Guardian songs that folks have been waiting to hear, getting a dose of international travel to offset the often uninspiring surroundings of Southwestern Indiana. But beyond that, I just don't know.
I have many things I'd like to do. One of which is to record a modern worship collection. Something not too far removed from artists I am privileged to work with - Lincoln Brewster, Hillsong United, Paul Baloche, etc.. I'd like to write half the record myself and make the other half worship songs that I love. I'd also like to involve my wife as an equal in the project. It's always in my heart to do, but life is different than it was 10 years ago. Mortgages, SUV payments, general expenses of raising a family of 5, so many things now have become front and center. Earlier this decade, I struggled severely financially. I don't want to be there again.
It's funny, I can give you all those reasons not too, but at the same time I'm thinking, I should just crack down, get Karl Ney to play drums, grab a couple friends from Tree63 and others and just make this record a reality. Who knows.
I love blogging. It only takes about 10 minutes and usually when I sit down to write, I don't have a specific topic. I just write what flows and then sit back and think "hmm"..where did all that come from. Much like songwriting I suppose.
But a blog doesn't make you want to jump around the room playing air guitar and looking delightfully foolish now does it?
:-)
Much love to all of you who read my rants, thoughts, and nonsense!
jamie
Here are some pics:
I took this pic of Heather this week.
Here is one Pam and Kevin Luttrell took of Kaitlyn.
This is me back in the early 90's with my fashion disaster of socks with sandals in Auckland, New Zealand.
Thursday night "hot wangs" with Pastor Steve and Janet is always a highlight of my week. This time Andy came too!
