Ponder Cast so far

I've been spending a lot of time on my podcast "Wendy V's Ponder Cast". So far, I've been encouraged by the numbers. I have at least 22 subscribers that I know of, and I've been in the top 10 of Cyberears' most listened to podcasts for a couple of weeks. I've also learned a lot about sound production, how to mix tracks, fix sound quality and all that. I'm still learning.

I have the full three part series on embracing encouragement posted now. The next Ponder Cast will be called "3 MLs". It'll be good.

Have you checked out Wendy V's Ponder Cast yet? What are you waiting for? Go here!

Wild Weekend..

The theme song throughout my head this past weekend was the old Bill Anderson song "Gonna Have A Wild Weekend". I named this weekend as such because it involved three nights in a row of concerts and late nights and product sales for all of the shows. Getting enough sleep was not part of the plan of these three days.

It's not often that the two musical worlds I travel in--local MN music and gospel--have major events for me back to back. The first two nights were the St. Joan of Arc Church "Cabaret" concerts. This year's theme was "The Road Show: Songs for Wayward Lovers". About 45 musicians and performers who are part of the strongest talent pool in the Twin Cities come and perform in these shows every year. And that's not even all of them. We had some people missing this year, but a few new faces. My job was to help sell product and hold my breath that every artist who wanted to sell CDs had table space to do so. I issued an e-mail invite to all participating this year to be sure they all had the opportunity. So due to that, I was partly "in charge", but that was okay. On Saturday I had a second job, which was, for the 7th year in a row, to cover and write the story on the Saturday show for the SJA website. I at least had a plan for where I was going with it plus a head start having been there Friday as well. Despite getting in way past midnight on both Friday and Saturday, the regular church musicians and I dragged our tired tails to church early the next morning, because that is part of the Cabaret tradition, after all. Here is a link to the reviews.

Sunday was an event I waited five years for: Mark Lowry playing a concert in the Twin Cities. It being that my church was halfway on the way to where Mark was playing, I didn't go home --I went straight to the Mall of America and shopped till I dropped. Halfway to church, I realized I forgot my concert ticket...but since I was volunteering I hoped it was okay. I was due at the church Mark was at a couple of hours before the show to do the CD sales thing there. But I wondered if I was going to make it. After I left the Mall of America, I took a walk to the new IKEA store, since I hadn't been there and had some time to kill. I got to the furnishings floor fine, but then I got totally lost trying to find my way back to the entrance. I circled the floor several times and all I saw were exit signs which went nowhere. I was starting to panic until I decided to try going to the self service area --at last, I eventually spotted the checkouts and the door. Lesson learned: don't go to IKEA unless you have a LOT of time to kill.

Now for the concert: as always, Mark was funny, LordSong and Stan Whitmire supported him beautifully, and we heard how much God loved us. Again and again, though, I will say it: the guy can flat out, without a doubt, SING. His live renditions of "Mary Did You Know" and Martha Munizzi's "Say the Name" (which I never heard him do before) ought to be enough to have convinced anyone there. Yes, he kept saying "don't think we're great, we're all broken freaks", and if you do stick around to meet Mark you will realize how down to earth he is. But, I will continue to praise to the highest heavens his vocal abilities.

It was a joy that my friend Norman came on the road again to sell product. I met my two You Tube friends and we hung out at the end to get pictures and things signed by Mark.

So ended the wild weekend. Tomorrow I sleep. And write, when I'm not sleeping.

Me and MySpace..

If I weren't busy enough with my two websites and my new podcast, last week I also went and signed up on MySpace...again. This is my second time around with it. Last time I signed up was a few months ago, but that lasted only a couple of days. I kept having technical glitches--no matter how many times I logged in, every time I tried to do anything, it said "you must be logged in to do that!". So I blew it away in frustration. But with so many of my friends now getting on board, I thought I'd give it another go.

So far, it's been a lot of fun. It's a good way to get some publicity out about my websites and the "Ponder Cast". With so many artists also with "MySpace" pages, it's also a good one stop shop to keep up on tour dates, releases and such that your favorite artists have. And I must admit, it is a very fun concept to add famous folk to your page as "friends". There are those who think everybody's on for dating, even though my profile is fairly professional (gotta read it, folks), but I'm pretty selective about my friends here as in real life. I'm hoping to make a few music business or radio connections, especially in Nashville, since I'm out there so much.

My new "Ponder Cast"

I have been wanting to try to do an audio podcast for quite a while now. I finally got around to getting a microphone and getting it started. With a blog called "Wendy V's Ponderings", what else could I call the thing but "Wendy V's Ponder Cast."

UPDATE: I found a place to host my podcast efficiently and inexpensively and get it to ITunes...so now we are live! You can get to it and subscribe at the link on this page.

Anyhow, I hope you will check it out!

Then it got good...

Around 7 pm I fired up my laptop and streamed in KISN, out of Portland, OR. My old heartthrob when I was 11, Mark Lindsay from Paul Revere and the Raiders, does a request oldies show out of Portland Oregon, called "Mark After Dark". He planned a theme tribute to "Where the Action Is", my favorite music show growing up, with an interview with one of the "Action Kids dancers" that I really wanted to hear. Of course, it came on at the bitter end. But it was so fun listening--some savvy folks that were obviously Mark/Action fans from back in the day made some great requests. Mark does a great job as a DJ with this show, comes off very personable, doesn't get in the way of the music or put the entire focus on himself. Thus, with the two hour time difference I ended up pulling an all-nighter and got to bed at 2 am, something I haven't done since a Praise Gathering in Indianapolis years ago, I think.

Before Mark's show, someone did an awesome "forgotten oldies" show. I believe KISN is perhaps the greatest oldies station in the country since WCBS-FM. We need to pray for this station, that it has good strong ratings books and never gets "JACK-ed".

In the end, even when I was growing up in the 60s, the music always made everything right. Thanks KISN and Mark for taking this birthday from blah to a bash.

Birthday...big deal

I turned 51 today. This birthday hasn't quite measured up to last year, which was of course a milestone, it being my 50th. Can't quite top being in Nashville with Michael McDonald (well, at his concert, that is). It also can't measure up to all the great musical experiences of last weekend. Not that I really expected it to. Yet, it has slipped by unnoticed this year by people who sent me their wishes last year (and whose birthdays I noted quite significantly this past year). I did get some nice message board postings. Except there's one thing I don't quite understand. Some people who as far as I know have been very friendly toward me left birthday greetings for someone else whose birthday was the same as mine, with our postings in about the same spot, but passed over me. Go figure...

I will mention names here. I have one message for Stone Cold Creamery. If you are going to have a birthday club where you send people coupons for a free ice cream, please set it up so they have the coupons the next morning...not in the middle of the day when they've already left the house to go celebrate. Chances are, people will not go out of their way to make a return visit to collect. Of course, the people at the Mall of America store "couldn't do anything about it". After requesting at least a free sample of something, I went to a competitor and enjoyed a healthier fat-free frozen yogurt with caramel instead.

I bought two birthday gifts to myself. One was a headset microphone so I can learn to eventually unleash podcasts on the world. However, it looks like it's only going to work on my laptop, so I need to get some software on it to convert .wav files to .mp3. Anyhow, stay tuned!

Then, as I was heading out of the mall, this gal at a kiosk practically grabbed me and pulled me over to have a look at my nails. She then took my index finger nail and gave it and my hand a full treatment that had it looking like I just stepped out of having a manicure and took 10 years off the look of my right hand. I did have this done once before someplace and remember being very impressed, but not enough to part with money at the time. This girl was not about to take no for an answer--so I told her it was my birthday and she'd have to cut me a deal. Well, she did, to the tune of 35% off. So I'll try this myself on the rest of my fingers. If nothing else, it may discourage me from being a nailbiter. I'm not a big fan of long nails, but this buff polish stuff does make them look pretty slick. I just hope it's not like going to the hair salon, where you can't quite replicate the look yourself afterward.

So not the greatest birthday, but not a total bust. At 7 p.m, it got good..

Fun at the Fair..

Well, another Minnesota State Fair has come and gone. This year's was a good one for me. For starters, I love the fact that this year there were two park and ride lots just minutes from where I live (even though the shuttle bus schedules were erratic, at best).

I did take time out from my newly adopted 80% organic way of eating to do my usual food fair: fries, corn, foot long hot dog. I did go in search of the 18-inch hot dog I thought I'd heard about. That turned out to be a corn dog, however, so I passed.

I did not make it to the MPR Morning Show broadcast this year (I'm sorry, Dale and Jim Ed, I still love you!). I had two fair visits this year. The first was detailed in the previous "musical fantasy" post. Before that show, I took in my other tradition, going to the live Channel 5 news broadcasts (and getting my mug on camera). At that broadcast, the audience was charmed and impressed by a country/rock/bluegrass band, the Drew Davis Band, based out of California. They've just been signed to a record deal and have had great success touring with Trace Adkins, among others. These fellows played going in and out of breaks and really bonded with the audience (especially me when fiddle player "the Drake" sat down next to me and played during one of those breaks).

On Sunday, my marathon free show day, I went early to catch the Drew Davis Band's early show. They did a half acoustic and half electric set. They've got great musicianship, solid songwriting and a strong frontman in Drew Davis. I'd keep an ear out for these guys.

I also caught recent Nashville success and Coon Rapids resident Rockie Lynne, who most definitely had a hometown crowd out in force. I bet a lot of these folks were behind him when he was getting started and they must be thrilled to see the success he had with "Lipstick". It was a very good set, and Rockie's a particularly decent guitar player. He introduced a number of biker people who were posing for pictures in front of the stage before the show. Rockie and these folks organize a ride each year to visit loved ones of those who died serving our country to tell them "their loss had not gone unnoticed". Very nice.

Then it was off to the Ramberg Senior Center to visit my buddy Mike Loonan who was playing a number of sets there with one of his musical partners, guitarist Chris Herriges. I'd not heard these two play together before--they regularly do "dueling piano/guitar" gigs where people make requests and they play whatever is thrown out at them. They were up for the challenge in each set I sat through...even polka requests. Of course, you know now that as the years go on, Beatles and Simon and Garfunkle tunes will be the senior set "music of your life" before we know it. Yow.

I was hoping the dire predictions of rain would hold off for the evening. No such luck. By the time I was headed for the bandstand to stake out a seat for a couple of hours to see Brenda Lee, it was pouring. And, it kept pouring. But there was a seat on the front row bench on the end. I wasn't the only one hanging in for three hours. After all, this was one of the greatest female singers who ever lived (in my book) I was waiting on. I was soaked in places my blue tarp Disneyland poncho couldn't reach, my hands were getting shriveled and numb because I couldn't keep them dry. I also was running out of ideas on how to keep my tote bags dry.

But it was worth it. A comic named C. Willi Myles helped us endure the rain. He was entertaining, and clean. He's lived in MN since he went to college at St. Cloud State. A lot of his humor was about being from Alabama and learning about our weather and ice fishing. Then finally it was time for Brenda Lee. I thought it unusual that they played all her hit songs on the sound system as they were setting up for her. She actually only did a few of those in full during her show, the rest were in medley. But hey--she was still Miss Dynamite, and she was so down to earth, humble for all she has accomplished, and very funny. I am very glad I had the opportunity to see and hear one of my musical heroes and legends.

A Musical Fantasy Fulfilled..

OK, so basically I have two musical fantasies.

The first would be for Mark Lowry and Michael McDonald to hook up (even if it's a picture of the two of them together on Mark's site,that would be good enough for me.)

The second happened last night at the Minnesota State Fair. It was the coming together of what played a big part in bringing me to Minnesota – "A Prairie Home Companion"- and what has kept me here the last 17 years: the local musician scene, and two guys who opened the door to it for me, Tommy Mischke and Michael Loonan.

Tommy was a guest on the PHC Minnesota State Fair show and invited Mike to play guitar in the band. What an incredible opportunity for them (and the other excellent members of Tommy's band). Most folks know of Tommy's success in talk radio, of course, but I've been a big believer in his musical gifts since that solo evening at the old Music City Café many years ago. I still think to this day he is one of the best singer/songwriter/pianists this Twin Cities scene has ever had…I would say he's our own Greg Brown. Now Garrison Keillor has taken serious notice of his talents.

Michael, my dear friend, has worked hard over these past dozen years perfecting his craft and gradually having many great opportunities come his way. No overnight success, rather steadily staying the course, Mike now lives his dream of working from home as a freelance musician, with a full plate of gigs and jobs and uncompromisingly balancing all that with family responsibilities.

No one I know of deserved the break of last night more than these two guys, in my opinion.

Tom and the band did four songs off his superb "Whistle Stop" CD: Land of Lakes (Back to the Water), Thoughts of You, What You Do, and the ultimate highlight for me, Grandpa, a song I've been in love with for 15 years, back when it was called "Nicholas". The band was tight and Tom's voice was rich and full of character. Although I missed his piano playing (a role well filled by CD producer Jared Rush), he made a strong front vocalist. It was way cool to see Mike on the big side screens during a featured guitar solo.

A couple of weeks ago I got a ticket up in the boonies section of the grandstand, and I figured then I'd have to do with that. But, when checking a couple of days ago, Ticketmaster showed a seat in the center ground section, so I went for it. It turned out to be a great seat, closer than I thought I would be. There were signs all over the Fair warning you not to resell tickets, so I chickened on trying to sell the grandstand one. Oh well, I've blown off more money than that on more foolhardy things.

Mike and I had a few moments to talk about all this when we ran into each other before the show. He nailed the whole thing well, as he usually does: we had all come full circle with this evening.

Watch the Prairie Home Companion website for a show archive and perhaps pictures to be posted.

Ten Years Ago...

The things you find when you go digging around all the stuff you stored someplace at home.

I came across a cassette tape of a radio interview I did on KFAI, 10 years ago this month. Time sure flies. I was interviewed on the Local Sound Department, then hosted by Mark Wheat, now one of the top DJs on Minnesota Public Radio's 89.3 The Current. He was kind enough to give a gal trying to bring attention to local musicians a shot in the arm. We talked about my newsletters I had going on at the time and I got to play some songs by local folks I was working with or listening to at the time.

My speaking skills were decidedly pre-Toastmasters at that point (I didn't join a club until two years later), high-pitched in spots, but I at least sounded like I remembered to slow down when gathering my thoughts. Which is a good thing. I tend to stumble on my words when I try to last-minute edit in mid-sentence.

One of the thoughts that came up in our conversation was that we were both doing what we did for the love of it and not for pay. I'm still in that spot and shifted direction a little since then. Mark has of course gone on to well-deserved radio success. Way to go.

It was also interesting to hear how much had changed over 10 years...mentions of venues and events that no longer exists, groups no longer together or artists that haven't been heard from since then. The acoustic scene has always been a revolving door as coffeehouses go. But listening to that show reminded me how exciting a time the early/mid-90s were when I was in my local music promo heyday.. and how grateful I was for all the opportunities which came my way then to promote the artists I believed in.

Ernie and the guys come to town

Finally, after a general drought of Southern Gospel artists in this area outside of the annual Gaither Homecoming, we had Ernie Haase and Signature Sound do a show in Bloomington. As I commented on my Gaither.com blog, I can understand why these guys are the hottest SG act out there. They start their shows with a repeating video of trivia questions and amusing clips. Oh, and Bill Gaither kicked off the show. On video, that is, leading us in a singalong of Gaither and other classics. How clever!

Ernie and the group had it going on vocally, they were very entertaining, personality plus, dancing (I love the dancing. Let them call you the Temptations, guys, that's all right) and humor. I did note, however, they did "borrow" a bit from the Gaither Vocal Band that they aren't using anymore now that Mark is gone from the group. You'll have to see them to figure out what that is. But at the end, they sincerely and clearly explained why they were there and do what they do...to share the good news of God's love.

In the aforementioned opening video, we were asked to shut off our cell phones ...unless we were ordering pizza for the guys. Well, someone must have done that...as I was leaving, I saw a Pizza Hut delivery guy bringing pizza to their bus.

Back home now...

I'm back home in the Twin Cities. The day I left, I took a look at the return flight schedule and was quite surprised to realize I booked myself only 25 minutes between connecting flights. What was I thinking?? I must have been swept away by this ticket price--I never book less than two hours in between connections. When I got to the airport this morning and saw my flight out was delayed, I figured I was done for. The kind folks at Midwest Connect made a backup booking for me on the next flight in the afternoon. But, it wasn't necessary. There were about 8 of us from Nashville to Milwaukee connecting on to Minneapolis. Our plane actually arrived 15 minutes late but Midwest held the plane to Minneapolis for us. Now that's service (NW, take note). So it was about 4 hours traveling from Nashville to back home here. Not bad. If I could get all the flights to work out that way and have all the planes wait on me, I might book a little tighter. :)

I had a wonderful time. I met some really nice people. I love it there. I will be back next in December.

Off to Nashville day 3

Today was a long but wonderful day. I started the day at GracePointe Church in Brentwood. Pastor Stan Mitchell's Book Club discussed a portion of Brian McLaren's book "A Generous Orthodoxy", dealing with being stewards of the environment. Then Pastor Stan continued his series on vocation, a topic of great interest to me--especially today when he included my life verse, Romans 12:8 which affirmed to me my calling to encouragement.

I got together with friends, one new and one even newer who gave me a grand tour of Brentwood and provided me with bits of valuable information I'd been seeking first-hand answers to. We took a look at the condo development she had just purchased a home at and is awaiting completion. I walked through some models, and let me tell you, in the Twin Cities you will never get the floor plan for the amount of money these were going for. In fact, I don't even see such prices for 3 bedroom condos here, period.

If you go to Nashville you just don't go without hearing live music, so I wrapped up my day at one of my favorite spots, the Bluebird Cafe. I heard a very fine bluegrass band called the Farewell Drifters. I told them about the "Bluegrass Saturday Morning" show on KBEM in the Twin Cities and suggested they send a CD.

It was a wonderful, but short, trip. Guess I gotta get ready to come home now....

Off to Nashville day 2

Today it was off to Rutherford County, through LaVergne, Smyrna and Murfreesboro. It was another one of those drives I like in Nashville, straight shot strip driving, easy as pie (and listening to WSM and Bill Cody--how cool is that?). I was given a grand tour of Murfreesboro, courtesy of Ruthie, fellow Gaither.com message board buddy and a New Jersey resident with a cousin in the area. Murfreesboro is about 30 miles south of Nashville, the home of Middle Tennessee State University, a very nice looking city with just about anything a person would need.

On the way driving back to Nashville, I stopped at a Kroger grocery in Smyrna to pick up some fruit and water. My purchases were on sale if you had their card, but being I'm not from around there, I didn't. I explained that when I was asked at the register if I had a card--suddenly a woman at the checkout in front of mine turned around and said "here, she can use my card." Now that is Southern hospitality. Very sweet and unexpected. I saved over $2 because of her kind gesture. The checkout clerk then offered me my own Kroger card and I course accepted...because you never know, you know. :)

I would have gone elsewhere but I had enough driving today and gotta save that gas (though regular is not yet $3 here most places!). I did get a swim in during the afternoon. So tonight I watch the new Gaither Vocal Band video on TV and watch and listen to the Opry again.

By the way, if you watch the Opry on GAC on Saturday night, I hate to tell you this, but you miss a lot of good stuff when the commercials are on. I listened live on WSM radio along with the TV show...the show goes on during the TV commercials and there some great performances happening while the sausage is being sold on TV. I can also tell you there is a 7 second delay between the radio and TV.

Brentwood and the Bluebird tomorrow...

Off to Nashville day 1

Well, nothing too eventful about the flights today--they were just late. I didn't have to have any secondary bag screening and I put my grooming items in my checked bag, so no problems there.
The flight in here was very scenic--lots of beautiful green terrain.

It had just started to rain when I got there. Nonetheless, I decided to venture out on foot in search of a place for supper. The desk clerk recommended a restaurant across the street. When I got there, though, I noticed that next door to it was a Chinese buffet! Woo hoo! Obviously I changed my plans and ate my brains out while a very good radio station with a good 80s oldies mix played in the background.

The challenge shall be trying to maintain a semblance of (relatively) healthy eating over the next couple of days. Let's just say that when you fly Midwest, it's a given you're gonna cheat with the homebaked chocolate chip cookies.

Tonight I shall listen to the Opry and watch Randy Travis and Josh Turner perform together on CMT. Tomorrow it's on the road..

Off to Nashville...

I'm headed to Nashville this weekend for a very short trip. If the laptop's able to connect, I'll be blogging about it here and there, so stay tuned.

Due to the new travel regulations, no spiky hairdo for me when I'm out there.

"Me Day"

I haven't known what it's like to take a real vacation day off work for years, I think. Usually when I take time, it's because I'm traveling or committed to some event. The only days to myself lately have been holidays..and that's because everything is usually closed. But last week, I gave myself what I called a "me day"--a day set apart for me. No plans, no commitments to anything or anyone.

I took that time to relax, do a lot of spiritual study and reading. I must say, everyone needs to do this now and then...especially if you have a stressful job or other intense stuff going on in your life. Much was revealed to me just by contemplating and being still. And, I know for sure it's had a staying effect thus far. It was a great beginning of a physical and spiritual renewal.

Gotta check the calendar to plan my next one now....

Temp Your Way Across the Country

I have in my library a book titled "The Temp Workers' Handbook" by Brian Hassett. Having been a temp on and off throughout my work life to accomodate my creative pursuits, it's been not only a valuable resource, but a great read. Brian Hassett is a brilliantly talented writer who manages to bring a refreshing humor and perspective to the field of temping.

I was looking through it this weekend and took note of a section where he describes how people could travel their way across the country and temp in different cities. I'm not sure if this all was tongue in cheek or not. But, if you're someone without a lot of strings in life and a lot of stuff, it could be an intriguing way to live for awhile.

Hmm...I'll have to take a look at that.

Around the world..

Every now and then I do a Google search on myself to see what I find. The latest results have been quite surprising. Due to some recent articles which I've placed on article portal sites, I've found that my work is featured on many websites I never knew existed, including several music related web sites. I was also amused and pleased to find myself listed as an artist on a few CD sales sites, thanks to CDBaby.com making my audiobook "Treasures In the Tip Jar: the Art of Awesome Fan Support" available to CD online outlets and digitally via ITunes and other download sites. I even found a listing for myself from such places as Germany and Denmark.

None of the above has yet made me rich and famous. Oh well, I'm still working on that. One small step at a time, you know.

Best male singer...

It's been said that you don't pick singers…they pick you.

Most people who read my blogs and website regularly know that I've been on record for the past five years or so saying that Mark Lowry is the best male singer I've ever heard. I was not born yesterday. I've been a serious, and somewhat astute, music listener for most of my life…and a lot of you also know how old I am.

If you've been wondering why I declare all this, let me explain it to you.

To me, the elements of a great singer are: voice quality, emotion, strength, lyrical phrasing, and ability to handle diverse styles well. Some singers are considered great because they have one area that is particularly strong. For instance, they may be able to sing big very, very well. But, for someone to come along and have all of these elements to such a great degree is very rare. The only other singer who to my ears had it all was the late, great Patsy Cline, who I feel is the greatest female singer who ever lived. Barbra Streisand runs a close second for female singers. Michael McDonald was the reigning male singer in my world for about 20+ years prior to my discovering Mark. (Don't feel bad, Michael...that's a good long run and he still hasn't moved far from the top spot).

I encourage you to check out the following performances and hear for yourself what I'm talking about (try Mark's website at www.marklowry.com or Amazon.com for sound bites). Most are from Mark's solo albums.

1. Mary Did You Know (Mark Lowry On Broadway)
The one that started it all…it can probably be said this performance changed my life. It opened the door to a lot of personal blessings over the past five years. I even lobbied for a Grammy nomination for Mark in the male vocal category for this performance. Basically, I watched the video that night on TV, heard Mark sing this and my jaw dropped. I looked at Mark on the screen and said "you don't know me now…but you will". I was only going to write an e-mail to tell him he was the best male singer I ever heard...and the rest is "Wendy V" history. Who knew?

2. Reaching (Still the Greatest Story Ever Told-Gaither Vocal Band)
Mark's solo break in the middle of this song to me has as much breath-taking, emotional, goose bump impact as Patsy Cline's "Faded Love".

3. The Christmas Song (Mary Did You Know)
I have not heard this song sung better (and yes, I've heard many versions). As perfect a pop standard performance as they come. All the elements I mentioned earlier are masterfully demonstrated here and throughout this album: voice, emotion, diverse style, phrasing.

4. Make It Real (Some Things Never Change)
The hit that should have been. Had this song been played on country or adult contemporary radio, it might have done what "Butterfly Kisses" did and gone straight to #1. I believe those markets would have responded in a big way to that voice and a song that expresses where many of us have been at some time or another in our lives.

5. I'll Worship Only At the Feet of Jesus (Best of Mark Lowry, Volume 2).
Even as many times as I've heard this track, I recall at the last Praise Gathering I attended, they played this as people were filing out of the worship service. I just stood there and froze.

6. But Seriously (album).
It's hard to be blown away by 30 second sound samples. But I was when I first heard these on Mark's website. When I finally got a copy of the album, I played it 6 times in a row. A classic, timeless, perfect combination of the right songs and a great singer. (FYI, if you have the Best of Mark Lowry vols.1 & 2 , then you have the whole album).

Mark's next planned release is a hymns with orchestra project. Look out.

Oh, by the way…Happy Birthday, Mark.

East Coast Trip

I am just back from a trip to New York and CT to visit family. We've been dealing with ill health of parents for many years. With one remaining, it is still sad and stressful at times.

Many of the New York and New Haven area radio stations set the soundtrack of my growing up in the 60s. This time out my sister and I visited the Savin Rock Museum, a place that celebrates the setting of where we grew up. Savin Rock is on the Connecticut shoreline in West Haven, the former home of a grand amusement park which existed from the early 1900s till 1968. It's now a shorefront and a boardwalk, but the memories are well preserved.

I begin and end my trips with overnight stopovers in New York City to regroup, break up the long travel duration and to know I'll make it to the airport on time on the way back home.

Man, I love New York.

I've been there more times since I left the East Coast than when I lived in CT only 75 miles away. I love the city's energy, media coming at you from all sides (a bit like the Tom Petty song "Jammin' Me", admittedly) and watching the tons of people do their thing, trying to get from point A to point B. Most interesting is the juxtaposition of the well to do side by side along the streets of the homeless and destitute.

I went out in the early evening and sat in Bryant Park for awhile, just watching people chill, read, chat, relax, whatever. I do remember a time when New York seemed sinister and unsafe. Though I do instinctively keep my hand on my bag when I walk, I feel safe and unthreatened as I walk the streets (my main way of getting around the city).

My usual hangout, the Museum of TV and Radio, was closed when I was in town so I couldn't go there this time. However, Virgin Megastore on Times Square is fast becoming my favorite place in the city. I told a worker there that they needed to have a dance floor in the store—because every time I go there, I want to dance. The closest I come to that is walking rhythmically throughout the store's three levels. If ever one place in New York captures the city's pulse and spirit, Virgin Megastore is it.

And ever still, the best place to eat in New York is any of the hot and cold buffet delis you can find.