It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

... even in Nashville!!

Believe it or not, it's 24 degrees (16 w/wind chill) this morning! Our cars were covered with ice this morning, and we didn't have ice scrapers! You'd think that as long as I'd lived through sub-zero Iowa winters, that I'd be prepared. Normally, I would've been, but everyone was telling me, "No.. don't worry. It stays in the lower 50's until January..." Yeah, right! Anyway...

My musical life is perking up a little bit lately. The last Saturday in November, I was called at 6:30 pm and summoned downtown to play a shift with Billy Dalton. Then I got lucky and was able to also play the very next shift (also with Billy).

Then this past Friday I got a phone call at 2pm asking if I was playing anywhere that evening. I ended up getting a weekend gig at Jesse Zane's Nashville Nights on Printer's Alley in Nashville. The gig was pretty long (8 hours) and I only made $100 per night, but that was $200 more than I had before.

Then I ended up hooking up with the band Paradise Avenue. They found me through the internet and we got together last night for an impromptu rehearsal. So it looks like I'll be playing with them off and on whenever our schedules match up.

I'm also playing both nights this weekend with Dustin Bogue but it's no longer at the dastardly Debbie's dive! One gig is in Lebanon, TN and the other is about 70 miles away but I can't remember the town. It will be a lot of fun playing with Dustin again, as he does lots of classic country which I love.

On December 16th, Hit-N-Run (my band with Tim McDonald) will be opening for a friend of Tim's that recently opened for Mark Chesnutt. We'll be in Huntsville, AL. It should be fun.

Jesse Zane was blown away by my playing and he wants me to play Dec. 16-17, but as I have a gig the 16th, I'll see if I can play the 17th. He also wants me to play New Year's Eve, but the money isn't as good as I think it should be, so I'll make him an offer. If he accepts, then I'll play, but if not, I'll just get happy ringing in the New Year!

But before the ball drops, I'll get to enjoy Christmas back home in Iowa. Speaking of Christmas, it's occured to me that I hadn't even brainstormed about what I'd like to receive this year. Some of the things I came up with:

New rear brakes for my van
20GB or 40GB I-Pod or Dell DJ
Tickets for Queen+Paul Rodgers concert on March 3, 2006 in Jacksonville, FL
Hohner Special 20 harmonicas (G, D, A)
Queen + Paul Rodgers: Return of the Champions DVD
New set of musician's custom earplugs
Gift certificates to Forks Drum Closet, Nashville TN
Kona coffee beans (100% Kona only.. NOT a Kona blend)
Starbucks gift cards
Wal-Mart gift cards

I usually have a longer list, but I really can't think of anything else. I already have almost everything I could want. I'm living where I've always wanted to live, I'm playing music regularly, I have family and friends who love me, I have clothes on my back and food in my fridge. A lot of people living in our country today can't say that.

As the years roll on, I notice that Christmas is becoming more about what to buy, and how much of it to buy. Didn't Jesus call gluttony a sin?

Instead of buying 4 or 5 gifts for people, just buy one (or two at the most), and give the rest of what you'd have spent to Katrina or Rita relief. Or throw a couple of bucks in the Salvation Army buckets. Or do little things like bring those bell-ringers some hot coffee, hot chocolate or apple cider to keep them warm as they give of themselves. If you see a homeless person on the street, bring them a hot meal from down the street, or offer them a blanket or directions to the nearest shelter.

Be kinder to your fellow man/woman. Don't let traffic snafu's get to you as you drive around finishing your shopping. Call your parents and let them know how much you love them. If they have passed on, visit their grave and leave fresh flowers and say a prayer. Remember all of the wonderful memories of Christmases past and embrace as many traditions as you can.

Here ends my public service announcement... Have a Merry Christmas (or Happy Hunnakah or Merry Kwanzaa...) and remember WHY it is that we celebrate this holiday. If you have trouble remembering... there's a book you can read that will tell you ALL about it.

God Bless you all and Merry Christmas!