one coffee is all it takes!

Sometimes all it takes is one cup of coffee who knows what you are going through and believes in you just a little in order to kick your ass back into gear. I had coffee with Bobby Cameron tonight, he is a musican and songwriter with quite a bit of publishing under his belt.I was picking his brain about publishing and how to get more involved in it. He was surprised with everything I have done and won that I didn't have a publishing deal. He suggested I take all teh grants and loans I have ever received together in a list along with some quotes, songwriting contests I have won and gigs of note. I have received quite a few loans and grants in my life from Factor, AFA, Manitoba Film and Sound, Rawlco radio. I have played many of the big festivals in this country Calgary, Winnipeg , Edmonton, Regina, Brandon, Sudbury, Red Rock, Filberg, South Country Fair, North Country Fair, The Works, Wpg Fringe, Edmonton Fringe. I have opened for Ray Davies of the Kinks, Greg Brown, Fred Eaglesmith, Garnet Rogers, James Keelaghan, Stephen Fearing, Field Day, Tom Russell, The Preservation Hall Band, Larry McMurtry, Connie Kaldor. I have played guitar with the Wyrd Sisters, Harpdog Brown, Rusty Reed, ANgie Nussey, Dave Mowat, Big Dave Mclean, Tim WIlliams, Pete Turland, Carla Rugg, Jen Kraatz, Jenny Robinson, Emma Cook, Rita Chiarelli and more.
I just need to put it all into a little package and spread it around in the hopes of perpetuating my career.I just want to stay in the creative end of my field and survive!

Joe Bird's wake

I lost mine and many people's good friend Joe Bird.He died on April Fool's day and he was a prankster so it was fitting and made everyone suspicious, but he did indeed pass away. My friend Shannon saw him through his window lying in bed, she called Mr Bumbo who came down and together they climbed in his window and called the Paramedics. He always thought he was going to die of Huntington's cause his mom had it, but then he also thought he would go young. His father died young of heart problems.I don't know the exact details but I do know that he quit his carpet laying job because he felt like he couldn't breathe from the chemicals. He must have been feeling pretty lousy cause the last answering machine message he left for his sister was reassuring and telling her not to worry and was missing the usual funny bits. A bunch of us called his answering machine which was really funny and then when the mailbox was full after the answering machine message you got to hear "The mailbox belonging to.....MIGUEL SANCHEZ......is full. He made us laugh one more time. They had a great wake for him at The Roxy Theatre in Edmonton, it was standing room only and tears and laugter were everywhere, people really loved him without hesitation. Really was a beautiful send off, it was sad to see him go. I have been laughing and crying for days thinking about him.Joe was 41, same age as me but so much more grown up! He was an actor, comedian, songwriter, open stage host, homemade sauna builder, Casanova, cat lover, soundscape builder, carpet layer and a very lovable guy.