• My friend Phil has a special announcement over at his blog if you haven’t seen it yet.  There’s a lot more coming from him this week, but everything in due time.

• My friend Derek is launching an amazing new site today where artists can give away music and anyone with a website / blog / myspace ect, can also be a part of giving away great music.  It’s called NoiseTrade and will be launched some time today.

I think there might have been more announcements, but I forgot them in the forty minutes it has taken me to calm down the kids enough so I could think enough to type this.  So make sure you run over to Phil’s blog and check out his announcement and then check in on NoiseTrade and get some free music.  

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So some of you may have noticed my little bunny that has popped up here and there.  Well today since I have nothing really to blog about and it’s a weekend anyway, I wanted to point out that now up in my address bar I have my little bunny sitting up there too.  Randy figured it out and made it work.  

We are currently hanging out at a very loud, busy cafe’ trying to get some work done and I think my brain is being over stimulated.  It was quiet here when we got here but the lunch rush has shown up and it’s kind of freaking me out. 

In other news, check out Mr. Wickham and his two posts in one day.  He has said, with his own mouth, “it’s time to step it up with the blogging”, so expect some more awesomeness from him.  Not to mention a pretty rad announcement on Monday.

You will also note that below this post is another button directing you all to today’s 40 Day Fast post.  Make sure you take the time to click that and check out the two posts today.  I love how two very different parts of the world are represented today, Paris and India.  It really shows the point of this whole thing and how far it can reach.  

Have a great Saturday.

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I’m sitting at the airport in Chicago halfway home from a great trip to Portland.  I have a couple different thoughts on the night but most of all I am thrilled the way that the entire thing turned out.  The recording went great.  The video went great.  Phil did great.  And I think it was a massive step for Phil’s career and for the Christian music industry.  I had a great time being a part of it.

The day started a little shaky since, you know, I had no idea how to do any of the stuff that I said I would do.  I had no clue how to use the camera that I rented, and didn’t even really know if the church had good enough internet to pull it off.  For a detailed, bullet point outline of the day go here.  Once again, there would have been no way to pull off the day without Randy making things happen.  There were a couple freak out moments, but everything turned out great.  I was on the phone with this guy and one of these guys way more than they probably appreciated, but I totally appreciate their help.

Once we did eventually figure everything out we were able to grab lunch with Tyler.  We hadn’t met before but because of blogs we were, once again, able to bypass all the formalities and actually talk.  It’s always cool to meet someone that you feel like you know already.  Cool in a weird sort of way.  After the show Randy and I were able to also meet Samantha and her friend.  Like most of you know, my memory is garbage so I apologize, friend, it was great to meet you.  We talked for a little bit after the show and then packed everything up, and went back to Randy’s house.

All in all, a great night.  I had a blast, got to see Portland again, and now I can’t wait to get home.  Thanks again for watching and getting the word out.  I wonder what’s next.

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Hey everyone. Thanks so much for checking out Phil’s show tonight if you did.  If you didn’t see it, you missed something special.  I have lots to talk about, but my brain is mush right now.  I have to be up in five hours to catch a flight home.  I met some great people tonight and honestly the night couldn’t have gone better.  

More to come when I can spell things right.

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Alright. I’m here at Randy’s house in (amazing) Portland, Oregon.  The camera and I made it safely through security, a Denver layover, and a farting old women* and we are getting ready for tomorrow.  

I’m pretty excited about all these things coming together and I wanted to remind everyone to make sure they are over at Phil’s blog tomorrow night at 7:30 PM Pacific Time.  It’s going to be a great night and hopefully I don’t screw anything up.

*There was an old lady that told me that she didn’t want a middle seat and that she wanted to sit in my aisle seat.  She was in her late 70’s so I had to let her take my seat and I think she was farting the whole flight.  I wanted to throw up numerous times between Denver and Portland.  Seriously, who farts on a plane?

See you tomorrow.

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So tomorrow I will be running around a bunch and I’m not sure I will have much time to blog. For those of you that don’t know, I am heading to Portland to meet up with Phil to record and video his live album show. Well, I won’t be the one recording it, but I will be there during the recording of it… you get the idea.

I’m excited to be in Portland again. There is something magically artistic about that place and normally when I am there something cool happens. It’s also cool that it’s where Randy is, so we will be able to get some work done and actually be in the same room to do the work for once.

A couple random things from today. I officially made the switch from Safari to Firefox, and am not sure that I really like it yet. Everything seems so bubbly and annoying to me. And I swear it’s slower, but I could be making that up. What are you using?

Also Kristin and I are two episodes away from finishing the second season of LOST. Ana Lucia is dead and the show is now better because of it. Although it’s a bit creepy that Michael is all whacked out now. I think Season One kept my attention a little better but it’s still a great show.

I rode the scooter to my friend Michael’s house today. We did a rad video for his blog (that he never updates) but I think it’s not working or something. Everyone head to Michael’s blog and harass him about blogging and say hello for me.

So that’s it from this place. I will be around tomorrow but mostly on Twitter so check me out there. I am a little curious about how many people that read this blog are going to be at the show on Friday. I know a couple people have commented already about being there, so let’s hear it. Who’s watching online, and who’s going to be there?

**Quick update. I am currently editing this in Safari because Firefox was being lame. One more like that and we are in a fight.**

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Yesterday I went to the Lifework2.0 thing that Randy and Spence put on and I think my brain is a little swollen.  We went through so much stuff that I am still checking my notes to see things that I have already forgotten about.  There were a bunch of other folks there, and since I’m miserable with names it’s going to take me a little research to remember all the folks I met.  Vicky was there, John Voelz was there, Beyond Jems was there, and a bunch of others.  We talked about Twitter and all sorts of other Google search stuff that I am still sorting through.  

I had a great time getting to know some of the people that I read everyday.  Make sure to check those links out if you haven’t and say hi. 

Today I’ve got to get ready to head to Portland.  Tomorrow will be a busy day.

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It’s working! And let me tell you why.

I have had the opportunity to work with some amazingly talented people that are totally believing in what I am doing, and jumping in with both feet.  Today was a day that proved to me that what we are doing is working, and I am totally excited about it.

A couple things I would like to point out that I am really excited about is first, see the yellow writing on that picture over there?  Phil made an amazing video the other day while we were sitting in his hotel room talking about blog ideas.  So far in the past two and a half days the video has been viewed almost two thousand times, and was ranked number ninety of the most viewed musicians on YouTube.  What the crap?!  In all of Youtube! You know… in the entire world and stuff. I love it. Also, Phil made an announcement on his blog tonight that will, I believe, will revolutionize and solidify his “presence” in the Christian music industry, and I love that I get to be a part of it.

Secondly, Natalie who took home the Dove Award for “Female Vocalist Of The Year”, reached a new high on her blog today, totaling over four-thousand people.  Four-Thousand.  Amazing talent and I love that I am allowed to be involved in a small part of her career this way.  It’s amazing to see this stuff working.

And third, my father-in-law called me on the way home from Blue’s baseball game and told me that MercyMe’s blog was being featured and talked about on Total Axxess.  Now for those of you that don’t know, Total Axxess, from what I understand, isn’t just a Nashville thing.  It’s broadcast from here, but is all over the country and that’s a big deal I think.  I’m not sure all that was said but I would have loved to have heard it.  Any of you hear it?  And what’s cool to see is even all the industry folks coming to their blog including other artists.  Today Aaron Shust even commented.

So anyway, I just love to see things working and I love to be a part of helping these amazingly talented people get out into the world wide internets a little better.  It’s been a good day and now I am off to bed.  

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I didn’t plan on going to the Gospel Music Awards last night. Honestly it didn’t really cross my mind. I assumed I wouldn’t go and just hear about it later.  As it turned out I ended up going obviously and was pretty impressed.  In years past I had heard a bunch of negative stuff surrounding the Doves.  I had heard that it was long and boring and self-absorbed and all that.  Maybe it has been, but this year was pretty impressive.  I got to the Grand Ole Opry House a little early because Phil was performing during the pre-show.  We hung out backstage with a the guys from Switchfoot, and a bunch of folks that were running in and out like maniacs.  Phil performed “True Love” and blew the place up.  I have seen him perform this song probably fifty times and this time was easily one of the best times I had heard it.  If there was ever a time to nail the sing like he did it was then.  He did a great job and had a great response.

Once the show started Phil, Evan and I made our way to our seats for the part of the show that was actually televised.  We were upstairs in the balcony next to the Tenth Avenue North guys, which by the way have an amazing record coming out May 20th.  Great guys and a brilliant record.  But I will talk about that later.

Once of the first awards given out was Female Vocalist Of The Year and Natalie won that right after she performed with Wynonna to open the show.  Natalie did a great job and it was cool to see her and her husband, Bernie, collectively win three Doves.  It was also cool to each of their responses when the other one won.

A little later the guys in the Crowder Band played.  They had a pretty cool stage set up with fake grass and growing flowers.  Very Sufjan. They did a great job, and it was cool to run into them at dinner before the show.  I don’t remember what awards David and the guys took home, but it was cool to see them play again.

Later in the show Switchfoot performed a new song of theirs that was written for the new Narnia movie.  They had a small string section with them and nailed an amazing song.  I was pretty blown away by it.  I don’t know how they do it but they come up with so many great songs, and this one is no exception.  It’s one I almost wish I could have heard as it was being broadcast on TV simply so I could hear a really good mix and hear all the parts.  Either way I was really impressed and it was cool to see them again.  

Another highlight of the night was the closing song where Mac performed with Charlie Daniels.  It was pretty unbelievable and everyone on stage looked like they were having a great time.  

Once the show ended we hung out a bit on the floor talking to people and figuring out who was going and how we were all getting to the after show party.  Then we all drove to some hotel where there was food, music and lots of tired artists.  I had no intention of staying late but ended up leaving about midnight.  

All in all it was a really cool night.  It was fun to hang out with everyone in a completely different environment.  Not to mention it was a cool experience for me to be able to be a part of.  I have grown up hearing about and watching these types of award show things, so it was cool to be a part of one.  And say what you want about the industry, self-glorification, and all that.  I say last night was a fun party and a celebration for a bunch of crazy talented people.  I don’t know much about the politics of it, but I know I personally had a great time.  I just hope Kristin can go with me next year. 

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If that doesn’t blow you away, I don’t know what will.

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