December 2007 Archives

It seems strangely fitting that I had written a very lengthy commentary here about how much Grandma meant to me only to have it "disappear" as I am posting it. She never was much for fanfare.

I am going to try putting a little information here though Grandma-

It was her Birthday this week. She passed away a few months ago. She meant more to me than I can possibly say (and to a lot of other people as well).

I wrote some songs for her several years ago.

Although they're sloppy and poorly produced I needed to do something for her today.

This is a portion of a verse I like:

Grandma's House (verse portion)

Safe and happy under covers

Cautious footsteps up the stairs

"Don't forget to say your prayers and wash your face"

(This is a special place)

"God love ya"

It's all love for all of us

At Grandma's House

And here's the bridge with a little more of the chorus (which was repeated way too much):

Grandma's House (bridge portion)

Amy, Chris, Ami, Tony, Todd, Jake, Ashley, Josephine

We know what she means

We know what she means

It's all love for all of us

At Grandma's house

And, my sister had written a poem for her that I had put to music:

Grandma Amelia (portion)

None of us ever called her by that name (as far as I know) - she was always "Grandma" or "Grandma McHatton" - but we all loved her name. My brother even named one of his beautiful daughters after her.

Even though there's a sense of sadness, the real overwhelming feeling I have is of gratitude - gratitude for my family, for her, for my amazing life.

I love you Grandma! Happy Birthday.

and,

Merry Christmas.

I made this little comic to help out with a zine project my son did for school. It's not much but it gave me an idea that I'm working on turning into a Christmas book.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls - here he is, for the first time anywhere, the one and only; Pushy Phil...

Little Pushy Phil

I really can't wait any longer. I am going to launch now. Launch launch launchity launch. That was awesome.

WHEW! That took a lot out of me. I've never launched before.

There will be a song here soon called Larry's Launchpad. Actually, there will be a few songs about Larry. Who's "Larry"? I'm not sure - and - I'm not sure why I've had these impulses to write about Larry but I think it may have started with my grade-school friend Paul Utzig and his near mythical "Uncle Larry". This name came up so frequently and with such reverence when we were kids that I'm completely amazed that I have no memory of ever actually meeting him. Uncle Larry was a biker. Uncle Larry had a chain-saw. Uncle Larry was incredibly cool. Uncle Larry shared a room with Paul. How is it that I never met him?

Then there's Parenthood: "Why don't you tell us now... Larry" - "Everybody, this is my son, Cool" - "If you weren't my sister..."

I just like "Larry."

Tomorrow I'm going to put my first song up - and then, I'm going to try and do that at least once a week.

And soon, very soon, we will have more "launches" here: Grass Stained Twilight; A book collecting songs, stories, poems, and pictures and an interactive website with animated fun designed by Ben Horak.

Get ready for fun and adventure!