All | Todd McHatton

2 Pirate Song

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My daughter likes to dress up like a pirate (she thinks that’s a pirate helmet) and Cooper and I used to have major pirate adventures with driftwood in the sand when when we lived on the beach.

My kids absolutely kill me. I love them so much it’s painful.

This is another “song-of-the-week” – freshly written and recorded today.

Hey, guess what! The book is ready! (I know I said that on the last post but it’s worth saying again) We’ll call this a “soft launch” – please tell everyone you know to search “Grass Stained Twilight” and buy it.

Thank You!

Here’s the lyrics:
She’s a pirate and she’s got her eye on everything she wants I’m gonna put an “x” on and she’s gonna dig it – She’s goin’ to the sea with me – Cooper Crush Cannon is searchin’ for gold – Crazy Hazey’s on the deck she’s dancin’ on her toes – And we’re sailin’ where the winds of love blow

2 Deep Pockets

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Short attention span or just a lack of time but I didn’t record the second verse – just repeated the first. It also ends abruptly – but we’re gonna go play in the snow for a few days so I’m leaving it for now. It’s a story from the new book but the song is brand new – just made it up tonight.

And, Grass Stained Twilight is ready!!! Already got an order (thank you sis!)

3 No One Waits (For You To Change Into Your Cape) Anymore

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A new song… yay!

This mp3 cuts off right before the very end of the song but I wanted to move on to something else so I’m putting it up.
No, this is not on the Grass Stained Twilight CD. Most everything I post here will be new/in progress stuff as this one is. The sketch above along with this song will probably end up with a final revised version in an upcoming book with an accompanying story.

Gina and Cooper thought I should include the lyrics:
They all escaped -When I went – To put on my red -Cape – I flew all over the Earth – And Sun – Singed my best boots it’s no use – They’re gone – How’ll I explain? – It was a wardrobe problem Commissioner – That sounds so lame – I’ve got a Super Sister – They’ll commission her too – No one waits – For you to change – Into your cape – Anymore – I’ll find a way – To get them all back and I’ll save – The day – And then I’ll say – It was no problem at all Commissioner – That sounds so great – As for my Super Sister – She’ll come on a mission or two – No one waits – For you to change – Into your cape – Anymore

5 Two Turtles

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A rough mix of a song from Grass Stained Twilight…

4 Sick Song

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This has been just about the worst flu I can remember.

I really didn’t think I’d get anything up this week but gave it a shot tonight anyhow. Sorry, no vocals again – can’t talk let alone sing right now.

The image above is from the first poem in Grass Stained Twilight.

5 Instrumental Escalator

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Only did a short instrumental this week – not much time – everyone’s sick around here.
I’ve got a little bit of a melody and lyrics but I think it’s alright like this too.

1 Comics

I am absolutely obsessed with comics.

I’ve always enjoyed them but over the past few years, in an attempt to share the magic with my son, I’ve fallen into the abyss. For the past few holidays the entire family has heaped upon me glorious piles of comics wonderful comics (thank you).

I’ve always dabbled a bit in their creation myself but have only recently dabbled in consistency. I started a little “autobiographical comic” -and then stopped- and am starting again (not sharing those right now).

These are pages from my sketchbook and fully demonstrate my potential strengths and weaknesses – I like to whip them out fast but can’t seem to muster up the attention span to invest in a plot. I’m working on it.

3 A New Song

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Wow, this is harder than I thought it would be. Wrote 2 songs this week but laying everything down takes some time.

Putting time constraints on the whole thing forces some compromises but sometimes it forces happy ones.
This one is called “I’m Gonna Be.”

Thank you so much family for commenting on what I’ve put up so far. I’m resisting letting anyone else know about this until all the fun stuff is ready (according to Andy it’ll be a couple more weeks).

6 Grandma’s House

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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:

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):

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, finally, the last audio clip is from my sister who had written a poem for her, Grandma Amelia, that I had put to music. Although, 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.

0 Christmas Comic

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.