Reflections on my upbringing, fatherhood, and trying to be a better person.
In junior high I ran cross-country. It’s that sport where you run on golf courses, all the while wishing you were golfing. I remember this one race. Park Rapids, Minnesota. Hills everywhere. I was running a pretty decent race. My lap times were good, and I felt strong. But with less than 50 yards to […]
Don’t Finish a Race Like This Read More »
I’m from northern Minnesota where people are stoic and reserved. More walk. Less talk. In fact no talk is also fine and acceptable, often preferable. I’ve driven hours in a car with fellow Minnesotans, nobody saying a word the entire way. Complete comfort. Awkward silence is just called silence where I’m from.
Who’s Your Redheaded Youth Pastor? Read More »
Remember Track and Field Day? Being led out to the football field by Mrs. Rislov. All those different stations. Softball throw, gunnysack race, 100 meter dash.
Why Social Media is Like Track and Field Day Read More »
Caleb asked if I’d write about what a typical day is like for me. Probably like you, mine changes a bit depending on the week or season, but for the most part, here it is…
What My Typical Day Looks Like Read More »
It wasn’t what I expected. What I expected was a recording studio you’d see in the movies or in Rolling Stone magazine. Huge rooms with vaulted ceilings and sliding glass doors. A sound engineer smoking cigarettes over a mixing console.
What It Was Like Starting Out (Recording My First Songs) Read More »
Jim was my coworker. He and I worked together at Taco Bell. I was in high school. He was probably in his early 40s, a single dad of three kids. Serving late night burritos was just one of many jobs he had.
How My Taco Bell Coworker Helped Me Deal with Stress Read More »
Imagine you work construction, framing houses. But what you really want to do is play guitar and sing songs for people. You’ve just recorded your first album and are releasing it in two months. Of course you know your fingers are important, so you’re as careful as you can be around dangerous tools like, um,
After I’ve taken Silas to school, after I’ve talked with Heidi about the day, while August is still sleeping and Lorentz is eating, I walk to my studio in the backyard. Come walk with me (and see if I spill the coffee)….
Want to Walk Out to My Studio with Me? Read More »
Inspiration seems to hit at the worst times. You’re sitting there minding your own business, but then you have a thought and a feeling, and a moment to react before continuing to, let’s say, brush your teeth. For the past several years I’ve made a habit of at least trying to grab inspiration by its
The Infancy of My Most Popular Song Read More »
I bet you didn’t know that I created my first album artwork in Microsoft PowerPoint, did you? I bring this up to say I didn’t know what I was doing. I also didn’t have any money in my Wells Fargo checking account to hire a graphic designer. I did, though, have one of those old
That Time I Used PowerPoint to Design My First Album Cover Read More »