Half-way to North Dakota. Mom and I stayed with Earl & Susan last night.

Here's Earl reading one of his poems.

Breakfast is now. I think I can smell Susan's fresh-baked coffee cake.

For the next ten days I'll be on the road, away from my gals.  I'm sad about this.  Today I'm off to North Dakota where I have a couple trucking runs waiting for me--one to Toronto and the other to Calgary.  Gotta earn some dollar bills and see some hollers and hills and foller God's will and swaller some little white pills . . .

Until then, adieu.

One of the greatest things about having an office smack dab in the middle of downtown Missoula is that it's easy to network and collaborate with other artists.  In fact, I share my office space with Hana's and my friend, Joy French, who is choreographer at the Downtown Dance Collective.

Joy's modern dance company is called Bare Bait Dance.  Last Friday they began their full-scale production "Views from Grandma's Porch" which explores a tapestry of rural themes.  Hana and I--thanks to Mom taking care of Stevie--went last Saturday and were thoroughly enchanted.  Joy is a real story teller and she and her dancers, musicians, and stage hands, give it everything they have, physically and emotionally.

Here's a recent write-up by Joe Nickell:  New Modern Dance Company Steps into Missoula Spotlight.  Tickets for this weekend, FYI, are still available, but going fast.

When the weather warms up, Joy plans to take her troupe to some Montana ghost towns and record a video, and she may use one of my songs for the music.  If so, I'm thinking "Horse Graveyard."

I'm starting a little band.  More on this soon.

I couldn't help but notice that today's Missoulian front page picture closely resembles the Nikki McClure cover art for my record Chemicals in the Wheat.

Similar, right?

Better examples of synchronicity can be found in the brand-spankin' new book by my longtime friend Andras Jones,  Accidental Initiations.

If you're acquainted with Andras, you might know about his Radio8Ball Show, his acting resume, his music catalogue, or that he's not afraid of confrontation and controversy.  His no-holds-barred attitude and mystical swagger upsets the timid and/or prudish among us, including me at times.

If you want a true portrait of Andras, though, and his unique interpretation of Olympia, don't be afraid to take off your shoes and join him on the mossy little adventure that is his book.  From what I've read of it so far via his blog, it's going to be an excellent debut.  We might hate it, but we won't be bored, and that's how I define great Rock & Roll.

Way to go, A.J.!  I hope you sell a million copies.

Loner Records, my music label, now has an office, and I couldn't be happier.

I'm right in the heart of downtown Missoula sandwiched between a head shop and a barber shop.  Almost every great music venue in this city is within a two block radius of my Sand Cave.

Time to start again.

We found a leprechaun in our bed this morning!

We took Stevie on her first road trip yesterday.  Lolo Hot Springs!  

We think she liked it.

Of all the songs about love and trains, this one has always been my favorite:

RIP to the Soul Train's creator and host, Don Cornelius, who passed away earlier this year.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of guest deejaying on KBGA's The Grassroots Show.  I co-hosted with Abe Coley.  It felt nourishing to spin old records by The McGarrigle Sisters, James Talley, Mahalia Jackson, Loudon Wainwright III, and Jonathan Richman, as well as newer ones by many of my friends.

Winter in Missoula.

Music-related news from Sandland:

1. Tonight is the Boston (possibly world) premiere of the feature-length comedy PARTY LIKE IT'S A VERB.  Two of my songs are featured in it--"From Behind," and "Pillowcases."

2. Saturday night I will be performing some songs in Missoula in a shop called Zombie Tools.  Zombie Tools sells accessories for surviving an anticipated zombie apocalypse (serious).

3. March 11th I'll co-host The Grassroots Show on KBGA with Abe Coley.

4. April 24th I open up for The Hive Dwellers--at Zoo City Apparel here in Missoula.

5. April 26th I fly to Chicago for a show with Tony Rogers at The Hideout.

Stevie is now six weeks old!

My Grandpa Nick Herak would've turned 100 years old today.  He was a sweet man who ranched and farmed near Charlo, MT, with my Grandma Vi and their nine kids.  He crossed over the Great Divide in 1987.

Saturday's screening of Roll Out, Cowboy went swimmingly: packed house, receptive audience, generous merch sales!

After the film I sang a handful of songs, including "Sugar Bank Hank":

Hi Montana!

A reminder about today's (2/18/12) screening of Roll Out, Cowboy at Crystal Theater at 4:45pm. I'll play songs afterwards and have $5 shirts and CDs for sale.

Come listen to a new rap about my month-old baby girl called "Giddyup."

Here's a blog about my new life as a "Missoulian" that the Big Sky Film Fest just posted:
http://bigskydocff.blogspot.com/2012/02/missoulas-own-rapping-cowboy.html

Hope to see some of you out!

Dad arrived last night from ND via Greyhound.

We awoke early this a.m., and drove to Jerry Johnson's Hot Springs in Idaho.  It's a mile and 1/2 walk in on an icy trail along the Lochsa River.  We had the hot pot in the meadow all to ourselves.

Roll Out, Cowboy, the 2010 feature-length film about my life as a touring musician, will be returning to the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival this coming Saturday, February 18th at 4:45pm, at the Crystal Theater.

My parents, who have STILL NOT seen it, promise to attend. Come watch them squirm. : ) I'll be performing songs afterwards.

If you live in Olympia or Seattle, I've heard rumors of folks carpooling out to Missoula the day before. Let me know if you're looking for a ride or riders.

Thanks!

 Our little Damascus Rose: الوردة الدمشقية‎

"Bears don't really hibernate.  They just sorta chill out."

That was my response to Hana yesterday when she pointed out that we've been living very den-like this winter.  For the last two weeks, since Hana and Stevie returned from the hospital, they, Grandma Mary, and I have all been chilling out in this apartment, our little bear cave.

I've had to adjust from my old, get-stuff-done M.O. to one that surrenders to the needs of our milk-mouthed sweetheart.  At first this lifestyle shift felt taxing, but I'm finally getting into the rhythm of it all and enjoying it.  I love holding and taking baths with Stevie.  I look forward to naps with her on my chest.  For exercise I hike up Mount Jumbo or, weather permitting, go cross-country skiing with my buddy Jeff.  For entertainment I scan Facebook, or Hana and I watch The Daily Show on Hulu.

This is my awesome Mom, Mary Herak Sand.

What seems impossible now are projects that demand intense focus or time.  For example, I've been wanting to blog for the last several days and am only now getting to it.  Other neglected tasks include filing taxes, sending out baby gift thank-you cards, doing laundry, working on my music business, and connecting with friends.  Arriving at appointments on time and running errands require strategic planning.

That said, Hana and I have been extremely lucky.  My mother has been staying with us this month and helping out with cooking, cleaning, shopping, and baby care.  Her generosity of time and resources (you, too, Dad!) has been invaluable.  As I write this, Mom is holding my sleeping daughter and reading Gabby.

Sometimes I think my act would do best on the Blue Collar Comedy circuit.

Can't you see it--Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White, Bill Engvall, Larry the Cable Guy, and yours truly--all crammed into one bus driven by my dear old dad?

But then again.

5 days old.

Forgive me if all I write about is baby stuff lately.  I can't resist.  There is music news to report, but another day for that.

Back to baby.

Li'l Stevie's personality continues to unfold.  She loves taking baths and sleeping on our chests.  Her eyes are gaining focus.  She nurses often and for long periods and then, suddenly, falls off the bar stool of Hana's bosom and sleeps.  She likes classical music.

Since arriving home, our community has showered us with gifts.  Here's what our friends Janet & Frank Sucha just dropped off:

Farm eggs, apple cider, venison stew, plum jam, and pumpernickel bread.

From others we've been given cards, quiches, silk & fleece blankets, blueberries, water toys, stuffed cabbage rolls, homemade apple pie, sparkling cider, orchids, myrrh, books, floral essences, warm hats, pistachios, almond soap, kimchi, rice cakes, prunes, roses, crystals, acupuncture, lamb stew, bananas, sweetgrass, onesies, oils & lotions, grapes, chiropractic adjustments, carnations, dolls, counseling sessions, apples, tulips, chocolate, dresses, money, and more--not to mention copious amounts of time, energy, and love from my mother, Mary Herak Sand, who has been staying with us for the last two weeks.

Our downstairs neighbor, Evie, has been a fantastic support as well.  She keeps her spare bedroom open to our guests and often takes care of Gilda.  She shares her clothes dryer and TV for football games and political debates.  She also baked a chocolate cake and brought us flowers!

Having a baby is a humbling and delicious experience.

State of the Baby's First Week Address

Grandmas, Grandpas, Auntie Tala, distinguished guests, and fellow World Citizens:

I'm happy to report that my daughter--former Ambassador to Terabithia--Madame Stevie, is thriving!

I'd refrained from mentioning this, but Stevie's first five days outside the womb were spent at Community Medical Center due to Hana's unexpected high blood pressure. On Sunday, however, mother and baby were released with flying colors.

Having Stevie in our apartment has been a delight.  Grandma Mary has been taking the night shift to allow Hana and me to catch up on sleep, so our days have been active and cheery.

Yesterday we decided to give Stevie a second middle name, Angela, which was my great-grandmother Herak's name.  She is now Stevie Angela Kasm Sand.  I like this.

Now, more on the back story . . .

On January 17th, our midwife Sandhano encouraged us to let go of our home birth plan and have labor induced at the hospital.  We checked in at 2 p.m.  By 2:30 p.m. a quiet snowfall began and continued steadily for four days.  About an hour before midnight, Hana pushed fiercely and firmly, our li'l snow angel's head crowned, and we welcomed our daughter into the world.

Five days later, we bid farewell to the friendly nurses, blinking hospital lights, and painful IV needles. As we drove home through streets piled high with snow, the sun reappeared, making the mountains especially bright and beautiful.  

The front page of the Sunday Missoulian featured a picture of a majestic snowy owl.  Parliaments, aye blizzards, of them, have purportedly been gracing the area of late!  I'd love to think they brought our cherub with them, or, better yet, that she is one.

In my heart she is . . . Stevie the Snowy Owlet. 

Birdgirl of the North.

Yesterday, as you may know, Hana and I finally chose an official name for our four-day old wunderkind, Stevie Kasm Sand.   We'd fancied this name for months, but wanted to see if her personality matched.  It does, we think!

Maestra Stevie Kasm Sand.

If I had to choose one adjective to describe Stevie, it would be "cool."  Cool as in far out.  Or maybe "wild," like wild at heart.  

She loves closeness and kisses.

She has very expressive arms and fingers that she waves about like a wrinkled conductress or wizardly ballerina.

She's beautiful.  She's cool.  She's wild.

She's our sweet little alien child.

Mmmmmmmmm . . .

Stevie.

Guess what!  Our baby is a 7.4 lb, 20", glorious girl!!!!!!

Born tonight - 1/17/2012, 10:52 p.m.

Capricorn (same as me).

Year of the Rabbit (same as Hana).

People I admire who were born on this date include Muhammad Ali, Betty White, Michelle Obama, Benjamin Franklin, Eartha Kitt, and Steve Earle.

Our daughter's name is still undecided.

In sum:
Hana was amazing.  Baby is incredible.  I'm in love.  

More soon!

Our midwife, FYI, thinks we're having a boy.  She predicts this because Hana has a mild rash on her skin, supposedly caused by the baby's testosterone.

Funky.

I just added another unusual item to my "MERCH" page: Marijuana Bracelet (+ Unicorn Lighter & Utopia by Sir Thomas More).

Hana made the above bracelet by stringing 19 sterling silver-&-turquoise cannabis charms along a chain. 

Each leaf is stamped "sterling" on the back and comes from the Neuens' Western Shop in Bismarck, ND. The owners--my relatives-- were unaware of the hippy symbolism and sold them as maple leaf charms at $10 each.

As Hana and I await our new arrival, I've continued to organize boxes and let go of my odd collections of this 'n' that.  Some I throw away, some I give away, and some I sell.  I'm having fun with the latter project.

Yesterday I sold a cat skull (with bird nest) for $30.

Sold within five minutes of listing!

In its place I listed a beaver skull (with bird nest) for the same amount.  

I'll let you know how that goes.

My website's "MERCH" link should actually say "YARD SALE."  Click it to see why!

I've begun to sell quirky "stuff" online in the same manner I do at shows: in bundles.  Today it was all about cassettes tapes. (Update: all three cassette bundles I put up last night sold this morning, so you won't see them.  More coming!)

Last week it was trucker and cowboy collectibles.

My prices are fairly high, but I think worth it.  If nothing else, folks will notice how affordable my CDs are!