I had a few of my close friends to my house for the 40th birthday – and it was, well, a blast. A very nice experience getting to hang with my good pals on the day I celebrate peaking the gap and rolling down the backside of the human lifespan. Lord willing, I’ll have 40 more. Got $40 in iTunes bucks for the Birthday – taking my account above $50 with what’s left over from Christmas.

My approach in 2008 has differed from 2007 where I focused on albums and went through the bucks pretty quick. This year, I am generally buying one or two songs at a time – more variety. An update for all of you out there who peek at the blog, but never comment (come on, you know you’re there… like a mouse peaking out from under the fridge at the cheese under the toddler’s chair).

Over My Head (Cable Car) – The Fray.  I have to give the credit for this purchase to DaveE as The Fray was the group he recommended in 2007.  I didn’t end up purchasing How to Save a Life, but found the snippets of this song to be appealing.  Nice driving piano in places.  Nice electric/acoustic sound.

Shut Your Eyes – Snow Patrol.  Another DaveE suggestion.  For some reason I think of Vanilla Sky when I hear it (Open Your Eyes).  Not my favorite, but I don’t regret the purchase.

Rhapsody on a Theme from Paganini – John Barry.  Classical Rachmaninoff which you may remember from the movie Somewhere In Time from the early 1980′s.  My favorite music of a classical variety.

Let It Be (AI Studio Version) – Brooke White.  What can I say?  I dig A.I.  I dig the Beatles and I am a piano man.  Nuff Said.

What a Fool Believes – The Doobie Brothers.  I have heard it said that the name of the band is a reference to marijuana.  Be that as it may, they’ve got some pretty groovy music.  I just love the lyrics: “What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.”  That is just plain true.

China Grove – The Doobie Brothers.  At least once a week, the opening guitar riff seems to pop into my head – and then comes the rock piano – and I’m singing to myself “When sun beats down…”.  Always been a fave.

Ever the Same – Rob Thomas.  Some of his stuff is a little too “alternative” for me, but this little gem is gentle and different.  The only other song of his I have is Little Wonders – from the Meet the Robinsons soundtrack – another gem of a song.

‘Til I Hear It From You – Gin Blossoms.  Nice song by the group that produced one of my favorites – Follow You Down – which I gleaned from the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days soundtrack.   Yes, I own the whole soundtrack – and yes, the music from it is great.  I fully expect to be mocked by the jock mice, and that is okay.

Well that’s it for now.  I have tried and tried, but I can’t make myself pull the trigger on 5th Gear by Brad Paisley.  I like his music, but his albums seem a lot like 1980′s lunch meat to me (there’s meat there, but there’s a whole bunch of filler, too).  Comments and suggestions are welcome as I still have $44 to spend.

Peace.

All week long, I have been fretting thinking that I had to get a word out edgewise (on the blog) before the month of January ended. After all, everything that I say here is vitally important for your life and your happiness – who am I to deprive you of those things?

All that fretting, only to realize that I’d already done a January post. Sheez.

That being said, I am really going all out to spend the iTunes Bucks this year and I thought that I’d give you an update. I have spent a whopping $2.97 on three songs so far. You know about one, the other two are reaches into the 80′s refrigerator to pull out some finely aged 80′s musical cheese.

Thankfully, God has not yet chosen to stop my earthly aging process and I am getting older each and every day. The same follows for my children. A few weeks back, I spent some time being nostalgic regarding my children – and how they just seem to be growing up too fast. I harkened back to days listening to Wayne Watson, and his Watercolour Ponies song. A few clicks later, I owned it once again – in digital format. Personally, I think that it is a beautiful song – both musically and lyrically.

There are watercolored ponies
On my refrigerator door
In the shape of something I don’t really recognize

Brushed with careful little fingers
And put proudly on display
A reminder to us all, of how time flies.

But baby what will we do
When it comes back to me and you?
They look a little less like little children everyday.
Oh the pleasure of watching the children growing
Is mixed with a bitter cup
Of knowing the watercolor ponies
Will one day ride away.

Being a piano guy, you can guess (if you are at all familiar with 80′s CCM) that I was a big David Meece fan. Trained as a classical pianist, he tried his hand a CCM pop candy back in the 80′s and had fair success. One of my favorite songs of his is I can see. The song is alternately titled On the Road to Emmaus. It is a story of the disciples, after the crucifixion, and the time leading up to their realization that this man that was walking among them was Christ risen. Soaring vocals with layered strings and a strong concert grand piano. Mmmm Mmmmm – Tasty. It is now firmly planted in the iPod bag.

I can see who walks with me
I can hear who speaks my name
I can feel a stirring in my heart

How His words, His words ring strong and true
Like a once familiar strain
And I know I’ll never be the same

I can see

Grace and peace to you all.