I was just on the phone with my friend Debs and we started chatting about visiting each other this year. She lives in Toronto for the most part, so I started researching Megabus routes between Toronto and Milwaukee.

Megabus has a route from Toronto to Washington DC as near as I can tell. With connections in Buffalo, NYC, Philly, and Baltimore.

Now, in my madness, I'm creating a database app to help me create ideal Megabus routes between cities that require multiple transfers, so I can figure out the fastest routes, shortest routes, least expensive routes, etc...

@EugeneCho: Love wins in the end but in the meanwhile, it fights for & pursues the things that matter. Love isn't sentimental, it's fierce. It endures.

This is a real chat I'm having with Microsoft right now... the language the first Microsoft rep uses. Oh my god. Then the logic of the 2nd rep... oh my god. We've descended into madness. I did not make any of this up. This is copied and pasted verbatim. I changed the email addresses so you won't try to email the kid who's account I logged into on Microsoft's instruction. What a fiasco.

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A new day today. I'm sitting in a Starbucks on Alpine Rd just north of Grand Rapids. It's about 9:30am on a Friday. In fact, it's Friday April 26th, 2013. And it's 9:42am. Might as well be precise. I'm typing on my iPhone.

I have a new thing I'm interested in, or more accurately, today I'm beginning to define how much I've been thinking about solar energy and gardening. I googled solar panels today and was pretty fascinated to see that Home Depot and Lowe's had top rankings in Google for solar panels. You can literally drive to the DIY store down the street now and buy solar panels. This link on how to evaluate your next solar energy purchase was the first one i read and it seemed like a good one.

I've been living in Austin at the Aerie Studio for the past two weeks helping producer Mark Addison make a few local singer-songwriter records. This week we recorded 9 tracks for Wendy Colonna's new album and they were mighty impressive. A remarkable set of studio musicians made a bunch of magic. Rob Hooper on drums, Dave Madden on keys, Billy Masters on guitar, Michael Stevens on bass. Monster grooves. So tasty. Swampy New Orleans grooves and Texas singer-songwriter blues with some marvelous atonal bits.

Particularly impressed with and inspired by Dave Madden's work on keyboard.

I've met a handful of people in my lifetime who have switched political parties. It's like Heinz vs. Hunts, or ketchup vs. catsup. Did you know Target actually knows when you're pregnant and they also know that when you're pregnant is one of the few times you're likely to change brands? But they hide the advertisements that are specific to babies, hygiene, and food in their monthly mailers amongst other more "manly" items like tools and car accessories so as not to creep you out. So the question becomes... when are americans most "pregnant" and open to changing their long held beliefs?

Experiencing loss, like feeling hurt, feeling insulted, feeling grateful, or feeling broken is what music is all about for me. Writing songs is how I study and evaluate my own perceptions, values, and ability to respond.

My thought for today.

Last night I recorded that new lyric that I posted a couple days ago "A Hook For My Hand". I'm really happy with the song and the video both. Hope you like it.

Lyrics:
On my 50th birthday I slept in my van
Cuz if I like it or not
That's the person I am
Uninsured, unemployable, itinerant, broke
My only real possession are the lies that I wrote

A hook for my hand

New lyrics...

On my 50th birthday I slept in my van
Cuz if I like it or not
That's the person I am
Uninsured, unemployable, itinerant, broke
My only real possession are the lies that I wrote

A hook for my hand

I'm fat and vigilant
Pearled and reamed
Lie awake all night because
I still have dreams
Where I sing like a whippoorwill
Cry hard tears
Drink sorrowful melodies
Through ringing ears

A hook for my hand

Super fun show.
Charlie Cheney & The Significant Otters live at Quinn & Tuites in Grand Rapids Michigan at the end of the world party 12/21/2012. From left to right: Craig Van Otteren (mandolin, vocals), Tim Foley (bass), Eric Hollebeek (vocals), Charlie Cheney (vocals, guitar), Vickie Van Otteren (washboard, vocals). Shot on an iPhone.

Made a new video today featuring lots of black dog footage...

I seriously don't write enough blog posts.

On Friday night I decided to upgrade and update my website a bit. You know, one of those insane moments of clarity, like when you suddenly decide you have to clean your bathroom because the cobwebs and soap scum have finally built up beyond your ability to cope with it any longer, hahaha.

I got a low-voltage dose of Holiday Blues today, just feeling out of sorts, restless, wishing I had more money for presents. I've been in pretty good spirits this year and this bout with personal desire sort of took me by surprise. I scurried home to eat a good meal, take a nap, and work on some code. Anything to keep my spirits up and my mind occupied.

Do you feel that way sometimes? It seems to me like everybody must sometimes, but I can never tell. I told a doctor once that my arms fell asleep at night and then I said "but that happens to everyone I suppose." and she replied with eyes slightly wide "It doesn't happen to me."

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/12/my-failed-attempt-...

Discussion on Gig Pricing at Southtown Guitars, Grand Rapids MI

Recorded live on my iPod on 11/19/11 to document the Gig Pricing event Dean hosted at Southtown Guitars. A lively discussion, it was cool to be a part of it. http://www.facebook.com/events/159203064178263/

Order Charlie Music Right Now! Feel the joy knowing that Charlie loves you even more... and help Charlie pay the man.

Digital:

1 $50 Down The Drain http://charliefest.com/charliecheney/mp3/fawm11/CharlieCheney_50Dollars2...
2 A Perfect Valentines http://charliefest.com/charliecheney/mp3/fawm08/CharlieCheney_PerfectVal...
3 Amelia http://charliefest.com/charliecheney/mp3/5090_2008/CharlieCheney_Amelia.mp3
4 Bad Bad Monkey http://charliefest.com/charliecheney/mp3/5090_2010/CharlieCheney_BadBadM...
5 Bottles & Cans http://charliefest.com/mp3/CharlieFest_BottlesAndCans.mp3
6 Broken Down http://charliefest.com/charliecheney/mp3/5090_2009/CharlieCheney_BrokenD...
7 Buttercup http://charliefest.com/charliecheney/mp3/EdgarAllanPolka/01_ButtercupV1.mp3

Hi there, so here's a question for you.

There's this thing called The 2011 GRASSY HILL KERRVILLE NEW FOLK COMPETITION that will be held during the 40th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 28 & 29, 2011 and I'm thinking about submitting.
http://www.kerrville-music.com/newfolk.htm

My question is, what two songs would you suggest I submit?

The criteria are that the songs be written after January 1st 2009, and the winners must perform the two songs on stage. With these two criteria in mind I've whittled my eligible songs down to this list:

Fifty Dollars Down The Drain
http://charliecheney.com/mp3/fawm11/CharlieCheney_50Dollars2.mp3

One Tiny Lie
http://charliecheney.com/mp3/fawm11/CharlieCheney_OneTinyLie.mp3

Take Me To My Daughter

http://charliecheney.com/mp3/hawaii/FullCircle_HawaiiShow.mp3