I am so glad we went public with the song. It felt like forever keeping it a secret! Secrets make me paranoid. Do you remember when I went to see the brilliant James Collins in Toronto? It seemed so obvious to me that I was going there to record a song I felt like a fool pretending it was just a social visit.

It was quite the experience, let me tell you. I had the same feeling when I did my first fashion show. I was really nervous, but the atmosphere created by James and The Boomtang Boys was really comforting. I kicked off my shoes and walked barefoot in the recording booth.

I had the headphones and everything. It was a padded room with a microphone that stood up to my chin. I was able to hear myself really clearly without the aid of the machine and that was sort of odd; I am not used to hearing myself over speakers at all.

This was my first musical adventure and I needed a little great deal of coaching from James to get the sound right. He is an amazing and patient teacher. The Boomtang Boys were also very good at easing my stress and telling just how to say the words. This is why I like to surround myself with people who know what they’re doing and do it well.

For those of you that haven’t followed along, this story has been long in the making. It started as many tales do, from humble beginnings. In this case from a rainy day in April when I was visiting a buddy in San Fransisco. Boy Wonder complained that I had been rather quiet and it would be good if I said something… ANYTHING to show that I was alive. The day before he told me about a song by Sherrie Lea called “Spellbound”, as I was walking down 21st Street I had to stop and count the goose bumps that were on my arm; this song was my new favorite.

That evening I set up my camera and I did this little dance to the song. I sent it out to BW and he was temporarily satisfied with my effort. On a lark, he put it up on You Tube. I had never heard of this site before and did not really care all that much. Soon thereafter I received an e-mail from James telling me how much he enjoyed watching the video. Sherrie also chimed in and it was so surreal to me. Talk about a community web site!

Sherrie invited me out to LA to meet up with her and the band Pandamonia during a press tour. James was also in LA on business so BW and I met with him for dinner and a great time.

James said he wanted to write a song for me. Not knowing James, but knowing LA, I gave this no salt assuming it was all talk. Then about two weeks later James called to say, “OK, we’re just about done, when you would like to come out?” And the rest, as they say, is history.

Sarah decided to stay in Africa for an additional two weeks to visit Botswana and Krueger National Park. She likes the animals and the animals like her. She enjoys the Safari stuff where I am not that moved by it at all.

I am in charge of the house while she is gone. Nothing major, just watering the plants, trash collection, litter boxes and there is the issue of Thor. Thor is one of her three black cats. He is the only one that I have a relationship with; the other two remain hidden and reclusive. He has a heart thing and requires two pills every day administered rather forcefully down his throat. He does not do the mixing it up in the cat food thing. Now that I am writing about it, it seems rather odd; it is something to ask Sarah about when she returns on Friday. I would much rather give Thor his pills in some sort of tasty, gooey diced cat food instead of throwing them down his throat.

Do not become alarmed about this. There is a technique to give pills to animals this way, it involves quick fluid movements. I used to work for a vet when I was in high school and learned quite a few things, one of them was how to administer pills to an unwilling patient. Although I am confident that I am minimizing my buddy’s discomfort the best way I can it still upsets me.
Those cats are Sarah’s kids and she loves them very much. I have seen the one she calls Speck only once since I have been home. That cat goes out of her way to be hidden. It isn’t uncommon even when Sarah is home, that it would be days before any visible sign of Speck. The fact that I hadn’t seen her in a while was not out of the ordinary.

Friday is the day to water the plants so I was making my way around the house visiting the greens. Slowly I opened the door to Sarah’s room to avoid startling the cats who hang out there. I walked in with the watering can to see Speck lying at the foot of the bed. Usually she is off the bed and under it by the time I get into the room so it seemed strange that she was still there. I walked up to her quietly thinking she was sleeping, as I put my hand on her side it was clear she was no longer with us.

Judging from how I found her and the fact that the cats all had a chance to go outside when the Handyman came by the day before I think she got into something poisonous outside. I cannot think of anything worse happening than Sarah’s cat passing. I called the vet and asked if they would not mind holding the body until Sarah gets back home and decides what to do with her. It really sucks on every level imaginable and to boot, I have a whole week to sit on this before she returns.