Happy Monday Morning!

After a full weekend of family and church festivities, I woke up this morning to two happy surprises in my inbox.

First, Sue had sent me a demo of a song that she, Don, and I wrote awhile back. It was actually a song that my son inspired with one of his cute little comments (April 16, '07 blog). That was fun to hear (although I admit I equally love Don's worktape).

I also got an email from Jayme, the great gal who pitches my songs to artists, saying she liked the songs I sent and they'd be shown today at the pitch meeting. They are kids songs, and one of them is a rap/country tune. She also said I was full of surprises and she'd be mocking me from now on. I'll take that as a compliment (and with a tiny bit of fear from the blackmail material she now holds in her possession). Nick said he thought it sounded more like Sheryl Crow doing a segment on Sesame Street. Um, thank you???

These little songwriting treats aren't huge deals, but they are motivating! I have that extra burst of energy to finish a song I've been working on -- one that I feel just needs to be written, and might never get pitched. It's one of those track 11... The honest ones -- which still need to be great and not just "Smelly Cat" songs. But sometimes I just need the permission to write quirkily and something great comes out of that freedom.

Tomorrow night we'll host the Iowa Songwriters Guild in our living room. I'm hoping to finish something before then to bring to the critique session (I've gotten in the bad habit of just teaching the lesson and offering feedback to others, but not showing something of my own). Next month we'll do a House Show here. I can't tell you the joy I receive from having our living room filled with creative types, vulnerable enough to share their creations. If songs shared here could decorate our walls, we'd have a lovely and eclectic gallery of art!