It has been Flu Central here at the Osenga house this week. I got off the bus Monday afternoon and, apart from a half day singing bgv’s for the incredible Jon Troast (whose record I played guitar on this past Friday), and a day mixing an EP for a Birmingham artist named Natalie Moon, I’ve been at home trying to be a good dad to some sick girls.

I’ve got the day off tomorrow, bus call isn’t until midnight, and I’m looking forward to just being here, reading books, watching Curious George and trying to get as much laundry/dishes done as I can before I head out for another three days.

And now we’re changing subjects…

I’ve gotten a number of e-mails about the t-shirts. Yes, they’re done, and yes, they’re awesome. More awesome than I even expected. I’ve been selling them at shows and will try to get a temporary paypal store up next week to sell them online. Until, of course…

The new AndrewOsenga.com goes live. Which will have a good online store. And a bunch of other wonderful things. It’s in development now, probably a month or two out, and I’m really excited about it. I’ll tell you more as we get closer, but I already can’t wait. If anybody has any great ideas you think we might not have hit on yet, please send them my way.

Also, the Free EP cd project has fizzled. The artwork was complete, the sampler was mastered, the CD was at the printers… and they got a bunch of stuff screwed around and all of a sudden it was moving so slowly that we would have missed the first eight shows of the tour. So I decided to pull the plug on it. It’s a great idea. It’s going to work. But I don’t want to do something halfway, so I’d rather save the idea for the right tour, the right time. Thanks so much to everybody who voted on tunes and offered support for the printing. I still plan on it happening, just not this Season.

I’ll try to post again tomorrow, if I catch a little free time. There’s so much rumbling around in my brain that it bottlenecks when I sit down to post it and I end up just recounting my day. Thanks for your patience as I clear my head. If I don’t get a chance to post again, Caedmon’s will be spending the weekend in the Carolinas. We’d love to see you out. I‘d love to see you out. If you make it to a show, please come say hello.

Well, it’s happened. I joined Facebook. If you’re on there, go find me and we can be friends.

We had another good show tonight in Pennsylvania. This morning the friends I paid homage to with the “willow tree” section of “Hold the Light” baptized their new baby boy this morning, while the recording of that song played. In their honor the guitar solo tonight was as joyous and hopeful as I knew how to let it be.

Thanks for everybody who came out and chatted tonight. These have been fun shows and I’ve been honored by the great response.

We’re going home now where I’ll get to spend the next few days with my flu-ish, feverish little girls. It will be sad that they’re sick, but they get cuddly, and I’ll feel guilty about enjoying that.

Spinal Tap’s playing on the bus. That means it’s a good night. We’re in Pennsylvania now. Just had a great show here tonight, and tomorrow we have another one about an hour away. Which is nice.

The Andy and the Andys show the other night might have actually been a little too fun. I played bass the whole show, which was super fun, and we did nine songs, the six of our “band” songs and an original of each of ours. I felt like Timothy B. Schmitt singing lead with a bass on, which was helpfully inspiring.

I know some people took pictures from both my Birthday Jam and the Andy and the Andys show, so when I get them I’ll post them. If anybody has some from tonight’s Caedmon’s show as well, I’d love to post them.

I redid my pedalboard while I’m waiting for one last piece to come in the mail, since it had been shorting out a few weeks ago. I’ll try to grap a picture and show you, but I’m loving it right now. Swapped out compressors and I’ve been having fun trying to use it as little as possible, just for a change. It’s always a good challenge to take the thing you use the most and try to not use it at all. Keeps me learning and trying new things.

My flu has turned into more of a weird head-cold/giant fog. Everything just sort of feels swimmy, but I’m able to pull off a show, so that’s good. I took a nap this afternoon and had the weirdest dream. I was in a high-school musical and sneaking around backstage with my brother. Everywhere we went there were creepy old ladies just standing and watching us from deep in the shadows. The scariest part was that they were all like two feet tall. Eerie.

Well, I’m going to try and get some good sleep tonight. I was up a little too late last night because I got Ender’s Game for my friend and I couldn’t help but read it again. So good.

Thanks to everybody who came out to the show tonight. Hope to see you again tomorrow!

I got two main things for my birthday: A rockin’ waffle maker (hotel/cafeteria style) and the flu. Not that big a fan of the flu.

Thanks to everybody who emailed and called me with birthday greetings yesterday. I didn’t answer any of the calls because I couldn’t really talk. Again: the flu. But thanks. I really appreciated it. It was a good day.

The show, ahem, the Birthday Jam was awesome last night. The band was smoking, and the songs where I didn’t sing that much but had long guitar solos were good. My voice was pretty shot, but for the bulk of the set it seemed fine. That was the only bummer to a great night. Emily was awesome, as usual.

The flu is going around Nashville. Winn had it so bad he had to sit out the show, so with very little notice ol’ Nick Flora, the Arkadelphia cowboy, sat in on keys and did a great job.

We had a bunch of different folks help out on background vocals last night. I had them set up an extra mic and different singers rotated. Alison, Cason, my cousin Dean, Emily, and Christopher Williams all took turns. It was really fun.

And speaking of Christopher Williams, he’s doing a show tonight at The Rutledge, same place as last night, and he’ll be followed by Andy and the Andys. I just happen to be in Andy and the Andys and we just happened to have our first rehearsal because tonight will be our first show, and you really ought to be there. It’s going to be classic. Andrew Peterson, Andy Gullahorn, Andy Hubbard and myself. Christopher goes on about 8:30, and you’ve got to catch him, he’s fantastic, and we’ll go on right after him.

Hope to see you tonight!

Come on, party people,
Come on, party lambs,
Come down to the Rutledge
for an Andy Birthday Jam!

Once I got invited
to join somebody’s show
then something crazy happened
and they have no show no mo

But I will still be rocking
with a killer band
Mister Odmark and Sir Eckberg,
Brother Winn and Aaron Sands

Did I mention it’s my birthday
on Wednesday, yes, it’s true,
I’ll be turning 29
and all I want is you

to come downtown at 8 PM
and watch me and my friends
play some songs, with birthday glee
and solos without end

Also there is Emily
Deloach is her last name
She’s really great, she’s playing first
and I’ll still be on stage

So come on, party people
Come on, party Lambs
Come down to the Rutledge
for an Andy Birthday Jam!

So in case that poem made no sense, I’m playing a show this Wednesday at the Rutledge, here in Nashville, TN. (CLICK HERE) It was originally somebody else’s show and I was doing a set to support, but now they’ve pulled out and it’s my show.

My band will be Paul Eckberg, Aaron Sands, Matt Odmark and Winn Elliott. They all sort of rule and you’ll want to be ruled by them. I promise.

Also, like I said, it’s my birthday. I’m not the type to make a big deal out of my birthday. If I didn’t have a show you’d never hear me talk about it.

But I do have a show, so I want you there!

My friend Emily Deloach is playing as well. She’s awesome, I talk about her on here all the time. Paul and I will be playing with her too, which will be great fun.

See you Wednesday night!

Our scene opens as Andrew is looking out his living room window, a winsome smile ever slightly perched upon his countenance. It seems he is remembering something, something a little sad, a little happy, and very true. The screen shimmers around the edges as we are taken back in time to that special place…

The two high-school boys are in Mark’s basement, trying to play along to the Smashing Pumpkins “Gish” album. Mark takes a break from wailing on the J.B. Player and looks over at his friend.

“Andy,” he says “I just don’t know what to do.”

Mark,” his friend replies “I have an idea.”

Mark’s face lights up as Andy unleashes his plan. “You are dating Betty* who is terrifingly obsessed with you, but you don’t like her. Why are you with her again?”

“I had a dream that we were dating and I thought it was a vision.”

“Oh, that’s right. Anyway, you don’t really like her. You’re in love with Sally*. You can’t just dump Betty because…”

“We have to go to the Valentine’s Dance. On Feb 12.”

“That’s right. So here’s my idea. Take Betty to the dance on the 12th, then dump her on the 13th, then give Sally a dozen roses on the 14th. It’s a perfect plan.”

“It IS a perfect plan,” Mark realizes aloud.

“It’s a perfect plan,” both boys verbally agree again, at the same time. Aloud.

Epilogue:

Mark listened well, took into account Andy’s obvious wisdom in the ways of both women and timing, and finally acted on his advice.

As you can well imagine, both girls were thrilled with the turn of events and everyone was happy.** It was a Valentine Miracle.

*Names have been changed to protect the people involved.
**So has the outcome.

Man, I really should be going to bed, this single-parenting thing is crazy exhausting. For some reason I just feel like I need to type a little bit tonight. I think I need to clear my head so I can get to sleep. Some things I’m thinking about.

- The girls and I bought some new goldfish the other day. Two orange ones and one grey one. They love to just look at them and talk to them. It’s great.

- My wife is really into local, organic foods, dairies, etc… She discovered the Hatcher Family Dairy. Their Chocolate Milk is one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. I can’t stop. I’m addicted. (CLICK HERE) I keep meaning to tell Todd about it, because for some reason I think he’ll really love it.

- I’ve gotten a lot of emails from folks who just found me through last weekend’s Caedmon’s shows. Thanks for saying hey and coming by. I hope you stick around.

- Super Text Twist is still a freaking awesome game, and I’m still not ashamed to say I’m really good at it.

- I love this picture of my daughter Sadie.

- I came up with an idea for a podcast series. It may possibly go down in flames during production, or it could be brilliant. Either way, it will be interesting. I’ll keep you posted.

- I have a lot of thoughts about Ron Paul and the mainstream media that royally screwed him (and us) over, but that will be another post.

- The Writer’s Strike is over. I need more of The Office. Hurry.

- I have a friend who told me tonight he’s never read a novel. I want to get him Ender’s Game. I think that would be a great entrance to reading. Thoughts?

- I’m really tired and should go to bed.

Here’s what I wanted to tell you yesterday…

My wife has recently discovered a love for coffee. Something about two little kids and needing caffeine, I don’t quite understand it… She found 963 Coffee, which, according to her, is both delicious and really good for the farmers. All the coffee comes from different places in the world, places where an honest business can bring in a lot of much-needed money to help with health care, schooling and general well-being. 963 takes great care to treat the growers well, instilling growth in hurting communities around the globe.

Here’s a blurb from their website…

“963 Coffee is freshly-roasted specialty coffee unlike the majority of coffee that sits on shelves for almost a year. This means you’re getting an amazing cup of organic Arabica coffee every time you brew a pot.

We also believe our coffee should provide a fair wage for the farmers who work hard to harvest it. Because of your choice to purchase 963 Coffee, farmers can put their kids in school, put food on the table for their families, and afford health care. Every bag - every cup - of 963 Coffee is making a lasting impact with coffee farming families around the world.”

Through their website you can support Blood:Water Mission, a wonderful organization run by some good friends of mine. Blood:Water works with African communities to build fresh-water wells in the poorest of areas. An amazing work.

963 also helps with fund-raising for other organizations. For instance, you can CLICK HERE, place your order from this page, and a portion of the proceeds will go to California kids raise money to go to YoungLife camp. A good buddy of mine is hoping this will make a difference for kids who could use a week in a new setting, a week where God might be able to be heard a bit more clearly.

For ten bucks, try a bag out, do some good, and I hope you like it and end up drinking their coffee exclusively. If you have to drink coffee, that is.

Yeah, Saturday’s show was better. In fact, I’ll say it was pretty great. We added a tune, totaling 24, I think. LONG show. But fun. Thanks so much to all the Colorado folks who made it out. They were the most excited crowd yet. “Two Weeks in Africa” got everybody to their feet, which was a great experience. Songs I write don’t usually do that!!

I’m home now, we’ve got two weeks until the next Caedmon’s show, a little over a week until my Birthday show here in Nashville. Alison is going to Chicago with family for a few days tomorrow, so it’ll just be me and the girls until Friday. I’m a little nervous, I won’t lie. But it will be fun. I’m cramming today to get everything done since I know the rest of the week I’ll be sort of AWOL from work stuff.

I feel like I had something else to tell you, but I can’t remember right now, so I’ll post again in a few if I think of it.

I’m sitting in a comfortable Denver hotel room, listening to Andy Gullahorn’s new record, and occasionally watching this great youtube clip Alison sent me last night. (Mom, you’ll like that one. Click on it.)

We played last night at Derek’s brother’s church in Lincoln, NE. I won’t lie to you, people, I’m an honest man. Last night was kind of rough. It was a comedy of errors, my pedalboard broke (a cable shorted out - I discovered today), Cliff forgot a bunch of words, I had a CAPO break!, and everybody had at least one “where are we?” moment.

I think sometimes those sorts of things can make for a fun show, though, if everybody’s having a good time. The crowd was great and gracious and I think a good time was had. That said, tonight will be a better show. I am very sure of this.

The best part of the show, though, was only seen (to my knowledge) by me and me alone. Josh stood up from his organ, took a swig of Red Bull and stepped off of his riser. The thing is, he thought there was more riser there. He fell so wonderfully completely, splashing Red Bull straight in his face while his hair flew out like a parachute. I almost passed out from laughing. Tall, lanky people falling is good comedy.

After the Caedmon’s show, Ben Davy drove me over to Grace Chapel, a place I had played about a year ago. I got to sing some more songs to about 50 or 60 late night owls and it was really a wonderful time. What an honor it is to get to come to some other city and have people devote five or six hours to hearing me and my friends play songs. It’s not fair, but I won’t complain. Thanks again and again to all you who took the trek over for that second set.

At shows I usually tell people to buy my cd’s so I can go get diapers for the girls, and usually this is true. Today, though, there is an Old Navy across the corner from where we’re playing, and they’re having a half-off sale on little kid’s clothes. So if you bought a cd last night, that cash went straight to Old Navy for some 3T and 18month clothes for the girls. Just trying to stay honest.

Of course, since I’m a guy trying to guess what would be cute on a little girl, I got an itemized receipt.