Nifty Noodles/ Florida Coasting......

4/25/03 Vero Beach, FL
Greatest day of my life this year. Played Golf in the morning... Best golf I can remember ever. Not the best score but hit some shots I never have... Like landing the green from the tee box on a par four!!! a thirty two foot putt and several shots to the green within two feet of the pin! .... Are you still with me? Those of you who don't play golf? Let's just say it put me in a good mood.

Before the show I met with the a celebrate recovery group from the local church just to share my story and let them know about the Road To Redemption program.

The gig itself was all mine.. A full concert for a full house of long time fans. It was more comedy than music as I was in a goofy mood. But I ended on a serious note.

It was threatening rain by the time we reached the hotel...(on the beach!) I sat on the beach at midnight, toes in the sand watching the Lightning in the distance. It was dead calm and summer night quiet except for the rush of the waves. I improved my conscious contact with God and ended a fine example of life as I wish it was more often.

Saturday was spent driving the rental across Florida to the west coast. New Port Richey. I had the night off so I volunteered to sing at a Teen Challenge fund raiser. It was well worth the effort and it beat going to the movies.

Sunday morning was the most grueling. Three church services from early morning. I was there till two in the afternoon. It's the "hanging around" time that wears me out. I met with the choir between services and they agreed to sing a second song with me... A new worship song that I wanted to try out. "Only You". It went very well and the time spent with real folks was encouraging to me. I shared alittle of my own struggles trying to be honest with a crowd that seems "happier" than me. I always wonder if I've been left out of the good stuff somehow. I check to see if my cross is really heavier than it should be.

Sometimes even in ministry situations the interaction with locals can be business oriented. Calvary Chapel Worship Center is a big place. And the community of believers is not easily "pegged". A lot of transplanted New Yorkers here. It's like a second language in Florida... That accent and "hey howyadewin". This is really my only outreach to New York outside the big city.

Spent more time with the pastor last time I was here. But they're in a new and huge facility. I found it to be more isolating than intimate. There is definitely a different feeling in a bigger facility ... But you can seat more people and... Know fewer of them....

I was absolutely exhausted by four in the afternoon... Tired like I can't remember in recent years... My voice disappeared. I crashed at the hotel grateful my flight wasn't until morning.

Now that I'm refreshed and sitting in the airport in Tampa, I've got two days to get ready for Avviano, Italy to play for the troops stationed at the Air Force Base there.

O.K. So there's that bryan d

Nifty Noodles/ Live From My Living Room

4/22/03 Riverside, CA
The Duncan Mansion.

High school kids are the scariest audience to play for in my book. You can never really impress them on the outside. Had sixty of 'em over last night... A last minute agreement between me and the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at my son's High school.

At least this time I didn't stare at my shoes trying to talk to 'em... And I talked a lot. My radio show has given me much focus in presenting my take on the gospel... I talked about the biggest lies I've ever bought: "career success will fix everything else in my life"... "money will make life easier".... And "fame will make me feel better about who I am on the inside"

I was more comfortable with myself as an adult this time around. "I'm an official adult" I told 'em "so I only expect you to hear every other word I say". They actually enjoyed.. "Everything in the garden" and "God Knows". I played new songs too "I never lied to you", "How deep does your Love Run" and a new song written with Bob Carlisle "chains (come in every shape and size)"...

My son sat in the front. Listened to me too. It might be the best opportunity I've had to pass down any of my convictions as he's not available most of the time for my pontifications on life. He's busier than I am. And this little gathering is not a "performance" on my part. I was just me trying to impart my own understanding of a bigger picture that I don't see very well either!

I have noticed my own heightened depression in the last week and then I look around and realize I've written three songs this week. I'm not sure which one brings on the other but maybe it is the raw edge that produces a creative space.

Still I'm reasonably happy these days... So don't send me fix it scriptures!

Thanks for lettin me share, bryan d

Nifty Noodles/ Up With The Sun

4/20/03 Easter / Corona, Ca
I was the first to arrive and the last to leave. Four services. Three songs each. As much as I'd like to do the same tunes every time and get my thoughts together...I'll make it interesting for me and change the set every time. Very few people here had ever heard of me... So, lookin for new, un-jaded believers is paying off. The real highlight was watching the sun come up. South Hills Church over looks the whole inland empire valley in Southern California. Watching the late sun turn the sky from purple to gold was the best part of the day.

I should get up before the sun more often. I'm pretty sure that's when God gets up!

OKC ya bryand

Nifty Noodles/ Oh my gosh..this is me

4/16/03 at home.... This was sent to me but this is my life in a nutshell!
Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder...
This is how it goes: I decide to wash the car; I start toward the garage and notice the mail on the table. OK, I'm going to wash the car. But first I'm going to go through the mail.

I lay the car keys down on the desk, discard the junk mail and I notice the trash can is full. OK, I'll just put the bills on my desk and take the trash can out, but since I'm going to be near the mailbox anyway, I'll pay these few bills first. Now, where is my checkbook? Oops, there's only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk.

Oh, there's the coke I was drinking. I'm going to look for those checks. But first I need to put my coke further away from the computer, or maybe I'll pop it into the fridge to keep it cold for a while. I head towards the kitchen and the vase of flowers catch my eye, they need some water.

I set the coke on the counter and uh oh! There are my glasses. I was looking for them all morning! I'd better put them away first. I fill a container with water and head for the flower pots - Aaaaaagh! Someone left the TV remote in the kitchen.

We will never think to look in the kitchen tonight when we want to watch television so I'd better put it back in the family room where it belongs. I splash some water into the vase and onto the floor, I throw the remote onto a soft cushion on the sofa and I head back down the hall trying to figure out what it was I was going to do?

End of Day: The car isn't washed, the bills are unpaid, the coke is sitting on the kitchen counter, the flowers are half watered, the checkbook still only has one check in it and I can't seem to find my car keys! When I try to figure out how come nothing got done today, I'm baffled because I KNOW I WAS BUSY ALL DAY LONG!!!

I realize this is a serious condition and I'll get help, BUT FIRST I think I'll check my e-mail...

Please send this to everyone you know because I DON'T REMEMBER WHO I'VE SENT THIS TO!!! But please don't send it back to me or I might send it to you again!

Nifty Noodles/ Rained Out

4/13/03 Sunday... I was supposed to do an outdoor show in Camarillo, Ca with Cheri Keaggy. First time ever I've been rained out without a plan B arrangement. "we're just gonna trust God" the promoter said. What do I do with that?

Thanks for nothin' bryan d

Nifty Noodles/ hometown Recovery

4/12/03 Friday Riverside, CA
What a great night... Nothing went right. Sound system wasn't set up til late. Overall trouble on the volunteer end. Whatever could have a glich did. My voice was affected by the yearly allergy problems.

I wasn't worried... This is recovery as I know it. Celebrate Recovery at Bethel Christian center where I sing regularly. It's not a matter of impression here. It was a record crowd again. Folks from several recovery homes and half way houses come out on fridays as well as the local regulars.

The truth is all that's needed here and the atmosphere is right when things are at their worst, reminding us all that we're not in control of the situation. Man may plan but God determines!

The songs were perfect by themselves... "I never lied to you" a big hit. Honesty is easy here and acceptance a given. I was treated to blessings of my own even as I sought to give them.

I will not continue to be an older version of what I once was. I'm a redevelopment project of a higher power... and a supreme redeemer. I still stand here in ruins waiting for the make over... A slow process... But tonight the waiting was easier than it's ever been.

Thanks for lettin me share bryand

Nifty Noodles/ coalition of the desperate

4/8/03 Nashville, TN
I swear I've had all these conversations before... I'm at GMA for a day or two. It's like Valentines day to me... One more mark in time. reevaluating my love and trying to communicate why I do it. Nashville is dream town with more losers than winners!

I am indifferent. Same as it ever was. Different faces but the same agenda. A coalition of the desperate. (Someone validate me please.)

Some great radio stations here though. More blues and jazz than you'd expect from a country music capitol. Man there's some great (no name) musicians here. Talent is everywhere... Nuggets of Gold in a mountain of manure!

Took in a blues band on Sunday night..." Big Al and the Heavyweights"! I found my tribe. But they're heathens...blues and jazz inspires me so much... Wish it would sell in CCM.

I played a little gathering in Denver on the way out... Celebrate Recovery starts another program. I came down with an awful case of dry voice from the altitude, a sure sign that my voice is out of shape. I limped through some of the worst song performances in recent memory. It was so bad that I ended up reading the 12 steps to the audience and making comments instead of singing. The second half got alittle better but I was clearly lost without my one talent.

Still coughing up a lung when I reached Nashdog. I co hosted Streetlevel artist agency's showcase of talent Monday night at Club Caliente. It's a burned out basement of a place. Perfect vibe for music.

It was more like a class reunion... Most at the club were long time friends and aquanitances... Phil Keaggy and Randy Stonehill... Ashley Cleveland brought me a b-day present and I sang with her on "what it takes". Saw a lot of old friends I was encouraged and entertained it was old home week.

My little set went well... Did "the Garden" and 'blue skies' on either side of my new ideas... "no words" and "Never lied to you". Presented with a birthday gift from the Streetlevel staff (a small mountain of Krespe Kreem doughnuts!

I am still recognized on the street...signed autographs at Krespe Kreem, said hi to some local cops that were making me nervous turned out they were fans. And I met a coalition of folks that were trying to get me elected to the gospel music hall of fame...(lots a luck).

I think we should start a new "humility hall of fame"... In which your name would appear on a man hole cover! somewhere on the edge of town!

O.K. So there's that! bryan d

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