You can always live on rice and potatoes...

...but sadly, you can't have a kickin' CD recorded for rice and potatoes.

If you could, I would. I'd establish my own little rice paddy here on the west bank of the LaHave River, add in the spuds I grew in the barrels out back last summer, and I'd be all set.

But it doesn't work that way.

So, I'm asking for your help.

I'm looking to record my third CD in April. I have a bunch of amazing songs, I'm looking to put together a brilliant band, and the album is guaranteed to be emotionally gripping, thought-provoking and very, very listenable. It's going to be the kind of cd you're going to want to sing along with when you're cooking at home, out for a walk, in the car, on the bus, or enjoying a quiet evening alone or with friends. You'll hum the songs on your bike, around the office, walking down the street. These songs will fill your heart and soul and make you long for something you ain't quite found yet, or maybe something you had and lost and are working to regain, or maybe something you know you have and celebrate every single day.

David Francey often jokes about the "lucrative world of Canadian Folk Music". Sometimes, it doesn't seem like there's a living to be made here. I certainly haven't been able to pay myself a cent for the time and energy I put in in the studio on my first two CDs. Everyone else got paid, but I worked for free.

Fortunately, as Old Man Luedecke says, I can always live on rice and potatoes.

But I simply can't make this next album without you.

Please, if one of my songs has ever made you smile or laugh or cry or sing or dance, pre-purchase my third CD by going to Kapipal.com/alexsings. (If you don't feel comfortable making an on-line donation, contact me by e-mail and we'll work something else out.)

And thank you very, very much.

P.S. If after reading this, you are craving listening to Old Man Luedecke's awesome song, I Quit My Job, here's a link.

Buy More Buddhas Video Project - The VIDEO!

Here it is!!! I hope you'll enjoy it. After you watch, please check out my post thanking all the photographers who contributed to this crowd-sourced beauty.

Buy More Buddhas Video Project - Photog Shout Outs

The Buy More Buddhas video is about to be launched. I can hardly wait. I'm going to put it up on this blog on Friday.

In the meantime, I want to take a moment to thank all of the photographers who let me use their photos to create this video; I couldn't have done it without their generous sharing of their work.

Thank you. Very, very much (in no particular order) to:

Patti McCabe - an old friend who sent me shots of the Buddha in Boston.
@SPPictures - a previously total stranger who sent me four glorious Buddha photos. Check out her twitter feed and/or her web site.
David Croft - a shot of a Fredericton Restaurant Buddha - thanks, darlin'.
@AtTheHappyAmber - a previously total stranger who sent me a picture of her buddha raising the roof
@gnomeygg - my dear friend and haiku-writing genius. Check out her twitter feed.
Mireille Parizeau - sent me a shot of her own, personal Buddha. Thanks, my dear!
Lorenda Barkhouse - my beloved cousin sent me many wonderful shots of Buddhas in Korea and southeast Asia.
Yvonne Westhaver - sent me a shot of her own buddha, sitting on her windowsill.
Yawn Temesiva, lead singer of Normal For Once sent me the awesomely weird shot of a friends' buddha with a bicycle chain around its neck.
@gunsinger aka Cynthia Gunsinger, Coach extraordinaire, sent me a shot of her own Buddha.
Else Lindner, a friend in Germany, sent shots of her own buddhas, as well as several lovely southeast Asian Buddhas.
Helen Tremethick, Chief Word Nerd at The Communications Distillery, sent me photos of her personal Buddhas.
Indira Sinton, Poet and Writer, sent me several lovely shots of Buddhas, including my favourite photo in the video.
Joshua Mac Hannigan, Film Maker, sent me more that 2 dozen amazing buddha photos. I couldn't have made this video without you, Joshua. Thank you.
Marlo Mackay, newly-made friend, sent me a photo of her personal Buddha.
Jude Pelley and Charlie Wilson, musicians in the breathtakingly awesome traditional duo littlehouse, created the odd potato Buddha "Spuddha" which I photographed and included in the video.

Colour My World

A friend and I were just having a little gabble on my Facebook Page about what I'll be wearing today when I go to tape an episode of the radio show, The Bluenose Opera House with Paul Kellogg.

I know, it's radio, so who cares what I'll be wearing?

Getting dressed for this show and describing my outfit made me realize just how important colour is to me. Wearing as many colours as I can in a single outfit satisfies my little kindergarten-y soul. And bright colours always make me feel more creative and alive.

How does colour impact you and for your creativity? How can you use colour to make your days more exciting?