Here's a promo shot of me from the photo shoot I did a couple of weeks ago. I didn't use it for my 8x10s, but I did use it in the press kit.

I'm just figuring out how to post pictures on my blog.

Not too much happened today. I picked up some business cards a friend of mine made and printed up for me, worked some more on my press kit, went to the gym, made some phone calls, took a nap, and that's about it.

I'll be happy when my press kit is finally done which will hopefully be tomorrow. It will be nice just to have done and be able to lay on people. I've learned from my few years in the music business that the line between self-promotion and outright bragging about yourself is pretty blurry. I'm pretty sure my bio has a healthy dose of both. So I'm done with my bio, my 8x10s are ready to go ... I'm just finishing up some other things on my discography page and it will be ready to go.

As far as my recording project goes there's another chart I need to write up for a song. Hopefully I'll get this done tomorrow as well. I'm pretty unsure about this tune. It has more of a "pop" edge than the rest of my stuff that's for sure, primarily because there's singing on it. I want to sing it myself, that's a daunting thought. And I need to write some more lyrics for it. I'm not a great lyricist, hell, I'm not even a good one. But the subject is something I know a thing or two about, missing your baby while you're on the road, so hopefully I'll be able to churn out a few more lines. We'll see how it turns out. I plan to record it. If I don't dig it, I don't have to use it. Pretty simple.

And I really want to write a couple more tunes so I have some more choices when all of the recording is done and time comes to choose the record material. But I haven't written much in a while. I need to listen to some more music, I have an "inspiration" playlist on my iPod, I need to get back in to that. It's full of musicians and songs I admire and aspire to. Also, I have a lot of ideas stored on my phone. Whenever I hear a melody or riff or bassline in my head I just sing it into the memo recorder on my cel. Helpful little tool. Well my phone is full of me singing little melodic lines, hopefully I can build on some of those for new composition ideas.

So that's how the day went. Pretty easy-going.

And yes, I succumbed to yet another Cadbury Egg.

Carrie loves the Oscars. I must admit I like watching them too. I like it when artists are rewarded by their peers for something even if the awards shows can come off as shallow. But I do loathe the Grammies. Not because I'm being a snobby musician but because the categories I'm interested in (the jazz and traditional pop awards) aren't even a part of the show and, frankly, most of the pop/rock winners suck. Even if you don't agree with the Oscars, at least good movies usually win.

Tonight's Oscars struck me though. For some reason Beyoncee sang three of the 5 nominated songs that were performed on the show. She didn't sing the original recordings that earned the nominations, why the hell is she singing the songs on the show? Because she's a pop star and more people know who she is, that's why. Typical. The musicians who do the work get the shaft.

And what in the world does the Academy have against Scorsese? He's only directed some of the best movies ever, throw the guy a friggin' bone and give him a statue for cripes' sake.

So that's how my day's been so far; the gym, Cadbury Egg, and the Oscars. I did get some things done. I picked up a hotter (or louder) mix of the recording session I had last week and some other stuff I'd left at the studio. I also got a little more done on my press kit which will hopefully be done in the next few days.

... and this February brought with it what every other February brings us year after year after year. Those damn Cadbury Cream Eggs. I swear I'd be 30 lbs. Lighter if I had never eaten one in my 28 years. Carrie brought a package of 4 home as a surprise for me a couple of weeks ago. They were gone in less than 12 hours. I've averaged one a day ever since then. I went to the gym today, had a great workout. I stopped by the drug store on the way home to pick up something for Carrie. I told myself "in and out Lyman, get the goods and leave ..." Did it work that way? Of course not. The Easter Candy aisle sucked me in subconsciously and the next thing you know I'm holding one of those round yellow, blue and green eggs in my hand knowing that the white and yellow cream center inside a soft milk chocolate casing would put back every single calorie that I had just burned off. And I felt not one ounce of remorse.

What can I say? They are without a doubt the best candy I've ever had. I guess I should be thankful that A.) they aren't available the entire year and B.) Easter is not as over-commercialized as Christmas, so instead of hitting the candy stands 4 months before the holiday they are brought out only about a month and a half before the bunny comes.

This is a battle I can't win. Every February is like the Alamo for me. And them Cadbury Eggs get me every year.