Nominate Me?

Hey, why not ask. There is an opportunity to get nominated for some awards with Indieheaven. You guys seem to do such an amazing job of getting me up the charts, maybe you can get me nominated as well!!

Just go tho this link and fill out the form in the categories you think I should be nominated. Some facts that will help you with the nomination:

Nominated Artist Website: www.cliffcline.com
Nominated Artist Style: CCM, Adult Contemporary
Male Vocalist: Yes
Female Vocalist: No
Songwriter: Yes
Album: Noticing the Sky
Song of the Year: Sure, how about Noticing the Sky
Hardest Working Artist: Sure
Perseverance Award: I am old
Best Indie Radio Station: No
Best Indie Radio Promoter: No
Best Indie Music Website: Your call
Best Indie Venue: No
Best Indie Recording Studio: Dont have one
Best Indie Music Producer: No

Hope this helps.

Deep Thoughts?

British Columbia. Lived there for several years in the lower mainland. I am one of the few, apparently, the willingly came back to Ontario from the land of milk and honey. I came back in part due to the awful weather they have there so much of the time. I am affected by the dinginess, alas, Ontario works for me. Having spent a week in Florida in October (non-hurricaine)....

Anyway, I miss the people there. I think most of them hardly give me a whip of a thought, but I really liked so many of the people I went to high school and university with. There were certainly more friends at the latter, but people get lives and a circle of friends - and me moving here didn't help that much, so it becomes a distant ache of missing. But I do from time to time feel it strongly.

I was looking through some old "achievements" and "participations" from those times. I was so young, and some of the things done were pretty amazing, pretty inspiring. I think sometimes they are inspiring because of the age of the source. Young people achieving excellence is, well, surprising, inspiring, rare. At least in the context of what I am thinking. The counter is perhaps what is hard. Excellence in the "more mature" is expected, not original, and simaltaneously highly valued and disregarded. Hmmm.

Watched 'Batman Begins' last night. The one phrase of the movie that was central (paraphrased) was, "It doesn't matter what is on the inside, it is what you do on the outside that makes a mark".

It seems to me that life is:

1. Spiritual: How are we doing with our creator;
2. Relational: How are we doing with our family, friends, and neighbours, and;
   
3. Vocational: What good are we actually accomplishing with our lives for and in the above two.

Just thinking.

Indieheaven Charts

Hey guys,

I have submitted another song to the indieheaven radio charts to see if we can climb to number 1 again. There is a little more of a payoff this time as the top hits by the end of the year make it onto a compilation CD that will be distributed widely, for sure across the states, but possibly beyond as well.

Alas, go over to the indieheaven radio site link and check me out near the very bottom. Click on my song (We Cry Out) and the rating you give me (5 stars) will help me climb the charts. Do it everyday and we will see how we go. Last time it went great!!

Talk to you soon.

Kids Meals, Cold Weather and the Internet

Well we are back. Back from an amazing week in Florida. Perfect weather and a great start to two weeks off.

Side note one. McDonald's restaurants. Hit way too many of these on the way down and back for "potty breaks" and meals for the kids. They have more than lost their shine. The food is still eh and formulaic, which means consistent, but the facilities are ridiculously inconsistent. They are a failed dream in my opinion. They have nothing to offer, every place we went to is radically different, but one thing consistent. Very dirty, and generally poor service.

Side note two. Man it is cold up here. I guess that's why we were there. God was good to us, perfect weather, and we missed the hurricane.

Man, absolutely poor opportunity for connectivity where we were down there. Tried a little dial-up and what not, but did not enjoy the experience, hence the lack of blogging. Kept me away from work, which was good, but also kept me away from the fun of working on some music stuff. Ah well, maybe a little more fun this week.

I shall blog a little more.

On Vacation

Hey dudes,

Sorry for the break, on vacation. Down near Orlando, man it has been great weather. Talk about coming the right week. Rain last week and hurrucaine or its effects next week.

Vacation has been great - basically totally offline, mostly because I have been having trouble, but it is good for me. Great break. Weather has been mid 80's plus and did the Disney thing yesterday with my three princesses. Now that's fun.

So you probably won't hear from me until early next week, too busy doing an active nothing!!

Till then.

The Digital World

So I continue to try to develop all sides of the career and my understanding of this ever evolving industry called the recording business. Next frontier: the digital domain - you know the whole itunes thing.

So I have begun the very involved process of an independent artist getting distributed wolrdwide in this venue. What else can I say?, I will let you know if I hit itunes etc.

Peace.

Great Quote

As you travel and put your music out there, there are always two levels on which you operate:

1. I am just doing this to positively influence as many people as I can and,
2. Man I hope they like me.

Well I have had my share of feeling like people don't like me or my music, but it is real fun when people discover your stuff and then really like it. Especially when they are radio people!! Check this unsolicited quote out from my indieheaven site:

"ROCKIN RON (Rating: 10)"heard "noticing the sky" yep had to add that to my kbcu 88.1 playlist. but its when i heard the whole cd.. my heart told me this is one of the best praise and worship cds to listen to with no distractions. good stuff. EVERY SONG a winner on this great cd."

Thanks Rockin Ron - you made my day.

Feasts and Family and Laughter

Ok, my blog has been fairly devoid of cute kid stories, but this one I have to relate. I am still chuckling a simmering chuckle. I don't know that I have ever laughed so hard in my life - and for those of you that know me that is saying something on the weirdness and volume meters.

The picture is my sisters living room, very cool and newly decorated I might add. We had just had a great meal around a unique and marvelous table. The conversation was animated and delightful as were all of the guests. So we moved into the living room and continued in the celebration of life that it was. Much laughter, joking etc. Hannah tends to not be a showboater. She likes to be loved and appreciated, but not necessarily the centre of attention. Last night she seemed to find something knee slapping funny - literally, and she kept doing these very facially and physically slow motion chariots of fire animated knee slaps while she laughed - in her own world. I lost it, I could not believe how funny it was, and even though I was laughing way too loud the whole room was in an uproar so she didn't think it was about her, and she kept joining in thinking life was just hilarious.

Laughter is truly a healing balm. There is a lot to be said for the unconditional love and friendship that comes from family. For my part anyway, it makes me wonder why we chase occupations around the country and the globe at the expense of proximity to this heavenly gift.

Yes I know the answer is complicated and varying, but just give me this moment ok? Just one layer of the onion this time around.

My Blue Suede Shoes

Ok so they are not suede, and not entirely blue, and I don't own them, but I did not really have anything intelligent to say and was surfing and saw some great shoes. Have a couple of pairs of Fluevog. Great quality, I like quality shoes. Just thought you would like to know.

Living Truth

I have been involved in leading a "post-modern" service at our church for about a year now. link It has been a stretching and growing experience for me in many ways. I am slowly seeing the volunteer base grow, but more importantly I feel like we have begun to develop our own spiritual growth path. Doing the sermons or talks has been great and challenging. I personally find the core reason to talk/teach the Bible is to actually move ahead with the teaching. Key words, moving ahead. The biggest challenge personally and corporately is to engage to the level where there is actually noticeable forward movement.

Last night we spoke about the persistent widow in Luke 18. Consistent dogged prayer to God for justice. Our practical moment was to try and pray constantly for one thing for the next two weeks seeking God for movement towards a resolution. One hundred times a day - one thing. I know I have to walk the talk on this one - as with everything - but this is specific. I have a discipline to practice and "report on".

Biggest moment for me in the last while. If one is not growing, participation is still not enough. A fruit tree which is alive but dormant is still useless as a fruit tree. A Christian that is alive but not bearing fruit...

Off we grow.