Preparation...

It is a lot to take in. hundreds of pages of information to study and learn and put to memory. Studying the Qurâ??an, the language of Farsi, the history of Iran/Persia, the current climate of the country and the region, and trying my best to not only learn and memorize the many customs that are so different from our own so as not to offend but rather honor them with our presence in their world, but also to show respect and courtesy. But also doing my best to put to memory the many requests and requirements made by the organization â?? the Fellowship of Reconciliation-- itself and their mission and why they are having us delegates partake in it in the first place.

Again there is a lot to take in. It is by all accounts overwhelming unless I keep myself firmly seated in the present moment at all times and just keep reading and studying. Stacks of books all around me. Pages upon pages of information from many sources continuously shooting out of my printer for me to soak in. I fall asleep each night to an assortment of Iranian historical documentaries and classic and contemporary film DVDs so that it sinks in all the more.

The itinerary looks merciless at first glance. 15 solid days of travel with not many breaks to be had. It is not only our responsibility to attend numerous events without ceasing each day but also to write detailed reports about our experiences and send them in to the organization for evaluation at night. I am eating as healthily as I can, sleeping even more, and working out twice as vigorously as normal to prepare.

Upon our arrival we will immediately visit Iranian radio and television stations in Tehran to introduce ourselves to the people at large and announce our presence. Then we meet the Vice President of the ICRO and Director for the Center of Inter-Religious Dialogue. We will then fly to Shiraz - the Jewel of ancient Persia, the Tomb of Hafez, Persepolis - the ancient palace of what was once the mightiest city on planet earth when the Persians ruled the world.

More good news today for the band. we found out that we were chosen to perform at the CMJ Music Marathon 2004 in New York in October. I have wanted to play at this festival since I was a kid so I am so psyched. Then our manager the Big Man in Black called and said that two more major record labels called him today about the group. that's five labels in a week who have called us. we've waited for this for a long time.

Last screening: radio. Boring movie cause you keep waiting for something to happen and nothing ever does but the story is good. I feel asleep last night thinking, ‘what am I doing to help? What more can I do to help more people?’ really makes you think about that. what is this inner yearning we feel to help others? I wonder if it is innate or if it is something that we learn or come to on our own.

You ever notice that when great things happen that you cannot help but close your eyes and thank God? and when you're feeling blue or when bad things happen that you cannot help close your eyes and ask for gods help or some guidance. Instinctual? Or indoctrination? I wonder.

Thanksgiving with the family in Arizona. Am I outgrowing my family? Is that possible? Could there be a worse dream to wake up to? Is that what growing into an adult means? Click your heels. There's no place like home. There's no place like home.

Watched Paul McCartney on TV last night. What a great band he has assembled. Still carrying the torch. His vocals were awesome. Made me realize how we really need to start making a better living from our own music. Right now the general consensus is that bands don't make good money. One out of a thousand maybe make enough to get by. You’ve got your Eminems and your Madonnas. But most of us don't even make enough to live. And this belief is perpetuated and vehemently defended by everyone in the industry. ‘that's just the way it is,’ is the general feeling. We hear it all the time. every show we play, we’re told that we may have to play for free, or we’ll be lucky if we make five hundred bucks to split between all five of us plus pay the soundman, light person, flyers, transportation, etc. and a lot of times it's the bands that are at fault in the first place because they put up with it and so they set this precedent that all bands have to do it. They get so used to it that they never get out of it. It’s like, ‘I've fallen into this belief and I can’t get up.’ it's funny.