In the Blink of An Eye

I was playing Peek-a-boo with the little one this morning. A game I've played with her since she was 10 months old. Holding the blanket over my head, saying "where's daddy???", and then pulling the blanket down and saying, "Here I am!".

It makes her giggle uncontrollably every time. It's the most incredible sound in the world. Your child's laughter.

But as I did it a second time, I noticed something very different. Something I wasn't ready for yet. She was tall. Because she's no longer a baby. Even though I still refer to her as the baby. She's a little kid. On the verge of leaving the toddler stage. She speaks and runs and identifies too many things to count anymore. Yesterday she was just trying to roll over. Now she climbs into the car to get into her seat.

In the blink of an eye, your child, or your life, changes. It grows, evolves, changes whatever word you wanna use to describe the fact that things never stay the same. How did I use that time? Was it meaningful? I like to believe so. Did I miss any opportunities to be a better daddy? I hope not.

No book can truly put you on a path to be a better parent. The only way to be a better parent, in my opinion and experience, is to be present and available.

In the blink of an eye, life happens...This Wednesday at the Ruby Room, 1271 University Avenue San Diego, CA 92103, Life will be happenning in a musical sense. Come check out the band as we rock the Ruby Room's stage for the first time ever.

It's gonna be epic.

Roller Coasters

When I was in college I wrote a paper on how life was a roller coaster. Ground breaking... I know. Yesterday was a great example of that.

Started the day off with exciting news on some new gigs. Picked up a final cut Master of my new full length album, We Got Love. Had fun at the San Diego Zoo with my 2 year old. Picked up my 8 year old from school-her teacher said she's been doing really well! All awesome! All great things.

Back in to my car park area to see someone in my rear view walking from my back yard into the alley. Ran to the side of the house to notice all of my recycling* was gone. Sprinted into the alley while this low life peeled out out and ran from me like a coward. I chased this truck on foot for about 50 meters or so and got the license number.

Called it in and loaded my girls up because we had to go to a doctor's appointment. Meaning the dispatcher on 911 can't take a report because I had to leave. I won't go into detail but my daughter seeing the doctor was more important. On the way to the doctor, I saw a squad car heading towards me. I flagged him down and it was the officer responding to my call. I was able to get him a good description etc. and from our conversation it appears that this is becoming quite a problem in the neighborhood. So it was good (lucky) I was able to run into him.

Get to the appointment at the Family Health Center (I know, I know. This is truly the glamorous life of a musician) and we wait around. They were much more prompt than normal which was a good thing. We had a 1:30 appointment and were able to lave by 3:45. *sigh*

So my adrenaline is still going, I'm pissed off about this thief, excited about the new album but most of all just wanting my girls to feel loved, safe and help them create fond lasting memories. By the time I picked up my wife I was ready to go to sleep. It was 7pm. I was done. Too many high highs and low lows. But we live to see another day and have an opportunity to make the most of it. Which we will.

*side note. In the state of California you pay 5 cents per unit on bottled and canned drinks. It's called CRV. So if you buy a twelve pack of soda, you automatically pay 60 cents on top of whatever the price is AND tax. Same with water etc.

Come Hang Out With Me!!!

Tonight: Hotel Indigo's Phi Bar 6pm 509 9th Ave SD CA 92101
Friday: Java Jones Coffeehouse 7pm 631 9th Ave SD CA 92101
Saturday: Wit's End 9pm 420 Robinson SD CA 92103
Sunday9(solo): Comedy Palace 7pm 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd SD CA 92123

Stay At Home Half of the Rock Star

Before you pre heat your oven- check to see that nothing has been stored inside of it. Or you too can take in the wonderful aroma of plastic melted at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

I have these things called cupboards, or cabinets, depending on what part of the country you are from. Normally, you take the doors on these things, open them up and place things inside of these cabinets in a neat, orderly stacked manner. In a way so that you can access these items at a later date when you might need them.

The oven, however, is not a cabinet. Nor is it a cupboard. But this past weekend someone thought that it was. This someone is a loved one but right now we are wondering why they used our oven as a cabinet.

Remember, I am the "Stay At Home" rock star. Not because I play music from my home. But because of other forces that have forced our situation in to the scenario where I stay at home and raise the baby during the day. At night I go out and play shows. That's the rock star part. This is a domestic rant.

Don't mess with my system. Everything has a place and I have that set up. If you take something out you should return it to where you took it from. That's how it works. The world will spin properly on its axis if these rules are followed.

Thanks for letting me rant.Your loving...

Something For Beth To Read

It's been a while. Let's just say it's been technical difficulties and move on, shall we? Hi! Lots has happened since I last wrote. I'm stoked about the band. We are sounding tight and melting faces off and that is such an awesome feeling.

Here are some killer shows we(the band) have lined up that you should attend:
March 26th: Java Jones 631 9th Ave 7pm all ages free w/ Will Edwards(awesome)
March 27th: Wit's End 420 Robinson 9pm 21+ free w/ Sharon Hazel Township(awesome)
March 31st: Ruby Room 1271 University Ave 21+ w/ Scott West Band(awesome)
April 2nd: Java Jones w/ Lindsay White, Jon Lall and Jeffrey Joe Morin
April 9th: Java Jones w/ Cindy Santini, Megan Combs and Rusty King
April 11th: Comedy Palace 8878 Clairemont Mesa 21+ free w/ Kim Thompson
April 15th: Lestat's 3343 Adams Ave all ages
April 18th: Live Comedy Live @ the Ken Club 21+
April 23rd: Java Jones w/ Lovella(Lindsey Yung), Cal Durant & Troy Davis.

After attending these shows you'll easily be able to sing along and make you voice heard for when we do a live recording- TBA.

During this time I have some solo performances as well that you will hear about via Twitter (@ChadCavanaugh) and Facebook (facebook.com/chadcavanaughmusic).

Bring lots of friends with you. The sound we're putting out is DOPE! You won't be able to contain your rump from swaying back and forth. Your feet may take control and start moving around. It's okay, you're not sick. You just caught the Groove!

Word of mouth is awesome and for all of you spreading that word I thank you! Please don't keep your love of my music a secret. Shout it out and tell as many people as you know. Tell them they can hear it on the radio as well. Rock 105.3, Radio Sophie 103.7, Fearlessradio.com, uclaradio.com.

Lastly but not leastly- my second album is about done. It's 12 songs being produced by Bryan DiFabio of DFab Studios and the finishing touches are very close to being done. A full length album! Yes!

I hope you're as excited as I am!!!

Warning: Explicit Content

By the title, you've been warned. I'm a musician. Yes, but I'm also a father. Of two little girls. Two precious little lights in the world. I will do whatever is necessary to protect them. By whatever is necessary I mean WHATEVER is necessary. I think preventive measures should be part of that.

During a chat room conversation yesterday there was talks about how to maintain civility through tragedy. That rage fantasies and witch hunts are fueled by anger and hate. Then someone brought up a great point. It was described as an old parable that says "if a hungry tiger wanders in to your village and begins eating your children, what do you do?" which led to the point that by killing the tiger, it was not an act of hate or rage but of preservation of life. Life that deserves to live, in my opinion.

Let's just say that I am outraged that a state appointed psychiatrist warned the DA and the judge of this monster over 10 years ago and the DA and judge completely ignored the warnings-cutting a deal that allowed this monster to only serve 6 years behind bars instead of 30. Had the warning been heeded, there wouldn't have been the tragic, senseless loss of life that has occurred here in San Diego County. Chelsea King was a light in this world that will be sorely missed. Also, if he was spending so much time at his mothers, in a different county from where he was registered, then he should've been registered. For his mother to do nothing about that is unacceptable. She can't be oblivious to the monster she created. Yes, I am calling her out as well. That doesn't mean people should vandalize her property, though.

Here's what I think should happen to this monster. Tie each limb to a separate horse and let them run to the four winds. He'll be ripped into multiple pieces and won't die right away. Then see how callous and unremorseful he is. Other offenders will see this and think twice before committing these heinous acts. YES I'M ANGRY!!!!

I also know that lives are lost daily overseas in the middle east. The lives our service members. Let me say this about them. It saddens me every time we lose a service member. I am a veteran of the United States Army Infantry. I have lost fellow brothers in combat. It sucks. As an infantryman, I knew what my risks were when I went in. It doesn't change the fact that one lost soldier is one too many. But I, personally, was aware of this risk.

Chelsea King went for a run. She wasn't enlisted in the military. She went for a run. And a monster stole her away from her parents and from the world that she was making better by her presence.

Amber Dubois is still missing. Children across this world are missing, abused, exploited every day and it's tragic.

Love your kids. Make yourself aware of your surroundings. Teach your kids the buddy system. I pray that I never have to go through this. It's a broken hearted community in San Diego.