The nicest thing I've heard all summer.  all together now, awww:

"Hello sir,

Strangely, I spent the afternoon yesterday talking with Hugh Hewitt about Michael Jackson's music.  http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/talkradio/Show.aspx?RadioShowID=5

     For whatever it's worth, my speaking voice sounds different for the first half hour or so...  oh well, maybe I'm just getting older :-)

Hi guys.  I hope this finds you well, and please excuse the me me me-ness of this post, but some people were asking for it.  Just delete it if you have a cold or in any way are or have been suffering more acutely than I. </p>

<p>So yesterday was a month since I had my surgery, and tomorrow I go back to the doctor for another follow up and to see if i can start singing freely again.  I've had a few alchholic beverages, since I'm supposed to be in the clear for that now, and have gone for one hike.  Other than that I've tried to rest and heal up, but of course things are still sore inside there.  I'm told that the sinus surgeries went well, which should help prevent me from getting so sick all the time.  Three months ago I thought all that "nettie pot" nonsense was like water-boarding myself, but now I do something similar twice a day for 2 or 30 minutes.  So.  Gross.  And stil some bleeding's going on in there, so I'm sure I have a little longer to go before I can start singing and find my voice again.  my speaking voice is less nasal when things are clear now, but the few times i bop my voice around to find notes and see if things are cool.....yup, like just now...sounds good to me :)  </p>

<p>The one bad thing that happened is my septum went back to where it was, and maybe even more deviated.  No, I did not have rhinoplasty, although I asked for a little freebie touch-up enough times so that my surgeon knew I wasn't kiding.  No dice.  Anyway, I fucked up my nose by messing with it too soon, or sleeping on it wrong by accident, or being too active too quickly and getting blood rushing to my head.  I don't now, but it kind of sucks.  Basically, on one side I can breath really well, but on the other side not a lot of air gets through.  If, for instance, I walk up the stairs while I'm talking on the phone, I run out of breath.  So I have to work on my cardio fitness AND maybe think about having my septum done again, especially if it keeps getting worse.   </p>

<p> But I made it, I have a couple new instruments downstairs, and I'm really looking forward to making some new songs for friends and for all of you, my REAL friends :')  .....Ok, take care and thanks for all your good wishes.  It cost a small fortune, but I was well taken care of!

People of Earth,

While still working on music for my friends Brett Michaels and Daisy De La Hoya, I took a few days last week to work on a real friend's musical spoof.  I'm hoping to write more musical theater stuff as I go gray, so this has been a good start.  I'm not writing any lyrics, which has been a useful excercise.  Plus, I'm working on it with my friend, David, a new musical partner who has done some arranging for me in the past.  All in all a week of producing and melody making.

Ok, so here's my latest medical malady news.  I am such a delicate flower that it's embarassing.

I've bored you with my tendonitis before.  Avoided surgery, have to take care all the time (when I don't it starts shooting sparks, like right now), and it took a lot of the love out of writing, because i can't just sit and play feverishly for a couple hours...seems to always bring me back into my head, if you know what I mean.  Anyway, that's that, and it's a VERY small cross to bear in this world, as we all know.  Just yesterday I got another letter from a friend of a fan who died recently...please take care of yourselves out there.<

So, my voice...yeah.  A couple years ago I lost my voice twice while on the road with the Low Stars.  Freaked me out.   I fought sinus infections all winter, thanks to constant flying.  After a year off the curse is back, and as I type this I'm on my 8th (!) round of anti-biotics.  Ugh.  I basically have not been able to use my voice properly for the last six months.  CT scans, multiple experts, etc.  As soon as I fight off a sinus infection, it's only a matter of days before a single short night of sleep or a couple drinks sends me back into fever chills.  It's ridiculous, actually. If a man can't drink.... I'm going to go ahead and have surgery.  It freaks me out for several reasons, not the least of which is that I'm not a fan of needles, my own blood, or pain at all.  I've avoided surgey several times in the past, but it seems like I can't beat this thing.  And yes, I know all about water-boarding myself with nasal rinses, nettie pots, Sine-Aid, and the works. ( thank you in avance, and for all your advice over the last couple years on this, my few fellow sinus-sufferers :-)  )  When your septum is shaped like a question mark intead of a straight line, apparently the opportunities for infection are just wonderful.  They love it up there.  Either that or my immune system has collapsed.  I feel compelled to make the change.  Not being able to sing freely is, as you can imagine, the WORST thing for me.  I can't perform properly, can't write as well, and don't walk around with my personal Ipod player in my head.  Which makes me depressed.

Of course, the scariest part is that it might slightly change my voice.  They tell it it might be a little less nasal - at least my speaking voice...  My singing voice has been getting weaker, adn now that i can hardly excercise it...well, it's become a balancing act, and I think the benefits outweigh the riskes.  I REALLY want to be able to sing more often, and not  constantly be trying to clear my ears while recording or pounding on my chest before walking onstage, taking drugs constantly before performing, etc.   I'll try not to be all dramatic about it, as i know all of you face medical and personal challenges all the time.  Just thought I should mention this, for the record.  i'm told it will take me a few weeks to sort of relearn to use my resonance chamber... maybe I'll come out sounding like Lou Rawls or something!  

I'll update you on my appointments and surgery date, so you can shoot me a prayer or, as my father's ex used to instruct us, picture me with a golden light around me.  Around my throat is probably more like it.  Like a golden lasso around my throat, compelling me to sing the truth.  I like it.  And Linda Carter as Wonder Woman was immeasurably hot.  We were watching clips online for a sound reference, and it's remarkable how many times she was tied up or chloroformed/gagged.  Naughty Linda Carter, naughty.