"I told you so," he wouldn't stop saying.  "I told you we should not make promises about getting albums ready at any particular time.  Now think about all those disappointed fans."

"STOP IT" said Allen and Monica at the same time,  but in very different tones of voice.

"Well, it's an interesting philosophical question," said Daniel, looking up from his crossword puzzle with unusual energy.  "Do we provide no information, so that we disappoint no one, or do we let people know what's in the works, so that they have something to look forward to? It seems to me that God sends prophets, and the prophecies get fulfilled in different times and different ways.  The psalms are always saying, 'How long, O Lord?'  So if God does it..."

"You're not God" snapped Otto, who was in a very bad mood indeed. "None of us are. We can't guarantee to fulfill our so-called 'prophecies'. I don't think we should make them until the time is REALLY close, and we're REALLY sure." 

"Ever hear of a rock band called Boston?"  asked Daniel with mild curiosity.  "They're famous for doing exactly that."

"Otto does have a point though," said Monica.  "I hate to think of disappointed children! I think we all feel bad.  We're not doing it on purpose, but this is how things turned out."

"Or disappointed CCD teachers," added Allen, "I mean, not that anyone sent mean emails or anything. But I feel guilty. Still, I think this is just going to make us even more ready to work really hard on the album this summer.  And doesn't Amy have a new job at a church that has a school?"

"She does," said Monica, who keeps up with these things.  "She's hoping to have the 5th and 6th graders give a concert to the younger kids, after Easter. The Principal actually suggested it.   And then we'll have the beginnings of a whole new children's choir, to sing on new recordings!"

"I don't agree with Mr. Gloomy." Gloria threw a wadded up piece of paper at Otto, but it hit Daniel, who had gone back to his crossword.  They both glared at her.  "I think it's great.  After all, we got two recordings done, and contacted the illustrator, and wrote a new song.  I don't think we would have gotten that far if we hadn't written it up on the website.  So, I see it as a positive, even if we didn't do everything we wanted. Yet." 

:"There's a good attitude!" approved Allen.  "I don't think we should be moping around.  Let's update the website, and just tell everyone what we're hoping.  We could use their prayers, right?  No use beating ourselves up; gotta stay positive." 

"Gotta stay on the right side of the right thing to do," grumbled Otto.  (Did he give up too much for Lent? He's really grumpy.)  "But as long as we make it clear that we HOPE, we do not promise, I suppose it's not actually a sin."

Daniel looked up again.  "What's a six-letter word for "agree" that starts with the letter 'C'?"

"C-o-n-c-u-r," smiled Monica.  And I do.  So let's get going."

So we actually, in fact, no foolin' went in to the studio today and put down a few rough tracks for two ADVENT songs.  We want a CD to be available by November 2017.  We think that's likely.  Otto is upset by the spontaneity but everyone else is willing to go with the flow.

So you can spend ALL 2017 in joyful expectation of this album!

Meanwhile, we thought we'd share some of the upcoming sounds with you.  These are not polished.  If we waited for that, well...slower. But feel free to do bootleg things with them.  ("Would anyone really BUY a bootleg of our stuff?" asks Daniel.)

The lyrics for "Fiat (Let It Be)" are posted in an earlier entry. It's kind of a Marian prequel to the Beatles' original.

This second one, set to new music, Allan made into a power point (with some help from Monica)  for his parish Advent wreath-making event.  Gloria had the idea to share it with the world, so here it is in as a video for you.  Yes, a few words don't match. They will soon. Promise :)

Peace on earth, and may  all people eventually be of Good Will.

-- The DDs

"Look at this email,"  said Otto as he walked into the room holding a sheet of paper. "Cait and Kent say they moved to a new house and neither they nor their kids can find the CD insert. They want a copy of the lyrics."

"Well that's no problem," said Monica, looking up from her rosary-making kit at the coffee table.  "We have that box of extra prints they sent us back in 2005.  We've only ever sent out a few of those."

"I can ask for their address," said Otto doubtfully. "But who loses a CD insert? I've never lost one in my life."

"Of course you haven't," teased Gloria's voice from outside. She was weeding the small herb garden outside the house that we use as an office.  "You keep yours filed alphabetically and cross-indexed by year CD purchased.  You've never misplaced anything, ever. Not everyone can be like you, even though of course we all want to."

"I think it's absolutely normal," said Allen from the couch.  "Kids like something, they play with it.  They love it, it gets destroyed." He emphasized the point with a vigorous chord on his guitar.  "This is a sign of their love for us, that they can't find it.  We're like a blankie that the kid won't let Mom wash."

"Or like the Velveteen Rabbit.  Remember that story?" Monica snapped off a final bead and began tying new knots. "To become Real, he had to stay with his child through scarlet fever and finally be thrown out.  Only then he could run and play with the other rabbits." 

"Not thrown out, burned." This was Daniel from the kitchen, who had been watching a pot of hot water on the stove, trying to make it boil for tea. "But you're exactly right. The Velveteen Rabbit is a Christ figure.   Love isn't gentle. Love uses you up.  To get transformed, just like Jesus, first you are broken and given up for dead. That enables you to come back as a new creation-- Real, if you're the Velveteen Rabbit. It's the same kind of thing with Pinocchio."

"Perfect for Holy Week, dude!" came the voice through the window.

"That's a lot of theology to justify a new CD insert," grumbled Otto, as though he took this as a rebuke. "Couldn't they just be messy people?"

"Kids make you messy, bro," said Allen, setting his guitar on the cushion next to him. "Kids make you perfect the way God wants, not the way man wants -- or Woman!" he added towards the open window.  A chuckling "Thank yooou!" rewarded him. 

"And there's The Giving Tree too,"  remarked Monica, spreading out the rewards of her labor to examine.  "That's a perfect parent parable. The tree is happy even when it has given everything away and become a stump. It always makes me cry."

"STOP IT," recommended Otto, obviously exasperated. "I GET it.   The only people who would ever lose a CD insert are those with so much love that they allow themselves to become Christ.  Fine."

"We love you too bro," said Allen, walking over to Otto, who looked uncomfortable, as if he thought he were about to be hugged.   "You just call us to be all that we can be -- loving AND able to find things.  We know the world would be a better place if everything were alphabetized. Let's go look for that box of inserts; I think you put it in the office above the computer."

That's exactly where they found them. And if you need new CD inserts -- one to file alphabetically, more to give to your kids to lose or mangle -- send us an email, we'd be happy to provide. Be sure to include your mailing address.

Amazon is at it again -- they are offering The Dogma Dogs for the ridiculously high price of $18.27.   I wrote to them and asked them to please lower it.  Which they did: a few days ago they were asking $18.51.  *sigh* 

Do check out Catholic Child Dot Come and CDBaby, which offer it for a much more reasonable price.  You can also order directly through this website if you don't mind PayPal and media mail.    As a bonus, I just found out that you can order 7 CDs and the shipping is still just $2.   Our gift to you for buying 7 copies :)

Here's an Annunciation song for Advent:  Fiat voluntas tua.  I think it flows well as kind of a prequel to the original.

LET IT BE

When the angel Gabriel came and told me
"A mother, Mary, you will be"
I gave to him my answer: let it be.
Then the Breath that spoke the Word in darkness
Spoke that Word inside of me
Let Your will be done, Lord:
Let it be.

Chorus:
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Let Your will be done Lord: Let it be.

And so the Son of God descended,
Flesh made of my flesh to be
Blessed incarnation: let it be
And now the hope of all creation
By His goodness, lives in me
Live in all Your people:
Let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Live in all Your people: Let it be.

(Instrumental interlude)

And now the prayers of God's dear children
Often come addressed to me.
I bring them all to Jesus: let it be.
We wrap them in the Church's graces
Comfort them and help them see
Their prayers will be answered:
Let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Their prayers will be answered: Let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Live in all Your people: Let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Let your will be done, Lord: Let it be.

(c) 2006 Liturgical Groove Productions