I’m in my hotel room in Stockholm, Sweden. I guess it’s beginning huh? I’m back in the saddle, out on the road talking about my music, my views on world politics and the color of my hair. Absurd sometimes the things we do to get people to pay attention to us. But my job is an absurdity in itself. I pack myself up into a few suitcases and trek around the globe searching for something, preaching something and hopefully learning something. And all the while because I want you and I to smile more. Well that’s happening a lot lately.

Natalie Imbruglia is playing on my stereo. I bought her new album today, even though I was given a free one ages ago. I left my copy back at home in San Francisco and when I turned on the t.v this morning she was being pushed and shoved around in her latest video. I missed the record so much and was so moved by her frailty, strength and honestly in the performance that I had to rush around in the cold wet misery of sudden winter to find her soothing voice. But she’s with me now singing “butterflies” and I’m a happy man. Melancholy melodies to soothe away a melancholy day.

I do love these days. It’s wet and cold and windy but I’m up here in my room looking down on the street thankful to be warm and thinking a lot about life. God I like this Natalie album.

I’m really grateful at this moment in my life. I’m out on the road with a bunch of people I adore. Leonie, my manager, is obviously a huge part of my life. More than my dearest friend. She’s really taken to her new role of guidance and leadership with so much ease. And she has this incredible knack of surrounding me with very pure, special people. Sharon Millington, her best friend from childhood, is actually a fitness trainer who works with me. Troy Brennan, the most talented hairdresser in the world is also a long time Leonie subscriber.. and somehow the two of them are out here pitching in with the job of getting me presented to the world. The point I’m making.. is that they’re such cool decent people and I’ve been having a blast. Troy is psychotic and the most hilarious person I know. His laugh is pure evil and his heart pure gold. He teases Sharon most minutes of the day, she complains and between the two of them they keep me laughing harder than I have for years. We forget that we’re away from the comforts of home and loved ones, and are enjoying the travel like it’s the first time.

In Japan, my record company gave me a gift of a digital camera as a way of thanking me for working so hard. It was pretty busy there… We got through it though. I want to keep “working hard” so that maybe one day they’ll buy me a Mercedes Benz. I’ll keep you posted. Here are some pictures of my days off in Sweden. Troy and I hung out a lot. I thought I was Andy Warhol with my new camera. I tried to get all arty and blurry. Troy has been trying to compete with my digital marvel by experimenting with his own disposable camera. . If you didn’t know, Troy has his septum pierced (the cartilage between your nostrils) with this sharp steel thing. I call it his nasal javelin. Anyway.. last night he lost it down the drain. When we got his photos back from the lab today we came up with the theory that maybe his photography skills were also contained in his nasal javelin.. That, just maybe, his visual talent may have also washed down the bathroom sink at the same time. Although a master at hair and beauty, David La Chapelle he is not. I want him to publish a book with this one really bad roll of film he had developed today (where most shots involve his blurred finger over the lens) and simply call it DISPOSABLE. Troy is not entirely convinced. He still thinks there may be some hidden gems left in the undeveloped roll in his jacket. I’ll let you know. In Troy’s own words, maybe the problem is his choice of subject matter.. he just “snaps away at any old thing.”