books for all of hugh manatee...

i am a huge fan of independent bookstores. (i tend to root for the underdog...) don't get me wrong, i enjoy barnes and noble, borders, etc., but i actually worked for an independent bookstore for a while in louisville (hawley-cooke booksellers, r.i.p.) when you shop at a local kind of place, you get a flavor of what the place is like. you wouldn't travel to new england, and then eat at long john silver's to try to catch the local flavor of seafood, would you?

when i first walked into the blue manatee, i fell in love with it. it's witty, charming, childish, and unique. the signatures and drawings of some of children's literature's greatest adorn the walls. and they have been nothing but supportive of me. so i just wanted to say thanks to them for being so kind to me over the past few months since i started this little endeavor.

oakley after hours event

let's support local businesses! bring the family out to the oakley after hours event this (and every last) friday! there will be some great sales, dining specials, etc.

there's live music in two or three spots outside, and INSIDE at the blue manatee bookstore. you may have heard of the guy. click on the picture to the left and print it out(landscape) to get your own coloring page. click on the link below for more information about the event.
http://www.oakleynow.com/oakleyafterhours

got it made in the second grade...

i went to woodfill elementary yesterday and hung out with ms. redlinger and ms. johnston's classes. you guys were so much fun! the air guitars were out in full force! thanks for rocking with me, and for writing a great song about a cheetah. the line about supergluing a hat to a cheetah's head because they run so fast was my favorite.

speaking of favorites, the students asked me what my favorite song is...i couldn't think at the time- but my favorite song has to be "everybody wants to rule the world" by tears for fears. i don't know why: maybe it's the accents, maybe it's the ridiculously cool guitar solo(s). it is pop/rock greatness.

FOX19 ROCKS!

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE REAL STARS OF THE SHOW! (not me!)

this morning, at 8:45 a.m., i had the improbable pleasure of watching myself play one of my songs on a "live morning show." (we taped our part.) i was surrounded by a ton of my co-workers. finally, my two worlds collide. everyone was really supportive and encouraging. i thought everything sounded and looked great. i thought the kids turned it into the party i hoped it would be. so parker, campbell, rebecca, carter, chloe, and rylee, thanks from the bottom of my heart. if you missed it, or, if you want to watch it again, here's the link: http://www.fox19.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?vt1=v&clipFormat=flv&clipId1=2375980&at1=News&h1=Bill Smith Performs "That's My Dinosaur" on FOX19 Morning News Smith Performs "That's My Dinosaur" on FOX19 Morning News

trent montessori

by the way, i had the most fun i've ever had with a guitar at trent montessori in newport yesterday. (some people go to chipotle on their lunch break. i go sing to 50+ preschoolers...) they are rockstars. thanks to jan haas and her wonderful, wonderful staff for all they did (and do!)

the morning show...

usually the morning show for the smith family involves waking up in just enough time to get everyone dressed, fed and out the door in time for school/work/daycare. but on friday, it will mean something else entirely. on monday, we visited the fox19 studios to play "that's my dinosaur" to the greater cincinnati viewing area. i had six of my closest friends with me...parker, rylee, chloe, carter, campbell, and rebecca. they taped us playing, singing, jumping up and down, etc. and it was a blast.

this whole opportunity to share the music that has resided for so long solely in my head is truly unbelievable to me. to hear kids sing my words back to me, to have at least as much fun as i am having, is completely mind blowing. i am a lucky, lucky guy to be able to do this.

anyway, i'm nervous and excited, and anxious to see how things turn out.

Pop Fly!

it's safe to say that i "look up" to justin roberts. his style is probably the closest thing i can find to match what it is that i try to do. needless to say, i was excited to see that his video for "Pop Fly!" is out in anticipation of the April 15th CD release of the same name. I was even more excited to see:

1. My daughter Campbell appears from 1:06-1:10 as "the first kid on the left."


2. My son Carter appears from 2:13-2:17 as "the third kid from the left."

here's the link:

http://www.zooglobble.com/archives/2008/04/video_pop_fly_justin_roberts.html#more

Please note: This was not the video we braved the Blizzard of '08 for when we drove to Chicago. Hopefully, we'll see something of that in May.