It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - with our appearances yesterday on Regis and Kelly and at the Bryant Park Tree-lighting ceremony (complete with non-lighting tree), our Massey Hall shows this weekend, Ottawa the next, and New Year's in Detroit - but I'm somehow unable to fit into my Santa Suit this year. See, I'm a lighter, smaller Steven Page now. Since May I've been seeing a nutritionist and working hard at dropping the excess weight I've carried for so long. As any other chubster can attest, it's tough to keep the weight off after it's been lost, and I've certainly been a bit of a human yo-yo myself. However, I got really sick of being overweight. It can define you, and I've never been happy with it. I am really focused on taking care of myself and my health, and am 40 pounds down and finally within my BMI. It feels great, and I'm really proud of my achievement. Can I keep it off? Who knows. Will I try to? Yes, of course. There's not much room in my life for complacency.
Still, with every wish of mazel tov I am also greeted with looks of incredulity, queries into the state of my health, whispers of "who's that guy?", and since my recent public appearances, there's been a spate of gossip, shock, awe, concern, delight, and just plain playa-hatin' (on the internet?? NO!!). For those who want to know - I'm doing great. Yes, it's been a terrible year for the band, and for me personally, but there have also been many things to be happy and grateful for: Falling in love, a renewed sense of peace, the best health of my adult life, some amazing creative and artistic opportunities, and the chance for a renewed and fruitful relationship with my band, friends and loved ones.
Thanks for thinking of me - I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming gigs. May you and those close to you have the best holiday yet. I intend to.

Last night’s show in Calgary was really, really great. A great crowd, the setlist was god, and my voice was nearly back up to 100%.  Apart from the really obvious loss on the cruise (which was from a cold more than from anything else), when I have voice issues, it’s more about the loss of control of an instrument I usually know intimately – sometimes a not just disappears or wobbles when you least expect it!  Thanks for all of the suggestions – so many of you are health pros or fellow singers, but it was most entertaining to see the varied range of suggestions:  Lemon. No lemon. Honey.  No honey.  Hot drinks.  Warm drinks.  Gargle, etc.  I’ve chosen to ignore you all and just chug biodiesel.  We had all this extra laying around, see, and it seems to have worked.
Also thanks for your condolences on the Junos.  Of course we know it’s just an awards show and that awards are meaningless and blah blah blah, but you know that’s all bullshit when you win them.  We’ve been luck to win a bunch of Junos over the years (and to host them as well), and when they call your name and you’re up on the podium, they sure don’t feel meaningless.  Of course we’re thankful for all of you out there, who love and get what we do – but we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t nice to be recognized by our industry for our contribution.  Musicians usually talk too much like politicians or hockey players when it comes to stuff like this.
Lastly, I want to tell you about our great friend, Joe Self.  Many of you will remember Joe as the friendly, Texan security guard we brought out with us on several tours.  He’s been at home in Austin, working as part of the production crew on the tv show Friday Night Lights for the past little while.  A few days ago, he was driving to work on his motorcycle, stopped at an intersection, and was hit by a tractor-trailer who didn’t see him waiting there.  Joe was thrown from his bike and was rushed to the hospital.  It didn’t look good for a while, there.  He had severe spinal injuries, his face was smashed, and he was in a coma.  Now, however, the news seems to be getting better every day.  He has responded well to spinal surgery, woken from the coma, is responding to instructions, and is beginning to move his arms and legs.  He’s still in very serious condition, and we’re all thinking of him.  If you’re the praying type, now’s a good time.  In the coming days we will figure out how you can send him your good wishes if you so wish (I think a website is being constructed), and we’ll let you know as we find out.  We love you, Joe.