Today is the Pet Rescue Benefit.

I could barely sleep last night.

I kept having this dream that I was introducing "Rescue" in the "Love Makes The World Go Round" benefit for Zani's Furry Friends (which happens later today at Birdland). Only, instead of it being there, we were in some tiny hall and I had to hold the microphone in my hand while playing the piano. Then, a bunch of people started singing with me, but they didn't actually know the song, so they were getting it all wrong and everyone in the room was becoming more and more impatient.

I tossed and turned, waking up and going back to sleep, re-entering the same dream. Finally gave up about 5am and got out of bed.

I am excited, though, to sing this song -- and I see that I'm going to be near the end of the line-up, which is great! A plum spot for a song I love.

Speaking of which -- and maybe this is burying the lede -- but I start work on a new album tomorrow with Tony nominee Peter Link producing, and the first song we're going to record is "Rescue."

The plan is to release the songs one at a time, as we finish the mixes. Along with the recordings, we'll make downloads of the sheet music available at Watchfiremusic.com. It's very exciting to finally start this project. I have so many unrecorded songs, I hardly know where to start.

The Gorilla Reunion Video

Jim told me about this, but I wasn't prepared for how emotional I got watching it. He raised this gorilla when it was a baby, then released it into the wild. 10 years later, he goes calling for it, and the instant recognition, along with the gorilla holding him, not wanting him to go away, just killed me.

Temple Grandin: On Calming Down Animals.

Jason sent me this link to a talk at Cornell by Temple Grandin.

Prof. Temple Grandin is the subject of an HBO film, an accomplished scientist, a renowned animal welfare advocate and a prominent autistic professor. But last night, in her last lecture as Cornell’s Frank H.T. Rhodes Class of ’56 Professor, she focused on the causes and solutions to animal behavioral problems.

Staying calm: Prof. Temple Grandin gives her final lecture as Cornell’s Frank H.T. Rhodes Class of ’56 Professor, titled “Animal Behavior and Welfare,” at Call Auditorium in Kennedy Hall yesterday. - By: Jaser FaruqOne of the best ways to alleviate behavior problems — which account for half of all cases where animals are given up or abandoned — is to keep animals calm, Grandin said.

“A calm animal is easier to handle, and when they get uncalm, it’s usually because they’re getting scared,” she said. “If you get an animal scared, it’s going to take half an hour to get it to calm down.”

My brother, Scott, tells me that in his own work with the State of Texas, he's met Temple Grandin on several occasions.

And, tomorrow, Michael and I are going to get him a new kitten. His beloved Jett finally passed away, and Gregory, the remaining cat, needs a companion. Kittens! I'm gonna get to go play with kittens!

That reminds me about tomorrow night when I'm going to be singing for Animal Night at North Hollywood's Kulak's Woodshed, which you can view online. It starts at 8pm, PCT which is 11pm EST.

I'm Singing Saturday Night in North Hollywood for Animal Night..

This coming Saturday night, I will be playing for Animal Night at Kulak's Woodshed. The evening begins at 8pm. No cover, but a donation is requested at the door.

Piano Cat's Big Night as Orchestral Soloist.

Someone took the notes played by the famous "Nora the Piano Cat" from the viral youtube video and then wrote a moody orchestration around it, and performed it, with orchestra, live with video. It's not just a genius idea (so 21st century!), but you get to watch kitty rub his face on the keys while listening to music.

Young Deer Bathing Kitty.

Yes. Yes. I'm a total sucker for animal cuteness. Watch how much the kitty loves this.

"Rescue" Live at Kulak's Woodshed

This is the new song I've been telling you about. It's called, for now, "Rescue."

(NEW: Download the sheet music!)

It's dedicated to The Pepper Foundation, which is run by my friend and fellow songwriter, Julie Chadwick. What I like about this song, apart from the song itself, I mean, is that it was a group project. Val, Avril, Bo and I were given a room and a piano.

Remembering that Animal Night at Kulak's was three days away, we decided to write a song to be played that night. Since The Pepper Foundation is a rescue group, we decided on the theme of "rescue." I think what we ended up with is very tender and real.

This performance below is actually my third time to sing it for an audience. It was my first time to sing it by heart -- and my first time to play it without any mistakes on the piano.

And here's to doggies everywhere.

A Song For Animal Night.

Wednesday night. Kulak's Woodshed. Marc Platt, Steve Schalchlin and four or five women.

"Wow," Marc said with a huge grin on his face. "All girls. And just two guys."

"Steve's one of the girls," someone said.

And it's true. I am.

And so is Marc, by the way.

And the girls? Well, we had a variety from my generation rock chick to young and ambitious girls with guitars. It's small-cast musical nice.

I told them I had helped a friend write some "songs for kids," and that I've been thinking about Animal Night coming up on Saturday. And that it would be fun to write a song on that theme.

And that's exactly what we did. Val, Bo, Avril and Steve.

I'm going to sing it Saturday night. It will be broadcast live.

This is scary because I can tell you every songwriter loves The Newest Song. The Newest Song is the greatest song ever written by any being which can produce a song or body movement. The newest song is the epic you've always been trying to reach.

You learn through experience, however, that the "newest song syndrome" wears off with time, and meh, it's another song. Everybody's got one.

So, I'm working on the piano part now. When you write "lyrics first," which we did, then the song gets written top down. The movement of the rhythm that lies beneath the words is not created. It's discovered. And that's what I'm jammin' on.

See you Saturday night. Live. (Gulp).

Oh, and tonight I'm hosting for Tracy Newman. Lorraine Newman's very talented singer/songwriter sister.