This Post Has No Title
O-kay! That was the season from Hell. You know the old saying. “All work and no play…”? Well I was one dull bastard there for a while. Thankfully work has slowed to a normal pace and I can get back to my life or what barely qualifies as one.
So I’ve spent the better part of this afternoon trying to catch up with y’all. In doing so I’ve noticed a music meme from Miss Alex going around and although I wasn’t tagged, I’m jumping in on this one because music has always been a huge part of my life.
10 Songs That Evoke Emotion
My answers below
1. A song that brings you back to a happy moment.
Cracklin’ Rose – Neil Diamond
2. A song that feels good when you’re angry.
Faint – Linkin Park
3. A song that makes you feel sad.
Dosed – Red Hot Chili Peppers
AND
Hello, It’s Me – Todd Rundgren
4. A song you have to change every single time it’s on.
You Light Up My Life – Debbie Boone
5. A song you can’t listen to anymore.
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sooo over played.
6. A song that a commercial ruined for you.
I try to avoid commercials at all costs just for this reason.
7. A song that never gets old.
Imagine – John Lennon
8. A drunk-sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs song.
Bang The Drum All Day – Todd Rundgren
9. A song you’ve had on your MySpace.
Ghost Town – The Specials
Kinda like this blog.
10. A song you’d get made fun of if people knew you liked.
Stoney End – Barbara Streisand
AND
Wedding Bell Blues – The Fifth Dimension
But I wouldn’t care.
Wake Up!
The past few weeks have been like a blur. I’ve been working 10-12 hours a day for the past couple of months. I used to have every other Friday off. I can’t remember the last Friday I didn’t work. (Today, one of our systems went down and now I have to find something to do to look busy. Hello Blog!) Can’t deny the overtime is a blessing right now. It’s just that lately, when I get home, all I want to do is turn into a vegatable. A cucumber would be nice. A cucumber that takes out the garbage. Hmmm. Where have I heard that before?
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School started up again for Big M last week. Moving up to the bigs this year, Jr. High. It boggles my mind how fast he’s growing. Just seems like yesterday I could scoop him up and put him on my shoulders. Not anymore. I miss those days but at the same time it’s awesome to watch him grow and develop into a young man I know I can be proud of. At the same time it’s a bit frightening to let him go and do things on his own. Now he gets himself up, ready and off to school on the bus. The first day he got on the wrong bus coming home and rode it all the way to the end of the line. The driver announced last stop and he got off without a clue as to where he was and nothing looked familiar. Times like this make me glad for cell phones. He sounded scared at first but I told him not to panic and just head for the nearest intersection. He did and found another bus to ride back home. It was all I could do to keep from losing it. There is no worse feeling in the world than knowing your kid is out there, lost somewhere, and you have no idea where. WHEW!
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So I finally get some surfing time today and what do I discover? The fucking internet Nazis here at work have blocked some of my peeps. Now I can’t visit MetalMom, Bluepaintred or Nobody or Shelli. Cock blocking sumbitches.
I also have links to fix for those of you that made the switch to WordPress. Since I never used Blogger I’d be interested to know which one you prefer.
And I found this over at Some Guy’s Blog and figured I’d better get started on my retirement plan. Thanks Chris. You rock!
Bummed Out
Shit.
I don’t fucking believe it.
A couple of posts back I metioned being on YouTube because of the James Taylor party. Maybe some of you checked out the vids and remeber seeing this guy.
Just found out that he died two nights ago of a heart attack. His name was Dave and he not only organized but hosted the JT party and the Beatles party. I only knew him for a short while but I thought he was an incredibly generous and very cool guy who absolutely loved music. He played in our church band and also in a local cover band.
He had no history of attacks in the past but get this – I found out that he had been complaining of constant heartburn that wouldn’t go away. Despite the urging from his wife to see a doctor, he didn’t. In fact, he performed just last weekend at a party and reportedly had to take several breaks due to feeling fatigued. Such a shame. To have warning signs popping up around you and to do nothing about it, well that just pisses me off.
It just made me realize all over again that life is too short. And we never know when it is our turn to go. But if our body is telling us something is wrong, we damn well better listen to it.
He was a great guy and I’m glad I had the privilege to know and perform with him.
I’m gonna miss you Dave.
R.I.P.
Shake It Up
Ahhhhh.
Nothing like a little earthquake to make your day interesting.
Yesterday we had a little shaker here that was just enough to make you wonder, is this the big one?
It happens about every ten years or so and it’s a very strange sensation. At first, with me anyways, I think I hear something. Then I realize that it’s the creaks and squeaks from the building I’m in doing the shimmy-shimmy. Then the floor begins that rolling motion that reminds me of waves on a lake or ocean. That’s about the time I notice the filing cabinets banging against each other and my monitors are swaying back and forth on my desk. And I wait. Waiting to see if I need to dive under my desk. Luckily, I’ve never had to.
I’ve been through at least 3 major quakes and several smaller ones and after a while, you get used to them. Reactions among most of the people who grew up here go like this:
“So, whaddya think? A 4 maybe 5?” (Richter scale measurement)
“Nah, couldn’t been more than a 3”. And then we go back to business as usual.
P.S. I wanted to do this post yesterday, but after being at work for 13 hours I went home and went straight to bed. I don’t think I even turned on any lights when I got home.
Unmasked!
I just found out on Saturday that I am on YouTube. Needless to say I was somewhat shocked.
Back around mid-April I was invited to a party being thrown by the same musicians I’ve been playing with in the church band. This was the first time meeting these people and also the first time I’ve performed in front of an audience. Turns out they were a great bunch of people to hang with and I had a really good time. Every few months or so they get together and throw a party and salute a singer/songwriter. This time it was a salute to James Taylor. I like a lot of his material so I went. After some coaxing and a few beers I was persuaded to play on one song. I was nervous as hell! (I showed the video to my co-worker and she said I look bored. I told her that is my “I’m scared to death and I’m trying to concentrate” look.) But it felt so good and I think it was at this point that I decided to join the church band. Now, I’m not going to directly link to the video because I’m not the type of person to blow his own horn. Although…if I could, I probably wouldn’t leave the house. Heh.
Anyway, I think I’ve left enough clues for anyone interested, but I’ll leave one more and that is I play on the song Secret Of Life, which is one of my favorites. It’s a pretty mellow song so don’t expect drum solos or anything. And I screwed up the ending but hey, it was my first time. Cut me some slack!
P.S. I’m also in the background on a few of the other songs. I had to watch all of the clips before I posted this just to make sure I wasn’t picking my nose or anything else.
P.S.S. We just had another party this last weekend and we tipped our hat to the Beatles. THAT was a blast. This time I was chosen for 5 songs: Old Brown Shoe, I Am The Walrus, I Saw Her Standing There, Lady Madonna, and Hey Jude. No video this time though.
Next one is in another couple of months. I’ve heard we’re doing Springsteen.
Summer Fun
It’s going to be close to 114 frickin’ degrees today and I’ve got a bucket-full of ice cold water balloons. Who’s next?
Remember When?
I swear, gas prices have got me driving like a senior citizen. I used to drive around 5-10 miles an hour over the speed limit. Now I’m all the way to the right-hand side, driving 10 miles under the limit, trying to get the most mpg’s.
What’s that? You say you’re hot and want to turn on the air conditioning? Fuhgetaboutit!
And since we’re talking about driving, today is July 1st and a new law has taken effect here in So. Cal.. It is now against the law to talk on your cell phone while driving. If you have a hands-free device, then you’re safe. But no more holding your phone up to your ear while you attempt to navigate the freeways, find a radio station, brush your hair, eat lunch, or read.
Oh, but if you want to dial your phone, or text someone, that’s ok. Just no talkie.
How much sense does that make?
Dreams
Did you ever have a dream?
And no, I’m not talking about the obvious one where you’re about do something nasty with Johnny Depp or… take your pick.
I’m talking about having something in the back of your mind that you’ve always wanted to do or be but never dared or had the opportunity to do something about it. Maybe you thought it was silly or impractical. Maybe your parents told you that was something you never could/would ever achieve. Although my parents never outright denied me of it, I wanted to be the next John Bonham.
It was just understood that I should do something worthwhile, meaningful, practical. Logical. And that’s what I did.
But deep in my heart I was meant to be a drummer. I have never felt more at ease than when I’m playing to my favorite music. It is my escape. My vacation. It’s how I keep my balance. I must have been some sort of tribal drummer in a past life. Anyway. Several months ago a mom from my son’s baseball team asked me if I played drums (I was wearing a Zildjian shirt at the time). Then she asked if I would be interested in playing with the band at her church. I was hesitant at first. A church band? Me?
And I say that because I was never raised with religion. But I was brought up to know the difference between right and wrong. And I’m a big fan of the Golden Rule. Hell, Gosh my son, per his mother’s wish, went to catholic school up until this past year. So I get it. ‘Nuf said.
At first, I was thinking to myself, well… I don’t know. The music has to be lame. All organs and choirs and shit. When do the drums kick in? But come to find out, church has gone multi-media. They not only have the live band but a kickin’ 80” video screen for spiritual videos and lyrics to the songs they’re singing. That’s a good thing because as long as I’ve been practicing/playing, I’ve never, well almost never, performed in front of an audience. It’s always been more of a serious hobby than anything else. So I’m happy to not be the center of attention. But after a few rehearsals, and just a few days to learn a dozen songs I’ve never heard before, I played two Sundays in a row, and it felt fucking (‘scuse me Lord) great! I have to say that the music isn’t bad. Mostly cover tunes of modern/semi-modern Christian rock tunes. The lyrics… well… typical. On one of the songs the lyric was “God is awesome”. That is so 80’s. Yeah, I guess he’s tubular and rad too. If we were to translate it to the parlance of our times I guess God would be wicked sick. Umm…I don’t think the parishioners are ready for that.
All in all I’m loving every minute of it. To be finally playing with a group of musicians, real musicians, is my dream come true. And who knows? Maybe I’ll earn some major points with the Big Guy along the way.
But not to worry. I’m always going to the beer-drinkin’, pot-smokin’, but completely responsible, red-blooded California dude I’ve always been. And as a bonus, the church band is a rotating line-up of local musicians from different bands, so the exposure…c’mon,… it’s only a matter of time before I’m the next Tommy Lee. I’ve got the package. Ha!
Although, if I had my way, the set list would be the following:
Opening: Holy Diver – Dio
Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath – Black Sabbath
Judas Priest medley of tunes – The Sinner, Devil’s Child, Hell Patrol…etc.
Heaven and Hell – Sabbath w/Dio
Stairway To Heaven – Zep
Encore: God Of Thunder – Kiss
But that’s just me.
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