Much like Victoria's Secret has their Semi-Annual sale, I post my semi-annual blog (Editing Note: upon further review it was found that I have not posted in 11 months...my bad). There has been a lot happening over the last six (11) months. I'll provide a rundown and then some analysis, much as is my style.
Kerri is having a baby. Yes, we are going to be parents. I want to apologize in advance to my parents for all the bad things I've ever done because I'm fairly certain they'll happen to Kerri and me too.
Kerri is due in May, so she's halfway there already. We get to find out the gender soon, at which time we can stop calling it "it." I'm looking forward to feeling the first kicks on the outside.
We are buying a house. I cannot be completely comfortable until the actual settlement date, but let me tell you, it is a much nicer house than we ever thought we would be able to find at the beginning of this process. It has been quite the learning experience in many ways, and while it will continue to be a learning experience, it will be ours to make our own. That is the best part.
This house has a finished attic, which is going to be my practice space/studio. I cannot explain how unbelievably excited I am to have a real practice space of MY OWN for the first time in many many years. No more practicing with fear of people listening to my mistakes and whistling/humming/snorting/belching/farting/singing/etc everything that I play. The only other thing that I wish is that I could make the space exactly like the Pit at A-B, but I don't think I could afford enough concrete and laminate to make that happen. That is ok.
I don't think this year I'm going to do any of the year-end evaluation of myself. I continue to do better in life and will continue in the coming year. In the coming years my goal is to be a great father and a loving husband and get back to being a productive musician. I think those are measurable and attainable goals.
I have to go to work now, so until next year...
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Friday, December 16, 2011
New Year's Resolution
Every year comes and goes, and it seems like in the last couple of years my life has completely transformed from being one where I go from job to job trying to figure out how to land consistent work to one where I now have a settled life. Would you think I would enjoy having that kind of predictable lifestyle? Well, I do because I can count on steady income and not have to worry where the next paycheck is coming from. However, my new year's resolution is going to be more about fine-tuning my life and getting back to where I once was as a musician.
Over the last year I have had to sacrifice a LOT musically in order to further myself in the workplace. Living in places for so long now without any shot at consistent practice time has obliterated what I used to have as a player. I have gained tremendous endurance from playing in the wedding band, but all the skill and finesse I used to have is in reserve until I force myself to work it back up for, say, Christmas or Easter. My New Year's Resolution includes forcing myself to practice on a daily basis even if it has to be on my shitty practice mute so people in the apartments beside me don't complain. I need to get back to playing music full-time.
Also, in the last year, I have been extremely inactive and feel my health is in serious decline relative to what it once was. There's really no excuse there - I just turned into a lazy slob. I need to make a serious commitment to maintaining physical fitness so I don't feel like a slumbering 40-something when I'm still years away from 30. My gut is developing; I'm always sore, and I never feel fully awake even with a massive dose of caffeine.
Along with resuming physical activity I need to eat better. I really can't say that I eat better than I did last year because I went from eating tons of fast food on the road in the truck and kind of burning it off by loading/unloading tables and chairs to eating way less healthy food overall at any given time. Again, that's my fault because I'm not proactive and when I come home at 6 every night, Kerri has been home for 2 hours already and I don't feel like making anything. It stems from an unhealthy lifestyle that causes me to be drained after sitting in front of a stupid computer screen for 8 1/2 hours every day.
Finally, my ultimate New Year's resolution is to climb my way up, over, and around the corporate ladder until I find a job within the company where I work that doesn't force me to deal directly with customers, doesn't have a work schedule that is completely inconvenient for what I want to do in life, and allows me energy when I get home from work. I want to be productive in AND out of the workplace. Where I am now requires a lot of planning of conservation of energy, even if I did have a stellar lifestyle. I work with a guy who is a fitness machine, and even he is ready to crash at the end of every day. Can't complain about the benefits and the pay relative to what we do, but it's killing me. I'm stuck for the next 4 months until I've been full-time for a year. In the words of Bart Scott - "Can't wait."
That's it. I got up to get a drink of water, and it turned into my spilling my New Year's resolutions onto this page. The way my blogs have been spaced out recently, it may be that I don't blog again until next New Year's Resolutions are ready to be made. Either way, until next time...
Over the last year I have had to sacrifice a LOT musically in order to further myself in the workplace. Living in places for so long now without any shot at consistent practice time has obliterated what I used to have as a player. I have gained tremendous endurance from playing in the wedding band, but all the skill and finesse I used to have is in reserve until I force myself to work it back up for, say, Christmas or Easter. My New Year's Resolution includes forcing myself to practice on a daily basis even if it has to be on my shitty practice mute so people in the apartments beside me don't complain. I need to get back to playing music full-time.
Also, in the last year, I have been extremely inactive and feel my health is in serious decline relative to what it once was. There's really no excuse there - I just turned into a lazy slob. I need to make a serious commitment to maintaining physical fitness so I don't feel like a slumbering 40-something when I'm still years away from 30. My gut is developing; I'm always sore, and I never feel fully awake even with a massive dose of caffeine.
Along with resuming physical activity I need to eat better. I really can't say that I eat better than I did last year because I went from eating tons of fast food on the road in the truck and kind of burning it off by loading/unloading tables and chairs to eating way less healthy food overall at any given time. Again, that's my fault because I'm not proactive and when I come home at 6 every night, Kerri has been home for 2 hours already and I don't feel like making anything. It stems from an unhealthy lifestyle that causes me to be drained after sitting in front of a stupid computer screen for 8 1/2 hours every day.
Finally, my ultimate New Year's resolution is to climb my way up, over, and around the corporate ladder until I find a job within the company where I work that doesn't force me to deal directly with customers, doesn't have a work schedule that is completely inconvenient for what I want to do in life, and allows me energy when I get home from work. I want to be productive in AND out of the workplace. Where I am now requires a lot of planning of conservation of energy, even if I did have a stellar lifestyle. I work with a guy who is a fitness machine, and even he is ready to crash at the end of every day. Can't complain about the benefits and the pay relative to what we do, but it's killing me. I'm stuck for the next 4 months until I've been full-time for a year. In the words of Bart Scott - "Can't wait."
That's it. I got up to get a drink of water, and it turned into my spilling my New Year's resolutions onto this page. The way my blogs have been spaced out recently, it may be that I don't blog again until next New Year's Resolutions are ready to be made. Either way, until next time...
Sunday, July 3, 2011
AMERICA DAY!!!
I'm not a big fan of most holidays. I'm not a fan of Christmas because, while I'm not religious, I can't stand how Santa became more important than Jesus CHRIST(mas). I don't like Easter so much because of the Easter Bunny (again, another holiday in which J has been overshadowed by a being with white, fluffy hair - I detect a pattern here). I don't really like Valentine's Day, Presidents' Day, or even Halloween so much - more made-up holidays.
My favorite holidays are the ones that still purport their original intent. My number one favorite holiday is actually Thanksgiving, but the one I appreciate the most is July 4. I love AMERICA DAY!!! I'm not the most patriotic person when it comes to outpouring my love of America, but I do love MY country and appreciate its origins and history. For every American, this is your country, so please take care of it and enjoy all that it gives you.
Enough of my red, white, and blue ramble - it's on to the business...
Kerri and I have been working feverishly on making our apartment a comfortable home for the next couple of years. So far, we've bought two rooms' worth of furniture, a giant TV and stand/mount, and have painted two rooms, put a few pictures and our degrees up, and gotten rid of a TON of unnecessary clutter - don't worry we didn't just throw it away. It'll be used by various siblings.
We also have a completely stocked kitchen full of utensils, dinnerware, appliances, cutlery, water filtration systems, and cookware. Our wedding shower was last weekend, and we never expected that after all the ripping of the wrapping paper was over, the only thing we didn't get was a cheese grater and a Jack LaLanne juicer. Seriously, everything that we asked for is in our kitchen. The most exciting part was opening the toaster from my sister and realizing that, FINALLY, we could eat the two giant boxes of waffles we bought at BJs in May.
Kerri has discovered that we have a little plot for a garden, and within a week of being here, she planted the following: tomatoes, catnip, zucchini, squash, broccoli, green beans, cucumbers, mint, basil, oregano, cilantro, jalapeno peppers, and red chilis. The plant life is outrageous, and the tomato plants are as tall as I am after a month of growing. She has already harvested some green beans and a couple of tomatoes from a plant her mom gave us. Today, she took a couple of catnip leaves and gave them to the cats. They are currently doing laps around the apartment.
Hank and Ralph love this place. They don't have to deal with dogs or Ashley anymore. Hank doesn't get to be outside anymore, but that's ok because he punishes Ralph. They kill the bugs that get in the apartment, and they try to steal green beans from our bowl. It took them no time to get used to this place.
Bottom line is that we have 0 complaints about this place. We are finally independent and living on our own. We have been lucky to get everything we asked for, and this space is becoming what we want it to be. Next time I blog will probably be around wedding time, so expect some weird ramblings for that one.
Until then...
My favorite holidays are the ones that still purport their original intent. My number one favorite holiday is actually Thanksgiving, but the one I appreciate the most is July 4. I love AMERICA DAY!!! I'm not the most patriotic person when it comes to outpouring my love of America, but I do love MY country and appreciate its origins and history. For every American, this is your country, so please take care of it and enjoy all that it gives you.
Enough of my red, white, and blue ramble - it's on to the business...
Kerri and I have been working feverishly on making our apartment a comfortable home for the next couple of years. So far, we've bought two rooms' worth of furniture, a giant TV and stand/mount, and have painted two rooms, put a few pictures and our degrees up, and gotten rid of a TON of unnecessary clutter - don't worry we didn't just throw it away. It'll be used by various siblings.
We also have a completely stocked kitchen full of utensils, dinnerware, appliances, cutlery, water filtration systems, and cookware. Our wedding shower was last weekend, and we never expected that after all the ripping of the wrapping paper was over, the only thing we didn't get was a cheese grater and a Jack LaLanne juicer. Seriously, everything that we asked for is in our kitchen. The most exciting part was opening the toaster from my sister and realizing that, FINALLY, we could eat the two giant boxes of waffles we bought at BJs in May.
Kerri has discovered that we have a little plot for a garden, and within a week of being here, she planted the following: tomatoes, catnip, zucchini, squash, broccoli, green beans, cucumbers, mint, basil, oregano, cilantro, jalapeno peppers, and red chilis. The plant life is outrageous, and the tomato plants are as tall as I am after a month of growing. She has already harvested some green beans and a couple of tomatoes from a plant her mom gave us. Today, she took a couple of catnip leaves and gave them to the cats. They are currently doing laps around the apartment.
Hank and Ralph love this place. They don't have to deal with dogs or Ashley anymore. Hank doesn't get to be outside anymore, but that's ok because he punishes Ralph. They kill the bugs that get in the apartment, and they try to steal green beans from our bowl. It took them no time to get used to this place.
Bottom line is that we have 0 complaints about this place. We are finally independent and living on our own. We have been lucky to get everything we asked for, and this space is becoming what we want it to be. Next time I blog will probably be around wedding time, so expect some weird ramblings for that one.
Until then...
Friday, May 20, 2011
We're MOVING
Tomorrow is the big day. Kerri and I are moving to Conshohocken just like we said we would a few very short months ago. We are going to finish packing tonight and should be into the new apartment before I head to VA for a wedding gig with MLA. It's going to be the longest day of my life because 1) It's a long trip, and 2) I want to get back to the apartment to help arrange it. Sunday is going to be awesome.
We got a HUGE tv. It might be too big, but it was a sweet deal, and you can buy much smaller for twice the price. Best Buy has a great deal on the new Panasonic Viera 50" Plasma. They also had a 42" 3-D tv, but 3-D sucks unless you're watching Pixar movies. We got a tv stand for it that has a 3-in-1 ground stand, wall-mount extension, and the wall mount can be separated from the ground stand. It's amazing, and the wall mount is fully mobile.
We have to get a new couch/seating because Ashley Gatti (the fattest kitty in the universe - Bella is a close 2nd) pissed all over the couch we were going to take. It was a pretty ok couch for being around a long time (I don't really wanna say old because it's not completely tattered or anything). Anyway, now we are going to follow our dream of getting dual recliners with cup holders and a table so we will never have to get our fat asses up off the chair ever again.
Wedding planning is going smoothly thanks to Kerri busting her ass while she was at home. She has since started her new job - finally - and cannot make planning a full-time job, so I will be picking up my slack once we move and are comfortable.
Southwork is playing at Johnny Brenda's next weekend in Fishtown. It's THE place to see live music in Philadelphia, especially a group of strapping young lads with oodles of musical piss and vinegar like ourselves. It's $8 (I think...go to johnnybrendas.com to find out for yourself), and you can buy them at the door. If you're in the area next weekend, please please please come out and support us. It's good music (I usually hate new music), and you will dance to exhaustion.
Main Line Affair is playing on June 25 and August 13 at McGillicuddy's in Delaware County. Go to MLA's facebook page to get more info about times. It is FREE, and you will be treated to hours of the best music of the last 40 years, including today's favorites. Again, it's basically a FREE jukebox for about 4 hours - you'd normally have to pay hundreds to get that treatment at a bar.
That's it for now. I have to go back to work and kill my eyes. I like the job and can't really complain except for that part...it's part of the biz, I guess. Next time I write, I'll be nestled under a blanket, drinking beer, and watching my FAT 50" plasma tv in Conshy.
Later.
We got a HUGE tv. It might be too big, but it was a sweet deal, and you can buy much smaller for twice the price. Best Buy has a great deal on the new Panasonic Viera 50" Plasma. They also had a 42" 3-D tv, but 3-D sucks unless you're watching Pixar movies. We got a tv stand for it that has a 3-in-1 ground stand, wall-mount extension, and the wall mount can be separated from the ground stand. It's amazing, and the wall mount is fully mobile.
We have to get a new couch/seating because Ashley Gatti (the fattest kitty in the universe - Bella is a close 2nd) pissed all over the couch we were going to take. It was a pretty ok couch for being around a long time (I don't really wanna say old because it's not completely tattered or anything). Anyway, now we are going to follow our dream of getting dual recliners with cup holders and a table so we will never have to get our fat asses up off the chair ever again.
Wedding planning is going smoothly thanks to Kerri busting her ass while she was at home. She has since started her new job - finally - and cannot make planning a full-time job, so I will be picking up my slack once we move and are comfortable.
Southwork is playing at Johnny Brenda's next weekend in Fishtown. It's THE place to see live music in Philadelphia, especially a group of strapping young lads with oodles of musical piss and vinegar like ourselves. It's $8 (I think...go to johnnybrendas.com to find out for yourself), and you can buy them at the door. If you're in the area next weekend, please please please come out and support us. It's good music (I usually hate new music), and you will dance to exhaustion.
Main Line Affair is playing on June 25 and August 13 at McGillicuddy's in Delaware County. Go to MLA's facebook page to get more info about times. It is FREE, and you will be treated to hours of the best music of the last 40 years, including today's favorites. Again, it's basically a FREE jukebox for about 4 hours - you'd normally have to pay hundreds to get that treatment at a bar.
That's it for now. I have to go back to work and kill my eyes. I like the job and can't really complain except for that part...it's part of the biz, I guess. Next time I write, I'll be nestled under a blanket, drinking beer, and watching my FAT 50" plasma tv in Conshy.
Later.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
I can't believe it's already April
It seems like this blog has become more of a life-events update than anything. I should blog more and just spray random thoughts like some people in the world. Would anyone want to know my random thoughts? I shouldn't care because those who spew theirs probably don't care either. This sounds like I'm angry...I'm not at all. I'll move on.
So, again, lots of things happening. I'll keep it to the very large highlights. With MLA in relative hibernation for the winter months, I have been extremely busy with the new job, teaching, and playing with Southwork. I think it's an excellent balance, and it keeps me focused on the important things. I sprinkled in a couple trips to Pittsburgh to play with Panama Rock Machine again and, with them, mixed my first show ever...they don't have a sound guy, so I used my ear for something besides trying to tune my guitar (that was for you, Goldster).
First and foremost, KERRI GOT A JOB!!!! A real job. A grown-up, engineering job. Listen to this story. She went to an interview a few weeks ago for PennDOT in Allentown. In the process of getting lost, being 10 minutes late, the only girl there, and having a less than stellar interview (so she says), she got a call from a local concrete company telling her they want to interview her. How ironic. Ok, so she went to the local company's interview, and they loved her. She met the president and got a second interview there. She then met the leader of the lab she'd be working in. He liked her too. She thought she had it in the bag...
The next week, she got a call back from PennDOT telling her she had a second phone interview with them too. That phone interview was taken in her pajamas eating cereal in bed. She half-assed it not thinking she would get the job...she was wrong. The guys from the local company haven't called back, and she got a call a week later from PennDOT saying she got the job! Even better was that she was in the Top 3 out of 80 candidates!! That's my girl.
So now, we're just waiting to hear back from the local company if they want her to work for them, and she'll use PennDOT to try to get the best salary possible. Then if it's not good enough, she'll go with PennDOT. Either way, we're in the clear now and will be on our own in the next few months. It's exciting. We're looking at apartments today.
Southwork debuted last week to a SOLD OUT CROWD at Kung Fu Necktie in Fishtown. You can see some images and hear songs at www.southwork.net. Pay close attention to our schedule. It will be filling up quickly in the coming weeks.
Southwork also debuted under that name last night in New York at The Bitter End. This place is legendary, having played host to people like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, John Denver, Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, Bill Cosby, and George Carlin. It is right up there with CBGB's and other launching pads for future stars. Hopefully, we can follow their path. In any event, I'm there for the ride.
I've been sick for the last week straight. It sucks. Last Saturday was the day of the show, and I woke up feeling like garbage. I figured it would go away...nope...Sunday, Monday, Tuesday all came and went, and the worst was yet to come. I HATE missing work for any reason. When you get paid by the hour, obviously, less hours = less pay. Less pay = less happy. You get the picture. I missed Wednesday, Thursday, and part of Friday because of it. Nowww, I'm left with a massive cough and an even more massive sinus headache. Woe is me.
My P90X journey has taken a wild detour back to mediocrity. Being sick severely dampened my progress, and I have essentially gained nothing in two months now because of it. That's ok, though, because I'm scheduled to do some running events with Kerri. It's getting warm again (sorta), so now we can run outside again. Awesome.
I'm addicted to Goldeneye for Wii. Anyone else?
That's it. I'll write more later if I think about it.
Later.
So, again, lots of things happening. I'll keep it to the very large highlights. With MLA in relative hibernation for the winter months, I have been extremely busy with the new job, teaching, and playing with Southwork. I think it's an excellent balance, and it keeps me focused on the important things. I sprinkled in a couple trips to Pittsburgh to play with Panama Rock Machine again and, with them, mixed my first show ever...they don't have a sound guy, so I used my ear for something besides trying to tune my guitar (that was for you, Goldster).
First and foremost, KERRI GOT A JOB!!!! A real job. A grown-up, engineering job. Listen to this story. She went to an interview a few weeks ago for PennDOT in Allentown. In the process of getting lost, being 10 minutes late, the only girl there, and having a less than stellar interview (so she says), she got a call from a local concrete company telling her they want to interview her. How ironic. Ok, so she went to the local company's interview, and they loved her. She met the president and got a second interview there. She then met the leader of the lab she'd be working in. He liked her too. She thought she had it in the bag...
The next week, she got a call back from PennDOT telling her she had a second phone interview with them too. That phone interview was taken in her pajamas eating cereal in bed. She half-assed it not thinking she would get the job...she was wrong. The guys from the local company haven't called back, and she got a call a week later from PennDOT saying she got the job! Even better was that she was in the Top 3 out of 80 candidates!! That's my girl.
So now, we're just waiting to hear back from the local company if they want her to work for them, and she'll use PennDOT to try to get the best salary possible. Then if it's not good enough, she'll go with PennDOT. Either way, we're in the clear now and will be on our own in the next few months. It's exciting. We're looking at apartments today.
Southwork debuted last week to a SOLD OUT CROWD at Kung Fu Necktie in Fishtown. You can see some images and hear songs at www.southwork.net. Pay close attention to our schedule. It will be filling up quickly in the coming weeks.
Southwork also debuted under that name last night in New York at The Bitter End. This place is legendary, having played host to people like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, John Denver, Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, Bill Cosby, and George Carlin. It is right up there with CBGB's and other launching pads for future stars. Hopefully, we can follow their path. In any event, I'm there for the ride.
I've been sick for the last week straight. It sucks. Last Saturday was the day of the show, and I woke up feeling like garbage. I figured it would go away...nope...Sunday, Monday, Tuesday all came and went, and the worst was yet to come. I HATE missing work for any reason. When you get paid by the hour, obviously, less hours = less pay. Less pay = less happy. You get the picture. I missed Wednesday, Thursday, and part of Friday because of it. Nowww, I'm left with a massive cough and an even more massive sinus headache. Woe is me.
My P90X journey has taken a wild detour back to mediocrity. Being sick severely dampened my progress, and I have essentially gained nothing in two months now because of it. That's ok, though, because I'm scheduled to do some running events with Kerri. It's getting warm again (sorta), so now we can run outside again. Awesome.
I'm addicted to Goldeneye for Wii. Anyone else?
That's it. I'll write more later if I think about it.
Later.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Busy Busy Busy
As always, my absence is for a reason. This time is due to lots of travel, work, and just a need to not over-expose myself to my loyal readers. In late January I started a new job, and I have been constantly moving and shaking, putting myself in a better position to be successful. Kerri is also moving and shaking, but you wouldn't know it because she DOESN'T EVER BLOG ANYMORE!!!!
Let's begin, shall we?
I was asked by Howard of MLA in January to come help out at his company by plugging numbers in and such. I started in late-January down in beautiful downtown Bala Cynwyd, which, ironically enough, is very (like 100 feet away from me) close to 97.5 the Fanatic. This is a cool job for me for various reasons. While it has become a grind already, it's still a job where I can feel just like the rest of middle America where I have to commute an hour each way, work 8:30-5 Monday through Friday, get weekends off, drink coffee all day, sit at in a cube, and work with a computer the whole time. My jobs have consisted of moving very heavy things all day, making pizzas, catering, waiting on people, driving all day (I actually liked that part), assembling sandwiches, assembling book orders, and working at McDonald's. I feel normal now.
Kerri is also close to getting a job. She had an interview last week with a company out of Fort Washington, which is great because we want to live in that general location. She's also been applying for more jobs, so hopefully it'll happen soon. Also, hopefully she'll blog more. Lame.
I joined another band called Southwork, which is based out of South Philly. It's a very cool sound...late 60s meets funk meets ska meets pop rock. It's a 7-piece with horns added when needed. It's not a lot of time I'm investing, and I can be a part of an awesome project that will hopefully turn into something really big at least here in the mid-Atlantic region.
MLA had a fantastic showcase a couple weeks ago in Conshohocken. We had 3 brides-to-be (and Kerri) show up. One is already booked, and we're trying to win the others over - looking very favorably so far.
I'm looking to start taking guitar lessons to clean up/fill in the gaps in my playing so I can start teaching with confidence. This isn't like trumpet where I know what I can do and know what needs to be taught. I do know a lot about my own guitar playing, but I need to get better with the basics. I'm a self-taught player of 15 years that knows how to play certain things, but I need to be more well-rounded, so hopefully this will bring me up to speed and may be the beginning of real growth as a serious guitarist.
Finally, I've been very serious about P90X again. I did it two years ago, and it was the best fitness decision of my life. I was ripped and could run circles around my friends (and the Boy Wonder...hahahaha). This time my goal is to shed my quarter-life-crisis weight and figure out that I need to take care of myself much better than even two years ago. My metabolism isn't getting any faster if I sit on the couch eating and drinking all the time. I've been getting up at 5 every single morning to do the workouts to be out the door around 7-7:15. That's also part of my "being normal" thing...I have a set schedule. Here it is:
Monday
5 a.m. - do the X
7 a.m. - leave
8:30 a.m. - FINALLY make it to work
5 - leave work
6 lesson, 7 lesson, 8 lesson
9 make it home in time to pass out
Tuesday
same thing except get home at 7
Wednesday - home at 9
Thursday - home at 11 p.m.
Friday - early passout cuz I'm old
Granted all this doesn't happen every week. I do teach some students every two weeks, but still...too much driving...too much out til forever. It's ok, though, cuz once P90X is over, maintenance begins, and I don't have to get up at 5 every freaking morning...and I'll be ripped apart. Sounds like I'm complaining...nope...just 'splaining.
That's it for now kids...things are looking decent so far this year. It's certainly a hell of a lot better than last year at this time (minus the whole getting engaged thing - best decision I've ever made).
See ya next time.
Let's begin, shall we?
I was asked by Howard of MLA in January to come help out at his company by plugging numbers in and such. I started in late-January down in beautiful downtown Bala Cynwyd, which, ironically enough, is very (like 100 feet away from me) close to 97.5 the Fanatic. This is a cool job for me for various reasons. While it has become a grind already, it's still a job where I can feel just like the rest of middle America where I have to commute an hour each way, work 8:30-5 Monday through Friday, get weekends off, drink coffee all day, sit at in a cube, and work with a computer the whole time. My jobs have consisted of moving very heavy things all day, making pizzas, catering, waiting on people, driving all day (I actually liked that part), assembling sandwiches, assembling book orders, and working at McDonald's. I feel normal now.
Kerri is also close to getting a job. She had an interview last week with a company out of Fort Washington, which is great because we want to live in that general location. She's also been applying for more jobs, so hopefully it'll happen soon. Also, hopefully she'll blog more. Lame.
I joined another band called Southwork, which is based out of South Philly. It's a very cool sound...late 60s meets funk meets ska meets pop rock. It's a 7-piece with horns added when needed. It's not a lot of time I'm investing, and I can be a part of an awesome project that will hopefully turn into something really big at least here in the mid-Atlantic region.
MLA had a fantastic showcase a couple weeks ago in Conshohocken. We had 3 brides-to-be (and Kerri) show up. One is already booked, and we're trying to win the others over - looking very favorably so far.
I'm looking to start taking guitar lessons to clean up/fill in the gaps in my playing so I can start teaching with confidence. This isn't like trumpet where I know what I can do and know what needs to be taught. I do know a lot about my own guitar playing, but I need to get better with the basics. I'm a self-taught player of 15 years that knows how to play certain things, but I need to be more well-rounded, so hopefully this will bring me up to speed and may be the beginning of real growth as a serious guitarist.
Finally, I've been very serious about P90X again. I did it two years ago, and it was the best fitness decision of my life. I was ripped and could run circles around my friends (and the Boy Wonder...hahahaha). This time my goal is to shed my quarter-life-crisis weight and figure out that I need to take care of myself much better than even two years ago. My metabolism isn't getting any faster if I sit on the couch eating and drinking all the time. I've been getting up at 5 every single morning to do the workouts to be out the door around 7-7:15. That's also part of my "being normal" thing...I have a set schedule. Here it is:
Monday
5 a.m. - do the X
7 a.m. - leave
8:30 a.m. - FINALLY make it to work
5 - leave work
6 lesson, 7 lesson, 8 lesson
9 make it home in time to pass out
Tuesday
same thing except get home at 7
Wednesday - home at 9
Thursday - home at 11 p.m.
Friday - early passout cuz I'm old
Granted all this doesn't happen every week. I do teach some students every two weeks, but still...too much driving...too much out til forever. It's ok, though, cuz once P90X is over, maintenance begins, and I don't have to get up at 5 every freaking morning...and I'll be ripped apart. Sounds like I'm complaining...nope...just 'splaining.
That's it for now kids...things are looking decent so far this year. It's certainly a hell of a lot better than last year at this time (minus the whole getting engaged thing - best decision I've ever made).
See ya next time.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Good start to the new year
I'll get to the rest of what's on my mind in a minute, but I must first announce that I am creating a guitar teaching studio!!! If you or your friends/relatives/co-workers/etc. would like or know someone that would like to learn or become better at guitar, I am offering guitar lessons at a very reasonable price in my home. Lessons will be 30 minutes, and I have available times on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. All ages 6 and up are welcome. Now for the rest of the blog...
Lately, my new interest has been in learning how to sell. It doesn't matter what you sell, but if you are going to try to convince someone to invest in you or your product, you have to have the skills. I've bought a few self-help books in communication, sales, and effective organization. Kerri thinks I'm an idiot for buying them, but I feel they, if nothing else, are great reminders of things I might've been taught before but have forgotten in the last few years.
Parties and More and Main Line Affair are on hiatus right now for me. MLA has no scheduled gigs until our showcase in a couple weeks and then nothing until May. I have since starting working with an original band called Southwork that plays around the region, from Ohio all the way up to NYC. My first show with them is March 12 in Greenwich Village.
Howard of MLA has helped me with a temp position at his insurance company doing data entry stuff. This will actually be my first office job. I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm excited to start.
Finally, Panama Rock Machine is returning to Garage Door Saloon on February 12. Show is from 9-12, and there are alllllways a ton of specials, and they actually have some awesome pizza in the shop connected to the bar. We are premiering some new stuff like "F___ You" by Cee Lo Green. As always, you will puke with excitement - I promise.
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