| Mark's profileCult of FrogPhotosBlogLists |  Tools  Help |
|
July 23 LebanonI've just got back from the shisha place, my usual haunt late at night. Its odd to find a place usually so rowdy, to be so quiet. The reason? Lebanon. As much as I have had to witness over the years, with seeing friends, and coworkers lives destroyed by the problems of war, the news of late has been particularly ominous.
Cnn, Al Arabiya, Al Jazeera, all seem to be garnering to show the most gruesome, most horrifying pictures of the conflict. It is both good, and bad. For those of us who havent lost a loved one to this war yet, think yourselves lucky. You can look at the pictures dispassionately, and maybe just come out with the conclusion that you would never wish that on your worst enemy. For those who have lost friends, wives, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters. I feel for you. I also wish for you not to give in to the path of hate, though I hold out little hope that you can, as I dont think I could.
For myself, it brings back different memories, from when I have seen wars here before, both from just behind the front lines, and also at home, waiting for the bombs to fall, and rain their death indiscriminately on the population below. I hoped to never relive those again, but they come seemingly vivid in my dreams teh past few nights, denying me any rest, and plunging me back into the state of mind I was back then. It can be very hard to carry on with your daily life, having fun, working at mundane things, or just being at home, late at night by yourself, with it hanging over your head.
I was sat talking to some pilots earlier, talking about how emotional it was getting for them, trying to fly refugees out of the war zone, and back home. Most of them were military pilots tehmselves when they were younger, and as such, the feeling of being helpless to do anything other than to evacuate the people thay can is almost unbearable.
I hope it all stops soon, and we can concentrate on the survivors, and rebuilding their lives. In reality though, I feel it is about to escalate. Forgive me people, if when it does, I turn back to drink. July 15 New studioFinally! Have been trying to get back into teh blog for months now, ever since I had to patch a couple of security holes in my pc at home. But no luck. Have finally relented, and converted an old laptop so that I can leave said holes open, so I can access the thing, and update it. *Way to go Microsoft... not*
Anyhoo, things have been moving along quite a little in my tiny world. Have moved the studio... Twice, but now we are cosily into a new home, and after having spent a reasonable wedge retrofitting it, I am actually quite pleased. I dont dread being here at night now. (Not with the satellite Tv, broadband internet, the sofas, and music to keep me company... hehehe) Will upload some pics as soon as I have cleaned up, as I am still in the stage of removing things from teh boxes that they were in for two months... Yes, two months since I lost the first studio...
Begin flashback
It all started after I had spent a night awake at work, adn tehn had to go in teh next morning to try to repair the damage that one of our erstwhile 'managers' had done, by being a lazy bastard, and sitting on his arse when he should have been working. Basically,because he had screwed up, 6 months worth of projects wazs being held up, and the customer was justifiably pissed. Anyway, I walk in, straight into an argument that the two companies I work for are having. I can honestly say that the manager who caused the problem, was the same lazy bastard, and is still causing problems today. Probably why I am writing my resignation on teh other computer right now.
Anyhoo, before he caused a riot, and one was about to start, I solved the problem, by nobly giving up the space of my studio. No thanks, no appreciation, I was just told that it was a great idea that the manager had had. Asshole.
Same day, I rented the flat for the second studio, but it was temporary, for several reasons. 1, it was in the same building as the wankers I work for, and therefore, I had a feeling that they would call me into work when I was in leisure time, which happened once because they couldnt be arsed to lay a cable themselves, before I told them to fuck off, and left my phone with them, refusing to be on call ever again. Plus, the studio was on teh second floor, with no lift. Which I will tell you, is not where you want to haul gear up and down twice a week, espescially when the gear fills a van. Our band gear actually stayed in my van for the duration of studio 2, breaking the suspension at the back, but hey. company car, so dont care :P.
Enter studio 3, took more time finding this one. It has its own entrance, and space to store gear on teh ground floor, the studio being on the top floor. I finally have enough space for two sound areas, one sound booth, and one full recording studio, plus space to put the pc's that drive it all, my repair workshop, and even a space for a desk, and seating area for artistes... ?Yes, they like to sit and chill most the time, outside the recording booth. It also gives me an area so that I can screen to them footage that we have in progress.
All in all, very cool.
We're close to finalizing governmetn paperwork, so we should be finally good to go, before the end of the year. My dreams so close to being realized, I can taste it.
On other points, social life has dropped to zero, as all the time has been spent fixing studio, and other problems here, there, and everywhere. I managed to takt this past weekend off. Wow. two whole days in like months. But it felt good. I just need a beach, a beer, and a woman, adn I can really relax. Well, I guess two out of three wouldnt be bad.
If problems persist in adding stuff to this log, then am going to just move the site. will post here the new address if I do.
L8r...
Oh, btw. The Dixielanders are now three years old, have done over 100 gigs, have helped raise over 100,000 dinars for charity, and have played for thousands of people. For everyone out there who has stuck by our little idea, born on a beer mat, whilst very drunk. I thank you all.
For those of you who havent hired us yet. :P
March 25 Angry? I'm far beyond angryAbdul Rahman. Its a name that should ring a bell to all people across the world right now. A Man, who after 16 years in exile because of the soviets, and the Taliban, returned home, to find that he is condemned to die. Did he kill anyone? is he a serial rapist? No. It is because he decided to convert from Islam to Christianity.
And they are calling for his death. Even if released by the authorities, the muslim people have vowed to kill him. What a bigoted hated way to look at things. What should Christians do therefore when someone converts to Islam and is welcomed with open arms by these people. Should we kill them too? Or what about Burglary. Death. Crossing the road against the light. Death. Changing your political Beliefs. Death.
When I think of the number of times that I have defended these people from words, and other, more serious things, I wonder now if that was for nothing. I feel ashamed, stabbed in the back by the people I was trying to tell the world were not all bad people. And I'm angry.
I'm not religious. Yes, on paper I am a Christian, but I am not sure what I believe in my heart. It is a question I have never really examined. I am not angry because I am a Christian, and a fellow Christian is being persecuted for his beliefs. Abdul Rahman could be Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim, Pagan, or even worship false gods, and idols. But I wouldnt condemn him to death for it. If someone believes something deep in their heart, you will never change it with threats.
I believe now, that there is a war coming, and this time, it will be a holy war. Christian against muslim, and blood will be shed on every street, in every town in the world. Perhaps this is the beginning of the apocalypse. After all, a war like this will surely turn nuclear, as there are at least two nations in teh world in posession of those weapons, who have opposing beliefs.
Abdul Rahman will be the first casualty of many. So remember his name. Remember his face. Look at it. Study it, and then tell me that he should die. March 12 Light reliefOk, so I avent posted in a while. its getting to be more than a while, but hey. I am actually blogging sort of, I bought a voice recorder, and am talking to it at night. But until I find an audio blog thingy, it aint being posted up.
Newsfront wise. The Charity concert I was involved in, which you wont know about, because I was asked in the first week of January, wound up raising 65,000 BD for the Hope institute for the blind. Well, that was the figure at the start of the concert. No idea what it is right now. That buys them their new building and some other things as well, so it was a success. W00t!
Till then, thought would amuse with some jokes about my life for the past 3 months.
10 ways to realize you are working too hard.
1. You now have a TV, a computer, and a wardrobe in your car, to save those annoying trips home for changing clothes etc. You dont even know if the TV works.
2. Your landlord lives next door to you, but you havent paid your rent in three months.
3. Or your electricity, your telephone, your internet connection, and any of your loans.
4. You now have 4 important packages waiting for you, which you havent had the time to pick up. The place is open 14 hours a day.
5. You have stopped wearing a watch, because you are coming to the conclusion that time is a reality caused by a lack of work. Or is it sleep...
6. You have decided that buying new clothes is easier than cleaning your old ones. You still havent thrown your old ones out, and the pile is now four feet high, and is currently working on its secondary school entrance exams.
7. You hired someone to clean your house, and take care of 6, but they cant start till you make them a set of keys. That place is open 12 hours a day.
8. You seem to have entered a dimension where every day is a Monday.
9. You have driven to the wrong house 3 times because you forgot that you moved.
10. If they dont deliver, you dont eat.
11. Caffeine has now officially been classed as a food group
12. You are up to four packs of ciggarettes a day. Only problem is, you havent smoked in 6 years, and still cant remember. They are piling up next to the clothes.
13. You are convinced that there is an I in team... There is also an X, a Q, a Z and the number 7
14. You can no longer count to ten without the aid of a computer, or your fingers
15. Lists of ten things seem to be getting longer and longer.
16. You have eaten a years supply of aspirin in a month, and are working on a bulk buy discount.
17. You know where to find food, parts, and shisha at any time of day or night.
18 you keep writing things down to remember them, then forget where the pad is
19. You have booked your car for its last three services, but havent taken it in once. They are threatening to reposess it by force if it stays still long enough for them to locate it.
and for now, 20. You get 2 days off, so you can go watch a grand prix, and wind up working more, because you are unable to sleep unless its on a keyboard.
Enjoy joy.
February 11 Coming SoonWell, looks like I havent written for a while, which is pretty much true. Not really motivated to. Got whisked off after my Dubai trip to Japan, and things have been crazy since that. Am still sorting out my pics from there. Have never been to a place where I have wanted to see so much, and do so much, and accomplished so little. heh heh heh. Nevermind, am definitely going back. Basically, 2006 rocks thusfar. Am working with a couple of friends of mine to raise enough money through a charity concert to build a new wing for the Hope institute, so am pretty busy.
So, the Japan update, and Dubai Update will be here as soon as I can find the time to type em all in. photies n all. This one is just a post to the man upstairs mainly, thanking him for sparing a friend of mine. So Thanks. It means a lot to me. Am kinda running out of friends, and am too lazy to make new ones. December 30 Drive by postAh... Havent posted for a few days, mainly because every time i want to, I think that i should work instead on a review of 2005. Problem 1, Most of it occured in an alcoholic haze, so cant remember enough to fill one sentence. hehehe. just kidding.
Actually, there is too much to write about. Might get a chance to over the next few days. Was reading Rosies post, or whatever, questionaire thingie about the previous year. That might actually help I think, at least to find some starting points. Problem is, now, I gotta find it again *sighs*
Spent most of yesterday curled up on my sofa. Yeeees. My wonderfully fluffy, comfy sofa. New years resolution is to get the missing cushions replaced. I still would love to know how I have managed to lose cushions from my sofa. Its not like they are that small. But hey. I will find a way. And I need to re-cover it. find the same material, coz its about twenty years old now, and its now more of a yelow than a beige, which is what it started out as. Those, and of course, must continue working on music this year. Onward n upward.
So expect by January 6, to have broken some, if not all of these. Note to self, have already been doing nothing with music for a week, so think that ones already broke.
On a more wierd note, am going to be in Dubai for new years, V popped up yesterday, and invited me to go see her, so I figured, what the heck. Christmas was such a blow out that I might as well get blottoed in style somewhere else. But I have solved Christmas. hehehe. Went out today to get my present from me, to me, lots of love me. A PSP. okokok. I know, everyone is thinking geeeeeekville, but hey. its the first time i have bought a console that is new. I mean, not new, but one that is state of the art. And its my present, so go away, and leave me in my geeky paradise.
Speaking of which, am off to play it now.
M December 25 Aha! the blogs back upSomehow things werent working last night or this morning. Needless to say. wasnt in much of a state to type anything anyways.
The gig went well, suprisingly enough, even with a dodgy clarinet, and my forgetting the words to practically everything that I had to sing. The place was packed out, and stayed that way till just after we finished. So pretty good morning. Needless to say, went back to play with Max, Jojo, adn Ali later on for an evening session, which was pretty hot as well, and much better for me, as teh pressure was off me to have to perform as the sole front liner, so to speak.
Spoke to Dave earlier on today, and he says is having his pace maker fitted tomorrow AM. Perhaps it will improve his tempo keeping. hehehe. What a christmas present eh?
Anyhoo. its late, and I still have work to do, getting stuff ready for Max before he goes tonight.
For those of you who celebrate it, Melly Melly Clistmas.
And for those who dont. Have a great day being a humbug like me.
Speaking of crimbo, went out earlier to try to find self a christmas present, even though this is perhaps one of my least favourite times of the year, and yes, thst is because I'm single. Though come to think of it, wasnt particularly partial to it when I wasnt either. Guess it just doesnt mean much to me, and all the nauseating present giving, surface only niceness really grates on my nerves, with of course the obligatory ho ho ho. Anyhoo, back to the point, I came back with bupkiss. Absolutely nothing interested me enough to get. So guess I'm a cheap date this year.
Will upload some photos from the gig, adn mayeb, if I find something I like, some audio/video too. December 23 The night before the gigWell, the appropriate word would be kakking myself. After having spent all day in the studio, still not sure whether I can actually pull this off. But only tomorrow will see. Heard from Dave's wife that he is doing well, but that he could be out of commission for a long time. 6 months or more. So tomorrow will be the be all or end all for the band. Its a lot of weight on my shoulders.
So, am praying to all the jazz gods. Louis, give me fingers of lightning, and tones of steel, Sidney, make my playing sure, and true, and Gordon, please watch over our little gig tomorrow, and bring me good luck. May Dave get well, and tomorrow go well.
Am off to get plastered. Nothing else I can do really. December 22 Goooooog morning Vietnam!Its 0700, the o for oooh my god its early. hehehe. just kidding. Well, there goes my day of watching all 6 star wars films back to back. Yeah, I know, very geekish. But have to do it once at least during my holiday. Got to fly back to the studio, and start panicking about the other two sets.
What a day!Man, you have days, and then days. Yesterday wasnt bad. spent most of it chilling before got informed that the family had no money for christmas, so we needed to stump up. Managed to donate a hundred quid, even though that leaves me with absolutely nothing but the money I make from playing till the end of the month. So got a bit stressed. But that wouldnt normally be a problem unless, you have a day like to day on top of it.
Heres something I didnt post earlier.
"I cant keep still, my hands are shaking. I'm hot, I'm cold, and I'm moving uncomfortably in my seat every few seconds. Maybe its a bad nicotine rush, yeah, those can happen. But I cant stay here. I'm supposed to be going out for dinner later on, am supposed to be onstage with Max at nine, but I dont think I can do any of that. My heart is pounding so much, I feel I have to get out of here.
I pay, start my car, and head hurriedly wotard the flat. Nothing is happening fast enough. The car isnt unlocking fast enough, the seatbelt seems to be jammed. the wallet in my pocket feels too big, the house keys jutting into my side painfully, and theres traffic everywhere I turn. Panicking I open the window, and try to relax in the breeze.
It isnt working. After what feels like an eternity, I mean, how long can it take to drive down one road? I reach home, and almost scurry from the car. I'm feeling so clumsy. I cant get the book into my bag, cant open the lock. I practically run up the four flights of stairs to my flar, open the door, and then, to add to my frustrations, it isnt closing fast enough. The auto closer resists my attempts to make it close faster. I run to my room, turn on the AC, and sit in its breeze. Start up my computer, but almost immediately, have to get up, and pace around the flat. I cant seem to sit still, waiting for it to load. Everything seems too clear today. My memories are too near the surface. I need to sit quietly, and organize my thoughts if I am going to get through tonight.
Maybe its just a small panick attack, because of my nightmare last night coming back. Maybe its just a bad reaction to my shisha. I dont know, but I have to sit. Calm, comfortable surroundings. Sat in the A/c's comforting breeze, in my warm sofa. I try to relax. Resist the temptation to get up, and rush around. Its been a while since I've had one of these, lets hope it goes away quickly, and doesnt come back."
You may ask why I write stuf like that down. Its a long story, but basically, I am experimenting with putting whats in my had on paper, for other reasons, so that goes with the good, and bad, hand in hand. And why panic because my memory seems to be there. You wouldnt understand. Aaaanyhooo
So now, 3 hours later, its gotten worse. Didnt go to dinner, as I had a message from Dave, whilst I was trying to chill down to say that he had had some sort of heart trouble, and was in hospital. Called, to find it was his missus who had sent the message, and that Dave will be there for days. After what happened to the band when Gordon got ill, I just couldnt bring myself to tell them, but it leaves me in the shitter big style. You see, Dave's the front line of the band, so to speak, and I am support. Only, now, I am front line for Friday. I think the operative word is bugger.
So, I rushed down to Tubli, to the studio, to figure out which numbers I could lead on, without too much showing through, and after three hours, had managed to do one sets worth. Standard stuff, Bourbon st, sentimental Journey, Hushabye (Which is pretty much my favourite song of all time when it goes right), and some others. But my lip was flagging. God knows how I am gonna manage Fridays 3 and a half hour marathon.
My body feels like it used to after a hard day on booze, and dope. I did go to play with Max earlier on, though right now, am regretting it, because my already overstretched lip must have burst or something, because I was spitting blood, and have done all down the inside of the clarinet. (If anyone who is reading this can give me tips on how to get it off of a bass clarinet inside (Ebonite, not resonite), let me know. the last time I spat Fosters down it for a gimick during a song, I had to send the bloody thing to Germany to get repaired, as it smelt like a brewery. Not to mention the fact that it will make my lip weaker tomorrow, when I have to practice basically all day, and then am playing with Max again tomorrow night, and finally Friday. Yeeshk. Torture I hear you say. Yup.
But all in all, playing with Max was what I needed tonight. It allowed me to switch off, and just relax. Something I rarely get the chance to with my own band. And I have to say, he is one of the best players I have ever played with. I even got really smug tonight, when he introduced me as the best Bass Clar player he had played with. Its nice to get compliments like that from people you really admire. We were reminiscing that it has been two years since Jojo, Max, Dave, and myself first played together. And though Dave doesnt come down to play anymore, the magic is still there. One song Georgia, which was on my mind, as I had done a recording for Sue to try the vocals for in the UK, went so well, we were playing it for ten minutes or so. Tis too coooool.
Anyhoo, his smugness is now off to bed before the panic sets in tomorrow.
December 20 Band stuffHad our usual band practice tonight. Finally put the new skins on the drums that it has needed for a couple of months now. It was not he expense, just the fact that theres two shops where you can get them, and they are both really difficult to get to. Sent someone else to pick them up in the end. Boy did it make a big difference. Dont let anyone tell you that its the wood that maked the drums. I mean sure, no wood, no drums. But good skins on crappy wood still makes a reasonable sound.
We were practicing numbers for out last December gig on the 23rd. Have been offered others, but its too much what with teh rest of the guys having families and stuff like that to deal with. We were trying to add a couple of Christmassy numbers, just as a festive thingy. Not mcuh we could choose from because of the lineup available, but settled on Blooo bloo bloo blooooo Christimas, Rudolf, and Frosty the barman. We were considering a Chris de burgh number. Not that I have anything against teh man. I actually liked a lot of his music, but teh only guy in teh band who can sing up to his range is me, and well. I just dont do that kind of stuff that well, unless its just me, and a guitar. So that rules that one out basically.
On a plus note, have at least had a good response from the other guys in splitting up the duties. Not that I gave them much choice in the matter. Next gig, I'm just gonna take my stuff, and a couple of mikes. The drums and other gear will be brought by teh people who actually use them, instead of the mule (Aka me.) Makes it feel a little better to be doing the next gig, but am still unsure of how its gonna pan out long term.
On another plus note. Maxima (One of the guys I play with in the clubs occasionally, and pretty much the best tenor sax player I ahve ever heard) said that he's up for Friday, so its gonna be a blast.
Other than that, pretty boring day. Just being Veggie the vegetable. Put the chevy back in the garage, will drive the company car for a few days, give it a bit of mileage to make it look like I drive the thing. December 18 Ooh. Second Entry today. must be boredWell, the title is right. Am a little bored. not enough to wish being back at work, but enough to share with you a laugh I had this morning.
Someone had tried to steal my car during the night... Bwuuu hahahhahaa. Firstly, its a 1983 Chevy that looks like its held together by the rust. OK, if people have seen it, theyll know that under the bonnet its anything but old, but still. This is a car that you cant lock, adn you dont need a key to start.
And someone tried to steal it. Get the key word there? Tried. They couldnt get it started. Man thats just too funny. I would have had a laugh with the guy trying to steal it, honest (All the while checking that the baseball bat was well concealed behind my back) but they were gone by the time I got downstrairs.
Ho hum.
On another note, tidied the flat today. One of the nice things about living away from home is that you can do things how you want, when you want. Ok, I live with my brother, but both of us have opposite lifestyles, so we basically run into one another about once a month, at best. But I have tidied the flat. heh heh heh. So the furniture is how I like it, and I know he is too lazy to change it around. Victory!
Ooh. and the pic that I was on about earlier, found it. so here it is. If you look closely, you can see the bar I was heading for too :D Aboot MeJust logged in today and noticed some comments from people from around the world. Yaay, fans! Not that I'm not used to em or anything, being in a band n all. *cough cough* But so people know, heres a little background about me.
I'm English. I think.. (Ok, you can stop reading now, and go on to some other pages that are more interesting) but after beign born, my family moved back out to the middle east. I think i was 3 months, or 3 years old. Not sure which. Anyhoo, so I spent my little years in Saudi, and aparently, could spekka da arabic. which is amazing, as now, I wouldnt know a kuss umuk from a sallam alikum. (You'd have to speak it to know, but ones an insult about your mother).
So, when I got to erm... nine I think. Maybe before, my first attempt at going back, and assimilating started. It lasted about 4 months. I had this penchant for being bullied, then bullying back, and that somehow didnt go down too well in a posh school, so got shipped back out again, this time to Bahrain. A Small island, in the gulf, within shelling distance of practically everybody, whose primary export is corruption.
And before Public Security come to break down my door, I know it, you know it, the whole planet knows it, and I'm not going to harp on about it, so leave me alone (For once).
Anyhoo. Went to school here, then left for college in the UK again. Got into some serious trouble, then came back. Got bored, wernt back, tended bar, got into a fight, came back, lost job, went back, got job came back. Man its like I'm a freakin yoyo. Anyways. long and short of it is that this is my home.
Done some wierd things in my time, including teaching at a university during Gulf war II, The search for more oil (and a second term). I've run a company, had money, lost money, nearly had a family (Shudders at the thought) and generally written off more cars than the average Iraqi police department. For those Americans out there, please try to say iraq, nor Ayeraq. One is a country, the other is a breast enhancement by Apple that plays your favourite tunes so you can enjoy sex with practically anyone.
Okokok, back to the music. So When i was young you had to learn to play something. So I did,a recorder. Then when I went to middle school, recorders werent cool, so I decided to play a trumpet. Partly because it was cool, mostly because everyone else was playing a clarinet, and trumpet was heavier weaponry if you got into a fight. (If you dont beleive me, ask St Chris's school who probably still have my first one.) Anyhoo. Speaking of school, I had to stop playing. I was a basketball fan, and one day tried to stop a dunk with my face. not a pretty sight, and it basically put the kybosh on playing after having to have some surgery on mah nose, and it going wrong. But thats a long, and gruesome story, best told in graphic detail later. I still have the jar... Mwuuuu hahahaahha
So what do I do. You have to play something to pass. So I sold out. I decided to play bass for a grunge band. Got into it, and at a couple of gigs (High school thingies, that suck when you look back at them) went wireless, and danced in amongst the crowd with dar bass.
Left school, got bored. All the time, self teaching on guitar, and playing diddly. Then crashed my bike in 1999, or 2000, and put a nine inch crack in my skull. Its pretty cool, and guaranteed to gross people out :D. So wondered around a little, having a few problems here and there, not the least beign the fact that I had killed some poor guy when I crashed. And basically hit the spiral of erm... well doom. I spent two years in a bar. which is pretty useful, you have the ammunition of every one liner you have ever heard made a joke out of, you become the joke for others, and even find some that noone has ever heard of. But I had class. It WAS a dancing club. and the ladies danced eeeeevery night. huwwwaaah!
Anyhoo. Got into doing photography, and that led to doing photos, then sound and lights for gigs, as I had the mind to get it right, and get it right quickly. One night, Dave shows up with his jazz band, and by the time they start, am so arseholed, that when I spot a prop trumpet lying on stage, pick it up, try it, and get up and play with them. Good thing for me that Gordon was sitting down, as he would have probably killed me.
The rest is history. I play in a Jazz, R&B band. And I play a lot of stuff. Guitar, Banjo, Sax, Horns, Bones, Bass, drums. Just whatever I feel like on the night. I dont need no memory, dont need no music, noone asks me my life story, I just play with my band, or travel to a club or two, and play with whoever is there. I've played a loooot of places in the past 2 and a bit years, and only hope to grow to do more. I mean come on. I only play 3 or 4 times a week right now. Theres still 3 days left!
Ok, adn before you ask, Jazz isnt boring. I've seen more cokeheads, alcoholics, and antics in Jazz that would make the most hardened rocker blush, and seen it happen onstage. This in a conservative country where that shit can get you killed. Ooh. Will have to upload that pic of how I parked after one gig. Puts Dave getting arested for asking two cops to help push his car off that lamppost whilst he was shitfaced, to shame. I still wonder how we got him out of jail for the gig the next day.
Am playing with being a rythm guitarist in a rock band again (60's and 70's) but will have to see how that pans out.
Anyways. Thats a short history. Hope it answers the questions.
M December 16 Grrr.Had yet another one of those moments. Am supposed to be on holiday right now, so what happens? Dave pops up from teh band saying how he felt really embarrased at our performance last gig, and that things were not up to scratch.
I resisted the temptation to kill him
Things have been better, but the workload on me is too much. Last gig, I had to take the bass, the amps, the mikes, the mike leads, the drums, the music stands, the chord books, in addition to my own instruments, and then set everything up, in addition to having had to make teh program, and finding out where latecomers, are etc, etc, etc.
frankly, It pissed me off that I did that much work, then someone bitches about the fact that I am wearing trainers (Coz I broke my toe btw). Grrrr. Right now, they can all sod off, and I have told them as much. I WANT A HOLIDAY!!! Wait a mo, I'm on one...
Ah well. Annoyances come and go. Have now turned my mobile off in addition to not telling people where I live now.
December 12 Happy Hannukah... or WhateverCools. Booked my holiday today. Well, actually, I got told that I have to take a week off before the end of the year, so next week, I am free as a bird! Woot! More time to work on the music that I promised Sue, and the stuff that I want to do myself. Also, first holiday I will take without leaving the country.
On a seperate note, Tonight, Mauri quit. Not the band, his job. The dude just couldnt take life out here. Somehow, Didnt think he would last. He was high strung, ultra religious, and walked like he had a poker permanently shoved up his backside. A loss to the band. He was the first guy that had joined in a while who could actually read music, and play a trombone.
Speaking of music. Last night, when we were playing this quiet gig, I got my revenge on Dave. He slooked at me for a solo in one fo the slow blues numebrs, something I hate doing normally, let alone when my hands hurt. So instead of playing a solo, gave it the ole cat chorus.. Myoooow myooow mya myooooow. He looked like he was going to have a baby right there on stage. Much too funny. :D
Call of the shisha beckons, so running away. Saw Sues comment just now. She might be onto something. I am concerned, not at what I read, but at the fact I dont remember being at Jahra gate, or being in Kuwait. Its all a conspiracy I tell you! lol theyre trying to make me believe that JFK was shot by JR. Hey ho. I'll just plead Drink Induced Amnesia, and get on with it.
Move into my flat day after tomorrow. Already have internet connection coming. Gonna try to screw em out of a permanent IP, as its a satellite connection. Will have to see where that goes. I wonder what people would say in the UK if your installation charge for your broadband was 320 quid, and it cost 80 pound a month for a 512k connection?. Theyd probably have to have a sense of humor transplant.
December 10 Time to start a blog?Blech. I hate that word, and practically everything it stands for. This aint a blog. But, saying that, I wanted to record stuff down, in a place that I can find it too.
When excavating in the back of my caprice earlier on, this is a car I have had for about 5 years, its been with me on my travels around the gulf, its been abandoned, been on fire, been stolen last year, and finally, through the luck of mentioning it in a joke whilst onstage, someone told me that they had seen it, and I have it back. Anyways, back to the story. I was getting some parts fixed, as the car was a little worse for wear when I got it back. Like it still has no brakes, no real steering, no supercharger, which miffs me a bit, but still pulls a nine second 60. which is frightening enough when tou cant stop it. Man I can never stick to the point. OK. So, I was getting the exhaust muffler repaired, and hanging around, like I usually do, decided to crowbar into the boot to find out if had a spare wheel. Well, I did, and I also found a couple of notebooks, from my time in Dubai, and a smaller one, which I called my war diary. Written at the Jahra Gate, it had a lot of interesting stuff in it, that I ahd forgotten about.
It'll be posted, well, some of it, along with other stuff that I have found the past few months buried in my other car, and in my old house. Its interesting in the fact that I dont remember most of what I wrote about, but it still seems familiar. Its like reading about someone elses life. Those who know me also know of my memory problems now, but I didnt think that they were too bad till today. I just thought I was absent minded, and that all the memories were tehre, but it was like seeing through a fog. If you could start along a path, you would eventually come across the memory. It was only a matter of training your mind to go logically back, and I thought I was pretty good at that. The diary that I found today proved that I have lsot a lot more, and that I am nothing like the person I used to be. So much so, that I am not even sure that I recognize that person when reading about him.
Funny stuff.
I wonder what I will think of all these things when I read them in a few years.
|
|
|
