Day Seventy Three

I was attempting to post a new tune on here for all the world to see, but I'm having some technical difficulties.  In order for me to create a play list, I have to upload a song file to a hosting site, then on another site plug in the URL from that host site which then creates my play list.  Sounds easy right?  Well not so much.  I either have lost my original password for the hosting site of there is a conspiracy at work here.  I have submitted my e-mail to retrieve my password, but they are taking there sweet time in getting it to me.  So here I sit awaiting the top secret password, damn this technology!
    Well anyway, about this song which we can only hope to someday get up and running.  I was looking through a book called Weird Florida just for kicks, and I stumbled on a story of a little town south of Tampa Bay that is the winter home to a number of circus and carnival folks.  The town is officially called Gibsonton, but the locals call it Gibtown.  So there you have it, the low down on the showtown.  I'll post it as soon as I am able.
Until Tomorrow, here's your daily words of wisdom:

If it weren't for electricity we'd all be watching television by candlelight.”

George Gobal

Day Seventy Two

Sorry I didn't post last night, I had an important dinner engagement to attend to.  By the time I got home I was in no condition to create.
    I added a tune widget to the blog site from my Reverbnation site.  I wasn't really sure what a tune widget was so I figured the best way to find out was to post one somewhere.  Yes, I am my own guinea pig!
  Until tonight, here's your daily dose of wisdom:

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely. 
 ~quotations on Experience. by Auguste Rodin

Day Seventy One

I haven't had a chance to sit down and work on any tunes for a few days now, I'm starting to get a little irritated with this working for a living.  I was really enjoying the freedom of unemployment, it gave me time to actually think.  Once you come to the realization that you could keel over at anytime, working just to pay the bills seems like a real waste of valuable time.   I guess I should have pondered all of this as a younger man.
    I'm hoping to get a new tune wrapped up and posted to the blog this week.  That was my original intention of putting the player on here.  If I can get some time to work in the studio, I should be able to get it done.   If I'm not abducted by aliens again!
 Until tomorrow, here's your daily dose of wisdom:

  You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.
  Kung fu Proverb

Day Seventy & Weekend Update

A good time was had by all at our weekend shows, at least that's how I remember it.  If anyone wasn't having  a good time they failed to mention it.  Saturday evening at  the European Street cafe in Jacksonville flew by in the wink of an eye.  It's a great room with a great staff and the perfect place to hear all kinds of great music.  Ray Lewis books the talent there and works his butt of to put things together, thanks Ray!  Our good friend Larry Mangum loaned us his mixer and amp and helped us get the sound up and running, thanks Larry!  And a big thank you to all the folks who came out to hang out with us.
   Sunday we meandered  south to the world famous Osteen Diner, in where else, Osteen.  Talk about a well kept secret.  This is a great little place off the beaten path.  Great food and a list of cakes and pies that will blow your mind.  Rumor has it that the strawberry rhubarb pie with vanilla ice cream was worth it's weight in gold.  I resisted in an attempt to keep my boyish figure in tact.  We had a small but appreciative crowd and we really enjoyed the afternoon.   Barry Brogan opened up for us with his shiny chrome guitar and old time blues, thanks Barry!  Our good friend Joe Waller helped us get set up and made sure all systems were go, thanks Joe.
   It's plain to see we probably wouldn't survive out there without all of our good friends helping us out and lending a hand.  Thanks everyone for being there for us, we appreciate it more than we can say.
Until tomorrow, here's your daily words of wisdom:

“Friends are God's way of apologizing to us for our families.”

Day Sixty Nine

Well it's Friday, and tomorrow I head for Jacksonville.  The longest 200 miles on the east coast.  We'll be gathering for a show at the European Street Cafe and Listening Room tomorrow night.  The entire Ashley gang will be there, yes, even Norm McDonald!  Then On Sunday afternoon we'll be at the Osteen Diner, for the Central Florida Folk Club Concert Series.  I understand the food there is great and the beer is cold and tasty.  So if your not washing your hair or doing the laundry come on out and see us at one or both of these shows.  We'll make sure you get home before your coach turns back into a pumpkin.
     Until next week,  here's your daily dose of wisdom:

  "There is a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot." 
---Steven Wright

Day Sixty Eight

  Our good friend Java Jennifer is in the hospital, she's putting up a hell of a fight as the Ashley Gang would say.  She has been struggling with cancer for a number of years, and we had hoped that she had whipped it.  Unfortunately that's not the case.

Jennifer and her multi talented husband Java John have been friends of ours for many years.  They owned and operated Kool Beanz one of the greatest coffee houses and acoustic music venues in Brevard County.

  We played there quite often and it was always a comfortable family atmosphere.  We got to know a lot of great local talent there and made some good friends along the way.  We've seen John and Jen's son Dylan grow from a little bambino into a fine young man.  Time flies when your not paying attention.  Jen, John, and Dylan, you are in our thoughts.

   

  You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.  ~Desmond Tutu

   

Day Sixty Seven

After working on promotional things for a couple of days, I've determined you could spend the entire week on your computer sending out e-mails and show promos.  But that doesn't seem all that musical to me.  I guess it all comes down to time management.  I think once I've got this Reverbnation thing set up I'll set aside one day of the week for updating it.  Then I can get back to writing and recording on a regular basis.  It's that or hire an assistant, and seeing as how I can't even pay myself, I don't think that option is going to work out all that well.
     I'm still refining my carnie song.  I know, your thinking how long can a guy screw around with one song.   I've got issues with the way words and phrases sound, I never could afford the necessary therapy to rise above this affliction.   A line may makes sense and seems to fit, but if it doesn't slip right into my ear, I just can't live with it.  It's kind of like a puzzle piece that almost works but isn't quite right, you just can't force it.  Soon, very soon, it will all come together.
Until tomorrow, here's your daily dose of wisdom:

'Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling alligators.

William Saroyan

Day Sixty Six

Another day of reverberations.  I spent some more time getting set up, and mostly not having any idea of what I was actually doing.  I'm pretty sure I now have accidental links all over the world, I could very well be voted the internet nuisance of the month.  I started out at #7 on the prestigious Sebastian Folk Charts, truly an indicator of ones future success and wealth, and am now at #4.  Yes, the fame and fortune can't be far off now.
   I need to start thinking about our gigs coming up this weekend.  It's almost time to start piling up gear by the door in hopes of not forgetting anything important.  I need to put fresh strings on the guitar and program some addresses into the Garmin.  Saturday night we'll be in Jacksonville at the European Street Cafe and Sunday afternoon we'll be at The Osteen Diner.   A good time will be had by all.
  Until Tomorrow, here's your daily dose of wisdom:

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.  ~St. Augustine

Day Sixty Five

Today was full of adventures!  I did my darndest to get something going on Reverbnation.com, and I'm just hoping that I don't piss anyone off in the process.  I have to say that from a musicians perspective they have  an awful lot of great features for promoting ones music.  At the same time, they offer so much it can be a daunting experience getting the thing up and running.  But I think given some time and patience I can make  some magic with it.
       At this point I'm #7 on the Sebastian Folk Charts?  Now that would be impressive if I lived in Orlando Or Jacksonville, but in Sebastian that's nothing to write home about.  Heck, I didn't even know Sebastian had a folk Chart.  I'm guessing that there are 6 other people in the area who were brave enough to admit they play folk music.   I took a look at my fellow local folksters  and didn't see anyone I know.  It may be an elaborate  conspiracy, put in place by the FCC to keep me on the bottom of the charts and off the radio.  Damn that Obama!
    Until tomorrow, here's your daily dose of wisdom:
   “You have woken up the sleeping giant. … I’ll have a pitch-off with you any time Vince. …”
-  Billy Mays 

Day Sixty Four

Here it is Friday again, that time of the week when you have to stop and ask yourself if you've earned your keep.   A time to reflect upon your labors and see if in some small way you have made a difference in the world.   Maybe you didn't find a cure for malaria or come up with a plan to save the global economy, but those things are best left to the professionals.  And if after thoughtful consideration you feel as if you haven't met your personal goals for the week, remember, there is always next week.  The world will still be a mess, and there will be a million small ways for you to help make it better.  Carry on!
     No music today, I had some work to do at the Winchester mansion.  It's not actually the Winchester mansion, but it reminds me of that because it has had so many additions, it's almost in two different zip codes.  Stairways to nowhere, and two story decking.  It's quite a unique structure, and now I have added my own special touches which I shall not elaborate on.  Every time I think I'm finishing this project up, another wave of creativity strikes the owner and I'm adding on to the mansion once again.   It's like one of those stories where the gypsy tells the owner that as long as he keeps adding to the house he will never die. But I think we all know how that story ends, we find out the gypsies brother owns the local lumber yard.
  Until next week, here's your daily dose of wisdom:

    

Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches.

           Unknown

Day Sixty Three

The good news is that the number of Americans living in poverty has increased significantly, the bad news is...... really what could be worse than that.  I guess the bad news is that this economic shit storm is really just gaining momentum, regardless of what the powers that be might be saying.  I'm not one to talk conspiracies, from what I've seen, most Americans have been conspiring against themselves for a good long while.  Buying crap they couldn't pay for and putting off the payments until next year, get real you idiots.  I'm no historian, but I think this is what might have happened in ancient Rome.  They were all having a great time, orgies and togas on every street corner.  Putting there lavish life styles on their Roman Express cards.  Thinking to themselves, hey everyone else is doing it.  That is the kiss of death, everyone else is doing it.  Didn't we learn anything when our Mother's warned us "if Billy jumped off a bridge would you do it too?"  The lesson there was a simple one, if you see someone doing something stupid, don't get in line with the stunods.  All we can do is hope we come out of this thing without to many scars, and a roof over our heads.  And remember if you see the stunods lining up, go in the opposite direction.
Until tomorrow, Here's your daily dose of wisdom:

Blessed are the young, for they will inherit the national debt. 
 Herbert Hoover 

Day Sixty Two

Today was one of those days where I just couldn't seem to accomplish anything of value.  I worked on some tunes in the morning, the carnival tunes got me working overtime.  Trying to find just the right carnival terminology, and then making it rhyme isn't as easy as one might think.  But I like the feel of this thing so I'll keep working on it.
  I then whipped up a batch of my famous magic flax seed muffins.  These are from a closely guarded secret family recipe passed down from my Great Aunt Rose, who created them while working as a pastry chef for the Pope in vatican City.  It has been said that when she presented the Pope with the first batch of these magical muffins he had been suffering from an unholy case of constipation.  Soon after consuming one of the culinary treats he proclaimed them as irrefutable proof that God truly moves things in mysterious ways.  Amen!
  That's it for today, here's your daily words of wisdom:

 It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help.

      Unknown Genius

Day Sixty One

My mission to create a corn hole game has been completed.  My son in law is a Michigan fan so I themed them up for him.  I'm not a big sports fan, actually I'm not a sports fan at all.  I know that might be considered  un american, but I never understood the obsession with sports that runs rampant in this country.  It's part of my mental disability, I may have been dropped on my head as a baby.   I don't care much for apple pie either.  

I didn't have time for any musical activities today.  I still need to get that door bell out of my guitar track from yesterday.  That UPS guy has got it in for me.  This afternoon I decided to shut my eyes for a few winks, and wouldn't you know it, that darn guy shows up with a delivery and rings the damn door bell. 

I think I'm going to disarm that thing, it's really disrupting my creativity.

  Until tomorrow, here's your daily words of wisdom:

Most of us are open-minded about new things - as long as they're just like the old ones.

        Unknown 

Day Sixty

I was abducted by aliens!  Yes, it's true, what other reason could there be for not posting on Friday.  Fortunately they returned me in reasonably good condition, they decided I was to old a specimen to do them any good.  So after a couple minor probes and a spin around the earth they dropped me off at home.  I  don't  think I'll report this to the authorities, they have a way of making you look crazy when you try  to explain things like this.  I've seen enough movies to know the drill.  
   The weekend went well, and I squeezed in a little music.  Bob "Guitar" Bronar came over and we worked off some of the rust, and there was plenty.  We're going to be doing a dynamic duo gig in October, so we thought it would be a good idea to work some material up for that.
    Today I managed to sit down and record a new tune.  It gave me some trouble initially, but I managed to tame it.  When I finally got everything done to my satisfaction I was listening back and heard this strange tinkling noise in one place on the guitar tracks.  Apparently the UPS guy dropped off a package while I was recording the guitar part, and rang the door bell.  Thanks Mr. UPS!  I couldn't hear it ring because I was wearing headphones at the time.   I guess I'll have to do it again tomorrow.
   Until tomorrow, here's your daily words of wisdom:

  Every path has some puddles.
   Hillbilly Wisdom

Day Fifty Eight

Fifty three years ago on a warm summer night in New Jersey I completed my journey from the other side into the new world.   I think I spent the first three years here crying, although I can't recall why.  I probably just missed wherever it was I came from.  I'm surprised my parents didn't return me, claiming they must have gotten the wrong baby.  I don't remember much about where I was before I arrived here, but I have a faint memory of just hanging around and not making to many critical decisions.  Kind of like being a teen ager with a bag of pot, which would also explain these  memory lapses.  It has taken me a lot of years to get used to this place, but I feel like I'm finally settling in.  It just goes to show, you can get used to almost anything.
That's it for today, here's your daily dose of wisdom:

Inside every older person is a younger person - wondering what the hell happened. Cora Harvey Armstrong

 

Day Fifty Seven

You've got to love the four day work week.  It will be over before I'm even warmed up.
Today we attacked the previously mentioned bead board project.  Everything seems to have worked out, and we are ready for paint.  The inspector General, my daughter, has given the technicians, my son in law and I,  permission to move into the final phase of the project.   I think we may survive this!
   I ordered some musical supplies today in preparation for some pretty heavy duty gigs we've got lined up for the fall.   I just used my last set of strings before our last gig so I've ordered a box of 10 sets of D'addario EJ16's, a box usually gets me through a few months.  I've been using these strings for quite a while and have yet to find a string I like as well.  I also ordered some fresh flat picks and thumb picks, I'm ready for the mooches now!
   Until tomorrow, here's your daily words of wisdom:

      Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil - Jerry Garcia

Day Fifty Six & Weekend Update

I'm sure many a Budweiser and BBQ rib were consumed during the Labor Day weekend.  I kept it low key and did my best not to annoy to many folks, sometimes that's not easy.
   My latest song writing project about the winter home to a slew of carnival acts is coming along pretty well.   I'm still polishing up the rough edges but I think it may become a cult classic.  Imagine how creepy it would be to accidentally wander into a town full of carnies and side show acts.  Twilight Zone kind of stuff, not to mention the clown factor.  I know that clowns are supposed to be funny, but I just don't get that.  They're scarier than any sci fi creature ever created.  Try not to think about it, you'll have nightmares tonight.
    Until Tomorrow, here's your daily words of wisdom:

I had a friend who was a clown. When he died, all his friends went to the funeral in one car.
Steven Wright 

Day Fifty five

Friday has arrived once more.  It has really lost its meaning now that my work schedule is so flakey.  But in the spirit of Labor Day, I'll rejoice in it's arrival just as if I've been working my butt off.  It's very generous of the powers that be to give the working man a day for himself.  Where else in the world do you get treated like crap 364 days of the year, and then on day 365 you get to feel guilty about not working.  Oh yea, only in America baby.
     I've started to do some research for a new tune.  Every year I enter a song into the Will McLean song writing competition, all entries must be written about Florida or it's inhabitants or history.   I usually have a problem with this, and I don't expect anything to change in the foreseeable future.   I was looking through a book called Weird Florida and stumbled onto a story about a little town called Gibsonton, where the carnival folks used to stay for the winter.  Yes, the bearded lady, the sword swallower, the flame thrower, a giant and his dwarfish wife.  It just doesn't get any better than this.  So I'll see if I can conjure up a tune based on this freakish bit of history.  Wish me luck.
   Until next week, here's your daily words of wisdom:

"Carnies built this country, the carnival part anyway".
   Homer Simpson

Day Fifty four

Today I went on various missions for my pregnant daughter.  She is in full nesting mode and I'm doing my best to accommodate her.  She has some grandiose decorating concepts for the baby's room, and I have been elected to help my son in law with the project.  Being handy isn't  all it's cracked up to be.   But honestly, I don't mind helping out in this time of need, after all that's what fathers are for.  We'll be putting bead board on the lower 2/3 of the wall and capping it off with chair rail, along with some window trim.  I'm sure it will look stunning, my greatest fear is that it will look so stunning she'll want to do it in other rooms.  We'll do our best without exceeding her expectations, that usually works.
    No time in the studio today, but I managed to wrangle up a gig for january at the world famous Yalaha Bakery.  If you've never visited the place you owe it to yourself to get there.  It's an old world german style bakery, amazing fresh baked goods and german treats.  It's a life altering experience.  Maybe we'll see you there in January.
   That's it for today, Here's your daily words of wisdom:

It is much easier to become a father than to be one." 
Kent Nerburn

Day Fifty Three

Another day in paradise.  Today I worked on my corn hole project, bean bag toss to the squeamish.  The boxes are assembled and primed, ready for the final paint.  I'm not sure what kind of color scheme to go with, something unique and eye catching is what I'm going for.  I'll post a picture of my finished project when I get it done.  I'm sure the orders will be rolling in!
    I also worked in the studio some, re-doing some vocal tracks.  I'm still in the process of dialing in this new mic.  I've been working with an Audio Technica 4050 for quite some time, and it really is a great mic.  But the Nemann TLM 49 has a entirely different sound.  So I have to unlearn my old techniques and start over, and you know what they say about old dogs.  But I'm getting there.  Another couple thousand hours of engineering and I'll almost know what I'm doing. 
  Until tomorrow, here's your daily words of wisdom:

A gentleman is a man who can play the accordion but doesn't. ~Author Unknown