|
friday, october 20
feeling: energized
wondering: about jazz jam sessions
realizing: life begins today!
I had a good talk with Nathan this morning about making a serious effort to get back into doing jazz festivals and just getting out there more. Playing with the big band for three years had put us out of the loop. So now was the time to get back into the loop, and that meant sitting in on jazz jam sessions into the wee hours of the morning and so on. I guess I am ready to put more effort into that, and really push hard at it. Now's always the time.
I took my wife to her annual check-up. We transferred to a new hospital that's closer to us, and so we now have a new doctor. I didn't really meet this doctor yet, as I was just hanging out in the lobby writing notes in my personal planner and checking out the people passing by. My wife told me our new doctor is an Amazonian-type blonde in very good shape. She stressed the athletic part. Well, I can't wait for my check-up.
Anyway, while waiting for my wife in the waiting area, I noticed this older gentleman. Every once in a while he'd pull out this mini tape recorder and would talk into it. After further observation, I noticed he was reading stuff from magazines and recording what he'd read. Hmmm... interesting. I've never seen anyone do that, and it seemed rather odd in a hospital lobby.
There was this young mother with two daughters, possibly three and four years old. The younger one was crying:
Daughter: Put me up there! Put me up there, Mommy!
Mother: (calmly) No, Megan. Not right now.
Daughter: (wailing) Put me up there, Mommy!
The little girl notices that people are looking at her:
Daughter: Mommy, why is everyone looking at me?
Mother: Honey, they're looking at you crying.
Daughter: (Dead silence)
Everyone in the area begins to chuckle amusingly. But the little girl remains silent, if not just for a moment. Later on, the little girl springs back to life, and she and her sister begin to talk loudly and make their Mommy uncomfortable.
"Shhhhh!!!", the mother says gently, about two dozen times. I remember being in that position when my two boys were toddlers. I felt a little sorry for the mother, who had to endure this for what seemed like eternity. But I commend her for remaining calm the entire time.
I almost forgot how difficult it was to be a parent to toddlers. They're sort of difficult to control and they get into all sort of little troubles. I guess I'm enjoying the best part of raising children right now, the time in between dealing with toddlers and dealing with teenagers. I guess I better enjoy it while it lasts!
3:57 PM
~
The Excite Search Engine is the only one I've seen that has a Halloween theme. Cool! I like the ghosts and bats that float into view and then hide again.
12:53 AM
~
thursday, october 19
in the realm of inner quietude
Life's been quite busy lately. The days seem to go by so quickly... where does the time go? And now we are quickly heading toward the holiday season.
We bought Halloween costumes for the kids, and so they're ready for tricks or treats. We love Halloween because it signals the coming holiday season which we love so much.
It felt good to get back to this project, but I have a lot more photos to prepare.
I was thinking just for a second that I'd been wasting my time with photos of the sky. But working with the pages again, I see why I was inspired to do this in the first place. So, I will continue to keep my head up, bringing the digital camera wherever I go just in case I see something that catches my eye.
2:02 PM
~
Well, I think I've come a long way since this entry regarding the making of ePercussionist.com. And now that the site is completed and most of the features in place, of course, there comes the realization that a web designer's work is never done. There is now the task to *maintain* it and keep up with the updates. So, thus is the next task on my to-do list.
2:00 PM
~
Alright, I broke down and set up my own online store for ePercussionist.com. [ link via Heather ]
12:22 PM
~
Here's a quick tutorial for you shutterbugs new to the digital camera revolution.
9:28 AM
~
wednesday, october 18
(i love you) for sentimental reasons
I'm listening to Nat King Cole at the moment, just "thrilling" over one of my favorites, "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons".
It's such a heart warming tune:
I love you, for sentimental reasons
I hope you do believe me
I'll give you my heart
I love you, and you alone were meant for me
please give your loving heart to me
and say we'll never part
I think of you every morning
dream of you every night
darling I'm never lonely
whenever you are in sight
I love you, for sentimental reasons
I hope you do believe me
I've given you my heart
---by W. Best and D. Watson
1:54 PM
~
"It is truly a blessing to have such a friend who will stand by you, through thick and thin." [ from the man with lou gehrig's disease ]
11:46 AM
~
significant stories and other entries
I finally managed to create a favorite stories page. Check it out, it really looks a lot better than my previous "expression" page, so I finally consolidated some of my favorite writings into one list, also making them easier to find. I'm glad I finally did this.
11:17 AM
~
tuesday, october 17
search words of the day
san+diego+bloods
As if I'm a member of the infamous gang! Sorry, no affiliation with the "bloods" or the "crips". But I did get caught up in gunfire between these two rival gangs back when I was in high school.
I grew up in "the ghetto", and I used to play these teen dances with a local R&B funk band. All of a sudden, during the dance, gunfire broke out. Everyone freaked out and scattered in all directions, jumping out windows, hiding behind chairs, tables... I jumped behind my bass drum! And I could see the flame coming out of the .22 caliber pistol as several rounds were fired. And when it was all over, one person laid there motionless on the ground, breathing frantically.
It was the first and only time I ever saw anyone get shot like that, and we helplessly watched him die while waiting for the ambulance and the police to arrive. It was a horrific and frightening experience. And ironically, they caught the killer a few blocks down the road at a fast food restaurant, eating a hamburger! Can you believe that! Well, both victim and killer were teenagers, and gang members. Later we found out it was the local chapters of the "bloods" and the "crips" that were involved.
Anyway, months after that incident, the police followed our band around wherever we performed! As if we were connected to the gangs or something like that. It sort of pissed me off, being involved with gangs that way, when we were just musicians trying to play our music, that's all.
Well, this is one memory that's never left me.
4:31 PM
~
feeling: quite chipper
wondering: about my priorities
realizing: i need to upload photos
12:07 PM
~
I finally downloaded the latest version of AOL Instant Messenger. So, I'm ready to start IM'ing you! Here's my handle:
AIM Handle: keepsdabeat
11:56 AM
~
still thoughts
Chinese people traditionally clean their homes and repaint
their walls during Chinese New Year. Every day should be like Chinese New
Year. We should constantly get rid of the old dirt in our hearts
and make our hearts fresh and pure every day.
---Master Cheng Yen
9:23 AM
~
monday, october 16
Cyn emailed me some of that much needed positive energy. Thank you, Cyn.
11:24 PM
~
rice bowl journals
My new journal burb, Rice Bowl Journals, is growing steadily. New members have recently been added: Min Jung Kim, Auroura, Aiyah, and Danny!
11:09 PM
~
If you already know you're going to burn in the eternal fires of Hell, then why not buy this unsaved shirt, so that others will stay clear of you and your evil disposition. [ link via riothero ]
10:39 PM
~
I was thinking of totally redoing this page. For those of you out there who are reading this, do you think I really should?
3:06 PM
~
interesting quote of the day
BOW DOWN, AND LICK YOUR MASTER'S HAND, DOG!
This precious little gem was taken from Cyn's site. I won't mention the guy's name who sent Cyn the nasty email, but I think he needs to get his head examined!
12:46 PM
~
today is a brand new day
Looking back on what I just wrote about today being "a brand new day", I suppose this is my new motto in life, that if all else fails yesterday, today is always a brand new day. So, in the spirit of keeping my life positive from day-to-day, I cling to this new motto of mine, with that realization that we all tend to see this "flow" from one day to another. At least that's what I've been feeling about my life... the days blending into each other. But if I keep my attitude that today IS in fact a brand new day, then it's like wiping the slate clean, starting over... one day at a time.
10:35 AM
~
feeling: sad, underappreciated
wondering: about people with cancer
realizing: today is a brand new day
9:43 AM
~
Hmmm... Pat is having problems with SSI (Server Side Includes). I'll try to help him out since I know a bit about it.
9:37 AM
~
sunday, october 15
updates on the journaling fringe
Cyn's latest journal entry includes some negative email regarding her GoldenCandy.com site. Personally, I think the guy who emailed her totally misses the point of her site.
Get a life, dude!
Cami has returned from her brief hiatus with a new entry in her journal. I'm glad she's back, and again, I was a little worried.
11:29 PM
~
I'm starting to stress out a bit because I don't have a New Year's gig yet. Well, I've been offered one but it's too low. New Year's gigs are the biggest paying for a musician, and a lot of musicians get pretty greedy, take whatever gig they can, subbing out a cheaper gig for a better paying one. I would just like to have a decent gig for either my band or myself, something that pays the going rate for what musicians deserve. We'll see...
7:53 PM
~
Well, yesterday I blogged at the Scripps Ranch Library. I always update my blog at home, and so I thought I'd do something different. The site looks good on the library's computer. That's always nice to see.
7:49 PM
~
Yo, I've been quoted at Blogger.com!!!! Wow!
7:01 PM
~
it's a beautiful sunday
This morning I was awakened to the commotions of getting ready for Sunday service. I was late getting up and so I met my family down at the church, driving separately.
After listening to the Sunday service and signing up the kids for bible school, we took off early and dropped by the local Starbucks to get beverages and pastries. Then we went to a Halloween store to buy costumes for the kids.
My wife wanted to have her car washed and I offered to do it myself (I'm such a nice guy), and I would "detail" the whole car too. I'll post some pictures later to show off my detailing work.
One of my cymbals sold for a good price on eBay. It's not the full retail value of the cymbal, but it's a fair price considering it's a "signature series" cymbal in excellent condition.
Today we also set up some of our Halloween props outside our house. Nothing too excessive. We'd rather set up something that is more understated, than deck the whole yard with schtuff. Sort of like the feng shui version of Halloween design.
Anyway, I'll probably post another entry later on today after I detail my wife's car.
2:45 PM
~
feeling: tired but happy
wondering: where is everyone?
realizing: my last solo was great but too long
2:56 AM
~
go to the archives
|
|
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
)
