Quick Thoughts on Nashville

I can't think of anything that would have made this trip better. Some highlights:
1. Getting to play at the Grand Old Opry three times, and getting to stand on the original piece of stage from the Ryman Auditorium (the original Opry).
2. The groups I played for winning in both their divisions. The Los Alamitos group, Soundtrax, came in first in the women's division. SoundFX came in first in the prelims and also came in first in the finals. The kids were awfully excited.
3. Getting to experience the Nashville honkytonk scene. Walking down Broadway and hearing great live music coming from every bar on the street was an amazing experience. One I'd like to do again.
4. Going to Tootsie's, where Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson used to sneak to between sets at the Opry for a quick drink. It's said that many a great song was written on a bar napkin in this place.
More on Nashville later. Now it's time to get some breakfast in preparation for the long day of travel back to California ahead.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

A Small Revelation Today

Today, after playing at the Grand Old Opry for the second straight day, the guitarist in the group I'm playing with and I were discussing what an amazing opportunity we have been granted over the last few days. Many people only ever dream of playing at the Grand Old Opry. We have had that honor the last two days. He continued by pointing out that the Opry is one of very few concert halls in "that" category in the world. We named a few other, perhaps the other top hall being Carnegie Hall. In my life I have been blessed with the privilege of performing in both of these historic buildings. I have shared the same stage as many of the world's greatest and most famous musicians ever. For that I am humbled and grateful.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

The Blog I Can't Seem to Write

For months I've been wanting to write a blog about my break up with Sarah. Every time I start to collect my thoughts and put them down, I am bombarded with thoughts that stop me from doing so. I've gotten over the first one which was: I don't want people knowing how I really feel. I've talked to many friends about the break up and am comfortable in my feelings toward it. Other times my brain just shuts done as if to say, "Don't do this." I'm not sure exactly why it keeps doing that to me. Perhaps the biggest reason I haven't written anything yet is because I'm afraid that she might read the blog and think I'm trying to manipulate her emotions. That is one thing I definitely want to avoid doing, again. So until the day comes when I'm ready to put my emotions about this into words, continue reading my other stuff.

Not So Helpful Cue

The past few days I've had the pleasure of playing the show, Rent, at Fullerton College. The bass book is one of the best written, and difficult, parts I've ever played. One of the thoughtful things added to the parts were vocal cues after long periods of rests. It makes it a lot easier than actually counting 100+ measures. There was only one problem: one of the vocal cues came during a section where two of the cast are singing, "I should tell you," repeatedly to each other. Of course that's what the vocal cue was. Not so helpful on that one. I guess I actually have to count rests.

Friday Night

It's Friday night, actually Saturday morning. 1:12am. I can't sleep. I'm at the Courtyard by Marriott in Buena Park and have a 7:45am call time in Los Alamitos to play bass for a junior high show choir. The kids will be bright eyed and full of energy. I won't. Why can't I sleep? It's not the bed. Maybe the room is too hot. Or too cold. I need to pee.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Scared Shitless

I learned two new terms today: Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism. Both of these terms are currently related to Mom and I've never been more scared in my life.

Southland: My Review of the Pilot

It sure has been a while since I've posted to this blog. Hopefully I'll get back to blogging.

On Sunday, I watched the new NBC television show, "Southland" and thought I would share my opinion. Let me start by saying I don't think television needs another show that takes place in an intense work environment, but instead of focusing on the work, focuses on the personal lives of the characters. I'll cite the CSI's as examples of the former and NYPD Blue, Grey's Anatomy, and E.R. as examples of the latter. (Did I use former and latter properly?)

I really enjoyed the pilot. It seemed to show the day to day activities of Los Angeles police officers and detectives. We see the young rookie teamed with the veteran and hear the obligatory "If you do what they taught you in the academy, you will die" line. The show is cruising along wonderfully until the two officers pull over an exotic sports car and find drugs in the door pocket. The driver then asks rookie guy to cut him a break and we hear the first mention of rookie's dad. Uh oh! Foreshadowing of personal details to be revealed at a later date. More references to rookie's upbringing follow. "Where did you learn to shoot, the Beverly Hills Gun Club?"

The next sign of future "soap opera" came when the female detective said she had to go home to check on her mom. Why does a middle-aged detective live with her mom? Why does she need to go check on her all of a sudden? Don't tell me, I don't care.

I will continue watching "Southland" for a few more weeks, but if the edginess of the police work get mired in the "soap opera" lives of the characters, I'm done. What do you think of the show?