The Good Things

  For the past few months on my blag, umm I mean blog,  It's mostly focused on my pinched up nerve and all that.  Geez, I'm tired of it too.  So, now some good things:  Gigs are picking up again, due to the fact that they are simply picking up and I can actually work the compy for a good stretch now. I've been invited to play in Croatia of all places.  Hopefully the deets will work out to where I go and do my schtick over there.  I'm about to do my inaugural column for guitarjamdaily.com, and I have to finish it tonight before I leave for the Guitar Bazaar in Washington state.  So good things are going on.  In some ways I'm playing better than ever and in others, well I've just not found the time to finish several solo tunes that are in the works.  I'm going to make time in the coming weeks for that.  My son and I are having time together due to the fact my wife is at various AP/Spark English conferences.  This week she's in Houston and then She'll be in Seattle the weekend after I'm there.  Xander and I have been rocking out to RUSH quite a bit and I'll be posting some vids of that soon.  I am trying to inform him that other bands exist but he's still quite hung up the Canidians.  My part-time job is going OK, I'm learning a few things from the Old Man and driving him nuts and he's driving me nuts a bit.  Some of it is quite comedic.  To me, not to him.  I'll blag about some more colorful exchanges at some point. 

Sorry, if I've blathered about my ailment a bit too much.  I've learned that I'm not a unique snowflake in this regard.  It is scary, but I have learned some things that can help those with this afffliction.

Don't eat any choclolate.  Seriously.  It helps to increase nerve pain.

Substitute strong coffee for green tea.  I don't do this always but it does help.  I loves my stong brew too much.  It's worth the ache now and then.  Call me an addict!

I found some VERY helpful herbals from www.traditionaltibetanhealing.com.  Go there, there's something for whatever ails ya.  Being that's it is natural stuff it shouldn't rot your liver out and give you hives. 

Acupuncture is your friend. 

Laughter is your friend.

Friends are your friends. 

Being a musician is the most unergonomic thing on the planet next to Rugby, American Football and Construction.   Man.  What you don't strain in lifting gear, you are straining by standing, sittting, scale lengths, action, motion repetition and sheer stress of travel and fluctuating sleep schedules.  It takes its toll. 

Love to all and later! 

3:36 PM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

I Got Old Really Fast

Well as some you of may or may not know, I had an MRI done of my neck. As it turns out, I have a herniated disk and two bulging ones. The holistic stuff must know give way to science. Yep. I have to have surgery. I'm concerned but not too scared. I just want to get it over with. No really. I guess my past caught up with me. Put it this way, I was quite hyperactive onstage for many years. Including this one. In some of my more cocky moments, I like to think I played 3 shows for the average person's one. Plus loading heavy gear for years took its toll too. After all is said is done, I don't intend to wuss out now and switch to little weeny amps and play it all safe. It's way too late to wimp out now. After nurturing my inner child for so many years Magnus Mortality came in and beat the shit out of inner child. That little pecker is quite bashed up right now. Being in touch with your own mortality sucks. Is this mid-life crisis? I have no idea. I tend to think I'm quite star-crossed or have more than my share of bad luck. Unique snowflake. No, I'm not alone here. Plenty of peeps are in the same boat as me. My wife doesn't believe in luck. But right now for what it's worth, I feel really lucky.Hopefully, i'll be able to load some pics of my guts up on this page. I can't wait to see my innards. Maybe I'll have nice marbling, like a good steak. I'll wonder what it would be like to season and cook me. I get to see the guts in my neck. That's kinda cool. I'm made of meat. Mortal meaty meat. Meat man. 40 year old aged non-angus caucasian smoked rump shank. Oh!....and morphine. If i get that after I wake up. Man. I'll be stoked. Sedated beef. Sebeefted. Love to all and later.

8:06 PM - 12 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment

An Update

Some folks are perhaps confused about my main site.  Well it was hacked and I fixed it.  I had a back up for the back up that was backed up.  Yes.  I knew how to use it too.  So it's there. now.  I still don't know why.  I'm beginning to think that it's waste anyway.  No drama in that statement, it's just that there are other things that can I put up and host things for free with.  Dig?  So, even though it's fixed I'm still in debate on whether it should stay up. 

In other news, I'm on the mend and getting better every day, with the occasional bad day.  I've been doing the holistic thing, which has worked really well.  I'm about to get some non-holistic "help" as well. I don't like doctors for the most part.  They are great for viral and bacterial infections, broken bones, gunshots, premie babies, collapsed lungs and the like.  I respect that.  But the last time I had an orthopedic issue (pre-holistic days) I got no relief and some drugs that had no effect except to make my tongue go numb.  So, I was on my own, and I just got "through" it.  When I got panic attacks, the docs put me on anti-depressants and xanax.  So there I was happy as a clam and high enough to go duck hunting with a rake and STILL hyperventilating and having palpitations.  I got through it.  By my lonesome.  But, science overall is a good thing, and perhaps with the right doctor I can get me a cortizone shot to shrink the inflamed stuff and help speed the healing.  Or, I can find out if I have a bone spur.  Science will be good for that.  Now, I've got insurance so I can pay into the scam and play the game.  I have to view it as a game otherwise, I might get cranky.  God knows, I've been cranky enough lately.  I get tired of myself sometimes.  I've also learned how negative I still am.  That was bummer.  I thought was quite an upbeat guy, in a Kurt Vonnegut/Zappa sort of way.  But, man let me tell you, after doing research on my "ailment" I'm not EVEN CLOSE to worst case scenario, and I'm playing just fine and typing just fine.  I can now put on my pants and brush my teeth without wanting to shove lollipops down kid's throats and mush kittens with a ball-peen hammer.  I'm lucky.  Lucky, I said.  Man, what wuss I be!

So, in other news I took a day gig.  Part time.  Local Mom and Pop operation.  Actually and sadly "Mom" passed away and it's only Pop now.  These folks are old friends of the family.  It's not even close to the snob gear I play.  No.  It's normal stuff.  They called me.  They want to become a contender in the guitar market in our humble burg.  I'm glad to help and glad to be there and they have a LONG way to go.  But, I like it there.  Some folks have asked WHY I'm there.  I'll tell you.  I'm tired of teaching right now.  I need a break.  I caught myself saying "the trouble with kids today is..." a few too many times.  I'm willing to admit that perhaps even though I try hard, perhaps I'm just not doing it right.  I'm willing to admit it could be my fault or maybe the blame if there is to be any, goes both ways.  But, I don't want to be Grumpy Gus.  Kids don't need that.  I don't need it.  The nice folks there, will let me off for my road trips.  That's nice.  The money will be a bit better than my teaching/church/gig money.  In this economy I need the extra money right now. 

Musically, the Power Triplets stuff is doing well.  The album is selling well and has already, outstripped CURVE.  Fine by me.  I KNEW deep down a while back that doing a band thing was going to be where it's at.  And it IS.  And.... I get to do PLENTY of bass solos.  That ain't bad.  Love to all and later!!!

On a kid note, Xander played the drum part to the intro of "Anthem" by Rush.  Little pecker...He's stealing more of my thunder every day as he should.  I'm a lucky guy.  Wish me luck in my journey through the AMA.  It might be a road to nowhere again for me.  But, at least the middle of nowhere is somebody's somewhere sometimes.  Gack...

8:00 PM - 9 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

Main Website Hacked

     Wow.  Kick a guy when he's down eh?  That's nice.  Real nice.  I'm done with this.  Yes.  Done.  I deleted the vitriolic post of earlier.  I used words, hard ones like corn-ridden shit, turd-merchant and things like that.  Then I got really caustic.  Who cares about my stinky old site anyway?  I'm going off the radar for a bit.  404.  And what will a 451 Bradbury society care anyway?  No one went there for any 411.  I'm now I'm hacked and there's no 911 or 999.  Frankly I'm feeling a little 666.  I do have .357 and some beer.  Beer doesn't affect my aim, only my judgement.   A note to the hackers:  I hope you die with crab-ridden weenuses in your mouths.  Have a day.  For more 411 please call 555-Turd.  I wish I had the 20 for these mofos then I could have my vengeance and be at least 10-8.  Can I get a big 10-4?

EDIT:  I am now applying to the existential bureau for an unlisted life. 

6:03 PM - 12 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

A New Tune On the Player

Yes there is. It's an improv I did a month ago. It has "piano" and bass on it. I like it a bunch. It's mellow. Really mellow. Note duration and space. That sort of thing. That really overlooked thing that I could really get snotty about but I won't. I think I just did. Sorry. You can have this tune for free. It's for free to kids. Kids? Hmm. K. Emo kids only for this one. This tune is dedicated to Edo Castro and Doc Watson and Todd Johnson and other cool peeps. Dig it or don't and I hope you do! Love to all and later!

9:56 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

I'm Alive. PT Vids and Shout outs!

Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. Due to my condition which I'm giving another few weeks to the hippie treatment route which has worked wonders but frankly IS not solving the problem. I'm just being impatient. Due to this, this blog will be short. Like this:

1. Power Triplets shows went great! Thanks to Mark Gilmore and Ben Sanders for load in assistance in Beaumont, due to Nix and myself being gimped up. Thanks to Brice Perrin and Cade Cummings for assistance in Lake Chuck we are eternally grateful!

2. Videos of PT reahearsals have been posted here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZEQoLZUOYI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs0V5J6DA4A

Dig them or don't and I hope you do. Love to all and later. I have to save the ol' digits right now.

3. Thanks to all of those who have prayed for me. It's doing wonders!

4. Sorry if I am unresponsive, frankly it hurts to respond sometimes. IE, twitter, email and what not.

5. PC computer died after MANY years of service. Can't afford new one right now due to my medical bills and meeting deductables. The PC performed above and beyond. I hope our next one is that good. Love to all!

Thanks to all who have came out to see us!!!

9:12 AM - 8 Comments - 13 Kudos - Add Comment

Let This Be A Lesson to You

I have a pinched nerve right now. My motor skills are just fine. I'm typing. But, I'm in a LOT of pain and my left hand index finger is numb. Which is pretty neat for party tricks. This has NOTHING to do with playing the bass. Nah, I took care of my hands. I did. This has to do with my trick shoulder and the problem is spinal. NO, I'M NOT GETTING A SPINAL TAP. :O) (This has to do with head banging. Jumping around onstage from my younger days. Yes, I could catch air that would make Michael Jordan weep. I have pictures to prove it.) It would get thrown out once a year for long time and then go away. This time it didn't. I'm going to be OK, treatment has begun and I'm feeling better. But, age and life are going to take it's toll on all of us. So all you peeps out there with trick knees, old football injuries and other aches that flare up now and then. Get them taken care of for good before they REALLY flare up. And they WILL. I'll be sitting down for my next few clinics and gigs for good while. If you're me. That's a problem. If you're Steve Lawson or Todd Johnson, well lucky them. Love to all and later!

10:54 AM - 13 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

Power Triplets Album On CDbaby

http://cdbaby.com/cd/powertriplets

Use the above linkery unit to purchase our finery.   I realize this blog is yet another commericial.  Gentle readers, I'll more rants and ramblings in a bit.  Love to all and later!

1:22 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

New Vid On Youtube Page

It has nothing to do with music.  Well, a little.  But nothing really.  Go and see.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpmSsYWW5SM

9:07 PM - 2 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

Power Triplets Album On Sale Now!

Album in CD format that is:

Goeth here: www.thepowertriplets.com Please peruse this chunk of audio finery. Local peeps contact me directly. You KNOW how. Come on this IS the Chuck. Love to all and laterz.

11:18 AM - 8 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment