larry, this vacation of yours is blowing any of the ones Himself and I have taken right out of the water! Then again, when he worked and we vacationed, we went mostly for resting and relaxation. You'll need a vacation when you get back home from your vacation!
Glad to see you're getting to experience all sorts of fun things. We are going to hear about it when you cut your first record, right? What type of recording project would it be? And what kind of music?
And, if I were you, I
would sleep with one eye open-and get a food taste-tester...
I would love to relax, and as stupid as this sounds, I just dont know how. My body doesnt let me. When Im running around like this, I do think to myself " Damn, I really need some time to kick up my feet and take it easy". But then when I do that, I feel like im waiting time, and get bored really easy. Im not the type to take a beach vacation and lay on the beach with drinks all day, or sit by the pool. Ive tried it and it just doesnt work. I never relax or fall asleep, I just sit there thinking about all the things I could be doing while sitting on my you know what. Once after a 22 hr road trip ( broken into 2 days) down to Mississippi, we finally reached the hotel, right on the water, reggae band playing by the pool which had a direct visual to the Gulf of Mexico with dolphins jumping out of the water no more than 50 feet from the shore. I told my wife, this is it, Im going to sit by the pool in a lounge chair, like everyone else and relax and do nothing but listen to the band. after 10 minutes I sat up and said, ok now what do you want to do??? I must say, the most relaxing trip I used to take was to Maine, where we rented a house for a week. kinda a family lakeside resort. What I liked was that it was like living at home, ( just somewhere else). We cooked our own meals, we did family things but also when everyone wanted to do something different, we just said be back by dinner time ... I still didnt lay by the beach ( i was too busy trying to win the sand castle contest ( which we d 2 times), but it wasn't running around like a nut, like i do now.
As far as the music goes, I originally wanted to go into music ( back in the day). As got older, and more mature, I realized that I had to make a choice. Do something I really loved, but risk a stable life and enter an industry I would Have little control over, or do something more predictable and have a good stable family life, but keep the first as a hobby. I chose option B. Im more of a music writer than a performer. I can embarrass myself on multiple instruments ( guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, banjo, mandolin. I have violin sitting around that I haven't attempted to play yet, and I really want a cello and accordion, but I get the look of death from my family every time I bring it up. I d also love to learn to play the sax. I took piano lessons for years, which turned into music writing lessons ( because i absolutely hated practicing my scales, finger exercises and arpeggios, but loved writing ( I do not sing). Anyway,one day I came up with something, she liked it, I remember her calling me later that day to play it over the phone to a bunch of her friends. I was actually in college at the time in Philly. I had already made my choice to pursue something else. Anyway, to make a long story short, the recording was made. I did go into the studio ( as a spectator and some producing input ,but not really to play on the album) and the song was ultimately sold to ,and played on a television show. Wasn't as glamorous as you'd think. Basically, in the show, they were driving a car, and my song was the one that was on the radio at the time. And another scene was at the prom, and my song was playing in the background. The coolest thing for me was seeing my name scroll up in the credits.
As far as type of music, I appreciate just about everything. I grew up 70's, 80's so the bulk of what I listen to is from that era, therefore many of my influences come from there. But as you can see from this trip, I appreciate and listen to more history and ground breaking artists , like Elvis, Johnny Cash, beatles and those pioneers. Ive recently been to the concerts of Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, The Eagles, Jeff Lynn ( ELO), Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel ( Im from long island, how could I not) , tonight will be Elton John, and Friday Lynyrd Skynyrd. If you looked at the songs I listen to on my phone, they range from country, rap, hard rock, top 40, classical, 50's, doo top... Ive had instances when I was listening to Dr Dre, and the next song was Barry Manillow, then some show tune from a broadway plat..
The project will be something Im writing or have written over the past 30 + years. That is for me to decide. I will provide several songs, come down to Nashville, work side by side with the producer to select musicians for the project, and then professionally record it. It is more for fun than anything else. Something Ive always wanted to do, just never had the time or money. Im in a different situation now. As we were talking, we were both getting excited about the project, I think for him, he usually either works with well established celebrities, or people who think they are, or will be, and come in with that musician ( I want to be a rock start) attitude. With me, its a whatever happens happens, for fun. No real stress or pressure. Just make a good solid product. Im really looking forward to it. I just have to go back to my archives and see which of my ' babies' I want to choose, or do i want to do something new. First half of my stuff is piano based, last half is guitar based. Just like going on top of the bar was out of my wife comfort zone. this is something that is out of my comfort zone. Its always been a hobby of mine, but for me only. But now, to put it all out there is a little nerve racking. Will it be good enough? will they like it ? Are they going to mock the project when Im not there? Are they going to be as serious about it as i am ?? I just have to mentally get over all this, which I will. Im getting to the age, and the point in my life where of you dont like it, screw off!!( a little bit of my New York coming out there).
^ +1
GET A FOOD TASTER!!!
WOW!
Man! I need to road trip with YOU and
Missus Larry my brother and ditch DH!!
Food taster is not a bad Idea
Good thing i do all the cooking!!!
I was told I should have been a travel agent with all the pre road trip planning I do. Im an ' on time schedule freak', I love maps, I hate getting lost and I hate down time, unless it is planned down time ( Gee, I wonder why I cant relax
)
I also like unique, off the beat things to do. Sure, I love to see the obvious ( Louisville slugger, Kentucky Derby, hershey.... But, I also like doing the things many people wouldn't even consider or even find ( sign museum, Mr rogers exhibit, Ketchup Exibit...2 years ago we even visited the Bush Beans Factory. It was great!! I proudly wear my Bush's Beans T-shirt
When It comes to concerts, I love them, but sometimes get bored, so i needed to do something to add to the experience. I look for the meet and greets, or behind the scene/ stage experiences. Sure they cost a few extra bucks, but this is the way I justify it. I dont drink ( which saves me a hell of a lot of money), I dont have a fancy car or fancy house, I dont buy expensive clothing, even when going to nice restaurants , being vegan/ vegetarian and forced to eat some crappy salad or pasta dish, it is rare that our bill is over $40 for the two of us ( although some of the specialty NYC restaurants cost me North of $100. Im not a fan of flying , so I dont do the exotic european, asian, african, australian vacations ( which Id love to experience, but cant). So, if I want to do that extra experience or spend a few extra bucks to be in or close to the front row, Im going to do it. And It forces me to do some unique things right here, in the country I love and was born in.
