Thirstday.

Last night, we were at the Quillo Theater in WPB throwing it down for no more than a few people at a time. I 'spose I should explain the second picture...Out in the street (which was blocked off for Clematis By Night), there was this standard poodle (y' know...one of those huge bastards) laying on the ground so I joined him. Rick's friend Jim joined us on the Beatle tunes and relieved me from singing the Paul parts. Tonight, Alligator Alley. Tomorrow, the World (actually, stinky old O'Hara's).

Only I'm Not Sleeping.

Well, I wish I could report something but they didn't tell me anything. I got there a bit earlier than the appointed time so they filled that time with more questionnaires and rights-waiving papers. I was WAY tired from the lack of caffeine so I was ready to sleep as soon as it was allowed. I took some pictures and read a bit till I had to have the electrodes connected. Can't say that was comfortable. I had to do some testing to make sure the shit worked ("roll your eyes left..right..left...now wiggle your toes...") and read some more. I was nodding off something fierce when the time came for lights out (like prison). At that very moment, I ceased to be tired and tried to sleep (with wires hanging out everywhere). I felt myself wake up at least four times and had a little of the itching fits that I'm so used to now. I have to say it was weird sleeping by myself. Not something i'd like to repeat anytime soon. Next thing I remember, I was woken up by the intercom telling me to keep my eyes open. More questionnaires. Great big chunks of leg hair ripped out with frightening speed during the electrode removal (that'll wake you up!). I got dressed and split. They told me i'd have to talk to my doctor for the results. Kinda anti-climactic if you ask me. I returned to my beloved caffeine.

I'm Only Sleeping Part 1

Today, I have a fucking BITCHIN' headache that won't go away. Why? I couldn't have caffeine today 'cause i'm having my sleep study. I gotta go real soon. I guess they'll be able to figure out why I wake up a zillion times a night. Wish me luck. I may sneak the camera in and document myself in lurid poses with electrodes hanging off. Sexy? You betcha! Stay tuned.

HBG!

OOOHHHH! I'm Tellin'!

Hello, yeah it's been a while. Not much how 'bout you? I'm not sure why I called. I guess I really just wanted to talk to you. I have so much to say but i'm sure I won't remember it all. A while ago, I had a hearing test. Actually , lemme start further back. Lately, my voice has sounded really nasally and when I sing (if you can call it that), I tend to blow out my voice and then it comes back in a day or two. Lately, it's been taking a week or so and that got me worried. So I went to and Ear, Nose and Throat guy and he suggested a hearing test for some reason. I had one last year and it wasn't too good. OK, so I had another one and my right ear is way worse than the left. He thinks I might have this Minnear's Disease which makes you collect fluid in your ear with no real good way to get it out. So I have to have an MRI to rule out a possible tumor...fun.

Tuesday night, i'm having a sleep test done to find out what's wrong there. I sleep pretty horribly. I wake up quite a few times during the night and i'm always tired because of it. I know ('cause Kris tells me) that I have sleep apnea which means I stop breathing now and then in my sleep. So I gotta go to this place and they monitor my sleep patterns. That ought to be good. I'm taking Wednesday off work 'cause i'm gonna be pretty wiped out.

A guy I know is having an art show in a record store in Ft. Lauderdale and i'm gonna play a few songs during it and that should be fun. I'm putting together a makeshift band for it and we're gonna have a few rehearsals in March. I'm really nervous about it. I haven't led a band since I lived in SF so it's been a while. I'm playing with some great folks though; Pete Lavezzoli is gonna play drums and Rick Rossano is gonna play bass and my friend Matt is gonna play guitar. Musically, it should be great with all that talent pooled together.

Let's see.....this weekend was O'Hara's and that went well. We played pretty well and that was good. Last night, we went to South Beach to celebrate my friend Jen's birthday at an Irish pub down there. The main attraction was a U2 tribute band and they were OK. They were having sound and power problems and you can't blame them for that. We ended up spending a lot of money but it was worth it to get out of the house.

Today, Rick put new power tubes in the Vox and so far so good. Our gig at Elwood's went OK. It was really hot and folks weren't all that responsive but that's OK. Matt and Shauna came out and Sean was there and we had great conversation and hopefully we're gonna find the U23D movie and see it up north. This week, it's back to the hectic schedule.....I have the sleep study on Tuesday, a gig at the Quillo Theater in WPB on Thursday, a gig at Alligator Alley on Friday, a gig at O'Hara's on Saturday and Elwood's again on Sunday...Coffee Up, Boys!!!

I'm A Facking Cack!

This weekend, i've been a facking cack. So the Funkabillys played the Garlic Fest in Delray on Saturday morn and I don't think it went too well. I was really nervous and it facked with my playing. Here's where the usual excuses come into play; I was expecting a lower-wattage amp (i was asked not to bring my own...mistake #1) and there was this high-power monster waiting for me. While I was playing, my guitar sounded like really loud paper tearing. The sound on stage was pretty bad too. It was really bass-heavy and I was having a hard time hearing/connecting with the drums. That made it really uncomfortable. I really wanted to do well in front of our peeps and I guess, in retrospect, it probably wasn't that bad. Everyone in the band was staying away from me when we finished 'cause I was sending out really rank vibes. I didn't say anything to anyone and I left. I'd like to apologize right here and now for being a Betch. Sometimes I can be real difficult to play with when I take things too seriously. Sorry, guys.

Last night, I played Churchill's with Charlie Pickett and he was in some kind of mood and we cut the show short just as it was building up some steam. I'm glad it wasn't my fault. I talked to Ed about possibly playing another Eat show and he wasn't against it. So that could happen. This afternoon, I went down to a new record store in Ft. Lauderdale and bought a few things. They had some cool records that hopefully will still be there next time I go. Tonight's Dillengers gig went pretty OK. I think we must've inspired Rick to play at the top of his game 'cause he was killin' it! A very good end to a semi-lousy weekend.

I've been having some mental issues lately and I think they're spilling over into everything. I think I just need to listen to Pet Sounds in 5:1 and that should cure everything. I friend asked if i'd help him with a show in Ft. La uderdale in March and i'm a little nervous about it 'cause i'll be doing a few songs solo on an acoustic guitar. Could be fun....could be a disaster. Tuesday, we're going to see the U2 movie yet again. I'd like to see it before it leaves the theater.

So........

This morning, I decide to have Corn Flakes for breakfast. I don't like milk in my cereal 'cause it makes it soggy so I grabbed a small box and headed to our computer/music room to check email (like I do every morning....doesn't everyone?). While I was reading, i was tugging at the cellophane bag inside the box trying to open it (can you see what's coming) and it exploded. I got Corn Flakes EVERYWHERE! I'm not talking about a few here and there. They were all over me, in the computer keyboard, all over the floor. The real stupid part of this story is I didn't think to take a picture before I cleaned it up. Good Morning! We're definitely going to see the U23D movie at the Ft. Lauderdale IMAX Friday so if you wanna go.......

And the word isn't......

We were at breakfast the other day and across from us was a mentally handicapped girl and her father and when she focused on something she looked really lucid and I wondered what she was seeing. Sometimes if I drift off, I can get the psychedelic visions happening. Sometimes I wish I was hallucinating 'cause maybe everything would make sense then. Any feeling or idea I had that was absurd wouldn't be judged or my negativity wouldn't seep through and I could just melt into the floor.

And the word is....

Today is the day Buddy Holly didn't make it home. His pregnant wife had a miscarriage soon after. Tonight, I will be watching some Buddy films and i'll be thinking of him. Last night's gig was an overwhelming success. There was alot of people there to see The Eat and there was a really good vibe hanging in the room. It was great to see the guys smiling....probably reliving 1980 in their heads. I could go into specifics but it would be a waste of time. It was a great time and I was honored to be part of it. Today, I haven't done much of anything. I gotta catch up on housework that I neglected all last week. This coming week is not too busy in the playing department. I wish someone would kick my head off so these neck/shoulder aches would go away.

ex-Kung Fu Hippies. Bananagrams.

Hey, bloggerville! Sorry I haven't been here for you. I've been on Safari in Kendall. Things here good and bad. So much has happened since the last time we talked, so i'll keep it to myself 'cause you wouldn't understand. Johanna's got a loose tooth and is having a music class that appreciates the masters. Jimi Hendrix, Lou Diamond Phillips, The guy who invented the Nose Flute. Last night was our (Eat) last rehearsal before the Big Gig (in the sky). I have to say (i have to think), i'm really nervous and i'm sure i'm just doing it to myself (insert joke here). I don't know why but I feel like i'm going to be unfavorably compared to their drummer who I can't touch with a ten-foot easter bunny.

I was out with a friend (Jen) and we saw the U2-3D movie (which I will be attending again sometime next week) and she confirmed that all of my "I suck" yammering is really annoying. I have to say I fully agree but it's hard to undo years of training and practice. This year, i'm going to try to do my best to keep quiet. Today, I pick up my beloved Stratocaster from the shop in Port Saint Lucie. The time before last that I used it (pics in the previous post), i got a little excited and threw it and it landed on it's face. It made for a really cool Rockstar moment but it's costing me 100 bucks to patch her up again. Dummmy. Saying this is a guarantee it's gonna happen again...probably at the Garlic Fest next week. I'm also playing at Churchill's (again) with Charlie Pickett on Saturday.

Fuck the SuperBowl! I'm not playing Elwood's tomorrow because of that huge waste of time. We're gonna watch the PuppyBowl on Animal Planet. Sadly, I had to let go of the beard. It did it's job well and made me look like a smelly old man (which is what I was going for). I also joined an Yahoo group for aging Punk Rocks that's going well. Now THEY have to listen to my rambling about third pressing Rubber Souls from Holland. Fuck 'em. They should have never invited me. I wouldn't have. Last night was a sooprize party for Yves (of destruction) and fun was had by several. My social anxiety converted me into a very annoying, unfunny lunatic who wouldn't go away. Better luck next time. I hope someday I can just have normal conversations.