Stressing Out

After writing about my friend’s tough day without sharing any details, I am now finding myself writing about my own stressful day without sharing any details.

There is stuff going on. I am not going to say what. I just need to tell the universe that I am trying very hard not to freak out. Yes I am an old man yelling at clouds, but what’s a red head to do besides just hang in there and hope for the best?

Yeah, I know this post doesn’t make sense. Don’t worry about it. It’ll be okay.

Tough Day for My Friend

Mike, the bass player in my band, is probably my oldest friend. It was 1000 years ago or so, but I believe we met in 4th grade which was probably 1980 or ’81 or so? Somewhere around there.

I am not going to share details because it’s not my place, but his family is going through something right now and I just want to wish them all my best.

I am spinning one of my favorite records by Mike’s favorite band from our high school days right now in solidarity because I don’t know what else to do and I feel like I should do something even if it is some meaningless gesture.

ADDENDUM: Rather than say that Mike is the bass player in my band, I think it is probably more correct to say that I am the guitar player in his band.

2024 50/90 Challenge Day 40/90

Day 40 was almost a wasted day, but at about 10:30 when I should have been going to sleep… when my body was telling me that I was going to have a really shitty Tuesday if I didn’t go to sleep right away… I mixed one song.

A Day to Celebrate Me

Today, August 12th, is National Middle Child Day and it’s all about me.

Lisa, my sister, was born in 1968. I was born in 1971. John, my brother, was born in 1977.

I was the baby in the family for six whole years. Six. Whole. Years. Just long enough to really get used to it. Then, as the story goes, on the day I got on the school bus for my first day of kindergarten, as the bus pulled away my mother turned to my father and asked if they could have another baby. They did.

Thus I was no longer the baby, I was now the middle child and I suffered all of the slings and arrows of misfortunate that went along with it. My sister was always in charge of everything. My brother got away with everything. I was just there in the middle getting overlooked.

Fortunately, all these years later, I finally have a day that allows me to proudly embrace my middle childhood. Sure I am a screwed up mess of a human, but at least I get a whole day. What does it really mean to be a middle child? I haven’t a clue. Click the link and read about it there.

Unrelated, today is also apparently National Vinyl Record day. So not only did I get overshadowed by my smarter, funnier, better looking siblings… I also get overshadowed by vinyl records. Okay. I get it. That’s just how it is.

You know this is all sarcasm, right? I don’t have to explicitly spell that out for everyone, do I? Wait… I think I just did. Damn it.

No Playing This Morning

I’m working in the office today so there was no time to spare to sneak in any guitar playing before work. I hadn’t actually realized until just now though that even if I had had some time to play I don’t have any 50/90 challenge songs that need guitar tracks at the moment.

I have eight songs with rhythm guitar parts done whose next step is to write lyrics (yuck). I have an additional eight songs that I’ve finished tracking completely and just need to mix them down before I can count them as finished.

That’s it. I guess it’s time to start writing lyrics and adding new ideas to the list. Get crackin’, Red Head!

347/365
347/365

2024 50/90 Challenge Day 39/90

Day 39 was a good day. Four songs got vocals. Those four songs and two others got lead guitars. One of the songs that got both was also mixed.

Because I am insane and the challenge to write 50 songs in 90 days is not crazy enough, I also give myself the additional challenge of doing an RPM Challenge rules album in a month each month. That means I need 10 songs that are written and recorded entirely in each month. The song I mixed is the first song that qualifies for August. I had 20 in July. Of the 17 songs still in progress now, I think nine were started in August and should qualify (assuming I finish them in August). The rest were started but not finished in July so they don’t count.

Bed Time Music

21 songs down, 29 to go. The 50 songs in 90 days challenge is one step closer to finished.

I mixed this tonight while more or less falling asleep. Now that it’s done and I am happy with the finished song I am going to sleep. Good night, everyone!