No details will be shared at this time except to say that it’s nice to be out of the ER. I just wish he had a private room.
Out of the ER
Tag: Family
Family Feud
The Family Feud is on TV in the ER because of course it is. Just like old times.
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.
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.
Morning Music and a Quest
I screwed up my morning routine today and I don’t know how I am going to recover. No details needed, as they are neither important nor really noteworthy, but I did manage to straighten it out enough to get a couple of things done.
First things first, car music. I put vocals on four 50/90 challenge songs. I was hoping to get to five, but I didn’t have time to add another song. I didn’t do particularly well today, and a couple of the melodies were a bit more complicated than my no-talent self usually gets. We’ll see how it comes out when the songs are done.
After the car music was complete I went on a quest. My father asked me to bring him a newspaper. I had a paper route back in the 80’s. Long time ago. I tried to remember the last time I bought one… given that the newspaper industry is effectively dead and the fact that they still exist is laughable. The last time I bought one was… I think… 2007? When the Red Sox won the World Series I bought a Boston Globe. I think I did it in 2007. I know I did in 2004. Let’s just say it’s going on 20 years.
Where the hell do people buy newspapers? The one my father wanted isn’t one that you could ever regularly find near my home (we’re in Lawrence Eagle Tribune country and he wants a Lowell Sun). I went to my old home town, Tewksbury, thinking there were a couple of stores where I might be able to find one. The first store I went to does not carry newspapers anymore. Big surprise. The second… is now a dentist office. Again, not a surprise. I finally decided to just hit any grocery store or convenience store I saw and I found one.
Quest complete. Newspaper acquired.
Now some random pictures… just because…
Finally… cats.
Musical Friday Morning
It is Friday, at last. Every single day this week has tried to trick me into thinking it was Friday (there must be something wrong with my brain’s calendar function) but this time it’s real. This time it actually is Friday.
Insert the sound of an emphatic sigh of relief here.
The weekend is one 8.5 hour work day away. The best part? My step daughter is coming over tonight! She’s going to a work conference tomorrow and is stopping here on the way to it. We haven’t seen her in ages. I’m really looking forward to her visit.
Musically speaking? I played some guitar before work this morning. 50/90 progress. I put rhythm guitars on two songs and leads on one. I took a bunch of pictures with my Nikon. I had the 28mm lens on it for all but one. I swapped to the 40mm and took one more pic just to make sure it was working. It was. That lens is so much better than the 28mm. I’ll keep the 40 on there for a while. I really love that little sucker.
Here’s the one 40mm pic. It’s the choice for the photo a day thing for today.
Note the guitar case in the blurry background. That’s my other Les Paul. The one Jen got me for my 50th birthday. I’ll be swapping them out the next time I record guitars. The birthday Les Paul is the only one of my electric guitars that hasn’t made it onto a 50/90 track yet. That will change, probably tomorrow morning.
Now for a bunch of faux artsy pics with the 28mm lens.
Postponed Again
Band practice was once again postponed. It happened at just about the last minute. One of the guys had a family thing come up and had to take care of it. Unlike Genesis in 1974 our band understands that family comes first and no one said anything that was anything other than 100% supportive. Word on the street was that 1974 era Peter Gabriel was a little jealous.
Next time. We will play all the better next time. Seriously, I’ll have a capo so I can play that friggin’ Bryan Adams song without having to tune my guitar up a full step. Come on, Bryan Adams… a capo? Really? Just play the damn song in E like a real guitarist.
Stuff Going On
I have two things going on today besides work. First, I had to visit my father to help out with that thing that he needs help with that I am not going into details on. I usually do it after work, but tonight there is the second thing going on. Tonight is the first band practice in about a month or so.
I just got home from my father’s place. All went well. He’s good for the day. Nice. When I got home I logged back in to work and sent off a facebook messenger message to the band. Are we still on? As of right now we are, but one band member may have traffic issues. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.
I also just ordered a capo from amazon. I know I have one somewhere, but I just can’t find it. I’ll have to go with the alternate tuning solution tonight if we play that one new song. I’ll have a capo for the next practice, I promise.
I’m not sure how dinner is going to work tonight. We still need to figure that out. I expect it’s going to be protein supplements for ol’ Robbie, but I want my beloved bride to have something nice.
Okay, back to work with you, Mr. Robert.
Scissors
I successfully acquired a pair of scissors. I was going to take a picture and post it here but I forgot to and I left them in the car when I got home so… Yeah.
Mission accomplished.
Inside the Red Head's Head 