Oweee

Can you believe my luck? I hurt my neck. I can't turn my head to the left or I almost pass out and/or puke. It's AWUL. I've taken over 2,000 MGs of painkillers today, and it only makes it marginally better.

Oh, but here's the best part: how I hurt my neck. Are you ready for this? You might think that I hurt myself at the band's performance on Saturday whilst headbanging to "Crazy Train." Nope. You might think that carrying around a 14-lb guitar for four and half hours did it. Nope. I didn't even hurt myself moving equipment or playing with the kids or falling like an idiot or getting hit by a car or hitting a deer or some stupid shit.

No, I hurt my neck SLEEPING.

Yeah, that's right: SLEEPING. I can't believe my luck.

In other news, I am throwing a surprise party for Kenny's 38th birthday. His birthday is Oct.6, but I am having it on the 7th at the American Legion in Cusick. This will be fun. I am having a cake shaped like a golf course done for him, and I'm getting balloons, and streamers, and the band will play!

Oh, and the band is playing the Friday before Halloween at King's in Priest River and at The Jammer in Priest River the Saturday before Halloween. We're also booked for New Year's at The Jammer.

Speaking of The Jammer, the gig was okay. We had Major Technical Difficulties during the first set, specifically, Kenny's wireless guitar router thingy had a dead battery, so he couldn't play for half of the first song. Then, there were feedback issues on the P.A. all freaking night. And there wasn't much of a crowd. We're working on the P.A. setup so we don't have to play as loud and we can be more Dynamic.

Also, I am going to post the stuff about the trip to Denver. I am. I've just been Work-Swamped for days now. But I will get to it. Sooner or later.

I'm Excited

Short and sweet of it, 'cause I have to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 10 AM:

• Band is entered into contest on MTV2, now, and we're at #6 for the Seattle region!
• Gig went well.
• Band is focusing more on practicing for a while, in case we do get a gig at the Spokane Fair.
• Got a personal letter from programming director at KCDA!!!
• I'm almost done working on the two sites I have been working on.
• Getting more printed material ordered Monday.
• I NEEEEEEED a laptop!!!!

I will write more in-depth on these topics Sunday or Monday.

'Tis Me, Again

The show I whined and blogged about... well, it's back on... sort of. The owner called me back the very next day and asked us to play. After Kenny went down there and picked up all our equipment. So, Kenny agreed to play there for $250, even though we all wanted $350. Grr. Well, anyway.

I re-did my personal site, and I re-did my book site. I am contemplating the band's site, now. Not sure what to do with it, but I want it to look professional, and I want it to pop. Still, I've been looking around, and getting something to look really good when compared to most bands is totally do-able. Most band sites suck. And most author's sites suck, too. In fact, in general, most web sites suck ass.

Okay, I'm off to get some pudding.

Like A Rollercoaster

The other day, I spent 4 hours making these cute little posters for our show at the golf course. We'd played there the 21st and 22nd, and we were supposed to play there this upcoming weekend. Well, I say "supposed" because, after making the posters, alerting all my friends to the show, posting stuff all over the Internet, and generally just publicizing the hell out of it, we got to the bar tonight to pick up our check and give them posters, only to have owner tell us that he is NO LONGER HAVING MUSIC!!!!

Because, you know, a phone call letting me know that he isn't having music anymore and let me know to bring my van down and get my band equipment that they were storing in preparation for our next show there... or even save me the work of making posters or telling anyone to come see us play.... It makes me wonder if he was planning to wait until we showed up there on Friday to tell us.

So, I was in a pretty bad mood when I got home. Just depressed. Anyhow, I logged on to the computer and found out that VH1 used "Riding The Bell" in one of their podcasts.

So that made my night a little better, but what happened next really made my evening. One of the guys I sent a CD to put up a review of the CD on Amazon! Here's what he had to say:

This is the kind of rock-and-roll I've been looking for! The haunting and
powerful first track sets the tone with exquisite guitar-work and Charity's
silver-tinged vocals. And the band always keeps it interesting. "Wicked Ways," a
serious up-beat rocker is followed by the "Soul of the Sea," a beautiful ballad
set in a timeless mythic otherworld. Not only does Make Me Shiver truly rock but
all the songs are elegantly arranged and well-written. Charity's lyrics are
intelligent, succinct and honest. "Piss You Off" is one of the many highlights
on this album, a witty and catchy tune that simply tells it like it is and the
infectious "Riding the Bell" is simultaneously accessible and mysterious. "Too
Much to Dream," was my number one beach CD this summer and I can't wait to see
what they come out with next.

See the comments in context HERE.So, summation: no show; we're on VH1; got a good review. I guess more good than bad.

Finally, the dam has burst, and the words are coming. It's been a long drought without anything creative to sustain me. But, finally. The words are coming forth, and the story's practically writing itself, and, sweet relief? Yes, it is.Here's the best lines I wrote tonight. Tell me what you think:

"Shelby Guilfoyle," one of the men said to Maggie. His head reminded me of a
brick with a Brillo pad glued to the top, what with his exaggerated square jaw
and decidedly "ruddy" complexion caused by very pale skin in unrelenting
southeast Oregon heat."Where is she?" the other man demanded. This one was very
tall, had an almost graceful body – especially compared to Brick-noggin – and
his dark skin shimmered slightly with sweat in the noontime sun, the sheen of it
only overwhelmed by the stunningly bright glint of his too-cliché cop-type
mirrored sunglasses.

Maybe it doesn't make any sense out of context.

Anyway, so, yeah. It's not the sequel to Night Cries, but I am writing again, so maybe that's not far behind. You think?

It's A Mystery To Me

Nothing much happened today. I called a booking agent and invited him to the shows over this coming weekend. I also called a bar owner and invited her. We'll see what happens.

I completely updated my web site. New look, new content, whole nine yards. See it here.

So, I am going to start writing again. I'm almost ready to do it again. What will I start writing? I don't know. Something, though. I am feeling very uncreative, though. Have been for a while, and I am at a loss at what to do with myself. I don't have a creative outlet anymore since I finished all my projects. El sigho.

Busy Weekend

I was SOOOO busy. In fact, I was busy all week, pretty much. On Tuesday, we had band practice with our regular drummer. On Wednesday, we had band practice with Cactus. On Thursday, we had band practice with the regular drummer. Then, Friday morning, I had to get up early to help my Mom go shopping at Wal*Mart. I helped her load the groceries into the truck, bought lunch; got back to Mom's; helped her unload the groceries; took a shower; dried my hair; got ready for the gig; went home; finished getting ready for the gig; went to the bar; helped set up some; soundchecked; and then the show started.

The show was weird. At first, there was almost nobody there, and Kenny set up the PA funny, so there was only sound coming out of one side of the speakers (so that had to be fixed prior to the second set). And it was kind of disheartening, at first, because there were so few people there, but, come about 10 PM, more people came in (and stayed, thankfully!), and then about 11 PM, there were more people, and people started buying us drinks and coming over to talk with us and buying our CDs and stuff. By midnight, the place was packed. And it ended up pretty cool, but there was one incident: the drummer, during the last song, decided that he was going to take a leak, so, in the middle of "Freebird," he got up from the drums and RAN to the bathroom. So, being as I have played drums on that song before, I slipped behind the drum kit and, with my guitar still hanging around my shoulders, I played the last half of the slow part to "Freebird." Just as the fast part kicked in, the drummer returned from the john and took over playing again, although, getting him BACK behind the drum kit and me OUT from behind it while not breaking the rhythm was some of a feat, but we did pull it off.

The next day, my Dad came over to get me (as Kenny borrowed my car for work), and I went out to his house, ate lunch, and got ready for the gig at the Owl. I get there, and Kenny is already there setting up equipment, but the drummer is nowhere to be seen. He had called Kenny at, like, 3:30 PM, and said that he was on his way, but, there it was, 5 PM, and he wasn't there yet. We wondered if something had happened to him or if he was going to just ditch us. But then, Cactus showed up, and we, at least, would have someone to play drums if the drummer didn't arrive. Long about 6 PM, the drummer finally shows up. His said he had been waiting in the parking lot the whole time. Cactus had already set up the drum kit, so, at least we started on time. We had fewer technical difficulties this time, which was good, but I got pissed off at Kenny toward the end of the night for skipping one of my original songs on the set list. the drummer pulled the "I-gotta-piss" ploy twice during the night, and Cactus filled in both times. Someone (or multiple someones) stole 3 CDs out of my backpack.

Today, I was TIIIIIIIRRRRRED. I wasn't ready to be awake when Dad got here with the equipment today, so I didn't help him unload anything, and I feel bad about that, so I will have to buy him some Primo Beer to make up for it. I'd planned to either work or write when I got home tonight, but I got home too late to feel like doing anything. Now I am super tired again and I think I'll got o bed soon. I am feeling rather dehydrated at the moment, though, so I may watch TV and drink some water.

The antibiotics seemed to work on the tonsilitis, finally. I wonder which "rare" bacteria I had?

Blech

I'm feeling rather useless. I read a book over the weekend off-and-on, and I liked it. I picked up the book because the author's last name is the same as my favorite teacher in college, and the story looked interesting, so, I bought it. The book is called Blood Ties Book One: The Turning by Jennifer Armintrout. It wasn't great, but it was fun, and it occurred to me that I don't write "fun" books. In fact, I'm not really a "fun" person. I wouldn't want to be my friend. I suck. But, anyway, I digress. I've decided that I am going to write another book. A fun book. Something interesting, yet fun. Funny, even. Because right now, Life In General sorta stinks. The swelling has gone down in my tonsils, but they still hurt to swallow sometimes. I am starting to worry that I am REALLY sick.

Weirdness Abounds

I went to the doctor today. He said that whatever it is giving me tonsilitis is not strep. So, basically, he thinks I have mono, which, you know, I don't. The only other things that could be causing it are two pretty rare bacteria. So, I have a prescription of Cephalexin (500 mg) to take, and, hopefully, I'll feel better soon. Otherwise, I gotta go back in next Friday for blood tests.

I don't do spring cleaning. I don't clean, really, but I had not cleaned off the crap from my hard drive very recently (like since 2004!), so I did so tonight, and ran across some MP3s I did for this other band that was looking for a lead singer back in 2003. When I did the songs for them, I changed up a lot of the vocals from the way the previous singer had done them. The band told me that they didn't like what I had done, and ended up not using my vocals... or so I thought. I went and looked the band up tonight and I found that their new singer is using a lot of the unique vocal inflection I'd arranged on the song. I guess I had more of an impression than they wanted to admit, huh?

This Space Intentionally Left Blank

I have a doctor's appointment today. I am supposed to get antibiotics for my tonsils.

I found an urge to work tonight, but I didn't. Hehehe. I will tomorrow night, though, unless we have a show on Saturday, in which case, I will put of working until later, because I will have lots of band practices all week for shows and whatnot.

I heard from VH1 tonight, and they were asking for the MP3 of the song, so that must be a good thing, and means that our song appearing on the program is coming soon! Yay! Our music may also be heard on a Washington, DC podcast soon, and we might play in Denver. Who knows?

Updates

So, I woke up Tuesday morning with one of the worst cases of tonsilitis that I have had in a long time. The tonsil on my right side was so swollen I felt like I might gag at any second any time I swallowed, and it was bright red and goopy-looking. Just nasty.

And I had to perform yesterday.

Saturday, we had band practice with Cactus, who is filling in for us on the 21st and 22nd, as our regular drummer can't play on those dates. We practiced with Cactus again Sunday.

Tuesday, I woke up with horrific tonsilitis, but I did perform, thanks to two Tylenols and a healthy dose of my magic throat elixir. My throat still hurts, incidentally, and we may be performing again on Saturday. Lovely.

Booger-pickers & the Wonderful World of Nostril Mining

We played at the Elk Days festival-thingy Sunday. Everybody said that we kicked ass. Everytime I told the monitor guy to turn up my vocals, he turned up my guitar, and it was starting to piss me off. But, oh, well. I sold CDs and made $45 and everything worked out OK.

Decisions

The new drummer came over and practiced tonight, and we're sure enough that he is going to be sticking around for a while that we had him sign the "Band Member Agreement," which makes him a full-fledged, voting member of the band. Now, all I have to do is tell the other drummer that he is no longer with the band.

Bad Mood License REVOKED!

I was all set to be in a bad mood tonight. But then, there was this:

Hey, We'd love to use "Riding the Bell" for BestWeekEver.tv's podcasts…do you
have an address or fax number where I can send a contract?-Jim

For those of you who don't know, "Best Week Ever" is a show on the cable television channel VH1. Best Week Ever podcast has over 500,000 subscribers via iTunes alone.

And, you know, like, my night couldn't get any better, but...Then I got this:

Just joined GB and was puttering around..."Riding the Bell" rocks! I'd love to
hear more of your stuff-- I want the CD!Are you the singer? The voice is great
and perfectly balanced against the lead guitar and, shit, I know what it's like
to Are there vocal harmonies behind the lines"make believe again / make me feel
again?" It could just be guitar feedback but it sounds awesome whatever it
is.Good lyrics too, I know what it's like to be..."tired of keeping
secrets"Great work!

Matt

So, I am in a good mood. :D

My weekend? We played Friday. Our current drummer screwed up all over the place. We get there, and one of the bands that we were supposed to open for has cancelled, and another band is packing up their stuff to leave because - get this - they don't get to open the show. They're pissed because we are opening the show, not them. But the bar is full of people around my Dad's age, and this other band plays punk, and we totally don't, and we know that the patrons of the bar are going to leave if this other band plays first. So we are adamant that we play first. So the second band leaves. So, that leaves two bands. So, we set up, and we start playing, and we're nearing the end of the set, and the booking agent comes up and says that the other band left, too, because they didn't want to follow us. (I'm like, "What?" but, you know, whatever.) So we ended up playing for two hours rather than 45 minutes. And my feet hurt. We sold 6 CDs. It was COOOOOL.

I went home and immediately drove out to my Mom's and ended up staying up until about 9:30 AM, and then ate an egg sandwich and fell asleep on the couch. When I woke up around 3 PM, my Dad had brought in the mail, and I had received my diploma.

The next day, Kenny called me and said that I needed to get ready because he was coming to get me to take me to a bar to hear a band. He says that the drummer for said band is bored in his current band and wants to play with ours. So, I get ready, and we go, and we sell four more CDs (in addition to the 6 we sold Friday and the 4 I sold Saturday) and the drummer indeed wants to play with us. So we exchange phone numbers, give him a CD, and we go to another bar and play pool and stuff. Today, I put together about 40 more CDs, sold three more tonight, and I am mailing off the pre-orders and stuff tomorrow. And that's my life. :)

A Little Happiness

I got the CDs today! Everything looks and sounds perfect, and I am so excited to start selling them and getting them out to radio stations and mailing the pre-orders... It looks SOOO killer!!!!

Embarrassment

So, we played our show last night. We were not impressive. We definitely needed more practice, and there was one moment that pissed me off so bad that I did something that will probably haunt me for a while.

We were playing our second-to-last song of the night, an original, Hush Now. The drummer screwed up the tempo so badly that I finally just stopped playing, turned to the audience and said, "I'm sorry. We can't play that song. We don't know it." Even though it was him screwing it up. So, the only thing that I could think of to do was to do something so outrageous that everyone in the bar would forget how badly we screwed up. So, I grabbed the wireless microphone, and I sang Crazy Train from the bar. No, seriously. I climbed up onto the bar, and sang the song from up there on my knees because the ceiling was too low for me to stand up. So. Embarassment. Infamy. LMAO!

Today, My right foot hurts at the joint behind my big toe, my right shoulder hurts, the muscle that drapes across my left shoulder is sore, and my hip hurts on my right side. So I am grumpy.

I called the lawyer to help him with his e-mail, but he hasn't called me back yet. Got the printed materials back for the CD from Dave and they look lovely. Now, I just have to cut and fold them and put them into the cases. Le sigh.

So Spaketh The Patron Saint of Lobsters

I have a disturbing infection on my left-hand thumb. When I was a kid, I had staph infections in my thumbs all the freaking time, and I have problems with getting infections of all sorts in my thumbs since I was 2 or so. Not always staph infections, but weird things like a little spot - for no reason - suddenly swelling up and red streaks running up my arm. Not fun. So, I have this spot on my left thumb again, and it is pissing me off because it makes it hard to play guitar, it makes it hard to type, and it hurts whenever it gets bumped, which seems to be more often now that it is hurting. (Damn it.) So, if it isn't better by Tuesday, I am going to the doctor.

I mastered the whole record by myself on Wednesday night/Thursday morning. It came out well. But I still don't think the process is worth $400.

On Thursday afternoon, I called the replication outfit in San Francisco and got the answers to my questions, and, rather than having me overnight the master CD to them, he wanted me to upload the songs to him. I said fine, and hung up and went to upload the songs to him, and my freaking Internet was down, and it's a long story from this point on, but the short of it is that I got the files to him eventually. However, they're closed over the weekends, so, if there are problems, I won't know about it until Monday morning, at the earliest.

I didn't sleep for over 48 hours while finishing up the mastering and uploading the files to the replicator and finishing my podcast.

Dave (who is printing the inserts and traycards for the band's CD) decided to change the layout for the insert, so as to avoid additional work for me. (He's so thoughtful.) So, instead of having to cut, arrange, staple, and fold all the inserts, now I'll only have to fold and trim them, as we switched from a booklet design to a poster/fold-out design, which looks great, and is totally going to rock. To do this, though, I stayed up all Friday night and went to bed at 11:30 AM Saturday.

On Saturday, we went into Spokane to practice with the new drummer. Practice went well.

Today, I went out to my Mom's. After eating, we all went back into the drummer's house and practiced some more. The gig at the Owl is going to be fine. I know it.So, that was the last three or four days of my life. (It's all still kinda running together.)

D: None of the above

At this very moment, I am listening to the new remixes of the songs, and I am noticing more effing problems. Nothing serious, but I am a total perfectionist. But, as my Mom told me, at some point, as an artist, you have to say that you are done, or it will never be done. She's right. The songs go to the mastering guy tomorrow. We could be better... per se... but what we would end up doing would be nothing that anyone would notice... except for me. And that's okay.

No, really. It is okay.

And Then...

We were finished.

I went into the studio today and me and the bass player helped the engineer remix the tracks that needed work, and now, we are finished. I am sending the WAV files of the songs to a mastering facility online to get the tracks finished up for the replication process, but, at least this guy doesn't charge as much as the last mastering guy. The last mastering guy wanted $400 to master the whole CD, and, when he sent me a sample of my song, it didn't sound any different from what I started with. At least the samples on this new guy's site had distinct differences.

Happy Birthday To Me

Last year on this date, I was listening to Dire Straits' "Lady Writer" and waxing poetic about the goals I wanted to reach between 05/04/05 and 05/04/06. I wanted to get my book published. That happened. I wanted to get the CD done. That almost happened (and will happen within the next two weeks or so). I wanted to graduate. That will happen in ten days. I wanted my business to take off. That one's negligable. With that in mind, my goals to accomplish between 05/04/06 and 05/04/07:

Write the sequel to Night Cries, A Night Borrowed
Write another book about something else.
Start working on the two non-fiction projects I have simmering in my head.
Write material for the second CD.
Sell at least 500 more copies of Night Cries
Sell out every copy of the band's record, "Too Much To Dream."
Get at least 5 new clients for my business.
Add some new services to my business.
Buy a house and a little property.
Fix up my car.