I had horrible nightmares last night involving people breaking into my car and stealing what I'd left in it: my drumset hardware case, my cymbals, and my Ludwig Black Beauty Snaredrum.
Thankfully this didn't happen. I mean, shit, we WERE at a Super 8 Hotel in the middle of nowhere Tennessee.
We got back on the road at around 10. It was still raining but it was supposed to clear up. Aly threw in the next CD for the book-on-tape we're trying to get through. However, it wouldn't play. My CD player had been giving me problems recently but I always managed to get it to work. This time, no dice.
I decided to make some calls and try to get it replaced once we got to Nashville. We can't do the rest of this trip without a properly functioning stereo, and I was going to have to install a bluetooth-ready system once we got to L.A. anyways (California is a hands-free state). I asked Aly to grab my iPhone and google car audio installers in Nashville. She found one that came highly recommended so I called them up but the woman who answered sounded like she was still in bed. I hung up, but they quickly called back. This time a dude with a VERY twangy southern accent was on the other end and I chatted with him about our situation. Unfortunately he hadn't worked on many Acuras and wasn't sure if he could do the job. I needed to get this done fast and properly, so this guy wasn't going to cut it.
I decided to call Best Buy. I don't normally give the large corporation-type stores my business but I really couldn't afford to screw around with this. They told me they could get it taken care of, no problem.
The remainder of the drive was gorgeous. The skies cleared and we drove through rolling hills covered in peak foliage. It reminded me of the western mountains of Maine. For the first time of this trip my mind was clear and I could truly enjoy the moment. I looked over to see Aly curled up in a cute little ball of redhead, napping innocently. The weather was gorgeous, the traffic light, and my iPhone was playing Frank Zappa. Life was good.
Once we got to Nashville I drove straight to the Best Buy, chose a stereo, and dropped off my car to have them install it. In the meantime my long lost friend Cathy and her partner Mary met us for lunch.
After lunch I retrieved my car and followed Cathy and Mary back to their house. We drove through one of the most beautiful neighborhoods I've ever seen. Mansions with huge front yards and old maple trees were everywhere. Also, the foliage down here is in full force, so everything is particularly beautiful.
We parked my car, piled into Cathy's, and drove all around Nashville. I have to say this place isn't at all what I expected. It's modern, hip, clean, accessible, progressive, and still retains a community feel. I really really dig this place!!
After stopping for ice cream we headed back to their house for dinner. Aly and I were knackered so we just chilled out. Cathy and I reminisced about our college days and Aly snuggled up with their huge and incredibly friendly Doberman named Zoro.
Great day/night. The car situation was solved without a hitch and it has been wonderful seeing Cathy (it's been 12 years).
I am truly blessed to have such amazing people in my life. I don't think I could be out here doing what I'm doing without them. All of my family and friends, from Maine to California, are simply incredible people and I love them all dearly.
I dedicate this trip to you all.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
The Trip to Cali: Day 1-2
After chilling at Aly's parents' idyllic posh lakefront house for a week or so, we packed up my car and hit the road. It was a rainy, cold, miserable day. Although I was very excited to be finally heading out west, on this day I would have rather stayed in bed late and padded around the house in pajamas all day, watching the rain pound the water's surface from the incredibly comfy confines of Chez Trasher. But alas, this was our scheduled departure day so off we went.
I was experiencing an incredible array of emotions during the first day of driving. Excitement, boredom, anxiety, sadness, joy, etc. It was a real rollercoaster. We listened to a book on tape (The Kite Runner), and the story was itself was quite heavy, so while it helped pass the time, it also enhanced the already emotional state I was in.
During a stop at a rest area in NY Aly suggested we stop in Philly for a cheese steak. I hadn't ever tried one so why the hell not? Philly we was only an hour or so out of the way. Aly txted her dad and asked him to suggest where we should go as he has traveled to Philly many times.
We ended up at this place called Geno's. I'm glad we did it, but it was meh.
Back on course, we completed the first leg of the trip and arrived at my brother's place in Baltimore. We were tired, somewhat dazed, and experiencing a plethora of emotions brought on by the surreal fact that we had actually gone through with everything. I still don't think it's fully hit me that I've left absolutely everything I know to start anew in a crazy place like Los Angeles.
Anyways, it was great to be in company of family. James and Sam took us out to a delicious dinner and for a short while my mind was distracted from the swirling thoughts and emotions surrounding what I am doing.
That night Aly and I barely slept. I think we're both going through similar challenges emotionally, and it kept us up for most of the night (along with the tick-tick-tick sound of their dog walking around on the hardwood floors).
I sure am glad we're in this together.
The next morning we awoke to bright sunlight. I already felt better. After coffee and a bagel we said our goodbyes and hit the road. We were both in better spirits, due to the clear skies but also to our slow acceptance of our new reality.
After several hours, the skies clouded up once again and it started pouring buckets. Fuck. We stopped a few times for gas and bathroom breaks but eventually made it to Johnson City after around 8 hours of driving. We listened to more of The Kite Runner and the story got EVEN MORE depressing. Oh well. Better to get this one out of the way during the rainy days...once we're in the south I'm sure spirits will be high and we will require a slightly less emotional story (I have Steve Jobs' Biography cued up for that leg of the trip!!).
Anyways, once we got to Johnson City, we checked into the hotel and then headed out for dinner. The book on tape we've been listening to was written by an Afghan and he often mentions middle-eastern food so we were both craving something along those lines. We manged to find the only Indian restaurant in town, and wouldn't you know it, it was excellent!
So here we are, back at our posh room at the Super 8 Hotel. Tomorrow we only have a 4+ hour drive to Nashville where my dear friend Cathy is hosting us for the night. More to come then!
I was experiencing an incredible array of emotions during the first day of driving. Excitement, boredom, anxiety, sadness, joy, etc. It was a real rollercoaster. We listened to a book on tape (The Kite Runner), and the story was itself was quite heavy, so while it helped pass the time, it also enhanced the already emotional state I was in.
During a stop at a rest area in NY Aly suggested we stop in Philly for a cheese steak. I hadn't ever tried one so why the hell not? Philly we was only an hour or so out of the way. Aly txted her dad and asked him to suggest where we should go as he has traveled to Philly many times.
We ended up at this place called Geno's. I'm glad we did it, but it was meh.
Back on course, we completed the first leg of the trip and arrived at my brother's place in Baltimore. We were tired, somewhat dazed, and experiencing a plethora of emotions brought on by the surreal fact that we had actually gone through with everything. I still don't think it's fully hit me that I've left absolutely everything I know to start anew in a crazy place like Los Angeles.
Anyways, it was great to be in company of family. James and Sam took us out to a delicious dinner and for a short while my mind was distracted from the swirling thoughts and emotions surrounding what I am doing.
That night Aly and I barely slept. I think we're both going through similar challenges emotionally, and it kept us up for most of the night (along with the tick-tick-tick sound of their dog walking around on the hardwood floors).
I sure am glad we're in this together.
The next morning we awoke to bright sunlight. I already felt better. After coffee and a bagel we said our goodbyes and hit the road. We were both in better spirits, due to the clear skies but also to our slow acceptance of our new reality.
After several hours, the skies clouded up once again and it started pouring buckets. Fuck. We stopped a few times for gas and bathroom breaks but eventually made it to Johnson City after around 8 hours of driving. We listened to more of The Kite Runner and the story got EVEN MORE depressing. Oh well. Better to get this one out of the way during the rainy days...once we're in the south I'm sure spirits will be high and we will require a slightly less emotional story (I have Steve Jobs' Biography cued up for that leg of the trip!!).
Anyways, once we got to Johnson City, we checked into the hotel and then headed out for dinner. The book on tape we've been listening to was written by an Afghan and he often mentions middle-eastern food so we were both craving something along those lines. We manged to find the only Indian restaurant in town, and wouldn't you know it, it was excellent!
So here we are, back at our posh room at the Super 8 Hotel. Tomorrow we only have a 4+ hour drive to Nashville where my dear friend Cathy is hosting us for the night. More to come then!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Last trip to my hometown for awhile...
Sorry for the lack of posts...the last 10 days were full of travel and work, often at the same time.
I enjoyed a weekend off several weeks back. Aly's brother Doug came into town and I accompanied him around town all weekend while Aly worked her last few days as a waitress (yay Aly!!). On Friday we spent a classic NYC evening out on the town. I say classic because it started at 11pm and ended at 5am. The next day we went to Coney Island. The boardwalk area reminded me of Venice Beach without all the crazies and pot clinics. We were going to try out some of the rides but the costs were ridiculous as they averaged $10-$20 per ride. Fuck that!
On Sunday Doug filled his car with a bunch of Aly's stuff and drove back up to MA. We headed up on Monday, crashed at her parent's place and continued on to Maine the next day.
It was lovely to be back in my hometown one last time before heading west. Since Aly had never been, I showed her all around town, and during the day we ended up stopping at my highschool. It was a surreal experience walking around in those halls; I hadn't been there in 16 years! Several of the teachers I had were still there and I was able to visit with them. I found it incredible how they immediately recognized me. Back then I had hair down to my shoulders, a lot more facial hair, and I was easily 20lbs bigger, but they still knew who I was.
I think the most interesting part was walking out onto the stage in the school's auditorium. I'd experienced many of my first performances in front of a larger audience there and so this was a very nostalgic moment. Vivid memories flooded my mind...I remembered all the talent shows, the band concerts, the theater pit gigs, the solos, everything. It was amazing.
I find it very interesting how my perspective on my roots has changed over the years. During my 20's all I wanted to do was get away from Waterville and see the world. I wanted to stop being the kid from the small town and learn more about life. Nowadays I still want to experience new places and things but I also feel the need to re-connect to my roots and give back. I've decided that once I have the means necessary I'm going to work with the school system in my hometown and help create the best music/art/thespian program in the state. Eventually I want Waterville to stop being known as the 'sports factory' it is and instead be on the map as somewhere where art is highly respected and where students are nurtured, developed, and encouraged to make it their careers.
For the rest of the week we chilled with my folks. I managed to prepare two of my drumkits for shipping. I've shipped drums before and the best way to do it while avoiding a melee of boxes is to take the heads off and put the shells inside one another. This technique helped me get two drumkits packed into 3 boxes, but it took all day.
I'm not sure when I'll be back to Waterville but I hope it is soon; it is a lovely town to visit.
By the way, we have 3 more days in NYC and then we're outta this god-damned pit. It's been real...real disgusting. Could someone tell me why they allow people to throw trash directly on the street? Why are there mountains of leaking trashbags everywhere??? Have trashcans been banned in this hell-hole? Someone please explain as it makes no sense to me whatsoever. Thanks.
I enjoyed a weekend off several weeks back. Aly's brother Doug came into town and I accompanied him around town all weekend while Aly worked her last few days as a waitress (yay Aly!!). On Friday we spent a classic NYC evening out on the town. I say classic because it started at 11pm and ended at 5am. The next day we went to Coney Island. The boardwalk area reminded me of Venice Beach without all the crazies and pot clinics. We were going to try out some of the rides but the costs were ridiculous as they averaged $10-$20 per ride. Fuck that!
On Sunday Doug filled his car with a bunch of Aly's stuff and drove back up to MA. We headed up on Monday, crashed at her parent's place and continued on to Maine the next day.
It was lovely to be back in my hometown one last time before heading west. Since Aly had never been, I showed her all around town, and during the day we ended up stopping at my highschool. It was a surreal experience walking around in those halls; I hadn't been there in 16 years! Several of the teachers I had were still there and I was able to visit with them. I found it incredible how they immediately recognized me. Back then I had hair down to my shoulders, a lot more facial hair, and I was easily 20lbs bigger, but they still knew who I was.
I think the most interesting part was walking out onto the stage in the school's auditorium. I'd experienced many of my first performances in front of a larger audience there and so this was a very nostalgic moment. Vivid memories flooded my mind...I remembered all the talent shows, the band concerts, the theater pit gigs, the solos, everything. It was amazing.
I find it very interesting how my perspective on my roots has changed over the years. During my 20's all I wanted to do was get away from Waterville and see the world. I wanted to stop being the kid from the small town and learn more about life. Nowadays I still want to experience new places and things but I also feel the need to re-connect to my roots and give back. I've decided that once I have the means necessary I'm going to work with the school system in my hometown and help create the best music/art/thespian program in the state. Eventually I want Waterville to stop being known as the 'sports factory' it is and instead be on the map as somewhere where art is highly respected and where students are nurtured, developed, and encouraged to make it their careers.
For the rest of the week we chilled with my folks. I managed to prepare two of my drumkits for shipping. I've shipped drums before and the best way to do it while avoiding a melee of boxes is to take the heads off and put the shells inside one another. This technique helped me get two drumkits packed into 3 boxes, but it took all day.
I'm not sure when I'll be back to Waterville but I hope it is soon; it is a lovely town to visit.
By the way, we have 3 more days in NYC and then we're outta this god-damned pit. It's been real...real disgusting. Could someone tell me why they allow people to throw trash directly on the street? Why are there mountains of leaking trashbags everywhere??? Have trashcans been banned in this hell-hole? Someone please explain as it makes no sense to me whatsoever. Thanks.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Long weekend in Boston
So I'm back in NYC after a long weekend in Boston. It was very calming...just what I needed. It seems NYC isn't so good for my anxiety issues....
I took the train this time, and holy shit is it ever luxurious after all of my previous bus experiences. I caught the 8:30a.m. train out of Penn Station. Super-easy to get there, the train was on-time, and I sat alone. What's not to love?? The seats are as big as a first-class seat on a plane, as is the leg room, and the ride is smooth and relaxing. The wifi even worked the whole time...how amazing!! I was able to listen to an entire broadcast of Coast To Coast AM with Art Bell using my new iPhone, although I ended up falling dead asleep soon after the train pulled out of the station.
Ahhh...this was indeed the best way to travel!! It's worth every penny.
I got off the train at Back Bay station and started to walk along the platform when I realized I had left my leather jacket on the luggage rack. SHIT! I thought maybe I'd have time to run back and retrieve it but the doors to the train started to close. I saw the conductor standing in one of said doors so I ran over and told him what had happened. The train suddenly started moving and he said there was nothing I could do but he'd find the jacket and leave it at the lost and found over at the South Station stop.
That's what I call customer service.
So I walked over to Kenmore Square, got the bus to Brighton, retrieved my car, and drove down to South Station. I walked over to the Amtrak lost and found area, was greeted by a very nice woman, and she happily went out back and retrieved my jacket. Phew!
Had this happened on a motherfucking bus, I'd have NEVER seen that jacket ever again.
So props to Amtrak, the ride was on time, smooth, easy, and the customer service was excellent.
The rest of the weekend was enjoyable. Saturday I had a gig in downtown Boston. Aly's brother Doug came by to check it out and then we went back to Wrentham where his parents' neighbors were having a birthday party. We hung out until some of the rich kids in attendance ruined it. I hung out for the rest of the weekend in Wrentham with Aly's family at they're fantastically relaxing home on Lake Pearl.
Aly came into town on Monday. I took her out and gave her a lesson on driving a stickshift. If we're going to drive cross-country together she's gonna have to do some of the driving! She did a very good job and managed to not fry my clutch.
We returned to NYC this morning. I made the executive decision to drive back and I'm glad I did; it was quick, painless, and traffic free.
Coming up next week we travel to Maine (my last time seeing my hometown before I head west). Stay tuned!
I took the train this time, and holy shit is it ever luxurious after all of my previous bus experiences. I caught the 8:30a.m. train out of Penn Station. Super-easy to get there, the train was on-time, and I sat alone. What's not to love?? The seats are as big as a first-class seat on a plane, as is the leg room, and the ride is smooth and relaxing. The wifi even worked the whole time...how amazing!! I was able to listen to an entire broadcast of Coast To Coast AM with Art Bell using my new iPhone, although I ended up falling dead asleep soon after the train pulled out of the station.
Ahhh...this was indeed the best way to travel!! It's worth every penny.
I got off the train at Back Bay station and started to walk along the platform when I realized I had left my leather jacket on the luggage rack. SHIT! I thought maybe I'd have time to run back and retrieve it but the doors to the train started to close. I saw the conductor standing in one of said doors so I ran over and told him what had happened. The train suddenly started moving and he said there was nothing I could do but he'd find the jacket and leave it at the lost and found over at the South Station stop.
That's what I call customer service.
So I walked over to Kenmore Square, got the bus to Brighton, retrieved my car, and drove down to South Station. I walked over to the Amtrak lost and found area, was greeted by a very nice woman, and she happily went out back and retrieved my jacket. Phew!
Had this happened on a motherfucking bus, I'd have NEVER seen that jacket ever again.
So props to Amtrak, the ride was on time, smooth, easy, and the customer service was excellent.
The rest of the weekend was enjoyable. Saturday I had a gig in downtown Boston. Aly's brother Doug came by to check it out and then we went back to Wrentham where his parents' neighbors were having a birthday party. We hung out until some of the rich kids in attendance ruined it. I hung out for the rest of the weekend in Wrentham with Aly's family at they're fantastically relaxing home on Lake Pearl.
Aly came into town on Monday. I took her out and gave her a lesson on driving a stickshift. If we're going to drive cross-country together she's gonna have to do some of the driving! She did a very good job and managed to not fry my clutch.
We returned to NYC this morning. I made the executive decision to drive back and I'm glad I did; it was quick, painless, and traffic free.
Coming up next week we travel to Maine (my last time seeing my hometown before I head west). Stay tuned!
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