More Guitar stuff!
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Posted:Aug 23, 2012 2:29 pm
Last Updated:May 28, 2013 12:32 pm
14971 Views
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The secret!
Okay, I'm going to go back to my favorite subject, guitars and music. I know I let myself get side tracked by all this other crap that is of no real importance. I was messing around on my guitars the other day and I had some thoughts on this subject and because of my unique experience and knowledge, I realized I can bestow upon anyone who cares to listen, a very important secret. First of all, yes this is a real secret, and when you learn and apply it, it will transform you, or make you able to do something you couldn't do before!  First of all, and this is important, I'm going to tell you "about " this secret and the effects it will have. Something else you need to know, this is not really a secret, due to the prevalence of the internet, you could probably find it on your own if you just google it. But, it still won't work for you! I know this, because I originally tried to do the same thing. I discovered part of it, and even practiced it, but it still didn't work. Because I only had part of the exercises. There is another part, that's not as widely known. You have to do all of the parts together in order for it to work properly. What it is, is a training exercises that will transform anyone who practices it, into a better musician. It's not just for beginners or novices. It actually is more for seasoned veterans, and professionals. It will make someone who knows how to play a better musician, and someone who doesn't know at all, into a competent player! Even if you're the worst player in the world presently, and don't know anything about music. Oh, and it won't take you years and years of practice, you only need to work on it for a couple of weeks and you'll see results! Now first of all, you may have some questions about this, and I'll try to address them. You can use this exercises for any instrument or even just to sing. No you don't have to have any special knowledge or background to do it. You could even be illiterate, and this will still work. This will improve your performance, but you won't suddenly gain a catalog of songs in your head to draw from or gain any new technical expertise on your instrument. You still have to do the work and learn and study if you want to perform certain pieces. This isn't a magic wand to make you into Mozart on the spot. This will help you attain that goal, if that's what you're striving for, but you still need to do the work and put in the time. What this will do, is help you play, whatever you know now, better. If you don't believe me, make a recording of whatever it is you know how to play now. Even if its a few chords and half a riff of some song. Then practice this exercises for a few weeks, and then record the same stuff again. I guarantee you'll hear a dramatic improvement in your playing. You will probably discover this even before you re-record the material. After practicing this exercises a few times, you'll notice that it sounds better then you ever played it before. Once you've acquired this new ability, from practicing this exercises, when you go to learn something new, you'll notice it suddenly isn't as difficult as it was before. And you'll probably start building you're music vocabulary and catalog from there. About the exercises itself, if I told you exactly what to do, right now, you wouldn't do it. Because it sounds so stupid and lame, you wouldn't think it would work. I know this because that's what I thought about it, at first. And I have extensive knowledge of music. I thought, " oh come on, that's stupid, that won't work "! Fortunately, I reconsidered, " Well, I guess I could try it, what could be the harm if it doesn't work "? And you'll even feel stupid while you're doing it too. So if you try it, make sure you're practicing it somewhere alone, because other people will laugh at you, and you'll stop practicing it out of sheer embarrassment!  The way you practice it is important too. Only do it for about a half hour a day. It won't make you develop faster or become a better musician sooner if you practice it twelve hours a day! Because what you're doing exactly, is accessing a program in your mind, you do not use presently. To unlock it, you have to coax it out of it's dormancy. Some people have this ability naturally, and it's a very prominent part of there thinking process. Most people, aren't aware they even have this ability, that's why you have to bring it out gradually. Like I said, it shouldn't take more then a couple of weeks to before you notice results. Once you've brought this ability out of yourself, you may want to build on it, by learning more songs or studying music seriously. I suggest take some formal instruction, just until you understand what you're doing a little better first. If you think you're going to develop into a great player, just by copying other peoples playing and music, that will not happen. You have to have an understanding for what you're doing first. Otherwise, you're just wandering around blind. You may get lucky and hit a few marks now and then, but for the most part you'll be ignorant of what you're doing. And if you try to do things that way, it will take you much longer to figure things out yourself. And you will never understand how everything all fits together. It doesn't matter what you're playing or doing musically, it will still be the same. As for what exactly, this exercise is and what you have to do, to practice it. You'll have to do some research yourself first. I'm not going to just tell you what it is right out. If you discover what it is I'm talking about here, but aren't quite sure, you can always ask me about it here. I'll let you know if you're on the right track or not. Or, if you do happen to discover it, and are trying it, but it's still not working for you, just tell me the parts that you're doing and know about, and I'll give you the hidden piece you need to make it work for you! I told you in the beginning, I was going to tell you " about " this exercise, I didn't say I would tell you precisely what it was, or how to do it.
Form
Once you've discovered the secret I've discussed previously, you may want some advice on what instrument to use. I play guitar, but I don't recommend it for everyone. Mainly, because I know exactly how difficult that instrument is to master. Not only is it one of the most complex instruments to play. It is physically difficult and tasking as well. You will need to build up muscles in your hands in the form of the dexterity strength you'll need to play it. There are many other instruments that are much easier to master, that won't require you to go through that punishing physical ordeal. I suggest the keyboards. Because now with electronic synthesizers, you can reproduce the sound of any other instrument with them. And it only requires you to learn how to push buttons or depress the keys. You still have to practice and acquire a certain amount of dexterity to play it. But nothing compared to what you have to do to learn to play the guitar. I'll give you an example for what I'm referring to. On a keyboard, if you play a C note, or depress the key for the C tone, it will never change and always be the same tone, no matter how you play it or how hard to depress the key on the instrument. When you play a C note, or any note for that matter, on the guitar, you can change the tone or even the note itself, depending on how you play that particular note while pressing, or plucking the string. Music is difficult enough in itself to learn and master without trying to learn it on an instrument that can literally morph into other tones depending on how you play it. I think the Saxophone is similar to this process but your on a wind instrument. That's why when you see some of the really accomplished players or even me for that matter, it's difficult to figure out how their playing something or where their getting the sounds from. I'll tell you an insider secret. I can play things without even touching the strings at all. By manipulating the natural tones the instrument makes on it's own. That is an extremely advanced technique, and I don't recommend anyone trying to do it, who isn't on a higher level of expertise with their instrument. Another thing, because of playing the guitar, the muscles in my hands have been altered. I can stretch my fingers farther apart on one hand then I can the other hand. That came from years of practicing the augmented stretches required to perform alot of the metal stuff I do. Something else you may have noticed, when I do that two handed tapping technique on the strings sometimes. It's not what you think. I'm not pressing down on the string with my tapping finger, or touching it, just to make the note sound. I'm actually plucking the string with my finger. Although it looks like I'm just pressing on it, I'm actually, bending it slightly, then releasing it, the same way I would do with a pick, but because I'm doing it so quickly and in rapid succession sometimes? It appears I'm just tapping my finger on the string. If I did it at a slower speed, you would recognize the technique I'm using, more easily, then you do now.
I'll write more later, I got to go somewhere now.
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Guitar God
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Posted:Jul 28, 2012 3:36 pm
Last Updated:Feb 24, 2015 1:44 pm
10413 Views
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Guitar Gods!
In case you're were wondering why I used the guitar I did, for the" surfing for with the alien " video? Let me explain. First of all, I didn't plan to play that song at all. I just finished playing the first song and inspiration hit me. If you'll notice behind me in the video, I have all my left handed versions of my world class collection of the greatest guitars of all time! What I'm actually using there, is a cheaper version of a Les Paul made by Epiphone called a " Special II ". It's actually a beginners guitar. I bought it at a pawn shop and it was in bad shape when I got it. I had it professionally fixed up and repaired. I was only planning on using it has a practice guitar, but I decided I like the way it sounds, so I'm using it in some videos now. In the video, I point to the other guitars, like I'm trying to decide which one to play next. I might actually do that in some future video, choose different guitars for various songs I'll be playing. But here is my thinking and motivation on this matter. When I was just starting out, I would have killed to have the guitar collection I have now. I couldn't wait until I could acquire better instruments and start a damn fine guitar collection of my own! But, now in retrospect, I'm glad I didn't. I made the same erroneous assumption all beginners make. I thought that if I had the same instrument my idols played, I would play and sound just like them! The reality is, I would still play like myself, only with a better more expensive guitar. But, after a long time and years and years of a lot of hard work, I finally did learn how to play on the level of my guitar hero's, and I acquired the same instruments they use as well. But now here is the problem. Because I can look and sound just like they do on any given song, it's no longer a challenge or very interesting to me. I'd rather slog it out on a cheap crappy guitar and a shitty fifteen watt amplifier, then play with a ten thousand dollar guitar and a massive, powerful state of the art amplifier and effects rig. And that's exactly what I did. It's a good thing none of my fellow Rock Star friends saw me do that. They'd all yell at me for being such a dick and behaving sacrilegiously with my equipment. But here is how I see it. As some of you know, I practice the martial arts as well. In that movie " The Karate " Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi is trying to catch a fly with a chop stick. And Daniel (coincidentally named ) asks him " what are you trying to do "? And Mr. Miyagi replies, " Man who can catch fly with chop stick, can do anything "! And that's basically the same attitude I have for my guitar playing. Anyone can sound good using the same instruments and equipment as the professionals use, when reproducing their music. But, it shows real skill and ability to do the same job while using a piece of crap instrument and little tin sounding amp! Kind of like running with weights on your legs, it's harder to do the exercises, but it makes you stronger in the end.
I have a few more other guitar related things I want to discuss. If you'll notice the picture I have accompanying this post. See how seamlessly my image fits in with all my guitar hero's? Now you can understand a little better why everyone used to ask me if I was a musician or not? My friends used to tell me " I had the look of a Rock Star "! I'll say I did! Of course anyone can grow their hair long, put on some sun glasses and a leather jacket and hold a guitar and try to look cool. But, as you already know, not only do I have the look, I've demonstrated through my videos I have the ability to sound and play like the greats, as well as, utilize the same instruments they use too! That's partly why I'm so cool!  Anyway, here is something I thought of, because of a comment that dumb ass Kelly made about my playing. First of all, he shouldn't criticize someone who is an expert in something, especially when he doesn't know dick about the subject himself. I'll demonstrate why! What he said was," he had a friend that could play anything on the guitar or other instruments, by ear. And that because of this ability he really was in " awe " of him as a musician ". Hmmmmmmm?! Well, first of all, he gave himself away, showing what he really thinks of my playing when he mentioned that " he's in awe " of this other person. I figured he would be. I mean after all, everyone and their brother thinks I'm Gods gift to the guitar. Why shouldn't he think that as well?! For those that aren't acquainted with me and my playing, or just don't know anything about music. I am what would be considered by other musicians as a master! Or in other words, I know everything and can play anything on the guitar! When Kelly said that, he was trying to insult me and make me feel bad about my playing. Which really is impossible to do, if he knew anything about music or playing. He doesn't realize, that I know many many musicians, just like his friend. In fact virtually all my fellow Rock Star friends are like that. They had a natural ability and they started playing the guitar and then working in bands and have been doing it ever since. The problem for them, is that they don't know what they're doing, or can't expand beyond copying other players music. That friend of Kelly's who plays by ear, may look impressive to any regular person, but the moment he encounters me, it would be a totally different story! I know this, because I still run into players like that guy all the time. Just as in any area, when two professionals meet, they become instantly aware of things that other less enlightened people would ever notice. Usually, for me, this happens before I even play anything. It must be something about my personality or something they pick up on. I think it's just the way I hold the instrument? Then usually, as soon as they hear me start playing they'll think to themselves "Hey, this guy's good "! I can tell that, just by the way they're looking at me. Then, the very first question they'll ask me, is, " how did I just do that "? Or something related to my playing or performance. The reason why they'll ask me this question? Is because, they never studied it, or had proper instruction for mastering their instrument themselves. They developed they're own style or way of playing the guitar. Usually, it's wrong or they're doing something totally fucked up while they're playing. When they encounter someone who actually knows how to do it correctly, they suddenly realize how inept they are as musicians. Then, they'll have either one of these two, reactions. They'll either respect the fact that I know more then they do, and ask me questions and listen to my advice. Or, they'll just act like a dick, and walk away with their tail between their legs, and try to find some idiot Bozo, like Kelly, that doesn't know shit, and would be really impressed by what they do. A fellow Rock Star guitarist friend of mine is like that. He and I used to jam together, until it got to be too much for him, realizing everything he didn't know. Virtually, everything we played together, he had some question about what I was doing. He's not the kind of person that likes to be second to anyone, especially when it comes to playing the guitar. But, he told me something once, that gave me great insight into this whole process. It's something that I take for granted, being educated about music as compared to someone who isn't. He told me once, " I have a book for all the guitar chords, but I don't know in what context to use them ". When he told me that, I realized, the great advantage I had in that area, because I know all the chords and what context to use them in! Also, another thing people that learn to play by ear do. They don't use the correct fingering for playing the notes, and they don't form the chords completely. Usually, they're only pressing on the notes that are sounding, and they don't fully form the chord. That's not right, and they may get away with it, for a performance, but if they were recording, it wouldn't sound right. And incidentally, when someone who learned to play like that encounters a player on my level of expertise, they recognize all of these characteristics of my playing, instantly!  Another thing about that friend of mine. Like I said, he hasn't spoken to me in a while. I figured it was because he was jealous for how well I've been doing financially the past few years. But, recently, I realized something else, and this is the real reason he's been acting like a dick to me. When I first met him, he was already a veteran and had been playing in bands for years. I was a new fledgling guitarist. I hadn't even done a line off of a strippers ass yet. That's how green I was. He was one of many mentors or guitar guru's I knew at the time. I learned a lot about music and equipment from him. At the time, I still didn't know shit about that sort of stuff. I still remember when he suggested to me, " that I should buy a tube amp "! Up until that point, I was using solid state equipment. I thought it sounded all right, but I wasn't getting the warmer tone I was looking for. But, then, he learned, what all of you have learned about me, or a facet of my personality. When I do something, I do it in a big way! When he suggested I purchase a tube amp, he thought I was going to get some tiny combo amp or even a Marshall. I went out and bought loudest most powerful amplifier on the market, the Eddie Van Halen 5150 stack! For those that don't know or aren't familiar with that sort of thing, it has five tubes on the overdrive channel instead of the usual four. All that means is that I can push it further sonically then anything else out there! I still remember, after I bought it, they gave me a brochure with it. The next time I saw him, I handed it to him and asked him " what do you think "? He looked at the pamphlet not seeming very interested at first. I then realized he hadn't fully grasped the gravity of the situation, so I said, " I bought it "! He was just stunned! Then of course he had to come over to my place and jam with me on it! He was shocked by that event, and later, when he got know me a little better, after a while and he saw all the other extravagant things I did all the freaking time,( and still do, I might add ) he eventually got used to it! Incidentally, I noticed, some of you here, are slowly getting used it too. One time, he and few other friends went to a concert together. As you know, I usually take a limousine to the shows. But, because I was trying to be one of the guys, I just road in the back seat of Joe's old mustang. My guitar friend was sitting next to me at the time. A limousine passed by us on the highway. I think I commented about how it resembled the one I took to a Van Halen concert recently. He then turns and says to me, " this must be very traumatic for you, not riding in a limo to a show "? I answered him honestly, " it was "! Well anyway, back to the subject of music. I was recently watching some videos his band uploaded recently. And I saw something I thought I would never live to see! They played some of the same songs I've done in my videos. And I realized, that I'm a better player then he is! That's something I never thought I would see. When I first met him, he was light years ahead of me as a musician, because of his experience. Now, it seems I've over taken, and surpassed him as a guitarist. That's the real reason he's been acting like a dick and won't talk to me. And it's not a just a minor thing either. He even blocked me from contacting him on face book, just like Erica! I can understand Erica blocking me, but I've known this guy much longer, in fact, he only lives across town from me. See what happens when people are jealous and resentful. Well, I'm not changing anything about myself just to suit some asshole because something I do makes them feel bad or inadequate about themselves. My attitude is " joke them, if they can't take a fuck "! So ends the lesson for today  
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New Video!
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Posted:Jul 20, 2012 9:25 pm
Last Updated:May 28, 2013 12:30 pm
7420 Views
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I can play that rock and roll!
I finally upload a new video today. I've been meaning to do it for a while. Luckily, inspiration hit me, and I seized on it while I had the opportunity! The whole process has gotten much easier. I could or should upload a lot more videos than I actually have so far? The problem is, I'm not always inspired or in the mood for it. Like I said, for me, performing music is like how sex is for most other people. I enjoy it while I'm doing it, but I'm not always in the mood. I've been having these little jam or practice sessions and some of them have turned out really well! Which is surprising because I hardly ever play any more. What I'll do, is start rehearsing a song I want to do in a video. After I play that a few times, I'll start playing something else. Usually it's something I haven't played in a while, or it could be something totally new that I've never played before and decided to just learn it on the spot. I listen to music all the time, so I always have a few tunes rattling around in my brain. One of the things I'm grateful for, is that I actually did take the time to learn to play the guitar, back then, all those years ago. If I was just starting out now, I'd be so depressed and frustrated! I know I've spoken about my whole process from not being a musician to developing into one. But, it almost didn't happen. There were lots of times, when I could have just as easily gone the other way and never learned to play the guitar. In fact up until the last moment before I actually signed up for lessons, I was still having reservations and doubts about whether I should invest the time and effort into this. I'm glad that I did now, of course. At the time, I figured," well, even if I never learn to play very well or ever get any good at it, at least I gave it a shot, and it would be no harm in trying ". Now I realize, it was a great hobby to have and for me, it lead to a lot of other things I never even dreamed I'd be doing. I think I"ve said this before, but it really is true and I should actually stress it more often. Everyone should learn to play a musical instrument! I'm not saying everyone should be like me, and become guitar virtuoso and a Rock Star gun slinger. That was just my own personal ambition. But, I do believe everyone should practice playing some sort of instrument or studying music in some form. Choose what every you want to play, but learn to play something. The reason you should do this, is it helps your mind and can expand your brains thinking process. When you play music, you use a part of your brain that you usually never use. It just stays dormant. When you access this area to play music, it helps your thinking processes in other areas. For that reason alone, learning music is especially beneficial to anyone.
I thought of something else, recently, about my music background. I've told you before, how everyone I knew while growing up, suggested that I should start a band with them. I never really thought about that much until writing about it here on my blogs. Then I thought about my background and upbringing. Virtually everyone in my family was an accomplished musician, except me, for a long time. My older sister played the violin when she was in grade school and she was very good. My other sister played the flute. It was an expensive one that was sliver and had to be put together in sections and had a hard shell case with it. My Mother played the keyboards or organ. She used to sit there and play for hours, while I was still a . I told you once, when I was still in grade school, my friend Buddy, receive an acoustic guitar for his birthday. It was the first real guitar I ever saw close up. Despite my being surround by all of these musicians, at the time, it never occurred to me to that I would learn to play something myself someday. I know that sound strange in retrospect. But it really was never in my mind set. If I recall, at the time, I didn't have a desire to play a musical instrument, because I didn't feel I had the aptitude, and the whole process for playing or mastering one, looked awfully difficult. I always thought, " If I would ever do something like that, it would take an enormous amount of time and effort "! When ever I was around someone else who played an instrument. I was interested, of course, but I wasn't fanatical about it, or anything. My attitude was more like " well, that's very nice, but I'd rather go out and ride my bike now "!;| It wasn't until my teenage years that I started to have more of an interest in music, but still, my attitude towards music, wasn't any different then any other teenagers. I had certain songs of bands that I liked, I bought the records and listened to them, but I never thought I, myself personally would be capable of ever playing and performing it. Then like I said, all my friends kept suggesting I start a band with them. I thought it was a nice idea, but, because of my lack of ability at the time, I never really considered it seriously. Then as I progressed into my late teens and early adulthood. I found myself still surrounded by people that made the same suggestion. I even used to have total strangers come up to me and ask me if I was a musician, or in a band? That used to unnerve me a little, sometimes. Because I used to think, " why are they asking me that, do I look like I play an instrument or something "? Then as I told everyone I started getting these weird premonitions about being this great musician and guitarist some day! I was watching the " Hot for Teacher " video by Van Halen, and I had a thought in my mind or a voice that said to me " and that's the way you will play that song someday "! I remember, it was almost immediately after I had that thought, I said, " What?! I could never play the guitar like that "! And then I went through that whole ordeal where I encountered the Van Halen posters in someones bedroom I was working in at a job. The idiot asshole friend I had that pushed me into finally taking lessons. And from there, I developed into a professional musician that I am today. Interesting to note. Out of all the people in my life, including members of my own family that were musicians and all of my friends, some of whom, actually were very good musicians and possessed a natural ability or talent and were even better and more accomplished players then me. Out of every single one of them, I was the only one who actually became a professional musician and lived out my dreams for playing music. The guy with no ability or interest in the subject, grows up to out shine and trump everyone else in the field of music! Isn't that crazy wild shit?! Just goes to show, you never can tell about some things. But, because I always analyze and try to figure things of this nature out. I love a good puzzle. I figured out now, why I succeeded while everyone else I knew, failed. To do anything, you need a certain amount of character or determination to succeed at something. Music is very complex and difficult. And even if your very good at it, it's still not assured you will have an easy time trying to make a go at it. It's a tremendous struggle, in every aspect of the process, from learning to performing. It takes a certain type of personality, and strength to persevere in this field. Apparently, I had what it takes, and all the others didn't. I could have used this same determination, and applied it to anything and still succeeded. In fact, I did just that. As anyone who's read my blog knows, I've accomplished several other difficult fields of study and I mastered those disciplines as well. That's just the kind of guy I am. Gives you something to think about though, doesn't it?
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The Rules
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Posted:Jul 11, 2012 11:58 am
Last Updated:May 28, 2013 12:29 pm
6826 Views
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Don't say you were never warned.
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More guitar stuff
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Posted:Jul 9, 2012 7:16 pm
Last Updated:May 28, 2013 12:29 pm
6606 Views
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Guitar Man II
I was going to continue writing this on my last post, but then I realized it was getting too long. I'll probably write this one about the same length, so that's why I'm starting another post. When it comes to guitars and music I could go on forever, because for one, I know alot about both subjects and two, I love talking about it! Also, for those who are like me, you know everything I'm saying is true, and for those that never had the opportunity to become a musician, this will give you inside look for how the whole process works. I've been working on some songs for the next videos I plan to do. There is nothing stopping me from just recording them and uploading them, except my own perfectionism and procrastination. Like I said, I could just turn on the camera and churn out one song after another for ten hours straight and then just edit the tape to each performance and then upload another hundred videos on you tube just like that if I wanted to. In fact, I should probably do just that, just so I would get more material and performances out there. But, when it comes to music, I'm lazy and very picky. It takes a lot to get me motivated for that shit these days. But I'll tell you some of the stuff I've been working on. First, I had an idea to showcase my versatility with the guitar. I was planning to do three distinct but very famous pieces of music, with three different styles of playing, acoustic, electric or metal, and bass guitar. I want to do "Dust in the wind ", for the acoustic song, " Surfing with the alien " for the metal song, and "Can you see the Real Me " by the Who for the bass song. John Entwhistles virtuoso bass performance on that song is still one of the best bass solos ever played. Instead of doing these songs separately, I was thinking of doing all three of them together or all in the same video. I could just do one song, put down my guitar, pick up the next one and just whip them off one after another, like that. I don't know if I'll do that or not? Sometimes I get ideas for things, and I think they're a great idea, but when I actually try to do it, it doesn't work. So, that's how that works. I've played all of those songs for years so I know them very well, except for " Surfing with the alien ". That one is new. I've already performed it in public and got a great response, so I guess I did okay on that one? Because I'm such a perfectionist, I wanted to use the same stuff that Joe Satriani used when he performed it. You don't have to, of course, you can use any electric guitar to play this song, I just prefer to use the original equipment if I can afford and acquire it. I was sitting in the Amplifier section of a music store trying out this wah effect pedal for the song. I didn't have any of my own guitars with me, but as luck would have it, they had another left handed Ibanez guitar, similar to mine, in the store. It didn't have locking nut tremolo, like the one I use, but surprisingly, I still able to get the same squeals and screaming sounds out of it. In fact I think I liked it more then my own, more fancier guitar? Anyway, no one else was in the store, except for the salesman. He wasn't impressed by my playing, because I'm sure he hears guys like me, tearing it up in there all the time. While he was fiddle fucking the the effect pedal, trying to figure it out. There was music playing over the store sound system. It was Jimi Hendrix's " Manic Depression ". I haven't played that one in a while, so I just started playing along. That's actually a pretty good tune too, I'll have to cover that one sometime. After the sales guy finally figured out where the input jack was, I was ready to let it rip. I just started playing " Surfing with the Alien " and he kept adjusting the effect until it sounded right. When I play, I lose myself in my own world sometimes. I'm not even aware of where I am, or my surroundings sometimes! Especially if I'm really into the song I'm playing. I was just going to town, ripping it up like I always do, when some girl came into the store. Because I was in the amplifier section, I was surrounded by speaker stacks so she couldn't see me. She came all the way around to that area to see who was tearing it up on that number. She stood there with her mouth hanging wide open, like she was in shock! I guess I must have really nailed it good?! For some reason, my playing always has this effect on women! I know it certainly did for my muse. Speaking of which. Like I said, I want to do more videos but it's hard for me to get inspired or to even want to play anything. I heard this great song I wanted to do, but it's primarily a vocal based song. There is some guitar in it, but it's very minimal and not very interesting in it's original form. So, once again, I don't know how she does it? But Erica led me to another version of this song, an instrumental version that sounds better then the original! I'm still blown away by how that happened. I was just thinking about it, and bam, I followed her lead on something she mentioned, and I was led right to it. Talk about being connected synchronicity. I don't want to say what the song is yet, because I don't know if I'm going to do it yet. I don't want to get your hopes up, if I never perform it. Sometimes, when I'm playing them, they just don't work out. Then, I happened upon something else kind of interesting. As some of you may know, I have a lot guitars. I don't need that many, but when you reach a certain level of professionalism, you like to have a large assortment of tools to ply your trade with. Also, when you're on my level as a musician, like I am, you can bring out the unique character and tones of the instruments. I have a double neck SG. One neck has twelve strings and the other neck to the instrument has the normal six strings. It looks cool, but finding pieces of music to play, where I can utilize both necks, isn't always easy. So, I was messing around with my guitars the other day. I started taking them out and playing different stuff. When I got the idea to play the Beatles song "Ticket to Ride " That song uses a twelve string guitar for the rhythm part. There is only a small lead fill part that George used to play, but the majority of the song was played by John, the rhythm guitarist for the band. So, I started playing it on the twelve string neck, when I got to the lead fill part, that's played on a six string. I thought " hey, I have another six string right down here ". So I just moved down and played the fill part and then went back up to the twelve string neck again. After I played it, I realized how perfectly that worked! I could easily do the work of two guitars, and not even miss a beat. Something else I realized, that is just another weird coincidence. When I play the lead fill part, the last note is an E, but it's an octave higher, played at the twelfth fret. When I take my hand off the note, to bring it back up to the twelve string neck again, the note is still ringing out, just like on the record. So is sounds like I'm still holding the note. But I'm not, it's just ringing out naturally because I took my finger off the string. And then when I begin playing again on the twelve string neck, all the notes just segue nicely together. It's just one of those weird things you find in music. I know John and George did not use a double neck when they recorded the song in nineteen sixty five because that type of guitar was not developed yet. I think the first double neck guitars started coming out a year or two later? Because if John did have a double neck at that time, George might have been out of a job? Because he could play the whole thing himself, then he wouldn't have had to pay an extra person to play the fill part. But, by then the Beatles were quite successful, so I think George would still retained his job security, but maybe he had to take a pay cut. Just sayin. I'll write more later.
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More vacation stories!
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Posted:Jun 22, 2012 9:54 am
Last Updated:Feb 21, 2021 7:45 pm
11108 Views
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I was just over at Erica's blog again. On there, she has a post entitled " Sadness "! What I'm wondering, since she's been with Jay these last few years and all the struggles and turmoil she's been made to endure because of this association, why aren't all of her posts she creates on her blog called " Sadness "? That's what I want to know?
Well, from the response I've gotten from her two buffoons. I guess the equation now is, an ounce of truth and insight, equals a ton of screaming and crying with bullshit and insults attempting to win a weak argument. If I wasn't so on the mark with my observations and assessments of the situation, neither of them would be so upset and enraged at me.  I was going to respond to their latest diatribes, but re-read all of my previous comments on that post. I've already addressed ALL of the issues and said everything I have to say on the matter. I don't think I should have to keep repeating myself, over and over, saying the same things again and again. Because a couple of dense, nit wits can't grasp the point and meaning the first time. But, I digress
I want to relate a few more stories from my trip I remembered. I told you the majority for everything that happened, but this stuff happened in the last few hours of the trip. I thought they were kind of funny and insightful, so I'll share them with you now.
For those that don't know or are unaware, I took a trip to Florida with one of my girlfriends to visit her sick niece, who was hospitalized. While we were there, we decided to take a nice vacation. We were only supposed to stay a day or two and then return, but we were having so much fun, we decided to stay a few extra days. I think we were there for about a week total! I rented a really cool car, Infinity G37, and we stayed at one of the most expensive and prominent hotels in Saint Petersburg. I know what your thinking," how it really must suck to be me sometimes" ? Before we left, or I think it was during dinner the night before we left. My girlfriend Barb, who is originally from the area and comes from a rich family, says to me. One of her friends, who I know too, just bought a property in this area, but hasn't decided if they want to move down here or not, yet! I think I was about to take a bite of food, then I stopped and looked over at her, and said. " You mean, you knew your friend has a place down here, we could have stayed at, rent free for the whole fucking week, and you didn't tell me about it until now "? Then she replies, " Oh, its too far inland, we wouldn't have been near the beach and everything else "! Again, I looked at her with my anger starting to rise! I said, " Oh, so it's okay for me to lay out all this heavy dough for a hotel, just so when you finally wake up at the crack of noon, you can walk out on the beach with your coffee and cigarettes "! She just looked at me with one of those, well, yeah, of course expressions! Do you understand NOW why, I'm still single and have never remarried?! So, we're driving to the airport for our return departure flight back home. I'm grumbling, because it's dawning on me, that I have to relinquish the keys to my cool set of wheels I've been driving! I said, " damn, I hate to give this baby back, this really sucks "! Then I say, " God damn it "! And then Barb, who I don't think was paying attention to me up to that point looks over at me, and asks " what's my problem "! I tell her how attached I've become to this car, and how hard it is for me to give it up again "! She gives me one of those looks, women give men when they think they said something incredibly stupid! Then I say, " you don't understand the bond, a man forms with his cars, it's a guy thing "! She rolls her eyes again! Then I say, " oh yeah, well what if I told you, you had to give back all the clothes and other shit you bought at the end of our stay here, how would you feel about that "? Then she replies, " well, I wouldn't cry about it, that's for sure "! I just go back to my sulking at the prospect of losing my baby, again. I was thinking of getting one of these things myself, at home? But the car I drive now, is not that much different, except it doesn't have all the state of the art, space age technology with it. Also, my car is a sports car and is much lower to the ground. I love the way it hugs the curves on the turns at high speeds! So we finally, get to the airport and I drive to the car rental drop off area. I spend a few more sad moments with my baby, before I finally say " good bye "! Barb already has her suit case and is pulling it behind her on it's wheels towards the terminal. I say, " hey wait up, you can't get on the plane, without the tickets I have here, you know "! She ignores me and keeps going. Tell, me, what does a man have to do, to get any kind of respect from a woman these days? Anyway, now here is where it gets interesting. As I've made no secret, I'm not especially fond of gay people. I don't have any real animosity towards them, as long as they leave me alone, and stick to themselves. But, as most guys know, you still get accosted by one, every once in a while somewhere, and you have to just deal with it. When I say I don't like gays, it's not just for the fact, that two guys together totally grosses and weirds me out! amp; It's their " gay " personalities too. Because we moved our original departure day back. Our seats were no longer together on the plane. This was a problem for Barb, my girlfriend, the Queen! And she tells me she wants to sit next to me on the fight. I'm sure the fact that she used my credit card to buy drinks and other stuff during the entire flight, had nothing to do with her needing my companionship? If you remember, she wasn't even waiting for me while I was kissing my car good bye a few moments ago. So we go over to this area for this task and get in line. I'm not there more then a minute, when out of no where, some flamer comes running up to me! He was an airport employee,( of course) and I guess he saw me, and was smitten or something?amp; Then he asks us " what we're here for "? As soon as he started speaking, he had one of those exaggerated feminine, lispy voices that gay guys use, and to make it worse he had a southern accent too! A flaming southern gay guy, and my worst nightmare! I told him, " we're trying to get our seats re-assigned together ". Then he comes back with this indignant, anal retentive response. " Oh, well, you can't do that here, you must go to the kiosk over there for that "! I say, " okay ", and we collect our bags and head over to the kiosk machine. As soon as we arrive there, mister Rogers, comes running over to assist us again I know he thought he was trying to be helpful, but he was seriously getting on my nerves. Then he proceeds to instruct me for every process for this task. In order for us to get two seats together, I have to pay an additional hundred and fifty dollars. I look at Barb, and she gives me one of those, " your the cash cow in this outfit " looks of hers. I agree and get the seats. Then, mister anal retentive, starts really getting intrusive and starts counting our bags. We had like three when we arrived, but now we have like five or six, because Barb had to buy out the contents of every clothing store in Saint Petersburg! I tell him " not to worry about it, I'll just check my bags here " He replies, " oh, I'm just trying to save you some money on the bag check, if you can carry more on ". I was thinking to myself at that point, " I'll pay any extra expenses, just so I don't have to deal with your gay ass any longer "! Just then when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I then, encounter, the next worst type of person on the planet. The british Manchester Football fan! I knew who and what he was, because he spoke with a british accent, and he had on a shirt that said " Manchester football fan "! I didn't notice him at first, until he reacted to something I said, then he wants to interject himself into the conversation. By this point I'm thinking, " Oh Lord, I know I'm a sinner, so now you're going to really fuck me "! Oh, yeah, my girlfriend Barb, the financial succubus, was in the mix there too. So, I was getting screwed in every possible way, and direction! Finally, I was able to extract myself from the situation, the ticket kiosk machine printed out our new tickets, we had seats on the wing, and I ran for the sanctuary of the men's toilet! I'm sitting there, trying to enjoy a few minutes peace and quiet, when my cell phone rings! I answer it, thinking it's Barb, wondering when I'll be coming out again. But it's not, it's my sister, the one with the big house. She says " where are you "? I reply," I'm in the bathroom of the airport in Tampa "! She says, " what are you doing there "? LOL! I tell her, " I took a vacation and I'm coming back now, I'll tell you all about it when I get home ". Then I come out of the bathroom and look around. Barbs no where to be found. I wasn't worried, I knew where she was, the same place she goes for the entire lenght of our trip " outside to smoke a cigarette "! I call her, and ask her where she is? Turns out, she wasn't smoking a cigarette outside. I think it was first time in the entire week? We then go through the boarding area. The metal thread, in Barbs fancy dress she bought while on the trip, sets off the metal detector. They take her aside and start patting her down. I thought of accusing her of being a terrorist, just so I could have a peaceful inexpensive flight home, but I realized that would be too mean! So, after they're satisfied that she's not working for al-Qaeda, we go to the restaurant area and have lunch. Our waiter, inquires if I'm a musician? I guess he thought that because of my hair? Then he gives me his card, he's a musician too, and does all kinds of related band work. I take his card and thank him. We have lunch, and it's one of those places where they give you a beer in a three liter mug and a giant hamburger. I don't think I finished either of them? amp; Finally we get to the boarding area, there we encounter the Manchester Football fan again. He's holding up the line because he's arguing with flight attendants about boarding procedures for his . He had two beautiful twin blonde girls. I felt sorry for them, because their Dad was such a fucking asshole. It's funny to hear british people argue with americans. " Right, I outta put ma foot, right up your arse, you silly wanka "! And then you hear the flight attendant reply in a droll america monotone, " No sir, you cannot bring the stroller onto the airplane, it's against flight protocols "! So, we finally get board the plane and get our seats. Because we're on the wing, we have more leg room, thank God! Then, because of our seating, the stewardess, tells me," it's my job to assist with passengers exit, in the event of a water landing! I agreed I would of course, but I was thinking to myself, " in the event of a water landing, don't look for me, because I'll be the first one out the detachable window door here, and paddling away on the first life raft that inflates! The rest of you mofo's are shark bait "! During the flight back, Barb orders every expensive drink and item on the menu. Do you think she takes advantage of the fact that I have money, very often? Then like I said, we arrived back in " Filth a delphia ". One of the things about living in the pollution shit hole of the north east, is that when you travel to a nice tropical place like Florida, and return. You really appreciate the contrast. As soon as we got there, and I smelled the toxic waste fumes of the city. I was ready to hop on board the next flight back to Florida again. In fact, when I arrived home, I almost did just that! I came that close to heading back down there again, that's how much I enjoyed it, and how nice it was. Then, being forced to go back to work, and deal with all the regular bullshit again. Ah well, that's life.
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Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you.....
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Posted:Apr 29, 2012 7:38 am
Last Updated:Oct 18, 2013 4:22 pm
9368 Views
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I hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She's coming in, 12:30 flight
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hoping to find some long forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say, "Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you"
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless, longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what's right
As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you
It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
(I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa
(I bless the rain)
I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
(Ah, gonna take the time)
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
Since I've returned, it's been very difficult to adjust back to my regular life. That vacation was so relaxing, enjoyable and just fucking cool! I'm having trouble dealing with it. I figured out why too! I'm like that, I always want to try to divine the meaning for things. I look at it from different perspectives and several levels. Some young girl, I've never met, becomes ill, and the reverberations from this effect cause me to having a wonderful unplanned vacation in a tropical paradise I never knew existed. I also realized something else, it was the spontaneity of the event, that made it so cool and gave it, it's unique specialness! I was sitting out on my front porch playing with my Ipad and I watched a video from favorites channel on you tube. I was the song " I wasn't meant to follow " by the Byrd's and showed scenes from the movie " Easy Rider "! I realized while viewing this, that what I had just done was similar to what the characters Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper played, were doing. Just taking to the road and seeing where it would take them. I did essentially the same thing, but instead of using a couple of choppers, I used my sports car, a jet, and finally the Infinity G37 I rented down in Florida. Ironically, I said as a joke before we left, that I wanted to take my bike for the trip to the airport. I said that because Barb, hates riding on my motorcycle. She said " we can't because we have luggage ". I countered by saying " you have two arms, you can hold the bags while I'm driving ". She didn't agree, of course. Then while we were driving there, I saw a guy and his girlfriend on a bike like us, and I pointed them out and said " See "?! But, she was still unmoved. LOL! Anyway, because we just took off and really didn't know where we were going, or what we were doing, and then everything worked out so spectacularly? It has been difficult for me to re-adjust back into my regular life! I've been to florida before, of course. But those trips were usually planned and I knew pretty much what I would be doing beforehand. I usually would stay in Orlando, and then take a day out the week, and spend it at the beach on either coasts. My last trip there, I actually spent it on the gulf side, while visiting a woman I met on line. She lived farther north from where I stayed this last trip, and I wasn't impressed or thought the area was anything special. But with this recent trip. When we arrived, I had no idea where we would be staying! I thought we would probably just stay in a hotel in Tampa, and then go to the hospital for the next few days and then go home. I wasn't even thinking about what car I would drive or any of the other things like the beach or tourist activities. So, just by sheer co-incidence, my girlfriend, who is from this area, suggested that we go to where she grew up, an tourist vacation enclave for the rich or well to do, call Saint Petersburg Beach. I've actually been there before. When I was with my ex, we visited the Dali museum. I didn't think it was such a big deal, partly because I hadn't been to this area of Saint Petersburg. If I had known about it and what it was really like, I probably would have spent all my vacations there! First of all, when I travel some place cool, I like to rent a cool car as well. I only had a vague idea of what I would drive. That's why I asked the rental agent for a Mustang. I figured, that would be cool enough. But, instead, I ended up with something much better, the Infinity G37! That car was way cooler then anything I could even imagine. It all this sophisticated accessories and options. I didn't even know how to start it! Then attendant told me " step on the brake and push the start button on the dashboard! Not only that, the fucking thing felt like it was alive. The seats automatically adjust themselves to your body and weight! That's why I said, it reminded me of the Bat mobile! Then when I got it on the highway, it was fast as fuck. I was literally pushed back into the seat when I accelerated. And I drive a sports car back home! So, as were tooling down the interstate at a hundred and twenty miles an hour, I figure now would be a good time to fiddle fuck with the buttons on the dash board and see what they do! Yeah, you're right, not a good idea! Someone came up behind me and started flashing their lights to get my attention! No, it wasn't' the police. Apparently, in my haste and zeal to play with my new toy, I had neglected to turn on my headlights. LOL! It was night time when we arrived but the highway was very well illuminated with lamp posts all along the way. Also, in my own car, my lights go on automatically when it gets dark. So that's party why I didn't realize I was driving blind. As soon as I hit a dark patch, I would have found out quickly enough, though! So, then I discovered, this fucking thing as different types of lights, some were bright and some were blue. I kept switching back and forth because I could decide which one was better. Oh, my girlfriend Barb, she was pre-occupied herself with other features on this car. It had a sun roof which she opened and still insisted on blasting the air conditioning. In this car it's climate controlled, so it went on automatically. But what she loved the most was the fucking stereo in this bitch! It was a monster sound system as you probably guessed, with like ten speakers everywhere, but it also had a touch screen to find the stations, and yes it had satellite radio as well. That was a point of contention between the two of us, because I wanted to listen to satellite, because they didn't have fucking commercials on the stations. She wanted to listen to regular radio because she " likes " the commercials! This was one of many little things that added up after a few days and finally we had a fight! It wasn't all her fault though. I know you may not believe this, but I'm not the easiest person in the world to get along with sometimes?!  She was actually going to leave me there, and go back home at one point. She started calling some other guy she knows to get a plane ticket back home, and she knows that's the one thing in the world that fucking pisses me off! So, I smashed her fucking cell phone! Yeah, that's right, she's lucky that's the only thing I broke. Now before you start thinking anything, it's not as bad as it sounds. We quickly made up and then went out and the best night of our trip! I put her cell phone back together again, it wasn't busted up that bad, even though it fell several stories and hit the parking lot!LOL! Partly why she made up with me, is because, she knew she would never have it this good, without me! She would have been okay, and I don't think she would have had any problems. But, she knows, without me, there's not going to be twenty four seven party going on, and even worse, the shopping sprees would cease and desist! For a woman, I think that's the worst thing they could imagine. So, I knew she wasn't going anywhere! Once you've had the experience of living with me for a while, most women wander around singing that Sinead O Connor song " Nothing compares 2 U "! Oh yeah, speaking of those fucking shopping sprees. The first day we were there, I bought five shirts, three T shirts and two Hawaiian shits. Two pairs of shorts, and a bottle of sun block! That's it, I was good for the whole week! Barb, buys a bunch of clothing, dresses and other shit, a bathing suit, accessories, like bracelet's, sun glasses, bottles of perfume, lotions, tanning oil, a bunch of souvenirs for her friends back home, tampons, and a bunch of other female shit I don't even want to know what the fuck it was! The total for the first day of shopping was about five hundred dollars. And that was only the first fucking day. She made me take her shopping every fucking day we were there! I don't even know what she bought or how much it cost. I just gave her my card and then just signed in the little box on the counter. I figure she must have spent several thousand dollars. It's a good thing I'm rich.
Anyway, when we arrived in Saint Petersburg, over the bridge. Not the main one, there's a smaller one you have to pay a fifty cent toll. Every time we traversed it, going back and forth to the hospital every day, we had to scramble around to find two quarters in the car some where! Usually Barb had it, I knew she had change because every time I gave her money for cigarettes, I gave her a twenty, and she never gave me back the change. She needed cigarettes like twice a day, no lie! So, I knew she was flush with cash! So when you get off the bridge, I turned left, it led to a small area, with a minute market and laundry mat. I asked " where the Hotels were" ? They told me to head back the way I came but don't turn right on the bridge. That is the strip for all the hotels on the beach. I later found out it goes on for like twenty miles! As soon as I was on it this street, I knew this place was cool and was the perfect location. You can just tell these things. We stopped at a few hotels until we found a vacancy. Like I said before, it was the perfect place, to spend a week at the shore. The room was like a small apartment and had everything you needed. Plus, having room service was nice too! We made a mess every day with a big pile of wet towels in the bathroom, from going to the beach and pool and jacuzzi all the time! That was nice to have someone come in and clean up that pile of shit every day and supply us with fresh towels that we would use to make another mess! I noticed something else, or it was the lack of something while I was there. I didn't see one homeless person the entire time I was there. Usually, you see them every where you go, here up north. But, the entire time I was there, I didn't see one person pushing a shopping cart with all their stuff in it, down the street. They must have some sort of vagrancy laws down there the discourage people like that from locating down there. I also didn't see very much Gay shit either.amp; What I mean by that is, you see that every where you go these days too! You see a couple of with their " Two Dads " walking them down the street some where. Look, I don't like homos. If that offends you? I'm sorry, that's just how I feel! I did see a couple of Glee fans in a restaurant, but that was it. Oh, and one morning, during my daily wading into the surf ritual I had acquired, I saw two women walking down the beach holding hands. The tragedy was, they were both hot! If they had been a couple of fat dykes I wouldn't have cared. I noticed one of them had a T shirt on indicating they're from New York. I thought, " oh, that figures ". But for the most part it was couples (man and woman) and families (Mother, Father, and ) so that was another reason I loved the place. I didn't have to be weirded out by other peoples " alternative lifestyles ". And be forced to be tolerant about it. And like I mentioned before, most of the minorities I encountered obviously hadn't been informed of the " emancipation proclamation " either. So, if you are a white heterosexual person, this was an ideal place to visit.
Since I've returned, there are two aspects of this place I miss the most. It's so bad, when I got home, I almost had an impulse to go back to the airport and fly back down there again, so I could engage in them that night. I know, that's how bad it was. I loved going for a walk on the beach in the morning and going to the beach bar at night. If I could do just those two activities every day, I would be fine, I wouldn't care what else I did or where I lived. It was that nice! That fucking beach and ocean were like hypnotic and so relaxing, I was transfixed! And as for the bar. Bars are second nature environments to me, I've been in a million. And because of my special skill sets as a musician, I can actually take over and captivate all the inhabitants! I said there was a band playing there one night, and the guitarist used the same Les Paul as I do. I also realized I was better then him. If I had brought my own instrument on this trip and gotten up to play a few songs with them? The rest of the band would have probably fired him and hired me!LOL! It's nice to be popular! But it was the atmosphere and the mood of everyone there that really made it special. Also, it was right on the beach, so it was place to rock out and relax. I noticed the women there, were just dying to get fucked! That's another reason I should have brought my axe, I could have garnered a harem and had an orgy back in my hotel suite. I'll remember it for next time! See why it sucks to be me? Okay, I have more that I'll be adding later, I have other things I want to do today, I may write some more here tonight or tomorrow?
Something Peculiar happened one night at the bar on my trip.
I was sitting in the bar alone one night. I had called Barb, several times that evening and asked her to accompany me at the Beach Bar that evening. She said, " that she was tired, and wanted to stay in that night "! I was sitting at one of the tables, most of them were empty. And this guy came walking through the crowd and sat down next to me. He said, " I'm sitting at this fucking table with you, all right ". I didn't really think anything of it, right away. Then, I noticed, that all the surrounding tables were empty. Then this guy, sitting next to me, seemed like he wanted to engage me in a conversation. Again, I didn't really think much of it at the time. I had been down there about a week. Everywhere I went, someone wanted to talk to me for some fucking reason. The foreign people I could kind of understand, but the Americans gave me the heebie jeebies! So, after the band came back on, and played another killer set ( of lame shit, I could have played circles around them, if I had brought my own axe. ) For some reason, I got into a conversation with this guy. I don't remember who started talking first. I think I asked him, " do you play "? Meaning, an instrument in a band. He replied, " I do ". I then asked him " what he played "? He said, " I play the guitar ". I said, " Oh really, so do I "! Then I asked him his name, and he said. " Tim ". I told him my name, and then I looked at him for the first time. He was bald, or had his head shaved, and had a slight goatee. He was about my height, and seemed to be in his mid forties. I looked at him a little closer, and in the face, I swore he looked just like the Tim B. we all know from here. As I was speaking to him, he even spoke the same way that Tim and I used to speak to one another here, through the blogs. The problem was, he wasn't all buff and built up with steroids like Tim B was. He had an average build, but he was about the same height and build. Then as we're talking, he mentions that he's just gotten out of prison.! That didn't surprise me. I know a lot of guys who were in prison at one time. They all have this same air, or presence about them and their personality. What I mean by that is. These guys don't bullshit or play around. If they tell you something, you can be assured, they mean it. Like for instance. If they tell you they're happy to meet you and this is a cool place. They are being sincere. And if they tell you they're going to kill you in the next few moments, you can be sure, they will do that too! . I don't believe this is the same Tim, that we're all familiar with from her, because, I didn't notice any tattoos. I know Tim has a sleeve and I didn't notice one on this guy. But, I had been drinking and this guy wore a leather jacket. Yeah, that's right, who wears a leather jacket at a beach bar in eighty degree weather? Also, when he spoke to me, it was like he knew me. Which was very strange. He also kept walking away, and then coming back to the table. The first time, I thought he had just left, and didn't give it a thought. Then he was back sitting with me again. I also know, that the Tim B. from here that I know, doesn't play guitar, he plays drums. But, if it was him, how would he have known where I was and how to find me? I thought of that too. If someone was visiting the area where I am from, and posted pictures on a blog of where they were staying. I would be able to tell, just from the locations, where they were in relation to my location. I'm familiar with all of the major cities in my surrounding area. If I were to see a picture of someone standing in a downtown area some where, I would be able to tell where they were. So, I suppose, if someone was monitoring my blog, and I posted pictures of where I was staying, and this person was familiar with all of the locations around Florida, they could figure it out very quickly as well. Even if they lived on the east coast side, instead of the west gulf side of the state. I personally, don't believe this was the Tim, we are familiar with, but, then again I had never actually met him. And this person, telling me his name was Tim, who spoke and acted like him, and seemed to know me. I don't think it was him, but I'm not certain. And even if it was, why didn't he just tell me? Like I said, it was a bizarre incident, and I've been thinking about it, ever since.
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My latest Big Adventure!
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Posted:Apr 22, 2012 5:36 pm
Last Updated:Feb 21, 2021 7:55 pm
9456 Views
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./[fontface=comic sans ms]
Can't seem to get my mind off of you
Back here at home there's nothin' to do
Now that I'm away
I wish I'd stayed
Tomorrow's a day of mine
that you won't be in
When you looked at me I should've run
But I thought it was just for fun
I see I was wrong
And I'm not so strong
I should've known all along
that time would tell you
A week without you
Thought I'd forget
Two weeks without you and I
Still haven't gotten over you yet
Vacation
All I ever wanted
Vacation
Had to get away
Vacation
Meant to be spent alone
A week without you
Thought I'd forget
Two weeks without you and I
Still haven't gotten over you yet
I traveled down to florida for a week. I had planned to go down there and spend a week at some point this year. My girlfriend called me up, and told me her niece was admitted to the 's hospital in Tampa, for a lung infection. They had to insert a tube into her lung. I understand that 's hospital in one of the best in the country. My girlfriend Barb, not the one I took to the Van Halen show, this is the other one, was telling me about this, and I suggested we go down so she could be with her niece. It was only supposed to be for a day or two and I thought we would spend most of our time at the hospital while there? She is originally from that area in Florida, but has not returned back in about twenty years. Most of her family, Mother and Father and brothers and sisters still live there. She has a sister that lives up here, in the north east from time to time. So, she actually has family in both areas. I didn't have time to plan an itinerary or make plane or hotel reservations. Because we left so quickly, I didn't really have time to do anything I normally do in preparation for a trip of this magnitude. I just grabbed my back pack with my computers and phones and a small carry on bag I packed some under ware and a few pair of socks. I figured if I needed anything else, I'd just buy it down there. My girlfriend didn't have luggage so I picked her up a suitcase at Target. We did all of this very quickly, it was probably less then twenty four hours from the time that I suggested the trip, to sitting on the plane at take off. I love to travel, I don't care where I go. Usually, it's to a cool place like Florida or California or Hawaii! I just love getting on jet at the airport and going somewhere. I should actually work for an airline because I love to travel so much? I went on line first to purchase tickets. The prices were unbelievably high, even for me! I know what a plane ticket should cost, but that was too God damn much for two round trip tickets! So, for some reason, I didn't buy them there. I figured I could get a better deal at the airport. I don't know how I knew that, it was just a hunch, and I was right! Because I bought the tickets there, I was able to save five hundred dollars off the cost. I could have saved more if I made advance reservations, but I didn't have the luxury of time. We had to be down in Tampa immediately, because of her sick niece was in surgery that day. Now, about my girlfriend. She has a Queen complex, and expects a certain standard to be met when ever she's doing something, especially traveling. I always wondered where she got that attitude from? Now that I've seen the environment and area she grew up in, I have a better understanding. The place we eventually ended up at, was her home town. It's a luxury vacation resort for the rich! As we were riding around, she kept pointing out land marks she used to frequent when she was growing up. For instance, we passed some place and she would say, " oh there's the yacht club, my family belongs to "! I looked at her and said, " Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had such a terribly deprived childhood "! She would just look at me, like," what's your problem "? I would just shake my head and say," if you have to ask, you wouldn't understand ". Anyway, I hadn't traveled anywhere lately, but I had been hearing stories about how cumbersome and expensive traveling by air has become. It's all freaking true!  First of all, I'll give you some valuable insight and advice, in case you haven't traveled this way in a while, and are planning to do it soon. As long as you have lots and lots of money, you won't have any problem! No situation I encountered, while in my travels, couldn't be overcome with a large amount of cash! If you don't have a lot of disposable income and are planning to travel like this, you can expect a very hard road indeed! They have ways and means to extract money out of you, I never would have thought of. You have to pay for virtually everything all along the journey. And that's on top of paying a fortune for the tickets! Like I said, I could have done it cheaper if I planned ahead, but even so, the airlines nickle and dime you to death, and to add insult to injury, they make you take your clothes off in public too. Twenty five bucks just to check your bag! That's per bag! So, my girlfriend Barb, hasn't been on a jet in a long time and she was really nervous about the take off. Which is strange, because she insisted I give her the window seat. In my case I love everything about a flight, especially the take off! I was also equally excited about the prospect of leaving Philadelphia and the entire Northeast area. If you lived here, you would understand why! We had a non stop flight, which is really the only way to go. Lay overs suck. I just want to get there and be done with it. Fortunately, the flight went by quickly and before we knew it, we were in Tampa! I've been to Florida many times and the as usual, the first thing that hits me, when I arrive, is the air. It's always this warm tropical breeze and it's wonderful. After you've been up north, breathing the toxic, radiation, and land fill fumes of this area, you really appreciate the smell of the tropic sea breeze! After we picked up our bags at the baggage claim. I figured we should acquire some wheels? That would make traveling around there much easier.
I go over to the rent a car area. And it was at this point, I realized the other aspect of traveling I enjoy so much " foreigners " or " fereigners " as G.W. used to refer to them. I could tell a foreign person, from a a domestic brand just by the way they were dressed. For instance, all the foreign people I met, were dressed in really cool, exotic, unusual clothing, and sometimes had matching cool hair cuts too. Like they'd have their hair long on one side and a crew cut on the other side. And all the Americans, looked like they bought their clothes at Walmart, because they did! But, it's not just the attire that sets them apart. They have a totally different attitude, demeanor and behavior then the stupid americans. And we're supposed to be the greatest country in the world?! That may be true, but we're definitely not the coolest. I'll give you an example. Virtually, every foreign person I encountered, interacted with me, in a way that I've never known a stranger from my own country to behave, unless they were trying to sell me something. I realized right away, to monitor my behavior around them, because they pick up on things about you or your mood very quickly and react to you. Americans, are more reserved and stand offish with each other. Even if they know each other. But God damn, those french, germans, russians and english will come right up to you and start talking to you like they've known you all your life and start giving you advice and tell you personal shit about themselves and everything! There also very touchy feely! That took some time to get used to. As, an American, you know if someone tries to touch you, he must be a serial killer! But, if you adopt a more European attitude, you'd understand that's just how they are and it's part of their culture! They don't mean anything ill towards you, about it, it's just how they are, and they don't realize that going up to someone and grabbing their junk is not considered proper decorum in a civilized industrial society! LOL! It wasn't quite that bad, but almost. Anyway, Deter ( a german guy and his nordic princess ) was standing in front of me in line. When I came up to the desk, he was right next to me at the next agent. I asked for a mustang, they told me they were out but offered me a challenger. I said okay, but when they called to confirm it, it was taken. I later learned Deter had got it. Which was fine with me, because I figured he probably can't drive a big old American gas guzzler, like we can, back in Deutschland. So, they offered me an Infinity G37 instead. That turned out to be the correct choice. As soon as I saw it, I fell in love! This car is a true bat mobile. It has all these cool features and buttons to press, and it was actually learning process just to operate. Guys love this kind shit. We love having a toy with all kinds of gadgets and gizmo's on it. Also, it had a lot of power under the hood, at least four hundred horses! I'm not a religious person, but I think I got down on my knees in the parking lot, and said, " thank you Lord, for giving me this beautiful car "! As soon as I got out of the airport, I put the pedal to the metal and burned up the highway! So, I asked Barb " where she wanted to stay "? That's when she suggested her home town Saint Petersburg. It was only about ten or twenty miles away from the 's hospital, so we went there. As soon as I arrived there we headed up the main strip. We stopped at a few hotels, and everyone of them was full! We hit a few more and then found one with a vacancy. Again, I later realized it was the right choice. I was only planning to stay for the night and get another room the next day. But, as soon as I saw our room, I realized that this was going to be our home for the duration of our stay. It was really cool as well. It was like a small apartment, with a living, dining room, and full kitchen. I thought, " No, I don't think we could do better then this place "? It also turned out to be strategically located for everything else in the area we would be doing. So, like I said, I lucked out again with the choice I made. After we unpacked and moved in, I also realized I wasn't going to feel like packing up again to move, until we were leaving. So, the next day I went down to the front desk and told them I would be keeping it for a while. There was a wedding or some sort of event going on, and there were a lot of drunk people running around doing crazy shit around the hotel. It didn't bother me, I thought it was cool! After that, I took a walk, the hotel is right on the beach. As soon as I walked out on the sand, I fell in love again. This beach was beautiful! Everything was perfect! The water, the air, the breeze and sand. I walked out and waded into the surf. I still hadn't fully adjusted to the climate and conditions for this area yet. I realized this when a woman approached me and asked me for the time. She said, " you're the only person on the beach wearing a watch "! Yeah, I learned to forget about that stuff after a while too. My girlfriend had a hard time adjusting. She likes to sleep in late. But in this environment, you really don't want to miss any part of the day. It's truly paradise! I went back to the room or suite we had and tried to roust her from her slumber but she made a comment about " emasculating me " if I didn't let her sleep, so I quietly backed out of the room and went down to the pool and jacuzzi! After indulging myself in aquatic activities I went back to the room and took a shower. By now the Queen had awoken and graced me with an audience. She was in the kitchen making coffee. I suggested, " we go out for breakfast ". She said " she needed to get a few things at the store ". I realize I needed to do some shopping too, so I agreed. After breakfast, we stopped at one of these surf stores that everything you need for life at the beach. We each bought new wardrobes for the occasion. By this time, the flight had cost me an arm and a leg, even with the discount. The car and hotel were costing me another arm and a leg. I was to realize, later, that I hadn't even begun to spend money on this trip yet! After we went back to the room and cut the tags off our new threads. We got dressed in our new clothes, so we looked like we belonged there, and not like a couple of oddly dressed tourist from up north. We went to the hospital to visit her niece. He father was there, he had been with her since she was admitted and was staying on a couch in the room there. Ironically, he lives in my neighborhood! He only lives a few blocks from where I do. He was talking about things in our area that are familiar to me. It was weird because I had only just met him, but it was like we knew each other because we live so close to one another. Go figure? So after the visit at the hospital, we went back to the hotel. I looked at the brochure for things we could do in the area. I found a pirate cruise, so we did that one day. The next day, her sisters came over and we all went out to dinner at a really cool local restaurant. It had all kinds of torches and palm trees surrounding it. After dinner, they all came back to our place. I appreciated having the living room at that point. It was just like it would have been if they came over to visit us back at home up here. After a few days of this really easy relaxing life style I started to feel rejuvenated and much more at ease again. Everything there plays into it, from the people to the environment, to the beach and just the whole place in general. I can't imagine someone walking around pissed off and angry down there. There's just not a lot to be upset about. But there is a dark side. As a person from the north, I recognize this every time I travel down south. There is still a sort of institutionalized racism down there. That Travon Martin shooting that happened recently, is just the tip of the iceberg for what goes on down there. Like I said, when you come from the north, you recognize it immediately, the difference in demeanor and attitudes for black people, compared to white that live down there. And I'm sure the people that live there, probably aren't even aware of it, or that there is a problem? When I went to Hawaii, they have something called and " orientation " for the tourist to indoctrinate them into the island life style. They should have something like that for people of color that visit the south. First of all, I want to say, I'm appalled by this behavior and can't believe it still goes on in this day and age. The racism I'm referring to, is not the old style, where it was blatant and obvious. It's much more subtle, but it's still every bit as lethal and dangerous as the old kind. Every morning, I would walk through the hotel complex through the pools and hall ways to get to the beach. On my travels, I would encounter black people who worked as cleaners and maintenance people on the staff. Every time they saw me approaching, they would defer to me and my path. If there was a door or gate there, they would hold it open for me till I passed through. While they were doing that, they would stand to the side making sure they were clearly out of my path, and they would look down, silently, so they wouldn't make eye contact with me and wait till I passed by them. They did everything except say, " yes, Massa ", when I went by. Other times, if it was a couple of them grouped together, talking amongst themselves, as soon as they saw me, they would quickly become silent and try to look busy doing something. It was like I was their boss and checking up on them to make sure they're not " dogging it "! I always felt terrible. But, I couldn't say anything. If I tried, it would only have made things worse. When they saw me, all they see is a rich white man, and they know what that meant in relation to them and their circumstances. If there was some sort of dispute between me and one of them, I would prevail, and they know it! Just look at the attitude of the police in the that Travon shooting. A white man kills an unarmed black male. And the police just said, more or less, " well, you did what you had to do. What's everybody so upset about "? The first night we were there, we heard a commotion going on outside our door. I looked out the window and saw some black woman going off at her boyfriend who was still standing on the balcony on my level. I could tell they weren't from around there, because of their accents. I knew they were from the north as well. The woman was going off like typical angry black women do. She was saying, " I'm not playing with you ". But she said it more like, " I ain't playin wit choo "! Her boyfriend wasn't saying much of anything. He would just make some neutral comment like " okay, or all right " every once in while. This went on for a while till the woman got tired of yelling and walked away. I knew what her boyfriend was thinking. He was praying she would shut the fuck up before some one called the police. Because I think he understood, the last thing in the world, a person of color in the south wants, is to become the object of interest of the white southern police force! They know what ever happens, it's not going to go well for them. And that's the state of race relations in the modern south today. Another thing that bugged me. There are a lot of rich retired millionaires living down there. The problem is, they drive these expensive, top of the line, sports cars. These cars can do two hundred miles an hour easily, without even breaking a sweat. And these old geezers cruise around in them, at twenty five miles an hour. I was behind one of them, and I naively thought, he was going to step on the gas at some point instead of just letting it cruise in drive. He wasn't, so I passed him. Fortunately, the Infinity is a fast fucking car. As soon as I punched the gas pedal, it took off like a rocket pushing me back into the seat like it had a nitro fuel injection system installed. Barb starts bitching at me because I made her spill her drink when the G's kicked in! Ain't physics a bitch! That old geezer could have easily overtaken me with that suped up vette he had there. But I don't think he's ever had it out of first gear. Another thing, Barb likes to shop! She wants just about everything. And she expects me to provide it! I know what you're thinking, " why don't I just say no "?! Wow, I never thought of that. Just say no, uh? Well, here is the problem with that. If I say " no " to her, she'll make my life hell! I know what you're probably thinking again. " It sounds like she's making it hell now "? That's true, she is. She makes my life a " living " hell. But, if I say " no " to her, she'll make it a " fucking " hell! There is a difference. I can tolerate a " living " hell, because after all this time, I'm used to it. But, as most men know, no one can tolerate a " fucking " hell! So, that's what that's about. Her excuse is, " they don't have stuff like this where we live, so I have to buy it while I'm here ". One morning at breakfast, I noticed the dress she had on. It had some sort of metal thread sown into it, and made look like a glittering gold design inlayed into the material. I said, " hey, that looks cool "! Then she replies, " I know, that's why I bought six of them "! I looked at her and said, " Six "?! She said, " yeah, aren't they great "?! I just rolled my eyes and prayed for this ordeal to be over soon. And don't even ask me about all the fucking shoes she bought!
After a couple of days, it was our departure date. We were both having such a good time. We decided to stay a few more days. I called the airline and had my departure flight move back. The bartender at the Cabana bar in the hotel, suggested we check out a bar on the beach a few hotels down the beach. We went there one night, and then I had a new place to add to my daily routine. It was really cool. It was an open building right on the beach. One wall was open, towards the beach. They had great rock and roll bands playing there every night. In that place, you had, the beach, surf, booze, beautiful women and rock and roll! I was in heaven! I never wanted to leave! Not only that, the band they had playing there, were doing the exact same songs I used to do in the clubs up here years ago. The guitarist even had a guitar exactly like mine! He was using a Les Paul, and it was even the same color as mine. I thought of bringing one of my axes but then thought it would be too much of a hassle. And I didn't know there would be a place for me to use it down there. I'm left handed so I have to use my own guitars when I perform. But I could have got up and did their entire show, without even rehearsing or anything. I've never played any of those songs in my videos because I didn't think they were interesting enough for a performance. But, seeing the crowds reaction. I realized, if I wanted to, I could just move down there and play the bars every night with just the songs I know! They did all the standards from the seventies, eighties, and nineties. I requested some Van Halen! They played " you really got me " but without the " Eruption " solo in the beginning. The guy that was playing in this band, was good, but I realized I was better! I also realized, if this crowd was going nuts over this lame shit, if I had gotten up and started playing, they would have went berserk! LOL! Well, it's always nice to know where you stand with things. The day before we left, went visited Busch Gardens. That's where I got the pictures of all the animals. That place was beautiful and a wonderful experience as well! Barbs niece was discharged early from the hospital and she will be fine, I'm told. That was a relief and good news to hear. Finally, we had to leave our tropical paradise. And believe me, it was hard. Even though I loved the place, I was still kind of looking forward to going home. There is only so much sun and fun you can tolerate and then you're ready to go back to the shitty real world back home! While boarding the return flight, I encountered a man from England who was a Manchester football fan. He was arguing, and being combative with every person he encountered during the boarding process. He had a beautiful blonde wife and two beautiful little twin girls. I felt sorry for them! Finally we arrived back in " Filth a delphia "! Ah, the smell of toxic waste, made me realize I was home again!amp; Then I had to fight the fucked up roads and highways and the equally messed up traffic and drivers until I finally arrived home again! That was basically my whole trip! There you have it!
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King Tut
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Posted:Apr 21, 2012 7:15 am
Last Updated:May 28, 2013 12:23 pm
8255 Views
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King Tut (King Tut)
Now when he was a young man,
He never thought he'd see
People stand in line to see the boy king.
(King Tut) How'd you get so funky?
(funky Tut) Did you do the monkey?
Born in Arizona,
Moved to Babylonia (king Tut).
(king Tut) Now, if I'd known
they'd line up just to see him,
I'd trade in all my money
And bought me a museum. (king Tut)
Buried with a donkey (funky Tut)
He's my favorite honkey!
Born in Arizona,
Moved to Babylonia (king Tut)
Dancin' by the Nile, (Disco Tut)
The ladies love his style, (boss Tut)
Rockin' for a mile (rockin' Tut)
He ate a crocodile.
He gave his life for tourism.
Golden idol!
He's an Egyptian
They're sellin' you.
Now, when I die,
now don't think I'm a nut,
don't want no fancy funeral,
Just one like ole king Tut. (king Tut)
He coulda won a Grammy,
Buried in his Jammies,
Born in Arizona, moved to Babylonia,
He was born in Arizona, got a condo made of stone-a,
King Tut!
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I am the Lizard King!
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Posted:Apr 18, 2012 4:54 pm
Last Updated:May 28, 2013 12:21 pm
7328 Views
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Jeez, I go on vacation and typically, the peanut gallery goes nuts again! Hey, this is the twenty first century, I could be out on a boat and still be logged on here and give you bitches hell if I wanted to! Why all the speculation about why I'm logged on or not? I went out with my girlfriend today, and left my computer on, and logged on here. While you're thinking I'm sitting here, staring at my lap top, I'm actually out having the time of my life! Oh, by the way, my girlfriends ten year old niece was released from the hospital yesterday, that's the reason we came down here. And while we're here, we decided to take vacation as well. Hey, Jay, this would be a perfect place to take Erica and the for a Honeymoon! It's very family orientated and a wonderful place for a vacation. The air, sky, and ocean are perfect. I know you guys probably can't afford an extravagant trip like this right now. Too bad you don't know me better and we're not friends. You could come down here and put it on my tab! Why not, everyone else I've met down here so far has? LOL! I know Erica wishes you could, anyway. Okay, you can go back to obsessing and analyzing me and trying to figure out my next move. I'm going to go sit in the jacuzzi now! No, I really am, trust me on this one.
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To link to this blog (MstrUnvrsGdRkCk2) use [blog MstrUnvrsGdRkCk2] in your messages.
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