Run In The Sun

I did manage to get out and run 7 miles today. I don't normally go out there so late in the morning. I had a busy day yesterday so I slept in. The training goes on and I feel fit.

Keep At It

More work to do. I'll try to put a few thoughts on this later.

5/30/12 Set List

Here are the songs I practiced today:

Set 1
THE FRONT DESK (Entire Rock Opera)

Set 2
On A Death Tour
Mary Carroll
Vegan Deli
The Witchery
Boom Boom Mancini
Welcome To The Club
Gazebo
White Rabbit
Haby Baby Girl
I Want To Know

Making Time

As busy as I am
I'll still find time to play with colors

                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       

Busy Day

Lots of work to do.

5/29/12 Set List

These are the songs I practiced today:

Set 1
THE FRONT DESK (Entire Rock Opera)

Set 2
That I Know
Daycrawler
Seeing My Love
Massachusetts
Kissing Christine
Judd
Constriction 426
Foxholes Of Hollywood
Beyond Baghdad
Molly

Free Agent

When you go out and put your resume in the public domain then you're a free agent. What team do you want play for? Will that team have you? Will you work for the offer they give you? So many questions. See if you get on the team and win the championship.

Just Like Summer

It feels like Summer outside in New York State and I love it! Just finished a 7-Mile run and I do plan on getting on my bicycle this week too. I really do think I'll move to a warm climate location year round in the future. If I didn't see another flake of snow again then that would be O.K. by me. I do love the warm weather.

5/27/12 Set List

These are the songs I practiced yesterday:

Set 1
THE FRONT DESK (Entire Rock Opera)

Set 2
The Blue Spruce
Woe Of Man
Elements Of Evil
Automatic Talking Toaster
Little Willy
Boris The Spider
Gazebo
Quackery
Good Semester
Jacques La Rock

Drawing The World

Today I plan on doing some landscape drawing. The weather is warm and I happen to have the day off. Of all the interests that I have, drawing is one of those things I still haven't managed to make a daily habit of. I like to practice my music and find time to exercise somewhere along the day. drawing has been different. It's something I started later in life. I enjoy the process and I have a new sketch book. Time to draw the world.

Cross Training

I was able to get 80 miles of cross training in this week. It was running or bicycle riding. I'm feeling fit and the marathon training goes on. I will take tomorrow off. The only thing I'll do is stretching & weights. And if go out and exercise it will be an easy bicycle ride. I try to work within my limitations and expand from there. It's a process and one I like.

5/26/12 Set List

Here are the songs I practiced yesterday:

Set 1
THE FRONT DESK (Entire Rock Opera)

Set 2
My Boston Girl
Vegan Deli
Lunchtime Surprise
Your Words Are Heard
Sad Sight To See
Modern Weaponry
The Other One
Generic Protest Song
Wurm
Action Painting

Big Bicycle Ride

I went out there and rode 34 miles today. It is Summer weather. There were a bunch of other bicycle riders on the roads this morning. This is the start of my marathon training.

7-Mile Run

I did get out there and put 7 miles under my feet. I'm in marathon training mode. The race isn't for another 16 weeks, yet now is the time to start preparing. I'm planning on riding my bike tomorrow and getting a long distance ride in. The cross training is a key for me being in shape. So is my frame of mind. I have to want to do this and I do. Back at the miles tomorrow.

Personal & Professional

PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL

How is my love life?
Isn't keeping it a secret my right?
Who is it I love?
My love is higher than the sky above!

Where is it I work?
Do I have the title of clerk?
What is it I need?
I'm busy as a bee!

Why?
Personal & Professional!

No Set List

I won't be practicing a set of music tonight. I'll just jam on my bass.

Vegan Deli

Here are the lyrics to my latest song:

VEGAN DELI

She's eating at the Vegan Deli
She's ordering a bowl of tofu
Oh boy she loves her soy
She's sitting at a table for two
She's eating at the Vegan Deli

5/23/12 Set List

Here are the song I practiced yesterday:

Set 1
THE FRONT DESK (Entire Rock Opera)

Set 2
On A Death Tour
What Would Thurston do
Mary Carroll
Boom Boom Mancini
The Witchery
Love In Las Vegas
Foxholes Of Hollywood
Glossy Black
Beyond Baghdad
I Want To Know

Cross Training Day

I went out there and managed to get an 18-Mile bicycle ride in this afternoon. I rode for about 2 and a half hours. Made it back just before the rains came. A good workout day.

A Running Start

I don't usually take 2 days off from running yet that's what I did Monday & Tuesday. I felt good this morning getting out there and running 7 miles. The weather is going to be warm for the rest of the week so I'll cross train with bicycle rides. It was rainy & humid this morning. That means it's marathon training season. I need to be in the best shape I can for the Yonkers Marathon this September. The training goes on.

I Am The General Manager

We here at the Memory Motel are happy to have you. The Royal Suite you requested is available at the dates you requested.

5/22/12 Set List

These are the songs I practiced today:

Set 1
THE FRONT DESK (Entire Rock Opera)

Set 2
Shattered
Woe Of Man
Judd
Construction 426
Chinese Rocks
Gazebo
Sad Sight To See
Daycrawler
Kissing Christine
Jacques La Rock

5/21/12 Set List

Here are the songs I practiced today:

Set 1
THE FRONT DESK (Entire Rock Opera)

Set 2
Welcome To The Club
Modern Weaponry
It's True
Neanderthal Tool
Your Words Are Heard
Automatic Talking Toaster
Seeing My Love
Quackery
Good Semester
Haby Baby Girl

?????????????????????

I don't know what was wrong with my blog this morning?! Things are up & running so that's good. I jammed yesterday in a band setting. I played bass with Hank on guitar & vocal and Todd on drums. It was a lot of fun. They were Hank's songs. I would say his songwriting style is a cross between The Jayhawks and Wilco. I know both Hank and Todd want to perform the music live. I didn't make any commitment to the band. It would be tough for me to be in it with my own music going on. I enjoyed the jamming and we'll see what happens.

Tech Problems I Can't Blog

30 Miles Of Running

I did manage to get 30 miles of running in this week along with 25 miles of bicycle riding. It was warm out there today. That indicates it's marathon training season.

5/19/12 Set List

These are the songs I practiced yesterday:

Set 1
THE FRONT DESK (Entire Rock Opera)

Set 2
Beyond Baghdad
Seeing My Love
Goodbye Cruel World
Generic Protest Song
The Witchery
Woe Of Man
Construction 426
Judd
Good Semester
Let My Love Open The Door

Sunday Jam

I wasn't able to make the Otto & Raissa concert last night. What a drag! I really wanted to go yet my schedule just didn't make that happen. Today I'm getting together and jamming with a guitar player and a drummer. Todd Giuduce who performed with me on Wednesday will be drumming. I know he was talking about the guitar player who is a singer/songwriter wanting a backup band for future gigs. I don't know if I want to go there. It might be too much of a commitment for me. I just want to jam with a band and play some songs. I'll practice what they want and take if from there.

5/18/12 Set List

Here are the songs I practiced yesterday:

Set 1
THE FRONT DESK (Entire Rock Opera)

Set 2
That I Know
Elements Of Evil
Boris The Spider
Chinese Rocks
Little Willy
White Rabbit
Gazebo
Lunchtime Surprise
I Want To Know
Molly

Another Bicycle Ride

I went out today and rode on my bike. I went about 14 miles. I rode 12 miles a couple of days ago. I just haven't gone out and done a long bicycle ride this week and it looks like I won't get the chance to do so this weekend. Too busy with other things. I do plan on a run tomorrow. That's the shape of things.

Weekend Music

It does look as if will be a full weekend of music for me. On Saturday I plan on seeing Otto & Raissa perform at The Black Swan in Tivoli, New York. And on Sunday Todd Giudice invited me to jam with a guitar player he knows. Music here and music there.

Live Set List

I actually went out and performed music live last night. I hadn't planned on going out, yet my friend Todd Giudice who has been the house drummer for the open mic at Whistling Willie's in Cold Spring, New York invited me out. We played 3 songs together:

Jacques La Rock
On A Death Tour
Action Painting

It went over really well. Todd sounded great and our rhythm section really locked in. I'm always amazed at the good turnout. Many talented performers there last night. I'm glad I went.

5/16/12 Set List

These are the songs I practiced today:

Set 1
THE FRONT DESK (Entire Rock Opera)

Set 2
That I Know
Mary Carroll
Sad Sight To See
Love In Las Vegas
Montezuma Revenge
Neanderthal Tool
Modern Weaponry
Beyond Baghdad
Generic Protest Song
I Want To Know

Thunder & Lightning

It was a sound and light show out there this morning. The thunder worked like an alarm clock. At times there would be flashes from the lightning so I knew a boom would follow. The storm has moved out of the area and it's suppose to clear up. The temperature are headed to the 80 degree mark. I plan on riding my bicycle later on today.

5/15/12 Set List

Here are the songs I practiced today:

Set 1
THE FRONT DESK (Entire Rock Opera)

Set 2
The Blue Spruce
Your Words Are Heard
Kissing Christine
Seeing My Love
The Witchery
Automatic Talking Toaster
Good Semester
Lunchtime Surprise
Haby Baby Girl
Action Painting

No Run Today

I'm taking a break from any training run today. It's good to take the day off and go at it tomorrow. The weather forecast in New York is looking warm so I can cross train with the bicycle. Keeping things in shape.

5/14//12 Set List

These are the songs I practiced yesterday:

Set 1
THE FRONT DESK (Entire Rock Opera)

Set 2
My Boston Girl
Construction 426
Quackery
Jacques Le Rock
Freezing
Woe Of Man
Judd
Foxholes Of Hollywood
Welcome To The Club
Molly

Leave The Keys Lyrics

Here are the lyrics to a song I wrote called LEAVE THE KEYS:

LEAVE THE KEYS

And now it's time to go
It's time to hit the road
It's time to start my day
I have enjoyed my stay

I have my folio
I found it on the floor
There's nothing else I need
So I'll just leave the keys

So everything is paid
And now I'll tip the maid
I do my idiot check
Don't be a nervous wreck

I had a good night's sleep
My dreams they run so deep
So much is on my mind
I need to find the time

Ooh yeah I go along
I hear my favorite song
There's nothing else I need
So I'll just leave the keys

Leave The Keys

Last year I wrote a rock opera entitled THE FRONT DESK. It's about the events going on at and around the front desk of a hotel. It has 24 songs in all with each song representing an hour of the day. I performed it one this year and I felt the need to change one thing. The last song of the rock opera. I was ending it with a song called FRONT DESK AGENT (REPRISE). It was basically the same song I played earlier in the show only with a few different lyrics and chord changes. I didn't feel like it resolved the show. So I've replaced FRONT DESK AGENT (REPRISE) with a new song called LEAVE THE KEYS. The idea is that when somebody checks out of a hotel they leave the keys in the room. I think the whole thing works better that way.

To Do List

I have a bunch of things to get done.
Work things.
Too mundane to even type here.
That's fine.
I'll go get these things done.

Saturday In The Park

I ran a 10K race in Central Park, New York City this morning and finished in a time of 45:10. I was getting greedy and hoped my time would be in the 44 minute range. I just couldn't do it today. Still it was 4 seconds faster than the 10K race I ran in Central Park back in January. I Always want to get better. I don't have another race until June. Time to start marathon training.

Nice Weather

My day is starting off with a beautiful sunrise. The light is beginning to cover the hill that is to the west. The whole weekend is shaping up to be nice from a weather standpoint. I will be doing an easy 3-Mile jog this morning. It's just a tune up for the !0K race I'm running tomorrow in New York City with my over/under finishing time being 46 minutes. I'm ready to go.

Clumsy

I was walking by at table with a sharp corner and it caught my right thigh. That hurt. Right now it's more of a welt than a bruise. These things seem to happen to me before a race. I don't how many times I've stubbed my toe or banged my knee into something. And it happens when I have a run coming up. I think I'm O.K. though. I can't beleive how clumsy I can be at times.

Thursday In May

It started out cloudy this morning. I did get a 7-Mile run in as the sun would poke out from behind the clouds. I was able to pick up the pace today. I'm doing my coiled spring effect for the 10K race this Saturday. I feel ready to run a good time for me. I do think I'll be near the 45 minute mark. I would love to finish under 45 minutes. I'll have to average under 7:15 per mile. A tough chore on the the Central Park hills. The weather for day after tomorrow call for a sunny & warm conditions. I am so looking forward to the race. I will go out and do a 3-Mile jog tomorrow and the usual weights & stretching exercises. The race is on!

High & Dry

I did get out there and run 7 miles this morning. All the heavy rain was gone. I needed to get those miles under my feet. Now for the rest of the day.

Get Wet

Pouring rain this morning. I haven't gone out and run yet today. My 10K race is Saturday and I need to do so. Especially since I took the day off yesterday. It's supposed to let up as the day goes on so I'll get out there later. I prefer to workout earlier yet my schedule doesn't always work that way. The silver lining in the cloud is that the weather for Saturday is supposed to be sunny. I'll take that.

Tuesday Blues

Today marks the birthday of Blues Great Robert Johnson who was born on this day 101 years ago. Legend has it that he went to the crossroads and made a deal with the devil. 20th Century music was never the same. He died at a very young age and I believe he was 27. That is the age that several rockers have died at. The amazing thing is that before his death he was recorded and his songs were preserved. He was very shy and recorded with his back to the recording engineer. I'm pretty sure I have the details of that correct. There is a great amount of speculation on how he died. One story I've heard it that he was poisoned after performing live. Books have been written about him. His recordings live on and you can hear his influence with such bands as The Rolling Stones, Cream and Led Zeppelin. Happy Birthday Blues Man!

Liquid Paper

                                                      

Running Up To It

I did get my 7 miles of running in today. It's not about speed. I just want to get myself ready for the 10K race this Saturday. I know now my over/under finishing time will be 46 minutes. I would love to run it under 45 minutes if I could. The Central Park hills in New York City might have something to say about that. Until then I'll keep doing my stretching & weights. I do want to get out there and run again tomorrow.

Sunday Clouds

It's been cloudy all weekend. No rain though. There was a super moon out there last night. I didn't see it since I fell asleep early. Probably wouldn't have with the clouds. I did go out there and run 7 miles today. The best thing I did yesterday was not workout at all. I felt so tired and I needed to give it a rest. My run was good this morning. I have a 10K race on Saturday and I need to gear up for it. I want to run it in the 45 minute range. That's what I did earlier in the year. It will be in the same location at Central Park. Although the course might be set up differently. Sometimes we run the park clockwise or counterclockwise. I'll have to check it out on the running website.

No Run No Bike

I didn't go out and run today and it looks as if I'm not going to get bicycle ride in too. I just need to give it a rest and go at it tomorrow.

Saturday Morning

The sun hasn't risen yet. It is a new day for me. The temperatures are supposed to be in the 70's for the week. This will mean I can get on my bicycle and ride. I'm running in a 10K race next weekend so I want to be in the best shape I can. I'll go for a run later this morning.

Friday Rain

It's rained around here in New York more in the last couple of days than it has for the past few months. Heavy storms woke me up last night. It's going to be warmer today than it was yesterday. I do want to run or bicycle if I get the chance to. I have a 10K race in 8 days. I took the day off from training yesterday so I do need to get back at it.

Seeing My Love

These are lyrics to my latest song. I was going for a British Invasion love song.

SEEING MY LOVE

Seeing my love for the first time
She really knocked me out
With her dress and high heel shoes
I just want to scream and shout

Seeing my love for the second time
I just took a chance
I asked her if she would dance
sparking up a new romance

She looked at me and she smiled
I knew this was pretty wild
She thanked me and she said no
Then I saw her leave
As she walked away from me
That's the way it always seems to go

Seeing my love for the third time
It really broke my heart
It was over long before it could start

I would try to reach so high
Reaching up into the sky
Try to get a piece of that pie
Like a bad dream
It ends up like a scheme
And you find yourself a member of the B-Team

Seeing my Love for the last time
Anyone can see
I was clearly out of her league.

Stooges Cover Band

So I went to New York City last night and saw an SST label alumni band playing the music of The Stooges. Mike Watt was promoting a book he had published and was joined on stage by J Mascis & Murph of Dinosaur Jr. and Thurston Moore & Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth. I was at the front of the stage and took some photos. The club was packed and a common thing to punk rock shows of the 21st Century is that the audience was catatonic. They did cheer their heroes, yet the days of pogo & slam dancing are long gone. Just the music and memories of those who were there.

Hellride East

I'm going to New York City tonight for a concert at Le Poisson Rouge on Bleeker Street in New York City tonight. The main group will be Mike Watt on bass along with J Mascis & Murph of Dinosaur Jr. Watt is in NYC for this one night only promoting a new book. This lineup is enough to get me out there. I do have a feeling there might be a surprise guest or two. I'm looking forward to it.

May Flowers

Winter is gone and it's the middle of Spring. The leaves appear on the trees. The grass grows green and I will not run today. I feel tired after the 4-Mile race on Sunday. I did go out there and run 7 miles yesterday. It's best for me to give it a rest. I will work on my stretching & weights. I have a 10K race next weekend. I'm getting closer to qualifying for that Marathon in The Big Apple next year.