Not Even Close To "Done With This"

I'm continually writing new material and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. Sometimes I feel like I've only just begun. But occasionally I can't help but look back at old material and bask in my few but very pride filled musical moments of my past.

I will always remember the story behind the creation of my song "Done With This" very well. It was my senior year at the University of Maine, the last week of finals before the end of the fall semester. It was getting down to the nitty gritty of my core business classes, final projects, long papers and extremely boring group presentation sessions that everyone was required to attend. In the last presentation of the session in one of the biggest lecture halls on campus I could barely stay concious. The only thing keeping my nodding head from drifting off to dream land was my pen as I wrote down every angsty feeling that flowed through me at that moment. The more I wrote, the more I woke and the more I woke, the more I just couldn't stop.

The rest of the session flew by in a sea of words and a rush of inspiration that almost carried me all the way to the neighboring town of Old Town where my guitar waited in the small upstairs bedroom of the house I was renting with some friends. Quickly a guitar a riff floated into the air and the lyrical melody soon after. It couldn't have been more than hour after I got home when I had a rough version of "Done With This" recorded on my computer.

 I don't know how many times I've told this story but no matter how dull it may seem to anyone else, it never gets old to me. Recalling this moment in my songwriting history makes me think of why I love writing music in the first place and why I don't think I can ever stop for as long as I live.

Rock on.

I'm Back Baby (Random Pics)

Not sure if it's a good thing but I'm back at "home" in Kansas. I spent the last week cruising around New England, wearing a monkey suit for a wedding, visiting the family, and flying on various sized airplanes from airport to airport while trying to avoid the swine flu.

(I'd never flown on anything as big as a 757 before and that on-flight entertainment is key! I listened to some 70's and 80's tunage, watched some Two and Half Men and 30 Rock, and also listened to the captain talk to air traffic control. It's cool stuff.)

I say I'm not sure if it's a "good thing" that I'm back here in Kansas because of the habits I've gotten myself into. I was hoping the trip back to my real home (or at least original home) would change things but I'm seeing myself sink into that same old routine no sooner than this morning after getting back late last night.

I didn't so much as open my lyric book the whole trip and my guitar is still in her bed. So sad. Overall the trip went well though. We flew into Portland, Maine. Had to do some driving between Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. They look close together but there are a lot of roads and trees among all three.

I got to see most of my family, KJ's family, and even my little nephew. (Yeah, he's a cat.) Also had a chance to visit the old alma mater, the University of Maine. It's always interesting checking out the old workplace, Alfond Arena. Got to chat with the former boss and see all
the crazy changes that have taken place since I've been there. Of course, it's almost May so there was no ice.

I'm rambling, I apologize. I just wanted to say that I'm back and ready to get back in the swing of things. Hopefully not too in the swing of things because my old habits are killing me. It's not making me music and sure as hell isn't getting me a job.

Keep rockin', I've got some catching up to do. I need to unpack, do laundry, some random cleaning, and watch lots of tv shows on the DVR.