I love my Yankees with all my heart, and I have a particular soft spot right now for Alex Rodriguez. He is struggling to be the kind of player that he knows deep down inside he is, but like many people, sometimes it just ain't in the cards.
As Frank Sinatra said in the great song " Thats Life," you're ridin' high in April, shot down in May. In New York that statement can be a brutal reality for anyone, but fans there can be relentless, and that's a double edged sword.They're either screamng at you, when you're doing your best, or they're screaming at you when doing your worst...I don't care how thick your skin is, it's gotta hurt somewhat.
I wanted to offer A-Rod some friendly advice from a Carpenter Ant...
No matter what, keep your head up. It's difficult enough to do what you do, and like it or not, you can't answer to, nor please everyone.
But, don't worry, because tomorrow is another day, and as long as you believe it, you got another chance to bring your own magic back...and at least one of your fans knows that you will.
As I've said in many of these posts, good, bad or indifferent, I am with you, and the team no matter what. I love it when you win, but I cherish you even more when you lose.
In music, I've had many a bad night over the years; argued with some drunk, gotten asked to play Freebird just one too many times, heck, I even got compared to Al Roker once, for God sakes, it can be downright frustrating, but something in me just keeps going on...it's my true love for what I do, and that gets me outta bed the next morning.
Remember A-Rod, life is about the seventh inning stretch, and tomorrow you'll have another chance, at least in my eyes, to come out of your "slump," and whether you do or not, I am proud that you are a New York Yankee, and I want to thank for making baseball exciting for this musician, who is away from the Bronx, and missing it.
This post is dedicated to Alex Rodriguez, and to all the musicians out there who are trying their best to make it to the next base.
Support Live music today tomorrow and always, and stand by your favorite players no matter what.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Saturday, July 22, 2006
For What Its Worth
It's about 2am, and I'm wide awake listening to the most soothing music of some people that I really admire, including the Carpenter Ants, the Spurgie Hankins band, and David Sanborn.
I'm at such a wonderful place in my life, and I wanted to tell you how much being a musician means to me.
Being a musician has given me the means to express myself, good, bad, or indifferent through song . It has allowed me to form lifelong friendships that I might not have had otherwise.
One of the reasons for that, is that I moved around quite a bit when I was younger.We lived in the North Bronx, the South Bronx, then I went to High school in Virginia.
I made friends in all of these places, but moving made it hard to maintain them.
The one thing through all of this though has been my music; as mostly everyone that I played with over the years kept in touch, and they still do. The people that I know and love here in the Charleston area are at my fingertips, and for me that is a good feeling.The people that I knew in New York and Virginia call or e-mail to see how I'm doing, and that too makes me feel good.
I know this cliche' is used alot by people, but I really do feel blessed. I think that Allah (God) has blessed me abundantly with the gift of friendship, and the gift of music.
For what its worth, I wish that everyone in the world could feel what I'm feeling right now...contentment. If we could all put on some music right now, sit back and just relax, I truly think that we would all be much more open to listening to each other.
If we could go out and catch some live music, and dance and have good time,we might just forget about trying to fight each other, and just turn to each other with love.
My little grandson called me earlier tonight and told me that he was afraid of what's going on in the world.He's afraid of the bombs, and the noise.He worries himself sick about kids his age living in the threat of war, and standing in the shadows of poverty and hunger...how the heck could I reassure him? The only thing that I could think to say to my baby boy was to turn off the TV and put on some music, and try your best not to think about it all...he did.
He called me awhile later and said "Papaw, I feel alot better, thank you."
It's all I know, but for what it's worth I do know that music, if we let it, can make us all slow down and be sane.
So for what it's worth to you, turn it on, or check it out, and let it take you elsewhere... THERE, DON'TCHA FEEL BETTER ALREADY ?
Support Live Music today tomorrow and always
I'm at such a wonderful place in my life, and I wanted to tell you how much being a musician means to me.
Being a musician has given me the means to express myself, good, bad, or indifferent through song . It has allowed me to form lifelong friendships that I might not have had otherwise.
One of the reasons for that, is that I moved around quite a bit when I was younger.We lived in the North Bronx, the South Bronx, then I went to High school in Virginia.
I made friends in all of these places, but moving made it hard to maintain them.
The one thing through all of this though has been my music; as mostly everyone that I played with over the years kept in touch, and they still do. The people that I know and love here in the Charleston area are at my fingertips, and for me that is a good feeling.The people that I knew in New York and Virginia call or e-mail to see how I'm doing, and that too makes me feel good.
I know this cliche' is used alot by people, but I really do feel blessed. I think that Allah (God) has blessed me abundantly with the gift of friendship, and the gift of music.
For what its worth, I wish that everyone in the world could feel what I'm feeling right now...contentment. If we could all put on some music right now, sit back and just relax, I truly think that we would all be much more open to listening to each other.
If we could go out and catch some live music, and dance and have good time,we might just forget about trying to fight each other, and just turn to each other with love.
My little grandson called me earlier tonight and told me that he was afraid of what's going on in the world.He's afraid of the bombs, and the noise.He worries himself sick about kids his age living in the threat of war, and standing in the shadows of poverty and hunger...how the heck could I reassure him? The only thing that I could think to say to my baby boy was to turn off the TV and put on some music, and try your best not to think about it all...he did.
He called me awhile later and said "Papaw, I feel alot better, thank you."
It's all I know, but for what it's worth I do know that music, if we let it, can make us all slow down and be sane.
So for what it's worth to you, turn it on, or check it out, and let it take you elsewhere... THERE, DON'TCHA FEEL BETTER ALREADY ?
Support Live Music today tomorrow and always
Monday, July 17, 2006
(That Nurse is ) Music to my Ears
I've always had a lot to be thankful for in my life, and for as long as I can remember, music has always been a part of that equation.
I've tried for many years to instill in my children that in order to fulfill their dreams they would have to work at them very hard.
That means that while pursuing your education, you had to work, while pursuing your dream, you had to work, and while pursuing your work, you had to work.
My daughter Kendra recently graduated from Nursing School, and while raising her 2 children, she worked, and she sacrificed, and she cried alot, spent an ungodly amount of time alone with her books, and at the library
but today it all paid off...
As of this evening at 8:30 pm, I am proud to say that my little girl was admitted to the ranks of the Nursing profession as she passed her licensing exam, and can now add RN to her name.
To say the very least, I am very proud of her, but more than anything else, I am happy (make that, overjoyed) for her, because as I said in an earlier posting, she will be able to create the life that she has long dreamed of...and believe me, she deserves it.
Kendra has always been special to me, she has a heart of gold, and I'm proud to say that she has been everything that her wonderful Mother would have dreamed as well.
My daughter has been the greatest song of my life, a melody like no other. That Nurse is music to my ears.
In a few weeks she will be leaving me to move to North Carolina to begin a new job in a hospital, and all I can say is that I hope that everyone there is ready, because the Oprah Winfrey of Nursing is about to arrive.
I won't sit here and tell you that I won't be sad to see her go, but I'm going to do my level best to be strong and not cry when she drives away.
I know that she is equally as nervous, but I also know that she, like me, is a pioneer, and she is not afraid of a challenge...and she will beat the challenge, and that too is music to my ears.
This post is dedicated with all my love to my baby girl, you did it...
Kendra Nicole Dunham (RN)
...Congratulations.
Support Live music today tomorrow and always, and should you get hurt in the process, I know a great Nurse who will patch you up.
I've tried for many years to instill in my children that in order to fulfill their dreams they would have to work at them very hard.
That means that while pursuing your education, you had to work, while pursuing your dream, you had to work, and while pursuing your work, you had to work.
My daughter Kendra recently graduated from Nursing School, and while raising her 2 children, she worked, and she sacrificed, and she cried alot, spent an ungodly amount of time alone with her books, and at the library
but today it all paid off...
As of this evening at 8:30 pm, I am proud to say that my little girl was admitted to the ranks of the Nursing profession as she passed her licensing exam, and can now add RN to her name.
To say the very least, I am very proud of her, but more than anything else, I am happy (make that, overjoyed) for her, because as I said in an earlier posting, she will be able to create the life that she has long dreamed of...and believe me, she deserves it.
Kendra has always been special to me, she has a heart of gold, and I'm proud to say that she has been everything that her wonderful Mother would have dreamed as well.
My daughter has been the greatest song of my life, a melody like no other. That Nurse is music to my ears.
In a few weeks she will be leaving me to move to North Carolina to begin a new job in a hospital, and all I can say is that I hope that everyone there is ready, because the Oprah Winfrey of Nursing is about to arrive.
I won't sit here and tell you that I won't be sad to see her go, but I'm going to do my level best to be strong and not cry when she drives away.
I know that she is equally as nervous, but I also know that she, like me, is a pioneer, and she is not afraid of a challenge...and she will beat the challenge, and that too is music to my ears.
This post is dedicated with all my love to my baby girl, you did it...
Kendra Nicole Dunham (RN)
...Congratulations.
Support Live music today tomorrow and always, and should you get hurt in the process, I know a great Nurse who will patch you up.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
American League Melody...
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a true blue New York Yankees fan (OK, maybe I'll go so far as to say fan-atic...). Simply put, the motion of a baseball game to me is like a great song.One that is filled with nuances, a hint of drama, and a surprise. It doesn't have to be in any paricular order, but I get it, and I love it.
I live for baseball season, and win lose or draw, I am with my Yankees through thick and thin. I don't know statistical info the way that I used to, but I enjoy the game anyway.
The only time that I am a New York Mets fan is when they are in the World Series against someone else (Subway Series...hint hint hint)
Beyond the scope of that, I am an American League supporter; the only time during the season that I break ranks officially with my Bronx Bombers, so you know that last night I was glued to the television watching that exciting All Star game.
Let me tell you it was a true nail biter until the very end...
I'm sure most of you have seen the paper today so you know that the American League won again 3-1.
Watching the game I noticed that all of the bigger baseball stars weren't the ones who got the job done, it was the "lesser," known players. Even Derek Jeter, my personal fav, struck out 3 times...I- yi yi !!!, made me nervous.
Anyway, I got to thinking about songs that I started out disliking for whatever reason, only to give it a thorough listening, and discovered that I really did like the song after all ( see what happens when you listen...).
I'm saying this because I want to point out that real masters of music put nuances in songs to draw you in, and if they use those nuances just right they end up with beautiful melodies.
In that game when the American League was truly down to the last out, the masters stepped up to the plate and changed the outcome of the game, then my Mariano Rivera (the best closer in baseball ) came in and got the save.The rest of course, is this year's history.
I used to like the National League many moons ago, until I went to my first Yankee game in 1962, now I sing an American League melody, and I'm here to stay.
No true story here, other than to say that if you're involved in music, take some time off to check out other things...it'll add more depth to your music.
Support Live music today tomorrow and always...and remember, baseball is music is baseball. Either way, catch it live.
I live for baseball season, and win lose or draw, I am with my Yankees through thick and thin. I don't know statistical info the way that I used to, but I enjoy the game anyway.
The only time that I am a New York Mets fan is when they are in the World Series against someone else (Subway Series...hint hint hint)
Beyond the scope of that, I am an American League supporter; the only time during the season that I break ranks officially with my Bronx Bombers, so you know that last night I was glued to the television watching that exciting All Star game.
Let me tell you it was a true nail biter until the very end...
I'm sure most of you have seen the paper today so you know that the American League won again 3-1.
Watching the game I noticed that all of the bigger baseball stars weren't the ones who got the job done, it was the "lesser," known players. Even Derek Jeter, my personal fav, struck out 3 times...I- yi yi !!!, made me nervous.
Anyway, I got to thinking about songs that I started out disliking for whatever reason, only to give it a thorough listening, and discovered that I really did like the song after all ( see what happens when you listen...).
I'm saying this because I want to point out that real masters of music put nuances in songs to draw you in, and if they use those nuances just right they end up with beautiful melodies.
In that game when the American League was truly down to the last out, the masters stepped up to the plate and changed the outcome of the game, then my Mariano Rivera (the best closer in baseball ) came in and got the save.The rest of course, is this year's history.
I used to like the National League many moons ago, until I went to my first Yankee game in 1962, now I sing an American League melody, and I'm here to stay.
No true story here, other than to say that if you're involved in music, take some time off to check out other things...it'll add more depth to your music.
Support Live music today tomorrow and always...and remember, baseball is music is baseball. Either way, catch it live.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Love Lives Forever.
I'm certain that one of the absolute hardest things for people to do is to bury a loved one, even when we know deep down inside that it's a fate that we all must face.
I watched today as my friend and co-worker Kim faced that inevitable and daunting task; she buried her Husband Steve.
When I was around 7 years old my maternal Grandfather passed away, leaving my family, especially my Mother, devastated. At the time I didn't quite understand the full realm of death, and its finality, I just knew that my Grandpa was not coming back.
Nearly 7 - 8 years later my other Grandfather died, only this time I was fairly prepared, although admittedly it was still hard.
In 1997 my Mother passed away, and it rocked my foundation, not just because she was gone, but because I wanted her to know that I was better prepared for the whole experience. The thing that got me through it were 2 simple words: be strong...these words were spoken to me by my Uncle, and at the point when he said it to me I really wanted to smack him, because what I wanted was to lay down and die myself, but something inside of me held me back.
What I came to learn is that love lives forever, and the relevance here is that I may not be able to see them in their physical form, but I feel them constantly, I can also hear their voices guiding me along my path of life, and I feel them giving me strength...2 years later, I would really need that strength as I buried my Sister. My Uncle again spoke the words be strong. This time the reason that it helped was that I found the thing inside of me that spurred me on...it was memory, and it was love.
Today as I watched Kim go through this very moving ritual, I heard her utter to Steve "that I don't know how I'll make it without you, but I'll find a way." I was never so proud to call this woman a friend, and I was glad that I came to pay my respects.
See, even in her hour of darkness she too found that love lives forever. She will have days when the life seems drained out of her, but she will weather it because she too came to realize as I did that she still has her family... and her family of friends.
Our arms are open wide to you Kim, be strong...be strong, and remember, love lives forever.
This post is dedicated to Steve Jay Ruby, may God bless his soul, and welcome him home.
Good night brother.
May God watch over Kim and her son Dustin, and always give them strength.
I watched today as my friend and co-worker Kim faced that inevitable and daunting task; she buried her Husband Steve.
When I was around 7 years old my maternal Grandfather passed away, leaving my family, especially my Mother, devastated. At the time I didn't quite understand the full realm of death, and its finality, I just knew that my Grandpa was not coming back.
Nearly 7 - 8 years later my other Grandfather died, only this time I was fairly prepared, although admittedly it was still hard.
In 1997 my Mother passed away, and it rocked my foundation, not just because she was gone, but because I wanted her to know that I was better prepared for the whole experience. The thing that got me through it were 2 simple words: be strong...these words were spoken to me by my Uncle, and at the point when he said it to me I really wanted to smack him, because what I wanted was to lay down and die myself, but something inside of me held me back.
What I came to learn is that love lives forever, and the relevance here is that I may not be able to see them in their physical form, but I feel them constantly, I can also hear their voices guiding me along my path of life, and I feel them giving me strength...2 years later, I would really need that strength as I buried my Sister. My Uncle again spoke the words be strong. This time the reason that it helped was that I found the thing inside of me that spurred me on...it was memory, and it was love.
Today as I watched Kim go through this very moving ritual, I heard her utter to Steve "that I don't know how I'll make it without you, but I'll find a way." I was never so proud to call this woman a friend, and I was glad that I came to pay my respects.
See, even in her hour of darkness she too found that love lives forever. She will have days when the life seems drained out of her, but she will weather it because she too came to realize as I did that she still has her family... and her family of friends.
Our arms are open wide to you Kim, be strong...be strong, and remember, love lives forever.
This post is dedicated to Steve Jay Ruby, may God bless his soul, and welcome him home.
Good night brother.
May God watch over Kim and her son Dustin, and always give them strength.
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