Almost never

I almost never write a social commentary - either here, nor on a popular social networking site. But if I have to listen to one more idiot talking about the second amendment, I think I'm going to scream. There's a quote circulating lately about how one guy puts a bomb in his shoe and everyone is taking their shoes off at the airport now - yet 30 mass shootings since Columbine, and nothing has changed. Take it from another angle - losers buy up lots of Sudafed for meth labs and that's hard to get, but you can buy ammo freely.

Yes, I get the fact that the guns used in any of these mass shootings are just tools. Agreed. Sudafed is a decongestant. But in the wrong hands...

In the wrong hands, guns are the tools used in horrible tragedies, and if these kinds of tragedies are going to increase dramatically - and mind you, they are increasing, then we would do well to look into the ways we could minimize these kinds of events, and gun control laws being revised is one way of doing that. It's not the only way. Personally, I don't like guns - but that doesn't mean that I think anyone who does like guns is an idiot. I don't think that. But I do think something needs to be done to help prevent guns from being easily accessed by people who might use them in irresponsible ways, ways that innocent people will have their lives affected and ended by.

This, the tools falling into the wrong hands and being used in horribly inappropriate ways, is what those of us who want to see improvements in gun control laws, addressed. For the love of God, it's a privilege to have a driver's license - not a constitutional right. Why? Because one has to prove that they are responsible enough and able to operate a motor vehicle on our roadways - for their own safety and the safety of others. The laws in effect to help ensure this safety aren't infallible - there are still boneheads out there who drive like assholes, drive drunk and drive without insurance. Things still fall through the cracks, they always will. Always.

The laws regulating driving a motor vehicle or buying Sudafed are there to try to minimize either of these things falling into the wrong hands. I don't use Sudafed these days, but there was a time when I did. Do I really need the long arm of the law looking over my shoulder when I want relief from my allergies or a cold and I need something to lessen the symptoms of either of those things so that I can go to work or about my day? I don't, but the government wants to make sure I'm not buying up boxes of Sudafed and making meth to sell like some cretin. Yet I can walk into a store and buy boxes of bullets and the government doesn't give a damn, nor will they, until something illegal is done with said bullets.
Even then, their stance is that it's my right to buy bullets, so bullets aren't the problem.

Why does the law want to know how much Sudafed I might buy? What if that's the only thing that helps relieve my symptoms during allergy season? I can't take advantage of a sale and stock up, because there's a high probability that I don't suffer from allergies at all, but instead, I want to cook up a bunch of meth to sell because that's easier than working for the man. Really?

The best gun control laws, improved upon and enforced in the best ways possible, are not going to eliminate mass shootings - some lunatic will find a way, somehow, to slip through the cracks of the system and innocent people will pay the price. But the very thought that we, as a society, might well see less of these kinds of tragedies is not a bad idea in my opinion. We could do with less things like this people.

A Nashville story

I went to Nashville to visit in the Summer of 1995, for the NAMM show. While we were having dinner downtown, I ran into Liberty DeVitto, Billy Joel's then drummer. He told me he was playing in a bar band downtown and said I should stop by the club if we were out and about. We were, so we did. It was kind of cool seeing Liberty playing covers in a bar, just like the rest of us have done. Cooler still, was seeing Carmine Appice and Steve Winwood walk in and sit in a set later.

I remember the following three things from that night:  Carmine sitting in on the band's rendition of Superstition, Winwood doing Gimme Some Lovin' - both good things to see, particularly as close as the surroundings were. The last thing I remember, was hitting the restroom and standing at the urinal next to the guitar player from the band. As he finished and walked toward the sink, he announced:

I just got off stage with Carmine Appice and Steve Winwood - my dick is hard as a ROCK y'all!

Yeah, I guess it would have to be. That's all I have for today's post, if anyone's offended, well, it's a true story and it's one that still amuses me. Have a great Wednesday....y'all.

In & Out!

Just a quick post today while I finish up my coffee on this very inspiring Monday. I like days that start out with thoughts of others, good music, good intentions and an overall vibe of kindness towards others that makes me feel like I'm sitting on top of the flippin' world - especially when it just happens for no real reason. Like today. The morning started with a thought for an old friend whose been under the weather a bit over the last few days - though it seems practically everyone is sick or getting close to it this time of year, another hope that a co worker's father is doing better than he has been the last week, a morning walk with the dog - during which I saw something on a car that made me think of someone and smile - when that very person made it virtually impossible for me to think favorably of them. My first thought was to snap a photo of it with my iPhone and send it - because it made me laugh. I reeled in that slack though, because I can't open the door even a tiny crack for negativity. That was a bit of a eureka moment because it made me realize that my efforts to shed the negativity of others in my life have made an incredible difference in my life. Onward.

This day is amazing and it's just getting started! There's no real reason for the way that I feel, but there are so many things that I am thankful for. Every one of them seems huge today. I'm about to try a new juice recipe - a green one, and for those of you who know me, you know I struggle with the green juices! This one sounds amazing - but the addition of a clove of garlic has me wondering. I flippin' love garlic, but drinking it? We'll see. So what's so amazing about trying a new juice recipe? I dunno, I'm thankful I have a good juicer, and I'm thankful that after what, nine months of regular juicing, that I'm loving it more all the time. I'm not off the charts, radical health food nuts, but I am paying attention to what I eat and how I feel when I eat certain things - I can't explain it in any other way than to say it's kind of like that Star Wars quote about trusting the force.

I'm about to run and get a haircut - which never takes long, then hit the gym for the start of a week that will have me getting my workouts back on the regular track of hitting the goals I've set. I've struggled a bit with that over the last two months, and mind you I've gone to the gym, but I lightened up and seemed to find a lot of excuses to go less days. One of my regular customers years ago told me that I should be exercising - and it was his words to me about fitness that motivated me when I joined a gym over a year and a half ago. I don't see much of that guy these days due to him working most of the year on the west coast. He and his wife came in the other night and he commented that I looked good and he could tell I've been working out. His wife said the same thing. Silly as it may sound to some people, it was nice to stand there and talk to them and think back to how I felt when I started, compared to how I feel now and the difference exercising has made.

Alright, I need to get moving. I feel great about everything in front of me today and it's my hope that all of you have the same kind of amazing Monday that this one is for me. Here's hoping that new juice recipe doesn't live up to the title of this post! Have a GREAT day everyone!

The last thing I expected

Years ago, I worked at The Carousel Dinner Theatre - way back in the days when it was housed in what once was a grocery store in Ravenna, Ohio. For the first few months I worked there, I didn't have a car. That wasn't a huge problem in getting to work, because I could always take a Kent State bus that ran into Ravenna, or catch a ride from any number of my coworkers who lived in Kent.

On this particular day however, I was bugging my sister to give me a ride to work and while she didn't say no immediately, I wasn't able to talk her into driving me to work. For whatever reason, I decided my best option was to hitch my way to work that day. Don't ask me why, because I can't really imagine doing that now. So off I walked to Rt. 59 to face the cars heading east and hope for the best.

After a few minutes of cars passing me by, I started to grow a bit frustrated at the lack of generosity that anyone driving east and passing me by was showing. As if it were their responsibility that I had transportation issues. I pondered giving up and heading back home to call in and say that I couldn't find a way into work - again, not their problem and I knew better than to make it anyone's problem but my own. As I stood there with my thumb out, I saw a large silver limousine coming up on me. When I noticed it, I immediately dropped my arm and started gazing up the hill for cars coming behind the limo.
I thought there was no way in hell I could humor myself with the notion of a limo driver stopping and giving me a lift and I wasn't about to give the limo driver the satisfaction of even a slight smile at my expense. You go on, I wasn't talking to you - I know you aren't about to give me a ride. Too late.

I looked towards the west in the hopes of a car with a driver kind enough to stop. It was entirely possible that they would only get me part of the way to my destination - and it was also possible that I'd get picked up and taken somewhere to be sold into slavery...if I was lucky enough to live. I continued looking west and walking slow steps backwards to the east. That's when I hear a car horn beeping enough times and someone yelling hey enough to make me turn around and look. That's when I looked and saw the limo stopped and the driver motioning me - must have been 50 yards or more away.

I point to myself as if to ask, "who...ME??", and the driver nods and waves his arm motioning me towards his limo. I break into a jog that moves into a slow trot of a run, and then to a full on run with my fists moving back and forth. As I'm picking up speed and getting closer to the limo, I'm thinking things like..."no fucking waaayyyy....this can't be happening, a limo is stopping to pick ME up!" - and I close in on my ride, a limo. Yeah, that's right - I'm about to take a limo to my bartending gig. No one said things like, "that's how I roll." in those days, but it was indeed how I rolled....at least that day.

As I slowed my roll and approached the limo, well...this was when my thought process started to change from the wow factor of what just happened, to things like wondering who the hell was in this limo and why they were stopping to offer me such a luxurious ride and exactly what would this limo ride cost me?

As I slow to a walk and come up on the driver standing beside the open rear passenger door, he's looking at me wondering what the hell is wrong with me hesitating. I look in the back seat of the car and I see one of the guys who waits tables at The Carousel - Ron. I have a lousy poker face - I've said as much many times before. Ron looks like this is just another day in the life, but I look in disbelief and wonder just how Ron managed a limo ride to work - because if the wait staff really does that much better than the bartenders, this would be something I needed to look into. Ron stops my thought process and cuts right to the chase:

Ron: Are you going to work?
Me: uh, yeah...I um....
Ron: You gotta be in at 4:30??
Me: yeah, I mean....
Ron: Well, get in!
Me: ok.....

I get in, the driver shuts the door and walks around to the driver seat and starts to drive. I have no flippin' idea how my luck has put me in a limo and it has got to be showing all over my face. Ron doesn't look the least bit impressed to be so fortunate, I think he should, at least a little bit, because the last time I worked with him he was bitching about not making enough money with rent due soon, tuition and any number of other things. It appeared that the tables had turned for the better for Ron on this day, and for me as well. Before I can think any more with my wondering just how Ron's luck had turned for the better, Ron played a gracious host:

Ron: Make yourself a drink!
Me, thinking: wow - this keeps getting better...how the hell did this happen?? I don't even want a drink, but seriously...I gotta make a drink while I'm sitting here in the back of this limo being driven to my job as a theatrical bartender, I just gotta.
Me, talking: k...sure, I mean, don't mind if I do...you sure it's ok if make myse...
Ron, who by now, cannot contain his laughter:  Just make yourself a drink already!

And so it was that day. I went from hoping for a ride, to being driven in style. Turns out that one of the cast members from the show somehow had access to this limo and he was tight with Ron and had the guy drive into Kent and pick him up for work. Throughout the whole process, I remember thinking that this would be a great story, but very few people would believe me. My own mother didn't believe me - she thought I was kidding! I proved this fact by asking my stepfather if she told him my limo story - he said she hadn't. So I told him and he said, "Well she must not believe you, because she didn't tell me about it." The story is true. I swear. By the way, thanks Ron...and Keith, wherever you are.

A short post...

I'm still struggling a bit with a cold and/or possible sinus infection. I felt much better than I thought I would yesterday, but the longer the day went on, the worse I felt. I didn't get my ass to the gym for my first workout of the new year until 5:30 PM! I went pretty light on the workout, only doing a few things  & not really pushing it. I cut things short because I was meeting my sisters at Downtown 140 for dinner - and I wasn't exactly having the best workout feeling the way I was. No matter, I always feel better for having done something and yesterday was no exception.

I had a wonderful dinner with my sisters and we sat/lingered way too long just talking. I felt bad for the people who work there - and I'm one of those people, but it was my night off and I don't get many opportunities to sit and just talk with my sisters, so yeah...we hung out a bit. I left with an odd combination of guilt and feeling very glad that the three of us were able to sit there and have such an enjoyable evening of great food and conversation - and again, that doesn't happen often enough these days! So yeah, last night we were the table that nobody wants, albeit we were probably much more tolerable/well mannered than those tables often can be, and I hope better tippers...but that one falls on me this time. My humble apologies to Sara, who had the daunting task of putting up with us blabbing way past the obvious point.

I'm skipping my legs workout today and I'm rationalizing it by thinking that I need to save my strength for work. Yeah, right. I can't believe the holidays have come and gone - more than some of the recent past holiday seasons I recall, I kinda wanted to hang on to this holiday season a bit longer. I know, I know...that's not the way it works. Nonetheless...

Today's post is any number of things - reflective, a break/diversion/distraction from things like going to the gym, running the vacuum, scrubbing the toilet, doing laundry, reformatting this blog, and more work on the article about the classic Martini that I'm revising. I know, who the EFF am I to write an article about the classic Martini right? Just a guy who has made more of 'em than I can count. It's not as if I didn't pay attention along the way.

It's also flippin' cold out there - which comes as no surprise since it is Winter in Northeast Ohio and that's to be expected. My dog absolutely loves weather like this and he remembers his favorite spot where the snow plow pushes snow into piles big enough for him to climb all over. I'll admit that I enjoy watching him jump around on that pile when it's big enough, but my patience runs out way before his.

What I love about Winter are things like a fire in the fireplace (I don't currently have a fireplace mind you), blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup, or today's sourdough French toast that I made in the cast iron skillet that I got as a Christmas gift this year...and most of all, sitting at the mac writing while I'm listening to great music. Doesn't take much to excite me sometimes. Deal with it. I guess I'd best get back to working on the stuff that needs to pay me and then get ready to head into the bar for work that does pay me. I'm betting that I'll write 2012 and cross it out at least once tonight...but you're looking really good so far 2013.

New Year...new post.

The holidays have come and gone in a blur. So has another year. I love the holidays, but at the same time, I don't. All I want for Christmas these days is to get to see all the people who mean something to me - and that gets harder to do. In my line of work I'm working through most of the holidays, and while I'm used to it, it bugs me just a little bit every year. I love the feeling of togetherness that I feel all through the holidays, but I hate the mass marketing craze that Christmas has become and it's the worst time of the year to be in practically every store. I also believe that the spirit and/or mindset of overall kindness that is Christmas, should be practiced all year long - and I've said as much, and more than once.

I miss the feeling of comfort that made Christmas last for two whole weeks when I was a kid. Now it's right back to the grind the next day. Life as a grownup. No sense in rambling on about that - I thoroughly enjoyed the holidays this year. Thanksgiving was wonderful, and someone asked me what the best part of my Christmas was this year, so I told 'em:

The best part of my Christmas was when I pulled in my sister's driveway and my niece ran out to meet me. Yup, that was the best Christmas present I had - silly as that may sound. My niece is a teenager now, and teenagers aren't often so thrilled with adults. I suppose it's possible that "gift" won't be repeated, at least not for a while, but no matter. With all the other good things about Christmas this year, that little act stands out as the one that had the most impact on me - and I love it. I'm glad to have a lot of good things to remember about this holiday season and while I'm never one to get too excited about New Year's, I am looking forward to the year ahead.

This new year is already off to a great start. I'm not one to make resolutions, but I am one who strives for increasing levels of self-awareness and wanting to be the best me that I possibly can be. I prefer a creative vibe/mindset over a competitive one - and that suits my artistic soul perfectly. My intention, rather than my resolution, is to nurture my creative soul at every turn. That means writing and striving to improve on that, it means dabbling in the artistic ideas I have and I strongly suspect it means that I'm going to start playing music again. I don't know how any of this will play out - no pun intended, I only know that this is what I have to do. I'm fortunate to have friends who inspire me and encourage me with stuff like this - if I think about it, many of these friends are probably much better than I am with some of this stuff, it matters not. I was talking with one dear friend recently, and when he asked me if I would play again, I told him that it was probably best not to ignore that which tugs at one's soul.

I'm finding so many things to inspire every facet of my creative soul and the urges thereof these days. I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season and here's to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013 for all of us! May we all move forward into this year with kindness for one another. Peace!