What happened to spring???
Snow!! That’s right I said snow! April 28th what happened to spring? I’m in western Nebraska on the way to Colorado Springs and it is like November. It's been snowing here all evening and Colorado is really getting it.
I’m a week into this tour and three shows down. We are all getting to know each other and that is always a little uncomfortable.
Mary Chapin, her band and crew could not be nicer. Class A bunch all the way. It is going to be a fun two months.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Friday was the worst day I’ve ever had while traveling hands down. The day started out fine, nice weather, no long lines at the airport. After a little over 2 hour flight to Atlanta to make a connection we run into some pretty bad thunderstorms. Just 8 miles from the airport the pilot makes a couple of radical moves. He was avoiding bad weather, which seemed to make scenes.
The pilot then tells us yes he was avoiding the weather, but he was also avoiding another plane. I kept thinking how close was this plane to us? Some of the other passengers later told me they saw this plane and said it was quite close. For the first time I’m actually a bit freaked out by an airline flight.
So then we circle the airport for a bit and then the pilot tells us we will be heading to Columbia, SC to refuel.
Upon arrival in Columbia we are informed that we will need to depart the plane since the flight has been cancelled. WHAT!? That’s right cancelled. They tell us we will be rebooked. Ok, fine whatever just gets me to Nashville.
I find out that they have no seats on any flights to Nashville from Columbia. So I am given an option to rider a charter bus with other passengers to Atlanta. The airline booked me on a later flight from Atlanta to Nashville. Ok I have about 5 hours until my flight.
Well wouldn’t you know that we run into traffic, no I know I mean TRAFFIC! At one point we don’t move for 45 minutes.
So instead of arriving about 7:00pm to catch a 9:30pm flight I get there at 9:04pm. I do have to thank the people at the ticket counter who got me through security quickly I was able to make it to the gate at 9:28pm and made the flight.
I then land in Nashville pick up a rental and head to the hotel. Guess what, more traffic and a half-hour wait.
Nothing like arriving seven hours late.
Momma said there would be days like this
I hate days like today. You see I leave for the tour tomorrow. There is always so much to do before I head out. Right now I have some laundry that is finishing up. I usually make a list so I figured why not make it a post on the old blog too.
Here goes.
Pay bills…√
Mow the lawn √
Water the plants √
Leave key for the shed with a relative…someone has to mow the lawn while I’m gone. √
Do laundry √
Pack clothes
Pack lap top
Pack PDA
Pack cell phone charger
Pack lap top charger
Pack extra batteries
Pack a flashlight
Pack tour itineraries
Pack office supplies
Organize tour paperwork √
Pack camera
Wash the dishes
Double check flight reservation √
Arrange ride to the airport √
Remember to wear
Queen of Sky T-Shirt (See Link) I’m flying Delta.
Put all sharp objects into checked bags
Leave lighter at home…..wait I don’t smoke.
Kiss the wife goodbye….wait I don’t have one of those either.
Kiss the kids goodbye….wait see a previous.
I think that is about it. Of course in the morning I’ll remember something at the last minute. Now where was I?
Waiting for the Guide
I usually don’t get fired up about a movie release date, but April 29 is soon approaching and I can’t wait.
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy will finally be released. I don’t know what my fascination is with this book and the series, especially at my age. I was in my late teens when the books were first published.
The movie has a PG rating, not that it really matters.
You know the theaters will be full of kids. I wonder how many of us middle age folks will go see it.
I discovered I would have to wait until a day off to see it, being that we have a show on the 29th.
So I guess the wait continues.
That's right homies
I saw this quiz on a couple of other blogs. So I decided to see what it said about me and the language I speak. Here are my results.
Your Linguistic Profile:
|
70% General American English |
15% Upper Midwestern |
15% Yankee |
0% Dixie |
0% Midwestern |
See what happens when you live in New England.
This quiz had me thinking. I have done several Hip Hop tours over the years. I’ve even been told I’m really "white", not to be meant in a racist or bad way. I guess I just come across that way to some.
Anyway I’ve had a lot of conversations with the artists and their entourage on these tours. There have been times when they are telling you something and then the next sentence is "Ya know wha’ I’m saying?"
Well I have to confess there were times when "No…I don’t know what you are saying". I didn’t say that too them, but I was thinking it. I eventually did learn the slang. Of course I never use it in a conversation. Friends tell me it doesn’t sound right when I say it. Like I said, I guess I am too white.
You know what I’m saying.
A drummer gets his own movie......no way!!
I worked with my first band in 1981; they were just a local cover band. Still it was a great experience and a lot of fun. After all these years it can still be fun, but it’s become a serious career. Let me tell there was a lot of fun in the 80’s.
Now I heard about a new movie about the life of a musician. It’s called
Waking Up Dead and no it’s not a horror movie. It’s about a drummer, Phil Varone, formally of the bands, Skid Row and Saigon Kick and his life over; I believe a four-year period. Wait, he’s a drummer, maybe it IS a horror story.
Sorry I couldn’t resist the drummer joke.
It looks like it might be a good DVD rental once it hits the shelves. I don’t know Phil but I can imagine what was going on in his life. Drugs, alcohol, groupies, strippers, lousy food, no sleep, and bad hotels, it’s probably all in this film. It all sounds very familiar.
Luckily things are mellower these days. Now if I weren’t hooked on
these, I would be fine.
That will show the terrorist
Today is a new day in airline travel. As of this morning you can no longer carry a
lighter with you or in your carry on bag. I don’t know about you but I feel a lot safer {{sarcasm on}}. No more lighters on planes. That will show the terrorist we mean business.
I wonder what it cost to come up with this idea and then do all the studies on the issue. Does this mean we don’t have to remove are shoes at security? No wait, probably since you can still carry matches on the plane.
Well I thought they had the next potential shoe bomber stopped. No lighter, no way to set off the bomb, we dodged a bullet there.
Come on does the TSA really think anyone is going to try that stunt again. If they want to bring down a plane they will do something a bit smarter. The movie
Executive Decision had terrorists trying to set off a bomb using a pocket organizer. Now granted the actual bomb was in the luggage compartment. But who’s to say they couldn’t take a
Palm Pilot and make that into a bomb. Sure there are xray machines, but I think it would be possible. Plastic explosives would look like a battery or something similar on the machine. I’m no expert but I believe that is the case.
This whole lighter thing is a joke.
So I have to fly to Tennessee next week. Must remember to add to the check list no lighter in carryon. See I’m doing my part.
Personal Note My Dad
Today would have been my father's 69th Birthday. However he passed away 11 years ago last month.
Still I want to say.... Happy Birthday Dad
A Yankee goes to Nashville
It’s nice to know people are actually reading my blog. Your comments are appreciated and it’s always interesting to know what people think. The exchange of ideas and thoughts are what keeps life interesting.
Oohhh... that’s deep I know.
So things are coming together for the tour, just ten days away. I know there have been a few people stopping by that like
Mindy. I mentioned that she would be doing the tour with only one additional musician. However the first show in Nashville on April 23, which is not with Mary Chapin Carpenter,
Mindy will have a full band. Also if you live in Nashville you can hear her on the radio on
WRLT on Friday April 22 at 3pm. She will be doing an interview and playing a couple of songs.
I will be glad when I get this office work done for the tour. It’s been so nice weather wise and here I sit in front of the computer, hours on end. Time to get the old mountain bike out and do some riding.
Some Kind Of Monster
Sunday is a day of rest and reflection for many people. For me it’s just another day in the week. When you don’t work the "9 to5" routine the weekend just doesn’t have the same meaning.
I’m still putting things together for Mindy’s tour. The weekends do slow down a bit though. The management, agents and promoters aren’t in their offices on weekends. So us road folks are left a bit in limbo. I’m a work alcoholic when it comes to put a tour together. I just want to get things done as quickly as possible.
So last night I found myself watching
Metallica’s movie "Some Kind of Monster" on VH1. It has some interesting parts to it. The DVD version has several more hours of footage. I had heard rumors that at one point they thought of calling it quits. This seems to be evident in the film.
The alcohol that they were infamous for, they were known as "Alcoholica" at one time, finally caught up to them. Vices will come back to bit you in the ass at some point, no matter what they are or who you are.
I went through a period of alcohol and some drugs while in my 20’s. Most people experiment during that time in life. Unfortunately for some it takes over their lives. This is especially true for musicians. I was lucky it never took over my life and these days I’m clean and sober.
Now if I could just do something about the
junk food.
Lodging......or is it ?
Musicians and their road crews spend more time in hotels than most business people I think. The only people who spend nearly as much time are pro athletes. Hotels are great for the simple fact someone cleans up after you. I know it sounds lazy but I hate cleaning around the house. So when I’m on the road it’s nice to have someone else clean up my mess. Anyway the point of this post.
The thing I’m finding these last few years is the way hotels change rates on a nearly hourly basis. (Insert your joke here).
Look at any hotel these days. Not only do they change rates nearly daily, but also the difference on room prices is amazing. Now depending if you call an 800 number for a hotel chain or call them direct. Or if you go to a
website for a hotel or site listing a bunch of hotels, you will be amazed at the price difference for just one hotel.
The travel agent that is booking the hotels for the tour contacted me about some hotels in a city the other day. I do some checking on one particular hotel. The rates depending on where you looked were $79-$109. This is for the same room in just one hotel on the same day.
Now I understand a $10 difference from an online rate to calling them direct. Which I recommend you don’t do. The rate is usually higher when you call them direct. This price difference has always been there. You know the corporate rate, AAA rate, and senior citizen rate. How do they justify a nearly $40 difference on the same room on that particular day?
For the extra money I should get a masseuse or at least a couple free meals. No wait they have that at the four star hotels. Of course these days most artists can’t afford that.
Let's not even get started on fuel prices.
Pirates 1979 World Series Trophy For Sale.....WHAT!?!
So today is opening day for Major League Baseball, yes I know the Yankees and Sox played on Sunday night. I’m a huge fan of the game. I know all the steroid problems, it has been sad for the game. You can bet there are steroids in all the other major sports, I don’t care what kind of testing they have in place. I’m talking to you NFL.
The reason I bring baseball is my team, the
Pirates. I’ve been a fan since I was 7.
Roberto Clemente is and always will be my favorite player. It’s been rough the last twelve years. I lost today on opening day.
The worst news is the 1979 World Series trophy was nearly sold. That’s right nearly sold, not by the Pirates, but because of the Allegheny HYP Club. . Well it seems the Allegheny HYP Club owes debts and the trophy was considered part of their assets according to
news reports. The trophy was loaned to the Allegheny restaurant that used to be in Three Rivers Stadium. The restaurant was closed and became part of the Allegheny Club.
Fortunately a judge has ruled they cannot sell it.
My question is how did this happen in the first place. What is wrong with the Pirates? Why wasn't the trophy given back when the stadium came down?
If the trophy does get sold Roberto and Willie Stargell will be rolling over in their graves.
Flying First Class can suck??
Travelling by air can be fun and it can be frustrating. I myself don’t mind the actual flying part. I do however hate the ordeal of checking in, going through security and then waiting at the gate. This even before 9/11, has always been a pain in the ass.
If you travel at all by plane you know what I’m talking about. Now if you don’t travel a lot you may not know about the little things. One of these is what are the best seats on the plane? Put your hands down, no I’m not talking about first class. You will be surprised to know that not all first class seats are necessarily good seats.
Well a fellow
roadie friend of mine told me about a
web site just for determining that "great" seat on a plane. Now I travel a lot and I have taken certain flights many times so I know the type or aircraft used for that flight. Of course like the less traveled person, I find this site VERY helpful. Who knew that on certain planes there are bad first class seats?
The other thing about the site that is great it tells you what planes have ac outlets for your laptop and which have the personal televisions.
Now if they had a site that told me which planes had the prettiest flight attendants.
