I like to look at bumper stickers and am facinated by how much can be summed up in so few words. What facinates me even more is to see the combination of bumper stickers that a person may post on his/her car. How much of our world view can be summed up by bumper stickers?
As a dog lover, one of my favorites is, "Be the person your dog thinks you are."
I recently heard Representative John Lewis speak and he gave two quotes that I liked: "We may have come over on different ships, but we're all in the same boat now," and "Be a headlight, not a taillight."
If I were a woman, one that would definitely be appropriate would be, "The only bush I trust is my own."
That’s how many miles I ran Sunday in the ING Georgia Half Marathon. It took me 1 hour, 59 minutes and 27 seconds. I’ve been a runner at various times in my life, but never a total die hard - and I’ve never run more than a 10K (6.2 miles) at a time. But I got inspired. I was on my way to the gym during the last year’s ING marathon, so I watched for a while - and felt inspired. I decided to do something physical that I had never done before.
There’s a lot of music coming out this spring that I’m pumped about...the CD I’m most excited about right now is Funplex by the B-52’s, which was released today. It was streaming on AOL last week, so I had the chance to listen to it several times, albeit not how I would most enjoy - cranked up either in the car or my iPod. That’s okay - I’ve got a signed edition on the way...more about that later.
I have to admit it. Eric has always been more of a responsible person when it came to recycling, conserving our resources, etc. It took me seeing "An Inconvenient Truth" to get me truly onboard. We've made a number of changes to our life and I think we're fairly green.
I just wanted to post a quick note to let you know that I have a video out on YouTube. It's an in-studio performance of my song "Lucky" for www.freeguitarvideos.com. My guitar teacher asked me to do it - we actually recorded it a few months ago - and I kind of forgot about it. Anyway, just a few days ago, I saw that it was posted on YouTube. So check it out - and be sure to rate it and leave comments.
I'll be posting some live concert videos from my summer tour in the next few weeks. In the meantime, enjoy "Lucky."
Thursday, November 8th 2007 -
Good TV
07:26 PM
It's been two days since the Hollywood writers went on strike. I'm anxious to see what will happen to the TV season and my favorite shows: Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, plus three other favorites that haven't aired yet this season, 24, Medium and The New Adventures of Old Christine. Hopefully, the strike will be settled soon.
Sometimes it's the simple things that make for a really great time. Friday after work, we had drinks with Tim & Wendy (our friends/neighbors) and then had dinner at Doc Chey's, which is one of my favorite restaurants.
My all time favorite bar in Atlanta, Blakes on the Park, has begun a weekly acoustic music series called "Southern Exposure." I did my first show there on Thursday, October 11th. I've seen boys on boxes and drag queens on rollerskates there, but I never thought I'd ever see anyone playing an acoustic guitar there, much less me. You see, until recently Blakes has not been a live music venue. Most of the artists who have played have been local, but I was excited to see Eric Himan there last week. I had written Eric a while ago, hoping to do a few shows with him at some point and he graciously wrote back. I was looking forward to introducing myself to him in person - and seeing him play.
Tuesday, August 21st 2007 -
Friends and Family (On the Road - Part 2)
10:57 PM
On Wednesday morning, Eric and I lounged around in the hotel room for a bit. Then we set out to do the other thing we always do in Chicago - get manicures and pedicures. We tried to find the shop we went to last year, but couldn't. But we had a thoroughly relaxing, enjoyable experience at the shop we did stop at. We checked out of the hotel and then hit the road headed toward Indianapolis - and got there about 5 pm.
Monday, August 13th 2007 -
The Kidness of Others (On The Road - Part 1)
09:24 PM
We're in the midst of my summer music tour - and having a great time! Eric and I left Atlanta at 6 pm on Friday evening. Right after we drove through Charlotte, we hit a major roadblock - we're not sure if there was a wreck or not, just that there were at least 15 police cars. We were already tired but I was concerned that we hadn't gotten far enough to call it a night. So Eric got out the map and found a very easy detour that took us around the roadblock. When we got back on the interstate, there were no cars - they were all still stuck behind the roadblock. So we kind of had the road to ourselves. We drove as far as Thomasville, NC and looked for a hotel. The first one we stopped at looked like it may rent by the hour, so we nixed that one. We ended up staying the night at Country Hearth Hotel and got up early Saturday morning and drove the rest of way to Maryland.
Several years ago, an acquaintance and I were talking one night about our pets. During the conversation, he verbalized something that I hadn't actually thought about. He said, "You know, you're not supposed to pick out the pet. You're supposed to let them pick you out." But once he said it, it made perfect sense - because I had done it the wrong way once, and the right way the second time. The first time, when I did it wrong, I got my cat, Baby. Every time I went to see the kittens, his sister jumped in my lap. She's the one I should have kept. But Baby was the prettiest cat in the litter - and he's the one I chose. The second time, I did it right. And that's the day Tinker and I found each other.
As everyone knows from reading my last journal entry, Eric and I lost both of our dogs within six weeks of each other. First, let me THANK everyone who wrote to offer their condolences - even people who didn't know me but just read my blog. Your kind words mean more to me than you could possibly know. So again, THANK YOU for offering your sympathy and friendship. I said in my last entry that I would share some pictures and stories about each dog - so not to just focus on their deaths, but to celebrate their lives. I want to start with Woody.
It's been quite a while since I've updated my website, with the exception of my Boys' Night Out journal entry. I am behind and totally lacking in motivation to do anything other than work - I haven't even put together the entries from the "Be the Journalist" contest. But I have a reason - and I hope you will understand.
Boys' Night Out is now a memory. But oh, what a memory! It was a SMASHING success. We hoped for a good crowd, and WOW! Red Light Cafe was absolutely PACKED - and the audience was great. It was a good listening audience - they really listened, laughed in all the right spots and were very enthusiastic. So to everyone who was there, THANK YOU for being an AMAZING audience. Trust me, you guys were awesome.
Tuesday, February 20th 2007 -
Don't You Love It...
11:15 PM
...when you're behind an SUV (sports! utility! vehicle!) that has to slow down for every bump in the road?!?!?!
Saturday, February 17th 2007 -
MCC of the Palm Beaches
04:56 PM
Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I've written in my journal. I hate to write when I don't feel I really have something to say - so I'm sorry it's taken so long to feel motivated to write. I will try to do better in 2007. Anyway, on to my story...
Saturday, November 11th 2006 -
Roadtrip Days 7, 8 & 9 - West Virginia (Finally, The Conclusion!)
09:42 AM
We got on the road in the morning to begin our trek to West Virginia for the first Pride In The Arts Festival at Longfork Campground, hosted and organized by my friend Len at Stonewall Society. I had mapped the trip out on Yahoo and it seemed to be a fairly easy trip to make in one day. By the time we got to Columbus, OH, I realized then that I should have planned to stop there for the night (and hopefully see some friends we have there). We did stop outside of Columbus for a great steak dinner. After that, it was back on the road.
Thursday, September 21st 2006 -
Roadtrip Days 5 & 6 - Chicago
12:25 AM
Wow, it's been taken me forever to finish writing about our vacation from June. There have been a lot of things competing for my time. But I'll try to wrap up the last few parts up shortly. This portion of the trip was in a city that we both like a lot. It was a time to catch up with an old friend, meet some new friends, and once again see Madonna's Confessions Tour. Now, on to the story...
Sunday, September 10th 2006 -
India - The Conclusion (Or Is It?)
12:39 AM
I'm back home now. Actually, I've been home for several days. But I experienced the worst case of jet lag I've ever had! I got home Sunday night and had a good night's sleep, and then I basically didn't sleep again until Wednesday night - other than a couple of hours on Tuesday afternoon. I feel human again and that means I feel like writing about the rest of my India trip.
Wednesday, August 30th 2006 -
India - We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Broadcast
10:44 PM
Okay, I know I'm way behind on writing about our roadtrip. I promise to continue writing soon. But I'm in Chennai, India and have to write down some of my impressions. Before I get to the trip itself, let me talk a bit about going to the travel clinic before I left.
Sunday, August 13th 2006 -
Roadtrip Days 3 & 4- Cedar Point
10:01 PM
When I was a kid, I always loved taking an annual trip from Augusta to Six Flags Over Georgia with my classmates at school. I always enjoyed riding all of the roller coasters and thrill rides. So while I was in college, I thought it would be fun to work there. The two summers I worked at SFOG were incredibly fun. I always took a lot of pride in the park and the great rides we had there. But it wasn't until 2000 that I first heard of Cedar Point and realized that Cedar Point was a SERIOUS amusement park. Eric and I managed to spend a day there in May 2001 while we were bowling in a tournament in Columbus. That was my first introduction to a whole different breed of roller coaster -- the Millennium Force. After the debut of Top Thrill Dragster in 2003, I have been waiting anxiously for a return visit to Cedar Point. Finally, it was time.
Wednesday, July 26th 2006 -
Another One For Our Team
06:03 PM
It's official. Lance Bass, of N'SYNC fame, has announced that he is gay. Coming out is a very personal decision: one that should be made without pressure (i.e. forced outing) and when the person is ready. I hope that the time leading up to Lance's announcement has not been difficult and that his announcement gives him a sense of freedom. For me, it was a long, tough decision, but one that ultimately led to peace and happiness. I don't regret it at all. I wish the same for him and send my congrats and best wishes to him and Reichen.
Saturday, July 22nd 2006 -
Road Trip Days 1 & 2 - Memphis
10:06 PM
Eric and I recently took a great vacation. Since we were going to several different areas of the country, we decided to make a road trip out of it. Over the next few days, I will be writing about the different stops on our road trip. The first is an area near and dear to my heart - Memphis - where I went to perform at their Midsouth Pride.
Every July 4th, Atlanta hosts the largest 10K anywhere with 55,000 runners, the Peachtree Road Race. After skipping several years, Eric and I have run the race the last two years. I've always thought the race was rather easy, but last year, it was a harder race than I remembered, mostly because I had let myself get out of shape. I made a goal last year that I would do better this year.
Nelly Furtado just released her third album this week. I have her previous two ("Whoa, Nelly!" and "Folklore.") and really liked them both. So I was anxious to get her new CD, "Loose." "Loose," in a word, is fantastic. It is very beat-heavy, incredibly fresh and very eclectic. Some of the songs rely more heavily on the beat than the instrumentation, but that's okay. The CD has a very open, yet full, sound. It has much more of a hip hop influence than I would normally like, but huge props go to Timbaland, who did an amazing job producing the disc. But it's all about Nelly!
Sunday, June 4th 2006 -
Madonna's Confessions Tour
01:24 AM
A little over a week ago, I was in Los Angeles to visit a friend of mine and to see Madonna on her Confessions Tour. We made it to our GREAT seats (14th row, right against the catwalk) with just a few minutes to spare before the arena darkened and the show began. I loved the re-Invention tour, it's probably my favorite Madonna tour, so I was curious as to how it would compare to Confessions. I won't talk about every song she did, but will mention a number of them.
Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox is running for Governor. I felt compelled to write her a letter, which I am posting in my journal, due to her recent "about face" as it relates to the recently overturned anti-gay marriage amendment.
Tuesday, March 7th 2006 -
It's All About The Brits
11:37 PM
My friend Tim and I used to go to the record store every Tuesday to check out and buy some of the new releases. Anymore, record stores have pretty much gone the way of the dinosaur and CD purchases either come from Best Buy (for things that I have to have that day) or Amazon.com. I don't buy as much music as I used to, but I thought I'd take a minute to talk about the music I've been listening to lately. Here are my current favorites:
I've mentioned our dogs a few times in my journal entries. Woody is a blonde terrier mix with a very funny personality. He loves belly rubs, yawns loudly when he wants attention, has to sleep in the bed during thunder storms, has separation anxiety, chews rolls of toilet paper, and never met a treat that he didn't like. He is the one who found our kitten (see previous journal entry). He had never been up close to a cat before, but had an endless fascination with them. Even if there wasn't one around, all you had to do was say, "Where's the kitty?" and he would earnestly look around, trying to find the cat.
I'm a dog person. Always have been. Rarely have I met a dog that I didn't like. We have two dogs: Tinker, a black female cocker spaniel and Woody, a male blonde terrier mix. They are sweet dogs, both with very different, distinct personalities. Woody loves lots of attention and belly rubs. He has separation anxiety, and when left too long decides to shred the roll of toilet paper (he's nicknamed "Destructo Dog". Tinker is a very sweet, gentle dog who loves neck rubs and loves to cuddle and give kisses. Cats love her. Both love treats like nothing else. I had a cat years ago - a mean, ill-tempered cat that forever turned me against having another cat...or so I thought.
Wednesday, December 7th 2005 -
Happy Holidays from the White House
11:49 PM
A year ago, I wrote about the "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays" debate in our politically correct society. Tonight, I saw a news segment about a portion of W's constituency who find themselves most unhappy with the official White House Christmas card.
I had the opportunity to perform in Jacksonville, FL this weekend. So I drove down Saturday morning, arrived at my hotel in the afternoon, and performed at AJ's Bar & Grill that night. I came back on Sunday, so it was a very quick trip, but a very enjoyable one...
When speaking of TV during the last year, I have listed Desperate Housewives, Lost, Medium, Alias and 24 as my favorite shows. There's not a new show this year that has really interested me, so I'm keenly interested the same shows, several of which are in their sophomore year. Desperate Housewives hooked me from the very first episode and I anxiously looked foward to Sunday nights. But once Desperate Housewives went off, I turned off the TV. I wasn't interested in watching Boston Legal and when Grey's Anatomy started, I wasn't interested in watching that either. My, how times have changed.
Well, I've gone for probably the longest period yet of not updating my journal. Sometimes I have to keep a list of things I want to talk about so I don't forget them. Other times I choose not to write because I don't feel that I have a whole lot to say. Things have been way too busy. There are a lot that I could write about - detailed stuff. Instead, I thought I would jot down a list of things on my mind. Nothing too deep or detailed, just thoughts and things...
Thursday, August 4th 2005 -
Like A Dog On Linoleum
10:54 PM
I recently had the chance to catch Leslie Jordan's one man show, Like A Dog on Linoleum. If you're not familiar with Leslie, he plays Beverly Leslie on "Will and Grace" and starred as Brother Boy in the cult film, "Sordid Lives."
2005 Atlanta Pride has come and gone, but the memories of the weekend are still fresh. It's taken me a while to sit down and write about them because I needed to learn how to add pictures to my journal - and I needed to let some of the events of the weekend settle. It was a very busy weekend - one that was mixed with some really good and really bad things. It was a weekend of extremes. The most exciting part of Pride was that the band and I played the Coca-Cola Main Stage on Saturday, June 25th. I owe a huge "thank you" to Jennifer Sheffield, the Atlanta Pride Entertainment Coordinator.
Wednesday, July 6th 2005 -
Life In The Fast Lane...
11:37 PM
Surely make you lose your mind. (The Eagles) I don't have a tragic tale to tell as the lyrics to that song do. But I have been living rather fast lately and am WAY behind in updating my journal. I've done quite a bit of traveling for work as well as for my music. So I thought I'd take a few minutes to write about my experience at the OUTMUSIC Awards. My CD was nominated for OUTSTANDING DEBUT RECORDING - MALE, so I made my way to Chicago during the weeknd of June 10 - 13 for the OMA's.
Many artists at my level will often do home concerts. It is a great way to share your music to a new fan base in a very intimate setting. I decided several months ago that this was something I definitely wanted to do -- and I dubbed it "The Living Room Tour." I am happy to report that the Living Room Tour officially kicked off last weekend in Memphis, where I had two shows.
One day, I hope to have the luxury to do my music fulltime. In the meantime, I work in the corporate world, which allowed me to finance my CD. I just got back from a week in San Diego for a work conference, which was both productive and educational. I have a lot of ideas that I'd like to present my boss with - things I'd like to work on during the next year. When I found out the conference would be in San Diego, I was psyched because it is one of my favorite places in the country. I don't know why, but it always has been.
It is hard to believe that just a little over a week ago, the city of Atlanta was filled with horror and shock due to the courthouse shootings. I admit that I was a little scared Friday night, just knowing that Brian Nichols was somewhere on the loose. What a strange twist of fate that he would meet Ashley Smith. I definitely believe there was divine intervention! My heart goes out to the families and the friends of the people who died: Judge Rowland Barnes, Julie Brandau, Hoyt Teasley and David Wilhelm, as well as to the injured deputy Cynthia Smith.
I'm looking forward to my show next Saturday night. The band and I rehearsed yesterday. I've added a bass player named XXXX XXXXXXXX and not only is he an excellent bass player, he's got a really cool vibe. It's going to be a great show. [UPDATE: Today, July 30, 2005, I got a call from the bass player, whose name is now removed from this post. Said bass player said that although he's cool with me being gay and that he appreciated what I wrote about him, his name appearing on my website has caused others to question HIS sexuality and he believes that in at least one instance, he was not hired as a result. So let me be very clear -- I do not ask or care about any potential bandmate's sexual preferences (or if they even have sex). I hire them because of their musical abilities, not their sexuality. No one should assume that anyone on stage with me is anything other than straight. If you care about that sort of thing, you have way too much time on your hands.]
Things have been moving very fast the last number of months. I never feel like I'm really keeping up. There's a lot to do between work, working on the house, trying to do the "business" side of my music, as well as finishing up a few new songs that I've written. Oh yeah, and spending quality time with Eric, my family and friends. My next show is in just over a month, and I plan to debut one or two new songs, as well as a few cover tunes. But I know myself - I like to be busy. If I don't have enough to do, I feel listless. But if I feel like I have too much to do, I complain. I guess I'm hard to please, huh?
Happy New Year! Actually, I'm sure it's not a happy new year for millions of grieving friends and family due to the massive devastation and deaths caused in Asia by the tsunami. Watching the TV, it is so hard to fathom the enormity of the situation. I admit that although I have watched it, I just can't comprehend it. Two of my friends were scheduled to be in Phuket for vacation, but I wasn't sure when they would be there. I did some checking and am very thankful to report that they were in Australia when the tsunami hit and are safe and sound.
Wednesday, December 22nd 2004 -
"Here We Come A Caroling..."
03:50 AM
Tonight, I finished my last gig of the year with the caroling company I sing with, Like The Dickens. This year, I didn't have as many hours as I did the last two, but I enjoyed it a lot. Work has been stressful -- between that and the new house, it's a good thing I didn't get more hours because I would have pushed myself to do as many as possible.
Well, it's been a long time since I've written in the journal, or for that matter, updated the website. So I thought I'd take a few minutes to update you on what's been going on.
Tuesday, September 28th 2004 -
Ten Years In The Making
07:24 PM
I recently sang at a fundraiser for an organization called www.boycottforequality.com. The boycott is scheduled for one day -- on Friday, October 8th. Please check out their website for details -- and I hope you decide to participate. The boycott idea came from two Atlanta guys, a couple of ten years, who got fed up with President Bush's push for a constitutional amendment against gay marriage. I had hoped at some point that my music would allow me to do something politically oriented. So I was thrilled when I was asked to participate. I sang two songs, "Everything You Need" and "Natural," both of which I felt fit the occasion perfectly.
Sunday, September 19th 2004 -
Ivan The Terrible, Meet Washington, DC
01:12 PM
I flew to Reston, VA (which is a suburb of DC) for work on Thursday/Friday. I managed to fly out of Atlanta Thursday morning before the remnants of Ivan hit there. But I wasn't so lucky when it came time to leave the DC area.
Last night's show at Red Light Cafe was a lot of fun. On stage, I had Peter (on guitar & vocals) and Dionne (on vocals) again, along with Jen Lowe on percussion. Jen is a great percussionist, very professional, a LOT of fun -- and she is very pretty. She played a bongo, as well as a very cool peruvian box percussion instrument that she sat on called a "cajone" (insert joke here). Jen just finished a six week tour with Jason Mraz, who is one of my favorite singer-songwriters of the last few years. So I am excited and honored to have her play with us -- she will definitely be invited back!
Wednesday, August 11th 2004 -
A Change In The Weather
12:22 AM
We have had a very hot summer here -- hotter than the last few. But we are enjoying a (probably brief) respite from the hot. The last few days have been beautiful, clear, and sunny without the humidity. I am sure that we will be back to our normal August summer any day now. But the change has been great -- and has been a nice preview to fall. Fall is usually one of my favorite times of the year with the colorful leaves, the cooler temperatures, and a hint of a coming change. I usually love fall until the time changes, and then I am depressed for a week or so. I love daylight and always mourn the early sunsets.
For those of you who have read the credits, you know that I dedicated my CD to my grandmother, Bobbie Martin, who passed away on November 30, 2003. She ranks as the most influential person in my life. She was also one of the funniest. So I thought I would write about her -- particularly because she has been on my mind a lot.
Wow, it's hard to believe that it has almost been a month since my last entry. I have had the best of intentions, but alas, I have been caught up in the busy-ness of things. I did one song (Forgot to Forget) at the Jan Smith Studios showcase at Eddie's Attic a few weeks ago. I had been asked to go on first -- I initially balked at the idea. But going first also has its advantages. I did my song, ordered a beer and enjoyed the rest of the performances without having to worry about when it was my turn.
And thank God this is also a long weekend! It has been a L---O---N---G week. A few years back, some buddies and I would always head off to Pensacola for Memorial Day weekend, but then we all kind of independently decided that we had done it enough and it was time to move on. This year, other than dinner and game night with some friends (and hopefully some time out by the pool), I don’t have much of anything planned – and I’m glad. Did I mention it’s been a long week???
Monday, May 17th 2004 -
"I'm On A High, On A High..."
11:14 PM
"There's nothin' more to it, yeah." Lyrics from Duncan Sheik's song "On A High" from the album Daylight.
My CD Release Party was last night at Red Light Cafe. First of all, let me say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to all of you who came out. You showed me and the band so much love. It was an amazing, humbling experience. You guys just blew me away. I still haven't stopped smiling. And thanks to everyone who bought CD's -- and multiple CD's -- last night!! (For those of you who took pictures, I'd love to get copies so I can post some of them on the webpage.)
Just spent 8 days in Orlando (at Disney's Coronado Springs resort) for an Accounts Payable conference. During and after the conference, we had the chance to check out MGM Grand (Tower of Terror!), Epcot (Mission Space is incredibly realistic -- heck, what do I know? I've never been to space), Universal (the Spiderman ride is so off the chain and Shrek 4D is really cute, too), and the Kennedy Space Center. And I managed to attend ALL of the conference sessions, too. I came back a little browner than when I went and I had a good time. But I am very glad to be back home. I missed the dogs!!
And I missed my training sessions at the gym. I've been able to work out just fine with no "hurl" action. I did exercise while in Orlando, but not nearly enough.
CD Release Party is now LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY! I can't believe it is so close, nor how much there is to do between now and then. Can't wait.
Wednesday, April 21st 2004 -
In My Hand.
11:38 PM
Have you ever wanted something so much, and then you got it? How did you feel? For me, it's kind of a surreal feeling. I got my shipment of CD's on Monday, well in advance of the CD Release party. The artwork is BEAUTIFUL (thanks, Doug). And it sounds great. It's kind of a weird feeling to hold in my hand the tangible fruition of a lifelong dream -- to record a solo record. What makes it all the more special is to record my own songs after a lifetime of singing other people's words. I can't wait to put it out there -- it's hard to believe the CD Release party is less than a month away. I'm looking forward to seeing you there!
Thursday, April 8th 2004 -
My First Entry.
11:50 PM
One of the things that annoys me about a lot of websites, particularly music websites, is that they're updated when a new release comes out and then they are left alone. You know, the lights are on, but nobody's home? But I want to keep my website active.