in the mind of the pops archives 2004
1-18-04 It`s been quite a weekend.......Friday night, I helped some friends move. It didn`t feel like sub zero weather though it was.....I continued into Saturday opening Rory O`Sheas, working till 6pm. Todd Willard stopped in at the tail end of my shift, and we drove to his house where we did some switching around trading instruments and experimenting with different modes.........It was a cool and productive session........When I returned home, I nearly fell asleep at the kitchen table....I had a fantastic nights sleep last night for a change........Now today is about super-cleaning our home, and FOOTBALL...More tomorrow
1-19-04 Happy Brothers Day
1-20-04 What did our leaders get us into? We have American soldiers in Iraq, with no end to the problems there in sight....Oh I`m sorry...The war is over....and cows fly too. At least Japan came in to help the cause...Whatever the cause is......In my mind the cause should be getting our soldiers home. Who cares who runs their government? This whole sittuation is beyond rediculous. I can`t help but wonder, How much of the oil royalties were promised to Japan for them to finally get involved.....After all thats happened during the Bush`s term..Yeh' Sadam was captured...but we are still losing lives there..and Bush will probably be re-elected by our brainwashed nation...I never baught into to this from the first time our troops were there when Bush`s dad was commander and chief....No matter if we get a so called democracy in place over there, It won`t be long before it gets over-thrown anyway.....I`m gonna watch the Sabres tonight and chill
1-21-04 I`ll never understand the Buffalo Sabres. Why was Dereck Roy a healthy scratch agian? Here is a guy who makes things happen offensively. Unless there is another Sabres team that I don`t know about that`s lighting up the goal light with consistansy. If I was Ruff I would sit Miro Satan instead of Roy.....At least Roy shows up to play every night and adds some exitement to a stagnent team, who`s asperations for post season play are deminishing by the day. If I didn`t love the team, I would go out of my way to do something else, rather than subject myself to such a boring brand of hockey from a team with a few holes, but some exiting players to watch....When Coach Ruff doesn`t have them watching from the press box
1-22-04 I had me a nice little session with Jim Wynne late last night...Jim once again taught me more about music theory..Great stuff. Todd Willard and myself took a cruise this afternoon for the refund on my Peter Green ticket, Who was scheduled to play Buffalo`s tralf for the 31st of this month...Unfortunatly Peter suffered some kind of breakdown and was forced to cancell the whole tour. It`s a shame, Such a great talent....I wish him well. Tonight The Buffalo Sabres are in Boston to play the Bruins. The Sabres are now seven points out of a play-off spot....I hope play some desperate hockey tonight...It`s just about game time..More tomorrow
1-23-04 The Sabres won !!!! Too bad with the injured players coming back, The prospects are going back to Rochester (minors), But Dereck Roy is staying.....I can`t help but get the feeling the kid will be a superstar one day....Then we`ll trade him $$$$$$$$$$ bein' the issue...........Same as it ever was
1-26-04 Twas a busy weekend...I worked the bar Rorys Saturday, had a killer jam session with Todd Willard afterwords. Sunday my family and I celebrated my niece Emma and my nephew Noha`s birthdays. It was a kids bowling extravagenza. The bowling alley didn`t have size fifteen shoes so instead of bowling I tried teaching my children the little bit I know about bowling. No matter how many times I showed Kevin Jr. the right way to release the ball, he threw the ball of his left shoulder as if it was a heavy basketball. It was a nice time, even with some of my stuck up relatives, that looked at me as though I was a peice of crap when I said hello...but I held back the insults that were brewing in my mind for the kids` sake
1-27-04 Another late night visit from Jim Wynne...We did the drum thing for the better part of our session. I havn`t gigged out in a while, and between Jim and Todd, They keep my musical chops choppin' and I always learn something new. It`s been so long sinse I did a gig and It`s even more difficult to hustle gigs now a daze....I may even concider a booking agent...........Sabres on the boob-tube tonight
1-28-04 It is snowing away here in Lackawanna..School closings would be no surprise. It is supposed to get back down around zero..so all of this white stuff is bound to freeze into sheets of ice..Dress warm..and careful driving and walking....If you ask me, Spring can`t get here soon enough
1-29-04 I was attempting to record an arrangement last night, and my four track recorder took a crap...I have to get a whole of a friend who has helped me out with my gear in the passed and he does exellent work...The four track started making these funky noises..crackeling and humming a low tone..I`m hoping it only needs a cleaning....We`ll see...and weather-wize, It`s still very cold in these parts..but finally the sun came out for a peep..this deep freeze costs too much money..and I aint a skier so the drifting snow is something I can also do without
1-30-04 My children will be home early today from school some sort of teacher`s confrence this afternoon..so I will be hangin' with them today...Sabres-Rangers tonight on the tube in these parts.....Rory O`Sheas tomorrow (bein' Saturday) from High Noon till 6pm..SMOKIN'
2-2-04 Twas an interesting weeking for sports fans...A superbowl which the commercials wern`t more interesting the game for a change....Before the game started I was rootin' for The Panthers, then I found myself rootin' for both teams as the game went on...Seeing those couple ex Buffalo Bills in Patriot uniforms may have had something with my constent changes of heart during the game....Though New England won the game, I can`t help but get the feeling Carolina will make some noise next year....They are a very good football team and as long as they don`t end up with the lost players to free agancy blues...They should do well with that first superbowl appearence under their belts. The Sabres took both games in that home and home with the New York (All Star) Rangers....Marty Biron has been on fire of late, with the Sabres winning streak is up to four games...unfortunately we have to wait till Thursday for their next game...I hate to say it but not playing for four or five days usually doesn`t fare well with the Sabres....I hope I`m wrong. Happy Birthday to Jefferson Starship vocalist Marty Balin, who celebrated the big sixty two over the weekend
2-3-04 First off, It is very slippery in Lackawanna and probably the rest of Western New York as well...Be extra carefull driving and walking. What we are experiencing here is a bad ice storm...WE NEED SUNSHINE!!!! Birthday wishes going out to my good friend Walt Glab, who turns thirty-nine today (no kidding)....Me I`ve been thirty-nine for five years already, and other than a little extra weight I feel the same way I did when I was in my twenties...However, I don`t think I could out run the cops anymore so I have to behave myself......Well kind of
2-4-04 The joys of parenting...Two weeks ago there was a snow day-off from school due to frigged tematures, white out conditions etc. The day before had basically the same weather conditions though it wasn`t an official snow day, I kept them home anyway...Well Kevin Jr. told me last night that he needed a note to account for the missed day. I told Kev that I would put it in his book-bag last night...and I forgot...So Kevin comes home today telling me that because of my neglect to send him to school with the note, He would get a yellow mark for the day...My understanding is that green marks meen a good day..Yellow, Not so good, and Red being rotton to the core (paraphrasing a bit) but in any event Kev has never had a red star(knock on wood) all greens with the excepion of one yellow a while back...So Kev was very angery when he came home and chewed me out for about twenty minutes of so...In the same manner that Missy does to me from time to time...I told him I was sorry..and his reply was SORRY DIDN`T DO IT..like I`ve told him a number of times after he mis-behaved at home or where-ever...Jeeze..Ya' know??? He cherping about it again right now.....Sabres-Bruins tonight..If one more person in this house gets on my case about anything...I`ll watch the friggin' game somewhere else
2-4-04 Update, For some reason, I thought is was Thursday and odviously it`s Wednesday...No Sabres hockey till tomorrow. I put my frozen pizza in the oven, told the kids that they couldn`t watch their DVDs cause' Daddy`s watchin' hockey..So with my pizza in one hand the remote in the other, I switched to Empire sports looking for the game only to find woman`s professional basketball...then it hit me....For once in my life I was a day ahead of schedule instead of the other way around
2-5-04 After some power-hangin' with Walt Glab who is still calebrating his birtday..We had a late one last night..I`m a little tired now..But not to tired to watch the Sabres play the Bruins looking for their fifth straight regular season win...Something the Sabres havn`t done over a decade..I think I have my days and nights finally squared away..depending on what time zone you happen to be in
2-6-04 The weekend has arrived and at least it`s not so cold...33 degrees F'...I can picture the palm trees in my back yard..Today I got me a little running around to do tightening up some loose ends in my ever-changing schedule...I may as well face it..I havn`t a real schedule to speak of..OK I`m wrong..I can be found behind the bar at Rorys tomorrow bein' Saturday from High Noon till 6pm..SMOKIN'
2-8-04 It`s Sunday and my brain is still humming from last nights jam session with Todd W.....I just aquired an electric bass guitar. I used to play bass in my very first band called 'Ambush..We were pretty good for a band who didn`t know how to play our instruments very well, but we had the ability to create our own songs..I`m sure there are a few of you out there who remember 'Ambush...We had a couple of jam rooms on Sycamore Street in Buffalo`s East Side..But the one in particular was a brick store front...and I kid you not when I tell you that we were so loud and proud that bricks were detatching themselves from the wall leading into the yard and falling to the side walk...Between that and numerous complaints from the neibors, We had to find another place to jam
4-21-04 'Had me one of those late nights last night working on vocal harmonies with Jim...It`s strange how when broken down, so many songs have harmony that is sung in the same manor as the old "Three Stooges" diddy, Hello...Hello...Hello... and moving that phrasing to different keys in sequinse..taking turns with the third part of the harmony with the other sustaining the note sung, till it`s time for you to switch going around and around...Breating exersises are inportant, as you DON`T want to abruptley be short of breath especially when it`s your turn to change a note....You must budget breathing in these type of vocal exersises....That concept my friends, is what makes for many upon many oldies and new songs as well...If your thinking traditional four part harmony, just had the next hello..Do you remember the vocal introduction to Beatles version of "Twist and Shout? Just imagine substituding "Hello" for "ahh" 'Four part harmony, same concept...It should all be so easy
4-22-04 Another gloomy morning in Lackawanna...Usually when I make refererence to the morning gloom, the afternoon turns out to be sunny....I hope I`m right. I didn`t have a chance to get my children outside yesterday and when that doesn`t happen, my darling children won`t let me live it down... They are all in school, so perhaps I`ll hit the basement room and touch up the new songs that are just about finished...I have a bunch of them that aren`t on CD yet...'Got a feeling that my next CD might be a double set...I don`t want to wait another year and tell you all that my box set will be ready...Time to get busy
4-23-04 Yeh' I`m still a night owl...I tried counting sheep, and I ended up to exited to sleep.....However I did manage to get some composing time in, and it`s coming along.....One good thing about working behind the bar for all of these years, is the fact that my experiences as a bartender give me a lot to write about...'Just have to change the names
4-24-03 Last night I spent a relaxing evening watchin' The Bosox spank the Yankees 11-2 in Yankees Stadium..Sweet, Sweet, Sweet.....I can be found behind the bar at Rorys today from High Noon till 6pm....Drop on by for happy hour prices and a cigarette...Bring your own smokes
4-25-04 It twas a pretty activity packed day yesterday...'Was a solid day at work, 'Jammed with Todd Willard afterwords...and hung with Jim talking shop, and listening to cool music till the wee hours... I must say that after listening to a Zeppelin show from 77, Johm Paul Jones is probably the most under-rated musician from a very well known band... If you ask your average Zeppelin fan what JPJ brought to the table, 9 times out of 10 bass comes to mind...Not only did he put a master`s touch on bass, but he is an accomplished piano player...JPJ also knows his way around the mandelin..First example that comes to mind is is John`s sweet mandelin playing on "Goin' to California" and "Battle of Evermore"....It`s beyond me why Page -n- Plant decided not to use him on the last tour some years back....Well other than money....I guess Jimmy Page is Led Wallet sruck again
4-26-04 What a start to the new week...I started by oversleeping as in school buses gone.. It was very important for Kevin Junior to be in school...Remember those "Standard Acheivement teats? (number 2 pencil multiple choice problems, that seem to last forever... I called arround and got them all a ride to school...Thanks Diane... Today I have an afternoon session planned with Mike Lasek Junior...We have to get a song list together for the benefit we are playing on the 16th of May...If you are interested in checking it out the show and helping out a friend of a friend..Check my showdates page for deails...'Time to prep' for the rehearsle
4-27-04 One can wonder themselves crazy, wonderin' what a given day will bring, when one is in such an unpredictable business like the entertainment industry...As I look to take another stab at it... Though I`m busy writing and arranging, It still aint leaving me any bread in my pocket.. I hear it all of the time how I should be hitting it big....It`s not like I don`t know how to except a compliment...I guess I`m discouraged by what I hear on the radio...But bein' the musical lifer that I am (and it not by choice) I`m going to keep on keepin' on...with the hope of making a decent living from the trade I chose or was chosen for me....I`m not sure how that part of it works...I guess to make a long story short, I`m in a state of uncertainty...Other than the fact that I am truly a musical lifer...What else am I going to do when I turn seventy? I don`t foresee any retirement bennies' coming my way...I need a break in this frigged up biz'
4-28-04 'Taking a break from my recording project..to do some more rehearsing for the benefit with Mr. Lasek...I hope he remembers to show...I`ll have to give him a call, wake him up, etc, etc..........BTW In my opinion, Ex Buffalo Brave, Randy Smith is one the most under-rated basketball players to ever play in the NBA
4-29-04 It`s a sunny, but breezy day here in Western New York...Got some things to do, with my Mom moving and all...My sister Carol should be here in a little while..and in all likelyhood, we`ll be taking a cruise to my the house that mom`s moving out of, to see what we`re going to keep. 'Mama`s moving into a furnished appartment, and it figures that my fridge is on it`s last leg, and tomorrow some friends and I will move my mom`s fridge here...The thing is like new
4-30-04 The fridge is in. It wasn`t difficult having an experienced retired professional mover help me out...He had those groovie two man straps for moving heavy appliences, and they served well...I barely cracked a sweat... Wifie is having a candle party tonight...She gave me a bunch of instructions while I was half asleep, and I can`t remember what they were.....I`ll have to switch my brain to music mode and improvise...I hope it works
5-1-04 It`s Saturday, Rory O`Sheas is the place I will be serving drinks and indulging in intelligent conversation..Well maybe a little bit...High Noon till 6pm is when it all goes down...Happy Hour prices and all
5-2-04 Sunday Mornin' Comin' down...and it is a gloomy one here in Western New York..'Quite the contrast to yesterday... 'Hooking up with Mister Lasek this evening...'Going to do some more rehearsing and wev`ve been known to do some composing too...Maybe we can get Chet to join us
5-3-03 'Well here we go again, As I told you earlier in the week, getting the fridge in the house with Jerry was a peice of cake...But then came the second part of the job...Removing the old fridge is another story....Yeh' I was alone and hard headed again...I couldn`t find a hammer or screwdriver..God only knows where things hide in this house....So the more I looked at that old peice of junk sitting in my kitchen, the more angered I got, So I just grabbed a whole of the thing and dragged it out of my house...In the process of of taking this thing down my hallway stairs, The top corner of the fridge jabbed me in my ribs....I am a hurtin' unit...I`m NOT a big fan of going to the doctors...Waiting rooms are depressing, and even when I try to add a little humor..The patients usually kind of look at me as though I was some kind of nut case....Hopefully all I have are a couple of bruised ribs, and I can just try to take it easy and let the healing process run it`s coarse..I`ve been drinking a lot of milk of late....I`ve been hearing as far back as a tike that milk builds strong bones and teeth..Sleeping last night was particulary comfortable..I`m a toss and turner, and every time I rolled over ouch!!! and I was awoken again, and again till finaly I just stayed up.....More tomorrow
5-4-04 I`m no expert on sound waves and radio signals, but the question looms, Why is it that radio stations with this large towers can not be picked up when I`m maybe ten miles out of town, and those tiny cellphones have long distance features to call around the world? I guess the FCC people have to try and keep radio sgnals from crossing or we wouldn`t be able to listen to a radio station without getting interference from another radio station...Don`t mind my useless chatter...I`m still hurtin' and having trouble sleeping at night...Right now I`m just waiting on the mail, then I`ll try my luck at grabbing a little nap...But I can`t go to sleep yet...'Waitin' on the plummer...'Broken fawcet in the old tub
5-5-04 I`ve been very guilty over the years of waiting till the last minute to tighten up the nessessary phone calls tending to matters regarding family and self...Man, It seems like life is so full of deadlines that I wish I could wave a magic wand and everything would be tightened up...Paperwork etc.....But it aint that way once you become a parent and spouse...Free time is a premium, so I try to make the best of it and make something happen musically...A lot of old friends say that I never have time for friends and try to lay guilt trips..Unfortunatly they are right in many cases...I can only stretch myself so thin...'Family comes first in this day and age, and bein' the best papa and hubby...To make a long story short, I`ll hang out with some friends but nowhere near as much as I used too...I have some crap to deal with downtown in the morning...That sould be the last of it for a while (KNOCK ON WOOD)..Better days are comin' and still I have some songs to learn in between naps and red tape....BTW, I broke my baby toe stubbing it on the door frame leading to my kitchen...It goes well with my bruised ribs
5-19-04 First off, Congratulations to Randy Johnson AKA The Big Unit, who pitched a perfect game for The Arizona Diamondbacks against the Atlanta Braves last night at the age of 40...A 40 year old hasn`t pitched a perfect game sinse the 1940s...and on a sad note, Tony Randal, best known as felix Unger in the sit-com "The Odd Couple" passed away yesterday RIP...As for me I plan on practicing guitar and vocalizing, as I`m starting to finally get some offers to perform live again, after performing at Chad Richardson`s benefit this passed Sunday..I had a great time playing with Mike Lasek Jr. again, and I truly realized how much I missed performing live, bein' my first public appearence in almost a year...Time to get this show on the road...and last but not least Happy 59th Birthday to Peter Townshend
5-20-04 Though I don`t drive, I know what it`s like to lose a signifigant chunk of my budget to inflated prices, and the price of gasoline is plain ole' rediculous...Once again, When this republican term ends (hopefully the coming election) with control of congress and the guy in the white house..With the total state of our nation going down the corporate tubes, The republicans can`t blame the democrats this time...If you don`t beleive me, Do the math
5-21-04 Sorrow is in my voice as I try to pick up the peices of my life that has taken a tail spin...Better days are on the horizon...Tomorrow is Saturday, Another day at Rory`s from Noon till six...My oldest daughter Leanna`s dance recital is the plan for tomorrow evening...Leanna Rocks
5-23-04 First off, Happy Birthday to my baby sister Carol....Yesterday was the first time I attended a dance recital, and my daughter was very impressive in her on stage presentation, Leanna was very smooth and flawless in her performance...All and all, I found it entertaining, and now she is going to take the next step, that bein' jazz dancing, and more rectals are scheduled...It`s my feeling that like her daddy, the stage gives her the same pleasure that I feel...Leanna is a very gifted child, and I can`t help but expect good things in her future, and I am one proud dad
5-24-04 After getting my children off to school today, My friend Tim and myself, took a cruise to one of the Native American stores in Gowanda, New York...It was a nice relaxing ride listening to good music...We took the backroads back to Lackawanna, and I was dropped off at Todd Willards house...Just kind of a shot in the dark, never really knowing Todd`s work schedule, But Todd wasn`t home, so I decided to take a stroll around the neiborhood here, chit-chattin' with some of the folks in the hood..Afterwords I went home and spent the rest of the afternoon, doing some chores around the house, and beleive it or not I started getting my music collection in order...I got quite a bit done, but still a long way to go as far as being able to find a recording in moment`s notice, but it`s starting to get there......Then there is laundry...Missy worked real hard getting seperating a half 'a ton of summer clothes from the basement so I could wash and dry those..Missy does the folding...She`s a lot better at it than I am....I will continue to do laundry well into the night tonight....'Got to get the clothes wahed before they get ruined....Money don`t grow on trees in my yard.....Oh ues, Happy Birthday wishes go out to Bobby Dylan...which reminds me that I didn`t play guitar yet today...I`ll should get a little time in later
5-25-04 It will be June in less than a week...Time for The Stanley Cup Finals.....I guess have to pull for Tampa Bay, Perhaps I wouldn`t be wining if The Buffalo Sabres wern`t involved...So 'got to pull for Dave Andrechuck (The Lightning captain) who is in his 22nd NHL season and twice removed by The Sabres...Dave scores game winning goals, as he has done throughout his brilliant NHL carreer, and something not part of The Sabre job description
5-26-04 Not a lot to report today...Though I wish I could have made it to Rochester last night, to see Jorma Kaukonen (former Jefferson Airplane guitarist) and mandelin sensation Barry Mitteroff. I have a recording of the two of them performong at the "Gathering of the Vibes" last year....Unfortunatly there were many festivals going on the same weekend of 'The Vibes last year, and the promotors lost a lot of money, which meens that The Vibes aint happening this year....I guess things will remain quiet in Mariaville this summer.....Let`s hope that The Vibes happens once again next year...Long live hippy music
5-27-04 'Raining again here in Western New York, But never the less, We are on the brink of Mamorial Day Weekend...Too many mamorials of late, but I will save that subject for another time...Mamorial Day Weekend also marks the start of concert season, and there are a lot of concerts coming to The Buffalo Area...'Got to enjoy it...'Plenty of free ones too
5-28-04 I`m home with the children today as as they get a bonus day off for Mamorial Day Weekend this year....I took Kevin Jr. for his buzz cut at our local barber while my friend and technician Walt sat here with the others and installed new speakers to our computer including a sub woofer.....I used to never listen to music on my pc because of the crappy sound quality....That has now changed..Not sure what is on tap for tonight...Perhaps a jam session....I hope
5-29-04 Yesterday evening ended on a good note, as an unscheduled rehearsle with The Mighty Todd Willard.. We covered some old ground as in our personal standards, and of coarse we took matters to the next level after listening to some Peter Green and we both found it to be inspiring and we went off on a few jams that could very well end up bein' songs.... Todd will be performing with me at Kevin Shea`s benefit (details on show dates page) as we will do our thing......Though I never met Kevin, I know from tending bar in South Buffalo that Kevin was a respected man of those who knew him best.....And Speaking of tending bar, Look for me to be doin' just that, today at Rory O`Sheas..High Noon till 6pm
5-30-04 The morning brought not much of mess to clean up after one of my students wanted to play all night...But he has enough homework to keep him busy till his follow-up.. So after washing a few glasses, the house was prezentable' enough that my Missy don`t shoot me (kidding of course)..Missy is doin' our children`s cousins birthday parties...I feel terrible because there are so many cousins getting spit out, 'More than I can keep track of...But if I made it to the partys....Then I would know...Shame on me..But after working the bar, I`m in circulation and a lot of old friends want to kidnap me, and I try my best to squeeze in time for a return call or an email to as many as I can, But most want to hang out..I hate sayin' NO but many times I must..'Sorry.. ..and Finally, Spend a moment for prayer and thoughts to all who are serving now, for their safty, and for those died in action serving in every branch The Armed Forces..Rest in Peace Eternally in the Loving Hands of the Lord...............AMEN
5-31-04 Now with it being night time, Once again I will try to set up an "Acoustic Basement Room Jam"...'Got to send out some smoke signals
6-1-04 June is now upon us (not June Clever) as we near the half way point of another that seems to be zipping by..Summer Vacation for the children is just a little more than two weeks away...'Final exams, and that last half a day, that seemed like it would never end...'Funny how little seemingly meaningless thoughts of days gone by, seem to surface at the weirdest times...In the words of Johnny Winter "Still Alive and well"......All of the events of my teenage years, don`t seem like they were 25 + years ago...Who`s messin' with that time machine...When I think about my age, I feel old, When I`m not, I feel like a wipper snapper, ready to raise hell in the neiborhood...But my old neiborhood is a getto now and no place to raise hell anymore....There is nothing on Buffalo`s east side to damage anymore....It`s all slums...There are times that I actually miss the old 'hood
6-2-04 'Raining then sunny then rainy...You get idea, and if you live in Western New York changable is a household word in our local weather labs.....I know there is crappier weather in other parts of the world...There was a time I concidered a move to 'Vegas, But it way too hot in those parts..Los Vegas kind of like an oasis in the middle a desert...But realisticly, We are concidering a move to another appartment, or better yet a one family house....Our long time neibor Dave moved out last month and He did his thing and we did ours never getting in each others way or steppin' on one another toes...It was sad to see him move...Now that the upper is vacant, The landloard has been showing her mug around quite often..She is up in age, and not always the most pleasent natured person I know.....I need someone else getting on my case as much as I need a case of jock itch
6-3-04 Sunny day outside my window, as Kev Jr. and I are guests at my oldest daughter`s After School Pizza Party, We will be leaving shortly, and beleive me when I tell you that I won`t forget my to bring my appitiete
6-4-04 After sending off the children to school this morning, I took another ride to the Rez' with my friend Tim...Afterwords, I did a bunch of work around the house inside and outside in the yard as well....As far as tonight goes, I am unsure about what I`ll be doin' (hopefully jammin') so I`m going to hang loose for a while and see what developes.....Tomorrow is Saturday and I can expect another tricky day behind the bar at Rory`s from High Noon till 6pm
6-6-04 A year ago yesterday, My good friend Todd Willard`s brother passed away... 'Best known as "Junior"..Rest in peace.. After working Rory`s yesterday, I found my way to Corsi`s Place where I saw a bunch of friends that I havn`t seen in a while..It was very cool...I also had the pleasure of sitting in with a band called "The Ocean" which gave me the on stage fixx, that I badly needed.. Captain Ray-Gun our ex predident has passed on at the age of 93... I was never a Regan fan...He sold our country out before it was in style....It`s Sunday, I`ll be nice.....ARGHHHH
6-7-04 First off, Happy Birthday to my dear old dad, Who turns..'Christ I don`t know how old he is, so I guess we`ll call him ageless... ....Lately, Nobody`s been playing trivia...The questions havn`t been that hard, and this site is still getting plenty of hits...I have lots of good rare music, I hope the questions arn`t too hard... ...Sunny and hot in Western New York...Don`t forget the sun blocker if outside activites are on your agenda (especially for the children)
6-8-04 'Took me a stroll around the neiborhood today...Another scoarcher today..Lots of people out and about...I have no AC...'Got to get back out there and see what I can see....BTW Contratz' to The Tampa Bay Lightning...Our new Stanley Cup Champions
8-22-04 Crazy Days Lately.. First off on a very sad note, Another friend of mine named Mike Amlinger passed away Wednesday night in his sleep of a heart attack... Though I never met Mike`s family, I know he is sorely missed by his friends.....Rest in Peace, you old war horse... As life goes on, We are looking for an appartment here in The Lackawanna area.. We are looking for a four bedroom spacious lower, with or single family house off the main drag....as after six and a half years of living in the house that Missy and I were wed, We have to scoot... We received word word from the landlord the other day that she had plans for our appartment, and that we should start looking.. 716-822-9486 is the phone number or drop me an email if you have any leads... Also, I am disgusted at the fact that my old Email address was high-jacked and is spreading a computer virus... I will no longer use verizon email for anything, so of you receive anything from the old address, Delete it...People who create these viruses really need to get a life.. Finally for today, If you happen to have clothes for our family, Thanks but no thanks, as I am backed up with a half a ton of laundry as my washer and dryer continue to work around the clock till it`s all caught up...If there is such a thing...Missy comes home quite often with kids clothes from friends...Our children have plenty of clothes...I don`t meen to sound 'ungrateful, but we have more clothes for our children than we know what to do with........and BTW I`m still holding auditions for The Rock -n- Soul Wedding Band...Serious enquiries, Please email or call me.......Back to the classifieds
8-24-04 Back in the Day.. In the words of Bobby Dylan; I was so much older then, I`m younger than that now.. I have had my unfair share of injuries over the years, and when the weather is damp, It`s can be quite the unpleasent experience...But when I`m on stage,or just singing in my basement I am a whipper-snapper again..In my younger days I had that rock star ego, and it felt at the time that I was in my prime...WRONG, DOUBLE WRONG, TRIPLE WRONG...I honestly feel that at the age of 44, Time and practice has made me a better musician and I am ready to tackle any musical project that comes along...With help from my friends, of coarse......BTW The search is still on for an appartment
8-27-04 Who did that? After taking a walk around the neiborhood, with my children on this hot sticky day, Still looking for an appartment....I was doing some cleaning and was headed downstairs to switch the laundry, when I couldn`t help but notice a new computer keyboard sitting next to my door... It`s been a few days sinse I`ve been able to do any work on the computer, because my son spilled some "7 UP" on our old keyboard and I took it appart and as usual when I take something appart, It worked worse than it did before I opened it up.... Thanks, who ever you are (though I have my suspicions)... Tomorrow is Saturday, and as usual, I can be found behind the bar at Rorys High Noon till whenever.......It sure is hot out
8-29-04 'So Much Stuff... We went to look at another appartment today....First off, It was an upper appartment that used to be a nice place, but there`s way too much work to be done to make it half way respectable...The slumlord went on to tell me about the nice young couple living downstairs with a child.......Judging by all of the booze bottles on the porch and what appeared and the fact that there is some guy living in the attic...No thanks, The search continues tomorrow, with a 7pm appontment with another landlord in the neiborhood...Wish us luck as the search and the make ready stages of for the move are in motion...A friend is dropping off a bunch of empty boxes but we will need more, as I continue to do laundry which a lot of will be given away....There is so much stuff, I get dizzy thinking about....MOVING SUCKS
8-31-04 The search is still on... We looked at another appartment yesterday...'Nice place, but the landlord was very proud of their freshly painted living room walls...I call it "Dollar Store Yellow", and she insisted that the bedroom curtians stay.....'Husband and wife landlords, He seemed very nice, and his wife appeared to be the counter balance...No thanks...The search continues today..... BTW, Our current landlord knocked at my door telling me that we would be charged an for the new tennants` laundermat costs because I didn`t move this big refegeration unit that is in the way of the laundry hook-ups, which has been in that very spot before we moved in..... Our current landlord owns a lot property in this area, and is trying to squeeze every last penny that she can out of us before we leave... I don`t like disrespecting my elders, but I am growing very tired of my family being crapped on by this old battle-axe
9-2-04 The great escape... I had to take a break from reality which has been just plain crappy of late...'Jammed with Jim Wynne last night till the wee hours.......Now it`s back to the grind
9-3-04 Another new beginning... ....'and it begins tomorrow at Griffins` Pub, as Rory O`Sheas` in now a fond memory...I made some new friends sadely lost a few over my couple years of service years mostly doing Saturday afternoons, behind the bar....And I thank Ross the old boss for everything, who was super, and I wish him a great future...But I look forward to a successful run for Danny G., and I wish him all the best in the coming years, and I`m always proud to be part of a core of fine folks...Hopefully I get more hours which would certainly be helpful to the cause with the move going on and all...Hopefully sooner than later (The move that is)....But the stone keeps on rollin' as I look foward to a new beginning tomorrow from Hight Noon till 5PM or so....and after my shift it`s onword to another mission from God......Happy Birthday Pam
9-24-04 "Cat Stevens" I think I`ll follow his lead and convert to whatever Muslsim religion Cat chose....This will require me to change my name, quit playing music, and not to fly on comercial airlines.....But I`m having trouble coming up with a Muslim name...I guess due to my lack of creativity, being unable to think of a suitable name, I`ll have to scrap that idea and go back to writing songs... Tomorrow is Saturday, and I can be found behind the Bar at Griffins Pub, from High Noon till 5pm
9-26-04 "Still Sick" During work, I felt groggy, dizzy, sweats, congested etc as I am still feeling the lingering effects of the Upper Respritory Infection thats been kicking the crap out of me for the passed week....I felt better for a few days, then like a bad penny, It came back in full force...After I returned home from work, I gave Richard Davidson a call and he was kind enough drive me to the ER, and they did blood work, Xrays, and EKG and sent me on my way with another script.......But I must say, that I felt a little better after returning home and learning that The Yankess were spanked by my Red Sox 12-5...I guess it`s true that every cloud has a silver lining... BTW I had to cancel a musical engagement yesterday evening...So much for the silver lining theory
9-27-04 Sick of bein' Sick... I feel a little better today, I can hit notes that I couldn`t hit yesterday, So I`m headed in thr right direction, but not nearly as quick as I would like to to just GO AWAY... My doc says that she has been seeing many with the same problems, that it`ll take time to run it`s coarse (I heard the same from the doc in the ER).....Follow ups and all of that noise was never for me, But now a days my family counts on me to be there for them, So I can`t live this stuff hangin' like I used too....So I have the tunes crankin' to help motivate me to pack for the eventual move.... I give all the credit in the world to Wifie, Who is picking up the slack for me, and continues to work overtime at her job... Once we are ready to finally move HELP IS WELCOMED even if you don`t want to stck around for the whole job, or help out on the tail shift of moving day to releive the tired and hurting.....I have a bunch more junk going to the curb in a bit for the trash man tomorrow as we continue to down-size in preperation for that joyfull day....More tomorrow
9-28-04 Deja Voo... There is a strong rumor that I will be guest bartending at Corsi`s Place 1441 Electric Ave. in Lackawanna...A corner bar that I spent five years of my life employed as a bartender and a musician.....I look forword to tending bar for the old gang....I will post the date and time as soon as it`s confirmed... BTW, Today I feel a vast improvement in my health...Right now I feel at about 85 percent and climbing.....Time to get dinner started
9-30-04 Only the Shadow Knows, 'Gonna' check out another appartment today....If this one doesn`t work out, then we`ll probably tone down the search till winter...When traditionally the price of rents go down....'Don`t know what else to do in the meen time but continue to pack......'Feeling much better today
10-1-04 Time of the season... With October now upon us...'time for Chili Concarnie, Wifie`s out picking up the ingredients and I`ll slow cook er' up this evening...'Should be UM' Wah' tomorrow, but I won`t be able the resist a sample salad bowl full tonight... Tomorrow is another Saturday at Griffins Pub (Formally Rorys O` Sheas)...High Noon till 5pm.....Thanks out to Jim Wynne who came through with my daughter Leanna`s clarinet insruction book and some reeds.....What a guy
10-3-04 Just about Packed, and got some jammin' in... After work yesterday, I hooked up with Todd Willard for another quality session after work yesterday...It was way cool!!! Today was all about packing, eating chili, and tossin' out a bunch more of more old junk....At this point in time, Everything is packed with the exception of the essentials for every day living....All we need now is a place to move
10-5-04 If all goes planned (if it ever does) We`ll be looking at an appartment some time this evening....I hope this is the one...Wish us luck......In the words of Eric Bourdon "We gotta get out of this place"........In retrospect, I shouldn`t have shunned the warning of a passed tennent here
10-6-04 He Always Had My Respect... Thanks for the laughs, Rodney D....Rest In Peace
10-8-04 Fingers and Toes crossed.... 'Got a call from a friend today with some promising news on an appartment we`ve had our eye on for a while.... 'Gonna' do more packing, Watch the Bosox, and Yes tomorrow is Saturday, which means I can be found behind the bar at Griffind Pub (South Buffalo`s finest service with a grin) High Noon till 6pm
10-10-04 Finally... Today is all about the move...We are now holding the keys to the new place, and soon we will finally be through with living under scum......Next weekend, We are out of here
10-11-04 Musical Jones.... I can`t wait to get moved into the new place....I have so many ideas for melodies dancing in my cranium, and with the lack of a studio (Not for Long) I just want to get these ideas recorded.......I will then pass em' along to the boys and the Musical Gods will once again be making love
10-12-04 Curse This !!!!! Bosox/Yankee American Leauge Championship Series begins tonight at 8pm E.S.T. I can`t see anyone stopping The Red Sox this year...I will be glued to mu TV, as they spank those yanks
10-13-04 I Can Hear You Laughing... Okay, The Yankees roped a gimping Curt Schilling, But they almost choked it up.....Yes I know "Almost" only applies to horseshoes and handgranades, But Pedro is on the mound tonight for sweet redemption.....Don`t count your chickens yet Yankee fans, or you may find yourselves eating crowe......and I don`t mean Cheryl.. BTW, I have one truck and one van, But I still needs some bodies....If you can be of any help, Even for part of the move...716-822-9486 or email me please
10-21-04 From the Library... Hello All, My internet provider has not been able to connect my service yet at the new appartment...That is a drag, But I must say we have all been busy getting unpacked...It`s been a pain in the rectum, but the change is welcomed, no longer having to live under a cloud of gloom...'Kinda like a new lease on life, and all of us dig the new pad... Thanks to Billy, Mary, Walt, and Dave for the back breaking help with the move....And you Yankee fans have my condolences....LOL..Go Bosox
12-3-04 Hello again peeps', Stretch here...Popping the seal on a new page of my of what`s going on inside of my head...With my sleeping habits being fried from as cock-eyed of a schedule as a semi-normal human being can have... I did arrive at one conclusion....I over extend my passion in just about everything I do...Ranging from being a friend to far more people than the average dude, My work on music in various capacities, and last but not least, Being a posative role model for my children... It takes no genius to know how impressionable young lives are, and needless to say my wife and I want nothing short of the best for our youngins (who aren`t so young anymore)......No more diapers, and I am sure to keep that rascle rapped...Kids aint cheap... Tomorrow is Saturday, and I will be at Griffins` Pub in some shape or form behind the bar starting at High Noon
12-6-04 If it takes a spending a penny on the dollar in taxes to keep our libraries open, and numerous other services from going under here in The Buffalo area, So be it....Who knows about hidden political agendas? I`m not going to write anymore protest songs, unless I get hit with a doosie that "The Stretch Limo Ride" can use....Society hasn`t gone totally down the crapper, So there are some nice things to write about...Maybe we need some new Christmas caroles LOL
12-7-04 Come to think of it, I wrote a Christmas carole some twenty years ago called "The Spirit of Christmas" It didn`t top the charts but the chicks liked it at the time.....I may have recorded it on a getto blaster, with the microphones built in...Who knows what became of that tape...I kind of remember the chorus.....Maybe if I monkey around with it on guitar it may re-surface.....That would be a stretch
12-8-04 The winds are blowing cold in Western New York in the wee hours, as I`m concidering a trip downstairs to work on some tunage...Or maybe I`ll stay up here in the appartment where it`s a lot warmer and tighten up some lyrics...Either way, I don`t feel much like sleeping, and I probably won`t be ready for a snooze till it`s time to wake up, so rather lay around waiting to sleep, I may as well try to make some good use of some down time....One thing for sure, I aint going anywhere.....It`s nasty outside, and I guess it only figures that the winds would be whipping around on garbage night...More tomorrow...Whenever that is
12-9-04 Man oh man, 'Gunman opens fire in a night club in Columbus, Ohio and kills guitarist "Dimebag Dave" of "Pantera" while performing with his new group "Dammage Plan"...Four others including fans and a bouncer were also shot and shot and killed, before a policeman shot and killed the gunman....That is just plain crazy...."Dammage plan" performed at the Icon in Buffalo just a few nights ago....and I thought working at "The Hard Times Inn" was crazy....Sure bullets flew from time to time, and someone drove a car into the side of the building one time, which happened to be where the stage was, while I was performing with "The Stretch Limo Ride"....A few bent stands, other than that no one was hurt, There was about a half hour delay, but we wen`t back on and finished the night...Chet Kaczynski (lead guitar) got the worst of it, with a wall of empty beer cases falling on him, but thankfully Chet wasn`t hurt....With all of that said, I`d like to wish my good friend and guitar slide master Todd Willard a happy birthday, Who is now about as old as Dan Rather now
12-10-04 On yet another somber note, and irony I guess.....I fellow by the name of John Lennon was shot on the same date as DB, some twenty-four years ago yesterday, I don`t kmow much about Mr. Adkins, but circles speak well of the man...RIP
Foot-note' I`ll be busy today and night (sneaking in cat naps, But I surely know (I gather) that I can be found once again tomorrow (Sat) behind the bar "Griffins Pub" 81 Abbott Rd (Near Bailey) in the wonderful city of Buffalo, from High Noon till 5pm or so, but Amy (my releif) brings me a LARGE Tim Hortons coffee whenever she`s late for work, so makes for a near perfect ending to another pleasurable shift..Yes Peeps Griffins Pub...Where the prices are reasonable and the company is cool.....I am Stretch and I approve this message