In honor of this week's Thanksgiving holiday, I'd like to take a moment to share a few thoughts.
This year particularly - the real meaning of the holiday resonates with me a little more loudly than it does in a typical year. While I'm certainly looking forward to to drinkin' a few beers, watching the games on TV, and enjoying the turkey and related delights as much as I always am. This year, I can look back at the last 12 months and really say that there were a lot of situations and circumstances that I was unhappy with a year ago that have turned themselves around in a huge way since.
For Example - last year at about this time, I was musically struggling. I was not in a band at all, and had just suffered through playing in a couple of rock cover bands. Singing lead and playing bass in one that was filled out with musicians of less that competent musical skill. The other I just played bass in. They were very talented, we played and got payed well - but they turned out to be folks of less than savory character - and the drummer and I were fired in a very unexpected fashion.
My family and I were living with my wife's parents - and love them as I do, it was just too crowded with too many people. Beyond all that, I had grown tired of the 15 years that I spent living mostly in the Miami / Ft. Lauderdale area.
And now....
The year started with me, Kat, and our bestest buddy Jamie taking a 10 day - whirlwind - in a rented minivan adventure during the second and third week of January. One that started in Miami and headed to Atlanta, North Carlolina, Philadelphia, back to ATL, and then back to Miami. We put about 4000 miles on a brand new - pimp ass Dodge Caravan, and had more fun and laughs than we can possibly recount.
As most of you who would follow my news would know, I have been playing bass in The Nerd Parade with my old pal Randy - and my newer pal Abby for almost a year now. This Friday at Lenny's will be my personal 40th show with the band. It's the most I've done in a year with any band since I was considerably younger than I am now. I also went on my first national tour with the band in April-May. We played 21 shows in 28 days and really developed the chemistry that has allowed the core of the band to stick together through everything that has been thrown at us this year. The band is doing well. We've got very exciting shows lined up. And our fan base, local and national recognition continue to grow.
As a bi-product of that - or in a related move anyhow. My family and I finally moved the heck away from South Florida. And as I've sat and felt the air get cold, watched the tree turn colors and lose their leaves, and not seen a sign of anything that could be remotely called "tropical". It's so delightful that I can't even describe it. And to top it off our apartment itself if the most comfortable place that we've had the pleasure of living so far.
Besides that - I've been to awesome shows by Billy Joel, Rush(twice!!), Queensryche, Mastadon, Queens Of The Stone Age, Alice In Chains, and a few others I can't remember right now.
So in closing - I've got an awesome new place to live in a great city. I'm married to the coolest lady ever with Kat and we have a great kid, and a great friend for a roommate. I'm in the best band I've ever been in with my best friend with Randy, which led me to have another bandmate / great friend with Abby. We've got an awesome new drummer and great shows and opportunities coming up soon.
So all in all - it's a lot better than it was this time last year =)
So thanks I'd like to give thanks to 2007 - it has been - while long, exhausting, and difficult at times, a good year.
Well - I don't know about any of you - but 2007 has been a heck of year for me. It's had more than it's fair share of the highs and the lows along the way. But now that it's all said and done - I can mark this one as a year that I will always remember.
