Let's Get Personal

I HATE TAKING PHOTOS, but here are a few more from the second shoot. These are going to be a little more personal and less abstract I think. I am trying to get the layout of the cover with some of these new photo's, so let me know what you guys think.

Black and white's seem to be pretty popular. I just wonder is sometimes they are used too much. Seems like everytime I look around, people are doing black and white. What a hypocrite I am, my stupid shirt is black and white. HAHAHAHAH Oh well!

I think one of the funniest things in the world is trying to figure out just what people are thinking when you get pictures like this made. I was trying to be very cognizant of that when I took these. Twyla would say, "Look that way!", and I would give her some stupid pose reminiscent of Gone With the Wind. With the one below, I was actual watching people watching me. They were walking by and driving by probably thinking, "What the hell?". I was looking at them thinking, "What the hell?" It was too freakin funny. There were these two guys that walked by with baggy jeans hanging around there ankles, and they stopped and stared for a minute, and asked, "What kind of music do you play?" At first I thought to myself..."maybe I should say Brittany Spears meets Frank Zappa", but then it dawned on me that they probably wouldn't even know who Frank Zappa is/was. So, I yelled, "Blues!" One of the guys stuck his thumb up in the air and yelled, "Cool Daddy!". At that moment, I couldn't figure out if they were saying that I was old, but it was cool anyways, or if the term Daddy was making a second pass in our vernacular. Either way it was fun and I had a great time. If I ever get ballsy enough, I might put my "Blue Steel" pose on here for y'all. hahah, NOT!!!

Agassi's Twin, LOL - I'm sorry Andre

Here are just a few results from the photoshoot I did over the weekend. I haven't seen them all but what I have seen I have liked. I have a new found respect for being photographed and those taking the pictures. You can't tell, but the weather was miserable; cold, wet, and rainy. The temperature was in the low 40's and upper 30's. The wind was blowing through the metal building and water was leaking through the ceiling. In some of the pics I was wearing a sweater, but in the others, I was wearing a paper thin button up. Halfway through the shoot, I had to change shirts and it was freezing. My fingers were numb to the point that I couldn't feel the strings on the guitar. Twyla kept saying, "Play something, anything!", I kept telling her, "I can't!" Haha! It was miserable and fun at the same time...if that is possible. Oh well. Here are some of the pictures, I hope you like them.

This picture was taken while halfway hanging out the door. The wind was blowing hard between the buildings and the rain felt like needles hitting me in the face. Not only that, but my shirt was getting fairly wet at that point, and I was shivering.

This picture was taken while sitting on this old chair that was almost completely eaten up by mice. I was afraid to sit on it because I thought a mouse might crawl out and into my pants. Threes company, four is a crowd. <--Truely tastless, I know, but still funny. I felt like doing the Zoolander look, but I didn't think the camera could handle it.

This is probably one of my favorites. I was just walking around thinking thinking that I was waiting for Twyla to get her camera stuff ready for the next round and I guess that she shot this without me even knowing. They say that most of the best pics are taken at the spur of the moment, and with this shot, I have to agree. To me, it looks just as natural as it feels. This pic might be the new cover shot, I just don't know yet. We'll see.

Just another example of how good I can look when my face is not in the picture. Just kidding, but I do like the picture.

Now just a few comments about the photographer. Twyla Brassfield has been a friend of mine for some time and she has taken on photography as professional hobby. If anyone wants her contact information, please let me know.

The Great Vanishing Act

Hey guys! Its been a long time since I posted anything, so I though I would drop a note and let everyone know how things are going.

I had some inspiration lately and was able to come up with song number 12. Its not finished yet, but I have the melody and am working through it. I noticed that the old album cover was still up so I am uploading the newest one. I had a photographer take some pictures and I am hoping that they turn out well. I am going to replace the cover photo and probably one of the sleeve photos as well. It is really getting down to the wire, and I have to get this thing done.

Check, Mate?

Wow, what a year 2009 has been so far. Just seeing the state of everything around us, and everything among us is enough to make a person sick!

I guess that it is no secret that I lost my job, and to be honest, I didn't really like my job, I LOVED my job. The really sad part is that I don't even know why, and fretting about it only makes things worse because no matter how hard I try, the real answer will not come to me, so I have decided to just go on and not think about it until I have the time and financial resourses to waste on it. So, that having been said, anyone have a job for me?

I have really started to work on my album pretty hard. I think I am about finished with the cover. I made some radical changes to it, and I believe I am going to flop a few of the panels, but all the pictures are there. I have also started to record again. I've got some new ideas and areas I want to explore so I am hoping this direction will take me were I want to go and allow me to finish.

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Oh No! Not Again!

Hey just real quick! I am posting another image of my album cover. I made a few changes and added just a little color. I want to do something on the grey background where the song list is, so if you have any ideas, let me know.

The Ole Phone in the Toilet Trick

Hello fans! Hope everyone is having a great New Year. I am just trying to keep my head above water with personal issues and severe writers block. I am struggling just to come up with new ideas, let alone the ability to play them. I guess this is somewhat normal, but it really, really sucks! I would have thought that my personal issues would have aided in my ability to write. Blues is such an emotional type of music, that strong emotions tend to lend a hand when being creative, but in this case, NOT SO MUCH!

Facebook is a crazy thing!!! Can I get an Amen? I have been reconnected with tones of people from my past, and it is really great to hear from them. Most of them remember things about me and situations that I have completely forgotten about. It almost never fails that the first thing out of there mouths is, "your writing and album?" And the second question is one of these, "can I get a copy?" or "are they on myspace?" Well, here is the answer, NO! First of all, its not finished yet. Second, my producer hasn't even heard them yet, and third, when I finish, I will send a copy to those who I told I would, and the rest will have to buy one. That brings up another topic, expectations.

I am really hoping that all of my friends, both past and present, former classmates, co-workers, etc, understand that this album is not an attempt at a grammy nomination. Trust me, I am no Stevie Ray Vaughn or John Mayer. I am me, with a very tight budget, a guitar, and my fingers. My fingers don't move the same way they used to, but they move. If you read any of my earlier blogs, you will understand that this album is for me and by me. If you like it, great! Buy a copy for your kids. I promise there is nothing overt, pornographic, or diragetory(sp? sorry, i went to public schools), but it is a little dirtier than Hanna Montana! If you don't like it, at least use it a coaster on your coffee tables so that when you have guests over, you can tell them that your friend/former classmate/co-worker recorded it, and its great! HAHA! Do NOT let your teething infant chew on it, because if it breaks and your baby cuts his/her mouth, I am not liable.

If you have an good song ideas, please send them my way. If I use it, I will put it on the album along with your credits, and if I make any money on the thing I will send some your way.

Over the weekend, my daughter "accidently" dropped her cell phone in the toilet. Of cource it no longer works, and she started to cry. She is usually very responsible so I really didn't come down on her. She was pretty hard on herself, but I told her that I had insurance on it, and I called and they sent a new one out. Here is the funny thing. I can't help but think, somewhere in the back of my mind that she maybe, just a little, did it on purpose. You know, the old phone in the toilet trick, well her new one came in today, and it is smaller and crappier than the old one, so forgive me, but I have to laugh!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Man I love being a dad!

Life is SOMETIMES like whipped cream, the harder you beat it, the better it can taste.

Family, friends, and countrymen, what is going on? I am finally updating this thing after a long break from the overwhelming blog-o-sphere.

New kid in hand, and an album cover on the way, I have been very busy. I hope you are all doing well! I am struggling to get over this stupid head cold crap. I tried putting on my guitar and strumming just a little, but I didn't get very far. I also tried to sing a little, and when I turned up the volume, I sounded like Willie Nelson in a paper bag, with a tampon shoved up his nose. Wow, did I just say that? I guess I did, but at the moment, I don't really care. I probably sound like that anyways, but you won't know until you hear my album. Anyways, I wanted everyone to get a little update on everything that is going on in my life. I almost feel like a reality TV program, except that I am not on some South Pacific island, with a buff tied around my head, running through the sand half naked, trying to be the first to light a fire. I think that maybe a run-on sentence, but again, I don't care.

First, I need to say a word about my older sister Misty. She has been very ill for the past 7 weeks, and the doctors have been unable to find anything wrong until recently. She has been poked, proded, scanned, x-rayed, and examind, and finally, they have an answer. Mono!!! Well, thanks be to God that it wasn't something very serious like cancer or some other aweful disease that could have taken her life. She has been misearable this whole time, and she is broken, but she is tough and will recover. Misty, you rock, and you'll be fine. Do I hear and Amen???

Second, but not in the least, is Hudson, my new son. Well, he throws-up a lot, and sometimes is grumpy, but hey, he is perfect, what can I say? He really is cute. God has really blessed me with some of the best looking kids around. Y'all have to admit that there are some really ugly kids out there, and those aren't mine. HAHA! Okay, if you have an ugly kid, I'm sorry, but that is just the way it is! Maybe they are like swans and will grow up to be beautiful, at least you can hope!

Third, I am not going to say much the election, but that I hope everyone gets exactly what they voted for, and for some strange reason, I think they will.

Fourth, I have been so busy at work that I can hardly see straight. We are trying to put out some new software that is replacing some older stuff that has been used for the past 9 years. Things are going relatively well, but not perfect.

Fifth, my oldest daughter turned 13 today, and OMG, I have a teenager. What the hell am I going to do now??? Well, I pray that the good Lord will give me strength!

Sixth, I finally got down to Big Bend recently, and I had a great time. I helped to put some temporary fixes on the roof, so that sometime later we can put a tin roof on it. It was a very quick trip, but well worth it. I can't wait to get back as soon as possible.

I need a beer!!!

Seventh, I finally got an iPhone, and I have to say that it is very cool. It is close to everything that people say about it, but it has its flaws also.

Eighth, Londen got shot in the eye with an airsoft gun, and she is really fighting for her eyesight right now. She has sustained some fairly serious damage to her cornea and her lens. Luckily, her retina is entact, but she has lost some of the vision in her left eye, and we are not sure to what extent she will be able to see clearly. A very special thanks goes out to Dr. John Todd Cornett and Dr. Craig Gladman. They have really both gone out of there way to see us over the weekends, and very late at night, as well as everyday over the past week. Please pray that God will heal her.

Okay, enough with the stupid counting already!

Lets talk about the album for a little while. Arlene has really helped me a lot with the overall design of the cover. Thanks a million, and yes, your name will be included in the special thanks. You may not want to be on there after you hear it, but then again, you might, so thanks anyways. Your direction and ideas have really helped me come up with something that is pretty cool. Just think that the steak scene will be our little secret! In some ways, I think Arlene is just as excited as I am about the album. Its really nice to have some real support when doing a project like this, of course shes not the only one, but she is the farthest removed from me, and one of the most active supporters I have. One of the great things about Arlene is how she really puts her heart and emotions into what she does even with something as goofy as this album.

I am including a pic of the album so let me explain a little about what you are looking at. The bottom right image is the cover and the bottom middle pic is the back. The cover is going to fold into threes, so that the bottom left is the first thing you see once to fold back the front cover. The other three images are the middle three once the album is fully open and the cd will attach to the solid black image. I am going to put something there, but that will be a suprise for the time being. I hope you guys like it, and I think that I am only going to leave it up here for a little while. There will be a few changes to it in the final rendition, as this is a little older shot of it, but it gives you an idea of what to expect. Please write me back and let me know what you think.

The songs are coming along. I have enough to finish the album, and they are all in certain stages of completion. I am starting to get excited about it again, and I think I needed just a little break. I have talked with Mark at some length about the process. For those that don't know, Mark is a coworker and friend that has recorded and produced his own album. He is the one that is ultimately responsible for setting me on this road. He has tons of knowledge and experience about it. He has told me many times, that sometimes you just have to walk away from it for a while, and let it rest, which is what I did. Thanks again Mark!!! Everything that he has told me has been correct so far, and at this point, I pretty much take him at his word, especially in regards to this. I am getting very excited!

It is funny how life sometimes takes you places you have never been. It is also strange how sometimes the way you think about things can turn on a dime when you open your heart to new things and idea. I have recently had a small change in heart in regards to the way things should be handled, without losing my beliefs and convictions. God has really blessed us with a wonderful world, and wonderful people, and it is sometimes very amazing how if you open your mind, heart, and soul, the things you can learn are unbelievable. Life is SOMETIMES like whipped cream, the harder you beat it, the better it can taste.