Sunday, December 29, 2013

It's my first attempt at writing a reggae song. You can't hear it but it played out nicely in my head!

Na, De time still shuffulin
Na, Da feelins bubbelin
Na, Di mark be swingin
Na, Dy Generation squabbalin

Hey, Bring it around (bring it)
Hey, See me round town (bring it)
Hey, colors blurrin out loud (bring it)
Hey

Bring it around
Attitudes followin
Bring it around
Platitudes allowin
Bring it around

Na, De honey got mo
Na, Da keepin it close
Na, Di breakin de mold
Na, Dy emotion on hold

Hey, Bring it around (bring it)
Hey, Surrender to sound (bring it)
Hey, Lost not found (bring it)
Hey

Bring it Bring it
Hey Oh
Bring it Bring it
Hey Oh
Bring it Bring it
Hey Oh

Na, De danger follow me
Na, Da fear escapin me
Na, Di road run dry
Na, Dy may I

Na, De rivah run deep
Na, Da shor be steep
Na, Di friend fo-ever?
Na, Denge'ue fever






Sunday, September 29, 2013

Random thoughts

You’re heaven scent
Senses spent
Glancing eyes
Iridescent

You have an aura that surrounds
You have the ladies
The gentle men
All making rounds

I see intent in her stare you see
When eyes lock… it’s a rarity
I've been alone in this roiling sea
The dock calls where it’s safe to be

The journey never ends
Spilling me
Drowning me
Blocking a life from receiving me

I pass my time on a beach
The sun
Baking me
Browning me

The journey never ends
Mocking me
Teasing me
Getting to the bottom of a stone that sits on top of me

You know the journey never ends
Even though you know it will
For now, it’s spicy blue
And walks beside you

You know the journey never ends
Black and White
Reunite
Keep it in the open where it all feels right









Wednesday, March 20, 2013

I've neglected my blog for over a year.  I'm not sure why since I enjoy writing...and hopefully a few people enjoy reading my ramblings.  I think I just decided to shut down for a while...in a lot of ways.

Not much has changed. Negatively, the band fell apart, I totaled my truck, and I've had a few other unfortunate things occur but I know things could be worse.  Positively, I've met some really great people in the past 12 months, my kids are doing well, and I'm not ready for depends undergarments.  

I hear either crickets or cicadas right now...rain drops...and quiet.  It's March 20th in Florida so that's typical I suppose.  My beautiful daughter turns 21 soon so I feel old...but I don't act old (or really feel old for that matter). She's my sweetie.  My son is really into basketball lately so I bought a portable hoop for him and we've been playing. He has a lot more energy than I do (of course) but he still has a hard time shooting over me...yet, he's a much better shot than I am.  We go back and forth on games of horse, but the one time we played one-on-one I beat his Justin Bieber lookin' ass.  (I had to say that son...love you!)  Oh, and yes, he still looks like that idiot kid that sings.

I've been spending a lot of time with myself lately and that introspection has helped me in a few ways, but I don't know how I would have survived without  my best friend Tish.  She has supported me for so long and I can't thank her enough.  She's engaged to my friend Steve and I'm so looking forward to their wedding.

I hope everyone finds their peace.

Steve


Sunday, March 11, 2012

The Protector


I’m your rock in the tempest, the furious storm
In the thrashing icy waters I’ll keep you anchored and warm
Lost in the desert I give water and way
I will carry you to shelter keeping bared teeth at bay
Hailstones nor sleet will get in our way
I’ll brave the stings and have the last say
I’m your ardent guardian with my sheath and blade
Fiercely your hero, standing and staid
When swirling in eddies pulling you down
My hand will grasp you….you’ll never drown
Allowing no harm to your stunning soul
Filling your life furnace with nourishing coal
I became your Protector when our gaze began
Never failing…I’m your Man

Monday, March 5, 2012

The Band Is Improving



The band has been rehearsing at least once a week for months.  We’re playing our first big gig at Rusty’s in Port Canaveral on Friday March 30th.  Here’s a list of the songs we’ve been working on and there will be more to come. 

I Got A Name – Jim Croce
Just The Two Of Us – Bill Withers
Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
The Weight – The Band
Sailing – Christopher Cross
To Love Somebody – The Bee Gees
Everybody Wants To Rule The World – Tears For Fears
Counting Blue Cars – Dishwalla
Don’t Dream It’s Over – Crowded House
So Far Away – Carole King and James Taylor
Wonderwall – Oasis
Rocket Man – Elton John
The Letter – The Box Tops (and Joe Cocker)
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Still Rock And Roll To Me – Billy Joel
Ride Like The Wind – Christopher Cross
Sara Smile – Hall & Oates
Stir It Up – Bob Marley
Something About You – Level 42
For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
One Thing Leads To Another – The Fixx
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother – The Hollies
Black – Pearl Jam
Brandy – Looking Glass
Last Dance With Mary Jane – Tom Petty
Losing My Religion – REM
Another Day – The Beatles 

Yes, we do a reggae song...I LOVE IT.

Peace,

Steve


Thursday, February 9, 2012

My House


Since I have potential buyers looking at my house as I sit in my office working, I figure I could tell the story of the house. 

Years ago, my ex and her husband had this house built when they moved to Florida.  It’s a large two story house.  3400 square feet.  It’s in a golf course community in Clermont.  Clermont is about 20 minutes from Disney and about 30 minutes west of Downtown Orlando.  I’m not a big fan of Clermont because there is so little to do, but this community is nice.  I’m not surprised that they chose to build here.  It’s a nice place to raise kids, but not so fun if you’re single.  The only reason I moved to Clermont in the first place was because my ex-wife moved here and I wanted to be closer to my kids.  I think I’ve been out here for 5 or 6 years now. 

Shortly after the house was built, my ex-fiancĂ©e and her husband parted.  She then put a lot of effort into the house…painting the walls, doing the floors, buying new furniture.  It’s a beautiful home.  Unfortunately, her ex-husband screwed up and the house went into foreclosure.  She was able to manage to stay in the house for a years though. 

When I moved in, we knew that the house would be sold at auction eventually so we started looking at houses to buy.  One day, after we came home from a concert in West Palm Beach, there was a card on the door that said, “Hi, I bought your house, please give me a call”.  We knew it was going to happen so we already had one of those large moving pods in the driveway and family coming over to help us move.   I still had a rental house so we were going to move there until we could find a new place. 

The guy came over and looked at the house.  We started breaking down furniture and moving.  My ex was very emotional because she put so much effort in the house.  The guy was leaving and I walked outside to speak with him.  He said he was just going to flip the house and he would sell it to me.  And that’s what happened…I bought the house.  We didn’t have to move after all.  I honestly felt like a hero…I wanted her and her kids to be happy. 

We split up last fall so now I live here alone.  Most of the furniture was hers.  I have an old couch and loveseat, a gel fireplace that I bought last year for the holidays, a TV, a coffee table, a bed, and a desk.  It gets so quiet here. 

I hope it sells soon.   Too many memories.  It’s hard to fly back into town on Thursdays and come home to an empty house.  Luckily, even though I've only had the house for almost two years, I’m not upside down.  Once it does sell I plan to move out of Clermont.  Probably to the Dr. Phillips area which is near Universal and International Drive.  It would only be about 30 minutes away. 

It’s sad really.  I had a great family and a beautiful home.  Starting over is not what I thought I would have to do. 

This post was hard to write. 

Peace

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Reggae Music


As a drummer, I love music that is full of rhythm and percussion.  I like virtually all types of music except for country.  I tried…believe me I tried to like country.  I was station in Cheyenne Wyoming for over seven years and I even played drums in a country band.  Can’t stand it!  It’s the same drivel over and over with the twangy type of yodel thrown in.  Funny that the crossover acts are sounding more and more like rock (sorry Taylor Swift, you still suck), but it doesn’t come close to anything I like.  Of course, music is an individual taste and a lot of people love country music.  More power to you.

Now let’s talk about reggae.  I went to a local club at Universal CityWalk this weekend with one of my best friends in the world…a guy named Lans.  We became friends because we worked together and discovered that we have a lot in common…for one, we’re both Jamaican.   Yes, the irony in that statement is cloying.  There are great bands that play at Bob Marley’s (the club at Universal)…Chain Reaction was playing this weekend and they sounded amazing.  They played all kinds of reggae and they sounded great.  It’s an open air bar (no roof!) and the weather was perfect.  The crowd was swaying and loving the music.  Actually, it was kind of spiritual and I had a smile on my face all night. 

I’m working on the three main reggae beats as well.  The band that my friends Jim, Tom, Mark, and myself are putting together do ‘Three Little Birds’ by Marley so I need to get it right.  If you think about it, when you’re out at a club and dancing, what do you dance to??  The drums, the beat, that’s what.  And I’m here to provide that for you. 

Peace, loving reggae,rock on,

Steve