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

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

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

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-fiancée 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

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

Notes from South Carolina

I flew in Monday for my new job with a nervous and unsettling feeling.  I would say that is normal in many life situations.  Some people feel that way just walking into their own bathrooms.  I can relate.  The first person I met when I got to the job site was a guy named Nate.  A big young guy who was personable and polite.  I liked him from the start…the main reason is because he looks a lot like my brother James.  In fact, I told him that and he replied, “That’s my actual first name”.  I then asked him why he was such a douche, but then realized that he wasn't really my brother (I hope you read this James Myers) and I apologized.  ;-)

We then rode to a Clemson University office not too far away so I could in-process.  The southern twangs were everywhere and everyone was so nice.  I felt the acceptance from the start. 

One of the ladies who gave me a very informal briefing told me something I did not know.  You see, I pronounced the word “Clemson” like “Clemzon” and she heard that.  She said to me, “The word has a silent ‘P’ like Clempson…you know….like the word “know” has a silent “k”…there is no “z’ in Clemson”..  And that’s how you pronounce it.  I was a little taken aback but I figured why not…when in Rome!  (or is it Rhome?).

The next day we drove to Columbia (the state capital) to meet with the DHHS (too lazy to type that out).  The people there were gracious and kind.  I could feel the energy.  It was raining, but I felt the sun on my shoulders. 

We had two days where I was able to assess the situation and make suggestions on how to improve the situation.  The DHHS (yes that acronym again) were trying to slam in a solution and I could see that it wasn’t going to work.  Having experience in anything is helpful….using that experience to help is what makes it valuable.  A good rule of thumb is “Don’t slam things into place…unless you plan to marry….uh, never mind”. 

They are looking to me to lead this initiative.  I cannot express how much that means to me in contrast with my last project. 

And that brings me to today.  I have to say that this is probably the best first week of employment I have ever experienced.  The main reason is that I can use the knowledge and experience I have garnered through the years to help not just a small business, not just a medium sized business, but an entire state agency. 

It feels nice to have sunshine bounce off my face on a cloudy day. 

Peace,

Steve

New Job Day 1

My first day at the new job was a good one.  I'm working for Clemson University and I will be an OnBase engineer for the Medicaid Eligibility process for the SC Department of Health and Human Services.  Plus they plan to roll this out solution to all the counties in SC.  I think there's a lot of opportunity here.  

My flight was on time and short (compared to the Chicago flight).  When I got to the office, this guy named Nate met me at the office and we got along instantly.  We drove to an office at Clemson University where they in-processed me.  They were all very nice people.

Tomorrow, we are meeting up with the project manager and driving to Columbia SC to meet with people at the SC Department of Health and Human Services.  I'm looking forward to that.  We stay there one night and then drive back to Greenville on Wednesday.  

So overall, I had an excellent first day.  I have good feelings about this situation and I think it will be a great project for me.