Well well well, lookee here, a free internet place at the airport in Bangkok, sweet! Uneventful flight out of Chiang Mai, an uneventful pass through the line at Korean Air, got some aisle seats for the flight across the Pacific. Took about an hour to make it through the huge line for passport control, one of the negatives of being in a place with huge tourism, but hey, that was uneventful too. I clearly have nothing to say, so I should sign off..... but I won't haha. (By the way, the number 5 is pronounced 'ha' in Thailand, so their shorthand for hahaha is 555. For reals).
It was just a great farewell to Chiang Mai, and part of that is the fact that I left in the evening, meaning there was no lack of sleep, no bleary eyed trip to the airport. Instead it was a very relaxed day, slept in, had my usual quality time with M, had the farewell coffee with Noi and company, a farewell sandwich at CU Corner, and an easy $3 tuktuk ride to the airport. Now the sucky part will likely begin, a 36 hour airport slog back home, but that's just the price of traveling across the Pacific. It's freakin' far.... (and that's the point, I suppose, and why I love it so much)
Sorry to leave the food, damn! This morning, for example, breakfast was noodle soup with pork balls, vegetables, roast pork, delicious broth, served by a woman with a mobile 'soupmobile', basically a side-car kitchen that she takes around town and stops at various places along the way, including the Noi's cafe. So I'll be nursing my $1 delicious cappuccino and here comes the $1 soup lady, and sure, give me two, one for M who's up in the room and one for me. Late nights are often a similar story in that two of M's friends have a mobile kitchen and their route takes them by CU Corner around midnight usually. Delicious food, healthy, varied and about a buck as well. Sometimes up to a buck and a quarter for some of the dishes. Hey big spender....
And in a not too surprising development (at least to me), I decided to leave my Spanish guitar at the CU Corner. I've had it for 12 years, bought it in Seville for $200 after walking the Camino de Santiago. I've had it in Central America twice, in Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, it's been a great companion, and she's showing her age. The neck is a little out of whack, action is too high above the 5th or 6th fret, and according to my snob of a guitar repair guy, it would cost more to fix than the guitar is worth. It plays OK in open position and I've written many many songs on that guitar, but I just have some kind of sense that it's time to let it go, let someone else play it, not hang on. It can sit on the wall at CU Corner, be played by anyone who wants, just become part of the decor even, doesn't matter to me. I couldn't exactly describe why I know it's time to say goodbye to it, it's something in my soul that tells me so, more a feeling than a formed idea, and I tend to trust those impulses. And how great that the last thing I played on that axe was that recording of Talent Show which is now on Youtube... and it makes me smile every time I see that track. We nailed it, right to the very end, and it's good to be able to see it and smile. Gracias, guitarra, you have been a true friend of my spirit... so many great moments, oh heck, why not recall some...
I loved the buying of that guitar... spent parts of two days going between three guitar shops in Seville, trying out a bunch of classical guitars and then I picked this one, just felt right. And then the next day, I grabbed a bus for Tarifa, a beach town in the far south of Spain, looking across to Morocco. On the bus, this Spanish dude asked to see my guitar, so I pulled it out of the case. If an American dude was checking out a guitar, chances are he'd strum an E chord or a G chord to hear the sound. The Spanish guy hit an A7b9 heavy duty flamenco dissonant chord and he did the fingernails and that flamenco strum. I thought, 'fuckin' A yeah, thanks for putting that energy into the guitar, I did have that feeling.
A few weeks later I was in Lisbon and I met this Polish woman Agnieska, who was having dinner alone. I just went up and asked if she spoke English, and could I join her? She was like, OK, ya sure. We ate, took a walk up the hill in Lisbon, under a beautiful full moon, had a beer, that was it. Made plans to meet the next morning at some museum where she was leading a group of German tourists before heading back south where the trip originated from. I went back to the pension and wrote a really tasty little song, kinda classical sounding, about meeting a Polish woman, taking a walk up the hill, full moon etc. Nice composition, nice guitar, I wanted to sing it for her at the museum. I got there at the appointed time and she apologized and said they were leaving right away, and the Germans were all on the bus, ready to take off. I said, 'Wait. I want to sing you something, I wrote a song about you', so under the delighted gaze of the tourists looking out the windows, I sang this song to my new friend. What's that word where the guy sings the song to the lady? Can't think of it now, but it's kinda romantic and was a classic moment. (and yeah, I could still sing that tune)
I remember sitting under a flowering tree in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, composing a song similar to Dos Gardenias Para Ti, a pretty melody, nice guitar part, perfect for those nylon strings. Yeah, I could play you that song too. I could play you dozens of songs I wrote with that guitar, they're in my soul...
I took it last year up on the hilltribe trek, because I wanted to be able to make some music with the indigenous kids and people I'd meet up there. That was the trip where I had too much gear, not enough sun protection and I ended up being 'that guy', who one who just about faints and holds up the whole group. They had to fan me, the guide grabbed my pack, I hung on to the guitar and eventually made it, but it was rough. But once I recovered, there I was making incredibly fun music with the kids, getting them dancing and jamming and laughing and it was worth it. And that night, our host was playing some music on a beat up guitar, and I helped him out, taught him some stuff the next day, had a great musical connection as we played Country Roads, which for some reason is a really popular song here. I know it backwards and forwards at this point, I play it with Apple every time we jam at the CU.
And now it will sit up on the wall and be one of Jeff's guitars, available for anyone who wants to use it, not a bad retirement, actually, hanging out in a great vibe atmosphere, surrounded by friends and music. It's a much better fate than to be sitting in a corner in Eugene, feeling neglected by an owner who wants to play a better axe. Yup, it's the right choice and the right time. Que te vaya bien. (that it goes well for you...)
The Grand Finally....
4:20pm, coincidentally, as I sit in the internet cafe with a little time to try and capture something of the last few days here. It's been a whirlwind of good vibes, farewells, parties, emotion and acceptance, and I'm feeling really good about my place in the universe right about now. I haven't packed up my pack yet, but I will do that around 6pm or so, then head over to CU for a last goodbye and then grab a tuktuk to the airport to catch an 8:15 flight to Bangkok. Thirty six hours later, I'll be landing in Eugene (God willing).
First things first, M and I are feeling really good about each other; there have been some tears and sadness, but they've been overshadowed by love and connection. And after the drama of two independent, flawed people trying to work stuff out, lots of pain along the way, frustration on both of our parts, it's kind of incredible to be feeling a pure love channel at the end of the chapter. I think we earned it by hanging in there, coming back for more, 'getting over ourselves' and having some kind of understanding that there is something really special here, so let's not sabotage it by running our normal trips. Let's find something more.
We had an extremely poignant moment two nights ago, lying in bed and reading 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran, a book I've certainly heard about plenty but never actually read. It's about a highly spiritual guy who is about to depart after a twelve year stay in a town. It's time for him to go back to his homeland, but before doing so, the townspeople implore him to share his knowledge with them. He discourses about love, about children, about work, about life, and it's quite poetic and beautiful. We came to a sentence about how you don't really appreciate the depth of your love until the hour of leaving, and we both burst into tears and shared an incredible moment of grief and love. Very healing and purifying emotion, I'll never forget that moment.
Yesterday, my guitarist buddy Scott came by the guesthouse for a farewell jam, and I had the thought to call up John and see if he'd like to come by with his video camera to perhaps record a song or two and put it up on Youtube. These are two of my best friends here and it worked out perfectly, including a great version of 'Talent Show' which you can see and hear at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wUuYlLQCw14
We played the heck out of it, he's incredible, we're quite locked in at this point, and I'm really happy happy to have that little memento.
Talent show is quite autobiographical on some level... (every level?) and I think the lyric pretty much sums me up.
It's a talent show, we hear there's gonna be a talent show
Everyone will have a chance to be a star
No more nervous days, sleepless nights
It's all revealed underneath the lights
Everyone will see how great you are
Give it a go at the talent show
At the talent show, they'll all be watching at the talent show
And if I blow it, everyone will know it
They'll see my mouth go dry, my eyes start blinking
Mind go blank, what the hell was I thinking?
Back when they asked me, I should have said 'no'
I don't think so, don't need no talent show
Still there's a little part of me that loves to play the game
And when the judges say, 'the winner is...'
I want to hear my name
At the talent show, if only wishing would make it so
But that won't do it, won't even get you near
Don't let the world forget you
The table is all set for you
You've got to give it a go
Give it a go... give it a go
And let your talent show....
Last night, Taew, the owner of CU Corner, threw a party pretty much in my honor and she cooked up a large kettle of 'suki', a Japanese style dish (sukiyaki) with noodles, seafood, some beef and vegetables and served it at the bar around 7:30pm, before the crowd arrives. She wanted to do something private, but there aren't enough hours in the week, so this was the compromise, and it was a wonderful gesture. I've had a great connection with her this year and last, much mutual respect, a few hiccups along the way, but lots of appreciation for one another, and this gesture on her part was over the top. Lots of people ended up sharing in the festivities, I bought drinks for some friends and one for M, which just shows that on the last night, all the rules are different. Previously I had said, 'the last thing I'd buy for you is a drink' but sometimes you have to go against type and just let it go. There was much love in the air, much fellowship and 'good cheer' for lack of a better term. What a place and what a crew of people! Hard to believe my good fortune in finding this kind of niche.
And my other main niche is the morning cappuccino ritual with Noi and her friends at the coffee place. It's my first stop every day and there is so much to be said for getting to know a scene over the months, know the characters, be part of the flow. A number of Farang hang out there, complaining about the greedy Thai women, swapping stories of love affairs gone wrong, talking about their exploits, and I'm more or less the voice of 'what the hell are you talking about?'. I like to challenge them to at least examine their comments and attitudes, which I do on a regular basis. I'm not dickish about it, but I do feel the need to throw my two cents in. Truth be told, I'm more comfortable hanging out inside with the Thais, even if I don't understand what the conversation is about. They're nice to me, they like me, we laugh, I strum the guitar, show my friend Eck a few tricks now and again, talk with Noi, try to make jokes, it's lovely. She's a friend and I trust her. And she's becoming M's friend as well. At first, they kept their distance, as there is an unspoken understanding that if you have a Thai girlfriend, the other women will give you a wide berth, else there will be trouble. But I wasn't having that, in this case, and I kind of insisted that we all be just normal, friendly and not play that particular game. And it has turned out beautifully as the two women are now very comfortable with one another, and I see a friendship developing, which is a great thing for M, who can tend toward loneliness and 'staying in her room' Noi is someone of high character and intelligence, she is self made, grew up very poor, no shoes when she went to school, and now she's a successful business owner, non-smoker, non-drinker for the most part, and she provides a stable environment for her friends to enjoy. I think she's going to be part of M's mix, and that's a great thing.
I've got my Buddha around my neck, a feeling of peace in my heart, and a plan for my return. I'm going to go ahead and get a Mac laptop and learn Garage Band, record my songs, stay up late, have something to do rather than lament the distance from my girlfriend. (I'll do that too, of course, but there is something about the tech desire that reminds me of last year's decision to bring my Spanish guitar over to SE Asia). Prior to that, I was really nervous for some reason, what if I get sick, I don't know what I'm doing, kind of energy, but when I decided to bring the guitar, my mind was put at rest. This is who I am, this is what I do, I'll have a friend along regardless of what happens. And two trips and twenty or so new songs later, yeah, it was a great decision. And I had that same kind of mind relaxation when the idea of digging in to the technology took center stage. It gives me a plan for the future as well as a chance to finally put the fucking 'I'm a good musician but don't really know how to deal with technology' whine to the rear-view mirror. I'm mighty sick of that lament, and I'm ready to take some of these commercially viable songs and at least demo them out so I could submit them proudly (or kinda proudly) to Taxi or whatever music search website. Keep the fucking TV off as much as possible, default to music, rather than CNN and Entertainment Tonight... keep growing. (he said with some conviction)
5:14pm, time to head back to the Guest House, pack up and begin the return. It's been a phenomenal trip, a gift, to be sure. Huge gratitude from this side of the world....
First things first, M and I are feeling really good about each other; there have been some tears and sadness, but they've been overshadowed by love and connection. And after the drama of two independent, flawed people trying to work stuff out, lots of pain along the way, frustration on both of our parts, it's kind of incredible to be feeling a pure love channel at the end of the chapter. I think we earned it by hanging in there, coming back for more, 'getting over ourselves' and having some kind of understanding that there is something really special here, so let's not sabotage it by running our normal trips. Let's find something more.
We had an extremely poignant moment two nights ago, lying in bed and reading 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran, a book I've certainly heard about plenty but never actually read. It's about a highly spiritual guy who is about to depart after a twelve year stay in a town. It's time for him to go back to his homeland, but before doing so, the townspeople implore him to share his knowledge with them. He discourses about love, about children, about work, about life, and it's quite poetic and beautiful. We came to a sentence about how you don't really appreciate the depth of your love until the hour of leaving, and we both burst into tears and shared an incredible moment of grief and love. Very healing and purifying emotion, I'll never forget that moment.
Yesterday, my guitarist buddy Scott came by the guesthouse for a farewell jam, and I had the thought to call up John and see if he'd like to come by with his video camera to perhaps record a song or two and put it up on Youtube. These are two of my best friends here and it worked out perfectly, including a great version of 'Talent Show' which you can see and hear at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wUuYlLQCw14
We played the heck out of it, he's incredible, we're quite locked in at this point, and I'm really happy happy to have that little memento.
Talent show is quite autobiographical on some level... (every level?) and I think the lyric pretty much sums me up.
It's a talent show, we hear there's gonna be a talent show
Everyone will have a chance to be a star
No more nervous days, sleepless nights
It's all revealed underneath the lights
Everyone will see how great you are
Give it a go at the talent show
At the talent show, they'll all be watching at the talent show
And if I blow it, everyone will know it
They'll see my mouth go dry, my eyes start blinking
Mind go blank, what the hell was I thinking?
Back when they asked me, I should have said 'no'
I don't think so, don't need no talent show
Still there's a little part of me that loves to play the game
And when the judges say, 'the winner is...'
I want to hear my name
At the talent show, if only wishing would make it so
But that won't do it, won't even get you near
Don't let the world forget you
The table is all set for you
You've got to give it a go
Give it a go... give it a go
And let your talent show....
Last night, Taew, the owner of CU Corner, threw a party pretty much in my honor and she cooked up a large kettle of 'suki', a Japanese style dish (sukiyaki) with noodles, seafood, some beef and vegetables and served it at the bar around 7:30pm, before the crowd arrives. She wanted to do something private, but there aren't enough hours in the week, so this was the compromise, and it was a wonderful gesture. I've had a great connection with her this year and last, much mutual respect, a few hiccups along the way, but lots of appreciation for one another, and this gesture on her part was over the top. Lots of people ended up sharing in the festivities, I bought drinks for some friends and one for M, which just shows that on the last night, all the rules are different. Previously I had said, 'the last thing I'd buy for you is a drink' but sometimes you have to go against type and just let it go. There was much love in the air, much fellowship and 'good cheer' for lack of a better term. What a place and what a crew of people! Hard to believe my good fortune in finding this kind of niche.
And my other main niche is the morning cappuccino ritual with Noi and her friends at the coffee place. It's my first stop every day and there is so much to be said for getting to know a scene over the months, know the characters, be part of the flow. A number of Farang hang out there, complaining about the greedy Thai women, swapping stories of love affairs gone wrong, talking about their exploits, and I'm more or less the voice of 'what the hell are you talking about?'. I like to challenge them to at least examine their comments and attitudes, which I do on a regular basis. I'm not dickish about it, but I do feel the need to throw my two cents in. Truth be told, I'm more comfortable hanging out inside with the Thais, even if I don't understand what the conversation is about. They're nice to me, they like me, we laugh, I strum the guitar, show my friend Eck a few tricks now and again, talk with Noi, try to make jokes, it's lovely. She's a friend and I trust her. And she's becoming M's friend as well. At first, they kept their distance, as there is an unspoken understanding that if you have a Thai girlfriend, the other women will give you a wide berth, else there will be trouble. But I wasn't having that, in this case, and I kind of insisted that we all be just normal, friendly and not play that particular game. And it has turned out beautifully as the two women are now very comfortable with one another, and I see a friendship developing, which is a great thing for M, who can tend toward loneliness and 'staying in her room' Noi is someone of high character and intelligence, she is self made, grew up very poor, no shoes when she went to school, and now she's a successful business owner, non-smoker, non-drinker for the most part, and she provides a stable environment for her friends to enjoy. I think she's going to be part of M's mix, and that's a great thing.
I've got my Buddha around my neck, a feeling of peace in my heart, and a plan for my return. I'm going to go ahead and get a Mac laptop and learn Garage Band, record my songs, stay up late, have something to do rather than lament the distance from my girlfriend. (I'll do that too, of course, but there is something about the tech desire that reminds me of last year's decision to bring my Spanish guitar over to SE Asia). Prior to that, I was really nervous for some reason, what if I get sick, I don't know what I'm doing, kind of energy, but when I decided to bring the guitar, my mind was put at rest. This is who I am, this is what I do, I'll have a friend along regardless of what happens. And two trips and twenty or so new songs later, yeah, it was a great decision. And I had that same kind of mind relaxation when the idea of digging in to the technology took center stage. It gives me a plan for the future as well as a chance to finally put the fucking 'I'm a good musician but don't really know how to deal with technology' whine to the rear-view mirror. I'm mighty sick of that lament, and I'm ready to take some of these commercially viable songs and at least demo them out so I could submit them proudly (or kinda proudly) to Taxi or whatever music search website. Keep the fucking TV off as much as possible, default to music, rather than CNN and Entertainment Tonight... keep growing. (he said with some conviction)
5:14pm, time to head back to the Guest House, pack up and begin the return. It's been a phenomenal trip, a gift, to be sure. Huge gratitude from this side of the world....
Squid....
Just had some squid flavored potato chips, mmmmm good. Among the many motorcycle vendors who ply their trade around Chiang Mai, there are a few that offer dried squid in many forms. When one passes by the CU Corner, my buddy John invariably says, 'Squid's on me'. (I'm starting to say it too). Another friend sampled it and said it tasted like 'vagina flavored chewing gum'. Uh, guess I'll pass on that...
Lets' see, how can I segue from that image? Um? Er? Well? Uh, I guess I can't.... end of post...
Lets' see, how can I segue from that image? Um? Er? Well? Uh, I guess I can't.... end of post...
Final gig, farewells,...
Yet another great night at the CU, sounds like a broken record, I realize, but that's how it seems, hanging with friends, making good music, being an integral part of the mix. It's like Cheers in a way, everybody knows your name and they're mostly glad to see you. My quartet had its final appearance and we were really tight, really musical, good crowd, and it's just a great feeling to see the music develop, the harmonies tighten, the communication become more instantaneous. I was in great voice last night and that's a good thing too. I'll go back there this evening and play bass for Joe (Germany) and Jelly (Ireland) who have the Saturday night late set. More fun, more harmony, more good vibes.
People are dropping like flies now, returning to their native lands, and yeah, that's OK. For one thing the weather is turning real hot, and the air quality is awful due to the 'burning season'. Some people are really suffering with it, not me, though there is occasional eye irritation. There is a two or three month window of hot weather and bad air before the monsoons kick in in June and July. There are many farewells in the air, and one of the sweetest ones was the other night when I said goodbye to Apple, one of the greatest guys I've ever played with.
He's an extraordinary person, short in stature, barrel chested, some kind of disability that makes him walk unsteadily and with a limp, long haired Thai, early fifties, one of the kindest, most accepting people I've ever met. Everyone loves the guy, me included. He's totally clean and sober, drinks a cup of warm Ovaltine during his gig, sings great, gets way into the music, plays outstanding lead guitar, has a vast repertoire of tunes that he delivers with passion. When I told him that it was our last time playing together for now, he shook hands, thanked each other, told each other how much we learned from one another, and called each other 'friend'. It's true, and it's one of the purest examples of music being the 'international language'. Apple's English is rudimentary at best, so our connection was not about words but about knowing how to connect as musicians. He's got great ears, (as do I), he is hyper aware of what's happening in the music, and there is a smile throughout the night. We'll stay connected on Facebook, and I dearly hope that we get to resume next year.... enshallah...
M and I are in good form, not perfect, but then again she's working a ton, she's in some pain in her neck and shoulder and is basically hanging on for another month until her job ends. She wants to sleep for a month, she says, 'recharge her batteries', (somehow she learned that expression, and uses it in this context). She told a joke last night that she translated into English from one of the magazines she likes to read. She got a great response and it's a good joke.
Mary goes to the church and tells the priest that her husband Paddy just died last night. Father Hennessy says, 'Oh what a tragedy, I'm so sorry. Oh poor Mary!. What were his last words?
She replied, 'his last words were 'Mary, put the gun down'
I'm getting ready to make my exit from Chiang Mai, starting to set up some gigs in the northwest, feeling OK at the moment about being out of here, it's reality, so let's deal with it. Eugene is a good place to be, it's a good existence (he said hopefully) and there is a lot that I love about it, so on we go. I feel like I've done the right thing with M, have given her a good opportunity to 'recharge' and plot a new course, and I don't really feel any attachment to the outcome. It's up to her. (That's a very common thing you hear here.... 'up to you') We love each other, maybe there's a future in it, maybe not, we'll just have to see. In the meantime there is stuff to do, stuff to learn, miles to cover, money to make. I've got my Buddha around my neck and good energy in my heart.
Today is Saturday, I'm on a flight on Tuesday evening, cross the date line and just like that, back in the cold and green and wet. Amazing....
People are dropping like flies now, returning to their native lands, and yeah, that's OK. For one thing the weather is turning real hot, and the air quality is awful due to the 'burning season'. Some people are really suffering with it, not me, though there is occasional eye irritation. There is a two or three month window of hot weather and bad air before the monsoons kick in in June and July. There are many farewells in the air, and one of the sweetest ones was the other night when I said goodbye to Apple, one of the greatest guys I've ever played with.
He's an extraordinary person, short in stature, barrel chested, some kind of disability that makes him walk unsteadily and with a limp, long haired Thai, early fifties, one of the kindest, most accepting people I've ever met. Everyone loves the guy, me included. He's totally clean and sober, drinks a cup of warm Ovaltine during his gig, sings great, gets way into the music, plays outstanding lead guitar, has a vast repertoire of tunes that he delivers with passion. When I told him that it was our last time playing together for now, he shook hands, thanked each other, told each other how much we learned from one another, and called each other 'friend'. It's true, and it's one of the purest examples of music being the 'international language'. Apple's English is rudimentary at best, so our connection was not about words but about knowing how to connect as musicians. He's got great ears, (as do I), he is hyper aware of what's happening in the music, and there is a smile throughout the night. We'll stay connected on Facebook, and I dearly hope that we get to resume next year.... enshallah...
M and I are in good form, not perfect, but then again she's working a ton, she's in some pain in her neck and shoulder and is basically hanging on for another month until her job ends. She wants to sleep for a month, she says, 'recharge her batteries', (somehow she learned that expression, and uses it in this context). She told a joke last night that she translated into English from one of the magazines she likes to read. She got a great response and it's a good joke.
Mary goes to the church and tells the priest that her husband Paddy just died last night. Father Hennessy says, 'Oh what a tragedy, I'm so sorry. Oh poor Mary!. What were his last words?
She replied, 'his last words were 'Mary, put the gun down'
I'm getting ready to make my exit from Chiang Mai, starting to set up some gigs in the northwest, feeling OK at the moment about being out of here, it's reality, so let's deal with it. Eugene is a good place to be, it's a good existence (he said hopefully) and there is a lot that I love about it, so on we go. I feel like I've done the right thing with M, have given her a good opportunity to 'recharge' and plot a new course, and I don't really feel any attachment to the outcome. It's up to her. (That's a very common thing you hear here.... 'up to you') We love each other, maybe there's a future in it, maybe not, we'll just have to see. In the meantime there is stuff to do, stuff to learn, miles to cover, money to make. I've got my Buddha around my neck and good energy in my heart.
Today is Saturday, I'm on a flight on Tuesday evening, cross the date line and just like that, back in the cold and green and wet. Amazing....
Mojo return....
Got some good energy roling today, gracias a Dios, it's been low wattage recently, perhaps due to a balky back, some pre-grieving about leaving the country, bad air pollution which is making a bunch of people suffer, though not me, other than the low energy. But my breathing has been good, so good in fact that I've taken to smoking a few cigarettes, which on the face of it sounds incredibly stupid, but I look at it as a good thing, and an indicator of how well I'm breathing here. No I won't be smoking back in Oregon, that's a guarantee, but here I can indulge for a few more days before flying out.
Speaking of which, and this came up for me last night, I think the breathing situation is so crucial, and it may be the clinching argument about where to live in the future. It's a huge relief to be breathing easy, to not need medication in order to make it through the day, which is definitely the case in Oregon. So when I weigh the pros and cons about whether to live in Asia or America, the health piece is a major factor. I guess I see myself as a two continent guy for this year, but I could see myself spending more time on this side as the years go by (hopefully)
Another great musical night last night, it seems to be the norm at the CU, and I was on bass and rhythm guitar backing up my friend Apple for the final time. This has been an incredible collaboration and he's one of the greatest guys I've ever played with, a 50 something, long-haired Thai singer/guitarist, extremely nice, generous, lets anyone and everyone jam with him, and we have a great musical rapport. He sings tons of songs, takes requests, has great rhythm and a great voice, plays outstanding lead guitar and is the epitome of a great bar player in this part of the world. I've been his bassist for the past few months so I know most of his repertoire, and he is very appreciative of the support. Here are some of the ones he pulls out and plays frequently:
Country Roads, I walk the Line, Hey Bobby Marley (Manu Chao), Livin' on Tulsa Time, Heart of Gold, Dream, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Teach Your Children, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Hey Good Lookin', You Win Again, Jealous Guy and the list goes on and on. It's like I've been in training to be a Farang Bar musician in Thailand, and hey, might as well learn from the best. He is that.... I hope we get to do it again next year.
I have my final appearance tomorrow night and it's been a really good run of gigs. There is a certain 'luck of the draw' component to who shows up at a given time, and you might get a table full of talkers right in front of you, which sucks, but that's just the way it is. The boss has been happy with what I've done over the months, and I imagine there would be a spot for me next year. I'm the only musician who does originals (along with a bunch of covers) and there are a number of people who appreciate the idea of hearing new stuff, so I have filled a good niche in the rotation. And we do lots of swing stuff which is also a unique feature, so it's been good for the bar and good for us.
Bought a ticket for a flight down to Bangkok on Tuesday night, and from there, I'll collect my luggage and go check in for the international flight through Korea and then Seattle. A couple of long layovers are part of the itinerary so it looks kinda hideous at this point, but there's no way around it now. No big thing, just grin and bear it. I plan on having some good reading material and a guitar, so I know how to deal with passing the time in transit.
Having decided that I'm gonna quickly get into Mac World and Garage Band World, I'm feeling less conflicted about being back in the US. After a long period of relative inactivity, I'm ready to dig in and learn something new (and keep going deeper with the music) I'm feeling good about M, not real clingy, not expecting much of anything for the future. I'll certainly be curious about how she handles the upcoming freedom of not having to work 70 hours a week, and I'm hoping she chooses a healthy and happy path for herself. I have a lot of confidence in her, on some level... on other levels, not so much, so we'll just have to see if her better angels are able to rise to the fore. If they are, I'll be wanting to re-establish with her and make some future plans. But it's way too early to tell. Either way, I'm quite content to have given her the opportunity to make a change, no strings attached, and I wish her nothing but the very best. It's all I can do at this point.
Tonight I'll go to ... where else, CU corner for jam night, play some music, hang with the friends, go home, wait for M to show up some time after two am, same same, it's good, I'm gonna miss this place... (and I'll be back)
Speaking of which, and this came up for me last night, I think the breathing situation is so crucial, and it may be the clinching argument about where to live in the future. It's a huge relief to be breathing easy, to not need medication in order to make it through the day, which is definitely the case in Oregon. So when I weigh the pros and cons about whether to live in Asia or America, the health piece is a major factor. I guess I see myself as a two continent guy for this year, but I could see myself spending more time on this side as the years go by (hopefully)
Another great musical night last night, it seems to be the norm at the CU, and I was on bass and rhythm guitar backing up my friend Apple for the final time. This has been an incredible collaboration and he's one of the greatest guys I've ever played with, a 50 something, long-haired Thai singer/guitarist, extremely nice, generous, lets anyone and everyone jam with him, and we have a great musical rapport. He sings tons of songs, takes requests, has great rhythm and a great voice, plays outstanding lead guitar and is the epitome of a great bar player in this part of the world. I've been his bassist for the past few months so I know most of his repertoire, and he is very appreciative of the support. Here are some of the ones he pulls out and plays frequently:
Country Roads, I walk the Line, Hey Bobby Marley (Manu Chao), Livin' on Tulsa Time, Heart of Gold, Dream, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Teach Your Children, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Hey Good Lookin', You Win Again, Jealous Guy and the list goes on and on. It's like I've been in training to be a Farang Bar musician in Thailand, and hey, might as well learn from the best. He is that.... I hope we get to do it again next year.
I have my final appearance tomorrow night and it's been a really good run of gigs. There is a certain 'luck of the draw' component to who shows up at a given time, and you might get a table full of talkers right in front of you, which sucks, but that's just the way it is. The boss has been happy with what I've done over the months, and I imagine there would be a spot for me next year. I'm the only musician who does originals (along with a bunch of covers) and there are a number of people who appreciate the idea of hearing new stuff, so I have filled a good niche in the rotation. And we do lots of swing stuff which is also a unique feature, so it's been good for the bar and good for us.
Bought a ticket for a flight down to Bangkok on Tuesday night, and from there, I'll collect my luggage and go check in for the international flight through Korea and then Seattle. A couple of long layovers are part of the itinerary so it looks kinda hideous at this point, but there's no way around it now. No big thing, just grin and bear it. I plan on having some good reading material and a guitar, so I know how to deal with passing the time in transit.
Having decided that I'm gonna quickly get into Mac World and Garage Band World, I'm feeling less conflicted about being back in the US. After a long period of relative inactivity, I'm ready to dig in and learn something new (and keep going deeper with the music) I'm feeling good about M, not real clingy, not expecting much of anything for the future. I'll certainly be curious about how she handles the upcoming freedom of not having to work 70 hours a week, and I'm hoping she chooses a healthy and happy path for herself. I have a lot of confidence in her, on some level... on other levels, not so much, so we'll just have to see if her better angels are able to rise to the fore. If they are, I'll be wanting to re-establish with her and make some future plans. But it's way too early to tell. Either way, I'm quite content to have given her the opportunity to make a change, no strings attached, and I wish her nothing but the very best. It's all I can do at this point.
Tonight I'll go to ... where else, CU corner for jam night, play some music, hang with the friends, go home, wait for M to show up some time after two am, same same, it's good, I'm gonna miss this place... (and I'll be back)
Light....
As in, light at the end of the tunnel, not that it's been dark, mind you, but I caught a glimpse of a future direction which my Eugene life will take shortly after my return. A couple of posts ago, I mentioned something about feeling the strong desire/need to conquer whatever technological fear I have and stop limiting myself vis a vis recording and getting my music out there. And that same night I had a great conversation with a friend Al, British guy, nice musician, and we talked about the same topic.
He's been recording for many years and is quite fluent with many aspects of the process and he says basically 'get a Mac laptop, get into Garage Band, pick up a two input interface and off you go, it's incredible what is available, and it doesn't cost that much. Get some help from someone familiar with Garage Band to get you started, and then there you are'. And something about it clicked for me, the timing, the fact that I'm ready to go ahead and get a laptop, move over to Mac and give myself the chance to really work on my music, take some of the vast amount of songs I've written over the years and turn them into something besides a guy strumming a guitar in the living room.
And then when it's time to submit something or get something heard, I'll have demos that reflect what it is I've learned over all these years. And yeah, I know that there are millions of people who think their music is awesome and they spend their time on the computer trying to make it sound great. God love em. Now it's my turn too. And I'm quite excited to arrange things, figure out the horn lines, the string lines, the bass lines, the melodies and just be artistic in a new way. (and I'll resist the urge to think 'what the hell was I waiting for?') It's the perfect time, work is pretty slow in March so let's get started with the next chapter.... rather than say get depressed about being out of Thailand... It's a comfort to realize that there is something big to look forward to. And I do...
Had a nice reconnect with M after some friction last night, things are good, she's exhausted, not feeling great, and today over coffee, she was saying 'one more month and then I can rest'. I'm so happy that she'll get a chance to move on from this chapter. It couldn't be more right...
Or as she would say.... 'light'
He's been recording for many years and is quite fluent with many aspects of the process and he says basically 'get a Mac laptop, get into Garage Band, pick up a two input interface and off you go, it's incredible what is available, and it doesn't cost that much. Get some help from someone familiar with Garage Band to get you started, and then there you are'. And something about it clicked for me, the timing, the fact that I'm ready to go ahead and get a laptop, move over to Mac and give myself the chance to really work on my music, take some of the vast amount of songs I've written over the years and turn them into something besides a guy strumming a guitar in the living room.
And then when it's time to submit something or get something heard, I'll have demos that reflect what it is I've learned over all these years. And yeah, I know that there are millions of people who think their music is awesome and they spend their time on the computer trying to make it sound great. God love em. Now it's my turn too. And I'm quite excited to arrange things, figure out the horn lines, the string lines, the bass lines, the melodies and just be artistic in a new way. (and I'll resist the urge to think 'what the hell was I waiting for?') It's the perfect time, work is pretty slow in March so let's get started with the next chapter.... rather than say get depressed about being out of Thailand... It's a comfort to realize that there is something big to look forward to. And I do...
Had a nice reconnect with M after some friction last night, things are good, she's exhausted, not feeling great, and today over coffee, she was saying 'one more month and then I can rest'. I'm so happy that she'll get a chance to move on from this chapter. It couldn't be more right...
Or as she would say.... 'light'
Visa Run...
Spent the day yesterday cooped up in a mini-van for the 4 hour each way trip up to the Burmese border town of Mae Sai for a visa run. It was a bit of a math question actually.... I could have stayed put here, spent 1900 baht for a seven day extension, which unfortunately would have left me one day short of my departure... and they hit you with a penalty of 500 baht/day if you overstay, so for 2400 baht I could have avoided the trip. Or I could pay 550 for the mini-van ride, another 300 for the 15 day permission for a total of 850 (and a day cooped up in a van). So it boils down to the question of....
'is it worth 1550 to not be stuck in a van for most of the day?' That's about $50, and at this point, yeah it's worth it, hence the trip....
I had slept maybe three hours the night before after yet another great night at the CU Corner surrounded by friends and music and good vibes. I was on the periphery, singing some harmony, playing some rhythm, and that's cool, I don't need to be the focal point, just part of the mix.
Not a bad ride to the border, good roads, and it was quite simple on the Burmese end, pay your money, get the stamp, back across the border, grab a coffee and wait for the mini van for the return trip. The only hard part was being cooped up and making physical contact with the person next to me, hairy arms touching my skin, kinda creeps me out actually, dude you're on my side of the seat. It's not you, it's me.... grimace. I fuckin' hate that, it's true.
Played a nice gig last night, we were tight and focused, even thought the crowd was less than enthusiastic, which is often the case for the early set.... people are talking, socializing rather than tuning in, so that's just the luck of the draw. Sometimes the crowd is way into it, sometimes into other things, just depends. But the musicians did a great job, harmonies were tight, sound was nice, so what the hell, that's all you can do.
I'm a little frustrated with M and she with me, and not surprisingly, it's for the same reason. We're both very independent at heart, and we each chafe at some supposed control that the other is trying to exert. If I want her to limit her drinking or whatever, she thinks 'he trying to control me'. And then she's a total control freak, as far as I'm concerned, wanting to help me cross the street, 'watch out for that', almost like she's taking care of a child. I don't like it. Yesterday there was a little incident in which I showed up and saw her upon my return to town. I was tired and in need of sleep. she was sitting with a girlfriend who said 'Sawadhii Caa' (hello) to me as I approached. I made eye contact with her nodded my head and smiled, perfectly appropriate. M didn't see me nod or make contact, as it happened behind her head, and her first reaction is to criticize me, say, 'she said hello to you, you have to answer her' and it pissed me off....(this was our first interaction after the trip to Burma) Stop telling me what to do, chill out, let me live my life, don't be telling me what to do. Really hits a nerve, just like my ways hit a nerve with her. Or as we say to one another 'Same Same'
Yep, we're at the border of something...
'is it worth 1550 to not be stuck in a van for most of the day?' That's about $50, and at this point, yeah it's worth it, hence the trip....
I had slept maybe three hours the night before after yet another great night at the CU Corner surrounded by friends and music and good vibes. I was on the periphery, singing some harmony, playing some rhythm, and that's cool, I don't need to be the focal point, just part of the mix.
Not a bad ride to the border, good roads, and it was quite simple on the Burmese end, pay your money, get the stamp, back across the border, grab a coffee and wait for the mini van for the return trip. The only hard part was being cooped up and making physical contact with the person next to me, hairy arms touching my skin, kinda creeps me out actually, dude you're on my side of the seat. It's not you, it's me.... grimace. I fuckin' hate that, it's true.
Played a nice gig last night, we were tight and focused, even thought the crowd was less than enthusiastic, which is often the case for the early set.... people are talking, socializing rather than tuning in, so that's just the luck of the draw. Sometimes the crowd is way into it, sometimes into other things, just depends. But the musicians did a great job, harmonies were tight, sound was nice, so what the hell, that's all you can do.
I'm a little frustrated with M and she with me, and not surprisingly, it's for the same reason. We're both very independent at heart, and we each chafe at some supposed control that the other is trying to exert. If I want her to limit her drinking or whatever, she thinks 'he trying to control me'. And then she's a total control freak, as far as I'm concerned, wanting to help me cross the street, 'watch out for that', almost like she's taking care of a child. I don't like it. Yesterday there was a little incident in which I showed up and saw her upon my return to town. I was tired and in need of sleep. she was sitting with a girlfriend who said 'Sawadhii Caa' (hello) to me as I approached. I made eye contact with her nodded my head and smiled, perfectly appropriate. M didn't see me nod or make contact, as it happened behind her head, and her first reaction is to criticize me, say, 'she said hello to you, you have to answer her' and it pissed me off....(this was our first interaction after the trip to Burma) Stop telling me what to do, chill out, let me live my life, don't be telling me what to do. Really hits a nerve, just like my ways hit a nerve with her. Or as we say to one another 'Same Same'
Yep, we're at the border of something...
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