We're riding out the Blizzard in Boston and I thought I'd share a weather update with my friends on CBN.

I just needed a good camera name like Chester McCrablaster or Rock Pile Dumbhead or something.

I'm still pretty buzzed about and thankful for everyone who contributed to "Time Stands Still On the Burying Ground" collaboration.  If you haven't seen it, the video is on my page.

I had an idea for another collaboration that should work equally well, but different in organization.  I know that some suggest a specific order of events for a successful collaboration, but stick with me for a sec.

I have a riff I put together that has slowly evolved into a song.…

Note:  Stick with me, it will take me awhile to make my point.  Apologies if you drop out early with disinterest.  :)

I don't get or make the time to go outside my home to play very much.  Last night, with my girls away for the weekend, I decided to head out with my guitars in hand.  Truthfully, I could have spent a lazy evening at home in peace and quiet.  However, I committed myself to do it and around 8:00 jumped in the car for the quick ride to Saratoga Springs.  The small…

My daughter's first grade teacher invited me in this afternoon to play the guitars I've made and a couple that my daughter has helped put together.

I suggested that I have a couple acoustics, but the kids might like it better if I brought an amplifier with me.  Heh, heh. The teacher agreed. . .

Let's see how it goes.  Cold Cereal Blues is getting…

Today my wife and I have been married 15 years.  Pretty remarkable since I don't play hard to get.  I play hard to have.  

Anyway, I got me Hollowbelly T-Shirt on today, played me guitar with the Klangbox pickup for a good half hour this morning, had a curry for lunch and getting ready for a long weekend with my wife sans kids (first time).

I really like this Tshirt.  Nobody around here knows WTF it means.  Surprised it isn't all worn out yet.…

Last weekend I was alone walking around Boston's North End waiting for my wife and girls to arive in the city. I stepped into Copp's Hill Burying Ground and I was almost immediately inspired to write the following lyrics. Now I just need the appropriate tune to go with it.



Time Stands Still on the Burying Ground



Death heads on the stones

Marking spaces for ashes and bones

Was a young man walking…

So while I was sitting at my favorite workbench the other night (2x4 across my knees while I sit on an overturned 5 gallon bucket) I was thinking about what I've learned over 10 or so partial and complete builds.  And the major thing comes down to these hard and fast RULES of making a CBG.

1. Keep sanding.
2. When you think you're done sanding,…

There's always a story.  I'm too amped up right now to type it out here, but here's my lyrical contribution for today.  I'm sure I've got some good company here.

*

Half way to nowhere

meet a customer I saw 3 years ago

now wants to buy

Everyone wants a piece of me

Can't have none unless you got money

Got them dashboard blues

Got them windshield…

Kids get a week off from School in February and Dad gets all out of sync with the schedules.  Inspired the following spontaneously sung this morning.  Could have used and accompanist.

 

Hard wakin' up this morning and didn't get to choose

Rolled out of bed and didn't get to choose

Dad was pourin' the milk and them cold cereal blues 

 

I got them blues

Them cold cereal blues

Soggy flakes and milk

Them cold cereal…

Last Thursday evening I was outside giving the compost a turn with the spade and feeding the worms.  I went and chucked the spade back in the dirt pile and wacked my ring finger on the tip of the shovel already planted nearby.  HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL that hurt.  The whole finger tip turned black and blue and by 4AM the next morning there was so much pressure under the nail that I couldn't sleep from the pain.  Dr. Drillbit came to my rescue after a quick trip to the medicine cabinet for some…

I play mostly on the back porch of my house.  My neighbors can hear me, but at least I'm spared the sight of their laughter as I teach myself to play.  For the record, the birds don't seem to mind.

Recently, I started playing out in front of friendly audiences.  I took my CBG to the lake cottage this last weekend and played sitting out on the dock at sunset.  The audience is family and close friends, so they sort of have to be nice, and they were.

 …

So I have a pretty confusing house in the morning.  I share space with my wife and our two young daughters, age 6 and 3.  While I take all of 20 minutes to prepare myself for the day, they all take some extra maintenance time.  I guess I can't buzz their hair off with the clippers like I do mine.  :(

Anyway, I'm also the chef of the house so I prepare breakfast and pack whatever lunches need to be made for the day.  We're out the door by 8:00 to drop off at daycare, summer…

:)  So I'm not the newest CBN millionaire.  :)

I visited my parents this weekend and my Dad asked if I wanted an old trumpet I had played in 4th Grade.  It had been in the family for awhile and I decided to take it.  While that was being dug out, I asked about an old violin I remembered from when I was a kid.  I never heard anyone play it, but sort of remembered it being in OK condition from the view of a 7 year old boy snooping around the closets for Christmas…

I'm addicted to tobacco.  Helplessly and hopelessly addicted.  No end in sight and I'm not even ashamed.

A morning coffee run with the wife was slyly detoured to the local tobacconist and, oh gee, I just happened to have my 2nd guitar and Diddley Bow with me.  How did they get in the car?

As I was stacking up boxes to buy from the cart in front of the store, my wife says "Really?  10 boxes today?"  I settled for 6.  I'm trying to cut down.  Really, I quit at…

I have sat down and really, really tried to write some old-timey blues lyrics and I find it difficult.  After this weekend, it won't be possible for a long time, I'm afraid.

On Saturday night, I made the committment that my new hobby would be self-funding and not-for-profit.  At least, I don't want it to be the sink hole that my other pastimes have been.  Namely R/C cars, offroad wheeling in my Jeep and restoring a 1947 Willys CJ-2A.  I sold the Wrangler so that sorted itself…

This weekend I attended a party at a friend's house themed "bring your own musical instrument."  I wasn't sure about bringing my CBG since the host is a talented guitar player, so I just ate a mess of beans for lunch.  Then I decided to bring my CBG in case I got performance anxiety and needed a backup instrument.

So I arrived with the family and was surprised that no one else had brought anything.  Not even a set of maracas or spoons.  Nada.  The host immediately reached his…

Earlier this week, I was in Atlanta for Pittcon.  It's the largest conference for Analytical Chemistry in the US and although attendance isn't what it once was, its a big deal for many companies, mine included.

As I was speaking with punters at my company booth on Monday afternoon, I noticed my voice getting a bit rough.  By the time I got back to the hotel that evening, I didn't have anything above a whisper.  Tuesday, nothing.  Wednesday even less.  Either someone slipped…