Monkey

More stuff from the last couple days:

• Got the first interview on Monday. Hope it goes well. Reflecting on my past I realized that I never really did many interviews. Every job I got had one; I guess I don't remember any interviews that I had that I never got the job from. Maybe I didn't have any others? Or, maybe my memory is choosing to block them out! :) So here's hoping that I don't need many this time!
• I finally am starting up the turntable fun again. Yesterday I spun Queen's News of the World (We Will Rock You, etc.). One of my most favorite songs of all time (and definitely my most favorite Queen song) is on this album: "It's Late". Never heard it? Check it out sometime. Today I am going to put on the "UFO - Live" double LP. Their guitarist, Michael Schenker (brother of Rudolph from the Scorpions), was another one of those players that taught me how to play.
• Speaking of that turntable, it also doubles as a way to put to mp3's any cassettes I have. I have a list of all the bands I was in since the first one in 1978. And yes, I have recordings of most of them. I am continuing a process of converting selected songs from the past to mp3's. I did it several years ago but those CD's and mp3s got lost. So, it is a do-over. So far I have converted stuff from my past up to 1986. The early 80's are funny to listen to. I was so into impressing everyone with how fast I could play. It was way overdone. Sometimes I wanted to shout at the me from 25 years ago to "stop it!". By 1986, there are recordings were you could hear me finally getting it and focusing on melody. There is a time and place for speed but not all the time. That is why I could never listen to a lot of Yngwie in the 80's and Dragonforce today. To much speed gives me a headache!
• I was asked to fill in as a guitarist for one of Reign Man's gigs on April 12th! That will be fun. I guess my good friend Greg has a wedding to go to and this gig was too big to cancel. So, I will be him for a day! Learning all this stuff just gives me more of a burn to get in some kind of band in the future. The gig is at Leo's Bar and Grill (where the old Gonzo's was on 135th street in Romeoville). More info is on http://www.reignmanrocks.com/. One funny note about the guys I am jamming with: it is the entire band (less keys and brass) that went on the first mission trip to France back in 2005!
• There have been many things that I hear and know of regarding CCC. They need not get told here. Suffice it to say that the soap opera continues. Although I am still concerned about the public silence regarding everyone let go. I hope that they remember that they are still a church family and not a corporate entity. The rumbles through the constituency are growing. That can't be healthy.
• 21 days of public silence...

Have a great Easter everyone!