I've Got Nothing To Say...I'm Just The Drummer

Well, once again it's been FOREVER since I posted on here. Of course I can say it's the usual things...busy with both jobs, busy with the kidlet, busy with the wife, etc. but when even the wife mentions that I need to blog more, I figure I'd better get to it.

As most of you know already, I've taken a "lesser" role in the night gig and have left the stage show part of the Giggle Dam to become the drummer. Many people have questioned my decision regarding this and seem to be quite concerned that I won't be happy "just being the drummer". While it's true that I dearly love being on stage and making people laugh, my first love as a performer has always been, and always will be the drums. I started drumming when I was just a kid and played my first professional show when I was 14. It was my life until I turned 26 and decided I needed a real job and I've missed it ever since. That's why I would take the occasional weekend off and go play with a band for less money. It's in my blood. So when I was offered the chance to once again make it my job, I jumped at the chance and I have not looked back. It's better for me on so many levels. I no longer have to race from one job to another as I no longer have to do the pre-show part of it. I have time to see my baby and my wife and have dinner with them in between jobs. And I make more money on a per show basis. It really was a no brainer decision. So if you're reading this and you come to one of my shows, don't ask if I'm happy just being the drummer...the smile on my face should say it all.

On a completely unrelated note, IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS and I could NOT be anymore excited for it this year. We are heading off to Alberta to spend it with some of my family. We figure this may possibly be the last year we can do it as Bug still flies for free, I can get time off from the show a lot easier now that I'm "just the drummer" and I have the month of December off from my day job...with pay! I miss my family so much it's not funny. It's tough with us all being so far apart. I was lucky enough to see them in the summer but I was travelling for work and didn't have Cassie and Jovan with me. And as much as I love them and can't wait to spend time with them (read: play games and keep Budweiser and Miller in business) I think I'm more excited for them to hang out with Jovan for a week and for him to get to know them. I am so proud of him and the person he is becoming and yes, I know I'm biased being his father and all, but I honestly believe he is one of the cutest kids I've ever met. He has such a HUGE personality already and is definitely a born performer (as evidenced by his latest Facebook video) and I just really want my family to get to see it for themselves. In person and not online. I'm really hoping my brother and his wife can make it out as well as that would just be the icing on the cake!

I'm not going to promise that I'm going to blog more often because I've said it before and it just didn't happen. I'll try. And when I've got something to say, I'll say it. So, until next time...

Rock on.
J-Rock

Another Random Shoe

Eastbound exit to Allen Way off Lougheed Hwy, Pitt Meadows BC.

Left shoe.

Rock on.
J-Rock

Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

A Heartfelt Thank You

Because of my job, I have to go to a lot of fires. My company rents security fencing. Fires require it to secure buildings to keep the copper wire thieves and other unwanteds out. I've been to a lot lately. Two this week alone. I'm thinking that if I go to anymore the Coquitlam Fire Department is going to think I'm starting them!! But that has got me thinking about firemen. I wanted to be one when I was a kid. My dad was one. A volunteer. I remember when our school burnt down...the fire started around 3:30PM and dad, having been at work all day didn't get there until around supper time. When he got home that night around midnight he let me hold his jacket which weighed about 70 pounds because it was soaking wet...and it reeked of smoke. That was a major fire. Reinforcements had to be called in from neighbouring communities to help put it out. I never realized just how dangerous it was for my dad to be a fireman until that fire. Or how proud of him I was. Now my brother, who is also my hero (and the one to report the school fire), is a volunteer with the same brigade our dad was part of. I am equally scared and proud of him as I was with Dad.

This week, while at a fire, I watched as a crew came out of the burning building...from a temperature hotter than we could even imagine...into 43 degree heat...these guys were exhausted, hot, sweaty and gasping for breath, which was almost impossible to get in the stifling heat Mother Nature laid on us this week...yet they quickly doused their heads with water, had a drink from a Slurpee stored in a cooler, put on a new air tank and went back inside to fight the flaming hell.

I couldn't do it. But I'm extremely thankful for those that can...and do. Next time you see a fireman, thank him. Thank him for the countless hours of training he has endured...for the danger he puts his life in everytime that alarm goes off...for the security he gives by being a fireman. They don't get paid enough to do what they do. I know, I've witnessed it first hand.

Rock on.

J-Rock

DAM BBQ and (Special) Olympics

Today is going to be a great day!! We are holding the 1st Annual Giggle Dam Family BBQ & (Special) Olympics. The venue has changed three times now due to fire restrictions in parks and is now being held in Mark and Sheila's backyard...and on their new deck...Mark has a large "Man-B-Q" where there will be steaks, Tandoori Chicken breasts, wings, hot dogs and Lord only knows what else a-cookin'...I've made a pasta salad and Cassie has made a cake...the food will be a-plenty as will the drinks I'm sure! Employees and family/friends have been divided into 3 colour-coded teams and there will be all sorts of "games" as each team garners points and works toward being the first to be awarded the soon-to-be-much-coveted "Beaver Cup".

I have no idea what the games will be but I will give a full report and post results (and hopefully some pics) soon. I do hope there isn't Lawn Darts though....as Jeff Foxworthy says "you catch one of those with your head and you'll be getting colouring books for Christmas for the rest of your life"...

Rock on.
J-Rock

M.I.A.

Wow. It’s been way too long since I’ve blogged. It’s not that I haven’t had anything to say…those that know me know I’ve pretty much always got something to say…it’s just that I just haven’t had the will to sit down and actually write anything of any relevance. I really need to take my friend Michelle’s advice and just blog something small every day. Even if it’s just a list of things I am doing that day. It keeps the mind fresh and will satisfy the need to write. Easier said than done Michelle…but I’ll try.

The day job has been keeping me increasingly busy. I’ve made 2 trips to the Okanagan recently and will be making at least one more in the next two weeks. I’ve also been over to Vancouver Island twice. I haven’t been there since 1988 and now I’ve been twice…in 3 weeks! And what is with the ferry prices? Holy shit they’re expensive. And why do they charge separate fares for cars and people? Shouldn’t the car fare include one person? It’s not like the car is going over alone…”Just one today?”…”No, just the car. I’m staying on the mainland.” Give me a headache. The events this year have been pretty fun though I must say. I’ve done 3 music festivals so far and have 2 more coming up. I only wish I could actually stay and attend some of these festivals and enjoy the music…and I “took the summer show off” so that I could do just that. Which brings me to the night job, and as you just read I have taken the summer show “off”. Yeah right. The “regular” drummer at the theatre also plays with one of Canada’s premier classic rock groups and they tour extensively in the summer which means he has to find a replacement. I said I’d fill in for the odd nights the replacement couldn’t do. Turns out I’m actually playing more than the replacement!! Then, one of the actors decided he wanted a holiday and I ended up doing 2 weekends on stage for him. So by “taking the summer show off” I am actually performing every weekend in July and 2 of the 4 weekends in August. Hardly a break if you ask me! But it’s fun and I am totally loving playing the drums regularly again. I’ve missed it!!

Rock on.
J-Rock

Congratulations Megan and Jason!

My niece got married last weekend in Alberta and I couldn’t go. Turns out my wife’s work screwed her out of 6 weeks of work right after her mat leave ended so the funds just weren’t available. We were so looking forward to seeing everyone again…and of course, showing off our adorable son ;) but it was not to be. So we’ve ended up missing both of my eldest sister’s kid’s weddings…and all because of money…and neither time has been our fault.

Rock on.
J-Rock

I hope he's living with Elvis somewhere

Did you hear that Michael Jackson died? I almost missed that. Was it highly reported? Seems he died the same day as Farrah. All kidding aside, I am surprised at how sad I am about it. He was a weird one for sure. And there were a lot of allegations against him…and I’m a firm believer of the “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” saying. However, he was never convicted and the courts did prove that the family that accused him were only after a payday. But again, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. But he was, IMHO a musical and marketing genius. He took his talent and totally exploited it using the new media that was MTV. He took the simple idea of a rock video and totally used it to his advantage and he succeeded. Boy did he!! It’s strange to know already that no one album will ever outsell “Thriller”. In today’s day and age, with P2P filesharing it just won’t happen. I think at last count “Thriller” has sold something like 4 hundred-thousand-bazillion copies. And it is one of only 3 albums that I know of to ever achieve “diamond” status for sales in the US. The other two are the Bee Gee’s soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever and Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet. RIP MJ…there will never be another like you.

Rock on.
J-Rock