Thank You God and New Music

So, we didn't go to NC today. At first I was really bummed and disappointed.  We just woke up this morning and everything kinda just fell apart. Nothing was packed or even together to pack. And instead of that get up leisurely, take our time and peacefully pack as a family. It just felt so chaotic. Then when my daughter threw up here morning bottle, I was like.. "How come whenever I try and see my parents it feels like everything falls apart?" and with that, I threw up my hands and threw in the towel, called my mom and said, "Hey weren't not coming today, we'll see you tomorrow." I was really upset for much of the day, because, I was so disappointed.  

I tried to get things ready to go. I washed and folded clothes, laid them out for my wife to see what she wanted to pack. Washed and put up dishes, swept the floors, and clean out the car. Trying to get it all done. I totally got into a work mode. When I am at work, my mentality is everything is on hold until I am done working. It's like a part of me shuts down, so I can focus on what I am doing and get it done. Which isn't the best at home, because your family needs you to be not only there physically but emotionally too. Which today I was totally not there. 

I regret to say that my attitude should have been more compassionate and it wasn't.  My little girl, she is so beautiful and sweet and I owe more than my "God always when I am trying to do something she is sick". Which thankfully for the rest of the day she was fine and kept her bottles down and displayed no more symptoms of being sick. Even when she isn't feeling well she has the biggest smile just so, so happy to see you. Thank You God for her. 

My wife had a lot of patience with me, too.  I love her to death. I could tell that I was trying her, but she held in there and was strong enough to handle me. She's my rock. Thank You God for her. 

And my little boy, all I can say is, what a handful. It was a constant battle today to keep him off my freshly washed and dried clothes piles. He likes to knock them over or take clothes off and act like he is folding them up and then drop them as clothes wads on the ground. So, there is a pile of clothes and next to my neatly folded pile there is a little wadded up lump of clothes. When I write it like this it almost makes me cry because I can see now all he is trying to do is do whatever daddy is doing, just because daddy is doing it and it is super precious. Thank You God for him. 

These three people are my world. Sometimes, I can type what I really mean to say better than I can say it.  To Boo, Tiny-Diddle, and Squirtle Turtle. I love you with all my heart and I am sorry. Thank You God for them. They are the greatest gift I have ever gotten. They constantly remind me of the man I should strive to be. 

On a another note, I recently joined twitter. In doing so I left a tweet saying I needed new music. I got a tweet from a record label. I check out some of their artists. I am happy to say I am the proud owner of "The Longer I Run" and "Always" by Peter Bradley Adams. They are great songs. I recommend you check them out. 

Things Observed

Man oh man, I am so happy that tonight has finally come.  In the past 35 days I have done 30 shows at the NOH.  Load-in's/load-out's, set-ups/tare-downs, walk aways, early mornings and super late nights. Missing my family and my friends. Getting home and knowing I have missed it all. I finally have some time off. Starting now I am off until Wednesday or Thursday of next week. It's all down hill from here. We will still have some long days and shows. However, for the most part the Opera season will start its inevitable decline, slowing down to all but a halt come summer. This next week is like my spring break.  After spring break it all flies so fast.  Tomorrow, we leave for my parent's house in Lumberton, NC. I think it is about a 3 hour and 15 minute drive.  I was really hoping to be able to have a leisurely pace getting ready in the morning. I hate feeling rushed all the time but when your time is very limited you end up feeling rushed to fit everything you need to do into the few hours you have, and of course, we still have to pack. When I say pack, I mean, packing for four. Clothes, bags, baby food, high chairs, food, drinks, dogs, dog food. Elizabeth and I are going to have our work cut out for us in the morning.  

I am hoping to have lots of time this summer. My gigs with the Misadventures have all but vanished due to the current status of the economy and I am guess they will  pick back up when ever our economy gets out of it's current funk. Or maybe not. Only time will tell.  It is interesting how I can spend all winter trying to balance my chaotic work schedule with time for my wife and kids, gigs and when the summer rolls around, the time of year I have the most free time and the most flexibility the gigs kind of dry up.  Or so it has been in the past and it seems that this year will offer much more of the same. It will be a great opportunity to spend more time at home with my family. Elizabeth has been talking about going to back to work this summer, because once work starts slashing my hours then my income also gets slashed. I have been thinking of trying to get another job this summer so she can stay home. Anybody know of any? I think of moving my family out of here a lot. Nashville?  

I have been working on putting a show together.  Right now it is just me on my bass and vocals. Pretty crazy idea huh? The biggest hurtle I feel I have right now with this project other than finding the time to work on it is singing. It's not that I can't sing. I just need to beef up my confidence in my voice and singing in front of an audience. When I think of doing that my throat just kind of closes up.  How do you step across that thresh hold?  Just do it?  Honestly that scares me. I don't know why. I am working on it though. 

Well it is late and I need to get up in the morning and get to it. Goodnight