6/24/07 — I've
decided to move all my activity and updating to MySpace. Find out
where I'm playing, hear new songs and drop me a line from there.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Rob
2/15/07 — So about a week ago there was a stray cat up in
the tree of my front yard. Wait... let me back up a bit by saying
I have always been a dog person. I don't really like cats... I
don't "get" cats. But this little guy came right up to me as I
called to it and started weaving in and out of my legs. I figured
it would be cruel to leave it outside as it was supposed to drop down
to the low 40s and I don't want any more stray cats on my street.
So I was at the Hops House Feb 9th to watch my friend
Matt Harlan play at the showcase
and I'm talking to his new (well I think she's his new) girlfriend
Carol. Carol by the way is a dog person also. I tell her my
story about the cat.
After the gig people are getting autographs from Matt and a couple of
the other artists and me, Carol and her friend begin autographing each
other's arms. This what she wrote on me.
1/30/07 — I hit the
open mic at the Hops House last week on... the.... man, what day
was that?.... oh, the 21st. Sunday before my birthday.
Very cool set of open micers that night. It
reminded me of when I first started going there a few years ago...
well, before I bought my first guitar. I only intended to stay
for an hour or so. I didn't leave until 12:30 in the morning.
Good set everyone! Really good set!
1/18/07
— Well, the new year has
already started out pretty cool. I got an e-mail from a complete
stranger who said he stumbled across my site, liked what he heard and
wanted me to send my CD to an internet radio station that he volunteers
for. Pretty cool, huh.
I haven't heard from the guy who runs the station
whether he'll use it or not but I thought it was cool to be
asked. You know like the actors when they say, "it's just an
honor to have been nominated." : | [blink... blink] I
might need to reevaluate that philosophy. Basically what I've
done is just given a couple of CDs away to somebody I've never
met. [blink... blink... blink].
1/04/07 — Well sorry
everyone for the unexpected interruption. My hiatus
coincidentally began about the time I started my new job. Who
knew that going into a completely new career field after having been in
the one you're in for 14 years could disrupt your life so much.
Hey... live and learn. So the new job is going
ok. Could be better but hey.... it's a job and I'm
thankful.
I'm thankful for a lot of things. Seems like this
time of year is when most people reflect on things like that and look
forward to others in the coming year. I'm no different.
I hope to release another CD in '07 so come back for
updates on how that goes. I hope to be out at the open mics a lot
more this year playing and listening and I may have a gig or two lined
up as an opening act but I don't want to jinx those so no word just yet.
See ya in 2007. Thanks everyone who was there in
06.
11/04/06 — So
like most open mic-ers, I have a regular grown up job. But Friday
(yesterday) was my last day there. So on Wednesday after work, my
co-workers threw me a go away happy hour to bid me farewell. A
lot of people showed up to raise a glass and I received some cards and
a couple gifts. A lot of people who couldn't show up stopped by
my desk to give well wishes and I was inundated with e-mails from
friends and other co-workers saying farewell and to keep in
touch.
I've heard it said the wealth of a man can be gauged by
the number of friends he has.....
I feel like the richest guy in the world. Hey....
there might be a song in there somewhere. Thanks everyone.
Peace. Rob
10/29/06
— Last week on Tuesday I had a
friend of mine from work call me at 11:45 and ask if I had lunch plans
and if not would I go with her to see Kinky Friedman at a local
community center. I thought "why not."
Wait... isn't that his campaign slogan. Anyway, we
went and the Kinkster showed up promptly at 12:30, hugged babies
(really, there was a baby there), gripped the flesh and signed
some autographs.
One in particular was on my guitar. I was
struggling to find a white or silver Sharpie at work and conceded that
the Kinkster's sig would have to go on the back of my guitar (which has
a dark rosewood back) with black ink.
So when I asked Kinky if he would sign it, he said,
"Sure, why not." (Here is a pro campaigner.... slippin' in that
slogan again.) But before I could tell him I wanted it on the back, he
snatched it out of my hand, grabbed a Sharpie from his pocket and
BOOM!... all over the front of my guitar!!!
Damn.... hopefully he wins and this piece crap turns
into a collector's item.
10/22/06
— Seems like lately I don't get out
to
see many shows. But I went downtown to meet some
friends on Saturday night and after dinner I thought what the heck...
I'll see who is playing at the Mucky Duck. Turns out that
Monte Montgomery was playing that night. Now I've never seen
or heard of Monte except once when he was on the cover of Acoustic
Guitar magazine back in November of 2005 so I figured he must be pretty
good.
Pretty good?.... understatement of the year!
They should have had a fire extinguisher on stage just
in case his guitar neck burst into flames from how fast he shreds.
If you ever get the chance to hear this guy do an acoustic show... take
it! He is an incredible guitarist. Absolutely
amazing! I found out afterwards that he has earned Best
Acoustic Guitar Player from the Austin Music Awards seven years in a
row. No doubt in my mind why. Wish I'd had my
camera with me.
10/16/06
— I'm not a huge sports nut but I keep up with
how
the hometown teams are doing. I've been an Astros
fan since I was a kid.... even during the tough years when people
called them the dis-Astros and the Lastros.
But being a Texans fan is tough. Yesterdays little
display against the Cowboys.... let's jus say someone should get
FIRED for not drafting Reggie Bush or Vince Young or at least a few offensive
lineman who can help our running game.
*sigh* The 'Stros start playing again in April right?
10/06/06
— okay.... so has anyone ever done this?.... you
get on the elevator of a building... in my case, the building where I
work. Although there are about 4,000 people who work in the
five-building complex, you see the same people over and over again to
where you build this distant relationship that is built on semi-genuine
smiles, nods and mouthed hellos.
So one day you get on the elevator on one floor as someone gets off.
Someone new to the company because you don't recognize the person. It's
only after you get in and the doors shut that you realize that SHITHEAD
left you with the remnants of one of the worst farts in the history of
mankind. So as the doors open up at the next stop a couple of people
get in and one of them is the really hot girl (or for the ladies) hot
guy you've been eyeing and giving more genuine smiles and slightly
louder mouthed hellos only to realize when you are all getting off that
they probably thought you let that nasty ass fart rip before they got
on.
People suck!
9/27/06 — HOLY CRAP!!!
I just got home from playing the open mic at the Vintage Bar.
This was one of THE best night's I've experienced in such a long
time. What a great bunch of musician's on hand
tonight. My new friend Keith Serpa tore it up, Pete Simple
did some great stuff off his new record he's got coming out, Zach
Gosnay played some awesome original material, Jody Torres did a set
that included my favorite song of his "Puro Tejano" and host, Julian
Samuels had a great set himself to end the night. There were only
a handful of musicians but they were great and I feel privileged to
have shared the stage with these guys. I'll definitely have to
make out there again!
9/25/06 — Alright.... the site
goes live today! The picture gallery isn't
done. I still can't figure out how to do that but I don't
care. I'm putting up the site. Hope you like it.
Cut me a line and give me some feedback. I look forward to
hearing from you guys.
