ManicRobThrill

Monday, January 29, 2007

Weekend rewind (birthday greetings, turn down the heat and other assorted idioms)

Happy birthday to my favorite writer. He's my hero. In his honor, here's another brilliant piece of work:

I learned how to lie better.

There was the time, for instance, that my dad came to Boston to visit me at school and do some business. We went out to eat, and he forgot to get a receipt. So he asked me to do it. He kept nagging me to get the damn receipt. So finally, I told him I did, and that I'd mailed it to him. Of course, I didn't.

When I finally got around to it -- about a month later, after he called several times to say he STILL hadn't gotten it -- I put the receipt in an envelope, stepped on the envelope several times and had a friend write on the back "Found in the Emerson College Union," along with a date. A few days later, he called me and said, "Genius, I got the receipt. You said you mailed it, but you lost it. I got a dirty envelope and a message saying it was found in the Emerson Union."

What could I do, except act innocent and say, "Oops. Sorry."

Pure genius.

**********

This may be the dead of winter, but the apartment is too damned hot; the heat is pumped in at an unhealthy rate so that the air is stifling. Calling the so-called "emergency" help line is a joke as the people who answer the phone are nothing short than rude assholes -- sorry, but no other phrase fits. Had to call twice since I received no acknowledgment on the first call and a promise from the super on duty to lower the heat with no results. I called the property management office this morning and unloaded (without expletives) my disgust at them, their operation and the fact that while we're supposed to adhere to their rules, we can't get one non-costly service provided for as it was NEEDED. One word: motherfuckers.

Otherwise, a blazingly busy weekend. At the gym 8 a.m. Saturday and still feeling the burn today; haircut, grocery shop, pick up Liz (who had to work on Saturday) and make some music in the interim. Oh, yes. Sunday Starbucks, quick shop for Liz and then to a delicious Portuguese barbecue (local place). Watched a great movie and chilled. No more nor less on a late January Sunday.

This is so sad.

Friday, January 26, 2007

Stroke of genius

Yes, I changed the name of the blog. Makes more sense this way.

Wanted to share this story from my favorite writer. Note: I did some editing as this was in a more conversational tone when I received it.

Dec. 18, 1973... during the ice storms. I wanted to go see ELP, but my father said he didn't want me going because the weather was awful and the trains were barely running (he was working, then going to see Bette Midler that night.) But I really wanted to go, so I lied -- I told him my friend Jamie's sister was going to drive us. He said, "OK, but DON'T TAKE THE TRAIN."

So, of course, I took the train. The ride, normally 45 minutes, took three hours. After the concert (I was so paranoid, I didn't even get high that night), I got on the train. To go to the Island, you had to change trains in Jamaica. I was with my friend Larry, who lived near Mineola, and the plan was that we'd go to Mineola and his dad would give me a ride home.

So we were sitting on the Mineola train and who got on? My dad. The Garden City trains weren't running, so he figured he'd get a cab from Mineola. He walked by us, looks at me and said, "That's it for you, buddy." Larry, who is stoned and has never met my father, said, "Dude, that guy wants to kill me." I said, "No, he wants to kill ME. That's my father." Larry thought that was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. We got to Mineola and there wasn't a cab to be found. So Larry's father gave us a ride home, which caused Dad to relax just a bit. We got home at 2 a.m. He said, "We'll talk about this in the morning." In the morning, I told him that Jamie's sister met some friends at the concert and decided to give them a ride home.

Dad bought it. If you ask him now, he'll say he never believed that. But he did.

I tell that story to my younger daughter all the time. It's her favorite bedtime story. The story always ends like this: "All this happened on December 18, 1973. And every year on that date, we call Grandpa and say, 'Do you know what today is?' And he says, 'No, what?' And we say, 'It's the anniversary of the train story.' And we laugh and laugh and laugh." Except for the past two years, my marvelous dad has remembered.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Hmmm...

What's different about this blog?

Change is a good thing, you know?

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Looking back to continue forward

The purging process is still in full flight. I can't believe how much money I wasted; time and space taken up needlessly and no emotional attachment to the deitritus that's been moved quickly, quietly and efficiently into large black plastic bags. All the excitement that I'd put into these items that, at one time, I thought were an accurate representation of my life--where I had been, where I was at that moment and where I would be heading. Nothing; it's a silly mindset to have placed myself. Nonetheless, the clothes, the magazines, the photos, old ticket stubs, contracts, tapes and so on are all for the ages. They mean nothing anymore and their disposal frees me up in leaps and bounds.

Had another great (but cold) weekend with Liz just doing chores and hanging out together. In the 8 years we've been together, I don't think we've laughed (or made each other laugh) as much as we have in the last two months. Starbucks, Target, groceries, Thai lunch, a few movies rented and you have all the makings of a great domestic weekend. Gym Tuesday night and next Saturday is a scheduled studio day.

The one element of my previous lives that won't be so easily dismissed. The time to get back to work is at hand.

One last thing--asked for by a few people and overlooked (for which I apologize): my "best of/worst of" '06. I promise to get to it this week and thanks for the reminder.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Start to move

Changing over the website and domain name VERY SHORTLY. From "officialrobross.com" to synchronicentertainment.com, as it just sounds better to me. Since someone has "robross.com", I'm not paying to get my name for a web site. Please don't worry; you will still access/see the exact same website and if you go to the original address, it will automatically redirect you. Makes things so much smoother. I just need to establish the new e-mail address.

Other bits and bobs... Nothing much to report; putting more and more of the house in order by getting rid of unnecessary pieces of the past. I ask myself constantly "why did I ever waste the time and money on these things?". No point in aggravating myself over it, but I do wish I'd been smarter! Ah, the folly of youth. At least items are moving (albeit slowly) out through eBay and Half.com, so that's always a good thing.

I promise to write more, with time and quiet this weekend. Thank you for the spike in visits over the last few weeks.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Weekend rewind (warm & beautiful)

Could it have been more stunningly warm and yet somehow surreal? I think the high reached on Saturday was 73. Unbelievable. Had a busy enough weekend; Comcast came out to port our phone number to digital (cuts out two bills immediately) on Saturday morning. Had an amazing (as usual) Thai meal at our favorite local place, then a Target and groceries run. Rented a funny movie and an early turn in. Sunday was a little cooler--light jacket weather--but still perfect blue. Yes, it was my 42nd birthday and thank you for the many calls, cards and e-mails--KISSES! Enjoyed our Starbucks run, did some errands and picked up a fab lunch at our local Whole Foods. Watched the Jets lose (boo) and did laundry. Pretty low-key but completely enjoyable.

Okay--

Took this picture yesterday during our lunch...



Two of my loves on the couch. Our simple, but tasteful living room. Comfort and joy.

Tomorrow is gym night; tonight is just rest. A little tired from the busy workday. Plan for the upcoming three-day weekend: recording on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

And on this day...

Just a quick birthday post, for those in the low-key world. I finally decided to honor the request to some you fine folks who asked for photos of the apartment, etc., so I will post them tomorrow. And yes, that includes a shot of the studio.

Been a busy week but will write more. Not much to ruminate on for the 42nd.

Monday, January 01, 2007

All good things

Happy New Year to all of you who have made this blog part of your interests; I wish everyone and their families health and happiness as this year has already started off on so many good, high notes for Liz and I. In short, like clockwork, we were at The Borgata last night, saw a riot of a show with the genius that is Jim Norton; had a great night at the hotel and made it home this morning by 11, considering it was a bit dangerous driving (downpour from the moment we left). I'm exhausted but pretty content.

Glad to see a long-missed blogging friend return from the wildwood; Le Fig is back with her Clementine's Folly--start reading it again! She's a hoot.

No musical news to report; this has been down time. I'm sure in a week or two, I'll be ready to get into action.

Enjoy the rest of the holiday!