Challenge Week

So last week, unbeknownst to all, I decided to begin my new year's resolutions and get my shit together for lack of a more elegant term. I know that New Year's resolutions have become sort of passe, but I've decided to bring them back, if for any other reason, just to be contrary.

Last week was the "get your ass off the couch" week. Of course I was a little sidelined by a big new book, but I persevered anyway. I wrote everyday, I didn't eat fast food or consume copious amounts of alcohol, I exercised, lifted a few weights, went for a daily jog, and by Saturday I was feeling full of momentum. (and five pounds slimmer)

This week, however, adds a new wrinkle. What if we try doing all that, and work on music.

Crazy, you say.

Scoff, I scoff.

I start my vacation in one week and I'm gonna record another dry run of the album. This time, rather than building much of a production, I'm just gonna put the guitar in my lap and a microphone in my face and see where it goes.

My wife is very excited about this idea. She much prefers the scaled back sound, and having gone over my previous work, I think I agree with her.

The nice part about this trial is that if it does work, its cheap to produce professionally. The down side of course is that there ain't no production to put some gloss on what I consider to be my sloppy musicianship. Ain't no hiding those bad notes.

Which means I've got to practice. I have to tone those muscles. I gots to learn how to be a player.

And last week, I just about broke even. I could get all the stuff done without much sacrifice to the work and family gods, but now I'm gonna have to find another hour to my day and that will be the challenge.

Its easy to get your ass off the couch, but try doing that and holding on to an obsessive dream without putting a knife through Calvin's eye.

Either way, so far so good.

Joann has hid the knives.