What Does It All Mean, Man???

HEre is one for you Robert--- (If I am being honest-- I know its rare, my names on the deed -- indulge me) --
I LOVE to play guitar/bass-- it SHUTS OFF the world (similar to riding-- diving-- skiing--etc) "lazer focus" -- my mind goes numb and the fingers and melody in my soul come out----its PURE escapism--
I WANT to PLAY MORE -- but -- I also feel "guilty" while playing -- because well LIFE needs tending -- chores around the farm NEED done-- critters need fed-- fence need mending (literally) work-- -bills-- groceries-- the washing machine broke-- the car needs tires--dog needs to go to the vet---taxes---- on and on and on and on------------------

but when I am playing -----------------------------------all that goes away ----- for a time------

perhaps your riding is the same? (I know it has been for me -- but unlike grabbing the guitar sitting RIGHT HERE-- riding takes me away, and takes more time-- and preparation, gear etc)

so-- its a constant mental battle-- especially when dealing with WORK -- from my home office --- UGH -- I WANT to play my new guitar-- but i HAVE TO DO THIS "WORK" thing ........


All things in moderation -- the good-- and the bad-- make a well rounded life and--- an enjoyed one---;)
 
HEre is one for you Robert--- (If I am being honest-- I know its rare, my names on the deed -- indulge me) --
I LOVE to play guitar/bass-- it SHUTS OFF the world (similar to riding-- diving-- skiing--etc) "lazer focus" -- my mind goes numb and the fingers and melody in my soul come out----its PURE escapism--
I WANT to PLAY MORE -- but -- I also feel "guilty" while playing -- because well LIFE needs tending -- chores around the farm NEED done-- critters need fed-- fence need mending (literally) work-- -bills-- groceries-- the washing machine broke-- the car needs tires--dog needs to go to the vet---taxes---- on and on and on and on------------------

but when I am playing -----------------------------------all that goes away ----- for a time------

perhaps your riding is the same? (I know it has been for me -- but unlike grabbing the guitar sitting RIGHT HERE-- riding takes me away, and takes more time-- and preparation, gear etc)

so-- its a constant mental battle-- especially when dealing with WORK -- from my home office --- UGH -- I WANT to play my new guitar-- but i HAVE TO DO THIS "WORK" thing ........


All things in moderation -- the good-- and the bad-- make a well rounded life and--- an enjoyed one---;)
some darn good words of wisdom there eSGE
 
^ one might challenge that; I wouldn't, but one might... :p

Anybody think I'm totally insane??? Or, is this a normal thing????

Yes, without a shadow of a doubt! &, yes, without a shadow of a doubt. :)

You've got an empathetic and kind nature, you get fanatically into stuff and that's always gonna wane a bit from time to time - you can't keep going 100 miles an hour in all directions all the time, nobody can. Guitars = money, so you gotta do some of that. Bikes = fun, so you gotta do some of that. Relax, enjoy, don't overthink it...
 
Anybody think I'm totally insane??? Or, is this a normal thing????

I think this is totally normal. I personally chased the dream for years and at one point when life caught up to me I put my guitar in the case and didn't even play for about a year, possibly a little longer. I just pursued my hobbies and after a period of time playing guitar also became simply a hobby for me and I was able to enjoy it on that level. I did play in a couple of bands after that, but very casually and with no end-game in mind, just as a hobby. Now, I can play strictly on that level and to be perfectly honest, my passion for playing has never been stronger other than perhaps when I was first starting out. It's really nice in a way to play just for the love of playing and not have any agenda or other people's needs and/or expectations attached to it. But it took a change in mindset to get me there and I had to dissociate from both the idea of being in a "big" band and from playing with any profit motive involved to really embrace it. I mean, I have friends who are full-time working musicians in established bands (some of them in very well-known bands), who tour the World every year and regularly put out new albums and they have to unplug from it all from time to time also.
 
Very happy to report that over 95% of my Audacity files, that we recovered from the failed drive, are readable and i am able to move forward with producing my CD that i feared was lost forever.

The songs on this proposed CD were the culmination of 2 years of work, totalling over 30 complete songs from scratch, with drum tracks provided by my friend and colleague, Ffej Rednil.

I make my drum debut on my original song "Heroine - Angel In Black."

Though not yet named, this CD is designed to be my 'swan song,' and contain many covers that i grew up listening too and enjoying as a kid.

To be able to complete this venture, without having to re-record every song from scratch, is a great blessing indeed!!!!
 
Well, today was an almost all-day rehearsal at the bandleader's pad in Highland Ranch...the first in several months. I was so burned out going into this today, but i put on my game face and unloaded my heavy pedalboard and rig with three guitars.

Today i also ran both DSL40C'S through the ABY box i got from one of our TTR chums.

I was really surprised by the event overall. Bunnies were congregating in the yard and the butterflies were going in and out of there house in the garden. The bandleader hosted a huge lunch and we took a few photos.

Since we now have three guitar players, i am able to drop back and concentrate on vocals on certain songs. Mike plays a 44 year old tobacco Gibson Les Paul with 9-90's through a DSL40C and bandleader alternates between a Schecter E1FR, a Gibson Sparkle Top Les Paul, an Ibanez Destroyer and a Gibson yFirebird through a crazy pedalboard (with a glowing devil head OD) through a Germino Lead 55 Full Stack, tricked out by me of course...

I was on fire today. I just couldn't do wrong. I played the black Faux Paul for the first half of the day and switched to the Jackson San Dimas for the second half. It was hot and i didn't even feel it. I just cinched my belt over my left hip and tore things up.

No changes in settings. Both guitars spunded great. The FR on the Jackson never goes out of tune. It's just amazing.

No public videos yet, but to all my Facebook/TTR pals, I've sent a one minute teaser clip. We gonna pull some cool stills from the video we shot today and hopefully, we get some cool real action images.

More to come...
 
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