The Dougie Update

The Dougie Update

04.04.07 (10:16 pm)   [edit]
Greetings, tblog friends and other motherfuckers. Been a while since I posted here, so if you give a shit:

Still very erratic work during the days, but I might have a new day job soon that I am MUCH more excited about. I don't know yet, though.

I have a solo gig Friday night. I worked up a couple Roky Erickson tunes today, and I have a couple goofy ideas for spoken-word stuff. Unfortunately, my throat is a bit fucked up and has been for almost three weeks. We'll see if I survive four-plus hours. I think I'm gonna be extending guitar moments some. My style of solo-guitar improv is slowly developing into something I even enjoy myself.

I met Sheryl's new boyfriend last night and quite enjoyed it - he bought me a beer and we hung out and talked for a while.

Katie is wonderful as ever, and I've been HIGHLY impressed at her drawings lately. She's made big steps in reading and writing recently as well. I had a new guitar student tonight that is her age (and his dad, teaching them together for now) and the difference was remarkable - I don't meet too many five year olds with anything like the spark she has.

Progress with D is going VERY slowly, but I'm comfortable with her now. We just don't get a lot of time together. I still have lingering doubts in my head about what can actually come from this, but I know she WANTS to make this thing work in some way. And I do too. I really do like her.

A bar right here in town has jazz on Saturdays. I was shocked to learn that, but since I'm almost always in Indiana with my own band that night, I don't know when I'll be able to go there. I'm looking at possible solo gigs there on another night.

A few months ago, my friend D9 introduced me to Penn & Teller's Bullshit! - a WONDERFUL Showtime show where they debunk just about every stupid thing you can think of, and are funnier than hell about it. I was shitting myself over their show on personal safety, and the one on the War On Drugs is downright inspirational. Once again, I'm behind on this - they're in their fifth season now and I've only seen stuff from the first two on DVD and YouTube, but check 'em out.

I'm reading some of Richard Dawkins' work, which has been very interesting and entertaining. The journey that has bought me to this point - I've gone from a hardcore right-wing fundamentalist Christian to an atheist in less than two decades - has been full of weird turns, but all in all, it's been a good ride. It should get interesting now that I have no qualms about referring to myself as an atheist - it's easy enough for the writers, educators, and scientists I admire to take on that term, but here in the blue-collar Midwest you are very alone with this view, and I've got some VERY strange looks the few times I've been brought into these kind of discussions recently - but I'm willing to buy the ticket and take the ride.

Financially, I am in probably the worst condition I ever have been, and there are very bad nights with fear and the feeling of being about to lose my grip, but they are still less than they once were, and I feel more MYSELF than I ever have. It's good.

Shit, I can't think of anything funny to say...

Love,
Dougie