Sea Change

In the coming weeks I hope to make a few updates to the site to reflect the new directions that I am going in. While I am currently still working all of the jobs I have been for years now, things will be changing slowly as I regain my creative powers again...I have put them aside for too long and less creative people have tried to run the show-- that will not be the case soon. I have missed recording projects, playing for emotional interest, and letting my ideas set my path in life. At one time it all made sense to be a limitless fount of creativity; seeking money put a damper to this and I have been kicking myself ever since. Has the money issue changed? No it has not-- but my ethics finally ruled out!

No one should have a father that conceals his inner creativity. Christian deserves better and the world deserves better. Do what your heart tells you in spite of the limitations of your situation.

Here are a few things that will appear around here soon:

Humanity + Maine: I have been authorized to start a Humanity + chapter here in this state. Transhumanism is a good name for the philosophy I have held for humankind my entire life-- may science and technology fix our flaws and end suffering and create peace. We have incredible minds and we need to know what we are capable of doing. If I can motivate a future scientist, peacemaker, artist, creator...then my job is fulfilled.

Skills and Resumes: This website has been geared towards my life in music but I have always shortchanged myself. I am a leader of groups and ideas. Could I not function equally in a business venture as I do in a classroom? My life has been a series of interests pursued like businesses.

Recording Projects: A week ago I began a collaborative folder with my students called: The Collective. This folder contains old, partially finished recording projects that I have uploaded for their input. I hope to help creative minds find a voice by collaborating on projects that are partially done to facilitate a direction. I will post results and of course they will. A second folder has started for cover songs and I hope this also takes off. The future of music is online where everyone is a potential band member.

I will also be recording myself again:
1. Improvisations that have been on my mind
2. UnCharted demos
3. Acoustic projects
4. Folk covers
5. A new Ghost Story album

I will keep you all posted!

Take care and thank you!

What has been happening?

I promised in a tweet to blog about recent events-- here it is... sorry about being late!

First, Uncharted had a gig last weekend at the Ramada Inn opening up for the Jimmy Van Zant Band. For those that don't know his famous last name, he was the cousin of the brothers that made up Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special-- true 70's southern rock. Our band was not the ideal opener, so we enlisted the lead singer from Jeroba Jump to add a few 80's hits to our set.

The Ramada hired our old production manager to run sound. You may remember that our band once was named MaineStream and that he created it in order to market a club band in this state. They couldn't keep a male lead singer and after the last Balloon Fest they moved to Florida and dropped us. There was bad blood in the room since we knew he hated us for remaining a band, and he knew we were not happy to have been pushed aside after all the work and time we wasted on his dream. The night was already starting off great!

Tickets were $40 and from what we saw, very few were sold compared to what the hall could fit for people. We played our set and I packed up instantly to make it home to study (I'm a good boy). The others stayed to watch the band we opened for and collect the money we were promised (a contract was supposedly signed). In the morning I received a text that Glenn, our bass player and singer, was in the hospital from having an A-fib (heart issue) and he had to be shocked backed to regularity. On top of that, the owner of the Ramada didn't make what he expected and we were being stiffed on money. The production manager got paid handsomely and the JVZ Band made a portion of what they expected. From what I heard arguments ensued and the morale in the band went down-- I found this out on Facebook. I have not seen anyone in two weeks but no one wants to meet until another gig is lined up to make up for unpaid work. That is life!

More critical to my life was a health scare I went through that weekend into last week. Two months ago I found a bump where the sun doesn't shine. When I happen to scratch that area recently I noticed that the bump had grown. Having the internet in this situation is a blessing and a curse-- I found that my age fit neatly into the age range for cancer of "that region". I made an appointment at a urology office and was examined by a female doctor and her female student (taking turns). They found the lump and an ultrasound was ordered the following day. All the while I was not getting the most sleep and the anxiety was making my stomach overly-acidic. The next day I went in for an ultrasound and the tech took pictures of "that area" and sent them off to a radiologist. I watched and noticed that the mass was solid black-- a sign of a liquid interior (not cancer). The tech mentioned that I should not loose sleep over anything. Within one hour I was called by the doctor and verified that it was only a cyst and that no follow-up was needed. A giant weight lifted off of my shoulders.... Thank you God!

Now things are different....and I will make them so. My job situation, my career path, my family life and the hobbies that I have ignored for so long all must improve. I am not going to wait for any of this to happen-- life is too unpredictable. I want to help people on  larger scale and I am not doing that currently.

If you notice change happening around here please know that it is for the greater good.

Thank you!