This morning I received my iBook from Apple Care. Quick turn around with the holiday weekend and all. It stopped working the night before I left for South America so I wasn't able to send it in till I got back home. Everyone was very friendly and helpful at Apple Care and I'm very happy to have it back. It was like living in the dark ages traveling with out it. I don't know how I survived, but I found a way! Anyway, Now I can start to upload pictures from the trip.
This afternoon I spent some time downloading and setting up new widgets on my computer. I got a bit carried away but it was fun. Now when I put the widget window up on the screen, it looks like a total command center with local and world weather, Doppler radar, world clocks and the position of the space station. Of course, knowing the position of the space station is important don't you think? I feel important when looking at these widgets, also informed! It's a win win situation.
Tonight I can hear the rain coming down outside, a pleasant sound. Just finished watching the making of the Amadeus movie, been wanting to watch that for a while now. well, the clock just struck 12 midnight and I believe I will retire for the evening. From looking at my widgets, I can tell you it's 7AM in London, the space station is over Australia and there is more rain on it's way here in New Mexico. Now for the 10 day forecast....
Hm, maybe I should re-title this blog -
NEWS+JOURNAL+WEATHER+SPACE STATION INFO ???
Nov 30, 2007
Nov 28, 2007
Pins
Years back I found a great map store in Burbank, I wish I could remember the name of it. Anyway, when I was in there, I came across a map made for pushing pins in it to show the location of where you travel. Since I'm always on the go, I thought it would be fun to look back and see everywhere I've been. After this last trip, I put the last few pins I had left on the map. I'll have to put an order in for another box of 100 pins.
Of course, there are those times where I'll come back from a tour and can't put any pins on the map because I've gone back to the same places. Well, I guess it all depins on where you go. Ha!
Of course, there are those times where I'll come back from a tour and can't put any pins on the map because I've gone back to the same places. Well, I guess it all depins on where you go. Ha!
Nov 26, 2007
Winter Rose
Tis the season to be jolly. I guess it's getting close to that time of year and if you're not sure what music to buy for that special someone, I recommend Winter Rose by Ottmar Liebert. A wonderful musical journey through holiday songs and classical pieces to some of Ottmar's very own music. It's not the full attack of Christmas songs and I think that is what makes this CD so special and memorable. There is a certain magic to this album that I can't quite put my finger on, a bit haunting in a way on some pieces. I'm sure those of you who have this album know what I mean.
HERE and HERE are links to the album.
Liebert breathes new life into holiday favorites with sensitive, even haunting, arrangements of O Little Town of Bethlehem and O Holy Night. The CD also includes fresh interpretations of classical music, including Fauré's Pavane and Les Roses D'Isphahan and Tchaikovsky's Le Café from The Nutcracker. But perhaps the greatest delight are the six new songs written by Liebert especially for "Winter Rose," including Westcoast, The Longest Night, Kora/River of Stars, and A Sweet Persimmon. Each captures the essence of the season. The result is an album that is both familiar and inventive, heartwarming and evocative.
HERE and HERE are links to the album.
Liebert breathes new life into holiday favorites with sensitive, even haunting, arrangements of O Little Town of Bethlehem and O Holy Night. The CD also includes fresh interpretations of classical music, including Fauré's Pavane and Les Roses D'Isphahan and Tchaikovsky's Le Café from The Nutcracker. But perhaps the greatest delight are the six new songs written by Liebert especially for "Winter Rose," including Westcoast, The Longest Night, Kora/River of Stars, and A Sweet Persimmon. Each captures the essence of the season. The result is an album that is both familiar and inventive, heartwarming and evocative.
Nov 23, 2007
Random Thoughts by Stevo
1 -I haven't had a diet coke in a year and 2 months now.
2 -After I got home from South America, I've been sick. I was thinking about the time I saw something about animals in hospitals and how an animal can comfort you and help you heal. So I thought, since I'm not feeling good, I'll call Cosmo Kitty over to cuddle and comfort me so I can heal. I called her and she came trotting over. As I picked her up I said "Cosmo, my favorite kitty cat!" trying to gain some points. Apparently she sensed that I was sick and completely attacked me. Starting hissing, clawing and ran off. I thought right then and there, Cosmo might not be a good animal for healing people in hospitals.
3- As most of you know, traveling while being sick is no fun. Well, I had to travel on Wed. for the holiday weekend here and was worried about flying since my head has been so stuffy. I took some medicine and hoped it would help. I thought, maybe we won't fly so high. Well, when I was sitting there they announced that they were going to be up at 41,000 ft. AH! Who flys that high!! I don't remember the last time I've been up that high. So when it came time to come back down, this pilot must have been late for an appointment or something because I've never come down so fast! It was out of control, as if they knew that my head was supper stuffy, I was grabbing my head as I thought it was going to pop off from the pressure in my ears and then we started going down even faster. At that point I imagined that the two pilots were slapping high fives in excitement that they were descending so quickly. YEE HA! We finally landed and as soon as the wheels touched the pavement, they slammed on the breaks like super hard and made a quick right turn and it felt like they gave it full power to taxi. I've never been pushed back in my seat to taxi before, we were taxing faster then we did to take off it seemed, then raced up to the gate and quickly stopped. The capt. then made the announcement, "Folks we're 5 min. early WOO HOO!" I added the "woo hoo" part,he didn't say that but really, is there any point to be hotdoggin the plane like that? Maybe he misses landing on an aircraft carrier? However, it seems to be kinda of typical of the airline I was on.
4- Speaking of planes, while traveling on airplanes over the years I've noticed that there are "aisle seat people" and there are "window seat people". Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever met a "middle seat person", actually not sure if I would want to. For me, I've been a "window seat person" for as long as I can remember. I take my window seats very seriously.
Yes, the aisle seat can be nice especially if you like the convenience of getting up to get something in an over head bin or use the restroom. Oh wait! Should I say lavatory as they call it on the airplane? I do believe it serves the same purpose though. However, I can't tell you how many times my seat has been bumped by people walking past or with the food and drink carts. Especially when you try to sleep. It almost seems like everyone on the plane knows that your asleep and decides to get up and walk past and bump into your seat over and over again. I usually can't fall asleep in an aisle seat anyway, there is really no place to lean your head on. If you do fall asleep your head usually hangs there which isn't to comfy and you wake up with a super stiff neck. Or the only other option is to lean your head back, but what usually happens when people do that is, they'll fall asleep and then their mouth will hang wide open and will be snoring louder then the jets. I guess I may be a bit self conscious and don't want to be seen like that. So I'll try and look out the window from the aisle seat but the way my luck runs, the person sitting next to the window will pull their shade down. I can't tell you how many times that has happened and really, I try not to make it obvious that I'm looking in that direction. I'll sneak a look here and there. I think it's just not meant for me to have anything to do with the window.
As for the window seat, as it can be much harder to get out to the aisle, I like it so much better. I like to see what's going on outside the plane, take an occasional picture and listen to music while looking out at the clouds and landscapes. I also like to be left alone to have this time to my self and enjoy what's going on out side. The one thing you do have to worry about if you are like me is that random person that sits down next to you and wants to chat for hours. Hey, nothing wrong with a good conversation "Hey how are ya there, good to see ya" now back to enjoying my window seat. However, the enjoyment can go down hill real fast when that person keeps talking straight through the taxi down to the runway and through the take off! We're rolling down the runway fast as can be and I'm hearing "So, what do you do!!" all caffeinated up from the 3 cups of Starbucks coffee in the terminal, I'm thinking, I just want to look out the window right now.... please... Oh and you can bet the same thing will happen for landing. I don't want to be rude so I'll listen. I know you window seat people know what I'm talking about.... hm.. after re-reading this, I guess I do take my window seat seriously? Maybe I should say, a bit too seriously, oh well, everyone has their little quirks.
2 -After I got home from South America, I've been sick. I was thinking about the time I saw something about animals in hospitals and how an animal can comfort you and help you heal. So I thought, since I'm not feeling good, I'll call Cosmo Kitty over to cuddle and comfort me so I can heal. I called her and she came trotting over. As I picked her up I said "Cosmo, my favorite kitty cat!" trying to gain some points. Apparently she sensed that I was sick and completely attacked me. Starting hissing, clawing and ran off. I thought right then and there, Cosmo might not be a good animal for healing people in hospitals.
3- As most of you know, traveling while being sick is no fun. Well, I had to travel on Wed. for the holiday weekend here and was worried about flying since my head has been so stuffy. I took some medicine and hoped it would help. I thought, maybe we won't fly so high. Well, when I was sitting there they announced that they were going to be up at 41,000 ft. AH! Who flys that high!! I don't remember the last time I've been up that high. So when it came time to come back down, this pilot must have been late for an appointment or something because I've never come down so fast! It was out of control, as if they knew that my head was supper stuffy, I was grabbing my head as I thought it was going to pop off from the pressure in my ears and then we started going down even faster. At that point I imagined that the two pilots were slapping high fives in excitement that they were descending so quickly. YEE HA! We finally landed and as soon as the wheels touched the pavement, they slammed on the breaks like super hard and made a quick right turn and it felt like they gave it full power to taxi. I've never been pushed back in my seat to taxi before, we were taxing faster then we did to take off it seemed, then raced up to the gate and quickly stopped. The capt. then made the announcement, "Folks we're 5 min. early WOO HOO!" I added the "woo hoo" part,he didn't say that but really, is there any point to be hotdoggin the plane like that? Maybe he misses landing on an aircraft carrier? However, it seems to be kinda of typical of the airline I was on.
4- Speaking of planes, while traveling on airplanes over the years I've noticed that there are "aisle seat people" and there are "window seat people". Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever met a "middle seat person", actually not sure if I would want to. For me, I've been a "window seat person" for as long as I can remember. I take my window seats very seriously.
Yes, the aisle seat can be nice especially if you like the convenience of getting up to get something in an over head bin or use the restroom. Oh wait! Should I say lavatory as they call it on the airplane? I do believe it serves the same purpose though. However, I can't tell you how many times my seat has been bumped by people walking past or with the food and drink carts. Especially when you try to sleep. It almost seems like everyone on the plane knows that your asleep and decides to get up and walk past and bump into your seat over and over again. I usually can't fall asleep in an aisle seat anyway, there is really no place to lean your head on. If you do fall asleep your head usually hangs there which isn't to comfy and you wake up with a super stiff neck. Or the only other option is to lean your head back, but what usually happens when people do that is, they'll fall asleep and then their mouth will hang wide open and will be snoring louder then the jets. I guess I may be a bit self conscious and don't want to be seen like that. So I'll try and look out the window from the aisle seat but the way my luck runs, the person sitting next to the window will pull their shade down. I can't tell you how many times that has happened and really, I try not to make it obvious that I'm looking in that direction. I'll sneak a look here and there. I think it's just not meant for me to have anything to do with the window.
As for the window seat, as it can be much harder to get out to the aisle, I like it so much better. I like to see what's going on outside the plane, take an occasional picture and listen to music while looking out at the clouds and landscapes. I also like to be left alone to have this time to my self and enjoy what's going on out side. The one thing you do have to worry about if you are like me is that random person that sits down next to you and wants to chat for hours. Hey, nothing wrong with a good conversation "Hey how are ya there, good to see ya" now back to enjoying my window seat. However, the enjoyment can go down hill real fast when that person keeps talking straight through the taxi down to the runway and through the take off! We're rolling down the runway fast as can be and I'm hearing "So, what do you do!!" all caffeinated up from the 3 cups of Starbucks coffee in the terminal, I'm thinking, I just want to look out the window right now.... please... Oh and you can bet the same thing will happen for landing. I don't want to be rude so I'll listen. I know you window seat people know what I'm talking about.... hm.. after re-reading this, I guess I do take my window seat seriously? Maybe I should say, a bit too seriously, oh well, everyone has their little quirks.
Nov 18, 2007
Home
Always good to get home. Long travel day yesterday to get home from Bogota, Colombia. Great show on Fri. night. Toto played wonderfully despite some power issues I had with the lights but things seemed to work out. The audience was amazing, had to be sold out. Lots of fans came up to Kevin (the sound engineer) and me after the show and shook our hands, gave hugs and took pictures. Some nice compliments on my light show too. Asked us how we liked Colombia and said to please come back. Moments like that make traveling very special. After the show I didn't get back to the hotel till 1:30AM. My wake up call was at 5 AM to catch the ride to the airport at 5:30. Not much sleep to be had as the flight left Bogota at 8am for Miami. Flew over Jamaica and Cuba on the way. Looked like some beautiful beaches on some small islands off of the coast of Cuba. Had to connect to Dallas to Abq then drive up to Santa Fe. Good to finally pull in the drive way.
Over all the trip was wonderful, a very busy travel schedule but always great to see new countries, meet new people and spend time with my friends in the band. The only thing that wasn't so great happened at the beginning of the tour. When I first arrived in my hotel room in Montevideo, Uruguay, I opened up my suit case and noticed that Cosmo Kitty left some going away presents for me. So I had to get a bunch of my clothes washed right away. Before I left on the trip, she wasn't too happy when I pulled out the suit case. She looked at the suit case and then looked up at me. She then jumped in it like usual and swatted at me as I tried to put clothes in there. This is the first time anything like this has happened so I'll have to make extra sure I pack in a cat free room next time. I've had a talk with her about what happened since I've been back.
Took pictures from the trip, Ill probably up load them in the next week or so on flickr.
S-
Over all the trip was wonderful, a very busy travel schedule but always great to see new countries, meet new people and spend time with my friends in the band. The only thing that wasn't so great happened at the beginning of the tour. When I first arrived in my hotel room in Montevideo, Uruguay, I opened up my suit case and noticed that Cosmo Kitty left some going away presents for me. So I had to get a bunch of my clothes washed right away. Before I left on the trip, she wasn't too happy when I pulled out the suit case. She looked at the suit case and then looked up at me. She then jumped in it like usual and swatted at me as I tried to put clothes in there. This is the first time anything like this has happened so I'll have to make extra sure I pack in a cat free room next time. I've had a talk with her about what happened since I've been back.
Took pictures from the trip, Ill probably up load them in the next week or so on flickr.
S-
Nov 13, 2007
Greetings from Sao Paulo
Hola! I´d also like to welcome the new readers to this blog and say thanks for all the new comments! I just found out that this was blog of the week a while back and it´s great to hear. More posts to come soon. It´s been a bit difficult to write with all the traveling lately.
Had some of the best coffee on the planet today. Been having a great time in South America on the Toto tour. Got to meet Mario Parmisano in Buenos Aires, Argentina who is an amazing pianist and a really great guy. Also when I was at a club in Santiago, Chile, Luke introduced me to Steve Vai and his band. First time meeting Steve and he is really nice, the band guys were great as well. Steve asked me to say hi to Ottmar. We all had a great hang and a local band played a 45 min. set of nothing but Toto songs, it was a trip. The place was packed and we were being bombarded with tons of photos, crazy night.
We´ve been crossing pathes with Bjork through out the whole tour. In Buenos Aires, I walked across the street to check out her light rig and it looked really cool. Lots of lazer lights with mirrors all over the truss. Wish I could have seen the show. In Santiago, I didn´t realize I was standing next to her in the lobby till someone told me. We´ll cross pathes again in Lima. Speaking of Lima, flying to Peru later today so I must get going so I can get all packed up. 5 hour flight.
And yes, I must listen to Ottmar´s song ´´Sao Paulo´´ while I´m here. (also one of my favorite songs to play in the live set.)
Till next time -
Had some of the best coffee on the planet today. Been having a great time in South America on the Toto tour. Got to meet Mario Parmisano in Buenos Aires, Argentina who is an amazing pianist and a really great guy. Also when I was at a club in Santiago, Chile, Luke introduced me to Steve Vai and his band. First time meeting Steve and he is really nice, the band guys were great as well. Steve asked me to say hi to Ottmar. We all had a great hang and a local band played a 45 min. set of nothing but Toto songs, it was a trip. The place was packed and we were being bombarded with tons of photos, crazy night.
We´ve been crossing pathes with Bjork through out the whole tour. In Buenos Aires, I walked across the street to check out her light rig and it looked really cool. Lots of lazer lights with mirrors all over the truss. Wish I could have seen the show. In Santiago, I didn´t realize I was standing next to her in the lobby till someone told me. We´ll cross pathes again in Lima. Speaking of Lima, flying to Peru later today so I must get going so I can get all packed up. 5 hour flight.
And yes, I must listen to Ottmar´s song ´´Sao Paulo´´ while I´m here. (also one of my favorite songs to play in the live set.)
Till next time -
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)