Wondering where we’re going to go from here.

I returned from Nashville last night about midnight. Quite a trip that was. We setup a mobile cinema in the van last night so the trip didn’t seem nearly as long. Just as you have seen children glued to a movie while the parents roll down the interstate, we were glued to Shakespeare in Love. Only English teachers would want to watch that. It was neat though because there were some neked scenes and people driving by were checking them out. Are ya, are ya, are ya neked?

Nashville turned out to be a successful trip in many ways. Here are a few highlights.

The presentation I gave, along with Roger Caswell and Alan Sitomer, was extremely popular. Our room that was supposed to hold 190 had nearly 300 in it. People filled every seat, lined the isle and even sat and stood behind us. We discussed how teachers can pair contemporary songs with classroom literature. I think people really came for the handout, a list of 500 song –literature connections.

I mentioned the good food before. More of that every day. I hope my jeans fit. I am afraid to try.

Another highlight was meeting and interviewing Robert Lipsyte. This guy is a legend in the field of sportswriting and of young adult fiction writing. Not to mention he is just a damn cool guy to sit and talk to. His latest book called Raiders Night is one that every current or former high school athlete or coach should read. Any high school student would benefit from reading it as would any parent related to those situations. It takes a hard look at the dark sides of jock culture, a look that is long overdue.

Oh yeah, and I got a second job interview from one of the places with whom I talked with in Nashville. Is there bluegrass in my future?

I am thinking this might be one of the best Busters’s's’s's ever. Hope to see you there this Saturday.

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I got my big break today in Nashville. I played three songs with the house band at John A’s.
Folsom Prison Blues
Some song I have never heard. Classic country in C we will call it.
The final one takes the cake though. Tequilla Makes Her Clothes Fall Off.

Yep. They are supposed to be waiting at my door tomorrow morning with a limo.

This is pretty much the highlight of my musical career, right next to my fourth grade recorder concert. The best part had to be Sharon. She was the house bassist. You pronounce her name Char own. Like Sharon Jean from Roy D. Mercer. She had a badass bass. A 71 Fender P with flatwound strings. She had a badass hair do too. It looked like Billy Ray on top and Willie Nelson on the back. Kind of a Willie Ray Mullet look. Very attractive. She had eight chins too and strangely but unmistakably resembed a tortoise, a really old tortoise. There was nothing wrong with her playing and singing though. She made me want to take lessons.

Today seemed to be a better day. The interview was pretty cool. It was on a rotating bar in the Opryland. Now that would make a heckuva story to tell the grandkids.

Tonight was topped off by the best dining experience of my life. Seriously, it was that good. We all went out to eat at a place called the Stockyard, ironically an old office buidling for the stock yards in Nashville. This was "one of the ten best steakhouses in America" according to the brochure. It is. Phenomenal food highlighted by a 22 ounce prime rib that was bigger than my head. I ate it all but the what made this experience was Claude. He was one of the funniest people I have ever heard about or met in my life. Late 40′s African American and had everybody laughing the entire time. To the point that one lady said "she had never laughed that hard in her entire life." Heck, she is probably 55 so that is saying something.

After signing the recording contract tomorrow, there might not be too many more chances to type blogs on here. I will keep you posted.
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Saw the Rockette’s last night at the Opry. Quite a show. It was a Christmas show.

Aaron is threatening an ATB Christmas show but nothing on the calendar.

I hope he isn’t planning on wearing Rockette outfits or kicking his legs that high.

If you are like me and don’t know for sure just who the heck the Rockettes are, imagine this. A college dance team dressed in Christmas outfits. Santa may never be the same in my dreams.

It was an enjoyable experience to say the least. A textbook company from Indiana took us out. They were disappointed when they found out I was currently out of the classroom. Dad would be proud of me horning in on someone else’s dinner and show. It is all about acting like you know what you are doing and dressing like you belong there.

Am off to my first interview in about seven years ago. I will spit out my gum mom. My heart is racing a bit.

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15 hours worth.

Nine people in a 15 passenger van.

One pregnant woman not aware of her newfound motion sickness.

Friends that flew to the same place calling and texting to "see how the trip was going."

The motor compartment shrieking. Could be a bearing. Going to drive it till it dies. And we got the good van…it does have a "system" in it complete with CD player, subs, etc. Pimpin.

Today in Nashville started off worse than the trip yesterday. We were greeted with extremely unfriendly people at our first conference. They treated us like we were nine years old and wouldn’t let us into the meeting because we were five minutes late. They were the left brain English people. The kind that entered this profession to diagram sentences, bust cheaters, and maintain their desks in precise rows throughout the year.

So that was a bust. We then went to the mall and ate at Tony Roma’s. Damn good ribs. I am the designated van driver for the trip so no fun for me. So far, Nashville has made me think about beer rather than music.

The mall. What can we say about a mall. I felt strangely trapped in an age warp of kids that thought I was too old and elderly people who thought I was too young. Not sure what that means. They did have a Gibson guitar store which was neat. Not because I care about Gibson guitars but because they actually have a shop, right there in the mall, where they make all of the mandolins & banjo’s for the company. So, a person can browse the guitars while peering through the window at people making instruments. Very neat.

Well, I got invited to go to the Grand Ol Opry tonight as part of a publisher’s event. Should be a good time. This is the most incredible hotel room ever. A 42 inch flat screen is just the tip of the iceberg.

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Nine people in a 15 passenger van.

One ex-girlfriend.

600 Miles to Nashville.

Priceless?

Maybe if you were watching from TV on an amazing race type of an event this would be cool. I get to live it tomorrow. Bound for something.

The contigency of writers from the Flint Hills will be hitting the road to Nashville. How ironic really that 5000 English teachers, many of which are good writers are convening in Nashville, a city with an apparent writer’s block.

Well, it is nearly ten the night before our 8 AM departure and I am not packed yet. Been putting off the final touches as much as possible. There is no fine in art and no final in touches. I am bound to forget something.

Well, I try to do this sparingly, but I honestly cannot listen to the new Bob Dylan enough in a day to be happy. This is incredible. Dylan’s songwriting prowess coupled with some damn fine melodies makes this irresistable. His writing is like he was holding the pen so hard that all that was left on the page was blood and memories. The year’s best album by far. This coming from someone that respects Dylan but doesn’t listen to him in his free time. Modern Times. I listen now. Buy it.

"Sleep is like a temporary death" "gonna have to straighten out your tongue/ it’s all true everything you heard" "sing a little bit of these workingman’s blues"

I finally got around to checking out the ATT Blue Room. Wow, they have some great stuff on there. CMT’s 330 sessions are as good as any live recording out there. Finally, they are playing artists on CMT that aren’t trite.

But I did see Ragweed on there today at 3PM. There live show at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa was very, well, uh Ragweed. It was great if that is what you like. Plato is an incredible bassist and Canada holds his own on vocals and lead but the other two are not professional level musicians. There, I said it. I guess we won’t be opening for Ragweed.

Aaron’s heart is broken for sure.

Well, till I find the next wireless connection, this is it. If anything happens, finish my songs.

g

was an awesome show on Friday. Thanks for coming if you came. Sorry you missed it if you didn’t. Thanks to Bobby T’s for being such a loyal and supportive venue. Greg and the crew always makes us find our inner rock star.

Hats off to the Jaeger girls as well. That was a first. Aaron managed to work the word Jaeger into about half our songs. "200 bottles of Jaeger away…in a hyperactive drunken state…"

Whoops, dinner is burning. Better go. Check back later this week for pre Nashville journey blogging.

Till then,
g

Vote as many times as you can today. Chances are they will all count if you vote republican.

Things seem to be rolling right along here this semester. I had my first job interview last Thursday. I think they tried to call yesterday and tell me to get lost but who knows? Nothing is quite as awkward as five professors on speaker phone. I think I am much better in person than on the phone but the first one is over. I have an informal interview in Nashville next week. Hopefully it won’t be in a pop country bar.

On a band note, we practiced a little Friday night and then the boys went down and tore up Olpe on Saturday. The Aaron Traffas Tribute night at Heart Attack Jack’s was interesting as always. It did give me a chance to work through a few more of Dusty’s songs and it was good to see a few familiar faces out.

We are excited about the full band show this Friday at Bobby T’s. We have been missing Mason and it will be good to get him back in the ATB saddle. See you there and then.
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