Here is one for the armchair psychiatrists...

Here is one for the armchair psychiatrists...

Current mood:awake

I rarely, if ever remember my dreams. I rarely have nightmares. This morning I awoke from a nightmare, which had pretty defined details until the end...at the end there was a blurry melange of outcomes and no resolution. Curiously, I was able to retain some details, so for grins, I thought I would post them.

I was doing a gig...of course. It was at the Elementary School I attended as a child. That is enough of a nightmare in itself, LOL! KIDS!!!!!! AHHHHH! Anyway, that did not play into it, so I digress...

There were some people there that for some reason were not happy with me. At no time was I remembering doing DJ or Karaoke or working at all, most of my memory is going to and from the van, loading and generally just being there.

I was aware that the people who didnt like me...2 guys in particular, were in from out of town to visit a relative who was either sick or dying in a hospital or rest home. These two guys were giving me constant shit...one skinny muscular guy and a big doofy brute of a guy. They would basically terrorize me to a point to try to get me to do something, but I would not succumb to the bait and hit them or start something they could blame me for. I kept asking for help and no one responded to me.

They started making sexual suggestions and when I got touched inappropriately, I broke away to try and get some help. I went to go to my van and could not find it. In my dream, I could not clearly remember what vehicle I was driving and it was frustrating me that if I had to call the cops, I would not even be clear on what I was driving.

The assholes saw me in the parking lot and the skinny guy said "That van is all the way to Iowa by now, HAHAHA. Youre never gonna see THAT one again."

So I got out of their view and someone gave me a phone. I knew it was time to call 911.

I dialed 911 and got a water softening company. I hung up and dialed 911 again, and got put on hold with a radio talk show. On the third call I got thru, and began to tell the cop my problem...he just kept telling me to calm down, while he was laughing his ass off. I told him they stole my van and he kept laughing.

This is where the dream went blurry with the different endings. I never remember seeing cops..I do remember fighting, I remember a scenario with me killing everyone with an assault rifle, I remember being killed myself, I even had a scenario where I killed myself because of the frustration, and losing all my equipment.

In the middle of one of these scenarios is when I woke up this morning.

Just a weird dream, LOL!

Checking in with the outside world...

Checking in with the outside world...

Current mood:restless

It has seemingly been forever since I blogged anything. Figured I would make up for it by posting a little sumptin sumptin tonight.

It is Bike Week this week in Daytona and surrounding areas. That gives me a few nights off. I have been using my days to get some errands done and catch up with some friends I have not seen lately, then making myself available at home...but as American Idol is on and I have no interest in that, and Samantha is staying here with the baby for a few days, I am kind of in my office with my Mickeys Malt Liquor, and doing some computer stuff.

Car update...took the car to the mechanic for him to make everything right with the world, then sold the car to a neighbor who needed a good deal on a car. No more headache for me...all vans and cars that need to be sold, are. Now just hoping I dont have to repo a car I am holding a note on for someone...that is something I dont want to have to deal with. While I am off I emptied my van and had it detailed inside and out so it is nice and crisp and clean for me to return to work in. That was todays activity.

Speaking of good CARma, long story short, I was in a small town yesterday and did a rolling stop at a stop sign. Got around the corner and saw the cop...now this cop is sitting in the middle of nowhere, a block off the beaten path, and a block from the busiest intersection in town...simply waiting for everyone to roll thru this stopsign. I had a few hundred feet on him and I turned into a convenience store lot to elude him. There was an identical van to mine parked there, so I parked right next to it...dead identical, right down to the metal bulkhead divider and all... I was out of the cops sight for 10 seconds or more, so he could not say a word because he had no way of knowing which van and driver rolled the sign, LOL! What a sigh of relief to see him just keep going. Went around the block after leaving and he was right back in the same perch again. I was cautious to come to a complete stop though, LOL!

Finished up arrangements this week to go to Virginia in April. Leaving the 27th and coming back the 30th. Meeting some online karaoke friends there to sing, eat, talk shop and generally BS. People are coming from all over the world to meet there...as far away as England, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and all points in the US. Will be a nice break from the usual, and it will be good to see some old friends again, and some for the first time in person!

Also looking forward to my friend Nilsson to arrive from England in late March to early April for a stay. Glad our trips did not coincide.

Been trying to find time for a bonfire but with my schedule I have not been able to make that work. I have a pretty good pile going for the next one though.

All for now I do suppose...more as life develops. Hasta la bye bye.

A Day of Diverse Interests

A Day Of Diverse Interests

Current mood:amused

Just thought I would post a blog about my day yesterday. In retrospect, there was nothing too dramatic happening, but when I get outside of my circle of friends, it may seem interesting due to the diversity of our activities, so here we go...

Firstly, I celebrate my anniversary a week after Valentines day. Since it is usually not convenient to celebrate both as they would fall on weekdays, etc, we usually celebrate both on the Saturday between them...which was yesterday.

Secondly, I have a really diverse cross section of society that I consider friends. Given that, here is how I spent my day.

At the restaurant of the golf community I do shows at, a few weeks ago I had what was arguably one of the best meals I ever had. The chef there is a frustrated gourmet who is reigned in my the menu at times, but for specials can let his creativity shine. This was such an occasion. I loved it sooo much, I asked if he could make it again sometime. I called this favor for last nights dinner. So we enjoyed a fantastic dinner, wine and company. (Beef tips prepared with pepperoncini, pepperoni, cheese, tomatoes served over a marinated portobello on a bed of herb mashed potatoes...and trust me the description cannot match the experience of eating it, LOL!!)

I made the reservations early so we had plenty of time to do something afterward, but we were unsure what we wanted to do and figured we would play it by ear. We were reluctant to go to Daytona because of the race traffic, but went anyway...since I know all the backroads.

Last week I got invited to a party. It was from 12 to ? and there was gonna be bands playing and whatever. I said I might make it but it would be late...thought it was on a day I was working...looked at the invite and saw it was going on now, so we decided to go check it out. Wasnt sure Lori would be into it, but she was very receptive to the idea. The party was at the clubhouse for the local Outlaws Motorcycle club, LOL!

We went by, and realizing the club was walking distance to our friends house, we went to see if they wanted to join us. They are very cool people...the kind of folks you want with you if you are partying. Plus, I knew they would appreciate getting invited into the clubhouse. It is not the kind of place you just walk into uninvited. You have to know people, get buzzed in...closed circuit TVs seeing all. No one gets in who is not supposed to be there. So I got everyone in on my cred, and we proceeded to have a fantastic time...cold beer, great jukebox, personable folks. The party was pretty much done, but we stayed anyway to soak it all in. The sergeant at arms gave us a tour of the place (he knows of me, so he got me in). I will probably go back again too...cool experience.

So later we walked our friends home (another adventure itself, LOL) then made our way back to the homestead.

A diverse day of my own creation. LOL!

Friends

Friends....how many of us have them....?

Current mood:contemplative

There are the people we see, the people we know, and the people we consider friends. There are big differences between acquaintences and friends. A lot of times we refer to acquaintences as friends, but there is a big differential in knowing someone and letting someone in your house, LOL!

Anyway, my thought in all of this rambling is this: Isn't that moment of epiphany when you realize that someone you know is really a friend a wonderful thing?

With all of the changes this year and of late, I have met a bunch of people, and I have made several friends. Of late a few folks have gone out of their way for me, and done some nice things. I have some great friends out there, and today I just felt like sharing. One friend in particular stood out to open my eyes to that epiphany, and it just gave me pause to reflect. So reflect I did. Hope you all do too.

Last night was just bizarre...

Last night was just bizarre...

Current mood:indescribable

What a strange night...and not even a full moon. I called and gave my notice to my Sunday employer to let him know I was taking a new job on Sundays in February. I went on to the place, and you know how everything can seem darker when you are blinded by the light at the end of the tunnel?

Seems many people have been complaining about the Sunday night venue, and last night was one of those epiphanys as to why...seems like all the troublemakers were there last night, and I was just too sober to enjoy dealing with it.

At one point I literally just shut everything off and put my feet up while onstage on my stool and waited for anyone to notice. People were just being so rude and arrogant, and when a fight almost broke out, that was when I shut down. Then, when I fired up, I just played slow peaceful songs to see if anyone would get it. When I would sing, people would just come up and start talking , or try to take my mic...and all types of other disrespect.

I thought maybe I was being sensitive since I had already given my notice, but I checked with a couple of patrons and they assured me that it wasnt me, that everyones assholeishness was in overdrive. I saw a lot of issues that I really did not like seeing, and I was weary of being a babysitter more than a KJ/DJ. Like I told Kevin, I am not an artist but I do require some semblance of appreciation or I would just as soon turn on the juke box and go home. At 1:00 when I shut down, then everybody wanted something from me with no regards for me...so I just packed up that much faster. Once all my stuff was in the van I could breathe easier. While I was singing, MarLa got a great shot of me tearing my flyer off of the wall ceremoniously...and I really enjoyed singing Creep by Radiohead and changing the words...the handful of people who caught the changes were laughing with me..

I really dont want to be there anymore. I am going to call to see if I can be replaced ASAP. I am dealing with too many QUALITY folks a week to subject myself to this.

Thanks to all my friends who were there last night to get me thru it...I was pretty close to freaking out in a calm way, but you all being there made the difference. Just seeing the empathy in your eyes when I looked over in frustration got me thru.

On a positive...here is a repost of a bulletin I just posted:

An exclusive release to MySpace...

For my local friends and followers, I am giving up Smiles on Sunday. My reasons for this are many and varied...as many of you know, but the main reason is that I was offerred a position that I could not say no to...and I think you will approve...

EFFECTIVE SUNDAY FEB 12 (That is the Sunday following the super bowl) you can get your Harryoke fix from 5pm to 9pm at the Shark House on A-1-A...right on Beverly Beach! That is just a few miles N. of Finnegans and a few miles S. of the Parkway...right on the beach!! They have great food and accomodations, the hours are great, and it is non smoking for those of you who get choked out... I am going to be a perfect fit at the Shark House...all of the employees already come to my shows, the new owners are friends of mine and most of the singers there already know and like my show, but dont come to the smoking venues, or like the later shows, so this is going to be a hell of a popular show on Sundays.

I will be making a public announcement probably next week, but I wanted the MySpacers to be the first to know, as you all so dilligently support me, and I love ya for that. The rumor has been out that there was a change happening, and this is the confirmation.

I wish everyone at Smiles the best...I will probably still be there until the 5th, unless I can find a replacement before then...we will see. Plan on my being there to the 5th unless I post otherwise.

Thanks Again!!

Harry

SCHED EFFECTIVE 2.12.06:
Sunday - Shark House 5-9
Monday - Mothers 9
Tues - Finnegans Daytona 9
Wed.- Finnegans Beachside 9
Th - Finnegans Beachside 9
Fri - Halifax Plantation 8

The Defeated continue to be mocked...but I am a FANCY man!

The Defeated continue to be mocked...but I am a FANCY man!

Current mood:bitchy

I disposed of my intentions to work on the car today. It is arguably the nicest day of the year...unbelievably great weather.

I was awakened by Loris daughter calling to say her car would not start and where should she go to ... buy a battery.

Now, #1, I know she did not need a battery, so I had to get thru to her that she did not need a battery, she needed someone with some mechanical aptitude to diagnose this properly before the cash started flowing uselessly...

#2, I was aggravated because she still has not gotten a AAA card for road service, and as is always the case in domestic emergency situations, a lack of planning on someone elses part becomes my responsibility.

#3...I know her car has a history with...a loose side post terminal. SIGH! I HATE THESE FU***** THINGS!!!!

We make the long drive over and I assess that the terminal is loose, but I cant tighten it because it is stripped. (See a theme here?). I figure I will get it tight enough to start the truck then get it to my house where I can fix it properly. After many futile attempts, she informs me that "It started last night when the cop jump started us...." . So now I know the battery is dead, so I will have to jump start it, but it wont jump start it because there is no connection, so everything that does not involve fixing that connection is futile. I cannot fix the connection because the bolt is of a specialty size due to the number of connections to the post (ie longer than the bolt I could get for 50 cents at the corner store) and it is sunday morning....

So after many expletives and the clock ticking, I tell them I am done and to do what a FANCY man like me would have done in the first place...call a tow truck and take it to a mechanic and get it done correctly without me having to get my FANCY hands dirty. Keep in mind, my wick is very short after yesterday, and I am doing all I can not to have a meltdown.

The tow truck is called, meanwhile her male friends are showing up thinking they are going to assess it better than me and thinking it is ridiculous to have to tow the truck for this problem. Not ridiculous to a fancy man like me, LOL! I played that card, telling Lori that I was a fancy man and in a station of my life not to have to get my hands dirty doing more than writing a check to someone else to do this. LOL! That was kind of funny, but not too far from how I really feel.

Tow truck shows up and we drop it at the mechanic...it is now 2pm and I get to start my wonderful sunday...and I have to work tonight.

I told Lori if anything happens to her car or my van in the next day in regard to batteries, I just may have a meltdown...and I really mean it. I am sick of car repairs and electrical system problems, especially those compunded by the poor design of sidepost terminals. The tow truck driver thought he was gonna fix it too, and I told him what the problem was, and he said "I hate those side post terminals". Duh, LOL!

AAAAHHHHHHRRRRGGGHHHH!

I Am Admitting Defeat...Carma Continues...

I Am Admitting Defeat...Carma Continues...

Current mood:drained

There was nothing wrong with Loris car. An opportunity arose to get a good deal on a newer one and we took it. This left us with her car here...figured I would keep it and maybe drive it for awhile.

The battery died. Easy enough. BAH! I have NEVER had so many issues changing a damned battery as I have on this. I literally let the car sit for 2 months until I could find the time to work on it. That time was this morning.

Whoever designed side post terminals should be euthanized and all side post terminals should be removed. The cute little nut holding the terminal on strips out so nicely. And it was stripped...and there was not enough cable to cut the terminal off and start properly...and there was a body brace over the battery that needed to be removed...

Then the bracket holding the battery in was rusted and the nuts popped right off...leaving the rusted stud... This is where I walked away 2 months ago...

So I go out today to drill it out to no avail...got a hacksaw and chopped the terminal off. There is no room to work and I got acid all over me. For such a big car, there is no space for the battery at all...it is shoehorned in there.

My back is now throbbing from being bent over...I install a top terminal post to free myself from sidepost hell.

Go to the store and buy a battery, and they do not have a top post that will fit that car, so I have to buy new side post terminals and re-do my recent handiwork.

After fumbling around trying to get the cables on for about a half hour, squeezing the battery in and rigging a book underneath the battery to keep the rusted stud from damaging the new battery, I think I am getting close to done.

I start the car, it starts right up and I am pleased...until it stalls. Then I go back in to start it and I dont even know what the sound I heard is. This happened several times...and the car would not start. I am pretty sure the starter is fried. Of course now it just clicks.

I am in pain...greasy, dirty and have acid on me...and I am lighter in the wallet for the battery, and wasted a perfectly good morning...on a car I dont even drive or have registered...and I cant even sell it if it does not run or start.

Now is the time to see me if you need a car...it can be gotten cheaply. I am defeated for now.