Monday, December 29, 2008

The Plan. . .

When I was 17, I lived in my parent's basement at our cottage/house on Lake of Bays.  The basement housed my drums (sometimes 2 sets. . .), keyboards, guitars, recording gear, etc. . .  I made a lot of music down there -- my sister was away at school and my parent's slept 2 floors and a good 50 feet away, so I could play late at night when the creative whatevers seem to do there whatever to the whatever and stuff can make sense that shouldn't.

And as I was learning my way around the guitar and bass and doing my best to sing, I knew that someday I would want to have my own band.

Now, I have two sets of twin cousins (that Peja and my sister's future baby Peanut are singles is a lucky lucky mystery), the younger set being born about 10 years after me.  Kevin and Tom would spend their summers at the cottage, next door to our house, and we'd hang out and do cottage stuff together.  My Uncles and Aunts were always awesome about playing with me, and I tried to pass this on, and Kevin and Tom are so wicked awesome with Peja, so it's a cycle thing.

Now, one day, they were in the basement, and I let them play my drums.  For a minute.  Which is pretty cool for a 7-8 year old kid who's never had the chance.  And I told them that Kevin should learn the drums, and Tom should learn the bass.

This was 12 years ago.

I have since lived in 6 different houses in 5 cities and towns.  And I have been lucky enough to have 3 drummers and 2 bass players in my band.  But, if all goes to plan, the Feb 7th show will have my cousin Kevin on the drums.  Which is a pretty cool thing to me.  It's not the full dream, not without Tom rockin' the bass, but it's a step closer.  So, if you make it out to the show, and see me cursing out my drummer, don't worry, that's just how my family shows their love.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

show? SHOW!

The Queen's contingent of Free The Children is having a benefit show on feb. 7th, and they have been kind enough to ask us to perform.

So, details in a simple format:

Jay and the Barn Flyz
w/ The Matthews Brothers
February 7th
The Grad Club
Kingston
time/price TBA

So, there you go.  Apparently this isn't just a blog about my basketball team and 4 year old drummers.  Who knew?

Friday, December 26, 2008

Friday, December 19, 2008

Basketball Trophy

The new closet/cupboard/wardrobe/storage-solution thing is up in the bedroom -- the job isn't done, since the third part of it, which was meant to fit under the tilted part of the ceiling. . .  blah blah blah. . .  But, anyway, Sienna and I put it together, and didn't murder each-other.  I'm proud.

Peja is coming along on the drums.  Her pink-eye is looking better, and she'll actually let me put in the eye-drops without holding her down and prying open her eye-lids.

So, I headed down to the Queen's Inn and picked up the basketball trophy, and as I'm doing this, I kind of realize it's my first ever trophy.  I mean, somewhere there's probably a participation thing from age 6 soccer in a landfill somewhere with my team's name on it, but as far as a trophy I had a hand in earning, I've earned my first at 29. . .  Now, the league is co-ed, so, of course, the trophy has a girl basketball player on it. . .   Although, given my slender build and long hair, I'm just two sanded-away breasts from a personalize trophy. . .

My dream of coaching basketball at Peja's school is coming closer and closer.  I am wicked happy.  News as it happens on that.

Enjoy the snow,

Jay.



Monday, December 15, 2008

Renovations. . .

We spent the weekend tearing out the closets in our bedroom.  They were old (1890, like the rest of the house) and the plaster was crumbling all over our stuff.  Not an issue to me, since a fine dusting adds an air of dignity to a man, but Sienna objected.  The closets (well, one closet and two cupboards) took up one whole wall of the bedroom, so right now our room is about 2 feet longer, and will soon be filled with an evil ikea thing that will organize our lives and refresh our marriage.

Man, 120 years ago, they build stuff to last.  We we get the bill from the dump, I'll let you know, but I'm guessing there was a good 300-400 lbs of material in that simple 7'6" x 8' wall.  The studs were rough-cut 2"4" that were a good 1/2" generous on all sides.  I guess there were a lot of trees around back then.

I'm not very handy, but sometimes it's nice to pretend to know what I'm doing with a cut-saw and a sledge hammer.

We're still sleeping in the dining room.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Thursday, December 11, 2008

KSSC Champs. . .

It may be just a rec league, and I am without a doubt the least skilled player on my team, but tonight we played a great game and won the KSSC basketball league championship 34-25, and I am a very proud captain.

Nice job, Blue Crush.  11-1 on the season, 2-0 in the playoffs.  I am a much better basketball player for having played with Paul, Sarah, Sara, Pete, Tyler, Bryn, and Dennis; it has been a very important step towards my goal of coaching basketball.

Jay.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Don't mess with Santa. . .

Peja asked Santa for snow.

It snowed that night.

And it's snowing again right now.

And she is smiling about it all.

Hmmmm. . .

Jay.

Monday, December 08, 2008

Santa




It's a bit of a contentious issue with my family, but Peja knows the truth about Santa and Jesus and the Easter Bunny and masturbation and sex and all the rest.  Now, I know that's a pretty crazy list there of things.  And, for the record, she didn't really give a good goddamn when I told her about sex.  I went the scientific route, of course, and she didn't give a crap.  Not one bit of interest.  It was like I was telling her how to change the spark-plugs on the car.  And the longer I live with her, the more I wonder if it matters about Santa either.

Sienna's parents took Peja to the mall today to see Santa.  There are 8 different things in that sentence that make me shudder.  But she was excited all morning before she went, and I got the picture back, and she seems pretty happy to be hanging with Santa (real beard!), despite the information that he is likely an underemployed average joe looking to make a few bucks around christmastime.  I explained to her that he would ask what she wanted, and that she should have an answer prepared.  I suggested a few things, but (at least when she left) she was going to ask him for snow for christmas.  I worked this afternoon and evening, and she was asleep when I got home, so I'll have to ask her tomorrow how it went.

The kid and I have had dueling endless colds for the past month, which has made singing and recording a bit rough.  But I am hopeful it can start again soon.

I'm a colour ink-cartridge away from sending out Songs for my Seaweed Girl to college and community radio stations across the country.  I let you know when it's out there, and if you like, you could email requests to the stations in your area.  If you want.  No pressure.

Still working on movie-software issues. . .

Stay warm,

Jay. 


Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Shhhhhhhh!!!!

Peja is at school and Sienna is sleeping off a night shift -- I'm typing as quietly as I can.

I'm putting together songs for the Dorian winter recital, digging out old rock tunes that my students can handle.  My first chance to perform rock tunes came at a recital -- I played drums for Queen's "Show Must Go On", as well as this strange rock version of Beethoven's 9th that some dude from Deep Purple or something put together. . .   I worry that I torture my students with out of date rock in much the same way I was, but then, I really had a great time playing those old lame tunes. . .   My students have a much wider exposure to music, what with this whole "internet" thing, and they have stronger opinions that I ever had about what is cool or not.  Most of the contemporary stuff I know is through them and the songs they want to learn.  One interesting note is that 3 of them have wanted to learn Nirvana's "In Bloom" -- which is a pretty cool bit of drumming from back when I was their age. . .

Enjoy the day,

Jay.