40. Today I
turned 40 years old. I have not
written on this blog in quite some time but I felt like today was a
chance to write a few thoughts I have on this occasion. GQ Magazine often has a page where they
ask some hot shot celebrity to write what they have learned. I am neither a hot shot nor a
celebrity. But I am going to do
this anyway.
1.
On June 18th every year, my Mother tells people "this time in
1973 I was in labor". She laughs
and complains at the same time. My
father nods his head. This
all used to annoy me. The older I
get the happier I am to witness this predictable event.
2.
“It is better to be lucky than good” is a phrase
that is only half right. The
important part is to realize when the luck is happening and to make the most of
it. (That’s how I knew to harass
my wife until she would go out with me.)
3.
Don’t play “Feels So Good” unless you are by
yourself, where no one can hear you.*
4.
My Grandfather loved to give people who dialed
the wrong number a hard time. I
love to give telemarketers a hard time.
I guess it’s in the genes.
5.
Every musician should watch the first three
Rocky movies. Rocky knew how to
take a punch and get up and take another one. He knew how to fight.
6.
Rocky also had Apollo Creed in his corner to
talk some sense into him sometimes.
We all need an Apollo Creed.
I have several Apollo Creeds.
7.
I like to practice. A good day of practice makes me feel much more relaxed
than a day at the beach.
8.
When your heroes become your friends, that’s a
cool thing.
9.
When I find something I really like, I stick
with it. I like a 1C
Mouthpiece. I like my pizza to
have pepperoni, green pepper and onions.
I like Sam Adams.
10. I
am a religious person. How someone
can hear Maurice Andre play Bach, Thomas Hampson sing Copland, hear Daniel
Barenboim play Beethoven and not believe that there is a good Lord above us
mystifies me.
11. I
never regret listening to Bach and Clifford Brown.
12. It’s
important to practice early in the morning before someone or something upsets
you. Dominic Spera taught me
that. Of course he said it with a
lot more character.*
13. Until my daughter was in kindergarten I
had not skipped in over 30 years.
Now I do it every time she wants.
14. One thing I will never experience
that I wish I could is a walk off home run. That must feel great.
15. John
Wooden is/was the best teacher I will never meet.
16. Tim McCarver is probably a really nice
guy. I still think he is full of
it.
17. I am glad I grew up without the
internet.
18. Wayne Tanabi is really that good.*
19. Quality of life is more important
than quality of gig.
20. In general I think time travel is
a bad idea. But I have a feeling
if it were possible there is a TV executive out there who wishes he didn’t sign
off on Nancy Grace having a television show.
21. I really like Bruckner. There I said it.
22. Once you go Mac, you never go
back.
23. Honest and intelligent criticism
is a gift. So is honest and
intelligent praise.
24. I have really smart kids. I will never brag about this in the
form of a bumper sticker.
25. In general, I am not into violence, but I like boxing.
26. If I could be someone else for a
day, I would be Derek Jeter. And
anyone who says they would not want to be someone else for a day is not telling
the truth.
27. I have never been that into George
Carlin. Just never was. Too Cynical. And I’m not into Larry “The Cable Guy”. I don’t like to celebrate double
negatives.
28. I think the Confederate Flag is
offensive.
29. I think the hardest part about
playing the trumpet is forgetting how to do it.*
30. Adding sugar to tea that is already
made makes no sense.
*=Trumpet Humor, my apologies.
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