Wednesday, May 14, 2008

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME IN THE UK

I'M THIS WEEK'S FEATURED ARTIST IN THE UK--NEED SOME HELP, PLEASE

It would be enormously helpful to me if you can visit my Featured Artist Page between now and next Wednesday and make a request for me in the lower right hand corner of the page.

I've been lucky enough to be chosen by this exciting English site to be their Featured Artist for the week. If you could send in a request or two it would help me gain some traction in the UK where my CD is being sold by Loneboy.

Click the banner link below and go to the bottom right where it says requests and sick me in there. It would be verry cool also if you could start a discussion about me o that link as well. Thanks so much!


posted by Bud @ 9:53 PM
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Wednesday, May 07, 2008

CRANE CHICKS BORN, ANOTHER GREAT REVIEW AND A PHOTO REQUEST FOR YOU

The sandhill cranes who live in my back yard managed to hatch two chicks on Tuesday. This after they lost there first eggs to a flood about six or seven weeks ago. These things are the size of full grown Cornish Game Hens, I would estimate. the parents stir up insects, grubs and various crawlies for them to eat. We'll be keeping a close eye on them.

Here's an advance look at a review that is coming out later this summer in TargetAudienceMagazine.com. Notice the link on the left column. Go have a look. It's a pretty neat publication. The editor, Ellen Aldridge, agreed to let me post it here while she irons out some production problems that delayed her Spring issue.

ItŐs About Time- Bud Buckley 2007

Experience sets apart the dreamers from the hopeless romantics, and with an education in journalism this guitar teacher, Bud Buckley, combines all the necessary facets to write moving songs.
He writes universally about ideas which speak to individuals without being clichŽ.

Buckley states "Let Me Go"(the opening track and my favorite) was inspired by Terri Schiavo, but his lyrics read like a "dear John" letter or a manifesto written by a madman ranting about being trapped inside a mechanical body or society refusing to listen to the melodies escaping from the vibrations of body language. The art in music lies in the interpretation, so make sure to read the lyrics as well as groove to his tunes.

The line that hits me like a rock to the back of the head in "Keeping Secrets" is simply, "I didn't mean to sink my stones". This line shifts consciousness from early childhood memories and play to the hard-hitting truth of an entropic reality. Energy dissipates and relationships grow old and stale. The secret's out. Everything changes.

I love "Elevator" just because of the double entendre in the wordŐs sound "elevate her".

"Crowded Memory" closes the course of haunted-sounding, stream-of-consciousness songs in BuckleyŐs debut album, "ItŐs About Time", with repetitive choral lines and ghostly harmonies. The name of this album alone shows the dynamic of hidden meanings in melody and lyrics. I give his "ItŐs About Time" 4/5 stars and urge fans of music and writing alike to check out Bud Buckley's fine blend of inspired songs at his website BudBuckley.com. DonŐt "make me beg".

Review by Ellen Aldridge, Editor-In-Chief of Target Audience Magazine.



You Have Some Photos That Fit My Songs?
Finally, my new website for CD Sales is nearly completed and I looking for photos to make slide shows to accompany the music. I've collected a bunch from total strangers around the world off of Flikr. I want to extend the same invitation to you, my Blogpals. You have any photos that might fit some of the subject matter? Have a look at my Lyrics page. Any photo that fits with any line or phrase will be considered. I'd give you full credit, of course. Let me know, please.
posted by Bud @ 8:33 AM
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Monday, April 14, 2008

LIV RATS OUT WOODY AND BERGMAN, DR. MORETTI CONFESSES

I've been waiting to have news on the sandhill, cranes. They do appear to be sitting on new eggs. It's late in the nesting season for them. I hope the make it this time.

Last week we went to four different events at the Sarasota Film Festival. It gets more popular every years. They run a series called "Conversations With..." which are life live versions of Inside the Actors' Studio. In a small old opera house on the campus of The New College at FSU. The first one we went to was with the events big award winner, Liv Ullamn. She was charming and humorous and totally normal. She told many inside stories but the best was about Woody Allen and Ingmar Bergman.

She and Bergman had been married for a short time and had a child together. Remained close after the breakup and he continued to direct her in many landmark films. She was doing Broadway and very hot when Woody came into the picture. "He started taking me to dinner," Liv recalled with a look of incredulousness. "I knew he had a fixation on Bergman and it wasn't long before I realized it was him he was interested in, not me." One day Bergman called Liv and said he wanted to see her on the stage and that he would come to a show and stay just one day. So she mentioned it to Woody and baited him with something like, "You wouldn't want to meet him, would you?" He pounced on the invitation. Meanwhile, it seems Bergman admired Woody with equal fervor and also pounced on the opportunity to meet one he considered his American equal.

Liv told how Woody rented a limo to pick her up after the theater. The driver wore white gloves. The went up to Bergman's suite at the Pierre and the master himself answered the door. Liv introduced the two men and they shook hands but said nothing to each other. Admiring smiles were all that was exchanged. At dinner they continued this mutual smile fest and said nothing to each other. Liv was empathic about that. Not a word was exchanged. So she was left to make conversation with Mrs. Bergman about meatballs while the two men continued to communicate in complete silence on a level understood only by them. At the conclusion of the evening the spell was not broken. Back down in the limo afterwards, Liv asked Woody what he thought of the evening. "Incredible!" he beamed. "The most amazing evening of my life." Later that evening at home she got a call from Bergman who said his evening was also "Incredible" and the best of his life. " So I guess it was a case of the two masters not wanting to give themselves away to each other," Liv explained.

Stanley Tucci, later in the week, was also very down to earth. It was quite fun to listen to this conversation. I was heartened by his admission that when he plays on ER he has most of his medical dialog printed out for him on a clipboard, ŇI canŐt remember those complicated medical terms,Ó Tucci said. ŇI have to write them down on my clipboard. In fact, itŐs part of the stage directions in the script now, that Dr. Moretti has his clipboard. They all know I canŐt remember.Ó I often draw a blank even on lyrics I wrote when I'm performing and there is a distraction of any kind. So it's a relief to know there are well known performers who have their brain dead moments. I was also thrilled that the reason he doesn't do theater much is, ŇItŐs difficult for me to do the same thing over and over for six months. You start to go crazy.Ó This is why I get irritated when some of my casual patrons ask me to perform the same beach music they can hear in every Florida music venue over and over and over. I always want to say, "You own the record, go home and listen to it." But I don't because like most of my colleagues at my level in this business, I'm a whore.

Cathy took some shots of both of these luminaries. That's Liv Ullman on the left and Stanley Tucci with the moderator below and on the right. Sorry we never ran into Charlize Theron who was also there to receive an award.






































Finally on Sunday we attended a first birthday for my little Czech/American Godson Patrik. He really only wanted to be held by all the pretty ladies there. He only put up with me for a bit because I introduced him to his feet, of which he is very fond. Later he did grab my guitar but the photo was one of those psycho ward photos that you just don't put out there. Unless it's of Stanley Tucci.
posted by Bud @ 5:10 PM
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Thursday, March 27, 2008

MY TO DO LIST IS A MOBIUS STRIP

The pair of Sandhill Cranes, I reported on a few weeks ago lost their eggs to a freak flood in the marsh. Pretty upsetting to see the heron who was stalking them eat the abandoned soggy eggs. Everybody eats, ya know? But today I noticed the cranes rebuilding the nest. And they mate every morning around the same time. How about that? No idea if this is a planned parenthood or just practicing for next year. I'll update.

The day after St. Patty's Day I noticed the gym was empty. I guess corned beef makes you lethargic. That's all that was served at the restaurant where I played a gig. And I've had enough of Danny Friggin Boy for the rest of the century, okay?


Reviews and Successes
Got another >nice review on my CD this week in Creative Loafing. Perhaps you have that arts publication in a town near you. I really enjoy their columnists. It's a thrill to be in there.

I guess the link to my United Kingdom CD seller didn't work last time. This one should do it:

The review in TargetAudienceMagazine.com is due out by the first of April and I was notified by Southeast Performer Magazine that they are reviewing me. Those last two are both in and around Atlanta. Looks like I have my foot in the door to do some gigs in that area on my way up the coast this summer.

The Indie Music for Life Compilation CD is out and my song Crowded Memory is on it. The Chill Out east coast Acoustic artists compilation from Quickstar Productions is also due out soon. "Let Me Go" is on that one.

Career Advice Requested
I need some advice. Many of you have signed on to be fans through ReverbNation and some of you have even signed to be on my Street Team. I haven't completely decided how to utilize such a welcome group of fans. I'm advised by indie musician marketing experts to do a number of things. But the last thing I want to do is annoy my fans.

Fans and especially Street Team Fans are asked by others in my field to help publicize their events and to vote for them in the billion and six contests we all enter. I'm in a load of them myself. If I asked you all to go and vote in all of them, I have a feeling your enthusiasm would wane pretty quickly. Most of us are hard pressed to even post a blog these days. Strangely, though, it is blatantly obvious that many indie musicians do mobilize a corps of street teamers to vote early, often and late until they win the contest. I'm watching this going on at this moment over at OurStage.com

What would your reaction be to a list of links in each of my posts that would take you to a site where there is some voting going on? I'd prioritize them as to which ones I think are important or at least competitive. You could choose to do as many or as few as you like or none at all. I have no problem with that. We're busy people, all of us.

Still I'd like to return the kindness to those who actually do some voting. So I'd appreciate an e-mail letting me know what you've been up to.
How does this grab you?

Here's a list of links you may or may not feel inclined to go to.

If you're on Facebook and/or MySpace you might get multiple requests. I don't know how to control that. I beg your indulgence.

There are a lot of shenanigans with all this voting. It's stranger than a Florida Election. No lie. Not worrying about the uncontrollable, I just have to believe that if the music is good it'll be appreciated by those who dig it. And I don't try to please everybody. In every crowd, somebody loves me and somebody doesn't. Still I wish I could figure out the demographics or at least the common thread of my fans. Sure would make marketing easier. Such is the life of an indie musician. Edwin McCain has a great song called "Radio Star" on his Far From Over CD that sums it all up perfectly.

Here's some stuff you may or may not care to do for me. No worries.

Moozikoo Best of Indies. I guess just clicking my "Let Me Go" shows interest so they might get around to releasing the CD.

mvyeadio has Let Me Go listed under rock. I guess it's helpful to play it to help my ratings.

Indie 104 buries their stuff deep to vote on it. I have no votes for five songs. You have to go to the request page and then click Song DB and find me on page 11 of the B section.


There's so much more but I wait and see what people think of this.

Thanks for your indulgence, my friends!
posted by Bud @ 8:48 AM
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Saturday, March 08, 2008

WHERE I STAND WHILE I'M STANDING

Thought I'd pop in here for real and give an update. Where to start? There is no beginning.

Let's just say that I am with the commentors on the last post by Golfwidow who point out that although Brit is a trainwreck, the press is as much to blame for giving her attention. I would never criticize her performance. I've ignored her as a performer to begin with. Critics, as much as we depend on them in this business, are often rather self serving. If there's one thing I know that's true it is this: In any crowd there will always be some who love me and some who hate me. Nothing I can do about it. I've been blessed with terrific reviews on this last record. But there have been a few comments in between that support the aforementioned truism. I can handle it.

Here's a running account of what's happened with the CD since just before it's release on Jan 7.

Let Me Go, was selected for inclusion on:
Moozikoo's Best of Indies, Vol 2
MVRadio.com Presents
Quickstar Productions, East Coast Acoustic Artists Chill Out CD
iRadioLA.com
Can't Leave My Mind
Finalist in American Songwriter
iRadioLA.com
Crowded Memory
Indie Music for Life and Laughs compilation
CWA Media- public Service ad
iRadioLA.com
Supreme Lyrics Execs licensing for film/TV
I Still Remember (How That Feels)
Getting good play on iMusicRadio.com
Whole album
TargetAudienceMagazine.com review-upcoming
iRadioLA.com
Indie911 Licensing for film/TV
CWA Media songs for commercials
Celebrate Radio.com

And there are many many other opportunities under consideration or on actual standby status. Some fabulous reviews too and a nice local news paper story. So It's doing very well.

Soon I'll have a dedicated web site up for just the sale of this album. One reason why I've been away from this little corner of the internet.

I'm studying how to do a limited tour that wouldn't take me too far away or too far away from my usual travels up the East coast. Recently, however, there has been interest in me in the Denver area from several different people who don't know each other. Have to take a look at that. When does summer start in Denver? Mid July?

So I would look into a Phoenix tour then while I'm at it as I've sold a number of CDs down there.

Guitar teaching is always a high for me. Students come and go and are very loose about staying on schedule. But I'm always in demand. If I can't teach, I'm not real happy with myself. So that is something I must always do.

I have some cool t-shirts coming. You may want one, you may not. It's all good. I'll let you know when they arrive.

I own a Travel Business that you might want to check out. The prices are competitive and you can even book such things as rental cars and concert or sports tickets. I'll post the link every time because I can't give my web master son another thing to do while we're still fixing this site and starting the other. But let me know if you book anything through me and I'll give you a freebie. Probably a choice of a CD or a t-shirt.

It seems to me a lot of bloggers have fallen by the wayside. This is understandable. Life gets in the way. But how about we all suggest to each other some bloggers that you think might dig what we're doing. Make introductions to each other. Some discretion is needed. It's not a terrific idea, for instance, to introduce somebody who does a needlework blog to somebody whose passion is Death Metal. But then, who can say for sure, huh?

Love to have your thoughts on this.

Finally, It would be helpful to me if you click the banner link below and just click. It's my record store in England. I need to get some hits to move up their playlist

Go to the radio page (Blue Radio button on the top right) and enter my name and the song you want to hear, Let Me Go would be a good candidate. It'll help me a LOT.

And of course if you've already written a review for me on CD Baby, it would be extremely helpful if you would paste it in over there at Loneboy.

An international booking agent (who will for now remain nameless) for music lessons sent me a new guitar student today who stood me up. Or they stood me up without notice. Is the universe is messing with me or am I messing with the universe? Just a rhetorical question. I'm watching clouds colliding from different directions. Is it Mercury retrograde yet?


posted by Bud @ 3:03 PM
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Monday, February 25, 2008

THE B-WORD

Guestpost by Golf Widow

I shall rant.

About Britney Spears, whom Bud is sensible enough to ignore, and I am not.

Recently, my friend Six Weasels had quite a lot of rational things to say about Britney Spears, not the least of which was the following, snipped directly from her Vox blog:

"It seems that according to whoever does these photos, if Britney keeps down her current path by the time she's 40-something she'll be fat, saggy, pudgy-faced, washed-out looking, have crappy hair and sport a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"I have two questions about this: 1. Why is this news? [and] 2. Why are we so freaking mean, both to Britney who is already obviously disturbed and to women who might look like that already?"

She added, as a response to a comment:

"We seek validation in famous people's screwups or perceived failures. It really is sad."

It's a great post in its entirety, by the way. Check it out: http://sixweasels.vox.com/library/post/people-are-mean.html

I started to comment myself, but what I had to say began formulating itself into an entity of itself, and it occurred to me that I'd better pick up my soapbox and go home.

Or, in this case, go to Bud's, because, if nothing else, the two words "Britney" and "Spears" in his blog might push him up the Google ladder, and people, if you surfed in here looking for Britney, you'd do well to notice that Bud's just released a wonderful, musically proficient, highly listenable CD, whereas Britney has, I believe, a new psychiatrist.

It's up to you to decide where your ears might be better entertained, is what I'm saying.

Here are my thoughts on Britney Bashing.

Speaking for myself, I do, indeed, as Six Weasels put it, seek validation in famous people's screwups or perceived failures, but I know that the reason I do so is that I have this tiny ingrained misconception that famous people look down on me, and I'm gratified when they fall back down to my level, or below it.

I'm not proud of this, but at least I own it. I want to believe, furthermore, that I'm not alone in this.

Also, I'm constantly examining why Britney Spears is still interesting to the world. Presumably, she's a celebrity because she's a singer, but when was the last time she had a hit song? Every time she shows up in the news again, without having done anything to further her actual career, and we (collectively) lap it up, I can't help thinking that we couldn't lap it up if she hadn't spilled it to begin with.

This leads me to the circuitous but plausible logic that suggests that, since she is incapable of anything to add to her body of marketable (at best) work, she's spilling all this other crap deliberately.

The fact that I buy into it, myself, is annoying to me, but again, I'm owning it. And again, I want to believe that I'm not alone in it.

Now if I could only be sensible, like Bud, and ignore her.
posted by Bud @ 8:27 AM
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Friday, February 22, 2008

GUEST POST FROM GOLFWIDOW (AGAIN)

Bud's got an itchy mouseclicking finger and bought another guest post from me.

This is going to be short. It's just a bit of brain-confetti that suddenly exploded out of my head and said, "PARTY!"

I don't know how many of you remember the television show "E/R!" I'm pretty sure Bud doesn't, since he hates television and everything it stands for.

Ah. Lots of hands.

Now, if I say, "I don't mean the hour-long drama that started in the '90s - I mean the half-hour sitcom that started and ended really quickly in the '80s ..."

... Ah. Most of those hands have gone down.

There really was another "E/R!" before "ER." (Note the different spellings.) Oddly, George Clooney was in both of them.

Elliott Gould was only in the sitcom one, but he was in the film "Ocean's Eleven" with George Clooney, and that ought to count as a reunion of sorts.

Anyway, in the sitcom version, there was a character named Thor. She was a nurse, a buxom, loud, no-nonsense funny-as-hell fantastic nurse.

Her husband, named Bud, was never seen on the show. He was referred to frequently, like Vera on "Cheers," but you never saw him. He was, like our Bud, a songwriter.

The only other Thor-person I've ever encountered (dogs don't count) is the spouse of another blogfriend of mine. He's not a songwriter, but his wife, my blogfriend, is named Kathy.

Bud Buckley's wife is named Cathy.

This sort of thing happens in my head on a regular basis. I think I'd better go lie down now.

NOTE FROM BUD: Yeah, I'm too busy to write. You noticed, huh? But Golfwidow is out of work and posting for dollars. Not enough dollars in my estimation. You could help her out and get a witty guest post for the paltry sum of $2.00. Better yet, you could buy her very funny book, "Getting My Think On." I just bought another from Amazon to send to my sister. There may be a vendor who gives her a better cut. Visit her site to find out. You won't be sorry.
posted by Bud @ 7:11 AM
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Monday, February 11, 2008

CRANING TO WIN THIS CONTEST

I'm hoping that those of you out there who like my music would take a minute to vote for one of my songs, "I Still Remember (How That Feels), at iMusic.com. They ask you to register and log in. If that isn't too much of an annoyance, I'd appreciate it. If you'd rather not be on their list of listeners, I understand.

A couple of years ago I reported on the birth and short life and death of a Sandhill crane chick. The pond in our back yard is a nesting place but they are very territorial. Only one couple of these monogamous birds, breed there each spring. Oh, it is spring here in south west Florida. It always seems like spring or summer.

I didn't write about them last year but we had a successful hatching of two chicks and they made it to at least adolescence. It gets hard to tell them apart after a bit. I didn't pay them as much attention, sparing myself from getting too attached. I didn't want to be as devastated by what is a high percentage mortality rate in a place with breeding bald eagles and bobcats and gators. And the occasional panther.


I did witness an eagle hovering above one chick who had a habit of lagging behind the family. Amazingly, sir eagle was run off by a squadron of red winged black birds! Who knew?

I've been watching the courting and nesting habits of these cranes for a couple of weeks now. I'm gonna assume it's the same pair as last year. Just based on my observation of how territorial they are at this time of year. Bizarre behavior. They built a nest in the marsh. I can't swear they have eggs yet. I keep watching to see if Momma is sitting more than standing. I should read up on this and stop guessing. But I have too little time.

Mr. Crane is all protective. Attacking his own reflection in people's windows and destroying their screens. We all put up with it. A great blue heron has decided to occupy the same marsh. This is also bizarre since herons nest in trees. This must be a single dude. Or he's just retarded. But he provides a threat and a daily drama.

I'll report on the progress of this event but it's not guaranteed to end well. Just want to be realistic. I won't be writing a song with the words crane or heron or marsh or chick in it. Whatever lessons I learn might appear in a song totally unrelated to the wild kingdom. That's the way I prefer to work.

Of all the completely amazing birds down here, the cranes have become my favorites. I can't understand why as they are goofy and arrogant. I hate politicians like that so go figure.
posted by Bud @ 10:35 PM
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Wednesday, February 06, 2008

GUEST POST FROM GOLFWIDOW

Note from Bud: Golfwidow is a close friend and blogger who has run into some horrible luck recently and is blogging for dollars. Anybody would be lucky to have her appear on your blog. Please give her a read and check her out HERE to see how you can help.

by Golf Widow

I'm guest-posting for Bud, today. If you haven't bought his CD yet, IT'S ABOUT TIME you did.

See what I did, there?

Oh, yeah, I'm just one big yuck after another.

Anyway, Bud and I share a humongous fondness for all things musical, with the main divergence being that he also has a massive talent for making music, whereas my own musical prowess appears to max out at listening and clapping.

Hey, somebody has to be the audience.

It's not that no one will appreciate the music if no one is listening (even if it's only yourself, someone's listening).

It's that, without people like me, there is no market for watery, overpriced beer and cheap t-shirts emblazoned with band logos and tour dates.

Not to mention that, if there's no one in the audience, there's no one waiting in a five-mile-long line to have a go at the Port-a-Potty, and then, there goes the economy.

Oh, wait. The economy, it is already long gone. Never mind.

But it's okay. I'm out of work and I don't play guitar, but I have a pink Budbuckley.com baseball hat. Let the president say the same.

Sorry ... didn't mean to get political. I'm just going to sit here quietly and wait for Bud to go on tour.

I'll be the one with watery beer spilled down her front. (It's an occupational hazard, when one's instrument of choice is two hands clapping.)
posted by Bud @ 7:02 AM
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Thursday, January 24, 2008

I V CAFFEINE, PLEASE

How far behind can I get? Here's a shot of me playing the Sarasota Arts Fest about eleven days ago. Big event. Good time. Led to other gigs. So no complaints. Even though...

Teaching guitar has been very time consuming. Lots more students. I really enjoy it. Besides my private practice, I'm teaching in the North Port Music and Arts School. Very cool people there. I'm helping them open a shopping center tonight.

Besides my regular gig schedule I've been booking other gigs. A country club gig that sold out, a house concert coming up next month. Other things in the works.

CD sales have been good but I need to push it harder with some bigger venues so I'll be hitting that trail hard. I can't wait for Deni Bonet's new one to come out. Gonna buy a bunch of them for family. She's just the best on so many levels.

Haven't done a thing yet to organize my travel business but I really have to get to that. May need to give up sleep for a few days. What exactly is a toxic or lethal dose of caffeine anyway?
posted by Bud @ 12:48 PM
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Saturday, January 05, 2008

SHORT, SWEET AND ORTHODOX

After a few days reflection on a disappointment, I realize that I learned a few valuable lessons. It's impossible to discuss without getting all wordy. It's my goal to be all about brevity. It's also my goal to be all about avoiding cliche's. So I'll leave it at one statement:

One Artist's cliche' may be an Everyman's high art.

People are making money on horrific cliche's and cultural stereotypes but that's one swamp I hope to never intentionally slog through.

The year is going off as planned. A lot of enthusiasm for the new CD. Sales have been very good and promise to grow. My gigs are quite fun. I'm delighted to be back at Althea's Restaurant for my fifth season. I'm also doing more country club gigs and I'm branching out. My guitar teaching business is growing by leaps and bounds. I'm now on the faculty of a local music school and I get calls for private lessons every day.

All of this leaves less time for blogging but I read you guys before I write anything here.

Many of you have taken advantage of my pre-release offers and your CD's are in the mail. I'm extremely grateful to all who visit here and offer me encouragement weather it's in the form of complements, cheerleading, buying a CD, writing a review or any combination of the above. I love you guys like family. It's my ambition to meet each of you face to face some day. I have met six of you and it's only a matter of time before I get to the rest of you. Or you get to me. I'm getting involved in the travel business so I'll have a less expensive way to travel or to get you where you're going if you are so inclined. More on that later.

I thought the holidays were over and I could return to a normal weight. But we're going to an Eastern Orthodox Christmas party tomorrow. So if that involves your particular set of beliefs, Happy Christmas. Again!
posted by Bud @ 10:42 PM
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Sunday, December 30, 2007

OOPS, THERE GOES ANOTHER ONE!

Been waiting for certain things to happen before I posted gain. They haven't happened yet and now it's time I wished everyone who drops by here, as I'm reminded by my friend Nocturnal, a Happy New Year!

So Happy New Year!

Just play each day like it's the only day you have. And the minutes and seconds that make up the day as well.
posted by Bud @ 7:27 AM
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Thursday, December 13, 2007

HAVING AN EXCELLENT WEEK...

I've been selected as a finalist in the American Songwriter Magazine Lyric Contest. They will announce the winners in the next issue, due out later this month. They like my song, You Can't Leave My Mind. Win or not, I'm delighted to be named. I'll report on the status of that when I know.

I've also been offered a deal from an advertising group in California to synch my song Crowded Memory to an alcohol/drug rehab public service ad. Can't hurt to be seen and heard in Cali, can it?

I've been selected for a compilation disc and web radio airplay by CelebrateRadio.com. That's world wide distribution. I'll report the details when I know more.

I already reported on my selection for review on TargetAudiencMagazine.com in January.

I was also asked for a prerelease copy of the CD by Creative Loafing, an entertainment weekly published in Tampa, Atlanta,
Charlotte, Chicago, Washington DC and here in Sarasota. It will be reviewed at least in the Sarasota version in January.

Not a bad week at all. Pre-release sales are coming in and you can jump on that bandwagon before I get too busy to offer signed copies. I'm posting a Paypal ink here that reflects the deals offered on the last post. Or if you prefer, go to my Music page where you can hear the CD and buy it with PayPal. Or as some have elected to do, send me an e-mail at Bud.Buckley@Gmail.com and give me an address . I'll in turn give you one to mail a check to. Check the last post for details on the three deals I can offer you until the first of the year. Actually you should e-mail me even if you paid by Paypal so I can get envelopes ready ahead of time and ship it to you the instant it arrives here. Here's the Paypal link if you've heard it already and have just been waiting for this:

The reviews from those who have listened are very encouraging. I appreciate all the review help i can get so be sure and check the deal on that below.

More To come on this soon!
posted by Bud @ 7:39 AM
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Tuesday, December 04, 2007

IT'S FINISHED, IT'S COMING AND YOU CAN HAVE IT

The effort to be legal is wearing me out. The effort involved in fixing copyrights, splits and licensing after the fact has to be worse, however. Without elaborating, that has been my life lately.

Also I've been entering a lot of song writing contests, submitting for magazine reviews, (one coming up in January at TargetAudienceMagazine.com)and applying to festivals. As soon as I have the master in my hands (Thursday), I'll be submitting to many more opportunities.

I've had nothing but terrific reaction to the songs on this new CD so far, including from some of you and other random MySpace friends. So it's with a lot of joy and confidence that I can offer you, finally, a pre sale deal:

It should arrive to me December 27. I promise to stay up all night mailing them to you, but I can't promise you a firm delivery date yet. But if you'd like to prepay for an autographed copy now, I'll wave the postage and handling until Jan 1, 2008.

You can e-mail me (bud.buckley@gmail.com) and I'll give you a mailing address to mail a check. It'll be a few days before I can get a PAYPAL link up. Either way you'll only pay $15.00. I'll eat the P & H.

I have the semi final mix minus one song up at this Sonicbids site for you to check out. Click to HEAR


Deal #2
If you love it as much as I do and you would like to get a second one for free to use as a gift, you can do that by writing me a short review for links I'll supply you with later. How's that sound to you? Yeah, I'll autograph that as well. Let me know if that's your intention. This deal is good until January 15, 2008

Deal #3
I'll extend this no postage deal to people on your blogrolls who don't link to me if they put a banner or box and a recommendation on their blog. So you may want to make them aware of it. Listen to the songs on my Sonicbids EPK first and if you think they'll dig it, tell them about it. It's up to them if they want to follow through. You get free shipping and handling because you are loyal readers. They get it because they'll run an ad. This deal is good until January 1, 2008


This may strike you as going to extraordinary lengths to push this CD but I wouldn't do it if I wasn't proud of it . And there is certainly the fact that it cost me more to produce than I ever would have imagined!
I'll try to post this offer again in a week or so between all my gigs and prep and lessons and other daily human activities.

Hope you find this suitable. Whatever your intentions toward this, I value all of you as terrific friends.
posted by Bud @ 3:47 PM
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Sunday, November 25, 2007

OF DEATH AND ILLNESS AND A KILLER CD OFFER

Terrible time to think about such things but I got my head in death at the moment. Actually all the moments since yesterday afternoon. A good friend who is one of my biggest fans and a neighbor, has been unplugged from life support. Cathy spoke to her in the grocery store six hours before she had a stroke and her brain hemorrhaged. She was telling her how her heart didn't feel good and she was going to get her husband to call the doctor on Monday. She didn't want to mess up anybody's weekend, I guess. That's the way she was. She was well known and well loved. She was only 57.

I'm putting aside the obvious questions about if and why she mistreated herself when she was ordered to have a third heart valve surgery last summer. No answers so no questions. Cathy and I are not religious. Unbelievers, if you will. Too many years of senseless and sometimes brutal catholic education.

Cathy said, "It's just so hard to think about. You're here one minute and the next there is nothing."
"Yeah, I know, "I said, "Blows my mind too. Impossible to imagine. So I don't think about it much. It's so painful to the ego that man invented heaven. Makes it much easier." Like when I was a lonely little boy, I invented imaginary friends. They were very real to me and such a comfort.

That pretty much sums it up for us. I respect your beliefs. Hope mine haven't offended you. I'd never blow you up over it. But the question of how we would like to go out is hanging there. Neither of us wants to be the first to go because we don't want to leave the other in such emotional pain. Aside from that grim thought, I don't mind going when my time comes. I just want to be in Cathy's embrace. My Dad died in my arms. I always wonder if he knew.

My song, Let Me Go, is inspired by that subject. Most people don't pick up on that, which is fine. It can be about whatever you want. Same with anything I record. But I've written all I can on the subject for the time being. So I finally started something about my son this morning. He so deserves it. Dude is an amazing father and husband.

My friend Panthergirl at The Dog's Breakfast is doing everything she can to save the life of her beloved greyhound, who she has already saved from the brutality of the race track. If you plan to do some Amazon shopping could you use this link that would directly benefit Kelso's recovery? Marian and I and especially Kelso would certainly appreciate it. Big lick on the face for you. Thanks
HELP KELSO, PANTHERGIRL'S GREYHOUND! Shop Amazon.com through this link!


Helen and I reviewed the semifinal mix of my CD this past week and told Scott what we want to tweak. I am absolutely loving the new background vocals and the mix. He plans to have it done and mastered by the end of this week. Then I'll send it out to DiscMakers if the art work is done. I'll have an advance sale offer for all my blogging pals up very soon. Just haven't figured out how I want to do that yet. Anybody know a service other than SNOWCAP (who has blown me off for months,) that would let me post parts of the song here for review? I want to sell directly to you rather than go through the various venders like CDBaby for this pre sale. It'll cost you less that way as I'll waive postage.

Let me know if you have a way to post a list of ten song parts. I don't want them downloadable.

Another busy week ahead and I still haven't caught up with all of you yet from my trip and holiday. Be back at you soon.
posted by Bud @ 3:25 PM
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Wednesday, November 21, 2007

FEELING LUCKY

This catch up game wears me out. Back from a long weekend in the San Francisco Bay area. Cool little burg called Point Richmond outside of Oakland. Not far from Berkeley where we spent some time. Had such a fun time with my son, Jason and his wife Anne and of course their adorable child, my Granddaughter, Stella. Stella is very athletic and loves to dance. We took her to a music class in Berkeley that involved parents and their toddlers in various singing and movement activities. The dude who runs that for hours every day is a saint. The reason I never taught primary grades is because I was always just one Hokey Pokey away from blowing my own brains out. But it was fun watching Stella and her Dad. I did get a tambourine solo. I rocked.


Stella (above)figured out how to scroll photos in my iPhone the instant she touched it. The thing was clearly designed for toddlers. I brought Stella a book called What Did the Polar Bear Say, or something. She loves to do animal sounds and can do a very credible dog, monkey, horse and pig. Lion is also in her repertoire. When we got to walrus, she was stumped until I taught her that a walrus says, "Goo Goo Goo Joob." I personally love that she can say that but not Grandpa. Next time I see her, I'm sure she'll have other words for me.

Jason and I fiddled with some music while Stella was napping one day. He posted a YouTube of our Radiohead jam. He hadn't played bass in quite a while. I didn't even know this song, "Lucky," until ten minutes earlier. I look at it and smile a lot. Bonding at it's best always involves music, in my mind.


I arrived home late Monday to find a semifinal version of my CD. Helen and I are discussing a few refinements. I'm really happy with it. I had amazing people around me for this one. Still aiming for Christmas for a release but if it's not ready, I'm not rushing it.

Cathy and I are not big on tradition. We'll spend Thanksgiving with some close friends. We're extremely thankful for our lives every minute of every day. I hope all of you have a splendid holiday and wake up every day hereafter and feel thankful that you did indeed wake up.
posted by Bud @ 12:27 AM
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Sunday, November 11, 2007

SAND GETS IN YOUR EYES

Cathy and I took a long overdue weekend to celebrate her b-day of six weeks ago to Fort Myers Beach and Naples, Florida. Not a long drive but we rarely get down that way. The weather here is too beautiful to describe. It's probably better than any of yours. Sorry for you.

We stopped at the summer home and laboratory of Thomas Edison. His body of work is staggering. There's no other way to put it. Strangely, this humanitarian was close friends of Henry Ford who had the adjoining estate. Henry was a father of the industrial age, to be sure but no humanitarian. What WAS he thinking when he accepted Nazi Germany's highest award from the Furher himself? And then there were the mobsters he hired as line bosses for the assembly line. I love the story that his wife threatened to leave him if he didn't recognize the union there. Mary Ford is the fairy godmother of the UAW as far as I'm concerned.

Our idea was to stay on the beach near the sand castle contest. I can't get over that people devote a large chunk of their lives in this particular artistic endeavor as the creations get knocked down at the end. The weather wouldn't be kind to them anyway. But that's their appeal. How DO they get sand to do that stuff? I watched them and couldn't believe it. There were artists there from Canada. Canada? They have beach sand in Saskatchewan? Who knew? Does sand sculpt like snow? Here are just a couple of shots. To see more, visit my Flikr site.







Fort Meyers Beach is one lovely beach if you are a beach person. Which I'm not but I like to visit. I love walking the beach in the early morning before it fills up. When we owned a beach condo on the other corner of the state, I had a morning ritual of walking until the sun came up and then swimming with whatever dolphin swam by. Did that until somebody pointed out that it is also shark feeding time. But it was cool while my ignorance was still bliss.

After the sand castles we drove down the coast to Naples. Very high class area with way too many Jags and Benzes per capita, if you ask me. We went to visit the zoo because Cathy collects zoos. It was quite beautiful for it's plantings. The animals were mostly asleep or on vacation. The primates were terrific fun however. Each kind living on their own little island which we chugged around in a boat.

We found it interesting that there were a number of development projects carved out but stopped. Florida is run by developers and they are finally realizing that they ran out of people willing to spend that money on overpriced real estate. Maybe the federal government isn't calling it a recession but we are. Lot of layoffs and businesses closing. It will be interesting to see how it impacts my music business. I booked about five country club gigs which will more than make up the difference of two of the coffee houses I usually play that no longer have live music.

Time will tell. This is supposed to be a lucrative period for me. It's in the stars.
posted by Bud @ 8:47 AM
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Sunday, November 04, 2007

UPDATE BROUGHT TO YOU BY BUDLEY MUSIC

Quick update: The photo shoot went very well. I'll post some of that when I pick out the stuff I want to use.

The first draft of the album cover should be ready to look at in about a week.

The latest mix of the CD is also due around next week.

At least two or three video projects in the planning stages. Also some live recordings.

Three gigs this week, starting today. And two new students. Nothing like staying busy. Which means I did nothing to work on the recording software.


Got a big festival gig in Sarasota for Arts Day in January. One of my other venues stopped having music and another just stopped on Wednesday which was my regular midweek gig during my busy season. But I'm starting to book more country club gigs which are quite lucrative. As soon as the album is finished, I'll start submitting it to every opportunity I can afford. Entrance fees for contests, publications and compilation discs can really drive the cost up on a project but it's better than having some label rip you off. I'm starting my own publishing company and label. Gonna keep it all. I'll be generous with my co-writers. Budley Music and BuBu records. What do you think?

Labels: BuBu Records, Budley Music

posted by Bud @ 1:01 PM
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Sunday, October 28, 2007

THE MORE YOU DO, THE MORE YOU GOTTA DO

I seem to have conquered my productivity crisis. So much so I haven't been hanging around blogland much.

I've gone back to setting goals and daily to do lists. It's working very well. But I'm often either too busy to blog or too tired from being too busy.

I thought I would have had something new to report but all I can report is that stuff is happening but not yet.

Mark Zampella and I planned a CD cover and a music video. The photo shoot is Thursday. Preparing for the photos has been very involved. I spend more time at the gym than at the table. Hair, clothes and stuff are also in the mix for things to accomplish.

Scott Petito plans to start the mix of he CD first week in November and take a week to get to the first draft.

It's very hard to plan bookings until I have an actual release date.

I have new guitar students that are always fun. Keeps me extra busy.

Got a Veterens' Day picnic to play. Getting some appropriate songs ready. Any suggestions out there? I'm not into the heavy patriotic stuff. You can love your country and honor your vets without cliche' rhymes, three chord songs and excessive flag waving. Toby Keith I am not. This is a rather liberal gathering as I understand it, anyway.

Still wrestling with new recording software and a new mic. The latter (Earthworks) is amazing. The software manual, however, is putting me to sleep. Here's a hint to technical writers: Nobody but humorless geeks are impressed with geekspeak. Just give me a list of how to's. In common English. Pretend you're explaining it to your little brother or sister.

Lot of social stuff going on in between all the rest of my must do list items. You have any idea what it's like to serve snacks and not eat them? I want an award for mental fortitude, or courage or just shear stubborness, for eating double salad and carrot puree instead of canaloni. I chewed gum and served asiago cheese and bagel chips to my guests. I routinely burn more calories than I eat. And Jitka isn't even in the country to kick my ass. Oh, well, top physical conditioning is it's own reward, I guess. I bought several pairs lf pants today. Waist 29. In the boys department. See, told you I was busy.
posted by Bud @ 11:52 AM
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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

THE LYRIC THAT ISN'T YET

My brother called to report that Mom thinks she was recently kidnapped and brought to the house she's lived in for about eleven years. Put up quite a violent scene about it. I see this as a result of two things. Being 91 years old and sedentary for the last five years is number one. The other that she has told herself for about 8 of the last 11 that she regrets ever moving from South Jersey to rural southern NY state. She has said this aloud and to herself so consistently that her mind has finally worn down that groove so deeply, she isn't getting out of it. So she had a fall, a head wound and now she thinks she's been kidnapped to a place (by my brother and sister who live with her) she doesn't want to be. I talked to her on the phone to try to reassure her. She wasn't having it. Next morning, though, she was back to normal, complaining that they hadn't cleaned the drapes since she moved there.

I started to write a lyric about this but found it so hard. I'm not sure if it's too painful just yet or if I generally find it hard to write about family. I've only managed one song about my daughter although I've referenced her in others. I want to write one for my son and I'm having no luck. He so deserves a good one too. Same with my granddaughter. That one can take a while, though as she is so young. Needs to develop a personality beyond saying "No" a lot and being generally adorable.

I'm reminded of a time I wrote a short story about my father who was estranged from the rest of my family. It was not well received by them. As a result I shied away from ever showing them something again. I can't recall any of them giving more than a polite thanks when I gave them my first CD. I have high hopes that they'll love this one. My sister heard the roughs and loves it. That's an excellent sign. I wish my older brother were still alive. He's another I must write about one day. Been gone 20 years now but still close to me.

Truth is, I'm not at all in writing mode these days. Including blogging. My energy, what there is of it, is directed toward this CD launch. So I won't waste your reading time until I have something interesting to say. I'll drop by and read all of you, however. Love you all.
posted by Bud @ 9:36 PM
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Monday, October 08, 2007

BUSY IS GOOD. WORMFOOD NOT SO MUCH

When I miss all my friends in Blogland, I know it's a good thing. It means you're busy. Busy is usually good. Unless you're busy because you're in court answering charges for some heinous crime. Or busy undergoing surgery. Or giving birth, or taking care of those you gave birth to. Or dealing with your actual job. Or looking for an actual job. Or moving, like D-man and Quin. Or getting back into the podcast business like Andy and Golfwidow. Or starting a Rock band like Dawn.

Or organizing the launch of a new CD like Deni Bonet. And Me. There's no end to the stuff we have to do. I'll spare you the boring stuff and just try to report on the exciting stuff. If anybody throws underwear at me during a performance, you'll read it here first. But that's months off. So I'm just working on the boring parts now. It's tedious and did I mention boring? I mean, I'm excited but it'd be boring for you to read.

So if you have a decent internet hookup, you could listen to several of the other album studio roughs that I put up on a makeshift electronic press kit so I could enter some songs in a few songwriting contests. If you get to hear any and have a comment, I would sure appreciate hearing about it. Because the main thrust of the boring stuff I'm doing is organizing publicity. So I'm collecting positive words and thoughts. There are still about four songs you haven't heard yet. And remember, these six are roughs. Not the final mix by any means. No backup vocals either except for one, Crowded Memory, in which, Helen Avakian, haunts me with her voice.

If you have time, click here View Bud Buckley's EPK
and then click Audio.

I know I've left out the trials and tribulations of many of you. Real life is busy and that's good. Think of the alternative. Being busy is WAY better than being wormfood.
posted by Bud @ 7:37 AM
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Thursday, October 04, 2007

COLLISION OF THE ENDLESS WEEKEND AND THAT WHICH ALWAYS FOLLOWS

That was a busy food-filled weekend that didn't' end until Tuesday. It was Cathy's birthday and her daughter surprised her by flying in Saturday from San Jose. As in California. We ate out a lot. I did okay except for the bread. Get me inordinately hungry and make me wait for a meal. Then put bread on the table. I'll eat the bowl before I read the menu. I still worked out everyday so I didn't gain too much.

I have a tentative order in on the guitar I mentioned last time. Since it's a custom job, they have to give me an offer sheet. They are a little backed up with that apparently. I'm selling two other guitars to help defray the cost. That should take care of the neck alone. It's really not that bad. A moderately priced cello costs five times what I'm likely to pay for this.

I've been very busy with promotion for the new CD. Also planning a cover design and some videos. Talked to Helen Avakian and Beth Reineke at the Studio this week. They will put the backup vocals on October 14. Then the final mix begins. If you'd like to hear some studio roughs that I entered in some song writing contests, you can click the SonicBids link:

View Bud Buckley's EPK

That takes you to my Electronic Press Kit (still unfinished). Then you hit the audio button. These are unmixed roughs. Most of them will have backup vocals and a much better mix. Scott Petito has few equals in the business when it comes to tasteful mixes.

You can hear some of Deni Bonet's violin work in there but she gave me so much great stuff that day that Scott hasn't even picked what might be the best tracks yet. Deni was phenomenal. Wait to you hear her new CD! You're gonna love it.

We're still talking about a December release date. So much to do, so little caffeine.
posted by Bud @ 8:11 PM
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Friday, September 28, 2007

FIVE TAYLORS AND COUNTING

I'm not a shop-a -holic. I'm not. Unless I'm in a big music store. Or even a good medium sized one. Okay, even little stores that have something quirky going on. Nearly bought a quatro in Puerto Rico once. That little joint in the hill country outside Austin also got me for some picks and devices.

So I'm in Sam Ash Music Center today. Because Cathy said I should go and get what I need. She didn't put a limit on me. She even suggested a down payment on a really fabulous Taylor 914ce. I learned a long time ago not to EVER second guess her on those moments. When she says, "Why don't you get a..." I'm out the door before she can finish the sentence. Who knows, maybe she said "Why don't you get a life?" Does "life" rhyme with "guitar?"

I have never ever raised a stink or an eyebrow at anything Cathy bought for herself. I trust her judgment and even her impulse buys. I guess that's why she encourages me to go crazy from time to time. I'm not gonna question it or wonder why. I'm putting my money down on a fabulous guitar that is made of the last of the primo Indian Rosewood and Sitka Spruce. There's only a four year supply of that good stuff left on the planet. After that, those of us with the foresight to buy it will have the last of it. I'm getting a custom neck too. I have little hands. You know what they say, little hands are busy hands. Or something. Little hands, deep pockets? Not sure what they say. I say, I'm headin' up the highway to make this deal.

Oh, yeah, I need a new recording software, Digital Performer 5. Protools crapped out on my new operating system and I should also look into--somebody stop me! Just try.
posted by Bud @ 10:52 AM
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Friday, September 21, 2007

BUD LITE, THE G-FATHER

My latest weight loss plan involves at least an hour of heavy aerobic a day. Advanced Yoga three times a week. Weights two or three times a week. I think mildly bingeing once a week actually helps too. Because I'm down a pound lower than when I went away to NY last weekend and ate myself silly for four days. Normally I'm at about 17 fat grams a day and an equal balance of protein/carbs. Pretty low cal. Six small meals a day. I think every person has to figure out what their body wants to stay trim. I've had it figured out before but things change as you advance. See what I did there? A simple swapping of A words. Does that make me an A-hole?

Twice a week my aerobic is spinning. I've also taken to jogging in the pool as a second aerobic during the day if time allows. I can't say that gets my heart pounding but it's kind of fun and better than sitting on a couch. Jitka, my lovely trainer, is taking Patrik back to the Czech Republic on Monday to be baptized without me. I did find my Baptismal certificate in a pile of other meaningless papers. So the Eastern orthodox church in Prague will take a look at that and name me THE GODFATHER. I love the irony in that. I am my own god and in that I hold only myself responsible for my existence. It's complicated but essentially, I'm just one lucky pile of chemicals digging my various molecular interactions with the other piles I encounter. That's not a basis for any kind of church, so don't get any ideas. Anyway, Jitka will be happy I'm getting back into shape before she leaves me to my own devices for a month. And I will be the best Godfather ever. I promise not to order a hit on anybody. Patrik will be a Czech/Irish guitar god by the time he's 15. I have it all planned.

I had a long animated video conference with my granddaughter, Stella, last night. Animated because she doesn't have a lot of words yet and she was heavily gesturing with her dinner as we spoke. I've had avocado tossed in my general cyber direction. I do cherish the moment. And I love my web cam. I ought to learn how to use it for other things not involving self-produced porn. Anybody know how to improve the sound quality? I could be doing music videos with it.

It just occurred to me that becoming both a grandfather and a godfather in the same year makes me a G-Father. There, that's my title.
posted by Bud @ 7:31 AM
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Tuesday, September 18, 2007

FROM BLISSFUL TO (AB)NORMAL

Back from New York with nothing but pretty memories and work well done. I spent quality time with every member of my family and I finished my recording work on the CD.

I don't miss the Mid Hudson Valley where I spent most of my adulthood because I love living in Florida so much. But Cathy and I realized that it was the first time we were there in September without having to work. It was pretty damn nice! September weekends for teachers are not weekends at all. They're just extended prep times.

So we had a fabulous time in a Catskill mountain resort for four days. My sister rented an entire resort hotel for the wedding. It was a big old rambling Victorian wood structure with an amazing porch, an indoor pool, a tennis court and, I kid you not, a six lane bowling alley. The bride, my niece, brought her dog who had the run of the place, including the dining room. So we had a hundred and fifty family and close friends just taking the joint over for four days. And a more diverse crowd would be impossible to assemble. Every race, creed, political and sexual persuasion as well as age group was represented. It IS a small world after all. There were no fist fights or even arguments. There were even Yankees and Red Sox fans there during a three game series of those two battling for a pennant race. Nobody poured beer on anybody.

I got to spend some time with Stella, my granddaughter. We even danced. My 91 year old mother got to see her for the first time. It was sweet. I'm determined to get out to California more often to see Stella. And her parents.

On Sunday we drove down to West Point to visit Cathy's niece and her amazing family. We love those guys so much. The weather was perfect and we took a leisurely walk through the Hudson side of the post. The youngest, Jake, climbed on every ancient canon they had. We stayed at the Thayer Hotel, a rather famous edifice on the post that has catered to far too many famous statesmen and soldiers to name.

Our flight home was uneventful. The airline opened my guitar trunk and didn't steal my Taylor. For that I'm always grateful.

I redid vocals on three songs in the studio and now I'm happy. I can't wait to hear the final mix with the back up vocals by Helen Avakian and Beth Reineke. We are probably a month from all that being finished. So I'm left to work on the packaging and promotion angles.

Trying hard now to return to some normal schedule around here with constantly shifting lesson times and gigs and rehearsal and working out and just taking care of the music business. Did I use the word normal? Did that describe normal? Frantic is normal for some of us, I guess.
posted by Bud @ 10:04 AM
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