Hurry Up and Wait

I need to remember that this blog is a way for my past self to teach my future self by chronicling my present self's failings.

There's something oh so wrong about that sentence that makes it feel oh so right.

So... um... hubris much?

I'm starting to right again... wow...

I'm starting to write again.

Mistakes make us human. Mistakes are the good stuff.

Mistakes are why a computer will never be able to create a truly beautiful work of art.

So... um... pretentious much?

Is there anything I've gone all in on? It's so much easier to have an out, to spread yourself thin, to do just enough to get started and then falter once you really come up against it.

Case in point: I'm talking to Rachel while blogging while Facebook messaging with Dean while cruising Promotive... and also thinking about the song I'm currently working on.

So... um... distracted much?

Lesson of the day?

FOCUS.

Dodger Blue

Today was opening day for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

I'm proud to be a Dodger fan, somewhere between casual and die hard (it's in my nature to reside in the middle).

When it comes to the Boys in Blue, there are plenty of fond memories floating around in my head:

• Meeting Steve Garvey at a church fundraiser when I was a little boy
• Listing Fernando Valenzuela as my favorite baseball player on my little league playing card 
• Games at Chavez Ravine with my family 
• My brother Rick sitting in the stadium on his Walkman, listening to Vin Scully calling the game
• Fireworks at Dodger Stadium on July 4th (coincidentally also my Dad's birthday) 
• Yelling "C'MON, BRETT!!" in unison with my dad about 20 times when Brett Butler came up to bat at a game (I was probably around 11 or 12)
• Enjoying the Continental Airline seats along the first base line with Rachel and her family
• Rachel's and my Trash the Dress Photo Shoot in Dodger Stadium with Ryan Caliendo (a surreal experience...)

 

 

 

 

 

So many amazing memories when I think about Dodger Blue...

We beat the Padres 5-3 today. Matt Kemp hit a 2 run homerun. Clayton Kershaw went 3 innings with no earned runs (he wasn't 100% due to some sort of illness). I wore my Dodgers shirt to work proudly, a daring feat considering our entire warehouse is full of Angel fans.

It's going to be an exciting season now that we have the stability of Magic in the buying group that purchased the Dodgers from Frank McCourt. And, as of today, the Boys in Blue are undefeated.

Yeah. It's time to stop residing in the middle. From now on, I'm not a casual fan. From now on...

I bleed Dodger Blue.

Leaving on a jet plane...

... and I know exactly when I'll be back again.

Leave for NYC with Rachel tomorrow night. I like that phrase "leave for...". It makes us sound like we're going to Oregon Trail it across the country and face the perils of the open wilderness and dodge herds of bison and escape the clutches of dysentery... Can you believe I've never actually played Oregon Trail?

I love New York. I love Rachel and I in New York. Times Square. The Subway (and subsequently, getting lost on the subway...). Broadway shows. Amazing restaurants. Such a different pace from California. People move with purpose, which is interpreted as "people are rude." No, bro. They just know what they need to do and would rather not have your tourist ass in the way...

It's our one year anniversary on March 27th, next Tuesday. It doesn't feel like a year. It feels longer. It feels shorter. It hasn't been perfect, but it has been amazing, and I am the luckiest man in the world (cue cheesy music and doves being released and running towards each other on the beach...)

Time to sleep. Then... NYC tomorrow night!!!

Why am I so awake at 12:24am...

And not just tonight.

Every night.

Every single night.

Dead tired when I wake up. Tired at work. Tired on the drive home. Tired hanging out with Rachel and Chase after work. Tired during Chase's bath time. (Sidenote: If you're reading this, Rachel, I am sorry for so often being a downer when I get home from work. I'm also sorry for writing this in a blog instead of just telling you in person... [note to self: Tell Rachel you're sorry in person.])

Then, 10pm hits, and I'm awake. Super awake. Energetic want to accomplish things, write songs, play guitar, sing lyrics, delve into the pantheon of the world's music, do things to change the world awake...

Maybe after 10pm downstairs in my living room is my equivalent of this...

My Wedding Ring

Gets taken off when I take a shower.

Clinks when I do the dishes.

Still fits.

Feels amazing.

Is a part of me.



...


Happily around
my finger. Slid it on six
months ago today.

...

I love you, Rachel Pupa Montemayor.

Chemistry

It's so difficult to come by.

Chemistry. Communicating without speaking. Finishing each other's sentences (or musical phrases). Sharing a bond that goes beyond time spent and experience shared, transcends gaps in time, occurs naturally and without motive or artifice.

I've been lucky to share chemistry with some tremendously amazing and awesome and giving and downright rad people.

My wife. My brothers in music.

A new chapter is beginning. And current chapters are in full swing. It's an exciting time. And I can't wait to keep putting in the work...

Time suck...

I wonder how much time I wasted on the internet, tweeting, trolling facebook, watching TV this year...

Enough time to:
- learn how to do a proper drum roll?
- figure out how to format the metadata of an mp3 with album arwork and track details?
- write 30 more songs?
- read Chase 100 more books?
- take Rachel out to dinner 26 more times?
- write 50 more blog posts?
- see 15 more instances of live theater?

...

I should rethink the next time I want to use the excuse, "I didn't have enough time"...

It's Already December?!?

Today is the last day of November.  The cliche "Where has the time gone?" holds particularly true for me this year...

I have a one year old son.  I'm engaged to get married in 4 months.  I'm beginning to enjoy when things slow down as opposed to always trying to keep things at light speed.  But I'm also pleased with the knowledge that when I need and want to get things going, I still can.  Just not every weekend...

December is always a bittersweet month.  One year ending and another beginning.  Relaxing in the excess of the holiday season before the eventual countdown to the youthful rush of spring and summer.  "This portion of Glynn's blog has been brought to you by schmaltz (and it's connotation not denotation)..."

I'm wearing my Weezer t-shirt.

Chase is crying downstairs while Rachel is working on origami flowers for the wedding.

Glee is on in 52 minutes and Sean and Candace will be over soon to watch it with us.

I like facts.  They're easier to make up than interesting stories and far more entertaining, too...

"What's the point?" 

"... there's supposed to be a point...?"

Thanksgiving

The giving of thanks.  To whom are we giving said "thanks"...?

I'm thankful for:

- Rachel and Chase and my family.
- Oh Girl
- My health
- My job
- My friends
- Being alive during an age of such amazing opportunity
- Everything I have, everything I want, and everything I'm working for
- The moments when I stop and realize how lucky we really are...
- You.  Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving...

Fall Back

It's 8:57... on the clock, but in my head and to my body, it's really 9:57...

Fall always reminds me of certain things:

- my birthday
- meeting Rachel
- doing community theater shows with Tim Nelson
- Hockey and Basketball seasons starting
- the beginning of the holiday season
- wearing pants everyday instead of shorts

Now, fall will remind me of even more things:

- Chase's birthday
- when Oh Girl started

It's weird, but it never really occurred to me that Chase's and my birthday were so close together.  And now that I think about it... I wouldn't want it any other way.

Oh Girl show tonight.  Our 13th show in 13 months.  We've come a long way, but we've done it right this time.  Just let things happen.  There are too many things to try to bottle up and control and keep on a leash.  Would that we could all be so lucky to have something so out of control and fun in our lives...

Chase turns one in 4 days...

I've been a dad for 51 weeks...

My son Chase turns one a week from today.

Howzabout a recap of some things I've learned in the last 51 weeks...?

- Sleep can wait.
- The days you want to wake up early are typically after the nights that end up being difficult.
- Every parent becomes "that parent".  You know, the "let me show you the latest picture/ video of my kid because he/she is the cutest thing ever and can do no wrong" parent.
- I love Rachel more than anything.
- Chase is a closer than close second.  I'm talking billionths of a percentage point... (It hurts to admit that)
- Every child bruises the heck out of himself/herself within the first couple weeks of walking.
- My best songs are about my family.
- I totally get why my dad would just let my brother, sisters, and I cry some times when we were younger.
- It's really hard to not hold Chase until he falls asleep...
- Time flies... so fast...

You're almost one, bud...  I love you...