Out With The Old

      First post of 2025! I don’t know why, but seeing 2025 written feels weird. So much more futuristic than 2024. I know that usually, once the year changes, it takes us all a little while to get used to it being a new year, but something about 2025 sticks out to me. I hope it’s just a little weirdness, nothing ominous about it. New Years was a bit of a bust. We went to hang out with my parents and sister. They don’t get out much, so it’s usually nice to go hang out with them. New Years is one of those times of year when it seems like a lot of “rookies” out. By “rookies,” I mean people who don’t party on a regular basis. Like those people who only go to church a couple of times a year, these people only party a couple of times a year, and try to squeeze it all into a day. They are annoying. Even at the grocery store, you can tell: These people are not used to shopping for a party. They walk around looking dumbfounded. I see them coming down the aisle, and I decide to go the other way. I’m not really into crowded discos anyway, I certainly don’t want to be there with a bunch of “rookies.” Plus, and this is becoming a greater part of it, the bulk of the people “out,” are not people I want to be spending my time with. Even when we do stay at the bar after dark, you start to notice the clientele change. People start to become younger and younger. I don’t wish to be around a bunch of people in their 20’s and 30’s. Sure, I love my daughter, but seeing her and her friends together is like fingernails on a chalkboard. We were so much cooler in our 20’s and 30’s. I’m sure everyone thinks that, but we really were! And, I also don’t care for much modern music, so there’s really no point in being “out.”

     Hanging with my parents was okay. They had just got a new puppy that day, so it seemed like a lot going on. Well, not really “going on,” more like following around a puppy to make sure nothing happened. The puppy was the center of attention. She is darling! Her name is Bella, she’s a 6-week-old Dachshund. She is very small, but full of energy. Luckily, she slept a lot. Sometimes I feel that they don’t even really want a dog, they just want something to keep their lap warm. It didn’t really feel like New Years Eve. We just kind of sat there watching TV like we usually do. We had snacks and stuff, and talked. But, we had just seen each other on the 27^th, so there wasn’t too much to say. Around 10, I suggested putting the TV on some of the NYE shows. What a bunch of crap that was! We saw one amusing show about things that happened in the last year, and it was entertaining, but all the “ball drop stuff” was just crap. I guess I’m getting too old. I used to find them entertaining, now it just seems like a joke. It didn’t feel like NYE without them, but then with them, it felt like the whole idea was moot. Just a bunch of stupid bits between commercials. Yay! Sorry, I didn’t want to start off the new year with such a piss-poor attitude, but that’s what’s happening. In lighter news, I am stoked to have JoZ practice tonight. Eruption’s drummer is sick, and has been for 2 weeks. That seems long. We have a gig coming up on the 18^th, and we haven’t played since the 16^th of November! Plus, we’re doing 2 sets, and we haven’t seen each other in over a month! Hopefully we can get two in before the show. But the drummer doesn’t like practicing the week of a show. Please let there be an exception this time! This is a new venue, and we’re the first act to play there. I’d like to make an impression.

     In other news: I quit the Heartbreak Hustlers. I’m kind of bummed about it. I really like the songs, and the vibe, and most of the band. But I just could not get along with the guitarist. He is a special kind of problem. I had never encountered such a person. I don’t know that I should really get into it all that much, even though all of the explanations have been racing through my head for days. The main thing for me is that he was making me angry, and I don’t want to be angry. I’m trying to be creative, and have fun, and he was keeping that from happening. I tried to “get along,” but he’s just not someone I would ever desire to spend time with, and the fact that he’s not a good team player, made it unbearable. I’m really mostly disappointed with myself, because I was having some serious negative imagery going on in my head. And I kept wondering: why? Why was this person making me feel this way? Well, not “making” me, but you know. What was I so upset about? He never really did anything, he’s just not a good teammate. He points the finger, but expects none to point at him. He gives “advice,” but won’t accept any. He’s basically just a piece of crap, and I don’t know why it infuriated me so. I have known for a while now. But last practice was the last straw. So, when practice was over, and he finally shut up, I let them know they had to find a replacement. It seemed like they expected it. I told them I’d play the gigs I already agreed to play. But now I wish I hadn’t. I don’t really want to see him again, and pretend everything is fine. The singer is the only reason I even bothered. She books all the shows, and it’s kind of her reputation on the line, and I don’t want to hurt her. But man, I hope they find another bass player soon, because at this point, I’m not 100% sure I can keep my mouth shut.