After the scare w/my blood pressure, I went for my follow up visits (one was today). The medicine that was prescribed to me is working. When I left the Dr. Today, my blood pressure was 130/82. It was as high as 200/140. When the Dr. told me that I could have has a stroke at any time, it scared the hell out of me (I really try not to use profanity, but that was how I felt).
She told me that I need to get moving and do some exercising. I want to get down to 200lbs and I'm at 325lbs. I can't make excuses anymore or be lazy. My life depends on me doing exactly what the Dr. says. Musicians have told me that my playing will improve dramatically when the weight comes down.
Here's the bottom line: I want to be around for a long time to see my daughter grow up and to mature w/my wife (I'm not getting older, but better!). Also, I want to accomplish so much more musically. I can't do anything if I'm in the hospital or dead. I will place more postings on my health and weight loss on this blog.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Scary Situation
On Wednesday, I had to go to the emergency room. My blood pressure went really high. I was feeling faint and dizzy. Once I got to the emergency room and checked in, my blood pressure went down. For the first time, I was prescribed blood pressure medication. Yesterday, I stayed home from work and slept most of the time. Today, against every body's request, I decided to come to work. I feel OK and I couldn't get a Dr's appointment until after 3:00;I didn't want to be at home by myself.
The last two days have reminded me of my own mortality. I won't be here forever and I have people who look for me to be there for them. If God decides that my time is up at 35, that's fine;however, I don't want to shorten my time on Earth because of bad decisions. I need to be visiting the doctor on a regular basis and eating the right things.
This time has also allowed me to rethink my playing situation. There have been weeks where I have to be somewhere everyday after work for a rehearsal or gig. The money has been good, but I have spent as much time with my wife and daughter as I should have. Some stuff may have to go at the end of the school year. Maybe private teaching. I really don't know.
The last two days have reminded me of my own mortality. I won't be here forever and I have people who look for me to be there for them. If God decides that my time is up at 35, that's fine;however, I don't want to shorten my time on Earth because of bad decisions. I need to be visiting the doctor on a regular basis and eating the right things.
This time has also allowed me to rethink my playing situation. There have been weeks where I have to be somewhere everyday after work for a rehearsal or gig. The money has been good, but I have spent as much time with my wife and daughter as I should have. Some stuff may have to go at the end of the school year. Maybe private teaching. I really don't know.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Lots of Stuff
It has been two weeks since my last posting. A lot of things have happened musically that I want to share.
1.On March 20, I did a gig with Organized Time and Nicole Chemelli. I didn't meet Nicole until that night and I was totally blown away by her voice. She reminds me so much of Billie Holiday. It was a real joy playing with these guys again and it turn out that I may be performing with them this summer.
2. On Saturdays, I have my weekly gig with Serenata Band. Some Saturdays sound really good and others sound just OK. I will not say that the OK days sound terrible; I really think that sometime people get tired of playing the same material. Rehearsal will solve the problem and we will be able to rehearse in the next 2 weeks.
3. The Quarter version of Serenata Band has been playing at the Endeun Lounge on Marietta St. in Atlanta. There hasn't been much of a crowd yet; the lounge opened back up about 6 weeks ago. It's been a fun gig, but sometimes it's just makes for a long day on Tuesdays.
4. The "Unseen Forces" concert will be at the Three Bears Cafe in Marietta, GA on Thursday April 17. My Electro-Acoustic piece, "March to Exile" will be played over the cafe's PA system. Also, on the same day, I will be playing w/ Serenata Band at Georgia Perimeter College, Dunwoody campus, for the Annual "Jazz on the Lawn" Series.
5. ON April 12th, I'll be playing with the Greg McLean Quintet for a private event.
6. Serenata Band will be one of the featured artists for the upcoming Atlanta Jazz Festival. We have to have our stuff together if we plan on doing a great show.
7. On April 28th, The GPC Jazz Ensemble (I play lead alto) will have for it's guest Artist Sam Skelton. Sam was my former saxophone teacher at Georgia State University. EVERY time I hear Sam, it reminds me of how much I need to practice on a regular basis.
8.Tonight, I may can get a radio interview!!!!! I'll have more details later.
9. I hope to start by graduate work no later than Winter 2009. I really want to major in composition, but I realize that to write music, I don't need a degree. I just need to write and find a good teacher to help me occasionally. Hopefully, I'll decide soon what I want to do about declaring a mojor. Whatever I decide to do will affect everything else that I'm doing.
That's about it for now. I'll be back!!@#
1.On March 20, I did a gig with Organized Time and Nicole Chemelli. I didn't meet Nicole until that night and I was totally blown away by her voice. She reminds me so much of Billie Holiday. It was a real joy playing with these guys again and it turn out that I may be performing with them this summer.
2. On Saturdays, I have my weekly gig with Serenata Band. Some Saturdays sound really good and others sound just OK. I will not say that the OK days sound terrible; I really think that sometime people get tired of playing the same material. Rehearsal will solve the problem and we will be able to rehearse in the next 2 weeks.
3. The Quarter version of Serenata Band has been playing at the Endeun Lounge on Marietta St. in Atlanta. There hasn't been much of a crowd yet; the lounge opened back up about 6 weeks ago. It's been a fun gig, but sometimes it's just makes for a long day on Tuesdays.
4. The "Unseen Forces" concert will be at the Three Bears Cafe in Marietta, GA on Thursday April 17. My Electro-Acoustic piece, "March to Exile" will be played over the cafe's PA system. Also, on the same day, I will be playing w/ Serenata Band at Georgia Perimeter College, Dunwoody campus, for the Annual "Jazz on the Lawn" Series.
5. ON April 12th, I'll be playing with the Greg McLean Quintet for a private event.
6. Serenata Band will be one of the featured artists for the upcoming Atlanta Jazz Festival. We have to have our stuff together if we plan on doing a great show.
7. On April 28th, The GPC Jazz Ensemble (I play lead alto) will have for it's guest Artist Sam Skelton. Sam was my former saxophone teacher at Georgia State University. EVERY time I hear Sam, it reminds me of how much I need to practice on a regular basis.
8.Tonight, I may can get a radio interview!!!!! I'll have more details later.
9. I hope to start by graduate work no later than Winter 2009. I really want to major in composition, but I realize that to write music, I don't need a degree. I just need to write and find a good teacher to help me occasionally. Hopefully, I'll decide soon what I want to do about declaring a mojor. Whatever I decide to do will affect everything else that I'm doing.
That's about it for now. I'll be back!!@#
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