Yesterday finally had a good ending to it’s blue beginning. My lunch was good. It’s always good to connect with people and find that you have some common ground. I got back and had a nap in order to deal with the lack of sleep I had gotten the night before. I got the studio cleaned up and yet another coat of paint on the new studio door. I’m not sure if I mentioned it but replacing that door was a real ordeal. Then came the poker game. It was as if I could do no wrong. After a really long dry spell of cards, I’ve now had two games where almost all my play was spot on.
I did make probably one of the worst mistakes I’ve ever made in a game to date. I had a hand where I had seriously thought I had a straight. I ended up betting into the river with the belief I had it locked up. Only to get called and realized one of the cards wasn’t what I thought it was. We all got a laugh out of that. Actually I can’t remember if I’ve ever mistaken a card like that before. It cost me dearly. Fortunately I recovered and ended up winning the night.
It would seem that things are looking up after a very dark week a week and a half ago. Which is good for my mental health.
For a good friend of mine yesterday was the exact opposite. I’ve mentioned my friend Jeff Soto here numerous times. In case you didn’t know he was the new lead singer for Journey since last June or so. It was made official in December. Yesterday he found out he was fired when a press release was brought to his attention. Totally out of left field. Everything was on track for a new record by the band with Jeff being a part of it. Alas, it is no more. He has not been told the reason(s) for his departure. I wonder why this happens in a lot of bands?
Last night after poker I was discussing this with my friend Mike. He began telling me about his baseball exploits and how he was one of the most traded and let-go players in the league. Often times he got let go for no reason. No one would know right up to the point he’d get traded or canned. I’m trying to think if there’s been moments in my life where I didn’t know something like that would happen to me. But I can’t personally think of any.
Mark’s song probably is not about being canned. I haven’t gotten that in depth with the lyrics. But I was diggin on the heavy dark piano thing in the intro. It drew me in. It was the title that made me think of Jeff and his situation. I can understand the concept of being tricked. I think we all can. That is where I’m making that connection. Mark talks about diggin deeper and deeper. I believe all of us that never give up and understand that. Jeff has already mentioned this news will not stand in his way to carry on with his next musical move.
With Mark, I think his voice reminds me of good ‘ol American rock. Sorta like a page out of the band America with the influence of maybe John Cafferty (is that his name) and the Beaver Brown Band. I think that’s the guy that did the music and soundtrack stuff to Eddie and The Cruisers. Which is a great B-movie about a fictional band. I recommend renting it. Anyway, I sorta get that type of vibe of a timeless type feel to Mark. How could you not want to own something timeless?