My workout strategy was to have audio of Jillian Michaels yelling at me constantly. However, all I have been able to find on YouTube are videos of her making a ton of sense.
Video below.
In all seriousness, I am about as ADD as one can possibly be at 40. Well, almost 40. While it’s hard to get out of bed super early to do anything, it’s doubly tough when the workout routine is a bore.
That’s why I’m going in with my little cheat sheet of speeds and inclines and changing it up often. The trick long-term is being able to do this every day, and the key to that is variety in concert with striking while the weather is hot.
I despise winter. I don’t start projects during the winter, but I suspect I could carry on good habits as the weather cools. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, I’m still looking for good videos of Jillian yelling or kickin’ ass. This quick video of her talking about how to lose ab fat will have to do for now.
Weird, but I kind of like the music. This comes from DrewBl00d, one of my favorite YouTube channels. The guy is a DJ or some such, and all his online work is super artistic and often abstract.
Melanie’s 1970’s hit “Brand New Key,” which may be off my next set list under threat of violence from Toad. He has threatened to throw fruit at me if I play this. Will I or won’t I? Come check me out Jan. 24 at Othello’s in Norman …
rich girl - hall & oates
I was going to post another instrumental the other night, but my YouTube instincts told me to do a cover. Started messing around with one of my favorite songs of all time, “Rich Girl,” from legendary 1970s and 80s pop duo Hall & Oates.
The problem with this tune, for me, is that it’s not in my vocal range at all. Daryl Hall’s voice is not only better than 98 percent of the world’s, it is also way, way higher.
I could have changed the key to fit my voice, but I’m not a fan of transposing. Not only does it alter the song, it’s an administrative pain to write out a new lead sheet. Plus, I should sing more songs in a deeper register. There’s something kind of odd about it.
Alas, I ended up tricking the melody up. When I do it live, I’m pretty sure I’ll do it straight on.
merry christmas
Historically, Christmas has never been one of my favorite holidays. Its materialistic development over the last 25 years or so has run opposed to my enjoyment of it.
Hey, not that I didn’t like gifts as a kid.
However, now that I’m in my late 30s, each holiday is a chance to catch up with family and to chill. And, as I’ve made a priority to grow my faith from tiny pebbles to at least pebbles in 2008, the holiday takes on the traditional Christian significance as well.
But my favorite holidays are still Thanksgiving and New Years purely in terms of idealism — gratitude and new beginnings, although there’s much to be said in terms of Christmas for those, too.
Holiday music? Not into it. I’m listening to Keith Jarrett’s“The Koln Concert” from 1975.
Holiday weather? Not in Oklahoma. It’ll be 60 on Christmas Day and nearly 70 the day after, not that I’m complaining.
Before I scat for the holiday, here’s another instrumental piece I composed recently. I called it “The Magic Harvest” to signify the creation of something from nothing, which is both an artistic process and sort of an entrepreneurial one, both of which appeal to me.
I wanted the chorus to be big, to signify the creation of a new musical life, if you will. Hope you enjoy.
