2.07.2012
2.02.2012
Things are different: Part 2
So where was I? Oh yeah, I had just landed in Chicago and was trying desperately to get home. Steph was in the hospital and she was only 32 weeks along.
I should mention, I'm writing this 3 years later. I fully intended on writing part two, but for some reason or another, never got around to it.
Back to the story: I locate the Budget Rent a Car facility and drive out of the airport, not really knowing where the fuck I'm going, because I've never driven from Ohare to home. I usually fly from Chicago to Peoria (hey, I'm cheap. I know ...it's like a 25 min flight). So I'm driving ... and getting lost quickly. I make what seems like 54 U-turns and find the interstate that goes south. I don't recall which one, probably I-90? By this time, it's easily midnight if not later. Do you know what toll-roads are? They're the way that IL robs people by way of annoying toll booths for each interstate. I should mention, I don't carry case, let alone change when I travel. The reason? It's one more thing to manage through the X-ray machines; don't bother with change. Fuck change. So I come across the toll booth, with no change and I'm in a hurry to get to Peoria. The toll booth lady let's me pass! Feeling pretty good, I drive on....
So at around 1:45am, the exhilaration of a free pass from the toll booth has long worn off and I'm chugging coffee from random gas stations, while driving. I didn't hit any deer or racoons (racoons is another business trip to Chicago, lol. There was literally blood on the rental car, lol!). So I make it to the hospital at around 2:30am in Peoria. Steph is pretty much sleepy or sleeping and I crash on the couch-thing they have there.
Around 8 or 9 the next morning, I get up and we get briefed on the status. If I recall, Steph water hadn't exactly broke, but it was leaky. Not sure how that works, but whatever. So we wait. No labor pains, no pain at all (that I recall Steph having). I, on the other hand, was pretty ragged from the adventure of getting home. Not a lot happened for a few hours. We ate breakfast, lounged around, watched tv (coincidentally, President Obama was in Peoria on that day) and we generally did a lot of waiting. So after lunch, it was 'decided' that it was safe for me to go home, shower and let the dog out and feed him. And that's what I did. I drove the 30 minutes back to Metamora and let the dog out, fed him and took a much needed shower. I remember not being the slightest bit worried about Steph going into labor. Not a care in the world. No labor yet. And labor is something that takes hours and hours, I'd have plenty of time. Plenty. I get dressed and sort of look around the house and notice how quiet it is. Afterall, this could be the last moments of peace around the house with kids coming.soon. I drive the 30 minutes back to the hospital. I hear the news report of possible traffic being backed up on I74 due to the President leaving town. So I take an alternate route to the hospital. I get there and park, go up to the 4th or 5th floor and walk into our room.
Both Steph and her mom say, "WHERE WERE YOU?"
For a split second, there's the reaction to be sarcastic. I could say, " Oh, I stopped and decided to build a barn on the side of the road. You know, for the poor". But I don't. Instead I mutter out the obvious answer.
"I went home and fed the dog and took a shower. What's going on?"
I look down and walk over to the chair to sit, not expecting what came next.
"You missed it, I had them." said Steph.
"What are y... WHEN?" I say.
"About 20 minutes ago, it was real fast..." said Steph.
You'll have to ask Steph for the actual events as I wasn't there. Needless to say, I was in complete shock and I couldn't believe that I'd missed it. I missed it, despite the accomplishment of making it home under cancelled flights and a 3 hour drive in the middle of the night. Unbelievable. That is the story of the birth of the twins, the race to get home and how I missed their birth.
I should mention, I'm writing this 3 years later. I fully intended on writing part two, but for some reason or another, never got around to it.
Back to the story: I locate the Budget Rent a Car facility and drive out of the airport, not really knowing where the fuck I'm going, because I've never driven from Ohare to home. I usually fly from Chicago to Peoria (hey, I'm cheap. I know ...it's like a 25 min flight). So I'm driving ... and getting lost quickly. I make what seems like 54 U-turns and find the interstate that goes south. I don't recall which one, probably I-90? By this time, it's easily midnight if not later. Do you know what toll-roads are? They're the way that IL robs people by way of annoying toll booths for each interstate. I should mention, I don't carry case, let alone change when I travel. The reason? It's one more thing to manage through the X-ray machines; don't bother with change. Fuck change. So I come across the toll booth, with no change and I'm in a hurry to get to Peoria. The toll booth lady let's me pass! Feeling pretty good, I drive on....
So at around 1:45am, the exhilaration of a free pass from the toll booth has long worn off and I'm chugging coffee from random gas stations, while driving. I didn't hit any deer or racoons (racoons is another business trip to Chicago, lol. There was literally blood on the rental car, lol!). So I make it to the hospital at around 2:30am in Peoria. Steph is pretty much sleepy or sleeping and I crash on the couch-thing they have there.
Around 8 or 9 the next morning, I get up and we get briefed on the status. If I recall, Steph water hadn't exactly broke, but it was leaky. Not sure how that works, but whatever. So we wait. No labor pains, no pain at all (that I recall Steph having). I, on the other hand, was pretty ragged from the adventure of getting home. Not a lot happened for a few hours. We ate breakfast, lounged around, watched tv (coincidentally, President Obama was in Peoria on that day) and we generally did a lot of waiting. So after lunch, it was 'decided' that it was safe for me to go home, shower and let the dog out and feed him. And that's what I did. I drove the 30 minutes back to Metamora and let the dog out, fed him and took a much needed shower. I remember not being the slightest bit worried about Steph going into labor. Not a care in the world. No labor yet. And labor is something that takes hours and hours, I'd have plenty of time. Plenty. I get dressed and sort of look around the house and notice how quiet it is. Afterall, this could be the last moments of peace around the house with kids coming.soon. I drive the 30 minutes back to the hospital. I hear the news report of possible traffic being backed up on I74 due to the President leaving town. So I take an alternate route to the hospital. I get there and park, go up to the 4th or 5th floor and walk into our room.
Both Steph and her mom say, "WHERE WERE YOU?"
For a split second, there's the reaction to be sarcastic. I could say, " Oh, I stopped and decided to build a barn on the side of the road. You know, for the poor". But I don't. Instead I mutter out the obvious answer.
"I went home and fed the dog and took a shower. What's going on?"
I look down and walk over to the chair to sit, not expecting what came next.
"You missed it, I had them." said Steph.
"What are y... WHEN?" I say.
"About 20 minutes ago, it was real fast..." said Steph.
You'll have to ask Steph for the actual events as I wasn't there. Needless to say, I was in complete shock and I couldn't believe that I'd missed it. I missed it, despite the accomplishment of making it home under cancelled flights and a 3 hour drive in the middle of the night. Unbelievable. That is the story of the birth of the twins, the race to get home and how I missed their birth.
12.15.2011
Tony Williams Fred, minus drums
I'm proud to announce that I've finished work on my drumless backing track! It took me about a month to complete and here it is!
Tony Williams' 'Fred' is one of those tunes you hear and it all changes. At least for me, that's how it was. The drums really make this track, as you can hear. Feel free to download, or do what ever with this. I only ask for the credit if you use the track.
Tony Williams' 'Fred' is one of those tunes you hear and it all changes. At least for me, that's how it was. The drums really make this track, as you can hear. Feel free to download, or do what ever with this. I only ask for the credit if you use the track.
11.08.2011
Sting's Wild Wild Sea
Not sure when I first heard this song, but I think I had rented Sting Unplugged from Hollywood Video while I was living on Forrest Hill in Peoria, IL. After watching it, I wasnt in a hurry to return it because it's that good. The song 'Wild Wild Sea' tells the story of a man who see's a ghost ship in the darkening sky. The man sleep walks into the sea, following the north star and the moon. He swims all night and finds himself on deck of a ship. Everything is silent around him. He then sleeps for what seems an eternity. When he awakens, he's in white linen and the sky is turning grey. Through the oncoming storm, he sees a sailor. When he gets close enough, he discovers it's his father. 'Lost in the wild, wild, sea refers to the ocean of emotions that he felt after his father died. The song, in my opinion is perfectly crafted around this story. And what personal story to tell. Perhaps thats why I like it so much.
10.25.2011
John Bonham's Last Zeppelin show
John Bonham's Last Zeppelin Show
I haven't downloaded this yet. And I don't remember hearing about John Bonham's death in 1980, I was only 4 years old. I never really got into Zeppelin until I was about 14. And I don't even remember why I got into it in the way I did. I remember it being a big deal to hear 'Stairway to Heaven' on the radio. The first Zeppelin album we had was probably Led Zeppelin II or the first album. It was on cassette. This was back in the days of no Internet. The days of having to order or look for 'Hammer of the Gods' in book form. There used to be bootlegs on sale at CoOp Records in Peoria, IL. Or you could look in the back of some magazines and find ads for live concerts for sale.
Not from that show, but close
10.24.2011
10.20.2011
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