There are two options to explain what happened this morning.
I went down to the crew gym on deck 1. Although I like the feeling of going down to a dungeon to work out (I believe that the less nice the gym is, the better workout you get. It's the Rocky III training theory), I was not a fan of how hot it is down there.
So, two options. EITHER - I ran a 5k in under 22 minutes after not having run for a couple months OR - the treadmill was not exactly accurate in its estimation of my speed and/or distance. Either way, I've dubbed it the self-esteem machine because it makes you feel like you're running REALLY fast.
PS - yes, the machine measures in Km, not miles.
PPS - whatever this movie is with Sandra Bullock who is going to get deported to Canada unless she marries her assistant...is pretty cute. Or, maybe I just really miss Sandra Bullock. Lot's of questions in today's blog. Not a lot of answers.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
How do you say "24" in Indonesian?
Well, I'm off on another one. After much prodding and begging and admitting she's wrong about lots of things, my Favorite prodder and beggar convinced me to write another blog. She did it under the guise of how Mrs. Mamola really likes my blogs, but I know that bridgett just can't handle not hearing from me every day. ...which is cute.
So, equipped with a box of matzah from Sharon's mom, Gayle, I flew to Miami to begin my 4th contract. This is kind of funny because when the band master asked me after my first contract if I wanted to come out again, I had to think long and hard.
When you are not a fancy band master and they put you up in a hotel overnight, you must share a room. So, here I am in a hotel room in Miami with a kid from Indonesia who speaks just enough English to...work in the engine room of a ship I suppose.
It was Monday and I knew 9:00 was rapidly approaching. He didn't really speak enough English to really follow American television fully, but, 24 was going to be on. I'm pretty sure ass-kickin' is a universal language, so I was going to put 24 on either way. He was pretty sleepy with the jet lag, so he didn't seem to mind some much. I'd like to think I brought jack bauer to indonesia.
When you need Jack bauer brought to Indonesia, there's only one man for the job: Me!
So, equipped with a box of matzah from Sharon's mom, Gayle, I flew to Miami to begin my 4th contract. This is kind of funny because when the band master asked me after my first contract if I wanted to come out again, I had to think long and hard.
When you are not a fancy band master and they put you up in a hotel overnight, you must share a room. So, here I am in a hotel room in Miami with a kid from Indonesia who speaks just enough English to...work in the engine room of a ship I suppose.
It was Monday and I knew 9:00 was rapidly approaching. He didn't really speak enough English to really follow American television fully, but, 24 was going to be on. I'm pretty sure ass-kickin' is a universal language, so I was going to put 24 on either way. He was pretty sleepy with the jet lag, so he didn't seem to mind some much. I'd like to think I brought jack bauer to indonesia.
When you need Jack bauer brought to Indonesia, there's only one man for the job: Me!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Sorry
Sorry I'm a bad blogger. Nothing terribly exciting happened the last couple of weeks. I did buy 2.375 L of Crown Royal for $30. That was cool. And I bought some fancy rum for Bridgett and Shane.
It was definitely the easiest of all my contracts thus far by far. In fact, I now see how much the deck was stacked against me on my first contract. This ship was free of drama, the music was easier, the work was less....
Plus, after about a week or so on the ship, my boss told me he was going to recommend me as a music manager (band master, music director...etc) to the head office. So, if I get back on, it wouldn't be as a sideman again. So, private cabin, room service, etc.
Again, sorry to all those who checked my blog regularly. I'm just a big dissapointment!
It was definitely the easiest of all my contracts thus far by far. In fact, I now see how much the deck was stacked against me on my first contract. This ship was free of drama, the music was easier, the work was less....
Plus, after about a week or so on the ship, my boss told me he was going to recommend me as a music manager (band master, music director...etc) to the head office. So, if I get back on, it wouldn't be as a sideman again. So, private cabin, room service, etc.
Again, sorry to all those who checked my blog regularly. I'm just a big dissapointment!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Free Time
Free Time
So,in the 60 hrs between 6am Jan 1 and 6pm Jan 3, I worked a grand total of....1.5 hrs. Of course, that's not consecutive...I had a break in the middle of the two 45 minute sets. I mean, i'm not a machine!
Yes, work is incredibly light on this ship. Sometimes I'm happy to have a set just to break things up. The only sets I don't like are the variety shows or the welcome aboard shows in which we play an opener and then sit for 20 minutes and then play a 3 minute song and then sit for 20 minutes and then play a closer. It's amazingly boring. At least sometimes they close the back curtain and we can get up and leave for 15 minutes. I'll go watch a bit of a football game. Some guys will grab a drink.But still, not so fun.
In order to fill time during our time off, many of the musicians have taken up foosball. Of all the novelty table games in the ping pong/air hockey family, foosball was always my worst. I mean, I'm terrible at it. But, after playing a lot over the last week, i've gotten...less terrible at it. Like anything else, it's amazing what skills people come up with when they do something a lot. It's like pool. Unless you watched a pro play, you'd never think of using spin and varying follow-through and all sorts of things that the real pros do. It's the same in foosball. Amazing the shots people come up with.
So, you see why I haven't blogged too much this contract. I mean, I just wrote an entire blog about foosball basically. Next, advanced rock/paper/scissors stragey.
By the way, I'm happy to see that gail and Steve Arnow are now followers of my blog.
Oh, also, the other night they showed the movie "Inglorious Basterds" in the main theatre. It's a great Tarrentino movie with Brad Pitt about an American squad of Jews sent to France to kill Nazis in World War II. A ficticious story, but very entertaining. Pretty violent at times if that's not your thing.
So,in the 60 hrs between 6am Jan 1 and 6pm Jan 3, I worked a grand total of....1.5 hrs. Of course, that's not consecutive...I had a break in the middle of the two 45 minute sets. I mean, i'm not a machine!
Yes, work is incredibly light on this ship. Sometimes I'm happy to have a set just to break things up. The only sets I don't like are the variety shows or the welcome aboard shows in which we play an opener and then sit for 20 minutes and then play a 3 minute song and then sit for 20 minutes and then play a closer. It's amazingly boring. At least sometimes they close the back curtain and we can get up and leave for 15 minutes. I'll go watch a bit of a football game. Some guys will grab a drink.But still, not so fun.
In order to fill time during our time off, many of the musicians have taken up foosball. Of all the novelty table games in the ping pong/air hockey family, foosball was always my worst. I mean, I'm terrible at it. But, after playing a lot over the last week, i've gotten...less terrible at it. Like anything else, it's amazing what skills people come up with when they do something a lot. It's like pool. Unless you watched a pro play, you'd never think of using spin and varying follow-through and all sorts of things that the real pros do. It's the same in foosball. Amazing the shots people come up with.
So, you see why I haven't blogged too much this contract. I mean, I just wrote an entire blog about foosball basically. Next, advanced rock/paper/scissors stragey.
By the way, I'm happy to see that gail and Steve Arnow are now followers of my blog.
Oh, also, the other night they showed the movie "Inglorious Basterds" in the main theatre. It's a great Tarrentino movie with Brad Pitt about an American squad of Jews sent to France to kill Nazis in World War II. A ficticious story, but very entertaining. Pretty violent at times if that's not your thing.
lunch
Lunch
So, it's been 2 weeks and I'm pretty sure I've yet to have a food entry other than my steak house fun on Christmas. I've found my new favorite lunch on the ship. I go to the passenger buffet and make a big salad with lots of fancy things like dates and raisins and cheeses and nuts and anything else that looks good on the buffet. Then I take a wheat roll. Then I go over to the grill and get a plain chicken breast which I cut up and put in the salad. It's so yummy!
Of course, right next to the grill is the pizza buffet....calling to me like sirens. I've been able to resist so far but it smells soooo good. This week I've allowed myself a pizza and ice cream dinner. Maybe even tomorrow night since tomorrow morning is a running day. Actually, I guess that would make tonight ideal since I'll burn off all the carbs on the run. Kind of like when Michael Scott "carboloaded" with fettucini alfredo right before a race. Ok, tonight OR tomorrow will be pizza and ice cream night.
So, it's been 2 weeks and I'm pretty sure I've yet to have a food entry other than my steak house fun on Christmas. I've found my new favorite lunch on the ship. I go to the passenger buffet and make a big salad with lots of fancy things like dates and raisins and cheeses and nuts and anything else that looks good on the buffet. Then I take a wheat roll. Then I go over to the grill and get a plain chicken breast which I cut up and put in the salad. It's so yummy!
Of course, right next to the grill is the pizza buffet....calling to me like sirens. I've been able to resist so far but it smells soooo good. This week I've allowed myself a pizza and ice cream dinner. Maybe even tomorrow night since tomorrow morning is a running day. Actually, I guess that would make tonight ideal since I'll burn off all the carbs on the run. Kind of like when Michael Scott "carboloaded" with fettucini alfredo right before a race. Ok, tonight OR tomorrow will be pizza and ice cream night.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
New years
Well, tonight is new years eve. Unlike Christmas, I don't have anything fancy planned. I didn't even get off the ship today. We have a soundcheck, 2 shows, and then we're playing a formal big band dance tonight for midnight.
However, I am famous. Or, I will be. They had me record the bell chime sound for midnight on the ship. They'll play that over the ship-wide intercom. So...I'm famous.
Fortunately for me, we're still an hour ahead of NY. So, what the ship is doing is celebrating midnight and then at 12:45 moving the ship's clock back an hour and celebrating again!
I know I don't write a lot, but honestly, my days have been: wake up, work out, eat, lay out, study a bit, eat, play shows. Doesn't leave much to write about. I haven't really gotten off the ship much. I think next cruise I'll try to go to the beach in St. Maarten and St. Thomas.
happy 2010!!!
Fun facts from 2009: I spent almost 4 months of the year in total on a cruise ship - my complete earnings this year came from working as a musician - I visited about 10 different countries - I ate wings almost every wednesday apart from the time i was on a ship and i was working on my brief wing experiment - I became an in-state student in Ohio - I made Passover dinner without any help for the first time - I had my 10 year high school reunion (but didn't go) - I won my 2009 fantasy football championship -
What are your 2009 highlights?
However, I am famous. Or, I will be. They had me record the bell chime sound for midnight on the ship. They'll play that over the ship-wide intercom. So...I'm famous.
Fortunately for me, we're still an hour ahead of NY. So, what the ship is doing is celebrating midnight and then at 12:45 moving the ship's clock back an hour and celebrating again!
I know I don't write a lot, but honestly, my days have been: wake up, work out, eat, lay out, study a bit, eat, play shows. Doesn't leave much to write about. I haven't really gotten off the ship much. I think next cruise I'll try to go to the beach in St. Maarten and St. Thomas.
happy 2010!!!
Fun facts from 2009: I spent almost 4 months of the year in total on a cruise ship - my complete earnings this year came from working as a musician - I visited about 10 different countries - I ate wings almost every wednesday apart from the time i was on a ship and i was working on my brief wing experiment - I became an in-state student in Ohio - I made Passover dinner without any help for the first time - I had my 10 year high school reunion (but didn't go) - I won my 2009 fantasy football championship -
What are your 2009 highlights?
Monday, December 28, 2009
Champion!
Champion!!!
I am pleased to announce that the Cincy Burninators are the 2009 Fantasy Football league Champions!!!!! I'd like to thank not Bridgett for her apathy, and Adrian Peterson.
Now, it is time to figure out how to spend my $240 in winnings. I am placing ideas into 2 main categories: a purchase, or an event. Quick thought: can you buy Bengals playoff tickets for $120 each? Prob not, right?
In terms of purchases, I was thinking things like satelite radio, a new car stereo, a painting? In terms of events, I was thinking maybe a plane ticket to somewhere fun or some sort of day trip. Maybe a weekend in Chicago or something like that.
For those who know me well, you know that I have a difficult time spending any sort of gift money. So, I need to make sure I come up with something or it will dissappear into the shallow recesses of my bank account.
Please leave thoughts!
WINNNNNAHHHHH!!!!!
I am pleased to announce that the Cincy Burninators are the 2009 Fantasy Football league Champions!!!!! I'd like to thank not Bridgett for her apathy, and Adrian Peterson.
Now, it is time to figure out how to spend my $240 in winnings. I am placing ideas into 2 main categories: a purchase, or an event. Quick thought: can you buy Bengals playoff tickets for $120 each? Prob not, right?
In terms of purchases, I was thinking things like satelite radio, a new car stereo, a painting? In terms of events, I was thinking maybe a plane ticket to somewhere fun or some sort of day trip. Maybe a weekend in Chicago or something like that.
For those who know me well, you know that I have a difficult time spending any sort of gift money. So, I need to make sure I come up with something or it will dissappear into the shallow recesses of my bank account.
Please leave thoughts!
WINNNNNAHHHHH!!!!!
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