Baltimore, you are scaring me

I woke up this morning realizing that I've been lying to myself for a little while now. I've been saying to myself "I've been in Baltimore for 5 or 6 years." I've been saying this to other people as well. That's wrong. I moved here in September of (the year) 2000. Holy sh**! By my amazing math calculations, that's 7 years! how did that happen?

I like living where I do in the city. I like my house. But this morning, I was scaring the tea right out of my cup by reading about the car crashes and the fatal gun shootings. Then I wander over to Yerfdog's blog (he's now teaching in the B'more City School System) and scare myself even further. I'm scared for him, for the students and for all of us feeling the ripple effects of a school system that acts more as a babysitter than a place of learning. Hearing the stories, I don't know how teachers accomplish anything at all in the classroom.

So the question popped into my head: Have I truly made a mark on the Baltimore arts scene? Have I accomplished anything in my time here? I'm getting yet another ellen cherry band up and running with the hopes that this time, I'll have a quality album to push. I want to make a mark and make headway towards something bigger. Don't know how much bigger, but why not dream as big as possible? I have 2 reasonable goals: employ #1BB as part of the ellen cherry team full time and get health insurance coverage of some kind.

oh, and pay the mortgage with my earnings.
oh, and get a hybrid touring vehicle.
oh, and get someone who really knows what they are doing on publicity, distribution, and booking.
oh, and make a cool video with Michel Gondry.

simple goals, really.

After the April tour, I realized how tired I was of the solo touring. I want to play with others. And it would be nice to be able to pay them as well.

#1BB has jumped in on drums for this weekend because I really felt that Doo Da Lang had too much on his plate (just getting married and all) to ask him to be away this weekend. Patrick Kisicki (known from now on as PK) and Eli on bass fills out the rest of the 4 piece. We have a ways to go, but we're on the path, which feels nice. Enough sitting around writing about rock and roll. It's time to jump in the van, drive to NYC and play as loud as f***ing possible.