Year One - reflecting on the big move and where I am...

So, April 15th marked my 1 year anniversary with Taylor Guitars, and just about a year since I moved from NY...  It's been a whirlwind for sure.  Went by really quick, and left me largely ignoring this blog...

I am thinking about changing the name of this blog to "The Accidental Blogger".  That is what it feels like what I do when I blog - I seem to do them with such IRREGULARITY that it seems like it is on accident!

I guess that just means that either A) I am incredibly busy - which is true...B) I don't like blogging - which is false...C) I am a lazy bastid when it comes to this - ALSO TRUE!

Really, though, life has been pretty good for the most part.  Work is going well, it seems.  I had a strong showing in the First quarter this year (though I am still not satisfied...).  Financially I am no longer toeing the line between 'credit nightmare' and 'what is wrong with you?' - that is a nice feeling.

Not everything has been sunshine, candy canes, and faerie dust, though.  I got rewarded for my sales efforts in Q1, but then about HALF of that got wiped out by my transmission needing a rebuild.  I was so, so, so angry and disappointed.  F*ck you, Ford!

The only good thing?  I had the money to pay for it...so that is the ever so thin silver lining.  Plus, I know that everything else is good on the car (for now), so it's one less thing to worry about (again, for now).

Let's see...what else...

Well, renewed the lease on my apartment for another year.  The goal is to stay there another year, get the debt gone, and hopefully in another 18 months I will buy a place.  I'd love a house, but it seems like the price of real estate is so high where I want to live...I just can't do it.  Plus, some of the condos around me are pretty damn big, affordable, and nice!

Travelling has been off the hook this year.  I have been home only 10 more days than I have been on the road so far this year.  Freaky.  I joke that I pay a lot of money for a furnished storage space with a pool (my apartment)...  But hey, it's part of the gig.

Frankly I DO enjoy the change of scenery.  I complain about it but let's look at the facts:  I wake up every day and get to sell some of the best guitars on the PLANET.  My stress level is lower than it may have ever been.  I think I have the respect of my co-workers.  So if the price for that is travelling, so be it.  I am sure one day it'll get more under control and regulate itself.  Maybe?

I started doing more recording again...the Jimi Hoffa Experience is up and running again!  Working on a cover of "Hey Bulldog" by the Beatles, and then next I think I may destroy "I'm Not in Love" by 10cc.  After that, I was thinking something REALLY stupid like a punk version of "Goody Two Shoes" by Adam Ant.  I'm also writing some original stuff...just not too happy with it all at the moment.  It'll get there.

My gear collection has expanded again.  Have about 10 guitars now and a couple of basses, picked up a second-hand Axe-Fx again, a Bad Cat Cougar 5 amp that sounds AWESOME, and some cool mics and stuff.  NOW I just need the time to use all of this stuff!!!

Last thing I need to do is really, really work on diet and fitness again.  It's been really difficult the past year with injuring my back and stuff.  I haven't really been able to run - I wind up being out of commission for a few days after I try - but it is improving and the recovery time has been better.  I have been walking...I'm just not doing enough though.  It's such a hard balance to achieve...  I'll get there - like everything else, it just takes time.

Photography is definitively on the back burner until I achieve a zero debt position.  That will be my gift to myself when I hit that point.  I sold all my stuff to pay down some bills, and really, it was the right decision at this point.  I'm sad that I haven't gotten back to it yet, but I WILL and it will be fantastic.

It's funny...the hardest decision I'm having to make recently is where to go on vacation in the summer.  It feels good! 

Bottom line, things could be way, way worse for me.  I guess that is another big reason why I haven't been blogging - I use this blog to vent and throw my emotions out for all to see (though not many read it).  It's a very cathartic experience for me.  I keep saying I need to do it more - I guess I just need to DO IT like everything else I have to work to achieve.

That's all I got for now...I am up way too late and need to do sales training with one of my accounts in the morning.  'Til next time...

 - M