shawndaddy

It's about 4pm and I'm just sitting down at home after another long day at work. I know 4pm doesn't sound like much of a late day, but when you got to the office at 4:45am, it really is.

Life has been a real whirlwind lately. Between balancing a career and a family, it can be amazingly difficult to find time for things. There are countless people, all very dear to me, that I've been unable to make time for. Not because they aren't important to me or anything.. it's just that I only have so many hours in the day. I wake up for work at 4am, work hard from anywhere between 8-11 hours each day before fighting traffic to get home. Once I get home, I get back on the computer to work some more. Luckily the majority of my job can be done from my laptop, so I can get a lot done from home. Besides, my boss was kind enough to buy me this new laptop after mine died and I'll be damned if I don't work my ass off for him to earn it. By the time I'm done working, I have just enough time to try to unwind with a little music and a cigar, maybe catch up on a show on tivo. Then it's dinner and bed.

Lather.Rinse.Repeat.

Don't get me wrong. I love my life. I'm grateful for EVERYTHING I have and I know damn well that far too many people have it worse. I'm just saying I've been a busy mo' fo' lately.

I'd like to take a moment to thank a few people who've really helped me enjoy the small amount of chill time I have..
The great Machito


Charlie Parker


and of course, Dizzy Gillespie


....to name a few.

I know some people hate it, but Jazz has really been instrumental (no pun intended) in helping me relax when I actually have a chance. The longest lasting love affair of my life has been, and always will be, with music. Few things can change my mood as quickly or stir up a memory as vividly for me as music. I'm so incredibly glad that Christa and I chose to take the extra bedroom in our house and make it a music room. I love it. Ever damn bit of it. I love looking at my record collection and picking an album to listen to. I love how careful I have to be putting that needle down on the record. Hell, I even love the fact that my dog refuses to let me relax without coming up to bug me at least every 15 minutes. The best part though, is sharing my favorite music with the people I love. To me, it can seem as personal as opening up a page in a diary. Sometimes it leads to great conversations. Sometimes we just sit silently and reflect on things.

I know I'm rambling on a bit, but I also realize that few people will be bored enough to read this journal anyway. I guess I was just in the mood to write today.

Well, it's time to get up and flip my record over. I also seem to be in need of more scotch.

I hope everyone out there is having a good start to the holidays. Don't let yourself get too busy to enjoy the little (or big) things that make life what it is.