Erasing Musical Boundaries

Yes, this is still my life...

Ever have one of those moments when you go..."I can't believe this is my life"? It's as if you're watching from the sidelines going, "Man if I was you I'd be so lucky right now."

Well, I'm in Atlantic Beach, Florida, staying in a 3.5 million dollar home with 2 great friends and an acquaintance who’s a great friend of theirs. None of us lives here and none of us is paying to stay here, just happens to be a house of a friend who happens to be away for a few weeks and blah blah blah.

The really great thing isn't the beach-front property or the $150 this vacation cost me, but the fact that you probably haven't heard from me (at least not anything creative and interesting) in the 1.5 years since I've been in Nashville and haven't traveled out of town. What is it about traveling that inspires me to write? I do apologize for the delay and hope you'll take the time to read through the rest and maybe even write back. :0'

You might wonder what it is that makes a 3.5 million dollar home worth so much, well, good question. It's a great house and goes on forever but basically...location, location, location. Duh! Yes, it's got 4 decks, including the biggest one off of the detached garage, 5 sofas, 8 african drums, a 15 year old African parrot, 4 showers including the one outside (my favorite), and yes it could sleep an army but it's more cozy than you'd think. Not cavernous or chillingly modern. Goes without saying that the cherry on the sundae for me has been the 2 resident dogs that I didn't know would be here. Loki the dumb as a button and cute as a doornail weimaraner and Sammie the alpha terrier. I miss Chauncey terribly but I'm sure she's having a blast without me and having 2 canines to spoil in her absence makes me feel a bit better about leaving her behind.

One of the first things you'd notice (were you lucky enough to be here like I am) is the vast population of tailless lizards sharing the property. Wandering not as aimlessly as they once did since they now know what their nemesis looks like and his name is Loki. Yes, Loki de-tails the poor unsuspecting creatures. Not easily mind you. It's quite a sight to see his two-year-old muscular form tied in knots trying to get around numerous planters, bushes, steps, a grill, a bird bath, 6 chairs and a table as quickly as his miniscule prey. We should all have such determination. I must admit while I understand the animal instinct that necessitates this horrible 'deflowering,' it hurts to watch. Of course Loki doesn't mean any harm. Reminds me of a friend’s defense for his misbehaving child. As if the absence of malice is an all-redeeming quality as opposed to more appropriately 'not the point'.

Joey, the African parrot with what appears to be his own room, is the resident prankster. Not only can this bird pull off impersonations of the master of the house and what I presume to be his wife, but also imitates the creaking of the kitchen cabinets, sneezes, knocks on the front door and what I swear are numerous accents. He says things like "Loki, come here boy" and "Go to sleep puppy." He'll often make a knocking noise 3 times and sing 'Hello" so you immediately answer back and hurry to the door to see who it is that's come to visit. I haven't heard him laugh out loud but I imagine he does that quietly to himself plenty.

No real mishaps, plane was on time, safe enough, no one made me chat with them. Weather was beautiful every day and every night, no splinters from the boardwalk or blisters from the sun, no phone calls from my dad...or my bank, yep everything was real smooth. The only thing that could have gone better was that whole beached whale thing and my dislocated shoulder. She really didn't look that heavy and one can only assume with the slope of the sand and the curve of their bodies they'd be easy enough to roll right back into the surf, but let this be a lesson to you and don't try this at home. For every wave that gets carried out, one’s coming back to shore, and if you ever try saving a beached whale be sure you don't sign a waiver and get the hell out from under them as quickly as possible after that first big push!

With my good arm I was kind enough to leave behind a note for the generous home owners letting them know how much we all loved their space and that next time would be even better if they could please: make sure the front burner on the stove gets fixed, teach Joey a few new phrases (and if at all possible my name), extend the kitchen counter top so it's higher and more comfortable to sit at, program the remote controls for 'dummy usage,' extend the shelves of the staircase so they are easier to get down with a hangover, move the master bath to the back corner of the house so there is an ocean view from the tub and, if it's not too much to ask, more Petrone in the liquor cabinet please!

I can't wait to get my invitation back. :)'

It was a great 5 days filled with plenty of and nothing but ocean, sand, naps, music, reading, drinking, eating and bonding with friends. It just doesn't get much better than that. Back to the real world in Nashville. Also a great place to be ...but somehow it seemed better last week.