The Day After

Saturday was a crazy-long day. Gymnastics meet, driving, laughter, long waits, bleachers, heart-palpitating events, gasps watching others fall from high bars, and cheers for great results from our girls.

Sunday, the day after, was a recovery day

...a day at a slow pace

...a day filled with contentment, rest, reading, fall weather, and watching my gymnasts have fun outside...just laughing and playing. 

Let me show you...

First, the day...A PERFECT FALL DAY!

Then, my sunset chairs, (or in this case, fall color chairs), complete with book, drink, and sounds of my girls laughing in the distance...

From every angle, including UP, the world was beautiful from the sunset chairs

Then I watched my girls engage in fall fun...

First, find kitty...

Second, place kitty in leaf pile (with "don't you like it?" being overheard)

Third, follow kitty into leaf pile

Fourth, mimic kitty in burrowing under leaf pile, and emerge fully covered

Finally, add a kitchen and guest room to their fort

What a joy to see them play. Not train, not compete, not focus on perfect kips, jumps, routines...

...just play. 

And you know what? I followed their example...it really was a fantastic day

...to just play.

19 Moments

"This very moment, 19 years ago, is a moment I'll never forget...I played a great round of golf with my brother, followed by a really good chat...oh, and I also got married later on"

That was going to be my post to recognize my wedding anniversary. While I thought it could be taken OK, with maybe a couple, "Oh, that Greg...what a dork", I think I can do a little better than that to recognize the most important human in my life (guitars aren't human, right?)

See? there I go again.

Here, now, I bring you 19 moments that remind me why I am the most blessed man on earth to marry such a great lady.

1. When you said You love me...

...as we leaned against my old Plymouth Laser in your parents driveway. Nothing makes me feel like I can conquer the world more than a loving woman by my side

2. When you read to me...

...on our trip to Branson, MO, (and most every other trip) you read to me so we could share together what you discovered in that crazy Interweb thing...it's like having my own Siri that truly understands me.

3. When you moved to sit closer to me on the couch...

...just last night. We are nearly at the end of Friday Night Lights, and even though I'm struggling with a lot of mental mumbo-jumbo right now, your nearness soothes me and gives me peace.

4. When I was the first one you called after your piano test...

...which was the only thing standing between you and college graduation...and our new life in Rochester

5. When you held my hand...

...as we walked around Lake Calhoun for the 30th time. I know "I had you at Rocky Rococco", but you held my hand...which we should caste in bronze because it's such a perfect fit, no human-fabricated machinery could do better

6. When you sang...

...the night we met...'Cry Me A River' if I recall. I drove home with Eric saying, "I REALLY like her!"

7. When you screamed...

...with me at Vally Fair the very next weekend. I know it was a group church event, and you had a new boyfriend, but he wasn't there, and you and I had a great day

8. When I prayed...

...at 16 years old that I would meet my future wife soon so I wouldn't have to go through "the whole meet new people thing"..and 4 months later met you (and proceeded to attempt to win you over for the next 6 months)

9. When you made me dinner...

...last night...and many nights. I know it's cliche, but it means so much...and it's so GOOD!

10. When we sang our duets together

...for church a few Saturdays ago...and at church youth events 23 years ago...each time brings me to love you more knowing that my feeble voice sounds awesome with yours.

11. When we shared an ice cream cone

...and you let me have the bottom...which you like, but you know is my favorite

12. When you suggested we go to Lacrosse for our 16th (?) anniversary...

...and we ate Rocky Rococco pizza, toured a brewrery, and visited Dave's Guitars. What a lady!

13. The way you were so strong...

...during our kids medical issues. Maybe we supported each other equally, but I should would not have done well without your eyes to stare into

14. When you walked down the isle...

...during our 'meet the bride' moment before the wedding so we could take pictures (to the tune of "Kiss the Girl). I know brides are supposed to look pretty, but you were absolutely stunning.

15. When you challenged me last week...

...to dive in to help the youth band. We both know going through the motions is not sustainable...and I think you know how much better things would be if I did

16. When you asked me to go...

...on Spring Break during college. What a great, fun, ...really fun trip

17. When you didn't get mad...or even roll your eyes...

...the 17th time I asked the sound guy to, "take the shrill out" during your mic check

18. When we were on stage together...

...at the Civic Theatre during any one of our many shows, and I caught your eye. Even in character, your sparkling eyes lit up my heart

19. When you said "Yes"...

...after I sang "Diamonds Dance On Gold" for you in my apartment and asked you to marry me.

Bonus: When you keep looking so crazy pretty...

...every day! For 19 years of marriage...and over 25 of knowing each other...so simply stunning to this day:

19 years ago:

Today:

~~~~~~~~~

I love you, Lady. What a crazy-amazing-scary-fun-sad-giggly-serious-worshipful-smiley adventure we've been on.

 ~~~~~~~~~

PS: I do have to say that I'm very glad I wasn't wearing the same shirt in those photos :-) Your love for me would have then included the moment when my whole wardrobe was fully replaced.

Song Insight: "Sunset Chairs"

Composer: Greg Hintermeister, ©2012
Arranged: Greg Hintermeister
Performed by: Greg Hintermeister
Recorded: 2012 in Hint of Light Studios
Emotions: Loss, regret, conviction, passion, energy, love, adventure!

Listen and Watch:                     Other song insights

Background:
I'm stoked about this song...about what it says, and how it ends. But as I finished the video I realized I've got a lot to learn from it still.

The song inspiration came from my blog post early summer 2011.

At the time I had been so busy with work that I didn't have time to do much of anything with the kids or wife...and my bible studying was nonexistent. My wife's brother and sister-in-law visited with their family, and while we sat outside under the wonderful summer air, I wrote the majority of the song that afternoon.

 The words, however, we're tweaked over the next several months. I knew what I wanted to say, and I knew I wanted minimal notes in the verses...which meant each word had to count. Further. The "first person" point of view changed in each verse, so I needed to make sure the listener knew who was speaking...and unlike a book or video, I couldn't use a narrative voice or quotes or even subtitles.

 I hope I pulled it off...you'll have to tell me.

 The full dream if mine for this work would be a short film of the blog post...where the detailed words are spoken and acted out..and then the character breaks into this song with visual memories, current exploration and conflict, and at the end a montage of all the adventures he has with what he finds. 

...

 The irony is that I am still failing to focus on what really matters. I guess I should read that post and listen to this song over and over so I don't forget. This summer has been especially hard with the kids schedule and my work schedule...we just haven't enjoyed each other nearly as much as we should.

 The fact that it's been over a month since my last blog post says something.

 But, we've got over 1/2 the summer and really the rest of the year to change my focus. I hope through this song that I can remember what's important to focus on in life... ...and maybe this song will help someone else, too.

 Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Technical Specifics:
Recording Unit: Cakewalk MIDI software, Soundscape DAW
Drums: Roland XV-5080 for all drums except Tom-toms: Alesis DM-Pro
Acoustic Guitar: Paul Reed Smith Tonare Grand Custom
Electric Guitar: Paul Reed Smith Hollowbody II
Guitar Amp: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
Acoustic Guitar Mics: 12th fret: CAD E100, 3ft back: Rode NT1
Electric Guitar Mics: close: Shure SM57;
Keyboard: beginning moody pad: XV-5080; synth pad at end: RD-500
Bass: XV-5080

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Recording Specifics:
 I thought I'd make this an acoustic song first. But then I thought a bit of drums might help. Once I got serious about arranging the song, I played through the whole song and while it had a great groove, I felt something was missing. While many songs I like to leave open-ended, I felt the ideas of this song needed resolution and to have the listener understand the potential of focusing on what is important.

 So...

 ...I came up with the ending 1:27 of rocking, solo-filled, screaming-fun ending that I love in songs. This was about the most fun I've had in recording. The drums I "programmed" over a couple weeks this spring, and the acoustic guitar in May. Finally for the week of the "fourth of July" holiday, I took the whole week off from work just to decompress from the crazy schedule we are finding ourselves in. I spent the better part of 3 days recording the keyboards, bass, guitars, and vocals. The end solo was the funnest I've had recording in a long time. Had to really work on some of those parts :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lyrics:

V1:

We are so far apart

You need to be re minded

Our time with you feeds us

Before we're grown lets grow together

CHORUS:

Lets meet at the sunset chairs

We'll find what matters there

We'll talk and laugh and play all night

We'll start our adventure there

Lessons learned and secrets shared

Show us how to grow up

So we'll find our life at the sunset chairs

V2:

We are so far apart

We said "I do" and promised

To have and hold our hearts

But now we're lost lets choose to fi-nd us

CHORUS:

Lets meet at the sunset chairs

We'll find what matters there

Love, joy, and hands to hold on tight

We'll start our adventure there

Raising kids and love to share

Living life together is how

We'll find our life at the sunset chairs

B:

Campfires, Eagles soar, fog caressing soul refreshing

Explore the reservoir, a daughter's fears, a father's failings

Frisbees and baseballs thrown, backyard tents, stars for gazing

But there's more I need out here

V3:

We are so far apart

You once asked me in your heart

Sold out, on fire, believer

Come back to me your life is waiting

CHORUS:

Meet me at the sunset chairs

You'll find me there

Sit down and rest by my side

We'll start our adventure there

Word studied and faith to share

Stand up and follow me to find

Your life at the sunset chairs

End:

I found my life at the sunset chairs

My kids, my wife, my God...They're all right there

I found my life at the sunset chairs

All the rest is behind me. It starts! right! here! Ya it starts right here!

I found my life!

I found my life!

I found my life...At the sunset chairs!

2012-05-19: Van Halen

05-19-2012: Van Halen

Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN

Went with: Myself

I knew it would be a good night when I pulled into the parking ramp and saw this:

The dedication and delight that a Van Halen fan showed with this custom tape job mimicking the coolest guitar design ever was a good sign.

I walked picked up my will-call ticket, and found my seat. I had just purchased my ticket the day before and it's become the BEST way to get tickets. For various reasons, Ticketmaster releases awesome seats after 4pm the day before the show. My seat was just 5 rows back from the stage, and 4 rows up...perfect viewing.

Now, there was a glitch: Ticketmaster online only gave me 'best available', and that was section 118...nice seats on stage right...but Eddie stood on stage left (I knew that by looking at tour photos and videos...confirming the side I wanted to be on). I called ticketmaster, learned I could order by section over the phone, and got section 102...right in front of Eddie!

The lights lowered, and the concert started with...

Kool and the Gang!

They were awesome! They had 11 guys on stage, and 3 were original members. They all played and sang great. At the end, when "Celebrate!" started, it was so fun to see all the rockers in the audience devil-horn saluting to a dance song :-)

And then Van Halen started.

Wow! Eddie and Alex (guitar, drums), were in top performing shape. Wolfgang (bass) was impressive as well. He did some bass tapping that was pretty cool. Part of me wished Michael Anthony was there, but I have a soft-spot watching Eddie and Wolfgang's father-son interaction. Very sweet.

Both Eddie and Wolfgang did some impressive backup vocals as well.

Diamond Dave?

He was a great ringleader. Did he sing great? No. Did he keep the audience entertained? Yup. He even did a few kicks and Karate jumps.

A most memorable moment was about 1/2 way through the show. They played "Dance the Night Away", and during the simmery interlude, Dave sang softly then they all came in to produce a fantastic 3-part harmony! 

Take a look at this video, and start at timestamp 2:04

Van Halen "Dance The Night Away" St.Paul, Mn

Wonderful! It proved he could sing when he wanted (or maybe when softer tones were needed), so I honestly don't know why he didn't sing more during the show. Maybe he just wanted to peacock around the stage...which he did a lot :-)

They played all the great songs: Ice Cream Man, Jump, Panama, and even a couple new songs that were really rockin.

Eddie's guitar solo was simply fantastic.

At the end of the show, it was almost like they wanted to pack as many songs into the show...but still get to bed at a reasonable hour :-)...

...David Lee Roth said "Here's our last song..." and sang it...then as they finished, he yelled "You want an encore!?!"...without leaving the stage or anything...very efficient! They then played "Jump!", and he clarified this was, in fact, the encore, by carrying around a 20 ft. "Finish Line" flag while confetti filled the air. No doubt they were done :-)

Jump! Video

I'm so glad I went. I don't think the music could have sounded any better, and while Diamond Dave was not at his singing prime, it was a joyous night.

Dream Gig

When I was 16 and started playing music in public, I dreamt of my future class reunion. Not in the "oh snap, I'm gonna miss these guys and hope to keep in touch" but in the "maybe at my 5 but definitely at my 10 year class reunion I'll come back from my dream gig where everyone will know me for my rockin' goodness, ask me to share a song and ask details about what makes my gig so dreamy".

Well, 26 years into music, I can say I'm in the middle of my dream gig right now.

I can picture the class reunion now. An old friend comes up and asks, "Hey, you ever get that dream gig?"

I respond: "you bet! Let me describe it to you:

• I gig 2-3 weekends a month, multiple gigs per weekend, well over 60 gigs per year
• I mainly play with one band but play as a sub in some other bands. All of them have their own styles and each are a blast to play in
• I practice with the bands on the Thursday before each gig to get the songs polished...and flirt with the vocalist. On a good night we hit it off and I end up taking her home for the night
• On weekends, we show up at the venue a few hours before the gig, where the stage is already set up for us
• The sound guy is ready, helps us get our sound dialed in, and is quite kind in our requests for stage monitor levels
• The venue sets out coffee, fruit, and doughnut holes. Once a month the venue provides us full meals...from pizza to burgers, to tacos, to stakes! We are at the point where we don't even ask for the bowl full of blue M&Ms!
• We play our set to an enthusiastic crowd who sing along to every word!
• The stage lights feel hot and I wouldn't have it any other way...I seem to thrive and play better when it's warm
• Unique to this kind of gig, the crowd is not focused on us, but that's the way we like it. 
• The songs rock! Sometimes we play slower songs but even then there's always an energy...a purpose to the lyrics...a message that we want to get across. Mostly, though, we rock out. Some gigs I'll pull out all my tricks and light up the song with my electric, whereas other gigs I'm on acoustic where others get to shine while I lay a rhythmic foundation.
• During the weekdays, in my downtime, I have a great day job challenging my brain to improve the user experience of commercial software. The bonus is that I get extra income so I can invest in music gear. I love the guitars I play, and the day job is the only reason I've been fortunate enough to play the guitars I do....and build a recording studio in my home so I can keep my composing and recording juices flowing."

"Wow!", they would say.

They would then ask how long I've been in this dream gig?

I'd respond, "15 years". And then add a sobering, "but I only recognized it as my dream gig for the last 2".

...and then they'd ask where I gig?

My response?

"My Church.  Crosswinds church. "

At that point the conversation could go in many directions, but that's not the point.

The point is that God knew what would be best for me and how to best use (and develop) my musical skills. He knew that while I learned guitar on Van Halen and Prince, He knew those skills would be needed one day at a church in Rochester, MN. I'm convinced that he opened the door to IBM solely because a church would one day exist that he knew would need me to serve there to help define the musical culture it would be known for...not so that we could brag about how cool we sound...but because a good rock song can speak to a broken heart much more deeply than the spoken word.

He also knew that I wasn't strong enough against all the temptations on the road so he hooked me up first with a christian high school band (Virtue), then later organized events for me to join Up With People, where I could tour the world and expand my skills in a somewhat sane environment.  Finally, he knew that being in the music business full time is very difficult and time consuming...and that I'm probably playing and composing more music now than I would be if I had to run a small business to promote, book, market, finance, repair, and run logistics for a band (although I'm still game if the opportunity presents itself :-) )

I love this church and the musical community that surrounds it. The funny thing is that the longer I play there, the more rockin the music gets. I hope that when I'm old and gray, some troubled heart who is certain God can't help him walks in, sits down, and mentally scoffs at the silver-haired guitarist walking on stage. He might raise an eyebrow when that guitarist straps on a (then) vintage PRS (or if said guitarist has his way...the latest PRS available). I hope he is first blown away by the dropped 'D' intro riff (becaue that will let his guard down), and then I hope his heart melts at the unplanned meeting with his Savior while the guitarist's fingers dance across the fretboard as the only backdrop that troubled heart would have accepted to engage in such an encounter.

Yep, I have my dream gig. No glory, no fame, no financial gain, and I take the same girl home after every gig.

I wouldn't change a thing.