I'm hanging in there....

I didnt do a whole lot today. I played some tennis with Gretchen. We just kind of bat the ball around. Later I took a walk down Carytown . It seemed like a Friday night even though its a Thursday. I wonder if people are anxious for the weekend. But a lot of folks were out tonight. A guy was singing "Walking After Midnight" and playing his banjo. Not bad. I tried to clean up my room which is a mess still. But most of the junk is gone. I am still broke and no word about a job. I think I got a gig up at a cafe in D.C. for mid June. They have to check back on the availability. But it would be nice. I've never played Washington, D.C. before really. Been around there, though. Its gonna be kinda neat.

I am still trying to lose weight. I still have a lot to lose. I hate the stares I get some times from people. Maybe they don't understand that I'm not a glutton or I'm not shoving in a big mac every chance I get. At least not anymore. ...... But I still don't know why its taking so long. Patience may be a virtue, but I sure wish it would make things happen. I won't think about it now. I'll think about it tomorrow.

My Thoughts On Singing....

I posted a video about what I think about it:


I am still getting over this bad cold. But I think I'll be back on the ball soon. Today I mailed a package for something I sold on amazon.com and then I went to the dry cleaners. Its not very exciting, but I'm very proud of it !

Battling this Spring Cold

I'm still kinda under the weather from this "spring cold" I've got. Its probably the worst cold I have ever had. Not so much in my chest, its all in my head. My ears are just so full of fluid. Its a wonder I was able to sing solo yesterday, but that's the power of prayer, for ya. I was glad I could do it.

I decided to take it easy so I probably won't go to the open mic up in Vienna today. People think I'm crazy to drive 100 miles to an open mic, but ya never know what can happen. I remember that's how I got a regular following in Harrisonburg, Virginia because I drove to play this little vegetarian diner one Thursday night. I enjoy hearing the other musicians too. There are some so good at open mics, you would normally have to pay to hear them.

So, I'm gonna take it easy this Memorial Day and just relax. Its such a nice day though and I can get to enjoy the great weather.



Peace!

M.

"Moved By The Spirit"

I sang a new Gospel tune I wrote for church this Sunday. They seemed to like it. Even with my cold I could hit the high notes. I was right surprised. The song would sound great with the choir behind me. Maybe some guitar and drums and horns too.
After that I took a long nap. Then we went to Bottom's Up Pizza tonight. We couldn't get our favorite Chesapeake Crab meat pizza. But we got a spinach and mushroom pizza that was right good.

I took a walk down carytown today and then all the way back to St James's Episcopal church. It was a nice 3 and half mile walk. I'm still 270 lbs though. I lost 30 lbs since I started in Spring of '05. But I haven't really been dieting. I just changed my eating habits a lot and am more physically active. I still have at least 70 lbs to lose before I am near normal. Most people think I look thinner than 270 lbs though which is nice. Maybe its because I have a body type that carries a lot of weight well.

Patsy Cline on My Hi Fi !

I put on an old Patsy Cline record I got at Plan 9. Its about 43 years old and sounds pretty sweet:

Misunderstood.....

This is a song from my first album "Songs By Meade Skelton". It sounds kinda stalker-ish but its a nice ballad, I think

I hate being Fat....

This lady on youtube made a video on why she hates fat Christians. As a fat Christian, I used one of my latest video blogs as a response. Which ironically, I made before I saw her video.

Today was dad's birthday

He is 73. He wanted to nap most of the day. Bonnie came over from Williamsburg. We bought him a German Chocolate cake. Later we went to McDonald's where I bought a Happy Meal. I just love Happy Meals! I got a toy and everything. They sure are slowwww though at the one in Carytown. Its a very uptown kind of McDonald's (it has a HDTV and everything). But the staff is slow even by Richmond standards. I guess good help is hard to find these days. We found 11$ the other day on one of our walks. I guess thats pretty lucky, I guess.

Kate Campbell

I went to see Kate Campbell tonight. She was playing at my church. The show was free so that was a plus. But she sure is good. I always wondered about the difference between country and folk. Folk singers tend to talk a bit more and are storytellers. Country is a bit more commercial. But she was a great storyteller, singer, and songwriter. She could play the guitar like it was sort of a band- kind of the way I do with the keyboard. My favorite song I think was "Funeral Food". She's a very southern lady, and wrote a lot of songs about The South. She is also a Christian, and did a few Gospel numbers. She's pretty cool, so I recommend folks check her out. Later on, I watched "Rear Window". I think Sundays will be movie nights since I'm a tad too busy during the week. I totally enjoyed this weekend of great music and live performances. When I'm not playing on the bill, I can enjoy the music more. When I listen to others when I'm playing, I'm too nervous to really enjoy it. I wish I could get out to see shows more often. Maybe I will.

A Closer Walk With Patsy

I saw "A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline" at the Byrd Theater tonight. Its a benefit show to keep the theater afloat. It was pretty good and like I remember it 11 years ago when I saw it around my 17th Birthday. The acoustics are a lot better than Theater Virginia. Julie Johnson sang the numbers and played Patsy Cline. She doesn't really sound like her- but shes very talented and her voice is very powerful. Another thing I like is she doesn't try too hard to force that Patsy Cline sound like some do. I sure enjoyed the program and it was really a swell evening. I wish I had a girlfriend to take though instead of my sister. I guess my sister was my date for the evening

Tuesday is my least favorite day of the week.....

Which is why I'm glad its Wednesday. Anyways, I got word that the benefit show up in Purcellville was canceled. It was for the Loudoun County Animal Shelter and I was very looking forward to playing. But they said they couldn't get enough vendors for it. I did manage to get the Ukrop's in Short Pump to consider booking me for next month. They said they can pay me 50$. Its barely anything, but it would help.

I am so very broke right now, I'm becoming almost desperate for money. I'm willing to do anything for money. Nothing illegal of course. But I am willing to play music that I don't even like as long as I can get paid. My father keeps telling me how he can barely afford taxes on our house. He is going to be 73 next week. He keeps asking me when I'll be working. He realizes music is work, but because I hardly make much money from it, he doesn't consider it "real work". But the idea of working in an office really would disturb me. I have to consider things a bit. Ultimately, I will start my own business, but I need money to do that too.

Live : From Strawberry Street !

I was getting in under the wire this year but they let me play a slot at the Strawberry Street Festival. Its only blocks from my house, so it certainly is the most convenient gig I've had thus far. The jump rope team cancelled so I went on about 12:30. I did some of my newer songs: "Shopping For Love", "Running On Empty", "I Know I can Win", and a few others. Only a 30 minute set, but at least it was sunny enough and I didn't get electrocuted. A couple of folks from where I worked at Barnes And Noble last Christmas were there. I'm not sure if they came to see me, or they were just surprised. Anyways they didn't seem to hate it. I worked with them in the music department. Regan was the host. She used to play with Floating Folk and is pretty well known regionally as a contemporary folk singer, but she has taken a break. She just had a baby, so I suppose she doesn't want to tour any time soon.

We finished the podcast. This time its Buck Gooter

I didn't get the job at the I-talian Restaurant......

I didn't get the job at Maggiano's in Short Pump. But the whole thing is very weird. The guy posted an ad saying he wanted hosts, and people to handle carryout orders. Well when I met him, he looked at my resume, and told me I had no restaurant experience ( I did work at the Starbucks in Barnes and Noble), and that he was only looking for waiters. His ad said nothing about looking for waiters or that experience was needed. And, I think its just like what happened at Baker's Crust. I went to Baker's Crust for an interview and got the job. The guy said I had a week to give an answer. So a few days later I called back and got the other manager, and told him I had accepted the job. But that manager told me he had to confirm with the manager who interviewed me and he was out of town. Well I waited a few weeks, but never got a call back. So I called myself, and the manager told me they had already hired someone else ! They basically lied to me about the whole thing. I don't like liars and I hate lying. I guess thats why God hates lying so much too. It really hurts people and causes more trouble than its worth.

Saw The Queen on The Big Screen....

I didnt get downtown in time enough to get on the lawn on the Capital. They closed it all off after 1 P.M. So like many others, I had to walk around and then I found a spot on Main Street where a small mass of people huddled in the light drizzle. We were about 200 yards from the actual Capital building and I could see the Queen on a big screen and was able to get a few snapshots. People were giving her flowers and such. I saw her hat mostly. Then I saw her wave to everyone. The whole thing didn't last very long. I'd say about 5 minutes tops. I guess she didn't want to get shot at. So once she entered inside the Capital building, everyone left. But you could see what was going on inside. I suppose I could have just watched it at home on TV. But there was something exciting about being within so close range of Her Majesty.

I'm not sure her blood is as blue as mine , though. I come through The Plantagenate line. The Meades, Skeltons, and The Randolphs are all descended through that line. I sure hope she enjoys herself. She was in Williamsburg today, but I was too lazy to drive over and see her. Then she's off to the Kentucky Derby.

Today is pretty warm...

About 92 or something. Its warm for early May anyway. Usually its another month before it gets this hot. But I enjoy it. I need to be careful of going into the sun. My milky white skin is no match for this heat. My arms have turned red from all the biking I have been doing. I hope we can see the Queen tomorrow.

Here's a personality test:

Extraversion |||||||||||||||||||| 86%
Stability |||||||||||| 43%
Orderliness |||| 13%
Accommodation |||||||||||||||| 63%
Interdependence |||||||||||||| 56%
Intellectual |||||||||| 36%
Mystical |||||||||||||||| 70%
Artistic |||||||||||||||||||| 90%
Religious |||||||||||||||||||| 90%
Hedonism |||| 16%
Materialism |||||||||| 36%
Narcissism |||||||||||||||| 63%
Adventurousness |||||||||||||||| 70%
Work ethic |||||||||||| 43%
Self absorbed |||||||||||||||| 63%
Conflict seeking |||||| 23%
Need to dominate |||||||||||||| 56%

Romantic |||||||||||||||| 70%
Avoidant |||||||||| 36%
Anti-authority |||||||||||||||||| 76%
Wealth |||||| 30%
Dependency |||||| 23%
Change averse |||||| 30%
Cautiousness |||||||||||| 50%
Individuality |||||||||||||||||||| 90%
Sexuality |||| 16%
Peter pan complex |||||||||||||||||||| 83%
Physical security |||||||||||||||||| 76%
Physical fitness |||||| 30%
Histrionic |||||||||||||||||||| 83%
Paranoia |||||||||||| 50%
Vanity |||||||||||||||| 70%
Hypersensitivity |||||||||||||||||||| 83%
Female cliche |||||||||| 36%

Stability results were moderately low which suggests you are worrying, insecure, emotional, and anxious.

Orderliness results were very low which suggests you are overly flexible, improvised, and fun seeking at the expense too often of reliability, work ethic, and long term accomplishment.

Extraversion results were very high which suggests you are overly talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting at the expense too often of developing your own individual interests and internally based identity.

trait snapshot:
messy, outgoing, open, self revealing, ambivalent about chaos, unpredictable, not good at saving money, social, likes large parties, likes to stand out, risk taker, quick to make friends, does not like to be alone, rash, fame seeking, sarcastic, craves attention, social chameleon, low self control, food lover, not rule conscious, weird, assertive, not a perfectionist, anti-authority, thrill seeker, vain, likes to fit in, reckless, emotionally sensitive, leisurely, trusting