I'm not dead yet !

Some people would tell me to pack my bags and go home. You're over 30- its too late to do anything in the entertainment industry- or at the very best, my time to "make it" is running short. Thats a load of horsepucky! While its true, I may never be a household name such as spatula, I WILL make it. Because I'm not the kind of person to give up easy. The truth is, I've already made 3 albums, released a vinyl single, have appeared on countless write ups, and even wrote a theme song for a popular talk show in Charlottesville. I have played The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville , TN to hundreds of people, sang in front of the Polo Cup of America vs Italy in front of thousands, and have a small, but loyal fan base in Virginia. Most noteably, in August, 2005, Pete Humes wrote a feature article about me in The Richmond Times-Dispatch. A full page spread- right adjacent to some blurb about Jason Mraz. The thing is, I'm just not the type of artist you would turn on mainstream clear channel radio and hear a tune from. That doesn't bother me one bit. As I have discovered, my life at 30 is just beginning.

The truth is, while I have been performing music and acting since I was in diapers, I have only been actively been pursuing a career since 2002. Thats a mere seven years. And they say on average, it takes at least 10-15 years to make a mark on anything when you're a driven performer. That tells me, that its not over just yet. I feel that if anything, this world doesn't have much longer, regardless of where I go . So, I feel that time for everyone on earth is short now, and I want to make the most of it.

That being said, I can really STAND to get in shape! So what I'm doing now is toning up and trying to trim myself down. My goal is to get down to 200 lbs. Thats another 40 lbs I have to lose. But I know I can do it ! So far I have lost over 60.

My work out regimen consists of:

Eating high protein foods

Exercising 4x a week

I use the fitness center on Tuesdays and Thursdays

I ride my bike on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays.

Sundays are my "day off" where I can eat anything and everything I want!

The Lord has been very good to me. I just know that when my self entitled LP comes out next year, it will be the start of something really nice.

Long Lost Meade Video !

With all this talk about the "swine flu", I feel it my duty as an entertainer to lift people's spirits up a bit. Rummaging through my closet, I found this old dirty tape of myself. Not much could be salvaged from it, and as you can see, the quality has been degraded. This is a little excerpt which survived the wreckage. It was taped in March 1992, when I was 12-years-old, and it was a project for my 7th grade English class. I obviously never gave this copy to the teacher, but I had fun making it. I forgot what I finally chose to do. But as intended, this was to be a brief skit where I would do a commercial for a product. In those days, you could rent a VHS camcorder from the local video store. So we went to Erol's in Sterling, and got one. A year later, my father bought me an RCA video camcorder from Circuit City. For that time, it was quite high tech. It even had audio dub! A lot of people talk about Sarah Boyle's long lost videos. I hope this may be a living testament, that I have been singing for quite some time.

Kiddie Show Horror Film

Friday was very exciting for me. I went over to Tuckaway Childcare school in Mechanicsville to entertain the kiddies there. Gretchen came along with me to help set up and get a bit on tape. I think everything went fine, except the fact that it was mis mashed ages. It makes it hard to do the songs they all want to hear. There seems to be a cut off around age 7 or so, when kids don't want to hear Mary Had A Little Lamb. They want to hear grown up stuff. I got requests for "Hot Blooded" and "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Hot and Cold", and "You Shook Me All Night Long". least three of those, I could not sing for little children! I thought I would only be playing strictly for the tiny tots- which are much easier to please... But anyways, I mixed it up with some rock n' roll Country, and then some of the children's favorites. A rollicking' version of "Old McDonald Had A Farm" kicked things off. I also did "Rubber Ducky", "Rivah City", and "Shake, Rattle and Roll". They all seemed to enjoy it okay. I brought some hats with me, and some of the children were playing with those, and my rubber ducky too. I think it went okay, but it was tricky keeping it balanced for the different aged groups. I know that when I was 9 or 10, I was into Foreigner myself.


After I finished, Gretch and I stopped at Long John Silver's on Laburnum Ave. We were the only white people in there, but they didn't treat us bad or anything. We split a Seafood platter. To finish off a great day, we saw "The Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock at The Byrd Theater. That was quite a treat. The picture was stunning, and so was Tippie! Tippie Hedren was quite a number back then, and to see such a great film on the big screen was a thrill. I had trouble sleeping! All in all it was a nice experience. It was in color too!

Mainstream Meade

I think I am glad that I'm not mainstream in any way. I'm virtually unknown. I think most people would say that if you havent become mainstream , then you failed. That is far from the case! I enjoy being an underground treasure- with the ideal being really very creative and charming music, that has my own flair and personality, rather than a commercial product. I also realize that as I get older, the music is what matters, not my image or my lack thereof. I am so proud of what I have done. So many just dream of doing these things- I have actually done them. I have to count my blessings. I got to sing at the Polo Cup in front of 10,000 people. I played the famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville at a songwriter's showcase. I have met tons of musicians from around the world. I receive internet and local radio airplay. I have a loyal fan base in many places around Virginia and the South. And I also have managed to dig up a decent repertoire. I sometimes think I was destined to be a child star, since I had such charisma as a child. But now, I am so glad. I would have wound up strung out on drugs by 25 and probably dead by now. Or worse- in prison! No private bathrooms there. And probably no sweet tea in prison, either.


Anyways, today I decided to stay home from choir practice, since Im just getting over my ear infection. I bought myself a rubber ducky. We went to Ukrop's on Three Chopt Road tonight and I got a chicken sandwich with a piece of chocolate cake, and then a small kiddie sized frozen yougurt for dessert It was right crowded this evening. They like me there, though. When I go out in public in Richmond, I do seem to be recognized. That does feel nice. I guess being a local celebrity is better than nothing! I always try to be good to my fans. I think I'll go watch some ALF now. I bought Season Three on DVD.

Suitable Jobs...

Now that I'm finally an Adult, I have been going over a list of other occupations I can have while I work on selling my songs. Many come to mind in one form or another, but I think they must be creative or entertainment geared.

Here's a few I have considered

Kiddie Show Host
I would be so good at it. I think to relate to a child, it helps to have the mind of a child!

Newscaster

I certainly could do a better job than Gene whats his name on Channel 12.

Photographer

I would love to have my own studio so that I could take pictures and sell them perhaps. I already have a slew of nice Richmond photos.

Cartoon Character

I can definitely see myself doing voices for animation. That would be a lot of fun!


Chef
Well, if I had to go to culinary school, it wouldn't be all that bad. Jack Tripper from Three's Company has always been a role model of mine.

Clown

Put some paint on my face, and give me a pair of big floppy shoes and I'm in heaven!

Elvis Impersonator
Id probably have to start out doing his "later years".


Anyways, I can't decide on whether to go back to school or not. I do have 2 years of college education from the prestigious J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Not to mention one semester at VCU when I took an acting class there 6 years ago. I just need about 60 more credits before I graduate!

Captain Meade Skelton

Its flattering when someone names a cartoon character after yourself. It really lifted my spirits up!


http://fomle-chan.deviantart.com/art/Captain-Meade-Skelton-118696090#

They say they are going to use it for a comic strip.

I'm still getting over my ear infection, but I feel much better. I was worried about my hearing because music was sounding slightly off pitch. And being pitch sensitive as I am, that is quite crazy. I went to Joe's Market and a tuna sandwich, but I'm still not eating much at all. I did lose 9 lbs, but it was mostly water weight.

Ouch, My Ears !

My ears just hurt like something crazy, so I had to go to Patients First. My Landsakes, I just hate going to Medex facilities . You just never know what else you'll pick up there anyway. But it didnt take long. My ears were very red they said, and the cold I had obviously just congested my ears . I don't have the strep throat that people are talking about. So they perscribed Amoxicillin. My ears still hurt very much and its hard to get comfortable . All I ate today was chicken soup and a piece of toast. I just hate this being sick. I never ever get sick, usually. Anyways, at least I can take it easy for the rest of the week.

Rivah City

Here's a little song I wrote about the music life in RVA



Done right well for me. Yesterday of, course, was Easter Sunday. I was pounded with some kind of really bad cold. I had a low grade fever and a sore throat, but I made it to church and sang with the choir anyway. Later we walked through the Easter Parade. They had a lady preaching there . I thought- wow, that takes a lot of courage. You know how people can be towards that. Anyways, I feel a little better today. Just taking it easy . I have a feeling I might be a little hungover from my 30th birthday bash. Too much excitement in one week !

30 Years of Meade !

Today was my 30th birthday and I did it in style. A nice cake from Kroger's along with Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream, set the mood for an afternoon delight. Then later, dinner at TJ's at The Jefferson Hotel. The meal was great, and so was the service! Our waitress even gave me a complimentary slice of cheese cake. I found it really pleasing that they treated me so well on my birthday. Although I look and act about Seventeen, I'm much wiser than I was then, but I do feel strangely younger than I did when I turned 21. Perhaps its all this healthy new way of life I have been living. Very carefree and avoiding sorrow and woe, and laying low on the sweet tea. TJ's was vury Richmond, I must say, and a bit pricey- but at least it wasn't as bourgeois as Ruth Chris' Steakhouse. I was in the mood for a steak tonight, and I got my wish! It was so delicious. These pictures speak for themselves.




As you can see my cake went in a hurry:




Getting ready for a good night of food:






As a Southern Baptist, I can make a toast without that evil al-co-hol!



Here's the steak I ordered. Medium, and they even brought out the A1 Sauce as I asked. Along with sweet potatoes, and collard greens. Yummy!



Let me taste some of that !


You know a place is high cotton when they serve desserts this small:



Looking sweaty and bloated after a good meal is what birthdays are all about !


So happy that I decided to celebrate it uptown. Turning 30 was so easy! 29 was a lot harder for me. But then again, I think I'm getting younger with age. By the time I'm 40, I'll be 12 again.

Cheers!

CoffeeShop Triumph

My show at Market Street Coffee in Purcellville went pretty well. Not a whole lot of folks, but some nice feedback. Photographer Sarah Huntington showed up, as well as folk singer Molly Andrews, who got up and sang some Gospel harmony with me at the end. Although the place is small, it has nice acoustics. Its funny to see Purcellville as a college town now- since Patrick Henry college is right nearby, a lot of students come in. It was nice to Miss Huntington after all these years. She had done some of my early publicity photographs at her studio in Lincoln.

Here's a recap of the event:

Double Show Loudoun

I'm getting ready for my show tonight in Purcellville at Market Street Coffee. Last night I did okay for First Friday's Leesburg- a smattering of people came back and forth in between the ferocious wind and the threat of bad thunder. If the weather had not been so iffy, I probably would have a lot more people. It still was fun. The owner of the Pink Shop gave me some free peanuts to take home. I'm staying here at the very lovely Carrodock Hall Mansion just outside of Leesburg. Ironically, I have driven by this place many times growing up. The service is very nice, and the rooms are not bad for the price. I got some lunch today at Deli South in Leesburg- where they have sandwiches named after famous Southerners. I got The Mosby- which included BBQ and cole slaw on a bun. Its one of my favorite sandwiches. BUT THEY DON'T HAVE SWEET TEA?? Oh, well. Later I got so bored, I went over to Sterling to see my childhood home in Countryside, and then went to Safeway, and Starbucks where I got a chocolate donut. They did have sweet tea there. Then I went to Borders and asked about live music, and Eight Ball Thrift Store. They didn't have much good stuff there. The irony is people who go to thrift stores in this area are actually people who really need to, whereas in Richmond, its where hipsters and thrifty rich people go. Quite a culture shock! Hope my show goes well tonight. At least its inside, so i wont' have the wind to contend with. From there, its on back home to Richmond.