There was no battle.

I feel like I am not utilizing Miami to its full potential. There must be so many more places to see and things to experience that I am not getting. The trouble is finding it. I need a seasoned Miami vet to show me some good stuff because right now I am stuck in the working grind and sticking fairly close to home (granted, transportation may factor in to that as well).

One thing I can be sure of though, I have been sniffing out good food since I arrived. I know of plenty food serving establishments that are cheap and delicious. So, there is that.

So, the whole "headphones as microphone" thing only goes so far before it gets old. I think it is pretty apparent that I did not go to school for any sort of recording industry. One can only mic a mandolin with a pair of headphones and expect a sound to be any more than almost average.

Anyway, here is a new one that is my first mandolin heavy track. Given the rant about my mixing skills, I would listen to this on headphones but turn down the volume for the best experience (it is a bit on the high end at times. It clips in a few places too; so, there's that.)

Exploring Dreams of Loyalty

I cannot believe all the things that I read or else I'd be back at home with my feet up on my desk.
Now, I'm out on the sea to prove there's life happening out by the edge.
So, they tell me, "you're crazy and you'll die alone."

We call out the stars like we call our friends;
but, the names they have aren't the names we miss.
The night is kind to our sunburned skin.
We work for each other so we can get back again.

Some days we're thirsty but we can't drink.
We wait for rain. We're on the brink of
going overboard.

Then we pull together.
We keep the course.
We watch the weather
and heed the force of
the wind in our sails.
My men trust me and that's all that I need.
Believe me.

We call out the stars like we call our friends;
but, the names they have aren't the names we miss.
The night is kind to our sunburned skin.
We work for each other so we can get back again.

So. Enjoy.

Time for hell/work. Whichever you prefer to call it.

Love

tm

To be the carrier of a load which was his own self.

I have been thinking about posture a lot lately. I know that is odd but I guess standing on my feet all the time sort of pushes the thought. I notice older people as they start to hunch forward--turtle over if you will. It instills this sort of preventative fear in me, I think. I do not want that. I suppose morning yoga will be on the agenda more often.

I need to go to the beach soon. It seems to be calling my name. I have a book that needs finishing and relaxing to do. Maybe if it is nice tomorrow I will do that since I have tomorrow off and my soldier will fend off the birds.

But, instead of needing a parasol on the way home from work tonight, its brother, le parapluie, was nearly necessary. Which makes it all the more fitting that I decide to post this one. It is from the unfinished New England ep that I was working on at the end of last year. I picked up my cousin's guitar and played it yesterday and relearned it (it has been forever since I have played too because my fingers were sore). I almost wanted to add more to it and re-record it, but I think it will take away from the sound it has. It has this cheap but warm bedroom feel that I cannot reproduce without that microphone I was using there (need to get that soon).

Anyway, it sounds like a breakup song, or something of the sort; but, I like to think of it as an existential realization song. Someone coming to terms with a change of self. But it's pretty much just about how I rode my bike to work and it always seemed to be raining.

Always Raining

No posting of lyrics this time. But, do you think I should add more? Is it too short or feel unfinished? (I have that fear a lot: wondering if it needs more or is unfinished).

Anyway,

love

tm