All the Young Dudes...Fashionistas, and the Number 49

Well, today is an interesting Friday...I'm sure you're wondering what that lovely title is all about, right?


Live version of "All the Young Dudes," by Bowie (NOT Mott the Hoople) started my iTuneage this morning.  I'm in the semi-fashionable place across the street from the Place Formerly Known as the Harrisburg Office; I've finished off my second straight morning hosting "Morning Edition" on WITF 89.5 FM (and WYPM 93.3 in Chambersburg--must say that apart from the location), yadda yadda yadda...also two straight days at the Harrisburg LA Fitness where I managed to avoid respiratory poisoning via the over-chlorinated spa yesterday.  


Busy week...the morning show wasn't too bad either day, despite occasional curve balls; I have a double starting in the very early morning Saturday for the Radio PA Sports Network, then KYW 1060 in Philly...what can I say, this is radio, this is jobbing.


"Perfect Love...Gone Wrong," Sting...live album...interesting...this is from a disc I burned from the River, so I've not listened much to it.


Anyway...yeah, the next few days are gonna be very busy.  A lot else going...slow work on my concept piece, slow work on "Take Another Road," and editing "Silk Road Days" once again.  On the latter, I've written four new scenes, and managed to fit the first one in.


My friend Riz, over at "Letters from the Disgruntled Fringe" has written lately on a couple of issues, and we've had a discussion over a recent flap about GLBT characters in Young Adult Fiction.


According to Publishers Weekly, either one or two writers at a certain agency were told in no uncertain terms by an agent, that they would get represented, IF...get ready for the IF...


They change a character's sexual identity from gay to straight, or get rid of the character altogether.


How do we say--CENSORSHIP?


http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/genreville/?p=1519 -- That's the link.


"Hope for Us All," Nick Lowe...strange, sedate stuff.


Anyway, the agency has responded.  They say their agent NEVER told the author(s) to de-gay or edit out the character.  They explained a number of reasons why the work was not accepted; these were all plausible.


http://theswivet.blogspot.com/2011/09/guest-blogger-joanna-stampfel-volpe.html -- The link, there...


Opens a two-prong Can of Worms:


1--Are publishers and agents, fearful of alienating the "Christian" Right, not accepting writers of gay/lesbian works, or any work where there "might" be a gay character?


2--Is the Young Adult market become so paranoid, that even the act of swearing is not permitted?


I speak from experience...my agent asked me to have one character in my first book, "Sweet Dreams:  Searching for Roy Buchanan" not swear, but say something other than the Heavy 7 that got George Carlin in trouble.  


I agreed to, because the character, Hiro only swears maybe twice.  Not that big a deal; add to it, he is Japanese.  The Japanese do have slang words, but swear words that are specific to the language don't really exist.  They will use "loan" words, that are English or another language for the purpose...that's my perception, but I could be wrong.  Correct me, please if anyone know.


OH GOD..."Open Arms," by Journey...live version...SKIP!!!


It slid into "Where Were You," which is tolerable.


Okay...I gave...but let me tell you something.  In my works, my characters develop as I envision them.  It has NOTHING to do with my sexuality, or any socio-political agenda.  I write them as they come to me.  That's it.


There is nothing terribly offensive in "SDS-1," as I call the first book, but that was not planned, either.  Just happened.


I just will not stand for anyone dictating to me what my characters can or can't say, or be or can't be.  There will be a publisher that takes it, and sees it for what it is.


OK...off the soapbox.


"Echoes Around the Sun," Paul Weller...from the sound-heavy 22 Dreams.  Quite good.


Now...a new picture of me:


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150293050790787&set=a.21245495786.30322.552340786&type=1&theater


My friend Alice took it; I'm wearing her reading glasses.


My Ray Bans are cool as hell, but they are big and they make me look bug-like.  I may need another pair, something like those.  People like that look.


I suppose it could be my vanity; I am back in the gym because I need to get healthy again, and it's partly to feel good and look good.  More on that later.


Fashionistas...well, my sister sure thinks she is one.  She has for three years without fail suggested if not demanded that I shave my head.


True, I'm bald up there, and have had a receding hairline since I was 16.


"The Tide is Turning," Roger Waters...from "Radio KAOS."  Evocative, haunting tune that ends the concept album.


Susan expanded on this theme recently; she thinks I'd look good bald.  She thinks my headscarves and long hair give people the wrong idea about me.  She thinks everyone thinks I'm a hippie.


Others think I'm a biker (get that a lot, with a Harley plant near where I live), a gang member (the Pagan sticker might have something to do with that) or a Muslim.  Yeah, I got that once.


I wear what I do because I WANT TO.  Not to make a statement, except that this is me.  DEAL WITH IT.


Susan means well, of course; but she is so much like our departed mother.  She also is the one who decried her husband wearing his baseball cap backwards like his nephews when they went to ball games, and she didn't like it on me, either.


But she suggested this flat cap like the one she bought and wore when she went to the UK years ago...you have got to be fucking kidding me.


Susan is trapped in 1959 at times.  Sad; and I'll have to hear it all again if I visit in December.


Oh, before I forget:  49?


Today is my 49th day without a smoke.  How about that.


I have not missed it in weeks; what a relief!


I did get my 20 Minutes of Hell the other day at LA Fitness...my evaluator Sam put me through the grinder again, but he was pretty happy with what he saw.  I increased all my numbers from that first day to more than 50% higher.  1/2 inch off the waist line, a little increase to my calves, thighs and arms.  I feel better, and I know I'm looking like me again.


It's all worth it, and for once I can say it.


"One Time One Night," Los Lobos.  Great band, so underrated, and overshadowed by "La Bamba."  That should never have happened.


My workout in theory is three days a week of cardio on a rowing machine, floor exercises and stair work.  The others I swim; if anything, I go all out, at least at the start.  I can't quit, not by a long shot, I have too much to prove to myself, not anyone else.


Well, I have to get back to it; I have a new desk that needs assembling (I hate that), and that means cleaning and clearing out the Vibe Room.  Sleep might be a good idea, too...


...another one of those weeks.

Flooding, a New Concept Album, Activity of Varied Sorts

I've been busy of late, in different ways...been mostly seated at the temporary York Office (read:  Morebucks), and while on it, I've been trying to accomplish something.


My iTunes is a wonderful thing, once there's enough music in it.  It trumps the horrid burnt offerings that this shop has to play at eleven.  Who decides that this music is good?  Pretentious, and wanky for the most part.


"Eat Me" by Rachel Fuller is playing...wonderful song, and this lady's stuff has really been inspiring.  Doesn't hurt that she's Pete Townshend's collaborator and girlfriend, now does it?


But no, one of Rachel's songs, "Imperfection" has made its way into "Silk Road Days," a long-winded novel I am endeavoring to return to today.


"Revival," a little Allman Brothers, shall we?


Anyway...the flooding is a horrible situation.  If you thought we were out of it with Hurricane Irene, we're not.  Recent tropical storms and Hurricane Katia's behavior in the Atlantic have made things a terrible mess.  


Yesterday was another monsoon, and it snarled traffic badly all over the region.  Flooding shots from all over the state are pretty rough; we have had at least four deaths across the region, and hopefully no more.  


I'm not required; normally, I'm doing something, somewhere, but not this time.  I've actually had the past few days to myself, which is good, because starting next week, I will be busy as all hell.


Working out going well, broke 40 days without a smoke...gaining some definite strength, and I think I have lost a little weight.  Some tightness in the tendon areas of my arms, I've noted, but nothing painful.  There's a difference between feeling a bit tight, or burning, and pain.


Writing music and lyrics like made the past few days; I've assembled 13 songs and some bits for a concept album about my life in radio.  It comes out of listening to "Radio KAOS" by Roger Waters; a very good story and idea, but I don't know if the music overshadowed the story, or it was just not articulated as well as could have been.  Either way, a good revisit to the 80's.


"Dixie Highway," Journey...hmm...don't remember this song.  Never was a huge fan of theirs, but it's interesting.


So anyway, yeah...I have these songs, mostly new that fit together in a song cycle.  I also pulled a couple of old songs that I wrote in the 90's for this.  There is one song from the Ahltyrra days, and a cover by John Hiatt, which just fits.


Another thing I'm working on, as you can see...


...what else?  I have been putting together character sketches for a new story, and it's cooking a lot in my head.  I'm not ready yet to write it, and I wonder when on Earth I'll have time to do that!


"Silk Road Days," trying to get back to it, with new scenes.


"Take Another Road," Chapter 12 was just put up here the other day, and I'm going to need time before I can do the next one.


Songs...ei yi yi, music for several of the concept, new tracks, and a bunch of other ideas that are connected.  Going very close to manic the past few days.


One of my guitars is due out of the shop today; put off getting it fixed for a long time.  Another is awaiting a set of bridge pins, and yet another no longer has the electrics working.  Still plays beautifully as an acoustic; I'm not gonna worry about that yet.


Restrung (yes, I did!) my #1 Laguna...also gave it a good cleaning.  #2 (which is the one I am playing in my profile pic) needs the pins, and I'm getting brass ones, because this is the second time the plastic ones have gone to shit on it.  I generally do not restring my axes until they need it; my hands are fucking horrible at that, and I'm not one of these purists that changes them all the time.  Not needed, for what I do.


Trying hard not to buy a Martin...yeah, there is one I like very much where my Fender a/e is getting fixed, but I don't have the money, nor the justification for buying it...yet.


"Fire Lake," Bob Seger...skipping this one...not in the mood right now...sorry, Bob...


..."Street of the Broken Dreams," my song, done with Ahltyrra...no, not right now...


..."Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere," the Who.  That's more like it!


Still some more cleaning at home to do, and other stuff on my mind that needs to be dealt with.


Interesting back and forth on the email from my bass player and me.  Dan really should do a blog, and I have encouraged him to do it.  He looked at my recent rant, and pointed out a few things.  He is right about this area, much much more so than I, as Dan has lived here all his life.  


There's things I don't see, and I wonder if I'm removed from a part of the world I need to see and know about again.  


My situation is thus:  I really can't move, unless I either get the chance of a lifetime, the Sweet Dreams Series gets picked up by a publisher, or I feel that this place becomes so untenable, spiritually politically and otherwise that I must get out.  So I'm doing my usual of making sure I am useful to my colleagues...that's where the concept comes in...this is what I do.


All these crazy insane things I do...hahahahah...wish all to be safe out there...

It's a Beautiful Day...and I'm Telling it, "Go Away."

It is one of those days...technically, it's a day off, but I don't really like those very much.  Having time on my hands does not work well with me.


Beautiful day, yes...and I'm having a hard time enjoying any of it.  This is what depression does to you.  It weighs on you, no matter what you do.  What goes on around here I'm sure has a hand in all of it.


It took me 30 minutes of traffic jams and backroad running to get to the gym today.  Route 30 is being held up due to road work along the area near I-83...avoid it at all costs.  It's awful.


"RM Blues" by Jimmie Vaughan on the Walkman...I have to have it today, because of where I am.


"A Party (Dub Version)" by Big Audio Dynamite is next.  I did finally make the gym and did a swim day.  Did well, really; 40 minutes in the pool, more laps than I did before and I felt much better.  It's coming along pretty well.  I do feel a lot more awake, which is good; 13 days without smoking, also good.


I decided to see about getting my car stereo replaced.  The Silver Saturn's factory CD player is none too subtly reminding me that it will melt down without warning, and soon.


The only place around here is Best Buy; after quite a while of trying out varied radios (which don't look or act like them at all), I finally settled on an inexpensive one that actually responds to basic commands.  I have never liked these space-age stereos that do so many things; just too much stuff.


So hopefully those kids will get the thing installed, and I can make sense of how it works.  It does give me one new advantage; I can plug my Walkman into the stereo, yay!


Around here, there's no place to hang, apart from a bar, and I don't need that.  There is a Five Guys, and that's where I am now.  Never been in one of these, because I honestly can't eat anything in the place.


#1, I'm vegetarian, and #2, they fry shit in peanut oil.  I am deathly allergic to it.


It has given me a view of this mad little society I live in, this part of Dumbekistan.  The Five Guys sounds like a factory, noise, noise, noise.  Lot of loser type people in here, too--rednecks, and my God, you ought to see how many morbidly overweight people there are in this part of the world.


I'm not overweight, but I know my conditioning is not good; and my bodyfat %age is higher than it should be.  Whatever the fat/muscle ratio is, but that can be corrected.


George Carlin did a great monologue on the fat people, the supersized society, etc.  Damned funny, but also cutting.  I have nothing against overweight people, as I once was one.  Some people, and I have friends that are of this type, have serious health issues where it is not avoidable.  That's fair and understood.


There are however a lot of folks I see that could have a little bit of control over it all; see 'em everywhere.  The morbidly obese, who continue to stuff themselves with junk food, etc.  They either don't know, or don't care.  


You feel sad, and yet you also have to be conscious that is is not always a person's fault.  Sometimes I wonder though.


Double shot of B.A.D.--"This is Big Audio Dynamite."  Cool.


The need for me to be out and about has also left me feeling increasingly shut out of our world; I don't feel like I exist here, and I find I envy younger people their youth, and also the relationships, and the fun they seem to have.  


I don't remember what that was like; I really don't know if I ever lived like that in my younger days.  I don't think I did; I think I would recall it.


"Mermaid in the Night," by Jimmy Buffett...strange song, but a lot of his can be.


I know this is something I have to plow through...I do have things that would make me feel better, but they don't completely work.


A lot of the characters in my writings tend to be like me in that respect; I have an idea what others did who had "normal" lives, so that fits, but then there's the "me" in certain ones...I am sure that will read in a very strange way.


"Cigarettes and Alcohol," by Oasis.  Ah, the past comes calling, heh.


Well, I have to remind myself (and I do this way) that I have done certain things in my past that could have been avoided; but then, I might never have learned hard lessons early enough, or not at all.  Who knows what I would be like then?  Would I even be alive?


I look out the window from this horridly colored fast-food joint with the terribly cheap seats and tacky decor, a place I would normally never come in, and see a nice day.  I also see a lot of people that just are not my people.


I keep thinking, I need to move.  But where to?  I can't afford to live anywhere else, and I actually do like where I live.  


The house is the thing...Jidda Krishnamurti (I think it was him) said that if you don't love your home, you won't clean it.  I am not good at that, but it's not a biohazard.  I think once again I must re-examine the place and make changes to it.


So I guess that's why I'm away from it a lot.  My work schedule is as crazy as anything, so that's part of it, too.


"Diaraby," by Ali Farka Toure and Ry Cooder...great stuff.


Saw some photos by a friend of mine last night, and this touches on the youth thing...I have the bones of a song that might work out pretty well...there is another one I'm working on, too.  Lot of songs, no one to play them with.


The Dharma Fools are going nowhere fast.  Need to get Dan back into it with me; the duo thing may be the only way to get our stuff out there, and hope the rest come along.


So many projects, and I try my best to focus on them...maybe there are too many.


Had a long talk with my sister yesterday; we're all gathering in Vermont next weekend to see our nephew walk the aisle.  That will be strange; the changes up there are ones that needed to be made, and I will have to take what may be my last look at the farm I grew up on.  I hope not; Aubrey aims to farm and do it up right, but I wonder what is left for family farms.  Not much on the look of it.


I will also be in Boston to see friends again, and hopefully get a jump start on the Sweet Dreams Series manga...not much has happened, and while I understand the reasons behind that, I do need to move on it, and on those responsible.


I have wondered what you (as you are reading this) think of "Take Another Road," the other project that I've been serializing here.  Something good, not good, missing?


I know...NO VAMPIRES!


Fuck, I hope to ride out the vampire obsession...didn't that shit die in like 1994?


Oh well...I am wondering more about what else I must have going.  The radio business still isn't finished with me, which I admit is kind of nice.  At least it makes a few dollars, but never much.  That does not concern me; the fact I'm still in it is good.


"I Wonder Where My Baby is Tonight," by Robert Earl Keen.  Great music on the Picnic CD.


And...in my capacity as relief host for "Morning Edition" on WITF, I am pleased to note that my voice has caught some ears.  I did one show Wednesday, as Craig Layne had a legitimate assignment to do.  Not my best, but it was good.


I got resent a Tweet from a listener who liked the music I played near the tops of the hours...she dug it.  Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters works really well, as he primarily does instrumental blues and jazz...brilliant stuff.


Then, I got THIS email today, forwarded through a number of channels:


"Dear WITF,

I just want to express how happy I was to hear Tory (sp?) Gates on the radio this morning. My wife and I really enjoyed Tory when he was on regularly a few months ago and were sad when he was not made the permanent morning newscaster. In any case, thanks Tory for making our morning and we hope to hear more of you in the future.

Sincerely,

(Name Withheld)

WITF member"

Very nice.  I'm not letting it go to my head, but needless to say when another slot opens up at WITF, believe you me I'd better be thought of.

Redemption, Part 3...here's Part 2; this was sent a few months ago, during a weeklong stint:

"Please, please, please - put Tory Gates back on the morning programs. His enunciation is impeccable. He speaks the way we should all speak."

Wow.

Now that one is something that made me think, and I have had to remind myself of it.  Consider also that I only had a couple of speech communication classes in college (one easy, one damned hard), I don't know how I got that but for years of work and practice.

So you see, it kinda behooves me to stick around, and again be that voice you hear every now and again.  

One more shot in this business?  Yeah, it can happen.

As for the SDS...I remain confident that I will be published.  NOT IF, BUT WHEN.

"So Far to Yesterday," by Jack Bruce and Robin Trower.  Seven Moons CD...great music, find this if you like old Cream.  You'll not be disappointed.

Okay, starting to feel a little better again...so up and down these days, with the weather, my working out, my sometimes uncertain position, and the feeling of never being sure of where or who I am.

I just can't quit...we don't quit, we're still here at end of the storm.  

"Done it All," by the Bottle Rockets.  About right, I have been here before.  Just keep on, and don't worry so much I'm telling myself.

I don't know if these rambling thoughts mean anything to you, but I hope they are entertaining or useful.  I'm not done or dead yet.

An Update on Life

We are indeed busy...first and foremost, I'm back on the air once again tomorrow morning!  Shameless plug time, I know.


I'm hosting "Morning Edition" on WITF Wednesday and Thursday mornings, from 5-9 am.  Mr. Layne is on assignment, and he actually is.  So I get to navigate that madness once again, which is the NPR clock.


It's not as easy as you'd think; but once you get the routine down, you're pretty much okay.  There have been some changes in the past few months, due to cutbacks and other subjects that have come about.  In any case, the product is still a good one.


www.witf.org is where you can hear all the action, thrills and excitement that is...NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO.  Haha...


I need whatever work I can get right now.  I had three ballgames last week for Clear Channel, and only one this week.  I did handle Radio PA Network Sports this morning, and that went pretty well.  I like being able to go on a moment's notice and be the go-to guy, which is now the case at WITF.  I've made myself useful and known; now it's wait my turn.


Working out is going well.  I have a new trainer; Jesse is a former athlete and he's devised the kind of workout I really need.  It is cardio, more than anything, because I now know that's exactly what I have to have.  Being aerobically and cardio fit is really best for my body type, but also how I feel.


11 days without a smoke...how about that.  


Anyway, the workouts do push me pretty well...I wanted to swim this morning, but the aqua class had taken over...so I hit the weights and also did some of the exercises Jesse set up for me.  Kind of an off-day thing.  


I plan to swim each off-day, alternating with the workouts.  That is, if I'm capable of doing them.  I have to get in better touch with my body to see what is up there.


Either way, glad I'm doing it.  I do feel better already, and I hope to look more like myself again one day.


Now, this routine does alter everything else.  I have a ton of writing to edit, and I do consider that part of the writing process, and always will be.  "Take Another Road" will reappear in the form of Chapter 6 soon enough, I promise.  


Anyway, needed to put this out.  I do not feel as depressed, thankfully; another of the peaks and valleys I must contend with.  


Food is definitely a big part of that...I've often gone a couple of days without real food, especially while writing.  That is not good, as any nutritionist or athlete will tell you.  My vegetarianism is still in place, but I can do better within the system, and I am working on that.  My diet I think has helped stave off the worst effects of what I did to myself over the past six or seven years, re: the cancer sticks.  In any case, I do feel better, and that will make me more productive.


Had an interesting conversation with a young fellow who works the Morebucks here in York.  I knew there was a reason to come in here, as I debated whether or not I should.  Chris is a nice kid; he is a member of the Black Forest Clan...never heard of them, but they are a spiritually eclectic bunch of folks and their association is a loose one.  Best to keep it that way, I've seen what happens when you don't.


Okay...keeping to my other pursuits, and we'll see where the rest of it goes.  Anyway, I must be up at 2 in the a.m. to get ready for Morning Edition...slept a bit this afternoon, need more if I can get it.