two sense

Anxious to wake up this morning and get that first sip of coffee, from the first deep breath taking in the relaxing aroma of freshly ground beans to that moment of anticipation just before the cup hits your lips… ahh, nothing like a great cup of java to get a glorious day off to a running start.  Pleasantly surprised, with the sun shining brightly in the blue sky, the birds are out playing and singing and soaking up the warmer weather we’ve been so longing for in this cold winter period.

Everything happens for a reason.  Once we grasp that concept and really begin to think, internalize and grasp on to that short but oddly profound statement, we can begin to come to terms with that situations in our lives that appear to be of a negative nature, actually become the roadmap of our lives.  If we can discern that what may seem to be a roadblock, is actually a sign telling us that the path we were on has reached it’s destination and it’s time for a different path to travel.  Tied to our profound statement, is the entity of choice.  Choice, is a decision point that we are entitled to make, whether it is on a conscious level or we are unaware of the choice we have just made, but regardless, it correlates back to everything happening for a reason.

The more in touch with our inner self, the more awareness we comprehend of the choices that we make and in some degree can visual the reasons behind how our lives unfold, the paths we have taken and maybe a shallow glimpse into what the next path might lead us to.  If we follow our passions, that drive and motivation that gets us excited, makes us put forth the effort to learn, excel and strive to be the best, then the reasons seem to become a bit clearer in their direction.  We we dwell on the negatives, the roadblocks, we lose touch with our inner self and that focus can lead us down negative paths.  If we realize that even the negative paths are happening for a reason, then we can begin to understand that really they are positives, that the path we were on was put forth for us to discover what we need to do next.

In watching Tiger Woods’ public apology yesterday, Tiger has reached that point where the path he was on took him down a road that wasn’t the right one, the negative path.  Having his life seemingly fall from under him in the past few months, he now has come to the realization that he lost touch with his inner self and he is on a new path, he is on a path for positive change in his life.  His behaviors were choice – conscious and unconscious – nonetheless, they happened for a reason.

Pretty deep for a Saturday morning… but the coffee and sunshine brought it out of me!  On a lighter note, have you purchased your copy of Quit Wasting Tape from Rutherford Rock Project?  Of course I have to plug that every chance I get!  So I’m off to enjoy this fine day, the empowerment of the warmth feeling from the sun and fresh air surrounding you, taking in the refreshing feeling and joy of being blessed with the great life that we have and the road ahead!

~kd

Distraction… that will be my excuse for the time lapse between entries here!  Finally have a moment to put some present thoughts into words.  Visiting family and friends, enjoying the all-white scenery with the exception of the tall trees, highlighted by patches of white on their branches and few remaining leaves… can’t help wonder why another two to five inches is supposed to arrive today on top of the seven or so already engulfing the landscape.

In rock and roll news, Rutherford Rock Project released an official press release last week about the debut album, from looking it has been a successful release as we’ve raised awareness and potentially sold a couple extra albums!  We are starting to see more and more people, from not just the US, but all over the world start to discover us.  We’ve also got good initial response from OurStage.com, a web site for new artists to present material and have the fans vote on the music they like the best.  The fan reception has been more than we had anticipated, so wherever we end up, we’ve accomplished more than doing nothing!

In sports news, I honestly had no favorite in the Super Bowl, but getting a kick out of “not going with the flow” had to root for the Saints as the Colts stumbled… and a majority of my friends were rooting for the Colts.  The Winter Olympics officially kicked off last night, I didn’t watch any of it…

At the moment… those are the things on my mind, I have a weekend ahead that does not include Mardi Gras or Valentine’s Day, but time with friends and family, and probably a little Daytona 500…

~kd

Another week has passed us by, what did you do this week to write your history?  Every action we do in the present becomes the mark we leave in our history, time doesn’t slow, it creates memories – good or bad – and the one’s that we need to keep focused on are the good ones!

Rutherford Rock Project played to a packed house at Cicero’s on Wednesday night…  as the bartender stated, “this place is never busy on Wednesday night, you guys rocked!”  It makes you feel appreciation for all of your hard work in putting together a performance, entertainment, music, that people will come together and enjoy.  Appreciation also for everyone to take time out of their lives to come and enjoy some music and support us.  Lined up waiting to get in to the show… what an awesome sight to see!  Many thanks and much appreciation to all who came out to spend their evening with us.  I would also like to show appreciation to the other bands that shared the stage with us Wednesday night, Trestle and Behlevue… they were generous enough to invite us to play with them and we are grateful for the chance to work together!

Appreciation… the next morning, our goal was reached, our album was released on iTunes (http://bit.ly/db7Lal).  While this may seem a trivial thing to some, this is a goal that we set forth to accomplish, we worked hard and put forth effort and made this happen!  When you are passionate about something, set goals for yourself and put into action the work that it takes to achieve those goals, you will find success, gratification and appreciation for reaching the objective!  …and of course, we had to “spam” everyone we know about the release!

Appreciation… to my good friends, who stand by me no matter what twists and turns my life brings about.  They are there to listen, to understand, to support and not judge.  I love you guys… (you know who you are!)

Without change, we cannot grow and learn.  A person for whom I deeply care and I have decided for change, we have decided that our paths in life, while we share many similar things, are bound for different destinations.  We decided that what will be best for both of us to grow, is to follow our own paths.  I am not sad, I am happy as I know that person will find much happiness down the path they choose and I on mine, and if we aren’t meant to walk the same path, then it better we walk apart to find our happiness!  A friend I have not lost, a friend that I release to find happiness in their own way… much love and appreciation.

So as the weekend continues on, and week anew is just over the horizon… I’ve written some of my history here today, and will continue to write more history moving forward.  I look out and see the sun shining, the blue sky, the world letting me know that it’s a brand new day, a good day, and it will become whatever I make of it, it’s in my hands!  I’m happy for the people I have in my life, I’m grateful for the things that I’ve been given, and it all is received with much appreciation.

~kd

You ever get that feeling?  The one where you can sense that something great is about to happen… something you’ve been waiting for, working hard for, and hoping is about to break?  Good, I’m not the only one!  Happy Wednesday!  The day that is stuck in the middle of the week, “hump day”, the halfway point to the end of the normal work week.  What better excuse do you need to go out and let off a little steam from your demanding job?  Your solution has arrived, the Rutherford Rock Project, Trestle and Behlevue at Cicero’s in St. Louis tonight!

Football… I predicted mid-season that the Super Bowl would be Indy vs. NO, guess I should’ve put some money on that one.  If nothing else, should be a good shoot-out!  What makes absolutely no sense to me is this year’s Pro Bowl.  It’s widely garnered as one of the most pointless games in all professional sports for the simple fact that it doesn’t mean anything to anyone except the players who are carted off to a great tropical vacation.  But even they are getting the short-end this year as now their tropical paradise lands them in Miami???  Another obvious ploy to gain more viewership and attention is having the Pro Bowl a week before the Super Bowl?  This way, unless the coaches and a management are complete morons, the real all-stars (the two teams actual in the Super Bowl) will not allow their players to participate, because why chance them getting hurt?  Granted, the Pro Bowl might as well be flag-football played in shorts and t-shirts…  I can guarantee that I will NOT be watching the Pro Bowl this year!

Go out and buy yourself a copy of Quit Wasting Tape.  The brand new album by Rutherford Rock Project, available now as digital download (that means mp3) at Amazon.com, Rhapsody, ShockWave, LimeWire, and a few other places!  It’s good stuff and the more you listen to it, the more it becomes addicting!  If you want to try before you buy… check it out on Lala.com or Last.FM to listen!  Yep, I’m pimpin’ the album, but why not… if you’re reading this, you’ve found some common interest in what I’m talking about so it can’t be all bad, right?

-kd

First and foremost, many prayers and hope go out to the country of Haiti, I cannot imagine the tragedy they are experiencing.  Let’s help them to rebuild, and be very grateful for the blessings you have.

The week is coming to a close, winding down.  Nestled in here for the 5th straight day, I believe of overcast skies, rain and fog.  It’s been a “week in the life of Seattle” here in St. Louis for sure!  Before I travel too far down the road of dismay, the positive is that the temperatures have been very tolerable, upper 40s all week, so much better than that screaming -5 stuff we had a couple weeks ago.

This week (work week) has been slow rolling, but have made some good contacts this week so all is not lost.  We had a productive band practice (Rutherford Rock Project) on Tuesday night, working through our set list for the 27th show, but most importantly came up with two new songs (no, we won’t be playing those on the 27th), but the creativity is once again flowing.  I think the stress release of having the album completed and out for sale has been a big relief for us all!

As I look forward to opportunities that are hanging out in front of me, I see some changes coming forth, some of which could be some big changes!  Since I’ve been expecting these, I’m ready to receive what the universe is ready to give.  I’m looking forward to shaking up my world and seeing where the dust settles and the next chapter of my life begins.

So to all… have a great weekend, do something fun but make it great!

~kd

Happy Monday! Start of the third week of 2010!  Already screaming ahead, are you putting into action what you made a resolution to do a few weeks ago?  If not, time isn’t stopping for you to get with it!  I am moving forward with my changes, my goals and my new found appreciation for what I have and what God and the universe has in store for me in the days, weeks, months and years ahead!

The Rutherford Rock Project album, Quit Wasting Tape, is officially released.  Presently available for digital downloading (as of this writing) on Amazon.com, ShockHound, LimeWire, Napster, LaLa and Last.FM.  iTunes, Rhapsody, eMusic and more are soon to follow!  Having worked on this for the past seven months, the group had set a goal, and we’ve accomplished it!  Amazing what you can do, when you put your mind to it!  We are definitely excited and it’s a cool feeling to see your work and creativity available for the world, now we just have to make the world aware that it’s available!

I feel a great week coming forward, some freeing of burdens I’ve been carrying and some new opportunities presenting themselves.  A time of growth, a time of uncertainty, a time of risk, but it’s all in place for the reception doors are open and standing inside with open arms, I’m ready to receive!

~kd

This fresh cup of coffee once again is sweetening the taste buds…  The cool, humid air that is lingering just to the other side of the glass door, just enough to add that chill that you feel, that little shake where you’re warm yet your body is trying to adjust and regulate itself.  Toes are cold, fingers a bit slow-moving, yet the rest of you is beginning to warm…  the slow start to a winter morning!

I firmly believe that everything that happens to us, cause and effect, happens to us for a reason.  The understanding or comprehension of that reason, what God, the universe and karma are trying to convey are most often times ignored, misunderstood or misinterpreted.  Life changing events come typically in big packages, by that I mean they come as big events — going off to college, your first job, marriage, a new child, etc… you get the picture, but what we also tend to overlook is that a combination of little things can build into life changing events.  It just so happens that I am in the middle of such changing events… there is a lot happening in my life at the moment.  In that, I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching, sense of purpose, direction… what is my passion, my strengths, my talents and my goals?  Things that I, in the past have ignored and lately have just plodded along, completely unaware and oblivious to the direction that my life was going.

I use past tense when I say “was going”, because I have come to the realization that what I’ve been doing, how I’ve been living has been with a small view of the possibilities of life, what life has to offer and what I can give back to life.  Things have changed recently in my life and for most people it would be a very stressful and depressing time, and quite often the majority would give up hope and not see the light on the other side.  I choose not to be one of those people.  The events that have unfolded before me have happened for a reason and they are forcing a response, a decision, a realization.  The path I had created myself was not bringing me the success (accomplishment), reward (satisfaction) and fulfillment (happiness) that I thought I was seeking, so it’s time for change.  My way wasn’t working.

So what does this realization mean for me?  Life change?  Yes!  The way I view myself, others, and life.  Career change?  Potentially! I’m not giving a strong yes to this yet because I really do enjoy the skills that I’ve acquired in my professional life, but I’m also not ruling out following a ‘dream’ — if you will, or a passion that most people think “I’d like to do that, but I’m just not in a position for that”.  It’s never too late to make a choice, to make a change.  The most important person that you have to make happy in this life is yourself, once you choose to find true happiness within, then your light will shine upon others.

I choose to be happy, accomplished and satisfied!  I choose to follow my passions, to live for purpose, set goals and do what it takes for me to reach those goals.  I can do whatever I put my mind to and I will give it 110%.  I can start each day by finding something negative… which sets the tone for the entire day, or I can choose to start the day with a positive thought and know that what’s coming in the future is going to be great, because I’m prepared to accept the rewards that the future holds!

If you made it this far down, thanks for stopping by and taking a few minutes of your day.  I’m off to grab another cup of coffee, pat my loyal pug on the head, and do great things!

~kd

Ahh… filling the air, the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee — Dunkin’ Donuts French Vanilla (at present, my favorite coffee).  Another beautiful morning, looking forward to the 40 degree temp being called for today, give us a break on this deep freeze.  As I peruse the news sites this morning, looks like the general public (media in particular, but user feedback as well) consensus is that McGwire coming clean is just not good enough.  Seriously?  It’s giving me a headache thinking about it… can we move on people, there are bigger issues to tackle in this world.  He (McGwire) admitted, apologized, case closed — let’s get on with life.  Maybe focus on more important matters… like the tiff that’s going on between NBC, Conan and Leno, or what pathetic reality show network television will come up with next, I mean Paula left and now Simon is leaving? It’s the apocalypse.  [sarcasm, of course].

But on the subject of reality… it was fine when the concept was new and fresh, now every other show and every other channel is doing realty from the networks to Speed channel to Discovery to HGTV.  It’s time to think outside the box and get something fresh people… here’s a novel idea, how about a sitcom with substance?  There are some good new ones out there, even though I typically don’t watch network TV… The Middle (which is hit or miss), Modern Family and Cougar Town on ABC are good!

…and now for something completely different.

After a seven month process of recording, mixing, re-recording, mixing and auto-punching, the Rutherford Rock Project’s first album has been marked as complete!  I finished up the final mastering last night and we all gave it the stamp of approval!  The official release date is February 1st, but we’re going to get it moved up to several online retailers (iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Napster, etc.) very soon.  So make sure you buy a copy of Quit Wasting Tape!

Quit Wasting Tape

So it is with this, a sense of accomplishment… we set out to complete an album and get it sold on iTunes (of course now we need to work on getting a couple million people to buy it), but we’ve reached the goal that we set out to do!  Moving forward for 2010, our goals are to play more shows (live) and begin the creative process on writing new material which will lead us to album number two (which is not targeted for 2010)!

When we think small, with narrow focus, we limit our capabilities and our options.  By setting our sites big, our thinking big and our goals big our mind helps us to move in the direction of accomplishment, and to me, accomplishment is success.  Do big things!!!  I highly recommend reading the book “The Magic of Thinking Big” by Dr. David Schwartz… originally published in 1959, but I believe the latest edition was reprinted in 2007.  It all still holds true 50 years later, excellent read.

~kd

Sitting here on this chilly January morning, scorching 13 degrees at the moment, coffee in hand — Fair Trade Organic French Roast from Trader Joe’s — watching the sun peak it’s head up over the horizon pushing through the dense haze of clouds that are making some room for another day filled with blue sky.  Sounds exhilarating, yes?  Probably more so if I was perched on the deck like the Cardinal that just landed and moved on, but I’ll take this.

So welcome aboard!  Thanks for stopping in and checking out “…a blog about nothing.”  Have to give props to Seinfeld, what a wonderful television series that has just about covered every life situation in some form or another that you’ll find yourself in.  My goal here is to just write… write about what I’m feeling at the moment, write about what’s going on in the world and give my thoughts or opinions, I’m sure there’s at least two or three people out there in the world that see life from my point of view.

What’s on my mind at the moment?  Let’s talk current affairs (pun intended), Mr. Tiger Woods!  Helluva golfer, the best, terrible at marriage, the worst.  But he’s gotta be wiping his brow with a huge “phewww” at the moment, since Mr. McGwire has taken the limelight from him.  I’ve always liked McGwire, steriods aside, I appreciate the way that he keeps his business his.  I don’t care if he took steroids, HGH, or horse tranquilizers… fact is 99% of all the skeptics, critics and cynics out there that are relishing in this awakening and moving on with his life, could barely hit a ball coming at them at 95 mph, let alone knock one 400+ ft.  So I say, shut up, accept his apology, honor him for repenting and pushing through this dark world we live in to find new light, a new turn, and to better himself.  No matter what happened, back when the home run record was broken — one of the best years in baseball, EVERYONE found inspiration and entertainment that year. It was a time when baseball was struggling to get back,  Mark and Sammy gave us something to cheer about again…

I need more coffee… That’s my two cents for this morning.  Come back and visit, I’m planning on talking about all kinds of things on here, enjoy your day, may it be great!

~kd