Sunday morning coffee with cream...

You have no idea how delicious my cup of coffee with real cream is tasting right now. *smile*

On my day off, today Sunday, I am allowing myself to partake in an otherwise big no-no, coffee with cream.

It's Sunday and I was wide awake at 6:00am. *ugh*

Although I am not in the studio today, I do have a 10:30am graphics appointment with my designer. I suppose after my crazy dream of dog suicide (don't ask, I have NO idea) I had too much anxiety even for my sleep.

So I have a few more days this week remaining.

Tomorrow I pick up my friend Karen from the airport and drive her straight to the studio to play mandolin on my record. *yay*

I'm staying in her totally cozy condo and even though I normally dread warmth and heat (I know, I am crazy) today I was really hoping for one of those 80-90+ 100% humid days like when I arrived last week. Oh well. Karen has a pool and that was on my mind after my meeting today. *sigh* Maybe next week before I leave.

It's been a hell of a ride I tell ya'.
I never imagined recording in such a short time frame with full blown Austin, Texas allergies would be so completely and utterly challenging. I mean, of course I wasn't expecting the allergy part - or whatever the heck is going on.

I knew it would be work, it always is. But what I just went through and it seems only have one vocal left to get through next week, was seriously like pulling teeth.

I was never an allergy sufferer and until last week and at present, I never really understood all the fuss about them. Boy did I have a lesson to learn.

It pretty much rendered my head/high voice useless which meant singing around it, changing arrangements etc... and my middle, at times pretty challenging connecting it all. There were times literally, I had such big globs in my throat (sorry) that you could hear it in the mic very clearly. *ick*

It's turning out I am not freaking out emotionally on the steriod shot like I did when Dr. Kessler gave me the pills 3 years ago so I could sing at Telluride.

However, I am noticing some other nasty side effects. *sigh*
Jumpier than hell, nausea, headache, major stomach pain and cramps, the D word (I won't go there) and little chipmunk cheeks. Totally weird to say the least.

Yesterday after recording the vocals for Wanderin' I went to ly down and when I got up, nearly passed out.
This whole experience has been both desperate and difficult and on a day off, at this moment, I can see also somewhere down the road something to learn from and as always, a good story.

So alas, I am feeling in good spirits today.

I may see where my voice is at Monday and Tuesday on the last days and if it's close to normal, I may do a marathon re-do of some vocals. We'll see.

Mark, Ned and Andre swear they sound good despite not being in top form but you know how singers are. Or if you don't, let's just say we expect a lot from ourselves. I know the level I can perform and sing at and when for reasons like this I can't, it's like taking away the legs of a runner.

I'll have a new perspective on everything tomorrow after this much needed day off. Or sort of day off.

I have to practice my part on a song I wrote with a Norweigen friend, clean the condo before I get Karen tomorrow and continue working on graphic stuff.
So I guess it's not technically a day off.

Although since I am not singing in the mic today and I am getting a cup of coffee with cream, I feel like it's a whole weekend to be honest.
It's amazing what a good cup of joe as we say in America can do for you.

And as we say here in Tejas, yeeeehaw!

love,
Chris