Just In: Read The Real Meaning Of Life (Page 22)
There’s a book out called The Real Meaning Of Life by David Seaman, and you will find my name on page 22. How did this happen? Well, this guy David elicited responses from readers everywhere and my contribution got in. I went to Barnes annd Noble yesterday and I was so thrilled to read my name and entry on page 22. I won’t share on this blog what I put in there. Ha ha! Silipin niyo nalang!
Notes on the tour
Had three concerts in three days in three different locations and all involving plane rides. It was Atlantic City on October 21st, Detroit on the 22nd, and Austin on the 23rd. Grabe. I am beat. We arrived in Dallas last night and will be here to do some promo work for the concert this weekend. But before the Dallas concert, we have San Antonio the night before, a 5-hours drive away. Such is the life of a group on tour. ‘Band on the run’, as pareng Paul Macartney calls it. We sleep in different rooms and the only thing that makes me feel at home is looking at the pictures in my computer. Otherwise, it’s a different bed and setting everyday. Strangely enough, I am still finding it fascinating after all these years.
Dallas is a beautiful city with lots going for it. We went to the Aija restaurant (nemed after Steely Dan’s album) at the fabulous Trammel building. This resto is owned by Dindo Orosa, a Pinoy who has made his mark in the fine dining scene in Dallas. It is not a Filipino restaurant but a mainstream one that caters to the regularh market. The food is, to say the least, marvelous! Aside from continental cuisine, Dindo serves some Filipino dishes like cassava cake and guess what? The people love it.
The fabulous entrance to the Trammel building where Ajie is located!
I hope to eat at Ajie’s again and see more of this city in the next few days.
Peddlers of Samsara!
I miss home. I miss sleep. I miss my bed. I miss my family. But at the same time, I like traveling. There isn’t a place I have been to that can bore me to death..well except perhaps casinos. These establishments that cater to greed and sensual attractions (OK, fun and excitement if you wish) are sad places. For one, it’s hard to find areas that are totally smoke free–not even in the so-called no-smoking rooms. Somehow, cigarette smoke finds its way everywhere and it sticks to your clothes, and worse, to your lungs. People who live and work and patronize these places breathe in all that pollution 24-7.
Everything in casinos is designed to lure you into gambling. One way is they put up shows to attract crowds with the hope of enticing them to games of chance when they get there. I don’t know if it’s just me but I can’t help but notice that casinos are places where you find many rich but very lonely people. They while away the time in front of slot machines for hours and hours probably lulled into some trance by the jingling sounds of the machines. More often than not, they are old, lonely people who probably have nothing else to do. Kawawa naman. Thes are places of samsara as Bhuddhists will probably call it–places where there is much suffering.
Believe it or not, I have not spent a single cent gambling since we got here. Come to think of it, I haven’t spent in any lof the previous tours. I thank God that gambling isn’t something I find attractive. I shouldn’t be complaining about casinos though since we do concerts there. My complaints are not based on any moral grounds. It’s the insidious, almost ‘militant’ shallowness of the whole thing that bothers me. I just feel that the time spent in such places can be better spent elsewhere where one is not manipulated, exploited and left lonely and broke. Except for a few lucky ones, let’s face it, nobody beats the house!
The King is Still in the Building!!
Had an overnight stay in Austin which is George Dubya’s hometown. That fact is not the big story for me since I am no fan of the US President. The big deal is staying at the Park Hotel, a small, comfortable and rather old hotel whose biggest claim to fame is that ELVIS SLEPT THERE!
I wonder if I got his room. I swear I heard someone whistling “Love Me Tender” early in the morning!
..or maybe it was just my imagination!
Goofing Off!
When musicians travel, it’s a whole lot of fun in between work. And it doesn’t have to have anything to do with music. In Dallas yesterday, Danny, Boboy, Sammy (our assistant) and I did an Abbey Road style pose on the very spot where JFK was shot. Sorry, I don’t have that picture since someone else took it. Watch out for it at the APO page one of these days. Enjoy the pics below of the group just having fun!
The band taking a pause that refreshes!
Really missing home! heh heh!
JD appreciating art!
More postings as the adventure continues!
Oh, was blog hopping and landed on yours. Loved your insight about gambling and casinos (where there is much suffering). Further down your post, I recognize a face. Tell JD Cala says hi! Hope you guys are having a blast. 🙂
Hi candice,
Thanks for dropping by. will convey your message to art llover JD! ha ha!
Hilarious pics sir Jim.
Speaking of which, you seem to have taken a break from your photography…or did you?
Hi benjie,
Yes and no. I have not been taking na lot for magazines. But I have been taking for an upcoming exhibit on Dec. 8. will announce details later.
hi sir jim!:)
kakatuwa ang mga litrato! especially ‘yung elvis! hehehe:)
i’ve never been in a gambling place pero i feel you’re right about your insights. and, nobody beats the house talaga!
sige po. ingat kayo!:)
kakatuwa iyong mga pics… nag-iisip tuloy ako kung saan merong ganyan dito sa SF Bay area. ha ha ha…
have fun in texas!
hello po. i was just browsing through ate ala’s page and i saw your blog. very nice posts po and pictures. who says Dads can’t blog? Heheü
Hello, I never voiced out my feelings about casinos dahil akala ko weird ako, hindi pala. I really find casinos boring too and here in the US its common to go on a long weekend to casinos, I always decline amd friends think I’m just being a cheapskate (which I am)
Have a great tour! The pics are so funny!
Hey Jazzy, Sure! Not only can dads blog, may friendster pa. ha ha! Thanks for the visit.
babypink, lyra–yes, caisnos for me are only places of work. Too depressing tpo stay there for more than two days.
maricar–i’m sure meron ganyan sa bay area. let’s shoot!
soul seeker–thanks for the visit.
whoa ho! i love the pictures!
well.. i guess you wish has partially come true: you’ve been published overseas! =D
hi po! sayang naman i didnt know na may show kayo sa detroit… san po kayo nagshow dito sa michigan????? sayang talga!!!!
sir Jim,
I agree! Dads not only blog, may friendster pa! who said Dads can’t be cool.
Haaay! Sumasakit ang tyan ko sa pictures mo lalu na the ass-grabbing one! and the elvis one! I cnt decide which is funnier! I am eager to buy that book kaso lang NOV.1 now and the stores are dead here 🙁 I think super OK syang christmas gift! When you come back are you holding any workshops? 🙂 I want to enroll my boyfriend as a christmas gift!
…i forgot to add… since almost everything in that book is from other people… Shouldn’t they get paid too and share in the profits? … Just a thought! 🙂
i stayed in MGM Grand in las vegas during a class reunion & i just found the atmosphere of the ground floor very revolting – with all the “one-armed bandits”(slot machines)luring the guests.and oh yes,i saw those lonely faces in spite of all the “feel good” sound.
i never spent a dime while there.
about your pictures: you are really having a good time.
and talking about books:the publisher of poetry.com,where i submitted my poem about you, is asking my permission for them to print it in their new book (a compilation of poems). i find it flattering! well, i just want you to know…..
to girlie:
be careful of poetry.com people. they might make you pay some sort of fee to get puvlished..
i submitted a poem there once. also sent me some letter saying that they wanted to publish me.. my friends also sent poems there.. they also got letters saying they want to publish those also.
Hi Apo Jim,
I am glad you had a great time here in Dallas. Dindo Orosa’s restaurant is actually called Aija unless they recently changed it, yes, they serve great food. Regards!
to ang:
thanks for your concern.they don’t let you pay but give you the option to buy the book where your poem is.sure, there is some business attatched to it but it is really up to me if i purchase what they sell. it is a voluntary basis thing.
ahehe
ang kulit ng pictures nyo 🙂
anyway… more power talaga to you guys! lam nyo bang song nyo ang antrance song namin sa reception namin? 🙂
Friendster? Cool! About the visit, you’re welcome po. 😀
hilarious pics.. hehe!