Just Barely Keeping Up....

I'm sure we all feel the same. I have a busy life. Between candles, Hotsource, Vertico, guitar, lyrics, and, at last count, 6 different bands (Wen & Bendy, Little Big Horn, Silverhair, Radio Bandits, Feeding the Animals, and one more project yet to be named....) - well - I just never stop. I'm also trying to lose a few pounds and get into shape. And somehow I need to get the house clean, the laundry done (though we're out of laundry detergent, so I need to go shopping - another thing to do), and the bills paid - oh shit - there's also the taxes.

I must like it. It doesn't stop. And when I drop one thing, I pick up another. Oh well.

Alan, Michael Rootes, and I will be travelling to the US in January. I'm going to relax. To write a bit. To spend time reading. To do some yoga. To regroup.

My friend, Jo, came over on Saturday and we spent a few hours taking pictures of me. I really need some publicity shots. So, anyway, I'll put a few of them here for you to see.

And before Christmas, I'll write a proper WendEmail and introduce everyone on the distribution list to this blog. It's about time.

Messenger: The Daily Connection

Well, hi there. I've mentioned MSN Messenger in a couple of my WendEmails past. I use it everyday. For lots of things. A quick catch up with my dad. A fast question for Sean (Hotsource's technical guru). A little gossip with Angela. It's fast because we're relatively quick at typing and because we can get to the point and then leave (well... most of the time). Oh - and it's free. Love it.

Anyway, I thought it might be interesting to share the conversation I just had with my dad. It will be hard to follow - as I type, he types, and we might have 2 or three different threads going on at once. Later in the conversation, he asks me questions about the blog that he's reading. So I don't really expect you to get it. The cool thing is he's thousands of miles away and not even at home, yet he was on a little break and we got to catch up. Love it (repetitive, am I). Anyway, here goes....

WLC says:
hi
Bluesman41 says:
Hi
Bluesman41 says:
I'm at SCC, just finished one class, going to get a sandwich and teach 3 more hours!
WLC says:
ok - bye
Bluesman41 says:
I've got a minute
Bluesman41 says:
or two
WLC says:
oh -
WLC says:
well - Its Friday
Bluesman41 says:
or three
WLC says:
long weekend apparently
WLC says:
don't know why
Bluesman41 says:
in some parts of the world
WLC says:
haven't gotten used to the holidays here
WLC says:
weird
WLC says:
we have monday off
Bluesman41 says:
greet
Bluesman41 says:
!
WLC says:
the Swans play int he final on Saturday
Bluesman41 says:
Go SWANIES

WLC says:
Ange and Ben fly to Melbourne tomorrow morning (6:00 flight)
WLC says:
Ben and I have a gig that won't finish until 1:00 - so he'll be fucked
Bluesman41 says:
So it's the old S&M rivalry, eh?
WLC says:
no - the final is always in Melbourne
Bluesman41 says:
oh
WLC says:
we're playing the West coast Eagles (Perth
WLC says:
)
Bluesman41 says:
again?!
WLC says:
yes
WLC says:
hope they don't get revenge
Bluesman41 says:
won'tthey be pissed
Bluesman41 says:
not as in drunk
WLC says:
oh yeah!
WLC says:
they're looking for a win
WLC says:
you read my blog about it?
Bluesman41 says:
You didn't comment back on my comment about HotSource not becoming a political forum
WLC says:
I know
Bluesman41 says:
no, no BLOG. Haven't developed that habit yet
WLC says:
oh - well here's the link - nevermind - I'll email it to you
Bluesman41 says:
yes, that way I won't lose it [again]
WLC says:
done
Bluesman41 says:
How's you?
WLC says:
busy - broke - looking forward to the break
WLC says:
but going to work while I'm there, too
WLC says:
Vertico and Hotsource me thinks
Bluesman41 says:
have you identified any tradeshows?
WLC says:
I find it hard to not do it
WLC says:
May in Flo
WLC says:
a
Bluesman41 says:
Floa?
WLC says:
Florida
Bluesman41 says:
Got the link
Bluesman41 says:
says WendyEmail
Bluesman41 says:
actually, WEndyEmail
WLC says:
my typing - woeful
Bluesman41 says:
You peed your pants!?!
WLC says:
a little
WLC says:
had to go
WLC says:
and had to jump up and down in happiness
Bluesman41 says:
I bookmarked the page
WLC says:
gud
WLC says:
blogging is fun
WLC says:
I can be political there
WLC says:

Bluesman41 says:
If I ever have time, maybeI'll try it.
WLC says:
you won't
WLC says:
have time
WLC says:
you hae to make time
Bluesman41 says:
That's true. Lots of opps for venting
WLC says:
take time
Bluesman41 says:
I'm creating time right now!
WLC says:
yes you are - let's post this as a blog
Bluesman41 says:
Creation is a wonderful hobby.
WLC says:
some creation
Bluesman41 says:
Glad I took it up 4 billion years ago!
WLC says:
others not so much
Bluesman41 says:
I'd better scoot. Lots to prepare for tonight, and gotta eat.
WLC says:
ok - enjoy your sandwich
WLC says:
lymyb!
Bluesman41 says:
Have a great weekend. And GO SWANS! LYMYB
WLC says:
b!

It Just Doesn't Feel Like Last Year

The Swans are an important part of my winters in Sydney. There are 22 games each season and we get 11 glorious home games. In the last 2 years, I've put the games into my calendar so that I know they're there. I still take gigs if they come up, but I don't schedule candle parties or rehearsals during home games. It's important for me to be there.

Last year, the Swans lived a fairy tale. They didn't win every game, in fact, they lost enough to keep you wondering if it could really ever happen. They even lost their first finals game - but because they were in the top four at the end of the regular season, they got another chance. And it was at home.

This photo is one I took of an ecstatic Douglas hugging an incredibly happy Ange at the tail end of that game. They were both so excited as the game reached a climax that they couldn't even sit in their seats. They were standing in the aisle - willing the Swans to victory. And victory was ours. It was incredible.

The next week, Angela flew to Melbourne to watch as the Swans play in the semi-final match against St Kilda. Winning that game was a dream for us. We weren't brave enough to say it outloud... and yet, it happened. Again, we were in tears. It was a feeling I haven't felt since the Phoenix Suns won game 5 in the finals against the Chicago Bulls in 1994. Glorious.

And the following week, I stood in the Welcome Hotel in Balmain. Dressed in a white t-shirt that called out in faded red letters "Crush! Kill! Destroy!" A mantra originally from Lost in Space, but more recently adopted by Angela as her own personal Braveheart to the Swans when she wants them to kick some ass on the field. Tex had bought us both the shirts after experiencing a game the previous year. I thought the shirt would help keep the luck rolling....

We were playing the West Coast Eagles. They were the team that had beaten us in the first round of the finals. We knew it would be tight. We knew it would be good. We didn't know if we could do it. We thought we could. We hoped. We wanted.

And the match was everything it needed to be. We were in front. We were behind. They scored. We scored. They scored again. The clock in an AFL match isn't a count down - it's a count up. And after 20 minutes elapse, all you know is that the final siren could come any time. Out of bounds time and injury time are all added to the 20 minute playing time. Short quarters end at 23 minutes. Long ones can go 33 minutes. In this game, the siren was imminent. And the Swans were in front. And the Eagles had the ball. And the ball was in the air heading toward their goal scoring area. And there were Eagles players and Swans players looking up for the ball - pushing each other and trying to get in the perfect postion to catch that ball! And as it dropped, one Swan somehow jumped higher and at precisely at the right time. And as Leo Barry caught that ball, it still wasn't over. I held my breath. We all did.

And then the beautiful siren.

The best sound I've ever heard.

I peed my pants.

Move forward 51 weeks.... Last night, I went to the semi final match between Sydney and Fremantle. The Dockers. We played the first finals game a couple of weeks ago. Against our nemisis, the West Coast Eagles. I predicted a Swans win but a close game two weeks ago. And that's what we got. So instead of having another game, we got a week off.

Last night we never lost our lead. We scored first and we lead the whole night. It wasn't a blow out, but we never let them in. And victory didn't taste as sweet. It just didn't.

It just doesn't feel the same this year. It isn't the fairy tale. Don't get me wrong. It's great to be a winner. And I'm a proud fan. I'm a happy member. Very happy. We're playing better than we did last year. We're a great team. It's just that I can't get that feeling.

I'm not counting my chickens before they're hatched. We haven't won the Championship this year. We don't even know who we're playing yet - Adelaide and the West Coast Eagles are vying for that as I type. Angela and Ben will be in Melbourne next week for the game. I will go to the Welcome and probably stand right where I did last year.

Let me tell you what I want. I want a tight game. Where both teams play really, really hard footy. Where the umpires let the game move as it should. Where the fans get loud and make the whole arena shake. Where in the fourth quarter you don't know who's going to win.

And then... I want to pee my pants again.