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I love this music career. Leading my jazz band and helping people plan music for their celebrations, plus a full family life, keeps me hopping.
Though this music career gives me a wonderful life, I’m often exhausted. It’s been a busy summer, and tonight’s one of those times.
To keep you up-to-date, here’s a picture of us warming up before a recent wedding ceremony in a beautiful garden setting. Thanks for the wonderful photo, Amy Frugoli.
Ideas are flowing, but I’m bone tired, and the rest of me feels pretty beat up, too. Don’t get be wrong — I love it, and I’m struggling to stay busy tonight, despite a short attention span and aching feet. Top to bottom.
It’s Saturday evening, about 11pm. Busy day today, and another one tomorrow. This afternoon, the quartet entertained a hundred guests from near and far at a very posh wedding reception at San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel.
Besides leading the band, I was the MC and coordinated our music with many landmarks on the busy schedule, including a special “First Dance”. All in all, a lovely afternoon for everyone. Congratulations, May and Winston.
We were in the gorgeous Pavilion Room, with it’s adjacent rooftop garden, just down the hall from the Venetian Room, where we entertained at Willie Mays’ 80th birthday party last May. Lots of baseball luminaries there, and I chatted briefly with Tommy LaSorda.
Relatives have been visiting all week, and I’ve been tidying up the house and garden all month. My wife is out for a few hours, driving them back to the airport, so I just caught up with some email. Interesting: A few friends are organizing their high school reunion back in Buffalo, NY.
I was one of their Health, Earth Science, and Biology teachers, and I emailed back, “Can a former faculty guy join the festivities?” Waiting for a reply. Do only classmates attend these things? I attended my own high school reunion a few years ago, and none of our teachers joined us then.
My mind wanders tonight. Will there be a point to this ramble? Let’s call it a “brain dump”. No, that’s not a large weed-filled lot where people discard their broken, used-up brains. I’m just letting all my thoughts spill out, and trying to catch and record as many as I can. Right now it feels like a random flow, but I’m sure it isn’t random.
Must every story have a point? I once saw an episode of “Seinfeld”. Once but not twice. I’ve been told that these stories were deliberately pointless, and that’s what made the series so popular. Huh? Perhaps they figured that if we see the characters act silly and laugh a lot, we’ll laugh, too, and think we’re having an enjoyable time.
I don’t get it, and I think I didn’t missed anything worthwhile. Hmmm… I’m so tired, my sense of humor is going.
This little essay, however, IS worthwhile to me right now. I think it’s helping to focus my thoughts. Writing is letting me get drowsy, and I’m nodding off. More tomorrow.
Bottom line: Reading and writing help me “wind down” after a busy day. What works for YOU?
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{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
Robbie, every night when i get into bed, i take 2 things with me…my Games magazine and my cuppa tea….That is my little piece of heaven. I could write blog or journal but then i think my brain would start up again. for some reason the crosswords while very challenging (they are cryptic ones) don’t my mind racing and along with the tea, help me wind down. Sounds like you had a really busy week so reward yourself with some “me’ time
Julie Labes: The Fun-Loving, Feisty, Fearless, Frisky, Fierce Over 50 Traveler
Thanks, Julie,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. Yours sounds great —puzzles and tea. I should try that. I used to love working on crosswords, but my enthusiasm for that comes and goes. Easy ones get boring quickly, and difficult ones get frustrating, especially when I’m trying to relax. It’s a dilemma, and I return to reading and writing.
Robbie
Thanks, Julie,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. Yours sounds great —puzzles and tea. I should try that. I used to love working on crosswords, but my enthusiasm for that comes and goes. Easy ones get boring quickly, and difficult ones get frustrating, especially when I’m trying to relax. It’s a dilemma, and I return to reading and writing.
Robbie
Sometimes writing at night helps me get drowsy but sometimes it does the reverse and I can’t get to sleep. Sometimes a light reading will wind me down and sometimes a meditation CD does it. As for Seinfeld, I loved watching it because it showed us that sometimes we get upset over pointless things like the characters did. I watch the reruns now and then and sometimes I find one I never saw before. But I will say I have to be in the right mood to watch certain episodes. I still enjoy the shows. Some were incredibly hilarious when they dealt with human foibles or relationships.
That wedding sounded fantastic! You deserve a nice rest. And some of my teachers did come to my last high school reunion. It was great seeing a few of them and only one came in full nun regalia! We learned that one nun who didn’t come left the nunnery and was in a relationship with another woman. That was a surprise!
Julieanne CaseAlways from the heart! Blog: http://www.julieannecasefromtheheart.comReconnecting you to your essence, joy, vitality, youth.| Healing you from the Inside Out |Reconnective Healing | AgeLoc Skin Carewww.thereconnectivehighway.com
Thanks, Julieanne,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. Yours sounds interesting — sometimes this, sometimes that. Maybe I should search for a Seinfeld rerun and give it another try. And hope I’m in the right mood.
Robbie
Reading and writing are definitely relaxers for me, too, Robbie! It must be so rewarding to have that intimate relationship with the beautiful art of music that you have….I believe that music is one of the most powerful and life-changing arts in the universe…music can inspire and heal and lift one’s spirits in a way that few other channels can. I admire your talent and your ability to bring joy into so many people’s lives. Your “rambling” was enjoyable to read, and I am so glad you shared your thoughts!
Thanks, Donna,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I look forward to meeting you one of these days. I’m sure it’ll happen soon.
Robbie
Thanks, Donna,
Glad you enjoyed this post, and I look forward to meeting you one of these days. I’m sure it’ll happen soon.
Robbie
I generally don’t have to wind down at the end of the day…I just fall into bed and I’m out. When I do need to relax I generally pick up a book…
I do have to disagree with you about Seinfeld though…it was a clever show written with the intent of bringing everyday common experiences into the forefront…sometimes mocking the absurdity of our behavior, sometimes just plain laugh out loud funny.
Darcie
Devoted to finding all things delicious.
http://www.discoveringdelicious.com
Thanks, Darcie,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. Yours sounds great —close your eyes and zone out. And I’ll have to revisit Seinfeld someday. My first exposure to absurdity didn’t make me laugh enough.
Robbie
Reading works for me. Especially when done in a deep tub of hot water (my idea of heaven). My writing is best done earlier in the day because it gets my mind running and the ideas flowing. If I write before bed I’ll lay awake writing in my mind.
Thanks, Kerry,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. Yours sounds great —book and a bath .
Robbie
Thanks, Kerry,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. Yours sounds great —book and a bath .
Robbie
Reading is my wind down. I always read before sleep, usually something inspirational so I sleep with good thoughts in my head. I have to agree with you on Seinfeld. Tried to watch it a few times but just didn’t get it at all. I thought it was because I’m not American lol
Louise Edington
Fabulous and Fearless
http://louiseedington.com
Thanks, Louise,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. Yours sounds great —something inspirational, to generate good thoughts.
And I guess Seinfeld was written about mindless people engaged in mindless activity, as a commentary on the mindlessness of existence. Or something trying to be profound like that. Didn’t entertain me, but lots of people that it was clever. Go figure.
Robbie
Thanks, Louise,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. Yours sounds great —something inspirational, to generate good thoughts.
And I guess Seinfeld was written about mindless people engaged in mindless activity, as a commentary on the mindlessness of existence. Or something trying to be profound like that. Didn’t entertain me, but lots of people that it was clever. Go figure.
Robbie
Reading and taking a bath are my two faves!
Thanks, Victoria,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. Yours sounds great! Book and a bath.
Robbie
Sadly, I think I wind down by wandering about the world wide web, which often includes one or two stop offs at facebook and reading about people’s day and dilemmas. I want to get back into reading, and no, not a medical book but something aimless and fictional. I used to really, really enjoy reading but going to college/medical school and mandatory reading assignments gave pleasure reading a back seat! I enjoyed your brain dump and no, I had never thought of a brain dump as a lot where people discard used brains!
Thanks, Jaspreet,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. Yours sounds great — very relaxing, unless you wander over to something stimulating and exciting. Pleasure reading is one of my favorite things, and I hope you’ll rediscover it’s enjoyment one of these days.
Robbie
Robbie, I love this post. I find it so endearing and feel I’ve gotten to know you better with this post than any other of yours I’ve read. Maybe that is the point. I liked what you said about a brain dump Not a “dump” at all! I’ve been finding the writing very therapeutic as well. I will also be posting on my blog this week. Keep it up. It helps us to know you!
Susan Berland
A Picture’s Worth
http://www.susan-berland.com
Thanks, Susan,
Glad you enjoyed this post. I’m so pleased that you feel I’m finally coming through this writing. I hope Ann will consider this a sign that I’m beginning to “find my voice” after all.
Robbie
Hey, I might be wrong but I think you just dissed my favorite show of all time…(LoL, it’s ok, I still like ya.) Reading, writing, and watching sitcoms like Seinfeld is how I unwind after a busy day – otherwise the voices in my head take over.
Thanks, Pat,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. What, diss Seinfeld? Who me? Actually I read that TV Guide declared Seinfeld the best TV series EVER! It sure was popular, but never appealed to me after the first exposure. Just one of those things, I guess.
Robbie
Well Robbie, that sounds like a wonderful wedding, as are so many of your events, I’m sure. And whatever works for you, your “rambling” writing had it’s direction and meaning for you and it worked to get you to where you needed to be when you wrote it. That’s what it’s about anyway, right?
I can’t write just before bed, it gets my mind going and then I can’t shut it off. I’m a mindless TV show or good book kind of wind down person. Although if the book is too good, then I end up staying up way too late because I can’t put it down.
And speaking of mindless TV, that was what Seinfeld was for me, I loved it. It was light and funny, and that’s the find of show I can watch and then fall asleep in a good mood, which hopefully will make for happier dreams. 🙂
Lisa Vitale, Mompreneur
http://lisawifemom.wordpress.com
Thanks, Lisa,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. For writing, mornings seem to be more popular than evenings. Either way, mindless activity, like Seinfeld, drives me up the wall. Guess I’m too serious for mental jello. Give me a puzzle, or something interesting to think about.
Robbie
Nice “ramble” Robbie 🙂 I thought it was funny, could “see” you through it and reminds me very much of how we experience or remember our week – in bits of images, moments, experiences and “random” thoughts…Sounds like a busy time and a lot of fun too. For me, I often unwind by unplugging all electronics, taking a bath and reading to my daughter. Then, I crash to sleep! Most of my writing is done in the early am when the rest of the world is still sleeping 🙂
Brandy
Thanks, Brandy,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. Many of us seem to be morning people. Me — I’m often exhausted, and love to write whenever I need to gather my thoughts and fall asleep.
Robbie
I imagine that summer is a very busy time for you. Very busy & exhausting! I’m glad that writing helps you wind down. However, it does quite the opposite for me. My mind gets to active and I can’t shut it down. I’m a morning person, and that is the best time for me.
Thanks, Molly,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. Sounds like writing is the thing you’ll avoid in the evening. Mornings are great!
Robbie
Nice one Robbie! What makes me unwind is turning off all computer and phone by dinner time, taking a warm bath by evening, and then just relaxing with my husband. If I do this then I can sleep at peace, which is actually timely because last night I stayed on the computer longer than needed and couldn’t sleep when I was tired. My mind was racing!
Thanks for this. Good reminder to take time to unwind.
xoxo
Alara
Thanks, Alara,
Glad you enjoyed this post. Unwinding is important, and it looks like everyone has discovered their own best strategy. Yours sounds great — very practical.
Robbie
I love the random and rambling nature of this post. Thank you for keeping it real and helping me realize that it’s ok to write like that sometimes and actually share it with the world. I have a hard time unwinding at night. By the time my daughter goes to bed, I’m past tired and “awake” again… so I head to the computer which is almost always by my side. I will catch up on recorded shows that I can’t watch when my daughter is awake (which is always), surf around the net, or play a game on my phone. I need to start reading again, but it’s not something I can do at bedtime as I am known to stay awake until dawn finishing a book because I can’t put it down. I find that if I write in the morning, I’m a bit more organized and at night it’s a random thing. I might need to separate writing for purpose and journaling just because.
Hi Robbie
I loved watching your writing progress, and could fee you winding down thru your words. Funny you should mention watching Seinfeld. I was never a devoted, had to watch every week fan of the show. However as time has passed I catch myself watching a re-run or two and they really are mindless tv. However if you’re looking for something that ties it all together a little bit try watching “Curb Your Enthusiasm” written by the same guy from Seinfeld. Much easier to digest, a little brash on the humor. But a good time.
Jennifer,
Please contact me immediately.
Monica Mazzei, ESQ
(415) 690-3499
mmazzei@sideman.com
Hi Robbie
I loved watching your writing progress, and could fee you winding down thru your words. Funny you should mention watching Seinfeld. I was never a devoted, had to watch every week fan of the show. However as time has passed I catch myself watching a re-run or two and they really are mindless tv. However if you’re looking for something that ties it all together a little bit try watching “Curb Your Enthusiasm” written by the same guy from Seinfeld. Much easier to digest, a little brash on the humor. But a good time.
I think of rambling as “brainstorming for one” and just as it is important for your arms and leg muscles to ‘cool down’ after exercising, I think it is just as important to ‘cool down’ your brain at the end of it’s workout too
For me getting into bed with a cup od tea and a games magazine is my way of winding down. Ps LOVE Seinfeld and yes, they are pointless, but that was kinda the point (if that makes sense) and the more you watch, the funnier they get