Count Gilbert blog

My 3 condoms

As a recycled bachelor...or recycled husband, which ever comes first...one of the first thoughts I had when I moved to Tacoma 5 months ago was "I should probably buy some condoms...just in case".

This is a sensitive subject!

I had never purchased or needed to purchase them before in my life...but now?...what if i'm out and about, the stars align just right, and the twinkle in her eyes says "baby oh baby take me home tonight?"

I'm sure it's the bible that says you gotta
be married before you have any action...well I did that twice ;) ha
...but since I have no plans of getting married or being a monk I thought protection would be a wise investment. and quite an investment indeed...a pack of 3 was like 7 bucks at Walgreens!

So I embarrassingly bought a pack and tucked them away for a brighter day in my closet...and forgot all about them till the other day when I packed to move to
Oakland.

There they were sitting patiently on the shelf in my closet all still fresh and new in their unopened shiny packages looking at me like "dude you are such a loser!"

I couldn't help but laugh... and actually was kinda proud of myself. I like to think that I set the bar rather high in this department and made an oath back in
college not to jump in the sack unless she was hot enough to have breakfast with...I haven't went out for breakfast in a LONG time! Lol even tho I did have a couple of opportunities on 6th avenue to do the walk of shame.

Soooo just the other day, actually sunday night, just 18 hours after I arrived in Oakland, I meet this woman at a bar...

But first I must digress. I have been scolded in the past for dating and or marrying girls that i meet in bars...like its some evil place and that it surely must be the reason for my failed relationships...which personally I don't think as failures cuz I don't regret any of them...sure, some have cost me more money than others but that's another story :)

However, I go to the gym, the store, Costco, post office, gas station etc. all the time and none of those experiences have ever resulted in a relationship with a woman, so instead, I believe bars are magical!

So Sunday I meet this beautiful African-American woman who is having drinks with her male friend at a real nice sorta upscale beer/wine bar. It was busy and I was standing in line to get beers with my friend Wayne. She and her friend were also standing in line and we all started mingling. As one mingle led to another we found ourselves all sitting at
the same table. Wayne was on one side talking to her male friend about basketball while I was on the other talking to her.

As more mingles led to more mingles I started to wonder where the hell did i pack my condoms?...yes all 3!!

She was a very attractive, wealthy lady in her early 40's from out town on business staying at a nearby hotel. She asked what I did for a living and I gave her my CG business card...big mistake...never leave a trail of crumbs!

She had so many nice things to say to me and the Count Gilbert ventures on my card. It made me feel great...i was melting like butter

It was at this moment when I started to feel the warmth of her leg next to mine under the table that I thought "this woman is rich, fine and gonna be mine!"

...but then she mentioned the dreaded two words... "her husband" and I about fell out
of my chair...and ...even tho she implied her marriage wasn't the greatest and gave me her number to call her the next day about doing some embroidery for her business, I knew those two words were a deal breaker...right?

I struggled not to call because I wanted her business, and you know I did..but after wise advice from my bro Wayne I realized it wouldn't be the wisest choice to follow
up.

dammit! I hate it when that happens..

To make a long story short because she's married, that i never knew her true intentions, that she has my card that has my website address to this blog, that I value my life and other peoples marriages....she will remain nameless and each of my 3 condoms live happily ever after unopened, in my storage unit!

Next subject...

According to the New York Times! Oakland is the 5th most desirable city to visit in the World! After Tokyo and before London! (cut and paste the link below into your browser to read, can't get the link to highlight from iPad)

http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/north-america/united-states/california/oakland/overview.html

The apartment I'm moving into is at 4421 Gilbert Street, yes Gilbert St.! crazy...but will not be ready to move into for another 2 weeks, which I knew when I came here.

So in the mean time I run the embroidery from a storage unit, sleep on a friends sofa, shower at the Ymca and will soon be staying in a vacant warehouse down by the waterfront until move in day...

I've also started an extremely exciting new venture working with new company...more on that soon...So ya, life is crazy and spontaneous, fun and very unpredictable right now :)

The weather is a perfect 75 everyday, the people are friendly, the food is spectacular, boasting restaurants from dozens of countries around the world, the night life is insane and of course,
beautiful people everywhere...

I am writing this blog from an iPad for the first time cuz i got no internet...it's been a challenge to learn....I've attached 2 pics and not sure how to display... but one is obviously my office in my storage unit...check it out...even
a coffee maker...eat your heart out homeless peeps haha (never did sell the Marshall 1/2 stack) and the other is of Lake Merritt which is located in the center of this diverse, vibrant city...btw there is construction going on every where here which is really encouraging..

More later and thank you for reading :)

tearing down the wall...

just as i got everything set -up in Tacoma the past 6 months...im tearing it all down. Selling the Marshall stack amp, transporting  grandpas saw horses to my bros, returning the cut off saw, returning PA components, disposing the stain, getting rid of the wood supply, packing and giving away brew supplies, saying goodbye to embroidery customers promising I can still deliver from out of state, trying to unload Cg tees,...down sizing in every aspect of my life..the furniture,  the music, brewery, embroidery...hell im not only tearing down the last 6 months, I'm tearing down the past 15 years and starting over...im outta here in the next couple days..packing it and heading to the east bay near Oakland/Berkely...

I am sorry to say I have to cancel  May 26 at the Float...I couldn't make it work to be here...:(

very emotional today...tacoma was so good to me and this house/shop i created is very special..,incredible energy here...i wrote a lot of songs down here in the basement and also  drank alot of beer, cried a lot, laughed a lot and dreamed a lot...

gonna miss my family bigtime...

I will be reunited with probably my best friend besides the Romos, Wayne Mullis. I met Wayne back in 1999 when he was working for Greg in the cabinet business...we both know Greg in the same ways. Also, Wayne almost married Tracy's best friend a few years ago...so we go way back!

Wayne helped me move out of the beach house and to Tacoma 6 months ago before he relocated to the Bay area...and says "get down here now". 

Also will be living minutes for Dr John...the founder of Count Gilbert!  We met in the hospital when we got our hips done in Belgium...story here: AHHH and the Screaming Monk blogpost

...DJ saw "The Wall" concert Friday night in San Francisco and sent me this photo and clips,,,the videos got me fired up for sure...very excited to be near him and his family... I will be moving to an area with very deep rooted friends :)

Tearing down the wall part 1;

Tearing down the wall part 2;

 

More good news to me is that a huge opportunity has come my way that I HAVE to pursue and will elaborate on once I'm set up.

I just know that this move is based more on faith than logic..  Call me crazy...i dont care, cuz I am but wouldnt have it any other way haha ... I know deep in my heart brother Greg is guiding me...this is Rose #8 from The Dooley Code: 12 Roses of Prophecy...there are different kinds of riches but either way I love it!..and I'm gonna water the shit out of it to get it to bloom in the bay area!

 

Rose #8

okay back to packing... more after the move...

cheers and thanks as always for the support...I really appreciate it :)

"I've been through the desert on a horse with no name...

it felt good to be out of the rain"...

I'm not embarrassed at all to reveal rose #2. (You must read the Dooley Code: Prophecy of 12 Roses to understand The DooleyCode: Prophecy of 12 Rose)  If I didn't reveal it my whole blog would be fake. This is about my life and I'm sharing it.

this is Rose #2...it bloomed

When it followed rose #1 (Cinco de Mayo) it scared the shit out of me.  I wasn't in love with anyone and wasn't positive who or what I was to fall in love with.  Just days before I was reading a book and it said you must love yourself before you can truly be happy.

I always thought the term "to love yourself" was kinda gross and weird actually but the week before all this rose stuff I actually understood for the first time what it meant to love yourself...to me it means screw everyone else and their opinions...and believe in yourself...

so is that what Rose #2 meant? I was falling in love with myself? 

also, I have been getting closer to my kids than ever and just planned a trip with all three of them before I saw Rose #2...I was falling in  love with my kids all over again...was that what it meant?

But once I saw the next roses..Rose #3 "Outta the Blue", #4 "Knock Out", #5 "Touch of Class", #12 "Pretty Lady" ...in knew it was a lady

...and I knew I was in trouble!

Rose #3 "Outta The Blue"

Rose #4 "Knock Out"

Rose #5 "Touch of Class"

Rose #12 "Pretty Lady"

I hadn't seen Kim since January and I was going to be visiting her on Cinco de Mayo. I see her pics on facebook but its not the same as in person...can't really get a feeling from pictures...

but when I arrived in Albuquerque last Thursday night and knocked on her door...and after she opened it I about fainted...dude...not good! ...cuz all of the above roses describe her.

I have fallen in love with 2 people in the past 30 years and ended up married to both. I am not ready or wanting that right now...and lets just say I know she isn't..

as it turns out, I am not moving to Albuquerque as mentioned in my last blog post (I want to pet a jack rabbit ...instead I will be moving to Berkley and the Bay Area soon...

I will write the details of what happened in Albuquerque and save it for my book...

However, I did learn and record "A Horse With No Name" by America just this afternoon.

This song pretty much sums it up...

I have never played it or sang it before 3:oo this afternoon...so its quite rough...but very real

in my case, the Horse is a metaphor for love

 A Horse With No Name

A Horse With No Name-lyrics

On the first part of the journey,
I was looking at all the life.
There were plants and birds. and rocks and things,
There was sand and hills and rings.
The first thing I met, was a fly with a buzz,
And the sky, with no clouds.
The heat was hot, and the ground was dry,
But the air was full of sound.

I've been through the desert on a horse with no name,
It felt good to be out of the rain.
In the desert you can remember your name,
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain.
La, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
La, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la

After two days, in the desert sun,
My skin began to turn red.
After three days, in the desert fun,
I was looking at a river bed.
And the story it told, of a river that flowed,
Made me sad to think it was dead.

You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name,
It felt good to be out of the rain.
In the desert you can remember your name,
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain.
La la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
La la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la

After nine days, I let the horse run free,
'Cause the desert had turned to sea.
There were plants and birds, and rocks and things,
There was sand and hills and rings.
The ocean is a desert, with its life underground,
And a perfect disguise above.
Under the cities lies, a heart made of ground,
But the humans will give no love.

You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name,
It felt good to be out of the rain.
In the desert you can remember your name,
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain.

La, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
La, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la

La, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
La, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la

La, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
La, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la




so...ya...on to the next adventure...

there are still 3 Roses left to bloom that are about another subject that is very exciting to me :)

 

 

 

I want to pet a jack rabbit...

I also want to hug a rattlesnake, kiss a cactus. I want to road trip to Vegas and SXSW, hell I want to play there. I want to take a hot air balloon ride and have beers with Kim Orozco. I want it to get so hot and dry that I pray for rain!  I want more stuff to happen to write songs about.

For these reasons and more, I am moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Cool, that felt really good to type.  Kinda like announcing a show...no turning back or you suck and just as scary.  But I aint turning back on this...its part of the "Dooley Code: 12 Roses of Prophecy" haha ..

"The Dooley Code: 12 Roses of Prophecy"

I am leaving to go there early this Thursday morning to visit for 5 days. With the help of Kim and company we will be filming our music video Sparrows From New Mexico and I will also begin searching for a place to live and run my embroidery business.  I will still have my accounts and just be shipping from a different location...it really is a great business, very blessed.

I have been feeling a change is coming. I wrote the song 6th Avenue (below) last month and its about feeling its time to move on. I have loved Tacoma...just loved it.

By the time its all said and done I would say that my 6 months spent here have been some of the most rewarding months of my life.  I have had no choice other than to grow, or, as my dad would have said.."sit here and rot". 

I have been working in a basement without windows, kids, friends, family, wives, pets, tv...nothing and nobody... all by myself to live, and I have embraced it. Even tho the nightlife is great...its just "nightlife" so I really have had a lot time to to be alone  without any outside distractions or stresses that would effect my energy.  If my energy changed it is because of what I've created and no one else can be blamed.  Kinda cool...but now Im ready to go. I'm excited.. I want to experience more...

My good friend Wayne just moved from Tacoma to the Berkeley area 2 months ago and has encouraged me to check it out but since meeting Kim , who lives in Albuquerque, I have this gut feeling I would like it there...DOH!  But serious I  prefer to move to an area where I've never been but know someone who knows the area...I have briefly lived in Califorinia..visited a lot. However, the desert will be new and she's cuter than Wayne haha

I think I should write...or maybe not..  lol, that I have made the decision to move there cuz I am already there in my head...and as a single bachelor...I don't know how long that will last tho, do any of us?!.. haha.. however I am not in a relationship...we are friends but I also wouldn't have considered moving there if it wasn't for her friendship. This is gonna be fun.

All thoughts of support much appreciated!

here is Rose #6... just bloomed :)

 

- 6th Avenue-demo

lyrics

pulling all nighters watching my ship float in

passing the time drinking beer with the longshoremen

 making friends with everyone before I have to go

I’ll remember she was hot I’ll remember it was cold

 the beers taste better when she pours ‘em the music sweeter when she smiles

all of the boys are bellying up im just enjoying the high

the band keeps playing never too long or too loud

she’s keeping the beat serving drinks to the happy crowd

 having fun with everyone before I hit the road

I’ll remember she was hot I’ll remember it was cold

 the beers taste better when she pours ‘em the music sweeter when she smiles

all of the boys are bellying up im just enjoying the high

 sunshine  rising cashing out another night

good times I’ve had wouldn’t trade em for my life

 having fun with everyone before I hit the road

I’ll remember she was hot I’ll remember it was cold

 

 

The Dooley Code: 12 Roses of Prophecy

 Yesterday of last year I was mowing the lawn at the beach house where I was living. I was pushing the mower up the long grass hill that starts at the beach. It’s quite a work out and just as I was breaking sweat, as I got to the top of the hill before I turned to go back down... I had a vision.

 Just the day before (again, this is last year) my oldest brother Greg had died after complications from a tumor. I was in a grim mood as I was thinking about him. As I got to the top of the hill I had a vision of him and my dad (who is also deceased).

 They were laughing at me! They were about 10 yards ahead of me back pedaling at the same pace I was pushing the mower. They stayed in front of me pointing back to me laughing…like I was an idiot or something! Their faces an mannerisms were as if they were making fun of me for being foolish for being sad…or because I was working my ass off mowing the lawn while they were in a MUCH better place…and looking at me like " I had know idea how good things are gonna be in my life..."

 Actually they were making fun of me for both reasons..I know those 2 too well…they were flipping me shit and laughing about it. I actually laughed out loud and said “you guys are dicks”.. then I finished the lawn.

 I think of that vision all the time. It has helped me big time. They were telling me not to worry…and that they will take care of things.

 Just a few months before he died, Greg and I went to 7 Seas Brewery and that is when he told me to continue to do the “music” business verses any other business idea I may be thinking of doing as I had just given up and quit songwriting. (see Big Dooley blogpost or Drift Away video Drift Away youtube). Coincidentally, that trip to 7 Seas was the last time we ever went out for beers.

  I have a quote from the book The Secret on my desk that I have been reading for 4 years. When I decided then to make a dream, I made a big one, one I have even given up on for a period of time...and at first this quote was so foreign it seemed like a joke. but recently I have been in the place where it all seems real...feels like I've been in a parallel universe...

 this is what the quote says:

 "your subconcious mind and the law of attraction do not know if you are imagining something or if it is real. And so when you imagine, the law of attraction receives those thoughts and images as though you were actually living them, and it must return those visions to you. When you are in the place where what you are imagining feels real, you will know that it has penetrated your subconcious mind, and the law of attraction must deliver it' 

I have really been feeling my dream is close to manifesting, closer than ever. I feel like I have been in a mental zone like I’ve never experienced. In fact Friday night I was feeling so good I stayed in and didn’t want to drink any beers cuz I didn’t want to change the frequency I was on with the universe. It was that good of a buzz.

Because of the spiritual encouragement I feel I have received from Greg,  I have continued music this last year. I feel it has been a productive for me as I’ve played my first shows ever and written a lot of songs…but if I’m going to do it for a business things need to pick up a little…so I think “show me the money Dooley?!” right?…I think that…I really do. I have been telling him its time for him to help me get this thing going.

I been wanting him to show me a sign or something on which direction to go next...

so 2 days ago... on SATURDAY!

...last year it was my bro’s last full day of life.  But this year, on this Saturday... it was beautiful and warm  and I did the most random thing…I went to the park by myself and just hung out.

 I was walking thru the park and thinking about my bro and also my trip to New Mexico next week.

 The sun was out, I was wearing shorts and I wanted to get a little sun on my calves..yes, my calves..they were white! Not the front of my legs tho cuz they’re tan from sitting in my chair on the porch…tanning your calves is tricky!

 I was walking through a grassy area where people were playing frizbee etc. and wanted to just plop down on my belly and lay there in the sun and “people watch” but the grass was wet. So I decided to just stand and face the northeast and tan my calves that way..lol

 But I realized I looked like an idiot just standing in the middle of a field like a statue tanning my calves while kids ran by chasing frizbees! So I walked toward the flower gardens thinking I could just stand and look at flowers and still catch some rays on my calves..i know, I was having a tough day!

 So I walked toward a garden that had a gate around it. The garden was on a higher piece of ground. Certainley this grass was gonna be dryer and I could just lay down in the garden if I wanted…and yes, tan my damn calves…but there were too many people there so I just stood up, next to the flowers,  facing the north with the sun at my back.

 After standing there for one minute, again,.. I started to feel like an idiot. I thought “Dullum, you can’t just stand here and do nothing…at least act like your looking at something otherwise you look like your spying or stalking someone”.

 So I looked down at a rose bush. The rose bush had a name. I squinted as I got closer to read the name on a small sign. It said “Cinco de Mayo”…wow I thought. I am going to Albuquerque next week to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and visit my friend Kim and shoot a music video…hmmm what a coincidence I thought. So I took a picture of the “Cinco de Mayo” rose bush.

below...Rose #1

 Just then I got a text on my phone from Kim in New Mexico…the sun was too bright so I couldn’t read it…as I was walking to go toward the shade to read the message I saw the name of another rose and the name of this one BLEW ME AWAY!... I can’t tell you what it said yet! So I took a picture of that one too…something was definitley happening,,,somebody was telling me something..

So I kept going with it and looked down at one rose after another (they all had names) and each name from each rose was telling me a story...in orderly fashion!…

so I kept taking pictures of the names as I walked randomly in shock toward the shade…I wanted to read her text but I was freaking out at what was being laid out in front of me thru the names of the roses.

 I got to the shade and read Kims text which said…”would you like to hang with me at the tattoo parlor while I get my new tattoo on Saturday, Cinco de Mayo”..Whoa...what a coincidence.

  There I was in a random rose garden which I’ve never been in, reading a Cinco De Mayo rose bush name while getting a text from a girl who I’m gonna be with on Cinco De Mayo,  who is getting a tattoo with roses in it…on Cinco De Mayo!

 When all was said and done I realized I had just taken pictures of 12 roses, a DOZEN, all telling me my future and reaffirming my dream thru their names.

The names of the roses told me and mirrored back to me the exact thoughts I have been consciously or sub-conciously thinking about my dream  the past few weeks…they were reaffirming my 4 year dream and now also adding to it...promising MORE!

I want to share rose #1, rose number #3,  rose #7 and rose # 11 with you in this blog…

I can't share the other 8 roses yet cuz they tell the rest of the story, ...I will share them when the dream completely manifests and the roses have bloomed.haha

below...Rose #3

below ..Rose #7

below... Rose #11

 All twelve roses together tell and predict my dream and more…sooo unbelievable, sooo exciting..

 

 Oh… and then I drove home and this stranger named Augustine was mowing and trimming my lawn at my house...front and back...  Totally unexpected... Now whos laughing! LOL

 

 Then at 11:30 pm, Saturday night…same day.. my brother Mike randomly texts me and says he was gonna be at my house at 8:00 am the next morning (Sunday, yesterday, Gregs anniversay) to do the final editing on the Sparrows From New Mexico song for the video we are shooting next week in Albuquerque on Cinco de Mayo... Which he did.

We also cast a a very special actress to be included in the video :)

 And yesterday brother Doug meets me at 7 Seas to toast Big Dooley

A perfect pour for a perfect weekend..

All is well indeed!

thanks for reading and letting me share, may everyones dreams come true

 

 

 

 

Ricah's 1st Mariner game

Pretty crazy but this week last year, was big bro Greg's last week on the planet...seems like it was just yesterday. Life moves on as we all know but we sure miss him so much.

Last night I had the huge privilege to hang out with his son Brett, daughter Jill and his grandaughter Ricah at the Mariners home opener in Seattle...priceless for me.  Here are a few pics

pre-funk at the Pyramid:

Brett, Jill, Ricah...

Ricah and Mickey...

Ricah and Uncle Jeff...

even tho the Mariners got shut out all is well BRO!

Dreamweaving - update

On this morning 6 months ago I woke up made coffee then went downstairs to my beach front office/studio and re-posted my song Chris Columbus on facebook…appropriate, since it was Columbus Day..

I went back upstairs and after feeling a little dissed in the sex department, I asked my wife if she even wanted to be married…she said “not really’…the rest is history. (see old blogs for details!)

 This is my 6 month anniversary of being single blogpost! 

 Well what the hell has happened? I mean for the past 4 years I have tried to be more mr positive, read the Secret guy and all of my dreams will come true kind of guy…but that morning 6 months ago was not in a million years expected to be part of the journey in manifesting my dream.

 So I decided to take inventory of what has changed in my life during this time..what is gone? what has arrived? and does any of it matter? And what does it have to do with realizing my dream…a 6 month check-up.

 Things I’ve lost the last 6 months: the cup ½ empty perspective

 the pets, the wife, the beach front office, the beach front house, my gym, my friends from the gym, custody of my son, the opportunity to live with my son for the first time since he was 2, my bank, my workshop, my friends at Albertsons, my pride, this is where I would put furniture etc. but I took all that with me! LOL, my neighbors the Twetens, the waterfront view, grilling steak on the deck while drinking beer and writing songs. Movies and South Park, the morning news paper

 that’s it…not a big list after all. Here is a list of things and experiences that have come into my life.

 Things I’ve gained the last 6 months: the cup ½ full perspective

 new neighbors: Cliff, Heidi, Chris, Ron, Tom, new gym with new friends especially Yori from Russia who is crippled and kicks ass at the gym everyday, a nice rental house in the city with a postage stamp for a yard…no yardwork!, a full basment for an office/shop, Tacoma Boys produce stand which is across the street from the gym where I get fresh fruit everyday after a workout, writing songs in bars,

 I’ve recorded 6 new original songs and 3 cover songs during this time which is crazy for me as I had written a total of approx 35 in the past 7 years prior,..I’ve done 3 shows, met bartenders: Deano, Kevin, Shelby. Chrissie, Heather, Sarah, Tanya, Lindsay,David, Adam, Josh, Samantha, Josie, Nicole, Jasmine, Francesca, Guy, 3 Chelsay's, Jordan, Andrew, Thomas, Katie, Erika, Tessa, Zach, Gwen, Shannon

 I actually left over $250 in cash tips during the month of March..instead of tithing to the church, I tithe to bartenders…I’ve tried both and the bartenders appreciate it much more!...plus they are my friends and charge me so little for my Bud Lights its ridiculous, so I just double it back in tips. SO instead of grilling steak and drinking beer while writing songs by myself looking at the beach …I meet people and drink with them and get new song ideas and instead of steak… I tip…fuck steak.

 Probably the hardest part of everything was thinking I lost an opportunity to live with my son Anthony full-time for his senior year in high school. He had just moved in with us a couple weeks before this all happened..

 However, during this time I have watched him kick ass in an off-campus program at his mom’s house in which he went thru his senior year in high school in 2 months! AND has started running start at Olympic College AND got a job and has been working at Safeway..so proud of him, and we took a road trip to visit my daughter Lorren and her fiancee, Reid, in Billings. And we road tripped to visit my daughter Kristen, in Portland.

 I’ve seen only one movie in 6 months…Hang Over Two..zero TV which makes me kinda sad cuz I really miss Eric , Kenny, Stan, Kyle, Butters, Towlie, Stans dad, Mr MmmKay from South Park, zero news unless I read it on facebook.

 Ya I lost a wife but I think what does that really mean anyway? Shes still alive, still kind of a friend and it wasn’t like I was getting any anyway! LMAO..which goes back to the origin of my question on Columbus Day..”do you even want to be married?”

The pure joy of interacting with strange woman and making new friends has completely filled that void! Plus one of those encounters has developed into something very fun for sure which occupies that space in my brain…and living alone isn’t so bad after all…kinda scary and lonely at first but all change is weird and uncomfortable at first…right?

 I have seen my bro Mike more than ever in my life this past 6 months as he stops by all the time on his way home from Seattle for beers etc.., I have seen my mom more than I have in 30 years..and up till 6 months ago I only lived 2 miles from her…

One of the biggest reasons I started this blog a couple years ago was to track and see if I could realize my ultimate dream like the Secret and all of the postive thinking books say I could…and if I do, I will have everything I need already written to publish a book about it.

 Every positive thinking book, facebook page, blog, article, quote…all of them tell you what you need to do or how to think to realize your dreams or find happiness but NONE of them say HOW they did it or how long the process took...and when my dream has completely manifested I will stand on top of the highest mountain (or just post on facebook!) and hold my book up as a big middle finger to two very ex-tra-special ladies who think im not worthy. Two ladies whom I draw anger from which I turn into motivation and inspiration on a daily basis...for which I am truly grateful ;))

 

In summary!

 Okay 6 months ago today I thought my world was turned upside down…it was the saddest day of my life…as sad or sadder than losing my brother last April. 

 but after stepping back and taking inventory, I realize I am so much closer to my dream than ever…and my brother IS involved…I so know it.  and I am probably the happiest I have ever been in my life..

and I have more freedom than EVER..I don't have to work construction, dont have to roof for a living, dont have to go to class, dont have to go to practice, dont have to go to counseling or see my probation officer, and after 17 years I am almost done with my first ex cuz my youngest turns 18 next month...can I get a shout out for no more child support after 17 years?!

 6 months ago my dream included 3 things ..(besides my 2008 red Lamborghini LP640 below!):

1. my kids (the freedom to be their dad with no interference) 

2. my music 

3. my book

…every part of that dream has taken a giant leap forward inside my head.

  SO, according to my story, if you really want to chase your dream things might appear to get a little shitty along the way!

 Cheers and tip your bartender!

Listen to this sucker!

then BAM there was Sam!

I have waited a few weeks to write about the latest events that have been happening since moving to Tacoma because I didn't want to share some of the "backstage"  info until after the Medi's show ;) ... haha but now all is well and I have another friend!

 A few weeks back I was talking to my friend Kim (the sparrows tattoo girl) from Albuquerque on the phone and after I hung up…ah.. it was about 9:30 pm, I decided to walk to the MSM market and get a 6-pack of Keystone Light…I usually walk on the north side of 6^{th ave} but for some reason that night I decided to cross the street and walk on the south side.

 This is when I walked by Medi’s for the first time. As I walked by on the sidewalk I could see the inside of the restaurant/bar very clearly thru their big front windows. I saw a girl serving a pizza to a group of folks at a table and as she walked away from the table and back behind the bar  I said “holy shit!” …I did a 180 and turned back towards their front door and strolled on in…

 I walked up and sat at the bar and the girl walks up behind the counter and says with the most beautiful smile and voice “hi, how are you?”…I said “fine”. Then she said, “can I get you something to drink?”....I was kinda in semi-shock mode cuz she was freaking smoking hot…she had long brown hair, brown eyes…killer body, killer voice and the most seducing smile and I have ever seen …I said, “a Bud Light please”.

 Then I thought “her tip jar was gonna get full tonite!”

 As I sat there and drank my beer I noticed 5 or 6 other fellas bellying up to the bar that were all smiling, drinking and enjoying themselves very much...  I had never walked into to a happier bar in my life…no shit.  I thought “this girl is just plain naturally great at sales!” she was holding court baby…she had it going on..all natural…no bullshit…just brilliant at it…as I said…great looks, body and most of all a killer personality that was so genuine…its one thing to be hot but with a killer, happy, pleasant personality? Uh uh not sure if that is too common…unless you’re in Tacoma ;)…instantly I thought “ah ha this is gonna be another song!”

 So, I drank a couple beers I went back home. The following afternoon I went back to Medi’s to write. This is when I wrote “Love Tornado”…I wrote it in ONE DAY! That’s how crazy things are going here…so much energy.

 

- Love Tornado

lyrics:

the days are getting longer the nights are smaller

a twister is coming oh lord

theres a change in the  weather not sure for the better

sucked up in a storm of love

             a love tornado swept me off the ground

            oh oh oh it wont let me down

            a love tornado spinning round and round

            oh oh oh

with the wind beneath my feet i was thrown across the street

landing oh oh in a dream

thru a window i could see another one its meant to be

i'm caught up in a storm of love

             a love tornado ripped me off the ground

            oh oh oh it wont let me down

            a love tornado spinning round and round

            oh oh oh

 no escaping the wreckage in a bunker full of lonely

while waiting for the skies to clear

oh in love with more than one isnt’ always such as fun

caught up in a storm of love

Am I in love? Hell No! Do I want to be in love? Hell No! Do I want a girlfriend? Hell No! do I want another wife? HELL NO!!

 BUT “Love Tornado” represents all the universe has to offer in terms of pure entertainment by interacting with the beauty that has surrounded me lately.. LOL..What I want is friends, friends are much more valuable to me than a lover right now . However, I am always looking for new things to write songs about!

 I returned to Medis 2 evenings later and BAM there she was working behind the bar. Again, fellas all smiling and drinking at the bar. I order another Budlight and another, then another. It was Friday night and the place had a good crowd and I got into a great conversation with a couple who had a son who had just played a live show at Medi’s the weekend before. They told me it was only the 4^th or 5^th band that had performed at Medi’s since they opened last fall. I thought “huh, I’d like to play here”. The couple also told me the cute bartender was 33 years old…

 So after I had about 5 beers I decided I was gonna go right for the kill with this bartender. I wasn’t gonna keep coming back to the bar and hang out and drool over this girl like all the other fellas might be doing …famous last words!

 So I needed a moment alone to ask her out for beer…again…I am not looking for a girlfriend or anything just “information gathering”…exploring, testing the waters and the boundaries..and just plain having fun. I had no idea if she was married, had a boyfriend, had kids…nothing but her age.

 She was bussing a table by the front door, so  I stood up from my bar stool and started walking towards the exit and made sure our paths collided on the way…there. Got her. She was trapped as I blocked her enroute…so I say the most stupidest thing I have ever said to a chick in my life…I said “hi, you have great energy, can I buy you a coffee or a beer sometime?”  REALLY?! You have “great energy”???? what the fuck does THAT even mean?! OMG …then for the first time I saw her  feistiness . She then snaps at me quicker than an alligator..”why?.. you don’t even talk to me!” …wow…wasn’t expecting that at all! “talk to her?” huh? …then I say the 2^nd stupidest thing EVER..”well, I was scared too!” good one Dullum. Then she replied, “well, try that first”… then she marches off…WOW...impressive.

 I then left the bar feeling somewhat satisfied!  I found out she apparently wasn’t married, likes it if you talk to her and she didn’t say NO and she didn't slap me!  not bad.

 So 4-5 days go by and every now and then I kept thinking about her saying “why? you don’t even talk to me” over and over…hmmmm really? Just what does that even mean?  Go hang at the bar and wait for her to walk by and start talking?  Kinda dorky to me..

 It was Wednesday afternoon and I went for a walk to clear my head and that’s when it hit me AH HA…that is when I thought…screw that, I’m just gonna book a show there and instead of talking to her I’m just gonna scream Peel Me Apart at her all night…now this idea was not “kinda dorky” but really dorky, so dorky that I was gonna do it!

 So as soon as I got back from my walk I grabbed a Deadmans Island CD , a CG tee-shirt and a promo poster from the Forza show and walked to Medi’s.

 It was approx 3:00 pm when I walked into Medi’s…and the place was basically empty…except?.. holy crap there she was…wasn’t expecting this. I thought she worked nights. I walked up to the bar, we were the only two there, and she said “hi’ and I said “hi how are you?” she said “good” …then she asked if she could get me a beer, I said “sure”.

 Then I asked if the bar manager was in (I met him the other night) she said no and asked if she could help me with anything and that’s when I mentioned I wanted to book a show there. As soon as I said that, a guy walks in and starts messing with the music that was playing on their PA system and he introduced himself as Josh and that he books the bands…random!

 So that is when he booked me for the show we did the other night. A couple days after Josh booked me, I found out my niece was doing fundraisers for breast cancer which is when we decided to make it a benefit show…

 I have since become a regular at Medi’s and have become that guy that hangs out at the bar and drools! Haha not really but I do hang out there a couple nights a week and HAVE talked to…I’ll call her “Sam”, quite a bit…

 During this time I have learned she is not 33, shes 24! OOPS and I thought dipping to 33 was scooping low!

 When I found out her real age I just laughed to myself cuz if I knew she was 24 from the start I woulda never asked her to have a beer thus would have never booked the show in the first place..the gods are using people and circumstances to move me along.  

But actually she has become my friend…it is really really cool to have girls or ladies, (ladies just sounds to formal) that are friends…I never thought that would be something I would enjoy but it really is rewarding…to me, these days.

 I have since started writing another song from this latest muse of mine, the music to this song is so totally country and I think I could get it on the radio if I can get it in front of Kenny Chesney lol…here are the lyrics to the chorus and hope to record a demo this week:

 "the beers taste better when she pours ‘em

 the music sounds sweeter  when she smiles

 all the boys are bellying up

  i’m just enjoying the high”

 The show at Medi’s was great…we sold 160 raffle tickets @ $5 each and raised over $800…but Microsoft matched that so the total raised was $1600! THANK YOU!

 My performance was allright..kinda started off a little annoyed cuz we didn’t get a chance to do a sound check and my volumes for vox and guitar amps were a little off but it worked out after the first couple tunes and I got settled in…well, as much as I could…I’m kinda of a hacker when it comes to my guitar playing so it well never be a perfect show!

 Also, kinda awkward is that Tracy came (but I knew she was coming beforehand and in fact, encouraged her to come) with a couple friends and they sat near the front and Sam was their server…kinda interesting from my perspective ;) … and when I told the story about the song “Short Stick” and how I came to Tacoma cuz Tracy was with a cop, I pointed towards her and said “there she is right there” and as I said it  she flipped me off and the whole place got REAL quiet HAHA! So damn funny…I told her at the break I was gonna sing the song and she didn’t care but I didn’t know I would point her out…that came spontaneously…and when she flipped me off she wasn’t pissed… she was just flipping me off…remember… I said in an earlier blog that our relationship was a little goofy…

but all in all I think everyone had great time...which is the whole point in the first place...

 So that was last Saturday, 6 days ago. So 4 days ago on Monday I was thinking, “man, I want to play another show now and keep this mometum going”.

 As I was driving to Puyallup to deliver an embroidery order, I kept thinking that the universe will show me where to play next…I could feel it… BAM!…the Metronome…of course!

 It was my first hang out when I moved here…and where I wrote the song Déjà vu.  It’s a great coffee shop that serves wine and micro beers too. Just like Forza but bigger and bigger than Medi’s…super sleak and new aaaand they book bands.

 They have a great PA system, with their own sound guy and do open mics every Tuesday…I just sang a few tunes there a couple weeks ago..a great venue for music and many many college kids from UPS hang out there..and a great location…right on the intersection of 6^th and Union.

 I was so excited to go there on my way home from Puyallup and try to book a show. I had already met the owner Josh and their manager Andrew at open mic so at least I had a foot in the door.

 However, I was out of food and needed to stop at Costco first before I continued to the Metronome. I was actually running with my cart thru Costco because I was so excited to hurry up and try to get this next show booked.

 When I went into the produce cooler to get my carrots for carrot juice, guess who I ran into?  Andrew! The manager at the Metronome…random! I asked him who to talk to about booking a show and he gave me the email address and now we have a show next week on Saturday the 24^th!

  I read the book the Secret 4 years ago this month…it has been the most fantastic ride..crazy…sorrow or not…life is insanely exciting right now for me and I actually am living in my dream “realtime”, serious…the stuff works...the problem I had before is that I didn’t really know what I wanted or who the heck I was…but once I made up my mind? The Universe has cleared the way in ways I could not have imagined…

 I stole this off  Positive Vibration’s facebook page…it is basically whats been happening to me the past 6 months...yes. I have decided! Cheers!

 “The universe is conspiring in your favor.
It is placing before you in every moment
all of the right and perfect people, circumstances,
and situations with which to answer life's only
question: Who am I.... Have you decided yet?”

Come out to the Metronome next Saturday on the 24th!

purchase Breastsavers Raffle Tickets here!

Team Breastsavers is a group of 15 girls who are raising money to participate in the
Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure coming up in September to raise funds for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment.

3 Day Walk For Cure

2 of my nieces, Annie and Jill are on the team.  I posted a blog earlier that describes in more detail, Jill and her family's personal  ordeal and motivation to help change our world by participating in this Susan Komen Walk for the Cure..here is the link:

Jill's Story and Fundraisers

The Tacoma Comedy Club event last week was a HUGE success. Breastsavers held a silent auction and packed the house with a couple hundred people...btw amazing comedy.

At the end of the event Jill told about her recent visit to her Oncologist  just 3 days before...in which the usually conservative Doc told her he was excited about how she is responding to treatment and used the term "you could possibly live another 60 years!!" How exciting is that?

Great progress is being made already and now these girls want and are determined to finish the job!

We can all help...

We are having a benefit concert this Saturday, March 10th (see flyer below).

Breastsavers will have $5 Raffle Tickets available to purchase at the event and will be drawing winners throughout the evening. 

Many merchants have donated a wide variety of gift certificates, jewelry and other items that will be given away to the lucky winners. A complete list of donors and prizes will be available at the show.  Breastsavers says a big THANK YOU to the donors!!

If you are unable to attend the Benefit Concert but would like to support this great cause, you can purchase raffle tickets for the Grand Prize drawing  at this Paypal link and your ticket, with your name on it,  will be entered into the Grand Prize drawing at the end of the raffle. Tickets purchased thru PayPal will be entered into the Grand Prize drawing only..

Buy Raffle Tickets

buy 1 Raffle Ticket $5.00 USD buy 2 Raffle Tickets $10.00 USD buy 3 Raffle Tickets $15.00 USD buy 4 Raffle Tickets $20.00 USD

 

The Grand Prize is a red Desmetar (pronounced "desh-met-ar)...its a novelty piece of furniture that I made as a tribute to my hip surgeon in Belgium named Dr. Koen De Smet. It has 6 strings, 3 on each side, tuners, fretboard and a pick up for an amplifier. You can view it and hear it and the link below...its the "electric" one that we are raffling off.

Desmetar

front view:

back view:

I can't put a value on it cuz I only made 2 of them and I didn't want to sell them cuz then I wouldnt remember how to make another one to replace it!  

FYI the dimensions are 24" wide, 18" tall and 18" deep. I will ship it anywhere in the world to the winner if they are not present if they purchased the winning ticket thru the PayPal link.

If you would like to donate items to raffle,  please email jeff@countgilbert.com

 Hope to see you Saturday and THANK YOU for supporting Breastsavers!

 

 

new song demo "Love Tornado"

I just added one more song the to EP ...so now there are 5 total.  Love Tornado has to be included! It's a song about being on the rebound... haha perfect to follow 100 Days

All 5 songs were written at my favorite places on 6th Ave since I moved here at Christmas..hopefully the album will still be released in May..

I wrote Short Stick at Omalley's, Deja Vu at Metronome, Sparrows From New Mexico at the Engine House, 100 days at the Crown Bar and Love Tornado at Medi's...gonna play them all at the Medi's Benefit Show on March 10th...hope you can attend!

- Love Tornado

This song is about all the beautiful sites on 6th Ave..LOL...

LYRICS:

the days are getting longer the nights are smaller

a twister is coming oh lord

theres a change in the  weather not sure for the better

sucked up in a storm of love

            a love tornado swept me off the ground

            oh oh oh it wont let me down

            a love tornado spinning round and round

            oh oh oh

 the wind beneath my feet i’m thrown across the street

landing oh oh in a dream

thru a window i could see another one its meant to be

caught up in a storm of love

 a love tornado ripped me off the ground

            oh oh oh it wont let me down

            a love tornado spinning round and round

            oh oh oh

 no escaping the wreckage in a bunker full of lonely

while waiting for the skies to clear

oh in love with more than one isnt’ always such as fun

caught up in a storm of love