ricklozano.com

I was thinking of the Keys today.  I can’t wait to be on a boat with my baby, beer tasting like sunblock and salt, tossing the bonnethead shark I just caught over the side.  I’ve come to realize that I’m really good at doing nothing on a boat all day long.  I think I’ll take my ukulele next time.  That has to translate into a paying full-time job somehow, right?

I’ve haven’t played a gig since my surgery in September, but I’m ready to go.  Actually, I’m dying to play.  I have a few Freetail Brewing Company gigs on the calendar but if anyone knows other venues I should look into, let me know.

Right now I’m sitting in a hotel in Virginia wishing I had brought a guitar.

Cheers.

Hello 2012, it has been a while! I’ve been busy getting my hands back into working condition, devoting time to work and family, and generally just loving life.

Work…wow. I gave a presentation to a group of rookies at the Rackspace Rookie Orientation today wearing a pair of jeans and a zombie t-shirt and realized that I might possibly have the best job in the world. This place, rocks! There isn’t a day that I’m not grateful to be working in this place.

Musically…well, I have an albums worth of music to record and I’m making baby steps. I haven’t played live in a while but I’m looking to branch out and try new things, I miss playing out.

I hope you are well. Yeah, you, whoever you are. Thanks for taking a look at my site.

Rick.

So the surgery went well, my hands are still a little sore every now and then and I’m not nearly 100% but making progress. I hope to be able to play soon. I had hoped to start making progress on recording the new CD but that obviously didn’t happen, let’s see how the next month goes.

Spent some time in Vegas with Angela this last week, nothing like spending 5 days in a row with the person you love. Check out the Cosmopolitan next time you are in Vegas, 3rd floor secret pizza joint ROCKS! And, oh, gambling sucks.

The last few days have also been one of pleasant reunions, from a brief layover with friends at DIA, to a night in Austin tonight with friends who have made a bigger impression on my life than they would ever know. Spent the drive home listening to the Avett Brothers, Band of Heathens, and some old Blues Traveler and The Wallflowers.

Life is good.

So, the San Antonio Current is celebrating 25 years in existence, and as such, they asked local musicians to submit covers of songs popular in 1986. Here’s my submission…I didn’t have any time to work with, so here is a stripped down acoustic guitar version of Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way It Is”. Tell me what you think!

The Way It Is

So my hands finally told me to quit being a dumbass and take a break.  After several months with my hands continuously going numb throughout the day and the night (yet still playing 3+ hour acoustic gigs), lately I have reached the point where it has become quite painful and it is time to get them fixed.

I went to the doctor this week and, as expected, I have carpal tunnel in both hands and am probably looking at surgery on at least one, if not both of them.  But here’s the kicker – I also have a fracture in my wrist!

Yup.  I was flying a kite at the beach about six weeks ago (I rock the stunt kite!) and backed up right into a hole someone had dug in the sand.  As I was falling I reached out to brace my fall with my left hand and tweaked it pretty good.  It hurt like hell and was swollen and numb the next two days but I thought I just sprained it so I kept on trucking.  The pain came and went and after a while I just assumed it was the carpal tunnel so I just kept sticking to my original plan of taking September off to get that checked out, not knowing, of course, that I was a dumbass playing guitar with a fractured wrist.

So there, I’m still taking September off, maybe more,  but I have still have four more gigs to go in August and they couldn’t fit me in for the surgery any earlier anyway so I think I’ll finish those off and then take a hiatus from playing for a while.  I’ve done it for six weeks, I can do two more!

I think some time off will do me good.  Ibubrofen…check.

I’m grooving a little in my chair as I’m thinking back on last weekend.  The dance floor was packed, the inhibitions were gone, the entire wedding party was tearing it up and having an incredible time.  I can’t say that I have ever enjoyed a wedding reception more, the band was rocking the disco-funk, Dave was busting out the “Kid and Play”dance moves, and everyone was smiling.

Robin and Dave danced their first dance to Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are The Best Thing” and that fucking rocked beyond belief!!!!  What a great song!  The horn section was kicking and the love was in the air, the wedding party started acting like back-up dancers, incredible.

More than anything, I’d like to say congratulations to Robin and Dave, your happiness brings the world happiness and that is the way it should be.  My only memories of Pennsylvania are filled with joy and family, love and laughs, and the thought of getting kicked out of the jacuzzi at 3am.

Cheers.

Welcome to the family, Robin.