Year of the Cock! (hardy har!)

Received this greeting from this bloke today - you know, a mailing list thang - nevertheless, he said I could pass it on, so to save me having to think - I am doing so!

February 9th marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year.

The year of the Rooster commences.

The impish year of the Monkey is over and there should be a bit more stability. The prevailing winds are towards order. The Rooster symbolizes self-sufficiency and provides an opportunity to repair and rebuild relationships and situations that may have been damaged by the mischievous monkey. Unfortunately there is the danger of over confidence here as the Rooster also brims with pride. Simple things get complicated if image becomes important.

Self-awareness brings great progress.

The rooster cries every morning as the sun rises. Maybe he is just exhaling in a dynamic way to make room for all the energy of the sun when he breathes in.

There is a delicate balance with the Rooster. Avoid precarious disputes and speculative ventures for disappointment and conflict may arise.

Improvise when able to. Adapt when necessary.

It is time to let go of bitterness and resentment.

Exercise tolerance. Cultivate creativity.

Be healthy, active...and safe.

Happy New Year!

Right now that we have that out of the way, I'd better get my lazy, blog unworthy butt into gear and report right? Otherwise there is a Crazy Zen Man out there somewhere who is gonna buy a plane ticket to Australia, hunt me down, drag me screaming out into the night and beat me with a stick whilst yelling out 'MU! MU! Godamnitt - MU!'

You might want to read last post comment if you need insight into this last in-joke.

So, errr, yeah. I have been mighty busy and am bloody well buggered this morning. Played a gig last night at a place called 161 in Prahran, Melbourne. Prahran is kind of a 'groovy' area, where plenty of good shit happens, but all on the slightly consumerist side of the fence if you know what I mean - lots of fashion obsessed freaks who really ought to give more of a damn about a few issues that matter - but hey - that's their Karma...

Anyway, was pleasantly surprised when about ten lovely ladies all showed up to see me play (the bar was otherwise quite full anyway), made me feel like a right rooster in the hen house! Did leave me wondering where all my male friends have got to lately - I think it must be my clean living - all my old rock mates are still out getting brain damage while I drink green tea and meditate. Bit of an exaggeration, but a grain of truth there. There was a mix about times, they told me (twice) that I was on at 8:30 but when I got there they were a bit stressed because they had double booked and had tried to call me to start at 8 instead - so they restricted me to four songs! Not to make a mountainous story out of a molehill-sized tale, let me just say that I had to flex my zen-muscles and flow graciously with the Tao, despite feeling a bit ripped off. That is sometimes the trouble with being known for being super-chilled, venue promoters tend to use that to make their life easier at my expense. But somehow, I still believe that going with the flow is still the best option. I guess I've just been involved in the gig scene for a good few years now (13 to be precise) and I work with the knowledge that one gig in a bar doesn't amount to all that much at the end of the day. It's just not worth getting stressed about. The promoters in question are lovely blokes anyway.

Speaking of old rock mates (well, about half a paragraph ago) I am appearing in my mate's band's filmclip today (The Rush Effect), which will be something different. Apparently I just have to sit around in this fairly famous club called revolver and look cool. This will of course, be a simple matter for one as hip and happening as myself (not!). I must say, the timing is good though, as I am in great shape at the moment - as opposed to carrying that spare tyre that mysteriously attached itself to my waist about a year and a half ago. I tells ya, one minute your a twenty eight year old Lean-Machine, the next your a thirty year old fat storage device. It has taken a lot of effort to get rid of that unwelcome, unflattering newcomer, but I did it - I am officially slim and terrific again. And, to be honest, a little hungry for a big juicy burger and fries, washed down with a jug or three of cold Cascade Pale Ale.

But no, no beer or burger for me today, I am not quite half way through my six week yeast/sugar/carbs free diet. Looking forward to the end of it - to make an understatement.

Well, I must return to work, and I fear that I have made exactly the kind of blog entry that I vowed not to make when I started TCT - as in of the 'What I had for breakfast' variety. I fricking hate those kinds of blogs and can't read them (what a massive waste of precious time). Nevertheless, it is done.

Soon you will be able to go check out my new meditation website www.embracemeditation.com, but not yet. Ditto for my music site, yet to be named. Meanwhile check out photo from recent gig and Embrace Meditation logo in sidebar.

Flow Like Water, my friends, Around the Rocks.