karl.tsakos.us/blog

Today’s tale is one of coincidence, and it started yesterday.

Last night the band, which I will now start to officially call the P.C.M.A. (formerly sometimes called DeSk), wrote three songs. As the songs gelled, I recorded them for the band to review, but mostly so we would remember them a week from now.

This morning I bounced the songs (mixed them down) to MP3 files to share with the members of the P.C.M.A. As I did so, I had to give them names. These names seem to stick only about half the time. They get changed when we know what the song is about.

One reminded me of something from the ’80s with what to me seemed like a british sound. This was most likely because of the tone of the keyboard. So I named it Briton Memoir. Another wound up in a Ska or Reggae stile (even though it was inspired by a southern Californian song), but the tempo was halfway between the two. Somehow its title became Skaggey.

The last was a slow, mellow piece which featured the organ with the stops set to only play higher overtones. Obviously and predictably it reminded me of the sonar of a bat. But because of the slow, mellow tempo, it has a slight sleepy feeling. So, I called that piece Chiroptera Somnambulist which translates from the Greek and Latin origins as “sleepwalking bat.”

Now, since bats are known to be nocturnal, an interesting effect of a sleepwalking bat is that it would be out and about in the middle of the day.

Here’s where the coincidence kicks in.

Today, Christian and I decided to get out and go for a hike. Since we wanted a change of scenery, we decided to head up to Lake Minewaska near New Paltz, New York. As we walked down the trail by Awostoga Falls, we saw something flying in and out of the trees. I asked, “What is that?” Christian answered, “It’s a bird.” I corrected him, “No, it’s a bat!”

One in the afternoon on a sunny day, and there was a bat flying in and out of the shadows. Of course our first notion was that it was rabid and therefore completely insane. But, the more we watched it, the clearer it became that the bat was completely in control of its behavior. Clearly it was feasting on the gnats so abundantly present along the river. Occasionally it would alight on a tree and rest for a moment before continuing on it’s feast.

Christian noted that it seemed to be flying very slowly. I observed that it was probably flying at the same speed in the dark, but when you see them a dusk the quick glimpse makes them look like they are moving faster. Either way, it was a rare and amazing experience to have the opportunity to watch the little critter at work.

And work he did. We watched him for ten minutes as we walked slowly down the trail. At one point I tried to get a picture of him which proved impossible to do. As I had the camera to my eye trying to find him, let alone follow him as he darted around, he made a bee line right at us. Christian made a startled yelp and we both started and shrieked as it veered off just 6 feet from us. Thankfully, no one was around to see.

Our hike continued for another two and a half hours before we returned along the same trail. We briefly saw him again as he chased some more insects further down the trail.

All I know was that it was clearly not sleepwalking, or sleepflying. I don’t even know if that was normal behavior for a bat. Still, it was a pretty amazing sight.

No he didn’t. That was a lie.

He said do it every night before bed. That’s the ticket to a prolific if not informative blog.

Dave. He’s the one who said it. Blog every night before you go to bed. Make it the last thing you do before going to bed. It’s right there in the comments to my March 23rd blog entry.

Well, what can I look forward to if I do that? A feeling of dreaded commitment. If I don’t do it will I sleep poorly as a result? Am I damning myself to guilt ridden evenings where I feel obliged to do something?

Where has it gotten him? Comments on how many Star Trek universe cast members wound up on the ’80s Twilight Zone. Actully, upon further inspection it is kind of hard to find too much self involved fluff on Dave’s site The Subway Rambler. Well self involved yes (for it is the nature of the blog). But fluff? Yes, okay fluff. BUT! Entertaining fluff. The exploration of the gaudy house in New Jersey is priceless.

The point is, can I be interesting on a nightly basis or just wind up talking about how boring I am? (See, just then?)

Perhaps we could discuss the band Dave and I are in? Neither he, nor I, nor the Telepathic Unicycle (that would be DELETED’s blog) discuss our band. No, not the cover band, the originals band with Dave, Shaun, Edz and me. We’re recording now. Well not right now, but we’ve been recording for the past 6 months.

Ah, does this peek your interest? Perhaps some samples as we get going to keep you interested and wanting more. Then, when there is more, you’ll want it and get it and then all will be happy.

Hurrah!

(No music this go round. You’ll have to come back for that another time. [Give me a break, I just thought up the idea now.])

That’s what my apartment is, moist. Not that I want it that way, but right now it is raining very heavily and my roof is leaking in a new and dramatic way. Perhaps some day I will climb to the roof and patch it. Not that it is my roof to patch, but it is very difficult to get my land lord to do this sort of thing. Anyhow, I can’t complain, I get a lot of apartment for the rent I pay.

So I’m waiting for Dave and his friend Putnam to arrive to go to dinner and then it is band night. I assumed we weren’t recording since we will have company today, but the rain has really assured us of that. After all, the leak is next to the recording room. Anyhow, more to come on the recording in later installments.