Interviewing Bassists Stories Pt. 3

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by natw42

Hey Tom,

Are any of your books available as ebooks on b&n/nook? I was searching for Ghosts as well as Cold Sweat and turned up nuthin. ��

In Cold Sweat isn't available as an e-book at Barnes and Noble. You can get it as an e-book at Amazon, though.

I was told Ghosts would be sold as an e-book, but I'm fairly sure now that it won't be. If so, I'll take steps to remedy that.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by jeffbrown

Just catching up here.

Tom, I am so sorry for your loss. What is it with dads/parents here? My dad died last month, and there is now a hole in the universe that will not be filled - for me - until time eventually fills it with fondest memories and the presence of my own family. (My wife is currently working in Kazakhstan and returns in June. Last child - son - is in college and comes back in May sometime.)

Dad's side of the family was known for strokes, and that's what killed him. (Gotta watch this, myself!!) That he made it to 84 was remarkable, but he was always a health/fitness guy, and that is probably why he made it as far as he did. My BP is beginning to skyrocket due to job pressures, age, etc., and I have to figure out a solution asap beyond my own regime of exercise and diet which, up until about a year ago, was working fairly well. I'm adverse to meds, but that is most likely what I'm going to have to do.

That is, I think, a lesson for us all - our own health. You have described some of your issues, and I think it is fantastic that you have dealt with it as well as you have, and this recent issue about rage is a case in point - you ARE dealing, and it appears to be working. Keep it up!

Like they say when you fly during the obligatory emergency lecture before takeoff: put on your own oxygen mask first, and then help others. If we don't have our (own) health, everything else suffers.

I got my copy of G&B a couple days ago. Great read so far - review to follow. Thanks!

Post a review with my blessings.

I have blood-pressure issues. My own unsolicited advice is to not be adverse to meds. My father had several strokes over the past decade. It ruined his cognitive ability and changed his personality, making him even more difficult.

I don't have kids, but even more unsolicited advice I'd give to everyone reading this is think of your family. Think of what your wife and kids will have to go through if you start stroking out or if you conceal your cancer or if you lose the ability to think and are aware of it but pretend nothing's wrong, so then after you die you leave your affairs in a horrendous, nightmarish mess that everyone else has to clean up.

No man is an island.

Except for me.

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by Arthritic_Tom

My entire plan for marketing the book has fallen apart, and my father's illness and death are only half the story. Another shoe will drop in the next month.

Cue looming disaster music .

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Roadkill

Cue looming disaster music .

The book issues will be resolved. I'm in the process of doing so as we speak. It may have been another blessing in disguise, in that I may come away with a much better marketing plan. We'll see. All my life I've attracted people who make promises but don't keep them. I even wrote about it in Ghosts, in Lessons Learned:

Tune Out the Moon-promisers

For some reason when you achieve even the tiniest modicum of public exposure for anything, millions of strangers contact you and tell you all the wonderful things they’re going to do for you. Don’t believe any of them. I was promised ghostwriting gigs, consulting gigs, screenwriting gigs, columnist gigs, reviewing gigs, offers to write liner notes, offers to be interviewed for documentaries as an expert on flamethrowers, an interview with the BBC(!), offers to consult for documentaries on flamethrowers--none of it panned out. Not a single promise was kept. I agreed to them all and never heard from anybody again.

It made me furious, which was wrong. The world is full of those who pretend because it’s fun. So when people you don’t know offer you fantastic opportunities, thank them, accept, and then put it out of your mind. They’re mental patients.

They say the past is prologue. Ghosts was both chronicle and prophesy. I'm reliving everything that happened during my ten years at Bass Player, only now it's been compressed into about three months, with the spectacular illness and death of my father thrown in. See, this is why I resisted writing the damn book. I knew I'd put my heart and soul into it, and then the aftermath would be agony.

But I guess this was supposed to happen, because instead of losing my (bleep), I've just pivoted, kept my mouth shut, and tried to adapt and overcome. I'm not taking any of it personally, because there are no personal relationships involved. It's just business, which is what the mafia hit men said when they pumped six bullets into someone's skull. And they were right. Nobody hates me. They're indifferent to me. And therein lies MY problem. At Bass Player, I always asked, "Why are you doing this to me? I'm Tom! You've known me for years!"

I made the mortal mistake of making assumptions, along with mistaking a business relationship for a personal relationship. What's happening now is a reminder that you can never, never, never do that. A business relationship must always be cordial and ice cold. The lesson has been learned. In spades! HAW!

Disaster has already struck, and it's been addressed. Have no fear. The other shoe to drop will drop, and those consequences will be addressed, too.

In a few minutes I'm going to see chaplain Leslie to thank her for helping me help Dad let go. I left her that Dad-dragon I showed you above and a thank-you note, and now I'll go and have a nice chat.

No looming disaster, Ron. As Mom says, "We can do this."

[cthomas5200]

Originally Posted by Arthritic_Tom

In Cold Sweat isn't available as an e-book at Barnes and Noble. You can get it as an e-book at Amazon, though.

I was told the Ghosts would be sold as an e-book, but I'm fairly sure now that it won't be. If so, I'll take steps to remedy that.

Please do. I was waiting for the Kindle version!

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by cthomas5200

Please do. I was waiting for the Kindle version!

So was I.

Tomorrow should settle things once and for all.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Can't drink anymore, due to the medications and the fact that I'm a drunk. Can't do any kind of other substance that alters reality, because that'll lead to where I was twenty-two years ago, buying little packets of powder from strangers.

So for one night I violate the doctors' orders and consume... THIS!

If I spin, it'll be worth it. Screw you, Meniere's. Down the hatch.

Oh, and have a gander at Dad's clipper. He found a piece of burnt wood on the beach at Sanibel Island, Florida, in 1970, mounted it on a board, stained the grain of the board green and blue, rigged the charcoal clipper with copper wire, sealed it with varnish, and framed the whole thing in rope.

Not bad for an oil executive. From land-locked Iowa.

[Wwolof]

Keelhaul that man.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Wwolof

Keelhaul that man.

I agree. Everyone knows that ice cream is bad for you.

[miles'tone]

Steady as you go man, that's some real madman you got there. I OD'd on that s#!¥ once.

It wasn't pretty.

[Texan]

Tom, I'm sorry for your loss.

Be careful with the Ben and Jerry's... it's almost as addictive as Heroin. I recommend the "Chocolate Therapy" flavor. If you don't like it, I'll paypal you the cost of pint.

[Roadkill]

Both that ship and the dragon are awesome!

I'm pretty sure you know by now that creativity and borderline insanity go together. I try not to judge those more creative than myself too harshly - heck, I'm only marginally creative and crazy as a loon .

[rockinrayduke]

Got my book!! Can't wait to dive in!!

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by miles'tone

Steady as you go man, that's some real madman you got there. I OD'd on that s#!¥ once.

It wasn't pretty.

When I was done, I reached out and touched the face of God.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Texan

Tom, I'm sorry for your loss.

Be careful with the Ben and Jerry's... it's almost as addictive as Heroin. I recommend the "Chocolate Therapy" flavor. If you don't like it, I'll paypal you the cost of pint.

Flavor noted. I barely got through the pint of Fudge Brownie. It was great but somehow perverted. In a good way. But still perverted.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by Roadkill

Both that ship and the dragon are awesome!

I'm pretty sure you know by now that creativity and borderline insanity go together. I try not to judge those more creative than myself too harshly - heck, I'm only marginally creative and crazy as a loon .

Young man, I remember full well your bizarre statements when I got you the copy on In Cold Sweat signed by Thunes.

You are, indeed, a certifiable loon. But so what? Loons can be pretty cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AueI-hEFbwY

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by rockinrayduke

Got my book!! Can't wait to dive in!!

Congrats! Review expected.

[KPJ]

Originally Posted by Arthritic_Tom

I barely got through the pint of Fudge Brownie. It was great but somehow perverted. In a good way. But still perverted.

That's my experience with that flavor, my favorite! I'll get the frozen yogurt instead if I want to be "good", but who wants to be "good"?

Just about halfway through. I hoping for some revelations in the denouement to a couple things.

[Arthritic_Tom]

Originally Posted by KPJ

That's my experience with that flavor, my favorite! I'll get the frozen yogurt instead if I want to be "good", but who wants to be "good"?

Just about halfway through. I hoping for some revelations in the denouement to a couple things.

All is wrapped up neatly at the end.

As for the Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream, I won't say never again, but probably not for a long, LONG time.

[KPJ]

Originally Posted by Arthritic_Tom

All is wrapped up neatly at the end.

As for the Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream, I won't say never again, but probably not for a long, LONG time.

I'd be very disappointed if it's not. Go for the Ben & Jerry's twice a year. Treat yourself again August.