Trials of a Mid-life Crisis Bass Player...

[Count Bassie]

Originally Posted by two fingers

And by the way, before any of yuze guys bring it up, I ain't getn no minivan! Not gonna happen!

Oh you're getting one, alright.

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by Count Bassie

You done good.

I punted way beyond my coverage. It took two extra decades to find her, a divorce from another to go through, and several other crazy women between the dress rehearsal wife and this one, but it was worth the wait. I would rather hang out with her than anyone. The sad part is, all my buds would rather hang out with her than me. (Not in a scandalous way of course.) She's a trip.

[boristhespider9]

Minivans happen. You're cool with or without it. Great for hauling gear though. Plus mine has a widescreen and surround sound. Good for watching Song Remains the Same.

[Count Bassie]

Originally Posted by two fingers

...The sad part is, all my buds would rather hang out with her than me. (Not in a scandalous way of course.) She's a trip.

It's not for nothing most of us call our women our "better half"! Like I said... and if your long journey ends this way, you've done good indeed.

[Count Bassie]

Originally Posted by boristhespider9

Minivans happen. You're cool with or without it. Great for hauling gear though. Plus mine has a widescreen and surround sound. Good for watching Song Remains the Same.

Mine is old crap, but it's got 311,+ thousand miles on it. Carries gear and carpentry tools. Not bad.

[Phinn]

When you click a button on your car alarm thing, and the door of the minivan slides open by itself, and you're standing there carrying a baby sleeping in a car seat along with a metric ton of assorted CRAP that you supposedly need in order to move the baby from point A to point B, then you'll know why you have a minivan.

Also, get one with an in-flight entertainment system that includes headphone jacks for the back seat.

Thank me later.

[boristhespider9]

Originally Posted by Phinn

When you click a button on your car alarm thing, and the door of the minivan slides open by itself, and you're standing there carrying a baby sleeping in a car seat along with a metric ton of assorted CRAP that you supposedly need in order to move the baby from point A to point B, then you'll know why you have a minivan.

Also, get one with an in-flight entertainment system that includes headphone jacks for the back seat.

Thank me later.

The features on the new ones really are pretty amazing. It would actually have been awesome for road trips in college!

I also recommend the all-season protective rubber mats for the floors in the seating and cargo area. Nothing better than pulling them out and hosing off the muck and fishy cracker crumbs that would have otherwise been ground into the floor or carpeted mats forever. Plus, the ones in the cargo areas protect your full stack from damaging the floor. I made the dealer throw in every factory spec rubber mat available for the seating and cargo area floors as a condition of my purchase! And yes, the automatic doors and entertainment systems are clear indicators of technological progress.

My minivan carries babies and Laklands.

[Beej]

I'm right here with you all.

And its not a minivan, it's "my van". If you look at 'em right, they won't mention it again...

[Bassmanbob]

Originally Posted by two fingers

Can't help with twins. But I have 1 and 3 year old girls. Man, when we got ready to start having kids, I was like most guys. I wanted a boy to throw rocks, shoot guns, get dirty, and basically be stupid with. But I wouldn't trade my girls for 50 boys. There's nothing in this world like Daddy's little girls. Best thing ever. Cover me in fairy clothes and tea parties. I don't care. Thank Heaven for little girls.

But buy the shotgun now. Start practicing.

LOL. Father of 20 and 16 year-old daughters. No shotgun here, but I don't need it with these girls. We just talk with the girls. They know the "Life Order" being financial security, marriage, then baby OR marriage, financial security, then baby. But baby ALWAYS comes LAST.

But admittedly, the boyfriends are always introduced to Uncle Ray... My friend with many guns.

[RaginRog]

Originally Posted by two fingers

My wife threw up her guts for a few weeks with both of our girls. Either way, you can't lose. Kids are the best.

As far as the step daughter, that's really cool. 5 to 12 is a really important time! Have you guys stayed in touch?

Oh...so there is a chance for a mini-me? Lol
I actually feel bad because she sent a friend request, which I ended up denying, with a long message. I didn't want her mother to know my business. There infidelity on the mother's behalf, while I always watched the kid. She understood. I didn't really care for her mother's family.

[RaginRog]

Originally Posted by Bassmanbob

LOL. Father of 20 and 16 year-old daughters. No shotgun here, but I don't need it with these girls. We just talk with the girls. They know the "Life Order" being financial security, marriage, then baby OR marriage, financial security, then baby. But baby ALWAYS comes LAST.

But admittedly, the boyfriends are always introduced to Uncle Ray... My friend with many guns.

Sounds like you keep the communication open, and direct. I live in Maryland, which I believe happens to have the highest teen pregnancy rate- based on pop size- in the country. That's probably why our taxes are so freakin' high.
But seriously, I will likely never buy a shotgun. Nothing against guns, my wife doesn't want one.

[RaginRog]

Originally Posted by Count Bassie

Oh you're getting one, alright.

Scion XB for me...funny thing is that I have run into 2 couples in my area that both have twins/ XB owners who have both said the XB is perfect.
My wife drives a VW Jetta...she's already said she may confiscate my XB because it looks like it'll be easier to load and unload the kids.

[jelly6466]

Originally Posted by RaginRog

Any advice for a soon-to-be father of twins? I know I must buy a shotgun for when they're old enough to date; be ready for a lot of sleepness nights, and diaper duty x2...

I refer to it as the Peace Corps slogan, the toughest job you'll ever love. Out of diaper day happened for us around 3 or so, just like everything else, as soon as one does something the other has to do it also.

I took 2 years off from playing after my kids were born, my brother also died a few months after they were born so I needed time to decompress. However I can tell you the greatest thing will be when they see you play for the first time. I have played on stage at the MGM in Foxwoods and before thousands at some outdoor events but those didn't come close to the look on my girls face when they saw me play at a wedding in a Radisson in our town. Now of course they watched daddy for about 10 seconds and then coudln't take their eyes off the bride and keep talking about her to this day.

[boristhespider9]

You WILL succumb to a minivan and then wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

Also, know that the first 6 months can be insanely rough (not always) but it will get better.

Other advice... make sure your amp has a headphone jack and buy quality headphones. Unless you have a soundproof room in your house, your days of practicing at home when it fits YOUR schedule are over.

[jelly6466]

Oh, and I am also 6"6" about 260 and I have told my girls that when dating time comes I am going to walk around town with an axe and boots with 4" heels to make me 6'10", hopefully that will deter the little scrubs from approaching my girls!!

[jelly6466]

Originally Posted by boristhespider9

You WILL succumb to a minivan and then wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

Yes, yes a million times yes. Had an suv and once we got the minivan life became MUCH easier. I still drive the minivan, easy for band situations, and my wife drives a Murano with AWD and more safety features than the space shuttle, gotta keep those little kiddies safe.

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by boristhespider9

You WILL succumb to a minivan and then wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

Not gonna do it! Right now, I drive a TrailbBalzer SS. Plenty of room for baby stuff. Yes, it has a DVD WITH headphone jack. And 390 horsepower so I can carry groceries from 0-60 in a few seconds topping out in the mid 120s (without the kids on board of course). And I have hauled an Ampeg fridge, head rack, two basses, a drum kit and a nearly 300lb drummer in it before as well.

Every time I take off from my driveway, my 3 year old says "Faster Daddy! Faster!" all while eating cookies and watching Barbie Princess and the Popstar.

Best Dad ever! Woohoo!

(For the record, I drive like a Granny when they're in the car. And I make them eat broccoli and drink milk on a regular basis.)

[brotherbassj]

Im in.........42.....done some tours....many bar gigs..........married with 4 kids.......two step daughters are gone....whew.......subbed for fun.

We have a grand caravan and a Scion xB.........lol. And I still have long hair and both ears pierced and teach Special Education at a High school and run the musicians club there.........yeah, i'm old......mid life....blah.......lol.

On another note, i left a band that was signed....for my family and responsibilities. IT was awesome though for my son and daughter to get VIP treatment at a local large venue while we opened for such bands as Halestorm, Apocalyptica, All that Remains.......etc. I can die happy now knowing my kids think I'm kinda cool and a rocker...........alls well that ends well right?

[qervo]

I had a loaded Tahoe that fits 8 , with all the DVD tv speaker stuff , and I STILL ended up with a minivan after my kids were born. They really are easier for toting young ones around.

[shadven]

The Honda Element is the perfect vehicle. I addition to removable backs seats it can pull a trailer with my Harley or 1968 Triumph. I can fit an SVT and 810 cab and 3 basses and other gear no problem, when I need to accomodate passengers I just put the seats back in. I know it was discontinued last year, but it is basically an accord chassis and motor, and itl was voted by "car and driver" as a vehicle expected to go 300,000 miles or more. Nuff said