Author Archives: ltrainlane

The incredibly awesome gig with the Ryan Forrester Band on Saturday night. (Plus it was nice to be called “L Train” again.) Being involved and engaged in positive, healthy conversation about diversity, where the main focus is to be respectful of each other. The importance of not just listening, but taking the time to trulyContinue reading “8 things i’m thankful for. (not including the new wheels)”

It feels good to have a gig on the calendar. As much as I’ve been enjoying a break from the music grind, there’s still an excitement that gets me energized when I know there’s an opportunity to make great music with others. This past weekend we had a “socially distanced” rehearsal for the Uptown VocalContinue reading “water music.”

That I’m wonderful 88% of the time. That even though I lack culinary skills, I now know how to “bake my own cake”: (1/4 cup kindness, 3/4 cup funny, 1/4 cup smart, 1/16 generosity, 2 cups creativity, 1/8 cup impatience and overly critical, 1/16 cup determination, 1/8 cup resilience); compliments and insults are just icing.Continue reading “8 things i’m thankful for.(while technically off the grid)”

Thank you, Pat Metheny. This has been an enlightening weekend while in Richmond. I’ve seen beauty in many different forms – through my surroundings, through conversation, and through graffiti in a way I did not expect. On Saturday morning, I met my friend Candace at Starbucks for iced tea and conversation. We are what wouldContinue reading “it’s just talk.”

I know this idea sounds completely crazy, but it’s 2020, and nothing has been normal this year. Yes, when we go to musicals, the sets and backgrounds are a key component of the production, but what do we remember more than anything else? The characters, the songs, and the amazing choreography. With the technology that’sContinue reading “musicals….from the meadowlands?”

“Yesterdays disappear, and your memory’s my only souvenir.” – Ricky Peterson, from the title track of his album “Souvenir” Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve needed to find closure on a few issues, some dating as far back as 1992. I’ve had this crippling fear in my head of EVERYTHING that could go wrongContinue reading “souvenir. (aka EMDR and facing my fears)”

Having a day to spend with a bunch of new friends. Healthy dialogue about our current society. Anti-gravity deck chairs. Being able to walk 30 miles in a week. Sunday afternoon naps. Wheat bagels with a little bit of cream cheese. The incredibly underrated musicianship of Kenny Rankin. That LOVE IS LOVE.

I stepped on the scale on Monday morning, and had the rude awakening of seeing that I’ve gained 20 pounds over the past year. I know that the majority of my weight gain has happened since the beginning of 2020. As this has been an incredibly stressful year, I’ve been eating for comfort, and althoughContinue reading “vanilla chex and beer.”

I thought about calling this post “Julio Iglesias Can Suck It,” because it’s about all the girls I’ve loved before, and how one in particular impacted how I viewed relationships for many years. I had a really productive therapy session this afternoon. I brought something up that has been impacting me for almost 32 years,Continue reading “the ex factor.”

I was going through some of my stuff in my “music closet” the other day, and I came across a picture from 1996. At the time I was living in Scranton PA, and the picture is of me playing in the band FM and the MF Horns. What cracked me up about the photo isContinue reading “beepers, flip phones, and the french toast dilemma.”