Back in the burbs…

I think I’m all settled in after my solo adventure in the big city. Although, in typical fashion, I have yet to unpack. Once you’re home, everything just sort of starts back up…OK, there’s no excuse, I’m just a lazy non-unpacker.

My mission in going to NY was to attend the Backspace Writer’s Conference, get to know some writers and some publishing folk, and just generally recharge the batteries. It was a great experience.

I always find that I get more done on an Amtrak and in a hotel room then I can in a month at home, and this trip was no exception. Something about having all the ritual distractions removed (read: Children) lets my hyperfocus kick in a most welcome way.

Wednesday was my first night in town, and there was an informal gathering at the Algonquin Hotel, Dorothy Parker’s old haunt. I went, and was enjoying getting to know writers from all genres. I began talking to a man named John, and when I said my site is called Rock and Roll Mama, he visibly brightened.

“Are YOU a rock and roll mama?” he asked.

I thought for a moment, then replied. “I AM.”

(Disclaimer: John’s explanations are much more technically sound, these are reconstructed here to the best of my non-technical ability.)

He leaned in and said, with a quiet pride, “I created the devices that made the sound effects on many of the Pink Floyd albums in the 70s.”

“WHOA!” I said. But that wasn’t all…

“And I did the pyrotechnics that made Kiss’s guitars expode.”

The longer I talked to John Robison, the more fascinated I became. He’s had an illustrious career as a rock  and roll technical guru, an electronic games designer, a restorer of Rolls Royces other exotic autos, and, most recently, a NYT bestselling author for his memoir, “Look Me in the Eye“, about his experiences growing up Aspergian.

But when, in a later conversation, I exclaimed my amazement over all the things he’s done, his response was to reply that really, anyone can do them, it’s just a matter of analyzing your own strengths and deciding to use them. And I was floored, and inspired.

I met alot of people, some published, some not, and it was really great to be sharing space with so many other people who love stories and words. I always feel energized by the city of New York itself, the aura of possibility and constant motion.

Now I’m home, mostly acclimated. Tomorrow’s my birthday…I’ll be 34. It’s cool, but I thought I was 34 all this year. Seriously. Every time I saw my Myspace profile and it said 33, I was like “Man! Myspace can’t count!” Then eventually, I became suspicious, and typed in my own birthdate to an age calculator…only to discover I had 6 weeks left to be 33. So little time!

On the upside, I get a do-over on the 34. On the downside, I only have six weeks of memories of 33. But what a six weeks they’ve been!

Tomorrow: Interview with Stephanie Kuehnert, author of “I Wanna be Your Joey Ramone”, on moms and musical identity. If you haven’t already, leave a comment on yesterday’s post to enter a drawing for a copy of the book.

xoxo, L