Thursday, June 21, 2007

Ship Life

Hello again.

I've missed you all. How have I been, you ask? Splendid, how nice of you to ask. Yourself? Really? Sorry to hear that. Perhaps you should see a doctor, or a specialist of some kind. Either way. Good luck.

Enough with the pleasantries. You didn't come here to ask how I was, did you you? You want the details, the meat, the scandal, eh? I knew you would. But, since I'm running short of scandal and the only meat on the ship is usually found in the Filipino crew lounge drenched in soy sauce and surrounded by vegetables and rice, all I have for you now is details. Here they are.

I am playing drums with a group on board the ship called the "HAL Cats."
"HAL" = "Holland America Line"
"Cat" = Either a mammal in the feline class or a slang term for musician. Origin thought to be in New Orleans

We are the house band for all evening activities that take place here, in the "Vermeer Lounge." This can range from anything to guest entertainers to cast-presented Broadway shows. So far I've had to play for one cast production and one guest entertainer. The way it works is that every day we'll meet at about 1 or so to have a one hour rehearsal of music that we've neither seen nor heard before. With guest musicians that we've never met. Yippee. Sometimes this is cool. For example: 2 nights ago we had a guy come in to play the Banjo. It was great. We all kinda sucked the first show, but the second show was awesome. So an average day will look like this:

1:00 - 2:00: Rehearsal
6:45 - 7:45: Show
8:30 - 9:30: Show
10:30 - 11:30: Evening music in the piano bar upstairs

In the evenings, sometimes we'll go to the "Crow's Nest" (located above) and play some dance music-type stuff. Yep, that's every bit as fun as it sounds.

The musicians here are very good. I mean, not quite as good as the Ring band, but who is, really? The only difference between the HAL Cats and the ring band is that here we know more than 5 songs... just kidding. We just go back and forth between the only two songs in our repertoire, Fergie's "Glamorous" and "Wonderful Tonight".

Speaking of the Ring band: Cody, Chase, Brady, Sarah, Bald Guy, and Keyboard Player, I miss you all. I will see you soon.

Alright. That's about it. I'm gonna go run. That's right, run. Actually, today on the "Charles Ochello Running Plan to Greatness", I've got to stretch, walk 30, then stretch again (Thanks Mr. Charlie)

I'll talk to you all soon.

B Hays, a.k.a. "HAL Cat 6"

5 comments:

Kate O. said...

great update... i really did laugh out loud several times, but does that surprise you?? i must say, however, that i'm a little hurt i didn't get a shout-out like the band and my dad. not that they are unworthy of their shout-outs, but whatev... anyway, glad you're having a great time, love and miss you like bob misses his sweet tie :)

Stephanie Ochello said...

No shoutout for the mother of the love of your life?? What's up with that? I'll forgive you for now but I'm watching you!! ~~STEPH~~

(By the way, I pecked every single letter of this one finger at a time, so you know I mean business!)

Unknown said...

As the mother of HAL Cat6, I must say that I'm so very proud of you. Glad that you having such a wonderful time, Take lots of pictures and ask whoever is taking pictures of the HAL Cats to please make sure that "#6" can be seem. It very important!! And as far as the shout out, I'm ok because I'm getting to actually talk to you. :) Viper sends his love and you know I love you more than you will ever know.

Jake said...

I was going to gripe about not getting a shout out but then I looked at the caliber of relationships before me and thought better.

That, and the fact that I figured if I did, I would have to prepare myself for kate calling me a nasty name having to do with a bag.

Have a great time dude, and let Him take the wheel.

Unknown said...

In the wise words of Fergie, "No, no, no, no drama." Yikes.