CousinMike
CousinMike
Type of Profile: PersonalMember for: 1 year 14 weeks
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About Me
Welcome to the Cousin Mike Hub here at Storytrax!
How did I come up with the name "Cousin Mike?"
Well, my cousin always referred to me as "Cousin Mike." In our circle of friends, all of them began to call me that as well. It extended to other places where we hung out, so everyone we met started calling me "Cousin Mike."
When I began playing my guitar out in bars, I had tossed around using that as my stage name, but ended up calling myself "Open Mike." Well, that didn't work out too well, because when people don't know the difference between a name (Mike) and a piece of sound equipment (mic-as in "microphone"), problems happen. People started showing up at gigs with instruments thinking it was an open mic night, or even karaoke.
So, that had to change. I decided Cousin Mike was the way to go, and it's been that ever since.
My day job isn't one I talk about too much due to the nature of the work. I work with juvenile offenders, after having spent numerous years working in institutions and even running an elementary after-school program. Although the field I'm in is very stressful at times, the kids are what it's all about. They're going to be changing my diapers when I'm in a nursing home someday, so someone has to look out for them, because society and even parents aren't doing that a lot of the time. Not to mention, kids who people view as "bad kids" aren't usually as bad as they think. They're actually pretty neat once you get to sit down and talk to them.
I'm a huge Jimmy Buffett fan, and I am also a big fan of folk acoustic music. I play acoustic guitar...electric guitars give me a migraine...there's nothing in the world that compares to the sound of a good acoustic guitar. They don't have an artificial voice like electrics do.
If you need to know anything else, just ask. When you read my stories, keep in mind that life has ups and downs. Some entries are philosophical, some are funny, some are downright cynical. When you read them, don't try to psychoanalyze them. Just enjoy them or don't enjoy them. But always feel free to comment.
Happy Reading!
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Top Ten Reasons I'm a Jimmy Buffett Fan
1. Southern Cross-Yes, it's CSN&Y, but with steel drums added, it rocks
2. A Pirate Looks at Forty-I have been drunk now for over two weeks...I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks.
3. Boat Drinks-I gotta go where it's warm.
4. Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes-Ran into a chum with a bottle of rum, and we wound up drinking all night.
5. The Great Filling Station Holdup-Wishing I was somewhere other than here.
6. Tin Cup Chalice-Give me oysters and beer, every single day of the year.
7. School Boy Heart-I got a school boy heart, a novelist eye, stout sailor's legs and a license to fly
8. One Particular Harbor-There's this one particular harbor, so far, but yet so near.
9. Beach House on the Moon-I saw him through my telescope on a cloudless night in June, as he rested between voyages at his beach house on the moon.
10. Why Don't We Get Drunk?-I just bought a waterbed, it's filled up for me and you.
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The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
The Edmund Fitzgerald was a ship that sunk on Lake Superior in the late 70's during a winter storm. The last words of the captain were reported to be "We're holding own." Unfortunately, the ship was lost soon after.
Gordon Lightfoot wrote a song to pay homage to the ship and its crew. Although it is over 6 minutes long and is not a song to listen to if you're depressed, it's one of my favorites to play out at gigs.
It's got a haunting melody and lyrics, which is missing in today's songwriting. I got to play it in Key West on Mallory Square, which was a great thrill...not only did I play it but I played it by the ocean, under the stars, in front of a huge ship...what a rush.
To all those lost in the tragedy, you are remembered.
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UPCOMING COUSIN MIKE GIGS
March 22: THE HOP (Formerly Louie's Coral Lounge in Williamsburg on Route 22) 9:30-12:30
April 10, 2008: Hotel Belmar 8-11
April 26, 2008: Hotel Belmar 9-12
May 10, 2008: Hotel Belmar Anniversary Party 3-7
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