When I moved here, you parked across a 2 lane dropoff lane and were on the plane in seconds. Now, it's a massive, shiny new airport with new parking structures under construction for what seems like years.

#2 | Posted by morris

If it's under 600 miles I usually drive. After 9/11, it wasn't much longer to drive that distance than to drive to and park at the airport, get through TSA, wait, fly, get a rental, and drive to my destination.

#6 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS

I enjoy driving. The last time I went to NYC was for fun. I really enjoyed stopping in places along the way. Among others, one of the neatest overnight stops was Kurztown in Amish country PA. Years before, I'd read Michener's "Centennial," which provided insight into some of the sights you see like hex signs on barns and such. Had some of the best pie I've ever eaten. With family all over the NYC area, my first stop was on Long Island. Then I parked in long term at ISLIP and rode into the city for a few days to visit family in Manhattan, Long Island City in Queens, and Brooklyn.

Flying used to be fun before 9/11.

I'd considered moving to NYC back in the day (session musician), so I spent two weeks there checking things out.

The logistics of moving gear nixed that idea.

#10 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS

I was recording at the Record Plant studio complex in L.A. many years ago. Out of the studio next to the one I was working in walks Paul McCartney, who invited me in to listen to a track he was working on. Cool guy.

Flash forward to the Super Bowl pregame show in 2005. All of the sudden, I leaned to looked closer at the TV. "What the heck?!" There on stage was a buddy of mine playing with Paul. I emailed him a few days later and asked how that came about (he was flying to their base in Paris on a Gulfstream :-)

Cool story. That show was his AUDITION. He'd never rehearsed with Paul.

He told me he'd woodshedded for two months after being told he'd have an audition (thanks to his friendship with Abraham Laborial, Jr, Paul's incredible drummer with whom he'd been doing low paying pickup gigs with in Europe before Abe got the gig), learning every part on guitar, bass, and background vocals, not knowing the audition was going to be the SB party.

"I was sure that after the gig Paul would clap me on the back and say, "nice to meet you," he said, and that would be that. Paul did get up after dinner, clap me on the back, and say, "great job! We'll see you at rehearsals." Still with Paul after 20+ years. I flew up to Detroit for a Paul gig several years ago. Gotta tell ya, he's is one of the nicest people you could ever meet.

My friend went from being a semi-poor 50-ish musician to building a beachfront house in Santa Monica a few years ago. Couldn't have happened to a better guy.

The apartment is suffused with a nice aroma which is perfect since I'm hosting bridge tonight.

Sound delicious :-) Good luck at your bridge game!

One of the places we rehearsed at was Monkey Hill Studios near a stripper place full of 'come hither'-looking Russian debushkas.

#15 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS

Nice! Were any of the strippers named Ivana Humpalot? (kudos to Mel Brooks)

Like you, I wouldn't have had the nerve to ask a stripper for a ... date. When I was 18, a friend told me this hot 24-year-old spinner of a stripper wanted to boff me. Knocked on her door the next day. Oh la la!! Without knowing what it was at the time, she took me through the Kama Sutra over the next couple of weeks, so to speak.

It's not who you know.
It's who knows you.

#18 | Posted by snoofy

Knows you're a good person who shows up on time, has great chops, get along well with others, comes prepared, and does a top notch job. Always worked well both ways with musicians and me ...