Carlos profile picture

Carlos

"A man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge"

About Me

Hi there, I'm a recovering addict. I've been clean since May of 2005. Kicking the habit has opened up many things in life I thought I'd never find and I'm grateful for that, especially the people who supported me since my desicion to change my life for the better. I can say I have a relaxed attitude towards life, sometimes too relaxed for some people. I'm not perfect but I am critical and it makes me hard on myself sometimes. You can't have the good without the bad sometimes y'know? Turn offs are shallow arrogance, apathetic ignorance, egotistical slandering, self esteem by way of ego, bravery from being out of range, tough love, stuck-ups, getting slighted, xenophobia, racism and hate. I have a strong and often stubborn belief in myself and my convictions. You believe what you want to believe. Still with me? OK. I was born in San Juan, PR and moved to Miami in 1988. After some hard knocks in Miami, I moved up to Coconut Creek, FL. I'm a deep thinking, half-self-made-half-educated musician who can't write lyrics, all around joker and chef, even though I don't do either for a living. I guess you could say I have a smart & insane sense of humor but I'm serious most of the time. I showed signs of musical ability as a toddler, and at 11 years old started playing the keyboard on my own by ear. When I moved to Miami, I started DJing house parties spinning "Disco", Miami Bass, & Freestyle with my father's old DJ system. I spinned Disco 'cause that's the music my dad taught me to mix with. [BTW mixing DISCO is a lot harder than techno because DISCO used real drummers to keep the beat whereas electronic music uses a perfectly steady drum machine or software] A lot of older people found that interesting because I was still in my teens at he time. To this day I still like Disco. The DJ thing fizzled though. Started taking Music Theory and Piano lessons on and of since I was 14 years old until I was 21. I found myself writing and recording/producing music at the age of 14 with the same DJ system. Stuff like my own renditions of Beatles tunes. I'm a keyboardist but I can also play the guitar (my first instrument), bass, and drums. One of the high points in my life had to be an open jam with the Billy Joel "band" during a drumming clinic hosted by his Drummer of many years Liberty DeVito. I've recently purchased my first Bass Guitar and it looks promising. I'm always looking for open jams to play at, and meet new people. At the moment I'm a founding member in an original music band with three great musicians, the attitude in the group feels pretty good and I feel comfortable with them. I've played in the band Eams and Faktor 13 before this. I always look for the best in people and if I don't get it, I know not to take them seriously. I can be attentive, affectionate & intense sometimes. If you want to learn more about me send me a note before you add me, maybe you'll find something I have missed. <>

My Interests

At the moment I've been jamming out at TURN 3 Sports Bar in Sandalfoot Plaza south Boca Monday nights during Open Mic Nights. I love playing with different musicians involved in the local music scene. Music is my spiritual outlet and therapy when I can't find any other way to express what I feel...and it's a nice rush to boot. I'd like to work with a lyricist and record an album someday. I like to unwind listening to Jazz and making a nice meal. The kitchen is my home inside a home. If I'm not eating it, I'm cooking it. I like going to the theater, concerts, beach and flipping burgers in the park. Among other interests I like space exploration & Science Fiction. Stuff like Dune, Star Trek, the first Star Wars, Harry Potter & The Lord Of The Rings. I'd like to be a homeowner or co-owner someday, I don't want rent-roomies, but I'm not turning down the alternative completely as long as it's someone I can trust and I'm very discerning when it comes to people. It worked for Jack Tripper in "Three's Company". Most of all I'm interested in people who are not afraid to express affection, love, understanding, peace and solidarity.

I'd like to meet:

People that remind me that people aren't just people. Who want to express their affection, love, peace, understanding & solidarity. Someone I could spend the rest of my life with, learn something from or just plain worthwhile. Someone with a sense of humor who loves to laugh. I can say I'm a good person, but I'm no saint. I like to focus on the present and leave the past where it belongs. At my age I'm finding life isn't that long, and meaningful moments make it all worthwhile. I don't like lies and the lying liars who tell them. With that said I'd also like to meet anyone in the music scene. Music lovers and musicians alike to make new connections, make friends, and search for new levels in musicality (is that a word?). People who like to talk about their perception of music and music theory. What they like, what they think & how they stretch it, twist it and bend it. It is truly a beautiful thing to share in words what your ear perceives. I tend to indulge in persuasive conversation with existential undertones and ordinary humor with random overtones. Distinct eloquence is something I look for. If I get the chance I would like to meet, Billy Joel, Elton Hercules John, Tom Schuman, Tony Banks, Trey Anastasio, Page McConnell, Mike Gordon, Jon Fishman, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Bono, Greg Allman, Warren Haynes, Eric Clapton, Victor Wooten, Rick Wakeman, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson & Neil Peart. Not sure if they will answer my 20 questions but maybe something will rub off. And if it's universally possible, Dizzy Gillespie, Glenn Miller, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Jerry Garcia, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ray Charles, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. For their inspiration, passion and influence.

Music:

Lately I've been listening to these CDs: "Born in the USA"-Bruce Springsteen, "S.C.I.E.N.C.E."-Incubus, "International"-New Order, "Saints Of Los Angeles"-Motley Crue, "GOLD"-Rush, "Watershed"-Opeth, "Eyes Open"-Snow Patrol, "PopArt"-The Pet Shop Boys, "Viva La Vida"-Coldplay, "The Best Of"-Radiohead, "In Rainbows"-Radiohead and The new remastered boxed set of "The Stranger"-Billy Joel. When someone preaches musical diversity, it would be right for them to use me as an example. With the exception of 96% of what is new in pop-rock and hip hop, I like pretty much everything. In no particular order: Billy Joel, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Steely Dan, Chicago, The Carpenters, The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash (& Young), Styx, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Ozric Tentacles, Queensryche, Saga, Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Niacin, ABBA, Journey, Toto, The Grateful Dead, Phish, Col. Bruce Hampton & The Codetalkers, Gov't Mule, Jack Johnson, Tenacious D, Jane's Addiction, Foo Fighters, Weezer, David Bowie, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Sting, The Alan Parsons Project, Steppenwolf, The Allman Brothers Band, The Bee Gees, Van Halen, Quiet Riot, Tommy James & The Shondells, Kool & The Gang, Supertramp, Traffic, The Police, Tower Of Power, Tears For Fears, Steve Miller Band, Talking Heads, Spyro Gyra, Blind Melon, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Jane's Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Cars, Blondie, Christopher Cross, Def Leppard, Derek & The Dominos, Cream, Blind Faith, The Black Crows, Donald Fagen, Santana, Rush, Roger Waters, Queen, The Doors, Earth Wind & Fire, Parliament, Funkadelic, Human League, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Erasure, The Crystal Method, The Chemical Brothers, Infected Mushroom, Fleetwood Mac, Hall & Oates, John Mayer, Eminem, Black Sheep, Dr. Dre, Jamiroquai, Donna Summer, Gwen Steffani, No Doubt, Mannheim Steamroller, Jethro Tull, Prince, Sade, Karl Denson, Soulive, Dave Brubeck, Glenn Miller, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Michel Camilo, Al DiMeola, Jaco Pastorius, Frank Zappa, Bela Fleck, John Williams, Wendy Carlos, Andrew Loyd Webber, Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky. I own an extensive Disco and 80's music collection...

Movies:

I like going to the movies and most of these I own on DVD. I rarely rent movies. Here are my favorites in no particular order: Goodfellas, The Fifth Element, Amadeus, Immortal Beloved, Die Hard, Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, Back to the Future (trilogy), Tron, The Wall, Indiana Jones (all), Star Wars (IV V VI), Serenity, The Thirteenth Floor, Dark City, The Lord of the Rings (trilogy), Harry Potter (all), Four Rooms, Clue, Close Encounters: Of the Third Kind, E.T. The Extraterrestrial, Dune (1984)&(2000), The Poseidon Adventure, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Weird Science, One Crazy Summer, The Philadelphia Experiment, Terminator (all), Rocky (all), First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part 2, Saturday Night Fever, 54, Thank God It's Friday, Grease, Xanadu, Clash of the Titans, Krull, Flash Gordon, Star Trek 1 & 2, Fame, Endless Love, Superman (the original)(all), Spiderman (all), The Rookie, Remember the Titans, American Flyers, RAD, The Goonies, D.A.R.Y.L., Cloak And Dagger, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Mary Poppins, Airplane (1 & 2), Amazon Women on the Moon, The Kentucky Fried Movie, Top Secret, The Last Starfighter, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Waterworld, The Beastmaster, Gremlins (1 & 2), At Close Range, Interview with the Vampire, Old School, National Lampoon's Van Wilder, National Lampoon's Vacation (all), The Truman Show, The New Guy, Clerks, Mallrats, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Pleasantville, Cube, Cube 2, Cube 3(Prequel), Vanilla Sky, One Flew over the Coockoo's Nest, Titanic, Saving Private Ryan, Jaws, Jacob's Ladder, Dirty Dancing, Footloose, Gladiator, Quills, As Good as It Gets, Casablanca, A Clockwork Orange, The Shawshank Redemption, Forest Gump, The Pianist, Alien (1), Resident Evil, Friday the 13th 3D, Amityville: The Possesion, House on Haunted Hill, The Ninth Gate, The Devil's Advocate, The Italian Job, The Phantom of the Opera, National Treasure, A Beautiful Mind, Sleepy Hollow, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Pirates of the Caribbean, Demolition Man, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, The Rules of Attraction, Top Gun, At Close Range, The Man in the Iron Mask, Less Than Zero, The Princess Bride, Space Camp, The Mummy (all), The Matrix (All), Point Break, Bruce Almighty, Shakespeare In Love, Ronin, The Wedding Crashers, The 40 Year-Old Virgin, Better Off Dead, School Of Rock, Meet The Parents, Meet the Fockers, Breakin', Beat Street, Van Helsing, Independence Day, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc., When Harry Met Sally, Splash, Castaway, The Fast and the Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious, The Others, The Sixth Sense, The Breakfast Club, Boogie Nights, The Dreamers (Unrated), American Beauty, Ghost, Ghost Ship, 13 Ghosts, Ghostbusters (1 & 2), The Island, Wyatt Earp, Tombstone, Buffallo Soldiers, Party Monster, Blow, Identity, The Wizard Of Oz, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Lost In Translation, The Brothers Grimm, Mission Impossible 3, X Men United, Miami Vice, Clerks 2, The Da Vinci Code, Superman Returns, The Pick of Destiny, The Departed, The Illusionist, The Prestige, Casino Royale, Hostel 2, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Mr. Brooks, Evan Almighty, Live Free Or Die Hard, El Cantante, Man Of The Year, Down In The Valley..

Television:

When I'm getting the news or reading blogs online, I like to watch: 24, Bones, House, American Idol, Stargate Atlantis, Eureka, Iron Chef America, Good Eats, ESPN, Star Trek: Voyager, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Futurama, IFC, Sundance Channel, Discovery Science, Public Television, VH1 Classic, MHD, FOOTBALL and BASEBALL...

Books:

"City Of Night"-John Rechy, "Tom Sawyer" & "Huckleberry Finn"-Mark Twain, "Harry Potter" (series) J.K. Rowling, "The Hobbit"-J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Stand"-Stephen King, "Firestarter"-Stephen King, "Needful Things"-Stephen King, "The Time Machine"-H.G. Wells, "Private Parts"-Howard Stern, "Miss America"-Howard Stern, "Couplehood"-Paul Riser, "Seinlanguage"-Jerry Seinfeld, "Oh! The Things I Know"-Al Franken, "Ageless Body, Timeless Mind"-Deepak Chopra, "The Doors Of Perception"-Aldous Huxley, "Heaven and Hell"-Aldous Huxley, "America: A Guide to Democracy In-Action"-The Daily Show Presents, "A Saucerful Of Secrets: The Pink Floyd Odyssey"-Nicholas Schaffner, "Wuthering Heights"-Emily Bronte, "Brat Farrar"-Josephine Tey, Some Book By Sigmund Freud on Psychoanalisys, and lots of Rolling Stone and Playboy magazines..

Heroes:

My Higher Power, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, My Friends, Billy Joel, Keith Emerson, Tony Banks, Phish, Rush, Peter Gabriel, John Williams, Prince, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Mark Twain, Lewis Black, & George Carlin. People who have something to offer and do so out of love and joy. The Great Minds. For what they've awakened and inspired.

My Blog

Some things that are bothering me...("F" words ahead)

Fuck drugs for making me and millions of others waste precious time of our lives thinking everything's alright. Fuck LSD for expanding my conciousness, keeping me from being a normal human being that ...
Posted by Carlos on Thu, 24 May 2007 01:05:00 PST

The Best Buy Band

As some of you know, I just got back from "The Road Show In Atlanta" from playing in this year's lineup of The Best Buy Band. As soon as I met my band mates I felt at home. All of the musicians and s...
Posted by Carlos on Sat, 05 May 2007 08:37:00 PST

On the Environment and Ecology

Sometimes is just a question of getting of our butts and doing it. Sometimes people feel so powerless to such adversity that they actually believe their little effort won't ammount to anything at all...
Posted by Carlos on Wed, 13 Dec 2006 01:33:00 PST

Music Anyone?

Music anyone? I was thinking on the wide variety of music genres I like and found myself thinking of the times I was growing up. Those of you who already know me know about my passion for mu...
Posted by Carlos on Tue, 28 Nov 2006 03:48:00 PST

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a time for appreciating the things we have. Be it solid, liquid, a feeling or spitirual. Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year. You can smile at peop...
Posted by Carlos on Tue, 28 Nov 2006 03:43:00 PST

Thank You

THANK YOU... I want to thank all of you for the Birthday wishes and comments. You guys give meaning to my life and make it all worthwhile. Thanks so much. xoxoxoxoxoxo I wanted to post something fo...
Posted by Carlos on Tue, 28 Nov 2006 03:39:00 PST

Amazing

Amazing These guys are three of the best guitarists in the world. In the video from left to right: Paco DeLucia, Al DiMeola and John McLaughlin. It's so amazing the way they interact...
Posted by Carlos on Tue, 28 Nov 2006 03:34:00 PST

Beauty Notes: From the Male Individual

Beauty Notes: From the Male Individual      I couldn't help to write a blog about this. I was at work and I see a loads of people there. It occurs to me that there might be a distortio...
Posted by Carlos on Tue, 28 Nov 2006 03:32:00 PST

Immense

It's funny how people say they see a man on the Moon. I've never seen it. As a child I always looked up and saw a bunny. Like a running Bugs Bunny type with the long ears trailing behind. (This sound...
Posted by Carlos on Tue, 28 Nov 2006 03:26:00 PST

Am I Alone?

Am I alone? I'm an avid Sci-Fi geek and Quantum Physics believer. Sometimes I "Wonder" wether there's someone out there who's thinking about me. Or someone "out there" who wonders of the vastness ...
Posted by Carlos on Tue, 28 Nov 2006 03:15:00 PST