U2. yes!!!!

I'm not feeling particularly articulate this morning, but I had the opportunity to catch the U2 show last night in Barcelona. Wow. What a great time. 80,000 happy people singing to every song. Louder than the band. The Spanish know how to have a good time. I have a lot to learn from them.

THE "BRO NOD"

I didn't realize how much I relied on the "bro nod" to communicate. I've always been an equal opportunity kind of guy. So I'll float a nod to anyone...male or female.

Being that I don't know the language here, I've been sending out a lot. Walking down the streets tossing them out left and right. And no one has responded back. I was wondering if I had something hanging from my nose. Am I that big of an idiot here? I know it's a tourist bag, but it's not a fanny pack for God's sake. Am I not cool enough even for a courtesy nod back? You could certainly make a case for that, but I don't have this problem at home.

Maybe I'm just trying to make myself feel better, but I'm thinking it's a thing that we only do in the States. It's a custom they just don't have here. Eye contact. Yes. A smile? Maybe. The "yo" nod. Nope.

I'm exhausted and not feeling well today. Gave me some time to think and analyze this most troubling situation. Now that I've at least imagined an explanation to comfort myself, I can check it off my list and relax. Phew!

¡MADRID!

Well, I'm here. Madrid. Two months of planning, packing, traveling and creating has led me to this room. In this city. In this moment. I was wondering how it would feel to come back after the incredible experience I had last time on vacation. Would it feel the same? How would it be to live and work instead of hang out in vacation mode?

I was so tired yesterday from the jetlag and everything else that's been going on, I kind of collapsed. Hard to get up this morning...but hunger prevailed and I went out for a few.

I still don't speak the language (although I'm working on that), and I have no idea where I am. Relatively speaking, I've probably seen very little of this city. But it just feels good. I don't know what it is.

Maybe it's the people. I had a drink last night with a friend of mine that lives here. She's great. We were both exhausted from the day, but it was nice to connect to someone. There is this bar she took me to that's in a park. Beautiful. Then there's Jose, who works at my hotel. He showed me pictures from his trip to Florida, the Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas he took last year. Looks like he had an amazing time. He remembers me from the last time I was here.

Maybe it's the scenery. It's hard to take a bad picture in this city. Everything is pleasing to the eye somehow. The details in the buildings. The art. The streets.

I just don't feel like this anywhere else. I'm comfortable. The idea of "Rob" is more round in these surroundings somehow. That might not make sense, but I can't really think of any other way to explain it. My friends feel far away, but the internet is helping with that. I believe in the project I've come here to work on. It's a stretch for me, but I know I can do it. And I know that no matter where all this goes, and what happens in my life, when it's all over and I look back, I'll be glad I did this.

That Finish Line Looks a Lot Like a Starting Line

After a bit of confusion on the plane about our destination, the situation has stabilized. They just let us know that we will in fact be continuing on to New Haven. We just went to the gate they told us to, and got on. Never checked the sign. Didn't think about it. I'm usually anal about that kind of thing, but today it didn't occur to me.

After we got in the air, they mentioned Baltimore and Jack and I sort of looked at each other....hmmm.....that wasn't on the itineray.....?? This could be fun.

I haven't been to New York in years. We'll be going into the city on Thursday for a couple days of meetings. Weather permitting, we may be at the Mets game Friday. I'm excited. I love NY. Things are going really well. The new cd (my first solo album), will finally be available at robgrad.com starting Tuesday.

We had a pre-cd release party in Ft. Myers on Saturday night. It really couldn't have gone much better. A great turnout of really cool people. I played a few songs. The video for "No Apologies" looked great on the big screen. It's amazing how many people there have opened up to me over the past year or so and made me feel so at home.

All that being said.....I'm fried. Really fried. In fact, today I started to realize how low my tank is. I'm going to get a few days vacation coming up and I'm looking forward to it. Gotta recharge the batteries a little.

RECESS!!!

Ahhhh....this is the Florida I'd like to see more of. I got a couple hour window and the opportunity to take a drive. I wound up here. Bowman's beach on Sanibel Island. 2 parts Hawaii, 1 part Cape Cod, with a splash of the Carribean.

I'm the only jackass out here in pants. In my own defense, I didn't know I was coming here. Earth school...lesson number 1,000,000,343,937....get in car. Drive. Turn when inspired to do so. See where you wind up. Today...Sanibel Island.

It feels like recess without the burnt burritos and glazed donuts. Just fresh air, beautiful water and a series of deep breaths. I only have a few minutes before I need to be back. It's not enough time. It's never enough time.

I managed to take this picture. Couldn't see because of the sun on my screen. My finger is nice, isn't it?

THE DRIVE HOME FROM BIG SUR

I actually shot this video a couple weeks ago on my way home from vacation. Finally had the chance to edit it together.

ROSIE

Yesterday was quite the day. It ranged from attending a pre-school production of the "3 Little Pigs Opera" to our new friend Rosie at the laundromat (back to her in a minute), to planning a trip to New York, to setting a date for a pre-album release party here in Florida. The days are so full right now that when I sit to write these blogs, I get immediately overwhelmed with how much I want to talk about.

As our plans for releasing this album continue, I'm getting progressively more excited. Not only are our ideas themselves expanding, so is the circle of people involved. It's amazing how much the right people can bring to something. This is going to be a lot more than a cd release, and there's a lot to do, but it's all beginning to take shape.

Back to Rosie.....I still had clothes dirty from my trip to Big Sur. It was time. We all know when that time is. Sometimes we wait just a little longer, until we're wearing pants with no underwear because it's all dirty, flip flops instead of shoes even if it's 40º outside because we're out of socks, and we've got that "I Dream of Jeanie" shirt on from high school that doesn't really fit anymore with a couple of old coffee stains we couldn't get out because that's all that's left in the dresser.

That was me yesterday. And Jack. So we went. Picked a laudromat at random that was close by. We walk in, and there's a girl who works there. She seems nice. Asks if we need help. She's right there when the coins don't work and uses a key to start our wash. She's smiling. Having a good time. She's sad to hear that Guiding Light is going off the air. She's worked in this laundromat for years. She walks around like she owns the place (maybe she does. I didn't ask). She lights up the place. Nice to talk to, or she leaves you alone if that's what you want. It was hands down the most pleasant laundromat experience of my life. Not sure exactly why I'm talking about it. I think what struck me was how one person's energy and approach to life can transform a place like a laundromat and an experience as mundane as doing my laundry.

She was reluctant at first when I asked for this picture. But I told her that I was visiting town and wanted to remember her because she was so great.

I do my best to be like Rosie wherever I go. I loved being around someone who was able to do it in a place like that so naturally.

Thanks Rosie!