Recording

 The Cobbwebs had not officially recorded any new music for a few years, but it was time to get back in the studio.  Our first cd was "Magic Boat", and it did very well in some countries in Europe.  Not so much in the U.S., except on the west coast.  So, we wanted to try again.  I was living in Greenville; Del was living in Columbia; and Chris was outside Nashville.  Chris had a recording studio in his home, so we went there.  Del's father drove him up to Greenville to meet me.  I rented a car, and the two of us went to Tennessee.  

 The trip through the mountains was a long one, and we encountered snow and ice along the way.  I know how to drive in that stuff, but going along winding roads on an interstate was interesting.  Del was sure we were going to slide off and die, but I made sure we didn't.  We got to Chris's house late in the day and settled in for a good night's sleep and recording the next day.  We had about three days to make it work.  Del and Chris locked themselves in the studio, and I spent the time on the computer and watching TV, since I didn't play any instruments or sing.  I just wrote the lyrics.  When I got bored, I went upstairs to the studio and watched the recording.  Del and I slept in one of their kids' rooms.  The bed was small but okay.  It reminded me years before, when I slept in a small bed on a choir trip to Georgia.  

 One night, a friend of theirs named Kimber Manning came by.  She was a country and gospel artist.  She seemed nice.  After marathon recording sessions, the cd was complete.  We left Nashville (Antioch) without seeing much of the city.  We did go to a couple of used record stores while there.  It had snowed overnight there, and we left with ice on the road once again.  We came there on I-40, which was a pretty boring drive, so we decided to go back on I-75 to Atlanta and then up to Greenville.  I must say that I-75 is not my favorite drive.  The roads are winding around Chattanooga, and then there is a steep drive down toward Atlanta.  Thankfully, there wasn't ice on the drive down the mountain.  Had there been, they had places along the road that you could get off.  Mainly they were for trucks that lost brakes, but we didn't try to imitate "The Dukes of Hazzard" flying off of a ramp into some dirt.

 While we were making the trip back, Del and I were listening to the demo cd from the recording sessions.  We were picking out what could be the hits, or the singles for release.  Del is very critical of his work, much like I am, and he was very pleased with the vocals and arrangements.  The plan was for Chris to mix everything at his studio and come out with a final product in about a week.  Del's father met him in Greenville and took him back home to Columbia.  I turned in the rental car, and waited for the final cd.

 A few days later, Del emailed us to say that upon further listening that he was not pleased with the outcome.  He said it sounded too Country, and we were a Rock and Roll band.  As it turned out, he let his roommate listen to the cd, and those criticisms came from his roommate and not Del.  But, his roommate had convinced Del that the music wasn't good.  The Cobbwebs had an agreement early on that it had to be a unanimous vote to proceed, and the vote was 2-1 with Del voting no.  So, the cd was scrapped.  Some of the music has appeared online, but The Cobbwebs has never been a band since.  We made some good music, dare I say "great music".  Everyone has said they liked our work.  You might hear some of it on YouTube by typing in the name "Cobbwebs".  Be sure and spell it like that.  There might be some stuff on other music sites, too.  I hope you like it.  Just thinking about what might have been.

George & Renee

 Just before I moved to Greenville, a movie called "Leatherheads" was filmed there.  It was directed and starred George Clooney along with Renee Zellweger.  Around April 1st, the city announced that they would be giving the key to the city to those two and everyone should come out to welcome them.  They would also be doing autographs.
 I went to a local bookstore and found a magazine called "Creative Screenwriting", which I had never heard of, but it had a nice cover picture of the two from the movie.  I bought it with my intentions of getting them to sign it.
 The big day arrived, and I went downtown to the Poinsett Hotel for the celebration.  When I got there, many people had already arrived.  I got a place near a fence surrounding a fountain out front.  The mayor was there to do the honors.  After the presentation, the two stars began signing things.  The film company had passed out 11"x17" mini-posters of the movie for those getting autographs, but I wanted them to sign my magazine.  As George approached me, he was signing fast.  I stuck out my magazine for him to sign, and he did.  I said "Thank you", and he said "You're welcome".  He was very nice.  Then, it was Renee's turn to go through the gauntlet of fans.  She got about five along and stopped.  I was close to her and heard her tell her assistant that she couldn't get her high heels through the bricks that were in front of the hotel, so she would have to stop signing.  I yelled out at her assistant could she please just sign one more.  Her assistant handed my magazine to her, and she signed it.  I was the last person she signed for that day.  So, I had both autographs on my magazine.  Most people just got George's.
 After he had made the rounds through the crowd, they both went inside to have a little lunch.  Most of the crowd left, but there were a few of us who stayed around hoping for another glimpse or autographs.  We were told by their people that they would be coming out of a side door to get in their cars, and we should wait there.  About 15 of us waited.  Finally, they emerged through the side door.  We were yelling "Renee" and "George".  I had my black sharpie with me just in case, and I had my mini-poster to get signed.  Renee waived and got into her car.  George came over to us and said he was going to be late for his flight, but he signed a few in the front.  I was toward the back of our group, so I didn't get him to sign my poster, but a little chaos broke out, and a woman in front of me started jumping up and down to get an autograph.  My sharpie slipped, and I "signed" her arm.  I bet she thought George had signed her arm.  I wonder if she ever washed it off.  He waived to us and thanked us for coming.  He got in his car and they left.  George Clooney was extremely gracious.  Renee Zellweger I think was a bit overcome by the crowd, but at least I got them both to sign my magazine.  No one else could say that, and that is special to me.