Notes from Steve

I remember once when I was in high school, my rock band, Aspen, was playing at the Biltmore Lounge in Sioux City, Iowa. My bandmate Brian’s brother was giving us advice. He said, “You can try and sound exactly like the original band when performing a song or make it your own.” … two very valid paths, and we did a little of both. The advice rang true throughout my life, though, in many ways. Do I copy or create something new (or at least change the recipe)?

This is why I prefer cooking to baking. Baking is a science (“Should I change the baking powder* or temperature of the oven?” “No - just follow the recipe exactly.”) … Cooking, on the other hand, requires a lot of spoons for tasting. With regard to music - I have no idea what the words are - I tell people I can’t hear the lyrics** so it’s probably best that I just do my thing.

Life is more fun, in my humble opinion, when you make and travel your own path. You get to drive down roads unknown to most, sing weird lyrics to well-known songs, and add whatever flavor to your cooking because “that’s just Steve”.  

Be the best - on your own terms. 

*Baking powder and baking soda are magic elixirs, and no one knows exactly how they work.
**And I really can’t .. I’m one of those people who always sings the words wrong because I have no idea what’s being said.  
For example: Eagles – Hotel California 
Steve’s lyric: “On a dark desert highway, cool whip in my hair.”
Actual lyric: “On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair.”