How Do You Know You’re Stressed?

Raoul’s Two Cents: November 21, 2025

Bulldogs

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes.

Oh the people you meet in the most unusual places.

It was at the La Habra Art Gallery where I met Robert for the first time. I felt there was this energy about him — an aura that he was an important person — a demi-god who decided to roam among us humans. He had that grin that pre-empted the anecdote he was just dying to share. He wore pseudo-dark glasses — probably the same ones to protect his eyes from the spotlights. His pointed boots could stab a raging bull dead on its tracks. It matched his all-black wardrobe … topping off with a black hat to add to his stature above the rest of humanity.

He heard me play my guitar tune I wrote for our corgis as well as my feeble attempt to sing a James Taylor hymn which I totally butchered because I could not remember the lyrics. Surprisingly, Robert was impressed and said we should jam some time. He took his turn at the stage and he strummed his guitar the way a rocker would. There was the proof — he was a band player.

Last Sunday I attended a new Art Gallery exhibit and Robert was there with his imposing standard Black outfit. As we chatted the same invitation to jam came up. So now I’m wondering who this guy really is and curious if his talent has anything to back his rocker persona. I checked my schedule and accepted his invitation. Then he proceeded to share his fancy studio set up. Of course all of this is going way over my head. Then he says something that really got me curious. He said he is part of a Mexican band called The Bulldogs. He used to be part of the Los Lobos Band. I think he looked disappointed that I didn’t recognize the band. It was as if he built this climax to a joke and I didn’t get the punch line. Anyway, I feigned hearing that name somewhere just to appease him. The conversation ended when someone else pulled him away from me. Anyway, we exchanged contact information and put a jamming date for this Saturday morning.

I go home and I’m flipping through the internet to find out more about this Los Lobos Band. I’m shocked! Los Lobos is a GRAMMY award winning Mexican-American band. Their most famous hit was “La Bamba.” They are a fusion rock-Mariachi group. What?! What?! I watch their YouTube performances and these guys are all super talented. All my years practicing my guitar and leading up to (of all things) a Mariachi band! And now I’m picturing myself on stage with these Mexicans and here’s this Asian dude singing “Bamba bamba!” I think hell is about to freeze over: “Ladies and gentlemen, here are The Bull Dogs and … and … El Shi Tzu!”

I’m working in front of my computer and anxious about Saturday. I get this phone text from Robert. He asks me if we could practice “Ventura Highway” for a December performance. Are you kidding? I know that song like the back of my hand. I’ll do the fancy guitar lead and he’ll do the strumming. But wait! I can’t do all that fingering and sing at the same time … so this will be interesting. I’m sure it will be an experience I’ll never forget. When I mess up from nervousness, I’m sure it’ll be an experience HE will never forget!

Looking at the bright side, even if I mess up at our future GRAMMY performance, I can always bring my sketch book and draw caricatures of all those celebrities.

Of course, this is just silly ol’ me. TGIF people! Have a wonderful weekend! Pray that I don’t make a complete fool of myself.

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Quotes of the Week

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.” — Erma Bombeck

“Every artist was first an amateur.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“If you ever find that you’re the most talented person in the room, you need to find another room.” — Austin Kleon

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10

“For to every person who has something, even more will be given, and he will have more than enough; but the person who has nothing, even the little that he has will be taken away from him.” — Matthew 25:29