I wake up around 8 or so. Not because my alarm clock wakes me but because I am excited about my morning swim and the event taking place tonight. I have finally moved into my new home on Austrian’s Thomson Lake about 3 months ago. My backyard is filled with beautiful mountainous scenes and a glass water lake. Here is a picture of my house.
The white one there in front before we installed the deck.
I have sliding wood blinds that open on command. I can set them to a clock if I chose to or I can use the remote to open them. I uncover myself from my soft down comforter and reach for the remote. The soft sheets on my back slide off when I reach. I open the blinds just enough to let in the sun and see the shimmering lake. What a view.
I stand up from my bed without even a desire to yawn after my fulfilling nights rest. I do a simple morning stretch and walk towards my doors which are sensor operated glass doors just like the ones in hospitals, only quicker. The bedroom is not my favorite color of paint so I am hiring someone next month to come in and do the work.
See the sliding wood blinds? The glass is open behind the blinds on the track so they are hidden.
A view from the outside
I immediately get a rush of fresh air that you only get in the nature. I take off full speed running towards my lake filled backyard and dive head first off of the dock’s edge into the freshest water I have ever swam in. What a rush as the brisk, cold water immediately wakes me up.
After my swim I dry off by lying in my lounge chair on the deck for about 20 minutes just appreciating the nature around me. Off in the distance I see a huge hawk diving for trout. I see an otter building a damn near the mouth of the river. I also see many different colored butterflies flying around. What an incredibly gorgeous day. You just know there is a God some days.
I walk back in the house after drying off and walk upstairs to my office which is also my library. Oh you have to check out this staircase. What an incredible piece of art. It is hard to believe someone in the world has such ability and focus on detail.
I walk through the doors to my own personal office. It smells like a brand new car. I spent a lot of time thinking about what I would like to have in my office. I also have a view of the outdoors and my fresh herb and veggie garden through the 8 foot window right behind my computer. My computer encases a 32 inch flat screen monitor. A little excessive but it definitely makes a statement. I like my office; it is a place where I can actually enjoy planning, dreaming and thinking.
Big Screen huh?
I also have a mind blowing library around the corner of the office. It has a bookshelf full of inspiring works and biographies of some of the most influential people and greatest thinkers in our world’s history. Just looking at it is breathtaking. There is a chase lounge in there to relax and read without any distractions.
I sit down at my computer to look at what the papers printed about the upcoming concert tonight at my jazz club in Paris. It is going to be awesome! A tribute to Michael Brecker as well as a fund raiser for the research and development for the disease he has called myelodysplastic syndrome. The event has been getting raved about for at least a month. The incredible lineup of artist coming to pay their respects in person to one of the most influential saxophonist and musicians in our lifetime is unbelievable. Joshua Redman on Tenor Sax, Herbie Hancock on Piano, Kenny Garret on Alto Sax, Wynton Marsalis on Trumpet, Pat Metheny on Guitar, Stanley Clark on Bass, Brian Blade on Tubs, Eddie Bert on Trombone and Al Jarreau singing some smooth melodies. It is going to be an awesome performance for an awesome purpose.
It has been my project for 2 years now. I have been putting together this beautiful club called “The Orchid”. It is something I have dreamed of since I was a child. A place where people could actually sit and appreciate music without the distractions of clanking plates and chattering mouths of business people or drunken friends catching up with each others busy lives. Yes, there is a section where you can sit and catch up or handle your business in the VIP/Cigar section. But, “The Orchid” is certainly not a place for socializing. We do have a restaurant with great food. The thing is though that after 9:30, roughly 15 minutes after the band takes the stage, all tables will be cleared. That way they are free from noise; except for the drinks of course. My club, “The Orchid”
VIP/Cigar Area with Private Bar.
View from the stage.
Well it is going to be a thrilling night so I better start calling everyone to make sure everything is in line. There is a lot of preparation that goes into these events. No need to get into all the details except that I must be sure that our special guests are well taken care of.
I have a train to catch soon so she can make her stylist appointment and be prepared by 7pm for some PA events.
It does not take me long to get ready but I start anyway. I get so excited sometimes that I think if I just get ready early it will come faster. I walk to my custom bathroom and get the water running. It is a bit cold outside so I throw a couple logs in my fireplace that is located in the BATHROOM! It also goes to our bedroom as well. I know, who needs a fireplace in their bathroom? It extremely enhances the serenity on those champagne and bubble bath nights though. So, I think we will keep it.
See the fireplace?
I finish my shower and when I get out I begin to make myself a light with fresh squeezed orange juice from the Jack Lalane juicer. I eat my breakfast quickly because I have to run down and pick up my clothes from the dry cleaners.
My bedroom, I know I showed you one already but I have 4. I doubt I will be getting many guests to fly all the way to Austria so I use 2 for myself. The other is spectacular too. This one is upstairs though. Practically the whole floor is a master suite. That is the room that connects to the fireplace bathroom. I just sleep downstairs because I love running to the lake in the morning. I can’t do that upstairs unless I am suicidal and want to hit my head on the lake floor. I have 2 fifty galloon fish tanks in the wall that look like paintings. They come in and out on a sliding platform so we can feed them. The water filters itself through the plumbing system so it is really low maintenance. It is just a joy to have in there. I also have two walk in closets that encase so much stuff! I knew I had a lot of clothes and stuff but gosh. Anyways here is the bedroom and the closet.
You can kind of see the fish tanks in the wall.
The closet
I throw on my jump suit and head to the 5 car garage where you find several special vehicles. A brand new Lamborghini Diablo, it came in canary yellow but was too intense of a color for me so I painted it camaro orange. I am trading it for a new Lamborghini Gallardo which is to come out in about a year and a half. This car is like the bat mobile. I am one of the first on the list and am super excited about this engineering achievement. I also have an outdated 2009 Ferrari F430 which is still incredible with the NOS and stuff. I am just not a Ferrari guy anymore. Not to forget what I will be taking tonight to the train station; the 2010 Maybach which ran me a cool $378,000. Ouch.
The brand new, freshly painted Lamborghini Diablo.
The canary yellow before I painted it camaro orange.
The 2012 Lamborghini Gallardo.
The Ferrari F430 and interior.
I hop into my favorite racer, the Lamborghini, which rides so smooth and snug to the ground, 100% total control. I go riding on the roads not too crazy but at enough speed to get a thrill. Whipping around corners and feeling that indescribable raw power. There isn’t anything like the roads of Europe. These cars are made for these roads. I race in and out of turns with speeds in excess of 100 MPH. Sounds crazy I know but the vehicle is made for these conditions like a cheetah on the African Plains.
I pick up the dry cleaning. Figure out a way to set them in the small car without wrinkling them while the lady stands there watching and appreciating the car. I can feel her giggling at the cars impracticality. She is right, but so what. She aint never driven one so little does she know. Maybe I will take her out for 5 minutes some day.
I finally get them in there snug and of course race my way back home in the same fashion. Angie knows I have been racing again because of how long it took for me to get back so she gives me that “Ian, you know better” look. I just smile and put the dry cleaning up on the rack and start to pack a small suitcase for the weekend trip.
I am now packed and finally ready. I walk down to the garage where myr driver has the Maybach prepped and ready for. You see; I don’t usually use a driver. It is just that you do not leave 400 thousand dollar car sitting in a train station parking lot. Oh, I didn’t show you a picture of this beauty. It deserves two large pictures all to its own.
All Ready To Go, Thee Maybach.
The Maybach’s Interior, Champagne anyone?
I arrived at the small train station where I hop on to this innovative train. It is designed to go speeds up to 360 miles per hour. They do not run it that fast the whole way but it is very intense. The engineering on it is far more advanced the rest of the World . I have the good seats. It is a train ride through the Swedish Alps for about 3 hours or so to Paris. I sat next to some very nice people who have taken this ride several times too. I guess they knew were to book the good seats as well. They were all from the USA so we exchanged business cards and talked a little bit about Usana and some other things I do. It is crazy how easy this business is. I am very fortunate to have this freedom at such a young age. Anyways, here are some pictures of the train ride and from the kick ass view from the train looking out as well as the nice people I got to meet.
The Bullet Train
The Bullet's Interior, pretty neat huh?
I arrived in Paris a lot quicker than I thought it would take. I invited the folks to the event free of charge and said au revoir. I walked from the train where my RV bus was waiting. Check out this beast. It has it all. I actually took it to the Normandy shores about 4 months ago.
My Bus on the Normandy Shores
I head towards the club for the final prep and I start getting ready as well. I have to make sure everything is going as planned. I look over the menu, taste the soup and sample the lobster as well as the filet and asparagus. Wow!I brought in this new chef straight from The Paris Culinary Institute. Genius, that’s all I have to say. Anyways, that is something I wish I had a talent for. Cooking. I burn water but I am learning slowly.
Everything looks to be going smoothly so far but you can never think everything is going to be perfect. It is just the name of the game. I have some incredibly intuitive, observant thinkers always around me assisting and suggesting new ideas to me. I would have a hard time alone. I trust that they know how to handle it though.
I head over to the radio booth where they are setting up for the live broadcast. They didn’t have any problems at all and where able to get things running and tested without any glitches. We are recording this too. I have Verve Records here who is going to put out the album. That is a whole other topic that will take its own slide show so we will again spare the details.
They graciously thank me for what we are doing and how important it is to keep the art alive. I was grateful and said, “Thank you. We all play a huge roll in it as a whole. No part is larger than the other.”
Now that it looks like everything is going as planned, I decided to relax and have a small drink. Southern Comfort and Sprite of course, little bit of ice. Smooth just as I like it.
I go in the back and start to clean up and get an awesome suprise! My family said they would not be able to make it but they lied. My brother is there too. He flew in with his wife Shinyoung from Korea. It was all setup behind my back. What an awesome surprise!
Dylan walks over and we chat for a little bit. I see him looking Wynton’s Monet Trumpet which costs roughly $40k and is made out of 24k gold. Wynton is standing right there. I know Dylan remembers playing that horn when he was in the 5th grade. I ask if he wants to meet him again…hell, maybe Wynton remembers. I am sure it happened to Wynton a lot but you never know. So I walk him over and introduce him. I leave them talking and get back to my parents. I feel good in my black on black Versace suit with the black tie highlighted with white edging on the border.
The event goes off without a hitch. The performers were great. In perfect unison, complete synergy. The solos where flowing like words off Walt Whitman’s tongue. It was better than perfect. The audience was inspired and the place was just going crazy. Solo after solo. It seemed like magic was happening. Michael was tearing with joy and appreciation because all of these people were here for him in support of his hard struggles with the cancer. I could not have planned it any better. What a night.
After the crowd leaves and the band is tearing down, I sit in the corner of the room just awestruck of what we did in such a short period of time. I love this life. I get up from the table and slowly look around at the people cleaning up.
Here are some pictures from the event.
Joshua Redman on Tenor sax
Stanley Clark laying it down
Wynton on his $40k Monet
Kenny Garrett on Alto Sax
Brian Blade Whallin' on the Tubs
Al Jarreau Skattin'
Herbie Hancock mashing some ivory
Eddie Bert playing something fierce
Pat Metheny on his F Body Ibanez
I browse through the club picking up some bottles and throw them away. I can’t believe what has transpired with a little bit of hard work and surrounding myself with people who shared the same vision. It all came together just like I dreamed of for so many years. What a wonderful world. What a wonderful God.
We leave the event while they are tearing down still and take my family on a tour of the bus. They are amazed that all this stuff can fit in here. The bus expands out from the side so it gives it a lot of extra room. We drive through Paris around the Eiffel Tower and look at it for a little bit. We get out to let them take some quick pictures. We are going do a tour tomorrow but the nighttime is the best time to see the tower.
The Tower at night.
I make it back to my suite with my family and got them some rooms too, I am exhausted. The suite is very nicely accommodating. We have a small snack section full of fruits to hold us over until the morning. The bed is body forming and you sink right in with the right amount of support. I am going to sleep very well tonight. Tomorrow we will take a tour of Paris and then be on our way back to Austria to start planning my next event and fund raiser. ‘Til then,
The Hilton in Paris, Ha, Paris Hilton
