About

Call Of My Heart…

On October 14, 2017, I’ll be heading out for a road-trip vacation.

“Gotta make a new start…‘cause the call of my heart…is callin’ me home…”

This refrain from the amazing country two-step tune, Call Of My Heart, written and originally sung by Shelley King, and covered by the equally stunning Austin singer, Ms. Toni Price, crystalizes the reason for this little adventure…as if any road-trip ever needed a reason.

My name is Phil Mardoc.  I’m a Connecticut native…a CT Yankee.  Yes, that “Land of Steady Habits”.  To be fair…we could’ve had “Don’t Mess With” Connecticut, but Texas beat us to it.

I still live in CT.  My job is here.  My family and friends are mostly here in the Northeast.  But, ironically, my “heart”…whatever that image conjures…has come to feel more “at home” in many ways, in the South and Texas, since my month-long, solo road-trip there three years ago.

So, for the past six months, I’ve been planning a second solo road-trip south…3 weeks, 5,000+ miles, from CT through Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, on my way to Texas, and back, for my own, personal Texas dancehall and honky-tonk tour.

I’ll be covering a lot of ground and a lot of dancehalls, while immersing myself in country-western dancing (two-step, triple-two, etc.), performing original Alt-country/Americana songs in cool “listening rooms”, enjoying live music up-close in intimate venues, getting lost in scenic Texas Hill Country drives and seeking out photo-ops (there may even be horseback riding involved)…all in the hope of recharging some creative reservoirs before, sadly, turning my car around.  I’m sure there will be plenty of Southern, Texas and multi-ethnic/cultural comfort-food indulgences along the way, as well.  After all, it would be just plain rude not to.

Nashville, New Orleans, Houston, Austin, the laid back and beautiful Texas Hill Country, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and South Padre Island are all on my short list.  With more to see and do than time will allow, the only way to begin soaking it all in, is to get in my car, start the engine…and drive.

Since I’m going solo, this blog will hopefully help my family, friends and co-workers keep track of me.  “Y’all” are welcomed to keep tabs on me, too.

I’ll try to keep up with new posts…try to stay out of trouble…and try not to be boring (which is, arguably, already too much to hope for.)

So, if you happen to find yourself with ab-so-lute-ly nothing better to do with your time…wish me luck…and check back in once in a while.