Christmas day

Merry Christmas
yep, it's Christmas day and I am home after traveling to CT to be with my family after the passing of my mom. We seemed to be able to have a lovely Christmas celebration even so. We were all ready and expectant of the spiritual release of mom from the skin and bone cage that was having a less and lesser grip on that splendid spirit I knew as mom.

open letter

This is to thank the Columbia, SC area drumming community for a warm welcome and to say that last night's last jam of the year was great. I haven't availed myself of the offerings of this area very much but, I have found some warmth and the beginnings of friendship growing with some of you. So, thanks and may your holidays be special. Let's make some more joyful sounds in the coming year.

cold

It's pretty damn cold here for here. Gees but I dislike the cold. I have become pretty narrow in my temperature comfort range. Is this a regular thing as we get older or have I driven myself in this direction? Southern living, mindset and a strong shift from an out of doors type to a cage dweller. Those seem like pretty strong factors. I hope wherever you are that you find your comfort.

first weekend in December

Great little drum circle last night. I've been stressed and bummed out, the state of mom is principle to this. So, I disappeared into the balafon for a great jam with some of the core. First really good Friday night in a while.

November weekend

Thanksgiving has passed and I worked a short day Friday. I seem to be having some trouble with brittle making, which I remember having in the past as well. Tried to make some with splenda for dad, but that stuff is even harder to get to set without burning. The cashew brittle is okay but I have to work with a smaller deeper pan I think or else try the microwave version with a large glass measuring style bowl, the kind with a handle on it.

I think I may have some mild frustration with the whole holiday thing, doing these creative processes keeps me thinking about everyone...

I started this a while ago but the cable was unstable; wrote more but it wasn't able to save it

sunday

Timeslip; closer to Thanksgiving and of course all of the days beyond.
Been mulling over the concept of a "Christmas letter" not to Santa but of the state of the person/family type. Maybe fictitious at the start and owning more as the words unfold. We shall see.

a short string of basic american english

No real news, seems to be a more common thread in this my life's tapestry. Sometime that is not now I will indulge in some story telling from my personal past, no doubt transitioned into whatever version is still available in this less than crystalline ego.


There are a number of people that I do and have been thinking about and since I no longer enjoy the pen to paper scribbles that are my poor excuse for writing and I figure a modified expansion could be duplicated and without stealth included with a personal communication to travel to coordinates in space and time and be received by the intendeds.


A loaf of rye bread will be reported on during the course of this input. In this recipe cocoa powder and molasses were added to the rye and whole wheat flours.


Today is the third day of a four day weekend. I achieved relaxation. No, I didn't take that trip across the state line that I had considered. I have goofed off, primed a surface for painterly creative surface treatment, I have met some local artists, made an eye exam appointment and driven through previously unexplored local areas. I did not drum as the circle seems to be on hiatus while looking for an indoor venue to meet through the shorter days of the year.


I miss a number of people in my life but have not yet realized instant bi-location and have capitulated to the present reality.


I lean back, light a cigarette and see the reflections along the timestream and can glimpse only partial histories along the multitude of divergent pathways. There is the one where I didn't sell my house in Neptune Beach and the one where I stayed in (haha, fill in the blank).


It's probably time to reread the Liz Green book on Saturn return (I am definitely in my second).


Blues accompaniment: NRBQ, Robert Plant, Julie London, Phoebe Snow, Lou Rawls...
reload: Hot Tuna, Harry Chapin, Janis Joplin, Joe Walsh, John Lee Hooker...


I punched down the dough although it hadn't risen as much as I usually wait for. Seems to be rising slower than the wheat I often make. It's a bit cooler in the house than it has been (finally broke 70 outside) denser flours and thicker liquids must all contribute.


Dinner was leftovers but quite good, wish I had been motivated to make a salad. Turkey Italian sausage, oyster mushrooms, spinach and cheese tortellini, black olives, onion, multiple peppers (red, green, yellow, cubanelle) tomato sauce.


So, I don't know when I will upload and print this as the full belly slow down is upon me. Looks like some half nods in front of the tube and I will return either later this eve or tomorrow.



Well it's tomorrow by the previously stated, but of course it's today too.
Still into the blues for accompaniment
Joe Cocker, David Bromberg, Bonnie Raitt, JJ Cale, Keb Mo, Paul Butterfield...
I'm prepping a group for burning. Need some more soundtracks at work.



The bread came out good. A little altitude challenged but tasty none the less. That's the picture at the top.
Just finished Blackening some chicken, will use it in conjunction with bitter salad and blue cheese, mostly for this weeks lunches. Trying to get more fresh greens in me during the week.

Halloween, bad movies and the calendar turns another page.

Think that I'll make a few phone calls after I post this while I sort through some more tunes.

I wish you all well. Thanks for stopping by.

about time

Yes it is. What, two months have slid by. I know, I know. I can't say that I really am motivated here, but I was feeling that the neglect was getting out of hand.

noon, not high

Saturday noon has just passed this longitude and I am heading into the streets accompanied by G. on a visit from Maine. Last night's drum circle was nourishing. Hope things are well in your world.

home again

A brief update.
I returned home from a nice trip to the Southern New England motherland and have returned to the work-a-day patterns that were not missed for the past 10 day. There is a storehouse of input that is certainly due. Nonetheless I will sign off with the intention of of fuller expression on my next visit.

not much

Not much to report. Work is the same. Looking forward to a little time off and up to New England I go.

hmmmm

I kinda feel like being belligerent just for the hell of it. No reason. I had a good time at the drum circle last night. The work week is over. Retirement is only about fifteen years away.

sunday

Just cut my hair, it probably isn't much of a do, but 15 minutes and a pair of scissors was all it took.
Scones today, nice. Got the lunches set up for the first part of the week. Going to head to the kitchen make a light dinner, haddock I'm thinking. Looking forward to some time off in a few more weeks. Wish the best to all.

okay, I'm back

So, no, it's not like I really have anything to say. I just feel that I've shortchanged the communicative aspect of myself. My other main communications are at work and via phone. The communion of drumming has been missing for a while as weather, a change in times (that I only recently found out about) and work have curtailed. So, not that I have an audience, but if you've been wondering; I'm fine, work has been on the tough side, still don't know where some of my art supplies are, although I have progressed a bit on a painting and I have been spending a bit too much time watching Netflix on line. I am trying to get a handle on Lost.

damn

So, there I was, had the vehicle loaded with dirty laundry and ready to get something done, but no, I couldn't take the damn thing out of park. It has happened once or twice before and I just had to get a little harsh with it. Not this time, I had to watch as a tow truck rubbed a good deal of rubber or whatever off of the tires as she was dragged aboard. Now I am almost ready to call and see how much economic damage there will be. Glad I didn't spring for the glass tabletop I was thinking about for my pedestal base. This was sure not the post I had planned.

snippit

I write posts in my head all of the time and then I see that, hey, well they really never did make it here. Probably just as well. Some thought organizing that would be conveyable just isn't publishable. So, yep I'm into my fifth day in a row off from work. Haven't done a lot, but I did manage to toss around some paint. I haven't located my favorite knife and ended up purchasing a not quite right stand in. It's good to be engaged in the creative visual process although I am not feeling that the work in progress is moving anywhere in the neighborhood of excellence. thanks for stopping by and I will get back here later today.

soon

Almost. I am sufficiently on my way to a relaxed state that was requisite to feeling like a word flow deserved sharing. Soon come.

cop out

Go ahead and read any old post you haven't before. I promise I will toss a few down next week. If you've read everything already, let me know, it may motivate me. Ciao

???

Tired with not much to say. I did not forget about here. So, stay tuned, I expect to get back soon.

memorial day

Well I said I'd be back to tackle my stance on the big war, military, the world we presently seem to live in and their inter-relationships. But, I don't have the energy to form truly lucid patterns of thought as the emotional components and my mild weariness ask me to either hesitate or maximum truncate this big theme.

So, given that, I wish simply to say that I hold esteem in my heart and mind for all of the fallen, wounded from the many wars, police actions and training accidents through the ages, of all of those who entered in good consciousness and intention towards a peaceful culmination.

I'm sorry to say that I can't feel the same for any who contracted for greed, vengeance, unquestioned duty or out of a feeling of superiority. May forgiveness flow from the afflicted and may enlightenment burgeon in the hearts and minds of all.