RANTS FROM OBLIVION

A Couple Of Live Cuts From My New Band

2011-09-18T10:07:00.006-04:00

LIVE CUTS FROM MY CURRENT BAND (9/5/11): DEEP SOUL featuring EUDORA EVANS

IF A TREE FALLS ON HOUR HOUSE AND NO ONE HEARS IT, DOES IT MAKE A SOUND???

2011-03-13T12:16:00.015-04:00

hmmm.....

the only sound I heard was me cussing under my breath when I finally saw it. We hadnt been in Boo's backyard/back porch for a few days 'cause it had been cold but when I walked over to her side (we have a side by side duplex) it was like: Good God almighty!! Thank God it didnt hit the house, it would have surely killed someone - MAYBE EVEN ME!!!!

So after some major procrastination (WAY too hot to do it in the summer, WAY too busy building the bookcases for Calvin in my "spare" time (see pics below), WAY too easy to believing Richard, Boo's ex husband, saying he was gonna get it done when he came to stay w/the kids on the weekend, etc, etc), I finally kicked it in the butt.
Had to do it 'cause the critters, Pluto and Godzilla the puppies, had learned how to escape from the temp fence we'd erected. I saw where the expression "dogged" came from - determined sons o bitches!! FREEDOM!!!! Ha! really baffled 'em once the new fence went up!!

LEMME AKS YOU ABOUT COMMUNICATION

2010-02-20T16:05:00.016-05:00

Ya know, with a generation of people texting to hell, all day, everyday, everywhere, you'd think that the population might have become a little more literate.
Educators were beaming a few years ago during the Golden Days of computers (about a 3 week period of time during early December 1995), saying that for the first time in ages, people were starting to actually read again. All to no avail.
Now, in order to get a real glimpse at how English Departments across this great land have failed and are failing, just go to any newspaper's "comments section" in their internet division on your computer and try to make some sense of the verbiage that is attempting to perpetuate itself as language!!

People are so interested in being heard that they arent paying attention to the most important part of communication: being understood!! If all you say means nothing because it cant be interpreted in any intelligible manner, then you may as well just turn on the "web ding" (or similar font) as you're typing and have at it!! (This btw is 'kiss my ass' in webdings font:  - pretty difficult to comprehend, eh??)

Here's something that caught my eye about a year ago which touches on another pet peeve: people wasting time at work like its going outta freakin style. One of my first jobs was with a tyrant whose mantra was "save steps" He has contributed in large part to my total inability to get anything done AT ALL as a result of multitasking on a grand scale. I'm reading 25 books right now, to give you a glimpse at a small corner of the mania. But I digress....
Here is a photo that should be the poster-child-pic adjoining the dictionary definition of the word: total-waste-of-fucking-time (I think that's a word??):

But language and communication remain complicated parts of civilized life and I cant help but be amused by how people use and abuse it. One of the typical juvenile non-p.c. ways to mock Asians' attempting to speak English is to substitute the letter "r" for the letter "l" in a word. Example: Crab claws, which would convert into Crab cRaws. Amusingly enough, at one of my favorite Thai restaurants we noticed on the menu that one of those annoying juvenile non-p.c. people had obviously infiltrated the printing company and commandeered the printing press. Here is a photo of the deed in black and white from a portion of the menu:
For all intents and purposes, in order to be totally correct in mispronouncing Crab Claws one would have to not only exchange the 'R' for the 'L', but also exchange the "L" for the "R". Then, in true juvenile style, crab claws would be pronounced cLab cRaws...

Of course it's one thing to look at kids who are bemusedly imitating people's foreign accents but its another to realize that the people in the restaurant who sat down and put together the menu were not doing it as a bit of humor (altho it would be really funny if they had!!) It's apparent that their misuse of the English language isnt just a misunderstanding of the sound of the letters, it's actually an evolved process where, having heard the word mispronounced so often, it has become the de facto pronunciation they've come to understand. Here in southern Louisiana I've heard, and almost across the entire socio-economic strata, what would be referred to up north as the "ebonic" pronunciation of "ask" - that pronunciation being "aks" or "axe".
I chuckle with incredulity when I come across educated people saying that too, and am waiting to see that one on a menu somewhere - and I KNOW someday I will!!

WHO DAT!?! HELUVA WEEKEND!!

2010-02-08T20:41:00.009-05:00

Oh my God, the Saints won the superbowl!!

I'll tell you, there was emotion dripping in the air throughout New Orleans yesterday - as thick as the humidity in July: joy, fear, anticipation, love, optimism, glee, pride, bliss, enthusiasm, and of course apprehension, nervousness, and tension. Tension enough to make stomachs tight and throats, although eventually hoarse, very dry. Alcohol does help - not only w/the dry, but also w/the unrelenting tension.

To put this game into perspective: 2 other MAJOR events were taking place this weekend:
1. the mayoral election
2. the beginning of Mardi Gras

As a segue from my last post, it would seem appropriate that the city would be passionately enthusiastic in attempting to find a suitable successor to Mr Nagin - he's been the subject of MANY heated discussions with acres of stickers on legions of bumpers/back windshields depicting the specific date of his last day in office. The need to elect someone to office to accomplish the still critical work required to re-establishing the city after 4 years of relative ineptitude, is not a small charge.

But.....

Not when the Saints - the truly, incredibly beloved Saints - are in the Superbowl...
I have never heard as few election advertisements on the radio, which I listen to all day at work, as I encountered this season. (thank God - they're 99% BS anyway!) The Who Dat Nation was busy trying to "stand up and get crunk" - absorbing and simultaneously providing the passion that we share with, as well as receive, from our team. We, as the Who Dat Nation, along with the boys in black and gold, do not take our jobs lightly. But amazingly, the election was so dwarfed by the huge events taking place, that even people I am associated with who are oriented to arguing vociferously at the drop of a political hat, were somehow caught up in the thrill of potential, and then eventual victory.

As it turns out, the mayoral race was neatly tied up with no need for a run-off election with Mitch Landrieu, the favored candidate, winning in an outstanding tour de force. No racial divide - the first white mayor in over 30 years. People voted to have a man substantially connected get the job done.

Now one of the largest attractions to dear NOLA, and by far the biggest party of each year is, of course, Mardi Gras. The reaction to this annual event is generally staggering and after Katrina, there was a prospect that it would not roll which was construed as a potential national, cultural, calamity. When it did run, that first post-apocalyptical year, it was the symbolic, proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, which gave the city hope and a degree of faith that the city would indeed rebuild and rebound.
But that was not a Saints Superbowl year. And that was not a Saints Superbowl week. But THIS year IS indeed Superbowl year, and Mardi Gras has been largely eclipsed by a power that has promised the faithful an attraction which will create even greater goodwill for the city. And the faithful were provided for last night. The Saints and Colts were viewed by the largest audience ever on TV. The Who Dat Nation was expanded many fold (joined by a new large segment of Saints lovers across the land) and Mardi Gras paled this week in comparison. But New Orleanians, ever the finest party people of the land had devised a way to incorporate football and Mardi Gras. The winners will be heading the krewes/floats as they parade through the streets of the city. And although the fun and madness will visit the streets of New Orleans, the overwhelming joy of so many fans who waited 43 years for a superbowl trip (and unbelievably, victory!!) has been THE defining moment right here in the midst of Mardi Gras season. Grown men weeping all over the place?!?!?!
No, Carnival, as loved as it is, couldnt compete with the thrilling emotion the Saints provided this year. The Saints victory parade brought an estimated 1 million people in one day - the estimate for the entire 2009 season and those folks, by and large, and vastly unlike Mardi Gras, were essentially "local" - gulf coast people driven far and wide by the devastation of Katrina and now all brought together by the unselfish love of a team for it's fans.
Rumor has it that eleven people showed up to greet the Colts when they returned after losing the Superbowl. That never would have happened here!! The connection between the team and the people is real. Real love - real fun - real people!

2010-02-05T22:39:00.010-05:00

Boo received an invitation to Mayor Nagin's Christmas party, and although I'm less than enamored of him and his abysmal record of accomplishments since Hurricane Katrina, hey! a party's a party! I had a suspicion it would be politics as usual, but apparently, being surrounded only by friends and associates who had made his personal invitation list, he spoke genuinely and downright humorously. What a refreshing non-sound-byte tone!! His political comments regarding the upcoming election were cutting, funny, and enough to have his wife drag him by the ear off the stage!! He is a lame duck mayor so he could get away with not having to pander to anyone. He should consider being a political comedian.

A good time was had by all except maybe Boo's boss who was not as fortunate as Ray Ray, who knows he isnt going to have to answer to anyone soon. Boss-man was mizzable. But of course he was in the midst of arranging a marriage the next weekend for which no-one even close to him had been made aware of. He looked like someone had thrown him under the bus.....

Mr and Mrs Hizzoner, Boo and myself.

CHRISTMAS JOY AND PEACE ON EARTH

2009-12-31T16:37:00.034-05:00

Hey its Christmas time and what better way to partake of the season than by expressing a little JOY! So there they were people. Right in my front yard. Cute little buggers and they light up to boot. Calling out"joy to the world", but peacefully!! Kind of a message in that,eh??? Well things were not destined to remain the same.

I came home one afternoon and lo and behold, some one had "offed" my lead player - J-man himself.
His side men stood in a silent, contemplative stance, speechless, except for a quiet expression:
"OY"
Things were not to remain quiet for long.

Next day, as usual, I returned home greeted
and shocked again by what could only be seen as a Conspiracy of Haters. A veritable Jihad on Joy. In stunned stillness and with that implacable smile affixed to his face, the last vestige of joy (and with a tear melting a trail as it coursed down his snowy face), could but turn out to the world in his own simple way, and merely ask:"Why?"

May we all have a peaceful, love filled new year!
Yeah, you too ya bastid!!

MY HOUSE

2009-12-11T23:34:00.005-05:00

I forgot to put a pic of the house on the blog and it's been so long since I've posted that I'd forgotten to update my prior post in which I said I would.
Very busy boy I have been!! Christmas lights too!!

my new car

2009-12-10T08:45:00.005-05:00

the volvo was getting old and kinda aggravating - no A/C in the brutal NOLA summer and I figured if I made it to fall, the heat worked great - until fall arrived and the heat decided to burn out. so I went crazy:

sports goodies

2009-09-22T08:09:00.003-04:00

Damn! I love it when teams I love beat teams I hate!
Sunday was a great day. The Saints, who are really looking strong whupped the despised Philadelphia Eagles and to add sugar to totally sweeten the deal, the Giants beat the Cowboys!!
What a night! I couldnt sleep after the Giants game, it had been so close, but they prevailed and finally I slept the peaceful sleep that only people who's teams have won can sleep. Aint that crazy, and I'm not really that big a sports "fan"atic. It'll be really interesting when the Giants roll into town to play my new favorite other team - the Saints.
I'm goin to that game!! Might lose some friends here in town but what an interesting emotional balancing act that'll be - wanting to see the saints do well at the same time as wanting to have the giants do just a little better. Of course Eli is from New Orleans - my buddy john went to school w/the family and is friends w/eli's brother, so theres a strange love connection with the Giants in town anyway - kinda like family, but not.
May the best team win! And I'm thinkin the Saints might prevail - they're lookin that good.

FINALLY BOUGHT A HOUSE!!

2009-03-30T14:34:00.004-04:00

It took 3 years less than I thought it would - I'd figured it would take 5 years to save the $$$ up - but a lot longer than I would have dreamed when I sold my house almost 10 years to the day of closing. A brick duplex 11 years old, 3200 sq feet, 2 single garages, and just a short trip across the lake from New Orleans. Its killin me to let my apartment go - its in such an unbelievable location, but Boo and I figured we can get a studio or 1 bedroom to rent in the Quarter for probably 500 a month less than what I'm paying now.

I'm so wiped out from all the unending aggravation associated with buying a house - doing taxes - paying taxes, paperwork out the ear, then painting the interior walls and my favorite annoyance of all, freakin moving. But I am loving being involved in putting my time and energy into MY OWN HOME. I never could stand renting/boarding. Its too inhibiting feeling that you're just not going to bear the fruits of your own labors - kinda like washing someone elses car.

I painted the walls dark purple and gray so the blonde wood will stand nice against the purple and the black couch nice against the gray. I'm gonna finish moving in 4/4/09 so I'll have pictures at that point to show. And then I'm gonna take a serious break. I've been going non stop for a coupla months. Bought 2 antique 150 year old cypress mantels for $175. I'm gonna strip one and put it in the living room.

Christmas In New Orleans

2008-12-19T09:43:00.011-05:00

Snowed way down yonder here in New Orleans a few days ago - that's a pic of the home we're working on - a southern antebellum covered with the "white stuff" (as a reporter endlessly referred to it). Of course this is an anomaly here in the deep south - one generally expected to occur about every 14 years or so.

Having lived in the Great North East for the largest part of my life, I can say that the likelihood of snow up there on Christmas is statistically, from my experience, very small. The last time I remember experiencing it snowing on Christmas up north was back in the '50's and it wasnt until 2004 that I that I got to re-emerge myself in it's fun and glory.

Well if you couple the unlikelihood of snow on Christmas anywhere with the highly unusual occurence of just even snow in the south, then you can understand what an awesome spectacle it must have been for New Orleanians too, to share the experience, in 2004, of the joy of a white Christmas. Almost amazing. I can certainly guarantee I will never see it repeat in my lifetime.

Coincidentally, the following August brought about one of the greatest disasters to my dear New Orleans - Katrina.

I tell people now that if it ever DOES happen to snow on Christmas, they will surely find me, come june 1st, headin' for the hills !!! (the start of hurricane season)

Children's garbage can top snowman obliterated by Susie, the frenzied lesbian!!

Michael - thanks for the pic of the house!

A MOMENT IN TIME

2008-09-22T21:30:00.008-04:00

As the days approaching vacation slowly, oh so slowly, wound down, I anticipated being free from the intense focus I'd had at work - free to concentrate on my "life". Music, and especially playing music with my friends back home was a priority as well as running on the beach and diving in the ocean.

But a sense of something impending had been troubling my soul since the fender bender I'd had on 8/1. The year so far had been such a blessing - career, love, and money - and this was the first wrinkle creasing the face of my reality. Then 3 days before vacation, doing a random marking procedure with a razor, I seriously sliced a chunk off the side of my index finger, rendering the likelihood of playing at the vacation jam from slim to nil. A growing sense of foreboding accompanied this unlikely mistake.

But life goes on and after some hugs, kisses, and stuff from Boo (as well as some instructions re: hurricane Gustav, now barreling its way thru the Carribean), I flew North to the Jersey Shore.

The first couple of days were great - dinner at the Rio, a little tanning, jogging. On Saturday I recorded "Dream On You" to send to Boo, called a realtor about a lot in 'Metro New Orleans', and proceeded to the beach to relax, take more of a tan, run, etc.

Well, the "Etcetera" was not exactly an item I had included on the day's agenda. After reading for some while, I went running - a mile and a half or so and on returning to my starting point, I was feelin' pretty frisky so I kicked it into gear, determined to extend the run. Picking up speed, I stepped on the bulkhead to cross onto the next section of beach........

Ahhhh! A moment in time.

As in the car accident; as in the razor's edge, and now, as in "bad things come in 3's" my world came crashing to a halt. As I stepped on the bulkhead a little voice said to be careful, but this bulkhead crossing was something I'd repeated hundreds of times over a lifetime - and on this specific beach.

Airborne, hands and feet to the sky,
silence.... confusion
then full contact on the hard surface -
compression, compression on compression;
searing pain.

The bulkhead's unctuous surface had denied me any traction and now moments later, from someone delighting in life's vitality, I now lay unable to get up - fearing that I would not even be able to walk, to make love, to make a living.
A wave washes over me. I attempt to rise from a reclining position. No can do....
Strike three, I am out!

I crawl to my chair and a gracious lady gives me an ice pack and some Ibuprofen. After an hour and in excruciating pain (and shock!!) I make it to the car and drive to my mom's.

I refuse to go to what would surely be a typically crazy Saturday night live at the emergency room, and only find out the true extent of what's occurred the next afternoon at an Urgent Care Center. X-rays (see pic at right) showed that T-12 had fractured due to compression. Not good news for a guy on vacation! Ok, it was just plain bad news.
Fortunately, the physician at Urgent Care knew one 50 cent word - Kyphoplasty (Clik title: A MOMENT IN TIME above). Four days later, the word and my achey-breakey-back met on an outpatient bed and became intimately acquainted.

An hour later, I arose from the bed free from the searing pain of the vertebral fracture, though uncomfortable from the procedure. Having read accounts of people whose doctors were unaware of the Kyphoplasty procedure and the brutal repurcussions of neglecting treatment, or as people without benefit of it would have suffered just a few years ago, I thank the Lord above, that I again was blessed to have been where I was and with whom I spoke during THAT moment in time.

Guess I AM just a lucky so and so....

Oh yeah, Gustav missed New Orleans - another real blessing!!!

THE DOORS

2008-08-17T01:12:00.010-04:00

Here's a short clip (with music!) describing half of what we've recently accomplished
(the opposite half of the room is finished in the identical style of woodwork)
See below (June 28) for more individual pics.

A LIL BEACH TIME

2008-08-13T23:49:00.010-04:00

Boo and I did a weekend at the beach - had to get near some water!! Too many years at the beach as a kid (and ok, as an adult too) - it just gets in your blood. We had a ball!! dancin', just hangin out, and goin to waffle house 5 times lol. Anyway it stormed like a son of a gun one night and I took some video of the lightning storm. Unbelievable storm. Here's miss pink hair and beads WITHOUT her mardi gras costume too.

IMPACT

2008-08-03T03:25:00.004-04:00

I go thru my life trying to maximize positives and try to avoid putting myself in situations that will lead to impacting anyone negatively. Sometimes though, events occur that unfortunately develop into precisely the opposite of what you wish.

Friday afternoon I went to have lunch at Rouses Market where I usually eat. The rain was teeming and the humidity was New Orleans nasty so when I returned to my car, the windows were, for some reason, completely fogged up. I wiped them down enough so I could see and proceeded to return to work. I missed a portion of the front windshield on the passenger side and as I crossed the 4 lanes of Carrollton Ave., a car which was passing in front of me was blocked by the steamed window and me, not even seeing the vehicle, ended up tapping the back of it causing it to careen off the street and onto the median strip which has a curb about 10 inches high.

The impact of the car contacting the curb caused the back wheel to bend in an ugly form - as if it had a broken foot. I got out of my car, which sustained no damage and proceeded to the median, or as they refer to them here, the neutral ground. When no-one came out of the car for a couple of minutes I began to worry that they were unconscious so I gingerly knocked on the window and about 30 seconds later, a young girl, about 23-25 opened the window. She seemed physically fine, her seatbelt still fastened but with tears streaming down her face, obviously shaken emotionally.

After she was able to sort of compose herself, we went thru the details of what had happened and then proceeded with the boring process of waiting for the police and tow trucks and the insurance company, ad nauseum. In the process, her fiance, who drove a cab, stopped by, and though the initial atmosphere was a bit tense, after 2 hours of waiting around, we began to talk more freely and I found out they had a 3 month old baby and were anxious to move to a quiet place in Alabama so they could raise their baby in a non-threatening environment away from the city. She had been on her way to work and you could see that they were a kind and caring couple who were trying to do what they could to make life tolerable and/or better.

Well, after 3 hours, the police finally arrived and began their procedures. The camaraderie that had developed despite the circumstances, was soon to take a bad turn. The police ran a profile on the fiancee (since he owned the vehicle), and much to his remonstrations, they came up with 2 outstanding warrants, and hancuffed him and placed him under arrest. As if that weren't bad enough, they then turned to the young mother, and told her she was under arrest for not having insurance and a license, and hancuffed her too. (I was frantically searching my mind to make sure I hadnt left any stone unturned, expecting to be arrested too - it seemed the world was turning upside down for everyone involved. But fortunately, I was OK) As brave as she was attempting to be, I could see the tears welling in her eyes and the mortification of being being dealt with as such in full public view.

I was affected profoundly. Here were two people I had been communicating with and with whom I'd been in the process of dealing with on a human level - joking and relating in spite of the circumstances. And now, as a result of a moment of cruel fate, I had created an impact on their lives which was proving to be the exact opposite of how I try to deal with people and to lead my life. Sure, they didnt have insurance, which is illegal, but I was the person whose presence in their lives had ultimately created the turmoil in which they were now inextricably connected.
As much as I would have liked to have had the one second back in which she would have passed by safely, there was no reversing the reality of what had occurred.

Having seen tragic events unfold throughout my years, its always affected me to see how the preciousness of people's lives can be so inalterably affected by a an errant second of fate. But to be the person who was responsible for it, provides a good deal of food for thought. What's the lesson I need to take from this? What can I do to prevent this from occuring again - not neccessarily in the same circumstances - but in general? Or is this a glimpse into the yin/yang of good things/bad things happening? It's like the concept of God taking care of the fishes in the sea. In the feeding of one fish, another fish must be eaten....

UPDATE

2008-06-28T21:09:00.013-04:00

STARTING OUT - setting up the shop:

An incredible amount of work has transpired since the start of the project. I've fashioned a dozen different jigs to cut diagonal mortise and tenon joints, 5 ft x 3 ft raised panels, square pegs, etc.
Well finally this week , all of a sudden, the fruits of our labors, mine and my hard working friend Drew, have come to the point where they're finally apparent. Hence, I share.

OUR WOOD PILE - 4 FEET WIDE, 3 1/2 FEET HIGH WHICH
WE MOVED OVER TO THE PIPE PLATFORM WE'D BUILT

Everyone is thrilled, including myself. Working with beautiful 1 and 1/8 inch thick by 12 inch wide cypress boards salvaged from a 180 year old home washed away by Katrina is particularly rewarding, especially for an "old wood" lover as myself. Drew and I just sit back some days and simply marvel at the beauty unfolding that we have the privilege of working to display. What a treat. (Please click on photos to enlarge)

LAYING OUT THE MORTISES TO BE CHOPPED:

SOME TENONS DYING TO BE CONNECTED AND PEGGED:

PROGRESS! AT LAST MORTISE AND TENONS GLUED AND PEGGED:

AND FINALLY THE FRAMES IN PLACE WITH THE RAISED PANELS:

MATCHING CLOSET DOORS ARE NEXT (FOR IN THE SPACES)

HERE I AM, PROUD DADDY.....with my 9 ft tall baby

A LITTLE BEFORE AND AFTER:

Now, on the other end of the bedroom, we have basically the same process going on - 2 more matching closets. Within 2 (of the 4 total closets), identical built in chests of drawers, as well as entertainment centers will be built. Two book cases will grace each of the 2 entries into the bedroom as well. AND THIS MY FRIENDS, IS JUST THE FIRST BEDROOM!!!!

E Z RIDER 1997

2008-06-07T19:51:00.008-04:00

Desperately clinging to the dream we all can see
Must be the dream we all shall cling to to agree.
As the four walls close upon us, dance we do 'cause dance we must
Or face the mesmerizing tone alone, the unrelenting "who is us"

We work we play, the fleeting meanings salve the day.
The fabricated faces all in union smile.
Strugglings' secret charm s'for holding life at bay
and cruelly keeps the fear of truth away......
LJM

THE NEW GIG

2008-05-09T23:04:00.009-04:00

Well, as fortune would have it, the plans I had set in place to buy, rehab, and flip homes with my friend Ken didnt quite work out. The first home we were going to bid on sold 3 days before we called in our bid, and the second one we disappointingly found out, as we were in the process of establishing our negotiating tactics with our realtor, had just gone under contract the week before. But undaunted, I continued to search for suitable properties. Then I received a call from Ted, whom I had worked with for 8 months last year. He described to me a job for which any serious wood-butcher/artisan would gladly have hurt grandmothers and/or little children running over in order to acquire. Fortunately the path was clear and I was able to get in on it with no collateral damage inflicted.
It was a difficult decision though, because Ken and I had been concentrating on the prospect of doing flips for quite a while and I had to essentially put that on hold for what could be a year or two - the expected length of time the new "primo" job was expected to take. But after factoring in the possible profit in selling two or three homes vs. the guaranteed income of this endeavor, and speaking with Ken, we both agreed it would be ridiculous for me to turn it down. I then met with Ted, my friend Calvin, the architect for the job, and Ward, the project manager. After agreeing on a "time and material" price, papers were drawn up and the wheels were set in motion.
I was now to set up shop on-site in the Hurst Home, an 1832 ante-bellum mansion (pictured above, and recently purchased from John Goodman of "Roseanne" fame) in which I'd be doing the most elaborate and distinctive work of my career. The owners are a wealthy couple who are seriously interested in doing precise period recreation and creation of architectural elements throughout the home for which I'll be responsible. Having just finished a job several weeks before which was a primer of sorts in the same style of this one, I felt like it was the next stepping stone to take it on. Except that it's very large scale, very demanding, challenging and exciting . I feel particularly blessed to be a part of the project.
Thank you God!
Progress pics will be forthcoming.

The Whisper

2008-05-03T16:35:00.006-04:00

The whisper of their song, it touches softly on your shoulder
And wakens in your heart the sad refrain
That this you once held fondly in your hands,
Your arms, your soul; but now

As distant laughter sings out to your newly vacant heart
And gentle conversations echo softly b'yond your grasp,
You see the shadows of the times when thoughts
Of empty days and nights were simply dreams of fools.

How long before the light returns
To signal that the storm has passed,
That seaward vessels may now finally face the tide
To safely sail the solitary seas toward home.

LJM

SUNDAY FRIEND

2008-03-16T16:21:00.013-04:00

COLD - HOW LOVE CAN SEAR THE SOUL!!
LOST - NOW A FORMLESS SHADOWED SHELL
DARK - A VACANT VACUOUS HOLE
TORN - A SPIRAL TWISTING, PLUNGE TO HELL

COLD - THE WORDS SO HOLLOW FALL
LOST - 'NEATH THE VEIL, THE KINDLY AIR
DARK - FACTS HID BEYOND THE WALL
TORN - CLOUDS OPEN TO DESPAIR

COLD - I IGNITE MY NEW FOUND FRIEND
LOST - LONG TO GRASP A DULL SECLUSION
DARK - SMOKE CLOUDS MY MIND AGAIN
TORN - AS I BALANCE TRUTH/DELUSION

LJM

THIS OLD HOUSE CAME KNOCKIN

2008-02-18T15:11:00.004-05:00

It finally came to a TV near me, but since I didnt have cable, and the listings describing times and episodes were completely useless, I missed it. My buddy Ted, (without whom I would not have been able to be a part of this) was sick as a dog the day of the filming but managed to get "healthy enough" to share some time with Norm too, and fortunately managed to tape our episode when it aired on PBS.
Here it is:

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

2008-01-27T18:43:00.002-05:00

Well it's been an incredible journey this past year and its time I put it all in perspective. What's been good what's been bad and on and on. Now that Mardi Gras season is upon us again, I realized that I am now a veteran of YEARS of Mardi Gras, yeah two. But it beats naively admitting, oh this is my first M.G. and the old timers - who've witnessed it for 44 years or 78 years or now in my case 2 consecutive years - tip their heads gleefully and explain patiently what, where, when, and how youshould experience it in order to appreciate it in an intelligent, exuberant, and titillatingly oriented manner.

My first eye-opening moment was when I found out that exposed breast flesh was NOT the cornerstone on which it all is built. That being said, here is a finely exposed set of mammary glands I managed to accidentally capture while taking photos of the magnificent architecture on Bourbon St......

I didnt realize the importance of craziness in New Orleans and how it is woven into the very fabric of people's BEINGS here, but, in time, I've fortunately mananged to incorporate a degree of that into my already manic soul. It's a process folks. Once you realize the cultural importance that New Orleans (NOLA)has and how that is perpetuated thru freedom of all sorts, it becomes a personal mission to continue the tradition and insist that all friends and visitors do the same, because that joy and the ability to take things to the edge is the heartbeat of the vibrant, inherent creativity found here.

I was asked the other day by a friend of mine how did a "mother fuckin carpet baggin' scalawaggin son of a bitch get your ass into Krewe De Vieux your first year in town". Now Krewe De Vieux (KDV), is a parade, and when I arrived last year was to me the coolest of all of the many, many, parades because of its great political satire and their hilarious politically oriented floats. Its the only real parade that marches thru the French Quarter and is the one that kicks off the Mardi Gras season. And I in some very peculiar twist of fate, managed to be asked to join - and join the ONLY ONE that I wanted to!!! Joining parades is a very difficult process and can annually run into the thousands of $$$$ to be a member. KDV is way cooler than that, REALLY. So I got all dressed up - the theme this year was Magical Misery Tour, referring of course to the madness that is the rebuilding process here in NOLA, so I found a Nehru type jacket and my beautiful girlfriend (see pic below with her eyes closed as per usual!) Boo and I decorated it and painted my face traditional MG colors and off I went with beads in hand to then throw them AT PEOPLE, instead of the traditional begging to have beads thrown AT YOU which so many do on the sidewalks and streets of New Orleans. It was freezing!!! The coldest day since last winter!! Here's a link describing the events of the night in interesting detail.
http://www.nola.com/mardigras/index.ssf/2008/01/krewe_du_vieux_titilates.html

Work wise 2007 was one of the most interesting I've had in a long time. I arrived Christmas Eve which was depressing enough, but then I found my accommodations had been grossly over-described and were in fact, dangerous, unsafe, and deplorable, so I had to search all of New Orleans for new digs! Not only was I unfamiliar, but NOLA is very confusing during the day to drive and in the rain at night, was a nightmare. Prices because of the holidays were obscene and I was ridiculously lost, confused, and good God, brimming with mixed feelings as to whether I'd done the right thing coming down. It all worked out - I found a room at a Shoney's for the week but when I called up my "contact guy" Monday morning to secure the work I'd been promised until I could get going with the position I'd secured with Habitat for Humanity, his phone number, the phone company's pleasant sounding recording enlightened me with the news that the number had been disconnected. RAGING DOUBT now possessed my mind and I did what any normal man would do - bought some beer and Spam. I perused the Craigs List ads and basically found that no-one was looking for anyone which caused Spam and beer stock to rise dramatically. As it turns out, being a Catholic city, everyone had taken off and when things returned to normal a few days later I found a job, agrred to meet the Boss Man, and he never showed up. Welcome to NOLA, the Land Of Late. I left and placed an ad in Craigs List saying: Have Nailgun, will Travel: Highly skilled woodworker available and was hired 3 hours later working on a great, fun, job in the French Quarter 80 hours a week!! Hey, I was newly separated - what better way to fritter your time away then working compulsively and drinking Crown Royal nightly with my camo-fashioned-Georgia-redneck/cultured-alcoholic-new-best-friend?!?!? Learned about Big Green Eggs and peanut butter pies. Well one good job deserves another and so it went. It continued, as I relished the fact that I was no longer in the freezing north east where the economy which had been petering out, dried up totally. In hustling for work I ran into a guy, Ted S. looking for a project manager/lead carpenter and when I talked w/him and his wife we hit it off immediately, and when I saw he played guitar and we played together, the job was in the bag. I bagan work on designing a house incorporating major NOLA exterior elements and when Ted and i went to an architect friend of mine, something he said inspired a concept for the interior design that is truly unique to that style of home. I cant wait to build it for myself and have parties on the balcony! Well, it was a lot of hard work with Ted, not the kind of higher class jobs I was getting initially when I came to town, but it ended with me being featured, to a certain extent on This Old House which will certainly be a huge feather in my resume's cap as soon as it airs and I get a copy on DVD to distribute. That date has essentially been established as Feb. 16th. The first of the 10 episode show, New Orleans Two Years After, just began airing last Thusday. And now, no longer with Ted, I'm again doing a wonderful woodworking project, a job I've wanted to do for YEARS - true raised panel wainscoting. As it turns out, in the same house I worked on last spring doing a coffered ceiling - another great resume builder. This is all as I search for properties to buy with my partner Ken in order to rehab and flip. The banking industry is making me a little nervous - it's intimidating to think that we'd do all this work and then not be able to find someone to qualify for a mortgage. So I've been purposefully procrastinating until I feel the market is starting to rebound before jumping in w/both feet.

SOME MORE ART SHOTS

2008-01-07T19:59:00.001-05:00

Christmas 07

2008-01-02T01:16:00.000-05:00

(Full Moon through the walnut tree in front)

Went to Arlettes for Christmas - 9 days and man, I was ready to get the hell outta town and back home! There I am in my old bedroom in South Dennis (at right)
I had been working on a job that I could not wait to finish and just as I'm painstakingly nearing the final lap, a manufacturers defect effectively puts the whole project on hold with a very huge question mark as to when I'm going to get paid. Always fun stuff happenin!!

Then my partner Ken and I proceed to the point where we're ready to put in an offer buying a home to rehab in which I had done all this research locating and deciding, and then BAM! someone else JUST happened to put in an offer 3 days before. Yikes! Get me ouuta here! Plus having my camera stolen as well as a bunch of my tools helped to make the sun setting behind me on Sweet Nola as I flew north, north east, look pretty good. Catchyalater!

Of course I do know what it means to miss New Orleans and all the associated aspects of the song and couldnt wait to get back to my lovely....

But there were fun things to do at my Mama's with my cousin and his wife and kids in tow from Lyon, France to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their wedding which had been held at home back then. Of course the best man and family converged too, now having transplanted to Canada - only 9 hours away. Fortunately no snow!! And Brielle and Dan, and Dj and Jen with their darling Madi - who's already sick of posing for pics for mama jen who's a photographer - much like the young punk Nicole whose tolerance for "portrait photos" grew thin, very young lol!!!

And then of course there were days and nights with Rik and Elbon - but never enough. Elbon was busting out all over lol - rik didnt seem to mind at all! Hopefully they'll both be able to
make it down for Mardi Gras!

Leonard 'Snap' Fleming - "The Human Jukebox"

2007-12-18T19:11:00.000-05:00

Sometimes when you go through New Orleans, you come across something so genuine and simply touching, that you have to just stand back, say "damn!" and count your blessings for being here.

Boo and I were hangin' out by the Mississippi one day on the levee and Leonard - or Snap, as the security people refer to him - stopped by to ask if he could sing a song. Hey I'm always game for something interesting, even if it doesnt include talent, but when Leonard began telling his story and broke into song, it all emerged as a positive. He sang Ray Charles, Otis Redding, and several other artists with his unassuming, soulful voice and we determined we'd have to come back and record him before it got too cold and we missed him - maybe forever - 'cause people on the street sometimes disappear.

Well, a few weeks later we made it back and recorded a couple of songs but the wind messed up the sound on 90% of the recordings, including an original song he'd written and sung to us. So the clip isnt too long but it gives just a feel of the soul this man, who's been singing on the streets since he came to New Orleans 40 years ago, loves to express to the lucky levee listeners crossing his path. So here he is singing "Come Home For Christmas":

some fun pics

2007-12-12T15:22:00.000-05:00

Champagne

A Stunning Pearl Necklace/Champagne?

THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT!!!

2007-11-25T14:58:00.000-05:00

New Orleans has a very interesting way of enabling one to feel totally isolated from the rest of the world while simultaneously feeling safely cradled in its warm, moist, cultural sanctuary, far from bunny bread America. Creativity in this yogurt style culture proliferates hotter than L. acidophilus as a result of its inherent freedom.
So what's a guy to do in the midst of this abandon?!?!? Two things.
1. buy a new guitar
2. get a tattoo

LOVE MY N'AWLINS!!

Jeff Dailey

2007-11-15T20:20:00.000-05:00

Jeff, His Family, and Coach

An almost unspeakable tragedy just recently occurred to a genuinely good kid and his family. Jeff Dailey, who played basketball for Notre Dame High School in Bethlehem Pennsylvania died in a freak house fire while attending East Stroudsbug Univ.

Years ago, I had the pleasure of filming him scoring his thousandth point in a basketball game at Notre Dame High and which included the game being stopped and events that took place immediately afterwards at center court. Jeff's modest personality and the affection his family and team felt for him is apparent which is now the more moving aspect of the film clip. I've placed a shortened clip on Youtube from the longer dvd which I've sent to his parents.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=lancejmich

Or double click the title, 'Jeff Dailey' (above) which will link you directly to the clip on Youtube.

15 SECONDS OF FAME

2007-10-31T20:38:00.000-04:00

YUPP, It all came to pass as promised. The This Old House train rolled through New Orleans and the doctor was on it!! Equipped with his own microphone to boot!! Workin side by side with someone I truly respect - and after having spent a very entertaining afternoon and early evening, respect even more: Stormin Norm Abrams! A very generous, kind, down to earth guy, full of amusing stories and lots of talent.

It's exciting being in the limelight like that with camera people and directors all over, and having to get the loose framework of the action/dialogue to come across as loose and carefree, but tight. I noticed that Norm would deliver his lines a lot more crisply while jacking the tempo up a little faster than his normal conversational flow. So I adapted that technique to the lines I spoke and the director was VERY VERY satified!! Do I hear SPIN-OFF?!?!?!? LOL . It all worked out great. And I've got the t-shirt to prove it!! A New Orleans purple tee with a yellow fleur de lis on the back - special limited edition!
Well, back to reality....
Now that I've had my 15 seconds (really minutes) of fame, I can die peacefully 'cause anything after this is simply lagniappe!! Aint that right Boo?!?!
Here at last are the pics of me w/Norm and also Kevin O'Connor, the host of This Old House.

the lil nana that could

2007-10-25T10:17:00.000-04:00

I put this banana on the roof of the truck as I was putting some stuff in the cab (it was night time) and drove home about 15 minutes away. The next day I went to get in the truck and what greets me in the morning sunshine but "the lil banana that could"
There's a lesson in this:
Hang on tight and you'll get where you need to be/want to go!

THIS OLD HOUSE

2007-10-22T19:23:00.000-04:00

Most amazing stuff just drops in your lap sometimes!!
As it turns out, we've been doing structural work on a house for Rebuilding New Orleans, which is a kind of Habitat for Humanity organization doing 'renovations' as opposed to 'new construction'.
Well a rumor was swirling about that THIS OLD HOUSE was going to do some work on the VERY house we're working on and a film crew was probably going to do a shoot. "Yeah, right", was my reaction - "Hand me the level there - thanks" and life went on pretty much as per usual. Well we just got confirmation that Norm and Tom from the show will be there and since I'm the lead carpenter and Ted will be in the hospital, who do you think is gonna be in the camera shots?!?!?!
Who else but the plucky man - Lucky Lance, The Doctor himself!!!!
Next week is the filming. Stay sharply tuned to a PBS channel near you!!

Guess I'll have to re-learn the old This Old House Theme Song, "Louisiana Fairy Tale," recorded by Fats Waller in 1935 and written by Haven Gillespie.

BAHBUHQUE CHIK'N

2007-10-22T13:15:00.000-04:00

Hot Damn - finally hooked up my new grill ($54.50 on sale at Lowes).

First home grilled meal since the back deck in Easton, Pa. back in the fall of '06!! (Altho Greg grilled the best steak I ever tasted a coupla months ago) But it's cool here in The South, so grillin in earnest throughout the neighborhood has obviously (to my nose's mad content) begun.

Now chek dis chikkin! It has since been delightfully devoured - and it WAS finger lickin good!!

AS THE CURTAIN FALLS

2007-10-14T12:19:00.000-04:00

So go now toward the sun,
xxxxxxxand as you walk into the fire
I'll see your silhouette
xxxxxxxembraced within the light.
And I wont think of days of sadness
xxxxxxxand I wont fall on fond desire -
I'll just feel your soul's warm sunshine
xxxxxxxas I journey through the night.

LJM 10/12/07

THE STAFF OF LIFE

2007-09-25T22:41:00.000-04:00

Yumm - got a used bread machine at the incredible price of $15. Works ridiculously well.
I started out with white Portuguese bread, graduated to whole wheat and now, after reading the ingredients on some of the good breads at the market, have started adding sunflower seeds, walnuts, and pumpkin seed, etc.
I usually make it b4 I go to bed and good God, sometimes it smells so good in the middle of the night, it forces you, by the nose, to come down that long flight of stairs - ceilings here are 12 feet - and tear into it. It's warm and soft and butter just melts on it in a natural fashion, since it's not toast. Again, YUMM!!

OUT MY BACK DOOR

2007-09-19T21:49:00.000-04:00

Got up at my normal time (630 am) but went outside first thing to see if my clothes were dry, and noticed for the first time the interesting palette of colorful homes right there in my back yard. I've worked out there on projects for hours and never noticed them like this before. Maybe it's the way the sun came up today...

Sometimes Something Really Has Got Your Name Written All Over It

2007-09-18T22:58:00.001-04:00

Rode my bike home from the Quarter the other night and as I was breezing my way down the block by my house in the dim moonlight, I made out something - something calling out my name, tho not in a loud way. And having had a few drinks, I didnt pay a lot of attention to it, but had definitely gotten a sense of it. Well the next day, driving by the same spot, it called my name out loud and clear and right there in broad daylight, I couldnt help but acknowledge the presence:

I dont know who it is but he's definitely a brother. "Doctor Love" is the new nickname facetiously attributed to me by my Aussie "mate" Greg, and "Dr Feelgood" has been part of my persona for what feels to be at least centuries.

MADE IT!

2007-09-17T12:32:00.000-04:00

A major doubt in terms of moving to New Orleans was the REALLY bad rep it had regarding its own special brand of summerime blues, namely the heat and particularly the humidity. Having endured it for the last few months, it is rather unrelenting, but having worked out in brutally cold northeast winters, it turned out to be more 'annoying' than brutal. I had really grown to detest working outside in the cold - hell I was a beach kid and my blood must have thinned hanging out and working on the beach for all those years. So I kind of just accepted the soupyness of it all and just tried not to think about it too much.
Well, I woke up to go meet my buddy Greg to go check his progress on a couple of gutted brick homes he bought for $40 grand each and when I opened the door I was most happily greeted by a cool breeze, and completely devoid of humidity. FALL IS COMING!! The harbinger, the true harbinger was there blowing softly across my face. Signifyin!
So I'm not kidding myself, summer is still with us but I can feel those cool days just on the horizon.

Here are some pics of my beautiful park just a block away. All kinds of musicians hang out there and Frenchmen St, the jazz/blues/funk center of New Orleans, is on the other side of the park. This day, there was the last in a summer long series of free concerts by the wimmenz of NOLA. All really good too. Incidentally, I found out about a singer who goes back and forth between NYC and NOLA whose name is Ingrid Lucia. Terrific singer who sounds naturally like a young Billie Holiday and is for real. Also I heard a woman on WWOZ Friday coming home from work - Rachelle Ferell (who's actually from Pa.) Oh MY God, what an incredible instrument her voice is. I was literally hoopin it up she was so unbelievable.

ahhhh the beach

2007-09-01T19:26:00.000-04:00

I came back to jersey just to jump in the ocean. As I broiled in my beach chair (after 6 days of rain) I took a movie of the ocean just to post it here so that when I get to the point of missing the shore again (there's not really anything to jump into here in NOLA but the "muddy mississipi"), I can just plug into my blog here and listen to the rhythm and view the crashing waves.

I found out from Arlette that when we were kids, we'd go to the beach almost every day as a substitute for air conditioning (which essentially didnt exist then) or malls (which fortunately didnt exist then). So I developed a strong magnetic attraction for water - going to college 8 hours from the shore in the mountains of Virginia my freshman year left me longing for the ocean in much the same way having been in New Orleans has.>

Home

2007-08-23T00:01:00.000-04:00

Just relaxing in South Jersey - home for 11 days from the Big Easy.
Went down and caught some beautiful home town views of the meadows and creek from down the street.

click to enlarge photos

From Hafiz the Persian Poet

2007-07-26T13:13:00.000-04:00

Once a young woman asked Hafiz, "what is the sign of someone knowing God?"
Hafiz remained silent for a few moments and looked deep into the young person's eyes, then said, "Dear, they have dropped the knife. They have dropped the cruel knife so often used upon their tender self and others"

A Glimpse Into A Moment of Hell

2007-07-16T13:51:00.000-04:00

Shattered pieces of the dream, they scatter
‘cross the landscape of my heart and soul.
Concussions, tho they slowly oh so slowly wane,
return in random, profound blows of emptiness and searing pain.
Those days of doubt and fear come haunt the memories of
my fondest hours, and turn the warmest, kindest times
into these harsh, cruel beasts bound to devour love -
there, beyond the gates within the gardens lush, sublime...

LJM

THE DOCTOR IKE MEDICINE ROAD SHOW

2007-07-13T08:24:00.000-04:00

Here's a pic of my man Ike.
I met Ike on a job where he was talkin major jive about how he could play music, how he'd done this, done that, and oh yeah, done that other thing too. So I brought a guitar back after lunch to test the theory and lo and behold, tho a bit rusty, I could see immediately the work he'd put into his art at one time. We laughed a LOT and got along great - and the Doctor Ike Medicine Road Show was launched. Destination? Bourbon St/Frenchmen St, downtown New Orleans, Louisiana!
We've both done all kinds of music, so everything and anything is on the table.
Cant wait! Fun!Fun!Fun!

HANGIN OUT IN MY NEW DIGS

2007-07-10T21:23:00.000-04:00

God it's hot down here - but not as hot as Philly. Ha! They featured it on the weather. Saw it was 97 or something up there. Thank God I'm down here where at least we have more moderate temps: 95.

Here I am at home hangin out in my Groovette T-shirt lol
I knows you hates me Rains, but I still luvs ya. (Raina designed the Groovette logo)
And life fucking goes on -
God bless

RELUCTANCE, RELEASE, RENEWAL

2007-07-06T01:09:00.000-04:00

When stars are lost in skies so dark
A man can easy see,
His only choice as setting course
Far from the stormy seas.
And though the thunder crashing
May fade as miles divide,
The song within the beating heart
May run, but never hide.

Oh time, my friend, you healer
Hand in hand we walk thru days
Unyielding, ever onward,
Bending colors into grays.
Children's laughter fades to silence,
Tears - their meaning disappears.
My shiv'ring soul's supressed the cold
Shall love too, soon ebb from here?

Failing to glimpse a hint of joy
In the windows of my soul,
The monochrome months at last relent
As the metamorphosis unfolds.
Oh the bonds once forged with kindness
Dissolve sad 'neath the righteous love,
And trust, the vessel, sinks slowly below
As light streaks through clouds above.

LJM 7/6/07

IN BUSINESS, IT'S CRITICAL TO DIVERSIFY

2007-06-17T23:19:00.000-04:00

In a city such as New Orleans where people are much less likely to follow the dictums of Wall Street or Madison Ave business savants, its always refreshing to see someone who can carve a niche in the local economy and use the professional models of the big boys - but of course modified in that unique N'Awlins style.
What we're talking about here is diversification. If one business model doesnt suit you, or provide enough $$ to keep it all happening, then you need to think outside of the box and bring into play whatever it is that will keep things afloat. Here then is an entrepreneur who felt that either the bike parts needed a complementary business concept to augment street traffic, or maybe it was the formal wear rentals which obviously required the bike parts to complete the vision of the business plan.

THE RIVERBOATS HAVE LANDED

2007-06-17T22:36:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple of photos of some unique architecture in New Orleans (located in the area of the devastated lower 9th ward. As it turns out paradoxically, homes nearest the river were the safest and fared the best). Note the pagoda style!!

These 2 separate beauties are located just beyond the Mississippi River right off the levee, but are still plenty tall enough to allow a view of the river. The interesting aspect about them is that they were, as I was told, built by steamboat captains as replicas of their actual captains quarters lodged on the top of their steamboats. The fact that their height affords visibility of the river, it's kind of like taking your job home with you. These guys are paid huge $$$ (850K/yr) so I guess they must really love their jobs.

partyin' hearty

2007-06-03T21:29:00.000-04:00

My buddy Owen finished all his exams so we went out celebrating last night. His alternative motive was to see me get bombed 'cause apparently I always appear to "be in control".

Well, it worked - and as staggeringly out of control as I was, it had to have been quite a spectacle seeing me trying to help the O man back home after his face made cracking contact with the pavement.
Having no recollection of the whole incident, he woke up wondering if he'd pissed me off and I'd consequently nailed him lol.

THE POD PEOPLE DELIVERED MY BABY

2007-05-14T16:39:00.000-04:00

had my POD sent down from up north. found an apartment that didnt flood at all during katrina. and incredibly, the lady who owns the house just built a brand new shop in the back (she's worked doing carpentry/set design for 25 years) but had essentially no tools - only a little portable table saw. So when I offered to share my tools for the space she was more than amenable. Saved me having to sell the tools for cheap or pay 400/mo. rental. But more importantly, I've regained a sense, in the apartment, of my self, by having the different aspects of my personality surround me again. Plus I'm 2 blocks from 10 jazz and blues clubs with some of the best New Orleans has to offer. (In the pics, the owner paid for the crown and I installed the ceiling, window, and mirror/key holder treatments)

Went to jazz fest last Sunday and the featured artist, Alvin Batiste, a clarinet player who was the fore-runner of the modern jazz movement in NOLA around the time of Charlie Parker/Miles Davis, was unable to play because he'd passed away that morning. Well the best musicians in New Orleans were already on tap to pay tribute to the generous spirit (he'd taught all of the marsalis family, harry connick, nicolas payton, etc etc) of Mr. Batiste, and instead of cancelling it, they decided to do a New Orleans style send off.
The best were there and they played with inspiration. My God, what passion, emotion, joy, sadness, and exhiliration was shared with an audience deeply moved and appreciating. An incredible event to witness which gave proper perspective and depth to the superficial depictions of funerals and rites of passage which are so connected with NOLA.
The Allman Brothers were there and the best I'd ever seen them - Susan Tedeschi is married to Derek Trucks, the guitar player, and she came up and wowed the crowd. Bonnie Raitt and her band kicked the doors down too - sang her coolest stuff including the emotionally provocative "But I Will" - whew! believe me, it was pretty intense. Her piano player is a nawlins native who plays here all the time so the hometown crowd was fired up.

The one colorful pic is of Paul Schaffer with Bo Dalis and the Mardi Gras Indians dressed in their extremely labor intensive outfits (they MUST be all hand sewn or you're dismissed). There is a great deal of culture and hierarchy associated with Mard Gras which people are completely ignorant of, and which is both much more fascinating and more historically connected than just tits in the French Quarter.

All in all, Jazz fest is another remarkable new orleans event. In fact larger than Mardi Gras - and the food is to DIE for.

Speaking of which. My buddy Mike from Long Valley had business in NOLA and took me out to Emeril's (God bless his charge account!). ANOTHER Nawlin's marvel. THe Best escargot ever. and on and on....

The Good, The Bad, and The Deelayshuss

2007-04-19T00:44:00.000-04:00

Here's a coffered ceiling I built from scratch (as yet un-painted) - lots of fun and even more cope cuts.

(clik to enlarge pics)

New Orleans is like my new love and like a new love, there're always tests.
Well, here's my first test...

Ate at Jacque-Imo's in NOLA. Here's their famous Alligator/Sausage Cheesecake, a fried green tomato, and crayfish something in a sauce - All To Die For. And a photo of the backdrop to the bacchanalian feast. I forgot to get a shot of the 20 yr old truck outside which hasnt moved in 10 years with the table for 2 set up in the bed of the truck. Ya gotta be funky to love N'Awlins!

Roll Back?? Waterfall?? Roll Over?

2007-04-04T23:51:00.000-04:00

THE DEBATE RAGES:

Specific cultural preference?
Practical influence?
Anti-social behavior?
Unadulterated kissin' of yo Mamma's ass?

A Touch of the Old Life

2007-03-25T18:32:00.000-04:00

Oh yeah - got a "new" truck. (I have a strange fascination with orange trucks)
That's it sitting in front of my new digs in a much safer part of town.

My truck's Italian cousin from down the street:

STILL LIFE (though it might not seem so)

2007-03-25T18:27:00.000-04:00

Musician's Village New Orleans

2007-03-25T17:48:00.001-04:00

Put in a day at Habitat For Humanity here in New Orleans lower 9th ward, one of the worst areas hit by Katrina and sadly, I found it pretty disappointing viewing the organization from the prospect of joining on a managerial level (project manager).

(click on photos to enlarge)

I ran into someone last night who's been with them for the past year who described the essence of the problem. Apparently it's real, and solvable, but it will be difficult to bring about change without the threat of disclosure. We'll see what happens in the next couple of months.
But the efforts of the volunteers were tremendous. Beautiful, caring people building cute, simple homes.
Here are some pics of both:

Serendipity

2007-03-21T22:49:00.000-04:00

Went down to a local coffee house a coupla nights ago and was expecting pretty much nothing more than some local talent since it was free - and so there was. A brother/brother team from what seemed like the college down the street playing jazz from the 20's quite lamely. I became engrossed in a conversation with a guy who'd studied flamenco guitar in spain for a year (he's been playing for 45 years) and missed the intro of the next act (they have 4 or 5 acts a night) Well as my new friend bolted out to a neighborhood meeting, I became aware of the stunning talent that was beaming from the stage - far from what I had expected. The star of the show turned out to be a singer from asheville, so carolina or somewhere - she and the band (stephanie's id) were touring and somehow ended up there for the night. She had a bjorkish/fiona apple style of singing but very personally her self - not an imitatation - and it was very expressive. The hometown crowd loved it. She made percussion noises like a drum with her mouth - like I used to do, when I drove Nicky crazy doing it as I listened to music in the car. I told her she should meet nicky :)

The next night, about 4 blocks from my new place is a mansion called the Columns Hotel and every Tuesday they have a bonafide New Orleans jazz guitar player who the flamenco guy (Bill) told me not to miss. So I shoot over at 730 and he and a clarinet player start out the show and they're singin and jammin and this goes on for about an hour or so and the place is starting to fill up. Nice people - wealthy artistic New Orleanians with good political awareness judging from the laughter in response to the "Chocolate City" song - referring to Mayor Nagin and the lack of progress here in NOLA. Well after they start cookin with some N'Awlins groove tunes all of a sudden from the back of the room comes this loud but sweet trumpet just jumpin in the jam - and playing so melodically and phrasing with such profound feeling, that I was blown away. Turns out it's Jack Fine, a 75 year old guy who has obviously been around more than a few blocks here in the Crescent City. I offered up a Louis Armstong tune I have loved for 35 years when they asked for requests, and always have affiliated with New Orleans: I Want a little Girl.
Well the joy that brought and the beauty of that horn blowin sweet in the night is a true testament of the special value that New Orleans has potentially to offer every night - a thing o' beauty to a music lover like me.

BOOTY

2007-02-18T13:01:00.000-05:00

Mardi Gras started last week. Here's some of the booty hangin around town

Dumb Down

2007-02-08T15:55:00.000-05:00

I bid on a coupla jobs a few months ago thru a connection I had created with a guy that sold very high end components and home theaters. So he wanted me to do a home theater in his "basement" which was not your normal hole in the ground (his existing pallette included shiny black and bright red leather theater seating).

So I designed something for him that was really pretty cool - solid padauk (red) frames around panels of high gloss black laminate surrounding his 60 inch plasma screen with accompanying 5 foot high black silk removable speaker covers left and right of the screen; matching custom milled padauk crown molding was designed for the ceiling area on the "screen wall". All for about $2650. When I gave him the price you'd think I'd just told him I wanted to sleep with his mom.
When I finally dumbed down the style to a point that I didnt even want to do it - it was still "too fancy"

He turned me on to a Doctor who wanted a "beautiful entertainment center" designed and built.
Essentially the same thing happened - really nice custom design - two piece unit - top and bottom, solid cherry, glass shelves with ambient lighting and cooling fans, etc etc....
Verdict?
Dumb it down.

So now I'm in New Orleans and the architectural significance and character of the homes here requires creative, highly skilled carpenters in order to maintain that sense. Not only that, but people here are interested in creating new work with that feel too. So highly skilled carpenters are a prized commodity and all of a sudden it's "let's smarten it up" instead of "dumbin it down".
And not only that, people here understand when you have the "feel" for comprehending what's required to take a simple plan to the next level - and ENCOURAGE IT.....,tell you they want to hire you in their corporations......,develop partnerships with you in real estate ventures.

Yeah Homey, we a long way from fucking kansas

And today Habitat For Humanity finally called back. 3 pm tomorrow and I get to see what its all about - what I came down here to do.

POSH MARDI GRAS CRIB

2007-01-29T22:30:00.000-05:00

1 day off in 23 ten hour days (on average) gets a lotta shit done!
here's the after shot of the house we just finished (located one block off Bourbon St in the French Quarter) Unfortunately no before pics.

(to enlarge photos just clik on pic)

And whaddya get for bustin yer ass into the ground for all those years???

Voila: Above grade site 'til the next big flood

Shrink Rap

2007-01-17T22:30:00.001-05:00

Hey, ya bored?
Apparently, some people are.
I never realized until today just how bored they are.
Let's face it, people want to be entertained almost constantly - TV, friends, sports, drinking, love and romance (aka sex), travel, etc, etc...
Well, what if you've tired of all the fruits of joy? What if you've done it all, seen it all, been everywhere, know everything?
I heard a song today and the guy was singing "you caint do nuttin fer me aint been done by someone for me before"
This guy is definitely bored. Boring too, I'd say. But let's not get personal.
And then today I came across a gizmo to help this bored individual, as well as all those poor over-satiated, over-indulged, jaded folks hanging around with frowns on their faces.
The picture above is of what appeared to be initially, a remote.
But AHHH, upon closer scrutiny, a particularly perspicacious plumber, Rich Majewski, found the answer to so many peoples' prayers. As he studied the remote's functions, one specific button caught his attention. The picture below basically says all you need to hear, see, touch, taste, or smell:

Second button down on the right is screamin for a squeeeeze - go 'head, try it.

So now all you need is to push a button and fun rains down on you - parades begin in your honor, dignitaries invite you to dinner, superstars are IM'ing you, policemen protect you, you can actually DANCE! not that disjointed 'Elaine-dance' you've been offending friends and family with at weddings and circumcisions - hmmm, maybe that was confirmation - I cant remember. But damn, you sho nuff boogeyin' now.
Wow, fun. Who'd have thought it could be so easy??!?!? And so cheap?? - just the cost of a remote....
Ha! Not so hasty my little tasty pudding pop. Unfortunately that remote is connected to one little requirement - you must be "successful". How else ya gonna be able to AFFORD that $6,500 pricetag attached to it?
DAMN! so close. You should know by now that happiness isnt cheap. Happiness requires unwavering purpose, intensity, unrelenting tenacity, sacrifice, wisdom fortitude, knowledge, piety, (hmmmm, its beginning to sound verrrry Catholic) but the list continues for about 2 or 3 more paragraphs....
So all is lost, eh?
Nahhhh.
Fun fortunately is right there on the end of your fingertips. All ya gotta do is lighten the fuck up - dont be so up tight - keep it simple - chiiilllll - mellow down easy. Well that's no easy matter either bucko. One of the hardest things to do is to Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) It takes years of understanding the universe to get to that zen spot that'll take you out of that state of compulsion - the compulsion to be successful, or yes, even to be enlightened.
Cause one day you wake up and you say to yourself - fuck this crap, I'm just gonna have fun and thats when you realize you dont need no stinkin "fun gun" - the damn "fun" was in you, fucking with you right from the beginning.
So chuck the remote and go kiss your dog or kick 'im if you're wierd and thats what kinda kicks it takes to get you off - ya goddam wierdo! YOU need a shrink!!!

Love and kisses

SCENES FROM N'AWLINS

2007-01-14T23:13:00.000-05:00

CULTURAL DIVERSITY:
(CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTOS)
LEFT - RON, SERIOUS GOOD OLD BOY WITH EXPERIENCE GALORE

RIGHT - MATT, ARCHITECTURAL STUDENT WITH PIERCINGS GALORE

GETTIN PRIMED FOR MARDI GRAS

HOME WHERE I'M STAYING BY THE FRENCH QUARTER

HOUSE I'M WORKING ON - ORIGINALLY THIS WAS COMPLETELY GUTTED DOWN TO THE BARE STUDS AND CEILING JOISTS

CHECK THE CROWN MOLDING IN COFFERED CEILINGS

Oh when the Saints Come Marchin In ( I heard that on the radio today 4 x's)

2007-01-13T21:23:00.002-05:00

OK, I'm new to New Orleans and tonite its the Eagles vs the Saints. Now I'm truly a Giants fan thru and thru - GO GIANTS....and although I'll feel bad for all my friends who are Eagle fans as the Saints head to the Super Bowl, I wont feel THAT bad.

The Seven Fifty Four - Lost and Found

2007-01-03T22:22:00.001-05:00

Found a lot (with a house yet to be demolished on it) in a neighborhood that once was nice, before Katrina, and you can see the original folks are back, hard at work rebuilding their homes. This lot/house had a garage on it too. $30,000 - great price. Across the street a new home - nice looking - is just about finished and just sold for $160k.
Housing prices are really starting to climb so a lot for 30k is pretty special. The picture on the right is the original floorplan/ad/description for the house when they had it built years ago.

I walked in the garage and you could see that the owner, who's an elderly gent, had a little shop and an office and the wood he'd stockpiled in the shop area was all askew and twisted and ruined; the office was all moldy. The rusted desk was still there with evidence of life as it had known, but abruptly stopped dead still. It's in that moment that you can sense the human toll. That this home was somebody's reason to get up in the morning to make a better life for their family, cooking breakfasts and Thanksgiving dinners for years; somebody's sense of security, their peace and joy - the Christmas Eves, graduations, proms, weddings. Now just a target for the wrecking ball - rendered meaningless and being essentially given away to the highest bidder. And you look down the block and you see 30 more homes and the lives attached to them all permanently changed. And the next block is the same and the next mile and the next.
It's overwhelming. Then I found out next door to the house I was looking, the owner had drowned right there in his own home.

I woke up in the middle of the night with a lot on my mind and finally did my meditation where I feel all of myself as being one and the same with all of the universe and an expansive peace calmed my soul. Thanks God!

I'm glad I'm down here. I can't wait to do some good for someone. I should be settled by next month. I'm in a cute old New Orleans shotgun style home about 4 blocks from the French Quarter on a beautiful old avenue - Esplanade. My God, there is some spectacular ante-bellum architecture all around. A coupla blocks off the main drag tho, and it's the mean streets, so in the midst of beauty you have to remember that the undercurrent that aint so pretty is right around the corner. Gun shots on New Years Eve right outside - sounded like a 44 magnum - that deep fat cartridge sound - POP POP POP POP. You brace yourself.

Merry Christmas from New Orleans

2006-12-25T20:05:00.001-05:00

PEACE

Blood Lust

2006-12-25T00:06:00.001-05:00

Ahhh, to feast on the deliciously delectable, despicable carcass...
Yes, the joy of the carnivore lies not simply with the thrill of the kill, but most relishingly, with the bathing in the blood of the beast, face sticky with the sanguinary proof of its demise.
Bon Sante!

a question to the answer

2006-10-13T12:25:00.000-04:00

The logic you hear a lot of these days is that we'll look like 'losers' if we leave Iraq (I almost typed VietNam). Then terrorists will "run around the world saying 'we've defeated the Americans, it's the greatest victory over the West since the beginning of time', and it becomes a recruiting propaganda piece of advocacy for jihadists," so said Australian Prime Minister John Howard, basically echoing the president's own rhetoric.

But in my estimation, this is what they're saying now:
"Arent those Americans stupid!?!?? Allowing us to dictate their having to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on a war that they not only can never win but which will eventually bankrupt them just as we did with the Russians - Ha! What fools!"
Hardly the impression one would have of "winners"
And this concept of joining the Jihad to cripple America is the very propaganda they're using to effectively call their fellow Jihadists to arms.

Mr Howard continued with "Certainly the post-invasion phase, the post-military operation phase, has gone on longer and has not gone as well as one might have hoped. We will go when we believe we have finished our job. Now I don't know when that will be, I really don't."

When will "the job will be done"? When the US has been crippled from financing a burgeoning fiasco? By failing to finance our own infrastructure in the US? By taxing our children's children to pay for this? By not creating an alternate fuel policy so crucial in weaning us from oil and keeping us from having to be involved in the mid east? By not providing the services required to develop the critical educational issues facing our citizenry? All for a war that cant be "won"?

KICK 'EM WHILE THEYRE DOWN

2006-10-06T00:54:00.000-04:00

Man, life's weird. Ya see a guy who's payin his bills, the mortgage and taxes, and always ontime, faithful, loves the kids, even if, and when they arent his; tryin to make the most with the burgeoning business he's got, and all that still falls way too short for some people.
No, a few clouds on the horizon doesnt mean the teeth of the gale's upon you, doesnt mean the ship's about to sink, doesnt mean it's "each man for himself", and it definitely doesnt mean you give up the ship for the rowboat. No, that's when it's all hands on deck - when the winning team rallies - when you find out who your friends are, not "were", and it definitely aint when you a kick a man - not when there's still a breath of a breeze in the sails. Maybe not the strongest, most uplifting breeze, but enough to know you still aint dead in the water.
And if it aint sinkin, dont tell me it is. 'Cause to me mate, that's mutiny.

DEAL.......OR NO DEAL??

2006-09-26T01:24:00.000-04:00

It's interesting to see in the midst of recent MAJOR FEAR MONGERING by the Republicans, that when info comes out confirming that we are, in deed, less safe as a result of our presence in Iraq (let's face it - every freakin nut within a 1000 mile radius couldnt wait to get their gun sights set on a REAL American, and consequently barreled into Iraq), now all of a sudden according to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte - "We are better prepared...We are safer.'' Sounds like they're talking out of both sides of their Grand Old Portals.

So if you noticed that at the same time that we were being reminded, and reminded often during the weeks preceeding and following the 5th anniversary of 9/11, that there is a growing threat of terror (as well as an actual recent "red alert"), we are almost simultaneously led to believe we are really, in fact, safer.

C'mon guys, get your act together! Are we hunky dory or doomed?
Red alert, Green alert, what's it gonna be? I guess it's like this: "there's definitely a threat, but let's just not finger the Boss"

I remember in the 50's when they had little kids do the "duck and cover" drill - like ducking under a desk was gonna save your ass from the Atom Bomb! HA Hell I was digging a hole to make a bomb shelter out in the back yard when I was 5 or 6 years old. Fear was a powerful motivator. And it still works.

And today I heard some Bush Qwakkin about the "political" use of classified info (namely above) by the Dems. but he forgot to mention the use of his own OVER-classification of info in order to keep the truth out of the hands and ears and eyes of the public - a blatant use of bully pulpit partisanism.

LEADERSHIP PLEASE!

2006-09-20T17:18:00.002-04:00

God, I gotta stop watching the news, it's too damned depressing. Not only have I had to ponder, in the last month or so, Armageddon at the onset of the Isreali/Lebanon war, now I have to fear for the Pope and the rest of Christendom, since al queda has decided to ratchet up the jihad. And to top it all off, the smell of sulphur permeating the United Nations has been attributed directly to my President, AKA "the devil".

But seriously, I'm truly appalled at the fact that Religious Leaders are nowhere to be found in these perilous hours, calling on people to adhere to principles of God's Love. Where are the Ghandis and Martin Luther Kings of today, as the world spirals out of control. The Pope said that this would be a good time for leaders to have a dialogue! Ha! Jesus, Mary, and Joseph man! Call the meeting right then and there. What kind of leader is the freakin Pontiff?!?! Shall we wait for Muctada Al Sadr to call for one? Maybe Nasrallah will invite the Pope and the leaders of the Muslims over for tea. Einstein said that the problems of the world would have to be solved on a higher plane.
I guess they must not pass collection plates at these meetings.

ITS ALL HOW YOU PERCEIVE IT

2006-09-07T09:51:00.000-04:00

WHAT "THEY" SAW

WHAT "WE" SAW

Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda......The Loser's Mantra

2006-09-06T10:32:00.000-04:00

thank god the elections are coming - I never thought we'd see gas prices go back down.
Gotta love those big oil companies. Sacrificing the nations economy/stability for unimaginable profits. Now THATS the new American way! I remember when greed was popular in the late 80's. Drop in the old bucket compared to this, PLUS, havin the big guy in the oval office bein' a real team player - why it's like owning the refs at the superbowl - your team just cant lose.

Playing with the economy is too much like russian roulette - ya gotta know when to quit. That "hey, I'm on a roll" mentality can keep you in the game just one hand too many and then, boom....
It's much more complicated trying to put things back in order when they're all splattered about.

And then to leave the mess to someone else - that's the rudest cut of all.

(RIGHT - [you cant make this madness up]: Kaba Kick is a Russian roulette for kids. The player points the gun at his or her own head and pulls the trigger. Instead of bullets, a pair of feet kick out from the barrel (which is shaped like a pink hippo). If the gun doesn't fire, the player earns points.)

cheez n crackers, got all muddy

2006-09-05T18:14:00.001-04:00

Marie, my mother in law, was here for a few days last week. She's spry as can be for 79 or 80, but some faculties, as we found out then, ARE deteriorating. Di bought her some crackers at the store and Marie had them beside her as she was watching Law and Order - Criminal Intent. Now I, unlike a few un-named, easily identifiable members of the family, have never been known for having my sentences trail off into unrecognizable mutterings.
So when I asked Marie "Are the cheez-its right there?", and she responded unhesitatingly, "Jesus is right here with me all the time", we knew, as well as she (after I repeated the actual question again), that the new hearing aid she's been casually neglecting to accept/wear, was gonna need to be dusted off/recalibrated real soon. There's no coming back after mistaking Jesus for Cheez-its. Next thing you know you'll be bringing a shopping cart to mass, or even worse, finding yourself kneeling down, praying in the canned meat aisle.

Song For Mark

2006-08-18T12:02:00.000-04:00

I wrote/recorded a new tune (chord melody - no lyrics) dedicated to Mark - it's posted on my website, http://www.docguitar.com/ To hear it, go to the website, scroll down, and clik: "A LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW" - the song will be at the top of the page. (Just clik it to play - if it doesnt open, save it to file and open that way.)

Magic Carpet Ride

2006-08-13T20:53:00.000-04:00

Had a really nice week - Terry and the kids came for a few days. It was an interesting counterpoint to the events of the past few weeks. The joy and laughter and youthful vitality children bring into the mix - along with the fact that we all had a chance to feel Terry's new as yet, unborn baby kickin and jumpin for joy in utero - all that added to the reality of life's ever-undulating cycles.
Everything was capped off last night at Bushkill park. We got there at dusk just as the crowds were exiting and the lights dimming at the rides. "They're all closed up for the night", people said as we approached the entrance. Altho I was VERY skeptical, Mama Di unabashedly approached the old lady begging just "one more ride for the little ones" - luke and grace.
I was only accustomed to the people who man the rides at 4H Fairs , who after a coupla days, load all the rides up and head into another town in a dizzy dull delirium, vacant eyes and vacant hearts, devoid of the joy their dull jobs are actually providing; the boardwalk college kids so intent on the dates or parties that night that they see children as just a huge interference to the frantic agendas they've been planning for hours, days, weeks, months.

No, Bushkill Park provided a new concept in "going to the rides". Mary Catherine, a young girl working at the park, on hearing Di's pleadings with the little old lady who runs the park, offered to go back and unlock the box that would allow the kids to take one last ride. And then as Luke was mumbling that he was wishing for one more ride, Mary Catherine agreed to not only that second one, but to a third one thrown in. When offered money, she steadfastly refused several times until it would have been more rude of her to ignore the offering than accept. Reluctantly, she did. But what a doll - she helped turn a mess into magic.

(Mary Catherine with the kids at Right)
(Mama Di, Granmom, and Aunt Mama Terry Below)

A wrap up of what's going on this weekend

2006-08-05T11:22:00.000-04:00

this last week, since we went to the hospital to say our last goodbyes to Mark, has been fraught with emotion and loss, cascading from the joys once shared to waking in the middle of the night and realizing you'll never see your close friend again. The family (ours), each individually, has been particlarly struck because of years of closeness.

We've been hanging out w/Diane, Ckristen, and Brie all week. Nathaniel made carbonara last night for the 2 families (and also Jim Viv. and of course Miranda) here at home - he did a great job for the J family's first foray out of 611 Raub st. I have to say Jim has been a rock thru this all, extremely supportive for Di. A great guy.

Today at 4 is the funeral - family and real close friends to keep it manageable (small)for Diane, altho, since mark has been cremated, there wont be a burial - his ashes will be cast at Hawke Point tomorrow. Dinner follows at Diane's tonight and then tomorrow is the memorial at Hawke Point Country Club from 3-6 - a celebration of life at which I'll be playing.

As it turns out Marks dad suffered from a debilitating heart attack at almost the same age which left him almost completely dependent on Dot, Marks mom. Mark gave specific instructions to Diane to never allow that to happen to him. So with much anguish and a desire to fulfill marks wishes, she reluctantly released him.
God bless all.
love,
doc

marker

2006-07-28T21:00:00.001-04:00

mr j is not doing well. It seems as if this is very serious and the chance of recovery is growing slimmer and slimmer. Di came back pretty shook up today - and with mrs j's reluctance to create any connection with di, it just gets weirder and weirder. It's really inconceivable to imagine him not just waking up and saying "where the hell am I - I gotta get out on the links at noon", but the prospect of very serious brain damage is pretty much the real prognosis.
The last time I spoke with mark was at Jerri's husband, Neils viewing, 2 weeks before. Mark was saying "we're gonna be going to a lot more of these in the next few years" and I jokingly replied "not if we beat 'em to it". We went inside and they (mark and diane) became involved with friends and I left Di and just split. It turns out that it was the last thing we laughed about. I have a lot of faith most of the time, but I'd sure like to have another opportunity to kid about something, anything, just one more time. Di and I have been joking about the fact that Mark and Eddie are out looking at CD's or playing golf, and Eddie keeps sayin' "he'll be back in minute" . Guess they're havin too much fun.

Di and I, essentially still on vacation, worked on clearing the limbs off the mulberry tree - the limbs, of which were actually allowing the squirrels to drop onto the deck, as well as a slew of ugly dead ones (limbs, not squirrels). I'd climb up the ladder, tie off the bough, and have Di start to pull on the rope in a direction opposite the ladder, when I yelled that the branch was just about cut through. The branches were so heavy that basically, they'd just crash straight down, or pull di. But we got an amazing area cleared, and when autumn's leaves have fallen, we'll be able to see New Jersey thru the trees again. It was 96 degrees and brutal humidity, but we were on a mission - and it looks great.

My nephew's DJ's new baby Madi was born just a few weeks ago - she has beautiful expressive eyes and was full of life and expression immediately after birth. Here's a shot of the little sweetheart with with her new hat. Aint she just a cutie!

Nathaniel tuns 21 at midnight tonight. Cousin Rachel is helping lead the charge into legality by, I'm sure, having the poor child/man develop what I'm certain will be his first seriously legit hangover. Ahh, the joys of adulthood!

Time just keeps on keepin on

fucking illusion/delusion

2006-07-24T21:40:00.000-04:00

AWWWWW! look at the puppy and the kitty - they're sooooo cuuuute! - and that might be what the average person looking at these pics might think.
I too was caught by the sight of Bean (cat) and Kramer (dog), sworn enemies for years, but separated for a year or so. A temporary sojourn to the DR by Beans momma Raina for 6 weeks, brought her back home to hide and cower from the heartless, vicious, feeble, Kramer. So you can imagine my surprise when, like the biblical lion and sheep sleeping together, I saw the 2 amicably, peacefully, "socializing" - and especially when Kramer D. Dawg was in the process of eating. So much of a surprise, that I had to record the moment - hence the photos. Kramer came in a minute later and after milling around a bit, started whining for food.
That's when it struck me - Kramer and Bean werent in the process of socializing - Kramer was totally in the process of victimizing Bean. Kramer was eating BEAN'S food, and she was too much of a pussy to fight off the predator, so was just putting on her game face - LOSER.
But the delusion had been exposed and Kramer got a "bad dog!" and a well deserved kick in the ass.

In other news of the day, Mr Jensen's holding on. We're just waiting to have him wake up. The coma is pretty deep, although when we went yesterday and I was playing mark my new guitar, the cranial numbers were spiking, so the nurse made me stop. I thought it was good to play music for people in comas as did the nurse the day before. Nurse Ratchett obviously didnt.

Finished a new mantel just before vacation - mahagony and padauk.(clik pic to enlarge) .
They wanted the red padauk to pick up the Renoir reds in the print above. It worked out nicely - i'll have a nicer picture when the owner finishes the tile around the fire box

Played my new guitar outdoors in the midst of a huge lightning storm at a wedding in Philly - sounded soooo nice - like buttah....good deal half the strings are nylon instead of all steel.

Heard an announcer on TV talking about the conflict with the "lesbanese" - When are people gonna learn it's just about love?? :)

which reminds me - when are we gonna see some pics from the DR, Ms's R&R?

back from the shore

2006-07-23T00:36:00.000-04:00

back from 10 days at the beach - di and i had a great time just talking, swimming, tanning, running on the beach, fixing the world, and just plain vegging the hell out.
incredible surf one day - offshore breezes and a tropical depression 100 miles to the east just jackin' the waves way up... and 75 degrees to boot!
unfortunately, we didnt bring a camera that day which BTW, looks like it needs a little lens de-smudge-afying)

approaching the shore

almost there

itchin' to jump in

the ocean at last

a shore house similar to a design of mine that i want to build
altho the columns here are too large for my taste
(clik to enlarge pics)

A NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY - UNCONVENTIONAL LOVE

2006-07-02T00:15:00.001-04:00

sometimes, try as you might, you just CANT deny that 'something' is meant to be. I have a new friend staying at the house. She's beautiful, has a perfect hourglass figure, and has a voice both mellow and sexy. I thought my wife, Di would be a little, (ok a LOT) upset and jealous, but when I explained I would have someone to entertain me when she went out to Montana for the week that she was leaving, she kind of understood. And when she came face to face with my new blonde friend, she too was entertained, and really saw the value in my new relationship.
Now when we initially made contact about 6 months ago, I wanted to bring her home right away, but I knew Di would be outraged. But the more engaged I became, the more I saw it was pretty much out of my hands. Finally a couple of weeks ago I became convinced that it was time for me to make the serious commitment to have her actually move in, and I knew I was willing to make the necessary compromises to enable it. But I ran into a stone wall, and came to the unfortunate rationalization/realization that "IF ITS MEANT TO BE, ITS MEANT TO BE" so I reluctantly/arrogantly closed my mind off to the whole concept.
Sometimes though, value is not determined solely by arbitrary statements, and the thought of IF ITS MEANT TO BE, ITS MEANT TO BE was soon replaced with, "Holy Shit! If I let her go, I may NEVER find a comparable, (for lack of a better phrase), soul-mate".
Well, now I see that contrary to my actual thought of "if it's NOT meant be, it's NOT meant to be," I was in fact correct in thinking that, if it IS meant to be it IS meant to be. So below, I hereby introduce you to my new love:

My new Taylor NS62 (Nylon String Maple/EnglemanSpruce Guitar)

CHECK OUT THAT ASS!

Ca Va Bien

2006-05-19T11:05:00.000-04:00

YIKES - I've been verrrry busy - working to pay mortgage payments and taxes and bills, plus an unexpected fat IRS tax bill to boot. Unfortunately I, (unlike some people) am not blessed with an ounce of access to any magic money, and so have to rely solely on blood sweat and tears to keep the boogie man away from our door.
And Hey, maybe someday I'll even own my own home again too!
Also have been figuring out how to do HTML to get my web site going. I worked extra hard last week so I could take off this week and finally figure the beast out - in order to get things literally ON THE INTERNET! Well it worked out. And altho it aint perfection, I know that now that its actually on the net, and I know HOW it was accomplished. Now its just a matter of going back and editing it until its closer to what I want - which of course will be an ever evolving process (especially me - the nazi editor).
I have one site for my music - DocGuitar.com and another site for my building/woodwork - DocsWoodWorks.com which I just set up this morning and am waiting patiently for the link so I can get into the control panel to move forward with that too.
My Mom even came to Easton to do a talk at Lafayette (at a Holocaust Studies class) promoting her book and the story which prompted it. It was really a fun talk. Arlette's entertaining style was well honed over 25 years of teaching and relating her stories initially to her students, who LOVED them. They, and their enthusiastic response throughout the years, were essentially the main catalyst for her finally sitting down after retirement and putting pen to paper. Dig this too: I just found out she has her own website!! (http://beyondtheouijaboard.com/) Is that cool or what? In her eighties too. OMG dont tell her I told you that.
Love my Momma!

Things are good.

STOLEN

2006-03-30T11:41:00.000-05:00

Ever feel like a criminal?? Ever do something that you know is wrong but regardless of the consequences you continue to do it - and then continue to do so over the course of years.
Well I once was that criminal.
The nature of my crime took place in a small town near the southern New Jersey shore 21 years ago.

My crime? Read on.

As a child, my parents read stories to my sister and me almost every night. Wonderful stories full of intrigue, humor, dialects, adventure. And they'd also allow us to choose the Golden Books which beckoned to all of the children hanging from their mothers skirts. Yes, and there, on the lower rack in the market by the cash register while food shopping Thursday afternoon, I found my favorite:

"The Sailor Dog" by Margaret Wise Brown w/pictures by Garth Williams.(red and blue heart-shaped stickers by child)

The independent spirit of the sailing dog and his cozy cabin always inspired me, although not enough later to actually join the navy - to me, the total opposite of freedom. But that self-reliant feeling stayed with me and in time, I bought a little house which, much like Scupper's boat, needed serious attention, and to which I was more than delighted to use my toolbox in many the same ways as the dog did to create a haven of peace and security.
When my daughter was born and and became old enough for me to begin reading to her, Scuppers was a bedtime book I wanted to include and eventually re-discovered, lo and behold, one day at the library, and in an even larger incarnation than my original (big pics, large print). I wanted my daughter to grow up with a sense of empowerment (especially in the age of the new woman) so Scuppers became a very popular staple at bed time to also help develop a sense of adventure. And while I was at it, every night I'd whisper in her ear as she lay sleeping: "You're a big girl Nicky. You can do anything you want to do".
For you young parents out there: It Worked. Sorta...

Sometimes a man is capable of intuitively comprehending the essence of a person and a situation perceptively enough to decide that pre-emptive action is neccessary. This was the case when I felt the decline of my marriage begin to take on particularly vindictive directions. My child stood as the most important element of my life, and knowing the vulnerability which that position left me, I felt it mandatory to consult with a laywer to prevent the possibility of my child being taken out of state - a very real possibility at that time. Having secured, processed, and presented the proper court orders I felt, though not secure, at least, less vulnerable.

To my horror, I discovered that a "promised 2 week vacation" turned into the nightmare child abduction that I had try to divert. When someone so precious is ripped from your arms and heart, an almost overwhelming sadness commands the empty space created. It's not like losing a possession - it's having someone taken who is inherently as much a part of yourself as yourself, and then not knowing if in fact you'll ever see her again, and what ugliness she's possibly and probably being subjected to at the hands of someone sociopathic enough to steal a child. Inconsolable is hardly word enough to describe the daily, hourly ordeal.
When her mother called once, I was told I would only be allowed to speak with my 3 year old in exchange for money (extortion).Then after alerting the court of her failure to uphold it's stated order proved to be completely worthless, I comprehended in full, the viciousness of my reality. And there on the nightstand night after night, month after month, sat Scuppers, begging to be reconnected to the quiet, loving ritual of being opened and shared, savored and read, with his favorite little fan.

In the meantime, The Library was on the lookout for Scuppers. But there was one Dad in the county too broken hearted to return him - it was like giving the library a piece of his heart. And he just couldnt, and wasnt going to give him up. He and Scuppers were on the run.....
Five months later after she finally returned home, Scuppers and Nicky sailed the happy seas together many times again, but it was still too difficult to return Scuppers to the library(hence, the "crime"). Eventually, a white lie accompanying a $25 check for payment of the "lost" library book enabled Scuppers to become a part of Nicky's little library -
Book #1.

The number 1 which she taped to the edge of the binding is gently fading and the scotch tape yellowing with age now as it awaits another lucky child to open its covers to the lands and adventures and imagination within.

PS. For you young parents out there, remember to also whisper in your child's ear: "call up and talk to your Dad often as you go thru life"

alone

2006-03-27T02:13:00.000-05:00

You ever feel like a motherless child?
You do right, but it's like you dont exist...

THIS BRANGELINA THING HAS GONE TOO FAR

2006-03-19T13:34:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it just gets to be too much. Sure a guy's gotta make a buck, but really...

I turn on the game and I see it's even penetrated into March Madness.

On this I gotta draw the line. How much did his publicist have to pay for this???

Millions I'm sure. And with all the press they're getting from her being bumped out and all, plus the impending wedding, you'd think that be enough. But no......

Hey, that aint BRAD???

Signed Sealed and Delivered

2006-03-09T02:18:00.000-05:00

Here are a few parting shots of what's essentially been my obsession since the beginning of the new year - a quilted maple and padauk entertainment center with 25 year old ebony (it's been waiting for the right project) for the handles.
I've been holed up in my self imposed prison of a shop tending to the last details and ignoring almost everyone and everything. I apologize, but I was havin fun dammit!!
I handed the baby over last night, am suffering from empty shop syndrome, but am now actually moving forward with my life from this moment on (going to go jam tonight), I promise. I'm even gonna answer phone messages from a month ago!! I dont know if anyone will pick up when they see it's me, but I'm still makin' the effort.

(clik pics for close ups)

(sliding dovetail detail, left; interior detail, rt.)

Murder more forgivable than cartoons?

2006-03-05T16:52:00.000-05:00

the headline reads:

Zawahri Lambastes West Over Prophet Cartoons
In video, al-Qaida No. 2 says West attacks Islam, glorifies homosexuality

CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida’s No. 2 leader Ayman al-Zawahri criticized the West for its insult to Islam’s prophet, complaining in a video broadcast Sunday on Al-Jazeera that the Prophet Mohammed and Jesus “are not sacred anymore.”

Apparently in the hierarchy of Al-Qaida’s sins, humor is a far greater transgression than beheading.
C'MON: 1st, I think God has a sense of humor and has graciously imparted it to his favorite souls. (Example of humor on a grand scale: men think buying dinner and a movie is going to get them laid and women think that if they give in to sex, they'll be able to create a relationship; for someone to originate those contradictory mindsets - now THATS humor and 2nd, I DONT think God OR Allah would find beheading innocent people riteous.

I mean, what the fuck?? Is that a stretch to understand??

I think SOMEONE here needs to re-arrange their values/logic.
'cause SOMEONE was apparently either beaten too little or too much as a child.

A QUIET MOMENT

2006-03-04T20:07:00.000-05:00

A beautiful, still, winter afternoon.
Power tools at rest
Kind of still art

EVER WONDER WHAT THAT NOISE IN THE BASEMENT IS THAT STARTS THE DOG BARKING??

2006-03-03T12:32:00.000-05:00

WASHER DRYER ARTIFACT COLLECTION

WHAT DA HELL ARE THESE GIRLS UP TO?? SEE IF YOU CAN GUESS

2006-02-28T10:39:00.000-05:00

ARE THEY:

1.Trying to out-gross-out each other with a garlic breath showdown???
2.Hurling insults about having to drive in an unheated automobile???
3.Spitting contest???
4.Just a coupla blowhards tring to out blow each other???

tyrant dictator of raub street???

2006-02-24T15:33:00.000-05:00

Could anyone in their right mind ever possibly consider this precious pup(current president of the look-like-a-baby-seal club) the tyrant dictator of raub street?
(see Cat Nap at http://www.rainamast.blogspot.com/ or clik "on sugar hill" at right under LINKS)

little visitors to the shop

2006-02-21T08:59:00.000-05:00

Terry Came with the kids to check on the progress of her new piece of furniture. Grace (left) Luke (right)
She loved it. They did too.

A LITTLE UPDATE

2006-02-17T10:21:00.001-05:00

I'm almost finished the cabinet - the glass for the doors came yesterday. The drawers are just about hung - hardware is attached.
The apron for the bottom is all cut rounded off and finish sanded - I just have to install it which means I have to turn the cabinet on its back. Not that easy since this baby is weighing in at around 300 pounds already.
Now I just have to re-do the top. When I was final sanding it, one of the boards developed fissures that just came outta nowhere and were just too large to fill - that occurs a lot when you work with figured wood. So I had to completely cut the board out (it was situated in the middle of the top) and essentially start again from scratch. Daddy (me) was not happy, plus just one 4 1/2 inch wide board was $50. Nice wood though.

Next the finish goes on - CANT WAIT - hand rubbed tung oil. The wood on this is so beautiful that I cant wait to see the 3D effect slap me eyeballs!

KRAMER

2006-02-09T09:07:00.000-05:00

I inherited a dog when I moved to Easton - Kramer. Judging by the name it's hard to assess that she's a she. Kramer was a very friendly dog but after a couple of years she began to smell, and anything she'd touch would smell; and if you touched her, you smelled too. . Not an ingredient for developing fondness, if you know what I mean. She used to sleep on the couch which annoyed the crap outta me because she'd leave the "Kramer Stank" behind. So I began to discipline her. No one I believe, had before, except for potty training with which she was becoming more and then much more lax. That my friends, is no fun at all in the middle of the night while going to grab a casual midnight snack.
Kramer's fondness factor was in a freefall.
Complicating matters was the fact that the children's olfactory development was nonexistent and when I wasnt around would allow her to get on the couch to stink them, and the couch up, simultaneously nullifying all my hard disciplinary work with Kramer. Then I began to see an interesting bahavior crop up - damned willfulness! I'd kick that bitch (not literally kick, but literally bitch) off the couch and go into the kitchen and and when I came back, she was back too - stinkin to high heaven. So I devised devious designs to make it impractical for her to want to be on the couch. Everytime she'd sneak back, I'd get my steel measuring tape for which she managed to have acquired an aversion, and whip it out extending it across the room to tantalize her - well ok, torment her.
To no avail. Simply a quick fix. Nothing permanent. She did get better when we arranged some specific bedding designed just for her and became more endurable when we had a heiny procedure done by the vet 6 or 7 times (you dont wanna know the details).
I then began to realize that the puppy was a puppy no more, and that the now feeble, hobbling, smelly little creature was probably not going to be around a lot longer.
I began to treat her kindly. I'd greet her tenderly in the morning softly petting her smooth little head and I'd tell her what a pretty old pup she was. At first she wouldnt even let me touch her head - she'd back off as if I were going to pull her ears off or something. But after time she not only responded, but after about six months, she would also begin to sort of coo in a soft growly kind of voice. She was communicating. And what I finally determined she was saying was, "I'm not gonna lie on the couch any more" And lo and behold, she has not.
The important lesson to me in this was that, unlike some characters in DH Lawrence's novels, I have seen that love does have a profound affect on behavior. Not sycophantic love but genuine concern and respect. For her, it's more important to stay off the couch and maintain the love she receives than risk losing my affection for her.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention the untamed tongue:

ME OLD PUP

BUSH-IT

2006-02-01T08:42:00.003-05:00

"BUSH-IT" (bsh-t) v. intr. or commonly,"to Bushit"- defined as: being able to tell anyone, in all earnestness, your full intention to do good, knowing damn well there ain't a snowball's chance in hell you're going to come through w/the goods.

GEE DUBBLYA (president Bush) had an excellent speech writer last night and I see the wellbutrin is finally starting to kick in, allowing him to actually speak coherently. Generally just listening to him is enought to make me wanna go find a local college kid and hit-em-up for some Ritalin, just to help me make it thru his babbling.
But the problem isnt the speech. It's the substance. And when you hear crap like (and sorry, I cant quote directly) "taking care of each individual" you only have to look at Katrina to see the level of care this administration has had to offer. Talk is and has been really cheap, and until I see the "action" side of his caring, this is the administration just trying to "Bush-it" even more.

more fun and games .......................(clik on pics to enlarge)

2006-01-26T22:42:00.000-05:00

I realized listening to Bjork's music tonight that I really love her - her passion is infectious - I think I wanna marry her....
oh dammmmn, i'm already hitched.....
oh well....

But on to more pressing concerns: my fingers are coming apart at the seams. except fingers dont come with seams so they've decided to go on their own and divide one painful eight of an inch at a time. And to add effluvium to the flame, all on a bunch of my fingertipss at the same time. So I crazy glued 'em (like I do every night).
The red dust from the padauk is creating tributaries within my fingerprints. I didnt know I had these miniscule canals intersecting my fingerprints til now - mini red streamlets. It's like an aerial photo of a litty itty bitty red river.
Moisturization is critical.

THE FLASH KIND OF WASHES OUT THE WARMTH OF THE WOOD'S COLOR (ABOVE, RIGHT) BUT ALSO GIVES YOU A HINT OF THE FIGURE THAT'S GONNA POP WHEN I HAND RUB SOME TUNG OIL ON IT

CENTER OF ENTERTAINMENT - MY SHOP

2006-01-25T21:55:00.000-05:00

I've been enjoying myself enormously for the last week or so making terry and scott an entertainment center from beautiful quilted maple and deliciously rich red padauk. here are a few pics of some of the fun as it all painstakingly comes together.

Oh My Gawwd, You're So Sennnsitiiive!

2006-01-16T19:40:00.000-05:00

It isn't amusing to see people rationalizing mean-ness or cruelty with the "yer so sensitive" response.
You see that crap a lot in grade school.
"I didnt think she'd cry - what a baby" or:
"Why'd he have to go and bleed?!?!? I though he could take it" and:
"Why donthcu just get over it maaaan??"
Nahh, you couldnt pay me to be a kid again. I mean I was pretty much left alone by the real punks. Occasionally someone in a higher grade just has it out for you and you're at their mercy - but that's how you develop a sense of humor - and a sense of survival.
But when you get older, you figure you should be more immune to it. And just when you think you're safe, you get blindsided by someone you'd never suspect of being a bully.

I've always felt that it takes a bigger man to not:
1. kiss somebody's ass who's bigger than you are, or
2. make somebody who's smaller than you feel even smaller.

So in dealing with everyone I try to give 'em the respect they deserve. (I'll give them the benefit of the doubt at first, but only until it's shown they dont deserve it) I always felt that it would be a lesson that would be carried on. But I'm wondering about that now - seems that some people only appreciate respect if they have to grapple for it like a man under water for air.

I remember watching Miss America or some such show with my wife Di and she mentioned something about how the contestant's dress was inappropriate for her weight. Now the contestant was 200 miles away and I'm sure was totally non-cognizant of the comment. Well, someone else watching the show reacted is if the comment had been made directly to them - which it hadnt. So, in the interests of "sensitivity" I played down the remark to minimize the psychological scarring which was certainly to ensue if I werent to convene. I might have been wrong.
I think I shoulda just said: Oh My Gawwd, You're So Sennnsitiiive!
What's wrong with YOU? - she's just too heavy for the dress."

And now the lesson hoped for is the lesson lost, and the chance to create more sensitivity through childish, callous, forthrightness was lost thru an expression of respect which was never respected. Indeed, trashed.

And the percussive retribution for that sensitivity is alive as my soul tediously senses times of my life slowly negated - the good, the bad, the hopes of tomorrows unlived, unloved.

Sometimes being cool aint nuthin' but being cold.

THE ART OF A NEW YEAR

2006-01-01T03:18:00.000-05:00

I'd only been born a few months and already I was experiencing my 3rd new year.

And so it is again - the old slate swiped clean and a fine fresh horizon beckoning my sailing, whirling, wandering craft. What direction to maneuver with a rudder gone amok? Alas, the tide of fate will no doubt call for sails to billow and steer my bow of fortune toward lands I still know not.

The call to love is firmly planted in my soul - the winds of time have yet to rip the garment of that robe. And yet the seeds of doubt begin to whisper - their sprouts of pollen, mold, and sullen apprehensive vines, which deep beneath the intractable stoney, grassy facade, seek sustenance to bring to bear the weeds of fear - a garden of acquiescent sublimation and quiet resignation.

The toll of love is not the pain of loss as much the pain of loss for naught. The calm commitment to raise the flower from the earth and tenderly nurture its beauty - to nurture for the sake of calling forth the best the orchid has - has to sing, perhaps to dance, and then to marvel as the form for which you dreamt, exceeds so far beyond the tantalizing ring of your imagination.

Ahh! But then the empty rooms clang noiselessly and years of toil and aching bones bring forth even larger callous caverns. The beat of old and tired hearts cant lure the rush of joy from distant empty ears or eyes. Has time come now for the well to finally call the pail to cease it's fruitless irrigation? Surely not from love's lost luster. It burns ever sweet.
So, has time come? Is meaning's glow retreating much as a flickering candle's flame harkens darkness?

Now the new year calls and as the breezes blow across the canvas of my life, I tread the oaken planks and squint to see the shadow of an apparent apparition - a port perhaps. Will once again, the blood of new found promise stir the effervescence in my brain?

A port perhaps....

ON CHRISTMAS GIFT GIVING

2005-12-28T00:45:00.001-05:00

Of course the "joy of giving" is the mantra of the Christmas season but a flip side to it I'd failed to hit firmly upon before, is the joy of receiving - that the genuine appreciation of receiving something and the expression of that feeling, is comparable to a sort of gift in return. To have someone's well-meaninged thought, feeling, and action be proved to have been fruitful, by a conspicuous showing of happiness, or pleasure or satisfaction, surely adds to the initial glow of generosity which propelled the gift giver in the first place.
“Qui coupe son bois se chauffe deux fois” means essentially, "he who cuts his own wood gets warm twice" So too with sensitive, intelligent gift giving: He who shops wisely has his heart warmed twice. (French translation forthcoming)
Thanks
D

LOVE AINT LOVE 'TIL YOU GIVE IT AWAY

2005-12-17T18:54:00.002-05:00

Being in the spirit of the season I wanted to bring up something I hope helps people contribute to that spirit the whole year long.

No, not giving me meaningless presents all year. (The 365 days of Christmas??)
No, it's simpler than that - and way cheaper. That is, unless you're spiritually bankrupt.

One thing I see in a lot of people is that they just cant tell other people "You've done good, or nice job, or gee I really liked the way you: said, wrote, played, sang, danced, drew, whistled, chainsawed, explained", or whatever it is you did.

Now why the hell wouldnt you do that?? How can you hold back??

Well, in answer, I played in a band where the other guitar player, after we began playing out, never once made a single comment about anything I played. Now when I, on the other hand, heard something he played that sounded good, I let him know it. But his ego was so "fragile" that he couldnt afford to be generous in the least, lest his image of himself be compromised. After leaving the band, he admitted that he had never learned as much from anyone....

How small.

The way I see is that when you share a compliment (and I mean a heartfelt one) for a job well done, it's encouraging to the recipient, which to me, is akin to providing a little bit of spiritual nutrition - aka "love". To not do it deprives the individual who's not sharing an opportunity to enrich his or her own self, and specifically, ends the Christmas season abruptly.

So c'mon folks, let's keep the spark of joy alive all year - the return is immediate for all.

Merry Christmas
or all inclusive: Happy Kwanzhanakarhristmas!

PS - dont get me going on "holiday PC" - d'ja hear about the mall selling "holiday trees"??? Sheeeesh!

ibid

2005-12-11T21:39:00.000-05:00

"Sweet, the years before 1590, when one was loved because one simply was!"

TITLE, CHAPTER, ENDING

2005-12-10T13:07:00.001-05:00

sad how u so casually render meaningless all the efforts originated from love

'VIBING'

2005-12-01T21:39:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of going home and spending Thanksgiving with my family for the first time in over 10 years including my sister Brie who hadnt made it for, believe it or not, 30 YEARS!! Incredible that it had been that long. Plus Flip my cousin made it in from Europe, so the good times were rollin.

Seeing my older sister Leslie reminded me that when we were itty bitty tykes, we received little Steiff animals from my cool uncle Guy. Over time, with this collection of much cherished characters, (some of the crew who can be seen above) Les and I created a virtual community with many scenarios taking place over the hours and hours and years of our early childhood. It was a blest time. Les's main character was a rabbit named Nicky, which eventually became an appropriate name for my daughter, considering the love that had been shared w/the original Nicky. (Excruciatingly, Nicky the rabbit was lost outside one day never to be found. But miraculously, Santa managed to have "found" her, "cleaned her up" and delivered her back by the next Christmas morning - lol.) My little buddy/alter ego was a dog named Bazzy and now that I think about it, I dont seem to remember Les naming any of her daughters after him. I'm tellin Mom!

Anyway what's interesting is what it taught both Les and me, and that was to be supportive. In order to successfully enjoy yourselves for hours on end, one of the important abilities that must be crafted is the ability to allow the circumstance with which you are involved (as in the created scenarios) to evolve. That means that the communication that is being created is oriented to maintaining the evolution - that the sense of "play" must be maintained in order for the enjoyment to continue. Once that ends, when the "vibe" is broken, the magic is gone.

Now as an adult, in terms of playing music, the advantage of this experience is obvious. In team sports, again, obvious. Your ability to sublimate your ego and be pro-actively aware of your band/team mates equates with the essence of team. Once the ego is introduced, the team feel is, to create a new term, "T.O.'d" (as in Terrell Owens)

But the not so apparent need for this is in our relationships, and especially our developing relationships. It's been shown that one of the major ingredients of successful marriages is the ability to play, and without it, love becomes lifeless and drab.

So friends, I say, go out and play. And when someone starts to have fun with you, take that as an opportunity to extend your joy by contributing to the fun - PICK UP THE BALL AND RUN WITH IT - it makes you even more enjoyable to be around.

ps - I almost called Les before she came up for TurkeyTime from Alabama to suggest we both bring our animals to see if we still had the magic.
But i got too busy......
Now aint that booooorrring?!?!