I am the luckiest person, ever.
I mean, I'm still alive at twenty-six, which is a feat not accomplished by many people. I am alive, twenty-six, and living during the early aughts. A feat not accomplished by a great, great many people, and that thought gets me through the day on occasion.
Everything is going well enough. I have paying job, I have loving and committed girlfriend, I have adorable kitties. More to come soon?
July 11, 2011
Lo, Survival occurs.
It's been a while since I've written. I had a rough day.
Sundays are not easy - the long shift. Not as long as some, longer than others, but always looming, waiting to suck up a day of my life to serve the mostly young and beautiful who are stopping in for respite from a moderately brutal New York Summer day to indulge in a perspiring Pilsner, fresh-out-the-fryer, asiago-dusted french fries and the ever zippy, ever playful, Blue Point oyster. I know. It's my job. I get it. I'm just saying it wears on me.
Lo, survival occurs. Always a good thing.
On an AWESOME note, I recently finished reading Dancing Wu-Li Masters, though I feel it important to stress the distinction between read and retain in this instance. Still, it opened me up to the possibility that very mystical systems in the realm of the very small account for an illusion of stability in the realm of the everyday. Better yet, it opened me to the possibility that the former could be acted upon to affect the latter.
Open to that possibility, I have begun reading Pursuit of Happiness, and am already feeling its benefits.
I have been working my hands ASSES off. Woodshedding does a body good - I'm working on bringing my non-dominant left up to speed and control of my right. I have been trying to teach myself to be ambidextrous, brushing my teeth with my left hand, writing southpaw, chopsticking leftly. Just in case it might help. I've been feeling more confident in my playing than ever before, and I just want to practice all of the times.
Also started ear training with David Lucas Birge, who's quite a goof. I want to have coffee with that guy. He seems too nice to drink. I'd like to prove to myself perfect pitch can be learned. What musician wouldn't?
I have been playing guitar. Like, writing music. It's a lifetime process I'm just beginning maybe a little later than I should have, but at least I'm giving it a shot. Hey, it might be fun. And it might be good!
I'm trying to find my role in a budding business venture, I'm trying to find cohorts, I'm trying to find my purpose. It's big times, y'all, and it's happening now.
Well, I feel better. If you don't also feel better, here's a kitty playing the piano!
Sundays are not easy - the long shift. Not as long as some, longer than others, but always looming, waiting to suck up a day of my life to serve the mostly young and beautiful who are stopping in for respite from a moderately brutal New York Summer day to indulge in a perspiring Pilsner, fresh-out-the-fryer, asiago-dusted french fries and the ever zippy, ever playful, Blue Point oyster. I know. It's my job. I get it. I'm just saying it wears on me.
Lo, survival occurs. Always a good thing.
On an AWESOME note, I recently finished reading Dancing Wu-Li Masters, though I feel it important to stress the distinction between read and retain in this instance. Still, it opened me up to the possibility that very mystical systems in the realm of the very small account for an illusion of stability in the realm of the everyday. Better yet, it opened me to the possibility that the former could be acted upon to affect the latter.
Open to that possibility, I have begun reading Pursuit of Happiness, and am already feeling its benefits.
I have been working my hands ASSES off. Woodshedding does a body good - I'm working on bringing my non-dominant left up to speed and control of my right. I have been trying to teach myself to be ambidextrous, brushing my teeth with my left hand, writing southpaw, chopsticking leftly. Just in case it might help. I've been feeling more confident in my playing than ever before, and I just want to practice all of the times.
Also started ear training with David Lucas Birge, who's quite a goof. I want to have coffee with that guy. He seems too nice to drink. I'd like to prove to myself perfect pitch can be learned. What musician wouldn't?
I have been playing guitar. Like, writing music. It's a lifetime process I'm just beginning maybe a little later than I should have, but at least I'm giving it a shot. Hey, it might be fun. And it might be good!
I'm trying to find my role in a budding business venture, I'm trying to find cohorts, I'm trying to find my purpose. It's big times, y'all, and it's happening now.
Well, I feel better. If you don't also feel better, here's a kitty playing the piano!
April 25, 2011
The Shameless Promotion of an Epic Experiment.
Coming up in three days: Jam Night at the Breukelen Coffee House!
I invite all fellow musicians, artists, poets, producers, teachers, promoters, deejays, writers, audio techs, lighting designers, and coffee addicts alike to come through Breuekelen Coffee House on Franklin Avenue to make sweet, hot talent with each other at the first official BCH Jam Night.
Musicians will queue up to take the stage in a live shuffle of instrumentation and styles, improvising one-take sets and experimenting with sound and concepts throughout the night.
I hope to see this evolve into a permanent fixture of our community - a forum for people of any age and background to practice their art and share their experience to strengthen our network of local artists.
We'll need help to get there, though, so there will be plenty of opportunities to lend a hand. We will be passing the hat for monetary donations but instrument donations (temporary or permanent), skills, or time will be greatly appreciated.
Of course, there will be free Stumptown Coffee brewing and free WiFi available as well.
This first Jam will rely on whatever instruments and amplification you feel like bringing, and sharing is highly encouraged. Below, though, is our growing backline.
AVAILABLE INSTRUMENTS
--------------------------
- Yamaha Acoustic Guitar
- Fender Squire Bass (no amp)
- Ludwig 20' Bass, 13' tom, 14' snare, Bosphorous Hi-hats, Wuhan Ride/Crash
--------------------------
I invite all fellow musicians, artists, poets, producers, teachers, promoters, deejays, writers, audio techs, lighting designers, and coffee addicts alike to come through Breuekelen Coffee House on Franklin Avenue to make sweet, hot talent with each other at the first official BCH Jam Night.
Musicians will queue up to take the stage in a live shuffle of instrumentation and styles, improvising one-take sets and experimenting with sound and concepts throughout the night.
I hope to see this evolve into a permanent fixture of our community - a forum for people of any age and background to practice their art and share their experience to strengthen our network of local artists.
We'll need help to get there, though, so there will be plenty of opportunities to lend a hand. We will be passing the hat for monetary donations but instrument donations (temporary or permanent), skills, or time will be greatly appreciated.
Of course, there will be free Stumptown Coffee brewing and free WiFi available as well.
This first Jam will rely on whatever instruments and amplification you feel like bringing, and sharing is highly encouraged. Below, though, is our growing backline.
AVAILABLE INSTRUMENTS
--------------------------
- Yamaha Acoustic Guitar
- Fender Squire Bass (no amp)
- Ludwig 20' Bass, 13' tom, 14' snare, Bosphorous Hi-hats, Wuhan Ride/Crash
--------------------------
April 8, 2011
The Soggy Continues.
Life is so excessively crazy right now it's hard to think about at length.
I got a new job! In addition to my few days a week at the close to home and heart Breukelen Coffee House, I also have my first legit shift at Cornelius, an oyster-centric, artisanal cocktail gastropub, in two hours! It's pretty much all my favorite words squeezed together in perfect synchronicity. Come on: $1 oysters all day every day, killer happy hour until 8, a good price for great food and ample portions, down-to-earth clientele, co-workers and bosses, and good music. It took eight months or so for the stars to align to grant me an opportunity at this gig, and I don't intent to squander it.
Also new: the ball is rolling on Jam Night at BCH, my first attempt at gathering a healthy portion of the local musicians, artists, photographers, writers, deejays, producers, promoters, and anybody else with at least one creative bone in their body to meet each other, enjoy delicious free Stumptown Coffee, and have an opportunity to keep up said creative chops. More as it develops but I have high hopes - I don't you can't get a bunch of crazy artists from around the world together and it be a boring experience.
One of Chetta's dear friends Zero has moved in with us while he gets on his feet and is starting the second week of his New York Adventure Story. You can't move here and not get one. It's like VD in college, but interesting.
The saga continues. Tons of ideas for posts have cropped up in my brain: music reviews, food reviews, hopefully inspirational realizations re: the world and the people in it. But like Mister Burns' cornucopiatic list of disease, the sum keeps any part from making it into the intercloud. Maybe that will happen soon.
As per usual, keep the faith all, and keep breathing.
I got a new job! In addition to my few days a week at the close to home and heart Breukelen Coffee House, I also have my first legit shift at Cornelius, an oyster-centric, artisanal cocktail gastropub, in two hours! It's pretty much all my favorite words squeezed together in perfect synchronicity. Come on: $1 oysters all day every day, killer happy hour until 8, a good price for great food and ample portions, down-to-earth clientele, co-workers and bosses, and good music. It took eight months or so for the stars to align to grant me an opportunity at this gig, and I don't intent to squander it.
Also new: the ball is rolling on Jam Night at BCH, my first attempt at gathering a healthy portion of the local musicians, artists, photographers, writers, deejays, producers, promoters, and anybody else with at least one creative bone in their body to meet each other, enjoy delicious free Stumptown Coffee, and have an opportunity to keep up said creative chops. More as it develops but I have high hopes - I don't you can't get a bunch of crazy artists from around the world together and it be a boring experience.
One of Chetta's dear friends Zero has moved in with us while he gets on his feet and is starting the second week of his New York Adventure Story. You can't move here and not get one. It's like VD in college, but interesting.
The saga continues. Tons of ideas for posts have cropped up in my brain: music reviews, food reviews, hopefully inspirational realizations re: the world and the people in it. But like Mister Burns' cornucopiatic list of disease, the sum keeps any part from making it into the intercloud. Maybe that will happen soon.
As per usual, keep the faith all, and keep breathing.
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