Michael

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. – Berthold Auerbach

Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom.  If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn. - Charlie Parker

Music’s the medicine of the mind. – John A. Logan

Today was band practice. This was the best session we’ve had up to now. Everything seemed to click and all three of us were right on our game. As we progressed it seemed that the creative flow got even stronger.

We’ve focused our efforts on 13 songs initially with the goal being to do these very well or as close to perfect as possible. After that we’ll move on to increase our repertoire. As we completed a song after doing it well, it seemed to energize us for the next one. We continued at this high pace for about 3 hours.

The big thing was that it was incredibly fun. There were times that it was completely exhilarating for me. The sound of our trio is unique as there are two acoustic guitars and a drummer. You don’t see that very often and we have a lot of room for creative expression with the two guitars.

Our goal is to perform at a local open mic sometime in April. That gives us two more months of practice.

I’m loving it. It’s a like a dream come true.

Michael

A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities. – William Arthur Ward

I am so appreciative of my close friends. One of the reasons I feel abundant in my life is because of them. Many times we seem to lead parallel lives. I find this very interesting.

This morning, I was talking with my one of my closest friends who lives in London. We were talking about some experiences that she has been having over the last several weeks which were similar to some I had been having in my own life. Within the one hour conversation, we both seemed to jump past some blocks we had been experiencing and moved past to calmer ground.  It was an exhilarating feeling.

Nat and I seem to constantly have this sharing of life’s lessons. The themes are the same and seem to occur at about the same time. But, the difference is that we are coming from a completely different set of prior life experiences (personal history), very different backgrounds and upbringing, different religious/spiritual practices and we went to vastly different schools.

Because of the similar themes we can support each other during those moments when we need it. Due to the vast differences we are able to help each gain alternate perspectives which allows each of us to grow that much more.

It’s just one of the many gifts my friends bring me. I’m quite fortunate.

Michael

Lately, Saturday mornings are reserved for Nat and I to write on our book. Every other Saturday we meet in Newport, RI and start our writing session off with a hardy breakfast at the Corner Cafe on Broadway St. I love breakfast better than any other meal. I could eat breakfast at dinner which I do many times. The service at the Corner Cafe is great. The food is wonderful. It’s a nice place to get your day off to a great start.

I’m glad we start our big writing sessions here, since I like breakfast so much. It really puts me in a good mood and I’m ready to write, brainstorm or do just about anything else.

For me, it’s also a treat. I think those are important to give yourself on a regular basis. It’s a small way to show appreciation for yourself. We tend to forget about ourselves in this regard. So, pick some things that you can do to give back to yourself. Do this on a regular basis. The short term effects will help you have a happier life. The long term effects will be staggering.

Have a great day!

Michael

If it sounds/feels good, you must be doing something right. – Unknown

It seems that the better you get, the more you see the importance of fundamentals. – Unknown

No matter how many chords, scales or modes you know. What matters is what you do with those things. – Unknown

Playing music is becoming more and more fun. We got together again today for about 3 1/2 hours. Our duet has now grown to a trio as a drummer has joined us. Very cool! It’s starting to feel like a band. We are currently looking for a bass player and another singer. Hmmm. Maybe it is a band.

After four sessions of playing together, we comfortably play about 16 songs and are working on several more. The goal is to have a good 50 – 60 songs in our repertoire. Our focus has solely been on working out our acoustic sound together. There is something about two acoustic guitars playing together that is quite special. We really are enjoying the blend of sounds. The drummer added an entire dimension that I hadn’t experienced before but now want more.

One of the things I love about playing music with others is how the creative flow works. Many times you get completely in sync with the other player and positive things happen that are unexpected. Today with the addition of a drummer that expanded to three dimensions. Our first session for the three of us was a great success. What’s exciting is that it is only the beginning and that all three of us are playing together because it is so much fun.

It was very fulfilling afternoon! I can’t wait until we get together again next weekend.

Michael

My sister and her family arrived today. So, everyone that is getting together in our group this year is together. We have several traditions that we follow year after year. I love our traditions and I love the thought of traditions in general.

Traditions are important in several ways. They create points of sharing across time. They bring groups closer together by the thread of the experiences that occur within the tradition. They bring a level of excitement and anticipation that gives meaning to all who share. Most importantly, they are fun!

Some of our traditions are:

1. We have a big family dinner on Christmas Eve containing more food than could be possibly eaten in one evening.
2. We open our presents on Christmas Eve evening.
3. The kids get an additional set of presents from “Santa Claus” on Christmas morning.
4. We have a large family breakfast on Christmas morning.
5. We have another large meal (some time around lunch) with everyone.
6. We go see a movie together on Christmas Day in the afternoon.
7. Some years, several of us go and play pool at a local hangout.
8. We play games together with a little friendly competition. In the past, we have played dominoes, video games (DDR, Guitar Hero, Wii sports), card games, Pictionary and etc.
9. We go take a walk or hike near or on Louisiana State University.
10. We take a trip to get some authentic beignets (sort of like a doughnut) from Cafe Du Monde.
11. We have as much fun together in the time we have as humanly possible.
12. We usually go out to eat at least once to one of our favorite restaurants in the area.

The traditions have already started. I’m glad to be a part of them again this year.

What are some of your traditions?

Michael

I have finally completed all I needed to do to prepare for the Xmas holiday next week. All the presents I plan to give have been gathered. All the preparations have been made for traveling this weekend.

I start looking forward to the holidays about a week or two before they happen. I start remembering all the fun things we have done in the prior years. I remember all the gifts that were given and received. I remember all the movies we picked to see on Xmas day (It’s a tradition for us).

I remember the piles of food that were consumed. I remember the new additions to the family experiencing Xmas for the first time. I remember holiday decorations brightening up the rooms. I remember that some years were really cold while others were almost summer like. I remember the games we played as a family.

I remember feeling content just being in the same room with everyone else. No need to do anything. No expectations. Only enjoyment in sharing another holiday with the people you care about.

I’m ready to add more memories to the wonderful ones I still carry.

Michael

If it sounds/feels good, you must be doing something right. – Unknown

All playing requires energy; Good playing requires attention; Great playing requires passion (and maybe some luck too!) – Unknown

Yesterday I played guitar with a friend for over 2 1/2 hours. It was really the first time we had played together for any length of time. We had played for a few minutes together several months ago, but that was it.

It was a lot of fun and I think we were both surprised at how well we played together. It felt like we had been playing guitars with each other for many months. I suspect if we clicked this well on our first session, then in several months it should be quite amazing.

I love playing music, but I really love playing music with others. It makes for a much more exciting time. My new guitar partner knows a lot of music that I don’t and visa versa. Our goal is to eventually build up a small band with a couple of other people. That would be fantastic and a first for me.

There is something to be said about music and the creative process. It gets down into the soul level. That’s the kind of stuff that is important. Making deep connections with others is another. Playing music covers both.

I feel like I just got a great gift.

Michael

Friday night and today were all about book writing. Nat and I made enormous progress and in fact reached every goal we had for the 1 1/2 days. We are currently three weeks ahead of schedule. 

When you are working on a huge project like this, it always feels great to complete sections. Many times when we work together, everything just seems to click and flows quite readily. This last session was no exception except for the fact that it clicked more than usual.

It felt like inspired action. Inspired action differs from action because it comes from somewhere other than the mind. It feels like a pressure or extreme passion to do something and if you don’t do it you will burst. Typically, inspired action almost always taps into deep levels of creativity, generates great results and leaves a feeling of satisfaction that doesn’t compare to normal action.

Today was full of inspired action. That in itself generates more passion for the next phase.

Michael

Each day comes bearing its own gifts.  Untie the ribbons. – Ruth Ann Schabacker

Yesterday is history.  Tomorrow is a mystery.  And today?  Today is a gift.  That’s why we call it the present. – Babatunde Olatunji

I love this time of year. Last night, I spend some time looking for gifts for friends and family. The entire gift giving adventure is fun to me; looking for the gift, getting it wrapped and then giving it to the person. That’s the most fun.

The most important gift is always spending time with family and friends, especially those you don’t get to see very often. I look forward to seeing my daughter since it’s been a couple of months. I haven’t seen my parents or sister for many months. It’s been way too long.

Each day we get to share with each other is gift. I plan on unwrapping mine everyday.

Michael

In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed. – Charles Darwin

My good friend Nat talked a little about collaboration a couple of days ago. Today, he and I met to work on our upcoming book. It used to amaze me how well we collaborate and create together. Now, I simply expect it. Only once in 7 years have we not been able to come up with new ideas. I’m assuming we needed that one example of collaboration not working to have the contrast for all the other times.

I love to work with someone else and collaborate on a project. I really do. The exponential increase in brain power and activity is truly a miracle. It’s like watching a positive feedback loop where it just gets better and better the longer it goes on.

I’m very comfortable working alone but I thoroughly enjoy working with one or more people on something that has never been done before. I’ve had that opportunity many times over the last several years. I don’t think I will ever be bored doing that type of work.

If we could only step back and celebrate the diversity of our species, we’ll find there is literally nothing that we cannot accomplish. Miracles are as close as the next thought.

Have a great day!

Michael