He's gone along with a stick in his hand

I've pretty much spent today listening to music. Here's a sample. All worth checking out.

Philip Glass

A profound experience listening to this opera. Holy shit, son!




Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Cool and trippy; catchy songs. Think a lot of his stuff is home recorded. Not sure. Anyway, I like what's going on.



Anne Briggs

She only recorded about thirty songs (The story goes that she hated the sound of her recorded voice) but she changed the face of English folk, influencing heavy hitters such as Sandy Denny, Linda Thompson, Maddy Prior, and June Tabor. I love her stuff so much.



Michael Hurley

I don't know why I've arrived at him so late, but I'm glad I eventually did. Great songwriter; he blends humor and more serious topics seamlessly. His "Twilight Zone" is one of my favorites. Not a huge fan of his album art, but it seems to fit his music in some inarticulate way.



Elyse

A lost classic reissued. Beautiful honeyed gravel voice and gently plucked guitars. Kind of a Donovan-folky vibe and sooooooo effin good! And I love the album art.



Ariel Pink

This guy is a musical freak. His songs on this record are reminiscent of eighties pop, but only if you funneled them through a kaleidoscope. I smile when I listen to this album because it's brimming with ideas, some of them hits, some misses, but always refreshing.



Mike Patton

I had no idea he recorded this album of Italian oldy pop songs. Backed by an orchestra, too. He really sells the songs and his voice is as amazing as ever.









Ali Farka Toure

African blues is what you get here from this legend. I don't listen to him nearly enough.


So mucho musica for me. Going to download Garage Band to my iPad at some point today and see what I can come up with. Might just lounge around and read and maybe nap, instead. That type of day.

Peace out, lovers

Eyes flaming, heart breaking, soul taking, my molly

Christmas has come and gone. It was a good one. My family was due; last year we spent Christmas still in grief and raw over my father's passing. A year later, we have adapted, our grieving expunged (not fully but enough), our hearts rekindled. Let's review.

Highlights:

1. My mom got me an iPad. It was a surprise. I didn't ask for one, though I did mildly suspect she had gotten me a Kindle Fire. She had bought a couple for my niece and nephew and more than once asked me if that was something I'd be interested in. I told her sure, but it wasn't something I felt I needed. The other day as I was registering my Kindle Paper White reader (a generous gift from my bosses) I discovered that I had two Kindle devices registered under my name. After a brief investigation, I discovered that one of the devices was a Kindle Fire. Mom must have purchased one for me and had it registered to my Amazon account, I thought. Despite wishing my mother hadn't spent that much money on me, I found myself getting excited over owning the tablet. A day later, I realized the reason the Kindle Fire had been registered under my name was because I had purchased one for her through my Amazon account. So, there I was feeling deflated over something a couple of days ago I had no expectation of receiving. And, next thing you know, I get an iPad. My poor heart could barely handle the plot twists. Anyway, my mother was clearly pleased by my reaction to the gift, which was akin to my ten year old self receiving the Huffy bike I'd asked for didn't think I'd get.

Actually, the iPad was the only highlight. Oh, I jest! No, the day was a good one, as I said, and being around my family was the most satisfying part. It was Mimi's first Christmas with us and she utilized every available second to hunt down food. Caught her atop the dining room table a couple of times. Good thing she's so adorable, otherwise she would have been beaten severely (at UNO). Later, at my grandmother's house, everyone was in good spirits even amidst the chaos of numerous children running about. I think I hung out more with the kids than the adults.

I visited with Spira afterward. We exchanged gifts and hung out for a bit before she had to head to the airport to pick up her neighbors. She wanted me to stick around, but I was pretty beat. Like a lot of people, I had been going virtually non stop throughout the week. On my way home, a couple of ambulances whizzed by. As I drove on, I saw they were headed to Broadway, which is near my place. When I reached my neighborhood, it was pitch black. Fuck - power's out! Someone must have hit a pole on Broadway. For the next couple of hours I sat in a cold, dark house. A part of me felt ornery about it, but mostly I was alright with it. I read from my Kindle (which, by the way, I've already loaded with a bunch of  free books, including Don Quixote, The Yoga Sutras, The New Testament, Mark Twain's How To Tell A Story, The Odyssey, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Golden Bough, a book of Buddhist scriptures, The Night of Long Knives). Lost the power again yesterday for a while but it wasn't so bad in the daylight. I practiced yoga and by the time I was finished, we had our power back.

Fred had messaged me that he had some exciting news. Turns out, he got a new washer for Christmas. Exciting news, to be sure. Now we don't have to take our clothes elsewhere to wash them. I had been using my mom's washer when I'd visit, but it will be nice not having to lug clothes around.

A good Christmas, yes. Next up New Year's Eve. I plan on getting blackout drunk.

Peace, toddlers!

Though we live on the US dollar, you and me, we've got our own sense of time

I'm listening to Heinrich Schutz's Symphoniae Sacrae. I'd been listening quite a bit to Monteverdi over the last couple of weeks and Schutz seemed like a logical extension. Not as immediately gripping and sensual as Monteverdi, particularly his Un Concert Spirituel, but pleasant in its way. Not pleasant enough, as it happens, because I just switched back to Monteverdi. Eff you, Schutz-ey.

I finished The Dark Tower and it indeed was bittersweet. I know there were people who didn't enjoy the ending, but I think it's absolutely perfect. No other book of his that I've read ended as well. You pulled it off, King. Your Magnum Opus.

I walked over to Porter Square yesterday after yoga and meditation and I felt relaxed and open with still mind. I hit the bookstore and picked up a copy of Hesse's Siddhartha, which I'm about halfway through already. Hadn't read it in years; glad I thought to get it. I had been of a mind to read Narcissus And Goldmund, but there wasn't a copy at the store.

I ended up doing a lot of reading yesterday. I read from Mark Twain's The Mysterious Stranger and Other Stories, Edgar Allan Poe's Collected Works, and Siddhartha. It was an approach to reading I seldom engage in, this switching back and forth, but it worked rather well.

Feeling creative these last few days. I have a couple of new songs that I really like but need lyrics (big surprise). To ease the weight of expectation I put on myself, I've been plugging away at them in increments. I figure every time I spend time with them, no matter in which capacity, they're one step closer to completion. It's true: Idle hands are the devil's playthings.

Well, I should be off. There are things to do.  

And a flock of sheep to watch from where I lay

Friday is here. The weekend begins; I need it. It was a week that seemed to fly by while seeming to take forever to be done with. Every day gifted me with one headache or another, but there was also some learning, some peace. I'm engaged in a spiritual practice; practice being the operative word. Practice entails missteps and frustration along with the good stuff. So I go easy on myself and thank the Universe, The Divine Mother, Krishna, The Holy Spirit, Jesus, God, myself, whomever, for granting me the clarity to see where improvements can be made. And, you know, when things began to overwhelm me, respite arrived, always, in a timely manner.

Ok, here's the deal on Modern Vampires of The City. It's, very, very good. The songs are well crafted, balanced, and highly melodic. They've been swirling in my ears for the last several days. It's their best record; the songs fit together and there's not a dud  among them. Bravo, VW!

Some people get Christmas cards this time of year. Me, I get a jury duty summons. Came yesterday. You know, my first reaction was pretty sour, but it didn't take me long to figure out that I'm actually interested in going. T'will be my second appearance. The last time was years ago and I had the stomach flu. I was picked almost immediately and the case only lasted a few days. It wasn't so bad, stomach flu notwithstanding. One of the jurors was a former coworker of mine, fortunately one I had gotten along with. We hung out the whole time and it felt like one long field trip. It settled out of court just as things started getting as compelling as an episode of Law And Order.

The cold showers continue. I've reached the point where it's hard to imagine not taking them. The trick is you have to immerse yourself immediately, no dilly-dallying. One effect I've noticed is this coolness, pleasant like a minty piece of gum, that settles over my whole body periodically throughout the day. Another effect is that I find myself foregoing coffee in the morning. After the stimulation of a cold shower, I seldom feel the need. Overall, the cold showers have fortified me; my thoughts have felt sharper and my body has felt stronger,more durable. And getting into a cold shower every day, sometimes twice a day, is an affirming act. It illustrates I'm capable of enduring some discomfort in life in order to better myself.

I just worked on music for the last couple of hours. Got a lot done. I fleshed out some new songs and took some established ones out for a spin. I never feel so complete as when I'm in the thick of my songs.

I'm nearing the end of my Dark Tower re-read. It's going to be bittersweet. What should I read next? Here are some options:

1. Dune
2. Mother Night
3.The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe
4. Insomnia


We'll see. Alright, worms, I'm gonna make like a tree and get the fuck out of here.

Namaste

I'm ready for the house, such a modest mouse

So I went ahead and purchased Vampire Weekend's Modern Vampires of The City (iTunes: so convenient, so dangerous). After a few nights of listening to tracks from it, I determined there is certainly enough there to warrant a purchase. My final test was last night. I went to Grooveshark, selected the album, plopped on my new Audio Technica cans (name dropper!), and listened away in bed. I usually fall asleep listening to music in bed, particularly when it's late, but I ended up having to take the headphones because I was engaged and not sleepy. I went ahead and purchased the album this morning. I don't think I've plumbed its depths quite fully, so I'll take the cautious route and say that I like it.

The ride home from work was an hour and a half ordeal. The snow was coming down fast and furious (RIP, Paul Walker. You were a shining light that illuminated the entire world. Your films brought joy to millions and millions and millions of people. Sainthood is a given. Soar like an eagle through the landscapes of Heaven, you magnificent angel!) and driving was a slow affair. It wasn't so bad, but man, there were a few close calls.

I had some  low moments yesterday at work. They sprout up every so often and they hit like a typhoon (talk about fast and furious!). It's beyond frustrating to lose composure like that - some of the thoughts that trumpet in my ears....well, they aren't pretty -but I'm equipped to see them for what they are and I usually come out the other end wiser. For that, I'm grateful. I think that's what meditation has done for me; I'm able to see more clearly not only those dark spots, but how and why they manifest. I was watching a lecture from David Hawkins the other night and he spoke about why we get stuck. "You don't move on from certain things because there's still a pay off somewhere in the behavior. Once you get recognize what the pay off is, you can move on. I grasped what he meant.

Negativity had risen throughout the day, but I had the foresight to come down hard on it with this thought: "Here's the deal: Your commute home is not going to be pretty. You're going to need to be alert. And calm. If you want to stew and obsess over all the terrible aspects of your life, you can do so once you're safe at home." It worked. I snapped out of my malaise. It didn't return. Later at home, I received texts from Jeff and Marcy asking if I had made it home okay. That touched me. I've never had bosses who've done that. And then I watched an amazing documentary called The Animal Communicator.    It had a profound affect on me.

I've been listening to a lot of The Big Three podcast in my car and at home. I've been laughing an awful lot. Things aren't so bad. Sure, I've been having frustrating sexual dreams over the last several nights (The ones in which I'm about to have some kind of sexual interaction and invariably the act never happens due to distraction or some other wrench in the works. Last night's dream was actually pretty funny. I was about to receive oral favors and right as she lowered her head I woke up to the sound of someone shoveling outside my window. It was 3:45 in the morning. WTF!), but I realize they're my own creation and not the machinations of the Universe.

Alright, kittens, I'm tired and would be well served if I hit the hay early this evening. Sounds like a plan.

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night

I'm listening to tracks from Vampire Weekend's Modern Vampires of The City and trying to decide if I should purchase it. I'm a fan of the band, to be sure - their first two albums are above average - but, even though Modern Vampires of The City is highly acclaimed (Rolling Stone named it their 2013 album of the year), I'm so far not too enthusiastic about it. That could change; maybe not. Who knows.

But I did go ahead and purchase Daniel Rossen's Silent Hour/Golden Mile EP, something that was a long time coming. Like Elliot Smith before him, Rossen channels the later works of The Beatles without borrowing too heavily. I hope he puts out a full length album; he's my favorite part of Grizzly Bear.

Fucking snow storm last night. Not even winter yet. I don't mind the snow so much, but I do mind the overall climate that's been beating the fuck out of us over the last couple of weeks. Bitterly cold, bleak, and, I'll say it again: bitterly cold. Basically we went from November to February, where it looks like we're going to stay for the foreseeable future. Fuck you, Mother Nature!

Aw, I didn't mean that.

Actually, yes, I did.

I stayed at Spira's last night and we had a little slumber party during the storm. I had gone over earlier in the day while she was at work and practiced yoga. Also read from The Dark Tower and lounged around with Missy D. When Spira arrived, we hung out a bit and then walked through the spitting snow nettles to the Galleria and did a little Christmas shopping.

Back at her place, we made a dinner of quinoa with sauteed mushrooms, meatless apple sausage, almonds, avocado, and pomegranate seeds. Later, we watched the re-broadcast of The Sound of Music featuring Carrie Underwood. I've never seen the original all the way through, but enjoyed this version quite a bit. My curiosity had been piqued after hearing all the harsh criticism regarding Underwood's performance.

Sure, her acting left something to be desired, but it was serviceable and unworthy, in my opinion, of all the criticism. People need to lighten up. I say rock on, Carrie Underwood.

After The Sound of Music, we watched Elf. It was my second time watching it -the first time was years ago - and I think I enjoyed it slightly less this time around. Kept seeing parallels between the story and the New Testament. No kidding. Buddy The Elf/Santa Claus, Jesus/God. Anyway, I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about Will Ferrel. Is he funny or not?

Craig's coming by in a bit. We'll hang out and I should be alert. Took a nap earlier followed by a cold shower and coffee. So, unless my energy level plummets drastically in the next few hours, I should be alert indeed.

The past week was fraught with a certain heaviness and some frustrating untimely news. It also featured the year anniversary of my father's passing. Still, it wasn't a bad week and I got through it.

Alright, kittens, I'm out. If I see the sun just once in the coming days, it will be enough to fortify my spirits for a while. Just once, Mother Nature. Whaddya say? Something tells me you've got another shitty week in store for us.

You fucking douche.

You don't actually exist, so I started shaking

Shitty winter weather. And it's not even officially winter yet. Dark and bleak; slate gray everything, icy roads - fuck it all. Hawaii sounds very good right now. Ah, it's not so bad - there are ways to deal with it - but man, I've never been a winter person.

I was meditating to the gamma waves album last night and my body went through some weird motions. Phantom itches, painless stomach convulsions, and other sundry ticks and twitches (Hey, it rhymes!).  And then I proceeded to have a night of heavy dreaming. Without going into detail, the dreams took place in my mother's house and there were ghosts. One was a cackling old hag. Freaky, man. I visited my mom after work yesterday, maybe that had something to do with it. That, and the fact that the older you get, the more ghosts you acquire.

Tracy and Ray's pub quiz was this weekend. I had a good time while I was there, but it left a weird taste in my mouth. Seems I angered a bunch of people without even realizing it. There was a facebook post that expressed as much, but I took it to be in jest. Later, I was told that people were legitimately pissed. I don't even know what to make of that. And then I got a parking ticket while I was up there. In a residential fucking neighborhood! No love for the K Man. If there's a pub quiz next year, I'm going to have to think carefully about attending. Anyway, it wasn't a horror show by any stretch of the imagination - as I said, I had a good time while I was there - but I think it's better I lock the memory deep down. Which is why, I'm changing the subject.

Had a deep yoga session after work. Needed it. Funny, I feel stronger and more toned than ever before, but when I saw some pictures of me from over the weekend, I looked like a doughy couch potato. Disappointing, but you know what - I'll take feeling good over looking good.

I've been taking cold showers every morning (the benefits are numerous - a no brainer) which has done wonders for me. Obviously, they're not as gentle and comforting, at least not initially, as hot showers, but they have way more benefits. Beats coffee, though not as tasty.

Alright, I'm out this piece. Cheers, pups!

My love explodes all over the world for you

For the most part, I've found some balance in life, but there is a low hum of impending doom. Sometimes it rises to the forefront and I become fearfully abuzz. Fearful thoughts about the condition of my life and where it's headed; a visual representation would look akin to Mordor.

So, not so great, but I reckon we all ride similar waves at various points in our lives. And I've been combating, to significant effect, this darkness. It's fixable, a good chunk of it. Like I said, I've found some balance.

While meditating the other night to a Gamma wave piece, I felt more than heard a loud springy sound. This came from within, like it emerged from a deep well. As it happened, I heard something fall to the floor in Evangeline's room. I was startled.

Before I mention this could be pure coincidence, which it very well could be, I should mention that the sound I heard seemed separate from the sounds I was hearing. I've listened to this recording multiple times and have never noticed this springy sound. It's possible, because of the frequencies at play in the recording, some not easily perceived, the springy sound was always there but just didn't register with me. I'll listen to it again; if I don't hear it, I'll begin to wonder.

Sure, the springy sound and the one from Evangeline's room happening at the same time could be pure coincidence. Or was it that I was in such a deep state of meditation that I was subject to, or the creator of, a poltergeist-like surge? Hmmm... Anyway, maybe I'll probe Evangeline about the incident. Delicately though, so as not to implant ideas in her head.

Thanksgiving went well. This happened:

- Mimi met Missy and barked at her for a while before giving up. She also spent the entire time trying to get at food. She is a rascal.

- I toasted Dad. Not as eloquently as in the movies, but I tried. It was sad there for a few minutes. He was missed. Was our last holiday with him.

- I drove my grandmother to my mom's house. When you're with someone with limited vision and hearing, you'd think you'd spend more time being with them than talking with them. Not the case with Nana: she can talk, that one.

- I cleaned  the gutter on my mother's porch. Had to use a ladder that was a real puzzle to assemble. This thing, according to the sticker on the side, folded up into at least three configurations. Pretty cool, I guess, but I needed a ladder, not a Transformer. Pain in the ass but I got the job done.

-Spira and I took Colleen and Patrick for a walk with the dogs. Colleen had been wanting to do it all day. We went down the street of my youth and it felt a bit weird, like I was exploring the attic in my head. Or something like that.

Spira and I hung out on Friday. She's a bad influence. We had brunch at her place that consisted of bacon, eggs, sausage, Pilsbury biscuits, and coffee. Then we walked over to the Galleria to check out the new Newbury Comics and see if they had the Close To The Edge remix. Spira didn't want to go at first. "But it's Black Friday! It's going to be a zoo!", she said. Usually, she's the one convincing me to go shopping, but I didn't think it was going to be so bad. We'd be in and out and wouldn't have to worry about parking, which is one of the worst parts of Black Friday.

We went and they didn't have it, but I did pick up the Steven Wilson remix of King Crimson's Red and Spira got a Star Wars origami book and some Star Wars socks. I love that she's such a geek. We checked out Old Navy. 50% off everything. Damn! So I got a winter hat, a hoodie, and some boxer briefs for under $25.00. Not bad. Spira found some stuff, too, and left her Newbury Comics bag at the counter (a subsequent call to the store gave her some relief; they said they'd hold it for her). The line went almost all the way to the back of the store, but it moved quickly.

Back at her place, we watched Top of The Lake, a show I had watched an episode of and then determined that we needed to watch it together. So we watched a few episodes, gave Missy D a heaping of TLC, listened to Red, talked about Kanye West (I basically had to explain to her who he was). A good day with the ladies.

Been listening to an audio book (thanks, YouTube!) of The Fellowship of The Ring these last few nights. It comes in 16 installments and I've been playing one before bed. Don't always make it very far before falling asleep, but I'm enjoying the experience all the same. Helped me through a difficult night last night (stomach problems - you don't want to know) Forgot how much more the book is fleshed out than the movie. Don't know who does the reading, but he's damn good. Nice warm English accent.

Ok, gotta go. Just finished watching the latest Walking Dead episode and I need to decompress. Heavy stuff, son!

Hey, where does Frosty The Snowman keep his money?

At the snow bank, of course. Haaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!