old post - fruit checking

And the third "old post" for the morning - this one from May 14, 2009. This one still rings as true, or truer, today than it did then... BTW - Vanessa worked EMS at the Air Show in Halls on Sunday while I tried out a new church... We'll see what happens...

This is another post on the mailing list I’m on from heartlight.org -

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Fruit Checking

"Be careful of false prophets. They come to you and look {gentle} like sheep. But they are really dangerous {like} wolves. You will know these people because of the things they do. Good things don't come from bad people, the same as grapes don't come from thorn bushes. And figs don't come from thorny weeds. In the same way, every good tree makes good fruit. And bad trees make bad fruit. A good tree cannot make bad fruit. And a bad tree cannot make good fruit. Every tree that does not make good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. You will know these false people by the fruit they make (things they do)."
                           -- Matthew 7:15-20 (ERV)


I’m catching up on my backlog of email (probably won’t ever reach zero inbox status, but I don’t want it to grow TOO big) and ran across this one. It’s long, but I forced myself to slow down and read it. Go ahead - read it again...

Sounds like a warning, right? Be careful of others. Watch out for a wolf in sheep’s clothing, etc. I read it another way... What kind of fruit am I producing? I must say that I don’t feel like I’m producing anything tasty right now. The last few weeks have seen me at church less than I’d like. Sure I can blame it on a late night visit to the ER, not feeling well, having an ox in the ditch, etc. But the truth is I’ve not felt the burning desire to be there. With everything that’s been going on, I don’t feel like I have anything to offer. I know that’s not the right attitude though, and I am making the commitment to myself right now to trust Him to lead me, guide me and most of all direct my actions and how I use my energy.

Comment from rcyork - Jim, I know what you mean. I can count on my fingers the number of times I've been in church since Thanksgiving. Oh have reasons, but they are sounding more like excuses.

Comment from Brent - It's been really tough for me, too, particularly since I was invited not to contribute musically anymore last year. It's good that the Lord has given me a family to keep me from straying too far.

old post - pandora

Another old one - this one from May 12, 2009 along with a comment. I'll also note here that I've been using Spotify lately instead of Pandora...

I am really getting into Pandora.com

Though I listen to podcasts, sometimes I don’t want to have to concentrate on “talk” while I’m working. So, I turn to Pandora. I use it on my computer when I’m needing music or white noise while I’m working. I also use it occasionally on my iPod while walking around the schools, but my SkullCandy noise canceling earbuds keep me from hearing people when they talk. Hmm... Maybe that’s not such a bad thing sometimes. :)

My favorite way to use it is with my iPod and iHome that Vanessa bought me. It sits on my desk and charges my iPod while I’m listening to it. Talk about convenience. :)

Well, today I made a channel called “Mr. Shorty.” This is an old Marty Robbins song that I remember my dad enjoying when I was very little. I’ve always liked the song too but didn’t know till a few months ago that there were words that I’d never heard. I found them and have listened to the song and substituted the “extra” words in my mind, but that’s not the same. Well, three times today I’ve heard the full song.

I know - congratulations for being a geek. Hey, you take the victories where you can. :)

I also heard “Feleena” - a song I never knew existed. It’s the story of the dancing girl from “El Paso” from her birth till the end of the other song and beyond.

Comment from rcyork - I listen to Pandora on my computer at work and at home and on my Windows Mobile phone. It makes the commute to and from work much more interesting. I'm hearing artists I would never hear otherwise. After listening to Pandora on the stereo in my car while driving to Atlanta and back a few weeks ago, I am convinced that it and other streaming services will be the end of Satellite radio.

old post - cribbage again

Another old post archived here - this one from May 12, 2009.

We went to my mother’s house for mother’s day. After a great lunch (she really is a good cook, not just because she’s my mom), I sat down to teach my brother Johnny how to play Cribbage. Turns out several others wanted to play, so we had a four-man game in which Colton started out behind but came ahead to win.

Deb sat down to join us and we played a 5-man game (Jed made up the last spot). Lead went back and forth and we ALL had a good time.

The verdict? Cribbage was NOT just another card game. It has enough rules and strategy to satisfy the gamer in me, but is easy and quick enough to play that it doesn’t require a lot of time or setup.

Do it again? You bet! Colton and I played a quick 2-man game after the group broke up. We both agreed it wasn’t as much fun as the party style. :)

old post - picking' and dancin'

Another old post - this one takes up where the last one left off and is from May 9, 2009.

Okay, picking (no pun intended) up where I left off last post...

The pic above is my guitar, or at least a pic of the same model from Takamine’s website. The band was impressed with the sound and quality of it. (tangent warning...) I’ve had it since the early 90’s. Bought it new and have been VERY happy with it. I used it when I was playing gospel music, did studio work with it, home studio work, used it in church, sitting around the campfire, etc. It has served me well.

Anyway, I was an instant fit, like I said. I play by ear as well as note, Nashville Number System, etc. Bar chords are no problem and I only capo to change the sound, NOT to make it easier to play a song.

Kenton - we have a place we dance occasionally on Saturday nights in Kenton, Tennessee. The band that was there is definitely a #2 - they play to be heard, not as a dance band. So, anyway, the band from Friday night “gets the gig,” so to speak, and they ask me to sit in for the entire three hours there. I am very honored to do so, so I agree. It goes great. Tony is very uptight about everything sounding good, but it goes great. Vanessa did sound for the gospel group we were with (New Heaven’s Echos) so she knows her stuff. She helped get the sound balanced and all was well.

So this went well. Everyone seemed happy - I had a good time - etc.

Brian has to be “on call” every third week, so no lead guitar the next week. I took both a lead and a rhythm, just in case they needed me to do some fill in work. Friday night, Tony wasn’t sure, but Donny said “yes.” Max seemed to enjoy it as well as we played off of each other. I’ve never claimed to be a full blown lead guitar player, but I can hold my own with fill in licks, etc. So, needless to say, Friday was fun. :)

Saturday, Tony said they didn’t really need “lead” so I offered to play the rhythm or not at all. He made a big deal about “no it’s okay to play along - let’s see how it goes.” After the first song, he said the acoustic would be better, so Vanessa went to the car and got it. The next three songs I noticed Robert doing “fill in lead” and realized I was stepping on his toes.

That’s okay - I’m already on stage and not going to just walk away. I’m not that type. :) So I continue to play along. Every couple of songs I get “a look” from either Tony or Robert. Again, I notice that Robert is “doing more” than he normally does. That’s fine - I’m cool with that. I’m not an actual member of the band and I’m not being paid. After a couple of songs, though, I’m told to “turn down” and “that sounds harsh” and “it’s not blending well.” Okay - I can take a hint. By the time it’s over I’ve decided in my own mind that I’m done. It felt good playing again and I was pleased that I was able to just “sit in” with no practice whatsoever and play every song they did. However, and this is a big part of all of this, I don’t need them to feel validated.

Is that clear? I was a musician before I met them, was one with them (and acted in a professional manner, I believe) and am still one today. I do not need them to validate me as a musician. I was able to sit in and blend and enhance. Period. It wasn’t what they wanted, so I went my own way.

Anyway, Tony comes to me after it’s over and says, “it’s nothing personal, we’re just not used to the extra instrument.” I assure him I am not offended. I remind him that I offered to back off at the very beginning. I go to dance - picking is just a bonus for me. If I’m not adding to, then I’m obviously taking away from and I’ll gladly back off. No hard feelings - no offense taken.

The next week we were supposed to be camping, but we weren’t able to stay all night. I did take my guitar to the campground bonfire, like I always do, and had a great time. The guitar was still in my car on Saturday (rain set in, so the campers packed up) and we decided to go to Kenton at the last minute. While putting my boots on, Tony comes to the parking lot and tells me “nothing personal” (he said that over a dozen times I know) and if I want to play “daddy’s guitar” while he takes a break that I was welcome to, but that they had a meeting and it was decided that they didn’t need the extra instrument. I assured him I was there to pay my $5 and dance like always. Sure the guitar was there, but that’s from where I’d had it with friends, not where I could play it that night.

So, the band met and decided they didn’t need me, huh? That’s what he told me, but I was differently by other people. No names, as I don’t want to start anything, and believe me it was obvious to me from the body language who was really offended and who was proud to have me join them. I hold my head up proudly as someone who has proven to himself that he can still jump in and not only follow along but add to and blend in with people that play together all the time.

One last word - I’ve been “invited” to join them onstage so “daddy” can take a break and mingle. So far I’ve declined in lieu of dancing with my soul mate. There may come a time/night that I want to - I may hurt my foot or leg and can’t dance like I do now, or can’t hold out for three hours and need a break. Until then, though, I remember that they came to me, I was able to fit, and they decided they didn’t need me “full time.” I’m cool with that.

Know what else I’m cool with? Getting this off my chest... I have had several people ask me, “why aren’t you playing with the band?” and I just smile and say, “I’d rather dance.” Yes, it’s the truth. Dancing is much more fun without the added drama of hurt feelings and squashed toes. :)

Will they read any of this? I don’t know, and frankly I don’t care. This has been more for me to get it off my chest than anything, and I assure you, gentle reader, that there’s not one word I wouldn’t repeat to them in person. They haven’t asked and I’m not one to stir the pot. I’m content and still have a friendly relationship with all of the band. Tony and Robert? Maybe not as much as the others. Okay, not at all as much as the others. I lost a little respect for them as musicians after all this, but they’re still a decent band to dance to.

And Max & Donny? GREAT musicians. :)

Thanks for reading...

old post - another friday night

After posting that last "old post," I looked at the next one. Since it's some of the stuff that I was really wanting to "not lose," I thought I'd go ahead and post it... What's ironic, of sorts, is that the band I speak of is a previous incarnation of the band I'm now a member of. To be fair, though, only Jimmy (on keys) and Max are still there - the rest are all different guys.

This one is also from May 8, 2009...

I am typing this while headed to dance. Colton just went to a party and Kyle is also with friends, so it’s just Vanessa and me again for Friday night stress relief (aka dancing).

Like I had said before, part of this blog is to be a journal of sorts, to help me remember stuff in my old age. So, please keep that in mind if you choose to read on. If these are the kind of insights you are more interested in, gentle reader, let me know and I’ll not hesitate next time.

We’ve been dancing in Halls on Friday nights (wave to Craig for coming by one night). The band is pretty good, for a local band. There’s Tony, the lead singer/bassist, his dad Robert (rhythm guitar on a Stratocaster), keyboarder Jimmy, Brian on lead and Max Winchester on steel guitar (easily the most talented one of the bunch, Max used to play professionally at Gilly’s in Texas as well as other national venues). They do decent work. They play a fairly good mix of slow & fast as long as Tony is calling the songs. When Robert or Jimmy do one, it’s a slow one.

Tangent #1 here - I’ve come to find that there are bands that play for dancers, bands that play to be heard, bands that try to mix it and bands that try to mix it and fail. This is #3 for the most part, but is sometimes the latter (by now we’ve left the dancehall early as it was clearly a #4 night). I’m a dancer, not someone that goes to hear the band. Given a choice I’ll take CD’s or MP3’s any day. The beat never changes, you know what to expect and you can start over whenever you like.

Back to this band in particular. They are friendly to the line dancers as well as the two steppers and slow dancers. They let “us” play some songs during their breaks. We don’t do stuff that they do, though, so as not to step on any toes. I have a cable that I plug into Robert’s amplifier and we play from my iPod.

Now, the part I’ve been hesitant to journal for fear of sounding negative is this... Several weeks ago when we finally had a warming trend, Vanessa and I decided to go early and enjoy the parking lot. We took a couple of lawn chairs and my guitar and we just relaxed outside in the sunshine. The band started coming in and Robert approaches and listens and seems impressed. He knew I could dance, but had no idea I could play. He asked if I’d take his guitar and play during the last set. I said sure.

This went on for a couple of weeks. I’d come in and we’d dance for two hours straight, then he’d mingle and I’d play his guitar. The drummer (forgot to mention him above - sorry Donny) and I seemed to have some good chemistry. My style of rhythm is not “strum/strum/strum” or even “pluck/strum/pluck/strum.” It’s more of a beat keeper than anything. Depending on the song, my strumming is different.

Tangent #2 - my early days of guitar were mostly bluegrass, so I learned early on to have a “picking rhythm” in which you keep the beat by strumming but also add runs, licks, alternative strumming, etc., depending on the song. This style of play has also gotten me shunned. It’s a combination rhythm & lead, so if someone else is playing either of those parts I’m “stepping on their toes.” If someone needs a filler for the band, though, it’s a great combination.

So anyway, Donny and I were not just playing, we were playing together. My fill in rhythm filled the gaps that his drum rolls left and allowed him to do more. I also helped keep the beat with him so he didn’t have to only follow the couple of people that were jumping time. Again, a good mesh.

So, again, this went on for a couple of weeks and then Tony asked if my acoustic would “plug in.” Acoustic Electric? Why yes, it is. So the next week I brought it and used my own guitar for the last set. They loved it.

Next chapter - Kenton. Enough for this post. :)

old post - cribbage

Another old one (BTW - yesterday's post was NOT an old one - I really did play with some professionals YESTERDAY). This one is from May 8, 2009.

I download different free apps for my iPod Touch so I can have something to do with my brain and hands while waiting in line, sitting in waiting rooms, etc. One I downloaded the other day was Cribbage Lite (I stick with the free versions on almost everything). No, I’ve never played Cribbage, as I’ve never “understood” it. This tells you how to play, but obviously doesn’t give you examples to follow. Wikipedia to the rescue (yes Brent, I used it, and I liked it - LQTM).

So now I’m wanting to try it “live.” I’m still playing the iPhone version, but I’m covering up the score and scoring on my own to learn how.

I’ve also enjoyed Backgammon on a Palm Pilot before I migrated to an iPod Touch. I haven’t found a BG game that I really like, though, but it’s cool that Colton has started playing it and enjoying it. :)

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=301152770&mt=8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cribbage

professional pickers

Today I had the pleasure of sitting in with a band that performs on Friday nights. Yes, the same night that I play in Halls. A very dear friend from years ago invited me to come sit in with them during a special set at a BBQ benefit. He wanted me to meet his band mates, and I was looking forward to it. Well, I got there and was thoroughly impressed with both their exceptional talent and their professional attitude. I was honored to share the stage with them.

I've retyped this part three times... I don't want to sound like a braggart, but I want to record something... I was impressed with them and, like I said, I was honored to get to play with them. Vanessa put it in perspective for me though when she said, "and you held your own with them just fine, didn't you." I hadn't thought of it that way, but said, "yes, I did." She told me that she wanted me to make sure that I noted that. Wow. Hadn't thought of it that way, but it made me feel good inside.

Thank you, Steve, for the invite. Thank you Lord, for the gift.