SUNRISE - March 31, 2011

March 31, 2011 Sunrise 6:51 am

"To change one's life:  Start immediately.  Do it flamboyantly.  No exceptions."  - William James

Turn 63.  Grow a pony tale. Pick up a guitar. Perform live....yeah should just about do it.






"I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument, while the song I came to sing remains unsung."  - Tagore

I don't intend for this to be my refrain.  I am singing the song now.






"Most of us spend our lives as if we had another one in the bank."  - Ben Irwin


Sadly we don't, but you can have two turns with life if you plan it just right.  rlw
 


TIME WATCH:  One quarter of 2011 is in the rear view mirror and we are heading into the first turn.

SUNRISE March 30, 2011

March 30, 2011 Sunrise 6:53 am

Went to a great concert at CSUS with the world famous Turtle Island Quartet.  Four fabulous classically trained string players (2 violins, viola and cello) playing Jimi Hendrix classics....awesome.

These guys are great...made me want to go home and practice more.

ahhh, time.

rlw

SUNRISE - March 29, 2011

March 29, 2011  Sunrise 6:54 am

“Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.” - Theophrastus (372 BC - 287 BC)

It appears as if man has been thinking about the value of TIME for a very long while and I am not the first. - rlw

"Nothing is as far away as one minute ago." - 

Jim Bishop

The last Christmas package has been opened, there aren't any more and the next Christmas morning is 364 days, 23 hours and 59 minutes away. - rlw

If time flies when you're having fun, it hits the afterburners when you don't think you're having enough." - Jef Mallett

An hour practicing what you dislike takes an eternity, an hour practicing what you love takes about fifteen minutes. - 

rlw

SUNRISE - March 28, 2011

Forgot to push the publish button on this one for March 28, 2011...but as I have often posted, it is never too late to do the right thing...

March 28, 2011 - Sunrise 6:52 am

"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it.  I want to have lived the width of it as well."  ~ Diane Ackerman

Anyone can live the length of their granted life...that is God's will; to live the width and depth fully with only your self-imposed limits...that is man's will.

- Robert Welton

"Why be saddled with this thing called life expectancy?  Of what relevance to an individual is such a statistic?  Am I to concern myself with an allotment of days I never had and was never promised?  Must I check off each day of my life as if I am subtracting from this imaginary hoard?  No, on the contrary, I will add each day of my life to my treasure of days lived.  And with each day, my treasure will grow, not diminish."   -  Robert Brault

Life is a bit like an Easter Egg hunt, isn't it?  The number of eggs and the colors you choose is up to you.  At the end of the day, what will your basket look like? 

- Robert Welton

SUNRISE March 27, 2011

Turn! Turn! Turn!

March 27, 2011 Sunrise 6:57 am Words-adapted from the bible, book of Ecclesiastes Music-Pete Seeger To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven A time to be born, a time to die A time to plant, a time to reap A time to kill, a time to heal A time to laugh, a time to weep To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven A time to build up,a time to break down A time to dance, a time to mourn A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven A time of love, a time of hate A time of war, a time of peace A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven A time to gain, a time to lose A time to rend, a time to sew A time to love, a time to hate A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late  Today, I practiced with other music students for the upcoming recital.  Practiced in a different studio with drums, keyboards, large speakers, amps, Microphones and cords everywhere.  Got to sit in with another group that just needed a simple bass backing (and I mean SIMPLE).  Was pretty good at improvisation. The average age (excluding me and the instructor) was about 15.  If we were a band I would have to drive, as none of them are old enough yet...ha.  But they are good.  The drummer is 16, as is the lead guitar.  I should have started 50 years ago. As it says in the quote above...I swear it is not too late. The mom's (that drove the other students) rocked out over 'Smoke on the Water'...and played tambourines on 'Some Kind of Wonderful'.  There is a Universe of difference in playing with a full band vs. along with your mp3 player.  I must say:  I did well.  Just about the most fun I have ever had. rlw

SUNRISE - March 26, 2011

March 26, 2011 Sunrise 6:59 am

“Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever...” - 

Isak Dinesen

TOMORROW - THE BAND!

SUNRISE March 25, 2011

March 26, 2011 Sunrise 7:00am

We don't have an eternity to realize our dreams, only the time we are here.” - Susan Taylor



Practiced a long time tonight - can now do the bass line for all three songs without the sheet music.  Band rehearsal Sunday - don't wish to embarrass myself.  This will be insanely cool.  Never thought it possible.




"To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time." -  Leonard Bernstein

SUNRISE -March 24, 2011

March 25, 2011 Sunrise 7:04 am

We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams.”


 Started my second weekly set of music lessons tonight at my teacher's studio.  Far too much fun.  He has all the instruments for a full band, recording equipment and speakers and amps to blow you away.  He built a band for the April 30 gig and our first rehearsal is this Sunday.  The drummer is 16.  The bass player is 63. ha ha ha Three back-up singers to boot - should be a hoot.  YouTube video will definitely go viral.

“Defer no time, delays have dangerous ends" - William Shakespeare

SUNRISE - March 23, 2011

March 23, 2011  Sunrise 7:04 am “Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever...” -  Isak Dinesen  “Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have - so spend it wisely” -          Kay Lyons

SUNRISE - March 22, 2011

March 22, 2011 Sunrise: 7:05 am

“If you don't have time to do it right you must have time to do it over.”
Anonymous

 Just got back from my music lessons.  Had a blast.  I have my three songs pretty well handled and I am still a month out for the performance (if I was a little kid, I would use the word 'recital').

I am hooked. I am doubling up on my lessons and will take another set on Thursday evenings while Sarah is in ballet. This set will be at a different studio that is set up with drums.  Just Drums and Bass.  I want to improve my rhythm.  Should be fun.  I still have TIME.

I got rhythm,
I got music,
I got my bass...
Who could ask for anything more?

apologies to Ella Fitzgerald....

“Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils.”
Hector Berlioz

SUNRISE - March 21, 2011

“What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?” - E. M. Forster 

Bought a new Flip Video camera today.  I borrowed the one I made my guitar playing video with and loved it.  Got the 2 hr, model.  Attached is the first test...ha.  I will do something much more creative soon, but it is charging now - I had 1 minute of charge to test it.  Perhaps, more music videos.....or of the cat talking, singing and winking, seriously, it is true...perhaps the Sunrise...

“So much of our time is spent in preparation, so much in routine, and so much in retrospect, that the amount of each person's genius is confined to a very few hours.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson