Greetings, whoever-reads-this! Not exactly a day in Paradise. It's a shitty, rainy day outside, and I'm operating on about 6 hours of sleep. Enough to fuel me through my day, but still leaving me a little bit crispy around the edges. Paradise adjacent….
Music news. I've been getting in some good regular practice on the guitar these days. Having an operating camera helps the process as far as working on improv. It no longer shuts off after a minute or two, so I can stretch out as much as I need to.
So I'm back to making music videos. They still have to pass muster to get on my YouTube page, but I'm still back in the saddle. Feels good.
I've still got some okay facility on the instrument. The only thing advancing age might be doing to me is that my grip isn't quite as good. I've been using 10s as far as strings for the longest time, and sometimes these days I just don't have the strength in my hands in certain places on the neck.
I've been using my ‘mini’ guitar lately. Epiphone Casino Coupe, with 10s. The P90 pickups give it a bright sound. The little guitar with the big tone. Just busted the high E string, and, with no other 10 gauge string to replace it, decided to try my Gretsch guitar, which has 11s on it. The heaviest gauge strings I play. They felt like telephone wires.
The Gretsch used to be my Spartacus guitar. Just couldn't seem to rise to the occasion this time. On this particular occasion. Couldn't quite cowboy up..
So maybe it's time, finally, to “wimp out” and go back to 9s. It's a thinner sound, but the trade-off is greater facility. Whatever keeps the boat afloat..
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOhY7dNUZE6oBg6QyQF-g2g This is where you can hear most of my albums, and even download anything that strikes your fancy. I'm not working on anything new at the moment, but I've still got another album or several in me. And I've already made a few as it is.
Domestic news. Enough food in the house, and no medical appointments until April!
Getting older means more Doctor visits, and referrals. Seems like they're always finding something. Currently a few things to do with my plumbing. I'm learning to roll with this, while still trying to keep all these appointments at a minimum.
One thing I've noticed, though, is that once you go through a procedure, you lose the fear. I've had surgery on my hand twice(for a ganglion cyst), several eye surgeries, and a couple of colonoscopies, all of which were scary going in. Much less so after the fact.
Still, I'm trying to keep my calendar as unmuddied as possible. Retirement is still great. As long as I still feel good, don't bother me.
So far so good on that one.
Thanks as ever for stopping in and wading through this existential mess. Much love. More later.
