Step By Step

 The fields that usually grow corn are not yet planted, and after the grass started reaching maximum height, some trucks came in and now the grasses are all turning yellow. Assuming this is how they cut hay, as part of crop rotation. They've been growing corn for consecutive years since I moved here 5 years ago, but I do remember one year seeing hay bales.

I hit the 10 Mile mark this week on my daily walks.

I woke up today having logged 7 for the week. After talking the last two days off because of rain and work. So I made up for it by meeting my goal as soon as the rain stopped.

Tomorrow is going to a lot like today, with lots of clouds and cool temps in the 60s. I personally like it this way, especially for excercise. I'll probably goo for another 2 miles tomorrow.

Walk The Line

 In an effort to stay fit, I have gone on regular walks of a mile nearly every day. I've recently been trying to double that amount and see what results I get. To walk 10 miles a week, I can do it 5 days or less. Not slow walking either, like trying to get to the train on time kind of walking. It's a beautiful view either way!

Sometimes, I turn around and come back the same way, or go in a complete circle, around farmlands, rolling landscapes and pleasant houses. The only traffic I encounter are occasionals tractors and machinery. Off road vehicles may include a small group of motorcyclists or mountain bikes (I have the latter, which I'll start using when the mosquitos show up soon) 

Walks like these last between 20 and 40 minutes and go from 1 to 3 miles. Then I can go back to playing guitar!

Might As Well Be Spring

 

Five years living with this view

I spend an hour or so (less if the weather is poor) walking the country roads that surround a large expanse of farmland. Not a lot of traffic, so many people in the neighborhood go for their own exercise.

Longer hours with daylight and warming temperatures make for ideal conditions, and I take a great deal of pictures documenting the change of seasons.

All Strings Attached

 

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A couple of years ago, I started looking into the rare guitars Gibson made in the '70s. The Norlin-era was not fondly looked at over the years, but has been getting a second look now that they are all well past vintage collectable status, and are gaining in value. 

Firat I found a Gibson Marauder, which was kind of their attempt at making a Telecaster Deluxe. It's much more interesting than that. The stock pickups were what made it so.

Then I found a very rare (and very odd) Gibson Corvus, and decided to give the Marauder some company.

   

One of the other guitars from that era was the L-6s

Played by this guy.

And this guy...

... and also this guy, before pausing to throw the TV out of his window.

Those Gibsons cost a couple grand now, and I can't justify spending that kind of loot on something that will be in the back end of my Norlin collection.

Then this showed up online! a Japanese copy of a Gibson L-6s

You just never know what you're gonna get from Guitar Center, as they fail to reveal many details and often have limited pictures. But once they dropped the price nearly in half, I jumped on it, and now it joins my pack of Norlin inspired oddities! Sounds and plays great, but also has a bit of its own identity thanks to the talents and traits of  Matsumoku Industries, Japan. They were under contract with American companies to make everything from sewing machines to kitchen cabinets and their guitars were crafted quite well, as they were using computers to lathe the bodies at exact specifications way back 50 years ago! The electronics were often cheap crap, but that made it okay to make upgrades, as you really weren't going to devalue one of these for the vintage market. 

It's 50 years old, and cost me a little over $300!

Raising A Cup of Kindness

I have performed New Year's Eve at the same club since I joined the Savage Brothers Band in 2017. 

Woke up the next morning - it was 2018 and time to get my life in order. 

I pulled up just as the last sunset of 2024 was taking place. I was a litle early, so I sat in my car at watched it setting. I thought about where my life was at back when I started, and it wasn't a very happy place. The shows have all been fun, and provided me with a sense of escape from my daily hardships. 

Tonight's show was yet another lively event, and everyone went home happy to start yet another new year.

I went back to my shabby hotel room, which was cheap, clean (although musty smelling) 4 minutes from the club, and very familiar. I've stayed there several times over the years, so I pretty much know what to expect every time I return, for better or worse.

This time aroud, I had a next door neighbor checking me out as I loaded by stuff back in the car. A cat was in the window saying hello! A pleasant greeting as I started my New Year's Day travel back home.

 

Walk Of Life

 

I turned another year older this month. My partner and I went to Fitzwilly's and had a casual but fun time together. I had a few more shows to play after I finished my caroling gigs, and now the weather is back in the mild 50s, so I went for another of my many walks.

It's truly a beautiful world we live in, and I try to remind myself of that every time I step out and do my usual mile or so stroll. It gives me peace of mind and a little time to stay living in the moment. Important to remember as we trudge through winter and into another new year brimming with uncertainties around the world. 

It's Only Talk

 We saw some great concerts this past year, as we often seem to do. This time around was especially memorable.

 Pixies in Mansfield (I will always call this place Great Woods) Seeing The Pixies play in Massachusetts is the best way.

Pretenders at Tanglewood (My personal favorite, as Chrissie Hynde has piled up a huge amount of great songs. She didn't even play "Brass in Pocket" which is arguably her biggest hit. Didn't matter)

 Violent Femmes  at the Pines Theater Florence, MA (the show I saw most of my friends at, and one of  the closet to home)

PJ Harvey in Boston (great show, but a traffic/parking nightmare... thanks alot, Post Malone!)

Soul Coughing in Boston (took the train in this time!)

 

Beat: The '80s King Crimson Tribute in Hartford. (surprise second favorite concert, back in the city I saw my first rock concerts)