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MUSIC LESSONS IN GUITAR STORE FROM AMATEUR TEACHER

Music lessons come with the territory when the territory is a music store. Was it strange that I was the teacher? A little strange, yes, but well received. I had ordered a guitar from the store and stopped in to check progress since I got an email stating the order was canceled. But I didn’t […]

WHY WRITERS BELIEVE IN READERS? IT TAKES BOTH

Writers believe the time they spend on their work is worthwhile. Opinions from others vary. Of course writers believe, but is their opinion the one that matters? After days and years of focus on a project, they’d better believe in their work. One sage said to choose a writing topic you love, because you’ll eventually […]

HORSE SENSE AND LEARNING TO RIDE LIKE A HUNGARIAN

Horse sense is common sense. Says as much right off in the dictionary. What it doesn’t say is what people learn riding a horse. To me that’s a better definition of horse sense. Instead of some blow-hard mansplaining how something simple is done in a most condescending tone, the horse teaches by example. That’s me […]

UPDATING DAVID WITH NEW TOOLS. APOLOGIES TO MIKE ANGELO

I Updating David starts with the basics: underwear for the big naked guy. They’re called a novelty boxers, a gag gift, but the only gag is Michelangelo’s David portrayed with the same short comings on the undies as the namesake statue. Even in a new medium the game stays the same. If Robert Mapplethorpe had […]

FIGHT OR FLIGHT: CLASSICAL DAVID’S PISELLO

David was getting ready to fight Goliath. It was fight or flight time. Look at that face. The face of fear. The face of, “Oh no, now what? I’ve got a sling and a rock.” It’s like the old adage: Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight. He knows he’s up against it. Life […]

GUITAR GLUT: CRACK THE CODE TO FIND THE SOUND

The guitar glut includes too many guitars and too many names. I’m looking at you, Fender. How many names can you call the same thing. It seems simple enough. To the uninitiated there are two guitars in the world: big acoustics and smaller electrics with big sound. That’s like saying there are only two metals: […]

EMOTIONAL RESCUE? BUDDY, IT’S JUST A GUITAR

An emotional rescue always happens at the same time. Guaranteed. First, we go through some things, then some more things. Just to keep it interesting, we go through even more things. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good, sometimes in between. I’m focusing on ‘sometimes in between.’ Why? As a constantly adjusting guy in a constantly […]

WATCHING TELEVISION AND WONDERING IF ‘THE ONE’ IS RIGHT

Watching television with my wife usually means murder mystery. The English-ier the better. Lately we’ve drifted into Law and Order: SVU. It’s always full of grizzly details that makes my skin crawl. Most recently we saw The One and my skin is still crawling. Is it good question to ask? Do you think you’re The […]

ASIAN AMERICANS ARE AS AMERICAN AS IT GETS

Asian Americans are as American as it gets. I’ve said it twice. Fight me. Hate crimes against elderly Asian Americans is not a sport, not a statement, but an act of cowardice and ignorance committed by the sort of people we’ve seen too much of. Who are they? Who might be joining them? It’s people […]

BULLDOG STRONG, PASS IT ALONG

Bulldog strong is what happens in North Bend, Oregon. It probably happens everywhere else, but Bulldog strong lasts a lifetime. So far. The best way to tell if you’ve got some Bulldog in you? Do hard things, then reflect on where the credit goes after you get over yourself. For example: