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She'd be starting in 2025 so we have time to plan. She's going to defer enrollment for a year. We'll move in the summer and she'll start in August 2025.
If the housing market gets better, we could buy a home, but so many things will be up in the air that renting at first is more realistic.
Phil
 
“Maggie” and I had a good talk about moving forward.

Pretty much family, health/fitness, and our sense of home community are more important than the BS in our lives now.

Interesting to know that Maggie now knows the full impact of how these gated communities work to basically steal and suck away not only your identity, but also your creative freedom and integrity.

It took mucho long time for her to understand and appreciate why made it about my works meaning to me without the need to put it out there.

Pretty much will settle into just managing and taking care of ourselves. Things we hope will scale down to a plain and simple life that is pure and free of BS.

Pretty much the flash in the pan is momentary. The impulse for fame and being a public figure will diminish, and a pure and simple life will take over.

Maggie mentioned travel, but I pointed out how grand it was to go drive to Brattleboro Vermont on a day’s notice to attend a Book Festival, and the connections we made there. Pretty much we don’t need an airplane to explore, and all the glam we experienced should be enough.

I diffused the sense of entitlement that she thought she would miss. Living free, enjoying freedom, and fully appreciating what we have is our key to happiness.

We are in our last year of a three year contract with our modeling agent. I think the play was the payoff for our agent is after the book launch where the work would come in riding the ground swell. The problem here is that opens the door for getting on the train we are trying to leave behind. We don’t want to get swept into that trap again.

Cal
 
Phil,

If you are looking for a modest home I would look into Buchanan and Verplank. These are two tiny villages that are mucho small town. In the past they were just summer cottages that were winterized.

The location is very close to Indian Point, and just south of Peekskill.

These are sleepy towns that pretty much no one knows about. Kinda under the radar. BTW they are river towns on the Hudson.

Expect no sewers, no real town. In Verplank, oddly, a local resident told me you have to pick up your mail at the Post Office. When I say no town pretty much I mean no grocery stores, that’s how tiny these towns are. These were vacation communities built out decades ago with some modern housing.

Not sure if this suits your needs. Also Mohegan Lake also has a collection of cottages. This is just north and east of Peekskill.

In Montrose, just north of Croton, is a huge VA Hospital. Might be a good place for employment. Peekskill has a branch of New York Columbia Presbyterian as it’s local hospital. Westchester Medical Center is a massive sprawling public hospital complex. Truly gigantic.

Right now Peekskill is expensive, even renting is not cheap. Not a lot of housing stock available. We were lucky…

Cal
 
I did a search and pretty much slim pickings as far as availability for the local real estate near me. Prices are more than I expected.

Big Tuesday the 12th is the book launch. We have to be at the New York Public Library at 5:30 PM even though the event is at 7:00.

7:00 is a short introduction.

7:05 the “conversation” begins and ends at 7:45.

About 15 minutes for Q&A.

8:00 begins the book signing.

In the morning of the 12th “Maggie” has physical therapy.

800 people signed up to fill the max capacity. This is a big crowd.

Tomorrow are a lot of interviews…

Cal
 
Tomorrow is a big day. “Maggie” says she just wants to find a hole and just hide out. She can’t wait for the Book Launch to be over.

Evidently people who pre-ordered her book received delivery already.

The book festivals that are coming up are smaller gigs, but the NYC Public Library launch will be the big event.

When I got my MFA in Creative Writing in 2005 there were readings where an excerpt was read or a sample of the writing as a tease of sorts, followed by a Q&A session.

Things have evolved and now they have “Discussions” where there are two people having a “Conversation.” This is akin to like a panel discussion, but with only two people. This kinda coincided with Covid and the lockdown.

I may not post as usual because of being occupied temporarily. Don’t freak out.

I learned from AJ that electric bikes are mucho high maintenance. Pretty much the torque from an electric motor severely stresses the entire drivetrain and of course this is not of motorcycle durability. These bikes also are heavy.

AJ says he had to rebuild his drivetrain after 9 rides. I’m glad I just ride my old retro bikes. Also glad I stocked up on 8 and 9 speed and bought mucho XTR 11-speed on close out.

I’m back to 9 pull-ups. With the rowing I’m speeding up, but since it is a ERG the harder you pull the more the resistance, so basically I’m building up strength. I’m cutting the carbs to trim down to my summer weight. Anyways my chest, shoulders, and arms are enlarged. Pretty much kinda puffy, so when I loose the winter weight I’ll look like a UFC fighter.

I’m surprised on how the Santa Cruz “HOG” has gotten so loud and full. It leap frogged the custom Model “F” that use to be the louder of the two, but I know from experience that Adirondack spruce tops take a few years to break in.

The HOG has turned out to be a remarkable guitar. The all mahogany guitar (even the top) has a deep rich tone with warmth a plenty, but it also has a sweet top end that balances the tone. It also plays well. This guitar fills a room well.

The new custom Santa Cruz now has to catch up. Not as boomy, but has an articulate treble and clarity. I expect the red spruce top to take a long time to open up. More bass response for a fuller sound, but the HOG will always have more midrange.

The new Custom Model “F” might take a decade to get to where it gets to approach its full potential. It already is a wonderful guitar, but it still is not the monster that it will be one day. The voice of this guitar will be a bit scooped in the midrange when compared to the HOG. The HOG’s voice is midrange dominant and its all warmth.

Pretty lucky and spoiled to own these two guitars that compliment each other. Then I have a Santa Cruz OM made of old growth Brazilian Rosewood.

A thing I’m hearing again and again is a shortage of skilled labor. I question how productive can an economy be is it lacks skilled labor like mechanics, service people, and people with technical skills. There are people like me who left the work force who were highly skilled.

I don’t see this deficit in the worker shortage reflected in the economy.

Gold topped the $2200.00 threshold in inter-day trading last week, but so far has not closed above $2200.00. Been hovering close within striking range with small daily increases. Let’s see how things go.

Cal
 
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One event later this month will be a reading at the Cosmopolitan Club. This private club is for wealthy women, and “Maggie” informed me that I’m invited to a dinner being held there after the afternoon reading.

I asked her if I will likely be the only man, and she said, “Very likely.”

I will likely wear my more dressy clothes. Will likely use my Paul Smith blazer.

High society…

This event had to be rescheduled because the turnout and interest exceeded the capacity of a room and they moved to a larger space to accommodate everyone.

The things I have to do…

Cal
 
I’m kinda freaking out. I lost contact with my friend Tim the guitar player. This has happened before, but his phone remained in service, so I knew he was alive.

Now his phone service is dead, and I’m trying to come to terms that Tim might be dead. Last time I saw him we went to Rudy’s in Scarsdale, and he bought a cheap guitar. We then went to my house. Tim revealed he had Cancer and had Chemo. At that point it seemed he was cured, and pretty much he said he came back from the dead. Things for a while were not looking good.

I think back how and if this was a goodbye. I don’t think so because things were looking up. Tim said the Chemo took a lot out of him, and that he might not ever be the same.

Here was a guy I knew since he was 15 years old. His talent made him versatile, but he ended up specializing in the style of Django. He was a simple guy who just wanted to play guitar. No hang ups on getting famous, getting rich, or other nonsense. In fact Tim lived on the margins.

He would push away woman, because he knew they would have no future with him. In turn this made these women love him even more, even when the had new boy friends or even husbands. I don’t know how Tim lived in NYC so close to the edge, but he was free and had his freedom.

I am hoping he is not dead, but that might be a real possibility. I’m going to call my friend Cris and dig in. Tim has a sister and a brother.

Tim is/was a generation younger than me. He saw some talent in me and encouraged me to keep working through my struggles with the guitar. I thought of Tim yesterday, and called again to get the “no longer in service” message.

I feel disturbed yet inspired because Tim is/was a great friend who saw something in me. He was forever greatful for our friendship and had great respect for my artistic struggles. He is/was pure spirit.

Cal
 
Two flower arrangements were delivered today from “Maggie’s” agent and Literary Agent.

I called Cris and was pointed to my friend Dave who has contact with Tim’s bass player friend from high school, but that ended up being a dead end.

I have a name to track down is the next step.

Cal
 
SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here is Automatic Makiflex #3 with Plaubel 150mm F4.5 Auto Iris Xenar. "Super Bubbapack" new high voltage Power Pack for Vivitar 365, a fairly powerful flash. Plaubel marketed this camera as useable for reportage, the flash sync is 1/15, so not really for flash outside. Interior ambient light should not record, the 365 is automatic out to 75 feet depending. Embellished the Super Bubbapack, adding a Domke Super Gripper Strap, cut the bottom piece off with Japanese fine cutting saw, added some Gaffer Tape to neaten it up. Finally, a rubber pad on bottom of pack, so everything sits down nicely on a flat surface, it's important to be able to set this down without it tipping over! 9x9cm B&W images will be taken on 9x12cm and 4x5" film. Great rig for high fidelity low light reportage.
 
Devil Dan,

I’m not so sure yet, but I need to know.

Tim is/was in his 40’s and is an inspiration. That part never dies.

I’m calling numbers, leaving messages, and I have another number to try before I search again.

I found out other names of Tim’s sister and brother.

Cal
 
Devil Dan,

Many thanks for the link.

I’m feeling sentimental over the possible loss of my friend, but it is also great to know I have other good friends to inspire me.

We will be heading into the city shortly.

Pretty much a full house of over 800 people in the live audience, and then over 1K live streamers.

How terrifying is that? Understand that it will be good when its over. I know that feeling…

I remember being in the wings in a state of terror. I was the opening of a show, a solo performance. I did a 100 pushups to get back into my body, and after an introduction I walked into the lights into a full auditorium of 1K-1.2K students at Cornell University upstate.

Cal
 
My rig for tonight is a Leica SL2 with a 35 Cron APO.

I figure I can get tight shots, and it will be a mob scene.

Evidently the Penguin imprint revealed today to “Maggie” that this has been the highest profile promotion they ever had.

Maggie started this book with a very strong “platform” which is the term used to encompass the promotional aspects. She has a small social media presence of only 750K on Instagram, but here followers are dedicated.

Let’s see if this book is a surprise hit that has legs…

Maggie tells me once the book is released next comes the reviews…

At this point anything can happen. This flash in the pan could turn out to be something bigger. Who knows…

A few people from Peekskill will be coming. Some of Maggie’s friends and her Editor. Pretty sure the Editor is coming to write a story.

I’m just minding my own business…

Cal
 
MFM,

I feel at this point I get less disrespected. The publisher though messed up the photo credits on this printing of the first printing of this book. It will get corrected in the next printing.

Basically instead of crediting the three photographers, a courtesy of Lyn Slater (Maggie) was given. This defied Maggie’s request and instructions and was a production error.

At this point: Oh-well.

Cal
 
Last night we entered through the bowels of the public library which was built in 1911. It is a kinda monument that approaches the scale of perhaps Grand Central.

I don’t know who paid for this, if it was public funds, or some donor. When I say bowels we were directed to enter on 40th street near a garage door that led to a loading dock past a row of dumpsters. Obviously not a public entrance.

From there we were escorted to the Green Room.

Grand Central was built by the Vanderbilt’s as a gift to the city.

Last night was like a dream and a blur.

We deepened our relationship with the host author and her partner a performance artist. They were interested in relocating into the Hudson Valley, and I offered to take them around Peekskill with the hope they would relocate here.

Besides this we met a lot of people and increased our circle of influence, but we are glad it is over.

Today we head back into the city for a studio visit to NBC studios, then we have a fitting for Maggie with her stylist who is trying/attempting to break into styling VIP’s. This NBC gig I don’t know how big it is or what it is about.The publicist will be also coming.

I kinda understand now that her job was a kinda a trial by fire, sink or swim. Perhaps akin to sending someone into a combat zone without any training. Let’s see if she survives… If she doesn’t… Oh-well. A meat grinder of sorts, but it is not the Ukraine.

The mild eventually 60 degree weather is an sign of an early spring, and this is officially riding weather I’m missing out on. Oh-well…

I of course got a really nice intimate shot of a guard in a guard booth interacting with someone. I got in close with a 35 Cron APO. The guard had a face that was full of character. A few nice shots to edit from. Glad that the SL2 has image stabilization for the gig.

I staked out a few seats for the family, and placed myself in the aisle center front right behind the first row, a strategic location. The 35 Cron APO was the perfect FOV of the stage because I sat so close.

Cal
 
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Calzone said:
They were interested in relocating into the Hudson Valley, and I offered to take them around Peekskill with the hope they would relocate here.
Click to expand...
Just wanted to let you know about a home renovation show about the Hudson Valley streaming on HBO MAX. You may find it interesting.

www.max.com

Watch Small Town Potential | Max

Watch Small Town Potential and more new shows on Max. Plans start at $9.99/month. New York's Hudson Valley has something to satisfy any passion, and local real estate agent Davina Thomasula works with builder Kristin Leitheuser to transform the area's affordable houses into beautiful homes that...
www.max.com www.max.com
 
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