Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Some more tweaking on the HOG made it better just tuned down a half-step to D#-D#. The full-step to D-D was a bit dull.
Oh-well.
Cal
Oh-well.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Been slowing down and practicing singing triads along with the guitar. Something fresh is happening, a kinda unifying and also a discovery.
Something smooth is happening… I like it.
Our grandson turned 2 yesterday, and he had a great day. The grand daughter who is now 10 is already kinda grown up. Good to see the kids in a happy space. This family is in a better space. The dad is being “Mr. Mom” doing the day care and is taking a leave of absence from work. Financially they are fine.
Glad I mowed the lawn Monday. Today will be a heat alert. Likely will hit the gym. I’m seeing and feeling the results. My chest and arms remained pumped, but I did not do any strength training yesterday that I thought I would do. Oh-well. At this point and age I need the full rest more so I can push myself today.
I think Melonie has it right, strength will provide better endurance, and pretty much my genes are indicating I innately blessed with a high strength to weight ratio. I still eat potato chips, ice cream, and last night cake. I eat good, but I’m not really dieting to loose weight. Monday will be another weigh in, well actually Tuesday because of Labor Day.
Anyways health and fitness has become my job, and it kinda is part-time; the other half of my life is being a student of the guitar and learning it like a new language.
This also makes me think if I start reading Spanish books and reading them aloud that I will recover the fluency I once enjoyed. I spoke Spanish so well that I did not have an identifiable accent. I would be asked in Spanish in my travels, “Where are you from?” As if I were a Latino from another country.
It would be pretty easy to regain my fluency in Spanish.
BTW did you know that Cantonese, the dialect is very-very musical. Mandarin is kinda stiff like English.
I know I drive MFM nuts with my language abuse, but as a person of color that kinda is my entitlement to create language, slurs, and slang. “Maggie” went to Catholic Schools where she learned proper English, I kinda speak and write “American” and not English. When she corrects me, I say, “Don’t oppress me.”
I enjoy my freedom, it is my right to butcher English and basically speak and write “American.” Part of it was my crappy public school education.
So pretty much I see why I love Jazz, the blues, and improv. I think I’m exploring part of my lost ethnography being Cantonese. Also historically it has been the Cantonese that left China to have great multiple migrations throughout the world.
Before Nixon normalized relations with China around 1972, 95% of the Chinese in the U.S. were from one small Provence: Canton. Did you know that Canada and the U.S. had “Exclusion-Laws” to lock Chinese out and restrict any and all migration?
Did you know that Havana Cuba at one time had the biggest Chinatown in the New World?
Did you know that Chinatowns were formed because of genocide and lynchings.
Anyways, this is part of my culture, and it is not only history, but my ethnography that defines me. Don’t forget the almost 1,000 years of feudalism in Canton that existed when the rest of China was unified. I am kinda bred like a pit bull for fighting and aggression. History and survival fine tuned these traits. Part of my ethnography.
No doubt also that as China tried to restrict western incursion to Canton, that it exacerbated a separate advancement in culture and ideas. This also made Canton like NYC where it became the center of culture that concentrated the arts and intellect, as well as being a financial center. This too is in my genes; remember my mother was educated and this means I also come from what an influential family.
Out of all my siblings, I got my mother’s good looks.
My dad was a small man as far as height, but stocky. I think I got my strength genes from him. He was a brute.
So out of the five of us, it is my sister and I that could be called petite. I have narrow shoulders and have a body of an athletic high school kid that perhaps is not a man yet.
So in retirement, I’m deeply reflecting on my ethnography, where I evolved and came from. It is a very unique space, and I am embracing my culture that is not American that was submerged, eraised, and oppressed.
Cal
Something smooth is happening… I like it.
Our grandson turned 2 yesterday, and he had a great day. The grand daughter who is now 10 is already kinda grown up. Good to see the kids in a happy space. This family is in a better space. The dad is being “Mr. Mom” doing the day care and is taking a leave of absence from work. Financially they are fine.
Glad I mowed the lawn Monday. Today will be a heat alert. Likely will hit the gym. I’m seeing and feeling the results. My chest and arms remained pumped, but I did not do any strength training yesterday that I thought I would do. Oh-well. At this point and age I need the full rest more so I can push myself today.
I think Melonie has it right, strength will provide better endurance, and pretty much my genes are indicating I innately blessed with a high strength to weight ratio. I still eat potato chips, ice cream, and last night cake. I eat good, but I’m not really dieting to loose weight. Monday will be another weigh in, well actually Tuesday because of Labor Day.
Anyways health and fitness has become my job, and it kinda is part-time; the other half of my life is being a student of the guitar and learning it like a new language.
This also makes me think if I start reading Spanish books and reading them aloud that I will recover the fluency I once enjoyed. I spoke Spanish so well that I did not have an identifiable accent. I would be asked in Spanish in my travels, “Where are you from?” As if I were a Latino from another country.
It would be pretty easy to regain my fluency in Spanish.
BTW did you know that Cantonese, the dialect is very-very musical. Mandarin is kinda stiff like English.
I know I drive MFM nuts with my language abuse, but as a person of color that kinda is my entitlement to create language, slurs, and slang. “Maggie” went to Catholic Schools where she learned proper English, I kinda speak and write “American” and not English. When she corrects me, I say, “Don’t oppress me.”
I enjoy my freedom, it is my right to butcher English and basically speak and write “American.” Part of it was my crappy public school education.
So pretty much I see why I love Jazz, the blues, and improv. I think I’m exploring part of my lost ethnography being Cantonese. Also historically it has been the Cantonese that left China to have great multiple migrations throughout the world.
Before Nixon normalized relations with China around 1972, 95% of the Chinese in the U.S. were from one small Provence: Canton. Did you know that Canada and the U.S. had “Exclusion-Laws” to lock Chinese out and restrict any and all migration?
Did you know that Havana Cuba at one time had the biggest Chinatown in the New World?
Did you know that Chinatowns were formed because of genocide and lynchings.
Anyways, this is part of my culture, and it is not only history, but my ethnography that defines me. Don’t forget the almost 1,000 years of feudalism in Canton that existed when the rest of China was unified. I am kinda bred like a pit bull for fighting and aggression. History and survival fine tuned these traits. Part of my ethnography.
No doubt also that as China tried to restrict western incursion to Canton, that it exacerbated a separate advancement in culture and ideas. This also made Canton like NYC where it became the center of culture that concentrated the arts and intellect, as well as being a financial center. This too is in my genes; remember my mother was educated and this means I also come from what an influential family.
Out of all my siblings, I got my mother’s good looks.
My dad was a small man as far as height, but stocky. I think I got my strength genes from him. He was a brute.
So out of the five of us, it is my sister and I that could be called petite. I have narrow shoulders and have a body of an athletic high school kid that perhaps is not a man yet.
So in retirement, I’m deeply reflecting on my ethnography, where I evolved and came from. It is a very unique space, and I am embracing my culture that is not American that was submerged, eraised, and oppressed.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
It’s 10:00 AM and I cut up my trophy breast-melon. I’m having cantaloupe mixed with a banana, yogurt and some wheat germ for breakfast, and will reserve my Chinese style garlic tomatoes and eggs for a big protein boost.
“Maggie” wants to stay at home, and with the expected heat I can easily do a strength workout and tear some muscle here right at home. EZ-PZ…
Already got some guitar and singing practice done. A discovery today is that the HOG Santa Cruz has both the high and low “E” strings coming out as a bit dull because I think it is still a fresh guitar and needs to get “beaten-in,” meaning played hard to get it to flex more openly.
Remember this guitar is likely 12 years old now, but when I bought it-it was as if brand new because it went unloved and unplayed. When I dropped down the tuning to D#-D# the string imbalance became evident to me. Pretty much physics at work here, less tension translated into less driving of the top.
Understand that I paid $4.1K for a guitar that was custom ordered, and at the time I bought it specked out with crazy expensive custom options it would of cost about $10K to have built. It came to me as a new guitar that never got played. WOW.
So this muffling at the extreme low and extreme high strings displays and showcases the wonderful middle which is kinda rich and wonderful. I find the middle 4 strings to have an ideal voicing with a great balance string-to-string.
I use these Santa Cruz strings that are balanced specifically kinda compliment how they brace and voice their guitars. At $24.00 a set these strings are expensive, but they seem to last a long time, so some of the expense is offset. The tone and balance is worth it.
So in my digging in Santa Cruz sells a set for DADGBD tuning which is a standard tuning of the middle 4 strings with heavier gauge high and low “E” strings to compensate for the less tension from tuning lower by a whole-step. Pretty much more mass to add drive, and in my case, whether I tune to DADGBD or to EADGBE tuned down a half step, I’ll have more girth to pump the top to rebalance the guitar.
Pretty much a way to beat-in the guitar faster. Understand that more of the top has to flex for the low notes. Kinda like how a larger diameter speaker can reproduce lower frequencies. Another thought is that the dampening of the “E”’s could also be a function of resonance. Hmmm
Pretty clever either way. I’m going to order a half dozen sets of the Santa Cruz DADGBD Medium Tension strings today. The HOG has a resonant throaty voice that mirrors my own voice very well. I’m kinda in love, and since I play with a “Big Stubby 2.0mm pick, my playing is very percussive like a drum. The tone is sorta piano like.
So an epiphany today, perhaps a major lesson that will propel me further.
Also understand that DADGBD tuning was used extensively by Neil Young in the late 60’s. All those old classic early Neil Young used that tuning. Later this tuning was used extensively by what would later be called “grunge.”
Keith Richards removed the low “E” string on his guitars and basically plays a 5-string guitar.
The thought comes to mind that DADGBD tuning has the middle four strings in standard tuning, so pretty much this can create a creative concept to build around. Could be an inspiration and lead to a style. Hmmm.
Lots of twists… I like it.
Looks like for about $280.00 I can have Warmoth build me a custom baritone neck. Hmmm…
I love retirement. Today. Mucho strength training, and more guitar training. I want to beat-in that HOG. This guitar is becoming valuable to me. Glad I secured it. When my Santa Cruz custom Model “F” arrived it didn’t seem so worthy a guitar, but now I see its worth.
Crazy good.
Cal
“Maggie” wants to stay at home, and with the expected heat I can easily do a strength workout and tear some muscle here right at home. EZ-PZ…
Already got some guitar and singing practice done. A discovery today is that the HOG Santa Cruz has both the high and low “E” strings coming out as a bit dull because I think it is still a fresh guitar and needs to get “beaten-in,” meaning played hard to get it to flex more openly.
Remember this guitar is likely 12 years old now, but when I bought it-it was as if brand new because it went unloved and unplayed. When I dropped down the tuning to D#-D# the string imbalance became evident to me. Pretty much physics at work here, less tension translated into less driving of the top.
Understand that I paid $4.1K for a guitar that was custom ordered, and at the time I bought it specked out with crazy expensive custom options it would of cost about $10K to have built. It came to me as a new guitar that never got played. WOW.
So this muffling at the extreme low and extreme high strings displays and showcases the wonderful middle which is kinda rich and wonderful. I find the middle 4 strings to have an ideal voicing with a great balance string-to-string.
I use these Santa Cruz strings that are balanced specifically kinda compliment how they brace and voice their guitars. At $24.00 a set these strings are expensive, but they seem to last a long time, so some of the expense is offset. The tone and balance is worth it.
So in my digging in Santa Cruz sells a set for DADGBD tuning which is a standard tuning of the middle 4 strings with heavier gauge high and low “E” strings to compensate for the less tension from tuning lower by a whole-step. Pretty much more mass to add drive, and in my case, whether I tune to DADGBD or to EADGBE tuned down a half step, I’ll have more girth to pump the top to rebalance the guitar.
Pretty much a way to beat-in the guitar faster. Understand that more of the top has to flex for the low notes. Kinda like how a larger diameter speaker can reproduce lower frequencies. Another thought is that the dampening of the “E”’s could also be a function of resonance. Hmmm
Pretty clever either way. I’m going to order a half dozen sets of the Santa Cruz DADGBD Medium Tension strings today. The HOG has a resonant throaty voice that mirrors my own voice very well. I’m kinda in love, and since I play with a “Big Stubby 2.0mm pick, my playing is very percussive like a drum. The tone is sorta piano like.
So an epiphany today, perhaps a major lesson that will propel me further.
Also understand that DADGBD tuning was used extensively by Neil Young in the late 60’s. All those old classic early Neil Young used that tuning. Later this tuning was used extensively by what would later be called “grunge.”
Keith Richards removed the low “E” string on his guitars and basically plays a 5-string guitar.
The thought comes to mind that DADGBD tuning has the middle four strings in standard tuning, so pretty much this can create a creative concept to build around. Could be an inspiration and lead to a style. Hmmm.
Lots of twists… I like it.
Looks like for about $280.00 I can have Warmoth build me a custom baritone neck. Hmmm…
I love retirement. Today. Mucho strength training, and more guitar training. I want to beat-in that HOG. This guitar is becoming valuable to me. Glad I secured it. When my Santa Cruz custom Model “F” arrived it didn’t seem so worthy a guitar, but now I see its worth.
Crazy good.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Seems like I’m growing so much in retirement, both physically, spiritually, and in my creativity.
Pretty sad that most will suffer declines in retirement. I don’t take for granted my good fortune.
No time to be lazy. Time to tear some muscle…
Cal
Pretty sad that most will suffer declines in retirement. I don’t take for granted my good fortune.
No time to be lazy. Time to tear some muscle…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
A red screen as far as the markets go.
Lots of choppy action, a good amount of volatility, and with all the turmoil going around the world anything can happen…
Markets don’t like uncertainty, and we have been living with uncertainty for a few years. My gut is telling me to be cautious, but I think many have grown use to the uncertainty to the point where it is being disregarded.
Certainly this accounts for the increased debt loads in households and by governments. Spend-spend-spend like there is no tomorrow…
For many a very rude surprise when and if a downturn happens.
There is a war going on in the Middl East, and generally this translates into higher oil prices. Not this time… Hmmm
Another disregard.
Wars are inflationary. The money has to come from somewhere…
Another disregard.
I will repeat debt loads, only because they are at record levels.
Yet another disregard.
Anyways looks like an epic crisis is brewing, and when the shoe drops many people will be caught with their pants down.
I say all this while I give the guitar known as HOG gets beaten in further. I can hear and feel the guitar opening up, getting looser, and getting more responsive. I eventually tuned back up to “E”-“E” full pitch to speed things up.
I ordered the last 2 sets of DADGBD medium tension strings that my dealer had. Evidently they are popular. Ordered a nice strap made of Buffalo leather also.
Having a really relaxing day.
For lunch I fried some garlic and then some purple onion to flavor a batch of fried matzo. Used olive oil as a condiment. Took the extra time to enjoy the boosted flavor. I’m really taking care of myself.
As they say, “Someone plays the violin as Rome burns.” I represent a modern version. Outside is an oven baking.
Cal
Lots of choppy action, a good amount of volatility, and with all the turmoil going around the world anything can happen…
Markets don’t like uncertainty, and we have been living with uncertainty for a few years. My gut is telling me to be cautious, but I think many have grown use to the uncertainty to the point where it is being disregarded.
Certainly this accounts for the increased debt loads in households and by governments. Spend-spend-spend like there is no tomorrow…
For many a very rude surprise when and if a downturn happens.
There is a war going on in the Middl East, and generally this translates into higher oil prices. Not this time… Hmmm
Another disregard.
Wars are inflationary. The money has to come from somewhere…
Another disregard.
I will repeat debt loads, only because they are at record levels.
Yet another disregard.
Anyways looks like an epic crisis is brewing, and when the shoe drops many people will be caught with their pants down.
I say all this while I give the guitar known as HOG gets beaten in further. I can hear and feel the guitar opening up, getting looser, and getting more responsive. I eventually tuned back up to “E”-“E” full pitch to speed things up.
I ordered the last 2 sets of DADGBD medium tension strings that my dealer had. Evidently they are popular. Ordered a nice strap made of Buffalo leather also.
Having a really relaxing day.
For lunch I fried some garlic and then some purple onion to flavor a batch of fried matzo. Used olive oil as a condiment. Took the extra time to enjoy the boosted flavor. I’m really taking care of myself.
As they say, “Someone plays the violin as Rome burns.” I represent a modern version. Outside is an oven baking.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
“Maggie” and I lived for a decade in a 650 square foot luxury apartment in Madhattan. One problem was storage to avoid clutter, another was a lack of workspace.
Devil Christian mentioned that I kinda went “vertical” and used ELFA modular storage to basically kinda build a high rise in the bedroom that resembled being in a submarine. It was both creative and crazy.
Realize that I had a Epson floor standing printer I called “The Jersey Barrier” and I printed mucho big. Then Maggie was a fashion blogger and digital influencer so this bedroom stored and warehoused mucho luxury clothing, handbags and shoes. Believe it or not it was highly organized.
So the point is that we could live in a confined space. The takeaway and the point to recognize is that we basically ate and slept in about 450 square feet of space, and not so different than a “tiny-house.”
So we actually agreed that we could “live” again in a small space if we had a pretty vast amount of storage, a place to shelter our car and perhaps my truck; and had perhaps an out building or two for studio space, maybe ideally a large barn.
Without saying we would want some acreage and privacy in a natural setting.
So living the dream is the equity in our Peekskill home has grown already and it has not even been 4 years yet.
Next is further north is more of a recreational area that has mucho vast preserves and a few really grand state parks that shadow even Blue Mountain Preserve, and the combined 50K acres of Bear Mountain State Park and Harriman State Park.
I can see and predict further inflation and price growth of our Baby-Victorian because it is an hour’s commute to Grand Central via Metro North, and because it is a rivertown that is basically the Gateway To The Hudson Highlands. Understand that northern Westchester is an affluent area, and is one of the richest counties in the U.S. just north of NYC.
Further north housing prices fall because they are less and less commutable. Pretty much we are retired, and we have no need really to got to NYC.
The more we look into things, we could sell and buy a living space that would be downsizing, but have some acreage, and have perhaps have a large barn with a loft. The big payoff would be close proximity to Catskill State Park, Lake Minnewaska, Kingston, a city with a literary community, that formally was the State Capitol until the British invaded and took over during the Revolutionary War.
Still about 2 hours to 2 1/2 hours drive to NYC…
So the dream to go country lives on, but we are still happy here in Peekskill in our mucho cute and cozy Baby-Victorian that dates back to 1912 and is a Craftsman Style home with a lot of preserved historical detail. No HGTV gutting and open architecture.
A nice escape plan already is in place, and time is our friend. Eventually I believe it will be a no brainer because a downsizing sooner or later will provide the opportunity to not have a mortgage, and then also absolutely no debt.
BTW Lake Minnewaska has no fee during the week for Seniors over 62. New Palz, the college town is not far away.
“Is this our dream come true?”
Maggie showed me a small house that has my huge barn set on a few acres with extensive gardens, stone walls, and mucho mature fruit trees. For me a small micro farm…
Cal
Devil Christian mentioned that I kinda went “vertical” and used ELFA modular storage to basically kinda build a high rise in the bedroom that resembled being in a submarine. It was both creative and crazy.
Realize that I had a Epson floor standing printer I called “The Jersey Barrier” and I printed mucho big. Then Maggie was a fashion blogger and digital influencer so this bedroom stored and warehoused mucho luxury clothing, handbags and shoes. Believe it or not it was highly organized.
So the point is that we could live in a confined space. The takeaway and the point to recognize is that we basically ate and slept in about 450 square feet of space, and not so different than a “tiny-house.”
So we actually agreed that we could “live” again in a small space if we had a pretty vast amount of storage, a place to shelter our car and perhaps my truck; and had perhaps an out building or two for studio space, maybe ideally a large barn.
Without saying we would want some acreage and privacy in a natural setting.
So living the dream is the equity in our Peekskill home has grown already and it has not even been 4 years yet.
Next is further north is more of a recreational area that has mucho vast preserves and a few really grand state parks that shadow even Blue Mountain Preserve, and the combined 50K acres of Bear Mountain State Park and Harriman State Park.
I can see and predict further inflation and price growth of our Baby-Victorian because it is an hour’s commute to Grand Central via Metro North, and because it is a rivertown that is basically the Gateway To The Hudson Highlands. Understand that northern Westchester is an affluent area, and is one of the richest counties in the U.S. just north of NYC.
Further north housing prices fall because they are less and less commutable. Pretty much we are retired, and we have no need really to got to NYC.
The more we look into things, we could sell and buy a living space that would be downsizing, but have some acreage, and have perhaps have a large barn with a loft. The big payoff would be close proximity to Catskill State Park, Lake Minnewaska, Kingston, a city with a literary community, that formally was the State Capitol until the British invaded and took over during the Revolutionary War.
Still about 2 hours to 2 1/2 hours drive to NYC…
So the dream to go country lives on, but we are still happy here in Peekskill in our mucho cute and cozy Baby-Victorian that dates back to 1912 and is a Craftsman Style home with a lot of preserved historical detail. No HGTV gutting and open architecture.
A nice escape plan already is in place, and time is our friend. Eventually I believe it will be a no brainer because a downsizing sooner or later will provide the opportunity to not have a mortgage, and then also absolutely no debt.
BTW Lake Minnewaska has no fee during the week for Seniors over 62. New Palz, the college town is not far away.
“Is this our dream come true?”
Maggie showed me a small house that has my huge barn set on a few acres with extensive gardens, stone walls, and mucho mature fruit trees. For me a small micro farm…
Cal
Last edited:
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
So maybe one day, I might go video and use my SL2 to do something. Maybe a video journal not so different than what I do here.
Anyways I would not want to do anything that led to payment, commodifying, or commercialization. I saw what happened to “Maggie” and I don’t want to get swept into that again.
Cal
Anyways I would not want to do anything that led to payment, commodifying, or commercialization. I saw what happened to “Maggie” and I don’t want to get swept into that again.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
They say the east and west coasts will only experience moderate temperature rise due to the ocean.
The vulnerability though is flooding and heavy rains.
We are in a somewhat safer more immune part of New York, we are inland, yet we have the moderating effect of the Gulf-stream that provides a mild winter. Just a little further north that climate ends, and pretty much begins another climate zone.
Today a power walk with heavy hands. It is nice staying close to home. Today milder weather.
In the bookstore in New Palz I found 4 used music books, and one involves learning to read music and music theory. I have another book that is a college text for learning the fundementals that is a programmed text. Perhaps a bit more technical, but the new/old used book from New Palz seems like a better approach for me.
My area of study lately is internalizing the diatonic overlaps between 4ths and 5ths. This involves a lot of pattern recognition as well as muscle memory. I’m also digging into triads and extensions.
Anyways this is a fresh approach that is not about learning or covering a song. I am learning on my own how to sort out all this confusion, and pretty much it is a unique way of learning.
Anyways not so different than retirement. None of our plans happened that we explored for over a course of a decade, everything kinda ended up as a surprise and totally spontaneous. Luckily I think because we did plan, we remained flexible to be able to move forward, take what was given, and kinda enjoy great luck.
I’m reminded of a song called “Real Compared To What” a famous live recording at a Swiss Casino. A piano trio had a horn player and a sax player sitting in, they knew of each other, but no rehearsal, and it ended up being a “Jazz Moment” where there was no rehearsal, only one mike that was given to the sax player, pretty much the piano just began, and eventually players joined in.
Real Compared To What was a kinda perfect recording, and better than any other version or performance of that song. It had a raw energy, and the horns had this anger and energy to make this an anti-Vietnam War anthem. In 1969.
This recording sounds amazing on my 300B tube stereo.
So pretty much retirement is fraught, but it also can be a “Jazz-Moment” with great potential and many possibilities.
This post kinda distills a process that somehow worked out for us. Pretty much exceptional.
Happy-happy…
Cal
The vulnerability though is flooding and heavy rains.
We are in a somewhat safer more immune part of New York, we are inland, yet we have the moderating effect of the Gulf-stream that provides a mild winter. Just a little further north that climate ends, and pretty much begins another climate zone.
Today a power walk with heavy hands. It is nice staying close to home. Today milder weather.
In the bookstore in New Palz I found 4 used music books, and one involves learning to read music and music theory. I have another book that is a college text for learning the fundementals that is a programmed text. Perhaps a bit more technical, but the new/old used book from New Palz seems like a better approach for me.
My area of study lately is internalizing the diatonic overlaps between 4ths and 5ths. This involves a lot of pattern recognition as well as muscle memory. I’m also digging into triads and extensions.
Anyways this is a fresh approach that is not about learning or covering a song. I am learning on my own how to sort out all this confusion, and pretty much it is a unique way of learning.
Anyways not so different than retirement. None of our plans happened that we explored for over a course of a decade, everything kinda ended up as a surprise and totally spontaneous. Luckily I think because we did plan, we remained flexible to be able to move forward, take what was given, and kinda enjoy great luck.
I’m reminded of a song called “Real Compared To What” a famous live recording at a Swiss Casino. A piano trio had a horn player and a sax player sitting in, they knew of each other, but no rehearsal, and it ended up being a “Jazz Moment” where there was no rehearsal, only one mike that was given to the sax player, pretty much the piano just began, and eventually players joined in.
Real Compared To What was a kinda perfect recording, and better than any other version or performance of that song. It had a raw energy, and the horns had this anger and energy to make this an anti-Vietnam War anthem. In 1969.
This recording sounds amazing on my 300B tube stereo.
So pretty much retirement is fraught, but it also can be a “Jazz-Moment” with great potential and many possibilities.
This post kinda distills a process that somehow worked out for us. Pretty much exceptional.
Happy-happy…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I disfavor now the term artist. I pretty much think in a derogatory manner it is like being a “Ho” or a whore.
The commercial and commodifying of work to me is like selling yourself, and in the same manner as being a sex worker you are doing it for money and not for pleasure.
I worked a day-job with the purpose of maintaining my artistic freedom, and to an extent my self-esteem and individuality. Now that I’m retired, financially secure, I can really exploit that freedom. I am proud that I earned it.
Pretty much I’m a selfish guy who kinda just pleases himself. A very selfish self love that pretty much I need.
I also saw what fame is via “Maggie.” Kinda hollow, and I would not wish being famous or being a public figure on anyone. Pretty much a burden and a compromise of freedom. Why would you want to oppress yourself?
Also Devil Christian’s teaching me about valuing quality of life over everything else. Pretty much a more European perspective over an American perspective where consumerism and status is amplified and promoted in American culture. What is the point of it? Is it just a competitive trap?
Think of freedom and really being free. I think of Labor Day, and reflect on the freedom I earned. I guess my life is more centered around basic needs…
Cal
The commercial and commodifying of work to me is like selling yourself, and in the same manner as being a sex worker you are doing it for money and not for pleasure.
I worked a day-job with the purpose of maintaining my artistic freedom, and to an extent my self-esteem and individuality. Now that I’m retired, financially secure, I can really exploit that freedom. I am proud that I earned it.
Pretty much I’m a selfish guy who kinda just pleases himself. A very selfish self love that pretty much I need.
I also saw what fame is via “Maggie.” Kinda hollow, and I would not wish being famous or being a public figure on anyone. Pretty much a burden and a compromise of freedom. Why would you want to oppress yourself?
Also Devil Christian’s teaching me about valuing quality of life over everything else. Pretty much a more European perspective over an American perspective where consumerism and status is amplified and promoted in American culture. What is the point of it? Is it just a competitive trap?
Think of freedom and really being free. I think of Labor Day, and reflect on the freedom I earned. I guess my life is more centered around basic needs…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
“Maggie” just got the list who will be presenting at the Brattleboro Book Festival in the fall, and not only will Maggie be presenting, but my advisor and mentor from my MFA program at the New School will be presenting also.
I’m just trying to mind my own business, and I kinda gave up on being a writer. On one hand I’m happy just staying under the radar, but trouble always seems to come my way.
I also believe in divine intervention, and even as a little boy I knew and had this feeling about having a deeper meaning to my life. So after posting about laying low, enjoying and relishing my freedom and stressing my non conformity, I am placed in a position of risky possibilities.
Of course there is the good, the bad and the ugly here. Life seems to have a mind of its own, and I can see my destiny unfolding. I should be dead many-many times, but I am thinking I survived for a reason. I can feel destiny calling.
I’m a bit afraid and scared, but I do feel the deeper meaning in a spiritual sense. This is beyond me just being a man, and something is leading me into a dangerous place.
I can thank Paula Dietz, the Editor at the Hudson Review. Pretty much she gave me some great advice, that what is more interesting and important than what happened to me is the man that I became.
So kinda all of the sudden my entire retirement could somewhat evaporate, and already I can feel my life change. Lately my thoughts have been more spiritual, and I guess I am so happy that I’m still searching for a deeper meaning. I don’t want to waste my life being safe, that is not how I roll.
So my radar already knows I’m in a bit of trouble, and I have a heads up.
Know that Maggie still gets lucrative propositions that she graciously turns down that are huge opportunities.
The thing is the expectations and the sense of purpose. The idea is not to have any goal, anyways how to do that?
“Not knowing a destination is fun,” says Maggie, and I do agree that is exciting and fun, but I don’t want to get lost.
So now I have a dilemma.
Cal
I’m just trying to mind my own business, and I kinda gave up on being a writer. On one hand I’m happy just staying under the radar, but trouble always seems to come my way.
I also believe in divine intervention, and even as a little boy I knew and had this feeling about having a deeper meaning to my life. So after posting about laying low, enjoying and relishing my freedom and stressing my non conformity, I am placed in a position of risky possibilities.
Of course there is the good, the bad and the ugly here. Life seems to have a mind of its own, and I can see my destiny unfolding. I should be dead many-many times, but I am thinking I survived for a reason. I can feel destiny calling.
I’m a bit afraid and scared, but I do feel the deeper meaning in a spiritual sense. This is beyond me just being a man, and something is leading me into a dangerous place.
I can thank Paula Dietz, the Editor at the Hudson Review. Pretty much she gave me some great advice, that what is more interesting and important than what happened to me is the man that I became.
So kinda all of the sudden my entire retirement could somewhat evaporate, and already I can feel my life change. Lately my thoughts have been more spiritual, and I guess I am so happy that I’m still searching for a deeper meaning. I don’t want to waste my life being safe, that is not how I roll.
So my radar already knows I’m in a bit of trouble, and I have a heads up.
Know that Maggie still gets lucrative propositions that she graciously turns down that are huge opportunities.
The thing is the expectations and the sense of purpose. The idea is not to have any goal, anyways how to do that?
“Not knowing a destination is fun,” says Maggie, and I do agree that is exciting and fun, but I don’t want to get lost.
So now I have a dilemma.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The markets continue to be unsettled and are chopping along. They have been doing this for some time.
Lots of uncertainty out there.
A headline is that pending home sales fell 5.5% even though interest rates are lower.
Cal
Lots of uncertainty out there.
A headline is that pending home sales fell 5.5% even though interest rates are lower.
Cal
jszokoli
Well-known
Cal,
When thinking about moving, don't forget; New York state is a little like Florida, the farther north you go the more south you get.
Joe
When thinking about moving, don't forget; New York state is a little like Florida, the farther north you go the more south you get.
Joe
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Snarky Joe,
How true. It becomes the Great White North, and is a bit hill-billy.
To be certain the Baby-Victorian is not only a great deal, and likely a deal of a lifetime, certainly gas is cheap, and driving an hour or so north to visit is no hardship. I also have what I need already right here.
So far this has been a pretty great hide-out to lay low and mind my own business. I kinda have it great right now.
Some people overthink: I tend to overimagine.
How much wilderness do I need?
As I write this I’m off to go running with heavy hands to see what an old man can do at Blue Mountain Preserve. “Maggie” is walking to the Post Office downtown and will hit the coffee shop.
I am perfectly happy where we live now, even though there are some limitations.
A point came up that there would have to be a huge big bonus to sell our house and move, because that is a big deal and a major disruption. Would have to be a big/huge bonus like another deal of a lifetime.
We already are in a great space.
I call you Snarky Joe for a good reason.
Cal
P.S. What do you think of my dilemma? Do I go with the flow, or stick with my plan? I feel my destiny calling though…
How true. It becomes the Great White North, and is a bit hill-billy.
To be certain the Baby-Victorian is not only a great deal, and likely a deal of a lifetime, certainly gas is cheap, and driving an hour or so north to visit is no hardship. I also have what I need already right here.
So far this has been a pretty great hide-out to lay low and mind my own business. I kinda have it great right now.
Some people overthink: I tend to overimagine.
How much wilderness do I need?
As I write this I’m off to go running with heavy hands to see what an old man can do at Blue Mountain Preserve. “Maggie” is walking to the Post Office downtown and will hit the coffee shop.
I am perfectly happy where we live now, even though there are some limitations.
A point came up that there would have to be a huge big bonus to sell our house and move, because that is a big deal and a major disruption. Would have to be a big/huge bonus like another deal of a lifetime.
We already are in a great space.
I call you Snarky Joe for a good reason.
Cal
P.S. What do you think of my dilemma? Do I go with the flow, or stick with my plan? I feel my destiny calling though…
Austintatious
Well-known
Before moving to the Rocky Mountains from Austin Texas, my wife and I came here over a couple of years and stayed in a short term rental. A small home in a neighborhood with full kitchen where we would shop and cook meals and get the true feeling of what it may be like to live there.
We found it quite valuable intel before making such a big move. We sold our place in Austin and paid cash for the home in Colorado. So nice to be debt free and the property tax here is about 1/4th of the tax in Austin. No regrets !
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Austin,
They say when you relocate that you should rent for a year.
A friend mentioned that the kids discovering right away that North Carolina wasn’t going to work out was fortunate. Pretty much they were able to correct their mistake. They got crazy money for their house. Pretty much it was the time to dump a lot of money into the house, so they bailed. Now they have a down payment, less debt (paid down student loans), and are living below their means renting.
The grand kids are happy. There is a pool and more of a sense of community.
When we lived in Madhattan Central Park was just a few blocks away. This kinda spoiled us and was so convenient.
I just got back from Blue Mountain Preserve. Jogged two laps on the roadway which is hilly with heavy hands, and then walked to cool down. I could feel my core tightening up from my efforts. Took an hour and 5 minutes. Blue Mountain is only two blocks away, closer than Central Park when we lived in Madhattan, and Blue Mountain is twice as big. Big bonus is no tourists and crowds.
I forgot how great it is to have this preserve so nearby.
“Maggie” was an academic and she tends to overthink. My problem is I overimagine.
Likely the best move would be to stay put. As we age living more remote and rural eventually will lead to isolation and be problematic. Gas is cheap…
I understand that property taxes are not cheap in Austin.
Cal
They say when you relocate that you should rent for a year.
A friend mentioned that the kids discovering right away that North Carolina wasn’t going to work out was fortunate. Pretty much they were able to correct their mistake. They got crazy money for their house. Pretty much it was the time to dump a lot of money into the house, so they bailed. Now they have a down payment, less debt (paid down student loans), and are living below their means renting.
The grand kids are happy. There is a pool and more of a sense of community.
When we lived in Madhattan Central Park was just a few blocks away. This kinda spoiled us and was so convenient.
I just got back from Blue Mountain Preserve. Jogged two laps on the roadway which is hilly with heavy hands, and then walked to cool down. I could feel my core tightening up from my efforts. Took an hour and 5 minutes. Blue Mountain is only two blocks away, closer than Central Park when we lived in Madhattan, and Blue Mountain is twice as big. Big bonus is no tourists and crowds.
I forgot how great it is to have this preserve so nearby.
“Maggie” was an academic and she tends to overthink. My problem is I overimagine.
Likely the best move would be to stay put. As we age living more remote and rural eventually will lead to isolation and be problematic. Gas is cheap…
I understand that property taxes are not cheap in Austin.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
WOW. That hour and 5 minute run/walk kinda beat me up. I feel it in my arms and shoulders.
I really stoned right now on mucho endorphins.
I’m making a coffee, then a shower, then some guitar.
With running there is no coasting or cheating. LOL.
Cal
I really stoned right now on mucho endorphins.
I’m making a coffee, then a shower, then some guitar.
With running there is no coasting or cheating. LOL.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The endorphins was a bit of an overdose. This guy Dave suggests running to build up from where I’m coming from. Pretty much today was tough. I felt like I could of done another lap, but now I’m glad I didn’t. Next time.
3 pound heavy hands are a multiplier. I feel it in my upper body more than my legs.
Over the holiday weekend I likely will go our on Andrew’s power boat on the Hudson.
I think I’ll try a long ride over the next few days on the Empire State Trailway. I’m thinking starting in Brewster and from there heading north. After the Great Swamp is unexplored, but I have been told that things get real pretty and things open up more.
Its an out and back, so I have to stay aware that I have to have the power to make it back home. I don’t want to do what I did in Rockland where I got kinda spent and then figured out it would be a very long ride home.
Divine intervention happened though because I found an old dirt railroad grade that led to Peirmont that bypass mucho rolling hills of Rockland that would of punished me.
The Empire Trailway is kinda endless.It is paved until you get to New Palz. There it becomes gravel (crushed limestone).
Pretty much a solo adventure, and I’m cool with that. This is how I relax and explore. It ends up being loads of fun, and there is a lot of nature and beauty. Snakes are a hazard. Seen a Black Rat Snake sunning on the blacktop in Granite Springs.
Further north near New Palz there are rattlers. There were warning signs in Lake Minnewaska.
Cal
3 pound heavy hands are a multiplier. I feel it in my upper body more than my legs.
Over the holiday weekend I likely will go our on Andrew’s power boat on the Hudson.
I think I’ll try a long ride over the next few days on the Empire State Trailway. I’m thinking starting in Brewster and from there heading north. After the Great Swamp is unexplored, but I have been told that things get real pretty and things open up more.
Its an out and back, so I have to stay aware that I have to have the power to make it back home. I don’t want to do what I did in Rockland where I got kinda spent and then figured out it would be a very long ride home.
Divine intervention happened though because I found an old dirt railroad grade that led to Peirmont that bypass mucho rolling hills of Rockland that would of punished me.
The Empire Trailway is kinda endless.It is paved until you get to New Palz. There it becomes gravel (crushed limestone).
Pretty much a solo adventure, and I’m cool with that. This is how I relax and explore. It ends up being loads of fun, and there is a lot of nature and beauty. Snakes are a hazard. Seen a Black Rat Snake sunning on the blacktop in Granite Springs.
Further north near New Palz there are rattlers. There were warning signs in Lake Minnewaska.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I figure the ride from Brewster, which is way east of Peekskill on Route 6 and is close to the Connecticut border, to Poughkeepsie is about 40 miles. I don’t know how hilly, or the gain in elevation. This is all asphalt, no cars, and is railroad grades.
I know the Carmel section before this has mucho rolling hills and some long climbs that some cyclists walk their bike up. Pretty much I would bypass this section even though it is mucho pretty. Heavily wooded and it winds around a bit.
By starting at Brewster it is kinda level for 9 miles. It is the Great Swamp, one of the two biggest wetlands downstate. I think the other big wetland is that Gateway wetland by JFK Airport. The Great Swamp is a collective of preserves.
For those not familiar, Poughkeepsie is on the east side of the Hudson River, and further inland west of the river is New Paltz which is near the Gunks (White Granite Cliffs that are world class for rock climbing) and Lake Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
Of course the ride all the way to Poughkeepsie is too ambitious a ride for my current level of conditioning. Pretty much 80 miles total for the out and back. I was told that this section is one of the prettiest by this couple we met in the Great Swamp. They claim even better than the Great Swamp which is other worldly.
I would have to have three water bottles, and a few energy bars…
So I’m brewing… If I could do a slow 60 mile ride I would be happy. If I’m lucky, no rolling hills, and the way back could be a loss of elevation. Pretty much an assist.
Hmmm… I need to do something a bit crazy…
Cal
I know the Carmel section before this has mucho rolling hills and some long climbs that some cyclists walk their bike up. Pretty much I would bypass this section even though it is mucho pretty. Heavily wooded and it winds around a bit.
By starting at Brewster it is kinda level for 9 miles. It is the Great Swamp, one of the two biggest wetlands downstate. I think the other big wetland is that Gateway wetland by JFK Airport. The Great Swamp is a collective of preserves.
For those not familiar, Poughkeepsie is on the east side of the Hudson River, and further inland west of the river is New Paltz which is near the Gunks (White Granite Cliffs that are world class for rock climbing) and Lake Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
Of course the ride all the way to Poughkeepsie is too ambitious a ride for my current level of conditioning. Pretty much 80 miles total for the out and back. I was told that this section is one of the prettiest by this couple we met in the Great Swamp. They claim even better than the Great Swamp which is other worldly.
I would have to have three water bottles, and a few energy bars…
So I’m brewing… If I could do a slow 60 mile ride I would be happy. If I’m lucky, no rolling hills, and the way back could be a loss of elevation. Pretty much an assist.
Hmmm… I need to do something a bit crazy…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The rain seems to be clearing. Looks like we will be at the boat at 10:00.
I think pull-ups before my power jog contributed to the soreness I feel today. Today will be a rest day.
I notice the enhanced definition coming out in my arms and torso. The running with heavy hands seems especially good for me, and it is so easy to do at Blue Mountain. I can see Dave’s logic how running can be great for establishing a base. The heavy hands slow me down to a jog, but are an added load to accelerate the loading on my heart to make it a great cardio workout.
Seems like I have a magic routine that is convenient to do. To bump things up in the fall I can trail run. Hiking at Blue Mountain in the summer can be buggy. There is the boundary trail that is not rocky…
What an asset Blue Mountain is. Two blocks away.
It takes a lot of practice transposing patterns. I’m doing a lot of diatonic scales and chords that is becoming a vast musical foundation. It is a rather ambitious approach, but the benefit is a vast harmonic understanding.
I played all three Santa Cruz’s and pretty much each one is a trophy guitar. This is akin to perhaps having 3 hot girlfriends to pick from, then there is a stable of electric guitars and a selection of vintage amps. The Vintage 47 amp I custom ordered is a new amp, but is styled and made to recreate the early 30’s, 40’s and 50’s sound using old style octal tubes that have a warmth and fatness to them.
The Victoria Regal is another new used amp, but pretty much is an experimental tube platform. It has a design that allows mixing and matching output tubes to change the color of the sound as well as the output power. It is a big amp with a 15 inch speaker, but it can produce 5 watts to 35 watts by just changing output tubes.
The Regal has a vibrato and a reverb built into the amp also.
So pretty much I have a fully loaded arsenal. Don’t forget I also own 4 vintage bass guitars. They are kinda like investments and are like bars of gold, meaning hard assets. It makes sense to hold them just as a store of wealth.
A day on the river will be relaxing. A day of rest so I can hammer again. My chest and arms are getting defined in a hard body kinda way. The baby-fat seems diminished noticeably after yesterday’s workout, and things seem to be speeding along.
Imagine my singing voice being like David Clayton Thomas of Blood, Sweat and Tears fame. I imagine not a voice you would expect from a “skinny-bitch.” Kinda unusual because for that type of body resonance and profound deep chest voice you would imagine a rather big and stout guy, and not a skinny-bitch.
I think a good amount of my voice is how I naturally and organically breath using my diaphragm. It might be that even though I have a small chest, that I might have an oversized diaphragm that is a bit of compensation.
Physics… Self discovery… Retirement…
Happy-happy.
Cal
I think pull-ups before my power jog contributed to the soreness I feel today. Today will be a rest day.
I notice the enhanced definition coming out in my arms and torso. The running with heavy hands seems especially good for me, and it is so easy to do at Blue Mountain. I can see Dave’s logic how running can be great for establishing a base. The heavy hands slow me down to a jog, but are an added load to accelerate the loading on my heart to make it a great cardio workout.
Seems like I have a magic routine that is convenient to do. To bump things up in the fall I can trail run. Hiking at Blue Mountain in the summer can be buggy. There is the boundary trail that is not rocky…
What an asset Blue Mountain is. Two blocks away.
It takes a lot of practice transposing patterns. I’m doing a lot of diatonic scales and chords that is becoming a vast musical foundation. It is a rather ambitious approach, but the benefit is a vast harmonic understanding.
I played all three Santa Cruz’s and pretty much each one is a trophy guitar. This is akin to perhaps having 3 hot girlfriends to pick from, then there is a stable of electric guitars and a selection of vintage amps. The Vintage 47 amp I custom ordered is a new amp, but is styled and made to recreate the early 30’s, 40’s and 50’s sound using old style octal tubes that have a warmth and fatness to them.
The Victoria Regal is another new used amp, but pretty much is an experimental tube platform. It has a design that allows mixing and matching output tubes to change the color of the sound as well as the output power. It is a big amp with a 15 inch speaker, but it can produce 5 watts to 35 watts by just changing output tubes.
The Regal has a vibrato and a reverb built into the amp also.
So pretty much I have a fully loaded arsenal. Don’t forget I also own 4 vintage bass guitars. They are kinda like investments and are like bars of gold, meaning hard assets. It makes sense to hold them just as a store of wealth.
A day on the river will be relaxing. A day of rest so I can hammer again. My chest and arms are getting defined in a hard body kinda way. The baby-fat seems diminished noticeably after yesterday’s workout, and things seem to be speeding along.
Imagine my singing voice being like David Clayton Thomas of Blood, Sweat and Tears fame. I imagine not a voice you would expect from a “skinny-bitch.” Kinda unusual because for that type of body resonance and profound deep chest voice you would imagine a rather big and stout guy, and not a skinny-bitch.
I think a good amount of my voice is how I naturally and organically breath using my diaphragm. It might be that even though I have a small chest, that I might have an oversized diaphragm that is a bit of compensation.
Physics… Self discovery… Retirement…
Happy-happy.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
“Payback is a bitch,” they say.
U.S. deficit is 35 Trillion dollars and interest on that borrowed money is 3 Billion dollars a day. That includes weekends.
The era of “Free-Money” is gone, but it rooted a culture of debt into finance. Sooner or later a day of reckoning and ruin lays ahead. Debt loads will drown households and governments. Mucho trouble lays a head, but in the meantime the music still plays and everyone is dancing.
I’m glad I realized and exploited Zero APR. I accumulated some real treasures, and then it was wise to use finance to my personal benefit to go into debt as a benefit. But now it seems for many it has become an entitlement.
Things will certainly get rude. Pretty much the formula to help lower debt burdens is inflation. A strategy is to own hard assets to store and preserve wealth. “Maggie” would like if I culled down, but going to cash in my book would be foolish. I’m glad I have wealth stored in hard assets.
We live in a very foolish world.
Cal
U.S. deficit is 35 Trillion dollars and interest on that borrowed money is 3 Billion dollars a day. That includes weekends.
The era of “Free-Money” is gone, but it rooted a culture of debt into finance. Sooner or later a day of reckoning and ruin lays ahead. Debt loads will drown households and governments. Mucho trouble lays a head, but in the meantime the music still plays and everyone is dancing.
I’m glad I realized and exploited Zero APR. I accumulated some real treasures, and then it was wise to use finance to my personal benefit to go into debt as a benefit. But now it seems for many it has become an entitlement.
Things will certainly get rude. Pretty much the formula to help lower debt burdens is inflation. A strategy is to own hard assets to store and preserve wealth. “Maggie” would like if I culled down, but going to cash in my book would be foolish. I’m glad I have wealth stored in hard assets.
We live in a very foolish world.
Cal