Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Note in video hole in the performer’s sock. I love it. Recorded on a analog Studer 2-track (2 mikes). The guitar has a mahogany body for mostly fundemental and less overtones for clarity.
Cal
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Note in video hole in the performer’s sock. I love it. Recorded on a analog Studer 2-track (2 mikes). The guitar has a mahogany body for mostly fundemental and less overtones for clarity.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Our friend Ellison is right about how rigorous it is to really master the fundementals so that they are like a reflex and don’t require thought. It gets complex fast, and the internalizing requires the discipline of practice-practice and practice.
I seem to have maintained good technic because I can practice for hours and I don’t develope tendinitis. I have great dexterity, but I am not fast or smooth.
Perhaps a talent or skill is my tone. I play an electric guitar as if an acoustic guitar. Very percussive attack, but it is musical like a piano hammer striking a string. I play using mostly down strokes. Interesting to note that I would later learn that this follows the style of Charlie Christian. With his single note lines he played a guitar as if a horn.
I believe one of the reasons why I am not smooth is my history of anxiety, but I’m getting better and moving forward. My friend Dan taught me that Bob Fosey made his weakness his strength, and that is what I intend to do. I need to slow down to get smoother and faster…
I am learning that some of my gear does not suit me so well, and pretty much my focus is old Jazz and jump blues. I dig that old sound, and I’m not a rocker. Plug and play, the sound coming from my hands and fingers. The sound also is not only playing the guitar, but also the amp.
Also it seems like I am drawn to solo performers. I have grown to dislike studio recordings with added frills and fills.
An example would be listening say to James Taylor with just his guitar, and no band. To me richer to stand alone. I guess I appreciate the musicianship by itself.
On the Internet there is this Champion flat picker named Carl Miner who plays solo acoustic guitar. He is a masterful improviser. I admire him and love his style. Pretty much he can compose on the fly, and his technic generates great tone.
Anyways this is going to take some time, a lot of time, but I also feel a sense of healing and my mind seems to be expanding in a great way. I’m relaxed, in the moment, and I have a sense of peace and accomplishment even though my progress I only experience and see.
Something about having feeling and being more alive. It seems selfish because other than me writing these words what I feel cannot be conveyed.
At this point I kinda know the path I want to pursue, and I’m in the realm of Charlie Christian going back in time when the electric guitar was primitive. This style interests me the most.
Anyways a really-really big challenge… I can understand how this pursuit could be endless…
Cal
I seem to have maintained good technic because I can practice for hours and I don’t develope tendinitis. I have great dexterity, but I am not fast or smooth.
Perhaps a talent or skill is my tone. I play an electric guitar as if an acoustic guitar. Very percussive attack, but it is musical like a piano hammer striking a string. I play using mostly down strokes. Interesting to note that I would later learn that this follows the style of Charlie Christian. With his single note lines he played a guitar as if a horn.
I believe one of the reasons why I am not smooth is my history of anxiety, but I’m getting better and moving forward. My friend Dan taught me that Bob Fosey made his weakness his strength, and that is what I intend to do. I need to slow down to get smoother and faster…
I am learning that some of my gear does not suit me so well, and pretty much my focus is old Jazz and jump blues. I dig that old sound, and I’m not a rocker. Plug and play, the sound coming from my hands and fingers. The sound also is not only playing the guitar, but also the amp.
Also it seems like I am drawn to solo performers. I have grown to dislike studio recordings with added frills and fills.
An example would be listening say to James Taylor with just his guitar, and no band. To me richer to stand alone. I guess I appreciate the musicianship by itself.
On the Internet there is this Champion flat picker named Carl Miner who plays solo acoustic guitar. He is a masterful improviser. I admire him and love his style. Pretty much he can compose on the fly, and his technic generates great tone.
Anyways this is going to take some time, a lot of time, but I also feel a sense of healing and my mind seems to be expanding in a great way. I’m relaxed, in the moment, and I have a sense of peace and accomplishment even though my progress I only experience and see.
Something about having feeling and being more alive. It seems selfish because other than me writing these words what I feel cannot be conveyed.
At this point I kinda know the path I want to pursue, and I’m in the realm of Charlie Christian going back in time when the electric guitar was primitive. This style interests me the most.
Anyways a really-really big challenge… I can understand how this pursuit could be endless…
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Trying o contact my friend Tim.
At times he is hard to reach.
Cal
At times he is hard to reach.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
MasterDisk has been around since 1973.
How did I stumble into this?
Divine intervention?
Cal
How did I stumble into this?
Divine intervention?
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I have GAS for the VA-185 amp and getting “Red” back.
There is a funny story because Red was a custom built guitar for a guy named Steve a very great Jazz player. I played Steve’s basically brand new freshly built guitar at a debut guitar show out at Long Island for Cris who had at that point quit his day job as a nurses aid in a hospital to build guitars.
I knew Cris when he was just a kid, and Steve the new owner of Red I approached and mentioned how much I loved his guitar, and Ihoped he would not mind if I had Cris make me an exact copy.
The backstory here is that Steve among his talent was also OCD and as Cris built Red there were constant changes, modifications, and upgrades. Steve drove Cris nuts.
So after the show I get a call that Steve approached Cris about yet more changes, and that it seemed logical that if I wanted Red “as is” basically a just completed brand new guitar that I could stop by and pick it up. Cris said it would be easier for him to just build Steve a new guitar.
So I have a deep reputation of annoying people, and every time I visited Cris I would bring along Red, and every time Steve would show up. Red opened up nicely and became a truely special great guitar, and pretty much Steve had very deep remorse for letting her go. There was anguish, and it became the standing joke in the circle of friends.
The funny thing though is I was not trying to be mean, but somehow every time I came by Steve somehow was expected to show up. He would play Red and express his remorse. It became great entertainment. It seemed overtime the remorse just got worse and worse.
My friend Dave was also annoyed because he stated that I actually had the shortest wait time for a new guitar. Dave had placed an order and of course his guitar got bumped so many times… Actually it was Dave who called me and gave me the heads up that if I wanted Red that I should call Cris imediately.
I did, and the rest is history.
Anyways the torment and torture of Steve likely will be on-going when he sees a totally revamped Red which actually was an early Mirabella guitar that could be looked upon as a prototype. Cris is a builder of importance as far as archtops go and is next inline to be the “Man” when John Monteleone passes.
John Monteleone is so relevant that there was a exhibit of his guitars at the MET. Rudy Pensa, the “Godfather” of 48th Street, made a documentry about his craft.
Back 20 years ago when Cris was transitioning from a part time builder to full-time with no day job in 2004 I witnessed John Monteleone and a high end vintage guitar dealer, Larry Wexler, “grooming” Cris. It pays to be a smut queen, and I kinda knew that Cris was destine to become the next “Man.”
After getting Red I immediately placed an order and struck a deal with Cris to make me a “Blue” guitar. Pretty much an open order that would be a blank slate.
Cris was not included in a pool of all the high end archtop builders, where this owner of the GNC heath and vitamin chain gave a can of blue lacquer to the top builders to create a competition and freedom of expression that kinda dates back to medieval times of patrons.
Scott Chinnery died and somehow the collection of “Blue” guitars was acquired by the Smithsonian as part of their collection. Pretty much National Treasure.
I’m still waiting for that guitar that has been fully paid off. Very shortly after I commissioned my “Blue” guitar though Cris developed a “Trap-Door” guitar affectionately named “Carmela” that has a brown burst finish. This 17 inch wide archtop was a prototype for the 18 inch version Cris wanted to eventually build for me.
“Jane” is the name for the 18 inch wide trap-door guitar that is being finally assembled. The guitar will no longer be blue, and the name is after Jane Mansfield because Jane th guitar will be a big blonde.
The wood being used on Jane is from Jimmy D’Aquisto’s estate. This was wood that Jimmy put on the side and kept as a stash. Precious prized wood that was reserved by likely the best builder that ever lived.
Carmela jump started and really propelled Cris’s career and reputation. I am somewhat responsible. So now you know why I am an insider who gets all kinds of favors. I helped make history and a legacy. The two guitars I own that are Mirabella’s are historically valuable.
I am also having GAS for a Tele solid body that would feature just a Charlie Christian neck pckup. I think come the new year I will place an order for a body. I already have a spare neck and bridge for this project. It seems that a Charlie Christian pckup is a great pickup in a Tele body. Many great artists do this, but the Charlie Christian pickup s such a unique sound that the bridge pckup is not really useful.
My logic s just cull out a bridge pickup and streamline the guitar as a form of reverse “Esquire.” Know that a Fender Esquire is basically a Tele with only a bridge pickup.
Cal
There is a funny story because Red was a custom built guitar for a guy named Steve a very great Jazz player. I played Steve’s basically brand new freshly built guitar at a debut guitar show out at Long Island for Cris who had at that point quit his day job as a nurses aid in a hospital to build guitars.
I knew Cris when he was just a kid, and Steve the new owner of Red I approached and mentioned how much I loved his guitar, and Ihoped he would not mind if I had Cris make me an exact copy.
The backstory here is that Steve among his talent was also OCD and as Cris built Red there were constant changes, modifications, and upgrades. Steve drove Cris nuts.
So after the show I get a call that Steve approached Cris about yet more changes, and that it seemed logical that if I wanted Red “as is” basically a just completed brand new guitar that I could stop by and pick it up. Cris said it would be easier for him to just build Steve a new guitar.
So I have a deep reputation of annoying people, and every time I visited Cris I would bring along Red, and every time Steve would show up. Red opened up nicely and became a truely special great guitar, and pretty much Steve had very deep remorse for letting her go. There was anguish, and it became the standing joke in the circle of friends.
The funny thing though is I was not trying to be mean, but somehow every time I came by Steve somehow was expected to show up. He would play Red and express his remorse. It became great entertainment. It seemed overtime the remorse just got worse and worse.
My friend Dave was also annoyed because he stated that I actually had the shortest wait time for a new guitar. Dave had placed an order and of course his guitar got bumped so many times… Actually it was Dave who called me and gave me the heads up that if I wanted Red that I should call Cris imediately.
I did, and the rest is history.
Anyways the torment and torture of Steve likely will be on-going when he sees a totally revamped Red which actually was an early Mirabella guitar that could be looked upon as a prototype. Cris is a builder of importance as far as archtops go and is next inline to be the “Man” when John Monteleone passes.
John Monteleone is so relevant that there was a exhibit of his guitars at the MET. Rudy Pensa, the “Godfather” of 48th Street, made a documentry about his craft.
Back 20 years ago when Cris was transitioning from a part time builder to full-time with no day job in 2004 I witnessed John Monteleone and a high end vintage guitar dealer, Larry Wexler, “grooming” Cris. It pays to be a smut queen, and I kinda knew that Cris was destine to become the next “Man.”
After getting Red I immediately placed an order and struck a deal with Cris to make me a “Blue” guitar. Pretty much an open order that would be a blank slate.
Cris was not included in a pool of all the high end archtop builders, where this owner of the GNC heath and vitamin chain gave a can of blue lacquer to the top builders to create a competition and freedom of expression that kinda dates back to medieval times of patrons.
Scott Chinnery died and somehow the collection of “Blue” guitars was acquired by the Smithsonian as part of their collection. Pretty much National Treasure.
I’m still waiting for that guitar that has been fully paid off. Very shortly after I commissioned my “Blue” guitar though Cris developed a “Trap-Door” guitar affectionately named “Carmela” that has a brown burst finish. This 17 inch wide archtop was a prototype for the 18 inch version Cris wanted to eventually build for me.
“Jane” is the name for the 18 inch wide trap-door guitar that is being finally assembled. The guitar will no longer be blue, and the name is after Jane Mansfield because Jane th guitar will be a big blonde.
The wood being used on Jane is from Jimmy D’Aquisto’s estate. This was wood that Jimmy put on the side and kept as a stash. Precious prized wood that was reserved by likely the best builder that ever lived.
Carmela jump started and really propelled Cris’s career and reputation. I am somewhat responsible. So now you know why I am an insider who gets all kinds of favors. I helped make history and a legacy. The two guitars I own that are Mirabella’s are historically valuable.
I am also having GAS for a Tele solid body that would feature just a Charlie Christian neck pckup. I think come the new year I will place an order for a body. I already have a spare neck and bridge for this project. It seems that a Charlie Christian pckup is a great pickup in a Tele body. Many great artists do this, but the Charlie Christian pickup s such a unique sound that the bridge pckup is not really useful.
My logic s just cull out a bridge pickup and streamline the guitar as a form of reverse “Esquire.” Know that a Fender Esquire is basically a Tele with only a bridge pickup.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Gold is back up to over $2.7K.
Took a while to recover, but next likely are higher-highs.
Friday we will have the grandson. Age 2, and pure love.
Cal
Took a while to recover, but next likely are higher-highs.
Friday we will have the grandson. Age 2, and pure love.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I’ve been toying with a Tele that has a great sounding neck pickup, but the bridge pickup is muy lame. Since I have a stockpile of pickups I decided to experiment and change over to a miss matched pair. By mismatched I mean not by the same brand/manufacturer. Pretty much a let’s see if things work, maybe, maybe not…
One is a Fender Custom Shop 49 No Caster pickup that pretty much is a vintage style low output pickup that seems to be amazing on this unconventional Tele that is a semi-hollow Tele thinline that has a Korina body (sounds like mahogany but with more upper mids) and a mucho heavy solid rosewood neck.
This guitar has a lot of warmth and thickness that it has the “woof” of a strat. Pretty much less treble than a normal Tele and the thickness and mids of a strat. Pretty much an imposter.
The tone of the body and neck kinda dampens the bridge tone in a bad way. Thins things out and there is no swirl of overtones to create a vast universe or richness. Kinda sterile.
So I tried the Harmonic Design pickup that is very articulate that has a mucho broad dynamic range. Some reviewers say this pickup is a bit HiFi, but in this guitar it seems like magic. Pretty much has swirl and a smoothness that enhances everything.
But then I used the middle position on my 5-way switch to discover the two brands are out of phase. The guitar is apart again, and I have to reverse the leads on one pickup to eliminate the phase cancelation, and also switch the ground to the other side.
Know that the wire on a pickup is something like 42 gauge, much thinner than an arm hair. Doing this kinda work might destroy the pickup. Oh-well.
Let’s see if I’m lucky and how skilled I am. At least I know that this pickup combination kills and is to die for.
Got my blood drawn for a PSA test. I guess I’ll find out soon if my elevated PSA levels are due to an enlarged prostate, or if it could be Cancer.
Cal
One is a Fender Custom Shop 49 No Caster pickup that pretty much is a vintage style low output pickup that seems to be amazing on this unconventional Tele that is a semi-hollow Tele thinline that has a Korina body (sounds like mahogany but with more upper mids) and a mucho heavy solid rosewood neck.
This guitar has a lot of warmth and thickness that it has the “woof” of a strat. Pretty much less treble than a normal Tele and the thickness and mids of a strat. Pretty much an imposter.
The tone of the body and neck kinda dampens the bridge tone in a bad way. Thins things out and there is no swirl of overtones to create a vast universe or richness. Kinda sterile.
So I tried the Harmonic Design pickup that is very articulate that has a mucho broad dynamic range. Some reviewers say this pickup is a bit HiFi, but in this guitar it seems like magic. Pretty much has swirl and a smoothness that enhances everything.
But then I used the middle position on my 5-way switch to discover the two brands are out of phase. The guitar is apart again, and I have to reverse the leads on one pickup to eliminate the phase cancelation, and also switch the ground to the other side.
Know that the wire on a pickup is something like 42 gauge, much thinner than an arm hair. Doing this kinda work might destroy the pickup. Oh-well.
Let’s see if I’m lucky and how skilled I am. At least I know that this pickup combination kills and is to die for.
Got my blood drawn for a PSA test. I guess I’ll find out soon if my elevated PSA levels are due to an enlarged prostate, or if it could be Cancer.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Success with the pickup rewiring. It got pretty involved because pretty much I had to disassemble most of the guitar.
Pretty much I got exactly what I wanted: thick tone from the bridge pickup that is well matched to the neck pickup.
I played plugged in for a while… I am mighty pleased.
I got a second E-mail from a workers comp representative. My E-mail uses my first and middle name, so I don’t think t is identity theft. Again from Colorado. The other E-mails were from a probation office: a reminder for a meeting with a probation officer.
I did stumble into the likely party who basically must of assaulted his boss at work. Now the smut is the employer has initiated a workman’s comp case.
You know me, a smut queen. This is entertaining. Oh the drama…
Seems like homes in Peekskill don’t stay on the market very long. They sell mucho fast, and only get bided up slighty.
Westchester is one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S. Peekskill has the fourth lowest median income in the county. Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and I think Yonkers are the other three. The thing that distinguishes Peekskill over these other three is Peekskill is the north western tip of Westchester. The three other locations are in close proximity to the NYC border towards the south.
Eventually over time Peekskill will gentrify further. It already is changing. Also median income is rising fast. We got in at a good time.
Had to stock up on food at Trader Joe’s. The Grandson will be with us Friday and he will eat all our food.
Some of the best money I spent was for the Cedar shed for “Maggie’s” 70th birthday. It is a special place for her, and she has bonded with it. It also provides me with the artistic solitude and peace I need in the mornings.
The Brattleboro Book Festival is bigger and better than Saratoga. We will be put up in a deluxe bed and breakfast for two nights. There also is a dinner for the authors and their guest.
In Saratoga one of the overnights was on our dime. The suite they did put us up in was kinda lux. Sadly our luxury apartment in East Harlem was only slightly larger than the hotel suite. We lived is that tiny space for a decade.
Cal
Pretty much I got exactly what I wanted: thick tone from the bridge pickup that is well matched to the neck pickup.
I played plugged in for a while… I am mighty pleased.
I got a second E-mail from a workers comp representative. My E-mail uses my first and middle name, so I don’t think t is identity theft. Again from Colorado. The other E-mails were from a probation office: a reminder for a meeting with a probation officer.
I did stumble into the likely party who basically must of assaulted his boss at work. Now the smut is the employer has initiated a workman’s comp case.
You know me, a smut queen. This is entertaining. Oh the drama…
Seems like homes in Peekskill don’t stay on the market very long. They sell mucho fast, and only get bided up slighty.
Westchester is one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S. Peekskill has the fourth lowest median income in the county. Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and I think Yonkers are the other three. The thing that distinguishes Peekskill over these other three is Peekskill is the north western tip of Westchester. The three other locations are in close proximity to the NYC border towards the south.
Eventually over time Peekskill will gentrify further. It already is changing. Also median income is rising fast. We got in at a good time.
Had to stock up on food at Trader Joe’s. The Grandson will be with us Friday and he will eat all our food.
Some of the best money I spent was for the Cedar shed for “Maggie’s” 70th birthday. It is a special place for her, and she has bonded with it. It also provides me with the artistic solitude and peace I need in the mornings.
The Brattleboro Book Festival is bigger and better than Saratoga. We will be put up in a deluxe bed and breakfast for two nights. There also is a dinner for the authors and their guest.
In Saratoga one of the overnights was on our dime. The suite they did put us up in was kinda lux. Sadly our luxury apartment in East Harlem was only slightly larger than the hotel suite. We lived is that tiny space for a decade.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Figure that Calvin August of Colorado is on probation for a fist fight that happened at work.
If he is on probation I assume he is now a convicted felon.
Now his employer is initiating a workman’s comp case on his behalf.
Does that sound right?
Hmmm. The smut queen wants to know more…
BTW I wrote to the Worker Comp Representative. I mentioned that I reside in New York and have never journeyed to Colorado, I also enjoined that I have been retired for the past 3 years, and this is the second e-mail I have received where I have been mistaken for Calvin August of Colorado.
This is an interesting sich-E-A-Tion. I thought I had a boring life. LOL.
At my hospital where I worked that is very famous, my friend Greg had a fist fight at work with his boss. Another friend Ronnie actually broke up the fight. It is from Ronnie that I got the smut. In the end policy meant that both parties got fired. HR pretty much cannot take sides.
Interesting that the employer is initiating the workman’s comp case. Hmmm. Makes no sense to me. Likely could be a law suit says the smut queen. Someone I think is getting sued.
Let’s see if this case of mistaken identity continues.
Last time something like this happened was when I was mistaken as a billionaire and A-LISTED.
In one year I got invited 4 times to meet with Mayor Bloomburg. He is the shortest billionaire I ever met. I got a subscription of Forbes magazine for free, and somehow got invited to all these events held by The Hudson Society to meet with other elites and socialize.
My worry was if I got kidnapped there would be no one to pay the ransom, I decided to maintain a small digital footprint. I learned back in 2007-2008 about all the data mining going on. I made some big luxury purchases using a credit card, and I paid off the large sums immediately. Evidently this is how I got flagged.
I decided to “freeze” my credit.
BTW I stand out. Today when I got my blood drawn “Maggie” took note of all the hospital staff seemed to know me. It was kinda like I was a celeb because people have seen me around.
Cal
If he is on probation I assume he is now a convicted felon.
Now his employer is initiating a workman’s comp case on his behalf.
Does that sound right?
Hmmm. The smut queen wants to know more…
BTW I wrote to the Worker Comp Representative. I mentioned that I reside in New York and have never journeyed to Colorado, I also enjoined that I have been retired for the past 3 years, and this is the second e-mail I have received where I have been mistaken for Calvin August of Colorado.
This is an interesting sich-E-A-Tion. I thought I had a boring life. LOL.
At my hospital where I worked that is very famous, my friend Greg had a fist fight at work with his boss. Another friend Ronnie actually broke up the fight. It is from Ronnie that I got the smut. In the end policy meant that both parties got fired. HR pretty much cannot take sides.
Interesting that the employer is initiating the workman’s comp case. Hmmm. Makes no sense to me. Likely could be a law suit says the smut queen. Someone I think is getting sued.
Let’s see if this case of mistaken identity continues.
Last time something like this happened was when I was mistaken as a billionaire and A-LISTED.
In one year I got invited 4 times to meet with Mayor Bloomburg. He is the shortest billionaire I ever met. I got a subscription of Forbes magazine for free, and somehow got invited to all these events held by The Hudson Society to meet with other elites and socialize.
My worry was if I got kidnapped there would be no one to pay the ransom, I decided to maintain a small digital footprint. I learned back in 2007-2008 about all the data mining going on. I made some big luxury purchases using a credit card, and I paid off the large sums immediately. Evidently this is how I got flagged.
I decided to “freeze” my credit.
BTW I stand out. Today when I got my blood drawn “Maggie” took note of all the hospital staff seemed to know me. It was kinda like I was a celeb because people have seen me around.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Old people consume less, and pretty much I am in a period of my life of abundance. I basically have more than I need.
I don’t need the 1966 C-10 stored in the garage; I don’t need so many bikes; I don’t need so many guitars and amps; I don’t need so many cameras.
Now that I look back, I have more than I can use. Kinda crazy.
On the other hand the stuff I have to me has enduring value and sentiment. Not so sure this or these values extend beyond myself. Certainly “Maggie” does ot appreciate all my gear.
I guess at this point what I own could be considered “treasure” and stuff I want to keep. There remains a history and a struggle that too is part of me and my essence.
There are these day-dreams of moving further north. This Thanksgiving will mark 4 years of living in the Baby-Victorian. We have a community and friends here. In my case perhaps I am known here. I am more of a loner but I’m a highly visible one that gets seen around.
It is a waiting game for 2 archtops that are already paid for. I look forward to purchasing a Vintage 47 VA-185 to exploit “Red” when I get her back. And I can see needing a solid body Tele with a Charlie Christian pickup. This guitar I have thought about a lot of years, but never took the leap. Kinda glad I did because I have evolved and pretty much ideas got fine tuned.
Before retirement I lived in somewhat austerity. I did not waste money, and did a lot of investing and saving, but now in retirement the idea is to live. What I am saying is that a dramatic mind shift has happened.
The takeaway though is I still save, and I don’t waste money. We still live below our means.
In yesterday’s discussion, Maggie mentioned paying for a more upstate home with cash. The demand for homes in Westchester that are within commuting distance translates into a higher rate of price escalation than further north where we might possibly want to live. Pretty much time is our friend, but I’m cool if we never move.
Pretty much I like living “small.” Point s a probable tipping point lays a head.
Cal
I don’t need the 1966 C-10 stored in the garage; I don’t need so many bikes; I don’t need so many guitars and amps; I don’t need so many cameras.
Now that I look back, I have more than I can use. Kinda crazy.
On the other hand the stuff I have to me has enduring value and sentiment. Not so sure this or these values extend beyond myself. Certainly “Maggie” does ot appreciate all my gear.
I guess at this point what I own could be considered “treasure” and stuff I want to keep. There remains a history and a struggle that too is part of me and my essence.
There are these day-dreams of moving further north. This Thanksgiving will mark 4 years of living in the Baby-Victorian. We have a community and friends here. In my case perhaps I am known here. I am more of a loner but I’m a highly visible one that gets seen around.
It is a waiting game for 2 archtops that are already paid for. I look forward to purchasing a Vintage 47 VA-185 to exploit “Red” when I get her back. And I can see needing a solid body Tele with a Charlie Christian pickup. This guitar I have thought about a lot of years, but never took the leap. Kinda glad I did because I have evolved and pretty much ideas got fine tuned.
Before retirement I lived in somewhat austerity. I did not waste money, and did a lot of investing and saving, but now in retirement the idea is to live. What I am saying is that a dramatic mind shift has happened.
The takeaway though is I still save, and I don’t waste money. We still live below our means.
In yesterday’s discussion, Maggie mentioned paying for a more upstate home with cash. The demand for homes in Westchester that are within commuting distance translates into a higher rate of price escalation than further north where we might possibly want to live. Pretty much time is our friend, but I’m cool if we never move.
Pretty much I like living “small.” Point s a probable tipping point lays a head.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
My PSA test came in above the threshold of 5. Pretty much I likely need the painful biopsy.
They say that 50% of old men will have prostrate Cancer. Many are so slow growing that pretty much in these cases men don’t require treatment and thy outlive the Cancer.
So pretty much an appointment is needed now with my urologist.
Not the best news…
Anyways I have great care here, so at least it is convenient.
Cal
They say that 50% of old men will have prostrate Cancer. Many are so slow growing that pretty much in these cases men don’t require treatment and thy outlive the Cancer.
So pretty much an appointment is needed now with my urologist.
Not the best news…
Anyways I have great care here, so at least it is convenient.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I wonder if the FED by chance actually did a smart move by cutting rates by a half point. They got a lot of criticism and crap because it seemed like an over reaction. Maybe they wanted to get a jump on things.
The European Central Bank cut rates today. In England they have inflation dropping and they too have cut interest rates. In China they are deflating and adding mucho stimulus to attempt to re-inflate a massive bubble.
So pretty much today the game seems to be avoid deflation. Everyone is trying to stimulate their economies again and are cutting rates. Hmmm
Here in the U.S. there seems to be a glut of both used and new cars. Harley Davidson dealers say they have too many bikes. These are good examples of oversupply, and by definition that is what deflation is: oversupply or over capacity.
Here in Peekskill I get a listing of 17 recent sales. Seems like homes do not stay on the market long here, and generally the homes not only get sold fast they also get bid up from the listing price 5%-10%.
Further north where we are interested the homes don’t sell so fast. Big difference being an hour’s commute and having Metro North verses a 90 minute-2 hour car drive to NYC.
For me we are kinda in a sweet spot.
So with all these wars going on, there is inflation, and the money has to come from somewhere. They say the U.S. consummer accounts for 70% of the drive of GNP, but while we are not looking is that more and more government spending is actually being a much bigger part of our GNP. Who do you think is paying for all the weapons we are gifting?
Government spending is a real problem…
I don’t know about you, but pretty much I have a lot of stuff stockpiled, and pretty much I locked down spending. I am only looking at purchases that have either value added, or are long term assets that are durable.
Would not surprise me if gold approaches $3K soon. A trend is starting, lower interest rates to stimulate, but this time to avoid deflation. My theory is government spending is more and more in play, and perhaps the consummer spending model of the past is diminishing.
Cal
The European Central Bank cut rates today. In England they have inflation dropping and they too have cut interest rates. In China they are deflating and adding mucho stimulus to attempt to re-inflate a massive bubble.
So pretty much today the game seems to be avoid deflation. Everyone is trying to stimulate their economies again and are cutting rates. Hmmm
Here in the U.S. there seems to be a glut of both used and new cars. Harley Davidson dealers say they have too many bikes. These are good examples of oversupply, and by definition that is what deflation is: oversupply or over capacity.
Here in Peekskill I get a listing of 17 recent sales. Seems like homes do not stay on the market long here, and generally the homes not only get sold fast they also get bid up from the listing price 5%-10%.
Further north where we are interested the homes don’t sell so fast. Big difference being an hour’s commute and having Metro North verses a 90 minute-2 hour car drive to NYC.
For me we are kinda in a sweet spot.
So with all these wars going on, there is inflation, and the money has to come from somewhere. They say the U.S. consummer accounts for 70% of the drive of GNP, but while we are not looking is that more and more government spending is actually being a much bigger part of our GNP. Who do you think is paying for all the weapons we are gifting?
Government spending is a real problem…
I don’t know about you, but pretty much I have a lot of stuff stockpiled, and pretty much I locked down spending. I am only looking at purchases that have either value added, or are long term assets that are durable.
Would not surprise me if gold approaches $3K soon. A trend is starting, lower interest rates to stimulate, but this time to avoid deflation. My theory is government spending is more and more in play, and perhaps the consummer spending model of the past is diminishing.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I’ve been so lazy, but today I removed the sun creek tarp off the pergola for winter storage. So far this tarp which is like a light filter has lasted quite a few years, and I figured it would not be durable. I was wrong. Pretty much it diffuses light.
I used some surplus thin bungee cord to secure and train the climbing roses that wrap around two poles of the pergola. Gloves required. An ugly job.
Then I did a fast last mow of the lawn. Should be good till the spring sometime in 2025.
Now time for more laziness. I set up an appointment with my urologist for next week.
My friend Dave had Prostrate Cancer, and he got treatment at Sloan-Kettering. He had radioactive seeds implanted to destroy the Cancer. I was told that is no longer done. Every year Dave goes for a checkup. Been over a decade. His treatment did not involve any chemo. BTW chemo kinda messes with your immune system and it is good if you don’t need it.
Some testing this morning proved that the Victoria Regal is a great amp for recording. It has a really great articulate clean for Jazz. Pretty much does the Fender clean better than a real Fender because the power supply, output tranny and the speaker are so overbuilt. Makes for a great recording amp, and you don’t have to pump the volume.
Then I “jumpered” the inside and outside channels on the Vintage 47 VA-20 while plugging the guitar into the middle channel. This adds a lot of detail and fills in some gaps. Particularly great so far with the Korina Tele with the solid rosewood neck, but I suspect will also be great with my other Tele’s.
These two amps sound very different. I love both.
There is a house on the market that interests me greatly in the Catskills. Pretty much it once was a small church that dates back to 1900. How old hippy is that?
The living space is under 1100 square feet. They call it a 2-bedroom one bath, but I would call it a one bedroom, which is on the first floor, with a studio/office space loft that overlooks the living room with cathedral ceilings.
There is a 400 square enclosed porch that has a vaulted cathedral ceiling and glass walls on three sides. There is wood stove and the vibe is of an atrium. Not a bad workspace. Pretty much an attached workspace that brings in the outdoors. The loft would be my music room.
1.5 acres and a garden with very well done landscaping.
Someone paid a lot of money for a saltwater pool that is heated, and there is a separate/private detached hot tub spa.
I could do without the pool and the spa, but someone is likely selling them at a loss. The house is sized as a getaway, but it kinda is what “Maggie” and I would want. I don’t want the higher taxes. The idea is to downsize and be practical.
Thing is when I’m 70 and ugly retired my income has a pop-up, and also we would like to pay cash and have no debt or mortgage.
The house is turnkey.
Septic system, propane for cooking, mini-splits for heat and HVAC, no generator, no garage for Audi or C-10. No basement.
So the timing is not right, but this house would suit our needs.
I inspected the hip roof on the garage to see and verify that it can go another winter. On the south side of the roof there are a lot of shingles that are so deteriorated that they in fact folded and sometime n the near future would get shed into my yard. This is nothing new, but I believe no structural damage or deterioration to the sheathing underneath has taken place.
A hip roof on the garage is a project I could do myself. I’ve done roofing before. Next year in the spring…
Cal
I used some surplus thin bungee cord to secure and train the climbing roses that wrap around two poles of the pergola. Gloves required. An ugly job.
Then I did a fast last mow of the lawn. Should be good till the spring sometime in 2025.
Now time for more laziness. I set up an appointment with my urologist for next week.
My friend Dave had Prostrate Cancer, and he got treatment at Sloan-Kettering. He had radioactive seeds implanted to destroy the Cancer. I was told that is no longer done. Every year Dave goes for a checkup. Been over a decade. His treatment did not involve any chemo. BTW chemo kinda messes with your immune system and it is good if you don’t need it.
Some testing this morning proved that the Victoria Regal is a great amp for recording. It has a really great articulate clean for Jazz. Pretty much does the Fender clean better than a real Fender because the power supply, output tranny and the speaker are so overbuilt. Makes for a great recording amp, and you don’t have to pump the volume.
Then I “jumpered” the inside and outside channels on the Vintage 47 VA-20 while plugging the guitar into the middle channel. This adds a lot of detail and fills in some gaps. Particularly great so far with the Korina Tele with the solid rosewood neck, but I suspect will also be great with my other Tele’s.
These two amps sound very different. I love both.
There is a house on the market that interests me greatly in the Catskills. Pretty much it once was a small church that dates back to 1900. How old hippy is that?
The living space is under 1100 square feet. They call it a 2-bedroom one bath, but I would call it a one bedroom, which is on the first floor, with a studio/office space loft that overlooks the living room with cathedral ceilings.
There is a 400 square enclosed porch that has a vaulted cathedral ceiling and glass walls on three sides. There is wood stove and the vibe is of an atrium. Not a bad workspace. Pretty much an attached workspace that brings in the outdoors. The loft would be my music room.
1.5 acres and a garden with very well done landscaping.
Someone paid a lot of money for a saltwater pool that is heated, and there is a separate/private detached hot tub spa.
I could do without the pool and the spa, but someone is likely selling them at a loss. The house is sized as a getaway, but it kinda is what “Maggie” and I would want. I don’t want the higher taxes. The idea is to downsize and be practical.
Thing is when I’m 70 and ugly retired my income has a pop-up, and also we would like to pay cash and have no debt or mortgage.
The house is turnkey.
Septic system, propane for cooking, mini-splits for heat and HVAC, no generator, no garage for Audi or C-10. No basement.
So the timing is not right, but this house would suit our needs.
I inspected the hip roof on the garage to see and verify that it can go another winter. On the south side of the roof there are a lot of shingles that are so deteriorated that they in fact folded and sometime n the near future would get shed into my yard. This is nothing new, but I believe no structural damage or deterioration to the sheathing underneath has taken place.
A hip roof on the garage is a project I could do myself. I’ve done roofing before. Next year in the spring…
Cal
Last edited:
ASA 32
Well-known
Hi Cal,
Regarding your PSA: You should have an MRI of your prostate before having a biopsy. The MRI will pinpoint any lesions in the prostate and also yield an indication of how likely a lesion is malignant. Then the biopsy can be guided to the lesion by the MRI result rather just than poking around blindly in there.
Good luck!
Robert
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Update: The Workman’s Comp Representative responded to my response. She will look into this further.
I’m suppose to delete this E-mail because it has private personal info, but I also need to protect my own interests.
Another oddity is I have and have met a my doppel-ganger who happened to also work at Grumman. His name was “Max” and Max actually was/is a Latino.
He drove a natural gas propelled vehicle in Plant 2 in Bethpage, a airplane factory that is 1/8 mile wide and a quarter mile long, delivering and moving round carts of airplane assemblies.
I was often mistaken for Max outside of Grumman because he also was a biker (Harley not bicycle) and moonlighted at Hempstead Harley. So pretty much all these motorcycle guys and motorcycle gals thought they knew me.
Max and I met, and I could see how people could confuse us. Same basic look and lanky muscular body.
What does all this mean? Kinda strange…
Cal
I’m suppose to delete this E-mail because it has private personal info, but I also need to protect my own interests.
Another oddity is I have and have met a my doppel-ganger who happened to also work at Grumman. His name was “Max” and Max actually was/is a Latino.
He drove a natural gas propelled vehicle in Plant 2 in Bethpage, a airplane factory that is 1/8 mile wide and a quarter mile long, delivering and moving round carts of airplane assemblies.
I was often mistaken for Max outside of Grumman because he also was a biker (Harley not bicycle) and moonlighted at Hempstead Harley. So pretty much all these motorcycle guys and motorcycle gals thought they knew me.
Max and I met, and I could see how people could confuse us. Same basic look and lanky muscular body.
What does all this mean? Kinda strange…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Robert,
Already had the MRI. The result is my prostrate high should be the size of a walnut is actually the size of a lime or small lemon.
I was prescribed some drug that shrinks the prostrate over the past 3 months. An enlarged prostrate can lead to high or near threshold PSA reading near or bone a reading of 5. (Five is the threshold).
This was an attempt to avoid the prostrate biopsy to actually explore the lesions already recorded in the MRI. Over the years my PSA levels fluctuate right around threshold, but even with yesterday’s high reading it still does not mean or indicate Cancer.
I know that my days in the saddle biking can inflame the prostrate. Also sex can elevate levels. I am an old man now, but in my youth I was very highly sexed. I was quite the athlete. Not sure if this caught up with me, but the MRI indicated leasions, but my PSA levels are not so elevated enough to determine Cancer.
I am kinda relaxed about this, but also taking it serious. I’m under good care also. Prostrate Cancer often is slow growing, and it might mean being on a watch and wait monitoring.
With my Cold Agglutinin Disease, a rare disease that is managed and not really curable. Basically an auto-immune disease where I overproduce a IgM antibody, that is Cancer related (can turn into a lymphoma). For a decade I was on a watch and wait being tested quarterly and going to a Cancer Center.
So pretty much I have been here before.
Currently the watch and wait for CAD has started again. Pretty much I’m a medical mystery, because my IgM levels normally would translate to a very ill person, but somehow my body is able to reproduce enough red blood cells that due to overreaction to this anti-body damage die pre-maturely, so I don’t have anemia or need blood transfusions to live.
Because of my age I’m gain seeing a hematologist at a Cancer Center. I’m still remain a medical mystery. I am told I am n interesting patient. I’m looked upon as a perfectly heathy male in remarkable shape.
Because of my age and CAD, now it seems I’m more vulnerable to cellulitis. This is why the testing continues with t hematologist. Twice a year monitoring, not quarterly.
If I’m lucky, pretty much just more frequent testing and no prostrate biopsy. More watch and wait. My at times elevated PSA levels are not at the threshold of Cancer.
Cal
Already had the MRI. The result is my prostrate high should be the size of a walnut is actually the size of a lime or small lemon.
I was prescribed some drug that shrinks the prostrate over the past 3 months. An enlarged prostrate can lead to high or near threshold PSA reading near or bone a reading of 5. (Five is the threshold).
This was an attempt to avoid the prostrate biopsy to actually explore the lesions already recorded in the MRI. Over the years my PSA levels fluctuate right around threshold, but even with yesterday’s high reading it still does not mean or indicate Cancer.
I know that my days in the saddle biking can inflame the prostrate. Also sex can elevate levels. I am an old man now, but in my youth I was very highly sexed. I was quite the athlete. Not sure if this caught up with me, but the MRI indicated leasions, but my PSA levels are not so elevated enough to determine Cancer.
I am kinda relaxed about this, but also taking it serious. I’m under good care also. Prostrate Cancer often is slow growing, and it might mean being on a watch and wait monitoring.
With my Cold Agglutinin Disease, a rare disease that is managed and not really curable. Basically an auto-immune disease where I overproduce a IgM antibody, that is Cancer related (can turn into a lymphoma). For a decade I was on a watch and wait being tested quarterly and going to a Cancer Center.
So pretty much I have been here before.
Currently the watch and wait for CAD has started again. Pretty much I’m a medical mystery, because my IgM levels normally would translate to a very ill person, but somehow my body is able to reproduce enough red blood cells that due to overreaction to this anti-body damage die pre-maturely, so I don’t have anemia or need blood transfusions to live.
Because of my age I’m gain seeing a hematologist at a Cancer Center. I’m still remain a medical mystery. I am told I am n interesting patient. I’m looked upon as a perfectly heathy male in remarkable shape.
Because of my age and CAD, now it seems I’m more vulnerable to cellulitis. This is why the testing continues with t hematologist. Twice a year monitoring, not quarterly.
If I’m lucky, pretty much just more frequent testing and no prostrate biopsy. More watch and wait. My at times elevated PSA levels are not at the threshold of Cancer.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Gold sets a new Intra-Day High today at $2729.30.
As deficits grow and interest rates drop around the world to stimulate economies, gold has become a hot commodity. Central banks are loading up the truck. Gold is a store of wealth and is a hard asset. Pretty much a hedge against inflation.
Here in the U.S. there is a housing shortage that will persist in my estimate for at least 15 years or so to make up for the 15 years of underbuilding that happened after 2007-2008.
In China they overbuilt housing, have a vast oversupply, and now are experiencing deflation. To compound the deflation they added stimulus too late and the stimulus now applied is deemed too small. At this point the Chinese are trying to re-inflate a bubble with loose monetary policy.
So pretty much the same in England, Europe, Canada and the U.S. except stimulas so far has been added before deflation set in like in China.
I pointed out the cost of wars, and what seems to go un-noticed is that government spending is becoming a bigger part of our GNP.
In Russia journalists conflated the Russian economy to be 30% of GNP and now lately 40%. In Russia they have double digit inflation.
So Russia and China are hot messes. China is in fact still the second largest economy in the world, but the European Union as a group is not so far behind. Trade wars have already started.
Remember economic history: in 1929 there was a crash; in 1932 trade wars were enacted; and then in 1934 price controls. This is what created the Great Depression. Oh, I forgot, The 1920’s were a time of abundance that lasted for a decade (Roaring 20’s) preceding the Great Depression.
So look at the Greenspan Era where for decades money was pumped into the economy to avoid “corrections” avoid economic collapse, a credit crisis, a housing collapse, Dot-Com bubble…
This happened for more than a decade. Disinflation is a term where cheap imports offseted stagnant wages that endured for decades as part of globalization. Now that globalization has ended and is now unwinding. The era of cheap goods is ending.
Kevin O’Leary speaks of a downsized America. No more living large. I kinda see that the age of excess is gone.
Cal
As deficits grow and interest rates drop around the world to stimulate economies, gold has become a hot commodity. Central banks are loading up the truck. Gold is a store of wealth and is a hard asset. Pretty much a hedge against inflation.
Here in the U.S. there is a housing shortage that will persist in my estimate for at least 15 years or so to make up for the 15 years of underbuilding that happened after 2007-2008.
In China they overbuilt housing, have a vast oversupply, and now are experiencing deflation. To compound the deflation they added stimulus too late and the stimulus now applied is deemed too small. At this point the Chinese are trying to re-inflate a bubble with loose monetary policy.
So pretty much the same in England, Europe, Canada and the U.S. except stimulas so far has been added before deflation set in like in China.
I pointed out the cost of wars, and what seems to go un-noticed is that government spending is becoming a bigger part of our GNP.
In Russia journalists conflated the Russian economy to be 30% of GNP and now lately 40%. In Russia they have double digit inflation.
So Russia and China are hot messes. China is in fact still the second largest economy in the world, but the European Union as a group is not so far behind. Trade wars have already started.
Remember economic history: in 1929 there was a crash; in 1932 trade wars were enacted; and then in 1934 price controls. This is what created the Great Depression. Oh, I forgot, The 1920’s were a time of abundance that lasted for a decade (Roaring 20’s) preceding the Great Depression.
So look at the Greenspan Era where for decades money was pumped into the economy to avoid “corrections” avoid economic collapse, a credit crisis, a housing collapse, Dot-Com bubble…
This happened for more than a decade. Disinflation is a term where cheap imports offseted stagnant wages that endured for decades as part of globalization. Now that globalization has ended and is now unwinding. The era of cheap goods is ending.
Kevin O’Leary speaks of a downsized America. No more living large. I kinda see that the age of excess is gone.
Cal
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Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The grandson has a model agency interested in him. He has strawberry blonde hair, fair skin, and blue eyes. The next level is headshots to put out there for clients. He just turned 2.
Its been 2 weeks since I injured myself with a jog with heavy hands on paved hills. Every day less discomfort. Best to just recover. Using Advil as an anti-inflammatory.
I expect next week I will start physical therapy. My co-pays are $40.00 under my plan, so 10 sessions of physical therapy add up.
Meanwhile at my gym I can get 4 sessions with a personal trainer for $92.00 a month. My gym membership at a mall gym is free under my Medicare plan. This is a good deal. Melanie is around my age, and she is/was a Tri-Athlete. She specializes in gerontology.
“Maggie” says she has experience physical therapy and Melanie’s personal training, and she says she benefits more fron Melanie than PT.
Hmmm…
Cal
Its been 2 weeks since I injured myself with a jog with heavy hands on paved hills. Every day less discomfort. Best to just recover. Using Advil as an anti-inflammatory.
I expect next week I will start physical therapy. My co-pays are $40.00 under my plan, so 10 sessions of physical therapy add up.
Meanwhile at my gym I can get 4 sessions with a personal trainer for $92.00 a month. My gym membership at a mall gym is free under my Medicare plan. This is a good deal. Melanie is around my age, and she is/was a Tri-Athlete. She specializes in gerontology.
“Maggie” says she has experience physical therapy and Melanie’s personal training, and she says she benefits more fron Melanie than PT.
Hmmm…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Gold new Intra-Day High $2732.30.
This indicates that the Banksters are anticipating inflation. Future purchasing power of paper assets will be lower.
Remember Gold is a hedge against inflation.
I expect that the housing shortage in the U.S. will also make housing somewhat also a hedge against inflation. Some places like the Northeast might fare better than others due to climate change. Eventually the droughts, wild fires, flooding and storms will play out to change the masses to seek higher ground and safety along the coasts.
People will eventually realize that water is a commodity that is becoming shorter in supply.
Canada is the Saudi Arabia of the world’s fresh water supply BTW.
Inflation generally makes everyone poorer.
Cal
This indicates that the Banksters are anticipating inflation. Future purchasing power of paper assets will be lower.
Remember Gold is a hedge against inflation.
I expect that the housing shortage in the U.S. will also make housing somewhat also a hedge against inflation. Some places like the Northeast might fare better than others due to climate change. Eventually the droughts, wild fires, flooding and storms will play out to change the masses to seek higher ground and safety along the coasts.
People will eventually realize that water is a commodity that is becoming shorter in supply.
Canada is the Saudi Arabia of the world’s fresh water supply BTW.
Inflation generally makes everyone poorer.
Cal
Prest_400
Multiformat
Was it the guitar player Tim that we ran into Williamsburg?
Lately been thinking about NYC. It's good that I have some sort of episodic memory which is quite vivid. Also much appreciated death march and just being there locally.
In a week waving off for a long 5 week vacation. It's been those good 9 years since I left europe and having a stop over in some crazy NYC like city is always fun. Hong Kong it is! I will apply what I remember from your stories about Cantonese characters.
Much shooting, having to pack up an hilarious amout of film and the medium formats.
Take care and recover.
You mistaken as billionaire just makes me think about the Big Lebowski. There are also interesting film cameras involved, did you have a Widelux somewhere?
In EU there is the GDPR and IIRC getting such crossed data is considered as a breach so it is no good on their side and considered quite serious if pursued.
But also about the boring life, I sometimes take a stop knowing that I have steered a good life, destiny might have not given some certain excitements but also better not have that bad part which is not showed. Ha!
