I've always spoken of music as something that is alive. Ever evolving, changing and reflective of the times that we find ourselves in. I find it difficult to understand why someone would hold onto a moment in time. Like holding a certain riff or lyric or chorus and repeating it over and over.

There is really great music to be heard and experienced through the eyes and ears of each generation. Even "Rap" has its place. Although much of that I agree, is in the crapper.
I am so sick of the over abundance of "classic rock" stations in our area.
I am a great and avid fan of Jimi. No one has heard Jimi as I have heard Jimi. CSN&Y. Grand Funk in their hey day. New Riders, to Alice to Poco. Great shit. But chewing the same ol' burger day after day can wear the teeth down. Never mind what it does to the taste buds.
Perhaps as well as many of you do, I live in a place that is surrounded by musical talent. From Boston to Worcester. Northampton to Marlboro. From Keene to Sommerville, I only wish I could see them all.

I wish that I had at least one eclectic radio station that really knew how to mix things up. Not like "Smoke on the water," followed by "Rock the Boat." There IS an art to the segue.

WRSI in Northampton, MA & Brattleboro, VT have a good station. Can't get it on the radio without being within 30 miles of the tower. This is an example of what their playlist is like.

Perfect
Smashing Pumpkins
06:00 AM
Most Likely You'll Go Your Way
Bob Dylan
06:03 AM
The Best of What's Around
Dave Matthews Band
06:06 AM
Clocks
Rhythms Del Mondo w/ Coldplay
06:16 AM
Oye como va
Santana
06:21 AM
Don't Look Back In Anger
Oasis
06:25 AM
Hold On, Hold On
Neko Case
06:30 AM
Right Moves
Josh Ritter
06:39 AM
Stiched Up
Herbie Hancock & John Mayer
06:42 AM
Hard Sun
Eddie Vedder
06:48 AM
American Music
Violent Femmes
06:53 AM
07:00AM
09-29-2007
Title
Artist
Time
Some Days Are Better
U2
07:00 AM
Don't You Evah
Spoon
07:04 AM
Suddenly I See
KT Tunstall
07:07 AM
I Know I'm Not Alone
Michael Franti & Spearhead
07:16 AM
Lotta Love
Neil Young
07:20 AM
Here Comes Your Man
The Pixies
07:23 AM
Sample In a Jar
Phish
07:26 AM
Lake Machigan
Rogue Wave
07:37 AM
Building A Mystery
Sarah Mclachlan
07:40 AM
Shut Your Eyes
Snow Patrol
07:44 AM
New Slang
Shins
07:47 AM
Hold On
Tom Waits
07:56 AM.................and thats just today. Sorry! No web cast.

They also have a "Back porch" session that country & folks things up a bit.

That is where I first heard, "B double E double R Ewe N." Good stuff.

Rubik - IF I had a twin - This would be him

I'm feeling a wee anxious today. Perhaps it was the two large coffees that I had for breakfast. I'm not sure.
My mind does think that I'm on a long slow descent into economic hell.
The "Little Hottie" never made it to a single show. She only needs a carb. I found a brand new one for $75. That's a steal! I just don't have it.
Things ARE that tight.
I am the designated payee for my eldest son who is on disability due to Bi Polar disorder. I am the Trustee for my brother in law and I have to collect and send his rent out for him each month or he spends it. He is a big hearted guy with an IQ of 76. Someone has to look out for him.
My oldest daughter has moved home with my lovely granddaughter and the house always looks like a bomb went off.
My only source of transportation is a 2000 F- 150. The clutch is going and she's beginning to misfire. New plugs - all tight. Dunno!
My daughter's car is need of (see post 8/30/07)......
Damn!
So I realize that all of my "kicking against the pricks" is to no avail. Why get frustrated?
Que Sera, Sera,Whatever will be, will be.
But I admit that there is some fallout to all this. I don't laugh as easily. I have developed a mild case of social phobia. I have many acquaintances but no real friends. I'm as sensitive as a little school girl. (well, maybe that part isn't new)

Garlic Fest

We have two Autumn fair family traditions. One old and one new. The new one, that began three years ago, was attending the regional Garlic Festival.
Cool place.
Cool stuff.

http://www.garlicandarts.org/

Please...let me explain

I often think that people try to separate their lives into two categories; their every day side and their spiritual side. In fact, I do believe that we are spiritual beings having a human experience as opposed to the other way around.
But I do have some friends via blogger that are interested in sharing their every day experience and hold their spiritual experience close to the vest. And I am fine with that. I don't question it. I don't seek to proselytize or convince anyone according to my experience. In point of fact, if you come knocking, I may ignore you for some time until I know that you are indeed seeking something of my spiritual experience; limited as it is.
I am, in point of fact an idiot. And I am at peace with that. To quote an earlier blog post from This Being Human....
"In High School, I had general math studies. Although I don't remember anyone taking such a course, I would suspect that algebra and calculus was available to those that were college bound upon graduation. When I returned to college some twenty years later, a basic understanding of algebra was a requirement. I had to take intro, then basic, and finally the big kahuna, Algebra I.
Recent blogger discussions remind me of my lack of skill in algebra and the depth of metaphysical/philosophical meanderings. Although I enjoy the thoughts of others, such as the green man Zeteticus, or those of Kay among many others, I am reminded that poetry is the deification of reality in my world.
As stated by a philosopher (of course!) "philosophy is a battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence by means of language."
I enjoy the language but I cannot speak it.
K.I.S.S. was made for people like me.
When I began this blog it was titled, Tao & Zen; a little rain must fall. I was losing my high paying job, my title, my sense of identity, and I thought, "Everything in life comes to you as a teacher. Pay attention. Learn quickly."
I didn't.
And that was okay (sort of...well not really. I'm lying) but the blog changed to This Being Human...as I was trying to accept that; ...This Being Human is a guesthouse. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness. Some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they're a crowd of sorrows who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture. Still, treat each guest honorably, he may be clearing you out for some new delight..
It has been, and still is, a complicated (more so than it has to be) process to return to basic practice. Where life unfolds, not from "I" but just unfolds.
As I told someone recently, things seemed to get terribly messy when I began to "study Buddhism". I am reminded of the person who said, "When I became a Buddhist, everyone in my family was very troubled. When I was as Buddha, no one minded at all."
So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, I am trying to have a blog that just projects my meandering thoughts regarding life on the porch and another (blog #2) regarding my quest to be healthy via meditation, Taoist exercise and Buddhist psychology. Although the two are actually one, I am trying to have one blog express one thing and one blog the other showing perhaps just two sides of the same coin.
Does that make sense?

Whereas it hasn't rained here for several weeks, the rain made a tremendous comeback with thunderous applause and a spectacular light show.

I left my truck windows open and the Ford cab made for passable rain gauge. I'd say that we had at least two inches of rain according to what I found on my cab's floor. I speculate that since the truck had two, we must have had at least double that in the two hour storm.

Four inches is much less than what many states have seen during the summer but it is more than what we usually see.

There were reports of trees down and large hail. Campers at the State park were injured by a tree falling across their site.

I sat on the porch with my pipe loosely swirling smoke towards the sky blue ceiling as it found its way towards the rainy sky. I watched my icecubes roll over in the pursuit of melting in my economy scotch. I had to back up tight against the house to avoid getting wet.

I thought of the many summer days now long past when me and the kids would raise our hands to the sky and yell, "O mighty God of thunder! Show us your power!"

It worked very well. My neighbors house was hit at least twice. If my sister in law was visiting, she would hide in the middle of the house so that the Mighty God of thunder would not get her.

Storms can be so entertaining.

BLOG # 2

http://theresurgenceoftao1776.blogspot.com/