Jim Stahr has a Different Year

I went to an open mic tonight at Bella's in Putnam. I had a fantastic time and challenged a far superior musician. He humored me and fun was had. Then it was a family day and that was as beautiful. I might be having to much fun. Hope I die doing that. Food was good! Of course no one took photographs of me. Kinda good with that.

Apparently I took care of my 9 AM class earlier this past weekend when I completed the online test. I left the empty class room and drove home as my next class wasn't until noon. The trees, lit by overcast skies caught my attention. I do not remember seeing lichen so vibrant and seemingly active. Certainly in some localities, but this was almost every tree along my eight mile drive. So after fixing lunch and checking my papers I grabbed my camera and headed to campus twenty minutes early. That's right, a few detours later I realized that I would just be making it to class in time. But the lighting and lichen show is somewhat captured in these photos.

I'm finding myself short on patience towards those that do not push me to be better, or worse want me to lower my expectations of myself or them. I simply am too busy to deal with that, nor do I wish to hear your new path to misery; I'm quite adept. I am willing to let go if you will not contribute in a positive manner. So many want to only see the negative, others only the positive. There is always both; one has to see their ability to use them to advantage. I care less today if one walks out. They should not expect me to recognize them quickly afterwards. If I am not important enough to share good times, do not expect me to share much else. I find myself shedding a past that was largely not attempting the improbable rather than striving for the possible. Secure jobs that I didn't particularly want to pay for things I couldn't maintain. I think I'm done with that.

Guardame Las Vacas  Luis de Narváez (fl. 1526–49) Sunshine Jon Edward Stormy Monday TJ Hooker Blackbird McCartney Tenor Madness Sonny Rollins Norwegian Wood Lennon Operator Croce You Don't Know How it Feels Petty Classical Gas Mason Signs Les Emmerson Time in a Bottle Croce One Note Samba Rain Beatles Richard Cory Simon and Garfunkel based on poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson 1897 Sonnymoon for 2 Sonny Rollins Working Class Hero Lennon Little Wing Hendrix Passacaille Robert De Visee 1686 Imagine Lennon Nature Preserve Me Chitlin con Carne Ken Burrell

Experience will always leave it's marks. That which does not kill us has caused us to adapt. It is these adaptations that twist us until we are individuals. Don't believe it? Go look closely at any mature tree. This tree grew where others did not. I respect that above all.

Three little birdies. I left the buried car pix on FB.

So another open mic last night. Gotta love the people that show up at these things, and it's always fun to see new folks show up.    . The gentle man in overalls has more medical issues than any one man should. He still has his sense of humor and got everyone laughing. His music interludes were good also. This young man came right out of an early 60's coffee house with his topical lyrics. Dylanesque with originality. Lighting is fun to fight in a place like this. Bright enough to see, but enough mirrors and other reflectors so that one is never sure how shadows are going to work. The crowd was subdued but we enjoyed each other. Guess that is the point of these gatherings. Cameron Sutphin was the feature. His bright guitar style would irritate if not for  the counter his voice provides.  I truly enjoyed his originals this evening. He has an album out to fund his education.  The true concentration of a good percussionist is ignoring everything around him and s

 The internet loves cats. They should not have cheeseburgers, though. When they bring rodents and birds home I like to show my appreciation by joining them in their meal.