Jim Stahr has a Different Year

I am an aspiring guitarist. Amongst all the things I am now, only this and photography go back to my preteen days. This past month I was asked to provide music for a solstice service at the local Unitarian Universalist congregation. I decided to challenge myself with classical pieces as I have been wanting to re-develop this aspect of my talent. I learned much in the process. Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" is one of my favorite classical pieces, Spring and Summer seemed fitting for the subject. Gershwin's Summertime was suggested by the requester. Luckily I already play this with my jazz standard band, Dragonfly Diversion, so I only had to practice singing that song. I found sheet music easily enough. Fortunately I found abbreviated, simplified versions of the first movements of each. Our church's prelude and offering are generally short pieces, and my talents would not allow the full concertos. Both transcriptions I found were in drop D tuning. I was no fan o

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a party announcing Duprey Real Estate 's decision to join the Home for Heroes franchise. It was well attended by local heroes and politicians. On the surface this might seem like just another business meeting. Another advertising gambit around the surging nationalism Americans have embraced since 9/11, the inspiration of this charter. However this franchise promises discounts on sales commissions as well as the services needed for purchasing a house to veterans, first responders, teachers, health care providers and others that qualify. Titles, mortgages, legal services, and even some construction products and services may be discounted. Paperwork is promised to be streamlined. I'm a skeptic, so I looked things up. Homes for Heroes  is a profitable operation, as is Duprey Real Estate. They do offer discounts and rebates for their qualifying customers, and the qualifications are written such that most people I know will qu