N Is For

Set up this one but realised after the fact you couldn't see the blue stem of the glass

So I had my trusty assistant come in and help with a reshoot

N is for New Years

If you had told me what 2010 had in store, I probably wouldn't have believed you - I would not have expected in my wildest dreams to still be amongst the unemployed - it is certainly a challenge to wonder what it is one has to do to find employment - hell, just to get an interview - or even an email of 'no thank you' - it takes a toll on one's confidence - one's spirit - one's beliefs about life -

I am so ready to try and get my life back - I've let some aspects of it go - and shut down in a few areas - there are some friends out there - or at least I hope I can still consider them friends - that I've probably hurt in some ways - I guess it is part of my way of handling - or trying to cope with - what is going on in my head - the job challenge is so difficult - and really makes one doubt a lot of things -

Of course, some of what 2010 had in store for me - or should I say us - was a once in a lifetime adventure as Khyra and I trekked to The Tundra - the number 2503 will always be special to us since it represents the number of miles The Xterra covered - I still can't find the words to convey how special the trip was, how much it meant, and how I didn't want it to end -

We appreciate everyone's support and patience - and we so hope 2011 will be a better year for all - too many friends lost friends - both furry and human - and sadly, more to come in the months ahead - but it is part of the circle of life -

I've shared this tune here before - but it says so much of what I'm feeling as 2011 looms over us - as I draft this for publishing, the new year has begun to spread across the timezones - with under ten hours to go here although I won't publish until 8pm Friday - Slaid Cleaves sure summed it up - One Good Year - here are assorted versions from YouTube - I'm trying for more luck by sharing multiple performances -

Cheers to all - see you here in 2011 - hopefully with a post of 'E - as in E is for employed'

J Is For

J is for just because some of his songs have been running through my head


Jim Croce - another one taken from us way too early - it was always kind of an odd feeling when we would go back to the area of Suburban Philadelphia we lived in prior to moving to York and pass the cemetery where he had been buried in the Frazer area -















I really wanted to use THIS VERSION but they didn't permit embedding so please go watch here - it was a segment from The Midnight Special days - I will admit when I got this 45rpm, I played it over and over and over








Listening to this songs brought back so many memories - both from the first times I'd heard them OR the rediscovering of them in 2005 or so - and given the significance of today's date - Pearl Harbor Day - I am reminded of my personal Pearl Harbor Day that took place six years ago today - I know some would say move on - stop thinking of it - etc etc etc - but given the magnitude of how it changed my life - as the event of 1941 did for our world - I choose to recall it - to be fired terminated let go voted off the island etc from a company I had worked for since December 11 of 1978 can't help but change one - in many ways - and almost of it for the good - it is kind of my day to take stock in my self - my life - and my past present future -

Some know the story - and yes, for a reason as we say - it has turned out to be a good thing - after all, if it hadn't, I wouldn't be posting this for you to read - because I probably wouldn't be here - and I'll let you apply your own interpretation of the world 'here' - nor would Khyra be nearby -

I can still see that afternoon in my mind as if it were happening right now - that is part of the curse of having the kind of memory I do for most things - the positive to the curse is the ability to be able to treasure the good things - like the awesome memories from our Trek to The Tundra - I am still trying to find the words to sufficiently and fittingly say thanks to those that made it happen - but like some of my writings - and obviously my attempts at finding employment - I fall short -

Please know it isn't for the lack of trying -

So tonight, I'll raise a glass - it will be vodka - for that is what we had that afternoon as we attempted to figure out what I would do now that I had been - in the words I can still hear myself say to the friend on the other end of the line 'fucking fired' -