New Reader

Talking with a good friend who has been reading my words here for the first time and getting a chuckle from a few of my bizarre meanderings and thoughts.

Did I mention that at one time in much younger days I was married to this good friend?

And now that she has the link, I live in fear .... (hopefully she knows I say that in jest) ..... in fear that the deeper she reads, the better the odds that eventually she'll come across a sentence or a hundred that are quite possibly referencing memories that come from days with her. 

I mean the statistics page says I have 1140 posts in this journal, I probably mentioned her once or twice.

So, I hope that however the words might be framed, that she understands and either smiles or laughs.

There were many years when I thought I'd never hear from her again.

It's been a sincere pleasure getting reacquainted through frequent chats. 

And I never thought that when I started this little journal, that anyone would ever indicate an interest in reading even a paragraph.

End of the day comings and goings. Cormorants in the trees at sunset. And I stand there attempting to capture an image that I'm satisfied with. I don't know if they have a pecking order or ranking among them or if there's a meaning behind who occupies the highest branch. I love though, observing their frequent arrivals and departures and the silhouettes cast against the end-of-day sky. A place I return to often.

Senior Moment

"Does this happen to apply to you?" .... She asked while pointing to the 10% senior discount notice.

"I'm seventy" .... I replied proudly, feeling like it was an accomplishment to have made it to this point. 

Book Daze

I'm not a big novel and fiction guy being much more into poetry, essays, history and memoirs but lately I've discovered a fascination with dystopia. I do have some catching up to do. 

It started years ago with this book. I've read the book twice and the final few pages at least a dozen times and ruminating on it since.

'Nature's End' by Whitley Strieber and James Kunetka. About a not-so-perfect solution to future world overpopulation.

Actually, I think my interest was sparked years before that with a mid-1980's late-night (the perfect hours for such things) viewing of the 1969 movie, 'The Monitors.' I love the blend of satire and the movie's view of a possible societal future of being 'watched.' 

A few days ago, I picked up a copy of 'Brave New World' and am about to dive in. 

I should have read this book long ago. Maybe there should be a high school or college, dystopian fiction 101 course? I'd consider going back to school for that.

From what I've seen, I may have to collect various copies for the cover art with different printings.

Geek Moment

I absolutely love the moment when after receiving a vinyl record mailer in the snail mail, and this is especially so for non-Amazon packages as it feels more unique and special coming from small record stores and independent record labels, and where you peel off the cardboard strip to open the mailer and that instant when you pull out two or more vinyl records of some relatively obscure or sadly unknown but overflowingly cool band or musician and where you think that you are the only person within 500 miles, or at least shouting distance of your zip code that has these freaking great records. If you want to see me at my nerdiest, that would be the moment. And if there's a complimentary postcard or sticker enclosed, it just multiplies the geek factor in me. 

So this arrived today .....

East coast band on clear splatter vinyl.  I saw it labeled elsewhere as 'psychedelic rock.' .... maybe bringing a few 1960's vibes. The hype sticker says: "New Haven's Mountain Movers conjure 5 new instrumental jams" .... 

For some reason lately, music from bands based 3000 miles away feels more collection enhancing to me.

And there was also this ....

Antony Milton - 'Curtains 2'

The hype sticker states: "Another amazing project from the ever-prolific New Zealand master of free-noise."

It's pretty far out and groovy as well. Looking forward to my next-door neighbors next kayaking adventure so I can really turn the volume up. Might have to invest in the new headphones I was looking at yesterday. 😀

Then as if not enough but as if a drastic change in genre was needed, an evening trip to the used bookstore .... (I'm pretty sure they are tired of seeing me walk through their doors) .... where I found this Doc Watson recording. I'd seen it before but upon returning to purchase, thought someone beat me to it, but there it was again tonight. Legendary and classic folk, country, bluegrass sounds from 1966.

So I think this all qualifies as a pretty good day in vinyl record collecting. I truly get excited about this stuff. Have been for nearly sixty years but the last year or two have elevated my obsession to higher places. And there's always something new to discover and get worked up over. I am a proud vinyl nerd always searching for leads to upgrade my collection. Always looking forward to the next dig be it in a local physical shop or in the online world

And my greatest desire is to play a few favorite records for you.

A Thought

Not to sound morbid or anything and hoping that I'm not repeating myself but every time I'm out navigating the streets, alleys and sidewalks and an ambulance roars by with siren sounding, I can't avoid thinking that one of these days in the not-too-distant future, it may be coming for me.

That's the main difference I've discovered between all the other decade markers and this age 70 point. Went from never thinking such things to being unable to avoid these thoughts running through my head.

Brief Encounter

As I was headed towards the exit, one of the new guys at work .... so new that I don't know his name .... approached and asked:

"Are you a shop steward?" ...... "No."

"Are you a veteran?" ...... "No."

"How long have you been working here?" .... "You don't want to know."

"Twenty years, thirty years?" ..... "Ummm fifty-one years."

Well, he seemed to think that was so cool, congratulating me and showing respect.

I walked away feeling a little better about the day. 

.... and thinking that I should get-to-know that guy's name.

The Smile

A trip to the antique mall for a follow-up from yesterday's vinyl records dig and huge eight-record haul. Afterwards I briefly walked through the art gallery next door where a beautiful lady looked at me as I passed by and with a huge smile, she said hello. Yes!! To me!! Really!! No stretching of the truth or anything.

A few resulting thoughts ....

•  I wish I knew how to respond on the rare occasions where that happens. Like, how do I reply to hello combined with a smile? 😀 It's not like I've ever known. 
• And how was I supposed to impress her anyway being a little more than halfway to seventy-one years old and feeling all dirty and sweaty after coming directly from an active day at work. Not to mention the sweaty nature of vinyl record bin digging and unearthing a couple gems.
• Because I concluded that maybe she too is a vinyl geek and was actually smiling at the sight of the unbagged jazz vinyl finds in my arms .... which that would be perfectly fine with me if I was liked for my vinyl choices over my rough physical appearance.
• And because of this brief encounter and feeling good about myself for a few moments, once home I gave myself a spritz or two of Ralph Lauren Polo cologne.

Yankee Fever

Watching the Yankees wildcard game tonight and between innings I've swept the deck three times or read a paragraph or two from one of several current reads, a book titled, 'Vinyl Countdown' .... about record collecting if you couldn't guess. 

If only they could televise these games and the time between innings as if you were at the ballpark .... show the pitcher's warm up tosses. Or maybe the outfielders long tossing (if they still do that).    show the umpires chatting or just show the spectators. I have no patience for the televised commercials. 

I come into this playoff series lacking in confidence in my Yankees. If the game is close, I fear something bad will happen in the end. Or something bad will happen early and the game will snowball out of control. That's just my nature. And I've been through too many playoff seasons where I was overflowing in confidence and in the end turned off my television disappointed. So maybe the opposite attitude will work. It did for George Constanza.

A few hours later .....

It worked. The lack of confidence that is. Or the fear of bad things lurking ahead. It worked for tonight. Yankees win 9-0.

Now to begin worrying about game 2. 

The Waiting

I always enjoy the excitement of an evening before a scheduled delivery from the online record store where a few days ago I ordered two or three titles and now can't remember what they are, but you know that you listened to a few song samples and all were original, different, intriguing and exciting from largely unknown or forgotten musicians in funk, jazz or avant-garde jazz history and you know that your collections coolness factor is about to increase or multiply.

And I'm thinking that maybe I should leave work early and invite people over for the grand unboxing event that will unfold .... but who do I know that would care?

Right now, I don't want to know what's about to be delivered. It will be more of a thrill to open the package tomorrow and find out. 

And that is part of the enjoyment of being an aging geek, wannabe hipster record collector in 2026.

In the used bookstore this evening just before the first autumn rain began falling. I picked up a classical title. I'll take one home three or four times a year. One great thing is that they are relatively inexpensive compared to most pre-owned rock, blues and jazz on vinyl. 

I stay away from the century's old historical composer names. I look for recordings featuring cello or violin and more contemporary composers. I know nothing about this recording other than my attention was drawn to the cover photo. I don't know if I have an original copy or a reissue, but it was originally released in 1961. At this rate, by the time I'm one hundred years old, I'll have a modest vinyl collection of classical recordings to show off. 

It appears to be in near mint condition ..... though there is a handwritten note in blue ink on the back cover under the side two listing, advising ..... "Listen to this side only." Which is a sure-fire strategy to get me to listen to the other side.

More Notes From the Edge of the Universe

Midweek notes as the official start of autumn draws close .....

• My latest thing .... Late evening, changing into pajama bottoms, t-shirt, button-down sweater and one size too big slippers, sitting quietly in a dimly lit room, listening to the classical music station on a small box shaped, single speaker clock-radio in celebration of making it through one more day. And I find this mode (or mood), for this specific moment, preferable to big stereo sound
• Alternate thing ..... Watching an episode of, 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.'
• What I've been patiently (attempting) waiting for .... autumn is finally here!! No more dreading of potential 105 degree days for a while.
• Wow! Lose twenty-five pounds and gain a wardrobe. Several shirts that have been hanging in my closet, worn just once or twice in the last three or four years because they felt uncomfortable, suddenly feel comfortable again.