One of my high school buddies, Jerry Smith, is a fantastic artist. He is also a wonderful musician. And fairly recently, much later in life then most, he became a father. Jerry and I became friends primarily because we shared a passion for music...specifically the guitar. I came from the classical world of violin studies. Jerry came from the world of art and became a guitarist-musician-songwriter. We met in the middle. Forty years later, I can't get a hold of him. He lived in California most of the past forty years...we talked about 2 years ago. But he has stopped answering his phone and returning my texts. Perhaps his number has changed. I hope to find out how to reach him. But on 2-26-1996, Jerry and I got together at his apartment here in Kansas City while he was in Art School. We jammed and had a few beers. He put his guitar down and picked up a pencil and a pad of sketch paper and drew me. How cool is that?!?!? It hangs on my wall to this day. What a special thing. Thank you Jerry, forever. And let's re-connect soon!
********************************************************************************
I try to take Reba for a walk every morning. These days we try to get out before 8:00 am to beat the heat. I live in a nice subdivision called The Meadows of Winterset. There are a lot of dogs here who also get walked in the morning. There are also a lot of runners-walkers who get out early to beat the heat. I see most of same people every morning. And most of them are talking on their phones. What the hell? I like to get away from my phone as much as possible. But I don't think other people feel the same way. They are talking at the top of their lungs as they pass by Reba and I.....how rude and pathetic. I don't want to hear your conversations. I want peace and quiet. Oh well....
********************************************************************************
I read every boxscore of every MLB game each day on Baseball-Referenece.com. I am very happy with the new rules that were implemented this season to increase the pace of play...specifically the pitch clock. Games going past 3:00 hours are rare now. BUT, I am not happy with the state of pitching in general. Back in my day, you had a starter, perhaps a reliever, and then a closer...3. Today, teams regularly use 6-8 pitchers in a game...so between both teams, we are watching 12-16 pitching changes per game. Who are all these guys??? Most pitching changes come between innings, so the pace of play has not been eroded. BUT....that's a lot of dudes taking the mound every game. Too many, I say! Forget about Wins and Loses....they are not relevant individual statistics anymore. It's a win or loss by committee.
*********************************************************************************
Here's a fairly new release of Brahms' Piano music. This was recorded in 1952 and re-released last year. I was stunned by this music. I love so much of Brahms' music already, but most of these pieces were new to me. The recording is stellar...a testament to sound engineering from many generations ago. It sounds fresh and contemporary. And Brahms is working with colors and textures that maybe we don't expect from him. I hear thoughts and ideas that are years ahead of his time. Maybe you will too.
**********************************************************************************