Unloaded fifty bails of Hay with my Pop at the Auction mid-morning.

Shift at JMH early.

PT at LED early afternoon. 

Guitar I

I have been working on learning guitar.

This is something I began making a priority for several years now.

It was a few years ago when I realized it was time to get serious, stop strumming the same passages over and over, and learn the guitar, rather than learn parts of songs or melodies.

It's slow going.  Taking this serious is not something that offers shortcuts.

It was time to learn to read music, rather that use tab to make things quicker and easier.

It was time to devote myself to good technique, especially when it came to finger-picking and using all my right hand fingers.

It was time to have dedicated, slow, steady practice.

I began with a guitar lesson book, worked through it a bit, added a second manual of differing technique, and kept at it.  Continually adding more "work" to my daily practice.

I am at the point where I can read music fairly well for the guitar.

Often, I can find notes on the fretboard quickly and easily.

My plan is to continue just like this, slow and steady, constantly learning.

It is enjoyable.

"Non Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #12 for 2025...

"Everybody Dies" by Lawrence Block, published in 1998.

Matthew Scudder #14.

Williamstown for a lunch visit with my Mom, followed by a stop to visit Pop as well. 

Heavyweight Boxer Big George Foreman passed today.

He was a two-time world heavyweight champion and the 1968 Olympic gold medalist.

George Foreman maintained that earning the Olympic gold medal was the achievement he was most proud of in his boxing career, more so than either of his world titles.

Foreman dominating his first Championship fight against Joe Frazier by TKO. Before the fight, Frazier was 29–0 (25 KO) and Foreman was 37–0 (34 KO). Frazier was knocked down six times by Foreman within two rounds (the three-knockdown rule was not in effect for this bout). After the second knockdown, Frazier's balance and mobility were impaired to the extent that he was unable to evade Foreman's combinations. Frazier managed to get to his feet for all six knockdowns, but referee Arthur Mercante eventually called an end to the one-sided bout.

First Retirement

Foreman became ill in his dressing room after his bout versus Jimmy Young. He was suffering from exhaustion and heat stroke and stated he had a near-death experience. He spoke of being in a hellish, frightening place of nothingness and despair, and felt that he was in the midst of death. Though not yet religious, he began to plead with God to help him. He explained that he sensed God asking him to change his life and ways whereupon he said, "I don't care if this is death – I still believe there is a God!"

After this experience, Foreman became a born-again Christian, dedicating his life for the next decade to God. Although he did not formally retire from boxing, Foreman stopped fighting and became an ordained minister, initially preaching on street corners before becoming the minister of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Houston and devoting himself to his family and his congregation. He also opened a youth center that bears his name.

The Comeback Trail

In 1994, Foreman again sought to challenge for the world championship after Michael Moorer had beaten Evander Holyfield for the IBF and WBA titles. Having lost his last fight against Tommy Morrison, Foreman was unranked and in no position to demand another title shot. His relatively high profile, however, made a title shot against Moorer, 19 years his junior, a lucrative prospect at seemingly little risk for the champion.

Foreman's title challenge against Moorer took place on November 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada, with Foreman wearing the same red trunks he had worn in his title loss to Ali 20 years earlier. This time, however, Foreman was a substantial underdog. For nine rounds, Moorer easily outboxed him, hitting and moving away, while Foreman chugged forward, seemingly unable to "pull the trigger" on his punches. Entering the 10th round, Foreman was trailing on all scorecards: two judges had it 88–83 and one had it 86–85, all to Moorer. However, Foreman launched a comeback in the 10th round and hit Moorer with a number of punches. Then, a short right hand caught Moorer on the tip of his chin, gashing open his bottom lip, and he collapsed to the canvas. He lay flat on the canvas as the referee counted him out.

In an instant, Foreman had regained the title he had lost to Muhammad Ali two decades before. He went back to his corner and knelt in prayer as the arena erupted in cheers. With this historic victory, Foreman broke three records: He became, at age 45, the oldest fighter ever to win a world championship; 20 years after losing his title for the first time, he broke the record for the fighter with the longest interval between his first and second world championships; and he also became the oldest winner of a major title fight.

Rest in Peace Champ.

"Non Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #11 for 2025...

"The Black Ice Score", by Richard Stark published in 1968.

Parker #11.

JMH Early followed by TA.

Having been born in 1962, and liking and listening to music from the early sixties onward, I thought it might be fun to attempt a listing of my favorite albums each year since birth.

The initial post for this series of ideas began on December 26th, 2023.  You can look it up....

This time, I present my "Weird Things Worth a Listen (I love ‘em)" 

(those that didn't make the list, in no particular order.

...from the Year in Music 1969!

1. Cromagnon Orgasm

2. David and Tina Meltxzer Poets Song

3. David and Tina Meltxzer Green Morning

4. Fever Tree Creation

5. Os Mutantes Mutantes

6. Spiral Starecase More Today Than Yesterday

7. Idle Race The Birthday Party

8. Elyse Elyse

9. The Carolyn Hester Coalition The Carolyn Hester Coalition

10. The Charlatans The Charlatans

Despite these records being non-commercial, I have grown to appreciate each a great deal.

"Non Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #10 for 2025...

"Con Man", 87th Precinct #04.

Written by Ed McBain, published in 1957.

JMH Early.

PT @ LED later.

St Patrick's Day Festivities at the ICC with DLV. 

Jesse Colin Young passed away today at age 83.

Jesse Colin Young was a founding member and lead singer of the 1960s group the Youngbloods. After their dissolution in 1972, Young embarked on a solo career, releasing a series of albums.

While I can't say I am a huge fan, especially of Young's solo work, I have great appreciation for the song "Darkness Darkness" from their 1969 Elephant Mountain record.

The other notable piece performed by the Youngbloods is "Get Together", a true folk rock anthem.

The Youngbloods Albums I have in my Music Collection:

The Youngbloods, Released: January 1967

Earth Music, Released: May 1967

Elephant Mountain, Released: 1969

Visit with Mom and Pop throughout the day. 

Having been born in 1962, and liking and listening to music from the early sixties onward, I thought it might be fun to attempt a listing of my favorite albums each year since birth.

The initial post for this series of ideas began on December 26th, 2023.  You can look it up....

This time, I present my "Weird Things Worth a Listen (I love ‘em)" the third 25...  

(no particular order).

...from the Year in Music 1969!

51. John Phillips John

52. Juicy Lucy Juicy Lucy

53. Julie Driscoll 1969

54. Julie Driscoll Streetnoise

55. Kaleidoscope & Frank Tirado Kaleidoscope

56. Karen Dalton It's So Hard to Tell

57. Kevin Ayers Joy of a Toy

58. Mad River Mad River

59. Mad River Paradise Bar And Grill

60. Man         2 Ozs of Plastic with a Hole in the Middle

61. Man         Revolation

62. Morgen         Morgen

63. Nazz Nazz Nazz

64. Pacific Gas and Electric Pacific Gas & Electric

65. Robin Scott - Woman From The Warm Grass

66. Roy Harper Folkjokeopus

67. Ruthann Friedman Constant Companion

68. Sam Gopal Escalator

69. Sonny Sharrock Black Woman

70. The Summer Sounds Up – Down

71. Writing on the Wall The Power of the Picts

72. Sunforest         Sound of Sunforest

73. Trad, Gras Och Stenar Trad, Gras Och Stenar

74. Wendy & Bonnie Genesis

75. Yuya Uchida & the Flowers Challenge!  (Flower Traveling Band)

Despite these records being non-commercial, I have grown to appreciate each a great deal.

Facility Study at BW II. 

Seagull and Classical Guitar to Luthier in Easthampton for Strings.

JMH early, with DMR's later. 

2-miles at Loupinski Wildlife Management in Westfield. 

Having been born in 1962, and liking and listening to music from the early sixties onward, I thought it might be fun to attempt a listing of my favorite albums each year since birth.

The initial post for this series of ideas began on December 26th, 2023.  You can look it up....

This time, I present my "Weird Things Worth a Listen (I love ‘em)" the second 25...  

(no particular order).

...from the Year in Music 1969!

26. Andwellas Dream Love And Poetry

27. Aorta Aorta

28. The Apryl Fook Apryl Fool

29. Arzachel         Arzachel

30. The Avengers Medallion

31. Bent Wind Sussex

32. Blossom Toes If Only for a Moment

33. Bonnie Dobson Bonnie Dobson

34. Bridget St. John - Ask Me No Questions

35. The Chocolate Watch Band One Step Beyond

36. Crazy World Arthur Brown Strangelands

37. The Electric Prunes Just Good Old Rock and Roll

38. The End         Introspection

39. Fear Itself Fear Itself -

40. Food Forever Is A Dream

41. Forest Forest

42. The Frost - Frost Music

43. The Frost - Rock And Roll Music

44. Gandalf         Gandalf

45. Harvey Mandel Games Guitars Play

46. Harvey Mandel Righteous

47. The Head Shop The Head Shop

48. Hunger - ! – Strictly From Hunger!

49. Joe Byrd & Field Hippies         The American Metaphysical Circus

50. John McLaughlin Extrapolation

Despite these records being non-commercial, I have grown to appreciate each a great deal.

JMH early.