We the Changing; Or Don’t Shake the Tree!

   Calling up creativity, can be harder than summoning courage.  I took off a couple of months from Bloging.  It wasn’t that I couldn’t think of anything to write about!  It is so often the opposite.   Perhaps I can claim the well had run dry, though I know better.  I haven’t been idle.  I actually struggle with ideas that I don’t know how to talk about, least not without risk.  Not talking has consequences too.

     I read a fair number of books on Parenting prior to becoming a Father.  My partner and I took a couple different Birth classes, watched videos, even met with other soon to be’s.  No regrets there.  A Marine, who’d sired several souls, gave the briefest synopsis I’ve heard, “It is good to have a Birth Plan, Fella’s, You’re basically Yes Men!” 

    Without doubt, the two most happy moments of my life were the births of my children.  Plenty of the runner’s up’s I would likely embarrass self and or others, with further attempt.  That said, we all have our gifts.   My daughter has started High School, I am very proud of her.  My son as well, they are such bright souls!  They have a great mother.  She’s has the Patience!  Not that she never runs out!  She Way More than Puts up with us!  We, her Family are better for her efforts. There are way too many times, when she doesn’t get thanked properly, cooking, cleaning, and paying bills.  Not a lot of Glory!

   My best friend, hasn’t always had the best from me, though we have shared many special times. I can be rather complicated, don’t we know.  We do talk.  Part of our commitment, is to talk about the things that matter.  It has helped us through much Terra Incognito. We have camped, biked, traveled to other countries. She has my gratitude, trust and more.  We worked together, for a few weeks, at her work, some months back.  I was hired to help with a large remodel of an old church.  I enjoyed being able to help with many parts of the process, and I like my wife’s co-workers.  I told her though, I really don’t want her to be my Boss, all the time! 

    I mentioned reading some books on parenting, especially for those Expecting.  I do find myself occasionally telling Fathers to Be, that perhaps a Boxing Coach is a useful image, regarding their Role.  Rub their shoulders, keep them hydrated, remind them to breathe and pace themselves.  Don’t try it by yourselves for heaven’s sake, a pair more, will do. 

    The thing that most surprised me, about parenting, was how much it changed our relationship, as a Couple.  I am not sure of all the reasons, though I felt/feel somewhat lied to, or at least am willing to Level Charges of Complicity, toward several Authorities in the Family Advice  Business.  Maybe the Statute of Limitations has run out; Let Me be clear to all raising children: There will be harm done! There will be change. There are many, many blessing too. 

   I recall one night doing dishes, I quipped, to the Mrs. “I knew parenting was about setting limits, and boundaries.., though I thought we, would get to decide!”  Kids seem to want boundaries, and I have found this with teenagers and most adults as well.  I studied Faust in college, and our teacher John Milton, had a great summation of the story; “There are limits to freedom, and freedom in limits!”

    Funny I hadn’t thought of it, though Limiting, is the main thing I do with working with music, both Live, and after the fact.  The fancy term for working with digital audio on computers, DSP, Digital Signal Processing.  Sometimes I think of Neurons; they add to, subtract, or tell others to listen.  Seems like a way, is that better than a plan?

   I keep going through Hard Drives, filling several.  Actually I am transferring Audio to another portable HD, as I am writing this.  It has been transferring several hours, all local music.  I produce, and record music,  mostly Live, as part of my whole approach to living, currently dba Backup Experience.  My area of focus? Bellingham and Environs, which seems more poetic phrase than, Whatcom, Skagit and Island Counties.

   This was my 3rd year as Archivist for the Stringband Jamboree.  I recorded over 40 Acts!  And I helped as a gopher, with the Stage and Sound Crews.  Oh the music!  The kids!  The beauties!!!  I had the pleasure of sharing a little of the Jamboree with my Family, this year.  Wife and daughter, came out Thursday Evening, and I took a break, and listened a bit, to Louis Ledford and the American Sweat Band!  Saw Louis and Julia today… very nice people.

  A lot of Jamboree is kind of a blur; like Woodstock morphing from 3 days into the One, like that the Roadie in Waynes World.  I mention sometimes, part of why I enjoy recording, is that I don’t always get to fully appreciate the Music, when I am working Sound.  Often I focus on things most don’t hear, and that’s the point.

     I find doing carpentry for over 25 years, has influenced my philosophy, considerably.  I also find, the more years I do Sound, that this too, has changed me.  I find myself wanting to be more neutral.  I turn some up, some down, see if I can tune a little of the mix, with the tools I have, based on my experience and ears.  Being part of music, is my favorite thing!

  More than a hobby, though not yet a Living.  The Rock and Roll Dream has been experiencing financial impacts of the Collapse too.  Of course, we weren’t exactly rolling in $, prior to the Hit.  I am fortunate, in that I had built a basic PA, and excellent Mobile Recording System before.  That’s not to say I haven’t spent too much on gear, though I am rather proud of mine.  There is much I hope  to do.

   I have already been very lucky.  And, “I am a lucky man to be blessed with such good friends and family.”  That is what I said on September 1st, my 50 Th Birthday.  It was a rather epic Party too!  The Police came twice on Noise complaints,(shows rather bad taste in music, and they were of course, welcome).  The Fire Engine and Paramedics were very helpful with the Accident.  I finished the Railings.  I don’t like anyone getting hurt.  I’m sorry for the pain.

  I hate accidents.  They are gonna come.  I have helped avoid many, though I have helped with several too.  Well, can I learn? Never Boring, these are Memorable Times!
     So far my work as Chauffer, Dishwasher and Domestic HandyPerson are too Part Time, to allow me to join any Union, other than the one I am lawfully wedded in. My partner did try to get me sind up under the ACA. And surprise, surprise, it didn’t work. Their working on it. Us too. I don’t know what it means. I’d love to have better health care available for everybody.            Here’s my 2 cents. The President ought to take umbrage with Obamacare. Let me offer a little Pro Bono Speech Writing,  Mr. President.   “My name is at the End of this Law, not at the beginning!”

Everyone has the Right to Defend their Name.
     I think I have already confessed, previously, to something akin to embarrassment and more, regarding my efforts at translating the Gospels from greek. Perhaps gently reminding my dear readers, I have Conflicts of Interest. It isn’t that I am not qualified, in the Traditional sense, having the hours in, about 35 years in English, and 15 muddling with greek. I want to see some ideas published, that I don’t see.

     My brother, has a Masters in Divinity, and I have asked him nearly as many theological questions as he as asked advice on carpentry. He also earned his Masters in Social Work not too many years ago. I am proud of him. My sister is a Librarian, former Elementary Teacher, and has also worked done some Academic Administration and I think it is called, taught Adult Ed. I sure don’t ask them, or my Family to read my Blogs. I write because I need too. I have some friends I hope read, from time to time. And somehow, through the wonders of computers, hundreds have visited my website, and the US may not count those it kills; I thank every person who takes a moment, and even more, to? Can I even be a tiny bit better, than anyone?   May I be helpful, kind and funny!

      There are plenty things I would like to be good at. I am focusing much effort on music these days. I had a crazy amount of audio, from the Jamboree. Maybe around 200 GBs (2 flash recorders, and 2 laptops with Interfaces. Oh yes, some brilliant ad hoc recording. And a hell of a lot of work!). How is that for condensed? I am still trying to get audio to all of the Artists.  Thank God for the Internet!  It sure makes getting audio to people easier.
     RSB called me on the phone today, (I gave him one of my famous thumbdrives [(7.25Gb’s from the Jamboree mostly- and some of 7 shows I recorded at Boundary Bay in August and September for Hot Damn Scandal!!!  They deserve a whole blog. Robert already got one of my 1st.)] and he put me on his guest list next week! I am one of his retainers. I am fortunate to have my own. Something I learned in construction, and from study of history.  I want to be part.

     My friend James keeps reminding me, that it is important, what I am doing, especially chronicling, the Scene.  James is one of the people who has encouraged me, with his ears, and feet on the ground advice. He worked Sound for years, though that was back in the 90’s, in Calgary. He reminds us too, that we have a special thing here in Bellingham.

I am really lucky. I do have opinions. Agendas? I was thinking about IT, over some days, and how shall I say it. Maybe I went somewhere, maybe I’m coming back still. I haven’t figured out how stop the Drones yet, so I sure as shit haven’t stopped the 3 pools of Hell in Fukushima, currently burrowing themselves into the Earth. I can’t get my Leaders to even talk about the Worst Environmental Disaster of the last 50 years. So I can’t really expect so much from the rest of us.
      I am more like me than anyone I know. And as my grandmother Mary Ellen used to say, “I feel more like I do now, than when I first got here! Another was, I started out with Nothing, and I still got most of it! She was a very hard worker, spent countless hours helping others.  She could talk with anyone,  wrote hundreds, maybe thousands of letters. She liked playing cards. Her refrigerator was more integrated than the United Nations. It didn’t seem to matter to her, what someone’s marital status was, divorced, married, or other; Everybody was In. She had pictures, mostly of children from all over. We were taught the phrase, Shirt Tail Relatives, anybody that is part of the Family, though perhaps, not so quickly explained. “Perhaps coffee, tea or water?” That was her way, and I try to remember manners, to offer hospitality.
      I was introduced to an idea (several) from P. L. Wilson aka Hakim Bey. He shared an article, on a cultural exchange experiment in NY, where Moroccan Refugees, many of whom have spent decades in Spain;  they set up traditional tents, coverings, with carpets spread out.  Visitors were welcomed, invited to take off their shoes, and enter, and be a guests, drink tea, and share food. Hospitality is a gift, and I am learning, a measure of health.

     How do we know that refugees (or anyone), are protected, honored as humans, with dignity? By allowing, enough privacy, and food, to practice Hospitality. It is an Outcome, a Measure, trendy among the NGO’s, yet really, of interest.
I tried to stay out of the Government Shutdown. I do wish the Parties, would remember that they are Part.

      I  continued despite the Partial Shut Down; took my son to and from school, made sure where my daughter was, did lots of dishes. I continued using my turn signals, trying to be courteous, and willing, to go, a wee bit outside, my comfort zone.  The JW’s that come by, they liked that phrase. I noticed last time they came by, a friend was getting PA Speakers from me, and he is in one of the hardest rocking Punk Bands in town, going over 15 years. I like being on friendly terms with Punks and Saints. The pair I mention, are mighty sweet, father and son, same age as my daughter. They let me talk with them about a fair number of subjects, and it isn’t hard to find things in common. They let me talk greek with them a little. Though I think even they, think I am a wee bit odd.
      I do change, though keep being me. I can only request, that I would like to hear more of WE. I don’t hear, or see that word much. Us is good, ours, fine too. See from my limited perspective, I see 7 billion people who are feeling more alone than any generation in history! We got all this Mass Communication, though it is getting hard to talk with anybody an hour these days. We need too, break bread, so to speak, have some chips and salsa… It is important, it is sacred! And not only will practicing polite conversation, help one understand their own ideas better, it won’t eliminate all the risks. One may learn something. It happens. And guess what, I am going to make a minor prophecy! Going to potlucks, will improve community health, make us wiser, have stronger immune systems, and increase our longevity!  And, I bet the Studies will prove it! Make Contact, while we still can! All the best to you and yours, I’ll try to check back, in a month or so, see how it goes. R.A. Hull

Dang, wrote all these here words, and still left a mess unsaid. Part of me would like to focus on the Scene. Maybe talk less, about theology, or how best to get along. And I think I am working, towards that. Still, sometimes, there are things, I don’t think are getting said. I suppose I didn’t get into all I could, and maybe that’s ok for now. The last thing I want to say, is I think we need to try to not limit imagination, and possibilities. I hear many people, trying to talk people into or out of beliefs,and what I find interesting, is that I often find people using similar arguments, at least in tone. I think Leary pointed out, 40 years ago, that we often try to convince others, to try to reduce our own doubts! At least we all have that in common.   All Life wants to be trusted, though, we all struggle, with faith.  Maybe doubt, is something we share too, throughout the galaxies!