Welcome.  This is a Work in Progress. 

Venturing in CyberSpace through WordPress, I purchased a Dominion: Backup Experience, which I have been making digital recordings as, for the last 7 years .  I think the Powers snuck in a dash on me, but Buyer Beware.  I guess being able to read has advantages, the Prophet said “it was helpful but not required for salvation”. He dictated much of the Koran to his Wife (I gather this is the Secret that got Mr. Satanic Verses in so much Trouble).   Some think Moses had a Speech Impediment, he tried to use the excuse of Stammering to avoid becoming Spokesperson for the Tetragrammaton, from Child Abandonment to Law Giver.  Jesus wondered if anyone would remember him in the future? 

    It seems to me that if anything is missing from the Great Scriptures, it is, “Be careful what you wish for, for you may get it!”  Scholars wiser than I, will no doubt have several examples of this in various languages.  Now Kurt Vonnegut Jr. deserves some room in the Great Book, since some wish for brevity; “Things were set up to make and keep one crazy, long before you and I got here.”   He was sent a fan letter in the late 1970’s( he included it in Palm Sunday), which attempted to sum Vonnegut’s efforts with the Quip, “Love may fail, though Courtesy Prevails”.   His advice for modern Families is Spot On;  the Nuclear Family is very young.   History has no examples of Families living, (yet alone thriving) in isolation.  Several Friends of mine, and Family members are divorced.  I haven’t found Marriage easy.  My Partner is my best friend.  We have shared many adventures, since meeting in 1991 at a potluck.

     I read some Baby Books before our daughter was born, even some by men.  I can’t recall any particularly useful advice that I gleened from this collected wisdom; other than it hurts to see your children sick, pay attention though they can get through a surprising amount, or something to that effect.  My daughter is 13 now, going into the 8Th grade later this year.  My son is in kindergarten for a few more weeks, and Time is flying!  I think the thing that most surprised me about having children (other than what amazing Souls they come with) is how much it changes your relationship with one’s Partner.  I didn’t notice that in the many books I perused.  I especially feel, the Men wimped out on telling it like it is.  At the risk of being Grandiose, having kids can really mess with you and your Partner, and I don’t see how that can be avoided at this time.  I wish I had been warned, though I really dig my kids.  What would have been useful?  Get your Libido together, difficult as that is.  Negotiate.  Work at Love,  Work at not being mean;  Not much more important.  Try to pay attention cause Time is going by faster than it often appears.  Figure out how to maintain parts of your Life somewhat seperate.  My Wife needs to run a couple times a week with friends.  I need to be near Music or zoning out in my Man Cave with handbuilt computers, multiple Archives, speakers and Books all around.  Vonnegut wished Couples could Shake Hands and say to each other, “I am not a 100 people, you need them and I need them.”  He died from a bump on the head.

     I have Blogged once a Month, on Facebook for over 2 years.  Several good conversations insued, though it was/is difficult to engage with my friends.  Some is the Forum itself, I have mixed feelings regarding Bloging, I don’t want to be LOUD.  While I admit a desire to communicate, this is generally less than a Felony.  Still I found it difficult to adjust the Volume of the Experience.  And there are many Rules, though few read them.  Really my Wife assures me that more read my Blogs than I know, I would like to believe…. 

     I have started to focus on the Music Scene in Bellingham and Environs for several Blogs now, and I like the feel of this.  So it is with the aforementioned qualifiers that I begin again.  Gaia Gena aka Born Again!

     I make no secret that I have begun to frequent the New Green Frog on State Street.  While I had been several times to the Old Frog, I never found it Cozy, though it had a lot going for it.  The Stage is a big improvement, as is the sizeable Dance floor, real Booths and tables, and many good beverages.  The Menu will hopfully diversify soon, and we expect it to when they can catch their breath from Rocking on the Run !  The Big Deck will be open soon, Deckus Maximus in Latin!  Looking forward to Summer!  Has it been wet!!!  My friend Ann-Marie shared a BBC clip, which I steal: “In the Bible it rains 40 days and 40 nights, and they call it a Disastor, We call it Friggin Summer!’ 

       I am getting excited for Music.  My Associates Mike Cloud and Stone Jones aka StoneCloud have been keeping busy, and are sharing the experience.  We are providing Sound for Chuppafest, which is likely to be wild, though my Fellows assure me we will survive.  Had a practice (or 2) at Bill’s at the Lake, warming up for Solstice.  The Cosmic Sneakers played a couple of times in May, and I recorded some of these Sessions.  I especially liked hearing long time friends Cheri Nunamaker and Chuck Kitterman jam together on Guitar and Drums, and meet 2 old friends of the Sneakers from Seattle, Charles (an Old School Producer who has been with ProTools since version 3- they are on 10 now) on Bass, and on 9 string Violin, Steve K who has played with Jeff Beck and MVO.  The rest of the Sneakers joined in an hour or 2 later, some fine Music was made.  I recorded 11 channels (tracks) plus the SPDIF Digital Out of the Mains from my M12 Mixer with my MOTU’s, using REAPER, which Charles endorsed as better than Pro Tools for Live Work and Signal Routing.  I enjoy it more and more.  I did speak up for Studio One, for being User Friendly, my Associates and I use it. 

     Word was passed that I can record both Stages this year at the Jamboree.  Last year I recorded the Slanted Stage and made some Off Mic recording of the Flat Stage, though wished we were able to capture both.  This year I hope too!  I am designing a second Interface, along with redundancy; hope to record to 2 hard drives. I could go on though it might bore my friends.  Optical!  Leaning toward another Interface by Phonic; I was introduced to them by the Prozac Mtn Boys who I began working with 5 or 6 years back, they use a Nice Powered Mixer by that Company. I love my MOTU’s (they are the best anyone ought to risk anywhere near alcohol and rock and roll).  Still, the USB access and recording in 24 bit, And Optical (and SPDIF, etc) is very attractive, and for much less than my MOTU’s.  The Tech has been slow to improve, and Firewire is becoming rare.  USB however is not losing Market Shares.  I suspect that a considerable internal Cache is needed with USB Interfaces to stream in 24 Bit in more than Stereo.  I will let you know.  I do talk these (major) purchases over with my Partner btw.  It is a work in progress. 

      I have plans to practice before August!  Solstice will be an excellent opportunity to record. Mike Cloud has invited me back for my 8Th Session at Rumors this Sunday! He and Stone have several Projects in the Works, recording at StoneCloud Studios and also Mastering Audio from previous recorded material, which a surprising number of Artists seem to be doing, sometimes with material years in the making.  It is not uncommon to have music enter several DAW’s (digital audio  workstations) prior to becoming CD’s.  We often record large captures in REAPER and then edit, and do DSP in Studio One (sometimes I even bring it back into REAPER). Though my friends recently completed a Project started in Hawaii several years ago in Pro Tools, and was Mixed and Mastered in Studio One which didn’t exist when the songs first were layed down.  I learn much from the Pair (and they are fairly inseperable, thank God) and look forward to sharing music together in the future. I am fairly certain, I am an Odd Drake, though I mean the best. 

     Walking Down F Street has been available via download for several months, however a physical CD (enough to get one in trouble with the Temporal Police) has hit the Streets!  Thanks to Carnellian for Pressing the Discs.  I spoke on the phone with Rick from Carnellian after Misty Flowers published her lastest CD ” Love Lives Here” here in Bellingham.  Not many make a point of saying they use the best discs, Archival Quality, I noticed the Printing was very good.  I can also recommend Bison Press for Printing and CD’s.  StoneCloud has some links with bulk printing.  Bob Paltrow is a Graphic Artist(and Web Designer), Talented Musician, and gifted song writer, and he lured me into recording the Patriots of Tomorrow out at the Lake, Fall of 2006?  It was there that I was encouraged to mess around with a 16 Channel Mackie built in Washington State.  Hence the Plug(s).

     On the Horizon;I am looking forward to being at Bill’s at the Lake.  Misty Flowers has confirmed, as have the Sneakers.  The Loofah’s are going to try(all I can ask), Caryn is a Possible, as is Chad Petersen, perhaps (says John Neighbor) even the Lost Poets!  It is a Potluck.  Hope to see friends on the 23rd of June.

     In July, the Friday the 13Th Show at the Majestic is shaping up!  Misty Flowers is MC, and will grace us with some songs as well.  Friend assures me he is practicing hard, to accompany Chrispy and Stone Jones who will be performing!  Louis Ledford has commited, though his backing Band is still in flux.  I have been talking with Aaron Harmonson about the Gig, and often an engineering question or 3 (thanks for your patience), I hope Aaron makes it!  Last but not least, Smoke Wagon will top the Night at the Majestic!  The Gents will have their new CD Sampler available.  StoneCloud and myself worked for several months with Smoke Wagon on this Music!  Dean Luce did the Artwork for the Album, and the Band was all active in crafting this release.  Insider’s Info: We are hoping to record Smoke Wagon again this Fall!  They have a lot more Good Music!  The Fella’s released 13 Songs, which is a healthy serving, clocking in at just under an hour.  Nothing wrong with wanting more!   Stone Jones, Louis Ledford and Smoke Wagon all have new CD’s for sale!!!   Misty Too!

     I went to California for 8 days at the end of May.  My father, brother and sister all live in the Bay Area.  It was good to see them, and my neice and sister in law.  Saw my great Aunt, and second cousin, turns out her son works for Pandora.  I took my Dad to the Musuem of Computer History in Mountain View.  I enjoyed going with him, seeing a lot of early tech, he worked with punch cards prior to my birth.  I especially liked seeing, and sharing the Difference Engine, which I had read of from William Gibson’s fiction, and various mentions of What If Universes.  Babagge designed a mechanical computer, prior to the American Civil War.  He built several small prototypes, though was unable to construct his vision of truely complex computers.  I recall the one in Mt. View has 11,000 parts.  The first one built in Europe took 18 years, we saw the second, it only took a decade.  Lord Byron’s daughter wrote the first computer programs for Babbage’s Cumputing Engines; Lord Byron was not allowed to see her for most of his life.  He died trying to free Greece from the Turks.  Anyways, it was good to go the Musuem with my dad.  After a couple hours, we were heading out a side exit, an engineer strolled along us, and mentioned he worked in a Lab that the Public couldn’t go in unless they found, so we mozied alongside.  The Lab consists of a bunch of computers nearly the size of refrigertors!  They boast of the 20,000 IMB Mainframes from the early 1970’s there are 6 still working, and they have 4!  One of them is a German Unit that will only work at 50Hz, the power converter is the size of a Fridge!  Turns out the engineer (our Guide) worked at Lockheed for 23 years, my dad for 31.  As they spoke, a fellow with long hair and beard was soldiering an old circuit board, shot me a look and grin, getting old engineers to talk is really what it is all about.  

      The Main Focus for my Trip to California, was a Re-Union of Alumni from North Star Christian Academy in GrassValley.  Most of us had not seen each other in 30 years.  I am very thankful for this opportunity.  Most of us were nearing adulthood, we lived together during a tricky time.  One of my friends said as the Gathering was winding down, “Our Hearts were woven together’.  It was mixed up confusing time, yet it was clear we still have connections.  Some have died, sevaral are…  For what it is worth, the 2 that came from the Wealthest Families, did the worst, both met in jail several months before one died.   As medications, and various tragic events were mentioned, I had that odd sensation which I dared not speak when I was a child, especially in the Principal’s Office, “Life is confusing, the World is messed up”.

       Two of my friends in the Bay I try and always check up on.  I don’t worry too often about them, (Bruce lives with his Mom much of the time, he is one of the smartest people I have met, his Mom said “He doesn’t know how to put it too work”, to which I replied a lot of us working on that;) Though Rick has been Homeless since last Fall when some Cops who didn’t care much for Smarter Than Average Bears, took his RV; Beggar’s Tomb which had served him as Home for over a decade, including a good bit parked on MicroSoft’s Campus, “With Security Watching too… ” as the famous poem The Gates Motel, the Gates of Hell, I am going to attach a recording I made in Beggar’s Tomb about 7 years ago (when I figure out how); I had Rick perform it for me there once, with Lori, the First Emancipated Minor in the State of California (another Story).  Part of why I am trying this Cyper Real Estate is so I can share Music, or warn people to watch out for Bunk Weed.  I did manage to subvert the Dominant Paradime, even if I can’t spell right.    I made, make plugs for the Captain most months, and I try not to Drone On about the killing too much.   So we went sailing on the Bay!  I will post some more pictures too.

    The Golden Gate Bridge was built 75 years ago, and it is looking mighty fine still.  Infact, the more I learn about San Fransisco the more I marvel at the forethought and co-operation of that Mighty City.  Some of the most beautiful vistas are in areas which were Sand Dunes a little over a century ago.  It took planning, and action, and more than 2 years.  Rick knows the City and Bay very well.  He has roofed thousands of buildings in the last 25 years.  His Union went from over 130 to around 25 a few years back, and as Tom Petty sagely sang, “the Good Old Days may not return…”.  I don’t know.  I try to see this as the Good Old Days, though I too am feeling it passing.  But I am working at that.

     Well, I will let you know how the Shows go.  I am more worried about the  Solstice Gathering than Chuppa, I guess cause I hardly know anyone from Chuppa, I am like that.  Before I sign out, I want to mention hearing Jack Wilson from Austin (I like how he ended with a song without Microphone).  Jack Wilson, Robert Sarazin Blake and Misty Flowers shared the Stage in May at the Green Frog.  I had come in to hear Misty, and got asked to do Sound, how cool is that!  Funny, I expressed an interest in helping out months back, and frankly they were more glad for my input as a carpenter for a while, as they were in the thick of Remodeling. These days nobody minds if I adjust the Board a little now and then.  It makes me feel at Home.   Nobody will go on record as to the Nature of the Basement (at the Frog) since they opened!  I love ours.  I got my Permit signed off, framing and a correction notice on my stairs.  They were my mistake.  Though even my Mentor and retired Journeyman, missed the last one.  And one of the Inspectors also gave me a choice on fixing it, though I later figured out the other solution wouldn’t have worked either.  I poured the concrete slab 4″ higher than I planned when I framed the stairwell.  And it took 3 times to get it fixed.  Now. I can be dim in certain matters, visualizing especially.  Drawing things of this nature is best,  I miss being able to do it in my head. 

     I learned somethings at the Re-Union that trouble me.  Yes, the suffering that happened to friends.  I heard some stories about myself I had forgot.  Somethings I struggled with later years later, sounds like manifest, with Witnesses.  My friend Scott Lennon who died in 1991, often quiped, “Life is certainly Life like”.  He was alos known for forgetting what he had said, though was likely to agree with any memories shared.  Nobody seemed mad at me.  I was glad to see everyone.  Those God Damned Terrorists and the TSOG are pissing me off!  Bob kindly brought a jar of Home Made 100 Proof Kaluha for each of us!  I couldn’t bring it on the Plane home so it sits in my Dad’s Fridge, labeled and very safe (from him).  My Dad has never been drunk.  For the record the last time I recall being Drunk, and I am On Record regarding this, was after my Mom’s Memorial in Janurary of 2007.  I do not recall the particular flavors of beer, of which I had several,  I think Sam Adams and something European served on that day.  I am a cheap date.  A couple pints is my limit, Blue Moons happen more than me having a third.  That is my complex chemistry. I like Cider.

     I have tried to learn.  I have spoken with many people, went some places.  Have some friends.  As I get older, I see things differently.  I like to re-read the books of my childhood.  Much was there I didn’t remember, even there being Billions of Galaxies; I re-read the LIFE Book the Universe (from the 1960’s), and found this mentioned, although not any concept of Black Holes, or that Protons and Electons combine to make Neutrons.  I was surprised to learn that some years back, it was nearly in plain view.  Everyone knew that Protons and Neutrons had nearly the same mass, and that Electrons had very little.  I don’t know who figured it out, maybe it is part of the Weak Field, Strong Attraction stuff of the Unified Feild Theory which Einstein was unable to Unify.  4 of 5 (Known) Energies have been shown on paper and tested to be related, however Gravity (the weakest known Force) still eludes explanation, except Rules of Behavior which we call Laws.  

     While I would like to view my Life as an orderly being, I am not as Neat as I strive to be!  It is interesting to learn about parts that I likely couldn’t fully figure out how to live with.  Spiritual Emmergent States is somewhere in the Book, though I think it is in the Appendix from what I gather.  They are not always negative.  They can be creative, perhaps even regenerative.  I am still trying to find out.  Thanks for reading, think I will sign out.  Emery was sick last night, his body burned through the night, worried me though fever broke by morning.  Lego sounds from Living Room, Woody Woodpecker too.  Think I am gonna put on some Music.  What do you give to a Lover, when it has been over 30 years? I gave her Louis Ledford’s the Century Plant on Espalade Street.  I told her that I didn’t record it, though I work with a lot of these folks.  I am proud too.   All the Best to you and yours!  Roger Hull

This Blog is not meant to be shared with Terrorists or those who kill All Men of Military Age in the name of Peace.  I think Courage and Bravery are the Natural Enemies of those who wish us afraid, and not wondering, especially aloud.