Thoughts and mind tinkering: (cause sometimes I just have to say something)

On this page, you will find opinions/perceptions and points to ponder.

 

04/17/2010

I am finding it "curioser and curioser"* how life keeps being the same as it changes. Money is tight, people don't pay attention and all the while we point our fingers at somebody else to blame our woes upon. The government is greedy, the rip off investment artists who stole money were greedy, banks are greedy. Meanwhile, we seldom look at our flaccid efforts to take responsibility for our own actions. Our own greed at falling for the investment scams, our support of banks by giving them money and power and our support of government as long as the administration is the right color and says what we want to hear.

 

I recently lost a "friend" and conversation because he chose to call me in the middle of my workday to tell me how America is crumbling into destitution and Obama is doing this and that. I asked him if he was going to tell me that one man or party is responsible for our recession after being in office for one year at the complete disregard for the past eight years of plundering and civil rights erosion. I asked if he could justify our financial indebtedness because our government had to step up to the plate to shore up industries plagued by non-regulation and in many cases outright illegal activities which had been ignored for years. I asked if he knew how expensive this war actually is on a daily basis, so much so that we could pay for healthcare with the monies we have committed to ravaging a desert for the sake of oil. I asked how he could justify no bid contracts of immense sums to a company openly related to the former Vice-President. He hung up on me.

 

I am responsible. I am responsible for all this because I did not take action to bring this to a halt. I should have gone  to college, gotten my advanced degree and participated in the political process to the maximum of my ability. Nah.

 

However, I do take responsibility for not shutting this indictment of our country down when presented before me for the sake of business and politics. I say America is not crumbling into destitution, it is maturing like England and Europe. As one gets older, things change whether it is a person or a country. Get over it folks.

 

We may have to actually work together and make this a country to live in and not one to fantasize in. Smaller houses, and energy efficiency seem to be in order. Less oil needed, less wars to fight for it. Work together instead of whining like a baby because you don't get the candy. There is no more candy. We wasted it.

 

The USSR is plagued by the same troubles and they had to deal with it. They are, but it hasn't been pretty. Take the Bling out of our faces and look at the gifts we have. We don't need people who look like airbrushed magazine covers. We need people who can produce their God given talents to make us survive and live in harmony. More music, less industry. More jobs, less corporate pyramids. Need food? Grow a garden and cut back on cable.

There I said it. Now, back to doing my part by working in instruments and hoping I don't screw them up. That is my contribution.

*Alice in Alice in Wonderland ....“Curiouser and curiouser!” Cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English). “Now I’m opening out like the largest telescope that ever was! Good-bye, feet!” (for when she looked down at her feet they seemed to be almost out of sight, they were getting so far off). “Oh, my poor little feet, I wonder who will put on your shoes and stockings for you now, dears? I’m sure I shan’t be able! I shall be a great deal too far off to trouble myself about you: you must manage the best way you can—but I must be kind to them,” thought Alice, “or perhaps they won’t walk the way I want to go! Let me see. I’ll give them a new pair of boots every Christmas.”

3/17/2010

Margaret, the lady who married me in spite of my poor track record and has lived to reap the brunt of my gratitude thereafter, turned 60 this past Sunday. I joked about trading her in for a forty and a twenty. I would party with the twenty and talk to the forty. The real joke, which nobody seemed to get is the idea that I would remotely wish to have anything to do with either and more importantly, there are no twenties or forties looking to have anything to do with me. Is it not the ego of man to think that because he was once some kind of stud or even got lucky once that he will always be appealing to all women? Ego is ageless. It is the mirror that lies as we continue to see ourselves as sexy young men who appeal to all age groups. I am glad I have Margaret. She is age blind.

03/10/2010

Have you ever wondered what your life would be like without electronic media? I am contemplating picking one month where I do not use a phone/e-mail/Facebook or any of the other electronic media and see the results. As a business, I realize that I will suffer tremendously, but as a human being, I wonder what the outcome will be? More on this as the inspiration unfolds to creativity. Possibly a diary or documentary ........................ a 24/7 camera ..................... audio recordings ............................................... internet twitter and blogs ..................................... no, wait! Looks like a personal experience for me.

03/08/2010

Everything I say today seems a bit negative. This is not a bad thing as it is required to attract the positive. However, I will just thank you for taking the time to read this and know that you are truly loved. Ragomagisflagit! There, I did say something negative after all. Let the positives flow!

It has become increasingly obvious to me that there are people who will lie or manipulate the facts to suit their own purposes.

This, I understand. It took me years to learn the foolishness that results from this.

A friend said that I am an honest person and trust people too much. How can one trust too much?

Where does one draw the line? When is it too much? Can I trust in God too much? If I am part of God, as a child of God, am I supposed to trust just enough? I have been loved just enough, but never enough for me.

So if love is unlimited, why do we try to set limits on love. Notice that trust is interchanged with love. God, I wonder why?

Maybe we should love and trust too much. Maybe then this world will not be at war with itself.

01/13/2010

If we wouldn't use "Chicken Little" to tell us the weather report, why do we trust the media with news that affects us so much that we are manipulated by its reporting?

Reality check:

As my wife tells me more and more about the effects of global warming on the fragile ecosystems of our world, I believe the perception and actions of the human race are flawed to jeopardize the existence of the earth itself. Whether you choose to believe the obvious or not is irrelevant to the outcome. Much like the drunk driver who is positive he can drive safely, we make choices that effect the lives of people we don't know.

I have recently, in an effort to provide quality services to someone, acted hastily and without full thought. The result was to jeopardize their performance which could have resulted in consequences that could have been disastrous to their careers. For my part, I tried to make it as right as I could. Whether it was enough, remains to be seen. 

 

I bring this to your attention because we are all human and we should do the best that we can to not affect the lives of others in a negative way. If we find we have, we should do what we can to make it right. If we cannot make it right, then we should do what we can to help the lives of those whom we can have some effect on.

For my part, I have changed the way I do things to prevent a repetition of past mistakes. It seems to fit, for the most part. I can forgive myself and others for being imperfect humans. I still have a problem with outright stupidity; mine as well as that of others.

 

I, alone, did not cause global warming, the last 25 wars, or the perversion of love and spirituality to the point that killing for God is acceptable. There are however, things I have done that were selfish, blind stupidity or misplaced directions in pursuit of what I thought was right and good.

For these last things, I apologize. I do not believe this relieves me of the karma I created. It does, however, give me a starting point. How I live my  life now is the result of my past and perception of what was right or not. I try to do my best every day.

 

What has this to do with Luthiery and guitars? Everything. What you put into your craft, you get back. If you bring awareness, the results reflect it. If you do it for the money, it shows. If you don't know why you do it, it will reflect in the results of your work. If you do something that affects others, do it responsibly. Save the planet, save yourself.

12/25/2009

A man was walking in the hills when he passed by a banana tree. Looking up, he noticed that there were some beautiful ripe bananas near the top. Being rather agile, he began to climb the tree when he spotted a monkey on the other side with the same idea. As he attempted to climb the tree, the monkey would grab the branch and interfere with his hold.

After a few attempts, he realized that the monkey was in competition with him to get the bananas. Now the man knew he would never beat the monkey in agility or safely reach the bananas without an altercation, so he waited until the monkey reached the bananas before he started climbing up the tree. This riled the monkey since he was feeling the security of having his beloved beautiful bananas all around him. This was his tree and he would protect it at all costs.

As a monkey will do, he grabbed the nearest object and threw it at the interloper. He did this a few times until the man backed off. The man walked around the tree and picked up the best of the bananas thrown in his direction. He walked off with enough bananas for his snack. The monkey went back to eating his bananas and everybody was happy.

Moral: Sometimes you have to let a monkey think he owns the tree to get what you really came for.

Beat me up, if you wish.

I recently received some news that distressed me.

It seems an old acquaintance of questionable character has hooked up with someone I deeply cared for.

It triggered some self destructive feelings of regret and guilt from things I had done in my past.

This acquaintance was good at that and I let it happen too much. The person who told me this was also a person of the group who seemed to enjoy my discomfort. Why am I making this public?

Because  as it happens, I have come to the painful conclusion that admitting the truth and facing it seems to deflate the energy and motivation behind things like this.

The lady is an adult and a smart one. She has the ability to do about anything she wants.

In this case, I do not know her reasoning or the facts. More importantly, it has nothing to do with me. What was before is no longer and what I was before has long since vanished.

I have found love and I am honest and forthright with people. I have an ego, but I am riding herd on it.

So, if anyone else is harboring resentment or wants to throw rocks at me, knock yourself out...............Let me help you.

Life is too short to regret stupidity and the rash actions of youth. If there is justice on earth, I am sure there are others much more deserving of its results.

I cannot change the past. I can only change what I do in this moment. Now is all that matters.

God bless them all, please.

Now for the really good stuff.

Previously, I mentioned an encounter with a person who was not pleased with a process we had been through. I was openly chagrined that I had possibly hurt someone. This person had the opportunity to rise above the situation. He did not.

What does this mean? In order to preach honorability, one must live honorably. So often people have chosen to judge others by standards they do not keep themselves.

Get wise. Become enlightened. Be what you are openly and do not mask yourself as something you are not.

Moreover, do not use separate standards for others that you do not adhere to yourself.

I have done it. It does not work and it really pisses people off. Has this ever worked without causing resentment?