Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Sunshine Blogger Award – Challenge Accepted

Posted: February 15, 2016 in Opinions and Observations, Uncategorized
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Thank you Solani for the nomination! I appreciate it and I thoroughly enjoyed the process! Vintage Sapience: Old fashioned wisdom. Understanding good sense, discerning intelligence. This says it all.  If only we could find more of these attitudes in the ‘real world’!   https://vintagesapience.wordpress.com/ 

THE RULES:

  1. Thank the person that nominated you
  2. Answer the questions from the person that nominated you
  3. Nominate some other bloggers for this award
  4. Write the same amount of questions for the bloggers you have nominated
  5. Notify the bloggers you have nominated.
MY ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS:

What makes you smile?

So many things.  My children learning and growing.  Solving complex problems even with little or no facts to rely on.  Great music of all kinds and the wonderful comments and support I get on my blog from followers

What do you do to relax?

Playing and writing music.  LONG bike rides or hiking.  Yoga.  For me, physical exercise is a great way to relax as my day is usually focused on mental challenges……

What made you start a blog?

The best way to answer this is to link to an article from my daughter as the catalyst for starting MIDIMike:

https://midimike.com/2015/02/24/a-message-from-my-daughter/

What is your biggest dream?

To be able to travel around the globe and meet members of my blog

What do you expect from your readers?

Mainly honesty.  Sharing thoughts from all over the world that can help open my eyes to things I cannot see on my own.  To allow me to learn from their experiences and           observations.

What motivates you?

Others in need.  Again I love to solve problems.  The desire to make my little piece of the world a better place however I can. To be liked and appreciated by those I love, admire and  respect.

Who/What is the inspiration for your writing?

To let the constant whirlwind of emotions I keep inside out.  To state something in a way so others can see the obvious irony in and around all of us.

 

HERE ARE MY NOMINEES FOR THE AWARD:

http://photographyofnia.com/

https://nicodemasplusthree.wordpress.com/

https://rockandrollsupermom.wordpress.com/

http://elusivetrope.com/

http://tracihalpin.com/

http://bruces23.com/

https://tammymezera.wordpress.com/

https://behinddistantdoors.wordpress.com/

https://denisebalog.wordpress.com/

https://patriceclarkson.wordpress.com/

http://boldblindbeauty.com/

https://michnavs.wordpress.com/

https://nicolesnarratives.wordpress.com/

https://othermary.wordpress.com/

https://redrebelremarks.wordpress.com/

https://mynameisjamie.net 

 

QUESTIONS TO MY NOMINEES:

Question 1  If you won the lottery or became very wealthy, what would you do differently than today?

Question 2  If someone’s ideas clearly opposed your beliefs and needed help defending them, would you help them?

Question 3 If you could tell the entire world one thing, what would it be?

Question 4 Are you a ‘big picture’ person or a ‘detail’ person?

Question 5  Assuming you believed in reincarnation, other than human, what animal would you want to be?

Question 6  Other than a job or something you get paid to do, what do you think is your greatest talent?

Question 7  What was the last picture you took?

Congratulations to all the winners. I can’t wait to read your answers!

Nothing Personal, Your Job Has Been Eliminated

Posted: February 8, 2016 in Opinions and Observations, Uncategorized
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There are many times when there is no time.  Projects get pushed back, things that are important to me get put off.   The things that I love get thrown onto the back-burner or get turned off altogether.  Last week was another one of those, but I would like to let you know why, as I have been off line for a lot longer than I wanted.  I miss you guys.

Last Friday began as a great day.  I go into work on Fridays and the first time I meet co-workers I say “happy Friday” with a big smile.  After years of this it spread throughout the company and everyone greets others with a smiling “happy Friday”.  Ten minutes into the day everything changed.

In the last fifteen years I have worked for the same company.  However, the owners and president have changed many times in that period.   On that Friday morning I was summoned by HR.  Once in the conference room with senior staff I realized this would be my last day and that I was being terminated.  Mergers and acquisitions – nothing personal – your job has been eliminated.  I was escorted out of the building and sent home.  In a weird coincidence, I got a winter cold that day and it got worse as the week went on.  I am still not back to normal but feeling almost human, so I wanted to let you know why I have been out of the loop.

For the first fifteen minutes or so driving home I was quite angry.  By the time I was half way home I was happy to have a day off – made only better by the fact that I did not have to go back to work on Monday.  I love the people I work with.  I love doing what I do – did.  The newest owners took all the joy out of that and it was stressful in so many ways that I came to hate going in.  Problem solved.  Just not the way I wanted to solve this particular problem.

I called my wife and let her know.  I felt it was coming for a while now and we were preparing for this a little bit here and there, but it still caught me off guard.  We have to make some dramatic decisions; income, insurance, bills, resume updates, and on and on.  All when I was really not feeling healthy and energetic.  Moving slow and needing lots of rest.

I am a logical person as I have tried to portray on this blog, but as you all know (great friends that you are) I am also very emotional.  This is what helps drive some of my creative projects – seeing two sides of the same story.  So;

Here I am

Unemployed

Too soon to retire and possibly too old to get another job in a similar position or pay.

Many of us are facing the same thing.  I am not alone in that.  These challenges are everywhere.

When my daughter Alisa came over that day she wanted to show me an older blog post she had discovered from one of my blog friends.  I read the post slowly and so you understand how much of an impact it had.

http://mynameisjamie.net/tag/midimike/

This is one of the most precious and sincere posts I have read.  It hit me hard not only because I truly needed to read this – on THIS day, but the beauty behind it is truly remarkable.  I try every day to affect others as positively as I can.  I want to think that the world is a tiny bit better because I am here.  I don’t know any other way to say this, so I will stop there.

As I read the post and listened again to the attached musical performance I felt more and more.  More of her pain.  More of her wisdom, more of her gratitude.  Each new emotion uniquely tied to a tear as I cried.  A week later while writing this I am again brought to tears.  Many of us have no idea how important our actions – good or bad – affect others around us.  I never wrote a response as my list got longer and longer and less important things took my time and attention.  I will try harder to focus on the important things.  Not as an apology but as a promise.

I am not sure what the near future will throw at me.  I cannot guarantee how much time I can steal for things I truly enjoy and appreciate, but I thank each of you, as you have no idea how important your thoughts, support and comments are to me (and maybe others as well).  Thank you for sharing and allowing me to share with you.  WE are not alone – we are a community.  Family.

http://mynameisjamie.net/tag/midimike/

 

 

 

Perspective is Amazing

Posted: January 29, 2016 in Opinions and Observations, Uncategorized
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As I look back on the songs and projects I have been involved in I also want to share with you projects from the core of artists I grew up with that influenced me to do more and get better in my craft. I have a good number of writings to pick from.  Here is a set of lyrics from my older brother David.  I have mentioned him a few times already so I wanted to give you some examples of his writing.

This is a song called “Singing Wheels”.  It was written in February of 1977. We have a lot of themes about driving and being on the road.  We often contrast between city life and nature as we are drawn almost equally to both. The song has beautiful chords and the melody is haunting with a fluid motion that fits the lyrics quite well.  I will post the song in the future.  At this point, the boy is able to see the man he became!  Perspective is amazing from decades later.

“Singing Wheels”  © 1977 C David Kennedy

The lights of the city spread like stars below me

Traffic swirls around me as I leave.

And time moves slowly in a car that’s moving swift

I guess you call it relativity.

 

If the boy I was could see

The man that he became

He’d be pretty happy I suppose.

But the best things about him

Were just ballast for the flight

His hopes are dim and his dreams are tame.

 

And while Singing Wheels spin over whispered lullabies

My car eats the highway in the rain

Windshield wipers tell a tale rhythmic and serene

And thunder mourns the crying of the skies.

My Heart is Silent – A Song in the Making

Posted: January 21, 2016 in My Tunes, Uncategorized
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I had a theme for lyrics slowly coming together for the last few days.  On the edge of being complete I centered on the idea of how wonderful and supportive it is to have your loved ones with you to start each day.  To wake up together and face the challenges and the glory of each day. Yeah, I am a romantic in many ways, but those are the things I think about when I don’t concentrate.  For me – THAT IS THE KEY.  My lyric and melody ideas come from observation and experience, not from a lyric making template and time schedule tune-creator cookie cutter band in your box session.

I sat, as I am now;  sitting at my computer looking out the window and my small yard.  Birds at the feeder, squirrels trying to get what the birds spill, and most often a gentle breeze.  And I came up with the first chorus in 30 seconds or so.  It just summed up the things that make me happy with what I have done so far in my life and why looking forward is so precious.

The second verse was another theme that became clear once I had the idea for the chorus.  I have had a few conversations lately with friends and family with a noticeably different view of the future.  AS I get older and plan the future as much as possible I realize now some of the things I am planning will be the last time in my life that I will probably do it again.

I don’t look forward to doing things for the first time as we did growing up, I am looking forward to the last time.  And that brought me to the second chorus; I look forward to watching children and grand children learning and doing things for the first time.  (Helping when you can and staying the hell out of the way for most of it!)

The first and last verses try to summarize a belief that I have; If you are quiet and listen to each other, you will earn their love.

Now that I have written the lyrics and shown to a friend, he put a great song and melody to it.  We are going into my studio over the next few weeks to arrange the song and record a rough demo.  Then we will have other friends add finishing parts (like vocals again…. anyone know a great vocalist??!!) and do the final recording and mix.

I thought it would be fun to post the various stages of this project so you can see a little how these things develop from concept to final mix.   I will post the lyrics now and promise not to share too many variations as this is a trial and error process with lots of suggestions and compromises.

For now, the lyrics:

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

“My Heart Is Silent” © MSK 12-30-2015

 

I will close my eyes

If you will be there when they reopen.

My Heart Is Silent

Still listening to thoughts you have spoken.

 

As the Firsts in life

Moving full circle to become their Last,

Looking forward is

Much quicker than unwinding the past.

 

My Heart Is Silent

My needs are few;

A space to breathe

And living with you.

 

Waiting for you

Unwilling to think you might not return.

Letting you go

I’ve always known your love is something I had to earn.

 

My Heart Is Silent

My needs are few;

Watching children grow

And living with you.

 

I will close my eyes

If you will be there when they reopen.

My Heart Is Silent

Listening to thoughts you have spoken.

“And The Stars Look Very Different Today” – Rest in Peace David Bowie

Posted: January 11, 2016 in Opinions and Observations, Uncategorized
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As I have a tendency to do, I was thinking about music over the weekend.  My thoughts drifted to how lucky I was to be born during a great musical period.  I have grown up and grown old with some amazing musical giants.  From The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Genesis, Pink Floyd, and so many others, I have listened and learned from these greats.  My life has been shaped by many of their lives and works.

This morning I was sad to learn that another musical genius has died.  David Bowie was a musical and cultural force for decades.  A person who not only risked life outside the box, but created safe environments for many who did not feel included in the culture and philosophy of the masses.

Whether you liked his music and collaborations with others or not, it is hard to overlook the impact he had; not only on the music scene, but also the lives of many listeners that were encouraged to be creative, passionate and true to who they are as a person.  He helped us all understand that the very difference that make us strong as individuals, actually contributes to creating a healthy nation.

Thank you David for all you have done.  I will never forget.

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Forward or Back? Happy 2016!

Posted: January 1, 2016 in Opinions and Observations, Uncategorized
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I have my own thoughts on the New Year’s holiday and the events surrounding it.  Before I go off on my tangent, let me first tell you that I think the whole thing is confusing and misleading.  So many people start off turned around because it does not make sense.

If you think of beginnings, fresh starts, separation of seasons, then we should start the New Year on the same day as the First Day of Spring.  One of those equinox thingys that will happen again in March.  http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/march-equinox.html.  Winter: most things die or transform, only to jump back bigger and stronger every year.  To me this makes the way we look at nature, the seasons and the planet/sun relationships all make a bit more sense.   But here we are.  A New Year for many.

Is this a time of reflection on the year that was or are we better served looking forward to improving – growing – learning to do better in the coming year(s)?

I always try to learn from my mistakes and to change processes (or attitude, as needed!) to reflect successes.  Going over past injuries from ‘blind-spots” has limited positive potential for me.  I would rather look for the future blind-spots knowing that fixing the last year failure does not guarantee seeing the traps presented in the year to come, then prepare to take advantage of opportunities.

Do you reflect on the close of each year?  Make resolutions you should have already done? Guarantee to do better?  Or just have another day to party? LOL

Much success and happiness to all of you and your extended family and friends.  Be safe in the coming months and help make your community better for all.

Heritage Haiku

Posted: December 28, 2015 in Poetry, Uncategorized
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My dad (MidiMike) asked me to share a poem with all of you that I wrote for him when I was younger. He has always been a huge influence in my life. I’m certain that my love of music comes from him, as does my love of poetry.  I hope this poem gives you a little insight on what it was like to be raised by a musician.- Alisa

Heritage Haiku

My dad wrote over

One hundred songs in my life.

I still quote the words.

 

“If you think that your

Paradise is a place then

You’ll never find it.”

 

His basement band shook

My bedroom floor, creating

Huge waterbed waves.

 

Lessons learned from Sting,

David Bowie, and Pink Floyd.

“We could be heroes.”

 

Ran sound on weekends

I slept under his sound board.

Protected by wires.

 

For years he worked at

A music store. Customers

Were my fathers too.

 

Microphones, ADATs,

His baby grand piano.

Guitars not Barbies.

A Hint Of Truth

Posted: December 21, 2015 in Poetry, Uncategorized
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From the middle,

each end is far away

Somewhere in-between,

we learn how to pray.

In every story

there is a hint of truth

Behind every lie

is a mountain of proof.

It’s always during the cold lonely nights

That you find out what you’re missing.

I am missing you.

(c)

Tease Me With The Truth

Posted: December 7, 2015 in My Tunes, Uncategorized
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Lack Of Concern ©

You look from behind me, Baby
At what I’m going toward.
Seeing what you want to see
And then you look no more.

Tease me with the truth baby
Don’t tempt me with a lie,
So if you want to play games
I’ll just walk on by.

It’ a lack of concern
Or a lack of control
Is it in the heart,
Or deep within the soul?

You’re not making love with me
You’re just wasting time
Always taking theirs, aren’t you
But I won’t give you mine.

My tears are in your hands
My heart is open wide
But everytime I look, I see
There’s nothing left inside.

Tease me with the truth, Baby
Don’t tempt me with a lie,
So if you want to play games
I’ll just wave bye-bye.

 

A Lack of Concern

Posted: November 23, 2015 in MUSIC, My Tunes, Uncategorized
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For another look into the times, Lack of Concern is a gem in a time capsule.  These were good times.  I was still working at the music store.  Playing with toys, buying a few here and there and energy I can only imagine looking back, LOL!   It was a period where a lot of music was written and performed.  Lots of projects.  Learning as much as we could.  Showing it to others!  That was the fun part.

The words in a number of my songs are important to me.  In the same way I have been told that aromas and fragrances can help recall a specific event in the past, lyrics do for me.  They are a portal that allows a connection to create itself again.  With that memory brought to the surface I can recall many of the events that inspired thoughts that somehow managed to become poems or lyrics.  I surround myself mentally in the time.

“Tease me with the truth, baby, don’t tempt me with a lie” is one that puts me back at that time, in that mood.  This song contains a number of those portals.  This song asks the basic question; … ‘do you know what you are doing and still do it, or are you completely unaware of what you are doing?”.  I just love the upbeat arrangement in this song.  For this song I had the Yamaha DX7S, their updated model and a drum machine.  My wife Ellen and I do the vocals. I play acoustic rhythm guitar parts and Shawn my buddy! comes over to play the lead and decorative guitar parts.  I just let him run wild during the entire song and pick the gems to accent parts of the song.   This may be the only time I have recorded this song.  It is also one I rarely play out, but I think it is catchy in its own way.

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