Posts Tagged ‘#resolutions’

Music for ‘Caretakers’

Posted: January 12, 2024 in #poetry, Holiday, MUSIC, My Tunes, Poetry, projects, technology, Video
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I recorded a nice version of this song to share with all. I edited the lyrics a bit to make things match a bit better but I like the final arrangement. I also had a little fun with some of the percusssion tracks. The chimes and hi hats are from a MIDI keyboard, but the bongo like percussion starting about the middle of the song I am using the top of my Yeti mug – filled half-way with green tea to be exact – as the drum.

Here is ‘Caretaker’:

‘Caretaker’                   (C) MSK 12-31-2023

As a biproduct, I wanted to see if the spatial audio affects mixing with ATMOS would work with a YouTube upload. 

So I made a video (pictures is all) and posted it to see if my surround sound home theater system will be enhanced using ATMOS for short videos. You will not hear anyting in the mix move at all until the end of the song. But I want to see if it distributes the channels automatically. So, before I test it and find out it doesn’t work and delete it, you can hear the ATMOS mix and pictures of my studio rooms. Or better yet, close your eyes and try to imagine where each player (instrument) is sitting on stage. With ATMOS, they could be……… behind you or ……… on a ladder in front of you. Or sitting next to you.

Caretaker Video YouTube

Happy New Year.

New Years Resolution

Posted: January 6, 2024 in #poetry, Holiday, My Tunes, Poetry
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I don’t make New Years Resolutions. I never have. The whole concept seems ill directed. Like celebrating Valentine’s Day. Why would you do that only once a year? Don’t you love them all the time? Then show it all the time.

Why focus on making resolutions to do things better on one day? Each waking day is an opportunity. But as usual, I digress. This year I have made a resolution, and it happened to be on New Years Day. I realized that along with all the other adjectives I use to describe myself here and elsewhere, (musician, performer, writer, engineer, geek, you get it) I have always been a caretaker.

I take care of things in my job. I take care of animals and plants. I try to solve relationship problems I see my friends sliding into. I took care of my younger brother when he had no more fight left in him from years of cancer treatment. 

I helped my mother through her decision to deny treatment for her cancer to the end. Just last November my older sister died after an illness no one knew of but it decided she was a good home. She survived what I call a year of medical torture as things started shutting down from the massive doses of antibiotics needed to keep her alive when it hit. I have never seen anyone more relieved to know that the government ‘would let them die’. I hope to never see that again, to be truthful.  Even writing that sentence makes me feel bitter.

Along with all my other titles it occurs to me that maybe above all of them, I am a Caretaker. So, from one Caretaker to another, and to all the Caretakers out there, I offer my song as a suggestion for your next resolution;

Caretaker                MSK 12 31 2023 

A houseplant with a lot of sunlight
Needs a little water to make it grow.
Doesn’t take but a minute,
And you can make it so.

Walking down the sidewalk shopping
There’s another piece of trash on the ground.
Bend down to pick it up
Without looking around.

Caretaker. Caretaker.
Taking care of everyone.

Most animals seem to just know you
They see what I do; the look in your eyes.
You calm them down
And the owners always act surprised.

Life’s a simple dedication
Pass it on, give more than you take.
When Life flashes before you
It stops on every mistake.

So much to do if you stop and care
Lately, you’ve been feeling a little worn-thin.
Do you want to save the world?
You got to start from within.

    Caretaker.      Caretaker.
    Take care of yourself:    Have some fun.

I have decided to take care of myself for a while. To do something fun here and there. It is OK. I still care. But until I can recharge my internal batteries, I will not have the energy for anyone else’s emergency. I am old and emotionally exhausted. I just don’t know what would fun be anymore. I will have to figure that out. 

“Back To Earth”

Posted: December 6, 2019 in Poetry
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Sunset in Pleasant Ridge Ohio
The ‘leaves’ on the left tree are actually birds.

Playing in the snow

Or climbing in the trees

Not sure which is the more

Important of these.

Siblings came but soon

The family was gone.

Hard to know what pain

Would be felt later on.

Safe and secure I

Always knew I was loved.

Learned hard lessons ’cause

I pulled instead of shoved.

          Everything is everyone

          Everyone is everything.

          We all start the journey

          From the place of our birth

          But going to heaven or hell

          Just brings us back to Earth.

Singing and writing

Playing in a great band

Gave me more than life           

I hope you understand.

Truth may be out there

But answers never are.

That was the last time I prayed

Or wished upon a star.

                                 

We all start the journey

          From the place of our birth

          But going to heaven or hell

          Just brings us back to Earth.

The day my kids were born

I was fundamentally changed.

Nothing I wouldn’t do

So life could be arranged

That’s another thing

That didn’t work as planned.

It ripped away everything

I still hope you understand.       

We all start the journey

          From the place of our birth

          But going to heaven or hell

          Simply brings us back to Earth.

Depression is a friend

Feeding on personal loss.

I’m told it comes down to “42”

But sure their fingers were crossed.

From here nothing matters

Save friendship, love and trust.

What more could you possibly need

When everything turns to dust?

What more could you possibly need

When everything turns to dust?

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.