That’s Why I Love Him

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“What made me love thee? let that persuade thee
there’s something extraordinary in thee.
I cannot: but I love thee; none but thee;
and thou deserves it.”
William Shakespeare

One of my favorite fretted instruments is the banjo. After all, you can’t help but smile when you hear the sound of a banjo.

For Mother’s Day 2014 my son bought concert tickets for us to see “Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers” at the Hollywood Bowl. The concert was fantastic.

I was so inspired by the concert, that I decided it was time to learn to play the banjo. I didn’t own a banjo, but there’s a music store near my son’s apartment, and they just happen to have used banjos. After hearing the store owner play one of the banjos, I bought a used 21 fret, open back, 5-string banjo. I was absolutely thrilled to start learning to play the banjo.

However, when I got home with my fretted friend, my husband was not as thrilled as I was. His response was, “you’re not going to practice that thing in the house, are you?”

Relationships are all about compromise. We are both supportive of each others hobbies and interests. He likes me to go with him to the shooting range and go to car shows. And because he knows how much I enjoy banjo music, he has become more supportive of my banjo playing.

After lots of practice and lessons on the banjo, he now wants me to learn to play the guitar and the mandolin.

That’s why I love him.

Happy Valentine’s Day To Everyone

Shine On

Explore – Dream – Discover

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by
the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Mark Twain

Twin sail boats sailing along the Esplanade bay.

Shine On

Listen to the Warm

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Chronicles of a Blogaholic

“For every star that falls to earth a new one glows.
For every dream that fades away a new one grows.
When things are not what they would seem
you must keep following your dream.”
Rod McKuen

Rod MKuen April 29, 1933 to January 29, 2015

We lost a great artist the other day. Rod McKuen was not as well-known to this generation as to the generation of the 1960s and 1970s. He was a poet, a singer, a lyricist, and a musician. His work mirrored the 1960s and he was once given the label as the unofficial poet laureate of America.

They say that snobs hated him and were constantly tearing down his talents. Which makes sense, since his writings were not for snobs but for everyday people.

His songs were recorded and performed by artists such as Barbara Streisand to Frank Sinatra.

My first introduction to Rod McKuen was through my older sister who gave me one of his book, as a graduation gift. The book was “Listen to the Warm”. His poetry spoke to me and influenced me a great deal. I will always cherish this book and still have this book today. In fact, leafing through this book is like looking at a scrapbook of my life:

“I’ve been going a long time now
along the way I’ve learned some things.

You have to make the good times yourself
take the little times and make them into big times
and save the times that are all right
for the ones that aren’t so good.”

By: Rod McKuen from Listen to the Warm

Shine On