Where Pianos Roam

Inspiration

I love this .  .  .  .

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-gordo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early On a Sunday Morning: Asian Recap

Well then, it's been a couple of weeks since I submitted a proper post here on WPR.  I've been engaged in a good bit of travelling and performing as well as various odds and ends of late, but I have now returned to my regular blogging schedule.

In this absence, I've accumulated a good bit of stuff to blog about.  I wanted to take some time today to catch everyone up on what I've been doing behind the scenes .  .  .  .

On Mother's Day, I spent the afternoon with my Mom.  I cooked a decadent meal comprised of fresh tilapia with rice and fish sauce, and I BAKED A CAKE!!!  Well, a pound cake to be specific, but a cake nonetheless.

Not having an original recipe to work from, I used a store-bought mix and my Mom's brand new oven for the first time.  (I'm on the hunt for a great pound cake recipe if anyone happens to know where one can be found.)

Here was the final result!!

It came out all fluffy and light, but sad to say, not nearly as delicious as the kind my Mom used to make when I was a kid.  The ones my Mom used to make were extraordinarily good, and I'm hoping to bake some just like them some day.  Otherwise, not bad for a first try.

En route to one of my shows, I stayed in Asheville, NC to visit a dear friend of mine named Wes.  He's one of those people in my life who I can just start talking to even after a long while of not seeing each other and still feel like we just last hung out the day before.  Much like my Mom, Wes is also a gardener.  Since I don't have the time to properly care for a garden, I've been thinking of nursing a small family of potted plants instead.  I asked Wes if he happened to have some plants to spare, and he gave me these .  .  .

This one is a small collection of jade plants that I hope will grow into a massive glob of awesome-ness someday .  .  .

There's something magical about nurturing something and watching it grow and flourish as a result of your tender efforts.   I find myself doting over my plants.  Trimming leaves, feeling the soil to check if it might be too dry, being anxious about watering them enough--this must be what it's like to a be a parent of a small child but on a drastically smaller scale, of course.  Everytime I see a new sprout popping up, I get a little giggly inside and a tiny puff of fairy dust pops out of the most unlikely places.  Sigh.

Generally speaking, I'm not much of a TV person.  I might spend only a couple of hours watching the tube within a week only because I live a very active life engaged in all kinds of creativity.  Nonetheless, while I was in Charlotte, NC, for a show I stayed at my friend Darrell's house and became a bit of a couch potato.  (Darrell is my pop culture and figure skating guru.  He catches me up on everything and is excellent at shopping for cool stuff.)  Feasting on Trader Joe's dark chocolates and hummus, I finally got caught up on Glee since I was three episodes behind to begin with .  .  .  
I think the second half of the season was way better than the first.  It was great to see Santana get some solo time, but I wish Artie (the one in the wheelchair) got to sing more than he did.  He's my favorite of the male vocalists.

This had to be my favorite musical number from the season.  If someone sang this song to me, I would be happy for all the rest of my days .  .  .

 

While channel surfing on a fluffy boogie-board couch, I came across the second Sex and the City movie.

I was a big fan of the tv series.  My wonderful friend Leigh first introduced me to this fantastic show.  She and I would do marathons of whole seasons back in the day.  Carrie Bradshaw is one of my favorite tv characters ever and is the gleaming centerpiece in this modern version of the Golden Girls.  Since I was unable watch any of the last season, I did not allow myself to watch any of the movies.  Looming questions hovered in my mind.  Did she end up with Big?  Will Charlotte always be a prude?  Will Miranda ever lighten up?  Did Samantha ever settle down with someone?  As soon as I saw that it was on tv, I totally caved.  The witty repartee, fabulous wardrobe, and glorious sexiness of it all just drew me in.  It was so fun.  Of course, my friend Darrell happened to have the DVD of the first movie.  So naturally, I went ahead and watched that too .  .  .

The wedding dress Vogue shoot/sequence just blew my mind!  WOW!!

 

In a couple of days, I perform on the cello in public for the first time at my first cello recital.  I'll be performing three pieces that will all be accompanied by the piano.  One will be a duet with a fellow student and the other two will be solo. 

The duet piece is a lovely little number called Rigadoon .  .  .

I can't wait to perform on the cello.  It's gonna be good wholesome fun.

Lastly, while I was in Asheville, I got the sudden urge to knit.  I actually haven't knitted much of anything over the last few months since I've been working on music and visual art so much.  I went to a craft store and bought some bamboo knitting needles and some yarn, and I got started on a brand new scarf for myself. 

Just over a week later, I am almost halfway done .  .  .

I forgot how soothing, meditative, and zen-like knitting can be.  It almost feels like my mind goes to a different level of consciousness while I knit.  There's something about the repetition and the rhythm of it that feels so wholesome and rich.  Yeah, I don't quite get it all either, but I am enjoying it. 

So there you have it.  To some it all up, I've needed some down time for myself lately.  On an emotional level, I realized that I was exhausted without really knowing that I was exhausted.   Perhaps I was in denial about it, but either way, I needed the time to decompress.  Time with friends, plant love, music, gleefulness, Carrie-Miranda-Samantha-Charlotte therapy, and a  return to knitting all helped.  

I think you all are caught up by now. 

Next week, I perform on the cello and then back on the piano at my show at the Exit/In on Sunday, June 5. 

Thankfully, there is rest for the weary.  Much need and fully deserved.

-gordo

Early On a Sunday Morning: Adventures in Johnson City

A couple of days ago, I had a show at the Acoustic Coffeehouse in Johnson City, TN.  I had some downtime that day and wandered around a little bit.  Here's what I found .  .  .

Located about an hour east of Knoxville and nested securely at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains, Johnson City is a little town (not so much a "city" as far as I can tell) comprised of a quaint little downtown area, as seen above. 

Unfortunately, there were just as many empty storefronts as there were occupied ones.  I'm sure our distressed economy has taken its toll more heavily on small towns like this where there are fewer opportunities for jobs and less money to go around.  Otherwise, it seems like the local university, ETSU (East Tennessee State University), does a good bit to infuse some life into this little piece of southern Americana with the annual influx of new and returning students. They need to spend their money somewhere .  .  .

It's depressing to me to know that the most common architectural features to behold anywhere in the US are chains of strip malls, Wal-Marts, McDonald's, and any number of plain big-box stores.  I am comforted in knowing that towns such as this with beautiful streetlamps, aged-brick buildings, and tree-lined streets still hold their place in our landscapes. 

At one point, I found a sweet little coffee shop/art gallery (Brew Plum and Nelson Fine Art Gallery) during my meandering .  .  .  .

 

Not only did they sell yummy coffee drinks, but they housed lovely ceramic art like this .  .  .

They also had this REALLY HUGE and awesome light fixture .  .  .  .

While I was admiring all of the artwork, I was approached by a local resident and made a new friend.  She even held out her paw to shake my hand .  .  .

 

This little kitty cat was such a sweetheart and incredibly affectionate.  Sigh.  I really want a cat.  By the way, if anyone happens to know the name of this cat, please let me know.  I wasn't able to find out.

Along the way, I came across a clothing boutique that may apparently be named after a highly revered feminine hygiene product .  .  .  .

Lastly, I managed to get food from Pal's Sudden Service before heading out of town.   This is a local fast food chain that is only in existence in this area.  I ate a burger (with bacon, of course) and fries.  It was very good.  The best part about Pal's is the spectacle of it. 

The place is quite a sight to behold .  .  .

It's kind of awesome isn't it? 

So goes my adventures in Johnson City!!!  I had a lovely time in this little corner of the world. 

Early On a Sunday Morning: Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Early this morning, I went out to my Mom's very charming and sweet little garden, and I took some photos .  .  .

 

 

She's got roses, irises, hostas, and all kinds of beautiful plants!

My Mom has always had a gift with plants, and I always grew up surrounded by all kinds of them.

I have a continuing fondness for gardens thanks to my Mom.  I'll always stop to admire a garden if I happen to come across one as I skip merrily on my way.

Every morning, you can catch my Mom tending to her plants.  She's always shuffling something around or pulling weeds.  There are often hedges and grass to trim and even more plants to feed with replenishing water.

She is incredibly diligent with her plants just as she has been with raising her children.  This has served has a template for me in my own life.  I've cultivated friendships in much the same way as I have also done with my music.  If there is something you passionately love, then it must be treated with the utmost care.  Feed and nourish it when it is hungry.  Mend and heal it when it is broken or damaged. 

Look and pray upon it with the most tender love you can summon.

When what you love blooms, there is no greater beauty.

I'd like to wish my Mom and all Mom's in the world  a Happy Mother's Day for all that you summon to life in this world.

We bloom for you.

Early On a Sunday Morning: Checking In

 

There's hasn't been too much activity here on WPR over the last couple of weeks for good reason.  I've been tremendously busy.  I wanted to take some time to update everyone on what's been going on in my world.

First of all, I've been travelling a good bit lately.  Two weeks ago, I was in Alabama for a show that was canceled five minutes after I arrived.  Then, last weekend I went to Georgia for some rest and to handle a little bit of business.  Next week, I'll be travelling to east Tennessee to perform in a small town called Johnson City, and then the following week, I'll be heading to Asheville, Durham, and Charlotte, NC for some shows.   

Secondly, I've been cleaning house for the past several days lately.  I like to declutter every few months, and this time around, I'm doing a major spring cleaning overhaul.  If it is something I haven't used in at least three months, then it will be recycled or given away.  I've organized my closet, cleared out my desk, cleaned my car, opened up some more shelving space, shredded old files, bought new linens for my pretty little bed, and donated a bunch of items to a local charity.  There are a bunch of small projects left for me to do, but I am well on my way to having a more organized, clean, and clutter-free existence.  Who needs all that extra baggage anyway?  I sure don't.

One ultra-huge project that is in the beginning stages is my next album of music.  I've chosen it's name.  It's going to be called "The Gardener" after its title track.  Mapping out the treatment for each song is taking up a good bit of time.  After deciding what instruments could work for each piece, I'll be working on the arrangements.  There will be strings and horns swooping in at various intervals while my voice, drums, and piano hold steady all the way through.  It's a lot of fun and a very steep mountain of work all at once.  Sigh.

With warmer weather arriving, I've stepped up my exercise regimen.  On a weekly basis, I've been going to the gym 3 to 4 times along with at least a couple of sessions of outdoor jogging or bike-riding.  I will never regret taking care of my body.  It is a long-term investment that reaps many rewards. 

As an artist, my primary role is to create; however, I also have a responsibility to enjoy art as an observer and enthusiast.  I've been taking time as a spectator lately to find inspiration for my own work.  Watching films, reading books, going to art galleries, going to plays and live theatre, and basically absorbing the creativity of others are things that help me cultivate my own artistic growth.  I particularly love indie and foreign films and classic novels.  Sometimes it's good to take.  It makes giving all the more worthwhile.

So that's it folks.  I will try my best to post more in the next couple of weeks, but I have all of the above along with the business of being a independent musician to handle.  I think I"ll definitely be posting and tweeting while I'm on the road.

Life is full and very rich. 

What are you up to lately?

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