ROMANTIC GRANDEUR

Saturday evening I attended the Southern Sinfonia's opening concert in Dunedin.

The wonderful venue, TOWN HALL is under renovation. I do hope and pray the do up engineers do not mess with the perfection of such a lovely sound chamber.

Because of the remodeling the concert was held at the Regent Theatre in the Octagon of Dunedin. The Regent is a grand old theatre but does not have the acoustics of the Town Hall.

The concert was titled, ROMANTIC GRANDER and it held true to the theme.

I DETEST ARRIVING LATE FOR CONCERTS! I relish the time to wander around the lobby of a performance venue. Gaze at the chandeliers, art work, marble stairs, walls adorned with paintings of great artists, and the framed lists of families, individual, and organizations who are on the board of trustees. People that are generous with their wealth and influence in support of the arts.

My landlady had chosen a perfect seat for me. In the Stalls Row E seat 23. Mind you, I usually prefer a front row seat in the balcony, but because the concert was at the Regent I wanted something on the ground floor and yet close to the piano and sinfonia. Perfect.

Ever since I was a kid I loved the 'tuning up' of all the instruments before a symphonic concert. The back and forth wail of the strings, horns tooting scales... I always feel a strange emotion during this time when all the various musician are tuning because they are INDIVIDUALS...

they all look different from each other, they are playing different instruments, their ages span from very young to very old... but... then the moment of magic is when the first violinist walks on stage, bows, turns to the orchestra and they tune to ONE NOTE! Everything comes into harmony and oneness. The violinist sits down and then the CONDUCTOR walks on...

Applause and russeling of feet, programs, coughing whisperings all cease and a vibrating moment of silence takes command. The conductor lifts his baton the concert comes to life.

Opening piece was lovely. Lilburn's Drysdale Overture. Applause followed and then the movement of chairs, music stands, making way for the Mighty Black Whale, the Steinway Concert Grand Piano.

Stage hands dusting the curves of the instrument after it was placed in the exact markings on the stage floor. Then a young man lifted on the stage the piano stool. He actually sat on the seat to make positive it was placed correctly.

I consider the piano bench, stool, seat as the blessed THRONE of the artist.

All things were in order. Enter the conductor. Then the star of the evening: DEIDRE IRONS.

This woman is one of New Zealands treasures. She was born in Canada but has made New Zealand her home since the mid 70's. She is my age plus... She graced the stage with confidence, joy and most of all her humble ambiance. She took her place at the piano, put her eye glasses on and gave the "nod" to the conductor.

The Concerto was the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2. ONE OF MY FAVORITE PIECES.

It is not a parlor recital piece. It is a massive work. The Concerto plays for about give or take 50 minutes... a very long spell of endurance for any athlete playing sport!

A horn solo introduces the main theme with the piano interceding... woodwinds and piano... then strings... full orchestra and piano.

Deidre played with such power and command. Her movements, her hands were so authoritative beyond belief. She smeared a few things, but my GOD she KNEW this work as if were the love of her life!

I always hold my breath, get a strange tightness in my gut when the music comes to a key change into F minor... (then to the dominant key of f major) the piano plays a most DIFFICULT and TREACHEROUS passage!

I was once told that some, even seasoned concert artists omit this passage at times!

Deidre simply 'high dived' into the dark waters and swam through it like an Olympic gladiator.

After the passage from hell... the orchestra tutti appears back to the tonic key of B flat. The movement ended with everyone in the audience spell bound.

2nd movement went like magic... 3rd movement. This is one of my favorite musical themes.

The Cello plays a 3 minute solo before the piano gently enters the musical canvas... the movement is full of every emotion imaginable.

4th movement. Allegretto Grazioso.

I love this section. It is very Hungarian... passionate and Brahms ends it with a little march

them that is haunting... ONLY BRAHMS.

Deidre Irons stood as the audience including myself screamed BRAVOS, stomping of feet on the floor boards... hoots and exclamations of yea from the audience. She made 3 curtain calls... was given a bouquet of the most gorgeous flowers... The woman is amazing.

Intermission, well, Interval as they call it in other parts of the world. Then the Sibelius Symphony No. 5.

I have known people that swoon like crazy over this symphony. I like it, but I do not have a great affinity with it. I do love the swan calls and flutter of wings with strings and flutes... the 6 staggered chords at the end separated by the SOUND OF SILENCE" between each chord is wonderful.

Was truly a MUSICAL NIGHT OF ROMANTIC GRANDER!

Photos and interviews...

I am a terrible traveler in as much as: I have a wonderful digital Kodak camera.

I purchased it years ago in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is a, DX4530 5.0 mega pixels... it still takes great photos. ONLY PROBLEM?

I FORGET TO USE THE DAMN THING! Why?

Years ago when I was touring Viet Nam, people begged me to take photos. My arrogant reply was, "Nah! I have a mind that photographs everything. I can't be bothered with the snap, snap, snap of the camers!"

Stupid me! I experienced 'priceless' moments during performances, amazing people I met, some near fatal moments... well, in my scrap books I have a handful of small photos I took in Viet Nam!

Thank God, the "Stars and Stripes" took photos of shows and of course other performers shared some pictures with me. Three Christmas Tours to Viet Nam and I have about 10 photos to prove it!

I have hiked all over the South Island of New Zealand. I do have pictures and some amazing moments with nature that I have captured on film. I am a devout keeper of journals. I write in long hand on the paper within the arms of those journals every day.

I cannot imagine life without my Mac Book or my I PAD... yet photos evade me!

Everyone tells me I must Skype. Well, I did it once. I did not like the picture I was seeing of someone that I honestly adore and happen to think is very attractive.

Every freckle, splotch on the skin, droopy eyes... sagging flesh! YIKES!

I said NOT TO THIS

TECHNOLOGY. I will use the telephone, write letters, e mail but not have the live person with no make up, no knowledge about what we are speaking endure such an ordeal, which includes myself.

I am NOT a telephone person. Years ago I learned a very difficult lesson: NEVER, EVER DRINK AND DIAL.

I am not good with interviews.

Years ago I made my New Zealand debut as a pianist in the city of Christchurch.

The local television station featured me live on a noon time talk show. I was to be interviewed, then play piano at the end of the program as the show ended... I was full of confidence, and I looked great.

I was wearing a black mock turtle neck sweater, gray slacks and sun tanned, fit and full of energy. The set designers had placed a gorgeous French Press Coffee Plunger on the table in front of me in the attempt to make the scene very 'cozy' and comfortable. I had two TV hosts on either side of me. A piano was off to stage right of where I was seated.

It was sort of like one of those Reggis and Kathy type shows. Everyone is hyper and so glitzy.

When the director counted down to air time I could not take my eyes away from the coffee plunger! The hosts of the show asked me mundane questions and I answered but kept staring at the coffee plunger!

I finally asked, "Where did you find such an ornate and beautiful plunger?" both hosts gasped as if the toilet had been clogged or something terrible had happened... needless to say I had a great audience at the concert.

I played Rhapsody in Blue, Chopin's Ballade in G minor, Granados's Laments of the Maiden and the Nightingale...

Had RAVE REVIEWS, from one of NZ's most bashing critics. The review was printed in the morning paper, THE PRESS. I have it framed and it hangs on a wall inside my restaurant beside photos of famous people I have met or worked with!

I am honestly not so good when I have to express myself by the spoken word. One of my dearest Pianist friends and coaches told me I suffer from dyslexia of speech! WTF?

(that means: where are the flowers!)

Years ago I performed a concert in Boise Idaho. One of my dear friends Shirley Taylor had every detail in perfect order. I was to do a radio show/ interview, early on a Sunday Morning before the concert.

We arrived at the radio broadcast house and the doors were locked! One more time: where are the flowers????

Well, a huge man, I mean a giant walked around the building as we were pounding on the door and said: "What is the problem?" we explained our situation. He said, "I have a talk show about sports and your welcome to be my guest!"

I said, "Great! We are on the air no matter what!" (BTW: Playing piano is most athletic!)

It was a wonderful studio. Everything was wonderful.

The big Football Player asked me when I actually started playing piano. I said "in the womb!"

Well... we got into star seed children, reincarnation but the problem for this wonderful guy was: HOW IN HELL DID I GET OUT OF THE WOMB WITHOUT A PIANO! Many people listened to that interview. We packed the place. If you ever need an agent call Shirley T. She simply knows how to put things together in the most interesting way! I love her.

After that radio show I stopped all live interviews. They are very dangerous. I never know what may blow out of my mouth. I keep a blog instead.

some photos of my stay in the Golden Bay

Golden Bay Trip

Had a magical time in one of my favorite places on the planet earth. Long, very long trip to Nelson, then a bus trip to Takaka. Gorgeous drives through endless verdent shades of green, hills and vales, then when FINALLY the bus stopped in Takaka, my dear friend Rutha was waiting for me with open arms. It had been a full on day of travel. We drove to Sans Souci Inn. I relaxed with a glass of RED.

Slept like a dead man. I awoke 'round 8 AM made a French Press of Coffee, filled my cup and walked onto the beach. The winds had swept the beach clean during the silent hours of night, filled the air with the invisible perfume of sea breeze and the musical movement of the waves.

My bare feet kissing the cool wet sandy beach. I made foot prints in the sand and watched them disapear behind me as the waters sucked my imprints back into the bay!

Such a healing a splendid morning. A couple of nights and days at SSI and I had to move to a new accomodation. I FELL IN LOVE WITH BEING A HERMIT.

Rutha, had reserved me a very nice house, (cottage), at a place called: SAND CASTLE... I have posted some photos, or will soon. A wonderful house. Full kitchen, bathroom, two bedrooms, deck with table and chairs! The ambiance was pure magic.

The owner, Steve is a musician. He allowed me to play his restored piano out of England. Ah! The first time my fingers have touched an acoutic piano in ages. I fell in love with the place.

I could cook my own food, nap when my blood suger hit the basement, I would walk anywhere my feet desired... simply bliss on earth.

My entire time with friends was blessed.

The entire Golden Bay is very laid back and seriously hippie 1960's, except there are so many very young people from all over the world living and traveling through the area. Bright colors, lots of LONG HAIR, markets, and get this: a restaurant that I possibly should attempt to copy?

"SPACE OF LOVE": Vegetarian takeaways. Summer hours, Mon-Sat 12-6pm

Organic Community Gardens. (go to www.spaceoflove.co.nz) GET THIS: SPACE OF LOVE IS A UNIQUE CAFE RUN BY VOLUNTEERS WHERE THE CUSTOMERS SET THE PRICE!

ARE YOU READY??????

The food is lovingly prepared daily according to AYURVEDIC PRINCIPLES from ORGANIC PRODUCE.

Sample Menues:

Italian Calzone with Pumpkin Coconut soup.

Rosemary Yougart baked potatoes with green succhini in Cashew Tomato Sauce with Cheese.

Pita bread with Hummus, Falafel and Salad.

Vegetables auGratin with Basmati Rice and Tamarind Chutney.

Lasagna with Spinach, Aubergine, Tomato and Cpsicum.

Vegetarian Sheaperd's Pie with Garden salad and Balsamic Dressing...

OMG, they even offer cooking classes.

LOVED IT.

Had my miraculaus massage from Yana, spent hours meditating, loved my reading... making music without always a keyboard... being with a dear friend, BUT:

The trip home!

We had to get out of bed by 5:30 AM so that Brentie could catch a bus into Takaka then into Nelson Airport. Everything went as planned until I arrived into CHCH. (Earthquake City of the World)... All flights are abolutely booked in NZ at the present. I had to wait 3 hours for my flight. That is OKAY! Enjoyed a lunch, reading, relaxing. Then when I am to board the plane:

"ALL FLIGHTS INTO QT ARE CANELLED DUE TO WEATHER IN QT!" Everything began falling into all kinds of bits and pieces. Air NZ chartered a bus for all passengers because the flight in the AM was sold out and there was NO GAURENTEE that flight would be able to land safely.

At 6:30 PM a bus arrived. We drove 6 hours in the dark without a restroom on the bus, no food stops or water as everything was closed in route to QT.

I read my book on my I PAD, watched a movie on my MacBook... all battery energy was going down, down, down... arrived in QT at 2:00 AM. THERE WERE ALOT OF AMERICANS ON THE BUS SAYING: "IN GOD WE TRUST!" I was never so embaressed! These were people older than me, and God only knows sometimes I think there are no people older than me! How insane! It was a problem with the weather? NOTHING TO DO WITH A GOD! I have a mouth bitten shut with trying to keep my mouth from screaming: SHUT THE FUCK UP AND BE HAPPY YOU ARE NOT IN DANGER OF CRASHING INTO A MOUNTAIN!

Caught a cab in the center and walked into the doors of my beloved house at 2:30 AM.

Will write about all the good times in a few hours. Must make dinner. Had a great holiday.

My afternoon sourie

I I Worked hard in the hope of creating something different for snacks with wines, tea and coffee... because we had invited some dear friends in for an afternoon of 'catching up' on each other's past few weeks... I wanted something that could pass for a 'light meal' yet have the essence of a simple not sitting down to a full blown dining experience.

Something I could pull off on the patio in the sunshine and not have people sitting at the dining room table...

I baked a vegetable/beef steak pie, homemade breads with virgin olive oil, real butter and different spreads, fresh tomatoes,cucumbers with red onions in a home made french dressing, vintage aged cheese and of course brie cheese.

Lots of various crackers and two Reds, one White wine. Fresh ground coffee beans and PG black Tea. Sat out the wine bottles, wine glasses, napkins... forks, knives. Had all the platters with food on the serving table when out of the blue a wind blasted my entire showcase. Dear GOD! I flew like a spinning Dervish Dancer... I saved every thing including the napkins.

Well, everything took on a different look. Food was set on the kitchen counter, friends filled their plates with yummy bits and pieces and sat around the dining room table.

Over the many, many years I have catered and hosted my own dinner parties I always muse how no matter who the person, they Cleve unto the kitchen and the kitchen table.

In my home in WY I can have a gorgeous fire blazing in the main room of the house, fresh chilled shrimp, cheeses and all kind of drinks in the main room so that people can sit and enjoy the fire as they drink and eat appetizers before the meal...

My hell, they will come into the kitchen and chat away with me as I am prepping the main meal. They will cluster around a very small dining room table in the kitchen... talk with me, walk into the living room fill a plate with goodies and return to the kitchen!

In my restaurant, people will drop in to say hello. Yes, I am in the kitchen working, but some of my dearest friends will sit at the end of kitchen drinking wine, eat a meal and never leave the environment of all kinds of orders being cooked... dish washers working... salads being made as well as dessert orders... Is IT a human instinct? We love to be where the food is being made and the joy of a kitchen table? Or is it a comfort zone? I like it no matter what.

I always bake bread with certain music. You cannot make a gorgeous loaf of bread without certain elements of Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, BRAHMS, Shubert... the list is endless.

I love making bread to the music of David Lanz, Jon Serrie... The vibrations influence my hands and the fashion I kneed the dough... Once, I was kneading bread while the Prokofiev 1st piano concerto was being played by Martha Agerich... MY GOD THE BREAD WAS ENORMOUSLY FULL BLOWN... It was delicious...

When I fly to NYC every year I spend a day and night with one of my great mentors, Carol Montparker Taub.

We spend most of the time in her kitchen which is heaven on earth for me.

The perfume in the room is made of the lower tones from certain herbs, the high notes top off everything... she makes one hell ova lamb stew. Her salads always "tingle" with excitement.

She is a natural cook. She can toss things into a pan, talk to you at the same time and at the same moment release an aroma of bliss into the room that sets ones taste buds into insanity.

She cannot help it. She is a "MOTHER" a caring woman that instinctively knows how to comfort and give support to one's needs. Be it music, pain, sorrow, or the need for delicious food and comfort. I hope into the firmament I have the same gift.

I am always amazed how food, wine, tables, gardens give us beings of nature solace.

My new drying machine...

Clothes lines were a very essential part of any house hold utilities when I was a little boy.

Washing day was a big day. Then after everything went through the wringer it was hung on the line to dry in the fresh air.

In NZ the air is clean and full of sunshine.

Last week I decided to hang all the sheets out on the line after a serious machine wash and not use the dryer. They came out wonderful!

Now most days after the laundry has been washed I hang them out on the line to dry, then top them off in the dryer. Saves one hell of a lot energy and the clothing is CLEAN! Kissed by the sun, massaged by the breeze and everything smells NATURAL! NONE OF THE LITTLE PERFUME THINGS WE PUT IN DRYERS TO MAKE THINGS SMELL FRESH? Sunshine is magic.

When I was performing in Europe years ago the house keeping would hang comforters, quilts, sheets, pillows over the banisters of the balcony and let them breathe in the fresh air. A most brilliant idea. I always loved returning to my room late at night, have a cup of hot tea and then nestle into a bed full of fresh linens. Nature still rules. My clothes are clean!

Baking Bread

We all have our private methods of dealing with stress... depression, anxiety, pain... My own methods are: Meditation, music, reading, work outs, long walks, but it always comes back to a most basic art. MAKING AND BAKING BREAD!

A couple of photos of the bread I just took out of the oven. Been on the phone LD with friends in WY and suddenly I looked at the alarm on my cell! YIKES... Said a quick "I love you" hung up the phone and ran up the stairs to save the bread... It turned out perfect.

Tonight's dins will be cold sliced ham, green salad, potato salad and BREAD AND BUTTER. Temps are a little over 90 degrees F. FINALLY SUMMER RETURNED. I am NOT complaining.

You are welcome for a light meal in the garden. So, come on... everything is in balance. And the bread will make you most balanced.

2 more photos

Early mornings in this garden are most spiritual for me... I feel like those famous impressonistic painters... at times the balance between earth and the firmament makes my head spin... early morning and twilight are the best times... inbetween light and darkness.

Forgot two more photos... most important photos.

photos of the gardens at 11 Panorama Place, QT...

The wind

I am sick of the damn wind.

In my 22 years coming to NZ I do not remember such constant wind as we are experiencing!

Do not become confused by the word wind. In NZ, OZ AND GREAT BRITAIN, "WIND" IS: tummy GAS. Wind pain is like having gas pains in America. We take GAS X etc. over the counter pills for gas in America, here they take "Wind Be Gone" ... God, I wish I could fill my truck with human gas and the bugger would hum down the road... NOT, it would fart down the road. I am writing about "mother natures natural WIND!"

Yesterday I was walking into the center and so help me God, I was picked up by the wind and forced to "hang on baby" 'cause I thought at times I would be smashed into a light post or into a tree!

Wind causes my allergies to play up big time. The air is jammed with pollen, dirt, god only knows what and it finds it's way into my sinus passages and lungs.

The sound of wind drives me crazy. It is not music to my ears.

Rain without wind is heaven to my ears. Like gazillions of musical notes falling on the earth. A gentle rain can help me sleep.

I love watching rain drops tap and sigh against the windows as the notes slide into puddles and find peace within the earth.

My plants love gentle rain. It is as if they speak out, saying: "we want to take a rain bath... please!" The damn wind they hate.

The wind breaks their steams, (limbs) rips off their leaves and tears their gorgeous blossoms away from their very existence. The wind seems to be greedy.

I cannot live without mountains. They radiate a certain unexplainable energy that speaks to my very soul... but when one lives inside and around mountains one must understand inversions, and the wind currents which cleanse as well as travel through mountain ranges.

Living at the edge of the Grand Canyon of the Snake River in Wyoming I can almost set my clocks to the moments the winds will pass through the canyons... They do not last for hours, but they have a rapid tempo.

Here in Queenstown we are situated in the most gorgeous southern alps. A huge lake of ice cold water... Lake Wikatipu. Every afternoon around 4 or 5 O'clock the wind comes up then stops. This year the wind is confused. It simply blows when ever?

In the 70's I worked in Rock Springs WY. Evanston WY. and the wind was relentless. Suicides.

I mean the wind drove some people into insane depression and thus they went crazy. (Not such an amazing fact they built the State Mental Institution in Evanston Wy.)

Years ago, driving from Denver to Utah I spent three nights in Evanston because of snow drifts and endless blizzards driven by wind on the open plains. The day the sun shined I carefully drove out of pure white world.

I had a robin egg blue Volx Wagon Bug... that bug was nearly lifted off the highway many times because of wind. Thank god I used it not only as means of transportation, but a storage unit, place to sleep, eat and live inside. Small studio apartment with wheels. I kept it weighted down with STUFF. Thus it did not always shift around like other bugs.

Enough about the damn wind... it is still blowing.

I should probably go through my book case and dig out WIND IN THE WILLOWS.

I loved that book and read it every so many years. I will read it IF I am able to read without the wind grabbing it out of my two hands and giving it flight!

94 years...

The mother of my partner of nearly 30 years, turned 94 on the 25th of January 2012.

She has dementia, however can walk without a cane, she eats everything I put on her plate and is so kind. She knows the charming effects of the simple word, "THANK YOU!" She thanks everyone that helps her with any of her needs. She is nearly blind, hearing is nearly gone, but she looks fantastic and has a personality like a great actress. If I tell her someone is coming to visit and please act as if she remembers them... she pulls it off like a movie star!

I had planned a simple dinner on the patio for her celebration, but we have had all kinds of weather from 90 degrees summer heat to barely in the 40's. SNOW FOR THE 4th time this January! January 27 in NZ is like JULY 27 in the northern hemisphere. The mountains are still half way covered in white snow as I write.

For Anne's celebration I decided to take 7 of us to my favorite restaurant, "Solera vino".

a authentic French Restaurant. I met Philippe Berton, the owner in the old Body Worx gym 20 years ago. He told me he had a restaurant in town... I had dinner and never looked back!

I eat lunch at least two times a week at 'Solera vino'

I always have the same lunch. Rib eye steak cooked medium, green salad with French Dressing, and French Fries. The Fries are not like most French Fries, you can actually taste the earthy note of real potato and the top note of what it was fried in... Two glasses of Arum Pinot Noir wine, and then a strong espresso coffee. This lunch is flawless. The music and ambiance is magic.

I am fortunate to sit at the front open window, depending on the crowd. I never mind where they seat me. (there was a time I was known as a pianist in QT, now I wear BIG dark glasses, rather eccentric clothing, carry a backpack...) still, the young table attendants which are French, treat me so kindly and they KNOW I DO NOT REQUIRE A MENU...

When I am seated at my table, I can write in my journal, gaze out of the open window and watch the stream of people walking past... I love to make up stories about where they are going or coming from.

I picked the perfect place for Anne's 94Th.

Amazing beyond belief, she walked from the parking lot to the restaurant, enjoyed her Sole and rice, dinner, creme brullee then walked back to the car, chatted all the way home and we prepared her for bed. Lots of THANK YOUS!

My own mother taught me two precious words: PLEASE and THANK YOU.

Sorry, but some years in between now and when I was a little boy I forgot them? NO!

My love affair...

In New Zealand last year I purchased a wireless printer. It worked like magic!

I could down load sheet music on my computer inside my studio (which is outside of the main house.)

The printer sits in my bedroom. It chugged away and printed everything beautifully. This year? Everything seems in working order, I made it my default printer on my MacBook Pro but the printer simply refuses to work with me. SCREW IT!

I went on line searching for a place I could buy printed classical piano collections. FOUND A PLACE.

Nile.com great place. I ordered three wonderful editions of piano music.

Music I was longing to fall in love with again as well as my forever on going study of certain masterpieces which I doubt I will ever perform in this life time, however, they provide eternal exploration and adventure for my mind, body and spirit.

Last night I sat up in bed drinking a cup of green and melodic (get that, melodic!) berry tea. It is delicious. I read every night before falling asleep. In NZ this year I have been reading classics.

Last night I came to end of Wurthering Heights. God, what a convoluted love affair as well as the story takes place in a rather a dark place on earth... No problem. I slept like a dead man.

Awoke at 7 AM feeling great.

Made a pot of strong coffee... sat in the garden, meditating, ate a very light breakfast, then I took a forked tool and began loosening the soil around my amazing tomato plants and carrots, potatoes and herbs allowing the soil to breathe and absorb all the water, air, shade and most of sunlight during the day, starlight at night and love the rose bushes and pansies share with such nutritious plants.

Did the gym... I am like the book by Hemingway: "The Old Man and The Sea" only thing? I am the old man and the gym. After returning home the need for the piano became intense.

I indulged myself beyond imagination working out melodic phrases, harmonic structure of chords and hidden voices within the undercurrents of such works of art.

The new, virgin, un marked pages of musical manuscripts invited me to grab my RED PEN and begin marking places that demand my attention...

Debussy will forever haunt me. His box of multi colored tones of musical paint takes my mind to places where words do not exist. Chopin can express emotions I cannot explain and Beethoven simply reaches into the universe of eternity. The secret language of the spheres.

Experiencing any kind of creativity can eclipse the invention of "time".

After some time at the keyboard I wondered why my right shoulder was aching? Well? go figure? Walked out of my studio door into the sunshine and breathed a prayer of gratitude to the universe for giving me such a gift and the time to indulge myself with it's gorgeous influences. (when I am home in WY. I suffer guilt IF I am not working thus... I suffer)

I thank my lucky stars that I have friends that are artists of the first rank and they accept me and my quirks, limitations as well weaknesses. These angels are sculptures, painters, musicians, poets, writers, chefs, massage therapists, healers, clairvoyants, eccentrics and most of all passionate people.

I have had many love affairs in my life... (too many to write about?????)

but the one constant in my life has been my love affair with music and the written language by which we humans record it.

Horizontal lines, vertical lines, mathematics, written language... the formulas are endless. PHYSICS! I will never get over the love affair. I pray it never gets over me!!!

becoming older and older

I took a break from the gym during the holiday madness... Today I started back.

For ever 30 + years I have worked out faithfully. I believe that exercise keeps the body within a reasonable state of good health. I do know for a fact weight training can save one's emotional and spiritual being. If for no other reason it releases stress.

Years ago I would be so upset or crazy with anger I would simply lift the weights as if they were the neck of the person I wanted to choke to death.

It worked this way: most of the people are dead now because of their own actions or still alive because I took my anxiety out on IRON and MUSIC... (I should write a song Iron & Music)

I have been having inner conversations with my body and soul regarding my right leg.

I figured I needed another knee replacement! Today I changed my mind. Reason: I remember exactly the day I knelt down on my knees and it felt as though I had a thousand nails hammered into the knee cap of my left leg. I was in the QT GYM. I rolled on my side, grabbing my knee and screaming.

I was in denial, but I knew the knee was a problem. Well, today I realized it is the damn arthritis playing up in the right leg along with the sciatica joining in... my left knee never went numb... the pain in my left knee never radiated down the outside of my leg...

I had my left elbow "cleaned up" by a surgeon from Auckland about three years ago. It was pooling fluids and the pain... well, I had many, many injections of Cortisone in that elbow for years.

The drug killed the triceps muscle's. Every time I would go for advice in the states they avoided the issue and I know why: FOR FEAR THAT I WOULD LOOSE MY ABILITY TO PLAY PIANO... Well, I proved that theory wrong.

The surgeon from Auckland cleaned out all the "CRAP" from the arthritis and scar tissue. He told me I would play the piano fine... I would not be able to PRO NATE my left arm... like press it against a wall etc. He was 100% spot on. To this day I am pain free in that elbow. I am slowly re birthing my triceps muscle. I am finally able to straighten the arm out in front of me.

I wear long sleeved shirts because IF I DON'T people stare at me. My right arm is a well built arm. My left arm is tooth pick. It is growing. I still love my Left Arm, Hand and it is coming right!

Years and years ago... I recall older people telling telling me: "YOUR DAY WILL COME!"

Hell, they were right! I have known people that live on vegetarian diets, high protein diets, exercise... pray, meditate, live the WORD OF WISDOM to the MAX and still fall apart. I think death must be a very big part of our learning process and many of us no longer can accept the fact we will grow old and die! YIKES. ('cause nobody knows what death is unless they experience it... just like birth... do you remember the moment of your birth??? possibly death is a birth????)

Now I am over so many issues. I really do not care about a lot of "STUFF" that ruled my life for 40 years.

I am over mountains of GUILT, FEAR and LOATHING. I work hard. But when I am on holiday as now... well, I sleep when I want and I get up when I want... (Peter Pan?) I eat what I want and I walk where I want... I read all kinds of books, eat foods that my body tells me it needs and most of all I love.

I love my past even though it is no longer a part of my present life. I love people that are no longer with me in physical bodies, but forever with me in my heart and the spirit of love.

Possibly becoming older is a gift that only certain people ever enjoy. I live with a 94 year old woman that was a power beyond words years ago. She now suffers dementia beyond belief.

I wonder if it is Karmic or simply science?

OH BTW, SOPHIA RAN OFF. She is with her baby kittens. Story of my life: THEY RUN AWAY FROM ME...

SOPHIA

Last year we took in a cat named Sophia. I love the name Sophia.

Yesterday a young woman delivered a cat we can care for in the coming weeks. Well, her markings and green eyes are exactly like Sophia the cat from last year!!

She never stopped wailing and talking cat language. The birds that have been loving our gardens took off in hysterical flight. I do hope the Tui returns in the morning. No bird has such a song.

I also adore the song of the Bell Birds.

Sophie finally settled down. Found the bed in the guest room most adaptable to her needs. We had closed all windows and doors. Keeping her under lock & Key for about 3 days.

This morning I wake up and there no Sophia to be found anywhere in this house! Anne had awaken in the night to the cat's cry and let the damn cat out of the bag, as they say! Then Anne went straight back to bed!

Well, I simply resigned myself to the fact the cat did not love us and had run back to her previous habitat... as I was sipping my morning coffee I heard her wailing at the front door.

She is no fool this cat. She had spent the night marking her space around the property, sitting in the window sills and clawing at doors to find a way into the house. I opened the door and she JUMPED into my arms. (thank god, I did not at the moment have a cup of hot coffee in my hand).

She belongs at 11 Panorama Place. When I returned home after a long walk out to St. Omer Park she was on my bed. I nudged her aside for my much needed "lay down nap", she rolled into a cuddly ball on my tummy.

Thus, I just kissed my sweet allergy free sinuses goodbye. Back to the dripping nose. But the gift of "UNCONDITIONAL LOVE" is worth every moment. Fur People are the sacred messengers that carry love to all of crazy human beings. Stay tunned for more about Sophia.

My Deals with GOD... 2012

Yesterday was absolute magic.

We had neighbors in later in the evening for snacks, drinks and wild conversation.

I made a great dinner for summer: Tender Roast Beef, Potato Salad, home made breads and fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, avocados and hummus. We then proceeded to indulge in cheeses, nuts, crackers, drinks and wine.

The Fire Works Show in Queenstown was fantastic. For the Grand Finale they shot a blast into the open sky and it formed a red heart! Then the heart began shooting all kinds of spirals and darts out into the universe. It was pure love! 2012 came in with a bang.

Round 2:00 AM went to bed... during the night a huge painting on the wall in the bedroom came off the wall crashing like a bomb on the floor. I awoke thinking we had been attacked. COULD NOT GET BACK TO SLEEP. DHAAAHHHH....

I learned years ago: never ever drink after 8 or 9 PM. The body goes into over drive cleansing the liver etc. Well, at 7:30 AM I got out of bed, made STRONG coffee and PROMISED GOD ONE MORE TIME: If you will simply take away this awful feeling inside my body I will never ever do anything bad again. It worked. I am fine. (Thank God for DRUGS...)

In my 65 years living on this planet I have made so many DEALS WITH GOD it is unimaginable that the heavens have not tossed me out for ever. (but on the other hand I believe god has made some strange deals with me???)

Today is gorgeous. The lake is like a mirror. Perfect summer weather.

Best part of today:

We had a cat delivered! She is gorgeous. Fur people forever help and guide me through this existence. They only offer UN CONDITIONAL LOVE on the HIGHEST LEVEL.

I've written before in my blogs about 2012... so lets see what happens. May all our dreams come true in 2012.

My Kiwi Xmax Kitchen...

Today is the day after BOXING DAY IN NZ. I took this photo of my kitchen here in the summer house in NZ because: it expresses apart of myself. This was taken after a gorgeous dinner.

It shows: Half a glass of Pinot Noir, half of a beautiful NZ Christmas Ham I glazed in apricots and oranges.

Half of myself standing taking the photo! (not really!)

In NZ most Kiwis, on Xmas day have a Christmas Breakfast or Luncheon/Bar-B-Que because it is summer in this part of he world!

I however do it different. I like my Xmas Dinner in the evening. Same with Thanksgiving Dinner.

My family in Utah are very traditional and do all these events between noon and 1:00PM. Why do I chose evening? Because: I have for far too many years cooked in restaurants and evening meals are my favorite except for I do love breakfast late in the morning all by my self!

Yep, I am a selfish man. I deserve to be.

This year I had two guests in. One lives on the left side of our house the other two or three doors down the street. We got together round 6 PM had yummy cheeses, breads, assorted nuts and wines... then dinner was: A wonderful baked ham. I glazed in apricot and orange with yams. Boiled potatoes, onions, greens, carrots, courgettes, topped with honey, dill and cream fresh. French and Cibatta breads and NZ REAL BUTTER. Dessert was strawberries and cream, but we settled for Christmas Fruit Cake and brandy.

Boxing Day I treated everyone to a day on the Lake. We boarded the old steamer Eranslaw and steamed over to Walter Peak. Had a wonderful Bar-B-Que Luncheon... watched the farm show, the shearing of sheep and of course the sheep dogs! are the most spiritual of creatures.

The ride back was divine. BLUE SKIES, MOUNTAINS, BLUE WATER, HOT SUN and a piano player on the ship that played songs only my grandparents would ever know every word and melody. Twas magic. Left QT at round 11:30 AM returned round 4:00 PM.

Will write about ever so many other things that have been pressing on my weak mind and body but had to share joy. NEW YEARS WILL BE BEYOND BELIEF THIS YEAR. Stay Tuned.

Last year... this year! Xmas Dinner.

New board to view, new kind of plant life

Ah, I finally did it. Took down the cork board that holds so many phone numbers, cards, photos and anything that cannot find a place on a shelf or on the floor... cleaned it up. I like it.

This year I changed my idea of plant life inside my wee space. Instead of the usual house plants I chose all kinds of interesting little creatures. They seem to be thriving. Plants have the gift of telling me very bluntly how I am doing emotionally and spiritually. I learned how the sacred communication between living plants and human beings can be a very special blessing from the universe many years ago.

Some indoor plants are best LEFT ALONE.

They are able to be at peace and grown according to their DNA when nothing interferes with their natural state of being... other plants NEED ME. They harmonize to certain composers... they need my fingers to pet their stems and whisper against their leaves... they react to weather, sound, color and any movement... We live on a green planet. Green is a healing color. It is the color of the heart chakra. Green and pale orange... faded saffron are my favorite color combinations.

I carried all of my sacred Quartz Crystals from NZ back to Wyoming last year. Now I will begin an adventure in search of certain gems of frozen light. I will cleanse them and regenerate their vibrational energy.

new look in the studio/lab