My roots in music were three fold. The Beatles, (and I think of them as a category rather than a band), 70's progressive rock (Yes, ELP, Queen, Rush, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Pink Floyd), and then acoustic singer/songwriters, both piano and guitar (Janis Ian, Johnny Cash, Billy Joel, Elton John, Leonard Cohen, and so on).
I have an on and off affection for horn based classical jazz, but limited pretty much to John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly, and Miles Davis.
Eastern influenced surf rock like Secret Chiefs 3 is quite interesting to me. They are an offshoot from Mr. Bungle which was an offshoot of the guys who did the song "Epic", (their name escapes me at the moment.)
I wish I shared your love of metal, so we'd have a common language, sometimes. I've given it a whirl several times in my life, even to the point of going to Ozzfest and such. I liked it for a while, but can't say I ever loved it. Certainly not the way you describe it. It just doesn't inspire anything of a positive nature in me. I know that sounds really stereotypical, but I can't help it. I find it all a little thick and dark. I lived in nearly a 1/2 century of darkness, and I am finally all about light. Not that I didn't need re-inforcing darkness at times in my life. And maybe I just take it all too seriously to begin with. But music is made as expression of the soul, I believe, (except modern pop). The soul of the metalists tends to sound angry. Anger accomplishes not much of anything in my experience, and when exposed to angry music, and angry musicians, then a person is prone to become angry themselves. But not really constructively.
Hey....I'm probably way off base with all this. Like I said, I overthink stuff. But I can safely say it doesn't move me as it moves you. When I leave a Yes show, I'm filled with joy. My mind is smiling. When I left Ozzfest, and Seether shows, I was pumped with some kind of angry ugliness that was as far from either my original Buddhist soul as I could find, and would be even farther from my finally Christian soul.
And of course, I'm thrilled that you have something that moves you, and helps your time pass in whatever kind of peace it is you find in metal. I'm not criticizing. Seriously. We like what we like. You describe your feeling as positive. I'll believe you. Rock on.
Food kind of rules over people out here too. Usually, how much of it to eat. Some eat way to little. Some eat way too much. I can imagine the importance it takes on in prison. It is that rare thing. Something required for life itself, but which in and of itself can actually offer a little enjoyment and taste to life. The breathing we take for granted. The eating we like to savor, and change up. Experiment with. The less we have available, the better the little things are. My only personal experience was long weeks on field maneuvers in the Army, or being underway on my ship in the Coast Guard. In the Army we traded parts of our boxes of C-Rations with one another. I traded all my pound cake for peanut butter and crackers all the time. On the ship it was a mystical yearning for fresh food. We'd run out of fresh milk, vegetables, fruit, etc. just a few days out at sea, and go to all the powdered and canned stuff. Bland meats frozen since the Eisenhower administration. When we'd get to port, we were usually off to a restaurant before we even went to a bar.
With the great deal of time, and the abundance of material at your disposal, the idea that you haven't at least seriously opened yourself to the idea of Christ actually being the incarnation of God entering history is honestly surprising. I blame myself, I suppose, because all I ever did was send books. I never really opened up to you about the whole thing. Why it's true and all. In fact, I nurtured your occult leanings. I've got 10 years to work on this in some sort of coherent fashion. Please bear with me, but most importantly, please read, and actually discern and chew on what I have to tell you. It may be much different that what expect or think. Just be open. That's all.
As for the folks becoming Indian.....yeah, that was even going on when I was in my teens and 20's. They become so enamored with the culture, they just have to become it. I look at it as a form of envy. White Europeans particularly THINK they don't have a culture or history of their own, which is interesting, (a crock, by the way), and they want to be seen by others as being mystical and "heavy". Yawn. As for you....Your East German, Russian, Polish, and Prussian roots are so much more interesting. Just shake your head.
i cant fucking believe after 30 years looking for you this is where i'm finding you in jail for murder. I feel like its my fault for moving away i couldn't take care of you to keep you out of trouble like i did when we were kids. You know if i knew what was going on in your life i would've helped you get out of the drug biss. some one always dies just glad it wasn't you. was really looking to find you so we could share our stories when we were kids having so much fun every friday and sat night at the roller rink, skate boarding, slumber parties at marks with our girl friends etc. Greg you were and are still one of my best friends you really fucked up i'm so fucking pissed at you BUT you will always be my friend and i will always be there for you. Don't know the story of what happened or how all i know is i will pray for you and hope someday will be able to see you again. best friend forever Darryl Aguda PS after turning 50 this last year i finally got MARRIED for the first time.
I cannot believe that Sr. Anne finally got you!! I wish that I could see it. The part that really gets me, is Alex as Jesus. That is amazing. You are really having a positive effect on him. God bless you, my brother and friend. When I see Patty this Sunday, at St. Basil's, I am going to tell her that I read this. Have a blessed Lent.
I remember listening to speak of this man in Toastmasters. It is just as moving now as when I heard it. I want to thank you for sharing this and for leading me through that door, as well. The short time that I spent with you and the other men is one of the meaningful times of my life.
I hope you are well and continuing on with your music and writing. I would have really liked to have heard the performance you described. I am sure everyone who did hear it appreciated it. I hope you are also getting the opportunity to read the writings of Dr. King. His wisdom is amazing. People can write about him, but no one has yet to capture his true strength of spirit. He is definitely a role model for everyone. He was assassinated on my birthday. My friends and I had a celebration planned, but no one, including me, felt like celebrating--which was strange for kids our age. Instead I watched the news with my father all evening. I hope you keep up the blog and will look forward to your new publications.
Hi Joe, Sorry I am a day late with your Birthday wishes. We were at the hospital with Tom and I did not get on the computer when I got home . We do think of you and pray for you . Hope you all do not get this virus down there. It is bad. Your mom and cousin Pam have had it really bad. Take care and we love you. Aunt Je nny
RSS
I have an on and off affection for horn based classical jazz, but limited pretty much to John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly, and Miles Davis.
Eastern influenced surf rock like Secret Chiefs 3 is quite interesting to me. They are an offshoot from Mr. Bungle which was an offshoot of the guys who did the song "Epic", (their name escapes me at the moment.)
I wish I shared your love of metal, so we'd have a common language, sometimes. I've given it a whirl several times in my life, even to the point of going to Ozzfest and such. I liked it for a while, but can't say I ever loved it. Certainly not the way you describe it. It just doesn't inspire anything of a positive nature in me. I know that sounds really stereotypical, but I can't help it. I find it all a little thick and dark. I lived in nearly a 1/2 century of darkness, and I am finally all about light. Not that I didn't need re-inforcing darkness at times in my life. And maybe I just take it all too seriously to begin with. But music is made as expression of the soul, I believe, (except modern pop). The soul of the metalists tends to sound angry. Anger accomplishes not much of anything in my experience, and when exposed to angry music, and angry musicians, then a person is prone to become angry themselves. But not really constructively.
Hey....I'm probably way off base with all this. Like I said, I overthink stuff. But I can safely say it doesn't move me as it moves you. When I leave a Yes show, I'm filled with joy. My mind is smiling. When I left Ozzfest, and Seether shows, I was pumped with some kind of angry ugliness that was as far from either my original Buddhist soul as I could find, and would be even farther from my finally Christian soul.
And of course, I'm thrilled that you have something that moves you, and helps your time pass in whatever kind of peace it is you find in metal. I'm not criticizing. Seriously. We like what we like. You describe your feeling as positive. I'll believe you. Rock on.
Love,
Dad
Love,
Dad
As for the folks becoming Indian.....yeah, that was even going on when I was in my teens and 20's. They become so enamored with the culture, they just have to become it. I look at it as a form of envy. White Europeans particularly THINK they don't have a culture or history of their own, which is interesting, (a crock, by the way), and they want to be seen by others as being mystical and "heavy". Yawn. As for you....Your East German, Russian, Polish, and Prussian roots are so much more interesting. Just shake your head.
It's all you can do.
Love,
Dad
Love,
Dad
I cannot believe that Sr. Anne finally got you!! I wish that I could see it. The part that really gets me, is Alex as Jesus. That is amazing. You are really having a positive effect on him. God bless you, my brother and friend. When I see Patty this Sunday, at St. Basil's, I am going to tell her that I read this. Have a blessed Lent.
I remember listening to speak of this man in Toastmasters. It is just as moving now as when I heard it. I want to thank you for sharing this and for leading me through that door, as well. The short time that I spent with you and the other men is one of the meaningful times of my life.