That Helped. Now. Onward.

Posted on June 5, 2019 by SusanG

The weekend of the Memorial Day holiday, instead of hanging out at home and going about doing what I usually do, and then trying not to do what I wanted to do, I decided to take little trip and visit a friend a couple hours away from here. This might have been the best thing I could have done.

This is where I was. 1st Dan Taekwondo

Sometimes we just need a minor change of scenery to help adjust our perspective or give us a different way to see something. The time with my friend did just that. It’s not that we did anything major or what others might call exciting. Mostly we just hung out. He’s just moved to Cary and so we took part of Saturday and had a short wander through downtown. That was interesting, it was hot. We had to go back and have a nice cool nap to recover before heading out to a music store, because. See, not too exciting. Neither was Sunday. A trip to Target and then helping him make a little more sense of his new home. And then a movie on TV.

My Master holding the board for Tornado Kick. I broke the board.

So why would that be the best thing I could have done? Well, for starters, I wasn’t home. I wasn’t staring at all the things I think I need to do. Or staring at all the stuff I want to go through because I think I have too much. And I wasn’t flitting back and forth between social media and email and whatever else looking for entertainment as I try not to do those things that could have caused me added body pain.

I was limited in my electronic interactions. I had my tablet and my phone. I never got out my tablet and I tried to limit the time I spent staring at my phone. I made a specific point of this. I was there to see my friend. I think it’s rude to go visit someone and then spend all your time engaged with your electronic device. It would have been different if there had been a problem at work. There wasn’t. So phone time could be limited. This was awesome.

As I drove home I had time to think and enjoy the beautiful day and really appreciate the time away. Short though it was. It gave me time to think of things that I’ve been working on how to change. It gave me time to think of a lot of things I want to change. And then I got home and within a few minutes of being home I had turned on 3 computers. What the…? How necessary was that?

Congratulations from my Master and all the Masters who judged the test. They also gave me my new belt.

That’s surely a sign of having something amiss. Time to start re-thinking things in ernest. The first thing I’m trying to tackle is sleep. I think I might have mentioned how I’ve adjusted my alarms so I get up a little later in the morning because between my friend’s comment on how little I sleep and a TED talk about how sleep deprivation is killing us, I figured it was time to look at that. The later alarm in the morning is helping. It’s still not enough. So my next step is to try to get to bed earlier. It’s a work in progress.

I’ve also started looking at the habits and routines I’ve fallen into over the years. I want to evaluate if they are still working for me. I have a feeling some are not. Like in cleaning my home and how I get that done. Like habits at work. My habit of Taekwondo. Or even how I approach music and the Blues Jams. It’s kind of time to start looking at these things and make sure they still work or fit and what doesn’t work needs to be fixed or adjusted.

Trying to setup for the group picture at the end of it all.

I suspect my Taekwondo will shift a bit. It always seems to as I get higher in the belts. This weekend was the weekend that I have been trying to keep myself injury free for. And the weekend that I’ve been working so hard towards for the last six months. I finally tested for 2nd Dan in Taekwondo. That means I tested for my 2nd degree black belt. I passed. I was a little surprised at how I did on a few things. And unlike my test for 1st Dan I didn’t have anything that at the end I felt I had messed up. I did my best. I gave it my all. While I would have liked my body to have been in better condition, and shape for the test, I can’t say that it didn’t do what I asked it to. As I write this, I’m not entirely certain that it has sunk in. I suspect it will the first time I put on the belt to go to class and when I start learning the next set of poomse (forms) for the next test. It’s three years away though so I’ve got time to learn them and to work on the body.

With the Black Belt test done it’s time to move on to focusing on the next major thing for this year. The test for the day job. I’ve been lucky the last few weeks, I’ve had a lot of time at the day job to do some studying to get me ready. The training course I’m using is helpful and I’m about 60% done with it. I’ve finished the reading in the course and I’m doing practice tests. It’s not really enough to make me comfortable so I’ll be reading the Microsoft books for the test as well. That is probably the most challenging part of test prep for me. Though, maybe, with my new push to get more sleep, it won’t be too bad. I hope. My goal with the test is to have it done and passed before going on my trip to Australia. That means I need to take it early enough this summer to have time to re-take it if needed. So that will be my next big focus.

Finally, a group picture at the end of the test.

I’m shaking up how I approach the Blues Jams a little. For starters, I’m probably not going to be taking the camera as often. I’d started doing that to be able to review what I was doing and how I was or was not progressing. It’s been really helpful. But, as I’ve been recording the whole jam thinking I would go back and watch more of it than I have, it’s become a little more work and a little less fun. So the camera it going to get a little break.

I’ll still be working on new songs and practicing the older ones regularly. I still need and want to expand my catalog of songs I can sing and play. The difference right now is that with focusing on the test for work and trying to get more sleep, progress may slow a little again. That’s ok. Sometimes we rush to force progress by getting all in with something and then we find a point where we discover that we maybe took some of the fun out of it for ourselves. When that happens you can quit completely or you can back up and back off and regroup and adjust the pace. That’s what I’ll be doing. Partly for those reasons and partly out of need to give other things more time.

This is where I am now. 2nd Dan Taekwondo

So there you are. Some of what’s been going on and some of what’s to come. I’m including some photos from my black belt test. We had a good size group with nine people pre-testing for 2nd Dan, 7 of us testing for 2nd Dan, 2 pre-testing for 3rd Dan and 1 woman testing for her 4th Dan which is Master level. I hope to be there one day.

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Floundering

Posted on May 23, 2019 by SusanG

Once again, I’m a little stuck of what to write about. I’m plugging along at the things I need to do and some of what I want to do. It’s all rather boring and quiet at the moment.

Honestly, there is not a lot of exciting or interesting anything to share about studying for a SQL server test. Mostly I read and do some practice tests and some labs and exercises. And I hope it sticks when it is time to take the test. However, I do have the occasional experience when something I’ve been reading about or studying becomes relevant to a conversation at work with my manager or even his manager. It’s kind of cool when that happens.

Just recently, I was looking into a process that was causing us a lot of trouble on the server. It had been created by someone in one without a lot of in depth SQL knowledge. In trying to ascertain what it was doing and why it was causing so much trouble, I got to use some of what I’ve been learning. I started trying to break it down and trouble shoot where the problem was. I wasn’t able to fix it myself. Though, I was able to break it down to identify the trouble spots. Then, when I took it to someone who could fix it, I was able to understand his solution. And I learned something cool and practical.

Lizard hanging out on my parents’ deck.

I get a few of these opportunities once in a while and they really help to make the studying seem more worth it, more than just something I have to do.

My guitar practicing is a bit quiet too. Not because I’m not practicing. I am. It’s just that I’m still working on some of the same stuff. I’m working on finding different ways to play chords and in different spots. I’m working on what might sound better in a group setting where I want to break up the massive mid-range wall of sound a bit. I’m still re-learning most of the songs I already know using this new knowledge. I’m making progress. I have a handful of songs that I’ve found a new way to play and I’m happy with them and I’ve got them pretty solid. At the same time. I have a bunch of other songs that I’m still re-working. In some cases it’s not just the guitar work that needs a bit more help. One or two need a bit of a vocal refresh.

There are a few songs that I’ve started learning that are new. I’m still working on getting the rhythm down so I feel like I might be able to sing over them. And there are a couple of those songs that I haven’t even written out or downloaded their words yet. So they are still a ways from being ready to debut.

I’m still preparing for the Black Belt test. It’s in just over a week. Because I am still dealing with some marginally cooperative body parts, I’m trying to keep from doing things that might give me an opportunity to hurt myself before the test. I want to be in the best shape I can for the test and then give it all I’ve got. I want give it everything I’ve got for the test, do my best, and leave it all on the mat. To do that, I need to not hurt anything anymore than it already does.

A tidier garage. Just one of many projects.

Frustratingly, that means I have been putting off starting on projects and such until after the test. While I am, and was, aware of this impacting the things I might do that are physical, like paint my living room, it hadn’t occurred to me that it might be impacting other things. Such as art projects that I’m starting to feel the itch to work on. Or even more intense music stuff. I think I finally realized it just this week, as I started this post even. I was trying to think of why I was having trouble getting back in the groove of things. That’s when it hit me that I am all in person and it’s taking all I’ve got to hold back right now. I see projects I’m ready to work on and that’s what needs doing next. But I’m not doing those. As a result, I’m not really getting stuck into anything that would normally hold my interest because, I can’t start, let alone finish, the things I see that need doing.

And yet, I am doing something different for this holiday coming up. I had planned to go visit a friend a few hours away. It’s the fist time I’ve really been able to comfortably take a weekend trip without needing to find someone to check on the birds. And I’ve taken an extra day off. So this sounded like a great opportunity when I first thought of it. Adventure! After making that decision, it was announced that there will be a Blues Jam this weekend. I was torn for a moment, because I really like going to the jams and getting to play. And because of the holiday, it could be a small group which would potentially mean a lot of play time. And then I decided, I am ready for some adventure. So, if you are in Matthews, NC on the Sunday evening before Memorial Day, stop by Moochies Tavern and hang out with the Charlotte Blues Jam. It’s always a great time. I will not be there though so I will have to catch you at another time.

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Catching Up

Posted on May 14, 2019 by SusanG

I happened to see a friend this weekend that I haven’t seen in a while. She mentioned that she was keeping up with things via this blog and that she thought she was caught up. I told her she probably was since I am behind on my posts. That got me to thinking about what to share this week. I’m going to try to hit the highlights of the past couple/few weeks and see if I can get you all up to date.

I kind of got behind recently because I got stuck. I had a really cool time at the April Blues Jam and wanted to write about that and couldn’t really come up with what I really was trying to say. Or if I did it didn’t feel or sound right. So I just didn’t get it done. Sorry.

This guy loves playing drums!

So that jam experience that was cool? It was a small crowd in April. The weather was really weird and there were severe weather warnings and watches and all that. A lot of people stayed home. As a result we all had more opportunity to play. I got a chance to play a full set that all I did was play. I didn’t lead the group, I didn’t sing, I just played guitar. I hadn’t done that in a long time and so it was a nice treat. I found a bit more of a groove and think it sounded pretty good. I even got applause after one of my lead/solo segments. That was really cool.

After the April jam when I was watching the video of that set, at one point I looked away and then had to look back when the lead started. I knew it should be me playing. I had to double check. As you may remember from other posts, I’ve been working on being able to play better leads. So this was a big deal for me. It’s great progress. As always. I still have more to learn and lots of practice ahead.

Tuning and conferencing

There was another jam the first weekend of May. We had a bit better a turn out and it was great fun. It was fun and maybe a little challenging playing with Nick on guitar. He was so into playing and what he was doing that a couple times, he was off in his own world playing his solo/lead. It was nice to see him so relaxed and into it and really enjoying playing though. And I think we pulled off some good songs. The second set I played, I got to play with Nick (a different Nick) on saxophone. I haven’t seen him in serveral months and he has missed a bunch of the progress I have made so it was a treat for me to play with him and a bit of a pleasant surprise for him. It was a really good set as well. Nothing but a good time to be had. And it turns out that Peter plays more instruments than we knew.

A good time had by all.

In between jams I’ve had vacation from the day job and a birthday. It was one of the big birthdays so I spent it getting a new driver’s license and having dinner with my parents. A friend also helped me with some home projects the day before. I know for some people that doesn’t sound like a very exciting way to spend a birthday. For me it was just fine. And that same week I managed to get my trip to Australia booked. Yes! That’s really happening.

My Manager decorated my desk for my birthday while I was on vacation.

I’m still training for my next Black Belt test in Taekwondo. That is rapidly approaching. I think I’m ready as far as knowledge, and even mostly performance. I’m just hoping to stay in good enough shape to do really well. That injury I’ve been battling continues to plague me. Though, now I know what the injury is. And I even know what irritates it. And yes, the way I do Yoga, irritates it. As do other things. I’m contemplating what to do for it after the test. Until then, I’m just trying not to make things worse.

I am still studying for the next test for the day job as well. That’s coming along. Not as fast as I would like. Still, I’m learning and have had some conversations recently that tell me that what I’m working on is actually sinking in and I’m understanding it enough to discuss it. That’s a cool thing. I just need to focus on it a bit more to be ready to take the test when I want to. I do want to have it taken and passed before that trip to Australia. So I need to get on it.

Ducks nesting in that bit of land between parking spots.

I thought I had more to cover. And I probably do. It just isn’t coming to mind at the moment. That should bring everyone up to date on happenings. If I have my timing right the next jam will be the weekend following my belt test. I’m hoping to get more music time in during that time as well as study time. We’ll see how all that goes. And there’s another mini vacation coming up as well. I have an extra day off at the Memorial Day holiday. That will be nice. In the mean time. I’ll try to do better at keeping things here up to date.

Enjoy some pictures from the jams and a few other things I came across.

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All The Time I Need

Posted on April 23, 2019 by SusanG

I wanted to write a post about how I really do have all the time I need. Not all the time in the world, or all the time I want, all the time I need. I wanted to write about this because after feeling like I didn’t have near enough time all last year, this year, I’m in a very different place.

Study aides

I was thinking about this after both of my birds passed away and then I removed their cages from where they sat for so many years. I think I mentioned previously how I finally came to understand how much time I had willingly, and somewhat unknowingly put into taking care of a particularly ailing bird. With both birds gone I looked around and realized I had more time and space. Not just the physical space related to the cages, but mental space.

I was all excited about having all this “extra” time. I was thinking how I was going to spend more time practicing guitar, I was going to work on traditional art projects as well as computer art projects. I was going to get back to writing my articles and getting them posted on time. I was going to dive head long into studying for my test for the day job. I was going to get started on other projects that I’ve had on my ‘to do’ list for ages. There was so much I was thinking I would jump right in and start doing.

Pesky ‘To Do’ List

That’s not what has happened. Having so much time to do things makes it easy to put them off, as most people will recognize. It’s also incredibly distracting. There is less urgency in how I utilize my time. If I’ve only got an extra hour, I get the laundry folded, the dishwasher loaded, the trash taken out and the bathroom cleaned. If I’ve got an extra 5 hours, well, what to do with that time. Should I do some cleaning? I can play guitar. Oh, I can read that book. Maybe I’ll work on that art project. Then again, I could start cleaning out the storage. See what happens? By the time I finally settle on something to do with the time, it’s all gone, it’s time for bed.

I think activity is like a perpetual motion machine. The more you do the more you can do. Suddenly having all this time is a bit like my perpetual motion machine has slowed down or stalled. It may need a little kick start.

This guy needs arms.

I have time off from the day job starting soon and though I have a couple of appointments, there isn’t anything else really planned. However, I’ve started finalizing my travel plans for that trip to Australia and that means things are getting real. It’s time to ‘knuckle down’ and get some things done. I intend to take that test and get it passed, before my trip. So there is that. I’ve got a traditional art project that I’ve got outlined and it’s about ready for me to get started on the detail. I’ve also got some clarity on the computer art project that I’ve had in mind all year and I think I’m ready to see some progress there. I’ve made some big progress in the guitar area and I’m looking forward to more time working on that. And that doesn’t include things like painting the living room, getting ready for my next black belt test, and cleaning out the storage and the garage.

While all that sounds like a lot. The thing is, because I have those open hours in my days, it’s not. For people who have obligations of children, family, church, clubs, school, and such. They have the time they need for the things they do. For me, because I don’t have many of those things, I have all the time I need to do those things I’ve listed off, and probably more. I really do have all the time I need, it’s just in how I approach it and what I do with it.

We’ve had a blues jam, and I had some cool bits happen with it. I’ll share that next time. I may even have some of the video posted by then. I’ve already got the video edited. I’ve got a few pictures from it to share as well. It was a little odd because the weather was weird and the crowd so sparse. Still some good things came out of it. Not quite sure when the next one will be though so I need to keep up the practice so I’m ready when it happens.

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Missed Opportunities

Posted on April 9, 2019 by SusanG

The more I learn, the more I see how much more I still have to learn. I knew that learning and starting to incorporate what Kevin had shown Nick and I was going to make a big impact on what I was playing and how I could play it. I didn’t realize it was going to open up another way of hearing and playing on stage.

The process of learning a new approach to playing rhythm and choosing chords is progressing. I’ve been a little hit and miss with dedicated practice the past couple of weeks, but I’m still working on it. I think I mentioned that I feel like I have to relearn everything I’ve been playing. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It is interesting. It’s challenging. And it’s given me a chance to see other things I want to be aware of.

When you start to change up the chord voicings you use to play a song, you start to hear whole new aspects of the song. New ways to build it. New things to say with it. Something I think I may have been missing before and not realized it. I did however, get a really good eye and ear full of it as I was watching the video of the last jam. Particularly the last set I did. I missed an opportunity to take a couple of the songs to a new level.

So, the last jam, we did ‘Angel From Montgomery’ and we got it slow enough that it sounded more plaintive and thoughtful, like I think it should sound. We had a sax player and a keyboard player, as well as myself, another guitar player, and bass and drums. I wasn’t paying close enough attention to how the song was going and the sound that had been built by all of us. For some reason I had in my mind to have the sax solo and the other guitar, but I wasn’t hearing the keys enough to recognize that they were really adding nice flavor to the song. And I needed to have the keyboard player take a solo, in the middle and then probably close out. I didn’t do that. I missed it completely. Watching the video though, I heard it. I missed an opportunity to make that song so much better. It was good. It just would have been a prettier song if I had been listening closer.

That was the first missed opportunity. The second one was with the next song. Same group on stage and we started “The Thrill is Gone”. We started the first full 12 bars and the sax came in for a fill just before I started to sing. Or that’s what I was thinking so I started singing. A second or two too late, I thought that I should have let him keep playing. I should have let that song have a really full opening with that sax leading it. As I watched the video, I knew for sure that I should have let him play for another 12 bars and had a longer lead in. It would have made that song sizzle.

Mother Nature missed April Fools and gave Charlotte snow on the 2nd instead.

My practice has been to call for solos from everyone on every song and they get long that way. I know I was trying to keep Angel From Montgomery from getting too long. And that was a factor in how I handled that. I think what I need to start thinking about, and listening for, is how or where is the song going. And also, catch those moments when the magic starts and let them go ahead and play out. Instead of taking the role as the leader of the group for the set and trying to lead everyone to a certain place, I maybe need to find a different way to look at it. More like steering, or more like surfing, where you have to read the wave you get so you know where you are going and what you can do with it as you are riding it to shore.

So quick apologies to Marty on keyboards and Mike Taylor on sax for not hearing and catching the great stuff you were bringing to those songs.

We’ve got another jam coming up this coming weekend. I really need to practice. Especially with the new things. I added a new song last time and I want to work on it. There’s a little more I think it needs. And I think maybe my vocal starts a half beat too late. So there’s that. And it might be time to revisit a Delbert McClinton tune. We haven’t done it in a long time and if I can get comfortable with it again it would be fun.

That’s where things are at for the moment. Life’s a little weird with a quiet home but I’m starting to figure it out. Maybe more about that next week.

I don’t really have any pics for this week, so enjoy the picture of Mother Nature’s day late April Fools joke. Yep. We had snow in Charlotte on April the 2nd.

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