Yes. I know. It’s been forever! Things have been going on. Things are always going on but now maybe less things are going on, or at least different things and I’m rearranging my time a bit.

The main change is the band. When we started with our drummer, he was just starting a new job. He has been enormously successful, but with this has come more work and many more demands on his time. We are thrilled for him, but it’s been hard for him to do any music. Right now we are taking a break for a couple months while we decide what we want to do. Will we miss it enough to play more and figure out how to do that, or will we want to just retire? I haven’t picked up my bass in a week and I am enjoying the break. But, do I want to put aside all the mega hours I spent becoming a competent musician, and all the gear I have acquired? Or, do I want to enjoy all this free time, permanently, going forward? Right now, I really don’t know.

This year, I had a few things I wanted to change. I want to spend less time on line. There are so many good things, of course, but I feel like I need more balance. I want to ride my bike more. I used to go all over the place but now, when a 5 mile ride seems like a lot, I know I have lost a lot of ground. But, I’m getting better! I’ve done quite a few 10-15 mile rides, and even a 20 mile ride recently and I can really tell the difference in how I feel. And, for me there is nothing like the freedom of peddling along, breeze in my face, enjoying the world out there.

I have also given a lot of thought about money. Travel is so tiring at our age. I dislike shopping, or more accurately, I really hate shopping and there is nothing I want to buy. But I like spending time with friends and listening to our fellow musicians. It all started with my friend’s birthday. I hired our friends’ band to provide the music for the party. It was such a success we did it the next month. The owner of Hops, our favorite venue in our neighborhood said I was free to do whatever I want, so what was to prevent me from making music happen on a regular basis?! So now, if you want live music, you’ll find it at Hops every Thursday evening. Saturday nights are still for the big bands, but Thursday evening are for smaller events, more intimate, and more relaxed.

These are the main things, but before the band I used to spend a lot of time on the blog, taking photos, painting, and socializing, so these are some other things I hope to bring back more. I am getting older and the time ahead is shorter, but I don’t ever want to stop evaluating how I can use this time. That is the only thing that is limited, and when it is gone you can’t get it back or buy more.

I still take pictures, maybe even more now that it is so easy to grab my phone with it’s nice camera. So, I have many pictures of bugs and critters and other things I find interesting. You have been warned! 😁 My favorite these days is the little lizard that lives on the shelf next to my table on the terrace, and comes out every night to catch the bugs that are attracted by the desk lamp. I believe she is a female yellow-headed gecko. We see them around here a lot, though the males seem to have heads that are more red than yellow. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-headed_gecko The first picture I have was taken on Christmas eve, so she has been here for three months. I have a deflated Luci light on my shelf, which I have covered with a towel for more protection, and that’s where she lives.

I have written all this and I still don’t know what to call this post, but here we are. I am not good at beginning or ending, but sure can run on in the middle. ha! Maybe now that I have some free time, and I can share more of what is happening around here, and some more of the pictures I have set aside. So, until next time, you all take good care of yourselves and each other!