Peace, Adam. Happy birthday. This was a lovely read. A little emotional, actually, because I can feel how at peace you are. I wish you ongoing happiness.
I don't spend as much time as I like in the Birthday Feeling, but when I do, I'm grateful. Mostly I'm a great endless flow of anxiety and challenges meeting my goals, and complaining that it's my turn to cook dinner tonight.
Your song: "What's Your Name" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I've decided completely at random to note every song that's auto queued for me while I'm writing these replies. I'm sorry that yours is a criminal offense. 😬
What did I do to deserve such, Adam?? What did I do?
(But seriously, not sure I even know that one by name. There's only one Skynyrd song that immediately peppers my mind. I'll google it. Then likely regret doing so.)
After reading, I scrolled back up to the first photo. You told its story so perfectly. Mel's dish is five star, the flowers and card perfection. You are clearly loved. Happy Birthday.
First of all your song (I'm including the song that's being auto-played for me for everyone while I reply) your song is Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology). You got a really, really good one.
To your note: yes, i am, despite all the hand-wringing and sad historical tales here, I am. (And I know it, Marvin.)
I did the same thing! Even zoomed in on the card. Love how she plated that course. Restaurant-quality. Happy belated birthday. I was right there in the park looking at Manhattan.
Not homework! I’ve suddenly had a whim to always add the song I’m listening to to my replies on my pieces. I thought that would be fun if a bit confusing to explain. No homework required, only indulging in a bit of serendipity. 😉
I can't remember writing "ear therapy," but I wish I could.
Your song (you'll have to look above for the explanation of why I'm giving everybody a song, because I'm heavily repeating myself with this)... your song is Dear Abby by John Prine.
The Jeff Beck link is incredible. I think I like it even more than the original. It has all of his years in it. That is mature guitar playing. I never saw him and now I wish I had. Thanks for sharing that.
“It was my birthday, but I kept to my early morning clockwork schedule: up at 5 AM for coffee and hobbies: French flash cards, ear training and writing.”
You are correct, it was ear training. Still curious as to what you are training your ears for. 😃
I am training my ears to let me play back any -- any -- melody that I hear back on guitar and piano. For me ear to fingers is the Holy Grail of musicianship. I've wanted it since I was 16. I'm slowly, incrementally approaching it now. 🦻🏻
Oh, and also: I suffer from tinnitus, too. Loud music and no common sense. Sometimes it goes away for a day or two, but it is hissing away madly right now like a gas leak.
Tinnitus sucks. My mom hummed her entire life. Only after she passed did I realize it was a coping mechanism against her tinnitus. (I’m also a hummer). I wear hearing aids which seems to help a little. I have music playing most of the time. I stay up late at night so I fall asleep quickly. Laying in bed the tinnitus seems to get worse.
Surprising that technology hasn’t figured out a way to correct it. Or even to evaluate the severity of it.
That’s awesome. Never learned to read music. Took voice lessons for several years as I love to sing and wanted to improve technique. When it gets colder ( and windows are shut) my neighbor can occasionally hear me knock off In The Bleak Midwinter while my dogs do their end of the day business before bed.
omg: serene is the word! where were you hiding with the correct word when I was huffing and puffing my way through this?
Thank you for the Happy Birthday wishes. And thank you for listening to my song(s). Like, um, nobody did, and too bad for them. I'm not feeling very serene about that.
I made a decision about three posts down to include what song came up while I was writing each person's reply. Yours, however, will simply be "Brush with the Blues," the highest honor this morning. 🏆🏆🏆
Thank you! And I have a lovely note from you to acknowledge elsewhere. Yesterday my daughter(s) were home and we went to not one but two museums and all I had time for was stopping every twelve feet on the sidewalk to look at incoming Substack communication, among which, was yours. ❤️
Your song this morning (I decided to include each person's song from my Apple auto-generated play list) is Big Mistake by Tim Fite. A very cheerful little ditty if I may say so.
Happy birthday my friend. Mine was on the 18th. Thanks for sharing your day. A very good one. You have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Peace!
Adam, a very very happy birthday to you. I’m sorry it’s so late, but reading this kind of made me feel like I actually spent the day with you, so I think it’s ok. Either way, to make up for it I’m going to learn all twelve verses of Thunder on the Mountain so that we can sing it together while walking in Manhattan next year. Wishing you and the Nathan crew a happy Thanksgiving, too ❤️
It's directionally correct. I went to paste an image in here but realized you're not allowed to do that, presumably because everyone has at least one subscriber or stalker that will post something horrible. (Digression). I screenshot something, cropped it beautifully, eliminating other people's names who haven't signed a consent form to be reposted elsewhere, and went to post it, and you can't. I would like the President of Substack to refund my two minutes.
What may you ask was I going to post?
On Melanie's post on Facebook I did the same thing you did, but with hearts. For the record nobody "liked" my little graphical idea that was not directionally correct, because frankly it was actually, spot on correct, all 58 hearts.
Where was I going with that you ask?
I was going to say great minds think alike, you have a beautiful directionally correct trajectory, and, apparently, I have hit a bullseye.
Lionel Richie for some reason that I cannot fathom has come up on my "Made for You" iPhone playlist. So, I'm weeping over the candles and hearts. I'll stop there, I have a great stack of correspondence below to attend to you.
You may ask is that truly a great stack of correspondence...
Peace, Adam. Happy birthday. This was a lovely read. A little emotional, actually, because I can feel how at peace you are. I wish you ongoing happiness.
I don't spend as much time as I like in the Birthday Feeling, but when I do, I'm grateful. Mostly I'm a great endless flow of anxiety and challenges meeting my goals, and complaining that it's my turn to cook dinner tonight.
Your song: "What's Your Name" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I've decided completely at random to note every song that's auto queued for me while I'm writing these replies. I'm sorry that yours is a criminal offense. 😬
What did I do to deserve such, Adam?? What did I do?
(But seriously, not sure I even know that one by name. There's only one Skynyrd song that immediately peppers my mind. I'll google it. Then likely regret doing so.)
After reading, I scrolled back up to the first photo. You told its story so perfectly. Mel's dish is five star, the flowers and card perfection. You are clearly loved. Happy Birthday.
First of all your song (I'm including the song that's being auto-played for me for everyone while I reply) your song is Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology). You got a really, really good one.
To your note: yes, i am, despite all the hand-wringing and sad historical tales here, I am. (And I know it, Marvin.)
I did the same thing! Even zoomed in on the card. Love how she plated that course. Restaurant-quality. Happy belated birthday. I was right there in the park looking at Manhattan.
I knew somebody was sitting there with me. It was you! Thanks for joining me and your lovely note.
Your song: "Sail Away" by Randy Newman.
Ooooo! I love homework! One year, I memorized a whole bunch of favorite poems. It was lovely to walk around with such magnificent words in my ears.
Not homework! I’ve suddenly had a whim to always add the song I’m listening to to my replies on my pieces. I thought that would be fun if a bit confusing to explain. No homework required, only indulging in a bit of serendipity. 😉
Already loaded it on my playlist. 😊
Happy belated Birthday Adam. I loved this quiet ride-along of your day. Peace is not overrated. Enjoy it.
It is not. Thanks for joining me on the day and the birthday wishes.
Your song (see explanation above): Nikes by Frank Ocean.
A quick question. What is “ear therapy”? I’m curious as I suffer from pronounced tinnitus and was wondering it is was related to that.
Secondly, watched this video of Beck playing. Amazing craftsman.
https://youtu.be/q39AA97vaVQ?si=TJgHDo5Z7Cmj5vYx
I can't remember writing "ear therapy," but I wish I could.
Your song (you'll have to look above for the explanation of why I'm giving everybody a song, because I'm heavily repeating myself with this)... your song is Dear Abby by John Prine.
The Jeff Beck link is incredible. I think I like it even more than the original. It has all of his years in it. That is mature guitar playing. I never saw him and now I wish I had. Thanks for sharing that.
“It was my birthday, but I kept to my early morning clockwork schedule: up at 5 AM for coffee and hobbies: French flash cards, ear training and writing.”
You are correct, it was ear training. Still curious as to what you are training your ears for. 😃
I am training my ears to let me play back any -- any -- melody that I hear back on guitar and piano. For me ear to fingers is the Holy Grail of musicianship. I've wanted it since I was 16. I'm slowly, incrementally approaching it now. 🦻🏻
Oh, and also: I suffer from tinnitus, too. Loud music and no common sense. Sometimes it goes away for a day or two, but it is hissing away madly right now like a gas leak.
Tinnitus sucks. My mom hummed her entire life. Only after she passed did I realize it was a coping mechanism against her tinnitus. (I’m also a hummer). I wear hearing aids which seems to help a little. I have music playing most of the time. I stay up late at night so I fall asleep quickly. Laying in bed the tinnitus seems to get worse.
Surprising that technology hasn’t figured out a way to correct it. Or even to evaluate the severity of it.
That’s awesome. Never learned to read music. Took voice lessons for several years as I love to sing and wanted to improve technique. When it gets colder ( and windows are shut) my neighbor can occasionally hear me knock off In The Bleak Midwinter while my dogs do their end of the day business before bed.
Loved all of this, such a beautiful way to spend your day.
Thanks, Deirdre. It was. Glad I could share it with somebody who "got" it.
Your song (everybody gets one: see above for explanation 😀): Say Hello, Wave Goodbye by David Grey.
ooo I'll go listen right now.
I want you to be clear this is an exercise in Magic and not Curation. You get simply what Apple is throwing at me. 🪄
Ha,, well that's even better. I love it. Thank you!
Happy Birthday, Adam, and thank you for sharing being loved and serene over a Blues soundtrack.
omg: serene is the word! where were you hiding with the correct word when I was huffing and puffing my way through this?
Thank you for the Happy Birthday wishes. And thank you for listening to my song(s). Like, um, nobody did, and too bad for them. I'm not feeling very serene about that.
I made a decision about three posts down to include what song came up while I was writing each person's reply. Yours, however, will simply be "Brush with the Blues," the highest honor this morning. 🏆🏆🏆
Most grateful, thank you!
As for serene, I just felt it through your post, so that'll be down to your writing skills.🍰
Enjoy the peace, frosting and all. 🎂
Thank you! And I have a lovely note from you to acknowledge elsewhere. Yesterday my daughter(s) were home and we went to not one but two museums and all I had time for was stopping every twelve feet on the sidewalk to look at incoming Substack communication, among which, was yours. ❤️
Your song this morning (I decided to include each person's song from my Apple auto-generated play list) is Big Mistake by Tim Fite. A very cheerful little ditty if I may say so.
Happy birthday my friend. Mine was on the 18th. Thanks for sharing your day. A very good one. You have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Peace!
Happy Birthday, Scott! Happy Birthday to you!
Your song: I Feel Love (12" Version) by Donna Summer. Look above for explanation to "your song."
Thanks for sharing your peace. Very calming and lovely.
Adam, a very very happy birthday to you. I’m sorry it’s so late, but reading this kind of made me feel like I actually spent the day with you, so I think it’s ok. Either way, to make up for it I’m going to learn all twelve verses of Thunder on the Mountain so that we can sing it together while walking in Manhattan next year. Wishing you and the Nathan crew a happy Thanksgiving, too ❤️
Thank you! The whole crew is here now which is always special, including a lovely future daughter in law. (And we’re off to the Big City shortly)
You might want to pick one with fewer verses. I’m not sure if I’m moving forward or backwards. 😊
Happy Birthday. My favorite is "Beyond the Horizon" -- betting you love that one, too.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
That's the right number, right?
It's directionally correct. I went to paste an image in here but realized you're not allowed to do that, presumably because everyone has at least one subscriber or stalker that will post something horrible. (Digression). I screenshot something, cropped it beautifully, eliminating other people's names who haven't signed a consent form to be reposted elsewhere, and went to post it, and you can't. I would like the President of Substack to refund my two minutes.
What may you ask was I going to post?
On Melanie's post on Facebook I did the same thing you did, but with hearts. For the record nobody "liked" my little graphical idea that was not directionally correct, because frankly it was actually, spot on correct, all 58 hearts.
Where was I going with that you ask?
I was going to say great minds think alike, you have a beautiful directionally correct trajectory, and, apparently, I have hit a bullseye.
Lionel Richie for some reason that I cannot fathom has come up on my "Made for You" iPhone playlist. So, I'm weeping over the candles and hearts. I'll stop there, I have a great stack of correspondence below to attend to you.
You may ask is that truly a great stack of correspondence...