Draft Songs

We finally have a name for all the songs that pop out of our heads when we're jamming!  "Draft Songs." It's about time we call them something!  The accompanying video is an example of one such a thing.  It's how we write our music, just sitting together, jamming.  We've learned to keep a tape recorder or a camera going so we can save our future gems...better than running the risk of loosing something worth while!

"I'll Be Damned" just popped out of the blue.  Sure it needs work, but what the heck!  Remember, the Beatles' song "Yesterday" began as "Scrambled Eggs," and aren't we glad that opportunity wasn't missed!!!!

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Draft Song and for being ready when opportunities present themselves....even if it's only to write a song!

Tomorrow's Coming

Heading toward the anniversary of Woodstock......does it really seem that long ago?

A lot of folk think that Woodstock was all about getting fucked and getting fucked up, nothing more.

Not so.  There was a great deal more than that. I've gone on about it in this blog before, and will most likely go on about it gain.  But it's fairly late/early and I'm actually tired for one of the few times in my life.

So for tonight, with a yawn, I'll say that Fifty Five Is The New Tomorrow's Coming, because it is....I'll write more then

Dream Work

Jack building our studio

Remember in the Willie Wonka movie starring Gene Wilder, the little girl demanding everything, all at once?  "I want it NOW!" 

Sometimes I get that way, too; anxious as anything for that instant gratification rush, thinking that it would be nice to wiggle my nose to have all desires fulfilled.  There are times when it happens, too.
Instant karma takes hold and makes it so. For those times I am grateful.

But you know, what I want most and what I am most grateful for seem to take time...and, even though at the moment my impatience may get the best of me, deep inside I know that worthwhile things, dreams and ideas need to ripen.

Magic isn't just about waving a wand and making it so...magic's internal function starts long before the practitioner pulls the rabbit out of the hat.  All that is finished product...the prestige. What really makes magic is behind the scenes...from the second a magician gets inspired to develop a new trick, through development on out is part of the art as well.

That's kind of where we're at with our studio, our music and all the rest. 

We're doing the basics...building the foundation of our dreams.  It's a little difficult sometimes; we're not young-uns anymore, arthritis and other infirmaries take their toll. But we are determined, and just crazy enough to keep plugging...challenges are there to make us stronger.

Jack and I each have learning disabilities...we both have comprehension problems as well as some version of Attention Deficit Disorder. That makes it difficult to read complex operations manuals and the like...but that dream keeps looming before us, daring us to continue...so we do.

That's why this process takes us a little longer than some other people. But that's okay. We're in it for the long haul not the short sprint.

So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Dream Work. Elbow grease applied liberally! Abracadabra! Each day is a step closer to fruition. Now, where's my wand?

Holidays

Cynicism has its good and bad points. These days, it's probably a good idea to have a healthy dose of it.  The trick is to not let oneself become too jaded. 

I'm sure we all have memories of our personal by-gone days; childhood innocence...mud pies....the whole bit. We believed, I mean really believed in the miracles of snowflakes and moonbeams. We didn't need to be coaxed into putting our tooth under a pillow or a plate of cookies by the hearth for a certain holiday visitor. It was a given that very special things happened in our very ordinary lives...that magic could be very real.

It was all part of our childhood mythology, the icons and anecdotes of our ancestry and nationality...although for the life of me I don't understand the need to develop the myth so deep that children are traumatized when the truth is revealed.

My childhood mythology faded at an early age, although with a younger brother around we were able to stretch the Santa, Bunny etc. presence for a few more years. It was fun believing, but somehow more fun getting past it and understanding the beauty, sacredness and joy of gift giving.

The holidays seem so much more commercial now; I imagine our economy relies a great deal on holiday sales, so I don't blame any one for cashing in on the season.  But I hope that somewhere, beneath all the glitter, hype and video games that people remember the warmth, love and sharing that truly mark these special occasions.
1!
So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Holidays....it doesn't have to be Christmas to wanna be Santa!

1444

Boo Boo's Bargain Basement Band @ 1444 Market St.199

Ahhh, 1444 Market Street!  Dennis Peron's Cannabis Buyer's Club in 1997, boy does this picture bring back memories!

This photo I think was from one of the Compassion Saturday events that were held while we were waiting to re-open the Club.

The Club had moved from a smaller location to the 1444 Market Street location, dubbed the "Five Floor Felony" by the Feds then was closed after a raid.  But they allowed the political offices to remain open, so the Prop 215 campaign continued.

The building was the perfect size, six floors actually if you counted the basement, and housed not only the bud bars and brownie bar, but space for activities-like the Compassion Sunday gig pictured here, NORML meetings and so much more.

People from all walks of life, with the commonality of the use of medical cannabis, all converged on this location and some pretty amazing things happened....not the least of which was the passage of Prop 215.  We also did a lot of studies on the different strains of Cannabis and their effects on various symptoms, educated the general public and just plain supported one another when needed.  It was not unusual to see people hugging.

I sure hope something like this happens again sometime....we need a place with all that space, to make everything needed happen.

For today, Fifty Five Is The New 1444.....for Dennis, for patients and for hope.