Could it Be a Historic Blow-Out?

Folk #1: I am writing from my safe place in my little Progressive Blue Bubble. I have been scanning the polls, seeking out a few "smart folks" who know Politics, reading their takes, taking it all in. Lots of uncertainty about what's gonna happen tomorrow, yes, it's the November 3rd Midterm Elections, finally. The leadership for the U.S. House & Senate on the line. We won't really know what's gonna happen until the votes are counted. Tomorrow is the first real test of the American People since the debacle of 2024. Pretty sure we will answer this thorny, knotty, question tomorrow: What do you think of this Fascist Shit-Show that Trump and his Minions have unleashed upon us all? 

Over here, my partner and I voted long ago,  & locally, we figure all of the Democractic Candidates we voted for will win tomorrow. That makes us feel good. Nationally? Who knows? If I try to read the Vibes, trust my experience, rely on my intuition, I'd say the Democrats are going to do amazingly well tomorrow. I don't mean to jinx it, and I don't want to get too confident or overly Hopeful. America can be a very disappointing place sometimes. Let's say, I am decidedly, cautiously, optimistic. You know, we shall see. Could it be a historic blow-out?  Will we be celebrating? Maybe? Who knows?! I mean, I sure Hope so...

Inspiring, Exhilarating: All that Jazz...

Folk #1: My partner and I went to a Master-Class performance by the fabulous guitarist Mike Stern and his quartet (guitar, bass, drums, sax), yesterday afternoon. These Master-Classes are featured at the little saxophone shop where are rehearsal studio resides. We have seen some incredible Jazz luminaries at these sessions, including performances and talks with Ernie Watts, Joe Lovano, Ravi Coltrane, Melissa Aldana. My partner & I are great fans of Jazz, (our CD shelves include John & Alice Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Pharoah Sanders, Kamazi Washington, Mellissa Aldana) We love Jazz, although our own band is solidly in the folk-rock sphere. It always exciting & inspiring to see these amazingly-accomplished Jazz musicians, give it their all for a small audience, in our homely little rehearsal space. Mike Stern was just fabulous. He and his band play with such dedication and joy. Mike had a terrible fall a few years ago, broke both arms, and as a result his picking hand is very weak, he uses wig glue to help him hold a pick. He applies a bit of glue on the pick and on his thumb & forefinger. Mike has a very graceful, sweet & gentle touch. But he can conjure up a beautiful storm too. His band is totally up to the task too. They can go toe to toe with him on major improvisations. It was a totally exhilarating pefrormance & chat. So great to see incredible musicians dedicated to the music above all else. We went up to speak to Mike at the end of the session, and  thanked him for a fabulous afternoon of music. My partner & I were totally knocked out by the energy, joy and dedication of these musicians. We do our best to do the same with our band. There is something so thrilling & rewarding seeing such a no-ego, selfless pursuit of the perfect sound and open communication. This band embodied the ideal, no doubt. Just fabulous. Life-affirming. Beautiful.

A Joy in the Mystery...

Folk #1: Finished reading Michael Pollan's book on consciousness: A World Appears. Yes. It's very good. Turns out that consciousness is quite the "hard problem," and hard nut, to crack. The more we all focus on  the phenomena, and all it encompasses, the less we all seem to know. Consciousness is quite mysterious. I think it is safe to say we all sort of know what it is, we are living with it, experiencing it, manifesting it, but how it is, where does comes from, how does it work is all quite hazy, strange, & who knows, maybe unknowable? So, yes, just as Michael states towards the end of the book, you may finish reading this book and actually be less sure about what consciousness is and how it works. Which, I think, makes it a pretty damn interesting book. Funny, the early chapters spent with the Scientists are sort of a slog. Those studying & researching the mechanics of neurons and brainwaves, various lab experiments, come across as a bit mind-numbing, and often  these science folks and their many competing theories are just contradicting each other, and the AI folks building robots & models of consciousness, just seem over-amped, silly and out of their heads with their shiny new toys. For me, it's the Psychologists, the Philosophers, the Poets, the Novelists, the long-time meditators, the Zen Buddhists, the Psychedelic Explorers who resonate most deeply.  They represent our great explorers of consciousness. Also I loved when one of the "hard scientists," one devoted to the mechanics of the problem, was totally undone by a majorly-disorienting psychedelic experience. This scientist was brought to tears & an existential crisis, when he experienced a Universal Consciousness "out there." Mind-blown. Nice. Do you want to explore consciousness? Turn to LSD or the magic mushroom, or read a poem, or a great play or a fabulous novel. Spend time in deep meditation. It is in the realms of Psychology & the Humanities where we best highlight and amplify, the wonderous nature of consciousness. Of course, we are left with the hard problem of consciousness being explored by human beings using their own unique consciousness. How can we measure & quantify a shadow, cloud or dream?We all reside in a quaint little hall of mirrors. Yes,  a thorny, gnarly, field of inquiry, which leads to lots of theories, arguments & uncertainties. I think that's a good thing. It's ok. More than ok. And, well, I actually find pleasure in knowing that when it comes to the most important topics: Consciousness, Self, Life, Love, the mystery abides.

Corrupt Impunity Meeting a Day of Reckoning...

Folk #1: Taking the temperature, and reading the vibes this morning. You know it's all just my own impressions, feelings & deep-seated intuition. Seems the Republicans are scrambling, in frantic disarray, reeling from the reality of their dicey political standing in the USA as of today, October 30, 2026. All signs point to an Electoral Bloodbath for Republicans, MAGA & Trump across the land on November 3rd. Even supposedly Deep Red districts in decidedly Red States are looking shaky for them. Not surprising to us over here in our little Progressive Blue Bubble. Whatever these freaking Republicans intended with their over the top Fascistic Bullshit, they have woken up lots of folks to the dire state of the state. The corrupt assholes thought they could reign with impunity, and they have, but now comes a reckoning. I have never seen a political party totally implode like what's happening to Republicans now. Two years of Trump & a boot-licking, spineless, totally corrupt, Republican-led, House & Senate has pretty much destroyed the viability of the Republican Party. Their corruption and punishing policies are finally bearing fruit. Bitter Fruit for MAGA.  Riding a positive vibe this morning. But, of course, caution is in the wind. Best attitude going forward? Let's Vote, and then wait & See. Then, of course, Let it Come Down! Blue Wave on the radar!

Just a Reminder...

 

Folk #1: I for one find it maddening that people seem to forget that Joe Biden won the 2020 election by a substantial margin. When Trump starts ranting & whining about a rigged election, remember he just can't  admit he lost badly in 2020. He is just unable to face Reality. Trump lost both the Electoral College Vote, and the Popular Vote. He lost the Popuplar Vote by 7 million Votes. Joe Biden won the election with 81.2  Million Votes! Every time that Loser rants about 2020, folks should be shouting: "You lost by 7 million Votes, you Freaking Idiot!"

It Don't Come Easy...

Folk #1: Last evening, my partner & I had dinner with a couple from Europe. The man is a world traveller. He has been to China, Dubai, England, Croatia, Taiwan, Serbia, Ukraine, Poland, USA, Germany, Russia. To hear him talk about Trump & MAGA, one realizes that we here in the States are actually just dealing with a very familiar template: Pretend Strong-Man, totally corrupt, promising to take everyone back to a mythical past of greatness. A puffed-up Ceasar, a clown of corruption, always on the grift, working for the grifters amongst us, with his hand out, asking: "Where's mine?" I guess, the shock for us, my partner & I, long-time citizens of the USA, we have been living under the misguided idea that our country, our Democracy, was somehow better, more advanced, than the many corrupt, tin-pot dictator-type governments around the world. We, of course, have been proven gravelly, sorrowfully, wrong, and it has been very destabilizing & disorienting. We wonder, can we move past this ugly phase of the USA, and create a better Union going forward? It's kind of a murky thing.  Definitely a gnarly, knotty question with no clear answer.  It will take People Power. The battle between the forces of Light & Darkness seems never-ending. We root for the forces of Good, but we know we are in for a long slog. Nothing comes easy. Other peoples, in other countries, have fought these battles too, many times, many places, over & over again. The powerful ones lording over the less powerful ones. It's a grand theme. Change can come, consciousness can change in an instant. But nothing is guaranteed. 

Why Things Feel So Horribly Wrong...

Folk #1: Yes. As Paul Krugman writes:"Trump doesn't give a damn about your problems..." We have all taken a major step back with this President. Talk about a major fuck-up. The idiots amongst us helped with the self-sabotage, the calculated suicide, of the USA. It is a very sad situation. Sad for all of us Americans, and also very sad for the rest of the World. You know, the big, fat, racist, sexual predator, & fraudster turned out to be a deadly-stupid choice for one of the most powerful jobs in the world. When that overstuffed con-man & delusional-narrcistic head-case declared: "I alone can fix it," what he really meant was "I alone will deeply fuck things up for every last one of you." Wonder why things feel so horribly wrong at the moment? Even the idiots amongst are now victims of this creep & his policies. The answer is embodied in one very unwell, decaying, dementia-laced, failing & failing Human Being. It is well past time we change the channel. This ugly show has tragically, comically, irrevocably jumped the shark. How do we get out of this Hell? Voting on November 3rd for Democrats up and down the ballot would be a good first step.

Yes. People Power Works...

Folk #1: Good news this morning. Voters in Brazil & in Serbia rejected the right wing fascists. People Power works. Democracy works. Now it's up to the USA to show the world that we aren't fucking idiots. Punishing the MAGA movement with an enormous Blue Wave in elections across the land on November 3rd? That would be truly extraordinary & joyous!

Agents for Good...

Folk #1: Yes. It is easy to get overwhelmed. Sometimes it feels like we are all adrift in a hostile sea. It is easy to forget that we all have "agency." Every action, every choice, every decision we make totally matters. Every last thing counts. We are all players in this grand game. We each have a unique part & place in this elaborate Human Experiment. Kindness, Decency, Empathy, Compassion, Love. Best to fall back on those tried & true values. Think of yourself as an Agent for Good. It's ok. You will make mistakes, you will fall, you will fail, but you can also get back up, learn, adjust, evolve, recablibrate, & try again. You can do it. Don't listen to the doom & gloom crowd & the eternal naysayers. Carry on. Damn the torpedoes.

Talking Himself into Oblivion...

Folk #1: Ok. This is funny. The Toxic Fat Man keeps talking. He is convinced that if he keeps flapping his jaw, he can persuade folks to disregard the Truth, the Facts, the Data, the Vibes. It has worked in the past. It has been his super-power; to say totally crazy, stupid, ugly things and watch folks nod their heads in agreement. He is now saying crazier, stupider, uglier things thinking that will work even better. But, the worm has turned. Events have conspired. Now Truth & Reality have reared their gnarly heads. Every word now coming from this very sick, creepy human's mouth creates a counter-energy, a committed opposition and resistance. There is a counter-balancing movement alive in the land that strongly rejects this Toxic Fat Man, his policies, his adminstraiton, and all the folks running under his banner. We are hurtling towards November 3rd, the Midterm Elections. Seems we will see how this all goes over. Not predicting, but expecting, an Electoral Bloodbath for all things Trump & MAGA. Let the Toxic Fat Man talk. He is talking himself into a necessary oblivion. Everyone associated with this failure of a Human Being is forever slimed.

A Variable Nature...

Folk #1: I am by nature an excitable boy, but yesterday, a certain calm came over me. Not sure why or how that happened. I still think we are hurtling towards calamity, but at the same time, I feel strongly that the common folks will rise to the occasion and  elect representatives that will retake major parts (House & Senate), of our government. Expect more Chaos & Hurly-Burly, but also cooler, smarter heads emerging from the fray. Nothing is going to be easy. Looking for the fighters for our little Democratic Experience. Where is the Hope? I find it in the variable nature of our human nature.

A Distinct Vibe-Shift...

Folk #1: Over here, in my little corner, there is a distinct "vibe-shift," in the air. Is it something I'm plugging into out there, or is it generated from inside my own being? Am I perceiving something real, or conjuring up my very own Cloud of Unknowing? Not sure. That's the way it goes. Do I ride the vibe-shift, or dismiss it? Probably best to take a determined, disciplined, wait & see attitude. I like being Positive, Hopeful, Expectant, but I do know that often that attitude, and those kinds of feelings/ideas are easily crushed. Always have to be open to a re-think, a recalibration. Evolving, Improvising, Making It to the next day with my Integrity & Intelligence intact.  Don't get too attached or confident on outcomes. Yes. Being crushed is just part of the process too. Still, this "vibe-shift," seems be alive & even pervasive in my little corner of the world. Other folks, the common, sensible ones,  folks seemingly more mainstream than I, seem to be reflecting a profound Progressive vibe-shift, a radical-recoiling in horror at the on-going shit-show unfolding in USA. Hopefully we are witnessing the death-throes of a zombie movement, and an unveiling of a new way forward. Maybe? You know, who knows?!

The Simple, Clear-Eyed Caretakers...

Folk #1: You know it's The Lord of the Rings over here. It has always been The Lord the Rings. Forget all those other musty old books: Bible, Koran, Torah. Tolkien is the man, no doubt. He was writing in the shadow of the Nazis, Hitler, Mussolini, and full-blown authoritarianism on steroids. Tolkein's great saga is the great saga of the last century, and it's the great saga of this century too. It truly, madly, deeply resonates today. Hope & Goodness resides in the Hearts & Heads of the common folk, the little people, the ones closer to Nature, the ones with hair on their feet, the humble ones, the hard-workers, the simple, clear-eyed, caretakers. Sure, they are up against powerful, wealthy, forces of Evil. It surely looks like the Hobbits, the common-folk are completely over-matched, but those little folks roll up their sleeves and do the hard work. Their power resides in community, good works, kindness, gentleness, and a finely-honed empathy for all living things. Love for the Shire. Yes. How to take on, and to vaniquish the forces of darkness? Well, for instance, see previous post. "Frodo Lives!"

Early Voting, It Felt Oh, So, Good...

Folk #1: Yesterday, the early voting for the 2026 Mid-term election in Illinois commenced. My partner & I are lucky, we live in a Progressive Blue Bubble town, in a decidedly Blue Bubble State. Seems Illinois is pretty much the sensible State to live in. Chicagoland sets the trend. Progressive. Woke. Friendly. Our Governor, J.B. Pritzker is one of the finest Governors in the land. We were fired up and excited to Vote. It always feels good. It's a duty & a pleasure to Vote. We are lucky, it's a super-easy thing to do. Other times, other places, folks have battled and died just for the simple Right to fill out a ballot. We both Voted for all the Democrats on the ballot. I think it safe to say, a sure bet, that all of the folks we Voted for will Win. The polling place was busy. Lots of folks perfoming their civic duty. Anyway, so validating, even if our Votes are just tiny drops in the ocean. Pretty sure a solid Blue Illinois doesn't fix all the problems in the USA, but Voting for qualified Public Servants who promise to look out for us common folk, really feels like the necessary thing to do. Hoping for Better Days, Better Ways ahead. It was great to see lots of other folks doing the same thing. It all felt like a certain kind of celebration. Fuck it. We like living & thriving, in our little, fully-woke Blue Bubble. Damn the torpedoes.

Our Fabulousness...

Folk #1: Sipping my coffee this morning. The coffee mix is named "Mind, Body, Soul." Good reminder that we are more than the sum of our parts. I have been reading Michael Pollan's book "A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness." Yes. Indeed. Open your eyes in the morning and it's true, a world is there waiting expectantly. The book touches on, & confirms some of my own ideas. I want to be clear-eyed & cautious, I don't want to just amplify my own biases. I am a searcher, looking for, and trying to understand & interpret all the various signs & wonders. I want to live a full, rich, rewarding Life. Life isn't just Quantity it is also Quality. See "Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," for more. Pollan is exploring things that I have explored most of my life. I love the idea that Consciousness is still a freaking mystery to all those who are trying to pin it down, and my own very personal "transcendental" experience of being deeply connected to everything in the Universe actually has a name: "Panpyschism."  We Human Beings are still mysteries to ourselves. And consiousness trying to understand consciousness is really quite the conundrum. Any Universe with ideas and theories that include String Theory, Big Bang, Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and Wormholes, is gonna be totally mysterious and unfathomable.  Does consciousness emerge, or reside in every grain of sand, and every atom? Do sentient beings tap into consciousness, like tuning into radio waves? Does consciousness reside "out there?" Is it: "I think, therefore I am?" Or is it? "I feel therefore I am?" Or really is any division or duality, sort of a mistake, leading to a false view of what's happening? No one really knows. There are lots of theories. Humilty. Wonder. Imagination. Vibe. Spirit. Energy. Soul. Love. Grace. Curiosity. Music. Creativity. Beauty. Poetry. Humor. These are things that animate me. I don't understand it all, I mean, I am always experiencing, and not always understanding, but that's ok. I mean, it's actually, sort of freaking fabulous. Being Aware, Alive, Awake, is pretty damn glorious in itself. Maybe the experiencing, the observing, the living really is the thing? Damn the Torpedoes...

Yes. A Renewed Warrior-Spirit Alive in the Land...

Folk #1: Ok yes. I am Hopeful. No doubt. No surrender. Hope is a fuel that must be used to stand up and fight against the naysayers, doomsters, fraudsters & evil-doers. Fuck those people. There is a renewed warrior-spirit bubbling up, there are excellent candidates running as Democrats this year, all up & down tickets across the land. Do I see glimmers, sparks from a renewed, Progressive movement that could fundamentally change the direction of our beloved country? Yes. Indeed I do. Damn the torpedoes...

Under the Thumb of Stupid & Corrupt...

Folk #1: A Vision of Hell. Being under the thumb of really stupid, corrupt, people. You lean to the Light. You Hope for Better Days. You think: Reality, Truth & Justice will prevail. But it's all sort of dicey...

What Would I Tell My Younger Self?

Folk #1: Yes. I do have other things on my mind besides politics. I can juggle multiple things in my head. I think it comes naturally for a fully-engaged human being. Thinking about some of the things I have figured out for myself after a few decades on the planet. What would I tell my younger self, knowing that you can't really tell anyone anything? Fill your life up with things you love to do. Gravitate to simple things: dogs, birds, guitars, well-made devices like a toaster, coffee-bean-grinder, a good broom & mop, Concentrate on practice, process, discipline, chores, jobs. Always be working on projects, always be onto the next thing. Be in the moment as much as possible. Take up meditation, take up running, or biking, or something really physical. Take an acting class even if you don't intend to be an actor, because, basically you are an actor. Getting up on stage, memorizing text, and acting it out, is just a fabulous way to expand your being. Think of Life as Long-Form Improvisation. Music. Fill your life with music. Don't hang out with assholes. Eat well. Vegetables are your friends. Choose your drugs & poisons carefully. Remember we are chemistry labs. Over-indulging is not optimal. Discretion in all things. Quality over Quantity in all things. We are all in a grand conversation & relationship with Reality. Read books. Good books. Classical literature, plays, poetry, novels, non-fiction too. The creative arts are a doorway to a better, deeper, more expansive consciousness. Yes. Be Woke. Aware, alive, awake. Be open: open-minded, open-armed, to reality, and all the things in this Universe. Be humble. You will be brought low, you will fail, you will fall, you will disappoint yourself & others. That's ok, it's part of the human comedy. Do better. Don't be afraid to admit you are wrong, don't be afraid to change your mind. Don't be afraid. Find a quiet place, sit in a comfortable chair, close your eyes, imagine being connected to everything in the Universe. Breathe. Kindness. Humilty. Grace. Beauty, Love. Yes. 

The Worst Doing the Worst...

Folk #1: I do find it amazing & hilarious that the worst people amongst us, doing the worst things imaginable to us, are shocked to discover that the common ones want to hold them to account, and to make them answer for their actions. Seems the ultra-wealthy & powerful believe they play by other rules. And, maybe, unfortunately, they often do, But these elected representatives running to be re-elected now, are not royalty, they are supposed to be working for us. Seems  MAGA & the Republicans forgot how to govern. They have given tax cuts to the wealthy, and are fucking over pretty much everyone else. These people should be defeated, shamed & banished from the national scene. We need to renew our Democracy, one person, one vote at a time. Let's be sure to elect folks who want to do the good work: Government by, & for, the People. Blue Wave Mid-Term Election is the dream.

A Yearning for Justice...

Folk #1: One yearns for Justice, the Rule of Law, Truth & Reconciliation. The corruption of Trump & his minions/lackeys/enablers & co-conspirators in the House & Senate is a plague & a scourge on the land. There are too many lies & bad acts to count. But we must account for every last evil deed. And those responsible must face the music. A grand reckoning is a must.

Silent Simplicity...

Folk #1: Yesterday was all about being fully present, without worry, doubt, anxiety. Everything opened up and fell away. The day was oh, so pleasant. Sunny. Warm temps. Blue sky. The lakefront was alive with activity. Folks were on the beach. A free day. My partner & I made all our appointed rounds, and then spent a few hours sitting on a bench facing the lake, & the lakefront path, walkers, joggers, skaters, bikers flying past. Long, rambling conversation, & a lot of silent witnessing. It was glorious. Moments of simple euphoria. We didn't dwell on anything. We floated, flowed, lived fully in the moment to moment. We laughed, and marvelled at the scene. "This is it." A perfect afternoon. Consciousness expanding. Everything perfect, and in it's right place. Funny. You sometimes think the great moments will come like a lightening bolt of insight, but actually the feeling of perfection & euphoria just sort of sneaks up, decends upon you, with a silent simplicity.

MAGA Has Alwasy Been a Con, a Swindle, a Grift...

Folk #1: Funny. Leading up the mid-term elections in November, Trump & the Republicans have no good answers. They have discovered that their policies & positions on pretty much everything are deeply unpopular. Two years in power and they have made a mess of pretty much everything.  Their agenda of punishing the American People across all sectors of the population just hasn't gone over very well. It is gobsmacking how badly these folks have governed. What is their response? To lie, to deflect, to spread crazy conspiracy theories. Not sure if their B.S. still has any Mojo. Trump is still out there spouting idiocies to the teeming MAGA masses, but the masses seem to be shrinking. My take, yes, the common folk are finally fed up with this madness. This has all been a con, a swindle, a grift. Crimes have been committed. The corruption of the Trump family and his Republican Party enablers is endemic. It seems they are locked in a fatal embrace. One can only Hope clearer heads prevail. I expect an "Electoral Bloodbath" of epic proportions. Although, I am smart enough to know that any kind of prediction is iffy. Hope dies last. The MAGA plague & scourge that has over-run our land seems to have finally run it's course. Time for a reckoning. Democracy can turn on a dime. It is well past time. Vote. Vote Hard. Vote Harder. Vote Democrat!

Being Real. Truly.

Folk #1: The weirder it gets, and it's getting really weird out there, the more I lean towards truth, authenticity, & being truly genuine in everything I do & say. You know as the world goes weird, I tend to want to be un-weird, non-weird, weird-less. OK. I am not saying normal. There is no normal. There is no center, there is nothing to hold onto. Improvising in the moment to moment. The weirdness of everything forces me to fall back on my very own personal code: being honest, as honest as I can be to myself & others. Being, embodying, my Authentic Self. Seeing clearly. Knowing limits. Embracing discipline & humility. True to the the day, true to the moment. Let the world go tilt, watch it all fly off the handle, no worries. I am over here being as real as I can be. Ok. That forceful honesty might also be a bit weird, I suppose that a dogged contrariness is sort of it's own kind of weird. I suppose my own genuine weirdness is something I can get behind. Whatever. Everything is pretty confusing. I mean, fuck it. Damn the torpedoes.

The Zombies are Real...

Folk #1: I don't mean to be indelicate, or mean, but, I just watched some "highlights," of Trump's rally last night. He spent some time whining about not getting the Nobel Peace Prize. Ha. Ha. Ha. So funny. And then he blathered on about a bunch of topics like a seriously deranged dementia patient. The camera panned across the arena and displayed the teeming masses. What is wrong with these people? Did they all fall down and hit their heads? How can fully-grown Humans be so needy, gullible, & brain-dead? They clap and make mouth-noises like seals for the big-mouthed, toxic clown spouting idiocies; his rap & schitck is just so lame, & yes, seriously stupid. What is wrong with these folks? Are they just "sick in the head?" Do they share some kind of MAGA mental derangement? Yikes. The Zombies are real. 

Simple & Smart...

 

Folk #1: Yes. It's real. Patagonia has a new campaign, new tag on some of their clothes. Is this the kind of corporate activism that I can get behind? Oh, yes indeed, and just in case you are a "Low Information Voter," remember it is the Republicans who control the House, the Senate, the Presidency & have corrupted the Supreme Court. Republicans who have brought us a new forever War, higher prices, tariffs, concentration camps, murder in the streets, racism on steroids, deporting children & Grandmas, murder on the high seas, incompetence, public corruption beyond the pale, a war on  the Law, Science, Health, & Education, tax cuts for billionaires, etc. "Vote the Assholes Out." Simple. Come on, folks, I mean, what the fuck, we can do it.

Smack Dab in Middle of Two Opposing Ideas...

 “Before I go on with this short history, let me make a general observation– the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.

One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise. This philosophy fitted on to my early adult life, when I saw the improbable, the implausible, often the "impossible," come true.”

― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Crack-Up

Folk #1: Absolutely. For sure. Right on F. Scott. Let me give it a go:

Idea Number 1: "I live in a gorgeous Paradise. Blue Sky, beautiful lakefront, a kind, generous, progressive bubble neighborhood."

Idea Number 2: "I live in Hell, a dysfunctional Fascist Dystopia of greed, corruption, epic stupidity, bad blood, bad actors & bad actions. My fellow humans are an ugly, gnarly, untrustworthy lot."

So what's the way forward? Paradise or Hell? Good Times vs. Bad Times. Hopeful vs. Hopeless. Yes. Both. Let those ideas battle each other. I decide to carry on with a sunny glow, and a fierce "fuck those Evil-Doers" Spirit. Damn the torpedoes...

Eyes Wide Open...

Folk #1: Sure. The world seems to be on fire on many fronts. It is all a bit concerning. What's a Humble Pilgrim to do? Carry on, power thru, keep one's feet on the ground, keep one's head screwed on straight, be disciplined, pragmatic, and keep one's wits about them. Eyes Wide Open. Alive, Aware, Awake. Keep the Faith, don't give up believing in a Better Day, a Better Way. Oh, yeah, check your Voter Registration. Try not to get too high or low. Make sure all is in order. It will soon be time to bring the hammer down on these corrupt fucks. Democracy is a vehicle that can turn on a dime. Consciousness can change in an instant. Hope dies last. Let's all be Woke to Max, and Vote hard...

What to Believe In?

Folk #1: A few days ago, my companion & creative collaborator & I were engaged in a long conversation with a fellow musician & singer/songwriter. He was spinning out, stuck in an existential crisis, questioning everything about the creative process, writing songs, the grind of playing shows, & the unsatisfying nature of of having always having to hustle & promote. It's funny, it was a great exercise. Everything our friend said was in direct conflict with our own philosopy & attitude about the creative journey. So, yes, the conversation was very enlightening and contructive by what it revealed and exposed. Being creative, doing it, living it, is the main driver, the grand project for my partner & I. Essential to who we are, how we act and think, and go forth into the world. Writing songs, playing instruments, leading a band, rehearsing & performing in public is absolutely fundamental to us. We can't imagine carrying on without this core mission in our lives. It's a process, a discipline, an approach to Life, that fuels us, & feeds us, fires us up, suffuses us with Hope & Faith. Wanting to make a difference, recharging our belief in doing the "good work." One of our go-to phrases: You Must Believe.  What to believe in? A better day, a better way, the power of Art and Creativity. The possibility of transcendence & connection. We always want to put ourselves in situations where those amazing, enlightening, uncommon moments emerge, those moments when you totally lose yourself in the making & doing, and totally succumb to the glorious kick of performance, and connecting with an audience. These moments are fleeting & ephemeral, they are everything. It's important to drop the "thinking," focus on the process, intuition, the subconscious, and stick to the doing/being. What does all add up to, lead to, or mean, in the grander scheme? Who knows? We believe the creative journey is essential & mysterious, it changes us, just in the doing, the being, it feeds the spirit. This discipline & process carries us forward in all aspects of our lives. Yes. It's that important & powerful. We we were a bit amused & bemused, by the wrongheadness of our friend, we felt sorry for him; he really seems lost, floundering & alone. We tried our best to cheer him up, but really, you can't tell anyone, anything, it just doesn't work that way. We encouraged him to try to get back to basics, not sure if that landed with him or not. We are lucky. My partner & I, two of us on the same mission, we can pick each other up, when one of us falters. We too have had moments of disconnect, feelings of futility, there are times we need to take a break, renew, recharge, but that too seems to be just part of the process. Sure. None of this is easy. Every day is a challenge, and often, there are failures, side-tracks, fuck-ups, dissappointments, and "No's." Not everything is gonna pan out. That's just part of it. Not giving up when confronted with obstacles. Enduring the "pricks & kicks," and, well, fuck it, plowing forward anyway, damn the naysayers, & damn the torpedoes. Getting on with it. That is where the magic & the "reasons to believe," resides...

Small Moments of Bliss...

Folk #1: Space. Getting your space. Grounding yourself. Embracing the moment. Deep breathing. Ride the vibe. Makes for a very good, nurturing Sunday. It helps to have a long-time companion by your side, sharing the moments, the laughs, the wonder, the awe in experiencing a perfect blue sky day. The lake, gorgeous & tranquil. An abundance of folks out on the path, all smiles & kind words. Long, rambling conversations about music, creativity, "doing it," "being it." carrying on, and what it all means to be human. Thinking it's a day that is "as good as it gets." A day in the Life. Small moments of perfect bliss. Over-flowing with good vibes. Uncommon. Yes. It was an excellent Sunday.

Dream, Baby, Dream...

Folk #1: Dreams. No one wants to hear about your dreams. You know, no matter how dramatic or traumatic, someone will say, "Yeah, well, it's only a dream." And the drama & trauma is supposed to just vanish. End of story. You plow on and try to recount the details, to convey the gravity, the deep meanings of the dream, and folks eyes cloud over, they yawn, they give you that 10,000 yard stare. Whatever.

Did anyone ever read Kerouac's Book of Dreams?  Yeah, me neither. It's only a dream, Jack.

So you have to contend with your dreams on your own, unless you pay for a professional to listen. Does anyone do that any more? That Freudian or Jungian talk therapy seems to be out of favor & overwhelmed by the onslaught of drugs. Drug therapy. They have a drug for pretty much everything. Be careful not to mix your medicine. Synergistic action can be extremely deadly.

I figure I just have to figure out things on my own. Dreams: Attacked by Feral Cats? A surprise hair-cut at a party? Spooky-looking, ominous, fish swimming around in a pond? Car chases & crashes, guns drawn, intense episodes of some kind of Miami Vice- like series. Reliving ancient fuckups & calamities, reliving idiocies & episodes of expert self-sabotage. I really have been my own worst enemy. It's been a long & winding road.

I long-ago left behind the worst of my most self-sabotaging habits. Decades of living clean, exercising, eating well, meditating; happier for it. Living honestly, earning an honest buck. Living creatively with heart, head & spirit aligned with the folks I love. The most dramatic or traumatic episodes in my life were all basically instances of self-destruction. Sure, I never killed anyone, I just methodically marinated my own brain cells for kicks & laughs.

So yes, in the middle the night, alone, vulnerable, wrestling with a worried mind. Luckily it all vanishes in the a.m. Even if I awake before the light of day, the coffee immediately does it's work. All that hurly-burly and tumult & turmoil, just fades away. Still, there is a lingering wisp of uncertainty hanging over & within me. Maybe I'm not as together as I think I am? I suppose I have some unfinished business. Work to do on my self. Every day just trying to be, & to do, better. Do my best to be my best; an enthusiastic, fully-woke & fully-engaged Human Being. Alive, aware, awake. Damn the torpedoes. I mean, fuck it.

The Stink of a Loser...

Folk #1: Funny. Even when that guys wins, he has the stink of a loser about him. His wins are failures. No doubt. He knows it too. It drives him. Drives him mad. Fails & Flails. He rages, lashes out. He is always whining, blubbering, and complaining. He always feels like a victim, and then, victimizes as many folks as he can. He feels abused, so he abuses. A deeply unwell Human Being. This has been a grand experiment of failure, victimhood, & abuse. So damn ugly.