Well, I finally got my new mower.  After weeks of studying and searching, narrowing down the brand, style, model, price and retailer, I bought the exact opposite of what I planned to buy.

I like gasoline powered equipment.  Leaf blower, trimmer, lawn mower.  All gasoline.  Why?  Simple: more power and unrestricted run times.  So I had every intention of buying a gas powered unit.  A self-propelled walk behind Honda  HRX217.  There.  It was done. Or so I thought……

A few days before picking up that mower I started researching battery-powered units just for curiosity’s sake.  Interesting….I discovered that electric mowers have improved significantly.  More features, more powerful, longer run times and better durability.  Huh.  Okay. I began to wonder: could I finish my entire lawn with battery power?  Would I prefer the convenience of electric?  I was surprised by my newfound interest.

Three trips to the store and three times I return home empty handed. Could not decide. I had to make a choice. So I did. Notorius for settling for lesser models to save money, I broke from conventional thinking. I chose the the latest greatest Ryobi 40V HP mower. Glad I did.

Cuts great. Did the whole lawn on a single charge with time to spare. Twenty pounds lighter than the Honda. Self propelled. Quiet. No gas, oil, spark plugs, air filters, tune ups or fumes. The only negative about this mower? It makes me WANT to cut the grass!

Ahhh yes.  Studio One 5.2 Project Room.  Finally got some time to at least look at it.  Under the weather a little bit this week.  This view helped me feel a little better. 

What a difference a year makes, what a difference the time it takes. Both everything and nothing seem the same.

Confusing choices ambiguous faces, too much time to pretend to be gracious.  Entire world exists in a single window pane.

Wanting nothing you already have, needing more than you ever will.  The future calls with broken sounds and broken voices.

Such a difference a journey makes, any difference a turn can take.  Always the same, infinite and random the choices.

Miles away from everywhere, finding your place not anywhere. Who will die first your future or your past

Such a life a death can take, but what a difference a life can make. Always the same, forever and at last.

I love music.  I love everything about it. I love listening to it, creating it, reading about it, talking about.  I love the many styles and artists.  I love the instruments, basses and guitars especially.  I love the history of it.  I love the amazing evolution of the technology.  I love the money it can make.  I love it all. 

My experience with creating music goes back a bit (1985 to be exact).  My first home “studio” centered around a Fostex 2-track cassette recorder. I’ve owned a Fostex R8 reel to reel 8-track, a Tascam cassette 4-track, a PC running Emagic Logic (now Apple Logic), Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Ableton Live and currently Presonus Studio One. My how times have changed……

As the times have changed so too has the music. The sounds coming out of the “radio” or whichever device you listen to today are far different than they were in my youth. Yep, from the ’70s, the ’80s, the ’90s and through the 2000s the music seems to change every five years. And, as we age our tastes seem to “outgrow” the popular music of the day.

As I’ve gotten older I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon about music and those who listen to it regularly. Regardless of age, people who listen to current popular music seem to stay younger, age slower and generally have a more youthful approach to life. Can’t say for sure if the music is the cause or the symptom, but it’s interesting to note nonetheless.

I listen to all kinds of music. Anything from the current Billboard 100 back to the 1940s. All genres. But I was once a music snob. In the mid 2010s I wouldn’t listen to radio. Couldn’t listen to radio. My tastes had matured. So I started listening to “old school” music exclusively. Bought a Bluetooth speaker, subscribed to XM Radio checked out the classic stations. Then I got bored.

So I changed stations. Heard some cool new songs from some fresh new artists. Bought some new recording software and rediscovered why I loved music: it always brings me back to my youth. Always makes me feel young.

So hey. I got a secret for you. Wanna feel a little younger again no matter your age? Pick up your phone, tablet or “radio”. Dial up your favorite genre. Pick a song from the current Top 100. And don’t judge, just listen. Do this a few times a day. In about a month look in the mirror. And say goodbye to your anti-wrinkle cream.

Eyes grow weary seeking more.  The mind is anxious yearning knowledge.  The open sky offers new limits.  The lonely shadows find their places. The body accepts its place in time.

Why waste a sunset?

Eyes focus more intently with less light. The mind is more settled with fewer worries . The body is well rested with less motion. The air is freshest with less sound.

Why waste a sunrise?

My lawnmower and I have seen, as the “wise” folks used to say, many a day.  Beautiful and crisp 8 am spring mornings,  cool and calm 10 o’clock fall brunches, chilly winter afternoons for quickies and picture-perfect hot summer evenings.  I regret not wearing a step counter to see just how many miles we walked together.  But, since I did not accurately count my steps, and I tend to embellish a little, I’ll guesstimate that we covered hundreds (?😏) of miles…..And all it needed was a little gas, a little oil and a gentle push to get the job done. 

We’ve been together for years.  Hangin’ out in the garage when no one else dared to touch it. It was good company even though I longed for different, more leisurely wheeled companions to spend time with.  It never left me and always did what I asked.  Until this year…….

My lawnmower no longer runs.  It’ll start, but shuts off shortly thereafter.  But hey, don’t feel sorry for us.  We had a good run.  No need to offer suggestions or solutions as to how to “fix it”.  You see, my lawn mower KNOWS me.  It LOVES me.  It CARES about me.  It knew I wasn’t walking as fast as I used to.  It knew that I labored a little more when going uphill. It could sense that we were spending waaaay too much time together in the lawn. 

So, it broke up with me.  I was pissed off the first day I realized it.  Then it hit me.  My lawn mower let me go gracefully.  It did what I NEVER had the courage to do.

For the last couple of years I’ll admit that I flirted with newer, younger and prettier high maintenance models.  I did.  However, at my age and my budget I just wasn’t ready to see if “the grass was greener on the other side”. Pun intended.  I couldn’t let it go.

Now I have no choice.  My lawn mower set me free. Gave me its blessing.  I have to move on.  My lawn mower “knew my heart”.  And so it is.  I’m a free lawn owner looking for a new lawn care companion.  Do I go for a sleek, slim and trim self-propelled model? Or go all out and get a mature, stable smooth riding mower?  Man its good to have choices.  I just wonder how my wife is gonna feel about this…….

6:55 am. Earth. Sky. Sun. Moon. Air. Time. Space. Breath.

Alive.  Thankful.

Hello “real life corner” friends and family.  Been a minute.  I’ve been busy with life and haven’t had much creative energy as of late.  So, to help get the fire going I discretely “bought” a new toy.  Well, let’s say I’m leasing it first to see if I really like it. 

Presonus Sphere is a subscription based DAW (digital audio workstation) comprised of Studio One 5.2, Notation and all add ons (visit Presonus.com for details if you’re interested).  Seems cool.  I have an earlier version that sounds good and operates efficiently so I’m hopefully optimistic. 

Some day I’ll check out the sounds. Some day I’ll explore all of the features. Some day I’ll record some audio, maybe even record some vocals.  Some day……

I’ll keep you posted. 

Come on Spring………