That’s really the only way to look at this thing healthily. I could brood over the reasons why I was fired, or why I was put in this situation, but it’s not worth it. Life is too short.

The biggest thing that’s worrying me right now is my immediate future. What do I do until the next job comes? How long until I find the next job?  That’s been the main reason I’ve been afraid to step out on that ledge myself months ago. Insurance and a steady paycheck are 2 things most people need.

I have the next few days to ponder my future, which is never a bad thing, and the chance to take a risk. I’ve been staring at the edge for a while, now, and now I’ve been officially pushed off it.

You gonna Fire me? Fine. I’ll show you personally why you’re going to regret it. And you will. Believe that, you will.

I’ll come back, stronger, smarter, and tougher than I was before.

Guaranteed.

So it goes.

Anyway, as I was listening to Electric Ladyland, it got me thinking, will anyone ever come close to performing and writing the masterpiece that Jimi had on that album? Not ONE, but TWO outstanding guitar pieces, not to mention Crosstown Traffic and All Along the Watchtower. But the 20:13 of Voodoo Chile and Voodoo Child (Slight Return) to me is his magnum opus, and one of the high points in rock history. I just found out a few days ago that on Voodoo Child, Steve Winwood played the killer Organ piece. That’s right, the same Steve Winwood that sings “Higher Love”…Think 80s glam rock. The video is here.

But anyway, this entry has a point other than drool over the greatness of Hendrix. Where are the Jimi Hendrixes of today? Why is it fair that the 1960s had Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton in their prime? Will the world ever see that many musical heavyweights making music at the same time? Not to mention Johnny Cash and that guy named Elvis. (Although he was more into acting in the 60s. But he was still around.)

It sure isn’t now, that’s for certain. What’s more concerning is the fact people don’t seem to notice or care. Instead of listening or playing real music, they play Guitar Hero and listen to regurgitated hit singles from the 80s and 90s or supposed “new” music that just samples the hook right from the same well.

What would Jimi think if he were alive today? I couldn’t help but think he’d be disappointed in how the originality of new music has decayed.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s some great new music out there, but even the best now has been done before by someone else. Where’s the Voodoo Child of our generation, and the next? I don’t think it’ll ever come, frankly. Why make new music when you can pretend to be the rockstars of the past playing hits they wrote 30, 40 years ago? Why go watch new music live when you can watch, and I’m guilty of this as anyone, when you can watch the entire catalog of nearly every musician ever on YouTube.

Was it always like this? Will the real music makers please stand up?

So it goes.

Been pretty busy lately, but I’ve got a few projects in the works I’m excited about.

I’m going to start writing some freelance articles and submit them to a few local lifestyle magazines here in town.

The first one I’m excited to start on because there’s a lot to be told, it seems. There’s a loose collective of people here in town who are all songwriters or aspiring songwriters, and every other week or so there’s a showcase where several of them play some sets, for free, of course, but still, it’s live original music in a place that I’ve been told doesn’t have such a thing.

This guy I’m talking to this week says he’s done it for years, playing music here in town, and the only reason he doesn’t do it anymore is because he’s getting old and doesn’t want to get too involved with it.

I think you’re never too old to make music, but eh, he sounds very genuine and as excited about talking to me about the scene here.

It really feels as if there’s a vast amount of untapped stories waiting to be uncovered if someone does the digging.

Sadly no one at the newspaper has gone into it much in a while.

Then my other story I’m going to start has to do with my other interest — politics.

Now that Obama has all but sewn up the Democratic nomination, there’s a story waiting to be told about what the local campaign directors for him and the GOP monkey McCain are going to be doing, why they’re involved, how they think the candidate will fare in this neck of the woods, etc. etc.

I don’t think I’ll be able to get as personal on it, but I never know until I begin. A lot of times I’d start writing an article and while I’m interviewing one of the people another great idea comes up that I would have never expected before starting.

Aside from that I’m slowly starting to move into a cheaper apartment, hope to have that done by the next week, and trying to throw the feelers out there with this girl. It’s sort of complicated, but when isn’t it?

So it goes.

Oh and so I’m going to start making a few music recommendations at the bottom of each post, too and include the album art with it. Just stuff I’ve heard that is super sexy and incredible.

So anyway…my first recommendation comes from Paste Magazine, who turned me onto this great songwriter, Sun Kil Moon. Their album, April, is amazing, deep, meaningful music. Check it out.

Then the other day I got on this Radiohead binge and finally found a copy of “Hail to the Thief” and I must say, I’m sad it took me this long to find it. In Rainbows is excellent, but Hail to the Thief really is something not to be missed. I’ll have to dive into this deeper some other time….Which is better, In Rainbows or Hail to the Thief?

Or if you’re reading this tell me why one is better than the other. I’d love to hear from you!

I’ve been trying to write some songs, and last night it was flowing wonderfully, I carved out a decent hook, and another song to boot after I got home from work. Today, I’m trying to polish them up a bit, and I’ve hitten a wall, it seems. I have the hook from yesterday, but my net gain from yesterday to today is very minimal.

I guess it shouldn’t be disconcerting, you can’t write a masterpiece with your first draft, unless you’re John Lennon or Paul McCartney perhaps.

Still, though, very little has changed from yesterday to today, and yet that resource I was tapping seems to be still asleep. It’ll wake up; I’m sure of it, but I’d love to have more control over it. Like Old Faithful. You know it’s gonna shoot up at a certain time, and it does.

Maybe I need to take a trip to Yellowstone. :-p

So it goes.

I’m excited to see them, and at the same time there’s a feeling of, nervousness, in the sense that the last time my parents lived with me was 3 years ago and we gradually started to hate each other. Well, hate is a strong word, annoyed is probably a better way to put it. I wanted out, they wanted me out and I knew that they knew that I knew that I wanted out.

At least this time we’ll be on vacation, so that’ll be a plus.

Last night I watched “Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind.” I’ve seen it before but not in a long while. It’s a real reflective movie. It got me thinking of my memories and how thankful I was that I still have them, always will.

But then I got to thinking about the memories I haven’t made yet, the things I haven’t accomplished, the people I haven’t met.

I can identify with the Joel character before he meets Clementine. He’s alone, open to meeting someone new, even if that person is a little out there.

I’d much rather prefer to meet someone a little out there; it keeps things interesting and spontaneous. We’re all a little crazy anyway I figure.

So it goes.

What makes gambling so attractive? The possibility, the hope that you can hit the jackpot and win more than you had before you started? But how often does that really happen? The odds are rarely in favor of the person wagering the money.

I think I’ll stick to music.

At least after I win back my original $20.

So it goes.

Happy easter!

The best part of March Madness is the sense of community it builds, however temporary, between people who might not otherwise band together.

Community, it seems, is often fleeting, so it’s nice to have an annual occurrence that strengthens the bonds between us.

Community, though, is an idea I’m going to stick with for a while here. How does a community start? Is there a button someone presses in their psyche that says “OK, Jake, now I’m a part of this community.” Or does it happen without one’s knowledge?

Blogs are part of a community itself. By writing this to what is surely a non-existent audience at this point,  I’m jumping into the weblog community.

We all want to feel like we belong to something more than him or herself, but when do you start to notice you’re immersed in a community? Do we all do it similarily, or does everyone take their own steps to becoming an active participant in a chosen community?

My guess is that to be truly a part of a collective, you need to reach out to others. Help people around you, read other peoples’ blogs, comment on other people’s YouTube videos, compliment your co-workers, neighbors, ask for advice from those around you, listen to what people have to say.

So it goes.