Make Practice Fun

Perhaps I am alone, but I suspect there are others who recognize that they spend a great deal of time and energy trying to do something and frequently miss the point of why we are doing it as a result. We try to do something for fun, but we want to be “good” at it. So...

Making a list, checking it twice

There is a really good book out right now called The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right, by Atul Gawande. Gawande is an American-born medical doctor of East Indian heritage. He started writing for Salon.com some years ago, then was invited to contribute to...

Making It Up

Looking back over five decades of collecting music recordings I am struck by the fact that, apart from a number of classical music LPs, by far the largest part of my music collection is devoted to bluegrass, old-time, blues, jazz and country music. To some people...

Making Memories

Is it the last week of August already? Summer is nearly gone and I don’t have much to show for it. Our youngest daughter and her family moved up from Hanford this summer. I have enjoyed getting to spend more time with the grandkids. They are both in high school and...

Making the Feeling Last Just A Bit Longer…

It’s been just about a week since the Father’s Day Festival and by now I hope that most of you have unpacked your car, washed the clothes, cleaned out the coolers, and wiped the dust off of your instruments. If that’s the case, you’re better off than I am as I still...

Mall Escapades

“We got cotton, silk and satin / In styles Anglo, Dutch and Latin / When you sail don’t take that chance / Wearing nothing beneath your pants / Trust… Silver’s Long Johns! *They breathe!*” Whoops, I didn’t see you there! You caught me singing a...