Friday, December 31, 2010

2011 New Year's Resolutions


Hi everyone! To quote my good friend, Sal, "I feel more like I do today, then when I first got here." I have enjoyed a wonderful past couple of weeks, due to having my wonderful son home with me. I've also finally had a few days of 'down time' where I can recharge my life instead of living inside a never slowing gerbil wheel, "Going nowhere fast." I've finally started painting and writing songs again which soothes my soul. The picture I'm including with this post is an acrylic painting I created over the past two days. The entire image doesn't fit on the scanner, so here is a portion of the painting.
It reflects 'somewhat' the Expressionist movement I've been studying. One goal for the New Year is to create my new art web site including my new artist statement. I hope to submit art to shows again, and to have a solo show and/or to be included in group shows.
In regards to my music, I plan on recording a couple of new tunes I've written and then release my CD. I also plan on booking acoustic original gigs. Thanks to all of my bffs for listening to me bend their ears this past year; my sister-Kristie, Susan, Maureen, Cathy, Cindy, and Carol. Thanks to all of the musicians I've made music with; Tim, Hans, Freddy, Billy, Rick, Dr. Z, Sheldon, Jeff, Doug, Eric, Chris, etc. Thanks to my wonderful students. Thanks most of all to my son and cat! Instead of a poem I'm including a list of New Year's Resolutions I wrote last night. I've also linked Claude Debussy - Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun to this posting. Have a Nice Day! xxoo


2011 New Year’s Resolutions
1. To love myself more, thus I will be able to love other people more.
2. To not be so hard on myself.
3. To forgive myself constantly, and to forgive other people.
4. To be true to myself, my dreams, and my desires.
5. To continue having an ‘attitude of gratitude.’
6. To not take myself so seriously. (Dr. Wayne Dyer)
7. To live with courage, integrity, and kindness as my foundation.
8. To remember that if I can’t say something nice,
even in defense of myself, I shall not say anything at all.
9. To remember not to throw my pearls before swine,
and if I have to (to earn a living ), then to turn a deaf ear to criticism (consider the source), and to not give them my energy.
10. To create the best life I can, where my creativity will flourish and my spirituality will grow to new heights.
To create a life protected and surrounded with love.
Copyright 2010 - LAM

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Santa on Vacation


Hi Everyone,
I just finished sending out the youtube video links to all of my students from the recital . My eyes are really sore from straining to see my computer screen,
so I may have to rest before starting my large scale paintings. As Maureen was just singing in my ear, "Tomorrow, tomorrow
there's always tomorrow." So, since she was torturing me with some Rudolph song, I told her she has to write the poem
to go along with my illustration I drew and painted tonight. Thus, she titled and wrote the poem for this posting.
I've linked
Close to the Edge by Yes Part 1 of 2
Nighty night. xxoo

Santa on Vacation
Twas the day after Christmas
And all through the island
Not a snow drop was falling
Like it was on Long Island.

The starfish was washed
on the shore near the sea
In hopes of glimpse
of a closer palm tree.

The children were playing
outside on the beach
While visions of rectangles
memorized each.

And mamma in her lipstick,
and I in my glove,
were wondering what just had
come from above.

Cuz from out on the boat
there arose such a clatter
I dashed out to the lagoon
to see what was the matter.

Away to the dock
I flew like a flash
to try to determine
what made the huge crash.

The sun on the breast of the
sand I well know
Gave the lustre of mid-day
to objects below.

Happy Vacation, Santa

by Maureen Spranza
Copyright 2010

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas Roses


Hi Everyone! Even though technically it is still December 26th here on the west coast, it is three hours ahead on the east coast where my sister lives, so it is now December 27th. Kristie's birthday!!! Happy Birthday! Vegas trip coming up in 2011. I feel that aftershock! Cover, duck, and hide!
I had a fun gig with Tim at the Wild Vine in Mill Creek. It was a special gig because my son, Michael, sat in on the congas with us. He did a great job. Stephanie, Michael's fiance, also played a couple of songs on the congas too, and Marky Mark played the jingle bells. Saturday was a fun Christmas gig with Tim Turner and Billy Spaulding at the Rimrock in Lake City. Today, as in Sunday, December 26th, Michael, Carol, and I had our christmas dinner. Michael cooked most of it (ham, beans, sweet potatoes, etc.), and it tasted great! I have a little bit of extra time this week to plan, organize, and paint a few large scale pictures. Hopefully starting tonight, but I am feeling a little full. I might have to take a nap!
The art piece for this blog is a colored pencil sketch I did of some roses. I've linked Marilyn Monroe to this posting singing Santa Baby. Nighty night. xxoo


Christmas Roses

Christmas roses
Singing sweet songs
Harmonic melodies
None too long
Beautifying the world
Hope for warmer days
Christmas roses
Waiting to perform
Their last ballet
Copyright 2010 - LAM

Friday, December 24, 2010

Crossing the Bridge


Hi Everyone! Merry Christmas eve to all. I've linked Beethoven - Vladimir Ashkenazy - Symphony No.9 Mvt.4 to this blog, since Beethoven is one of my favorite composers. I played at the Barrel in Burien with Doug McGrew, Tim Turner, Nelson, and Billy on Tuesday. It was a fun gig. I'm playing tonight with Tim Turner at the Wild Vine in Bothell. I painted this watercolor last night of the bridge over the river for my sister, Kristie's birthday which is December 27th. She always complained of getting less presents due her birthday being so close to Christmas. Wah! I'm getting geared up to churn out some larger paintings next week and to finally getting my studio organized and set up. I hope Santa is good to everyone! Have a nice day! xxoo


Crossing the Bridge
Crossing the bridge
Over the murky river
Contemplating
That which waits
On the other side
At least I have the key within
To make sure it is an easy ride
Copyright 2010 - LAM

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Trees with Hands


Hi everyone! I can't believe almost a week has passed since I last posted to my blog. Oh well. Too much has been happening with the holiday season here. Tonight/this morning is the lunar eclipse.
I played a fun gig with Granite Reign on Friday night. My son and I finally decorated our christmas tree last night. I was saddened to hear that Michael Kahler, a Seattle musician, passed away in his sleep last night. Well, I have a long day/night ahead of me tomorrow, filled with lessons and gig at the Barrel in Burien with Tim Turner and Doug McGrew. Nighty night. xxoo

I've linked Aaron Copland - Billy the Kid-Concert Suite to this posting.



Trees with Hands
Trees with hands
Searching the skies
For answers to questions
Contemplating several whys
Grasping and grabbing
Finally realizing the truth
Sit still and be calm
Allowing the answers
To flow from the roots

Copyright 2010 - LAM

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Man and Woman in a Vase


Hi everyone! Today was an awesome day, even though I was a wee bit tired and sleep deprived. My wonderful son, Michael, treated me and his fiance, Stephanie, to tickets to see the Picasso show at SAM. It was the Masterpieces from the Musee National in Picasso, Paris to be exact. This series of Picasso's paintings spanned from 1906 - 1972. The show was very inspiring to me. I created a piece about 18" x 30" using the medium of oil pastels and chalk, which I have a limited amount of experience with, in response to the Picasso show. The piece is called, 'Man and Woman in a Vase.' I've linked Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata to this posting. Nighty night.




Man and Woman in a Vase

Man and woman in a vase
What sort of love
Shall you embrace?
A love incrusted in harmony and peace
Or a love coated in strife and decrease
The answer it seems is to realize
In the end love is experienced uniquely
Through what you create
With your soul’s eye
Copyright 2010 - LAM

Sunday, December 12, 2010

One Winged Angel





Hi everyone! My son is home from college - yeah! Even though my lungs still hurt, my energy level feels much better with Michael around. I held my winter recital for my music students today at Avamere Rehabilitation Center. It went well. It was a lot of work though. Typing all of the Christmas lyric sheets that weren't used - next year. Trying to set up a PA, that worked fine at home, in 15 minutes (it usually takes at least a half hour to set up a PA, but Avamere can't clear people out of the lunch room till 15 minutes before we are supposed to start the recital), and then the PA doesn't work at the recital site. Ahhh Murphy's Law at work. I want to thank all of my wonderful students who performed, and all of the family members who came to watch. Thank You! I also want to say a special thanks to Theo - for playing the snare, and Michael and Stephanie for helping me set up, tear down, video, etc. Thanks again. I created this acrylic painting and poem tonight to unwind after everything. I've also linked a song called - One Winged Angel - for Final Fantasy VII (Eminence Symphony). Nighty night. xxoo


One Winged Angel
One winged angel
Appearing from beneath the earth
Announcing an untouched path
Only a limited number will hear
Unfamiliar messages
Mystical to conceive
One winged angel
Retreats to an unused sea
Copyright 2010 - LAM

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Navigating Rough Waters


Hi everyone! I know it has been awhile since I've posted to my blog, but my lungs have been feeling worse than ever. Once my music students' recital is over next Sunday I'm going to make it a priority to be seen by a doctor even if I have to go to the emergency room. It is getting harder to breathe, and I'm getting weaker and more exhausted by the day. It is becoming painful and physically more difficult for me to play gigs lately. I did play two fun last minute gigs last week. The first spontaneous gig was with Mac - guitar, Donte-drums, and Darrius-keys. We played at a club called Fuel in Pioneer Square. The music felt great, and Sean was an awesome sound man. The second last minute gig was with Tim Turner (Child) and Rick Spano (Randy Hansen's drummer). I always musically enjoy playing with Tim and Rick. After my music students' recital on Sunday, I'm planning on taking some time for myself. After working so hard (only four days off in the past year, and working both day and night for over 150 of those days), I really need a break both mentally, creatively, and physically. Hopefully I'll have a few weeks to finish my CD, finish setting up my studio, and paint some more large scale paintings for my series. When I hung out in New York a few years ago the DJ was spinning Sean Paul and I really liked the combination of reggae and rap that he utilizes in his music. Nighty night! xxoo


Navigating Rough Waters

Navigating rough waters
Holding on tight
Remembering to refocus my second sight
Back to my artistic goals
Which will bring me soul satisfaction
Calming my rough seas
Soothing my nights

Copyright 2010 - LAM