Author: John Otter

Its friday, I woke up without plans. Went out for coffee & to fix myself a schedule. Playing guitars with Katy this wednesday & not only getting a free meal out of it but also getting paid. I think I’ll put the money back into music equipment. Maybe new strings, a microphone & stand, perhaps some really nice studio headphones.
I stopped by the public library to peruse books before getting some lunch. Found a great book of old folk songs that I checked out. Tonight Katy & I are practicing & creating a set list and things like that. I need to organize a paperwork pile that continues to grow daily. A lot of it’s junk mail, but not all. There may be some important bill waiting to be paid. Listening now to Alan Watts lecture series titled “Out of Your Mind” – quite nice.
Just played music in my garage with Katy & Jen. Jen might probably play stand-up bass with us on wednesday. We’ll practice sunday night with amps and a PA and all that at a friends house. We’ll also be playing acoustically monday outside a laundromat while we wash our clothes, proving that even though we play folk music we’re not dirty hippies.

we played guitars in an acoustic music ceasefire vigil, while doing laundry

Just back from a family weekend up in Big Bear, Ca. The weather was nice. We went to the little zoo today. It makes me sad to see animals in cages, even if they are animals that are being rehabilitated or what not. At one point I noticed three or four beautiful birds flying free overhead, circling and soaring. It made the caged anilmals seem even more caged. I learned that a woodchuck is a marmot, and watched large grizzly bears play & fight in a watering hole.

this is the packaging for a canvas I mailed today. I had the wrong address, but luckily I called the store I sent it from before they sent it off – they were very nice & changed the label – so now the painting will go to its proper new owner.

Its extremely hot & humid today, fairly odd for southern California – reminds me of more eastern territories. Since I’m not used to this weather I’ve holed myself up at home with the blinds drawn and the air conditioner blasting. It’s rather nice inside. Looking around at my piles and heaps of miscellaneous debris and treasures I decided to clean my house. Started near the front door and have been almost too thorough – investigating every scrap of paper and little trinket. Today is serious discrimination. Many things are headed for the trash or recycling. After cleaning one corner I’m tempted to not put the artwork and odds and ends back in the corner where they were. The problem then is do I keep them? And if so where? A broken tripod. What use is it? I’ve reached for it several times in the past only to curse its broken nature. Yes, trash for you Mr. three feet.
– – – Time has passed and progress has been made but there’s still a lot to do. There’s much less clutter now, piles have been consolidated, things have been removed. One corner has become the guitar corner, with electric, acoustic, amp, chords, etc. The hardwood floor has been (mostly) scrubbed by hand. Have I mentioned this has only been focusing on the living room? The last bit seems to be sorting the cd’s and paperwork. – – – Most cd’s have found their way into their cases. Paperwork is another beast altogether. The kitchen has several piles of paperwork, I think I’ll just pile the living room’s paperwork on that & deal with it later. I’m thinking a beer sounds good right about now – the only problem is I have to bear the heat & get to a store in order to get some beer.
Cold beer is great, and a little reading. I’ve been reading more than usual lately. – – – The living room is clean. Schedule changes… last night was pool night (instead of the traditional Monday night – not sure how I feel about that yet), and generally we do laundry & play music every other Monday (i.e. not this Monday, but next) and that has changed too – so no pool tonight & King String/laundry on the odd Monday. What is this world coming too? At least my living room is clean.