This Week's Odd's & Ends, Including a Very Brief, Very Rare Foray into Politics

During the last week, I've fought the family cold (nearing victory, finally!); worked on my migraine management strategies (migraines SUCK!); taught my wife some chemistry (and a new word: stoichiometry) as she delved into soap-making; tied some more flies and earrings, including my new "hair crawdad;"

procrastinated my car maintenance jobs; made a prototype "Altoids tin fly-box" for the Christmas season; prepared for a furlough (which didn't materialize at LANL); and did some work on my piano project. The upright got a new bottom shelf (for books and such) with an access panel for "digitizing" the pedals,

and, after a little engineering and fabrication, the bottom cover will become a "flap" like on those cool barrister/attorney bookshelves (the brackets that I attached to the flap (pictured) were made from some of the SOLID MAPLE piano guts).

Tonight I cut all the parts for the sides and made the pins for the flap to ride on (ground the heads off some of the big screws that came out of this thing). As soon as I get all that together, I'm at a stopping spot on the upright because I REALLY need to get that car work done.

The gig schedule is filling up! I can't believe we already have shows lined up into May. (Everything below is in Los Alamos, NM unless otherwise noted.)
- Oct 31, Halloween Party with the Los Alamos Beer Co-op (Affordables)
- Nov 2, Pajarito Brewpub & Grill (Affordables)
- Nov 16, Los Ojos Bar in Jemez Springs, NM (Affordables)
- Dec 14, Los Alamos Family Council Fundraiser (Craig Martin Experience)
- Jan 25, Pajarito Mtn. Ski Area (Craig Martin Experience)
- Feb 8, Blue Window Bistro/K2 Women's Weekend Fundraiser (Craig Martin Experience)
- May 10, Family Strengths Network benefit TBD (Affordables)

I set up a profile on a site called Thumbtack, which allows me to lay out my philosophies and share reviews others have made of my musicianship and teaching skills. So if you're interested in hiring a musician (piano or guitar) for a gig or for lessons, please consider me. Check out my Thumbtack profile here. I have some openings for lessons (piano or guitar, half or full hour) on Thursday evenings (5-6 pm in Los Alamos) or Fridays (2-3:45, and 4:45- 6 in White Rock). If you can't make those times work, but still want to take lessons, let's talk anyway. After the New Year, I plan to offer lessons at other times as well, but at my home.

That's the fun stuff. Now, not so fun--

I've been thinking about politics the past few weeks, what with all the hubbub surrounding "Obamacare" and the government shutdown. I'll spare you the details of all my thoughts until they're a bit more solid, but a conclusion I've come to is that our political system, regardless of your political affiliation, promotes dependence on something, either industry (Republicans) or government (Democrats). Not a one of those fellas and gals is truly interested in our "freedom," but rather in making more money and having more power and influence. And that, in the land of the free/home of the brave, is a truly frightening thought. Smokescreens are blown up to divide us and distract us from what I see as a central issue of our dependence on the systems we should resent. We send our kids to school to be trained to work from the neck down and don't ask questions. These systems are eroding the health of our bodies, our souls, the environment, our nation, and our society. It's past time for change.

And now, off the soapbox. Hopefully folks aren't out to burn me at the stake now. Anyway...

Have a great week!