Marilyn says:

  Time for new beginnings!

Rick has been fully retired now for a while, but I am just starting this journey. Afraid of returning to poverty, I am still working half-time as a medical person, but I am identifying more and more with RETIRED. 

It is strange to have time... I can rearrange my files, my rooms, my life. I have time to actually THINK instead of just MOVE (yep, it IS harder to get my 10K steps every day!). 

I tend to spend a lot of time 'getting ready' to do things. Like, I know I want to spend significant time practicing and improving my vocals, guitar playing, and songwriting. So what do I tend to do? I read ABOUT practice, vocalizing, writing. I realize that is an excuse to not DO those things, while FEELING like I am advancing my knowledge, lol.  Something I struggle with... the DOING as opposed to the PLANNING. 

You may know that there are books about procrastination. LOTS of them. I have procrastinated some time away by reading some of those books. The ones that are specifically about the creative process talk about procrastination being actually RESISTANCE. That is a concept that does help me move forward because it gets my back up. You know, I am gonna stand up to anything that gets in the way of my doing what I want to do, so I resist RESISTANCE.

And that is why I am making this blog entry. It is something that has been on my To Do List now for months. So, I decided to blog (again) about not blogging. Yep.

Another thing I tend to procrastinate on is booking shows. Well, that backfires when I have no shows to look forward to doing. I LOVE playing for you, face to face, in person. Covid still makes it a little scary to be inside singing, but Rick and Marilyn will be contacting your favorite places to see acoustic music and try to line some stuff up. Watch the calendar!!!

We are also going to start Live Streaming, Brunch with Rick and Marilyn on November 20, 2022 (tomorrow), barring any technical difficulties!

Otherwise, my plan is to get some more songs, both covers, and new originals. I think I have already written enough for the next record, but Rick and I have to learn them and work on them before settling down to record. I will do this one completely differently from my last two records and make them more artistically MINE. I got the time now. But I also have lots of pieces of lyrics and melodies and guitar parts that need to be worked into standing pieces of MUSIC.  And once in a while, a whole song wants to have some life!

So those are my plans for the upcoming winter months, now that I have an 'extra' 20 hours a week to work on MUSIC!!!  I hope that you all also have a reason to get up every morning that makes your life interesting, fun, and meaningful!

Checking in

 It has been a while, hasn't it?

I hope you have caught us this summer! Our gig schedule is quite full, and that makes us HAPPY! Now, though, it is heading towards fall, and things start to be quieter. We will be starting up Brunch with Rick and Marilyn, most likely in mid-September. And, I am hoping to find some local gigs as the festivals and markets stop from the cold. 

So look for us!!!  We also do our best at following up on leads given to us by our friends. Chester Common Table and Hometown Diner were two of those! So... if you know of any, please pass on that info. 

Also, and I know we don't like to think of it, but the holiday season approaches. Rick and Marilyn have a couple hours of holiday songs they do and would love to entertain your party (including office parties!!!). Let us know!!  We are both fully vaccinated. 

Again, hope to see you down the road!!!!

Valatie Open Mic

 Last night, Rick and Marilyn went to an open mic in Valatie. Open mics are interesting. You never know what to expect. Last night we had two young people, both of whom showed a real ability to sing. It was lovely listening to them. We had a gentleman who played a Martin travel guitar with a slide with a drum machine. Interesting combo of equipment. Rick and Marilyn, who sound.... well, you guys should know, right??? LOL. Our hosts also showed some fine skill. A good friend of mine who sings lovely quiet ballads (as opposed to Rick and Marilyn's loud boisterous ones!)

It was a good time.

If you play, visit your local open mic. You may be surprised. It is not only the newbies that show up to play. AND you get to make some friends out of the other musicians who come to share.

If you don't play, visit your local open mic. You will also be surprised. You are bound to find some music that you enjoy and the atmosphere is generally open and laid back and it is easy for you to get to know the players. 

Visting open mics. It is a thing to do with your time. 😁