The Real Memphis Mike (don't settle for imitations)

OK, I was planning on writing my year end VENT but decided against it. Why? Just not in the mood. I've been too busy listening to the ghosts of the past. Now before you start thinking that I'm a schizophrenic in dire need of his meds , allow me to clarify. I love music of all kinds. A friend put music in a different perspective to me last night. As a non musician, she perceives it thusly : Music is what makes all of us move. To the song writer, its what we create. To the musician, its what we learn. To the dancer, its what we listen to and then translate into physical movement. If we're depressed, music lifts us up. If we're feeling good, music takes us to an even higher ground. Music is all around us and it runs through us...at all times. That said, I've been indulging my love of old 1920s-30s blues lately. Damn there's some great stuff out there. These are the ghosts of today's 'popular' music. Without these geniuses, caught somewhere, somehow on t...

I'm not very good at holidays...never have been. I always become extremely introspective and melancholy. However, I do tend to sweep that mess under my karmic carpet and at least make an attempt to make the holidays special for those I care about. This year is no different. Sure, I'm still broke (thanks in no small part to the ongoing legal battle) but I've found that money doesn't necessarily buy the best gifts. (don't worry...if you're on my gift list, you're still getting a present! HAHA ) But the past few days, I've been giving thought to the things that are truly precious. Just the other night, my neighbor's house burned down. While there is no good time for that to happen, I think that the holidays has got to be the worst time for such a tragedy. My heart just goes out to them. Everyday as I pass the burnt out shell of a house, I think of all the times I saw this family in and around their home. Their noisy little yip yip dog would bark at me a...