Success . . .

. . . later in life . . .


(from https://brandongaille.com/10-people-that-found-great-success-after-turning-60/)
-Frank McCourt became a beset-selling author at 66. Published in 1996, Angela's Ashes sold 5 million copies . . .

-A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) at 69. Registered (the organization) in New York on July 11, 1966. . . his writings have since been translated into 76 languages. . .

-Mary Delaney invented paper collage at 72. In the following 10 years, Delaney created 985 botanically correct, cut paper flowers . . .

-Laura Ingalls Wilder began writing the hugely popular 'Little House' books at 65. . . immortalized in the eponymous TV series. . .

-Estelle Getty achieved widespread fame in 'The Golden Girls' at 63. After an unsuccessful career . . . making Getty famous overnight . . .

-Fauja Singh ran his first marathon at 69. . . becoming the oldest man to run a full marathon when he completed the Toronto Waterfront (at age 100). . .


The Hours
©2014 Raymond M. Jozwiak

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Writing . . .

I find that these days, I love writing. Writing just about anything, with possibly my favoriite - writing music.  I don't necessarily mean transcribing, or writing down the notes (although I do enjoy that TOO), but I mean composing, working through melodies, chord progressions and many times, lyrics. Somewhere in the mid 80s, I began a creative, yet academic, exercise of writing as many songs as I could.  Being inspired by much of the good pop music of the time, and much encouragement from budding singer-songwriter communities, I was averaging one new song per month.  Maybe no record output, but very satisfactory to me for my own purposes.  Now, in my attempt to capture some old demos (from cassette tapes) to digital, I am discovering many nice memories from the past.

This tune was written purposely to utilize the romantic, simple, trite, english of tin-pan alley plus, expanding my production chops, I decided to perform it in a doo-wop style singing multiple vocal parts acapella.


Here With You
©1990 Raymond M. Jozwiak

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Pre-. . .

. . . on-line dating . . .

To my dearest love
Or current resident
Sending you these lines
To show you how much I care
How can I convey
To you this sentiment
Only you're for me my dearest
Please insert your name on the
Dotted Line

There's no obligation
There's no purchase required
There are over five thousand
Who are qualified
And eligible to win the grand prize
Rules and regulations
Must be read carefully
Entries must be postmarked by the 30th
At quarter to three

Once I made a solemn
Vow to someone I knew
And I thought her vow was also solemn too
But I thought with my heart
And didn't see it through
Not that any lesson
Of great value has been learned
Such experience should teach us something good
Or maybe I enjoy getting burned

It's not a weakness to be
Predisposed toward sharing
I might survive all alone
But I'm just no that daring
Desperate men will take desperate measure
To get what they think that they need


Dotted Line
©1997 Raymond M. Jozwiak

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Things That Cross. . .

. . . the mind. . .


. . . Awhile back, when my songwriting was more prolific (by choice- not by inspiration), intentionally for educational purposes, I wrote a song about one of the most frivolous topics of which one could write a song. Simply titled "Butter",  the lyrics rationalized the act of throwing the leftover breakfast toast out on the lawn for the birds. Below is a fragment of the melody of the song, sans lyrics, as it turned out to be, in my view, a catchy tune with much potential for improvisation. . .



Butter Fragment
©2017 Raymond M. Jozwiak

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Words. . .

(from http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-cdc-forbidden-words-20171215-story.html)
". . . Trump administration officials are forbidding officials at the nation's top public health agency from using a list of seven words or phrases - including "fetus" and "transgender" - in any official documents being prepared for next year's budget. . . Policy analysts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta were told of the list of forbidden words at a meeting Thursday with senior CDC officials who oversee the budget, according to an analyst who took part in the 90-minute briefing. The forbidden words are: "vulnerable," "entitlement," "diversity," "transgender," "fetus," "evidence-based" and "science-based." . . . The longtime CDC analyst, whose job includes writing descriptions of the CDC's work for the administration's annual spending blueprint, could not recall a previous time when words were banned from budget documents because they were considered controversial. . . The reaction of people in the meeting was "incredulous," the analyst said. "It was very much, 'Are you serious? Are you kidding?' " . . . "In my experience, we've never had any pushback from an ideological standpoint," the analyst said. . . News of the ban on certain words hasn't yet spread to the broader group of scientists at the CDC, but it's likely to provoke a backlash, the analyst said. "Our subject matter experts will not lay down quietly - this hasn't trickled down to them yet.". . . "

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Freedom . . .

(from John Adams by David McCullough. . . on Thomas Jefferson's writing of 'the declaration' in 1776)

". . . He borrowed readily from his own previous writing, particularly from a recent draft for a new Virginia constitution, but also from a declaration of rights for Virginia, which appeared in the Pennsylvania Evening Post on June 12. It had been drawn up by George Mason, who wrote that "all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent natural rights. . . among which are the enjoyment of life and liberty." And there was a pamphlet written by the Pennsylvania delegate James Wilson, published in Philadelphia in 1774, that declared, "All men are, by nature equal and free: no one has a right to any authority over another without his consent: all lawful government if founded on the consent of those who are subject to It.". . . (John Adams commenting)I was delighted with its high tone and flights of oratory with which it abounded, especially that concerning Negro slavery, which, though I knew his southern brethren would never suffer to pass in Congress, I certainly would never oppose. . ."

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Dear . . .

. . . Congressman. . .

Writing to ask you to take the leadership in having Congress begin the process of writing some ethics laws which WILL apply to the office of President of the United States and his staff.  “You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.”
wrote James Madison in The Federalist Papers. True, all of our Presidents, until now, possessed the principles necessary to understand the immense responsibility they undertook with the office. But alas, this is 2017 and that is no longer a fact.

Please help the good people of this country, and future generations, to ensure that holders of the highest office in the land are held to the standard which any moral being would naturally subscribe.
This is important because we now know, beings other than moral ones can actually be elected to this office.

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Bad . . .

. . . songwriting. . .


This actually was an attempt to do all that the songwriting instructors said NOT to do.  It was fun.
I like to hear it every now and then.  (The four-track experiment helped make it fun). . .

I’VE NEVER BEEN ONE

TO FOLLOW TRENDS

I WON’T BE WITH THE CROWD WHEN THEY

ROUND THE BEND

BUT I’LL BE WITH YOU 

UNTIL THE VERY END

WHERE IT’S AT IS HERE WITH YOU

FANCY PARTIES LEAVE ME COLD AND DRAINED

DISCOS CROWDS 

AND POSTURING IN VAIN

ONLY FEED SOME SILLY APPETITE UNNAMED

WHERE IT’S AT IS HERE WITH YOU

(CHORUS)  I DON’T WANT TO SEE THE MOON

FLY TO PARIS MAY OR JUNE

I JUST WANT A ONE-WAY FARE

TO ANY PLACE WHERE

YOU’LL BE THERE

I DON’T NEED GOLD

OR PECIOUS THINGS

FANCY CLOTHES

OR EVEN DIAMOND RINGS

I ONLY NEED THE THRILL

THAT BEING WITH YOU BRINGS

WHERE IT’S AT IS HERE WITH YOU

FOR FAME OR POWER 

I HAVE NO DESIRE

I DON’T CRAVE ACCEPTANCE

OR TO BE ADMIRED

I’M JUST HAPPY SITTING WITH YOU BY THE FIRE

WHERE IT’S AT IS HERE WITH YOU  

Here With You
©1998 Raymond M. Jozwiak

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Writing . . .

. . . about music is like dancing about architecture. . . . (Elvis Costello)


LET THE DANCING BEGIN . . .

From Shindig #67:
"Finally, clap like seals for the marvellous, palindromic OHO, misleadingly short-handed as “Baltimore’s answer to Pink Floyd,” and still out there doing stuff despite having released their debut album in ’74 and remaining under the radar for longer than a drone sub piloted by the Illuminati. Where Words Do Not Reach (The Instrumentals) ★★★★, OHO MUSIC CD) is a bracing compilation of performances recorded by a shifting OHO line-up over the course of their four-decade career, all undertaken with unquenchable brio. The Floyd comparison may allude to their occasional interludes of committed atonality (‘Snow Lady/I Crawled’, the back half of the 16-minute ‘Nazi Dog Jam’), but they’re a filthier, jazzier, poppier and thriftier proposition – sometimes like MX-80 Sound being strafed by The B-52s (‘Board Organ’), sometimes like King Crimson manhandling Jellyfish (2010’s ‘Arclight’)."

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Writing . . .

. . . songs . . . 

(from http://thateventuality.tumblr.com/post/65262409680/ive-said-it-before-but-one-of-the-real-reasons-i)
". . .I’ve said it before, but one of the real reasons I started getting into composing is that I thought: ‘Well, if John and Paul can write songs…’…The hang-up of playing my songs to John and Paul always used to hold me back, as I’ve said, because I knew how it would sound finished, and I had to try and convince them in one play. For that reason, there are a lot of numbers of mine that I decided not to do anything about. It was a shyness - a withdrawal - and I always used to take the easy way out. . . Now? Well, maybe I’m cocky! Because now, I don’t care if nobody else likes it. It’s a matter of taste. And maybe I don’t like some of their songs, either. What I still do, though, is to bring out the numbers I think are the easiest to get across. The ones I think will take the shortest time to make an impact… the ones that’ll sound the nicest tunes…Summing me up, I don’t mind admitting that I definitely USED TO BE self-conscious. But now I’ve got less hang-ups about everything, not just music. . ."

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Steps . . .

. . . of songwriting are like steps of a business decision . . .


(based upon information at http://www.umassd.edu/fycm/decisionmaking/process/)
Step 1: Identify the decision to be made.
In songwriting-do you want to write a cry-in-your-beer-song-about-a-love-gone-wrong . . . or a JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL?

Step 2: Gather relevant information.
In songwriting-if you know nothing about jazz, stick to the first.

Step 3: Identify alternatives.
In songwriting-the beer song should be a 4/4 country-type ballad with a catchy hook, the instrumental could be a modal configuration, a waltz, a swing in 4 or 8, a searing, uptempo hard-bop number?

Step 4: Weigh evidence.
In songwriting-skip this one.

Step 5: Choose among alternatives.
In Songwriting-see 1, 2 and 3.

Step 6: Take action.
In songwriting-sit down and WRITE the sucker.

Step 7: Review decision and consequences.
In songwriting-play it, (sing it), listen to it.  Do you like it? Move on to the next one.


Step Lively
©2016 Raymond M. Jozwiak

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Writing. . .

Letters . . . 

Dear Mr. Trump,
Writing this on your own level, just to ensure you understand my meaning.  I write this without malice,  although since I have descended to your level, I do believe that the inclusion of some malice is probably a requirement in the interest of authenticity.

Paraphrasing the late Frank Zappa, 'Donald Trump!  Donald Trump, what's got into ya'" You obviously lead quite a grand life.  You certainly do not have to worry about funds, although in light of your non-existent interest in transparency-you're probably not as rich as you would like us to believe, they are there in abundance to aid you in practically any pursuit you may choose. But PRESIDENT???!!! . . . of the United States???!!!  You could have gone to some small, semi-democratic province in maybe the South Pacific or southern hemisphere and tackled that at the peril of a much smaller population with less notoriety (not to mention power) with which to be concerned. . . but the UNITED STATES???!!!  . . . SUZY CREAMCHEESE!!!

Your intentions, however, are another matter still. And this, I only say, because of the wisdom, knowledge and certainty you appear to exhibit in all matters relating to government, justice and people in general. . . which is clearly none at all.  In fact, I have made the acquaintance of many an inebriated patron of the local saloons in my area through the years, who exhibit a much better grasp on the political and societal subtleties involved in the office of President of the United States.

So, in order to avoid the danger of overstating (and over-staying) my case (and my welcome), may I just say to you, "Bravo!"  You have done an admirable job of arousing some 'sleeping' citizenry and have clarified the need of our present civil servants to question the status quo and the modus operandi of governmental bodies while also managing to entertain.  Ah, entertain.  I'll bet even you have forgotten that that, I suspect, is the real reason you started this in the first place, and I as well.  So, in closing, may I say that I wish you all the best. . . in your ENTERTAINMENT career and hop you have the good sense and foresight to do something drastic, such as, withdraw from the Presidential race in the best interest of the entire country . . . but most importantly, in the best interest of YOURSELF!

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Split . . .

Knit one, slip and slip . . .

Not sure what that means.  But in spite of a Monday full of many reasons to not be so content, here we sit quite content.  At least I hope she, as well as I.

Have any infinitives been split in the writing of the above lines?

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OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak.  Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com 


My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

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There . . .

. . . most resent pitcher . . .

(from http://www.teachthought.com/industry/12-data-points-detailing-the-crisis-of-poor-writing-in-america/)
1. Four out of five students are not proficient writers.


2. Even with spell check and a thesaurus on hand, just 27% of students are able to write well-developed essays with proper language use.


3. Even worse, 26.2% of college graduates produce writing that rates as deficient.


4. Fewer than 50% of college seniors feel their writing improved during college.



5. SAT writing scores are falling, too.


6. About 17% of college freshmen require remedial writing classes.


7. The average fourth grader spends fewer than 3 hours per week writing.


8. Students struggle with reading.


9. Poor writing cost employers $3.1 billion per year.


10. Many students prefer texting over composition.


11. Male students are struggling worse than female students.


12. Writing isn’t considered fun by today’s students.

What do you think?

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OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak.  Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com 


My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music will be released April 7, 2014  Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)

Also, be sure to visit:
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