The Artist . . .

". . . A real artist is not one who has taken up art as his profession, but a man predestined and foredoomed to it; and such an artist can be picked out from a crowd by anyone with the slightest perspicacity.  You can read in his face that he is a man apart, a man who does not belong, who feels that he is recognized and is being watched; there is somehow an air of royalty about him and at the same time an air of embarrassment.  A prince walking incognito among the people wears a rather similar expression.  But the incognito doesn't work, Lisaveta!  Disguise yourself, put on civilian costume, dress up like an attache or a guards lieutenant on leave-you will hardly have raised your eyes and uttered a word before everyone will know that you are not a human being but something strange, something alien, something different . . .

"But what is an artist? I know of no other question to which human complacency and incuriosity has remained so impervious.  'That sort of thing is a gift,' say average decent folk humbly, when a work of art has produced its intended effect upon them, and because in the goodness of their hearts they assume that exhilarating and noble effects must necessarily have exhilarating and noble causes, it never enters their heads that the origins of this so-called 'gift' may well be extremely dubious and extremely disreputable. . . . It's well know that artists are easily offended; and it's also well know that this is not usually the case with people who have a good conscience and solidly grounded self-confidence. . . "
(from Death in Venice by Thomas Mann)

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

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)

My latest solo release, '2014' of original, instrumental piano music, can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet

God's . . .

. . . portfolio is quite diversified . . .


(From: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/alabama-officials-pray-for-coal, By Caitlin MacNeal Published July 29, 2014, 12:06 PM EDT)
". . . Two Alabama officials on Monday asked residents to pray that the state can help block the Environmental Protection Agency's new regulations on carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants, AL.com reported.

Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh slammed the new regulations."We will not stand for what they are doing to our way of life in Alabama," she said during a press conference at the Alabama Coal Association. Later in the conference, Cavanaugh asked residents to pray for the state."I hope all the citizens of Alabama will be in prayer that the right thing will be done," she said.

Cavanaugh, along with other Alabama officials, will testify at an EPA hearing on the regulations in Atlanta on Tuesday. PSC commissioner-elect Chip Beeker said that Alabama's coal was created by God and charged that the government shouldn't interfere with God's plan, according to AL.com. "Who has the right to take what God's given a state?" he asked. . ."

. . . even God needs a decent return on his (HER?) investment . . .

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

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)

My latest solo release, '2014' of original, instrumental piano music, can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet

Obsolescence . . .

Living political constitutions must be Darwinian in structure and in practice. Society is a living organism and must obey the laws of life, not of mechanics; it must develop. All the progressives ask or desire is permission—in an era when “development,” “evolution,” is the scientific word—to interpret the Constitution according to the Darwinian principle. . . (Woodrow Wilson)

“Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this materialistic age a great many of us are possessed by our possessions.”  (Peace Pilgrim [Mildred Lisette Norman])

“Most of our assumptions have outlived their uselessness.” (Marshall McLuhan)

“The search for static security - in the law and elsewhere - is misguided. The fact is security can only be achieved through constant change, adapting old ideas that have outlived their usefulness to current facts.”  (William Osler)

To have the National Rifle Association rule the United States is pathetic. . . (Harvey Weinstein)

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

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)

My latest solo release, '2014' of original, instrumental piano music, can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet

No Baggage . . .

. . . at least very little . . .

I have arrived at an eerie-yet-comfortable peace with myself and the world. Some people can see this just by looking at my face. I have no axe to grind with my fellow man, I am content with my life, I love (and like) my wife and children, I can tolerate my job (and even enjoy it frequently) as a means to allowing me to partake of the 'rest' of life.  I don't covet (there's that religious background again) physical things, whether or not they belong to other people or to the retailer.  I find joy in the richness of humanity and feel no need to impose any of my beliefs or perspectives on anyone else. I experience an unexplainable spiritualism in music that only gives more the longer I participate in it.

That's not to say I don't have my own problems and it's not to say that all is right with the world all of the time.  I don't wear blinders and I'm no Pollyanna.  There are many things that aggravate me and that I would, will and still constantly try to change for the better.  But I don't obsess over them.
All in it's own time. My days here are much too few to make myself sick over these things.

So as I sit in this mall and enjoy my coffee amidst retail space renovation, vacationing middle-schoolers, folks of various and sundry national and cultural backgrounds, mid-summer clouds gathering outside and anticipating  a quiet evening, wonderful meal, stimulating conversation and a good night's sleep later on, I also look forward to the prospect of more . . . music.


Baggage
©2006 Raymond M. Jozwiak



What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

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)

My latest solo release, '2014' of original, instrumental piano music, can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet

On your mark . . .

. . . get set
Disconnect that internet
Every girl and boy
Breathing in the joy
Not a care at last
Sit outside and bask
In rays of summer's bliss 

Crabs and fish and shells
Feel your tension spell
Fries and pizza pie
Smiles won't be denied
Everything is cool
in 2 1 8 4 2
Feel the sparkle in your eyes

Catch a wave and ride
Cars and motorbikes
Bikini babes in the sand
Vibin' to rockin' bands
Ocean City

From Memorial to Labor Day
We beckon you to play
To a boardwalk beat
Miles and miles of beach
Your memories to take
Currents dance and sway
leave your footprints in the sand

Fireworks at night
Give your love a kiss
Sail and fish the sea
Here life is a beach
in Ocean City

Now is the time that's right
For you only live once
Time does drag when it's all work and no fun
The ocean gateway calls you
Sport your shorts and shades
It's so divine to dine at life's buffet
It's almost heaven and
There's so much more we can say

Catch a wave and ride
Cool cars and motorbikes
Bikinis on the sand
Dance to rockin' bands
Ocean City


Ocean City Ditty
Live at Warren's Park Block Party, Ocean City, MD-July 2014 [field recording by OHO - Jay Graboski, David Reeve and Ray Jozwiak]





What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

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)

My latest solo release, '2014' of original, instrumental piano music, can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet

Good or Bad . . .

. . . development?

Now that the Internet is a part of our lives and immediate, thorough and frivolous contact is at our fingertips, every merchant, retailer and service provider wants feedback.

Feedback, feedback, feedback!

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

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)

My latest solo release, '2014' of original, instrumental piano music, can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet

Pull . . .

. . . this off . . .


Change of plans has made it necessary for me to do two things that I never do.  First, drive three hours to my destination (if you count driving back home the next day, that would be three things) and finding (that would translate: begging) for a place to sleep for a few hours.  In any case, I think I can pull this off.

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

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)

My latest solo release, '2014' of original, instrumental piano music, can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet