Friday, September 12, 2014

Jazz . . .

 . . . at Elk Run Vineyards . . .
Event:
    Autumn Harvest Jazz Festival
Start:
    September 13, 2014 12:00 pm
End:
    September 13, 2014 5:00 pm   
Category:
    Festival   
Updated:
    August 11, 2014

For tickets please visit: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/828632

Sept 13/14 Autumn Hues and Jazz Festival  $20

12-5pm Local musicians, food vendors, hay rides

local produce, artisans and crafters.

Presented in Support of the Therapeutic & Recreational Riding School
In Memory of Katherine Wilson

Saturday Sept. 13
Darryl Brenzel Trio
Ronny Smith and Friends
Josh Bayer Trio

Sunday Sept. 14
Ray Jozwiak
Time Squared
Eric Byrd Trio

The performers have been listed by order of appearance.
Elk Run Vineyards
15113 Liberty Road  Mt. Airy, MD 21771 
Phone: 410-775-2513 • Fax: 410-875-2009 •
TOLL FREE: 800-414-2513
elk_run@msn.com




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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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

Ray Jozwiak: 2014

(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

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An Apple . . .

. . . a day?

(from http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/the-evil-reign-of-the-red-delicious/379892/)
For at least 70 years, the Red Delicious has dominated apple production in the United States. But since the turn of the 21st century, as the market has filled with competitors—the Gala, the Fuji, the Honeycrisp—its lead has been narrowing. Annual output has plunged. And even still, a gap is growing between supply and demand from American consumers. Earlier this month, Todd Fryhover, the president of the Washington Apple Commission—whose growers produce the majority of apples in the United States—recommended that this harvest, up to two-thirds of the state’s Red Delicious yield be exported.

How did such an unlikeable apple become the most ubiquitous in the country? And as its dominion here ends, where will it invade next?




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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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

Ray Jozwiak: 2014

(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

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Thursday, September 11, 2014

Politics . . .

. . . in the office . . .
(Meanwhile back at the day job . . . )


How many times is a good employee tossed under the bus in favor of one who used his carefully honed political strengths to succeed instead of real job skills? Is this really “constructive confrontation” and is it professionally healthy to force participants to defend their positions thoroughly? A study of 400 U.S. workers by staffing firm Robert Half International says that nearly 60 percent of workers believe that involvement in office politics is somewhat necessary to get ahead. Instead of succumbing to down-and-dirty office politics, why not lobby for the respect and trust of all your colleagues? Forge strong alliances by sharing credit for successes and delivering on promises. Focus on facts and completely avoid gossip.  Participating in it only damages your credibility. Stay true to your values. Character and credibility always prevail. Connect with your constituents. In other words, communicate effectively with others. Play by the rules. Observe the official protocol.
(thanks to http://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2013/04/14/office-politics-must-you-play-a-handbook-for-survivalsuccess/)





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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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

Ray Jozwiak: 2014

(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

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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Not Officially. . .



Although not officially diagnosed by a professional, I think that I suffer from Seasonal affective disorder (SAD).  SAD is also known as winter depression, winter blues, summer depression, summer blues, or seasonal depression, was considered a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or summer. I feel it in winter.  But I do think that I am getting better. 

I always claim to have a vitamin D deficiency and need sunshine to stay happy and healthy.  I am noticing recently though that I can also appreciate a cloudy day every now and again.  A cloudy day seems to make me reflective on just about everything I can think of and sometimes a little more inspired. I do not like too many consecutive cloudy days though. . . vitamin D deficiency you know.





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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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

Ray Jozwiak: 2014

(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

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Tuesday, September 9, 2014

The Piano . . .

. . . still sounds the same . . .
    

. . . but it's a whole lot easier to get to now.  Not too long ago, our living room was renovated, so to speak, after many years of the same, familiar, yet tasteful and welcoming decor. The furniture was comfortable, small enough to rearrange frequently, greens and rusts prevailed, one wall was papered for accent, all resulting in a quite cozy atmosphere. The new is every bit as wonderful.  All new, larger furniture, beiges, dark wood and orange.  Yes, orange is the accent color.  Funny as is may sound, or maybe it doesn't, it is very tasteful. After the major paint, floor covering and furniture was complete, we concentrated our efforts on finding small, unique, orange items to place throughout the room.

About a month ago, I took a collection of loose papers containing original song material of a couple of artists with whom I occasionally perform and some co-written material and placed them in an old, white binder for safekeeping and easy access.  Since I only use the book on a monthly basis,  I neatly filed it at the edge of a bookshelf in the living room out of the way, a practically out of sight. At least I thought it was out of sight. The chief living room decorator looked up from her ipad the other day and said, "how long has THAT been up there?" which surprised me not a little. The stark white book among the carefully placed books, vases, picture frames and various items of orange and black caught the distinguishing eye of the decorator, and not in a pleasant way.

I agreed, as I in truth knew I would eventually, to move the white binder to a more appropriate location.  The decorator suggested it be placed inside the piano bench, wonderful idea with which I heartily concurred. The problem with that however, was that the bench was chock full of piano tuning receipts, notebooks of original material, beginner piano and guitar publications, and various books and sheet music of popular and classical pieces.

Yesterday I actually made the time to sort through, organize and actually remove extraneous material from the piano bench and neatly file the mysterious white binder in the piano bench.  After about a thirty-minute workout at the the keyboard, I leaned over to scoot the bench neatly under the piano when I realized . . . the vastly reduced weight of the newly organized contents of the bench makes lifting it much easier on my old, aching back. I suppose the entire episode can legitimately be called a 'Win - Win' situation.




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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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

Ray Jozwiak: 2014

(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

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Monday, September 8, 2014

Festival . . .



Event:
    Autumn Harvest Jazz Festival
Start:
    September 13, 2014 12:00 pm
End:
    September 13, 2014 5:00 pm   
Category:
    Festival   
Updated:
    August 11, 2014

For tickets please visit: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/828632

Sept 13/14 Autumn Hues and Jazz Festival  $20

12-5pm Local musicians, food vendors, hay rides

local produce, artisans and crafters.

Presented in Support of the Therapeutic & Recreational Riding School
In Memory of Katherine Wilson

Saturday Sept. 13
Darryl Brenzel Trio
Ronny Smith and Friends
Josh Bayer Trio

Sunday Sept. 14
Ray Jozwiak
Time Squared
Eric Byrd Trio

The performers have been listed by order of appearance.



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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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

Ray Jozwiak: 2014

(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

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Sunday, September 7, 2014

Time To Jump . . .

. . . on the Joan Rivers bandwagon (I don't generally jump on them, you know), yes indeed!.  (Hey, isn't that what everyone in media is supposed to do now?)


 No disrespect intended, I assure you.  I can also assure you there will be NO Ray Jozwiak bandwagon to jump on at all when I go . . . but I digress.

Joan Rivers has been visible to me ever since I knew what a television was. I thought she was funny. She was, in fact, always funny.  Never lost it. I'm not sure what to say about all the plastic surgery. . . it's all already been said anyway.  But hey, she didn't hurt anyone.  What can I say about "E" and making your schtick criticizing how people dress.  I can say, I never watched her there.  In summary, a strain, talented woman who was successful in a very tough (and also a "Man's") business.  I respect that. I respect that in much the same way as I respect Madonna's (or GaGa's - is THAT how you spell it?) business savvy even though I don't buy their music.

On her preferences for a funeral service . . .
"I want craft services, I want paparazzi and I want publicists making a scene! I want it to be Hollywood all the way. I don’t want some rabbi rambling on; I want Meryl Streep crying, in five different accents. I don’t want a eulogy; I want Bobby Vinton to pick up my head and sing “Mr. Lonely.” I want to look gorgeous, better dead than I do alive. I want to be buried in a Valentino gown and I want Harry Winston to make me a toe tag. And I want a wind machine so that even in the casket my hair is blowing just like Beyoncé’s."
– Joan Rivers





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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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

Ray Jozwiak: 2014

(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

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Zimbio
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