pianogonzology

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Eye . . .

. . . may have mentioned that I have self-diagnosed SAD (seasonal affective disorder - a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer.) I seem to have gradually been less and less affected by it over the past several years. But today, I feel it has returned with a vengeance.

I have these water pipes in my basement that invariably, whenever the temperature gets down around 10 degrees F, freeze. I have rigged the stopper in the toilet tank to allow a small leak of water which forces the pump to refill the tank and therefore move some water through the pipe, which is the only foolproof (so far) solution. I leave the door open and the heat vent open in the winter. I even attempt to flush the toilet frequently when such cold temperatures are in the forecast.

Now, after having the entire basement family room (including the half-bath where this pipe resides) renovated and insulation placed in the wall, tucked neatly to both sides of the pipe - it is actually flush against the wall making it an impossibility to wrap the insulation around the pipe, as should be done - and relaxing a bit while hoping that the newly installed insulation will do the trick, the pipe has frozen again. So here I sit, bathroom heater running furiously just past its third hour, waiting for the pipe to thaw, and hoping against all hope that the pipe did not split.

And the weather forecast only holds even more, sub-freezing temperatures.

What do you think?

Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html or at
http://www.ohomusic.com

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, 2015 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:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Monday, February 16, 2015

Different . . .

. . . or so some say . . .

Jeff Lindholm - Dirty Linen- ". . . bands that aren't afraid to tackle tough lyrical musings backed by challenging music. . ."

Peter Thelen - Expose'- "Energized, jubilant & brilliant in many different ways."

Les Reynolds - Indiemusic.com - “OHO’s music makes you want to exclaim the band’s very name!"

OHO Live - 8:00PM

Johnny's Pizza & Pub

5601 Coastal Highway, Bayside

Ocean City, MD 21842

410-524-7499

http://johnnyspizzapub.com/ocean-city-md-location

What do you think?

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Parties . . .

. . . we need more (than two) . . .

. . . if the media (and the electoral system) provided equal time and attention to ALL U.S. political parties instead of just the two with the most money, the most ridiculous of them could objectively be identified for what it is . . .

(from http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-flips-the-script-endorses-executive-overreach)
". . . About a year ago, the Republican condemnation of President Obama shifted – “he doesn’t lead enough” was out, “he leads too much” was in. The more Obama’s policy agenda succeeded in practical terms, the more the GOP argued the president is a lawless, out-of-control tyrannical dictator, hell bent on limitless power without regard for the Constitution. This week, however, Republicans are disgusted by Obama’s lack of executive overreach. GOP lawmakers are suddenly convinced the tyrannical dictator needs even more sweeping powers to act unilaterally in matters of life and death. . .This isn’t so much an example of Republicans temporarily putting aside their principles for the sake of convenience. Rather, it’s fresh evidence that the principles themselves have always been a mirage. . .

Republicans think Obama must stop acting like a dictator and start working with Congress as the Constitution intended – unless we’re talking about wars, in which case Obama should go ahead and circumvent Congress as much as possible.

Republicans think higher deficits are an economic scourge – unless deficit financing advances conservative policy goals, in which case budget shortfalls are better left ignored.

Republicans think government spending is inherently wasteful and counter-productive – unless the investments are directed at their state and/or their policy priorities, in which case government spending is great.

Republicans think the big federal government shouldn’t interfere with local decision making – unless the residents of the District of Columbia make a decision the right disagrees with.

Republicans think Congress should take a leading role in economic policy – unless we’re talking about trade authority, in which case it’s time to curtail Congress’ influence and empower the lawless White House to do as it pleases. . . "

What do you think?

Saturday, February 14, 2015

History . . .

. . . With members Jay (guitar/vocals), Jeff (drums)[later replaced by David], Greg (sax/vocals) and myself (keyboard/vocals), we undertook a string of private affairs and wedding receptions. Soon we decided to dedicate ourselves to the pursuit of a regular engagement, most desirably at a nightclub. Our one weak point however in pursuit of this lofty goal was our repertoire. Our rehearsals were few and far between. In fact, I now cannot remember an actual rehearsal with this incarnation of 'Ful Treatment.' To our chagrin, and self-deceiving disbelief, club owners actually wanted the bands they hired to play the current top-forty popular favorites to which the audience could dance. We, in our haughty laziness (or was it lazy haughtiness?) refused to do that. In fact we simply continued to play as much of our uptempo (and preferably 'newer') material instead of succumbing to the current trend of disco music brought about by the recent resurgent popularity of the Bee Gees thanks to the film Saturday Night Fever. In our defense, we did learn a new number or two, just simply not enough to market ourselves as a top-forty act. Another improvement that we opted not to pursue was the hiring of a fifth band member to play the bass guitar, a definite enhancement to a combo's authenticity when reproducing dance music (as well as rock music in general), and mainly for the reason that it would have resulted in another party with whom to share the money. . .

Three-quarters of which comprise the present day OHO!!! . . .

Blood Brother
by OHO (Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak) live at Belisimo's, Finksburg, February 2015

What do you think?

Friday, February 13, 2015

Try . . .

Words are all that I have to express

All the things I would like to be able to tell you but don't quite know how

Couldn't before and still can't do it now

During all of this time that's transpired little's changed

But a lot has occurred in my thoughts and my feelings for you

Countless superior intellects have searched for answers

I never gave it a whole lot of thought

Until I tried to let you know how much I feel inside

Until I tried to let you know how much I feel inside

For you

I have always believed that it's true

Very few things I'll ever encounter will be quite as precious as you

The magic between us so rare and so new

Though I'm not one of those that you find

Who has always the need to express to so many exactly what he has in mind

I find I have this burning that's deep down inside me

For words I never needed before

Until I tried to let you know how much I feel inside

Until I tried to let you know how much I feel inside

for you

I can't imagine ever having my life depend upon eloquence

And maybe it doesn't

But after all this time together it seems long overdue

And in the end it probably doesn't make a difference in how you feel

If I never say it

Now I'm daily rehearsing the way

To articulate every syllable nuance and stress when I say

How much I need to have you here today

And I won't give it up easily

I suspect that it's just as important to you as it is now to me

The words we use themselves have no meaning

So all the more must I make them just right

Now that I try to let you know how much I feel inside

Until I tried to let you know how much I feel inside

for you

Until I Tried
from Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak ©2007 & 2014 Raymond M. Jozwiak, coming April 7, 2015

What do you think?

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Fail . . .

NPR, of all media outlets, the very one frequently held as the gold standard of electronic journalism, has failed us. . . and this is not the first time. According to NPR, Hilary Clinton is the only 'household' name Democrat considering a run for the presidency. There you have it. Case closed. Over-simplified? Yes! True though? Yes!

But there are other, (and yes, possibly BETTER-qualified) well-suited candidates which NPR has failed to tell us about. Not only have they failed, they have subliminally told their audience that there is virtually no choice. Is that what NPR is SUPPOSED to tell us???

One of the (many) problems with our electoral system is the media's heavy influence over it. A candidate is not serious if he can't afford the millions it takes to wage a campaign, which includes paying the media for the exposure it provides.

In spite of what NPR or any other 'news' outlet tells you, there truly ARE other potential Democratic candidates such as Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Luiz Gutierrez, Al Franken, Tim Kaine & John Kerry. . .and don't forget, independent ones either.

What do you think?

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Wearing Stripes . . .

(from http://www.politicususa.com/2015/02/08/israeli-official-boehner-netanyahu-conspired-to-defy-humiliate-president-obama.html)
". . . His action was also illegal according to 18 U.S.C. § 953. The Logan Act “forbids unauthorized citizens” like John Boehner “from negotiating with foreign governments.” The law expressly prohibits “Any citizen from directly or indirectly commencing or carrying on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence or defeat the measures of the United States.” Netanyahu, an anti-Obama foreigner, cannot be punished under federal law, but Boehner can be and should be charged, tried, convicted, and sentenced to serve time in a federal penitentiary. . . for breaking the law. . .

(from http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/24/fox-news-actually-expresses-shock-and-outrage-over-boehner-and-netanyahu-undermining-president-obama-video/)". . . Since the announcement, Beohner and Republicans have felt a major backlash. But the last place they thought they’d receive outrage from, if at all, is Fox News. Well, that shipped sailed on Friday. Shephard Smith began by reading a quote by former Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk. Indyk slammed Republicans for crossing the line and disrespecting the president. “Netanyahu is using the Republican Congress for a photo-op for his election campaign, and the Republicans are using Bibi for their campaign against Obama,” Indyk said. . . In response, Chris Wallace said he agreed “100 percent,” with the statement and proceeded to express his own disappointment with what Boehner and the Republicans did. . ."

. . . that smacks of “dicey politics.” . . ."

What do you think?