Espressing Myself

Bradbury's in MadIson, WI was highly recommended by Yelp and locals alike. I have to say, their dark-roasted espresso blend, brewed through a bottomless portafilter, easily rivaled the espresso at Joe in NYC and Intelligentsia in LA. great light crepes, too.

From the Road...

Photos taken from the LAGQ's current trip.

GREAT veggie tacos in Phoenix

I turned 50 on the road

John navigating, Bill driving from Iowa City to Madison, WI

Wisconsin greets us...

Poster at Overture Hall for the concerts Friday-Sunday.

Be Happy. See HAPPY!

This evening I saw a film that struck me deeply. The film is called, simply, "Happy". Directed by Roko Belic and with Tom Shadyac as executive producer, this is a film that carries a message without all the "holier-than-thou" attitude and force-feeding that many films and books of this genre display. Through scenes of people from all walks of life, it helps us realize that happiness comes from within. Not from without. From a simple and money-poor rickshaw wallah in Calcutta, a formerly wealthy German businessman turned charity volunteer for Mother Theresa's shelter for the sick and dying, we witness how amassing monetary quantity does not bring happiness, but attachment. From a clip from a talk by the  Dalai Lama we learn how compassion is inherently in our very bloodstream from the moment we're born. From a visit to the centenarians on the island of Okinawa we feel younger just watching their zest for life. A truly remarkable event. Happiness is contagious.


It made me think of a couple of quotes I've recalled almost daily for years now, and yet I've failed to put them into practice on a regular basis. The first one is something I read when I was a college student; something that the great Mahavatar Babaji, alleged immortal yogi of all yogis who still lives among us earth dwellers today, said: "One's happiness [in life] is directly proportional to one's own self-discipline". 


The other quote is something I will always remember from a lecture tape I had of the Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hahn, which I listened to so much that I eventually wore it out: "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy". This is something that I've found so very true and useful for me personally. Smiling when everything around you is crashing becomes a discipline in its own rite.


I encourage you to see this film. And let yourself absorb it. You may find yourself tomorrow with a bag of quarters feeding parking meters for total strangers!

The Best EVER

I felt inspired to share this! Yes, this is perhaps the very best cup of espresso I've ever made. It was, in fact, SO good, that reproducing it exactly, even by myself and my trusty Rocket Giotto espresso machine, may be impossible ever again. Half of this cup was crema - that airy, frothy, thick and foamy coffee essence that sits atop only the finest shots. The blend:

1/3rd Jones PRC Espresso blend (from Pasadena, CA)

1/3rd Jones Cara Mia Espresso blend (from Pasadena, CA)

1/3rd Buon Giorno's Italian blend (from Ft. Worth, TX).

Have an inspired day!

Wanna try yourself? Here are the links for the beans:

http://www.thebestcoffee.com/

http://www.bgcoffee.net/

Just a Beautiful Video!

Sometimes a beautiful video or picture speaks for itself.

2012 Activity Update

Here is what I'm doing thus far in 2012. Perhaps I'll see you at one of these events. By the way, any recommendations for the best espresso in any of these towns and cities is most welcome. Portland, no need to respond; I know I'll be going to Stumptown while I'm there!

April 14 

Philadelphia Guitar Society 

http://www.phillyguitar.org/

May 8-9 

Fresno, CA

Six-String Showcase Concert

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

7:30 p.m.

Fresno City College

contact kevin.cooper@fresnocitycollege.edu or 559-442-4600 x8461

June 8-9 

Portland, OR 

http://portlandclassicguitar.com/concert_schedule.html

July 23-27

Hartt School 

http://www.harttschoolguitarfestival.com

August 6-9

Brno, Czech Republic

http://www.guitarcz.com/afestival.html

Apocalypse not now: 2012 doomsday predictions debunked by NASA

Apocalypse not now: 2012 doomsday predictions de

bunked by NASA

Knee Surgery

Well, I guess I am, after all, one of those guys who thought things could just continue on as they are forever. Although I've had a few aches and pains in my knees over the years, it's never been anything that didn't go right away. This time it didn't go away.

After quite a lot of flying over the summer, in late August I got off a flight with a stiff right knee. This kind of thing would usually go away after walking a bit. But it didn't go away, and got progressively stiffer. Eventually painful. By the 2nd week of September, I couldn't walk without a lot of pain. An MRI showed I had a torn meniscus, as well as a damaged MCL. The only way to correct the cartilage tear was surgery. I hadn't had surgery since I had my tonsils removed when I was a kid! So the idea freaked me out a bit.

Pretty amazing in the end. Just 2 little "vampire" marks on my knee, and zero pain. Just a little stiffness. My knee actually feels better than it has in months. But since they corrected some unanticipated bone wear by causing what they call a "micro fracture",  I have to keep the weight off it for at least 6 weeks, and walk with crutches. CRUTCHES HURT! I also can't drive. After 6 weeks, I can start physical therapy.

Anyway, I look forward to this episode being over.

Trying Out a new 2011 Daniel Friederich cedar top

I stopped by GSI to try their new Daniel Friederich guitar. I will always think of Friederich as the world's greatest luthier (my opinion). I decided to play my arrangement of "Wild Mountain Thyme", as it's such a beautiful tune, and one that sounded decent without my thumbnail.

Copenhagen Phil Flash Mob!

At Copenhagen Central Station. This is what music is all about!