Greg Murat (mur-rah)
Singer-Songwriter Guitarist
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Journa; January 2006
January 28, 2006
Never ask directions from
a two headed tourist. Big Bird
We looked out this morning to find a lake
in the yard up to and covering the first step
of our porch. I am thinking we will most likely
be staying here a bit longer as it may be touch
to sell the property. Then again perhaps we
could get more for it at the moment since it
is waterfront property. Or maybe the Marine
Society would be interested in it as a fish
sanctuary. We are grateful for what we have
and have come to learn that life is ups and
downs. We need to have gratitude in the good
times and patience with the bad. It is all a
part of the circle of life. Speaking of circle
of life we are praying and rooting for our friends
Jason and Blu and hoping to get good news soon.
Kayden has finally given it up to sleep a bit
for his morning nap. Andie is off to the doctor
for her wrists. We are a mess around here but
we are doing the best we can. The quote today
was from Sesame Street. Be careful of whose
directions you follow in life.
January 28, 2006
Andie's Birthday is coming up in
a few days and I am not sure what to do. Andie
truly has the kindest heart of about anyone
I have met. She just naturally cares for people
and gets a great deal of joy out of giving.
That may be the secret of life. She knows it
well. She loves Kayden so much I fear she will
just pop. She is a great mom.
I am so used to playing every single
weekend that now it is hard to adjust to being
free to do things. I mean in as much as you
can do things when you have a baby. When I was
watching The Jimmy Wright Band play on Friday
night and seeing Rosy and April dance I was
thinking how quickly things went from an almost
empty nest to brand new family. Life is full
of surprises. That surprise is one that really
calls upon the MacGougan saying about the happy
and sad in every thing and every moment. The
joy is indescribable so who cares about the
rest.
I haven't heard from Chani since
she, her three kidney stones and Chris left
for their road trip. She is a brave soul. The
whole experience of taking her to the doctor
is another good example of focus. Three out
of four experiences were full of compassion,
kindness and swiftness. We did those 3 together,
the Doctor, the imaging, and the return to the
doctor. Everyone was so nice and caring. We
went with the help of my doctor's receptionist,
Laurie, to a urologist, got an MRI, had it read
and saw the doctor again in about an hour and
a half. It was amazing. The last experience
Chani did on her own and it was the ugly one
starring Tim McCrea, the manager of Safeway
Pharmacy in Lynnwood. He was exceptionally rude,
dishonest and discriminatory towards Chani.
I don't think that his behavior is in line with
Safeway policy. We will see. The fact is that
one mutant human could easily overshadow the
goodness of several other professionals and
evolved humans. Focus. Crisis is not fun. I
prefer calm. So in short, after three very good
experiences and one unfortunate one, Chani was
ready to go on her trip with some good counsel,
some medicine and her own determination to go.
May that stone pass quickly and maybe find its
way to Tim. May it bring with it lots of friends
who like to travel really slowly.
We are looking for a home every
night. We even went to a manufactured lot up
in Smoky Point and checked them out. It is interesting
that Allyson has really followed up on trying
to find something for us. We have gotten two
phone calls, been e-mailed floor plans and mailed
some information. We are still wondering about
pre-qualification questions that we asked someone
else. It looks like we will be biding our time
until spring while we really search what is
out there in the meantime.
Finally our friends Tenzin and Mish
have a new website and an idea for creating
communities that are different from the regular
systems we are used to seeing. Earth
Restoration There ideas for gaining funding
for efforts to do our part to save the planet
are exciting and simple. Check it out.
January
27, 2004 Why
are you not happy? It's because 99 percent of
everything you do, think and say, is for yourself.
We Wei Wu
I had
the best day at physical therapy yesterday.
I learned several things about working on the
computer, driving and playing guitar that will
prove invaluable over time because they all
protect the lower back. That is not my favorite
part of the body. Anyhow, sit forward on your
chair (totally opposite of what I was told in
the past) and tuck one foot back with your knee
bent like a sprinter and place the other foot
in front. You support some of your weight with
the ball of your foot and also with the foot
that is flat on the floor in front of you. I
am trying it and my back hurts so I must need
another lesson. You are also supposed to try
and pull your belly button back towards your
spine. Good luck.
Chani left to visit her mom last
night and called with a condition that sounds
very much like kidney stones. I am hoping it
will pass. She has been working long and hard
this last month to go on a road trip with Chris.
But body crisis does not wait or care what your
plans are. Just like accidents they happen when
they happen. It is a good idea to ask for protection
and health each day while giving thanks at the
end of it for having made it through another
day alive and blessed.
We met Liz's boyfriend Jesse
last night. He seems like a nice fellow: into
sports and working out and taking care of himself.
Erik stopped by to record a song or two so I
didn't get to visit and the studio was in malfunction
mode so we didn't get much of anything done.
That's it. The back is on fire. I am out of
here.
January 26, 2006
Happiness doesn't depend on what we have, but
it does depend on how we feel toward what we
have.
We can be happy with little and miserable with
much. William Dempster Hoard
Reacting and acting have quite different effects
and I am so familiar with both. There are always
two sides to every story and coin. I think a
person can change and make a difference in their
life. We can only change ourselves and that
is one heck of a struggle. Everyone has to see
the need to change and act on it for themselves.
Like the song says make peace with yourself.
One day at a time, sometimes one breathe at
a time. It is good to know you are not alone.
Keep the faith and walk through the fire. Appreciate
what you have. I type this with one hand while
my little boy sees how far the skin on my cheeks
will stretch and if my hair is attached securely
to my head.
January 25, 2006
Chani
is getting ready to head out on her next adventure
with Chris driving around the country between
here and Montana. She is focused and cleaning
us out of camping supplies. I hope we don't
have a power outage or earth event while she
is gone as we will be out of luck. Liz is chaffing
at the bit to move out and be on her own. I
hope she can make it to the end of the school
year but we will have to see. The younger you
are the more desperate you are to have the things
you want right now. Right now. Such is life.
So many phases so little time. We swing on this
pendulum ourselves somewhere between selling
our place, clearing and building, moving somewhere
not too far away, moving to Gig Harbor, Bellingham
or some other state altogether. And we want
it right now.
January 24, 2006
What makes
us discontented with our condition is the absurdly
exaggerated ideas we have of the happiness of
others.
It is a gloriously beautiful Washington
morning. I had a rough go last night and couldn't
sleep so when I finally slept I couldn't wake
up. Now most of the morning is gone and I am
looking at the sun streaming in the front window.
Missy found a spot on the rug where she can
lie in the sunshine. Kayden is sleeping and
Andrea and Chani have gone to Costco. The fish
tank filter sounds like a babbling brook and
I am trying to come out of the fog. We have
people helping to prepare us to sell the property.
Where do we go is the question? Where will work
take me? What schools are best for Kayden. We
looked at houses near Josh and Christina and
a tiny cottage starts at half a million dollars.
Sedona is not much better for price and neither
is Clearwater Beach. So we got an Internet dose
of reality just looking. We are checking some
things out in Poulsbo but prices are outrageous
there as well. It is starting to look like Bothell
or Arlington are possibilities though. Whatever
the case more sunshine would surely be nice,
surely be nice. And look outside. There it is.
Our friend Randy Fickel has
been bouncing some e-mails our way and it is
good to have contact and chat about life. Friends
are some of the best treasures that truly make
life a rich experience. And we know when we
walk in the valley of shadows we are not alone.
January 23, 2006
Count your blessings.
Once you realize how valuable you are and how
much you have going for you, the smiles will
return, the sun will break out, the music will
play, and you will finally be able to move forward
with the life that God intended for you.
Og Mandino
We talked to Christina and Josh today. Christina
called to say we could visit them any time.
We were set to go at the end of the month so
we could see if it is somewhere we might like
to move. It sounds beautiful. We ask ourselves
what would we do for a living there? All the
more reason to make a trip and check it out.
They both sounded great. Josh was stoked about
the Seahawks going to the Super Bowl.
Thanks
for the quote Dale. Thanks for the note Skye-Anna.
My Guestbook is goofy and the entry just disappeared.
Maybe that happens to a lot of entries. I wonder.
I have a bunch of calls to make and things to
fax today that have to due with my time off.
Oh the joy of it all. Kayden is a busy boy this
morning. Andie has been playing with him, has
fed him and now he is working on his sitting
up skills. He played the congas for a few minutes
and then the djimbe. He signed for his bottle
this morning and signed for more food at breakfast.
I can't imagine what it would be like for him
if he didn't understand a few signs. It seems
to relieve his frustration. From the sounds
in the living room I would say he is either
working out or working something out of him.
Better go. Count your blessings and you will
find a reason to smile.
January 22, 2006
The Seahawks are going to the Super
Bowl!
I want to share the thoughts of my friend Casey
Garland from an e-mail he sent me. We are slowly
working on a CD for him of the wonderful music
he has written from his experience as a river
rafting guide for some twenty years.
Where is the magic?
In the music, in our hearts, in our heads, somewhere
inside and somewhere out there.
Here's another perspective I'd like to share:
Our minds can be wonderful, but
at the same time they can be our very worst
enemy. They give us so much trouble. Sometimes
I wish the mind were like a set of dentures,
which we could take out and leave on our bedside
table overnight. At least we would get a break
from its tiring and tiresome escapades.
We are so at the mercy of
our minds that even when we find that the spiritual
teachings strike a chord inside us, and move
us more than anything we have ever experienced,
still we hold back, because of some deep-seated
and inexplicable suspicion.
Somewhere along the line, though, we have to
stop mistrusting. We have to let go of the suspicion
and doubt, which are supposed to protect us
but never work, and only end up hurting us even
more than what they are supposed to defend us
from. Casey Garland
Right on Casey.
We spent the afternoon and evening with Kathy
and Dale at a Seahawks party watching the game,
well, Andie and I were mostly watching Kayden,
but we caught the game and a whole lot of food
at the same time. Baby is sleeping now. Chani
is e-mailing friends from the living room and
Andie and I are ready to call it a day. Baby
has been waking up at 4 or 5 am every morning.
I can't wake up with this medication but Andie
does. God bless her. It was a fun day with our
friends and Kayden did great especially considering
his sensitivity to loud noises. With dogs barking,
people yelling at the TV and blenders whirring,
he did fantastic. He only cried once or twice
because of the new surroundings. It was good
to spend time with our friends. I had a few
hours with Mike Daily at his studio this morning
listening and talking and watching him work.
He is the race winner, steady, steady with that
natural philosophy that Tony Robbins calls CANI:
constant and never-ending improvement.
January
21, 2006 Be
what you seem to be, and seem to be what you
really are. Sarah Ban Breathnach
Some of us feel a constant craving for something
more in our lives. I was reading little excerpts
from one of Andie's books and it was addressing
fulfilling that craving by over coming fears
like not being good enough, and a host of other
"not being" thoughts. There was another
reference to finding fulfilling work. What a
concept. Liz just said "You need to find
something you enjoy doing so you don't wake
up saying oh God I have to go to work."
The French have a saying "Don't do what
you love, love what you do.?" What ever.
Again look for the happy thought. I love playing
and singing. I really enjoy recording people.
I love to write. I love to help people; with
their computers, with anything really. Andie
and I both find helping to be very fulfilling.
We are incorporating that into our search for
something we can do from home together. We are
meeting with some people today to put our house
up on the market for sale. That will certainly
free us up for anything and everything. The
truth is the truth. Stick to it and you won't
have to remember what you said yesterday or
the day before because the truth will still
be the same.
January 20, 2006 There
are glimpses of heaven to us in every act, or
thought, or word, that raises us above ourselves. Arthur P. Stanley
I heard from Maria and her grandson
has gone to live with his father. Maria and
her husband had been mom and dad to Dakota for
a good part of his little life. Maria is happy
that he is nearby and they can visit often.
Andie talked to Christina and she and Josh and
Saria are loving California. Their room has
a door that opens out on the pool. Josh can
run around barefoot all the time like he likes.
Christina started school this week. We wish
we could go down there to see them some time
soon.
It is a cool gray morning
here in Washington. Chani is putting grommet's
in vinyl prints of her paintings and I am tapping
at these keys before doing my physical therapy.
I need to make some phone calls regarding PT
and doctor's appointments also.
Thanks for the quote Dale. I feel extra tired
today for some reason. I need a little glimpse
of heaven. Home again on a Friday night and
it seems strange but nice, it is that saying
there is something to be sad or happy about
in every moment. Pass the happy please.
I talked to Dee and Hans about their recording
session at Silent T Studios and she said she
didn't like the recording. It took a while to
realize she did not like feel and sound of her
performance. She needs to be recorded live in
a club where she shines. I know a guy who could
make that happen.
John Matthews called from Mexico
and told me he got together with Manolito. He
said Dale is as dark as a coconut and totally
in his element. He heads out to the clubs at
night with his flute and goes in and plays his
butt off like he does so well. We talked about
all going down together next year or the year
after. That would be good; making music in Mexico.
January 19, 2006 If
my heart can become pure and simple like that
of a child, I think there can be no greater
happiness than this. Kitaro Nishida
This month has been won with changes
at every turn. I just noticed I used the word
won when I had meant to use the word one. I
like won better. It is funny how that changes
what I was just thinking. It must be that Scott
MacGougan influence again. It is my sister Deborah's
birthday today. Happy birthday and peace in
your heart. Our third grand child is on the
way with Freedom and Natalie. We are as Dandelion
fairies blown about the planet. Arizona, California,
Alaska, and on we go. We all have traveler's
hearts. It is good to have Chani here. She is
tattooing like crazy. I am really proud of her.
Josh, Christina and Saria left for California
on the 9th and we haven't heard from them since.
I assume they are busy with life, school and
parenting. I need to check on Sarah Maria and
see how she is.
I am going to physical therapy for
my back and have to make an appointment with
a specialist; I have three discs that are bulging.
Fun stuff. The happy part of that is I have
to slow down and think about every thing and
stay home until it gets better. Meanwhile Kayden
grows and grows and Andie glows whenever she
is with him. You can almost see the love floating
on the air around them as she sits on the sofa
holding him. This morning I put some little
shoes on his feet for the first time. He was
pretty excited about that. When Andie was feeding
him he was clicking his heels together. He wants
to walk now at 7 months of age. Lord help us
when he gets going.
I have no gigs and no more weekends
of playing for the first time in years. It seems
strange. I am hoping for a change in a whole
new direction. Bring it on.
January
16, 2006 Martin
Luther King Day "Love is the only force
that can turn an enemy into a friend.
The week has flown by with medication, doctor's
appointments, physical therapy and finally a
brief visit to the MacGougan's household on
the weekend. Cafe de Paris was canceled with
no notice. It seems that Firmin, the owner says
his rent was raised $800 a month so no more
music. I am glad really. It opens new opportunities
for me. We are blessed with so many amazing
friends and they really make us rich in life.
It does not take a great deal to make Andie
and I happy. Scott MacGougan told me while we
were riding in his car " I am going to
tell you what I told my kids about a thousand
times. In every moment you can find a reason
to be sad and a reason to be happy. You get
to chose which one you focus on. Do you want
to be happy or do you want to be sad? You can
focus on having a job where you aren't respected
and treated in a way you deserve and have earned
or you can focus on having a lovely wife who
loves you and will stand by you no matter what.
You get to chose. " I said "Gee Scott
if you had told my this about 20 years ago I
wouldn't have had to be so Eeroe-ish all these
years. We truly had a wonderful time relaxing
and talking and watching movies and eating vast
quantities of food. I did not bring my laptop
because it was Scott and Debbie's anniversary
and I didn't want him working on my resume.
He had me go on line and retrieve it from an
e-mail I sent to my friend Debbie at Starbucks.
We rewrote it and put it up on Monster. We looked
at houses in Gig Harbor with a friend of theirs
who is a real-estate agent. The first one was
the best and we might have pursued it further
since it had a studio. The studio did not have
a bathroom and the house needed work so we went
on looking. Every thing went down hill from
there. We also went to granola restaurant called
The Mandolin Cafe and listened to a singer song
writer and we even played a couple of songs
for Scott and Deb's anniversary. I go back to
the doctor in the morning, physical therapy
on Wednesday and it is about time to head south
and talk about what opportunities are or are
not available with the old ancient corporation.
God bless..
January 12, 2006
It
is almost more important how a person takes
his fate than what it is. ( Thanks Dale)
Jump back on when you get bucked off. That's
what they say about horse back riding. The same
is true for anything. It is time to jump back
on. I have been nursing myself back to health
and I am sore. I need to see what is in store
if I turn over some new stones and look down
some new roads.
Josh and Christina left for California on Sunday.
I don't expect to hear much from them and I
am sure they are fine. I really would like some
time to talk with Josh one on one. Christina's
school will have them down there for a year
and I believe that is probably where they will
stay. When Liz moves out, which I am sure won't
be that long from now, our options are pretty
open. Sarah is planning to move somewhere sunny.
Chani will probably be back in Alaska. Rob,
who is a son to me, will still be here. Freedom
said he was moving back here last trip, but
this time he said he is never moving back because
Natalie will never leave Arizona. The world
moves on. At this point it is simply a question
or two to answer. Where do we want to be? It
is difficult to imagine being far from our friends
and that has kept us here but we are now open
again to new possibilities. We just need to
focus on what they are. Here or some place else?
What is our fate? Whatever it is I hope we take
it good.
 |
Chani is really taken with Kayden and he is taken with her. He just snuggles up to her and he laughs. He loves her multicolored hair and all the colors of her tattoos. She is like a big cartoon to him. He is pretty particular about who holds him but he gave Chani a big smile and went right to her. She was carrying him around this morning and he was practicing his new skill, blowing spit bubbles with his lips. He sounds like a little motor boat. Chani said "Man, he is such a joy giver." It is true that he brings so much joy to our little home. Happy New Year! |
January
11, 2005 We
are shaped and fashioned by what we love. Goethe.
What makes us tick? How do we
keep on when we are out of gas? When we are
troubled by pain, emotional or physical, what
is the reason to go on trying, to go living.
The people we love. We work, we play, we nurture,
we fuss, we fight, we talk, we listen. We help
each other grow. There is a lyric in one of
my songs that asks "Am I the only one who
ever feels this kind of doubt?" At times
those kinds of feelings can put up a blinder
to the wonderful things in life. The people
who love us and need us. The healing that needs
to take place in the hearts of so many of us
wounded as children and who are now reeking,
or in the past have reeked havoc on our adult
lives. I have maintained noble silence at times
when others have told the one of two sides of
a story. Now I am being encouraged to tell some
of the things I have held inside that might
put me in a little better light. I am reluctant.
But perhaps it would help someone else heal.
I have had situations at work where I have written
letters of recommendation and heralded the praises
of other workers who were belittling me to the
higher ups at the same time. We both had their
advancement in mind from different perspectives.
Now I am thinking of the power of love and the
power of looking inside for answers and at the
same time needing something more. It is so easy
for me to pray for others: for Rosemary, Debra,
Maria, Joshua, Kate and anyone else but me.
I wonder why that is? I wonder why? In the end
I know it will all turn out because love will
see us through.
 |
January
10, 2006 Make the most of every moment you have for do not know how many there are, only that they are finite, Make each one count. Chani unflinchingly drove me to and from the doctor as I cannot drive or operate machinery on this medication. We had a nice visit and reminisced about skiing and talked of her love of the snow. Her grandmother Rosemary still has a long medical ordeal ahead of her so we would all appreciate your continued prayers. The prayers have really helped so far. Jimmy Culler stopped by last night to visit. We haven't seen him much as he has been spending quality time with his son Jameson. He is one fellow who gets the most out of life. He, Mike Daily and Jimmy Wright have a nice trio going and they are having a blast. I hope to make some cameo appearances with them at a few of their shows. Kayden is sleeping in my arm and holding my thumb in his hand. Last night he was ready for a bottle and a bit fussy when Jimmy showed up. He saw him, held out his arms and Jimmy took him. Kayden put his little arms around Jimmy and laid his head on his chest and was content to stay there. What joy they bring us, these little ones. |
January 9, 2006
Your
vision will become clear only when you can look
into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams:
Who looks inside, awakens. Carl Jung
Up and at 'em this morning going to the Radiology
Clinic for an MRI. I think the stone passed
out in bits at the end of the week and over
the weekend. Three trips to the Chiropractor
gave me the first relief from back spasms just
today. I have been having to walk with a cane
and ingesting pain and spasm medication. Enough.
Now 3 weeks of physical therapy.
My birthday was on par with my 50th
and maybe even better in a different way because
it was at Rob's home and not in some bar. All
the "kids" were there and that was
the best present I could have ever hoped for
anyway. Both Kayden and Saria were there too.
To top it off Freedom told us that he and Natalie
were going to have our third grand child this
year. Chani and Sarah both looked at Andie and
said "Don't even think about it. We are
not having any kids." I think the only
answer is for us to either foster parent or
open a daycare for tiny tots and infants. First
we will have to find more suitable dwellings.
The birthday was great and brought together
a wide spectrum of friends and family. Mike
and April made and appearance. Jason, Blu, Chris,
Rebel were introduced to lots of new people.
Chris broke out a bottle of Millennium Wine
from Columbia winery that is so wonderful and
he gave me a bottle of Peninsula, my favorite
red wine. Dale and Kathy came and both groups
stayed for the long hall. Freedom, Rob, Josh,
Sarah, Mish, Joules and even me all sang way
into the night and early morning. It was great
to see Joules. It was heavy on my heart to see
her having to struggle with health issues that
have worn on her body but not her spirit. We
compared walking sticks. Chuck-O, the gatherer
of stones and natural incense wood from Peru,
even made it. So did Steven from the original
Freedom Tribe. He wrote one of my favorite tunes
in the world, Time Goes By. I love to watch
Freedom pour out his soul and to look around
and see all those people, Clarity, Tanni, Christina,
and so many more all singing their hearts out
with him and putting the power of their spirits
to his words. I love seeing Josh playing right
along to the tunes. Sarah Maria sang a tune
or two with me and then played one of Freedom's
songs to him. He was deeply moved.
Dale and Kathy gave me a DVD of
James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Neil Young from 1971
in a live BBC Concert TV show. I watched JT
3 times, once was enough for Cat and Neil. They
were more painful to hear in that their performances
were far from stellar. JT shined though.
I am so thankful for all the people
who shared the evening with me, for the gifts
and cakes and food and wine and most of all
their presence. Time together is the best of
all. You are greatly loved. God bless you all..
Our Sunday dinner with Andie, Faith
and I was very peaceful and enjoyable too. Home
fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy corn
and biscuits. I thought I was a boy back in
Georgia in a good way.
January 7, 2006
I am listening to the iPod
Andie got me for Christmas and becoming familiar
with John Mayer. Wow. Listening to new music
is pretty humbling. I am thinking and feeling
my way into some new tunes but it seems painfully
slow. I don't know why. Anyway, Chani left me
a lovely homemade card this morning and reminded
me of our trips across country to Florida, The
Big Red Boat and other memories that are among
my most happy. We did have some real adventures.
She grew up good.
It was another long night for Andie
as Kayden doesn't seem to like sleeping anymore.
He is the same this morning. So much anger when
it comes to nap time. I have flash forwards
to 14 and 15 and want to run towards the horizon.
Life, the cycle and saga continues for each
of us on our separate timed paths. At the final
curtain we can hope for less regrets than satisfaction.
I believe we are our own judges and we are building
our after lives with the beliefs we acquire
while on this plane. We create what we want
as Phil Randoy told me last night. I had mentioned
that I could find a pile of poop at the rainbow's
end. I have a high tolerance for pain and muck.
I let myself be stuck when all I have to do
is arise and move a bit and it will all be better,
or at least different. Different is good.
I am looking forward to seeing
family and friends today.
January 6, 2006
Rob and Freedom fly in tonight and will be playing
at a Thai Restaurant on Queen Anne Hill. I don't
know the name and would like to see the show
but I haven't really ventured out in some time.
I think I may be on the mend. I visited Dr.
Jim Burton three times this week. He is old
school Palmer Chiropractic. Hurts like hell
but aligns things that haven't been in place
in years. This morning he got two really misaligned
vertebrae to pop back in and this is the least
amount of pain I have had since I started this
whole ordeal. Yea. Andie is snuggled on the
couch with Kayden. He has had a really high
fever but seems to be kicking it out with the
help of silver water. He hasn't been sick since
birth and he has been exposed to a ton of stuff.
The silver water knocks it out before it gets
started. That is it. I am looking forward to
seeing family and friends tomorrow evening to
celebrate life, the births of Rob, Freedom,
me and everyone else as well. I wish I was for
sure about time and place. Jason, Blu, Kathy,
Dale, Ronnie, Jimmy, Mike & April and anyone
else who wants to visit and listen to the boys
play some tunes, we can always hook up here
and go over to Rob's if that is what we are
doing. Since I won't be able to stay awake long
enough tonight to talk to them I will let you
know tomorrow. If all goes well it will be the
first time all the kids are together with me
in one place at one time in a very long long
time. I hope it happens.
January 3, 2006
Still unable to move much
due to the spasms in my back. What the heck?
This is getting ridiculous. I have to cancel
another weekend of playing and I have been unable
to drive to work for days. I am seeing Dr. Jim
Burton and it seems to help although I had a
spasm on the way to the car this morning after
treatment. New is MRI and physical therapy.
It came from working bent over a table doing
manual labor for a month. Not what I was meant
to be doing. Katie came by for some CD labels
yesterday. She was making $7000 a month working
for an RV place until the gas prices put her
out of business. Gas is a concern for all of
us isn't it. At least we know we are lining
the pockets of Bush and his buddies each time
we fill it up. Our country may be bankrupt by
the time he leaves office but he and his pals
will be laughing all the way to their banks. Give us peace on earth. Peace.
January 2, 2006 Love
can make a ripple that spreads around the world
spilling grace every where it goes.
It is a quiet night around the home
front with Andie playing Spite and Malice on
the Internet, Chani and Liz visiting with each
other, me going painfully through my last solo
performance at Provinces. Tape does not lie.
I could swear someone snuck into the computer
and added 2 cups of suck to my performance.
They even mysteriously untuned my guitar. That
is a good reason to record because just when
you think you were right on the play back says
maybe it wasn't as groovy as you thought at
the time. It is all about having fun and letting
go. Don't bury your talents but build on them.
I wish we could be working from home and doing
what we love. Even though I have been sick,
in pain and medicated, it sure has been nice
to spend so much time with my family. Chani
is whipping out the tattoos, setting goals and
achieving them one at a time. Kayden still thinks
she is the coolest. He had a rough go tonight
we tried putting him down without his bottle
and he threw a fit. He was so mad. I gave in
because I said you can only hold him like this
for a minute. Why leave him to cry when you
could be snuggling with him. Maybe subconsciously
he will remember the love when he is 15 and
thinks we are dumb bunnies. Andie rocked him
to sleep and that was better for all of us.
You gotta love him.
Chani says her grandmother
Rosemary is doing better. Thank you all who
offered and continue to offer up prayers, to
my dad who can rally a chain of prayer warriors
in a heart beat. He has helped save a lot of
lives with his and his brothers and sisters
faithful prayers. God bless you all in this
new beginning, in this new year..
January 1, 2006
The new year, a time for rebirth and new hope.
We face another year of our lives seeking peace,
comfort and caring for each other. Chani seems
very relaxed and Kayden loves her to pieces.
She is kind and loving to him. Chani is going
up to Anacortez to see her grand mother Rosemary.
She is concerned about how she is doing, as
we all are. My dad called and I asked him to
put her on a prayer chain. I couldn't really
talk much because my back is spasming. I am
a hurting unit but it is a new day and new year.
Too much medication to make much sense so I
am signing off for now.
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Greg Murat (mur-rah)
Singer-Songwriter Guitarist