True Rule: Don't Knock Till You Try

In the morning we learned about language with space, stars, and the sun and moon.

In the afternoon, having learned the rules of science, we focused on the rules of humans.

In the evening I learned it was Johnny Cash's birthday.  As I'd never purchased a reasonably expensive bottle of liquor to keep in stock in my apartment, I decided to finally taste some of Dylan's new whiskey.

So now I'm celebrating being alive on the Earth, which is, when you're lucky, heavenly, especially places like the one in this painting I found on the street.  Seriously, I walk out the door for an evening stroll and it's sitting there next to the trash by the side of the road.  The neon lights and street lamps were momentarily upstaged by this supposedly unwanted art.

Now I will listen to, yes, of course, that song about the woman that Bob & Johnny sang together, which fits the mood.  After all, I've been reading American history, and I just wrapped up the Great Depression of the 30's.  Perhaps, if I indulge enough of this spirit (why not? It's Hump Day, and this one's been quite a hump), I'll listen to that one they wrote together: "Wanted Man."  Prohibition is over, so it's all above board.  Then again, one of my favorite Cash verses is from "The Highwayman" by The Highwaymen.  Makes me think of my grandfathers, one of whom used to be a traveling fertilizer salesman in the 30's, and one of whom was a highway patrolman, riding the highways of New York after years of hard work and rebellious ways.

Raise your glass to all the musicians who help us do what we've gotta do as we enjoy life, work hard pulling each other up and make love the most of what we are seeing, loving being

God bless amazing friends, loved ones, snowfilled landscapes, craft growlers, the city, us, Tom Waits, and Nighthawks at the Diner

Dear Universe,

If I feel like this now, I must have felt really amazing before, which I suppose means I am lucky:

In August 2018 I decided to go to my 1st ever full Phish festival, which would also be my first show at Watkins Glen (once upon a time, the site of the largest concert in American history), and not far from where I went to college.  Then, with my bags packed and ready to go, I learned from a friend's text message that the show had been canceled due to water treatment issues from a storm.  So I sat at home listening to live rock music.  I cleaned my apartment, took out my A/C, and opened my window and the kitchen so I had a wind tunnel effect going as I stared at the comings and goings of New Yorker's on Broadway.  I also drank beer, wine some nights, and felt pretty disappointed.  I also rediscovered this song below that I hadn't heard much since college.

Now I'm sitting by a fire with a glass of Wild Turkey.  My brother-in-law left some behind from the holidays and said I could have it.  I rarely drink liquor, although I've been experimenting more this past year because I'm acquiring a taste.  When it comes to alcohol, I can take it or leave it, but sometimes it's the perfect medicine for the soul.  So when I do, I prefer whiskey, by a fire, with Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash singing Nashville Skyline's "Girl from the North Country."  

I wish that you experience all love you could possibly live

Some more on the way

Working and having fun sometimes

On Thursday we were beginning a new chapter, so I decided to skip around the book and find something interesting.  I've taught the book many times, but it had been more than a year, so I picked the one about how people react to change.  The theme was nomadic Mongolian reindeer herders, but we only got to the vocabulary and didn't make it to the listening section.

So, of course, today I get a new student in class, and it's my first student from Mongolia in six years.  He provided some valuable insight.