life. so...i have lung cancer! it turns out to be a slow growing one which is darn nice if you are going to get cancer. a pill that is TAILORED for my genetic makeup holds my cancer and lung tumor at bay. targeted therapy it's called. a year since diagnosis and i am still doing well with treatment. lucky me. living life like there is no tomorrow nor yesterday is advice today. I will soon start radiation to clear the tumor. i have given up nothing i can't live without and gained so much in this process. I TRY NOT TO COMPLAIN MUCH, JUDGE MUCH, HATE MUCH. ​i still love, cry, laugh, jam, sing and read VORACIOUSLY. hit me up for lessons in music but take away my love for life.

with my health as i am not a young man anymore. when i want to learn a song i know it will take more effort in the playing. 
when you walk on stage with new material practiced you now have a new place to practice but the audience calls it a performance. After the umteenth time performing a piece it starts to become something you own.  

Learning an instrument takes much patience and focus over time and repeated attempts.

Give yourself that time.

​You will never regret it.

Call of the wild from zombies 2 and ocean eyes by billie eilish for lottie who is learning to play these on ukulele.

wildwood flower is up to speed and the crosspicking is getting easier. 

for some reason i got on a genesis and gentle giant kick yesterday! "Just the same" by gentle giant is nicely syncopated with some great ensemble playing.

learning how molly tuttle uses right hand cross picking which i avoided because fingers & pick seemed easier in the beginning of my guitar study. i already had the hybrid pick down so never attempted this style. finding that i love the feel of the pick doing the job and slowly working up wildwood flower. very fun stuff!

listening to larry carltons solo for kid charlemagne taught by rick beato and tim pierce. learned many years ago but still a fantastic example of playing thru changes. 

watching Dolly partons version of shine by collective soul and the musicians she had on the video - Jerry Douglas-Dobro, Olivia Smiley-fiddle, Barry Bales-bass, Chris Thile-mandolin kick it into high gear at the end.