Space

Wed., May 19, 2010. 8:30 pm during the Yankees/Rays game. Ouch!! Just got back from taking some space up in Woodstock. Carol and I enjoyed a good day Mon there, then she worked Tues so I hungout there a couple of days. Digging the vibe. Reading, playing, building. My 30 plus year "This Old House" project. Met some new people, neighbors, musicians, and spoke to dear friends. Going back up for Memorial Day weekend. Love it. Working with my new 6 string bass to get a feel for that. Trying to do new things. Played basses, cello and Tubas in some duos Sun at Mayfest. Fun. Working toward 50th HS reunion in a few weeks. Looking forward. We're trying to keep healthy as well, but too busy, which is why I took off for the Woodstock house. A little space. Thinking about all my dear friends dealing with diagnosis and other issues....Sophie..Dick...John...Di....Barbara...Tricia..Peter.....Love you all and you know I'm on your side. Keep positive. JIMBO

Numbers and Family

Thurs. April 29, 2010. 10:30 pm. Went to Dr. Berman's clinic yesterday and all numbers are looking great. Yahoo!! Tonight we had dinner with Brother Bruce and his Grandchildren Ramy and Rasy. Beautiful kids. They recently got back from Disney. Family man!! While I'm talking to Bruce, Kim calls. He had called Bruce and he didn't answer so he calls me and I hand Bruce the phone, "it's for you...." . Family.....And today we called BJ Garthwaite to wish her Happy Birthday.....Family. Brenda came to have dinner with Mom tonight as she does consistently on Thursday nights. Fun. Family... I visited with my friend John today at the hospice. Things are challenging but the man has inspiring spirit, intellect, and grace. Bless him.
Speaking of inspiring minds/people I saw DiMo (Diane Moser) at the Jazz Collective gig tonight. She looks great and I can't wait to have breakfast soon with her to continue the conversation and learning.
We have a Spring too busy with gigs. Had to turn down a bunch. The Woodstock house is ready and we can't wait to get there. Memorial Day weekend for sure if not before. Got my artwork back from the hospital yesterday. Nice to see it again.
Enjoy the flowers a blooming guys. We went to an amazing open garden Saturday with Eric and Joanne. We'll go to more as the year progresses...we love the Gardens all over.
See ya soon. JIMBO

Annual Art Show

April 10, 2010. 1:40 pm. Dropped off 4 pieces for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Patients Art Show opening April 19th for 4 days. 2 pieces are acrylics from 1988 (Bass theme) and 1 "Stravinsky" wood collage from 1967, and one wood collage (another Bridges piece) from 2010. Thursday was 90 degrees here. I spent the day in the Woodstock house. Looking great. We'll get the water on etc. in late April. Friday went to Stokes Forest and toured campsites, lake, streams and views from my childhood: Lake Ocquitunk, Big FlatBrook, Sunrise Mountain etc. I was going to camp and fish for the weekend with Troop 5 alumni but I had a problem with dust and cold in some cabins so I came home to recuperate. We're ok but not in shape to camp now. Taking time to listen today to wonderful music; then checkout a few athletic events on TV. Maybe get to a garden or 2 this weekend to see the blossoms and flowers. Enjoy the spring. Thanks for keeping up with us. We had some wonderful family times throughout the holidays. KEEP HEALTHY. Jimbo.

March Winds

Tues. March 16th, 2010. 4 am. I'm up thinking about things. My 50th Columbia High School Reunion is approaching in early June. Looking forward to seeing old friends, and think about lost friends. We had some severe storms with flooding and downed trees here in the NorthEast. A few rehearsals and meetings etc. were cancelled. A week ago Saturday, on March 6th our Blues Band, JJ Blues played at Hat City Kitchen in Orange, a rebuilt place (formerly Ricci's in the Valley). We tore it up man. The big crowd loved our band...the energy, the sound, the soulful sounds. Hope to go back in April. Thanks for coming out to hear us guys. Then on the next Monday I got a call that Music 4 Kids, I program/concert series I created 10 years ago needed a program for Saturday. Something happened to the original artists, so I put together our Jazz Band with some of our Blues Band and quickly created a "Jazz and Blues Connection" program. We did 2 shows with no rehearsals, just play the music. Big hit, both shows. Fun too. My favorite part was having my 10 year old neighbor Liah (a Seth Boyden School kid) sing "O Pato" (the Duck) with us in Portuguese, a Bossa Nova tune....her Dad's a fine Brazilian Tenor Man. Liah had sold me my Girl Scout Cookies this year. I still love those mints. Then on Sunday at 8:30 am I get a call that our Symphony Conductor was stuck at a hospital and could not conduct our rehearsal at 9:30. I swung by and picked up his scores, and conducted a 2 1/2 hour rehearsal. Fortunately I knew most of the tunes pretty well since I had been coming to rehearsals (Mozart's Magic Flute Overture, Symphony #40, and Bach Double Violin Concerto, and Bizet's Carmen Suite #1). It went well, everyone cooperated, but I was beat up. Couldn't do anything else but rest Sunday. (That concert is next Sunday and I hope brother Bruce can come hear it.)
Carol at the same time had a problem with the Prius and had to get towed back home, so she missed the Women's Seder at Rebekah's Synagogue (Temple Beth El where my Son in Law Greg is the Rabbi). Carol is disappointed to miss seeing the Grandkids but I'm very happy she got off the NJ Turnpike safely. That's a brutal place to be stuck. She was about 100 miles from home when it happened. Ouch!! It seems a pump on the Prius went bad. It'll be an expensive repair I'm afraid. I had to cancel my trip to Fla. for next week. Different things didn't workout schedule wise. We have to get ready for our Seders etc. So, no Spring Training this year. Next year we hope to go earlier in the season. I miss going to see Kim and Jane, but look forward to seeing them at the Beach soon. Speaking of summer approaching, the rest of this week will be highs in the 60s. I'm getting ready in my bones to get back to Woodstock. Can't wait. So everybody....Peace and good health to you all. Since I last wrote 2 more musicians are dealing with medical issues, and 2 young friends as well. My prayers go out to all for an immediate healing. Keep positive. It helps. JIMBO

A OK

Thurs. Feb 25th, 2010. 2 pm. Yesterday we drove into the city. Dr. Berman says my numbers are all good. See ya in April Doc!! Then we visited the 12th floor to hug my nurse Catriona and our Social Worker (ie good friend) Donna. Just a brief visit, but so important. On our way home we swung by 48th street to pickup tix for "A View From The Bridge". EZ. By the time we got home we were exhausted. It always seems to be draining for us to make the trips to the hospital. I bet it's the emotions of it all more than the physical energy it takes. We read about Cancer research and successes and losses in the NY Times and in the MSKCC Newsletter. Very interesting stuff. My friend Diane Moser has shared on her blog several interesting articles, writings etc. etc. as well. I don't feel like thanking Cancer for enriching my life, that would be too weird for me, but I have to say it changed a few things for sure. I have a different perspective shall we say. I enjoy space. I guess my life is more intimately important at this stage. I do enjoy alot, I'm not dark. But I stay closer to myself now. Does that make any sense?? Oh well, I'm thinking on my feet here, rambling sort of. hah!! : ) That means I'll close out here and catch up soon again. Enjoy the beautiful snow. The time to listen, dream, think, smell, love, and meditate. PEACE. JIM

Woodstock in Winter

Fri., Feb 19th, 8 pm. Just got back from a quick trip up to the Woodstock House. NO SNOW. They have less than we have in Maplewood. That's a surprise. In any case, things still look refreshingly beautiful, especially the Reservoir. Had a good meal at Joshuas. Now for 3 rehearsals tomorrow and more interesting music stuff. Wed. over to MSK for a checkup. All feels ok. JIMBO

Happy Valentines Day

2/13/10 6:00 pm. Enjoy this winter weekend with your lover. We're enjoying beautiful snow; walking, watching the birds, photo shooting as well. Just came from a JJ Blues Band Rehearsal and I hope you can come hear us play March 6th at Hat City Kitchen in Orange, NJ. We play 10 pm and 12 midnight, but the music starts at 9 pm, and the dinners are great. Carol and I ate there last night. Here's a picture of the band at MapleWoodstock 2 years ago.
I continue to talk to dear friends calling about diagnoses. I remember the support from so many of you when I rec'd a diagnosis. It is so important to talk positively about healing. There are many opportunities to get well, and being positive certainly helps the entire process. My prayers and support go out to those in need.
And so I keep playing music to try to bring joy, positive energy, and glorious sounds to my friends and beyond.
Love to all this Valentine's Day. Peace and good health. JIMBO