MSK Update

Thursday, August 5, 2010. Well I saw Dr. Berman yesterday and got a nice report...all good numbers and a long 4 months before the next checkup...WOW...that's good news. Going back December 6th. So, Carol and I will celebrate with a nice week in Woodstock beginning Sunday. Last night I had a Jazz Sextet at the Maplewood Pool doing Hard Bop /Soulful classics. Then this Sat. we're back there with our Country band "Jimmy Lee Band" which was cancelled out due to storms last Sunday. We're having fun with that one. The JJ Blues Band is on hiatus for the rest of the summer ever since our performance at MapleWoodstock. I have 1 more Big Band gig on bass and then we're done with performances for this summer. Started rehearsing however with a Piano Trio and will in the fall be working on the Trout Quintet with 1 or 2 groups. Carol and I just got back from a dip in the Pool....helps us keep cool in this heat. My cousin Rick needs a fire in the fireplace out there in the mountains above San Francisco.
In a few weeks Maayan will be here for Grandmapa Camp. Our usual is Woodstock, Beach (at Kim and Janies Seaside Park Beach house followed by Boardwalk fun), Broadway (maybe Lion King this year), Maplewood Pool, a movie, and alot of reading with Grandma...and usually a music lesson or 2 with Grandpa. Carol then makes a scrapbook of the vacation's events as memorabilia for the kids. We really love having the Grands here for summertime fun.
Well, I'm adding a little more to my Journals and I'm hoping to share those with family and friends soon. Nothing real formal like a biography or anything, just some casual stories and ideas. Started all that on the suggestion from a High School friend. We've been enjoying such stories from my Classmates.
Well, gotta go eat. Thanks for keeping up with me. I have to write more frequently because if I don't some of my buddies start getting nervous and wonder what's going on. We're ok guys and enjoying the summer. BUT...I bet we will really welcome the cooler weather come September. Meantime, enjoy the beauty.

July 5th

Mon., 7/5/10. 9:20 pm. It's been a hot July 4th weekend here in Maplewood; the Fireworks were wonderful; music as well. My Grandson Benjamin is here, we took the train up from Bethesda after the neighborhood bicycle parade yesterday. Tomorrow brother Bruce joins us and we're off to see brother Kim in Seaside Park. The past month has been busy. The reunion was alot of fun. Checkups at the hospital are fine for both Carol and me. I'm playing Country music this Wed. at the Maplewood Pool with a band we call "Jimmy Lee Band". Then next Sunday JJ Blues plays at MapleWoodstock at 12;30. We hope to get Ben up to Woodstock for a day or 2 this week. Then Sarah's wedding Sat. Mon. back to Bethesda. That's it for now. Keep healthy. I'm hungry, I need a snack!! : )

Busy Weekend

Fri, June 4th, 2010. My Columbia HS 50th Reunion Weekend. Tonight my band JJ Blues tears it open at Hat City Kitchen, 10-12 midnight. Then Sat am breakfast with classmates; then 2:30 setup for the party and tuneup the band of classmates with a couple of guests; then 7-12 party; Sunday 11 am big brunch at a classmates place; then 3:30 rehearsal and 7 pm Concert at SOPAC honoring Cantor Perry Fine's 18 years at Beth El South Orange. So fortunately the back and everything is cooperating and we're looking forward to it all. Have a great weekend, talk to you next week. JIMBO

Memorial Day Weekend

Thurs., May 27.2010. 7 am. We're off to Woodstock for the weekend. I think this is our 31st year up there. Yesterday we checked out the amazing Iris Gardens in Montclair. I see Fleet week has begun...so cool. Lotsa good music happening around, I'll miss some good sounds here this weekend, but usually we get some great artists up in the mountains as well. I didn't go see Neil Young in Albany last week..the tix were $150 so I bypassed that one. I need a bit of a break from the routine right now. Been doing alot of rehearsals and concerts, and more to come in the next 2 weeks, so I'm happy to get a bit of a break. Just finished the book about Bob Dylan and his girlfriend from the early 60s in Greenwich Village, Suze. Called "Freewheelin' Time". Very good history, mentions lotsas artists, musicians, poets, etc. from that era, which I remember with awe. Similarly I spent time recently with Patti Smith's book about her time with Robert Mapplethorpe as piss poor artists in the Village then Chelsea. I had a chance to hang with that scene, I had high school friends inviting me to play bass at the Washington Square Park Arch etc. on Sundays. We were doing the folk music out here, and the Sane Nuclear Policy meetings etc. but I somehow chickened out and instead went to college, got a degree, got married, opened a business and played music in the Borscht belt and the city. That's ok, the best thing that ever happened to me was meeting Carol. She and I talked about it yesterday because she wanted to go to Douglas or Rutgers and had that happened we would not have met. Soo..it's a good thing it all worked out this way. So my Woodstock place is my little artists refuge, and CB and I are more comfortable as it is now then had we been struggling other ways. BUT...I still love reading about the artists, musicians, poets of the times. Both Suze and Patti Smith spent time with Rimbaud. I have to check that out. Last week I spent time with Dick Kniss who was there in the Village then with all these folks...Mingus, Peter Yarrow and PPM, Albert Grossman, Bob Dylan etc. I'll see him tomorrow and find out if he knew Suze. That Freewheelin' album cover is also the book cover..it's a classic and she refers (pardon the expression..reefers??) to it. Gotta go. Enjoy the start of Summer. Celebrate your good health. Find peace. I just wish Memorial Day could be free from another war. It seems we never have total Peace. JIMBO

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.