I don't know what it is about this place Chiang Mai, but it seems to bring out a serious creative surge in my consciousness. I guess some people go to the ocean, some go to the mountains, I seem to go to the city to find my muse. I suppose I could be this focused in Eugene, but between the computer, the phone, the television and the friends, I don't seem to get it done on a consistent basis. Here I'm anonymous, I'm happily without a phone, tv or computer, so the day stretches out and offers many opportunities to create. It works, somehow. (feels like it's my nature)
Of course at the moment, I'm listening to a football game on headphones (Go Ducks!), which totally belies the first paragraph, but I'll allow myself the slight diversion (at least until half time) and then get more serious about digging in to my inner world. Ah yes, the little ironies of life.
But hey, maybe I can use this little chunk of time to see if I can still compose some prose while a soundtrack of college sports is trying to distract me, like that guru I read about who dropped acid and was hardly affected, he just wanted to see what all the hubbub was about. (or something like that). Yeah, that's me alright, a guru (he said mockingly).
I love being in this town, and by town, I mean a city of over a million people in northern Thailand, which is a magnet for westerners looking for a safe and cheap and beautiful place to spend time. Yesterday I took a long walk to find the YMCA, which I hear is the place to go for good language instruction. It turns out that there is a 10 hour course that will start on Tuesday (in a few days) and it meets 5 times for two hours each over a two week period. I'm gonna do it, just to get a little leg up on the language. I'd rather do the 30 hour class, but the next one doesn't begin until mid-January, so this is my best option. For $50, I'll see what I can learn. Got tostart somewhere.
Tonight I'm gonna debut a brand new custom song for my friend John Fengler, who has invited me to be part of his big party. He's a really cool dude, early 50s, spent 30 years as a fire fighter in San Francisco which gives him a great pension (duh!) and he's making a life in Thailand, now in love with a beautiful woman (her name is Kui)who he's bringing home to meet his mom in NY next week. He's a very witty, good looking dude, and we hit it off well. So as is my style, I tried to come up with a little composition to share at the party. It's another of my old time swing things, and here's the lyric.
Some guys seem to have a spark
You know the one that lights up the dark
And Johnny, he's got what it takes
He got style, he got class
He'll smile while he kicks your ass
Yeah Johnny, he's got what it takes
He's got that joie de vivre, believe you me
On the highway to happiness, he's got the key
He's been all around the world
Now he's wrapped all around his girl
Yeah Johnny, he's got what it takes
Me, I don't go in for that fancy jargon
But I swear he's a real life Captain Morgan
He's been all around the world
Now he's wrapped all around his girl
Yeah Johnny, he's got what it takes
Everyone says you'd best beware
Don't fall in love when you're over there
That's an error you shouldn't make
But I'll lay it out and say it strong
Sometimes the cynics are just flat wrong
Kui and Johnny, they got what it takes
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Another thing I've been working on is scat singing, and I wonder why I never tried it before. It's a little risky, but as I listen to myself, it's sounding pretty good, like taking a jazz solo over top of the swing chords that I'm playing. Some guys will play harmonica or whatever, and that never quite felt like the thing for me, but at this point, my rhythm playing is really good and jazzy, and it's just beggin for a solo over top of the harmony. so I'm giving it a shot. Like I say, why did it take me this long to realize the opening. Oh well, whatever... Looking forward to this party tonight, and I might try and rustle up some music students who would pay me a little something something to learn about how music works. I love sharing that information and seeing the light go on for people. (and it would be nice to have a way to earn some baht on the road)
Mickey sent me a quick joke that I've been telling the past couple of days, and it's getting a laugh.
Male rabbit to female rabbit.... 'This won't take long, did it?'
