It is 11 PM and I just got in from a wonderful evening at the Wellesley Island Hotel on Wellesley Island Alexandria Bay New York. I played guitar for Alan Young's 75th birthday. Al is a retired professor from Syracuse University. He and his wife Pamela also live in Wellesley Island. Before going to the hotel we spent an hour and a half or so at Al's home. We drink some wine and I played some guitar. 

I play guitar at Ricardo's restaurant in Watertown NY 13601

Signa about me playing at Ricardo's Restaurant in Watertown.

I wish I could stay on top of this blog and report all of my activities. Tonight I played guitar at Ricardo's Restaurant in Watertown from 5:30-7:30. It went really well. It is a fairly small to medium size establishment. I used my Guild Mark V guitar and Fishman SoloAmp 220. I also uesd a small 30 inch by 42 inch by 10 inch high stage that that I constructed out of 2x10 pine planks and plywood covered with indoor/outdoor carpet. This allowed me to sit in my chair and play guitar with the same elevation as if I were seated on a stool. I had complete view of the entire dining room and all of the tables had a clear view of me. I think that is most important for both player and audience.
The evening went very well. The owner of the establishment came up to me and shook my hand saying, "You are great!" They asked me to come back August 6th. Of course I will be there.

Ricardo's Restaurant, Arsenal St., watertown NY. (Formerly Howard Johnson's).

I have not eaten there yet, but the Watertown Daily Times has rated it 4 out of 5 stars.

Fernando Sor étude # 17 from Segovia's 20 Sor Studies

Part of this morning's guitar practice consisted of playing this chord progression from Fernando Sor étude number 17 100 times with a metronome. The number 17 refers to the piece as published  In Andres Segovia's book and not Sor's actual opus number.

The progression is not difficult but requires quick shifting and positioning of the fingers. I tend to get lazy and thus is one of those spots where I have been sloppy in playing the piece. I should also mention that I practice such things in sets. I will do the progression five or 10 times in a row and then pause for a short bit before doing the next set of five or 10. It is much the same way as a weight lifter practices in sets to gradually build up strength, endurance and accuracy. 

Contact from God today

The real purpose of this blog is more or less a diary. An open one where I make notes to myself about what is going on in my life. My thoughts and ideas. But, because it is open to the  eyes of the world I am not as candid as I would like to be. Especially about politics.

Also to simply record the daily comings and goings of my life.

I snapped the above photo at Ricardo's Restaurant in Watertown. I was listening to Tom  Gagnon  playing guitar and singing. 

I hope to play there myself soon. I feel I would be a perfect fit there.

Today on of my guitar students asked me to play for her Francisco Tarrega's Recuerdos de la Alhambra. So I did. I happened to have my new Alejandro Cervantes guitar with me. It was the BEST I have ever played that piece of music. It was unreal to me. I think God was contacting me.