: Retirement Check List, Take 2
In my previous missive, I listed a variety of important new tasks that a person needs to take on after they retire. However, I have since realized that I left off several important items. Since I know you are assiduously keeping track of all this, here goes.
Get library card and catch up on your reading
Through the years I have neglected numerous authors and important works of literature – but where to start? For no particular reason, I have tried reading (with various degrees of satisfaction & success) Henry James, John le Carré, and Edith Wharton. Sigh. I have to pick something lighter. Faulkner’s next.
Catch up on contemporary music
I’ve been reading in the New York Times that there’s this new type of music out there called rap? So I thought I would see what this is all about. “Power 105.1 FM” seems to be the go to place on the radio to listen to this music, although for some reason they’re calling it Hip Hop and R&B. R&B???? R&B is Sam Cook, James Brown, and The Four Tops. But what do I know? Meanwhile, my favorite tune so far is Bodak Yellow by Cardi B.
Read Henry James while listening top Hip Hop Music
“The test of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. Or so F. Scott Fitzgerald says. I don’t know if I passed that particular test, but I can report that it is an interesting sensation to read Henry James’ stories of bad relationships & existential angst amongst the late 19th century upper classes while listening to Cardi B bragging about bloody shoes and red bottoms.
Get the flying squirrels out of the house
What is that scratching noise we’re hearing in the walls? It’s flying squirrels. Yes, I kid you not. We’ve got flying f**king squirrels in our house – and none of them are named Rocky. How do you get rid of them? It’s a man’s job, let me tell you. By “man” I am referring to 2 nice gentlemen – Angel & Don – who have been climbing all over the exterior walls and eaves of our house, sealing up gaps and installing one way traps. Not to be alarmed, these traps are like reverse Roach Motels. Flying squirrels check out but they can’t check back in. They’ll just have to invade our neighbor’s house.
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March 31, Saturday, 9:00PM-1:00AM – Better Off Dead at The Great Notch Inn, Route 46, Little Falls (973) 256-7742
There’s a ton of construction going on by Route 46 but “Da Notch” stays open. Expect a bunch of new tunes, plus some of our greatest hits.
http://www.betteroffdead.com/home.htm/
http://www.agreatertown.com/little_falls_nj/great_notch_inn_new_jerseys_rockin_roadhouse_00089580
April 19th, Thursday, 7:00 PM-9:00ish – Ensemble Ipse Benefit Gala at Broadway Dive, 2662 Broadway (by 101st), NYC (212) 865-2662
One of my rare – and rather short – appearances in New York. This is a benefit to support one of my fellow classical composer in arms. I will be doing a short set of boogie woogie and/or R&R piano tunes, most likely early in the evening. There will be a bunch of other performers doing some strange, fascinating, and unusual music. Broadway Dive has 4.5 stars out of 5 on Google.
www.ipsemusic.com
April 21st, Saturday, 8:30 PM-11:30ish – Shuffle, Jump, and Moan at Maxfields on Main, 713 Main Street, Boonton, New Jersey 07005 (973) 588-4450
SJ&M are back at one of our favorite haunts. No it’s nowhere near Halloween, so any haunting will be virtual, but we’ll do our best. Great food, great vibe.
http://www.maxfieldsonmain.com/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shuffle-Jump-Moan/379081422265206?fref=ts