Hello all!

Songwriting is such an interesting process. Some songs come all at once and in 15 minutes while other songs take years (for me at least). Worrying about what other people will think about them has always gotten in the way. Right now I am working on a song that I have had in my head for about 7 years. In its current form it is one very short verse and a stark guitar picking part. The trouble is, I really like it and wish I could do more with it. You just can't force it! The lyrics are as follows:

Making conversation with my idle cup of coffee.

It just stares back at me,

But what I know it says is true.

There are so many different directions the song could take (I think) but I am just not sure which direction to take (any ideas would be more than welcome!).

The two songs I have included at the end of this blog are very personal to me as I wrote both of them during and after my divorce this past year. I found out the hard way that life experiences really do help you write songs and understand the meaning of lyrics to so many songs that you just took for granted before. The more my ears have opened up to listening to and understanding lyrics the better I have gotten at writing them. I don't know what others will think of these songs (and don't need to), but I like them and that has made all the difference.

Enjoy!

Take it all from me

The beer is too cold

The wine is too dry

The bourbon so sweet

It drives you out of my mind, out of my mind

Take it all from me

Take it all from me

When I let go

Time has taken it’s toll

Not much left for me

To show you now, show you now

Take it all from me

Take it all from me

The demons that lie

Lie buried inside

Have reared their heads

And won’t be denied, won’t be denied

Take it all from me

Take it all from me

And in time

And in time

You will know

And I will show

The Key

Everybody here is scarred,

Everyone here was charged

For the murder of a thing called time.

Everyone once was lost,

They gave up on their cause.

It’s not an easy thing to throw away your crown.

How much can you give?

It’s a crazy place to live,

In not so many years you’ll be worn down.

It’s good advice to gain

For all you young who strain.

You aim to hit the bullseye.

And the sun comes out to play,

Comes out to play with me.

How do I know where,

Know where I’m going?

You are the key.

Thanksgiving

So here I sit...in my dorm (still amusing to say out loud) drinking a cup of coffee on this very frosty, snow dusted Thanksgiving day thinking about how this is the first Thanksgiving in my 32 years on this earth that I haven't been with family.  Wow!  I am constantly reminded of how important family and friends are in my life.  I don't want people to think that I am completely alone and feeling down in the dumps, that's not it all.  The isolation of my situation just often puts me face to face with reflection and in so many ways that has been a blessing and something I am thankful for.  

Being thankful, what does that really mean?  I am not sure I would have fully understood what that meant a year or two ago but through adversity and hardship I have gained insight on thanksgiving, not just the holiday, that has been necessary to my own personal growth.  In the past six months I have known or been an acquaintance of three people who have passed away or are struggling for their lives.  Through such troubling circumstances I am reminded that no matter what situation I am in I at least have the pleasure of walking this earth and enjoying what it has to offer.  My heart goes out to those families who have lost during the holidays and I hope that in some way, with time, they can find thanksgiving.  Sometimes with great loss comes great gain, it just doesn't happen overnight.  I know I am still learning what I am gaining by being in the northwoods of Maine.  I haven't found out yet but will if I can just remain patient.

To all of my family and friends who have supported me over the past year I want to say that I am thankful for each and every one of you.  I could never repay the debt I have accumulated but I know that none of you expect anything in return and that is how I know I am blessed.  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I look forward to sharing Christmas with you.

D

Christmas Wish List

Christmas Wish List 2013

Very cool bandana from JCrew.  It is nice to see a more rustic vibe hitting the fashion world.

Stewart Victoria Plaid Tailored Flannel Shirt from Lands End.  I have never owned any of their shirts before and I really do like this plaid and all their other ones for that matter.  I hope they fit better than LL Bean and LL Bean Signature.  No offense to my new state's main store but their shirts haven't fit me that well.  

I have wanted to own a hat from Ebbets Field Flannels for some time.  I especially like the bold, straight-forward design of this San Francisco Seals hat.  I am honestly not sure as to what size I would need yet.

I live in Maine, I mean, I need to own more books by Stephen King.  The Shining...hopefully nobody tries to chop my dorm room door down with an ax this winter!

The 25th Anniversary Edition includes a great documentary on all of the issues the making of this album underwent.  This is one of those albums that is great from start to finish.

You know, it is not that I am a huge fan of Bach.  I really enjoy listening to artists of other genres perform "Classical Music."  They always lend what I believe to be a sense of what the songs might have actually sounded like.  Chris Thile however does have a degree in music composition, so that helps. 

These maps are wicked cool!  No need for a frame, they are great on their own!

D

My Dorm Room

Still need to hang a couple of pictures but feels pretty cozy.

All is well in the land of the Panda

I am very proud of this group of students.  When I took this job the school basically said, "how are you going to get kids to come to games."  I replied, "I am going to ask."  Voila!  They showed up.  It has been almost 20 years since Lee Academy had a pep band and now they have one again.  However, there is a reason pep bands don't play at soccer games.  Soccer games don't really have any breaks.  Oh well, it is just nice to get out and play!

D

They painted my face!

Panda pep band makes debut tomorrow!

Golden Age Thinking

Cary Grant at his finest for this hunting season!  I mean, what's not to love about this outfit.  Popped collar, knee high boots, canvas pants and jacket, fedora and double barrel!

Basically the same outfit as Mr. Grant, but more work wear inspired.  Love it, pipe and all!

This fella knows how to fish in style, enough said!

There is so much to love about each of these photos, from the nonchalant devil may care attitude of each to the "I dressed myself like I meant it this morning" fashions.  People used to get dressed to do anything and everything way back when and now you sort of look like a "fool" or a dandy when you do.  I mean, we've given a name to dressing well.  Not that I care, but defending your outfit choices gets old after a while.

Student:  "Why did you wear a suit and tie to school this morning Mr. Coffey, do you have a special meeting?"

Me:   "Nope, I just think this is how I should dress as a teacher."

Maybe I should stop holding on to this nagging sense of nostalgia that has its grip on me but, eh, why?  I love it!  I feel so much better about myself when I dress like a give a rat's in the morning.  I know it's not for everybody and that's fine, but for me, it's the bee's knees.  The men in the photos each share a sense of forgotten masculinity to me.  They are each true to themselves and the activity they are engaging in.

"Golden Age Thinking," the thought that life was better in a different era, is often dismissed as a flaw in the human psyche.  People say that those of us who think that way just can't seem to deal with the "painful present" (as quoted in one of my new favorite films Midnight in Paris).  I have many times been told that I have an "old soul" and have often thought that I was born in the wrong decade.  But truthfully, I like a lot of things about our modern era.  We have so many ways of connecting to other people (this for example) and learning new things (YouTube, eHow and the like) right at our fingertips that we should be thriving.  Problem is, at least in my opinion, we aren't using these great new innovations with a healthy mixture of good sense.  For me, "Golden Age Thinking" is positive when coupled with the benefits of living in a modern society.

In the end you have to be yourself and do what you do, but I would like to see us, as a society, take more pride in how we present ourselves to the world.  You put the best in, you get the best out.  Believe me, I could have gone on forever about the topic of dressing like you mean it.  I will spare you my ramblings.

D