deorre's blog http://www.fusepress.com/blog/86/atom/feed 2006-04-06T12:08:55-05:00 Following The Music!! http://www.fusepress.com/deorre/following_the_music 2006-10-29T10:08:15-06:00 2006-10-29T10:14:55-06:00 deorre I have been signing and playing guitar for well over three decades, and writing and performing for a good twenty of those years. Typically a solo act, I have been billed as softsounds.That is an accurate description of what I do--an acoustic, unplugged genre with an eclectic blend of styles that include easy listening, jazz, folk, soft rock, blues, and country. Perhaps, then, you can see why it is easier to simply call it softsounds.

I have returned to the studio for the first time in over ten years. After selecting eight to ten of my more recent compositions, I have laid them down on a CD in a 'live' version that includes no over-lying tracks or 'add-ons'. Just live, without the audience.

]]> I have been signing and playing guitar for well over three decades, and writing and performing for a good twenty of those years. Typically a solo act, I have been billed as softsounds.That is an accurate description of what I do--an acoustic, unplugged genre with an eclectic blend of styles that include easy listening, jazz, folk, soft rock, blues, and country. Perhaps, then, you can see why it is easier to simply call it softsounds.

I have returned to the studio for the first time in over ten years. After selecting eight to ten of my more recent compositions, I have laid them down on a CD in a 'live' version that includes no over-lying tracks or 'add-ons'. Just live, without the audience.

I will be pitching songs here and there with the hope of selling to either a music publisher or directly to a musician. At the same time, I have been bitten by the bug again. I want to perform, so will seek out more jobs than the occasional wedding reception-type 'do'.

Exciting, this.

Some songs on the new CD are quite 'niched' and likely not standard market-fare. One, in particular, is called Let Your Dreams Carry Youand was written as a piece to usher children (and others?) into sleep.  I have http://www.cafepress.com/softsounds  and this is where the song can be sampled and even purchased.

Please feel free to take a listen and give me your feedback.

deorre

 

]]> To All Who Have Fallen In The Footprint Of Hatred http://www.fusepress.com/deorre/to_all_who_have_fallen_in_the_footprint_of_hatred 2006-09-11T10:53:07-05:00 2006-09-11T10:53:07-05:00 deorre 9/11/2006

May peace be with you.

May peace be with your loved ones.

May your legacy not be lost, and all survivors learn from the tragedy, travail, and calamity that has taken your life.

May your loved ones be treasured, nurtured, and cared for. May they be valued as ones who have lost something precious. And may your loved ones feel empowered to move on to live a life that would make you proud.

May your death reduce, in some way, the footprint that hatred has delivered on the landscape of humanity.

May peace be with you.

]]> 9/11/2006

May peace be with you.

May peace be with your loved ones.

May your legacy not be lost, and all survivors learn from the tragedy, travail, and calamity that has taken your life.

May your loved ones be treasured, nurtured, and cared for. May they be valued as ones who have lost something precious. And may your loved ones feel empowered to move on to live a life that would make you proud.

May your death reduce, in some way, the footprint that hatred has delivered on the landscape of humanity.

May peace be with you.

 

deorre

]]> Breasts, Mothers Day, & saying 'Thank You' http://www.fusepress.com/deorre/breasts_mothers_day_saying_thank_you 2006-05-11T21:17:16-05:00 2006-05-11T21:17:16-05:00 deorre Thank you, Mom, for providing those soft and pillowy mounds for me to mush my head into when I was feeling particularly distraught. I know you thought I was hungry, and maybe I was. Yet, it was more the soft fleshiness all around my little head that gave me the comfort.

You see, I didn't know how to think very well back then. I would make mountains out of molehills. A bit of the fece oozing out, and I was off to the races.

WAHHHHHHHH!

And you were there. To clean me, and then put my head into those soft, pillowy pads on your chest. They were always such a comfort. I've not yet been able to replace them. Tempurpedic has come pretty close, though it doesn't breathe and say nice things to me.

]]> Thank you, Mom, for providing those soft and pillowy mounds for me to mush my head into when I was feeling particularly distraught. I know you thought I was hungry, and maybe I was. Yet, it was more the soft fleshiness all around my little head that gave me the comfort.

You see, I didn't know how to think very well back then. I would make mountains out of molehills. A bit of the fece oozing out, and I was off to the races.

WAHHHHHHHH!

And you were there. To clean me, and then put my head into those soft, pillowy pads on your chest. They were always such a comfort. I've not yet been able to replace them. Tempurpedic has come pretty close, though it doesn't breathe and say nice things to me.

I never really told you that your milk tasted like crap. I know it fed me and gave me sustenance. But you know, I really just drank it because that's when I got to muzzle into your love lumps.

It's no wonder that I have become a bit of a Stress Management guru. You were, like, the original stress manager for me.

I tried letting a few clients suck my teats, but it didn't seem to have the same effect as when I was surrounded by your special flesh. And, when in prison for that unfortunate mis-understanding, I found no solace in big Bubba's breasts. Or his other man-meat, for that matter. It just wasn't the same.

So, thank you Mom, wherever you are.

deorre

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]]> Manifest Destiny: A Users Guide http://www.fusepress.com/deorre/manifest_destiny_a_users_guide 2006-05-04T17:07:09-05:00 2006-05-04T17:07:09-05:00 deorre After some degree of study and thought, and making certain that I dot my 'I's and cross my 'T's, I have decided that it is time for me to engage in a campaign of Manifest Destiny. You know, like the movement and growth of the United States of America. Identifying that destiny demanded growth and proliferation. And the pesky eradication of many peoples, cultures, animals, and such. Well, that was all justified. Remember. Manifest Destiny said so.

So, I am now prepared to engage similar thinking in my world. On the city and state level, it is now called eminent domain. Same thing, though. It's all about creating a rationale for taking something from someone else.

]]> After some degree of study and thought, and making certain that I dot my 'I's and cross my 'T's, I have decided that it is time for me to engage in a campaign of Manifest Destiny. You know, like the movement and growth of the United States of America. Identifying that destiny demanded growth and proliferation. And the pesky eradication of many peoples, cultures, animals, and such. Well, that was all justified. Remember. Manifest Destiny said so.

So, I am now prepared to engage similar thinking in my world. On the city and state level, it is now called eminent domain. Same thing, though. It's all about creating a rationale for taking something from someone else.

Oh, I mean it is about recieving divine information that says it is best for me to take stuff from others.

I live in a pretty nice house, but I don't have a studio for my music. I create great music, don't you know. And if I could only produce it, then I could make alot of people happy. The house down the road has an extra down-stairs room--perfect size. And it is out of the way of the rest of the house. I'm going to tell the owner that I am taking it over. I will give him the choice of ceding the whole house to me, or just the 'music room'. I need it, you know. It is proclaimed.

My car is getting a touch old, and it is important that I make a good impression on others. Because when they like me, I can do good things for them. And the world is thusly a better place. I saw a nice newer Mercedes that would look real good around me. I am going to wait outside where it is parked, and when the owner comes out, tell her that I will be taking her car. She may initially think I am stealing it, but I will explain that it is Manifest Destiny. I think she will understand. And if not, I'll kill her if I have to.

Sometimes I get hungry. There is a nice restaurant in town--Mexican. I like the home-made tamales ala carne asada. Yes, beef. If I don't eat, then I will die. And then I can't help people, make people laugh, and stuff like that. So, I am going to start eating at this place for free. They will try to say that I am defrauding an innkeeper, but really it is my culinary eminent domain. I think Jorge will understand.

I haven't yet decided if I need to have Blog.

 

deorre

]]> I'm Too Busy Self-Improving To Revolt http://www.fusepress.com/deorre/im_too_busy_self_improving_to_revolt 2006-05-04T07:49:42-05:00 2006-05-04T07:49:42-05:00 deorre How much alienation, anomie, anxiety, and disintegration must a person endure before the decision is made to seek change? Change, not on a micro- level, but on a macro- level.

While it is easier to create personal changes than social adjustments, such individual work can take a lifetime. Keep a person very busy and focussed on Self.

In this day and age of modern convenience and relative luxury, not to mention the massive and seemingly unapproachable institutions of the culture politic, those longing for macro- change are at a loss. Activism was driven by passion at one time. Now, it is a business in and of itself. 'Get paid to be an activist', say the want ads. Any cause--"we have them all'.

]]> How much alienation, anomie, anxiety, and disintegration must a person endure before the decision is made to seek change? Change, not on a micro- level, but on a macro- level.

While it is easier to create personal changes than social adjustments, such individual work can take a lifetime. Keep a person very busy and focussed on Self.

In this day and age of modern convenience and relative luxury, not to mention the massive and seemingly unapproachable institutions of the culture politic, those longing for macro- change are at a loss. Activism was driven by passion at one time. Now, it is a business in and of itself. 'Get paid to be an activist', say the want ads. Any cause--"we have them all'.

So the best that many can do is to 'find peace within'. And that is hugely important. Peace is a quality that is severly lacking for many, and this has many a psycho-physiological consequence. So please, find peace when and where you can.

The paradox, though, when it comes to seeking and effecting macro- change, is that there must be unrest. There must be dynamic and alive dis-satisfaction. Likely based on some threat to basic needs of survival.

The alive dis-satisfaction is lacking because there are drugs and other metaphorical opiates to keep the tide down. To quell the surge of discontent, there are many 'things' to acquire. Things with which to play. And then there are also drugs and alcohol, and all that that entails.

It's called living the luxury of the modern life. And the luxury all too often becomes a focus on the Self.

Yet another distraction from engaging in severely needed macro- change.

 

deorre

]]> Mommy & the Capitalist Pig http://www.fusepress.com/deorre/mommy_the_capitalist_pig 2006-05-04T07:41:02-05:00 2006-05-04T07:41:02-05:00 deorre Prepare yourself for the coming rants. Soon, as Mothers Day approaches, there will be many who proclaim that this is but another opportunity for big bad business to make as much money as possible. Like Valentines Day, Fathers Day, and such. Capitalize on the poor innocent and ignorant people who want to demonstrate affection for their mothers.

Flowers, cards, chocolates, dildos, or whatever else may say to mom "I love you and I thank you". "It's just a fabrication created by business" goes the mantra. Anybody who participates in this demonized day that purports to celebrate mommy and all that that entails is but a blind and ignorant imbecile.

]]> Prepare yourself for the coming rants. Soon, as Mothers Day approaches, there will be many who proclaim that this is but another opportunity for big bad business to make as much money as possible. Like Valentines Day, Fathers Day, and such. Capitalize on the poor innocent and ignorant people who want to demonstrate affection for their mothers.

Flowers, cards, chocolates, dildos, or whatever else may say to mom "I love you and I thank you". "It's just a fabrication created by business" goes the mantra. Anybody who participates in this demonized day that purports to celebrate mommy and all that that entails is but a blind and ignorant imbecile.

This is the implication.

Well, I retort, what about the age-old economics tenet of supply and demand? Maybe people just want to celebrate their mothers, because they love her. Maybe all the candy and cards and flowers are how they choose to do so.

Is that not ok?

 

deorre

]]> Defining Moments http://www.fusepress.com/deorre/defining_moments 2006-04-20T07:52:59-05:00 2006-04-20T07:52:59-05:00 deorre Every life has its’ defining moments. In terms of archetypes, this can be seen as the Night Sea Journey so eloquently depicted by Homer in The Odyssey. Odysseus, en route home, experiences many a defining moment in his twenty-year journey. The many ordeals at sea each had a sculpting and molding on his ever-maturing psyche.

These defining moments, often stressful, bring flavor and meaning to life. There is a pattern that occurs, possibly unrecognizable with anything but hindsight. We may be aware that we are in the midst of a ‘night-sea journey’, yet the luxury of reflection comes typically after-the-fact.

]]> Every life has its’ defining moments. In terms of archetypes, this can be seen as the Night Sea Journey so eloquently depicted by Homer in The Odyssey. Odysseus, en route home, experiences many a defining moment in his twenty-year journey. The many ordeals at sea each had a sculpting and molding on his ever-maturing psyche.

These defining moments, often stressful, bring flavor and meaning to life. There is a pattern that occurs, possibly unrecognizable with anything but hindsight. We may be aware that we are in the midst of a ‘night-sea journey’, yet the luxury of reflection comes typically after-the-fact.

CALAMITY

This is when something disruptive occurs. Norms are violated and comfort zones are turned upside down. My soul mate has died, for instance.

 ORDEAL

This is the struggle, the adjustment, the bargaining, the feeling so overwhelmed that belief that resolution will occur seems questionable at best, and hopeless in the worst-case scenario. This is being IN the stress and experiencing the ‘erosion’ process that reshapes, sculpts, and molds. While in it, disintegration is more the word that comes to mind. There is no sense of comfort zone here. Some call it hell. Others find ‘relief’ in mind-altering substance, thusly impacting in some fashion their own particular learning curve. I grapple with the loss of my soul mate, quite possible white-water rafting through stages of grief as described by Kubler-Ross.

RETURN

 While there may be no complete and comprehensive resolution, there is a return to some new (and improved?) version of the comfort zone. Consciousness has been expanded and emotional capacity has been stretched. In terms of stress, fight or flight toxins return to their baseline homeostatic state. I accept the loss of my soul mate. I forge a new way of living, carrying the absence in always evolving ways.

And a defining moment has gone full circle.

 

WHAT ARE YOUR DEFINING MOMENTS

 

deorre

]]> Disempowerment in the Name of God http://www.fusepress.com/deorre/disempowerment_in_the_name_of_god 2006-04-10T14:50:26-05:00 2006-04-10T14:50:26-05:00 deorre There is a common theme that I encounter when working with addicts and others chemically involved. While many a recovering individual rightfully accepts responsibility for his or her ‘character flaws’ and actions, rarely if ever do they accept credit for their successes. The success always goes to God, “as we understand him”.

 What’s that about? Wouldn’t it be empowering to identify success as something I had a hand in? And conversely, isn’t it disempowering to only get credit for the failures?

I remember thinking when I was a kid in trouble that all “they ever notice is when I screw up. I’m never acknowledged for doing good.” As I’ve grown up and matured, I have come to realize that indeed I can make a difference n my own life. And, I’m proud of that!

]]> There is a common theme that I encounter when working with addicts and others chemically involved. While many a recovering individual rightfully accepts responsibility for his or her ‘character flaws’ and actions, rarely if ever do they accept credit for their successes. The success always goes to God, “as we understand him”.

 What’s that about? Wouldn’t it be empowering to identify success as something I had a hand in? And conversely, isn’t it disempowering to only get credit for the failures?

I remember thinking when I was a kid in trouble that all “they ever notice is when I screw up. I’m never acknowledged for doing good.” As I’ve grown up and matured, I have come to realize that indeed I can make a difference n my own life. And, I’m proud of that!

 Can I share my success with God, as I understand him/her/it? Yes. And the failures and mistakes? Why not? Isn’t it all the same bowl of soup?

Now, I know that there are indoctrination regimens that require total self-effacement as a first and necessary step in the tearing down and then rebuilding of an individual. Often, a soldier in some war or information campaign.

Frankly, I find that demeaning and insulting. And, am I (or anyone else) really so bad that I cannot have an active hand in making constructive changes in my life? Is such thinking blasphemous, naïve, and downright self-centered?

 

 SELF-EMPOWERMENT ANYONE?

 

deorre

]]> Heart--Source of Emotional Experience & Expression http://www.fusepress.com/deorre/heart_source_of_emotional_experience_expression 2006-04-06T12:13:13-05:00 2006-04-06T12:13:13-05:00 deorre "My heart is source of emotional experience and expression, and I express my emotional experience in a way that is compatible with the nature and integrity of the moment."

Emotions are more than mysterious feelings. They are bio-chemically active processes within our mind-body system. A mindful awareness and approach to our emotions is key.

Many go through their days in knee-jerk reaction to this or that, spewing their mindless emotional experience all over the place. Very disturbing and very disruptive. This is not healthy, and not necessary.

It may take some practice to learn to simply be with what you are feeling, but to do so will empower you beyond what you could imagine. Our emotions, our passion, are our source of personal power. Coming to terms with anger, sadness, loss, frustration, anxiety, and even happiness and glee, will go a long way toward freeing you up to truly and deeply be you. Very significant. After all, you is the best thing you have to offer to others.

]]> "My heart is source of emotional experience and expression, and I express my emotional experience in a way that is compatible with the nature and integrity of the moment."

Emotions are more than mysterious feelings. They are bio-chemically active processes within our mind-body system. A mindful awareness and approach to our emotions is key.

Many go through their days in knee-jerk reaction to this or that, spewing their mindless emotional experience all over the place. Very disturbing and very disruptive. This is not healthy, and not necessary.

It may take some practice to learn to simply be with what you are feeling, but to do so will empower you beyond what you could imagine. Our emotions, our passion, are our source of personal power. Coming to terms with anger, sadness, loss, frustration, anxiety, and even happiness and glee, will go a long way toward freeing you up to truly and deeply be you. Very significant. After all, you is the best thing you have to offer to others.

Mindfulness of our emotional experience requires awareness of when it is appropriate to express your feelings, and how. There are times when your emotional processing is better done in private. And other times when totally indicated while communicating with others. Each individual must find this balance.

My heart is source of emotional experience, and I express my emotional experience in a way that is compatible with the nature and integrity of the moment.

deorre

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]]> Writers' Block http://www.fusepress.com/deorre/writers_block 2006-04-06T12:08:55-05:00 2006-04-06T12:08:55-05:00 deorre What to do with writers' block. Or with just being too burnt out to write anything significant, substantial, or even humorous. That is the question. I've read and discussed two sides of this debate.

Some say that if the juices are not flowing, accept that and take a break. Refresh, rejuvenate, and it will come. Sooner or later. Proponents of this view may have the luxury of such 'down time' and regeneration.

On the other side of the debate are those who say you must discipline yourself and sit down each and every day to write. Even if there is nothing there. Go through the motions. Similar to the "fake it 'til you make it" mentality of some in recovery.

]]> What to do with writers' block. Or with just being too burnt out to write anything significant, substantial, or even humorous. That is the question. I've read and discussed two sides of this debate.

Some say that if the juices are not flowing, accept that and take a break. Refresh, rejuvenate, and it will come. Sooner or later. Proponents of this view may have the luxury of such 'down time' and regeneration.

On the other side of the debate are those who say you must discipline yourself and sit down each and every day to write. Even if there is nothing there. Go through the motions. Similar to the "fake it 'til you make it" mentality of some in recovery.

 I'm not inclined to subscribe to one camp exclusively, and I see the validity of each side. There are many more experienced writers than I out there in Blog, and I hope to hear where you stand on the issue.

In a kind and gentle way, WHEN STUCK, DO YOU PUT YOUR WORK AWAY, OR TRY AND TRUDGE THROUGH?

deorre

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