Music In the Air

When I was teaching fly fishing for a living I started every morning with a cup or two of freshly brewed coffee and quietly finger-picked my guitar while watching meandering eddies in the West Branch of the Delaware River.

Since returning to Ohio my mornings still include coffee and music, but, most of the time, the instrument of choice is a little ukulele.

I have had the pleasure of playing just about every brand of ukulele available today. I guess that's one of the advantages of publishing Ukulele Player Magazine. We were the first ukulele periodical to last more than a handful of issues since the instrument once again became popular in recent years.

Due to health issues, I had to take a break for a little while, but, the magazine is back in action and we had a great kick-off with feature artist Ronin Wong.

The next issue is just around the corner and will feature Spats White, an amazing performer with fifty-plus years in the entertainment business. Spats is a true artist and a troubadour. He sings, he tells stories, and he plays his little Martin ukulele with passion. Zealous, you betcha. Spats is one of New York City's best entertainers and he's a friend, besides.

This morning, I am enjoying the sweet tone of an Oscar Schmidt OU250SWK "Bell" ukulele. It is a vintage reissue of the old Lyon and Healy bell. Lyon and Healy became Washburn. US Music owns both Washburn and Oscar Schmidt (along with other popular music brands). So, this bell is the genuine article.

This Oscar Schmidt bell ukulele is a professional quality, solid wood instrument that is a joy to play and sounds as sweet as it looks. I confess, I did lower the action to suit my own preferences.

Music is one of my many passions. A little finger-picking, a little strumming, and a little coffee-- not a bad way to start the day.

DO IT NOW!

Time never stops. April is more than half over and before you know it summer will be here.

I am mindful of the fact that every day in spring brings different weather conditions. One day the temperature is near eighty degrees and the next it's fifty. Today, it's raining and tomorrow, it's sunny, but the wind is really ripping.

This brings me to my next point. Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

I have a passion for cycling. I always have. I'd much rather ride my bicycle outside, enjoying the rolling farmland around Mid Ohio-- it is much more exciting than riding on a trainer in my den. If given the choice a country road or a paved bike path wins every time. 

If you always find yourself waiting for perfect conditions before riding your bicycle, you will not ride much. My motto is ride when you can. I do skip outdoor riding when it is below fifty degrees or raining outside. But, at those times, I am on the trainer for at least twenty minutes or so before getting ready for work.

Life is too short to put off things you should do today. Just DO IT.

Procrastination is habit forming. Remember the immortal words of W. Clement Stone:

The best way to get something done is to DO IT NOW.