Maybe busy is bad . . .

Life has become quite busy since deciding and announcing that I had made the decision to purchase/trade for a Rainsong guitar.  In other words, I haven't been able to take the time to go to Guitar Center to work the trade and place an order.

Life gets that way . . . busy.  I see it in the lives of so many people, especially younger families.  Two parents often working two demanding jobs.  Children with busy schedules of their own, which have to be factored into the life of the parents.

Is it me, or do kids just seem tired all the time?   Is their fascination with cell phones, apps and the internet their way of escaping from reality long enough to take a short break?  If naps aren't an option, then maybe zoning out their brains is?

I've been legitimately busy.  We've entered the season of Lent.  Getting ready for Easter at a church takes a lot more time than you think.  Add that to the weekly responsibility of maintaining the older part of our building.  Our kids moved to a new home, and "grandpa" duty kept me busy.  Now that kind of busy I like!!!!

Today, I was hoping to head to the music stores, but we have personal errands to take care of.  And as always on a Saturday night, I will be finishing up my sermon for Sunday.

The question has to be asked . . . what have I accomplished this past week except to maintain the status quo?  The honest answer is "nothing much."   I did manage to get most of the things done on my weekly to-do list despite unplanned interruptions.  There is some satisfaction in that I guess.  However, what I really wanted to do, that had the opportunity to be enriching to my life . . . I wasn't able to begin any of it, let alone check it off the list.

In a few weeks my wife and I will take a few days off, something we try to do every year before Easter.   I'm confident I can do some reading and writing during that time away.  Perhaps I can reprioritize my to-do list for the next few months.  Perhaps I can strike through a few to-do list items because they really don't add value to my life.

Perhaps . . . I can come to understand that "busy" can be bad . . . if what's keeping yme busy is not enriching me in some good way.

Time for a Rainsong . . .

The quest has begun!  I've made the decision to get a Rainsong graphite guitar. 

Big deal, right?  For many, no.  For me, yes.  It is a big deal. 

I have come to the conclusion that I need a "beater."  You know, the guitar you can throw into a trunk.  You can beat-the-hell out of it and it stills plays loud and keeps in tune.   I've discovered that such a guitar, for me, is not one made of wood.  

I have some great guitars.  I have three Martin's, two Guild's and two Taylors  "both of which are build-to-order guitars).  I primarily play the Martin D-18 retro.  It's the lightest guitar I own and it's a pleasure to play for an hour, even after the repairs to the body that I recently had done after dropping it onto a tile floor at the church.  The weight of the guitar helps the strap not dig into my neck as much as it does with either of my Guild jumbo's. 

Ah, the Guild jumbo's, almost the perfect beaters.  I love my Guild F50R six string.  It's my New Mexico / Philmont Scout Ranch guitar.  Doesn't quite project in terms of volume as I would like it to, but a great guitar.  And, a heavy guitar.  But it's not the beater I don't have to worry about.  Low or high humidity will affect that guitar is seconds.  

My two Taylor's are simply the two nicest guitars I own.  Both are sinker redwood and mahogany.  I haven't played the GS in months, and can't remember the last time I played the T-5.  I ordered the T-5 back when I had cancer, and it was an emotional purchase because I thought I might be dying.

I know . . . sad.  Having a guitar and never playing it is a sad thing to a guitarist.  In truth, I am an acoustic player, even when plugged in.   

So . . . I would like a guitar that will humidity and temperatures will have minimal affect on.  I want a guitar that projects well, and I want it to be light.  

That narrows down the choice to a Rainsong dreadnaught or jumbo.  Probably the jumbo.  I'm still 6'6", but down in weight to 248.  A jumbo still looks about right.

More to come.

Rick ><>