Steve Ball

Bat Mitzvah

Today was the Bat Mitzvah of Isabel Sarah Williams, and we had the honor and privilege of spending the evening in celebration with many excellent and essential friends. 

Sandra Sofie and Jax trade schmoochies (Sandra flew in from London for this!)

 
Taking turns sharing schmoochies

Mama gets in some action as well… Sofie takes it all in.

 
Someone with chocolate fingers took a look at this photo.

Sofie’s mentor and glow-stick supplier, Evie, steals the show…

Sofie teaches Isabel and Dada how to use the picture button

This is a small sampling of the hundreds of fab photos that happened at the event. More to follow as they become available. 

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One more highlight of the evening: I had quick but significant conversations with Frank and Ingrid, Bill and Donna, and Sandra Prow, and Travis Metcalf (among others) about the past, present, and future.    Many heart-warming names came up including MartinS, DebraG, and many others. 

That combined with a diverse crowd from the extended Seattle Guitar Craft family made for a wonderful evening of reconnection. 

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Home Sweet Home

Home Update: I heard PG’s beautiful Home Sweet Home in shuffle mode on my Zune this morning while on the Connector.  It reminded me of many old friends and old times, but more importantly, how much I love to be home. 

We’re now back from a far-away visit to Grandpa Kelley’s April House on a Florida beach.  We also got to spend time with Grammy Kelley, Uncle Ryan, Grandma Frances, Aunt Julie and cousin Joey.  One small highlight, of course in addition to seeing everyone, was seeing Sofie fly an amazing $2 kite on the beach.  Oh, that and being generally offline for an extended period was very good medicine.   

Although we’ve unpacked, we’re still recovering from the 20-hour cross-country travel adventure that began ~4:30am Florida time on Tuesday and ended that night at 9:30pm PST when we finally got home.

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We have not cracked open the photos from the trip yet, but here are some pre-vacation pictures to fill in some gaps.

 
why do we need winter hats in April?

 
we don’t need these in Seattle, but we will in Florida

 
practicing swimming

 
we’d better bulk up a bit before flying on airlines that no longer serve food

when will winter be over?

Mae Mae and Sofie practice flying around the gym with Jenn

more practice: hey, how does this camera work?

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WHAT is the Name of this Band: Nine Lives

Song of the Day: Nine Lives - May 2008 (11.6M mp3) by “WHAT Is The Name Of This Band” featuring David LaVallee, Ivan Lee, Joel Palmer, Paul O’Rear, and SB.

Nine Lives is a specific nine-part container for improvised music that has been in use since ~2003 where it began life within the (2003-2004) Seattle Guitar Circle.  In it’s pure form, this improvised piece consists of nine sections, each with its own specific instruction, character, texture, and (if the group has sufficient ‘group-ness’) life. 

Being improvised within each section, no two performances of Nine Lives is ever quite the same, although the form and format remain generally consistent (and recognizable, if played with clarity and conviction) from version to version. 

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From WHERE comes WHAT?   I’ve been spending 2008 and 2009 Saturday mornings engaged in guitar calisthenics, sitting, and improvisation work with a new configuration.

A few weeks ago, WHAT IT NOT B performed background music for an adventurous yoga class a few blocks from the Opal Creative Space.  As you can see from the colorful iPhone photo, we shared the stage, like many new and aspiring bands, with an interested on-looking victim of semi-creative taxidermy.

You will likely see and hear more about this active project over the next cycle.

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Sofie Painting

Mid-April Update:  Recently, I’ve been re-thinking everything from the ground up.  I’ve been reading the best book of the year (Outliers) and find that this has added to the momentum and courage required to question basic assumptions and practices.

It is also clear - based on how I recharge - that I am actually an extroverted introvert.  I’ve been spending some time recharging this past week, and this will continue into next.

And, all the while, we’re enjoying many recent diverse activities.  Among them:  

 
First some fun with color and texture…

 
Moving on to some calligraphy…

Finally ending with some performance art… (“what if I were my own canvas?)

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The Airport Exercise: Video

Weekend Update: massive spring cleaning and putting final touches on the 45 songs for Sketch Box.  One of the highlights has an accompanying video underway featuring the work of some friends.

Here is the draft from David LaVallee:

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