You are invited to walk for peace on Earth January 18th... Monday at 8am.
This is a celebration of life and our rainbow of colors. I will be walking with SURJ (Stand Up For Racial Justice)  a national multi-ethnic group which has a  newly formed chapter here in Ventura County.  I was born with  the benefits of white privilege but didn't identify it as such, didn't understand what it was or how other people of color experience life here in the US.   I was in Detroit in 1963 when area churches introduced group therapy to white suburban kids and black urban kids after the riots.  Wow I had no idea of the bigotry between people of different shades and colors of skin.  I began to see the issues but it has taken years to see why I MUST Stand Up For Racial Justice.    So my ancestors experienced bigotry and annihilation in other lands, for other reasons than skin color.  Much like Israelis, Muslims, Palestinians, Mexican's today.  Our hair, noses, the way we greet God...we have as many ways to separate ourselves as we have ways  to appreciate each other...to love each other. so, I am continuously growing and learning what compassion and empathy mean.  I do believe in this great American experiment where we are a melting pot of people, I do share Martin Luther Kings dream that we live in harmony with dignity and respect for each other... and I am in deep gratitude that indigenous people have given up much so our children could also call this land "home".  Yet I am so sorry that history was written with so much blood.  I would change history if I could.     Perhaps the Universe Father God, Mother Earth chose this place because of their beauty, open hearts and grace.If you have actually read all of this please accept my gratitude and lets walk together with the grace of the people who allow our children to walk the land of their ancestors

mlkventuracounty.com

For today...
Today I will take the time to commune with nature, connect with the Earth, strengthen my emotional foundation. This enables me to take control of my new power without the worry that it will collapse or disappear. Wow
The difference is in "being" complete rather than "trying" to keep things from breaking. I appreciate "being" on an emotional level... I "feel" complete while I'm in communion with the Earth's Spirit.
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 We are simply who we are and we are coming into our power!  Coming into this new dimension is new and its natural to worry and wonder. allow the child within to wonder! Take care of your emotional self with the assurance that you are going in the right direction and that you ALREADY ARE taking good care of yourself and your future.
❤

Artwork by Michelle Nosco

Photo by Ezra Murrieta

I'm calling on all musicians interested in learning and playing celtic music at regular sessions: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at the WAV.  Check this blog for changes in location as they occur.

Here is a very handy tune book (2) check it out, look at the tunes and bring the ones you want to play together.

I'll make an event page on facebook with the ARTS FOR EARTH FOUNDATION page.  join and message if you can make it.  See you on the 20th of January for our 2nd session
all the best,
Mic
photo by John K. Golson

Blarney Stone Pub Session Tunebook

compiled by Michael Eskin

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Preface
I came to Irish session music only quite recently in my musical lifetime. It became clear to me very quickly that it can be very difficult for beginning players to bootstrap themselves into becoming participating members of a session. So often the tunes go by so quickly, and it seems that nobody knows the names.
What I felt was needed was a book of the tunes played in our session, in the order that they are commonly played. Many times I have watched beginners, (myself included) desperately flipping through books trying to find a tune being played, only to have the group move on to another tune just when its been found in the book, or worse, never finding it at all so that there isn't a chance that they will be able to play it the following week.
Using this book and some practice, new players should be able to become participating members of the session in just a few weeks.
These are the tunes we most often play at the pub, in the order that they are usually played.
Thank you to Masato "Nishi" Nishimura, Steve Glass, and Declan for giving me the list of songs that made this possible!

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The tunebook in Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0 format may be downloaded by clicking below:
bstunebook.pdf (4.0 Megabyte, Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0 format)
Here's a few more tunes:
bstunebook2.pdf (400 kilobyte, Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0 format)
If you have trouble downloading the tunebook files:
Microsoft Windows running Microsoft Internet Explorer: Click the link above and hold down the button until the popup menu comes up, then select "Save Target As...", and then select a destination for the saved file.
Macintosh running Netscape Navigator: Click the link above and hold down the button until the popup menu comes up, then select "Save this Link as...", and then select a destination for the saved file.
Macintosh running Microsoft Internet Explorer: Click the link above and hold down the button until the popup menu comes up, then select "Download Link to Disk", and then select a destination for the saved file.
To read or print the file you will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click below to download your free copy:
Tunebook tune sources in .abc format (50 Kilobyte, text file)
Please send me an email if you want be notified whenever there is a new version of the tunebook available for download.
Click here for the Tunebook Revision History
For more information on the .abc file format used to exchange traditional tunes on the internet, click below:
Click here for the ABC Home Page

Click here for information on downloading backup MIDI files for the tunes.

Rose of Tejon play: King of the Faeries, Star of the County Down, Morrison's Jig, Red Haired Boy

The Rose of Tejon played their first gig for a "candelite tour" at Fort Tejon California in the spring of 1997 and continued as a band for dances, parties and celebrations of all kinds throughout the Mountain Communities.  Later members performed throughout southern California creating other bands such as Ruby's Dream, One Night Stan, Rain Makers, The Fort Tejon Heritage Players, The Rose Buds and more.