June 20

Healing/Creativity
In 1992, I was on a search for healing materials (books/videos/foods/herbs/etc). I had been through 6 months of cancer surgeries and radiation treatments. I lost 50 lbs. and had no energy. I remember getting out of bed and putting on my shirt and pants and being so exhausted that I just went right back to bed. I was on a mission to find something to help me restore my energy and also to keep my mind quiet and relaxed. After a lot of searching, I found the sound table.

My table was built in California by a group of doctors who were interested in creating profound states of relaxation and healing at the cellular level in the body. They also composed/recorded music that included certain frequencies that would cause the maple frame of the table to vibrate/resonate. To lay on this table (even without the music) was such a relaxing experience. However, they built speakers into the table. Basically I was laying on the speakers (embedded into the top of the table).

I had many friends and family try the sound table and everyone was amazed at the experience. After 30 minutes on the table, I felt like I had just woken from an 8 hour sleep. It really was a profound experience. I felt like it really was a turning point in my recovery process.

My sound table is in storage at my parents house in West Virginia. I hope to bring it to Tokyo in the near future.

Now that I'm many years into the recovery process, I would continue to use the table on a daily basis if I had it in Tokyo. Because of the deep state of relaxation you can achieve, and the fact that music can be played through the table, I feel like the table is a great tool for the creative process......

June 14

While in the hospital in Baltimore, recovering from a major throat cancer operation, I found myself with a room full of doctors and psychiatrists. I asked them what the big group meeting was all about. Thought maybe they were going to give me my "expiration date." They told me I was going to live but, without the trumpet. At the time, they thought it would be impossible for me to play because of the effects of the operations. I had a few moments to sit there (with all of them staring at me) and think about not making music on the trumpet in the future. After a a couple of minutes I had a very clear realization:

"It's not about the trumpet,
it's about creating."

I found out at that moment that what I really wanted was to create. Realized that I could do that on any instrument, painting, writing, photography, etc. That was a HUGE moment.

Books (New Store)
Went to a new bookstore today in Shirokane. Great used bookstore! Picked-up some books for ¥200 each at Book-Off!





A great book chikung (qigong).

Started checking out Second Life a couple of years ago. Do you know about the 3D virtual world of Second Life? It's a lot of fun! I think a very creative thing.
Second Life
Second Life on Wiki

Cafe
Had a meeting at Ben's Cafe

Event
Went to an event at Pink Cow This a very relaxed, cool space. Good food/drink where you can sit and relax, read, look at art exhibitions, network and see interesting performances (music, writers, artists, designers, etc) almost every night.

Music
Went to Bflat in Akasaka to hear Tim Lyddon. Tim is a new pianist living and working in Tokyo. He recently moved here from New York. You can hear some of his music on Myspace.

Later in the evening, I went to a really fun r&b/funk jam session at Miles Cafe in Ikebukuro. Got a chance to do some playing with some old friends.


Long day but, had a chance to experience a lot of new things today.