The Tiger's Den - True Solitude

 

Song:  Alone Again

Artist:  Gilbert O'Sullivan

Shortly after publishing the previous article...

I made something to eat...

relaxed in bed for a bit...

and I then got busy moving the computer and desk...

as well as all of my instruments to set everything up in my bedroom.

As you can see...

the Keyboard, Bass Flute, and two of my Guitars fit in the corner.

As I am using the classical and the 12 string guitars right now...

I just placed them within reach of me while sitting at the computer.

My electric guitar...

I put between my headboard and the door.

My six string bass guitar...

I had placed between the closet...

and the door.

Everything fit well.

There is plenty of room to walk about...

for Bandi...

as well as for me.

I hung my headphones on the keyboard stand.

There is still room for Bandi to pass to the left of the keyboard...

as she sometimes likes to look out the other window by the bed.

She is cognizant of the new items in my room...

and she is careful to avoid bumping into them.

Bandi has plenty of room to investigate outside through the side windows...

so...

she is quite happy about that.

I could also put the microphone next to the music stand.

There is still plenty of room to enter my closet.

This is how the Tiger's Den will look most of the time...

especially once I install blackout blinds.

My keyboard is also backlit in red lighting.

In case I need more light...

there are plenty of installed lights in my room.

At the most...

I will turn on the alcove light...

but I can't foresee ever needing it.

Just the red lights are more than enough.

I really love to shut out the world when I want to feel creative.

I want to feel as if I am the only one in the world...

where no one exists to bother me...

especially during the creative process.

I feel so much more myself in The Tiger's Den...

for this is where I feel the most comfortable.

Most of the time...

I love being alone.

It is people in the real world that make me feel tired...

bothered...

and even lonely in their presence...

for so many are so insincere...

and play transparently stupid manipulative games...

as if they were back on the elementary school yard.

It is not that I do not understand what people are doing...

I just mostly do not understand why they would do those things.

Weirdly...

I don't feel lonely when I am alone...

and I am deeply and truly happy in solitude...

as if I were the only one on an interstellar mission far out in space.

It is in solitude 

that I can see people in the movie of my mind with such clarity...

that I become them...

for I could perceive what they are thinking and feeling...

as projected in a possible future...

and their personalities never disappoint...

for they are always interesting...

intelligent...

funny...

deeply passionate...

and highly expressive

(They become characters of future books).

So many people just don't realize the depth and wonder of our inner world.

It is why I love to write.

I know that we have but one life to live...

but in experiencing life through the hearts and minds of so many others...

through the characters written about...

we can...

in essence...

live a thousand lives in the space of one.

And it is also true for creating music.

For in touching our own creative soul...

we may touch others souls...

and in realizing that others may enjoy our work...

we feel a connection with others...

even if we don't know about them in real life.

Just knowing that sometime in the future...

others own inner paths may be pointed to through our creations...

brings about our own happiness...

and so...

loneliness is erased...

and is replaced by a deep inner satisfaction.

This is the function of...

The Tiger's Den...

to allow the creative process free reign.

It is in my den...

that the movies and the orchestras of the mind meld...

 and are most deeply felt

(other than during sunsets and sunrises...

or during night country drives).

And so...

it is one of my near projects to install blackout blinds...

the type in rails which when drawn down...

completely blocks all light...

except for when I wish to allow a gentle cross breeze in my room by opening them.

Some of my happiest times...

happen in...

The Tiger's Den.

Just sitting in familiar and such welcoming surroundings...

I am already feeling more creative.

Alone Again...

and nowhere else do I feel so fulfilled...

or so deeply happy.

Relocating The Tiger's Den

 

Song:  Enter Sandman

Group:  Metallica

I have decided to move my computer...

and all of my instruments...

to my bedroom.

There are numerous reasons...

any of which is cause for me to move them to my room.

  The beauty is too distracting.

I know it sounds counter intuitive...

but...

I have a pinball mind.

I am easily distracted by the view.

Instead of being creative...

I end up staring at the scenery...

especially at the clouds.

I end up enjoying the moment instead of projecting myself into the future.

The fact is...

I haven't been very creative since I had all of my instruments 

and the computer in the loft.

I was very creative when I lived in Reno, NV...

and had set up The Tiger's Den in my bedroom.

I blacked out the room...

and it was only lit by the computer and a red computer light.

I was in complete isolation...

so much so...

 that I felt as if I were living underground in a cave...

and so...

my mind went inwards.

That is what I need again.

I will eventually buy blackout blinds for my room as well...

as I am mostly nocturnal.

By having the room blacked out...

I will be able to sleep far more deeply in the daytime

(although I use a sleep mask...

it is not the same...

 as it is uncomfortable...

and so...

it disturbs my sleep).

The sound is not what I thought it would be.

The cathedral ceilings are only reflective with louder sounds.

Were I to have a deep and resonating voice...

it would be different.

But...

I don't.

My voice is too soft.

I thought the loft would add ambiance...

but during my sound check...

I realized that instead of adding resonance...

it sounded empty...

void of any resonance.

The loft is simply too large to add any resonance...

especially with its very high ceilings.

In the smaller confines of my room....

the sound reflects far more easily off the ceiling and walls.

And so...

my recordings will sound much better there.

The arid air is destroying my guitars...

and will dry out my bass flute pads...

eventually ruining it as well.

As the loft is open...

I would have to completely humidify the whole house instead of just my room

(The woods on my guitars are starting to show cracks).

My room...

just by virtue of it being smaller and confined...

the air is naturally more humid as I spend so much time in it.

I will put the computer desk and chair in my bedroom...

in the bay window alcove.

And...

the instruments...

should they not all fit inside my room...

could always be put in the spare bedroom until needed.

An added benefit would be to convert the area in the loft

 now used by my computer and instruments...

into an inner house serenity point.

I will most likely make it an area of blissful relaxation...

with comfortable recliners so the raised view may be fully enjoyed.

There is just so much room in the loft.

This would be part of the view from recliners in the space now occupied by my computer.

As you can see...

the alcove of the bay windows would fit the computer desk perfectly...

and I could easily open the windows for a full cross breeze at will.

I could fit at least two guitars in the corner area...

and perhaps the keyboard and bass flute as well.

I will have to leave room in front of the side windows so Bandi could still peek out.

I know were I to put any guitars in front of them...

she would accidentally knock them over in her rush to investigate any noises.

I will be buying more furniture in the future...

but I will first buy a comfortable seating arrangement for the great room below.

Although I am more of a minimalist...

again...

there is just so much room in the loft.

I want it to be an area of relaxation amidst the beautiful views.

I am still unsure as to what furniture will go up in the loft...

but...

my immediate main focus will be setting up everything in my room...

to once again...

make it...

The Tiger's Den...

a place of complete isolation...

solitude...

peace...

but most of all...

a place of creativity.

Day 6 - An Italian Meal

 

Song:  Che Vuole Questa Musica Stasera

Artist:  Peppino Gagliardi

My sister had been with the realtor for most of the day.

Her number one home pick is still under contract...

but my sister is hoping to be a backup buyer...

if once she actually tours the home...

she still loves it.

Once she had returned...

we drove into Colorado Springs to eat.

There was an Italian restaurant I've always wanted to try...

as they had great reviews.

It is in old town Colorado Springs...

and so...

 is nearest to where I live

(out of the Colorado Springs restaurants).

Their bread and salad was very good.

I especially loved dipping the bread into olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

I had ordered the shrimp and scallop fettuccini.

It was the best I've ever had.

The white sauce was creamy and cheesy...

just so perfect.

My sister had shrimp scampi risotto.

My sister loved her dish as well.

 I had chosen this place because the reviews were very good.

It had earned every one of their great reviews.

The food was the best Italian I have ever had.

I now have a known excellent Italian restaurant I can depend on for delicious food.

As my sister and I drove back home...

it began to lightly snow.

At times...

it got heavier...

and I had to slow down quite a bit in the mountains because 

the reflection of the headlights off the snow almost became blinding.

But...

we arrived home safely.

Besides...

there were very few cars on the road...

and for the last ten or so miles...

I was the only one on the road.

As it is now after 10 PM...

I will head off to bed early.

Salt And Pepper Shrimp / Beef Tataki / Beef Stew

 

Song:  What is Life

Artist:  George Harrison

Last night...

I made Salt and Pepper Shrimp for my sister and myself.

I use a 50/50 sesame oil and chili oil blend to sear the shrimp.

We ate our fill...

but I left enough room for dessert (Blueberry Pie)...

while my sister saved her Peach Pie for the following morning.

I stopped by the kind lady's pie and pastry truck

(the one who thought I was homeless and had given me 3 cookies).

Although she had someone filling in for her as she was catering an event...

I had told the young man who was tending her shop about her kindness...

and I had asked him to tip her the cost of a bag of cookies and to thank her for me.

----------------

On the following morning...

I got started on making beef tataki...

the most laborious portion of which is the grating of the daikon.

I then sliced up a couple of white onions.

After adding in the onions...

...I added in rice vinegar and memmi.

I then sliced up the rest of a previously made roast beef from a few days prior...

and then added it into the mixture to marinate for a couple of days in the fridge.

After I had finished with the beef tataki...

my sister started on making beef stew.

She had cubed the beef...

...and began searing the meat in batches.

After each batch of seared meat was finished...

she placed them into a 24 quart stock pot.

After finishing the meat...

my sister then began searing the veggies.

As the veggies were searing...

she filled up the stock pot with the requisite amount of water.

After adding the veggies...

she added the spices and beef stock and brought it to a gentle boil.

After about 45 minutes at a low boil...

...my sister then added quartered red potatoes for another 45 minutes of a low boil.

We then had a delicious meal of beef stew and buttered bread.

After allowing the stew to cool enough...

I then put the rest of the stew into 8 freezer containers for quick and easy 

meals in the future.

My sister's beef stew recipe (per pound of beef).

In this batch...she had used approximately 5 lbs of beef.

---------

Tomorrow...

my sister will be meeting with a realtor to look at some properties.

Even though her number one pick is in contract...

she will try to see it anyway...

and if she really does like it still...

she can put in as a backup buyer.