Zents Music Studio

Today I was thinking about cities in the US.

I went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the first time last year. Philadelphia is quite the city. 

It has a densely populated downtown, with the voice of history decorating Liberty Square and its surrounding historical attractions.

I had a chance to see some monumental historical sites including the Liberty Bell and Independence Square.

I enjoyed seeing some reenactments of the decisive and divisive issue of the American colonies separation from Great Britain in 1776, and the events that led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Nevertheless, I also had my smartphone, a brand-new one, stolen.

One middle-aged woman I encountered in the downtown area, decided that I should buy her breakfast, when I walked into a food market across the street from our convention Hotel.

I didn’t know what to think. I was sort of shocked at her chutzpah.

There was quite an array of folk at the food market. Some representing poverty and others representing extreme wealth.

So that is what cities do. It collects the best of society and the worst. It collects the finest and the fairest, the poorest and the barest.

I feel more circumspect about Philadelphia now that I got my smartphone replaced.

Even still, I had to divorce from my mobile provider for actually activating my stolen smartphone and giving the thief mobile service, after I had reported to them that my new smartphone was stolen.

You would love Philadelphia if you love American history. And if you love large beautiful hotels, fine live entertainment, and delicious food served in beautiful restaurants, go to Philadelphia with lots of money. Otherwise, you may see things that make you sad. 

Many cities have the same things that Philadelphia has: poverty, crime and corruption. I guess that’s people for you. The division between rich and poor?

It’s everywhere.

Canada switched to the metric system while I was a kid still living in Toronto.

There were big efforts pushed to help people understand the centimeter, the millimeter and the hectare.

The rest of the world smiled indulgently whilst Canadians struggled to jump on the metric bandwagon. 

America just shrugged its shoulders and continued to buy cheaper gas by the gallon, drinking pints and quarts of booze and ice cream shakes.

All kidding aside, it seems our culture is fascinated by all forms of self-improvement in print and on the screen.

Nevertheless, obesity, addictions, embezzlements and domestic violence still stick around.

Answers are out there. Solutions are given freely in schools, magazines, talk shows, and anywhere you look online for scientific and sincere answers.

The problem comes with application. Time to get off the pot. People start making changes when they decide to.

It’s not that hard, but it requires effort, belief, and consistency.

As Nike says, Just do it!

Today I cleaned out my work email box. 

There are no emails in there right now. 

What a relief!

I’m sure it won’t last very long. 

But it sure feels good right now.

There is much I need to relay to my spam folder.

I remember way back when,

when getting an e-mail was a thrill.

Now getting emails is a pill, 

unless it’s for a special reason, 

like a flight confirmation 

for a far away destination, 

I’m heading to, 

for a vacation! 😀

I remember I used to work at a coffee shop.

I used to love to drink my coffee in a large tall mug such as the one pictured above.

Today as I sip my fragrant hazelnut coffee out of a long, tall mug, it takes me back to my college years.

There were happy times and there were sad times, but coffee time was always a good time!

During my college years I was disconnected from popular culture. I did not watch TV or go to movies. I was in a little bubble of music all my own.

There was a fellow I met who looked like Brad Pitt. I did not know who Brad Pitt was. What to me looked like a German fellow, turned out to be the spitting image of a movie icon, the likes other women drooled over.

I just liked him because he was also a very musical fellow, an international traveler, and good at computer science. Plus, I needed a place to crash since I lived out of town. Eventually we parted ways, he was leaving the country and moving away. Plus, he was a bit of a religious nut. But, he was a nice guy albeit too much of a neatnik! 

When I think of this coffee mug it reminds me of the past. 
In spite of this bout of nostalgia, I feel the things worth remembering are the things that are of practical value, such as experience.

Nevertheless, you can’t walk through an antique store without seeing things that remind you of your childhood. They may not be important, but they’re fun to revisit now and then.

So many times the sight of flowers makes me stop and soak in the happiness.

Lately, it seems I have been in sync with time.

It seems there have been pockets of time where I am finally fully present, unrushed and thoroughly in the moment.

Life hasn’t always been this way, especially for me.  I am happy when I notice these small episodes. I am glad when time does not hasten by so quickly. When time seems to travel too fast it makes me me feel anxious and upset. When you can live at your own pace you can feel relaxed, and not harassed.

It’s wonderful to know one can be mindful and present, and savor the joy of living. 

Perhaps I’ve learned how to schedule better plans for enough room in my life to live, instead of overbooking every second.

I’m still struggling with my weight, but I’ve been exercising a lot with Pokemon Go.
Evidently, there is something that I love more than a skinny body. It is food. 

Today I had the most delicious pizza. I followed it with a slice of the most delicious chocolate cake. Of course I had beer with that pizza, and for dessert I had a delicious Riesling wine paired with milk chocolate cake. 

When I drink I like to pair it 1:1. If I drink a glass of beer, I’ll drink a glass of water. If I drink a glass of wine, I have a glass of water.

It’s terrible being fat and craving yummy food, isn’t it? But you know food is meant to be enjoyed. The world doesn’t want you to enjoy your food, it wants you to be thin as a stick.

I’ve been very blessed with being healthy, and not having any problems. The truth is I don’t want my heart to have to deal with an overweight gal for the next 25 years or so. 

So now we have Pokemon Go. It makes me go.

I go out walking with the dogs.

I hope this will be my saving grace!

Musically yours, mucho gusto!

Amy Zents

When we play the video game Pokemon Go, reality and alternate reality converge. The dogs enjoy it because we take them along with us. My husband and I just returned from the International Comic Convention in San Diego..

We saw a lot of different fantastic costumes. All forms of media were represented. However, nothing compares to spending time in the great wide world with the dogs, the sunshine, and Pokemon go!

This dog is part coyote and part Corgi.

I didn’t really want to get involved with another online video game. Let’s just say family was interested in it, so I followed family. I am really happy playing Go. The creatures that you can find are pretty amazing. I also like to be out in nature. I often take beautiful pictures of nature with my camera on my phone. There are beautiful flowers blossoming in the summer.

I am just about to embark on a trip to the San Diego Comic-Con International 2016. When I go there, I see a lot of obese overweight nerds. This year they will be getting lots and lots of exercise! How perfect is that?

True, there will be injuries.

People have to decide what they will focus on. If you’re crossing the street you need to keep your eyes focused on your surroundings.

Drivers do not like people wandering like zombies in the path of their cars and trucks.

Some people have sidewalks which are uneven too, and it’s easy to stumble on those.

I do however think that the world is a kinder and more gentler place because of Pokemon Go

It helps one to get one outside, and get to know their community, and enjoy the companionship of other players!