Rick

Single guy from Mickeytown USA, aka Orlando Florida. I am passionate about a lot of things including, good jazz (and just good music in general), good art, good coffee (a necessity), good food (and cooking) and good friends. I have been painting ever since studying under South Florida artist Ann Tyler way back in my teens and have added sculpting to the list about five years ago.I am an avid reader (as well as writer), as anyone who has seen the piles of books around my place would know. They could be pretty much anything; fiction or non. The latest Tom Clancy could be sitting right along side of books on history, biographies, philosophy and religion, Jungian psychology or the latest collection of Dilbert funnies. You never know what you'll find! Since entering the workforce many moons ago, I have worked in radio, toured as a soundman with different bands, have been a crime scene investigator and have recently dug my escape route out of a cubicle where I worked for the economic development arm of the state. Currently I'm keeping myself pretty busy writing, painting and doing a little consulting work on the side. Two of the most important lessons that I have learned: 1) Life is too short to not be passionate about your work. So find out what drives you and DO THAT. 2) The good you do will always come back to you eventually. So, do something nice for someone today. Just imagine what the world would be like if we all did! As time goes on, I will post photos of some of my artwork and other projects that I'm working on. Take care!Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
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You Have A Type B Personality
You're as laid back as they come...
Your baseline mood is calm and level headed
Creativity and philosophy tend to be your forte
Like a natural sedative, you have a soothing effect on people
Friends and family often turn to you first with their problems
You have the personality to be a spiritual or psychological guru Do You Have a Type A Personality?This next bit was an interesting quiz. Although I don't agree entirely with the description, I believe it to be fairly accurate. The one seeming disparity is in the fact that I am Catholic. Devotedly so, in fact. I do, however tend to gravitate towards the more mystical and social justice aspects of my faith. I guess that you would say that my Catholic worldview has much more of a Franciscan slant to it. All in all, a pretty telling test.
What is Your World View?
created with QuizFarm.com
You scored as Cultural Creative

Cultural Creatives are probably the newest group to enter this realm. You are a modern thinker who tends to shy away from organized religion but still feels as if there is something greater than ourselves. You are very spiritual, even if you are not religious. Life has a meaning outside of the rational.

Cultural Creative

81%

Idealist

75%

Romanticist

63%

Postmodernist

50%

Fundamentalist

44%

Existentialist

25%

Modernist

13%

Materialist

0%People don't seem to know quite what to make of jazz. This appears to be most apparent among those thirty and younger. Their entire concept of the art form is limited to what they hear on the local "smooth jazz" stations. Now don't get me wrong, some of these artists are very talented musicians, but what we are listening to, for the MOST part is simply instrumental pop. Real jazz, even a slow straight-ahead ballad always has the sense of walking a tightrope without the aid of a net. Improvisation, which is actually spontaneous creativity, is the backbone of jazz. It's not knowing quite what is going to happen until it seems to almost magically resolve itself. Now jazz has taken many forms over the decades and because it is a dynamic art, it continues to evolve. So, be adventurous! Take the risk and delve into the art form a little. You can start with some of the artists that I've featured here on my site. From there, the sky's the limit. Some of the music that you came across might challenge your concept of what jazz, or even music, actually is. This is a good thing. We all need to get nudged out of our comfort zones now and again. It's how we grow. So, to quote Doctor Johnny Fever from WKRP in Cincinnati: "Open up your ears REAL wide and say 'Give it to me, Doctor. I can take it'!"Picasso
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Add to My Profile | More VideosHere's one by Miles Davis with John Coltrane:Miles Davis & John Coltrane - So What (1959)

Add to My Profile | More VideosMore Miles. This time with Kenny Garrett doin' his thang!Kenny Garrett

Add to My Profile | More VideosPat Metheny and Richard Bona do what they do best with the beautiful On Her Way.Now one for lovely Debbie...Ella Fitzgerald getting all Misty.Ella Fitzgerald -- Misty

Add to My Profile | More Videosalong comes Jamie Cullum to show why jazz can be real and still appeal to people of all ages:Turn out the lights, light a few candles and kick back and relax. Just the setting for this one by the late, great Chet Baker.