~~~    Scruffy Eagle    ~~~   Most recent update: *) "FATHERLESS CHILDREN" .

NOTE: I use absolutely NO JAVASCRIPT - but, the webspace providers and their advertising clients DO. Please accept my apologies. I can't get rid of their clutter and scripted graffiti at the current time, so the only solution I can recommend for visitors to my website, is to turn javascript OFF.

INFORMATIVE STUFF ( Accessory pages at my website. )

~~~  SCRUFFY WEBSITE  ~~~ "WEBSITE UPDATES during 2008" The update recordkeeping of the SCRUFFY EAGLE website, during the year 2008. Most recent update at site: 09/21/08

~~~  SCRUFFY WEBSITE  ~~~ "ABOUT & CONTACT" Basic information about the SCRUFFY EAGLE website, and contact links.

~~~  SCRUFFY RESOURCES  ~~~ "MUSICAL LINKS" My musical links page.

PEOPLE STUFF ( Items focused on events & people. )

~~~  SCRUFFY EVENTS  ~~~ "A SCRUFFY RESUME" A page intended to function as an online version of a resume.

~~~  SCRUFFY EVENTS  ~~~ BANDS I'VE "SAT IN WITH" A list of the times of I've "sat in" as a guest musician with various bands while attending their performances.

~~~  SCRUFFY PEOPLE  ~~~ A ROMANCE RESUME A page devoted to letting potential mates know who I am, for the sake of deciding whether or not to pursue involvement. Although unfinished, I'm placing it online as is for the sake of simply having something along these lines available.

~~~  SCRUFFY PEOPLE  ~~~ ADVERTISING FOR PRACTICE PARTNER(S) A page devoted to seeking people to practice music with, in the area where I'm living now.

~~~  SCRUFFY PEOPLE  ~~~ PIX OF SCRUFFY'S FRIENDS A page devoted to sharing pix of my friends. (PLEASE NOTE: I've contacted each of the people I have photos of in this gallery, and made sure they're comfortable with me posting the photos. If anyone had objected, their photos would not be posted.)

~~~  SCRUFFY PEOPLE  ~~~ PIX OF SCRUFFY EAGLE A page devoted to sharing solo pix of me. (Yes, it's a mystery - but, there actually are people who would want to see such pictures,...)

~~~  SCRUFFY EVENTS  ~~~ MUSIC DIARY for 2008 This is the current "Music Diary" document, where I write down the details of musically-related and musically significant events in my life. NOTE: The page will have links for reading the Music Diary notes from previous years.

~~~  SCRUFFY SPIRIT  ~~~ MUSICAL BACKGROUND INFO (from the perspective of people) Info about my musical background, the development of my involvement in music, from the perspective of the people who were instrumental.

PHILOSOPHICAL STUFF ( Waxing my philosophic,... )

~~~  SCRUFFY SPIRIT  ~~~ WHY "SCRUFFY EAGLE"? The story describing the visit from the scruffy eagle, and what I eventually understood about its visit.

~~~  SCRUFFY SOCIETY  ~~~ REGARDING PATRONAGE OF THE ARTS A discussion about the value of and need for patronage of the Arts.

~~~  SCRUFFY PHILOSOPHY  ~~~ "THE PLACE OF GOOD FORTUNE" A short discussion about a concept I call "the place of good fortune".

~~~  SCRUFFY PHILOSOPHY  ~~~ "YER DAILY BUCKET" A short discussion about a concept I call "Yer Daily Bucket".

~~~  SCRUFFY PHILOSOPHY  ~~~ "SCRUFFY AFFIRMATIONS METHOD" A discussion about an "affirmations" method I've devised, and a list of statements of intentions I believe are useful and beneficial. I've also created a second version of this page, designed to conserve ink if printed: "SCRUFFY AFFIRMATIONS METHOD" (Ink-conserving version)

SCRUFFY MUSICIANSHIP STUFF ( NOTE: In no particular order. )

~~~  SCRUFFY KNOWLEDGE  ~~~ "THE SCRUFFY CHALLENGE" This page outlines an exercise for development of musicianship, which is both extremely simple and utterly challenging.

~~~  SCRUFFY KNOWLEDGE  ~~~ SCRUFFY BAND OBSERVATIONS during 2005 Pages devoted to sharing the results of my time watching bands do their stuff; i.e., what I learn - tips, tricks, tidbits, good stuff, and bad stuff. MYSTERY BAND REVIEW #1 MYSTERY BAND REVIEW #2 MYSTERY BAND REVIEW #3 MYSTERY BAND REVIEW #4

~~~  SCRUFFY KNOWLEDGE  ~~~ FINGERING CHART FOR THE Bb CORNET This links to a page containing a fingering chart for the Bb Cornet. It was created by me, after searching the web for a chart which would show the fingering patterns for the Bb Cornet - and, not finding a chart which met my criteria. It shows the real note names, not the transposed note names common band score convention insists on.

~~~  SCRUFFY KNOWLEDGE  ~~~ ORCHESTRATING PRACTICE This links to a page describing why I practice several different instruments; their respective purposes and the goals re. musicianship which I hope to achieve via each of them.

~~~  SCRUFFY KNOWLEDGE  ~~~ "SCRUFFY COVER SONGS" This page has a listing of songs I do which were composed and/or written by other people. It's not really comprehensive, but there's enough there to give the visitor a fair idea of what I do and in what manner I do it. As an added bonus for the fans I probably don't even have, I've decided to post a version of this page which is optimized for printing a no-frills list without borders & boxes in black lettering. No-frills version of "SCRUFFY COVER SONGS"

~~~  SCRUFFY KNOWLEDGE  ~~~ "SCRUFFY ORIGINAL SONGS" This page has a listing of songs I've created. It's a work-in-progress (it's only just begun...), so it's not comprehensive, but there's enough there to give the visitor a glimmer of what I've done. As an added bonus for the fans I'm fairly sure I don't have, I'm also posting a version that's optimized for printing a no-frills list sans borders & boxes, in black lettering. No-frills version of "SCRUFFY ORIGINAL SONGS"

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS  ~~~ "SCRUFFY POETRY & LYRICS" This page has a listing of titles, of original poetry and lyrics I've written through the years. It's not comprehensive, but there's enough there to give the visitor a fair idea of how much I've written and (in a vague way) what kind of topics caught my interest enough to motivate me to put pen to paper (or, fingertips to keyboard, as the case may be). If you decide you'd like to see it, be forewarned - it's current size is approx. 191K.

SCRUFFY SONGS from the "Beat My Nick" collection ( NOTE: Songs are in alphabetic order. )

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS & MUSIC  ~~~ "FACING A BIG DECISION" This one's a Beatnik piece, contemplating Love and miscellaneous other things.

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS & MUSIC  ~~~ "FIND MY SAUCER" This song is one from my "Beat My Nick" collection; the first such, to have extra accompaniment parts added to the vocals and Yamaha DD-7 digital drum machine sequences. It's a rather whimsical piece, about an alien who gets stranded on Earth. It began life as a beatnik song (note, the collection's name), but evolved to what is best described as being somewhere between jazz and rock, with just a touch of the blues. It's got lots of little tweaks and nifty effects. I'm quite pleased with the final result that was posted online at songscribbler.com . Songscribbler provides preview clips of the music, for visitors to listen to and decide whether they like it enough to download the entire song. It only costs 50 cents to download a copy of the full song; 40 cents of which is paid to the artist (in this case, me). Please note, that this was my first time doing this, and that I screwed up the preview clip selection process. A more careful and skillful selection of clip would have provided demonstration of the vocal work (which, I'm quite pleased with). (NOTE: The contract on this at songscribbler has expired, so I've posted this in a second, free, place online.) As of 04/05/08, I'll have this posted at soundclick.com.

SCRUFFY SONGS from the "Ex-Father's Lament" collection ( NOTE: Songs are in alphabetic order. )

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS ~~~ "A TOKEN OF MY LOVE" This song could just have easily have fit into the "Havva Slice - Uh, Life" collection. It's about a situation modern lovers frequently find themselves in. As of 04/05/08, I'll have version 4 (v4) of this posted at soundclick.com.

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS & MUSIC  ~~~ "CURSE YOU, MARY" After surviving terrible violations, this song seems an appropriate response. I consider it to be a protest song.

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS & MUSIC  ~~~ "FOR EILEEN" It ain't "Fur Elise",... It's "For Eileen". The lyrics page has some background information regarding this song, that was created as an outlet for statements I'd never have the chance to make to & for my only child; my daughter, Eileen. The page presented here, has the lyrics for two versions of the song; the song as it existed 11/25/03, and the lyrics for the song as it currently is on 05/28/06. There's a free license for distribution for the earlier (recorded) version, and linkage to where the sound file has been posted online. (You can hear the 11/25/03 version of the song via streaming media, or download it, free of charge, from either soundclick.com, or imgifted.co.uk.)

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS  ~~~ "HONEY, YOU BEYOND" This one's obvious - portrayal of a common, modern, emotionally handicapped woman who places her kicks as more important than her family's safety and well-being.

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS & MUSIC  ~~~ "LAST NIGHT" I don't think I should try to explain this one,... I'll let the lyrics speak for themselves. It's from the "Ex-Father's Lament" collection. The above links to a page having the lyrics for the most recent version of the song. You can hear the song via streaming media, or download it free of charge, from soundclick.com. There is also a page at that website having the lyrics for reading, but I think the presentation via HTML at my website here is much nicer & easier to read.

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS & MUSIC  ~~~ "MY POOR BABY" This song was another one written for my court-kidnapped daughter, Eileen. The style is mournful blues, intended to be in a similar vein as the old-time blues from the deep south, with a healthy taste of modern electric blues mixed in. (I'd dearly love it, if Eileen eventually heard it,...) It's been posted online at songscribbler.com , as of 02-19-04. Songscribbler provides preview clips of the music, for visitors to listen to and decide whether they like it enough to download the entire song. It only costs 50 cents to download a copy of the full song; 40 cents of which is paid to the artist (in this case, me). (At last - a business method and model, which doesn't rip off the composing artist!)

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS & MUSIC  ~~~ "NO SANTA" This one's dedicated to the court-raped ex-fathers and court-kidnapped children in the crowd. It's from the "Ex-Father's Lament" collection. (Surprised?) The topic matter is drawn from my personal experience, after surviving what I consider to be a crime against humanity.

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS  ~~~ "NUN ON THE ALTAR" Posting this one was way overdue. I wrote the first draft of it in 2004 as a statement about the civil court case where they kidnapped my daughter. It may be ancient history, re. my life - but, it's current events as long as there's a continuous flow of new victims being processed without a whimper from the public &/or press.

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS  ~~~ "SO FAR AWAY (THE WIND HOWLS)" This was written to express my feelings about the loss of my daughter and my fatherhood. I hope it speaks to you.

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS  ~~~ "YOUR EVIL CLOWN" This dark little piece is dedicated to my schizoid 2nd ex-wife - that hypnotist who lost her soul, and nobody other than me noticed. ~~~  SCRUFFY CHORDS & LYRICS  ~~~ "YOUR OPEN GATE (v1)" This was a short little experimental thing. It was the first time I'd written anything designed for tenor Banjo.

SCRUFFY SONGS from the "Havva Slice - Uh, Life" collection ( NOTE: Songs are in alphabetic order. )

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS & MUSIC  ~~~ "FORGET ABOUT ME" This song was written in memory of a girl I was once in love with. Wherever she is, and whoever she's become, I hope she's happy. It's basically a smooth jazz piece, but with an edge. This link leads to a page that has the lyrics for the song, and a link to hear the recorded copy.

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS & MUSIC  ~~~ "MERNIE" This song was written for a pretty blond singer I met, named "Mernie". Feeling inspired, I wrote a song when I went home after the show she was performing in. I gave her a copy, the next evening. The evening after that, I gave her a copy showing the revisions I'd made after that 2nd evening of the show (given on the 3rd evening). I haven't seen her since then, but I've made several changes to the song and now consider it finished. I like what I came up with - so, I'm posting it here. NOTE: The page has two primary sections. The first section is a layout of both chords & lyrics. The second primary section is lyrics only, for the sake of making them easy to read (for non-musicians, etc.).

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS & MUSIC  ~~~ "ONE AMONG MANY" This is a song about the shrinking of ego in a big, big world; the realization of placement in the universal order of things... Departing from pursuing the new age psychobabble, the most I can really say about this song, is that I like it.

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS & MUSIC  ~~~ "ONLY I CAN" This is one for the critics who always complain that my music is "too depressing". It's an upbeat, optimistic song seeking to promote a healthy attitude.

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS ~~~ "THANKS FOR THE RAIN" This is a song of thanks and praise, although it leaves definition of the object of that praise up in the air. (Pun intended?) I'm presenting the lyrics here; but not the chord progressions, because I haven't had the opportunity to record a satisfactory copy of it yet - and, I haven't yet determined whether I should pursue commercial distribution of it (or not).

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS ~~~ "V2 RED LIGHTS" Here's a punky little item the critics were right about (not everybody would think this is a fun song). It was originally written in 1993. Music was added later, and the lyrics were tweaked to fit.

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS & MUSIC  ~~~ "WISHIN' YA' WELL" This one's a whimsical piece with an Indian feel, contemplating whether or not another person being talked to is a guru.

SCRUFFY SONGS from the "These Are The Real People" collection ( NOTE: Songs are in alphabetic order. )

~~~  SCRUFFY LYRICS & MUSIC  ~~~ "FATHERLESS CHILDREN" This song was written as an effort to accurately portray the plight of fatherless chldren in an artistic manner. The link here leads to a PDF file containing the lyrics for the song, and a link for listening to it at soundclick.

SCRUFFY POETRY ( NOTE: Poems are in alphabetic order. )

~~~  SCRUFFY POETRY  ~~~ "THANK GOD FOR THE TREES" This is a poem about 4th of July celebrations for ex-fathers like me.

EQUIPMENT STUFF ( Items that are equipment-specific. )

~~~  SCRUFFY EQUIPMENT  ~~~ THE DEFECTIVE AUTOHARP A brief story about a defective autoharp I purchased, and 3 of the documentation photos I took while working with it. This page should help people understand how easy it is to work on the autoharp's chording mechanism.

~~~  SCRUFFY EQUIPMENT  ~~~ SCRUFFY'S OLD VIOLA Some of the history of my old Viola, and some fairly good pictures of it.

~~~  SCRUFFY EQUIPMENT  ~~~ "A CRITIQUE OF THE JULLIARD PRO 5-STRING ELECTRIC VIOLIN" This is a critique of the "Julliard Pro 5-string Electric Violin" which I purchased in February of 2006. I recommend that anyone considering purchasing one of these violins carefully consider what I've written about it.

~~~  SCRUFFY EQUIPMENT  ~~~ THE SLOW BOW METHOD A discussion of the "slow bowing" technique. It can be used in practice of any instrument played with a bow.

~~~  SCRUFFY EQUIPMENT  ~~~ THE CHOCOLATE GUITAR Some of the history and mystery tangled up in the Dean "Z" electric guitar I used to own, and a fairly good picture of it. Also, a brief description of the Peavy "Decade" practice amp (also in the picture) which I used with it. NOTE: These items were given away in 2006, and are now the property of my kidnapped daughter, Eileen.

~~~  SCRUFFY EQUIPMENT  ~~~ "GUITAR CARE TABLE OF CONTENTS" This page is the Table of Contents for a set of guitar care lessons I'd begun in the hopes of helping a friend learn guitar. The friend no longer has an interest in it, so I've got these pages I made,... There's an "Introduction, Dedication, & Disclaimer" page, 2 pages of Lesson 1, and 2 pages of Lesson 2. It was my goal to design these lessons as a learning aide for the beginner who has no teacher or knowledgeable friends at hand to learn from. (My friend lives 350 miles away from me.) The information on the 2 lessons that were finished, is primarily about the subjects of basic handling and maintenance of guitars.

~~~  SCRUFFY EQUIPMENT  ~~~ SCRUFFY'S "GUITAR CORRAL" The story about the development of the "guitar corral", and four fairly good pictures of it.

ARTISTIC STUFF ( Pictures created by me. )

~~~  SCRUFFY ARTWORK  ~~~ ART PHOTOS, BY SCRUFFY EAGLE These are pieces of artwork I've made. I'm sharing them because these are ones which tweak my sense of aesthetics. Photos of me and of my friends are displayed elsewhere on the website - so, this little gallery is stuff that isn't pictures of people. Click on the thumbnail pictures you find here, if you want to see the larger versions. ~~~  SCRUFFY ARTWORK  ~~~ "FALL ARRIVED EARLY" ~~~  SCRUFFY ARTWORK  ~~~ "THE WOODS, GLOWING" ~~~  SCRUFFY ARTWORK  ~~~ "MUSIC OF THE SPHERES" ~~~  SCRUFFY ARTWORK  ~~~ "Green Stuff" This is what I'm using on my computer's desktop as "wallpaper", at the current time (04/11//07).

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