Rubbing along

It's sometimes said we never really know what another is really going through and this might be because either it was something they'd never discussed with us or we blissfully assumed that our experiences were the same.

When it comes to what brought us together as adult littles, we may not know of each other pasts, the extent to which the expression of any gender identity through presentation may been of controlled by parents for instance and this may effect their own unique route into it.

I may be fairly open about mine not least cos to me it's no big secret and I feel just talking about these things is of help to others but not everyone does.

If we're together, we do need to take care of each others feelings so no one feels awkward and keep an eye out for those whose sense of fun may come on over as being rather borish or otherwise intimidating.

Some people may have difficult relations with their significant others (usually partners) through either their cross-dressing, gender id issues or just being a little who wants to express it.

Also some of us may have ongoing health issues or disabilities that may not seem obvious to you and equally we may have adapted how we see things to take account of our own limitations that perhaps that we may not always be as sensitive to your needs, perhaps seeing them as less important. It isn't uncommon for someone to say in response to saying how difficult they find their job, effectively "Be grateful for being able to work as I only wish I could" which isn't showing an appreciation for how that situation may be leaving you.

I do feel those of us who don't enjoy the best of health need to ensure we don't lose our empathy with those who while having better health, face other challenges in their lives and respect their needs such as having to up ready for work in the morning. 

It doesn't hurt to try to do better when it comes to rubbing along.

Styx Paradise Theater and Pieces of Eight on SACD with The Grand Illusion

Styx is a progressive rock group that I have always liked.

Not the edition where I do a vanishing trick but the title of Styx 1977 album release featuring Come Sail Away and Little Miss America remastered by Mr Kevin Grey for Audio Fidelity.

I bought it in May 2010.

Processing a warm tonal complexion I really like it even if it's not anything really special just the job done right.

As I have commented in a few places before the Styx catalogue has been left as is from the early days of the compact disc and can be divided between the decent but nothing special and the clearly inferior to lp versions.

On January 19th 1981 the band issued the concept album Paradise Theater based on the real story of a theatre in their native Chicago which came out on laser etched lp and tape versions (8 track and cassette) which topped the US album chart and featured four forty-fives, Rockin' The Paradise, Too Much Time On My Hands, The Best Of Times that charted at #3 and Nothing Ever Goes As Planned.

It was an album I bought near date of release and always loved for the musicianship and story telling in a song.

This new Super Audio cd also playable on regular cd edition sounds quite a bit clear with more definition than the original disc.

Another album of theirs whose cd version left a fair bit to be desired was Pieces Of Eight  based around the story of a boxing bout which on cd sounded thin and splashy

ln September 2017 this disc that featured the 45 Blue Collar Man, Renegade and The Great White Hope was issued on Super audio cd also playable in regular cd having been mastered by Kevin Gray from the A&M master tapes.

This edition is a lot better than the 1987 original cd.

Going forward staying the same

The way that it goes, on the day I was out for a good stroll taking some pictures for another blog as I encountered high school children returning to school after the weekend.

One boy interviewed said being missing so much of junior 4 (aka year six) left him feeling as he transitioned to the first form as we'd of called it of high school kind if funny and too young to be in that year group.

Child development comes on at different rates and he probably is right in saying he doesn't feel ready for that step but as ever the needs of "the system" tend to prevail as he may of benefited from being held back a year to catch up.

I know from admittedly my rather more severe mismatched development I always felt a few years young emotionally and in general maturity from my peers.

That's why this treatment and being back in the sort of uniform I had in my last year at Juniors taken much further up than what is customary now works for me and that will lead into other areas.

I'm coming over

Between playing hunt the outdoor cat who is being put off by other neighbouring ones and the showers here I thought I'd do this weeks entry.

How many of us can recall that routine of going on over to a friend or 'play mate' whither or not it was something that emerged from the playground that day or arranged between Mothers?

I sure can! It happened quite a number of times when I was in Juniors during recess where an invite would be issued and in those days before all this instant messaging and cellphones, you'd skip home to tell Mummy the news and you half imagined your friend doing the same as resourceful as ever she increased the food portions for that days evening meal with little warning as back then food was cooked at home on the range even if some was packaged.

Needless to say if your Mummy was anything like mine there would be some fuss around what your were going to wear as you had to create a good  impression, your hair would be washed and styled quickly and although you would thank your friend and his or her Mommy, it was the done thing to write a thank you note afterward. 

You may also have bought a present if was a more formal organized affair.

I just loved these happenings.