A good friend of mine writes a blog that asked the question today, “Why are we here?” I’ve written along these lines before, but I thought I’d give my thoughts on this. It’s close to my heart. When I was younger and very involved in my local church I would have answered this question with the answer, “To glorify God.” As I’ve grown older over the years I have modified my beliefs to answer that question, “To experience life on this earth,” but these ideas are not that different. I believe that we are all an intimate part of the universe in body and soul - made from the same ingredients and forces that move the cosmos. We come here from that energy of the universe to experience life on earth - not unlike so many sci-fi stories that have expressed similar ideas, and not so different from many church teachings. I know this sounds a bit “out there,” but it’s where my head is at this point in my life. Some of this comes from something that I recently realized. When I was very young I almost drowned when I walked off an underwater drop-off in a lake. I can remember watching myself crawling back up the drop-off as if I was out of my body and a few feet away. I remembered this incident when I was going through the stuff at my mom's house after she passed. Ever since then I’ve always had a sense of timelessness and peace that I’ve written about before. It makes me know that everything will be okay. It also showed me that I am not my body although that is where I reside while on this earth. (I have hesitated to share these ideas because I know it will put off some of you who read my blog, but I feel it is important to state our beliefs to others. The recent eclipse and people's reaction to it have emboldened me too.) There is some sort of intimate tie-in between all of us, the earth, and all the cosmos that we haven’t figured out although we get glimpses of it through science with quantum physics and consciousness studies. Someday we’ll understand all of it. Meanwhile it helps me answer that question, “Why are we here?” I believe we are here to experience all the joys, pains, and wonders of this life. Enjoy it, folks!
What have I been up to?
Sunday's fundraiser for the La Veta Fire Protection District was a blast! The rec center was decorated beautifully for the mountain luau, and everyone contributed to making it a really fun event. Dennis and Trudy and I were in fine form if a little loose with our timing, but we had such fun!
What’s up this week?
Saturday all day (10:30-2:30 and 3-7 pm) I’m playing at the Royal Gorge Bridge with the Atomic Fireballs on the new stage where the gazebo was on the south side of the bridge. I always look forward to playing with the guys, and this should be a great Labor Day weekend.
Sunday I’m doing my first-Sunday online concert at concertwindow.com/tommunch again. I haven’t made my setlist yet, but I’m thinking toward some oldies this time. If you haven’t tuned in to one of my online concerts, I basically set up a camera and a nice mic in my living room and then play for an hour on the couch just as if we were enjoying an evening of music at home. I love doing these concerts because it gives me the chance to sing for friends from all over the country and sometimes the world. There is a chat feature if you login so you can make comments and converse with others who are tuning in. I always offer for folks to text, email, or Facebook message me with comments too. Please tune in if you can.
Monday I’m back at the Royal Gorge Bridge with the guys 12:30-4:30 for Labor Day. Come on out and spend your Labor Day at the Gorge!
Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch and the Atomic Fireballs
What: playing and singing
Where: South side of the Royal Gorge at the Royal Gorge Bridge on the stage just off the bridge
When: Saturday, Sept 2, 10:30 am-2:30 pm and 3-7 pm
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing
Where: online at https://www.concertwindow.com/
When: Sunday, Sept 3, 7-8ish pm MDT
Who: Tom Munch and the Atomic Fireballs
What: playing and singing
Where: South side of the Royal Gorge at the Royal Gorge Bridge on the stage just off the bridge
When: Monday, Sept 4, 12:30 am-4:30 pm
Monday, August 28, 2017
Monday, August 21, 2017
The Big Universe
I’m excited for the eclipse today, and I find it curious how people are reacting to it. Some are ho-hum and some are very enthused. For me my excitement stems from being reminded that the universe is a huge and powerful thing, and our problems are small in comparison. We are part of this magnificent universe, and being able to witness its power and beauty is a realization of this. As we’ve often heard we are stardust and are literally made from the energy and the stuff of the cosmos. The eclipse is a very real way of remembering this, and I think we can feel it in our bones. So enjoy this cosmic reminder today, and don’t look directly at the sun. I have eclipse glasses, but I plan to use a pinhole in a card shining on a piece of paper as well as watching it on the NASA YouTube channel https://youtu.be/wwMDvPCGeE0
What have I been up to?
Wednesday the concert with the trio was a blast! We haven’t played together for a year, and so we were a little rough on a couple songs, but the amount of fun we had was over the moon.
Thursday night at the Yellow Pine was indeed the last barbeque of the season. We had a good night with a lot of great folks and friends, and we wrapped up the year in fine fashion. I’ll miss seeing all the folks there, and I’m looking forward to next summer already.
Friday night at PDubs was a little slower than usual with folks gearing up for school and getting ready for the eclipse, but we sure had a good time. Brad sat in on a bunch of tunes, and even though I was a little tired from several late nights there was plenty of energy for some great tunes.
Sunday the Feedstore Concert was just perfect. There was enough cloud cover and no rain so that everyone was comfortable and the music was free-flowing. Thanks to everyone who came out.
What’s up this week?
Sunday 4-7 I’m playing with the trio for the Mountain Luau at the Rec Center in Cuchara which is a fundraiser for the La Veta Fire Protection District. It’s a pig roast with beer and wine and all the trimmings and should be a lot of fun. Tickets are $35 each and are available from Paula Berg at 719-742-3565 or paulafberg@centurytel.net. It is selling out quickly so call now if you want to come.
I just have the one gig this week to report. The season is starting to slow down, and I need to take a couple days to help close our family cabins for the season.
Best,
Tom
Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch, Trudy Price, and Dennis Mills
What: playing for the Mountain Luau
Where: Cuchara Community Center, 16500 CO-12, La Veta.
When: Sunday, August 27, 4-7 pm
What have I been up to?
Wednesday the concert with the trio was a blast! We haven’t played together for a year, and so we were a little rough on a couple songs, but the amount of fun we had was over the moon.
Thursday night at the Yellow Pine was indeed the last barbeque of the season. We had a good night with a lot of great folks and friends, and we wrapped up the year in fine fashion. I’ll miss seeing all the folks there, and I’m looking forward to next summer already.
Friday night at PDubs was a little slower than usual with folks gearing up for school and getting ready for the eclipse, but we sure had a good time. Brad sat in on a bunch of tunes, and even though I was a little tired from several late nights there was plenty of energy for some great tunes.
Sunday the Feedstore Concert was just perfect. There was enough cloud cover and no rain so that everyone was comfortable and the music was free-flowing. Thanks to everyone who came out.
What’s up this week?
Sunday 4-7 I’m playing with the trio for the Mountain Luau at the Rec Center in Cuchara which is a fundraiser for the La Veta Fire Protection District. It’s a pig roast with beer and wine and all the trimmings and should be a lot of fun. Tickets are $35 each and are available from Paula Berg at 719-742-3565 or paulafberg@centurytel.net. It is selling out quickly so call now if you want to come.
I just have the one gig this week to report. The season is starting to slow down, and I need to take a couple days to help close our family cabins for the season.
Best,
Tom
Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch, Trudy Price, and Dennis Mills
What: playing for the Mountain Luau
Where: Cuchara Community Center, 16500 CO-12, La Veta.
When: Sunday, August 27, 4-7 pm
Monday, August 14, 2017
Stillness
I’m sitting here enjoying stillness. All is quiet around me currently, and though I have things on my plate I am fairly unworried. This has been an interesting week. Two of my guitars mysteriously developed big sound problems with the electronics that just as mysteriously went away, we had a monster hail storm that broke windows in a family house that was selling the very next day, a couple friends have contracted serious illnesses, and there’s the constant barrage of angst and unrest in the country and the world. But right now I am enjoying the stillness. It is enough. I have said before that I always have a sense that everything will ultimately be okay. I feel this deep in my bones. In the moment there is peace, and these moments sometimes feel like all there really is. I once heard that time is constant and we are moving through it. I feel this way when I experience stillness. I am temporarily outside of time and able to just reflect as though time has stopped. That’s when worry stops for me and I know that everything will be okay.
Why have I been up to?
Thursday at Yellow Pine was another really fun group. My sisters Jane and Carol came up from New Mexico, and friends came down from Pueblo as well as from right around Cuchara to make it a very sweet night.
Saturday morning at the Huajatolla Heritage Festival was also a very special event. Morning in the park is beautiful, and I had some really great folks come out to enjoy it with me.
What am I up to this week?
Wednesday night at 7:00 I’m playing a free concert with Trudy Price and Dennis Mills at the Community building in Cuchara. I’ve been playing a few gigs with Trudy and Dennis since last summer, and we just blended our styles and personalities in a very interesting way that is pretty entertaining. In truth, we just have a great time playing and harmonizing with each other, and that spills out to the audience. Come on out if you can!
Thursday night 6:30-8:30 is the barbeque at Yellow Pine, and it may be the last one of the season depending on the attendance. We’ve had so many nice folks out this summer, and I’ve enjoyed it immensely. The food is always good, the ambience so warm, the fire so crackly and aromatic, and the music and friendship flowing so freely that it’s been a real treat. If we have a lot of folks out this week then we’ll do one more next week. So don’t miss it!
Friday night 6-9 I’m back at PDub Brewing Company for another fun night of brews and music. I've really taken to enjoying the folks at PDubs and seeing some of my Pueblo West friends regularly. We’re talking about continuing into the fall and winter if everyone's game for it.
Sunday 2-5 I’m returning to Westcliffe for one of my favorite annual gigs - the
Feedstore Concert Series. The Feedstore is a beautiful restaurant and park on the west end of Westcliffe that features a fantastic amphitheater and grassy space surrounded by trees that welcomes great free music and plays each summer. I have been lucky enough to be featured for several summers. Bring a chair and your listening ears to listen to music in the shadow of the tall peaks!
That’s all for this week, and it’s a lot! I hope you’re having a good summer and hope to see you soon!
Best always,
Tom
Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch, Trudy Price, and Dennis Mills
What: playing a concert
Where: Cuchara Rec Center, 16500 Hwy 12, Cuchara
When: Wednesday, August 16, 7:00 pm
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing & singing at the Barbeque
Where: Yellow Pine Guest Ranch, Cuchara. 719-742-3528
When: Thursday, August 17, 6:30-8:30 pm
Who: Tom Munch
What: singing and playing
Where: PDub Brewing Company Taproom, 181 S Purcell Blvd, Pueblo West, 719-647-8864
When: Friday, August 18, 6-9 pm
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing a concert in the mountains
Where: The Feed Store Amphitheater, 116 North 2nd Street, Westcliffe. 719-783-2771
When: Sunday, August 20, 2-5 pm
Why have I been up to?
Thursday at Yellow Pine was another really fun group. My sisters Jane and Carol came up from New Mexico, and friends came down from Pueblo as well as from right around Cuchara to make it a very sweet night.
Saturday morning at the Huajatolla Heritage Festival was also a very special event. Morning in the park is beautiful, and I had some really great folks come out to enjoy it with me.
What am I up to this week?
Wednesday night at 7:00 I’m playing a free concert with Trudy Price and Dennis Mills at the Community building in Cuchara. I’ve been playing a few gigs with Trudy and Dennis since last summer, and we just blended our styles and personalities in a very interesting way that is pretty entertaining. In truth, we just have a great time playing and harmonizing with each other, and that spills out to the audience. Come on out if you can!
Thursday night 6:30-8:30 is the barbeque at Yellow Pine, and it may be the last one of the season depending on the attendance. We’ve had so many nice folks out this summer, and I’ve enjoyed it immensely. The food is always good, the ambience so warm, the fire so crackly and aromatic, and the music and friendship flowing so freely that it’s been a real treat. If we have a lot of folks out this week then we’ll do one more next week. So don’t miss it!
Friday night 6-9 I’m back at PDub Brewing Company for another fun night of brews and music. I've really taken to enjoying the folks at PDubs and seeing some of my Pueblo West friends regularly. We’re talking about continuing into the fall and winter if everyone's game for it.
Sunday 2-5 I’m returning to Westcliffe for one of my favorite annual gigs - the
Feedstore Concert Series. The Feedstore is a beautiful restaurant and park on the west end of Westcliffe that features a fantastic amphitheater and grassy space surrounded by trees that welcomes great free music and plays each summer. I have been lucky enough to be featured for several summers. Bring a chair and your listening ears to listen to music in the shadow of the tall peaks!
That’s all for this week, and it’s a lot! I hope you’re having a good summer and hope to see you soon!
Best always,
Tom
Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch, Trudy Price, and Dennis Mills
What: playing a concert
Where: Cuchara Rec Center, 16500 Hwy 12, Cuchara
When: Wednesday, August 16, 7:00 pm
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing & singing at the Barbeque
Where: Yellow Pine Guest Ranch, Cuchara. 719-742-3528
When: Thursday, August 17, 6:30-8:30 pm
Who: Tom Munch
What: singing and playing
Where: PDub Brewing Company Taproom, 181 S Purcell Blvd, Pueblo West, 719-647-8864
When: Friday, August 18, 6-9 pm
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing a concert in the mountains
Where: The Feed Store Amphitheater, 116 North 2nd Street, Westcliffe. 719-783-2771
When: Sunday, August 20, 2-5 pm
Monday, August 7, 2017
Self Doubt
I’ve been thinking about self doubt this past weekend. With all our accomplishments it’s still easy to get down on ourselves and diminish how we view our selves. I do this occasionally, and it always half surprises me and half disappoints me. I’ve been luckier than most - able to work at something I love and to be somewhat successful at it - and yet I still get down on myself when I feel I have not done my best and am therefor unworthy of the love that people share with me. My philosophy of life leads me to believe that we are each an amazing creation of the universe that is magnificent and full of the force and love of God inside of us. When I live out of that realization I don’t have self doubt, but instead am overflowing with love for others and care for the situations of my day. I just have to remind myself of this whenever I find myself drifting.
What have I been up to?
Monday at the Royal Gorge Bridge was way more fun than I should be allowed. Playing in the great outdoors for wonderful people was a hoot!
Thursday at the Yellow Pine was a fun crowd as always with old and new friends. I even got to have a brief phone conversation with the previous owner over the phone from Honduras.
Sunday my online concert was a little different with more mellow songs than I usually do. I really enjoyed it! I played old and new guitars and really had a great time.
What’s up this week?
Thursday 6:30-8:30 is the Yellow Pine Barbeque once again. There are only a few more of these for the season, so if you want great barbeque and my music, then come on down!
Saturday morning 9-10 I’m playing at the Huajatolla Heritage Festival in the La Veta Park at breakfast. This is kind of an un-advertised thing, but it should be a fun morning. Come have breakfast and listen to my music before you browse what should be a great festival.
Saturday afternoon I have a private 90th birthday party that I will love playing for. I really like playing for seniors.
That’s it for this week. The summer is winding down, but there are a few big things left. Stay tuned!
Best,
Tom
Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing & singing at the Barbeque
Where: Yellow Pine Guest Ranch, Cuchara. 719-742-3528
When: Thursday, August 10, 6:30-8:30 pm
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing for breakfast
Where: La Veta Park on Ryus Ave, La Veta
When: Saturday, August 12, 9-10 am
What have I been up to?
Monday at the Royal Gorge Bridge was way more fun than I should be allowed. Playing in the great outdoors for wonderful people was a hoot!
Thursday at the Yellow Pine was a fun crowd as always with old and new friends. I even got to have a brief phone conversation with the previous owner over the phone from Honduras.
Sunday my online concert was a little different with more mellow songs than I usually do. I really enjoyed it! I played old and new guitars and really had a great time.
What’s up this week?
Thursday 6:30-8:30 is the Yellow Pine Barbeque once again. There are only a few more of these for the season, so if you want great barbeque and my music, then come on down!
Saturday morning 9-10 I’m playing at the Huajatolla Heritage Festival in the La Veta Park at breakfast. This is kind of an un-advertised thing, but it should be a fun morning. Come have breakfast and listen to my music before you browse what should be a great festival.
Saturday afternoon I have a private 90th birthday party that I will love playing for. I really like playing for seniors.
That’s it for this week. The summer is winding down, but there are a few big things left. Stay tuned!
Best,
Tom
Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing & singing at the Barbeque
Where: Yellow Pine Guest Ranch, Cuchara. 719-742-3528
When: Thursday, August 10, 6:30-8:30 pm
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing for breakfast
Where: La Veta Park on Ryus Ave, La Veta
When: Saturday, August 12, 9-10 am
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