Vegetable Garden Experiment

Back in the spring, my wife and I decided to try growing vegetables in our backyard for fun. With the exception of flowers and a few herbs that Alicia had grown in a window planter, we had zero experience growing anything, but we were curious to see what would happen. After watching a few videos, we bought some rolled-up fencing with anchors, a few 5-foot T-posts, and 5- and 15-gallon grow bags (I’d never heard of any of these things), as well as seeds and starter plants. Our vegetable garden experiment had begun.

After setting everything up, we adventured to grow Yukon Gold potatoes, tomatoes, Sweet Spanish onions, kale, broccoli, lettuce, and green peppers. Some of the seeds had be be started indoors under a grow light bulb and then moved outside, but eventually everything was up and growing. A few weeks later, one of our trees began to fill out, covering half of our garden with unwanted shade for several hours each day. Fortunately, the use of grow bags kept us from having to transplant everything, and I’d found T-posts easy to work with, so moving the garden to accommodate the sun was easy.

It’s nearly August now, and we’ve learned a lot from our backyard vegetable garden experiment already. The food tastes great, and we enjoy being able to step out back to grab fresh salads whenever we want. While the experiment was successful and fun, the summer temps combined with high humidity make it too early to decide whether we want to do it again next year. Maybe we’ll watch some videos on drip irrigation over the winter.

Update on The Jerrys’ New Album

A few weeks into spring, The Jerrys‘ new album is coming along nicely. Writing, playing, and producing a full-length album takes hundreds of hours, but I enjoy the work and the challenges that confront me along the way. I ditched my career to do what I love, and I’m doing what I love more than ever. If one were to say I’m living the dream, I couldn’t disagree.

At least a few tracks have been recorded for each of seven new songs (more songs are planned), and I’ve written titles and lyrics for six of those. Among the new tunes are a James Bond theme song (“Love Me Now and Leave Me Never”), a song about my better half (“Alicia”), and a song about a guy, his girl, and his guitar (“Just Us Three”). The first two are rockers (as is “Lean on Me,” another new track), while the latter recalls the style of The Everly Brothers.

I’ll provide another update on the (as-yet-untitled) Jerrys album in the summer, as well as news on the single that will be released in advance of the album. Until then, there’s a lot more studio work to do. One thing is certain: If anyone has half as much fun listening to the finished album as I’m having making it, it will be The Jerrys’ best effort yet.

New Lyric Video: Anna Marie

Here’s the new lyric video for “Anna Marie” by The Jerrys. The song is from the EP, The Wind Cries Jerrys.

Anna Marie

You turn round and tell me you love me
After all that we’ve been through.
You run round like you’re miles above me
Make a scene like you always do.

Why you do it to me, Anna Marie?
What’s the use in trying?
Why you do it to me, Anna Marie?

You get wound when I say do you love me.
I get sick when I hear you say
You’re not lying when you’re lying about me.
You look best when walking away.

Why you do it to me, Anna Marie?
What’s the use in crying?
Why you do it to me, Anna Marie?

You shut down when you’re tired of me.
You say stop when I say hello.
First you say no, then you say no.
Then you say no and then I go oh no.

Why you do it to me, Anna Marie?
What’s the use in trying?
Why you do it to me, Anna Marie?
What’s the use in crying?
Why you do it to me, Anna Marie?
What’s the use in trying?

Words and music ©2017 by Jerry Schwartz

Books I Read in 2020

When I say I read a handful of books in 2020, I mean it. I only read five books in 2020! Here’s the list of books I read or reread during a very busy year:

  • Buddhist Suttas for Recitation: A Companion for Walking the Buddha’s Path (Bhante Gunaratana)
  • Post Office (Charles Bukowski)
  • Revolution in the Head (Ian McDonald)
  • What Why How: Answers to Your Questions About Buddhism, Meditation, and Living Mindfully (Bhante G)
  • Hawk: I Did It My Way (Ken Harrelson)

Despite the small list, I love to read (I even wrote a song about it), and I plan to read more books in 2021.

A Look Back at My Career

Last month I retired from the nonprofit where I’d worked for 16 years so that I could pursue creative endeavors. I’ll post more on those endeavors in the coming weeks, but before this year ends, I wanted to share a peek at my 30-plus years in publishing and communications. Here’s a look back at my career.

American Veterinary Medical Association, 1989-1993

I learned the basics at AVMA before computers became widely available. Each editor used a different colored pencil so others could determine who made the changes. We then cut galleys into strips and arranged text and images on dummy pages using pins to hold them in place. We measured things in picas and points. I’m glad I got to see all that before technology changed everything. On a different but related note, I became a lifelong vegetarian while at AVMA.

Mosby, 1993-1998

At Mosby Chicago and Mosby St. Louis, I worked on medical texts, test prep floppy disks, ancillaries, study aids–even the company’s first-ever CD-ROM product. I also switched from production editing to developmental editing. The St. Louis office had a staff development center where you could check out VHS tapes on learning software and time management, and I did so often.

Real Estate Education Company, 1998-1999

Back in Chicago, at REEC (a division of Dearborn Financial Publishing), I developed print and electronic products for the real estate industry. I worked there for less than two years, but I gained valuable experience in nonmedical publishing. I also met friend and drummer extraordinaire Robert Porche’ at REEC.

American Osteopathic Association, 1999-2004

At AOA, I gained the management experience I lacked previously, but more important, I transitioned the association’s peer-reviewed journal from print-only to online. The latter provided the experience I needed to land my best gig yet: managing an online web portal for surgeons.

American College of Surgeons, 2004-2020

Working on the ACS Web Portal was one of the biggest highlights of my career, and when portal technology became yesterday’s news, I became the College’s first-ever social media manager. Next, I helped launch the portal’s successor, ACS Communities, a members-only networking platform.

After 30-plus years in the field, I decided that it was time to pursue my own ambitions, so I left to do that. During those three decades, I made countless friends and got to do a lot of cool things, and I will always be grateful for the opportunities I was given. That said, the past is done, and I’ve moved on to the Next Big Thing. Stay tuned.

My Top 10 Favorite Songs With Horns

Horn

The other day I got that feeling again―that feeling I get when I hear a song that features killer horns. I can’t describe it and won’t waste time trying, but this time it happened when Spotify served up one of my all-time favorite horn songs, “Draggin’ the Line” (Tommy James), followed by another song with horns, “Time Won’t Let Me” (The Outsiders). So many feel-good songs use horns! Here are my top ten faves in alphabetical order:

  • “98.6” (Keith)
  • “Bend Me Shape Me” (The American Breed)
  • “Don’t You Care” (The Buckinghams)
  • “Draggin’ the Line” (Tommy James)
  • “Good Morning Good Morning” (The Beatles)
  • “Got to Get You Into My Life” (The Beatles)
  • “Happy Together” (The Turtles)
  • “Make Me Smile” (Chicago)
  • “Susan” (The Buckinghams)
  • “Uptight” (Stevie Wonder)

Narrowing the list to ten was no small task, as there are so many good tunes to choose from, but there you have it. I’ve loved these songs for decades, yet they remain as fresh today as when I first heard them. Give them a listen, see what you think!

The Jerrys Set to Make New Music


After a year that left little time for creative pursuits, The Jerrys have begun making new music and plan to release a new album of original songs. While it’s too early to set a release date, a single will be released from the album in early 2021. Until then, check out past releases, including The Jerrys at WZRD, last year’s full-length album featuring songs recorded live in the studio at WZRD Chicago 88.3 FM.

Books I Read in 2019

With the exception of Todd Rundgren‘s long-awaited “autobiography” and a meditation guide, I devoted the past year to reading and rereading the works of Bhante G. Here’s the list of books I read or reread in 2019:

  • Mindfulness in Plain English (Henepola Gunaratana)
  • Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English: An Introductory guide to Deeper States of Meditation (Henepola Gunaratana)
  • The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English (Henepola Gunaratana)
  • The Meditator’s Atlas: A Roadmap to the Inner World (Matthew Flickstein)
  • Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha’s Path (Henepola Gunaratana)
  • Meditation on Perception: Ten Healing Practices to Cultivate Mindfulness (Henepola Gunaratana)
  • The Individualist: Digressions, Dreams & Dissertations (Todd Rundgren)
  • Journey to Mindfulness: The Autobiography of Bhante G. (Henepola Gunaratana)
  • Loving-Kindness in Plain English: The Practice of Metta (Henepola Gunaratana)
  • Buddhist Suttas for Recitation: A Companion for Walking the Buddha’s Path (Henepola Gunaratana)

I’m now halfway through a really good book on the music of the Beatles, but as I will not finish it by the end of the year, that book will appear on next year’s list.

New Album: The Jerrys at WZRD

The Jerrys at WZRD album cover

New Album, The Jerrys at WZRD, Now Available

The Jerrys have released their first-ever live album, The Jerrys at WZRD, recorded live in the studio at WZRD Chicago 88.3 FM. Ten songs that aired live on the station during four separate appearances from 2012-2018 comprise the track listing:

1. I Even Love You More Than Elizabeth Hurley (At WZRD Chicago)***
2. Ann Taylor Girl (At WZRD Chicago)****
3. New Wave (At WZRD Chicago)*
4. Space Cadet (At WZRD Chicago)****
5. Be Yourself (At WZRD Chicago)***
6. Let’s Groove (At WZRD Chicago)**
7. The King of I Don’t Care (At WZRD Chicago)*
8. Every Girl (At WZRD Chicago)**
9. Bigger Than Oprah (At WZRD Chicago)*
10. What the World Could Use a Lot More Of (At WZRD Chicago)**

*Original broadcast, 2012; Jerry Schwartz (guitar, lead vocal) and Robert Porche (drums, backing vocal)
**Original broadcast, 2014; Jerry Schwartz (live guitar and live vocals with public appearance mixes)
***Original broadcast, 2016; Jerry Schwartz (guitar, harmonica, lead vocal), Robert Porche (drums, backing vocal), and Jim Losby (bass guitar, backing vocal)
****Original broadcast, 2018; Jerry Schwartz (guitar, harmonica, lead vocal) , Robert Porche (drums, backing vocal), Jim Losby (bass guitar, backing vocal)

All words and music by Jerry Schwartz

The Jerrys at WZRD is available on the band’s website and at CD Baby. Check it out!

 

Upcoming Live Album, The Jerrys on Instagram, More

As summer nears, here’s a quick update on my band and the live album to be released in the coming weeks:

  • Production and postproduction work have been completed for a new live album. The Jerrys at WZRD will consist of ten songs recorded over four separate performances recorded live in the studio at WZRD Chicago 88.3 FM. I’m currently working on the album art and will post the final track listing when that is available. The album will be released in early summer.
  • I began recording for a new single by The Jerrys. I like where it’s going, and I’m enjoying making it. There’s no release date at this time.
  • The Jerrys are now on Instagram, so be sure to check out The Jerrys on Instagram. You can also visit The Jerrys’ Facebook page or follow The Jerrys on Twitter.
  • On May 16, I performed a set with The Jerrys at Rabid Brewing in Homewood, Illinois. It was the first time we played out this year, as well as our first time at that venue (photo). Later that evening, I played solo with a borrowed guitar before being joined on stage by others, including Robert Porche.

For the record, since starting this post I wrote another tune and will begin recording that one soon. There’s always more music on the way!