Stay Calm, Play Music

Hey Everybody! 

There's a nasty bug going around. I think I caught it at the pumpkin patch from a very sneezy little girl who was sitting in a wheelbarrow a bit too close to me. Oh well, an opportunity to build up my immune system. 

I have a meeting with a local nonprofit soon, we are going to chat about an auction (or raffle) item.  More on that later. No gigs this week. Good thing, because my singing voice has left the building, thanks to the cold previously mentioned. 

Extremely disappointed in the Google folks, who reportedly cut down 400,000 trees in Finland, allegedly illegally, to build a data center. I'm rethinking my whole digital existence as a result. I don't want to contribute to that destruction. 

Next gig is 11/14 at The Saloon. 

Hope to see you soon. 

Ox, 

Mari 

p.s. If you want to support a search engine that plants trees instead of cutting them down, check out Ecosia, by visiting this link. 

voted

Stay Hopeful

Stay hopeful. 

Follow your heart. 

Ox, 

Mari 

Monday Morning Musings for 10-19-2026

We visited a pumpkin patch this past weekend. The day was a bit hotter than we had hoped, but the hugs from the gkids were worth the trip. So many little kids all over the place, saw some sisters wearing "boo buns" and matching kitty cat dresses - so sweet.  

Always a bit of a white knuckle ride for me out that way, because although Arne navigates them skillfully,

the road has lots of twists and turns. Or maybe my anxiety has more to do with my not being in the driver's seat, some trust issue stemming from childhood. 

Also this past week, we spent about an hour or so researching candidates and propositions, and dropped our ballots off early. Already received a text that it was received. I have full confidence in our local Elections Dept., as I met them when I ran for Supervisor ten years ago. What a bunch of kind, dedicated public servants.  Honesty still exists in most places, you just have to know where to look. Start where you are and look in the mirror. 

No gigs this weekend, but we have a few already on the books for 2027. Hope to see you soon. 

Ox, 

Mari 

Monday Morning Musings 10/12/26

Feeling grateful for life, this all too temporary, sometimes heartbreaking, always worth the effort life. If I could wave a magic wand and take away all the suffering in this world, I would. 

That said, I'm thankful for any opportunity to brighten someone's day, even if it is for a few hours on the second Saturday, once a month at The Saloon, or a small gesture or a kind word. Sometimes listening is the greatest gift we can give to someone who needs an empathetic ear, and sometimes speaking out against injustice is what's needed. 

We are all here for a short while. Let's do what we can to make a positive difference. 

Ox, 

Mari 

Thursday Thoughts! 10/8/26

Hey Everybody! 

Did you notice I messed up the date in my last post? I did! Fixed it, though. We are all a work in progress. 

Tonight, 10/8/26, The Saloon celebrates 165 years of business! Interesting history, that place. The stories those walls could tell! 

Speaking of The Saloon, we are playing some soulful blues this Saturday, 10/10/26, from 4 - 8pm, and will continue the celebration - so, if you are near, stop by! 

Ox, 

Mari 

P.s. I did the flyer for the party. 

Monday Morning Musings for 10/05/2026

Hey Everybody! 

Remember that phrase, "everything is temporary" that I repeat from time to time? Well, some things are more temporary than others! That position I mentioned recently, the one I hoped would enable me to invest in my own creative endeavors? Well, it was not a good fit. I had a feeling, as the red flags started waving back in July, and when I received the contract in August, something still felt off, but I figured I would give it a chance, since it was only five mnutes away by car, and 18 minutes by bus. I actually feel sorry for those folks, because they are clueless. On the way out, I expressed my thoughts about how they never should have let the other gal go, (the one I was hired to replace.) It's complicated, but I'll save myself some energy and you some time by sparing you all the details for now, and move on to more positive and productive things.

I managed to connect the new building owner at Mark Drive to the folks at SCRAPSF, and together with some help from Art + Water and CAST, we are saving some amazing doors from landfill. Did you know that construction waste is a large part of what ends up at the dump? 

Anyway, I digress!

We have a gig this Saturday, October 10th, 4 - 8 pm, at The Saloon, 1233 Grant Avenue, San Francisco. That's two days after the Saloon's anniversary party on October 8th. 

While October is The Saloon's anniversary month, it's also the month I visited the Little City as an adult and had that fateful night when I walked into the little bar and made a decision to pack my things and move out West for good. More on that later,  maybe when I update my website or write a book.

But now, I have some furniture to move and some laundry to dry. 

As always, sending love. 

Ox, 

Mari 

In case you missed it, Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life" was released 50 years ago this past week! What a great bunch of recordings. How lucky are we? 

Btw, one of the engineers who worked on that album called Arne up one day and started screaming at him, that it was NOT recorded in Sausalito, unlike the claims of several past decades. They spent one day, recording a backwards hihat or cymbal or something like that. Too funny. 

Happy Bandcamp Friday!

What's Bandcamp Friday, you ask? Well, that's the day that Bandcamp, a platform that allows you to stream music for free and download and pay music makers, is "fee free" - meaning more of what you decide to pay goes directly to the artists and independent record companies on the platform. 

If you find yourself with some extra cash and haven't yet done so, here's my bandcamp page: marimack on bandcamp if you want to send over some monetary support for my musical endeavors.  

You can find all kinds of music over there. Be sure to join the community page. 

If you prefer to support in another way, visit this link  -- or come say hello at a gig and drop some dollars in the tip jar, tell a venue near you to book us, or contact me to book us at a house concert or in your backyard, etc. 

We're a tight, fun, band! Come see us every second Saturday afternoon in San Francisco at The Saloon, 1232 Grant Avenue. 165 years and still going strong! 

And, I'm open for projects. Arne is too. He just finished mixing an album by a talented songwriter, Chris Morrissette. Chris contacted him after 50 years. That was so fun. 

That's all for now. Take care, be love, and may our paths cross soon. 

Ox, 

Mari