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Hey guys; thanks for the feedback!  It helps when someone points out things and then I know better what to work on.  I really do want to get better and when by yourself, I can't always see the forest for the trees.  BGD, no apologies are ever necessary, especially when you point out something I have to work on!  I went back and listened to a few things and you are right.  It seems I  have a tendency to speed up and slow down, especially during some parts of some songs and it might be the phrasing as you suggest.  Strumming patterns are a real challenge for me.  Sometimes I feel like I am trying to play every note instead of just chord strumming along.  I probably need to learn a little more about alot of things and then I could better understand how to improve.  Zurf - I probably am hiding the guitar a little as I am still sooooo new with it that I fear the mistakes I make get "amplified" if I put the guitar sound out more prevalent.  I do try to mimick the original but with my own take on it, thanks for noticing.  After reading your comment, I went and started reading some other stuff about singing, where the sounds come from i.e. nasal, diaphram etc and realized it is just another area where I have very little knowledge and need to get better educated.  As far as Soundclick, I went there some time ago after seeing where some folks had posted their audio files.  MKM Amy talked of her Zoom H2 and I did get one of those and it converts to MP3s for posting.  Soundclick is free and allows you to set up and account and put your songs on their and even charge if you want.  It just gave me a place to put recordings so that I could share.  Check it out!   And yes Pete we will continue doing what we are doing and striving to get better and enjoying what we are doing.  Thanks to all!

Thanks Pete and Dino!  It always interests me as to why sometimes when somebody posts something they get alot of feedback and at other times hardly any feedback at all.  I am not just fishing for pats on the back.  At pushing sixty years old, I am a big boy and if somebody doesn't like something, I wish they would say.  When no feedback is given, am I too take it that others didn't like it?  I truly am still just trying to learn these things and want someone, anyone who has any ideas to let me know so I can then know what corrections, improvements etc I need to work on.  Thanks you two for taking the time to comment.  It is appreciated.

I went to a Halloween party that my sister hosted and sat around a campfire with a guy that I thought was pretty good; not a great singer but a very reasonable guitar player.  When he decided to take a bathroom break, he handed me his Washburn guitar and said, "Here, play something you know."  I managed to do my rendition of Bobby Bare's Detroit City and was really suprised at the reaction of those sitting around.  I politely thanked everyone and handed the guy back his guitar, but it made me feel like I could do it.  I went to an open mic a couple friends of mine ran and did a three song turn and while being extremely nervous, the crowd was very supportive and so I thought I could continue doing this.  Multiple trips back later and a couple of campfire rounds and I am still with it; even to the point that I purchased my own amp and mic's and have started to do a set for a local nursing home.  Those folks are very appreciative that somebody comes and takes the time to "entertain" them.  I still see myself as a very raw newbie; one who is just enjoying what I am doing, but yet it seems I am not horrible because I get reasonable feedback.  I was so worried about messing up until a friend of mine (Dirty Ed) said to me one night;  "That is the reason I do my own songs, because if I mess up nobody knows it."  Dirty Ed was being very modest as he is an accomplished musician and a great songwriter!  However, since then I have actually written a few songs and have received pretty good responses to them when I played and sang them in public.  I guess you could say I have been "hooked."  I am really enjoying it as long as others tolerate my efforts I will continue.  If not, I will resort to continuing to play for myself as was my original intent.

Wayne and others:  I guess for me it all of the above!  I have always loved music, but I grew up conditioned to be an athlete and never really gave music any attention as I was kind of led in the direction that musicians were "sissys".  As I grew up, I understood that wasn't even close to truth and made certain my sons were involved in high school music activities as I thought it something they could do the rest of their life.  I only got involved in the last couple of years due to retirement and wanting something else to do.  I went to a high school buddy's open mic and thought, this is something I would like to do.  I bought a guitar, starting learning chords and trying to play and sing songs that I like.  Did my first open mic last year and have continued on; even to the point of now trying to write some songs and even playing around with recording some to share with family who seems to appreciate what I do.  Recently I purchased an accoustic amp, some mic's and I am trying to set up a time and date to go to a local nursing home and share.   I don't think I am very good, but am pleased when others provide feedback that appears I am getting better.  Campfire jams and get-togethers with others seems to be the most treasured moments of my involvement with my guitar.  The comraderie is infectious when someone accepts you as "one of them."

Hey Ed; Exactly what Zurf said!  So far so good, I am having fun, but nothing else is getting done around here for a few days it seems.

Welcome Thunderbird from another Buckeye just up the road a bit above Circleville.  Great people on here, great help when you need it and just a lot of supportive discussions about all things music and some things not.  A couple friends of mine are having an accoustic open mic next Thursday in Circleville, 6:30 pm on US 23 at a restaurant called Cuco's.  A couple of our regulars are from the Chillicothe area.  You would be welcome to bring your guitar and come play three songs like the rest of us.  If nothing else, come and buy a pretty good Mexican meal and listen to those in the group do their thing.   It is a fun, supportive group of us older folks with all levels of talent.  Good Luck on the job hunt.

Ok Buzz and Bushy; you got me there!  I probably should have been more specific in saying that my misses goes to bed real early and then I go to the same bed later that nite.  She still works every day, while me, being a retiree, get to stay up and hoot with the owls until the wee hours.  I will report back about my new toys when I get a chance to get them out and set them up a little bit later today.  Grandparents day at kindergarten for my grandson this morning, so no play until later on.  See you then.

That a girl!  That's what I'm talking about!  Wow, there is sure a lot of emotion to the words and I can hear it in your voice.  I think that most of the time the best songs come from somewhere within that we don't express except in the words of a song.  Nice job.  Thanks for taking the time to do this because I never heard it in my head the way you did it and your way was much better than what I was hearing in my head!  My only comment would be that your emphasis on the chorus and putting it in the song four times makes it a pretty long song, but then again, that is what strikes me as the true subject of the song because hurt and fragility scream out in your chorus.

I commented on Facebook also but will do here as well; Proud of you, keep it up.  Wish I could manage to head in the right direction.  Congrats on your efforts!

I never considered myself very "artsy", but I have always thought of myself as a very "keen" mind.  My memory and recall has been marveled at by others for years.  I used to think I would like to try some painting, but never followed it up.  I have very creative thoughts and have always been a "problem solver" for others.  I have written poetry since I was a wee child, but never until recently did I ever think to try to turn any of my writing to music.  Now, with the basics of the guitar learning going on, I have penned a few tunes which are not too bad.  It is just a shame I can't play and sing any better than I can because I really do enjoy it.  I would have to say it has surpassed playing golf as my number one pastime since retiring.  the bottom line is as Selso posted earlier; "Enjoying what you do is all that matters, no matter how good you are."  I enjoy that idea!