Resolute

Well, as I look back at the last year (not to mention the last month) I ask myself: where the hell did the time go, and what the hell happened?

I have never been one to come up with some creative resolutions that I'm sure to bust 10 days into the New Year. Frankly (or as my friend Chrissie said when I was in college "Dave Frankly"), I'm agin' 'em.

But, since this is the last day of the year, and I've already expressed my thanks earlier during the appropriate season, I can't help but to yet again try my hand at resolutions. Only one year, and that was in 2004, did I ever keep my New Year resolution: that I would change something. Now I know that this seems rather broad, and it's no surprise to those who know me to know that in general, I paint in very BROAD swaths. In 2004, I changed companies that I worked for, I changed church jobs, I changed the group of friends that I associated with, I stopped working at a bar, and I attempted to get my life in order. I'd say, looking back, those were some monumental changes. I'm not one to up and just change things at a whim.

Well, here we are on the cusp of one year and the apex of another (albeit annus horribilis). And I ponder...

What shall I do?

Well, for 2009, I've decided I'm going to be a better person. I'm going to try harder to be thoughtful. I'm going to think of others. I'm going to try to stay better in touch with friends and my immediate family. I thought that would be a good place to start.

I'm going to try to lose the mountain of mass I've accumulated on myself over the last 3 years. I'm going to become more active. I'm going to cut down on the amount of running around that I do. I'm going to make my life simpler. And I'm going to enjoy the ride, and notice the scenery around me.

And....finally, I'm going to improve in trying to be happier, no matter how tall the order may be.

Hopefully by January 5th I'll still be on track, but please....don't hold your breath. You might turn blue.

The Spirit of Giving.....A Question

I'm done shopping. I've already given some of my gifts out already. Well, the only gifts I've given out is to my staff at work.

Which leads me to a question of appropriate etiquette. This year, you see, as in all other years, I have given my workers at work gifts. I try to look for things that are unusual, that are more than gift cards, or consumables, or something of the like. I especially go to great lengths while I go on my travels abroad to bring back something for everyone from the countries I visit, such as I did this year. This years gift: a place serving set of 6 place mats and chop sticks sets, a bottle of wine, and a really cool pitcher from Crate and Barrel. Yes, each of my 10 employees got this.

Yet I find out today, however, that one of my employees went around to everyone at my office and specifically told them that they weren't to give me anything.

I know that it's more about the giving than the receiving, but to hear feedback like this was a bit of a shock. To say that I was pissed off would be an understatement.

Which leads me to the question:

What do I do next year?

Do I continue to give my employees a gift in spite of this person? Do I stop giving gifts altogether? Or...do I not give the offender a gift, and everyone else gets something?

Actually, in all of my experiences, I have never encountered this before. And...surprisingly, I am at a loss.

What do you all think?

After all, it is the spirit of giving that counts...supposedly.

Pick Your Poison

I haven't done much with this lately. Perhaps it's because I've been frantically getting everything organized for a holiday that, at this juncture, I'm simply not in the mood. Or perhaps it's because I have a bazillion things to plan for a Christmas program at my church, which seems to be an ever evolving experience that I'm sure I WON'T be planning next year.

Whatever it is, I realize I've become very short-tempered. Perhaps it's a little too much so. But, when I reflect on all the times I happen to go to the donut shop around the corner for my morning vat of java, the same thing occurs every time, regardless of the fact that I go in during a holiday season or not.

Let me set the scenario: it's morning. I'm on my way to work. This donut shop is on my way, and it has great tasting coffee. It seems like there are a lot of other people that frequent this place too, since they always seem to arrive before me. The servers when I get in are always pleasant. The same group of men infest the tables to the east of the shop, and I stand in line behind the others. They all order what they want, of course not what they need (as the workers always politely ask), since who REALLY needs to be eating donuts anyhow.

And I am the next in line after the woman or man that wants to order donuts: 2 dozen.

By the time they figure out, one-by-one, the selection they would like (as of course they don't have them picked out ahead of time while they too were waiting in line), I have practically been standing there for what seems to be an excrutiating amount of time. And I'm now running late.

And yet they continue to pick, one-by-one, all the while the worker is standing, waiting, tapping their foot, while this person figures out what the hell they want. When they're done, it's my turn to order. I order my coffee, and I too order donuts for my employees at work. Only I tell the clerk (immediately AFTER I say I want donuts) that "I don't care what kind, just surprise me."
And my order only takes 30 seconds. Why must choosing be so difficult?

It's like going to any fast food restaurant, and you get stuck in the drive thru behind the Chevy Lumina Van with the woman that pulls out a list of her order, and proceeds to have everything "made to order." Meanwhile, I want my two hamburgers and french fries with no substitutions.
Could she not get out of her car and walk inside with her litany of orders? Wouldn't it be simpler?

I don't get it. Perhaps I'm simpler that way. Or at least mindful of others' time. Whatever it is, perhaps it's a sign that I shouldn't be picking this "poison" for my body, and instead save a few bucks and make stuff at home instead.

But then again, would it taste as good?

Welcome Yule!

Well, I've officially broken the seal. I started my Christmas shopping.

This year, I started off with getting gifts for 4 teenagers from the Salvation Army's Angel Tree. I'm not much of a Christmas shopper as I have mentioned before. However, I can say that I haven't had so much fun spending $100 like I did for these 4 kids who otherwise would have gone with nothing. What made it even more special was the young woman at Old Navy and her testimonial to me about how cool it is to give to others.

Hell, I'm fortunate to have a job that everyday I am thankful for having. I have no children. To me, the thought of making a kid's Christmas special really inspires me.

But enough. The next installment of Music 101, you will notice I have included some of my favorite arrangements of Christmas Carols. And, yet again, you probably won't have heard of ANY of them. But, over the last couple of years, I have been really trying to be inspired by "different" carols, since let's face it, how much more of "Oh Holy Night" sung by Florence Henderson can we really stand?

Yes, this collection of 10 carols is pretty eclectic- much like me. Some of them are pretty easy to listen to, such as the Coventry Carol (and who doesn't like the sound of Elizabethan harmony?), Past 3 O'Clock, or really ANYTHING from Handel's Messiah.

Well, let's get past that. I challenge all you readers out there to look at 3 lesser known carols, the Fayrfax, Wexford, and Chester Carols. The latter two are pretty tonal, but certainly from their sounds, they're either modal or based off plain-chant. The Fayrfax Carol, on the other hand, is a world of its own. It's haunting. It's dissonant. It's somewhat raw to listen to. But, after you get done listening to it, for whatever reason, it sticks with you. Check it out. It's kind of cool.

I have to admit that XMRadio is doing a great job of bringing in some audible holiday cheer. And I certainly am not minding the music either.

Happy Listening!

Let the Mad Christmas Dash Begin

It's here. And I'm not ready.

The Christmas season is now approaching, and today, of course, there are millions of people shopping for the extraordinary buys that are to be had, if you can ferret them out. I, unfortunately, am not one of those people, nor a ferreter....yet.

I say "yet" because I know I will probably be venturing out today to get some things. I'm hating the thought of it. After all, it's technically NOT Christmas yet. You see, I'm one of those weird people that absolutely WILL NOT put up Christmas decorations or play Christmas music until the first day of Advent. Advent is not until Sunday, November 30th. Yet, at the same time, everywhere you go, shops have already started setting up things for this season.....back in July. I find this extremely irritating.

For example, not that I am a frequent buyer at Hobby Lobby, but I think that place started everything in June. And that should be illegal. I think I'll boycott that store just because.

At work, we have a woman that decorates our office. I told her that she couldn't start it until Saturday, November 29th. It goes against my principles, but I figured a) I wouldn't be there, and b) being the contrary person I am, I wanted to go against her wishes of wanting to do it last week. Again, I'm the purist.

The thought of fighting traffic, bumping carts, getting caught in mobs of people, and having my items rung up by some teenager who would otherwise not notice that I'm even standing in front of him/her is not my idea of a fun time. I can't even imagine the masochistic people that want to go to some places at 5 a.m. in hopes of saving a couple bucks. I'd most likely be ugly at noon, and for me to attempt such a feat at 5 a.m. is just toxic. I'm no bundle of Christmas cheer (or any sort of cheer for that matter) at 5 in the morning.

What a wonderful thing the Internet is. For my ilk, online shopping is a godsend. I can get what I want, compare prices from several different stores, and usually get the same, if not better, bargains that if I would put up with the mayhem that is the in-store buyer. I have mentioned this often to others, and yet I still get the same reply, "it's fun, it's tradition, and I love getting caught up in the Christmas spirit." I think they've gotten caught up with crack and their crack dealer.

But alas, here I go, about to venture out. I'm trying to mentally prepare myself. If drinking and driving weren't taboo (and illegal), I am certain I'd need a bottle of something to settle my nerves, and maybe even be a little creative with what I buy. Half a jag-on would certainly aid in that.

THAT, my friends, would be Christmas cheer.

Giving Thanks

On this day of Thanksgiving 2008, I thought I would list some things I am thankful for, in case some of you need suggestions for your Thanksgiving grace today and are short of ideas:

1. I am thankful for what I have.
2. I am thankful for what has been provided for me.
3. I am thankful for having all of my teeth (and they're all in good condition and probably in need of a whitening treatment).
4. I am thankful for having good taste.
5. I am thankful for being able to cook more than boiled water and Swanson Pot Pies.
6. I am thankful for having musical ability, and not being tone deaf in the process.
7. I am thankful for not having to eat grey turkey anymore.
8. I am thankful that I'm still continant.
9. I am thankful that I still remember what day it is (but perhaps maybe not the date).
10. I am thankful that my friend Donna's bike is no longer in my garage.
11. I am thankful for not being more than "just a little bit round."
12. I am thankful for the primitive soul that invented coffee, 'cuz God knows I need it this morning.
13. I am thankful for being able to laugh at myself......a LOT.
14. I am thankful for being able to laugh at others.......even MORE.
15. I am thankful for my job, since it's way better than the craptacular place I used to work.
16. I am thankful for my family, as they're all special to me.
17. I am thankful for the great memories I have of my immediate family.
18. I am thankful for being brought up with good manners and not eating with my mouth open.
19. I am thankful that I didn't run over anyone yesterday in my mad dash to get to work.
20. I am thankful for all of you that read this blog, since most of you are people that I gave this blog spot to, and you continue to read it. You all inspire me.
21. I am thankful that I'm at least thankful.

O.K., I can't think of any more. But Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!!!

Big Question

This was probably one of the funniest emails I was sent recently from one of my co-workers. I felt inclined to include it here. The question is:

Life's biggest question is...

1) Should I get a dog?



or

2) Should I have kids?

My response:

I can understand why the dog ripped up the couch......that blue is hideous. The dog has more taste apparently than his owners.

On the other hand....the kids, the paint....all over the leather sofa, the TV, and the floor (and if it's carpet..good lord..). But, I'm particularly fond of the hand print on the forehead of the kid on the right. And apparently the parents of these children lack common sense...I mean....who leaves open white paint containers just lying about? And is it lead based.......eegads.....

I'm strongly inclined to vote option 1.

New Addition to the Blog

I recently added my Listener's Classical Music Appreciation List 101 section to my blog. Being a classical music geek, often times I am asked what I would recommend to the lay-person in classical music. Here's a chance to explore on your own some things that I would recommend. I'm also inspired daily by having my iPod, which, to me, is one of the coolest inventions ever...

I can assure you that if a Mozart piano sonata, Beethoven's 5th Symphony, Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, or Canon in D are what you're looking for, you'll probably hate what I recommend as required listening material. As eclectic as I can be in my musical taste, I like interesting classical music. And none of the aforementioned pieces even remotely interest me.

On the other hand, if you look into some of these, you may find them to be utterly stunning and interesting each in their own way, and appreciate them for the sheer brilliance they possess.

This batch I've seemed to whip up this time revolves around choral music, in honor of our Choral Union in Janesville, as well as to the members of my church choir that I direct. I have to say that for any classical choral music fanatic, Britten's War Requiem is, in my opinion, THE finest choral composition ever written. Dramatic, sublime, eerie, jubilant, it possesses everything that a chorister would love to sink their teeth into. The "Sanctus" section, to me, is probably one of the most glorious things I've ever heard, making the hair stand on end up and down my arms.

Another recently found gem was the Jenkins "The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace," which is in 13 movements, and uses more popular musical arranging, and incorporates sound looping and classical choral and orchestral scoring.

Then there's the Serenata Schizophrana by Elfman (yes, the Oingo Boingo guy), which is classically written, and the 4th movement "I Forget" is on my top ten favorites of all time.

Frank Ferko's "A Festival of Carols" is a unique adaptation of traditional Christmas carol lyrics, written to completely different tunes and is scored for chorus and harp. These are brilliant!

Finally, another of my top ten favorites, "A Jubilant Song" by Dello Joio is for chorus and piano, set to words by Walt Whitman, and really needs to be heard more often.

Let me know what you think of all of these if any of you out there check these out. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy listening!

Every Leaf's A Pain In The......

Inspired by my friend Donna's post about loose leaf collection, I write this. I don't know if it's prose, poetry, haiku, or whatever, but it sums it up for me:


I have big trees. Big trees produce TONS of leaves, which in turn produce big piles of leaves in the gutter. I know that many of my neighbors' leaves tend to migrate to my lawn, whether I like it or not. And yet they sit there, awaiting a final rake and yearning to be discarded. After all, they're so brown and crispy.

And every year, I can't decide whether or not it's best to rake them constantly, or to do them all at once, since there's so many. I am a chronic procrastinator, looking for reasons WHY I wish not to rake (and this time it seems my used excuse of being on vacation in China is the cause for my negligence). I chose the method, and I raked them all at once.

I got my raking system down, with help from a blower, taking me about 6 or 7 hours of combined time over the course of 3 days to get my share (plus that of others) of leaves raked and to the gutter in front of my house for final collection. Leaf collection for me is today.

And today, the city came and collected my leaves.....or at least I think they did.

Why?

I'm not sure, as I am certain that I see a third of my leaves still strewn all about the front of my house in the street, with truck tire tracks running through them, having already taken most of them to their final destination. However, methinks the city workers are sick of collecting leaves, as my street is one of the last on the list yet again.....their job was done so half-assedly, and I prefer that they do it with the whole ass.

Which prompts me to reply: did it even make a difference how much time I contributed or what method I chose due to the sheer volume of leaves I got piled up and ready for them today? After all, the city obviously doesn't take the same pride that I do in making sure that my job is completed. I suppose not. And golly, how fortunate I am to have to pay someone for a job not done well, even though I have no choice but to look at the brown mess outside my front window, all along the street.

So if I should take my garbage, cut it open and let it be loosed, and go to spread it over the leaf collectors' lawns, would they then care as much as I do about a tidy neighborhood, or better yet, a tidy home and a job well done? Would they think twice about this?

After all, at least that way if I were that magical trash elf, EVERYONE's yards and neighborhoods will look like a landfill like mine does, and I won't feel so neglected like i did today.

When Dirtballs Talk Smart

The grimy clothing, the black unlaced high top sneakers, the rotting teeth, the poor hygiene...you know who they are. When coupled with a lack of command of the English language (as in poor grammar), and never seeming to have any sense of right and wrong, we've all encountered people like this.

Which causes me to wonder: does one CHOOSE this kind of ensemble and syntax, or is one born into it?

At high school, we had the dreaded "dirtball hall," which was a hallway tucked away in the southeast corner of the high school, where those that were citizens of "the land of the misfit students" tended to dwell, around the less-than-appealing classrooms of shop or ag. Sometimes the sophomores were relegated to this hallway due to space constraints and not by their own volition. Fortunately, I never was. The lingering aroma of pot tended to waft its ways down the hallway then. Sometimes I wonder: is it still called "dirtball hall?"

What prompts me to write this diatribe is inspired by a recent episode of "Taxicab Confessions" that I saw on HBO. One of the couples on it was a recently married couple with a dog. The woman (the one with the rotting teeth and bad complexion, whose husband still thought she was hot....and I'm thinking he's in need of an appointment to the optometrist) was talking to the cab driver about her trials and tribulations. All the while she was trying to use big words to make her seem like a person one would want to seek advice from. And she used the word "copacetic" I think twice.

I have never used this word. The only people I have ever heard use this word were 1) an ex-girlfriend of my brother who was extremely prone to malapropism (what a dandy SHE was, sometimes besting Archie Bunker's doozies), and 2) people that looked and talked like this woman...all of them trying to look smart.

I don't know. I'm guessing that she didn't graduate from high school. And if she did, I'd like to yank the licenses of those that taught her.

I don't know why it irritated me so much, but with the wealth of information out there to "smarten" one up, I would think that more people would WANT to look into this. Which I guess answers my initial question, in that I think "dirtball" status is a result or product of one's environment rather than choice.

Then again, some people make really BAD fashion and word choice decisions, which makes me more confused than ever!

Hong Kong- Our Final Destination

Overlooking the Hong Kong Skyline/Kowloon Bay from Victoria Peak

Catamaran on Repulse Bay




Sampan

Dried Fish on Boat-Aberdeen

Aberdeen-Entering the Water City

Well, there you have it....a glimpse of the Great China Escapade. I hope you've enjoyed the travelogue and the pictures. Hell...at least it gave me material to post here!

Guilin- Li River Cruise

Li River Cruise- This is also the landscape on the 10 yuan note

Farmer, Water Buffalo and Calf- Li River

Bamboo Rafts and Cormorants

A sign of peace

The photo of the little boy was taken while on our way to our Li River Cruise. No matter where one is in the world, what background, what nationality, creed, age, or race, this sign transcends all boundaries. This is one of my favorite photos of the whole trip...

Guilin- My Favorite City in the World

In my travelogue, I mentioned Guilin and how beautiful it is. Truly, I have to say it is the most spectacular place I have ever seen in my life. While I will devote two mini-photo posts to Guilin as my tribute to this beautiful city, believe me when I say that my photos really don't do the spectacle that Guilin is the fair justice it truly deserves. Enjoy!

The Karsts of Guilin-Its Trademark

Stalagmites and Reflecting Pool in Reed Flute Cave-Guilin

A Cormorant Fisherman

Bejeweled Pagoda From The Night Cruise

Xian

Terra Cotta Warriors

Rose Garden and Wild Goose Pagoda

Tang Dynasty Show-Traditional Chinese Ensemble

Fengdu-Mt. Mingshan and Chongqing

Entrance to the Temple, Mt. Mingshan, Fengdu

Moon Doorway in the Gardens of Mt. Mingshan

Street Scene from Old Chongqing

Herbs at a Chinese Apothecary, Chongqing

A Ming Dynasty Palace (courtyard and theater), Chongqing

Yangtze River- Three Gorges Dam and Sunset

Overlooking the locks of the Three Gorges Dam Project

The Bow of Victoria Star and Passing Through Lock #1

My mom and I going through Qutong Gorge

Sunset on the Yangtze near Fengdu, China

Next up: Mt. Mingshan-in Fengdu and Chongqing

Hope you're all not too terribly bored with the photo montage.....

Shanghai- Jade Buddha Temple and Old Town, Plus Waking Up At Xiling Gorge on the Yangtze River

Hope you like the installments of the photos.

Courtyard, Jade Buddha Temple

Old Town Shanghai Koi Pond and Teahouse

from Nine Turn Bridge

Xiling Gorge, Yangtze River at Sunrise

Misty Xiling Gorge Early Morning, Yangtze River

Yes, this gorge is what we woke up to the first morning on the river cruise. What a spectacular sight!

Shanghai- Children's Palace and Skyline

Shanghai Skyline

Children's Palace: Girl and Song

Children's Palace: Instructor, Chinese Opera



Children's Palace: Learning Chinese Opera

Beijing- Sacred Way and Temple of Heaven

Final sample of pictures from Beijing:

Sacred Way Statues

Persimmons

Ribbon Dance- Temple of Heaven Park

Temple of Heaven

Beijing- Summer Palace, Great Wall

Hope you enjoy some snapshots of what we saw, and keep checking back!

A covered walkway at the Summer Palace (and boy was it loooooooong....)

17 Arches Bridge to "Turtle" Island

Cixi's Folly: The "Marble" Boat

The Great Wall at Badaling

(this is the section that mom and I climbed, up to the 2nd tower on the upper right)

A look from the Wall, and yes...if it looks steep...it was!

Beijing- Tiananmen Gate and Forbidden City

Here are some of the photos taken when I was in Beijing, from Tiananmen Gate and the Forbidden City:

Tiananmen Gate from the Square

Gate and Moat inside Forbidden City

Bronze Lions Protecting the Gate

Stately Courtyard Inside Forbidden City

First Grand Square, Forbidden City, Beijing China

Enjoy!

Cast of Characters from China Voyage 2008

I know that you all have been eagerly awaiting pictures. Well, I'm not the most technicalogically proficient person. But I was able to figure this camera thing out.

The great China Escapade featured none other than:

Me and Mom

(from Victoria Star on the Yangtze River)

Featuring...

(1st row: Judy, Mom, Me; 2nd row: Peter, Barbara, John)

Also starring:

To Wong Fu

(who knows where THAT hat's been...)

And finally (I know you've been dying to know...):

Our Empress

(with butt in hand...)

More photos to come!