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!