STILL HERE

Yeah, I'm still here -
I've just been self-censoring
So as to not bore you to death with my pseudo deep thoughts.
Despite being drug free for more than a week, I'm still pondering deep weird things that aren't worth writing about.

Also I'm up to my ears in big and important top-secret governement work.
(Well . . . maybe not "Top Secret" but there is a confedientiality agreement, so it's sorta like top-secert).

And it is important
Here's a quote from the handbook (just to show you how important this is)

Application review is one the most important parts of the Department of Education’s funding process and is designed to ensure. . . . [Blah Blah Blah] . . . The most critical step in application review is objective evaluation by reviewers like yourself. . . [Blah blah blah] . . . your reviews are the foundation for higher-level decisions

See how importnat I am!
Ho Hum . . .
I might have some big exciting news on Wednesday,
Or, I might not.
Maybe I'll decide to keep it a secret for a while,
(Because sometimes it's nice to hold onto a secert and keep it as something special just for yourself).

And on Friday, I'm going to a performance of Mozart's Requieum featuring the amazing KW (who, sadly, has never ever sung for me!)

And that's about it.
Except if I have to read one more exceprt from Champions of Change, I might explode. (More on that later).

Happy Sunday everyone.
I'll be back in a week or so,
Until then . . .

INTERESTING ARTICLES

1. A study by an academic who has spent more than 30 years looking at Bach's work claims that Anna Magdalena Bach, traditionally believed to be Bach's musical copyist, actually wrote some of his best-loved works, including his Six Cello Suites... He points to what he regards as the uniquely symmetrical nature of the work, and to the fact that the manuscripts included many corrections and adjustments, suggesting that they were original composing scores.
Full Article

2. The music world abounds with stories of soloist mishaps, usually involving a broken string or something equally innocuous. But violinist/heartthrob Joshua Bell added an unusual chapter of his own last week in Chicago: caught up in the passion of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, Bell took too large a swipe with his bow, and with a mighty thwack, knocked over the delicate bridge that holds up his strings. (Yes, the famous Strad Bell plays on is fine.)
Full Article

LET US MOURN THE LOSS . . .

We've known for about a year that my bread machine was dying.
Yesterday the inevetable happened.
Mr. Bread Machine exploded.

We all thought the motor would be the thing to give out and kill him
But it was some sort of electical thing that melted,and took him from us.
Tomorrow he'll take a ride on the garbage truck before going to that great big bakery up in the sky.

Good Bye Mr. Bread Machine - you served me well.
I miss you greatly.

THE FEW, THE PROUD . . .

Uh huh --
No one else will be amused by this except me
And that's OK
Because it really amuses me!

I haven't seen Lu or Tracy (or Amy, or Sue) in ages - but they were my JC WDM buddies.
I don't miss teaching in the public schools - but I do miss the fun I had with the Essential Arts Crew.

Way to go Tracy and Lu!

DRUG INDUCTED HAZE

I've been doing a whole lotta deep-n-profound thinking lately.
I don't know if it's actually deep-n-profound or just drug related insanity.

Spring sprung, pollen came out in full force, and I drugged up.

Normally pollen doesn't bug me - but this year it attacked before my body had time to adjust. Sneezing, sniffling, itchy throat.
Bleh

Anyway, I've been sleeping and pretednging to be deep/philosophical and not much feeling like blogging.
It's all good now
And hopefully will stay that way
Because I don't like being drugged.

The robins living outside my window have four eggs in their nest
Jon came over last night for homemade pizza
AndI've been sleeping really really well
All this makes me happy.

I'm way behind on laundry,
My printer has gone psyco
And I'm missing Jenny's weddding this weekend.
All of this makes me unhappy

And that's it.
Have a lovely day

RANDOM THOUGHT

I realized last night that Doogie Houser was the first blogger.
Do you remember how he would end every show by summing up his day on his computer journal?
Stinkn' child prodigy; a doctor and web pioneer.

Via Worried Man Blues

QUOTE

The task of the artist is to create, not to talk.
-Goethe

Via Daniel

MY ROSE

I got a rose off of my rose bush today.
It wouldn't win any prizes at a garden show, but it's mine ..... all mine.
It is really small and not well formed.
I think I must have some really old fashion rose bushes in my yard.
I'm sure that the rose bushes they sell now would produce huge well shaped really strong smelling roses.

Read the rest (and see the picture) at My Life is a Cartoon

THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN: The Passion of Jesus of Nazareth

Narrator:
For some the prospect of an execution is an unexpected bonus
to their Passover holiday.
But among those near are many who love Jesus, including a
number of women who have follow him since he
preached in Capernaeum.

Veronica:
For twelve years my life blood
flowed out of me; rag after rag
soaked through, my life spent washing and bleeding, so weak I could hardly breathe. When I heard his name
I only had to touch his skirt
for his power to heal me and stop the flow.

I would follow him to the ends of the earth
I would give my life blood over again
to spare him this pain.
I push myself to the front
and get to the edge of the road.

There he labors, sweat
pours from him as he struggles
to pull along the cross that will kill him.
Before they can stop me I break through
the cordon of soldiers. I am quick.
I wipe the sweat from his face with my cloth.
The print of his face soaks into my cloth
and See! The print of his face is still on it.
and I will never wash it.

* * *

Narrator:
The beatings he had received between interrogations had so weakened Jesus that he could scarcely move with the weight of the cross. Seeing this, an officer turned to a healthy-looking fellow and commanded him to carry Jesus’ cross.

Simon of Cyrene:
Why should I?
What’s this to do with me?
I’ve done my day’s work.
My hands are sore.
I want my tea. Why me?
It’s nothing to do with me.

Narrator:
And the officer shoved the butt of his lance in the small of his back and said

Officer:
Here’s why

Simon of Cyrene:
Then I looked at the poor sod, about to die,
and he looked at me,
and I thought ‘Why not me?
He’s in his own country
but he’s even more a stranger here than me.’
Hard to see him like that and not want to help him,
Any rate, with the lance in my back
I got on with it.

Narrator:
The name of the man was Simon, a quest-worker from Cyrene.
Whit his help they arrived at Golgotha.
Two others, guilty of theft, have already been nailed onto crosses.
The earth is covered in blood from the act.
The air is full of the men’s screams.

* * *

Man:
This is the tenth crucifixion I’ve been to.
I can usually spot the ones who will last.
Some of them do their best not to cry when they’re nailed.
But they all do.

Woman 1:
How long until it’s over?

Woman 2:
Sometimes it’s days.

Narrator:
Now it is Jesus’ turn.
One soldier hold down his shoulder,
Another his feet and rope them firm

Soldiers:
One for Mummy
who feeds you with honey.

Narrator:
while a third drives a nail though the root of each hand
into the wood of the cross

Soldiers:
One for Daddy,
you’re his little laddie.

Narrator:
And a third nail is forced through the bones
of Jesus’ crossed feet.

Soldiers:
And one for the little Birdie.

Narrator:
In accordance with the lex de bonis damnatorum the clothes of the crucified men were distributed among the soldiers on duty. They could not decide who should get Jesus’ cloak so they threw dice for it.

Chorus:
Don’t cut it, don’t tear it.
There’s life in it yet.
A pity to spoil a nice piece of cloth.

Narrator:
The man who won the cloak was pleased; though he would probably sell it.

The priests were glad to see Jesus nailed.


From the Passion of Jesus of Nazareth
Libertto by Elizabeth Cook
Music by Francis Grier

BARENBOIM’S BLOG

Daniel Barenboim has a blog
(He calls it an “on-line journal” --- whatever!)

Here’s My Barenboim Story -
In 5th grade, I became obsessed with Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven.
Piano practice revolved around Moonlight Sonata – and I refused to play anything other than Beethoven.
Dear ‘ole Dad heard that Barenboim was playing the complete Beethoven Sonatas, and got two tickets for him and I to see a Sunday performance. (My first visit to Orchestra Hall!!)

We sat way in the back - and it was amazing!
During intermission Dear ‘ole Dad made friends with an usher who let us see the box seats (wowie zowie!)

Barenboim became director of the CSO a few years later.
And I was very happy for him.
(My friends swooned over The New Kinds on the Block, I swooned over Barenboim!)
Yeah – I was (am) a dork

* * *

Fast forward ten years.
I’m in college, with a prof who happens to be friends with a CSO trumpet player.
Trumpet player is invited to campus to do some masterclasses
and have pizza with a few music majors.
It was the weirdest thing to hear that guy complain about Barenboim –
I knew he had an ego (don’t all conductors?)
But the inside scoop on CSO rehearsals and Barenboim’s style.
It disturbed me.
(And the pizza was not that good either).

That’s my Barenboim stories.
Except Hillary and Jackie is not a very good book
(and I really didn’t like the movie).

The end.

BABY UPDATE!

My dear sister in law (and baby) have made it to 33 weeks!
Of course, we’d love for baby to stay put for another month,
But 32+ was the goal!


If baby were born today, he’d be a preemie,
(But the ultrasound says he’s already more than 5 lbs, so he'd be the big bully of the preemie nursery!)

At this point, every extra day is a bonus!
Grow baby grow!

FOOLED ‘EM TWICE!

You may recall that last year, I applied to The US Dept. of Education and became a peer reviewer for an Arts in Education grant program. T’was an excellent opportunity to read lots of grants, make connections, and shine up my resume. (Besides, who wouldn’t want to have a voice in deciding how to spend $20 million of your precious tax money?!)

After our last teleconference, a rep. from the Dept of Ed. told my team that she really liked working with us, hoped we’d participate in future reviews, and how she’d be in touch regarding other artsed opportunities - blah blah blah (the usual meaningless pleasantries).
BUT . . . those meaningless pleasantries must have been sincere - ‘cause I just received a call inviting me to participate on an “expert” review panel at the end of this month!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m pretty sure that “expert” panelists aren’t supposed to get super-duper excited about this sort of thing.
“Experts” put on their snooty voice and say, “Of course they want me to serve, I’m a distinguished expert in my field with credentials up the wazoo, and I’m SOOO important and busy that I don’t have time to devote to your piddlely little $20 million dollar project.”

Maybe someday I’ll become a jaded professional who doesn’t bounce off the walls every time someone from the DoE calls. Until that happens, you’ll have to put up with these super-duper exclamation point posts.

MISCELLANEA

I’m tired.

My body is still on a non-daylight savings time schedule.

I’m not tired at my actual bedtime,

and exhausted in the morning when I’m supposed to wake up.

They say when you travel, you should allow 1 day of adjustment for every hour of time difference.

It’s been four days and I’m still not adjusted to this 1 hour difference.

And I’m tired.

Contributing to my exhaustion = nightmares.

I dreamed my grandmother died

And I had to stay overnight at the funeral home.

The funeral director (his name is Eddie) offered to let me sleep on the pads from caskets

But I decided to use MY sleeping bag.
(The Purple One)

It was weird.

Not scary weird – but “Sleeping-on-a-hard-floor-in-a-strange-place” weird

And my grandmother was dead.

On a happier note – Congratulations to the Seventh Hour Valley HS Orchestra!

They kicked major orchestra butt at a competition this weekend

I’m very proud of them

And basking in the reflected glory

(Those are *my* Orchestra Babies!!)

Also, I need to learn more about Mexican Classical Music

I had a lovely meeting with the Mexicans yesterday, and they were talking about places and people and things I’ve never heard of

I’m ordering the complete Carlos Chavez Symphonies – as soon as I get the $$.

Everyone is welcome to come to a listening party sometime next week!

It’s been very nice outside (spring-time warm and sunny)

I’ve been taking long walks with the dog, bicycling, breathing fresh air and listening to the frogs in my swamp.

(They frogs are going crazy!)

Someone from Florida (Miami?) has been visiting this site every few days.

I don’t think I know anyone in Florida.

Pat, my 8th grade Calvenette Leader, lived in Florida for a while

But now she’s back in Illinois.

And, even if she did live in Flordia, I don’t think Pat would read blogs.

But maybe . . .

I have a ticket to Prairie Home Companion this weekend

I had hoped to land TWO free tickets and take Dear 'ole Dad

But that didn't work out

Maybe I'll get an on air shout out to Dear 'ole Dad

Or perhaps just let him go by himself

Thoughts to ponder

DEDICATED TO YOUR ART
Andrew Taylor wrote about Jung Sung Sanabout, the Koren playwright/director.


Some investors pulled out of the project, and a theater where the musical was to be staged canceled at the last minute. To finance the play, Jung says, he even had to offer his left kidney as collateral for a 20 million won ($20,600) black-market loan -- an illegal and highly unusual action. He says he will have to give up the organ if he can't pay up by next month . . .
Just a little perspective for all of us who complain about our grant requirements and our lack of resources.


The nice part of me wants to go write a check to Mr Sanabout so he can keep his kidney.
The more cynical part of me is very dissapointed that a kidney is only worth $20,000. (And I wonder if insurance would cover any complications resulting from the removal of a black-market kidney)

20 Ways One Person Can Change the World for Under $50 a Month

How can one person change the world? If not the entire world… then one person's world? By taking positive action! Look around your community! There are needs every day…on every block. And you don't have to be rich, talented or even *connected* to meet them. You just have to be willing to do a small amount or give a small amount every month. But that small amount can make a big difference in someone's life. Here are some things you can do for $50 to change someone's world

QUOTE

Working in the theater has a lot in common with unemployment
- Arthur Gingold


(And, might I add, working in the muisc biz has a lot in common with working in theater!)

PRAYER

A new study suggests that prayer does not heal
(And might even be associated with post-surgical complications).
Everyone has an opinion talking about this study, and I know you've been on the edge of your seat waiting for the official JulieVW editorial . . .

1. I wonder if the folks that prayed got paid for their participation in the study. I suspect they did, and I suspect the prayers of paid pray-ers are less effective than the prayers of voluntary pray-ers. (They should do a new study to compare paid prayer to voluntary prayer).

2. How do the researches know that the church-people actually prayed for the people they were supposed to?
I've been to enough of those confessional small group bible studies to know that folks often say they'll pray for someone, but then they forget and never actually pray about it.

3. Several years ago someone did a study that said prayer did help heart attack victims get better. Christians in my circle used that study as "proof" of the power of prayer (and the excellency of biblegod). This new study has them changing their tune. Now they say healing may not be in biblegod's will, and prayer is not about producing results. It's an interesting turn around. (And it makes me giggle!)

4. This study only looked at Christian prayers. I wonder what would happen if they compared the effectiveness of the prayers from adherents from different religions. (What if a Buddist prayer is more effective than a Christian prayer?)

5. I'd really like to complain about the people who say, "I don't pray to change god, I pray to change me" but that's outside the scope of this mini-editorial; I'll tirade on that some other day.

6. Some other day I'll also tell you the story of Great Gram's funeral - it's indirectly related to everything I've already written here and something I want to write about (but once again, outside the scope of my prayer-study-mini-editorial).

ONE YEAR AGO

Do you know where you were one year ago today?
(I certainly do!)

Happy Anniversary to me!