Case Closed

I found out yesterday that I have been judging people without knowing all the facts. It wasn't a nice thing to learn. As a teacher, and a parent, I feel it is my responsibility to try to figure out what people are like, especially those who would like to be friends (or more) with my children (particularly my daughters).
   
What disturbs me, is the fact that although I see sides of some people that others don't see, I have blinded myself to the fact that I don't see the whole picture either. I just assume that if a kid is a jerk in my class that they are just a jerk. But I don't want to turn into a monster either.

    
I don't want my kids to be seduced to the dark side by unworthy friends--something I have witnessed before. And I definitely don't want some guy taking my daughters out who is doing things in his life that could end up hurting them. But now I feel that I need to reassess some of my opinions.
   
I don't know if any of you have had similar experiences, but I always welcome outside opinions. Okay, no I don't, but right now, I'm open to them.

Puttin' on the Ritz

Yesterday I went north in the hopes of completing my tuxedo ensemble. The day turned into a nice day with my wife. We went to the thrift store, then out to lunch at a sushi restaurant with our oldest son, then to the tux place, and finally to a movie before heading home.

     

A couple of months ago, I found a rather nice jacket at a northern thrift store. It is double- breasted, which is my preferred style in suit coats. The only problem with it was that there were no pants with it in my size. I thought I could just wear a pair of black pants and I would be fine. That's what I did with the last tux jacket I had (also a DB style). After doing this, I was informed by my lovely wife that my pants looked brown by comparison. Oops.

      

Hence, the trip north. I found a tux store that was selling used pieces, and bought a pair of pants that match my jacket, and a new tux shirt, though I was taken back by the sizes needed in both (time to start exercising!). The result is that this Tues., when we travel south for Choir festival, I will have a full tux for the first time since I was in college.

   

That tux was used also. In fact, it had been brown, and they dyed it black. I used it in my University Choir. It cost $50 complete. It would now probably fit around one of my legs. I was quite a bit skinnier back then (that was over 20 years ago). 

    

I still want a set of tails some day, but this tux will do just fine in the mean time. And the pants are adjustable if my weight changes in either direction. Let's hope I have to adjust them INWARD!

Do You Love Me, Now That I Can Dance?

I just LOVED Delirious' and Nene's postings...

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Twice the Man I Used to Be

I was looking through an old yearbook and came across some pictures of a skinny kid who looked familiar...can't put a name to the face, though, since he's skinnier than anyone he looks like.

You can't see me in the last one, because I am in the mascot suit! THAT was school spirit!

The Magic Word

I've realized something that I forgot. There is one word that I need to use more often. It's a simple word, yet SO much is conveyed in that little message. And I can't help but wonder how much simpler my life would be right now if I could say it.
 
Now I finally am putting another post on my blog, but not a very big one. I have been SO busy lately, that I just don't have very much time on the computer. Oh well, at least I'm not bored. But if you have some special project that can only be complete if I will take my next Saturday off, or yet another evening to come over and present some story, song, or flaming-chainsaw juggling act, then I just have that one little word for you . . . .

It is, It is a Glorious thing to be the Pirate King!

The day was Valentines Day, 1989. It was around 8:30 p.m., and I was on stage at the College in a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance. It was opening night, and other than the fact that our "Modern Major General" was starting to lose his voice, things were going very well.

    

I had spent six months preparing for this role, without knowing whether or not I would even get it. I had let my hair grow long, both on the top of my head and at the bottom of my chin, having what could only be considered a straggly goatee, and a not-so-embarrassing mullet. I had learned to rise a motorcycle, and was trying to fit in as best as I could into the Pirate King groove.

      

Then, halfway through the second act, in a scene we had done over 100 times, I stepped across the stage to sing "Away, away, my heart's afire..." At the same time, my friend DEl had pushed down on the handle of his sword just a touch more than he normally would have. Suddenly, something hit me in the face, and as I looked up, I saw three of my friend Heidi standing in front of me.

     

That was unusual. I knew then, as well as I know now, that there should only have been one of her. My nose hurt, and felt like it was broken. I reached up to hold it for a second, and two things happened. First, my hand came away bloody, confirming to me my belief that my nose was broken. Second, all three Heidi's merged into one. the second thing was good.

   

We somehow managed to start the song (Heidi giving me a little help at the beginning) and moved forward. I realized that if I let go of my nose, my triple vision came back, a condition which cause another condition--nausea. So I held my nose. Of course, holding my nose made it difficult to sing, so I had to lift my hand and pinch my nose from above--yes, it looked as ridiculous as it sounds!

    

Meanwhile, DEl has started his part of the song on the other side of the stage, and STILL had no idea he had skewered me with his foil. When I finally turned to walk over, his eyes almost bulged out of his head. He looked left, then right, then down, before holding his WHITE sailors hat under my bleeding face. Within a moment, Heidi had joined us and we moved up stage to the center, where we finished the song. 

    

I noticed as we sang that anytime I spit blood, the audience laughed. not being one to pass up an opportunity to get some audience-appreciation, and made sure to spit blood as much as possible, spraying the whole center of the stage with little red dots. The audience roared with laughter. Of course I hadn't yet convinced everyone. The people behind my wife complained that it seemed unrealistic, since there couldn't possibly have been THAT much blood, had it been real!!! She didn't find that as amusing as I still do, so she kindly (?) informed them that it was not a fake-blood scene.

   

"Aw, man," I exclaimed as we left the stage. "I think my nose is broken!"

   

Little did I know that there was a gaping hole in my face where one shouldn't exist! I was taken downstairs to the makeup room, where I was NOT allowed to see a mirror. The hospital had been notified and we were reassured that an ambulance would be there shortly. The hospital was only FOUR BLOCKS away, so when it took 45 MINUTES to actually get the ambulance there, we were mildly upset.

   

I was mostly upset because the play was finishing without me. I was not to ever get back on stage in that part. Our "Mabel" would get sick the next night, tossing her cookies backstage--or in whichever strategically-placed bucket she could reach. By the following day, she was in the hospital, suffering from dehydration. She would not return to the stage. Our Modern Major General had almost completely lost his voice by closing night. It wasn't too much longer before the director retired.

   

At the hospital, the best plastic surgeon in the area just HAPPENED to be on call in the emergency room! he stitched me up quite nicely. The next couple of days included nausea and tests. I had a CT scan the next day and an eye exam a few later. The CT technician looked at my scan, eyes wide, then glanced up at me.

   

"I can't believe you're standing here talking to me!" he said. "You should be either blind or dead!"

  

Those were very comforting words. He showed me on the scan where the blade had fractured the orbital The bone surrounding the eye) in TWO places--on either side of my eye. He told me that if the blade had entered at ANY angle other than the one it did, it would have taken my eye, blinding me, or entered my brain, killing me. His exclamation that I shouldn't even be there really made me take stock of life.

    

As it was, my eyesight was not affected beyond the internal bleeding which made me see double and gave me a really cool black eye. I couldn't ride my motorcycle for at least a week or two, since I had no depth perception, and my balance wasn't the best either. I didn't even end up with a very bad scar. In fact, you can only see it if I crinkle up my nose.

    

Three years later--to the day--my oldest daughter was born! She turned 18 today. I have tried to never take for granted the time I get with her, my other kids, or my lovely wife. Life is good. Not much else matters enough to really phase me. I still get discouraged now and then, but in all, I know that with the Lord's help, anything is possible!  Coming that close has kept me always looking forward. The past is done. We can learn from it, but should never let it control us. Today is what it is, and cannot be otherwise. I live now for tomorrow. I have to, because I have learned that each day we are given is a blessing, and we never know when it will be our last. But don't worry--I still have fun. Just ask anyone who knows me!

    

But every now and then, I can't help but start humming, whistling, or outright singing, "O, better far to live and die, under the brave black flag I fly, Than play a sanctimonious part with a pirate's head and a pirate's heart. Away to the fleeting world go you, Where pirates all are well-to-do, But I'll be true to the song I sing, and Live and Die a Pirate King! For...I am the Pirate King! And it is, it is a Glorious thing to be the Pirate King!"

IIIIIII'm Baaaaack!

So it has been over a month since I last posted on this blog. Believe me, it was not a vacation!

I have been SO busy during the past weeks, that I have barely had a spare second to even take a breath.

Usually, my week includes 5 days of school, two evenings of private voice lessons, one evening of prison choir,  a Sunday morning of prison choir, and church meetings after prison on Sundays.

Lately I have had even more on my plate, and have found that I have two or more places to go every day. I had my first evening off last night, and will get my first day off on Monday.

I'm not really complaining, except for the fact that my lungs have not been cooperating with me during all of this, but I would like to share a few of the things I have done that have kept me driving over a thousand miles up and down the state, and have made me lose dozens of hours of sleep over the past few weeks.

First, I had High School Men's and Women's Honor Choir. This included a couple of weeks where we had to drive north at least once for practices. Then came the Jr. High Honor Choir. Both of these were fantastic weekends, and I came away musically renewed and the kids had such wonderful experiences that I am sure most of them will come back for more!

Next, we had put it off long enough, so my HS Women's Choir finally got together for our group photo (ironically, we added a new member THE NEXT DAY!). We spent a couple of hours standing in the cold, and several of us got sick because of it. I am still trying to recover. Here is one of the better pics from that afternoon:

We also got a picture of just our group leadership:

Last weekend, I went south (for some beautifully warm weather) to attend a Music Conference. It was a very profitable weekend for renewing my sense of purpose and getting to see old friends, as well as finding new strategies and music for my classroom. 

Tomorrow, we have a concert in Inklings' town, then a drive north to take our Youngest Daughter out to dinner. It is a tradition with our family that when a kid turns 16, they get to pick the restaurant. It usually means an expensive dinner, but it only happens every 2 years or so, and this is our last one. Our oldest chose a McGrath's Fish House. # 2 chose the Olive Garden. Our oldest daughter chose Sizzler, and this one has chosen Red Lobster. Makes us breathe easier that we don't have more kids!

I will try to get back to my schedule of blogging at least once a week, but will make no guarantees, since I am coming into the busiest part of the school year. This is one reason why I have never bothered trying out for Survivor! No time! maybe some year. First, I think will come finishing my book, and maybe some more music. 

At least retirement is only 14 years away! [sigh]

Viva la Resolution!

My sister Delirious has now authored a couple of blog posts about New Year's Resolutions.

 

I have decided that since I was actually able to accomplish one of my resolutions last year, I already had a great idea for this year.

 

I hereby resolve to do my utmost to accomplish at least one of the resolutions during 2010 that I did not achieve in 2009. That's it.

 

Part of this stems from the desire to finish what I started, but mostly, from the fact that there is a great amount of personal power that comes from achieving resolutions. We should all start small and work our way up to the biggies. Don't resolve to lose 50 lbs. if you know deep down you will lose 5 then gain 10 back. It is a self-defeating resolution, then you feel bad because you didn't accomplish your goal. Start with something you know you will do.

  

Last year, I resolved to finish writing my symphony (if you haven't heard it, perhaps I will share it with you). I was already into the writing stage of this, so all I had to do was finish it and have it performed. Done. The earth didn't move for anyone but me, since I had the pleasure (?) of conducting it myself. Our brass players had not practiced. At all. It showed. Horribly. But that was only one of four movements. The rest went fairly well.

 

I experienced a great amount of joy in finishing that task, and I thank the Lord for the privilege of having been a part of something like that. Now, I know I can accomplish things, so I believe I will move on to other projects. Who knows? My book? Exercise? Diet? I'll tell you next January...

Dove's Evolution of a Model

My sister, Delirious, just posted a statement about beliefs regarding ideal weights for women. I thought I would include this video from Dove as an educational tool for those who believe....shall we say...a certain way. Food for thought. Pardon the pun.

Suprise Present from My kids

Last year, my kids surprised my wife by staying up all night and cleaning. They surprised me with a very cool rapier.
 
This year, they outdid themselves. For my wife, Utah Jazz shirt and hoodie, and for me a gas grill, pictured below. I won't go into a full list of everything we got this year, but this was definitely unexpected and awesome.

   
I even broke it in already, on Sunday, cooking up some beautiful steaks. The only problem is, it cooks so evenly, I have to relearn how to cook!
 
Our Biggest gift to the family was to finally replace our 15- or 16- year old TV, that was so fuzzy you couldn't read all menu items or, more importantly, scores for Jazz games.