Preludes & Fugues
Thanksgiving was wonderful. Too much food, but the company was exceptional and
it is always wonderful to spend time with family and when you are as old as me, I get to see "genetic DNA" singing it's song in the tiny bodies and faces, personalities and voices of the great grand kids! God, I have no doubt reincarnated in the life of one of my great nieces or nephews!
Being in Utah for almost a week can be really detrimental to my well being, but because of Barnes and Nobel's Bookstore I can sip a cup of delicious coffee, tune into the internet and play with my MAC for a couple of hours. It used to be the GOLDEN ARCHES that I looked for in a foreign country because it was a token of home, but now I always look for Starbucks and Barnes & Nobel.
I will be in the air for New Zealand on Thursday. Oh, BTW, I could never move back to UTAH! Too many people, the driving conditions are hopeless and the air is so filthy I can't breathe. I will kiss the ground in Alpine and I love the air and water. No stop lights in Star Valley and most people know me by name or sight. I'd move to NYC or San Francisco before I'd crash back into the land of
Utards and bigots.
How in hell did I survive all the years I tried to eek out a living in the shadows of the everlasting hills! I'll take Brokeback Mountain any day over this.
Thank you Barnes & Nobel for this moment of reflection and peace. One day I will open a haberdashery called "GYPSY MOON" The tea and scones will be to die for and the music and books will be INTERESTING! Rare treasures and bits of original art for sale. If I ever get all of my dreams and schemes out of my head and into reality I will probably drop dead in amazement! Sometimes my day dreams are safer and better than the real thing! So, I think.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
out of country...
Preludes & Fugues
Late this afternoon we will have the water blown out of the pipes. all the timer switches set, security details nailed down and lock the doors of this house as we
begin the journey to New Zealand. Driving to Utah tonight. Spend Thanksgiving
with my folks, get Michael to the air port on Saturday morning as he then will fly to Las Vegas to be with his mother, niece and sister. I will be in Utah with family and friends until November 30th then I fly to LAX, from there into Auckland New Zealand and then to Christchurch. From Christchurch to Queenstown. Get a cab to the house at Panorama Place and begin a restorative, beautiful holiday.
Next time I post will be from Queenstown and I will write more often as I will have the time. Lots to be very thankful this year and most of all I am thankful for friends and the peace and health I enjoy each day of my life.
I'm outta here!
Late this afternoon we will have the water blown out of the pipes. all the timer switches set, security details nailed down and lock the doors of this house as we
begin the journey to New Zealand. Driving to Utah tonight. Spend Thanksgiving
with my folks, get Michael to the air port on Saturday morning as he then will fly to Las Vegas to be with his mother, niece and sister. I will be in Utah with family and friends until November 30th then I fly to LAX, from there into Auckland New Zealand and then to Christchurch. From Christchurch to Queenstown. Get a cab to the house at Panorama Place and begin a restorative, beautiful holiday.
Next time I post will be from Queenstown and I will write more often as I will have the time. Lots to be very thankful this year and most of all I am thankful for friends and the peace and health I enjoy each day of my life.
I'm outta here!
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
boxes full of memories...
Preludes & Fugues
Every year I deep clean my closet. I do not have a lot of clothing. I do have lots of shoes. I have boots, sandals, dress shoes, casual shoes and hiking boots, of all brands and styles. WHAT IS THIS THING WITH SHOES?
The top shelf in my closet has scrap books, two boxes full of correspondence and there is a trunk on the floor full of books that I cannot part with and journals I have kept the past 20 years. I decided to sort through the scrap books and the two boxes of letters and postcards. THANK GOD I DID NOT EVER THROW THESE LETTERS AND PHOTOS AWAY, because I am very good at getting rid of stuff. I've known that I had class photos of my grade school years but have not known where they ended up. Well, I found them inside a dirty plastic bag that was lost in the bottom of one of the boxes of things my mother gave me a few years back when they were cleaning out their basement and moving to a brand new house. I also found my first Piano Achievement Certificate. I was 10 years old. Also a book I had written in 1959 called "The Way Things Go". (Now, my god, that was a creative title and such simple, but fun reading. I had even illustrated the story and bound it in a cardboard loose leaf binder. I read old letters I had written to a woman during the 70's from Europe and Viet Nam! I found photos of people I have not seen in decades and most of them are dead.
After a couple of hours sorting through the boxes I thought, GET RID OF THIS CRAP. IT MEANS NOTHING TO ANYONE AND BESIDES IT IS REALLY SENTIMENTAL AND SOPPY TO SAVE SUCH STUFF. Lo and Behold, I felt an electrical shock spark through my entire body. It was as if I were being taken over by some force from outside my mind. A THOUGHT AS CLEAR AS GLASS BECAME WORDS THAT SPILLED OUT OF MOUTH: "Don't be stupid! These things are the only measuring stick you have as a monument to the life you have experienced the past 60 years!" "One day someone in your family may find a photo of a person they have heard about or your words may comfort or even guide someone along the many
adventures life presents to us." "Now, carefully dust the boxes and the trunk, put everything back as it was and every once in a while open these treasure chests and breathe life into your own past. Relive some of the tragedies and some of glories and possibly learn from them because now you have a 'perspective' you are at a place where you can see all sides of some of these events and above all else these are the things that have made you who you are today."
DON'T THROW YOUR BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER PEOPLE! I'm gonna keep my sordid past and maybe, just maybe write it all down one day when I am really old and my space suit is just about worn out! Living in a digital world is fantastic and I will no doubt have some of these old photos restored. Hell, maybe I could have my entire body restored digitally!
Every year I deep clean my closet. I do not have a lot of clothing. I do have lots of shoes. I have boots, sandals, dress shoes, casual shoes and hiking boots, of all brands and styles. WHAT IS THIS THING WITH SHOES?
The top shelf in my closet has scrap books, two boxes full of correspondence and there is a trunk on the floor full of books that I cannot part with and journals I have kept the past 20 years. I decided to sort through the scrap books and the two boxes of letters and postcards. THANK GOD I DID NOT EVER THROW THESE LETTERS AND PHOTOS AWAY, because I am very good at getting rid of stuff. I've known that I had class photos of my grade school years but have not known where they ended up. Well, I found them inside a dirty plastic bag that was lost in the bottom of one of the boxes of things my mother gave me a few years back when they were cleaning out their basement and moving to a brand new house. I also found my first Piano Achievement Certificate. I was 10 years old. Also a book I had written in 1959 called "The Way Things Go". (Now, my god, that was a creative title and such simple, but fun reading. I had even illustrated the story and bound it in a cardboard loose leaf binder. I read old letters I had written to a woman during the 70's from Europe and Viet Nam! I found photos of people I have not seen in decades and most of them are dead.
After a couple of hours sorting through the boxes I thought, GET RID OF THIS CRAP. IT MEANS NOTHING TO ANYONE AND BESIDES IT IS REALLY SENTIMENTAL AND SOPPY TO SAVE SUCH STUFF. Lo and Behold, I felt an electrical shock spark through my entire body. It was as if I were being taken over by some force from outside my mind. A THOUGHT AS CLEAR AS GLASS BECAME WORDS THAT SPILLED OUT OF MOUTH: "Don't be stupid! These things are the only measuring stick you have as a monument to the life you have experienced the past 60 years!" "One day someone in your family may find a photo of a person they have heard about or your words may comfort or even guide someone along the many
adventures life presents to us." "Now, carefully dust the boxes and the trunk, put everything back as it was and every once in a while open these treasure chests and breathe life into your own past. Relive some of the tragedies and some of glories and possibly learn from them because now you have a 'perspective' you are at a place where you can see all sides of some of these events and above all else these are the things that have made you who you are today."
DON'T THROW YOUR BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER PEOPLE! I'm gonna keep my sordid past and maybe, just maybe write it all down one day when I am really old and my space suit is just about worn out! Living in a digital world is fantastic and I will no doubt have some of these old photos restored. Hell, maybe I could have my entire body restored digitally!
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
piano in Boise...
Preludes & Fugues
Left Friday afternoon for Boise. The last few years I have absolutely grown to love Boise Idaho and the people...most of all the talents of such amazing young pianists that attend my Master Class. This year was outstanding. Also the spiritual and energizing moments I exchange with one of my dearest friends a most talented and spiritual woman. She is a healer, music teacher as well as her paintings are wonderful. So great, food, long conversations into the wee hours of the morning and the meeting of new people and making new friends makes Boise Idaho one of my many homes on this planet.
Flew home yesterday and dove into this house. Detail cleaning for some dinner parties this coming week and in preparation for my departure for the winter months.
Saw the movie CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD. It is a good flick IF you are into spiritual journeys and have read any of the three books by Neal Walsh. I thought
the main actor was amazing. GREAT MUSIC. Gotta get the theme song.
Speaking of music I purchased a new recording of David Lanz and Gary Straoutsos. OMG, it takes me places I've so often longed to go...another must for meditation and reflection. I recommend it. Another moment of music, Fritz dropped by this afternoon regarding my recording sessions with him this week.
I think I am ready...I am giving this one over to the universe. God willing I will keep my damned ego out of it's path.
Election day...What ever will be will be??????????? Tomorrow I will reveal my feelings about the elections but till then I am going to enjoy a glass of Pinot as I listen to SPRIT ROMANCE and stretch my muscles. In my old age stretching and slowly opening joints and ligaments seems to fill quite a bit of my meditation time. Pianoman's half assed YOGA! It works!
Left Friday afternoon for Boise. The last few years I have absolutely grown to love Boise Idaho and the people...most of all the talents of such amazing young pianists that attend my Master Class. This year was outstanding. Also the spiritual and energizing moments I exchange with one of my dearest friends a most talented and spiritual woman. She is a healer, music teacher as well as her paintings are wonderful. So great, food, long conversations into the wee hours of the morning and the meeting of new people and making new friends makes Boise Idaho one of my many homes on this planet.
Flew home yesterday and dove into this house. Detail cleaning for some dinner parties this coming week and in preparation for my departure for the winter months.
Saw the movie CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD. It is a good flick IF you are into spiritual journeys and have read any of the three books by Neal Walsh. I thought
the main actor was amazing. GREAT MUSIC. Gotta get the theme song.
Speaking of music I purchased a new recording of David Lanz and Gary Straoutsos. OMG, it takes me places I've so often longed to go...another must for meditation and reflection. I recommend it. Another moment of music, Fritz dropped by this afternoon regarding my recording sessions with him this week.
I think I am ready...I am giving this one over to the universe. God willing I will keep my damned ego out of it's path.
Election day...What ever will be will be??????????? Tomorrow I will reveal my feelings about the elections but till then I am going to enjoy a glass of Pinot as I listen to SPRIT ROMANCE and stretch my muscles. In my old age stretching and slowly opening joints and ligaments seems to fill quite a bit of my meditation time. Pianoman's half assed YOGA! It works!
Thursday, November 02, 2006
someone with guts...
Preludes & Fugues
Last night I sat with my jaw wide open as I listened to Keith Olbermann lambast this idiot president for almost 10 minutes without a break and what appeared to not his reading a prompt sheet! IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST HONEST ESSAYS I HAVE LISTENED TO IN AGES! FINALLY SOMEONE WITH THE GUTS TO JUST SIMPLY SAY IT LIKE IT IS!
My week thus far has been interesting. I helped Michael spread the ashes of his father and two brothers in the new memorial he is constructing for their remains. I shall always remember OCT. 1st 2006. After we mixed the ashes together and covered them I came to my room. Played Whispering Hope, Amazing Grace, the second movt. of the Pathetique Sonata by Beethoven and the Prelude in C from the WTC by Bach. Lit two candles and knelt beside my piano, which I have used a prayer alter for most of my life. I simply meditated quietly about the delicacy of life and the fact these "ashes" were where they feel and see the first light of morning, they are bathed in silver moon light at night and surrounded by sounds and the grounds and house "they" loved and were a part of and are still very much remembered as a huge part of our history.
Tomorrow I fly to Boise. I love the city and will be fortunate to help four young piano students discover some new and amazing insights into the magical world of making music at the keyboard.
My friend Wayne will be home from TURKEY today! Can't wait to hear the details of what I am sure was an incredible trip. My practice periods have been sacred events and I am always stunned at how I discover new sounds and hidden meanings within the elements of sound and harmony. My Debussy pieces keep unfolding hidden colors and emotions as well as the Bach and Poleunc pieces. Practice makes perfect? Practice makes life worth while! When all the world seems to be falling apart and is full of deceit and lies, I turn to music and it is a constant in my life.
Last night I sat with my jaw wide open as I listened to Keith Olbermann lambast this idiot president for almost 10 minutes without a break and what appeared to not his reading a prompt sheet! IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST HONEST ESSAYS I HAVE LISTENED TO IN AGES! FINALLY SOMEONE WITH THE GUTS TO JUST SIMPLY SAY IT LIKE IT IS!
My week thus far has been interesting. I helped Michael spread the ashes of his father and two brothers in the new memorial he is constructing for their remains. I shall always remember OCT. 1st 2006. After we mixed the ashes together and covered them I came to my room. Played Whispering Hope, Amazing Grace, the second movt. of the Pathetique Sonata by Beethoven and the Prelude in C from the WTC by Bach. Lit two candles and knelt beside my piano, which I have used a prayer alter for most of my life. I simply meditated quietly about the delicacy of life and the fact these "ashes" were where they feel and see the first light of morning, they are bathed in silver moon light at night and surrounded by sounds and the grounds and house "they" loved and were a part of and are still very much remembered as a huge part of our history.
Tomorrow I fly to Boise. I love the city and will be fortunate to help four young piano students discover some new and amazing insights into the magical world of making music at the keyboard.
My friend Wayne will be home from TURKEY today! Can't wait to hear the details of what I am sure was an incredible trip. My practice periods have been sacred events and I am always stunned at how I discover new sounds and hidden meanings within the elements of sound and harmony. My Debussy pieces keep unfolding hidden colors and emotions as well as the Bach and Poleunc pieces. Practice makes perfect? Practice makes life worth while! When all the world seems to be falling apart and is full of deceit and lies, I turn to music and it is a constant in my life.
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