Preludes & Fugues
All my life I have adored poetry. One poet that touched my soul years ago was
Edna St. Vincent Millay. For years I carried a worn paperback copy of her sonnets where ever I traveled. In 1993 after my stint in NYC I flew to Boston, rented a car and drove to Camden Maine. Rockport Maine and attempted to experience the very sand, earth and sky that Edna so dearly loved. It was a very sacred pilgrimage for me artistically as well as I met some amazing people.
The other night I was doing some searching on google and found a VHS titled:
MILLAY AT STEEPLETOP. I immediately ordered it. The gorgeous thing arrived today. It contains 16-mm footage of Edna and Eugene at Steepletop, their 700 acer estate in New York and the interviews with Millay's sister Norma are priceless.
I have viewed the video three times already!
_ My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends.....it gives a lovely light!"|
Since closing I have been practicing like a mad man, boarding up the Nordic Inn
and today I stowed away all the garden tools. There is a certain beauty in a dying garden. The last leaves of the season are trembling in the breeze like
hands frantically waving goodbye. There is snow on the mountain peaks and I
am suffering with a dreadful head cold. GOD I HATE SINUS INFECTIONS!
I'm sipping on a glass of hot wine and reading "RENASCENCE" before I fall into
dreams. Good night.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Last Day of Business at Nordic Inn
Preludes & Fugues
Today ends the 2006 season at the Nordic Inn. It has been a great year. Tonight will be the last working day for most employees, but I will be cleaning, sorting out bits and pieces until mid November.
Every year I think that I am becoming to damned old to do what I am doing and I can't keep working the hours that I stand on my feet, legs and work in the public. (actually, I keep pretty much away from the public. I am in my kitchen and I am not one to run out front to have a chat with customers.) Last year Michael was deathly ill during the summer and suffered pain until mid Oct. 2005 when he could finally have an operation! Last year I had a few glitches along the way with labor, but got through the season. This year was one of good health and the employees were 100 times better than last year!
I had two new pieces of art to help get me through each day. 'Walking Wounded' sits on my piano guarding the room. A print by Jim Taylor, "HELPLESS" I had framed and I love gazing into the center of this painting. Had two pieces by Carol Montparker framed. The Brahms collage is magic. Also read some great poetry, composed a couple of "ditties" and came up with a good recipe for Shrimp Rissoto...soooooooo I even paid my income taxes last week!
Now is the beginning of a new page in my life's journey. ONE EXTRA MONTH IN NEW ZEALAND should be heaven!
Will tell how closing went after tonight! Gotta get this messy body cleaned up and to work. Ah, it is suppossed to rain tonight! Love the weather.
Today ends the 2006 season at the Nordic Inn. It has been a great year. Tonight will be the last working day for most employees, but I will be cleaning, sorting out bits and pieces until mid November.
Every year I think that I am becoming to damned old to do what I am doing and I can't keep working the hours that I stand on my feet, legs and work in the public. (actually, I keep pretty much away from the public. I am in my kitchen and I am not one to run out front to have a chat with customers.) Last year Michael was deathly ill during the summer and suffered pain until mid Oct. 2005 when he could finally have an operation! Last year I had a few glitches along the way with labor, but got through the season. This year was one of good health and the employees were 100 times better than last year!
I had two new pieces of art to help get me through each day. 'Walking Wounded' sits on my piano guarding the room. A print by Jim Taylor, "HELPLESS" I had framed and I love gazing into the center of this painting. Had two pieces by Carol Montparker framed. The Brahms collage is magic. Also read some great poetry, composed a couple of "ditties" and came up with a good recipe for Shrimp Rissoto...soooooooo I even paid my income taxes last week!
Now is the beginning of a new page in my life's journey. ONE EXTRA MONTH IN NEW ZEALAND should be heaven!
Will tell how closing went after tonight! Gotta get this messy body cleaned up and to work. Ah, it is suppossed to rain tonight! Love the weather.
Monday, October 09, 2006
The purposal, ring & blessing...
Preludes & Fugues
Yesterday will forever be a very special date for the rest of my life. A certain man introduced me to the USO years ago. 1968 to be exact. I traveled the world with him as his accompanist and we made three trips to Veit Nam. He was a fabulous violinist and fine conductor. When he died a few years ago his widow very graciously asked me what if anything of his personal possessions I might want. I immediately blurted out that I would want his carnelian ring with the two small diamonds. This ring has a marvelous history! Well yesterday I was playing piano for this woman and a dear friend of hers. She suddenly walked over to the piano and on bended knee said: ""Brent, will you marry me?" I was stunned! I said, "WHAT IN HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO ANSWER???? OF COURSE I WILL!" Well, with that she handed me a small jewel box. Inside was the ring! Tears sprung to my eyes! I have it on my finger and will die with it on my finger!
I believe that inanimate objects long to be used for what they were designed to be used for. Such as a spoon. If it is a beautiful spoon that simply sits in a drawer and is never used god knows it must suffer! It longs to be dipped into delicious soups and have lips kiss its smooth surface. It needs to be held and moved into creme brulle, ice cream and most of all tasted. Same with musical instruments that just sit unused! Houses simply rot without being lived in!
IF THIS RING COULD TALK IT WOULD HAVE AN ENDLESS TALE TO TELL! It's sub atomic level is full of music, and to think of the millions of hands it has been clasped to in a hand shake, hugs and the comfort it sensed as it rested on the hand of such a gifted man! Thank You Carleen and Thank you Eugene for being a part of my past and present life!
As I so often say: I AM A BLEST MAN!
Yesterday will forever be a very special date for the rest of my life. A certain man introduced me to the USO years ago. 1968 to be exact. I traveled the world with him as his accompanist and we made three trips to Veit Nam. He was a fabulous violinist and fine conductor. When he died a few years ago his widow very graciously asked me what if anything of his personal possessions I might want. I immediately blurted out that I would want his carnelian ring with the two small diamonds. This ring has a marvelous history! Well yesterday I was playing piano for this woman and a dear friend of hers. She suddenly walked over to the piano and on bended knee said: ""Brent, will you marry me?" I was stunned! I said, "WHAT IN HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO ANSWER???? OF COURSE I WILL!" Well, with that she handed me a small jewel box. Inside was the ring! Tears sprung to my eyes! I have it on my finger and will die with it on my finger!
I believe that inanimate objects long to be used for what they were designed to be used for. Such as a spoon. If it is a beautiful spoon that simply sits in a drawer and is never used god knows it must suffer! It longs to be dipped into delicious soups and have lips kiss its smooth surface. It needs to be held and moved into creme brulle, ice cream and most of all tasted. Same with musical instruments that just sit unused! Houses simply rot without being lived in!
IF THIS RING COULD TALK IT WOULD HAVE AN ENDLESS TALE TO TELL! It's sub atomic level is full of music, and to think of the millions of hands it has been clasped to in a hand shake, hugs and the comfort it sensed as it rested on the hand of such a gifted man! Thank You Carleen and Thank you Eugene for being a part of my past and present life!
As I so often say: I AM A BLEST MAN!
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Rain drops keep falling on my head
Preludes & Fugues
I don't remember quite this much rain last autumn. I walk in the rain, I walk to work in the rain, I walk home in the rain late at night and the rain drops just keep falling on my head, just like the guy who's feet are too big for his bed, nothing seems to fit...
(I like the rain! I can sleep like a baby when the rain pitter pats on the window pane, and I know and understand how sacred and precious water is!)
ONE PROBLEM WITH THIS RAIN: SKUNKS! Yes, skunks. Last night I suddenly awakened to the sound of machinery running and the cats were back and forth from the bath room to the kitchen, bed and running up and down the stairs. M.
came in from closing the bar at around 2 AM. When taking the garbage out to the dumpsters he was misted by a skunk. Cats LOVE the LOVE SCENT of SKUNKS
so our neutered female felines were having mystic estrogen over loads and kissing M's stinky boots! I could not get the smell out of my mucus laden nostrils! The washing machine was churning away in a frantic attempt to squelch the stench!
Believe me, this morning orange peelings have been placed around the dumpsters and M's shoes will be burned!
The rain simply has not diminished the scent of skunk.
My cats always have issues with OWLS and SKUNKS! In other words WISE OLD FARTS are what OWLS and SKUNKS are!
Still raining and looks like more rain behind these early morning clouds!
I don't remember quite this much rain last autumn. I walk in the rain, I walk to work in the rain, I walk home in the rain late at night and the rain drops just keep falling on my head, just like the guy who's feet are too big for his bed, nothing seems to fit...
(I like the rain! I can sleep like a baby when the rain pitter pats on the window pane, and I know and understand how sacred and precious water is!)
ONE PROBLEM WITH THIS RAIN: SKUNKS! Yes, skunks. Last night I suddenly awakened to the sound of machinery running and the cats were back and forth from the bath room to the kitchen, bed and running up and down the stairs. M.
came in from closing the bar at around 2 AM. When taking the garbage out to the dumpsters he was misted by a skunk. Cats LOVE the LOVE SCENT of SKUNKS
so our neutered female felines were having mystic estrogen over loads and kissing M's stinky boots! I could not get the smell out of my mucus laden nostrils! The washing machine was churning away in a frantic attempt to squelch the stench!
Believe me, this morning orange peelings have been placed around the dumpsters and M's shoes will be burned!
The rain simply has not diminished the scent of skunk.
My cats always have issues with OWLS and SKUNKS! In other words WISE OLD FARTS are what OWLS and SKUNKS are!
Still raining and looks like more rain behind these early morning clouds!
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
display holders for CD's
Preludes & Fugues
A couple of years ago I bent clothes hanger wire into loopy holders to display my CD recordings on each table in my restaurant. They always tip over and the CD's fall on the carpet. A patron suggested that I have my friends at the Blue Fox Gallery create me some really nice CD holders out of clay. FIne.
Yesterday I drove to Etna to see just what Tony had created. AMAZING! Each table has a gorgeous porcelain bowel that holds four CD's and a cassette tape. Here is the really unbelievable hidden secret within his gift: each piece when gently tapped released a beautiful bell sound! Little did Tony know he was creating musical instruments as well as visual art! I am over the moon with joy!
They are like musical hands that cradle my music and can release their own music when set into vibration! Serendipity in art! (God, people will want to buy the porcelain bells over my recordings! That's okay by me! Thank you Tony I love you man. I am forever amazed at what beautiful secrets are to be found inside what appears to be solid matter. The atoms that are dancing to some silent music within every bit of clay, wood, rock, water, fabric, it is endless.
Do come see my new display!
A couple of years ago I bent clothes hanger wire into loopy holders to display my CD recordings on each table in my restaurant. They always tip over and the CD's fall on the carpet. A patron suggested that I have my friends at the Blue Fox Gallery create me some really nice CD holders out of clay. FIne.
Yesterday I drove to Etna to see just what Tony had created. AMAZING! Each table has a gorgeous porcelain bowel that holds four CD's and a cassette tape. Here is the really unbelievable hidden secret within his gift: each piece when gently tapped released a beautiful bell sound! Little did Tony know he was creating musical instruments as well as visual art! I am over the moon with joy!
They are like musical hands that cradle my music and can release their own music when set into vibration! Serendipity in art! (God, people will want to buy the porcelain bells over my recordings! That's okay by me! Thank you Tony I love you man. I am forever amazed at what beautiful secrets are to be found inside what appears to be solid matter. The atoms that are dancing to some silent music within every bit of clay, wood, rock, water, fabric, it is endless.
Do come see my new display!
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