Category Archives: Random Neuron Firings

The finish line

9 Replies

I can see it from here.

On 2 January 2007, I began my doctoral program in music education. On this day next week, I will have officially completed eleven courses (44 credit hours) and twenty months of nonstop study — roughly 35 hours per week in addition to my full time job.

I have learned much. For instance, in addition to helping me cultivate a whole new thought system on the philosophy, history and cultural context of music education in America, this experience has taught me to:

  1. Operate on 4-5 hours of sleep per night
  2. Balance a daytime teaching job, nighttime rehearsal schedules for four mainstage musical productions, concerts, family gatherings, a wedding, the birth of a grandchild, web clients and other commitments with 30+ hours of homework per week
  3. Truly appreciate the Thriller for basically living on his own (and doing all my jobs around the house) for the last 20 months
  4. Love and appreciate my family more (the Thriller, #1 Son, Jakey’s Mom, Lars, Helen, Mavis, Simone and Johanna) for always being there for me and remaining patient and supportive
  5. Keeping up with it all without sacrificing my important personal commitment to write every day

Yikes — big list. But the heck of it is, this little party’s nowhere near over with. In April, I will take the dreaded exams, which many people (including some brilliant folks whose ideas and accomplishments I admire) have failed. No joy in Mudville till that’s done and in the books — one way or the other.

Still, it feels good to have come this far. If you’d asked me three years ago what I’d be doing today, I wouldn’t have said “finishing up my DMA coursework.”

Life is goofy, eh?

Fink out.

RNF X

8 Replies

Random Neuron Firings

  1. I’ve been up since 2:40. Yay.
  2. Had my high school fall concert last night. They did well, considering the spiritual I chose probably should have been programmed in the spring instead of 5 weeks in. Regardless, I am proud of them.
  3. Must have Helen and Lars over for dinner; I haven’t seen Helen since the wedding on 13 September. That ain’t right.
  4. Breaking news: I am going to be a grammie again. :-) #1 son and Jakey’s mom are expecting!
  5. As Halloween approaches, I feel obligated once again to remind everyone that the ridiculous misconceptions about the “holiday” are still rampant, as amazing as that seems, in an age when primary and secondary research sources are so readily available. I mean, it’s a free country & all, and folks can practice whatever rituals they like (be it going to church on Sunday or sleeping in late and reading the Times over coffee), but labeling Halloween “evil” without knowing the facts is just arrogant. I should stop here before I launch into a “labeling” fit myself.
  6. Speaking of Halloween: now that our football coach is doing these “Thursday night under the lights” practices, I can actually have rehearsal in the daylight hours and be home in time to feed the little beggars who come to my door on the 30th. I can also be there in person to take pictures of Jakey in his costume. Fun.
  7. Life is just too short.
  8. It is now 5:00 a.m. and I’m on my 2nd big mug of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. Life is good (except for the 5 a.m. part).
  9. I hate Christmas music. I mean really. I think I’d like it if it weren’t in my job description to try and make it interesting year after year after year. I’m not complaining, mind…well, yeah I am. Scratch that.
  10. I am looking forward to driving home from rehearsal without turning on my truck lights.
  11. I am *not* looking forward to spending all weekend working on this research proposal. Never thought a Saturday rehearsal would provide me with a welcome respite…

Off to the races, my fiends.

Fink out.

TBS Pipeline V

4 Replies

Ok, I must say I’m going to DVR the upcoming “Frankapalooza.” On Tuesday, 21 October, Frank Caliendo will have two guest impressionists on his show. The scenes:

  • Yoda, Obi Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu walk into a diner
  • Superheroes go before Congress about their steroid use
  • David Letterman talks about doing a show for kids
  • Ice-T gets confused over why he’s promoting lemonade (I do not know why that totally cracks me up this morning, but it does — I am *not* getting enough sleep)
  • Oliver Stone has an idea for a new movie: a fresh take on the Clinton-Lewinsky affair

Completely silly.

And over at TNT: I read on the boards that next Monday’s Raising the Bar will feature ex-Cosby show kid Tempestt Bledsoe. (Ok, why the two Ts, really?) I’ve got to go get caught up on all the episodes. Mavis, is it still good?

Oh, and….

At least the wait is over.

Fink outta here

A fabulous weekend

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Do I adore this man? You betcha.

The only downside was that we couldn’t spend more time catching up on the last two decades. I’ve made so much music with this guy over the years, it could fill a garage. In the 6 or so hours we spent just yapping about life in general, our spouses, kids, dreams, disappointments and victories, never once did I think we were starting over. We just picked up where we left off.

Sometimes, everything just works. This was one of those times. BoomR, it was like ye never left! I heart you!

Fink out.

Various & Sundry IV

6 Replies
  1. Check THIS out. Yikes! Bad lil Badger bandies.
  2. Hey, OJ. Lightning rarely strikes twice.
  3. I had a great time with BoomR last night, with another one to come tomorrow morning. Yay!
  4. I need to get little Sean R. a birthday present.
  5. I missed Bob’s birthday. It was on the 2nd. Crap.
  6. Clutch the friggin’ PEARLS. A pro athlete might actually go to jail.
  7. I froze my rat tail off at the game last night. Our guys fought hard, but got smoked. :-(
  8. I hate doing research outlines. Really.
  9. I wonder what Mavis is up to today. She needs to come over and make me a cup of coffee. (*Poof* There, you’re a cup of coffee.)
  10. TRO – how’s your weekend, luv?
  11. Why I will hang with my old-school Razr for awhile longer. Or at least until iPhone decides to release the choke-hold on AT&T. Or vice-versa.

Ok, back to work. PK’s pictures will appear later.

And here they are. I, um, couldn’t use them all. Family blog & stuff, you know. But these are silly:

Funny #1

Funny #2

Funny #3 (my favorite – it’s just so bizarre)

Fink out(lines are my life)