I saw a video of Tim Minchin presenting at a graduation in Australia. He started by saying in a round about way that we should not seek meaning in life for it is meaningless to do so. Indeed to search for something that is not intrinsically there already is pointless--and while I am not sure I agree that life is meaningless, I found several of ( Read more... )

So last week I had three concerts. Next week I have three concerts. This week I am supposed to go to a music conference Thursday-Saturday. I have paid for it and made arrangements and now I feel like I'm getting sick. I could also use the rehearsal time. I am seriously considering cancelling and telling my students to bring their instruments ( Read more... )

Okay, so I read an article someone posted about racism and laughing at names. I was going to comment but realized it was a waste of breath so I refrained. In the article it claimed that when we laugh at the names of African Americans, we are racist and if we want to end racism it starts with not laughing at a person's name ( Read more... )

I've read the manga and watched the various anime out there, but am intrigued by the discussion around whether Ciel is a twin or only child. I've read compelling evidence on both sides but I'm going to voice my own thoughts here. Either is possible at this point with where the manga has led and ultimately we will just have to wait and see where ( Read more... )

I really try to keep arrogance in check because I know I do not have all the answers and there are many valid perspectives. However ( Read more... )

I have been sick for three weeks. I only felt bad for about one, but this cough has hung on. On Tuesday I coughed so hard I threw up...all over the music office. It isn't the first time I've done that from a cough at school, but it is the first time I didn't make it to a trash can or toilet soon enough. I also started to feel just unwell in ( Read more... )

I am thinking of finishing the book I started writing several years ago. I'm not sure why it's bugging me now to finish it, but I keep feeling like I just need to complete it. I'm not even expecting it to be published or anything, but just feel the need to finish. I will probably be the only one to ever read it anyway. I also have the children' ( Read more... )

Lebanon, France, Syria...just a few of the places affected by such violence. While the attacks in Paris hit me personally, it does not escape me that this is a larger issue. While I do not condone violence, I do understand the feeling of wanting to end it and realize sometimes that path leads us to war. I do not begrudge those who feel violence ( Read more... )

It hit me during 4th hour Friday...my throat started to hurt and I could feel my temperature going up. I made it all the way until November without getting sick this year, which in the past five years is a record. Normally I would have been sick repeatedly and stayed sick until April. But now that I am sick, I am really sick ( Read more... )

Dear NY Media and Mets Fans ( Read more... )