WriteGirl is my new favorite word. So is wonderbubble.

 

My friend Colleen Wainwright, the indomitable Communicatrix, will soon be fifty years of age. Colleen has mounted a wonderbubbly righteous birthday celebration that will change many lives for the better. 


 Colleen Wainwright with two of the L.A. WriteGirls

The 50 for 50 Project to benefit WriteGirl

Colleen thought it would be just wonderbubble to raise $50,000 (that's right, a grand for each decade) to benefit WriteGirl:

WriteGirl is a nonprofit organization for high school girls centered on the craft of creative writing and empowerment through self-expression. Through one-on-one mentoring and monthly workshops, girls are given techniques, insights and hot tips for great writing in all genres from professional women writers. 

Here's an awesome video of the woman herself to tell you all about it.

If she successfully raises $50,000, Colleen will publicly shave her head on her birthday, September 13. And it seems that a good many folks in L.A. and on the internets are more than happy to pony up to witness and/or participate in the shearing. It promises to be her most outstanding performance to date.

Colleen has committed to writing 50 blog posts, tweeting, e-mailing, interviewing stellar writers, burning up the telephone lines...oh, wait...I'm showing my own age—to achieve her goal. She’s creating prodigious amounts of associated penwomanship--videos, writing tips, impromptu performances, and talks. A gob-stopping donation of time and energy. In addition, she's gathered a suite of goodies and services from insanely creative friends. Check out "The Writer's Motto," rendered into an x-rated Sisyphus-evoking cross-stitch by Bee Franck. Did I mention she is one of the above-mentioned professional women writers who volunteers to work with the girls f2f?

Colleen is a most wonderbubbliciously generous person. And all her wonderbubble people are responding to her generosity with love and coin--as of a few minutes ago, she's a little over half way to ringing the bell. 

There are only 28 days to help her raise the other half. Wouldn't it be a total gas to gift Colleen with MORE than $50,000 for the girls? Can you imagine the sheer awesomeness of creating the next generation of wonderbubble women writers?

The WriteGirl IndieGoGo site will tell you all about the Party of the Half Century and how you can help. Go take a look. It will warm your heart and give you hope. Colleen says even tiny donations make a huge difference. It’s all about getting the word out. While you're at it, subscribe to Communicatrix to find her awesome stuff in your inbox. If you're a Facebooker (thanks, Michael Cooper!), like the "50 for 50" page.

Most wonderbubble of all is the courageous, caring, gifted/giving, formidable Colleen Wainwright herself.

Happy Birthday, Colleen. Thank you for making the world a better place--especially for the girls. Can't wait to see what you come up with for your 60th! It will be wonderbubble, for sure.

Put out to pasture

I always knew this day would come. I've been dreading it for a long time, and even wrote about it here four years ago. I am still a musician, nothing can change that. But an aging body will eventually betray you.

I'm still processing the last three months--trying to maintain my dignity, self-confidence, and at the same time, keep my eyes and ears open for the next creative door to open.

Can I tell you how much I hate auditions? I've done scores of them. Not counting nine years of multiple juries, semester after semester, instrument after instrument, voice. There is nothing as nerve-wracking as going in front of a group of hyper-judgmental people all by yourself. To me, that's the definition of fear.

Not to be confused with performing. There is a huge difference. When performing, you're in flow. You are channeling the music to your audience, most of whom want to hear it. In a jury or audition, you are in wicked competition for grades, chairs, entry, with hordes of other musicians.

I'm more prone to nerves, or stage-fright when that "business" side of music shows up. I fully realize that it's necessary, and I have no excuses for blowing it. I can even acknowledge that any musical group that's worth its salt deserves to have the best voices/players they can get. It furthers classical music in general, and that's a very, very good thing.

It still hurts, right down into my soul. I know the music, I hear it, but my voice is no longer as supple, as fluid as it once was. Allergies and asthma cut down on my lung capacity, and I'm not able to get those long, long phrases out. I won't quit singing altogether, I still get paying gigs and invitations for various concerts. Just won't be singing with my long-time group.

I'm beginning a new six-month Pathfinder project, which will be a very welcome creative endeavor. I have a Web site on order and need to spend time figuring out what I want to do with it. I have many new friends, writing buddies, and supporters from the World Changing Writing Workshop, and I'm still involved with 52 Weeks to Awesome. Lots of writing to keep me occupied. And certainly an amazing, supportive family.

At the end of this month I will have been retired for one year. I made it. Just barely, but I made it.

Surviving the 2011 Texas drought

Out of curiosity, I went back through Yesterday's Papers and discovered that if I posted at all in the summer, it was about record breaking heat.  Summer 2010 was killer in many ways, including record heat, but I wasn't posting much. 2009 heat links here, here, and here. 2008 here and here. An unusually wet 2007, and a hot 2006.

This year's heat put us in extreme drought. Wildlife get desperate and vicious looking for food and water. There's nothing out there.

Varmints get hit hard. The heat kills smaller animals like birds and squirrels outright. Raccoons, coyotes, opossums and other furry and feral critters bring bumper crops of fleas and sometimes rabies right to your back door. Cool woodpiles, houses, sheds are hideouts for rattlesnakes, scorpions and spiders as well.

Raccoons are fun to watch but disastrously destructive. They can rip the siding off a house, get in the attic and shut you down, kill any smaller critter. Screen doors are no problemo for them.

Dozens of brush fires flare daily across Texas. Several of them nearby. Walked across the yard tonight and the grass was crunchy.

My aging body doesn't do well with this much heat for this long, not to mention higher utility costs. Poor Linus came in one night looking like he was loaded on something, falling over, eyes all weird, forgetting what he was doing. Most likely chomped on a toad. They're attracted by A/C runoff water, any place that might be damp.

Some friends lost a dog to a rattlesnake this week, even with a dose of antivenin. Dog -> Jack Russell terrier-sized. Rattler -> 5 feet long, with a 10 button rattle. No contest.

I've been entertaining a lot of "what ifs." What if the drought doesn't break? What if we are SOL? Drought is a constant way of life in many countries around the world. What if I were a mother in a land with no water? I can hardly imagine it. Staggering numbers of people, mostly children dying of famine. Apart from the humanitarian aspect, simply physically enduring that extreme environment is incomprehensible.

So what can I do about it?

• Can't take water to Africa, but I can help trap and neuter some of our feral cats and take them out to our friends' now dogless farm to keep the vermin under control. 
• Relocate the 2 adult and 5 baby raccoons waaaaaay outta town. 
• Use as little water as possible. 
• Set the thermostat a couple of degrees warmer. 
• All the little conservation tricks and habits of four decades. 
• Pay attention to how far off the path we are. 
• Look for solutions instead of aggregating wealth and power. 
• Individually and collectively. 
• Reward innovation. 
• Allow change to happen. 
• Educate.
• Drink a quart of water before going out. 
• Wear sunscreen, long sleeves, UV resistant clothing and eye shades. 
• Remember that the sun is brutal mid-day, but the temperature peaks later. 
• Keep animals indoors or in total shade with plenty of water and food. 
• Don't leave ANYTHING living or meltable in a car, especially people and pets. 
• Keep a gallon of drinkable water in the car, plus refillable bottle.
• Talk to people.
• Read the science and read some more.
• Protect your children. Get them UV resistant bathing suits and hats--don't rely on sunscreen alone. 
• Read this.

What would you add?

Writing. Sit down and do it.

Writing notebooks dating from the '60's. Write your stuff when, where, how you can. Ask for help when you need it. Keep reading and learning. Seek out other writers who are close to your path. The I Ching says it furthers to find a great teacher. You will find many. Practice Makes Possible.

These are just the poems and stories that made it to a word processor. There are stacks and stacks of handwritten queries, words, phrases, scribbled on the backs of concert posters, envelopes, spiral-bounds, ticket stubs, receipts, anything that will take graphite or ink. It's my compost heap.

I am a Procrastinator. If I can do it, anyone can. You can grow your own process.

Writing. Boston to Austin.

Downtown Boston looking pretty good. View of the recently renovated green over the tunnel.

This is about writing. Overcoming whatever obstacles to get the words down. Simply playing with words. Using them as building materials to tell your stories. That's it.

In several writing classes, I've noticed that a lot of folks have trouble getting started. I do too, sometimes. The trick is to go with the ebb and flow, you write what you can when you can.

Came across the best advice for parents of children who write. Outstanding for the inner child, as well. If we all treated ourselves this way, we could actually change something. And then write some more.

My writing ebbs and flows. I sometimes resist it. Fear rushes in where fools dare to tread. To mangle a metaphor. I keep writing. That's all that matters.

I came across a notebook from a La Zona Rosa workshop with Rosemary Daniell dated 1.27.07. The prompt was "You can no longer deny..." I wrote of my frustration with not finding/making more time to write my own stuff. Also blogged about it. I was paid to write, edit, et al, all day. Academorporate Speak. I had a bad taste in my mouth, writerly-wise. The upshot is that the act of sitting down, focusing, and knocking out anything AT FREAKING ALL about my own resistance to sitting down and writing something that was important to me, and how I came up with ideas to work through my tendency to procrastinate, was pretty danged awesome.

Four years later, I am refreshed by the fact that I've been actively writing for decade after decade. I find that it's a little easier finding a few moments to just get some of that stuff down that's bouncing around in my head, even if it's only red ink in a composition book. Give your Future Self the gift of You Right Now. You never know what blinding insights you'll receive from Your Very Own Self.

Tell your stories. No matter who does or does not read them. That's the Connection.

Boston to Austin, aka Retirement Month Nine/Ten

 
Shenandoah Valley. From Skyline Drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. There's an Eastern Bluebird trilling in the trees on the right.

What a ride. Six and a half days. Fly north, drive south. Excellent adventure. Well, after a crappy American Airlines experience. Sister is taking care of that. I was just along for the ride. Once we got to Boston, the rest of the trip was amazing. 

Things I learned:

• Take nothing for granted. Double check everything. When your sister thinks you should do something, like, I dunno, check in on-line the day before...do it. Without question.
• There's sometimes a fine line between inner repose and system shutdown. The trick is to trust your instinct and choose the healthy step.
• It's a good thing to be with friends when loved ones are lost, and at the same time, celebrate their lives. Celebrate all beginnings and endings.
• It's also a good thing to be with friends with new babies! Always!
• Compassion is a great healer for everyone involved.
• Nothing soothes a drought-dried soul like wet earth and green, growing things.
• Hog maw and creamed chicken on waffles are acceptable breakfast, lunch, or dinner fare in some parts. 

Electronic devices on hand: 1 laptop, 2 iPads, 1 iPhone, 1 iPad Touch, 1 Blackberry, & 2 non-smart cell phones. It was so relaxing to get away from the grid for a while...well, after a last round of Plants vs. Zombies. For the night. Or checking e-mail. Or Facebook (for me--other 2 abhor Facebook).

It will be a year come August 31 that I retired. It's been the most jam-packed year yet. Overflowing with fear, joy, gratitude, fun, progress, growth, sorrow, understanding, revelation, pain, pleasure, failure, success, contraction and expansion, and ripping adventure. Who could ask for anything more?

Heat records fall as temps skyrocket in Texas

 East Germany countryside. Cool and wet. Exactly the way I want to be.


It's bad, folks. The Arizona fire has spread to New Mexico. We're losing our southwestern forests.

West Texas is burning. Every day, two to three new wildfires pop up all over Texas. No rain to even the odds.

So on top of the record-breaking triple digit heat, we have smoke. A hazy pall that's been accumulating for many months now. The desert-dry wind stirs it up, but it doesn't leave.

No rain to wash it out. None to keep the wild critters alive. I so hate it when it gets so hot and dry the birds walk around with their beaks open--too dry to close them.

Speaking of skyrockets, Austin's Fourth of July celebration has been cancelled due to extreme weather conditions.  No fireworks, no orchestra at Auditorium Shores this year. Thank all the gods and goddesses for banning high-flying burning objects in our present tinderbox of a state. I shudder to think of how much of Austin would burn to ashes. Nor should 75 musicians have to swelter in concert black, fight the wind to keep the scores on the stands, and sit in uncomfortable chairs, in the dark...don't even think about the traffic and parking.

I've been into weather since I can remember. When I was a kid, it thrilled me, excited me. Even when lightning struck the utility pole I was standing in a puddle right next to. When our family outraced a tornado coming up over the hill. 

I was convinced in 1970 that the US was already beyond squandering natural resources, corporations poisoned the water, air, and earth to profit greedy bad guys. No one was doing much of anything to fix it.

Now, the weather makes me afraid. I'm old enough to have seen weather patterns change exponentially. I don't need the stats, I've experienced it. And it is ramping up. El Nino and La Nina models are breaking up. A few other countries are doing what they can to fix it. The US, certainly one of the top three greatest polluters on earth, continues to rape the environment with impunity.

Living in Australia for two years opened my eyes to what life is like under the hole in the ozone. Excessive, dangerous radiation. Lots of cancer. Lots of UVA/B resistant clothing and accessories. Lots of awareness. And the hole is growing. You don't have to call it Global Warming. Something IS happening, however, and we'd best get to it.

It's 1:02 a.m. Our local Austin weather champions cautiously hold out the first chance for rain in half a year. We're under a severe thunderstorm warning. Some of us will get less than an inch, most won't.

Thunder! Rain! Yes! Solstice! Night of the Long Dance. Time to run outside and dance in the rain!

Inspired by SARK

Wow. Just spent some time listening to an amazing writer and artist talking about framing the act of writing as a delight rather than a chore. A lot of empowering information and techniques--the one that jumped out at me is to establish an inner care system that gives your inner critic(s) a job to do to keep them occupied while you write. A great cure for those kinds of internal nagging distractions.

I've seen the technique before; however, this is the first time I've ever tried it. Havi Brooks of The Fluent Self regularly talks to her "monsters,"  and you can see enlightenment unfold before your very eyes.

In SARK's game, the first step is to empower and activate an inner "wise self" to support you. You then invite an aspect (specific inner critic) of yourself that's causing you pain or anxiety into a safe circle with your wise self. Initiate an interview with the aspect that needs attention, then listen and respond to what it says.

Here's what happened:

Me: Hi, there. Would you like to come sit with me and Wise Self?

Scared self: I dunno. Why do you want to talk to me?

Me: Because I feel like you're yelling at me, crowding me, and trying to take over.

Scared self: Well, duh! I have to make sure you're not going to get hurt!

Me: So you are concerned about me being in pain?

Scared self: Of course I am! It HURTS! And I don't want you to hurt.

Me: Wow. You are soooo strong. You really must want to protect me.

Scared self: Yes! I do! You've had enough pain in your life. I have to keep it away from your door.

Me: What if I were to tell you that I've learned things from my pain, things that mean a lot to me. Things that help me not be so frightened or hurt?

Scared self: Well, I guess that's good. But I still don't want you to hurt because you're writing about it.

Me: What if I could actually ENJOY writing about the good things I've learned from pain?

Scared self: Would that mean that you don't need me any more? 

Me: Oh, no! I will always need and cherish your support and protection. But sometimes I think I can put some stuff out there that will definitely make me feel better, and might just help someone else feel better.

Scared self: Does that mean you won't listen to me ever again?

Me: Oh, absolutely not. I need you to be here to help me watch out for UNNECESSARY pain. Like when I feel afraid of things that can't really hurt me. Like when I let other people determine how I "should" feel.


Scared self: Like when I yell really loudly when someone says things about you that aren't even true?

Me: Yes! Sometimes you're so loud that it hurts my ears!

Scared self: Oh, no! I don't want to hurt you!

Me: Hey, Scared self, have you ever met Wise Self?

Scared self: Oh, I've seen her around. I don't know what good she is, though.

Me: She's just like you, she doesn't want to see me get hurt.

Scared self: That's good. How does she do that?

Me: Well, she's really, really smart. She wants me to succeed. She helps me think through problems. She helps me feel more powerful. She likes me a lot And she really likes you a lot.

Scared self: She does?

Me: Yes. She likes you so much she wants to work with you to help keep me even safer.

Scared self: She DOES? Even when I yell and hurt your ears?

Me: Especially when you do that. As a matter of fact, she has an idea for both of us.

Scared self: Oh, yeah? Uh, hi, Wise Self.

Wise self: Scared self, how would you feel about having a little more fun protecting Me?

Scared self: OK, I guess. What would I have to do?

Wise self: What about instead of yelling at Me you talk to the thing that's causing pain?

Scared self: Like, shouting, "Who are you? What do you want?"

Wise self: That sounds pretty good. How would that make you feel?

Scared self: I would feel like I was chasing the hurt away.

Wise self: Instead of shouting, would you be willing to talk to the pain and find out if it truly wants to hurt Me? That would help Me learn more about herself as well as protect her.

Scared self: I don't know about that. I've never interviewed pain before. I don't know if I could get close enough to it.

Wise self: We could practice in here, where it's safe. We could talk to the pain through a window, maybe. It couldn't come in, but we could have a cozy little chat.

Scared self: Could we have tea and bikkies?

Me: Ooooh, that sounds delightful!

Scared self: Really? You wouldn't be more scared?

Me: Not if you and Wise Self were sitting with me. We could ask the pain all kinds of questions and find out whether it really means to hurt me or not, and see if we could learn something from it. Even see if we could have a little fun with it. Maybe even ask it to join us, if it promises to behave. And then we could brew a cuppa Dimbula Oolong and get some buttery bikkies and have a Real Tea Party!


Scared self: OK, I'm beginning to like this. I don't feel so much like yelling at you now that I know you and Wise Self love you and want you to be happy and productive.

Me: That would be the very best thing in the world you could do to keep me safe. Thank you so much for visiting. I'll get you a comfy armchair to relax in by the window so you can talk to any pain that might show up before it can overpower me. Would you like that?

Scared self: Yes! Yes, I would! As long as the tea and bikkies are within reach, that is!

Me: Great! Just let me know when you need a refill!

I am not alone. Thanks, Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy, thanks, Pace and Kyeli, thanks Havi!

Will Taylor: Burning "bad" violins to bring music to Texas foster kids

Photo courtesy Will Taylor

This is one of the most unusual benefits ever, by one of the most unique music groups ever. My friend Will Taylor and Strings Attached will burn BAD violins on Friday night, April 29 at Nutty Brown Cafe to bring awareness to National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Kids In a New Groove. KING provides musical instruments and instruction for Texas children in foster care. Will is donating part of the profits from his Classic Rock Weekend concert series to KING, and promoting the donation of playable instruments to the non-profit program.

Emphasis is placed on burning BAD (unplayable) violins in order to gain resources to purchase or prompt the donation of decent, playable instruments. After taking music lessons for 30+ years, and teaching music for 45+ years, I can attest to the importance of having an instrument that works and can stay in tune. Check out Will's Facebook page for LOTS more information.

The healing power of music is well documented. Next to family, music is certainly the most important thing in my life. It has comforted me through death, illness, divorce, isolation, heartache, and is absolutely THE best high in the universe. I've been contemplating getting a tattoo for many years now. The only reason I don't already have one is because I could never settle on what I wanted. Why is that relevant to this post? Because my niece recently got a gorgeous one (from Tattoo Bob) that states in super delicate/elegant script "Music is the lamb that made a lion out of me." That prompted me just a scant two weeks ago to finally commit. As serendipity would have it, my choice is "Music heals," in the same script. So tonight I get this message from Will about Kids in a New Groove. See how that wacky chord resolves?

Will has carved a truly dynamic niche in the overloaded Austin music scene. A classical and jazz violinist and violist, Will writes, performs, and records groovy string arrangements of various musical genres, in collaboration with local and nationally renowned musicians. He just completed House of Wills, featuring the music of Willie Nelson, in the style of Bob Wills. The Friday concert at Nutty Brown rocks the music of Led Zeppelin, and a Classic Rock Retrospective (think Beatles, Stones, Hendrix, and Stevie Wonder!) hits the Continental Club on Saturday, April 30.

This is all happening as we speak. Will is a Master of Momentum. He picks up on an idea and builds creative flow through networking and social media that appeals to broad musical audiences while promoting good causes. In this case, within a very brief time frame!

I met Will about 10 years ago at St. David's Episcopal Church here in Austin through David Stevens, tenor extraordinaire and St. David's Music Director. I was hanging out waiting for a rehearsal to begin, and Will was feverishly copying string parts for an early Strings Attached project. I could tell even back then that he was headed for greatness. Sure 'nuff!

So it is my pleasure to get this project in front of all my friends, especially those of you who 1) want to hear some very cool music, 2) would get off on watching a pile of violins burn, 3) are Zeppelin fans, 4) can donate playable music instruments to Kids in a New Groove, 5) can volunteer music instruction for KING.

Kids In a New Groove is going to hear from me very soon...and I'm calling Tattoo Bob tomorrow. Of course, I'm still facing the dilemma of WHERE to place it. I think this one needs to be in a visible location. Any suggestions, y'all? I may even bust out of my hermit shell to go watch those violins burn!

Earth Day, 2011 aka Retirement Month: Seven/Eight aka 52 Weeks

The Bromeliad I got when I began 52 Weeks to Awesome is still alive! And that's Awesome!

I distinctly remember where I was on the first Earth Day in 1970. Topanga Canyon, a mild, sunny day; listening to the coverage on NPR and thinking how great it was to be a gypsy musician hanging out in the canyons loving the Earth. It was also in 1970 that a wildfire threatened our little canyon which prompted one of my earliest-published poems. That might be putting too grandiose a cover on it--it was a college underground newspaper. Ah, the 70's. Especially after those heady 60's.

And that somehow brings me to fear. The universe has thrown some clear directions to pay attention. People I trust have blogged about fear. 52 Weeks is into fear evolving into self-trust. Ryan talked about it and we sang about it last Friday and Saturday. Mark Silver, Havi Brooks, shoot, a big stack of writers are talking about it in this particular nexus of time.

The hard fact is that we have not been treating our Mother Earth or Our Own Sweet Selves very well at all. I look back in my mind's eye to 1970 and the urgent destruction we knew we were headed for. Forty-one years later and I despair for the time we've lost. I never dreamed back then that we would let it get this bad. Let Earth Day remind us that we need to take care of our earth's resources, including ourselves, every day.

The fear thing. Looking back through the Retirement posts, I'm reminded of what stark terror feels like. And have gained the space to be curious about it. Examine it. See what I can find out or learn about it. And if it's not working for me, banish it. Poof.

Here it is post-tax day and I'm not a bag lady. So what if Teacher Retirement and Social Security don't even cover monthly expenses? Working smaller gigs has been fun rather than work, so no complaints about that. Not to mention meeting new people, which always sparks my brain. I can finally let go of that ghastly vision of me pushing a grocery cart under the bridges and along the creeks of Austin, living with the stray cats and dogs. Yeah, I really thought I'd end up that way. Not this year, though.

Kyeli (as we begin Module the Second of 52 Weeks to Awesome in which we learn to work through fear (!) and trust ourselves), reminded me of mindfulness, talking about hurting her knee and having to slow down a bit. Running a cognitive behavioral thought record through when that old fear creeps up my back. Is this a familiar or even a friendly fear? when I get that gut feeling that I should absolutely NOT do something...but I do it anyway, and learn, once again, that we ignore our instincts at our own risk.

If we've already come to some agreement, I just smile, wave, and move on. I can go incognito and walk around a new fear for quite some time, just hanging in a safe place, watching. That's what I was doing with this bag lady fear, until folks started showing up with new ways to think about and deal with fear. Bam, bam, bam, one right after another.

Singing about it was surely the most helpful this time around. Yeah, life is messy, all stuck together with wars and greedy, uncaring people and governments. Flow with it. Turn whatever you touch into the most hopeful, compassionate experience you can. Sunday's concert took place right across the street from the ACC-Pinnacle wildfire. I could look out the entryway and see the plumes of smoke rising overhead. I felt not one pang of panic--not one iota of distraction. Oddly enough, I think I was inspired to sing even better. Pumping healing vibrations and hopeful words directly into the fire, along with the helicopters overhead dumping flame retardant.

I have been through wildfires. You don't live in SoCal or Australia or Texas or any other dry environment without them running into you. So in a mangled way, my head mashed fear, wildfires, Earth Day, nostalgia, music, retirement, and a bunch of bright bloggers all into one messy post. 

Speaking of messes, The Great Unmessing of 2011 is galloping along, thanks to Bonnie. Fifteen + boxes emptied, car packed full of stuff to give away, rough plans for space usage, the rugs are even washed. I am loving it big time. Next project: take photos of stuff, both to sell and to archive. So many projects...

It's also sparked me to go walkies around the neighborhood.  Awesome.

The Randy Dude stats--read them and be totally awed.

AVAE concerts--R.I.P. composer Lee Hoiby

Contemporary composer Lee Hoiby passed away recently. I was privileged to meet Mr. Hoiby at a Chorus America convention in the late 1980's. Performed his Shakespearean songs with Princeton Pro Musica, a lovely collection.  PPM also performed his oratorio Galileo Galilei. Composers frequently give away music samples, and I picked up a couple more of his songs at other Chorus America conferences.

From the NYT obit:

In recent years he turned toward choral works, including “The Christmas Tree” and “Last Letter Home,” set to a note written by a soldier before his death in Iraq.

More about "Last Letter Home" from NewMusicBox:

There is an exceptional quality of emotional immediacy in Lee's music that can be disarming to some, but that never fails to move even the most jaded listener. When Lee threw himself into writing Last Letter Home, which sets a poignant text written by the fallen American soldier Jesse Givens in Iraq, the music could have easily veered towards maudlin sentimentality or kitsch in the hands of a lesser composer. Not, however, in the hands of a master like Lee Hoiby. Instead, Lee produced a deeply felt, rigorously composed harmonic masterpiece for a cappella men's chorus. Following the premiere and repeat performances, the letters poured in. Rarely had I seen such a flood of comments from listeners and performers. Listener after listener, performer after performer wrote to Lee to remark on his "beautiful, singable, and deeply moving" setting. The work has since gone on to be performed countless times and in various versions for mixed chorus, solo baritone and piano, and chorus with orchestra.

The Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble will perform "Last Letter Home" as part of the "War and Peace" concerts at 8:00 p.m. Friday, April 15, Hope Presbyterian Church, 11512 Olson Drive in Austin; and 3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 17, Oak Hill United Methodist Church, 7815 Highway 290 West in Oak Hill.

Also on the concert are selections from Figure Humaine by Francis Poulenc, and the stunning "Suite" de Lorca by Finnish composer Rautavaara. This piece was indelibly branded in my ear/brain when I heard the formidable Dale Warland Singers perform it at one of the above-mentioned Chorus America conventions. It shook my bones, especially "El Grito," (mp3) which is one of the most hair-raising pieces I've ever heard OR performed. The only other piece that comes close is the Wolf's Glen scene from Der Freischutz (Carl Maria von Weber), which I performed with PPM/Opera Orchestra of New York at Carnegie Hall and Richardson Hall (Princeton Univ.).

Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble, along with the San Gabriel Chorale, will present the Brahm's Requiem as part of the Georgetown Festival of the Arts at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 5 at the Alma Thomas Theatre on the campus of Southwestern University. Put it on your calendar NOW. Here's a performance by UC Davis, featuring a friend of mine, David Arnold, as baritone soloist:

Chant. Enchant. Enchanting.

 If I ever get a tattoo, it will be "Music heals" in ultra-fine script. Sounds of chant. Buddhist, Catholic, Muslim, most all the sacred music in the world is based in the human voice repeating sounds. Impressing. Learning. Healing. Enchanting.

Vibrant is another word that comes to mind. As in lovely vibrations. Tuning the body, the earth, the universe. Alive.

This newly bipedal enchantress took her first steps this weekend. It's a whole new ballgame.

Life just gets more awesome every day.

Motoring in Texas

Mi Tierra, San Antonio, TX
 
Appears that a goodly portion of Austin truck owners are trading them in for Green cars. The gas price hit gas-guzzlers big. My Kia took $52 to fill. Seriously thinking alternative transportation. It's a huge honking shame that Austin doesn't have a better public trans environment. Too little thinking ahead back in the 60's and 70's, and a little too freaking late in 2011 to be snatching back our rights. Which have slowly been eaten away.

Well, we said it would happen, and it still is.

Speaking of education, or the lack thereof, what immediately spooks me is that on a perfectly good Friday afternoon, the Austin Public Libraries in my immediate vicinity were closed. CLOSED!

That's alarming for so many reasons on so many levels:

• Writers are particularly voracious readers, usually poor.
• Libraries are particularly fabulous family activities, especially on weekends and early evening.
• School library resources are dwindling.
• We HAVE to keep reading and writing, we're already beginning to lose our language.

Scary.

And a shout-out to all my pals at SXSW interactive *waving*!

Retirement: Month Six, or Spring in February

The Divine Miss M. Soaking up the sun in @80 degree, clear weather. Cedar has all popped, elm and ash are releasing pollens.

Airedale terriers are all nose, hard head, and lanky bodies. Very intelligent, affectionate, perpetually cheerful. At least Mahalia is. Her brother is a little more somber. They have fenced-in space to roam, and chat frequently with the local coyotes, dogs, and other critters.

Airedales have only the one wiry coat, no fluffy undercoat like other breeds. Thus less strain on allergic individuals.

Not one, but TWO lovable noodniks.

This is Mr. T, which stands for Truro. As in Truro Lighthouse on Nantucket, where my b.i.l. proposed to my sister. He's a sweetheart. Noble dog. A most emphatic alarm clock. There is no sleeping when he wants out in the morning. LOUD bark.

Seclusion is extra nice with these two for company. Good to have a break from town noise, as well. No cars, planes, gizmos, whatevers. None. Nothing but warbling, trilling birds, snuffling armadillos, clattery raccoons, whuffling deer, the wind in the trees. The odd chickadee banging his little skull against a windowpane until I closed the blinds.

Good time to get my head back in gear. Come home to a clean house, thanks to thoughtful daughter, and make some solid organizational decisions. Stay ahead of the clutter and identify priorities to get projects going. Most of it still in my head, but closure on what the next step will be.

A plan is emerging, helped along by the healing passage of time. And space for a little serendipity to slide through the static. That's what I've been waiting for. Sloughing off enough stress to open a few windows in my head. Reaching out to my super-intelligent, helpful friends and associates for ideas and the latest info.

Things I've learned:

1. It takes much longer to adjust than I expected. I was literally shell-shocked for the first three months at least. Plowing through the various bureaucracies takes information I didn't have, or even know I had to have, before finding myself drowning in it.
2. Years of simple living were worth it. I don't spend any more money than I have to. My only luxuries are Netflix and the occasional meal out. My five-year-old car has less than 22,500 miles--two more payments and it's MINE! That means one less area to deal with.
3. Debt management won't hurt you, and really pays off. Probably the smartest thing I ever did. Even though I originally planned to have it all paid off by the time I retired, one year of debt at a reduced income is better than the fiasco it could have become.
4. Forgiveness is easier the more you practice it. I am sure that reduced stress levels have much to do with any progress in this area. 
5. The first person you need to forgive is yourself. Everything flows from this. Crazy amounts of reprogramming self perception.

Baby steps. One day at a time. Do at least one nice thing for myself every day. Builds into a body of work, a healthier habit, a more relaxed, more forgiving perspective. Smells a little like freedom.

Influenza Blues

So. It seems there is a rogue flu virus going around that wasn't included in the vaccine released for this season. You either get over it in 5-7 days or you develop a nasty secondary respiratory infection which, in my case, required 10 days of antibiotics and heavy-duty cough syrup. Bummer. Going on week 3 to recover. Produced more mucus in that time than in the rest of my life put together. Friends popping up all over Texas, at least, who also are having problems.

No energy, so have not been keeping up with my 52 Weeks. Or rehearsals. Totally lost my voice for four days, still hoarse.

In the Hill Country dog sitting and recuperating. Caught a sweet, modest sunset. And the dogs don't care that I sleep most of the time. Nor that I only half-heartedly throw sticks for them. Nor that I can't squeak out much more than an occasional "good doggie."

Tried to produce a musical sound and nothing came out. My vocal chords are non-functional. Was cautioned by a fellow singer to not even try to whisper, which actually puts more strain on them than singing. Rest is best, and mega-hydration.

My sis left healthy food and lots of fruit and veggie juices, so no problem there. And the view is still spectacular--nothing wrong with my eyes. Well, since the oozing stopped after day 3 of antibiotics. That's actually what sent me to the dr., along with the fact that I couldn't breathe, sleep, taste, eat, or otherwise exist.

So be aware! If you happen to get this flu, do not hesitate to go to your doctor if you aren't better within 5-7 days. It can really knock you down and put you out of commission for what seems like an overly long time.

And you may not be lucky enough to have a Hill Country retreat stocked with healthy food, satellite TV, wireless, hundreds of birds, coyotes, loads of other wild critters, and two trusty Airedales.

Retirement: Month Five

Yes, Virginia, it DOES snow in Austin...on occasion. Of course it doesn't last very long. We more frequently get sleet and ice, because it DOES get very cold--those Blue Northers are for real. 80 degrees during the day, down to 15-25 that night. Linus was not impressed with the snow--sat on a flattened cardboard box rather than in the cold wet and wanted back in the house after only a few minutes.

More importantly, January was a fun month! Got all my W-2s and 1099s, so I can do my taxes, and should get a return, even. Always a good thing!

And lots of time with grand-niece. It's such a joy watching her grow and gaining her trust.

Birthday celebrations abounded, always exciting. And my first visit from the cleaning service, which went a loooong way towards de-cluttering. Not as successful in converting our mom's interview tapes to CD--not all tech works the way it should. Looking for a more effective way to preserve all those great authors' responses to her incisive interview questions.

Down with a big, bad chest/head cold--shouldn't be flu, cause I got my flu shot.

Some tech worked: transferring all my writing from PC to Mac so I can work on stuff when away. Progress on creating an editing/writing/proofing Web site landing page as part of freelancing business. Meeting fascinating people and making contacts to move this project along. Changing auto insurance carriers and saving $900/yr. was a biggie. Even came with better coverage and more features.

Doing what I can to help colleagues out who got let go from UT. I'm happy to write recommendations, review cover letters, etc. for what it's worth. Celebrating when friends find new employment, commiserating when friends run into obstacles. Creative problem-solving.

Learning more about how to leverage social media, reaching more people. Still deciding what I really want to do when I grow up. My problem is that there is SO much I want to do, it's difficult to focus on only one or two options. Sometimes having lots of choices is more intimidating that having only a few.

Watching the CNN coverage of the Egyptian revolution. Wondering why more people aren't involved.

Next project--updating blog roll with all the new groovy people I'm meeting. If the weather lets up, am considering a trip to Port Aransas to see the whooping cranes--I've wanted to do that for decades! Now on to Awesomeness--self-introspection--some might say that I have an overabundance of that...