Monday, October 27, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Shameless plug...
So, one of my old friends from high school, Benjamin Costello, recently wrote and produced his own album, Start Again Tomorrow. Almost everyone I know has either a song or an artist associated with them in my mind. Ben was probably the only person that was close to being as big a fan of Billy Joel as me back in school. Though, I got the chance to speak to Billy Joel, where I don't think Ben ever did. Therefore, I win. Ha.
Anyway, I downloaded the album the other day and was quite impressed. Ben has always had a beautiful voice and also created some beautiful arrangements on his songs. Basically, he wrote the exact kind of album I would have expected him to. The music has a very dreamy quality, the kind you want to hear while wrapped up in a blanket on a cold, rainy day with a nice glass of wine. Kind of like today!
Ben's not a signed artist, so he's selling his album directly. It's available on his own website or on iTunes It is definitely worth checking out...
Anyway, I downloaded the album the other day and was quite impressed. Ben has always had a beautiful voice and also created some beautiful arrangements on his songs. Basically, he wrote the exact kind of album I would have expected him to. The music has a very dreamy quality, the kind you want to hear while wrapped up in a blanket on a cold, rainy day with a nice glass of wine. Kind of like today!
Ben's not a signed artist, so he's selling his album directly. It's available on his own website or on iTunes It is definitely worth checking out...
Dream analysis time
So, last night I had a dream that gas was $1.78 a gallon.
I believe this means... that my dreams are quite dull.
Still, it was a good dream.
I believe this means... that my dreams are quite dull.
Still, it was a good dream.
Friday, October 24, 2008
...sigh...
I just noticed my dad's not listed as one of my Netflix friends anymore. Man, it's the little things that are the worst sometimes...
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Self-realization. I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "I drank what?"
Wow, I really must look awful, posting my father's eulogy. Have I mentioned that I have bad days? Yeah, I guess this kind of proves that... Anyway, I feel the need to try to counter the bad mojo that I'm spreading over the intertubes and am going to make a list of things that make me happy... I'd also like to think of it as a counterpoint to the 9,999 Things...
So here goes...
1) Real Genius - Real Genius (hence the title) is indicative of one of those films that no matter how low you feel, it can always make you laugh. It's probably one of my favorite films of all time. I'm sure many would agree...
2) This.
Seriously, what can be more fun than messing around with Dick Cheney? Or this could just be further proof of how easily amused I really am... Yeah, that's probably it. I am pretty gleeful about the fact that he will not be vice-president much longer and will soon have to return to the lands of Mordor. And I am not ashamed of this.
3) Stupid jokes - I might be returning to maudlin territory, but I really enjoyed when my father would call me randomly to tell me bad jokes that he read in Boys Life Magazine. (truly a boy scout to the end...) In fact, I find myself telling Jaime the very same terrible jokes and get a real sense of enjoyment out of them. It's nice to pass things down to further generations...
4)The Indigo Girls - There is no bad mood that singing along with the Indigo Girls in your car can't cure. Trust me.
5) A good meal - I always say that I am a horribly cheap person when it comes to shopping. However, I have no compunction in laying down my money in the pursuit of a truly good meal. I love to eat. Not just to eat, but eating really good food. It is truly a great joy in my life. Especially if it's a filet mignon at Moretti's. There's just nothing better...
Well, I guess that's a good start. It's probably time to stop before I start singing Kumbahyah. (Though in my defense, I HATE that freakin' song...)
So here goes...
1) Real Genius - Real Genius (hence the title) is indicative of one of those films that no matter how low you feel, it can always make you laugh. It's probably one of my favorite films of all time. I'm sure many would agree...
2) This.
Seriously, what can be more fun than messing around with Dick Cheney? Or this could just be further proof of how easily amused I really am... Yeah, that's probably it. I am pretty gleeful about the fact that he will not be vice-president much longer and will soon have to return to the lands of Mordor. And I am not ashamed of this.
3) Stupid jokes - I might be returning to maudlin territory, but I really enjoyed when my father would call me randomly to tell me bad jokes that he read in Boys Life Magazine. (truly a boy scout to the end...) In fact, I find myself telling Jaime the very same terrible jokes and get a real sense of enjoyment out of them. It's nice to pass things down to further generations...
4)The Indigo Girls - There is no bad mood that singing along with the Indigo Girls in your car can't cure. Trust me.
5) A good meal - I always say that I am a horribly cheap person when it comes to shopping. However, I have no compunction in laying down my money in the pursuit of a truly good meal. I love to eat. Not just to eat, but eating really good food. It is truly a great joy in my life. Especially if it's a filet mignon at Moretti's. There's just nothing better...
Well, I guess that's a good start. It's probably time to stop before I start singing Kumbahyah. (Though in my defense, I HATE that freakin' song...)
In a maudlin mood...
So, I'm sitting at home with Jaime today since she isn't feeling well. It's been a strange time for me lately and I suppose having to stay home doesn't make it better because it allows my thoughts to run wild. It sounds trite to say, but I have good days and bad days. Anyway, my mother sent me a copy of the eulogy my Uncle Dick gave at the funeral, so I thought I would share it.
Peter Collins- Remembrances
Good Morning, My name is Dick Christman and I am Peter’s brother-in-law. I was recently informed that I am now the patriarch of the family…translation: “you’re old!” When I told a co-worker at the United Way (who is a Lutheran minister) that I had been asked to give a eulogy he told me it was a pastor’s worst nightmare. Half the speakers decide they have to tell everything that ever happened to the person from the moment of conception to their death. Now if the deceased is 98 years old that can take a while! The other half thinks “aha, I have a captive audience” and proceeds to give their 90 minute stand-up comedy routine! Well, I will try not to do either.
How do I start to describe Peter…”warm and fuzzy” are not two words I would use. Peter was a quiet, intelligent, very private person. But he was much more…he was a caring man as evidenced by the many tributes coming in from former Boy Scouts and Leaders he has worked with through the years.
I have many remembrances of Peter during the 40 plus years I have known him and I will share just a few with you today. You rarely saw Peter without a book in his hand. He was a voracious reader. One of our favorite activities when Mrs. B was alive was charades. We had great charade parties on Foster Ave. and Logan St. We all cringed however when it was Peter’s turn to come up with a book title. It was always the most obscure title ever…a title only Peter and the author ever knew existed.
Now Peter was known to enjoy a little “nip” now and then and he was quite a wine connoisseur. The Collin’s and Christman’s rented a house on Hilton Head shortly after Mrs. B’s death. We had a relaxing, quiet time with our families and decided to go out for one special dinner. Of course Peter ordered the wine…the bottle arrived and Peter sent it back…wrong vintage…the next bottle arrived; Peter sniffed the cork…and sent it back! After sending back the third bottle the frustrated waiter came to the table, set down a bottle wine and said “this one is on the house…”so enjoy it” and left. We enjoyed it!
I think if Peter had one regret in his life it was that he did not become a chef. Many of you know of his and Susan’s prowess in the kitchen. I will always cherish wonderful New Year’s Eve dinners on Logan St. with champagne and lobster. Peter and Susan really could have opened a restaurant…they are that good! The “Peter and Susan Cooking Show” on The Food Channel. Peter and Susan together in the kitchen…picture that! Gordon Ramsey, eat your heart out!
This is a celebration of Peter’s life. I believe that a person’s life is truly revealed in the family and friends who have touched his life. Instead of someone talking about my life, I would like to be at my own Memorial service so that I could thank all those people who made me what I became. Maybe I will make a video to show at my service. So, I am going to be presumptuous and tell you what I think Peter would like to say if he were here in person.
Thank you to all the friends who helped me cope the last few months…those of you who brought food, who mowed the lawn, who sat and talked to me and gave Susan and me support. You were there for me and for Susan and I am grateful to all of you. You know who you are. Thank you to my sister-in-law Mary Louise. With your genteel southern charm you cleaned, ran numerous errands and helped out wherever you could. And, when it came time to leave for North Carolina you painted the kitchen on your way out the door! Thank you Peter Baker for the very nice letter and for persevering until you got a chance to see me. I enjoyed our talks about Scouting and the great times we had together. And of course Welthea, who drove from Buffalo to spend time with Susan and me. She did just about anything Susan needed…including cleaning, running the dishwasher and doing laundry (this from someone who doesn’t even know how to turn on the washing machine at home)! She would fix snacks for me, sit and talk to me and basically just “be Welthea” She also helped run a darn good garage sale! And my brother David…how can I thank you enough? Flying over from England to help where he could… getting the big old house back in shape and helping liquidate the Van Auken business. I am so happy I had one last chance to visit David and Linda in England before I was diagnosed. Then there is Jaime who came and helped cheer me up as only a granddaughter can do. Every parent wants to see their children grow up happy and successful. I am fortunate that I did see this happen and I am so proud of Cameron and Alexandra. Alex, who came by every day…, who spent most of her lunch hours with me. She was there whenever I needed her. Cameron made the long trip from St. Louis many times and was such a comfort. He helped his mother with whatever she needed…especially getting ready for the big Van Auken sale! I will miss them and I wish I had told them I loved them more often…but they knew! Finally, there is my wife…what a rock! Working full time, driving to Ithaca, coming home and cleaning and cooking to the point of exhaustion. I was not the easiest patient…especially when she was almost single-handedly liquidating the business (much to my dismay). She would comfort me on my dark days…thank you Susan…you are my life partner…my confidant…and I love you!
Now I know this is a celebration of Peter’s life but it is also a celebration of all of you…you have touched his life in so many ways and will continue to keep his memory alive! In 1982 Susan and Peter gave me a book of quotations called Good Advice, compiled by William Safire. I use it often. I would leave you with a quote on Mortality by Thomas Jefferson. As you may know Jefferson was not the most religious person, but I think the quote is appropriate for this service.
“Let us not be uneasy then about the different roads we may pursue, as believing them the shortest, to our last abode, but following the guidance of a good conscience, let us be happy in the hope that by these different paths we shall all meet in the end.”
Thank you and God speed, Peter.
Peter Collins- Remembrances
Good Morning, My name is Dick Christman and I am Peter’s brother-in-law. I was recently informed that I am now the patriarch of the family…translation: “you’re old!” When I told a co-worker at the United Way (who is a Lutheran minister) that I had been asked to give a eulogy he told me it was a pastor’s worst nightmare. Half the speakers decide they have to tell everything that ever happened to the person from the moment of conception to their death. Now if the deceased is 98 years old that can take a while! The other half thinks “aha, I have a captive audience” and proceeds to give their 90 minute stand-up comedy routine! Well, I will try not to do either.
How do I start to describe Peter…”warm and fuzzy” are not two words I would use. Peter was a quiet, intelligent, very private person. But he was much more…he was a caring man as evidenced by the many tributes coming in from former Boy Scouts and Leaders he has worked with through the years.
I have many remembrances of Peter during the 40 plus years I have known him and I will share just a few with you today. You rarely saw Peter without a book in his hand. He was a voracious reader. One of our favorite activities when Mrs. B was alive was charades. We had great charade parties on Foster Ave. and Logan St. We all cringed however when it was Peter’s turn to come up with a book title. It was always the most obscure title ever…a title only Peter and the author ever knew existed.
Now Peter was known to enjoy a little “nip” now and then and he was quite a wine connoisseur. The Collin’s and Christman’s rented a house on Hilton Head shortly after Mrs. B’s death. We had a relaxing, quiet time with our families and decided to go out for one special dinner. Of course Peter ordered the wine…the bottle arrived and Peter sent it back…wrong vintage…the next bottle arrived; Peter sniffed the cork…and sent it back! After sending back the third bottle the frustrated waiter came to the table, set down a bottle wine and said “this one is on the house…”so enjoy it” and left. We enjoyed it!
I think if Peter had one regret in his life it was that he did not become a chef. Many of you know of his and Susan’s prowess in the kitchen. I will always cherish wonderful New Year’s Eve dinners on Logan St. with champagne and lobster. Peter and Susan really could have opened a restaurant…they are that good! The “Peter and Susan Cooking Show” on The Food Channel. Peter and Susan together in the kitchen…picture that! Gordon Ramsey, eat your heart out!
This is a celebration of Peter’s life. I believe that a person’s life is truly revealed in the family and friends who have touched his life. Instead of someone talking about my life, I would like to be at my own Memorial service so that I could thank all those people who made me what I became. Maybe I will make a video to show at my service. So, I am going to be presumptuous and tell you what I think Peter would like to say if he were here in person.
Thank you to all the friends who helped me cope the last few months…those of you who brought food, who mowed the lawn, who sat and talked to me and gave Susan and me support. You were there for me and for Susan and I am grateful to all of you. You know who you are. Thank you to my sister-in-law Mary Louise. With your genteel southern charm you cleaned, ran numerous errands and helped out wherever you could. And, when it came time to leave for North Carolina you painted the kitchen on your way out the door! Thank you Peter Baker for the very nice letter and for persevering until you got a chance to see me. I enjoyed our talks about Scouting and the great times we had together. And of course Welthea, who drove from Buffalo to spend time with Susan and me. She did just about anything Susan needed…including cleaning, running the dishwasher and doing laundry (this from someone who doesn’t even know how to turn on the washing machine at home)! She would fix snacks for me, sit and talk to me and basically just “be Welthea” She also helped run a darn good garage sale! And my brother David…how can I thank you enough? Flying over from England to help where he could… getting the big old house back in shape and helping liquidate the Van Auken business. I am so happy I had one last chance to visit David and Linda in England before I was diagnosed. Then there is Jaime who came and helped cheer me up as only a granddaughter can do. Every parent wants to see their children grow up happy and successful. I am fortunate that I did see this happen and I am so proud of Cameron and Alexandra. Alex, who came by every day…, who spent most of her lunch hours with me. She was there whenever I needed her. Cameron made the long trip from St. Louis many times and was such a comfort. He helped his mother with whatever she needed…especially getting ready for the big Van Auken sale! I will miss them and I wish I had told them I loved them more often…but they knew! Finally, there is my wife…what a rock! Working full time, driving to Ithaca, coming home and cleaning and cooking to the point of exhaustion. I was not the easiest patient…especially when she was almost single-handedly liquidating the business (much to my dismay). She would comfort me on my dark days…thank you Susan…you are my life partner…my confidant…and I love you!
Now I know this is a celebration of Peter’s life but it is also a celebration of all of you…you have touched his life in so many ways and will continue to keep his memory alive! In 1982 Susan and Peter gave me a book of quotations called Good Advice, compiled by William Safire. I use it often. I would leave you with a quote on Mortality by Thomas Jefferson. As you may know Jefferson was not the most religious person, but I think the quote is appropriate for this service.
“Let us not be uneasy then about the different roads we may pursue, as believing them the shortest, to our last abode, but following the guidance of a good conscience, let us be happy in the hope that by these different paths we shall all meet in the end.”
Thank you and God speed, Peter.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Friday, October 03, 2008
We interrupt this broadcast...
to show you one of my favorite video clips ever. It's so, so wrong... yet so, so right.
It also helps that AC/DC is just all sorts of awesome...
I guess this is my way of saying that I'm starting to come awake again. Getting outside for a while yesterday with just me and the dog helped. I took some really nice pictures of my hike that I'll have to post later.
I also wanted to do a blanket thanks to everyone for their sympathies and kind words. I'll follow up with you all individually later when I have the energy to take on that task. That's a bit much right now for me.
It also helps that AC/DC is just all sorts of awesome...
I guess this is my way of saying that I'm starting to come awake again. Getting outside for a while yesterday with just me and the dog helped. I took some really nice pictures of my hike that I'll have to post later.
I also wanted to do a blanket thanks to everyone for their sympathies and kind words. I'll follow up with you all individually later when I have the energy to take on that task. That's a bit much right now for me.
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