Coffee Klatch

It sure does feel good to get projects completed!

Many of you know that I do genealogy research, both for fun and for profit. See my website for more details: RoyaltyLinks

Anyway, as of last night, I’ve recently completed two genealogy research projects that I’ve been working on for much longer than I’d expected. I got the reports printed out, the CDs burned, the framed charts printed and put together, and everything assembled and shipped. …sigh…

It sure does feel good to eliminate things that have been hanging over your head for a long time. Not that I don’t enjoy doing them–far from it!–but it’s nice to have a project completed and some virtual (carbon-based) RAM freed up to be able to concentrate on other things.

Current music: The Most Relaxing Piano Album in the World…Ever!

We think of “being genuine” as something to aspire to. It’s a quality that we admire in people and think we should strive to achieve in ourselves.

But what does that mean? The best definition I can find is “being free from hypocrisy or dishonesty” or sincere. The way we tend to use the word typically refers to someone being open and not pretending to be something other than what they are. If someone is genuine, they’re being real with you, not thinking one thing while saying or acting another. Granted, we ALL need to speak much slower than we think, which will result in not saying everything we’re thinking. That has to do with tact, which is another admirable quality. But if you’re genuine with people, you’re not pretending to be something else.

Doesn’t that mean that you don’t put undo weight on other people’s opinions? You can be yourself and “not care” what other people think. You’ll care, of course, but you won’t base your actions or words on what others might think. That requires a great degree of self confidence to accomplish. A healthy degree, but not excessive.

If you struggle with being lonely, I don’t think you can truly be genuine. At least it must be incredibly difficult. If you’re lonely, you are naturally concerned about what others think because you are wanting their attention. Not in a bad way necessarily, but you are wanting it nonetheless.

That leads me to conclude that a healthy self-confidence, as evidenced by the ability to be genuine, is a deterrent to loneliness. If you struggle in this area, I encourage you to work on developing your self-confidence and independence. Logically, that should help reduce your loneliness. (Being socially active couldn’t hurt, either.)
So being genuine can build healthy internal processes as well as building healthy relationships with people who admire or at least appreciate someone really being genuine with them.

As always, thoughts and comments are welcome.

Current music: Monday Night Football and Brett Favre’s 200th consecutive start! (that’s about 12 1/2 seasons without missing a start)

So WGVU-TV is doing their annual fundraiser this week. They often play musical specials, concerts, etc., during this time. Right now they’re playing Yanni, Live At The Acropolis.

Now many “serious musicians” pooh-pooh Yanni and “his ilk.” I’ll be writing another blog post about that shortly. Anyway, watching these musicians “live” is simply incredible. The passion in their playing is simply phenomenal. Watching two excellent concert violinists improvising and going back and forth trying to “one up” each other musically is just astounding. Every musician involved in this concert was excellent and was fully passionate about their playing.

Whatever you think of Yanni, his attitude or his music, this is one incredible performance by a group of incredible musicians. The passion in their faces and in their music is such a moving reminder of why I’m a musician in the first place. There are moments in this concert (which, by the way, is longer and fuller than the CD of the same name) that, with regard to the passion in the music, rival other musical moments like the climaxes of Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony or Bach’s St. Matthew Passion or “Javert’s Suicide” in Les Miserables. Seriously. There have already been a couple times in watching this concert (and it’s not over yet–I’m watching it now) that I’ve almost been moved to tears because my heart has been right there with the performers.

That’s what it’s all about–the PASSION in music. Most people won’t have a clue what I’m talking about, or can only imagine it without having experienced it, but some of you know. Some of you have been there. The passion, the feeling, the emotions in music–that is in the music itself and that comes out in and through the musicians–that’s what it’s all about. That’s why I’m a musician: for that experience and all that goes with it.

There’s nothing else like that in the world!

Currently watching: Yanni, Live at the Acropolis

(I’ve got to get this DVD, which, by the way, is apparently the 2nd most popular broadcast concert on TV.)

Has anyone tried the new Limited Edition Holiday Spice Pepsi? I’m having some right now and it’s really interesting.

Thoughts? Comments?

http://holidayspice.pepsiworld.com/

Christians should live like Christ died this morning, rose again this afternoon, and is coming back tonight.

- Martin Luther

This is something that we should experience every day. If we really believe that Jesus is coming back soon, that WILL change how we live our lives each day. As we enter Advent, this is something that can make Advent real to us and help bring the spirit of the season into our lives.

Well, here it is the Saturday of Thanksgiving Weekend. Halfway done with the holiday weekend.

Yesterday we made gingerbread men cookies and got the Christmas tree set up. Eve got some early morning shopping done, too, which was nice. We finished the cookies last night and were GOING to decorate them today, but there are hardly any left!

This morning I’m making German Potato Pancakes for everyone for breakfast! YUM!! And I think everyone’s actually staying home today (unless there’s a quick run to the store that has to happen). We’ll probably finish hanging some of the Christmas decorations today so at least SOME of the 18/20 gallon bins can go back in the basement.

Later today I’ll probably be making a Pecan Pie and a Fudge-Nut Pie. Mmmmmm!!

Gotta go… the potato pancakes are needing flipping.

Current music: Christmas Music on the Radio (ahhh…)

I got the stuffing prepared and the turkey all set and in the oven before 10:00am today. Yeah! I might try to get a pecan pie made today, too.

We all have so much to be thankful for today. I know I do.

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

Currently watching: Thanksgiving Day Football (Go Indy and Chicago!) (I know, “Chicago?!” But my favorite team is whoever the Cowboys are playing.)

EXTRA NOTE: It sure is nice to hear a BASS sing the National Anthem. It was Trace Atkins in Detroit today. ALSO: it’s officially considered improper to sing along when someone is singing the National Anthem. The proper response is listening politely, not JOINING IN! That’s just an insult to the singer.

As promised, my blog has been redesigned, incorporating some more “contemporary” web design principles, and resulting in a cleaner look, a more standardized appearance, and a consistent result for those that use RSS feeds.

Your feedback, as always, is welcomed and appreciated.

So on the way to work this morning I heard a Meijer commercial on the radio. It was a woman calling 911 to say her husband was having stomach pains. “Did he eat anything recently?” “Yes, a turkey.” “He had some turkey?” “No, he had a turkey.” Come to find out he’d also eaten mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, desserts (half a pumpkin pie), and maybe some creamed spinach. [blech!]

Then the announcer came on, urging listeners to “eat responsibily.”

I thought that was hilarious.

They ended with, “Just because we sell all kinds of foods at low prices doesn’t mean you have to eat it all at once.”

Current music: A Charlie Brown Christmas

I sure hate it when flu symptoms hang around forever. It’s been since last Friday and they haven’t really gone away. The change in the weather (these couple of days we’ve got a cold front moving in, with snow forecast for Thanksgiving) doesn’t help, either.

The Evangelical Choral Society Concert went well yesterday. Nice solid performance, well done, humbly offered to God and to the community, and professional, even if the translations into English were a little less than perfect.

After talking with a friend who’s a web design professional, I’ll probably be redesigning my blog website over the Thanksgiving holiday, making the site look more 21st century and, if not “trendy,” at least semi-contemporary and pseudo-stylish. Stay tuned for changes this next week.

Best wishes to all of you travelling over the next few days. Be careful driving, because most of the midwest has a forecast of rain changing to snow on Wednesday and through the rest of the week.

Current music: Land of Enchantment, by Deuter