Blistering Week at Work

I wrote earlier in this blog that my wife always buys my clothes, a task she jealously guards, especially from me.  We reached a crisis point with my favorite pair of work shoes this week.  It rained one day and I complained to her that my socks were all wet because of the hole in the bottom of the shoes.  She incredulously asked me how long the hole had been there.  In the interest of self-preservation I said only a couple of days (in reality nearly a month – but these were great shoes).  She decided to let me buy a replacement pair without her presence since the shoe store is only a couple of minutes from my work.  I hesitantly approached this assignment with the reverence due, realizing the immense trust she was endowing me with. I understood how difficult it was for her to relinquish this perogative.  I found the exact same type of shoe in the right size and I even tried them on.  I was extremely proud of myself for accomplishing this extremely challenging mission.  When I got back to the office I changed into the new shoes and reluctantly consigned my beloved old shoes to the trash.  When I got home that night I noticed a slightly abraded area on the heel of one foot.  Having spent a quarter of a century in the infantry I am no stranger to blisters and for the rest of the week just slapped on some moleskin and went about my business. I’ve always taken the approach that blisters are just a necessary step in toughening the skin in a new area abraded by new shoes.  At some point in the week the blister ripped off and by Friday the combination of the new shoes and my daily runs had created a fairly gnarly situation on the heel.  I made the mistake of letting my wife see the affected site – big mistake.  I was trying to explain to her that it was a simple blister and that I had a whole lot more experience with these things than she did.  She was not to be denied.  I was actually a little impressed.  She spent twenty minutes cleaning it out, removing dog hairs, applying antibiotic cream, and delivering a lecture the entire time.  The lecture started out with my failure to adequately care for myself and transitioned to my failures in the shoe buying expedition.  Again, I was actually a little impressed that she could keep this up for twenty minutes while staying busy with my foot the entire time.  Of course I was trying to be macho and not react to any of the pain emanating from her ministrations to include the scrubbing of the exposed raw skin.  All Buddy the Wonder Pooch sees is raw meat and thinks that his job is to lick the wound.  I’ve taken to wearing a reversed sock this weekend to avoid that fate – he’s very sneaky.  I don’t think I’ll be trusted in the future to buy any more shoes for myself.

The Affected Site

Buddy Trying to Get His Licks In

Faith - Embracing the Unknown

Seeing that it is Good Friday – still don’t know why/agree with that appellation – my thoughts have wandered to religion and faith.  I was brought up in the Episcopal Church, attending services every Sunday and even serving as an altar boy.  I never spent a lot of time with deep thoughts about it, it was just something done on Sundays.  Once I started working in high school to help for impending college I stopped going.  I even made fun of what we called, “Jesus Freaks”, something I now truly regret.  I ended up married to a truly devout Catholic (carefully avoiding calling her a fanatic – one of my dumber statements – paid for in full).  Since religion didn’t mean a lot to me at the time and it did to her I converted to Catholicism when we married.  I was kind of disappointed because it was virtually the same church that I grew up in.  The Episcopal Church in the US is the Church of England which separated from Rome when the Pope said Henry the VIII couldn’t boink Anne Boleyn (my high school history teacher just turned over in her grave).  When the kids came along my wife would take them along with her while I stayed at home.  My mother, who hadn’t been to church in decades, told me that I was failing my children by not going to church with them.  I never handled criticism from my mother well so I started going to church with them.  My wife was ecstatic and surprisingly I found that I enjoyed going.  I found comfort in hearing the words and themes again.  I think it was good for my and any kids, to be exposed to those lessons at an early age, when they are forming their value systems.  Neither of the kids attend church regularly now but I do think all the years they spent in church helped them develop into the people they are.  I still go to church every Sunday although I will never be the Catholic that my wife is.  Faith is something everybody has to define for themselves.  It can’t be forced, it has to be discovered.  My own faith is only challenged by my wife who is a strict adherent to all of the forms of the church.  I’m a little bit of a rebel and see many of these as man’s attachments and not Divine instruction.  I think it’s more important to believe, which I do, than it is to not eat meat on Fridays during Lent or regularly attend confession or the myriad other prescripts of the church.  This was a wedge between my wife and I until a Catholic priest in Virginia chastised her for being so hard on me and told her it was not for her to dictate faith to me – God I love that guy.  I know evil exists in the world, I’ve seen it up close and personal, and if you have one than you have to have the other.  I believe in the innate goodness in all men and embrace a belief that encourages us to be better.  Enough deep thoughts for today, I have to go warm up the fish sticks my wife sent with me for lunch. 

Inspiring Music

This blog contribution really grew in the telling.  I started out planning to cite a few of the music clips that have inspired me.  I’ve always thought it would be incredibly cool if our lives had a soundtrack so we would know when the truly momentous occasions are about to occur.  That would certainly have helped me out interpreting what my wife and her long ago predecessors were really trying to say, but I digress.  As I started to compile what I assumed would be a short list I found myself adding song after song.  This was not a search for complete songs but only those snippets that I found especially remarkable.  As you will see if you continue to read this seemingly endless entry I finally did stop and say enough.  I didn’t put them in any particular order other than to save what I found to be the single most inspiring piece for last.  I’ve also included a web page cite if you want to hear the music I am writing about.  Good luck.
As you will see from this list – most of the music comes from the movies because of the added emotional impact of the visual as well as auditory senses.  That being said I’ll go first with my favorite movie composers and their work that made them so for me.

James Horner –

The haunting music from the movie Glory – blends the sacrifice, patriotism, and struggle for equality - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EgOpIlZcTs

The theme for the magnificent Ludlow family from the movie Legends of the Fall – a sense of loss and perseverance amid the stark beauty of the American west - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_0PJRnJwDo&feature=related

The music from the Bicentennial Man as a robot strives to achieve a humanity he already possesses - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q10Bmr9ssg&feature=related

Basil Poledorus-

The music from Conan the Barbarian which made me want to pick up a sword and look for some Hyborians to engage – just got the blood flowing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZIEUPudUDk&feature=related

The music from the best TV movie ever made – Lonesome Dove as in the final scene CPT Call, played by Tommie Lee Jones, reminisces about all the missed chances and lost friends – a truly magnificent use of music.  If you watch anything from this list – watch this:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLFDZxdvRSY&feature=related

Franz Waxman –

One of the truly inspiring pieces from my youth from the movie Prince Valiant – only the piece from his final sword fight as a young man finally realizes his potential – starts at the 25 second mark - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu56XKcFihI

The music from Taras Bulba called the Ride to Dubno makes you believe you’re on a horse next to the Cossacks - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4O5Hpq6Qj4&feature=related

Jerry Goldsmith

Just the first 30 seconds from the theme to a 1970s TV mini-series called QB VII – it always stuck with me and truly inspired me.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0ieJ_TWYlU

The main title theme, just the first minute or so from the movie Patton – caught my attention as a teenager and means even more now having been a Solider – captures the innate thrill of serving the call to the trumpets:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu11QRO9BrQ&feature=related

The start of the main title theme from the movie The Blue Max which can take you up into the air and make you think you’re flying.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOHZ1bBaUGA

John Williams (The Master)

Has he ever done a bad score – I think his best and one that still gets me every time is the beginning to Superman – just totally motivated after I hear it – every time:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9vrfEoc8_g

The scariest music ever – the opening theme from Jaws – made me scared to go into even pools, I played this song before every water polo game I played in college:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDcrMScGaj8&feature=related

Capturing the wonder and joy of seeing something truly remarkable in the music from Jurassic Park (at the 52 second mark) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8zlUUrFK-M

Star Wars – the opening notes of the main title can take me back to the darkened theater in the 1970s when I first saw this and wondered at it:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG5OsfOuEy0

The rest of these are single entries and not from a single composer but no less inspiring (I keep using that word – but stay with me – we following a theme here)

The music from the main title of the movie Exodus - I didn’t see the actual movie until years later but this music just spoke to me – striving for a goal - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cr4odojoSs

The opening scene from Chariots of Fire and Vangelis’ music captures the joy of youth with its fleeting physical ability - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-7Vu7cqB20

The simple beauty, heroism, and grace of the main character is perfectly portrayed in the piano solo from the ending music in Forrest Gump - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcOt6mfjxeA&feature=related

Fighting against impossible odds with comradery from the music to The Magnificent Seven - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iteRKvRKFA

Sacrifice and paternal love from the ending scene in Armageddon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCA5f-kBcxs&feature=related

The perfect feeling of freedom and nature’s beaty from Born Free - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhGeH07lo5M

The aching combination of love and loss from the final scene of Ghost – if you don’t have a tear in your eye after watching this  – you’re dead inside already - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crY-QmZcANQ&feature=related

Two songs from Brisitsh/Irish military history maintain the ability to reach my heart every time:  Men of Harlech sung in the face of the charging horde from Zulu - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf_Fj4-MO9o&feature=related

The haunting words from The Minstrel Boy which bemoans the price Soldiers must pay, sung by Sean Connery before plunging to his death in The Man Who Would be King – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfMJM1J4lKg&feature=related

Ther march of the Roman army in Quo Vadis – even as a young boy this song attracted my martial leanings - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8cARpn37Ik&feature=related

I wanted to include music from the Man of La Mancha – but there was too much (Impossible Dream – Golden Helmet of Membrino – just great stuff) but I had to draw the line somewhere, believe or not.  Okay we’re down to the last two – neither from the movies which at this point should thoroughly shock you.  You’ll notife there was no bagpipe music so far – which, if you did know me, would have shocked you.  That is hereby rectified with the greatest bagpipe song ever to waft through the mist to pluck at martial spirits – Scotland the Brave - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSH0eRKq1lE&feature=related

Finally (at long last) – the single most inspiring piece of music I have ever heard.  I first heard in a trailer for a forgettable movie Courage Under Fire  and then came to worship when I heard it played by the US Army Herald Trumpets – Fanfare for a Common Man, composed by Aaron Copeland as we were sending men off to World War 2 – in my view best piece of music ever composed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr6CnG5dmvM&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL91537ACB7754A6D7

Cold and Hot Running Presentations

Yesterday was an interesting contrast in public events for me.  I wrote in yesterday’s blog about the groundbreaking ceremony in the middle of Worcester.  The sun was shining but this was very deceiving.  It was around 50 degrees (F) until you went into the shade where it felt like we immediately lost 15 degrees.  “Thankfully” we were all sitting in the shade of an open sided tent listening to speeches.  I’m sure if we hadn’t put up the tent that it would have rained like crazy.  As it was, by the end of the speeches most of the crowd had moved outside to listen where they could stand in the sun light.  I was seated next to the union president and I wasn’t about to wimp out in front of him; especially when I saw how much he was suffering from the cold.  He eventually gave up and moved out into the sun while I remained.  In truth I wasn’t sure my legs would still function correctly so I stayed through all the speeches.  I’ve also developed a problem with direct sunlight in the last few years.  After spending most of my adult life working outside I now find that if I am in direct sunlight without a hat I usually develop a pretty painful migraine, ahh the joys of middle age.  After a quick lunch at my desk (plus some blog writing) we were off to our next event – a presentation at an elderly housing complex.  We are fielding some new fare boxes in a little over a month and this was part of the outreach program.  I even volunteered to drive the group over in one of our large vans.  Once we had everybody loaded I was a little nervous about where my bravado had landed me.  I once drove school buses but that was over 35 years ago and the Army never let me drive anything really cool (big) once I was commissioned as an officer.  I immediately noticed how wide the damned thing was and how far the mirrors stuck out.   Fortunately where I was driving to was right in the middle of the city down some very narrow, one way streets.  Somehow we all arrived safely and my respect for my drivers who navigate these streets safely each day in these vehicles had grown measurably.  Part of the presentation was a video that I was supposed to set up using my laptop and a projector.  I have done this dozens of times and had even tested the equipment in my office prior to leaving so of course it was not working once I set it up there.  I was struggling to get the computer to talk to the projector as the presentation started.  We all wore suit coats and ties and the elderly facility had to have their heat set in the upper seventies because we were roasting after a few minutes.  I eventually got it to work, looking over the shoulder of all those IT guys over the years finally paid off.  I always enjoy speaking to the elderly groups because there are usually a couple of real characters in the crowd that the rest of the group feels honor bound to “handle”.  Yesterday was no different as they were “shooshing” a couple in the rear of the room who kept talking when the presentation was going on.  Everything went well but we were all ready to escape the sauna like conditions after an hour and a half.   The wife and I went to the movies last night and saw Wrath of the Titans which was pretty good.  The plot consisted mostly of the star, Sam Worthington, getting his ass kicked by assorted demons, giants, and gods for most of the movie before finally prevailing at the last minute.  After a long day of wildly fluctuating temperatures I was glad to share the last part of it with her, although I would never accuse her of being even tempered.

It Looks Much Bigger When You Get Behind the Wheel

Politician Morning

Groundbreaking Tools Assembled

Last night I watched what may be the absolutely worst movie ever made, Black Six, a gag gift from my friend (see movie blog for review).  This morning I had an equally onerous task which was to spend the morning with a bunch of politicians gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony on a new transit hub that starts construction soon in the middle of Worcester.  I’ve never been good at the political glad handing.  It probably cost me some, just a little, in my military career because I was never one of the guys to rush over at social events and tell the generals how brilliant they were.  This morning we had a US congressman, the Lieutenant Governor, several state senators and representatives, the Worcester City Manager, and most of the city council.  It was a bright sunny, but very cold day to be sitting in a tent listening to the ten speeches delivered but this was a good news story so it was interesting to see the mileage each of the politicians was trying to get out of their participation.  I’d met all of them several times before and I’m always amazed at the career politician’s ability to remember names.  I spoke a little bit with the congressman, who views are about as different as mine as could be imagined.  He’s one of the radical, liberal firebrands that Massachusetts seems to produce in such abundance.  In person he’s a very nice guy and most of all I was struck by his commitment to helping his constituents.  I always like to sit back at these events and watch the favor seekers gravitate towards the people who can help them.  I was gratified to hear many of the speech givers recognize the hard work of my boss, the guy I came back to this place to work for.   If anything good is happening at this place you can usually trace it back to his desk and I was heartened to see that recognized.  It was the proverbial herding of cats to get everyone back on the bus after the ceremony. My boss and I were waiting on the overall boss, the agency head. The agency head wanted to see every politician off and he was just about finished when I reminded him that no work was getting done back at the office because he had the entire staff waiting for him to get on the bus. My boss thanked me as we finally pulled out.  Overall it was not the horror show that I expected and I actually enjoyed talking with the politicians that I did speak with, maybe I’m finally growing up.

Speeches

The Assembled Politicians Breaking Some Ground

Co-workers at Ceremony - My Great Boss on the Right

Growing Up in a Small Town

My Hometown, Keene New Hampshire

I grew up in a small town in New Hampshire.  Although we proudly claim to be a “city”, Keene is by any other measure, a small town.  Keene’s claim to cinematic fame was it’s use in the movie Jumanji and it hosts the world’s best Pumpkin Festival every October.  The best thing about Keene is that it was big enough to have many of the amenities that a village wouldn’t but, again, it was and thankfully still is a small town.  The population was about 20,000 when I grew up and remains around that number today.  I have literally been all over the world but if I had to choose from all of those locales, including some honest to God paradises, where to bring up a family, I would choose Keene. There is a rhythm to life in a small town that gives you a chance to experience life without being distracted by it.  The pace slows just enough that you can focus on the important things like family and friends. I live in an even smaller town right now but I work in the second largest city in New England so I can truly see the contrast and the lure of a community that gives you a chance to catch your breath but still has enough outside attractions to constitute a social life.  The town I live in now does not have a feeling of community, it’s too small.  The city I work in, Worcester, has many of the problems most big cities have, and while I enjoy working there, I’m glad to leave it each evening.  This isn’t a Pleasantville kind of thing where I’m yearning for a bygone era or anything because I really like how Keene has evolved over the years.  I keep coming back to Keene on so many levels; it’s where I belong even though I haven’t lived there since 1978.

The Center of Keene

Keene Starring in Jumanji

New Hampshire Thunder Run



My Friend and I Were Slightly Off Balance Last Night and Loving It

We had no special plans for this weekend so I was pleasantly surprised when my wife suggested we see if our friend up in my hometown was available.  A short phone call later on Friday night and we had plans for Saturday.  We woke up to an inch of snow on the ground which Buddy just loved but proved too small for a last hurrah for the snow blower.  We headed up to New Hampshire in the afternoon and my friend and I were very quickly ensconced at the Elm City Brewery attended by our favorite bar tender.  My wife, per plan, quickly disappeared to execute some tax free shopping.  My friend and I spent a great evening swapping stories and generally catching up with each other.  We decided one of the waitresses was a spitting image of my first fiancé, just tractably short in some respects.  We tried to reach out to another friend who might have been in town but waited until after a couple of beers and I learned today that the message over the din in the bar was mildly to completely unintelligible.  We had a simply great time together watching the NCAA final four get started and decided the margarita ice crushing machine had to be the greatest invention since the wheel.  My wife finally showed up and wondered why we hadn’t called her to bug her about being late – we were having too good a time to even think about it.  She shepherded up to the car and drove us (with enthusiastic coaching from my friend and I) to another favorite place, Margarita’s where we had dinner.  My friend always jokes about my “filter”, which keeps me from saying exactly what I’m thinking has a tendency to slip after a few beers at Margarita’s.  I totally, well almost totally, behaved myself.  After a great dinner my wife once again behind the wheel as we assisted her in navigating back to my friend’s home.  She only struck me vigorously once during the trip which I considered a win.  We had to get up and leave at 6am this morning because we were expecting a phone call at home from our son in Bishkek.  We made it home in plenty of time and enjoyed a nice long conversation with our son, who apparently had experienced a similar night in Kirgizstan at an ex-pat bar, so we could commiserate about that as well.  A great weekend.

Apparently My Camera Was Taking Feeds From My Brain

Buddy Surveying His Domain Yesterday Morning