Nearly 2 months and 20 pounds later, I've dropped two sizes and I'm feeling GREAT! My energy and stamina are continuing to increase, and I actually look forward to my workouts and guard them jealously from anyone who wishes to intrude and make demands of me when I'm scheduled for a workout. I never thought I would feel this way about diet and exercise, but I can honestly say that I don't remember a time when I've felt better!
One of the most enjoyable things about sitting out on our patio is watching the cat as she goes about doing her "cat thing" in the backyard. Cats are fascinating creatures, and ours loves it when we all come out to sit on the patio. Our backyard is small, but we have created an oasis where we retreat on warm summer evenings and on weekends. And Sweetie is never happier than when we're all out there. That yard is her domain and she is content to jump up onto the 8 ft wooden privacy fence and walk up and down the rails, scouting out the numerous birds that fly dangerously close, while we all watch her, and laugh out loud over how she tries to balance the fence rail at the same time she's leaping up, trying to snag one of those winged dive bombers, that are trying to divert her attention from the nest they've built in the corner of the patio overhang.
One evening, as Steph observed how the cat tried to keep her balance in the corner of the fence, she got the idea to build her a small perch behind the rose trellis, right in the northwest corner. Steph went out and bought a cheap piece of plywood and nailed it right onto the railing, as well as the the trellis. I've never seen a cat take to anything more quickly! Sweetie spent the whole evening on her perch, scouting, observing, and sunning--just the perfect place for a cat!
The first time I ever heard this was in the film "Somewhere in Time" starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. I fell in love with it and later, purchased a recording of the entire concerto. It is worth it to sit and listen to the work in it's entirety.
Featured here are the 18th & 19th variations played brilliantly by Russian pianist, Mikhail Pletnev. Enjoy!
We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.
~ Sam Keane, To Love and Be Loved
No one holds the corner on truth. Know that for every belief or doctrine to which you are convinced is "the truth" there is someone on the other side of the world, or even in your own neighborhood who holds another, perhaps very different belief with every bit as much fervor and conviction, and regards that belief and/or doctrine as "the truth". Remember that your mission in life is not to convert others to your truth, but to live out love, for love is the only universal truth.
~Lynette Erwin
We missed this last year, but this year Steph and I will be there! It's being held at the Payne County Expo Center, (the Fairgrounds), on Saturday, June 21st, and Sunday, June 22nd. Below is a video of some of the festivities from last year's event.
In the depths of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.
~ Albert Camus, French philosopher and writer, 1913-1960
Six weeks and 16 pounds lighter, I have now officially dropped a full size. I still have a ways to go, but I'm determined that I'm going to loose this extra poundage. Already I'm feeling 500% better--more energy, more stamina, and I know that my blood pressure has dropped considerably and that I'm getting stronger.
Whomever you meet, remember this Truth: Each person is a unique expression of God. Even the person you consider the most vile is God's child too, and has a core self that is never lost to our Creator. We can bring to each encounter extraordinary respect, looking always for that aspect of the Divine.
~ Mary Manin Morrissey
In the scope of Mozart's vocal pieces, it seems that a small percentage of those works are for tenor. This is because Mozart composed mainly for the voices that were most readily available to him. The most famous of the Mozart tenor roles include Tamino in The Magic Flute, and Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte.
In January of 1783, a new group of singers arrived in Vienna who were to comprise the Emperor's newly-formed Italian opera company. Among this group were two English singers, (Nancy Storace and the Irish tenor Michael Kelly), with whom Mozart would later develop very close friendships. At first, Mozart seemed to regard Kelly primarily for his comedic talents and less for his vocal prowess, as the first opera that he composed for this group, (Le nozze di Figaro), didn't include a leading tenor role. However, in late 1786, after the opening of Figaro in Vienna, and it's huge success in Prague, Mozart decided to collaborate again with the Italian/Jewish librettist, Lorenzo DaPonte, on an opera based on the legends of Don Juan, entitled, Don Giovanni. The leading tenor role of Don Ottavio was most certainly intended for Kelly as well as the role of the servant girl, Zerlina for Nancy Storace, however they both suddenly announced in late 1786 that they would not be renewing their contracts with the Emperor and would be returning to England as soon as their current ones ran out. Don Giovanni was nearly completed by that time and the roles intended for Kelly and Storace would have to be given to whomever the Emperor hired to replace them.
Featured here is Don Ottavio's aria, "Dalla sua pace", sung by the late Swedish tenor, Gosta Winbergh. After hearing this, you'll wish that Mozart had more opportunity to compose for tenor.
Today Steph and I are celebrating the 7th anniversary of our Holy Union service, which was held at the College Hill Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We publicly acknowledged and celebrated our love and commitment to one another in the presence of those who understood that love is just that--love. Family who celebrated with us were my precious Aunt Pat, who although she didn't quite understand completely, opened her heart and accepted us, and my daughter, Lauren, whose loving and open spirit rejoiced with us in our happiness. The rest were some of our close friends and the supportive members of the College Hill congregation.
One day, when this country wakes up and realizes that love isn't about one's gender,(or perceived gender), and that people should be free to share their lives with whomever they choose to share them, then we will be legally married.
I adore you, Steph. You're everything I have ever wanted or needed.
Yesterday was a big day at our house. Heather graduated from high school and the whole family and a number of our friends were here to help her celebrate her accomplishments. A special thanks goes to Steph who worked hard the entire week on getting the house ready and on the wonderful food for the reception. It was really amazing! Here are a few pictures! (Taken with our brand new digital camera!)
Today began with my going to the gym to get my work out done before the rest of the day's activities overtake me. Heather graduates from high school today and we have family and friends coming in from out of town to help us celebrate this milestone in Heather's life. Next I have to get out the ironing board and iron the outfit that I plan to wear this evening, as well as iron Heather's graduation gown. Then I plan to help Steph with all of the last minute cleaning--vacuuming, etc.
I'll check back in tomorrow with pictures from graduation and Heather's party...
I first encountered this enchanting piece of music several years ago when I bought a CD of various arias and art songs sung by Kiri Te Kaniwa. The first time I listened to it I thought it to be the most heavenly music I'd ever heard.
Marie-Joseph Canteloube de Malaret (21 October 1879 - November 4, 1957), was a French composer. Canteloube was born in Annonay, Ardèche and died at Grigny, Essonne, a part of the Île-de-France region.
He is best known for his collection of orchestrated folk songs from the Auvergne region, Chants d'Auvergne ("Songs of the Auvergne"). Canteloube himself believed that "les chants paysans s’élèvent bien souvent au niveau de l’art le plus pur, par le sentiment et l’expression, sinon par la forme" ("peasant songs often rise to the level of purest art in terms of feeling and expression, if not in form").
Canteloube studied music in Paris under Amélie Daetzer, a former pupil of Chopin. He also studied composition under Vincent d'Indy. His first composition, Colloque sentimental, dates from 1903. His other works include the operas Le Mas and Vercingétorix. In 1925, he founded La Bourrée, an association whose aim was to promote the Auvergne. In 1941, during the Nazi occupation of France, Canteloube joined the Vichy government, an action that has been attributed to political naiveté.
As well as collecting and arranging traditional folk songs, Canteloube wrote extensively on the subject of music. His works include biographies of his former teacher, Vincent d'Indy, and of Déodat de Séverac.
Information source: Wikipedia
This version features Finnish soprano Karita Mattila, and has the English translation of the French text at the bottom of the screen.
There's no way to happiness, happiness IS the way.
~ Wayne Dyer
Once again, I am appalled and disgusted by the sheer childishness and arrogance displayed by a public official, only this time it's Stillwater's own mayor, Roger McMillian. For those of you who don't know, Mayor McMillian, who is the current president of our branch of The Bank N.A. has been sued by three female employees, (two of them are now former employees), for sexual harassment or in their words, for creating a "sexually charged, and hostile work environment" by engaging in derogatory and sexually demeaning behavior and language directed at female employees and even bank customers.
Steph has written a great entry about it, so I'm going to direct you to her blog where you can read in more detail about this disgusting and embarrassing turn of events.
I'm completely appalled.
If you don't have love for yourself, you are not trusting on the wisdom that created you.
~Anonymous
I'm nearly 48 years old, overweight, and in the throes of menopause. About a month ago I went to bed feeling like crap. It hit me all of the sudden, I mean menopause. One day I felt pretty good, aside from being overweight and out of shape. But considering, I felt good. Then it seemed the very next day it hit me with a vengeance--every symptom of menopause that could hit--fatigue, memory loss, irritability, debilitating hot flashes, horrible burning and tingling in my hands and feet, lack of energy or motivation, depression... You name it, I had it. It scared me and I made the decision then and there that I was too young to feel old and that I HAD to do something about it. So I immediately changed my diet, went out and bought a menopause supplement at GNC and then I went to the gym where the company where I work has a corporate membership and signed up with a trainer and started a rigorous weight training and work-out routine. Within a week the hot flashes diminished, the tingling in my hands and feet virtually disappeared, and within two weeks the fatigue and lack of energy & motivation disappeared. I went to the doctor this last Tuesday with a mild sinus/bronchial infection and when I weighed in it indicated that I have already lost nine pounds, and my blood pressure, which had been soaring out of control over the last year, (even on medication), was down to 118/82, which is ideal! This all after only THREE WEEKS! I've worked up from 10 minutes to nearly an hour on the treadmill and over doubled my pace. I've already increased my weight limits on some of my exercise machines, and what's so wonderful is that I FEEL GREAT! It's amazing how quickly the body will begin to respond and heal itself once you start treating it well and giving it what it needs.
I did it. I just quit making excuses, kicked myself in the butt, and did it. Now I'm hooked on feeling great. No more "Chicken Fat" for me!
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc, (January 7, 1899–January 30, 1963) was a French composer and a member of the French group Les Six. He composed music in all major genres, including art song, chamber music, oratorio, opera, ballet music, and orchestral music. Critic Claude Rostand, in a July 1950 Paris-Presse article, described Poulenc as "half bad boy, half monk" ("le moine et le voyou"), a tag that was to be attached to his name for the rest of his career.
Poulenc was born in Paris in 1899. His mother, an amateur pianist, taught him to play, and music formed a part of family life. As he was a capable pianist, the keyboard dominated much of his early compositions. He also, throughout his career, borrowed from his own compositions as well as those of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Camille Saint-Saëns. Later in his life, the loss of some close friends, coupled with a pilgrimage to the Black Madonna of Rocamadour, led him to rediscovery of the Catholic faith and resulted in compositions of a more sombre, austere tone.
Some writers consider Poulenc one of the first openly gay composers. His first serious relationship was with painter Richard Chanlaire to whom he dedicated his Concert champêtre: "You have changed my life, you are the sunshine of my thirty years, a reason for living and working." He also once said, "You know that I am as sincere in my faith, without any messianic screamings, as I am in my Parisian sexuality." However, Poulenc's life was also one of inner struggle. Having been born and raised a Roman Catholic, he struggled between coming to terms with his unorthodox sexual appetites and maintaining his religious convictions.
Poulenc also had a number of relationships with women. He fathered a daughter, Marie-Ange, although he never formally admitted that he was indeed her father. He was also a very close friend of the singer Pierre Bernac for whom he wrote many songs; some sources have hinted that this long friendship had sexual undertones; however, the now-published correspondence between the two men strongly suggests that this was not the case.
(Information source: Wikipedia)
Les Chemins de l'amour is a torch song composed near the end of WWII for one of Paris' famous night club singers, Yvonne Printemps. I discovered this chanson years ago, and fell in love with it and several years later used it as the closing piece on my master's recital. Sung here by one of the world's greatest singers, Jesse Norman, you'll hear why this piece is so beloved.
The English translation of the French text is as follows:
The paths that arch of the ocean
protect our crossing,
flowers losing their leaves
and the echo under the trees,
Our two bright laughs.
Alas, from days of happiness
radiant joys take flight,
I journey without recovering your traces
In my heart.
Paths of my love
I try to find you always
lost paths, you don't exist anymore,
And your echoes have been muffled.
Paths of despair,
Paths of memory,
Paths of first love,
Divine pathways of love.
This I am duty-bound to forget one day
the way that life obliterates all things.
I want in my heart that a memory will rest
More strongly than another love.
The memory of paths
Where trembling and completely passionate,
a day I have felt above myself
to burn and be consumed by your hands.
(text by Jean Anouilh)
Just had to share some photos of Heather with her friends at her senior prom this last Saturday night. She looked so beautiful...
Steph and I were discussing the beauty of the Portuguese language when I remembered this beautiful aria from Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras. I first discovered this incredible piece of music when I was a young college music major, and I fell in love with its haunting beauty. Sung here by the famous Brazilian soprano, Bidu Sayão, (Rio de Janeiro, May 11, 1902 - March 12, 1999), this is probably one of the most passionate recordings of this piece, ever.
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can be great.
~ Mark Twain
I did it! I ordered our tickets today, and next Friday night Steph and I are taking Heather to see the Tulsa Opera production of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, (yes, it will be sung in German with English subtitles scrolling above the stage)! I've seen two different productions of "Flute"--one in Tampa, Florida with the New York City Opera touring company and the second, years later, a student production at Oklahoma Baptist University, which was quite good. And I have sung the role of the Third Lady in the OSU Opera production of Flute, when I was in graduate school. I'm looking forward to this particular production for several reasons: 1) It's the first time I will see "Flute" with Steph, 2) It's the first time that Heather will have ever seen it, 3) It's the Tulsa Opera, and the last Mozart opera we saw there, ("Figaro"), we absolutely loved. The Tulsa opera is rated one of the top regional operas and is kind of a "farm team" for new, up-and-coming opera stars. They get the most talented young people right out of school, when they're just starting their careers. It's really exciting and always high quality. I took Heather to see Madama Butterfly three years ago and she loved it. I know she'll love this production as well!
I'm SO excited!!
The last of the three Mozart/Da Ponte collaborations is Cosi fan Tutte, ("Thus do they all"), commissioned in 1789 by Emperor Joseph II, who died shortly before it's premiere in the Emperor's theater, (the Burgtheater), in Vienna on 26 January 1790. Mozart had only a little under two years to live after its premiere.
Mozart and Da Ponte took as a theme "fiancée swapping" which dates back to the 13th century, with notable earlier versions being those of Boccaccio's Decameron and Shakespeare's play Cymbeline. Elements from Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew are also present. Furthermore, it incorporates elements of the myth of Procris as found in Ovid's Metamorphoses.
This trio is from the first Act and features Don Alfonso, (bass), Fiordiligi, (mezzo soprano), and Dorabella, (soprano). In a coffee shop, Ferrando and Guglielmo (two officers) claim that their fiancées (Dorabella and Fiordiligi, respectively) will be eternally faithful. Don Alfonso joins the discussion and lays a wager with the two officers, claiming he can prove in a day's time that these two women (like all women) are fickle. The wager is accepted: the two officers will pretend to have been called off to war; soon thereafter they shall return in disguise and attempt to seduce each other's lover. The scene shifts to the two women (they are sisters) who are praising their men. Alfonso arrives to announce the bad news: the officers have been called off to war. Ferrando and Guglielmo arrive, brokenhearted, and bid farewell (quintet: Sento, o Dio, che questo piedo è restio—"I feel, oh God, that my foot is reluctant"). As the boat with the men sails off to sea, Alfonso and the sisters wish them safe travel (trio: Soave sia il vento—"May the wind be gentle").
This particular trio is one of the finest examples of Mozart's incredible vocal ensemble work and is one of my very favorites.
I'm not going to work today because I took a vacation day to go and hear my daughter, Heather, sing her solo at state solo and ensemble music contest in Shawnee. This is her senior year and her last year to get to sing at state contest and so I wanted to be there. As an added plus, I'll get to hear her sing Voi che sapete from my very favorite opera of all, Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and one that she sings so well!
UPDATE: Heather sang beautifully and received a Superior rating (I) on her solo, Friday! Way to go, Heather!
There is nothing that does not matter. The faintest breeze changes the course of the world. The softest cry is heard by all. The greatest love is you and it is me.
~ Carson's commentary
Every time you praise something, every time you appreciate something, every time you feel good about something, you are telling the Universe, More of this, please! More of this, please!
~Abraham
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about how everything seemed to be going to hell in a hand basket, how life had just taken a proverbial dump on us, all at one time and left us reeling. Well, now we've experienced a complete reversal of fortune! It's totally amazing!
1. I got the first of several IRS refund installments on Monday, (it's too complicated to explain here), which has given us the financial boost we needed to get us out of the pit and put us on solid financial ground.
2. My ex called and said that he had just bought a new car and said that he had been planning on giving the car he was driving to Lauren. Since Lauren doesn't return from France until June, he said that if I would continue to pay the insurance on it that I could drive it until I can get my van fixed and Lauren gets back! (Thank-you Dan!!)
3. We found out today that Steph got the job as a web developer that she applied for and she starts tomorrow! Not only that, they offered her the position at 50 cents higher an hour than what they had originally quoted. In addition to that, she contracted with another huge client to create two new web sites for him!
4. I recovered from the bronchitis/pneumonia and am back teaching and back at Chamber Singers rehearsals!
Now I'm doing the GRATITUDE DANCE!
Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni (June 8, 1671, Venice, Republic of Venice – January 17, 1751, Venice, Republic of Venice) was a Venetian Baroque composer. While famous in his day as an opera composer, he is mainly remembered today for his instrumental music, some of which is regularly recorded. The "Adagio in G minor" attributed to him (actually a later reconstruction) is one of the most frequently recorded pieces of Baroque music.
(source Wikipedia)
Featured here is the Berlin Philharmonic. This one is lengthy, but oh so worth it!
Never fear shadows. They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby.
~ Ruth Rendell, English writer, born 1930
My daughter, Heather, just had her senior portraits taken this last weekend by photographer Averi Blackmon. We just got the proofs back yesterday and I couldn't resist showing a couple of them off! Averi did a great job, but I have to admit that her subject didn't stink!
Have you ever had one of those days? months? years? Mind you, I'm not complaining. In fact, I remain amazingly optimistic after the month that we've had. It's just sometimes I have to let off a little steam.
This month, thus far, has presented the following challenges:
1. My most faithful and loyal voice student has been out for the entire month because she had a baby. I had significant income loss as a result.
2. My youngest student, whom I teach in her home, has been out the entire month due to illness, (both hers and mine), and the fact that their living room is being remodeled, (and that's where the piano is). More significant income loss.
3. My newest, (and probably most talented), student has been out the entire month due to illness. Yet more significant income loss.
4. The kids' Dad, thinking he had mailed the child support check, realized that he hadn't because it had slipped between the seats of his car. (Not blaming him, he really thought he had mailed it.) The check was late and my bank account was overdrawn, resulting in a $22 overdraft charge. (Thankfully I have overdraft protection. My bank makes good on it, but charges me for it.)
5. Steph receives a monthly annuity check from an account that her now deceased uncle set up several years ago. Because he is now deceased, the check continues to come to us but we can't deposit it into our bank directly. We have to send it to our attorney who takes his fee out of it, deposits it in Steph's trust account and then drafts a check from that account. This month the check didn't arrive. Finally, after it was about a week overdue, Steph called our lawyer, who in turn, called Morgan Stanley to learn that they had "forgotten" to cut the check. As of last Friday they were going to cut the check and put it in the mail that afternoon. The check still hasn't arrived. I had to pay the bills anyway. My bank account has been overdrawn several times over. I now have about $120 in overdraft charges...and counting. I don't get my paycheck from work until tomorrow, and then I won't be able to deposit it until after I get off work. More charges will probably come through before I can get my check deposited.
6. If you read my earlier entry, you learned that the Bradford Pear trees are prolific this year, causing me much distress resulting in a nasty case of bronchitis that teetered on pneumonia. I was out of work two days. I don't have sick leave. More significant income loss.
7. Early this morning Steph and Joel left for California, where Joel is treating Steph to a nostalgic trip to Disneyland. He has been planning this trip for months and paid for it out of his own money. Micah drove them to the airport in our on-its-last-legs Ford Contour,(against my better instincts), which we have been praying would make it through until we can get into a better financial position to buy another one. The car broke down and died in Guthrie. Steph and Joel had to take a cab to the airport in Oklahoma City, and Joel paid for a cab for Micah to return home. I have a van that is old, but in good shape but won't start due to some electrical issues involving the security system and the starter. It has been sitting in the garage for several months waiting for me to get my tax refunds back so that I can have it towed to the garage and repaired. In the meantime we are going to have to use Micah's truck to get Heather to school and me to work and the car is stuck in a Love's station parking lot in Guthrie until after Steph and Joel return from California.
8. I just learned today, when inquiring with the IRS regarding the status of my tax refund, that they are withholding it because they don't have record of my 2004 returns! I was told by my accountant that I didn't make enough money in 2004 to file a tax return, (I only worked part of the year because I was in graduate school). Apparently he was wrong. That means more delays until I have money in my bank account to purchase the 2004 edition of TaxAct. (It's only $12.95, but remember, I'm in the hole right now.)
Someone shoot me!
Cass Elliot (September 19, 1941 – July 29, 1974), born Ellen Naomi Cohen, was a noted American singer, best remembered as Mama Cass of the pop quartet The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she had a successful solo career, releasing nine albums. Elliot was found dead in her hotel room in London from an apparent heart attack after two sold-out performances at the Palladium.
Her signature song, Dream a Little Dream of Me, has been a favorite of mine since childhood.
The secret of abundance is to stop focusing on what you do not have, and shift your consciousness to an appreciation for all that you are and all that you do have.
~ Wayne Dyer
Bradford Pear trees...some of the most lovely blooming trees around and Stillwater is literally covered with them. But unfortunately for me, they equal allergies and asthma. Once again, I've been struck down with the curse, after I had been doing so well, too. I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon because I literally cannot breathe.
Argh!
UPDATE
I just returned from the doctor who said that I have bronchitis that is teetering on the edge of pneumonia. She gave me some high-powered antibiotics, an Advair inhaler, and and told me to go home and rest.
3/25/08 A.M.
I awakened after a better night's sleep than I have had in a few days. My breathing is better, although still a bit labored and shallow. I didn't go to work this morning, but I'm hoping that after another dose of my antibiotic that I'll be ready to go back tomorrow. Steph has been very sweet and attentive, setting the vaporizer up on my side of the bed and taking Heather to work and picking her up so that I could rest. It's the little things that aren't so little that mean so much!
Remember the things that gave you joy as a child. Incorporate them into your life now. Find a way to have fun with everything you do. Let yourself express the joy of living. Laugh. Rejoice, and the Universe rejoices with you!
~ Louise Hay
The first time I sang this motet I wept. In typical Mozart fashion, he has taken a simple, yet tender melody and woven it in such a way as to move a person to the very core of the soul.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's setting of Ave verum corpus (K. 618) was written for Anton Stoll (a friend of his and Haydn's) who was musical co-ordinator in the parish of Baden, near Vienna. It was composed to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi and the autograph is dated 17 June 1791. It is only forty-six bars long and is scored for choir, stringed instruments, and organ. Mozart's manuscript itself contains minimal directions, with only a single sotto voce at the beginning.
Mozart composed this motet while in the middle of writing his opera Die Zauberflöte, and while visiting his wife Constanze, who was pregnant with their sixth child and staying in a spa near Baden. The piece was used as a trade to pay the rent for Constanze's apartment at the spa. It was less than six months before Mozart's death.
Sung here by the Vienna Boy's Choir, you'll hear why I regard it as some of the World's most beautiful music.
Today I was privy to a conversation that took place in the office over the "true meaning of Easter". In this conversation I overheard one woman complaining about how her family celebrates Easter, that all it is to them is the Easter bunny, candy, and colored eggs, and that they needed to get back to the REAL meaning of Easter and about how it's about Jesus' death on the cross and his resurrection. It took everything I had not to blurt out with a belligerent, "Are you kidding me?" But I bit my tongue, swallowed down hard, and kept my mouth shut and decided to save my rant for a blog entry.
Easter is a pagan holiday. It is nothing but Pagan through and through, no ifs, ands, or buts, about it. Christians can't even claim exclusive rights to the idea of a god/man born of a virgin who dies and then is resurrected from the dead. That's right, folks! The pagans thought of that one long before the Christians! If Christians want to get a little further away from the pagan origins of Easter, (even the name "Easter" is pagan), they would celebrate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus at Passover, and not during the Spring Equinox, when the pagans celebrate the return of their gods and goddesses.
Read this from Religious Tolerance.org:
Many, perhaps most, Pagan religions in the Mediterranean area had a major seasonal day of religious celebration at or following the Spring Equinox. Cybele, the Phrygian fertility goddess, had a fictional consort who was believed to have been born via a virgin birth. He was Attis, who was believed to have died and been resurrected each year during the period MAR-22 to MAR-25. "About 200 B.C. mystery cults began to appear in Rome just as they had earlier in Greece. Most notable was the Cybele cult centered on Vatican hill ...Associated with the Cybele cult was that of her lover, Attis (the older Tammuz, Osiris, Dionysus, or Orpheus under a new name). He was a god of ever-reviving vegetation. Born of a virgin, he died and was reborn annually. The festival began as a day of blood on Black Friday and culminated after three days in a day of rejoicing over the resurrection."
Wherever Christian worship of Jesus and Pagan worship of Attis were active in the same geographical area in ancient times, Christians "used to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus on the same date; and pagans and Christians used to quarrel bitterly about which of their gods was the true prototype and which the imitation."
Many religious historians believe that the death and resurrection legends were first associated with Attis, many centuries before the birth of Jesus. They were simply grafted onto stories of Jesus' life in order to make Christian theology more acceptable to Pagans. Others suggest that many of the events in Jesus' life that were recorded in the gospels were lifted from the life of Krishna, the second person of the Hindu Trinity. Ancient Christians had an alternative explanation; they claimed that Satan had created counterfeit deities in advance of the coming of Christ in order to confuse humanity. Modern-day Christians generally regard the Attis legend as being a Pagan myth of little value. They regard Jesus' death and resurrection account as being true, and unrelated to the earlier tradition.
Wiccans and other modern-day Neopagans continue to celebrate the Spring Equinox as one of their 8 yearly Sabbats (holy days of celebration). Near the Mediterranean, this is a time of sprouting of the summer's crop; farther north, it is the time for seeding. Their rituals at the Spring Equinox are related primarily to the fertility of the crops and to the balance of the day and night times. Where Wiccans can safely celebrate the Sabbat out of doors without threat of religious persecution, they often incorporate a bonfire into their rituals, jumping over the dying embers is believed to assure fertility of people and crops.
Pagan Origins of the Easter Bunny
From About.com:
The answer lies in the ingenious way that the Christian church absorbed Pagan practices. After discovering that people were more reluctant to give up their holidays and festivals than their gods, they simply incorporated Pagan practices into Christian festivals. As recounted by the Venerable Bede, an early Christian writer, clever clerics copied Pagan practices and by doing so, made Christianity more palatable to pagan folk reluctant to give up their festivals for somber Christian practices.
In second century Europe, the predominate spring festival was a raucous Saxon fertility celebration in honor of the Saxon Goddess Eastre (Ostara), whose sacred animal was a hare.
The colored eggs associated with the bunny are of another, even more ancient origin. The eggs associated with this and other Vernal festivals have been symbols of rebirth and fertility for so long the precise roots of the tradition are unknown, and may date to the beginning of human civilization. Ancient Romans and Greeks used eggs as symbols of fertility, rebirth, and abundance- eggs were solar symbols, and figured in the festivals of numerous resurrected gods.
Pagan fertility festivals at the time of the Spring equinox were common- it was believed that at this time, when day and night were of equal length, male and female energies were also in balance. The hare is often associated with moon goddesses; the egg and the hare together represent the god and the goddess, respectively.
Moving forward fifteen hundred years, we find ourselves in Germany, where children await the arrival of Oschter Haws, a rabbit who will lay colored eggs in nests to the delight of children who discover them Easter morning. It was this German tradition that popularized the 'Easter bunny' in America, when introduced into the American cultural fabric by German settlers in Pennsylvania.
Many modern practitioners of Neo-pagan and earth-based religions have embraced these symbols as part of their religious practice, identifying with the life-affirming aspects of the spring holiday. (The Neopagan holiday of Ostara is descended from the Saxon festival.) Ironically, some Christian groups have used the presence of these symbols to denounce the celebration of the Easter holiday, and many churches have recently abandoned the Pagan moniker with more Christian oriented titles like 'Resurrection Sunday.'
So which came first, the bunny or the cross? It would appear that the hare wins this one.
When you are at peace with yourself and you love yourself, it is virtually impossible for you to do things to yourself that are destructive.
~ Wayne Dyer
Most often it's in the music of the people, or "Folk music", that the most serene and haunting beauty can be heard. That is most certainly the case in this beloved Celtic tune, Danny Boy. Sung beautifully here by Celtic Woman, (whom I'm not generally fond of), in a very traditional, and gentle rendition, it's no secret why this melody is so popular.
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
I love concert weekends! For the past several weeks the Stillwater Chamber Singers have been rehearsing for our Lenten concert which we will present this weekend--tonight in Oklahoma City at St. John's Episcopal Church, and then again tomorrow afternoon here in Stillwater at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. We will feature the Pergolesi Stabat Mater which he composed the last year of his life, (he died in 1736 at the young age of 26, of tuberculosis), and the Buxtehude motet, Der Herr ist Mit Mir. Featured with us will be the Stillwater Chamber Players on strings and continuo.
One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon - instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.
~ Dale Carnegie
The Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major (K. 488) is a musical composition written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was finished, according to Mozart's own catalog, on March 2, 1786, around the time of the premiere of his opera, The Marriage of Figaro. It was one of three subscription concerts given that spring and was probably played by Mozart himself at one of these. The concerto is scored for strings, one flute, two clarinets, two bassoons, and two horns.
It has three movements:
1. Allegro in A major and common time
2. Adagio in F sharp minor and 6/8 time
3. Allegro assai in A and crossed common time.
The first movement is mostly sunny with the occasion melancholic touches typical of other Mozart pieces in A major.
The second movement is impassioned and somewhat operatic in tone. Formally this is a sonata form, the piano entering immediately with a theme that has unusually wide leaps; and also as with many such minor-mode sonata movements with Mozart, we hear and effective device where the major-mode secondary material in minor in the end. It is the only movement by Mozart in F sharp minor.
The third movement is a rondo, shaded by moves into other keys as is the opening movement (to C major from E minor and back during the secondary theme in this case, for instance) and with a central section whose opening in F sharp minor is interrupted by a clarinet tune in D major, an intrusion that reminds us, notes Girdlestone, that instrumental music at the time was informed by opera buffa and its sudden changes of point of view as well as of scene.
(Source: Wikipedia)
The movement I have featured here is the Adagio in F sharp minor--probably my single most favorite movement of any of the Mozart piano Concerti. It has a rather "moody" tone about it, moving from a melancholy, minor A section into a rather vibrant and playful, yet still tender, B section in a major key, and back again to the original theme.
The artist featured here is Hungarian pianist and conductor, Zoltán Kocsis.
Leap years are years with 366 days, instead of the usual 365. Leap years are necessary because the actual length of a year is 365.242 days, not 365 days, as commonly stated. Basically, leap years occur every 4 years, and years that are evenly divisible by 4 (2004, for example) have 366 days. This extra day is added to the calendar on February 29th.
However, there is one exception to the leap year rule involving century years, like the year 1900. Since the year is slightly less than 365.25 days long, adding an extra day every 4 years results in about 3 extra days being added over a period of 400 years. For this reason, only 1 out of every 4 century years is considered as a leap year. Century years are only considered as leap years if they are evenly divisible by 400. Therefore, 1700, 1800, 1900 were not leap years, and 2100 will not be a leap year.
But 1600 and 2000 were leap years, because those year numbers are evenly divisible by 400.
Julius Caesar was behind the origin of leap year in 45 BC. The early Romans had a 355 day calendar and to keep festivals occurring around the same season each year a 22 or 23 day month was created every second year. Julius Caesar decided to simplify things and added days to different months of the year to create the 365 day calendar, the actual calculation were made by Caesar's astronomer, Sosigenes. Every fourth year following the 28th day of Februarius (February 29th) one day was to be added, making every fourth year a leap year.
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII further refined the calendar with the rule that leap day would occur in any year divisible by 4 as described above.
(Source: About.com)
It is interesting to note that had we adopted the Lunar calendar, which is based on Moon cycles, (and is feminine), rather than the Solar calendar, (masculine), an invention of the Romans, we wouldn't have a problem of odd days, our months would divide out evenly--each having 28 days--and we wouldn't have a "leap year".
But when has anything having to do with men ever made sense?
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
I just found out yesterday, that my daughter, Heather, was subject to a mandatory random drug test at school the other day. At the beginning of the school year I had to sign permission for Heather to be randomly tested in order for her to be able to participate in the Pioneer Chorale. I did so, but only under protest because I felt it was a violation of the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which governs unwarranted search of person or property without probable cause. When I found out that they tested her on Monday, I was pissed, and even though I had signed the permission slip, (I had to or Heather couldn't be in the Chorale), I decided that I was going to lodge a larger protest than the one I made when I signed the slip. The following is a letter that I typed to Heather's principal and to the director of the Chorale:
Dear Mr. ******,
My name is Lynette ***** and my daughter, Heather ******, is a senior at Stillwater High School. My purpose in writing this letter to you is to register my protest of Heather's recently being subject to a random drug test, which I believe to be in clear violation of Heather's 4th Amendment Constitutional rights. I understand that in order for Heather to participate in the Pioneer Chorale that I had to sign permission authorizing the school to test her, which I did under protest. As a citizen of this nation, state, and community I feel that it is not only my right, but my obligation to protest an action by an agency of those governments that are sworn to honor and uphold my Constitutional rights.
Enclosed you will find two articles which support my protest, and outline in a very clear and concise manner the opinions that I share with the authors on the subject of random drug testing and why it is not only ineffective in deterring drug use among children, but is also a violation of our children's Constitutional rights. I ask and encourage you to read them and take them into consideration.
Respectfully,
K. Lynette *****
Below you will find Links to the articles mentioned in my letter:
School Drug Testing Violates Rights
Blowing Smoke: Why Random Drug Testing Doesn't Reduce Student Drug Use
My daughter is an outstanding student and citizen with absolutely no record as a trouble-maker at school or a police record. She has given no "probable cause" to have her person searched, nor was there a warrant issued. Is this not clearly a violation of her 4th Amendment rights?
This is scary stuff, folks.
Most people don't know that David Gates is from Oklahoma. The son of a band director and a piano teacher, he was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1940. He married his high school sweetheart in 1958 while studying at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.
Gates and his family moved to Los Angeles in 1961 and Gates became a songwriter and became involved in producing. He worked as a music copyist, studio musician, and producer for many artists including Pat Boone. Success soon followed. His composition "Popsicles and Icicles" was recorded by The Murmaids in 1963. Another song, "Saturday's Child", was recorded by The Monkees. By the end of the 1960s, he had worked with many leading artists, including Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Merle Haggard, Phil Spector and Brian Wilson. Gates produced the 1965 Glenn Yarbrough hit, "Baby the Rain Must Fall." In 1966 he also produced 2 singles on A&M Records for Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band which were hits in the Los Angeles area.
"Aubrey" was recorded in 1973, the same year as the break-up of Bread. Having grown up listening to his music on the radio, I have always loved David Gates' songs, but this one is by far my favorite. Full of the tenderness and angst that is always present in Gates' music, this particular song makes full use of his many strengths as a singer/songwriter and leaves the listener yearning to know just who this girl is, and if you're a girl, wishing your name was Aubrey and if you're a guy, wishing you knew a girl like her.
Barack Obama continues his winning streak across the nation by sweeping Hillary Clinton, once again. He won in Wisconsin by nearly 60%, and in Hawaii by, last I heard, nearly 75%. I'm holding my breath that he keeps up this momentum and takes both Ohio and Texas. If he does, then I predict that we will be looking at the next President of the United States!
I was in the early phases of labor and didn't know it. By 8:00 in the evening, I had a 9lb 4 oz boy, with white/blonde hair and blue eyes. Today he's nearing 6 feet, around 170 pounds, and likes to do pretty much what every teen-aged boy likes to do. Of course he's a heart-breaker.
Happy Birthday, Nathan. I love you more than words can express!
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