Struggling with Myself

I am on Jacob's Ladder.
I am wrestling with something.
Big.
Something familiar that makes me feel bad.

I love it. And it's killing me.

What is the secret of letting go?

My Human Condition

I struggle with eating too much and worrying too much. (Among other things.)

I have been searching for the secret to controlling these compulsions.

I don't think there is any "secret."

There is no book, no research, no nothing........but discipline.

There is setting goals, and then PRACTICING the behavior that will get me to my goals.


Socrates (over there in the right hand corner) may have said it best:


"The shortest and surest way to live with honour in the world, is to be in reality what we would appear to be; and if we observe, we shall find, that all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice of them."

The THAW Radiothon at WWJ

What an interesting day for WWJ.

We took our entire broadcast out on the road, for a "radiothon" to raise money for The Heat and Warmth Fund, for people who don't have any heat or electricity in their homes.

No one should have to live like that. Or die like that.

Here is a little video I shot of our broadcast today.
It's short.
I used my lovable little FLIP video camera to get the pictures.

For more information about the Radiothon, or for making a donation, or making a bid on an auction item, click on http://www.wwj.com/.

Behind the Scenes at WWJ

Last year, I got a wild idea in my head to make a video of the place where I work.
I thought it would be fun to get little clips of my co-workers telling"the world" about how great WWJ is.

It is a great radio station.
Great.

I'm so proud to have worked there for 22 years now.
I consider it a privilege.

It was fun doing all the filming.

After I collected all the videos, however, I came upon the horrible realization that I had no clue as to how to put the pieces all together.
(!)

Lucky for me I happened to meet a talented, eager, young filmmaker from Plymouth Michigan, named Marc Wilson who agreed to "stitch" my little "Frankenstein monster" together.


I think this is a great little (amateur) video.

Although, watching it brings some sadness.
Several of the people featured are no longer with the radio station, having found opportunities elsewhere.


Anyway...here's a little behind the scenes look at WWJ.

Heaven in a Dinky Dinghy

Looking for Heaven?
I've gotten a glimpse of it on the St. Clair River.

Come ride with me.
Let's make some waves, and find some freighters.

Leonard Slatkin

Hey Detroit.
I'm crazy about the new guy in town.
Maestro Leonard Slatkin.
He's the one in the tuxedo, the man with the baton standing in front of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

He's the fella with fire and passion and thunder and lightening who's hopping around on the pedestal as he waves his arms and creates musical magic on stage with our D.S.O.

(I think you're going to love him too.)


Because of my job at WWJ it was my distinct pleasure to watch Mr. Slatkin teach a little
"conducting class" to a group of local kids before last Saturday night's concert at MeadowBrook.
He was great with those kids.

And the D.S.O. concert after the class was INCREDIBLE.
It was called "A Russian Spectacular."
And it was.
Spectacular.
Standing ovations galore.
Excitement.
Drama.

And a bazillion "bravos."

I loved watching him.
I enjoyed talking to him.
It was fun seeing the crowd go wild.


He's the best I've ever seen.
He makes our symphony the best I've ever heard.
He makes sitting in the audience FUN.

Here's a little bit of video I shot during the class with the kids:

It’s been a while since I’ve written, but to be honest…there’s been nothing much to write about.
Summer has been good. Sunny. Hot. And wet enough so that my flowers aren’t wilting like they usually do in July.

Today though, was a very special day.
Today in Detroit, at Mt. Olivet Cemetery on Detroit’s Northeast side, they held the first ever

Mt. Olivet Sunrise Fun Run.
I got my three sisters together at the crack of dawn….and we went to the cemetery, paid our $23 dollars each, and trekked a mile and a half through that beautiful cemetery at 8 am.

The weather was gorgeous.
The runners and walkers were so nice and in such a good mood.

And the pancakes and sausages afterwards were wonderful.

And it was just FUN.

Something we've never done before.

Something healthy.

And for a good cause.
It was a fundraiser for Make A Wish.
It was a good day.
Oh.
And before we left…we went and said a prayer at my dad’s spot.

I miss him so much.

And it’s been 30 years.