Friday, September 27, 2013
La Guardia
So...here I sit at the Biergarten in LaGuardia delayed until 9:19. At least they have a nice place to sit, but seriously $8 for a beer! Can't wait to see everyone back home.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Homecoming
Coming home, it is somehow surreal. I have only been away from Ohio for about two months but it seems like much longer, almost like I was never there at all (if that makes any sense). I have been so busy with my new job and my growing personal life that I haven't really had much time to think about how much I miss everyone back home. Today I received an email allowing me to check-in to my flight and it was a relief to know that in about 24 hours I will touch down in Cincinnati, my home. While I don't miss Ohio, as a thing, I do miss what made Ohio special to me, my friends, family and the comforts of home.
So, what brings me home you might ask? My best friend Steve and his lovely wife Caitlin's wedding! Their journey down the altar has been a couple years in the making and I am so honored to be a part of their day and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Steve and I have been friends for ten years and I will never forget the first time I met him. I had just accepted my job teaching vocal music at Wayne Local Schools and found out I had an accompanist! I was overjoyed at the news as I am not the finest piano player on the planet. I gave him a call and we set up a time to meet at Chili's by the Mall at Fairfield Commons in beautiful Beavercreek, OH. I was dressed in my usual manner and there sat a man in a Ricky Martin concert t-shirt. Despite our obvious fashion differences, his bold choice of tops that evening still makes me smile. We talked about things from our favorite music to our backgrounds (very similar by the way). I vaguely remember a conversation about a composer named Shostakovich that pretty much let me know we were kindred spirits (even though I hadn't heard his music Steve was impressed that I knew who he was). Steve and I have had many adventures over the past ten years (gnome photography at Meijer with Jason, The Flaming Lips concert and fun times with a certain drummer in the sweetest apartment I have ever had) and even with the distance I look forward to many more. You're the best and I thank you for all you have done for me!
Luckily I will also have some time to spend with my parents and my friend Barb. These people are very special to me and while it isn't a lot of time it will be good to see them and talk to them face to face instead of through this computer screen or my trusty iPhone (makes it sound like it needs a name or something). Ohio is where I was born and raised and I do feel as though a part of me will always remain there (hopefully that makes sense to everyone). There is so much more I have left to figure out about myself and being here is giving me the time I need to do that.
D
Oh yeah...I just had two students accepted into the Bangor Symphony Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. One of them is even the principal flute player, or should I say flautist? Congrats girls!
Luckily I will also have some time to spend with my parents and my friend Barb. These people are very special to me and while it isn't a lot of time it will be good to see them and talk to them face to face instead of through this computer screen or my trusty iPhone (makes it sound like it needs a name or something). Ohio is where I was born and raised and I do feel as though a part of me will always remain there (hopefully that makes sense to everyone). There is so much more I have left to figure out about myself and being here is giving me the time I need to do that.
D
Oh yeah...I just had two students accepted into the Bangor Symphony Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. One of them is even the principal flute player, or should I say flautist? Congrats girls!
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Do what you love, where you love...
This past year has been a year with ups and downs, twists and turns, consonance and dissonance and despite all of the emotions and confusions I am truly doing what I love in the state I love. Teaching music has saved my life; I know that seems like a dramatic statement, but it is true. Without it and my students, all of them, good and not so good, I don't know where I'd be. The institution of education is not perfect and neither am I but what it has given me over the years is pretty close. My students, whether with Wayne Local Schools, the Dayton Boys Choir or Lee Academy, have shown me so much about teaching, learning, life and myself. My students back home continue to amaze me and make me proud even though we are 1200 miles apart. I am so blessed to have been a part of their lives. Although Lee Academy has begun to show me more of its colors I desperately desire to assist in ushering in a new era here (hopefully I can stick out living in the dorms that long). I have already witnessed that my students need to experience joy and I think, if they can stick with me and music, they will. It is wonderful to watch all of our individual stories woven together to create each piece of music we perform. The music I have performed with my students over the years may not have won medals and accolades but it sure was a unique experience that we all shared. I really think the title of Carole King's album Tapestry accurately represents what music making is because songs are much like tapestries, each little piece getting woven together to create something beautiful, and hey, let's be honest, sometimes not so beautiful. In the words of Hans Christian Andersen, "When words fail, music speaks." I know I have been able to tell stories through music that I would otherwise have been unable to tell. I hope my students can learn to look at music that way as well.
While I know I can't carve out an existence in my dorm room at Lee Academy forever I really want to make my mark on this school. With every new day I gain more insight on Lee Academy and it's those pieces of information that make me want to try hard to give this school and its students what they need. There is so much potential and the needs are many but if I can keep my head screwed on straight it will happen. I know I am here for a reason and I am excited to find out why.
D
P.S. Just bear with me when I have my moments of doubt. I am thankful for my support network back home and the one I am building here in Maine.
While I know I can't carve out an existence in my dorm room at Lee Academy forever I really want to make my mark on this school. With every new day I gain more insight on Lee Academy and it's those pieces of information that make me want to try hard to give this school and its students what they need. There is so much potential and the needs are many but if I can keep my head screwed on straight it will happen. I know I am here for a reason and I am excited to find out why.
D
P.S. Just bear with me when I have my moments of doubt. I am thankful for my support network back home and the one I am building here in Maine.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Photos from Acadia
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| Remember, mileage isn't everything. |
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| Summit of Penobscot Mt. (actually it's a little beyond that) |
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| For Kevin and Jason (on the summit of Penobscot Mt.) |
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| View of Sargent Mt. from Penobscot Mt. |
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| Sargent Pond |
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| Fog rolling in from the west |
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| No one was there to take it for me |
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| Pretty sure that's Pemetic Mt. |
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| The Fog |
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| Nora |
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| I swear Jordan Pond is down there |
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| Cool Cairn |
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| Would have been nice to have seen this before descending Sargent Mt. ! |
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Acadia
What is it like to have one of America's most beautiful national parks in your back yard? Well, it's simply indescribable. Yesterday I had the pleasure of trekking two of Acadia National Park's nicest mountains, Penobscot and Sargent, and was reminded of why I moved to Maine in the first place. Imagine, you come to the top of a bald mountain and no matter which way you turn you are struck with the most magnificent views imaginable. To the northeast, Bar Harbor and Cadillac Mountain, to the southeast, the ocean, to the south, The Cranberry Islands and many other ponds, lakes and mountains all around. Yes, my day of hiking was truly inspirational.
I made the two and a half hour drive to Acadia National Park thinking that it might rain and after deciding a trip to Roosevelt Campobello in New Brunswick, Canada might not be what I was looking for that day. Arriving at around 12:30, a little later that I had hoped, I was excited to learn that my hike from Penobscot Mountain to Sargent Mountain would only take about 3 hours (ended up being about 5, but I made a few stops along the way). I am not going to bore you with each little minute detail of the hike but here are some highlights.
As I made my way up to the Penobscot Mountain Trail I was excited to see my first rugged looking trail since Little Jackson Mountain in 2012 and I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. A cool thing about this trail is how quickly you come above tree line. Once out of the woods, so to speak, I was met with stunning views of Mt. Desert Island's finest scenery and the ever increasing realization that I had forgotten to put on sunscreen. Of course, and thankfully so, the sun had decided to come out that day and I was hoping to meet someone on the trail who had a little sunscreen to spare. One of the great things about hiking is that you meet some of the nicest people. As luck would have it I did finally meet someone who had sunscreen, the kind that would make me look like I had fallen into a vat of the iconic zinc oxide that covered the noses of many sun bathers decades ago. The kindness didn't stop there. When I reached the summit of Penobscot Mountain I met a nice group of young people who were willing to take my picture standing by the summit sign. At this point I was very hot and excited for the splashes I heard down the trail.
As I hiked back down into the trees I saw the reward for my efforts, Sargent Pond. Wanting a quick dip I stripped down to my skivvies and my boys began to play hide and go seek. Thank goodness the water went from cold to refreshing very quickly. After my swim I made a quick lunch of beef jerky and trail mix, got dressed and began heading up Sargent Mountain. The vistas at the peak of Sargent Mountain were as beautiful, if not more so, than those at Penobscot Mountain. After spending some time taking in the views I decided to make a plan for my descent. I had two options, the easy route or the more challenging, more interesting route.
I decided the more interesting route seemed like the best plan and started down the mountain. The first part of the trail down was steep, rocky steps and was a little challenging on the knees, but overall not too bad. It was the next leg that would prove a little trickier and where I would meet a very cool little girl.
The fog had been setting in all day and now was so thick you couldn't see Jordan Pond and the forest below. The trickiest part of the trail was up ahead, iron ladders and bars on the cliffs and some narrow spots. The fog gave sort of an otherworldliness to it all. When I am hiking solo I usually take the safest course and with the fog setting in I wasn't sure about my visibility down the trail so I decided to turn back and take the easy Jordan Pond Trail out. It was then I met Nora. Only about 8 years old, Nora was tired from a long day hiking with her mother and grandfather and still had about 1.5 miles to go. Now, under Ohio hiking circumstances, 1.5 miles is no problem, but not the case in Maine. I asked the family if I could hang with them for a bit so I could finish the trail the way I had wanted and they said yes. I was excited because the Jordan Cliffs seemed very cool and I wanted to check it out. I stayed with the family for a bit watching 8 year old Nora climb down the iron ladders and bars, scared and slow. Even though she was frightened she did all of it and I could see her confidence grow with each new conquered challenge. When we got past all of the iron bars I decided I couldn't stay with them any longer so I thanked them and moved on. It was cool to see Nora climb down the rocks. Most other little girls, and little kids in general, weren't rock climbing on a Saturday and here she was facing her fears and accomplishing her goals one by one. That was truly neat to see. As I continued on I came across some other tricky spots that made me think of Nora and her courage and I thanked her for that.
I finally made my way off of the mountain and into the Acadia National Park of all places. After picking up some mementos I headed to my car and changed into some clean clothes. By this time I was very hungry and headed into Bar Harbor where I had haddock sandwich, some french fries and a cold Geary's Pale Ale. It was nice to cap off my day with some good food and a conversation with a guy who graduated from Kenyon College in Ohio with a degree in Anthropology who was now a lobster fisherman. What a small world.
Like I mentioned earlier, this trip really reminded me of why I moved to Maine. Being so close to the forest and the sea is a feeling that is hard to put into words. While I may not be in Lee forever, I can guarantee you that it would take something or someone pretty special to pull me away.
D
I made the two and a half hour drive to Acadia National Park thinking that it might rain and after deciding a trip to Roosevelt Campobello in New Brunswick, Canada might not be what I was looking for that day. Arriving at around 12:30, a little later that I had hoped, I was excited to learn that my hike from Penobscot Mountain to Sargent Mountain would only take about 3 hours (ended up being about 5, but I made a few stops along the way). I am not going to bore you with each little minute detail of the hike but here are some highlights.
As I made my way up to the Penobscot Mountain Trail I was excited to see my first rugged looking trail since Little Jackson Mountain in 2012 and I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. A cool thing about this trail is how quickly you come above tree line. Once out of the woods, so to speak, I was met with stunning views of Mt. Desert Island's finest scenery and the ever increasing realization that I had forgotten to put on sunscreen. Of course, and thankfully so, the sun had decided to come out that day and I was hoping to meet someone on the trail who had a little sunscreen to spare. One of the great things about hiking is that you meet some of the nicest people. As luck would have it I did finally meet someone who had sunscreen, the kind that would make me look like I had fallen into a vat of the iconic zinc oxide that covered the noses of many sun bathers decades ago. The kindness didn't stop there. When I reached the summit of Penobscot Mountain I met a nice group of young people who were willing to take my picture standing by the summit sign. At this point I was very hot and excited for the splashes I heard down the trail.
As I hiked back down into the trees I saw the reward for my efforts, Sargent Pond. Wanting a quick dip I stripped down to my skivvies and my boys began to play hide and go seek. Thank goodness the water went from cold to refreshing very quickly. After my swim I made a quick lunch of beef jerky and trail mix, got dressed and began heading up Sargent Mountain. The vistas at the peak of Sargent Mountain were as beautiful, if not more so, than those at Penobscot Mountain. After spending some time taking in the views I decided to make a plan for my descent. I had two options, the easy route or the more challenging, more interesting route.
I decided the more interesting route seemed like the best plan and started down the mountain. The first part of the trail down was steep, rocky steps and was a little challenging on the knees, but overall not too bad. It was the next leg that would prove a little trickier and where I would meet a very cool little girl.
The fog had been setting in all day and now was so thick you couldn't see Jordan Pond and the forest below. The trickiest part of the trail was up ahead, iron ladders and bars on the cliffs and some narrow spots. The fog gave sort of an otherworldliness to it all. When I am hiking solo I usually take the safest course and with the fog setting in I wasn't sure about my visibility down the trail so I decided to turn back and take the easy Jordan Pond Trail out. It was then I met Nora. Only about 8 years old, Nora was tired from a long day hiking with her mother and grandfather and still had about 1.5 miles to go. Now, under Ohio hiking circumstances, 1.5 miles is no problem, but not the case in Maine. I asked the family if I could hang with them for a bit so I could finish the trail the way I had wanted and they said yes. I was excited because the Jordan Cliffs seemed very cool and I wanted to check it out. I stayed with the family for a bit watching 8 year old Nora climb down the iron ladders and bars, scared and slow. Even though she was frightened she did all of it and I could see her confidence grow with each new conquered challenge. When we got past all of the iron bars I decided I couldn't stay with them any longer so I thanked them and moved on. It was cool to see Nora climb down the rocks. Most other little girls, and little kids in general, weren't rock climbing on a Saturday and here she was facing her fears and accomplishing her goals one by one. That was truly neat to see. As I continued on I came across some other tricky spots that made me think of Nora and her courage and I thanked her for that.
I finally made my way off of the mountain and into the Acadia National Park of all places. After picking up some mementos I headed to my car and changed into some clean clothes. By this time I was very hungry and headed into Bar Harbor where I had haddock sandwich, some french fries and a cold Geary's Pale Ale. It was nice to cap off my day with some good food and a conversation with a guy who graduated from Kenyon College in Ohio with a degree in Anthropology who was now a lobster fisherman. What a small world.
Like I mentioned earlier, this trip really reminded me of why I moved to Maine. Being so close to the forest and the sea is a feeling that is hard to put into words. While I may not be in Lee forever, I can guarantee you that it would take something or someone pretty special to pull me away.
D
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