A New Kind of Eater

"...a successful local food economy implies not only a  new kind of food producer, but a new kind of eater as well, one who regards finding, preparing, and preserving food as one of the pleasures of life rather than a chore."

Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

It's Either Sadness or Euphoria, Part II

When we last left our intrepid hero, he was watching in silent horror as his envelope containing his carefully- worded question for Billy Joel went fluttering out of his hands...flapping, floating down to the floor below his balcony seat.

True to form, David was able to pull it together enough to ask the question from memory.  He certainly had practiced it enough times.  Here is my best rendition of the question he asked his childhood music hero:

"Hello, Mr. Joel.  I've been a fan for many years.  My question pertains to the song 'Angry Young Man.'  You describe the angry young man as follows:  'he sits in a room with a lock on the door, With his maps and his medals laid out on the floor-'.  And yet he has 'his fist in the air and his head in his hands.' His maps and his medals, that's his goals and his accomplishments.  But he has not found fulfillment in those things.  Mr. Joel, I want to ask you, where do you find meaning?".

Good question, right?

Here's what Billy Joel said:

First, "Wow.  You're carrying a lot of philosophical baggage there, man."

(the audience laughed)

Second, "Well, where does anybody find meaning?  In things substantive."

In things substantive?  What in the world does that mean?

And that was it.  Not exactly the interaction that David was hoping for, but maybe Billy was having an off night. 

Then Billy went on to play the prelude to "Angry Young Man," which is a dizzying piece of piano work.

Observe:



He used this as a good illustration of how the piano is really a percussion instrument, even though most people wrongly categorize it as a string instrument.

So that was that.   Billy probably came off his pedestal that night, but I think music heroes probably appreciate when they can come off those pedestals and be like the rest of us.

Lastly, in case you're wondering about the title to this series, here is "Summer, Highland Falls," one of Billy Joel's lesser-known songs, which I really like both for the lyrics and the melody.

Musical Weekend

Back a few months ago I told you that it was my greatest joy in folk music fandom to hear Ellis Paul play at Club Passim in Harvard Square.

But on Thursday night, I think that was surpassed...

Andy Gullahorn played in our living room.

It doesn't get any better than that.

Some folks who came were friends; some were strangers.  One family (an older couple and a younger couple) that showed up was from Meck, the church that hosts the Behold the Lamb concert each year.  The husband of that younger couple is the worship leader at Meck.  He didn't know where he was going when he got in the car with his family.  They pulled up outside our house and informed him that they were attending a house concert.  He's a big Gully fan so he was giddy.  It was really nice to have them and others who appreciate an intimate evening of great music and conversation.

As much as I love the music, I like the conversation just as much -- I love hearing where the music and lyrics are coming from. 

So the next night we were on to an Andrew Peterson show with everyone in tow (the kids sat out the house show).  Lovely.  Encouraging.  I'm so glad these guys are using their gifts for the Lord's glory and letting the rest of us listen in.

Some more pictures:

2/3rds of Andy and the Andys

Andrew Peterson

...and The Captains Courageous

(that's Ben Shive with his back to us)

Playing Angry Birds after the concert with Andy G.

We love Andrew Peterson!

One Thousand Gifts

Today I have just seven items for my gratitude list here on the blog:

81-87...
one
for
each
year
of
this
boy's
life.

Happy Seventh Birthday, Andrew.

What a joy you are to us.

Slainte!

(Slainte means "to your health")
This post was originally published on March 17, 2008

Some Irish toasts and wishes for your day:

May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.

May you be in heaven one half hour before the devil knows you're dead.

Here's to your coffin...
May it be built of 100 year old oaks which I will plant tomorrow.

Here's to you as good as you are,

Here's to me as bad as I am,
As good as you are,
And as bad as I am,
I'm as good as you are,
As bad as I am.

An old Irish recipe for longevity:
Leave the table hungry.
Leave the bed sleepy.
Leave the bar thirsty.

May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It's Either Sadness or Euphoria, Part I

The minute I saw this link on Abraham's blog last week, I knew I had a story for you.

First, watch.



Funny, right? And good for Elton for being a good sport.

There was a time -- long, long ago -- that my husband was that man in the audience.  But that time around, it was a different piano player, and a slightly different thing happened.

Let's back up for a second.  Throughout his teenage and college years, my dear husband was a full-fledged fan of Billy Joel.  Weirdly, I was too, even though my favorite music of his was older than I was, from records I got from our town library.

But David knew every word of every obscure song ever written.  I must out him and tell you that there is in fact a "Storm Front" tour t-shirt upstairs in our room as I write these lines.  He listened for hours and deeply analyzed the lyrics of songs like "Summer:  Highland Falls" and "Miami 2017."

So even though he had escaped this phase by the time graduate school rolled around, David was excited to find out that his school would be hosting Billy Joel for an event called "An Evening of Questions and Answers... And a Little Music."  (Look, I'm such a nerd, I googled it)  Audience members would be allowed to ask questions of Mr. Joel while he was onstage with his piano.

Well.  You can imagine the brain-racking that went on for David.  What do you say to a music hero?  Which one of the ten thousand questions do you pick, and how do you ask it without seeming like an idiot?  What to do, what to do?!

Naturally, being the organized (?!) man that he is, David carefully selected a question and wrote it down so as not to forget it.  He wrote it on the back of an envelope.

The night of the concert arrived.  David took his seat in the first row of the balcony in Alden Hall.  The show began.  David sat patiently clutching his envelope, waiting for his turn to the microphone.  Finally, the moment arrived.  Hundreds of eyes turned his way as the spotlight searched him out.  As the usher reached out and handed him the microphone...

HE DROPPED THE ENVELOPE OFF THE FRONT OF THE BALCONY.

(to be continued)

Spurgeon and Home

Mark 1:30
But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell Him of her.

Very interesting is this little peep into the house of the Apostolic Fisherman. We see at once that household joys and cares are no hindrance to the full exercise of ministry, nay, that since they furnish an opportunity for personally witnessing the Lord's gracious work upon one's own flesh and blood, they may even instruct the teacher better than any other earthly discipline. ...Peter's house was probably a poor fisherman's hut, but the Lord of Glory entered it, lodged in it, and wrought a miracle in it. Should our little book be read this morning in some very humble cottage, let this fact encourage the inmates to seek the company of King Jesus. God is oftener in little huts than in rich palaces. Jesus is looking round your room now, and is waiting to be gracious to you.

C.H. Spurgeon

This quote came to me (in part) in a card from my friend Shawnda when I was pregnant with Jonathan and it's been hung in my kitchen ever since.

A Few Little Homeschooling Necessities

Here's a peek inside our schoolroom for a few things I couldn't -- or rather, wouldn't like to -- do without.

#1 Cuisinaire Rods.  We use these all the time in first grade math.

Here Andrew is using them to find different number combinations that add to eight.  They lay a good foundation of number sense for the years to come.

#2  Hello, Post-it flags.  You complete me.  You serve as bookmarks for children who lose bookmarks.  And also me who loses bookmarks.  You are kind to the pages of books and never rip them.

There you are, doing your job.  Sigh.  Thanks.  Your greatness is surpassed by few office products.

(Yikes.  Does anyone else think we need a new tabletop and maybe a few new binders?)

#3 Classic, really sharp yellow #2 pencils.  I just have an old-school need for these babies.  Also visible in this picture is #4, my Well-Planned Day planner.  This planner has spaces for four kids for every subject every day.  Please don't ask me what I'm going to do when kid number five gets into school.  Right now I'm banking on kid number one taking care of his own plans by that time.

#5 Headphones!  These sweet creations enable kids doing math on the computer to coexist with other kids doing reading lessons with Mom.

#6  This is nice, too.  I drink decaf so I guess you could say it's not a necessity but it sure makes the day more pleasant.