Music For The Soul

What is it about a song that resonates with our souls? Is it melody, the backbeat, lyrics that somehow reach into us? I'm not sure what it exactly is but when a song is "in tune" with where I am at - I can't not hear it. It may not even be playing on my earphones or speakers and it's presence is felt.

What's in my mind as of late? Sufjan Steven's 2004 album Seven Swans - a masterpiece of laid back acoustic meanderings on life, love, and faith - sort of folky but with a good edge to it all. His newly released 2005 release Illinois is just as deep but with more instrumentation - also well worth the listen - lyrically Stevens truly is a master wordsmith from the profound to the introspective to the tongue in cheek!

I'm also listening to Death Cab For Cutie's Plans (released Aug. 30) - really good! It continues in the direction of their previous album Transatlanticism's dreamy pop with a touch of emo! Vocally both bands remind me of the lead singer (Derri Daugherty) of one my favorite atmospheric alternative bands to come out of the late 80's - The Choir who also have recently released a new album O How The Mighty Have Fallen!

And right now I'm listening to a webjay podcast courtesy of my friend Jer via CBC - a band from T-Bay by the name of The Parkas - very cool! Oh and I should recommend I Witness a local manitoba band - they are in the process of releasing a new CD. There guitar player happens to be my wife's cousin and very good musician! Their latest single "Long Before" (sample on their site) reminds me of REM with a Nickelback edge to them!

Over and out...

How Rich Are You?

Check out the Global Rich List site and find out how you rate as far as wealth in the spectrum of people inhabiting planet earth! It takes less than a minute and very interesting results!

Are you relevant?

Check out a recently revised site that i visit weekly and occasionally daily - relevant magazine! Excellent articles, music reviews, news headlines, etc.

G

Exploring The Definition of Play

"Play is creatively exploring and finding contentment in life's pursuits: leisure, work, & self-understanding." - any comments, suggestions? I have refined this definition from a number of posts and the contributions of others but I am still willing to tweak it further with your help! Or if you just want to give me a high five I'm cool with that too! Play should be possible wherever we are - at work, at home, on the soccer field, or in the office! How does play affect our leisure quality? How does it change how we work? And in what way does it contribute to our self-understanding or our concept of spirituality?

Exploring The Journey

I love the following quote from the character of Sam in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, "I wonder what sort of tale we've fallen into?"

Ever wonder why your story has ended up where it is? Amazing how the choices we are faced with and the decisions we in turn make take us to where we are today. I would have laughed in your face if someone would have suggested I would be a college professor ten years ago. But in retrospect I can see how the many experiences I've gone through in my 32 years of existence has led me to where I am today. I have always loved learning and always loved to teach others what I've learned. I have always loved stories - I think we all do - don't we? That's why we have movies, books, newspapers, even weather channels - everything tells a story.

I have had some truly epic moments in my life thus far and I would never give back those stepping stones that have shaped me to be who I am.

"Our stories tell us who we are, why we are here, and what we are to do. They give us our best answers to all of life's big questions, and to most of the small ones as well." - Daniel Taylor

The Art of Photography

Capturing light on film - is it art or accident? For myself - some of my favorite photos were created by simply being the right place at the right time and framing what I hoped would capture that particular moment in time. It takes skill and experience but obviously a bit of luck to create a photo both memorable and artistic. In the last eight months digital photography has replaced much of my photographic endeavors on negative or slide film. It has in someways allowed my creative spirit to go further without being wasteful with my money. I remember on some of my travels chanting the mantra - film is like toilet paper - it's of no use till you actually make use of it. I took countless rolls of shots, many more than any of my traveling companions and the result I believe was better photos because I took more chances!

So I've decided to revise musings and include photos that deal with either my attempts at art or my attempts at capturing memories! Part random journal and part photo blog.

G

More Pics from Musings!

Apparently my Musings blog has been morphing into a photoblog as of late. Check out last weekend's escape to Star Lake! Amazing weather and some great photo ops! Below are some shots from our refuge at Star Lake and also a couple pics from a recent visit to the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg.

G

Latest Pictures

Another fabulous weekend at Star Lake - rest, relaxation, & play! Here are some photos! You'll note we had some duck visitors at our beach which made for this weekends photographic assignment. Our daughters enjoyed their company as well it seems. Hot, hot weekend - plenty of sun, an amazing lightning show early Sun morning (no tripod=no lightning photos - sorry), some work on the cottage, and lots of time at the beach reading and playing with the kids! Even some fishing - my brothers both got one jackfish each, I guess I'll stick to canoeing, biking and taking pictures!

G

"Enjoying orange juice-cicles in the July heat!"

"Aimee exploring aquarium life at the zoo."

"Auntie Kiki, Wendy & the girls chasing ducks @ Star Lake beach."

"Nature abounds at Star Lake."

"Chelsea and company."

"Duck Trio"

"Parting shot (my favorite) - all natural lighting thanks to a sunset!"


"The underside of daisies at dusk"