Published by Derek under Personal on
September 29, 2007
I am always amazed when life takes a turn and shifts itself into a different gear. I especially love when I get asked out to dinner. I never really expect any one particular thing in my life and I do honestly try to never take anything for granted so tonight really came as a surprise. It was just like one of those bonus spins you get on the pinball game you really like to play.
I went to work and by the end of my day I had a date for dinner. It was a wonderful evening. I don’t think I stopped smiling for at least an hour. I just love meeting new people.
I am mesmerized by the infinite possibilities life brings us. I always find myself unaware of it until it strikes me down or lifts me to a place I’ve never thought was possible. It inspires me to be something beyond my understandings of good and bad. It inspires me to be happy and free.
I met my friend Trevor tonight at the Cable Car Cafe and Cinema to see the movie “From Mambo to Hip Hop”. The documentary was one of the films featured by the RI Latin-American Film Festival.
It was a wonderful documentary that had me grooving in my seat for an hour. I really had no idea how Hip Hop and Salsa came to be and now that I’ve seen this video I have a new fascination with the two genres. It was amazing to me how such a type of music and dance came to be. Thank you Puerto Rico and Cuba!
Peace!
P.S. I found the link to the film festival website…I know tomorrow is that last day, but here it is anyway! http://plaff.org/
I must say driving in the car is a very meditative experience. I know I probably should be focused on the traffic, but I just seem to zone out every time I’m behind the wheel. I even zone out on my bicycle.
It’s like everything around me just shifts out of focus and I am floating in a sea of nothingness. I know it sounds bizarre, but it’s true. I’ll be riding/driving along and then I seem to perceive the entire picture. Everything around me becomes one with me. It’s actually a very enlightening experience. I’ve noticed that whenever I’m in a position of constant change and fluidity the natural tendency to follow in its flow grabs a hold of me. I can’t really explain what it feels like, but I guess you could say that I experience the awareness of being the driver, passenger, traffic, streetlight, pedestrian, and every little thing that comes to view all at once. Imagine a baseball game and while you’re at bat you are the pitcher and the outfielders. You are even the ball that is flying towards you. You no longer are thinking you are just reacting to the universe set in motion.
I wonder why we don’t experience this flow all the time. I know I have experienced it before. Whenever I’m on stage in front of an audience I feel everything around me flow in and out of the same moment. So much energy is focused on the same things that it almost creates it’s own tiny universe in our own universe. Like a bubble inside another bubble.
Maybe I’m just a space cadet and I really am just too tired to be driving/riding around town. I don’t know. All I know is that there is something about the flow of a stream that seems to set in motion an infinite space of awareness. You can see it in the ocean if you look long enough. You can see it in the heartbeat of the city when you watch it from 50,000 feet. You can see it in every aspect of life as it moves from point A to point B.
Published by Derek under Personal on
September 27, 2007
I thought I would comment on my night last night. About two years ago I had a falling out with a friend of mine due to my own selfish reasons. Recently I decided to make amends with the relationship we once had. I must say even though it had been nearly two years wince we had spoken, last night started right where we left off. It was nice to see that time changes little in the eyes of good friends. Thank you Brandon for a wonderful evening. I hope to continue down this new path of friendship.
Published by Derek under Personal on
September 24, 2007
After a morning at the rock gym and a nice lunch at the Garden Grille, Bonnie, Jeff and I went to see El Violin at the cable car cinema & cafe. This week is the RI Latin American Film Festival! Check out one of the movies. El Violin was fantastic!
Friday started with an evening with my friend Jason. He is one of three this weekend. I made a veggie pizza and treated him to some dessert at Pastiche. Immediately after dessert I punched in and worked all night.
Saturday I woke up and started preparing lunch for all the boys. The arrived late, which was right on time for the food that took forever. I made open-faced sandwiches with tomato, pesto, mozzarella, and some balsamic. I also made a vegan potato salad. Bonnie helped a lot in the preparation by cutting and helping with the sandwiches. We all went outside and had our lunch in the shade.
Later the six of us (minus bonnie) went down to Scarborough beach. This was my first time in the ocean this year and I was really happy to have gone swimming. After our swim we played some really gay volleyball, but it was all in good fun. I had a blast!
After the beach we went out to dinner at Champlins. I broke my vegetarian diet for some local flounder. After we went for the best ice cream in RI, which can only be found at Brickley’s!
We finally went back to my place to shower and chill out for a bit before finally getting out on the town. We didn’t go out for very long and we only stopped at the Alleycat for a drink. We had to show Haig at least one gay bar in providence before he left to probably never return.
The night was spectacular and I loved being with friends that never get together anymore. It was brilliant!
Sunday was a long day at St. Stephen’s and finally ending at Pastiche. Now it’s time for some well-deserved sleep!
My co-worker has a chicken named Fitsy and I hear about it every day we work together. Because I’ve never met this chicken I did the next best thing. I decided to give Lily my camera to videotape Fitsy in action doing some everyday Fitsy things. I only posted one of the three short videos she took. This video was my favorite out of them all…and there might be more to come…
Published by Derek under Music on
September 18, 2007
I wrote the makings of a new song today. This recording is the improvisation of what inspired me. Enjoy!!! (Don’t worry, when i actually practice it will not have any stops or wrong notes.)
Today I got my computer fixed at tricom computers in Warwick RI. If you have a Mac and you live in RI go to these guys. They are the best, especially if your computer is under warrantee. They fixed my problem in 20 minutes and they will be sending out for a new cd drive that they will install next week! All of this is free because my computer is under warrantee…thank god!
After that I went rock climbing again. It was a short day for Amy and me. I was just too tired from climbing on Saturday. Amy was nice enough to give me a ride to the East Side afterwards.
I actually went to an art exhibit at the Bell Gallery on the Brown Campus. I must say that this was the highlight of my day. The art piece was in a large darkened room. The only lights were long blue florescent lights that were so dim you could not even see the floor you were walking on. As I walked onto the platform into the middle of the room there were sounds of crickets and very ominous sounds playing in the background. All I could see were the relfections of these lights off of hundreds of clear balloons that looked like magic bubbles suspended in air. It was an experience to see. I felt as though I had become one with the air and all the invisible particles around me. I think that was the point. Anyway, if you want to see it the gallery will be showing it until the first week of October. Her are some pictures of the exhibit, but realize the flash really takes away from the splendor of there being very little light. The pictures just show what it would look like if the lights were on.
I immediately went to the green at the main gates of Brown and started rereading the Tao Te Ching. I happened to bring my copy with me that day because I was thinking about reading it again. It was great. It really helped me center myself in what I should be doing as far as my focus in life. It’s kind of a powerful text if you’ve never read it. I suggest you google it and read it online or if you want the version I have, the translators name is Stephen Mitchell. I believe his rendition is poetic and simple enough to apply and understand Lao-tzu’s understanding of living in the Way.
Later I went to the library with Bonnie. Then Jeff came over to the rescue and helped me put my car’s blinker bulb back in and helped me put my bumper back into place. My car is whole again! Thanks Jeff!!!
The music is coming along if you were wondering. I spent all night tonight working on my scores and fine-tuning the chord progressions. I can’t wait to write some lyrics.
Published by Derek under Personal on
September 17, 2007
Today was my first day back to St. Stephens to join the ranks once again as a tenor in the Schola Cantorum. I really love this choir. It’s one of the best choirs I’ve ever been in. We only rehearse once a week and that is two hours before we sing for the service. I love the people. Everyone gets along and we have a ball!
Even with all that I still can’t describe to you what its like singing in a choir if you’ve never done it. It’s a moving experience. It’s something I cherish deeply. It’s one of the rare experiences that puts your awareness directly into the now and allows you to feel like you’re creating pure feeling. I am left full of joy after every performance with the Schola.
