In My Mind’s Zen Garden

Ah, the memories!

I just heard this little factoid…

“Because of the aging baby boomers, every 7 seconds, someone is turning 60″

Interesting.

Stills From ‘Once Upon A Time in the West’

I have the DVD by Sergio Leone… in my humble opinion, an artistic masterpiece that captures the landscape of the Wild West. But Ennio Morricone’s music is simply some of the most hauntingly beautiful one will ever hear… and it’s currently in my favorites playlist.

…Weep not for the memories… —Sarah McLachlan

Okay. What’s not to love about Sarah MacLachlan? So, here are two of my favorites by Sarah that’s frequently on my playlists on my MP3 player. Enjoy…

I Will Remember You

Angel

In the arms of an angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear

I’ve been listening to this song lately by Blue Note artist Priscilla Ahn, an Indie/Folk singer/songwriter from Pennsylvania.

I luv this… swingin’ hard! Check the trumpet player, Nathan and Pat! Nice feel…

I was recently entranced by a foreign film called, “Caramel”… the story of four lebanese women working in a beauty salon in Beirut, though a story that’s been done before, it seems to feel new and refreshing because of the culture and setting.

Lebanon is one of those countries I’m not too familiar with. I once performed at a Lebanese wedding reception and the people were wonderful. They wanted some Lebanese music which we never played before, but I am familiar with basic Middle Eastern percussion patterns. We started something akin to a “jam session” and the crowd loved it and just told us to keep playing while everyone on the dance floor gyrated like there was no tomorrow… and I think we played this one thing for the next 45 minutes or so. It was pretty incredible.

Anyway, “Caramel” refers to the caramel mixture that is used for waxing, or removing hair, in Lebanese culture. It is symbolic of the bittersweetness of life, and love… the caramel is sweet but used as a waxing product is painful, thus the bittersweetness of the lives of the four Lebanese women, as they struggle between the modern world and their culture and traditions.

The Movie Trailer on YouTube

This is a wonderful movie and I highly recommend it. It’s the first movie I’ve seen coming from Lebanon, and it was recognized at the Cannes Film Festival, but was sadly ignored at the Oscars. Nadine Labaki, the film’s main actor, director and co-writer is wonderful in this movie.

An Interview with actor/director/writer Nadine Labaki

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. —Dr. Seuss

Yes, it’s funny how a lot of things might be happening in one’s life, but for some reason one can not write about them. It’s strange how writer’s block happens.

I feel…

Like, I have chronic fatigue syndrome or something similar. It seems to take a lot of energy and motivation to write here… and, to wake up in the mornings, and to get myself to just do stuff.

Although, yesterday I practiced piano for 8 hours! So, I woke up utterly exhausted this morning. I think non-musicians might not be able to understand that fully. Well, maybe they just might. Practicing for 4 hours is quite a lot, but practicing for 8 hours… now that’s a marathon!

But, like that Dr. Seuss quote above… I need not feel bad because something is over. I should feel good for having experienced it….