The Daily News
1 I don't know when I have looked more forward to a Friday in my life.
2 Stressful week, that's for sure.
3 It's nice.
4 It's really nice.
5 I missed life this week.
6 Nice to have it back.
7 Moving on, Part One: I don't have a music store near home, so yesterday I went into our local Target to get guitar strings and Nutella.
8 I bought some lousy guitar strings a couple of weeks ago but the e-string broke when I tightened it.
9 I thought my days of doing that were over. Evidently I was wrong.
10 I now have three guitars, each missing a string.
11 And for me personally, this is guitar season. I am right in the middle of my Shakespeare unit and will soon convert my classroom to the Cafe Verona for my annual coffeehouse poetry readings, complete with jazz, ambient lighting, and sunglasses.
12 It culminates in my playing a couple of songs for my students.
13 You don't do that with a five-string.
14 I have been practicing singing already.I joined the cast of Grease last year as a cameo Teen Angel. One wonderful gift I got from that experience is that I learned a few new singing techniques from our vocal director.
15 I have been traveling a lot of late, going up to Dad's in Millbrae and visiting Helene's brother Ron in Martinez. When I go to Dad's in the early morning there are few cars on the road. I am comfortable practicing songs on the highway.
16 Early morning isn't always a good time to practice, but midway through the ride I could usually do it.
17 Saturday's coming home from Dad's are usually the ideal time to practice. I leave his place at around 6 p.m. and take 280 back to San Jose. It's about a fifty-minute trip. I recently blew the dust off my Beatles' Love CD, the one produced by George Martin and his son Giles. The music is the backdrop to the popular Cirque du Soliel show.
18 The opening of this jewel of an album begins with an a capella version of Because, followed by the drum solo from Abbey Road, which morphs into Get Back with an emphasis on Paul's booming bassline.
19 By the time I hit 280, I'm in the area in which I grew up, and on the freeway traveling home with Get Back blasting through my cranium. I easily hit all the notes with heart beating and joy ranting. It is a freedom and soul that is almost inexplicable.
20 Get back clears the pipes for Eleanor Rigby. It's all great fun, and a lark.
21 The Lennon songs are much harder, and require singing from the gut.
22 Great practice, good for listening and refreshing the head to lyrics. Strawberry Fields is particularly good for getting the mind to lock into lyrics.
23 Yesterday on my ride home from work, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away came on the radio. I hadn't heard that one in a while. I loved the raspy voice on that tune, because I was so exhausted from the week. I rode the back roads home from work and felt like something old and dusty. It all worked.
24 The Beatles are fun to sing because they are a bit of a challenge. Paul's songs swing easily with me because falsetto is fairly easy. Lennon's songs are gut wrenching and require a lot of belly and head. Ringo's stuff is easy as pie. That should surprise nobody. George's songs are soulful and wonderful.
25 Each needs different approaches. All are fun and wonderful.
26 Interestingly, the two songs I sing at the poetry read are not Beatle songs at all. In fact, with all the music I play in my classroom, I seldom put Beatle songs on.
27 I put on obscure background music, music from all parts of the world, blues, karaoke Disney, one-hit eighties, and each song meticulously placed, creating a fun backdrop to the group workshops I conduct.
28 The two songs I sing at the poetry read are Simon and Garfunkel songs. They work much better in my voice range. One is America, a song I absolutely love and always will, and the second one is one I put into the poetry read just last year.
29 It's a breakfast song, an obscure little gem called Punky' Dilemma. It opens with this line: Wish I was a Kellogg's cornflake, floatin' in my bowl a takin' movies...
30 It is a can't miss. The students LOVE that song.
31 I'm so glad the visiting team is gone.
32 The entire staff is relieved.
33 We can get back to our lessons again.
34 We have our lives back.
35 The students can feel the school landing safely on its feet.
36 Moving on, Part Two: It's fun that coincidences continue to happen. Yesterday morning a skit reminded me of how later in the year, the students will be able to teach each other "by any means necessary," which usually translates to making videos, writing poetry, doing skits, writing songs, or anything else that could fit into that category.
37 I thought of this student I had a few years ago. He was particularly intelligent and clever, and always brought fresh things to discussions. I wondered if he was still at the school. I then thought to myself, "You will see him today."
38 I go out to lunch many days, since I have a prep period right after lunch. On my way home, a truck pulled in front of me. It had a color picture of the Pigeon Point lighthouse, a place I go to every now and again when it gets too hot to stay in San Jose in the summer. It's a cool place, literally and spiritually. It's nothing big, but I thought about it for a second yesterday, and then this truck pulled in front of me. I followed the picture up Quimby road to the school.
39 I thought of Pigeon Point just the other day when an ex-student posted a picture of it on Facebook. I smiled when I again saw it on the back of that small truck.
40 When I go coastal in summer, I occasionally go there just to feel a cool breeze.
41 I got back to school, watched a few skits in my last class, and left the second the bell rang.
42 On the way to the parking lot, I looked up and the student I had thought about earlier in the day was walking right next to me.
43 I told him about the coincidences of late, and he loved it.
44 I got home, took a nap, made a nice dinner, and rested my eyes.
45 I awakened to a Beatle's song.
46 Turns out that American Idol has been having Beatles' nights all this week.
47 Amazing.
48 It is well into the four a.m. and I must needs get a bit more rest before I have to go back in and tackle what should be a pretty easy Friday.
49 It's nice.
50 It's really nice. I'm loving the magic.
51 Have a lovely day.
52 See you again.
53 Peace.
~H~
www.xanga.com/bharrington
The Daily News1 I don't know when I have looked more forward to a Friday in my life.2 Stressful week, that's for sure.3 It's nice.4 It's really nice.5 I missed life this week.6 Nice to have it back.7 Moving on, Part One: I don't have a music store near home, so yesterday I went into our local Target to get guitar strings and Nutella.8 I bought some lousy guitar strings a couple of weeks ago but the e-string broke when I tightened it.9 I thought my days of doing that were over. Evidently I was wrong.10 I now have three guitars, each missing a string.11 And for me personally, this is guitar season. I am right in the middle of my Shakespeare unit and will soon convert my classroom to the Cafe Verona for my annual coffeehouse poetry readings, complete with jazz, ambient lighting, and sunglasses.12 It culminates in my playing a couple of songs for my students.13 You don't do that with a five-string.14 I have been practicing singing already.I joined the cast of Grease last year as a cameo Teen Angel. One wonderful gift I got from that experience is that I learned a few new singing techniques from our vocal director.15 I have been traveling a lot of late, going up to Dad's in Millbrae and visiting Helene's brother Ron in Martinez. When I go to Dad's in the early morning there are few cars on the road. I am comfortable practicing songs on the highway.16 Early morning isn't always a good time to practice, but midway through the ride I could usually do it.17 Saturday's coming home from Dad's are usually the ideal time to practice. I leave his place at around 6 p.m. and take 280 back to San Jose. It's about a fifty-minute trip. I recently blew the dust off my Beatles' Love CD, the one produced by George Martin and his son Giles. The music is the backdrop to the popular Cirque du Soliel show.18 The opening of this jewel of an album begins with an a capella version of Because, followed by the drum solo from Abbey Road, which morphs into Get Back with an emphasis on Paul's booming bassline.19 By the time I hit 280, I'm in the area in which I grew up, and on the freeway traveling home with Get Back blasting through my cranium. I easily hit all the notes with heart beating and joy ranting. It is a freedom and soul that is almost inexplicable.20 Get back clears the pipes for Eleanor Rigby. It's all great fun, and a lark.21 The Lennon songs are much harder, and require singing from the gut.22 Great practice, good for listening and refreshing the head to lyrics. Strawberry Fields is particularly good for getting the mind to lock into lyrics.23 Yesterday on my ride home from work, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away came on the radio. I hadn't heard that one in a while. I loved the raspy voice on that tune, because I was so exhausted from the week. I rode the back roads home from work and felt like something old and dusty. It all worked.24 The Beatles are fun to sing because they are a bit of a challenge. Paul's songs swing easily with me because falsetto is fairly easy. Lennon's songs are gut wrenching and require a lot of belly and head. Ringo's stuff is easy as pie. That should surprise nobody. George's songs are soulful and wonderful.25 Each needs different approaches. All are fun and wonderful.26 Interestingly, the two songs I sing at the poetry read are not Beatle songs at all. In fact, with all the music I play in my classroom, I seldom put Beatle songs on.27 I put on obscure background music, music from all parts of the world, blues, karaoke Disney, one-hit eighties, and each song meticulously placed, creating a fun backdrop to the group workshops I conduct.28 The two songs I sing at the poetry read are Simon and Garfunkel songs. They work much better in my voice range. One is America, a song I absolutely love and always will, and the second one is one I put into the poetry read just last year.29 It's a breakfast song, an obscure little gem called Punky' Dilemma. It opens with this line: Wish I was a Kellogg's cornflake, floatin' in my bowl a takin' movies...30 It is a can't miss. The students LOVE that song.31 I'm so glad the visiting team is gone.32 The entire staff is relieved.33 We can get back to our lessons again.34 We have our lives back.35 The students can feel the school landing safely on its feet.36 Moving on, Part Two: It's fun that coincidences continue to happen. Yesterday morning a skit reminded me of how later in the year, the students will be able to teach each other "by any means necessary," which usually translates to making videos, writing poetry, doing skits, writing songs, or anything else that could fit into that category.37 I thought of this student I had a few years ago. He was particularly intelligent and clever, and always brought fresh things to discussions. I wondered if he was still at the school. I then thought to myself, "You will see him today."38 I go out to lunch many days, since I have a prep period right after lunch. On my way home, a truck pulled in front of me. It had a color picture of the Pigeon Point lighthouse, a place I go to every now and again when it gets too hot to stay in San Jose in the summer. It's a cool place, literally and spiritually. It's nothing big, but I thought about it for a second yesterday, and then this truck pulled in front of me. I followed the picture up Quimby road to the school.39 I thought of Pigeon Point just the other day when an ex-student posted a picture of it on Facebook. I smiled when I again saw it on the back of that small truck.40 When I go coastal in summer, I occasionally go there just to feel a cool breeze.41 I got back to school, watched a few skits in my last class, and left the second the bell rang.42 On the way to the parking lot, I looked up and the student I had thought about earlier in the day was walking right next to me.43 I told him about the coincidences of late, and he loved it.44 I got home, took a nap, made a nice dinner, and rested my eyes.45 I awakened to a Beatle's song.46 Turns out that American Idol has been having Beatles' nights all this week.47 Amazing.48 It is well into the four a.m. and I must needs get a bit more rest before I have to go back in and tackle what should be a pretty easy Friday.49 It's nice.50 It's really nice. I'm loving the magic.51 Have a lovely day.52 See you again.53 Peace.~H~
www.xanga.com/bharrington
