Back at home for the Christmas holidays...It feels more and more like a time warp every time I go home now, weird. Anyways, Delia got to come up for a day so that was nice, but then she had to go back to work, yuck. Ohh yeah, my sister Beth is engaged now! Yayy Beth! Her fiance's name is Jason and he's cool. He likes Family Guy, so of COURSE I like him. Oh well, time to go watch Law and Order with the family, until later
Charles
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Sunday, November 19, 2006
The Operation of an Automobile
I will assume for the sake of this post that most if not all of you out there are drivers or have been at some point in your life...If so, this post is for you.
For the better part of six years, I have owned and operated my own vehicle with no blemishes on my driving record, except for a wreck which occured while driving very carefully in heavy rain. It is beyond my comprehension how poorly 98.4 percent of the driving population operate their automobile. This task is not that difficult. The first rule of driving is one of the first rules we learn as a baby, "Don't run into things!" yet this rule is somehow forgotten or ignored. These people have no concern for others as they are driving, they are going where they are going and you'd better get out of the way. So for these reasons, I've created a list for these horrible drivers so when they search, "Operation of an Automobile," which they definitely should because they, for lack of a better word, suck at driving, they can reference these points and hopefully become better drivers, or realize they should stay off the road.
Charles Henry's Rules for Driving
1. Speed limits are not absolute. If you go 30 miles an hour in a 30 mile an hour zone, you will probably get run over. Go with the flow of traffic.
2. Red lights however, ARE absolute. Even if no one is coming through the intersection, stop....no, just STOP.
3. Green lights mean GO! G-G-G-Green....G-G-G-Goooo I don't many kindergarten failures that wouldn't be able to match these up. When you see a green light, it means, "Yes, you may take your foot off of the brake and depress the accelerator you MORON!"
4. When you are sitting at a red light and are planning on turning right, you can turn when there is no traffic. I know this may be advanced for some people, but it's true. I read it, IN A BOOK! This is one of Charles' biggest pet peeves.
5. If you're planning on making a turn, left or right, please use your blinker when there is other traffic around. These people would probably like to know which way you're going so they can go ahead and turn or NOT GET RUN INTO! This shouldn't be a guessing game.
6. Oh yeah, in relation to number 2, stop signs...correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't stop mean, "not moving?" YIELD signs mean to slow down, not STOP signs. Again, even if no one is coming, you should STOP at a STOP sign. (G-G-G remember?)
7. Look before you change lanes. Just because you drive a Jaguar doesn't mean that you're better than me. You can't just cut me off. Trust me, I'm a lot less concerned about wrecking my '92 Ford POS than you should be about your Jaguar. I'll gladly take a sore neck and a wrecked door to see you write me a check and get a blemish on your nice car.
8. And oh yeah, SIGNAL when you change lanes too ya jerks!
9. Don't stop your car in the middle of the road ANYWHERE unless it's an emergency. I WILL honk at you, and you do not want that to happen. A wise driving guru taught me the skill of following whoever made me honk my horn and honk the horn continuously up to and including one entire minute. It has made people cry, seriously.
(A note about number nine: yes, it made people cry, but did they make the same mistake again? Probably)
10. I do NOT want to hear your music. Oops, sorry, I said music, I meant Rap. It is amazing someone can function in their car with the noise turned up that loud. If it's shaking MY windows, it's definitely too loud. This loud music does not make you look cool. It just makes you look fuzzy because my car shakes every time the bass plays.
11. Soccer moms, find a new mode of transportation. Yall are obviously not bright enough to operate an SUV. Almost every curb in Homewood has skid marks from being run over by these massive gas guzzlers. Perhaps a minivan would work well for you? See www.uabchoirs.blogspot.com
12. Don't tailgate me please. It's really annoying, and I guarantee you I'm not going to speed up. A nice trick: while still depressing the accelerator, tap the brakes just to where your brake lights come on. This way it's not dangerous, but it will scare the CRAP out of the person behind you. They'll get the message, and a clean pair of boxers.
There are probably many more rules to written here, but this is a good starting point. Bottom line, just don't suck at driving. Cause if you do, you will hear my car horn in your dreams.
Shake n bake
charles
For the better part of six years, I have owned and operated my own vehicle with no blemishes on my driving record, except for a wreck which occured while driving very carefully in heavy rain. It is beyond my comprehension how poorly 98.4 percent of the driving population operate their automobile. This task is not that difficult. The first rule of driving is one of the first rules we learn as a baby, "Don't run into things!" yet this rule is somehow forgotten or ignored. These people have no concern for others as they are driving, they are going where they are going and you'd better get out of the way. So for these reasons, I've created a list for these horrible drivers so when they search, "Operation of an Automobile," which they definitely should because they, for lack of a better word, suck at driving, they can reference these points and hopefully become better drivers, or realize they should stay off the road.
Charles Henry's Rules for Driving
1. Speed limits are not absolute. If you go 30 miles an hour in a 30 mile an hour zone, you will probably get run over. Go with the flow of traffic.
2. Red lights however, ARE absolute. Even if no one is coming through the intersection, stop....no, just STOP.
3. Green lights mean GO! G-G-G-Green....G-G-G-Goooo I don't many kindergarten failures that wouldn't be able to match these up. When you see a green light, it means, "Yes, you may take your foot off of the brake and depress the accelerator you MORON!"
4. When you are sitting at a red light and are planning on turning right, you can turn when there is no traffic. I know this may be advanced for some people, but it's true. I read it, IN A BOOK! This is one of Charles' biggest pet peeves.
5. If you're planning on making a turn, left or right, please use your blinker when there is other traffic around. These people would probably like to know which way you're going so they can go ahead and turn or NOT GET RUN INTO! This shouldn't be a guessing game.
6. Oh yeah, in relation to number 2, stop signs...correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't stop mean, "not moving?" YIELD signs mean to slow down, not STOP signs. Again, even if no one is coming, you should STOP at a STOP sign. (G-G-G remember?)
7. Look before you change lanes. Just because you drive a Jaguar doesn't mean that you're better than me. You can't just cut me off. Trust me, I'm a lot less concerned about wrecking my '92 Ford POS than you should be about your Jaguar. I'll gladly take a sore neck and a wrecked door to see you write me a check and get a blemish on your nice car.
8. And oh yeah, SIGNAL when you change lanes too ya jerks!
9. Don't stop your car in the middle of the road ANYWHERE unless it's an emergency. I WILL honk at you, and you do not want that to happen. A wise driving guru taught me the skill of following whoever made me honk my horn and honk the horn continuously up to and including one entire minute. It has made people cry, seriously.
(A note about number nine: yes, it made people cry, but did they make the same mistake again? Probably)
10. I do NOT want to hear your music. Oops, sorry, I said music, I meant Rap. It is amazing someone can function in their car with the noise turned up that loud. If it's shaking MY windows, it's definitely too loud. This loud music does not make you look cool. It just makes you look fuzzy because my car shakes every time the bass plays.
11. Soccer moms, find a new mode of transportation. Yall are obviously not bright enough to operate an SUV. Almost every curb in Homewood has skid marks from being run over by these massive gas guzzlers. Perhaps a minivan would work well for you? See www.uabchoirs.blogspot.com
12. Don't tailgate me please. It's really annoying, and I guarantee you I'm not going to speed up. A nice trick: while still depressing the accelerator, tap the brakes just to where your brake lights come on. This way it's not dangerous, but it will scare the CRAP out of the person behind you. They'll get the message, and a clean pair of boxers.
There are probably many more rules to written here, but this is a good starting point. Bottom line, just don't suck at driving. Cause if you do, you will hear my car horn in your dreams.
Shake n bake
charles
Friday, November 03, 2006
Driving
This is a reminder to Charles to blog about driving and how terrible people are at driving...Hey Charles, dummy! Blog about drivers!
Monday, September 18, 2006
Invincible
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of seeing a truly great movie, a movie that really made me appreciate the strength of the human spirit. That movie, was Invincible. For those of you who may not know, this movie tells the story of a south Philadelphia native, Vince Papali, a man who only played one year of high school football, and eventually played for the Philadelphia Eagles. This man had been told all his life that he would never be anything, that he should never aspire to anything because it would only end in failure. This man rose up to meet the challenge, and triumphed over all those that didn't believe in him. Invincible made me feel privileged to be a human being, to be alive. This movie made me realize that we can do anything, as cheesy as that may sound. Thank you to Vince Papali for being who you are.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Expression v. Technique
The eternal question: what is the conductor's responsibility to the ensemble, a technical clinic of all conducting gestures to completely execute the composers music to the letter, or an emotional filter through which the ensembles music is expressed? With new friends beginning their conducting sequence at UAB, this old question popped up into my head. I have been under conductors and watched conductors who ascribe to both philosophies, I want to know some other people's opinions. This also leads to another question, and one I would like to get some opinions on as well. What does the conductor owe to the composer in a performance? What should be observed and kept in the performance from the composer? Hopefully, these composers are musicians and will use appropriate instructions, but what are the boundaries to be set for the conductor? and what are the ramifications if the conductor disagrees with the instructions of the composer, but likes the piece enough to perform it in his/her own interpretation?
Leadership
Another year of school has started, and with it come all the trials and tribulations, hard work, dedication, etc. This is my final year of undergraduate study, if all goes according to plan, and I feel as though I am in a certain position of leadership in school. These feelings have also sparked an awareness and a curiosity on my part into leadership in general. The motivation for this blog was a self-help commercial I saw on the TV, and also Delia's orientation "Team Building" at Samford.
It seems in the last ten to twenty years, there has been a spike in the self-help, motivational speaking industry, with bustling technology and an increasing desire to create the "global economy." Am I the only one who gets a bad taste in his mouth when I think about these things. I personally don't feel as though I need someone to tell me how I should live my life, and in what way I should conduct my affairs. I feel successful in myself, and I believe I will be successful as an adult with a career. It is wonderful that these people who write books and speak have become successful, but why do they think that the way the lead their lives will help me at all? I know a lot of people swear by these systems, but I just have a hard time believing that these actually work, or that they would make a difference in my life. Perhaps that's why it's a good thing I'm having to research "Getting Things Done" for Dr. Copeland's class. Maybe it will open my eyes to what these systems are REALLY about.
The other half of this blog is on the issue of building teamwork and "leadership skills." Anyone that's ever been to camp, or an orientation, or something like that knows what I am talking about. I find these exercises usually pointless. But the question is why? Is it because, I believe, I already feel like a leader, and don't need to build these skills? or am I just missing the point altogether? We watched Troy last night, and I said that I hope I would be like Hector, a great leader of men. I hope I conduct myself that way and that I am a leader in my adult life.
Ohh well, this was sort of a ramble, kinda missed my point from what I was originally going to blog a few days ago.
charles
It seems in the last ten to twenty years, there has been a spike in the self-help, motivational speaking industry, with bustling technology and an increasing desire to create the "global economy." Am I the only one who gets a bad taste in his mouth when I think about these things. I personally don't feel as though I need someone to tell me how I should live my life, and in what way I should conduct my affairs. I feel successful in myself, and I believe I will be successful as an adult with a career. It is wonderful that these people who write books and speak have become successful, but why do they think that the way the lead their lives will help me at all? I know a lot of people swear by these systems, but I just have a hard time believing that these actually work, or that they would make a difference in my life. Perhaps that's why it's a good thing I'm having to research "Getting Things Done" for Dr. Copeland's class. Maybe it will open my eyes to what these systems are REALLY about.
The other half of this blog is on the issue of building teamwork and "leadership skills." Anyone that's ever been to camp, or an orientation, or something like that knows what I am talking about. I find these exercises usually pointless. But the question is why? Is it because, I believe, I already feel like a leader, and don't need to build these skills? or am I just missing the point altogether? We watched Troy last night, and I said that I hope I would be like Hector, a great leader of men. I hope I conduct myself that way and that I am a leader in my adult life.
Ohh well, this was sort of a ramble, kinda missed my point from what I was originally going to blog a few days ago.
charles
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
The Recapitulation
For the record, if you haven't tried Mexico Lindo's margaritas, you should put that high on the priority list.
My, my my, it has been a while my fellow blogging compatriots. I apologize for the extended absence from the community. A lot has happened since my last post.
The choir did amicably in Carnegie Hall in NY performing the Mozart Solemn Vespers, I enjoyed almost two weeks of summer before classes started, I completed Foundations of Education I in June, I am working almost 30 hours a week, and I probably totaled Delia's car last week. We are both okay, but the car had a tree inserted into its, eh hem, rear end, and yes, I was driving.
Things are definitely changing here. I am in my last year of school, if all goes as planned. Dr. Ray, my private voice teacher is moving to Nashville, a truly sad occasion for myself and others. Dr. Clemmons, my theory teacher for 2 years has retired, and I am actually done with all my music courses, except for Class Strings and Percussion. I can feel the impending graduation in everything that I do, and I am thrilled. The other day, I actually got a phone call from my high school choir director telling me that a half-time music ed. position was being created at my high school, and he asked me to fill it before it was advertised! Sadly, I was not able to accept because I will not have graduated, but what a thrill to be considered. Delia said, "I hope they just throw jobs at you when you finally do graduate!" Me too! I just hope when the time comes, I can excel. The thing I worry about most is getting the students to follow the rules, obey, etc., even though I will be so close to their age. I hope that I can do that. There will probably be more to that later on. But that's it for now, just wanted to remind myself how to do this.
Until later
Psalm 54:4
ps thanks delia
My, my my, it has been a while my fellow blogging compatriots. I apologize for the extended absence from the community. A lot has happened since my last post.
The choir did amicably in Carnegie Hall in NY performing the Mozart Solemn Vespers, I enjoyed almost two weeks of summer before classes started, I completed Foundations of Education I in June, I am working almost 30 hours a week, and I probably totaled Delia's car last week. We are both okay, but the car had a tree inserted into its, eh hem, rear end, and yes, I was driving.
Things are definitely changing here. I am in my last year of school, if all goes as planned. Dr. Ray, my private voice teacher is moving to Nashville, a truly sad occasion for myself and others. Dr. Clemmons, my theory teacher for 2 years has retired, and I am actually done with all my music courses, except for Class Strings and Percussion. I can feel the impending graduation in everything that I do, and I am thrilled. The other day, I actually got a phone call from my high school choir director telling me that a half-time music ed. position was being created at my high school, and he asked me to fill it before it was advertised! Sadly, I was not able to accept because I will not have graduated, but what a thrill to be considered. Delia said, "I hope they just throw jobs at you when you finally do graduate!" Me too! I just hope when the time comes, I can excel. The thing I worry about most is getting the students to follow the rules, obey, etc., even though I will be so close to their age. I hope that I can do that. There will probably be more to that later on. But that's it for now, just wanted to remind myself how to do this.
Until later
Psalm 54:4
ps thanks delia
Monday, March 20, 2006
For my next trick...
For those of you who own, or know somebody who owns the Nickel Creek CD "This Side," listen to "Smoothie Song". My next goal is to turn this into a choral arrangement a la Swingle Singers, it will be incredible.
String Bass-Bass/Baritone
Guitar-Tenor/Baritone
Violin-Alto
Mandolin-Soprano
String Bass-Bass/Baritone
Guitar-Tenor/Baritone
Violin-Alto
Mandolin-Soprano
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Two totally unrelated topics
First, I want to say congratulations for Delia getting into pharmacy school! YES! That is so amazing, great job babe! I couldn't be prouder, especially after the fun (haha) experience of this past year, right?
Secondly, I just wanted to take a moment to pontificate my current stress inducer, it's called a Music History paper. However, I'm actually enjoying the research and score study. I feel like I'm becoming a MUSICIAN, not just a member of a choir or future choir director, (Next May, YES!) I'm beginning to understand the excellent craftsmanship a composer uses in writing every note of a superb piece of music. My paper is on Mendelssohn's oratorio, "Elijah", the story of the great Old Testament prophet, and the song I am analyzing is "Lord God of Abraham." There are so many subtle tools Mendelssohn has used...anyways, I'll shut up. I mainly wanted to use this post as another way to say that I can't wait to be a conductor. I'm finally beginning to understand what Elizabeth Green, (The Modern Conductor) was talking about when she said "a joy in study." I love it. I am a dork, and that's okay.
Till next time, read 1 Kings 18. Then you'll understand my paper when I post it in the next month or so.
charles
Secondly, I just wanted to take a moment to pontificate my current stress inducer, it's called a Music History paper. However, I'm actually enjoying the research and score study. I feel like I'm becoming a MUSICIAN, not just a member of a choir or future choir director, (Next May, YES!) I'm beginning to understand the excellent craftsmanship a composer uses in writing every note of a superb piece of music. My paper is on Mendelssohn's oratorio, "Elijah", the story of the great Old Testament prophet, and the song I am analyzing is "Lord God of Abraham." There are so many subtle tools Mendelssohn has used...anyways, I'll shut up. I mainly wanted to use this post as another way to say that I can't wait to be a conductor. I'm finally beginning to understand what Elizabeth Green, (The Modern Conductor) was talking about when she said "a joy in study." I love it. I am a dork, and that's okay.
Till next time, read 1 Kings 18. Then you'll understand my paper when I post it in the next month or so.
charles
Monday, March 06, 2006
Understanding
Yesterday, I had the honor and privilege of singing at the M-Power Awareness Concert at the Alys Stephens Center with the Vestavia Hills UMC Chancel Choir. The other choirs there were Shades Crest Baptist, Vestavia Baptist, Cathedral Church of the Advent, Independent Pres., Sixth Ave. Baptist and New Hope Baptist Church. What an experience it was to watch the two black churches, Sixth ave. and New Hope sing in worship. The look on their faces and in their movements was one of full surrender and exultation. I really felt that the Holy Spirit was in that place when they were singing. That's not to say that every other choir didn't perform wonderfully, but there was just something special about these two choirs. As I watched and listened to them, I began to VAGUELY understand what a source of comfort and hope faith must have been during the terrible stain of slavery in this country. You hear so much about slaves singing and having such a strong faith in God through song, etc., that you couldn't help but think about that and be touched by that music. I understand that that is what no man can take away from you. No matter how much power they have over you here, no matter how much those slaves were beaten, tortured, or humiliated, no amount of that can touch their unshakeable faith in Christ. I want to say thank you to those choirs. I didn't get to speak to them after the concert was over, because there were SO MANY PEOPLE, but thank you. You touched me in a way that doesn't happen very often. Thank you, and God bless.
Charles
Charles
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Unbelievably Bored
The choir performed admirably in West Virginia, and finally arrived back in B'ham about ten o'clock last night. I had such a great time on the way to and from WV and while there...walking around, looking for the rite aid, leaving a little bit of myself in that alley, it was all great. I had such a good time that today, since I didn't have something to do every minute of the day with somebody, i got really bored, and slightly depressed. Today kind of reminded me of my first year of college, something I wish to forget almost everything about. Anyway, I know this was kind of a downer blog and sorry about that....but it's sad because I had such an awesome time on the choir trip!
later
charles
later
charles
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Early...
So, tomorrow Concert Choir leaves for West Virginia...yes, West Virginia. You're probably asking yourself why would ANYONE go there, and I did too for a while. But anyways, we are leaving to sing at the ACDA Regional Convention in Charleston, and I can't wait. However, the only drawback is that I have to get up about 345ish, in the AM! And yes, that time REALLY exists. Ohh yeah, I talked to God today and he said he needed a wake up call tomorrow, he usually sleeps till about 4...gotcha covered. So that is where I will be the next few days, and oh yeah, I CAN NOT WAIT TO BE A CHOIR DIRECTOR!
Charles
P.s. Props to Dr. Jordan for coming to listen/talk to us today. What a blessing and gift to our choir.
Charles
P.s. Props to Dr. Jordan for coming to listen/talk to us today. What a blessing and gift to our choir.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Baritone
Clay, unbelievably hilarious post on the "Gizoogle." I would pay good money to hear Copeland say that one time in my life. And on another note,
Choir beware. The strong and steady path of World Baritone Domination has begun. Under the orders of our incomparable leader, Dr. Copeland, (yes, he sang baritone in the "Messiah,") our colonization has commenced. First, it was the move from the back row to the third row. Then, it was a lateral move to the Western Hemisphere with New Baritoneland. Keith, Clay and I have firmly established ourselves on this side of the choir, even assimilating with some of the natives, (singing second tenor in places.) Yes, I know, diminishing ourselves by mixing with the commoners, but hey, even the angels mixed with the humans. I read it, in the Bible. So, rest of the choir, be forewarned. It is only a matter of time. It starts with a humming of your part and hearing the bass and baritone parts of the chord, then comes the mourning for our departed brethren Kevin, who though he is gone, his vibrato will always, ALWAYS be with us (Martin ;-) And then, pretty soon, you find yourself singing the fifth of every chord and being asked to show the second tenors how their part is REALLY supposed to sound. In closing, Baritonia (Martin, Evan, Chris, Jason and Luke) and New Baritoneland will be imposing their will on the rest of the choir, and you will be fortunate enough to take part in it. You're welcome.
Charles
Keeper of the Pitch
Choir beware. The strong and steady path of World Baritone Domination has begun. Under the orders of our incomparable leader, Dr. Copeland, (yes, he sang baritone in the "Messiah,") our colonization has commenced. First, it was the move from the back row to the third row. Then, it was a lateral move to the Western Hemisphere with New Baritoneland. Keith, Clay and I have firmly established ourselves on this side of the choir, even assimilating with some of the natives, (singing second tenor in places.) Yes, I know, diminishing ourselves by mixing with the commoners, but hey, even the angels mixed with the humans. I read it, in the Bible. So, rest of the choir, be forewarned. It is only a matter of time. It starts with a humming of your part and hearing the bass and baritone parts of the chord, then comes the mourning for our departed brethren Kevin, who though he is gone, his vibrato will always, ALWAYS be with us (Martin ;-) And then, pretty soon, you find yourself singing the fifth of every chord and being asked to show the second tenors how their part is REALLY supposed to sound. In closing, Baritonia (Martin, Evan, Chris, Jason and Luke) and New Baritoneland will be imposing their will on the rest of the choir, and you will be fortunate enough to take part in it. You're welcome.
Charles
Keeper of the Pitch
Friday, January 27, 2006
Update
I don't blog quite as much because I want to make sure I can spell words like "update"...(see right column of UAB Choir blog) Dr. Copeland
charles
charles
Monday, January 23, 2006
Not so much meditation, more just an update...
Hello to all...Yes, I am still alive and everything is pretty much back in full swing. I'm ALMOST completely recovered from some surgery I had over the holidays....It's a sensitive area, enough said. I spent part of this past weekend with beautiful Delia, and had a great (but short time). I'm back at work at Panera and have just about settled into my new schedule. Hope everything is going well with everybody and there will be more meditations in the weeks to follow, until then, I leave you with this....
Sorry, I just decided to leave instead
charles
Sorry, I just decided to leave instead
charles
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