Long live the travel bug

To escape the chaos of work and life, I take solace in travel.  

“I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world,” (quote unknown) reads the words inscribed on an old greeting card tacked to my wall.  

It has been hard to see the forest through the trees the last couple of weeks.  Work is trying to say the least, (I will spare you the sordid details and preserve this blog from corporate tales of woe and dispair)!  It continues to pour rain…  Add a cocktail of snow, ice and wind for good measure and people are in vile humour.  Today’s icing on the cake was the incredulous news the Belgian government which already can’t govern (we’re on year two of non-governments and quick fixes) seems to have a new national bank on its hands!  The latest palaver in a string of many… sigh.

But I digress.  It’s clear the sunlight at the end of the tunnel for me is family, friends and travel.  So it is in this spirit that I confirm my 2009 holidays – at least the big ones! Miami and the Caribbean this spring, west coast in summer and Asia in autumn.  I think LeJaguar is in a bit of shock but has nevertheless graciously accepted my imminent departure for a ”girls weekend” to celebrate carnival in Viareggio, Italy.  Having a travel plan takes off the edge like a smooth glass of Oregon pinot noir.  It gives those of us who like to think of ourselves as travel connoisseurs, something to look forward to.

So break out the feigling, toast to travel, carnival and friends and enjoy the temporary escape from reality while you can.  It will be worth it.

(oh and go to the gym and pound out your aggression on the machines.  I’m staying the course!  It helps!  Work may be tough but if I can look and feel like a million bucks I will be unstoppable.) Go, go, go!

Dream away…

“Don’t part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist but you have ceased to live.”

 - Mark Twain

I make no apologies for being a dreamer.  One needs to be pragmatic and realistic in these challenging times, but I still like to believe in happy endings in both life and work.

“If music be the food of love; play on”

- William Shakespeare  

I used to regularly cross swords with my piano lesson teacher.  “Count out loud!” she would insist in an exasperated voice.  I would resentfully ping a couple wrong notes to irritate her further until the lesson was over so I could play again by ear. 

Ironically my grandmother was a well-established pianist and teacher.  With two grand pianos in her living room, the family would delight in listening to her play.  She always believed my creative and rebellious side towards the piano had potential. Armed with gifts of chirpy sheet music from “The Sound of Music” and a little Hayden and Bach thrown in, I would relish banging out the notes – MY way.

Friday night, LeJaguar and I had the spontaneous opportunity to hear Russian pianist Nikolai Lugansky play Janacek, Prokofiev and Chopin.  At 36, Lugansky’s inspiring repertoire has gained him worldwide acclaim. We were awed by his ability to hit the perfect notes in his interpretation of these great classics entirely by ear.  It was also a reminder how important it is to make the effort to hear live performances.

The keyboard may now be closed on my ebony and ivory future as a concert pianist, however music continues to bring joy to my life.  My collection of favourites is as eclectic as my personality.  Alicia Keys, ColdPlay, Moby, Garth Brooks, Jem, The Fray, Duran Duran, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Akon, Faith Hill, Andrea Bocelli, Vivaldi, Mozart and many, many more…

Whether it’s dancing around the living room with friends, singing off-key in the car, leaning over to hold a sure hand at a concert or dancing until the wee hours of the morning, there is an association with each artist and song: a memory of the person or people I was with, the circumstances and emotion of the moment.

And when all is quiet, the Bose stereo system turned off, the iPod stuffed into my coat pocket, if I listen carefully and tune my ear, I can still hear my pianist grandmother practicing (but not counting out loud).

Opportunity just knocked

“Things don’t disappear, they just change, and change, and change again.”

- Doc, Fraggle Rock

“Opportunity just knocked, let’s reach out and grab it.”

- Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear, The Muppets

Fitting words for a new year from some of my favourite characters and their inspiring creator.  So, forget the map, roll down the windows and show me more. *

Welcome 2009!

 

*Wisdom from ‘It’s Not Easy Being Green and Other Things to Consider”  - Jim Henson

If at first you don’t succeed

“If the string breaks, try another piece of string.” – Winnie-the-Pooh’s, Little Book of Wisdom