Quote of The Day

"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."
-Ronald Reagan

Be seeing you,
Steven

A Mozart Weekend

So I find that I forgot to mention one of the highlights of my weekend: my very first classical music concert. It was at Vancouver's Orpheum Theatre on Good Friday night. The CBC Radio Orchestra performed Eine Kleine Nachtmusik first, and then they were joined by the Vancouver Chamber Choir and the Trinity Western University Masterworks Chorale for the Requiem Mass In D Minor. I was very excited to finally hear classical music in concert, and by one of my favourite composers.
And yesterday I went to spend some of my birthday money at a classical records store. I was prepared to spend a considerable amount. I found a 10-CD set of Mozart's piano concertos...for $29.99! It was incredible. So I can also get a biography of Mozart tomorrow, and a complete set of his symphonies down the road a bit.
Hey, what can I say? It's his 250th birthday.

Be seeing you,
Steven

Broken Flowers

A broken flower sits on the floor,
The petals torn, the pollen scattered;
Murdered yellow on solid blue,
Dead and withered irises lie beside.
And the truncated stems?
In my hand.

Be seeing you,
Steven

Yet Another Year

Today marks the end of my twentieth year on this planet. Now that it's here, I don't quite know what to write.
The family was over on Saturday; we had six birthdays to celebrate, including mine. Mom took me out for a gloriously huge breakfast this morning. Still, I can't help feeling rather alone this year. It seems as if I'm the only one who's really celebrating. I have to read Dr. Seuss' "Happy Birthday To You" to myself because no one else will. It's a bit sad, but I guess for an ego like mine it's just another reminder that it's all about me--or at least showing me what that really means.
On a somewhat lighter note:

GREAT EVENTS IN HISTORY ON APRIL 12TH:
467-Anthemius is made Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
1606-The Union Jack is made the flag of the United Kingdom.
1861-The American Civil War begins.
1945-President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies in office.
1961-Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space.
1981-The space shuttle Columbia launches.

Also, today is the Catholic Feast Day of St. Zeno of Verona, patron saint of fisherman and newborn babies; the Jewish festival of Passover begins today at sundown; and in ancient Rome, the holiday Cerealia began today. I share this birthday with authors Tom Clancy and Beverly Cleary, talkshow host David Letterman, actress Claire Danes, and Italian soprano Maria Callas.

"As through the calender I delve,
I pause to rejoice in April twelve.
Yea, be I in sickness or be I in health,
My favourite day is April twealth."
-Ogden Nash

So here's wishing me a happy birthday, and many more to come.

Be seeing you,
Steven

Want To Have Some Fun This Summer?

1) Be standing outside with a friend.
2) Point to somewhere on the ground or a nearby sign or something--somewhere behind them.
3) Say, "Look, there's a snail."
4) When they turn around to look, say, "Oh, you missed it. It must've been moving too fast for you."

Try it.

Be seeing you,
Steven