Muskmelons

Melons

Earlier today we were searching through our books looking for ones we no longer wanted, to go in the "donate" pile. I opened a random book and a photograph of me fell out. Clearly I had been using it as a makeshift bookmark (I am well known for such behavior). In the photo I am wearing a woman's black bikini top, generously stuffed with two canteloupes. I have an eerily saucy look on my face and I appear to be biting my lower lip. I just looked up canteloupe in the dictionary to make sure there was a 'u' in it, and found it described as a "muskmelon" with a hard rind and sweet flesh. Sounds positively pornographic, n'est-ce pas?

Mindfulness

Yesterday I substituted at the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan. I had auditioned for the music director some months ago and he was eager to add me to his sub list. His contractor called me in December, hoping that I was available for January 2nd. Late that afternoon, as I stood washing dishes in my kitchen, I realized I had completely blown it. I forgot to go. I called and debased myself with apologies. They then offered me January 16th, whereupon I had to admit that I would be in Florida. Third time's a charm: January 30th. So I went.

Having a bladder the size of an acorn, I had to stop at the restroom on my way into the choir loft. Hurrying along to catch up with the others, I did not notice a step up because of dim lighting and burgundy-colored carpeting. I went sprawling, the music folder and a bottle of water flying out of my arms. I slammed my right shoulder into a wooden pew and saw stars. The pain was immediate and nauseating. Two altos came running to see if I was all right. Naturally I was embarrassed and reassured them that I was fine, and had just taken a light tumble.

I tried to do a few shoulder circles to assess the damage. Nothing seemed broken as I could roll the shoulder without too much difficulty. But when I tried to life my upper arm in front of myself, the pain struck again. I seem to have banged the hell out of the front of my deltoid muscle. Someone came running with Aleve and I swallowed a capsule with water.

One of the guys stopped me and asked if I would be suing the church. Incredulous, I gaped at him and said, "No, of course not!" He replied, "That's good, because you'd certainly lose and then they wouldn't hire you again." I played along with him good-naturedly, but felt it to be rather rude of him. He seemed like rather a prissy queen so I just let it all go.

All the rest of the day, I wondered how I would be able to teach two yoga classes today (Monday). I used an ice pack throughout the afternoon and evening, and this morning it seems a great deal better. I think I will probably be fine but felt I should elaborate this experience on this blog.

We attempt to teach mindfulness in yoga; yesterday's tumble was a prime example of lack of mindfulness. I was hurrying to get somewhere in an unfamiliar place. A painful, but very valuable, lesson.

Circus Peanuts

There is a young Chinese woman directly across from me on the 7 train. Her worn gloves are orange, the unfortunate color of circus peanuts. They look soft, but a bit too fuzzy, as though she'd been sifting through pine cones while wearing them. I know she's Chinese because of the guidebook she's carrying: "New York", and underneath, those tell-tale squashed spiders. They seem so needlessly complicated, given the visual simplicity of our own alphabet.

Me with long hair, May 2003.

Me with short hair, summer 2004.

Approximately twelve, wouldn't you say?

Sunrise over 48th Street

Worthy of an Early Wake-up Time

I guess I was rewarded for awakening so early this morning -- look at this sunrise!

Me in my better-dressed era, age 3.

Difficulty Staying Asleep

I wonder if it is a function of rapidly approaching forty? I tend to sink into sleep earlier and earlier each evening, particularly if I'm parked on the couch in front of the television. But then after only six hours of sleep or so, my mind starts humming at 5:30 or 6:00 a.m., and it actually becomes physically uncomfortable to stay in bed. If I don't get up and get moving with my day, my mind will spin ever widening circles of pointless mania until I finally give in to it and get up so I can distract myself with minutiae. So I came to the desk and began updating and formatting this blog. What's even worse is that today is Saturday. How absurd. I should be sleeping until 10 a.m. or even later. I remember how in college I could sleep until 1:30 p.m. without even stirring from bedtime the night before. It's a bit depressing. I've already been up for an hour and there's not even a trace of sunrise yet.

Me & my favorite tree, Delray Beach, FL, Jan 2005

Greetings and Welcome

Revolving Reflections on my life experiences. Perhaps some tidbit will amuse, help, or enlighten some reader, somewhere. My name is Michael; I currently live in the metropolitan New York City area although I'm from a tiny mountain town in western Pennsylvania. I'm a musician in my soul, and I also do many other things to help pay the bills. More on that another time.