When I started blogging, I was in a rut at work. I loved the people I worked with but wasn’t feeling particularly fulfilled. I had my church gig and I was still conducting an orchestra for a high school theater program but I longed for more creativity. Oddly enough, I lost my job and immediately felt like I’d lost my identity. Even though I cried and prayed on the way to work that morning, getting laid off wasn’t the answer to the prayer “Please let something happen. I can’t stand this stress anymore.”

Since that fateful day (almost 5 years ago to the day), I’ve been fortunate to be working where I’ve dreamed of working for a  long time. It is stressful, being one of two people responsible for 700 computers, several servers and networking, is always a challenge but it is fulfilling.

And it leaves me time to be involved in other projects that I love. I just directed a musical at our community theater. First time I directed a community theater project.  Presently, I am music directing Pippin, a show that I’ve always loved. I am also working on A Festival of Lessons and Carols at our church. There are so many cool people involved – people from my current job, people from my church and other churches in the area, people from the theater, people of other faiths, children as young as second grade, adults as old as, well, me.

The other night, I facilitated a group of alumni who had participated in marching band at our high school. We cleaned out the room that holds all of the instruments that could be played by band members… if we had a band. These alumni are committed to help grow the instrumental music program at our alma mater.

It was during this alumni meeting that I injured my left hand. Musicians know how devastating a small nick, cut or squish of an appendage can be. When I began my freshman year in college as a music major, one of the sophomore trumpet players was recovering from a car accident. He hadn’t been badly hurt, but he split his lip, requiring stitches. The lack of practice over the summer, set him back in his studies. The scar tissue caused him to have to redesign his embouchure.

So, when my fingers got caught in the wooden hinge of an aging xylophone, I tried to jerk my hand back but it was getting crushed. The person on the end of the crushing realized what was going on and folded the hinge the other way, apologizing profusely adding that he saw the stars I was still seeing. Three days later, they’re stil tender, even while typing. Not sure how I played guitar last night at church. I think sang more than played.

But heck, I’m doing what I love – providing opportunites for others to be creative. Makes this fortune all the more sweet!

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Minty-Fresh™.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 1,900 times in 2010. That’s about 5 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 21 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 201 posts.

The busiest day of the year was November 18th with 20 views. The most popular post that day was Cubicle Quarrels.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were twilightcola.blogspot.com, facebook.com, twitter.com, batupermataimpian.blogspot.com, and capricorn1966.wordpress.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for bam margera, bam, pack rat, cubicles, and pack rats.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

Cubicle Quarrels April 2008
7 comments

lmao Are You A Bam Margera Fan? Congratulations! … January 2007
3 comments

30 Days of Music Day 1 – Your Favorite Song May 2010

About June 2007
6 comments

Neil Young, CSN, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell July 2008

I’m partial to this Little Feat Tune for a number of reasons. It speaks to me about hope and happiness. All That You Dream:

This is a crazy cover!

Sometimes I get angry. Then I get angry that I’m angry. Oh, please, don’t ever think that I could just get angry and enjoy it!

This song really calms me down. It gives me hope. It soothes my ruffled feathers and reminds me that there is a better use of that negative energy. It makes me cry. It makes me smile again.

‘Nuff said.

This song kicks musical ass. This band plays kick-ass music. I don’t ever get to hear it on the radio. It’s on my IPod and in my CD collection. Love it. You should love it too.

I credit my brother-in-law, Jerry, and my son for turning me onto great music. This one was a Jerry-find!

On the IPOD too. Can’t get enough of these guys and this song is awesome!

I am so grateful for the people in my life. The people that were at this event are among the most special. It would take thousands of blog posts to explain. My family, my friends, family who have become friends, friends who have become family. It ‘s not simple. It’s heavenly.

And how does this describe me. Love love love.

About 10 years a go, a co-worker turned me on to the CD. Close your eyes as the video plays – It’s kinda scary. The arrangement is very cool. Brings me back to my old high school Jazz Band days. The whole CD is tight and the arrangements are sweet. I like it – a lot.