When the Cards Aren't Fair, Change the Game.
Just the facts for you: There are 42 types of MD. Mine is called Limb-Girdle type 2e. The 2 refers to the fact that I have a recessive gene defect, and the "e" simply means it was the 5th type of gene mutation discovered and catalogued. Limb-Girdle (LGMD) is one of the milder forms of … Continue reading muscular dystrophy 101
In 2023, I retired from being a full time middle school music teacher. I loved it and would do the whole 28-year gig again if I could. So many amazing kids and colleagues. SO...now as I am in my 50's, I have pivoted away from music, and I focus on advocacy for individuals living with … Continue reading Please allow me to introduce myself…
Let's assume for a moment that you have enough money to pay your monthly bills for the next 12 months. You didn't win the lottery or anything like that, but you have enough that you could take one year off. What are you going to do for the next 12 months? Please comment on this … Continue reading BONUS POST: IT’S YOUR TURN
As I write these words, the sun is out, there is a bit of a breeze and it is a picture perfect late May morning in New England. Before typing, I searched "Uplifting Playlist" on Spotify. Most of it is predictable pop like "Don't Stop Believing" and "Send Me On My Way." Blah, blah, blah. … Continue reading THE SUN IS OUT
These days, information comes at us at an astonishing pace. It can be difficult to filter not only what is real and true, but what is also personal. Everyone everywhere wants your attention, your support, your protest, your money, your time, your interest, your effort, and your ear. We all amplify things that are near … Continue reading STAY QUIET?
As the wise movie character Ferris Bueller once told us: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it." That movie is 40 years old. Yup, life moves pretty fast. Ferris told us this before the internet, before cell phones and before on demand everything. … Continue reading STOP AND LOOK
The title is a reference to someone passing. Yeah you read that correctly. What the hell does death have to do with lasagna? Welcome to today's lesson. Just like I used to tell my students: I'm not going to teach you WHAT to think, I'm attempting to teach you HOW to think. Today, let's think … Continue reading AFTER THE LASAGNA
Seriously. I want to talk turkey here. Real turkey, with a dialect and everything. Specifically, a New England dialect with a dollop of western New Hampshire woods and a smattering of fright from the axe of a Pilgrim. Each version of my wife is lovable and anyone who is in a relationship will tell you … Continue reading LET’S TALK TURKEY
You know that sound and feeling you get when cracking a knuckle on purpose? The little pop and a split second sensation of something inside your finger adjusting? It felt like that, but two muffled pops, a half spin as I tried to brace myself with my arms on an large instrument case, and I … Continue reading Early Days
Recently I was asked what keeps me awake at night. This question was posed to me in a group setting. Although the atmosphere was jovial, the question was anything but. As I listened to various people answer I noticed that some people fluffed off the question, while others spoke about themselves, but not one of … Continue reading It Keeps Me Awake
Christmas Day 1982, Santa Claus brought me a boombox. For those of you that are too young to know what I am talking about, check out this outstanding video. It was a Sony, and it had a tape deck. This meant that I could, for the first time, record my favorite songs directly from the … Continue reading THE WORLD WAS BRAND NEW
Here's one: In April of 2011, Vanessa and I had been dating for almost a year. Little by little I was revealing more of my nerd side: I am a space junkie. Not as in 'more room for stuff'...more like 'outer'. The heavens. Stars, planets and everything NASA. Both of us were teaching, and had … Continue reading A LONG WEEKEND
Moeschen! 