No one I know

that was forced to go to piano lessons as a child, liked it. I hated piano lessons when I was a kid too. I was 8 or 9 and I was sassy to my teacher. I hated her hair, the way she smiled, and the way she didn't change out of her duster to have company over. I hated the smell of her house, that her walkway was riddled with berries that smooshed under your feet, that no one ever bothered to sweep them away, and that the sun never reached far enough under that tree to dry those berries or the sidewalk up. We didn't go there very long, my brother & I, and then she passed away unexpectedly and I never saw her again. I internalized it, thinking I was part to blame for not being a good student. 20+ years later, I remember her house like it was yesterday: particularly, the sun shining through the window those few Saturday mornings onto her ugly red carpet and the old brown upright who's keys were yellowed by time, but I don't remember her name.

I began piano lessons four weeks ago. The plan was to start when I turned 30 but anyway ... fast forward: I enrolled and had my first lesson on April 1st. After lots of practice, and undoubtedly boring my husband and children to tears with overdone repetition, I currently play like this:

Love Makes The World Go Round, Bob Merrill, 1961!
I've still got a long way to go :)
I find a relaxing joy in learning to play the piano that somehow I feel I've been in search of for years. It is a 100% selfish passtime, a distraction, a diversion; all the things I don't choose to have for myself as everyone else's needs come before my own. I lose track of time while I practice, and when I stop sometimes 3 hours later, my arms hurt in the absolute best way possible. It is to say the least, a blessing on my soul.

I bought a digital piano (different from a keyboard) with a full set of hammer action keys and pedals, and while I know the acoustics will NEVER be as glorious as a real piano, the greatest benefit is the option to put on headphones and practice at 8pm or 2am and not inconvenience anyone. I've sacrificed the sound for an ever present opportunity.

My instructor is a crazy old Filipino lady - aren't they all?! - but I like her, she makes me laugh. She ripped me through 23 pages in my book the very first lesson and I thought she was going too fast. It was overwhelming, but I quickly realized that her style of teaching is exactly my style of learning. I expected to learn the same way I did as a child - one hand at a time with repetitive drilling for each finger - no deals. It's all fingers at the same time and both hands! What?! Theory is tough, but I know the ability to read music will be the ultimate reward - all things will be possible then and I look forward to it. So the next time I post a video it will hopefully be something brilliant. But don't hold your breath, it'll be a while!

Last March

I went for my annual with Dr. Jamm, my OB/GYN (great name huh?), and it was routinely average. Blah blah blah. Then he said I had to lose 50 lbs. And I had a year to do it. Brash as I am, I told him flat out that he was crazy. He said if I lost a pound a week, in a year, I'd lose those 50 lbs. Seriously, I lose a pound every day taking off my jeans.
So let's be real. This is a 50 lb bag of rice at Costco in comparison to a shopping cart (don't mind the googled stolen image):
I'd say this bag is roughly the size of my torso. And I'm supposed to lose this weight from where on my body? I know I'm not skinny. I never have been, I don't think I ever will be. And I know I didn't try to the best of my ability to lose any significant amount of weight before my inevitable appointment this coming Saturday, that you might have noticed I delayed as it's soon to be May. But really? He said according to my BMI and my height and all that other stuff that I don't think includes Asian folks, I'm obese. THANKS, DOC. What a way with the ladies!
So I know I'm in for a scolding when I go back. I know he won't give me any credit for not GAINING any more weight. But I'm still 10 lbs lighter than before I got pregnant with my son who's now 7, so I've maintained for about 8 years, and after 2 children. That's not a bad thing is it?
Perhaps if I weighed myself as neurotically as Dr. Jamm does - before every meal to determine how much he can eat on a daily basis - I'd have the same view as him? Shyeah, NO. I'll worry when my general practitioner says I should, and when my clothes don't fit. For now I'll continue to make healthier decisions than I used to. I already drink more water than the average person, simply because I like it. And why DRINK calories you could EAT instead? I don't drink alcohol, I like veggies, I prefer chicken or fish over red meat, and salads are growing on me. If I'm alone, I take the stairs and it wouldn't hurt to jog on the treadmill more often either. Problem is I like food more than I like exercise, and I've got to like it to do it.

edit: As I mirrored this on FB, I realized my blogspot name. No wonder I'm obese?!

A good read

GOD vs. SCIENCE

'Let me explain the problem science has with religion.' The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'

'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'

'Absolutely.

'Is God good?'

'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'

'Yes'

'Are you good or evil?'

'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible!' He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good...!'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent.

'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'

'Err.. yes,' the student says.

' Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

The student falters. 'From God'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything correct??

'Yes'

'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer. 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes.'

'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student.

'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelled your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'

' Yes.'

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested.

The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain.

'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to - 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest - 458 degrees.'

'Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define t he word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains.. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.'

'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.'

The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?'

The class breaks out into laughter.

'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelled the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.'

'So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'

Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it everyday It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.

The student was Albert Einstein.



'For we walk by faith, not by sight.' 2 Corinthians 5:7

Remembering Rock Thomas Green

click image to enlarge
courtesy of Brooklyn Dombroski