My Birthday Weekend... (Repost from MySpace)

Okay, I haven't had the time to write a blog in ages and I have a ton of stuff to write about, but this one will focus on my birthday.

First - my birthday itself, this past Thursday ALMOST sucked. Aside from the bright spots of waking up to find my bedroom doorway decked out in colorful streamers (courtesy of my wife and kids) and my car filled with about 6 dozen balloons (courtesy of Leigh), I spent the majority of the day dealing with the nut-jobs at work and prepping my house for the party on Friday.

About 10pm-ish I decided I was going to have some fun - damnit! I called up my good friend, Jason, and we met up at Gusoline Alley in Royal Oak for a drink or 2. After altering my mood slightly by having a good time drinking a couple beers and catching up and talking about life, kids, wives, getting old, and other adult-type stuff for about an hour, Sonya calls me to suggest I get home soon and drink there much cheaper.

A bit annoyed, but unable to deny the logic behind the argument, we headed back to my place and I pull up to find my front lawn COVERED in tacky pink flamingos, a "Happy Birthday" sign and another sign announcing that I had been "flocked" by the Ferndale High Marching Band! I laughed more sincerely than I had in a long time! A lawn full of flamingos was cute, but having it arranged by my wife and our friend Leigh, and implemented by a marching band booster organization was the perfect touch! It was a clever fund-raiser and ideal given my professional background! It really turned around my impression of my day as a whole. We spent the remainder of the night in my living room talking and laughing.

The day of my party didn't start out much better than the previous day. Hassles at work were compounded by the fact that my plans for movies in the back yard were not in keeping with the weather's plans. After leaving work early and spending 3 hours trying to figure out which of 4 different canopies at my disposal (thanks Val!) were complete and would work, through no fault of her own, Sonya had work-related things to deal with while I had to try and finish the clean-up and chores with 2 bored children around. I felt bad not being able to play with them more and appreciate my time with my children, but there was shit to do.

Leigh and my brother-in-law Jeremy came over early and were of IMMENSE help keeping the kids occupied and fed while I got things ready - doing dishes, vacuuming, setting up seating, etc. The hope was for Sonya to be by with the PC projector about 9ish and my mother-in-law to be by about the same time to take the kids. Both showed up about 10, which would have really annoyed me, but the kids were behaving fairly well and everyone was having a good time.

I usually invite about 15 people, with a usual "cast of characters" of about 7 or so showing up on a good year. Since I had planned on using the back yard as well, I decided to invite...well...everyone I knew this year. This became a bit of a worry when 'ol mother nature decided to throw me a mid-May curveball and send us 50 degree temps and rain. Even assuming a 40% attendance, 20 people in my 750 sq. ft. house was going to be REAL tight party.

We, indeed, had about 20 or so people throughout the night. One of the highlights for me was my barbershop quartet all being there and we were able to sing through a few tunes for the guests before the old fogeys turned into pumpkins. We started "Team America: World Police" about 11pm, after the kids left, but were unable to do my most anticipated film, "Rocky Horror", since it seemed that someone had hidden it or I had misplaced it. Oh well - being fairly sloshed at that point, I wasn't heart-broken.

All ended about 2am or so and the house was in fairly good shape. One of the benefits of getting older is that clean-up after a party is minimal. There's dishes to do and floors to mop. But on the whole, by now, people have figured out the purpose of trash cans, don't use the arms of furniture for napkins, and mostly wipe their feet when coming in from the rain. Best of all, most simply put on a nice tone with real beer and wine as opposed to keg-stands and beer bongs of Natural Light and Boone's Farm. Therefor, no puke-stains to scrub out of the carpet!

I would like to personally thank everyone who showed up to celebrate my birthday: Leigh McLaughlin, Jeremy Ferris, Val Keiser, Deb Ferris, Ryan Parmenter, Jason & Jenn Everett, Meghan & Chris Wing, Jen & Kirk Wicker, Andy Ura, Caroline Ezop & Todd, Cresta Currie & Bob Young, Lou Coviak & Cathy, Floyd McDaniel, Mike Holland, my kids Liam & Courtney and of course, my wonderful wife, Sonya, without whose help this NEVER would have been HALF the success it was! If there's anyone I forgot, I beg your forgiveness. You all made my birthday party a wonderful time for me, and I hope it was for you as well!

Next: I'm Too Old for Road Trips...

PS. KIRK! MY DIRECTOR'S CHAIR! ARRGH! Just kidding. It's lasted me 10 years, owes me little, and is likely repairable anyway. No worries. You'll be getting a metal folding chair from now on, though. ;)

Replay Reflections… (Repost from mySapce)

Okay, if for some reason you have no idea what this refers to, there is no real way to explain it sufficiently in a few words or sentences, but I'll try to give you a synopsis...

It was a reunion concert open to anyone who had performed a solo in Dondero High School's annual "Pop Concert" from the past 3 decades or so. It was a 6 hour marathon of about 40 soloists from all over the country, ranging in experience from professional performers to people who hadn't performed since they graduated. Genres ranged from pop and rock tunes, to blues and contemporary folk, to flamenco guitar and a cappella doo-wop.

I could go on for hours explaining the Dondero Pop Concert, but if you haven't experienced it from either side of the mics, it's hard to explain. Here, however, is my reflection on the alumni replay and the great musician and educator that made it, and the last 39 years of Dondero's vocal department, possible...

(From an e-mail to the Alumni Replay e-mail list)

Okay, my life's pretty insane right now, so I haven't had the time to sit and put my thoughts down about the whole Replay thing until now. Besides, I knew I probably couldn't add much to the adulation showered upon Mr. Hartsoe, Jan, and the whole experience that wouldn't be touched on by most everyone else who participated in or saw the Replay concert.

My sentiments pretty much reflect everything I've heard thus far, so I'll simply reiterate the basics: memories, thrills, awe, and above all utmost respect for Rick & Jan. Little more need or can be said about these two miraculously matched musicians and educators. Individually, they are as perfectly suited for their vocations as anyone possibly could be and as inspirational as any personal heroes I have ever had, but together, they make the most dynamic team of passionate, skilled, and motivated educators as has ever been experienced by any music student as I have ever heard of.

As for my personal spin not yet expounded upon, I have to say I was truly humbled by the amount of talent to come out of Dondero's music program. From the professional musicians who perform for a living (or as close to that as performing musicians can get), to the weekend warriors who perform for their own personal fulfillment (pretty much where I sit), to those who hadn't picked up an axe or dusted off their vocal chords in years, it all seemed to click and fit as comfortably as a favorite pair of broken in jeans (or leather pants, as the case may be). Everyone found their niche and strengths, and showed what they have learned and can do thanks to the firm, yet comfortable foundation they were given in music by the district, life, and most importantly, Mr. Hartsoe.

It was fantastic so see so many friends and face I haven't even thought of in years. Given the immense diversity of age and graduating class, it was remarkable to me that everyone connected immediately because we all have the common thread: a sheer adoration of music inspired by this great man. It didn't matter the genre - vocal, instrumental, jazz, pop, rock, classical, even flamenco and doo-wop - we all were exposed to all of these as branches of the same remarkable tree, none any more or less valid or awe inspiring than the other.

Before I get to profound or long-winded. Thank you, Rick. You, too, Jan. Thank you for the music.

Sincerely,
Paul D. Keiser
Class of 1992
Bass - A cappella Choir, Musical Minority, The Four Beauregards
Tenor - Gentleman Songsters Barbershop Chorus
Coda Honor Barbershop Quartet
www.codahonorquartet.com

...I just wanna TEACH! (Repost from Myspace)

I hate school, I hate bureaucracy, I hate bullshit...I just wanna teach!

Why is that so hard to do?! I am a good teacher. I have a passion for my subject, I know my subject, I relate well to youngsters, I am NEVER insulting, I don't yell, I ALWAYS encourage... Why must the educational system be so mired nowadays in political crap?

I was going to write a huge commentary on the state of over-sensitivity in this country and how the stifling of good teachers leads to boring and sub-par education by relating my recent experience in my pre-student teaching. However, that could take more pages than anyone reading a blog would ever care to read, so I'll try to stay on point and not rant too much.

I was inspired to teach by the most off-the-wall educators in my scholastic career. The ones who made the funny faces, made the occasional off-color (not lewd or offensive) joke, and made the subject fun. Stu Cook (social studies), Rick Hartsoe (vocal), Mr. Rasper (6th grade), Pete Phalen (math), were all professional heroes of mine. I can only think of one "straight-laced" teacher that inspired me: Richard Perkins, and that was because he knew his subject and largely because it was a subject that I already loved.

I didn't love U.S. Military History, Counting and Clapping tests, research reports on Australia, or algebra quizes, but those teachers kept me attentive and involved in class by their use of humor and genuine love of their subject.

My point is this: if we continue to restrict and stifle our teachers, be it with unreasonable and overly sensitive reaction to their teaching style or with rigid, formulaic, and overly "standardized" testing methods, we will end up with a nation that cannot think critically and is creatively, emotionally and spiritually dead.

Be kind to your children's teachers. Treat them with respect. Yes, there are bad teachers - God knows I've had a few - but they see your kids likely more than you do! What is needed is communication, not accusation; critical and creative thinkers, not numeric results; well-rounded and complete individuals, not testing machines and soulless automatons.

All in all, they're NOT just another brick in the wall...

So this is a blog, eh? (repost from MySpace)

Okay, I set this thing up at the behest of several friends. I'm going through a rough patch in life right now and expect a lot of changes in the coming months. I'll spare everyone the details. If you want to know, ask me

Work is...well...work. I'm working at Custom Music Company in Ferndale right now, repairing servicing, and shipping mostly tubas, but other stuff as well. I'm kind of the jack-of-all-trades here, doing everything from my prescribed duties, to designing and maintaining the web page, designing flyers and ads, doing inventory, changing light bulbs, polishing dust bunnies, you name it.

The hours are flexible enough and the pay's not bad. The working conditions vary depending who's here from day to day. The boss is old, crotchety and senile. Personifies every negative stereotype of every group he may represent. Thankfully, he's not around as much as he used to be. The secretary's a sweetheart, my immediate supervisor, the Master Technician, Kevin Powers is a joy to work with. I've learned more about instrument repair from him than I ever expected, and as I plan to be a band director, that knowledge will come in VERY handy!

I'm also doing my pre-student teaching (or 'practicum') right now at the Academy of the Americas in Detroit. The school's decrepit, the instruments (for the most part) are junk, and budget's virtually non-existent. However, the teacher I'm working with is FANTASTIC! She's smart, easy to talk to, and makes damned sure she gets every last drop out of what she's given to work with. It's kind of like working in a M*A*S*H unit - You're thrown into the worst of conditions and expected to make the best of it. It's given me a real perspective in my career and helped me remember why I love doing what I do. The spark of inspiration in a student’s eyes when they finally "get it". Not concerts, not festival ratings, but to get kids to appreciate and enjoy music. That's the pay-off.

My other love is singing with my barbershop ensembles (quartet and chorus). I had a bad cold last week and coughed myself hoarse. It's been about 4 days since the cold itself passed, but my voice is still MIA. Made performing the chorus's annual show this weekend REAL frustrating - like going to a relay race with a broken leg. But I put on my tux and stage makeup, did my choreography and stage presence material, and lip-synched the entire concert. I only pray my voice will come back in time to sing on the Dondero Alumni Pop Concert next Saturday, singing high tenor on "Longest Time" by Billy Joel with Alan Rutter, Jeremy Rugenstein, Ryan Parmenter and Jason Everett.

Okay, that's enough for now. More on the sorry state of my life and the ensuing grandeur to come later.