Went to a Thai restaurant today for lunch – with Werner & brother. A 5-star Orange Chicken – with the 5-star referring, supposedly, to the level of ‘heat’ that the chicken would bring to me. When I was eating it, I was wondering where on the scoey-scale this 5-star would show up, esp. when Werner told me that the cabbage style soup we started with, & seasoned with our very own jar o’spices, would only rank at most as a 3 star… I was worried, because that 3-star soup made me sweat & chug my way through a couple glasses of ice-water. Alas & alack… the 5-star was no big deal, ranking about the same as the ‘mild’ wings at Bully’s – Pyramid Way… Not that I’m complaining – it had great flavor – I just didn’t want to be ‘revisited by the heat of the flame’ later on in the day. Seems that I’m a bit more…. shall I say, sensitive to hot & spiciness than I was in the days of my ute.

Following through on the ground-ation of one’s progeny requires a LOT of work. And perseverance. Sigh.

A day off is to be savored. Enjoyed. For the sake of being off. For the joy of life. And I’m finding that I have to contend for that more & more as the weeks pass.

As a part of the savoring of the day, theBean & I are going on a date – a group date to bowl. Not that we’re Bowlers by any stretch of the imagination, but OCD & a little patience go a long way in knocking the pins over. And repeat.

For relaxation, I don’t think that I’ve found a better combo than Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos. And for focusing the mind.

On that note, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture is hard to beat for sheer inspiration… I dare you to listen to it & not be jumping up & down as it reaches the final 90 seconds or so. Man.

Sometimes, just listening to certain music brings tears to my ears. Part of it is that these days, I cry without much provocation, & without agitation – I think its probably just the beauty, the joy, & sadness… or a combo of that & more that moves me. Which makes me glad that Den reminded me of the genius that is Eric Johnson – I wore out my copy of Ah Via Musicom back in the day – rewinding “Cliffs of Dover” over & over… Thanks for that.

Another thing are the memories attached to the music – where I was when I heard the music the first time, who I listened to it with, the experiences tied up into it.

Maybe that’s why the Psalms as a songbook, & especially the “Songs of Ascent” (Psalm 120-134, sung by pilgrims ‘going up’ to Jerusalem) are so powerful.

Which gets me reminiscing… about other music stuff that moves me. Here’s a couple…

Sigh.