I had a wonderful dinner with Chris Collins, the brother of my friend Dan who I wrote about in a previous blog who passed away, and his lovely wife Julie.
I would say the strongest positive that came out of this situation was my meeting and knowing them. They are _really_ great people. I would say that their presence and commitment through the whole ordeal has been a boon to my faith in humanity.
Dan was a special fellow, and the fruit didn't fall far from the tree with his brother, or the person his brother picked to share life with and the kids they had.
It's comforting to see the physical resemblance and similarity in temperament between the two brothers, and knowing that I'll have this connection to remember Dan by. I look forward to seeing them a lot more often....
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Strange Girls goes on and on...
I'm working on the music sequencing and mixes of "Strange Girls" (film score) right now.
I think it's going well. It works nicely as a piece of music. I've spent over a year of my life on this thing, so it better be good.
I'll keep you posted (pun intended).
I think it's going well. It works nicely as a piece of music. I've spent over a year of my life on this thing, so it better be good.
I'll keep you posted (pun intended).
Friday, May 23, 2008
A note I left in the building elevator...
Friday Night, May 23rd 2008
Dear friends,
As I’m sure many of you are aware, we lost one of our dearest friends on Thursday, May 22nd.
Dan Collins, my next door neighbor and friend for the last 22 years, was well known to many of you.
Rather than dwell too much on the unfortunate circumstances of his passing, I wanted to thank all of you for your overwhelming support and kindness during this period. I can’t imagine that there are many buildings in New York City which have the caliber of people or sense of community as this one does.
Some of you will remember that Dan was one of the first people in our diverse group to inhabit this building, coming here sometime in the mid 1970’s. Regaling the Spartan circumstances of that time period in New York loft living, he once told me that his bathroom for years was actually across the hall from his apartment in what is now my vocal booth. If anything, those early experiences made him love the city even more, from what I gathered.
For many years he was a musician -- a member of a select breed of male singers known as a countertenor, who have very high singing ranges. During a visit only a few days ago, he told me a very interesting story about the time Leonard Bernstein almost fired him as soloist from the Bach St Matthew passion. He had gotten some bad advice from his singing teacher. The night before the performance, he went to Bernstein and showed him how he really wanted to perform his solos, and was reinstated. He then went on to sing a very well received performance.
I’m sure some of you will remember from one of our building’s wine tastings a few years back, Dan proudly showed us a book of photos from his singing years.
Later in life, he turned his love of fine tapestries into a vocation. I remember when I got my grand piano 20 years ago. It was an acquisition I was quite excited about. My sister had at the same time given me a nice Indian rug. Dan, who was waiting for the elevator one morning, caught a glance and then rushed in - past the piano without even noticing it - to give me, with great enthusiasm, the lowdown on the finer points of this tapestry, which I’ll always remember with amusement. He sure knew a lot about that rug. Now that I think about it, I wish I had shared that story with him over the last few weeks, during one of our near daily visits. He would have enjoyed it, I think…
He is originally from the Amherst MA area, but if there is a remembrance here in the city, I will most certainly let you all know about it. Thank you all again for your kindness and generous spirit.
Your Friend,
-Reed
Dear friends,
As I’m sure many of you are aware, we lost one of our dearest friends on Thursday, May 22nd.
Dan Collins, my next door neighbor and friend for the last 22 years, was well known to many of you.
Rather than dwell too much on the unfortunate circumstances of his passing, I wanted to thank all of you for your overwhelming support and kindness during this period. I can’t imagine that there are many buildings in New York City which have the caliber of people or sense of community as this one does.
Some of you will remember that Dan was one of the first people in our diverse group to inhabit this building, coming here sometime in the mid 1970’s. Regaling the Spartan circumstances of that time period in New York loft living, he once told me that his bathroom for years was actually across the hall from his apartment in what is now my vocal booth. If anything, those early experiences made him love the city even more, from what I gathered.
For many years he was a musician -- a member of a select breed of male singers known as a countertenor, who have very high singing ranges. During a visit only a few days ago, he told me a very interesting story about the time Leonard Bernstein almost fired him as soloist from the Bach St Matthew passion. He had gotten some bad advice from his singing teacher. The night before the performance, he went to Bernstein and showed him how he really wanted to perform his solos, and was reinstated. He then went on to sing a very well received performance.
I’m sure some of you will remember from one of our building’s wine tastings a few years back, Dan proudly showed us a book of photos from his singing years.
Later in life, he turned his love of fine tapestries into a vocation. I remember when I got my grand piano 20 years ago. It was an acquisition I was quite excited about. My sister had at the same time given me a nice Indian rug. Dan, who was waiting for the elevator one morning, caught a glance and then rushed in - past the piano without even noticing it - to give me, with great enthusiasm, the lowdown on the finer points of this tapestry, which I’ll always remember with amusement. He sure knew a lot about that rug. Now that I think about it, I wish I had shared that story with him over the last few weeks, during one of our near daily visits. He would have enjoyed it, I think…
He is originally from the Amherst MA area, but if there is a remembrance here in the city, I will most certainly let you all know about it. Thank you all again for your kindness and generous spirit.
Your Friend,
-Reed
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Whit has cool stuff...
Whit has all sorts of video and pictures and other neat things. These often go up without being prefaced by the reason for their inclusion.
Blogging with pictures and video? I WANT THAT!
Today it's a cool video from Duke University about exploration under the ocean. Of course, there's no explanation that he's a Duke alumnus. You just just have to know that (or not) I guess.
How cool is that?
The only problem is that I can't get used to the non sequitur nature of the beast! On a positive note, I do realize I just read the word 'blog' for the first time today without thinking 'man, that's a weird word' -- or 'what does that word mean again'. So there's hope for me yet....
Blogging with pictures and video? I WANT THAT!
Today it's a cool video from Duke University about exploration under the ocean. Of course, there's no explanation that he's a Duke alumnus. You just just have to know that (or not) I guess.
How cool is that?
The only problem is that I can't get used to the non sequitur nature of the beast! On a positive note, I do realize I just read the word 'blog' for the first time today without thinking 'man, that's a weird word' -- or 'what does that word mean again'. So there's hope for me yet....
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The lost weekend...
Ah the MacIntyre Building...where so many of my hours go to die.
I just spent pretty much the entire weekend doing paperwork and bookkeeping for the building.
Writing checks-entering bills-dealing with tax matters-2007 financials-insurance app-meeting with designer--all weekend. Saturday morning until just now.
Now tomorrow I'll have to go make a bank deposit, call the electrician and hope that the loft board matter we're waiting out doesn't turn into a much bigger conflagration then it already is.
BTW, I heard these sounds coming out of someone's house today. I can't remember exactly what it was, but it almost sounded as though the sound had been "organized", if you will. Perhaps in an "artistic" way, if you will. I found myself humming along with this "organized, artistic"...
Wait a minute...that might have been music!!! I used to write that stuff!
Now if someone could just remind me who all these people with the strange curves, long hair and high voices are.....
I just spent pretty much the entire weekend doing paperwork and bookkeeping for the building.
Writing checks-entering bills-dealing with tax matters-2007 financials-insurance app-meeting with designer--all weekend. Saturday morning until just now.
Now tomorrow I'll have to go make a bank deposit, call the electrician and hope that the loft board matter we're waiting out doesn't turn into a much bigger conflagration then it already is.
BTW, I heard these sounds coming out of someone's house today. I can't remember exactly what it was, but it almost sounded as though the sound had been "organized", if you will. Perhaps in an "artistic" way, if you will. I found myself humming along with this "organized, artistic"...
Wait a minute...that might have been music!!! I used to write that stuff!
Now if someone could just remind me who all these people with the strange curves, long hair and high voices are.....
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
A dream I had...
I awoke this morning at 4:30 or so AM, and I had had a dream...that I thought would make an incredible screenplay! Once I fell asleep again (took a while), the dream continued, which is unusual for me. When I woke in the morning, I had a good memory of it, but I thought, "Im no screenwriter - finish what you're working on!". I did think I'd share it with Rona (Mark) the director of the film "Strange Girls", that I composed the music for, to see what she thought. She really has great screenwriting ideas.
I do wish I had kept some record or memory of the dream, so that I could see if I was "right" in the light of day.
How many ideas are conceived and then simply evaporate? hard to guess...
Oh well.
I do wish I had kept some record or memory of the dream, so that I could see if I was "right" in the light of day.
How many ideas are conceived and then simply evaporate? hard to guess...
Oh well.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
It cost me...
Well, my early morning cost me. I ended up with a fever that is just letting up.
I had a nice session with Michael in the midst of it though. Hopefully he will remain healthy.
I had a nice session with Michael in the midst of it though. Hopefully he will remain healthy.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
I can't sleep....
5:51 am...it looks as though I'm not going to make it back to dreamland. It could be considered a blessing since I dreamt the other night that I was stuck in an elevator that kept stopping in between floors... with Barbara Bush.
Parse that one for me!@#$
Of course, the elevator stopping between floors is not unheard of in this building, but c'mon...
Sleep? I can't stop thinking about everything I have to do. I really, really have a lot to worry about right now. My finances, my building's finances, various paperwork, phone calls, errands. I almost never get to my own paper work because of my building's stuff. Did I mention I still haven't filed my sales tax due on March 20th? The penalty will be
10x what I owe in tax!
I'm not getting up yet (laptop in bed) b/c a certain little dog is going to expect a sojourn as soon as my feet hit the floor.
Try ignoring this:
Parse that one for me!@#$
Of course, the elevator stopping between floors is not unheard of in this building, but c'mon...
Sleep? I can't stop thinking about everything I have to do. I really, really have a lot to worry about right now. My finances, my building's finances, various paperwork, phone calls, errands. I almost never get to my own paper work because of my building's stuff. Did I mention I still haven't filed my sales tax due on March 20th? The penalty will be
10x what I owe in tax!
I'm not getting up yet (laptop in bed) b/c a certain little dog is going to expect a sojourn as soon as my feet hit the floor.
Try ignoring this:
Loft board filings, 2007 financials, payroll taxes, rent rolls, payables...Ay yi, yi, yi
I have to get to the Post office today.
Did I mention I have music projects? I spent all day doing finishing touches to the film I'm writing for, which was great. However, after a day of ignoring the errands and paperwork, it feels as though I'm in hot water with them. I want to try and ignore this other stuff one more day.
I also have a session with my good friend Michael Lydon today. I'm looking forward to that.
I think of other around the world and across town that are suffering and count my blessings...
but...
This really is not working out quite like I'd hoped!@#$
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Pandora.com...
My Nephew (he's 40 now so somehow nephew sounds too young) turned me on to Pandora, aka the music genome project. You gotta check it out! It's beyond awesome!
http://www.Pandora.com
Today is the first day....
of the rest of my blog.
This is mostly a test, and they can't all be gems, so.....
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