Funerals

So...the older we get the more funerals we attend, no? I was deeply moved by the service for Larry Jones on Monday at the WSU Metroplex. I knew what a gem of a human Larry was as did all in attendance, but one forgets how many people he touched during his life. It was such a fitting tribute. The fact that we got most of the choir there to send him off in glorious song was a terrific feat in itself! We sang one of my favorite pieces by Danial Gawthrop and Jane Griner. I've included the lyrics here for they are gorgeous, but you really need to hear the amazing music to get its full impact.

Sing Me To Heaven

In my heart's sequestered chambers lie truths stripped of poets' gloss
Words alone are vain and vacant, and my heart is mute
In response to aching silence, memory summons half-heard voices
And my soul finds primal eloquence, and wraps me in song

If you would comfort me, sing me a lullaby
If you would win my heart, sing me a love song
If you would mourn me and bring me to God, sing me a requiem, sing me to Heaven

Touch in me all love and passion, pain and pleasure
Touch in me grief and comfort, love and passion, pain and pleasure

Sing me a lullaby, a love song, a requiem
Love me, comfort me, bring me to God

Sing me a love song, sing me to Heaven

Music

Those of you who know me know that my brain is wired differently than most....mostly in regards to music. Music is such an important part of my life that if you wanted to punish me, the most effective way would be to deprive me of music--any music! Right now I am listening to Annie Lennox and wondering what I did before Q got me my iPod! Rock On!

The best laid plans.....

....ok...so I had planned to blog lots this week--the reality was that I was WAY too busy to do much of anything. This conference and its attendant symposia were interesting and lots of fun. I did manage to get over to the ocean a couple of times and spent this morning at Downtown Disney. Lots of good information to parse and get out to my folks.....peace all!

Postings from Florida

I am posting to my college's blog while I am in Florida for an Online Learning Convention. Check it out at watconline.blogspot.com

Working at the Perk

So....I am testing my laptop's connection, sitting here at the Riverside Perk. It is a nice little coffee shop a few blocks from my apartment. I usually walk down here in the evening and work a bit on my course readings--tonight, however, I am testing the laptop that I am taking with me next week to Orlando, FL for the Sloan C conference on Distance Education. I fly out of Wichita next Tuesday, 11/6 and return late on Friday, 11/9. Part of the trip is dedicated to meeting with my consultant from Georgia who is also attending the conference.....gonna be a busy, fun week. My downtime for this trip will be spent on Cocoa Beach! I've already got my plan mapped out....

Link to WATC Online

A few weeks ago I launched a blog for my College, the Wichita Area Technical College. So far the interest has been minimal at best, but growing slowly. It'll be interesting to see how this tool is received by the faculty and staff. Visit it at watconline.blogspot.com.

My Brother's Blog

If you want an idea of what life is like in China, visit my baby brother's blog at http://www.thegarrettblog.com/ It's a nice slice-of-life on the other side of the world....with a family connection!

Pax,

Paul

Uncle Paul

So....on my bike ride today I was contemplating one of my favorite roles in life--That of Uncle Paul. I am really lucky to have lots of young people in my life who honor me with the title of Uncle. From Natasha and her brother Cody, to Mattie and Ellie up in Eudora, to my honorary nephews Dominic and Ronan to the newest....Annabelle in China (and a soon-to-arrive sibling for her!)...I have lots of young people in my life--what a tremendous gift this is. I am a lucky, lucky man.

Marcus Aurelius

Ahhh...the other night I was working on my readings for my class and I had to read some of Marcus Aurelius....ahhhh....beautiful....my reading was on meditations of his on the examples in his life and what he has learned from them. Talk about the perfect ideal of humanity. Really terrific stuff.

UCC's Music Program

The Music Program at UCC is one of the best things about my life. I am so honored to be a part of this talented group of folks. The Armed Man performances today were powerful and thrilling.
Better is peace!

Join the UCC Choir and Wichita Symphony Principals for the Wichita Premiere of Karl Jenkin's "The Armed Man". Sunday October 7, 2007 at 10:30 am and 3:00 pm.

Axio Community Conference at K-State

I am writing this instead of paying attention to the current workshop I am in, but that's ok because my brain is buzzing from some of the projects I have been able to witness. Michael Wesch and Roger McHaney have specifically engaged my cerebrum. The concepts of Web 2.0 and the future of education and new models for learning needs to be at the forefront of what I am doing with our new Online Learning division at WATC.

The conference finishes up here in a few hours and I will be heading back to Wichita.

Lots to synthesize!

Busy Week at WATC

My consultant from Georgia is here Monday through Wednesday and I am in Manhattan for a conference Thursday and Friday....should be a terrific, busy week.

Art at Botanica

I just spent a few hours this weekend loading my mother's art in and out of Botanica for the Annual Art event. It was a beautiful day (both of them) and always delightful to see what my mother is working on. There were some very nice new miniatures that I liked very much. I have a terrific woodsy scene that she painted a few years ago hanging in my living room.

After joyfully hauling her work around, I am extremely thankful that she wasn't called to do sculpture!

Pax,
Paul

Online Learning at WATC

Hey....check out watc.edu to see our new online course offerings! The catalog will only grow as we continue to add courses, programs and instructors.

A New Day at UCC

My church, University Congregational, launched its fall programs yesterday with the return of the choir and the beginning of Sunday School. It was also our new Senior Minister's second Sunday on the job. We called Gary Blaine last spring and he spent the summer closing out his old life in Toledo and moving his family out here on to the plains. It was such a comfort to realize that we are going to be OK. That we are in capable, loving hands. That we were all along, but it took Gary's arrival to reinforce that for us.

BTW: Mark your calendars for "The Armed Man" on October 7th at 10:30 am and again at 3:00 pm. It's going to be powerful!

BTW: I love my family.....

I love my family too....just in a different way!

Time Away

The best thing about time away from work, the usual, school, and everything else....is the return. I have spent three days in the company of an odd assortment of people who recharge me, engage me and challenge me in the best ways. A few sad souls think that the reason we remain as close as we do is that there must be something wrong with us--we are stuck in the past or some such psycho-babble. However, as I age, I recognize the simple fact that these people are my family. Closer than blood ties, these are the people I choose to remain with in a manner that I never could with my family...an intimacy that transcends....that illuminates...that gently (and sometimes not so gently) teases and reminds one of one's past......that nudges....that feeds....that rests.....and not unlike the approaching autumn....it lingers on my heart as I drive north...to home.

Sunday in the Big D

OK....I have spent the ENTIRE day in the pool. I am not exaggerating. I woke around 8 and went for quick dip that lasted until a brief lunch and then I JUST dried off to check email and blog about 5 minutes ago. I have to drive teenagers around to various locales for a while, and then I will be BACK in the pool until midnight or later. Ahhhhhhhhhh. The Q Lagoon is remarkable. The food, as I have posted, perfect....and the company the greatest. It will be very difficult to say goodbye tomorrow. BUT, I will be back for New Years and beyond.

Sunny, Funny Dallas

I am writing this, sitting in my friend Quentin's kitchen, watching him and his brother-in-law Brian create their latest culinary masterpiece. These guys can cook! We got into Dallas about 11 last night and were met by a sirloin steak soup that was so good.....for lunch today we had steak kabobs and this amazing scallion summer salad. Brian has been accepted into a cuisine school...so we are his willing victims! Delicious...

Spent the day in the pool, so I am just a little pink...and water-logged...and very happy. I love coming down here and giving up all of my agenda and day planner and stuff....and just BEING with my good, good friends. Hey....a toast! Here's to us! Who's like us? Damn few!

This is my core group...my tribe...that I met on my first night of college at Southwestern back on that August night in 1981.....and here 26 years later we are still good friends. How lucky is that?

Damn lucky, says I!