A chance to move home.

Early last October I was informed that the Dean position at the ITT Tech in Wichita was vacant. I sat at my desk here in Oklahoma City and wondered if I should even consider asking for the transfer. It would be a lateral move (no extra money) and there was no budget for relocation (I'd have to fund the move). To be honest--the answer was pretty quick to arrive. Of course I would put in for this transfer. Even though I have built a terrific life for myself here in OKC; even though I've made dozens of new friends and leaving them would be difficult; even though I've been successful in the position here--all of that pales in comparison to returning to my home town (a city I've grown even MORE fond of since leaving), a chance to return to my church and choir that I adore, a chance to return being active in the lives of my family and tribe in Wichita--these things trumped one year in Oklahoma. So, I applied for the transfer on that fine Monday morning.

From that moment until last Wednesday (Nov, 23, 2009) my life was in limbo. Yet I was never for a moment in any turmoil. I truly felt that whatever happened-happened. If the transfer was approved great--if not, I had my life here already established. I just did not want to regret missing the chance to return home when it seemed to present itself so obviously.

Last Wednesday, after some last minute, heart-stopping thrills and stops and regretful no-can-do's concerning company policy, etc, the offer was made and I accepted.

Spending a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family made me very grateful for the transfer--to be close to all of them again is enough in itself.

The warm return to UCC on Sunday made me know ever more so that this was a great choice.

Coming soon will be a post about the lessons I've learned in my time in Oklahoma.

But for now, this grateful Kansas boy is heading north--to home.

Pax,

Paul

Upcoming Holiday Concerts

Sunday, December 6th at 7 PM at the OKC Civic Center, I will be singing with the Canterbury Choral as we present our annual Christmas concert. Lots of beautiful music of the season!

Sunday, December 13 at 2 PM I am singing Ron Daray's annual Christmas Soiree at Grace Presbyterian Church in Wichita. This is my favorite gig of the season as Ron and Donna assemble a skilled ensemble and choose demanding music.....it's a great concert!

Sunday December 13 at UCC that morning we will be performing Britten's Ceremony of the Carols. Lovely stuff! Join us!

This will be a nice mix of cities and choirs as I begin my move back to my home of Wichita.

PAX

Paul

Canterbury's Review in today's Oklahoman....

Opening Concert Review

So....not too bad....sort of what I expected. It was still an AMAZING concert and I am thrilled to be singing with this group.

The Christmas Concert will be December 6th and it looks like Pinkham is on the program--GREAT stuff!

PAX

Paul

Music memories

Music plays an important part of my life.

I recall the neighbor lady who mom and dad would hire to babysit us on occasion. Once they left for the evening she would put on the soundtrack to Doctor Zhivago and sit on the couch and cry. I still hear that score and can see this sad, lonely woman sitting there sobbing.

Mom gave me the soundtrack to Fiddler on the Roof one year for Christmas. I remember the amazing thrill the french horns gave me during the L'Chaim section. I've probably performed in over 100 performances of this show (at various theaters) and I still get the same thrill.

I was assistant director for a production of The Marriage of Figaro as a student a KU. I remember a dress rehearsal when I heard the full orchestra live for the first time and how enchanted I was. To this day, if I hear the overture, I have to find a copy and hear the whole show. Please don't play the overture for me! (It's over 4 hours of music!)

Also at KU--I played Pirelli in Sweeney Todd. To this day it remains one of my most favorite musical theater memories.

I know almost every song that Stephen Sondheim has written. Sunday in the Park with George changed my life. I still hear the main arpeggio and I am swept away to that amazing place that only Sondheim can take me.

I sang over 13 years with a lovely church choir in Wichita. How lucky I was to get exposed to a rich repertoire of meaningful music.

Just a few amazing memories.....and now, I make more, with a new choir....in a new place.

PAX!

Great Music!

I sing myself and celebrate myself and what I assume you shall assume....for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you--Uncle Walt

SO--what have YOU done today that was loving and kind? Just my favorite challenge....

Pax

Paul

Speed Summer

Life is what happens to us while we are busy making other plans!

It's been a terrific and busy summer. Family reunion at the first of the month in Iowa and lots of work, work, work.

I started singing with the Canterbury Singers earlier this month and look forward to out first concert on October 3.

Pax!

Paul

Less Posting....

Since I have taken this new job down here in OKC I find that I have less time to post to this blog than I would like.

I just finished a crazy week of travel from OKC to Dallas to KC, back to Dallas, to Houston, BACK to Dallas, to OKC and then....just because I hadn't traveled enough, I went to Wichita the past 2 days to see MTW's "Kiss Me Kate". My first show at MTW (I was an apprentice there in the latter days of the 1970's) was working on their 1978 production of "Kiss Me Kate" and I have terrific memories of the show, the theater and the great people I got to work with.....so, it was nice to see such a terrific production of the show yesterday. Excellent leads, super supporting cast members, AMAZING choreography and lovely sets and costumes made for a terrific afternoon out of the sweltering Kansas heat.

I am back in OKC, prepping for what should be a very busy mid-quarter time.

PAX!

Thoughts on a good year

My 45th year on this planet is set to wrap up soon and I think it appropriate to look back on a few items.

Time--For the first time in my life (not hyperbole) I can honestly say that time did not fly by this year. I was often amazed at how much of the year I had left--at how much I was able to get done. Whether this is a by-product of my sobriety or my growing faith journey, who knows, but it is nice to be able to actually look back on the year and not say "where did the time go"?

Family and friends--I continue to grow and thrive in the arms of my amazing family and friends.

Health--A diagnosis in October that I would rather not have received has certainly made me focus on each day--each person I am with--each moment as it is handed me.

Work--I had no idea that as an American Male my identity was so enmeshed in my work--taking this position in OKC and leaving WATC really brought this into clear focus. I am extremely happy with my new job and very proud of the work I am doing.

Life--is good, nay, great!

PAX

The Q Lagoon at Hotel Abandon

Here is a nice pic of the Q Lagoon at the Hotel Abandon. Of course, the angle makes it seem much smaller than it is. It's a good 200 feet to the waterfall. AND, you must imagine it filled with a tribe of middle-aged monkeys and some of their offspring. T'is a joy!

About the previous post....

...so I have just completed my first 90 days in the highest level supervisory position I have yet to hold. I directly oversee about 50 people--and mostly it's excellent. I have a team of 6 department chairs and one librarian and they in turn have staff and faculty they work with--so I mostly have to manage my team of chairs. However....when they have an issue with a subordinate, it ultimately lands on my desk--and that is where you get the previous post. In the past 90 days I have heard excuses that I, myself, have used in the past. Except that when I was using it, it WAS the truth. I swear. Anyway, as I said--to all former bosses. I apologize. I had no idea. Really!

PAX

Paul

Being the boss....

OK...to all of my former bosses: I am SO freaking sorry! I had no idea! Please forgive me!!!!

LOL

Pax

Paul

My Green Backpack

For my 41st birthday my younger sister, Teresa, bought me a terrific green backpack for me to take to Greece that August. Little did she know that it would soon become my primary traveling companion. Here is where it has been (on my back):

August 2004-
London, England--Istanbul, Turkey--Izmir, Turkey-Efes, Turkey--Cesme, Turkey--Chios, Greece--Athens, Greece--Patras, Greece--Bari, Italy--Pescara, Italy--Rome, Italy--Milan, Italy--Venice, Italy

Numerous trips to Dallas, Texas and Kansas City, Kansas.

November 2007-
Orlando, Florida--Cocoa Beach, Floria--The Kennedy Space Center (where it was on my back while I watched the Space Shuttle land)

July 2008-
Boston, Massachusetts

November, 2008--
Chicago, Il--Paris, France--Rouen, France--St. Martin du Vivier

April, 2009
Austin, Texas

So....what was a lovely gift from my sweet sister has become a cherished souvenir of so many wonderful travels....I wonder where I will take it next?

Hotel rooms

As I checked into the lovely Austin Crown Plaza yesterday I was reminded that the last time I checked into a hotel room was during my side trip to Rouen during last fall's amazing trip to Paris. My room in Austin is in almost the exact same configuration as the one in France owing I am sure to the fact the Best Western Berteliere (outside of Rouen) is managed by an American company. Anyway--I hope to explore the hill country of Texas this evening once I complete my day of training.

Pax!

Easter Weekend in Wichita

It was such a joy to get to spend Saturday with the Borboa family and Sunday with my UCC family and my Mom and Step-dad. Mom and Howard took me to lunch and we had a great time catching up and that was after I got to sing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, not once, but twice, with the best church choir around! Tomorrow I head to Austin for three days of training and then back on Thursday.

Pax!

OKC Ren Fest

Today some friends took me to the Oklahoma Medieval Festival on the OU campus. Having been to a few of these in Wichita, I thought it would be fun. This thing was HUGE--there were way too many people for me....but it was lots of fun. It made me miss Dominic and Ronan though, because I usually had them with me at these things. Hopefully I can see them next weekend--I am heading to Wichita next Saturday right after a review session for the nursing students and I will be singing with the UCC choir for Easter morning. Looking forward to see all my friends!

Q's latest samplers

I love getting my seasonal collection of new music from Quentin. They arrived yesterday and instantly went into my car's CD player. This spring's themes are Mars (all male artists) and Venus (you guessed it). I am only about 3/4 of the way through Mars, but know I am going to love them both. Q has always had an ear for music--a skill that I admire. Where I love new music and new forms of sound, I tend to get too distracted by one artist or composer and obsess over them until I understand what their music is actually about (Sondheim and Finn instantly come to mind, Mozart operas, John Rutter's choral work). Q has a great skill at listening to a wide range of artists and styles and sharing them with us on his seasonal samplers. Because of his gifts as a DJ or sampler or whatever it is he does, my musical life is much richer and I actually know some songs the younger folks are enjoying. But mostly, when I hear one of the tunes that he has discovered, I instantly know what about that song spoke to him--because it spoke to me in the same way--and I am sure it speaks to most of the tribe in a similar way.

Mostly I love the samplers because more often than not, when I hear a new tune that grabs my mind in a magic way, I am reminded, once again, of why I am friends with my tribe. And in that bright green moment of fresh air, I am 18 again--I am walking on the sidewalks of Southwestern college--it is mid-August and I am seconds away from meeting the people who will become my tribe. People that I cherish and am so grateful that the universe conspired to send my way. Whether they came by way of Mars or Venus (or in a few cases--probably--both).

Pax!

Happy March!

So...I've been swamped at work--but really loving it. I will post more soon! I promise!!!!!!!!!!

Weekend at Q's

So....I got to spend last weekend at Q's--The Hotel Abandon. We swam, ate too much and went to the premiere of The Watchmen.

It amazes me that I am still friends with these terrific people--but, we work at our friendships--the older I get, the more blessed I am to maintain these friends.

Pax

Paul

My OKC Churches

So, yesterday, a co-worker asked me if I was finding my way around OKC and if I had found people and things to occupy my very limited down-time. I had to pause for a second and take a deep breath before letting her know that I had found a couple of churches that I enjoyed attending and that I was enjoying getting to know them and they were getting to know me. I then had to do my usual disclaimer and let her know that her new boss is not a religious fanatic. I hate that we have let the religious right so corrupt the true meaning of being christian that I have to make sure that when I share my church-going ways with someone, I have to assure them that 1) I am not a member of the religious right, 2) I am not judgemental about any one's beliefs (even fundamentalists) and 3) I will not try even in the slightest to bend her beliefs in any way. So--I went to Mayflower UCC this morning and enjoyed it immensely and I will attend another church this evening with some friends. Both churches preach a liberal, loving version of Christianity. Both churches do great works in this community. Both churches provide me with opportunities for worship and fellowship. And both congregations are welcoming, intellectual and absolutely sure of one thing.....that they are absolutely sure of nothing!

PAX