Overrated

I haven't typed extensively in a fairly long time. I did that marathon run of typing at the end of November to finish off NaNoWriMo. Which I did, but it took two days to write about 25,000 words. Which is a lot of typing. So I inadvertently gave my tiny muscles a little rest. Also, I've been really busy and exhausted at work. It feels surprisingly good to be typing again, and the rhythmic clicking of the keys on the keyboard is rather soothing ... much akin to the rhythmic clicking of the turn signal indicator in a car -- which is why I always use my turn signals.

This weekend is the bi-annual (that means every two years, right?) Wible family Christmas party. Every other year, on the even years, on the Saturday before or after Christmas, all the Wibles (so all the family on my dad's side) come to our house and hang out. Now, most people may groan at this thought, but that's because most people are not members of my family. My family kicks your family's butt. Well, we would, if we didn't love you so much. I do seriously wish every person on the planet could be a part of my family. I'll bet a great deal of the problems would be null if they spent some time with my family. Also probably some of the crises in Africa as well. We're pretty much the best. And super humble, too. Except for me. But somebody has to speak up for us. Anyway. Here's just a small story about my family. It's really a small story, because it's mostly about me.

Recently I have not been playing the oboe. Well, I haven't been practicing it. I have instead been spending 40+ hours at Starbucks or in my car or my bed ... but not really so much time in bed, mostly at work, or my car. Or my kitchen, but not cooking things for me; instead baking things for Starbucks. That's not important. I haven't been practicing and I've been feeling bad about it. But here's the thing, I haven't been feeling bad about it because I miss it; I feel bad about it because I actually don't really miss it; I just feel guilty for not practicing when I know I should and when I know I need to because I still have gigs I need to play and I need to not suck and bring everybody else down. As much as I do love to help and serve people and will go out of my way to do things to make life easier on others, I can't seem to make myself practice, which would be a great service to my principal player, my conductor and the rest of my colleagues. So I've been feeling guilty about it -- like I'm letting my colleagues down and I'm wasting my education.

I was telling my Aunt Marshmallow this (I used to call her Aunt Marshmallow, to help me distinguish between Aunt Chocolate ... I'll tell that story another time). And this is what my Aunt Marshmallow who is now retired so wisely said:

"Guilt is overrated."

Not kidding. I love it!

So my new plan for life: Work for NPR on All Songs Considered. But I'm still going to take auditions and stuff. Because I do still like to be involved in the music-making process somehow; and truthfully, God has given me a gift to do it well. And I just don't know what to make of it.

Family Stories

I had breakfast with my uncle and grandmother the other morning. It was a mix of delightful and annoying ... as interactions with families tend to be. But it was a lot more delightful than it was annoying. I got to hear a lot of stories I'd never heard before and learn a little bit more about my uncle, grandmother and grandfather. The whole experience reminded me of a project I once wanted to do. It renewed my desire to pursue this project. I would like to take an entire year and drive around the country, living with family members and collecting stories about their lives. Hearing things they remember, especially as it pertains to my grandmother and grandfather on my dad's side. Just in the one hour I spent with one uncle and my grandmother I heard at least three new stories. I know my cousins all have something to share, and we seem to be a family of storytellers.

I have, as you know, been reading a lot of Donald Miller lately and his book, along with his blog, ar encouraging me to try to figure out a way to do this.

Anybody have any ideas of grants I can try to get for this little project of mine?

I have some other, not-expensive ideas for something similar as well. For example, a family collective National Novel Writing Project with each arm of the family being assigned to about 1200 words of story from family life. It would be less expensive and less work for me, but more work for my family and would be great for their own growth, but I would be less a part of the process ... although we'd still get to read each other's stories. I've thought about also binding the collection of stories and giving them as gifts as part of Advent Conspiracy and at our family gathering having the authors of the stories read them out loud and recording it for my grandmother, since her eyesight is not the best anymore.

So that's an alternative to the big project, but it's not quite as fun.

Any ideas for me or for yourself?

Colin's Beautiful World

I'm listening to last week's "This American Life" so this might be a little disjunct. Sorry.

Yet again. I'm like a broken record. There's been so much I've wanted to put on here, but generally it's while I'm driving, so of course, it doesn't make it. Because I can't type and drive at the same time. It's crazy, I know.

Anyway.

1. I love my family. Even when they drive me crazy. Seriously, they're great. Hilarious.

I'm writing this novel. I'm over 28,000 words. I want to start over and write a novel about my family instead. They're classic characters. Seriously. It would be true, but it would sound like fiction. Maybe it'll be the novel I write the other 11 months of the year. We'll see.

2. I had an audition in Chicago for the Grant Park Symphony. It was incredible. Soon I'm going to tell you all about it.

3. I'm re-reading The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning. It's so good. Better now than when I read it the first time. I must be at a good point, ready for it.

4. What I really wanted to write about was ... if my life were a movie ... what would the soundtrack be. And I want to know about your lives too. So respond in the comments.

If your life were a movie, what would the soundtrack be?

This will be an ongoing project. Clearly, since my life is not yet over.

So far I've got these.

1. Jimmy Buffett -- Little Miss Magic

?. Snow Patrol -- Open Your Eyes

?+-. Willie Nelson -- On the Road Again

?+. Ingrid Michaelson -- Far Away

I know, very thorough. Those question marks mean I don't know what number they'd be on the soundtrack because I don't know how many songs would be in between.

So tell me. Yours? Two projects, okay, Three:

1. Read The Furious Longing of God

2. What's the soundtrack of your life

3. What's the soundtrack of your life right now, just at this stage of your life?

Beautiful World

Colin Hay

My my my, it's a beautiful world

I like swimming in the sea

I like to go out beyond the white breakers

Where a man can still be free

(Or a woman if you are one)

I like swimming in the sea

My my my, it's a beautiful world

I like drinking Irish tea

With a little bit of Lapsang Souchongi

I like making my own tea

My my my, it's a beautiful world

I like driving in my car

I roll the top down

Sometimes I travel quite far

Drive to the ocean

And stare up at the stars

I like driving in my car

All around is anger

Automatic guns

There's death in large numbers

No respect for women

Or our little ones

I tried talking to Jesus

But He just put me on hold

Said He'd been swamped by calls this week

And He could not shake His cold

But still this emptiness persists

Perhaps this is as good as it gets

When you've given up the drink

And those nasty cigarettes

Now I leave the party early

At least with no regrets

I watch the sun when it comes up

I watch it as it sets

Yeah this is as good as it gets

My my my, it's a beautiful world

I like sleeping with Marie

she is one sexy girl

Full of mystery

She says she doesn't love me

But she likes my company

For now that's good enough for me

My my my, it's a beautiful world

I like swimming in the sea

I like to go out beyond the white breakers

Where a man can still be free

(Or a woman if you are one)

I like swimming in the sea

Eeeee