Monday, October 05, 2009
Job Seekers Take Heart!
"I graduated from a fancy East Coast university (Brown) a year ago and lost an internship at a prestigious publication (The New Yorker) because of budget cuts. From last June to this June, I tried my hand at nine different jobs — including dog-sitting, coffee-shop-cleaning, script-reviewing, inventory-counting and actually writing. Some were temporary by nature, others by will. Eventually, I returned to one of the odder entries on my résumé: rowing a 37-foot-long Venetian boat while singing 'O Sole Mio'."
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
On the passing of a beloved teacher, and friend, Ted White...
Jim Maloy learned from Frank Colega yesterday that Ted White had entered a hospice facility, and actually passed away last evening.
He had been in the hospital since Holy Thursday, over a month with complications: his heart was bad, breathing was difficult, not getting enough oxygen; had a pace maker put in, but never really recovered. He spent the last 4 days in Hospice and died last night. Frank says that there will be a memorial service at St. Pius X, far enough into the future to allow out of towners to attend (Frank guessed a week to ten days).
I recalled my father’s note on my 20th birthday, "May you come to know all the ingredients of 'the good life', of which good eating is one of the more tangible aspects."
In addition to introducing me to new culinary delights, Ted was one of the first teachers to gently nudge me toward many other aspects of “the good life” – music, singing, theater, service to others, , etc. He was always urging us to try new things, like when he told me that I would be dancing the sword dance in “Brigadoon”! He just told me that I would do it, and I did – to the amazement of myself, my entire family, and certainly my classmates!?!
There’s an old Chinese Proverb that says, “Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself.” While that may be true in most cases, I will be forever grateful for the extra confidence, and gentle nudges, that Ted White provided throughout our years together at Pittsburgh’s South Hills Catholic High School. I would not be where I am today without his invaluable guidance and love during those formative years.
He had been in the hospital since Holy Thursday, over a month with complications: his heart was bad, breathing was difficult, not getting enough oxygen; had a pace maker put in, but never really recovered. He spent the last 4 days in Hospice and died last night. Frank says that there will be a memorial service at St. Pius X, far enough into the future to allow out of towners to attend (Frank guessed a week to ten days).
I recalled my father’s note on my 20th birthday, "May you come to know all the ingredients of 'the good life', of which good eating is one of the more tangible aspects."
In addition to introducing me to new culinary delights, Ted was one of the first teachers to gently nudge me toward many other aspects of “the good life” – music, singing, theater, service to others, , etc. He was always urging us to try new things, like when he told me that I would be dancing the sword dance in “Brigadoon”! He just told me that I would do it, and I did – to the amazement of myself, my entire family, and certainly my classmates!?!
There’s an old Chinese Proverb that says, “Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself.” While that may be true in most cases, I will be forever grateful for the extra confidence, and gentle nudges, that Ted White provided throughout our years together at Pittsburgh’s South Hills Catholic High School. I would not be where I am today without his invaluable guidance and love during those formative years.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Being "Home" and allowing our souls to blossom!
On my 20th birthday in 1970 (almost a full 40 years ago) my father wrote an inscription in my first hardcover cookbook ["Great Dinners from Life"], given by my parents as a birthday gift:
"May you come to know all the ingredients of 'the good life', of which good eating is one of the more tangible aspects." (Anonymous)
Our lives have certainly exposed us to much of the good life. As we talk about things that matter to us all, and enjoy each other's company whenever possible, it's always interesting for me to learn just how much of our history is still very new to many of my colleagues.
But that's what makes these new conversations & sharing our histories all that much more fun, wouldn't you agree?
Our lives have been enriched not only by our time together, but also by our well-traveled lives apart. In my case, living in NYC certainly helped in raising my level of "sophistication", but there's nothing like traveling and seeing the world to figure out how it all fits together.
I am convinced that close and dear friendships are the glue that actually holds the world together, and provides the safety net for sharing our different experiences, and opinions, as we continue to figure out how it all fits!
Two of my closest & dearest friends (husband & wife) recently sold their NYC apartment, and are now living a nomadic lifestyle. During a recent visit, we were discussing their search for a new "Home" ... a very elusive quality to all of us, I think.
I learned in my wandering theatrical days that, "Home" to me is not really a place, it is people! After all, we can gather with those people -- beloved friends & family, trusted colleagues, classmates of our youth -- anywhere on the planet (a great city, a sailboat, a public park, etc.). Whenever we are in each other's company we are instantly "at home"!
Admittedly, a private space (or residence) is preferable, because it is more comfortable and conducive to letting our collective hair(s) down! Connection to a physical place (or home) strengthens our roots, I suppose, and that is what we long for.
Speaking of roots... "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." (Anonymous)
It will continue to be fun... trying to figure it out, and allowing our souls to blossom as we look for our true home!?! It's an adventure, so why stop now?
"May you come to know all the ingredients of 'the good life', of which good eating is one of the more tangible aspects." (Anonymous)
Our lives have certainly exposed us to much of the good life. As we talk about things that matter to us all, and enjoy each other's company whenever possible, it's always interesting for me to learn just how much of our history is still very new to many of my colleagues.
But that's what makes these new conversations & sharing our histories all that much more fun, wouldn't you agree?
Our lives have been enriched not only by our time together, but also by our well-traveled lives apart. In my case, living in NYC certainly helped in raising my level of "sophistication", but there's nothing like traveling and seeing the world to figure out how it all fits together.
I am convinced that close and dear friendships are the glue that actually holds the world together, and provides the safety net for sharing our different experiences, and opinions, as we continue to figure out how it all fits!
Two of my closest & dearest friends (husband & wife) recently sold their NYC apartment, and are now living a nomadic lifestyle. During a recent visit, we were discussing their search for a new "Home" ... a very elusive quality to all of us, I think.
I learned in my wandering theatrical days that, "Home" to me is not really a place, it is people! After all, we can gather with those people -- beloved friends & family, trusted colleagues, classmates of our youth -- anywhere on the planet (a great city, a sailboat, a public park, etc.). Whenever we are in each other's company we are instantly "at home"!
Admittedly, a private space (or residence) is preferable, because it is more comfortable and conducive to letting our collective hair(s) down! Connection to a physical place (or home) strengthens our roots, I suppose, and that is what we long for.
Speaking of roots... "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." (Anonymous)
It will continue to be fun... trying to figure it out, and allowing our souls to blossom as we look for our true home!?! It's an adventure, so why stop now?
Monday, December 29, 2008
Interested in consulting opportunities and learning about technologies used in higher education and healthcare.
Best wishes to you and yours for a safe and Happy Holiday Season!
As I look ahead to the New Year, I am interested in learning about technologies used in higher education and healthcare.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, or simply want to brain-sail. I am always happy to collaborate and share my expertise with you, your clients or friends.
To our future collaboration and mutual success in the New Year!
Namaste ("The light in me honors the light in you.")
As I look ahead to the New Year, I am interested in learning about technologies used in higher education and healthcare.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, or simply want to brain-sail. I am always happy to collaborate and share my expertise with you, your clients or friends.
To our future collaboration and mutual success in the New Year!
Namaste ("The light in me honors the light in you.")
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Were we the Golden Knights or the Rebels?
Jim Farnan raised a good question recently: Were we the Golden Knights or the Rebels? The yearbook is titled “The Knight”, but the football team was called the Rebels.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
