Monday, April 21, 2008

a little bit about beer...

When your favorite craft brewer wins three medals at the World Beer Cup, there is cause for celebration.  So I celebrated by not only drinking a few glasses of Pure Hoppiness from Alpine Beer Company, but turning someone else on to the joy that is preservative free, joyous, double-hopped ale.  My roommate had scarcely heard the phrase"IPA," let alone drank one of the finest examples ever created, and seeing the reaction on his face as he sipped from his glass made me realize something about myself. 

Sure I might like beer, and I might even be a beer snob, but I realized that the sensation i felt when passing on that small nugget of information (taste-bud joy, if you will), was not necessarily triggered by letting someone in on the secret of the greatest craft brewer in San Diego (in my opinion), but by the simple imparting of knowledge that took place.  I realized that this is the same reason I enjoy teaching and yet more importantly, that it is the same reason I love to learn, love to live, and love to love.  The pursuit of life experience and knowledge moves everyone differently, but I realize that I am driven particularly by the need to pass what my body of knowledge/experience on to others.

I don't feel as though it's a narcissistic need, this feeling that I must educate and share with those I care about, but rather that I tread upon this planet as everyone else, accumulating a different set of experiences than the person walking next to me.  So it seems only natural to turn to that person and say. " Hello, want to share?"

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

i'm free from the chain gang now

I'm free from the chain gang now
It's been a long time since I heard
the voice of reason barking
gnawing at my heels, red ankles 
running straight ahead
to tease her, to charm her
convince her that I don't belong
convince her that I don't belong

I'm free from the chain gang now
I am delivered to the countryside
to think alone and hide
away from men sailing silver ships of pride
to lost ports and lost lives
leaving reason, leaving to
convince her that I don't belong
convince her that I don't belong
I don't belong

I'm free, I'm free, oh Lord 
I'm free from the chain gang now
                                       - summer 2006 g.j.g


Welcome to NZfM.  Originally, this was the name of the scholarly journal of the great romantic composers, and although it might not be my aim to directly resurrect that forgotten publication, I find it perfect inspirational fodder.  Indirect influence at its finest.  Hopefully my musings mean something to you...