It is Saturday night and I am wishing Rio Bravo starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, and Walter Brennan were on the television. Fun western with entertaining songs, good story, comical balanced with serious moments, just a good old movie. I just came from the movie theater where I saw Hanna, a shoot-em-up movie about a little girl who is a trained assassin. She kills with the best of them and was trained in the cold forest by her father. Turns out she was genetically engineered and had no real father. The lady in charge of the initial project was mean and spent the movie chasing her to kill her. Lots of running, lots of fighting, lots of bad guys, very few good guys, and not much plot. Sweet little cute girl kills a bunch of people. Cool rock, techno-pop music accompanied the running and fighting.
Finished reading Water For Elephants. Great story and well-written. I read it as a Kindle download on my iPad. Big step for me as a lover of books and a collector of rare books. Once again, I let go of the past and forged ahead, forsaking my love of actual books in favor of the convenience of reading. Still it worked out okay. The fascinating plot of Water for Elephants surrounded the events of a traveling circus. Lots of endearing people and few that were not so charming, that's for sure. Ought to make a good movie.
Also finished The Lost City of Z, a non-fiction narrative following the famed explorer Percy Fawcett as he looks for the City of Z. Set in the Amazons, journalist David Grann attempts to unravel the mystery of the disappearance of Percy Fawcett by tracing his life and the events leading up to his vanishing. Good book with lots of history and information about tribes and nature in the Amazons.
Just read another article about ways a music conservatory is changing its degree offerings and programs for the future. We really need innovative thinking if we are going to survive the electic musical world in the future. It is a frightening and yes glorious time for musicians, as long as we recognize the changing world. We must hold on to the truths that make music so powerful but let go of the unnecesary but valued skills we so dearly love.
Thinking about church tomorrow. I was asked by someone I respect to use more hymns in the service. But a few weeks ago, I was asked to do more choruses by a committee. What a mess we have in our churches today. Fortunately I have the ability to lead music in any style preferred. Sadly enough, most churches do not know what is right nor what approach to take. With exceptions, the mature and giving group prefers a hymn-based service, whereas the less experienced but highly energetic group wants more contemporary choruses. Ironically, the mature group enjoys many of the older choruses and the other group is gravitating toward the hymns. There is no easy answer other than seeking the Lord's wisdom in all things.
Youngest son won a UIL event today and is headed to the State contest for creative writing. Meanwhile Joel acquired the Wheel of Fortune wii game and loves it. He would play all day if we let him. Oldest son is finishing up his Masters degree and about to do his defense of his thesis. Daughter-in-law continues to be successful in her job and is considering a career in administration someday. Family is happy which always makes Dad happy!
On the other hand, the air conditioner went out last week, the washing machine went out last week, wife's car needed a new battery, my truck needed a new headlight, Jordan's truck got a new transmission a few weeks ago, and today my tire got a screw in it and had to be repaired. Challenging financial requirements.
We are in a drought and lots of places are fighting fires. Yesterday, my All-State horn student lost her father in a tragic fire accident. He was a volunteer trying to help. He died bravely trying to help a community from being enveloped in a fire. Sad story for sure.
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