Where Pianos Roam

Meet Courage

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I have to sound the dork alert before I allow you to read the rest of this post. 

I am a dork.

I am a dork.

Seriously, I am a dork.

So, if I haven't mentioned this before, I have this strange habit of giving names to objects in my life that hold great importance. 

For example, the vehicle in the photo above is my car.  He is a very trustworthy automobile that gets me safely to wherever I need to go and gets great gas mileage.  I love that he's got a shiny black coloring and seems to have a medieval sort of vibe going on.  His name is Balthazar.

I also own a little piano.  She is a petite console piano that I bought from a friend a few years ago.  She made the long trek with me to move to Nashville.  Her name is Annabelle (The Narcoleptic Piano), and she's very sweet.

Anyone who has ever ridden in my car (aka Balthazar) might have noticed that there is always a little brown teddy bear sitting in the front passenger seat.  He is a treasured farewell gift from my dear friends at New Life MCC back in Charlotte, NC.  For several years now, he goes where I go, and I go where he goes.  He's very opinionated and talks up a storm on long road trips.  (He also makes for a small soft pillow at rest areas).    His name is The Fawn ,and he's kind of my little traveling gargoyle guardian (that is, if gargoyles were ever fluffy, adorable, and bear-like).   

Oh yeah, I knitted a scarf for him too .  .  .  (as the dork alert reaches deafening levels!!!)

Of course, you all know Oreo and Buttercup, the miniature traveling piano and her rowdy bench  .  .  .

 

And now there is a new member of my personified inanimate family of beloved objects!!!!  Most recently, I bought a bike.  Not just any bike, mind you.  The one bike to rule them ALL!!!!!!

I actually got him about a month and a half ago, but it took me a while to pick just the right name.

Ladies and Gents, I'd like to introduce you all to my new bike!!!

His name is Courage .  .  . 

 

I thought about how airplanes and boats are often given these sort of majestic kinds of names.  This little bike is so quiet, graceful, and smooth on the road.  It actually feels like flying.  Courage and I have ventured through my neighborhood countless times already!!

I love my bike.

I love my bike.

I love my bike .  .  .

.  .  .  just as much as I love being a dork.

Sigh.

 

Early On a Sunday Morning

I confess.  I've been neglecting this blog for the last week.  My apologies to all who have checked in and not seen much activity here at WPR.   For the most part, it's back to normal after I've had to take care of various other matters in my full and busy life. 

I'd like to give a little update on what I've been up to lately. 

First off, on the knitting front, I wanted to do something other than a scarf or a hat.  Since my bed could always use another pillow (I LOVE pillows), I decided to knit a throw-pillow cover like any man who is confident in his masculinity would do. 

Sure. 

Yeah.

Anyway, it actually turned out pretty good as you can see in the above photo and here:

To think, it all started from two massive globs of yarn .  .  .

My Mom thinks I need to make another one to make a set, but this first one took a fair amount of time.  At least now, I know how to make one.  It wasn't that hard after all.

A few weeks ago, I went with my sister and her little Asian/Samoan armada of kids to see the movie How To Train Your Dragon.

Have you seen this movie yet?   OMG!  It is awesome and all-out fun.  I'd put it in the same league as Up and Wall-e.  Not only is it incredibly engaging, but it has a strong emotional core within the story.  In between the phenomenal visuals, funny dialogue, and the cutest dragon in the history of film-making, there is a tender father and son relationship in the balance.  This is quality film-animation at it's finest.

Go see it!  Like, NOW!!!

Speaking of the cutest dragon in the history of film-making, his name is "Toothless", and here is a better look at this ridonkulously adorable little dragon:

 

A couple of weeks ago, I got to host a private concert at a private location in downtown Nashville before a small but captive audience.  I knew beforehand that I would be performing on a grand piano, but I didn't know what kind of grand it was.   When I sat down to set up my mic, I happened to see the words "Steinway and Sons" emblazoned just above the keys.  My heart skipped several beats.  Steinway is among the finest brands of pianos in the world.  This is the first time I got to perform on one for a show. 

It was heavenly and easily one of the best performances I've done in a while.  Nothing against my sweet keyboard, but there really is nothing like the real thing. 

I managed to take a photo while I was there.  Isn't she lovely? 

Speaking of shows, I announced my next Nashville, TN show a couple of days ago on my website.  Mark your calendars, folks.  I hit the stage on June 27 at the Exit/In!  Pre-sale tickets are now available!  Just go HERE to purchase.  I'll also be giving away free tickets in the next few weeks!

So, that's a quick update for now.  I'm gonna have some fun and informative posts over the next week. 

Cheers to you and thanks for stopping by!

 

Early On a Sunday Morning

So, last night, I attended the Art Flood Benefit hosted by Hands On Nashville at the Billups Art Gallery in East Nashville.  I got there just past 6:30 PM with the intention of scoping out all of the art and snatching one up before somebody else got their grubby hands on it.  Here's the blow-by-blow .  .  .

I stood at the entrance where I paid the $5 admission and where the attendant asked me how old I was and insisted that I show my ID (WHAAAAT?).  For sure, that was definitely a compliment.  Said attendant kept getting interrupted, and I grew irritated knowing that with each passing second somebody else would be buying an art piece that was more suited for me.  UUUGGGH.

Finally, I entered the gallery.  I was relieved to see that it was not your usual frou-frou and pretentious type of affair that these kinds of events tend to become.  Like a crouching tiger (hidden dragon), I quickly devoured each piece with my eyes to see if something resonated with me.  Several pieces actually did.  One of them was a piece by my friend Jessica Hill that somebody already bought.  Yeesh.  

The other was a framed piece that, while very reasonably priced, was still over my budget.  After doing a complete perusal of all the works for sale, I went back to the framed artwork.  Not only was it a gorgeous, impressionistic piece, but it was already framed AND matted.  I envisioned it sitting in the personal library that I hope to have some day, just by my comfy reading chair and ottoman.  

So, it was decided.  I HAD to have it.  The fact that all of my money would go to victims of the Nashville Flood was all the more reason to get my grubby Asian hands all over it.  The pluses far outweighed the minuses.

Here's a photo I took this morning of it.




It is a photographic piece that looks like a painting.  It was made by Nashville photographer Andy Detwiler.  I got to meet him at the event and thank him for making something so stunning.  I was drawn to its whimsical, dreamlike, and abstract qualities.  Typically, I go for more expressionist, graphic, or modern type of stuff, but something about this work just summoned me to act upon it.  

After some research, I found that Andy Detwiler has a website where he sells various prints of his work .  .  .

www.detwiler-photography.com


Samples of more of his work can be found on this site.  He has a deep sense of how to capture beauty in nature.  I'm proud to own one of his pieces.

Last night's event lit a fire in my Asian belly.  I've long wanted to build a personal art collection, and I think it's time to do so.  I already have a modest collection of a few pieces, but I am curious to see what else is out there .  .  .

I do love me some beautiful art.

Forgive Me

The indie band Le Loup just unveiled a new video for their song "Forgive Me". 

I have to say, it's gorgeous .  .  .  .

Maybe I'll make a video someday .  .  .   

Sigh.

Happy Mother's Day!

Just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mothers of the world!  Wooohooo!

I'm gonna spend a fun day with my Mom and my sister today.

In honor of Mother's Day, I wanted to post a video I found on youtube.  First of all, I don't personally know the people in this video, but I thought it was adorable nonetheless.  

The song being used is one of my favorite songs about Motherhood.  It's called Apron Strings by Everything But the Girl.  

Enjoy .  .  .

Here are the lyrics:

Apron Strings
by Everything But the Girl

Apron strings
Hanging empty crazy things
My body tells me
I want someone to tie to my
Apron strings

Apron strings
Waiting for you pretty things
That I could call you
I want someone to tie to my
Lonely apron strings.

Your baby looks just like you when you were young
And he looks at me with eyes that shine
And I wish that he were mine
Then I go home
To my
Apron strings
Cold and lonely,
For time brings
thoughts that only
Will be quiet when someone clings
to my apron strings.

And I'll be perfect in my own way
When you cry I will be there
I'll sing to you and comb your hair
All your troubles I will share

For apron strings
Can be used for other things
Than what they're meant for
and you'd be happy wrapped in my
Apron strings

You'd be happy wrapped in my
Apron strings


Take the time to tell your Mom how wonderful she is!!

A Knitting Masterpiece!!!!!!!!!

My sister, The Shaolin Master of Knitting, wanted to show me a video that she posted on her blog.  She told me it was a knitting video, and I thought to myself "YAWWWN!!".  Don't get me wrong.  I am a casual knitter who loves knitting, but really, it's not all that exciting to watch as it happens.  A bit of a bore really.

I have to say that this video, which is actually a Belgian commercial for a Natural Gas company, is unbelievably inspired and brilliant!!!  Beautifully shot with an artist's keen eye and a softly bright color palette, this little commercial is a truly amazing sight to behold.  

I'm gonna shut my trap now and let you see for yourself.  As a knitter, it almost left me speechless .  .  .

I am ever so grateful to get a glimpse behind the scenes.  How did they do all of that?

I love this.  I really love this.  Film-making can be so magical. 

Sigh.

The Nashville Flood of 2010

I cannot say that I was one of the hundreds of people who were baling water out of their basements over the last couple of days. 

I cannot say that I lost a cherished home that is now almost completely submerged in water.

I cannot say that I had to abandon my car on I-24 when a flash flood consumed it last Saturday.

I cannot say that a close friend of mine passed away in the deluge that became the most rainfall Nashville has sustained in a two day period, ever.

I cannot say that I am indefinitely unemployed due to the damage done to my workplace.

I cannot say that I was displaced from staying at the Opryland Hotel during my vacation and that I have spent the last three nights living in a cramped high school gymnasium with hundreds of other people.

These are not my stories.  These truths belong to thousands of people whose lives have been changed and shaken since torrential rain and thunderstorms first descended upon the state of Tennessee on Saturday, May 2.

In the face of lives lost, unprecedented damage to state and government infrastructure, and MILLIONS of dollars in losses in the private sector, the people of Tennessee will be mounting a colossal effort to make things better. 

This effort will summon us to re-think many things .  .  .

how we build our homes

how we help each other

how we can sustain our spirits

what we value

what we love

I, for one, believe that the capacity for growth and change is a formidable thing---more so than just about any threatening disaster.  This capacity allows us to learn from our mistakes.  It empowers us to be resilient.  It grants us precious permission to become a better, stronger version of who we once were. 

The only thing I can say is that these stories are still being told.  Lives will be rebuilt and foundations made more substantial. 

Somehow, maybe we will all understand what it means to be brave. 

I salute and embrace you, my fellow Tennesseans, for the struggles and opportunities to come. 

-Gordon Roqué

PS--If you text REDCROSS to 90999, $10 goes to the flood victims of Tennessee.  Please help if you are able.