Wisdom from Seuss

Read this quote.

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss

Go ahead. Read it again.

Its great, isn't it? I just love that quote to pieces. How often do we hold things in, or not say our real beliefs because we are afraid that people will turn from us? Quite often, I think. But we just have to remember that people who are true friends will love us, regardless. Just be who you are.

Two more quotes from Seuss (because Seuss is awesome)-

“You are you. Now, isn't that pleasant?” -Dr. Seuss

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” -Dr. Seuss

OMG! I saw a butterfly today! Video below. Sorry for the rather frenzied videoing, but it was flying fast!
For those interested, it is a Morning Cloak butterfly. They're gorgeous little creatres, dark brown (almost black) with a whitish-yellow band around the edges of their wings.

A note to the world

Hello dear friends,

 

First off, this note is NOT directed to anyone in particular. Really, it's a letter to the world.

I'm writing this because lately, I've been seeing and hearing so many comments that I have found to be really hurtful. Not hurtful to me, but hurtful to the world. Sometimes I agree with their point of view, and sometimes not, but I have found them offensive  because of the way that they were said, ways that abandon human compassion and love.

 

I believe that everybody has the has the right to be treated, and should be treated with love and equality. Period.

 

 If you believe that homosexuality is wrong, does that mean you can call gays "perverts" or "disgusting"? If you disagree with a certain political leader, does that mean that you can call him an "Idiot", "Moron", or "Douchebag?"

 

I don't think you can.

 

Why can't we love people for their heart, not for their political beliefs, spirituality or sexuality?

 

All I'm saying is that I just wish we could all be more loving to each other. I believe that we are all connected in some way, and I think that when you treat somebody else with kindness, love and respect, it will come back you and when you treat another with intolerance and hate, you are hurting yourself and everybody around you. 

 

I sincerely hope that I haven't offended anyone because that was completely against my intention. I love you all!

 

-Dan

Hauschka - Morgenrot from Jeff Desom on Vimeo.

Our living room: before and after

BEFORE

AFTER

Dust, drywall, more dust, construction and some more dust for good measure

So this is what our house looks like right now. We are getting some sanding and mudding done to our walls so that we can paint them. There is dust all over the place.

Brisingr

Okay, so I finished reading Brisingr. If you are not familiar with it, this is the third book in the Inheritance Cycle, by Christopher Paolini. I have enjoyed reading the first two books, (Eragon and Eldest) and even liked the movie that came out last year. So I was anticipating reading the next installment. I absolutely loved it. It was one of those books that you just don't want to stop reading. It even has some (IMHO) classic material and brings up some good topics of revenge, justice, heroes (and what makes one) and other such things. It makes for a very interesting, entertaining read, and it made me think, which is what a good book should do. I can't wait for the fourth and last book!

Celsius Youth Theatre has a website!

Hey everybody, just thought I'd let you know that Celsius Youth Theatre has a website! This is the theatre company that I founded with two of my friends. The website is very much under construction, but we're excited to have it!

Here is the link:

http://celsiusyouththeatre.org/

-Dan

Art etc...

I've been thinking a lot about art recently. I'm going to be directing a one act play this spring, and I've really been thinking about how I can make it different, how I can make it really touch people and be more than just a play, how it can become a piece of art.

I've become pretty obsessed with Cirque Du Soleil recently, for many reasons. Firstly, because its amazing, secondly, they're Canadian (okay, thats not a reason), but especially because what they do is so beautiful. They are not just a circus. They really tell stories and create beauty. Obviously, my small theatre company does not have the budget, nor the acrobats to create anything like what they do, nor do we want to. But I really do want to create art that is beautiful, and can touch people.

So thats my current project/dilemma: How can I make a small unassuming play really mean something, touch people and be artistic...

Planets, people and problems

Perhaps you saw this new story that came out a short while back. I've always found science and astronomy very cool and so I find the discovery and photographing of these new planets rather interesting.

However, I also have a problem with it.

These planets are 130 light years away. Why should we care? Sure, its interesting, but we can't even take care of our own planet, so why the heck are we spending billions of dollars investigating other new planets hundreds of light years away that we are never going to reach? We should get our priorities right and fix our own planet before trying to find more.

Just my rant for the day...

Concert Update!

Okay, so I went to the concert today. And I saw the Britten Violin Concerto live. And it was mind-blowing awesome. Almost the best concert I have ever seen. The work itself is incredible, so amazingly beautiful and just great. But this performance was better than I ever could have expected. The soloist, Livia Sohn was so good. Every note that she played was perfect and crystal-clear. Even when she got into the very high register of the violin, the notes were pure and clean. And the cadenza! It was amazing. Her phrasing was just amazing and then she would let the notes hang in the air for a few moments. It was just exquisite. I was soo thankful that I was able to see it.

Benjamin Britten Violin Concerto

Okay, I just have to post this because I am practically exploding with excitement and I had to tell SOMEONE.

I'm going to see the Britten Violin Concerto live with the orchestra tomorrow with Livia Sohn as the soloist. I'm sooo excited. It will be amazing. Its my favorite violin concerto and it is just breathtaking, IMHO.


I just had to tell you. :)

Be assured that I will be posting an update tomorrow about how it was.

Remembrance Day

In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

What I've been listening to lately

I've recently discovered some violin concertos that I am currently infatuated with.

1. Benjamin Britten's Violin Concerto.
This concerto is sooo good. Very haunting, and super beautiful. I'm actually seeing a performance of it live in a week or two. I'm super excited.

2. Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
I would learn violin just to be able to play this piece! The opening theme introduced by the violin is one of the best ever IMHO.

3. Brahms Violin Concerto
This concerto is perfection, do you hear? Listen to it today, do not delay. It is like candy to my ears.

I find it just unbelieveable how much incredible music there is out there.

Oh yeah, and if you have a piece of classical that you think I should hear, let me know! I always love hearing new music!

Wow.

I was just involved in a truly epic theatre production. It was a youth production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. We did the entire play, adapted very slightly to make a 2 hr production. We had a really fabulous cast of 13 youth and 1 adult. Josh of Running With Scissors was also in it. We got really good reviews so it was very exciting. Hands down, the funnest theatre production I've ever been in. I'll post more about it later.