Birthday Boy

I'm not necessarily a creature of habit. However, I do I have one small ritual I've managed to sustain over the years. It's playing the fifth track one time only off of what is unfortunately regarded a highly forgettable album (though I would adamantly disagree) on this day. The melancholy nature of this tune seems to scratch where I itch. Here's to another year of life...

Birthday Boy

Birthday boy, blow out the candles;
Good friends around you, you should feel O.K.
Don't look so sad & blue;
Don't act forsaken, this day's for you.
Good days are coming, my friend;
Life can be easy 'til the end.

Birthday boy, don't fear tomorrow;
Changes before you; years drift away.
You see life as pictures, frame to frame;
Many years wasted, what a shame.
Good days are coming, my friend;
Life can be easy 'til the end, 'til the end.

That empty feeling won't go away;
Caught up in hurting, day after day;
When will you see the joy in your life?
It's there for you, it's there for you.

Don't look so sad & blue;
Don't act forsaken, this day's for you.
Good days are coming, once you stop running;
Life could be easy, easy for you.

Words & Music: David "Hawk" Wolinski & Daniel Seraphine for the album Chicago XIV. (c) 1980.

Winter Games

A week for the ages it has been. Though fighting a great deal of sickness, I relished the sight of Arctic whales, melting glaciers, & vast prairie lands all digitally & magnificently displayed on a cold stadium floor, as the eyes of the world turned to Vancouver, British Columbia for the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics. What's more, the narration of native son, Donald Sutherland, toppled with Joni Mitchell's orchestral remake of her 1960's hit "Both Sides Now" was part of the perfect opening to a week I won't soon forget.

It doesn't hurt either that Team U.S.A. is thriving (despite the absence of my favorite figure skater, Sasha Cohen, who could not overcome a nagging knee injury in time to compete). On Wednesday, our country celebrated their best single day ever in U.S. Winter Olympic history thanks to the courage of an injured Lindsey Vonn, & the pioneering spirit of Shaun White. And finally, after a 22 year absence, an American is back at the top of the medal stand with the program that Illinois native Evan Lysacek delivered.

A week for the ages indeed.

Tonight, after consuming frozen pizzas, chicken nuggets, pie & coffee, I spent the evening glued to the television with my two oldest. We watched in great anticipation of what heroics might unfold next. Saddens me these games only come around once every four years. I suppose though, like any other event or resource in life, if it's plentiful, its more easily disregarded. This weekend marks the halfway point. Here's hoping the 2nd act is anywhere half as good as the first.

Lawter Road Video

Enjoy!