June 30, 2004
Half a career
A while back I noted the 15th anniversary of my graduation from university. Today marks the 15th anniversary of the start of my career. I joined a company in suburban Chicago, worked there for a while and then set out (on their payroll) to see the world. I remember joining - you reported on a Friday for induction, had lunch and some safety training. Then you got a weekend. I figured by joining on June 30th, I'd get paid for the long 4th of July holiday the next week. I did. I remember getting my first paycheck for $625 after tax.
I had a lot of things in mind as I approached this anniversary. I haven't exactly worked for a full 15 years, since I took a break between jobs (and companies) from January to September of 2001 while I finished my MBA. But it did occur to me that if you can normally retire after 30 years of service (which would leave me all of 52 years old), then I am halfway there.
Of course, that's just a line in the sand. Who retires at 52, with only 30 years of service? Me, I want to retire even sooner. I thought..."Hmmm, this would be a good milestone, a good time." But I'm not there yet.
Today also marks the end of my contract in Brazil. We're scrambling around hectically, packing up our home and our family, sending off shipments, closing accounts, preparing the ground for our return to England next week. It's been a remarkable two years here. I have a lot more to say, but no time to write just now. I probably won't post again until we're back in Inglaterra. So, tchau for now.
June 19, 2004
Ray Charles
National Public Radio has a short-time (one week) link up to audio of the Ray Charles memorial service. Definitely worth a listen.
June 16, 2004
Happy 100th Bloomsday!
I've read Ulysses, and had the pleasure of reading part of it while I was in Dublin for a long, Guinness-soaked weekend of literary tourism. I wish I could have been there for the celebration - it's the kind of thing I would have gone out of my way for, but not hopped yet another continent.
Reminder to self: find a Guinness to celebrate. Irish Pub, anyone?
Brilliant Headline
In today's Guardian, on this news item:
"Bob Dylan is to receive an honorary degree from St Andrews University."
June 14, 2004
Flying Visit
I'm just back from a brief visit to the US - my first time back "home" in over three years. I flew up from Rio overnight on Wednesday and flew back overnight on Saturday. Too much flying in four days, but it was nice to be back in my hometown of Pittsburgh for a spell.
I managed to accomplish all of my main objectives: visit with my Dad and his lady friend, sort through a bunch of crap from my childhood and get it into some condition to ship to the UK, take delivery of some of my new toys (I already love the iPod), and see an old friend. I also managed to drink a few six packs of my favourite beer in the world and inhale a fish sandwich from the Original Oyster House.
It was my first visit to the US since September 11th. Security was definitely tighter - I had my shoes off in both DC and Pittsburgh, and my luggage unpacked and thoroughly searched in Rio and São Paulo. I flew with United, and give them high marks for their Economy Plus cabin on the 767. Comfortable enough that I managed a good night's sleep each way, helped on the return by the Bose Quiet Comfort 2 noise-cancelling headphones, which left me in a cathedral-like space with Karen Peris's haunting vocals on the latest Innocence Mission CD.
Wonderful News
According to this BBC article, the much-hated Skye Bridge tolls are going to be eliminated later this year. The tolls were imposed, then raised, as financial interests gained control of the crossing from the UK mainland to the Isle of Skye.
In the week the bridge opened, in October 1995, the government-run ferry service stopped: the only efficient means of getting to Skye was the bridge. This might have been uncontroversial had the toll the private companies levied not been the highest, per metre of road, in the world. The one-mile crossing now costs £5.70 each way. (Source)
There's a long chapter in George Monbiot's Captive State, and you can read a condensed version of his account here. It's an interesting and humorous story of government obfuscation and a citizen's determined fight for daylight and freedom from a punishing tax.
While I'm on the subject of Skye, twentyeight is a reasonably new weblog documenting a couple's efforts to restore and live on a disused croft on Skye. Not updated that often, but inspiring to this would-be farmer.
June 04, 2004
Something to look forward to
For many years I lived next door to Sacred Heart Church in Southwest London. The church was a good neighbour. Imposing, but silent. Not being religious, I never once crossed the threshold.
And now I find that, on our return to London, it will be my parish church, even though we now live some distance from it. And so I had a little surf around the website. It has a wonderful history, much of which was related to the house I used to live in (built by the family that donated the church). And it has music! Serious music. Here was the line-up for Pentecost Sunday:
11.15: Solemn English
Entry hymn: Come down O love divine (303)
Sequence: Veni Sancte Spiritus (300)
Litany to the Holy Spirit - Peter Hurford
Sanctus from ‘German Mass’ - Schubert
O Lord, give thy holy Spirit - Tallis
Final hymn: Breathe on me, breath of God (302)
Toccata sur le Veni Creator - Gaston Litaize
And even better...here in Rio, I go to a very small chapel for mass in English. It's a good mass, but our musical output is pretty weak, and limited to a handful of well-worn syrupy modern hymns. Look what's to come...
The Sacred Heart is one of the few parishes to retain the Latin mass, and each Sunday the choir sings settings of the mass in Latin, along with the plainsong propers for the day (introit, gradual, alleluia and communion). The creed and Pater Noster are sung to the familiar plainsong settings and the appropriate Marian antiphon is also sung each week. A motet is usually sung at the offertory and communion. In addition, the Domine Salvam Fac is sung at the end of mass each week....
The choir is a voluntary mixed choir of over twenty, but we are always keen to welcome new members, particularly tenors and basses. Please contact Robert Rathbone, the director of music if you would like to audition.