Monkey See, Monkey Do

The art of discipline.

It is an art form. The process of learning and developing a specialty skill to a professional level beyond innate talent takes an enormous amount of self-sacrifice, courage (blind or learned), determination, persistence, guidance and confidence (again, blind or learned). Just to name a few. These are not things you ponder in this way when riding the rail, but your mind and body are processing them all and interpreting the course of action. Fight or flight eventually is going to play a role in your quest and it is usually the place where the debutant will get off the rail and the obsessed folks who decide failure is not an option hang on for dear life.

It isn't my problem to be sympathetic towards parents that never took the time or effort to achieve anything other than kids. I know raising kids and keeping a family together is a difficult task. I'm terrified of it. Parents are always tired, manic, highly opinionated, protective, worried about finances, the kids future, the mortgage-often become unreasonable and confrontational about their children and begin a war path that I have yet to be interested in. Course not all parents act this way, and the different approaches to parenting probably out number the amount of parents actually calculating how to parent correctly because after all, each parent is more likely to see their own way to do things and try to keep it all in the family in the way they see fit.

All fine and dandy. Congratulations.

But in all honesty, I don't see parenting kids as the final all encompassing challenge that therefore "makes" a responsible and respectable adult. I know too many parents that act worse than teens. The sense of entitlement to me is rediculous. I know for myself that living life everyday chasing dreams and struggling to keep a balance can be every bit as crushing and exhausting as what I see parents going through. It may not make sense to parents anymore while their parenting, but that's because of the sense of entitlement I just mentioned; "well we have to work AND raise kids, we don't have time to do the things people without kids can do!"
-Yes, I'll buy that. I see it. I watch my sister and her husband go through it. But does this mean that the rest of us are lazy asses lying around enjoying all the free time life supposedly rewards you with when your not a parent?

You know what?

Fuck you and the stroller your pushing.

Backstage Pass-no rock stars needed.

Last weekend I had the fortunate experience of getting a private backstage/behind the scenes tour of Walt Disney Concert Hall. I made a huge mistake by not taking my camera. I felt certain that I would not be allowed to take any photos, and for some of the tour I know I would not have been allowed to photograph anything-but there were opportunities to snap some great shots on the stage/conductors podium. I think I can get another tour though. There is original art work from Fantasia backstage that the public has never seen. Not to mention a music library that to me is a gold mine worth more than any amount of money some rich fucker could ever acquire. I am always in awe of the concert music world. If I really do get the opportunity to work for the LA Phil, I will be floored with pride and a sense of accomplishment. Nothing I have done with my musical life so far could be as fullfilling as working with such talent.

The best part, they only hire union musicians. Why would a class act like the LA Phil need to do otherwise? Yep, I'd do backflips for them.