20% off … 100% on … Beethoven’s Birthday Bash — Reality Readers Eligible for discount w/Sarasota Orchestra
Next Thursday, December 16th, the music of Beethoven will rock the hearts and heads of a very lucky audience at Holly Hall during a Chamber Concert featuring string quartet and wind quintet, with Jonathan Spivey. The Sarasota Orchestra folks must love Ludwig as much as I do because they’re celebrating the anniversary (240th!) of his birthday precisely on the date he was born.
It promises to be a relaxed soirée — wine tasting and complimentary hors d’oeuvres start at 4:30 p.m.; the concert follows at 5:30, and includes Quartet No. 10, Op. 74, Harp; Quintet for Piano and Winds Op. 16.
In the spirit of the season, readers of this blog can get a fabulous 20% discount from the Orchestra for this concert, just by using the code “mc20” – without the quotation marks and case sensitive – so don’t use caps! That’s a pretty sweet deal — with tickets only $24 to $30 in the first place, take off the 20% and you’re looking at 20-24 bucks to get you into one of the best birthday bashes this month. Go online to purchase or call 941.953.3434.
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know I’ve got a serious Jones for Beethoven. I think it’s because his music — hundreds of years old — still resonates so profoundly and so perfectly for our current times. I dare, in fact, I triple-dare anyone to listen to Beethoven and not come away feeling emboldened to LIVE not just live.
It really almost doesn’t matter which piece you’re listening to, Beethoven’s music is, yes, intellectually complex, but always emotionally visceral and very real; wringing the heart of any element of self-pity or sentimentality and leaving behind pure emotion.
Beethoven’s music courses through the body like the blood of life itself — filling body and soul with a deeply-felt awareness of the thundering possibilities of life. And whether 29, 45, or 90, we all need that kind soundtrack in our mind … inspiring us to believe, to become, to be more than we think possible.
If you can’t make this December infusion of Beethoven, mark your calendars/buy your tickets now for the March 2011 Masterworks Beethoven event — that will be a can’t miss … and believe me, I won’t!
Being here now … yoga with Gary Halperin — special offer for Reality Readers
When I got the green light from my doctor a few months ago to ease slowly back into exercise, taking classes with certified professional-level Kripalu Yoga teacher Gary Halperin in his beginner yoga class was the first thing I did — and am still doing … .
Boomerang demonstrates the Back-Sprawled, Paws Akimbo Cat Pose.
As a little gift for readers of this blog, throughout the rest of December, new visitors to any of Gary’s classes pay only $5 for the first class visit — if you mention MC Reality Online when you sign up or show up. This is a great way to try out yoga — especially with Gary who has a fantastic reputation in Sarasota; and it’s also a great way to give yourself a treat during the month of December, which can way too often feel way too harried and hurried.
Classes are normally $12 each, and he offers day and evening classes Monday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday nights — centrally located and easy to get to, at the corner of Tuttle and Ringling. You can contact Gary to sign up for a class, or visit www.feelbetternowyoga.com to learn more. Read more about Halperin in this magazine article — Being Here Now. In the classes I’ve been taking, there are men and women — all ages.
I’m way too often an all-work, no play/no relax kind of gal, but Gary’s classes are teaching me (despite the fact that I’m a slow learner), that I can make and take the time — in fact I deserve to do it — in my life to feel mentally more clear, emotionally more satisfied, psychologically more calm, and physically more comfortable. I find that by doing the simple yoga stretches and poses, combined with the act of just “being here now” in class and listening to my body and being aware of how it feels — has reaped rewards not just physically, but personally and professionally.
I have more energy, more clarity, and more energy throughout my work days in general, even on the days that I’m not taking his class. And more importantly — I’ve been sleeping dramatically better since I started the yoga earlier this fall.
But one of my favorite parts of the class is simply listening to the calm, focused, nonjudgmental “instruction” from Gary. In a way that’s almost uncanny, at the very moments in class where I feel most challenged or conflicted about being there (because I feel I should be working or doing something on my “to-do” list) or even when I’m just feeling insecure about how my body looks while holding some “let it all hang out” pose — Gary inevitably speaks to the class in a way that seems to address precisely what’s going on in my head. And he brings me back to what matters. Just being and accepting the “here” — right where I am at that moment — right now.
It’s a valuable lesson for the rest of my life outside of yoga.
Things to be thankful for ….
This little bird — I think it’s a house wren perhaps — has been hanging in my yard for about two months now. It’s probably a female, but I call it my “old guy.” He flies very tentatively and I believe he cannot see out of his left eye — see how red and inflamed it looks? (the other eye appears normal). He’s also hard of hearing. I sometimes walk right up to him before he realizes I’m there. I think he hears, just not all that well. He sits on the feeder sometimes for what seems like hours, nibbling away. He goes to the bird fountain and sips at the water. When he first arrived back in early September, I thought seriously that he was dying — he seemed so frail. But he seems to be getting stronger and stronger.
I’m grateful I’ve been able to give him a place to rest his wings and get some sustenance. I know it’s goofy, but I love him! (more…)
Fall … ing … in … giddiness with this gorgeous weather
Windows wide open. (more…)
What if … we take a moment to help fight hunger in our community?
I ran my “What If” blog on January 22nd of this year … but it seems appropriate for this current week too; so I’ve excerpted it below. Thank you to all who donated so far to the All Faiths Food Bank “Reality Readers” fundraising drive! If you’re interested in donating money through the MC Reality Readers fundraising campaign to help feed the hungry this holiday season — click here for details.
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What if …right this moment … or at least the minute you get done reading this blog … (more…)
Democracy is Doomed … thanks to ethically challenged bloggers? (surely they don’t me moi!?)
A week or so back, we had the Business Ethics Alliance panel discussion “Does Journalistic Truth Now Mean Something Different Than It Previously Meant?” Putting aside the unwieldy title that would have been nixed by any editor worth his or her salt, the panel that assembled at the Hyatt Regency to discuss same — Diane McFarlin, publisher, Herald-Tribune Media Group; Susan Burns, editor, Biz941; and Matt Walsh, editor and CEO, the Observer Group — represented the salt of the local journalism earth.
“But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?” — Matthew 5:13 (more…)
Super Scary Walking Dead– aka the Non-Voters
Zombie is too kind a word to describe the catatonic state of mind of America. I’m talking about the interior state of its intellect, obviously. Because the mouth and the eyes and the jangly arms and legs, and the hyper-extended eyebrows, are all still popping and bopping like Micheal Jackson Thriller dancers on crack.
I think I’ve seen one too many campaign ads. (more…)
Managing Men!? From the boardroom to the bedroom … MC’s dishing advice!?
I know, I know …
Me? Giving advice on dealing with men?
The crazy cat lady dishing advice about managing relationships with men? Isn't that as crazy as Sarah Palin talkin' politics?!
Mark Halperin chats with MC about honesty and integrity … among other things
I had a nice chat with Mark Halperin this morning — he’s the editor-at-large and senior political analyst for Time magazine.
photo courtesy of HarpersCollins.com
Moon shine pining
I can’t see the full Harvest Moon tonight … it’s covered with clouds. So, since I have no inspiration for a new writing about my favorite full moon of the year … here are all my old writings of full moon madness, for those who might have missed them the first time ’round.
