Magical Moment 506, "Eating My Words For Dinner"

http://www.bernardsinn.com/

Remember a few days ago, when I was feeling completely dejected and deflated from an audition gone bad? It was for a steady gig that paid well and I would be perfect for. But I didn't have that confident feeling when I left, like everything went perfect and they would call me immediately, begging me to take the position. I went home and thought, I shouda done this. If only I had played that. Oh, I'll NEVER get the job now!

Well I got the job.

And now I must eat my words.

I wonder if they'd be good sauteed in butter?

When will I ever learn? Don't make automatic bad assumptions about myself! Positive thinking, uplifting thoughts, not self-loathing and putting down! Hello?! Isn't that what I try and write about every day? Why can't I take a piece of my own advice?

So I have a new opportunity to do just that. My first day is Wednesday. I will be prepared, practiced, and confident. The job is exactly what I love doing most of all! Me and a piano, playing to a crowd, songs of my own choosing, while they enjoy dinner. Not too much pressure because I'm background, and not the center of attention. I love reading crowds and selecting songs for them and I always thought I was pretty good at it. (That's how you learn to survive on tips, it's like Darwinism for musicians. Play the right songs for the right people, and wa-la! You survive.)

This experience has been another reminder to silly me...I'm not in control of everything, God is. And I need to trust Him, rather than worry about my own capabilities so much.

If you're ever in New Jersey on a Wednesday night between 6:30 and 10, come by the Bernards Inn. Eat a nice dinner. I'll play a tune for you.

Magical Moment 625, "Thailand - the Elephants"

Needless to say, my favorite part of our Thailand vacation, was our week long volunteering at Elephant Nature Park ! The logging industry was banned in Thailand in 1989, leaving thousands of elephants unemployed. These elephants are now used for tourism. You may have heard of elephant shows featuring the animals playing soccer or painting pictures with their trunks. They are no doubt amazing to watch, but the sad truth is that these elephants have gone through a series of torture and abuse to "break their spirit" by their trainers. This short clip is very hard to watch, but it will give you an idea of what the elephants in captivity in the country of Thailand go through. The only elephants in Thailand who do not endure this, are the very few baby elephants who are first generation born in "safe captivity" at places like Elephant Nature Park. Every other elephant at this park has been brutally abused. Some have been blinded by their owners, le

Magical Moment 620, "Lilac Garden"

Eddie and I visited the Lilac Gardens at Ringwood Manor in New Jersey, a pristine and beautiful state park with 8 species of lilacs and several varieties within. We went on a rainy afternoon, which turned out perfect because the rain stopped for us when we got there, and began again as soon as we left. It also decorated the plants with gorgeous rain drops, adding to their beauty. And now for a quick game of "Where's Elizabeth?" And "Where's Eddie?" ~~Have a great weekend! ~~

Magical Moment 280, "The Eleventh Hour"

The Veterans Day Parade, NYC On July 29, 2001 , five exceptional men were honored by the President of the United States for their remarkable military service. They were involved in a top secret mission that required unfathomable intelligence and as a result, literally won a battle which was instrumental in winning the war. Not the war that was happening in 2001, not even the Gulf War. It was World War II, and they were the Navajo Code Talkers who were largely responsible for winning the bloody battle of Okinawa. The only problem with the ceremony was that just 5 remained of the original 29. Our country was too late in thanking the other 24, and nearly too late in thanking those 5 men. On March 10, 2010, three hundred women won the Congressional Gold medal for their outstanding war service. Unfortunately, 800 received the award posthumously. These were the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II, who devoted themselves to flying military aircraft like the B-26 and B-

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