You Can Fly

I love palindromic days.  And 4/30/16 was day #121 of 2016.  121 is 11 squared.  Double Palindromic!  And it was another really good day filled with family, Little League, and then Sarah took the girls to see Peter Pan at our community theater.  I love the Peter Pan story, and I love most Disney music.  So today's song is from Peter Pan, it's a song about faith, trust, and pixie dust.  As one chapter of my Penn career closes and the new chapter starts this week, I am sure I will need a LOT of faith, trust, and maybe even some Quaker dust.  Let's hope all goes well and I can fly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf00mEe9EOs

Hail Hail the Gang's All Here

The evening of the 120th day of 2016 was an awesome one.  Rained out of Little League again on 4/29/16, we spent dinnertime at a local restaurant celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, new beginnings, and we were with family.  Extended family that we do not see enough of, and it was awesome to be together - the gang was ALL HERE!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnLTG8x_g_w

Tradition!

Day #119 was a day filled with tradition.  4/28/16 was Hey Day.  The Pen Relays were at Franklin Field.  The Band Semi-formal was held with its requisite speeches and awards.  It makes me happy when all these traditions coincide.  I think that is one of the reasons I appreciate working on a college campus so much....so much is steeped in tradition.  It is also fitting that I choose this song from Fiddler on the Roof for tonight's song of the day.  It is also Passover, and that is a religious tradition. And it's from a play that we took the kids to see this summer in CA with Abigail and her family. That supports a tradition of enjoying the arts, a tradition started by my parents and handed down from them to us and hopefully from us to our kids.  ENJOY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDtabTufxao

Lean On Me

Day #118 was a bittersweet day for me and many others at Penn.  We gathered, on the afternoon of 4/27/16, to celebrate the career of my good friend and colleague Janet Ansert!  It was so great to hear so many people from so many avenues of the campus step up to the podium and offer their reflections and kind words about Janet and her impact on them and their students.  It is a legacy into which I am soon stepping and one I hope to be able to continue for many years to come!  What I like the most about what was said is how so many people felt they could lean on Janet in their times of need.  I certainly have done so many times.  And now, it is I who needs to be ready for folks to lean on ME. So, I leave this song as the song of the day, not the original Bill Withers version, but the version I remember from the 1980s!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwIzcNLOogc

Purple Rain

Day #117 of 2016 was another day where rain changed our plans.  On my way to the BOE meeting on 4/26/16, I got news that the storms cancelled the Little League games.  Then, on my radio (still listening to the Prince Tribute Channel), Purple Rain came on.  This was followed by the Facebook pics of Double Rainbows....so I take this as a message that today's song should continue to honor Prince's menu with one of his best!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rvUM7v1rDM

My Shot

A very exiting thing happened on the 116th day of 2016.  4/25/16 was the release date for the video that the Penn Band shot of an awesome song from Hamilton.  And, seeing it blow up on social media has been a lot of fun.  Kudos to all who were involved in the production and performing of this song of the day!  :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgbFoQi9JPk

I've Got Peace Like a River

Day #115 of 2016 was a great one.  4/24/16 was filled with many of the things I love.  Church (where I was filling in as Interim Treasurer), Little League (Snack Stand and Umpiring), and Penn Band (leadership training).  So, as I sit here now, tired and ready for bed, searching for hymns for the day (Year C, 5th Sunday of Easter Season), I am glad I found this one!  Peace, Joy, Love!  Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NlZO57W0eE

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Day #114 of 2016 was the 3rd straight Saturday for me with disappointing weather.  Snow on 4/9 postponed Little League Opening Day and then snow on 4/16 delayed the flights of my colleagues to get to our conference.  Well, today, 4/23/16, was no different.  Rain ONCE AGAIN foiled our Little League Opening Day plans.  Yes, I was mad.  Yes, I was sad.  And I am sorry for anyone who had to encounter me in that state.  So, tonight, although this is a kiddie song, this is the song of the day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3v0rJqyCTM

Earth Angel

The 113th day of 2016 was Earth Day!  4/22/16 was a day of meetings at work and now an evening at home in advance of the big day of Little League tomorrow!  For Earth Day, I give you my favorite song with the word "Earth" in it.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJcGi4-n_Yw

Raspberry Beret

It's a coincidence that I do not appreciate, but 2016 (the year I picked a music theme) is a year where we are losing musical icons from my adolescence.  On the 112th day of 2016 the word lost an amazing talent.  On the morning of 4/21/16, we lost Prince.  I never saw Prince in concert, but his music has touched me, has made me laugh, has pumped me up for softball games (George, remember our "Let's Go Crazy" moments in that bubble car of yours???), has made me smile, has provided the soundtrack for many a Penn Dance moment that I lit with stage lights......Prince was one of a kind.  Prince was amazing.  I will miss him, but I will continue to listen to and love his music.  Hard to find anything of him from YouTube, so here is the closest I can get (a Prince Tribute Band playing my favorite Prince Song).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aDAFLbozCE

Home

Palindromic days are typically good days, and Day #111 of 2016 was no different.  4/20/2016 started off with us ending our time, in Denver, at Ellucian Live.  It was a great conference spent with great colleagues and meeting new ones.  And then we wen to airport and flew HOME!  I am so happy to be home with my wife, my girls, my dog, and my own bed.  Goodnight, tomorrow will come early and is filled with meetings all day,  But, for now, just basking in the fact that I am HOME!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoRkntoHkIE

Things are Looking Up

The 110th day of 2016 got a lot better when, on 4/19/2016, I got the news that my dad was doing well.  Made me realize that everything I was worrying about last week, actually turned out to go well, or better than expected!  Tired from another long day of conferencing, I will leave you just with this Ella Fitzgerald classic.  Hopefully things are looking up for all of you as well!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPGQHeSZ4iE

(You'l) I'll Be There

So, I woke up on the 109th day of 2016 both excited and nervous.  Both happy and worried.  Because 4/18/2016 was the day of my dad's heart surgery AND the day on which my new opportunity at Penn would be announced.  So, first, I asked for prayers for my dad, and over 400 of my FB friends reached out and made their prayers known.  And then it was posted that I was going to have a new position (University Registrar) at Penn and even more people reached out by phone, text, email, and FB.  I am overwhelmed by the people who let me know they cared and they were there for me, in good times and bad.  SO, this Jackson 5 song is fitting, if you change the sentiment to people being there for me, when I really needed it.  So THANK YOU, I say, and SING IT, MJ!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg2vMrDzoXM

There is a Balm in Gilead

I missed church at Old First on the 108th day of 2016 because, on 4/17/16, I am still in Denver at my conference.  So I enjoyed searching for my hymn of the week (song of the day) because I got to hear a lot of music, and you know that is one of my favorite parts of church!  So the hymn I have settled on for this week/evening is one that focuses on healing.  Anna was hit by a pitch in her softball game yesterday and has a bruise on her thigh.  Alexa's teammate broke her ankle in three places sliding into home.  Anna's teammate broke her elbow, and her friend was hit in the mouth during warmups.  My dear friend at church is going in for surgery this week and my dad, tomorrow.  And this is the longest I have been away from my kids, alone, at a conference since they were born.  So we all need a little healing these days, whether it be emotional, physical, or spiritual.  And who can say no to healing??
May we all find our healing and our balms as we need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN9JALQRMb0

Help!

4/16/2016 was another day at the Degree Works Forum in Denver for me.  And I spent a lot of time on the 107th day of 2016 discussion solutions and strategies with my fellow conference goers.  I really enjoyed the air of congeniality that exists in this great group of registrar's offices staff, IT folks, and advising staff.  I have collected business cards, ideas, and new friends.  I really appreciated the HELP that we got and the promise of future Help as well.  So, this Beatles' cover is the song of the day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH840ZQfmbU

Taxman

Day #106, 4/15/2016, and it's Tax Day (except it's not because of a strange DC holiday).  But, after a long day a conference (my colleague was right - really was 7AM - 7PM), I want to get to bed on time (another long day tomorrow).  So, once again, I take the easy way out with this Beatles' hit!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbQiVQuiu04

Rocky Mountain High

On 4/14/16, I spent a lot of the 105th day of 2016 travelling across the country from Philadelphia to Denver for a conference.  I am finally situated in my hotel and need to go to bed.  So I will take the easy way out and use this John Denver classic as the song of the day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOB4VdlkzO4

The Dewey Decimal Rap

Hectic April continued on the 104th day of 2016.  4/13/16 was a busy day at work, at the snack stand, and at home.  But things are well, so I cannot complain :-).   Noticed today was School Librarians Day, so I thought I would pick a non-traditional song in honor of the system that they all use to reduce hecticness in the Library!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHiUQb5xg7A

On Eagle's Wings

April has been a bust, crazy month.  And the 103rd day of 2016 was no different.  I am really tired and, luckily, able to turn in early tonight.  Tonight's song is the hymn of the week, deferred from Sunday because of Siblings' Day.  I love this hymn whenever we sing it (or parts of it) at Old First. The imagery of support lent by the lyrics "and hold you in the palm, of His hand" is poignant to me and something that is comforting when life is crazy and calm is needed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvpjxfWrjzY

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

So a lot of the 102nd day of 2016 was spent at the ball-field.  First, we left work early and pulled our kids out of school on 4/11/16, and went to the Phillies Home Opener!  OK, the Philles lost, but we all had a great time!  Then, we left that game early to get back to NJ so Alexa and Anna could play their first games of the season for Little League.  And I umped, and the snack stand was hopping, and it was a great day.  The only thing we can say is TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME!  This version, from 1908, is awesome and represents the timelessness of baseball/softball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4-gsdLSSQ0

Hey Brother

Day #101 - 4/10/2106 - of 2016 was a long day.  But a good day.  Much of it was spent with long time friends doing our 28th annual PRBL Fantasy Baseball Draft.  Always a good time with good friends!  And, in the meantime, amazing Sarah got the kids to all the places they needed to be and even opening the Snack Stand for the evening (chilly) baseball game!

BUT, today's song focuses on the fact that it is National Sibling Day.  Now, I am sure this is another day that the card companies have concocted to get us to buy cards and then them cross-counrty, and I admit that I did nothing of the sort today.  But I would like to use the song of the day (I will postpone my usual Sunday hymn to another day this week) to honor my relationship with my sister.  Sure, we fought like family.  But when the chips are down, we always have each others back.  Don't see as much of Abigail as I would like to now that they are on the West Coast and we still here on the East. But the time we have together is always fun!  And we have FaceTime and Facebook!  :-)  This song from Avicii is really nice.  Ignoring the video footage dealing with brothers going away to war, the lyrics are really poignant.  "Oh sister....there's nothing in the world I wouldn't do....."

LOVE YOU SIS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cp6mKbRTQY

The River

Well, the 100th day of 2016 went not as planned at all.  Spring Snow on 4/9/2016 caused the Little League Opening Day to be postponed, and, instead, we hung around the house all day, completed necessary tasks (like filing our taxes and renewing necessary documents), and spending time as a family.  It was not a bad day at all, just VERY different than I had expected at the start of the week, And it made me realize the necessity to be able to go with the flow, when things change.  And "going with the flow" made me think of this song, from Garth Brooks, and it's lyrics:

"You know a dream is like a river

Ever changin' as it flows

And a dreamer's just a vessel

That must follow where it goes"

A lot going on in the weeks to come and April is shaping up to be a very interesting month in many facets.  So, I am going to try to listen to Garth, and try to go with the flow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rUzmjTmSBU

99 Luftballons

4/8/2016 and it is Day #99 of 2016.  It's been a long, tiring week so I leave you here with this classic 80's song from Nena.  Day 99 calls for 99 red balloons, German style!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La4Dcd1aUcE

Get Ready

Day #98 (of 2016) was GREAT!  It was tiring on 4/7/2016 as we spent most of the day (I took the day off from work) in the Oaklyn Snack Stand getting ready for the season.  It was physically tiring, but I am getting excited for the start of a great season!  Weather is looking iffy at the start, but here's looking to a great time and a lot of people served.  And so today, the song is GET READY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqZ-hDJHbQ0

We Did It!

It was a long work day on the 97th day of 2016.  4/6/2016 was a day when our team pulled off a nice event for student input on our project.  It was truly a team effort and I think it went pretty well.  So, tonight, I am tired (and my back is sore, but that is more because of Snack Stand shopping yesterday!), but I am proud of my team and I am happy that we pulled it off!  WE DID IT!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBCw4_XgouA

Anticipation

Amidst all of the work tasks today, on the 96th day of 2016, I also worked on making plans to open the Oaklyn Little League Snack Stand.  So, on 4/5/2016, I was filled with anticipation for what will hopefully be a great (if not chilly) Opening Day and an amazingly fun (and Snack Stand) filled season for the kids of Oaklyn.  Anticipation is both exhilarating and frustrating at the same time.  It is a good life lesson to try to focus on the former and manage the latter.  I will try that all facets of my life (snack stand and MORE).  Carly Simon sings it best (and, I like that this song was once used for a ketchup ad, so that connects us to the Snack Stand in a different way!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NwP3wes4M8

Philadelphia Freedom

Although I no longer live in Philadelphia, I still consider myself a Philadelphian.  On the 95th day of 2016, I watched another set of "Philadelphians" from just outside of Philly, the Main Line, as 'Nova won the National Championship in Men's Basketball!  4/4/16 will be a day I remember as we cheered at the TV (Anna especially since a 'Nova win clinched the family pool win for her!)  I always like the Men's Basketball Championship night because I was waiting for Alexa to be born and watching the game (in 2002).  Also, the end of NCAA Basketball usually means Opening Day for baseball (and we all know I love baseball the most!).  But, for tonight, it belongs to Philadelphia, and Elton John has our song of the day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q2ajCp5HG0

Amazing Grace

I am feeling really lucky and blessed on this 94th day of 2016.  Because as 4/3/16 ends, and I reflect back on what a nice weekend this was (weather notwithstanding), I am just struck.  So for the hymn of the week, I have chosen Amazing Grace.  Because it is by grace that I can have such an amazing family, an amazing set of friends, an amazing community, an amazing church family, and an amazing place to work.  So I am feeling blessed and happy....and amazed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Mtpk4jeVA

Downeaster Alexa

It was basketball season in 1996.  I am pretty sure it was on the Band Bus, outside of Jadwin Gym, so it would be 1/6/1996, over 20 years ago.  Sarah and I were discussing our relationship and our future...Sarah told me the following: we were going to get married, we would have a daughter, and her name would be Alexa Faith.  So, today, on the 93rd day of 2016, 4/2/16, I thought back, not only about 4/2/02 when Alexa was born, but also about 1/6/96 and Sarah's prophetic words.  I am truly lucky and blessed that they came true.  Later I found out that the name Alexa was inspired by Billy Joel and his song about a boat that bore his daughter's name.  Faith was an easy choice for the middle name and our Alexa Faith has been an amazing daughter for the past fourteen years and I can only imagine and hope for what the future is to bring us.  The love I have for Alexa is immeasurable and the next fourteen years should bring us exciting times.  LOVE YOU ALEXA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And here is the Billy Joel song that provided the inspiration, years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVlDSzbrH5M

Foolin

Well, it's April Fool's Day - 4/1/2016, the 92nd Day of 2016 and I did not pull any pranks today. Another normal day at work (these are getting routine) :-).  And a nice evening at home with the family.  I knew the song of the day from this morning...A great Def Leppard song.  No Foolin'!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfQxiPDLkRQ