2008...A Look Back

What a year 2008 was for me.

It started with high hopes that I would have a full-time job in classical radio in Chicago, only to have those hopes dashed.

Then it was working hard to shed the excess poundage I was carrying. I came close to my goal of losing 60 pounds in one year (after weighing 300 pounds). I didn't quite make it, but still, dropping 50 pounds in a year is darn good. The last 10 pounds are the hardest to lose, but I'll work on that in 2009. Regardless, I'm feeling healthier than I have in years. (Now I have to update my wardrobe...my clothes are all too big!) After coming close to death in September 2007 with my emergency gallbladder surgery and subsequent infection, I'm grateful to God for the second chance at life.

My wife and I were faced with a difficult decision about what to do with our finances, and now we're well on the road to getting back on track. Our family has had to make lifestyle changes, and we've adjusted. It'll be tough going over the next few years, but we'll make it.

In May, one of my closest and dearest friends in music and in life, Elisabeth Witte, was brutally stabbed to death by her ex-husband in a parking structure after the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus (with whom I sing) ended its season with Bach's B-minor Mass. I still feel the pain of my loss, but, as MSO music director Andreas Delfs said, "I take comfort that the last words she sung were, 'Dona nobis pacem'...'give us peace'." I share that sentiment.

In July, I was a finalist for a radio slot that opened up at WXXI-FM in Rochester, NY. I had a wonderful interview process, but, ultimately, didn't get the job. I was disappointed yet thankful for the opportunity. Only one could get the job, and I know the WXXI management had a difficult decision. They were good people, and I'll always have nice memories of the interview experience. Rochester is a wonderful city, and WXXI is a class organization.

Out of the blue, in late August, I got a phone call from Mario Mazza, consultant for the World Classical Network (and former Boston classical radio competitor of mine), asking if I would become morning host for the Network. I would voice the show from my home in Milwaukee. I jumped at the chance. I had to cobble together computer components and software and get a studio quality microphone, and commandeered my son's old bedroom as studio space. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to get back into classical radio. Plus, my commute is by foot...only 5 steps from bedroom to office studio. Take that, OPEC! I can be heard every morning from 6 AM to 12 Noon Eastern time at http://www.wfcc.com/.

And in October, I was elected by the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee's annual convention to represent the diocese as first alternate lay deputy to the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church next July in Anaheim, California. I was elected to the same post for the 75th GC in 2006 in Columbus, Ohio. The General Convention is one of the world's largest legislatures, with more than 1000 lay deputies and some 150+ bishops. It's also a marketplace bazaar and big de facto church building, all rolled into one. I'm looking forward to going to Anaheim.

I was disappointed that my New England Patriots lost Super Bowl XLII to the New York Football Giants, and my Boston Red Sox were beaten by the Tampa Bay Rays in 7 games in the American League Championship Series. But I was thrilled that my Boston Celtics won their first NBA World Championship in 22 years, doing it in Beantown on the floor of the new Garden. And it's great to see my Boston Bruins, after so many years of mediocrity, rising to the top of the NHL. Hopefully, they can break their 37-year string of not winning Lord Stanley's Cup in 2009.

I'm currently working four part-time jobs and it's a lot to juggle, but I'm doing it. Thank God for the missus...she has the full-time gig with benefits.

I'll be ending 2008 (as I did in 1999, going into Y2K) by singing tonight with the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus as we perform Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the MSO at Uihlein Hall. The first word I'll sing tonight is "Freude!", which in German is "Joy!" And that's how I feel about life. I'm blessed with a wonderful family and great friends, and to God goes the glory.

Happy New Year, and may God bless you. Pacem.

My First Rave

Tonight, the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus had a conductor's piano rehearsal of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, and I was impressed with guest conductor Lawrence Renes. His interpretation of the work is so different from the way that most conductors interpret it. He gives it life with subtle crescendi, decrescendi and melodic line, and his German is impeccable. He knows what he wants, and the Chorus responded.

We'll be performing the Beethoven 9 on New Year's Eve at Uihlein Hall as well as Friday and Saturday. If you don't have a ticket, get one. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how this masterwork sounds.

The Mangenius was added to the national unemployment rate...

Sweet poetic justice. New York Jets coach Eric Mangini, who seemed more interested in ratting out Patriots coach Bill Belichick than preparing his team, was fired today. Owner Woody Johnson, and not Mangini, gave the Jets season post-mortem this morning.

Mangini is a worm and never really was a good head coach. He can only dream of being named in the same breath as Belichick, Bill Walsh, Tom Landry, and Vince Lombardi. I'll miss the perfunctory handshakes between Belichick and Mangini in the center of the field after Pats-Jets games. That was like watching a car wreck. You can't stand to watch it, yet you do.

Now if only Favre would leave us be and retire...

My First Rant

This is my first blog entry on my new Murph's Rants 'n' Raves site, and what am I going to lead off with?

Brett Favre and why he should retire...now.

As some of you may know, I'm a huge New England Patriot fan, so after I saw the Pats win yesterday in the wind in Buffalo, I watched the Jets-Dolphins game. I guess, with the way Favre has played in recent weeks, I shouldn't be surprised that he threw three picks and lost the game for the Jets, and with it the hopes of the Pats going to postseason. Brett Favre looks old on the field. He doesn't have his signature zip on the ball anymore. And he looks so uncomfortable in a Jets uniform.

Brett, you have made my winter miserable, just like you made this past summer miserable for Packer fans. Time to walk away now and go into the Hall of Fame in a few years. Your time has passed. Just take a look at the New York tabloids today. "GAG GREEN" was the going line, and columnists from the Post, Daily News, and Newsday think you should retire. I second the motion.

Even though the Pats didn't make the playoffs, they won 11 games in spite of losing Tom Brady and a host of other Pats players. Congrats to Bill Belichick - I think this was his best coaching job yet - and to Matt Cassel, who should cash in this year as a free agent.

I likely won't be following too much football this postseason. It's about 50 days 'til Red Sox pitchers and catchers report in Fort Myers. Happy New Year!