Working while Waiting for Disability

[Halo]

Congratulations Stargazer I am so happy for you.

Nancy

 

[stargazer]

So I wound up accompanying this Anthony Rapp workshop yesterday afternoon (he played Mark Cohen, the narrator, in Rent on Broadway & in the new movie) & then got a piano gig at the Marriott Hotel here, where I played for about a half hour before he gave a talk and read excerpts from his new book, *Without You.* A very fascinating man. I was completely absorbed, both during the workshop, and during the event at the Marriott.

The theatre has all kinds of grant money right now--they were awarded two NEA grants last year. All the kids came to hear Anthony speak, and while they were in a long line awaiting his autograph, my education director invited me "upstairs" where I & a few others attended a little party on the top floor of the hotel. Anthony also came, I got his autograph, and the photographer took a shot of him and me standing together, among many other photos, including three of me solo, which is great, since I have no pictures of myself. He's going to jpeg them to me. My director and I talked a little, and she was like, "You *are* going to stay all year, aren't you??"

I think they like me here. So I guess what I'll do is finish out July, then give notice on my apartment on August 1st and teach one more month's worth of lessons to my six private piano and voice students. That ought to give me enough time to figure out how to re-locate. PM me for the company web site and other info. Thanks!

 

[Peanut]

It sounds like the LOVE you there!!! What great feedback and what a stimulating environment to be in! I have a tremendous amount of respect for the decisions that you have made recently and for the path that you've decided to take. You seem so happy and excited~I think that's a good sign that this is the right thing for you!

Woooohooo!!!!!!!!!!!! :yahoo: 👏 :yahoo:

 

[stargazer]

Yah, this is so totally great. I still haven't slept but three hours. Took a little ten-minute nap at one point and woke up still jazzed. Not manic, I don't think, just jazzed.

 

[stargazer]

Hey well, I got the pics back from the night on the top floor of the Marriott. This one's the best. Close up, I look like a Ram Dass disciple in a coat & tie, which pretty much translates to a cross between college professor and possible sleeze lawyer. Anyway, I'm psyched, because the guy sent back the photos in huge files, and I actually figured out how to crop and resize them using the Microsoft photo editor. (Which was easy, by the way, but my usual M.O. would have been to assume I'd never do it right).

Anyway, this is what I look like, in case anyone (myself included) ever wondered. I'll dye my hair later, but for now I'll enjoy the dignified groove. (The beard turned white in the past year--ARRGGGHHH!!!)

 

[David Baxter PhD]

LOL! What's a "Ram Dass disciple"?

 

[stargazer]

A disciple of Ram Dass. Actually, I saw a video of ol' Ram, and his forehead *does* resemble mine. Also, there's something similar in his expressions when he processes information, so I'm told. Anyway, after hanging out with all these enlightened types one can't help but go on an Eastern kick.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Ahh... Richard Alpert (son of George Alpert; confederate of the strange Timothy Leary)...

http://www.ramdasstapes.org/biography.htm

Richard Alpert (Ram Dass) was born in 1931. His father, George, a lawyer, helped to found Brandeis University and was President of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. Ram Dass studied psychology, specializing in human motivation and personality development. He received an M.A. from Wesleyan and a Ph.D. from Stanford. He then served on the psychology faculties at Stanford and the University of California, and from 1958 to 1963 taught and researched in the Department of Social Relations and the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. During this period he co-authored (with Sears and Rau) the book Identification and Child Rearing, published by Stanford University Press.
In 1961, while at Harvard, Ram Dass' explorations of human consciousness led him, in collaboration with Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner, Aldous Huxley, Allen Ginsberg, and others, to pursue intensive research with psilocybin, LSD-25, and other psychedelic chemicals. Out of this research came two books:The Psychedelic Experience (co-authored by Leary and Metzner, and based on The Tibetan Book of the Dead, published by University Books); and LSD (with Sidney Cohen and Lawrence Schiller, published by New American Library). Because of the controversial nature of this research, Ram Dass was dismissed from Harvard in 1963.

Ram Dass continued his research under the auspices of a private foundation until 1967. In that year he traveled to India, where he met his Guru (spiritual teacher), Neem Karoli Baba. Ram Dass studied yoga and meditation, and received the name Ram Dass, which means "servant of God." Since 1968, he has pursued a variety of spiritual practices, including guru kripa; devotional yoga focused on the Hindu spiritual figure Hanuman; meditation in the Theravadin, Mahayana Tibetan, and Zen Buddhist schools; karma yoga; and Sufi and Jewish studies.

Ram Dass - Wikipedia

Dr. Richard Alpert (born April 6, 1931), later known as Baba Ram Dass, was a professor of psychology at Harvard University who became well known for his controversial research program which studied the effects of psilocybin on human subjects. He was born to a prominent Jewish family in Boston, Massachusetts. His father, George Alpert, was one of Boston's most prominent lawyers as well as a railroad executive and a founder of Brandeis University. Richard Alpert has two older brothers. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Tufts University, a masters' degree from Wesleyan University and a doctorate from Stanford University.

Alpert worked closely with Dr. Timothy Leary at Harvard, where the two conducted experiments on the effects of psilocybin on human subjects. The pair were dismissed from the university in 1963. Leary was dismissed for not showing up to his classes, Alpert for giving psilocybin to an undergraduate in an off-campus apartment. They relocated, and continued their experiments at a private mansion in Millbrook, New York.

In 1967, Alpert travelled to India, where he became heavily involved in meditative practice and yoga. He met and studied with the great American spiritual seeker Bhagavan Das, who introduced Alpert to his guru, Neem Karoli Baba, or Maharaj-ji, hindi for "Great King." Maharaj-ji gave Alpert the name Ram Dass, which means servant of Rama, and instructed him to receive teaching from Bhagavan Das.

After his return to the United States in 1969, Alpert founded several organizations dedicated to expanding spiritual awareness and promoting spiritual growth. Since a 1994 interview with Gay Soul, he has been open about his bisexuality. In February 1997, he suffered a stroke which left him with expressive aphasia, but he continues to give lectures at a variety of places.

Reading that last part about his stroke, aphasia, and continuing to give lectures is a testament to how people refuse to let themselves be stopped by disabilities. It also makes me wonder if his disciples have noticed yet.

 

[stargazer]

The video I saw was actually filmed just after his stroke, when he was in early recovery. Truly, he really seemed fine with it all--mellow and undaunted. There's something admirable about that, and also about the focus and intention of those who practice yoga and meditation in general.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

All of that is true, my silly attempt at humor aside.

 

[Peanut]

Hey I LOVE your picture!!!!!! You look great!!!!!!!! That is exactly how I was picturing you

It's fabulous! Great avatar!!! I love it!! And the background totally rocks too!!

👏

 

[Cat Dancer]

I agree. Great picture. It's nice seeing people here.

 

[Peanut]

I agree...it is really nice! It makes it more cozy here!

 

[Halo]

Hi Stargazer,

I too love the picture and you are totally what I had pictured in my mind.

I also think that it is nice to see people with their pictures as their avatar but for me......that is still too scary. Maybe someday!!!!

Nancy

 

[stargazer]

Actually, Nancy, I like the masks in your avatar. Reminds me of my chosen trade. :roll:

I just re-cropped the picture, so it's more like a headshot but shows less of the City lights. Not sure which one's better, or which one you guys saw, but it's interesting (and gratifying) that I look like you'd pictured me in your minds! It always feels good when personality and appearance are compatible.

 

[ThatLady]

Ooh! I like the picture, too, stargazer. Somehow, your eyes reflect the dream inherent in the city lights behind you. Yep. The dreamer in you shows.

 

[stargazer]

Yes, I think I see what you mean, ThatLady. There's something about the "visionary" look that gels really nicely with the starry background. Of course, it wasn't planned that way, but it's nice to have turned out like this.

 

[Peanut]

I saw both and the background is nice in the other one but I like the closer up one because we can see your face better and you look really friendly and happy in it!

 

[Cat Dancer]

I like the close up one the best too.

 

[ThatLady]

Yes, I think I see what you mean, ThatLady. There's something about the "visionary" look that gels really nicely with the starry background. Of course, it wasn't planned that way, but it's nice to have turned out like this.

Another aspect, to me, is that every person in that night-lit city has dreams. No matter how high, or how low, their station in life, they have dreams. Your eyes seem to reflect the dreams of humanity, and the dreamers that lead us onward.

Okay, so I get a little deep sometimes.