"I believe through any trial there is always a way"

I found myself singing "The Inscription of Hope" this afternoon. We sang this song with Central Middle School's choir in... 1996/97? Written by Z. Randall Stroope, it is attributed in part to a writing found on a basement wall during the second world war, by a Jewish person hiding in Germany. I hope you enjoy it.



Colburn Children's Choir sings an "Inscription of Hope" at their annual Winter Concert in Los Angeles, Ca, December 2008

233. Gore House - Farm Land

It should be noted that Harry and the Potters is playing at Gore House TOMORROW July 12th, 3pm. Tickets are $10. Stop by and enjoy some wizard rock. (This was particularly amusing to me as I went to college with one of the band members.)

Here is the fallow farm land...

211. Seilide

This seilide, or snail, was on my mother's walk way recently. When I was young my family would sing Irish songs, including one about the snail or seilide.

Roughly it goes as follows:
Seilide, Seilide, bookee, stick out all your horns, all the old ladies are coming to see you.
Sung softly I have seen the snails stick their horns out at the aquarium.

The Clancy Brothers perform it here:

94. Community Integration

I visited Arts in the Park last night with my sister, to enjoy the sonorous musical stylings of Java Jive. It was quite the event, but the most important aspect (aside from the free "Quincy Punch"* and hoodsies) was the community integration. Ten years ago this event would have been entirely Anglo. Last night I would say at least a quarter if not half of the observers were non-Anglo (mostly of East Asian descent). There were even some mixed couples! This change in community dynamics gave me hope for the future.

Boogie on over to Quincy Daily Photo to check out Slim's photo.

*Quincy punch is not an actual drink, but what my sister calls the suspiciously watered down fruit drink served at all City of Quincy functions.