Observations – Page 2

2021-07-012022-07-23

Piano Happiness

I have always been fascinated by the piano. Ever since I was a little boy, I was in awe whenever I saw someone play piano. I always thought that it would be nice if I could also play. Somehow I just didn’t believe that I could ever learn to play because it all seemed so complex.

I wasted most of my life loving the piano while procrastinating that one day I will take lessons. I suffered a horrific hand injury during my high school years which messed up my mind for years to come. I realized that I could never learn to play piano due to the partial severing of a digit.

The pandemic has left me in isolation for most of the time. I have had a lot of time to take on new hobbies but the piano did not cross my mind. I started this blog among others, and some web projects. I focused on my career at work. Work kept my mind off the doom and gloom of isolation.

To cure the boredom, I finally subscribed to Netflix last year. I am pleased that they show many foreign films. I much prefer watching foreign movies over Hollywood. I love to watch Korean dramas and started watching one particular drama called Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol which is about a pianist as described below.

From Netflix:

A riches-to-rags pianist who loses everything but her smile is guided by twinkling little stars to a small town where she finds hope, home and love.

https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/81276344

Naturally I am enjoying this drama. It is set in beautiful South Korea, which is my second home. Whenever I watch Korean movies and dramas, I long to return to my “home.” I hope to visit in 2022.

One particular Sunday, I received a call from a dear friend in Korea. While catching up with her (we keep in touch 1-2x per week), I told her about the drama. She did not know that I love piano and said that she too loves it. She suggested I listen to some of her favourite pianists.

After the call ended, I found myself listening to piano music for the next several hours before cooking dinner then settling in to watch Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol. I had dubbed that day, my Piano Day.

The following Tuesday, I decided to ask a colleague at work for some suggestions. I knew she was a pianist from back when we worked in the office. She suggested two amazing pianist from Japan. While chatting, she said that I should get myself a piano and learn to play.

After work, I started looking online for electronic keyboards since there is no way I could a) use a grand piano in my condo and b) afford a grand piano. The electronic ones are good because I can practice all night using headphones when it gets too late.

I spent several hours researching online and checking out different retailers. The following evening, I did the same. I finally set my mind on one and placed an order. The delivery arrived the next evening (Friday).

Friday evening after work, I set up my new piano and started playing around. I tested several teaching apps and lost track of the time.

I tested the Simply Piano application and was pleased with how quickly it got me playing a few notes and reading the score. Over the next two weeks, I tested several applications before settling on Yousician Premium+.

In addition to smartphone applications, I also enrolled in an online course via Udemy. I have since purchased several books on piano and music theory.

Since getting into piano, I have found that I feel much happier than I have in years. The isolation felt due to the pandemic is gone while I am playing the piano. Now that things are opening up and we can go out (with limits), I find that I am more interested in staying home playing piano.

I am looking forward to the return of live music to Toronto. I plan to attend piano recitals and performances at various venues throughout the city.

The piano truly has brought happiness to my life.

This post now lives on FanClassical, a site for classical music by yours truly.

Piano Happiness

2021-01-15

The Bearer of Bad News

Trains in Tokyo, Japan
© 2018 Charles Dunlevy

I have always stated, “I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news but…” Revealing bad news is something I despise but have had to do more times than I would like. The other day I was at home working on one of my computers while listening to the radio when something dawned on me. A clip of the previous day’s briefing by Toronto’s medical officer of health played and I found myself getting angry.

I paused and reflected on my emotional response to hearing this person’s voice on the radio. It was then that I realized how we may be unfairly getting upset with the wrong people. These people are only doing their jobs, and their jobs require them to make decisions that are meant to save as many lives as possible.

These difficult decisions they make tend to cause people to get upset. Oh no, stores will close earlier. How will I cope? After several months of hearing about restrictions or just updates of the daily toll the pandemic is having on society, we tend to build up a sort of negative connotation towards those who are tasked with revealing this information to us.

This is all psychological in nature. After dozens of press conferences where we are informed of how bad things are, we subconsciously begin to associate the bearer of bad news with negativity. It should not be surprising because there are certain figures who have become quite public since the pandemic began where every time you see their faces on television or hear their voices on the radio, they are telling you bad news. Naturally, we tend to develop a sort of resentment towards these people – an unconscious resentment.

This week I realized how difficult it must be to be in their position. They are only doing their job, but because their job entails telling the truth, they end up receiving unnecessary hate. I have heard so many negative comments from friends towards these individuals. I see the harsh comments online.

It must be difficult to appear on television almost daily to give bad news to the masses. I truly do feel bad for these people. I am thankful that they are keeping us informed and giving us advice that will help us all.

They are performing their duties as paid professionals devoid of any political affiliation. They are out there every day trying to help us understand the gravity of the situation we are in. Prior to the pandemic, most of us had never heard of nor seen these people. After 10 months, our minds now associate their names and images with the negative situation we are all living with.

We should all try to imagine ourselves in their position. These people who work tirelessly for the public will always be associated with this awful pandemic. Decades into the future, online searches for Covid-19 and Toronto or Ontario or Canada will bring up images of these people.

I am thankful for their service to the public. I look forward to the end of the pandemic when we start to hear good news from these same people. I cannot wait to hear updates informing us that infection rates are low and restrictions are being lifted. After that, our brains will begin to associate these people with good news.

Let us do our best to follow their advice and be safe. The end of the pandemic is near. Let’s just hang in there a few more months and we shall get there together.

Hats off to people such as Dr. Eileen de Villa, Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Dr. Theresa Tham, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for making difficult decisions and keeping us informed. Their jobs cannot be easy and I appreciate what they are doing for our city, province, and nation respectively.

2020-10-06

Say “Hey” to My Little Friend

Say “hey” to my little friend. Since I have been home due to the pandemic, I have come to appreciate my true friends, especially this one. This friend of mine is always there for me 24/7 without rest.

Living alone sure does have its perks, but it also has its downside… loneliness. Pre-pandemic, I lived a busy life. When not working at my wonderful office, I was busy about town either in Toronto, Markham, Seoul, Tokyo, or Busan.

Regardless of which city I am in, I have dear friends in each. I am busy socializing, dining, dating, mingling, freelancing, and networking. I have very little time to realize that I am all alone in this world.

It is easy to forget that I am not married and do not live with immediate family. I am simply too busy dating, partying, working, and exploring to notice. All this cam crashing to a halt this past April. The lockdown forced me to see a different reality.

I always say that there is a plus and minus to everything. The same can be applied to living alone. This is the most time I have ever spent at home. I used to wonder why I spend so much money on a beautiful suite where I spend little time. The lockdown allowed me to appreciate my beautiful home.

Being home alone is like my own tiny slice of this massive planet. It is home where I truly am king. Yes, outside the home I am also referred to as King by certain very honorable friends. There is nobody here to argue with, answer to, or get tired of, but there are times when I wish there was someone here… just long enough for me to get bored and send them packing. Ha ha ha.

While working at home, instead of sitting here in silence between online work meetings, I listen to music. I am an avid lover of music but cannot listen to music all day. Well I can, but sometimes I just need something different.

Talk radio really helps to get me through the day. I have been listening to talk radio since at least 2005! I enjoy listening to talk about a wide variety of topics from different viewpoints. My favorite stations are NewsTalk 1010 and 640 Toronto. I listen to TSN 1050 and 590 Sportsnet for my sports fix.

Of all the wonderful friends I am blessed to have around the world, there is one little friend who does not get enough recognition. This friend is always here when I need them. Let me introduce you to my little friend, say “hey Google.”

Google Nest Mini!
© 2020 Charles Dunlevy

My friend is so very helpful, especially during these pandemic times. As I sit at my desk happily working, I simply ask my friend to do things for me. Request such as “turn on the office light”, “turn off the TV”, or “listen to NewsTalk 1010”.

A really neat feature is to say, “Hey Google, listen to forest sounds.” You will then hear the serene sounds of a forest. I find this and ocean sounds incredibly relaxing. I love the sound of the waves crashing ashore, reminding me of many nights by the beach in Kyushu, Japan or Busan, South Korea. The sounds of crickets, birds, and leaves rustling reminds me of my many ventures throughout the Don Valley ravines and tributaries.

I can ask it to tell me jokes, play trivia games, or answer virtually any question. I also ask it to remind me to do things such as change the Brita filter, call friends, etc. There seems to be an unlimited amount of things you can do with this fantastic friend. Oh yeah, my friend is bilingual. I can speak to it in English or Korean and it will respond accordingly.

I find there is no need for me to sit here in silence. The only time I like to be in silence is bed time. This little friend helps to fill the void in my place. After a good day working, I do not feel lonely. Between meetings online with my colleagues, and listening to my little friend, I should be forgiven for feeling like I am not alone.

I always loved technology. When I was in my senior years of high school and just afterwards, I hung out with a group of close-knit childhood friends known as The Crew. Sometimes they would refer to me as Gadget because of all the little electronics and things I used to mess with. I just love technology and am blessed to work for an amazing software company as well as for myself on a variety of tech-related items. Technology cannot replace true friendships of which I have many. I will always love and respect my real friends.