A Christmas Wedding

This weekend I had the great honor of leading the choir/organ music for the marriage of my former teacher and good friend, Mark Downey.  The wedding mass took place at the Church of the Holy Family in suburban Park Forest.  The organ is a nice Schlicker/Berghaus.  I really enjoy playing a smaller baroque style instrument in an intimate space.  Clean playing is requisite but so rewarding - at least to my ears.  The organ play-list included Daquin's Noel VI, Bach's In Der Ist Freude, Marcello's Psalm 19 and  David Johnson's Trumpet Tune in D.  

Rethinking Baseball, Apple Pie and Chevrolet

I love this story "Why Japan is Obsessed with Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas." Why is it that American companies do everything so much better overseas?  Cars sold by Ford in Europe actually have style.    And some of the best yogurt I ever had was purchased at a French McDonald's. Then I read that KFCs in Japan are featuring Champaign and whiskey bars while Wendy's restaurants are advertising American style foie-gras-and-truffle burgers.  Where can I find this America, anyway?  These people really know how to live.