Category: Future

The Divine Right of Dogs

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I live the life I love, and I love the life I live

It’s so easy to clog your day off with mundane tasks that really hold no priority. The best thing to do on your day off is to do exactly what you feel like doing!
Of course, this is not always feasible when you have to maintain a house. For me that means, still cooking and cleaning, still taking care of a diabetic dog’s needs, still putting in my proverbial 10,000 steps for the buzz on my Fitbit.
It also means following my healthy eating menu  and checking my Facebook and social media for a perk, a bump, a lift, or a laugh.
Otherwise, all bets are off.
Today is my day!
When you do have a day off and you are forced to go to the dentist, or to the hair salon, or to fulfill some obligation that encroaches on your free time, it is such a nuisance. It is abhorrent!
When you know, starting tomorrow, you’re going to be working for a long stretch, then today is the day to be self-indulgent and relax and lie down and take it easy, if you can.
On my day off, I generally live online. It’s so much fun to see what the rest of the world is doing.
I think my only point of reference on how to relax on my day off, is to think about my two dogs.
They live like the kings and queens of yore, with no obligations whatsoever.
The divine right of dogs is to rule over and (maybe even pee over) all they survey, and sniff.
The most thrilling part of my dogs day is when they get to traverse over sidewalks and streets with me.
We have 10,000 steps to do now!
Wherever you are, when you do get a day off, I hope you can enjoy it thoroughly too!

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Musically yours, Amy Zents

Worth the effort

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It’s worth the effort

When you are a kid you are told, and/or scolded to, “Eat your vegetables!” When you get older you realize as an adult, you can shove your face into a chocolate cake, you can drink bourbon and eat Cap’n Crunch for supper, and know that a quart of ice cream in your freezer has your name written all over it!

Then when you get older, and get fat, you repent. You realize you want to stay young at heart physically and mentally, so now you had better eat your vegetables.

I have been on a health kick lately. I have been walking at least 10,000 steps a day using my Fit Bit and I have been striving for a flat belly by eating whole-grain bread, peanut butter, and fresh strawberries for breakfast with a protein shake. For lunch I’ve been having a fresh salad.

Today was rushed and particularly hard, but I realized instead of making something fast, like a bowl of cereal with milk, or making something delicious such as oven baked french fries for lunch, I should just hop to it and put together a salad. I confess, it was worth the effort!

Move more and eat less junk

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Long ago a lady told me the best way to eat. She was a para-professional who worked with children in the public school system. She said after the age of 40, she could no longer eat like she did when she was young.
She told me she didn’t eat hardly anything for breakfast. She ate a small amount for lunch.
Supper was her main meal.
At the time, I was in my early twenties, and I basically ate whatever I liked. I was very thin, and high-strung. I was active and full of energy. I burned a lot of calories.
Those words she said to me seemed pitiful.
Who wanted to deprive themselves?
Certainly not I!
And yet, her words followed me down through time. To the place where now I understand the value of exercise and eating lightly. Nevertheless, the secret to being fit, is in the choice of your eating, and getting regular exercise.
In the future, I imagine weight will not be a problem.
Now and then we read of different treatments for people who have obesity. Some scientific tests hold out astonishing promises for the obese. But most of them come with risks we do not have to take.
Someday, medical science will find a quick and efficient way for all of us to be svelte.
Currently, the best way to get skinny is probably the healthiest, if we are willing to try hard to move more and eat less junk.

Musically yours, Amy Zents

The best of the best

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When one thinks about our grandparent’s day we think about how life was a little less complicated.
I just watched an old movie reel on YouTube that I thought was very fascinating about small city living.
A Day in the Life in the 50s
When we think about the future, we imagine advanced implants, and intricate technologies that supersede the imagination. Do you think of people being disconnected? Do we think of people lonely and suicidal? Or does the future hold a promise of exciting living with all the boring aspects of life eliminated? I think about living here in the middle of Minnesota and how life holds firmly to traditional values, on the surface, that is.
Must I decry all the blended-extended families?
What about the way revolutionary science has changed medical practices and saved lives?
I think that in some ways, the future needs to be embraced and encouraged. But with all the Marilyn Monroe wannabes, and the retro-programming in movies and TV, ( they’re even bringing the TV show The Odd Couple back!) we need not fear we will lose our past!
In fact, we standing on the shoulders of giants. We have the best of the best and it’s only going to get better!

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Telephones in retirement

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I always laugh when people think certain things have become obsolete.
The old saying, “What goes around comes around,” holds true.
People often get consumed by the bells and whistles of the newest, electronic gadgets.
I’m one of those people. Even so, I still find it hard to let go of my past techy treasures.
I, for one, still have my “old” Wii, my PlayStations 1 and 2, my Nintendo DS, (all the versions,) including my favorite, the bigger version.
I also own a phonograph player, a transistor radio, and an AM/FM radio.
I love my walkie talkies, because I can access Noaa Weather even if there is no Internet access.

In fact, I would still have a landline if I didn’t become victimized by telephone pranksters.
Here is the story.
We used to have at least 6 phones on the property.
It was tolerable, and even somewhat fun, to hear the phones all ringing in full-throated chorus throughout the house, when someone occasionally telephoned us.
However, once I posted my home phone number on my website www.zentsmusicstudio.com, something changed.

The phones started ringing off the hook! Sometimes we would get 17 calls an hour, non-stop.
All the nuisance calls occurred even though I was registered on the Do Not Call list.
Our telephone company said there was nothing they could do to stop it.

We could not tolerate six or seven telephones in the house jangling uproariously non-stop. You see, my husband sleeps during the day after working 12 hour shifts. Also, our nerves were getting shot.
The first thing we tried was to unplug the phones. Later on we decided to try plugging in our phones again. It was to no avail.

Due to those many nuisance calls from auto-dialers and telemarketers, calling at all hours, wasting our time, and the phone company taking our money, but not helping us, we decided it was time to get rid of our land line.

It was probably the brightest idea we had. Life became sweet and quiet. Our cell phone provider saved the day. Today, I practically live on my cell phone, a smartphone.

Sadly, in different nooks and crannies around the house the old phones are a reminder of a bygone era.
Even now, we live with these vestiges of the past, a princess phone, a couple of wall phones, cordless phones and retro phones.
It’s a crying shame those old phones are now retired.

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Big brother or a good boss?

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There is a lot to be said for people who employ the physically disabled and the mentally challenged.
Of course, no employee is perfect. Some people have greater strengths than others.
Yet any person who is capable is considered a good hire.
The best thing to do, if you know your strengths, is to find work utilizing them.

The best employers are those who allow us to be ourselves. But first, we would be wise to know what we need, like, and can do, before taking a new job.

There has been a lot of negative press about employers. The fact is fewer of us these days are willing to take on the responsibilities of most employers. Most of us would rather ride along as passengers than drive the bus.

Imagine having to follow ever more stringent rules and regulations, having to deal with litigatious liabilities, the management that comes with dealing with whiny employees and picky customers, not to mention rapacious vendors!

Most people would rather not have that headache. It seems most people would rather have an employer to blame, than take the personal responsibility in the event of a difficulty.

Many times people try to tell you, “Face it. In real life, you are your own boss.” If that is the case, without employer’s oversight and feedback, generally speaking, people are often very poor bosses of themselves.

Most people don’t have an inkling of what it is to really be a boss.

Having your own business, means having to deal with other people’s business as well. You deal with their dirt as well as your own.

I would rather not be a boss if that is the case. I do empathize with my bosses. Yet, it really takes a team to make a business.
For everyone, bosses included, the focus should be on being a good team player.

All the different kinds of players that assemble in a business do so under the auspices of a good boss. It is good to be grateful to a boss who does a good job being the head honcho. If the boss does not do a good job, employee retention suffers.

Praise be to the bosses who are tolerant and understanding of all the varieties of people who come through their doors. It’s a two-way street.
However, in the end, the ultimate responsibility in a business is always put on the boss. Employees can  lessen that burden through self-monitoring and trustworthiness.

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Let’s put the Ag Day Parade on a Saturday

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Today I attended the Farm-city Hub Club Ag Day Parade. I was very disappointed it was not on a Saturday when more people could come and see and cheer on our farmers who feed the world.

Fewer farmers feed more people now than ever before. The American Farmer is a staple to everybody who eats. But the fuel they provide in the form of food not only feeds humans, but animals, and provides energy sources for fuel, such as ethanol.

Perhaps next year they may put it on a Saturday, and then more of the world can show up and cheer on our American farmers!

Indeed, farmers have incredible equipment to work with, and high-tech software, and more pressure than ever to perform; they have to deal with the ups and downs of the markets,
not to mention the variability of the weather.
They do deserve our praise, and we do owe them a lot. Today we celebrate the farmers.

Who doesn’t enjoy fresh corn on the cob with hot melted butter, or a delicious apple or wonderful mashed potatoes?

For all you love: from cheese to milk, from sweet fruits to savory herbs, to crunchy, healthy vegetables and beyond. Let’s think on it, and thank all the family farmers!

Ag Day Parade 2016

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Bingo and Irish Songs

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I caught a little culture tonight in town. It was mostly karaoke and drinking, with a little gambling thrown in, at the American Legion.

I played bingo. I was unaware that there were so many different variations of the game Bingo.
It was eye-opening. Like any type of gambling with numbers, the odds are in the numbers favor. There are so many numbers!

Nevertheless, somebody won the $1,000 jackpot at the end of the night. Needless to say, it wasn’t me.

It was Saint Patrick’s Day, and in the bars and restaurants all the good old Irish traditional melodies were being played or sung.

I imagine in the future all the references in the old Irish songs will need to be explained to the younger generation. The world has changed so much and continues to change.

What one needs not explain is the wonderful fun that comes with the rousing beat, and the hilarious lyrics.
There may be new Irish songs written, but the old ones, the classics such as “My Wild Irish Rose,” “Danny Boy,” “McNamara’s band” and “Molly Malone” linger on and on and on.
my band sings Molly Malone

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Great Athleticism

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Years ago I sat beside a fellow on an airplane who worked for the United States Olympics. I’ve always been impressed with Olympic athletes. I heard tell that in my family tree, we had two Olympic athletes! Being that half my family tree hails from Greece, it warms my heart to know that I have ties to the original Olympics in Athens.

Nevertheless, I was curious about the physical health of amateur and professional athletes. To my dismay, I discovered that many athletes have a laundry list of ailments, and injuries. Many are not very healthy. To stay healthy requires treating the body with great respect, and a profound honor.
One football player I knew was willing to go through a brick wall to win the game. Needless to say, a mortal going through a brick wall will cause bodily harm to himself!

I suppose that begs the question, do you really want the W, or do you prefer to have a long healthy life?

Granted, athletes do look like the picture of health. That is what surprised me the most. In my opinion, gymnasts and figure skaters look superfit. Whereas, runners may look a little too lanky, and swimmers may look a little too stout.

They say soccer players are in the best condition, but if they bounce too many balls off their head, they may be in for some long-term brain injuries.

So what can I say? Take care of your health, admire the athletes as they do their stuff, but don’t imagine they are pain-free! Unless they’re taking drugs, but doping is a whole ‘nother subject.
In the future, I believe athletes will be far more concerned about their physical long-term health, which may change the nature of the game!
Perhaps they can eliminate those players who do not care about their health.
Now that would be the barometer of great athleticism.
Funniest Soccor Video Ever!!!! 🙂

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Babysitter or music teacher?

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Being a parent is hard sometimes. I’m not a parent, but I do have to talk to parents now and then because I teach their children music lessons.

In the past, I would teach piano, guitar and voice from my home. Happily, I state now that I teach individual music lessons in a music studio in an arts and cultural centre.

The one thing I like about having individual music students, is because students generally know what is expected of them.

When I used to teach at home I encountered situations where my music teaching studio was being turned into a babysitting service.

Perhaps it was not deliberate, but I recall times when mom or dad didn’t pick up their child for hours after their lessons were over.

The TV would be on in the other room and the student would just sit and watch and wait for their ride home.

After a few of these “extended music lessons,” I realized I was being taken advantage of. It drove me to stop teaching privately for awhile.

In the future, I believe teachers will find parents are a lot more appreciative of the one on one attention their kids receive when it is more costly, and more scarce.

When parents appreciate that a teacher’s time is valuable and respected, then teachers will be more willing to teach.

Musically yours, Amy Zents