Author's Biography

[So here's what I've cobbled together as a Draft for my Author's Bio. To the extent you'd care to critique and comment, I'd be appreciative!]

Richard Kim Millsap

Author’s Biography

Richard Kim Millsap is alive and well in Colorado.

Kim was a public school educator in Colorado Springs for 28 years, serving principally as a band director, general music teacher and choral conductor for elementary and middle-school students. After retirement, he invested an additional seven-plus years serving the particular patrons of Glen Eyrie, a private Christian conference center owned by The Navigators. Kim currently works in a volunteer capacity as content editor and sometime contributor for the newsletter and web-site of Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.

Kim holds a M.M. in Music History and Literature from Colorado State University and a B.A. in Music Education from Arkansas Tech University. Additional formal coursework includes The University of Colorado at Boulder, The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs as well as numerous workshops, extensions and conferences across the United States.

Kim somehow found time as an educational and business writer and editor, creating the various student handbooks and instructional content across the years. At Glen Eyrie, Kim solidified and co-authored the standard operating procedures for Guest Services as well as serving as principal administrator for social media.

Also whilst at Glen Eyrie, Kim became especially intrigues by the life of Civil War officer William Jackson Palmer, founder of Colorado Springs. With strong tie-ins to his additional interests in western living and literature, firearms and ballistics, camp-style cuisine, brass instruments, various historical locales came the seminal ideas for Cheyenne Swirling.

As a former band and choral director, Kim has presented his students in hundreds of concerts and addressed audiences comprised variously of students, parents and conference attendees. Having also presented formally in Colorado and Ontario, he is quite confident and adept as a public speaker. If Kim has any particular claim to fame otherwise, it is as a founding member of the Academy District Twenty classic rock group, Mid-Life Crisis.

Kim’s book and film reviews may be found on Amazon (writing as Russell de Ville) and Goodreads. See his blog at lucidnoodle.blogspot.com. He is also insanely active on Facebook. Cheyenne Swirling is the author’s first novel. 

Whilst at The Stanley, pt I

Debra and I recently took a few days and went up to Estes Park to get away from the city and relax a bit. Whilst there, we stayed at the Stanley Hotel, built in the early 1900s by F O Stanley of Stanley Steamer fame. We were put up in a fairly warm (No AC in this Hotel!) 4th floor attic room, one initially used by maids and nannies back in the day. I should have considered the descriptive term ‘cozy’ more carefully I suppose. Still, I felt rather like we were being punished for I know not what. I had requested an upgrade but there was none to be had.

Be that as it may, we had a nice, quiet time. We went exploring and found Stephen King’s room, examined several artifacts and antiques down in the garden level, walked the grounds, rode the vintage Otis elevator, sat on the front porch (veranda?), visited and shopped the village, and enjoyed some pretty good victuals here and there. We particularly enjoyed the Cascades Restaurant in the Hotel and the very attentive service Leigh provided at supper.

I especially appreciated sitting on that porch and just looking about Estes Park and up toward the majestic Rocky Mountains. One becomes humbled and quite thankful when considering God’s creation in such surroundings. So pleased we were able to go.

Perhaps more later . . .

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Running the Signs, (cont)

A few weeks ago, I posted regarding my concerns of various citizens in my neighborhood running stop signs and a stop light close to our elementary school. When I contacted the police department via their Web-Site, I was passed to the Sand Creek Division, who referred me to the head of the Springs motorcycle patrol, who sent be back again to the Division, and specifically directed to me the crime prevention officer. Actually, I expected this. But along the way I learned a couple of things:

·        The motorcycle patrol is tasked with the top 25 schools/areas of concern. Apparently, we ain’t one of ‘em.

·        It really won’t be helpful to police to photograph or even video these culprits as most judges will not accept this as evidence in their courts. Tickets written by an observing officer are preferred.

Now the officers I spoke to seemed kind-hearted and empathetic but we really didn’t get anywhere. And of course school is now out for the summer so my primary concerns seem moot—at least for a season.

I think I’ll contact the school principal and get her take on the level of concern as voiced by others. Secondly, I’ll contact the Sand Creek Homeowners Association to determine if this has been brought up by others.

In the meantime, some Folks are still running the stop signs and the red light at the end of street. I’ll call the police again and complain. Then at least I’ll be on record.

Classical Preferences

I love our local Classical Music Station, KCME. I really do! I listen frequently and contribute to the cause, so I figure I can vent a little. I may even send a copy of this blog to the station; they should know how I feel.

·        There is too much piano by far! And excuse me but at least half of the 90% (Berra?) recorded from the boatload written is worthless drivel.

·        Please play more vocal music: arias, choral selections, art songs, operatic segments, etc. And when you so do, play a version featuring the human voice, not just some re-arranged orchestral elevator claptrap.

·        Tagging in on the previous point, Gilbert & Sullivan are worthy of more air time.

·        Most anything having to do with theme and variations should remain in the composer’s study and/or the rehearsal room. There are few exceptions to this rule.

·        Consider playing the entire symphony rather than selected movements? And perhaps program some of the lesser-know symphonies?

·        Maybe take a risk and play some Schönberg, Hindemith, Ligeti or Tippett?

·        How about more in the way of Medieval Music? Percussion Ensemble? Ethnic renderings? There’s a treasure trove in Jewish music alone!

·        I’m good for authentic renderings of our great musical works rather than transcriptions: an organ piece performed on organ, original band works performed by a fine wind band, harpsichord and virginal music so played, etc.

·        Asking a fine symphony orchestra or chorus to attempt to perform jazz is like trying to teach a raccoon to dance—your instructional efforts are pretty much wasted, and you also annoy the ‘coon. Stop it.

And of course, you’ve all a right to my opinion.

10 Favorite Symphonies

Yup. Sometimes a good list is all that’s required. Today you get my 10 Favorite Symphonies. They’re current to the moment but fluid and subject to change.

10 Favorite Symphonies

1.     Dvořák                      Symphony no 9                  E Minor

2.     Brahms                      Symphony no 4                  E Minor

3.     Shostakovich           Symphony no 5                  D Minor

4.     Brahms                      Symphony no 3                  F Major

5.     Beethoven                Symphony no 5                  C Minor

6.     Schubert                   Symphony no 9                  C Major

7.     Mozart                      Symphony no 40                G Minor

8.     Mahler                      Symphony no 5                  C-sharp Minor

9.     Beethoven                Symphony no 7                  A Major

10.   Mahler                     Symphony no 8                  E-flat Major

Feel free to post your own list as a reply.

Stop Signs!

Just a few days ago, I posted the following on Facebook:

Some folks in our neighborhood run the Stop Signs frequently. Living next to an elementary school seems to make little difference – even when kids are going to school or being released. Police know but just can't be here all the time. Any suggestions?

I received several helpful responses and entertained also the possibilities of shotgun and flame-thrower . . .

Earlier this afternoon, I posted the following on the Colorado Springs Police Department FB Page:

A Question, please.

 I live in the Sand Creek Division. Being recently retired, I can't help but notice a lot of folks running the stop signs in the neighborhood. This is of special concern since we live next door to an elementary school. It doesn't seem to make a difference; people run the signs just the same--even as kids are walking to school in the morning and during their release in the afternoon.

How can I help calm this down? Is Photography of the offenders at all helpful? I'm thinking Video in particular.

I'm concerned and annoyed and would see our neighborhood a better and safer place.

Thanks for all you do!

This is a major concern I have. I’ll keep you apprised of what I find out.

Ten Influential Titles

Several weeks back I read a very interesting review about writers and their personal libraries.* For each of the selected authors, the editor included an interview and respective list of the10 books that have affected and influenced them the most.

I'm skipping the interview part but thought it'd be interesting to post my ten titles. Perhaps you'd care to respond and include your own list? Could be kinda fun to compare notes.

I haven't included the Bible though it's first and foremost, and supercedes any such earthly compilation I might cobble together.

Ten Influential Titles

Anna Karenina

~Leo Tolstoy

Pillar of Iron

~Taylor Caldwell

The Robe

~Lloyd C Douglas

 The Origin of Species

~Charles Darwin

 Lee: The Last Years
~Charles Bracelen Flood

The Words We Live By

~Linda R Monk

The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson

The Golden Ratio

~Mario Livio

Stars and Planets

~Petersen Guide

The Source

~James Michener

*Unpacking My Library: Writers and Their Books, ed Leah Price