This Troglodyte is Duct Tape

Jamie Hyneman from Mythbusters once said, "Duct Tape isn't perfect for anything, but to is adequate for everything." What better metaphor for a troglodyte? I'm duct tape. Capable in a jack mess of trades--from manly trades such as home construction and auto repair to poindexter pursuits such as philosophy and Greek--but haven't mastered any so as to become a professional. My great occupational passion is writing. As youth, I'd spend hours in my room typing stories. Stories of all kinds. Stories that were never finished. Then, I grew up. Hints flowed my way, that maybe, I ought to choose a 'realistic' career path. So I did what any confused troglodyte would do. I joined the army. 

Four Army and another four college years later, I learned I'm too scattered-brained, for a 'realistic' career path. I began writing again. My only constant pursuit of occupational joy. (I love doing and learning new things, I just have a hard time sticking with them.) And, I actually started finishing works. But, to this day have had no successes. As I wrote, I tried listening to music, but music with words was too distracting. During my wife's first pregnancy, the hospital gave us a Mozart CD for babies. I listened to it as I wrote. The music grabbed me. Particularly, his fifth violin concerto, the third movement. I listened to more. Read about him. Then, I realized, he was me. (Not necessarily speaking of talent. I'm much more talented.) That had to be why his music struck. Well, I'm sure all kinds of people have said that. 

So, (as I read that writers supposed to do) I started a blog. I needed to do something different from everyone else. Something to give me consistent material. And thought, 'Hey you've tackled all the subjects of your capabilities. Why not tackle the only trade where I have absolutely no skills or talents?' I can't sing. I have no rhythm. I don't know all the technical terms. If I'm duct tape then music would be that one thing duct tape can't fix (I couldn't find a good comparison because duct tape can fix anything). I decided to listen to each of Mozart's work (there is well over 600) and comment on them. That should be enough material. And, of the ironies, this blog has been the only writing pursuit that has given me a hint of success. 

But, I don't want to sound thankless. My life is pretty good. I work at a place where I can write. I have a beautiful wife, three awesome boys under 6, a foreign exchange student, and a sort-of-kind-of granddaughter (long story). So read my posts, as I listen to Mozart's marvelous works and try to relate them to his life and my life.