yo, it's yo-yo MA in oMAha

I spent my trip to Europe in 2004 listening to a lot of a new CD I had just purchased--"Classic Yo-Yo." It was basically a greatest hits of the cellist Yo-Yo Ma. I was mesmerized by the music. Everything from classical to Latin American tangos to music by John Williams and music from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

Yo-Yo Ma, I discovered, could make the cello do magical things.

And so I listened to Yo-Yo Ma as I looked at Da Vinci paintings in Florence. As I spent hours in the Louvre in Paris. As I walked the halls of the National Gallery in London.

I listened to Yo-Yo Ma as I began training for my first marathon in 2005. I even bought my second Yo-Yo Ma CD -- "Soul of the Tango."

I remember listening to those CDs over and over again. They put me in a trance of relaxation as the miles and minutes of marathon training passed.

It was a huge thrill for me when I heard Yo-Yo Ma was going to be in Omaha, Nebraska, at the Holland Performing Arts Center in March. I bit the bullet on two expensive tickets and booked a hotel room.

Last night, along with my mom (someone who I thought would truly appreciate the experience), I sat mesmerized for two and a half hours as Yo-Yo Ma played his cello and Kathryn Scott accompanied him on the piano.

It was two people with two instruments and they created the most amazing music!

The concert hall was simple but architecturally amazing (picture above) and as Sandy Damm would say, "the acoustics in here are incredible!"

They started off with Schubert and for minutes I was simply awed by the sound of the cello. He played some Shostakovich (my least favorite piece) and then "Le Grand Tango" by Piazolla really got things rolling.

Yo-Yo and Kathryn would almost dance with their instruments -- swaying back and forth. The music literally moving them and figuratively moving everyone in the audience.

At one point in the concert, Yo-Yo and Kathryn would alternate parts and the piano/cello sounds became indistinguishable.

The start of the second half began with a modern piece that I didn't like at first but soon became more and more interesting. The ending of the piece introduced the true melody and no one wanted it to end. When the piece finally did end, the entire audience sat in stillness and silence -- no one wanting to break the precious silence.

Any musician can play loud, but only great musicians can play soft and make it even more captivating. Yo-Yo showed this off in the final piece of the program. The first two Franck movements weren't even recognizable to me but there were single notes that sounded like the voice of God. Passion, movement, simplicity all in a single note and single stroke of his bow.

The third movement introduced the part I recognized and the fourth movement was like hearing from an old friend as I have the fourth movement on one of my CDs.

Three standing ovations and two encores later the stage was empty and we left the concert hall.

We walked the two blocks back to our hotel knowing we had just heard one of the greatest musicians of all time and almost indisputably the greatest cello player in history.

The tough thing about crossing items off your "To-Do in Life List" is that you usually want to do them again.

I can't wait to hear Yo-Yo Ma again in person but until then, at least I have those CDs.

Enjoy the ride (and the music),
Damm

Abstraction

Artist Statement:

"Las Muchas Caras del Caballo Sebastian"

This painting is a visual representation of my views regarding the philosophies of Immanuel Kant.

It was an emotional, self-consuming process to create this piece of art. But it had to be done.

Sometimes paint and canvas need to collide with one another -- a momentary flurry of self-expression, vision and thought.

I think the rigid, linear parts of this piece define Kant's view of pure reason. At least that's what I was going for.

The free-flowing spirals and bursts of paint represent a new way of thinking. The categorical imperative, as it were.

And so this painting, ultimately, says everything and it says nothing.

If it were a book, it might begin: "Sebastian was a horse of many faces..."

And it might end: "...You, with your visions and dreams."

Enjoy the ride (and the humor),
Damm

Your Menu for Today

I spent the last two weekends traveling for work. The first weekend was spent in Des Moines for the Iowa RV show. The second weekend was spent in Orlando, Florida, for the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention.

This blog is going to be all about food.

Monday, Feb. 1
Rube's Steakhouse
Waukee, Iowa

I wasn't expecting to have the best steak of my life when I walked into this place. But the cut of meat -- a 16 oz. filet -- and the rare preparation made for the best steak I've ever had. It was medium on the outside and rare in the middle. It was stringy and tender. Incredible flavor. And the coolest thing about the meal was that I cooked the steak myself!

Thursday, Feb. 4
Court Avenue Brewing Company
Downtown Des Moines

This meal was okay. I had the seared scallop pasta and it was decent. The two beers I had were pretty good but not up to Sam Adams standards. Basically, it was a nice place to eat and probably a great place to enjoy happy hour but not an overly impressive meal.

Friday, Feb. 5
Centro
Downtown Des Moines

Best restaurant in Iowa as far as I'm concerned. I started off with a Pisco Sour cocktail and it was very well done -- not as good as in Peru but hey, they did a good job. Our appetizers were Centro onion rings and a meat and cheese platter. The onion rings were very good and the Italian meat and cheese platter included the best quality of meats and cheeses that I've had in Iowa. It was prosciutto, mortadella and something similar to chorizo. The cheeses were soft and buttery. And even the fruit was of a high quality for being the dead of winter in Iowa.

My meal consisted of two antipasti dishes. Sweetbreads (the thymus or neck gland of a cow) with Chianti demi glace, prosciutto, red onions, wild mushrooms and an egg with garlic bread. This dish was rustic and a pure delight. The sweetbreads were not chewy at all and the sauce was to die for.

The other dish I had was a classic. Steamed mussels with prosciutto, white wine, tomato, basil and butter. Perfectly prepared and a huge portion for only $10. I ended up eating the sauce with a spoon after all the mussels were gone.

I enjoyed some Chianti with my meal and even got to try a lot of the other dishes that were ordered. All fantastic. Great Italian pizza. Homemade pasta of the highest quality. Every sauce complex.

Centro is a restaurant in Iowa that is not overly priced, has great ambiance but more importantly, the food is outstanding.

Ultimately, what cemented their status as best restaurant in Iowa was a description for a sandwich that I didn't even order.

"Kill-Bill Pork Tenderloin: The Five Pointed Palm Exploding Heart Sandwich."

If you haven't seen the Kill Bill movies, go rent them right now.

Saturday, Feb. 6
Splash
Downtown Des Moines

Splash is a staple for any RV show that we go to in Des Moines. It never disappoints. Simply the best seafood that I've had in the midwest (outside of sushi places).

We had raw oysters that were as good as Boston's. The wine menu is confusingly wonderful. The crab Louis salad had a great peppery dressing. And my seared tuna was very good (even though the rest of that dish was mediocre at best).

Our waiter, Jeff, really knew his stuff. He suggested the best oysters. Picked out a great dessert wine. And answered all of our naive questions with true expertise.

Splash is expensive but it's worth going to at least once a year.

Thursday, Feb. 11
Everglades
Orlando, Florida

This was the first meal I've had that included 9 pieces of silverware and 3 glasses to start the meal. The prix fixe menu, for me, included shrimp cocktail with a great cocktail sauce and large shrimp. Gator chowder which was more like a chili but still outstanding. The fish I had was overcooked but the rest of the meal was very good.

The place was incredibly pretentious, probably overpriced and too formal. But the service was exemplary and it was a fun experience.

Friday, Feb. 12
Bongos Cuban Cafe
Downtown Disney

This place is fun! I had been here once before and suggested it to our group. We had to wait for an hour to get a table (the $20 trick didn't work) but we downed a couple of awesome mojitos while we waited and the fresh mint and good rum made the hour pass quickly.

My seafood concoction was awesome for only $30. It included lobster, squid, octopus and shrimp in a red, spicy broth. We also ordered the ceviche for a starter and it was surprisingly good. Once again, no where near the quality of Peru, but good nonetheless.

Saturday, Feb. 13
Hanamizuki
A Strip Mall outside Orlando, Florida

Best sushi I've ever had. This place was authentic as all get out. We sat next to a Japanese couple that looked like judges from Iron Chef Japan. The menu included $100 kobe beef and other delicacies that you don't normally see at your average Japanese place.

I had a wonderful miso soup and a plate of sashimi that was delicate and fresh. I could have had $100 worth of sushi in no time at all.

I will go to this place again in my lifetime. It is authentic Japanese without all the stupid glitz and glam of so many Japanese-American sushi joints in the U.S. Hanamizuki is all about the food.

---

Find me a restaurant that unpretentiously serves quality, fresh food and goes balls to the wall with new ways of preparing it or perfects the old-world ways of great cuisine, and I'll show you a happy Josh Damm.

Enjoy the ride (and the raw fish),
Damm

Here is Life

"Here is life, an experiment to a great extent untried by me; but it does not avail me that they have tried it."

- Thoreau

On Sunday, inspired by Thoreau, I went to Pilot Knob for a walk on the trails. No snowshoes, boots or skis in my possession, I was left hiking through knee deep snow in my old Nike Pegasus running shoes.

I walked up the steep hill that I went sledding on as a kid. I followed some paths that I run through in the summer. I went off the beaten path and just explored.

Not for long but for over an hour.

At some point, I just plopped myself down in the snow and sat there. Still.

The sun was shining and the trees blocked the wind. My face was warm with the glow of the sun and my legs were tired from constantly pulling themselves out of the deep snow.

A couple of hawks flew by overhead, a pheasant scattered across the snowy landscape. I was on a white beach -- laying on a blanket of tranquility.

---

The night before I had made dinner for Mark and Joy Newcom. They were eager guinea pigs for some of my new food experiments. All recipes were by Giada (the hottest cook on the Food Network).

The dinner turned out great, the wine was really good (even the carpet got to enjoy some thanks to Joy), and the conversation was one of the best of my life.

Thanks to Joy for documenting some of the conversation on her blog -- which is a must read for all of you out there in the blogosphere.

I won't get too specific about the conversation but it was largely about a calling to experience life for oneself.

The beliefs of our parents is worth questioning. Our lifestyle and way of living is worth questioning. Even as I've remained in Forest City, Iowa, my philosophies, religion -- everything really -- is worth questioning.

We get a chance to be who we want to be. To define a way of life for our self.

My parents have never eaten cantaloupe wrapped with prosciutto but it turns out that it is fantastic.

Their experiences in life have been amazing and they have exposed me to much that I am grateful for.

But there is more to be seen.

I have to try cantaloupe with prosciutto for myself. I need to travel to Peru for myself. I must challenge my beliefs -- are they really mine or are they merely a product of my upbringing?

I need to sit in the snow only miles away from my childhood home -- but with thoughts and beliefs that put me further from home than ever.

After all, here is life.

My life.

Enjoy the ride,
Damm

Hope for Haiti

I'm watching Hope for Haiti tonight. It's a good reminder that life isn't about The Damm Journey. It's about our journey together.

The worst of humanity can be on display when people like Pat Robertson claim that God is somehow punishing Haiti for their "pact with the devil." But this is not the norm. This is not the religion or belief that most of us subscribe to.

The hundreds of millions of dollars donated from the U.S.A. to Haiti shows the goodness of our country.

The partnership of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush shows that men and women of politics are really men and women of public service. I don't believe the most politicians are the slime that we make them out to be. As a Democracy, the United States will need to change the path of our country if we are to keep good public servants from being corrupted by petty politics, large corporations and lobbyists hell-bent on making money.

The way that my generation has donated money through text, Twitter and other forms of technology shows that even though we might read fewer books and participate in the world differently, my generation is just as capable of serving and giving as those who have come before us.

Haiti has taught me about humanity. I've given $20 to Haiti and I encourage you to make a donation. Anything helps.

As soon as we focus too closely on our own journeys, we are often reminded that our journeys are tied to those around us.

I'm not sure I've met anyone from Haiti but my path is tied to theirs.

My belief in the Tao means that I am tied to the destiny of everyone on this earth and that we are all one.

At some point in my life, I know I'll need to work to make other people's lives better if I am going to be happy and content.

This month I start with my donations to Haiti and my work with Winnebago County's Relay for Life. And that journey must continue.

Please join me on this journey of compassion. I'm going to give more money to Haiti and more time to Relay for Life.

It's time that we all help others....

Enjoy the ride,
Damm

Dreaming of Enigmas

An overindulgence in red wine, white wine, Fat Tire and Cuba Libres led to a strange dream last night.

She and I laid in bed wasting a day with only each other's company. I was in a foreign place but felt at home. The tourist bus outside the window was filled with souls whose journey I could not understand.

I was a traveler now.

Comfortable with the uncertainty of daily life, I could no longer appreciate the guided tours and itineraries of a tourist.

Her image was at once, a melange of women's faces I know and yet an enigma.

Beautiful. Unknown but familiar. It was as if Monet had tried to paint a portrait of my future wife, not knowing who she would be but making his best guess through the strokes of his paint brush and the colors on his palette.

The feelings from the dream collided with my morning like a hot cup of coffee spilling on my lap.

I was tired -- as I am most mornings -- but also in a state of severe melancholy. Not depression by any means, but melancholy.

The type of melancholy that Albrecht Durer expressed in his allegorical engraving "Melancolia I" -- not showing a mood of depression but rather of inspiration waiting to strike.

I didn't long for inspiration as much as I longed to meet this person. To literally meet the woman of my dreams.

Until then I'll just have to....

Enjoy the ride,
Damm

Hope for Resolution

I'm going to keep this blog short and sweet but I wanted to publicly state some of my resolutions for 2010 before it gets too far into the year.

Public accountability is a big part of keeping one's New Year's Resolutions -- what better place than my blog to make my resolutions known.

Here they are, in no particular order:

- No blackjack, casino games or sports betting. Only poker.
- Train for the Kansas Half-Ironman beginning January 18th. The race is on June 6.
- No soda or diet soda unless I'm having it as part of a mixed drink. (I stuck to this for 10 months in 2009 and should have just stayed with it)
- Lift weights 3 times per week in addition to my triathlon training.
- I will not eat Taco Jerry's, pizza, crappy fast food or superfluous treats/desserts. Eating is now a part of my training.
- Cut back on drinking -- twice per week at the MOST!
- 2 hours per week of Rosetta Stone Spanish. I want to learn Spanish!
- Travel, interact with people, live life to the fullest and help others.

As I love to say, 2010 is going to be EPIC. And while some of these resolutions are still fairly broad, I'm going to continue to specify how I'll accomplish these goals -- especially as my training begins.

Enjoy the (Epic) ride,
Damm