Yesterday, I can honestly say that I gave my absolute BEST at my job. 

And it was worth it…worth it for me, and worth it for everyone that I was working with and leading.

There is really nothing better than giving your best. 
I need to do it every single weekend, not just this once.

Global warming, schmobal warming.

I was pretty convinced two years ago that the polar ice caps WERE melting just like in the 1990s Kevin Costner box-office flop “Waterworld” (the first movie to have a budget of over $100 million dollars, for all you movie trivia nerds.  What? No one? {crickets} ok nevermind then).  And we all thought Al Gore was right.  Because it was HOT, and there was nary a drop of rain in sight.

But after the events that transpired today, I’m pretty sure Al Gore’s global warming theories are bogus.  Not only is there upwards of about 10 feet of snow in certain places of California today, but A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, sweeping cars and boats anywhere from 30-50 feet into the air.

IN CALIFORNIA.

It’s raining like mad out there, causing all kinds of mayhem and madness–the likes that no one has seen in a long time.
Couple that batch of crazy with the -40 degree weather in the mid-west, and I’m thinking maybe we’re NOT going to be floating around on makeshift rafts avoiding the likes of Dennis Hopper and looking for dry land for the rest of our lives.
(Oh boy, that was a bad, bad movie…just so poorly made.)

Thankfully, my weekday commute is a whole 15 steps out my back door and I don’t have to drive around in this stuff.

The other weird Burbank happenings have to do with the Leno/Conan upset.  Geez-louise!  What a mess…
Let me just make a quick comment on this type of decision making before I unleash the funny:

This decision STINKS. 

Not because I love Conan (which I do) or because I’m on an “it’s not fair” kick–but because I can smell the fear of the NBC execs from here, and this decision REEKS of fear.
And let me tell you folks, decisions made as a result of fear are NOT GOOD DECISIONS.  Fear messes with your head and tells you all kinds of lies…it’s not good for business and it’s not good for every-day living. 

If you make a decision, STICK WITH IT.  Don’t recoil because you think that maybe 5 years ago you made a wrong choice–it’s waaaaay too late for that.  Now NBC will see all kinds of backlash when Leno scoots back to 11:30.  I don’t think there will be any winners out of this deal…not Leno, not Conan, and NOT NBC.

I guess time will tell.

Here’s something that made me laugh louder than I have in a long time…

I am still a fan of NBC.

They have SNL.

They had Friends.

They had Seinfeld.

They currently have 30 Rock…The Office…and a few other good shows, too.

And even though they are being idiots about the whole Jay Leno thing and Conan O’Brien thing–I STILL LOVE THEM…

…CAUSE THEY HAVE CHUCK.

Before I tell you just how excited I am to watch the season premiere of the third season Sunday night, let me tell you that I NEVER expected to like this show. For many moons people told me, “You gotta watch Chuck. It’s great!” and I nodded my head in agreement…”Sure. Sure…”

I didn’t know.

And even after the first four or five episodes, I wasn’t sold on it.

Then it happened. IT happened. There was a moment in a particular show that drew me in and I said to Christy, “OHHH. Now THIS is exciting!”

And I’ve been a fan ever since. A die hard fan of Chuck.

Check out seasons one and two before you jump into season three this year–there is some dyn-o-mite back story that you’ve gotta get.

And even though I should probably be orchestrating tomorrow night, I’m taking a break to get my CHUCK on…ohhhh yeah!!!

I decided I should set some goals for myself this year…the first goal was to set some goals.
Just kidding.

But, in order to keep myself accountable to the 7 people that faithfully read this, here they are in no particular order:

1) Make My Business Name Official
A while back on here we talked about a business name for me.  There were many opinions, but I just decided to be somewhat regular and go with “Semsen Music”.  We said no to Semsenocity, no to Semsen Scores, and NO to many other more hideous options.  Oh well, Semsen Music it is.  Now I just need to make it official, and I haven’t taken the steps to do that yet.

2) Finish my website
Last year I purchased the domain names www.danielsemsen.com and www.semsenmusic.com but all I have up there is a splash page that says “under construction” or something like that.  Boo.  I need to finish it…complete with pictures, song samples, a bio, the whole 9 yards.  For my profession, it’s a MUST.  And I’m dragging my feet with the excuse that I’m keeping busy with work and family. 
And Wii.
oops.

3) Update a Few of My Original Compositions
Piggy-backing off that last one…I have a few pieces that I wrote with standard Logic samples a couple of years ago that pale in comparison to what they COULD be now.  I’ve purchased thousands of dollars worth of sample libraries since I wrote them.  There’s one or two pieces I can think of right off the bat that need to be updated with newer, cooler sounds. 

4) Do More Networking
I spend a lot of time in my studio writing–which is good–but I should really spend at least one day a week networking.  It’s vital, but I’ve been busy with other stuff…so it’s lost it’s place in the priority shuffle.

5) Be More Intentional With My Time
This is an ongoing goal that I started on Jan. 1, 2010.  Even in just one week I’ve accomplished a LOT more than I usually do because I’ve set my mind to it.  I have a routine that has variations, but is nonetheless a routine, and it’s working.  Hooray!

I’m not much of a video-passer-onner, but this video is amazing. 

If anyone doubts the ability of music to transcend issues in the world raised by race, ethnicity, poverty, generational gaps, and–well, you name it–I DARE YOU TO WATCH THIS VIDEO and prove me wrong. 

This is beautiful. 

Watch out for the country in white letters towards the bottom of the screen…a total of 156 countries were singing along ALL.  AT.  THE.  SAME. TIME.  And surprisingly, in the same key (hooray!).

I am thankful for the small break I’ve had with my family this past couple of weeks, and I’m anxious and ready to get back to work…so here I go!

And that’s about all I got for RIGHT. NOW.

But oh so much more to come later…