Marriage Equality in Ireland: The Time Has Finally Come!

Over the years there have been a good sum of posts that have dealt with the issue of marriage equality, human rights and, even, love in general. Usually, these posts have been regarding issues which have been away from home. Typically, they have been concerning "Top Stories" in the US or UK but seldom have they been on our own doorstep, or rather, inside our own homes. On Friday, May 22nd, 2015, the Irish people will take to the polling stations across the country to make two decisions, firstly, do they believe that our President should be allowed to be as young as 21 years old (an issue which I don't really feel that strongly about but do have an opinion) and secondly, whether marriage is something that should be offered to each and all equally, regardless of sexuality, sex or gender (an issue where opinion is unimportant but decision is crucial). Here, we will be looking at the latter.

Chritsine Buckley: One of our true heroines!

It's been a while, you get it, I've been busy. Sorry. Or, as a very close friend of mine would say, "Sozzles". But, you got it! This is how we do!

I haven't felt a need to write because, despite the Water Charges debacle that is going on in Ireland, there were bigger fish to fry. I personally have no major issue with the water charges. They are a pain in the ass, I will pay them but I do have an issue with the whole PPS/IRS number that seems to need to go to a third party...that is not cool...anyway...

Since we last spoke, it's been a very interesting year, lots of music, lots of mirth and lots of loving times with people I adore. The reason I am writing is because of one lady...Christine Buckley.

As many of you probably remember, Christine passed away in March of 2014, she was a survivor of terrible institutional, not to mention other, abuses. She was an advocate for the rights of all who were abused, a patroná for abuse victims of all kinds and generally a good person.

I was fortunate enough to meet her back in 2009 when I was a Master's student in UL after she gave a very moving talk about her life and we had a wonderful time. We were both adopted and we had, what I thought was, common ground. We spoke for about a half an hour and I was so wrong. She spoke of the horrors she had endured and I could not relate. She mentioned physical, verbal, emotional and sexual abuses that actually made me cry as I was listening to her. All I could think of were delightful Christmases, quickly resolved family tit for tats, and sibling nothingeries that didn't matter a damn compared to her story. Having been a closeted angst-ful teenager, I quickly realized how lucky I had it. That conversation with Christine Buckley, I will never forget.

This is a woman who was dealt a shitty hand. I will not present my views on her birth parents because I understand how difficult it must be to 'give' one's child away. In fact, I lie, I can't understand that. It must be terrifying. But I understand that it is a major crossroads in one's own sense of morality and in one's sanity. It is still, I can only imagine, terrifying.

Christine Buckley was a woman who I became aware of back in the 1990's when she was on the Late Late Show and alerting us to the abuses of institutional care. I work in social care and am shocked by the revelations that keep emerging. They are, sadly, a reality that we need to pro-actively deal with because they will not end until we act.

As for Christine Buckley, and the reason I am rambling on right now, she was a woman who reminded me of how great I've had it. For all the times I might curse these sacred people, they are always there and they never left...even when they were really tested. I advocate adoption purely based on my experience. Christine was one of the MANY who got screwed! That does not make the idea flawed! Me and my siblings are the kinder of an adoptive family. A progressive family who have never hidden who we are or where we come from, nor have our parents ever reminded us that we came from "others". If my folks were willing to write a guide on "How To Adopt A Kid & F**king Win At It"...it would actually be a bestseller (I'm working on it).

There is a crippling stigma surrounding adoption, fostering and general child care that worries me. Knowing how this system works, I am conflicted by the public opinion but know that we have a great network and I wish it could be appreciated. As I said, I was very lucky, Christine was not. The disclosure of the past is not an indictment of the current system, nor should it be. Working in the field, I know that the system is incredibly proactive but is indeed flawed still.

Christine Buckley will forever be a heroine of mine because I know what it is like to be confused and what it is like to not know. Luckily, for me, I was blessed with two people who answered any and all questions I may have had and have supported me any time I have teased with the chance of knowing more. My two beautiful sisters have that same right and privilege. I wish, with all of my heart, that Christine had the same opportunities I had and know that she didn't. But she still was a selfless advocate for those who might have hope and those who may have lost it. She was a truly wonderful woman and I hope you all "Google" her and "YouTube" her because she was a woman who had a lot to say and could and can teach us all so much about simple things like kindness, humanity and love.

As I said on Facebook, I will think of her tonight, perhaps a few times, but it will be happily. She was a person who opened my world and proved to me that life can be fucking amazing, if you let it!

Happy New Year to each and every one of you! I'll have more to rant and rave about sooner than you think!

- SHC

Have a watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv6DUajEkEY

In Absence, There Is Method and Music

I have decided not to apologise for my absence in recent months. I realise that it's been a very VERY long time since I posted on here but I've been having a wonderful time discovering things about my life and my music tastes that have distracted me without regret.


At this stage, nearly 2.5 million people have hit my page and I adore knowing that my musings resonate with some of you. Aware as I am of the disjointedness of the themes written here, it is great to know that there are a few people out there who get it and enjoy whatever babble it is that I choose to go on about.


The last year has been wonderful though, I have heard some of the most mind opening and awe inspiring music I have ever heard. I have played music in some of the most peculiar and amazing venues I could possibly conceive on my tiny island. I have become friends with the notion that "not all who wander are lost". It's been a wonderful 12 months.


Another reason I have not regretted taking a step back from writing in my somewhat regular fashion is that I haven't felt the need to write about much until now. There was an initial fear that I would suffer from some vocabulary atrophy, but, clearly, as I have now written an exhaustive introduction, this is not the case. I can still talk sh*t as good as ever! So..."what's been going on?", you ask. Let's see...


I made one of the most amazing discoveries in recent months; Chris Thile. Thile is a mandolin player from the United States. The chances are that you've already heard him play on various soundtracks such as the Hunger Games: Catching Fire and with various bands such Goat Rodeo, the Punch Brothers, Nickel Creek and through his own recordings. He recently enough recorded an album of mandolin interpretations of J.S. Bach's work. Strangely enough, he has made listening to the complexities of the instrument addictive. He has a wonderful approach to pieces of music and does not possess the same level of musician's snobbery that you might encounter with other similarly gifted musicians. As I write this, I am listening to his rendition of the song "Sinai to Canaan - Part 1" from this album (the source of the quote for my earlier accepted notion) "Not All Who Wander Are Lost". I have scoured the internet looking for as many recordings and videos of the man playing his music and one this is absolutely certain; he is having a blast! Whether it's a piece of bluegrass music, an old timey folk song or a piece of classical music written by one of the gods of art form, Thile's approach to each piece of music is the same; if you enjoy it, celebrate it! There should be no distinction made between a piece of Bach or a piece of music by John Mayer or even One Direction (it they are your thing). Simply enjoy the music you enjoy and, if you can, get your tickles in playing it! If you're one of the few who are able to create these piece of music that provide you with the same string of tingling emotions, just go with it and have fun! He is man who's music is worth listening to and I promise you, you all will find something enjoyable in his work! He is one of the few artists out there that is making the myriad of genres and musical styles accessible to us all. It's very exciting to think of how his output will evolve over the course of his career. Provided he retains his passion for...passion, we all stand to benefit!


Another musician who I have come to really respect in his relatively short career is Ireland's own, Gavin James! I had the chance to see James playing in Limerick over the May Riverfest Weekend and I was truly blown away by the guys humble stage presence but amazingly powerful vocal range and meticulous guitar playing! I had the opportunity to meet James after the gig in another music locale in Limerick and vaguely remember the conversation (it was Riverfest afterall and I'd done a full weekend of gigging prior to consuming my first alcoholic beverage). He was extremely gracious and, again, humble about his talents. I'd like to bring people's attention to a particular song of his called "For You". It's not a very complicated song but, at least I feel, it's the perfect pop/acoustic pop song. James exploits the songs simplicity to accentuate his vocal prowess and really delivers a very powerful song which would resonate with even the most ardent of musical minds. While his vocal range and guitar stylings are very different, he belongs in the same category as similarly excellent solo acoustic performers such as Ed Sheeran and Passenger. It remains to be seen what direction he will choose to take as his career progresses but if he can stay the course and keep his releases in as equally a wonderful vein as his current releases, this man will have a long and fruitful career! Definitely one to watch!


Those are just two of my musical discoveries from my last year of exploration. Hopefully you will enjoy them as much as I have. Both artists have provided the soundtrack for my Summer and I do wish you'd take the time to have a listen and dare you not to like them! It is a dare you will forfeit I think!


I am endeavouring to write more posts in the coming weeks. As my own musical career has become increasingly busy, it is indeed difficult to post regularly. However, I have promised to post at least once per week until the rest of the year, when things will hopefully have calmed down ever so slightly. Expect a lot more in the way of musical suggestion and even some samples for your consideration as I begin to embark on some original recordings over the next few months! Make sure to hop on over to Facebook and "Like" the Gray's Burden fan page at http://facebook.com/graysburden) where you can find all the links to recordings, performance info and tid-bit musings and shared links to music which is currently on my playlist!


Take Care and Be Safe!


SHC

Discipline, Deprivation And Dumbassery: Putting Short-Term Fitness Challenges To The Test

After a long Summer of playing music, partying and tomfoolery, there are some consequences that us mere mortals must reconcile with: lighter wallets and heavier results on the weighing scales. I didn't think I'd ever write about losing weight again, nor did I think I'd ever write about fitness.

Gun Control In The US: Is It Really That Tricky Or Is It Just Semantics?

Oh, where to begin? The debate surrounding gun control in the US is such a heavily contested debate that it's shocking, saddening, curious, interesting, provocative, liberating, sexualised and norrow-minded that it causes one to draw several, often self-defeating, conclusions.

Musical Nascense: Greasing Up Elbows And Sh**ting In Cereal

Over the last few weeks, Foo Fighters' frontman, Dave Grohl's comments from an interview that he did have emerged into perhaps one of the most widely circulated 'memes' to come out of the World of music. He makes some 'right under your nose' remarks that so many people wouldn't even consider in this age of reality show pop manufacturing. Obviously, this post is, in many ways, jumping on the bandwagon of support for Grohl and the 'anti-idol movement's', but, as a musician, it seems worthwhile to throw in a few cents as well. Grohl's comments resonate with me personally is because of the simplicity of the concept of "becoming a credible musician".

Speaking Out About Your Problems: What's So Bloody Wrong With That?

I just read an article written by Brendan O'Neill (Big Issue columnist, Daily Telegraph blogger) about Angelina Jolie (see here). It baffles and saddens to think that someone can be so mean-spirited and cynical as to write a piece that so blatantly criticises another purely based on their celebrity status.

The 20/20 Experience: A Clear Vision, Beautifully Executed

Finally, I've had a chance to listen to The 20/20 Experience by Justin Timberlake. All I can say is that it is most certainly a concept album. It won't be as welcomed by 'pop music' fans as his earlier albums and maybe that's fair enough but you should not feel disappointed. Taking risks and going against the grain are what make musicians stand the test of time. This album will prove to be that risk and demonstrates JT's admirable diversity.

The Tory-LibDem "Bedroom Tax": UK Gov't Resorts to Ryanair-style Tactics to Save on Social Spending

Having a background in political science and public administration has it's downfalls; late nights, the unwilling reading of copious amounts of mind-numbing literature and a hyperactive imagination caused by constant caffeine abuse. However, one of its perks has always been its historicist element. "What's that?", you say. Well, every now and then, among the smoking induced dust covering that the piles of books receive, there will be a book that one picks up and they will stumble across some of the most strange living conditions and social policies that make one's jaw drop.

The Aduki Diet: 10 Simple Rules To Lose 20lbs In 30 Days And Keep It Off

Right, as promised, here is some lighter reading. We've surpassed 2.1 million hits since the blog's first post, this is amazing. What's even cooler is the feedback I recieve from those of you who actually like what is posted here. Thanks so much for that. To be honest, I probably wouldn't keep writing the blog if it weren't for the great messages you folks have sent me. 

This entry is answering a request made by some of you who know me a bit more personally and have seen one of the biggest changes I've made in my life. Losing the dreaded WEIGHT (before and after image below)!!! This has been a relatively closely guarded secret of mine since I actively went about trying to get in shape a few years ago but because so many of you have asked me either my email, FB message or in person, I think it's now time to spill all and get you in the loop.