Tomas Michaud Writings

My Wish List for Zach and Angela’s (my daughter) Marriage

tomasm — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:23:53 +0000

Dear Zach and Angela,

I wish you many years of happiness and love together. When the times come that you are not particularly feeling loving, please be kind to each other. There is no higher calling then to practice kindness in the face of feeling unloving, or especially feeling unloved.

As the years go by and you grow in wisdom and life experience I wish for you to open your hearts a little bit more and more day by day. Learn to let go of grievances quickly and put your attention on what really matters. As you get older may your eyes get a little bit weaker so that you have difficulty seeing the faults in each other.

I wish for you both an abundance of material wealth, and every happiness that money can buy. I especially wish for you both to wake up each day with gratitude for what you have. Know that to those that are grateful for what they have more will be given.

I wish you an ever expanding capacity for patience and compassion, not only for each other but for yourselves as well. Remember that you can only give to each other what you truly have to give. You can never really “make” the other person happy, but you can choose to appreciate them in even the smallest ways. By doing so you help your life companion to get in touch with their own source of happiness and joy.

Zach, may you always see in Angela the beautiful, loving young lady that you saw the moment you first fell in love with her. At times when she seems overly emotional or unreasonable, see this as an opportunity to practice patience. Don’t depend on her for all your approval and your feelings of self worth. From time to time she will test you, even push you away to see what your made of. This too will pass. It’s especially important at these times that you have a strong sense of your inner strength and who you are. It also helps to have conscious man friends that can validate you without bashing your spouse.

Angela, may you always see in Zach the strong, brave and kind hearted man you fell in love with. Know that he really does want you to be happy and take responsibility for teaching him how to please you in a loving, gentle way. When the urge comes to criticize take a deep breath, then ask yourself the question “how can I really bring out the best in him?”

Finally, above all I wish for you each to know deep in the fabric of your being that you are loved and you truly deserve to be happy. Not only can you be happy, but you deserve to be happy. Of course I’m not talking about happiness like eating an ice cream and then afterwards feeling guilty that you went over your calorie allowance for the week. Those moments of pleasure come and go. I’m talking about a deep, lingering joy in your heart that you can feel whenever you put your attention there. It’s this kind “happiness” that I sincerely wish for you, no, that I deeply long for you – as your father and someone who loves you both. You both deserve it.

warming up for the concert

tomasm — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:35:45 +0000

concert photo June 20, 2010

tomasm — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:34:30 +0000

weirdest, unpleasant experience today at Wholefoods

tomasm — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 05:44:13 +0000

I just had the weirdest, unpleasant experience today at Wholefoods in the bulk section. I was looking for organic dry roasted unsalted peanuts. Couldn’t find them and when I was leaving I noticed the peanuts I wanted were in the peanut butter grinder, completely labeled. I took a scoop from the bin next to in, scooped them in a bag, labeled them and began to leave. A young woman Wholefoods staff comes up from behind and surprises me with “You can’t do that!” She proceeds to tell me it’s because her manager say so, and I’ve just contaminated the “Organic” bin with a conventional scooper (which was not attached to a bin and likely gets used for many bins) and she’ll have to throw all the peanuts away. At that point I asked to talk to a manager. She did seem to make an effort but couldn’t find a manager. I finally decided to leave. I went to the checkout and rang up the peanuts with my other groceries with no problem.

All in all I know there are people who are not good with customers in most stores, but I’m particularly concerned because aside from being obnoxious and wasting my time I’m an investor in Wholefoods, and as an investment Wholefoods has sucked for quite awhile. The problem comes from her manager and/or her manager’s manager who is responsible for hiring and training these people. Yes, I have staff and I’m sure they have pissed off customers from time to time. It’s not a simple matter, I know. I would be less concerned if the Wholefoods stock was doing better. The competition is stiff. I’ve never had any experience like this at Trader Joe’s, or even at Safeway. I did years ago at Berkeley Bowl and haven’t been back since. I’m afraid that’s also what’s happening at Wholefoods.

I don’t really need anything, except for he stock to go up – and I’ll stay out of the peanut butter bin and buy my peanuts elsewhere.

Tomas

The master in the art of living

tomasm — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:49:16 +0000

The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play,
his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation,
his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which.
He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does,
leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing.
To him he’s always doing both. –James A. Michener

Tickets go on sale today

tomasm — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:30:59 +0000

for the Tomas Michaud and John Gilliat New World Flamenco Concert on June 20th at Rythmix Cultural Works in Alameda.
http:www.WorldMelodies.com

Link for Online sales:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/115633

Also available at:
Starland Music Center
1631 Park Street
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 523-4797
Open: 11am-7pm M-F; 11am-4pm Sat.; closed Sun.

I’m really excited to be performing again with my friend and musician extraordinaire John Gilliat from Canada, and with David and Thomas who are just a real pleasure to be on stage with. I truly feel honored to be surrounded by such gifted musicians and genuine people.

Hope to see you there!

MY GUITAR

tomasm — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:15:24 +0000

by Agustin Barrios Mangoré

There is a deep mystery in your sonorous
Garden heart, guitar of mine,
You enjoy suffering, and in your joy
Ecstasies of passion, teardrops of crying.

The sweet Moor gave you your heart,
The Iberian gave you your untamed soul
And Virgin America, you might say,
Put in you, because of its love, all the treasure.

And so on your supreme strings
That vibrate with an almost human accent
There is, at times, your voice, like a lament.

As a sigh from your lonely heart
In whose sad and mystical plan
Sentiment forever flourishes.

tomasm — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:53:31 +0000

Now you can enjoy my music at PG’s Crow Canyon Wine Lounge every Friday for the next couple of months from 7pm to 9pm http://ping.fm/UuDPu

tomasm — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:33:54 +0000

If you’re in the area come and enjoy delicious wine, friends, a relaxing atmosphere and some enchanting, heart warming New World Instrumental music at PG’s this Friday. I will be performing my own blend of Smooth Jazz and Flamenco guitar with subtle twists of Latin American grooves and Middle Eastern Percussion this Friday 2/26/10 from 7pm to 9pm at PG’s Crow Canyon Wine Lounge in San Ramon, CA. http://ping.fm/MdV6f

tomasm — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:24:33 +0000

My newest CD “Beauty And Fire” has just been chosen as a Finalist for Best World Album, ZMR Lifestyle Awards http://ping.fm/tcYcB