Ring, Ring, Ringing in the NEW YEAR! Congratulations for being around for 2009! Ahh, what will 2009 bring? I believe that this new year will be all about "right sizing". We know that we have gone 'over-board'. Okay, I guess that I really have gone over-board. But now it stops. I am simply staying home, and that is how I have time to type away. . .

I would like to share my word of the year. . . It is 'PRIME'!

Elliott Cook Carter, Jr. is 100 years old. He composed a symphony which James Levine conducted and Daniel Barenboim played the piano at Carnigie Hall this Dec, 2008 on Elliott's 100th birthday. He is an American composer from New York City. He studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris in the 1930s, and then returned to the United States. After a neoclassical phase, he went on to write atonal, rhythmically complex music. His compositions, which have been performed all over the world, include orchestral and chamber music as well as solo instrumental and vocal works.

On the Charlie Rose Show http://www.charlierose.com/, the four of them talked with and about Elliott Carter coming into his PRIME in his older age. Elliot said that some people come into their PRIME at an early age, like Mozart. I, tosca, think that I am going to come into my PRIME in my 60s. . . and perhaps this year.

So here's to being "in my PRIME", this year. What will you notice? Well, I will be better at everything I do. I will move faster, be more intent, be more broadly interested, be more empathetic. . . more in tune, in touch, more alert to everything going on in this world, and more closely connected with my friends and family(if they can stand it).

So this is Prime Time for you and me. Let's njoy. What is your word for the year? What is your new 'mantra'?