(Untitled)

[benchilada]

More proof that my family is somewhat mad. You see, my brother Jason--the lawyer who wrote the incredibly detailed quasi-rebuttal to my political explosion the other day--now gives us his next masterpiece. He plays the organ for the Episcopalian church in Hannibal Missouri, and last week he sent me this. Stick with it:

-----------------

Ben--

This

Comments

[kunde_yidang]

I wonder if your brother is a synaesthete like me.......

[benchilada]

The things Jason does with music are astonishinh to me. I've been cursed with a treacherous love for music and an "I can learn if I put my mind to it just like everybody else" ability. He just...does it.

I've only barely breached the topic with him, I suspect some autism, perhaps Asperger's. He certainly matches nearly all of the symptoms rather strongly, and autistic tendencies run in my family.

Lord knows I have to be saved from staring into the washing machine every few weeks. I once stood there, watching the agitation from above, until it drained for the spin cycle--somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes--and it felt like 30 seconds to me.

[kunde_yidang]

actually, synaesthesia and autism/aspergers have a LOT of overlap. In fact I once did an informal experiment where I gave a group of synaesthetes a screening test for symptoms of autism. The lower the points, the less likely you have autism. Synaesthetes (not diagnosed with autism or aspbergers, and this includes myself) scored about twice as high as your average, non-aut/asp person.

and washing machines are awesome.

[iamangelachase]

What form do you have?

I've seen music. It's freaky.

[nykki]

Seriously... what is wrong with your family? Anyone normal in there at all?

I giggled madly as I read this. I'm not sure if it was the 8am, or the image of the hippos, but a good morning was had by me.

[benchilada]

Normal? No. Not a one.

Jason is a fabulous dichotomy, as he can be deathly serious one moment, and then cracking a terribly clever and hysterical joke the next moment, often with a completely straight face.

He's the most serious of the three sTone brothers, but definitely as mad as the rest of us.

[rick_day]

1. Suddenly I feel musical nerdy because I followed every word he said about the music structure (I majored in music)

2. Blue Hippos My first exposure as a child to the reality that homosexuality existed in this paradigm.

Ballerina Blue Hippos are teh Gay!

[benchilada]

See, I have to pretend I understand the musical explanations.

I get the hippo bits, though.

[iamangelachase]

Music geeks unite...I had the same feeling: Wow, I totally understand what he's saying! Yikes. ;)

And, well, I've been looking for ideas for my next band piece...maybe hippos are the way to go. Hmm.
(Ben, if I do go with hippos, I'll make sure to credit you and your brother.)

[funranium]

Ketterer, eh?

What you're telling me then is that, musically speaking, German has declared war on the Stone Boys.

"The Times!...(run)...Best news in Cairo!...(run)

[benchilada]

Call me when you're back on your meds.

[funranium]

Wow, as I read that now, it is very clear that I need to wait more than 10 minutes after waking up to reply to a post.

If I could have spelled English much good the write, I would stand by my Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade allusions and quotes.

Hippos on parade?

[farawaypoints]

That sounds like a GREAT SONG!

Re: Hippos on parade?

[benchilada]

People I'm Not Surprised To Hear That From, Chapter One