Brendan Shea's Blog

My memoir, How Not to Break Your Leg: A Fiftysomething’s Guide to Healing, is my best-selling book!

Has it sold a million? No. A thousand? No. A hundred? No, but for me, it is my best-seller, at a whopping 24 copies in three and a half years of publication.

I am celebrating, and wanted to share my joy.

I hope you have joyful publishing stories too.

Maybe they outdistance mine, but any win like that is something to celebrate.

(this is a paean, not a parody!)

Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas

(posting this song while watching the amazing Simu Liu in a compelling film about the making of the great marvel movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings; this song is not meant to take Asian American culture to a time when it might have been caricatured, but rather, to a cultural retrospective and an endearing bit of fun; if you haven’t seen Shang-Chi, also with Awkwafina, Michelle Yeo, Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Ben Kingsley, you are missing out!)

Oh-ho-ho-ho
Oh-ho-ho-ho
Oh-ho-ho-ho
Oh-ho-ho-ho

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting
Those cats were fast as lightning
In fact, it was a little bit frightening
But they fought with expert timing

There were funky China men from funky Chinatown
They were chopping them up, they were chopping them down
It’s an ancient Chinese art, and everybody knew their part
From a feint into a slip and a kicking from the hip

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting (huh!)
Those cats were fast as lightning
In fact, it was a little bit frightening (hey, yeah)
But they fought with expert timing

There was funky Billy Chin, and little Sammy Chung
He said, “Here comes the big boss, let’s get it on”
We took a bow and made a stand, started swaying with the hand
A sudden motion made me skip, now we’re into a brand-new trip

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting (huh!)
Those cats were fast as lightning (ha!)
In fact, it was a little bit frightening (huh!)
But they did it with expert timing (ha!)

Oh, yeah
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) ha!
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) ha!
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) ha!
(Oh-ho-ho-ho, ha) keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on
Sure enough

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting (huh!)
Those cats were fast as lightning (ha!)
In fact, it was a little bit frightening (huh!)
Make sure you have expert timing, oh (ha!)

Kung Fu fighting
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) hands and feet fast as lightning
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) huh! Ha!
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) huh! Ha!
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) huh!
Keep on, keep on, keep on (ha!)
(Oh-ho-ho-ho) huh!
Yeah, yeah (ha!)
(Oh-ho-ho-ho)

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting
Hands and feet fast as lightning

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Carl Douglas

Kung Fu Fighting lyrics © Bucks Music Group Ltd., Smv Schacht Musikverlage Gmbh & Co. Kg, Edition Carren

I have chronic kidney disease.

Some years back, I was diagnosed with stage 3B kidney disease. My GFR was in the low 30’s. GFR is glomerular filtration rate, and is the main indicator of kidney function.

The GFR slid downward rapidly, from normal sixtyish to not so good thirties, and I was diagnosed and referred to a nephrologist (kidney specialist).

My GFR had hovered in the 23-24 range for 2-3 years, possibly due to diet and the wonder drug Jardiance. You may have seen the somewhat obnoxious ads for this medicine, and while I used to loathe such ads, I am so grateful for their intercession that I sometimes even sing the cheesy jingles.

For the past couple of years, I’ve been lax about my diet, avoiding added salt, using small amounts of milk and cheese, watching my potassium, phosphate, sodium and sugar, but eating outside my diet at times and drinking many safe drinks but perhaps too much of them.

This weekend, I got my GFR tested and it was 22. One point down is huge, and not in a good way. I don’t want to go on dialysis or to need transplant, nor to die just yet.

So today, when our pizza arrived, my wife got me a salad, so I only ate two slices and half the salad. Portions are key with CKD.

I decided yesterday to mostly drink water as my wife has long exhorted me. I’ll still have bit of hot and iced tea, but am going to limit my beverages to 6-8 glasses per day, overall, and I had an artificially sweetened seltzer with dinner (tastes like soda), and some tea, but drank mostly water otherwise, and am monitoring my fluid quantities.

The Jardiance has been doing its job, so now I’ll see if diet and my normal moderate exercise will win the day.

I know my life on this earth is limited, as it is for all of us, but I want to do my best to care for the body the Lord has given me and to be successful in achieving the things he has for me to do.

I want to enjoy my food, and am blessed that the things I ate this weekend were delicious. God makes things taste better when I am obedient to His Word.

God is so good.

Featured image (not above) courtesy of Pexels.com

I am very quick to understand certain things like many words and numbers, but VERY slow to understand others.

At 16 my IQ tested out at 150, but I was 40 years old before I realized the knots in plywood were from branches on a tree, LOL!

When I submit a book to a literary agent, I figure they might like my book, possibly, maybe. I suppose that if the writing is good enough, they’ll consider representing me.

But I only very recently realized the (obvious) similarity between literary agents and those browsing for books to read:

If I am looking for something new to read, I scan the library or bookseller’s shelves quickly, only slowing down for things I know are in my wheelhouse.

And my wheelhouse is very specific.

So if I want to sell an agent on my book, I might have to write something I’d want to read. That may sound embarrassingly obvious, but there it is. I just figured it out.

If you are writing a book, it’s good to write what you know and to write what is on your mind, but if you are trying to get a book traditionally published or widely read, you might have to write with your own pickiness in mind.

Capitán obvia, a sus ordenes (Captain Obvious, at your service)

Charity Gayle – I Speak Jesus

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
‘Til every dark addiction starts to break
Declaring there is hope and there is freedom
I speak Jesus

‘Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over fear and all anxiety
To every soul held captive by depression
I speak Jesus

‘Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

Shout Jesus from the mountains
Jesus in the streets
Jesus in the darkness, over every enemy
Jesus for my family
I speak the holy name
Jesus, oh (oh)

Shout Jesus from the mountains
And Jesus in the streets (oh)
Jesus in the darkness, over every enemy
Jesus for my family
I speak the holy name
Jesus (Jesus)

‘Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

Your name is power (Your name is power)
Your name is healing (Your name is healing)
Your name is life (You are my life)
Break every stronghold (break every stronghold)
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Jesse Reeves / Dustin Smith / Abby Benton / Kristen Dutton / Carlene Prince / Raina Pratt

I Speak Jesus lyrics © Integrity’s Praise! Music, All Essential Music, Pt. Nadaku Musik, For Me And My House Songs

This song from the late Carmen Domenic Licciardello, known to many music lovers as Carman, is a fantastic, uplifting tune.

Here is the studio album cut.

Here is the live version with amazing video (the sound quality is lesser but the visuals are amazing to me)

Chorus:
Jesus is the Lamb
Jesus is the Lamb that was slain
Jesus is the Lamb
Jesus is the Lamb that was slain

Glory, glory and honour
Glory and honour and power and praise
Glory, glory and honour
Glory and honour and power and praise

‘Cause of everything you’ve done for me today
It’s the easiest thing for me to stand and say
Lord, You know I love You
Love You from the bottom of my heart
And may I add I’d love to
Tell everyone I know just who you are

Counting every time You’ve heard my lonesome cry
You’ve committed to never ever pass me by
Lord, You know I’m thankful
Thankful just to know that You are near
May I add I’d love to
Sing to every soul who wants to hear

Chorus

Heaven and earth must now proclaim
Jesus is the Lamb
Glory to God the people say
Jesus is, Jesus is the Lamb
Sent from heaven and rejected
Jesus is the Lamb
Crucified and resurrected
Jesus is the Lamb

Chorus 2nd part

Holy is the Lamb
Holy is the Lamb that was slain
Holy is the Lamb
Holy is the Lamb that was slain

Chorus 2nd part

Written by Carmen Domenic Licciardello

Backing vocals

Andrea BacaLisa BevillLisa BraggLisa CochranTodd CooperJohn HartmanPhil KeaggyBonnie KeenDanielle KimmeyTony OrlandoOut of EdenJoey RicheyCalvin SmithKristine & William StroupeRuss TaffTina VallejoAimee Joy WeimerLori Wilshire 

Michael W. Smith – Secret Ambition

Young man up on the hillside
Teaching new ways
Each word winning them over
Each heart a kindled flame
Old men watch from the outside
Guarding their prey
Threatened by the voice of the paragon
Leading their lambs away
Leading them far away

Nobody knew His secret ambition
Nobody knew His claim to fame
He broke the old rules steeped in tradition
He tore the holy veil away
Questioning those in powerful positions
Running to those who called His name
But nobody knew His secret ambition
Was to give His life away

His rage shaking the temple
His word to the wise
His hand healing on the seventh day
His love wearing no disguise
Some say, “Death to the radical
He’s way out of line.”
Some say, “Praise be the miracle
God sends a blessed sign.
A blessed sign for troubled times.”

Nobody knew His secret ambition
Nobody knew His claim to fame
He broke the old rules steeped in tradition
He tore the holy veil away
Questioning those in powerful positions
Running to those who called His name
But nobody knew His secret ambition
Was to give His life away

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Amy Grant Gill / Michael W. Smith / Wayne Kirkpatrick

Secret Ambition lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Cross At Sunset With Sunlight And Orange Clouds

GLAD – We Are Receiving a Kingdom

(in case you are having a rough day like I am today, don’t give in to sin & temptation ;0)

We are receiving a kingdom

Heaven seems distant
An unworthy goal
When temptation pulls at our soul
Our knees start to weaken
We nearly drop down
But we must hold on
To inherit the crown
And the end of the race is assured
For those who have fixed
Their eyes on the Lord

We are receiving a kingdom
That can never be shaken or moved
Whose foundation lies
In the heart of God
Whose walls are eternal truth
We are receiving a kingdom
Whose borders will ever increase
So, let’s run with endurance
And grateful assurance
And praises that never cease

The voice of saints before us
Echoes from the grave
Don’t despise the outcome of your faith
The pleasures of sin
They’re a feeble disguise
For the enemy who’s scheming
To take away our lives
Let us look to the Lamb that was slain
Who suffered the cross
For the joy He would gain

We are receiving a kingdom
That can never be shaken or moved
Whose foundation lies
In the heart of God
Whose walls are eternal truth
We are receiving a kingdom
Whose borders will ever increase
So, let’s run with endurance
And grateful assurance
And praises that never cease

We are receiving a kingdom
That can never be shaken or moved
Whose foundation lies
In the heart of God
Whose walls are eternal truth
We are receiving a kingdom
Whose borders will ever increase
So, let’s run with endurance
And grateful assurance
And praises that never cease

We are receiving a kingdom
We are receiving a kingdom
We are receiving a kingdom
We are receiving a kingdom

Produced by Ed Nalle; Written by Bob Kauflin

Or, brutha’s an’ sistah’s!

Today I went to see my mom for her birthday.

As I was getting ready to pull out of our driveway, my wife, over by my window to tell me something, looked curiously at my left front tire. But when I asked her about it she was noncommittal. She doesn’t usually look like that, but she didn’t say anything more, so I pulled out.

I had traveled through a few cities when I heard a chime. My car dash display had a warning light on it. She would later remark that I should have immediately stopped at the first town I reached and get it checked out, but to me, it was a minor glitch, and I could see to it when I got home.

I arrived at my mom’s, and checked the tire, having added some air at a gas station. It looked fine, but the warning light was still illuminated. We got in my car and drove to the restaurant. I wouldn’t have driven her on the freeway under the circumstances, but this was just a couple miles on city streets.

We enjoyed our meal, but the place was full of people, and I was looking forward to visiting with her more at her house, prior to driving home, but when we got back, my tire was flat.

I got a little agitated, thinking we didn’t have roadside assistance (we did and do), but I called the service and they arrived in about 10 minutes. My mom’s housemate was stunned that on a Saturday, they got there so quickly.

I felt blessed. The guys got me to the tire shop so I could get the thing patched (the tire was otherwise in good shape), and they did great work for a reasonable price.

My mom and her housemate, the guys from AAA, and all the guys at the tire shop, were awesome. People I knew and complete strangers both, were all helpful and friendly.

When I saw the tire, realized I was not going to be able to go to my usual shop, and couldn’t get the spare on myself (which I’ve done in the past), everyone pitched in and got me home.

There were a lot of amazing elements that I won’t go into that took me from feeling in a bind, to knowing God has my back, and how grateful I am for His love and help.