Welcome to this fifteenth and final episode of Great Expectorations!! The sun is out, the breeze is lovely, God is good, and I'm loving life! I hope you are too, and if not, may this last epistle in this series of indulgent monologues cause some cheer to rub off on you, and point you towards some of the Joy I am experiencing.
As promised, this episode will consist mainly of the conclusion of the podcast clip contest, the announcing of the winner, the announcing of his or her prize, and a final, cheery send-off until the next time I can spare a few hours to say "HULLO!" to the internet world in this manner once again.
Before I get to the music contest folderol, however, a quick update on what's up with me and what I'll be doing now instead of writing and recording narcissistic diatribes.
As you all know, I was hired by Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches about a month or so ago and have been working away, enjoying the job immensely. Perhaps TOO immensely - only a month or so after beginning work, I have been promoted to manager position and my work hours have shot up. This week alone, with one sick day included, I worked upwards of 53 hours. The trend towards busy-ness and increased professional responsibility is likely to continue for the time being, because once my manager training is completed, I will get some set hours and likely be working about 55 hours a week.
I've never been in a management or leadership position before, and I've certainly never worked in a restaurant environment before this time, so this promotion has been as humbling and daunting as it has been welcome and surprising. I just pray that I can focus on and perform my job to the extent needed to help my boss be a success, instead of being a burden to him. This is yet another surprising step in my life's journey, and one I did not seek or foresee: but by God's grace I will take on this new challenge and use it for His glory. We'll see what happens next, eh?
Outside of my job, I have almost completed work on me and Peter's feature film. We just need a score (as mentioned in my last update) and we will be able to get all the minor finishing details done on it. We're hoping to premier at least a preview version of the film in late June, and submit it to the appropriate festivals by Autumn sometime. Praise God, it's nearly done! It's been an exhausting and very random experience, but based on how blessed the project has been since its inception, we have faith that it will go places we cannot imagine. We can't wait to show it to you!!!
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And now, on with the announcements for the music contest!
As most of you know, the rules for the podcast clip contest were as follows: If you recognized or thought you recognized a music selection in an episode, you had to submit your answers to my email address before the publication of the next episode in the podcast. Points would be awarded for A) correct album name, B) correct track title, and C) correct artist/composer name, meaning up to three points could be won for each music clip in an episode. The number of points per guesser would be tallied up, and the guesser with the most points would be announced in the following episode, and receive an entry in the drawing for the final prize. Then, for the drawing, all entries would be thrown in my top hat and a single name pulled at random. I am happy to say that the drawing, performed by my sister Grace this afternoon with ample witnesses present, has gone off without a hitch and we have a winner!
Before I announce this lucky winner and his or her token prize, I will reveal the final drawing entries tally:
Mikal had eight entries in the drawing. Not surprising, him being at least as much of a score nut as I am.
Rebecca and Heidi and Rob were tied for third place, with two entries each.
And finally, Jessica and Grace were tied at last place, with a single entry each.
Note that due to the nature of the drawing, winning multiple entries only increased each contestant's odds of winning, meaning any one of them was liable to come away with the prize.
AND THE WINNER IS:
REBECCA!Grace pulled her name out of the well-shaken hat in the presence of multiple witnesses and I am proud to announce Beka as the undisputed winner of the Great Expectorations music clip contest!!
AND HER PRIZE IS:
A brand new copy of Joe Hisaishi's utterly delightful score to "Kiki's Delivery Service," imported directly from Japan and shipped to her personally by myself with a crayon-coloured certificate of achievement.
My deepest condolences to the other contestants, your efforts are not unappreciated!! I hope to resurrect this contest one day, for it has been an immense joy to me and I wish to extend this opportunity to everybody again. I hope this little contest has helped everyone get exposed to some great music, opened up some new horizons, and gotten you to explore a bit more. Of course, just because you didn't win the contest, doesn't mean you can't still get loads of free music from me! As you all should know, my music library is open to you: I will freely lend albums to anybody, I love sharing the joys of good music with people who appreciate it. Don't hesitate to drop me a line if you are in desperate need of some good tunes by Williams, Giacchino, Hisaishi, Portman, Delerue, Powell, Elfman, Arnold or any of the dozens of other composers whose music is on my shelves. I'm only too happy to share!
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And now I must leave you. The wistful breezes are sighing my name, the setting sun is winking at me, and the tree branches are waving at me, beckoning my presence beneath them. I will thus walk out into the summertime, smiling my widest, wishing you were here to send it with me. But until that awesome time when we get to laugh and enjoy each other's real-for-reals company once again, I will live my life moment to moment, carrying out the responsibilities God has given me for this present time, trusting Him to let us get together some day soon, and basking in the Joy and Peace of a life left in His Hands and blessed by His Grace.
You are all so wonderful - or else why would you put up with all of this? Thanks for being the way you are, because it has blessed me beyond measure and beyond comprehension. This letter and podcast has been a wonderful joy for me to write, and I hope it has been a blessing and encouragement to you (at least on occasion). And though Great Expectorations is now finished, the Foopaux Podcast will live on. I look forward to the day when I can record another, and I hope you do too. Who knows, I may just start up another music contest when I do. In any case, you have all been the most wonderful sports, and I thank you for reading these updates. It has been amazing to know that there were people in the world interested in my life and my doings, and I need you to know that I am just as interested in what YOU are up to. So! Don't hesitate to tell me! I never do!
May God bless you richly and fully this summer, and make sure that you follow Christ's example and LOVE ALL!
Your Fast Friend in All Kinds of Weather (currently partly cloudy with slight breeze from the northwest),
The Fourth Dueck in Line for Top Dog in the Legacy,
David Abraham Dueck
PS: You knew it was coming! Here are the winners and the answers for last episode's music contest. :D These winners were counted in the tally for today's drawing:
Mikal won with 6 points, and Beka followed with two points. Great job guys!!! And congratulations again Beka!! The answers are:
Clip 1: "The Big Red Bus" from "The Great Muppet Caper" by John Raposo
Clip 2: "Rainbow Connection" from "The Muppet Movie" by Paul Williams & Ken Ascher
Clip 3: "Never Before, Never Again (Instrumental)" from "The Muppet Movie" by Paul Williams and Ken Ascher
Clip 4: "Hey A Movie!" from "The Great Muppet Caper" by John Raposo
Clip 5: "I Hope that Something Better Comes Along (Instrumental)" from "The Muppet Movie" by Paul Williams and Ken Ascher
Clip 6: "Overture" from "A Muppet Christmas Carol" by Miles Goodman and Paul Williams
Clip 7: "The Stone Family Waltz" from "The Family Stone" by Michael Giacchino
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