Met the Fockers

Ok...I had to go and see Meet the Fockers. To prepare, I borrowed the DVD of Meet the Parents from a co-worker, and it really wasn't that bad.

But Barbra was calling me. It has been a long, long time since I've seen her on screen (though The Phantom and I did see her live and in person at the Staples Center in LA for her farewell tour September 20, 2000- another tale).

I don't have much to say about the film - a lot of juvenile and graphic humor, but Streisand was wonderful - reminding us that she wasn't always an excruciating, perfectionist diva. She was kooky and charming and terrific.

And she still, to this day, has the smoothest, sexiest legs I've ever seen.

Meet the Fockers: C+ Barbra Streisand: A- Barbra's Legs: A+

Susan Sontag Dies at 71

I was saddened to see the news today that Susan Sontag had died. As she was referenced here, I thought I should mention her passing.

It is a melancholy thing to be made aware of someone or something just before they disappear - at least we have the books in this case to remember her contributions.

She wrote an excellent piece on the recent Iraq prison photos in the New York Times ("Regarding the Torture of Others" May 23, 2004). I wanted to link to it for you, but you have to be a member (it is free and takes less than a minute). I heartily recommend that you check it out.

New Music Tuesday - La Semana

I feel very lucky to have been at one of Ottmar Liebert's very first concert dates (September 5, 1990), when he was the opening act for Basia (remember her?) at the Palace Theatre in Cleveland. I usually hate opening acts, but Ottmar took my breath away. He was absolutely incredible. And of course, he went on to great things.

He has just released La Semana, a wonderful acoustic CD. Great music. It has been quite awhile since Ottmar has released any new tunes - he has been remixing, reissuing and generally futzing for years with tracks from his acclaimed Nouveau Flamenco CD, which features his classic signature piece, Barcelona Nights. This CD is a welcome reminder of what a great musician he is.

A Christmas Day Thought

All possessions not at the same time beautiful and useful are an affront to human dignity.
-- Ananda Coomaraswarmy 1877-1947

I wish that you all receive many gifts of beauty today.

Extractions on Christmas Eve

Because of my schedule and time zones, it had been several weeks since I had spoken with The Traveler in Portland. We were text messaging and voice mailing to be sure, but we were never able to connect.

So it was a great pleasure to sit down for a few moments and visit with her. After taking up some time updating her about myself, I asked what she had been up to.

"Oh, I just got out of the hospital."

"Excuse me?" (Yes, this part, getting to the essential information, is like pulling teeth.)

"Oh, I had an ovary removed."

Pregnant, Pinter-esque pause from me...

"Did you think I wouldn't want to know about this?" I asked.

"It's no big deal. I'm fine. It's just like getting a tooth pulled."

Ok, Faithful Readers. I would like to take a poll of those that think that pulling a tooth and having an ovary removed are the same thing, because to me, they are completely different procedures. In fact, two different types of medical professionals perform them. This leads me to believe that they are perhaps different types of events.

What do you think?

Weather Report - Part 3

I had to be somewhere this morning at 9 am, which was not a problem. The skies were clear, the roads were dry.

When I left my appointment around 11 am, there was 4" of fluffy snow covering everything.

New Music Tuesday - Maria Muldaur

I am becoming dangerously close to completing one of my many tasks - this one being a CD of all of the songs I had purchased in my youth on 45's. This took some discipline, because there were a few songs that I did have on 45 (stolen from my Uncle Greg - the Turtles "Happy Together" in particular) that I did not purchase, and so I could not in good conscience include them. Then there were other songs that I liked so much I bought the album which was a grand expenditure for a child on a limited allowance. So album purchases had to be disqualified, too.

As I neared completion, I realized that I still did not have a copy of "Midnight At the Oasis" by Maria Muldaur. I set out determined to bring home this single song, and lo and behold, there was 30 Years of Maria Muldaur: I’m a Woman, and I was feeling flush I suppose, and spent the $18 bucks...

Well, let me tell you...I still dig "Midnight" for sure...but this gal is a great old-timey blues singer. She does all sorts of music...but "Midnight" is a complete aberration in her oeuvre. I am especially taken with "It Feels Like Rain."

I am very happy to have acquired this CD as it will fit in nicely as the distaff representative when I get in the mood to listen to nothing but Guy Davis, Eric Bibb, and Keb'Mo'. A great lazy, summer disc.

Weather Report - Part Two

It has been dreadfully cold and snowy lately...So today the weather went psycho and it was about 40 degrees, which is like, five times as warm as it has been, and it makes people want to prance around in t-shirts.I had the opportunity to be outside on several occasions during my work day, and I was reveling in this bizarre afternoon.The sky was bright, the sun was shining...holiday music was playing out in the parking lot from the many concealed audio speakers in our center, and there were little decorative drifts of clean, white snow artistically arranged amongst the gables and peaks of the roofs of the businesses.It was ridiculously picturesque.

What Some People Will Do To Be Mentioned On My Blog

My friend Jeff was annoyed with me because I never wrote anything about him. He deviously came up with a plan that would make it impossible for me NOT to write about him.

Jeff asked me if I would take photos at his upcoming wedding. Of course this was a very flattering offer, but it is also an overwhelmingly stressful thing to do - after all, I would be responsible for their memories of their day of bliss.

Well, Jeff upped the ante on all wedding photos. He and his bride were getting married outside. In Ohio. In December.

The Temperature was a balmy 10 degrees this afternoon. I won't bother to tell you what the wind chill was.

We gathered at the downtown gazebo and waited impatiently for the mayor to show up, and then everyone crowded into the rustic wooden gazebo for the brief ceremony ( literally four minutes) and then everyone ran to their running cars for warmth.

My shutter decided to be temperamental in the cold and I did not get a shot of the "You may kiss the bride" moment. Which is too bad because at that moment I realized that watching people kiss on TV is way different than watching someone doing it in front of you.

If that unphotographed moment has anything to say about their future, I think Donna and Jeff will have a long and happy life together.

Congratulations to you both! Now stop your whining.

Sleepover at MyFriendJason's

We had ourselves quite the snowstorm, closing in on 10 inches of the stuff, and a hearty windchill of about -10 degrees. With this in mind, I took MyFriendJason up on his offer to stay at his house rather than make the 1 hour drive to my house, as we both had to be back at work dark and early in the morning.

The best feature of staying at MyFriendJason's house, besides the obvious time-saving proximity, is that you get a glorious cup of steaming Mexican coffee and milk to wake you up until you can make your way to the Starbuck's.

Bridges

Many thanks to MyFriendJason who told me about this...

The world's tallest roadway bridge has opened in France. The Millau Bridge with its streamlined diagonal suspension cables rests on seven pillars -- the tallest measuring 340 meters, making it 16 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower. It was designed by British architect Norman Foster. The photos I have found are simply breathtaking. It is brilliant - an organic fusion of Bauhaus and dance and engineering. While inarguably modern, it somehow magically fuses and enhances the landscape. Mr. Foster has obviously produced not only a gorgeous functional bridge and a landmark destination, he also has created a work of art.

Said Foster, "A work of man must fuse with nature. The pillars had to look almost organic, like they had grown from the earth.''

I am so happy to see such care taken to simultaneously solve a transportation problem and to provide the world with something unique and beautiful. It takes a considerable investment and belief in the necessity of aesthetics to pony up the funds for an undertaking of this size. To the French people, and Norman Foster, I applaud you for your contribution to the beauty of the world.

In contrast, check out Governor Schwarzenegger's plans for a drab concrete slab crossing the bay in San Francisco. Boring American quick solutions based solely on money are here blatantly exhibited. There is no concern for the soul of the people that will be living with this monstrosity. It is a the most expedient and cheapest solution. There is no longer any room for cultural art in America it seems.

The Big Bang Theory

So you have this dense bit of matter that contains all of existence and suddenly it gets blown to bits, and the pieces fly off into the unknown, scattered and drifting ever further apart...

Then, very very slowly, some pieces drift make together and reform, forming a tiny nucleus made up of just the essential elements - no more dross.

That is the metaphor for my life.

And just recently, a few of my atoms have drifted back, while others continue to speed away, now light years gone.

As the core coalesces, I welcome back my long-lost friend, my dear Jennifer, who was returned to me via a tiny scrap of orange paper this afternoon.

What an odd universe, indeed.

The 10 Essential Holiday CD's

After much consideration of my 200+ holiday CD collection, as a public service I present the ten CD's that are essential for the holidays:

1. Holly Cole: Santa Baby - Live in Toronto
Holly's Christmas concerts are a holiday tradition in Canada. I have been fortunate enough to attend two in Vancouver, BC. Nothing says Christmas like Holly in a beautiful gown, singing with her amazing trio and a full orchestra. This IS Christmas.

2. Dianne Reeves: Christmas Time Is Here
This is an immaculate CD. Dianne's voice is pure and beautiful. Her arrangements are fresh. She achieves the impossible; she does The Christmas Waltz without making you yearn for Karen Carpenter, and Christmas Time Is Here without conjuring the omnipresent ghost of Charlie Brown. And her Little Drummer Boy is the best I have ever heard. Finally, this is a jazz Christmas CD without a hint of strings - pared down perfect elegance.

3. Etta James: Twelve Songs of Christmas
Killer arrangements and good song choices make this a great upbeat party CD, even though Etta sounds like she was hitting the spiked eggnog a few too many times on some tracks - it all adds to the fun.

4. Charles Brown: Cool Christmas Blues
The man who wrote Please Come Home For Christmas and Merry Christmas, Baby certainly should know a thing or two about Christmas songs. A great CD from a master.

5. B.B. King: A Christmas Celebration of Hope
The funny thing about this CD is that B.B. almost duplicates the aforementioned Charles Brown CD. It is interesting to compare their interpretations. That being said, this is also a wonderful, happy holiday CD, and B.B.'s Auld Lang Syne is a classic.

6. The Holly Cole Trio: Christmas Blues
Really an EP, this acoustic trio is simply beautiful.

7. Los Straitjackets: Tis the Season For Los Straitjackets
Good time guitar instrumentals will keep your holiday hoppin'!

8. Jingle Bell Jam: Jazz Christmas Classics
You gotta be careful with those pre-made compilations. They are sure to disappoint. This one, however, is so well chosen that almost ever track is a must-have. Classics from being to end.

9. Vince Guaraldi: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Yes, we are all overrun with this, but it IS a classic album, with great songs and a great performance. Is it Vince's fault that his masterpiece has become ubiquitous? Clear your head and give it a listen on its own, without the animation.

10. Loreena McKennitt: To Drive the Cold Winter Away
After all of this jazz and blues, you'll need a little classic Celtic soother. No one does it better than Loreena.

New Music Tuesday - Replacing Vinyl

I picked up two CD's today that I have been negligent in upgrading from vinyl. The first is A Classy Pair, an aptly titled effort from Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie. It is a wonderful CD, but the stand-out track is definitely Just A Sittin' and A Rockin'. I am so pleased to be able to listen to this song again! Basie has always exemplified swing for me; I think he had the greatest of the big bands for my money. And Ella is in great form throughout the disc; her scatting on Honeysuckle Rose is exemplary for any would-be vocalists.

The second treasure of the day is Getting Sentimental by the great saxophonist, Zoot Sims from 1975. The must-have track on this disc is Dream Dancing, a forgotten Cole Porter masterpiece. This was recorded live, and very simply in a house with a standard trio (piano, bass and drums). It is simple, elegant and romantic on the whole, but the inclusion of Fred and Caravan kind of shatter the mood; however, the other tracks yearn to be included on mix CD's.

Weather Report

While we had some snow on Thanksgiving, today was the first for-real get serious snowstorm of the year.

If memory serves me correctly, last year I had only one day that was troublesome in my commute to work, and that was in late February. This year is off to fast start - the severity of this storm easily beat the worst of last year.

To add to my enjoyment of the foul weather, I seem to have come down with my first illness of the year - a mysterious, lingering sore throat that is threatening to turn into strep, I fear.
Chills, fever, runny nose...

I love the winter so.

Holiday Festivities Part Deux

Retail workers get very little joy from the holiday season. There is a lot of overtime, a lot of crowds and it is simply a hectic time of year. So this year I have tried to do a least a couple of things to make the season a bit more festive and less of a long marathon to be conquered.

To this end, Heather and I went out for a nice luncheon at Bravo Cucina Italiana, a Ohio-based chain Italian eatery.

I had the wood-fired chicken marsala and Tuscan mashed potatoes, which was acceptable. Bravo is certainly a lovely place for conversation and ambiance, but the food is not the big draw.

We also agreed at that any restaurant that feels it must emblaze the name of the joint boldly on the rim of the dinner plates lacks a wee bit of class.

What Do You Want On Your Tombstone?

This is certainly in the running for mine - great words to remember... All Hail Camus!

By reason of their very duration, great misfortunes are monotonous.

-- Albert Camus 1913-1960

Holiday Festivities

My friend Patrick came to visit me this evening and brought with him a most welcome bottle Oban Single Malt Scotch, which is pleasant way to begin any celebration.

After dinner, I took him down the street to Stan Hywet to partake in their extravagant outdoor holiday light festival. The best part of the decor was at the end of the birch allee. When you get to the stone balcony overlooking the lagoons, there were four lighted fountains in the ponds, and huge lighted stars suspended high in the trees in the distance. It was very amazing.

Work continues on the restoration of the conservatory/greenhouse, and it looked particularly great at night.

Something got into us (perhaps the Oban) and we decided to take the interior house tour, which was led by an elderly man named Ted. The house is stunning, of course, and it did look lovely decked out for a 1917 Christmas. I really loved the men's lounge with the great billiard table, and the Plunge, the indoor pool.

Patrick felt that the Sieberling's had their priorities in the wrong place - he felt that rather than copying bits and pieces from estates throughout Europe and England, trying to build a 15th century house in the twentieth century, they should have put their money into creating something new and unique. I see his point, and I suppose that would be more to my personal taste. However, you cannot deny the beauty and grandeur of the hand carved paneling, the leaded glass windows and the painstaking level of detail that the designers and the Sieberling's went to to pull the house together.

After our walk in the brisk night, we went back to my house for espresso and Bailey's custard.

All in all, it was a great start to the holiday.

New Music Tuesday - Christmas III

Last year I casually listened to a bit of Operatica's Christmas Classics Performed, and had every intention of purchasing it, yet somehow the ship sailed and I forgot about it. I picked it up today, and not that I was disappointed with it, but it certainly is stranger than I had remembered. But, then again, let's keep in mind my recent misguided thoughts about Remy Shand...

Operatica is a group that fuses electronica/dance beats with opera, usually with quite pleasing results. The holiday CD features the wonderful Maureen O'Flynn. As I was composing this post, doing some research on Ms. Flynn, this is the first Google hit I found:

Maureen O'Flynn begins 2002 with her debut at the San Diego Opera in the role of role of GILDA. As anyone will tell you who has seen her perform and heard her mellifluous, lyrical voice...

Can we please have a moratorium on San Diego references? This is getting out of control. Really.