New Music Tuesday – Pink Guitar

I swear this is a very bizarre coincidence.

I got an email the other day from my friend informing me that this year's Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Album was Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar, which he happens to be featured on. So now he is a multi-Grammy winner! Congratulations!

I swear I knew nothing about this album when I made my previous NMT post last month entitled Pink Piano...wow.

Anyway, here is my review of the CD...

The opening track, the Pink Panther theme by Laurence Juber is absolutely mindblowing. Virtuosity at its finest. The next great track is the theme to Peter Gunn by Pat Donohue.
My third favorite track is the lovely and touching Dear Heart by Wayne Johnson. Read his liner notes regarding why he chose that tune..

And by the way, Wayne's solo disc, One Guitar (2003) was listed as the #2 out of the Top 20 Acoustic Solo Guitar recordings to own by Jazziz Magazine! Samples are on on his site - check it out!

Rounding out the disc is the very surprising theme to the TV show What's Happening, which gets an incredible makeover by Mike Dowling.

This was a great discovery. If you are into guitar heroes, you have to check this one out.

Near or With ?

When one is presented with a life-changing decision, list making is often quite useful. In the past I think I was more inclined to run into things without thinking too much about the consequences. On the other hand, before I moved out here to Ohio, I very carefully analyzed the pros and cons of my decision with a trained professional, and neither of us could have foreseen the series of unfortunate events that unfolded, nor the direction the good events would take me.

What pleased me about my though process on this particular subject, made more delicate as it concerned someone else as well, was that we independently came to the same conclusion.

NEAR is better than WITH.

Or, to be succinct I can thank Whoopi Goldberg for this one:

"Anyone living with you, who is not you, is a problem."

Weather Report Part 9 : More Friggin' Snow

Yes, that's right. Off to work I go, and I get to be outside dealing with about a foot of the stuff.

Granted, I don't have a lot of patience for the stuff to begin with, but believe me, it has been used up long ago.

What I really liked about Washington and Oregon was that if for some reason you had a yearning for snow, you could go TO it - go to Rainier, or Hood or some other volcanic peak of your choice. The white stuff just stayed up, very well-behaved and didn't infringe on one's getting around hardly at all. Here, it just comes down and fouls things up whenever it feels like it. Very ill-mannered, in my opinion.

Rumspringa

What is up with this? They say it is going to snow today, in mid-April, and they are right.

Luckily, I had no reason to leave the house. H__ had been quite ill the past few days, and now has a week-long visitor. I took advantage of this opportunity to become domestic and do my laundry and ironing, and to watch a documentary entitled Devil's Playground.

The film was different from what I expected, though after seeing it, it is hard to recall what I was expecting. It is a philosophical meditation on what it means to have to make a life-altering decision at the age of 16. Amish children are allowed to venture out into the "English world" at that age, to discover the world of electricity, malls, cars, music and drugs. They are given a period, referred to as "rumspringa", to decide whether or not they want to join the Amish church. If they join, they are baptized and taken in to the community. If, for some reason, a tragedy would befall and Amish teen who has not made their decision, the Amish believe that their soul will be lost forever.

The film adequately captures the difficulty of making an unchangeable decision about the rest of your life as a teenager. The teens are portrayed in all their wildness, given their first taste of the modern world and "freedom", yet they are also surprisingly philosophical and understandably overwhelmed and confused at the task ahead of them.

This is a little film, but one that will make you think about many things that we take for granted and never question. Maybe we should.

No Fooling ! A New Member of The Family

A moment to wish a hearty congratulations to MyFriendJason, My Adoring Public Jaimie, and the rest of my work family that went off to forge a new outpost on the other side of town.

My best wishes to you all for an amazingly successful store!

But keep in mind that we, your OLD store, will humiliate you in an inter-store tug-of-war competition...

Appreciation

I had breakfast with Miss Brazil today.

It continues to astonish me that anyone can live in appreciation and gratitude of the world as continually as she can. It is something that I admire very deeply about her. A spiritual centeredness is something to strive for, certainly, but it is very powerful to see exisiting in someone.

Burn, Baby, Burn

I am on a roll this month. Obviously, I have been spending far too much time reading ridiculous things and not enough time outdoors.

I saw this picture, and the scale of the teeny, tiny cows, which I would like to point out, are NOT small animals, just freaked me out. I hope that this link stays active for you to check it out...

It seems that a 2,000 TON pile of manure has been burning in Nebraska for MONTHS. It is 100 feet in length, 30 feet high and 50 feet wide. The farmer's stock (12,00 cows) produce 54 TONS of manure every 24 hours.

Firefighters are not able to douse the mountain with water because of the problems with run-off, and spreading the pile out only made the fire break out in other areas as the core is so hot it continually re-ignites the pile. Sounds to me like the beginnings of a great model volcano, if they could only get it to erupt, or at least ooze, but I suspect the latter is not a problem currently.

Apparently, manure blazes are somewhat common. In Washington state, a three acre manure lagoon (sounds like a vacation destination!) was burning out of control and the officials finally smothered the flames...by adding another layer of manure.

New Music Tuesday - Matt's Mood featuring Basia

Strange how things happen. One of my co-workers got a haircut, and it turns out now she looks just like Basia. As she is too young to know who Basia is (was?) I brought in a CD for her to make a comparison.

Really, other than when I wrote about her concert in regards to my Ottmar Liebert review awhile back, I can't remember when I last thought of Basia. Then, I see an ad that Basia is performing at Playhouse Square in April.

And now here is a CD! I picked this one up skeptically, thinking it would be mostly Matt Bianco, but much to my surprise and delight, several of the songs are Basian tour-de-forces, most notably the outstanding Brazilian-flavored La Luna. The CD is very jazzy, with a very healthy dose of Brazilian sensibilities thrown in for good measure. It is not very often that I really like 4 songs on a CD on the very first listen (in particular Ordinary Day and Say the Words), so this CD gets very high marks, indeed.

I would highly recommend getting acquainted, or re-acquainted, with this great singer.

News You May Have Missed – Auld Lang Syne for the Oldest Malt in Scotland

The Chep Lap Kok airport in Hong Kong has purchased the last remaining bottle of the world's oldest single malt whisky.

It is a bottle of Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1937, which has been maturing for 64 years before it was bottled. Only 61 bottles were produced from the cask.

The taste is described as “chocolate and treacle”. Being an aficionado of the single malts (particularly Glenrothes and Cardhu if anyone wants to send me a present), I have to say I look mostly for a nice oaky, delicate hint of peat, dusty light smoke, toffeeish malt.

I know I don't get enough treacle on a day-to-day basis. I had to look up treacle just to be sure, and here is the definition:

A medicinal compound formerly used as an antidote for poison ; molasses.

The previous 60 bottles were sold directly by the distillery in the $19,000 range. This remaining bottle is expected to sell for significantly more. But, it might be cheap as far as poison antidotes go. Maybe someone in the Australian outback will buy it as an emergency snakebite remedy. Just a thought.

36

H__ arrived at my house early this evening, and we settled in for a quiet night. Waiting for our dinner to arrive (spaghetti, garlic bread and salad), H__ did some magic with some yarn. In a matter of mere moments, she transformed small bits of thread into a magnificent scarf, to be draped over the sweater she was wearing. It was incredible to watch this process - so effortless and distinctly magical.

In the morning, we had a light breakfast of toast, coffee and my secret homemade smoothies, like civilized people - seated at the table. We then decided, after a few hours of conversation that we must get going. Some shopping, some Starbucks and then... apartment shopping!

We looked at three apartments, one being quite plausible. And while I was enamored of the largest place we looked at, the amenities of that one were less than stellar. But it did have the best light, and the grandest rooms. Now I have much to think about...

It was getting to be time for lunch, so we dropped into Cafe Limbo, a place which I had heard many good things about. And as it seems that H__ knows every person in Cleveland, of course we ran into a friend of hers at the cafe. Quite a lovely person. The lunch was great and the ambiance lived up to its reputation.

Next to the cafe is an art gallery that H__ used to work at, so we stopped in in the hopes that I could purchase a display stand for my glass marble from Sara. It is a fabulous gallery, and the people there are tremendously cool. There were many incredible works for sale, and it seems that my appreciation for textile arts is growing by association.

Then it was time for more shopping as H__ as in need of new shoes. I want the record to show that I demonstrated remarkable restraint as we passed a table full of Fossil watches at Nordstrom. Ah...so unrewarding to be good...but do not fear Faithful Readers, for I did not leave the mall empty handed, oh no. I found a charming little Chanel watch to take home.

We picked up some bourbon chicken to take home, then stopped into the bookstore. I picked up a copy of The Phantom Tollbooth for H__, and she picked up several beading magazines, and a great stuffed rabbit for her mother. While we were silently looking at magazines and drinking coffee in the cafe, H__ looked up and said that the day could only be better if there was time us to go back to her house to do art and then watch a movie. Sadly, we were not successful in generating any extra hours in the day. We had to make do with a quick meal, and then we had to turn in.

The next morning, I took H__ to the ubiquitous Mom's Diner for breakfast, and then it was time for me to return to my house.

It is hardly possible that we had spent 36 hours together. It genuinely seemed as if it was about 4 hours. It is a very rare thing, indeed, to be able to spend so much time with someone and not become bored, or uncomfortable or irritated.

What a great "weekend".

The Main Event : Iceberg vs. Titanic – The Rematch !

Okay, maybe this is just me. Christo and and The Gates. Beautiful. I have no problem there. But when I read about Rita Duffy's artistic plan....I dunno, folks...

Seems Rita has the high-minded goal to “resurrect the peace process and self-confidence of Northern Ireland.” To this end, she wants to:

TOW AN ICEBERG TO BELFAST

Why? “To cool the simmering anger among the Protestants and Catholics.” Hmmmm..okay.

And... the iceberg would be a “symbol of regeneration” for Belfast she says. Well, I suppose given thousands and thousands of years, icebergs do regenerate, but mostly I think they break away and crash into the sea, and float around, and have far more below the surface than meets the eye. This is, I suppose, NOT the subtext she was shooting for.

My big issue with this scheme is that she wants to tow it to Belfast, the birthplace of the Titanic.
Seems to me that is REALLY rubbing salt in a wound.

“Hey Belfast! You know that great “unsinkable” ship all your men folk labored over building? Well, Mother Nature had a thing or two to say about THAT, didn't she? Well, here is a big, fat reminder of a castastrophic loss of human life that you were indirectly responsible for, right outside your door! A great, big, melting symbol of a disaster. Now let's “cool off” and talk about peace!”

Yeah. Alrighty then. You go, girl.

Hey, That Sounds Familiar!

"Naturally, the common people don't want war, but after all, it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag people along whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifist for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country.”

Click here for the source of the quote.

New Music Tuesday – Patty Larkin : Perishable Fruit

This CD came out in 1997. I got it the day it was released, Patty Larkin being one of my top ten favorite musicians of all time.

I really did not like this CD all that much, except for the track Coming Up For Air.

Well, I mention this, and it is the NMT review today because of the fact that I can't stop listening to this CD. It is always in my car. I love each and every track. In fact, at this moment, it is very close to being my all-time favorite Patty Larkin CD.

On this disc, Larkin, as producer, has limited herself to stringed instruments, which is not to say the songs are without "percussion". She twangs and thumps a lot of stuff, and uses all sorts of guitars and mandolins to manufacture an expansive soundscape.

I guess you really have to be in the right place, or have lived through certain things to “get” some art. And this one is really speaking to me now.

Mark Your Calendars

April 9th, at (I believe) 4:30 pm EST, BBC Radio 2 is presenting a 1 hour documentary – Shooting Star - Laura Nyro Remembered. The show will be repeated for seven days, but I am not sure when.

You can also listen on your computer.

C is For...

Cancer. I found out my friend does, indeed, have it. Her spirits are good, and her first treatment following her surgery to remove the tumor went well. At this point, she has been a 60% chance of it never recurring.

These are the moments you hate being halfway across the country. It is a most helpless feeling...

Unions

Hey, guess what? I had to be in Cleveland at 11 am today! H__ suggested I stay at her place, but I did not have the foresight to be prepared, shattering my dual image of boyscout and stage manager.

It was actually warm outside, and a lovely morning for a drive. I arrived a bit too early and found a tiny diner called Vickie's, which served up a nice two egg breakfast and coffee for $2.50. Ya just can't beat that.

It was then time to go church where MyFriendJason was about to get formally committed to his partner, Tony. A few of my coworkers were in attendance, dressed up and looking quite elegant, especially "My Adoring Public", Jaimie whom I do not believe I have ever seen in a skirt before.

The boys looked great and were very nervous before the ceremony. The ceremony itself was quite lovely. The best part was when my co-worker and extremely talented opera singing friend Annie played the piano and sang for the boys. Both of them were crying. It was truly moving.

Following the ceremony, we all headed into the Fireside Room, where coffee, cake and champagne awaited us. MyFriendJason had prepared the most exquisite cake - three layers high ringed with his hand-made white chocolate "cigarettes". Divine.

I wish them all of the best. They are off to a promising start.

Back and Forth

Today I got up at 7 am, which was really a luxurious sleeping-in feeling. Ran down to Starbuck's and got to the library at 8. I did a lot of research and had a great time, and as I was getting ready to leave, and burn my data CD of the research I had spent 3 hours compiling, the terminal crashed. Somehow I was in a very Zen place and just accepted my fate. Three hours of fun and learning, but nothing to show for it.

Driving home, H__ called and suggested that if I lived in Cleveland we could go out for dinner after she finished her chores today. I suggested that we could anyway - I mean, what better way to spend your day off than making the same one hour commute you make every other day, right?

We went to Tommy's for broccoli risso, a fancy broccoli cheese soup with rice served with pita, and then we split a coffee milkshake. The best parts of the evening were walking into her living room and hearing Julia Fordham singing. The second best part was the tour she took me on of where she was born, where she grew up and where her grandparents lived...all in the same neighborhood. Having spent so much of my life being transient, it what really cool hanging out with someone with roots.

A Day of Irish and Brazilian Celebrations

Great fun at work today...with folks dressed up as leprechauns, playing Irish music over the sound system and general full-on silliness. Sometimes just wearing a cheap green plastic bowler hat at work will make your day. In addition, it was a co-worker's birthday, and our manager rolled out a cart onto the floor with two birthday cakes and the mandatory re-lighting candles.

While I try to make it a policy to get home as quickly as possible on drinking holidays, this evening was the only time that Heather and I could get together for dinner - at Sergio's, of course.

We both arrived early - so early the joint wasn't even open - and went next door to the lobby of the Glidden House, which is incredible. It would be great fun to spend the weekend there!

Service and dinner, all impeccable as usual. And the mandatory two pots of Brazilian coffee. Lovely.
It was so nice to spend time with a good friend...catching up, relaxing, and fun and comfortable.

Upon reflection, I realized that the last time Heather and I ate at Sergio's, she was leaving the next day for Toronto. This time, she is leaving in the morning for New York City.

Life is full of strange coincidences.

The Lion's Gift - Courage

I would be remiss to not report that on the way home from dining with Heather, I phoned the Phantom of San Diego. It seemed to me that if my pent-up anger of nine months still has not lessened in the slightest, it probably wasn't going to at any time in the near future, either. So I thought that just getting it out in the open might alleviate my frustration.

Amazingly, the Phantom answered the phone, and spoke with me - for a fairly long time. It was a good conversation, no yelling or defensiveness or any of that foolishness.

At the conclusion of the conversation, the Phantom thanked me for having the courage to call. And I am glad I did as well. The power of talking seems to have dissipated the anger - the cause of the anger is still quite clear in my mind, and I think that it is a good thing to always remember. It will prevent any potential backsliding. But my heart and head fell better not harboring such strong, bad feelings.

News You Might Have Missed : Put Your Nickel In The Nickelodeon

Seems that there is a new nickel on the way. The buffalo nickel is making a comeback.

The Mint powers that be unveiled their new masterpiece on Capitol Hill accompanied by Indian dancing, drum-beating and chanting and a bison named Cody.

Whoever threw this party had a weak grasp on history.

The first point is the original “buffalo” nickel featured a composite face of a Native American, and the back featured the “buffalo”. It was a stately showcase of the native beauty and lost past of the American West. It emphasized the symbiotic relationship the Native Americans had with the bison.

The new coin features a sharp-eyed profile of Thomas Jefferson, apparently whispering the word “Liberty”. Jefferson was responsible for the reconnaissance mission of Lewis and Clark. Following their explorations, the American West rapidly became settled, tamed, the Native Americans decimated and corralled onto reservations and the bison slaughtered almost to extinction.

So, whose Liberty do we celebrate?

And why do we have Indian dancing and drum beating? And a bison named Cody? Let's recall that Buffalo Bill Cody, great showman certainly, earned his moniker for his championship ability to kill buffalo, and as a guide, to lead foreign dignitaries on no-limits buffalo hunting trips.

The last time a bison was on currency was the nickel between 1913 and 1938, the same time as the last major stock crash. We'll see what Nostradamus has to say about this version...

One of the first folks to get the new nickel was quoted on MSNBC with this insightful comment,

“It's a nice looking nickel.”

That's America for you.

New Music Tuesday – Divas Abounding

Three discs again. March must be the month of the triumvirate.

First up, is my big prize of the month: Sarah Vaughan and Her Trio : Live at Mr. Kelly's (which happens to have been located in Chicago – it's a theme!) That's right, a live recording! And a simple trio to boot. Yippee! This one is a set from 1957, and man, does Sassy swing it! What to say about the disc? Here is the opening from the liner notes by Lee Jeske:

“No matter what I, or any past or future jazz critic, has ever said or ever will say about Sarah Vaughan, none of us can do her justice.”

Good advice. I will just say, this one is awesome. Her personality is captured in the banter before the songs. My favorite example is the introduction to Willow Weep For Me (a gorgeous version) when she says,” The next number is Willow Weep For Me. In just a moment we're gonna find a key...” Classic.

Number Two: Another Classic: Billie Holiday : Songs For Distingue Lovers.
This Verve reissue is beautifully done. And now I must come clean in that up until today, I have never really appreciated Billie Holiday. I think it is like my great jazz teacher, Chas Baker, told me and that is that one day I would hip up enough to really understand Duke Ellington. I guess I've hipped up enough to get Billie now. This disc is absolutely wonderful. Just listen to the first track (Day in and Day Out) if nothing else, the musicians are incredible and her singing is marvelous. They claim this project was Billie's best studio work of the 50's. I believe it.

Number Three: Luciana Souza : North and South
Furthering my exploration of Souza, I picked this disc up. I love her version of All of Me, and her original I Shall Wait is lovely as well. She truly is a gifted musician and I am really starting to appreciate her. She does a very palatable blend of American jazz trios with Brazilian rhythms and sensibilities. Good stuff.

To Be Or Not To Be

I spent my morning laying in supplies to make dinner for H__, who was coming down to spend the evening.

Just as I was entering the grocery store, she called to tell me that perhaps I had forgotten that our mutual friend's school project, which was putting on a fashion show, was tonight. I had, indeed, forgotten about that.

Since our friend wanted to really shake things up in her class, she hired drag queens as her runway models. This promised to be a show to remember. H__ and decided we really should just get dinner in Cleveland and go to the show. And while all of this sounded like a great plan, it was not to be, as H__ was much too tired after work to go out and party.

In consolation, I belatedly picked up Absolutely Fabulous Complete Series 5, as I adore Jennifer Saunders, and I decided to watch the whole thing. I mean, what is better than being at a drag queen fashion show? Patsy and Eddie – which are, really, pretty much the same thing...

Shopping!

I was really looking forward to spending the day spending money. This was the first month I didn't have to spend a substantial amount of money on my sexy car, and I was determined to be a good capitalist pig. And, my burning compulsion for three new Fossil watches was getting out of hand. So off I went in search of new timepieces.

Apparently, I am not supposed to have any more, because our local stores do not carry the models I desire. Shot down.

So I ended up buying myself one real present, something I have been dreaming of for a long time, a very large framed print of Picasso's Le Tauro. It will look beautiful in my entry hall.

Then I behaved like a mature adult and treated my sexy car to 4 new tires, new wiper blades and an oil change.

I guess I don't know what to do if I don't spend at least one day a month with my mechanics...

Chicago

My colleague and I had to go to Chicago for a few days for a work seminar. Well, to say we were in Chicago is a broad overstatement. We were in O'Hare airport and The Hyatt Regency, 9 miles west of the airport. Granted it was a lovely hotel and they took good care of us, but as with my Boston trip, it could have been anywhere.

The training this session seemed to be more beneficial to me; it was a lot more theorizing and less dissemination of information and small group practicing.

The highlight of the trip was yesterday's lunch when the regional manger invited everyone to join her at the hotel's buffet and I was lucky enough to get to sit across from her. She is a remarkable person and great role model, especially since my first impression of the company was that is solely a boy's club, as far as management went. When Sue arrived at our store opening, it was deeply significant to me to see a woman in a position of power, and gave me more hope for my future career. So, it was very nice to see her again, especially after coming up in the ranks twice.

I did not get to find out WHY Chicago is a toddlin town, in fact, I did not discover what toddlin' town even means.

So, this afternoon, we get out of the seminar an hour early, which is grand, as we had to run off to the airport to catch our flight home, and oh yeah, it's snowing.

So, after a 2 hour delay, we finally get on the plane, and the only good news was that there were so few folks on the final flight out that I got to sit in the single seat on one side of the plane. That was great for me, because you can put your legs out into the aisle and no one bugs you.

What I have really learned from my training seminars so far this year is this: no matter if you fly east or west, you are going to get screwed trying to get back to Cleveland.

Oh, and driving home from the airport at midnight was fun, too, because it was one of those horizontal snowstorms, that look like you are traveling at warp speed through a starfield, making it next to impossible to see the road. I found that turning off the headlights and using the light of the moon to see the road and my familiarity with the route was much, much easier. And happily, no other idiots were out but me, so I didn't have to worry about freaking them out by turning my headlights back on when I crept up on them....

New Music Tuesday – Pink Piano

Three discs today. Thinking about my grandpa lead to my realization that I own no Erroll Garner music, so now I have The Essence of Erroll Garner.

Erroll (yet another Pittsburgher!) never studied music, and never learned to read it. The opening track is my favorite at this time, Poor Butterfly. Probably because the percussiveness of his playing is so similar to what I recall hearing every night of my young childhood as my grandfather was at the keys until the wee hours of the morning. What perplexes me on this disc is the version of Misty. I have to do more research, but this simply cannot be the version that he made his name with. This version is overrun with schlocky strings, and the disconnect between the strings and what is going on with the keys sounds exactly as if someone recorded Erroll practicing while in the next room a radio was tuned to some Muzak station. It is a very, very strange recording, but sadly, not in the "so bad it's good category". It's just bad.

#2 is Marcus Roberts: Alone With Three Giants, which is a tribute to the works of Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk and Jelly Roll Morton. I have been a Roberts fan for a long time, and I have really enjoyed this solo piano recording. The standouts at this point are Morton's Jungle Blues and Ellington's I Got It Bad.

And finally we have the original soundtrack recording to The Pink Panther by Cleveland native Henry Mancini. This is one of the first albums I remember having, although I know I did not purchase it. I am pretty sure that I appropriated it from my mother's collection. There are some great jazzy tracks on this CD, and really, if you listen to the Pink Panther theme, it is not as cheesy as you may think. I remember listening to the cartoon-y Shades of Sennett in my childhood bedroom, which remains outrageously wonderful. There are some bonus tracks on this CD from the later Panther films, and the “remix” theme is pretty great, too.

In My Dreams

I rarely, if ever, remember my dreams. My head hits the pillow, and I pass out until the alarm awakens me - no tossing and turning, no getting up for water or bathroom breaks. Just a deep, black, unconsciousness.

This morning I got to sleep in rather late (8 am) and lo and behold, I distinctly remembered what I was dreaming...

I was in a national park/zoo sort of thing on the Oregon-California border, or maybe Washington state. I was standing on an asphalt ledge in front of soaring glass windows that looked out into a deep, heavily forested gorge. An eagle soared by. Rocky ravine walls were on the right, and there was a old, gnarled tree jutting out from the rock, with a large animal, whose habitat this obviously was, sitting in the crook of the tree. Down below, another one of the animals was walking by the river's edge. I stood there watching them for awhile, thinking how beautiful it was there, and fascinated by the animals. Then I started thinking that it was sad that their habitat had been encroached upon for our benefit and I was turning to go back to my car when my alarm went off. It was a very naturalistic, realistic dream. Nothing weird struck me about it at all.

A few minutes later, in the bathroom, brushing my teeth, I thought...

"Hey, Sasquatch aren't real!"

I was dreaming about the Sasquatch National Zoo.

This would be the reason I don't remember my dreams. My conscious mind gets a hold of this stuff and just says "Oh, no...we gotta erase this foolishness..."

Rivers & Tides

I decided to give documentaries another chance, and picked up Rivers and Tides: Working With Time which is about one of my favorite artists, Andy Goldsworthy (who is also Scottish, which earns yet another plus).

The film is advertised as having received 10 four star reviews including reviews from the New York Times, The LA Times, the ubiquitous Roger Ebert and Film Threat. Having the Russian Ark debacle so clearly in my mind made me a bit hesitant to commit, but I went for it.

Caveats not withstanding, I had high hopes for this film, because the prospect of watching Goldsworthy create his amazing, ephemeral works would be fascinating. And this time I was not disappointed. There are several instances where you are with him as he is working, delicately, in very cold temperatures, or simply so near completion, and gravity or wind demolishes everything in a moment. His reactions are a study in Zen understanding and very inspirational. After watching this, I just wished I lived in his little village and could run into him a pub sometime...

However, the DVD also advertises that if features 7 never-before seen short films which is an incredibly overblown and overstated way of saying "deleted scenes", which is all they are. Not that they aren't worth watching as well, but they are in no way "short films".

A Cosmopolitan Evening

I met H__ at Sergio's (yes, Sergio's again – I should get a frequent diner's card) for a late afternoon lunch. Immediately upon her arrival, she validated my haircut, so I was feeling pretty good. We had a marvelous meal, and TWO pots of the Brazilian coffee. It is divine. What was even more pleasant than the food and the lovely atmosphere, was our conversation. What a lovely gift people can be...

After lunch I had to get downtown to attend the opening of the 14th Street Gallery. The works of Michael Castellana were featured. He is a great painter to be sure – in fact, one of his works I even contemplated purchasing...it was ripped metal and painting and photography and pasted in ransom note letters forming a TS Eliot quote all wrapped up into one visually mesmerizing package. Great work. But his real specialty, at least at this show, were his lead street signs. They are made to the DoT's specifications, but done up in very heavy lead. They are totally cool. I think everyone could use a big STOP sign for their office, for those moments of complete compulsion...

Besides the great gallery and art, Heather and I seized a moment to sneak away to the bar next door (really so she could smoke) and we could visit for a few moments. She also approved of my haircut (which I have to admit taking much much longer than I have ever done on “styling” ) calling it “sexy”.

That'll work.

Time For A Change

I got to out for breakfast with my manager again today, which is always very fun, then I volunteered to spend the rest of the morning shoveling out our back alley.

I actually enjoy shoveling...it is peaceful and you get a great sense of accomplishment. It is also fun to start off being freezing cold and then to build up steam so you can't stand having your coat on anymore. Knowing that there is homemade hot chocolate with real whipping cream waiting for you in the store's kitchen doesn't hurt, either.

The big event of the day occurred following work. I was in great need of a haircut. At first, H__ thought I didn't need to get my haircut, then she suggested that a style she once tried to pull off but her hair would not cooperate, might look good on me. So for the first time in ten years, I changed my hair style. Not that it is a big deal, in fact it is a pretty minor change, but now I have a more “spiky” look, which is pretty fun. The true test of the styling will come tomorrow...

Its Own Reward

This morning, after the store was opened, I was taken out for breakfast by the store managers for my review. I am happy to say that it was very positive and that I was given a very pleasant financial reward.

I got to leave today at 1 in the afternoon, and H__ came over to return my wallet. We went to the bookstore and had some coffee and talked .... for several hours. Then H__ had the most magnificent idea of all...she suggested that we go to the Sharper Image and sit in their $1000 massage chairs.

After just a 10 minute visit (during which I must admit to coming dangerously close to falling into a deep, deep sleep), I really was feeling much better, and was able to make it all of the way home refreshed and rejuvenated.

New Music Tuesday – The Great Peggy Lee Duel

Today's disc is yet ANOTHER Maria Muldaur release – A Woman Alone with the Blues...Remembering Peggy Lee from Telarc Blues 2003. Again, an instant winner. But listening to this made me want to get out Jeanie Bryson's Some Cats Know: Jeanie Bryson Sings the Songs of Peggy Lee from Telarc Jazz 1996.

Both Jeanie and Maria chose to record Some Cats Know and Fever, and both of the versions are fabulous, which leads me to the conclusion that the songs themselves simply rock. I doubt if anyone could record a bad version.

The other stand-out track on Maria's disc is Black Coffee, and for Jeanie it is the magnificent I Don't Know Enough About You.

Contemplating these similarities made me then dig out my Best of Miss Peggy Lee disc from Capitol 1998. Fever is on it, of course, but not Some Cats, Black Coffee, and I Don't Enough About You. I found that incredibly odd that other vocalists would pick tunes that are clearly associated with her, yet they aren't on her “Best Of” collection. Granted, you get Big Spender and Alright, Okay , You Win...but still.

The best track on Peggy's disc for me is I'm A Woman, because as a child, before the invention of the video recorder, I used to sit my tape recorder in front of the TV speaker and record the Cher show. One night, Cher and Raquel Welch did “I'm A Woman”...I listened to that song until the tape ultimately disintigrated.

I am almost ready to declare 2005 the year of Maria Muldaur, but it is still a bit early, not even spring...

Big Nasty Snowstorm

The afternoon turned very ugly very quickly and as we all know I have a long drive home. And, of course, I had to be at work at 3 in the morning. So when H__ suggested that I just spend the night at her place, it seemed like a grand idea. She had warned me that she was very much interested in taking a nap, and that she was not going to be too talkative, which was fine because I was really just interested in a horizontal surface to pass out on before getting up in the middle of the night.

The moment we entered the apartment, we started into long, detailed conversations about H__ 's artwork. It was incredibly interesting as I know nothing about textile art, or beading, but I can and do appreciate her master level of artistry and talent. Her sanctuary cum gallery (as the term apartment does not do the place justice) gives off waves of tranquility and creativity. It is marvelous. Out of the numerous wonderful pieces of art abounding on all available surfaces, my favorite so far is a photograph her son took of a tree, which immediately echoed Georgia O'Keeffe's Lawrence Tree painting for me.

We decided to see if some pizza delivery guys were up to braving the weather, as I refused to let her cook after being so kind to offer me a place to stay for the evening. Pizza guys are much more reliable than the post office – rain nor sleet nor snow will stop them from delivering your Caesar salad and pizza.

So, after eating and talking, and more talking, it was almost 11 o'clock, and definitely past our bedtimes. It was one of those exceedingly rare and precious moments when souls meet. One of the moments that not only makes a life worth living, it makes a life.

So much for not being too talkative.

After a three hour nap, I snuck out of the house. There really isn't much much traffic at 2:30 am on a Wednesday morning following a blizzard, in case you were wondering.

Halfway to work, I realized that in my attempt to get out as quickly and quietly as possible, I had left my wallet on the bedside table...

When Scolding Pays Off

Back in December Faithful Readers may recall that I was a wee bit upset with my friend in Portland, The Traveler. She underwent a medical procedure which I learned about after the fact. The pay-off for my scolding came today, when she called to tell me good news and bad news. The good news is that she was accepted into the graduate program she was hoping for. The bad news is that she will soon be having another medical procedure performed - but this time I know about it beforehand!

My best wishes go out to you, Dearest Traveler - and I am deeply grateful for your consideration this time around. You are in my thoughts every day and always in my heart.

New Music Tuesday – Got That Ol' Timey {Canadian}Feelin'

Every once in awhile I stumble onto something completely by accident and I am rewarded with a drug-like rush, which is probably why I continue to prowl record shops - just a junkie looking for the next high...

Anyway, they say you can't judge a book by its cover, but as I have a passion for graphic design, and my fantasy dream job is being a CD cover designer, I do often buy a CD because I dig the artwork. This was easier back in the LP day...but we have to take what we have to work with.

So I saw this CD...fantastic, groovy cover, and then I saw the group - a bunch of whippersnappers. The lead singer, Jessica Havey, is a gal with lowrider jeans, close cropped blonde hair and one arm completely, vibrantly tattooed. I figured I was not going to enjoy this. But being in a rare adventurous mood, I gave it a listen, and within a minute all I could manage to say was "Good God - these folks are AWESOME" So, that is my review of the Canadian bunch of Celtic/folk/Scots/Irish/Appalachian/New Orleans musicians that call themselves The Duhks. And the singer? Simply magnificent. She definitely rocks. Just go buy this CD.

And in an unplanned buying event, the other CD du jour is also from a Canadian folkie/New Orleans/bluesy combo called Po'Girl. The tunes are rather mellow, and the singing is wonderful and languid, and the whole disc convey a a"you are there" feeling of spontaneity that I find very appealing. So what the heck is going on in Canada these days? Holly Cole, the Cowboy Junkies, kd lang, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray and now The Duhks and Po'Girl...and in a call-out for Trish, Due South and Paul Gross...Go Canada!

My Job : A Brief Summation

I work in a very strange environment with very strange people. That is what makes this job such a good fit for me.
To prove my point, I submit the following vignette from this morning...
My workday started at 4 a.m. Just settling into the morning routine, my assistant manager, Jeff, started talking VERY enthusiastically about the book he is reading, a non-fiction treatise on the Black Plague, which happens to be a subject I myself find rather fascinating. He delighted in describing the manner in which the folks constructed catapults to launch the plague-ridden bodies of their neighbors at invading armies, and how dogs helped the disease spread by digging up corpses that were not buried deeply enough.
So, while you are tucked snugly in your beds, dreaming happy dreams, we are hard at work already, imagining disease-carrying corpses being catapulted through the air.
Who needs coffee when you have topics like that this to start your day?

Three Little Words

As anyone will tell you, relationships, any kind of relationships, are tricky things at best.
And the power of talking never ceases to amaze me.

Case in point, two weeks worth of weirdness, confusion and frustration obliterated in two minutes by a three word question.

And all is right in the world again – like magic.

Goodbye Adios Auf Wiedersehn Adieu

Tonight we gathered at the Fox and Hound to celebrate Heather's internship. It was certainly fun to go out after work, something I rarely do, and it was made even more pleasant by the inclusion of some Knob Creek Whiskey.

The party was very nice, the company exquisite. The one odd thing about it was how the spouses (the men folk) gravitated to their own table, leaving Heather and the gals (6 of us) on our own. Funny how that works...

And since it was a party for my dear Heather, I decided that the occasion called for something special, so I broke out my skirt, a blouse, my ultra-cool guitar-string bracelets and heels. I hope it was memorable. Just trying to stay warm at work makes everyone look like a hobo, with layers upon layers of clothing and various scarves, hats and gloves accessorizing the ensemble. Color matching is definitely not a criteria - warmth is the key. Therefore, when given the opportunity to get together in regular clothes, it is very exciting, indeed.

Weather Report, Part Six

I woke up this morning to drive down to the Starbuck's {my usual routine} to find four inches of heavy snow awaiting me. Happily, it was a well-behaved snowfall, keeping the streets drivable, but decorating the branches and roofs in an ever so festive manner.

Sure, it was pretty, but I am really quite done with the winter apparel. Really.

New Music Tuesday – World Selections with an odd connection

Two CD's today: Neruda by the Brazilian vocalist/percussionist Luciana Souza and Last Quarter Moon by the Italian vocalist Chiara Civello. Come to find out, both ladies are alumnus of the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Faithful Readers will recall my enthusiasm upon driving by it on my Fall whirlwind trip. What an odd coincidence.

Anyway, Luciana pulls off the near impossible. She has set Pablo Neruda's poems to music – but just a piano and her own percussion. She has crafted little minimalist treasures. It is clear the woman is a gifted artist and almost every song (poem?) is lovely and certainly an accomplishment, but for me, it is all a bit too languid to take it all in at one sitting. The tracks sound better to me broken up with some tracks that feature a more complex instrumentation. This is a great disc for the shuffle feature on your CD player...It really is a lovely piece of artistry, but best taken in small bites.

I read a lot of hype about the “next great jazz singer”, proported to be Chiara Civello. This disc of hers is very pleasant, with two standout tracks, “Caramel” and “Nature Song”. Her voice is a Rickie Lee Jones/Basia/Sade/Astrud Gilberto melange, and even though she hails from Italy, her sound is much more Brazilian Pop and Samba, with some jazz overtones for good measure.

Much had been made of her association with Burt Bacharach on this CD. After listening to that track, Hal David and Carole Bayer Sager and Dionne Warwick can rest easily. No competition.

Weather Report, Part Five

Today it is 50 degrees outside. I am sure this is a mean-spirited joke and that we will all come down with pneumonia next week.

It does make you want to ill-advisedly run around in a tank top and shorts, though.

God Bless Kadobi

Well, this little experiment of trying to work only lasted until 9 a.m. when I had to give up any ideas of remaining vertical. I was a bit concerned because I had no appetite and hadn't eaten anything since Thursday. But nothing at all sounded good, and anything I tried to get down, including liquids, just tasted bad.

Before I left work, Kadobi suggested his secret illness remedy which was buttered egg noodles. I gave that a shot, and glory be to him, they tasted very good, and in the course of the next three days, buttered egg noodles were my sole source of nutrition. I'd probably be wasted away now if it wasn't for Kadobi's glorious suggestion...

I Missed An Entire Day...

...because I woke up at 4:30 this afternoon. I sat on the couch for about an hour and a half, and tried to drink some tea, with no success, then I fell back into bed where I remained passed out until the alarm went off at 1:30 a.m. - time for me to drag myself off to work.

Insidious Creeping Plague

So I woke up at 8 a.m. with a very deep and rumbling mucousy cough. Seemed like bronchitis was the winner. But knowing that is was just because of the poisoned environment, I wasn't too concerned and went to work.

As the day progressed, it became obvious that the poisoning was strictly coincidental- I was actually quite ill all on my own. I was developing a tremendous headache, and was equally hot and shivering, and the muscles in my legs were aching. And I had the most excruciating pain in, of all places, the top of my femurs where they sit in the pelvis. This made standing, sitting, and laying down equally unpleasant. All of this was in addition to my award-winning barking cough.
I lasted until 3 p.m. - a feat of endurance, and drove home. That is about the time the sky-high fever kicked in. I would have gone directly to the hospital had my head not been hurting so bad that it was impossible to drive any longer. I stumbled back to my still fume-filled abode and feel into bed at 4 p.m.

About 10 p.m. I woke up to sip some water (all I could keep down - and knowing that I was already severely dehydrated) and managed to call work to tell them they wouldn't be seeing me tomorrow. I promptly fell back into a fever-induced coma...

Premonition of A Day That Is Going To Suck

At 9 a.m. this morning I was awakened by my bed vibrating for no good reason. It seems that my downstairs neighbor has moved out, and they were refinishing the hardwood floors for the new tenant.

Since I did not have to be to work until 3 p.m. today, being awakened like this annoyed me pretty much. I had no choice but to get up and go to Starbuck's for some peace and quiet and non-vibrating seating.

By the time I returned home from work at 2 a.m. I had forgotten my early morning evacuation, and was completely overcome by the terrible fumes of polyurethane, floor stripper, and paint. It was a most noxious combination. I had no choice but to open all of my windows and fall into bed. I was sure I was going to have pneumonia or bronchitis when I woke up. Either way, it was going to suck.

Atanarjuat : The Fast Runner

I watched the most amazing film today. It is an epic, to be sure, about three hours long. It is filmed in Igloolik, Canada completely in the Inuktitut language. The Fast Runner is an Inuit legend filled with intertwining Shakespearean themes of romantic rivalry, deceit, murder, infidelity and retribution -just like Titus Andronicus - but far less bloody and gruesome -except for the foot scene...

The Fast Runner is striking on every level. Visually, it is filmed in a way that is does not suggest film, video or tv...the camera work and lighting really envelope you and you feel as if you are witnessing the action. What what natural light they had to work with! The score is kept to a minimum, with most of the sound effects being the wind, or panting of the sled dogs, or the crunch of snow and ice underfoot. At many moments in this film, I was aware of my heart pounding quicker...there was a strange uneasiness and suspense generated in the film. And these people rarely, if ever, yell or scream. They take their punishment silently. The images of the naked race across the ice, and the physical toll it takes are indelible. As are the images of day to day life - the frozen meat being pounded against rocks with an antler tool - and the British have nothing on these folks when it comes to dental hygiene.

I think this review sums it up pretty well:

Desson Howe, Washington Post"The Fast Runner is the kind of primal storytelling that George Lucas can only dream of. This epic has been chipped from the frigid ice of ages past, ignited by the spirit of Joseph Campbell and fanned into a roaring fire by Inuit writer Paul Apak Angilirq. It’s an experience that will stay with you for a long time. Unadulterated, free-flowing magic. The performers, dressed in furs, skins and beads, their faces marked with beautiful tattoos, their souls spilling over with passion, are so authentic, so True North, you're reduced to wordless awe. The Fast Runner stirs the soul."

Immerse yourself in this film. You will not forget it.

p.s. One of my all-time favorite links comes from the film's promo website...it is a link to the weather in Igloolik...something which I compulsively check now....

New Music Tuesday – A Jazz Melange

Family legend has it that by grandfather, a very talented piano player and bandleader in the day, hung around with many famous musicians including Erroll Garner and that Grandpa had "something" to do with the song "Misty". While I consider this legend highly improbable, the song has nonetheless been a favorite of mine since I can remember. So that is why I picked up No Cover No Minimum by fellow Pittsburgh native, Billy Eckstine, who has been one of my favorite males vocalists since I first heard the magnificent Basie/Eckstine Inc. LP. This CD is a live recording of a performance in Vegas in the 60's. I like the set, but "Misty", the final track, was worth the price of the disc.

I also picked up saxophone legend Gerry Mulligan's The Art of Gerry Mulligan: The Final Recordings, because Gerry played with the great Annie Ross {who I had the pleasure of seeing, hearing and meeting in Seattle in 1996} on many occasions. I am very pleased with this "sampler" CD...it features some great Brazilian tunes (vocals by Jane Duboc) and some nice jazz tunes. I am never really clear whether I like Gerry's tone...so that is a fun little game I play every time I listen to him...do I like how he blows or not? He certainly has something, but he is just not my favorite sax man.

Which brings us to today's final disc, A Gift of Love, by Tuck and Patti. I have been a fan of theirs since the beginning, having been turned on to them by my erudite DJ friend, Jennifer Stephens at WCPN. Their first work, Tears of Joy, remains one of my favorite discs of all time.

On this new CD, they work miracles. They take several tired old songs and change them into fresh groovy tunes. And they have invited some other musicians to join their guitar and vocal duo, which completes the sound of the disc very nicely.

The excellent Brazilian-flavored bossa nova arrangement of "Close To You" made me not long for Karen Carpenter. "Sukiyaki" actually has great lyrics, which I heard for the first time because all of the Japanese effects have been stripped away. And Patti averts the "for dogs only" notes on Minnie Riperton's challenging "Loving You".

You should listen to this CD just to re-hear these standards. It is pretty amazing.

Heather's Last Day

I went to work very early today, because it was Heather's last day to be working with us. One of the coolest perks of my job is that from time to time the managers take selected part-timers out to breakfast. Free food, a relaxing meal (this lasts for at least an hour) and getting to bond with your co-workers out of the office. I thought it would be very nice to arrange for Heather to be taken out this morning, and our store manager thought so too, and met us at the restaurant, even though it was his day off.

We had a very nice time, even though it was difficult for Heather, who was close to tears on several occasions as the reality of leaving us drew closer.

And I guess I must admit to kinda hating situations that you try very hard to be festive for when you are really sad for the passing of a wonderful little moment in time. Mornings will never be the same for me without Heather.

Good luck to you, my favorite misanthropic friend. I am very proud of you and very happy for you – and like I said, no matter how crappy your day may be, you will always have the knowledge that at 5 in the morning you were sound asleep and you were not lifting 12 forty pound boxes of bananas. That has to make anything your work day can throw at you more palatable.

The Movie No One Wanted To See

A long time ago I listened to the audio book of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events : The Reptile Room, mainly because the bleak, black sense of humor of the book really appealed to me and primarily because Tim Curry read the book. Here is a little example of Snicket's writing style from his biography:

Lemony Snicket was born before you were, and is likely to die before you as well. His family has roots in a part of the country which is now underwater, and his childhood was spent in the relative splendor of the Snicket Villa which has since become a factory, a fortress and a pharmacy and is now, alas, someone else's villa.

It was outstanding. So I was filled with joy when I saw the preview for the Lemony Snicket movie. Jim Carrey looked wonderful as the evil Count Olaf. All of the scenes looked fantastic, and I was happy to see that the Reptile Room plot was going to be included in the film.

No one wanted to see this but me, it seems. Which is fine, because I usually go to the theatre by myself anyway, this being no exception. I thought the film was great fun, and the cameos (Meryl Streep, Dustin Hoffman, Jennifer Coolidge as well as the ubiquitous Jude Law as the voice of Lemony himself) were great as well. Carrey was inspired as Olaf. I suppose that if you have read the books, the movie is better. Whatever. I liked it.

However, the end credits had the most magnificent animation I have seen in some time. In fact, they were so good, it made me wish that the filmmakers had spent as much time, money and consideration on the whole film as they did on the credits. It would have been so cool if the whole film looked like the credits...So skip the film and just sneak in and catch the last five minutes as the credits roll...it is a marvelous short film.

Bev Doolittle – The Limited-Engagement Installation

Today started with sitting at Starbuck's, enjoying my triple grande latte and finishing Jack Kerouac's On The Road. I have to admit to a great deal of embarrassment about never having read it until now, but at least I have rectified the situation. The book was very different from my pre-conceived ideas. It was imminently readable, and even though there is no “plot”, it is very compelling storytelling. It is also a great window into a way of life that is so foreign to me. Granted, the lingo became a bit tiresome, but certainly not to the extent that it was in the hateful Catcher In The Rye {God, I hated that book}.

After that, I went to the mall to spend my holiday gift certificate for Banana Republic. I have crafted a reputation for being able to stretch gift cards for the BR to absurd lengths. Today's prizes proved to be two sweaters, one lambswool and cashmere and the other silk and cashmere. The two sweaters at full price were a tad over $200, but after purchasing them, I still have money left on my $50 gift card. I love bargains like that!

It was now time for lunch, and since I was on a gift card roll, I remembered that my co-worker had given me one for the Winking Lizard, which just happened to be next to the mall. Serendipity! I had a great burger and fries and their specialty draft root beer. Refreshing and outstanding.

Driving home in the late afternoon, I cut through the Metropark by my house and was amazed to notice that the hillsides looked exactly like a Bev Doolittle painting. You know, the ones where if you squint the hillside is really pinto horses, or an eagle in flight, or Indians creeping up on you. I swear if you could have gotten some distance, the brown leaves and tree trunks and earth breaking through the snow would have revealed some hidden treasure. How cool to drive through a painting – talk about an installation – I think Bev Doolittle ought to get right on recreating one of her paintings in a forest somewhere...

New Music Tuesday – It's All About Ray Charles

I took a few days off from work for a mental health break, and began my mini-vacation with a Ray Charles immersion. I went to see the movie Ray, which had been re-released in the theatres.

The Phantom was a huge fan of Brother Ray, and we went to see him in Portland on June 5, 1999. It was quite a show. I am so very glad that I had the chance to hear him perform live, even if he was not at the peak of his talent in his last years...he still could give you shivers.

What Can I Say about the film? The music is just so great – and it is a joy to watch musicians at work, at least it is for me, so I was in heaven. And Jaimie Foxx is incredible. That being said, I didn't care for the film as a movie and I am not sure what exactly it is that I felt was lacking. Even though there were definite obstacles and struggles Ray went though, his life just wasn't good storytelling.

Great music. Great acting. Story needed some artistic license.

Following the film, I promptly went out and bought the soundtrack and the companion soundtrack.

I love them both, all of my fav tunes are represented, even the glorious Chris Thomas King tune with Ray on the piano. Get the CD's and skip the film.

Then, as it was my vacation, I took myself to dinner at Red Lobster, because I was craving fried shrimp. I had it all: cheese rolls, Caesar salad, baked potato, fried shrimp, wine, hot fudge brownie with vanilla ice cream and coffee. It was a ridiculous amount of food, but it was exactly what I wanted. I Hit The Road home, grooving with Ray, completely satisfied. And that is an excellent way to start a vacation.

A Treasure Found

I have been searching for a few CD's to replace old and cherished vinyl for some time, and today I can cross one off the list...

Long, long ago The Burly Bachelor loaned me two of his albums back when the term "New Age Music" was fresh as a daisy. Well, he actually loaned me several albums, the bulk of which were unlistenable, but two I really liked.

Today's find was Nightnoise, by Billy Oskay and Michael O'Domhnaill from 1984. (Windham Hill -1031). I never thought I would be able to listen to this music again...
Oskay plays violin, viola, piano and harmonium and O'Domhnaill plays guitars, whistles, piano and harmonium. It is a quiet, lovely album and I am so happy to have it.

Now, if anyone can scare up a copy (although to the best of my knowledge it was never released on CD) of Bill Quist's Piano Solos of Erik Satie (Windham Hill -1008), I will be in heaven.

Wandering Position

I have just recently encountered the amazing art work of Yukinori Yanagi.

In 1997 he made (performed might be a more accurate term) a work entitled Wandering Position, in which he crawled behind an ant, tracing its path with a red crayon, within the confines of a 5 x 9 foot prison cell in Alcatraz.

In exhibition, the floor drawing shows the typical floor area of a cell, and the three surrounding walls are the same surface area as the walls of the cell. Prisoners typically spent 16-23 hours a day in these cells.

Much like Jackson Pollock, these drawings, once you understand how they were created, can be seen as the passive recording of a dance. However, the ant is not dancing, it is trapped and wandering.

Yanagi says:

"We feel that the incarcerated lack liberty, and that all of their activity is controlled and watched and we assume that this is completely opposite to the way we live our daily life, but I ask myself...Is what I watch, what I watch by my will? Is the direction I am walking determined by me? Is what I am thinking really thought by me? What drives our journeys through life?

If the travels of the ant show us anything, it is that he wanders to resume the task he has been programmed to perform, not to acquire freedom. "

A Transcript of an Actual Conversation : A Play in One Scene

Granted I have rampant short-term memory loss, but to the best of my ability, this is exactly what happened tonight between myself {CstL} and MyFriendJason {MFJ} ...

MFJ: (singing along to the XM Radio) You light up my life...
CstL: That's lovely, Debby Boone. This song was the theme song to a movie of the same name starring...who?
MFJ: I have no idea.
CstL: Didi Conn! Best known as Frenchie from the movie Grease.
MFJ: What was Stockard Channing's character name in Grease?
CstL: Rizzo!
MJF: From Rizzo to the First Lady...
CstL: Do you know who played Rizzo in the recent Broadway revival of Grease?
MFJ: No.
CstL: Lucy Lawless, Xena Warrior Princess.

(enter Passing Co-Worker, crossing the length of the stage in front of both CstL and MFJ, in a deadpan aside to CstL)

PCW: You know the most amazing amount of useless crap...


There you have it, a one-liner biography.

The Great Charles Busch

I FINALLY have gotten to see Die, Mommy, Die!

Happily, it lived up to my expectations. The film is a homage to the great "women's films" of the forties thru sixties (taking place in 1967 LA), and it conjures up all of your favorites scenes starring Bette Davis, Susan Hayward and the marvelous Joan Crawford.

Charles Busch (also the playwright and screenwriter and the man who brought you Lesbian Vampires of Sodom) is the fading chanteuse Angela Arden (a perfect star-making moniker) who has a few very bad skeletons sharing space with her rhinestoned couture in her closet, not to mention an arsenic-laced suppository in her dresser. There is intrigue, and suspense, and grand humor, and some maudlin, melodramatic acting, but never so much that the film becomes unenjoyable. The director, Mark Rucker, has kept the cast on a tight leash, and it pays off. I was especially surprised at Jason Priestley, who conjured up a great Peter Lawford-type gigolo character. Angela delivers the best line of the film to him, telling him that he has "slipped into my life as easily as vermouth into a glass of gin." Exquisite.

Rounding out an already excellent cast is Frances Conroy as Bootsie, the maid. Frances stars on Six Feet Under, (my second favorite TV show after Twin Peaks), and I adore her only slightly less than the actress who plays her sister on the show, Patricia Clarkson.

The film is shot in glorious technicolor, and features vintage projections of LA in 1967 behind a few of the driving scenes, which lends a wonderful sense of period to the film. The costumes are all gorgeous, and the initial reveal shot of Angela in the graveyard is perfection.

New Music Tuesday – Sisters and Brothers

Awhile back I wrote about Maria Muldaur, and ended it by saying she would be the distaff representative when I was in the mood for Eric Bibb, etc.

Well, what should I find today but the CD, Sisters and Brothers, a marvelous CD by Eric Bibb, Maria Muldaur and Rory Block from our fine friends at Telarc.

As with most compliations, I enter in with hopes of finding a track or two to love. This disc had only three tracks I fast-forwarded through on the first listen...which is an outstanding average. Many of the songs just thrilled me...in no particular order, Block's great cover of Bill Wither's "Lean On Me", Maria's "Bessie's Advice", the female duet on"Travellin' Woman's Blues" and Bibb's cover of Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody", and the rousing gospel of "Don't Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down ".

I am a sucker for unique productions, so I must point out that this CD was recorded in an antique timber-frame barn that was converted into a performing arts space in a Unity, Maine. Inside the barn is a sign that quotes the Old Testament Book of Psalms:

“Behold, how good and pleasant for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity.”

Yes, backstory makes this CD even better.

What an excellent afternoon I had driving along with this CD playing. Outstanding.

A Special Day

Huzzah! Today is Miss Brazil's Birthday!

I must point this out because Miss Brazil has to work on her birthday, which is completely unacceptable.

Therefore, a proper, though untimely, celebration will be forthcoming.

And just because it is fun to say, one more time: Huzzah!

Weather Report - Part Four

Well, the snow keeps a'coming. It is very, very cold and yet the snow is quite light and fluffy - yet the roads are slick, slippery and generally terrible.

It sure is pretty though when you are safe and warm at home (or at your very gracious and generous co-workers home - even after you have imposed for two days in a row at this point, and he served you fine warm coffee cake and wonderful coffee this morning).

What The Day Will Bring, Part Two

When I arrived at work this afternoon, what should be waiting for me in the office but a package! Getting surprises at work always brightens one's day.

Back in the day when I was teaching at Kent State University, I had the honor of having a tremendous student in my second class - well, she was actually the first student I spoke to on my first day in my first class, until she realized that she was in my second class, and was therefore two hours early and excused herself. This, of course, made a lasting impression on me. Turns out she was a magnificent, engaged student of apparent brillance, schedule reading skills notwithstanding.

Following the class, we became great friends and have remained so for several years now. For my 40th birthday, she concocted a wonderful treasure chest of gifts: a book of portraits, a biography of Georgia O'Keeffe, a wonderful Japanese scroll, a few dragon totems (I was born in the year of the dragon) and most importantly, she, being a fine glass artist, made me a stained glass kaleidoscope, one of my most treasured possessions.

This package was equally amazing, wonderful and impressive. For starters, she and her fiancee (more on that later) traveled to my hallowed adopted hometown stomping grounds of Seattle and Portland, Oregon recently. We are secretly planning to all relocate there and start an elite intellectual and artisitic enclave. Anyway, she sent back the best souvenir of all: two boxes of Snoqualmie Falls Lodge Pancake Mix - the best in the world. And my love of the product has nothing to do with my love of Twin Peaks. Really.

Oh, but wait, it keeps getting better...

I am now the proud owner of an Oscar Wilde action figure! The manufacturers list his weapon of choice as: WIT. Take that, G.I. Joe.

And while I am not too sure if I want to witness all of Oscar's actions, the package comes with a wonderful quote,

"To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance."

and one of my all-time favorites, which really does sum up my view of things:

"The world is stage, but the play is badly cast."

If only it was a pull-string doll, and Oscar would spew out random nuggets and glorious insults...ah well.

{ P.S. - It seems Oscar is "not suitable for children under 36 months. No kidding.}

Next, I have a strange bag of pastel-colored (kaleidoscopic if you will) Japanese hard candy - no doubt because Ms. Sara is a rabid anime fan.

Finally, from the Corning Museum of Glass, a magnificent Latticino marble by Jody Fine, which will fit into the aforementioned kaleidoscope quite nicely. It says on the literature that Jody Fine is known as "Captain Marble," so Captain Saint Lucifer is even more impressed.

Treasures all. Absolutely wonderful. And I am grinning while I compose this and Oscar runs rampant on the desk...

However, I have been horribly remiss in not writing a congratulatory post for the upcoming nuptials of Ms. Sara and her Bradley. Not only am I very happy for the two of them, I foresee a trip to the hitherto unknown Buffalo, New York in my future. And then, the exodus to the Great Pacific Northwest will begin!

What The Day Will Bring, Part One

Planets seem to be in favorable positions for the women in my world. My dear friend Heather announced today that she has gotten a paid internship in her field - go figure.

I am very happy for her as she will actually be putting to use all of the knowledge and skills she has acquired in graduate school. There's a concept for you. When you study 19th century theatre, focusing on 19th century magicians and the theatrical display of dinosaurs in early American museums as I did, you must be prepared to do it solely for your own edification, and to not plan to make money at it.

Heather would be an asset to any company, and I am sure this internship will parlay itself into great things as her vertical career path takes off.

Congratulations, my friend! 2005 is off to a fine start!

Only In Ohio {a.k.a The Kindness of Strangers}

I was carrying my laundry downstairs in my apartment building at the exact moment a uniformed gas or electric meter reader came to the front door of said building. The management has recently installed locks so no one can get in without a key, and we do not have an intercom system. This makes getting pizzas a tricky proposition at best. But all in the name of security...

Anyway, I let the uniformed guy in to read the meters, which I correctly assumed were in the laundry room. He went about his business, and I to mine. After starting the load to dry, I realized much to my chagrin that I had left my quarters for the wash load on my dresser upstairs.

And the man said, "How much do you need?"

I needed 75 cents. And he nonchalantly pulled a handful of change from his pocket and plucked out three quarters and put them in the machine, then continued reading the meters...

Movie Night!

Miss Brazil and I went out for a light dinner (soup and sourdough rolls) and took in a film tonight.

We went to see National Treasure. I am fairly sure that the filmmakers responsible for this did not intend it to be the best comedy of the year, but we were laughing quite loudly and frequently, much to the chagrin of the other patrons. (This is probably why I go to so many matinees - there is no one else to bother at those showings...)

The movie had a few obligatory and excellent explosions and a great chase scene (which we also found exceptionally comical)- everything you could want in an adventure film.

The plot pits two disparate groups against each other as they race to find a great hidden treasure (a treasure that puts the Ark of the Covenant to shame). The first group is comprised of bookish, well-dressed, attractive intellectuals with hearts of gold and a quick wit. They rely on their acquired innate knowledge as they track down the clues to the treasure. They are suave and very James Bond, but are very human each time they realize one of their proposed scientific devices actually works properly.

The second group is made of a bunch of body-building, Cro-Magnon thugs who use explosives and the internet to bully their way to the treasure with brute force and destruction.

And of course, the gold-hearted scholars and GOOD AMERICAN PATRIOTS win out in the end.
And now I have three new favorite catch-phrases from the film: SNORKEL, which can be used at any time - face it, it's a funny word in itself, "OCULAR DEVICES" a phrase that doesn't get enough usage (I am also sure that the filmmakers recycled Johnny Depp's "ocular device" from Sleepy Hollow when designing their acid-trip hologram making eyewear) and finally the ubiquitous "Another clue!". They all send me into gales of laughter.

It has been a great while since my heart was light and filled with laughter and joy. It was a most excellent evening due in no small part to the excellent company of Miss Brazil.

New Music Tuesday - Julia Fordham: That's Live

You might think I have lost my mind, because back in August I reviewed the newly released CD, That's Life by Julia Fordham. But no, this is a newly released LIVE CD, and I have already beat the horse regarding my feelings for live CD's, so this was clearly a must-have.

Funny thing is though, while I was so excited to see many tracks from Porcelain (my favorite CD), I am so acclimated to the original versions that I am not so fond of her updated live versions. Go figure.

The other funny thing is that prior to its official release I read a review of this disc in our local entertainment rag that simply tore it to shreds. It was the most negative review I have ever read. The reviewer obviously knew nothing about Julia, and was obviously not the kind of person who would ever sit down and listen to one of her songs. It would be like me trying to write something incisive about Slipknot or Mushroomhead, two bands I am horrified to admit I am familiar with due to my association with our night crew...

I wish the review was on-line so you could read it...perhaps when I have the time I will illegally transcribe it and post it here...

What's With These Documentaries Anyway?

I had read many reviews which intrigued me to go out and get these two documentaries, The Russian Ark and Winged Migration.

The Russian Ark simply mystified me. It was frustrating and obtuse and much longer than its running time of 90 minutes would lead you to believe. It was shot in one continuous take, and was to encompass all of Russian History within the confines of the Hermitage. Sounds great...and perhaps I am just not familiar enough with Russian history to have "gotten" it. It seemed like one long in-joke that I was not hip to, and subsequently, very frustrating.

Winged Migration was lovely, but it was also quite a powerful sleep aid.

However, both of the DVD's include feature-length documentaries about the making of these films which were fascinating and much more watchable. I suppose the draw for both of these films for me was the process by which they were made, so I suppose it makes sense that a film about making the film was more informative and engrossing than the actual unwatchable film.

Summing Up: The Ten Best Films I Saw in 2004

Wrapping up the year in entertainment, I present the best films I saw this year:

1. Finding Neverland
2. Lost Horizon
3. Fahrenheit 9-11
4. Man of the Century
5. Nói Albinói
6. The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition
7. American Splendor
8. Super Size Me
9. The Cooler
10. Girl With A Pearl Earring

Summing Up: The Ten Best Books I Read in 2004

I wanted to reflect on the ten best books I read this year, and I was disappointed in not having ten books that I could rave about. Then I realized that to have read ten GOOD books would mean that I read at least one book a month, and all but 2 were really good reads. Sadly, many of my reading choices this year were less than memorable, and it seems I can come up with eight good books, and two honorable mentions.

So herewith, I present the best books I read in 2004:

1. River of Shadows: Edweard Muybridge and the Technological Wild West by Rebecca Solnit. {see review September 26}
2. Shadow Divers: The True Adventures of Two Americans Who Risked Everything To Solve One of the Last Mysteries of WWII by Robert Kurson. This is superficially a book about deep sea diving and World War II submarines, two topics that hold little interest for me. However, my friend of good and discriminating taste, Jaimie, raved about this book, and told me that she was very angry that it ended, because she was enjoying reading it so much. I reluctantly took her copy home, and started reading. Before finishing the first paragraph, I was hooked. It is an absorbing, amazing tale that delights and informs and also is filled with suspense, danger and mystery. And I was very angry that the book ended. I am forever indebted to you, Jaimie.
3. Continental Drift by Russell Banks. A masterfully written novel.
4. Disarmed: The Story of the Venus de Milo by Gregory Curtis. This is another book that I initially thought would be a complete bore. Incredibly, the history of the Venus sculpture is quite rich and intriguing. A little book, but filled to the brim with interesting facts.
5. The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. My Friend Jason and the aforementioned Jaimie and I formed a book group at work. It did not last long once we had all been promoted and had even less time to get together. This was my choice for the group to read, and it really is a magnificent book. If you could memorize one line from every page, you would indeed be the wittiest, most erudite person in the room. Oscar Wilde - what a genius. (I was so moved after reading this that I rented the movie version with Angela Lansbury. They really butcher the novel – don't bother, except to remark upon how sweet and beautiful the young Angela was.
6. Voyage of the Narwhal by Angela Barrett. Following my passion in reading tales of early exploration and discovery( last year I was all fixated on Captain Cook), I found this novel about an arctic expedition and was engrossed. If only it was true...
7. Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes. I actually re-read this book this year, to see if it was really as good as I had remembered it to be. Happily, I enjoyed reading this just as much as I had many years ago.
8. The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter. This was a very good novel with a very good premise.
9. American Gods by Neil Gaiman. This novel had so much press, and many friends recommended it, so I gave it a try. It is in the vein of Stephen King's The Stand, which is one of my favorite epics, but it is odder and weirder (if you can imagine that). It was still pretty fun to read though.
10. Kings of Infinite Space by James Hynes. This book was so very weird. Not weird enough to make me annoyed but strange nonetheless. Many pages of good storytelling, character development and setting description and some sense of a developing plot would pass and then...all of a sudden some strange Rod Serling moment would happen. Disconcerting, odd, weird...yet strangely readable.

Sips and Serendipity

So there I was in Borders, picking up the latest issue of ArtForum magazine...I went to get a cup of coffee, and while I was waiting in line I noticed a woman looking around holding two CD's in her hand - two copies of Laura Nyro's Spread Your Wings and Fly: Live at the Fillmore East 1971! I smiled and leaned over and casually said "That's a great CD. "

And her whole face lit up.

She said "You know who Laura Nyro is? My brother and I adore her, and there are two previously unreleased songs on this disc!"
We gushed about Laura for a few moments, then shook hands and parted, both us wearing enormous smiles.

I wish I would have gotten her name.

It's Party Time!

Today was supposed to be my Day Off, but I had to go in because the President, the current District Manager and the New District Manager of my store were coming to serve lunch to the staff in honor of our store being the "Best Store Of The Year."

We had to rent a truck to store the product from our backroom, so that it could be miraculously transformed into a party hall with long tables (tablecloths even!), chairs and balloon bouquets.

The big wigs did indeed serve us, but the food was from Fat Fish Blue, a downtown Cleveland restaurant. It was impressive and quite nice, and a great treat for everyone after such a hectic holiday season. The weather even co-operated, holding off on an impending snowstorm to give us a fairly warm and precipitation-free day.

Because of scheduling changes this week, it appears that I am to have a Sunday off!
This is a substantial treat, and I am looking forward to a slow morning of Starbucks and the New York Times...just like regular people.

New Music Tuesday - Classic Soul

I picked up a soundtrack to a movie I have never seen, Dead Presidents. One of my co-workers was playing this the other night, and I was so impressed that I had to get my own copy.

As Faithful Readers will know, I am not a big fan of the pre-made compilation or mix CD as I egotistically think that I can mix them better. This soundtrack, however, is a great introduction to some of the best steamy soul music around. Isaac Hayes, Barry White, James Brown, The Spinners, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Al Green, The O'Jays, Aretha...

And yes, I will burn these tracks and rearrange them on MY CD, but it is still a marvelous CD, and quite sexy. Long live the 70's!

Communique

There was a letter in my email box the other day from a unknown address. It looked very suspicious and it is my personal policy to delete mail from unknown senders immediately and with prejudice.

Something made me not delete it and it sat for there for awhile.

Eventually I opened it, and found a letter from a stranger in Virginia that had been reading the blog.

This fellow is a poetic soul, and it was a lovely letter, tricked out with many turns of phrase borrowed from the great Laura Nyro's lyrics.

I read and re-read this letter many times, trying to grasp the intention behind it. Strange thing, this internet. Disconnected and connected.

I revel in the gifts the day can bring you - and while not all gifts are things you would have chosen for yourself, or are not the right size or color, it really is the thought that counts in the long run.

Adventures in Auto Repair, Part II

Once Trish had moved to California, I realized that I had no one to keep a spare set of house and car keys. I have always given someone a set for two purposes: in case I lost them, and in case I died in my sleep then someone could come and find my decomposing body.

My general misanthropic tendencies lead me to not trust very many people, especially with the key to my house. So it was no small leap for me to ask someone to be my KeyKeeper, and it was quite comforting when they accepted the responsibility.

So I was having a conversation with the KeyKeeper, and casually mentioned that my sexy car seemed to have developed a serious problem - the gas tank was leaking causing me to have a fairly good headache by the time I would get to work.

Well, there are moments in your life when you know people aren't kidding around, when you know you better not even begin to argue with them, and the look in the KeyKeeper's eyes upon hearing this news meant that I was getting my car fixed the very next day.

Sadly, this as most automotive events do, did not fall on a financially feasible day. So the KeyKeeper made it all happen for me.

As did my friends at the local repair shop, who helped me out so economically with the Great Tail Light Episode. This repair was more substantial, and took a day and half. Not only did the folks give me a ride home, they picked me up in the morning and were finished well before I had to get on the road to go to work. They are great guys.

So now I have a fume-free ride to work and headaches now only occur AT work (that's a joke), and I am forever moved by the generosity and true friendship of my KeyKeeper. Thank you.