Hallelujah!
Thrive is back as the caterer!
I so enjoy their vast array of vegetables to munch,
but I like the tidbits, too.
For instance, that tomato pie holding center court
was quite delicious!!!
The crabcake on toast was rather nice, too.
(smile)
It was a rainy night in Georgia, but that didn't bother me a bit on this balmy eve.
The Jepson was sporting a centennial celebration about "Launching Savannah's Art Scene" in 1919.
I was enjoying the works of the Savannah Art Club, including these three pieces, all done by the same artist, all dated 1939.
How puzzling that the artist had such different styles that year, I thought.
Then, while looking to see if this bust was also sculpted by Juliette Gordon Lowe, I was brought to a stop.
It was the image of the same man who'd done the trio of paintings in the opening salon!
How incredible that his likeness had been captured!
Then I realized something else: he had died in 1939.
That meant he'd done the three featured pieces the year he'd died?
Well, not quite, as I learned in the lecture.
Christopher P.H. Murphy had not dated his artwork,
so the pieces bore the latest date possible for their creation - the year of his demise.
The painting of the man was done by his loving son.
Murphy had made sure his children received the art education he'd longed for.
How fortunate that he had the Savannah club as an outlet for his own creativity nature!
And how fortunate that Reverend Anthony Lloyd was there and available for me to share my findings about the artist.
i thank You, God.
Lloyd was actually there on duty in the museum, to make sure folks kept their hands in their pockets while they admired the art.
(Yes, Mama, I kept mine there, just as you always told me to do.)
As we were the only two there, I struck up a conversation about Murphy, by the bust.
Then we had gone over to the paintings and looked at the great difference in their styles that had caught my attention.
That naturally led to me talking about the Monet exhibit of 2018 and the differences in composition and brushwork seen as an artist aged, as I noted in the 2015 exhibit.
Before I knew it, we were talking about chemistry!
We had started with a discussion of perspective and how that alters one's perception of art, leading to our examination of the bust from different angles.
Perception, as I told him, is why several witnesses can be present at the same site of a wreck, but have different recollections of what occurred, based on the angle of their viewing, as well as their personal histories and education.
Then, that word "education" led to us talking about schools and that led to my former profession as a professor.
I then waxed rhapsodic about media misinformation.
"Chemical free", for example, means a vacuum, with no atoms present.
"Chemical", itself, is usually said like it's a bad taste in the mouth, when, without chemicals, we would not exist, as we are composed of a myriad of different molecules.
"All natural" is regarded as a preference, but arsenic and hemlock and lead are each and every one of them "all natural" - and all toxic in small quantities!
He really got a kick out of that and said he'd use it in a sermon.
(smile)
So, of course I turned him onto Penn and Teller's petition to get dihydrogen oxide banned.
He found that to be a hilarious send-up of ignorance...
and a reason for him to educate his congregation, among others.
(smile)
So what if I was fifteen minutes late to the lecture?
I had the opportunity to drop a little science...
and know that lesson would, in turn, be dropped on others.
Hallelujah!
So, here's the end of my tale and there's still been no mention of mythological creatures, huh?
Well, the answer is above, lolling along in the marshy scene.
I almost missed it myself.
I had looked up from my plate of goodies, savoring a mouthful, when the unicorn dipped its horn toward me, as if greeting a friend.
See it, between the blue water drop and fuchsia flower petal?
Right place, right time.
i thank You, God.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
off to the races!
Those would be the races to gnab desired postings, of course.
"Postings for what? I didn't think you followed racing of any type."
Oh, I don't, ya got that right. I was speaking of the volunteer job postings for the 31st Savannah Music Festival.
"Wow, is it that time already? I thought that didn't begin until late March."
That's true! However, they opened the site today, at 5 PM, for us to sign up for the events we wanted.
"That was just... less than an hour ago! Did you get your top picks?"
I did! After the debacle of 2018, I've made sure to have a list at hand, with priority values for those musicians I most wanted to see and hear.
"So, what was so bad about 2018?"
Well, I was still teaching when they opened the "races", so I didn't log in until the next day. By then, there were pretty slim pickings. I had the lowest number of volunteer hours I'd ever had that year. That was the time I worked the Artist Hospitality Monitor for the first time. That was for Jason Isbell and his group before their concert at the Civic Center.
"I remember now. You only had about six or seven shows that year."
Actually, the magic number was eight, and I enjoyed every one of them! Pat Martino, Derek Gripper, the cinema marvel Manual Cinema's "Lula del Ray", dancing to the Swing Central Jazz Finale: Stomping The Blues, American Brass Quintet, a bit of international fun with Mike Block and Sandeep Das, last-minute switch Sam Reider and the Human Hands, Goodbye Girls, and a hot Brazilian number named Jovino Santos Neto.
"Plenty of toe-tappin' going on there, for sure! Plus a good bit of bands you'd never heard of, to broaden your music knowledge."
True, true. Since I'm not married to a radio man anymore, I have to take care of that myself. And I think I've been doing an excellent job of it, too!
"Yes, you have! Last year, you managed to see an incredible EIGHTEEN shows!"
Yes, I did! That's because of careful planning on my part, especially to snag the seven shows I most wanted. That planning paid off handsomely! By April 13th, I was at my final gig and the last of my top picks - what a blast!
"What were the other shows at the top of your list?"
Well, there was the Swing Central Jazz Finale, naturally. I especially wanted that as the theme was "Romance, Swing, and The Blues" - three favorite genres!
"But of course they are, you hopeful romantic, you!"
That's right! Then there was the dance ensemble with a recipe to combat insomnia - that was great hilarity! Plus, I finally got to dance to The Punch Brothers, after years of missing out. No wonder my nephew Stephen calls them his favorite!
"Well, about time you got to hear them!"
Truly, they had been the first on my list last year. Yep! I also had a cabaret show which was pretty good, with lots of Johnny Mercer tunes to 'sing' along with - quite right! I ushered for the Talking Heads show, per Angelique Kidjo's version, which I'd really wanted. It was nic and lively, but a bit preachy, so I most enjoyed being with Kristin and Amanda afterward!
"Well, alrighty then! Wait a second... that only makes six. What was your seventh pick?"
That had been Santiago Ballerini, a tenor who trained here. I actually had to let that one go, as Miyah only turned two once. LOL!
"Understood. Christina would have been quite disappointed had you not gone, you being her "favorite aunt" and all. LOL!"
Most definitely!
"So, any other shows of note last year?"
Well, I did enjoy the North Carolina photos that had been turned into a film - that was a nice step back in time. And, earlier that same day, I'd absolutely been taken away by the Mongolian horde and their thundering horses!
"You speak of "Kannapolis" and Anda Union, of course. Both were superb!"
The two big-name concerts I did were good, but in very different ways. Ricky Skaggs showed himself to be a national treasure, whereas Pat Metheny seemed fairly aloof. Both had excellent music, but such different approaches to being in front of an audience!
"Yes, I recall. I also recall two shows that turned out to be true favorites for you."
Oh, my, yes! The two Robbies! What an absolute hoot and a half they were! I would go to another of their shows in a heartbeat! And The Pine Leaf Boys - another unexpected delight! I was there for the Courtney Granger at noon30 and he showed up with his whole band! Woohoo!
"Those noon30 concerts offer so many surprises, don't they?"
They most certainly do, that's why I've snagged every open one I found this year. So, that'll introduce me to Hawktail, Martin Hayes with Jeremy Kittel and Roger Tallroth, Rob Ickes & Trey Henley, Amythyst Kiah, Andre Mehmari, Christian Sands, and Foghorn Stringband. I love their name! It reminds me of that rooster in the cartoons! I'll also be seeing Väsen again! I had so enjoyed these Swedes when I first saw them in 2016!
"Then there's one more you got, with Mike Marshall, pairing off with Caterina Lichttenberg this time. Remember that 2016 show with the Brazilian? So, this new one holds promise!"
It certainly does.
"Okay, enough already about years past. What were your top choices this time around? "
I again had seven "must haves" this time, and, amazingly, I again got all of them! My top desire was the Chamber I: Tales of the Unexpected, featuring the works of Edgar Allen Poe... and it is to be at the Kehoe Iron Works! That's a new venue for me, as well as a first time to hear classical music behind that science fiction writer's words! I am soooo excited!
"And you just can't hide it, eh? Settle down now, child! Try to be patient, okay?"
I will try, but it's going to be hard! Fortunately, that's during the first week of 31SMF.
"Yes, good. Let me see if I can guess two more of your choices. The Swing Central Jazz Finale and... the Stringband Spectacular for the Acoustic Music Seminar."
You are correct! Those were my third and seventh top pics, by the way.
"SO what else rounded out your list?"
Georgia native Leo Kottke, country and songwriting legend Rodney Crowell, and jazz pianist Kenny Barron, joined by bassist Dave Holland and drummer Johnathan Blake.
"Hey, I can still count. That only makes six."
Say what? Oh, you're right. I had not included BalletCollective: Translation! How about that - a dance show! Yes, definitively had that on the list, at spot five.
"Good for you! Sounds like you have a very lively spring planned!"
I certainly do, and that's just with the music festival. There are also plays and the Georgia Elvis Festival and who knows what all!
"Who knows!"
Who, indeed. Now, if you'll pardon me, I need to get some dinner before I bop downtown! PFS has an oldie martial arts flick, with a noir-ish Japanese hitman played by Jo Shishido. He's "Branded To Kill", don't ya know!
"LOL! No, I didn't know, but it sounds fun. later, chica!"
later, g'friend!
(smile!)
"Postings for what? I didn't think you followed racing of any type."
Oh, I don't, ya got that right. I was speaking of the volunteer job postings for the 31st Savannah Music Festival.
"Wow, is it that time already? I thought that didn't begin until late March."
That's true! However, they opened the site today, at 5 PM, for us to sign up for the events we wanted.
"That was just... less than an hour ago! Did you get your top picks?"
I did! After the debacle of 2018, I've made sure to have a list at hand, with priority values for those musicians I most wanted to see and hear.
"So, what was so bad about 2018?"
Well, I was still teaching when they opened the "races", so I didn't log in until the next day. By then, there were pretty slim pickings. I had the lowest number of volunteer hours I'd ever had that year. That was the time I worked the Artist Hospitality Monitor for the first time. That was for Jason Isbell and his group before their concert at the Civic Center.
"I remember now. You only had about six or seven shows that year."
Actually, the magic number was eight, and I enjoyed every one of them! Pat Martino, Derek Gripper, the cinema marvel Manual Cinema's "Lula del Ray", dancing to the Swing Central Jazz Finale: Stomping The Blues, American Brass Quintet, a bit of international fun with Mike Block and Sandeep Das, last-minute switch Sam Reider and the Human Hands, Goodbye Girls, and a hot Brazilian number named Jovino Santos Neto.
"Plenty of toe-tappin' going on there, for sure! Plus a good bit of bands you'd never heard of, to broaden your music knowledge."
True, true. Since I'm not married to a radio man anymore, I have to take care of that myself. And I think I've been doing an excellent job of it, too!
"Yes, you have! Last year, you managed to see an incredible EIGHTEEN shows!"
Yes, I did! That's because of careful planning on my part, especially to snag the seven shows I most wanted. That planning paid off handsomely! By April 13th, I was at my final gig and the last of my top picks - what a blast!
"What were the other shows at the top of your list?"
Well, there was the Swing Central Jazz Finale, naturally. I especially wanted that as the theme was "Romance, Swing, and The Blues" - three favorite genres!
"But of course they are, you hopeful romantic, you!"
That's right! Then there was the dance ensemble with a recipe to combat insomnia - that was great hilarity! Plus, I finally got to dance to The Punch Brothers, after years of missing out. No wonder my nephew Stephen calls them his favorite!
"Well, about time you got to hear them!"
Truly, they had been the first on my list last year. Yep! I also had a cabaret show which was pretty good, with lots of Johnny Mercer tunes to 'sing' along with - quite right! I ushered for the Talking Heads show, per Angelique Kidjo's version, which I'd really wanted. It was nic and lively, but a bit preachy, so I most enjoyed being with Kristin and Amanda afterward!
"Well, alrighty then! Wait a second... that only makes six. What was your seventh pick?"
That had been Santiago Ballerini, a tenor who trained here. I actually had to let that one go, as Miyah only turned two once. LOL!
"Understood. Christina would have been quite disappointed had you not gone, you being her "favorite aunt" and all. LOL!"
Most definitely!
"So, any other shows of note last year?"
Well, I did enjoy the North Carolina photos that had been turned into a film - that was a nice step back in time. And, earlier that same day, I'd absolutely been taken away by the Mongolian horde and their thundering horses!
"You speak of "Kannapolis" and Anda Union, of course. Both were superb!"
The two big-name concerts I did were good, but in very different ways. Ricky Skaggs showed himself to be a national treasure, whereas Pat Metheny seemed fairly aloof. Both had excellent music, but such different approaches to being in front of an audience!
"Yes, I recall. I also recall two shows that turned out to be true favorites for you."
Oh, my, yes! The two Robbies! What an absolute hoot and a half they were! I would go to another of their shows in a heartbeat! And The Pine Leaf Boys - another unexpected delight! I was there for the Courtney Granger at noon30 and he showed up with his whole band! Woohoo!
"Those noon30 concerts offer so many surprises, don't they?"
They most certainly do, that's why I've snagged every open one I found this year. So, that'll introduce me to Hawktail, Martin Hayes with Jeremy Kittel and Roger Tallroth, Rob Ickes & Trey Henley, Amythyst Kiah, Andre Mehmari, Christian Sands, and Foghorn Stringband. I love their name! It reminds me of that rooster in the cartoons! I'll also be seeing Väsen again! I had so enjoyed these Swedes when I first saw them in 2016!
"Then there's one more you got, with Mike Marshall, pairing off with Caterina Lichttenberg this time. Remember that 2016 show with the Brazilian? So, this new one holds promise!"
It certainly does.
"Okay, enough already about years past. What were your top choices this time around? "
I again had seven "must haves" this time, and, amazingly, I again got all of them! My top desire was the Chamber I: Tales of the Unexpected, featuring the works of Edgar Allen Poe... and it is to be at the Kehoe Iron Works! That's a new venue for me, as well as a first time to hear classical music behind that science fiction writer's words! I am soooo excited!
"And you just can't hide it, eh? Settle down now, child! Try to be patient, okay?"
I will try, but it's going to be hard! Fortunately, that's during the first week of 31SMF.
"Yes, good. Let me see if I can guess two more of your choices. The Swing Central Jazz Finale and... the Stringband Spectacular for the Acoustic Music Seminar."
You are correct! Those were my third and seventh top pics, by the way.
"SO what else rounded out your list?"
Georgia native Leo Kottke, country and songwriting legend Rodney Crowell, and jazz pianist Kenny Barron, joined by bassist Dave Holland and drummer Johnathan Blake.
"Hey, I can still count. That only makes six."
Say what? Oh, you're right. I had not included BalletCollective: Translation! How about that - a dance show! Yes, definitively had that on the list, at spot five.
"Good for you! Sounds like you have a very lively spring planned!"
I certainly do, and that's just with the music festival. There are also plays and the Georgia Elvis Festival and who knows what all!
"Who knows!"
Who, indeed. Now, if you'll pardon me, I need to get some dinner before I bop downtown! PFS has an oldie martial arts flick, with a noir-ish Japanese hitman played by Jo Shishido. He's "Branded To Kill", don't ya know!
"LOL! No, I didn't know, but it sounds fun. later, chica!"
later, g'friend!
(smile!)
Monday, February 3, 2020
waltzing around
Somehow, I had the start time wrong in my mind.
That's why I arrived to a parking lot with only seven cars in it.
Sanford Jones and Marvin Keenze, on the right and left pianos, respectively, were still practicing at 6 PM.
I doubt they were even aware that I had entered briefly.
So, I spent that hour walking the block and enjoying the brisk evening air.
By the time "A Winter Concert: For The Love Of Music" began, Asbury Memorial UMC
had a fairly nice crowd gathered.
The program included several vocal pieces sung by Rebecca Flaherty, with her husband, Dan, accompanying her on two songs, including "Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing".
That was a long-time favorite from Sanford's youth, 63 years ago, when he was still a teenager.
He was finally getting to be part of its presentation!
(smile)
I had taken a usual seat, near the back, so I could get up and dance if the music moved me, but not distract anyone from the concert.
Finally, I had my opportunity!
Sanford had issued an open invitation for dancers to take the floor!
Then he and Marvin played the following piece.
Sanford is 81 years old, so it's doubtful he heard this rendition of the song in 1929.
He would have just been five or six years old.
However, he and Marvin played a lovely version of Aron Arensky's Waltz, from Suite #1 for Two Pianos...
and I danced and twirled in the right aisle for the entire piece.
How magnificent!
Preston and Kathy Hodges were sitting in the last row, so they saw me...
but they stayed seated.
Cindy Goldberg was there, too, a few rows back, with a friend...
but they, also, declined to do the waltz.
Ah, such a lovely five-minute dance I had!
At least everyone joined in for the calisthenics of "Peace Like A River" -
That standard is always a crowdpleaser.
(smile!)
That's why I arrived to a parking lot with only seven cars in it.
Sanford Jones and Marvin Keenze, on the right and left pianos, respectively, were still practicing at 6 PM.
I doubt they were even aware that I had entered briefly.
So, I spent that hour walking the block and enjoying the brisk evening air.
By the time "A Winter Concert: For The Love Of Music" began, Asbury Memorial UMC
had a fairly nice crowd gathered.
The program included several vocal pieces sung by Rebecca Flaherty, with her husband, Dan, accompanying her on two songs, including "Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing".
That was a long-time favorite from Sanford's youth, 63 years ago, when he was still a teenager.
He was finally getting to be part of its presentation!
(smile)
I had taken a usual seat, near the back, so I could get up and dance if the music moved me, but not distract anyone from the concert.
Finally, I had my opportunity!
Sanford had issued an open invitation for dancers to take the floor!
Then he and Marvin played the following piece.
Sanford is 81 years old, so it's doubtful he heard this rendition of the song in 1929.
He would have just been five or six years old.
However, he and Marvin played a lovely version of Aron Arensky's Waltz, from Suite #1 for Two Pianos...
and I danced and twirled in the right aisle for the entire piece.
How magnificent!
Preston and Kathy Hodges were sitting in the last row, so they saw me...
but they stayed seated.
Cindy Goldberg was there, too, a few rows back, with a friend...
but they, also, declined to do the waltz.
Ah, such a lovely five-minute dance I had!
At least everyone joined in for the calisthenics of "Peace Like A River" -
That standard is always a crowdpleaser.
(smile!)
and the skies are not cloudy all day
3 Feb 2020 3:25 AM
Faustina,
without a doubt,
right here and now,
as you read these very words
with eyes that sparkle,
this golden day,
amid your dancing manifestations
in a perfect world
on an emerald planet
while your heart beats,
your blood flows,
and angels peer over your shoulder,
I think you just might be
the "luckiest" person
alive.
Royal-Flush-Lucky,
The Universe
Faustina,
without a doubt,
right here and now,
as you read these very words
with eyes that sparkle,
this golden day,
amid your dancing manifestations
in a perfect world
on an emerald planet
while your heart beats,
your blood flows,
and angels peer over your shoulder,
I think you just might be
the "luckiest" person
alive.
Royal-Flush-Lucky,
The Universe
Sunday, February 2, 2020
02022020
No, that is not the current mileage on my 18-year-old Saturn.
(smile!)
That was the first true palindrome date that we've had in almost a decade.
First was January 2, 2010, followed by November 2, 2011.
There hasn't been another until today.
Next year will provide December 2, 2021, followed by a lack of that ilk of dates until 2030 rolls around.
Pretty sweet, right?
Add in that it's Groundhog Day and it's une raison de célébrer!
I've taken that to heart, I have.
(smile!)
I made sure to be at church today (for the first time this year).
The sermon was "Groundhog Day Living", and, yes, it started out about the movie I love so much.
Apparently, getting multiple chances to get things right makes the film a favorite for Billy, too.
Then, he spoke of the late Kobe Bryant, a man who continually learned from his mistakes and became a better man.
(I even have a 9-year-old great-nephew named for him.)
After the service, which included communion and welcoming new members, we were all treated to BIG Coffee Hour!
You can see that this little piggie came for lunch, too!
Lance had brought those!
I joined him and a few others at the Reconciling Ministries meeting this afternoon to plan for a special guest speaker next month.
Such a great start of my church year!
(smile!)
Groundhog Day was also a day my stepdad loved so much, as he and friends would celebrate it every year.
So, naturally, my next stop was at Greenwich to visit with him and Mama, who he also loved so much.
Me, too, Frank.
Me, too.
I tidied up her marker, straightening the four different stones of remembrance, shedding a few tears, wishing for impossible things.
I also visited the grave of my niece, Jean Marie, lamenting anew that she still has no headstone.
April will make three years.
I realized today that Susan lost her husband, her father, and her brother in the few years right before she lost her one-and-only daughter.
I cannot imagine such loss.
So, until she is able to create the marker, I have made sure stones are clearly in place.
I felt some mirth was definitely in order, so off to the Savannah Children's Theatre I went!
The matinee was sold out?!
Oh, but I was surely blessed, as I soon found myself watching "Matilda the Musical" - and right next to Erica, as good fortune would have it!
Her Dawson was one of the actors!
And a favorite of mine, JoJo Ward, was also in the play, clad in drag!
What a hoot and a half!
(smile!)
Having energy to burn after that performance, off to Planet Fitness I went for treadmill dancing!
I always have to think of OK GO when I say that - I so love "Here It Goes Again"!
How appropriate today, right?
(smile!)
Then, off to Cici's for some fresh hot pizza, specially made just for me with no cheese!!!
Chicken, green peppers, black olives, diced tomatoes, yes!
I missed most of Superbowl LIV, but I was home in time for all of the 4th quarter, with those amazing three touchdowns by the Chiefs.
Plus, I caught Jeep's send-up of "Groundhog Day", featuring Bill Murray - major score for me!
Later, I caught the grand reveal of Lil Wayne on "The Masked Singer" and shared that with Kevin - he loves that philosopher rapper!
Another major score for me, y'all!
(smile!)
i thank You, God, for this day!
(smile!)
That was the first true palindrome date that we've had in almost a decade.
First was January 2, 2010, followed by November 2, 2011.
There hasn't been another until today.
Next year will provide December 2, 2021, followed by a lack of that ilk of dates until 2030 rolls around.
Pretty sweet, right?
Add in that it's Groundhog Day and it's une raison de célébrer!
I've taken that to heart, I have.
(smile!)
I made sure to be at church today (for the first time this year).
The sermon was "Groundhog Day Living", and, yes, it started out about the movie I love so much.
Apparently, getting multiple chances to get things right makes the film a favorite for Billy, too.
Then, he spoke of the late Kobe Bryant, a man who continually learned from his mistakes and became a better man.
(I even have a 9-year-old great-nephew named for him.)
After the service, which included communion and welcoming new members, we were all treated to BIG Coffee Hour!
You can see that this little piggie came for lunch, too!
Lance had brought those!
I joined him and a few others at the Reconciling Ministries meeting this afternoon to plan for a special guest speaker next month.
Such a great start of my church year!
(smile!)
Groundhog Day was also a day my stepdad loved so much, as he and friends would celebrate it every year.
So, naturally, my next stop was at Greenwich to visit with him and Mama, who he also loved so much.
Me, too, Frank.
Me, too.
I tidied up her marker, straightening the four different stones of remembrance, shedding a few tears, wishing for impossible things.
I also visited the grave of my niece, Jean Marie, lamenting anew that she still has no headstone.
April will make three years.
I realized today that Susan lost her husband, her father, and her brother in the few years right before she lost her one-and-only daughter.
I cannot imagine such loss.
So, until she is able to create the marker, I have made sure stones are clearly in place.
I felt some mirth was definitely in order, so off to the Savannah Children's Theatre I went!
The matinee was sold out?!
Oh, but I was surely blessed, as I soon found myself watching "Matilda the Musical" - and right next to Erica, as good fortune would have it!
Her Dawson was one of the actors!
And a favorite of mine, JoJo Ward, was also in the play, clad in drag!
What a hoot and a half!
(smile!)
Having energy to burn after that performance, off to Planet Fitness I went for treadmill dancing!
I always have to think of OK GO when I say that - I so love "Here It Goes Again"!
How appropriate today, right?
(smile!)
Then, off to Cici's for some fresh hot pizza, specially made just for me with no cheese!!!
Chicken, green peppers, black olives, diced tomatoes, yes!
I missed most of Superbowl LIV, but I was home in time for all of the 4th quarter, with those amazing three touchdowns by the Chiefs.
Plus, I caught Jeep's send-up of "Groundhog Day", featuring Bill Murray - major score for me!
Later, I caught the grand reveal of Lil Wayne on "The Masked Singer" and shared that with Kevin - he loves that philosopher rapper!
Another major score for me, y'all!
(smile!)
i thank You, God, for this day!
Saturday, February 1, 2020
an outlaw's living room
What a memorable concert at the Lucas tonight!
Travis Tritt was in town, again, this time for a solo tour.
The Georgia native son just can't stand to stay away, it seems!
Good for him... and good for us, too!
He started with a sure-fire winner from 1990: "I'm Gonna Be Somebody" - oh, yeah!
That got everyone rocking out along with him!
He has his home in Hiram, near where my BFF once lived.
The road is even named after him!
I guess he's definitely "somebody" now, as he has been since his first Grammy, just three years after he started making records.
In fact, his first top-ten hit was "Country Club", back in 1989, when he was just 26 years old.
Good thing that one struck paydirt!
He had a three-singles contract with Warner Records, he told us.
If his first three songs that they recorded had not debuted in the top ten, his career would have been over thirty years ago.
Fortunately, the other two singles, "Help Me Hold On" and his opener, sealed the deal!
I very much enjoyed the stories he told betweeen songs.
I had not known of his great friendship with Jerry Reed, and his great admiration of the man's guitar work and songwriting ability.
We were treated to "500 Miles (Away From Home)", a song Reed recorded back in 1972 - which meant I had known it since my teen years!
That was a very nice video he had to accompany it, too.
Travis had a very nice chat with us about Marty Stuart, too, on this stage that he proclaimed was as comfortable as his "living room".
He made sure to perform "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'", a song that he and Marty sang together (leading to the aforementioned Grammy).
Travis also played a very nice instrumental song, "Pickin' It", after first discussing the merits of having a dictionary.
Hooray for preaching literacy!
I loved the stories he had about Waylon Jennings, one of my favorite country singers.
When Travis was branded as an outlaw, Waylon pointed out that the media folks weren't the ones buying the records - the listeners were and their support of him was all that mattered.
Amen to that!!!
"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" - oops, I think I already am!
A bit after that, he was talking about the music he grew up with: Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Neil Diamond.
"Here comes the song I'm waiting for," I thought.
Nope! Instead, we were treated to his first and only time singing "Help!", from The Beatles' library.
He did it with a change-up in the pacing, but I liked it!
I think his younger fans didn't know the song at all.
A few songs later, my faith and my patience were rewarded, though.
The almost 57-year-old Travis had reached the last tune of the concert, having told all his tales and sung most of his hits.
Then, he broke loose with a song made famous by Elvis in 1975:
"T-R-O-U-B-L-E"!
All I needed to hear was the vocals -
I could see the famous swiveling hips in my mind!
And just as we'd begun opening doors, the man returned onstage for an encore!!!
He'd already played for more than two hours, with no intermission, but he couldn't leave without one of his sing-along classics:
"Here's A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)".
Hahahaha hahaha!
What a fun night of dancing and singing for me!
Thank you, sir!
Travis Tritt was in town, again, this time for a solo tour.
The Georgia native son just can't stand to stay away, it seems!
Good for him... and good for us, too!
He started with a sure-fire winner from 1990: "I'm Gonna Be Somebody" - oh, yeah!
That got everyone rocking out along with him!
He has his home in Hiram, near where my BFF once lived.
The road is even named after him!
I guess he's definitely "somebody" now, as he has been since his first Grammy, just three years after he started making records.
In fact, his first top-ten hit was "Country Club", back in 1989, when he was just 26 years old.
Good thing that one struck paydirt!
He had a three-singles contract with Warner Records, he told us.
If his first three songs that they recorded had not debuted in the top ten, his career would have been over thirty years ago.
Fortunately, the other two singles, "Help Me Hold On" and his opener, sealed the deal!
I very much enjoyed the stories he told betweeen songs.
I had not known of his great friendship with Jerry Reed, and his great admiration of the man's guitar work and songwriting ability.
We were treated to "500 Miles (Away From Home)", a song Reed recorded back in 1972 - which meant I had known it since my teen years!
That was a very nice video he had to accompany it, too.
Travis had a very nice chat with us about Marty Stuart, too, on this stage that he proclaimed was as comfortable as his "living room".
He made sure to perform "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'", a song that he and Marty sang together (leading to the aforementioned Grammy).
Travis also played a very nice instrumental song, "Pickin' It", after first discussing the merits of having a dictionary.
Hooray for preaching literacy!
I loved the stories he had about Waylon Jennings, one of my favorite country singers.
When Travis was branded as an outlaw, Waylon pointed out that the media folks weren't the ones buying the records - the listeners were and their support of him was all that mattered.
Amen to that!!!
"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" - oops, I think I already am!
A bit after that, he was talking about the music he grew up with: Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Neil Diamond.
"Here comes the song I'm waiting for," I thought.
Nope! Instead, we were treated to his first and only time singing "Help!", from The Beatles' library.
He did it with a change-up in the pacing, but I liked it!
I think his younger fans didn't know the song at all.
A few songs later, my faith and my patience were rewarded, though.
The almost 57-year-old Travis had reached the last tune of the concert, having told all his tales and sung most of his hits.
Then, he broke loose with a song made famous by Elvis in 1975:
"T-R-O-U-B-L-E"!
All I needed to hear was the vocals -
I could see the famous swiveling hips in my mind!
And just as we'd begun opening doors, the man returned onstage for an encore!!!
He'd already played for more than two hours, with no intermission, but he couldn't leave without one of his sing-along classics:
"Here's A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)".
Hahahaha hahaha!
What a fun night of dancing and singing for me!
Thank you, sir!
consider the source
I managed to talk the bfrb into seeing "Parasite" for last week's Tina Tuesday.
That's because I had been told the foreign-language film was a horror movie, so that's what I had told him.
He's a big fan of the horror, so every once in a while I agree to that genre.
What was my source for that movie misinformation?
Mi tres amigas.
They had gone to see it primarily because Tomasz had brought it in last year, before the AMC Cinemas had it, to screen for Cinema Savannah.
According to Barbara and Carolyn and Sandy, the film was essentially two different movies, with the horror show as the second part.
However, they were all raised in higher middle class households, attending private girl-only schools and even having finishing classes for young women.
Not so for me.
I had none of that.
With a gambling father, public school was all the four of us ever had.
Public schools, co-ed classes.
When you add in that I lived with three brothers, it's even clearer why I am not girly like my three girlfriends are.
I'm not saying that I like horror, mind.
I'm saying "Parasite" was not of that ilk.
It's a class-struggle movie, with a bit of violence wreaked when the father of the poorer class has too much denigration by the father of the richer class.
It truly is quite an insight to life in South Korea.
"Gretel & Hansel" was one I saw on my own today.
I had seen the previews for it and decided against it, thinking it a horror show with much violence toward children.
Not my cup of tea, at all.
However, after the panda had raved about it and said he'd see it again - say what?! Him?! Spend money to see a movie multiple times in a cinema?! - I looked it up on this site and decided to judge for myself.
I'm so glad I did.
I've always enjoyed fairy tales, whether fractured or not.
This retelling of the classic, with the emphasis on the girl, was captivating.
It was a story of love between the older sister and the much younger brother.
It was a tale of a girl on the cusp of womanhood, having to make difficult choices.
It was girl power triumphing an evil witch, good winning out over evil.
Everything I like...
and excellent music, too.
The bfrb is a child psychologist, so he knows a story with meaning when he hears it.
I'm so glad I listened and went to this supposed horror movie.
Ya gotta consider the source.
That's because I had been told the foreign-language film was a horror movie, so that's what I had told him.
He's a big fan of the horror, so every once in a while I agree to that genre.
What was my source for that movie misinformation?
Mi tres amigas.
They had gone to see it primarily because Tomasz had brought it in last year, before the AMC Cinemas had it, to screen for Cinema Savannah.
According to Barbara and Carolyn and Sandy, the film was essentially two different movies, with the horror show as the second part.
However, they were all raised in higher middle class households, attending private girl-only schools and even having finishing classes for young women.
Not so for me.
I had none of that.
With a gambling father, public school was all the four of us ever had.
Public schools, co-ed classes.
When you add in that I lived with three brothers, it's even clearer why I am not girly like my three girlfriends are.
I'm not saying that I like horror, mind.
I'm saying "Parasite" was not of that ilk.
It's a class-struggle movie, with a bit of violence wreaked when the father of the poorer class has too much denigration by the father of the richer class.
It truly is quite an insight to life in South Korea.
"Gretel & Hansel" was one I saw on my own today.
I had seen the previews for it and decided against it, thinking it a horror show with much violence toward children.
Not my cup of tea, at all.
However, after the panda had raved about it and said he'd see it again - say what?! Him?! Spend money to see a movie multiple times in a cinema?! - I looked it up on this site and decided to judge for myself.
I'm so glad I did.
I've always enjoyed fairy tales, whether fractured or not.
This retelling of the classic, with the emphasis on the girl, was captivating.
It was a story of love between the older sister and the much younger brother.
It was a tale of a girl on the cusp of womanhood, having to make difficult choices.
It was girl power triumphing an evil witch, good winning out over evil.
Everything I like...
and excellent music, too.
The bfrb is a child psychologist, so he knows a story with meaning when he hears it.
I'm so glad I listened and went to this supposed horror movie.
Ya gotta consider the source.
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