Sunday Song, The Walls Came Down

Sunny - Hi 68 Lo 47 for Baghdad, Iraq
Partly Cloudy - Hi 76 Lo 37 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Rainy - Hi 48 Lo 42 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: The Walls Came Down, The Call

The Call was a band that I was crazy about during my high school years. Along with U2, The Police, The Alarm, and many others that I have mentioned countless times. The Call was edgy and new. The Call was a political band that I forgave time and time again for their lyrics. I can't say that as a 17 year old this was a conscious effort... "oh that was a slap against President Reagan... I forgive you..." It was more about ignoring the slam... and just listening to the music. The Walls Came Down was so stinkin' danceable....

I was originally going to post a song by The Psychedelic Furs called President Gas because I thought I'd write about my thoughts on the 2008 election... but the song doesn't hold the same appeal it once did. As an adult...sometimes I just can't ignore the lyrics...

Ramble:

So I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. We certainly did. Of course, Adriaan was missed and Michael's mother will really have a difficult time making it through the holidays. She has the support of her family.

I just bought Michael tickets to see the annual production of Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol . Watching the 1951 version starring Alastair Sim is something he looks forward to every year, so I think he will love the stage production.

Also, we are going to make a trip up to Cleveland before Christmas... Why you ask? To see the house from A Christmas Story of course! As many times as we have traveled to Cleveland... it never occurred to us that the house that the movie was filmed in would actually be open to the public. So, I'm thinking we can make a trip up there to take a picture of Michael in front of the house w/ a Red Rider (either one we buy there or maybe we can borrow JoAnna's) and we can shop at the Arcade and at Tower City... make a nice little weekend of it...

Blogs and Links to Check Out This Week:

In searching for a myspace for The Call... I found The Call... but it's not the same band... not bad though... kinda liking them right now... The Call

Have a great week everyone!

Sunday Song, Blue Moon of Kentucky

I was looking for a clip from the movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles-- one of just a couple of movies that celebrate Thanksgiving... It is one of my most favorite movies. It is heartwarming and sweet and hysterically funny. Above all, John Hughes brings to life what it means to be thankful, to appreciate what is most important and sadly what we most often take for granted...

In any event... there is a scene with Steve Martin and John Candy driving in the dead of winter in a charred remnant of what was once a vehicle and they are singing Blue Moon of Kentucky.

I used to hate Bluegrass... in the last 10-15 years I have really grown to love it... it's one of the foundations of rock n roll....

So, in my search... I found a ton of versions.... so... I am lifting this idea from the fabulous, multi talented, Dragon Lady.

Many believe that Elvis has dibbs on this song...



But in reality it is the legendary Bill Monroe that not only sang this song for the first time, but he and his Blue Grass Boys created this genre of music. Quite frankly, I prefer this version.



The fabulous Patsy Cline



The Hungarian Rockabilly version... This one if for Michael.. Clippers is the name of the band... pretty good.



The Swedish do Bluegrass-- Blue Mountain Boys



Bluegrass origins come from Ireland--- maybe that's why the following version is so good.

Blue Moon of Kentucky This is a great version!

But there is this version... Asians sucking on helium filled balloons before stepping up to the microphone...

The best part about Bluegrass music is that it lends itself to those who can not sing. It's all about being able to sing flat and slightly off key- as you get older, the more "authentic" you sound. What carries the listener is the musicianship---the musicians improvise and take turns in playing the melody. If you have never listened... give it a chance...

Have a great week!

With Humble Appreciation

Thank you.

Millersburg, Ohio

Michael and I went up to Holmes County, Ohio last weekend to spend some time in the clean crisp air of Amish country. Like all previous trips we had a lovely time.

Here are a few not very good photos... (click on them to enlarge)

We stop by a farm/store run by Mennonites and they also have a bunch of farmyard animals running around... Michael and I named this "furry" creature Kitten Chicken.Is it a horse, mule or zebra? Whatever... very sweet animal... This made us chuckle... we knew people could be "on the wagon", just had no idea that pumpkins were afflicted with the same sort of problems... I actually took some good shots of this... (this one- not included) but in my attempt to be "artistic" and capture the basic labors of the Amish... I neglected to see the beer bottle... Amish drink beer?


The courthouse

No One Won---

Well--- that's not quite true... no one won the bet. I should have won, but the doctor knowing what's best said that she needed to stay in the oven a little longer...

Well... she is awfully cute...

Proud Mama and Papa seem to be doing well...

Welcome to the world River Emalene... We've been waiting for you.

-- Love this song and found this video done by the young girl for her father...

Father and Daughter - Paul Simon

If you leap awake
In the mirror of a bad dream
And for a fraction of a second
You can't remember where you are
Just open your window
And follow your memory upstream
To the meadow in the mountain
Where we counted every falling star

I believe the light that shines on you
Will shine on you forever
And though I can't guarantee
There's nothing scary hiding under your bed
I’m gonna stand guard
Like a postcard of a Golden Retriever
And never leave till I leave you
With a sweet dream in your head

I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
Who loved his daughter more than I love you

Trust your intuition
It's just like going fishing
You cast your line
And hope you'll get a bite
But you don't need to waste your time
Worrying about the market place
Try to help the human race
Struggling to survive its harshest night

I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
Who loved his daughter more than I love you

I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
Who loved his daughter more than I love you