O Is For

One of those days and dates one will never forget - no matter how hard one tries, the irony of it all stays - and I think in this case, it is a good thing

Seven years ago - four days short of 26 years of employment - I was - as I term it - voted off The Island -

Of course, now I look back and view it as The Island of Misfit Toys - but I digress -

Those who know me - and have read my previous posts related to this event - know how it changed my life - and how certain areas of my life had begun to change - and thanks to those changes, I was able to handle this - it took some time to recover - although some days I'm not sure I am - that is until I read the emails a past co worker of mine sends after his shift is done - then I realise I would have flipped by now had I still been there -

Thanks to the support of a very special friend - S to be exact - and my family - I survived -

I really don't try to dwell on this event but I can't help but do so - the job had defined me - had been my happy place - but I'll use this song - since it includes what I say - and what I joke will become my tattoo one day -

I'd love to pull out more of Stephen Bruton's tunes BUT I want to get on with settling in - and celebrating - and pondering -

Yes, for a reason AND fur a reason -

If not for my own personal Pearl Harbor Day, I would not have a wet Princess Rainkhloud Siberian Sponge nearby - she's been outside waiting for our rain to turn to the snow 'they've' promised us!

Please check out more of his tunes - I know you won't be disappointed -

SO, thanks to all of you for being there - and being here!

Although I don't normally indulge in adult beverages during my work week, tonight will include one or two - along with a special one finger salute in the direction of The Gulag!

Cheers!

S Is For

S is for seven years ago today, I met someone that changed my life - although we often feel as if we had met before - which could have happened given where we had grown up - but we'll never know that one - and it really doesn't matter -

Right now, I'm sipping - another S - a bottle of 2006 Cabernet Franc S gave me for my birthday - it came from HERE - Hickory Hollow - I knew from the moment he gave it to me that tonight would be the night I opened it -

Somehow Liquid Wisdom is a fitting descriptive term for wines - love that very much - wish I had been that clever -

Thinking back to S entering my life - and me, his - he really was responsible for another S - he saved me - from losing faith in myself - and he was there on my Pearl Harbor Day - December 7, 2004 -

He helped me to - yes, another S - see I could find the - yes, another - strength - to get out of the hell I was trapped in - as he put in the lyrics he wrote for me two weeks later "life dealt her a bad hand - she'll have to play it for a while" - he knew "she cries alone" was the bittersweet title for one of the most beautiful and special songs he had ever written -

Thanks to him, I am still here - without his help during the rough times, I would not be -

And thanks to him, I am here - as in blogging - and with rescue - and with all those things I discovered via Khyra - even Khyra owes being here to S - I can still hear him the first morning he met her - as I hadn't told him of my special birthday gift to me - I believe the words were 'so, you got a dog' -

Ha - not a dog - yes - another S: Siberian!

I could go on and on - but I won't - at least not tonight - although I will say I might have been responsible for saving him as well - helping inspire him - to write more - to play more - to feel more -as Uncle Tupelo said "we are all looking for the life worth livin' " -

Now to 's'hare 's'ome tunes that are appropriate -

I know I've included a repeat but I couldn't decide between them - the visuals were so beautiful - so when in doubt, go with both -

Time to raise my glass and say here's to SEVEN years - thanks for making them possible - and here's to as many more Fate and Kismet will allow us to enjoy -

I'll leave you with one last song - I think it will be a song that forever captures us -

Cheers!

BTW, the wine is very nice - I haven't had a Cabernet Franc in sometime - hard to believe years ago I would have been making all sorts of faces as I drank it!

R Is For

The Rule of 27 -

From one of the NPR Blogs

I'm not all that broken up or surprised about Amy Winehouse - she was a train wreck waiting to happen -

But the numbers 26 and 27 are VERY important to me -

And so is Janis!

Cheers -

R Is For

R is for Random...but with a method to the madness!



The VERY first time, I heard this song in 2005, I melted - and I sent it to a special someone - it still moves me beyond words




And for those that didn't know, Chip Taylor is a certain Midnight Cowboy actor's brother -




This SO makes you feel what Lucinda is expressing in the lyrics - so raw - so torn - so hurt and letdown -











The Grass Roots songs are in honour of Rob Grill's passing earlier this week - I KNOW there are some GR 45's in my collection - and I grew up hearing alternate lyrics for this station in Philadelphia - WFIL - those were the days - oh wait, that's another song!



I hadn't blogged for a bit - I'd meant to but didn't get here - I guess I should kick Khyra off the laptop -

I've survived six months plus of employment at The Great Kibble Provider as I term it on Khyra's blog - things seem to be going reasonably well - some days are WILD and some days are wild - with some being crazy and some being CRAZY - but all in all - when I weigh the good and bad, it feels right - especially given some of the extra special things I could not have predicted this time last year - or even this time last Fall - some benefits don't make it to the posting -


I think I'll keep playing the bad hand Life dealt me -

Cheers!

C Is For

Clarence Clemons - who left us before he had the chance to make one last tour - I guess that is yet another example for us to live each day as fully as we can for we never know when it will be our time to go -

Here are two I pulled from YouTube -







Here is a link to one of NPR's Blogs - some of his other signature works are included there -actually two tunes that SO come to mind when one pictures AND hears Clarence -

I'll admit I did not get caught up in the Bruce craze when he first hit the scene - but over the years, I've learned the errors of my ways - and I'm so making up for what I missed back then - thanks S!

UPDATE after the airing of NBC Nightly News - here is Brian Williams's very nice piece -

I mentioned on my last post about how I was looking forward to receiving my Blackie and The Rodeo Kings new release - well, it arrived last week - but I'm still waiting to actually hear it - my package was devoid of the actual CD - BUT I wrote Amazon - and another one is on the way - and I should receive it today - I don't even have to send back the empty package - UPDATE after receiving the CD - GREAT STUFF!

Hope all have a great week - in my hemisphere, Summer starts tomorrow - time for Khyra and me to hide until the return of Autumn!

Cheers!

T Is For

Timing...for as they say, timing is everything -

Thanks to the time I left for work on Saturday, I got to hear Blackie and The Rodeo Kings - along with EmmyLou Harris - I SO wish I could find the song they did together but it isn't out there - part of the words that snagged me were "I'm just a step away from your heart" - I did pull some of their other tunes from their website and YouTube - and I ordered the 'album' - it comes out on Tuesday - hearing them - and seeing them - brought back many memories - they also reminded me of The Domino Kings - another group I lucked into back in 2005 - I actually had planned on sharing them 'here' at some point -

Oh to have the 't'ime to do that - I feel like I'm never caught up in Blog World - even with Khyra's kind khlearing of our Google Reader, I'm back to looking at 300+

I might just have to do it again - and somehow figure out how to manage them better - and not feel compelled to visit everyone - and leave comments - etc - I know most Bloggers DO understand but...

So, please enjoy the tunes that follow my babbling - and since I don't want to take more time to finesse this post, I'll just say

CHEERS!

B And D Are For

Happy 70th 'B'irth'D'ay to 'B'ob 'D'ylan -




I just wanted to do a quick post - I was inspired by some of the tunes I heard when Khyra and I went out for some errands over lunchtime - http://www.xpn.org/ played all Bob Dylan during the noon hour - this one stuck in my head for so many reasons - simple twists of Fate really have determined much of the past seven years of my life - I wanted to use Jeff Tweedy's version for something different since he was part of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco - two other artists I was introduced to by my simple twists of Fate - along with being





Now back to what I doing -

Happy 70th Birthday Bob - your surely outlived lots of folks - and I'm sure many didn't expect you'd still be kicking at this point!

Always keep 'em guessing -

Of course, we hope you got KHAKE!

T Is For

Transport....trip...tunes...things...

I was inspired during Sunday's double transport day - I was going to share the first two I had heard that got me going - in fact, I SO rocked the ride into Merryland by doing my best Ann Wilson imitation - I'll make that part of my next post - but I couldn't help but think the entire time that Khyra would find fault with the spelling of the song -

ANYWAY, on the way to my morning fuel stop, I heard the promo on XPN.org for their feature later in the day when they would repeat a segment with The Civil Wars - I was looking forward to catching it as I knew I'd still be on the road finishing up the second run for the day - PLUS, I had read such great comments about them on a recent post by Amy Speace - now having heard the interview - and their explanation of the song I'm including the video for - I'm hooked -



It was an incredible hour of music I heard as part of my ride back from Harrisburg - they talked with Allison Kraus - featured the Paper Airplane track I had shared on my most recent post - and they were also doing some 'where are they now' segments - including an artist and a song that made so much sense as the skies had opened up on us as we completed the transfer of Beth and Woodstock - I will share THAT song and group in the days ahead -

I saw on XPN's 'Artist to Watch' page - the one I've included above - that The Civil Wars had been on Mountain Stage - with that segment archived here -

Now off to enjoy some more of their works!

I know I had thought B would be part of the next post - but as Dwight sang, 'Baby, things change!





Cheers!

A Is For

A is for an assortmentI used some of my tax refund to treat myself to some offerings I found interesting - I got a case of this - I drank one Saturday night and was quite happy with the purchase - I had a good feeling about this one since it sold out within a day or two - that is usually QUITE telling!When I ordered the case of 3, two others were offered - one I had purchased before and loved - so I took the opportunity to buy more of this one - and I so could NOT turn down the chance to try this Malbec - I opened it tonight - I guess it was a Mother's Day treat to ME - and I'm glad I did buy some - of course, I'm wishing I had bought more but...

I enjoyed and 'A'ppreciated your comments on the last post - I'm glad to see I was thinking correctly but it is always nice to see others concur -

SO, I'll share some A tunes - and yes, AK has the voice of an 'A'ngel!

Of course, I LOVE that one because of John Waite - I'll admit to being a BIG Baby's fan - I know, a guilty pleasure!



Here is one from the new release





And one depressing one to wrap up the post - this is one that will 'A'lways stick with me - in my last days at The Gulag - and during the time I had finally found some hope - thanks to S who is really the one to introduce me to AK - this one was often on the radio as I worked my long lonely hours -




I hope you enjoy the selections - I know I have - 'B'ut I 'B'et the next post will 'B'e B Is For...

Cheers!

BTW, Blogger has my text layout all messed up - tried to fix it and finally tired of it - it was really NOT Malbec induced!

V Is For

Various tunes and topics -


I've so been trying to blog again - as me - and not as Khyra - maybe I should let Khyra have a go at this one -

I wanted to share some of the new music I'd treated myself to -

Alison Krauss & Union Station's "paper airplane" -

Amy Speace "land like a bird" -

Emmylou Harris "Hard Bargain" -

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit "Here We Rest" -

Shannon McNally "Western Ballad" -

Steve Earle "I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive" -


I've not had a chance to listen to them enough times to form an opinion and pick a favourite song or songs - THAT is on the to-do list this week -

In listening to Steve Earle's latest, I was reminded of his duets that I enjoyed so much - I Remember You - done with Emmylou Harris - and You're Still Standing There - with Lucinda Williams -

I couldn't find the first one on YouTube but I did find the audio portion on his MySpace Page - I found myself singing it several times this afternoon - as I did think of someone the song could relate to - I think the album it came from JERUSALEM - is one of my favourite SE's releases -

The version of the latter tune I did find was kind of cool in that it was done with his wife Allison Moorer -




Allison Moorer is the sister of Shelby Lynne - and together the two of them shared quite the devastating experience growing up -

I've enjoyed hearing one of the tracks from Emmylou Harris's release on wxpn.org - The Road - written for her time with Gram Parsons - the instant I heard this song, I was hooked - and I also related it to my own personal singer songwriter - although thankfully mine is still among the living -



I can't go without including my all time favourite Amy Speace song EVER - probably one of my favourite songs PERIOD - I know I've mentioned the song here before - and oh how it is a song I could have written once upon a time - she is such a talent - I wish more would discover her talents - as well as HER BLOG too!



Next time you are visiting YouTube, please give a listen to Amy's other offerings -

One last V for this one - wait, I fibbed - three V's - one being Vicky - oh how I wish EP MN wasn't so freaking far from here - so we could visit more often - thanks again for taking the time to come see us!

NOW for the last V - for vent - I'm so tired of the ex questioning why I blog - how it is all for attention - with all the pics of clouds ans sky and Khyra's butt and other assorted crap like that - and how I need to speak with a professional - since I obviously have issues - etc etc etc -

Oh how I wish I could say all the things I should and could - but that is so not my style -

I so don't blog for attention - and I don't think most other bloggers do as well -

In fact, each time this topic comes up, I'm reminded of the expression 'If I have to explain it to you, you won't understand' -

PERIOD -

Thanks for listening -

Cheers and such!

S Is For

Staind - Actually, It's Been Awhile - since I've posted - I've gathered thoughts - even to the point of jotting down some things I wanted to include -

So, when I heard this on Monday whilst waiting at the Nissan dealer, I thought how perfect - it covers so many aspects of being awhile - plus, it's a damned good song - censored version or not - personally, I prefer the uncensored one -




I really do want to get back here on a more regular basis - various issues rolling around in my head -

In the mean time,

CONGRATS TO UCONN! I hope you appreciate I didn't pick you so NOW you win it!

Cheers!

I Is For

I is for IDES - and on this date, of March - every month has one - March just happens to have the famous one!


And speaking of famous ones...











77 Ides and counting - thanks for taking me anywhere I want to go - and for helping to heal the hole in my soul - and riding out the ups and downs -

Cheers!

L Is For

L is for lonesome - L is for life - L is for link - L is for lots - L is for love - L is for light - L is for listen later

I saw the link to this preliminary story in my FolkDJ ListServ email Monday afternoon - as soon as I saw her name, the image above came to mind - along with lots of memories associated with this album - and album I became intimate with in late 2004 - I hit the NYT website and read the piece - and found myself looking for forward to the complete obituary they would be sharing on Tuesday - I was not disappointed when I got the chance to read it whilst enjoying my morning coffee - and confirmed what I first thought Monday afternoon that I would include this very special music lover - in a post - I wish I could share more of why she's made an impact on me but for now I can't - maybe one day when I write my autobiography, I will - but let's just say for now we share some traits - although I'm not the least bit Italian - but I do enjoy the wonderful foods their culture has given us -

The song I'm going to include a bit later in the post is not from that release - one from that album that applies to my life would be this one - given the girl in my life -





I'm going with one from Blood on the Tracks - another special Dylan album which opens with a song that will also result in my turning up the volume and singing along - with a special smile on my face - again, more for the autobiography -

Now for the song that came to mind later in the evening when I read of another L - LADY - is this one - and I've pulled several versions of this done by female artists - please enjoy - and keep Lady in your hearts tucked right next to her parents - and I'll admit as I wrote the preceding words, I had another song come to mind - which I close with - but in time -





Now time for the one I mentioned that came to me as I worked on this post - a Warren Zevon song - WZ is an artist I know Lady's dad I exchanged comments about in the past - so I'll close with this one - and I'll admit I'm sitting here in tears as I started listening to the version I've pulled from YouTube - so many more memories associated with this one too -



And one more version that includes the lyrics -



When it is time, we'll light our candle and I'll toast to both of the special L's in this post -

Not forever...just for now -

S Is For

S is for stuff - Saturday night inspired stuff - sadness for a friend that has had too many losses among her pack in recent months - one of her special living and fuzzing ones is named for this S - another S has spent a few days in this town - that should be sufficient S's - but of course, I could keep 'em coming and SHARING!










Cheers with a lit candle for those across The Rainbow Bridge -

R Is For

R is for the revolution going on Egypt - I've seen some posts drawing in Phil Ochs works -



And here is a short one which includes the master himself -



I spent the night enjoying my latest purchases from Bright Eyes, Drive-By Truckers, and iron and wine - three VERY nice releases -

And they were enjoyed with a very pleasant Now and Zen Alsacian White - and how cool/khool the post I picked was on Khyra's and my Gotcha Day - I paid a bit more than THAT in PA but I would surely buy it again - it has some of my favourite white grapes -

Right now this is playing - I've shared it before but is is too awesome not to share again - because it is one of THOSE feelings -




Another work week has concluded - I'm enjoying the gig very much - the schedule suits me as I'm really enjoying the four day aspect -

So here's to many more days at ES3 - for many reasons!

Cheers!

B Is For

B is for Bread - yes, I can hear the groans from around the world - but it is true -

I've been working on trying to post - I even have ideas scribbled on the scratch paper next to the laptop - and some links saved in notepad document but just didn't find the time or inspiration -

But as I travelled to Hagerstown Sunday morning I heard a Bread song that made me go yes: B will be for Bread on a post -

I know if I go up to my old bedroom here and peruse the albums in the crates in the corner I'll find more than a few Bread albums - and I do have this one on CD - and as I pulled up the link from Amazon I found myself shaking my head at the songs - such memories from those years for me -

This isn't the one I heard on XPN Sunday morning but it is the first one to catch my eye when venturing to YouTube for some Bread songs to share - the title has quite some meaning to me -










THIS is the one they played that made me decide to post some Bread - oh how true these words were and are -



Of course, there is this harder edged Bread song - love it!



I had to include this David Gates song - it was the theme song to a favourite Neil Simon play inspired movie - I had it on 45 and played it and played it and played it -




I'll admit I watched The Grammys Sunday night - I really kind of had them on in the background but did enjoy some of it - and although this is not a B artist, I just had to include it here - being Valentines Day and all - I think I've shared it here before but it is surely one of those songs we've all thought about and some point - and if you say you haven't, I think you are fibbing -



This week should find my pre-ordered copy of another B - Bright Eyes - in my mailbox - I'm looking forward to it since it sounds more like his release that I played over and over after a special friend burned a copy for me - from there, my music collection filled with Bright Eyes or Conor Oberst - with this one being another one of THOSE songs that I'll never tire of - because it is so the truth - I've shared it before but I just need to do it again - with thanks to my guitar man -



I am still excited about my Lucinda Williams pre-order due next month - especially since I saw on her FB page if I sent proof of a pre-order I would receive two unreleased tracks - I sent off my Amazon confirmation and got an email with the details!

As for the job, it is going well - I so enjoy the four day schedule - and the awesome commute - I mean most evenings I'm home in TEN minutes!

Thanks again for all the support during those long long months when I really began to doubt if I would ever work again -

BTW, the wine for this woman tonight was this past favourite - nice to see it is still a good drink - it made up for Saturday night's disappointing Tempranillo -

Cheers!

P.S. Okay - another B - just had to include this OTHER B - another guilty pleasure from that time period of the mid 70's -



Now I am done!

P Is For

P is for PAID!!! I got a check!!! I treated myself to some new music - first one was Lucinda William's new release - I pre-ordered thru Amazon - it doesn't arrive until March but since I have all her other works, this was a no-brainer - especially since she's found her slutty voice again -





Another P for purchase was the new Amos Lee



Mumford and Sons was another




Trampled By Turtles was another - I know I've shared it here before but.....




This working again is AWESOME!!!

M Is For

M is for Metallica - saw this post from NPR on Friday and it lodged in my head - I've always been a fan - so here are some M's



THIS is THE most powerful M song - IMHO - I actually own the paperback that inspired this one - I can still picture it on the bookshelf in my old bedroom -



Of course, I love this one - I can't embed it - but here is a Thin Lizzy song M did - and here is a Thin Lizzy version- RIP Phil L! - I could have embed'ed it but Blogger was fighting me so I did the link to be safe!

Another M is MONDAY - and come Monday, I hope life will FINALLY get back on track for me -

Please cross paws and fingers!

Cheers!

BTW, this was Friday's glass - think I'll be snagging more for the price

P Is For

P is for Phil - today is a very big day - maybe NOW he'll get some of the recognition due him - I know from the FolkDJ ListServ and the Phil Ochs Yahoo Group I'm part of SO many are looking forward to the release of a film about Phil - first a piece about an award presented to him - to be followed by some examples of his work - I've shared others before - tried to pick out some others for this post -

















From what I've read, if you can to see this, DO IT ! ! !

Here are assorted links about it -

One from CommonDreams.org

Another from a blog about Phil - The Life of a Rebel

A link to The New York Times piece about the film

As I've put this post together, I've been listening to his masterpieces - so sad to hear his words from so long ago ringing true now - sadly, I don't think we as a society will EVER get it -

Thanks to S I know about Phil - and if I can share him with just one more person, I'll be happy -