Category Archives: Uncategorized

Small Celebrations – Sunrise and a Willow Tree


I’m back…  I have been terribly busy, and have shamefully neglected this delightful blog hop that seems to put a good perspective on things.  I could list the things that have been keeping me (happily) busy.  But instead I am celebrating the view from my window.

My usual seat faces west, looking up a hill.  The morning sun spills upward across the land, touching the maple trees that march up the incline.  Right now the light is thick and golden, as it is most mornings when you can see the sun.

We lost a big old maple a couple years ago, and it left a hole in my view.  I planted a weeping willow.  It’s little yet, since I only planted it last year, and right now it’s drooping.  I will be re-installing the supports.  But that little willow holds memories of my great-aunt’s beautiful old willow in Vermont, and memories of her garden come back.  It’s always a lovely way to start a morning, and I’m celebrating the memories and the view.

V…….Vivaldi’s Rain


I’m doing things a little differently today.  If you click on the photo below, which is Chloe Agnew (one of the singers of the group Celtic Women) you will hear today’s song, ‘Vivaldi’s Rain’, which is written in Italian.
 
There is something about Italian words.  Written, they look rather  odd (sayeth she who speaketh a Germanic tongue) but speak or, better, sing them and you have poetry.
 
 

Signore guidami
E dimmi cosa fare
Ho visto l’amore della mia vita

E lui ha visto me.

Sono confusa, lo confonde
Gli voglio dire che l’amo
E spero dirà lo stesso.
Sono passate due settimane
 
La vita scorre veloce
Il mio cuore batte forte
Signore guidami e dammi pace. 


Ti chiedo cosa dire, come dirlo
Mostrami come dire che l’amo
Mostrami come dire che mi ama
Sto pregando che dica di amarmi
 
I can almost understand Spanish , if I see it written.  Italian is not so easy.  So I ‘washed’ the lyrics through Google Translate.  It was less than satisfactory, so I made adjustments.
 
O Lord grant me guidance
And tell me what to do
I beheld the love of my life
And he looked upon me. 
 
I am so confused, confounded
I long to tell him that I love him
And I yearn to have him say those words to me. 
 
 
A fortnight has passed
Life is passing so swiftly
My heart is pounding
O Lord guide me and give me peace. 
 
How I wonder what to say – how to say it…
Show me the way to tell him that I love him
Show me how to say ‘I love you’
I am praying he will say that he loves me
 
 
Vivaldi’s tunes always make me smile.  The words (for this, at least) can be problematic.

Unforgettable…


I have been enjoying sharing songs that have meant something to me, whether howling in laughter or in disbelief.  A few letters have been problematic (not sure what’s in the works for X but I’ll come up with something), but overall it’s been fun.

I did plan in advance, for the most part, though I departed from the planning when something struck me as a better choice..

I had a couple set for U, this one among them.  I nearly used a tune by Richard Rodgers (of ‘and Hammerstein’ fame) that he originally wrote for Victory at Sea.  It was called ‘Under the Southern Cross’, and he reused the tune later as a tango in a musical.  The problem was that I learned that I was one of many people who got the title wrong.  it’s ‘Beneath the Southern Cross’.  Ah, well.  Under the Boardwalk was an obvious one except (dare I say it?) as one who lived in the Hawaiian Islands and experienced the beautiful Pacific beaches, my opinion of the beaches anywhere near ‘the Boardwalk’ is, shall I say, rather unenthusiastic.

This left the song that was the winner from the first anyhow.  I’d have used it no matter what started with ‘U’.  There was no contest.

Smooth as silk, smoky-voiced, those smiling eyes…

Who else but the great Nat King Cole?

When this duet came out through the magic of audio processing, I was charmed, delighted, and even a little misty-eyed.  And I am even happier to have found this YouTube video of a performance Natalie did using footage of her father.

ENJOY THE PERFORMANCE HERE

How can you beat it?  It’s Unforgettable…

Unforgettable, that’s what you are
Unforgettable though near or far
Like a song of love that clings to me
How the thought of you does things to me
Never before has someone been more 
Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that’s how you’ll stay
That’s why, darling, it’s incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too 
Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that’s how you’ll stay
That’s why, darling, it’s incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too
 
Unforgettable lyrics © BOURNE CO.
-words and music by Irving Gordon

 

T for Third Rock from the Sun – and Time To Say Goodbye


A friend suggested I listen to this song from Joe Diffie (see yesterday’s post) and I promised I would.  I did. 

I couldn’t stop laughing.  Everything is intertwined, the original cause has an amazing effect, and you end up howling. 

Do watch to the video I posted here.

THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN
The lyrics are at the bottom of the post if you’re  curious.


 

…Or  you can skip down to something beautiful.
 
The composer of this piece writes pop music for classically trained voices.  This one was composed for Andrea Bocelli, who sang it in a duet with Sarah Brightman. 

I like the voices (it needs an alto,  though) but I really love the instrumental version.  For me, writing a story about a man dealing with the loss of his son, letting go and moving ahead, it seemed to crystallize my feelings of his hesitation, remembering, falling in love and moving on.
 
Well…  The book is coming out in a couple of weeks.  I’m not touting it here.
 
But enjoy the music and ignore the album cover that provides the only image in the video.
TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

——————————————————–

She walks into Smokey’s one hip at a time
Like a broken field runner, slipping through the line
He likes the way she looks so he calls the little wife
Says, don’t wait up for me, I’ll be working late tonight 
Wife hangs up the phone bursts into tears
Calls her sister up and cries get over here  

Sister tells her boyfriend be back in a while
Boyfriend wants a beer, the store is just a mile
He leaves the motor running, he’ll only be a minute
His car drives away with teenagers in it 
The driver tells his buddies got one life to live
They scream into the night, let’s get it over with  

Cause and effect, chain of events
All of the chaos makes perfect sense
When you’re spinning ’round, things come undone
Welcome to Earth, third rock from the sun 

The kid guns the gas, car starts to swerve
Heads for the semi truck jumps the curb
Truck hits the big boy in the Shoney’s parking lot
It flies through the air takes out the bank clock
Clock strikes a light pole transformer sparks
Lines go down, the town goes dark 

Waitress calls the cops says, she saw it all
Swears a giant alien has landed at the mall
Cops ring up the Mayor, say there’s panic in the streets
We hate to wake you up but we can’t find the chief 
Mayor says, use your head if he ain’t in his car
He’s hiding from his wife down at Smokey’s bar  

Cause and effect, chain of events
All of the chaos makes perfect sense
When you’re spinning ’round, things come undone
Welcome to Earth, third rock from the sun 

Songwriter(s): Tony Martin
Copyright: Sony/Atv Tree Publishing

 

S for Ships That Don’t Come In


Nautical Signal Flag: S = Sierra

I was driving to work one day quite a few years ago.  I was not happy.  Bad things were afoot, and they came to fruition a year or so later, with a lot of nastiness.  I had the radio on, and a song came on.  Someone going into a bar and talking with an old man about how difficult life was.  The voice was pleasant, the words good enough – until I heard a verse:  
 
 
Just when I’d hit bottom That old man raised his glass
And said at least we had our chances, There’s those who never have
So here’s to all the soldiers Who have ever died in vain
The insane locked up in themselves The homeless down on Main
To those who stand on empty shores And spit against the wind
And those who wait forever For ships that don’t come in

What? I thought.  What IS this song?

I listened as it went through to its ending.  Naturally, the DJ did not announce it (never happens with songs I really want to know about).  I got in to work, fired up my computer and did a google search.  I found the song and read the words, and it was as though the writer was talking to me. 

Yes, things were difficult and disheartening.  I was not happy where I was, I didn’t know where I was going and looking back at my path to where I was, I saw a good many stupid mistakes and gun-jumping.  But still, I was not badly off, I had my dreams, I had friends, and I had reasons to be thankful, and people to keep in my thoughts and prayers.  Those who are waiting forever for ships that don’t come in. 

The song was performed by Joe Diffie.  Tomorrow’s offering is another of his.  I wonder if you can guess which one it is…  Be prepared to laugh! 

Ships that don’t come in

I could tell he’d had a tough life By the way he sat and stared
And me, I’d come to push and shove So I pulled up a chair
We talked of roads untraveled We talked of love untrue
Of strings that come unraveled We were kings and kindred fools

And just when I’d hit bottom That old man raised his glass
And said at least we had our chances There’s those who never have
So here’s to all the soldiers Who have ever died in vain
The insane locked up in themselves The homeless down on Main 

To those who stand on empty shores And spit against the wind
And those who wait forever For ships that don’t come in
He said it’s only life’s illusions That bring us to this bar
To pick up these old crutches And compare each other’s scars 

‘Cause the things we’re calling heartache Hell, they’re hardly worth our time
We bitch about a dollar When there’s those without a dime
And as he ordered one last round He said I guess we can’t complain
God made life a gamble And we’re still in the game 


So here’s to all the soldiers Who have ever died in vain

The insane locked up in themselves The homeless down on Main
To those who stand on empty shores And spit against the wind
And those who wait forever For ships that don’t come in

And those who wait forever
For ships that don’t come in

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE…

Songwriter(s): Dave Gibson
Copyright: Sony/Atv Tree Publishing

…How Much is Too Much?


I must be crazy.

I have, going on at this moment:

The A to Z blog.  This is a wonderful event with hundreds of bloggers from all over the map who have committed to a post a day (except Sundays) in April with each day’s theme being a letter of the alphabet, in progression.  Some of them are hysterically funny, some of them are very educational (I am going to visit D.C. shortly, I think) some of them make you think, and all are pretty good.  For more info, check HERE .  It is a lot of work, but enjoyable.  I’m still in it.

The Small Celebrations blog hop.  This is an every Friday post where you celebrate something that might not be earthshaking but is nevertheless something worth noting.  It is the brainchild of VikLit  AT THIS BLOG (do visit the blog and the Friday Hop – well worth while).  I have had to drop out for the past three Fridays because of sheer busyness, but after April grinds to a halt, I’m back.  And perhaps sooner.

MOURNINGTIDE  is set to be published May 15.  I need to get things up and running (would anyone be willing to do a post for me?) and I am finalizing things. 

…and because I am bringing things into line for a series that I am writing (didn’t start out that way, but they’re all connected),  I am giving PHARAOH’S SON  a rewrite. 

I think that’s about enough for now.  We won’t mention a new job or other things.

…and yesterday I had a brainstorm for a story set in the timeline of my series.  After what I’m calling ‘Jubilee’, which is nowhere near being finished, and before LORD OF THE TWO LANDS, which is in the works and about 25% done.


Now, it is delicious to know that I still have ideas, and to see that the ideas are viable and could be very entertaining…  But I think I have enough on my plate.  Still…  The notion of two strong personalities grappling over a suddenly empty throne…  A hint of murder, a hint of betrayal…

And I wasted about an hour last night and today finding photos that would represent the two characters.  (The lady, on the right, seems formidable…)

I am a fool.

Sunday Thoughts


Daffodil Hill in Litchfield, Connecticut

At last, some time to catch my breath.  I have been out of things with this A to Z challenge – too many things came together at once and it was all I could do for the past week to get my posts out. 

Now I can go back, visit other blogs, enjoy things – there is so much variety – one woman I follow has crocheted flowers (here’s her blog: http://lotsofcrochetstitches.blogspot.com/ )  Really creative – and I may end up making a bouquet of crocheted flowers to display.

It is early spring, the weeping willow sapling is leafing out (the first green haze of willows is one of my ‘markers’ for the advent of spring), the sky is blue – and my feet are freezing.  Just because it is spring, I don’t have to give up on having a nice fire in my wood-burning stove.

…and there’s a nice, hot cuppa waiting.

Ah…  Sundays…!  I hope yours are good!

R is the Rainbow Connection


One of my all time favorite songs is sung by…

A frog?

Well…  Kermit is no ordinary frog.  I knew the Muppets long before Kermit made his appearance.  Ralph the Dog was on the Jimmy Dean show way back when.  I was just about a toddler, but I remember him.

I could post quite a bit about the Muppets and their contributions over the years.  The duet between Rudolph Nureyev and Miss Piggy in the sauna room where Nureyev is singing ‘I really can’t stay…’ and Miss Piggy is trying to convince him otherwise.  Swine Lake (from the same show).  Pigs in Space with Lance Hogthrob…

Ah, well.  I loved the Muppets.  But oddly enough, I didn’t encounter this song through a movie or their show.  I heard it on the radio back in the ‘eighties.  The singer was terrible (who expects a frog to sing well?) and the DJ said he’d love to hear Judy Collins do justice to it.

I don’t know about that.  Kermit, somehow, expresses for me the smile and the wishing and the determination.

Here’s the YouTube video from the movie CLICK HERE

…and here are the lyrics.

Why are there so many
Songs about rainbows?
And what’s on the other side?
Rainbows are visions
But only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide

So we’ve been told
And some choose to believe it
I know they’re wrong wait and see
Someday we’ll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me

 

Who said that ev’ry wish
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star
Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
Look what it’s done so far
What’s so amazing
That keeps us star-gazing?
And what do we think we might see

Someday we’ll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me 

All of us under it’s spell
We know that it’s probably magic

 
Have you been half asleep
And have you heard voices
I’ve heard them calling my name
Is this the sweet sound
That calls the young sailors
The voice might be one and the same
I’ve heard it too many times to ignore it
It’s something that I’m supposed to be

Someday we’ll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
 

Songwriters: WILLIAMS/ASCHER
Rainbow Connection lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Best of luck to all – I’ll meet you at the Rainbow Connection!

Q…For Quando, Quando, Quando


“So…” my sister said.  “What are you planning to use for ‘Q’ day?” 

I’d had a couple ideas.  Que Sera Sera was out. Not because I didn’t like the sentiment, but because there were nothing but cutesy performances.  Juice Newton’s song from the 70’s, – the Queen of Hearts – was a strong contender.  It’s another I’ll sing along with.  Actually, that was the original winner.

And then I came up with this.  I was planning to post this as a humorous bit.  You know: one of those songs where you know one or two lines and the rest you just sort of fill in.

The song is ‘Quando, Quando, Quando’.  I’ve always liked the tune, but I never knew the words.  It was originally written in Italian and was a hit from the sixties – a little prior to my listening era. 

I liked the tune, but the words –

‘La-da-dee-dah- dahdah-dee!  Dee may quando quando quando’

Nope.  Too stupid.  So I found Juice Newton singing Queen of Hearts.  And then, for the heck of it, I did a search on YouTube for Quando Quando Quando.  I found Engelbert Humperdinck in an early iteration in the Hollywood Bowl surrounded by dancers in gold sequined bras and gold lame’ bell bottoms.  His trousers appeared to have been spray-painted on. 
But then I found this video with the Kessler Twins.  They were a pair of dancers who were very very good.  Enjoy the video.  Click on THIS to see it…

And here are the lyrics in the original Italian.
Dimmi quando tu verrai

dimmi quando quando quando

l’anno il giorno l’ora in cui

forse tu mi bacerai

ogni istante attendero’

fino a quando quando quando

d’improvviso ti vedro’

sorridente accanto a me

se vuoi dirmi di si

devi dirlo perchè

non ha senso per me

la mia vita senza te

dimmi quando tu verrai

dimmi quando quando quando

e baciandomi dirai

non ci lasceremo mai

se vuoi dirmi di si

devi dirlo perchè

non ha senso per me

la mia vita senza te

dimmi quando tu verrai

dimmi quando quando quando

e baciandomi dirai

non ci lasceremo mai

dimmi quando tu verrai

dimmi quando quando quando
(and if you go searching and find Michael Buble’s version, don’t bother.  This song was written to be performed to a bossa nova beat, not a ‘Hamlet’s Soliloquy’ beat)

P is for Pirates, Peter Pan and the Plank Song


Today I’m writing about Pirates, Peter Pan and the Plank song.

Leonard Bernstein composed a musical version of Peter Pan in 1950.  It starred Jean Arthur as Peter Pan and – wait for it – Boris Karloff as Captain Hook (and Mr. Darling).  I loved the recording they had (never reissued, darn it) and to this day I can recite huge portions of it.  I used one of Hook’s soliloquys as an exercise in my Drama class, and was told that I was cheating.

My father described Karloff’s performance  as ‘chewing the scenery’, and he was right.  Karloff must have enjoyed himself with the part.

The songs were as good, musically, as you might expect with a composer like Bernstein.  The lyricist had his tongue firmly in  his cheek when he or she wrote the lyrics.  The pirates were especially fun, and whenever one or another of them showed up, you were guaranteed to laugh.  They made it a matter of pride to be as nasty as possible.  The first time you hear of them, they are singing the pirate song:

– The evilest creatures in all the earth! (sung by the basses)
    –  the evilest creatures in al the word! (sung by the tenors)
– We are eviler far than the Tenors are!
     – it is true that the basses have eviler faces but we are more evil inside!
(click on THIS LINK to go to Amazon and listen to an excerpt of the song)

 

Captain Hook makes his appearance at last (nice makeup job!) and as he tangles with Peter Pan and captures the Lost Boys he sings today’s song, the plank song:

Oh, there was a man and his name was Frank –
Hey ho for the old man Frank!
But he had bad habits, cursed and drank!
We had to make him walk the plank! – plank! – plank! plank!

It goes into a round, properly raucous.  My favorite!  If you want to listen, click on THE PLANK SONG (below) nd listen to Boris Karloff sing about walking the plank.  I never thought I’d hear it again.  I wonder if I can find the whole record…

THE PLANK SONG

http://www.myspace.com/music/buttons/js