Yeah, what he said...

Dear FB Friends: You can't find out who saw your profile. You won't see what you'll look like in the future. You won't know what that man saw when he walked in on his daughter. There are no free iPads. And you can't see the video of Osama's death... Not on Facebook. Please stop clicking the spam links and exposing yourself and friends to virus risks. Repost, please. -- Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Above is a funny response that went around a little (and even made it to Failbook!) after the embarrassment of people virally reposting the following eloquent and mangled status update:

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that" -- Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

More misattributed or mangled quotes.

"Don't believe everything you read on the internet." -- Abraham Lincoln

9 Things

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
2. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
3. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
4. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
5. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
6. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.
7. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.
8. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.
9. Your friends love you anyway.

One of those lists that gets mass-mailed, but I still like these. There was also a #10 but it was a sexist remark so I omitted it.

The Name Dropper Meme

This meme was started by konagod and I decided to play.

Make a list of famous people you have randomly seen in public, people you have heard of but don't know. If you want to play along, do it (and let me know in comments so I can see your list).

Rules: It has to be something random and unexpected. You can't list Madonna if you paid money to see her in concert! However, if she invited you up on stage, then you can list her.


Early 1950s, when I was a baby or perhaps a toddler, our family went to see the now legendary Marty Robbins and Marty picked me up and carried me around on the stage for awhile. I don't imagine that I have ever been cuter than that in my entire life. This was before Marty had released any records. When I was a teenager my mother and I met him again, and she embarrassed me by asking him if he remembered this little girl (pointing to me) and carrying her around on stage. He politely replied that he remembered it. The video is from close to that time, a little later, and features his first hit song.

In late 1967 my mother and I took a bus trip to LA/Hollywood, Sunset Strip. I was a fangirl (teenybopper was the term in use at the time). We went to the Whisky a Go Go where I saw Stephen Stills (then of Buffalo Springfield, one of my favorite bands) in the crowd. The bands playing in the club were Steppenwolf and Iron Butterfly (pre- In-a-gadda-da-vida). Later that night we saw the now-late Gene Clark from the Byrds sitting in a diner.

In 1970 or 1971 when I was a bleached blonde teenager, Chuck Berry was playing a free concert on a big green space at SIU-C'dale IL. He was late showing up and some a-hole audience members started chanting his first name along with another word that rhymed with it. OK, that part is irrelevent... but not this. I was standing close to the stage (as I am known to do even to this day) and when he got there, he put one arm around me and another around another young girl - and he grabbed a handful of my teenaged ass cheek before letting go. In honor of that, I give you Sweet Little Sixteen from a 1972 show.
I was never a groupie or anything, so this was just a novelty occurence. Several years later, it is entirely possible that I could have been featured in Chuck Berry's Home Movies, otherwise known as the spy cameras he had installed in the women's bathroom at his Wentzville restaurant, the Southern Air, because I visited it during that time time. [second paragraph] Within the last 10 years, Austin: I don't really seek out sightings here, but star-spotting is certainly something you could engage in. We were at the Continental Club around the time "The Alamo" was being filmed down the road, and there, standing in the reasonably uncrowded room watching James Hand was Dennis Quaid. He had a beard for his role, but the grin is unmistakable. Nobody was pestering him and we didn't either. He is a fan of James Hand. We were at the SW Austin Costco one day, and one of our 2 Republican Senators, John "box turtle" Cornyn walked right past us. My fun one is from the Bruce Willis / Del Castillo / Chingón show, a.k.a Robert Rodriguez' concert at Antone's while filming for Sin City was going on. I was up next to the stage when Willis jumped down into the audience, so there we were... all pressed up against Bruce Willis. I did put my arm around him and hugged his waist, but did not pull a Chuck Berry! Rodriguez was filming the whole thing so I'm sure he's got that somewhere in his home movies (which I would vastly prefer to see rather than Chuck Berry's!!).

Me Me Meme

I stole this from Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein, who is worth visiting every day without missing any.

Hi, my name is: Blueberry (not my real name though)

Never in my life have I been: a mother.

The one person who can drive me nuts is: [was] my mother.

High school: is something that I cared nothing about, and still don't.

When I’m nervous: I get a red face.

The last song I listened to was: on the new Shearwater album.

If I were to get married right now my best man/maid of honor: I'm not one to respect wedding traditions, and don't need a maid of honor in any case. That's just silly.
My hair is: still brown and not dyed, but always unruly.

When I was 5: I loved mythology, dinosaurs, and Liberace.

Last Christmas: was barely even noticed.

I should be..: retired, but that may never happen.

When I look down I see: a cat who wants something.
The happiest recent event was: SXSW music annual day party crawl.

If I were a character on ‘Friends’ I’d be: oops. I forgot to ever watch "Friends."

By this time next year: I have no idea because I don't plan that far.

My current gripe is: I am underpaid.

I have a hard time understanding: the enjoyment of killing animals.

There’s this girl I know that: doesn't like being called a "girl"

If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: MrB

Take my advice: don't stay in a situation that makes you unhappy or doesn't let you grow as a person.
The thing I want to buy: I'd love an iPhone but can't afford the bill.
If you visited the place I was born: you'd be on an Air Force Base in Arizona. Visit in August for the whole experience. Take a sun hat, and watch out for scorpions.

I plan to visit: someplace when we know longer would need to hire a cat nurse.

If you spent the night at my house: expect to have your sleep disturbed by cats, also the guest bathroom is owned by a cat - expect to play second fiddle to cats, that's what we do.

I’d stop my wedding if: I was asked to promise to "obey" or be Christian.

The world could do without: hateful religious nuts.

I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: vote Republican or TeaBagger.

Most recent thing I’ve bought myself: for ME and not US? Jeans from Goodwill.

Most recent thing someone else bought me: an Xmas "pressie" from the UK.

My favorite blonde (blond) is: Legolas

My favorite brunette is: MrB

My favorite redhead is: my friend Lee who moved from the USA to the UK and ended up married to a Moody Blue.

My middle name is: not going to be revealed here either.

In the morning I: get up way too early.

The animals I would like to see flying besides birds are: capybaras, or maybe pigs.

Once, at a bar: I met the love of my life.

Last night I was: at the Nutty Brown Cafe watching Del Castillo.

There’s this guy I know who: plays guitar.

If I was an animal I’d be: a big cat.

A better name for me would be: Rose.

Tomorrow I am: working a long day, repeat that 4 more times and you have described my week.

Tonight I am: finished watching a DVD and hoping to get some sleep.

My birthday is: Aug. 24.

Advice in the InBox

This is one of those things that gets forwarded around, and in the office it arrived in an allstaff email from someone. I think people liked it. I saw it printed out on the printer tray, and it probably got push-pinned to some bulletin boards. I took it way beyond that and decided to pick it apart and throw it out there for discussion. [My comments are in brackets and italics]

Health
1. Drink plenty of water
-- [I don't drink enough water, for sure. Water is good. Plastic bottles are not so good though.]
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar
-- [Good advice, I think, but there's no way I can do it this way except on weekends.]
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants
-- [Agreed! But I'm not going to make my own pasta. I also like v-8 juice, cereal, pickles, beer and chips.]
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
-- [What could it hurt? Eh?]
5. Make time to pray
-- [Define "pray." will meditation work? OK. Let's move on.]
6. Play more games
-- [Games? Not head games, or violent real or video games, or games where something dies in the end, or died to make the game possible. I guess I reject this advice without some clarification.]
7. Read more books than you did in 2009
-- [Read, read, read. It doesn't have to be books. Read instruction manuals, nutrition panels, contracts, liner notes and movie credits.]
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
-- [This couldn't hurt. Really.]
9. Sleep at least for 7 hours
-- [Great. Not going to happen though. I'm doing well to get 5 hours.]
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, SMILE
-- [I am pretty sedentary. That's bad. I know.]

Personality
1. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about
2. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment
3. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
6. Dream more while you are awake
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
8. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
12.· Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
13. Smile and laugh more.
14. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...
-- [I am not sure any of these are worth picking apart. They are all reasonably OK. What do you think?]

Society
1. Call your family often.
-- [OK, I think this really depends on the family relationships and the reason for the calls. If you have a functional family and are calling to express love and/or support, go for it.]
2. Each day give something good to others.
-- [...unless it's a Bible tract, a Watchtower magazine, advice on their love life. One man's treasure is another one's trash.]
3. Forgive everyone for everything.
-- [Wow, that's loaded. Should there always be forgiveness? for everything? That's a real question.]
4. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
-- [The age of the person doesn't matter. All ages have something to offer, and all ages need others.]
5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
-- [My mother would say she didn't care if people were laughing at her or with her, as long as they laughed. Not sure if she really meant that.]
6. What other people think of you is none of your business.
-- [Now, that's a good point.]
7. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them.
-- [If you have friends who will take care of you when you are sick, then you are lucky.]

Life
1. Do the right thing!
-- [Of course!]
2. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
-- [Another loaded one. Can "necessary" be exchanged for those 3 terms?]
3. GOD heals everything.
-- [I am taking the atheist exemption on this one.]
4. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
-- [Seems true enough.]
5. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
-- [...unless it's the flu, then stay home, and hopefully nobody will force you to work while too sick. Seriously, I have my doubts on this one. Sometimes being in bed, slobby, and home is preferred.]
6. The best is yet to come...
-- [We can only hope.]
7. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
-- [...again, I waive participation... and how do you awake dead?]
8. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be HAPPY ALWAYS
-- [Happy is great. Sadness has its virtues too. I'm generally happier than I used to be. That's because I'm older and more resigned that I'm probably living in the midst of my destiny, and it's OK. I'm also fine with not having the answers. Nobody else does either.]

Any thoughts?

Wiki-surfing

Stephen Colbert, in his unique way of hitting the nail on the head, coined the word wikiality, defined as "reality that we all agree on." Ironically, this is explained further in the wiki article "Cultural impact of The Colbert Report."

J-Walk did a post on how many clicks on Random Article on Wikipedia it would take before finding something he was interested in. For him it took 15 clicks. I'm interested in a lot of stuff, especially trivia, so I just did 15 clicks to see what came up.

1. Term limit
   (OK, not particularly interesting)
2. Nowa Wieś Mała, Lower Silesian Voivodeship
   (a Polish village with a population of 30) "Nowa Wieś Mała is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Paszowice..."
3. Gromadzice, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship
   (another hard-to-pronounce Polish village with unpronounceable directions? This is random?)
4. William Andrews
   (there are a lot of them so this is a disambiguation)
5. Pyramimonadales
   (it's algae)
6. vmstat
   (virtual memory statistics)
7. Nenko System
   (a Japanese system of employee promotion)
8. Eddy Palchak
   (I would have known this guy if I were a sports enthusiast)
9. Frank Guinta
   (Mayor of Manchester, New Hampshire)
10. Beaulieu-en-Argonne
    (a French commune)
11. Lalongue
    (another French commune! The randomness of this is now highly suspect!)
12. Plew, Missouri
    (unincorporated community in SW MO, which I never heard of but learned from this article that a plew is a beaver pelt.)
13. Mount Ronui
    (a volcano in Tahiti)
14. Reachin'
    (first studio album from the jam band Family Groove Company)
15. Manuel María Lombardini
    (a Mexican General who was President of Mexico for 3 months in 1953)

I love Wikipedia, and although I don't think it should be viewed as the ultimate authority, it comes as close to that as any of your old dusty encyclopedias did (outdated by the time they are printed, culturally biased, and with uncorrectable flaws).

Blueberry Eyes

Splotchy had an Eye Meme going, so I tagged myself.

RULES:

1. Post a picture of your eyes.
2. Tag a few people.

I am disobeying because I have nearly stopped tagging people. Tag yourself if you'd like to play.

5ifteen

I was tagged on Facebook with this one by konagod, but decided to do it here since I don't have that many Facebook friends yet.

Here's the setup:
"Think of 15 albums that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life or the way you looked at it. They sucked you in and took you over for days, weeks, months, years. These are the albums that you can use to identify time, places, people, emotions. They might not be what you listen to now, but these are the albums that no matter what they were thought of musically shaped your world." After that you are supposed to tag 15 people, which I am not going to do - but if you want to play, tag yourself and let me know in a comment. :-)

Not too long ago I did the "Seven Greatest Albums of All Time", but this list will be stuff I just went crazy for and wore it out - mostly all from the 60s and 70s, all on vinyl. These are arranged chronologically by release year.

1
Meet the Beatles (1964)

I Want To Hold Your Hand, I Saw Her Standing There, This Boy, It Won't Be Long, All I've Got To Do, All My Loving, Don't Bother Me, Little Child, Till There Was You, Hold Me Tight, I Wanna Be Your Man, Not A Second Time

I was just the right age when the Beatles came to America to have my world turned upside-down by a rock band. This album, and The Beatles' Second Album came out in 1964, I got them both, and was absolutely flipped. Crushing on John Lennon was only part of it. They were simply different from anything I'd ever heard before, and still can't be beat.

------------

2
The Rolling Stones Now! (1965)

Everybody Needs Somebody to Love, Down Home Girl, You Can't Catch Me, Heart of Stone, What a Shame, Mona (I Need You Baby), Down the Road Apiece, Off the Hook, Pain in My Heart, Oh Baby (We Got a Good Thing Goin'), Little Red Rooster, Surprise, Surprise

I never chose between The Beatles and Stones, I loved both of them. The Stones were fascinating, and their "bad" image was impossible to resist. The drew heavily on old American blues, soul and Chuck Berry, and had a sexy, seductive sound and look - that soulful harmonica and Mick's James Brown styled dance. I crushed heavily on Brian Jones at age 12, but Mick and Keith were also part of the obsession. The topics were more grown-up than me, but I was familiar with the rural dive bar, roadhouse, and barfly so it wasn't altogether alien.

------------

3
The Yardbirds - Having a Rave Up (1965)

Mister You're a Better Man Than I, Evil Hearted You, Still I'm Sad, Heart Full of Soul, I'm a Man, Train Kept A-Rollin', Smokestack Lightning, Respectable, I'm a Man, Here 'Tis

OK, can you tell that I am a British Invasion freak? Yes, I still love that music, and back then I still searched beyond the hit singles for those deep album cuts. As you probably know, the Yardbirds had 3 of the greatest ever rock guitarists as members: Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck. All of them have very distinctive styles, and of those 3 (and I love them all), Jeff Beck is my favorite. This album's covers of old American blues numbers are what I love most about it - they are very intense and fresh takes: I'm a Man, Smokestack Lightning - that stuff is just awesome. Heart Full of Soul is classic Yardbirds with a sound that foreshadowed the psychedelic guitar-oriented rock that wasn't really around yet, but was influenced by tracks like this (among other things) {grin}. If you added For Your Love to this album, it could stand as a Yardbirds album that didn't need anything else. I will never forget when we moved to Greece in 1965 - I was a 12 year old kid and know what to expect the place to be like - then on our first night there in the hotel someone was playing For Your Love at full volume on the nearby beach. It's hard to explain how it made me feel.

------------

4
Them (1965) UK name The Angry Young Them

Here Comes the Night, Mystic Eyes, Don't Look Back, Little Girl, One Two Brown Eyes, Gloria, If You and I Could Be As Two, I Like It Like That, I'm Gonna Dress in Black, (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66, Go On Home Baby

Continuing with the British Invasion, this is Van Morrison's early band, and contains 2 incredible timeless rocking tracks: Here Comes the Night and G-L-O-R-I-A. It's hard to top Gloria. I am an eccentric freak who prefers Van Morrison's THEM to Van Morrison solo. I know you don't agree, hardly anyone does, and I don't expect it. It's just personal preference.

------------

5
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

Like a Rolling Stone, Tombstone Blues, It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry, From a Buick 6, Ballad of a Thin Man, Queen Jane Approximately, Highway 61 Revisited, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Desolation Row

I was a big fan of Dylan from early on, and love all his records up through and including Blonde on Blonde. This is the newly electrified Dylan. I love every minute of it.

------------

6
Help - The Beatles (1966, UK version)

Help!, The Night Before, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away, I Need You, Another Girl, You're Going To Lose That Girl, Ticket To Ride, Act Naturally, It's Only Love, You Like Me Too Much, Tell Me What You See, I've Just Seen A Face, Yesterday, Dizzy Miss Lizzy

The records I got in 1965-1966 were bought in Europe so they are the UK versions, and this one is really a lot different than the American one. Again, I don't have a Beatle album I didn't obsess over, but I will pick this one because of the movie. I saw it in Greece at an outdoor theatre, it was like a drive-in without cars, everyone was in rows of chairs with the big screen in front of us, and we were under the night sky. Watching the band playing these (new) songs in living color - and they were so beautiful (the band *and* the songs) that I was ecstatic.

------------

7
The Zodiac - Cosmic Sounds (1967)

OK, this is trippy, as trippy as it gets. This album has been listed as a major influence by Jimi Hendrix, The Moody Blues, Pink Floyd and others. The instructions on the back say that you must listen in the dark. Dramatic poetry and mood-inducing compositions using flutes, Moog synthesizer, harpsichord or whatever else was handy. You can listen to some of here on its MySpace page. Wonderfully dated.

------------

8
Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed (1967)

The Day Begins, Dawn: Dawn is a Feeling, The Morning: Another Morning, Lunch Break: Peak Hour, The Afternoon: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?), (Evening) Time to Get Away, Evening: The Sunset, Twilight Time, The Night: Nights in White Satin, Late Lament

The record label wanted the Moody Blues to record Dvorak's New World Symphony and they were going to release it as a quadrophonic aural experiment. Instead, they balked in the studio and recorded their own compositions, but it was still what the label was looking for: a perfect blending of rock and the symphony. If you listened to The Zodiac, you can really hear the influence of it here, especially with the inclusion of dramatic poetry recitation.

Late Lament
Breathe deep the gathering gloom
Watch lights fade from every room
Bedsitter people look back and lament
Another days' useless energy's spent
Impassioned lovers wrestle as one
Lonely man cries for love and has none
New mother picks up and suckles her son
Senior citizens wish they were young
Cold-hearted orb that rules the night
Removes the colors from our sight
Red is gray and yellow, white
But we decide which is right
And which is an illusion.

I am quoting that from memory only, no cheating, no looking. (it might have errors.) This is simply a gorgeous album. I think that Twilight Time and Dawn is a Feeling are my favorites.

------------

9
Jeff Beck - Truth (1967)

Shapes of Things, Let Me Love You, Morning Dew, You Shook Me, Ol' Man River, Greensleeves, Rock My Plimsoul, Beck's Bolero, Blues De Luxe, I Ain't Superstitious

Rod Stewart, before his pop commercial day, just wailin' the bluesy soul!! He's incredible, and the guitar stylings make this album something unique, even to this day. And look at these credits (pasted from wikipedia):

* Jeff Beck - guitars, vocals, arranger; bass on "Ol' Man River"
* Rod Stewart - vocals (except on "Greensleeves" and "Beck's Bolero")
* Micky Waller - drums (except on "Greensleeves" and "Beck's Bolero")
* Ronnie Wood - bass (except on "Ol' Man River", "Greensleeves" and "Beck's Bolero")
* Nicky Hopkins - piano on "Morning Dew", "You Shook Me", "Beck's Bolero" and "Blues Deluxe"
* Keith Moon - drums on "Beck's Bolero", tympani on "Ol' Man River" (credited for the latter as "You Know Who")
* Jimmy Page - 12-string rhythm guitar on "Beck's Bolero"
* John Paul Jones - bass on "Beck's Bolero" and Hammond Organ on "Ol' Man River" and "You Shook Me"
* Mysterious Scottish Bloke - bagpipes on "Morning Dew"

------------

10
Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland (1968)

...And the Gods Made Love, Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland), Crosstown Traffic, Voodoo Chile, Little Miss Strange, Long Hot Summer Night, Come On (Part 1), Gypsy Eyes, Burning of the Midnight Lamp, Rainy Day Dream Away, 1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be), Moon, Turn the Tides... Gently Gently Away, Still Raining, Still Dreaming, House Burning Down, All Along the Watchtower, Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

Jimi Hendrix, at some point in the late 60s, exploded into space. He was no longer of this earth when it came to his music. You couldn't even tell where it came from because it was so unlike anything before it. You can't explain it away with drugs, because the same level of drug use does not turn most people into a Jimi Hendrix. This double record will blow you away. I was lucky enough to see him live in 1970 at the Atlanta Pop Festival.

------------

11
Led Zeppelin (1969)

Good Times Bad Times, Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, You Shook Me, Dazed and Confused, Your Time Is Gonna Come, Black Mountain Side, Communication Breakdown, I Can't Quit You Baby, How Many More Times

This is still my favorite LZ album, maybe because when I first saw the band it was only a few months after this was released, I'd never heard of them but was blown away, to say the least. This is still an intensely wonderful listen.

------------

12
Rolling Stones - Let it Bleed (1969)

Gimme Shelter, Love In Vain, Country Honk, Live With Me, Let It Bleed, Midnight Rambler, You Got The Silver, Monkey Man, You Can't Always Get What You Want

This one is not any better than Exile on Main Street or Sticky Fingers, the Stones were hitting full stride with those 3 records. I picked this one because I saw them (from the front rail) on the tour where this was released, but truthfully it's impossible to pick one over the others.

------------

13

Johnny Winter - Guitar, Vocals
Edgar Winter - Keyboards
Uncle John Turner - Percussion
Tommy Shannon - Bass
Guest: the great Willie Dixon

I'm Yours & I'm Hers, Be Careful With A Fool, Dallas, Mean Mistreater, Leland Mississippi Blues, Good Morning Little School Girl, When You Got A Good Friend, I'll Drown In My Tears, Back Door Friend

If Robert Plant had my favorite howl then Johnny Winter had my favorite growl. I saw him numerous times at festivals in the 60s, and he was my very favorite flat out blues rock guitar player. His whole band was Texan, and the sound was all-Texan too, although that didn't mean anything to me at the time. I just liked it... a whole lot. Since I moved to Austin, I've seen his rhythm section, Tommy Shannon and Uncle John Turner (now deceased) many times at club shows, but passed up the chance to see JW when he played at Antone's last year. I guess I was secretly afraid I'd spoil my memories, or what's left of them. There's always a danger of that when you revisit things/places/people from your childhood or teenage years.

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14
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Will The Circle Be Unbroken (1972) (3 record set)

Grand Ole Opry Song, Keep on the Sunny Side, Nashville Blues, You Are My Flower, The Precious Jewel, Dark as a Dungeon, Tennessee Stud, Black Mountain Rag, Wreck on the Highway, The End of the World, I Saw the Light, Sunny Side of the Mountain, Nine Pound Hammer. Losin' You (Might Be the Best Thing Yet), Honky Tonkin', You Don't Know My Mind, My Walkin' Shoes, Lonesome Fiddle Blues, Cannonball Rag, Avalanche, Flint Hill Special, Togary Mountain, Earl's Breakdown, Orange Blossom Special, Wabash Cannonball, Lost Highway, Doc Watson & Merle Travis First Meeting (Dialogue), Way Downtown, Down Yonder, Pins and Needles (In My Heart), Honky Tonk Blues, Sailin' on to Hawaii, I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes, I am a Pilgrim, Wildwood Flower, Soldier's Joy, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Both Sides Now

This features a long list of legendary country/folk/bluegrass/traditional performers (like Mother Maybelle Carter, Roy Acuff, Vassar Clements, Merle Travis, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, and more) and material. Country music had always been an important part of rock'n'roll, but this album brought the old traditional stuff, its form left intact, to the rock crowd. I was brought up on that music, so I didn't need much convincing, but I know this collection was a life-changer for lots of people. It's titled appropriately because it brought me back to my roots music, full circle.

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15
Bruce Springsteen - The Wild the Innocent and the E-Street Shuffle (1973)

The E Street Shuffle, 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy), Kitty's Back, Wild Billy's Circus Story, Incident on 57th Street, Rosalita (Come Out Tonight), New York City Serenade

I moved out on my own right after high school, moved to the big city (St. Louis) all by myself. I rented a seedy, roachy apartment in a four-family brownstone, 3 rooms, no closets, no sink in the bathroom. I could hardly even afford that. I was very poor, and even working full-time for minimum wage I wasn't really able to afford basic things after the rent was paid -- but living on my own was so liberating, and the inner city presented an adventure, even though it was dangerous (and there's no way I would want to live in a place like that now, I'm too scared of things, but back then I was fearless). I guess that's why these songs really resonated. I got really hooked on them. Bruce Springsteen played St. Louis in 1974 in a fairly small theatre and I talked my live-in boyfriend into going. He had never heard of Bruce Springsteen (this was really early in his career) but we went and it was one of the best live shows I ever saw in my life. I hung around afterward and got his autograph (on a torn matchbook) as he was sitting in the car with a woman. A few years later, I gave the autograph away during a whacked-out religious phase where I was purging "earthly treasures." What an idiot I have been at times. All water under the bridge.

Not quite 48 questions

My friend MandoMama tagged me with the meme on Facebook, but I haven't really jumped into Facebook with both feet yet, so I'm putting it here. I'm not going to tag anyone (and left the ones blank that have to do with tagging), so if you want to play - tag yourself and let me know in the comments.

48 Questions, minus the four I left blank, so that's 44 - in honor of President #44.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Named after 2 ants... no, wait... Aunts.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
when my kitties died in 2007. I hardly ever cry even if I feel like it. Some movies make me cry. Songs too.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I’ve used my own handwriting twice as part of the graphic design of CD sleeve art, which is neither here nor there. Since I type more than I write by hand, it's getting difficult to maintain good penmanship so because I am a perfectionist Virgo, I have a lot of cross-outs and start-overs. I'd really rather type it than make such a mess.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
How about none? I haven't eaten meat for years. Ick.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Nope, kidfree by choice, no offspring or adoptions except for the cats.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Heck no. Two shy moody introverted loners? Who would start the conversation? The people I make friends with in face-to-face world are extraverts: honest, frank and sometimes brash.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Sarcasm has no place in a humorless society. Seriously, this blog has been sarcasm-free for one zero days.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
No. had them out as an adult simultaneously with sinus surgery. I don't recommend that – I mean the sinus surgery and having the two things done together although I don’t miss my tonsils. If you are young – have them gone!

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No way.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
The ones I like don’t like me.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
See question 10. All I ever have these days are nonfat no-sugar-added low-calorie fudge bars. {yawn}

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Accessories, and smiles, especially the eye-smiles.

15. RED OR PINK?
Pink

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
So many to choose from, I just can’t decide. Maybe my lack of self-esteem?

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
I guess it would be my dad, because I never got to be around him as an adult.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
-------

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
black flipflops, blue jeans

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The ringing in my ears.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Silver. I always liked making the page shiny.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Jasmine, honeysuckle, coffee

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
It’s always the vet’s office.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Absolutely.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Probably baseball.

27. HAIR COLOR?
It’s brown, for real. I’ve got no more than a dozen gray hairs. It’s freaky.

28. EYE COLOR?
Dark blue.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No, but people tend to think I do because of my unusual eye color. I need glasses for distances.

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
I love olives.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings are annoying.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Color Me Kubrick (starring John Malkovich)

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
deep red with a leafy theme

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
In Texas and the sub-tropic/tropics? Winter!

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
hugs all around!

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
----
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
----

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Re-reading my 1925 edition of Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. Same one I had as a kid.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
“PETCO – I’m a cat person” with a big blue cat.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
The NatGeo documentaries Air Force One and Marine One, and a DVR’d Lie to Me.

42. FAVORITE SOUND(S).
guitar, mandolin, kitty meows, birds, waves on the beach, MrB talking, anything but this ringing in the ears. (make it stop!) (I have an ear infection right now and it's driving me crazy)

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
I refuse to choose!!!

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
“Home” needs defining when you are a military kid. I lived in Greece and Hawaii, but they were home to me at the time. That unlimited bus ticket I bought back in ’76 took me into some places that are far from where I’d want to be in many ways.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
silly puns, and spotting typos on billboards. Anybody hiring?

46 WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
I was born on a rainy night in Phoenix AZ.

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
---

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
In a bar where I’d gone to see my favorite local band.

The Magnificent Seven

THE RULES:

1. Post your list of the seven best albums, the seven bloggers you will tag, a copy of these rules, and a link back to this page.
2. Each person tagged will put a URL to their Blogger Album Project post along with a list of the seven best albums in the comment section HERE.
3. Feel free to post the “I Contributed to the Blogger Album Project” Award Graphic on your sidebar, along with a link back to this page.
4. Post a link back to the blogger who tagged you.

The Blogger Album Project (Left of Centrist) is collecting a list of what we think are the very best albums.

Border Explorer tagged me for this, and I do love to make these lists, but it is very difficult. I am not the most decisive person around, and my list is constantly changing, so here goes. About half of it goes back to what I think was the greatest time for popular music, the late 1960s (very early 1970s). There was something in the air, something in the water, and whatever it was, there was a great surge of music that came out that has stood the test of time as well as thousands of spins. I am only picking one album per artist, because several of these artists could each easily fill out my 7 best by themselves. I have linked to the albums' wiki entries.

Eric Johnson - Venus Isle (1996) ...as fine a guitar player as anyone on the planet. Most people pick his Ah Via Musicom, the one that went platinum and got a Grammy, and it's a fine one too, every bit as good, but Venus Isle is still my favorite. Eric Johnson was born in Austin, Texas, and still lives here.

Nickel Creek - self-titled (2000). This album simply turned me upside-down. Incredible playing, perfect harmonies, I fell in love with the mandolin, and it was probably the first time I found my musical idols to be over 30 years younger than I was. They have broken up, but we are going to see the Watkins' (Sean and Sara) with Glen Phillips this weekend.

Loreena McKennitt - The Mask and Mirror (1994). Loreena creates a perfect blend of Middle-Eastern and Celtic sounds, with a very ancient feel. The Book of Secrets is really every bit as good as this one, and I love The Visit just as much too. I was dying to see Loreena playing live for many years, and she finally did a tour a couple of years ago - but now I have no funds for pricey shows in Houston. Those days are gone.

Moody Blues - To Our Children’s Children’s Children (1969). It's nearly impossible to pick the best Moody Blues album, especially if you are picking from what they call the "Core 7." Seven albums released between 1967 and 1972, all flawlessly brilliant, not a skip-over track in the bunch. I could pick all of these as the "best," but since I’m trying to limit myself to 7...
Core 7: Days of Future Passed • In Search of the Lost Chord • On the Threshold of a Dream • To Our Children's Children's Children • A Question of Balance • Every Good Boy Deserves Favour • Seventh Sojourn

Yes - Close to the Edge (1972). This is a real masterpiece. Incredible instrumentals and vocals, and so tight! This album is like a journey rather than a song collection. Turn it up. Now LOUDER. Perfect. Jon Anderson has had some health problems lately that have kept him from singing, and sadly, the band has decided to tour without him. No… it’s not Yes. They are filling in with a singer from a Yes tribute band, but to me it's not Yes without Jon Anderson. This goes right along with the other bit of recent Classic Rock news that Led Zeppelin will tour without Robert Plant. That IS a Heartbreaker.

The Beatles – White Album (1968). Impossible to pick just one Beatles album. There isn't a bad track on most of these albums, and I could have as easily picked Rubber Soul or Sgt. Pepper or Abbey Road. They are all very special.
Please Please Me · With The Beatles · A Hard Day's Night · Beatles for Sale · Help! · Rubber Soul · Revolver · Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band · The Beatles · Yellow Submarine · Abbey Road · Let It Be (well, Let It Be may not be up to standard of the others)

Joni Mitchell – Clouds (1969). Again, with Joni Mitchell, it’s nearly impossible to just pick one because she has so many albums that are perfection. Clouds is Joni in her most raw, folk singer/songwriter form. There’s a lot of melancholy here, combined with joy, and so much beauty. You can say that about a lot of her music.

TAGGING:

...Oh boy, I think a lot of people I can think of have already been tagged, so I am not going to have seven tags.

I am tagging MandoMama, maria*maria, Ingrid. Of course, please participate voluntarily if you want, or feel free to untag yourself if you want.

What's a Meme without Me? It's still Me.

DivaJood has tagged me!

1. Where was I ten years ago?
In 1998, I was part of an in-house art department for a company whose parent corporation was attempting to sell-off, merge, or both, with another company. I was making twice the salary I make now, but the days of the job's existence were numbered. The new arranged corporate marriage went bad for the home team and our new partner cannibalized us and closed most of our facilities. I was also in full middle-aged crazy mode, going to see the Moody Blues in Vegas, hanging with my other middle-aged crazy buds, and spending money like it was going out of style. (Well, it was)

2. What was on my ToDo list today?
Got up at 5AM. Worked 20 minutes for a client before hitting the commute north, working 5 hours there, grocery stop on the way home. 5 check marks. Now I really should be starting that one project for a client... but will probably put it off and work on my own stuff... and blog. (oops! Forgot about the huge pile of laundry)

3. My favorite number. (2) It's comfy.

4. Five places I've lived.
Athens, Greece
Carterville, Illinois
Honolulu, Hawaii
Austin, Texas
Albuquerque, New Mexico

5. Bad Habits.
Indecisive. (Maybe that's why I like the number 2. It gives me another option to fall back on.) Packratty. Whiny. Bad attitude about exercise.

And lastly: tag five others, and if this is a second tag, ignore it unless you can list 5 MORE places (that's the one I can do), and MORE bad habits, and MORE stuff to do today. If you don't want to play, that's OK too. I, like, totally understand. ;-)

1. Ingrid
2. Mando Mama
3. Dr. Don
4. Nava
5. Depthmarker (Ann & Th' Rev)