new poem
Could be your ball joint is about to go.
Peeled the apples before they went bad,
cored them and getting out the pie tin.
The sight of your Chevy bouncing crooked
down our road
just keeps playing in my head.
Did the dishes, got two plates out
just in case.
Got work tomorrow,
hope cicadas will let me sleep.
Your job sounds good,
hope they like you there.
Hope they have phones
at your next hotel.
Now you got me sitting here
listening to all my Art Gilliam
on a rainy Saturday night in Georgia,
wishing I could get just one minute back
to check those wheels.
* * *
I wrote this on Saturday. I was emailing back and forth with a fellow old jazz lover when he wrote to me, "Now you got me sitting here listening to all my Art Gilliam on a rainy Saturday night in Georgia." I felt a poem bloom immediately. I'm still tinkering with it.
on the road photo by me, not sure where this was
Crooked blue Chevy
Beautiful music
I've been sorting out what I consider to be some of the most beautiful music in the world. I selected these as being beautiful, important in music history (some), coming to mind quickly and being pieces I like to hear often. Hence, it is a practical list, not pretentious. I post it in an effort to keep this music circulating, especially with the younger generations.
Song Title - Length - Album - Artist
The Mission soundtrack by Ennio Morricone
Ladies Of The Canyon 3:41 No More "I Love You's" Annie Lennox
The Rainbow Connection 3:45 Muppet Movie Kermit
I'm going to go back there someday 2:52 Muppet Movie Muppets - Gonzo
Lover Come Back To Me 3:05 The Girl Next Door (TT408CD) Annette Hanshaw
Blue Moon - a good version 3:17 Pennies From Heaven II Greta Keller
What'll I Do 3:13 Album 454 Georgia Gibbs
Always 3:08 Deanna Durbin
Body and Soul 3:08 Annette Hanshaw
Mean To Me 3:24 From CD - orig. Columbia 1762 Ruth Etting
Dream A Little Dream Of Me 3:09 The Nelson Touch Ozzie & Harriet Nelson
Leaning On The Lamp Post 3:03 The Window Cleaner - Go 3804 George Formby
You Sweet So And So 2:56 Pennies From Heaven (Disc 2) Jack Buchanan, Debroy Somers Band
In A Little Rocky Valley 3:10 We'll Smile Again Flanagan & Allen
Barbara Allen 4:41 Songs Our Daddy Taught Us (P) 1958 The Everly Brothers
Your Cheatin' Heart 2:40 Hank Williams
Cold, Cold Heart 2:45 Legendary Country Singers Hank Williams
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry 2:48 Hank Williams
Blue Eyes Cryin In The Rain 2:39 Hank Williams
Dream A Little Dream Of Me 3:21 Sentimental Journey 36 Wayne King
A Kiss To Build A Dream On 3:04 All-Time Greatest Hits Louis Armstrong
Chances Are 3:04 The Ultimate Hits Collection Johnny Mathis
Since I Fell For You 2:55 1988-Greatest Hits The Righteous Brothers
Unchained Melody 3:40 1988-Greatest Hits The Righteous Brothers
What'll I Do 2:57 Johnny Mathis
Edelweiss 2:16 Now the day is over The Innocence Mission (except for the title, 100% pure English words)
Silent Night 3:09 A Christmas Together John Denver & The Muppets (includes narration on how this song came to be)
Delirium 5:02 Euphoria Euphoria
Love Song For A Vampire 4:20 Annie Lennox (words by Bram Stoker)
Cavalleria Rusticana, for a classical piece
and an unlikely candidate I'm toying with: Your untouchable face by Ani Defranco.
Photo from the Columbia River Gorge, by me
Top 10 grrlish advantages
Top Ten advantages to being a grrl who lifts rather than a guy
10. Guys tend to be more considerate of me in the gym. They wipe down equipment, invite me to work in, and are happy to spot me.
9. People are more easily impressed by my lifting achievements. Heck, they're impressed that I'm lifting at all.
8. There's less competition.
7. The locker rooms are better.
6. Fewer people understand me. :-)
5. Since people expect less of me, it's easier to slack (hey, I'm being truthful here).
4. I laugh with the regulars when a newbie says, "Hey babe, it's all yours."
3. Food and supplements are cheaper; I don't take as much.
2. My home gym set-up is cheaper; I don't need as much weight.
1. And the number one advantage to being a grrl who lifts:
I'm always going to look better than a guy.
Carefree - seagulls photo
Doubt is not a pleasant state of mind, but certainty is absurd. ~Voltaire, 1767
Great shot in Florence, OR by "Kara" - her blog is at http://spacetramp.blogspot.com - lots of astronomy stuff there, pretty cool.
Spring cracking through
What a welcome sight. This little stand of yellow pipes 'spring' in my yard.
female bodybuilders in pop culture
Terry Spivey's very readable article Cartoons and Accomplishments looking back over the years at female bodybuilder-types in movies, cartoons and the like belies his serious, longstanding, reverent devotion to Amazons. I'm happy to direct more readers to it. I consider myself pretty knowledgeable on the subject, but was delightedly surprised to discover more must-see films and books through this piece. Terry and I both have articles posted on fbbworld.com, one of my all-time favorite female bodybuilders sites. I tip my hat to you, Terry~
excerpt from Cartoons and Accomplishments
"Over the years I’ve been on a quest to see as many Hollywood films as possible in which women bodybuilders have had cameos, supporting or occasionally a leading role. Just last week, I had some friends sit me down to watch the DVD of “Napoleon Dynamite”. Half way through the film I recognized pro bodybuilder Virginia Brady in a short scene. Her acting skills left much to be desired but her physique was outstanding. The scene was basically farcical in its depiction. Ms. Brady was practically portrayed as a “woman of extreme proportions”. Like Barrymore, Virginia Brady was a caricature of herself with the upshot being that she was one more, strange person in this dysfunctional Idaho small town. My friends laughed out loud and speculated that she was really a man but I was quick to correct their crass misjudgment. Nothing more was said about her after I corrected them.
My point in this little illustration is to draw your attention to a travesty of exploiting women who have accomplished a unique and exceptional achievement. Women bodybuilders had, at one time, a great deal of respect from filmmakers. I want to take a little time travel back to an era when that level of respect was high."
