I added a little music player, so to shut off the music, scroll down to it, left side, and pause it. Only a few songs right now, but it will evolve. Should it stay or should it go? The editor doesn't like it because a blog session opens when she opens the internet, and she has to go pause the music. I will remove it soon, I think.
The Iz version can be seen here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ltAGuuru7Q Unfortunately the medley version is no longer available because of copyright issues, but this is a nice version of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.' Long Live Iz!
I mentioned the Mardi Gras Ball in my last post, and here are some pics (with the one at the top of the post).
The city of SLO has done everything in their powers to kill Mardi Gras in SLO, and have almost succeeded, at a cost of millions of dollars. The people that attend the ball are the last of the crews, trying to squeeze a few more good times out of the event. I noticed that the people at the ball are getting older every year, which means no new blood, so it will be over soon.
Life goes on. We bury our friends and family too soon, or we are buried by them, too soon. The holes that radiation left in my head are annoying, but the holes left in my psyche as those I care about die are more painful. I have always said physical pain is easy to overcome; once it is gone it's hard to recall. Emotional pain is different though; I can still feel sad about my father's death just by recalling moments around that event.
We used to play this game when I was a kid where we added the words 'Between the sheets' to the end of the titles in old poetry books. I remember particularly Edgar Guest's 'Raisin Pie' and Frank Stanton's 'Keep A Goin’.
We used to play this game when I was a kid where we added the words 'Between the sheets' to the end of the titles in old poetry books. I remember particularly Edgar Guest's 'Raisin Pie' and Frank Stanton's 'Keep A Goin’.
Keep-A-Goin
If you strike a thorn or rose,
Keep a goin’!
If it hails or if it snows,
Keep a goin’!
‘Taint no use to sit and whine
When the fish ain’t on your line’
Bait your hook and keep a tryin’-Keep a goin’!
When the weather kills your crop,
Keep a goin’!
Though ‘tis work to reach the top.
Keep a goin’!
S’pose you’re out o’ every dime-
Gittin’ broke ain’t any crime.
Tell the world you’re feelin’ prime-Keep a goin’!
When it looks like all is up,
Keep a goin’!
Drain the sweetness from the cup,
Keep a goin’!
See the wild birds on the wing,
Hear the bells that sweetly ring.
When you feel like sighing, sing-Keep a goin’!
Frank L. Stanton
One of the things that keeps me going, besides this absurd human tendency to keep a goin, is my kids. Not that they need me, but I enjoy them too much. Mike especially is having a great run right now, with his acting and singing skills just in full play. He hangs with a great bunch of kids, and everything is dropping in place for him. Not like when I was his age.
Mike had a choir concert last week, and he did the 'Somewhere over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World' medley that Iz made famous. Mike came out with his ukulele and rocked the house. Not to brag, but I am bragging. Here is a not-so-good video of it. I never remember my video camera when it counts, because a better made DVD will come out for $20, but waiting for it kills me.
Mike had a choir concert last week, and he did the 'Somewhere over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World' medley that Iz made famous. Mike came out with his ukulele and rocked the house. Not to brag, but I am bragging. Here is a not-so-good video of it. I never remember my video camera when it counts, because a better made DVD will come out for $20, but waiting for it kills me.
The Iz version can be seen here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ltAGuuru7Q Unfortunately the medley version is no longer available because of copyright issues, but this is a nice version of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.' Long Live Iz!
I mentioned the Mardi Gras Ball in my last post, and here are some pics (with the one at the top of the post).
The city of SLO has done everything in their powers to kill Mardi Gras in SLO, and have almost succeeded, at a cost of millions of dollars. The people that attend the ball are the last of the crews, trying to squeeze a few more good times out of the event. I noticed that the people at the ball are getting older every year, which means no new blood, so it will be over soon.
wowMike, wizard of Iz!
ReplyDeleteI kind of like the juke box, wish we had a cribbage board, make the blog bar complete.
wish I had some lighthearted wisdom about the rest of the post, but feeling too much like what I'm reading to be of any help--especially at the end of the Endless Winter here (not a good title for a surf movie...
so all I can think is, I hope you mardi gras kings and queens are not allergic to feathers. that would be a good thing.
Wow, Mike is awesome!! That really was great.
ReplyDeleteToo bad about Mardi Gras, I have some great memories. When I moved to SLO in 1994, Mardi Gras was the next weekend - Heather and I still have the poster form the event hanging in our dining room!
Cheers to Mike!
I had to kill the music player, it was bothering the editor no end.
ReplyDeleteHey Mo, your poetry is really good, I get the feeling of that New England winter. The idea of Earl deciding where my catheter is going is kind of scary, but he did get some of that healing duende from his grandma.
1994 Mardi Gras might be the year we were in the parade as Max and the Wild Things. Johnny was Max. That was a crazy parade; we had top fight off the Cal Poly gang that always crashed through the parade, and took great glee in doing so, since we were Wild Things. I will have to search around for pics of our costumes. Were you guys dropping the top for beads?
ReplyDeleteHe does a FABULOUS job!!! Love it! So happy for all of you! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteTerri from WW boards
John, Mike is great!! Love that song, love that version and his singing and playing the yukele is awesome. Better than anyone I have ever seen on Idol or any talent program. Hope he keeps up the great work. Looks like more joy to him! Thanks for the Mardi Gras pictures and stories.
ReplyDeleteMatt and Marian
John Da Man,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great gig by Mike. I can say I knew him when . . . I already have my twenty bucks put aside for the CD. Keep a goin Mike.
Too bad about the Mardi Gras. Y’all need a first class recruiting event to get some new blood injected into the system. Curious, though, why Slo is slow on the Gras? Have y’all been misbehavin?
It was good to see a new blog comment from you. I’m feeling a little isolated and lonely over here in Japan all by myself. TLW and I get to video-Skype about 3 times a week but that ain’t cuttin it fer neither of us.
I send my love from Tokyo, Sendei, Osaka and Fukuoka – all absolutely glorious places on a beautiful chain of islands inhabited by truly wonderful people.
John, keep a goin.
Mac - Between the sheets …
john,
ReplyDeleteFirst let me make clear that earl had nothing to do with the cathedra, that I know of. He was the muscle that pat needed to "persuade" me to leave the hospital.
Mike. Stunning performance, voice and ukulele, comfortable and confident.
Let's hear it for Frank L Stanton, keep a go'in.
My grandfather said he lived on memories. Truer than I could imagine at the time.
Sometimes I see a similar face in a crowd, where I least expect it. Something about the particular walk of a stranger, reminds me of a particular man, my father. And when I remember thinking, how many more times will I see him walk down my stairs , to his car, to drive home, after visiting , for a while, on a friday evening. The rain of my tears floods my psyche washes my soul. Nothing I should have said or could have said. I saw him, an old man, my old man going home.
Though life is finite, I see my father walk down my stairs to his car to drive home after visiting for a while on a friday evening, an infinite number of times. I hope he has found his way home. Between the breadth of the wind and the beat of my heart the memory of you lingers.
These scars we carry, visible and unseen, give us character, so I have heard. You look like a character.
Let the good times roll.
mo
Mac I sure hope you keep a goin on the updates from your big adventure...sorry you are a little homesick between the sheets, but know you will use your creative powers to find a time and place to rendezvous with TLW--forget 'bama, it was even snowing there this week. sorry--can't seem to edit seasonal affective disorder out of my comments lately :<
ReplyDeleteuse John's place to let us know how you are doing, or start your own blog and your faithful blog bar pals will visit there! holy cow, we never could have kept this thing a goin' without you so don't start thinking you can give us the slip at this late date!!!
Pat,
ReplyDeleteThanks for those kind words and thoughts.
Though lonely, I’m doing fine. Fortunately, my work schedule does not give me much of an opportunity to allow my mind to wonder too far off the work path. I’m in Japan as an independent consultant, working on the restructuring and reorganization of a Japanese public company. I’m pretty booked from about 7 AM to 8 PM most days.
This first phase of my project has me here until March 18th, then back to Sweet Home Alabama for a short stretch to spend time with TLW and put into prose what was learned and accomplished on the first trip; design some recommendations and strategies for moving forward, etc.
The only opportunity I had to play “tourist” thus far has been to walk the Tokyo neighborhoods, parks, shops and markets over this past weekend. For a city that’s so densely populated it, surprisingly, offers a comfortably uncrowded feeling. The people are very well organized and tremendously respectful. I’m enjoying this immensely and I look forward to my 11 day road trip, beginning tomorrow morning. I’ll be off to the northeastern and snowy area of Sendai, then south and west to Osaka, then on to the western small island and a town called Fukuoka, then back to Tokyo.
I have a full time interpreter by my side all day long and she will be traveling with me as well. It really is a most wonderful experience and I’ll try to keep y’all up to speed as the process progresses.
John et al, keep a goin.
Mac
you are a lucky man, my friend...many days I wish I had an interpreter by my side, just for English. think I'd be doing a lot better with translator!
ReplyDelete(Mo save your comments for John)
John,
ReplyDeleteI can't believe Mike was just a little kid running around the baseball track and pizza parlor...yesterday and now he is all grown up and sooooo talented. I completely understand why you are proud!! He must get his talent from Dana, I have heard you sing...
Miss you all lots...glad to hear you all are still living it up in SLO....
Mar B in SD
I seem to recall Mike's aunt being the on-stage talent while John was backstage painting sets or banging nails. Joyce Donohue would have loved to get a hold of Mike.
ReplyDeleteAs for Mardi Gras Ball, I find that hydrocortizone applied twice daily to the effected area does the tric
Wow! Go Mike. Definitely takes after his mom! Even his style reminds me of D. I love the confident way he takes command of the stage. I saw the Star Spangled Banner performance on his facebook page, brought me to my knees, one of the most beautiful renditions I have ever heard.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the gang all dolled up for Mardi Gras brought back memories of my last visit. Mardi Gras is fun, especially all the dancing. I think you all look fab. You looked great John, I thought it was Johno at first. You sure can tell all those girls are Marci’s! Now there is someone I miss often.
Belated happy birthday! Hope you celebrated in some special way this year.
Love to both, Chrissie xoxo
(posted this days ago but realize it didn't happen)!
Anonymous Bill From Rhode Island checking in.
ReplyDeleteI may have a news paper article about me in the Providence Journal Wed march 11.
I will be the first (or possibly the first)bone marrow transplant patient to be evicted from an apartment due to bank foreclosure of my landlord. I will try to email the article if you are interested in reading it.
Bill
Beautiful. Thank you, John. Thank you, Mike.
ReplyDelete