BelewGirl's Bloggin Now....

If I'm not posting here..

2007-10-28T23:13:00.001-04:00

I am on FB now (:

The birds the bees and Earth day...

2007-04-26T18:23:00.000-04:00

A GREAT transcript from Bill Maher from last Friday's show I thought very worthy of posting. It's so sadly funny and so true.

Some of my thoughts on it- I am not a big fan of cell phones. I have one but it is really only for emergencies and for special circumstances. I don't use it on the supermarket checkout line, at work, or any other place for that matter just to 'chit-chat for any reason whatsoever (can't those types of conversations just wait till later or if it is an important urgent issue from home, what's wrong with using a landline based phone??) I also don't drive and talk on the phone and whoever does is really being disrespectful to you & others on the road. Whatever it is can wait until you are safely home. I sometimes really wish people would put the damn cell phone down. Esp. now too since it is affecting the bees.

As for the bees, I have only just recently learned of their disappearances. I was kind of hoping that it wasn't true
:( But I do know that the same thing is happening with the monarch butterflies in Mexico and their migration, and has been for quite some time! It's not good. It's incredibly sad and many don't know a thing about it. I should have instinctively known the bees would soon follow suit. (and how I miss my big butterfly garden!!!!) And don't even get me started on the polar bears....

As for plastic bags, they are something I have been learning to find bothersome and wasteful. I just recently started recycling them with my plastics containers, metals, and glass. I think this weekend I will buy the cloth ones at the check out when I go shopping. The ones by me are green and quite nice and only 99 cents. At least I'll feel like I am helping a tiny bit. Kind of like the Hundredth Monkey although with the way people are these days.. I doubt my little green {potato} bag will inspire anyone or catch on as it did the monkeys washing their potatoes lol. But optimism never hurt anyone (;

Global Warming: (please see 'An Inconvenient Truth' if you haven't already.) We still aren't doing enough in my opinion. I wish all Hummers and SUV's and the like could be banned. Esp. when I see one person driving it across town, cutting me off, and racing into the nearest fast food joint! My, we are such ignorant greedy little creatures wanting instant gratification whenever we want it. (don't even get me started on the FDA (food and drug administration) and all they are doing to us and putting in our foods!) My God, if people only realized the half of it! But no.. we are programmed and brought up to buy the finished little product that comes in the neat little box on the shelf. I can tell you this: that if it comes in a box it's probably for the very most part, bad for you. Everything is being so overly processed that we don't realize the damage we are causing to our bodies in the long run. And then there are the drug pharmaceutical companies that damage us as well as rip us off royally because of the damage we are doing to ourselves by eating all these chemically processed foods! .. hand in glove..

I'm looking forward to Michael Moore's movie next movie about the pharmaceutical companies.. and really wondering how far he will go with it because the two (food & drug) are VERY closely connected and being paid off millions of millions of dollars knowingly to harm us and (excuse the term) fuck us over! Kind of like Bush and Cheney. Oh, that's another rant..

But anyway.. Below follows Bill's new rules rant & transcript: I enjoy his mind so very much. Baaaaaaaaa........

"New Rule: From now on Earth Day really must be a year round thing. And in honor of this Earth Day, starting Monday supermarket clerks must stop putting the big bottle of detergent with a handle on it in a plastic bag. I don't mean to tell you how to do your job, but you see that handle you just lifted the detergent with?

I can use that same handle to carry the detergent to my car. And stop putting my liquor in a smaller paper sack before you put it in the big paper sack with my other stuff. What, are you afraid my groceries will think less of me if they see I've been drinking? Trust me, the broccoli doesn't care, and the condoms already know.

Here's a quote from Albert Einstein: "if the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man." Well, guess what? The bees are disappearing. In massive numbers. All around the world. And if you think I'm being alarmist and that, "Oh, they'll figure out some way to pollinate the plants..." No, they've tried. For a lot of what we eat, only bees work. And they're not working. They're gone. It's called Colony Collapse Disorder, when the hive's inhabitants suddenly disappear, and all that's left are a few queens and some immature workers -- like when a party winds down at Elton John's house. Also, if your stinger stays up more than 48 hours, call your doctor.

But I think we're the ones suffering from Colony Collapse Disorder. Because although nobody really knows for sure what's killing the bees, it's not al-Qaeda, and it's not God doing some of his Old Testament shtick, and it's not Winnie the Pooh. It's us. It could be from pesticides, or genetically modified food, or global warming, or the high-fructose corn syrup we started to feed them. Recently it was discovered that bees won't fly near cell phones -- the electromagnetic signals they emit might screw up the bees navigation system, knocking them out of the sky. So thanks guy in line at Starbucks, you just killed us. It's nature's way of saying, "Can you hear me now?"

Last week I asked: If it solved global warming, would you give up the TV remote and go back to carting your fat ass over to the television set every time you wanted to change the channel. If that was the case in America, I think Americans would watch one channel forever. If it comes down to the cell phone vs. the bee, will we choose to literally blather ourselves to death? Will we continue to tell ourselves that we don't have to solve environmental problems -- we can just adapt: build sea walls instead of stopping the ice caps from melting. Don't save the creatures of the earth and oceans, just learn to eat the slime and jellyfish that nothing can kill, like Chinese restaurants are already doing.

Maybe you don't need to talk on your cell phone all the time. Maybe you don't' need a bag when you buy a keychain. Americans throw out 100 billion plastic bags a year, and they all take a thousand years to decompose. Your children's children's children's children will never know you but they'll know you once bought batteries at the 99 cent store because the bag will still be caught in the tree. Except there won't be trees. Sunday is Earth Day. Please educate someone about the birds and the bees, because without bees, humans become the canary in the coal mine, and we make bad canaries because we're already such sheep."

-- Bill Maher, host of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" (Fridays at 11:00PM)time)HBO)

10 years gone...

2007-04-24T22:16:00.001-04:00

Here's to 10 more pescao:))

Then as it was, then again it will be
An' though the course may change sometimes
Rivers always reach the sea

Blind stars of fortune, each have several rays
On the wings of maybe, down in birds of prey
Kind of makes me feel sometimes, didn't have to grow
But as the eagle leaves the nest, it's got so far to go

Changes fill my time, baby, that's alright with me
In the midst I think of you, and how it used to be

Did you ever really need somebody,
And really need 'em bad
Did you ever really want somebody,
The best love you ever had
Do you ever remember me, baby,
did it feel so good
'Cause it was just the first time,
And you knew you would

Through the eyes an' I sparkle, Senses growing keen
Taste your love along the way, See your feathers preen
Kind of makes makes me feel sometimes,
Didn't have to grow
We are eagles of one nest,
The nest is in our soul

Vixen in my dreams, with great surprise to me
Never thought I'd see your face the way it used to be
Oh darlin', oh darlin'

I'm never gonna leave you.
I never gonna leave
Holdin' on, ten years gone
Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone.....

Nick Drake: Family Tree to be released..

2007-04-11T17:03:00.000-04:00

This looks to be very very cool!
Looking forward to it!
(This is too incredibly exciting!! Wow!)
I wish Nick was still here..
I can only imagine what he'd be up too with his guitar.. *love you Nick!*

Family Tree, to be released on June 19th, 2007 on Tsunami LG/Fontana, in the US and Island Records in Europe, will feature previously unreleased tracks from the vaults of the Estate of Nick Drake. The album tells the story of Nick's musical development in the years prior to recording his official debut album Five Leaves Left.

Recorded in the late 1960¹s, the 28 tracks feature lo-fi recordings made on a reel-to-reel tape recorder at his home, Far Leys in Tanworth In Arden, as well as eight songs recorded on cassette during his sojourn in Aix En Provence. The inclusion of two songs, "Poor Mum" and "Try to Remember", written and performed by Molly Drake bears testament to her musical influence on her son, conscious or otherwise.

After Nick's death in 1974, his parents Rodney and Molly Drake began to receive visits from fans compelled to understand more about the source of his music by traveling to the place where he lived and died. For Rodney and Molly, this was no invasion of privacy. On the contrary, aware that this might be the beginning of the recognition that their son had longed for in his lifetime, they invited those fans in and quite often shared the music a young Nick had recorded on an early reel-to-reel recorder. Often fans left with their own cassette tapes of those songs.

Some poor versions of these tapes circulated among collectors for decades. The overwhelming fan demand for unreleased material or stronger versions of these bootlegged songs has thrown up a challenge to the Estate to release something worthy of his legacy.

The Family Tree release will include a recent letter written by Gabrielle Drake to her brother in which she reminisces about their growing up, their family life, and explains how she has tried to preserve his legacy as she thinks he would approve. "I hope that, in the circumstances, you could have given "Family Tree" your blessing. Or if not, that you could have at least looked on with that wry smile of yours."

Family Tree, unlike Nick's albums which contained only his own material, features the young artist mastering the compositions made famous by Bob Dylan, Blind Boy Fuller, and Jackson C Frank. It also showcases his early songwriting skills on tracks like "They're Leaving Me Behind", "Blossom" and "Come Into The Garden". In segues between tracks, the listener hears Nick speaking to himself, even laughing in between takes. The album also includes two versions of songs that ended up on Nick"s first album "Five Leaves Left" which were recorded by his arranger Robert Kirby whilst they were both studying at Cambridge University in 1968.

You need only hear Nick and Gabrielle's exquisite blood harmonies on "All My Trials" or Nick playing clarinet with his aunt and uncle on "Mozart's Kegelstatt Trio" to realize that this was a house whose inhabitants entertained themselves and each other by playing music. In the album closer "Do You Ever Remember?" Molly Drake sings not just for their sorrow, but also for the laughter that once resounded throughout a happy, loving home. It's a laughter that resounds sometimes literally throughout the whole of Family Tree. In doing so, it brings us closer to who Nick Drake was than perhaps any written account of his life thus far.

Track listing:

1. Come In To The Garden (introduction) (Nick Drake)

2. They're Leaving Me Behind (Nick Drake)

3. Time Piece (Nick Drake)

4. Poor Mum (M.Drake) performed by Molly Drake

5. Winter Is Gone (Traditional, arr: Nick Drake)

6. All My Trials (Traditional) performed by Nick and Gabrielle Drake

7. Mozart's Kegelstatt Trio performed by The Family Trio

8. Strolling Down the Highway (Bert Jansch)

9. Paddling In Rushmere (Traditional)

10. Cocaine Blues (Traditional)

11. Blossom (Nick Drake)

12. Been Smokin' Too Long (Robin Frederick)

13. Black Mountain Blues (Traditional)

14. Tomorrow's A Long Time (Bob Dylan)

15. If You Leave Me (Dave Van Ronk)

16. Here Come The Blues (Jackson C. Frank)

17. Sketch 1 (Nick Drake)

18. Blues Run The Game (Jackson C. Frank)

19. My Baby So Sweet (Traditional)

20. Milk And Honey (Jackson C. Frank)

21. Kimbie (Traditional)

22. Bird Flew By (Nick Drake)

23. Rain (Nick Drake)

24. Strange Meeting II (Nick Drake)

25. Day Is Done (Nick Drake)

26. Come Into The Garden (Nick Drake)

27. Way to Blue (Nick Drake)

28. Do You Ever Remember? (M. Drake) performed by Molly Drake

(back of Nick's tombstone)
Love that song! I love the little guitar run down:)

Peter Gabriel Documentary

2007-03-30T19:23:00.000-04:00

For the PG die-hards: A must see!

A fantastic documentary on the making of Peter Gabriel's old album: "Security" in 5 part links on YouTube below...

Man, I love those clips of Tony Levin!! So young!!

Peter is pure genius.. Pure talent! His voice gives me chills every time. He really is one of the best male vocalists of our time. I so love and adore him!

What a rare treat to see this!!! Click on the links below. Enjoy!!

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Motherly instincts

2007-03-20T21:22:00.000-04:00

I have such a great cat! Tonight, April sat over my shoulder on the couch and watched me feed the babies, while all the time, nudging me with her sweet little cat sounds. She was so interested that I ended up putting the babies on the couch with her and when I did, she instantly started licking them! I couldn't believe it :) She bathed them for at least 25 minutes and I was able to take some great pics. She let them climb on her and all 3 even seemed to nap at one point. I knew it was only a matter of time (her time of course;) She got special cat treats of course and extra kisses too (:

"What I've Learned" By: Neil Young

2007-03-18T13:15:00.000-04:00

Found this online from Neil today.... We *love* Neil!!!

"A best moment in music? Sometimes when I'm playing my guitar, I get to a point where it gets very cold and icy inside me. It's very refreshing. Every breath is like you're at the North Pole. Your head starts to freeze. Your inhalations are big-more air than you ever thought there is starts pouring in. There's something magical about it. Sometimes when it happens, you wonder if you're gonna be okay. Can you handle it?

Yes, there was something good that came out of having polio as a kid. Walking.

The sound of a harmonica hits you directly. There's no language barrier.

The wisest person I ever met had to be my companion in the hospital. I was recovering from complications after an operation to remove an aneurism in my brain. She was about eighty-five years old and maybe five feet tall. An old black lady from South Carolina. This young nurse wasn't really in touch with what she was doing, and the old lady would tell her how to do what she needed to do without telling her. She never talked down to her, just gave examples. I felt that this old woman must be deeply religious, but there was nothing forceful about her. I woke up one morning at a quarter to six and looked out the window. Fog was on the bridge outside the room, and I said, "Well, that's just beautiful." And she said: "Yes, it is." She turned toward me with this eighty-five-year-old face that didn't have a line on it, no strain, nothing, and she said: "So the master's not taking you. It's not your turn."

Courage is a mindless thing. People say, "Wow! How could you do that?" And you say, "How could I not do that?"

It's like having two eyes. You either look through one eye or you look through the other. Or you look through both of them. Sex is sex. Love is love. Love and sex is clear vision.

There's something peaceful about boxing. If you beat the hell out of a bag or go against a competitor, you and your reflexes will be so at one that you won't have time to think about anything else. You have to be totally yourself to box.

When I was six, I really didn't know what God was. But I did know about Sunday school. I was reading a lot about God, but I was bored. I couldn't wait to get out of Sunday school. God was secondary to the whole thing. But as time went by, I got more and more angry, to the point where I didn't like religion. Hate is a strong word. But I just kept getting angrier and angrier . . . until finally I wasn't angry anymore. I was just peaceful, because I thought: This is not fruitful for me. I rejected the whole thing and found peace in paganism. Jesus didn't go to church. I went way back before Jesus. Back to the forest, to the wheat fields, to the river, to the ocean. I go where the wind is. That's my church.

Epilepsy taught me that we're not in control of ourselves.

Most people think it's the other way around: that time is going faster and we're doing less. But really time seems to be going faster because we're cramming so much into it.

Our education system basically strives for normal -- which is too bad. Sometimes the exceptional is classified as abnormal and pushed aside.

One thing that has come out of having children with cerebral palsy is strength. At first it made me very angry. I was almost looking for a fight. I was always looking for someone to criticize my son in my presence. I would envision different scenarios in which I would become violent reacting to people's reactions to my children -- especially to my severely handicapped child. Eventually, he taught me that was not necessary. Just by being himself. By being a gift to us. He showed us how to have faith and belief and inner strength and to never give up. I look around and see people hurting themselves for no reason. Drinking too much. Taking drugs. Beating themselves up in some psychological way. That really bothers me, knowing that these people got everything they needed to succeed. All they have to do is believe in themselves and in the gifts they're wasting. And yet there are all these other people on the planet who have none of the gifts that are apparent. The gifts are all locked up inside, yet their spirits are so strong that they just keep on going. And I think: This person who has this spirit, why can't he have some of the outward gifts?

Maybe this is a little too thoughtful, but we're all just passengers in a way.

The best is approaching. I have everything -- well, not everything, but a lot of things that I've accumulated through my life experiences. It's easier to communicate through music than it ever has been before. It's easier to play. It's easier to sing. It's easier to write. Nothing is forced.

When my doctor discovered the aneurism in my brain, he said I'd had it for about a hundred years. He told me I'd had it for such a long time that I shouldn't worry about it … but that we'd have to get rid of it immediately. Yeah, that's Zen medicine. He's very wise. I trusted him completely. All the people who took care of me were absolutely the best at what they do -- even though there was a complication, a complication that has a one-in-twenty-seven-hundred chance of happening in my type of operation. They go into your brain through an artery in your thigh. Later, when I was out of the hospital, my leg exploded. I was out on the street and it just popped. My shoe was full of blood. I was in some serious trouble. I was about fifty yards from the hotel and I just made it. The ambulance came about ten minutes later. I don't know if I need to go into this. I don't know if the event is important. But the result was. That's what led me to that lady. The wisest person I've ever met. "

Short Cattery Slideshow ((:

2007-03-17T22:24:00.000-04:00

Small slideshow of the cattery. (inspired by Amy!:)
I'll try and add more pics later at some point.

Sleeping babies

2007-03-17T21:03:00.000-04:00

Thank God they have each other! :)

Surragate mommy

2007-03-16T00:29:00.000-04:00

I am bottle-feeding 2 small new-born kittens that came into work abandoned..... So far they are doing well although I sometimes worry because you never know with these things! Please say some prayers for me for these two precious little souls! The little grey and white one was actually purring tonight after his feeding :)

My kitty April: tonight watching over them. She hasn't jumped in the box with them yet or anything although she peeks in the box quite a lot to see what all the fuss is about. She's been so good! Now if only she would snuggle with them! It's totally up to her though :)
Let's hope they make it!
*night*

New Arrivals

2007-03-09T19:52:00.000-05:00

Kitten season is beginning early!!

3 little kittens... lost their mommy.. outside a local bar...

Sleepy jelly bellies now!

This little kitty had 4 healthy babies last night :)

I couldn't resist! Little peanut he is! :)

This is Missy, also a new arrival found declawed, abandoned, and pregnant..
Only a matter of days till she gives birth! She is so sweet. How could someone do that to her??!!

This is Tully, a veteran cat at the shelter, getting his afternoon scratch under his chin from me (: ahhhhhh...

Friends of the Farm Gig Pics!!

2007-03-04T12:58:00.000-05:00

The Moonshine Band had an awesome time last night for the Friends of the Farm benefit gig!! Thanks for everyone that came down! There were over 2 hundred in attendance; a record breaker! The farm raised quite a bit of money from tickets and the raffle prizes as well! Only thing.. although the food was incredible, we were wondering.. where were the lobsters?? Maybe we need glasses ._.
The farm plans on a summer gig on the farm premises come this summer again. Perhaps the Moonshine Band will perform again for the cause :)) That's usually free admission although many things to buy and eat and it's a lot of fun!! Okay, here are some pics from the gig with some captions...
Moooooooooooooo.....

Jeff on acoustic and vocalance! Man, Jeff's 2 guitars had a frightful night!! First the Hammer took a nasty unapolagetic fall so Tony had to lend Jeff his Fender and run home to get the SG because Jeff's Hammer would not stay in tune after the crash! :( We hope Mr. Hammer is feeling better and up and playing soon!! I love that guitar! Then Jeff's acoustic was knocked over during a raffling moment (not a pretty sound!) Thank God Jeff didn't bring a third guitar!! You know what they say! Hope they are okay!!

Tony on the SG! What a sound!! I'm thinking 'Heavy Feather' should reunite this summer!!!! I miss the SG and miss the rockin' tunes! And Christian!!!

We got to bring this little flower home :)

Back of the gym shot!

The band's table looking out. There's Maggie in the red.. Bob (the drummers incredibly nice fiance!:) Bob did an awesome job drumming last night!

The Great Larry Nathan!!

The night wouldn't be complete without one of my funny face pics lol..

That's Ryan in the yellow shirt! He filmed the entire gig for the band taking great angles and shots! He did a great job!! Can't wait to see it!! (Mikey: we'd love a copy!!)

This is my fav shot of the night!! Jeff and Tony guitar harmonizing on the end of Rambling Man by The Allman Brothers!! So classic! We will prob frame this one :)

Kathy won the raffle bonsai tree!! (and a joga or belly dance class!!) Way to go Kathy!!

What's in here? "Do Not........ "

HEY! Get Outta There! LOL..

Back Stage shot...

Someone just did a shot of Jack....

Ryan seriously filming....

Gotta film all of Tony's licks so we can steal them!! (;

We bought Friends of the Farm Tshirts! Really nice quality! Kind of like the day after the concert where you have to wear your concert shirt :))

Hopefully see you this summer for another FOTF gig!!

Happy Birthday Daniel!!

2007-02-26T22:45:00.000-05:00

(One of my Favorite Pics above!!)
Have a great Birthday today in Spain!! Wish I were there too! (wish I could at least buy you a cup of coffee!)
For your birthday, I wish for you the magic of all your fondest dreams come true!
And I hope that for every candle on your cake you get a wonderful surprise :)
(how many candles are we up to now??) ja..
I wish for you that whatever path you travel, you follow it just the way you imagined it, and better!!
I hope you feel as much happiness from our friendship as I do!
I've always wished we were neighbors, so I could have known you from the beginning :) (it's going on 10 years now!!)
But I am so glad you are here sharing the same Earth!
You are one of my dearest friends!
Feliz Cumpleanos! Have a great day!!
Un abrazo y mucho besitos siempre!! *(:

Friends of the Farm Benefit Gig!

2007-02-21T18:42:00.000-05:00

The Moonshine Band is helping Lewis and Oliver Farms once again! (with special guest Tony on guitar of course!) Great cause, great food, great people, and great tunes! Hope you can make it!

Friends of The Farm for Lewis Oliver Farm in Northport presents the 11th annual Barn Dance land and sea extravaganza, featuring a clam bar extraordinaire presented by chefs Brett and Eric of Northport Fish and Lobster. The event takes place on Saturday, March 3 from 7 to 11 pm at St. Philip Neri Parish Center, 15 Prospect Street, Northport Village. Entertainment features the Friends' regular country/rock band (The Moonshine Band.) Beer, wine, soda, coffee and dessert are included for a donation of $45 per person. For tickets, contact Joan at 724-6440 or Betty at 261-1849. Proceeds will help support the animals and the organization as it tries to save the farm.

Sex Kills

2007-02-20T23:50:00.000-05:00

I pulled up behind a Cadillac
We were waiting for the light
And I took a look at his license plate
It said "Just Ice"
Is justice just ice?
Governed by greed and lust?
Just the strong doing what they can
And the weak suffering what they must?
And the gas leaks
And the oil spills
And sex sells everything
And sex kills
Sex kills

Doctors' pills give you brand new ills
And the bills bury you like an avalanche
And lawyers haven't been this popular
Since Robespierre slaughtered half of France!
And Indian chiefs with their old beliefs know
The balance is undone crazy ions
You can feel it out in traffic
Everyone hates everyone!
And the gas leaks
And the oil spills
And sex sells everything
And sex kills
Sex kills

All these jackoffs at the office
The rapist in the pool
Oh and the tragedies in the nurseries
Little kids packin' guns to school
The ulcerated ozone
These tumors of the skin
This hostile sun beating down on
This massive mess we're in!
And the gas leaks
And the oil spills
And sex sells everything
And sex kills
Sex kills
Sex kills
Sex kills
Sex kills

Can't seem to get this one out of my head today..
Joni is so profound...

New Job!

2007-02-15T18:07:00.000-05:00

I started a new job this week! I am no longer teaching nursery school. I have really had it with all the ignorant, insensitive, uneducated, lazy, sometimes nurotic, and cheap directors. (that almost basically covers it!) I absolutely loved being in the classroom, doing what I did, not to mention working with such great kids (as well as some really wonderful parents..) I also loved working with many of my co-workers, some of who I have remained friends with, and love and respect dearly. I loved that I got to be so creative and also have so much fun at the same time. I loved the repour I had with my kids. I sure as heck miss them! But the directors I've dealt with (like 90%) have been horrible to work for. (this excludes retired Audrey VanDuesen whom I think is still an educational Goddess, my student teacher mentors, and Moira from Northport Co-Op up the street..) These are incredible women who run an amazing program and if I could I'd be working for them in a heartbeat!

So, unless I get my BA in Elementary Art Education, (which I am seriously considering) or find an opportunity with an developmentally appropriate school: with decent & educated people to work for, I doubt I will go back into the classroom for quite some time.

What is my new job you ask? Well, if you know anything about me, you will know how much I love cats! So I am now working at an animal shelter in the cattery! I absoltely LOVE it! I am so incredibly happy to be there. I have found a tiny place in this vast world with amazing creatures that I truly love and deeply respect. It is a LOT of work but it is very-very rewarding. I now have close to 300 new fury friends. Yes, you read that right, close to 300! (and that doesn't even include the wonderfully dedicated cattery staff I work with;) It really is a cat Heaven, other than it is incredibly sad because all these wonderful little guys just need homes! (Please, seriously consider adopting from a shelter if you ever want a cat!!) So, until they find the homes they deserve, we love them and do what we can. Most all our cats also have free roam.. meaning they are literally everywhere and can come and go wherever thay want. It is a beautiful layout.. many different rooms with cat trees, and cubbies, and shelves, and warm blankets & pet beds.. They have plenty of food and water, and tons of cat-nip toys too :) So no matter where I am or what I am doing, I am surrounded by these beautiful whiskered faces. I even have a few that follow me around on my eronds lol.

So many stories: both happy & sad, so many adventures... it really is an amazing organization. I feel quite honored to be in their presence. I doubt I'll be going anywhere else for quite some time, if ever :)

I'll post some pics at some point soon! (for now, below is: Roseann (black) who I think is so elegant, and hangs out on the sink-counter by me every afternoon, and Tully whom is special needs & has a neurological problem with his hind quarters. Although he can walk, run and play, he has difficulty controlling his rear hip and legs. Yet he manages to jump on my lap every afternoon for a petting! I love him dearly already...

Meow! >^..^<

Al Gore Rocks!!

2007-02-15T17:37:00.000-05:00

Al Gore, the former vice president and now hit documentary maker, on Thursday added rock promoter to his résumé, announcing plans for a 24-hour concert series on all seven continents to highlight, you guessed it, the dangers of global warming.

With a powerhouse lineup of acts from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Snoop Dogg to Bon Jovi, what's being called "Live Earth" aims to gather more than 100 of the world's top musicians on July 7 — and attract 2 billion viewers, most of them via television, radio and the Web.

"In order to solve the climate crisis, we have to reach billions of people," Gore said in a statement. "We hope to jumpstart that movement right here, right now, and take it to a new level on July 7, 2007."

The concerts will take place in Sydney, Australia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Shanghai, China; London, England; Kyoto, Japan; Johannesburg, South Africa; and a U.S. city that has yet to be determined. Gore added that the campaign even plans to stage the first-ever rock concert on Antarctica.

Proceeds from the concerts will fund initiatives by the Save Our Selves campaign, which launches the same month that a climate experts reported that they are more convinced than ever that human emissions of greenhouse gases are behind an accelerated warming trend around the Earth.

ACT NOW
5 THINGS TO DO NOW!

Compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs: Even if you do nothing else, install energy-star CFL light bulbs to reduce your lighting electrical use by sixty percent and save an average of $50 per bulb. If each person in the U.S. installed CFLs, 100 power plants could be retired today.

Surge protectors: Reduce five percent of your electricity bill, and save money, by switching electronics off at the power cord. Electronics and AC adapters consume electricity while on standby and even when turned off. Worried about your DVR settings? Purchase a power cord with a timer.

Air filters: A clean air filter increases air quality and overall efficiency, which equates to a two-percent reduction in carbon emissions.

A hot-water heater insulating blanket: Insulate old water heaters to reduce heat loss and save energy. It reduces carbon emissions by four percent (note, many home improvement stores do not carry blankets for a heater larger than a 60-gallon tank).

Outdoor solar lights: No electricity needed for these low cost ($20-$50) lights that absorb energy from the sun and charge a battery for nighttime use.

Happy Birthday Peter Gabriel!

2007-02-13T23:38:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Peter Gabriel!! You are one man, of very few, whom I absolutely love and adore. You are of pure spirit & class, and I am humbly blessed to listen to your artistry.. knowing that I too share planet Earth with you.
Seems fitting that your birthday is so close to St. Valentine's Day! So, Happy Valentines Day too (and also to all who, if any, are finding yourselves here!)
I wish everyone a wonderful Day filled with love and gratitude..
The expensive & material gifts don't mean anything.. (to some sadly, yes, but not to me..) What is essential is invisible to the eye. Just being together, sharing a meal, sharing conversation by candle & Dove Bars is enough for me. (okay, the one thing I do really enjoy is a card, and esp ones that have something optionally written in them from the heart!:) Yeah, its a big commercial commodity holiday (which some men sadly detest now) but of all the holidays, it really is one of the best ones...just the world we live in today always wants instant gratification. It's become a very greedy world. And the men who are complaining about Valentines Day are either with the wrong kind of woman, have a negative outlook on the affairs in their heart, or just don't get it. Being single prob. doesn't help either.
A day devoted to love awareness and romance is a state of mind. A great one at that. I wish we could all live as simply as this. It's the little things that count. Why all the fuss? Because it improves the quality of our lives. :))
So let us all grow old along together. The best is yet to be!

I loved to be loved...
So, you know how people are
When it's all gone much too far
The way their minds are made
Still, there's something you should know
That I could not let show
That fear of letting go

And in this moment, I need to be needed
With this darkness all around me, I like to be liked
In this emptiness and fear, I want to be wanted
'Cause I love to be loved
I love to be loved
Yes, I love to be loved

I cry the way that babies cry
The way they can't deny
The way they feel
Words, they climb all over you
'Til they uncover you
From where you hide
And in this moment, I need to be needed
When my self-esteem is sinking, I like to be liked
In this emptiness and fear,
I want to be wanted
'Cause I love to be loved
I love to be loved
Oh I love to be loved

This old familiar craving
I've been here before, this way of behaving
Don't know who the hell I'm saving anymore
Let it pass let it go let it leave
From the deepest place I grieve
This time I believe

And I let go
I can let go of it
Though it takes all the strength in me
And all the world can see
I'm losing such a central part of me
I can let go of it
You know I mean it
You know that I mean it
I recognize how much I've lost
But I cannot face the cost
'Cause I love to be loved

Yes I love to be loved
I love to be loved
I love to be loved
I love to be loved.............

2007-02-09T00:36:00.000-05:00

3 BIG cheers for our friend, Jean Pauls mom, Gretchen Rau! This is her third Academy Award Nomination for Art Direction! She won 'Oscar' last year for "Memoirs of a Geisha." She was also nominated for "The Last Samurai" but did not win. This year she is nominated for "The Good Shepherd," whom the film is dedicated, directed by Robert DeNiro. Sadly, Gretchen passed away late last March. She was taken much too soon and very missed.

It is a real honor to her and her life's work.
She was an incredibly talented, dedicated, and kind woman. We hope you will cheer for her -with us- from Northport on Oscar Night: the 25th of this month! No matter what happens, we will never forget her or her gracious spirit. She really was, one of a kind...

For more on her outstanding filmography work: please see this link:
Gretchen Rau

Truly amazing..
God Bless..

Happy Birthday Mikey Mo!!!

2007-02-08T00:59:00.000-05:00

Happy Most Wonderful Birthday Mikey Mo!!
Have an awesome day!!
We love you! Hope to see you soon!

Polydactyl April

2007-02-02T01:34:00.000-05:00

I made a funny to April :)

Handsome Tony!!

2007-01-30T00:05:00.000-05:00

Tony got his {first time} glasses tonight :)
Doesn't he look even more handsome?
Wow!!!!!!! :))

100 Greatest Guitarists of all time

2007-01-25T18:54:00.000-05:00

Via Rolling Stones Mag:

Click HERE to VIEW the COMPLETE LIST!

They left out at least 3 greats in my mind:
Adrian Belew
Kevin Bartlett
Allan Holdsworth...

(and my boyfriend Tony of course!!!!:)
(among a few others!)

Gotta love #1 Hendrix!
And nice to see Joni Mitchell made it in!
I wonder who determines this list anyway....
there were a few I didn't even know!

2 Oscar nods!!

2007-01-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

My hat's off to former Presidential Al Gore!!
"An Inconvenient Truth," Al Gore's film on the perils of global warming, scored two Oscar nominations Tuesday for best documentary feature and best original song.

While he is not technically a nominee the film's director, Davis Guggenheim, won the nod, as did singer Melissa Etheridge for the song "I Need to Wake Up" Gore said he was "thrilled" that his movie was honored.

"The film has brought awareness of the climate crisis to people in the United States and all over the world," Gore said in an e-mail statement. "I am so grateful to the entire team and pleased that the Academy has recognized their work. This film proves that movies really can make a difference."

Aides say the former vice president plans to walk the red carpet with Hollywood's beautiful people at the Academy Awards ceremony next month.

Guggenheim said he wasn't expecting a nomination but welcomed the fresh attention from the Academy's recognition. He said he spoke to Gore and asked him, "'Are you ready to go to the show?' I think he's ready. For years he's been in the wilderness on global warming. Now he's ready for his grand walk. Now he's at the Academy Awards. It's a hero's return."

And speaking (and thinking) of Al Gore... My friend Anthony Zenkus (who met with Al Gore recently) had his letter published in Newsday on Tuesday concerning myspace:

"Parents: Watch Web use

Regarding the lawsuit by four families against MySpace.com ["Parents of sexually abused girls sue MySpace," News, Jan. 19]:
Although online social networking sites need to do all they can to protect children from the dangers of sexual predators, the responsibility of keeping children safe needs to fall firmly on the shoulders of the adults responsible for their care.

Suing MySpace is a bit like closing the barn door after the horse got out. And, even as MySpace and sites like it work to minimize the dangers to underage users, they will never be able to control whether an offline meeting occurs.

Simple steps like keeping computers in a common area, monitoring a child's Internet use, working together to create a safe MySpace page and maintaining open communication with your child can go a long way. Sexual abuse is a community problem. Providing educational forums to help parents understand how to recognize, prevent and respond appropriately to sex abuse is necessary to forge a climate where adults take responsibility for keeping children safe.

Anthony Zenkus
Editor's note: The writer is director of education for the Coalition Against Child Abuse and Neglect.
Greenlawn "

Pet Candle Ceremony Poems

2007-01-14T14:36:00.000-05:00

Still missing Sam and still struggling with the guilt at times... It still feels very surreal. I still wake up everyday and fall asleep every night thinking about Sam. The vet sent us a pet sympathy card (with a really nice tiny Rainbow Poem card inside) this past week that everyone wrote something in & signed. Funny too - because I sent them a Thank You card with a photo of Sam inside just the day before! Our cards must have crossed paths in the mail :). I guess my sobbing and love of Sam got to them, even though I know they probably deal with pet loss on a daily basis there. It helped a little though.. it was very thoughtful of them!

A strange thing actually happened shortly after Sam was put to sleep: immediately after I took Sam outside to place in my car (to bring home to bury,) the power went out inside the vet's office! The receptionist couldn't even print out Sam's paper work because of it and had to finish it by hand! I have to think that it was "The Power of Sam!!" Very.. very.. strange.. {let the power fall....}

Well, here are the poems and text from the Pet Loss Candle Ceremony from last Monday. I really love The Journey, the first poem.
(so does April, who happens to be on my lap at present;)

We begin with "The Journey" - by Crystal Ward Kent

When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey - a journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your strength and courage.

If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark. Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simple pleasures - jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears.

If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower - except when heading home to the food dish - but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field.

Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details - the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig. Once we walk as a dog does, we see a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.

Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching summer insects collecting on a screen. (How bizarre they are! How many kinds there are!), or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by.

You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewie toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie - with a cat in hot pursuit - all in the name of love.

Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because your cat loves the crinkly sound.

You will learn the true measure of love - the steadfast, undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together." Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race.

And you will learn humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.

If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but the person your pet always knew you to be - the one they were proud to call beloved friend.

I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down.

And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet's time on earth is far too short - especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for a while, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left.

The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle now gray. Deep down we somehow always knew that journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken.

But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead - young and whole once more. "Godspeed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.

We continue with Beyond The Rainbow from the website's collection of Healing and Inspirational poetry: Beyond The Rainbow by cg

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played, I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade. I saw a wondrous image then of a place that's trouble-free Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity. I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side Were meadows rich and beautiful -- lush and green and wide! And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be! My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do. I needed to reach out to you, to tell you I'm alright That this place is truly wonderful, then a bright Glow pierced the night. 'Twas the Glow of many Candles shining bright and strong and bold And I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold. For although we may not be together in the way we used to be, We are still connected by a cord no eye can see. So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

And now, The Candle Ceremony..

THE MONDAY CANDLE CEREMONY...... WE GATHER TOGETHER TO HONOR AND REMEMBER OUR PETS

Tonight, Monday, we join hands, hearts and souls across the land as one large extended family to pray for our sick and dying pets and to pay tribute to our furbabies who have gone ahead to Rainbow Bridge.

Someday, we will meet them again, with hugs, tears and kisses, as we walk together, in eternity, to our new home.

Until that blessed day, we honor these precious souls and remember them with the warm glow of flickering candles, sending a message of love, light and healing, and the faith to believe in miracles.

PRAYER: God, Creator of all living things, we ask that as we light our candles, the healing warmth of love will flow into the brokenhearted who are tending their ailing pets.

Give to them Your strength and comfort. We also pray that the soft glow of light will part the clouds of grief and sorrow to surround our furbabies at the Bridge.

May excitement REIGN SUPREME as wagging tails, ecstatic purrs and flapping feathers feel our gentle touch once again. May they know the gratitude we hold in our hearts for their faithfulness and gift of unconditional love as they are forever remembered.

We are temporarily separated for only a short while. The silver cord that connects us through time and space can never be broken. AMEN.

CANDLE 1: PERSONAL FURBABY.... Anything you wish to say..... I will not look back for there is sorrow. I will not look for today for there is longing. I will look forward for there is OUR tomorrow.

CANDLE 2: FURBABIES OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY.... Read the names of those who are ill or have gone on before us as a tribute to them and their loving parents. As we all meet here, our Bridgekids will be meeting all newcomers, easing their way.

CANDLE 3: FOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND PEACE...In honor of all the homeless, forgotten, abandoned, abused animals. For the nameless furchildren who gave their lives for others, for research and as a result of humankind's inhumanity. May the Higher Powers that be forgive the cruelty. We light this candle for them.

As our lights shine brightly through the galaxy, may the angels smile upon us, and know that for a brief moment, we have put aside worldly differences to bond as ONE.

CLOSING: I have sent you on a journey to a land free from pain, not because I did not love you, but because I loved you too much to force you to stay.

MOMENT OF SILENCE. ......"Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted." Love, light and healing to all. Amen.

The candles being lit tonight;
Cast a soft and welcome flame.
And draw our loved ones to the light,
As we call to them by name.
Imagine spirits taking flight,
For a moment our souls entwine.
Say not Good Night, but in some Brighter Time
Bid them all- Good Morning.

Gentle Spirit~
Let thoughts of peace waft softly thru our hearts.
Let the light of our candles bring gentle memories of our love.
Let the glow of love guide our days; in all our moments.
As we cry,
As we smile,
As we walk on,
As we carry within us the legacy of love we received;
Knowing the love we gave;
Living in the presence of their spirit
With us -
wherever we go,
however we are,
at dawn and at dusk
and the deep hours of the night.
With thank-full hearts -
Amen! Shalom!

The Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss..

2007-01-08T23:00:00.000-05:00

Since I have lost my cat, Sam, very little has brought me comfort. Even if my fondest wishes could come true today, I would still find it hard to embrace them fully, in this moment. I guess it is just a natural feeling, a part of the process of grieving, of saddness, of depression, guilt & loss. I cannot explain why I still feel this way. Why it still comes in waves, everyday. I cannot explain all the characteristics of Sam and who he was and all he meant to me. He was so much more than a cat to me :) I guess I am dealing with this alone, in my own way still, while maybe others would have moved on more easily and/or have told me to try and do so.

Tonight was special for Sam (as well as helpful for me.) I found this great little website dedicated to pet loss which holds a special 20 minute Candle Ceremony every Monday at 10pm. in their honor.
http://www.petloss.com

You can perform it while in the chatroom with all the others or do it in your own special way. You light 3 candles, with people from all over the world, and send out poems & prayers (either following with the moderator Ed, or in your own way.) I couldn't believe how many people came flooding in! And how much support is shared and tears are cried. It really is a special place, esp. considering because the guy who runs it, gave up his job to work on it full time now!

I thought to pass this website on here to anyone who may want to visit with it or reccomend it to a friend, dealing with their pet's loss. You can also add your pet's name to the Rainbow Bridge list which they update every Monday afternoon. (I did... it's under the name Sam if you'd like to see.)

It was really very - very nice. You need some serious Kleneex of course but it is also comforting. Whereas we don't usually hold funeral services for our pets, this comes close enough. And even if you don't have a candle to light at home, you can light a virtual one at:
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/enter.cfm?l=eng
which is very cool (and I did too under the name Sam.)

I wish I could paste the poems and prayers spoken tonight although I wasn't able to copy them in time (and they were slightly different from what is posted as on the website.) But I emailed Ed, as he told me to do, and he said he would forward them along. I will post them when he sends em out. He really is a good hearted man and bless him dearly for reaching out to people in this medium!

Well, it's off to a cup o' valerian lemon tea for me and sleep.
Thanks for listening here. Sleep well..

How to survive the loss of a love?

2007-01-04T23:15:00.000-05:00

"You can shed tears that he is gone, or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all he has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that he's gone,
or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, or you can do what he'd want,
smile, open your eyes, love and go on. "

Today was difficult. Esp. going back to work - and even the real world outside. Truth is: I couldn't wait to get home, only so I could cry again. I hate this inconsolableness..

Goodbye Sam...

2007-01-02T17:44:00.000-05:00

(Bill lowered his flag to half mass in honor of Sam)

Well, today was a horrible day :((
We had to put Sam to sleep...
Hated to do it but he was just too sick..
It was the hardest thing I ever had to decide and do.
At least I was there with him, holding and kissing his head, and he didn't die alone or with some strange technician who didn't know and love him like I do.
We buried him with his favorite ballie, his white mousey, and his sock toy.
He looked so peaceful.

It amazing how much we know we'll have this day to dread.. someday ..
But before you know it, that day comes, and it comes so suddenly, so unexpectedly. Blown out... almost like a candle. And unless you've experienced a loss of a beloved pet yourself, it's too hard to comprehend or express to people. Except to say, it's really the same as losing a member of your family.

Here's to you Sam (Simba Sam!)

More than a cat!

God knows I'll miss you! I already do!
I love you SO much! (but I know you already know that;)
Rest in peace now, and I know I will see you someday soon.
Thanks for 14 years of precious memories!
You really were the best cat.. ever! (love mommy)
>^..^<

awwww..

2007-01-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

>^..^< Thank you! >^..^<

And God asked the feline spirit
Are you ready to come home?
Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul
And, as a cat, you know I am most able
To decide anything for myself.

Are you coming then? asked God.
Soon, replied the whiskered angel
But I must come slowly
For my human friends are troubled
For you see, they need me, quite certainly.

But don't they understand? asked God
That you'll never leave them?
That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed?
It just is....forever and ever and ever.

Eventually they will understand,
Replied the glorious cat
For I will whisper into their hearts
That I am always with them
I just am....forever and ever and ever.

Sam >^..^<.

2007-01-01T22:38:00.000-05:00

Please send out some warm loving positive energies and prayers for and to Sam! (and with me!!) He's currently at the vet not feeling so good.

He's on an IV at the moment due to dehydration, and will get a sonagram tomorrow morning to rule out other problems. We are all hoping he'll be able to come home in a few days although when I went and saw him tonight, he looked pretty terrible! Not the active playful {craving for all your attention} kind of Sam we know & love.

I brought him one of his favorite white mices (that's what we call them;) so maybe he'll perk up more. He loves to walk around with them in his mouth growling like he just caught it lol.. (3am is the usual time when he jumps up on the bed with it in his mouth growling - and then drops it right next to me and then lets out a big MEOW! lol)

Such a character, Sam, that he is.

Incredibly smart and a big part of the family of course >^..^<

Easy Ways To Go Green!!!!!

2006-12-27T02:28:00.000-05:00

Perhaps a bit lengthy - but I thought it a very useful read :)

Easy Ways To Go Green!!
You can be good to the earth--without giving up things you love. Plus, what those "eco" labels really mean.

At the supermarket
Be picky about produce
Download the "Shoppers' Guide to Pesticides in Produce" at www.ewg.org The wallet-size list sorts out the fruits and veggies that tend to be higher in pesticides (like apples and spinach) from produce with a lower count (like bananas and peas).

Choose "certified" coffee
Yuban coffee is Rainforest Alliance Certified (that means it's grown in a way that preserves the ecosystem). A Fair Trade Certified brand is Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. (Both brands are available at many markets.)

Support local farms
At www.eatwellguide.org, you can plug in your zip code and find suppliers of organic and sustainably produced meat, poultry, eggs, and more. If you buy locally, you won't have to rely on farms that ship food nationwide, which helps to decrease our dependence on oil and to cut back on gas emissions.

Tote your own grocery bag
Paper or plastic? Neither! If you're shopping for a small load, bring along a cute sack like the polka-dot tote, from Cath Kidston (www.cathkidston.com). Another practical option: the ACME Workhorse Style 1500 (www.reusablebags.com), which crunches into a tiny pouch that fits in your purse.

Pay attention to packaging
Every American produces about four and a half pounds of garbage a day. So before you buy something, eyeball the amount of cardboard, plastic, and/or other materials used for the box or wrapping. Wal-Mart is one big retailer that is waking up to the problem: The chain is replacing petroleum-based plastic containers with corn-based packaging for precut fruit, herbs, strawberries, and Brussels sprouts.

Around the house
Save money in the bathroom
Buy water-efficient showerheads. With low-flow models, a family of four can cut water usage by as much as 280 gallons a month-and yet not feel much difference in water pressure. Two we like: Kohler's Master Shower Eco (www.kohler.com) and Niagara Conservation's Earth Massage (www.niagaraconservation.com).

Bring home superhero plants
Certain greens can help remove indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene. Don't have the gardening gene? Golden pothos, English ivy, and peace lilies are all easy-to-grow toxin fighters.

Recycle rechargeables
Cell phones, digital cameras, and camcorders have made these batteries more popular than ever, but in certain states-Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Vermont-it's illegal to throw them away. Wherever you live, you can find a nearby store that will recycle them for you; just go to www.rbrc.org and type in your zip code.

Adjust fridge and freezer temps
Refrigerators eat up the most electricity in the household. Maximize efficiency by keeping the fridge at 37°F. and the freezer at 0°F.

Lighten up with energy savings
Consider using compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). They cost a bit more than regular bulbs, but you'll lower your electric bill and pay less in the long run-CFLs last up to ten times longer than traditional ones. (Worried that fluorescents will fill your house with a greenish glow? That's no longer a problem. When we compared a regular bulb with a GE Energy Star Qualified CFL, testers couldn't tell the difference.) You can buy CFLs at most hardware and home stores. To save more on lighting, install dimmer switches and use timers, indoors and out.

Recycle smart
From furniture to electronics, one person's trash is another's treasure-so when you want to dispose of an old item, don't make the dump your first stop. Two sites with alternatives: www.freecycle.org and www.earth911.org The Freecycle Network describes itself as "a place to give or receive what you have and don't need or what you need and don't have-[to keep] stuff out of landfills." The Earth 911 Web site offers community-specific resources, with a focus on recycling. Check out the home page to find out where you can recycle your computer, your cell phone-even used motor oil.

Entertaining
Protect the earth while you picnic
At your next outdoor party, ask people to write their names on disposable cups so they'll use only one (to make it easy, put out markers). If you use disposable dinnerware, buy the kind that won't clog landfills or kill trees. To try: EarthShell plates and bowls www.earthshell.com They're made from corn, potatoes, and limestone-and cost less than 6 cents per plate.

Remodeling
Take paint precautions
Most paint emits VOCs (volatile organic compounds), the same kind of chemicals found in gasoline and nail polish. But manufacturers like Sherwin-Williams have developed water-based products that perform well but give off virtually no VOCs. Krylon's H20 paint is the first low-VOC latex spray paint that can be cleaned up with soap and water. Made from 99 percent food-grade ingredients, Anna Sova's Healthy Wall Finish (www.annasova.com) leaves your rooms smelling vaguely like vanilla. To be at least minimally organic, use a water-based latex paint, not an oil-based alkyd paint-and remember, exterior paints should never be used indoors.

Raise the roof with recycled materials
If your old shingles need replacing, consider a Classic Metal Roofing System (www.classicroof.com). It's made from recycled aluminum cans but resembles traditional shakes or tiles. Thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, installing this type of material can qualify you for a $500 tax credit.

Choose energy-efficient appliances
Look for the Energy Star label, awarded to fridges, washers, and other products that exceed government efficiency standards by using less water or electricity. For Energy Star appliances that have been tested by GHI, visit

Women's personal style
Dress in eco-chic clothing
Lara Miller's Melissa tunic is 100 percent bamboo, yet it's as soft as silk. (For stores, go to www.laramiller.net Linda Loudermilk, an eco-couture designer, uses fabric made from sasawashi (a Japanese leaf), along with bamboo, soya, and other exotic self-sustaining plants(www.lindaloudermilk.com).

Opt for new undies
Wearing 100 percent organic-cotton panties reduces your exposure to chemical pesticides in a sensitive area. Try Blue Canoe brand (www.goodhumans.com).

Make up with Mother Nature
Aveda's All-Sensitive Body Formula moisturizing body oil uses organic jojoba. What's more, most of Aveda's packaging is made from recycled material. A makeup line that's entirely organic: Nvey Eco (www.econveybeauty.com). We particularly like their eyeshadows.

Get sporty, eco-style
Patagonia's PCR fleece vest ($70) is made from recycled soda bottles.

Be clean (and green)
Pangea Organics soaps, which are made with organic and often Fair Trade Certified ingredients, are scented with oils like lavender and lemongrass. They come in a biodegradable carton that will start disintegrating within 48 hours if you plant it in your garden. Available at Whole Foods Markets.

Cooking and eating
Become a flexitarian
Swap out one meat dish a week for a veggie plate. Why? Because raising produce is "cheaper," in terms of energy, than raising animals. Log on to www.vegweb.com to find tasty, meatless recipes (our favorite: the lentil burgers).

Grill corn in its husk
Instead of stripping off the green leaves, soak the ear whole, then place it right on the barbecue-no aluminum foil required.

Go for the gold- coffee filters, that is
Spare trees by replacing paper filters in your coffeemaker with reusables (usually gold colored).

Get the organic habit
Switch to organic for at least one product that you buy every week.

Put it in park
Avoid drive-through windows, especially if there are long lines.

Compost
Instead of trashing food scraps, toss them into Gardener's Supply Company Kitchen Compost Crock, a ceramic countertop composter that's perfect for first-timers (www.gardeners.com).

Break out the bamboo
This plant is a far more sustainable natural resource than wood because it grows very quickly. Try the stylish bamboo bowls and cutting boards from TimberGrass (www.lamsonsharp.com).

Home office
Buy a laptop
It uses considerably less power than a desktop computer.

Get off junk mail lists
Register with the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service (www.dmaconsumers.org) and you'll see a significant reduction in mail after three months.

Double up on printing
Configure your printer so that it prints on both sides of the page. You know those extra pages you get when printing out one simple e-mail? Turn them over and put them back in the printer for reuse.

Invest the green way
Environmentally conscious mutual funds are increasingly available through 401(k) plans, especially if employees express interest. To learn more, log on to www.socialinvest.org then talk to your benefits administrator.

For kids
Buy organic for baby
Hanna Andersson makes her children's clothing- with 100 percent organic cotton grown without harmful chemicals (www.hannaandersson.com). This garment is also certified to meet the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 requirements, meaning every fabric, button, thread, and zipper is tested for over 100 potentially harmful substances. Another source for organic-cotton baby clothes is Wal-Mart's new George Baby line for sizes up to nine months.

Teach kids to be green
Give your little ones responsibility for your family's recycling and match whatever they make in deposits at the store. They'll learn about money and recycling at the same time.

In your yard
Mow-ercise!
Today's non-gasoline-powered reel lawn mowers are easier to push than the old models. Their eco-benefit: zero emissions (plus, you're getting great exercise). If you prefer a power mower, consider a quiet, battery-operated model from Black & Decker.

Warm up to solar energy
You may not be ready for a totally sun-powered home, but you can get a taste of the technology by using solar-powered lighting in your yard or on your patio. We like Malibu's Solar Floodlight (www.intermatic.com).

Go native
Plant flowers and shrubs that are well suited to your climate (the staff at your local nursery can help). The benefit: You'll use less fertilizer and pesticides.

Five eco labels you can really trust :
--USDA Organic
Seen on: Food products
What it means: Food is produced without antibiotics, genetic engineering, or most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

--Rainforest Alliance Certified
Seen on: Coffee, chocolate, bananas
What it means: Companies harvesting the food practice soil and water conservation; they also reduce the use of pesticides.

--Fair Trade Certified
Seen on: Coffee, tea, chocolate, fruit, rice, sugar
What it means: Food is grown on small farms; farmers receive a fair price.

--Certified Humane
Seen on: Eggs, meat
What it means: Animals raised for dairy, meat, and poultry products are treated humanely. Growth hormones are prohibited, and animals are raised on a diet without antibiotics.

--Green Seal
Seen on: Napkins, toilet paper, paper towels
What it means: they must meet recycling and bleaching standards.

Some great ideas!! :))
Just think of all the polar bears you'd be helping ((:

Congratulations to Jason!!

2006-12-26T14:24:00.000-05:00

Oh My God! (I can't stop saying this!!)
A HUGE Congrats to Jason, who just got engaged!!!
I am SO happy for you!!!
Lots of Love to you both: always and forever!!
(my oldest best friend {since diaper years} is getting married!)

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

2006-12-24T16:15:00.000-05:00

Tony, April, and I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year!!!
We hope all your wishes come true!! :)

(she's such a good sport!!)

Happy Birthday Adrian!!

2006-12-23T18:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Adrian Belew!! Thank God you're Here! :)

Happy Hannukkah week!

2006-12-19T21:38:00.000-05:00

Happy Hannukkah week to all! Is this menorah the cutest or what? :)
One of my 3 year olds made it in my class and I had to take a pic of it :)

Moonshine Band Pics

2006-12-19T21:14:00.000-05:00

The Moonshine Band had a great gig, with special guest on guitar, Tony! (he's been busy with work & school but filled in last minute) Thanks for ALL who came down! Sorry I didn't take more pics... I was feeling under the weather as well as kicking back just enjoying the band! Thank you Mikey Mo for driving Tony and his equipment home (as well as carrying it up!) Hope to see you all again at the next gig soon :)
Until then.. stay well and happy, and Merry Christmas/Happy Hannukkah, and Happy New Year Everybody!!!!

(two of Larry's friends came up and jammed some great Stevie Ray Vaughn!)

Bob on drums, Leah on tam, and Jeff on guitar..

Mikey Mo on harp and keys, Tony & Larry.. (and 2 more below)

Peter Boyle :(

2006-12-14T19:38:00.000-05:00

So sad, Peter Boyle passed away :(
What a great actor and man! I loved him in Young Frankenstein with Gene Wilder! And of course as Ray's father in: Everybody Loves Raymond.
I also just learned John Lennon was his best man at his wedding..
I will miss seeing him! Such a loss..

Augusto Pinochet finally dead.

2006-12-10T14:17:00.000-05:00

SANTIAGO, Chile: General Augusto Pinochet, who overthrew Chile’s democratically elected Marxist president in a bloody coup and ruled this Andean nation for 17 years, died today of a heart attack, dashing hopes of victims of his regime’s abuses that he would be brought to justice. He was 91.

Quoted: "He died surrounded by his family, Dr. Juan Ignacio Vergara told reporters outside the hospital." All I can think of is the 3 thousand + who went missing or were brutally murdered by his hands, and didn't have that closure or option, let alone a body to bury in many instances.

Pinochet came to power in a bloody 1973 military coup that ousted elected socialist President Salvador Allende and was encouraged by the United States. I am deeply ashamed and embarrassed by the US involvement. It infuriates me, and at the same time, saddens me greatly..

During his regime more than 3,000 people died or disappeared due to political violence in Chile, which had enjoyed a long history of democratic rule. THREE THOUSAND PLUS!!!!! THAT is a LOT of people: peaceful people, women and children, peasants, husbands, wives and families. Included was one of my great loves, singer-songwriter-guitarist: Victor Jara. Victor was a Chilean educator, theatre director, poet, folk singer, songwriter, and political activist. He was prominent in the development of the Nueva cancion Chilena: New Chilean Song movement, that acquired considerable prominence during the socialist government of Salvador Allende. On the morning of September 12, Jara was taken, along with thousands, as a prisoner to the Chile Stadium (renamed the Estadio Victor Jara in September 2003). Many of them were tortured and killed there by the military forces. Jara was repeatedly beaten and tortured, resulting in the breaking of bones in his hands and upper torso. Fellow political prisoners have testified that his captors mockingly suggested that he play guitar for them as he lay on the ground. Defiantly, he sang part of a song supporting the Popular Unity coalition. He was murdered on September 15 after further beatings were followed by being machine gunned and left dead on a road on the outskirts of Santiago. Soon after, his body was taken to a city morgue. Before his death, he wrote a poem about the conditions of the prisoners in the stadium, the poem was written on a paper that was hidden inside a shoe of a friend. The poem was never named, but is commonly known as Estadio Chile.

Jara's wife, Joan, was allowed to come and retrieve his body from the site (and was able to confirm the physical abuse he had endured). After holding a funeral for her husband, Joan Jara fled the country in secret. Although the military regime managed to burn the vast majority of master recordings of Jara's music, (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Joan Jara managed to sneak recordings out of Chile, which were later copied and distributed worldwide. Joan Jara later wrote an account of Victor Jara's life and music, titled Victor: "An Unfinished Song" which I have tearfully read 3 times. It is incredibly moving and so personal....

An estimated 200,000 people fled into exile to escape repression, persecution, torture, curfews and censorship, while Pinochet’s secret police spearheaded Operation Condor, a coordinated effort by South America dictators to assassinate dissidents in each another’s countries. Included in these exiles were a band I have come to love dearly over the years: Inti Illimani. Forbidden from physically entering their own homeland for 15 years! They didn’t return permanently until 1990- when their music traveled the airwaves, influencing future members from afar. I have seen them twice here in the United States; the only two times they have come of my awareness, since my deep love and respect for them. Their music is absolutely beautiful and will always have a secret special place in my heart. I have also been lucky enough (my God, blessed enough!) to see a concert, meet all, and even break bread after with the band Congreso, whom have always been supporters and good friends with Inti Illimani. I honestly have never felt so honored in my entire life!

"Pinochet will go down in history alongside Caligula and Idi Amin as a byword for brutality and ignorance," said Chilean novelist Isabel Allende, niece of Salvador Allende, who killed himself during the Sept. 11, 1973, coup that launched Pinochet’s dictatorship. I couldn't agree more although a few other not so nice words accompany my mind.

I don't know if Perro-chet's (as Dan taught me to call him once) death is worth celebrating or rather more of a moment to remember & reflect - and not give him one ounce of our precious energy! But rather remember ALL those who suffered or were needlessly murdered and celebrate their lives, determinations, & spirits. And dance the cueca together for them:
Today we'll dance on their graves
Today we'll sing our freedom
Today we'll laugh in our joy
And we'll dance..... (As Zappa once called him, a lyric from 'Mr. Sting')

Too bad he was never rightfully punished for his crimes against humanity. I just heard he will even be denied a State funeral. I have to believe he's at the lowest bottom of Samsara right about now. (If he even makes it that far..) Not a nice place at all.

Today I hope peace and calm finally prevails for the people of Chile.
Today I pause. Today I take a deep breath with Chile.
I will never forget.

"Estadio Chile" Victor Jara's written last words:

We are 5,000 — here in this little part of the city
We are 5,000 — how many more will there be?
In the whole city, and in the country 10,000 hands
Which could seed the fields, make run the factories.
How much humanity — now with hunger, pain, panic and terror?

There are six of us — lost in space among the stars,
One dead, one beaten like I never believed a human could be so beaten.
The other four wanting to leave all the terror,
One leaping into space, other beating their heads against the wall
All with gazes fixed on death.

The military carry out their plans with precision;
Blood is medals for them, Slaughter is the badge of heroism.
Oh my God — is this the world you created?
Was it for this, the seven days, of amazement and toil?

The blood of companero Presidente is stronger than bombs
Is stronger than machine guns.
O you song, you come out so badly when I must sing — the terror!
What I see I never saw. What I have felt, and what I feel must come out!
"Hara brotar el momento! Hara brotar el momento!"

Victor Jara 1973.

Send a message to Congress via Al Gore!!

2006-12-08T01:59:00.002-05:00

From Al Gore's website:

"I've been incredibly gratified by the response to An Inconvenient Truth. I'm extremely proud of all the work the team put into the film and it feels like it came at a crucial time. But now comes the hard work. We have to take this message to Washington. And we can't do it without you.
Yes, the new majority in Congress will be much more receptive on the importance of global warming. That's the good news. But I know from personal experience that the only thing that will make Washington really take notice and do more than give lip service to the problem of global warming is the prospect of millions of committed citizens taking action. It's time to join together and make that happen. Can you help?
First, I'm asking folks to hold house parties, in thousands of homes across the nation, to show the film and spread the word. We're doing the first wave on Saturday, December 16. Can you host a party? Or attend a party that one of your neighbors is hosting? Second, I'm asking everybody, whether you attend a party or not, to sign a postcard to your representatives, so that I can take a million postcards and messages to Washington in January and present them to the new Congress. We have to build the political will to do what has to be done. Luckily, in America, political will is a renewable resource.
Thank you,
-Al Gore"

Click on this link to send a post card:

http://www.algore.com/cards.html

Here is what I sent (at this late hour;)

Please, the time to do something is NOW! As Al Gore said, this isn't a political issue, it is a moral one. One that cannot be ignored any longer.

I personally wish & think energy saving lightbulbs should be the only ones available as well as Energy Star efficient appliances. Small changes can add up BIG time to help the Global Warming Issue we are facing as well as peoples pockets. Some people live pretty unconsciously unfortunatly! We need a bigger voice, one that is yours and the Governments! New laws need to be created to help stop Global Warming.

I hope you will stand by Al Gore as well as applaud him. He's spreading positive conscious karma to the whole world (not just the USA) and by the looks of it, he has a huge following right now as well! Isn't that something you'd like to be a part of? I know I do! Please keep this issue on your desk AND your mind as well as your political agenda.

And one last thing: when election time comes around again, I know I will be looking 'up' towards candidates that include these environmental issues in their agendas, as well as in their charactor. Looking forward to positive healthy changes from New York.

Anthony Zenkus & Al Gore Pics!!!!!!

2006-12-08T00:44:00.000-05:00

Anthony just posted these 2 awesome pics!!!! How cool is this??? :) He had a great time!!
Please see the movie, "An Inconvenient Truth" or check out these websites:

http://www.climatecrisis.net/
http://www.algore.com/
http://www.theclimateproject.org

Tony and I are brainstorming on a powerpoint gathering to be presented by Anthony! We are working out the location at present, (most likey a friend's house!) and have 50+ possible friends and family that we think would attend (minus a few I'm sure!). (Arranging a non-conflicting date is prob the most difficult aspect!!) We'll keep you posted when we work out the kinks. In the meantime, help spread the conscious word! Thanks again!

Way to GO Anthony!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Tony!!

2006-12-07T18:29:00.000-05:00

Happy Most Wonderful Birthday Tony!!!! I love you sooo much! :) In honor of your birthday, here are some great pics, in no particular order.. some old, some new, and some inbetween. I hope all your wishes come true :) Rock on (:

2006-12-07T18:01:00.000-05:00

Al Gore to be discussing An Inconvenient Truth on Oprah tomorrow!

2006-12-04T18:38:00.000-05:00

Al Gore is scheduled to be on Oprah tomorrow, Tuesday December 5th, talking about his documentary "An Inconvenient Truth." For us New Yorkers, it's on channel 7 ABC at 4pm. You can also catch her rebroadcast it at 7pm on channel 10 (TV 55.)

I SO want everyone to see his film! It's time to take action and do something, NOW!

I can't say enough about my dear friend, Anthony Zenkus, who actually was chosen out of like 10 thousand applicants to meet with Al Gore and his advisors and flew out to meet them over the past week and weekend, being trained to present this very important powerpoint slideshow and discussion to New York!!! Way to go Anthony!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I talked to him yesterday as he arrived home and got all the details!! Not to mention hanging out directly with Al Gore quite a few times, sharing some Petrone BTW lol, and even recieving a hug from him when he was leaving :) I am so proud of him and so proud to call him a friend! So, set your VCR's, or better yet, go and see or rent this film as soon as you can!
S.

Northport's Tree lighting ceremony last week

2006-12-01T02:19:00.000-05:00

This is the big tree they lit while everyone sang carols..

This is a shot up Main Street...

This is when Santa came out on his sleigh all lit up. See that man holding the cute little baby wearing pink? That's Mike Johnson, a good friend of ours, holding his daughter, the most adorable baby ever, Katie :))

And last but not least, that's me sitting in the park's gazebo. First time they ever lit it all up like this! It's SO beautiful!!!

My Guitar Christmas Tree is up!

2006-11-30T21:15:00.000-05:00

December 1st is upon us!!
My traditional guitar Christmas tree is up :)

A blast from my past :)
Absolutetly terrified!! LOL....

sick little boy wanting business cards..

2006-11-30T13:53:00.000-05:00

About the little sick boy wanting business cards..
This is actually false. Read more at the below: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/children/shergold.htm
Sorry to inconvenience anyone if I did.
I shall pass this onto the person who told me.
(and maybe he'll correct the lie as well!!)
Sad sad sad.... (and thanks Jason: for the enlightenment!)

An Inconvenient Truth

2006-11-29T19:10:00.002-05:00

Tony and I recently rented "An Inconvenient Truth, A Global Warning." We encourage you to see it as well!!! It is a documentary presented by former vice president Al Gore that is a huge wake up call for the future of our planet and our civilization. You can rent it at Blockbuster or where-ever you get your movies. You can also go to this website for more information: http://www.climatecrisis.net

And: "We signed up to join the Stop Global Warming Virtual March and we encourage you to add your voices as well. Global warming is the most urgent issue of our time and since we are all contributors to global warming pollution we must all be part of the solution. Joining the Virtual March is a first step to joining the movement to demand solutions now.
You can join by visiting: http://www.stopglobalwarming.org

StopGlobalWarming.org's mission is to use the strength of numbers to urge our government to address global warming, and urge businesses to start a new industrial revolution of clean energy that reduces our dependence on oil and helps stop global warming. Together we can make a difference."

There is no doubt we can solve this problem. In fact, we have a moral obligation to do so. Small changes to your daily routine can add up to big differences in helping to stop global warming. The time to come together to solve this problem is now – TAKE ACTION..

Thanks for listening, Suzanne & Tony

P.S. My dear friend Anthony Zenkus just sent me this wonderful email reply:

"I am replying to all because I want people to get involved
with INconvenient Truth and fighting Global Warming. Recently, I was chosen by
Al Gore's "Climate Project" to be trained as a facilitator of his global warming
presentation, profiled in that film. This thursday I am going to Nashville to be
trained by Al Gore, and his staff, so that I can provide this important
pwerpoint presentation to people in New York. I'm honored and excited to work
directly with Al Gore and his staff and to become a part of this amazing
work.

If you would like to get involved, please think about booking
me to do this presentation in your commnity group, school/university, etc. There
is no fee for this presentation. I am volunteering my time and it would be a
great help if you all could think of a way to get a good sized assembly for me
to deliver this presentation.

Suzanne thanks for the email and I
will let you know how it goes when I come back monday. Anyone who is interested
in booking the presentation please feel free to reply to me at this
email.

Anthony Zenkus"

(you can contact him at ClimateCrisis07@aol.com)

How truly fantastic is this? And he? :)))))))))))

River......

2006-11-23T03:51:00.000-05:00

It's coming on Christmas, they're cuttin' down trees, they're putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace.. oh I wish I had a river... I could skate away on...

But it don't snow here, it stays pretty green, I'm going to make a lot of money then I'm going to quit this crazy scene.. I wish I had a river, I could skate away on....I wish I had a river so long, I would teach my feet to fly... Oh I wish I had a river, I could skate away on....

I made my baby cry. He tried hard to help me, you know, he put me at ease, and he loved me so naughty, made me weak in the knees, Oh I wish I had a river.... I could skate away on...

I'm so hard to handle, I'm selfish and I'm sad. Now I've gone and lost the best baby that I ever had...Oh I wish I had a river... I could skate away on.. I wish I had a river so long, I would teach my feet to fly.....Oh I wish I had a river....
I made my baby say goodbye....

It's coming on christmas, they're cutting down trees, they're putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace..
I wish I had a river, I could skate away on.........

Northport is starting to look a lot like Christmas!
Too bad this pic doesn't capture the lights and how pretty it actually looks..
The drive down Main Street is really spectacular :)

Road Rage gigin' again

2006-11-23T03:44:00.000-05:00

Road Rage gigin' again..
My camera on acid for some reason although it's pretty cool!

The guys.... Tommy, Paul, & Greg (can't see Jim but we can sure hear him!)

Greg rippin'....

Violetta, warm Chilean socks and shooting stars...

2006-11-18T23:58:00.000-05:00

Cold outside but I am warm inside listening to the incredibly beautiful Violetta Parra by guitar (with Inti Illimani accompaniment)...
and wearing my Chilean socks of course! (I forget the name for them, and once Daniel reminds me, I will call them by their rightful name!)
But now it's time to wander outside and look up to the skies.. in hopes of finding shooting stars during a glorious meteor shower on hand. Alas, I walk alone tonight ....... .... .......... ..... . . . ...... .....

Kuan Yin

2006-11-10T19:53:00.000-05:00

KUAN YIN: Goddess of Mercy and Compassion

In Taoism and Buddhism, Kuan Yin is the Bodhisattva or Goddess of Mercy and Compassion. Her name means “one who hears the cries of the world and comes.”

Before becoming Kuan Yin, the goddess’s earthly name was Princess Miao Shan, or “Wondrously Kind One.” She was one of three daughters born around 2590 BC to a king with no male heir. The king decreed that his daughters must marry and give him grandsons to perpetuate his dynasty.

Two of the girls obeyed. Miao Shan, however, begged to enter a convent instead. She wanted a life of prayer and contemplation. Thinking she would soon tire of monastic existence, the king agreed. But the princess loved her austere life, and refused to return to marriage and a life of luxury. Threats and punishments failed to sway her. The enraged king ordered her beheaded so her example of disobedience wouldn’t lead other girls astray.

At the moment of execution, a gigantic tiger bounded forth and bore the fainting princess away to safety in the hills. From her hillside cave, Miao Shan descended into Hell, where she procured the release of its wretched inhabitants. For this feat, the princess was honored by Buddha himself, and was taken to the island of Potala, where her works of mercy and contemplation completed her transformation into the goddess Kuan Yin.

She rescued the son of the Dragon King, who had been caught by fishermen while roaming the Earth disguised as a fish. The grateful Dragon King sent Kuan Yin a beautiful jewel, carried by his granddaughter, the Dragon Maiden. Lung Nu so adored the lovely and virtuous goddess that she remained with her always. Kuan Yin is the incarnation of mercy and compassion. In a world beset by evil, the Merciful One hears every cry. All you need do is call her name. They say her voice is heard in the sound of running water in streams, lotus pools, and the sea. You may hear her singing in the chime of brass bells, or the call of the wind.

LANDSLIDE! ...a big thanks from Michael Moore

2006-11-08T18:09:00.000-05:00

I love this guy! :)

November 8th, 2006
Friends,
You did it! We did it! The impossible has happened: A majority of Americans have soundly and forcefully removed Bush's party from control of the House of Representatives. And, sometime today perhaps, we may learn that the same miracle has happened in the Senate. Whatever the outcome, the American people have made two things crystal clear: End this war, and stop Mr. Bush from doing any more damage to this country we love. That is what this election was about. Nothing else. Just that. And it's a message that has sent shock waves throughout Washington -- and a note of hope around this troubled world.

Now the real work begins. Unless we stay on top of these Democrats to do the right thing, they will do what they've always done: Screw it up. Big Time. They helped Bush start this war, and now they should make amends.

But let's take a day to rejoice and revel in a rare victory for our side -- the side that doesn't believe in unprovoked invasions of other countries. This is your day, my friends. You have worked hard for it. I can't tell you how proud I am to count all of you as part of the greater American mainstream we now occupy. Thank you for all the time you gave this week to get out the vote. Some of you have been at this since the large demonstrations of February 2003 when we tried to stop the war before it started. Only 10-20% of the country agreed with us at that time. Remember how lonely that was? Some people were even booed! Now, 60% of the country agrees with our position. They are us and we are them. What a nice, strange, hopeful feeling.

A woman, for the first time in our history, will be Speaker of the House. The attempt to ban all abortion in the conservative state of South Dakota was defeated. Laws to raise the minimum wage were passed. Democrats were elected to fill Tom DeLay's and Mark Foley's seats. Detroit's John Conyers, Jr. is going to be the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. The Democratic governor of Michigan beat the CEO from Amway. The little township next to where I live in Michigan voted Democratic for the first time since... ever. And on and on and on. The good news will continue throughout today. Let's enjoy it. Savor it. And use it to get Congress to finally listen to the majority.

If you want to do one thing today, send an email or a letter to both of your senators and your member of Congress and tell them, in no uncertain terms, what this election means: End the war -- and don't let George W. Bush get away with any more of his bright ideas.

Congratulations, again! Now let's go find a spine for the Dems to do the job we've sent them there to do.
Yours in victory (for once!),

Michael Mooremmflint@aol.com www.michaelmoore.com

P.S. Thanks for all those photos you sent me of you with your brooms at your polling places. They're still coming in and we're posting them here throughout the day. And for those of you who asked how "Sicko" is coming along, the answer is: better than we ever expected! We're hard at work in the edit room and it will be in theaters in June. Thanks again, everyone, for your support.

Happy Birthday Joni Mitchell!!

2006-11-07T23:50:00.000-05:00

Happy Most Wonderful Birthday Joni Mitchell!! We love you to the moon! :)

Please send out a prayer with me..

2006-11-06T19:36:00.000-05:00

Please send out a prayer with me for my friend's dad, Herman Cruse, who passed away over the weekend. Please pray for his wife, Mrs. Cruse, and their children, who are dear friends, Rob, Phil, and Ken. He was an extradinary man and we will miss him so much.

Urgent Message from Michael Moore!

2006-11-06T18:00:00.000-05:00

Friends,

Tomorrow night, those who sent 2,800 of our soldiers to their deaths -- all because of a lie the president concocted -- will find out if America chooses to reward them -- or remove them.

As good as things look for the Democrats, do not pop the corks and start the partying yet. Do not believe for a second that the Republicans plan on losing. They will fight like dogs for the next 24 hours -- relentless, unforgiving, nonstop action to squeeze every last conservative voter out of the house on election day. While the rest of us go about our day today, tens of thousands of Republican volunteers are knocking on doors, making phone calls, and lining up rides to the polls. They're not sleeping, they're not eating, they're not even watching Fox News. A day without Fox News? That's right, that's how insanely dedicated they are.

But the reason they have to work so hard is that, before they can get the vote out, they first have to completely turn around the massive public opinion against them. Almost 60% disapprove of Bush. Over 60% are opposed to the war. Those are landslide numbers. And the American people are not going to turn pro-war or into Bush-lovers by tomorrow morning. So it should be easy for us, right?

Yup. Just like it was when we won the popular vote in 2000 and when we were ahead in the exit polls all day long in 2004. You know the deal -- the other side takes no prisoners. And just when it seems like things are going our way, the Republicans suddenly, mysteriously win the election.

Well, it's not really that mysterious. They're out there busting their asses this very minute, right down the street from you. What are YOU doing? You're on a computer reading my cranky letter! Stop reading this! We have only a few hours left to wrestle control of the Congress away from these "representatives" who, if returned, will continue shipping our young men and women over there to die.

Here's what I'm imploring you to do right now:

1. Go through your address book on your cell phone and computer and call/e-mail everyone you know. Tell them how much it would mean to you if they vote on Tuesday. If they don't know where to vote, help them find their polling place.

2. Contact MoveOn.org ASAP. They will connect you to the folks who need you to make calls.

3. Contact your local Democratic Party headquarters. There are close races in nearly every state. They'll put you to work -- on the ground or on the phones. Or go to the local HQ for the Dem candidate running for the House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate and say, "Put me to work!"

OK, turn off the computer -- and I will, too. There's serious work to do. The good news? There's more of us than there are of them. Let's prove that, once and for all.

Is there anything more important that you have to do today? Nothing less than the rest of the world is depending on us.

Yours,
Michael Moore
www.michaelmoore.com
mmflint@aol.com

Possessed Halloween Kitty!!

2006-11-01T18:41:00.000-05:00

A short Halloween Tail.. it's all true!! It's all true!!

The night started out with a nice 8 hour nap on the bathroom rug. (her favorite place to nap..) Awwwww.. I love her so much :))

Then, all of a sudden, out of nowhere.. comes possessed kitty learing over the side of the bed!!!!

We thought nothing of it until we deceided to take a walk downtown.. when we looked up in the window and saw possessed kitty following us & peering out at us!

That was nothing a little can of salmon couldn't fix.. and it was back to settling into her 18 hours >^..^<

2006-10-31T19:02:00.000-05:00

Happy Spooky Halloween!!!!!

Road Rage Gig!

2006-10-29T14:40:00.000-05:00

Having massive pic loading problems here as USUAL!! (M****F*****)... :(
Some pics aren't loading!!
I'll try again later. Here are some for now... no particular order of the night.

Tony's brother Greg's band: Road Rage! (Greg on guitar of course:)
We saw them last night in Kings Park.
They are awesome!! They rock! They are relentless!
Featuring old hard rock and roll of: Led Zep, The Who, Deep Purple, Priest, AC/DC, Metallica, XTP, Sabbath, and a few more I can't remember at the moment! They are also just starting a myspace page at: Road Rage although it's still under construction but getting there !
Definitely check them out sometime if you can! Some seriously intense rockin'!

Dressed for Halloween...

Greg and brother Tony :)

From Left to right: Jim on drums, Tommy on bass, Paul on lead vocalance, Greg on guitar...

Bob, Jeff, Leah peeking, Tony..

Later in the evening of festivities: Tony, Andy, and Steve.. at Gunthers..

Tony and Suzanne (floppy hat!)
(Love my hat!!)

Paul jammin' out at Gunthers Halloween bash..

Jim on drums! He's a sweetheart! We love him! Madman on the drums!

Sam came for a birthday visit :)

2006-10-25T23:32:00.000-04:00

Sam came for a birthday visit >^..^<

Sam sleeping.. zzzzzzzzzz....

April in her bag...

My birthday cake :))
My FAV.. chocolate Raspberry!!

Northport Main Street Night Photos

2006-10-25T23:00:00.000-04:00

My first night out with my new birthday digital camera!!!
Just some practice shots at night walking up and down and around Main Street in our beautiful quaint Northport!

Northport Post Office! 11768

Cute little store.. used to be the a blacksmith! (Can't see it but on the side it says "Needful Things." Stephen King? Maybe... lol..

Tony's favorite archictectural house in Northport :)
(although we think it needs a side door on the left porch there!!)
Great dentist there!
Kinda spooky looking here considering the time of year!

Newly faced Northport Fire department..
(We all hear that siren constantly!)
(It's SO loud you'd think there was a nuclear meltdown!)

The Essence (my FAV store!) and Organically Yours..

Northport Park Gazebo.. seen many bands and had many awesome guitar hang-outs! (lots of wedding pics are taken here too!)

A local hang out "Gunthers Bar" (Studio G/Club G)
It's where I met Tony actually if you can believe that!!:)
Great people, greatest juke-box around and great bands!
(the beer selection is a bit lacking in the import department if you ask me!)

Walking up to Northport Docks..

A quiet autumn romantic stroll down the dock towards thelittle gazebo (:

The Cat in the Hat on Aging..

2006-10-19T18:14:00.000-04:00

Zombiltol

2006-10-15T01:40:00.000-04:00

Are you hungry? Tired? Stressed out, over worked, underpaid? Unhappy with the way you look? Wish you had more money? Don’t feel like going to work? Does going to the bathroom feel like an inconvience? Is sleep interrupting your night? Not sure what you want to do with the rest of your life? Is making hard decisions difficult to make? Does waiting online at the supermarket feel like an eternity? Do you feel alone when you’re by yourself?

If you answered yes to any of these, you are not alone. We all suffer on a daily basis.
Ask your doctor if Zombiltol is right for you. Zombiltol is approved to treat unknowing, unconscious people just like yourself. Zombiltol is habit-forming and is associated with weight gain. So talk to your doctor about how Zombiltol might help you. Zombiltol comes in 13-mg, 5,000-mg, and 10,000-mg tablets. You and your doctor can discuss an overdose that’s right for you.

Zombiltol is not for everyone. People enjoying life and appearing happy shouldn't take Zombiltol. Side effects may include dry mouth, constant diarrhea, nausea and sleepiness. Other stronger side effects include bloody nose, loss of money, stupidity, loss of memory, toe jam, tiredness, restless leg syndrome, loss of bladder control, excessive urination, dry heaves, erectile dysfunction, depression, tremors, earthquakes, violence, insomnia, attention deficit disorder, weight gain, hair loss, tooth decay, inability to shower, and war.

In studies, all people were bothered enough by side effects to stop taking Zombiltol.
Do not take this drug if you experience any type of happiness or hope, consume chocolate, own a vehicle, have a positive outlook on life, want world peace or worship the sun. Is happiness occurs, consult a physician.

You don’t have to suffer anymore. Help is only a prescription away. And of course, payment plans are accepted to keep you hooked.

My first drawing :))

2006-10-04T20:18:00.000-04:00

I got one of my first drawings this week! From Daniel, a 4 year old from the other class :) The letters on top, as he claims, "say they are my name!" I never ask for drawings; they always seem to just hand them to me and say, "I made this for you!" (I always keep every drawing ever given to me!) I have a HUGE bag in my attic from 5 years of teaching at various schools. I plan to put them into a big book someday to put on my coffee table to look through, and share with anyone who'd like to see them. They certainly bring a warm smile everytime :) They remind me of the importance of innocence. To wonder, explore, invent, and be creative. To live simply, and freely. It's days like this that I feel incredibly humbled and blessed..

My Space............

2006-09-28T18:34:00.000-04:00

I started a MySpace HERE although have to spend more time with it!

Various links :)

2006-09-20T09:40:00.000-04:00

Hopefully you can click on the links. If not copy & paste :)

Audio of Charlotte Martin covering Happy:
http://wretchawry.com/happy/rarities/CharlotteMartin_100Years.mp3
Faded it out because the wonky-assed battery in the camcorder died and it abruptly cut off Char going into "Steel." Damn shame too, because it was quite wonderful.

Early Kate Bush & Peter Gabriel video:
Kate Bush & Peter Gabriel - Another Day (1979)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKknfE4wGmM

And lastly, Vickie sent this in to Ecto:
"This is old, I think I made it in late 1991 I think, but I lost it then found it again. It's 22 minutes of me babbling about Happy on my radio show, with clips from the very first show I played, and on to the very last live show, which was a 6 hour marathon that ended with a full hour of Happy's music. I find this, I listen and cringe, then I listen and love it, then I listen and cringe again, then I lose it, then I find it again, then I listen and cringe, then I listen and love it...
I just listened to it, and tears are streaming down my face.Obviously I'm in a loving it stage, so quick, before I cringe and try to accidentally on purpose lose it again, I'm going to share it. It might not mean anything to anyone but me, but it does show something along the lines of why/how I "am" regardingHappy. Be kind to my editing mistakes, because it was all done on cassette.
http://www.wretchawry.com/happy/rarities/SIGKC_HistoryOfHappy.mp3
I do love Happy Rhodes.
Vickie

September 11th

2006-09-11T12:57:00.000-04:00

Let us never forget September 11th 2001 and all who gave their lives...

"Peace is a word
Of the sea and the wind.
Peace is a bird who sings
As you smile.
Peace is the love
Of a foe as a friend;
Peace is the love you bring
To a child

Searching for me
You look everywhere,
Except beside you.

Searching for you
You look everywhere,
But not inside you.
Peace is a stream
From the heart of a man;
Peace is a man, whose breadth
Is the dawn.
Peace is a dawn
On a day without end;
Peace is the end, like death
Of the war. "

And on this day of 9/11, let us also never forget Chile and all those who were murdered needlessly as well in 1972, including one of my great loves, Victor Jara.

Victor Jara of Chile
Lived like a shooting star
He fought for the people of Chile
With his songs and his guitar
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong...
Victor Jara was a peasant
He worked from a few years old
He sat upon his father's plow
And watched the earth unfold...
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong
Now when the neighbors had a wedding
Or one of their children died
His mother sang all night for them
With Victor by her side...
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong
He grew up to be a fighter
Against the people's wrongs
He listened to their grief and joy
And turned them into songs...
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong
He sang about the copper miners
And those who worked the land
He sang about the factory workers
And they knew he was their man...
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong
He campaigned for Allende
Working night and day
He sang "Take hold of your brothers hand
You know the future begins today"...
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong
Then the generals seized Chile
They arrested Victor then
They caged him in a stadium
With five-thousand frightened men...
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong
Victor stood in the stadium
His voice was brave and strong
And he sang for his fellow prisoners
Till the guards cut short his song
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong...
They broke the bones in both his hands
They beat him on the head
They tore him with electric shocks
And then they shot him dead...
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong....

"Cantó porque el sentimiento,
cantó porque la amistad,
cantó por la realidad,
cantó por el sufrimiento,
cantó porque su talento
en la música desgarra
cantó porque las amarras
se soltarán de la gente,
se le oyó decir ausente
cantó porque la guitarra...
Yo no canto por cantar
ni por tener buena voz,
canto porque la guitarra
tiene sentido y razón."

Translation:
"I sing because the feeling,
I sing because the friendship,
I sing by the reality,
I sing by the suffering,
I sing because its talent
in music tears
I sing because the mooring cables
will loosen of people,
it was heard say absentee to him
I sing because the guitar...
I do not sing singing
nor have a good voice,
I sing because the guitar
has sense and reason...."

I sing also with you today Victor.. siempre..

Thank You Agassi!

2006-09-03T22:16:00.000-04:00

Agassi takes his final bow....

Watched Agassi take his final game today before retirement.
Of course I bawled my eyes out!!! It was so hard to say goodbye..

Incredible how much they cheered him soon after his loss for 8 whole minutes!
Marrat Safin was playing in the Louie Armstrong Stadium next door when the cheering for Andre from Arthur Ashe Stadium came over in a wave of sound.. so much that they put Aggassi up on the screen and the folks sitting in Armstrong started clapping and cheering! Interupting Safin's game!! (which he went on to win btw:)

Was incredibly emotional for me. I clapped myself silly for him sitting in my bed!
Crying the entire time ;)

I love what his opponent said about Andre.. that was incredibly nice. And of course loved the short and simple thankful goodbye speech from Andre.. him crying and sharing so much with us all.

Andre has got to be one of the most admired tennis players ever. Really. There will never be anyone ever that could come and be able to hold a candle next to him. He is the one and only player from the US to win all the majors, as well as an Olympic medal!!!! I love him so much.(Men, take notes here:) I love his class, his style, and his nature. He is honestly one of the classiest guys and most genuinely spirited man I have ever admired from afar. It doesn't get any better. Andre is the kind of guy every girl would want to date, bring home to mom, and marry and grow old with. God, I will surely miss him, beside the tennis world. Next year's Open certainly won't be the same without him.

How lucky am I to have seen him play that night match on Arthur Ashe court in the quarter finals against Pete Sampras in 2001, less than a week before the towers came down???? That was the game of the US Open in my opinion! Andre lost but it was one of the greatest moments in tennis :) To me, it was like a final and better than the actual final where Pete came to lose! I also had the opportunity to climb to the top of Ashe Stadium, just as the sun was setting.. and admire the silhoutte of NYC, Towers and all and snap a panaramic picture with my camera. Was a remarkable night. I bought the tickets days before not even knowing who would be playing and lucked out! I heard tix were completetly sold out and they were selling for hundreds and thousands of dollars because everyone wanted a seat, even if it was in the nose bleed section! Man, the gods were smiling down for me :)

So thank you Agassi! For the game and for keeping me on the edge of my seat all these years! For letting me grow up beside you :) (we are one year apart in age!) Thank you for being such a pure bright light in this dark world at times.. and for letting us watch you mature and grow, and for sharing so much of yourself with us. We are honored to have you in our presence. Stephie is so incredibly lucky to have you as well as your beautiful children. You will always be an ace in my heart. Lots of luck and love...

Transcript interview below: a bit long but worth the read:

An interview with: ANDRE AGASSI
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Andre.

Q. What was the walk like as you left the court for the final time? Was it emotional?
ANDRE AGASSI: Was it emotional?

Q. What emotions were going through you?
ANDRE AGASSI: I don't know. I couldn't make sense of any of my emotions, to be quite honest.

Q. What are your feelings now?
ANDRE AGASSI: Still not terribly sure. You know, it just felt amazing out there. It felt amazing. Nothing I've ever experienced before. Overwhelmed was overwhelmed with how they embraced me at the end. You know, they saw me through my career. They've seen me through this, as well.

Q. When you walked off, did you get closure? Can you feel closure on the walk through the alley?
ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, for sure.

Q. How was it compared to what you imagined?
ANDRE AGASSI: I tried not to imagine too much. I didn't know how much would be emotional, how much would be sort of disappointment or sadness or how much I would feel, in a sense, liberated. You know, I mean, I don't know. I wasn't sure what to anticipate.
I don't think it was sadness. It was a beautiful feeling combined with a real excitement for the future.

Q. Have you ever expected to lose against someone called B. Becker?
ANDRE AGASSI: I've lost to B. Becker before (smiling).
I was proud to shake anybody's hand today.

Q. As much as it's hard to separate this emotion from the actual tournament, can you go through the last couple of days and the physical pain you went through just to get ready for this match. Do you really think you could have got through this and come back again tomorrow had you won, physically?
ANDRE AGASSI: After my second round match against Baghdatis, that was the worst I've ever been. I just credit the doctors that I was able to get out there today. It's been such a day by day battle. It was such a telling sign the way I felt after my last match that I didn't expect a whole lot physically.
Sure enough, it was real early where I wasn't feeling so good. That all doesn't matter any more (smiling).

Q. What were the first things that Steffi said after the match and what did you say to her?
ANDRE AGASSI: Oh, I'll just take a pass on that one, sorry.

Q. Did you get a shot of antiinflammatories before the match today?
ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah.

Q. What was it?
ANDRE AGASSI: You could ask the doctors to confirm. I don't remember the name. Torburol (phonetic). I don't know.

Q. I imagine you heard the comments your father had shared about wishing that you had announced your retirement after the Baghdatis match. I'm wondering if you wouldn't mind talking about why that wasn't the choice you made and if you've had a chance to talk with him about it.
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, because if I wanted to quit, I would have done that a long time ago. I didn't come here to quit.

Q. After all these comings and goings, this long journey, are you a man now that's at peace? Have you left everything out there?
ANDRE AGASSI: I've spent a lot of time over the last few months knowing that this would be the end, this tournament. I've had a lot of time to think about it from many perspectives.
I look at young guys who are talented who make us aware of life's endless cycle. I look at the life ahead of them, the journey ahead of them. It's so evenly balanced between me seeing how many great things they have to look forward to, at the same time how much I wouldn't do it again.
It feels like a balance that leaves me very clear and at peace.

Q. In what ways wouldn't you do it again?
ANDRE AGASSI: Because I did it (laughter). Because I did it.

Q. Are you at peace right now?
ANDRE AGASSI: I strive for that every day. I don't know how I'll be tomorrow, but right now I am.

Q. For 36 years you've known tennis. It's been your life every single day. Can you tell us what the new challenge will be in your new life?
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I don't know. You know, I mean, it's hard to say specifically how things will play out. I can say that it's nice to sort of do things now without a sort of built in cost, whether that's time with the foundation or whether that's time out with your friends. It always comes with a cost. You're not doing something. You need to be resting. You need to be training. You need to be going somewhere. Everything you do has come with a sacrifice, it's come with a price tag, whether it's physical or mental. You've always had to be somewhere and be thinking about being somewhere else.
I look forward to being wherever I am.

Q. Everybody is aware of your great humanitarian efforts, your school. Can you step back and talk about why tennis as a sport is a great paradigm to the lessons you need to know in life, following rules, trying your best?
ANDRE AGASSI: You're out there alone. You're playing a sport that requires you to problem solve. It requires you to do it in a somewhat emotional state. It's a bit of life there. You learn to trust yourself and you learn to push yourself.

Q. You said before you weren't sure if it would feel more like sadness or liberation. Do you feel any sense of liberation that it's over? In those moments where you were sitting there in the chair, hearing everything, soaking in that moment, were you feeling more about this moment or were you kind of running through your career in your head at that moment?
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I was sitting there realizing that I was saying good bye to everybody out there, and they were saying good bye to me. It's saying good bye. You know, it's a necessary evil.
But we were getting through it together. That felt amazing.

Q. Do you feel any sense of relief, liberation? Is it more sadness right now?
ANDRE AGASSI: Let me put it this way: I don't care how I feel physically (smiling). I haven't felt that before.

Q. You won half your Grand Slam titles in Australia. Can you talk about what that tournament did for your career? Would you have liked to have played it earlier on?
ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, I missed a lot of Wimbledons, but I missed more Australians. That turned out to be my most productive surface. So I would have I wish I would have played it more.
But, boy, every time I was down there, I felt so comfortable. The people there just make the whole journey worth it. You fly a long ways, but you're glad you did it.

Q. Close ties to an Australian. What has he done for your career?
ANDRE AGASSI: He's given me some Aussie ways of getting through some of the pains (smiling).

Q. Why was it so important for you to come here and compete at the high level, pay the price with the shots? You could have come in and obviously not taken the shots, maybe been out a round earlier. Why was it important for you to go out like this?
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, this is sort of the last sort of window to the whole series of windows throughout my career. I just feel like the color on the last one can affect how you see the rest of them, you know. I didn't want it to be tainted with a lack of desire or preparation. I'd rather just be inside the lines.

Q. How much more happy are you knowing that it ended here in New York?
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, that's what I planned on. I mean, it's for a very specific reason. This is the place that's given me the most over the years, have the most memories, that has touched me in a way that I haven't experienced anywhere else.

Q. Is it special for you that not only the fans give you this respect and love, but all the other players, your competitors, give you this enormous respect?
ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, when I went into the locker room afterwards, they all were standing, applauding me. I tell you, you know, the greatest applause that any person will ever receive in their life is that which comes from their peers. It's not like we're a company who's working together to accomplish something. We're people that succeed, in some cases, at the demise of the other. To have them applaud you is the ultimate compliment.

Q. Were you startled, even disheartened, by his coming up with the big shot, the ace on the biggest points? Did you think, This is just not to be?
ANDRE AGASSI: It obviously wasn't to be. Nothing was very recognizable out there when it comes to the tennis side of it. I was struggling early on. Then he seemed to be playing patchy tennis, as well.
You know, he came up with the goods. I've seen it maybe about 400 times (smiling).

Q. How much pain were you in when you got on the court versus how much at the end? Can you talk about that extraordinary speech. Had you in your mind planned what you wanted to say to the fans?
ANDRE AGASSI: I went out there not feeling terrible pain, but sort of pretty still tight from everything that had transpired a few nights earlier. The pain came quickly. It can do that, and it did (snapping fingers). I know I was in trouble at that point. You immediately start cutting corners that you know are going to come back to sort of haunt you. Then you know it's going to gradually get worse, sometimes very quickly get worse.

Q. Then the speech?
ANDRE AGASSI: Listen, I think I've prepared for that speech for 21 years. I mean, it's just one of those you think about what you what you want to say, what really touches the things that are important to you.
There's a thousand things that were going through my mind.

Q. When you said in your speech that the fans have been an inspiration, have you sensed this has gone far beyond fans rooting for an athlete to a quality of love that's really unique?
ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, that's what I said. You know, they've rooted for me not just on the court, but also through many, many low points of my life. They've pulled for me. In many cases, how they pulled for me on the court has helped me in life. In other cases, how they've pulled for me in life has helped me on the court. Over the years, it's been hard to separate the tennis from the relationships, you know.
They got me through a lot.

Q. You competed against many generations. How do you look back at these match ups against many champions?
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I take pride in competing against so many great champions. It means a lot. It's been a great experience over the years. I don't know what to say, but it's pushed me to be better. You can play a great career and you're not guaranteed to play the best ever. I've hung around long enough to do that.

Q. Looking back at the whole career, can you name the three best things in your whole career, most memorable moments?
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, French Open, my first win in Wimbledon, and probably winning here for the first time.

Q. What do you plan on doing for the remainder of your stay here? When will you be going back home?
ANDRE AGASSI: I don't know and I don't know (laughter). Who cares what I do, right? Doesn't matter.

Q. If this had been any other tournament, any other match, was there any chance you would have played today with the pain you were in?
ANDRE AGASSI: There would have been no chance I would have gotten through my first two. I don't think I could have gotten through those.
The way it was, no, I would have it's like this summer. I was playing pulled out of two events over the summer because I was literally thinking to myself, If I have this much left, I want to spend it here. I'm glad I did that because pulling out of two tournaments allowed me the chance to play two matches. I know it doesn't give me the great prospect of doing something spectacular in hindsight, but those two matches were worth a difficult year. I'm glad I did it.

Q. If a 16 year old tennis prodigy at the US Open asked you for some words of wisdom, what would you tell him?
ANDRE AGASSI: What would I tell him? Just use every day as an opportunity to get better, not just on the court.

Q. Your first title in Brazil, how important was that?
ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, that paid a lot of bills (smiling). $90,000 prize check. That's all I was thinking about. God, I can play next year without worrying about a whole lot.

Q. Have you heard from the former people you played over the years who have retired? Have you heard from many over the past couple days?
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, yeah, I see a lot of people here. I spend a lot of time with Jim Courier over the last few weeks. He came to Vegas. Yeah, you have friendships that transcend sort of the tournaments and all that, hear from people, absolutely.

Q. How are you going to explaining to your children what their daddy did?
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, my first goal is to explain to them why I was crying. It was pretty upsetting to them to see me cry because I suppose they don't realize that dads do that.

Q. You think a lot about the points in the matches that you've played, you recall a lot of that. When you step away from this Open and the game, what will you remember the most about the Open? The Baghdatis match? Today saying good bye? What stands out?
ANDRE AGASSI: It will be that applause, the applause from the fans, the applause from my peers. That was the greatest memories I've ever had, memories I'll keep with me forever.

Q. How do you see your legacy to the sport of tennis? What would you like it to be?
ANDRE AGASSI: I don't have an objectivity on that. Like I've answered this before, you know, it's important for me to leave this game better off. I hope they're better off for having me, because it's me being much better off for having them. So that's my hope. I don't know what it is. Everybody needs to see it through their lens. You know, for me it's been about trying to give more than I take.

Q. Where is the future for your back? Are you going to need surgery? Will stopping the tennis take pressure off?
ANDRE AGASSI: I mean, if I'm not sort of trying to mix it up with 21 year olds and stuff like that, I'm okay. I mean, normal life. Once the nerve gets irritated, it's impossible to recover, while at the same time you're putting yourself through that sort of trauma.

Q. Will you need cortisone to recover from this?
ANDRE AGASSI: I don't know. I mean, I don't know. It's possible. I do have the option of surgery and clearing out the space so the nerve is less affected. Worst case scenario.
They've told me when the intensity of what I do drops, so will the ramifications. But, you know, if I can't be normal, if I can't have fun with the kids, do all the things that we all enjoy doing, then I'll have to assess it from there.

Q. What role has Steffi played in recent years for you?
ANDRE AGASSI: Overall, she's been the reason why I've been able to do this over the last six years. Certainly since we had children. She's given me a lot. When I met her, I think I went 27 1 in Grand Slam matches (smiling).

Q. Do you have a sense of why you've had such a rapport with the public? There's a lot of champions that have not developed that.
ANDRE AGASSI: No, I can't speak to their perception of things. But, you know, I mean, for me, I feel like I try to take it in. I mean, it's hard to overlook. Everybody out there in those seats has a story and a life. They're sharing it with you. Yeah, I've always found that pretty amazing.

Q. Are we going to see you at tennis tournaments in the future? How much are you going to be visible?
ANDRE AGASSI: Are you worried about that (smiling)?

Q. Different champions have chosen different paths regarding that. How close to tennis do you think you will stay?
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I hope I can be involved in this game in a way that makes a difference to it. I mean, I'm not going to force that issue. At the same time, I'm going to be very receptive to how I can help the sport.
Me helping the sport, or trying to over the years, has not just been a function of me playing, it's been a function of me caring about it. I'll still care about it. I don't know how it's going to manifest itself.
I hope I get to see you guys more. Come to Vegas, track me down. One place or another, either here or there.

Q. Although you summarized very well your feelings in the last speech, what happened when you were at your seat and the Baghdatis match and today almost 23,000 voices were saying Let's go. What was the feeling for you?
ANDRE AGASSI: It's very unique. I've never seen that even in Davis Cup play really. To have them stand for a match point in my first match, I haven't seen that. Like today, as well. I haven't even seen that in Davis Cup.
It's amazing. It's overwhelming. I mean, I try to find more words to convey it. You know, at the end of the day, you just marvel at it and you thank God for it.

Q. Do you remember the 17 year old who wasn't really thinking about helping the sport back then?
ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, unfortunately I'm forced to remember at times (smiling).

Q. What would you say to that 17 year old?
ANDRE AGASSI: I would say, I understand you a heck of a lot more than I want to be you (laughter).

Q. Do you ever step back and stop feeling humble and say, I'm really proud of myself, I've done a lot, I've attained a lot of goals?
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I don't think my pride comes from the accomplishment. The pride comes from the striving, what's in front of you, how you're going to get through it, how you're going to connect to it, care about it. I take pride in that.
I take pride in people saying they're going my peers telling me they're going to miss me. I take pride in that. But I also aspire to live up to that.
You know, I can't sort of take too much stock in it because I feel like you miss out on what's happening right now. That's the good stuff.

Q. What do you think about this next wave of U.S. players? Repeated question, but a question that becomes more pronounced now that you're gone.
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, first of all, there's not a whole lot of room at the top right now. You know what I mean? Federer has made it slim pickins for everybody else. And then Nadal has cleaned up anything left over.
Whatever standard we're dealing with, it's a different ballgame when you're used to generations that are competing for Grand Slam titles. I'm afraid most of them are going to Spain and Switzerland for a little while. That's the difficult part coming off a few generations.
You know, Andy's gotten there before. Seems like he's playing well. You know, James still has I think his best stuff ahead of him. I got to believe we have things to look forward to. It's just going to be compared to a pretty rough standard.

Q. What did you say to Benjamin right after the match? Did you say something in German that you learned through Steffi?
ANDRE AGASSI: Nothing in German.

Q. What did you say to him?
ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, I congratulated him. He kicked my butt (smiling).

Q. Do you remember what he said to you? Can you imagine what it must have been like for him out there?
ANDRE AGASSI: I would need some time to look at it through his lens. I don't know what he said. I really don't. I don't know. I don't even know if I heard it, to be honest. But I felt, you know, it was my own sort of experience out there that was taking over at that point.

Q. Has this experience given you a greater appreciation for what Pete was able to accomplish here four years ago? Did you at any time in the last week allow yourself to entertain an ending like Pete had?
ANDRE AGASSI: Listen, what Pete did was incredible. We knew it then. We know it now. There's no question about that. At the same time you're talking about apples and oranges. It's one thing to win a title and then to decide, hey, that was great, I'm not playing any more. It's another thing to say, okay, this is it, that's my shot over there, and that's what I'm going to do for the next few months. It's apples and oranges.
But what Pete did is incredible. For me, it was never about winning and stopping, it was always about getting the most out of myself for as long as possible because I felt like there was a lot of benefit to the work I was putting in for not just my life and my experiences, but also for my foundation and also hopefully for the sport of tennis. Those became my motivations. That's an entirely different approach to winning and saying no more. It's just apples and orange.
But what he did was amazing. Any time to win here is amazing. To do it at 30 was incredible.

Q. During your speech, you said there were low points in your life. At one point you were ranked in the 140s. What was the source of motivation to make you come back? Seems like the fans attached themselves to you after that.
ANDRE AGASSI: My motivation was just wanting it to be on my terms. I didn't know I would be able to get back to the top. I knew that I would try to get the most out of myself every day from that day forward. That was my commitment.
That never stopped. That's probably something I take the most pride in.

Q. I don't know if you're going to take your kids out to hit tennis balls. When you look back at your father, such a young age, instilling this game into you, some way say in a very obsessive way, do you reflect back that as hard as it was you probably wouldn't be sitting here today if he hadn't?
ANDRE AGASSI: That's for sure. There's no question about it. What we've gone through, our moments of not seeing things eye to eye, it has been his journey and it has been my journey.
The pride I take in everything I've experienced has to do with what I've poured into it, not necessarily what that experience was. I mean, I think tennis is one vehicle. I think we can find excuses in life or we can find inspirations. I've always tried to find inspirations. I am thankful for my father giving me this game.

Q. Do you think it's going to feel strange to just wake up like a normal person and not have to do this? How are you going to fulfill? You've been so zoomed in on one thing, now the whole world is completely open to you.
ANDRE AGASSI: It's like you're talking dirty to me now. I like it (laughter).
Sorry, did that come out? Did I say that?
I hope it feels strange. I hope it feels really, really strange because that would reflect a lot of assumed responsibility, pressure and commitment that is no longer on my shoulders at least in the same nature. Yeah, I mean, I'm going to wake up tomorrow and start with not caring how I feel. That's going to feel great. And then I'm imagining for a long time, any time somebody asks me to do something, I'm going to go, Sure, why not.

Q. Can you address the transformation from a 17 year old with bleached long hair, maybe bratty kind of guy, to the guy you are today, the man who is a humanitarian, champion? To take it a step further, has tennis been a vehicle for you to reach the masses? Do you feel it's been your destiny?
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I think there's been many things that I feel like I haven't asked for that I've had to carry and I've always benefited from. It's been a lot of both. There's been a lot of difficulty that has come with this journey and there's also been a lot of rewards, which as I've gotten older I've realized that most of us experience those things, just in different ways.
Who I was at 17 is most likely not far off how most of us were at 17, except I was just expressing it a little differently (smiling).

Q. Destiny, your destiny, the role you played?
ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, I don't I don't know. I don't know. I can't really see it that objectively. I wish I could.

Q. You seem quite happy that it's over now. Is that true?
ANDRE AGASSI: Yes, it is. You know, it's a transition. There's been a feeling, like I expressed, of a bit of sadness saying good bye. I mean, the part that makes this so good over the years is the fact that it will come to an end, the fact that there is an end and a good bye makes you really take in what you get to share and experience. The pain of the good bye really lifts the joy of the experience. I'm very much at peace with that.

Q. I know you just stopped, but have you given a thought about the senior tour at all?
ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, I actually think it starts tomorrow, right? They're playing. I might just yeah, we might have another press conference after (smiling).
No, I'm not quitting tennis, retiring, to immediately think about playing again. I'm going to be very shrewd and take some time.

Q. Your work with your academy, has that ever prompted you in going back to school yourself?
ANDRE AGASSI: No, no (smiling). Listen, I think everyone else should go to school (laughter).
It's about opportunities for children. For me, I feel like my opportunities, I've been blessed with so many of them and have them. I enjoy learning on different levels. I'm not sure I would particularly connect with the routine of sort of going back to school. It hasn't really ever crossed no, no (smiling).

Q. I know it's still a few weeks away, October 7th is a big night. Can you imagine this will be the most emotional moment of your retirement?
ANDRE AGASSI: Well, listen, if I could leverage anything I'm going through here to make more money for the children, to bring them more opportunities, I'm open to ideas. If I can inspire people to give more as a result of anything, that's a good thing. That night is a huge night.
I think actually this will be the first event, because that's a perfect example of what I look forward to. In years past, I'm not playing in Europe because I'm doing this for the foundation. I'm not training, I'm not playing, but I'm doing something I really care about.
This year I'll get to just do what I care about without that sort of price tag with it. It will be great.

Q. Do you think it will be a bigger event as a result, though?
ANDRE AGASSI: I don't know. Last year we raised $10 million. A couple years ago $12.6 million. Those aren't easy numbers. I don't lose appreciation for how much money that is and what happens with those children's lives as a result of that money.
We're talking about millions of dollars that are going to get raised. I'm going to be thankful for each one.

Q. Over the years you talk a lot about inspiration. Have there been any scripture verses or quotes from people that you admire that you keep tucked in the back of your mind?
ANDRE AGASSI: You know, my mind grinds gears when I have to recall stuff like that. I'm not good at sort of memorizing and repeating.
Yeah, I'm inspired by a lot of different things that I see every day.

Q. Pete said after a couple of years of retirement he got really bored and started playing World Team Tennis. Does that seem crazy to you about being bored in retirement?
ANDRE AGASSI: I think it's an individual experience for sure. A career is individual to every given person, how you choose to go about it, and so is retirement. I can't speak to what his journey has been, how he's perceived his life through tennis or after.
If I'm bored, I feel like I've done a thousand things differently than I anticipate.

Q. Having been with Steffi when she was going through her transition into retirement, do you think you can take anything from that in your road now? She didn't embrace a lot of what's out here as you did.
ANDRE AGASSI: No, she did. Maybe you just didn't sort of see it or it wasn't communicated in the same way.
You know, the reason why I can't sort of learn a lot from her, I just have to sort of sit on the sideline and admire it, is because she's very resolved in everything she does. She treated retirement and that decision with such sort of grace and ease that it makes you marvel at her strength, her clarity.
I'm a completely different animal than that, you know. It's not so easy for me to trust myself.

Q. Looking at the number of media here, do you really want us to track you down?
ANDRE AGASSI: It depends if I liked you or not (smiling).
No, I would love to see all of you again.

Q. When you do leave these things over the years, as you walk down the corridor, do you think, What are these people about? Do you think about some of the questions you're asked. Do you have any memory of questions you were asked particularly?
ANDRE AGASSI: Oh, wow. Yeah, that's I never want to be prepared for a question. That's a question I wish I was prepared for. I wish I would have thought about that. I probably could have given you a whole list. My mind doesn't work well that way. I can't just kind of call on something.
I've had some shockers over the years, for sure, to say the least.

Q. Do you have any questions for us?
ANDRE AGASSI: Are you guys going to really miss me or are you just acting like that?
(Standing ovation.)

James Blunt

2006-09-02T19:43:00.000-04:00

LOVE James Blunt! Is this guy talented or what? Just got his new CD at Tony's friend's music store here in Northport in the village, Vinal Records.. a brand new used one (does that make sense?) for so cheap instead of the usual 20+ bucks from Borders or Tower!

I love that he is SO authentic and real..

I like the popular "You're Beautiful," of course, (prob because I haven't heard it a bazillion times on the radio as everyone else) about seeing his ex-girlfriend on a train one day with her new boyfriend and the look they had between them that will last him a lifetime, as he said.. Amazing, because he said he never thought it would be number 1 on the billboards!

Although I have to say I most like "Goodbye My Lover," even more.. done on piano, (he plays that too!). Man, move over Joni because this song has got to be one of the most emotive, incredibly personal song lyrics I have heard in years! Just blew me away!!!! It gets me! We saw him sing and play it live on TV the other day and he was just so expressive and so soulful... and it was at that moment I felt such incredible respect and admiration for this guy, someone I wasn't at all familiar with. (besides the fact he was being interviewed and he seems like a really down to Earth, funny, cool-kind of guy :)

I also like "So Long Jimmy," which as soon as I heard it I said, I know that HAS to be in reference to Mr. Hendrix, which is was, when I got to the linear notes :)

Still spending time with it...
Maybe I can get Tony to pick out 'You're Beautiful' for me one night :)

Goodbye My Lover....
Did I disappoint you or let you down?
Should I be feeling guilty or let the judges frown?'
Cause I saw the end before we'd begun,
Yes I saw you were blinded and I knew I had won.
So I took what's mine by eternal right.
Took your soul out into the night.
It may be over but it won't stop there,
I am here for you if you'd only care.
You touched my heart you touched my soul.
You changed my life and all my goals.
And love is blind and that I knew when,
My heart was blinded by you.
I've kissed your lips and held your head.
Shared your dreams and shared your bed.
I know you well,
I know your smell.
I've been addicted to you.

Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.

I am a dreamer but when I wake,
You can't break my spirit -
it's my dreams you take.
And as you move on, remember me,
Remember us and all we used to be
I've seen you cry,
I've seen you smile.
I've watched you sleeping for a while.
I'd be the father of your child.
I'd spend a lifetime with you.
I know your fears and you know mine.
We've had our doubts but now we're fine,
And I love you,
I swear that's true.
I cannot live without you.

Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.

And I still hold your hand in mine.
In mine when I'm asleep.
And I will bear my soul in time,
When I'm kneeling at your feet.

Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.
I'm so hollow, baby,
I'm so hollow.
I'm so, I'm so,
I'm so hollow.....

Head on over to James Blunt's HOMEPAGE

2006-09-02T18:38:00.000-04:00

We somehow managed to grab the first 3 dvd disks of season 2's Lost!
(that was a mouthful lol)
It was a marathon for us in all this rain :)

Only three more disks to go and we are all caught up!
Season 3 starts October 5th. Psych!!!!!!!!!!
I can't believe how much we love this show! We are comletely addicted like addicts or something!! And it still feels like we are watching a movie, a very l o n g one!! The characters are all so incredibly developed and I love them all so much!
This has got to be one of the best television shows ever. Period.

Hendrix

2006-08-18T01:05:00.000-04:00

Currently reading the lost writings of Jimi...

LOST

2006-08-18T00:58:00.000-04:00

Anyone else as addicted to ABC's Lost as we are???
Is this show incredibly awesome or what?? It's like watching a long movie!!
We watched all of season 1 on DVD and are waiting for the second season to be released on DVD in a few weeks! Then season 3 starts up!! :))))) and we'll be in sinc!

Peeked on this article today:
KAHUKU, Hawaii - The hatch is history. That was just one of the third-season secrets revealed by cast and crew of the TV drama "Lost," who gathered here Tuesday night to mark the release of the DVD set, "Lost - The Complete Second Season."

"The hatch has definitely had its moment," confirmed executive producer Bryan Burk, referring to the mysterious underground bunker that was the set for much of the series' second-season drama. "Lets just say it was one big explosion."

"Lost" cast members Evangeline Lilly, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Terry O'Quinn, Daniel Dae Kim and Yunjim Kim were among the attendees at the party at the Turtle Bay Resort, about a 20-minute drive from where much of "Lost" is filmed on the north shore of Oahu.

Before heading in to celebrate their second-season work, the cast was asked to address their show's surprising lack of presence among this year's Emmy nominees. Though it was last year's Emmy-winning drama, "Lost" was not among the current crop of nominated series, nor were any of its leading actors recognized.

"My first reaction to it was, `Good.' I don't want us to become that show that becomes so righteous, so above everything else, that we're untouchable," said Lilly, who will serve as a presenter at the Aug. 27 Emmy telecast.

"When we started, our big question was, `Will anybody even watch this show?' And then when people started watching, we were thrilled. And then when we got recognized critically, we were beside ourselves. So, when we didn't get nominated, all we had to do was remember where we came from."

Writer and executive producer Carlton Cuse told The AP he wasn't losing sleep about the Emmy snub, either.

"Were we disappointed that we didn't get a nomination for the show? Yes." he said. "But the show has been so blessed: the attention, the success. We're not going to focus too long on what we don't have."

"Lost" fans can expect some big changes when new episodes return to ABC Oct. 4.

There won't be any more frustrating repeats. "Now, when `Lost' is on, it's on," Cuse explained. "And when it's off, it's off. And when it's on, you know it's an original `Lost.'"

The producers said six all-new "Lost" episodes will air in consecutive weeks this fall; the season's remaining 17 new episodes will be scheduled without interruption from midwinter to late spring.
As for the story: If the first season was all about the original plane-crash survivors adjusting to their new lives on a deserted island, and the second season was all about the so-called "tailies" (those who were in the tail of the plane, whom the originals had thought were dead), "this year," Lilly said, "we've opened this up to another whole other people, a whole other location, a whole other facet through which we can tell stories."

Michael Emerson, who plays the leader of "The Others" group, noted, "What I know is that we get to go live with The Others, where they learn a little more about their life and, hopefully, their mission, their agenda, whatever that might be. Maybe we'll get to warm up to them."

Producer Burk promised that many of the second season's looming questions would be answered in the first six episodes. But, warned actor Daniel Dae Kim, "I think for every question that's answered, there's another one that's posed, and that's kind of what keeps people coming back."
Cuse said the new season will include more action and adventure, and that new characters could well serve as love interests. And, he added, Sawyer (Holloway) and Jack (Matthew Fox) will definitely be competing for the romantic affections of Kate (Lilly).

But don't expect the show to get all soft.

"There'll be a lot of love. There'll be a lot of comedy," Burk said. "But we can never forget that these people are in a very dark place."

Parrot Flower

2006-08-12T12:48:00.000-04:00

A FLOWER ALL THE WAY FROM THAILAND . . .

THE VERY RARE PARROT FLOWER

(click on the Picture for a larger view!)

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Goddess is upon us!

2006-08-12T12:30:00.000-04:00

Click HERE instead
Loreena McKennitt
An Ancient Muse

Decade day lol...

2006-08-05T14:36:00.000-04:00

Wanting to find myself and guitar with Neil Young (& Tony) this weekend.
Tony taught me 'Down By the River' months ago :)
(good way for me to practice those pentatonic scales for leads!)
Leads are something I'm not familiar with lol but he encourages me!
It's pretty damn funny! I play the rhythm and he plays the amazing leads then he plays the rhythm and looks over at me to play the little riffs he taught me :)
I usually end up cracking up because it feels so incredible to me to even attempt such sounds and I feel so inadequate! Not to mention he has this huge grin on his face all the while lol..
But I so love it though :)

Is this one of the coolest album covers or what?
Wish I had the LP, I'd probably frame it!

Wonderous Stories

2006-08-05T14:02:00.000-04:00

Tony and I met Jeff last night in Heckscher Park to see Wonderous Stories a 70's progressive rock cover band doing the entire Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon!"
It was so awsome! We loved it! Those guys are some serious musicians! (check out their website above!) Tony and I have never seen them but Jeff has before. After they did 'Dark Side of the Moon' they also did a few covers... some Allman Brothers, some Yes, and some Beatles.. (Heart of the Sunrise was soooooo incredible!)
If you ever get the chance, go and see them! They tour all over the world as far as I know.. Jones beach this summer as well :) Anyone wanna go with us?? :)

PS. If you LOVE Pink Floyd, (and a litle banjo) check out Luther Wright and the Wrongs "Rebuild the Wall!! It's hysterically brilliant!!

Happy video 'Mercy Street' LIVE!

2006-08-05T13:47:00.000-04:00

You MUST check out this live video of Happy with Bon Lozaga from 'Gong' playing Peter Gabriel's Mercy Street below!!!
(Thank you oh Goddess Vickie!!!!)

CLICK ME CLICK ME YES CLICK ME!!!!

Yes, I was there and saw this live with my brother!!
Actually caught both shows so I even got to see her sing it twice!!
When she started singing it, I was like OMG! I had instant tears in my eyes and chills down my spine...
Even have a pic with Happy to prove I was there :)
(and we are sweating unbelievably!! It was 100 degrees in Philly that weekend, not to mention their AC was NOT working!! As you can see, we are steamy shinny!! Between the unbearable heat wave and seeing Happy, I did all I could not to pass out and die that night! :)

There is another video of her doing Temporary and Eternal too although it isn't loading right for me *yet*. Maybe you will have better luck!

CLICK ME CLICK ME YES CLICK ME!!!!

OHHHH the torture!!!!!!

East Coast Heat Wave!

2006-08-02T15:56:00.000-04:00

Phewww it's hot!

Priceless cat >^..^<

2006-07-31T16:35:00.000-04:00

June 13, 2006—Perhaps not since the Cowardly Lion has an animal's appearance been so at odds with its attitude.

On June 4 a black bear wandered into a West Milford, New Jersey, back yard, was confronted by a 15-pound (7-kilogram) tabby cat … and fled up a neighbor's tree. Hissing at the base of the tree, Jack the clawless cat kept the bear at bay for about 15 minutes, then ran him up another tree after an attempted escape.

Finally, Jack's owner, Donna Dickey, called the cat inside, and the timorous trespasser disappeared back into the woods.
"He doesn't want anybody in his yard," Dickey said of Jack in an interview with the Newark Star Ledger.
Unlike cats, bears aren't typically territorial, roaming instead over vast areas that would be impossible to patrol for intruders. With a habitat that includes much of North America, black bears are seen fairly often in this region of New Jersey.

Full-grown black bears weigh between 200 and 600 pounds (90 and 270 kilograms) and measure as much as 6 feet (1.8 meters) long. Their diets can include fruits, honey, insects, acorns and animals as big as moose calves—a fact apparently lost on Jack.

Echoes gig pictures!!!

2006-07-27T20:32:00.000-04:00

FINALLY! The DS Shanahans Echoes gig pictures, in no particular order whatsoever!! What an awesome night!!

Tony, Cat, Jean Paul, and Dan! (and we all fit in my car lol)

Tony takes yet another bow!! lol

Tom (does all his own stunts,) Suzanne funny face, and Tony...

Shane and Tony! (we love you Shane!!!)

Funny picture of me taking a picture of Shane taking a picture of me!

Shane kissing Jeff.... (it's not what you might think, we all kiss Jeff :)

Matt drummin' AND singing!!

Lea and Tony!

Lea and Bob - with hair!! Man, it's been too long since we've seen you!

Jeff and Bill- playing something amazing on bass!

2006-07-27T19:58:00.000-04:00

More 'Echoes' gig pictures in no particular order :)

Jeff on tam and Bill on bass!

Jeff singing :)
(nobody puts Christian in the corner!!)

Jean Paul, Tony, and Greg..
(are these guys handsome or what?)

Smiley Greg and Tony :)

Fire Goddess Bridget fanning the fire!

The rockin' "Echoes" boys: Adam, Jeff, Christian, Matt, and Bill!
(wish I could write what Shane said about this pic lol)

Christian and Tony, the most whaling guitar players!!!
(and the most adorable guitar players ever! :)

Adam, Christian: doing the guitar pee-pee dance, and Jeff...

Christian rockin'

Bridget and Tom..... kissing of course!
(did I hear a bell?)

Echoes pictures to follow!

2006-07-23T14:20:00.000-04:00

Mike and Laurie Sharoldi's Wedding!!

2006-07-23T13:39:00.000-04:00

Finally got to post Mike and Laurie's wedding pictures! Had to do it in segments though!
We had such a great time! The weather was perfect and the day was grand!
Wish I took more pics of everyone! Gotta get a digital camera!!!!!!

A walk up the aisle!

A walk down the aisle!

2006-07-23T13:30:00.000-04:00

Beautiful stained glass! Too bad I couldn't capture all it's colors!

Tom and Bridget!! (madly in love!)

"Hey, look! isn't that Keith??"

"The favorite couple" as we are fondly refered too by some :)

I love this picture! Tom is blowing bubbles!
(doesn't it also kind of look like he might lick the pole too?;)
(love you Tom!)

A kiss by the door. I love the reflection!

2006-07-23T13:21:00.000-04:00

Outside the church complimented with rose petals and bubbles..

Classic picture!

On the grounds outside next to the gazebo..
(and behind me is a swan's house complete with sky-lights!)

What a handsome couple indeed!

Mike and Karen!! (another adorable couple!)

Wecoming for the first time, "Mr. and Mrs. Sharoldi!"

2006-07-23T13:08:00.000-04:00

Everytime a bell rings an angel gets it's wings..
(and Suzanne gets a kiss!)

Everytime a bell rings an angel gets it's wings...
(and Bridget gets a kiss!)

The tradititional wedding dancing feet- foot rub ala Tony :)

Mr. and Mrs. Sharoldi dancing next to us...

Time to cut that cake... yummmy!

Tony and I on the bridge inside the tropical room :)
I got to bring home a HUGE bouquet of flowers!

Phantom Happy

2006-07-22T15:52:00.000-04:00

Someone made a video using scenes from the movie 'The Phantom of the Opera'

using Happy's song, "In Hiding!!" It's so damn cool!! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR2DnMcxEnI

What's with posting pictures here??!!

2006-07-21T01:05:00.000-04:00

STILL, I can't post ANY $&g^(d*)*%f$%@p@ pictures on this blogger!!!!
What is up???? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

To Kill an American reply

2006-07-21T00:40:00.000-04:00

Although I am not a big fan of (any type of) nationalism, I love this country and feel very happy and lucky to be here. I liked what this piece said. Thought I'd blog it....
P.S. God Bless the whole "World!"
No exceptions :)

Subject: To Kill an American written by an Australian Dentist

To Kill an American
You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.

So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is, so they would know when they found one. "An American is English, or French,or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek.

An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese,Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.

An American may also be a Comanche,Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.

An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslimsin America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.

An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return.

When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!

As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least.

The national symbol of America, TheStatue of Liberty, welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America.

Some of them were working in theTwin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life fortheir families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.

So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and MaoTse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.

It says it all, for all of us..

Time to kill off the penny?

2006-07-17T18:31:00.000-04:00

Now that the coins cost more to make than they’re worth, efforts have begun anew to kill off the cent -- and to save it, too.

In May, the U.S. Mint informed Congress that the cost of making a penny and a nickel will soon exceed the actual value of each coin. Thanks to the high cost of materials that go into the making of the coins -- zinc, copper and nickel -- the Mint estimates that by the end of the fiscal year, the cost of producing one penny will come to around 1.23 cents, and the cost of making a nickel will be 5.73 cents.

The news revived efforts to take the penny out of circulation. Rep. Jim Kolbe, R- Ariz., has begun drafting a bill to modernize America's currency system. According to Kolbe's press secretary, Korenna Cline, the bill would most likely include a slow phasing out of the penny, create a reasonable rounding system, increase the production and circulation of the $2 bill as well as the Sacajawea (often called the golden) dollar, and possibly change the composition of coins to include less-expensive metals.

In 2001, a similar bill that called for the abolishment of the penny, also drafted by Kolbe, never made it out of committee.
Honestly, Abe The penny does have its supporters. Mark Weller is executive director of Americans for Common Cents, a nonprofit organization that was founded in the '90s when similar moves to abolish the penny were launched. His organization's goal is to keep Congress and the public updated on news and information about the penny. Weller says that polls conducted by ABCNews, USA Today/Gallup and Coinstar all show that the majority of Americans want to keep the penny around.

Weller's outfit has joined with Virgin Mobile USA to start a "Save the Penny" campaign that is meant to show Congress the worth of a penny. As part of a promotion for their 1-cent text messages, Virgin Mobile is sending trucks around the United States this summer to collect pennies to benefit youth charities. The tour also is picking up signatures for their save-the-penny petition along the way.

The penny may have time on its side. In December 2005, President Bush signed into law a bill that mandated that the penny commemorate Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday with a redesign. The date of the penny's redesign: 2009.

Word to the wise women...

2006-07-17T17:26:00.000-04:00

If you are a woman and find yourself reading this: PLEASE, heed this wise word!!

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PURSE/POCKET BOOK/WALLET, UNATTENDED OR UNLOCKED AT YOUR JOB EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It doesn't matter where you work... or what you do...who you trust, even if they are your friendly co-worker buddies..
It doesn't matter if you think it's covered up or hiding where no one can find it!!
If you can't lock it up at work, leave it home or in your car, locked.

And to safe guard yourself in case IT DOES happen to you elsewhere:
Have a list at home of EVERYTHING that your wallet contains!
Include the type of cards you have and their account numbers, even your library card #!
(you may even want to have their phone numbers handy too)

Leave your checkbook at HOME!
Even more so, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD in your wallet, and to go even further, I suggest not having it on ANY PAPER containing these numbers that solely identify you.

You really just need three things on you: cash, maybe a debit card, and your license (or identification card.)
Keep all cash bills/small change on your person as well as your debit card and license. Or, if need be, put it in a teeny tiny purse that you can wear or lock away.

God forbid your entire purse ever gets taken, I now suggest making copies of all the keys you may have on your key ring and keeping that extra copy/set at home in this case.

There is nothing worse than not knowing what you had in your wallet/purse when it is vandalized or figuring out what keys you had and now have to replace.

Please head this advice.
Can you mentally list exactly all the items/cards/numbers in your wallet/purse as you read this?
Is there something in there that is unreplacable or sentimental or personal?
Take it out. Leave it home. You would be sick if it was suddenly stolen..

Last but not least: Have a tiny card somewhere in your wallet/purse that has your phone number on it :EX: "If found, please call {number}.. so hopefully, if all they are after is money, will toss the rest aside and someone honest will find it and call you. There are honest people out there, believe me, and gratefully so :)

If you do this you will safe-guard yourself, protect yourself, and believe me, sleep peacefully..

This happened to me on Thursday at work. Someone had the criminal nerve to go into the back of the store, into and through the break room and into another storage room which was dark and unzipped my purse, took out my Vera Bradley wallet with check book inside, and even go so far as to zip it back up. I had it out of sight and thought well hidden. Thank God I had my cash and debit card on me! Thank God they didn't take the whole purse, keys and all.!

Even though I locked and cancelled EVERY card I had and could think of as SOON as I noticed it, Thank God someone kind enough found my entire wallet on their cemetery grounds and gave me a call.

I am picking it up tomorrow.
As maddening as it was, I learned a very conscious valuable lesson.
I thought I'd pass it on so you, my sister friends, so you don't have to go through what I did.
I hope you never do...
Material things can be replaced of course...
but we still have to look out for one another, protect ourselves, and our sanity ;-)

Suzanne

Shine on you crazy diamond, Syd..

2006-07-12T17:25:00.000-04:00

Shine on Syd!

Pink Floyd founder, Syd Barrett, who died this week of diabetes at the age of 60, was not only a visionary musician whose career ended when he took too much LSD, but he was the inspiration for his bandmates successful studies of madness.

His plunge to depression and insanity was the underlying theme of so many of Pink Floyd's classic works, from the screaming lunatics of "Dark Side of Moon," to the mournfully charged paeon to Barrett, "Shine on You Crazy Diamond"--all of which were also testaments to the abilities of his partners to hang on to their own sanity and creativity, after exploring some of the same paths.

While the music they made about Barrett, and his songs they continued playing, were evocative and glorious, in interviews and biographies, the other members never glamorized his downfall.
The picture they painted of him before he became a recluse for 30 years, was of a lost soul, raving and drooling, with no signs of the former genius.

Lyrically, they covered him with lines like: "There's someone in my head, but it's not me," in 1972's "Brain Damage."

Although Barrett wrote most of the bands's breakthrough first singles and album in 1967, the others picked up after he stopped writing and moved into longer symphonic pieces, still pushing the edges of psychedelia that he brought to the band.

(Barrett used to play his guitar with a cigarette lighter, through an echo chamber to get some of those innovative spacey sounds. Later, he just stood motionless onstage, strumming one chord or detuning his guitar, irritating his bandmates, but reportedly pleasing some San Francisco acidheads, used to strange experimentational jams.)

Waters and Gilmour still pull out Barrett pieces such as "Astronomy Domine" on their current tours.

Barrett is hardly alone as a rock outcast who lost his way or his mind as he achieved stardom. Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green, who is back touring and playing again, left his career climbing band in a haze of drugs and cults.

bloggers picture feature is down :(

2006-07-12T17:00:00.000-04:00

And is STILL down :((
I wonder wonder wonder wonder wonder wonder what went wrong...
We used to used to used to used to used to feel so strong......
Now we seem to come apart at the seam...
Now we speak impolitely
Now it's a fight to be nice
And you know it ain't right....

busybacksoonlife

2006-07-09T23:00:00.000-04:00

We have been so busy! Feels like we are always on the go doing something or going somewhere yet seems like there is still never enough time to do all the things we'd like.

Work work work work work ahhh weekend weekend beginging with waffles and over easy eggs drenched in butter and maple syrup and a little OJ on the side :) Then it's off to the nursery for flowers to plant, a wedding, a gig, laundry, food shopping, the bank, the pet store, the library, video store, mom's, dad's, the gas station for an oil change... the bar for a drink with some friends, Oreo's grave site (he passed away June 29th) ... and yet still have a huge list of 'places to go, people to call, and things to do!' (including ever finding time to turn on the comp and write something on my blog!!)

Today we both woke up with one whopper of a hangover headache! (a rarity for me). But I have to admit, I (we) had such a blast last night at DS Shanahans in Kings Park. It was all well worth it, minus the piercing headache I suffered. Probably because I drank beer! (Killians of course, never that domestic crap..) I've been on a margarita kick recently but last night's venue didn't offer a blender- but did offer a look like I was from another planet when I asked! It's summer man! Dust off the blender for some frosties!!! lol...

I have pretty much perfected my margarita mix now... 1/2 a cup of 100% blue agave tequila (a bit more expensive but sooo worth it!!) It is clear and absolutely incredibly smooth and doesn't give any piercing headache the next day. Any Silver or blanco will do :) Still waiting to try Sammy Haggar's Tequila line which we heard was awesome; haven't *yet!!*) To that I add one can of Barcardi's Margarita Frozen Mix (I have tried the straight Lime Aid although didn't like it as much as Barcardi's for some reason..) Fill er up with ice and blend blend blend :) Yummmmm!! I have yet to add in the Cointrear (sp?) but eventually I'll give it a try..

Felt like last night was a reunion! We went and saw Echoes, the Pink Floyd tribute band. They did 'Animals' of course which was incredible and had me singing myself silly lol. Jeff also has a new band that warmed up.. they were awesome too! Mike Vetta on drums, Matt on vocals, Jeff on Guitar, Adam on keys, and Bill on Bass.. They played Rush, Van Halen and some others. Was so great to see everyone come out! Bob & Lea, Adam Flood, Greg, Nat & Renee, my bro, Tom & Bridget, Dan & Cat, Jean Paul, Dan & Jaime, Shane, Joanne, Rob Sanchez, as well as the band guys: Jeff, Christian, Adam, Bill, Matt, and Mike. Been so long since we've seen some of our friends! Bob actually has a full head of long hair now :) We took a roll of great pictures so I have to post them when they get developed this week :) Should be some good ones!

I also have to post Mike & Laurie Sharoldi's wedding pics :) What a great wedding, we had SO much fun! The had their reception at the Flower Field's in St. James. That place is incredibly beautiful! Top line! We danced ourselves silly!!

Next weekend... Dove Bars and some movies for sure, with the possibility of steamers :)
Tony and I have been eating incredibly spoiled the past 2 weeks, I must say! Filet Migion, lobster, clams, steamers, muscles, shrimp, LI corn on the cob, Cat Fish, Salmon steaks, Tuna and vegie cabobs... man!! I have never eaten so good in my entire life!! We are seriously into the fish thing at the moment! So much more healthier, spiritual food! :)

I'm exhausted! Back to work tomorrow.. and work has been pretty damn stressful for me. People quitting (including the stressed out manager, Ahsan, on the spot last week,) Laura off for the summer, Karen to the Bahamas for 2 weeks, and people getting fired: one for smoking dope in the back, and another for refusing to straighten up the rugs! Not to mention all this happening during "inventory" which should be a bad curse word lol. Time to freshen up the resume again and get back to what I love, teaching. Life is too short for so much drama and stress on a continuing daily basis. Much of the store's stress is on me now as I am a senior store associate/key holder. And this company doesn't give a crap about it's employees, unless you are from Corporate. Corporate America!!!!! Anyway.......

Off to sleep and more weird dreams...
Pictures to follow.....
Perhaps my "To Do List" as well :)

Let the vacation fund begin!!

2006-06-27T22:53:00.000-04:00

Turks and Caicos baby!!

Satallite view of where we are planning :))))

Recent Movies

2006-06-04T00:46:00.000-04:00

Davinci Code:
Not as good as the book (Tony read it so that is his take).
A lot of hype, a lot left out... Tom Hanks was good although I agree that Harrison Ford would have been a better pick for the character. I thought the girl was completely boring and too monatone esp after she finds out that she (........edited.......)!!! There were times where I actually felt sleepy.. but also other times that had me watching and wondering. I can see why the church is up in arms all upset... although I could believe the Mary Magdaline relationship thing being real, if it even was. The shots of the museum and paintings and archectecture were pretty amazing.

King Kong:
I thought it was excellent! I even liked it better that Davinci! The special effects were awsome!! It even had me all teary at the end! Who would'a thought :) Great cast! Man, how I love that Empire State Building!!!!!!!!!!!! An icon indeed no matter what homeland security says!!!!

Crash:
BRILLIANT! Loved it! I loved how it changed my pre-conceived perceptions!! Deserved that Acadamy Award! A great cast... had me the entire time!! What a world we live in... hope it gets people talking!

Blade Runner:
An oldy but goody! (had to rent it) One of my all time favorites!
I am still wondering though, was Decker one of the Replicants????? Not that he escaped but there is still one replicant unaccounted for!! More research more research...
Is the music outstanding or what???!!

And we have
The Constant Gardener:
to still watch which I heard was very good..
maybe tomorow night to accompany our weekly Dove Bars :)

Allan Holdsworth

2006-05-14T12:38:00.000-04:00

After Gretchen's party celebration, Tony and I went to IMAC in Huntington to see Allan Holdsworth. What a great show! Allan on shredding guitar of course, Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Chad Wackerman on drums. Although Allan is a shy and reserved kind of guy, he came out and said, "It's been such a long time, I am so sorry I took so long to come back but I am very happy to be here!" The place went crazy!! The show started about 8:15 and they played till 9:05 and then took a break. The place was packed, with only a few seats left to be had, and the crowds energy and cheers were deafening! I can't even tell you the names of the songs he played (!!?!!) although at least 2 were from Road-Games (my fav Holdsworth album ever!) (I can't remember *all* the names because my Road Games and IOU albums are on tape (that are severely worn and pretty wobbly after nearly 20 years of listening, and I never wrote the names down!) My favorites though are Tokyo Dream and Three Sheets to the Wind as well as Road Games :)
After the break, about 9:20, they returned and set 2 continued. I know he played a song off of Metal Fatigue (my other fav album btw) although once again, I only knew it when they started playing but can't recall the name (!!!)
Allan was incredibly insane as usual! Man, it's almost unbelievable that someone actually plays so clean like that!! He was playing so fast and whaling that 2 or 3 times after a song he was vigorously shaking his wrist out and even left the stage twice doing it! Before another song, he laughed as we did when he said, "I'm afraid I'm going to screw this song up!" LOL... but of course he didn't...

Chad had a nice drum solo of course - although Tony and I agreed that (dare I even say this??) it could have been better !. I know, I know, Chad is an absolutely amazing drummer and was tight playing but we just felt he didn't give us that drum solo *hook* or groove. But that's what jazz is sometimes all about anyway I suppose... I mean it was amazing but just not as good as I have seen him or others in the past.
Maybe it's also because I have ALWAYS adored and loved Gary Husband on drums, with Allan, better!!!. Man, Gary with Allan is just beyond amazing! I couldn't help but voice my wishes that I wished Gary could have been there. Like Brian agreed and said after the show, (Brian being the only die-hard to show up btw lol) "Allan and Gary just always meshed perfectly!" True true true!

So the second set ended about 10:15. We cheered em out again of course, and they came back and did an amazing fast paced encore song!

So, all in all it was a really great show and I was thrilled to be there, being in the presence, breathing in the same air, note after notes filling my ears, sharing Allan for the first time live with Tony, you know- you know.. ;-)
I thought quite a bit about my friend Ken Cruse in a few songs and riffs..
He would have been there no doubt enjoying it as much as we were with smiles and jaws dropped. I know he was at times...

I did feel the show was a little short! As they all are usually, but one or 2 more songs would have filled the gap and long time absence a tiny bit more for me.
But I can't complain.... Allan was just incredible as he always is.
Let's hope he comes around a bit more often now :)

Celebration

2006-05-14T11:37:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was an awesome day for us :)
We started off the day in Northport by spending it with Jean-Paul and friends celebrating the life and work of Gretchen Rau, at her beautiful home. (see previous blog about Gretchen from a few weeks ago.)It was such a beautiful day and SO many friends turned out. We sat on the edge of the water, drinking wine, eating delicious foods, talking about Gretchen, and watching the kids (who instantly bonded as kids do) throw big rocks onto the shore line making all the pisser clams shoot their waters up! I had never seen anything like that before.. and of course we all cheered when we saw the little clam waters shoot up into the air!.. lol. The kids also made a floating boat of some sort that they decorated with cray fish shells (they look exactly like baby lobsters) that were served at the party. They tried launching it a few times but it kept floating back in which was very amusing :)
It turned out to be a perfect day! Esp. with the threat and downpouring of rain that we've been experiencing here the past days!! The sun was shining and it was just perfect. Just as Gretchen would have wanted it.

The library room was decorated with tons of beautiful photographs of Gretchen taken over the years including this tribute article from the Times of Northport about her:

Gretchen Rau beautified big screen and Bayview:
Set designer leaves 'evergreen' impression on neighbors..
By Joshua Diamant

April 19, 2006
You didn't need to be a movie buff to know that Gretchen Rau, a longtime Northport resident who died last month at the age of 66, was a set designer of immense talent. All you had to do was walk by her house.

"I think the most interesting conversation I had with her was over a tree she'd planted in front of her house," recalled Northport Village Trustee Arlene Handel, who was a neighbor of Rau's on Bayview Avenue. "It was an evergreen magnolia, an unusual choice for this part of the world. This beautiful specimen typified her style. It was unexpected, beautiful, stylish, and she took a chance on planting it there. She had style and wit, and the tree is flourishing."

The New Orleans-born Rau died quietly in her home on March 29 of a brain tumor and received a private burial. Her passing was not widely noted until nearly two weeks later, when an obituary appeared in the Los Angeles Times. Nearly all of the nation's major daily newspapers quickly followed suit.

Three weeks before she died, Rau was honored with an Oscar for her design on Memoirs of a Geisha, an award she shared with production designer John Myhre. "She was just thrilled," Rau's son, Taylor Pattison said. He and his brother, George Pattison, both of whom live in Northport and work in film and television, accepted the award on her behalf at the Los Angeles ceremony.

Geisha, directed by Rob Marshall and based on the novel by Arthur Golden, received lukewarm reviews overall but universal praise for its visual richness; Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers wrote that the film "puts new luster on the word 'gorgeous.'"

George Pattison said that Rau moved to Northport in 1966 and got into the film design business "by accident.... She used to make catered lunches for a commercial company and from there she just gravitated toward the industry." Her big break was the 1980 film Atlantic City, "and from there, her career just blossomed," Pattison said. Other credits include Crocodile Dundee, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Six Degrees of Separation, City of Angels and The Last Samurai, for which she received an Oscar nomination.

Another son, Jean-Paul Menard, also in the family business and also of Northport, said, "It's a field that we all found our little niche in, so to speak. She was definitely an influence."

Rau's line of work meant constant travel, so her involvement in local civic affairs was minimal, but neighbors on Bayview and colleagues across the country alike remember her for an unflagging artistic sensibility, a unique sense of humor, an abiding sense of devotion to family and friends, and a deep love for the Village of Northport.

"They were an incredibly talented family and very artistic," said Gay Wagner, a former neighbor now living in Connecticut. "Gretchen was a fabulous cook. If there was anything ever that I didn't have, I could usually go to Gretchen and borrow it. And she was a rare Southerner in Northport, which was very nice."

Echoing the remarks of several others, Wagner added, "It was always an interesting house. It was very clear that there was someone with a real flair living there."

Henry Tobin, the newly elected village trustee who has pushed for historic preservation laws, said, "She has had a beautiful house, and she renovated it in a way that really accentuates the charm in the original structure."

Another neighbor, JoAnne Moran, described Rau as "a very wise, entertaining woman devoted to her kids. She was always interesting to be around and always had a sparkle."

Myhre, Rau's collaborator on Geisha as well as on Gilbert Grape, said, "She was absolutely fantastic, just a joy to work with. She was such a lovely, lovely person, and she is so sadly missed by everyone out here in Los Angeles.... What was especially wonderful is that nothing was ever a problem for her. We work in a funny business. Every day there are 200 problems. But she saw everything as an interesting challenge and just said, 'Let's do it.' She had a great sense of humor and an elegance about her as well. You knew when she was working with you that you were in such good hands."

In addition to her three sons, Rau is survived by two daughters: Anne Pattison, who lives in London and works as a makeup artist, and Stephanie Pattison, who is a teacher living in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is also survived by sister Roli Deeves, brother Forrest Rau and four grandchildren.

Gretchen Rau's artistry has left lasting impressions Â wherever it may be found. "When I walk down the street and past that tree, I'll always think of who planted it," Trustee Handel concluded.

Happy in Paris!

2006-05-14T11:32:00.000-04:00

Anyone in Paris reading this?? (Daniel, what are you waiting for??:)
This just in from Vickie:

Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 07:11:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Xenu's Sister" xenussister@yahoo.com
Subject: Any French Ectophiles? Want to meet Happy in PARIS?

Happy's going to be in Paris for a week in a couple of weeks,
and though she's not performing, she's doing the tourist thing
(as well as doing some business-related stuff) and would be glad
to meet any fans while she's there.

E-mail me.

The wedding went off without a hitch (except for Happy and Bob
getting hitched, of course).

Vickie