Thirteen Great Quotes From Quotes of the Day That are Still in my Inbox
1. "Traditions are group efforts to keep the unexpected from happening." Barbara Tober
2. "It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious."
Oscar Wilde
3. "Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away."
Sir Thomas Beecham
4. "To read a newspaper is to refrain from reading something worthwhile. The first discipline of education must therefore be to refuse resolutely to feed the mind with canned chatter."
Aleister Crowley
5. "On my income tax 1040 it says 'Check this box if you are blind.' I wanted to put a check mark about three inches away."
Tom Lehrer
6. "Tradition is what you resort to when you don't have the time or the money to do it right."
Kurt Herbert Alder
7. "A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of."
Burt Bacharach
8. "I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me." Noel Coward
9. "The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously."
Hubert Humphrey
10. "If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little." George Carlin
11. "No opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible." W. H. Auden
12. "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison
13. "If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions?" Scott Adams
Thirteen Great Quotes From Quotes of the Day That are Still in my Inbox
1. "Traditions are group efforts to keep the unexpected from happening." Barbara Tober
2. "It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious."
Oscar Wilde
3. "Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away."
Sir Thomas Beecham
4. "To read a newspaper is to refrain from reading something worthwhile. The first discipline of education must therefore be to refuse resolutely to feed the mind with canned chatter."
Aleister Crowley
5. "On my income tax 1040 it says 'Check this box if you are blind.' I wanted to put a check mark about three inches away."
Tom Lehrer
6. "Tradition is what you resort to when you don't have the time or the money to do it right."
Kurt Herbert Alder
7. "A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of."
Burt Bacharach
8. "I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me." Noel Coward
9. "The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously."
Hubert Humphrey
10. "If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little." George Carlin
11. "No opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible." W. H. Auden
12. "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison
13. "If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions?" Scott Adams
Six years ago I was exactly where I am today: surrounding myself with music and teaching eager college students to sing. I didn't know the world had spun out of control until almost 11:30 am, when a student came into my studio with a dazed expression. My first thought was, "ugh. Boy troubles" and I started to mentally replace my diva crown with a psychologist booth that said, "The Doctor is In." She gave me an incredulous "don't you KNOW?" and then filled me in on what details she had. I spent the rest of the day teaching in a haze as I tried to contact family members who worked in Washington, DC and lived less than a mile from the Pentagon.
Two years ago I was in New York City, surrounding myself with music as TinyTuna was singing in Carnegie Hall with the children's choir. GramTuna and I drove up and stayed in a hotel that was across the street from the huge crater known as Ground Zero. I thought I would feel more than I did as I stared at this now cleaned out construction site. But other landmarks haunted me more, like historic St. Paul's Chapel up the next block and a large building also on Ground Zero that was entirely enclosed in a black shroud due to toxic mold and dust.
St. Paul's Chapel was a symbol of life. This was the tiny church that suffered no damage from the collapse of the towers. This was the tiny church that became home for so many who worked 12-hour shifts for months and months after the attack; sifting through wreckage and looking for traces of anything that might bring comfort to surviving family members and friends. Inside it was filled with teddy bears and artwork that spoke of the eternal courage and hope of all the rescue and recovery workers.
But the enshrouded Banker's Trust Building (also known as the Deutsche Bank Building) was an eerie reminder of death. Because of the mold and dust no company was willing to tear it down, so there it stood, mute. It was a haunting grim reminder of horrors past.
Ground Zero was neither life nor death. It was now just a cleaned out hole with a few random construction vehicles. If you didn't know better, it looked like any other construction site. Now sanitized from its painful past, it just stood quietly, betraying its awful past, awaiting its next foundation.
Six years ago we were a different country. There were troubles, to be sure, but as a nation we were blinded in our innnocence to the possibility of hatred and violence on American soil.
How things changed after that day. Instead of being blinded by innocence, we were blinded by rage and a craving for world power and domination. We plunged recklessly into war. Blinded by grief, we succumbed to a life of fear and watched our many human rights stripped away from us one after another, like a bandage on a wound not yet healed.
2190 days later, perhaps the greater tragedy is how things have stayed the same. There are symbols of death. Over 3000 enshrouded reminders have returned to be buried in American soil. There aren't many pictures, because that would show weakness and project a negative image of the war machine. But make no mistake, they are there. Just ask the parents, husbands, wives, and children. No community has been left untouched by this unshakably sad shroud of loss.
There are symbols of life. The American public has started to wake up, speak up and question the rhetoric. Finally people are recognizing that those who govern BY fear are doing so BECAUSE of fear. America might have lost some of its blind innocence, but in its place there is an increasing sense of the true meaning of the word leader, and it comes from a source of strength and confidence, not fear and intimidation of its people.
And then there is that place that is neither life nor death. A place with a few random security vehicles, but so sanitized and removed from both life AND death, if you didn't know better, it would look like just another tourist stop in our nations capitol. Just like six years ago. Just like today. And probably, just like tomorrow.
Maybe one day it will be different. Maybe as a people we will learn. Maybe we will continue to find our hearts and our voices and become courageous and strong enough to be symbols of life unwilling to be ruled by fear. Maybe we will be brave enough to acknowledge and honor the shrouds of death. And maybe, just maybe, that little tourist stop at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will own up to its awful past and admit it isn't so sanitary after all.
Six years ago I was exactly where I am today: surrounding myself with music and teaching eager college students to sing. I didn't know the world had spun out of control until almost 11:30 am, when a student came into my studio with a dazed expression. My first thought was, "ugh. Boy troubles" and I started to mentally replace my diva crown with a psychologist booth that said, "The Doctor is In." She gave me an incredulous "don't you KNOW?" and then filled me in on what details she had. I spent the rest of the day teaching in a haze as I tried to contact family members who worked in Washington, DC and lived less than a mile from the Pentagon.
Two years ago I was in New York City, surrounding myself with music as TinyTuna was singing in Carnegie Hall with the children's choir. GramTuna and I drove up and stayed in a hotel that was across the street from the huge crater known as Ground Zero. I thought I would feel more than I did as I stared at this now cleaned out construction site. But other landmarks haunted me more, like historic St. Paul's Chapel up the next block and a large building also on Ground Zero that was entirely enclosed in a black shroud due to toxic mold and dust.
St. Paul's Chapel was a symbol of life. This was the tiny church that suffered no damage from the collapse of the towers. This was the tiny church that became home for so many who worked 12-hour shifts for months and months after the attack; sifting through wreckage and looking for traces of anything that might bring comfort to surviving family members and friends. Inside it was filled with teddy bears and artwork that spoke of the eternal courage and hope of all the rescue and recovery workers.
But the enshrouded Banker's Trust Building (also known as the Deutsche Bank Building) was an eerie reminder of death. Because of the mold and dust no company was willing to tear it down, so there it stood, mute. It was a haunting grim reminder of horrors past.
Ground Zero was neither life nor death. It was now just a cleaned out hole with a few random construction vehicles. If you didn't know better, it looked like any other construction site. Now sanitized from its painful past, it just stood quietly, betraying its awful past, awaiting its next foundation.
Six years ago we were a different country. There were troubles, to be sure, but as a nation we were blinded in our innnocence to the possibility of hatred and violence on American soil.
How things changed after that day. Instead of being blinded by innocence, we were blinded by rage and a craving for world power and domination. We plunged recklessly into war. Blinded by grief, we succumbed to a life of fear and watched our many human rights stripped away from us one after another, like a bandage on a wound not yet healed.
2190 days later, perhaps the greater tragedy is how things have stayed the same. There are symbols of death. Over 3000 enshrouded reminders have returned to be buried in American soil. There aren't many pictures, because that would show weakness and project a negative image of the war machine. But make no mistake, they are there. Just ask the parents, husbands, wives, and children. No community has been left untouched by this unshakably sad shroud of loss.
There are symbols of life. The American public has started to wake up, speak up and question the rhetoric. Finally people are recognizing that those who govern BY fear are doing so BECAUSE of fear. America might have lost some of its blind innocence, but in its place there is an increasing sense of the true meaning of the word leader, and it comes from a source of strength and confidence, not fear and intimidation of its people.
And then there is that place that is neither life nor death. A place with a few random security vehicles, but so sanitized and removed from both life AND death, if you didn't know better, it would look like just another tourist stop in our nations capitol. Just like six years ago. Just like today. And probably, just like tomorrow.
Maybe one day it will be different. Maybe as a people we will learn. Maybe we will continue to find our hearts and our voices and become courageous and strong enough to be symbols of life unwilling to be ruled by fear. Maybe we will be brave enough to acknowledge and honor the shrouds of death. And maybe, just maybe, that little tourist stop at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will own up to its awful past and admit it isn't so sanitary after all.
8. Love :: Probably need a Magic 8 ball AND more masking tape
9. Wilder :: Gene
10. Lindsey :: (sigh) Lohan
What on earth do any of these have to do with each other? Nothing, that's what. I had a hard time coming up with something for "masking tape," but it reminded me of elementary school and putting artwork on the walls of the hallway. Aside from that, Gene Wilder will always be the one, true and only Willy Wonka, and as for #10 ... well, I'm sorry.
8. Love :: Probably need a Magic 8 ball AND more masking tape
9. Wilder :: Gene
10. Lindsey :: (sigh) Lohan
What on earth do any of these have to do with each other? Nothing, that's what. I had a hard time coming up with something for "masking tape," but it reminded me of elementary school and putting artwork on the walls of the hallway. Aside from that, Gene Wilder will always be the one, true and only Willy Wonka, and as for #10 ... well, I'm sorry.
Saturday was a day of usual madness as GramTuna, TeenTuna and I raced from place to place to place. Once I had five minutes to sit down and think, I realized that today my life wandered down a path full of unexpected gems.
Best Unexpected Quote: "Laughter is carbonated holiness" -- Anne Lamont This quote appeared in an article written by Chicago Sun Times religion columnist Cathleen Falsani. But the article wasn't about religion, it was entitled "An Open Letter to Owen Wilson. And if that wasn't odd enough, I didn't discover it while trolling the Chicago Sun Times website (because I don't make a habit of trolling the Chicago Sun Times website). I found it over on rblog. Still in all, I thought it was a moving article and a wonderful quote. It's going in my arsenal.
Best Unexpected Yummy Discovery: I like maple syrup. And I never really have before. On Saturday the Tuna Clan started their day by joining in a community-wide Pancake Breakfast as part of a week-long "eat local" challenge. Everything came from local farms: flour, eggs, sausage, applesauce, milk, apple cider, and maple syrup. I've never been a maple syrup fan, but after having some yesterday, I think my dislike must have come from not enjoying liquid sugar. This stuff was flavorful and yummy, without making me feel like I was going to lapse into a diabetic coma. If it's not loaded with chemicals and sweeteners, I may just be a convert.
Best Unexpected WOW Poem in my Inbox:: "When"
When we get out of the glass bottles of our ego, and when we escape like squirrels turning in the cages of our personality and get into the forests again, we shall shiver with cold and fright but things will happen to us so that we don’t know ourselves.
Cool, unlying life will rush in, and passion will make our bodies taut with power, we shall stamp our feet with new power and old things will fall down, We shall laugh, and institutions will curl up like burnt paper. -D. H. Lawrence
Best Unexpected Gift: Flowers. One stop on our Saturday insanity-go-round was to take TeenTuna for voice placement and uniform fitting for Children's Choir. As we were waiting for her to do her thing, I spent some time yakking with a fellow choir mom, and I filled her in on my last three weeks of unbelievable suck. Later that afternoon there was a knock on the door, and her daughter was there with a bouquet of flowers. "We were out shopping and my mom wanted to get these for you because she knew you were having a tough time." I was gobsmacked. There was a card with a short note reminding me that no matter what I had lost, I still had the things that matter most in life. TeenTuna saw me reading the note and said, "Don't start crying again!" Too late. It was the sweetest gift and the first good thing that's come from out of the blue in quite awhile.
Best Unexpected Saturday Night: Hanging at the dive bar And not only were we hanging at the dive bar, we were listening to a High School garage band, Johnny Cut Corners. We happen to know some of these kids, and they were the opening band Saturday night. As the guitars were wailing and the younger crowd was whooping it up on the dance floor, I looked at all the adults that had come out to support these kids. It occurred to me that being there for each other was what life was all about, and we did it to a heavy metal riff, well that was OK too.
It was Saturday of usual madness, but by day's end, I realized my life wandered through a path full of unexpected gems. Although I was tired, I was happy that I chose to get up and and out, and thankful that I was able to see the gems along the way.
Saturday was a day of usual madness as GramTuna, TeenTuna and I raced from place to place to place. Once I had five minutes to sit down and think, I realized that today my life wandered down a path full of unexpected gems.
Best Unexpected Quote: "Laughter is carbonated holiness" -- Anne Lamont This quote appeared in an article written by Chicago Sun Times religion columnist Cathleen Falsani. But the article wasn't about religion, it was entitled "An Open Letter to Owen Wilson. And if that wasn't odd enough, I didn't discover it while trolling the Chicago Sun Times website (because I don't make a habit of trolling the Chicago Sun Times website). I found it over on rblog. Still in all, I thought it was a moving article and a wonderful quote. It's going in my arsenal.
Best Unexpected Yummy Discovery: I like maple syrup. And I never really have before. On Saturday the Tuna Clan started their day by joining in a community-wide Pancake Breakfast as part of a week-long "eat local" challenge. Everything came from local farms: flour, eggs, sausage, applesauce, milk, apple cider, and maple syrup. I've never been a maple syrup fan, but after having some yesterday, I think my dislike must have come from not enjoying liquid sugar. This stuff was flavorful and yummy, without making me feel like I was going to lapse into a diabetic coma. If it's not loaded with chemicals and sweeteners, I may just be a convert.
Best Unexpected WOW Poem in my Inbox:: "When"
When we get out of the glass bottles of our ego, and when we escape like squirrels turning in the cages of our personality and get into the forests again, we shall shiver with cold and fright but things will happen to us so that we don’t know ourselves.
Cool, unlying life will rush in, and passion will make our bodies taut with power, we shall stamp our feet with new power and old things will fall down, We shall laugh, and institutions will curl up like burnt paper. -D. H. Lawrence
Best Unexpected Gift: Flowers. One stop on our Saturday insanity-go-round was to take TeenTuna for voice placement and uniform fitting for Children's Choir. As we were waiting for her to do her thing, I spent some time yakking with a fellow choir mom, and I filled her in on my last three weeks of unbelievable suck. Later that afternoon there was a knock on the door, and her daughter was there with a bouquet of flowers. "We were out shopping and my mom wanted to get these for you because she knew you were having a tough time." I was gobsmacked. There was a card with a short note reminding me that no matter what I had lost, I still had the things that matter most in life. TeenTuna saw me reading the note and said, "Don't start crying again!" Too late. It was the sweetest gift and the first good thing that's come from out of the blue in quite awhile.
Best Unexpected Saturday Night: Hanging at the dive bar And not only were we hanging at the dive bar, we were listening to a High School garage band, Johnny Cut Corners. We happen to know some of these kids, and they were the opening band Saturday night. As the guitars were wailing and the younger crowd was whooping it up on the dance floor, I looked at all the adults that had come out to support these kids. It occurred to me that being there for each other was what life was all about, and we did it to a heavy metal riff, well that was OK too.
It was Saturday of usual madness, but by day's end, I realized my life wandered through a path full of unexpected gems. Although I was tired, I was happy that I chose to get up and and out, and thankful that I was able to see the gems along the way.
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! Yesterday as I sat inside my car (which refused to move in any direction)
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! Waiting for the tow truck to find me (in the median meant for authorized vehicles who are either napping, snacking or laying in wait to do some breathalyser inspection)
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! A thought crawled across my mind (because at this point I'm running out of tears to cry)
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! And then I knew I knew I knew I knew I knew (and it knew that it was no lie)
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! I'm one dead dawg short of a Country Western Grand Slam (oh me oh me oh my)
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! And then I thought I had some luck (because Lord, I ain't got no dawg!)
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! But my cats and my bunny is scared (though they all looks like bumps on a log!)
Ba-Deedle-bah BOMP! Yes they all looks like bumps on a log! Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! Yes they all looks like bumps on a log! Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! Big furry bumps on a ..... Lawg!
Even though it wasn't promised until Monday, my car was fixed today at 3pm. They told me over the phone that I had done "quite a number on my clutch" and that they hadn't seen anything quite like it. So when I walked into the repair shop today, I said, "Hey, I understand I'm getting a $400 discount because I did such an amazing job destroying my clutch, the likes of which you've never seen."
Without dropping a beat the guy at the desk looked up at me and said, "Oh yeah. One look at that thing and we jumped online and sold it to WWW-Worst Looking Clutch in the History of the Universe Dot Com."
I must admit, I like doing business with a smart-ass.
They brought forth said clutch, and laid it on the counter. I looked down at it, and then looked back up at the guy. "Well," I said, "I can't be too impressed unless I have something new to compare it to." So off he went to get a new clutch.
They took it out of the box and laid it on the table. On the left was this pristine circular metal disc with lots of small pad-like items that are designed to cause friction blah blah mechanical stuff I stopped listening. Mine looked nothing like this. There were no pads. All that was left on this metal disc were whispy lint-type things that looked like a Brillo pad after it had taken a hundred or so trips through a shredder. They also took great pains to point out the purple and blue parts of the metal disc that were discolored due to high heat. You know, like when you BURN OUT YOUR CLUTCH. I must admit, it was impressive.
But all is better. And now that my car goes both forwards and backwards, I think the cats and the rabbit can breathe a little easier. No one wants to be the victim of a Country-Western cliche or a bad blues tune.
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! Yesterday as I sat inside my car (which refused to move in any direction)
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! Waiting for the tow truck to find me (in the median meant for authorized vehicles who are either napping, snacking or laying in wait to do some breathalyser inspection)
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! A thought crawled across my mind (because at this point I'm running out of tears to cry)
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! And then I knew I knew I knew I knew I knew (and it knew that it was no lie)
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! I'm one dead dawg short of a Country Western Grand Slam (oh me oh me oh my)
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! And then I thought I had some luck (because Lord, I ain't got no dawg!)
Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! But my cats and my bunny is scared (though they all looks like bumps on a log!)
Ba-Deedle-bah BOMP! Yes they all looks like bumps on a log! Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! Yes they all looks like bumps on a log! Ba-Deedle-bah-BOMP! Big furry bumps on a ..... Lawg!
Even though it wasn't promised until Monday, my car was fixed today at 3pm. They told me over the phone that I had done "quite a number on my clutch" and that they hadn't seen anything quite like it. So when I walked into the repair shop today, I said, "Hey, I understand I'm getting a $400 discount because I did such an amazing job destroying my clutch, the likes of which you've never seen."
Without dropping a beat the guy at the desk looked up at me and said, "Oh yeah. One look at that thing and we jumped online and sold it to WWW-Worst Looking Clutch in the History of the Universe Dot Com."
I must admit, I like doing business with a smart-ass.
They brought forth said clutch, and laid it on the counter. I looked down at it, and then looked back up at the guy. "Well," I said, "I can't be too impressed unless I have something new to compare it to." So off he went to get a new clutch.
They took it out of the box and laid it on the table. On the left was this pristine circular metal disc with lots of small pad-like items that are designed to cause friction blah blah mechanical stuff I stopped listening. Mine looked nothing like this. There were no pads. All that was left on this metal disc were whispy lint-type things that looked like a Brillo pad after it had taken a hundred or so trips through a shredder. They also took great pains to point out the purple and blue parts of the metal disc that were discolored due to high heat. You know, like when you BURN OUT YOUR CLUTCH. I must admit, it was impressive.
But all is better. And now that my car goes both forwards and backwards, I think the cats and the rabbit can breathe a little easier. No one wants to be the victim of a Country-Western cliche or a bad blues tune.
It's the near-suppertime edition of Friday's Feast. What's for grub?
Appetizer: Using only one word, how does grocery shopping make you feel? Poor.
Soup: What is your favorite part about the season of Autumn? The arrival of persimmons in the grocery store and the many batches of cookies that follow. That and apple cider. And cider donuts. And Pumpkin Pie. OK. FOOD. (and scuffling through leaves. that's my favorite)
Salad: Have you ever had any bad experiences online? HTTP 404. Answer not found.
Main Course: Name three things that make you happy daily Sure, sure, everybody is going to look at this and give the Miss America World Peace answer. Of course, family, friends, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But when it comes right down to it, the real honest answer is: Eating, sleeping and pooping. Basic, mundane, but if you couldn't...think of how unhappy you'd be.
Dessert: What one household cleansing or organizing item would you not want to be without? It's not exactly household, but the greatest organizing item I have is my Google Calendar. At least then somebody knows the answer to where I'm supposed to be when.
It's the near-suppertime edition of Friday's Feast. What's for grub?
Appetizer: Using only one word, how does grocery shopping make you feel? Poor.
Soup: What is your favorite part about the season of Autumn? The arrival of persimmons in the grocery store and the many batches of cookies that follow. That and apple cider. And cider donuts. And Pumpkin Pie. OK. FOOD. (and scuffling through leaves. that's my favorite)
Salad: Have you ever had any bad experiences online? HTTP 404. Answer not found.
Main Course: Name three things that make you happy daily Sure, sure, everybody is going to look at this and give the Miss America World Peace answer. Of course, family, friends, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But when it comes right down to it, the real honest answer is: Eating, sleeping and pooping. Basic, mundane, but if you couldn't...think of how unhappy you'd be.
Dessert: What one household cleansing or organizing item would you not want to be without? It's not exactly household, but the greatest organizing item I have is my Google Calendar. At least then somebody knows the answer to where I'm supposed to be when.
Today we lost another great musician as Pavarotti passed away after a long battle with cancer. I thought it only appropriate to make this a musical Thursday Thirteen and bring you a wide variety of songs that I personally adore.
1. Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma.
The first time I ever heard this aria I was in Austria at the finals of an Operatic Competition. As the tenor finished, I looked at my friend sitting next to me in the balcony and said, "Damn. If that doesn't make you want to throw your panties on stage right now, I don't know would." Lots of tenors sing this aria. Pavarotti always made it look effortless.
2. Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny singing Wagner.
A classic of epic proportions. It's hard to choose what's better: their love song or his his invocation to have the Gods smite him with Lightning, Thunder, Hurricanes...SMOG! it's almost too good to be true.
Elmer: O Bwoom Hiwda.....You're so Wuuuuuvwy! Bugs: Oh I know it, I can't help it!! Elmer: P Bwoom Hiwda....be my WUV!
3. Some guy singing "Sweet Dreams" by John Bucchino
Although I don't know who the guy is (he does a decent job) or his accompanist (less than decent but not bad enough to be offensive) but it was the song I was looking for. I absolutely adore songs whose lyrics take you along for a ride and at the very end make their point in a way you'd never expect. One of my all-time favorites.
There is a town in California Where they put the stars right at your feet
and the people delight in .... stepping on them.
4. Bruce Springsteen singing "Bring 'em Home"
There have been lots of poignant and thought-provoking anti-war songs. From the Dixie Chicks singing "I'm not Ready to Make Nice" to Pink singing "Dear Mr. President," it's nice to see the musical world get involved in saying and singing their feelings about the world today. I especially love Springsteen's retooling of the Vietnam-War era ballad "Bring 'em Home." Just goes to show you that time may evolve, but more often than not people and policies do not.
5. Thomas Hampson singing Figaro
Most people know this from an old (and fabulous) Bugs Bunny cartoon. Well, this isn't Bugs, it's the real deal. A famous, fabulous aria, and by the way -- it's hard as hell to sing.
6. Someone singing Queen of the Night
I don't remember who this is, and I'm too lazy to go look it up again. But anyway, speaking of hard as hell to sing (check it out at about 45 seconds into the clip) if you can hit these dogs notes, you'll have an operatic career, guaranteed. And I have to say, I LOVE her crown. It looks like an enormous metallic standing rib roast. I'd be afraid of her.
7. Jerry Hadley singing "It Must Be So" from Candide
This is an especially poignant video. Leonard Bernstein passed away in 1990 and tenor Jerry Hadley died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound several weeks ago. It's hard to hear the ironically optimistic words of Voltaire set to such achingly poignant and simple music and not wonder why things happen the way they do.
"There is a sweetness in every woe. It must be so. It must be so."
8. Kiri Te Kanawa singing "O Mio Babbino Caro"
The enormous deep pink killer-poofy-sleeves dress aside, this is one of the most famous soprano arias in the repertoire. Sadly, the character suffers from what I call the "Hodel" syndrome. You get the best song, but then you disappear for the rest of the show. Great tune. Total bummer of a role.
9. Marilyn Horne SINGS
Marilyn Horne. Absolutely amazing Mezzo Soprano. Star of the Met, La Scala, Paris Opera. What is she doing here? Singing "C is for Cookie" on Sesame Street in full Aida drag. Priceless.
10. Ernie Singing "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon"
This was a favorite song of TeenTuna's back when I was allowed to call her Tiny. I love Ernie. I love this song. And if he doesn't want to live on the moon, then I don't either.
11. GreenTuna Loves Sesame Street a Little Too Much
Yeah! Sesame Street Hat trick! It's a great jazz tune with a bunch of celebrity cameos. Of course, it's a little sad to watch this and realize how many great performers we have lost. Still in all, it's excellent advice wrapped up in a big band sound.
Put down the duckie. Put down the duckie. Put down the duckie, you gotta leave the duck alone. Put down the duckie. Put down the duckie.
Put down the duckie if you wanna play the saxophone.
12. Eva Cassidy singing "Over the Rainbow"
Yes, Judy Garland is great. But you will never, ever hear a more heart-felt version than this one. How I wish I could have heard her sing live in concert. What a talent.
13. Today it's all about Pavarotti
Sorry, you have to click through to this one. The loss of Pavarotti was a blow to the musical world, but I'm quite certain he's still singing. Thanks for the music, Luciano.
Today we lost another great musician as Pavarotti passed away after a long battle with cancer. I thought it only appropriate to make this a musical Thursday Thirteen and bring you a wide variety of songs that I personally adore.
1. Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma.
The first time I ever heard this aria I was in Austria at the finals of an Operatic Competition. As the tenor finished, I looked at my friend sitting next to me in the balcony and said, "Damn. If that doesn't make you want to throw your panties on stage right now, I don't know would." Lots of tenors sing this aria. Pavarotti always made it look effortless.
2. Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny singing Wagner.
A classic of epic proportions. It's hard to choose what's better: their love song or his his invocation to have the Gods smite him with Lightning, Thunder, Hurricanes...SMOG! it's almost too good to be true.
Elmer: O Bwoom Hiwda.....You're so Wuuuuuvwy! Bugs: Oh I know it, I can't help it!! Elmer: P Bwoom Hiwda....be my WUV!
3. Some guy singing "Sweet Dreams" by John Bucchino
Although I don't know who the guy is (he does a decent job) or his accompanist (less than decent but not bad enough to be offensive) but it was the song I was looking for. I absolutely adore songs whose lyrics take you along for a ride and at the very end make their point in a way you'd never expect. One of my all-time favorites.
There is a town in California Where they put the stars right at your feet
and the people delight in .... stepping on them.
4. Bruce Springsteen singing "Bring 'em Home"
There have been lots of poignant and thought-provoking anti-war songs. From the Dixie Chicks singing "I'm not Ready to Make Nice" to Pink singing "Dear Mr. President," it's nice to see the musical world get involved in saying and singing their feelings about the world today. I especially love Springsteen's retooling of the Vietnam-War era ballad "Bring 'em Home." Just goes to show you that time may evolve, but more often than not people and policies do not.
5. Thomas Hampson singing Figaro
Most people know this from an old (and fabulous) Bugs Bunny cartoon. Well, this isn't Bugs, it's the real deal. A famous, fabulous aria, and by the way -- it's hard as hell to sing.
6. Someone singing Queen of the Night
I don't remember who this is, and I'm too lazy to go look it up again. But anyway, speaking of hard as hell to sing (check it out at about 45 seconds into the clip) if you can hit these dogs notes, you'll have an operatic career, guaranteed. And I have to say, I LOVE her crown. It looks like an enormous metallic standing rib roast. I'd be afraid of her.
7. Jerry Hadley singing "It Must Be So" from Candide
This is an especially poignant video. Leonard Bernstein passed away in 1990 and tenor Jerry Hadley died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound several weeks ago. It's hard to hear the ironically optimistic words of Voltaire set to such achingly poignant and simple music and not wonder why things happen the way they do.
"There is a sweetness in every woe. It must be so. It must be so."
8. Kiri Te Kanawa singing "O Mio Babbino Caro"
The enormous deep pink killer-poofy-sleeves dress aside, this is one of the most famous soprano arias in the repertoire. Sadly, the character suffers from what I call the "Hodel" syndrome. You get the best song, but then you disappear for the rest of the show. Great tune. Total bummer of a role.
9. Marilyn Horne SINGS
Marilyn Horne. Absolutely amazing Mezzo Soprano. Star of the Met, La Scala, Paris Opera. What is she doing here? Singing "C is for Cookie" on Sesame Street in full Aida drag. Priceless.
10. Ernie Singing "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon"
This was a favorite song of TeenTuna's back when I was allowed to call her Tiny. I love Ernie. I love this song. And if he doesn't want to live on the moon, then I don't either.
11. GreenTuna Loves Sesame Street a Little Too Much
Yeah! Sesame Street Hat trick! It's a great jazz tune with a bunch of celebrity cameos. Of course, it's a little sad to watch this and realize how many great performers we have lost. Still in all, it's excellent advice wrapped up in a big band sound.
Put down the duckie. Put down the duckie. Put down the duckie, you gotta leave the duck alone. Put down the duckie. Put down the duckie.
Put down the duckie if you wanna play the saxophone.
12. Eva Cassidy singing "Over the Rainbow"
Yes, Judy Garland is great. But you will never, ever hear a more heart-felt version than this one. How I wish I could have heard her sing live in concert. What a talent.
13. Today it's all about Pavarotti
Sorry, you have to click through to this one. The loss of Pavarotti was a blow to the musical world, but I'm quite certain he's still singing. Thanks for the music, Luciano.
It's nice to see TeenTuna happily back in school. And when I say "happily" I mean over-the-moon BYE MOM ecstatic to see her friends and return to a life where her biggest concern is if her hair is "flipping the right way" or not. Diversionary things like teachers and homework is a welcome and even pleasant change of pace compared to the last month. Yay, 8th grade.
It's nice to sleep and not visit single digit hours like 2, 3, 4 and 5. Last night I made it to 6 for the first time in a long time. I'm still pretty sleep-deprived, but every day that I can grab a little more is a step in the right direction. Yay, me.
It's nice to see the sunshine. Sure, it's too hot, and sure I can't stay out in the sun that long. But it's warm and soothing and healing, and I'm certain I'll miss it terribly in the upcoming months. Yay, sun.
It's nice to know that even though all you really need is a broken down truck and a dead dawg to make your life a perfect hat-trick in a country-western song, you have friends and family to keep you going for another day. Yay, Tuna peeps!
It's nice to see your community embrace the arts, giving you something positive to write about in your other blog giving you an shameless excuse to plug the BIG blog that happens to like your writing and puts it on the front page. Yay, uh...shameless promotions of ME!
It's nice to see that school down the road get their helmets handed to them on Saturday. Someone forgot that the first few weeks were supposed to be the EASY teams. Yay, UoM Slayers!
It's nice to see that it's beer-thirty. Time to fly. Yay Eastern Daylight Time.
It's nice to see TeenTuna happily back in school. And when I say "happily" I mean over-the-moon BYE MOM ecstatic to see her friends and return to a life where her biggest concern is if her hair is "flipping the right way" or not. Diversionary things like teachers and homework is a welcome and even pleasant change of pace compared to the last month. Yay, 8th grade.
It's nice to sleep and not visit single digit hours like 2, 3, 4 and 5. Last night I made it to 6 for the first time in a long time. I'm still pretty sleep-deprived, but every day that I can grab a little more is a step in the right direction. Yay, me.
It's nice to see the sunshine. Sure, it's too hot, and sure I can't stay out in the sun that long. But it's warm and soothing and healing, and I'm certain I'll miss it terribly in the upcoming months. Yay, sun.
It's nice to know that even though all you really need is a broken down truck and a dead dawg to make your life a perfect hat-trick in a country-western song, you have friends and family to keep you going for another day. Yay, Tuna peeps!
It's nice to see your community embrace the arts, giving you something positive to write about in your other blog giving you an shameless excuse to plug the BIG blog that happens to like your writing and puts it on the front page. Yay, uh...shameless promotions of ME!
It's nice to see that school down the road get their helmets handed to them on Saturday. Someone forgot that the first few weeks were supposed to be the EASY teams. Yay, UoM Slayers!
It's nice to see that it's beer-thirty. Time to fly. Yay Eastern Daylight Time.
Well, it's the summer of baseball, chickens and ... Scrabble? I suppose Nyquil would get you some decent points, except for that pesky proper noun rule.
Well, it's the summer of baseball, chickens and ... Scrabble? I suppose Nyquil would get you some decent points, except for that pesky proper noun rule.
