Van Gogh Sky

Starts with an R

Prerogative

Yes, I have been adding and deleting photos in former posts. It keeps me amused.

Let it rain

Planet Soap

It's a peppermint-scented world.

Killing Me Loudly

Roberta Flack's Killing Me Softly was a popular song when I was in 7th grade. I thought it was boring and melancholy. Ick. Nope. Didn't like it. When it came on I'd twist the dial of my Tootaloop radio hoping for Three Dog Night.

Years later I learned what the song was about, and I got it in no uncertain terms. It remains a favorite to this day.

Tt's about the singer's experience at a Don McClean concert. As she sat in the front row listening to him sing one of his ballads, she fell in love with him. That others didn't consider McClean a sex symbol, or that she didn't know him is completely irrelevant. What her heart knew was profound and absolute.

This part of the song gives me chills, especially her delivery: He sang as if he knew me, in all my dark despair. And then he looked right through me as if I wasn't there.

Yes, I've been there and felt that.

But perhaps because I like roller coasters and spicy food and other exciting things, I don't get killed softly. I get killed fiercely and loudly and it's agonizing and I love it.

I experienced this at the Beat Farmers concerts I fervently attended in my thirties. When Country Dick was fully in the zone, totally living the moment, larger than life, I wanted him. I wanted him badly, as though he were a breath I'd die without taking. But I also wanted his zone. I wanted to be him, to connect immaculately with the music, the energy, the fury, the can't-go-any-farther-than-this. I'd get close- forbidingly close, going-toward-the-light close, a step away from where he lived, a chance away from being with him, and it was wretched and delicious.

I had a moment like that last night.

I know the singer personally. He's a sweet guy. But for one moment when the band had the whole audience in the zone in a hard-driving classic rock song, he was singing with such joy, such talent, and such power, I knew more about him than I ever expected to know and he killed me.

It felt great to be that alive.

Kaleidoscope II

I think I like this one better.

Just Your Everyday Balloon Man

Confession

I joined Rhapsody a few weeks ago. $14.95 a month for all the tunes you care to gorge on. It's the musical equivalent of brunch at the Rio.

All that music...every genre you can think of. A music guide to help you discover new music. 'Similar Artists' choices to connect you with additional choices you might like. All that, and the last song I downloaded was Fool for the City by Foghat.

Uh huh.

In my defense, is it possible to not be happy while listening to Fool for the City?

Of course it's not. The song demands a response of drooly, inane, imbicilic happiness.

Ok, don't look. I'm going to download Slow Ride.

If I mention The Bay City Rollers, you're welcomed to become concerned.

Going Places

I'm going to go to Portland and the Oregon coast sometime this summer.

Sometime in late July or early August I'm going to Denver for a memorial service for Adam. It's turning out to also be a reunion of the Jewish singles crowd Adam and I were part of in the early to mid 90s. I think it's good that the memorial service will be combined with a happy event. Why not?

By September (in a perfect world July) I'm going to be in another job. It's time for me to move on from my current position. Actually, it's been time for a long time. If you have any ideas for me, and / or know anyone who might want to be dazzled by me, please let me know.