Things that go and things that stay...a new Blues Medicine Bag on the loom (I guess I'm not quite done with blues yet!)
And a new word on The Word Cloth. "SOAR" just flew out of me tonight. It is far more cliche than I usually like...but, it came as a package deal with the idea of the HOLE that has been there and the idea of Courage mentioned by the Alphabet Ladies (Deb and Jude). So there it sits and soars, hooked onto the hole to be climbed out of.
They rest on a bag found years ago...a small thin bag from another country. I tried to figure out where it is from and landed HERE. This may or not be right. No matter.
So many of the Blues I'd gathered when I began the Ode to Blue are now long gone...used and used up. It's wild how much I like that.
Soar was stitched in Blue as well, to symbolize the big, bright blue skies that hold promise or escape, depending on your mood.
I have such a growing collection of Medicine Bags here. I've been entertaining the idea of selling them somehow...but this is not my department, so it would have to be super easy. I sold two back in the mid 2000's, but that was to co-workers...voice trails off.
It is an undertaking, that's for sure.
So, as of now...the foreign bag will stay (for some reason I really like it and use it all of the time).
The blue Medicine Bag will go (eventually).
The Word Cloth will stay, right nearby as it has for months.
Those are tonight's decisions made. They're the easy kind.
How's that for winnowing?
May you shake things up & out
May you keep the things that matter
May you understand how to be in a hole and how to climb out to soar
They carried a big PLATE of pineapple into the multiple LUAUS, but first they stopped in the parking lot to look at the CHALK drawings the children had done.
8/2/24
They sat together to eat the MELON. They're not all ALIKE, they agreed. Some SLAKE your thirst better than others. But not always, she said. You're such a FLAKE he replied.
8/3/24
Shhh...there is a COBRA in with the PACKS, he said. Well then how are we going to SCALE down off the mountain without our gear? she replied. (came up with this one in about 2 seconds!)
8/9/24
She sat behind a SHRUB and ate a big batch of FUDGE. Man, was she going to get in trouble. She got it all over her TULLE recital skirt. Plus, she spilled grape JUICE OUNCE by OUNCE right on top of the melted fudge.
8/10/24
Are you READY? they asked. Just a minute, I have to get my DEBIT card and give it to the MEDIC she answered.
8/11/24
She wanted a ROAST, but heating up the house right now would be a slippery SLOPE. She ate a day-old SCONE instead.
8/12/24
She sat in the small SPACE, watching the STORM roll in. This is kind of SILLY she thought, but I am excited by this storm. She took SWIGS off her flask and watched the SKINK run across the deck and the SKIFF rock back and forth on the water.
8/13/24
She sat on the PATIO watching the FILLY out in the field. She heard the light tinkle of the CHIME. It didn't WEIGH very much and moved frequently. Then her gaze returned to the filly when she heard him NEIGH.
8/14/24
She felt AWFUL. The dog was not the BREED she wanted and now she had to REMIT the amount payable anyway. She just wanted to escape to the SHORE.
8/15/24
They heard the TIRES screech around the RALLY. Good thing the drivers wore heavy ARMOR for protection as they inhilated every ACORN on the track.
8/16/24
The JOIST was in the right place and the DRAPE of the eaves looked nice. But, they were waiting on the CRANE to install the last BRACE.
8/17/24
She RIDES on the back of his motorcycle, holding on to the thin STRAP on the seat. She's thinking that this will be some STORY to share when she gets back home. And that was before the STORM hit!
8/20/24
We can't wait to count the VOTES. We're READY to get rid of this DECAY. We can't DELAY any longer.
8/21/24
Everyone was at the PARTY! She JOINS the group at the table where there was a huge FUDGE fountain with all kinds of fruit for dipping. But she finds it unappetizing when she hears them only talking about MULCH.
8/22/24
Burnt TOAST is not UTILE for a hungry BRUTE
8/23/24
The TIGER KEEPS a WEENY LEECH in his bed.
8/24/24
The ROGUE carpenter LEADS the homeowner into the room where the PANEL is to be installed. The rock over there is just too LIMEY, this isn't going to work, he says. Do what you need to do to make it happen, the homeowner replies, I've got to get in the kitchen and FILET the fish for dinner.
8/26/24
If you want to earn good MONEY, don't TEACH! Your dinner PLATE will be half empty. Same for working on the STAGE. The audience may STARE in admiration and you may have a STAKE in the company, but you won't have a lot of money.
FYI~ Free COVID tests will be available again at the end of September. You can sign up to have them mailed to you. Thank you Biden-Harris administration 🙂 I'm especially grateful since all 5 of the boxes I have are expired!
I am again considering making this space private. What will that mean? I am not totally sure, but I am thinking that those who want to read will have a password to get in. They (you) could read and comment or not. My posts often have 20, 30 - 50 views. Who are these people? Do they need to read my stories? Most do not comment, so how does any of this matter? I'm in thought process again.
We went to what I've been calling "city park" today. I learned its true name though, Jake Kuredjian Park. Evidently it is more of a County Park. I also found Jake's Story. Sad.
We did not got into the park and walk on those paths. Instead, we walked past the catch basin and along-side the canal/river. It was a whole different experience.
Views towards the Pico Incline and towards the park itself, each side of the overpass.
Like so many, I love Dylan. This 45 is one of the first records of his I owned. I keep his 'Greatest Hits' in my car at all times. My funny memory of this song is in 1969, as I headed into 6th grade, I spent a lot of time at the local park, which was a long walking distance from my apartment. We mostly sat there on the grass, listening to music on a small transistor radio. Remember those? We'd walk down the street, radio right up to our ear - filling up on the top 40 music! This song, as I sat mindlessly picking grass, I thought (FOR YEARS) that he sang "lay on my funky grass bed". It made total sense in that moment, being heard on a scratchy am radio. The fact that I was too busy singing it my way for so long, that I didn't really notice just totally cracks me up. I still usually sing it my way, as that is the image embedded in my head.
Yep, good old Johnny Cash and one of those beloved story songs! I loved the humor, the rough and tumble...and my 45 wasn't bleeped! haha Love Johnny Cash.
🎤
Today, I came across this video below and found it so fascinating. I've heard (and seen videos) of music having an impact on speech, cognition and memory before. This one showed the physical changes that can happen. Wow. From shuffling to dancing. The power of music.
Power Of Music On The Brain | Dementia & Parkinson's
I took notice when one of the women said: "Music is a human right". I agree.
We walked along the side of the...concrete river (?). I'm not really sure what to call it, so I'm making it up as I go along. We could hear the water draining in from the sloped cement side, but it did not look like it moved much. There were so many butterflies and dragonflies. I bet there is a lot of mosquitoes down there too!!
An interesting combo of city life, with wildness off in the distance - commanding an outstanding view. Back by the road, we discovered more of these rose trees and a path that continues up the street. We decided to try going that way next time. I think that is where the memorial plaque for Jake is. We'll see. We sat by this bridge (above) for a little break. It is kind of amazing that right on the other side of the shrubs on the left is that big grassy park.
1969 HITS ARCHIVE: Green River - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Well, J. just shakes his head at this one...but, hey I was young...the perfect tween age for this stuff (back before 'tween' was a thing!). I remember taking a few favorite records over to my friends house in my bike basket. This was one of those. Young girls. Ha. Not quiet the stuff young girls of 2024 listen to! haha
Many (most) of you who come here, also read over at Grace's place. Over a year ago, she sent a call out to the universe and Wendy regarding starting a therapy group and well, it happened! She talked about it HERE. I chuckled at her speaking of Trust in this post as it remains current. Many have been coming together, Gathering at The Well for all of these months. Some have drifted in and out, or just out for the time being and right now there are a couple of openings, so we wanted to send out an invitation to those who may be interested.
*Nuts & Bolts:
We meet (zoom) typically twice a month on Saturdays (time for each of us varies by timezone). Wendy is our facilitator. We come with listening and love in our hearts and at least 65ish Plus years on this planet.
Well, I went back to the record store with all of the 45's and chatted with very nice Anthony.
Anthony, with his great English accent and extensive knowledge of old records and music in general,
Anthony, who's wife worked at my childhood neighborhood movie theater when she was a teen. We chatted about our old local radio station and its DJ's and their intro songs...and the free top hits lists given away for free at the record store next to that movie theater. Great memories.
Anyway, he looked through my 3 boxes of 45's and bought one record and one of the boxes too (the one pictured above). That was not exactly how I thought it would go, I knew he would not want many, but thought more than one would be worthwhile. Oh well, on to my next plan...whatever that may be. Even though I didn't rake in the dough, it was an enjoyable visit.
🎤
1969 HITS ARCHIVE: I’ve Been Hurt - Bill Deal & The Rhondels (mono)
My favorite memory for this 45 is when my mom came into my bedroom and asked to borrow it for a lesson plan she was planning for her 9th grade English students. I don't think I ever knew what that lesson plan was, but I loved that she wanted to use current music to teach it! These lyrics were different from my usual teeny-bopper fair. They had something to say!
What I remember most about this song was singing out "Listen to the band!". I also remember watching The Monkees on TV. They were goofy and cute. Which one was your favorite?
1969 HITS ARCHIVE: Ruby, Don’t Take YourLove To Town
14. Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
"Ohhh...RuuuubY, don't take your love to town!" Singing these song will obviously be a theme to these posts. Marti remembers her dancing and I recall the singing 🙂
I had no idea where Abergavenny was as a kid...remember there was no google back then!! lol Now I can learn whatever I want online and I finally know it is a town in Whales. This song is so lively and fun. I said to J. that it was like a circuskaleidoscope of a song! Are you singing? He pronounces Abergavenny so funny at the end 😁
🎤
This concludes our musical jaunt down memory lane. Please excuse the lame dialog and just enjoy the music!
I've started a huge project with my old records (maybe CD's? too). It's time. So, I'm starting with my 45's. There are 143, give or take, all neatly stored in their 45's Boxes.
As a young teen, I made a master list and numbered each individual 45. I can't find the list anymore, so I'm rewriting it for myself, based on the numbered stickers. I can't tell if they are (were) numbered in any particular order and I'm just moving through them in order. I decided to post about this journey here. I am documenting, before I sell them off. It's going to take some time and a lot of posts, so you may notice them sprinkled about over months. I plan to move on to my albums next. We'll see. I've got the list typed up, so let's go!
Most of the songs are quite short. I've started with the first 10, but we'll see how this goes in the future.
Also, while looking through the records, I notice they are not in the best shape, so I really don't know how many I'll be able to sell. We'll see. The point is to get rid of the actual stuff, make some money and enjoy some music and memories.
I hope you enjoy too and maybe even want to sing along! What were your favorite songs as a teen?
Shango - Day After Day (It's Slippin' Away) ■ 45 RPM 1969 ■ OffTheCharts365
I did not even remember this song (above) until I heard it again. I think it's funny that it talks about "the whole place shaking away". Yep, that's L.A. 😁 I love the steel drums!
1969 HITS ARCHIVE: Indian Giver - 1910 Fruitgum Company (mono 45)
I always loved this song, like really loved it. It will become apparent along the way that I liked certain bands, story songs, silly songs and "Native American" themed songs (so 1970's!!)
Three Dog Night "One"
3. One, Three Dog Night
It's funny how embedded certain songs become...how you can still know the lyrics after so many years...still listen for certain notes or chord progressions or vocal pronunciations...the ways the music becomes a part of you.
I don't know why, but in playing this again, I got a very strong sense of bead shops and incense...tie-dye and good times. The thoughts came up so strong that I wonder where I heard this one in my past!
1969 HITS ARCHIVE: Good Morning Starshine - Oliver (mono 45)
I listened to my mom's album of "Hair" zillions of times. Every song - over and over. I played it for the two young girls I babysat (their mama's name was Donna!). When I babysat the girls, which I did extensively, I would make the house dark, play this album and use a flashlight to make a "strobe light". They would take turns dancing as I shook the flashlight, making a the strobe effect! It was so much fun. I believe my parents saw a production of Hair, where there was SHOCK, nudity!! haha Of course, I was too young for that at 10 years old. This song is so happy...dancing through meadows kind of happy. It's just fun to sing. I wish kids could hear this nowadays (instead of Baby Shark - ugh).
1969 Gary Lewis & The Playboys - Rhythm Of The Rain (mono 45)
The opening horns and lines set the tone for this great hit! I'm so partial to songs that you can understand the words being sung...so partial to songs that you can sing along with! How about you?
Closing with another great 1969 sing-along love song! I always loved how he emphasized the words and the rhythm. There were sure a lot of love songs in my youth!
I hope you had fun with these tunes too. It sure made for a fun afternoon!
May embrace deeply, before the difficult letting go
My mother once told me that it is impossible to compare when shopping for mattresses. She said you could never find the the exact same mattress in two places to compare prices. Each one, in each different store had some little quality or differences in certain aspects.
I say, even though they are both oranges, one is a Navel and the other is a Valencia.
Now, here I sit thinking that there are other things you can't compare either. I'm pretty sure there is a long list, but today I'm thinking of insurance or phone/cable/internet services and prices. Trying to compare would likely kill off your last brain cell.
I'm pretty sure dumping this here, in writing...yelling at the world, will not provide much, if any relief
I'm also pretty sure that all of this will remain true tomorrow. So, day is done and so am I.
