Blue Planet

Did I mention I got tickets to Weezer for their September appearance in town? I’ve seen Weezer three times live and honestly did not expect to pony up to see them in concert again. But, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Blue Album, they are performing the entire album from start to finish live along with other faves. I’ve never heard them perform some of these Blue classics including my favorite Weezer tune, Holiday. Plus, the Flaming Lips! I've always liked the Flaming Lips. Their album "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" is an all time classic. So yeah, couldn't resist and snagged tickets.

Got a New Hat

 

 

Last week we went to a thrift store near downtown, Dolly Pythons. I bought a new hat. A Charlestowne by Goorin Brothers for $30. They list new for $115 so I thought that was a pretty good deal. I've wanted an old fedora for some time. I've always liked hats and when I was a kid had a cheap fedora I wore as part of my Indiana Jones Halloween costume for three years in a row. 

But I was reluctant to get one in adulthood because I didn't want to look like a wannabe hipster. But now that I'm in my fifties I care less and less about what people think of my personal style. One thing I regret in life is that I sometimes I didn't feel free to be myself style-wise in fear of what others might say. With age, I worry about that less and less. If I want to wear a fedora...I'm going to wear a fedora.

Montmarte

Montmarte: Paris's Village of Art and Sin by John Baxter. I'll read anything by John Baxter. He's a fantastic storyteller and narrator of fascinating history. He's written books on a lot of subjects but his series of books on Paris are my favorite. I finished this in two days. His stories are that compelling. And true!

Find!

$3.99 for one of the all time classics of jazz. Unscratched and unblemished. Half Price Books didn't know what they had! This live album by Erroll Garner is considered one of the greatest live recordings in jazz history. An old man who was subbing at Highland Park High School when I was working there in 2004 told me about it and loaned me his CD copy. It blew my mind. I've always kept an eye out for an original vinyl version and twenty years later found it last week.

 

The Dispossessed

A towering achievement of speculative science fiction. Ruminations on anarchism, capitalism, socialism all told in clear prose of a personal story. Le Guin is a master storyteller and conveyor of ideas. I greatly enjoyed this work. 

Her Right Foot

One of my favorite authors, Dave Eggers, wrote an all-ages book about the meaning of the Statue of Liberty. They were selling copies of it on Liberty Island when I visited a few days ago. Just read it and it is fantastic.

Something all Americans should read. It is a book about the meaning of America.

The Warwick

While in New York we stayed at the Warwick. It was quiet, clean and in a great location. Kim enjoyed getting coffee across the street at The Blue Bottle every morning. We often ordered breakfast for pick up at a Fresh&Co a block away. There was a subway stop on the corner although we didn’t make use of it due to Ava’s injury. We were just a couple of blocks from Central Park, Carnegie Hall, Rockefeller Center and Times Square. 

The Warwick was built in 1926 by William Randolph Hearst to be a place to stay for his girlfriend who was performing in the Ziegfeld Follies a block away  Cary Grant lived here for 12 years and you can rent out his suite. Elvis stayed here many times and this is where The Beatles were staying when Bob Dylan came to visit them. Many celebrities and historic figures have frequented the place and it is still in top shape. If I return to NYC this is where I would like to stay again.

 

Little Italy!

 

Statue of Liberty!

 

Empire State Building!

 

Carnegie Hall!

 

Times Square Baby!

 

Tickets

 The tickets have arrived. 

Equine Therapy

 

Texas Independence Day

Today is Texas Independence Day. The celebration of this day troubles me because why did the Texians want independence from Mexico in the first place? The reasons are many but the desire to continue owning slaves seems to be a driving force. The Texas settlers came to Mexican territory under a specific set of agreements. I’m not saying that Mexico kept all their agreements but the fact was that the land upon which the settlers lived was Mexican territory. Many of the signatories of the Declaration were in Texas illegally anyway. 

Plus, there is an extreme wing of the GOP who desires secession today. Those who control the levers of GOP power in Texas have never condemned these extremists. In fact, they often support the idea with veiled references and not so vague asides. They use these celebrations to further their cause to support a betrayal of the United States of America. 

So it all seems like good clean fun. Our town is even hosting a celebration today. But if you look under the surface, not all is what it seems. 

Hello March. Finally

From a March long ago at White Rock Lake