on appreciating the journey and the small joys

At this time last week,  people in our area experienced a major weather event that altered life for a time. An ice storm blew through, destroying trees and power equipment, leaving most of us in the dark and cold and some without water, for the better part of a week. The basic necessities of living were now the very focus of our days. Food, light, gasoline, warmth, water, all of this became our priority, along with assessing the damage and cleaning up the mess that was left behind.

Now that things are back to normal and we’re at the point that we’re dealing with the clean-up and restocking our refrigerators, I notice that the conversations have changed. People are talking about how late Spring is coming in this year. Where is the abundance of flowers we usually see in March? Why is it still so cold when we should be donning our lighter wear and packing away our wooly items?

People are funny. Our minds work in mysterious ways.  We all waited and waited for things to be restored and once it was then we’re on to the next achievement or goal. I’m not suggesting that people should wallow in their misfortune, but maybe we should be enjoying the moment reached, the victory achieved, before moving on to the next big event. Daily happiness is made up of all those small moments and a lifetime of happiness is the result of all those moments met and memories made. It’s important to stop, take a breath, and notice the small events that happen between the bigger occasions.  It’s like walking along the beach with the aim of reaching the pier off in the distance.  It’s great to set a goal and it’s equally ok not to reach it.  You can stop on your sandy walk, look up, see that pier far off and still notice the beauty of where your steps have led you to this point. It’s still a pretty great journey, even if you never reach the pier.

So celebrate right now. There is some small thing that you can find that is worthy of your attention and can bring you satisfaction, if not real happiness. You get to decide. It all comes from inside of you. You can’t let outside events, outside people take over control of your emotions. So pay attention. Take notice of the small moments. Celebrate the journey as well as the goal reached.  You can enjoy what you have rather than focusing all of your attention on what you haven’t.

As for the ice storm, I celebrated the fact that there was a coffee shop and a few brave, patient employees situated in a teeny, tiny section of the main road that hadn’t lost power. It gave me a place to find respite from the cold and something warm to put in my stomach and at night, we could pass some of the dark hours at our favorite pub downtown to play some music, watch the game, sit with friends and enjoy a beer. It wasn’t a lot – but it was everything!

corner view: travel

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane (Spain) and curated by Francesca (Italy), where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme.  The theme this week  is "travel", and comes from Theresa.

No matter the distance you're traveling

there are many different ways to get you to your destination.

You can enjoy a leisurely ride provided by a trusty steed.

Pedal-power is the preferred mode of many, particularly on a beautiful weekend.

There's the smooth, quiet sail...

 ...an adventure on an old, big-masted beauty...

...or a modern cruiser.

 For some, a vintage car is the only way to go...

  

...though there are some that will take to the skies.

 Traveling by train is a romantic way to go...

...though these folks bring a new meaning to "traveling by rail". 

 

But no matter how you travel, it's always nice to travel with a friend...

...or two!

tunes on tuesday 3-11: linda thompson, lake street dive, rem, miriam makeba, the civil wars

Tunes on Tuesday is a fun new project. Each week I'll try to bring you five videos or audio files, each one focusing on a song, group or collaboration that just might pique your interest! If you have someone for possible spotlight then shoot me a private e-mail and we'll give it a listen. Hope you enjoy Tunes on Tuesday! 


NOTE: All videos may be expanded to full screen. Hit play then click on the icon at lower right.


 NEWER RELEASE

Released in the end of 2013, It Won't Be Long Now is a long awaited solo album from Linda Thompson. The title song was written by her son, singer/songwriter Teddy Thompson, features Tony Trischka on banjo, ex-husband Richard on guitar and background vocals by Teddy and also by Amy Helm, daughter of Levon. Listening to the song is like a visit from an old friend that I hadn't seen in a long time. Great to hear from her again!




NEW ARTIST / REGIONAL / UP & COMER


The four members of Lake Street Dive met a dozen years ago or so, when they were students at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and ever since they've been winning over new fans wherever they play. Rachel Price's voice is amazing and in this silly promo for an EP release some years ago, the band show off some really incredible talent as they cover Micheal Jackson's  I Want You Back.




CLASSIC

REM released Shiny Happy People back in 1991 on their Out of Time LP. Joining them on this ultra-upbeat song is Kate Pierson from the B-52's.  It hit Billboard's Top Ten list and was considered by many to be the song of the summer.










And how can you not love their rendition of Shiny Happy Monsters that they did with the Muppets back in 1999.  (song runs to 3:48 then wanders into another unrelated sketch)












WORLD MUSIC


Many folks had not heard of Miriam Makeba until discovering her in Paul Simon's Graceland project, but in South Africa she was a shining star. Needing to leave the country during the anti-Apartheid era, she continued to sing about the struggles in her homeland. “Under African Skies” is a good example of her work and showcases her beautifully strong voice. Miriam passed away in 2008.








INTERESTING COLLABORATION OR COVER

The Civil Wars perform their really interesting take on Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. The Grammy Award and Americana Music Association award winning duo of John Paul White and the very expressive Joy Williams released this song on their VH1 Unplugged EP in November of 2012.  (enlarge video by hitting play and then the lower right corner)






Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use." PROMO ONLY, Nonprofit, No Copyright Infringement Intended, All Copyrights Belongs to the Owner.

on stretching

"Sound when stretched is music... 

 Movement when stretched is dance... 

 Mind when stretched is meditation... 

 Life when stretched is celebration."

 ~ Ravi Shankar

corner view: renewal

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane (Spain) and curated by Francesca (Italy), where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme.  The theme this week  is "renewal", and comes from Karyn (New Zealand).

Winter weary is how I would describe my state of mind today. The weather keeps flitting back and forth between wet, snowy, cold days and warmer sunny days. It feels like Mother Nature is teasing us.

But in recent weeks the bluebirds and some of the other seasonal songbirds have reappeared in force so that's a sure sign that Spring is indeed on it's way...

...and before long, that brown bushy bundle in the top photo will once again begin to gift me with these beautiful blooms. I can't wait! Come on Spring!

tunes on tuesday 3-4: rosanne cash, lost in the trees, ekova, cat stevens, simon/crosby/nash

Tunes on Tuesday is a fun new project. Each week I'll try to bring you five videos or audio files, each one focusing on a song, group or collaboration that just might pique your interest! If you have someone for possible spotlight then shoot me a private e-mail and we'll give it a listen. Hope you enjoy Tunes on Tuesday! 


NOTE: All videos may be expanded to full screen. Hit play then click on the icon at lower right.


NEWER RELEASE

Rosanne Cash is back! Her single, The Sunken Lands,  is co-written with her husband John Leventhal, from her newly released album The River and The Thread which showcases songs by these two as well as songs that Rosanne co-wrote with her ex-husband, Rodney Crowell.  The eldest daughter of the legendary Johnny Cash, Rosanne's musical style crosses over many genres.  I think The Sunken Lands is hauntingly beautiful and think you're going to really enjoy this too.



NEW ARTIST / REGIONAL / UP & COMER

I've recently seen Lost in the Trees classified as American orchestral folk-pop and that's about as good a description as any. Their new album, Past Life, is a slicker, more commercial path for them than you'll hear in their previous 3 releases and it's getting them a lot of notice in the wider music world. Whether you prefer their earlier more acoustic stuff or their slick electronic sound, Lost in the Trees is proving that they have a broad musical reach. I got to see Ari Picker and Lost in the Trees this summer when they provided a live soundtrack to an incredible giant puppet production put on by Paperhand Puppet Intervention in Chapel Hill, NC.  I made sure to sit right behind them in the pit so I could watch them not only perform but lend amazing and creative sound effects throughout the show. So here is Daunting Friend off their new cd.


CLASSIC

Cat Stevens left the music biz in 1976 but before he did he said his good-byes to his fans with his "Earth Tour". When you watch this video of Tuesday's Dead you just can't help but see the sheer joy and immense fun he was having during this performance.










WORLD MUSIC

Ekova's home base is France, though the global-pop group members hail from other parts of the world. The vocalist/cellist is American, oud/guitarist from Algeria and their percussionist is Iranian. Diedre Dubois sings in multiple languages as the group provides a combination acoustic and electric instrumentation built on a completely enchanting drone. Here's the very lively Siip Siie from their 2nd album, Space lullabies and other Fantasmagore.






INTERESTING COLLABORATION OR COVER

Paul Simon, David Crosby & Graham Nash join forces in an amazing tribute to George Harrison. Their rendition of Here Comes the Sun gives me goose bumps every time I listen to it. This is a once in a lifetime moment of musical magic.











Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use." PROMO ONLY, Nonprofit, No Copyright Infringement Intended, All Copyrights Belongs to the Owner.

that disease called perfectionism

I used to suffer from that dreaded disease called Perfectionism. It was awful. It sucked all the fun out of far too many experiences. It brought on unneeded stress and anxiety, and on more than several occasions it caused me to have situational life paralysis. It was much too heavy a burden to carry. I know where I picked up the dreaded virus but that's another story altogether. The important thing is that I eventually recognized it, but that awareness was only realized after a major "slap upside my head" (not literally) and many months of guided introspection and discovery.

Perfectionism is certainly not all it's cracked up to be. It has a really cruddy underbelly. The cure was painful indeed but extremely freeing. The perfectionism virus still rears its ugly head from time to time, but now I recognize it right away and defeat it before it can take hold. There's a big difference between working hard to do your best and striving for perfect as the only acceptable outcome. Shooting for perfect and not attaining it will crush your happiness, cause you to miss the experience of a job well done, kill your drive to try again and keep you from success.

Let's be honest, there is no such thing as the perfect person, a perfect wedding, a perfect live performance, the perfect relationship, a perfect home, a perfect job or the perfect anything else for that matter. We're all flawed but we're all worth knowing, worth loving despite our foibles. So don't let perfectionism rob you of a great experience or stop you from shooting for your dream. Don't let it steal your happiness. Give yourself a break. Lay down the burden of perfectionism and enjoy your life.

corner view: experiment

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane (Spain) and curated by Francesca (Italy), where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme.  The theme this week is "experiment", and comes from Anna (Netherlands).

When I saw the theme for this week my mind immediately went to the photography experiments I've taken a stab at. I probably should clarify that these are photo experiments that worked because in trying new things and working to capture particular shots there certainly have been a lot of experiments that didn't turn out like the picture I had in my head. The limitation I set for myself was that the shots had to come from just my eye and my camera...no post processing, no flash and no other digital tricks. It really has been a lot of fun and there certainly is a lot of satisfaction that comes from uploading the photos and discovering something that worked.

This one takes a little explanation. I stood outside the house and captured the reflection of the trees behind me in the window in front of me, focused on the lamp and bottle inside the house, and shot straight through the far window
to the trees out back.

A gorgeous morning fog, captured in one moment and gone in the next...

...and the strangest nighttime fog bathing everything in a warm yellow glow.

Sunlight shining through a large stack of pvc pipe that was stacked behind a manufacturing company.

Busy street shot through a windshield during a sudden downpour.

The challenge here was to get a photo of the gibbon without also capturing the wire fencing that was between us. Took some time to get the focus just right!

Twilight silhouettes. Look at everything that's going on here! Completely magical. 

Bokeh twinkle lights. Sometimes, out of focus and glowy is exactly the thing you're looking for!

tunes on tuesday 2-27: nickel creek, carolina chocolate drops, simon & garfunkel, pierre bensusan, joe walsh with daryl hall

Tunes on Tuesday is a fun new project. Each week I'll try to bring you five videos or audio files, each one focusing on a song, group or collaboration that just might pique your interest! If you have someone for possible spotlight then shoot me a private e-mail and we'll give it a listen. Hope you enjoy Tunes on Tuesday! 


NOTE: All videos may be expanded to full screen. Hit play then click on the icon at lower right.


NEWER RELEASE

Due to be released on April 1st: the much anticipated new album A Dotted Line from Nickel Creek! Chris Thile, and siblings Sara and Sean Watkins reunite after a 7 year hiatus to bring us more of their musical magic. Playing together since they were youngsters, this album and supporting tour mark their 25th anniversary.

Two songs from the new album: here is Chris featured on Love of Mine...






...and Sara featured on Destination.












NEW ARTIST / REGIONAL / UP & COMER

The Carolina Chocolate Drops are a string band from Durham, NC that came together in 2005 after attending a Black Banjo Gathering in Boone, NC. They earned a Grammy in 2010 in the American Folk Album category and just added to their busy touring schedule, a slot at this year's Bonnaroo Festival.

It was hard to decide which Carolina Chocolate Drops song to share. There are so many good ones and the styles vary so, but Rhiannon Giddens voice just soars in this favorite of mine, so here is Leaving Eden, from an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry last year.

Learn more and hear more at www.carolinachocolatedrops.com.


CLASSIC

Recorded and released in 1966, Simon & Garfunkel's Hazy Shade of Winter reached the #13 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 list. This is one of S&G's harder hitting songs and one that is still being covered today. The Bangles recorded a harder, edited version in 1987 and since then punk-pop, thrash metal, psyche-rock, darkwave covers have been released by other bands around the world. To me, the original folk-rock version from 1966 hits home.

 






WORLD MUSIC

Pierre Bensusan is a French Algerian guitarist you'll definitely want to look into. I first heard Pierre's amazing guitar back in 1979 when I discovered his album, Près de Paris. He released this album, the first of eleven, when he was just 18 years old. It's hard to classify his style, because you can hear celtic, jazz, world, new-age and folk influences throughout. His creative use of DADGAD tunings and his amazing talent will carry you away! You can learn a whole lot more about Pierre at pierrebensusan.com.



INTERESTING COLLABORATION OR COVER

Joe Walsh with Daryl Hall doing Rocky Mountain Way. Need I say more? I just dare you to stay still during this amazing jam!










"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use." PROMO ONLY, Nonprofit, No Copyright Infringement Intended, All Copyrights Belongs to the Owner.

be fearless!

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you everybody else, means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.       ~ e.e. Cummings