Auld Lang Syne

Today we give a birthday shout out to the late Guy Lombardo who would have been 107 today.

We all know that he was THE bandleader. His orchestra, the Royal Canadians, which was made up of his three brothers and other neighborhood fellas, were world renowned. According to them their music was "The sweetest music this side of Heaven."

I thought it was interesting to find out that Guy was also a hydroplane racer and he won the Gold cup in 1946. He also owned a restaurant in Freeport, Long Island, New york.

Most notably Guy Lombardo was the man who brought "Auld Lang Syne" to New Year's.

Up until very recently I thought that it was "Old Anxie" (like anxiety) and we were singing to wish all the stress of the old year away. Well, I really didn't sing the whole song, just about 7 words and I hummed the rest, very enthusiastically I might add, because who wouldn't want the stuff from the previous year to be gone?

It is sort of interesting to find out the origin of that song is a poem written by Robert Burns in 1788, that was eventually put to music. Auld lang syne can be translated to "old times" or "once upon time". So when we sing "Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?" we are asking should we forget the old times? And of course not because the chorus reminds us "For auld lang syne my dear, for auld lang syne. We'll take the cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne." Meaning why forget the old things when they are still such sweet memories?

So there you have it let's remember the sweet things, cherish them and still go one living!

And since a birthday shout out wouldn't be quite right without a video clip..here is Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians with Auld Lang Syne..


Happy Birthday Mr. Lombardo! Thanks for many great memories!

Silly Love Songs

Good Day Everyone!

I hope that everyone is not missing a thing!

Today we are heading straight to our birthday shout out...Sir Paul McCartney who is 67 today.

We all know and love him, I do not think that there is much more I could write about him than that. He is another one who's music is part of the soundtrack of our lives. From Beatles to Wings to his solo career I am willing to bet that everyone has a fond memory somehwere in their minds that includes the touch of Sir Paul.

So while picking out today's clip it was so hard to choose. Do I go with "Jet" or "Band on the Run"? "Maybe I'm Amazed" or even "Live and Let Die." So many choices. But in the end I had to go with "Silly Love Songs". It came out the summer between 5th and 6th grade when I used to go to the YMCA with friends swim and hang out and there was a boy that I had a crush on (though sorry cannot remember his name) and this song was playing the first time I saw him. Ahhhh....to be so young and impressionable again! lol BTW There is never going to be enough silly love songs and that's okay!




Happy Birthday Sir Paul! Wishing you many more years of filling our lives with song!

What Are We Missing?

The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice, there is little we can do to change--until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds...R.D.Laing

This opening quote is from a newsletter that I get monthly and while reading its contents it really stood out to me, like a beacon almost. After reading it a few times, I got this almost sick feeling in my stomach. Do you have any clue how much we are missing?

I do not mean missing in things that we did not do necessarily. I mean missing in just observation alone. What we do not see, we cannot experience or take advantage of. The greatest opportunity of our very lives might be happening at any time and we just might miss it because we were not paying attention.

Yesterday I brought up ROAK Tuesday. You know, say "Hello" to everyone at very least. While that is a great thing there is an added bonus to this. When you say hello, sometimes is starts a conversation that can go anywhere. You never know who you are talking to. I have had some of the best conversations and found out some great info just by talking with strangers.

I guess that is what the whole quote equates to, we are missing things, a lot of things and we don't know better. Well folks this is our wake up call! Let's open up and participate and see what it is all about!

Today is also the birthday of Barry Manilow who is 66. We all know him and love him! So here is my clip for today and oh so appropriate "Day Break"



Join me and let's not miss another thing!

Have a great day!

Breaking Our own personal Rules!

Happy Monday To All!

Every person has their own rules. Things that we make up to keep our standards and ourselves in line. And we try not to break them because well it usually doesn't end well since we broke a rule.

Right now I cannot name all of things that are personal rules to me. We have discussed the whole white shoes what time of year situation. Hard and fast rule, no doubt. Another one that comes to mind right away is making public declarations. I rarely do, at least I try not make any public declarations. Especially for something I am going to do!

Well last week, I threw caution to the wind and declared right here on this very page that I would do a 10 day challenge. 10 new creations in 10 days and post them consistently. What was I thinking?

I originally approached the idea as a great motivator to get more work done. In theory this is perfect, but carried out is a way different matter!

So while I cannot ever say that I won't take part in a challenge, I am just not going to make it so public. Besides, it keeps the surprise element going with the blog!

Today we are honoring the anniversary of the birth of Waylon Jennings. He would have been 72 today.

He had a long and storied career, getting his start with many other greats like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and the rest of old time Nashville. He was touring with Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly and would have been on the plane that fateful day. He was also part of the Highwaymen, a group of singers that included Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. Waylon was also a big part of the country singer/outlaw movement.

While he was always a name that I recognized, he was most famous to me for the song "Good Ole Boys" and as the narrator of the Dukes of Hazard TV Show. Additionally one song "Mommas Don't Let Your Babies Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys." it always seemed a little tongue in cheek to me, but then again what good song isn't? Here is the clip..


So Thank You Mr. Jennings for your contribution to the American landscape!

So that is all for now. Off to go do something, but I not saying what it is! lol

Have a great day!

PS. You can have the entries sent to your email when I post. Just sign up at the top right of the page. I know that the YouTube clips do not appear, but i will make note of that and you can always click over to see them. Sign up today!

Happy Birthday to my Favorite Willy Wonka

Hello it is Thursday....

It has been sort of an odd week. Cannot put my finger on it, but odd. Now today, this afternoon, I am suffering from a case of the itchies. Do not quite know why. The kids came inside as they were trying to get their hover thing out of the tree and the mus have stepped in an area where the little brown ants are in the grass. Jonathan starts jumping around that he got bit and I killed an ant on his shoes and suddenly I start itching. Nice.

Today I am announcing my challenge. I challenge myself to complete 10 card designs in 10 days. The subject and type of card are up in the air, but I have to complete one a day. once I post them they will be available to purchase if you just love them!

Today we have a fun birthday, Gene Wilder. He is 76. He has been in many movies, a favorite of Mel Brooks and he also partnered with Richard Pryor on a few occasions. My favorite movie of his was "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". Here is a clip from that movie...

I loved the movie even now, though the OompaLoompas are still a bit creepy!

So happy birthday Mr. Wilder, you have given us many hours of entertainment!

Off to take a dose of benedryl, hope that does it!

Have a great day and look for the 1st day of the challenge tomorrow!

It is a Big Day for Birthdays!!

Welcome one and all to Wednesday!

Today is a super birthday day!

First I would like to say Happy Birthday to my dear cousin Brenda. She is a real gem. A good friend, a good cousin, sister, daughter, aunt and so on. She is loving caring and always there to help when you need her. Brenda may your day be filled with happiness and many, many more lovely birthdays!

Here is Brenda with Allison at her college graduation.


And if this day wasn't filled with enough birthday joy, it is also the anniversary of the birth of Miss Frances Ethel Gumm. We know her as the iconic Judy Garland and today she would have been 87.

We all Judy Garland and love her as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. IF you watched old films you know her in the movies with Andy Rooney, the "Hey kids let's put on a show" movies that were great.

What never was really on my radar was the talent she really was especially after after you take the mentioned movies out of the picture. She was really great. And it is sad really you know that a lot of times when that greatness, that God given gift appears that most are so unable to cope that they end up self destructing from it. I think that there are lessons in everything and our lesson from Ms. Garland's life is love your gifts, embrace them knowing they are yours and no one can take that away from you!

I had a hard time narrowing down what to share with you today. First is a clip from the movie Summer Stock 1960


And because I am a huge fan of all three, her is a clip of Judy with Frank and Dean. No last names needed!


Have a great day everyone!

Soundtrack of Our Lives-Happy Birthday Marvin Hamlisch

Hello!

Today is Tuesday and you know what that means. It's ROAK Day!!!! Hold a door, say hello, let someone in front of you in line. There is a certain amount of joy you will get from the response of the person that you do it for. It is hard to describe. And the best thing of all, you never know when it comes back to you!

Today is also Marvin Hamlisch's birthday. He is 65.

So now this is the time where you start to question the obscurity of my birthday picks. Born on this day were also Justin Long the "I Am A Mac" guy from the commericals, Zachary Quinto Spock from the latest Star Trek movie, Dana Carvey, you know the "Church Lady" from SNL and even Jerry Mathers "Beaver Cleaver." All of these folks would have been just as cool to mention in length and I might some other year, but I picked Marvin Hamlisch because he is part on the soundtrack to our lives. Even you young ones!

You see Marvin Hamlisch scored some of the most important movies and theatre productions in the last 40 years. A Chorus Line, The Way We Were, Ice Castles, The Spy Who Loved Me. It sounds crony to some but seriously, how many dance productions have there been of all or parts of A Chorus Line? How many times have you heard the song "What I Did For Love"? Did you know that it came from that musical as well? And what would the list of classic film romances be without Redford and Striesand in The Way We Were? Or any picture retrospect for that matter without the song "The Way We Were" palying in the background. All Marvin Hamlisch!

And while time marches on and technology makes things easier and more complicated that fact of the matter is it all begins with simple notes on a piano played by one of the greats like Mr. Hamlisch! Thank you and happy birthday!

So today it would be no fun without a clip and here we have another fave. Carly Simon with "Nobody Does It Better." This is from the movie "Spy Who Loved Me."




Have a great day!

A Monday to Celebrate

Today is Memorial Day. A day that marks the beginning of summer and so much more.

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, it was enacted in 1868 to commemorate the America lives were lost during service to our country, originally intended for Union soldiers that fought in the Civil War. Subsequently it was extended after World War I to include all members of any military action.

While it is wonderful to see the parades and the other special events, I think we as a country must keep up our gratitude for military services persons and their families every day.

Sometimes we take for granted what we are as a country or what being a citizen of this great country really is. There are people fighting in every corner of the world defending our freedoms. While some might question the validity of the battles, that should not shadow in anyway the brave people that take on that battle just because we are a great country to defend.

A few weeks back there was a citizenship ceremony for people that had passed all the requirements to become US citizens. I am sure that this is an event that ordinarily happens with some regular occurrence. Except this particular one really touched me. This group of people were military service personnel. These were folks that willingly signed up to defend a country and it's citizens that they were not a citizen of themselves. I was awestruck! We take so many things for granted!

People argue that it is frustrating that people from other countries immigrate here to start a new life. And they complain this or that about a particular nationality that is cornering a particular trade or business. And maybe those new people are a little more abrupt than some would like. But we forget, that they chose the United States of America because it is truly a better place, well the best place to be.

So on this day, like we should any day, let's be grateful and say Thank You for the bravery of individuals that enlist their lives to keep this country great and free and the place that people want to come here to live!




Switching gears slightly I'd like to wish my princess Jacqueline a very happy birthday. It is hard to believe that my first born is 12 today. Where has the time gone?

Our baby girl who is intelligent, beautiful and full of sass, is going to experience her last year as a teenager and I can hardly believe.

So my dear, you are another year older and another year wiser and as you fully mature into that wonderful young woman that you are destined to be, always remember how much we love you!

A little something for you!


Have a great day everyone!

Happy Birthday Blinky St. James

Sometimes when we are in our most comfortable stations, life comes by and reminds that there is more than comfort to living. There is loving and caring and being. There is witnessing what else there is out there and acting accordingly. There is just loving people regardless of the fact that you might not even know them.

On twitter I have had the privilege of meeting Elizabeth and Katy Hughes of the south bay area of California. They are a mother and daughter team, Elizabeth is a widow and Katy is a delightful young lady who is insightful, witty and has the potential to be a great artist someday. The most amazing this about these two ladies is their perseverance as that they are homeless.

Elizabeth and Katy lost their husband/father when Katy was 6. Subsequently they have been living on survivor's benefits from social security and a job that Elizabeth held. A while back Elizabeth had lost her job and last year the survivor's benefits got cut in half because Katy turned 16. Now all they get is money for Katy herself monthly. Both ladies have health problems, they cannot afford rent and other expenses. They have had some short term apartments over the last few years, but except when they are blessed with someone donating money for a motel room, they sleep in their car.

I have read their blogs and you know, they are not happy with the situation at all, but somehow they are doing their best to keep their spirits up and I am awed by them.

My Dad used to have a saying, "I was sad because I had no shoes until I saw a man with no feet." I cannot think of better fitting words.

So the main reason I am writing today is that it is Katy's birthday. She is 17. Along with sending her my best thought, prayers and birthday wishes, I was hoping that we could all pitch in for her. They are currently staying in a motel through this morning and then they are back in the car. Maybe if we all pitch in we can come up with enough to keep them in the motel for a few more nights that would be a great gift to Katy. Not exactly a new purse or some new clothes, the typical 17 year old gifts, but at least they would not be sleeping in their car.

Okay here are the details. Elizabeth's website is God's Power and Love and Katy's website is Destination Anywhere But Here.

Elizabeth's email address is hugheselizabeth@rocketmail.com Paypal donations can be sent to that address.

On twitter Elizabeth is known as @imexhausted and Katy is @blinkystjames. Follow them they are great gals!

Whatever we all can do for them would be great. They just need a hand!

So Happy Birthday Katy! and many many more. And for you a little Michelle Branch.



I hope that we can help them. And Please pass this blog around to other friends, the internet is a great big place and we all can help if we try!