Caroling
Dec 25, 2004 Keepers
In the past few days, I’ve been talking to a lot of people about Christmas music. There’s a lot of it out there, but everyone has their favorites – something they saw on TV when they were a kid, something they sang in choir in school. I’m a sucker for traditional Christmas carols, but they’re all so good, and there are so many of them, so I’m gonna leave them out. Instead, I give you my three favorite alternative Christmas songs. How about you guys?
In no particular order:
True Blue Miracle. From Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. Not the crappy version with Bob McGrath and Elmo. The original. Does anyone have a recording of this?!?!?!?
Why Isn’t It Christmas Yet? A Sunny Lewis classic, and the first appearance of the famed Arthur the Geniuses (and Marie the…um…sister) on record. You heard it here, folks.
Christmas Time Is Here. From Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” You’ve seen the special. You know the deal.
Tags: Waiting
Are You Moving?
Sep 17, 2004 Keepers
“If you have a New York State driver license, learner permit or non-driver ID card, or a registration for a vehicle, boat or snowmobile, you are required by law to notify DMV within 10 days of any permanent address change.”
Eep.
Tags: Waiting
A Most Intriguing Day
Aug 14, 2004 Keepers
It wasn’t an especially good day; it wasn’t especially bad. But I’ve never before had a day quite like today.
First off, let me start with a little of the past few days. Since that absurd concert last month, I’ve been on somewhat of a Prince kick. I’ve been discovering new songs, reading Possessed: The Rise and Fall of Prince, and I even just got myself a dope 80’s ruffled-jacket rockstar poster of the man himself.
Why am I telling you all this? Because after learning more about the life of Prince Rogers Nelson, I realized that in some ways, this man is a role model for me. When he was a teenager, rather than go out and party, he preferred to stay home, by himself, writing music. Later in life, when he was wrking in the studio and people wanted to hang out, drink, and do drugs, he would glare at them, saying “Let’s get back to work.”
At his first concert as an official Warner Bros. artist, the legendary Prince, the worldwide superstar with the worldwide ego, was a disappointing performer – shy, uncomfortable with the audience, even turning his back on them at times.
But thinly veiled comparisons aside, I took one very important thing away from my explorations: Prince believed that he had a mission in life to bring his creative vision to the world. Very simple. And he focussed the rest of his life around that central theme.
I started writing an entry this morning, including some of what you see above, and also the following two paragraphs:
“I too have always believed this about myself: that I am a man with a mission. And I have too often skirted around the issue, beating myself up for not adhering to it, blaming circumstance, laziness, psychological issues, you-name-it.
“But today I submit to you this. Not a proclamation with fanfare and fireworks, demanding change or death. Merely a shift in perception, an easing into a new framework for understanding life. I’m taking my toe out of the water, and not diving, but calmly submerging myself.”
I left my house this morning, entry unfinished. Emboldened by my sense of purpose, I got a few things done, and went uptown to visit my grandmother.
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In The Elevator
Apr 23, 2004 Keepers
“Was that you singing out in the hall just now?”
“Yeah.”
“You have a real nice voice.”
“Well thank you.”
“Yeah, you sound great. Should I be looking for you on TV?”
“Heh. No, not yet. Give me a couple of years.”
“What are you waiting for? You ain’t getting any younger.”
“Oh, you know, I’m working on it. I’ll get there.”
“Sounds like bullshitting to me! I’m gonna make it my business to needle you every time I see you!”
“Ha! Thanks. I guess I need someone to do that. Have a good night.”
“Goodnight.”
Drum Circles
Sep 15, 2003 Keepers
It has just occurred to me that summer is over, and all the drum circles that appear in the parks all over the city throughout the summer are probably done. And I didn’t go to a single one. Boo.
Tags: Waiting
Not only does he make dreams, he READS too!
Jun 16, 2003 Keepers
Guess it’s been a big week for our friend Morpheus from Sandman, as I just ran across this great poster on Metafilter. P. Craig Russell was the artist on the first Sandman issue I ever had, an amzaing story about the mythical city of Baghdad and its transformation. Now he and the Sandman are promoting reading too. The only question is whether I should get this thing – I mean, I already know how to read…
Tags: Waiting
