04/29/2k11

Carnival Spring 2011 Finding the Gummy Worm in a bowl of whipped cream sans hands

"There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. Evolution and all hopes for a better world rest in the fearlessness and open-hearted vision of people who embrace life."



John Lennon once said that “The Beatles were more popular than Jesus. “ 1970 saw the band that had emerged from the London scene and exploded into America riddled with strife. Some would say that it may have been creative differences, or that perhaps John meeting his future wife Yoko Ono was to blame. Whatever the reason, John Lennon was released from the Beatles, now a famous musician, but also a controversial one who became not only artist but activist. He would have another son. Take a 5 year hiatus from working. He would reside in New York City. He would put out some of the best music of his career.

John Lennon loved New York and New York loved John. John and Yoko settled into a luxury 9 bedroom apartment at the prestigious Dakota building across the street from Central Park. The apartment number would be 72. John had a thing with the number 9. He would often times walk the street along with Yoko and sign autographs for fans willingly. Their favorite café down the street they would catch a meal or a cup of coffee always at the same table.

Shortly after he moved to New York in 1971 John recorded two albums Plastic Ono Band and Imagine. Both can be considered to have solidified his solo career. Imagine would be an album long synonymous with John and considered to be some of his most brilliant. In addition to the acclaimed title track it also features songs like How Do you sleep, which some say is a slide towards Paul McCartney. Plastic Ono band was a group of artists at the time which not only included John and Yoko but other such notables as Eric Clapton. A lot of Beatles fans at the time didn’t get it. They would continue to record after the Beatles broke up and much of their early music would be centered on anti-war protest. During this period in John’s life he became almost a voice for the anti-war movement which largely influences his songwriting. He sought to educate the people about world peace, something that he believed so strongly in, through his music. Recordings such as Instant Karma, Imagine, Give Peace a Chance and the great Ballad of John and Yoko reflect this. That Christmas they release the single Happy Christmas-War is over. They take out an add on a huge billboard in Times Square which reads a lyric from the song “War is over if you want it.” In 1974 John releases Mind Games which is also largely influenced by his life at the time; the songs reflect problems he and Yoko were having and their temporary split, which would find John in Los Angeles on a drug and alcohol binge. He appears in his first ever solo concert that November with Elton John in Madison Square Garden and subsequently their romance is rekindled and they continue on in their life together. He releases the album Rock and Roll shortly thereafter in celebration of some of his most loved songs such as Stand by Me and Peggy Sue.

When John and Yoko reunited they had their son Sean and took a 5 year hiatus from recording. John had such a love for Sean and immersed himself into family life and raising his son. During this period he also focused more so on his artwork, primarily drawings and paintings. He missed a large part of his older son Julian’s upbringing, due in large part to the popularity of the Beatles and the demands of being a member of a group that saw such huge success. He relishes in his role as a stay at home dad and his days are filled with loving and caring for his son. They spend a lot of time at their farm in Upstate New York during this period.

In 1980 John and Yoko recorded the album Double Fantasy. Some may say the album has an almost Disco feel to some of the songs influenced by the avant garde Ono. At the core of the album which brings us up to speed and gives us a glimpse into his life in solitude are the moving and emotional Beautiful Boy and the heartfelt and realistic watching the Wheels. Days after its release Lennon would be shot dead outside The Dakota by a childlike man who calmly would wait for the police to arrive while reading Catcher in The Rye. For a lot of people, it felt as if they had lost their Jesus when he died. He is immortalized through The Strawberry Fields, a part of Central Park dedicated in his memory with 50 plus nations donating to its creation, with Italy donating a huge mosaic which reads the words Imagine. He is as much loved to this day 30 years after his death by his fans and his music is timeless and brilliant. Sean Lennon would give life to the Plastic Ono Band in 2009 and Yoko still burns a candle in memory of John on the anniversary of his death in the window of their apartment in The Dakota to this day.

Spring Semester Redux Elvis at 21



The second album released by Elvis Presley simply self titled Elvis debuted in 1956 and spent a month in the number one slot on the Billboard Top Pop Albums that year and reached sales in the millions. It was the first gold album for the artist. The album followed his debut album 2 years earlier That’s Alright Mama and such hugely successful singles as Heartbreak Hotel and Blue Suede Shoes. The year 1956 finds Elvis Presley as a dashing and dynamic 21 years of age and recently signed by RCA. He is just beginning his career with enthusiasm and his remarkable talent as a musician is turning heads everywhere. He starts acting on the big screen starring in films such as Love Me Tender and scores a number one hit song Jailhouse Rock, King Creole, and Loving You are to follow along with a 7 year contract with Paramount Pictures. He makes his first television appearance on Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey’s Stage Show however it was his performance of Aint Nothin But A Houndog on the Milton Berle Show which earns him the nickname Elvis The Pelvis due to the sexual nature of his moves on stage and the controversial nature of his performance. The girls are driven crazy. His future appearances on the Ed Sullivan show are censored from the waist up. This is where the young man who loves to make music with strong family ties ends and the Legend ….The King of Rock and Roll begins.

Elvis, the album had a lot to live up to after the release of That’s Alright Mama. He became hugely successful during this period. American music was being looked upon differently as a result. There were some who would denounce his music, burn his records and accuse him of corrupting teenagers everywhere however this wouldn’t stop him for when he came on the scene it was like an explosion, it was epic, and left his fans in a frenzy.

Elvis appeals to me largely in part of the up-beat tempo of songs such as Rip it Up. The Rockabilly Sound of Rip It Up, the first song on the album is a popular song for its time having been covered by such artists as Little Richard and The Everly Brothers. It is a rocking and rhythmatic song which has a bit of swing style to it making it easy dance to. Elvis features the kind of fun and upbeat music that makes you want to grab your partner and hit the dance floor.

Interestingly the melodic sounds of Paralyzed feature one of the few songs of the time for which Elvis was actually given writing credit for his rework along with Otis Blackwell. It is a slow paced tune and much like a lot of music on this album has blues and country overtones and a consistent beat. Old Shep tells the story of Red Foleys dog when he was a child. Foley who wrote the song saw it covered by many artists including Presley such as Hank Snow. It became a successful recording on the Country scene. At ten years old it was Presley who sang Old Shep for the first time before an audience at The Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show. Long Tall Sally is a “rock and roll 12 bar blues song”. It is featured on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time. It is a bluesy up tempo tune with a shuffle beat and falls into the Rhythm and Blues genre which Elvis so gracefully had begun to master.

Ready Teddy is another song which had been done by Little Richard. I liked this song, and in watching him perform it for his second appearance on the Ed Sullivan show it is easy to see how he beckons the audience with the song as he sings “He is ready ready ready to rock and roll”. It seems as though the crowd is too, “The joints really jumpin and the cats are going wild”, these lyrics are the dynamic of the song and fit the swing style for which was beginning to develop through his songs with a four beat measure for which many feature a steady and swinging groove. What do you think I feel has a Latin vibe. One can imagine the song being sung to the object of his affection, a Spanish girl for whom he feels there is no hope in winning back and who has not been true. It is a fun and playful tune without being too heavy on the lyrics and is more of a catchy instrumental song than it is a ballad as he asks over and over “How do you think I feel… Well I know your loves not real…Well you’ve included three and that’s too much for me...How do you think I feel.” Anyplace is Paradise… (when I’m with you) is a sweet song where he sings the praises of the girl by his side. It is very Rockabilly and the signature love tune on this album. It is a beautiful song with the piano sections and a little Honkey Tonk mixed in. I also enjoy the piano in So Glad Your Mine. The piano flows along with the bass drums and guitar and the result is smooth , low key blues as he croons about “When she kisses me I get high every time”. It is easy to see why the women were driven wild. Presley was consumed by his music and during this period he showcases his full creative ability as an artist through these songs. He becomes one of the most popular entertainers in the world. 1956 was a period, a crossroads of sort, which saw this transition.

At 21 years of age Elvis found great success and went on to become an icon, a legend as an entertainer as he captivated his audience throughout the rest of his career and achieved almost a god like status with his fans after his death. Elvis the album represents him in control of his abilities as an artist. 1956 was the year that he no longer became the local hotshot his name was now known nationwide, it became part of a revolution of sorts with the youth of America and Rock and Roll would never be the same again.

En Memoria de chernobyl 2011

04/27/2k11

J+Y 1969



Easter Sunday 2k11

What a fabulous day..We started the day at Easter Sunrise Service at the fountain park..it was a breathtaking morning and very inspirational way to start the celebration.The Easter Bunny came with fun things for everyone. After we headed to Mike & Caroles for an Easter brunch and egg hunt..Coming home it was quiet time to settle..rest..take a nap and relax..a spectacular Easter dinner followed. The boys and I read all of our Easter books and some verses after dinner..I got the most beautiful purple tulips and a bunny pillow pet..I will sleep with it every night..the day couldn't have been more perfect..wishing you & yours a Happy Easter & blessings through the year!



Brunch

Cinnamon French Toast Bake w/ pure maple syrup

Eggs Benedict Muffin Melts

Hot Cross Buns

Raspberry Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

Dinner

Slow Cooked Maple Brown Sugar Pineapple Glazed Ham

Butter Rolls & Sharp Cheddars

Creamy Fresh Herbed Potatoes

Corn Casserole

Devilled Eggs

Sparkling Apple Cider

Dessert

Homemade Carrot Cake w/ Cream Cheese Icing

All Recipes Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman

Snapshots of Our Day

04/23/2k11

I Pretended Like I Was On "Cupcake Wars" Vanilla Bean Easter Cakes

Fresh Hot Cross Buns

Speckled Eggs Using All Natural Dyes