In these uncertain times I often wonder if I'll ever write anything worth publishing again. Worries, troubles can eat at anyone's creativity but you would think that in such times as these, pen to paper or rather keyboard to word doc would be the needed outlet. I am confidant it will return someday but that someday is looking pretty far off.
SO as promised in last post the rest of the versions of I Shall Sing albeit without Toots because somehow their version has gone missing.
With the passing of Miriam Makeba yesterday, I was reminded of joyful cover tune of hers. I can't recall the first time I heard my first cover of "I Shall Sing" but it was some time in early childhood when my Father played his #72 reel to reel tape which contained Art Garfunkel's Angel Clare. The track written (though never officially released )by Van Morrison has been embedded in my DNA because of that reel to reel of my Father's (which has now been officially handed down to me) and when I play it....I can't help to smile and sing along.
Part 2...The reggae covers of I Shall Sing featuring:
Hortense Ellis, Toots and the Maytals, Jean and the Gaytones (Judy Mowatt)
Generally in times of fretitude, I tend to forsake this poor blog for the matters that pend more heavily on my mind. With the world falling apart bit by bit and I, categorically in hustle mode, trying to avoid being taken down with carnage, tis hard to justify time spent on casual thoughts to post.
Nevertheless, seeing this blog stagnant irritates me so I will share even in the midst of further chaos infiltrating my life.
I had planned to post on the three day lectures of Umberto Eco but the post I'd like to tell gets bigger and bigger. Digging deeper on what I had learned from those lectures and new research on him has led me to the conclusion that Eco is far more impressive than I originally thought. I'm currently studying his dabble at literary Steganography(not to be confused with stenography), and basic cryptography used as a literary devices. So that post might take a while.
For today, I present something I came across that was inspiring. I'm not generally all that interested in Military history, to my husband's chagrin, but I do like hearing personal stories in war that are testaments to bravery and character. Jefferson DeBlanc is one such brave soul. In WW2 he fought in one the greatest dogfights in history at Guadalcanal.
The medal of honor winner Mr. DeBlanc passed away last year but his story is something, I imagine, will be told for years to come. And since my one of Novellas has an homage to "Only Angels Have Wings"** and the Hero of the story is named Jefferson who is from Louisiana as well... currently trying figure out how to work aspects of Mr. DeBlanc's story in(without getting sued or peeving off his family) because it's just so fitting. There is a book out currently on him if you'd like further information that can be purchased here.
**Incidentally, read in that Wiki entry that "Tales of the Golden Monkey" was inspired by the movie. Used to lo-o-o-ve that show when I was kid.
Red Kelly has found him and started a fund. Click Here to read Red Kelly's new post and find out how to donate. I have and so should anyone who wants to give directly to an artist who has given so much to Music who desperately needs your help. As you will read in the Kelly's post, Lattimore has nothing left, so even a dollar will help.
Lattimore Brown, who cut records with Booker T & The MG's and a Chitlin Circuit extraordinaire, has seen his share of troubles, especially post Katrina. Luckily Gustav didn't cause devastation in Biloxi like Katrina but apparently the irreverent Sir Lattimore has gone missing again (Read Red Kelly's update on his continuing saga) and it's just one of those stories that just kills you. Lattimore lost his wife to a heart attack after putting her on a bus to escape Katrina's Wrath, while he himself had:
"returned to the house to wait out the storm.The water, he said, came up through the concrete floor of the house like it was a 'paper sack', and within a few minutes was up to his knees. By the time he was able to get outside, it had risen up to his armpits. He grabbed a piece of wood, and began trying to swim, but before long the current had twisted his clothing down around his ankles, and he was desperately fighting to stay afloat. He couldn't see any people or houses anywhere. All around him was the swirling, rushing water.
Lattimore heard a voice, he told me, of a man he had never seen before. A man that was sent to him 'like an angel'. "You better grab onto one of those trees," he told him, "or you're gonna get swept out into the Back Bay..." A branch was hanging down in the water, and Brown was able to grab it... a wild cat came floating by on a piece of wood and scrambled up the branch, howling and scratching as it perched there on top of Lattimore's head. The voice (which belonged to a sweetheart of a man we were privileged to meet while we were down there named Atlas 'Big Al' Brown - pictured with Lattimore above), told him he had found a wooden pallet and said "I'm gonna push this out to you... either you or that cat are comin' out of that tree!" "Hell, it's gonna be me," Lattimore answered, and he grabbed a hold of the makeshift raft. A Jamaican family in a two story house saw what was going on, and was able to throw out an extension cord to him like a lifeline, and pull him in. He had survived."(SourceRed Kelly)
So...if you have the cash Amazon and Itunes are selling some of his work. I'm not sure if he gets his fair cut but hopefully he does and WE as listeners get a treat for our ears.
I was told a while back that I should separate my Politics from my Writing-which, all in all, is good advice. And since that point have tried to hide my political leanings from this blog as much as possible. This often distresses me that I have to maintain as separate blog under my real name to speak of something of love so much but hey if it must be done, it must be done.
Selena/Stacey doesn't go into her political leanings with her identity as a Romance Writer however she does proudly display her real name and that she is in fact a Democratic State Rep on her Selena Montgomery Bio which makes me think that semi-mixing of the two CAN be done.
It is also sparks a twinkle in my eye that one day I too could go into some form of political service but then again I don't have an outstanding background like she does:
"Stacey received her J.D. from the Yale Law School in 1999. She graduated from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin in 1998 with an M.P.Aff. in public policy. She earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Political Science, Economics and Sociology) from Spelman College, magna cum laude, in 1995."
I know this isn't a completely new thing, the mixing of Politics and Romance Writing** but still it's rarely heard and for the first time(I've heard) it's happening so close by.
To find out more about Stacey Abrams as the Democratic Representative of Georgia House District 84, which covers the communities of Candler Park, Columbia, Druid Hills, East Lake, Highland Park, Kelley Lake, Kirkwood, Lake Claire, Oakhurst, South DeKalb, Toney Valley and Tilson. Her website is http://www.staceyabrams.com/
Since being back from RWA Conference have shamefully let the exercise routine go to hell. Have spanking new Mix to inspire me to crawl back on the wagon. All tunes were selected for their beats per minute, whether I need to step things up or slow it down so I don't collapse from exhaustion.
Also I didn't want an all techno mix(because after a while it just sound like brain freeze to me) so tried to be creative throwing sounds together, using remixed jazz to pop electronica, indie heaven to Portuguese awesome-just to cover my bases. I loathe the music and the voice supplied to guide me to beautimus abs, and I pretty much have the routine memorized now so new music mix will make the process less painful.
Looking for excerpts of my work and other questionable scribblings? Not a minor, easily offended individual, clergy, family member or friend who doesn't want to read likely objectionable content? Then mosey on down to my Naughtier Thoughts .
