So Sylvie

For My '61 Mate

When I'm feelin' down I listen to sad music. I love Marvin's production of this song, I Wish It Would Rain. The sentiment is of pain and heartbreak, he's in a deep funk and the words cry out for the weather to reflect his moody blues -- "sunshine, blue skies, please go away....I wish it would rain" -- but at the same time it's a total dance song. Love those kinds of contrast.

 

Right away it made me think of the Dolly parton song "Steady As the Rain". Same thing, sad lyrics -- "Raindrops seem to harmonize, with teardrops falling from my eyes, and my tears keep falling down, as steady as the rain" -- but it's a jaunty country fling. Spin yer partner 'round and 'round!

The first two are best when cranked up loud in your living room so you can really cut a rug.

And the best freakin' rain song evah! Right here:

 

Thinking of you mate, xo.

In Loving Memory of Lisa's Mom

Thinking of you sweet Lisa, xo.

Meditations on Marcel

San Francisco Chinatown

 

His favorite chair, in front of our shop

 

Contemplative after haircut

 

zen garden

 

summer morning

 

bikin' it

 

with Aussie gal, Lola

 

wildcat

 

rocket boy

 

in his garden

 

tomato land

hothouse flowers

prayer wheel

 

a la playa

 

con papi

 

the right profile (clash)

 

Marcel's Selby Moment

 

with his homegrown torpedo onions

 

that was then

 

this is now

 

avec Nella

 

dreamy boy

 

 

 

I know, I know. Totally self-indulgent. But hey, it's my blog. heh!

Flavor of the Month

Well, it's that time of year again. Did you know that October is a month that's brimming with "awareness"? Take a look at the month of October on the Wikipedia page for the list of commemorative months and you'll find multifarious examples such as: National Country Ham Month; National CyberSecurity Month; National Toilet Tank Repair Month; Hunger Awareness Month, and many more. But none of them can hold a candle to the most heavily promoted: Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Or as I like to call it, Corporate Manipulation of A Trendy Disease Month -- and I include the big name nonprofits in this category.

 

In case you haven't heard, I have a bone to pick with the breast cancer industry and if you please - please don't ever buy anything pink in my honor ( for the back story read my post When Pink Stinks).

I'd like to dedicate this post to dear Kate's father who succumbed to PANCREATIC cancer -- a cancer for which there is little awareness. Did you know that November is National Pancreatic Cancer Month? Well it is. And purple is the color of the ribbon. Not that these are the things that truly matter.

My point is that breast cancer is the sexy disease that gets all the big money PR and it bothers me. A lot. I feel for those - and their family members - that have one of the less "popular" cancers. Would Ford Motors or Yoplait Yogurt attach Colon Cancer to their product? You know the answer. Don't encourage or support this scheming trend in consumerism, please. Stretch your awareness above and beyond the glossy media campaigns and don't be swayed by schmaltzy rosie colored adverts. For some good reading -- from my favorite alternative sports writer -- check out Dave Zirin's article, The NFL Is Thinking Pink.

I wish you all good health.