That's Fair - 19 March 2022 - Plague Journal Day 737

Micah 6:8
1 Kings 17:5-6
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is National Corndog Day! I really don't remember when I first had a corndog - we weren't big carnival or fair attenders when I was a kid, so somehow I doubt that's where it was, unless it was at the State Fair, back when we had a real State Fair (before our erst
while governor killed it, mostly out of spite as far as I can tell). It may, however, have been at the first Charlotte Bluegrass Festival I attended (with my sister) back in 1979 or 1980. The local 4-H Moms had what would now be called a food truck, I suppose, where we got actual good food, but there were all the carnival eats trailers there too, and I can't believe I didn't buy a corndog then.
Anyway, the best memory I have of corndogs is the time we made our own - using Jiffy cornbread mix, naturally - on the driveway of our friends, Fred & Lynn. We had the mini deep-fryer set up outside (no sense burning down the house if things went badly wrong), we had hot dogs, a dipping station, sticks, condiments, the whole nine yards as they say. They were good to eat, but eating corndogs with friends is even better.
We may have to do that again.

Today is also Play The Recorder Day. My elementary education did not include an actual recorder. We were given the dreaded "flutophone" to play. I think it was a sort of remedial recorder, and I resented it mightily, even to the point of never actually learning to play it.
We have a few different sized recorders in our musical instrument collection chez nous, and I may have to dig one out and give it a try. I'm sure dogs love to sing along to recorder music, right? This should be fun (or painful ... or both).

Go grab a corndog and a recorder and celebrate the end of Winter and the advent of Spring! (Hmm, how can we have an advent here in the middle of Lent? I may have to consult an ecclesiastical authority.)

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our insane lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Sunday Blues - 27 September 2021 - Plague Journal Day 564

Micah 6:8
John 14:1-11
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Well, it was a mixed bag of a weekend. Heidi and I got to sing with Jacki in church for the first time in a long time - it was great to try to keep folks on the Sunny Side of Life.
Saturday was a pretty good day all around. Got some stuff done, chose and "rehearsed" our song for Sunday, walked Billie, all the good things a weekend of nice weather can afford. Sunday started well too - singing in church and then it was Rummage Sale time! Well, actually it was getting ready for Rummage Sale time, so Heidi and I were back there helping from around 1 to 4, moving, sorting, tossing, testing, all that good stuff.

However, at the same time, Dad was having a bout of the Sunday blues. It seems to happen to him fairly often when he can't be at church - he misses the worship and especially the fellowship. He was in a funk when he was awake, but he slept much of the day. It was distressing to hear his very "down" comments - especially after his having gotten such a boost on Friday from Dawn's visit and encouragement.

I'm happy to report that it seems to have been a one-day kind of thing. He's back to more himself again today, so here's hoping.

I don't want you all to miss the special historical commemoration that should happen today. On 27 September 1722 Samuel Adams was born. That makes today his 299th birthday. Happy Birthday to America's Beer Guy, and imagine the celebration next year!

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

I'm In the Mood for Singing - 23 July 2021 - Plague Journal Day 498

Micah 6:8
Matthew 5:14-16
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

I'm looking forward to worship this week even more than usual. My friend, Sue, will be singing a duet in church with her granddaughter - "This Little Light of Mine" - and I get to accompany on guitar. What could be sweeter than that?

It's wonderful when we can help children know they are loved and appreciated, and help them praise the Lord with the gifts He has given them, and that's just what Sue is doing for Laura. I can hardly wait.


Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

I'm in the Mood for Singing; Hey, How about You? - 04 June 2021 - Plague Journal Day 449

Micah 6:8
Psalm 40:1-3
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

At last, the people called Methodist will join their voices in song!
Yes, we will actually be singing hymns together in the sanctuary this Sunday at worship. It's hard to believe how long it's been since we've had that basic part of our worship in our Sunday morning service, but I can hardly wait to hear my church family singing around me.

I hope we can all make it through the songs, but I pray that God hears us praising Him and is pleased.

bonus video

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Tickling the Ivories - 29 March 2021 - Plague Journal Day 382

Micah 6:8
Psalm 150   Colossians 3:16
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

UPDATES BELOW IN RED

Today is the 88th day of 2021, and thus it is Piano Day. Indeed. (As I recall, it was on the Flintstones that I learned there were 88 keys on a piano keyboard.) At any rate, it was hearing the instrumental monster hit, Alley Cat, by Bent Fabric (seriously, Bent Fabric) that made me ask to take piano lessons as a kid. I checked my sheet music (the same one pictured below), and it turns out that Bent Fabric was the recording artist; the composer was Frank Bjorn. Poor guy only had first names, it appears.

That song is the reason we bought a piano and why I took all those lessons (nine years or so). I still have the sheet music on my piano (not the same one), and I might be able to almost play it semi-competently were I to give it a try. (I did try at lunch time. I both over- and under-estimated my retained abilities. I managed to get through it without being too embarrassed, but not in a way I would want to perform in public. Time to practice.) At any rate, I guess I need to say "Thank you" to Mr. Fabric (and Mr. Bjorn!) for getting me started on my musical journey. I can't imagine what my life would be like without the playing, singing, and writing that all got its start with that catchy little piano tune. It's vastly richer than it would have been, no doubt.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

 

 

What's in a name? - 12 January 2021 - Plague Journal Day 306

Micah 6:8
Revelation 2:17
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

This staying apart is really wearing on me - especially the fact that we can't get together and sing as a choir or a congregation. This need to make music was brought home even more forcefully when I realized that on 12 January 1969 Led Zeppelin released their debut album. The album was imaginatively named “Led Zeppelin.”
Well, when we're allowed to be together, I'm forming a band called Eponymous. Our first album will be "Self-Titled." Take that, Zeppelin!

I also understand that today is Tim Horton's birthday as well as National Glazed Donut Day - what a fortuitous confluence of calendrical events! (Did you know that the first Tim Hortons donut shop was in Hamilton, Ontario, where you'll also now find Tim Hortons Field, home to the CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats? Now you do!)

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

14 May 2020 - Plague Journal Day 63

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is Thursday, which has been one of my two favorite days of the week for many years, largely because Thursdays are choir practice days at my church. Yesterday was cough drop day, and that makes me miss church choir even more than I already did. (You see, I learned to always have a few Hall's in my pocket by singing in choirs.)
All in all, I want to rage against the ending of the singing! (Yes, it's also International Dylan Thomas Day today.)

Even if we can't join together to sing, at least it's Dance Like A Chicken Day, so get out there and dance like a chicken!

Bonus: if you're not sure how to dance like a chicken, here's an instructional video, and if you don't want to dance like one, maybe you could scream like a chicken. Watch this classic bit, but be sure to watch to the end!



Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

Merry Christmas

We were shopping at JD Penney's at Lakeside Mall last weekend and heard one of the greatest versions ever of the Twelve Days of Christmas. A solo female singer in general (there might have been harmony vocals too - I can't remember), but the melody was altered so that most of the time it would follow the descending pattern of "four calling birds" but with the initial note also descending with each step of the countdown.

Anyone know who that is? Where I can find the recording? I'd really like to know - it's driving us crazy!

UPDATE:
I found it - it's The Bird and The Bee doing it, and it's just as good as we thought it was.
It was offered as a free download at their website, so check it out- spectacular!