Jeff Beck and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

First and foremost I want to thank SteveA who blogs at LONG HAIRED BOY for the tickets to see Jeff Beck at the Wang Center in Boston. Since he was unable to go he offered them to me and after a bit of juggling with the family, my husband and I had a lovely evening of music.

I have never been to the Wang Center and had no real expectations. It is a beautiful theater and our seats were really good. The show was not at all what I envisioned. It was billed as Jeff Beck's Rock and Roll Party Honoring Les Paul and he didn't disappoint. Jeff Beck's manager opened by explaining that Les Paul played a small night club in New York City up until he died at 92 years old. Jeff's vision was to re-create the club atmosphere with the show.  He did just that with a lovely singer Imelda May and her husband and guitar player Darrel Hingham. The band also included a bass player, drummer and horn section. It was a rockabilly delight.

If someone had told me what kind of music they were going to play I probably would have turned down the offer. I [and my husband] imagined it would be basically an instrumental show as Jeff Beck isn't a singer. We were very wrong. I am not sure my husband enjoyed the singing so much but he did enjoy the music. I however enjoyed it all....was very pleasantly surprised. Another genre of music added to my repitoire.

Thanks again Steve. xx

After seeing Elton John and Leon Russell a couple of weeks ago, and Elton commenting how there were three Rock and Roll Hall of Famers on the stage I thought it would be fun to see as many inductees as I could. Of course many have passed on but there are still many playing and many that will be inducted some day. Jeff Beck is now on the list. I have listed the Hall of Fame artists I have seen below.  [can I count Elvis and Les Paul since a Hall of Famer [Jeff Beck] played them as part of the show?

Jeff Beck
Genesis
Elton John
The Kinks
Pink Floyd
The Police...Sting
Leon Russell
Rose Stone of Sly and the Family Stone
Steely Dan

I would love to see ZZ Top next. Who's on your list?

"I'm glad I'm not a mom"

I was talking to a male friend recently and in the course of the conversation he said "I'm glad I'm not a mother". I didn't understand what he meant at first. He is a parent. A divorced father of a young daughter about 7 years old. I asked what he meant and he said, "who do your children go to the most?" "Me," I said.

Now don't misunderstand my friend, he is a very devoted and caring father. His daughter means the world to him. As she gets older and more womanly issues arise I have no doubt he could handle it willingly and with sensitivity. But, and I would imagine this is how a lot of men feel, he is glad that he won't be the "go to guy" in these instances. Question to ask him... would he feel the same way if he had a son. I only have daughters and I can imagine I would appreciate the father taking the son questions, but I would certainly deal if approached.

Talking to him again I asked to clarify if it made a difference if he had a son? He had forgotten the conversation.. *sigh* I refreshed his memory and he said "mom of a young woman". A lot of the concerns of young children, male or female are the same, scraped knees, hunger and tantrums, to name a few. As children get older the issues become more sex defined.
I am not into traditional parenting roles for the most part. Whatever has to be done gets done by whatever parent is around, but admittedly I would prefer to leave the boys issues to dad. As I said I only have daughters and as they are both young woman most of the first time sensitive issues are well past us. When my oldest daughter was around 11 she woke up with a stomach ache. My husband thought she was starting her period and paniced a bit. The next day I showed him and my daughter where the "supplies" were kept. As luck would have it, I was around when both girls started.

Emotionally, I have heard, girls are harder to raise. Friends that have boys and girls often say the son is the easier child. Again, I have no idea but can imagine this to be true.

Moms and dads, being genetically wired differently, cope with situations differently whether intended or not. It can't be helped. Of course some moms are "harder" than others and some men are more sensitive than others. In my house I am most assuredly the sensitive one. Luckily the same things don't tend to "bug" us at the same time so one parent is able to deal while the other takes a breather.... but this sometimes leads to parentig arguements. It is bound to happen if both aren't on the "same page."

Hopefully my husband and I can live to survive parenting our two girls to independence, I am not always sure we can.

Are you glad you aren't a mom?


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Excuses!

Damn my house in such a tip,

Forgot my "resolutions", have let them slip.

Todays excuse, getting sleep,

House is quiet, not a peep.

Shut eye was a resolution,

Easy to do, no time for execution.

Some things, have to give,

A messy house, I'm sure you'll forgive.

Luckily, there's always tomorrow,

Maybe a maid, I could borrow.

Meanwhile, I'm off to bed,

With one resolution, well ahead.

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A Night with Elton John and Leon Russell

 

 Elton and the band, I think the guitarist, Davey Johnstone has the same hairstyle he had when I saw them in 1976
Click pictures to enlarge

As many of you know I am a concert buff. I love to go to concerts. Saturday night my daughters and I went to see Elton John. He was actually playing in Worcester at the DCU Center. I might have passed it up had it been in Boston, [I have seen him twice before] but the DCU Center is 15 minutes away.

We went out to dinner at Haiku first. It is our favorite sushi restaurant. We drove downtown and after finally finding a parking place on the 6th floor of the garage we headed in and found our seats. They were actually pretty good. Elton would be facing us as he sang and played the piano.

He started right on time and opened with Love Lies Bleeding/Funeral for a Friend and proceeded to play non stop for three hours. Elton, a seasoned performer, wowed the audience with almost 30 of his top hits.

My favorites included, Madman Across the Water, Bennie and the Jets and The Bitch is Back (this link is from 1974!) For an encore he sang my favorite, Your Song. You name it he sang it.

The highlight of the night was when he sang songs from his new album The Union. It's a collaborative album with Leon Russell. Admittedly I didn't know who Leon Russell was but as I read about him, I appreciated his influence on music. Leon was and is an idol of Elton's and he could say enough about how he influenced his own career. He went on to say he has been performing his songs at his concerts with out him but this night we had a treat and Leon Russell was there to join him on stage. Out walked a man with a cane and long flowing white hair. He and Elton played eight songs from the new cd. It was fabulous. My favorites were Monkey Suit and If it wasn't for Bad.

As we walked back to the car I asked my daughters if they heard all the songs they wanted to hear and my oldest says, "Yeah the three I knew"..... yeah I felt old. It was an amazing night and I recommend the cd to everyone.
And as Elton pointed out, how many times do you see three Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members on one stage at the same time. Elton, Leon and Rose Stone. Rose was one of the back up singers and an inductee as part of  Sly and the Family Stone.


I know I posted a lot of links but do yourself a favor and listen to some, especially those with Leon Russell.

Leon Russell

Our view of the stage. :-)

Elton and Leon together

Foto Finish Friday-How high can you go?

Our dishwasher is broken, dead, no longer functioning. RIP. So I bought a larger dish drain and now have to wash the bastards dishes by hand.

Now the contest begins.....How high can  you go?

Notice my strategy? A large flat "piece" at each end to balance dishes against. Plates lined up underneath and round things on top. Plastic at the very top so if it falls off, no matter. Smaller items and rinsed cans for recycling and returning sprinkled in the openings. I particularly like the shot glasses balanced on the cutlery.

Have a great weekend!!

Justifiable Homicide Tuesday-Waiting and waiting and waiting

Thank you for the well wishes, after a night off work I feel a bit better.

It seems to me when I have one doctor's appointment I have several. Today I had a visit with my hematologist. Good news, the anemia seems to be getting better. Seems the hysterectomy was the cure, hopefully. I don't have to see her again for six whole months. Tomorrow I see the rheumatologist, they handle my aching joints.

Now to the point. Waiting and waiting to see the doctor. Too many of them seem to have no appreciation of the patients time. Some are better than others of course but seems I am always the last person called.

I try to get first morning appointments or the ones right after lunch when the back up hasn't started yet. Believe me I understand emergencies happen and some patients, and doctors, are more long winded than other but just let me know so I can plan my day. Once I am being seen, don't rush me... you made me wait now listen to what I have to say.

Let's not forget the joys of sitting there in the paper johnny as the nurse tells you the doctor will be "right with you".... yeah right. Can you please turn the heat up in the room as you leave I know I'm going to be here awhile.

My ob/gyn has the coldest rooms and the smallest johnnies. They are cloth but about a size 2. I asked him about that once and he said, "it's what the company sends me"... Hello ... what do the pregnant woman wear. I know I'm not the smallest person but these won't fit a woman about to deliver. I told him it was insulting and started to bring my own, makes a great summer bathrobe too.[they are fitting better these days]

I don't want any "hate" mail from the doctors and nurses out there, I know most are doing their best, but when I have to pay for missed appointments yet I get nothing for sitting for ages in the waiting room reading Golf Digest and People magazine from 1994 I get to gripe...

Aaacchhoooo

Sorry this is all I've got.... be back later.

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Justifiable Homicide Tuesday - Monday is such a punk

"Monday is such a punk" as posted on my FB by a coworker. He couldn't have said it better. Had enough crap this weekend with a busted dishwasher, water under the linoleum and more snow and freezing rain. Now Monday has to be a bitch.

I have had an 80 gig classic ipod, the thing was great. Held all my music and worked all the time....but I lost it. The last time I saw it was in my car on New Year's Day. My daughter was playing DJ as I drove her home from a party. Then it vanished. I have searched my car and house to no avail. I'd search daughter's room but it scares me. Oh well an excuse to get a new ipod touch. My oldest got one for Christmas and it is pretty cool. I secured a 32 gig and have enjoyed it since. I could watch movies at the gym, I can even get Netflix since we could steal use wifi from a neighboring store.

You guessed it, I lost it. The ipod, not my mind [sort of] I lost my mind when I couldn't find it. Again the last place it was seen was in my car. We searched my car, the couch [also known for eating things, but it prefers glasses] We searched my bedroom. No luck. My oldest suggests I look through the tote bag I take to work, "I have, three times," I insisted. I looked again, this time checking the outside pockets and there it was. Rejoice.... no kidding, I was thrilled.

I went to Starbucks after work Monday  morning to kill some time before my gyno appt [hooray] I sit down on a comfy chair and put my phone and ipod on the arm as I get situated and the ipod slips off onto the concrete floor........ Yep, smashed the glass, irreparable. I wanted to cry, newly found and now broken.



All is not lost, Apple tells me I can switch it for a new one for $150. I have an appointment at the Genius Bar on Saturday. Wish me luck, it seems to simple to be true.

So how was your Monday?

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