Category Archives: Music

Country and Blues

Posted on May 17, 2015 | 2 comments

Rest in peace, BB King. I listened to classical music as a kid, my dad is a violinist. Then came Tony Bennett. Elvis was before my time as well as others but I was on my way to music. Frank Sinatra, sorry, Come Fly With Me worked in many ways, telling me I wanted to be educated and be able to go wherever I wished to go.

Blues artists always know that one cannot get every thing or everyone one wants. Without failures, what is success?

I never moved to the south until I was over 40. All that was on the radio en route were country songs about my wife leaving me, my dog ran away and my truck died. And gospel lectures.

As someone who spent a lifetime above the Mason-Dixon Line, except for tw0 years where I had to take a course as a rifler because every Southern lady must know how to shoot, no to a shooting exercise. Sorry, young friend. I told my 12 year-old nephew last year I couldn’t shoot a hole in their hay barn if it was 20 feet away with a bb gun. I got an F when I was 13 but had another shot at it (pun intended) and brought it up to D so I never even failed a gun course or any course in my life.

Nephew, you’re on this year! If I fail, we’ll fix the bet before we begin with Grandpa Joe as the judge of timing and ideas. The family will then judge our efforts.

If I win, you’ll make a fresh sweet bread with cranberries or blueberries with me for breakfast day after Thanksgiving. Or whatever Grandma Margie says about timetables. If I miss a hay barn, of course he’s never going to let me shoot at that precious barn but if he tries to make me to lose by choosing a jar on a fence post I just won’t do it. It’s against the environment and might cut a kid’s foot. OK, I’d never hit it anyway so would forfeit.

I think we may settle this by just offering me a shooting session (you’ll be 13 and know more about rifles than I ever will) and in exchange we will make up a bread the night before for family. It’ll be 13 that week and a great young man but my point is that at some time in college he’ll have to feed himself and if he wants to impress a girl, Dee is just one old lady to ask how to do so. Flowers AND dinner? For The Right Girl that will be wonderful. Just wait 14 years after college graduation to marry. Promise?

***

We did not respect country music up north as teens, only cared about Rock ‘n Roll and then I liked a lot of new people, so learned to love folk and favorite artists like Dylan, Mason, Baez, Stones, Taylor, Zeppelin and many others. BC, Before Cash.

Years later I picked up a guitar (a good one) after my stint on a $99 nylon guitar that I actually used to start a band and sing on stage once, age 12. It was stolen a few years later. Thank you!!! Not a great idea as my 12 year-old pals were all tone deaf and I’d only been learning for a few weeks. Ouch. Let’s just say we didn’t win #1. We were #2. I won’t tell you the songs but still remember them many years later.

At 50, I took private lessons for a few months then we moved. I learned on Johnny Cash, PPM, CSNY and read lyrics and made up chords to what I could play. My tutor’s favorite was American Pie with only a few lyrics to see I could do it. Then I did a teeny riff at the end and my teacher actually awakened and looked surprised, as I’d never been assigned this song and learned it on my own.

Everything that the 50’s rocksters were, were distilled again and again until now. I know that BB King enjoyed working with artists from other styles as I first heard him from Farm Aid. I am sorry I never got to your music deeply. They didn’t play you on the radio, didn’t have your discs and I wasn’t cool enough to get to know the right people to find your music.

My tribute to BB King, much greater than two years ago at Thanksgiving, his restaurant in Memphis our first time there with great food, you allowed us to have our dog leashed to the patio, thanks so much for that! We went to see the Lorraine Motel but it was being restored at the time, on a trip south.

BB King made me wish. I have perfect pitch and never took up the guitar again until I turned fifty. I never took up the violin or piano again except a cheap keyboard to help me with guitar chords when I only have lyrics and fret with the frets and my stubby fingers.

At fifty my goal was to take up guitar to take “home” at holidays to sing with the kids and grandkids. With a household that swells to sixty and many talented young musicians on multiple instruments on holidays it pays me to keep my guitar hydrated at home as I’ve only the simple chords and no children to play music. BB King, so far I have failed you, I could never, ever be as good as you were but you inspired me to even make up from lyrics the chords to John Denver songs that are important to my husband, a country boy.

With much appreciation for your life and love it is that you took the time and energy to explore, with your musical expertise, multiple genres. Thank you for teaching me what I would wish my talent to encompass. You did it all, and for that the world, and I, thank you for your body of work. Many acuities went into your work, mental, physical, spiritual and sir, you will be missed. With love to family and friends, Dee

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Neil Young

Posted on April 13, 2015 | Leave a comment

I’m listening to him now. It’s just a dream is the tune and I must get back to it before This Old Guitar with Joni Mitchell.

When your spouse wants a gift you should know it. I would have had tickets to a concert last week if one beloved artist was in town at the same time as my husband was in town. He should know I am this old guitar. Neil Young played it with Joni Mitchell on Hank Williams’ old guitar. Oh, my. I may swoon with such talent.

What a history old rock has with country and folk. I learned to play guitar with mainly Johnny Cash, PPM and CSNY. Lyrics only except at lessons for a few months. I’ve always wanted to make things more difficult for myself by choosing my own chords and only having the lyrics but have made it easier via the country model of A,C, G and E. Of course I know B7 and some minor chords but the F’s and others are troublesome because I’ve small, stubby fingers and can’t reach across and hold all the strings down.

I do have a lot of sheet music, some from my Dad. Notebooks of lyrics and everything is now taped up in boxes, in storage. My keyboard is in storage. I do keep my new, smaller artisan folk guitar here to hydrate it every week.

The goal with my music is to be able to share at home with family. I never made a career of it. No, I don’t want to shred on a Strat except on Rock Band. Writing and music help make the long stretches of time my husband is away on business livable. Singing Leaving on a Jet Plane and doing my own harmony is how I get through long car trips to get to see family.

His gifts to me are my guitar and keyboard. I guess you could say that over eleven years ago he got me a dog but I worked that off in the first year with research and her surgeries. Oh, last week he got me a fish turner (I call it a Flipper and try to sing the song from the old tv show but don’t recall lyrics).

The fish flipper is an incredibly useful tool but I’ve never had one and it can be used for steaks or burgers….. He found me the only one on Amazon that’s left-handed! A friend’s spouse asked for a gift. I gave ideas. My husband and I do not give gifts on regular holidays, birthdays or anniversaries. We think of little things like learning to make real Texas Chili as a gift. It just doesn’t have a box or a ribbon.

Neil Young, thanks for being a rebel. As one of your CSNY cohorts would say, “Be Yourself.” And you always have been. Thank you for that. Hearing your voice today was a gift to me. Dee

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Hello Jeff Bonforte

Posted on October 6, 2014 | Leave a comment

I’ve been on hold another hour, that makes 39. I’ve noticed that right before you cut off the phone and muzak you play Wylie Gustafson’s yahoooooooooooo yodel. I know Wylie and have asked him to sue you again for using his yodel right before you piss off a customer and cut off the call before ever accessing a human being. Hopefully he’ll have more success than I have had so far.

As for customer service, you say at the outset that I may be cut off and no-one may ever answer. I’ve my old iPhone hooked up to power and have the volume up so I’m awaiting the yahoooooooooooooo and hang up. Going on 40 hours now. Time to get a lawyer and sue your a**es. Dee

ps you can use the same prefix but I’m at gmail right now and prefer my paid yahoo pop.mail account I pay for.

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Wylie

Posted on October 5, 2014 | 2 comments

Yes, you know the Yahoo-oo-oo yodel so famous for Yahoo. Well they tried not to pay dear Wylie Gustafson for that yodel and he sued them and got $1 million.

They’ve locked me out of my free and paid accounts. I’ve spent over 30 hours getting them to talk to me and before someone answers the phone they play Wylie’s “Yahoo” then cut off the phone.

I think he should sue them for using his voice because they use it right before they cut off a customer after 1 hour on hold on the phone. They have one phone number. None of the execs have phone numbers and I’ve been cut off from my yahoo mail and pop.mail for weeks.

I had to create a new account with another service just to email them, but they never answer. How can one call this customer service? What’s interesting is that my husband is on yahoo with a different email address but the same pop.mail paid account and he’s just fine.

Yahoo, Ms. President, please listen to your customers and provide customer service. No-one should have to spend 36 hours online and on the phone to get access to an account. That’s fraud, pure and simple and unless you fix this I’ll report you to the feds. We pay for pop.mail and deserve to receive it. Cheers, Dee

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A Song

Posted on September 24, 2014 | 3 comments

It’s tough to be away from each other for months. We get five minutes on the phone in the morning and ten in the evening simply because the hours are so different. My email is down so we had to get another service to get the first one to figure out the problem and it’s taken 12 hours on the phone. No results.

I had to join Gmail to get Yahoo to talk to me about the problem. Yahoo has a robot answer the phone and say there is a high call volume and if you’re disconnected call back. Five minutes of canned music and they disconnect. So I’ve spent the day on the phone and AT&T has been great but can’t do anything to even get tech support as the partner of Yahoo they only have access to the one Yahoo phone number that disconnects customers after waiting in line. In the end I’m going to end up with four internet services. That’s like having four electricians, four plumbers and in the end, four husbands. I think the latter is illegal.

My husband couldn’t even untangle this debacle last night and he’s a pro. ATT and Yahoo have merged services but they apparently don’t talk to each other. Hours online and on the phone and nothing has been resolved.

I do not have access to the pop mail or Yahoo mail I’ve had for years, my husband is on the same pop mail account and his is fine. He’s far away and I need my email pop account reactivated because being away is one thing, being unable to send information my husband needs is another. Was I hacked?

With the limited time we spend on the phone I wanted to sing him a song when he calls later tonight. It’s about love and commitment and I even took out the guitar and looked up the lyrics. I’ve played it badly twice and my fingers already hurt, lack of practice. Sorry PDX! Wish us well, as I do you, Dee

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Lessons

Posted on September 23, 2014 | 1 comment

Over my storied life, I have learned much from my family, school and music teachers, my husband and his family, my work at several venues and of course my dear professors.

There is nothing as educational or wisdom-producing as having responsibility for a life. No, we don’t have children, not our blessing. But I’ve been responsible for the lives of two cats and two dogs in my life over the years.

It’s like being a parent, you watch what goes in and what comes out. Sneezes as a little one and bumps as they age. You choose to adopt and take on a life and at the end, help ease them out of it.

Being responsible for a life teaches care above oneself, humility, joy, and as our Zoe would say ROUTINE. You have to go to the vet for shots, surgeries, even a first senior blood panel and keep your dog quarantined anywhere in the US under the British travel scheme permanently in case you’re sent overseas.

My first dog and cats passed after many happy years over 13 years ago. Now I’ve one old dog, nearly eleven years who we’ve had from six weeks of age. Five walks per day, perhaps six. Creating an indestructible toy. Baths and brushing and her herding us. Deciding to have her hips removed as a pup as she had severe hip dysplasia and going through two recoveries. Oh, she walks just fine and can run fast and corner because she had to grow her own hips from cartilage.

She doesn’t usually bark or whine, just stares until we do what she wants. If she’s over 70 in “dog years” perhaps that is what I should start to do. Just stare at my husband until he does what I want. Ah, well, it doesn’t work with people unless you want a horrible relationship. It does work for a herder, however. Patience is another virtue while caring for another life. It’s 5:00, time for dinner. It’s 5:02, you’re late. Get into the magic room and make my dinner, I don’t care if you’re writing about me on the blog. OK, I’m full, now I need to go for a walk. Stare.

She says “I killed a mouse today. I ate an old dead bird off the pavement and am going to vomit 48 hours later, in a safe place, your bed. Seven loads of laundry later you’ll still love me.” And we do.

Education is key. My first dog was abused for a year then in a shelter for the next. I was a volunteer and met her the first week and we were buddies but she was terrified of men, especially those in uniform, and kids. Even at this no-kill shelter there was word of another meeting to decide her fate. She was home with me the next morning. All it took was a home, love, care and training and she was the best rehabilitated dog in the world. Everyone loved her, and the kids would call out her name from the tot lot and run up to pet her and she adored them.

Did I hear the word sacrifice? No. It’s joy. For many years I was alone, not just single, alone. These were my companions and still are. Our dog Zoe follows me everywhere to make sure her pack is intact, especially as my husband has been off on a work assignment. Trust and loyalty are traits I admire from both me and Zoe. And my old dog’s ashes are in a teddy bear’s heart I move everywhere.

I do not hunt squirrels, however. Don’t worry, she’s on a 6′ leash and couldn’t get them even if she was off it, my dear hip-less wonderdog. Or bunnies. She doesn’t understand why they stay still until she’s 10′ away so they’re just interesting, not prey until they bolt. One thing is that I learn something new every day and that has always been my goal in life in all arenas. Cheers, Dee

 

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With Your Hand

Posted on September 22, 2014 | 1 comment

“I’ll walk in the rain by your side, I’ll cling to the warmth of your hand. I’ll do anything to help you understand I love you more than anybody can…”

Your hand took mine out of a lovely silver car 13 years ago. The song is by Peter, Paul and Mary of course. You never let go. We never let go.

Dearest husband and Zoe’s “dogfather,” we love you and hope to see you again soon. Dee

 

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Renewal

Posted on September 10, 2014 | 2 comments

I’ve not worn a skirt for a while but would like to do so a bit after our 12th wedding anniversary. I think I’ve got the skirt and will get a spare, know I have the blouse. The spring cowgirl hat is in the closet. All I need is for someone to make me some real boots that will last a lifetime.

All the songs are down. Country most of the way, laid back, casual. We’ll work it out. My husband knew my plan right away. I want Nanny and my father to be there because we eloped nearly 12 years ago. Of course his parents and family.

I’m hoping for a very short ceremony, outdoors, with music and favorite foods. Nanny is the grandmother of the groom (adopted the bride) and would be escorted by S and a great grand, Jim’s parents walk him in, my father walks me in. I’d love to do it all country with a Ferragamo scarf. I digress.

Then we get M and others’ great food and iced tea. No drinking or dancing allowed but we’ll have music and good food. I know who we’ll get to stand up for us. It could be fun! Of course we’ll hear some Jerry Jeff Walker, Johnny Cash, Juni Fisher, CSNY, PPM, and of course Dylan and Baez, sadly none present. This event should have happened on our 10th, but this is my wish. Dee

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You did OK

Posted on September 7, 2014 | Leave a comment

That’s one phrase I always wanted to hear, from any of my childhood or adult pursuits. Dad was wishing it but never there. Mom never thought to think or say it.

I put my handprint in clay! I got 100+ (why didn’t you get 100 ++)! I turned to teachers, aunts of course, friends and their families. In college there were priests (never a wayward moment for them), for education and trying to learn enough to make a difference.

Then business. The awful things people say about priests today I never knew until I met legislators after college. It was all I could do to keep my skirt down in an elevator, but I did do so. Wearing opaque tights helped my defense.

Still, no-one ever said, you did OK. Now I have three-day Thanksgiving cook-fests and sometimes my mother-in-law and I rarely speak, just dance around in time making our dishes. She’s OK, and I know she knows I’m OK because she lets me use the oven. No, really she accepted me as her daughter-in-law and that’s OK for me. Did I say three days? I mean it. And this is Texas the land of sweet tea and many desserts.

And the day after I met my father-in-law for the first time he took my husband out of the truck and said “When are you gonna ask her, son? It’s OK with me.” His mother took four more days to say OK but we cook every year even though she moves the kitchen stuff around on me and I have to break the dance and ask where’s the peeler?

There’s nothing like family. Mom’s gone now. Dad’s still never around and we’ve not seen him in two years. Sisters, one may be trying for a reunion after six years.

I was a coach and a consultant and volunteer and the first thing I did was train then reward with compliments. I’m an “Atta Girl” gal and look to reward whenever I can. Corrections are necessary but need not be harsh, only fair and unemotional, on point. With extra training and more compliments.

Atta girls and guys, right here. Keep cooking and make your family proud. Dee

 

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Zoe’s Friends

Posted on July 31, 2014 | Leave a comment

Today was interesting. I’ve been having some health problems so am supposed to not even be sitting here, much less what I did today. Sorry, nurse M. I’m trying!

I promised to bring a dessert to a party for all the residents. Apparently it disappeared quickly and I’ll have to go get my trifle bowl. It was not my usual trifle which is lemon pound cake, a whipped cream and lemon curd middle with much mixed seasonal fruit.

Today it was a key lime pound cake not baked by me, the innards  of whipped cream and lemon curd, and cantaloupe and blueberries. I got to taste a teaspoon of it. It’s good but not my best.

As Nurse M told me to keep off my feet I did go to the store and make the trifle and when I delivered it our trusty party planner needed a bit of help so I spent a couple of hours on yeomans’ duty. She made me sit while slicing all the rolls.

The singer had arrived and we’d met. He was setting up and gave me a pick. All I try to do right now is keep my guitar hydrated.

I left, fed Zoe and took her out and went downstairs to the party. I usually don’t go to parties by myself but did and it was very interesting. People I don’t even know introduced themselves and said “You’re Zoe’s Mom.” Everyone. We go for walks and no-one says hello to me, they just say hi to Zoe and I don’t mind. I think she’s kind of special as well.

In the end I got advice on a spouse being away from home for a while, met several interesting folks, and may be one of two chaperones for a new love match. Tune in to see what happens. The other chaperone was Mama and she approves the match.

So, the musician gave me a pick to try. While I got ready I opened my guitar case and found Woodstock picks from Ernie Ball and slipped one into his hand. After the concert he told me he’d put it up on his wall. Ernie Ball created the infamous slinky string that key rock & rollers use to this day. I know his son, was his neighbor.

He gave me a gift and I gave one back. Plus, he wanted to thank me without mentioning my name and played Amie, a Pure Prairie League stalwart. It’s one of my favorite songs as in college they’d sing “Hey, Dee.” No, I didn’t ask him to play anything. It was just that kind of day. High fives and a bit of magic.

Ok nurse, I’m putting my feet up. Cheers from Zoe’s Mom.

 

 

 

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