In my head today - silence

I started this post at 7:13 pm. Hm... that's my birthday. 7/13. Nice synchronicity there.
Oh! Now I have a video to add:




I am in a place that only strikes when I'm truly stressed. There is no music in my head (except for some gawdawful deedle-dee from an ice cream truck). So here I am wanting to write, and this is my little blog, and I've got no music in my head.

But, having put the Police in above, now I'm on a roll. I'm here in my little hometown. I don't visit often - I don't really like the place all that much. I've got one old friend here, a few newer friends, and there are the beaches (which are stunning). Other than that, I've got no use for this place. But I'm here in my mother's apartment, which is high on a hill and faces my high school. It's been a loooooong time since I was there, and yet even as recently at last night it haunted my dreams.

So here is another very specific video from my high school days. I believe this was the theme of my Junior Prom:



Okay, now this is fun! Let's do another....



So here I am, with open arms.... excuse me while I verp a little. Sorry Journey - great, great song. Too many memories.

So we have musical memories, we have me in my mother's apartment, and I'm looking at my high school. I'm packing up my mother's things, preparing to leave this place for good as we move her 200 miles away so she's closer to her kids. So in theory, I won't need to come back. But perhaps I will anyway. This week I am alone in the house, save three very sweet kitties wondering what the hell is going on. Three days in, they finally gave up and decided that, since I was feeding them and all, I guess I'm sorta all right.

It is a sad time. Still watching my mother slip away into the Alzheimer's fog. It's been a bad couple of weeks - but as bad as it is for me and my family, I know it is much, much worse for her. Not much of a consolation, but it does help me show compassion and kindness.

So here is one just for my mama:



Kiri Te Kanawa is an amazing woman, someone that my mother loves. My mother herself is a fantastic soprano, even well into her senior years. If I had a video of her, I'd add it here. But her voice is merely a memory in my head, her music in my heart.

In my head today: Storm Large - Great Day

Being from Portland, we actually have a wealth of talent. Folks talk about Everclear and of course the Dandy Warhols. But my favorite is Storm Large. There is not a better role model for women than Storm. She has risen from the ashes of a pretty shitty life and allowed herself to be who she is. And who she is is a POWERFUL force. Obviously beautiful physically, but - more importantly, IMHO - beautiful of soul as well. Her talent is mind-boggling, and thoroughly unique. I can't tell you, "oh she's like...." because truly there is no one like her! Watch this sample. Let me know if you agree.

There are many many videos available. I have chosen "Great Day" because it just makes me so damned happy everytime I hear it. It is.... driven. There is an underlying intensity, like she is willing the day to be great, through the shit, simply through her own power. Sometimes the day just needs a little nudge, you know? The storyline is just hysterical. I even modeled one of my audition monologues after the final character in the song.

Also, awesome bass line.