Author Connection Series

#30 Day Album Challenge

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https://sandmanjazz.wordpress.com/2020/09/23/30-day-doctor-album-challenge-day-23/

Marvin Gaye, I feel has a voice that appeals to the masses. He encouraged us to not be complacent. “Gaye returned to Hitsville U.S.A., when he recorded “What’s Going On“, inspired by an idea from Renaldo “Obie” Benson of the Four Tops after he witnessed an act of police brutality at an anti-war rally in Berkeley. Upon hearing the song, Berry Gordy refused its release due to his feelings of the song being “too political” for radio. Gaye responded by going on strike from recording until the label released the song. ” NPR has a different spin on the story about a Vietnam soldier returning home and everything is different.

Unfortunately, it sounds so familiar because police brutality still exists. And soldiers are coming back questioning why they put their lives on the line. (links are below)

What’s Going On

Marvin Gaye

Mother, mother
There’s too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today, eh, eh

Father, father
We don’t need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today,

oh oh oh

Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what’s going on
What’s going on
Yeah, what’s going on
Ah, what’s going on

In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on brother
Right on babe

Mother, mother, everybody thinks we’re wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply ’cause our hair is long
Oh, you know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Oh oh oh

Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
C’mon talk to me
So you can see
What’s going on
Yeah, what’s going on
Tell me what’s going on
I’ll tell you what’s going on, ooh ooh ooh ooh
Right on baby
Right on baby

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Alfred W Cleveland / Marvin P Gaye / Renaldo Benson

What’s Going On lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Interesting read.

https://www.npr.org/2000/08/07/1080444/npr-100-whats-going-on

Marvin never had the opportunity to fulfill his potential because he was killed by his own father in an argument.

Many institutions have posthumously bestowed Gaye with awards and other honors including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and inductions into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye

One-Liner Wednesday – A backhanded compliment?

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This post was written in response to today’s One Liner Wednesday challenge from Linda G. Hill. The challenge, as the name implies is to come with a one-liner. Please click on the link to know more about the rules of this challenge and/or to read the other entries by my fellow bloggers.

One-Liner Wednesday – A backhanded compliment?

I got this. 🙂

“Your face is just fine but you’ll have to put a bag over that personality.”

” You look like something I drew with my left hand.”

# 30 Day Album Challenge

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https://sandmanjazz.wordpress.com/2020/09/22/30-day-album-challenge-day-22/

Album with a really cool sleeve… hmmm I’m going with Johnny Cash, ‘American IV: The Man Comes Around’ (2002). The album cover was all black which was so perfect for the man in black. Sadly, it was the last album he released before he died.

The cover was a perfect tribute to a great man.

I remember reading it’s the perfect way for the Man in Black to fade to black.

My favorite song on this album is Hurt…Johnny did a cover of the song by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. They’re both good but I do prefer Johnny’s version because it sounds more poignant to me than Trent Reznor’s version.

I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that’s real

The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything

What have I become
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end

And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar’s chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair

Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here

What have I become
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end

And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurtI

f I could start again
A million miles away
I will keep myself
I would find a way

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Trent Reznor

Hurt lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

This song has inspired some interesting writing for me. I’ve hurt myself too, to see if I still feel pain. There are times, I feel so numb I’m not sure I do feel anything.

#FOWC

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https://fivedotoh.com/category/one-word-challenge/

Deviate depart from an established course. As an adjective departing from usual or accepted standards; deviant.

Inspiration be damned, I’m looking for a new muse! One that doesn’t deviate from writing.

My
Muse Is
Refusing
Inspiration
She seeks to flatter
Herself with flashy gems
and men decked out to the nines
smothering her with opinions
Oh, their inflated egos gag me
quick my dear muse, deviate while we can

The poetry form, Etheree, consists of 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables

10 lines 40 w/c

Halloween lights are up around the window giving the cobwebs an eerie glow. No village on the landing because I’m worried about it being bumped by accident shuffling things down to the garage for the moving sale. The other thing is they’re securely wrapped already, not in the mood to add more work. The village in the dining room was up, I only changed the lighting color, picked up the snow blanket, laid down the moss and got out the pumpkins and witches. My witches in front of the fireplace weren’t boxed so they’re in need of boxes after Halloween. Just in case you’re wondering Halloween is 39 days away.

“Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg, and owlet’s wing,—
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.”
― William Shakespeare

Moving:

On a positive note for getting things done for our move, I packed up 12 huge boxes, 6 for each granddaughter in Maine. Bedding, dishes and cookware that I’m sure they’ll be able to use. We’ve decided to deliver them personally. So we’re doing a quick road trip and going to see my son John while we’re there. I’m looking forward to seeing them all. I haven’t seen Mik in two and a half years, Cait in a year and quarter, and John in 10 months.

#30 Day Challenge

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https://sandmanjazz.wordpress.com/2020/09/21/30-day-album-challenge-day-21/

A favorite soundtrack oddly enough is still Dirty Dancing. The music is fun to listen too. But there are other reasons as well.

When the movie came out my daughter, Amanda and her friend Holly loved this movie. We watched it over and over, We giggled as we tried dancing like they did. I play the album from time to time and dance in the living room just like we did all those years ago. Sometimes, we need music that makes us smile.

#FOWC

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FOWC with Fandango — Doleful

Doleful as an adjective is expressing sorrow; mournful.

I’ve chosen a poem I wrote about my grandson. We raise our children to believe they can do anything but sometimes that fearlessness goes to far. Johnny had ridden a dirt bike for years but like all boys wanted a bigger and faster bike. He worked hard and saved for the bike. 24 hours after he purchased it, that bike killed him.

I’m still in mourning. We’re all still in mourning. I think we’ll always be.

John

antics of a boy
invincible illusions
echo silently
reverberations define
self-inflicted martyrdom

It doesn’t get any easier without you. I was standing in the kitchen looking at the school pictures on the book case and began crying. There won’t be a new school picture but then I realized with the distance learning I probably want be changing any school pictures. I cried even harder. Everything Gram’s always taken for granted is changed. The biggest change of all is you’re not here.

Your friends are struggling with the distance learning, no football games as of yet. I would give anything to hear you bitching about all the stuff happening right now.

Your chimes were active this morning… the wind was coming from the northeast. Just like where you used to be from Grandma.

Your sisters both have their own places now. I’m putting stuff together for them both. Grandma won’t need all of this stuff once she moves. It’s time to downsize. Or as your Dad would crap… crap.. Grandma has too much crap.

We love you. We miss you so much. ❤

#laughing along with a limerick

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Esther’s word today is knit.

https://esthernewtonblog.wordpress.com/2020/09/21/laughing-along-with-a-limerick-24/

that human threw a horrendous fit
it takes patience to learn how to knit
our skill evolves with time
unlike a spinning dime
our project increases with each sit

I’ve tried several times to learn how to knit. She said,” it’s so easy.” Yup, I dropped more stitches and had more tangled messes. My project became a Christmas tree decoration. I left the needles with what I had done then cut the yarn and crocheted the socks instead.

Second attempt was a scarf, with her famous words it’s so easy. Another uneven mess and constantly picking up stitches. I gave her my needles and the yarn. I made her a crocheted hat and she finished my scarf.

I’ll stick to crocheting. That I can do. 🙂

#SLS Canadian Music

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https://jimadamsauthordotcom.wordpress.com/2020/09/19/o-canada/

Woohoo, this prompt gives me the opportunity to share Leonard Cohen. Thank you Jim.

Cohen shared a common passion with me, we love writing poetry. The Spice-Box of Earth helped expand the audience for Cohen’s poetry, helping him reach out to the poetry scene in Canada, outside the confines of McGill University. The book also helped Cohen gain critical recognition as an important new voice in Canadian poetry.

His styles vary so much in his poetry.

Waiting for Marianne from “Flowers for Hitler”

I have lost a telephone
with your smell in it
I am living beside the radio
all the stations at once
but I pick out a Polish lullaby
I pick it out of the static
it fades I wait I keep the beat
it comes back almost alseep

Did you take the telephone
knowing I’d sniff it immoderately
maybe heat up the plastic
to get all the crumbs of your breath

and if you won’t come back
how will you phone to say
you won’t come back
so that I could at least argue

Silence

and a deeper silence

when the crickets

hesitate

“Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.”—Leonard Cohen.

“Judy Collins recalls that when she first met him, he said he couldn’t sing or play the guitar, nor did he think “Suzanne” was even a song:

And then he played me “Suzanne”  … I said, “Leonard, you must come with me to this big fundraiser I’m doing” … Jimi Hendrix was on it. He’d never sung [in front of a large audience] before then. He got out on stage and started singing. Everybody was going crazy—they loved it. And he stopped about halfway through and walked off the stage. Everybody went nuts. … They demanded that he come back. And I demanded; I said, “I’ll go out with you.” So we went out, and we sang it. And of course, that was the beginning of an incredible musical career.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Cohen

I cried when I heard Leonard passed. I have every album he made and his poetry books.

#30 Day Album Challenge

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https://sandmanjazz.wordpress.com/2020/09/19/30-day-album-challenge-day-19/

Underappreciated album for me really made me think about this a good share of today, I finally decided on Bon Jovi’s 7800 Degrees Fahrenheit. iI’s full of cathartic songs that came from the soul ,and not shooting from the groin.  Unfortunately, the album release happened at a very difficult time in the group’s career. In and Out of Love is the only song that seemed to have faired the best on the album.

Bon Jovi is an American rock band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey.” Bon Jovi has released 14 studio albums, five compilations and three live albums. They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling American rock bands,”~ Wikipeida.

“John Francis Bongiovi Jr. (born March 2, 1962), known professionally as Jon Bon Jovi, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, and actor.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Bon_Jovi

I didn’t release until this evening he lived as a child 39 minutes from where I’m living here in Jersey.

#SOC -tion

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The wait is over!! Time once again for SoCS where the lovely Linda writes and I re-write “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “-tion.” Find a word that ends with “tion.” Bonus points if you start your post with it. Have fun!” Yeah Buddy. Bo- to the -nus. Or just BONUS!! 🙂 To join in the fun and frolic  rules and ping back.

Fruition.. today’s goal is fruition. Enough, stalling is over. The goal is to organize the garage today so we can get what needs to go up for sale is set up in the garage. Our car is going to sit outside in the driveway for a bit.

Anticipation for me anyway: Exciting news Mik and Eddie finally have their own place so now I can mail packages. I didn’t want to send anything to her mothers. I have stacks upstairs for both granddaughters to mail since both girls now have their own place. It’s been long over due that Gramma thin out all this stuff.

Cooperation, I’m very thankful for a good friend who’s helping me with all the heavy crap today while Vic is out with a perspective insurance client. Yes, he’s masked and taking precautions.

I didn’t want to miss another Saturday stream of consciousness so I’m rushing a bit so I can get dressed and get this revolution going or should I say major re-construction project underway.

Satisfaction , Ruth Bader Ginsburg, served women well. And I want/need to take a moment to recognize her for everything she has done. Ginsburg’s death represents another loss from the ranks of people who have made “serious law and order a mission of their lives. I feel such a deep loss. It know it was a lot to put on a woman of her age to keep us safe and functioning as a constitutional democracy. But she understood our trust in her and took it in stride. Already, male idiots are touting the overturn of Roe vs. Wade. WTF?????

I know when they initially weren’t sure if the cancer growth was in pancreas I immediately thought of Ginsburg’s battle. She definitely gave cancer a run for its money. She was my hero.

I’m grateful that my growth was removable. I’m staying positive that the doctor got it all and I can move forward. But if isn’t than I’m going to fight as strongly as she did.

In the past I’ve mentioned Eleanor Roosevelt was my inspiration. I should have added Ruth Ginsburg as well. She never stopped fighting to the end.

Hopefully, her wishes will be honored that her position will remain vacant until we have new leadership. Women, this isn’t fiction, everything women have struggled to gain is at risk. Our votes matter. Biden/Harris are the only solution to stopping this dictator.

I’m done with hearing millennials pointing fingers saying it’s our mess. Well guess what the future is also going to be your nightmare. I know my generation has made a lot of mistakes, but I also know you’ll be making them too.

Do I like Biden, no I don’t. But I do like Harris. I’m also realistic enough to know that after the Hilary nightmare we won’t have a woman leader for many ions so I’m practical enough to push for having a woman Vice-President.

So vote or you’re one of the pussy grabbing silent supporters. If he’s re-elected than what happens is on you not me because I didn’t blow this situation off.

If you’re supportive of this adminstration count your blessings because they’re not going to last because change will occur if not this election the next one. In the meantime, well I said my peace… and change doesn’t frighten me… but will you handle it as well. They don’t call me the iron woman for nothing and it’s more than just my battles with cancer.