Listening to Now: Ian and Sylvia, Southern Comfort

Not sure why, but I found myself internally singing this over the past several days.  It's from one of my 60's favorite albums: Ian and Sylviai, Nashville

Note the complex suite-like structure.

Happy Birthday My Precious Kate

When You're 64.

Bruno Mars?

I don't get it.  250 million views.

'

History Notes. The 5 Republics of France

(The first in perhaps a series of notes. )

The 5 Republics of France

First Republic 

1792 - 1805. Began with THE French Revolution (of which there were actually 3)
Ended when Napoleon declared himself Emperor.
Markers: the Tennis court Convention; the Terror; and Robespierre

Napoleon (1769 - 1821)

Robespierre (1758-1794)

Second Republic
1848 - 1851
Began with the 1848 Revolution
Ended with Napoleon III declared himself Emperor
Markers: emergence of the moto Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité

Napoleon III (1808 - 1873)

Third Republic
1870 - 1940
Began with the fall of the Emporer after being defeated in the Franco-Prussian War
Ended with the defeat of France by German and establishement of Vichy France
Markers: the Paris Commune

Fourth Republic1946 - 1959

Began with liberation of France after WWII

Collapsed as a result of the Algiers crisis

Markers: Charles DeGaulle

Fifth Republic
1958 - present
Began with new constitution, formally ratified in 1958
Markers: strong president serving 7 year terms

Gobble Gobble Hey

\

Fun site

This is here just to preserve the link:

Theuseless web.com

Be sure to listen with the sound on.

Hey, FrenchKate!

Notre Dame, 1842

And, who's that at the top?  (Hint: Is that a ruler in his hand?)

 Feel free to borrow these.

Listening to Now: Billy Bragg

Always loved this song...the raw guitar behind a strident protest song:

Listening to now: Walking Blues

THE classic blues song

Of course Clapton covered it!

A technical introduction:

And Muddy Waters:

And a horrible cover by the Grateful Dead:

Listening to Now: Chicago blues

One of the music blogs I follow posted this picture.  It was too special not to pass on.

So here's Muddy Waters performing a song entitled "Country Blues"

Which, curiously, is a variation on a much earlier song by Son House entitled variously "Death Letter" or "Walking Blues":

And to round things out, here's Howlin Wolf performing a classic Chicago song: "The Killing Floor".  (The killing floor was the slaughter house in the Chicago stockyards).

Listening to Now: Tom Waits, Chocolate Jesus

"A song for those of you having trouble getting up on Sunday morning and going to church."

Walking (and learning)

I found an excellent iPhone pedometer app (Pedometer Ultimate GPS+).  The screen captures may not be entirely readable, but the  app records paces, distance, time, and the route.  Data is also recorded on the iPhone, with numeric and graphic summaries.

After about six weeks of daily walks (with only 2 non-walking days) , I have some pretty solid averages:
2.1 miles per day,
1930 paces/mile,
2.7 mph.

The learning part:  John Merriman's lectures on Modern European History, available from Open Yale.  The lectures are not systematic -- more like illustrations of the textbook - but extremely engaging nevertheless.  I'm just about finished with it set, and have several other options queued up.

Listening to Now: Dizzy Gillispe and Charle Parker

This is where 'my' jazz began:

It's relatively short -- about 3 1/2 minutes -- and was done for live tv, but is uncompromised bebop.

(Tip of the hat to a political blog: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/index.php)

Listening to new: the Hollies

Damn you COG!

...and then

Here'some ear wash- - the group we almost saw...

Listening to Now: Just One Look

For COG

Listening to Now: Umphrey's McGee (again)

Be patient with the opening vocals.  Wait for Jake's solo, around @ around the 3:20 point.  And be sure to catch the signals between Jake (the guitar player) and Ryan (the bassist) at the start.

Listening to Now: Fiddle Music?

Not really.  One of the jam bands I listen to while grading (String Cheese Incident) covered this.  They did a very respectable version,  but here's a more authentic one...and a glimpse into television's past:

Here's a String Cheese version, not the one I have on CD however:

Listening to Now: Jim Black

Maybe this will re-awaken the blog:

Friday nights line-up

May do a bit of bar hopping on Friday night (20 July).

First, Matt Turner at the Blackdog

And after at the AQ...

Jazz guitar players I'm listening to now

Jesse Van Ruller  (yes, he's Dutch).

Allan Holdsworth. The drummer (Chad Wackerman) is a Frank Zappa alumnus. Notice the guitar with the tuning knobs at the base and the 6 string bass.  This really 'cooks'.

Garaj Mahal (they called themselves a jam band ?!)

Doc Watson - RIP

Died at age 87 yesterday.  An historic flat pick guitar player.  Notice: flat pick.  Extraordinary.

45 Days

Kate's commitment to biking 30 days needed a response.  So several days later, I decided to take a walk every day for 30 days.

Today was day 45.

I fudged a few days and took very short walks, and missed one.  I also counted 1 and 1/2 hours of yard work as the equivalent of a walk. 

45 days and counting.

Here's the classic version of Walking Blues.  Son House, recorded it number of times.  There are an endless number of subsequent variations and recordings.  A partial list: Cee Lo Green, Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Colin James, Paul Butterfield, Johnny Cash, Hot Tuna, The Grateful Dead, Rory Gallagher, R.L. Burnside, Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones, Ash Grunwald, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Roy Rogers.  The Beatles song 'Matchbox' is based on it as well, and variations of this type are equally endless.

This also includes an introduction by Alan Lomax.

Most recorded musician in history?

Hal Blaine

He played on more records, more number one songs, more top 10 hits, and recorded with most musicians, of anyone, ever:

Played on 6 consecutive Grammy Records of the Year

His name is on 35,000 pages of sheet music and fake books and club walls.

 He plays drums.

Kitchen Remodeling. Almost finished

Some imperfect photo's, but they should give a sense of where we are.

I'll try to post some better shots in the next few days.

The kitchen was more than adequate to prepare a big meal for the family (both sides) on Easter Easter.  Dinner for 14.  This is the day after.

Listening to Now. Frank Zappa

Mostly for Rob E.

Note: this is Dweezil, not his father.

Evidently...It is written in common time with extensive use of tuplets, including tuplets inside tuplets. At several points there is a quarter note triplet in which each beat is counted with its own tuplet of 5, 5 and 6; at another is a half note triplet in which the second beat is a tuplet of 7, and the third beat is divided into tuplets of 4 and 5. The song ends with a quarter note triplet composed of tuplets of 5, 5, and 6, followed by two tuplets of 11.

Kitchen Remodeling, March 14, middle of the 5th week

It's beginning to look like a kitchen.  Since the last post: backsplash, upper corner cabinet, and the tile.

Next: paneling on the window wall and window trim, and painting of walls (not shown).  Also, final electrical and plumbing.

Appliances arrive on Monday (this snap was taken on Wednesday). The floor will remain covered until the end.

Kitchen Remodeling, Day 48 (or something close)

The soapstone counter-tops were installed on Friday.  We also did a partial mock-up of the tiles. What you see are mostly paper copies.  The cabinet on the left is unfinished.

The faucets on the big sink are also visible.  We didn't like the faucets for the small sink, so are exchanging them for something smaller

Next: walls will be painted, and the backsplash will be installed.

Listening to Now. Tirtha

On Friday night, Kate, Tim and I went to see Tirtha at the Walker.

He a clip of them playing their 'hit single'.

Kitchen Remodeling, Day 43 (or thereabout)

Lots of activity last week, and probably the worst thus far for dust and noise.

Most of the cabinets were installed early in the week, and trim around the doors came after that.  The trim is mostly new wood, and sanding and fitting it was the source of most of the commotion.  It will continue through tomorrow or Tuesday.

To help limit dust migration, plastic and canvas barriers were put up, which made it hard to take pictures.  Also, daily clean-up was difficult, with lots of lumber partially sanded and cut,  or partially in place -- and thus inefficient to move each night.

But here's some samples.  Note the cabinets and open shevling, and the plate rail (especially the great colors).  You can also see the island in the middle of the room, though it is covered with stuff.

Big changes next coming week.  Trim will be stained, walls painted, and counter-tops installed.

Kitchen Remodeling, Day 36

The oak flooring was installed yesterday, and will be sanded and primed in the next two days.  The walls were primed several days before.

Yet another transformation of the space.

Kitchen Remodeling, Overall Schedule

We're probably a little ahead of schedule. Crew was able to finish early on several days thus far.


√  Jan 23     Demo and frame
√  Jan 30     Frame and mechanicals (Plumbing, Electric, HVAC)
√  Feb 6      Drywall, wood ceiling, and built-in sofa
√  Feb 13     Tape and prime
   Feb 20     Floors
   Feb 27     Cabinets and trim
   Mar 5      Trim, stain, paint
   Mar 12     Counter tops, faucets, outlets/switches/lights
   Mar 19     Appliances, final floor

Kitchen Remodeling, Middle of week 4

No big changes: taping and mudding of sheet rock and other seams.  But look closely for a glimpse of the built-in sofa, which was installed yesterday and then quickly covered to protect it.

Kitchen Remodeling, More Days

End of week 3.  Sheet rock is up and space takes form.

No narration this time.  Sorry, but this doesn't quite do it.  More to come.

For Valentines Day

Listening to Now. Take Five

Kate's favorite jazz piece...

Kitchen Remodeling, Days 1 - 14. Video recap

The first two weeks ended on Friday (3 Feb.).  Coincidently, this also marked the completion of all the structural carpentry.  Next is electrical installation, then inspection, after which the sheet rock goes up.  All that should happen in the next week.

The video is rather long (about 5 mintues), and the quality was reduced by blogspot compression, but it should serve...

Kitchen Remodeling, Days 10 & 11

I overlooked taking pictures after the work on Days 10 and Day 11 (Monday, Jan 30 and Tuesday, Jan. 31).  So below is the state after two more days of work.

Not much visible.  Tuesday morning was actually spent with the architect, the cabinet maker, and the contractor making detailed design decisions.

But if you're looking carefully, you'll see new framing to lower the ceiling the back hall, some vent plumbing for the utility sink, and a new opening to the back hall.

And the tile arrived! More on that tomorrow.

A Milestone. 100 posts...

Kitchen Remodeling, Days 6 & 7. (End of week 1)

End of week 1.  A bit hard to see, but the wing walls were framed in on Friday, including lowering of the ceiling.  The ceiling was also lowered in the pantry/basement door area, and part of the closet was framed.

Very good progress in week 1!

Listening to Now. Robert Johnson, Come on in my kitchen

Has to be included!

Listening to Now. If I had my way, I'd tear that kitchen wall down

Well, almost...

Blind Willie Jefferson

Kitchen Remodeling, Day 5

Mostly a day of moving things out of the way.  Some floor removed, and headers added to accommodate the range vent and lighting over the sink.  See the PVC line?  Not quite sure why that's there.

Kitchen Remodeling, Day 4

Nothing too visually dramatic.  Carpet is removed, some walls opened, lumber moved in and some things moved out.  Bench taken out of back hall.

How could I overlook this...

The lyrics...

it was cold in the kitchen and the lights were low
as winter slowly stumbled home
the air felt different and it started to show
as every breath resembled smoke
i was short on opinions and i wanted to know
if you'd still be here tomorrow
'cuz it was cold in the kitchen and the lights were low
as winter wrapped around Chicago

(chorus)
the T.V.'s on too much
and I don't ever think enough
about the things that matter most
and what could make me old

and there's no argument
for wasting time much better spent
complacently replacing a melody with smoke

i won't expect a smile when i get home
the blankets that i stole should keep me warm
i hope there's not enough to fill the void
i'm futher from the source to feel (the floor?)

it was cold in the kitchen and the lights were low
as winter slowly stumbled home
the air felt different and it started to show
as every breath resembled smoke
i was short of opinions and i wanted to know
if you'd still be here tomorrow
'cuz it was cold in the kitchen and the lights were low
as winter wrapped around Chicago

Listening to Now. More songs about houses

By 'Madness'.  1992

The lyrics...

Father wears his Sunday best
Mother's tired she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sister's sighing in her sleep
Brother's got a date to keep
He can't hang around

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our

Our house it has a crowd
There's always something happening
And it's usually quite loud
Our mum she's so house-proud
Nothing ever slows her down
And a mess is not allowed

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our

Our house, in the middle of our street
(Something tells you)
(That you've got to get away from it)
Our house, in the middle of our

Father gets up late for work
Mother has to iron his shirt
Then she sends the kids to school
Sees them off with a small kiss
She's the one they're going to miss
In lots of ways

[Instrumental Interlude]

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our

I remember way back then when
Everything was true and when
We would have such a very good time
Such a fine time
Such a happy time
And I remember how we'd play
Simply waste the day away
Then we'd say
Nothing would come between us
Two dreamers

Father wears his Sunday best
Mother's tired she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sister's sighing in her sleep
Brother's got a date to keep
He can't hang around

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our
Our house, was our castle and our keep
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, that was where we used to sleep
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our street