Here, There and Everywhere

There are places I remember . . . .  

Oooofy, seems I've been gone since forever! I had work to do back "home" and have spent the past two weeks gettn'er done. TCB. Checking it off the list. One day, as I always say, I'm going home and having nothing on my agenda other than visiting friends and family. Period. As usual, I had little time to see anyone.

Made a ten-hour dash to DC so I could drop off the rest of the teenager's belongings. Then it was off to Northern Jersey the next day to help with  some family stuff there. I got to see my SIL MJ and have dinner with my brother and his family in DC. By the time I made it further north, I could definitely feel some autumn in the air--just not enough to ward off my hot flashes! Awkward. See what you have to look forward to Mz. C!

While I missed my niece's Sweet 16 party, I was there for her actual birthday. I haven't been with any  of my niece's for their birthday for a very long time. Too long. And I have, soon-to-be, NINE nieces! That's not right. And thus why we are planning to move back to the NE at some point. We have been too far from family for way too long. I know, I know, it keeps changing! ha!! So, this week, it's New England! It was nice spending time with my teenage nieces and hearing about their lives. Where has the time gone? It boggles the mind.

Then it was back to DC (are you tired yet? I WAS!!!). My brother, Jim, surprised me with a glass of home-made sangria (not allergic, go figure), apples and cheese, and dinner outside waiting for me upon my arrival from NY.  We sat by the fire pit all night--ending with s'mores. I even had a little time with my girl, Jacq which was wonderful. Really missed seeing her this summer. 

Ok, moving along to the teenager's new flat. It definitely needed a mother's/woman's touch--aka a good cleaning. Sorted, cleaned and "detailed" the place as best I could. He loves it. A big ol' thank you to my brother, Jim! Hat's off to him also because he is the one who found all of these kooky and wonderful things for the place. I played with each and every piece!

Even stayed in the old hood in S. Arlington, VA. The area has turned into a rather busy little city. Such changes every time I go back. Truth is, I don't believe I could live around that many people again. ha. Little ol' Nashvul has spoiled us. I think the hustle and bustle of city life are behind the hub and I. If we were younger? In a heartbeat! But, who knows?

One afternoon, I met my brother at the Capitol  before he had a photo shoot; and we were able to walk through the U.S.  Botanical Gardens for a bit. I hadn't been in there for many, many years. I think my brothers and I practically grew up in here when we went to work with our father. He'd be shooting photographs and we would wander over to the Botanical Gardens and walk around (my brothers would sleep in there--pre-planking!). Once I wandered into the Capitol and got lost down in the bowels of the building until I finally came upon a security guard who directed me out. I was a wee little thing! I don't think my father ever missed me! lol I'm sure things have changed, just a tad, these days. No wanderers allowed!

I was able to meet up with my girlies, Kelly and Amy--on different nights. I wish we could have all gotten together at the same time. Oy. Thankful to have been able to see them, period. My only wish is to be able to see all my friends when I visit. Impossible. I have never been able to do it!  There's always stuff to do that keeps me from seeing everyone. No matter how much I try and plan. Drives me kooky.

Kell had gone to see the Dweez and got us a cd signed! Thanks, Kell! Great CD! Wow, yep, Dweezil has channeled his father, somehow.

And, before I knew it, it's time to head back. Two weeks, come and gone. And all I could think of was getting back home to my hubby and animules. Loved driving through those Blue Ridge Mountains, both coming and going.

Bye bye ol' Virginny. See ya next time! And hopefully, more friends.

Labels: Amy, Arlington, Brother Jim, DC, Family, Jacq, Kell, Maryland, Music, NJ, Virginia, Zappa

Keeping Up

The bump? I thought it was a dance. Well, back in the day, it was. And, I'll have you know, I could do a pretty mean bump. Today, not so much. I think I'm as round as I am tall. I could fall, and roll, and you'd never see me again. Hmmm. Ok, regardless . . . the BUMP is back-- in a new technological-kinda way.  It's a new app for the iPhone that exchanges phone numbers with just a shake. Now, I don't have an iPhone, don't care about having an iPhone (touch-screen challenged here), but I do love hearing about all the new apps. How brilliant is this one? Ok, everyone go and get the new Bump app, K? I just can't keep up with all this technological goo. But, I am trying to keep up with music. Don't ever take that from me. Please. 

Earlier in the summer, a friend told us that ZPZ (Zappa Plays Zappa) was coming to the Schermerhorn, our beautiful symphony hall here in Nashville. I had not seen Dweezil (Frank's oldest son) do ZPZ nor had I been to the Schermerhorn. So yes, I was gonna go--if there were only one seat left in the place, I was gonna go. Of course, all I could think of was my brother Johnny and how he told me about his experience, several years' back, of seeing ZPZ. He said, "When I closed my eyes, I was in Zappa heaven." I will never, ever forget that. Hey, who knows, Johnny and Frank my be somewhere jamming right now. Who knows. Johnny sure could play a great guitar in his day.

You know the most influential music in my childhood was The Beatles and Frank Zappa (w/ and w/o The Mothers). My brothers raised me on those two staples. We never missed a Zappa concert that was within 100 miles of DC. I was probably all of 13 when I first saw him live. It was always the highlight of the year for us. At least it was for me.  My brothers would buy an entire row of seats when they could and then all of our friends would get their tickets from one of them. That many friends in one spot at a concert? Priceless. What great memories.

I'm still grinning thinking about it. No one was disappointed, I don't think. It was a great show by Dweezil and the rest of the players. I was very surprised that the Dweez didn't open his mouth once to sing. Wonder whatup? The young Ben Thomas did the singing. Not bad. Kinda comical, kinda cute --as it should be in that role singing Zappa, right? Well, at least he had all the words correct. Now, Dweezil's channeling of his father on guitar was amazing though. Yes, you could close your eyes at those times and say "Yup, Zappa heaven."

So, you wonder. Could it get any better? Oh yes, my friends. It could. It did.  Looky at who played after ZPZ. Um, yes, that is Stanley Clarke, Jean-Luc Ponty, Chick Corea, Frank Gambale and Lenny White--aka Return to Forever. Who knew? I am definitely going to have to do a better job at keeping up with this music thing.

 

Let me tell you what. Stanley? Still got it, baby. (Did I tell you the first time I saw Stanley Clarke? Well, he opened for Bob Marley. Uh huh. The Bob Marley. That concert was a spiritual experience for me. No, it wasn't the ganja. People! Well, hmmm, maybe it was, ha! That place was smokin'!) Stanley is still smokin'!

Ok, click on the photo above, please. WHO is this guy?? And why is he wearing sunglasses and a business suit? I spied him earlier and thought, well, perhaps he was blind. Nope. Just hot sh*^, I guess. (And yes, of course, Stanley is pointing to me. Yes he is. hahahahaha)

The only thing that would have made the night Zappa Shangri-La? Jean-Luc playing with Dweezil. But, that's ok guys. I'll keep those Zappa-heaven moments close to my heart.

Time Has Come Today

I've been busy catching up as much as I can. Enjoying the little time I had today. (Here, "grandpa" is working! My great grandfather's (Bailey) clock who has not worked since we moved to TN. Hmmm. I worked for quite a while tonight until I got him just right. All is well in the world when he is chiming away. Yay.)

We had our last dinner out tonight before the teenager heads back to university. Been such a fast-moving summer with him. We've enjoyed every fleeting moment.

The kid is off to his wonderful sophomore year in high school. Where does the time go?

While mom was still in bed, sleeping, when Jim and I visited yesterday, she opened her eyes, with a wonderful angelic smile when she looked up at her youngest son. A precious moment. Table's turned. They are both precious. Along with you too Johnny. You are always here with us.

A luscious last breakfast with brutha @ Dotson's.

Then we shopped at Lowes; and he worked for over an hour fixing what the kitchen idiots had left behind. Another goof. We had arrived home from Riverside with a heavy mildew smell throughout the entire house originating from under the newly installed sink. I love my brutha. I told him, "If we lived next door to each other, not only would we have two beautiful houses (me) but they would both be in full working order (him)!" Gaarsh, I miss him.

Abby is happy that we're all home and settling in. The teenager spied her in all her glory this afternoon. Had to take a snap.

And, while it was a tad over priced--in my world--I splurged when I saw this little Bella pillow in a Franklin storefront window. Wouldn't you have? A perfect cat bed, even though Dave is the only one who seems to enjoy it here.

The boys are off to see the last of the summer movies--District 9. Gonna wait until after the premier. Looks good though. But I'd rather stay home on premier night. I'd rather look at the light's shadows.

Woodstock, 40 years? Daig. For some reason, I still have this photo, Woodstock, from brother Johnny's August 1969 experience. Who's on stage brutha? I'll have to send this last hard photo to you. But, tell me why it's in my recipe box. A good, safe place, I suppose.

And this one too. Cousin John John. Funny thing, Don't Think Twice is playing on my iTunes. This is with his ex --but his wife in '69, in our living room. (Dunno who is playing the slide electric. ???) He told me once that this was their song when they were separating. Sad. War wounds of the 60s I suppose.

Time.

It's been good to me.

I wish I had a pair of bongos.

xo
ro

It's What's For Dinner

The hub is on his way home from NYC and it's terribly cold, so I decided to make a corn soup from one of my favorite soup mixes--Bean Cuisine. I found a whole bunch that I haven't seen while in Alabama at World Market and brought some home to try.

Of course, I added and subtracted from the recipe to fit our likes and what was available in the homestead. I deleted the white wine, didn't have any and our super markets don't sell wine (I do miss that from DC). I added more corn and since I'm not fat enough (yea right), I added some cream.

While back "home," (DC) Mary Jane took such good care of me making these delicious dinners. One night, she made pork chops, cornbread. It was sooooo good! Now, being a quasi-Northerner, I like my cornbread a little sweet. Hers was just perfect. Then she whips out this bag that has everything in it and all you do is add water. She had two extra bags and insisted I take them home with me. I didn't fight her. Gee whiz, you'd think it would be fool-proof. Me being the fool baker, mine came out so thin, didn't rise. I think I must just stir mine too much. I'm sure it will still taste good though. I must start working on my baking skills (New Year's Resolution!). Lord have mercy. (I only took a pic of the top so you couldn't see how pathetic it is. lol.)

While in DC, my brother Jim took me to his favorite cheese shop, The Cowgirl Creamery. There's a story there about how the lady who runs the DC store visited the original in CA and had to have one at "home." I need to read up on that if I can. Funny thing is, it is right around the corner from where my father's photography studio was! This is where I practically grew up--6th and F Streets, NW. The old neighborhood sure has changed--I barely recognized it. I have photos to share as soon as I get them off the laptop to my computer. Promise. Anyway, of course, I couldn't bring any cheese home but there were other things I could. I have never seen rose petal sugar, you? And I'm a spreader freak, so of course, I had to buy two spreaders. I may just have to order some products from their website though. I miss gourmet shops so much. There really are few and far between here in Nashville, or perhaps I just don't know where they are. I doubt that, cause I'm normally pretty good at stumbling upon them wherever I go. Not here. Pout.

Speaking of brothers, I got a call from Johnny last night! His voice is strong and he told me he got his last tube (feeding) out yesterday and is eating on his own. I just cried (unbeknownst to him). I can't even tell you how good it sounded to hear his voice, stronger than ever. Last week, this time, I didn't know if I would ever hear it again. I teased him, pretty soon we would all be saying "Shut UP!! Johnny!" lol. Nope, never ever ever! My brother Jim gave me this magnet while I was there. I grew up with Frank Zappa playing by my brothers but my "love" was Alice Cooper. How perfect is this concert? WOW! I would have loved it at 11 years old (soon to be 12 in five days after this concert). I think I saw Alice when I was about 12 or 13. Loved him.