"Memories Are Made Of These..."

As I ran errands this morning, I popped in an ol' cd favorite of mine. The Greatest Hit(s) of sorts from a '70's band named Orleans. Many of you perhaps have never heard of them, but they had two monster hits- 'Dance With Me" and "Still The One". While I tend to listen to this cd often enough, today a flood of memories overwhelmed me as I was driving- all inspired by these songs.I remembered that my father and I were at Sam Goody's (remember them?) at the Woodbridge Mall shopping together, which we didn't do all that often (I almost remember each time we ever did go!). When we walked into the record store, my father-who was a working musician for 40 years- would often search for "fake books" and music sheets, while I would flip through the latest "33 LP's" and the new fad- 8 track tapes. All the while, an album was playing over the loudspeaker system in the store. At one point, Dad came up to me and asked me if I knew who was singing, and I didn't. Together, we walked to the counter and inquired there, and we were given the latest Orleans album called "Wakin' and Dreaming". He bought the album, and I immediately began playing it on my phonograph stereo system. I don't think he ever heard it after I got a hold of it.That one album, purchased in the mid-70's, sort of became the soundtrack of my life for the next 20 years or so. Listening to "If I Don't Have You" while kissing Karen Episcopia in her basement- until we were caught by her Dad...listening to the crisp harmonies of the back-up singer, Linda Ronstadt. I learned the art of singing harmonies almost entirely through this one cut- as well as The Righteous Brothers and the Beatles...Singing "Golden State Of Mind" upon driving into California for the first time- "California, you're a beauty...an apparition to me now...Palm trees silhouetted against the sunset sky, air so rich and tender it almost makes me cry-y-y-y..."Humming "Spring Fever" every first day of spring, and everytime someone claims to HAVE spring fever- "I got Spring Fever..they say that it go to your head...Spring Fever...I get dizzy just lying in bed..."Dancing to 'Reach", which made the charts (peaking at about #27), and enjoying this new rock and bluegrass and church choir-type sound. Unique- haven't heard anything like it since...Hearing "Still The One" for the first time and knowing- actually KNOWING, at 16 years of age, that this song was destined to be a hit on the then-AM rock stations. I knew this, even though I didn't particularly like the song! I thought- that's cool- people will by the album and make hits out of these other songs. It didn't happen. Orleans eventually faded away. John and Johanna Hall are still married, I think, and John was in local politics in Upstate New York, last I heard, and is now an elected U.S. Representative (D-NY) Larry and Lance Hoppen went on to play with other less successful bands, and recently started another "Orleans" without John Hall. Wells Kelly- the hilarious, fun-loving party monster of a drummer, died suddenly while on tour with Meat Loaf, so they have had many drummers since. This band was Journey- lite, but for some reason, theirs tunes resonanted to me on a very deep level. No- they weren't the Stones, or Zeppelin or Bruce Springsteen. They were just Orleans. I've tried many times over the years to get others hooked on the sound by sharing the tapes and cd's I made of their music. I always thought that if I fronted a band, I wanted it to be similar sounding, as no one else sounded like them, not really. That's the story of Orleans and how it was born in a record store in Woodbridge, and travelled to New York, Georgia, Arizona and California. They are now on my Zune and I will listened to them this morning while floating in the pool, still wishing I was in a band...I'm interested in any other similar stories you friends may have of how a record or album affected YOUR life., and the fond or distinctive memories you have when listening to them. Please add you story in the comments, if you have one!

Despite Herself, This "Wise Latina" Will Prevail!

I have been watching this joke of a confirmation hearing, headed by that lying m-f'er (Cheney's words, mind you) Pat Leahy, on Judge Sotomayor's nomination for the Supreme Court vacancy and I am amazed at the amount of contradictions, double-standards and revisionist history in place. I'm not sure why ANYTHING surprises me anymore when it comes to Capital Hill- just a dreamer, I guess- but this nomination truly takes the cake. In general, I feel that when one party wins an election and has the majority, they they also win the right to make these selections and the "loser" basically has little say. In this case, however, it seems like it's just WRONG! To begin with, Sotomayor's biggest case decision has been appealed and reversed (the Connecticut Fireman discrimination case) by the same Supreme Court she hopes to join. To sum up her decision on that case, she basically stated that the fireman's test was illegal because no person of color scored high enough to get the promotion (11 out of 30 passed the test). It might have helped if the other 19 STUDIED!. Shouldn't the mere FACT that one her cases was reversed by the Supreme Court automatically exclude her from consideration? Had this been a more conservative-leaning jurist, I'd make the exact same comment; yet, the Liberals I'm sure would switch their argument to fit their ultimate goals. Next, her Honor stated- not once, but many, many times- that she was a "wise latina" and being a "wise latina woman" gave her distinct advantages to making LAW over the older white men of the past (paraphrased, but the sentiment is there). Now, stop for a second and IMAGINE, if you will, what would have happened if the roles were reversed. Imagine if a WHITE male made a similar comment, stating that being white made them more qualified to MAKE LAW, over those credentials of non-whites, or "wise latina" women. First of all, judges are supposed to INTERPRET law, not MAKE law. Secondly, her comment is SO racist on it's face value, how can this possibly be overlooked? I'll tell you how. She's liberal- a card-carrying member of the A.C.L.U., that's how. To think that many of these same members sat in judgment of Clarence Thomas- a brilliant jurist of color nominated by a Republican President- and for all practical purposes, ruined his career even if he was eventually confirmed. I'm just tired of racism being only a one-way street in this country. We all realize that our history of treatment of people of color is shameful, at best. It was a long, painful road, but we've improved tremendously in this area. We're still not perfect, but it doesn't mean that it should be acceptable to condone reverse discriminations to "even the score". That's ridiculous. This judge does exactly that, and the stats prove it. I am also tired of one party being in power over the other, and being accepting of bad behavior and lying, then making speeches that "apologize" for their actions. This goes for BOTH parties. I mean, seriously- how can the right claim family values a s a serious platform when they themselves are screwing everything that moves? I despise hypocrisy above all other things, and both of these parties are full of hypocrites. So, make room for Judge Wise Latina, another historical step in the right direction -just the wrong person making it!

When Did We Become So Entitled?

I went to the bank today and what I experienced was shocking, but not new. A woman paraded into the bank with a small dog in tow. The bank was as quiet as a library as several transactions were taking place and the tellers were speaking to the customers in low voices. The music was soothing, and for a Saturday morning it was quite relaxing. All of sudden- out of nowhere- a large dog bounded out from beneath a check writing station and barked an unbelievably loud and shrill bark, aiming his annoyance at the small dog. This not only broke up the semi-silence, but scared the living daylights of every customer and teller in the bank, including yours truly. After several minutes, most of our blood pressures levelled off again, and I wondered aloud when did it become socially acceptable to bring animals into businesses? You can bring pets into vet offices, obviously, but when did it become ok to bring them into banks, cleaners, post offices, etc? I am well aware of the A.D.A laws, and we are NOT talking about retrievers or shepherds who assist the bilnd and physically challenged. We are talking about PETS. I confront people each and every day who feel they are above the social mores and laws and bring their pets into my work place. Just yesterday, a young lady tried to explain to me that her yorkie was a "service dog" that she didn't normally bring with her into the bank, but it was too hot to leave her in the car ( a car, by the way, parked in an underground parking garage out of direct sunlight). Why are you bringing a dog out into the heat to begin with? After leaving the bank, I visited STAPLES and literally ran into a guy who had a pit bull on a leash in the store. I couldn't believe it, considering how close I came to the dog after bumping into the owner. The dog doesn't know this but I've shot a few pit bulls in my day, and would do it again in a second. These are nasty vicious animals bred and raised to fight and kill. Had the dog interpreted my run-in as an "assault" on his owner, whose to say he would've attacked me at that point? For sure, I'd rename the chain "Scala's Stationary Supplies" and the Lakers would be winning championships at" THE SCALADOME" because I'd own STAPLES! So, I ask you, when did we become so entitled that we can do whatever we want to, damn everyone else. I ask you- would you allow a friend to visit in your house with their Alaskan Husky on a leash, uninvited and unexpected? Where does it stop? I have friends who own iguanas as pets, or burmese pythons. How about a horse? Horses have been labelled as "service animals" as well- can I bring one into a bank? I would LOVE to see someone challenge this sometime. If they kicked the horse and horseowner out of the bank, it would amount to animal discrimination, wouldn't it? Hell, we're recognizing gay penguins these days, might as well take up for and support the discriminated Black Bear or the blind bat!I'm as animal friendly as many of you reading this essay, so don't even go there. I just do not feel that it is polite, correct or socially acceptable to bring things that I like and that please ME into the world that includes people other than myself. This is the ultimate definition of selfishness. We have individual rights, but the rights of the people outweigh the individual rights almost always. I say it is about time people leave their PETS at home. The people I know with dogs never even walk them or visit with them. They leave them outside to bark throughout the day and night. Most of those with pets shouldn't even HAVE pets. If it were left up to me, I would keep the dogs and pets and do away with the owners. Most of THOSE people just suck...

The Death of an Icon; The Birth of a Legend

A musical genius passed away suddenly at an age too young to be associated with his passing. Cardiac arrythmia will be the proven culprit, brought upon by malfeasance on the part of a doctor. The departed surrounded by hanger's on who have milked the performer for every dime he's ever had by continuing to provide whatever pleasures and habits he developed over the past 30 or so years. This entourage of greed had no concern for the well-being of the artist, but only fattening their own wallets. If they were ever to confront the artist to tell them the drugs, the late nights and the impulsive spending was bad for him, they would risk being cut off from the money. Instead, they sought out a doctor who traded his Hippocratic Oath for his hypocritcal oath and continuously furnished the artist with any drug he felt he needed, despite the obvious consequences taken on his physical toll as well as the very real threat of addiction. Friends, fans and peers around the world react to the news with profound saddness, questions and speculations. Rumors surface almost immediately, while informal shrines are established at his many homes, the sites of his famous concerts, and places with no direct association to the artist just the same. Statements are issued from every celebrity who was known to the artist, ex-wives and girlfriends, directors, actors, singers and even politicians. Television and radio immediately kick in with lifetime retrospections detailing and discussing the worlwide impact this life had on the planet. Greatest ever? Once in a lifetime? Most influential? This obituary of sorts is not unique, despite what you may believe. In fact, what I described above was the exact type of worldwide reaction we had 32 years ago with the passing of Elvis Presley. I would bet, with some changes based on the era, it was the same obit and tribute written on behalf of Ludwig Van Bethoven at his death, Cole Porter at his passing and Billie Holiday at her passing.Like all of you, I was shocked at MJ's death. I've been a fan of his music since the day's of "ABC" and "Ben". I grew up witth Michael and his family. I wathced him on The Mike Douglas Show and Ed Sullivan. I watched the cartoons. I bought "Off The Wall" album, considered by many as one of the greatest disco albums of all time. "She's Out Of My Life" still gets to me. I watched the "USA For Africa- We Are The World" music video a thousand times, never getting tired of it (back when VH1 and MTV WERE music video stations). I played his boxed set cd "Greatest Hits" numerous times, never being embarassed by playing it. I recognized his genius and I was proud to relish in it.I thought he was strange as many of you did as well. I allowed him that eccentricity, however. Many of the most talented among us are freaks too. I was also one of the very few who felt MJ was innocent of those horrible accusations against him. I happened to be at the court records department doing a search when the first case was filed. I convinced the clerk to burn me a copy of the filing, as she copied one for herself. It was quite sordid and unbelievably graphic, but I still didn't believe him capable of it. I always thought he was just a guy so innocent that he didn't care how certain things made him look to others- others with hate and harm in their heart. I also thought it was obvious that the family suing was only in it for the money, not legal remedy.I knew the trial(s) would take it's toll on him physically, and I actually predicted that he wouldn't survive the trial, but I was wrong. I think we'll find that the work of someone he most trusted will be the major reason for his death. A doctor with whom he trusted his very life, and a doctor who sold him out for cash. "With friends like these"...