Happy New Year 2014

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has dropped by this blog this year and to wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

Music Monday - Maddy Prior

A favorite voice of mine just so happens to belong to Steeleye Span songstress, Maddy Prior. So... Please to enjoy this Maddy Prior playlist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFWzPiGHd_Y&list=PL26FAE37A11FFA114

Have a meditative evening...

Merry Christmas!

Picture By Joe Parks from Berkeley, CA (Christmas in Paradise) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

I hope your Christmas has been truly merry and bright!

I'm looking forward to the New Year with plans to publish. What are you looking forward to in the New Year?

Now I'll leave you to enjoy the rest of your Christmas night with this Beach flavored Christmas song sung by the Beach Boys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TDmWvRVJUo

Just remember, Christmas Day may only come but once a year, but the Spirit of Christmas can stay in your heart all the year through if you leave your heart open to the one whose birth we celebrate this day, our dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. - John 14:27

Music Monday - Wintersong

Tonight, grab a snugly blanket and light those fires because I'm about to bring on the ice cold chill of winter with the songs I've chosen for tonight's Music Monday.

Tchaikovsky : Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op.13　" Winter Dreams "
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dop_dPIgeI

And a different kind of winter dreams --

Accept - Winter Dreams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdKbRknDNj4

Madonna - Frozen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS088Opj9o0

Steeleye Span - Cold, haily, windy night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKl3Q8kjfb8

Kate Bush - Deep Winter Suite - Snowflake, Lake Tahoe, Misty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3xUyTtQvu4

Tangerine Dream -  Coldwater Canyon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwldaxSjVn0

Pink Floyd - Terminal Frost
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tek1Wh3jrWk

Moody Blues - December Snow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ole0iRSkskQ

Styx - Snowblind (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qg7qOrcROo

Enya - Amid The Falling Snow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldHJ6rPcccE

Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson - Winter Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=budTp-4BGM0

Have a meditative evening.

Music Monday - Joyeux Noël!

An FB friend shared a wonderful rendition of The Night Before Christmas by Jules d'Hemecourt and it gave me the idea to find some Cajun inspired Christmas music.

Enjoy!

Jules d'Hemecourt - Cajun Night Before Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzCNosA8ylo

Vin Bruce - Christmas On the Bayou
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmAPcjUVRWU

Aaron Neville - Louisiana Christmas Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnCMaH_mAac

Willie Robertson - Ragin' Cajun Redneck Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB56SFEMZpY

A Cajun Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d3Dt9Dvrm0

Vince Vance - All I Want for Christmas is You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p27EutGOJtU

BEAUSOLEIL - Christmas Bayou
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOxH-MVwFe4

Sheryl Cormier & Cajun Sounds - St. Nicholas (Cajun Usa)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LDffzvz_9c

Beausoleil - Papa St. Nick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jtyz23dC5w

Jules Hemecourt - Cajun 12 Days of Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkmRl4RUudA

Cajun Christmas 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN11JVwiJVw

CAJUN GOLD - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-9MawlQivk

Joyeux Noël, y'all! Don't let dem halamagators worry you none, mon cher! I guarantee day mo'scared of you, den you scared of dem. ;-)

Music Monday - Christmas Music

As promised lots of beautiful and silly Christmas music to help get you into the holiday spirit!

Moody Blues - Don't Need a Reindeer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-w1gZH0jlY

Silent Monks - Hallelujah Chorus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCFCeJTEzNU

The 12 Gays of Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSedhEoutP0

Charlie Brown Christmas Dance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1LUXQWzCno

Jeff Foxworthy - 12 Redneck Days of Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBKGoj7nKAw

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Canon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cP26ndrmtg

The Piano Guys - O Come, Emmanuel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ugV6QGcafEE

Vienna Boys' Choir - O Tannenbaum/Beauty Surrounds Us - Lorraine Kuehnel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEDfXUSkGLI

The Gothard Sisters - What Child Is This
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0tn-VdgU_k

And the Following carol gives proof that wherever you may find yourself this Christmas, you can still make it a Merry one.

Lindsey Stirling - Celtic Carol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg4sZZaf3Gg

And to top it all off, a lovely burning fireplace with over an hour's worth of beautiful and traditional Christmas Music.

Fireplace Christmas Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL56qqwlsRc

I hope your Christmas Season is both Merry and Bright.

Have a meditative evening.

Barkticles - Thank Your Cat!

Hi! Sweetlips K. Beagle here. I have a link to share that may make a lot of Dog lovers into cat lovers!

Now, this particular link I'm sharing with you doesn't have anything to do with Lee Lane's upcoming novel, Cherish, but it's such wonderful news that I wanted to make sure that I got the word out to those of you who read or stumble upon her blogs. Yes, I'll be sharing this on Lee's other Blog, No Stranger Here, as well.

What's this all about? Well, click the link below and find out. It's very good news for those with HIV and proof that even Fluffy has more to offer than merely (ahem!) performing the call of nature in a box.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266911.php

So barks I, pawed --

Music Monday - The Earwig Mix

Wanna know what the Earwig Mix is? Well, take a listen and you'll find out (or not). ^_~

Trio Mediaeval - Dou Way Robyn, Sancta Mater
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-7Lkz2tu6Q

Corvus Corax - Chou Chou Sheng
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADuCbafqBDQ

Blackmore's Night - Once In A Million Years
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZCiUEs_eZg

Little River Band - Reminiscing (or an eternal one)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PvYNY4yVRM

Little River Band - Lady
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze6zm1MUtOA

Styx - Lady
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-oIpibE3GQ

[Traditional] Don't Forget Your Old Shipmate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY1fUAPYH3M

Steeleye Span - Wintersmith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIp0hnJsxX0

Foreigner - Feels Like the First Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfO7ZVdzfZ4

Rammstein feat. Sharleen Spiteri - Stirb Nicht Vor Mir (Don't Die Before I Do)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QgwsiJVyLM

Ein Prosit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX5QNZtQXX4

Eiszeitklub - Novemberregen
https://myspace.com/eiszeitklub/music/song/novemberregen-32844894-33817430

Medieval Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPkLhSVtPS4

Sacred Instrumental Music from Germany
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBDUBUe2dVM

Silly Sisters - Geordie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j545whIZfoQ

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! 1864 Civil War Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8wUmvJ1dTo

Wy Hearre By Elkoar - (We Are Meant To Be Together sung in Frisian)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE1A4nLavbI

Chuck Theme Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu-X9KUFLWI

Mark Mancina - Twister Soundtrack Suite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6lBqDt3bYY

Mark Knopfler - Storybook Love (The Princess Bride Theme)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ifSUhwmIMU

Bryan Ferry - Is Your Love Strong Enough
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfE614gsEI0

Rufus Wainwright - Hallelujah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbO6P-_Zx0Y

Strange Advance - Till the Stars Fall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqME8I7TkiU

The Spoons - Greatest Hits (Get it? LOL)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpeav3qd5wM

Beethoven - 5th Symphony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z4KK7RWjmk

Stevie Nicks - White Winged Dove Concert 1982
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9fuzSWRqP0

XanaDu (Full Album Soundtrack)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsHnB_8_1_k

Blue Oyster Cult - Burnin' For You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipqqEFoJPL4

Blue Oyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClQcUyhoxTg

Stefanie Hertel - Ich Wünsch Mir Einen Kleinen Teddybär
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq55XbbqORk

Have a very Frohe Abend...

Music Monday - The Legendary Bob Marley!

I don't stand for the black man's side, I don't stand for the white man's side. I stand for God's side. - Bob Marley

Legend: The Best of Bob Marley and The Wailers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKo-KiDEO_Q

Have a meditative evening.

Music Monday - Hall and Oates

A playlist of some of Hall and Oates hits. Sadly, one of the songs in the playlist has been blocked. I've posted a separate link for it from another uploader.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Red3R17FlUQ&list=PLB68D1947CEDCD5CE

Maneater
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRYFKcMa_Ek

Have a meditative evening.

Music Monday - Janice Kapp Perry

Janice Kapp Perry is a prolific songwriter of Gospel centered music. Many of her songs have been included in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Hymnal.

I love the story of how she came to be a songwriter. It's very uplifting to think that from a time of not knowing what she would do came such an incredible gift that has no doubt blessed her life but also the lives of so many other people. She is truly a gem!

You can read her story at the following link:

http://ldsmag.com/article/1/13121

Her website:
http://www.janicekappperry.com/

And now for the really good part -- some of the music of Janice Kapp Perry!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13jzpZIhY1M&list=PL59A00F53EBCA780D

Love you Sister Perry!

Have a meditative evening, everyone.

Cherish Wonderful!

Artwork by Leon Wyczółkowski [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Text by Lee Lane

This morning as I exercised I passed by a nice woman who was out walking her dog. Nothing unusual, right? Well, actually, I feel it was. And this is  why --

I felt I wanted to go in one direction, so I did. But I veered off at one point because I wanted to avoid the sprinklers that always water the sidewalks. I got to the end of the road, turned towards the opposite direction in which I had originally intended to go. I realized that wasn't the direction I wanted to go in, so I turned around and headed down towards a nearby park. As I headed down the hill next to the park I passed this lady. She wished me a cheery, "Good morning!" and I did the same in return. I didn't think anything of it because most everyone is friendly like that around here.

Well, I got to the bottom of the hill and decided that I didn't want to continue any further down the road, so I turned around passing the same woman again. I figured she would either think I was following her (it was still dark out) or she would simply ignore me since we had already exchanged pleasantries. Nope. And this is where it gets really good or wonderful, actually.

She said to me, "You have a great day! It's going to be a WONDERFUL day!"

I cannot begin to tell you how much I needed to hear that just then, so I'm paying it forward to whoever else may need it today, tomorrow -- a week from tomorrow -- whenever!

It's going to be a WONDERFUL day!

Believe it!

With love,
Lee

Music Monday - Alex Boyé!

One of my favorite artists is Alex Boyé. I love his voice, his intensity, and his stage presence. He really has a great dramatic flair.

Enjoy!

I Will Rise (Emi Yo Leke) ft. LDC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FQb-cVwbKE

Oshé (Thank You)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGZ3oRSNwxM

Adele - Africanized Symphonic Cover - Set Fire to the Rain ft. Alex Boyé
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3PG1svaKSM

I Can Only Imagine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffzDSh1orpw

Lincoln - The Civil Wars (Africanized) ft. Alex Boyé
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIbMbLvbXNY

Be Still My Soul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpC8gQZT9HY

Grenade - Lindsey Stirling, Alex Boyé & The Salt Lake Pops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpRyJBoEiMg

Coldplay - Paradise (Peponi) African Style ft. Alex Boyé - The Piano Guys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgovv8jWETM

Have a meditative evening...

Music Monday - The Smashing Smashing Pumpkins!

Yay! It's Pumpkin time again!

As you know, I love The Smashing Pumpkins. So tonight I've got a nice playlist full of all sorts of pumpkiny good ear candy for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-KE9lvU810&list=PL73ED73D17641F307

Have a meditative evening...

Cherish the Handsome Cabin Boy

Just a little sea shanty a la Kate Bush:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDn_3VysILs

While this song doesn't have anything to do with the story I'm writing, it does suit the passion of the protagonist's love of all things seaworthy.

Music Monday - Danny Elfman

Ever since his days with Oingo Boingo, or should I say The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo? Danny Elfman has proven himself to be one of the most recognizable musical talents out there.

This playlist devoted Danny Elfman covers a very large range of his body of work. But then we're talking Danny Elfman, so there's a whole lot more out there besides.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJJ8krHbWJU&list=PL18A0B0C943A00A62

Have a meditative evening.

Cherish Inspiration

Photo By Korall (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
Text by Lee Lane 

 I see this question from time to time when it comes to where and how writers, artisans, singers, songwriters etc. get their inspiration?

I've seen it answered in many different and wonderful ways. The following is my take on where and how inspiration comes:

Here goes--

Eating at Restaurants:

Have you ever been seated in a restaurant waiting for your order when all of a sudden something someone says in the next booth or table near you pops into your ear. No, I don't mean eavesdropping. I simply mean that something about what someone says or even the way that they say it stands out.

This happens when I go to church or other places, too. Wherever there are people having conversations or giving talks, something someone says will generally stand out in a way that I feel inspired.

A good example of this would be the time I heard two girls talking about something.

"Today! Today I saw her!."

"Really?"

"Yes! She was so beautiful -- "

Well, instantly my mind went into high gear creating a scene that's in the second book of this series.

Web Wandering:

Might start out as -- Ooh! I wonder how much a migrating swallow actually can carry? But then as I'm researching that little germ of an idea something that pertains to what I'm writing or what I might like to write pops out at me all come hither like. So I grab hold of that with a C and a P into a Wordpad Document and, 1. file it away or, 2. use it right then and there.

And sometimes it's a song that captures a mood, a feeling, the emotion of an interaction enabling me to distill it into my own words and scenes.

So, I think the answer to the question that started this blog entry is simply this: inspiration can come from anywhere and everywhere -- so get ready, set -- GO!

Get out there and tell your own story, paint your own painting, sing your own song, start your own business or whatever else your heart is telling you to do.

Have a beautiful rest of your Sunday, my friends!

Music Monday - Fantasy Film Soundtracks

This first playlist contains:
1.Avatar - James Horner
2.Chronicles of Narnia 1 - Harry Gregson-Williams
3.Edward Sccisorhands - Danny Elfman
4.Casper - James Horner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaSGDK8RLr4

52 songs at the following from Oz, Legend, Neverending Story and more:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOceFeiwWRM&list=PLD347ACD3DB810202

Have a meditative evening.

Prayer, Faith, Writing

Things went from bad to worse the other day and I really didn't know what I would do, but I did get on my knees and pray like a failing student before Final Exams. (I can honestly say that I was a failing student who prayed before Final Exams and received a rather miraculous B. My Math Teacher was flabbergasted. I HAD to get at least a B to pass. But I digress.)

I find it difficult to stay on point with my writing when bad things are happening around or to me, though I have had some surprising bursts of creativity while ill. I'm sure I'm not the only writer out there who feels a halt in the flow of their creative juices when troubles arise. However, how many of the great writers out there sat in icy garrets with only a candle to warm them and a dry crust of bread for a meal and yet managed to scribble away on the next great novel with a driven madness? Probably more of them than is known.

Was it that sense of "got nothing else to lose" that got them through those tough times or was it the creative fire inside of them that kept them going?

I like to think that it was God, even if they didn't know it at the time.

Have a pleasant Sunday evening, my friends.

Music Monday - Kings of Leon

I discovered these guys, gosh, it's been a while back and I've been enjoying them ever since. If you haven't heard them before, you're in for a treat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idjYP7lpFso&list=PLD722104C13338BEE

Have a meditative evening.

Music Monday - Isn't That Scary?

This week's Music Monday is meant to be a scary one, so get ready to cower beneath your blankies because it's gettin' scary up in here!

Scary Music Box (Slender Man)
Yeah, it's those slender, faceless strangers that'll get you every time! Muah-ha-ha!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8fUFmjqXZo

Horror Piano Theme
Don't get too scared when your piano starts to play this song all by itself, it just wants a little attention is all. You should go check on it. Really. Heh, heh, heh...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFZ9g9vEdbE

The following are two of the most easily recognizable musical masterpieces by Mussorgsky that embody both the eerie and the haunting. Oh, and it's okay to be scared, but just don't let your chattering teeth drown out all of the incredible music.

In the Hall of the Mountain King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJbruRZDNpQ

Night on Bald Mountain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyR-poMsSWI

A very dark and moody piece by Schubert set to Heinrich Heine's words and majestically performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau with Gerald Moore (I believe) on piano. Ah, yes. Did you catch a glimpse of him, your double, just now out of the corner of your eye? Tch! Oh, I'm so sorry. It's been nice knowing you. HEE, hee, hee, hee!

Der Doppelgänger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKVnL9JvuO8

Did that dark and moody piece scare you? Well, you ain't heard nothin' yet! Wait until you get an earload of Rachmaninoff' Prelude in C-sharp minor and G-sharp minor. Tch! Tch! Tch! And you thought you were going to sleep well tonight, didn't you? Heh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGqylB0GUQk

Another Mussorgsky Masterpiece
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySRReEgMDbE

What I like most about that piece is, yeah, what it did to you just then when you clicked on the link and it started playing. Gets 'em every time!

Silent Hill - Music Box [Extended Version]
What did you expect me to end it on, a tromBONE? Get it? TromBONE. Oh, never mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPUd29K0-Cg

A hauntingly good evening to you, and you, und Du...

B. Author and the Power of Parentheses

Hi! B. Author, here. Okay. It's Lee Lane, but Lee, Author, doesn't have quite the same impact that B. Author has, in my opinion. Of course, you would have to have been around in the 70s to understand the joke. If you weren't, you can probably Google it.

Anyway, so I'm sitting here this afternoon just thinking about this story of mine. (It was raining earlier, thus the rain and writing message.) I wrote some of this stuff a long time ago, bits and pieces. I was going to have them as memories at one time set somewhere within the novel series. I thought of using them as part of a prologue, but found the prologue was getting rather, well, lengthy. So I tossed them over into the "I don't know what I'm going to do with this stuff..." pile.

Yeah, writers have piles like that. They have "This is wack!" piles too.

Then one day I was sitting here at my desk thinking about how, in some ways, I wish I could begin all over again with my series of novels already in progress. That's when I decided to just start writing the series as something new and fresh and, well, Cherish was born, and I found a place for that stuff I didn't know what I was going to do with.

I have to say that I certainly didn't expect this story to become what it has become. There are twists and turns in it that I didn't even anticipate taking -- and I'm the writer! But I've found that writing is like that sometimes, a lot of the time -- it surprises you.

I hope when it's published that it will surprise you too. (In a good way.)

(Parentheses. They're a good thing.)

(If you're a Neil Gaiman fan, then you'll understand why I just said that -- and why I'm using them, except for me it was Tolkien. But C.S. and J.R.R. were buds, mostly, so it's cool.)

Have a beautiful Sunday!

Music Monday - The Good Water

A band I just heard about, The Good Water, I think has a really great rockin' sound. I just had to share them. I definitely think a lot of the characters in my novel would enjoy this band's sound.

Warning: Listening to this song could cause instantaneous eruptions of increased energy and a need to get up and move.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irf3TCfyrmU

Hey, don't say I didn't warn ya! ;-)

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Well, one of the most delightful days of the year has almost drawn to its close in these waters and I would be remiss if I didn't honor it right and proper by posting a link to my favorite pirate of all time and the very site that celebrates this day.

So, without any further arrrrrdieu, I give you my most favorite pirate of them all, Westley, otherwise known as, The Dread Pirate Roberts!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzO-sv0mtZ4

And... The International Talk Like a Pirate website:

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

And what do Pirates have to do with my novel, Cherish? I'm glad you asked!

Pirates are a big part of Florida myth and lore and the history of the surrounding islands and Caribbean, and Cherish is rooted in all things Florida! So when you read the book you'll get a chance to read about a Pirate and a Mermaid via the storytelling of the main character's grandfather, a regular old Pirate at heart himself.

Arrrr! Ye Scallywags! May yer sails alway billow with a fair wind, aye!

Story Research Question

I have a question.

In my book there is a Swim Meet scene. If you were to read a book with light emphasis on a character's involvement in the swim team, how important would technical information about swim meets be to you? Would you want to know what type of meet it is? Would you want to know what swim strokes were being performed?

Okay. That's three questions, but you get where I'm coming from. I don't want to bog down readers with too much information but I don't want to leave out anything that might be pertinent either.

Thanks in advance!

Music Monday - Guitar Greats

 There are so many guitar greats to choose from -- John Sykes, Michael Shenker, Dave Meniketti. However, I only have room for a few. So sit back and enjoy the blazing fingers of the guitar heroes I've chosen to showcase tonight.

Neal Schon - The Calling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVvWxiP4_xs

Dave Mustaine - Peace Sells
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdEupVsL07E

Ted Nugent - Stranglehold
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHDA5nHlDrQ

Rick Renstrom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqgTdVuGrAQ

Yngwie Malmsteen - Red House
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4l1Jk3ZCb4

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Crossfire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQX8PzWi3TQ

Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) - La Grange
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h2hox--bR8

Joe Satriani - Flying In A Blue Dream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOsgv_X_cV8

Rik Emmett - Midsummer's Daydream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W47PvPaz7-U

Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrR60SKUCS0

Prince on Guitar with Cee lo Green - Crazy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgRLrOyxUBo

Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) - Mayonnaise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cECTX3mPu1o

Lindsey Buckingham - I'm So Afraid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1fieY0p130

Lita Ford - Falling In and Out of Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Lj491cSFM

Joan Jett - You Drive Me Wild/The French Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0yW-ZMwPdw

Ritchie Blackmore - Black Masquerade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82K4uNUkfeQ

Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) - The Pretender
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBjQ9tuuTJQ

Matthew Bellamy (Muse) - Resistance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPE9uSFFxrI

Have a meditative evening.

Cherish the Benefits of Swimming

Janis Rozentāls [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Some of the characters in my novel, Cherish, are swimmers. The following are some of the benefits that swimmers enjoy:

• Can improve, even eliminate Asthma
• Improves flexibility
• Release of endorphins
• Lowers stress
• Good for the heart
• A good way to increase muscle tone and strength without straining joints
• Lowers risk of Diabetes

So the next time you find yourself near a pool or some other body of water, jump in and enjoy the many benefits of swimming.

9/11 One Man's Story

This is the link to the post on my No Stranger Here blog about Victor Guzman and how he learned to cope with the tragedy of 9/11.

http://nostrangerhere.blogspot.com/2013/09/one-mans-story-of-911-and-after.html

May God be with all those affected by the events of 9/11.

Great Tips for Kindle Self-Publishers

For anyone interested in Kindle self-publishing, the following articles really break everything down very nicely. I'll definitely be using their Kindle publishing tips when the time comes.

Hint: I used to build web pages in HTML, so this might prove to be fun.

Self-Publish Your Books to Kindle in 7 Steps

My Kindle Experiment: How Easy Is Amazon's Self-Publishing Platform?

Let's do this thing! ;-)

Music Monday - The Piano Guys

From such humble beginnings as a piano shop in St. George, Utah, The Piano Guys share their love of music with a world audience thanks to several very professional-looking videos on YouTube.

Sit back and feast your ears!

The Piano Guys Playlist

Be sure to check out their tour schedule at the following link. Some places are already sold out!

http://thepianoguys.com/events/

Have a meditative evening.

Cherish Poetry - The Sailor's Statue

Just another snippet from the main character's book of poetry. For those who may find it difficult to read, the poem goes as follows:

The Sailor's Statue

I know you were here, coz I felt you.
I know you stopped by the Sailor's Statue, coz I felt you.
I went there the other day and the feelings were so strong --
How your voice followed me along.
But we did not meet and that's how it goes
when matters of the heart draw to an
untimely close.



Drop by later when I share music from The Piano Guys for Music Monday.
See ya then!

Cherish Update - Sailing Right Along

So I'm looking through my posts here on my Cherish Blog and what do I see? I've only been doing Music Monday posts for the last several postings. How boring is that? Don't answer that. Well, you can if ya want to.

I hope the music has been interesting to all of you, at least.

This made me realize that I best get on the ball here and do something about it. I promised updates on my novel's progress and so forth when I first started this blog and I want to keep my promise.

Progress has been good. I'm very pleased with the results thus far. I have the course laid and the ship that is my novel, Cherish, is sailing right along.

I wanted to publish within this year, but I don't think that's possible at this point. I could have it done by February or March in 2014, mostly due to copyrighting it. That takes six months, and that wasn't something that I figured into my original resolution to publish within 2013. That's something I only found out a couple of months ago.

I would lament that but for the fact that certain aspects of the storyline have been "delivered" to me when they could not have come at any other time. In other words, this book has been revealing itself to me at its own pace. I would be researching something completely unrelated to my novel when all of a sudden there would be a piece of the Cherish puzzle I didn't even realize existed right there before my eyes.

I want to do a launch for the novel in June 2014. There's a reason for that, but you'll have to read the story to find out what it is. ;-)

Well, until next time, which I promise won't be so long in coming --

Music Monday - Uptempo

Matt Nathanson - Faster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyjQFdeFox8

Christina Perri - Arms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeW0Sl0tNS8

Lady Antebellum - Just A Kiss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_yTphvyiPU

Hot Chelle Rae - Tonight Tonight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzlNFcT2aOE

Nickelback - When We Stand Together
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76RbWuFll0Y

The Fray - Heartbeat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp0_2fjPlbM

My Chemical Romance - Sing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTgnDLWeeaM

Coby Caillat - I Do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTgnDLWeeaM

Coldplay - Clocks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d020hcWA_Wg

Foo Fighters - My Hero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqWRaAF6_WY

Mumford and Sons - Roll Away Your Stone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eEobPFhpws

Happy Labor Day!

Have a meditative evening.

Music Monday - The Romantics

As promised (drum roll) The Romantics!

Tell It To Carrie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9YN70RJqE0

Forever Yours
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe4d5k9rN6M

21 and Over
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6Z8j59j5h8

What I Like About You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYT4g0CW5O0

Talking in Your Sleep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuxGKzOJqss

One in a Million
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEsEbceHQ7o

Rock You Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqx36CC6sDw

In the Nighttime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kcdKSF2Anw

Be My Everything
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRGm2efZQYM

Let's Get Started
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNjwyjMUoaQ

Open Up Your Door
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuudbKir6gA

Midnight to Six
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr9RX_LGyxo

Out of My Mind (Into My Head)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlA_x9I29CI

A Night Like This
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcosmRSyjDE

(Romantics Version) Shake a Tail Feather
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-wqZ1vbxWE

Have a meditative evening...

Music Monday - Romantic Love Songs

A two and a half hour playlist of romantic 80s and 90s love songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZiXP9z5a5g

1. MLTR- [25 Minutes]
2. Kelly Clarkson -- [Because of You]
3. Monica -- [It's Angel Of Mine]
4. REO Speedwagon -- [Can't Fight This Feeling]
5. Mark Sherman -- [Changes In My Life]
6. Basil Valdez -- [You]
7. Whitney Houston -- [Where Do Broken Hearts Go]
8. Katy Perry -- [Thinking Of You]
9. Celine Dion -- [That's The Way It Is]
10. Bryan White -- [God Gave Me You]
11. Celine Dion -- [My Heart Will Go On]
12. Aerosmith -- [I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing]
13. Avril Lavigne -- [Wish You Were Here]
14. Gino Padilla -- [Closer You and I]
15. Selena -- [Dreaming of You]
16. Indecent Obsession -- [Fixing a Broken Heart]
17. Martin Nievera and Regine Velasquez - [Forever]
18. Bobby Caldwell -- [Heart Of Mine]
19. Mariah Carey -- [Hero]
20. Peabo Bryson -- [If Ever You're In My Arms Again]
21. Celine Dion -- [Immortality]
22. Mariah Carey ft Whitney Houston -- [When You Believe]
23. Natalie Cole -- [Miss You Like Crazy]
24. Bon Jovi -- [Thank You For Loving Me]
25. MLTR -- [Breaking My Heart]
26. Rockstar -- [Parting Time]
27. George Benson -- [Nothing's Gonna Change]
28. Christian Bautista and Sarah Geronimo -- [Please be Careful with My Heart]
29. Richard Marx -- [Right Here Waiting]
30. Roxette -- [Spending My Time]
31. Savage Garden -- [I Knew I Loved You]
32. The Corrs -- [All The Love In The World]
33. Roxette -- [Listen To Your Heart]
34. Donna Cruz and Jason Everly -- [Wish]
35. Michael Jackson -- [You Are Not Alone]
36. Original Version -- [Pusong Bato]

Have a romantic evening...

Music Monday - Ambeint Trance

This is definitely a type of music that I love to listen to while I'm writing, though it does depend on what I'm trying to do with my story at the time. Sometimes I listen to other types of music while writing. But this type of music with its dreamy quality helps get me in the zone.

Here's a full hour and nineteen minutes worth of ambient trance. May it help you get into your creative zone as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrYpqc244s8

Have a meditative evening...

20 More Things to Cherish

1. Grandpa

2. Boyfriends

3. Beach Weddings

4. Romantic Dinners

5. Firelight

6. Sand Between Your Toes

7. Birthdays

8. Trails

9. Blue Jays

10. Kestrels

11. Wrens

12. Cardinals

13. Woodpeckers

14. Florida

15. Gators

16. Conch

17. Africa

18. Sea Biscuits

19. Police

20. Detectives

Cherish - Eating Healthy - Carrot Burgers!

In my book, Cherish, the protagonist's mother loves to cook healthy food for her family.

The following original recipe by me would fit into any Ovo Lacto Vegetarian diet, as it does require the use of eggs. But feel free to substitute anything that you might use in place of eggs for binding.

Also, keep in mind that it is always preferable to use organic carrots and free-range chicken eggs when possible.

Ingredients:

7 - 8 large - medium carrots (Shredded)
2 whole eggs
1/2 - 3/4 c. flour (Any type that you prefer. I use organic whole wheat flour.)
2 - 3 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp garlic powder (not garlic salt)
Pinch of Salt (Optional)

Optional Ingredients:
Brown and wild rice (cooked), chopped raw spinach, black beans, or oatmeal. Any of these or even a combination of these can be added into the batter to "beef" up the patties. I have even added alfalfa sprouts (that I home sprout) and wild greens that I have gathered. Delicious!

Other Flavors:
Adding sage, black or white pepper, and marjoram gives a more chicken-y flavor to the patty and adding rosemary, thyme, and sage can make the patty taste more like sausage.

Frying:
2 pats of butter melted in the pan

Preparation & Cooking:

Cook carrots until they are still moist, but tender. About 3 - 5 minutes in a microwave should do. Mix in the rest of your ingredients until you get a thick, easily portioned batter. You can add more flour to thicken the batter, if necessary. Likewise you can add a little water if the batter is too thick.

Melt butter in a frying pan or wok over low to medium heat. Don't let your pan get too hot so as not to burn the patties. Spoon carrot mixture into patty shapes into pan. Allow to brown on one side, flip, brown other side, then remove from pan and allow to drain excess butter onto a paper towel laid in a plate or platter.

Once you have all of your patties (this recipe should yield 7 - 8 large patties) you can then put them on any bread that you prefer using the same condiments that you use whenever you have hamburgers. You can also eat these alone or paired with a side salad or cut into strips and placed on a hotdog bun with cole slaw. The possibilities are endless for what you can use this recipe for, even meatloaf. Just mix in what you normally put into your meatloaf, such as bell peppers, onions, or tomatoes, etc. Bake and enjoy!

I have even used these to make spaghetti and meatballs by forming the mixture into balls and partially cooking them before adding them to the sauce.

You can bake the patties in an oven as well, but since I don't have an oven I'm not sure how long they would need to bake to cook thoroughly and you want to be sure that the eggs in the mixture are completely cooked.

Personally, I just microwave 7 - 8 on a plate on high for 9 minutes. But with the way cooking times vary depending on microwave brand and the possibility that you might under cook the eggs in the mixture, I can't really advise others to prepare them this way.  After all, I live in a part of Florida that is right about at sea level and that will definitely affect cooking times in a microwave or even a regular oven.

However you choose to cook them I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. They are a very nutritious addition to your mealtime repertoire. 

Enjoy!!

Music Monday - Dubstep

Yes. Yes, I do. I wub the bass, the wobbles, and all the rest!

Enjoy!

Raise Your Weapon - Deadmau5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnwfTHpnGLY

Pumped Up Kicks Remix (Butch Clancy) - Foster the People
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXO-jKksQkM

Set Fire To The Rain (Ember Waves Dubstep Remix) - Adele
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZQ_RDb0lcE

Louder (Doctor P and Flux Pavilion Remix) - DJ Fresh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_0dLDsc-Vw

First of the Year (Equinox) - Skrillex
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cXDgFwE13g

What Am I Doing Here - Chicane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4oHWPEbMYA

Electric Daisy Violin - Lindsey Stirling (Original Song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxIOUJ7by6U

DubstEpic - Robot Boys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvc4lsmCmy4

Bring Me the Horizon - Shadow Moses (Dubstep Remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIaVtBdHsa8

Just wanted to share --
Some Awesome Middle School Talents Dancing to Louder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwPqxIQ3Kps

And just for fun--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGhVXgMoz4g

Have a meditative evening...

Music Monday - Polynesian

When I was in 5th Grade a woman came around to our school to teach us about Polynesian music and culture. I was already into all things Polynesian, because of some of the old albums my parents had, so this was absolutely exciting to me. She even taught us some Hula moves and how every movement and gesture told the story of the music. It was wonderful! Well, I still have a love for all things Polynesian, so this week I'd like to share some of my favorite Polynesian music with you.

Some of the Music from My Parents' Albums that Kicked Off My Interest: 

My Little Grass Shack In Kealakekua, Hawaii
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qm6NYz1bHg

Hawaiian Sunset
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4cOaA3nztQ

Under Hawaiian Skies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wv9yIzL7Zo

Tradewinds Over Mamala Bay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NGNUOQY_70

The More Modern Polynesian-Style Sounds I Love Today:

Kua Iti Te Marama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GMQPjeDv3c

Tamahana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iafubcZ2EAY

Te Moana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BD6MTiJgqI

Panini Pua Kea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkKOSV1xaVg

Samoa e, Maopoopo Mai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi2p_qGnbYU

Lei Hali'a
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjLR1NmbF7Q

Every Road Leads Back to You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0_uLxKmhc8

Heiau
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiRP3vUuT0w

Have a meditative evening...

Cherish - Independence Day!

I cherish the Independence and Freedom of this country, the United States of America, and I wish to all of my fellow Americans a very safe and happy Fourth of July!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzs52OzgWOs

God Bless You, Oh, Sweet United States of America! How I Love You!

Monday Music - Sweet, Sweet Bubblegum!

There is literally a ton of sugary sweet, bubblegummy, diabetes inducing music out there from both yesteryear and, well, this year. I loved it when I was a little girl and I still enjoy the nostalgia of listening to it from time to time. Not all of these acts went on to greatness, but some of them did. However, I appreciate them all for their sweet, fun, and sometimes double meaning (and not so double meaning) lyrics.

:::WARNING:::
The following sweet ear candy could cause decay, so be sure to brush after consuming!

Lemon Pipers best known for their song Green Tamborine:
Jelly Jungle (Of Orange Marmalade)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOVn6vR_p4c

1910 Fruitgum Company best known for their song Simon Says:
Goody Goody Gum Drop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5YOW0sQJ5k

Ohio Express best known for their song Yummy Yummy Yummy:
Chewy Chewy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V-FYolawTw

The Smoke best known for the following song:
My Friend Jack (Eats Sugar Lumps)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqc95i9VJdo

The Monkees best known for their song Daydream Believer:
Tapioca Tundra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWRnrRauCS8

Leslie Gore made this Marvin Hamlisch song very popular:
Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQmBXEZEYtg

The Archies were made famous by this song (Ron Dante is the vocalist):
Sugar Sugar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9nE2spOw_o

The DeFranco Family best known for their song Abracadabra:
Sweet Sweet Loretta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7I-TwHsAm8

The Osmonds best known for their song Puppy Love and the following song:
One Bad Apple
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlFQvbHVk5o

The Jackson 5ive best known for their song ABC (and a whole slew of other songs!):
Honey Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=504yWOEg4Hw

The Bay City Rollers best known for their song Saturday Night:
Money Honey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fJv5kUjddc

Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs best known for, well, the following song:
Sugar Shack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DW8ecqu0Iw

Have a sweet evening...

Cherish - Did You Know?

Did you know that Cherish, the novel by Lee Lane, is --

Of course, you'll have to read it to find out why. ;-)

Please drop back by, tomorrow, for Music Monday when I'm going to share something very sweet with you!

Until then, have a restful day.

Music Monday - Slim Whitman

I was very saddened to hear of Ottis Dewey "Slim" Whitman, Jr.'s death on the 19th of this month of June 2013. However, it was good to know that he lived such a long, full life reaching the age of 90. I always enjoyed Slim's singing, because I like yodeling, and he was great at it. Also, most of Slim's songs just sound so haunting to me and I love that!

They may have been poking fun at Slim when they used this first song to rupture the heads of invading Martians, but I really loved that a good ol' Florida boy, like Slim, could save the day just by doing what came natural like.

Indian Love Call
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBuk1HXcz1k

Paloma Blanca
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd4Zy77fDpo

Rose Marie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROq4YFsiP1Y

I Remember You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9sEQ2gzx_4

Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcVQdBBKs2o

Cool Water
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRvqS5T1UFw

Cattle Call
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjGRlKPgppw

Mockingbird Hill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDuy2udzoBQ

That's How the Yodel Was Born
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0ON5DRZGQg

I'll Hold You In My Heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izrhaZ4jmgQ

Til I Waltz Again With You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLJL8o1RzAE

The Wayward Wind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOq8Cp6oTWw

It's a Sin to Tell a Lie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdoiD8JH9y8

Silver Haired Daddy of Mine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcxfpW34wVM

Red River Valley and Tumbling Tumbleweeds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20x6U4HxRwc

Beautiful Dreamer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_xkHQXDiLM

When I Grow Too Old to Dream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziBpOEMj188

How Great Thou Art
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6WDqCjm67g

God bless you and rest in peace, Slim! You will be missed!

Cherish Puzzles - Dolphin Ring

Carrie, the protagonist of my novel, Cherish, her family, and her friends enjoy putting together jigsaw puzzles. Carrie loves any puzzle that is sea-related, like this sweet dolphin puzzle that I'm sharing from The Jigzone. I like the name of the site, but I can't help but have a little laugh to myself, because it makes me think of dancing a Jig. But it could also be seen as a fishing lure, which Carrie would like very much as well. ;-)
Enjoy!

Music Monday - Gilbert and Sullivan

A friend of mine just went to see a performance of The Gondoliers and it got me thinking about some of the amazing music of librettist W. S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan. Here are two beloved Gilbert and Sullivan favorites, but do check into some of the other Gilbert and Sullivan pieces that you can find on YouTube.

The Gondoliers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxiDQeFQAew&list=PLC624436F7C3C33A3

The Pirates of Penzance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rJ9hpY7BLU&list=PLA387300617D49BE0


Have a meditative evening.

Cherish Your Dad

In my novel, Cherish, the protagonist, Carrie, has two strong male role models in her life, her father and her maternal grandfather. Their wisdom, their time, and their love for her help to provide a stable foundation in her life when certain things go horribly wrong.

In honor of all of the great dads out there who help to bear up their sons and daughters during various crises and are just there for their children whatever the situation may entail, Happy Father's Day, gentlemen!

Cherish Humor - Carrie's Silly Jokes

Let's eat grandma!

Let's eat, grandma!

Punctuation 

Saves Lives!

There's a part in my novel, Cherish, where Carrie, the protagonist, and her family gather together for an impromptu reunion. They retell family stories, sing (and play) favorite songs, and Carrie tells them some silly jokes she has developed around common, day-to-day things.

Carrie's Silly Jokes:

Garage Sales and Yard Sales confuse me because I've been to them and never once have I been able to purchase a yard or even the garage to put on one! And don't get me started about Rummage Sales! What the heck is a 'rummage' anyway? It sounds like something a pirate would drink. Yo! Ho! Ho! And a bottle of Rummage!

You know all of this talk about opening up the Borders? I sure wish they would! That was one of my favorite stores!


I thought about going to Bed, Bath, and Beyond, but I had second thoughts. I'm not ready to go to the Great Beyond just yet. But it's mighty nice that people have a place where they can get a little rest and grab a shower before their journey to the Other Side.

 Wanted to work on the yard, but my budget's a bit tight right now, so I headed over to Dollar Tree. You know they got mad at me when I threw the cashier a dollar and started to drive off with one of the trees they had on display out in the parking lot -- and after I did all the work to dig it up, too!


I went to Walmart. Now they had quite a few walls, but when I brought the crane up to take one of those bad boys home, they called security!

Well, I'll tell ya. I went to Stein Mart, too, and I couldn't find even one stein! All they had there was a bunch of useless clothes and accessories! Pfft! Go figure!


[Author's Disclaimer:
Some (or none) of these silly jokes may be used in the story, since I'm still in the writing process. ;-) ]

Go out and have some silly weekend fun!

Music Monday - Jeri Southern

Tonight let's give a listen to the lovely and talented Jazz Pianist/Torch Singer, Jeri Southern. She quit the music business in the 1960s to teach and wrote Interpreting Popular Music At the Keyboard in her later years. She definitely wasn't just another pretty face.

That Old Devil Called Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv-3pGb2doY

When I Fall In Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Lw5XQKZfVA

I Thought of You Last Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP90KaCqQGQ

Just Got To Have Him Around
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEE0sLv2I-I

Someone To Watch Over Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhhBoInw5m4

What's My Name?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXg2r4CRepw

I Hadn't Anyone Till You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VdIMaeqkS4

Have a meditative evening...

Cherish Oxygen

Sweet - Love is Like Oxygen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmlKjO4juCo

This song has a little of what Cherish is all about -- not that it's all love and romance, mind you! No, there's some exciting and scary bits in there too!

By the way, the setting for the story is modern. Just in case you were wondering. ;-)

Enjoy!

Music Monday - Theme Song Covers

I love a good cover version of a song. Sometimes that's hard to find, but not in this case. In fact, I had a hard time choosing which version of a theme cover to choose. So much awesome talent out there!

A rather incredible A Cappella cover of the Star Wars theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG9-Ijbk3_8

COOP3RDRUMM3R Walking Dead Theme Drum Cover
(I sense a little Ginger Baker channeling, whether this young guy knows it or not. Impresssive!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF6MMJHPhZw

Sundance Kid Mission Impossible Theme Cover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R1Xd33StXM

ortoPilot Bad Things - True Blood Theme Cover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpfFaGP9w54

Super Mario Brothers Theme Cover by JustinRyan2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AdoH7bOJh8

James Bond 007 Theme Cover by Tate Richardson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9f-pCSDpY4

Fringe Theme Cover by John Kramer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vXq_It-UWM

Mushi-Shi Theme "Sore Feet" Cover by David Crandall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRGF6esPTDU

Skyrim: The Dragonborn Comes Cover by Malukah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr-buV4tYOA

Lindsey Stirling - Peter Hollens Game of Thrones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oNpmSAvpGQ

Have a meditative evening (sounds like something Dr. Bishop would say)...

Music Monday - Alternative 90s Playlist

As promised, music hits, of an alternative nature, of the 1990s. This playlist has a few deleted videos, due to copyright etc. But it still gives a good idea of what was some of the tops songs during the late, great 90s.

90s Alternative Songs - Top 100 (sans a few deleted videos)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFUcHchJ_So&list=PL9ADC587510FADCC8

Have a meditative evening.

Cherish Our Troops - Memorial Day 2013

Enjoy this day and give thanks for those who gave their lives for our sake.

Music Monday - Al Bowlly Over!

I love to time trip with music. Recently, I discovered a gentleman named Al Bowlly, and I thought, now that's a fun name. So I gave his music a listen and just had a good listening party for one. Well, I thought to myself, I thought, parties are a lot more fun when there's more than one. So, that's what we're going to do tonight, have a good old-fashioned early 20th Century high time!

Midnight, the Stars and You! by Ray Noble and Al Bowlly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhj867TUpZY

Al Bowlly sings "The Very Thought of You" (1934)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr4ncMR5EVQ

Al Bowlly - Guilty 1931 Ray Noble
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl-QQc4rsPo

My Woman - Al Bowlly (1932)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIyy3JvTFeQ

Ray Noble And His Orchestra - It's All Forgotten Now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKv5zA0RWlw

Al Bowlly - Blue Moon 1935
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcidhDV4eV4

Al Bowlly & Ray Noble Orchestra: Love is the Sweetest Thing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSx4C3MdmLA

Al Bowlly - Close Your Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0XNktHUIas

Ray Noble & Al Bowlly - Goodnight Sweetheart, 1931
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxiC28aaHww

Al Bowlly - Whispering
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W79sK2WfpZQ

Al Bowlly and Monia Liter - "My Melancholy Baby" 1933
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-yVwQtDr28

Have a meditative evening... Oh, and, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. ;-)

I Built a Boat!

Okay. I didn't really build a boat -- I'd like to, again, and I have done (way back in the day), but I did have fun with some projects that I will probably put up in my new shop once I get everything ready to get it started. As you might guess, it's going to have a nautical theme. I already lean that way as it is, nauti that is, I might as well go all the way and be absolutely nautical!

Anyway, here are the things that I've been playing around with lately. The first two are simply origami, with my own personal touch of hand coloring and naming the little boats with silly, and/or witty (I think) names and the final three are all freehand cutout pictures, with the middlemost of the last three also containing two different origami boats using two-tone paper.

 

 

I hope you're having a lovely evening, or whatever time of the day it may be where you are. I think I'm going to work on some more nauti things. ;-)