Rapier's Wit

Do you have a scar on your body that you can't recollect how it got there? With all the falls, scrapes, and injuries I've had in my lifetime I am surprised more scars don't exist. On one occasion when it was warm enough this summer to bask in the sunshine to get my dose of Vitamin D, I sat with my leg propped up on my knee. You know, because all the cool kids have imperfect, uneven tan lines. Anywho... While my leg was propped on my knee, I noticed this scar and fully recall how it got there. It's not like that scene from Lethal Weapon 3 where Renee Russo and Mel Gibson compare battle scars: So, this is the battle scar in question It has faded dramatically in the 37 years it has been a part of me. Any guess on how I got it? I bet no one will guess correctly.

The approach of Father's Day always gets me thinking. For one, it makes me miss my own father very much (he died in '99). That was the same year I went through my divorce. We were 800 miles away from the nearest family and I had to go through it without my rock, my father. You can tell me he was and always has been with me in spirit but those are just empty words when all one truly needs is to have the presence in human form of the embodiment of unconditional love. He wasn't a man of many words despite his articles in The Kankakee Journal's Voice of the People and other various publications. When it came to his kids, his thoughts were many, but his words profound and few. Our relationship hadn't always been ideal. As a little girl, I was undoubtedly his baby. The last born of the brood he had with my mother, he seemed determined to do right by me. We had a special bond. Then, when my mother passed away in '81, it was quickly severed and we hit years of rough...

Have you ever seen a Christopher Guest movie? A Might Wind, Best in Show, This is Spinal Tap ? They call those mockumentaries. They're set up as documentary films with just an outline and not much of a script. In the spirit of that same theme two long time friends and funny gals are creating a similar web show.  Ya know what, watch this clip. Me babbling is boring and this clip is, in my opinion, funny.  The idea of the teaser is a sneak peek of what you'll see if  the funds can be raised to produce it. Check it out and if you love it, donate to the project. Last season 82 South  St  created very funny sketches. Go peruse those on YouTube! My personal favorites are  Scrabble Bitches and Black Scrapbook.

In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded, commercially released song... Cover songs, in my opinion, should only be done if the artist is creative enough to maintain the integrity of the original but improve upon it. Most attempts are copy cat or diabolically atrocious. Case in point is the reason I am writing about this today.  I stumbled upon a Jonas Brothers' attempt at Aha's 'Take on Me." Really Joe, Kevin and Nick? I'm sure your fan base adore the invitation. Don't you love how the instrument playing brothers really rock out. Wooooo! Thrash that perfectly coiffed hair, boys. Some covers outshine the original.  The artists own it like they wrote it. The following examples are such endeavors. Naturally, this is just my opinion, but if you disagree I would appreciate you just shut yer pie hole.  Oh, I will fight you ... Katie Melua covers "Just Like Heaven" orig...

Hey! I stumbled across this while exploring my latest addiction : lala click the link on the player. Look me up and we can be friends. You know friiiiiieeeeeeends . Shy Boy - Katie Melua You might remember Katie Melua from an earlier post. She did a cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" that, in my humble opinion, encompasses far more emotion than the original. It's just an opinion. Don't tar and feather me. There was a time in my life when I was drawn to bad boys. The hard to attain boys. The guys who made me jump through hoops for their attention. In other words, total asshats . Then, I married one. hahahahahaha OK, not really a laughing matter. He wasn't a bad boy. He was a do-whatever-I-want-to-boy; without-facing-consequence-boy. Believe it or not, I'm a shy girl when I truly want to pursue a relationship. I'm ballsy and forward when there are no stakes. Flirting without fear of rejection is second nature if I'm not being serious....

I'm so grateful for the influence my parents had on me musically. You're all aware how my heart is deeply rooted in the '80s and all the cultural impact of that decade and the early '70s with Michael Jackson, Donny Osmond, The Beatles etc... What I have touched very little on is how my parents' generation of music played a huge part in the early years of wee little Rissy. My mother had records of Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra, Perry Como. Crooners, if you will. While I don't believe her to have been a big fan of Sinatra, I think I remember a Dean Martin record tucked away in the stacks. One of my favorite movie soundtracks is from When Harry Met Sally . Harry Connick Jr channels the masters of swing. Additionally, My Best Friend's Wedding contains great covers by Ani DeFranco and Jann Arden. But my favorite of all? A song done by the king himself: Tony Bennett. He's the captain of cool. The muchacho of machismo. The man can croon, good golly....