Denise at GirlieOnTheEdge has once again challenged us to write a Six Sentence Story using the prompt word “nail”. This is my story.
When I first saw him I thought I was hallucinating (was this a real person or a fear-induced illusion?) and I knew I had to remain perfectly still and quiet – my very life depended on it.
I had no idea how long I’d been there – certainly long enough for my skin to have turned red, my mouth parched, my lips cracked and I remember being stung and bitten by insects and digging my nailsinto the palms of my hands to keep from crying out, but I recall now … we were picking flowers and berries in a sun-filled field … we had been following a stream and unknowingly wandered far from home when I caught sight of a bush hidden deep in a shady area; the plant was heavy with ripe blackberries and I couldn’t resist running to the bush, happily filling my bucket with the deep purple fruit.
I was busy plucking berries when I heard screams – not the usual giddy, playful squeals of young girls but awful shrieks of terror and I started to run back only to see my three sisters encircled by a group of Indians, hulking and menacing men, blocking the girl’s attempts to flee; they wore breechcloths across their midsection, moccasins and no shirts, their faces painted and their heads shaved except for a center strip of upright long hair and I knew immediately they were the dreaded Mohawk.
They tugged the girl’s long blonde hair, poked them with sticks and tore at their starched white dresses.
I wanted to shout out but was too afraid and I hid while my sweet little sisters were raped and raped and raped.
At 15, I was the eldest and I was supposed to protect them; how could I be such a coward?
It’s one of those rare delights – an unusually quiet morning with no appointments, no grandchildren to watch and nothing to do except roll over and glance out the bedroom window.
It’s that time just after dawn but before the sky has fully lightened and I think if there’s no name for this time of day, there should be.
I yawn and stretch, feeling no tension in my body, and when my eyes open, I audibly gasp as everything around me has frozen in time. Suspended in the sky is a pregnant pearlescent circle, full and perfect, a translucent milky orb.
Good morning, Snow Moon; this is serendipity at its finest.
Snow Moon, oh so shy You fly away at my glance Where are you hiding?
Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday in the U.S., celebrated on the third Monday in February; Presidents’ Day 2024 will occur on February 19 …. hey, that’s today!
Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers.
While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents’ Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents, past and present. Very few people do that and the holiday is a day off for federal employees, kids have winter break this week and Presidents’ Day sales are going strong in stores around the country.
Hey, if you can’t laugh at the leader of the free world, who can you laugh at? Enjoy the holiday!
Presidential Bloopers
Here’s One Weird Fact About 45 Presidents (sorry Joe!)
They lived in lush green perfection of ripe fruit and pristine water. When their misadventures and disobedience angered the Maker, they and their sons were cast out.
One son, a farmer, made an offering of paltry wheat; the Maker was displeased.
The other, a shepherd, offered his firstborn lamb, which pleased the Maker.
In a panic, the jealous farmer killed his brother.
Enraged and saddened, the Maker banished the murderer, condemning him to a life of endless wandering.
Anfractuous paths covered the land. The farmer roamed for years, until blindly falling from a cliff to his death.
After receiving the diagnosis “ULCER”, Brian’s wife Ali had been lovingly, carefully packing his lunches. He checked the contents of his bento box: plain broiled cod, boiled cauliflower and coconut milk. “This must be her White Period”, he thought, wistfully.
Sensitiveand embarrassed coworkers averted their eyes as they passed Brian’s cubicle on their way to lunch. Gone were the cheerful calls “C’mon, Brian! We’re going to Smokin’ Joe’s Hot Wings for lunch!” or “Salsa and nachos in the hospitality room, guys!” Oh, the humanity!
Brian’s computer pinged. It was an email from Ali: “Hi, hon. Hope you’re having a great day. Did you find the Maalox I put in your backpack? We’re having something special for dinner tonight …. poached chicken, brown rice and garbanzo beans …. hope you’re hungry! Love ya, babe! xo”
“Ah, Ali’s Beige Period.” Brian stared blankly at the computer screen. “I wonder how many beige foods there are …. oatmeal, boiled potatoes, matzoh….”
Depressed, fatigued and hungry, Brian put his head in his hands; a solitary tear fell through his fingers onto his khakis. Slowly the wet spot morphed into the shape of a slice of pizza. “What the …. ?!” Incredulous, Brian blinked and wiped his eyes. “What’s happening to me?!” Images of devilish, cramp-inducing, bowel-seizing delicacies danced ‘round his head …. jalapeño poppers, tacos, barbecued ribs.
The dreaded hunger hallucinations!Sweating, Brian texted Ali. “Babe. Last minute meeting with the deputy mayor. Sorry, I’m gonna miss dinner. Love ya!”
Brian lied.
Grabbing the bottle of Maalox and a Smokin‘ Joe’s menu from his desk drawer, Brian bolted from his cubicle, giddy as a school girl at her first dance.
“Outta my way, boys, outta my way!!”
Brian knew he was taking a big chance but he just didn’t care. He was starving, dammit! And out he ran, laughing and joyfully shouting, “Jalapeño-effing-poppers, baby!!”
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Etta James Born January 25, 1938 in Los Angeles, California
From the album “Etta James”, this is “A Sunday Kind Of Love”
This is “I’d Rather Go Blind” from the album “Tell Mama”
From the album “Etta James – At Last”, this is “At Last”
Denise at GirlieOnTheEdge is challenging us once again to create an amazing Six Sentence Story, this time using the word “access”; this is my response.
Due, no doubt, to the cold weather, I have been doing a lot more cooking indoors, eschewing the barbecue grill for simmering pots of tomato sauce, bubbling trays of lasagna and stews roiling in slow cookers – a skill which comes naturally to me since, as I have mentioned many times recently, I hail from a long line of talented cooks, with my mother topping the list; she instilled in me at an early age a love of hearty and delicious home-cooked meals and the know-how to prepare them.
Mom was a Sicilian immigrant who attended school only until the age of 9; with her own ailing mother unable to maintain their home, my mother assumed the role of nurse, cook and maid …. devastatingly unfair, but that’s the way it was in 1925 – kids forced to abandon their childhood, growing up in a hurry.
My mother and her cousins did not have access to YouTube or TikTok or cooking channels on TV; there were no cookbooks in her small apartment …. just recipes galvanized in her brain from watching her grandmother and her aunts holding court in the kitchen.
Many of the ingredients my mother used were home grown, such as vegetables, herbs and fruit, and the items that didn’t come from the ground were all bought from the local grocer and butcher, the price haggled and haggled once again until my mother was satisfied; her purchases were of the finest quality and she always returned home with change in her purse.
When I, as a kid, would come home from school or a day outside with my friends, I would always be greeted with the sublime aromas of something magical cooking; I would float into the kitchen as though carried by angels, my nose twitching, and I would dreamily ask “What’s for dinner?”
So many mornings I was awakened by the steady thump thump thump of the base of my mother’s palm kneading and pounding the dough for her exquisite double crust pizza filled with nothing but sweet, caramelized onions sautéed to golden-brown perfection; to this day after too many years and countless attempts, I still have not figured out her secret to that culinary slice of heaven.
Rochelle from Friday Fictioneers gave us the photo below while Denise from Six Sentence Stories provided the prompt word “jingle”. This is my response, a union of two prompts, in a 100-word, six-sentence story.*
When she became pregnant the following year, they were ecstatic; their son was born in 1941, the most beautiful baby anyone ever saw – golden curls, plump cheeks as rosy as apple blossoms.
He was a delightful child who brought incredible joy into their lives.
In 1942 the baby was diagnosed with nephritis; incurable, the doctor said and they were left heartbroken.
In the blink of an eye between Jingle Bells and Auld Lang Syne, their baby silently passed away.
The young couple was devastated; they never celebrated new year’s eve again.
*This story is true; the young mother and father were my parents, their baby boy was the brother I never knew. Six weeks after their baby died, my father was drafted and spent his entire tour of duty fighting in Europe during WWII while my mother was left alone without a husband, without a baby. It wasmany years before I understood the ineffable emotional toll this had on their lives and why we never celebrated New Year’s Eve.
My friend Clive at Take It Easy …. https://cliveblogs.wordpress.com …. posted these two videos on his site last week; to me they represent what Christmas is all about. I wanted to share them and their distinctive messages with you.
The first one is a delightful advert by the people at Hafod Hardware, a shop in the Welsh town of Rhayader. Everything about it is perfection – the story that revolves around 2-year-old Arthur starting his day, helping his grandparents in their shop and the clever and imaginative ending, including the ubiquitous and endearing 👍🏼 greeting,
The second video was made for the song “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year” by Ingrid Michaelson and Zooey Deschanel. The animation is truly unique …. totally charming and endearing. I’ve never seen anything like it! I hope you enjoy these videos as much as I did.
My warmest wishes to you all, dear friends, for a very Merry Christmas!
“Merry Christmas, Happy New Year” by Ingrid Michaelson & Zooey Deschanel featuring some of the most charming, adorable and lovely animation I have ever seen! This is a real delight! ❤️
After a couple of discreet contributions to “Help!”, George really started taking his revenge with “Rubber Soul” and began to show his enormous capacity as a songwriter. With this new-found theme, George was on his way to surpassing himself on each upcoming album.
I thought I couldn’t dig George any more than I already did, but when this song came out in 1965, I realized I was wrong. I was under his spell!
In his 1980 autobiography, “I, Me, Mine”, George recalls a little about the inspiration behind “Think for Yourself”. He said that his intention was to target narrow-minded thinking and identified the British government as a possible source. Partly as a result of the vagueness of his comments, the song has been interpreted as both a political commentary and a statement on a failing personal relationship.
The song reflects the influence of Bob Dylan; just as their songs had encouraged Dylan to embrace rock music, Dylan’s work inspired the Beatles (and particularly George, as a budding songwriter), to address more sophisticated concepts than the standard love song. Some critics likened “Think For Yourself” to Dylan’s “Positively 4th Street” …. not too shabby a comparison!
From 1965’s fantastic “Rubber Soul”, this is the impressive, heavy-hitting “Think For Yourself”.
Lyrics
I’ve got a word or two To say about the things that you do You’re telling all those lies About the good things that we can have If we close our eyes
Do what you want to do And go where you’re going to Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you
I left you far behind The ruins of the life that you had in mind And though you still can’t see I know your mind’s made up You’re gonna cause more misery
Do what you want to do And go where you’re going to Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you
Although your mind’s opaque Try thinking more if just for your own sake The future still looks good And you’ve got time to rectify All the things that you should
Do what you want to do And go where you’re going to Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you
Do what you want to do And go where you’re going to Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you
You may have picked up on a theme here in my ‘all things George’ week. I started with the first song by George to appear on a Beatles album and am working my way up chronologically …. managing somehow to have overlooked two! 🤦🏼♀️ One of those songs appears today; the other will appear tomorrow. By Saturday I’ll be back on track with the correct chronology. True Giorgiophiles didn’t call me out on that booboo but those two songs are very good ones and deserve airtime here. Mea culpa!
Let’s backtrack a bit to the third George song included on a Beatles album. It was his second composition for the “Help!” album, recorded in 1965 for the film of the same name but it never made it to the soundtrack.
George double-tracked his vocals, with Paul joining in at certain times. Double-tracking vocals is the act of recording a vocal part two or more times, attempting to match each performance as closely as possible to the original, both in phrasing and in pitch, to add depth, dimension, character and harmony. (If you’re familiar with the songs of Connie Francis, you’ll know that she is famous for double-tracking and she certainly did it well.)
Presumably written about his relationship with Pattie Boyd (another ode to the divine Ms. B!) this is “You Like Me Too Much” from “Help!” or “Beatles IV”, depending on which side of the pond you’re located.
Lyrics
Though you’ve gone away this morning You’ll be back again tonight Telling me there’ll be no next time If I just don’t treat you right You’ll never leave me and you know it’s true ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you
You’ve tried before to leave me But you haven’t got the nerve To walk out and make me lonely Which is all that I deserve You’ll never leave me and you know it’s true ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you I really do
And it’s nice when you believe me If you leave me I will follow you and bring You back where you belong ‘Cause I couldn’t really stand it I’d admit that I was wrong I wouldn’t let you leave me ’cause it’s true ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you
‘Cause you like me too much and I like you I really do
And it’s nice when you believe me If you leave me I will follow you and bring You back where you belong ‘Cause I couldn’t really stand it I’d admit that I was wrong I wouldn’t let you leave me ’cause it’s true ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you
Today we mark the 22nd anniversary of George Harrison’s death; as I said the other day in my post on Song Lyric Sunday, the passing of George broke my heart. The youngest of the Beatles, he was only eight years my senior, almost to the day, but when I was 13 or 14 years old, that eight years seemed like a huge age gap.
I was in my car driving up to Rhinebeck NY to see my mother and sister when the news came on the car radio. I cried for the rest of the trip and, upon my arrival, shared the sad news with them. The irony was not lost on me how 36 years earlier the three of us bonded at a happier occasion …. the Beatles concert at Shea Stadium. The Lads always had a way of bringing people together.
And they still do for here we are once again brought together by their great music!
After “With The Beatles” and “Help!”, George was ready to take his long over-due revenge with “Rubber Soul”. “If I Needed Someone” marked the start of his (acknowledged) emergence as a songwriter beside the likes of Lennon and McCartney.
This is yet another song which George wrote for his future wife, Pattie Boyd. She must have been something else, that Pattie, to have two men (George and Eric Clapton) fall madly in love with her, marry her and have three songs (that I know of) written for her!
In “If I Needed Someone”, George invites is love interest to “Carve your number on my wall” yet offers only the possibility that he will call her back. I always loved the way he cleverly used the word “carve” when a songwriter of lesser chops would have gone with the word “write”.
From 1965’s “Rubber Soul” here is “If I Needed Someone”. There’s not a single thing wrong with a George Harrisong!
LYRICS
If I needed someone to love You’re the one that I’d be thinking of If I needed someone
If I had some more time to spend Then I guess I’d be with you, my friend If I needed someone
Had you come some other day Then it might not have been like this But you see now I’m too much in love
Carve your number on my wall And maybe you will get a call from me If I needed someone Ah, ah, ah, ah
If I had some more time to spend Then I guess I’d be with you, my friend If I needed someone
Had you come some other day Then it might not have been like this But you see now I’m too much in love
Carve your number on my wall And maybe you will get a call from me If I needed someone Ah, ah
Here’s a link to a story I first wrote in 2021 then reposted earlier this year. Most of you have read it but some have not. I’m rather proud of this piece; a ton of research went into it and it took me about 2 weeks to paraphrase everything George said because the last thing I wanted was a cut and paste type of job. It’s about as close to the truth as I could get without actually sitting down and talking with George himself. Thank you! 🩶
To all my WordPress friends ~ warmest wishes to you for a blessed and happy day of giving thanks.
Try not to be so harried and rushed that the day loses its significance and becomes a drudgery. Holidays can turn us into loose cannons ready to explode at the first sign of a glitch. Pour yourself another cup of coffee and watch the parade with the kids for half an hour, then go back and face that problem. You may be surprised how inconsequential it really is.
Take the pressure off yourself; we’re not superheroes so don’t feel like you have to juggle ten baking pans at once. Ask for a little help; you may discover cooking with someone can be more fun and relaxing than cooking for someone. And when I’m having fun and feeling relaxed, it’s contagious.
Hit the play button and get some cool tunes going. That old saying that music soothes the savage beast is true. Let the calm wash over you like a warm relaxing shower. You don’t even have to go hunting through your CDs or playlists; there’s a video at the end of this post that will take you all the way through appetizers, dinner and dessert (and maybe a little romantic dancing after all your guests have left)!
Remember the meaning of thanksgiving, the things and people in life that make you feel blessed. No matter how difficult times get, there’s always something to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving, my friends. Whether you observe the holiday or not, may you enjoy a beautiful day of peaceful solitude or celebratory joy with those you hold near and dear.Be thankful, grateful and blessed,today and every day.
Jim Adams at ‘Thursday Inspiration‘ has asked us to respond to his challenge regarding songs dealing with the word “delight”. This is my response to that challenge.
“Dixieland Delight” is a 1983 song written by Ronnie Rogers and recorded by the American country music band Alabama. It was released in January 1983 as the lead-off single from their album, “The Closer I Get…”.
The song reached No. 1 on the BillboardHot Country Songs list. After its release, the song became a college football tradition within the Southeastern Conferrence, most notably within the Alabama Crimson Tide football and Tennessee Volunteer football fan bases.
The song’s title refers to the girlfriend of the singer. The bottom line is that during their weekend outing, he plans to get it on with his sweet little “Dixieland Delight” in his truck in a meadow (“Home-grown country girl, gonna give me a whirl“).
Lyrics Rollin’ down a Backwoods, Tennessee byway One arm on the wheel Holdin’ my lover with the other A sweet, soft, southern thrill Worked hard all week, got a little jingle On a Tennessee Saturday night Couldn’t feel better, I’m together With my Dixieland delight
Spend my dollar Parked in a holler ‘neath the mountain moonlight Hold her uptight, make a little lovin’ A little turtle dovin’ on a Mason-Dixon night Fits my life, oh, so right My Dixieland delight
White-tail buck deer munchin’ on clover Red-tail hawk sittin’ on a limb Chubby old groundhog, croakin’ bullfrog Free as the feelin’ in the wind Home-grown country girl gonna give me a whirl On a Tennessee Saturday night Lucky as a seven, livin’ in Heaven With my Dixieland delight
Spend my dollar Parked in a holler ‘neath the mountain moonlight Hold her uptight, make a little lovin’ A little turtle dovin’ on a Mason-Dixon night Fits my life, oh, so right My Dixieland delight
Spend my dollar Parked in a holler ‘neath the mountain moonlight Hold her uptight, make a little lovin’ A little turtle dovin’ on a Mason-Dixon night Fits my life, oh, so right My Dixieland delight
Rollin’ down a backwoods, Tennessee byway One arm on the wheel Holdin’ my lover with the other A sweet, soft, southern thrill Worked hard all week, got a little jingle On a Tennessee Saturday night Couldn’t feel better, I’m together With my Dixieland delight
Dear Diary: There’s a new boy in school named Carter. He’s so cool. He’s half black …. his skin is the color of milk chocolate and he’s got amazing green eyes. I dig him. If my parents find out, I’m dead! They’re so prejudiced!
Friday, 10/27/1961
Dear Diary: Great news! Carter is now my Biology partner! I know he’s into me. He winks whenever he sees me. My friends giggle; they’re so childish. Really! We’re 15. The black girls are giving me dirty looks. Beverly bumped me hard when she walked by. Carter likes me! He’s so hot!
Monday, 10/30/1961
Dear Diary: We were sitting real close in class, sharing the microscope. Carter’s arm brushed against my boob. I liked it. I leaned in closer and placed my hand on his leg. Then the bell rang! Carter whispered “Give me your phone number”. I scribbled it down and he winked at me.
Tuesday, 10/31/1961
Dear Diary: Teacher’s Conference Day. No school and my parents are at work. The ringing phone woke me. I was stunned to hear Carter’s voice: “Pretty Lily White. I’m bored. Come to my place. We’ll listen to music.” I said “Okay“, and got his address. I walked the three blocks to his house. The radio was playing Motown and we started dancing. He gave me a drink …. Scotch, I think …. and he laughed when I coughed. He took my glass and kissed me. I’d never been kissed like that before. We were drinking, smoking and dancing. I must have passed out. I only remember bits and pieces. I woke up in Carter’s bed. The Miracles singing “Ooh, Baby, Baby”. Carter’s friends Warren and Kevin appeared in a cloud over my head; I have no memory of them being there. What did I do? What did they do? Next thing I know I’m dressed and Carter’s helping me down the stairs, mumbling something about having to “clean up the mess”. He opened the front door and I staggered out, the cool air clearing my head a bit. I smelled like smoke, Scotch and sex. Somehow I made it home, showered and crawled into bed. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.
Wednesday, 11/1 – Friday 11/3/1961
Dear Diary: Faked bad period cramps. Skipped school and missed the Halloween dance tonight. I just couldn’t face anyone..
Monday, 11/3/1961
Dear Diary: This morning at school I saw Carter walking with his arm around Beverly. He winked at me as we passed and Beverly bumped me hard. Carter’s friends laughed. I’m sure they all know what happened. I could just die.
It’s all new Birthday Thursdays at The Rhythm Section. No talk, no fuss, no muss. Just wall-to-wall music! Stop by and check it out! 🎂 https://rhythmsection.blog/
For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams is asking us to think about songs dealing with “changes”. Well, how can I pass up an opportunity like that? Today I am going with a song from a group usually not associated with ballads. My featured artist is Black Sabbath and my song choice is an obvious one: “Changes”.
Sabbath was formed in Birmingham, England in 1968 by guitarist Toni Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osborne. Like so many young guys from that time period, they were looking to escape a life of factory work through music. They got their start in such bands as the psychedelic Rare Breed and Mythology. Influenced by the reigning British rock and blues bands of Led Zeppelin, Cream and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, our four enterprising guys formed Earth Blues Company (shortened to Earth) in 1968. Then, as Black Sabbath, the group helped define the heavy metal music genre early in its career with the release of albums such as the eponymous Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1971) and Master of Reality (1971).
Black Sabbath has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making the group one of the most commercially successful metal bands. They were ranked by MTV as the “Greatest Metal Band of All Time” and placed 2nd on VH1’s list of “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock”. Black Sabbathwas inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2019 the band was presented a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
As I mentioned earlier, these four guys suffered the same plight as many young men …. give up your youth and life to working day after day in the factories, the mines or on the docks doing back-breaking manual labor and earning barely enough to exist or find an escape through music. This is true for so many guys who formed bands back then. And success did not come overnight. They earned it all. This is just one of the many reasons I love heavy metal music and why I get annoyed at people who dismiss it out of hand as nothing but noise.
But I digress…..
“Changes” is a piano ballad mainly inspired by drummer Bill Ward’s ongoing breakup with his first wife. As explained in Ozzy Osbourne’s autobiography, while in the studio and experimenting with the piano, guitarist Tony Iommi composed the song’s sentimental melody. This was later accompanied by bassist Geezer Butler’s lyrics. The song was not recorded with a real string ensemble. Instead, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi used a Mellotron to create the sound of an orchestra. The ballad also does not feature guitar or drums. Quite different from Sabbath’s previous work, “Changes” has been described as ‘heartbreaking’ and ‘forlornly pretty’.
From Black Sabbath’s 1972 album, “Vol 4”, this is “Changes”:
Lyrics
I feel unhappy, I feel so sad I’ve lost the best friend that I ever had She was my woman, I loved her so But it’s too late now, I’ve let her go
I’m going through changes I’m going through changes
We shared the years, we shared each day In love together, we found the way But soon the world had its evil way My heart was blinded, love went astray
I’m going through changes I’m going through changes
It took so long to realise And I can still hear her last goodbyes Now all my days are filled with tears Wish I could go back and change these years
I’m going through changes I’m going through changes
Three decades later in 2003, Ozzy Osbourne re-recorded “Changes” as a duet with his daughter, Kelly. The lyrics for this version were revised to reflect their relationship and moments of their life together focusing on the changing relationship of a father and daughter drifting apart. This rendition reached No. 1 in the UK singles chart.
Here are Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne performing “Changes”:
Lyrics
[Verse 1: Kelly Osbourne & Ozzy Osbourne] I feel unhappy, I am so sad I’ve lost the best friend that I ever had She is my baby, I love her so But it’s too late, now, I’ve let her go
[Chorus: Ozzy Osbourne with Kelly Osbourne] We’re going through changes We’re going through changes
[Verse 2: Kelly Osbourne & Ozzy Osbourne] We shared the years, we shared each day I love you, daddy, but I’ve found my way You know, the world is an evil place My baby’s grown, now, she found her way
[Chorus: Ozzy Osbourne with Kelly Osbourne] We’re going through changes We’re going through changes
[Verse 3: Kelly Osbourne & Ozzy Osbourne] It took so long to realize And I can still hear his last goodbye Now, all my days are filled with fears Wish I could go back and change the years
“Changes”
Single by Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne
from the album Shut Up
Released
8 December 2003
Length
4:07
Label
Sanctuary
Songwriter(s)
Ozzy Osbourne Tony Iommi Geezer Butler Bill Ward
Producer(s)
Mark Hudson
Ozzy Osbourne singles chronology
“Stillborn” (2003) “Changes“ (2003) “In My Life” (2005)
Sixty-something years had passed since that night on Amagansett Beach but the twins and their younger sister had never forgotten.
Their cousin, Susie, had been with them that night. She was the only one who didn’t run from the strange fluorescent orbs as they hovered above the shore. She was imprisoned, locked in place, arms reaching heavenward.
Susie was never the same after that night. Only ten years later, she died of unknown causes.
Now there were new reports of luminous globes suspended over the waters of Amagansett Beach; the twins and their sister felt an inexplicable compulsion to return.
Author’s Note: This story is based on true events experienced by my husband, his twin brother, their sister and their cousin when they were pre-teens. After that night, they never again discussed the mysterious and frightening incident. Quite a few years later during the course of conversation, they were shocked to discover they all had the same disturbing recurring dreams.
Ever since he was a small boy growing up in Fairfax, Missouri, Will Horton was obsessed with baseball. Every chance he had he’d play ball with his friends and when no one was around, he’d spend hours bouncing a ball off the old shed behind the house.
In 5th grade Will was one of the starting pitchers for his Little League Team, the Badgers. They practiced three or four days a week after school and played a game every Saturday against the rival team – the Coyotes. By the time Will entered 7th grade, he qualified for the traveling team playing both home and away games.
Most nights during baseball season, Will and his dad Tom would hunker down in front of the TV and watch the local major league baseball team, the Kansas City Royals. Will dreamed of one day playing with the Royals in Big K Stadium; he longed to go to a game but tickets weren’t cheap and Kansas City was 100+ miles from Fairfax. “Some day” Will would whisper to himself and fall asleep every night clutching his mitt.
On his 10th birthday Tom surprised Will with two tickets to the Royals game. Will talked nonstop all the way to the game, quoting all the Royals stats. Arriving at the Big K, he swore it was the biggest building in all Missouri. Will was the happiest he’d ever been. The smell of peanuts and hot dogs filled the air and the crowd was anxious for the game to start. Finally the Royals ran onto the field to cheers from the fans. They played a great game and won with a staggering score of 16 to 2. All the way home Will and Tom talked about the game.
That night at bedtime Will made himself the biggest promise ever – to one day be starting pitcher for the Royals against the most famous baseball team in the world: The New York Yankees.
Time went on, Will graduated high school and was recruited by the University of Miami as pitcher for the Miami Hurricanes. In the evenings he delivered pizza, saving what money he could. He was living his dream. One night that dream abruptly turned into a hellish nightmare when Will’s delivery car was sideswiped by a truck and slammed hard into the side of a building. Will lost consciousness and woke up in the hospital; his pitching arm had been amputated just above the elbow.
Will was devastated; his baseball days were over before they even started. Needing to get away from Miami and reminders of the crash, he transferred to a college in Cincinnati which happened to be located across from The Great American Ballpark, home to the Cincinnati Reds. On game nights he’d go up to the school’s rooftop alone to watch the games.
One particularly dismal night about eight months after his accident, Will pushed himself up onto the ledge of the roof and inched his way to the edge. Hugging the stump of his right arm, he stared at the twinkling lights coming from The Great American. Will swayed slightly; there was nothing to hold on to. He looked straight ahead at the stadium, then closed his eyes and slowly lifted his right foot off the ledge. What did he have left in his life?
In the heavy silence of the night, Will was aware of a barely imperceptible click as the door to the roof quietly closed. A soft voice by his side asked “You don’t really want to do that, do you?”
“What’s it to you? You don’t even know me.“
“That’s true” came the reply “but if you jump, who’s gonna go to tomorrow’s game with me?“
Planting his foot back on the ledge, Will glanced out of the corner of his eye. There stood a petite figure wearing a baseball cap. From the back pocket of her jeans she produced two tickets and placed them down on the ledge.
The shadow of a smile crossed Will’s face; this girl had spunk. Offering her hand, Will reached out, grabbed hold and climbed off the ledge.
“Hey, I’m Kate.”
“Will Horton” he replied.
“Well, Will Horton. Do we have a date?”
He paused for just a second. “Yeah. Why not?”
“If you play your cards right, Will Horton, there’s a couple of good games coming up in June and July. Ever hear of a little team called The New York Yankees?”
Will suddenly realized he was still clutching Kate’s hand. It felt really good having someone to hold on to.
It’s October – World Series month here in the USA and the games begin in just 10 days. Unfortunately for us here in NY, the Yanks fell short again but if you’re a diehard baseball fan like me, you’ll watch any game that’s on TV. Here’s a great song in honor of America’s Favorite Pastime – “Centerfield” by John Fogerty. Play ball!
I hope you’ll join me today as we continue our musical journey In The Groove. Hold onto your baseballs! ⚾️ https://rhythmsection.blog/
Since publishing my story Honeysuckle and Provolone, I have received a few requests for my lasagna recipe. I’m happy to share a great Italian dish which I’m sure will become a favorite of yours. I’ve been making lasagna for more than 50 years and I have a few tricks that will prevent major headaches for anyone who is making lasagna for the first time.
The most difficult part about preparing lasagna is handling the boiled pasta sheets; they can be delicate and I always suggest cooking them al dente as they will continue to cook while in the oven. I know some people who prefer to skip the boiling step altogether since the sheets will cook and soften up in the tomato sauce while baking.
Another option is to place the lasagna sheets in a pan, cover with boiling water and let them sit for 30 minutes before rinsing in cold water. The people at Barilla make traditional lasagna sheets as well as ones that are oven-ready and do not require boiling; I have never tried making lasagna without first boiling the pasta sheets so I’m not an authority on the oven-ready method. However, I do know enough about cooking to know that the pasta will soften up sufficiently while baking as long as you use enough tomato sauce to cover it entirely.
I prefer to use Barilla pasta; I believe it is a superior product – lighter and tastier than other brands. That’s just my preference; please use whichever brand you like.
This is the tradition Barilla lasagna I use. One box (1 lb) is sufficient for one 9×13″ lasagna.
This is what the “no bake” or “oven-ready” lasagna sheets look like. They are much smaller, the package is smaller and you will need to buy several boxes to make one 9×13″ lasagna.
If you’re making a traditional lasagna and boiling the pasta first, it’s very important to use a BIG pot. The lasagna sheets are long and wide and need plenty of room to move around in the water; I prefer to cook six sheets at a time for less crowding in the pot. Also, it’s extremely helpful to add a splash of oil to the pasta water; this will keep the lasagna sheets from sticking together. Once lasagna sheets get stuck together, it’s extremely difficult to separate them without tearing. A little oil in the cooking water will prevent a big sticky problem. Boil the lasagna sheets for the amount of time indicated in the cooking directions on the box. And don’t forget to salt the cooking water.
Boiled lasagna sheets should be rinsed and separated in a colander under cold water immediately after cooking and kept in a pot or plastic tub of cold water while the meat is cooking and the cheese filling is being prepared. Just as you would use an ice bath to stop vegetables from overcooking and to retain their color, use a cold water bath for the cooked lasagna sheets.
Here’s another trick a lot of cooks ignore. When assembling lasagna in a baking pan, the direction of the lasagna sheets should be alternated every other layer. The first layer of pasta should be placed lengthwise in the baking pan with the edges slightly overlapping; the next layer should be placed widthwise in the pan. Since the width of a standard lasagna pan is shorter than the length, the lasagna sheets will need to be trimmed to fit the pan. This is easy to do with standard kitchen scissors. Alternating the layers will make for a firmer lasagna that will not fall apart when cut into; this is the best assembly method to use regardless of the size of the pan and you will always have neatly cut squares of lasagna.
Here is an image of layering lasagna sheets; there’s no sauce or other ingredients in this image so you can clearly see what I mean by alternating the layers:
First layer is lengthwise; 2nd layer is widthwise and trimmed to fit the size of the pan. Easy!
This may seem like a lot of information but don’t let it scare you; it’s basic reference info only. If you refer to it as you cook, you shouldn’t have any problems.
Now, let’s take a look at the ingredients:
1 lb sweet Italian sausage 1 lb ground chuck 80/20 ½ cup diced onion 1 teaspoon minced garlic 28oz can crushed tomatoes (+see below) 12oz can tomato paste (+see below) 15oz can tomato sauce (+see below) ¼ cup water 2 tablespoons granulated sugar ½ cup freshly chopped basil 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (*see below) 1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 12 lasagna pasta sheets 15oz whole milk ricotta cheese 1 lb whole milk mozzarella, shredded (reserve a handful to sprinkle on top layer of lasagna) ½ cup grated Romano cheese (reserve a handful to sprinkle on top layer of lasagna) ½ cup grated parmigiano cheese (reserve a handful to sprinkle on top layer of lasagna) 1 large egg dash nutmeg
+ I am not a fan of tomato sauce in a jar. My mother taught me to make her tomato sauce and that is the only one I use. On a day when I have nothing to do, I’ll whip up a few batches, portion it out into Tupperware and freeze it. It’s nice to know it’s there whenever I need it; however, canned tomatoes for this recipe are fine.
* Using a store-bought mixed jar of Italian seasoning is perfectly fine but you might want to try making your own. Combine 2 tablespoons each of dried basil, cilantro, marjoram, oregano, parsley, red pepper flakes, rosemary and thyme. Store in a tightly sealed spice jar. Using store-bought Italian seasoning for this recipe is fine.
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
This recipe makes a large pan of lasagna. I use a deep dish Pyrex lasagna pan or a deep 9×13” baking pan.
In a large saucepan, cook the sausage, ground beef, onion and garlic until cooked through. Drain the fat..
To the cooked meat add the tomatoes, paste, sauce, water, sugar, basil, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and parsley. Stir well.
Simmer, covered, over low heat for 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally.
While meat is cooking, boil the lasagna sheets; drain and keep cool in cold water.
In a medium bowl mix together all the cheeses, egg and nutmeg
LET’S PUT OUR LASAGNA TOGETHER! (I suggest reading through before starting)
Heat oven to 350ºF.
Lightly cover the bottom of a 9×13″ lasagna pan with a small amount of meat sauce.
Spoon approximately ¼ of cheese mixture over lasagna sheets and spread to cover.
Spread 1/2 cup of meat sauce – or enough to cover the cheese mixture.
Cover meat sauce with 4 lasagna sheets widthwise, cutting to fit pan.
Continue layering cheese mixture, meat sauce and lasagna sheets, alternating the direction of the sheets, until all ingredients are used. Reserve some meat sauce for the top layer. Top lasagna with meat sauce and sprinkle with grated cheese and mozzarella.
Cover pan with with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes; remove foil and bake an additional 30 minutes uncovered.
Allow the lasagna to cool for 15 minute before slicing.
Serve with a side salad and warm Italian bread.
That’s all there is to it! You’ve made lasagna! 👩🏼🍳
It’s been a pleasure sharing with you the recipe for one of the most popular Italian dishes. There are many different variations of lasagna – meatless, wholegrain, vegetable, béchamel, kosher, etc; don’t be afraid to experiment and make whatever changes you like. Google is a chef’s great friend! If you’re not a fan of sausage, this recipe can be made using all ground beef.
More important that anything – enjoy your cooking experience. Cooking should be a joy – not a chore. To that end, I’ve added a full concert video by Il Volo to accompany you while you cook.
This week Jim at Song Lyric Sunday is asking us to write about a song that mentions a food suggested by Christine of Stine Writing and Miniatures. Here is a unique little ditty just about as old as bread itself.
“Bread and Butter” is a 1964 song by the American pop vocal trio Newbeats; it was the group’s first and most popular hit. The song served as the Newbeats’ demo in an effort to obtain a recording contract with Hickory Recording.
The opening two-chord piano riff and the lead falsetto of Larry Henley are the most notable features of the song.
“Bread and Butter” was the inspiration for the advertising jingle of Schmidt Baking Company used in the 1970s and 1980s; it went like this:
“I like bread and butter, I like toast and jam, I like Schmidt’s Blue Ribbon Bread, It’s my favorite brand”.
Catchy, isn’t it?
The song has been featured in numerous movies and TV shows as well as a variety of television commercials. It is part of music compilations found on Billboard Top Rock’n’Roll Hits: 1964 as well as Classic Rock (Time-Life Music).
Let’s have a listen to this quirky hit from 1964:
Lyrics
… Ah, he likes bread and butter Ah, he likes toast and jam Ah, that’s what his baby feeds him Ah, he’s her loving man
… Well, I like bread and butter I like toast and jam That’s what baby feeds me I’m her loving man
… Ah, he likes bread and butter Ah, he likes toast and jam That’s what his baby feeds him Ah, he’s her loving man
… Well, she don’t cook mashed potatoes She don’t cook T-bone steak She don’t feed me peanut butter She knows that I can’t take
… Ah, he likes bread and butter Ah, he likes toast and jam Ah, that’s what his baby feeds him Ah, he’s her loving man
… Well, I got home early one Monday Much to my surprise She was eating chicken and dumplings With some other guy
… No more bread and butter Ah, no more toast and jam He found his baby eating Ah, with some other man
… No, no, no No more bread and butter Ah, no more toast and jam I found my baby eating Ah, with some other man
… No, no, no, no No more bread and butter No, no, no, no Ah, no more toast and jam
… No, no, no, no Ah, no more bread and butter No, no, no, no Ah, no more toast and jam No, no, no, no Ah, no more bread and butter
As Jim pointed out to me, the big surprise in this song is when the guy comes home early and finds his lover eating chicken and dumplings with some other guy! What a great ending!
Well, I gotta run; I think I smell toast burning! 🍞 🧈 🥫
Went to the farmer’s market yesterday. Lots of pitting ahead of me but this isn’t my first rodeo.
Toss all the pitted cherries into a saucepan with some sugar and lemon juice. Let that cook over a medium heat just until the juices are released. Scoop the cherries into a bowl with a slotted spoon. Mix some of the cherry sauce with cornstarch until dissolved, then return it to the pot to cook until thick. Pour over the cherries and set aside while preparing your pie crust.
I love working with dough; it’s very therapeutic. After years of practice, making the perfect pie crust is a piece of cake! And don’t forget to save any dough remnants.
Line a pie plate with your crust and add the cherry filling. Here’s where you can get fancy. Remember the crust trimmings you set aside? Ball them up, then roll out the dough into a circle but not too thin. Cut strips out of your dough to lay a lattice top crust across the cherry filling. If you’re new to this, just place the whole, uncut circle of dough over the pie filling and poke a hole in the top for the steam to escape while your pie bakes.
Don’t forget to crimp the edges of your crust. Finish it off by brushing a thin layer of beaten egg over the top. We all like a bit of sweetness; sprinkle some sugar on it! 💋
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