This world is full of conflicts and full of things that cannot be reconciled. But there are moments when we can… reconcile and embrace the whole mess, and that’s what I mean by ‘Hallelujah.’ ~ Leonard Cohen
[The photographer of the above photo . . . ]
[Janet is pretty much responsible for every entertainment venue that occurs in town (and maybe even in other places) . . . ]
[Our server, Vicky, from the original SAWA times remarked it was just like the good ole days – fun with all the original fans. Sami Steidl was back to play with the boys from Tuesday Night Club. She was our first discovered wunderkind after we retired here . . . ]
The difference between a violin and a viola is that a viola burns longer. ~ Victor Borge
It always seems impossible until it’s done. ~ Nelson Mandela
[Sami moved to Colorado in 2014 but drops by occasionally to play with the local musicians she grew up with . . . ]
If I knew where the good songs came from, I’d go there more often. ~ Leonard Cohen
When things get really bad, just raise your glass and stamp your feet and do a little jig. That’s about all you can do. ~ Leonard Cohen
Music is the emotional life of most people. ~ Leonard Cohen
[Admittedly, a terrible job of getting any good shots of Sami. They had the audacity to seat her entire family in front of us . . . ]
Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash. ~ Leonard Cohen
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. ~ Buddha
When you play a violin piece, you are a storyteller, and you’re telling a story. ~ Joshua Bell
I usually listen to the same thing over and over again: Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major. And Leonard Cohen. ~ Sue Townsend
A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy? ~ Albert Einstein
A video at Sami’s high school graduation party, 2011 . . .
There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in. ~ Leonard Cohen
The last refuge of the insomniac is a sense of superiority to the sleeping world. ~ Leonard Cohen
The majority of husbands remind me of an orangutan trying to play the violin. ~ Honore de Blazac
I hope this doesn’t shock you, but the Super predates the boomer generation by one year and I am a second year boomer. That means we are required under local, state, and federal law to have cats – as a requirement for continuing Medicare eligibility. The pandemic meant we couldn’t put it off any longer. The Super was getting cabin fever and was itching to be able to travel again. So, we did, on October 3rd. All the way to the Golden Valley Humane Society to pick up Guinevere and Galahad, sister and brother born on July 28, 2020. This is their life story . . .
Warning: This post is nothing more than Fran Lebowitz quotes interspersed with kitty photos . . .
To me the outdoors is what you must pass through in order to get from your apartment into a taxicab. ~ Fran Lebowitz
The customary way for white people to think about the topic of race—and it is only a topic to white people—is to ask, “How would it be if I were black?”…..The way to approach it, I think, is…to seriously consider what it is like to be white. ~ Fran Lebowitz
October 2020
Soft kitty, Warm kitty, Little ball of fur. Happy kitty, Sleepy kitty, Purr Purr Purr . . .
[Above: Laddie in front (whiter face); Guinie behind. Below: Golden Valley Humane Society]
He allowed people to express their racism and bigotry in a way that they haven’t been able to in quite a while and they really love him for that. It’s a shocking thing to realize people love their hatred more than they care about their own actual lives. The hatred – what is that about? It’s a fear of your own weakness. ~ Fran Lebowitz
[Kent Nerburn, an author with a couple of fans, is also the sculptor of the above . . . ]
[Thank you!]
[First photo at home – go for the shoe laces, pull dad’s shoes off the bench . . . ]
I do not believe in God. I believe in cashmere. ~ Fran Lebowitz
If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater, suggest that he wear a tail. ~ Fran Lebowitz
My favorite animal is steak. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Food is an important part of a balanced diet. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Thanks, Mom! We love the 5-story condo . . .
Life is something that happens when you can’t get to sleep. ~ Fran Lebowitz
[Cod piece?]
I am not the type of person who wants to go back to the land. I am the type who wants to go back to the hotel. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Do we needsunblock?
No animal should ever jump up on the dining room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation. ~ Fran Lebowitz
I never took hallucinogenic drugs because I never wanted my consciousness expanded oneunnecessary iota. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Perhaps the least cheering statement evermade on the subject of art is that life imitates it. ~ Fran Lebowitz
[Looking for good seats for their first snow . . . ]
Did it ever occur to anyone that if you put nice libraries in public schools you wouldn’t have to put them in prisons? ~ Fran Lebowitz
I love sleep because it is both pleasant and safe to use. Pleasant because one is in the best possible company and safe because sleep is the consummate protection against the unseemliness that is the invariable consequence of being awake. What you don’t know won’t hurt you. Sleep is death without the responsibility. ~ Fran Lebowitz
If your sexual fantasies were truly of interest to others, they would no longer be fantasies. ~ Fran Lebowitz
There’s no such thing as advice to the lovelorn. If they took advice, they wouldn’t be lovelorn. ~ Fran Lebowitz
November
[Golf is discovered as an indoor spectator sport . . . ]
I think it’s a 4-iron . . .
You have to hit a low hook from there . . .
ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?
Being a woman is of special interest only to aspiring male transsexuals. To actual women it is merely a good excuse not to play football. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Think before you speak, read before you think. ~ Fran Lebowitz
[They were pretty much the same weight . . . ]
[Then Laddie discovered food. We call him Laddie the Load dwarfing his sister . . . ]
[They were a little over 2 pounds here. They still fit themselves in this “container” at 12 and 8 pounds . . . ]
I never met anyone who didn’t have a very smart child. What happens to these children, you wonder, when they reach adulthood? ~ Fran Lebowitz
[Their first (and last) Christmas tree . . . ]
Original thought is like original sin: both happened before you were born to people you could not possibly have met. ~ Fran Lebowitz
[l]et me assure you: the world is full of mediocre men who are stunning successes. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Stand firm in your refusal to remain conscious during algebra. In real life, I assure you, there is no such thing as algebra. ~ Fran Lebowitz
There is one thing that has disappeared, not just from the U.S. but from the entire world, is the idea of ever being embarrassed by anything. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Chocolate is an excellent flavor for ice cream but both unreasonable and disconcerting in chewing gum. ~ Fran Lebowitz
A salad is not a meal. It is a style. ~ Fran Lebowitz
December
[The Super introduced the traditional Christmas flag . . . ]
There’s no equivalent to Mozart in writing. ~ Fran Lebowitz
That which we call civilization is merely the accumulated debris of a chilling number of bad nights. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Presently it appears that people are mainly concerned with being well rested. Those capable of uninterrupted sleep are much admired. Unconsciousness is in great demand. This is the day of the milligram. ~ Fran Lebowitz
This is not my favorite way to wake up. My favorite way to wake up is to have a certain French movie star whisper to me softly at two thirty in the afternoon that if I want to get to Sweden in time to pick up my Nobel Prize for Literature I had better ring for breakfast. This occurs rather less often than one might wish. ~ Fran Lebowitz
January2021
[How exciting – small creatures running up and down the screen. I think I can catch one . . . ]
People have been cooking and eating for thousands of years, so if you are the very first to have thought of adding lime juice to scalloped potatoes try to understand there must be a reason for this. ~ Fran Lebowitz
The rigors of learning how to do long division have been a traditional part of childhood, just like learning to smoke. In fact, as far as I am concerned, the two go hand in hand. Any child who cannot do long division by himself does not deserve to smoke. ~ Fran Lebowitz
[To her credit, Quinie developed a fondness for girls high school hockey . . . ]
If you’re going to America, bring your own food. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Vegetables are interesting but lack a sense of purpose when unaccompanied by a good cut of meat. ~ Fran Lebowitz
February
Nothing succeeds like address. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Calling a taxi in Texas is like calling a rabbi in Iraq. ~ Fran Lebowitz
[Responsible parents getting vaccinated . . . ]
March
[The kitties introduction to the grape – they dove in head first . . . ]
The best fame is a writer’s fame. It’s enough to get a table at a good restaurant, but not enough to get you interrupted when you eat. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Polite conversation is rarely either. ~ Fran Lebowitz
[Paper towels are much easier to use if they’re totally unrolled into an unruly pile . . . ]
Contrary to popular opinion, the hustle is not a new dance step – it is an old business procedure. ~ Fran Lebowitz
April
[Responsible parents eating properly – at Krewe, the new cajun/creole restaurant in St. Joe . . . ]
Andy Warhol made fame more famous. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Spilling your guts is just exactly as charming as it sounds. ~ Fran Lebowitz
If your child simply grows up to be someone who does not use the word ”collectible” as a noun, you can consider yourself an unqualified success. ~ Fran Lebowitz
My desire to curtail undue freedom of speech extends only to such public areas as restaurants, airports, streets, hotel lobbies, parks, and department stores. Verbal exchanges between consenting adults in private are as of little interest to me as they probably are to them. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Even when freshly washed and relieved of all obvious confections, children tend to be sticky. ~ Fran Lebowitz
A hobby is, of course, an abomination, as are all consuming interests and passions that do not lead directly to large, personal gain. ~ Fran Lebowitz
I write so slowly that I could write in my own blood without hurting myself. ~ Fran Lebowitz
I wouldn’t say that I dislike the young. I’m simply not a fan of naïveté. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Any child who cannot do long division by himself does not deserve to smoke. ~ Fran Lebowitz
[With warm weather came the babies introduction to our open door policy . . . ]
First of all, nature is by and large to be found out of doors, a location where, it cannot be argued, there are never enough comfortable chairs. ~ Fran Lebowitz
There’s nothing like being old to be sure of everything. ~ Fran Lebowitz
I always liked people who are older. Of course, every year it gets harder to find them. ~ Fran Lebowitz
[Rising to new heights to knock stuff over . . . ]
[Master of all he surveys . . . ]
May
I have known…only one really, really good writer in my life who loves to write. Only one…Most people who love to write are horrible writers, so of course they love to write. ~ Fran Lebowitz
[The succulent didn’t need to be in that pot anyway . . . ]
[Aside from one trip to the vet, the babies had never been outside. The Super thought they needed an appropriate vehicle to do so . . . ]
Being offended is the natural consequence of leaving one’s home. ~ Fran Lebowitz
But alas, I do not rule the world and that, I am afraid, is the story of my life—always a godmother, never a God. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Violet will be a good color for hair at just about the same time that brunette becomes a good color for flowers. I will not forget this. ~ Fran Lebowitz
If you have a burning, restless urge to write or paint, simply eat something sweet and the feeling will pass. Your life story would not make a good book. Do not even try. ~ Fran Lebowitz
A loaf of bread that is more comfortable than a sofa cannot help but be unpalatable. ~ Fran Lebowitz
[Another nice day for a ride in the limo . . . ]
[Taking a rest on the shortcut home . . . ]
There are some great writers who are great talkers, but there are more great writers who are not great talkers. People seem to think there is some connection between talking and writing, but I love to talk and if there were some connection between the two of them I would be the most prolific writer in the history of the world. ~ Fran Lebowtiz
[The backyard to home . . . ]
[And back on the patio . . . ]
June
Cold water wash, hang dry, light starch . . .
[A morning sunrise, just because . . . ]
All God’s children are not beautiful. Most of God’s children are, in fact, barely presentable. The most common error made in matters of appearance is the belief that one should disdain the superficial and let the true beauty of one’s soul shine through. If there are places on your body where this is a possibility, you are not attractive—you are leaking. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Contrary to what many of you might imagine, a career in letters is not without its drawbacks–chief among them the unpleasant fact that one is frequently called upon to sit down and write. ~ Fran Lebowitz
The favored mode of transportation is infecting a visitor and then hoping that he goes someplace. ~ Fran Lebowitz
July
I, personally, have never been able to throw a book away. I have seen books, like in trash, and to me it’s like seeing a human head in the trash. Even if it’s a horrible book. ~ Fran Lebowitz
[The babies were released into the great outdoors. We did under a contractual agreement that they would stay within the confines of our backyard, and we would be chaperoning. Of course, we have to go chase them back all the time. And now they perpetually beg to go out. Argghhhhh!]
Surely there must be something we can chase in here?
Scientists are rarely to be counted among the fun people. Awkward at parties, shy with strangers, deficient in irony—they have had no choice but to turn their attention to the close study of everyday objects. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about things, and small people talk about wine. ~ Fran Lebowitz
In the Soviet Union, capitalism triumphed over communism. In this country, capitalism triumphed over democracy. ~ Fran Lebowitz
When you leave New York, you are astonished at how clean the rest of the world is. Clean is not enough. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Success didn’t spoil me, I’ve always been insufferable. ~ Fran Lebowitz
In summary . . .
It’s been an exhausting first year . . .
Today’s the day! We sang Happy Birthday but the concept seemed lost on them . . .
Sleep is death without the responsibility. ~ Fran Lebowitz
Don’t bother discussing sex with small children. They rarely have anything to add. ~ Fran Lebowitz
These are years 2012 and 2013. Absent extensive research, I do not not see myself going beyond these years for the foreseeable future. The key word here being “extensive” . . .
We could have saved the Earth but we were too damned cheap. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
2012
2013
Here we are, trapped in the amber of the moment. There is no why. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
Science is magic that works. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
The year was 2081, and everyone was finally equal. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
A big year that ties up this post all by itself . . .
And I like Strauss and Mozart and all that, but the priceless gift that African Americans gave the world when they were still in slavery was a gift so great that it is now almost the only reason many foreigners still like us at least a little bit. That specific remedy for the worldwide epidemic of depression is a gift called the blues. All pop music today-jazz, swing, be-bop, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Stones, rock and roll, hip hop and on and on- is derived from the blues. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
2011
It’s nice to be nice. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don’t let anybody tell you different. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
It was a Sunday afternoon. Erik Schultz was playing at the winery from 1-4:00; Anthony Miltich was playing at The Lure from 4-7:00. It was 90 degrees. Nevertheless, as the Cub Reporter, I felt compelled to cover both events . . .
OK, we basically covered the last two hours of Erik and the first two hours of Anthony. But you don’t realize how that temperature is affecting you until you go home. I think I went to bed at 7:00 . . .
[Eric, whetting his whistle . . . ]
[With something wet and cold from the 22 Northmen Brewing Co., a 50-yard pass from where he was sitting . . . ]
Nothing is more beautiful than a guitar. Except, possibly two. ~ Frederic Chopin
Guitar is easy, all it takes is 5 fingers, 6 strings, and 1 a**hole. ~ Keith Richards
The guitar is the easiest instrument to play and the hardest to play well. ~ Andres Segovia
The guitar is a miniature orchestra in itself. ~ Ludwig van Beethoven
[It was the semi-annual meeting of the Eric Schultz Fan Club . . . ]
I don’t want to put my fate in country music fans; I’m too stubborn. ~ Natalie Maines
When I do things, like, with Josh Grobin, or he has so many fans, and I get people after my concerts, classical concerts, all the time coming back and saying, ‘Never heard of you until I heard the song with Josh Grobin.’ Then they’re now classical music fans, which is something I think we need to reach a wider audience. ~ Joshua Bell
There’s nothing like the eureka moment of knocking off a song that didn’t exist before – I won’t compare it to sex, but it lasts longer. ~ Paul McCartney
In order to compose, all you need to do is remember a tune that nobody else has thought of. ~ Robert Schumann
What’s money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do. ~ Bob Dylan
Despite everything, no one can dictate who you are to other people. ~ Prince
The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between. ~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Imagination creates reality. ~ Richard Wagner
[And then it was on to The Lure, overlooking the boating action on Lake Le Homme Dieu . . . ]
[It was also the semi-annual meeting of the Anthony Miltich Fan Club . . . ]
[A/k/a, the Sunday Non-fiction Book Club . . . ]
[Anthony, a/k/a, the uncle of Sam Miltich, and the brother and son of a multitude of musicians . . . ]
The wise musicians are those who play what they can master. ~ Duke Ellington
Musicians don’t retire; they stop when there’s no more music in them. ~ Louis Armstrong
I’m trying to keep a level head. You have to be careful out in the world. It’sso easy to get turned. ~ Elvis Presley
Shut up and play your guitar. ~ Frank Zappa
[And then it was time to put bread in the jar of the Piano Man . . . ]
[Thank you book club!]
[Thank you, Anthony . . . ]
Rock ‘n’ roll will never die. There’ll always be some arrogant little brat who wants to make music with a guitar. ~ Dave Edmunds
The history of music is mortal, but the idiocy of the guitar is eternal. ~ Milan Kundera
Up Next: Unfortunately, dear reader, there’s a bunch of stuff in queue . . .
Following the exploits of the Simon, Gaither, Hatch, Obert, Longardner contingents . . .
July 27
Where it all began . . .
Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
2007
And so it goes… ~ Kurt Vonnegut
2008
True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
2009
The universe is a big place, perhaps the biggest. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
2010
Like so many Americans, she was trying to construct a life that made sense from things she found in gift shops. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
Many people need desperately to receive this message: ‘I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
This is the first of . . . well, some more posts . . .
Just another week in which Vacationland USA lived up to its well deserved reputation . . .
True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
You can’t just eat good food. You’ve got to talk about it too. And you’ve got to talk about it to somebody who understands that kind of food. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
July 13
[The Boys of ’65 had their monthly lunch together – at the Alex golf club. No aardvarks were injured in the performance of this event . . . ]
Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
[That evening it was on to the Garden Bar on 6th for a rollicking good time with Tuesday Night Club . . . ]
We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD WAS MUSIC ~ Kurt Vonnegut
July 14
[The Wednesday night fine dining at the golf club . . . ]
[Broiled walleye was a big hit with everyone . . . ]
There’s only one rule that I know of, babies-“God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.” ~ Kurt Vonnegut
Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
Dear future generations: Please accept our apologies. We were rolling drunk on petroleum. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
July 15
The Heartshakers are Nashville’s premier Tom Petty Tribute. The show is performed by some of the industry’s first call musicians in the music business today! These musicians have performed with Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Amy Grant, Peter Cetera, Little Big Town, SheDaisy and Ronnie Milsap.
They have brought their love of Tom Petty’s music and put together the best tribute band that could be assembled! The Heartshakers deliver an experience you won’t forget! Take a walk back in time reliving American Rock-and-Roll at it’s finest.
[Theatre L’Homme Dieu was set with an SRO crowd . . . ]
July 17
[The Salty Dogs were at Carlos Creek Winery, minus their fiddler, Greg, who apparently had sought refuge in another state . . . ]
[Annie, Erik, and Tom . . . ]
Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning do to do afterward. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don’t let anybody tell you different. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
[Annie, the one and only . . . ]
Here we are, trapped in the amber of the moment. There is no why. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
I was a victim of a series of accidents, as are we all. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
All this happened, more or less. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
[“New Tricks” helped us survive the pandemic winter . . . ]
***
All moments, past, present and future, always have existed, always will exist. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter could be said to remedy anything. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
If you can do no good, at least do no harm. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
I am a humanist, which means, in part, that I have tried to behave decently without expectations of rewards or punishments after I am dead. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
A sane person to an insane society must appear insane. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
Like so many Americans, she was trying to construct a life that made sense from things she found in gift shops. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, ‘The Beatles did’. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
[A favorite . . . ]
***
[Is not a videographer but plays one on TV . . . ]
We are healthy only to the extent that our ideas are humane. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
July 18
[It’s time for . . . cuteness!]
[As they wonder . . . ]
[“You’re going out and leaving us alone again, aren’t you?”]
[Sunday morning breakfast at the golf club – table of our choice . . . ]
[The final round of the The Open was taking place . . . ]
[And we had the Claret Jug . . . ]
[In our own . . . ]
[Trophy case.]
[Then back out to the winery for an afternoon with Anthony . . . why is this man laughing?]
[Written by that famous Minnesota guy . . . ]
***
People have to talk about something just to keep their voice boxes in working order so they’ll have good voice boxes in case there’s ever anything really meaningful to say. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
[A particular favorite . . . ]
***
The practice of art isn’t to make a living. It’s to make your soul grow. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
[And we finished off the weekend with book club . . . ]
The universe is a big place, perhaps the biggest. ~ Kurt Vonnegut
Wake up, you idiots! Whatever made you think that money was so valuable? ~ Kurt Vonnegut
Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Wonder Bread Years made me laugh so hard I pulled a groin muscle . . . at least I think that’s when it happened? The fun part about going on opening night is that the audience gets to party with the talent afterwards. We really enjoyed chatting with Pat after the show while sampling adult beverages and salty crunchy snack food items . . .
Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious. ~ Peter Ustinov
If you want to make an audience laugh, you dress a man up like an old lady and push her down the stairs. If you want to make comedy writers laugh, you push an actual old lady down the stairs. ~ Tina Fey
Comedy is surprises, so if you’re intending to make somebody laugh and they don’t laugh, that’s funny. ~ Norm MacDonald
Drama is easy. Comedy’s hard. ~ Peter Bogdanovich
[Life at the scene . . . ]
[I forgot to thank Pat after the show for Stan Musial, my first hero . . . ]
July 8
[A brief interlude with the babies as the they rapidly approach their first birthday. I can only hope they don’t replicate the terrible twos of homo sapiens . . . ]
Cats are connoisseurs of comfort. ~ James Herriot
A kitten is the delight of a household. All day long a comedy is played out by an incomparable actor. ~ Champfleury
July 9
Oh, the summer night, has a smile of light, and she sits on a sapphire throne. ~ Bryan Procter
Kelley Hunt Biography
In some ways Roots R&B/Americana singer/songwriter/piano player/guitarist KELLEY HUNT is a rarity and a challenge to the music industry’s penchant for easy artist definitions — a woman who has muscled her way onto the scene on her own terms with an identity steeped in blues/roots/gospel traditions and a refreshing originality. She makes music with it’s righteous roots intact that also crosses boundaries, has an open-minded, exploratory attitude and takes on social and political issues. Together with a commanding, passionate stage presence and superior vocal, keyboard and songwriting skills she has earned the respect of critics and fans across North America and Europe.
Born in Kansas City, Hunt’s love for her craft was ignited listening to early blues, R&B, roots rock, jazz and Gospel influences — artists like Ruth Brown, Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday, Ann Peebles, Ray Charles, Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin, Charles Brown, Wanda Jackson and a cross section of the New Orleans/St. Louis/KC piano traditions of Professor Longhair, Toots Washington, Johnnie Johnson and Kansas City masters Jay McShann and Mary Lou Williams among others. Before that came the sound of her mother singing jazz and blues – her first musical memories – and the influence of her New Orleans Gospel singer grandmother. Reminders of these very traditional influences are evident in Kelley’s live performances and recordings but the lyrics, soul and passion are all her own. Her career path so far has been a story of fierce independence, incredible will, unassailable cred as a blistering live performer and hard-won accomplishment. That narrative includes 1500+ performances with appearances on a long list of premier North American and International festival stages, six times on American Public Media’s ‘A Prairie Home Companion’,150,000+ indie units sold on her own label and critical praise reflecting her conviction from the outset to make her path in the roots music world not just as a performer, but as a forward-thinking songwriter as well (kelleyhunt.com).
[The Super took advantage of our early arrival to tour the gardens . . . ]
She smelled of sun and daisies with a hint of river water. ~ Katie Daisy
[The stage is set . . . ]
[The stage is still set . . . ]
[Lowell Pickett, founder of the Dakota in Minneapolis and friend of the arts in Alex, was the welcomer . . . ]
[And introduced Kelley Hunt to her second performance at the Gardens . . . ]
[Ready . . . begin! Kelley is from Kansas City and advised she had called her sister there earlier in the day. Kansas City has been running plus 100 temperatures, and she wanted the folks at home to know she was going to perform in 72-degree weather! She mentioned many times during the concert how much the band was enjoying the weather . . . ]
The Blues . . .
Kansas City, I would say, did more for jazz music, black music, than any other influence at all. Almost all their joints that they had there, they used black bands. Most musicians who amounted to anything, they would flock to Kansas City because that’s the place where jobs were plentiful. ~ Jesse Stone
One time, when I was in my teens, jamming in a Kansas City club, I was doing all right until I tried doing double tempo on ‘Body and Soul.’ Everybody fell out laughing. I went home and cried and didn’t want to play again for three months. ~ Charlie Parker
[My Cub reportorial duties took me took cover Kelly on her first visit here – July 5, 2013 . . . ]
[My camera battery died about 2/3’s of the way through this panorama shop . . . ]
[The full monty panorama . . . ]
[Did I mention (as Ms. Hunt did often) that it was a beautiful evening?]
It isn’t necessary to have relatives in Kansas City in order to be unhappy. ~ Groucho Marx
I was able to work with the best musicians in Kansas City starting when I was really young. ~ Pat Metheny
Kansas City style, Chicago style, New Orleans style hell, they’re all Jelly Roll style. ~ Jelly Roll Morton
[Editor’s note: Our pastry of choice are plain old-fashioned doughnuts. If one is to be nicknamed after one’s favorite pastry, I guess I would be Plain Old-Fashioned Obert . . . ]
Arizona is the worst place to spend the summer – it’s like 125 degrees – so my mom, my brother and I would go to the beach for two months to escape the heat. ~ Emma Stone
Summertime and the livin’ is easy. ~ Porgy & Bess
Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer. ~ Nat King Cole
You are so much sunshine in every square inch. ~ Walt Whitman
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? ~ William Shakespeare
July 10
[Glen Everhart took the stage at Carlos Creek Winery. Glen has been driving from Blaine to Alexandria to perform for over 30 years. He estimates he has performed at Arrowwood over 400 times (used to be every Wednesday during the season, now four times a year). Yet this was his very first time at the winery . . . ]
Summertime, and the living is easy. ~ Ella Fitzgerald
[Glen had enough electronics to have flown the stage to Saturn . . . ]
Summer means happy times and good sunshine. It means going to the beach, going to Disneyland, having fun. ~ Brian Wilson
Sun is shining. Weather is sweet. Make you wanna move your dancing feet. ~ Bob Marley
People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy. ~ Anton Chekhov
Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time. ~ John Lubbock
I hate summer, to be honest. I hate dressing. I hate the heat. I hate sweaty people getting aggressively close to you when you’re walking down the street. ~ Johnny Weir
I believe that summer is our time, a time for the people, and that no politician should be allowed to speak to us during the summer. They can start talking again after Labor Day. ~ Lewis Black
Why do all our friends and relatives destroy the summer for us? Why can’t they get married in February? ~ Jerry Della Femina
[Pan-o-rama . . . ]
[And again . . . ]
[The winery property line along Co. Rd. 34 . . . ]
[And the conclusion to Saturday . . . ]
[There’s a story (isn’t there always?). We spent the afternoon at the winery. Came home for a nap, dinner at home, and “Midsomer Murders” before going to bed. Then the Super decided she really needed a hamburger. Where to go? Golf club is closest, but there was a tournament going on. Checked in there anyway and discovered burgers not available because of pre-planned menu for the golfers. The Lure would be next. Beautiful evening as it was, we decided no chance of getting seating there. The Depot has outdoor dining. We went there next. Lots of seating available on the porch but . . . they were all taken by reservations (it was prime rib night). On to the Pike & Pint, where we learned that the next available table on the patio would be Wednesday. Well, let’s try Longtrees. No outdoor (OK, couple of tables overlooking Starbucks) but going any farther south we’d be in Glenwood. The Super got her burger there. We ran into friends who were going to TLHD for “The Wonder Bread Years.” We warned them to be prepared to laugh. So, doing what we hoped would be a half hour quick trip for a burger turned into wishing we had packed overnight bags . . . ]
And in conclusion: We joined Bob, Vivian, and Angie Annen for breakfast at the golf club this morning. For the first time I had the biscuits & gravy (a felony in several states). I did not have lunch; I had a salad for dinner. Let that be a lesson to you! (p.s. Bob & Viv have moved into Grand Arbor – they will not be ready for visitors for a while until they have settled in).
If you look at it, the history of comedy has always been strongest among the nations who have been persecuted the most. ~ Trevor Noah
Michael Palin decided to give up on his considerable comedy talents to make those dreadfully tedious travel shows. Have you ever tried to watch one? ~ John Cleese
Up Next: There are things in the works (now that’s useful) . . .
It’s Fourth of July weekend, or, as I call it, Exploding Christmas. ~ Stephen Colbert
You’re welcome. ~ George Washington
[Getting an early start (because holidays are all about eating), the Super and I used her pandemic OK’ed coupon for dinner at D. Michael B’s. Still the best menu in town, and our after Senior College classes go to place for a nosh and a beverage . . . ]
July 2
[So, here we are waking up. What’s not to like about coffee and doughnuts . . . ]
America’s a family. We all yell at each other, and it all works out. ~ Louis C.K.
[The coffee and doughnuts are on the right . . . ]
[And right across the street . . . ]
[The previous Ben Franklin is now The Edge Company, a new enterprise begun under the ownership of Kiyana Miller, a graduate of Alexandria Area High School a mere five years ago . . . ]
[It opened the previous day – we had to check it out . . . ]
[Of course one must always cross at the light, so here’s looking back at the Chamber of Commerce event from the corner of 7th & Broadway . . . ]
Unfortunately for novelists, real life is getting way too funny and far-fetched. ~ Carl Hiaasen
[Thanks be to Coldwell Banker . . . ]
[Looking back at whence we came from The Edge’s front door . . . ]
Thanksgiving without turkey is like the Fourth of July with no apple pie or Friday with no two pizzas. ~ Joey from Friends
[Kiyana played basketball for the Cardinals, and she is with her old (“previous” would be better) coach Wendy Kohler. Photo on loan from the coach’s FB page . . . ]
[And then it was on to Carlos Creek Winery for Patchouli . . . ]
The duo known as Patchouli consists of master guitarist Bruce Hecksel and singer/songwriter, guitarist Julie Patchouli. These two living musical legends have performed over 3,500 live shows, traveled over a million miles on tour, recorded and released 19 CDs, earned multiple songwriting and industry awards, performed on TV, film and are played on radio programs around the world. That being the case, it’s likely you’ve heard of them, perhaps even seen them perform live. If not, I must strongly urge you to do so. For, the feel-good-vibrations at a Patchouli show are, in my experience, unparalleled. Their authentic, musical light washes over audiences, leaving no mouth un-smiled (theartofmusic.com).
He makes me melt like a popsicle on the fourth of July. ~ Darla, “The Little Rascals”
Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn’t block traffic. ~ Dan Rather
[Bruce is also an artist of some repute – guitar shapes are featured in all his works . . . ]
When you’re born, you get a ticket to the freak show. When you’re born in America, you get a front-row seat. ~ George Carlin
[Remember that food part of holidays? The Super needed a snack . . . ]
If our Founding Fathers wanted us to care about the rest of the world, they wouldn’t have declared their independence from it. ~ Stephen Colbert
You wonder sometimes how our government puts on its pants in the morning. ~ Jon Stewart
[When we arrived at the winery there was not a chair or table to be had . . . ]
Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. ~ George Bernard Shaw
Let’s not forget why we celebrate 4th of July, it is the day Will Smith saved us from the aliens. ~ “Independence Day”
The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off. ~ Gloria Steinem
[A classic Patchouli original . . . ]
All people are born alike. Except Republicans and Democrats. ~ Groucho Marx
A real patriot is the fellow who gets a parking ticket and rejoices that the system works. ~ Bill Vaughan
I normally don’t have a burger, a brat, and a steak but… it’s 4th of July. And I need the energy if I’m gonna start blowing crap up. It’s what the founding fathers would want. ~ Jim Gaffigan
July 3
[The Fat Boys are loathe to walk on holiday weekends. So the Super and I took the babies for a stroll around the Ridgewood neighborhood (a/k/a, across the street from us) . . . ]
[As the crow flies, I grew up one house away from the Karnises in Victoria Heights . . . ]
Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels. ~ Mark Twain
America is a large friendly dog in a small room. Every time it wags its tail, it knocks over a chair. ~ Arnold Toynbee
[That’s Arrowwood on the far side of Lake Darling . . . ]
[After the walk, some outside play time . . . ]
[This is Quinie . . . ]
[There must be something to find in here?]
Christopher Columbus, as everyone knows, is honoured by posterity because he was the last to discover America. ~ James Joyce
[This is Laddie . . . ]
America is a country that doesn’t know where it is going but is determined to set a speed record getting there. ~ Laurence J. Peter
[Quinie could be a partner in a game of catch . . . ]
It was decided almost two hundred years ago that English should be the language spoken in the United States. It is not known, however, why this decision has not been carried out. ~ George Mikes
Laughter is America’s most important export. ~ Walt Disney
True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else. ~ Clarence Darrow
If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. ~ George Orwell
I venture to suggest that patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime. ~ Adlai E. Stevenson
[And later it was on to the theatre . . . ]
July 2 & 3 @ 7:30pm
Jonny James and the Hall of Fames (The Song Remains the Same – JJHOF Does Zeppelin, Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon & Other Floydian Tales) is back again with a brand-new show paying tribute to another of the greatest British bands of all time. Queen has rocked us over the years with their chart-topping hits and bountiful B-sides – and JJHOF is here to keep it all alive. The core group (Jonny James, Andy, Mike and Matt) will be joined by the ridiculously talented singer/actor, Ben Bakken.
This show is dedicated to bringing you the live performances of Queen with all the energy, extravagance and rock you can handle. Featuring hits like “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Somebody to Love,” “We Will Rock You” and many more. This new show is bound to be “A Kind of Magic!”
[A preview . . . ]
[My usual terrible shots with the phone camera . . . ]
The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults. ~ Alexis de Tocqueville
Intellectually I know that America is no better than any other country; emotionally I know she is better than every other country. ~ Sinclair Lewis
[Yes, it’s true. We knew Freddie. We met him on a city street bench in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2018. Where else would one expect to meet him?]
July 4
[Again, it comes back to eating. The Super and I had the Alexandria Golf Club dining room all to ourselves for breakfasts that fed us for the next two meals back home . . . ]
[The difference was her menu had “French” toast . . . ]
[While mine had “Frech” toast?]
We’re immigrants. We get the job done. ~ Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Hamilton”
[Not only great, uncluttered ambience, but a quite nice view too . . . ]
[Things to come this summer . . . ]
[Then back to Carlos Creek Winery for an afternoon with Josie Nelson . . . ]
[Would you believe 93 degrees and windy?]
[Folks found shade where they could . . . ]
[We’d missed Josie’s first 3 or 4 performances the season thru scheduling conflicts and bad weather. We were determined to stick it out . . . ]
[There were a substantial group of tweens in the crowd – obviously Josie fans. They kept going by the stage and putting tips in her jar. I asked Josie to ask her fans to drop their parents’ business cards in as well. We’re always looking for donors for Theatre L’Homme Dieu . . . ]
We’re the kids in America. ~ Kim Wilde
It’s a party in the U.S.A. ~ Miley Cyrus
I’m just like my country. I’m young, scrappy and hungry. ~ “Hamilton”
She was an American girl. ~ Tom Petty
Being a Jehovah’s Witness, I don’t celebrate birthdays or holidays. I don’t vote. ~ Prince
Ah, my dad’s whistle. On holidays when I was a kid, we would all be off in the rock pools along the beach. When it came time to go, we’d hear the whistle and we’d all come running. Like dogs! ~ Kate Winslett
I said I didn’t want to spend most of my life in Holidays Inns, but I’ve checked and they’ve all been redecorated. They’re marvelous places to stay and I’ve thought it over and that’s where I’d like to be. ~ Walter Mondale
[A Josie original . . . ]
Nothing says holidays, like a cheese log. ~ Ellen DeGeneres
I celebrate everyone’s religious holidays. if it’s good enough for the righteous, it’s good enough for the self-righteous, I always say. ~ Bette Midler
[On the way home, crossing over the Carlos-Darling bridge looking out over Little Darling . . . ]
[Lots of boats between the points of Little and Big Darling – great sandy bottom swimming . . . ]
[The Bumpster’s old house on Darling, now an VRBO. Seems to be a hundred cars there every weekend . . . ]
[Vacant volleyball courts at The Lure – well, it’s 93 degrees, for Pete’s sake . . . ]
[Nevertheless, a good crowd for outdoor dining . . . ]
[And next door Zorba’s as well . . . ]
[Next up, the Alexandria Golf Club . . . ]
[Too hot for much activity . . . ]
[The kids’ bouncy thing is deflated after use for the Patio Grand Opening on the 2nd. We didn’t make this one – you can only cover so much and it was a long, hot afternoon at the winery . . . ]
I’m Muslim the waymany of my Jewish friends are Jewish: I avoid pork, and I take the big holidays off. ~ Aasif Mandvi
If all our national holidays were observed on Wednesdays, we could wind up with nine-day weekends. ~ George Carlin
I don’t like holidays. And I don’t like crowds of people. I don’t like noise. ~ Roz Chast (New Yorker cartoonist)
A psychiatrist is a man who goes to the Foliers-Bergere and looks at the audience. ~ Bishop Mervyn Stockwood
This was our first ever visit to Munsinger Gardens in St. Cloud. A beautiful place on the Mississippi across the river from the university. The Bergs hauled us along on a road trip to see Harper’s Chord, a favorite group we hadn’t seen for quite a while . . .
[We’ve had drought conditions in this area most of the season, but scattered thunderstorms were forecast. We drove down to St. Cloud in pouring rain most of the way down, and in a pouring rain most of the way back. But while we were there it was quite lovely . . . ]
[And unfortunately when we got home – we stopped for a nosh at the newly renovated Pike & Pint – we learned that Alex didn’t get any of the rain . . . ]
[The mighty Mississippi . . . ]
[Turning 180 degrees from the same spot; the band, the audience, and the gardens . . . ]
[And fans all the way from Alexandria . . . ]
[Everybody is from St. Cloud except for the one who isn’t. Jill is from Little Falls. Roger (guitar) and Jill are originals; the bass and mandolin player were new to us . . . ]
Alive concert tome is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage. It’s my favorite part of the business, live concerts. ~ Elvis Presley
Introductions . . .
[Jill and Joe from St. Joe prove you can joke with the bass player . . . ]
Panorama . . .
[May have been “Come On Up to the House.” I can never get that song out of my head after they sing it . . . ]
There was a strange happening during a performance of Elgar’s ‘Sea Pictures’ at a concert hall in Bermuda tonight, when the man playing the triangle disappeared. ~ Ronnie Barker
Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily this is not difficult. ~ Charlotte Whitton (mayor of Ottawa)
My aunt is a newscaster in Lubbock, Texas, and she got a letter that said, ‘Natalie Maines will be shot dead at their show in Dallas, Texas,’ with the date of our concert. It was freaky to see that in writing. ~ Natalie Maines
I saw George Bush at a benefit concert actually waving at Stevie Wonder. Someone had to tell him ‘he can’t see you’. ~ Anne Robinson
[It was great to see and visit with Roger and Jill again . . . ]
[The audience was somewhat distracted by the eagle’s nest over our head. And a parent paid a visit to the nest while we were there . . . ]
[The nest absent magnification . . . ]
[The gardens on the way out . . . ]
[The Super, Karin, and Dave lead the way . . . ]
[So long Munsinger Gardens . . . ]
[I shot this video 5 years ago at Carlos Creek. It may have been the last time we saw them locally. It’s one of my favorite songs by the group. I wish I would have videoed them again on this day – there would have been less background noise.]
The concert is a polite form of self induced torture. ~ Henry Miller
It’s a real conflict for me when I go to a concert and find out somebody in the audience is a Republican or fundamental Christian. It can cloud my enjoyment. I’d rather not know. ~ Linda Ronstadt
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