My Miley-like Comedy Monologue – The Casey Anthony Trial

Posted on July 4, 2011 by northernrockiesview

Hey Ya’ll,

Welcome to my Miley Cyrus-like Comedy Monologue (think southern, bubbly, free-floating, stream of consciousness, and probably not completely thought through).

I feel obligated to explain the lost month of June 2011.

Sorry I haven’t talked with ya’ll lately.  I’ve been too caught up in the Casey Anthony trial.

That poor girl.  Losing her baby, after all those years of abuse by her father and brother. It must have been so tough on her.  I’d say she deserved to party for a month–so she could legitimately get a Bella Vita (good life in Italian) tattoo.  Cause everybody knows that commemorative tattoos have totally valid enduring value–even when your baby gets tragically, accidentally drowned, and then put in a trash bag, secured over by duct tape, and some creepy meter reader pokes a stick in a skull’s eye-socket, and you end up prison for the rest of your life.

The disembodied voice of a sensible producer–“NOT so fast Cowgirl! Have you ever heard of reasonable doubt?”

No. I’ve got this…

What was Casey thinking back in 2008?  Well, maybe it went somethin’ like this…

“Hmmm, my folks won’t keep the baby….and my friends are going clubbin’….and I wanna go.  I’ll do the seemingly responsible thing…and still be the party-girl.  Come on, Caylee let’s go for a ride.

Hey baby, time to take your vitamins (Xanax).  It’ll make you feel better.

30 minutes later, “Dang, this isn’t working fast enough.  This baby needs a boost.  Hey, I’ve got this chloroform.  That’ll work.

Now, there we go, Caylee’s sleeping like a baby.  That’s such a cute nest I made for her in the trunk.  Oh, but what if she wakes up.  Ah, that’s what duct tape is for.  It’ll help keep her from screaming.  She’ll rest better.  It’ll only be for a coupla hours.

Ah, time to dance….

Gimme another shot of Patron.  Woohoo!

Several hours later, lemme check on my baby.  OMG!!!

What happened?  What am I gonna do?

First, lemme get a trash bag.  OMG I don’t have a shovel.  Wait, the neighbors do.  Lemme ask them.

I just need some time to figure all this out.  In the meantime, I’ll just leave her in the trunk. Nobody will look there.

Casey’s friends over the next few days/weeks, “Hey we had fun with ya at the club the other night…we’re going out tonight, wanna come?”  Casey, “Sure, see ya there.  I’ve got a new tattoo I wanna show you.”

Man, this car’s starting to smell. I’d better find a spot here somewhere to put her.  Hmmm, there is that woodline around the corner.  Nobody would ever look there.  Lemme put Caylee’s blanket in with her.  She’d want it that way.

Florida native wisdom says you need to double wrap the body—that’s what we always did with our poor-old dead dogs, cause the nearby woodlines can get swampy.   You always want your baby to have the best treatment–even under the worst circumstances. Right ya’ll?

“Life is tough. It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” (so said John Wayne in Sands of Iwo Jima).  And true-dat to both parts if you’re trying to get a seat in the gallery for the Casey Anthony trial.   That nexus of tough and stupid embodied the demographic of folks attending the event.   They were so aggressive that the authorities had to literally rewrite the rules for the public attending trials in Florida.

To those who got to sit in on the trial, on behalf of the rest of us, I salute ya.  And because y’all represented all of us, I’ll just acknowledge that–“We rock~!”  Don’t we ya’ll?  We fight for our spot in line. It’s the American way.   And so is being able to text wherever we want. That’s what freedom is–freedom to text/tweet my way thru the new Transformers.  My BFF NEEDs to know that Transformers 3 Rocks Ya’ll.  ReTweet Requested.

Oh, anyway.

In 2036, at the end of the news, when they do that,”25 years ago today…” thing, they’ll hearken back the days of the Casey Anthony trial…..and we’ll be able to say, “I was there.” Not that I was literally there, but I did have the i-Phone App.  And in many ways that was even better.  I got to control my own climate while not missing a second of the proceedings. Bathroom break, no problem.  Thanks Steve Jobs!

So, there ya go.  It’s been a great month, June 2011, the year of the non-stop Casey Anthony Trial coverage.  Will July compete? How can it?  The defense has rested, closing statements are in, and we’re just waiting on the jury.

Poor Casey.  Benvenuto a la penal system en Florida—la nostra casa e la tua casa.  Bella Vita indeed.

The now more insistent, sensible Producer, “Wait Cowgirl, stop the presses.  The glove didn’t fit.  The Jury had to acquit.”

Ok, ya’ll? Did ya see that? Casey didn’t murder her baby? Is she free yet?  Can we get her on the show?  We can share some K2 and hit the clubs. Let’s get this done, ya’ll!

—————-The fine print————————

This was a joke.  It was NOT in any way affiliated with Miley Cyrus.  For the Record, my only familiarity with her comes from her SNL and American Idol appearances.   The Comedy Monologue notion is more an homage to the SNL parody of Miley Cyrus.  In those cases (Miley and SNL’s parody of her), I’m sure both are professionally, quite well-thought out.  My version here, is a tongue in cheek statement of the world in which we live.  I meant no harm…to Miley, Steve Jobs, Casey Anthony or anyone else–including me, your part-time, wannabe comedian.   Just trying to lighten urrybody up.  K’ ya’ll?

Besides, I thought it was “pretty cool”….even if it was in very poor taste (so said Napolean’s Corporal’s review).  What else did you expect it to be? We’re talking about a baby that ended up in a trash bag in a trunk.  Bella Vita gone horribly wrong!

Special thanks to B-Squared-B, of Straight2Vault Productions–for his take on the Casey/Caylee Anthony scenario.  It’s as plausible as anything else put out there.  JDPF

Posted in Lame Comedy, Social Commentary | Leave a comment

The Black Keys – Where Have I Been?

Posted on May 26, 2011 by northernrockiesview

Music Reviews 2011 – The Black Keys

I am not proud of it…but I have to admit that I completely missed the Black Keys until this year.  They’ve been around for over a decade, making killer music, and I had no idea.  I’m an open-minded music fan and am always open to embracing new artists who make music that I enjoy.  But, I had no clue what I was missing.

The Black Keys hit me like a ton of bricks this year for certain.  Upon discovering that their music history dates back at least a decade, I had to ask myself, “where have I been?” and “how did I miss this?”  When I saw them on Saturday Night Live (SNL) in January, I enjoyed both songs that they played, without knowing the names of them.  They turned out to be, Howlin’ for You and Tighten Up (from the new Brothers CD).  As I watched, I made a note to poke around i-Tunes and see what I might find.  A few days later, I bought the Brothers CD.  Upon discovering that I liked virtually all of it, I decided to work back through their library.

Within a week, I owned the bulk of their discography.  The Black Keys are SO in my musical (proverbial) “wheelhouse.”  Blues, riff’n guitars, pounding drums. They are a force in modern music–creating more sound than you’d think two people could generate–celebrating and evolving that, made in the “garage” sound.

As an SNL fan from the very beginning, I’ve heard dozens of artists for the first time on the show.  On a few rare occasions, I’ve bought albums as a result of seeing and hearing something I liked.  But, the Black Keys were the first group that inspired me to buy 5 CDs in 4 days.  Each album was a treat.

The Black Keys are Dan Auerbach, as vocalist and guitarist, and Patrick Carney, as drummer and producer.  They hail from Akron, Ohio.  And they’ve been around the music scene for awhile.  Their music has accompanied some very popular TV shows and movies recently.  It has reached the point of ubiquity, with their music prominently placed in shows and movies from Sons of Anarchy, Eastbound and Down, to School of Rock and the Twilight Series Movies. And I still missed them.

That’s ok though, since it only made it sweeter to discover them in totality.  Their overall body of work is terrific.  They’ve grown over the years, but they’ve also remained true to that which makes them unique.  They rock, they jam, they groove, and they sound way bigger than two people should.  Their sound calls to attention my Zeppelin memories, some occasional Hendrix, some Rolling Stones, and even some classic Jethro Tull, among many other noteworthy influences.

The new Brothers CD is magnificent; it is worthy of all the accolades it has received (three Grammys, three Billboard Award nominations).  But as good as Brothers is, I like the earlier works more. Usually, you hear that analysis from long-time fans, who compare new works to older, more familiar, well-liked works.  In my case, It just serves as the rationale for the depth of my newfound fandom.  If I liked Brothers but not the previous works, I’d just take them as a band that grew into being worthy of my listening time.  As it stands, the fact that I love their earlier works even more than Brothers, has motivated me to articulate why.

The Black Keys are simple, direct, and straightforward.  Until fairly recently, they were primarily guitar, voice and drums.  Their sound is garage-band-like.  Some have said they are a little reminiscent of the White Stripes, but in my view, they are a little more accessible, less eccentric.  They seem to know that good rock and blues needs no eccentricity. It just needs to be “pounded” out.

As an illustration of their straightforward simplicity, the band recorded their second album, Thickfreakness, in 14 hours, back in 2003.  Thickfreakness, as the name sort of implies, is full of thick, fuzzy, bluesy, guitar, accompanied by driving rhythms.  In this album, I hear hints of Hendrix, some Allman Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaughn, etc., but the songs I like most are pure Black Keys.  At the top of that list, Everywhere I Go is a blues dirge that became a ski anthem and theme song for me while I explored the “steeps and deeps” of my local “Big Mountain.”

In 2004, the Black Keys released Rubber Factory.  It’s first track, When the Lights Go Out, accompanied the opening, erotic scene featuring Justin Timberlake and Christine Ricci in the movie Black Snake Moan.  The same song would later be used prominently on ads for the hit show Sons of Anarchy, on TNT.  The Keys’ impact was beginning to be felt.  Soon they would become an integral part of the soundtrack to America’s pop culture–whether we were paying attention or not.  I clearly was not–at the time anyhow.

The 2006 release, Magic Potion, is probably my favorite Black Keys’ record thus far.   In it, I hear some serious Zeppelin homage, from the guitar riffs on Just a Little Heat and Goodbye Babylon, to the relentless pounding/driving drums on Modern Times and Goodbye Babylon.  The similarities ring my “familiar” bells in a way that is undeniable.  John Bonham drummed with a distinction and zeal that yielded perfection throughout Zeppelin’s entire catalogue (for a classic example, focus on hearing the drums only while listening to Stairway to Heaven). On Magic Potion, Patrick Carney captures some of that same Bonham’ zeal.  The drums sound heavier, more insistent, like they must be that way, to drive the insistency of the blues riffs.  It all works.

Around the same time-frame as Magic Potion, the band also released Chulahoma. Chulahoma features the songs of the late Mississippi bluesman, Junior Kimbrough.   While this is probably the least commercial album in their discography, it does increase their “blues” credentials on some level.  An interesting track on the Bonus version (of the CD), is a phone call from Junior’s widow Mildred, praising the Keys as being one of the only bands to play his music “like Junior played it.”   She was very proud of it.  I’d say they can all be proud.  It is true blues–earnest, captivating, and hypnotic even.  I didn’t know Junior’s music before, but because of the Black Keys, I now do…and like it.

In 2008, the Keys put out Attack and Release.  This was seemingly the beginning of their expansion beyond just the two of them.  Working with Gnarls Barkley’s producer ‘Danger Mouse’, the Keys also had a number of collaborators, vocally and musically on the record.   Adding keyboards, flutes and background vocals to the blues duo’s core sound was a winning formula too. It just broadened and deepened their repertoire, setting the stage, paving the way for the meteoric success of their follow-on album, the new Brothers CD.

The success of 2010’s Brothers CD was apparently the impetus for SNL to bring on the Black Keys as a musical guest.  And once again, SNL has proven to be of continuing relevance. More often than not, it’s the comedy that produces the water-cooler discussion. In this case, SNL gave me a centerpiece for this ski season’s soundtrack.  If you have any affinity for Rock and Blues and you haven’t heard them before, give the Black Keys a spin.   You won’t regret it.

The Black Keys Discography and my “Best of” Playlist follow below:

Album                             Year

The Big Come Up          2001
Thickfreakness              2003
Rubber Factory             2004
Chulahoma                     2006
Magic Potion                  2006
Attack and Release       2008
Brothers                         2010

My “Best of the Black Keys” playlist goes like this:

  1. Everywhere I Go – from Thickfreakness
  2. When the Lights Go Out – from Rubber Factory
  3. Stack Shot Billy – from Rubber Factory
  4. Keep Your Hands Off Her – from Chulahoma
  5. Just Got To Be – from Magic Potion
  6. Just A Little Heat – from Magic Potion
  7. Modern Times – from Magic Potion
  8. The Flame – from Magic Potion
  9. Goodbye Babylon – from Magic Potion
  10. Black Door – from Magic Potion
  11. I Got Mine – from Attack and Release
  12. Same Old Thing – from Attack and Release
  13. Oceans and Streams – from Attack and Release
  14. Tighten Up – from Brothers
  15. Howlin’ For You – from Brothers
  16. The Only One – from Brothers
  17. Too Afraid To Love You – from Brothers
  18. I’m Not the One – from Brothers
Posted in Music Reviews | Leave a comment

Stacy Murphy – A Tribute to a Life Well-Lived!

Posted on May 6, 2011 by northernrockiesview


Stacy Murphy was an extraordinarily strong woman.  And she was oh so much more than that!

Stacy was a bright, shining star!–a beacon of light for innumerable people.  She inspired us with her smarts and her sense and her ability to make us feel comfortable around her. She was one of those rare people who always seemed to have the right answer and the gentle demeanor to deliver even unpopular news.   Like many of you, I admired and loved Stacy because of who she was and how she lived her life.  She was so vibrant and radiant. Her enthusiasm was infectious.  She was fun to be around and she brought out the best in those around her.  We all revel in that kind of environment….and Stacy brought it with her wherever she went.

Despite knowing that she was courageously battling cancer, her recent passing still came as a shock to many of us.  We believed she was going to beat it.  She believed it.  And we believed her.  It was that simple.

Her strength and determination were in evidence to the very end.  During her last 10 days, Stacy worked (as an Elementary School Principal) on Thursday, February 9th.  She went into “Intensive Care” on Friday February 10th; got sent home for hospice care on Saturday night, February 19th.  And she died at home, surrounded by those who loved her most, on Monday night February 21st.  She was fighting the fight, staying positive, continuing to press forward, until the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma just overwhelmed her.  It was shocking, heartbreaking and very, very sad…on very short notice.  Few of us saw it coming…because we were continuing to share her optimism and enthusiasm for beating this cancer.

I remember my last conversation with her, over the Christmas-New Year’s holidays.  We spoke of looking forward to enjoying some time together this summer, and specifically of her “I beat cancer” party.  I anticipated this being a major event and couldn’t wait to be a part of it. She mentioned that their friends Geoff and Susan had offered to host a party when she had finally beat this thing.  I told her we were in.

Stacy & Tim’s friend Geoff (Tate) just happens to be the lead singer of Queensryche.  Their friendship emerging from their daughters’ (Shannon Murphy and Bella Tate) own school-girl friendship.  The parents bonded…because their kids had.

I don’t know, but I would bet that Geoff and Susan Tate liked Stacy and Tim for the same reasons as the rest of us.  Stacy and Tim were a fun couple.  And they were real, normal folks–just the kind of folks that a seasoned “Rock Star” might logically be drawn to, in the interests of staying well-grounded.  The Murphy-Tate friendship was, for me, another great example of the rich, bountiful life that Stacy, Tim & their girls enjoyed together.  Stacy was our own “Rock Star” in so many ways.  It was fitting that she would have a real one as a friend.

Stacy wasn’t always a Murphy.  She was born a Kulaas, in Yakima, Washington, in November 1962.  She was the oldest daughter of Dick and Patty Kulaas, with older brothers Rick and Mark, and a beloved baby sister Kari.   As a small child, Stacy and her family moved to Wenatchee where she would grow up.  Upon graduating high school, she went to Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. This is where she met Tim Murphy.  They would begin their “till death do us part” journey in Pullman and were married in 1987.

They shared the joy of bringing two bright and beautiful daughters into this world and the Murphy clan. Mali and Shannon were blessed with their Mom’s inherent radiance and were a source of great pride for Stacy.  Stacy’s co-workers and friends who spoke at her Memorial Service spoke of Stacy’s fierce devotion to her family.  Her enthusiasm for Murphy family events being an inspiration for them to nurture in their own family lives.

Stacy’s and my own path crossed as I became close to Tim’s Uncle Mike.  The Murphy’s revere the familial bond and they welcome those who are “one of them.”  No one made me feel more welcome than Stacy.  I will always remember her for that and I will be eternally grateful for her gracious acceptance.

Stacy’s Memorial Service was held March 12, 2011 in Duvall, Washington.  It was a typical day for the Pacific Northwest–alternating between misty and downright rainy.  For those of us not from there, it was wetter than we were comfortable being dressed up in.  For the locals, it was nothing.  I imagined that Stacy would have happily been at the forefront, not even noticing the occasional wet.  I feel certain that she wouldn’t have even blinked an eye.

The service featured some of Stacy’s closest friends, colleagues….and even her hairdresser. They spoke from the heart, offering personal anecdotes, remembering Stacy’s impact upon their lives.  They remembered her love for good coffee, in large quantities.

I too remembered Stacy in that light.  A few years ago, my Mom had given me an espresso maker that she had gotten but never used.  I had it for months, unused, until Tim, Stacy and the girls came to visit us in the summer of 2009.  Upon their arrival, I mentioned to Stacy that I had this machine, but didn’t know how to use it.  We spoke of her showing me how before they left.

When I woke up the next morning, Stacy already had the machine pressed into service, her latte already in hand, as she began the process of teaching me to make my own.  The process and methods she showed me then, in July 2009, were the ones I used this morning.  I also shared her love of good coffee and am a believer in the ease of making them, because she taught me that way.  Her confidence and ease while teaching me infused me with a similar, lasting confidence.  That ease and confidence was purely, simply, Stacy’s signature.

The Murfs in Montana, July 2009
 
 
 The words of Stacy’s friends and colleagues at her Memorial Service affirmed for me that my own observations were not unique.  Stacy was that same gentle, inspirational spirit, all of the time.  As a school principal, she used her position to grow other great teachers and administrators.  She believed in people and because she did so with memorable enthusiasm, they worked harder to “not let her down.”
 

I remember from my own Army career, that the jobs I did best were shaped within that very construct.  When you are working for someone who seemingly believes in you more than you believe in yourself, you go that extra mile to prove them right.  It made me better then…..and it did my heart good, hearing that Stacy was “that” kind of leader–one who believed in and invested in her subordinates.

Geoff Tate was also one of the speakers at the service.  I doubt that folks unfamiliar with Queensryche (and Stacy’s friendship thereto) would have even known that he was “famous.”  He spoke of how he had met Stacy, while at a school event for his daughter Bella.  He spoke of Stacy being fun, of fond memories sharing a bottle of wine, and of Stacy’s ability to “party” with the best of them, of her being the last one to leave the dance floor.

Stacy was a great deal of fun to be around.  We shared similar backgrounds.  We enjoyed the same types of music and pop-culture phenomena.  And we shared a belief in a never-ending education.  You’re never too old to learn and grow.  She believed in the premise of continuing to better yourself.  Stacy worked full-time while she earned her post-graduate degree and principal credentials–at the same time she was being a great mom, friend and Murphy family member.  All the while, she never lost sight of the importance of having “fun” while working hard to improve herself.  In this regard, Stacy truly got it right!

After the Memorial Service, family members went to Tim & Stacy’s home for food, fellowship, and more time together remembering Stacy.  Upon display on the Murphy big-screen TV, was a slideshow chronicling highlights from Stacy’s life.  This slideshow captured photos from Stacy’s entire life.  It was set to music and elicited emotion from all who watched it–even with the volume turned way down to allow for normal conversation.  I remember the glow on niece (and Stacy’s Goddaughter) Jaden’s face as she recognized a picture of her and Aunt Stacy—as she said, “hey that’s me.”

In re-watching Stacy’s Memorial Slideshow for this writing (with the volume at a normal listening level), I realized how exceptionally well-done it is.  Mali, Stacy and Tim’s eldest daughter, a budding artist in her own right, put it together.  Stacy was always enormously proud of Mali and Shannon’s accomplishments.  I imagine now that she is smiling on from the afterlife—beaming over her daughters’ poise and strength now.

Mali is a bright and beautiful young woman.  Her strength and character are immediately manifest within seconds of meeting her.  For those who haven’t met her, you can see a glimpse of who Mali is, from hearing the words that she helped compose as the final Caringbridge message announcing Stacy’s passing.

“Friends and family,

We want to thank you for all of your support this last year and a half. Your love and prayers through this tough time have been so heartwarming.

We want to let you know that Stacy is resting peacefully now with God. She passed away on the evening of February 21, 2011. She was surrounded by her loving family and we were happy she was no longer in pain.

Please keep praying for us and all whose lives she touched.

This will be the final entry outlining Stacy’s fierce battle. She was a remarkably strong woman, and an even better mother and wife.

With love,
Tim, Mali, and Shannon Murphy”

Mali’s beauty, strength, and poise is also manifest in the details that she put into arranging Stacy’s Memorial Slideshow.  It came in at just over 22 and half minutes, including photos spanning all of Stacy’s 48 short years.  The music was clearly representative of Stacy’s stylistic tastes and the richness of the life she lived.   A detailed description is nowhere near as powerful as seeing it for yourself, but short of that, I hope to capture some of its beauty in describing a few high points.

Stacy’s slideshow begins and ends with excerpts from Wicked, the Musical.  The pictures begin with the song, Defying Gravity, playing in the background. Following it, came in succession: .38 Special’s Fantasy Girl, Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, The Moody Blues’ Ride My Seesaw, and ELO’s’ Don’t Bring Me Down. The slideshow culminates with Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s – Over the Rainbow.   It is among the most stunning renditions of that song ever done.  And it was a fitting tribute to Stacy—accompanying the photo of a young, adult Stacy walking away, across a parking lot in her white dress and red high heels.  It was a simply stunning—breathtaking image.  You can see for yourself below.

Stacy Being Stunning
 

Stacy lived her life with such zest and gusto—that her absence will always call attention to that missing energy.  Tim, Mali and Shannon face an enormously difficult road ahead (keep them in your thoughts and prayers and give them a shout when you can).  They had the best wife and Mom that anyone could ever hope for.  And they have a treasure trove of memories.  Time can never fill the void that Stacy left.  We can’t expect it to.  We can only hang on to the beauty of her memory, the profound joy of our shared time, and know that she loved us with all of her being.   She is now in a better place–and undoubtedly she is waiting to greet us with a smile.

The background music for Stacy’s completed slideshow (while it waits for you to restart) is Mumford and Sons’ The Cave.  I can think of no better musical testimony to Stacy than a modern Irish stomp.  It’s brand new, cutting edge music that uses traditional, old-world style and tradition–as they sing of holding onto “hope” and finding “strength through pain.” Stacy did just that, on multiple levels—blending old-school values effortlessly into facing modern challenges, finding strength where others found obstacles.

Stacy Murphy was a leader, a role-model, and a trendsetter.  She forged the way ahead, enthusiastically leading us into an ever changing world, without ever losing sight of that which matters most.  Love and nurture, in a strong familial construct, allow us to thrive and grow, no matter what we may face.

Stacy endured a ton more than most of us could take.  And she did so with a smile on her face.  Stacy battled one of life’s most difficult evils with courage, grace and beauty. As always, she showed us how to live life right.  I will never forget her strength and compassion or her stunningly perfect example.  And I will never forget her ever-present smile.  I will miss her more than she probably would have imagined.

Stacy’s pictorial slideshow finished, like it began, with an excerpt from Wicked, the Musical. The final words depicted sum up my own memories of Stacy wonderfully.  I believe that I will not be alone here.  Mali, ever her Mother’s daughter, truly got this right!  I shall set them apart for them to stand on their own.  To Stacy, I’ll just say–

Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.  Wicked, the Musical.

Posted in Tributes | 3 Comments

Paul McDonald – A Proven Artist Already!

Posted on April 20, 2011 by northernrockiesview

Music Reviews – Paul McDonald – The Grand Magnolias – Hightide Blues

It’s always a pleasure discovering new music, new artists, etc.  And American Idol has been a repeat deliverer over the last decade.  You just never know if a winner will stick around and remain a star….or a middle-of-the-pack contestant will be the next great thing.  There are no rules….and America can be a fickle audience.   No season is the same and no contestant can be successfully gauged from the brief glimpses that Idol gives you of them.  No better example of this dynamic exists than this season’s Paul McDonald.

Over the last few seasons, a new paradigm has seemingly emerged among Idol contestants. Some of the contestants were artists with a previously established library, with some already released albums out there.  Last season’s winner, Lee DeWyze, had previously released two albums prior to his Idol coming out.  Even David Cook had a previously released album.  The show does little to bring attention to their previous works.  It probably doesn’t matter….except in cases like Paul’s, where the body of work is so strong.

This Idol season yielded a true-professional in Paul McDonald.  Voted off  8th, the 26 year-old hails from the great American South, originally from Huntsville, Alabama.  Before Idol, Paul McDonald was (and still remains) the lead vocalist of The Grand Magnolias, formerly known as the Hightide Blues.   The Grand Magnolias have one self-titled album, released last November. It is a very good album and I’d bet you’ll hear some of it in the near future. So good, in fact, that the band itself decided that their former name, the Hightide Blues, didn’t conjure the “special” that this album seemed to signify. In their words (posted at their “thegrandmagnolias.com” website), when they’d left the road for the first time in years to write and record a new album, “what they came up with was something they thought should stand on its own as a new project.” So, they sponsored a band-naming contest in Nashville in August 2010, and The Grand Magnolias were born.

The album is strong—very strong!  Paul really is a terrific vocalist.  To quote another fan, “he is sort of a cross between Rod Stewart and James Blunt.”  Yes, that’s it exactly.  Except that Paul and his bandmates write and convey more traditionally American…and Southern sensibilities in their music than Rod Stewart and James Blunt did….and I know how bold that statement is; Maggie May is as “Apple Pie” as it gets.  To mention Paul in the same sentence…..and then compare him favorably to those guys….because he sings and writes more “down-home” songs than them…..verges on excess and hyperbole.

But, I say it isn’t either.  Paul and his bandmates are that good!  In fact, the band (as the Hightide Blues) won Nashville’s “Music City Mayhem,” a 32 band competition/tournament of sorts.  They were simply the best of 32 bands in Nashville in 2010.  Sounds like a promising draw for certain, but we heard none of that on Idol.

And as it turns out, this isn’t a new thing for Paul or his bandmates.  The Hightide Blues have been around their home range for a few years now.  A healthy number of the reviewers of their albums on i-Tunes, hail how terrific they are live.  Fans speak of seeing a live show and being hooked, then buying the albums that they can’t stop listening to.  I am currently in that dynamic–sort of.  I saw Paul on American Idol, liked some of his covers, and hated to see him go.  So, I start poking around on i-Tunes, only to discover the albums that I now can’t stop listening to.

And that’s because it isn’t just The Grand Magnolias CD that’s terrific, they’re most recent Hightide Blues CD, Love Comes Easy (also available on i-Tunes), released in June 2008, is also a great album.  It got some local love, in the form of airtime from Nashville’s own “Lightning 100.1 FM” radio-station.   Among the standouts—Dreamin’ Alone (which got the radio airplay) is a catchy, mid-tempo, break-up song—which captures that place of being lonely and single.  How many of us don’t remember that feeling viscerally? Paul’s vocal is at once descriptive, disarming, inviting, and soothing.  The blues harp adds a nice touch too.

And my personal favorite from the Hightide Blues (and perhaps Paul’s entire library) is Dancing with the Angels (Meg’s Song).  This album closer is a beautiful tribute to a music-loving southern belle, friend of the band, named Meg Ingram, who died of cancer at the age of 21. It immediately struck me as a classic song of remembrance.  Meg and her family can be proud of her friends in the band.  They remembered her magnificently.

These Hightide Blues – Grand Magnolias guys can play.  And they write songs about us in our own habitat.  We southerners love that.  No matter how long we live elsewhere (like your author here in Montana) we don’t ever outgrow our southern sensibilities.

The band’s home territory is the bar and frat scene at/around Auburn University, where Paul and bandmate Jonathan Pears first began writing songs together.  Their long-time, local, pre-Idol fans, who’s voice is loud and clear among the i-Tunes reviews, swear by the intensity and fun of their live shows.  Paul is that same magnetic, happy, quirky, vocalist that we saw on Idol.  The flashy, Porter Wagonner-esque outfits he wore on Idol, were an extravagance he bought before he went out to LA.

I doubt very seriously that he wore them playing the local Auburn scene over the last several years.  It strikes me as a bit of an attention grabber for the television audience….because in person, he is purportedly pretty captivating.  His music, vocals and demeanor draw you in.  We saw a fair amount of that on the Idol stage.  But we also saw Jimmy Iovine tell Paul that his voice was better suited for his own songs than it was for covers. In reviewing the tapes (DVR recordings of his Idol Performances) for this article, in light of of my newfound knowledge of his music, I would wholeheartedly agree.

Paul was credible, good and entertaining doing Rod Stewart, Elton John, and Johnny Cash covers.  But, he is downright spectacular and magnetic with his own works.   I completely get why they would win the Music City Mayhem contest in Nashville.  They flat-out ROCK!

By my own measuring standard–how many songs on an album do I like, by percentage?–the Grand Magnolias and Hightide Blues are way up on my approval list.  Their albums are imminently listenable from start to finish.   There are no filler songs.  I like something about every song…..and everything about some of the songs.

Paul and his bands have a knack for songs that we can all relate to.  His lyrics and vocals tickle my need to sing along.   As the first song on The Grand Magnolias record beckons, “Sing Out, Sing Out, things are only getting better.”  I dare you to listen and not join in.

Paul has a gift.  I’m not sure Idol captured it all so well….since I didn’t know any of this until after he was voted out.  But, I must tip my cap to Idol for putting Paul through.  I may have never discovered the centerpiece of my spring 2011 soundtrack had they not.

Through Idol, Paul has earned some real fans.  I, for one, am now in.  I can’t wait for whatever he and his bandmates do next.  Rock on Paul!  Bring us the Magnolias in their full, Grand splendor!  R/JDPF

PS – Check out their website at “thegrandmagnolias.com”

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The “Top 10” Club

Posted on February 23, 2011 by northernrockiesview

Whitefish Mountain Resort Vert Records

The following information highlights some of the rich, recent history of Whitefish Mountain Resort (known from 1947-2006 as The Big Mountain).

Twenty-nine skiers now comprise the “Top 10″ Club.  They are the skiers who have finished a season in the overall Top 10 of the Vert Standings at Whitefish Mountain Resort since the inception of the Vert Program in 2003.  At the top of the list, only Fred Frost and Russell Carpenter have done it all nine seasons.  Twenty skiers have done it multiple times; while nine more having done it once each—including this season’s sole new member, Fred Koenig.  Welcome to the “Big Mountain Elite” Fred!

And congratulations to Steve Calger, Kay Yobst and John Wachsmuth for returning to the Top 10! This 2011-2012 Season was a character-builder from the beginning—with it’s delayed opening and slow to get here “La Nina” snowfall.  You all earned every bit of it this season.

The data depicted is not official or affiliated in any way with Whitefish Mountain Resort (which I recommend you visit–winter or summer).  The data represents the best available information that I could informally compile for historical purposes.  I have compiled and shared these pages for the benefit of all who care to know it—for those who appreciate the extraordinary competitors and skiers who comprise these lists.  If you see something that you know to be inaccurate, I welcome your constructive inputs to correct the record. Enjoy the memories! JDPF

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The Ten Biggest Vert Single-Seasons

Posted on February 23, 2011 by northernrockiesview

Whitefish Mountain Resort Vert Records

The following information highlights some of the rich, recent history of Whitefish Mountain Resort (known from 1947-2006 as The Big Mountain).

Here are the Top 10 biggest, single-season Vert performances in the history of the Whitefish Mountain Resort’s Vertical Program.  Topping the list is local legend, Chris Chapman—Congratulations Chappy! You are the sole member of the 5 Million Feet club!

And a hearty welcome to Tony Cooper, who skied into the Top 10 in season nine (2011-2012).

Once again, these records were kept informally and are not in any way affiliated with Whitefish Mountain Resort—-which you should make a point of visiting–winter or summer!

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Whitefish Mountain Resort’s Vert Top 10 – Historical

Posted on February 23, 2011 by northernrockiesview

Whitefish Mountain Resort Vert Records

The following information highlights some of the rich, recent history of Whitefish Mountain Resort (known from 1947-2006 as The Big Mountain).  This page lists the Overall Top 10 skiers as measured by the resort’s vertical (Vert) program.  The vert program, which dates back to Thanksgiving weekend 2003, has been keeping track of who has skied the most (in vertical feet) on a daily basis for nine seasons.

The 2011-2012 Season, the ninth of the Vert Era in Whitefish, was won handily by Tony Cooper.   Tony battled broken ribs and marginal early season conditions to outpace perennial favorite Fred Frost.  Nice job Tony!

Congrats to Fred and Russ Carpenter for making it nine straight Top 10s.  And all hail Fred Koenig (new hip and all), joining the Top 10 for the first time.  I’d say the new hip is battle-tested now.  Welcome.

And welcome back to John Wachsmuth, Steve Calger and Ladies #1 Kay Yobst….all making their third appearance in the Top 10, after a brief absence.  Glad you made it back.  Enjoy it, you earned it!

This compilation depicts the overall Top 10 Skiers for each of those seasons of the vert program.  The data depicted is not official or affiliated in any way with Whitefish Mountain Resort.  The data represents the best available information that I could informally compile for historical purposes.  I have compiled and shared these pages for the benefit of all who care to know it—for those who appreciate the extraordinary competitors and skiers who comprise these lists.  If you see something that you know to be inaccurate, I welcome your constructive inputs to correct the record. Enjoy the memories! JDPF

Recent Historical – 2009-2010 Season

Seasons 1 & 2

Season 3 & 4

Season 5 & 6

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Happy Holidays from the Big Mountain!

Posted on December 23, 2010 by northernrockiesview

It’s been another bountiful year for us.  And we are now enjoying another magnificent ski season!  This is the first year, of the five that I’ve lived here, that we knew what we’d be skiing on, a week before ski season.  Usually we start slow and eventually give way to relentless snow at some point.  This year, we got pre-season relentless snow.  Now we’re reaping the benefits….and waiting for more fresh snow.

I am again competing in the Mountain’s Vertical Competition this season.  I am currently holding onto 1st Place, skiing more than everybody else up here.   I won this competition in 2007-08, and finished 2d each of the past two seasons.  All that skiing has made me a better skier.   I am definitely enjoying this year’s run for 1st more.  Skiing is more fun than ever, being able to ski more difficult and varied terrain.

Mike worked again this summer in Glacier National Park.  And he is again an Ambassador on the Mountain this season.  Only this year, he is getting paid to do it.  Previously, he just got his pass for free…..but since he’s over 70 and all skiers over 70 get free passes, they felt that they must actually compensate him for his work.  It’s taken him his whole life, but he is finally getting paid to ski and greet people.   He would be doing those things anyway.  It just goes to show you that “good things come to those who wait.”  One of these years, I may try my hand (or feet) at getting paid to ski.

We did some travelling this year.  I finally got to my 50th state.  We took a summer trip to Vermont, seeing New York City in the process of flying in/out.  We saw a Mets game (sigh—they were so lame—almost as lame as my own Mariners).  At any rate, now that I’ve been to all the states, I’ll have to start working on some of the rest of the continents.   We might have to ski in the southern hemisphere one of these upcoming years.

Lady and Rosie are another year older.  Lady turned 10 in August.  Rosie was 6 in May.   Lady is still quite vigorous and fit.  Rosie is still as ornery as ever.  Both are as mellow as they’ve ever been.  They have a winning routine and they know it.   Although,  Lady is pissed at me lately, for skiing all day every day.   She’s hanging out with Uncle Mike more as a result.  Good for them.  They’ll take their oxytocin where they can get it.

And I started a blog this year.  It is aptly named NorthernRockiesView.com.   I worked it hard for a few months, and then, like most bloggers do, I took a break from it.  I will reattack it in the coming months.  It is a repository for articles that I’ve written regarding my interests and travels.  It has articles about baseball, skiing, music, places and people of importance and interest to me.  You can check it out if you want….or not.

We are expecting numerous visitors this ski season.  Will you be among them? We shall see.  First come first served.  From our pack to yours, Happy Holidays.  Love Jay, Mike, Lady & Rosie

Posted in Home-based Miscellany | 1 Comment

“Eclectic Wonder” Revisited

Posted on September 8, 2010 by northernrockiesview

A Tribute to Judi – 2010

Its been about 20 years since my cousin Judi gave me “Eclectic Wonder” in the form of a cassette tape. It was a “mix” compilation of some of her favorite “right now” music of that time.  It wasn’t as easy then as it is now to create mix compilations.  She actually had to work at it with real source music from vinyl, CD and/or another cassette.  It became the first of many shared tapes and CDs over the years and Judi has established herself as a great music scout.  She has a great eye and ear for emerging local talent on the Red Dirt (Oklahoma & Texas) music scene.  Over the years, she has introduced me to a number of artists that I proudly still call favorites.  This article pays homage to Judi through remembering “Eclectic Wonder” and the legacy beyond.

Judi is the youngest of us Sampson-Barnett cousins.  Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma some decades ago to my Uncle John and (late) Aunt Jo Bates.   We grew up in fairly close proximity—living across town from each other until I went away to college and they moved to Oklahoma City.   But, we weren’t as close as kids—because of our age difference (I was five years older)-as we have become as adults.  I was much closer back then, in age and common interests, to her older sister Joni–who will have her own day here in the tribute section soon.

Joni, Judi and Aunt Jo

Judi and I did spent plenty of time together as kids though—because all of us cousins were kept in close proximity by our matriarchal family leaders.  Our mothers and their mother ensured it.  But we generally didn’t share our thoughts and interests until we became adults.  Once the 5-year age difference was removed as an obstacle, we could then explore our common interests–except that we weren’t anywhere near each other in time and space at that point.

Judi was still in school, an undergraduate at Oklahoma University in Norman.  She was also working at a record store.   I was in the active-duty Army as a First Lieutenant.  She was in touch with the best and worst that the new music scene had to offer.   I was just back from my first tour in Korea and had been mostly out of touch….with family, friends and the music scene.  Judi’s shared music compilations became a means for staying in contact. It was then….and still is today a terrific means for sharing who we are and what is important to us.

“Eclectic Wonder” included about 18-20 songs.  It was a mix of popular and not so popular, alternative songs.  College radio then and now is often known for that kind of dichotomy. Among the mix, that I still remember was the Indigo Girls – Kid Fears; Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush – Don’t Give Up;  10,000 Maniacs – What’s the Matter Here?; and the Black Crowes – Hard to Handle. (Sample them here if you choose)

All of the aforementioned artists and songs are still in my library.  Along with virtually everything that Peter Gabriel, Natalie Merchant and the Black Crowes have done since.

The music notwithstanding, no revisitation of “Eclectic Wonder” would be complete without defining eclectic.  According to the online dictionary (at http://www.thefreedictionary.com), “eclectic” means:

a. selecting what seems best from various styles, doctrines, ideas, methods, etc.

I would submit that that is exactly what she did then.  She shared the best music of her “right now” with me then.  And now, here I am twenty years later, trying to do that same very thing–in the “Music Reviews” of this here “lame” website.   I’d say that this sort of imitation makes for a fair tribute in itself…but I must attribute my work appropriately.  So, thanks to Judi for giving me the idea.  We’ve all heard the adage….that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

Judi does have an extraordinary capacity for music appreciation.  Her tastes are unquestionably “eclectic.”  I don’t know how much thought she put into entitling the mix tape as “Eclectic Wonder” but it fit perfectly.  To complete the picture, we must also see the definition of  “wonder.”  It is (again taken online from thefreedictionary.com):

a. One that arouses awe, astonishment, surprise, or admiration; a marvel
b. The emotion aroused by something awe-inspiring, astounding, or marvelous:

That original mix tape clearly came from a diverse, eclectic place, and in doing so, created some enduring “wonder” across a broad spectrum of musical styles.  She began a long-term process of sharing the best music she could find, from all kinds of sources, big and small—the only common denominator being that it it must strike an emotional chord or generate some wonder.  The long-term, net legacy of this effort has been a healthy expansion of my musical tastes.

In paying attention to what she has shared over the years, I have embraced and became huge fans of numerous artists that she turned me onto. Among the favorites that she has generated (or regenerated an) “awe” in me are, the aforementioned Peter Gabriel, Natalie Merchant, et al,…..but with them, I must also include Todd Snider, Alejandro Escovedo, Norah Jones, and most recently my 2010 favorites, the Turnpike Troubadours.

We’ve shared a lot of music over the years and we’ve both been enriched by it.  Soon, I will be taking her son (the 16 year old Colton) to see his first “Arena” concert, to see Rush along with his Uncle Greg (Joni’s husband).  It will be fun.  Greg and I will share our three decades plus of Rush appreciation with more of the Sampson-Barnett progeny.  Colton discovered Rush on his own this year and Mom knew that Uncle Greg and Uncle Jay had more than a passing interest in their music.  So, we shared some of our Rush favorites and then agreed that Colton should see the upcoming tour.  The cycle of creating “Eclectic Wonder” from the realm of music continues.  Long after we’ve forgotten when and how it all began, Colton will undoubtedly still be passing down his own favorites for years to come.  JDPF

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We Think We’re So Smart

Posted on September 4, 2010 by northernrockiesview

We think we’re so smart.  We’ve got our own websites, blogs, 4G cell-phones, i-Pods, i-Pads, 24-hour news-cycles, and multiple flights daily to anywhere else in the world.  And yet we remain blissfully ignorant in so many ways.   We still can’t explain some basic laws of the universe and natural world around us…..and it seems less and less relevant to us every day.  Yet the laws of the universe apply to everyone and everything, whether we are conscious of them or not.  Innumerable unanswered questions about the universe and how it’s inhabitants fit together still remain.  So many that we simply don’t know what we don’t know.   I’ll focus on a few areas here and you can decide for yourself, assuming you have the time and attention span to hang with me.

Mankind is smarter, collectively, than ever before…but, despite our endless, near-instantaneous news cycles, we have just begun to scratch the surface in terms of defining the laws of nature.  We purportedly know more about the moon than we do our own oceans–so says the preview for an upcoming show on the National Geographic channel.   And every scientist/naturalist going to Borneo seems to unearth dozens of new species. We know that we are ignorant about these things (if we are paying attention)–but we are too busy to care about scientists and species from distant, dark places.

Somehow, with the emergence of modern conveniences, we seem to have lost our natural curiosity–replaced with short attention spans, mostly directed at responding to the electronic gizmos making noises in our life.    We no longer seem to have any need for the continued divination of universal truth.   Or, we no longer have the time and attention span to devote toward doing that heavy thinking.  In this day and age of endless electronic stimuli and distraction, I submit that, now more than ever, we need to force ourselves to do more pondering and less responding.  We should all devote more time to observation, critical thought, and reasoned analysis.  Get outside and watch some birds, look for wildlife in their own habitat, and pay attention to details.

Consider this, many of the nuggets of knowledge which were mankind altering came from the minds of men just simply observing and thinking.  Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity—while witnessing an apple falling from a tree—is a great case in point.  Newton’s views of physics stood for over 200 years until Albert Einstein contributed his Theory of Relativity a hundred years or so ago.  And the impact of his works took several decades to fully manifest.  His works opening up our understanding of the sub-atomic world around us.

None of us know who that next great thinker might be–the one who figures out the next mankind altering natural law.  Will it cure cancer? Extend lifespans? Enable time-travel? Replace the need for fossil fuels/internal combustion engines? You get the stakes.

But short of mankind altering discovery, we also have plenty of familiar but ill-defined natural world phenomenon still needing scientific explanation.  I offer the following examples for your consideration.

First, why is it, that when you put healthy, reproductive-age women together on a regular basis, that their menstrual cycles sync-up.  What natural law governs this? Is it simply hormonal? Answer me that one, you budding Einsteins.

Second, why do we humans bond so strongly with our pets?  I recently just learned the answer to this question–the chemical–hormonal principle behind dogs and human bonding. Watching an Animal Planet documentary entitled When Man Created Dogs, I learned that our closeness with our pets is defined by an exchange of oxytocin (not to be confused with oxycontin or oxycodone—it’s sad that I even need to pass on this disclaimer).  Oxytocin, sometimes referred to as “the cuddle-drug” hormone, is released in both the dogs and their humans, lowering levels of cortisol–the stress hormone in both cases.  So there you have it. Our cuddly dogs make us feel better, feeling less stress, and we make them feel more cuddly.  It’s good all around.  So, we seek frequent oxytocin exchange with each other.

And who among us hasn’t heard cases of symbiosis among people and their pets?  I know I’ve heard more than one anecdotal story of the mother with an asthmatic child, purchasing a Chihuahua—-so that the dog would get the asthma and the child would get better.  Wives’ tale?  Not according to some.   Is there a law of nature at play here? If so, how does it work?

Along those same lines, who among us hasn’t heard of the animals acting strangely immediately prior to an earthquake? The animal kingdom clearly has skills and sensory perception that we just don’t understand yet.

I read a recent interview of Jane Goodall (who famously worked with the Chimpanzees in Tanzania in the 70s) in Reader’s Digest.  In response to a question about our zeal to save snails and beetles “impeding progress and development,” she said “that we are still learning about the interconnectedness of life”.  We’re just starting to understand that the killing of one bug at the bottom of the food chain, might just bring down the whole ecosystem.

Yet we continue to work with great haste and much purpose regarding wildlife management, without knowing what we are doing.  To use a recent example from our own paper here, I am compelled to ask “why is it that we are relocating Grizzly bears from the Whitefish Mountain Range to the Cabinet Mountains in Northwest Montana?”–when the bears are just walking back to their home range.  Two female Grizzlies, trapped and moved within the last year, have already moved back on their own—covering 60-70 miles in each case.   The most recent of the two returnees—set about the trek, within 24 hours of being released in the Cabinets.

She clearly knew where she wanted to be….and which direction to go to get there.  Within seven days of being released to repopulate the Cabinets, she had moved all the way back to her home habitat 3-4 miles east of the Big Mountain.  We think we’re so smart….because we can sedate them, tag them, move them and then track them…..that we never considered that they have a choice in the matter…..and have instincts and senses way beyond our ability to understand them.  We drove Grizzlies out of the Cabinets…and we want them back….so we move the Whitefish bears….and they vote with their feet.   I say, “you go girl! The Whitefish range has way more huckleberries.”

With all our modern conveniences, we are easily distracted from the world occuring around us.   We think we are so smart, but we still haven’t moderated our instinct to impose our will upon the things and sentient beings that are “interconnected” with us.  We still go overboard with our zeal—no matter which direction we go. It’s too bad that we don’t ever just stop to think, before we move the bears.  But, who’s got time for that?

Ok, if you haven’t done so already, you should now go back to your i-Phones…..or better yet, go give your dog an oxytocin boost.  You’ll both feel better for it.  JDPF

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