Veteran's Day 2019

photo courtesy of my friend Linda - harbor boat tour of NYC.

Lady Liberty - beacon to all the huddled masses yearning to be free. Symbol of so much along with our U.S. flag.  Gift from France, our ally

Cheers to all the veterans who have served our nation. Men and Women who volunteer to work, fight,-here and abroad - alone on a mission or alongside our allies. All to keep America free.

my opinion - respect for our allies is very key to the safety of our military so that they can serve their tours and return home safe to be veterans.

The real and lasting victories are those of peace and not of war - Ralph Waldo Emerson 1860

Movie Review - Western Star

Bruce

Bruce Springsteen's concert/cinematic musings Western Stars brings an added dimension to the thirteen songs on his new album. At 90 minutes, we see the Boss perform his new songs in his own rustic barn - complete with a symphony orchestra - in front of select friends.

Our boy from Asbury Park NJ is now an elder music statesman on a ranch in CA still singing about the common man and issues - love, loss, loneliness, family, and the passage of time. He's a troubadour for troubled souls and he's still looking in the mirror trying to fix himself too.

The film has scenes of nature,  horses, Bruce looking reflective, sunsets, sunrises, and stark  desert lands. I enjoyed the film and the insights into the songs. Some were catchy, some got a bit morose. But Bruce Springsteen is a music poet and he's captured a lot of America through the years. And by his side, wife - Patti Scialfa plays her guitar and leans in for some harmony. Old clips show them cavorting as kids and with their kids - quite a life - lean times and golden.

Book Review - The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

I am a huge fan of Colson Whitehead's writing. The Underground Railroad blew me away. Now with The Nickel Boys, I think his writing is even better.

Elwood Curtis lives in the black area in segregated Tallahassee, but the Civil Rights movement is stirring and he's in awe of Martin Luther King's words. As a high school senior about to take classes at a local college, he's ready for the world. His grandmother has kept him on the straight and narrow.

cover blurb:  But for a black boy in the Jim Crow South of the early 1960s,  one innocent mistake is enough to destroy the future. 

Elwood finds himself at the Nickel Academy - its mission is to provide moral training. It's true goal - to break down the soul of "colored" delinquents.  Elwood tries to hold on to Dr.  King's words, but his friend Turner thinks that Elwood is worse than naive, that the world is crooked,  and that the only way to survive is to scheme and avoid trouble. (cover)

Colson Whitehead's The Nickel Boys is based off of a real life reform school in the South, where horrors came to the forefront. You'll root for Elwood's ideals and hope for the best. Twists and turns abound, and through it all the writing is stellar, the characters rich, and you'll shed a tear for the torment of tough times in the 1960s South.

Monday Moments - Fall Filler

Happy Fall and November.  I am currently in Philly visiting my dad, so I won't be around much to comment.  Here are some random fall filler pics. We've survived Halloween, now it's onward to Thanksgiving, and

 sshh! You know who sees you when you're sleeping, knows when you're awake,  knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake.

Have a good Monday and week.

Jubilee Theater - Single Black Female

A few Saturdays ago, I enjoyed an afternoon of Jubilee Theater. Single Black Female by Lisa B. Thomson, directed by Vicky Washington, and starring Cherie Williams and Naeaidria M. Callihan was excellent.

Plenty of laughs, plenty of Oh NO moments, plenty of reminders of the resilience of a strong species - upwardly mobile...highly educated...take no prisoners...loving and enjoying life...all while keeping an eye on that ticking biological clock, dodging the brothas who just know that they are "Mister Right", and seeking love in all kinds of places!  (from the director's notes in the program)

I thoroughly enjoyed the solid performances, the clever dialogue, the hysterical vignettes, and the poignant moments of friendship too. Superb play.

The Jubilee Theater is a gem in Fort Worth Texas. Their mission is communication and awareness through the arts - unite folks from all backgrounds and appreciate the beauty of the human spirit.

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Halloween Edition

Happy Halloween from the past.  Abby, Talon, and a messy Makyla. Eat that chocolate, wrapper and all.

Have a safe and fun spooktacular good time

Monday Moment - Halloween Spooktacular

The Monday moment is courtesy of Saturday's trip to the Fort Worth Symphony. The Halloween Spooktacular brought out creatures of all ages. Kids dressed in costumes - plenty of princesses, super heroes, and witches. The orchestra played tunes from Harry Potter, Star Wars, and the theme from Jurassic Park brought out this dino to roam the aisles. Fun!

The "Witch's Ride" from Hansel and Gretel was a good tune. Many folks in the orchestra also wore costumes. The best was the man in a shark outfit playing the bass.

Support your local symphony and enjoy a safe walk In a Haunted Forest from Suite No. 1, Op  42.