"Real" County Music

I guess you both know that I've been an on-and-off country music fan.  (And I really did want a truck for a bit when you were quite young.....!)  What this has usually meant is "country pop" type artists such as the Judd's, Shania Twain, Martina McBride, etc.  Although Steve and I went to a Dolly Parton concert a couple years ago, and can verify that Dolly is a true country music icon.

As I while away time listening to music on You Tube, I've begun to appreciate old-time country music, and I'm always looking for more Johnny Cash and Carter Family songs.  I came across two tonight that are just fantastic....  so lucky you, I'm going to share them.

The first song was written by Merle Kilgore and June Carter.  It became one of Johnny Cash's best known songs, but was originally recorded by June's sister Anita Carter.  She had a compelling, spectacular voice - this rendition is just wonderful.



And this probably the sweetest love song I've ever heard, performed by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash.  Theirs is a great love story; I hope very much that some day both of you will have the joy of finding your own soul mates.

Coda

Since my last post......

I updated the picture are the top of the blog to the one I've inserted below.  Steve (our extraordinarily talented, primary photographer) took it.  It was really a very innocent moment; but the cats look downright creepy.

Also, Robby you have been somewhat fixated on baby names lately.  So to add to the previous posting:

• You like the name "Rain" for a girl, which is a very nice name.  We tried to talk you into Sleet, Fog and Hail too, but you aren't going for it.  You joked with Alex that you are also considering "Eduarda".
• We are concerned about your latest boy's preferred boy's name , which is "Joof".  Alex is sure he would spend a lot of time fighting over it, and Steve says his nickname would be "ATM" since he would constantly lose his lunch money to his tormentors.  You did a Google search and found that there are "one or fewer" people who have this first name.  Good thing your future wife will have her own opinions.

As a funny conclusion, here's a perfect song for the wrap up the Name posting at least for now.  The comments to this video say it was recorded at a concert for prisoners in San Quentin (not in Denmark):

What's in A Name?

Here's a list of significant and not-so-significant names & related facts ......

• Alexander the Great - namesake of our Alexander
• Sasha Finley - Mom's nickname for Alex
• Robby Cannonball - Mom's nickname for Robby
• Robster - Aunt Pam's name for our Robby
• Robinator - Steve's name for Robby
• Spidershock79 - One of Robby's online names, the origin of which seems to be forgotten
• Trini Bug - Katrina's (Kate's) childhood nickname
• Stinky - Becca's childhood, and somewhat unfair, nickname
• Korin - We are not allowed to mention the only childhood nickname I've heard of, but there's ever the question of whether to pronounce as Koor-in vs Kohr-ihn.
• Luke - Lucy's current name on Facebook
• Kai-ruh - Most common pronunciation of Kyra's (Keer-uh's) name
• Noel and Larson - Most Canadian-sounding kids in Doha, and previously Houston
• Bob and Bobby - Grandma's names for Grandpa and Dad (as a result, I insisted on calling our boy "Robby")
• Ruthie - Grandma's favorite alternate name for Aunt Pam
• Clyde and Chloe - Per GranNana, names that their parents almost chose for your great grandfather (Burke Rivers, her husband) and for her (Phyllis); in which case, they would never have married 
• Burkey the Turkey - Per GranNana, your great grandfather's nickname made up by his uncle(s); its use was discontinued after he was ordained
• Uncle John - Namesake of Edie's father, Great Uncle John McCausland (also GranNana's brother)
• "Joseph Kerr" - Name your Great Aunt Mary Kerr would not choose for one of her sons, as a namesake of her father Joe Zeller (can you think of why?)
• Gage - Alex's best friend, who Mom once dreamed of as "Battery" (perhaps connecting to "gauge", with car repairs in mind)
• Lars and Olaf - Robby's friends from camp; one actual, one invented by Steve
• The Teams (A, B, B modified, G and H teams) - Robby's school friends in groups or singular
• Pugsley and Pubert - Rather irreverent names for certain neighbors (and a future sister would become "Wednesday")
• Jeffy - Name of another neighbor as understood my Mom for more than 2 years (turns out his actual name is slightly different)
• Gwendolyn Priscilla Smythe - The helpful lady who talks to us through the GPS.
• Fluffius Maximus or Fluffius Minimus - Tiger, depending on the time of year
• Jonathan and Potato - Alex's and Robby's names for Jean Luc
• Bill or Fek'lhr - Names not chosen for brand new kitten Jean Luc, thanks (very much) to Kate
• Rambo - The very unlikely name of a reticent black and white kitty
• Deacon and Sunday - Names of Mom's childhood "church" kitties
• Fat Albert - Steve's childhood kitty
• Lotus Mae - Aunt Pam's childhood kitty

OK, that was fun but exhausting.  Happy Friday !!

Decisions, Decisions

Tonight at dinner, Robby mentioned that I hadn't posted anything since February....  so I guess it's time to finish this post that I started 5 weeks ago.  After posting about music you've enjoyed recently, I wanted to share some music I like.  But it's been so hard to choose !

So, be it "eclectic" or "weird" or just plain boring, here's my collection.......



I love choral music, and found this lovely and (as always with a boys' choir) slightly haunting church performance of a beautiful hymn by John Rutter.


About a year ago, Steve and I met Aunt Julie and Mark in New York City to see "Wicked".  I am fascinated and enthralled with musicals, and can't get the songs out of my head for days after the show.  This emotional song from "Wicked", about a close friendship between women, has become permanently fixed in my psyche.....  likely connected to the close relationships I've had with women (family members and others) and how much they mean to me.




And this song is just SO sweet, bringing back days of having you boys as very young children.  You can just feel the love in this family.

Classics in a New Light

Continuing with the theme of  "music of current interest", here are two fascinating videos that Alex introduced us to.  As with Robby's songs, there is great contrast in the themes (carefree joy vs troubled times).  Both are haunting, and performed with incredible feeling .....  and you may know that Over the Rainbow is one of my favorite songs of all time.

School House Rock and Spotify

One of my favorite things to do is watch You Tube videos (I definitely feel guilty about this, since I'm getting nothing accomplished while I keep clicking away.....).  A couple weeks ago in American Government, Robby you were introduced to the School House Rock version of The Preamble of the Constitution.  You were singing it at home for a few days.....  And tonight you told me that you like listening to Shadows of the Night on Spotify.  I've certainly heard of Spotify, but did an Internet search to learn what it actually is :-)

So, here are the videos for these memorable songs!  As a side note, we got an exercise bike and you now enjoy listening to music on your headphones while you peddle your 2 miles per day (typically in 6 minutes).

On Missing a Brother

Today, the day after Chris's funeral, has been a sad day for me.  It's sinking in that there will be always be a hole in the Albert family, and what a huge loss it is.  On the other hand, it was a recuperative day for Steve who is genuinely tired.  He did find enough energy to make us hamburgers and baked beans for dinner, then sit on the couch to pet Tiger (who always shows up within 30 seconds when petting is a possibility).

This Paul Simon song has been running through my head all day, since reading and re-reading Steve's post on NCFE about Chris.  You probably aren't familiar with Simon & Garfunkel (who are a world famous, but "older" duo).  An interesting fact that I learned recently.....  they attended the same high school Grammie did, Forest Hills High School in Queens NY.   You can't help but appreciate the beautiful vocals.

Your Step Dad

Today we had the funeral mass for Steve's brother, Chris.  Alex, it was so nice that you came to the funeral!  It's been a long day, but things are generally OK knowing that Chris is at peace now.

Steve has been so involved over the past couple years helping his brother (I won't elaborate), and now in making many arrangements which are necessary and significant when death comes.  Steve wrote a lovely tribute to Chris on NCFE, which you can read here.  And he gave the eulogy during the funeral. This is very difficult stuff, and I admire him for being such a strong person, so very thoughtful & eloquent, and above all a wonderful brother.

When talking about a friend, co-worker or family member, sometimes Steve says "He's a good man".   Well, we all know from living together that Steve absolutely fits that description himself.  And his role as a Step Dad is important to him.  He thinks about both of you a lot, is generous with his time and otherwise, and offers advice without drama.  I honestly believe he is the best parent to teenagers and young adults that I've ever known.  Here's a favorite picture of his, from our 2016 vacation in Florida - looking out at the NASA vehicle assembly building of the Kennedy Space Center.

We all are very lucky to have him in our lives, for many reasons.  Steve and I, with Aunt Pam especially, know that we're providing a stable foundation for your lives.  And showing you what it is to have loving family relationships.  Outside Rob B's and Joy A's offices, I've often looked at a tree poster with the quote below.  I hope that as you walk through life together as brothers, you will be true friends.

Family:  

Like branches in a tree, we all grow in different directions;

yet our roots remain as one.

Christmas 2016

A few highlights from Christmas just past......  and some pictures to follow......

• Robby. you say you don't know what your favorite present was - though I think it was your Obi-Juan shirt (you want to somehow add "Balogna" to it).  DVD's of the first 2 seasons of "All in the Family" come in a close second.
• Alex, you don't know either.  As a history buff, hopefully you'll like this new book: "Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution".  And a new dress shirt & tie has come in handy for work at Gerrity's (to add credibility when advising customers about pomegranates and firm but small eggplants).
• Steve was happy to get the kitty book in the picture below, but I think his favorite present was a "World's Okayest Dad" mug from Korin.  He was also pleased with matching Life is Good shirts he got for the two of us.
• I was mostly happy that I didn't get too tired and, particularly, didn't get sick (or have a nasty tooth ache like last year).
• Lastly, Robby was quite disappointed that he didn't get a video of Santa.  He set his iPhone up in the living room to record activities around the Xmas tree, but the recording stopped at some point before Santa arrived (his secrets are safe for another year!).
• We had a nice Grotto Party, as usual. You may not realize it, but everyone (especially your grandparents) is happy to have time with teenagers - or recently graduated teenagers, such as those who turned 20 the previous day.
• I've added one extra Christmas tree picture at the bottom, which at this moment is the picture posted at the top of the Carroll Boys blog. It was a magical photo I happened to get while sitting on the couch - for some reason, a ceramic Santa ornament that Grandma made was brilliant.....  and what a sweet picture of Tiger.