Monday Madness

The first robin of the season is outside under the apple trees eating fallen apples that were exposed after yesterday's big wind. Some places in the yard have a couple of feet of snow coverage and some areas are bare grass. I've tried several times today to get this robin's photo through the window but it flies up into the trees each time I approach the window. The photo of a robin is in my back yard but it's from summer.

I've had a very, very busy day today - answering phones. It somehow gets around that The Girl is home and the phone begins to ring non-stop. She was out all afternoon so I was relegated to the message taking.

I bought and am reading A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, the book that Oprah has been talking about, pushing actually, for weeks. He and she are having an online class about the book on Monday nights. I had planned to sign up for this but other than tonight, my next few Mondays will be occupied. It also starts at 10 pm which would be too late for me to do thinking work.

Lesson Learned by the wonderfully talented Alicia Keys is the first song today. Mississippi Fred McDowall has the second, Good Morning Little School Girl. I have lots of versions of that song but I love everything Mississippi Fred MacDowall does so that's the one I'm choosing. It has a different melody than every other version I've heard but I like him so much!

We've had lots of visitors since I started this so it's coming rather late. Now Putfile seems to be having some slowdown. Hope the songs work ok cause it sure is taking a long time to upload them. Remember the good old days when this was published at 4:30 - 4:45?

The Bad News

I found out today that I must have surgery on my shoulder. It is considered urgent. It will be Thursday or Friday or next week at the latest. The surgeon didn't have his schedule and couldn't get his office on the phone so will let me know tomorrow. I'm dreading this for many reasons but will not get into that.

This truly could have been determined weeks ago and it really irks me that I have to start the process of immobilization again. It will weaken my muscles and physio will be harder and more time will have passed until I'm back to normal. Our medical system sucks!!!

I'm a bit pissed off so short post but four songs. You've Got To Move is considered one of my essential songs. I had two versions up in the past that are gone. Here's Greg Brown, Tracy Grammer and Dave Carter with one fabulous version, Mississippi Fred MacDowall ( my favorite) with one, and Two Gospel Keys with another. I know I have more but am not going to take the time to look. Instead, because it's late, Steve Dawson brings us At Arm's Length.

By the way this photo is minutes before my accident. I had my arms outstretched and was screaming to the gods, "I love my pond. I love it out here." Then that hockey stick that is visible at the very left edge was passed to me.....

How Long?

All the arrangements are made for an overnight in town in anticipation of a storm. My long-awaited appointment with the surgeon is tomorrow and my plan for getting there has changed four times. I have just now planned for after the appointment as I may not have a ride back out here afterward. I'll have to hang out till my son can come retrieve me. That's now taken care of. I'm overnighting at my friend's who had the party on Saturday night. I'm two days late.

I can't wait till I can drive again. I'll feel so much more independent when I can at least go where I want, when I want. How Long? That's what I find out tomorrow as well as if I need surgery or not. I'm hoping for the best. With as much energy as I have, I want to be on the mend sooner than later.

More music? Rolled and Tumbled Blues by Rosa Hemphill and Mississippi Fred McDowell is the perfect title for the way I feel that's taking me to hospital tomorrow. St. James Infirmary by Dave Van Ronk and Ramblin' Jack Elliott is the perfect song for a visit to the hospital. Rolled and Tumbled Blues was one of the essentials that had been taken off. Glad to get it back on.

Old and New

The weather is soooo great. I'm not sure what the temperature is since my thermometer is broken but I am able to go walking without a hat or gloves....in January. The temps are predicted to go up and up all week.....in January. Walking today was really fabulous. I know I talk about the endorphens released when walking but wow, they make you feel glad to be alive.

Things happen in threes they say and I've seen this happen. Yesterday someone hit into my car. Today I've discovered that my vacuum cleaner sucks. It actually doesn't suck thus it really sucks. Do you get vacuum cleaners repaired or buy new ones?

I've been having these bad luck cycles in the last month. What's the saying? "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." They pass, I guess.

Old music for the end of an old year. I kind of consider my birthday on the fourth to be more of a new year for me than the first. Today's music is from another era, the grandparents of our modern music. I love both of these cuts. This one, You've Got To Move by Mississippi Fred McDowell is already up by yesterday's choice, Greg Brown (here's the link to compare) and sticking with Mississippi....here's Mississippi John Hurt doing Since I Laid My Burden Down. I like listening to this old roots music then to other versions.

I guess tomorrow should be new music. Hmmmmm.

Almost Over, Thank Goodness!

This has been the weirdest week I've ever had. I've had two falls, I hit my head three times yesterday, my keys locked themselves in the car, I had two days of allergy attacks to I don't even know what, my favorite skirt got burned from embers jumping from the fireplace, and even the fact that I have two prime days off in the Christmas party season....just overall weird. I find it weird that I've been accident prone. I'm very stable on my feet and don't normally fall down. I'm a Capricorn after all and Cuidado means careful. With that combination and me falling it's just plain weird. Yesterday at the bank about five people in line and a bunch of bank staff came running to help me up. I was so embarassed. They said they would put a mat down.

Luckily, due to my wonderful organizing abilities ha, ha, there hasn't been a hitch at work, other than me walking around with bumps and bruises and red eyes from the allergies. The party- goers called all the staff in last night to give us a standing ovation and booked for next year on the spot. At least something is going well.

I'm going to town today and S. and I are going out to play. We'll do some shopping too. I have gifts to get off in the mail by Monday.

For music some old blues today. Fats Waller doing Your Feets Too Big and Rolled and Tumbled Blues by Rosa Hemphill and Mississippi Fred McDowell.

Hoping I can stay upright this weekend and that I get some much needed rest and recouperation, I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Blurry

It's Friday night. It's late and I've had my fill. My friend Serge is here doing the Friday night Happy Hour thing that is mostly defunct but is still happening on many levels. We just played "Serge", one of my playlists from last year and found Baby Please Don't Go by Mississippi Fred MacDowell that I'd put on a playlist for him last year. It's definitely worth a listen. We found it quite funny that I'd put up another version just today. It's from Greg Brown & Bill Morrissey.

We've been dancing and now it's time to slow down. It's way past my bedtime and I have to work in the morning. We're good that way...my friends are all accommodating to each others work schedules and moods.....we're mature now. It's time to slow down the dancing.....another one from the "Serge" playlist...La Vie En Rose but this time by Edith Piaf. I swear we're coming full circle tonight. Didn't I post this song by another person yesterday? Edith's version is the standard for all others isn't it. It's not my favorite but it does set the standard....the first one I ever heard and definitely a favorite of the multitudes. I think sometimes that I have too many versions of too many songs....but....that thought is only fleeting when you're a collector of songs.