Regarding yesterday's passing of Tim Russert, I must say this has hit me as sad and quite a loss.  Though I didn't watch Meet the Press every Sunday, I've always respected the way this guy would quote the interviewee's words back to him/her - sometimes from years before - in a non-offensive way. He didn't back up...just asked the question, sometimes repeated the question and the interviewee either answered, or sat uncomfortably.  Though he was a liberal, personally, he wasn't rude to the other end nor did he crank out spin. 

This reminds me of Steve Irwin's passing.  People who live, full of life, until the last minute.  What a year for him to leave early. I hope this November's general election is historic even without him.

My radar has landed happily on Donovan for the last while. I've long loved the songs that I knew and have bought some of the commercially available videos and the purple box set lately.  I read The Autobiography of  Donovan: The Hurdy-Gurdy Man a few weeks back, and I happily re-read sections every few days.  Previously, my favorite non-fiction has been Edgar Cayce: An American Prophet by Sidney Kirkpatrick, but The Hurdy Gurdy Man may have just moved it a notch.  I adore the tales of Donovan leaving home at 16 to become a beatnik with so many others and his success that seemed to just knock on his door all of a sudden, one day.  I also loved reading about his inner compass and spiritual quest as he may come close to Eckhart Tolle at being adept at explaining the unexplainable.  His love story regarding his wife of many years, Linda Lawrence is one of the most dear tales of such I know of.  I have long adored "Catch the Wind" and "Colors" "Atlantis," as well as "Mellow Yellow," but my favorites of the moment are "Cosmic Wheels,"  "Wear Your Love Like Heaven," and the more recent "I'd Give It All Up," from the 1996 album "Sutras," produced by Rick Rubin. 

Donovan in Concert, 1972 I believe. Cosmic Wheels, Maria Magenta, The Pee Song, Mellow Yellow

The subject line is a quote from Brian May's recent Soapbox post on www.brianmay.com.   I couldn't agree more because I'm thrilled that Senator Barack Obama has secured the presidential nomination for the Democratic Party.  It will be interesting to see who he picks for a running mate, as I do so hope that the Democratic ticket wins in November.  I'm thinking perhaps Bill Richardson from N. Mexico.

Kudos to Sen. Hillary Clinton.  I hope she runs and is re-elected to her senate seat by New York as long as she wants to work.  I'd love to see her as majority leader on the floor of the United States Senate.  I wish the same for Senator Dennis Kucinich and others.  I hope their constituents keep them in their jobs as long as they wish to be and that they and all of us put more free in freedom.

I'm inspired by Barack Obama.  I like the way he "just talks."  His speeches aren't so flowery that they hypnotize you, he allows the issues to carry the weight. His facial and limb movements are fluid, not stoic, condescending or fearful. Reminds me of the footage of RFK from forty years ago.  I guess what I'm saying is, he doesn't reek of hardnosed politics, and strikes me as one of us.  And, isn't that - along with strength, character, intelligence and empathy - what leading a democracy that's for and by the people is?  The man and woman on the street.  You and me.

God Bless America and The World

Well, the tenth annual Woodyfest is now in the rearview.  It was not even hot this year!  It was so wet in fact, that some of the Pastures of Plenty stage festivities had to be moved indoors in the old Crystal Theatre, downtown Okemah, Oklahoma. 

Recommendation: Look for a band called "Steppin' In It."  They're from Michigan and a couple of them are brothers. They'll make you throw a hat down and dance around it and you'll never care who might be looking on.  www.steppininit.com.

The MVP may again be Rad (Radoslav Yorkovic) of Jimmy LaFave's band.  This accordian, piano and organ playing dynamo had everybody stomping, hollering and smiling.  He accompanied many acts as well as Jimmy. Look him up too.

Woody Guthrie would have been 95 yesterday.  He passed from this life in 1967, when I was a first grader, but I already well knew "This Land is Your Land," and "Oklahoma Hills," and maybe even a few others.  If, somehow, you've missed Woody, do some internet searches, but also, read Bound for Glory (watch the movie too, if you wish), Pastures of Plenty and/or one or more of the several biographies and topical writings on Woody's life out there. There was a great PBS special on Woody's life produced last year that aired just a few nights back.  Also, get your mitts on the Smithsonian Folkways compilation CDs or the Asch Recordings with many, many of Woody's wonderful, musical meanderings.

Chicago Review Press sent me this book for reviewing purposes.  Here's more or less what I thought.

- Cindy

Storms:  My Life with Lindsey Buckingham

and Fleetwood Mac

Author: Carol Ann Harris

Publisher: Chicago Review Press

            by Cindy Kelly

Though ardent Fleetwood Mac fans may vaguely know of Tulsa county native, Carol Ann Harris, many now await the moment her autobiographical  Storms: My Life with Lindsey Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac  falls under their eyes when it hits stores Sunday, July 15th.  Since – save for one interview – Ms. Harris has never allowed a public look into her 1976-1984 relationship with guitar-genius Lindsey Buckingham, fans may lock the door to devour the near-400 page look into Mac's glory era as soon as they get it home.

Though the relationship/breakup of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks has been over-chronicled to a pathological degree, this new-to-the-outside-world tale is told from the ticklish plight of having been Lindsey's new girlfriend, who was often around both stars.  It's no stretch to believe the authoress wrote this book for fans (as her advance-edition states), for she seems a reputable source, taking you into her confidence like a friend.  While superstar Nicks doesn't figure front and center on every page, reams of detailed scenarios – amazing recording sessions, rehearsals, backstage countdowns and parties - involving Ms. Nicks and the whole band will keep fans turning the pages. There are plenty of magical moments: spoiled young celebrities globetrotting first class, post-Rumours mansion shopping, jamming with musical heroes in the snow-covered English countryside; but each band-mate is also shown as a very real person: tempted, rejected, regaled and ridiculed by those around them.  All were beloved by appreciative fans, but miserable enough to march through their commitments only with the aid of energy-mimicking drugs.  

Recounting her post-high school move to L.A., native Oklahoman Harris takes us through her hard-won opportunities in the male dominated field of recording engineering, the sparks that drew herself and Lindsey together at work, and – once inside Mac's inner sanctum - her naive initiation into drug-taking.  Laced throughout is her ever-growing desire (at the expense of her own ambitions) to be exactly what Lindsey might need at any moment -  and a sincere wish to befriend Stevie.  The writer's credibility is vitally present as she details Buckingham as an attentive, caring lover/mate on one hand, with the cold, desperately needy maniac who inflicted sporadic, life-threatening assaults on her (yes, hospitals were involved) on the other.   As readers – even Lindsey fans – wonder why she continued to stay, the young Ms. Harris reveals her youthful slow realization that she can only forge a life for herself by leaving the man she's lived to groom for his.  One feels triumph taking hold as she begins rewarding her newfound passion - musical costume design - with the devotion she lavished on Lindsey for eight years.

© Cindy Kelly 2007

 Please do not borrow in part or entirety without permisson

Dave's mother, Lorene Houck died yesterday morning in Illinois.  She was 90, and would have been 91 had she lived until June 23rd.  Though Dave and I separated in 2003, she and I, I'm sure, still thought of each other as family.

Mom Houck was a lifelong resident of Norman, OK until a year ago, when she moved to a retirement center in a small town in Illinois near her daughter, Karen's family.  Mom Houck was employed sewing (at home) for the University of Oklahoma while her children were growing up (LaWayne, David and Karen) and also babysat neighborhood children.  Dave's father, Wayne was a plumber (he died in 1988) and both of them ran two coin-operated laundromats near the University once their kids had grown. They also helped raise some of their relatives' children during difficult times. 

Mom Houck was not only a friend to me since I met her in 1992, but also is thought of very fondly by my mother, Louise Kelly. My mom sometimes shared Christmas and/or Thanksgiving at Mom Houck's home and is going to miss her.   Mom Houck always cooked everything for holiday meals as she felt she was retired and could take two days to get it all done if need be.  She was also, in many ways, a lifelong product of having lived through the depression.  She bought large quantities of food and staple items and wanted you to eat as soon as you drove up, even if you came simply to visit. She loved movies and in fact, she and I once watched four movies on a Saturday.

Mom Houck enjoyed music and Dave, myself and my cousin Gency practiced our "trio" material for her a few times:  hymns, Beatles songs, etc.  She enjoyed a number of recordings she had, including an Elvis gospel album. She'd also enjoyed Enya and Celine Dion in recent years.

Dave's mom will have a graveside service, not sure when just yet.  She'll be buried in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Norman near her husband, Wayne, and a baby boy they lost many years ago.  She was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.  She had four grandchildren Beth (who died a few years ago), Sarah, Drew and Sean.

I'll post a picture soon.

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From the Newspaper:

I just learned from reading the site linked below that one of my favorite haunts in the Los Angeles area is closing...or has already closed.

http://valleydays.blogspot.com/2006/01/duttons-north-hollywood-is-closing.html

I lived in the L.A. area from 1987-1993 and shopped in Dutton's Books even before I was a valley dweller, circa 1990-1993. In 2003, I visited the shop on a trip back to L.A., spoke to the owner, as even after ten years and no real introductions, we recognized each other immediately.  I traded quite a few books for store credit there in my L.A. days....Dutton's paid better for used books than some shops and upped the ante a bit more for store credit....I think I always took the credit.  Probably left a few dollars in it when I moved from CA.

The shop was housed in a sort-of-single-family-dwelling type building with rooms, stairs, nooks and crannies piled with books on many subjects.  There were art prints, plenty of  unusual greeting cards, art cards and postcards to peruse as well, while classical music played neither too soft nor too loud. The bargain trolley out front was always fun too.  I'm glad I took some photos in 2003. 

You were a good friend Dutton's, I'm glad I knew you.

I still haven't digested it, but a week ago today, March 31, 2007, my eldest kitty, Taff left this particular life.  I took Taff to his friends at Cat Clinic of Norman www.catclinicofnorman.com, as he had some new symptoms, which I won't go into...he was happy too, following my every move and eating all the time.  However, for several reasons and after discussing a number of things w/Dr. Murray at this emergency trip, I decided that it was best for my boy not to come back home with me. 

There are a million things I could say about Taff.....  I'm so glad I knew this cat with tons of personality for sixteen years.  You could call him over like a dog, and he'd get up and come right over.  He loved everybody and would nuzzle with you and/or your feet as soon as you came in and sat down.  He and his son Miltie love music and always curled up on piles and piles of cords whenever anybody was working on songs or recording.  Taff would often suddenly go off on a "tear," slipping and sliding on the non-carpeted floors and might crash into your leg if you went toward the refrigerator.  A few years ago, I awoke on a day off with a fight-or-flight feeling hearing voices from the living room. I picked up something heavy, headed that way, and found Taffer relaxed on the coffee table with his big paw right on the remote control.  He'd stepped on the power button and seemed to be watching the Today Show.  He was so lovable - in equal parts with his colorful side -  and was THE softest thing I've ever touched, bar none. It'll take a while to stop missing him nuzzling my face with that pure affection of his.  His reaction even to a single finger touch to the top of his head, under his chin or side of his jaws was blissful.

In the first week without him in sixteen years, I've been a taco short of a combination plate: typing passwords wrong, other typos, misreading headlines, forgetting my simplest routines...all sorts of things.  But, I'm not surprised.  Taff & Miltie are the closest thing I have to children. I'm jolted.

I'll never forget you Taff.  I hope I see you again in one form or another. 

Love, Mom

(I wrote this a few days ago.  My friend's Myspace has been edited since, but as always, it's beautiful).

I've just visited the latest update of what I consider to be the most consistently beautiful Myspace I've seen. That of Flower Child a/k/a Floragraphs! The beautiful mix of Brian Jones-era Rolling Stones images against always beautiful backbrounds, the just-right sounds/songs and her own beautiful photographs of many of the flowers we share this big, blue/green world with - make the whole place delightful. Each incarnation/edition seems better than the last, and it's such a welcoming place to visit, I forget I'm sitting looking at a machine.

She's granted permission to paste her Myspace link here....even if you aren't a "friend," it's well worth visiting. You'll smile.   http://www.myspace.com/floragraphs

Hats Off to Flower Child!