Tuesday, May 26, 2015

TELLING ME LIES

I previously posted a song by the trio of Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, After the Gold Rush.  Here is my favorite song from their album entitled Trio


They say a woman's a fool for weeping
A fool to break her own heart
But I can't hold the secret I'm keeping
I'm breaking apart

Can't seem to mind my own business
Whatever I try turns out wrong
I seem like my own false witness
And I can't go on
I cover my ears, I close my eyes
Still hear your voice and it's telling me lies
Telling me lies

You told me you needed my company
And I believed in your flattering ways
You told me you needed me forever
Nearly gave you the rest of my days

Should've seen you for what you are
Should never have come back for more
Should've locked up all my silver
Brought the key right to your door
I cover my ears, I close my eyes
Still hear your voice and it's telling me lies
Telling me lies

You don't know what a chance is
Until you have to seize one
You don't know what a man is
Until you have to please one
Don't put your life in the hands of a man
With a face for every season
Don't waste your time in the arms of a man
Who's no stranger to treason

I cover my ears, I close my eyes
Still hear your voice and it's telling me lies
Telling me lies

Saturday, May 23, 2015

ZUMA JAY 2

Those of you who have been around here for a while might remember my previous post about Zuma Jay, found here.  Now that I have been back in Malibu for a few weeks, I again had the chance to play some basketball at Malibu High and Zuma is still kickin' with pretty much the same game as I described.  I likely would not have written again, but then in this week's Malibu Times, Jay joined the ranks of locals who are The Face of Malibu.  Go to the link for the whole story and interview - some excerpts below the portrait. I need to ask Jay what he thinks about the portrait - I think that he is significantly more handsome than this painting :-)

Jefferson ‘Zuma Jay’ Wagner

He’s a surfboard designer, Hollywood stuntman and practical effects specialist. He was the Marlboro Man for seven years. He was on the Malibu City Council and has a degree in law. He does E.O.D (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) for the U.S. Navy. He’s an author with a book at the Library of Congress. 


Sixty-two-year-old Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner is the owner of Zuma Jay Surfboards since 1975 and he designs all of the surfboards himself. He’s been an avid surfer all his life and became Jay from Zuma when he helped build The Whale Watch and first set up his shop next to it. He’s a joint master concessionaire for the Malibu Pier and in his spare time enjoys gardening, playing chess and knife throwing.


The Malibu Times got a chance to sit down with the man who does not text, tweet, use Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or any other social media outlet. He believes communication should be done face to face.

http://cdn.patch.com/users/119048/2012/01/T800x600/110e4e0b585e9182178a5ed046912fdd.jpg

Friday, May 22, 2015

MY LETTERMAN DREAM

 http://d1oi7t5trwfj5d.cloudfront.net/65/cf/dd7ae6ab4a9fa7197ab6788b12fc/letterman.jpg

Unless you have been living in the hinterland for the past few days, you likely know that Wednesday was David Letterman's last late night show, signing off after 33+ years.  The NYTimes review is here and there are a numerous online videos, etc. 

However, I am not writing about his farewell, but rather about a dream that I had at least 15 years ago - obviously memorable, and it still makes me chuckle.  It goes like this:

Rhonda and I were at the taping of a Letterman show and he asked if anyone was from Indiana [since that's where he is from].  We were the only ones who raised our hands, and thus were invited to stay after the show.  We were escorted backstage to Dave's private dressing room, and we had a nice chat about Hoosier stuff.  Then he said "Why don't you walk with me to the club that I always go to after the show?"  Of course we said yes, and we headed out to the streets of New York City.  We turned into an alley and there was an unmarked door with a small window.  Dave knocked, the window cover opened, and a voice said "Good afternoon Mr. Letterman."  We were very anxious and anticipatory as the door opened - and then Letterman, turned to us and said "Thanks, and we'll see you."  He walked in, we were left outside and I had to think - Classic Letterman!!!


Monday, May 18, 2015

ABIDE WITH ME

One of the special music pieces at Father Ed's Memorial Service was Abide With Me, sung by a group from the Goshen College Men's Choir.  Sister Kay recorded the group as they practiced before the service [try to ignore the background whispering :-]



 [Not all of these lyrics were sung in the video]
  1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
    The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
    When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
    Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
  2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
    Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
    Change and decay in all around I see—
    O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
  3. I need Thy presence every passing hour;
    What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
    Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
    Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
  4. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
    Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
    Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
    I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
  5. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
    Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
    Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
    In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
H/T to Cousin Steve for sending along the video which is also available on YouTube

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

HOLY SPIRIT COME WITH POWER

At our father's memorial service, music was the major component.  As previously noted, Ed's most favorite hymn was Children of the Heavenly Father, and naturally we had the congregation sing that song.  Then mother Mary, sister Kay and I each chose a favorite hymn for the service, and mine was Number 26 in the Hymnal:  A Worship Book, Holy Spirit Come With Power. In the video below, the song does not start for a bit, but the intro is worthwhile - Tim is one of the guitar instructors at the Colorado Roots Music Camp, written about here. 
As I have written before, I am a tune person more that a lyric person, so this is among my favorites for the music more so than the words, but the words follow the video.  Another interesting tidbit about the song it is unusual in that Mennonites generally do not sing about the Holy Spirit. :-)



 Holy Spirit, come with power,
breathe into our aching night.
We expect you this glad hour,
waiting for your strength and light.
We are fearful, we are ailing,
we are weak and selfish too.
Break upon your congregation,
give us vigor, life anew.


Holy Spirit, come with fire,
burn us with your presence new.
Let us as one mighty choir
sing our hymn of praise to you.
Burn away our wasted sadness
and enflame us with your love.
Burst upon your congregation,
give us gladness from above.


Holy Spirit, bring your message,
burn and breathe each word anew
deep into our tired living
till we strive your work to do.
Teach us love and trusting kindness,
lend our hands to those who hurt.
Breathe upon your congregation
and inspire us with your word.

Friday, May 08, 2015

GARRISON KEILLOR AT GOSHEN COLLEGE

A Prairie Home Companion radio show recently did a live broadcast from Sauder Music Hall at Goshen College.  Go to the link here to listen to the entire broadcast or listen to or view select segments of the show.  We were driving down the highway and received a text from our niece that the show was in progress.  We listened to the remainder, but we are glad that the whole thing is available - lots of good music!!

Garrison Keillor leads the audience on “How Great Thou Art.”

Keillor Leading Congregational Singing