I'm so glad you could attend. Come Inside, Come Inside.....
..........Thanks for stopping by to browse my latest gripes, grumblings or even progress that I'm making with Transverse Myelitis. This blog is my vent to the world about this rare disorder.
update..... Had my appointment today with my Neuro...went over all the "new" things that have occurred since my last appointment just over three months ago..The things like...the numbness in the heels of my feet..and the soreness and stiffness in my legs because of the cold weather..and also talked about my migraines. So, I now have more prescriptions for everything...flexoral for my legs...something I don't remember the name of for my migraines...talked about the foot numbness and how I have an appointment with the Ortho doctor at the VA.. I think there are other meds too..that I don't remember right now...I don't have the 'scripts right on front of me.. He's also going to write a letter for me to use with the eval I got from PT..to submit to the VA and try to get a home e-stim unit... Also, when I first started seeing my Neuro...one thing he did at the time was to write me a 'script to take the the DMV for a disabled tag...at the time he wrote the 'script, he put on it for temporary disability. Well, I asked him today about the disabled tag and he said he needed to write a new 'script..because he needed to write "permanent". So, with that being said....now being almost 9 months into my TM...that he apparently feels that even if I continue to improve...the improvement will not be significant. So, I guess I get to use that fancy rear view mirror tag forever..No biggie...I was kind of figuring this all along anyway...and I've come to terms with things...
Also, today at the appointment...he gave me a copy of a DVD when the hospital did my last MRI. I was just going through it and looking at the "pictures".. They don't mean anything to me but it sure is cool looking "inside" your body...Those MRI's are so cool because everything is so clear... So, that was about it today...My Neuro wants to see me back in another three months for another follow up.
My legs today...are still really sore and stiff...hopefully the new med he prescribed will help a little bit with that. He mentioned about moving to Arizona...jokingly... Too bad he can't write me a 'script for that... LOL...
On to the music.... Feelin' a little Jazzy today....and there aren't many modern male jazz singers that I like more than the amazing Gino Vanelli... Here is Storm At Sun Up..from the album of the same name...
morning update... I'm playing hooky from PT today...why..? Well, for one...our van is pretty much frozen over...the bad storm we had started with freezing rain and it encased our entire van in a sheet of ice. Now, my stepdaughter did get some of the ice cleared off last night but it is still bad. The other reason I'm skipping out is because my friggen legs are terrible today. When I woke up this morning my legs were stretched out straight....and as soon as I bent them to swing over to get up...the pain was terrible....they are so sore and stiff I am having a hard time even walking... Damn...I can't wait until the weather warms up....... Now, one other thing...I was supposed to have an appointment at the VA today to get my new orthopedic shoes...and I would have crawled there for that appointment to get my shoes, regardless of how bad my legs are...BUT, the VA called yesterday...they had to reschedule because the guy that does the prosthetics comes down from the Cleveland area and he can't make it today. Now, since he only comes down on Thursdays, the soonest he can make it is the 19th of February. Dammit.......
With that aside......we did get quite a bit of snow yesterday....right now we probably have well over a foot of snow on the ground...Once the freezing rain cleared out yesterday morning...and it started snowing...it really came down...
No snow predicted for today...but tomorrow there is...we are apparently on track to have the snowiest January ever.... wonderful...
Well,...on to the music post today... A little something from a guy named Jake Banta....He's from my little old hometown of Erie, PA. Jake's been kickin around there for quite a number of years...and he puts out some amazing music... Enjoy...........
update.... for no specific reason..... I'm just sitting around browsing through the vastness of the internet... and I figured I'd throw up a quick post....the big thing to write about today...is the weather..We apparently have a pretty good storm heading our way... Here's the Winter Weather Warning on my Weather Channel desktop...
I guess by tomorrow evening we're going to have about 8+ inches of new snow...not alot...but it is expected to come within about a 24 hour period...so, it should get pretty heavy at times... I'm almost excited...as much as I'm ready for winter to be over...snowfalls like this are kind of cool...and very pretty to watch. Lizzie made a trip to the grocery store...she was going to go tomorrow but now with this forecast, I think we're all just gonna stay inside tomorrow.
So, that's really about it for today..... How about some music...? ...hmmmm...I'm having trouble finding something to play today.......... after digging around in the all the videos I have saved from YouTube...I couldn't really decide on anything...so I just closed my eyes and with my finger...pointed at a song...and it was this one...which is kind of cool anyway..because I know a little bit of goofy trivia to go along with it...and if you haven't figured out by now...I like throwing little bits and pieces of trivia out with some of the vids I post... Here's the video....and the trivia below the vid.
The trivia is this...Of course the artist is Leon Russel...and the album is his 1975 release, Will O' The Wisp....the drummer on many of the tracks of this album was none other than........Gary Busey.. yep, the actor Gary Busey. On the album he used the name Teddy Jack Eddy. Now, to top this all off....there is a tie in with the other videos I had posted about Peggy Lee and Buddy Holly...because....if you remember...Gary Busey played Buddy Holly in the 1978 movie..The Buddy Holly Story. Geez....what a weird web this weaves....talk about six degrees of separation..
afternoon update.. I was going to update earlier today but I forgot....not only was today PT day but I also had an appointment at the VA today. A mental health appointment. So, we got home from that and I figured I better update since I said I was going to when I posted yesterday.
PT went well...the ankle exercises didn't feel too bad at all..although the left foot/ankle is going to take a lot of work/exercise to get it up to the level of my right ankle. I was thinking today..(I know, my wife says that's dangerous...me thinking..) I'm going to try and remember and take my camera to PT on Thursday and get some pics of Cindie my therapist and me doing some of my stuff, so that everyone can see firsthand who I've been talking about all this time.
So, that's about that for now.... Music post today..... Yesterday I tied in Don McLean's American Pie with Buddy Holly...now I'm going to tie someone else in with Don Mclean. If you read through the analysis of American Pie....the person that did the analysis even mentions...he makes reference on this line of the song..
And I asked her for some happy news But she just smiled and turned away
Janis died of an accidental (accidental my ass!)heroin overdose on October 4, 1970.
Or…
The girl might be Roberta Flack. Its rumored that she wrote, “Killing Me Softly (with his song),” in response to this lyric in his song.
I'm making reference to his second interpretation referencing Roberta Flack...
It has been thought by many people that Roberta Flack "wrote" the song Killing Me Softly, either for or about Don McLean. We all remember the song Killing Me Softly.., don't we..? It was a beautiful song...and Roberta always sang it so well...but why did she write the song..?
Well, it turns out that Roberta Flack didn't write the song...although we remember only ever hearing Roberta Flack singing it..
A woman named Lori Leiberman saw Don McLean in concert and felt that the words to his songs reflected so closely to her life experiences..that she wrote a poem that she named Killing Me Softly With His Blues and that lead to the song Killing Me Softly. I've always loved Roberta Flack's version...but I think you'll agree with me...that Lori's is as beautiful or even better.. Give it a listen.....
update.. TM wise...not too much..other than the legs just being stiff as a board and so sore...but that's getting to be real old news now...so, I move on. The migraine after affects are still mulling about. I have a very low level headache...but still very tired, even though I had a real good sleep last night. I read up on some natural treatments so I think maybe I'll try those.
Otherwise...I go to the music for today... Now...this is a bit of a long post...and this gets kind of deep... but what I'm posting today...has to do with Buddy Holly and his unfortunate death in the plane crash on February 3rd, 1959 along with The Big Bopper and Richie Valens.
In 1972, an artist by the name of Don McLean wrote a song...called "American Pie" and the words to it make reference to many, many things but he makes subtle reference to February 3rd 1959 as "The Day The Music Died" I found a wonderful breakdown and analysis to American Pie and I'd like to post it along with the video of the song...so, while you watch the video...read down through the analysis...and you'll see the correlations.
A long, long time ago…
“American Pie” reached #1 in 1972, shortly after it was released. Buddy Holly, unfortunately, died in 1959 while other aspects of the song hint even further back.
I can still remember how That music used to make me smile. And I knew if I had my chance, That I could make those people dance, And maybe they’d be happy for a while.
Sociologists credit teenagers with the popularity of Rock and Roll, as a part of the Baby boomer generation, they found themselves in a very influential position. Their shear number were the force behind most of our country’s recent major transitions. McLean was a teenager in 1959 and he begins by simply commenting that the music had an appealing quality to him as well as the millions of other teens. McLean also had an intense desire to entertain as a musician. His dream, to play in a band at high school dances, was the dream of many young boys who wanted to make people dance to Rock and Roll.
But February made me shiver,
Buddy Holly died on February 3, 1959, in a plane crash in Iowa during a snowstorm. Its rumored that the name of the plane was: American Pie.
With every paper I’d deliver,
Don McLean’s only job besides being a full-time singer/song writer was being a paperboy.
Bad news on the doorstep… I couldn’t take one more step. I can’t remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride
Holly’s recent bride was pregnant when the crash took place; she had a miscarriage shortly afterward.
But something touched me deep inside, The day the music died.
The same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly also tragically took the lives of Richie Valens (”La Bamba”) and The Big Bopper (”Chantilly Lace.”) Since all three were so prominent at the time, February 3, 1959, became known as “The Day The Music Died.”
So…
(Refrain) Bye bye Miss American Pie,
**Don McLean dated a Miss America candidate during a pageant and broke up with her on February 3, 1959. (Unconfirmed interpretation)
So its probably…
Just a reference to the plane, “American Pie” that crashed.
I drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry, Them good ol’ boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye Singing “This’ll be the day that I die, This’ll be the day that I die.”
Driving the Chevy to the levee almost certainly refers to the three college students whose murder was the subject of the film ‘Mississippi Burning.’ The students were attempting to register as black voters, and after being killed by bigoted thugs their bodies were buried in a levee. Them good ol’ boys being: Holly, Valens, and the Big Bopper, They were singing about their death on February 3. One of Holly’s hits was “That’ll be the Day”; the chorus contains the line “That’ll be the day that I die.”
(Verse 2) Did you write the book of love,
“The Book of Love” by the Monotones; hit in 1958.”Oh I wonder, wonder who… who, who wrote the book of love?”
And do you have faith in God above, If the Bible tells you so?
**In 1955, Don Cornell did a song entitled “The Bible Tells Me So.” It was difficult to tell if it was what McLean was referencing. Anyone know for sure?There is also an old Sunday School song that goes:”Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so” McLean was somewhat religious.
Now do you believe in rock ‘n roll?
The Lovin’ Spoonful had a hit in 1965 with John Sebastian’s “Do you Believe in Magic?”. The song has the lines: “Do you believe in magic” and “It’s like trying to tell a stranger ’bout rock and roll.”
Can music save your mortal soul? And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Music was believed to “save the soul” and slow dancing was an important part of early rock and roll dance events. Dancing declined in importance through the 60’s as things like psychedelia and the 10-minute guitar solo gained prominence.McLean was asking many questions about the early rock ‘n roll in an attempt to keep it alive or find out if it was already dead.
Well I know that you’re in love with him ‘Cause I saw you dancing in the gym
Back then, dancing was an expression of love,and carried a connotation of commitment. Dance partners were not so readily exchanged as they would be later.
You both kicked off your shoes
A reference to the beloved “sock hop.” (Street shoes tear up wooden basketball floors, so dancers had to take off their shoes.)
Man, I dig those rhythm ‘n’ blues
Before the popularity of rock and roll, music, like much elsewhere in the U. S., was highly segregated. The popular music of black performers for largely black audiences was called, first “race music,” later softened to rhythm and blues. In the early 50s, as they were exposed to it through radio personalities such as Allan Freed, white teenagers began listening, too. Starting around 1954, a number of songs from the rhythm and blues charts began appearing on the overall popular charts as well, but usually in cover versions by established white artists, (e.g.”Shake Rattle and Roll,” Joe Turner, covered by Bill Haley; “Sh-Boom, “the Chords, covered by the Crew-Cuts; “Sincerely,” the Moonglows, covered by the McGuire Sisters; Tweedle Dee, LaVerne Baker, covered by Georgia Gibbs). By 1955, some of the rhythm and blues artists, like Fats Domino and Little Richard were able to get records on the overall pop charts.In 1956 Sun records added elements of country and western to produce the kind of rock and roll tradition that produced Buddy Holly.
I was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
“A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation), “was a hit for Marty Robbins in 1957. The pickup truck has endured as a symbol of sexual independence and potency, especially in a Texas context.(Also, Jimmy Buffet does a song about “a white sport coat and a pink crustacean.”:-) )
But I knew that I was out of luck The day the music died I started singing…
Refrain
(Verse 3) Now for ten years we’ve been on our own
McLean was writing this song in the late 60’s,about ten years after the crash.
And moss grows fat on a rolling stone
It’s unclear who the “rolling stone” is supposed to be. It could be Dylan, since “Like a Rolling Stone” (1965) was his first major hit; and since he was busy writing songs ex-tolling the virtues of simple love, family and contentment while staying at home (he didn’t tour from ‘66 to ‘74) and raking in the royalties. This was quite a change from the earlier, angrier Dylan.The “rolling stone” could also be Elvis Presley, although I don’t think he started to pork out by the late sixties. he-he!
It could refer to rock and rollers, and the changes that had taken place in the business in the 60’s, especially the huge amounts of cash some of them were beginning to make, and the relative stagnation that entered the music at the same time.
Or, it could refer to the Rolling Stones themselves, many musicians were angry at the Stones for “selling out.” I discovered that John Foxx of Ultravox was sufficiently miffed to write a song titled “Life At Rainbow’s End (For All The Tax Exiles On Main Street).” The Stone sat one point became citizens of some other country merely to save taxes.
But that’s not how it used to be When the jester sang for the King and Queen
The jester is Bob Dylan, as will become clear later. There are several interpretations of king and queen: some think that Elvis Presley is the king, which seems rather obvious. The queen is said to be either Connie Francis or Little Richard. See the next note.An alternate interpretation is that this refers to the Kennedys — the King and Queen of “Camelot” — who were present at a Washington DC civil rights rally featuring Martin Luther King. (There’s a recording of Dylan performing at this rally. The Jester.)
The third interpretation is that the jester could be Lee Harvey Oswald who sang (shouted) before he was shot for the murder of the King (JFK).
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
In the movie “Rebel Without a Cause,” James Dean has a red windbreaker that holds symbolic meaning throughout the film (see note at end). In one particularly intense scene, Dean lends his coat to a guy who is shot and killed; Dean’s father arrives, sees the coat on the dead man, thinks it’s Dean, and loses it. On the cover of “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,” Dylan is wearing just such a red windbreaker, posed in a street scene similar to movie starring James Dean.Bob Dylan played a command performance for the Queen of England. He was *not* properly attired, so perhaps this is a reference to his apparel.
And a voice that came from you and me
Bob Dylan’s roots are in American folk music,with people like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. Folk music is by definition the music of the masses, hence the “…came from you and me.”
Oh, and while the King was looking down The jester stole his thorny crown
Likely a reference to Elvis’ decline and Dylan’s ascendancy (i.e. Presley is looking down from a height as Dylan takes his place). Consider that Elvis was is the army at the time of Dylan’s ascendancy and a common Army marching song sings, “Ain’t no use in looking down, ain’t no discharge on the ground”. The thorny crown might be a reference to the price of fame. Dylan has said that he wanted to be as famous as Elvis, one of his early idols.
or…
Lee Harvey Oswald being the jester who ended the reign of JFK and “stole his crown.”
or…
A third interpretation is the quote made by John Lennon and taken out of context indicating that John felt The Beatles were more popular then Jesus. John and The Beatles took the crown from Christ.
The courtroom was adjourned, No verdict was returned.
This could be the trial of the Chicago Seven.
but its more likely to be…
The fact that no verdict was returned for the assassination of JFK because the assassin was killed so the court was adjourned.
And while Lennon read a book on Marx, Or it could be be… And while Lenin read a book on Marx,
Someone has to introduce Vladamir Lenin, the father of Marxist communism, to the idealogy of Karl Marx.
I love the play on words here…
Literally, John Lennon reading about Karl Marx; figuratively, the introduction of radical politics into the music of The Beatles. (Of course, he could be referring to Groucho Marx, but that doesn’t seem quite consistent with McLean’s overall tone. On the other hand, some of the wordplay in Lennon’s lyrics and books is reminiscent of Groucho.)The “Marx-Lennon” word play has also been used by others, most notably the Firesign Theatre on the cover of their album “How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You’re Not Anywhere At All?” The Beatles “Here, There and Everywhere,” for example. Also, a famous French witticism was “Je suis Marxiste, tendance Groucho. ” (I’m a Marxist of the Groucho variety).
The quartet practiced in the park
There are two schools of thought about this; the obvious one is The Beatles playing in Shea Stadium, but note that the previous line has John Lennon *doing something else at the same time*. This tends to support the theory that this is a reference to the Weavers, who were blacklisted during the McCarthy era. McLean had become friends with Lee Hays of the Weavers in the early 60’s while performing in coffeehouses and clubs in upstate New York and New York City. He was also well acquainted with Pete Seeger; McLean, Seeger, and others took a trip on the Hudson river singing anti-pollution songs at one point. Seeger’s LP “God Bless the Grass” contains many of these songs.
And we sang dirges in the dark
A “dirge” is a funeral or mourning song, so perhaps this is meant literally…or, perhaps, this is a reference to some of the new “art rock” groups that played long pieces not meant for dancing. In the dark of the death of Holly.
The day the music died. We were singing…
Refrain
(Verse 4) Helter Skelter in a summer swelter
“Helter Skelter” is a Beatles song that appears on the “White” album. Charles Manson, claiming to have been “inspired”by the song (through which he thought God and/or the devil were taking to him) led his followers in the Tate-LaBianca murders.Is “summer swelter” a reference to the “Summer of Love” or perhaps to the “long hot summer” of Watts?
The birds flew off with the fallout shelter Eight miles high and falling fast
Without a doubt this refers to the Byrds who helped launch David Crosby to super stardom. The Byrd’s song “Eight Miles High” was found on their late 1966 release “Fifth Dimension.” They recorded this song when some of the groups members were considering leaving (some of the groups members actually left the group because they refused to flyin an airplane). A fallout shelter was sometimes referred to as the fifth dimension because of the 1950’s fascination with sci-fi and the futuristic appearance of a fallout shelter. This was one of the first records widely banned because of supposedly drug-oriented lyrics.
But…
Another idea considers The Beatles‘ “Helter Skelter.” A line from the song reads, ‘I’m coming down fast but I’m miles above you.’ The similarity is pretty obvious.
It landed foul on the grass
One of the Byrds was busted for possession of marijuana.
The players tried for a forward pass
Obviously a football metaphor, but about what? It could be the Rolling Stones, i.e., they were waiting for an opening that really didn’t happen until The Beatles broke up.With regard to the next idea, the players maybe other musicians who received the opportunity to shine when Dylan was injured.
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast
On July 29, 1966, Dylan crashed his Triumph 55 motorcycle while riding near his home in Woodstock, New York. He spent nine months in seclusion while recuperating from the accident. This gave a chance for many other artists to become noticed (see the next interpretation).
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
Drugs, man.Well, now, wait a minute; that’s probably too obvious (wouldn’t want to make it easy). It’s possible that this line and the next few refer to the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The “sweet perfume” is probably tear gas.
It could be the fact the since Dylan was temporarily out of the picture, the future looked bright for many artists. The Stones, for example, may have been given a brief chance.
While sergeants played a marching tune
Following from the second thought above, the sergeants would be the Chicago Police and the Illinois National Guard, who marched protesters out of the park where the Convention was being held and into jail.Alternatively, this could refer to The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Or, perhaps McLean refers to The Beatles’ music as “marching” because it’s not music for dancing.
Or, finally, the “marching tune” could be the draft.
**(What did the Stones release in ‘66??)
We all got up to dance Oh, but we never got the chance
The Beatles’ 1966 Candlestick Park concert only lasted 35 minutes. But at this point The Beatles were not “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (1967)Or, following on from the previous comment, perhaps she was considering the hippies who were protesting the Convention. They were known for playing their own folk music.
‘Cause the players tried to take the field, The marching band refused to yield.
Some folks think this refers to either the 1968 Democratic Convention or Kent State. If the players are the protesters at Kent State, and the marching band the Ohio National Guard…This could be a reference to the dominance of The Beatles on the rock and roll scene. For instance, the Beach Boys released “Pet Sounds” in 1966 — an album that featured some of the same sort of studio and electronic experimentation as “Sgt. Pepper” (1967). The album sold poorly because of The Beatles.
The other Beatles reference here refers to the Monkees. The Monkees were merely actors (or players), they were not a true band but a fabrication attempting to replicate The Beatles. The players tried to take the place of the Fab Four but the band wouldn’t step down.
Or finally, this might be a comment that follows up on the earlier reference to the draft: the government/military industrial-complex establishment refused to accede to the demands of the peace movement.
Do you recall what was revealed, The day the music died?
**Check for any controversies released on Feb3, 1959.
We started singing Refrain
(Verse 5) And there we were all in one place
Woodstock.
A generation lost in space
Some people think this is a reference to the US space program, which it might be (the first moon landing took place in ‘69); but that seems a bit too literal. Perhaps this is a reference to hippies, who were sometimes known as the “lost generation,” partially because of their particularly acute alienation from their parents, and partially because of their presumed preoccupation with drugs (which was referred to as being “spaced-out.”)Being on drugs was sometimes termed — being lost in space because of the TV show, “Lost in Space,” whose title was used as a synonym for someone who was rather high… I keep hoping that McLean had better taste. :-)
With no time left to start again
The “lost generation” spent too much time being stoned, and had wasted their lives. Or, perhaps, their preferences for psychedelia had pushed rock and roll so far from Holly’s music that it couldn’t be retrieved.
So come on Jack be nimble Jack be quick
Probably a reference to Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones; “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” was released in May 1968.
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
**The Stones’ Candlestick park concert? (unconfirmed)Jack Flash is also a cockney slang term for pharmaceutical heroin. If you know how to use heroin, you understand the reference.
‘Cause fire is the devil’s only friend
It’s possible that this is a reference to the Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil.”An alternate interpretation of the last four lines is that they may refer to Jack Kennedy and his quick decisions during the Cuban Missile Crisis; the candlesticks/fire refer to ICBMs and nuclear war.
And as I watched him on the stage, my hands were clenched in fists of rage; No angel born in hell, could break that Satan’s spell
While playing a concert at the Altamont Speedway in 1968, the Stones appointed members of the Hell’s Angels to work security (on the advice of the Grateful Dead). In the darkness near the front of the stage, a young man named Meredith Hunter was beaten and stabbed to death — by the Angels. Public outcry that the song “Sympathy for the Devil” (because of “satan’s spell”) had somehow incited the violence and caused the Stones to drop the song from their show for the next six years. This incident is chronicled in the documentary film “Gimme Shelter.”It’s also possible that McLean views the Stones as being negatively inspired (he had an extensive religious background)because of “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Their Satanic Majesties’ Request”and so on. This is a bit puzzling, since the early Stones recorded a lot of “roots” rock and roll, including Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.”
And as the flames climbed high into the night, To light the sacrificial rite
The most likely interpretation is that McLean is still talking about Altamont, and in particular Mick Jagger’s prancing and posing and “climbing high” while it was happening. Or the bonfires around the area could provide the flames. The sacrifice is Meredith Hunter.(It could be a reference to Jimi Hendrix burning his Stratocaster at the Monterey Pop Festival, but that was in 1967 and this verse is no doubt set in 1968.)
I saw Satan laughing with delight
If the above is correct, then Satan would be Jagger.
The day the music died He was singing…
Refrain
(Verse 6) I met a girl who sang the blues
Ms. Janis Joplin, the lady of the blues.
And I asked her for some happy news But she just smiled and turned away
Janis died of an accidental (accidental my ass!)heroin overdose on October 4, 1970.
Or…
The girl might be Roberta Flack. Its rumored that she wrote, “Killing Me Softly (with his song),” in response to this lyric in his song.
I went down to the sacred store Where I’d heard the music years before
There are two interpretations of this: The “sacred store” was Bill Graham’s Fillmore West, one of the great rock and roll venues of all time. Alternatively, this refers to record stores, and their long time (then discontinued) practice of allowing customers to preview records in the store. (What year did the Fillmore West close?)It could also refer to record stores as “sacred” because this is where one goes to get “saved.” (See above lyric “Can music save your mortal soul?”)
But the man there said the music wouldn’t play
Perhaps he means that nobody is interested in hearing Buddy Holly et. al.’s music? Or, as above, the discontinuation of the in-store listening booths.
And in the streets the children screamed
“Flower children” being beaten by police and National Guard troops; in particular, perhaps, the People’s Park riots in Berkeley in 1969 and 1970.It is possible that this refers to the Vietnamese children. Life magazine was famous for publishing horrifying photos of children in Vietnam during the Vietnamese War.
The lovers cried and the poets dreamed
The trend toward psychedelic music in the 60’s?Or again the hippies who were both great lovers and poets who would then be crying because of the difficulties of their struggle and dreaming of peace.
But not a word was spoken The church bells all were broken
It could be that the broken bells are the dead musicians: neither can produce any more music.
And the three men I admire most The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Holly, The Big Bopper, and Valens — or — **Hank Williams, Presley, and Holly (check this) –or — JFK, Martin Luther King, and Bobby Kennedy — or — or simply the Catholic aspects of the deity. McLean had attended several Catholic schools.
They caught the last train for the coast
Could be a reference to wacky California religions, or it could just be a way of saying that they’ve left (or died — western culture has used “went west” as a synonym for dying). Or, perhaps this is a reference to the famous “God is Dead” headline in the New York Times. Some have suggested that this is an oblique reference to a line in Procol Harum’s “Whiter Shade of Pale,” but I’m not sure I’d buy that; firstly, all of McLean’s musical references are to much older roots: rock and roll songs; and secondly, I think it’s more likely that this line shows up in both songs simply because it’s a common cultural metaphor.
The day the music died
This tends to support the conjecture that the”three men” were Holly/Bopper/Valens, since this says that they left us on the day the music died.
And they were singing…
Refrain (2x)
----Okay, now since this post ended up so long...I'll make another post tomorrow that ties in to American Pie. So......
Saturday update.. Not much yet today....I think I'm finally coming to terms with the fact that my "sick" episodes are migraine headaches. My Neuro said that is what he thought awhile back...I've read up on migraines and yesterday I also "chatted" with a woman I know from one of the TM boards...she's a nurse and has TM. I went over all my symptoms with her and she said.."Yep, sounds like a classic case of migraines" She also gets them. So, I've relegated myself to this...I don't like it but ehhh... I'm going to read up on natural ways to help them and see what I can find.
Now, on that note of my "migraines", this last one that started Thursday and then receded Friday is kind of sort of back today...just a very mild headache. It's weird this time because normally the headache starts and then the diarrhea starts and I start feeling really bad. Well, the headache came and went and is now kind of back but I've not really had the diarrhea to the extent that I did before. I also don't feel too bad...I'm pretty tired but I don't feel too bad.
Anyway...that's enough of that.. Music post for my sister...she's going to a concert tonight that's a tribute to Peggy Lee and Buddy Holly. I've been posting some videos to sort of prime things for her... I'll post two more vids today and then tomorrow I'm posting a surprise video or two with a little background as to why I posted them. Now, Buddy Holly and It's Raining in My Heart...
and this vid from the incomparable Peggy Lee and Is That All There Is..
update.. Hey Everyone...well, I meant to update yesterday as it was PT day. The update obviously didn't happen. I woke up yesterday and felt a little "off". It wasn't anything specific but something wasn't quite right. Anyway, I went to PT...and that went as normal..but by the time we got home I was developing quite a bad headache. Of course, the first thing that came to mind...it was Thursday and the headache felt like the ones I get when I get"sick". I was kind of bummed because I have been feeling pretty good lately and I was hoping that I was over my weekend episodes. Well, I slept off and on all day yesterday and also took an ambien later in the afternoon just to see if it would do anything. I seem to have slept fairly well last night..although there were some bizarre dreams.
This morning the headache is gone for the most part...I just feel really weak and wore out. The only other thing is that my legs are extremely stiff. Even at night when I can kind of wake up to change positions, when I move my legs they are so sore.
I hope I start feeling better today...after all, I don't want to have another of my weekend episodes...those suck big time. I'm going to rest, eat some good healthy things today and try to shake whatever this is this time.
So, with all that aside now... a couple more videos for my sister... This first one is by "The Crickets" which was Buddy Holly's band. This song though was before Buddy Holly became the name that he was. This was just "The Crickets"
and then a great duet with Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee..
update... Yeah, I figured I'd post an update today since I've not posted anything since Sunday. Actually, there really isn't much to update....just hashing over some old news...
The biggest thing is that yesterday I went out with my wife to a craft store. Actually, a little background here...A friend of my wife and I, are thinking of trying to start making some artsy craftsy type things to make a little extra cash through selling them on Ebay or something. So, yesterday we made our first trip to the craft store to get a few things and get some ideas for what we want to do. I love going to this store because it's huge and has everything you can think of...but therein lies the problem...the store is huge. When I go to the store I'm the designated cart pusher since it supports me to be able to walk. The big issue though, is that the floor of this place is hard concrete...and even without foot problems, it can kill your feet. We were in the store probably about an hour or so and my feet (more specifically, my heels) were killing me after about 15 minutes of being there. I got to where I was laying the top half of my body over the handle of the cart and just using my toes to push me along. Today, my heels hurt so bad.... Man, I can't wait to get my shoes from the VA....my appointment is on the 29th. I hope to hell that those shoes help my heels.
That trip to the store wore me out...I was literally exhausted...and fortunately I slept in until just after 7:00am. So, over the next few days my wife and I are going to work on making a few things and see how they turn out. This should be good because it's something I can do while I'm sitting down.
Tomorrow is PT day...Hopefully that goes well. I missed Monday PT because my wife was feeling kind of crappy with a little stomach bug. She's all better now though. Well, I'll probably update tomorrow after PT...
Sis, here's another couple selections for you... when is the show you're going to, anyway..? I'd like to know, because I have a surprise song for you that I'd like to post.
update.... I wanted to do a quick update this morning... The reason is because my wife and I took our 9 year old nephew and 5 year old grandson to the Monster Truck Nationals last night in Cleveland. Now, yesterday was a long day for me since it started out about 10:30am at the grocery store with my wife. This was my first real "shopping trip" with her and it wasn't too bad. Well, then we picked up our grandson about 3:00pm and the four of us went to eat and the the drive to Cleveland. It's not too bad...about an hour. We got there about 6:15pm. We get to the indoor arena and now have to find parking that is going to work for me. Lizzie decided just to drop the boys and I at the main entrance and she would find a place to park and then come in. The three of us get out of the van and it's pretty snowy on the street but not too bad. We get to the arena and are actually very close to where our seats were. So, the boys and I get seated and watching everything and about 15 minutes later, here comes Lizzie. She says she got a spot right across the street in a parking lot....Cool..!!
The monster truck stuff was awesome and we all had a great time..even my wife..she was very happily surprised as this was her first time to this type of thing. Of course the boys had a ball..I mean after all...young kids and monster trucks...they just go together. Of course, this "old" kid had a ball also.
After it was over...getting out of there was a bit of a challenge because of the number of people going in every which direction to find "their" door. Walking with the cane was "tough" because it kept getting kicked and I would almost lose my balance but I made it okay.
We get outside and I ask my wife where the van is. She says it's right across the street in that parking lot...and she asks me what I want to do..meaning, do I want her to get the van and come pick me up or what. I just tell her.."Let's Go" I don't want to go through the whole hassle of her getting the van and having to drive around the block to get back to where I would be. So, between the blowing, cold wind, snow, traffic, people and probably a 400 hundred yard walk...we made it to the van. I'll admit, by the time we got there I was puffing pretty good but after a couple of minutes of sitting in the van I was fine. Tired out but fine.
The drive back was really fairly uneventful and the boys pretty much passed out because it was late and they were tired.
Jump ahead to this morning....I woke up at 3:00am and again at 5:00am and then again at 8:00am. Tired, sore and stiff.........My neck is stiff, my legs are sore and stiff and I'm pretty wiped out overall. But, it was fun and worth it.
Here are a few pics from last night... My nephew and grandson on the trip up...happy smiling and talking a mile a minute..
One of the trucks doing "donuts"
A jet powered "Golf Cart"
A jet powered "Reclining Chair"
MONSTER TRUCK.....
ANOTHER MONSTER TRUCK
Then the lights in the stadium went out and a "TRANSFORMER TRUCK" came out and proceeded to "eat" a car.
What was left of the car.....
The boys on the trip home....They were a little tired...
Now, for my sis...another video...Peggy Lee...
Well folks...that's about it for today...I'm wiped...gonna relax.
update. This update is coming later than I usually do but I couldn't write anything earlier as I was busy. I made the decision to go to the grocery store with my wife. I made do fairly well with just using the cart to push while I walked. I did get pretty tired but I was able to make frequent breather stops so it wasn't too bad. Now, my wife and I are also taking our 9 year old nephew and our 5 year old grandson to the Monster Truck Nationals today in Cleveland. I'm as excited to go to that as much as the kids are..after all, I'm just a gearhead anyway. We're leaving in about an hour and 45 minutes so I figured I'd get this quick update in.
I will say that the trek to the grocery store wasn't bad but I did notice that during the short time I was outside my feet got incredibly cold and my legs started stiffening up quite a bit. Now, fortunately the Monster Truck show is in an indoor arena so it should be warm enough. It is going to be a late night though as the truck show doesn't start until 7 and I'm figuring probably a good two hours there and then the trip back home afterwards. This should prove to be an interesting experiment to see how I can handle this. Wish me luck everyone... :-)
Now, music update...my sister suggested a request since she is going to be going to a concert with Big Band music and it is a tribute to Buddy Holly and Peggy Lee... She is asking for something as a bit of a warmup to that concert...so....let's see what I can find... First of all...one of my favorite big band compositions done by Peggy Lee... "Big Spender"
and a Buddy Holly song..."True Love Ways"
Enjoy sis... I'll post some more throughout this week...
update. Man, I'll tell you...with it being as cold as it is outside...my legs are as stiff as boards...and I'm not even outside in the cold. Today was PT day...and of course, went outside to get in the van to go and then back outside to get in the van to come home...that's it.. This cold is tough to deal with. This made PT a bit more challenging today also, but fortunately all I did today was a re-eval. Re-eval aren't as strenuous as a regular PT session. I have made a bit more progress since last re-eval which is good, but I still need lots of work for my balance and also work on the strength needed to be able to stand on my tip toes. I have lots and lots of work to do...
Weatherwise, it's going to continue to be cold through the weekend so I'm not going to be spending any time outside.
So......music for today... Kinda feel like something 80's... How about "The Church" and "Under The Milky Way"...
update. It's freakin freezin outside...... Weather Channel desktop is showing 7 degrees right now. I guess we're supposed to have a high today of 15 but tomorrow and Friday are not going to be so "warm". Highs of like 8 degrees and overnites in the negatives... This cold plays hell with the TM...the legs are stiff as boards..
Not too much to update with the TM situation....things are on a pretty even keel lately..I'm even getting some decent sleep...not great, but decent..which is much better than it was a couple of months ago. Oops....This is an edit...I forgot to mention....Today is my 8 month TM anniversary... Eight months ago today I was "lucky" enough to be one in a million to get TM. On one hand...it feels like forever...but on the other...it has gone by quickly too..I know that doesn't make any sense but too bad.. :-)
Yesterday an old friend of ours dropped over...we haven't seen him in a year or so.. We've talked on the phone a few times but haven't seen each other...and it was really great to see him. Had some good conservation. Funny thing is...(and I know Mike will read this too..so Mike, this isn't a dig or anything...) but the people that I knew prior to getting TM that I haven't seen since...have all said the same thing..."You look better than I expected"... which is a very common comment with us TMr's..because we look "normal" on the outside. It's all the inside stuff that people can't see or realize is going on. It's no biggie Mikey...I just thought it was funny to hear that again..
Well, not much else today to comment on or mention....I'm just going to try and stay warm...
Let see.....for the music today....since it's sooooo friggen cold...how about something that suggests "warm" Let's do a little song from 1970....Mungo Jerry...In The Summertime
update.... Today was PT day. Things went well there...I'm continuing with the ankle exercises. I sure have a huge difference in the strength and movement from right to my left ankle. My left ankle and the supporting muscles fatigue so quickly during the exercises. I know I have made some improvement over time but the progression is sooooo slow. I have come to find out yesterday...that there is a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic that specializes in MS and TM. He is also in our network of doctors for my insurance. Now, I'm not doubting my current neuro at all...but I'm thinking that if this doctor specializes in TM then it would be worth a shot to at least go and see him. Who knows, there may be something out there different than what I am currently doing that may help.
I also found out yesterday...one of the people that I've e-mailed back and forth on one of the e-mail groups lives only 50 miles from me. We had no idea that we were both so close to each other...and the thing is, that he travels over here to my area about once a month or so...so he is going to let me know and the next time he is here, we're going to get together... that should be fun....
Otherwise, not much else to tell today...weather wise it has been snowy and cold...supposed to get more snow today too... I'm finding that the snow and cold is no longer any fun at all with the TM. I'm really getting kind of frustrated with this weather... I WANT TO GO OUTSIDE SOOOO BAD....even if it's to do nothing....I just want to go sit outside. Arrrggghhh.
So, that's about it for now.....I'll update again in a day or two.... Music today....I'm feeling a little like posting something from the group I named my blog after....Emerson, Lake and Palmer... and Fanfare For The Common Man...
....Happy Thursday everyone..... I was debating doing an update today...why..? Well, there really isn't anything to update today, but I figured since today is my normal PT day and I usually update on my PT days I might as well throw something out here. I didn't get to go to PT today because I didn't have a driver to get me there. Lizzie had to have some minor surgery this morning. She had a small cyst on her back that's been bothering her so she had it taken out today. She is fine and all is well and I'm glad she had it done because this thing has been bothering her off and on for a few years. Not much else to report....i will say one thing here...I found some info on my local public libraries website...that they have some free downloadable videos on all kinds of subjects...one of them is Health and Fitness. I found a couple of Yoga stretching videos on there and I am going to watch them and hopefully try some of the stretches. I know I will have some limitations because of my balance and lack of strength in my legs but it is worth trying anyway. I need to stretch my legs anyway...they are so tight and sore that I know a good stretch will help.
The last few days I have felt pretty darn good...more mentally than anything else...but physically not so bad either. Other than my situation the other day outside taking the Christmas stuff down and my legs giving me trouble, I've felt okay. I really think my legs are going to be the biggest problem to overcome this winter, the cold weather really is having more effect on me than I thought it would. I guess I won't be taking any long hikes in the snow... darn.
One other thing to mention...The TM Network website that I've helped put together with Greg in Georgia, seems to be doing what our intention was. That intention was to try and help people with info and support...primarily for people that are brand new to TM. In the last week I have gotten messages from two new members...but the new members weren't the people afflicted with TM. Both of the people were women with elderly fathers that had jut gotten TM. One dad is 64 and the other was 83. These poor women are beside themselves not knowing what to do or where to go for info. I was able to help direct both of them to contact certain people in their local areas to help them with questions and information. I got notes back from both of the women thanking me for my help. They both said that they feel better now, knowing that there is somewhere they can go to talk to someone (we have a live chat section on our website) if they need and also to get some direction for information. I thought that was really cool and it made me feel good knowing that I was able to help them. If anyone wants to just check out our website...here is a link..http://transversemyelitis.ning.com
Well, that's about it for now....
How about a little bluegrass music...Let's hear from the great Jorma Kaukonen. The founding member of Jefferson Airplane... A little "Prohibition Blues"
update. A little late on the update today..I had three appointments at the VA today and just got home a bit ago. Figured I'd do a quick update. First thing...I learned a very important lesson yesterday that has to do with TM and cold weather. I went outside to take down some outside Christmas decorations. It wasn't terribly cold out...about the mid 30's. I was out for about 45 minutes. It was tough enough walking in soggy grass trying to balance with my cane and using the other hand to take some of the stuff down and apart. I had to be very slow and methodical in doing everything so that I didn't fall. As I was outside for a bit I could feel my legs starting to get very sluggish. So, I started moving slower... Well, after I had everything done I came back in the house and I'll tell you...My legs were almost useless. I literally could barely walk and I was also so fatigued that I was puffing like an old steam locomotive. Jeebus..... If you can relate to ever being outside in really cold weather and your hands get real stiff and hard to move....that's what my legs were like after only about 45 minutes. It took me a good half an hour to warm up and walk around again. So, important lesson learned there. Today was my mental health session at the VA. That went well and according to my therapist, I am making progress. I concur with that...I do feel much better than I did even just a month ago. I really feel that I've come to terms with TM. I know what my limitations are and I deal with those. The pain and bowel and bladder are an inconvenience and annoying now. The one thing that does make me nuts is that my short term memory is bad. It bugs me to no end when I can't think of a simple word that I want or I can't remember something. Example...One of my appointments today at the VA. The psychologist asked me the name of my family doc. I could not, for the life of me remember. I've only been going to her now for over 8 years. I did remember right before my appointment was over but geez...
Anyway, it's time to move on and make 2009 a better year. For me, for my wife and for everyone. So, I'll close for now...
Music....I'm going to throw this one out there...tribute to Delaney Bramlett. He passed last month at the age of 69. He was such a huge influence on greats as Eric Clapton. This is an especially soulful selection from Delaney and Bonnie with Eric and also another fave of mine...Dave Mason. Take a listen and enjoy... Delaney will be missed by many....
update. It seems that I've gotten over my latest 'sick" episode. Other than waking this morning at 4:00am (for no apparent reason) I feel pretty well. Last night before bed my left leg was starting to ache pretty good again so I took another Zanaflex and I also took another Ambien. I really don't want to get into a habit of having to take the Ambien to get to sleep but last night I was feeling very restless and knew it would be hard to get to sleep. So, 4:00am I'm up and other than feeling a bit tired I feel fairly good. Had PT today...that went well....I seem to be getting a bit more strength back in my ankles as I was able to do the ankle workouts more easily without my ankles fatiguing as easily as they did before.
Otherwise...that's about all for now...no other ups or downs to speak of. I do have a VA appointment tomorrow. A mental health session and also an appointment with my VA doc to discuss what is needed to get a home E-stim unit. So, we'll see how things go with that.
Music selection for today.... gonna do a couple from the Moody Blues... First...a hit from the Moodies from 1964. Yep...they were around then. Look at how young the boys were...they were all in their early 20's at the time. Go Now.
and then about 8 years later comes something like....I'm Just A Singer
morning update... Well, last night was an extremely unpleasant night. First, I could not go to sleep. I turned the lights off at 11:00pm to try to go to sleep. I could not get comfortable at all..My left leg from my knee down was giving me some real issues. It was spasming bad and very achy. I was also having the hot and cold symptoms. At midnight I took an Ambien thinking that maybe that might help me get to sleep. After an hour I was still awake and my leg would not quit the spasms. At 1:00am I took another zanaflex from what I normally take. I guess that helped some because I did go to sleep for awhile but at 4:30am I was back up because now I had diarrhea. I also woke with a headache, so I took an Imatrex to see if it worked to help me get rid of the headache. I went back to bed to try and get some more sleep and I did but it was very restless. At 7:30 I went ahead and got up and the headache has subsided for the most part. Right now I don't feel too bad except for being very tired. Hopefully I can get rid of the diarrhea and get some rest today and MAYBE get some sleep tonight. Wouldn't that be nice....
Music for today....something off the beaten path... A little twist that I like to take on occasion. Video from an artist named Buckethead..with an instrumental called Padmasana
morning update. Well, I had planned on updating yesterday since it was the 1st day of the New Year. That didn't happen. Why? I'm not quite sure what happened New Years eve...all was going as planned...I did get a bit tired about 9:00 I think and I came up to the bedroom and lied down for a bit...until about 10:30 I think. I went back downstairs where everyone was playing games and having a good time waiting for the ball to drop. I sat down on the couch and just watched TV as I was kind of not feeling to well. A headache was starting to come on. Managed to make it until midnight and see the New Year come in and then made it to bed about 12:30. Yesterday morning I woke up with a bastard of a headache...I got up briefly and went downstairs thinking that maybe being up for a bit will help the headache go away...but it didn't..after a half an hour I went back to bed and slept off an on all day.. The headache was so bad for awhile that it made me physically ill. I had to get sick and then back to sleep. As the day wore on I felt a bit better, the headache started to subside a bit. All day long I hadn't eaten at all as I had no energy or appetite. My wife had made sauerkraut and pork for New Years so when that was done I went downstairs and ate a little of that. A little food did help me feel a bit better but I still felt really tired. Now, during all this stuff going on, I'm still dealing with that pain in my back. It has not let up at all yet. I'm not sure what's up but it hurts. About 10:00pm I took an Ambien and worked on going back to sleep, which I did and woke this morning at 6:30am.
So, now it's Friday morning and the headache is gone. I don't feel bad except for being pretty weak, I guess because I didn't eat very much at all yesterday. I had a fairly light breakfast this morning..a bowl of cereal and a banana. It tasted good. I'm thinking that today I will try to eat a bit and get some more rest and hopefully be totally out of this funk by later today or tomorrow morning. I just so totally don't understand what's going on when I get like this. The headaches, the bad stomach, very tired etc... As I've said before...Dealing with just the TM is getting easier...I can put up with the pain and the bowel and bladder issues. They are annoying and an inconvenience but I am getting used to them. What I'm not getting used to are the other things...that don't seem to have anything to do with TM. I don't get it.
My music selection for today, and only one selection today...is Brian Eno's Deep Blue Day. Why this one...? Not real sure but lets suffice to say...that first, I've been an Eno fan for as long as I can remember, he is considered the father of what is called Ambient music, second is that this is an especially soothing song and the title is kind of reflective of how I feel today. Enjoy, and I'll update again soon. Happy New Year everyone and be well..!!
