International Jazz Day -- Wedneday, April 30, 2025 -- View Live

The 2025 annual International Jazz Day All-Star Concert is being held in Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE on April 30th. "Led by iconic pianist Herbie Hancock and hosted by Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons, this concert will bring together an extraordinary lineup of renowned jazz, blues, classical, and hip-hop artists from around the world." Refer to the YouTube link below for the artists. There's also a link with a reminder so you may watch the concert live. International Jazz Day YouTube 2025 videos may be viewed HERE. The global celebration of International Jazz Day culminates in Abu Dhabi, a UNESCO creative city of music. UNESCO, United States Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in those areas.

NINA'S STORY -- AGEISM UTTERANCE

Republic -- "If you can keep it" [Democracy]

           Accountability for Jan. 6 insurrection

U.S. Select House Committee on January 6th Hearings will continue in the fall.

U.S. Dept. of Justice and F.B.I. deserving of respect for doing their jobs.

Stars / Feelings  (Medley / Live at Montreux, 1976)

NINA SIMONE 

"Stars lives come and go ... they all have a story."  Perhaps this is Nina's story, too, as she also refers to Billie Holiday and Janis Joplin.  This talented artist left our world in 2003 at age 70 years.   In her mid-twenties she aspired to being a classical concert pianist.  

Composer Janis Ian commented on YouTube: "I wrote the song [Stars] when I was 21, and already a 9 year veteran of the music industry.  Nina's version is brilliant.  She re-writes it some here and there, and I've never known whether the ad libbed sections at the end were because she forgot, was overwhelmed, or what - but brilliant nonetheless.  One of the most underrated arrangers and pianists ever, too.

REGRETTABLE  UTTERANCE 

The heat must be getting to me.  I'm lacking enthusiasm of thought to focus on writing here.  There are so many issues hanging fire, so to speak, all of which are on my mind from the local to the national level as well as what's occurring around the world.  I'm sure you are as aware of them as I am, so I'll not bring up the matters.  I'm trying to patiently wait for many of them to move forward toward some resolution.  Frankly, it doesn't look like that will occur anytime soon.

Also, I need to focus attention on some personal things here that require more of my time which I'll be doing in the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, I've resumed some occasional pleasure reading but nothing of any consequence for my reviewing here.  They're autobiographies of a couple of now deceased women, each a decade or so older than me.  One woman had a career in D.C. legitimate news journalism to which I had paid some attention.  The other out of NYC focused on show biz gossip and facts to which I've never paid much attention.  I  like to think about what I was doing when some events they note were occurring in their life.

I was glancing through some notes I've written from time to time for possible blog topic elaboration in the future, but I'm presently not motivated to further develop them.  What I'm relating now reminds me of how our perspective in life evolves with experience over the years.  

I guess I could say in this instance I would be generous to myself by saying I simply mis-spoke.  This is a regretted utterance I've never forgotten from the moment I heard the words coming out of my mouth.

I was a teen describing to a life-long year-older dear friend when she asked, the names of several Florida cities on the Gulf she might want to visit.  They had been included on my high school senior class trip itinerary after we departed New Orleans, heading to the Atlantic east coast.  After one Gulf city I mentioned, I hastily added, "Oh, you don't want to go there!  There's nothing but a bunch of old people."

I instantly realized, as her mother listened, that her grandmother who I knew and loved had moved to Florida.  I thought of my own dearly loved grandmother and felt chagrined at my utterance stimulating heart-sick feelings I've never forgotten.  Now that I'm one of those "old people" I can't believe I was so insensitive as to say those words.  After all, if we're fortunate enough to avoid the alternative, we all become "old".

ROUTINEOLOGY -- CENTENARIANS -- JAN. 6 HEARING

U.S. Select House Committee on January 6th Hearing -- Tues., July 12

UPDATE:  Hearing time had been changed to 1 pm ET (10 am PT)

     Tuesday, July 12, starting at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT

           (That's Emmy nominations morning in Hollywood.)

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Shirley Horn -- "Here's To Life"                                                                                                 John Williams and The Boston Pops 1993

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ROUTINEOLOGY

Has my daily life become too filled with routine is a question I asked myself recently?   I realize I've been spending more time in my home than in years past partially due to aging's slowing but also as a consequence of efforts to minimize Coronavirus exposure.  Maybe this perpetual sameness so many days after days I feel is beginning to be too repetitive.

Unfortunately, the number of known individuals contracting the latest Covid-19 variants BA 4 and most dominant now BA 5, is increasing exponentially daily.  The actual official infection numbers are less accurate now due to so many home tests in use with the result not being as easily tracked for reporting by health authorities.  Here in SoCal's Los Angeles County, we're being told to possibly expect reinstatement of mandatory mask wearing by month's end if infection rates continue to increase.

These virus variants, especially BA 5 are much more able to avoid some of the protections our vaccinations with boosters have provided.  Much of our U.S. population seems to behave as though this pandemic is over.  Saying or believing so does not make it so.  Covid 19 coronavirus goes about infecting at will, evolving new more virulent variants, not caring what humans may think.

At least, so far, vaccinations and booster shots have seemed to prevent development of more serious illness and deaths for most who become infected.  Still our older population, especially those with various medical conditions are at risk.  I keep wearing my N95 masks when encountering others.  Perhaps I'm being unnecessarily cautious.  

So, it seems my daily routine may continue to be somewhat limited if I want to minimize risk exposure to contracting Covid 19.  To break my routine in what is beginning to feel like a monotony of sameness I've thought I need to introduce new and more activity variation into my life.

Coincidentally, I recently encountered a Business Insider article about routine which introduced a new term to me: "Routineology": https://www.insider.com/people-who-live-to-100-have-habits-in-common-routineology-2021-6

A review I read of the book The Art of Routine said in a Bookshop.org review: 

"Conventional wisdom suggests that the best way to navigate our noisy new world is to accept change.  Open up to novelty.  Go with the flow.  Live in the moment.  Embrace the relentless pelting of content minute by minute.  But routine experts Angel Iscovich, MD, Joe Garner, and Michael Ashley are here to say that's a bad idea.  Humans don't just benefit from structure; they require it."  

I have a certain amount of routine as I've always had during most of my life but too much of the same pattern day after day can lead to a rather boring existence absent excitement.

Some researchers emphasize commonly held healthy habits of those living long lives due to eating mostly "plant foods", also "...maintaining strong relationships, and moving regularly".  Isovich makes his point by focusing on unhealthy habits of some 100 years and older.   

This Insider article reinforces what many scientific studies have shown that routines are important in our lives including throughout our aging years.  Intriguingly, however, this article indicates that healthy eating may not be a necessary feature for all who live a long life.

People 100 or older are only a fraction of a percent of the population.

A few examples cited include centenarians who swear by the significance of their daily intake of potentially unhealthy items such as whiskey or in quantities of ice cream or bacon.

For many years or decades, Elizabeth Sullivan, a retired math teacher in Texas drank three cans of Dr. Pepper daily she reported on her 106th birthday:  

"People try to give me coffee for breakfast.  Well, I'd rather have a Dr. Pepper," she said in a 2015 interview with a local TV station.  "Every doctor that sees me says they'll kill you," she continued.  "But they die and I don't, so there must be a mistake somewhere."

Then there's Agnes Fenton, "... New Jersey's oldest living resident until she died at age 112 in 2017.  Her secret?  Three Miller High Lifes every day and a shot of Johnnie Walker Blue daily, her obituary says."

"Her habit began after her doctor prescribed her alcohol in 1943 to treat a benign tumor.  She maintained it until a few years before her death."

Dr. Iscovich argues that structure is what matters, not so much that it must be healthy.  His conclusion is:  "People who live past age 100 often have 1 trait in common:  a penchant for routine, even unhealthy ones."  

Novel and spontaneous experiences are acknowledged as important for happiness and fulfillment, but "...humans are wired to live rhythmically" as begins in the womb.  This routine extends throughout life into "...the field of chronobiology, or the 24-cycle that affects your sleep, focus, and sociability."

Coordinating these cycles is " ...the key to finding purpose, meaning, joy --- and longevity," Ischovich and his co-author Michael Ashey state, "pursuing those activities that reduce fear of the unknown and mitigate stress [that] can lead to a more controlled environment, offering stability and aiding in longevity."  They also write: "Coupled with the importance of consistent activities is the need for purpose."  

Humans will persist in seeking to learn what extends human life though there seems to be no one simple answer.  Meanwhile, we'll each make judgements  based on the latest scientific findings about what we think we need and adopt those practices.  

I don't think specifically in terms of wanting to live a century or longer.  I do think in terms of wanting to be as healthy as possible with my mind intact for whatever the number of my years.  Quality of life is what matters to me.

That said, perhaps I'm wise to reassess my daily routines to experience the best of life.  What about you?

IAN'S JOTTINGS -- TONE DEAF -- JAN. 6 -- SCOTUS

UPDATE:   United States Select House Committee on January 6th .......

                           Hearing Tuesday June 28th  1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT)

There are a couple new-to-me blogs of interest I've discovered which you may appreciate, too.  Coincidentally, both of these gentlemen bloggers live across the pond from the U.S.  Take a dip, you may enjoy reading them as much as I have.

The first blog that came to my attention is written by a man with an interesting blogosphere history I learned about in a recent comment in case you missed reading it.  Ian Bertram has started a new blog, "Ian's Jottings", featuring an intriguing variety of topics.  You can visit Ian's blog HERE. 

Ian's no stranger to the blogosphere since Ronni Bennett at "Time Goes By" (TGB) first introduced his "Panchromatica" blog years ago.   Some of what she wrote included:

"He's a serious man with passion for world peace and human rights, but he also has a wicked sense of the absurd as demonstrated by ...  this link I took from his site."

You can read what Ronni wrote May 4, 2004 HERE.  (note: some links there may no longer be active.)  She had been visiting Ian's site before starting her blog.  Ian had discovered Ronni's early blogging efforts and they both regularly posted photos on "fotolog".  

When Ronni concluded she needed to give up her beloved longtime Greenwich Village brownstone apartment on Bleecker Street making her first move to Portland, Maine, Ian responded to her request to be a TGB guest blogger during her moving days.   

I've visited the new blog, "Ian's Jottings", and suggest you read his  June 16th "welcome" post  to gain information about his other blogs, art site, intended "jottings".  Based on his writing I've read,  I look forward to a variety of appealing subjects including his memoir, music featuring talented artists and much more.  The alternate history topic such as "Dunkirk" is entertainingly thought provoking as is considering his unusual idea that is revealed in "Green Earth", given our world today.

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The second blog, "Tone Deaf",  I discovered later which I sought after reading Roderick Robinson's comment on Sabine's blog "Interim Arrangements".  When I visited Roderick's blog I learned he had written several books.  I was fascinated when I read what he wrote about in one of his books, Opening Bars:  "Everyone has a voice so why not sing -- but at eighty?"  That's right, he became a singer at the ripe age of 80 years.

Exploring some of Roderick's blog writings I discovered he dabbles a bit in political commentary occasionally enhanced with a bit of poetry, has had a lifelong interest in aviation, is adapting to some significant medical issues and most recently has explored writing about everyday happiness.   He asks a pertinent question about the life he's lived that we all might ask about our own life you can read HERE.

Roderick's humor emerges with a light-hearted touch in his writings to also blend into one blog discussion about bellybuttons.   Subsequently, there's a description of perfection and then there is the account of his being insulted.

His novels are enticing especially since I note one is set in Arizona.  His appealing self-assessment:  "In my novels all women are heroines."  Hm-m-m!

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SUMMERTIME

Norah Jones with pianist Marian McPartland.  Tanglewood Jazz Festival 8/30/2003

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United States Select House Committee on January 6th -- more hearings in July

"Donald Trump and his supporters are a clear and present danger to democracy."  

      Preserve our constitutional capitalistic democratic republic when you vote.

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SCOTUS recent warped political interpretations of our constitution defy common sense with serious ramifications:

Separation of church and state is now compromised based on a recent case ruling.

Regulations in numerous states to restrict gun proliferation have been invalidated per a ruling.

Women's rights retracted including making decisions affecting the health of her own body.                             (Women no longer equal with men who are permitted to  make health decisions about their body.)  

DREAM VENTURES IN OLDER LIVES

When you were still in the working world, did you ever wonder what your life would be like when you were older or after you retired?

Did you ever think after you retired you might take up a long-desired interest you simply did not have time to thoroughly explore during your regular wage-earning professional career?  

Have you pursued such an interest, maybe engaged in something else, or might in the future?   

Perhaps there's an interest which you wish you could take up but seems unlikely you"ll ever be able to do so?

I don't know if the person described here thought about those questions, but when he retired, he was motivated to pursue further his deferred interest in playing the drums.

Harvey Leff,   aka "Styx", and others in the Physics Department at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona, near where I live, came together while still working and formed a musical group -- Out-Laws of Physics (audio recordings on the link).   They performed just for fun for their colleagues, then commemorated another with original Styx lyrics and raised scholarship funds.  Amazingly to this Physics professor and his department cohorts, their music was greeted with appreciative enthusiasm.  They were a resounding success asked to perform more on occasion.

Eventually, Harvey retired; was thoughtfully gifted by his wife,  Ellen, with a drum set.  He continued practicing and playing, taking some drumming lessons from a professional drummer jazz musician in the ZZAJ group I've enjoyed and written about.  Harvey's university musical group and he had evolved --  to paying jobs playing country, folk, pop, jazz and all sorts of music entertaining a growing number of fans.  

I met Harvey and his wife, Ellen, interesting and fun-loving people, at the free Sunday afternoon jazz concerts I started attending after my husband's death years ago.  Later, I enjoyed attending his group's appearance at a popular local restaurant that regularly features live music.

This delightful and personable couple eventually moved to a Portland, Oregon retirement community offering all levels of care to be closer to their twin sons and families.  They've become very active in their community.  Ellen chairs the movie scheduling group, also line and folk dances while Harvey and their sons have formed a musical group, the Leff Trio.  He also drums regularly with a local Portland jazz sextet.  He seems to have plenty of gigs, in that music world terminology, to keep him busy.

"Sing, Sing, Sing" -- Leff Trio.              

  (One of their numerous tunes listed on the right side bar of this You Tube link).

Here's another video of the Leff Trio performing "As Time Goes By":

Even if we are unable to fulfill long held dreams, much less don't achieve the recognition from enjoyment Harvey has given others, I think he would be the first to say the satisfaction, pleasure, fun he has been having is worth all his efforts.  He might also say that what has unexpectedly developed musically for him is simply the icing on life's cake!

Some of us may not explore our life's dream ventures in our older years for a variety of reasons, including due to complicating circumstances in our lives.  Still, anything can be possible for many!  We never know what may develop whatever our situation unless we investigate and experiment with what gives us joy.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS W/RAIN -- MEMORIES -- MUSIC

                               M E R R Y     C H R I S T M A S  !

Rain ... rain ... rain ... !   Our Christmas gift from Mother Nature has arrived at the base of  Southern California foothills where I live.    Snow is falling in the surrounding mountains.  This moisture won't end our drought conditions but will certainly be a welcome step in that direction.

One hot summer day in SoCal,  many years ago,  singer Mel Torme' visited his co-song-writer, Bob Wells as Torme' has described numerous times.  Observing a piece of paper with words written on it lying on the piano, Torme' inquired, "What is this?"

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, 

Jack Frost nipping at your nose"

Wells explained the weather was just so miserably hot, he had tried everything, finally jumped in his pool but nothing he did soothed him, so he wrote those words to see if they might help cool him down.  Torme' commented he thought the words looked like a song.  Collaborating once again, "The Christmas Song" was written in the next forty minutes to become one of the most performed Christmas songs ever.

"The Christmas Song"  (Live/1990)

Mel Torme' with John Campbell

Album -- "The Christmas Song/Autumn Leaves"

Mel Torme' whose singing voice had perfect pitch was referred to as "The Velvet Fog",  a description he did not like but some thought non-offensive and most apropos.  Torme' maintained vocal quality as he aged which not all singers do -- such control, sophistication and class.  

Memories can be pleasant on a Christmas day celebrated virtually with distant family members.  I have fond recollections of attending with my husband,  a Mel Torme' performance in a local midwestern city dinner club where we lived years ago -- a most entertaining evening.  

I am also reminded of hearing George Shearing, a consummate pianist, incidentally blind, perform in a San Francisco hotel's club room years after his guest appearance on that live TV show with which I had been associated and where I met my husband.   Listening to this music conjures memories of my much preferred small intimate club or concert hall atmosphere where people relaxingly sit, focused on the music, musicians, rather than large concert venues with loud sensory bomb-barding sound and video extravaganza distractions prevalent in recent years.

Torme' joins George Shearing in the following concert video in Germany.  

Torme's song early in the show suggests to me we're again living in times when we may need to "pick ourselves up" and get on with life.  Then Neil Swanson's fast-fingered bass solo was reminiscent of my husband who also played the acoustic upright bass with his various groups and occasionally backed some musical stars.  

 

About 28  minutes into this smooth easy-going video Torme' sings a very emotionally moving rendition of "Stardust" with poetic lyrics eliciting many more memories as he showcases his vocal talents.   Some  upbeat tunes are featured with an early-on bit of scat singing -- vocal interpretation of a musical instrument -- reveals that Torme' is a master in those songs he vocalizes here.  

Mel Torme' George Shearing Jazz Festival Berlin 1989 Full Concert

Mel Torme' Vocals, George Shearing Piano, 

Neil Swanson Bass, Donnie Osborn Drums.

 

Torme' and Shearing pay tribute to somewhat younger Caterina Valente (age 90 now) a world famous multi-talented, mult-lingual (fluent in 7 languages) entertainer traveling from her home in Switzerland to attend their concert.

An even more youthful Caterina Valente's sensuous dance and vocal interpretation of "Malaguena" begins this next video, that integrates memorable movie clips of other popular stars of the era performing to her song.  

Caterina Valente

"Malaguena" (1955) 

                         H A P P Y    H O L I D A Y S !

KALILILY TIME -- AGEISM -- BLESSED RAIN -- EXIT 9

"Kalilily Time" by Elaine -- a writer/blogger/poet of interest who has been in the blogosphere since blogging's beginnings -- read the "Who" and "Why" by clicking on her blog above.   Like many of us life has resulted in her needing to take a hiatus from time to time and I've missed her when that has occurred, so let's welcome Elaine back!  

Elaine's poetry has appeared in numerous publications.   She also wrote some very interesting blog posts which she has resumed doing in the past few days.  An excerpt from one of her recent blog posts says: 

"...I've been trying to track down other bloggers around my age to see if we can develop into a virtual community of kindred spirits.   That's what I had back in the 2000s, and I miss the virtual camaraderie."

I think you may want to pay her a visit to welcome her back by clicking on her blog above at her web URL:  http://www.kalilily.net/

* * *

I've had a rude awakening, or in the vernacular of today, I'm woke.  I discovered I may actually be ageist when I wrote to my adult children a description of my experience when I recently attended an afternoon outdoor jazz concert.  I referred to some other people there with descriptive words well beyond saying they were old, which, of course, I am, too, so I'll omit any of that ageist language which might be seen as offensive.  

The concert afternoon stayed hot in the mid to low 90s as I sat in my car in the parking lot right next to the concert area patio of the Japanese restaurant, with all of my car windows down.  I turned the A/C on briefly only once since I didn't want to run down my battery during those hours and my gas was rather low.  

I digress ..... but I haven't filled my gas tank, expecting rates will go down from the $4.40+ per gallon.  Now I learn that's not likely to happen any time soon and the price could go up -- to $5 or more!  Clearly, I better fill up my car's gas tank soon.

No doubt you've heard we've had a big oil leak off our Pacific Coast originating in the Long Beach area, with the oil slick moving southward, possibly to San Diego, adversely affecting the environment -- ocean life creatures including sea lions and otters, dolphins, fish, birds covered in oil though only a few needing rescuing so far, wetlands damage, pollution of numerous beaches.

Early aid to mitigate some of the potential problems has helped the total damage be less to date than had been expected.  The cause is presently thought to be a ship's 's anchor dragging and ripping open the oil pipeline, possibly occurring as long ago as a year earlier, but the definite cause is yet to be determined.  I expect the oil companies might cite that as another excuse for our high gas prices.  When will offshore oil drilling everywhere permanently cease?

Back to the concert ..... I enjoyed the young Exit 9 trio (note: current YouTube musical group videos with this name are not this group) who played classic mellow jazz standards including a favorite of mine, "On Green Dolphin Street", plus a few pop songs through the decades, other newer tunes, also easy listening compositions some call smooth jazz.The Exit 9 trio consisted of a keyboard, guitar and drums.  A duo of guitars played one short segment.  I hope this group is invited to return each month as I told them.   The next week's performing group, ZZAJ, is a longtime favorite of mine about which I've written HERE before.

Here are two different versions of "On Green Dolphin Street",  one with noted Pianist Peter Nero with orchestra, the other with the Latin beat of talented musician Sergio Mendes.

Peter Nero -- The Unforgettable  -- Sheet Music & mp3 - Okmusix 

Sergio Mendes -- Moderno - Milestones Records 

Continuing the now-edited-to-remove-ageist-attitude-wordings report of my experience ..... I had a pretty good view of the Exit 9 jazz trio, could hear the music fine, but sometimes people on the patio moving to seek shade, as the sun crossed the sky, would block part of my view.  There was only a low wall and greenery between them and me, but, irritatingly to me, some seated at the back of the patio closest to my car parked headed-in next to them in the parking lot, paid no consideration at all to my presence behind them they had to have seen.  They were inconsiderate, unlike those sitting on the patio in front of them were for them, so they could see.  

I wrote disparaging descriptions later to my children of the old man, and an old woman there who chatted with him as the concert wore on.  My negative attitude toward them was obviously colored by the fact they kept interfering with my view.  I didn't want to toot my car's horn, but I sure felt like doing so several times.

In my message to my kids, I groused about the guy's appearance and ponytail, was rather snide about her appearance in a backless, very very short sundress that I'm more accustomed to seeing on a much younger woman.  Actually, she was very smart, definitely, including her big red hat, and wisely dressed for the extremely hot afternoon of well over 90 degree temperatures.  Comfort and safety from heat stroke is the name of the game.  They were both quite respectable representatives of their 60s generation.

People mostly sat some distance apart with less casual interaction than pre-pandemic days.  Nobody wore a mask, but I had one at the ready in my car, especially since the decrease in Covid infections had instead gone up in both the public and our schools -- attributed to the unvaccinated, of course!

There's usually a pretty friendly group at these free jazz concerts -- a few folks came together, but a number of both sexes came and left alone.  Strangers talked with one another between tunes and during breaks.  I do recall one individual years ago who was married, apparently lived on my street, though I had never known of him or his family.  Some in the musical group seemed to know him, or maybe he had just been showing up for their concerts before I started attending after my husband died.  

The man was a big talker everybody could hear with his comments between sets directed toward varying musicians, sometimes naming an instrument he said he played.  At one point, he spoke disparagingly of marriage with broad statements, then intimating he would welcome meeting someone he could rendezvous with in a nearby town.  

Later that afternoon after that statement he called me over, then started talking quite confidentially, but didn't make much sense.  He finally gave me a weak excuse for this talk in his one-sided conversation of having a toe problem that didn't sound like much of one to me but suggesting I might want to examine him.  I don't know what he had in mind since he wasn't removing his shoe and sock to show me, though I wouldn't have looked anyway.  Did he really want medial advice from me -- there, in front of others?

I nicely explained to him his toe was quite out of my area of expertise since, I stressed to him, I was a Speech-Language Pathologist -- we weren't exactly trained in toe rehabilitation.  I walked away and we never talked again.   I shared that conversation, laughing it all away, with the vocalist with whom I had become friends.  He never showed up at the concerts again, at least when I was there.  I think he and his family eventually may have moved away to that town he mentioned.

* * *

I'm in disbelief -- we actually received about one-tenth of an inch of rain here in my SoCal foothills!  Furthermore, we may get a dribble or drop more later.  This will hardly matter much to alleviate our drought, but "every little bit helps", as the saying goes.  Mammoth Mountain even had snow -- a ski area, driving time approximately 5 hours from Los Angeles, 3 hours south of Reno, Nevada.  Our temperatures have dropped considerably and finally begin to feel like fall.

Are the seasons noticeably changing where you live?  Do you listen to your favorite music to influence your mood for weathering the vagaries of life, including pandemic confinement or isolation, to distract from or escape pain, or perhaps loneliness due to other reasons?

L.A. UPDATE -- AUTO POWER -- THANKSGIVING

Day after day our local TV news features photos of traffic lines that appear to have no end as people line up in their autos, waiting for hours well into the night at the Dodgers baseball team stadium for drive through free Coronavirus testing.

Most of California is now under a voluntary 10 p.m. - 5 a.m. curfew due to escalating coronavirus infection numbers that if they continue increasing may lead to institution of a lockdown.

Viewing the vehicle lineup reminds me of hydrogen-powered cars which have long appealed to me as a possible preference over electric and gas autos.  Now it seems Lancaster, California has become the first U.S. hydrogen city and is reaching out to Japan for this purpose.   Here's how you drive a hydrogen powered car HERE.

Also, here's what some auto manufacturers are doing to explore hydrogen-powered cars:

Driving, whether a gasoline combustion engine, electric or hydrogen vehicle, they especially matter now as a means for shopping for picking up our purchases from stores and using drive thru services.  

When I lived in the Great Lakes midwest a popular fast food drive thru restaurant there was White Castle -- for what are now referred to as "sliders" -- tiny little hamburger/cheeseburger sandwiches.  My husband said as a boy he used to be invited with other classmates to the owner's home to celebrate their son's birthday who was their friend.  Each attendee received a gift far more expensive than they could afford to give the birthday boy he still recalled from so many years ago.

Many years later as adults when we moved to California a very popular drive thru here was a family-owned fast food restaurant famed for the high grade meat quality as were other ingredients, plus their excellent service, called In 'N Out Burger.  They continue to gradually expand into other states.

Through the years tragic family owner deaths gave rise to customers wary speculation the business would be sold with the expectation any new owners would sacrifice quality.  The business did finally stay in the family under the guidance of a granddaughter reassuring customers product quality would be retained.

Whenever I frequently drive by the nearby business on ol' Route 66, sometimes stopping in myself,  there are always waiting lines at each of the two drive thru windows, but outdoor seating only -- perfect for coronavirus business today.  Even after my children became adults, moved out of state, when they return home for a visit, sooner or later they want to make a run to In 'N Out for burgers, shakes and fries.  We were not frequent customers so our children considered going there a treat. 

  

Efforts to undermine citizen trust in our democratic system of government continues to be the focus of our U.S. lame duck President.  So far, his efforts to invalidate the popular vote or to hijack the  Electoral College votes have not succeeded.  State and national election officials declare this has been the most secure election in American history but the current President continues making claims otherwise with no supporting evidence.  

Transition efforts normally in progress by now continue to be blocked forcing the newly elected President to prepare to take office without such cooperation potentially jeopardizing the safety of the American people and our nation.  A reminder of important timelines to track:

December 8, 2020:         Safe Harbor Deadline -- States must choose electors that will be accepted  by Congress; voting disputes must be resolved.   

December 14, 2020:        Electors Convene and Vote in D.C.

January 6, 2020 at 1 pm:  The vote will be finalized and certified in a joint session of Congress.

January 20, 2021 at noon: The President is inaugurated.

***

So what vehicle powering system do you prefer, or is there some other type about which you might fantasize, i.e., solar, to take you to what favored drive thru in your area?

***

Wishing all a Happy Thanksgiving this coming Thursday!

AUTUMN BRINGS 14th BLOGAVERSARY

This is the anniversary of my fourteenth year blogging though on a couple occasions I took a hiatus for periods of time, once thinking I might permanently stop writing here.  Starting my blog, coincided with a major life change following my husband's death in his sleep months earlier in 2006.

Launching my blog was accidental when I was experimenting with setting up a site unsure if, or when, I would even want my own blog.   Exploring the blog idea I unintentionally clicked in error a trial piece I was composing,  thus publishing my words onto the world-wide web.  I left my blog there because I was so digitally uneducated then, also just learning to use a computer, I didn't know how to remove it.  

Once my blog was started I was erroneously under the impression I must write daily which I came to recognize altered my everyday activities in less than positive ways for me, especially upsetting my sleep patterns.  This proved in time to be problematic since my body did not readily adapt at my age then to such an erratic sleep schedule unlike my experience when I was younger.

Writing proved to be very time consuming, requiring considerable editing, was not the dashing off in twenty minutes I expected.  Implementing ideas for a blog site involved a learning curve and more time.  Too long later I eventually realized the obvious, that the frequency of writing and publishing was solely at my discretion, regardless of what I thought were others expectations.

Prior to my blog's internet entry my husband's ashes distribution delays followed by my later travel east for a period of time to join friends and family for his life's celebration seemed to keep my life more unsettled than I realized.  After I returned home I eventually began to resume part time work, started the blog.   Only years later in retrospective reflection of my first couple of years as a widow did I realize how I was coping during that time.  Interesting to me is how a loved one's death can have such a profound effect over time in unexpected ways not initially recognized.  

My life has continued to evolve with each passing year as I've aged, with all that entails in terms of my lifestyle and physical well-being.  One of the most challenging aspects of these years has been the loss through death of increasing numbers of family and friends until very few remain living.

Fall has arrived -- autumn long my favorite season but now emblematic of my life's stage.  Living many years in a Great Lakes State when I was younger, I was treated to fall's magnificent leaves changing colors from green to golden yellow, shades of flaming reds to rust and rich browns embracing the trees before gently fluttering to the ground in preparation for winter's snows.

I looked forward to those years when late in the season we'd experience a period of cold temperatures, often the first frost, then unexpectedly a brief episode of unseasonably warm, dry weather would suddenly emerge ..... Indian Summer had arrived ..... in which I reveled but miss here in So Cal.'s foothills though may be experienced in the mountains higher elevations.

Music resonates for me in relation to so many aspects of life including nature.  Here's legendary trumpeter  Chet Baker's instrumental jazz version of composer Victor Herbert's "Indian Summer", the original tune to which romantic lyrics were added years later.  The song became a popular tune sung by several vocalists becoming a favorite of mine several decades ago.

Contemporary "Indian Summer" has become the title of quite a different romantic tune referring to the nation.  Here's today's popular exceptionally talented trumpeter Chris Botti I had the pleasure of hearing in person in recent years capturing this new melody for his instrumental version.

  

Life for each of us is somewhat like these two songs.  Each have variations as interpreted by different relationships to the music, though as the years go by other changes also occur.  One song may fade into obscurity, remembered by fewer people with each passing year, eventually disappearing from the consciousness of others.

A new song given the same title yet quite different from the other song is introduced to then current generations.  The new melody begins its inevitable journey to the years ahead probable oblivion, too.  So it is with our lives and may even be so with our blogs, eventually.  

While I'm keenly aware of the dwindling years, in the meantime I intend to keep enjoying autumn, winter, as well as each spring and summer.   Music, blogging will enhance living my life to the fullest and hope your life is filled with joy, too.

JAZZ CELEBRATES ELLIS MARSALLIS' LIFE

L.A. MASKING

We have now been told to wear cloth (cotton) masks we can make ourselves – NOT to use the N95s and respirator masks that should be for hospital doctors, nurses, health care workers being exposed to COVID 19. 

Soon after, today's TV news interviews with Los Angeles County health officials recommending we wear masks which could protect against the larger COVID 19 virus molecules Californians began taking action.   

I lamented in an email to a friend my sewing machine to make a mask was in need of repair.   She forwarded a link to this Karen S. Kloset video her son had just sent her that will show you how to quickly and easily make your own mask with no sewing required.   

Here's a link to another "zero-stitch mask" designed by Runa Ray that creates a pocket allowing insertion of a filter should you acquire any.

                                    

Shortly after emailing me my friend devised a cloth mask for herself without sewing.   She used her granddaughters’ hairbands for hooking around the ears and cut up a colorful old nightgown for fabric, sending me an email photo wearing her mask that I jokingly characterized to her as “bandito” that I won’t share here in respect for her privacy!

Just as I was chuckling at her photo my doorbell rang.  Opening my door I saw an Asian couple I didn’t recognize standing at some distance in my driveway.   These limited English speakers offered me a small bag with free face masks which I appreciatively accepted.   The bag was left for me to retrieve after closing my door to provide the social distancing we maintain.  What a thoughtful generous gesture from unknown to me caring people.

We're being told by some health care professionals to anticipate several more months ahead much as we're experiencing now.  Stay well all!

Addendum:

This is the last from the U.S. National Institutes of Health in 2013 testing the efficacy of homemade masks against influenza for what it’s worth:  “better than nothing”.

For any interested in comparisons of masks worn by doctors, nurses, healthcare workers from the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM)  at the University of Oxford.

JAZZ CELEBRATES ELLIS MARSALLIS' LIFE AS MUSICIAN AND EDUCATOR 

Born: November 14, 1934 New Orleans, La.     

Died: April 1, 2020  New Orleans, La, -- Complications of COVID 19

Pianist, patriarch of a renowned family of jazz musicians including internationally famous Bradford and Wynton plays his composition - "Homecoming" on his 80th birthday at Lincoln Center in this NPR video.  

LIFE -- COVID 19 -- VOTING -- MCCOY TYNER

My thoughts this week have been primarily focused on practical day-to-day living.   I was reminded of how quickly life’s circumstances can be altered when I somehow twisted an ankle while the knee on my other leg was slightly bent, so not locked to support my continued standing.  So, down I slid onto my tush just inside my front door.  That was the easy part.  Nothing broken.  The challenge came in getting back up.   This I finally managed in time but only after moving further into the house. 

The next few days the body has dictated some accommodations and adaptations are necessary on my part due to aches and pain, especially the first night trying to sleep.   I’ve managed to handle the basic necessities including progressing to doing a couple loads of laundry.  Another day I went to the store.  I welcomed sitting down to drive one of their less than smooth-accelerating hot rod vehicles – even managed to avoid colliding with other shoppers. 

***

Meanwhile, I had plenty of occasion to view all forms of media and tech describing what was happening in the rest of the world.   The Coronavirus has us continuing to play catch-up in dealing with prevention and treatment.  I continue to respect select scientific data and some knowledgeable medical authorities reports in preference to this presidential administration’s political efforts to control and manipulate reality with what can best be described as their “massaging the facts”.   

Here in California our news is filled with periodic accounts of cruise ships filled with passengers stranded on board as tests are made to determine whether or not the Coronavirus is present.  A negative test of an ill passenger will now allow all on a ship offshore in Southern California Long Beach to disembark a day later than when they were scheduled.  Those waiting to board for the next trip had to find overnight accommodations due to their delayed departure – if they’re still going.  Another quarantined cruise ship stranded at sea elsewhere with some passengers testing positive is finally being sent to Northern California’s Oakland for further follow-up.   

Large groups of people around So Cal previously scheduled events continue gathering but inconsistently – some events are cancelled, others move forward, such as the Los Angeles Marathon with thousands of runner participants expected.  Everyone has their rationale and justification as to why their event is either occurring or not and why they may or may not attend.  Clearly there seem to be pretty fluid guidelines defining criteria on how best to conduct our lives in the beginning days of this health issue. 

The availability of tests to detect the Coronavirus has certainly been an overdue factor in aiding our more successfully coping with this health issue.  Meanwhile, we are well-advised to take responsibility for ourselves following prescribed hand-washing techniques and a variety of other recommended behaviors in this U.S. Government Center for Disease Control and Prevention – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Important to note that older people and individuals with certain medical complications are considered to be at high-risk for contracting the disease as noted by the CDC.

***

A ‘Super Tuesday’ of primary 2020 election voting resulted in narrowing to two front-runner Democratic Party Presidential candidates in the days immediately following – former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders.    This coming Tuesday another group of states will hold primary elections to define even further Party delegate totals.  The Republican Party’s President Donald Trump is a virtually uncontested candidate as he seeks re-election for another four years.  

Los Angeles County voting was problematic as a new system using touch screen technology that prints a paper ballot for verification was introduced.  There were numerous voting sites where people had to stand in long lines for hours and hours with some not finished until midnight.  Machines didn’t work in some sites accounting for some of the problems.   Officials are challenged now to ensure the issues are all resolved when we vote in November’s 2020 Presidential election.   

*** 

The jazz world will miss McCoy Tyner who died Friday, March 6, 2020 at his home in New Jersey.  Here’s a solo piano performance of John Coltrane’s Giant Steps, by McCoy Tyner, 1996, Hamburg.

NPR (click for link) provides an extensive obituary beginning with this description:

 “McCoy Tyner, a pianist whose deep resonance, hammering attack and sublime harmonic invention made him a game-changing catalyst in jazz and beyond.”

You can also stream NPR’s In Memoriam Playlist on that site.  

REMEMBERING NANCY WILSON NEW YEAR'S

WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR'S EVE?   

Song stylist Nancy Wilson’s over five decade singing career is notable for more than 70 albums, and three Grammy Awards.     Her musical vocal style has been described as jazz, blues, cabaret, and pop though she declined being relegated to any one category.  

Her singing has been characterized  as sensitive, sensual, soulful, but she always said that she simply told stories.    She was a consummate entertainer with class, beauty, elegance.   Others have observed "She sold her VOICE ... not her body ... embodied poise and respect."

I awoke to the sad news on Thursday December 13^th -- that vocalist Nancy Wilson had died -- and want to remember her here.

Ms Wilson’s talents became nationally prominent beginning in the mid-1950’s, continuing until her retirement in early-2010s.   She was born February 20, 1937 in Chillicothe, Ohio south of the state’s capitol, Columbus, where she later attended high school.  She began singing as a teen, then won a talent contest with appearances on the ABC affiliate WTVN.  She entered college for a teaching degree but returned to her original talents after winning an audition to sing with Rusty Bryant’s band. She sang at local clubs, in 1956 toured Canada and the Midwest to 1958 with the band when she made her first record under Dot Recording.    

She followed jazz alto saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley’s advice and moved to New York City in 1959 where filling in for another singer at the blue Morocco earned her a regular booking.  Singing four nights a week and working days as a secretary at the New York Institute of Technology.  Capitol Records signed her in 1960 as she successfully released her first single with which she’s often identified: “Guess Who I Saw Today”.

Subsequently her career flourished with TV appearances, national coast to coast prominence and international recognition as she continued recording for American and Japanese labels.  Later years she engaged in youth education programs, hosted NPR’s Jazz Profiles from 1996 to 2005. 

My husband had recalled to me her early years during his avocational professional jazz musician years with his own groups in Columbus, Ohio.   Many years later prior to his retirement he came home from the office one day saying he had surprisingly encountered her in the hall of the local California university where he was now an administrator.  She was there to engage with that University’s Music Department and students. 

I was reminded of when working in Columbus  at NBC-TV affiliate, WLW-C, with the live daily audience participation weekday talk show and quintet that Ms Wilson had been one of the many celebrity guests who welcomed performing with our talented musicians whenever appearing in concert or at prominent clubs in town.  She was in peak popularity and renown but had returned to  provide support to a friend opening a club called The Sacred Mushroom (jazz-folk-beat-coffee house) near the Ohio State University campus.  She was a warm, gracious personable young woman who cared about others. 

Nancy Wilson has been the recipient of much recognition including NAACP Image Award – Hall of Fame Award; Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame award, Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; was a major figure in the Civil Rights Movement with many awards; received honorary degrees; recipient of the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) and so many more awards.   “She co-founded the Nancy Wilson Foundation, which exposes inner-city children to the country. ^“   as noted HERE.

She was the first recipient of the United Negro College Fund Award where she sang
"These Golden Years"

She married again in 1973 and subsequently gave up singing in some venues, such as supper clubs. For the next two decades was busy with her personal and professional life – singing, family, and adjusting to the death of both parents.   In 2006 medical issues became evident, eventually some lung issues developed, also her husband died after a long illness with renal cancer. 

“On September 10, 2011, she performed on a public stage for the last time at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio” south of her birth city.    Wilson is quoted,  "I'm not going to be doing it anymore, and what better place to end it than where I started – in Ohio."

Nancy Wilson died December 13, 2018 at her home in Pioneertown near Southern California's Joshua Tree National Monument after a long battle with kidney cancer.  She was 81 years old..   

Nancy Wilson sings some more tunes in her inimitable  style........

"An Older Man Is Like An Elegant Wine" at this link since the video not readily embedded here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJkKWhTS_sg&index=5&list=RDHnxyIMTwqIM

"Teach Me Tonight"  John B. Williams on acoustic upright bass

"Midnight Sun" – Capitol Records 1967

"Did I Remember"    Video has pictures of lovely Nancy Wilson at various stages of her life. 

Her final album “Turned to Blue” won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Album in 2006.

"My Life Has Turned to Blue"        A poem written by Maya Angelou is the title track.

"When Sunny Gets Blue"     1962 album "Hello Young Lovers"

Thank you, Nancy Wilson ...
... for the musical pleasure you’ve given us 
... the positive difference you've made in others lives

RIP