Today is January 31, the very last day of the first month of the year. Seems like only yesterday we were unwrapping Christmas gifts and welcoming the new year. Tempus fugit, indeed!
In 1972 (coincidentally the year that I was born) a group called Looking Glasswrote a song called Brandy You're A Fine Girl. unfortunately for the band, this turned out to be a one-hit wonder. After Brandy the band was not able to recreate their initial hit.
The song, however, lives on due to to the bittersweet tale it tells of unrequited love. It is a very pretty song and one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it too.
BRANDY YOU’RE A FINE GIRL
There's a port on a western bay And it serves a hundred ships a day Lonely sailors pass the time away And talk about their homes
And there's a girl in this harbor town And she works layin' whiskey down They say "Brandy, fetch another round" She serves them whiskey and wine
The sailors say "Brandy, you're a fine girl" "What a good wife you would be" "Yeah your eyes could steal a sailor from the sea"
Brandy wears a braided chain Made of finest silver from the North of Spain A locket that bears the name Of the man that Brandy loves
He came on a summer's day Bringin' gifts from far away But he made it clear he couldn't stay No harbor was his home
The sailor said " Brandy, you're a fine girl" "What a good wife you would be" "But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea"
Yeah, Brandy used to watch his eyes When he told his sailor stories She could feel the ocean foam rise She saw its ragin' glory But he had always told the truth, lord, he was an honest man And Brandy does her best to understand
At night when the bars close down Brandy walks through a silent town And loves a man who's not around She still can hear him say
She hears him say " Brandy, you're a fine girl” "What a good wife you would be" "But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea"
Through the magic of YouTube, you can still hear this song. This then, is one person's interpretation of Brandy You're a Fine Girl. (Note: the graphics and the video quality are not the best.)
I could not end this post without sharing with you some of the photographs that I took earlier this morning on a short hike by the ocean.
I used the same subject, but tried different exposures and different effects. Which one do you like best?
I personally like this one best.
It was a lovely morning hike. Thank you for coming along with me!
"No man has any special right because he belongs to any specific race; just by saying the word man, we have already said all the rights." José Martí
Tomorrow, January 28 marks the 156th birthday of José Martí. In his short life Marti was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and a political theorist. Through his writings and political activity, he became a symbol for Cuba's bid for independence from Spain in the 19th century; for his work Martí is referred to as the "Apostle of Cuban Independence.”
From an early age Marti fought against Spanish oppression in Cuba. At the young age of 16 Marti was sentenced to hard labor in a Spanish prison for his political activities. At the prison, young Marti was forced to wear ankle chains. The chains left a scar on is leg that, like the scar on his poet’s soul, would never fully heal. Marti was eventually exiled to Spain. From Spain Marti traveled extensively, including trips to Paris, New York, Tampa Bay and Mexico City. During his many trips Marti worked tirelessly to raise awareness for the cause of Cuban independence.
Marti’s greatness lies in the humanity and universality of his body of work. Although Cuba’s independence was at the very core of Marti’s soul, his writings reveal an intense passion for freedom, justice and equality for ALL people; not just for Cubans.
It was through his writings, poetry, short stories and essays that Martí sought to reach out to all men. He was an inclusive figure who was the very embodiment of Lincoln’s message of “with malice towards none and justice towards all.” In one of his best known short poems, “Cultivo Una Rosa Blanca” (I Plant a White Rose) Marti expressed the idea that we must extend the hand of friendship even to those who treat us badly.
CULTIVO UNA ROSA BLANCA
Cultivo una rosa blanca En julio como en enero, Para el amigo sincero Que me da su mano franca. Y para el cruel que me arranca El corazon con que vivo, Cardo ni ortiga cultivo, Cultivo una rosa blanca.
I PLANT A WHITE ROSE
I plant a white rose In July as in January For the sincere friend Who gives me his hand in friendship. And for the cruel one who tears out the heart with which I live, I plant neither nettles nor thorns: I plant a white rose.
In those short, eight lines Martí taught us to love all, not just our friends but our enemies as well. If only people would listen to this simple message, and took it to heart, there were would be a lot less suffering in the world.
Marti saw children as the best hope for a better future. While in exile in New York, Marti published a children’s magazine, La Edad de Oro (The Golden Age). According to Marti, the intention behind the publication of La Edad de Oro was "so that American children may know how people used to live, and how they live nowadays, in America and in other countries; how many things are made, such as glass and iron, steam engines and suspension bridges and electric light; so that when a child sees a coloured stone he will know why the stone is coloured....We shall tell them about everything which is done in factories, where things happen which are stranger and more interesting than the magic in fairy stories. These things are real magic, more marvelous than any....We write for children because it is they who know how to love, because it is children who are the hope for the world.” As a child growing up in Cuba, I received a copy of La Edad de Oro for my seventh birthday. To this day I can still remember curling up in corner of our backyard and being totally fascinated by all the different stories that Marti wrote. One of the stories in La Edad de Oro was titled “Tres Heroes.” It told the story of the three heroes of South America’s battle for independence. I still remember reading about the extraordinary bravery of the three men, Bolivar, Hidalgo, and San Martín, responsible for South America’s freedom.
On April 1, 1895, Marti headed an expedition that sailed for Cuba. The expedition, was composed of several Cuban patriots living in exile, including Martí, Gómez, Ángel Guerra, Francisco Borreo, Cesar Salas and Marcos del Rosariocristi. They landed at Playitas, near Maisi Cape, Cuba, on April 11. Once there, they made contact with the Cuban rebels, who were headed by the Maceo brothers, and started fighting against Spanish troops. By May 13, the expedition reached Dos Rios. On May 19, Gomez faced Ximenez de Sandoval's troops and ordered Martí to stay rearguard, but Martí separated from the bulk of the Cuban forces, and entered the Spanish line.
José Martí was killed in battle against Spanish troops at the Battle of Dos Rios, near the confluence of the rivers Contramaestre and Cauto, on May 19, 1895. At the moment of his death, Martí was leading a charge against a Spanish position. This was around midday and Marti was, as always, dressed in a black jacket, riding a white horse, which made him an easy target for the Spanish soldiers.
“No me entierren en lo oscuro/A morir como un traidor/Yo soy bueno y como bueno/Moriré de cara al sol." ("Do not bury me in darkness / to die like a traitor / I am good, and as a good man / I will die facing the sun.")
José Martí's life-long dedication to the cause of Cuban independence and his passionate belief in democracy and justice have made him a hero not just to Cubans, but to all freedom-loving persons throughout the entire world. Cubans living in exile, like myself and my family, honor Martí as a figure of hope for the Cuban nation in exile. We see in Martí a bright and shiny beacon for the still unfulfilled promise of a free and democratic Cuba.
Please join me in honoring the life and work of a man born and raised in a small island whose dedication to the ideals of universal justice made him a citizen of the entire world.
¡Viva el Apostol de la Patria!
Here is a video salute to José Martí. It helps if you know Spanish.
The words of one of José Martí’s poems, “Yo Soy Un Hombre Sincero” (I Am a Sincere Man) served as the inspiration for the now world famous song “Guantanamera.”
Here is a version by the BuenaVista Social Club.
Here is another version of Guantanamera by Celia Cruz, one of Cuba’s most popular singers. No Spanish needed, just be prepared to move.
NOTE: I wish to thank my dear friend Debbie Bulloch, for giving me the opportunity to write about José Martí.She knows full well how much it means to me to be able to write about this great man of peace, who was forced to go to battle to fight for the independence for the land that he and I love so much. Gracias.
For the anonymous person (I think I know who you are) who requested Kodachrome, here it is. I wonder what kind of song Paul Simon would write in this new era of digital cameras, perhaps SanDisk, or maybe Lexar?
If you were born under the sign of the Ox you are:
The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. This powerful sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things. As one might guess, such people are dependable, calm, and modest. Like their animal namesake, the Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.
Ox people need peace and quiet to work through their ideas, and when they have set their mind on something it is hard for them to be convinced otherwise. An Ox person has a very logical mind and is extremely systematic in whatever they do, though they have a tremendous imagination and an unparalleled appreciation for beauty. These people speak little but are extremely intelligent. When necessary, they are articulate and eloquent.
People born under the influence of the Ox are kind, caring souls, logical, positive, filled with common sense and with their feet firmly planted on the ground. Security is their main preoccupation in life, and they are prepared to toil long and hard in order to provide a warm, comfortable and stable nest for themselves and their families. Strong-minded, stubborn, individualistic, the majority are highly intelligent individuals who don't take kindly to being told what to do.
The Ox works hard, patiently, and methodically, with original intelligence and reflective thought. These people enjoy helping others. Behind this tenacious, laboring, and self-sacrificing exterior lies an active mind.
The Ox is not extravagant, and the thought of living off credit cards or being in debt makes them nervous. The possibility of taking a serious risk could cause the Ox sleepless nights.
Ox people are truthful and sincere, and the idea of wheeling and dealing in a competitive world is distasteful to them. They are rarely driven by the prospect of financial gain. These people are always welcome because of their coolness and awesomeness. They are reputed to be the most beautiful of face in the zodiac. They have many friends, who appreciate the fact that the Ox people are wary of new trends, although every now and then they can be encouraged to try something new. People born in the year of the Ox make wonderful parents and teachers of children.
It is important to remember that the Ox people are sociable and relaxed when they feel secure, but occasionally a dark cloud looms over such people and they engage all the trials of the whole world and seek solutions for them.
Lately I seem to be in a Simon and Garfunkel “mood.” I have always loved the simple beauty of their lyrics but lately I have been going back, more often than usual, to their music to find comfort in these troubled times. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel know how to weave words into a tapestry of sounds and melodies that surrounds me and soothes my soul.
Two of their songs, in particular, have been running through my head. One of the songs is Homeward Bound.
I wish I was, Homeward bound, Home where my thought's escaping, Home where my music's playing, Home where my love lies waiting Silently for me…
One of the interesting things about Second Life is how it has become “home” for so many of us. At least for me, SL has become more than a second life - it has become a second home where I come at the end of a busy day to spend time with dear friends.
Initially, it did not start out this way. I signed on to SL because I was eager to find out what all the talk was about. With no previous experience in an online role playing situation I had no idea, no clue really, what to expect. Very quickly I became "hooked" to Second Life. And just as quickly as I became attached to my so-called second life I also became quickly, and deeply, attached to people and things in SL.
That is the reason why the other day, while listening to Homeward Bound, I was not surprised to realize that for me the lyrics in Simon and Garfunkel song had come to refer not to an actual, physical place. Instead, as the song played on, the lyrics kept pulling me here, to SL.
Ev'ry day's an endless stream Of cigarettes and magazines. And each town looks the same to me, the movies and the factories And ev'ry stranger's face I see reminds me that I long to be, Homeward bound,
I don’t smoke cigarettes (never have, I am too cheap to burn my money away) and I don’t travel from town to town. But lately, whenever I look at strangers’ faces I am reminded of how much I long to return to SL, to be with my online friends and to visit the places that are now so familiar to me.
Have I really now gone too far down the rabbit’s hole? Have I forfeited my real life for life here, in SL? Time will only tell.
The other Simon and Garfunkel that I have been listening to quite a bit lately is I Am a Rock.
A winter’s day In a deep and dark December; I am alone, Gazing from my window to the streets below On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow. I am a rock, I am an island. I’ve built walls, A fortress deep and mighty, That none may penetrate. I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain. Its laughter and its loving I disdain. I am a rock, I am an island.
Second Life has now become one of most widely used Internet social networks. The reasons are easy to see. Unlike other Internet social networks, SL provides a rich graphical interface and, through the ability to shape our own unique on-line experience, we can transcend the limitations of text-only social networks.
The ability to create an avi that can be seen and touched by others has its own perils, however. Our in-world selves, our avis, are subject to the same range of human emotions, including heartbreak and loneliness, that our RL selves are subject to. As we live our in-world lives, our brains may tell us that we are mere pixels on a computer monitor. Our hearts, however, often disregard the signals coming from the brain and plunge headlong into the heights (and lows) of love.
What can we do to protect ourselves? Do we even want to protect ourselves? I don’t know - I don’t have the answers. Building walls around ourselves, or hiding behind a computer screen, may provide temporary protection. In the long run, however, we cannot hide forever behind the comfort provided by our SL avis. So what is the answer? Heck if I know!
I have my books And my poetry to protect me; I am shielded in my armor, Hiding in my room, safe within my womb. I touch no one and no one touches me. I am a rock, I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain; And an island never cries.
Here, for your visual and listening pleasure, are Simon and Garfunkel’s Homeward Bound and I Am a Rock – I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Homeward Bound (from the historic 1967 Monterey, California concert)
I Am a Rock (I can't believe these guys were once so young and cute!)
One final note: Sunday was my best friend’s birthday. She has been my spiritual counselor, my sounding board, my advisor, my home’s designer and builder and my homeless shelter chief builder (the only builder really). She has listened to me when I was happy, flying as high as a kite and she has listened to me when I was so far down the dumps that bottom looked like “up.” We don’t always see eye to eye on everything; in fact on many issues we will NEVER see eye to eye. I call her a Dutch Bolshevik and she fires right back and calls me a spoiled America princess. I call her crazy and she calls me nuts. I call her my best friend in SL and she smiles, and tells me that I am her best friend too.
I call her love, I call her wise, and I call her kind and generous. I call her Yucca!
Here are some musical selections, for a lazy Sunday afternnon.
First, for all Australians in Second Life (and for all the Australians that now call California home). Happy Australia Day Mate!
Waltzing Matilda
Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper (live version)
Simon and Garfunkel - A Hazy Shade of Winter
Compare the Simon and Garfunkel version to a later cover by The Bangles (try to figure out which line The Bangles omitted from their version)
Sugarloaf - Green Eyed Lady - the video clip is not the best :-(
Naked Eyes - Always Something There to Remind Me (one of my faves)
And, finally, something to dance to. Take off your shoes, put your hair up, kick up your heels and move to some classic Cuban music. It helps if you hold a shot glass of Havana Club rum in one hand and a fine Cuban cigar in the other.
Buena Vista Social Club - El Cuarto de Tula (This song is slighty naughty, Tula is one hot Cuban girl. She can set a room on fire by just walking in!)
Recently I have been feeling a little blue. This morning, at the suggestion of a certain Canadian moose I got out of the house and took a drive. (I bet you didn't know that moose could talk, eh? Well, this is a very smart and wise moose and he talks to me all the time. Not only does he talk to me, he actually makes sense - most of the time anyway.)
So I decided to listen to the moose - I jumped into my car, lowered all the windows, opened the sunroof, turned the stereo full blast and headed out for my favorite spot on the Pacific Coast Highway. As the miles rolled past the car's odometer and I got closer to to the beautiful Pacific Ocean I began to feel my spirits lift and my blue funk began to slowly fade away.
I parked by a rocky outpost called Point Mugu and I stared out the car window, taking in the feel of the fresh, crisp air. There is something magical about the feel of waves rolling in and crashing against the shoreline. It is like the soothing sound of a mother's lullaby calming a restless baby.
I got out of the car and I was immediately greeted by the cries of seagulls flying overhead. I looked up and one of the seagulls looked down at me and I swear the winged rascal winked at me, almost as if saying: "Welcome to our playground."
I did the only logical thing, I winked back at the seagull and told him, "Thanks for the welcome!" Then I quickly looked around to make sure that no one else had actually seen me talking to the seagull. As much as California is often referred to as the land of nuts and fruits, even here talking to seagulls can get you a one-way ticket to the local mental hospital.
After that little bird-talking incident, I grabbed my trusty Canon and snapped a few pictures to share with you. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed taking them.
When I first parked my car, the clouds hung low over the mountains that border the coast line.
Then the clouds turned really dark and ominous.
Slowly, however, the skies turned lighter.
This spot has been featured in many television commercials and movies. In fact, Jay Leno was filming "something." I saw him driving a small, blue Cobra sports car.
The something really nice happened - a school of dolphins showed up. To ancient sailors dolphins meant good luck (because land was near). Dolphins always manage to bring a smile to my face.
Finally, my friend the talking seagull.
I am sure glad that I listened to the talking moose and got out for a drive to the coast.
