Showing posts with label cats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cats. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

"TUESDAY AFTERNOON" on Tuesday Afternoon

Did you ever have one of those mornings, you know, the kind where you sleep in after having worked quite late, and when you finally do rise and walk past the spare room (where the cats have their gear), you discover the carpeting is soaked and there’s a big wet patch on the ceiling, so you run to the kitchen to get a pan, meanwhile all four cats start ragging on you because they’re really hungry, but then they don’t want to eat once you do put their food out because the bowls aren’t in the place where they usually are (all cats have OCD, in case you didn’t know…) because you moved them so they wouldn’t float away, and they’re also upset because you’re racing around with towels and that useless little Bissel steamer (this leak needs the industrial strength model), and you're tripping over cats, cats are flying everywhere, and you’re also using a few of those words that you are going to have to but change in the jar for later, and…well, have you ever had one of those?

So now several hours later, the Heating and Cooling guy has been and gone, after fixing the A/C unit (plugged drainage tube, not too expensive). Later, the carpet cleaner guy is coming by to spray anti-mildew stuff on the carpet and suck up more water, in hopes of saving the carpet. Don’t want to have to replace that! And the ceiling will need to be repainted, at the very least. No other damage, thank goodness. Why did the AC leak through the ceiling you ask? Because the furnace is in the attic, silly. Actually, that’s not all that uncommon in these little cottage-y houses along the lakeshore, with no basement. Oh well, when you’ve done all you can do, then you've can only relax, close your eyes – no don’t do that, it’s a really beautiful video! – and listen to the Moody Blues.

Tuesday Afternoon

This song has just about more title variations than you can shake the proverbial stick at. Part of the Moodies brilliant concept album, Days of Future Passed, it’s been known as “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?),” and “Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon).” I think they are all very nice. “Tuesday Afternoon” was released as a single in 1968, as was the other famous single from the album, “Nights in White Satin.” Composer Justin Hayward said he wrote “Tuesday Afternoon” as he was sitting in a field near his home in England, on a beautiful afternoon. But probably not after running around all morning with wet towels.

Friday, May 9, 2008

FEATURE SONG: WALKING MY CAT NAMED DOG by NORMA TANEGA

Where were you in 1966? If it was within earshot of a radio, you might have been listening to this little one-hit-wonder. It's what I call an "amblin' song." An amblin' song is one that makes you get out of your chair, and go outside to dig the day, just the same way hearing a good road song makes you want to fire up your vehicle and follow those white lines. Other motivativational amblin' songs (for me anyway) are "Daydream" by the Lovin' Spoonful, "Go Where You Wanna Go" by the Mamas and Papas, and a few John Denver songs. I see amblin' as a nice free-form saunter. Maybe even some discreet finger-poppin' could be added. Remember Mr. Natural's Keep on Truckin'? (see photo) Kinda like that.

Now, much of the appeal of this song is thanks to the mental image we get of a cat named "Dog" being walked on a leash, just like a...well, a dog. Like many of you, I have had both dogs and cats over the years, and even took my cat out on a leash once, and can vouch for the fact that, generally speaking, a dog is way easier to take for a walkies than a cat. To further illustrate my point, I have a neighbor who regularly took her cat for walks on a leash. The cat was so enthused, he would immediately lie down on his side and go totally limp (but then, his name was Backpack, so perhaps he had expectations of being carried aloft all the time...) Well, whatever your experience is with canines and felines, this song is fun to listen to.

A few facts on Norma Tanega are in order. Norma was born in 1939 in California, to Filipino parents. Although she had a strong musical background, and lots of parental and peer encouragement, her career never quite took off. But she has remained involved in music and art over the years. Here's her website if you want to check it out. http://normatanega.com/artist%20bio.htm Meanwhile, have a listen and an amble down memory lane. And, FYI, Norma did have a cat, and it's name was "Dog." No mention of whether or not she had to drag it along the ground like my neighbor...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPZVrmJ2HH8

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

TODAY IS "ANSWER YOUR CAT'S QUESTIONS DAY"

Yup, that's what is says on this crazy website I found that lists weird holidays and commemorative days - and the "normal" ones too. When I read it was Answer Your Cat's Questions Day, several questions of my own arose: Where did such a day come from? How many people actually celebrate this day? Do cats truly have questions? (other than when do we eat? of course) If we are to go by the look on Pearl's face (that's her in the picture) I think she might be thinking something like "We don't need no stinking answers!" I imagine she'd think it in a sneering bandito voice, too. So, make of this holiday what you will. I do not question the validity of information I found, but simply pass it along to you "for what it's worth." And here's some fun music to go with...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-jOjK003Yk
A very short commercial for diamonds. It's here because the music is a song written by Cat Stevens, and sung by Cat Power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ860P4iTaM
Nora at the piano. You probably got this one in an email already, but always fun to watch. I wonder what questions she might have...?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30W3iRL48gQ
"For what it's worth"