I'm not braggin but...

Do I have a beautiful grandson or WHAT?!  Ok, I am braggin. :)

For more pics of this cutie pie, click here:
http://gottalovejude.blogspot.com/

By the bed, by the light that you read by...

Far Far Away is probably my favorite Wilco song and here singing it is a young Jeff Tweedy, along with Wilco bandmate, John Stirrat, (from Uncle Tupelo days), Ken Coomer, one or two musicians I don't recognize, and last but not least the late Jay Bennett. I never tire of hearing this song of mournful longing.



Far, far away
From those city lights
That might be shining on you tonight
Far, far away from you
On the dark side of the moon

I long to hold you in my arms and sway
Kiss and ride on the CTA
I need to see you tonight
And those bright lights
Oh, I know it's right
Deep in my heart
I'll know it's right

By the bed, by the light that you read by
By the time that I get home to say good night
I need to see you again
On the dark side my friend
On the dark side

Play it again Sam


Wilco today (left to right)
Nels Cline, Pat Sansone, Mikael Jorgensen, Glenn Kotche, Jeff Tweedy, and John Stirratt

The three J's

My dad Jesse, my son Jake, and my grandson Jude. The three J's I like to call 'em. They're all part of the past, present, and future. From one generation to the next to all the generations to come a piece of each will continue to live on in the other. Knowing that is possible and knowing that is true means the world to me.

















Happy Anniversary WS

A year ago today I began this blog as a way to document moments in time, record memories, and be able in a sense to return and relive them whenever I wanted. And, for someone whose memory can stand a little jogging now and then a blog or any other manner of keeping memories alive is a really good thing. In trying to come up with a name for my site I remembered the lyrics of one of my favorite songs, Magnolia, hence the name Whippoorwill's Singing.

Magnolia, a song of simple lyrics but deep meaning was written by JJ Cale and recorded wonderfully by Poco. I dearly love the song and a one year anniversary seems like as good an excuse as any to listen to it again. 



Click below for the original post of a year ago.
http://whippoorwillsinging.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-whippoorwills-singing.html

A book for mom

Big thanks to Mandy for spending countless hours at her computer creating the lovely photo book below (and suffering through an optical migraine because of it). You did a GREAT job Mandy! Can't wait to see Grandma's face at the party when she sees it...she's gonna love it!!

Click here to view this photo book larger

My kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder

Those words and the meaning behind them get me every time. Crossing the bridge into work this morning I turned on the radio just in time to hear KDHX's Roy Kasten play my favorite Jeff Buckley song "Lover, You Should've Come Over".  OMG, how I love that song...and the man who sings it! Jeff Buckley had a voice like no other and when I hear him sing I always think of all the beautiful music we've surely missed out on.
So much talent, so much grace.

Lover, You Should've Come Over - Live in Chicago 1995


Other Jeff Buckley favorites




One of many mini documentaries on Jeff Buckley

a fun Friday with Jude

The fun began Friday afternoon with Jude accompanying Mark and I to Chava's Mexican Restaurant in Soulard. Quite naturally, he was a big hit with the ladies (and no Mark I'm not talking about you). After being ewed, awed and made over by the waitresses Jude settled down to his usual dinner of green beans while Mark and I enjoyed our favorite flash fried tacos dish, the De Guadalajara. Yum, Chavas is the BEST mexican restaurant around. And that Jude? He's the BEST grandson around!!

Chavas Mexican Restaurant in Soulard

Chavas was a little chilly but Jude was snug as a bug

hanging out after dinner with Jude keeping a wary eye on Lucy

Super baby! The BEST grandbaby around!

someone looks a little sleepy (and it's not Jude) :-)

http://chavasmexican.com/

Settled down like rain

Seeing The Jayhawks in Chicago last Friday was just what I expected... wonderful! I couldn't have asked for anything more. Long time fans from far away places came to see them perform for their second night at the Vic Theater. The Jayhawks are a band that began their journey together long ago and a band that many never expected to play as a band again but as Gary Louris himself said recently "We're not a museum piece...but a living, breathing unit that still feels like it's on its game and can make a great record that stands next to the other ones." And as to why the band decided to play as a living, breathing unit once again...he had this to say "We realized we were still a great band." I love that and I hope they continue to realize they're still a great band.

Mark put it into words best Friday night when he said listening to the Jayhawks is like listening to one voice. And I thought yeah that's exactly it. That's what it is about this band. And it's not that singer/ songwriters Mark Olson and Gary Louris' voices sound the same. They don't. It's the way their voices complement and blend so harmoniously together that turns their distinct voices into one. One would never be the same or complete without the other. And I for one am so very happy to hear them together again.

The video below includes images from Chicago, along with the Jayhawks song "Settled Down Like Rain", and, what an appropriate name for the song I think as hearing it tends to settle me down, not unlike a calm gentle rain.

"Over My Shoulder" followed by Grand Funk Railroad's "Bad Time"

"Tampa to Tulsa" (performed by drummer Tim O'Reagan)

A recent article about the Jayhawks:
http://www.suntimes.com/mobile/3300679-463/louris-olson-jayhawks-band-jan.html

January Recap

Bye bye January, hello February. Boy oh boy, this has been some winter so far... lots of cold, lots of snow, lots of days off for teachers... which brings to mind a question I've been asking myself lately. Why am I not a teacher? Oh well, in spite of the wintery weather (and Emily rubbing it in when I have to go to work and she doesn't) January was, minus a mishap or two, all in all a pretty good month.