90 Minutes With a Living Legend

It was about 6 weeks ago that I opened my e-mail box and read the header on one of the items - Tickets for Tony Bennett on sale tomorrow at 12 noon. I had just seen this living legend about a year and a half ago, but Be had missed the performance. So, at about 11:00 the next day, I did a speed walk (I had just started Weight Watchers) over to Hard Rock Live to buy tickets (and save the Ticketmaster charges). THe venue is right out my back door and I arrived at the box office by 11:40 - had the pick of the seats when it opened. Meanwhile, we received Joanna Mei's referral and got busy with that, and the show just about slipped by when I discovered the tickets in my desk the day previous ....... how fine it was. Here is the review from the Orlando Sentinel .........

Tony Bennett delivered a good one-liner early in his show Friday at Hard Rock Live about how he and Rosemary Clooney "were the first American Idols," back in the big-band era.
Watching Bennett’s masterful performance of timeless standards with his skillful and inventive quartet, it’s obvious that today’s crop of pop singers could learn something from the old man.
On a range of material representing the giants of American composers, Bennett showed that the power of a song isn’t directly related to the number of high notes that you can cram into one measure.
Instead, his expressive style revolves around nuances: The weathered crack at the edge of a phrase or the almost whispered cadence of a verse that ultimately opens into a big, bold crescendo. Combine that skill, with a versatile crew musicians and timeless songs and the result is an exceptional evening where the only flaw was that it ended too soon.

In just under 90 minutes — without an encore, although the audience clamored for one — Bennett hit all the essentials: "Just In Time," Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "The Best Is Yet to Come," "I Got Rhythm," "The Way You Look Tonight," "For Once In My Life" and, of course, the signature "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."
He also reminded the crowd of the subtle charms of other tunes, such as the dramatic slow build of "Maybe This Time" and the frisky rhythms of "They All Laughed."
Although Bennett has done these songs thousands of times, there was a freshness to the performances that stemmed from the creative influence of his band.
Pianist Lee Musiker, bassist Paul Langosch, drummer Harold Jones and guitarist Gray Sargent were given ample turns in the spotlight. The reward was a set that elevated the songs and yielded an intimacy that was almost like a living-room jam session.
The pinnacle of the band’s contribution was the round of solos that ignited a breakneck run through Duke Ellington’s "It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)."
Bennett followed it with an impressive "Fly Me to the Moon" that he performed without a microphone, accompanied only by Sargent’s soft guitar.
Like much of his singing, it asserted its brilliance in a quiet way that makes Bennett a genuine American idol -- if not a flashy one..

70 Year Old Man in Tights

EPCOT's next offering in the Flower Power Concert Series was Paul Revere and the Raiders. Dick Clark was the man behind the concept of a band dressed in the revolutionary war garb as an answer to the British pop invasion of the mid 60s. The esentially became the first 'concept' band where the character of the group was 'themed'.

Paul Revere (keyboardist) and Mark Lindsey (singer & producer) were the project's recognizeable members, however Lindsey departed the band in 1975. Revere continued recruiting new members and added slapstick comedy and synchronized dance steps, elements which still exist today in the current lineup which includes 3 members from a 70s reincarnation, Darren Medley (Bill Medley's son) and Revere.

They kept the party going during their 30 minute set which included "Kicks", "Just Like Me", "Good Thing", Hungry" and "Indian Reservation". Despite their AARP status, the Raiders were quite agile and ready to do a good show. They have never disappointed - except last year when Revere had surgery on his shoulder and did the show anyway - guess we can cut him some slack.

Not Bad for 76

When you're alone and life is making you lonely, you can always listen to a Petula Clark recording. A child star in England during the World War II years, Petula achieved a tremendous level of fame in the 1960s with such pop hits as "Downtown," "I Know a Place," and "Don't Sleep in the Subway" ..... and she did as many of her hits as she could cram into her 30 minute set at EPCOT's Flower Power Concert Series. At 76, she was most remarkable in her stage presence and ability to sell songs 40 years old like they were current hits.
Backed up by a 10 piece band (our drummer at church played the concert for her and he said that she is a real kick to hang out with between shows), she gave the players a break when she sat at the piano and sang a smokey jazz lounge version of The Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand". She had a few pitchy things going on during this quiter number, but I gotta remember - she's 76!
Some other songs she included were "My Love", "Who Am I?", "A Sign of the Times" and "This Is My Song". Liked it so much, I stayed for the second show (same songs) as the music brought me back to some good times and resurrected some pleasant memories.

We Have A Winner!

May we have a drum roll, please ........ Be, please elevate the official contest mixing bowl ....... a stunned hush comes over the crowd (Diva was sleeping soundly, and the cat retreated under the bed, so it qualifies as a stunned hush) ....... and the winner of the 100% polyester Wine Bottle Jacket is ..... Gail and Loren from "My Answered Prayers".

Gail & Loren, you have 3 years to forward your mailing address to us at duoloco@cfl.rr.com - we'll mail it out to you as soon as we feel like it - thank you for entering this 'one of a kind' drawing, and even if you didn't win, just draw a picture of a ladybug or the Great Wall of China on a paper bag and cover up your wine - we tried it - it works just as well.

Next month's contest will be posted within the week - we can just feel the anticipation mounting .......

Not Your Prettiest Lookin' Band

Canadian imports, The Guess Who, rock n' rolled into EPCOT's Flower Power Concert Series and opened the event with a bang. Two of the original members from the 60s still participate in this band of aging rockers whose mission it was to throw a party and ensure that the audience had a good time. Their lead singer, Carl Dixon (in the pic, the guy with then good hair), sings every lick of the old recordings featuring Randy Bachman and sounds hauntingly like him. The 30 minute set included "Shakin' All Over" (their first hit), "Laughing", "No Time", "These Eyes", "Undun", & "American Woman".

The band sent the younger members, on guitars, running out into the audience and had the crowd going wild and singing along with their many hits. Several even snapped pics of themselves with a band member during a few longer instrumental jams. A VERY fun time!

More on other bands as the series progresses. A total of 20 GeeserRockers will perform up until the end of the festival during the first week in June.

What I Also Did for Love - Part 2

....... so today it's been 21 days since I started on Weight Watchers - it's supposed to be a target time period for bridging into a new lifestyle. We'll see. This Michelin TireMan Wannabe has cut down on portions of all his favorite happy crap (the term our meeting instructor/cheerleader has assigned to all the things one should not eat) but continues to reach for the second portion as if guided by some unseen force. Could it be Satan? (I'm hearing Church Lady in my head again.) Have experienced success in resisting temptation all but 2 times - there was no holding me back from the dessert choices while dining with friends on as many occasions.So, first week, I lost more than the official WW guidelines and I'm thinking They're liable to make an example of me. What will they do? Stuff a couple of Krispy Kremes in my mouth? Those ladies don't like the guys losing more weight than them. So I ended up slugging down about 16 ounces of water before the meeting and I wore my hiking boots for the weigh-in. Whew! I slid by......

I sit down at the meeting in the back row. I hope they don't use any intimidation techniques. I already know those from working at the airport. The instructor, a 50ish Susanne Sommers type, begins with some kind of chant - like a field holler - where she says something about losing weight and all in the room answer with a resounding "Yes!" Oy, what have I gotten myself into?" Then came a short instruction followed by "Celebration Time" where you're supposed to broadcast to the class how much weight you've lost. Yikes! I'm thinkin' I really gotta pee. The 16 ounces of extra water in my system had run it's course and it wanted out! If I get up now, will it call attention to myself? After 5 minutes or so of debating whether to pee or not (I didn't hear a word that Suzanne Sommers said during the time I deliberated) I decided You're a big ol' 240 pound dude. You can take it. The meeting kept going as my heart raced and sweat poured down my front as I exited the crowded meeting area for the men's room. Whew! Made it out of there without a hitch. I must have stood there for 3 minutes until I finally peed, I was so stressed.

Here's an interesting tidbit - on their new 'points' program, you can deduct activity points (up to 4 per day) for having - sex. That's right. 1 for low intensity, 2 for moderate, 4 for high intensity for each 20 minute workout. Zippadeedoodah! Sure beats speed walking with Diva!

So, as of today, I'm down from 243 to 236.4 - a loss of 6.6 pounds eating what I want, only less of it.

Part 3 coming up - when I hit the 10# mark ....... to be continued.

Catholic Elementary Bible Exam

Can you imagine yourself to be the nun that is sitting at her desk grading these papers all the while trying to keep a straight face and maintaining her composure!

PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS!

IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST. KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.

1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.

2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE.
NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.

3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.

4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.

5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.

6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.

7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS

8. THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.

10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.

11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.

12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.

13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.

14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.

15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.

16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.

17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION. 18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.

19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.

20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.

21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.

22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.

23. ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.

24. ST. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.

25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.

The Gopher Tortoise - Another Resident of Shadow Bay Park

Within earshot of tennis balls being projected off the rackets of would be Pete Samprases and Chris Everettes, is the pine flats environment of the Gopher Tortoise. The slow moving creatures don't seem to mind being in such close proximity to the tennis courts at Shadow Bay Park and they shouldn't - the area is a protected and harassing the creatures carries a stiff penalty by Florida law.

The park is a favorite of mine for speed walks with the Diva dog. I choose the primitive walks to the paved ones as they offer glimpses of old Florida, before the developers moved in and plowed down nature for strip malls and gated communities. In the process, the Gopher Tortoise is close to becoming endangered. We encounter about 5 'regulars' on our walks. One of them measures 11" or so from head to tail and we call him 'Max'. "Tortolini' is one of the smaller guys, measuring about 7", and the guy pictured above is "Shrek", so named because his borrough is reminiscent of the lair of the famous cartoon ogre. In the pic below, you can see him retreating at our approach on one of our walks. Surprizingly, the Gopher Tortoise is not beyond sharing his accommodations with other woodland creatures - rats, snakes and other assorted small wildlife inhabit it's domain.

Hit the hyperlinks for more on the Gopher Tortoise and Shadow Bay Park.

In and Around ------ Paris

We fell in love with the city of Paris when we visited some wonderful friends back in 2002.

After they picked us up at the airport, they helped us adjust to the time change by taking us to some of the tourist high points of the city before returning to their home that evening.

The trip is etched in our minds still today.

Click on the pic to enlarge.

Be & Don at the Arc de Triomphe.

We waited 5 minutes or so to snap this pic absent of traffic and crowds.

The Seine River as seen from a bridge adjacent to Notre Dame.
The hyperlink takes you to a page displaying the river in familiar artwork of
Van Gough, Monet & Renoir.


Stained glass in Notre Dame Cathedral.


The Eiffel Tower as seen from Montmartre.

Love this pic of Be on a Paris side street.

The Place de la Concorde Luxor Oblisque.

I ran madly around the busy intersection in the rain

looking for the right space to line up this shot.

With PhotoShop, I converted it to black and white, added the tint and

painted the top of the oblisque gold to match the actual monument.

The Library at Chateau Fountainbleau, about 45 miles south of Paris.

I love the perspective, lighting and subject of this "walk by shot".

No PhotoShop was used.

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The pics below were shot in the quaint village of Moret sur Loing, 50 miles southest of Paris.

Castle on the Loing River.

Snapped in late afternoon - no PhotoShop used.

My favorite - tinted and titled with PhotoShop.

Win a Beautiful Oriental Wine Bottle Jacket

Welcome over here to "The Other Blog - Content: Questionable"

Many have been following our adoption journey on "Pregnancy by Adoption". To celebrate (I use that term loosely) our 24 month LIDiversary, (24 months of waiting for further word on our progress) we are giving away the wine bottle jacket pictured. Made of totally natural 100% polyester, the jacket, in a muted heather green is delicately accented with 2 small bows in contrasting burnt gold (the color, not the precious metal) and is in the shape of a traditional Oriental 'happy coat'.
The drawing will take place on March 24, our 24 month LIDiversary. Don may even put on some pants for the event.
To win this finely crafted piece, hit the comment blob and leave a comment indicating you'd like to be included in the drawing - we'll put names in a hat (well, probably a mixing bowl) and contact the winner by e-mail for their mailing address. While you're here at The Other Blog, enjoy the pics of Paris & vicinity and St. Augustine.

FYI - wine and Diva not included.