A SCOTS BLUFF-HAWKE MAKES BLUE-AND TO THE BRIDE!

Like a Scot's Wind

  English, Scots, Irish and a blend of Brit genealogies have  settled in Cambria and on the central coast. 

  Windswept bluffs and plenty of room to ramble are appealing and familiar.

   Legroom with views.

 

   Expansive heath where land joins sea.

   Wind and surf in chorus.

     This area "speaks" to some of our DNA.

Born To Be Blue
will make you blue

    Chet Baker is one of those great talents who let demons direct his life and Born To Be Blue, currently in release, is an artful film that tells the story very well.  

     Ethan Hawke, who studied the trumpet and who sang, turns in a superb performance capturing the genius and torture of Chet Baker. Baker was a better singer than Hawke but the entire score and musical ambiance of the film is masterful. Cool and blue jazz and the essence of mellow.The film ventures into a little bop, thanks to the Dizzy Gillespie shading in the plot. Then there is Miles Davis and the script's hint that Baker was pained to get Mile's respect, even to the point of destructive behavior.

     Hawke is good throughout, but the scene where he stares into the mirror in the dressing room at Birdland while fighting with himself about whether to take methadone or to fire up a fix of smack is riveting and is the distilled crux of the story. Born To Be Blue is directed by Canadian Robert Budreau who has made award winning shorts. Brit Carmen Ejogo is excellent in her double role as Elaine and Jane.

     It is an art film, playing in limited distribution about a tortured artist who lived to play the trumpet and shoot heroin, so you won't leave with a smile. It's not for everyone, but if you like Baker's music, Jazz, good story telling and excellent acting it's a good 90 some minutes. Hard to beat the music.

                           

Happy Anniversary

   After all these years you are still my beautiful bride

and I'm more in love every day. 

A Sweet Finale

    Giovanni the maestro at Harmony Cafe at the Pewter Plough does many things well including his own take on Zucatto. This was a recent "experiment."  We lab animals were swooning very quickly after this photo. "Heavenly" was a consensus.

     See you down the trail.

THE MAN FROM VIRGINIA

ANOTHER VIEW OF 

"THE FATHER OF AMERICA"

     I wonder what George Washington would say about the McAuliffe and Cuccinelli race for Governor in his home state.  

    Not far from these peaceful Virginia settings are ever present yard signs of the campaign battle. 

    Million$ have been spent on a nasty media war in Virginia.  So I come back to George and wonder.

    We can see Washington through another lens than the iconic and idealized view we get from our American history lessons.

    Washington was a member of the Masonic order and he is memorialized in that more personal way in Alexandria Va.

    The Washington Masonic Memorial was started in 1922 and completed in 1970. Washington's personal life is curated as is his role in the Masons.

    One of the fascinating artifacts is the clock that sat at his bed side.  It was stopped and the mechanism disabled by his attending physician at the exact moment of his death December 14, 1799.

   I learned that our powerful French friend and ally, the Marquis de Lafayette was also a member of the Masonic order.

     The 331 foot memorial also affords one of the grand views of Washington DC.

 There is probably no aspect of American government over which Washington does not cast a legacy shadow.

    To read and see evidence of his participation as a member of a fraternal society and to see pieces of his life is to make him more human and, to my thinking, even more of an extraordinary man.
    To know of his personal and financial struggles and weigh those against his contributions to our founding struggles and  his precedent setting behavior as our first Chief Executive  is to gain a view of a man who indeed looms large over those who occupy or seek power.
    We are told there were many times when he simply wanted to retire to his Mt Vernon estate and seek the peace of the country side.
     When my Scots ancestors left Renfrew they landed in Virginia and some of the clan have remained. Some served in the Virgina regimental line and there is a family pride they served with Washington.

   The Virginia Governor's race is being watched around the world, called an important barometer of America's mood. But what a different mood and depth of issues that face us now than when Washington led us into this new experience of a democratic republic.

     And what a different quality of man and woman.  

    What might George say,were you to come along side as he sat contemplating pristine beauty?  Do you think any of our current leaders will be memorialized?

     See you down the trail.

NEW YEAR

A GLIMMER

       This is the second cup of adrenaline laced hope in this great season.  A week after Christmas and the season of joy comes the New Year, the makeover of all makeovers, when all that is hoped for is possible, at least for this season and sometimes that is good enough to create momentum.

       Dream it now, and in the winter to come, do it.

FOR OLD TIMES

       Excuse me as my Scots blood turns me to sentimental recall of Robert Burns anthem

       "...and there's a trusty hand my friend 

       and give us a hand of thine!

       and we'll take a right good will draught,

       for auld lang syne."

       Linking here to last year's post with 6 versions of Auld Lang Syne

       Take your choice of style, just have a happy ending and joyous beginning.

       Thank you for your readership this year.

       Be safe and be well.

       See you down the trail.

THE YEAR ENDER :) BE OF GOOD CHEER

WE'LL TAKE A CUP OF KINDNESS YET
It is only appropriate THE WEEKENDER :)
make way for this YEAR ENDER :)
and permit you to have it your own way.
First-NEW FACES ON AN OLD TUNE

The Scots blood in me body compels me thus.
Begin the new year with Robert Burns classic.
Your choice. Or a wee dram of them all-
ENJOY
Instrumental

Traditional

Sinatra and Martin

Smooth Jazz

With Pipes

Thanks for making LightBreezes part of
2011.  I look forward to continuing our 
relationship.
Here's to your health and happiness in 2012.
See you down the trail.