Would you like to feel your heart expand about 10 sizes? Would you like to fill up with high-test love and happiness? I know I love that feeling, when I feel peace and love and hope, when I cry tears of joy, when my heart just feels like it's going to burst out of my chest. Well, I've just spent the morning digging those feelings brought to me courtesy of Haris Blackwood, a very old friend of mine. I met Haris in Tempe, Arizona (where I've met the best people in my whole life). She's a song-writer, singer, musician and humanitarian. She teaches love, compassion, understanding and joy.
I've just listened to her first CD, Gentle Ride, which she recorded in 2002. The album is a lovely mix of Haris' original songs and her favorites from other song-writers. I had tears streaming down my face listening to Don't Laugh at Me by Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin. There's a whole program around this song to teach youngsters about caring and empathy for others. And it's just the sort of thing Haris embraces. Her rendering of From a Distance likewise had me bawling (in a good way). You'll also find Willie Nelson, Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon represented on this album. The three Haris original songs are Gentle Ride, Restless and Ace of Hearts -- all captivating songs. But Haris told me recently she particularly likes Gentle Ride (so do I).
You grab the dogs and I'll make sure there's gas in the car; We'll drive until sunset and sleep wherever we are.
Here's Gentle Ride, have a listen:
This is the CD -- I love this photograph. Now, for those of you fortunate enough to live in Portland (Oregon, of course), you can hear and see her in person. See, this is one of the reasons we've got to get to Portland right away. She's actually playing January 26th at the Plantation House (St. Helen's) and at the Bethany Village Grill on the 30th. Get out there and see her Portland. Bring your friends and make an evening of it!
I really enjoyed Haris' tune. Reminded me of how rich the Tempe Student Child Care years were and how many wonderful people I met, too.
I am trying to remember if I met her once or twice. Haris does not ring a bell, but Patty Blackwood does. I definitely remember meeting a folk singer friend of yours, but am uncertain if it is the same one. Anyhoo, it is so fine she is still carrying on and holding forth. There is something most appealing about the simplicity and easy graciousness of her song and style.
What a delight she now lives in the Portland area. I do hope that you will be on your way soon. I am still casting requests to the house buyers universe.
Hey cm, how cool that you'd seen Seskin. To be honest, I'm not familiar with him (beyond Haris' song). One of the songs on Gentle Ride is about coffee houses. It's called Song of the River Rats by S. Krum. Heard of it? Want it on your blog?
Don't know Reilly & Maloney. I'm truly ignorant as far as the music scene goes, I live under a rock.
To Uncle, yes, Haris is the very same. When we knew her in Tempe, she went by Patty. As soon as we're settled in Portland, you must come and stay and we'll all go out to hear Haris sing!
I am getting ready to make a mix of coffee songs and no, I have not heard this one before. If you'd like to share, I'm all ears. I will be working on it and sending out within the next month sometime.
Seskin was quite funny. I really liked his 1st album then the best.
R&M were folkies, and still play. Same thing, even though we are good friends, their older material is much better. Will post something soon with a song of theirs.
Thanks for the song, I like her easy style. I remember her too!!! As Patty, and she sang this great song about screaming in the car! Why, I dont' remember that part.
To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men. (and women) ~Abraham Lincoln
The principal business of life is to enjoy it. ~Samuel Butler
Laughter is the shortest distance between two people. ~ Victor Borge
Photography
When I was a student at Arizona State University, I studied with Neil Miller. He had studied with and worked for Ansel Adams.
I worked at University City High School in San Diego for about 10 years. I ran the Media Lab and, among other things, I taught my students black and white photography. My first student went on to become one of New York City's finest baby and children photographers. Her name is Donna Padowitz. She took the black and white picture of Kim and I in the post about Kim.
A few years ago I took a workshop with Jay Maisel and I met a wonderful photographer named Joe Schuyler. Joe told me about PODart online gallery, so when I got home I sent them some images (always call your photographs "images" -- they are not "pictures," "pics," or "photos"), they liked them and you can see mine and Joe's in the Landscape & Still Life Photography gallery.
java
Java -- Allison and Carl's kitty cat
Disco (Allison's photo)
White lily
New York flower market
Callas
Oak Alley
You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it. ~Albert Einstein
And on the Eighth day God said the world was funny, and created laughter.
The Two Wolves
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all...
One is Evil. It is anger, fear, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Light poles
There is no chance, no destiny, no fate that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul. ~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox
A morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books. ~ Walt Whitman
Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes. ~Thoreau
Lights in the trees
It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so. ~Mark Twain
Never mistake activity for progress.
Kim holds Miss Liberty
Baja sunflower
Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. ~ William Penn
Never get in a battle of wits without ammunition.
It is astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen. ~ Frances Hodgson Burnett
Bruce and Celia getting married
Reason obeys itself; ignorance submits to what is dictated to it. ~Thomas Paine
The truth is lived, not taught. ~ Hermann Hesse
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you, Deep peace of the shining stars to you, Deep peace of the shades of night to you, Moon and stars always giving light to you. ~ a traditional Gaelic blessing
Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. ~ Mark Twain
As long as one keeps searching, the answers come. ~ Joan Baez
Iris, San Diego garden
Good taste is the enemy of creativity. ~Picasso
Belinda in Ireland
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ~ Aesop
An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy to be called an idea at all. ~Elbert Hubbard
6 comments:
Nice & Thanks for the intro!
BTW, Seskin we used to see on the street and in some clubs in SF in the 70s.
There are many people singing who are much better than most in the PR machine these days!
Do you know of Reilly & Maloney? DM is a friend, stemming from my HS days.
Glad to see you got DS to work for you. Cheers from indy-anna
I really enjoyed Haris' tune. Reminded me of how rich the Tempe Student Child Care years were and how many wonderful people I met, too.
I am trying to remember if I met her once or twice. Haris does not ring a bell, but Patty Blackwood does. I definitely remember meeting a folk singer friend of yours, but am uncertain if it is the same one. Anyhoo, it is so fine she is still carrying on and holding forth. There is something most appealing about the simplicity and easy graciousness of her song and style.
What a delight she now lives in the Portland area. I do hope that you will be on your way soon. I am still casting requests to the house buyers universe.
Hey cm, how cool that you'd seen Seskin. To be honest, I'm not familiar with him (beyond Haris' song).
One of the songs on Gentle Ride is about coffee houses. It's called Song of the River Rats by S. Krum. Heard of it? Want it on your blog?
Don't know Reilly & Maloney. I'm truly ignorant as far as the music scene goes, I live under a rock.
To Uncle, yes, Haris is the very same. When we knew her in Tempe, she went by Patty. As soon as we're settled in Portland, you must come and stay and we'll all go out to hear Haris sing!
I am getting ready to make a mix of coffee songs and no, I have not heard this one before. If you'd like to share, I'm all ears. I will be working on it and sending out within the next month sometime.
Seskin was quite funny. I really liked his 1st album then the best.
R&M were folkies, and still play. Same thing, even though we are good friends, their older material is much better. Will post something soon with a song of theirs.
Thanks for the tune, it's quite nice!
Thanks for the song, I like her easy style. I remember her too!!! As Patty, and she sang this great song about screaming in the car! Why, I dont' remember that part.
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