Pineapple Princess! Annette Funicello!

I'm putting aside all thoughts of impending geopolitical gloom 'n'doom [ well, for a moment... ] whilst recalling the good ol' clueless days of Summer!

This song stuck in my mind from waaaay back, when I was a pre-bikini'd, four-eyed "dork", who wanted to grow up to be as glamorous as Annette Funicello! The hair! The boobies! The men going ape-sh*t as she oils up "Moon-doggie" with suntan oil in that positively, sexy, see-through, white fishnet bathing suit!

BLAST-OFF! IT"S SUMMER!

 The Beach Boys sing Surfin' U.S.A. [1964]

Even though it is claimed to be Chuck Berry's melody (thanks Chuck!), the Beach Boys made this song into an American rock'n'roll classic!  Listening to music performed live, as it used to be, makes one appreciate their raw talent. Another Beach Boys classic was,  Fun,Fun,Fun !  All I can say is, kids, put down your iPhone /Blackberry/what-cha-ma-callit, stop texting for a moment, go outside and enjoy your Summer!                                                                                       

Still crying...

Craphead Genius Phil Spector Sentenced "19 to Life"

and deserves every bit of it ...but that "Wall of Sound" by the Ronettes will live forever!  

My sister Ericka and I had similar pairs of those "go-go boots" and I know we thought we looked pretty "Boss" in them!  Never could get my flat hair to poof-up like that though...

R.I.P. Ericka Kascher 1954-2009

The Sunflower-William Blake

"Ah, Sunflower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the sun;
Seeking after that sweet golden clime,
Where the traveller's journal done;
Where the youth pined away with desire,
And the pale virgin shrouded in snow,
Arise from their graves, and aspire
Where my Sunflower wishes to go!"



Helene Grimaud Bach: Chaconne in D minor, 1st movement

Goodbye....

Here's another film that my son, Michael, crafted for a class assignment. He chose a location/setting that is close to his heart; his Grandfather's ranch, in Clearlake, CA. I think my father would have enjoyed seeing this very much.

Happy Mother's Day! Big Mama Thorton Sings It!

Big Mama Thorton belts it out like a good Mama should! Buddy Guy on guitar (1965).

If Dishes Were Wishes...

I got such a kick out this film-short that my son, Michael made for one of his film classes at San Francisco State University.  After living with a few clueless slobs, he finally gets it!

Volvo-Meets Les Paul ( Guitar)-Meets Ollie Hemmingsson! Go, Ollie,Go!

A couple of month's ago, I discovered Ollie playing violin and guitar with his awesome Volvo tractor.  Many of you may recall taking music lessons and using the oppressive metronome.  The metronome, for those who've never heard of one, helps a musician to practice and keep time. This often leaves little room for overt expression, however, it comforts those whose cultures (like mine) demand adherence to precise time-keeping and offers assurance by its restraints.  Ollie, who is of the Swedish persuasion, has an Osh B'Gosh® ability to play synchronized duets with his farm equipment.  Please... to listen to... the fantastic Mr. Ollie all the way through his video. He starts cookin' after the second set and finishes with a pulsating flourish!

I may get my husband to restore our Cat DII so that I can have someone to play with!

Get Crazy! Celebrate Earth Day...

I love trees just like the next guy. Rocks too. But seriously, what the fuck is wrong with these people? I see....pampered, egocentric and disturbed individuals; products of an over-indulged and egocentric society . Do these guys think they'll get laid if they cry lke a little girl? Do these women think they'll "hook-up" with one of these drum-beating wimps by shrieking like hysterical banshees? Odds are pretty good they will.

Hey, if you think I'm intolerant and harsh, it's my blog, my rant and my politically incorrect opinion.  So there!

*I apologize to my readers for using the F-word, however, as I often told my kids, use that word parsimoniously, as not to minimize its profundity.

Again, I am a lover of trees, nature and I'm a vigilant recycler. These Earth First PETA types are unhinged loonies!

Have a nice day.

Susan Boyle... the 47 Year-Old UK Singing Sensation!

Here's a story that will inspire anyone who may harbor the feeling that, they're too old or too whatever to pursue their dream.
47 year-old Susan Boyle shocked Great Britain last week in the "Britain's Got Talent 2009" contest. The never-been-married, never-been-kissed, unemployed matron, whose dream of performing in front of a large audience, courageously stood in front of a cynical and critical audience and belted out the performance of her lifetime.
She said she wanted to make the audience rock.
They certainly did:

Susan Boyle on Britain Got Talent

Here's Susan Boyle singing Cry Me A River in 1999 for a charity CD, which only sold 1,000 copies.

Good Morning

Italian/Swiss Spring Harvest

That's as far as I'll go with an April Fool's joke. When I was a kid, my dad would wake me up every April First and tell me that it was snowing! And every year I'd scramble out of my bed and run to the window, throw open the curtains with great anticipation, only to find that I'd been duped. The San Francisco Bay Area only gets occasional snow; maybe once every ten or fifteen years. But the big question remains. Why did I fall for the ruse every year! Duhhhhhh......

Pismo Beach, California in March

Some people may think that we're crazy for living in California, what with the potential earthquakes and human disasters; so-called fruits and nuts", however, you can't beat the weather most of the year.  Even in the Northern part of the state, where, believe-it- or-not, it snows, it is only a temporary occurrence.

                                                              Silver Sunset

                                                    photos by Karin Kascher ©2009

Friday Night Listening Pleasure...

The Gypsy Kings: Hotel California

The Rite Of Spring!

photo: Karin Kascher © 2009

Here are two divergent homages to the Rite of Spring.  The first is a photo that I surreptitiously photographed on my mother's porch.  I call it, Spring Love on Astro Turf®.

The video below is a brilliant performance of the The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps), Part IV (Glorification de l'Elue through Rituelle des ancestres), by one of my favorite composers, the audacious Igor Stravinsky and performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, October 23, 2003

To hear one the other four movements, you can click on the YouTube Icon and choose. They're all terrific!

Saturday Night with Amy Winehouse! Raw!

This woman is an unbelievable powerhouse of talent and soul!  Before I actually heard Amy Winehouse sing, I'd only read about her drugged-induced escapades and narrow brushes with the wrong side of the law and paparazzi.  The second video is one in a series of songs whereby she sings in an office without much, if any acoustical accoutrements.  I truly hope that she finds the strength to overcome her demons, because I, for one, am "ga-ga" about her!

I love this woman!

...plus, she mentions Tanqueray® in this song.  Pass the Schweppes® and twist of lime [clink-clink].

Musique Fantastique!

Airstream Travels...

Rolling across the Golden Gate Bridge is always a challenge and towing an Airstream trailer is an added thrill!  

                                   Sunset at Pismo Beach, California

Some of you have asked me about the Airstream Rallies.  Here are a few photos from the California Silver Sisters Rally, March 6-8, 2009 at Pismo Beach, CA, which I

 attended.  As a rule, there are no rules!  We all just get together, eat lots of food, experiment with wine, vodka, gin, tequillia, etc. and talk endlessly about our aluminum trailers and travels.  No two Airstreams are alike! Each owner has decorated the interior to their liking, old or new.  

The newer Airstreams are very cool; many are built with very slick new materials, such as bamboo and LED lighting. Airforum Rallies often have older Airstream models dating back to the 1950's.  Our Airstream is a 25 ft. 1978  International Tradewind and came with all of the brownish 1970's plastic interior.  The outside is the shiny aluminum type and requires regular polishing and sealing.  If you like the vintage Airstreams, they are a lot of work, mainly because all of the electrical/plumbing systems gradually break down, rivets begin to wiggle out and axles need to be checked. But, the reward of travelling in one, makes up for all of the woes!  My husband says we should've named it the "CAN-O-WORMS".

Depression Cooking with Clara

Whenever I hear that we're heading for the next Great Depression I wonder how this generation will cope. Listen and watch as 93 year-old Clara Cannucciari teaches us how to cook a typical meal from her Great Depression family kitchen and recants her stories of the struggles and joys that she experienced as a child. 

Clara's webblog

If you enjoyed this cooking lesson, check out her other videos, which were filmed by her grandson Christopher Cannucciarri.  Her Sicilian Christmas (Cucidati Fig &Nut) cookie episode and her Poor Man's Feast are especially wonderful.  With each video Clara sprinkles her cooking with nuggets of wisdom and honesty about the  hardships of those years, yet she remains  joyful and delighted to share these treasured recipes and memories. What a wonderful spirit!

You can also listen to this song, Blue Moon, written by Rodgers & Hart in 1933 and performed by the great jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli in 1990, with Martin Taylor on guitar and John Burr on string bass.  Talk about cookin'!

Our Sun

Thank you NASA for this incredible photography

This weeks muscal link: Marianne Faithfull- The Ballad of Lucy Jordan