Every Generation Has Their Own Groove On

I write young adult fiction, and through research of something completely unrelated, I discovered the Millennial Generation.  (Okay so I was asking my nephew questions about friendships between guys and girls today, and he told me about this.)  Like most generations, who these young people are, born roughly between 1980 and 2000, grew organically out of their life experiences.  Most of them heartbreaking and tragic.

Their parent’s spent 90% of their time at work to give them, well, everything.  Then our economy exploded at the end of 2008.  Parents were immediately fired and employers gave themselves four million dollar bonuses.  The Millennial child was told, if not immediately, then eventually, your life is now going to change now; drastically.  

“I’ve just lost my job, your college savings and my retirement,” parent said.  “I’d mortgage my house for you college expenses, however, all the equity I’ve built over the last ten or so years is gone.”

“What did you do wrong?” Child asks.

“Nothing.”

“Why did this happen then?”

“Greed.”

Somewhere during that conversation these children decided that’s not going to happen to them.  They will not stay in a job that don’t like.  Their friends are more important than anything.  They keep in touch with their parents on pretty much a daily basis which is easy because their bedroom is located in their parents home, even after they’ve graduated college.  

Oh yes and their parents are helicopters/overprotective.  The reason for this is 9/11, Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold and Seung-Hui Cho.  Mom and Dad became more protective of them.   They became more aware of the fragility of life.  The fact that friends brothers and sisters came home in a box from The Iraq War, adds to their vulnerability.

All of this makes the idea of 8 to 5, in a job they hate out of the question.  They see no point in living life without passion and love.  

I’m interested to see what their family habits will be as far as finding a spouse and having children of their own.  I wonder if it will be more of a community effort with technology to assist them.  They may not be the richest generation.  I hope from the bottom of my heart that they are the happiest.

Boz Scaggs New "Album" MEMPHIS

Scaggs sang the first lyric from his original song, Gone Baby Gone and my heart sang back, "Hello old friend."  I still heard Lido Shuffle, but in a more grown-up voice.  In a few words, he took me back to high school, yet left me in front of the bathroom mirror, making mascara application a more enjoyable experience.

I can think of twelve people who will disagree with me before I finish this sentence, but since it is my blog, I'm going to say it.  The best decade for music began in the late 60's and carried over through the 70's.  Yes, musically I mostly live in 1979 and prior.  Whenever a new album comes out from one my long ago treasured artists, I'm hopeful that in their lyrics I will find the days of the local records stores.  However, comeback artists often no longer have "it."  I will never write a critical review because even bad art is difficult to make, and someone liked it because it was produced and made available in the open market. Be that as it may, when I do like the new songs from a jewel from my past, I must share.

Mr. Scaggs, (just like Dr. John - see previous post) still has the "it" and like the wine he sells, his voice has grown smoother with time.

The album is a mix of remakes and two new songs.  All however have his signature voice stamped upon them.  The remake of Corrina, Corrina is one of my favorites.  Willy DeVille's Mixed up, Shook Up Girl, is a blend of Reggae, Blues and Soul the way only Scaggs can do.

Learn more about this and other albums, and check on his tour schedule at www.bozscaggs.com.
And just for fun, you can go to his Official Fan club site at www.bozscaggs.org.

How to Paint a Room

It's been much to long since I've written, and as any card carrying sloth can tell you, I have a million excuses.  Some really good ones too.  But, an excuse is just that regardless of how well honed.

My muse shook me today, and while I was sorting through a basket, notes I'd written a while back on painting, I did find.

Many of us sloths (I'm told it's not really about being lazy it's about being terrified) start a project expecting to be complete by the end of the day.  We get up early, have an energizing breakfast and get to work.  I was no different with painting and was wrong, wrong, wrong.  My mistakes are fodder for a short story, but I can condense the "take away" into four, somewhat brief, instructions.

1) Buy painter's tape (I prefer the green Frog Tape, frogtape.com), plastic to cover the floor, good rollers and brushes (Purdy, purdy.com,  are my favorite.  Make sure to check the nap before you purchase any rollers.  The wrong nap will cause you more work.  Also, this website has some excellent video tips), caulking (you can also buy a caulking tool but I think using your index finger works the best).  If your budget allows, you can purchase some smaller art brushes for both hard to get to spaces and to gently cover your mistakes.  Also buy a few disposable paint trays.  They're inexpensive and well worth it.

2)  Go home and do all the "prep" work (WARNING, this takes longer than the actual painting).  Clean your walls which can consist of getting out the broom and "sweep" them the same way you would your kitchen walls. Cover your baseboards as evenly as possible to prevent paint spills.  Also tape along the line where the ceiling meets the wall, along the ceiling side.  These borders will keep paint off, but still be careful not to put too thick a coat around the areas as it will seep through.  Cover your floor with plastic, taping about every two feet or so to keep your floor cover from slipping.

3) Paint.  Be prepared to paint an entire wall before you decide that you hate the color.  Paint chips give an idea of what the color will be.  It's not gospel.

4)  Caulk.  The last step is to caulk the baseboards and around your windows.  It's good preventive maintenance and it gives all your hard work a finished look.

As motivation, please keep in mind that you'll have an amazing sense of accomplish when your friends come over and say, "Really, you did this?"

Happy Holidays

“Happy Holidays” is a politically correct term that makes me physically sick.  It has arrived in the American vernacular in an attempt to offend no one.  Oh how it deeply offends me.  I’m a Christian.  Christmas is about the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  I have Jewish friends.  Their holiday, Hanukkah/Chanukah, is about the Maccabean Revolt against the Greeks in 2nd century BC.  They spend eight days commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple.  Are either one of these events so insignificant to warrant summarization as “Happy Holidays?” 

Yes, I have also heard, “We must include the ‘holiday’ of Ramadan in our ‘Happy Holidays’ politically correct dialogue.”  This year the Islamic celebration of Ramadan took place from July 19th through August 18th.  Obviously, it is not even applicable, under these two umbrella words, for this time of year.

I wish my Jewish friends Happy Chanukah.  They wish me a Merry Christmas.  We survive this exchange.  The world does not end and a war does not break out.  We accept that each of us observe differently and we wish each other well.  And if they had given me Chanukah greetings, I given them Christmas greetings, we still would have simply been wishing each other well.

I do not know who the “they” are, who every year cause further division among us and get headlines.  “They” do not and cannot speak for me. 

So to one and all, I wish you each Happy Chanukah and each a Merry Christmas.  Most of all, I wish you the opportunity to spend time with those you love and to celebrate the reasons for the seasons.

Dr. John and The Blind Boys of Alabama

On October 16th, Tim and I went to see the afore mentioned musicians at The Smith Center, Las Vegas' new Carnegie Hall.

 I've been a big fan of Dr. John since the 70's, and unlike so many rock stars from "back in my day," (please say those words with an authoritative voice, perhaps one that sounds like your dad's) he brought "it" and them some to the stage.  Each member of his band is a talent in their own right too.  I particularly enjoyed Sara Morrow playing the trombone.  Typically guitar, piano, sax and many other instruments spring to mind before the trombone, but she just may be the one to change that thinking, as she makes her instrument sexy.

Sadly, so many rock musicians from the 70's perform loooooong, self-serving riffs, in an attempt to disguise the fact that their talent is gone.  This show was about entertaining the people who paid to see a legend that sounded better than he did when I was a kid.

Until that night, I'd not had the privilege of being entertained by the other headliner, "The Blind Boys of Alabama."  I must say that gratefully that has changed.  Dr. John played for a while and then four of the members of my new found friends came on stage and announced something along the lines of, they were not in the habit of playing for conservative audiences and they didn't plan to start.  Well it wasn't long before everyone was on their feet hootin', stompin' and clapin'.  I don't generally enjoy when, "Amazing Grace," is sung in any other way then the original form, but they sang my favorite hymn to the music of, "House of the Rising Sun," and it was genuinely AMAZING.

Dr. John's band played for them, let's call it Act 2, and in Act 3, he finished up the concert and even plucked a guitar for one melody (a gunshot wound to the hand decades ago forced him to stop playing the guitar and so he turned to the piano).  The finally brought the "Blind Boys," back out and if your spirit was not higher than ninety minutes ago when you walked into the center, well, you were probably dead.

How to Have A Happy Marriage - Really

Today my husband and I have been married for eighteen years.  When I tell folks this, the first question is, “What’s your secret?”  I answer, “Be friends first.”  My husband and I spend most of our time together and genuinely enjoy each other’s company.  I love him more every day.  Yes, of course, we’ve had a few not so great moments, but for the most part, it’s been easy and whatever the next right step should be, has come naturally to us as a couple.

I like to read Op-ed pieces and essays.  “How to Have A Great Marriage,” is a frequent topic, and most of these articles make me ill.  What their title promises the reader, their content betrays.  I read one author who suggested that it was a good idea to make new friends of the opposite sex.  Not!  Really bad idea.  If you have friends of the opposite sex before marriage, that’s something different, and an essay in itself.  Here’s a few good tips from my POV.

Pick the right partner - This really is an almost impossible task.  I know, “Don’t sugar coat things on your account.”  I think it’s so hard because she acts like who she is not so that she can find a he who’s acting like who he is not.  They get married, move in together and the fireworks begin.  Or prior to marriage, she starts to see some traits she hates, but once they’re married, she’ll love him into changing (I hate to say this, but this does seem to be more of a female habit).  He’s not going to change.  She’s not going to change.  It’s only going to get worse - much worse.

So what do you do?  The Great Commandment is Love God.  The Great Commission is to love your neighbor as yourself.  If you don’t love yourself, you’re not going to love your neighbor, or your spouse.  The only way to find the right partner is to really know who you are.  A grueling task, but so worth it.  From there, you can find a person who will grow in happiness with you. 

Don’t Settle - I first heard these words uttered from Susan Sarandon’s mouth in “Thelma and Louise.”  Since I didn’t marry until the tender age of thirty-two, I had plenty of opportunity to settle.  Mr. Wrong was around every corner and the pressure from my friends (and myself) to get married before I became a spinster was great!  Only two things come from settling: divorce and misery if you don’t get divorced.  

You’re enough - I dated quite a few inappropriate fellas just to say to the world, “I’m dating.  I’m a valid person.”  One morning it occurred to me from “no where” that I was the cause for misery in all my relationships.  That to keep from hurting anyones feelings, no matter how very wrong they were for me, I chewed off my own arm, so to speak.  When I decided that I was better off alone than in dumb relationships, my Knight in Shining Armor was not far behind.

Sex is Not Love - I don’t care how good the sex is, if it’s all your relationship is based upon, you won’t make it.  When the hard times come, great sex flies out the window faster than a speeding train (cliche enough?).    You have to have a strong foundation built on God, love and respect.  Along the same lines, if your partner cheats on you while dating, he or she is going to cheat on you when you get married.  Go through the heartache and find a monogamous partner to marry. 

Your Partner is not Your Possession - I’m pretty sure this is self explanatory.  Support each other’s endeavors, don’t be threatened by them.  This goes back to knowing thyself.

Luck, Blessings, Grace, Mercy, whatever you chose to call the unexplained, help greatly, but those are the things we don’t control.  Control what you can, yourself, and leave the rest to The Universe.

The Farmer's Market and Sweet Potato Pie

In the last two months, I have discovered what fresh produce should taste like through the downtown Farmer’s Market. (Friday’s from 9am to 2pm).  My favorite fruit, vegetable, cheese and nut stand is the “Intuitive Forager” owned by Kerry Clasby.  She is as terrific as her produce, and if you don’t see what you want there, she’ll happily get it for you.  

I’ve lived in Las Vegas for most of my life, so any produce I’ve consumed has been picked too soon, as not to spoil before coming to market.  The first time I brought home a small basket of $7.00 strawberries from the Forager, my husband, who doesn’t care for strawberries, thought I’d lost my mind.  After he tasted them though, and did not get the usual allergic reaction of a tongue swell, he requested that I go back and get some more.

Also, I’ve discovered Sweet Potatoes.  I’ve never been much of a fan, but the Forager’s taste fresh and sweet and you can feel the beta carotene feeding your cells with each bite.  Serendipitously, I found a recipe of my mom’s for Georgia Sweet Potato Pie.  I offer the recipe here, with healthier alternatives noted next to the original ingredients if you are so inclined.  

2 cups Sweet Potatoes

2 tablespoons butter (I use earth balance natural buttery spread made with olive oil)

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

2 eggs slightly beaten (you can use four egg whites but you won’t get the benefit of vitamins B12, D, A, E and K that are in the yolks)  

Dash salt (I use Himalayan Salt)

3/4 cup of Sugar (or 1/8 - 1/4 cup of Blue Agave or real Maple Syrup.  If your Sweet Potatoes are from a Farmer’s Market, the lower end of the sweetener range is better.)

Combine and beat until ingredients are well blended.  

Then add:

1 large can of Carnation Evaporated Milk (this is really good, but is not low in the calorie department.  You can substitute with 1 1/2 cups of sweetened soy milk or coconut milk)

1 teaspoon of vanilla

Beat again.  Note:  Beating the mixture provides a more pudding like texture.  If you’d prefer a denser texture, you can use a potato masher to mix your ingredients.  

Pour into a 9” pastry shell (I prefer a graham cracker crust)

Bake at 375 until filling is firm and a knife inserted in the center comes back clean.  Approximately 35 to 45 minutes.  Serves six.

Enjoy!