Leann Rimes - Amazing Grace

One of the most beautiful songs ever written. DO you know the history of the song? If not, here it is:

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound...” So begins one of the most beloved hymns of all times, a staple in the hymnals of many denominations, New Britain or “45 on the top” in Sacred Harp. The author of the words was John Newton, the self-proclaimed wretch who once was lost but then was found, saved by amazing grace. Although he had had some early religious instruction from his mother, who had died when he was a child, he had long since given up any religious convictions. However, on a homeward voyage, while he was attempting to steer the ship through a violent storm, he experienced what he was to refer to later as his “great deliverance.” He recorded in his journal that when all seemed lost and the ship would surely sink, he exclaimed, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” Later in his cabin he reflected on what he had said and began to believe that God had addressed him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him.

For the rest of his life he observed the anniversary of May 10, 1748 as the day of his conversion, a day of humiliation in which he subjected his will to a higher power. “Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’tis grace has bro’t me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home."

My Showroom Manager, Gregg Just Blew My Mind

So, sweet Gregg and I are sitting in the showrrom this morning, still waking up, and we were talking about the Spring collection as it hung on the racks. And I made a reference, as I usually do, to the looks of the edgier stuff as very rock-n-roll, but more Patty Smith than Deborah Harry. Trying to explain that it needed maybe less masculinity and more femininity. Maybe a ruffle here, or a slit up the leg there. And then....he blows my mind.
He is in his late 40's and grew up in NY, and he says-"So Trenny, you like Patti Smith?" I, of course, say yes and he goes on to tell me that he was good friends with the writer Joan Didion's daughter 'Quintana', and that when he went to her funeral (Joan Didion's husband and daughter both tragically died in the same year), Patti Smith sang the eulogy, which was a lullaby. I ask for details, being the story telling lover that I am.
As awful of a moment in time as that was, it was so interesting to hear the live tale of him describing details of words and emotions that he expereinced having been present with such influential women during such a tragic time. He said it was the month of October and especially cold in the church, and as he and his partner huddled together for warmth in the pew of the cold church, the whole place just sobbed and sobbed as Patti sang.
New York is just odd in that you never know what story someone has, or who has come along their path. His description of the song and the way Patti performed it, made me well up with tears.
Album #9 for your Library----'Horses'-Patti Smith

New York Yankees Playoffs-10/25/09

I am not into baseball at all. Which is why I forgot that every Yankee fan in the world would be converging on the subway downtown last nite. Yesterday, early evening, I took the train from Farmingdale to Penn Station, and then had to jump on the Bronx bound subway to head to Chelsea. Chelsea is where my girlfriend Melissa lives, and I am watching her dog for 2 days while she is on business in Chicago. As I descended the stairs from Penn to the C Subway downtown - I think it was around 5:15pm- I was basically pummeled and mauled by ferocious people making their way to the train like animals. I took a moment to look around, and when I saw about 15,ooo Yankee's jerseys, I remembered it was the last night of the playoffs in the Bronx, and that I was on the main subway, at prime time, headed also, to the Bronx.

Man. You've never seen a more rabid sports crowd than a group of half buzzed NY Yankees fans. It is certifiable craziness. Rabib sports fans need to calm the hell down. For God's sake.

But, I will say this. I have quite a crush on the coach of the NY Yankees,Joe Giradi. He's terribly handsome

Prince- Purple Rain

Was just catching up with emails with this as background music, and it inspired me to write about it.
Definitive, brilliant. How can one pick a favorite from this soundtrack? The ..."maybe I'm just like my father.....maybe your just like my mother" sentiment from 'When Doves Cry' was beyond the scope of what most songs were saying. Just forget about being 15 and watching the opening scene from this video, with Prince crawling out of a steamy bathtub, clothed with only a purple scarf wrapped around his neck. So, maybe that's the one. But then there's 'Darling Nikki' about a sexy girl masturbating in a hotel lobby and an unrequited one night stand. The grinding guitar riff suits the message well. Maybe that one? But what about the sad "Do you want him or do you want me"....from 'The Beautiful Ones'....and one of my close favorites (if I had to pick) 'Baby I'm A Star'.
I could go on. There is something truly special about each song from this soundtrack. And I gaurantee you, everyone from my generation could preach, word for word, the 'Let's Go Crazy' opening sermon ..."Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life.....". Forever, that's a mighty long time. I once heard a homeless guy in Times Square preaching that at high volume and stood there trying not to laugh, in utter disbelief that noone was getting that it was Prince.
Though I recommend bands and albums to you all the time, I've always told you that someday I would finalize my top 100 definitive albums to have in your collection. So far, I've given you Seven:
1. Roxy Music-Avalon
2. Fleetwood Mac-Rumours
3. Led Zeppelin 1998 four disc box set (After all, how can you have just ONE Zeppelin record)
4. Neil Young-Harvest Moon
5. Joni Mitchell- Court and Spark (or Blue, if that suits you more)
7. Radiohead- Ok Computer or The Bends (with one you miss 'Fake Plastic Trees'. With the other you miss 'Karma Police'. Gotta have both---sorry)
Now, you have Eight
8. Purple Rain- Prince

~ And this our life exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything~

William Shakespeare.

Jenny My Friend- Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday my girl Jenny.
This was her Birthday Quote ..and all the more why we long ago befriended one another.

Jennifer Lee Laks

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candle...s exploding like spiders across the stars.” — Jack Kerouac

...because really, that is the best way to live..to know you are alive.
I love you Jen