A victory with caveats……and a couple other thoughts..

Right from the top, let’s start out with the fact that a particular legal issue is well on it’s way towards a resolution. Not a perfect one, as much as that would be desired. But it was a win and I will explain as much as I can from here, without getting into any possible longterm legal trouble.

Those who know me or have been following along know that the business my old man started is still in existence and after his passing, my sis, her oldest son and myself…along with one of our uncles have wanted to keep this a going concern.  And we have [the service that was done for a famous boxer put the place on the map, as well as in Wikipedia], but there has been a rather ugly presence in the background. That being dad’s widow [and for the rest of this post and others, that person will be referred to as just the 'egg donor'].  While there have been all those lovely tales about spouses who have been intefering types [and in turn have been minor hinderances as such], this one has proven to be malicious, hostile, unprofessional and crude to not just the customers, but to family as well.

In the business vein there have been issues of funding depleted by this person, which caused delays in payments to vendors, the treatment of customers like they yesterday’s newspapers and being to our employees what Gunnery Sgt. Hartman was to his recruits in ‘Full Metal Jacket’. The last of this litany has caused more problems than anything else. So there is always a breath of  fesh air when that wicked wind leaves the shop. If one were to add to this the personal attacks and items which have directed at my sister and her oldest son…so much so that they are looking at some rather ugly legal issues due to association. If this sounds a little odd, imagine what happens when one tells this to others and they dismiss it out of hand. [I have a couple theories as to WHY that happens and will mention those later].

Hence we are in the process of securing legal representation beyond those who handled the estate issues. After all, what we want to do is go with someone who’s main line of practice is one area..which would mean in turn, the person is vicious on behalf of their clients. Alongside that, we have set up several parallel operations to keep things going so that the money will still be there to operate, as well as being able to service the various and sundry communities we advertise to.  After all….we have multilanguage advertisements, we will do a service for any religious faith….or lack of same.  To this, we are still in the process of negotiating for some more space across the street and down the block from the current location to more than increase the number of chapels.

When this is mentioned to some, as in the ambitiousness that we have to make the shop even more prominent or the problems that we are having with the egg donor, they are almost tossed away. My thinking as to why has to do with some rather ugly social conditioning. Put another way: if the business expansion were let’s say a fast food place or a recording studio or an entertainment situation, this would be acceptable. After all, over the better part of the past 50 years, social conditioning [via media and other means] has placed rather firmly in the mindset of many that there are only certain businesses that those with even suntans like yours truly should be in [sidebar: this is usually where someone will mention Obama, but his situation was helped by what could at best, be called an 'anglo' background because if it were anything else,  he would not even be close to being considered for the office by the DNC...or they would mention Orpah....who is something who basically succeeded via going for a kinder, gentler version of the lowest common denominator....and those who would criticize are considered to be heretics] and those who walk away from the stereotypes is practically banished to a social hinterland.

I know we are supposed to be more advanced than this. After all, we are at the top of the animal landscape…but as my cats have reminded me on many occassions: ‘humans tend to be jerks’.  They despise what is going on re: the shop, as much as they hate the fact that their mom has to see online and in other places a lack of overall decncy when it comes down to that current scourge of societal interaction, that being ‘identity politics’.  On the latter, it is getting rather ugly and scary out there when the same ones who are for ‘equality’ are not really the same ones who are in favor of  ‘justice’.  Yes, that is a slightly odd concept, but if one were to look around, they would see that this is the case, more times than we can count or want to admit to.  So in the scariest of senses, it is almost like there are battles on several fronts. Be it v. an egg donor who give life to several vicious stereotypes …..to those who claim to want to work for a better society, but only for someone who ‘looks like them’ or has a ‘socially acceptable visage’. The second part of this is subjective, but as an outgrowth of the media and internet age, it is more visceral.

At times, this gets to be a bit much. As was said, the cats have heard this in detail….and I depsise the fact that one of the other vents here for this is in emails to ****. One would love it if they could tell the one they are smitten with in 100% of the emails that life is great, etc. Sadly there is that ugly reality of the stupidity of humans that interjects. To deny those happen would be delusional on my part….but it is my hope that I can make this up to **** down the road. The pending court cases should bring in parts of the estate that was willed to yours truly, along with my sis, her kids…..and that means monetarily there are some things that could end up being done. Hopefully that will happen and I can travel to apologize to **** in person about this stuff.

So there you have it…..and til next time, from the land of the colourtini….enjoy the words as the pics fly through the air.

Mini Update: Another good ‘oilchange’ with another one of the ‘gang of five’

Well of all things, I had forgotten that there was another oilchange that was scheduled by yours truly. The end result of not reading the papers from my visit with Steve the Cardio, while I had my honey-coloured contacts in. But this next appointment was with Dr. Lee, the Rhematologist. Like other members of the ‘gang of five’, I dig being around him because….well….he’s honest.

In this case it was about and an intepretation of the test numbers that came in around the time of the appointment with Todd, the Nephrologist. What did make the day in this case was the fact that the numbers look as though….once again….a high level 2/low lever 3 renal faliure. Without giving a Bio 101 lesson, when the creatinine and what are called ‘rejection’ numbers are stable as they have been [with a little bit of an improvement], it means that the kidneys are not going to be needing a possible assist or even relacement anytime soon. This is also important due to the fact that this means that the Uloric which is the medication to keep the gout at bay, let alone keep it out of the way of the legs being able to do what they were supposed to in the first place is working. YAY! And that is one heck of a great thing.

Hence, this news means I am on a 6 month visit plan with Wai, but gee…I am going to miss the fact that most of the sessions are spent now talking tech. Yep…he is a fellow geek. So we spoke about his new PC purchase, as well as my mentioning that ‘Speedfan’ would help with an AMD CPU, even on a Toshiba laptop.  I am running same on this Dell of mine, which has an AMD chip as well….and the program works like gangbusters.  Something says that come November, his machine will be running as well as mine:):) And this one has better work til then, there are a bunch of folks I am tutoring for, as well as proofreading items….and this machine is part of how I am able to help and….pay it forward.  It’s such a wonderful thing when the help does result in that great grade….or even impresses those in a work circumstance.

Also, I was able to get the next appointment with the eye doc, so I can get new contacts before summer really arrives. Like before, the main set of contacts will be the honey brown…the others, will be gemstone green. Aside from the item that yes, folks like me can wear the gemstone green, there is also the fact that that wonderful item known as DNA that we all have, contains the code for all us to have eye colour that is ‘not what is expected’ based on let’s say…that pesky little thing called ‘ethnicity’. [There is another Bio 101 lesson here, but will save that for a post down the road. Even though this has been mentioned from this desk before, it may need some repeating].

Dovetailing on that, it’s a good thing that I did not bring up what happened at Wai’s with some of those who have a problem with what is going on, but no chemical cocktail thrown in. Or that one should not pay attention to the smartest folks in the room, if the goal is to fit in no matter what the cost. While that may seem a little cryptic, that is not the intent. That said, all of what has been going on could have been for naught…..as in the investment in time that the ‘gang of five’ has made….if I decided that being a part of a group that at times seems to have a problem with the proclaimation of ‘diversity’ and yet is not all that keen on practicing same. That is sans, the patronizing attitude. An other word for that would be ‘snarky’…but thank goodness I just, more or less observe the chaos along those lines. With the exception of those [including ****] who actually can put 2 + 2 together on this item.

Enough of that for now. There is going to be another post coming up soon, which will expound on an issue I have to be a tad evassive about. Yes, my cats know, **** knows, and those online who I am very close to know. And should this go the way many of us are hoping…then WHOOPEE….then many many many things will have a chance to move forward.

So til that next post [and ****, my cats and a few others know the date it will arrive]….enjoy the words as the pics fly through the air..

The Renaissance Legacy Lives on….a review of ‘Grandine Il Vento’

 It is said in this life that good things come or happen to those who wait ot are patient. Such a good thing arrived here the other day in the form of the new Renaissance CD ‘Grandine Il Vento’ [(c)2013 Symphonic Recordings, LLC...SRR 000-02...Available on Amazon.com]. For those who’s handle on Italian is much better than mine, the title translates into ‘Hail The Wind’. But this collection is less about the wind, but more about honoring the legacy of Renaissance and the elements that have made the band a favorite among it’s legion of longterm fans, as well as those who have been introduced to same [as I have done with ****, my cats and many others].

Let’s start out with the fact that this is the last collection that Michael Dunford, the chief songwriter and arranger was associated with. He passed on November 20th, 2012 and while the songs were completed, there were still the final mixdowns that were still being done by Rave Tesar [Piano and Keyboards], as he was behind the board for production. This proves to have been one of the smartest musical decisions in the progressive/classical rock arena outside of let’s say, Alan Parsons taking the reigns with Pink Floyd for ‘Dark Side of the Moon’. That may seem like a tad on the hyperbolic side, however please read on and you will see why this comparisson is more than apt.

Each tune was written by Michael, with the lyrics done by the one with the magical voice, Annie Haslam. This in it’s own way insured that the aural legend that started with the classic 5 lineup [which included Jon Camp-Bass, John Tout-Keyboards and Terry Sullivan-Drums and Percussion] with lyrics often supplied by the late great wordsmith, Betty Thatcher was continued. When their fans refer to the ‘Classic 5 Era’, they mean a time when songs like ‘Carpet of the Sun’, ‘Ocean Gypsy’, ‘Can You Hear Me’ and ‘Northern Lights’ as well as others defined the Renaissance brand. Well above the clouds musicianship, inspiring lyrics and orchestrations which were akin to what one would hear via the New York Philharmonic or the Royal Philharmonic [both orchestras that they have worked with]. We heard some of a return to this style 10 years ago, when the album ‘Tuscany’ was released. While there was the gap of that time between that collection and ‘Grandine Il Vento’, it is apparent that the renewal and rebirth of their classic trademark was well in process. This was helped out by the addition of new members David J. Keyes-Bass & Backing Vocals, Jason Hart-Keyboards and Backing Vocals and Frank Pagano-Drums/Percussion and Backing Vocals [After Michael's passing...the band searched and found someone to fill his shoes, as well as do on heck of a number on the roundback acoustics and vocals, Ryche Chlanda]

For one, the opening track, ‘Symphony of Light’ can remind one of ‘Can You Hear Me’ in that it is written in a similar way. A symphonic piece, well orchestrated..some synths being used to augment and the lyrics telling a similar story.  The major difference between the two is that the stanzas are more individually centred, so the old ‘ABACAB’ [not the Genesis song but the format of popular music] is not strictly followed. This is a good thing, all because it means that there is a surprise in the listening. And as exposition for the rest of the album, it is a very good start.

The next few songs, including the title track show that, in the intervening time since ‘Tuscany’ that the band has wanted to incorporate different styles, timbre and textures to their material. Hence, ‘Waterfall’, the title track and ‘Porcelain’ are familiar and yet different at the same time. ‘Porcelain’ in particular has a lyrical twist in it that one would not have expected from the band. Then again, this was part of the joy of listening to this on the first goround and subsequent listenings, the twist still surprises.

Three other songs of note on this collection are ‘Cry To The World’ which features the Jethro Tull flute-meister, Ian Anderson…’Blood Silver Like Moonlight’, which has a duet with Annie and John Wetton [he of King Crimson and Asia] and the closing track ‘The Mystic and the Muse’. This song has been played in concert long before this album was put together, as well as being the closing song during the combined ‘Turn of The Cards’ and ‘Scheherazade and Other Stories’ concert. Not only are there elements in this which recall ‘Symphony of Light’ [reacapitulation if you will] but even a few synth parts that could even hark back to the old ‘Twilight Zone’ theme. As such…both of those pieces prove to be great bookends.

Again if someone were to ask if the band still can bring it, still can live up to the  legacy that meant so much to many of us and as such, we introduced others to same…the answer from here is an emphatic ‘YES’. This would be the answer as well to the question ‘Would Mickey and Betty be proud?’ Again that is a ‘YES’. Now it is on to the continuation of the legend and so that others can pass this music on, not just the ‘Classic 5′ but what has been placed on the record now.

[The format will return to it's usual musings and observations of the actions, inactions and insanity that is created by what my cats refer to as 'those crazy humans'. As for the above review, I promised to do this to honor the work that Michael Dunford had done on this collection. It is amazing..something to be shared....with friends and those who are fans of the genre. And on a personal note, I am hoping to do so with **** one of these days]

And with that…..enjoy the words [and if you purchase the above album, the music] as the pics fly through the air.

April’s no fool with 2 good ‘oilchanges’ and rocking the ‘gang of 5′

If one were to gauge how a month goes by what happens when one goes to see their doctor or doctors and in turn causes their worlds and days to be better, than April of 2013 has gotten off to a relatively good start. Which is quite a bit of a major change over what was the case about 5 years ago. That was when the CHF and the kidney…as well as other problems cropped up. While the fact that these happened and in turn, derailed that possible HRT highway, the fact that under the guidance of my ‘gang of 5′ a couple of what could be called ‘widowmakers’ were defeated.  As was mentioned to **** as well as others, that is a truly beautiful thing.

Let’s start with the first ‘oilchange’ of the month, which was with Todd the nephrologist. If you are new to reading this, that means he is a kidney doctor. Not one of the sexier organs to be discussed, but it does more for us than many of us know….let alone were taught in middle school or high school biology [or at the uni level the 101 class]. Plus in the last two decades or so, there has been more publicity about what can happen to the kidneys, due to a change in diet, or even painkillers. In the case of the latter, it is an issue of some of the NSAIDS being great medications to put one’s temporary misery at bay…..BUT…can do damage over a short/moderate amount of time to the kidneys that, those pieces of OEM equipment start to fail before their time. [For some of us who are of color, this can be especially acute due to differences in the kidney filtration levels and as such if one is not careful. the damage happens earlier. Repairative thearpies do exist, but if those do not contain the condition.....transplants can be a long waiting proposition.  We are not there, yet in the level of overall damage thank goodness].  Todd did confirm that the last couple tests that were done indicated that there has been no further damage, as well as something that either points to the diety being involved, or that the folks who I am around have been that emotional supportive boost that has helped the mood. Which in effect makes it possible for one to see possibilities beyond the immediate.

With the test numbers being what they are, we discussed what led to them, the meds that I am on and the fact that Todd’s Ohio State Buckeyes were in the NCAA’s. Of course, they did not get that deep per se in it as the eventual champions Louisville…but still it was a blast to chat with one of my docs about things beyond what could be called just the black and white [pun not intended] of a medical exam. In turn….I am now on a 6 month plan with him, which made him happy, myself estatic and my cats REALLY happy. On the last, it means that the human of the flat will not be going out as often to the doctor’s and her trips out will be more to pick up items for catstaffing, as well as catnip for those nights when the little ones want me to put on either Pink Floyd or 2001.

This bit of good news did help to set the stage for what happened on the following Monday [4/8..as in yesterday] when I went to see Steve the cardio at his new digs. Granted, the office is out in the county, well in the south county of Clackamas…Oregon City to be precise. I thought this was going to be a very long trip, after all the intructions on the transit website mentioned that it could take 3 hours to get there.  Good thing I did check my supply of batteries and had more than enough in the way of music by Renaissance [studio and live material] et al, to take the mind off of the travel.  Oddly enough, my timing played into getting there much earlier than expected and Steve saw me on the premises trying to make sense of the facility. He pointed me to the new office and I did not have to wait long for the examination.

By the by, the outfit in this pic is what was worn and there was a darn good reason to do so. As was communicated to ****, as well as my cats and some very close friends, I wanted to wear something that would show to Steve that the ‘riot act’ [again if you have been reading and following along, you know what that term means when applied here ] more than worked. We had a good laugh over that, but it speaks to something wonderful that happened over that time. Which was the fact that the right type of advice, along with support that is not conditioned on if or when someone is going to take a particular chemical cocktail helps and does the parties in question a world of good. Included in this is the fact, that I am now on the yearly plan with Steve….and yep…I will make that pilgramage out to the OC again next year. Hopefully with a new backpack and about 3 cases of CD’s so that I just put those on the Sony, put the headphones on and then look out the windows of the bus .

If there is a major takeaway from both of the oilchanges, it has to do with the fact that the investment of time and effort on all parts has paid off. Which means that even though the relationships with the ‘gang of five’ is better than cordial, it is a tribute to them that I do not need to see them as often. Those reading this may think this can mean that the HRT could now be done. No….not really and because there is no one….NO ONE who wants to go back to the point of where there is a lot of damage going on. Put another way, there is no reason to impress the ones in the sandlot who base their friendships on who has the most toys.  Or at the adult level….conventions, PC toys, notches on the bedpost that indicate more partners for horizontal enrichment than I have spare hair [or the number of people who have played 3rd base for the New York Mets since they came into existance in 1962]. I know that may sound mean, maybe even a tad snarky….but it is an observation. Regretably, it is one that seems to be more often than not, rooted in truth.

Now it is on to other things….which means back to tutoring, ad copywriting …as well as being a net parent. Rae and Marty do not mind, after all they get me 24/7/365 in the house…and they know I have the highest regard for people who I do hang out with….of course this includes ****. Rae in particular is still after me about ‘mom when are you two going to make a real connection?’ As much as I can explain to Rae and Marty about Dr. Forward’s theories about close to FTL travel, or the construction methods used to build Arrowhead and Qualcomm ballparks or even tell them why they do not go outside to attack the birds, I wish I had an answer for them on this vexing question. Hopefully one day……

So that is it for now…….and until the next time…from the land of the colourtini…..enjoy the words as the pics fly through the air.

Early before the next ‘oilchange’, I promised someone I would drop a few hints….

Yes this one is early again. But I felt that seeing there was some news on this end that I promised to drop a few hints at [because I had promised **** I would and she along with about 4 other folks close to me know the details] and…well just because.

For one, in the runup to the first week in April when there are 2…count ‘em 2 ‘oilchanges’ in the space of 6 days. One with Todd and the other with Steve. I am looking forward to them in that, well there are only so many times I can go over the meds and the numbers at length with the cats, without them treatening to stage a feline version of ‘The Caine Mutiny’. So there is this need for those to happen, where I can go out of the flat for a day and the cats can take over the place [assuming they do not want to rip off my debit card and connect to ebay]. Something does say that both of these will be good events, which in turn…well after I see  Steve the cardio [Todd the nephrologist as well, but that one is going to be a food run to replenish the larder *S*that I will be making a run on the used record shop and then the cosmetics aisle at Freddy Kroger.

 

By that time, the little surprise that my sis, her kids and I are working on should be on it's way to stage one of fruition. While I am not at full liberty to detail, here is what I can say. After what happened towards the end of last year when the shop had what can best be called the 'service of a lifetime', the thought was to capitalize on same.  So since then, all of us have been putting our different backgrounds to work to insure that the legacy the old man started remains ongoing. On this end, it has been writng ad copy....one of which is rather pretty cool sounding [email me and I will send you the link if interested] and getting a couple others in the works. Which accounted for the air guitar session at the market this evening.

What I want to do when the surprise is ready is have the ad written with the background/undertone of music something which will say ‘this is us and this is the new us’. While the end of the last sentence would drive the average English teacher nuts [like the lyrics to America's 'Tin-Man'] , that is the intent. So I had a copy of Renaissance Live At Carnegie Hall …with the New York Philharmonic on the CD player. It has been a while since I listened to it, outside of the sampler featuring the outtake called ‘Kiev’. And yep…..the piece I was listening to…..it is what I think I will use. All that will be needed will be the clearance, which should be rather easy to obtain because of a little bit of PC work being done. Which made me happy because it was fantastic to do the research….even better when it’s for someone who I respect.

I know some of the above was a tad on the cryptic but there was a reason. It has to do with something akin to what a few football coaches back in the late 70′s early 80′s  did when the time was running out. They saved the ultimate trick play for then: ‘Big Ben’, ‘Flood Right’ ‘Flood Left’ ‘All to the Flag or Post’…you get the idea. And for those who are familiar with what is going on knows that this is not going to be a half-baked roll of the dice.

By the by one of the persons who knows I did mention this to, well we had a discussion about the financing of the venture. Now if I need help on something, I go to the smartest people in the room. This friend is one of the smartest people in the room and we talked about this in straight-out terms. As in the numbers,  who would be better a VC or a straight out bank or credit union, etc. This was a break because if I had discussed this with a few others, there invariably would have been the bit about doing so within ‘the community’, even though the track record of it helping those who are not doing ‘community things’ is to be kind abysmal. And no I am not so much making a complaint about finances, this has to do with attitude and a lack of thinking outside of the bubble. As people who know me know……what is going on here is way outside of the bubble…thank goodness. If it were not, it would not be anything I, nor my sis, nor her kids or those close to me would be a part of it

 

Well that is it for now. Enough hints dropped….suffice to to say promise kept *S* So til after the oilchanges….from the land of the colourtini…..enjoy the words as the pics fly through the air.

Well now we move to T-minus 1 month til the next ‘Oilchange’ with work flavoring things

If there is one thing to be said about the month of February is that even with it’s brevity, it does have a habit of being weird. And around here, there are two levels of weird. There is Portland ‘WEIRD’ and then there is general society ‘WEIRD’. The past 28 days proved to have been a tad on the real world weird, which caused myself and the cats to question the overall sanity of the human race. [Not the people who I am close to or smitten with...from **** to those who are part of the online family] However there was something that did help to bridge the mind to get to March, which was a little work came in.

Over the months in this space I may have mentioned that in addition to the tutoring and research I do for others, I also write ad copy and edit items before they are a part of business presentations. I know that there are some who may see mentioning this as being a little bit of an ego trip, but it’s not. Fact is that there is a part of my education that is coming in handy, vis a via laying fallow due to chasing something elussive, like the former American Dream.  Coming in handy and keeping the cats in catnip & mun-chies, as well as providing something to do in between posting about X, Y or Z in X, Y or Z. The latest assignments were ads that as this is being written, will be showing up in the NYC market over the next week.  And there is a bit of irony in this…

The request for this was to write this as a testimonial from a female POV. Now…for some folks I know who are in my position, the only time this comes in as an advantage has to do with being able to get the right sized skirt or dress over at Target during a sale [Not knocking Target, far from it. This was just for illustrative purposes *S* Besides, the folks there who I have met over the years are honorary members of the 'gang of 5']. So the other night, I created two different versions of the piece, the second worded slightly differently than the previous. The end result? Well….my sis who approves the copy before the ads are done said ‘ WOW Nailed it!!!’. To which the email in return was ‘Hon, I never thought my current situation would come in handy, til now LOL’.  However, it did.

If we were to expand on this point, there is a little more to having taken this path than finding softer colors more pleasant to look at, or being into activities that seem to be more associated with the gender one ascribes to want to be a part of. In this case, it is more or less understanding that there is more of sense of compassion and caring [or nurturing, if you will] that is more a part and parcel of this.  One has to wonder why this is not more discussed, or featured more often in the debates and prose that are a part of the online world, as opposed to let’s say the view that the person can only be good for a limited amount of things….not many of them to do with the heart or the brain, but other bodily parts.

And now we move on to March, which here means 4 weeks and a couple days til that big ‘oilchange’ with Steve. Now if he is pleasantly shocked by the fact that I took his words to heart about dropping the weight, great. If the expression on his face is the exact opposite of what he had when he chewed me out, all the better [if you are wondering what that was and it may have been mentioned here before...look up the program 'Dark Justice' and the name 'Bruce Abbott' who played 'Nicholas Marshall'. Now think in terms of when in his court, Judge Marshall having seen another thug walk on a technicality and then saying his trademark line 'Justice may be blind, but it can see in the Dark' and you will get the idea. Yeah, Steve looked THAT pissed off at me during the riot act] So I want to…pleasantly….shock him.  If that works out, great…that night there will be another raid on Ebay or whoever is selling items to back up the PC that week.

 

Not a major raid, but enough to satisfy the mind and to make sure both of the beasties do run long in the tooth, before they need to be replaced. As well as to pick up something so TheRoyalBadnesses can celebrate in this.  But for now….it is matter of not just getting there, but making sure the body stays there.  There has been a new lease on life given by the folks who have spent a lot of time and effort keeping me alive…..so I have to take care of the aircraft so it can have quite a few more cycles *S*

 

To close this one out….the above pic is a side by side…of where things were…and where they are now. Now is a lot better,  plus it shows to **** the person who is on the other end of the emails. So til after the ‘oilchange’ in April……from the land of the colourtini, enjoy the words as the pics fly through the air.

It’s that time of year for words from the ‘Owner of an Only Heart’ *S*

Yes, it is that time of year. That time when for some reason there is an inordinate amount of media out there that says the heart of the person one is smitten with can be bought, more or less with items that can cost as much as a used 737 out in the Mojave Desert. Bu there are a few of us out there who prefer to show, via the printed word. Or in this case the words of others, folks who I look up to and have listened to for years….

By the by for those for whom these are meant for, there is nothing overt, per se meant from here in these. In this day of when even the most innocent of words could be misconstrued, the lyrics posted are a little more….well, general. Although, once again…those who these are meant for…message-conveyance wise, they will understand the points….So with thanks to:

Michael Dunford, Betty Thatcher, Annie Haslam, Jon Camp, Alan Parsons, Eric Wolfson, Justin Hayward, Michael Rutherford, Anthony Banks, Phillip Collins and Jon Anderson….let’s get rolling

To start off with, one of the gems that the late Michael Dunford and the late Betty Thatcher created for Renaissance’s ‘Ashes Are Burning’.

LET IT GROW
Taking time to find the right line
Talking easy with the thoughts you want to share
Leaning down, feel you knowing in my mind
Stealing down, going down, feel you growing in my mind
Chorus:
It’s got to be slow
Taking love the only way
It’s got to just flow
Making love and taking time to let it grow
Finding ways to find the real you
Spending days just holding hands and feeling free
Play around, watch the sunshine coming through
Come around, stay around, watch the loving grow with you
Chorus
Loving you the love you give me
Living loving with the things we have to share
Poetry, hear the words you say to me
Stay with me, here with me, keep our loving flowing free

If that brought a tear to the eyes, I felt the same way the first few times I heard it as well. And for a couple folks I know…I have been hoping something would grow over time…
And if things were to grow…it leads that each person would follow the other. Not in the way that seems to be common with those who have fixations and no lives, but as to what Genesis talked about on ‘…And then there were three…’   

“Follow You Follow Me”

Stay with me,
My love I hope you’ll always be
Right here by my side if ever I need you
Oh my love

In your arms,
I feel so safe and so secure
Everyday is such a perfect day to spend
Alone with you

I will follow you will you follow me
All the days and nights that we know will be
I will stay with you will you stay with me
Just one single tear in each passing year

With the dark,
Oh I see so very clearly now
All my fears are drifting by me so slowly now
Fading away

I can say
The night is long but you are here
Close at hand, oh I’m better for the smile you give
And while I live

I will follow you will you follow me
All the days and nights that we know will be
I will stay with you will you stay with me
Just one single tear in each passing year there will be

I will follow you will you follow me
All the days and nights that we know will be
I will stay with you will you stay with me
Just one single tear in each passing year…

Sadly at times, things do go either not in the way that is wished for, or goes away for and there is a longing for what was. The Moody Blues understood that one….

“December Snow”

Like December snow
That lays in the wood
You’re gone too soon
I knew you should

With October skies
You brought your love
But November came
Taking all I have and
Time, take this sadness from me
Time, bring my heart back safely
Hold on to warm September
‘Cause life can be like December snow

With your touch of love
in this Autumn world
The Sun was bright
The songs were heard

And maybe fools like me
Are under your spell
But with leaves that fall
I hear you callin’

Time, take this sadness from me
Time, bring my heart back safely
Hold on to warm September
‘Cause life can be like December Snow

Time, take this sadness from me
Time, bring my heart back safely
Hold on to warm September
‘Cause life can be like December Snow

One of the things that has been mentioned here is that times, a relationship can be like a Socratic Dialog, via blog posts. While there is not much in the way through same for the audio volume to be raised, so to speak…at times the words of The Alan Parsons Project seem to be rather apt:

“Turn It Up”

It’s no good believing in somebody else
If you can’t believe in yourself
You give them the reason to take all the power and wealth
It’s no good you trying to sit on the fence
And hope that the trouble will pass
‘Cause sitting on fences can make you a pain in the ass

If there’s something you find to believe in
Then the message must get through
So don’t just sit in silence
When you know what to do

Turn it up, turn it up, make it louder
Turn it up, turn it up, make it louder

There’s no conversation if nobody speaks
And nothing gets done in the end
There’s no confrontation when fantasy makes you its friend
So much injustice, too many lies
We don’t have to look very far
But nothing will change if we leave things the way that they are

If there’s something you find to believe in
Then the message must get through
So don’t just sit in silence
When you know what to do

Turn it up, turn it up, make it louder
Turn it up, turn it up, make it louder

If there’s something you find to believe in
Then the message must get through
So don’t just sit in silence
When you know what to do

Turn it up, turn it up, make it louder
Turn it up, turn it up, make it louder

Of course when things work out….Then what Yes says here [which can be considered to be the mirror companion piece to 'And You And I'] makes more sense with each year…

“Onward”

Contained in everything I do
There’s a love I feel for you
Proclaimed in everything I write
You’re the light, burning brightly

Onward through the night
Onward through the night
Onward through the night of my life

Displayed in all the things I see
There’s a love you show to me
Portrayed in all the things you say
You’re the day leading the way

Onward through the night
Onward through the night
Onward through the night of my life

Onward through the night
Onward through the night
Onward through the night of my life

This post will close with another one from Renaissance…This one is from ‘Tuscany’, which was released a few years ago. Amazing song…..and rather deep of sorts, but for those who are the ones who know what has been said from here, this is a logical set of lyrics.

IN MY LIFE
If I could be here for you today
I would change all my ways
Show you how I really care
Night and day I’d be there
All the moments I wasted then
Calling you on the phone
All the things I should have said
Like how much I need you
In my dreams I think of you
Of all the things I didn’t do
Can I show you now
In the morning and the night
There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do
To have you in my life
I’d be there when you need a friend
Where you’re sad I’d be strong
Holding you to keep you warm
Be there when you need me
I would turn back the clock today
I’d be faithful and true
We could be in love again
What I wouldn’t do for you
In my dreams I think of you
Of all the things we didn’t do
Can I show you now
In the morning and at night
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do
To have you in my life
In my dreams I think of you
Of all the things I didn’t do
Can I show you now
In the morning and at night
There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do
To have you in my life

With that….Happy Valentine’s Day all….no matter where you are, what your status, race, creed, colour, value structure.  All of those funny little things that some seem to want to make haste and profit off of  during the better part of the year. [which at times, makes the case for yours truly being around cats *S*]  So……from the land of the colourtini….enjoy the words as the pics fly through the air