Tim's Befuddled Universe

Film: War, Inc. Trailer

John Cusack looking good!
War, Inc. trailer is a blast!

Fun having John & Joan Cusack together!!!

As a general rule, I love John Cusack films, but it seems they are usually few and far between. After the marvelous Martian Child, I was expecting to wait a good long while before the next John Cusack film. But no, I luck out! Along comes War, Inc (expected release 23 May 2008).

Have a look at the trailer below. It looks like a kick!

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Angela Ortiz. Big Record Labels are Dead!

Yes, the big labels are dead!
But they didn't get the memo*

Guest Blogger: Angela Ortiz

Disclaimer/Intro

The title above is mine, not Angela's. Perhaps you should ask Angela Ortiz, if she believes the big record labels are dead? Or maybe you could just buy her CD instead.

Today's blog originally appeared in the Angela Ortiz Myspace blog on 04 MAR 2008 with the title, ``It's a Simple Story, Really". Angela's blog (or essay, if you prefer) will be republished below, with permission, under its original title. I changed the title in my own byline to, oh, spice things up a bit.

Angela Ortiz

Photo credit: unknown

It's a Simple Story, Really

by Angela Ortiz

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Warning: Long post: New traditions

Check this out.

I became a NIN [Editor: Nine Inch Nails] listener about 2 weeks ago (yes, I realize I am a bit behind the times here). The discovery was totally random, and mostly because of Johnny Cash. I happened upon his cover of 'Hurt', and knew somehow (instinctively remembering a high school boyfriend who idolized Trent Reznor) that it was a NIN song, so I downloaded that song. Then I downloaded every NIN album I could find and waded through it all.

As a musician within the culture of file-sharing and peer to peer networks, I am faced with the challenge of distributing my music in ways that help me eat and generally stay alive, and that don't place the lion's share of what people pay into the hands of corporate entities that truthfully have no interest in what I do (except in that they can make money off it), or what people really want (except in that they can make money off it).

Enter the new NIN album, released Monday, apparently out of nowhere.

NIN has made it easy for everyone to get what they want. They've offered the first 9 songs (the album is lengthy, totalling 36 songs) for free on torrent sites (which, predictably, a mere 2 hours after the release of the album, were offering the remaining 27 for free as well), and asking for $5 more to download the entire album, which you can get on Amazon.com (via TuneCore). This option includes a 40 page PDF file of visuals to accompany the music, as well as wallpapers, icons, and other graphics, etc.

But it doesn't end there, you can pay $10 and have the 2 disc set sent to you, plus the ability to download the album, while you wait for the physical copy (and the aforementioned extras). Or, you can pay $75 for the physical CD, the extras, the ability to download it while you wait, a special DVD, and fancy packaging (for mega fans). OR, pay $300 (!) for a limited edition copy including the best quality physical CDs, the extras, the ability to download, the DVD, vinyl copies, other visuals, files for remixing, all signed and numbered by Mr. Reznor himself (for extremely unbelievably die hard fans, or the professional eBay seller).

You can also eventually buy just the vinyl, or just the CD in April in old-fashioned retail stores (via Red Distribution).

Blah blah blah, I sound like a commercial. Why did I just go into all that detail? Because I think it's important to know. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and I believe the key to getting out there (and consequently increasing your demand), is to make your music available in as many places as possible, in as many formats as possible - variety digitally and variety physically. Don't want to pay for it? Fine, here's a freebie. Like it? How 'bout paying a minimal amount for some more, plus some extras. Really like it? How 'bout paying a little more, for even more extras, better sound files, fancy packaging, and so on and so forth. This method lets the fan decide how much they want to pay, but it's better than the "pay what you want" scheme in that there are definite amounts set, for definite amounts of music/music related extras. Everybody can get what they want, at the level they want it. There is no, "Here's the CD, here's how much. Like it or leave it." (Or steal it...)

How cool is this idea?

Notice there is also no record label present to syphon off funds that should be going to the artist and her/his creative team. :-)

I wanted to point all this out because I hear a lot grumbling about the music industry today, how it is dying, how people don't place a value (at least a cash one) on music anymore, stories about Minnesota moms being sued by the RIAA for copyright infringement (to the tune of $222,000 - pun intended), and so on. Things aren't decaying, the rules are just changing. Now it's up to the artist (and their fans) to decide how they want to get their work out there, and what method will work best for them, financially and otherwise.

Everyone is saying how the old system doesn't work anymore, and waiting for a new traditions to take shape and steer them into some divinely conceived way of making money again.

Well, don't wait.  I say create your own paradigm, be your own method.

I'm interested to see what's going to happen next, aren't you?

xo,
ao

*This is opinion of the management only. You will have to ask the guest blogger her opinion on the subject.

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Showcase: Kirsten Price's music is Hot and Spicy

``I don't wanna just get by." ― Kirsten Price
    From ``Bring Me Back".
    Song credits: Kristen Price & Fred Sargolini

Kirsten Price

Photo credit: Amy Davidson
NYC, FEB 2008

SUMMARY

Kirsten Price is hot, sexy, upbeat, and soulful. Her album is called Guts & Garbage. The album includes an assortment of pop, dance, and soul songs. To me, the title suggests she gets down and dirty with all aspects of life. Price's songs have been featured on several television shows including Showtime's The L Word. One of my favorite songs is a slower, soulful song called ``Bring Me Back". I definitely recommend ``Bring Me Back" and ``Magic Tree". ``Magic Tree" is a raw and sexy dance song. ``Possibilities" is another winner. The list could go on and on. I wish more pop music was like Kirsten Price's album, Guts & Garbage.

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Click on the player below to hear Kirsten Price's song ``Bring Me Back''

Click on the player below to hear Kirsten Price's song ``Magic Tree''

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8-Track Memories

Chasing the Train Wreck

As Kristen Price sings in her song, ``Bring Me Back", life can sometimes be a train wreck. But, if you're lucky, things can come back together with the certainty of an old soul record on an 8-Track that ``always hits that spot". And, like her, you can ``reach for the day that it never stops".

``Bring Me Back'' (lyrics)

You know I'm not the same inside... no.
It's the same train wreck, when you go, when you go.
I'm about to break this time... this time.
I'm slipping off the groove.
I don't know what to do.
Let's get us back on track.
...
...
'cause you bring back, yeah,
like an old soul record on an 8-Track.
...
...

My Personal Train Wreck

I was a train wreck during the two years I spent in junior high (1960-61/1961-62), but music helped keep me on track.

(I started junior high the year JFK was elected President (Fall, 1960). I was a Freshman in high school the year JFK was assassinated. On 22 NOV 1963 I was in Algebra class, when the hall monitor brought the mimeographed announcement stating the President had been shot. A month later, on 23 DEC 1963, the Beatles released ``I Want to Hold Your Hand". It was released in the USA on a minor label, Vee Jay, because Capital Records didn't think the group would be successful in the States. I first heard ``I Want to Hold Your Hand" between classes one day, when I overheard classmates listening to it on an ``illegal'' radio. One door closes. Another door opens. Was it an even trade?)

I was the youngest of four kids (girl, boy, girl, then baby me).  My siblings and I all lived in the same house, but we lived very separate lives. We lived in one house until I finished Kindergarten, then we moved.

My brother and I shared a room in the new house. There were territorial disputes. I wasn't allowed to walk across his section of the room in order to get to the closet. He wasn't allowed to walk from the hall door to his side of the room. Neither was allowed to look at the other. It wasn't much like Wally and the Beave. (Note: My brother now tolerates me without any apparent discomfort.)

Fortunately for me, my brother kept two nerdy friends from the old neighborhood.

My father did not approve of one of my brother's friends. He smoked and drank beer. But, from time to time, this friend would come over to the house, and spend time with Mom. He would help dry the dishes, and tell her of his ambitions in life. Mom would then tell Dad to leave my brother and his friends alone.

This friend was into auto mechanics, and and he taught auto mechanics to my brother. As a result my brother rebuilt what we just called a Model A Ford, but it was probably a 1931 Ford Tudor.

Before he had his Model A, my brother would never have given rides to his younger sister and brother, but now he was willing to drive around town to show off his Model A.

My brother's other close friend was an audiophile. As a result of the second friendship, my brother built a component stereo system from parts; as in he brought home bags of loose parts home from the Hi-Fi store, and he soldered them together. (In those days we called quality audio systems ``Hi-Fi" for ``high fidelity".)

My brother's component stereo system proved to be my personal salvation.  When I could grab some moments in the house alone, I would put on a record, turn off all the lights, and sit back in the La-Z-Boy chair. (Note: La-Z-Boy is a Michigan company, and in 1961 they introduced the ``Reclina-Rocker". We had a brown tweed Reclina-Rocker La-Z-Boy. It was our one ``family" luxury, until many year's later, when my oldest sister's husband bought my mother a dishwasher for her birthday.)

Note: My brother worked summer jobs to earn the money to purchase his stereo system and his Model A.

But how did I manage to buy the records? Somewhere along the line I convinced my mother I needed an allowance. I said, ``An allowance would help me learn to be responsible." I am sure I gave her a whole litany of ways a young man in junior high might spend a small stipend of $2 per week (that's the amount I requested). But not so fast, Buster Brown! First, Mom wanted to discuss it with ``your Father". (``Oh, no!  All is lost!")  But to my great surprise, Mom won me a weekly stipend of a buck twenty-five every other week, and after six months she convinced Dad to increase that to $1.50 twice a month. Joy, of Joys! That meant I could buy one LP every month at the 5 & Dime! (By the time I graduated from college, I had ten linear feet of LPs.)

Old soul singers that hit the spot. There were many days when I came home from school with a spirit in need of a refill. That's when I would call for help from The Drifters, Sam Cooke, and Ben E. King. Later on I would become dependent on The Righteous Brothers, and a litany of other singers and bands who are all well known.

Music can knock me off my feet and spin my head. I will mention a few times it has happened.

• Around 1954, when I was about four years old, some band friends of my eldest sister stopped by after school to practice. I was playing in another room, when one of the boys started playing this particularly wild song on his saxophone. I walked into the living room, and immediately imprinted on the wild music like a duckling imprints on a fake mother duck. (I mean the way I reacted, this guy might as well have been Clarence Clemons!) I have no idea what that boy was playing on his saxophone, but I can now make an educated guess. My educated guess would be ``Rocket 88".

• In 1963 I was given this totally stupid battery operated transistor radio for Christmas. It was about the size of a modern MP3 player. I had to hang this long antenna wire out the window, and put an earphone in one ear. It could only receive WKZO during the day (news, talk, baseball). Dad said, ``It's the only station he needs." But I discovered one thing. If I waited up until about 2am, I could get a station in Memphis. They played Sam Cooke and other singers that dazzled and amazed my mind and ears. But the first time I heard ``Another Saturday Night" I went totally wild. The only thing was everyone in the house was sound asleep. I didn't think they wanted me to wake them up!

• I first heard the Ronettes 1963 hit ``Be My Baby" when I was walking up the stairs to my room. By this time my brother and I had separate rooms, and my brother had a clock radio. On this occasion he had apparently gone downstairs to make himself a snack (probably a mustard sandwich), and he had left his room door open. As I walked up the stairs I could hear ``Be My Baby" blaring from my brothers clock radio. I thought to myself, ``Dear God, we should declare a national holiday!"

• The next time was also in 1963. I alluded to it above. It was during a break between classes. I got my books out of my locker. I closed the locker, and spun the lock. I headed out towards my next class. Kids weren't supposed to have radios at school, and I had never seen any one with a radio at school, but suddenly, as clear as a fire alarm, I heard the Beatles singing their song ``I Want to Hold Your Hand". Then, soon after, there were adult footsteps clearly coming from the direction of the school office, and the Beatles go mute long before the Principal arrives. I thought to myself, ``We should just take the rest of the day off"; but no one heard me.

• On the next occasion, I was a Freshman in college. There were five of us in a four man room. We were a close group of guys. One morning the clock radio went off, and the DJ said ``Here's the Beatle's latest single." Then ``Strawberry Fields Forever" played. Wow! Double Wow! When the song finished, I said, ``We better take the day off." My four roommates all agreed. We were all too weak to get up.

I hope you will have a Wow! moment soon. Perhaps, Kirsten Price will Wow! you. Please, give her a listen.

Kirsten Price

Photo credit: Zandy Mangold

Kirsten Price — Freedom

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How the West was Won!

Historical Erudition:
The Plumber's Friend!

How was the West Won?

It's a Simple Story, Really.

Yesterday I attempted to write a terse essay on how the West was won. It seemed like a quick and easy writing project.

1. War with Mexico.
2. Slaughter of Buffalo.
3. Genocide of native people.
4. End of story.

Then I thought hmmm.... perhaps a few more details might add, you know, ``human interest''.

Murder Mystery

Later I wondered, ``What if I were writing this like a murder mystery? But then, when would the story begin"

Now things are getting interesting! Let me run you through it.

Ok, you have decided to write a murder mystery, but before you can start writing you have to figure out a whole bunch of stuff about the murder, right?

Among the things you would have to figure out would be who does the murder. Ok, you decide Mr. Brooks is going to kill Mrs. Brooks. Now you will have to figure out when and why Mr. Brooks decides to commit the murder (motivation). How Mr. Brooks commits the murder (method). And when Mr. Brooks commits the murder (opportunity).

It was like any other morning. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks were having breakfast. She on her side of the nook. He on his.

Mrs. Brooks blew her nose. She made a honking, wheezing  sound like a gander shot with an arrow.

Mr. Brooks crumpled his newspaper into his lap. He could not concentrate, when Mrs. Brooks wheezed.

Mr. Brooks was about to order Mrs. Brooks to stop wheezing, when he saw the little glisten of snot hanging from her nose. ``Oh, my dear God," Mr. Brooks thought to himself.

Mrs. Brooks smiled. A sliver of bacon was stuck between two of her front teeth.

``Oh, my dear God," Mr. Brooks thought to himself.

Mrs. Brooks took a sip of tea. The string of snot fell from her nose into the cup of tea.

``Oh, my dear God,'' Mr. Brooks thought, ``I cannot bear this woman one moment longer."

In the above paragraphs we see Mr. Brooks coming to the conclusion he is living in a dilemma in need of a solution. He realizes he cannot live with Mrs. Brooks one moment longer!

The Epiphany

Now let us get back to our original story, How was the West won?

I asked myself, ``At what point did the newcomers look at the natives, and think to themselves, `I cannot bear to live with you one moment longer!'"

I concluded the answer was The French and Indian War (1754–1763). Now The French and Indian War is a misnamed war if there ever was a misnamed war. In my never humble opinion, it should have been called The French and British Bugger The Colonies War. In a nutshell, the French and British brought The Seven Years War to the New World, and like fools the colonists and native peoples picked sides and fought against each other. (Perhaps history would have worked out better if they had joined forces and slaughtered the French and British soldiers as they disembarked off their ships.)

When The French and Indian War was over, the die was cast. It was almost as if our ancestors were in a science experiment where students pour two beakers of chemicals together. The chemical reactions are ruled by laws of nature, and they cannot be stopped, until they run their own course. When the The French and Indian War ended, it seemed like the acid of hate was released and there would be no end until the ``chemical reaction" was complete.

(Please, do not get the impression I am a pessimist; however accurate that impression might be!)

Motivation

Why was I motivated to figure out how the West was won?

• In my recent Chewy Choice Award write up I spent a great deal of time talking about my family and their migration from Western Pennsylvania to Kansas. In this discussion of my family's personal history I ignored the rich historical panorama or events taking place in the background.

• In the unpublished portion of my interview with Janel Munoa, Janel and I discussed how the West was really ``won''; that is, the resettlement of the portion of North America commonly referred to as the United States of America. (I do not believe we ever mentioned the movie, How the West was Won.)

Long, long, ago, in a land not so far away...

Hey, boys and girls, I did manage to get from 1754 to 1810 in my story about how the West was won. And here I thought I could whip off this little tale in a couple hours. My mistake.

Well, perhaps I will get back to the story someday. Until then, there are plenty of John Wayne movies you can watch.

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Chewy Choice Award Dinner: Recipient Namoli Brennet

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Click on the player below to hear Namoli Brennet's song ``California''

Click on the player below to hear Namoli Brennet's song ``Rough Enough''

Click on the player below to hear Namoli Brennet's song ``The Crying Wheel''

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2008 CHEWY CHOICE AWARD DINNER
Honoree: Namoli Brennet
Presenter: Tim Null
Entertainment: Namoli Brennet and her band
Location: Tim's Befuddled Universe
Date: 21 April 2007

Photo credit: Milo

PRESENTATION

Tim Null:   Welcome!

Welcome to the annual Chewy Choice Awards dinner. This is a virtual dinner held at Tim's Befuddled Universe.

We are gathered to honor Namoli Brennet.

I regret to report that tonight's dinner almost did not happen. You see the individual put in charge of local arrangements is a real birdbrain.

We have had a few set backs. Yes, indeed.

Local Arrangements Committee Chairman

Chef Quits

Chewy hired Nicholas Palmer as the chef for the banquet (excellent references, good resume), but Chef Palmer walked out in a huff, when he saw Chewy's proposed menu.

Chewy had selected a main dish that included an abundance of edamame, white beans, green beans, yellow corn, rice, and popcorn kernels. Yes, I believe that final ingredient was the coup de grâce; or cup of grass, as we say around here. (If you are curious,  the popcorn kernels are prepared by soaking them overnight, boiling them for fifteen minutes, then leaving them to simmer for 45 minutes. Reportedly, they are quite tasty; for those of blessed with a firm beak.) As a bread, Chewy selected Wheat Thins. For dessert Chewy chose a combination of finely chopped Virginia ham with a thick rice gravy.

Chewy was completely convinced his menu selection would have provided an coup de theatre experience of delectation and delight, but we will never know.

Before he left, Chef Palmer was kind enough to give us the name of an associate, Kate Armstrong, and, fortunately, we did manage to obtain the services of Chef Armstrong. However, she agreed to help us out at the last minute on the condition she could develop her own menu. Naturally, I had no problem with that.

Since you all have just completed a delightful meal, I am sure you will join me in applauding both the Chef and all the servers.

The Award

But we did not come here to talk about food. We are here to talk about music. More specifically we are here to celebrate the work of an absolutely amazing musician and performer named Namoli Brennet.

Photo credit: Kathleen Drier

In fact, we are here to honor Namoli Brennet's musical achievements by presenting her the 2008 Chewy Choice Award Music Achievement.

But first, let me tell you a little about the award itself.

Chewy Choice Awards are given to independent musicians with an impressive body of musical achievement. In selecting an award winner, we look for an individual with the following qualities:

1. Great musical talent.
2. Great musical achievement.
3. Great ambition for future achievement in music.
4. Commitment to Indie music.

We also aim to give the award, when (a) the award might be able to help boost an individual's career at an important juncture, and (b) the award might help bring attention to a body of work that might otherwise be largely ignored by the general public.

In 2007 the award winner was Patrik Tanner.

In 2006 the award winner was Lorna Bracewell.

Lorna Bracewell and Patrik Tanner are here at the front table tonight. Will you join me in giving them a round of applause?

If you don't mind, I would like to a couple seconds to make a few comments about Lorna. First, because she was the first Chewy Choice Award recipient, and we did not have the opportunity to gather virtually in her honor. Secondly, I would like to respond to some critics.

Initially, the Chewy Choice Award was called a ``lifetime'' achievement award. This caused some confusion, when we bestowed the first award on a young woman in her early twenties. Some people may have asked, ``How can someone earn a lifetime achievement award at such an early age?'' You can click on this link, and discover the answer. (The link jumps to Lorna's abridged resume.)

To eliminate the confusion, the award is no longer referred to as a "lifetime" achievement award. An alternative award name was considered, "Chewy Choice: A midlife-crisis management & music achievement award"; but, alas, it had too many words to fit on the poster.

Honoree

PHOENIX PART II

Now let us turn our attention to our honoree, Namoli Brennet. You are probably thinking, ``It is about time.''

``Home''

If you were, you are quite correct. Some may remember, I originally planned on doing a two part series about going to Phoenix and seeing one of Namoli's concerts. The first part in that series was published on 12 DEC 2007. In effect, this virtual presentation dinner is the second part in that series, so it is indeed about time that I get back to the subject of Namoli Brennet! (The first part of the series discusses Namoli's song ``Home''. Now, with Namoli's permission, a player has been added to that write up, so you now can listen to ``Home''. The link is here.)

Namoli Brennet's concert in Phoenix was a joy. It was a CD release concert. Namoli had just released her sixth album, Singer Shine Your Light. The concert was attended by a loyal group of Namoli fans. It would have been SRO, except the proprietor of the  Cafe went out of a ``chair run'', and in minutes about dozen folks were seated. (The three songs featured in this write up are from Singer Shine Your Light. In my opinion, this album contains must play music.)

California

It may seem odd that I attended a Namoli Brennet concert in Phoenix, Arizona about a week after she had performed in my neck of the woods in California.

Well, I won't steer you astray, I have some driving issues.

1. I cannot drive from Point A to Point B.
2. In heavy traffic I get panic attacks.
3. I never use my turn indicator, because I don't want to lose the advantage of surprise.*
   *© 1973 Tim Null

I would have had to drive myself to Namoli's concert in California, but I had a truckload of kinfolk to drive me me to Namoli's concert in Phoenix.

So I showed up at the concert with Mrs. Muddle and Unnamed Daughter. Soon there was brother and his wife. Then Sister Two, shortly followed by Uncle's daughter and husband. We filled up one of the back corners.

Namoli Brennet concerts are a mixture of stories and song. Unnamed daughter quickly became a fan of Namoli's stories. They reminded her of her youth, when she would go to Tom Paxton and Arlo Guthrie concerts ― both superb storytellers.

If you ever have the chance to see Namoli in perform live, take advantage of the opportunity. Namoli's concerts are an unforgettable experience both for her music, and for her stories. That is why Tim's Befuddled Universe published Namoli's blog on coffee recently, so you could experience Namoli's storytelling first hand.

``California''

When Namoli started to introduce her song ``California'', she asked, ``Was anyone in San Jose last week, when they had the earthquake?'' (I think it was a rhetorical question.)

Unnamed Daughter

Unnamed Daughter came to life!!! ``Yes,'' she piped out, ``I was at Target.''

At this point, there are two things you need to know about unnamed daughter.

1. She does crochet.
2. She organizes crochet groups.

Why is crochet important? Well, like any serious crocheter, unnamed daughter carries a project bag with her wherever she goes. That way she always has a crochet project handy. Then she can just snatch her current crochet project out of the project bag, and commence industriously working with the greatest possible vigor, whenever her hands might otherwise be idle (for example, when she's waiting for a stop light).

And what's the relevance of crochet groups? (First, a caveat.  I have never been to a crochet group meeting, so I admit this is all speculation on my part. On the other hand, when my little family lived in North Carolina, we had a chicken coop filled with hens, so I am pretty certain I got this one right.) Unnamed daughter organizes crochet groups, and I have gained one clear impression from being a distant observer. Crochet groups must be a little like live radio in that ``dead'' air must be a very definite ``no, no''. From the moment the first crocheter arrives to the moment the last crocheter leaves, someone must be talking. The talking need not be about any particular subject. The only rule is that there can never ever be a moment of silence; not even for the length of time it takes to inhale.

However, every crochet group does occasionally run out of discussion topics, if ever so briefly. When this happens it is up the responsibility of the group leader to jump in and fill with chatter until someone in the group can come up with a new discussion topic. Like a pro sports announcer, unnamed daughter has become quite adept at filling dead air with chatter. Recently, while I was eating lunch, I timed her at a smart 24 minutes and 43 seconds.

Namoli to the Rescue

Now where were we? Oh, we are back in Phoenix at Namoli Brennet's concert, and Namoli asks, ``Was anyone in San Jose last week, when they had the earthquake?''

First, unnamed daughter was naturally working on a crochet project Namoli's concert. Second, unnamed daughter became so engrossed by Namoli's stories, unnamed daughter momentarily lost herself in the perception she was at a crochet meeting. (Is this what religious rapture is all about?)

So Namoli asked an innocent question (I mean, how often will you get San Jose folks attending a Phoenix concert?), and now Namoli had some crazy lady at the back of the room giving a second-by-second report about what happened at one of local Targets during the San Jose earthquake.

I looked at Namoli, as she stood on the stage. She looked totally focused like a contestant at a spelling bee.

When unnamed daughter mentioned that emergency brochures always say to stand in a door frame during an earthquake, Namoli immediately interjected, ``Too bad you weren't at Home Depot. They have a whole door frame section. Then everyone in the store could have stood in their own door frame.''

The line got such a large and sustained laugh, it allowed Namoli to regain control of the situation. She continued the introduction of her song ``California''. As I recall, she didn't ask anymore rhetorical questions. (Click on the player above to listen ``California'' (lyrics).)

My purpose in telling this story was show how cool, calm, and friendly Namoli Brennet is, while she is performing. I was not trying to embarrass unnamed daughter. In fact, this is probably a good time to remind people that unnamed daughter is just a character in a blog. My real daughter has a name. She is also the sweetest person under the sun, and, if I recall correctly, she was in the lady's room, when the above events occurred.

``Sugarplum Dreams''

Namoli Brennet is like Jesus in that (a) the start of  her official biography begins when she is an adult, and (b) she only has one childhood story. However, beyond those two things, I am not claiming any other similarities, even though there is a rumor going around that she was once sited driving across Lake Michigan in her blue Volvo. (It could have been an optical delusion.)

The story from Namoli's childhood comes from Namoli's song ``Sugarplum Dreams''. ``Sugarplum Dreams'' tells the story when Namoli received her first guitar one Christmas morning. ``Sugarplum Dreams'' was selected as one of our Songs for Winter Holidays in 2006. (Listen here.)

``Rough Enough''

For some reason Namoli Brennet's  ``Rough Enough'' song reminds me of my Aunt Gertrude.

Now you will have to jump back in time for this story. This story takes place before my Dad was born, and he was born around 1910. So we have trains, but it's still horse and wagon, no autos.

So in our story it is about 1910 and we are in Miami, County, Kansas, which is just southwest of Kansas City, Kansas. The story begins when my grandmother Clara received $1,000 in inheritance. (My Great Grandfather David Dodge Cory was born wealthy, but he was disowned. However, that is a story for another time.)

After my Grandmother Clara received the $1,000 inheritance, she and my Grandfather Thomas Levi decide to move the family to Oklahoma. (Nulls are dreamers. The promised land is always over the next hill.)

A snag in the plan quickly develops. My Aunt Gertrude refuses to move to Oklahoma, because she loved a boy named Floyd. Now Aunt Gertrude and Floyd were only fourteen at the time, but it was true love.

Somehow my Aunt Gertrude convinced my grandparents that her love for Floyd was love everlasting. I imagine she convinced Grandmother Clara, then Grandmother Clara convinced Grandfather Thomas Levi.

Legend has it that Aunt Gertrude stayed behind in Kansas with family friends, then she married Floyd, when she ``came of age''. (I assume she ``came of age'' when she turned sixteen.)

Now I never met Aunt Gertrude, Grandmother Clara, or Grandfather Thomas Levi, because they all died before I was born. Fortunately, I did have the opportunity to meet Uncle Floyd before he died, and I can say this about Uncle Floyd, he was rough enough.

Uncle Floyd could have been a character in a movie or TV show.

And Aunt Gertrude was right, it was love everlasting.

You can listen to Namoli Brennet's song ``Rough Enough'' in the player above (lyrics).

``The Crying Wheel''

In so many, many ways this is a song of our times and a song for our times. There are so many crying wheels in this world of ours. So many of them are of our own making. On the global scene, two quickly come to mind, Iraq and global warming. Would either of these problems exist, if humans did not inhabit the Earth?

Often times there are crying wheels in our personal lives as well. We all have had moments when we have had a tension-filled relationship with another person such as an officemate, relative, club member, neighbor, spouse, etc. Sometimes a simple conversation can resolve these problems. Other times the problems linger, and the tension rises and falls as if it was controlled by the tides and the moon.

It occurs to me that the concept of a ``crying wheel'' may be lost on a modern audience.

The concept of a ``crying wheel'' refers to a wheel on wagon made entirely (or mainly) of wood. In addition, the wheels and axles were also made entirely (or mainly) of wood. If a wheel was in desperate need of grease, it would begin to squeak very, very loudly; hence the term ``crying wheel''.

I identify Namoli Brennet with the Null family in that Namoli is constantly driving around the country in her blue Volvo. This reminds me of how it took my branch of the Nulls about thirty years to travel by wagon from Western Pennsylvania to Kansas.

From time to time they would stop and set up house, but eventually they heard the rumble of Namoli's blue Volvo, and they moved on.

Because the Nulls spent so much time traveling by wagon, I imagine the Nulls were quite knowledgeable, when it came to the subject of crying wheels. Of course, I am talking about Thomas Levi Null who I mentioned above, and the many kinfolk that traveled along the way over those years.

On the other hand, David Dodge Cory, Grandmother Clara's father, most likely took a train from New York to Kansas, so his trip West was more likely to have been closer to thirty hours, rather than thirty years.

David Dodge Cory was born wealthy, and may not have known the sound of crying wagon wheels first hand, but his relationship with his father, Uzal Cory, was a huge ``crying wheel'' in his life. Legend has it that an arranged marriage was the ``final straw'' that caused my Great Grandfather David to leave his comfortable life and head West to Kansas. He ended up meeting my Great Grandmother, Laura Darner.

My great grandmother's story is no less fascinating.

Legend has it that Laura Darner was just a baby, when her father died. She always said she was from Ohio, but she may have been born just over the river in Kentucky. (Perhaps Laura's mother went to stay with kinfolk, when the time came.)

Not long after Laura's birth, Laura's mother was a widow with a passel of children she could not feed.

Laura's mother decided to remarry, but the only available husband, a Mr. Libby, wanted to join a wagon train going west to Illinois. Life is hard. Laura's mother remarried, and baby Laura was on her way West to Illinois.

Legend has it that Laura's step-father, Mr. Libby, was a ``crying wheel'' in Laura's life.

Legend has it, that when Laura came of age, she joined up with two brothers, and headed out for Miami County, Kansas.

Laura went to Kansas to start her life over. When she got to Kansas, she met a man looking for a fresh start.

Laura Darner and David Dodge Cory started over. They started over together. They left their ``crying wheels'' behind.

He was college educated and polished like finely crafted furniture. She was rough and tough like burlap. They raised two daughters, Susan and Clara (salt and sugar). By all reports it was a happy family.

There are genealogical records prepared by an honorable and certified genealogist, which show that my Great Grandfather David Dodge Cory married Laura Darner in New York. These records further state they lived in New York, and they raised their children in New York.

There are genealogical records prepared by an honorable and certified genealogist, which show that my Great Grandmother Laura Darner Libby married David Dodge in Illinois. They further show they lived in Illinois, and they raised their children in Illinois.

They say history belongs to those who write it. My Great Grandparents lived their married life in Kansas, and they are buried in Kansas. Because of the genealogical record, will history say they lived and died in Illinois? Or will history say they lived and died in New York?

If history belongs to those who write it, what will the historians say about things like what is currently happening in Iraq? Will the historical accounts be as inaccurate as my great grandparent's genealogical records? Perhaps we need to find out the facts for ourselves. Perhaps we should take more care in learning who's who, what's what, and, perhaps particularly, who and what are buried where.

I have digressed a very, very long way from Namoli's song, haven't I? But perhaps not. You might wish to read the lyrics to ``Crying Wheel'' and decide for yourself.

Let me just say in closing, I love the song, so I hope you give it a listen by clicking on the player above (lyrics).

When you finish, I highly recommend you check out all the songs on Namoli Brennet's album Singer Shine Your Light.

CLOSING

Well, that's it folks. Now enjoy the entertainment. Then have a safe trip home.

Namoli Brennet links:
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