Happy New Year

From my house to yours, best wishes for a new year as we leave this one behind. From most I have talked to - 2013 was far from a banner year. Health crises, job dilemmas and loss of loved ones for many. That is not to say it went without some occasional travel, family visits and a few great meals out. But looking onward with gusto. Tomorrow will follow a list of resolutions which I have been pondering for the last week. We shall see how well each are met - with intention and no pressure. (And the house is not really mine. An outing at the historic Ramsey House last week.)

Cards filled with nostalgia and reminders from family and friends, near and far. Thanks for the greeting.


Festive front banister. It adds a glow to the house and I think I will keep it intact through the winter to welcome friends as they come and go. I am ringing in the year with close friends and hoping you are doing the same and not alone.

Album Art

As I finish up the holiday season with its music, and the Compact Disc continues to fade into oblivion, here is a retro look back at album cover art. The LP was an art form in itself and we continue to idolize some of the classic works as true masterpieces. These examples ARE NOT.

Please Jesus, use them!

This one, surprisingly not from BuzzFeed, but an online art blog called the UnTapped Source. I have no idea where they scoured the globe to find these, but they are indeed international and of every decade. Painfully bad and from less than independent labels. More like a Polaroid camera and a printing press in a basement. A hoot. And as always, a link to the source so you can view each and every one of them
www.theuntappedsource.com/blog/worst-music-album-cover-art-youll-ever-see/ 

Oh No She Didn't!

Oh Yes She Did!

Emily Blunt in grade school recorder class?

a few gay men probably bought this for a basement fantasy

Amazing cast of Glee

Say what you will about the television show, Ryan Murphy's teen brainchild, they certainly have been a hotbed of amazing talent over the last 5 seasons. The show continues to grapple with midlife as some tangents have taken turns that often disappoint. But who could not say that of many long runs? What is a ploy to explore new directions (pardon the pun) and what is a miscalculated risk? I honestly think the current season 5 is doing quite well in spite of the death of Cory Monteith and managing to stick to the younger members still in school and less on the drama of the NY graduates. The young cast members have just as much in terms of chops as the originals did - they should be allowed to fly. The offshoot of The Glee Project injected honest and heartfelt pathos into the world of reality TV as well and its winners have held their own in the hierarchy.

Each cast member has had their own strengths that evolved over the years. Surprises as supporting roles emerged as front runners with Heather Morris, Naya Rivera & Alex Newell. Broadway chestnuts occasionally are featured that often rival the original recordings (yes Barbra's "Being Good" sung by Lea Michele.) All are fierce actors first which is a key element. All this leads to this incredible new video posted by Harry Shum Jr. Harry emerged from chorus boy in the line of the football team into an incredible presence. Here he has blossomed into a stunning performance artist using his gifts of dance as he interprets what it was for him to be shy and how his dance has become his outlet. A powerful message in all its color as narrated by Ze Frank.

Where Dreams Are Born

Day after Christmas ponder... Sometimes my reflections come from the most unusual corners. I will preface this by saying the holiday season was a bit different for the two of us. Last minute plans spent with a few close friends on Christmas Eve were supposed to lead way to a snowbound day of solitude. That began to change shape when we both got mild cases of the flu and most hours were spent resting in bed instead. Yes there were presents and a walk to see Rob down the street, but dashed were the hopes of an all-you-can-eat Asian buffet among other new traditions.


So it was with quiet irony that my final thoughts of the day were spent upstairs watching a film on the couch. I happened to pull Steven Spielberg's Artificial Intelligence out of the pile. I remember buying it well over a year back because I "enjoyed" it on first viewing. But as it played out, it took on new resonance and here is what I gathered from it in a holiday message:

It is a sci-fi futuristic fantasy about a cyber boy that comes into a broken family with the intention of seeing if a manufactured being is capable of healing with true love and emotion. Over the course of the story, of course it is the humans that fail at finding that true connection and the boy becomes an outcast of society embarking on a quest to find that affirmation. Two hours later, the human race is extinct and the boy-machine is discovered at the bottom of the ocean 2000 years later by aliens. His one lasting impression after all that time is the story of Pinnochio, which was imprinted on him at creation and the desire to become a real human with the help of the blue fairy. But the final moment of the film (excuse spoilers!) is about capturing the perfect moment of peace laying at ease with his mother as the moment fades from existence into eternity. He is left finally drifting off to eternal sleep - All is calm. 

Sort of deep - of course being Spielberg - but I reflected on how Holidays can set us up for defeat as we strive to recreate those perfect memories from our past or childhood and cling to them one final time. That can be the birth of a Christ child, a special gift under a tree or a family time capsule forever sealed in a black and white photo. And often amidst all the stress or chaos of the journey, we long for only a simple validation to give us that holiday peace. This is a bit rambling, but if you followed it through, take respite in that one perfect memory you harbor and use that as light to lead you into the New Year.

The film closes with one of the most beautiful and haunting pieces of music by the incomparable John Williams. Here it is: Where Dreams Are Born
Barbara Bonney - Where Dreams Are Born 
 

Frozen

Even if the frigid temps have made the holiday season a bit difficult to handle. One still has to get out to do both the mundane as well as the festive. 

But as we settle in for the long haul of winter, here are some lovely portraits of our lovely Minnehaha Falls during this arctic quarter. The shots are from a geographic website called Atlas of Wonders and highlight our neighborhood gem. The photos have been tampered with just enough to make them magical. But on some clear and comfortable day, I need to remember to take the small trek across town and enjoy the splendor that they bring. I am always amazed how they transform from season to season. Fall is especially wonderful, but winter freezes them in motion.

Holiday Baking Fails

BuzzFeed will be the end of me. Especially now that it is available in app form on my tablet. It will suck hours from my life as I pour over countless lists of could be/ should be. I'd love to know who these people are; that their job is to just comb the globe and compile virtual lists on every topic imaginable and not.

 



 
This one got chuckles from me last night. Baking is a skill like gardening that is just second nature to me. Even when following a recipe, I know the dough is too thick, something needs to bake another 10 minutes, what order to add ingredients.... Possibly experience, but more likely a genetic disposition. Whenever I have an epic fail it is usually a fault of machinery like the bread maker on auto. But I do understand how there are those with no green thumb or who are a disaster in the kitchen. These photos are from their determined but futile efforts. The BuzzFeed post is kind enough to show pics of what it should have looked like prior to the fail. But I think the fail sort of says it all. Here are a few followed by the full link for all of you holiday bakers.

17 Holiday Baking Fails

Holiday cards in the mail

I spent the weekend prepping a batch of cards for distant friends and family. Trying to keep them special with a bit of holiday decor and flair - a stamp here and there. Personal notes to all. It is often the one time of year to actually say a special hello and check in.

But after seeing the constant deals on Shutterfly, Walmart and everywhere else - I can see why it is so much easier to take the seasonal portrait and have it printed on a card. Cheap, thoughtful, efficient. It is also not a new tradition; just made easier with technology. So I always am amused by the list of unfortunate family pics that made it out there. How do they dig up these things!? Here are a few choice shots, but be sure to click on the link for the entire montage. Not to be missed. And if you have more, please share them.
Walmart Holiday photos

Little Dog Drummer Boy

This is not the first, nor will it be the last posting of holiday music. It is a huge part of my holiday tradition. Old classics and eager new finds. So if you have things to share, please comment on the blog so that I can check them out. My list is an extensive 2000 songs, so it may be pretty hard to stump this caroler.

But here is an internet share from a group I have never heard of. Walk Off the Earth - who are apparently an alternative/ indie band from Canada. It is again the Little Drummer Boy - which is probably one of my least favorite songs with the repetitious Rum Pum Pum Pum! But what makes this video so unique is the shooting of it. They are obviously dog fans like myself and have added professional dogs to their band for the track. A golden retriever on keyboards, a husky on percussion and another adorable mutt on upright bass. The trainers use their hands much like a Muppet operator to play the instruments, while the dogs patiently don holiday sweaters and do little more than look cute. But that is an accomplishment itself. Check it out!

If Only For a Second

This is a video shared to me via Jeff. Most of you know it has been a strenuous month for him with surgery and a long & painful recovery. This video likely represents some of his anxiety and hope for a short respite from the burden of a long healing process.

It is a project from France and the Mimi Foundation, which tries to bring joy and hope into the recovery of patients. For this particular project they took 20 cancer patients and promised them a beauty make-over to boost their spirits and appearance. They were told only to keep eyes closed during the appointment. Meanwhile, a professional photographer was positioned on the other side of the mirror and his goal was to catch the initial reaction of each when their new "look" was unveiled. The reactions are heartfelt and joyous. It appears they have also published the portraits as a table book. Here is the video documenting the project.

Angels We Have Heard On High

In honor of festive carols. Much to my own dismay as I sang out in the winter cold for 3 hours last Saturday for the lighting of the tree at Mendohta. Usually I enjoy the caroling quartet gigs, but this was a bit much for me in the frigid temps. This year I am much happier hibernating indoors with the new discs from both Mary J Blige & Kelly Clarkson. (Slight hint for festive additions to your library.)

But this holiday share is from the latest viral act, the Piano Guys and their rendition of Angles We Have Heard On High. Four guys doing their take on a single piano somewhere in between the spirit of Vince Guaraldi classic and Yanni New Age vogue. The video is pretty slick and high tech with gadgetry & cameras on a rolling train track around the piano. I don't for a minute buy that it is happening live, but totally isolated in a studio and then shown in HD for us to imagine it all unveiling in real time. But they seem to be having a great time at it, so why not share it with friends as well. Ho Ho Ho with plenty of cheer left to share over the next 3 weeks with you all.

the Art of Fail

Since the old year is about to wrap itself up neatly with a bow, I am sure the annual Darwin Awards are lurking out there somewhere. But this is a gentler version of them - nonetheless cringe and laugh worthy. 

I am well known to wear a bit of egg on the face. We only learn and grow from our trials and tribulations right? And I like to think that I have grown a lot. Be Bold is our motto here at YPC and it is about making those bold choices in life. So what I love about this montage, is that scattered through out the pastiche of failures, is both laughter and quotes about success over failure. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Then chalk it up to smart experience.

Warwick Hunks

Totally out of line with the current holiday season. And also more shameless gratuitous male imagery....

But the men of the Warwick Rowing Team are rolling out more "packages" of merchandise - excuse the pun. Calendars, greeting cards, and even videos. Just like the Midwest Firefighters, the Men in the Alps.... The is a definite market for this type of man candy. But these guys have a special appeal in terms of their BroMance stock value. I'm not sure if it is because of their collegiate stature or their lithe swimmer body types. It looks more like a Hallmark version of male porn where they are just having silly frat boy fun and someone happened to turn the camera on. Splashing in the water or skinny dipping at the creek. For some reason I can relate to them more than the others. They don't seem to be trying to be Abercrombie & Fitch models.

Whatever - not that I will be buying any of their stock. But it is worth a look and a bit of conversation right? Don't say you didn't!

Quirky Holiday Outings

VitaMN of course offers a detour from the onslaught of holiday offerings. Interested in Naked Girls Reading: Winter Wonderland where three festive vixens will recite excerpts of holiday fare in nothing but their birthday suits? How about Rockstar Storytellers who will entertain with their own missives on the season such as "Are You Sure You Want to Get Picked Up in a Gay Bar on Christmas Eve, Teenage Homosexual?" How about a live screening of the lost Star Wars Holiday Special from 1978 featuring the familiar characters as well as Bea Arthur and Jefferson Starship?


I am thrilled to live in a city diverse enough that there is definitely something for everyone to adorn their Christmas stockings. The list they provide certainly breathes relief from countless Nutcrackers and Charles Dicken's annual retorts. But maybe it steers just a bit too far away from the norm for me. Is this a sign that I have reached middle age complacency? I certainly hope not.



One of the things I look forward to in this bleak time of winter and holiday chaos are some traditions that have taken root in my own life over many years. Some of them quirky in their own right, but uniquely me. Simple pleasures like flooding the house with holiday playlists on the iPod and adding to the Christmas library. Cookie recipes from my childhood and also peppered with a few new choices each year. Revisiting film classics that have taken root in my holiday lore. Time is always scarce and while I am often open to new possibilities, it is hard to find hours for the small things I do cherish. This weekend it will be sitting down at some Dunn Bros in front of a fire place with a cup of cocoa and writing out cards to distant friends and family. That is a special holiday outing for me that fills me with anticipation.

Still - it is great to know that there is something for everyone. The list is attached below if you are looking for that break from your traditions.

14 Quirky Holiday Events

Holiday Music

Along with baking and the annual tree, holiday music ranks right up there at the top. Each year the library adds another 100+ songs to the MP3 files. (Although this year is slim pickings for new releases so far.) A single shout-out to Kelly Clarkson who is getting a big red bow in my stocking so far.

So it was a great surprise to find a link on Cities 97 this morning in my reads. I have a love-hate relationship with this station. I love their live Studio C tracks and the artists they promote. I just wish they didn't cycle through them on a mere hourly schedule and would be more daring in bringing new pieces to the table.... IF You Are Searching and READ THIS COMMENT 97! But Brian Oake, who I hear almost daily on the drive in to work, now has a web page with a holiday track each day of unusual finds and alternatives to the holiday droll we are blitzed with from shopping malls to coffee shops. Day one was a new offering from Pentatonic who I adore with their track of Little Drummer Boy. And day two is a gem by the late John Denver. Bookmark the link and we can both see what is in store over the next few weeks.

Brian Oake Holiday blog 

Home for the Holidays

This monumental post - my 201st - marks the onset of the holiday season. On a brisk and chilly Friday I put the first of the red lights outside and also pulled out the stack of cookbooks to select the honored recipes for this years crop of cookies. But also a night back, I shared the tradition of watching one of my holiday chestnuts in a warm  living room, with a fireplace, on a couch curled up with a blanket.

Jodie Foster's brilliant classic Home for the Holidays with a stellar ensemble cast of Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr. and Anne Bancroft among many others. It is hard to believe it is nearing 20 years old as we watched the credits roll; other than the obvious lack of wrinkles in RDJrs young face and the sad passing of both Bancroft and Charles Durning. I'm not sure what it is that draws me to it time and again - it is certainly not my East Coast family although we do bring along some of the crazy to the Thanksgiving table. Maybe it is the colorful characters that defy molds? Geraldine Page as the nutball auntie with her whipped cream key lime pie with M&Ms or farts in the car. Papa Durning playing his Hammond living room organ while watching the holiday football game. Robert Downey Jr keeping his gay relationship at bay amidst a sense of humor that is offending to everyone.

But I think if I had to capture it - it is the angst at the onset of the season that begins Thanksgiving Day and hangs over our heads until the ball drops on New Years Eve. Some rejoice in it while others dread it. Family is always central and while some cling to those traditions, others deny that they ever existed for them. It is a snowglobe of moments whirlling in our life and every once in a while we try to freeze one into a Polaroid photo that we can revisit when we need a marker to define ourselves. If you have not seen it in a while, this is the season!

Single Mother; Needs Help

This morning on the way to work I felt a certain heaviness. Often at the same intersection of Franklin & 280, there is this steadfast woman in the cold with a sign. She says she has work, but it is not enough to support her two kids. I can tell by looking at her that she is not pan-handling. She has definite need - more obvious with the dropping temps, flimsy coat and lack of gloves. This woman is not looking for a crack fix. It is even more obvious by the defeated look in her eyes that tell me she is swallowing every last morsel of her pride to man that corner. I am guessing the kids are in school and this is the small moment in her day to make best use of the morning traffic. The traffic light is always inevitably red as I stop. If I was not on my way to non-profit work where my own hours were cut, I would be more generous. No answers.

And then, strangely enough in my morning news feeds; I stumbled onto Angelina Jolie accepting her OSCAR Humanitarian Award. This would generally seem so incongruous. And I would likely be one of the last to rally for her position in life. But her speech was above heartfelt as she owned her privilege. She compared her life to so many of the world refugees she has met, and asked the audience why she was given the life she has versus someone in a third-world country that deserves far more. She spoke of her reckless path and how she found purpose. To be of use in life. And to me that is profound - how important it is to be of use. Finding a true purpose and being genuine to that. 

the Gay Bachelor

A good laugh on a Monday morning. I reluctantly admit, that I was a closet fan of the reality show when it first came out. No idea why - it is so white privilege and fairy tale fantasy. All the contestants and singles had teeth that were too pretty and led lives that were nothing like my own. But for some reason I would watch for the exotic adventures and drama that played out over the course of 8 weeks. It inevitably began to bore me so I couldn't tell you anything about it if it is even still on.

This parody brings to light all the phony qualities obvious from the show. Self absorbtion. Objectification and lack of substance. Persona over personality. Blah blah blah. Jesse Tyler Ferguson is fabulous as the brunt of it all. View with caution!

The First Gay Bachelor with Jesse Tyler Ferguson and George Takei from Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Dance If It Makes You Happy

I have had this one in the wings for a long while, waiting for the opportunity to share it. It has gotten some decent viral press, so it may be old news to a few of you.

Yes, at first it was some chuckles and broad smiles. But the more I think about it, it is a great reminder to fuel my creative spirit and not be stifled by the daily things that can become mundane. So whether that is donning a ridiculous costume to hand out candy on Halloween, or stepping on stage to do a cabaret set - it is important that I keep that side of myself intact. Joy without conform. I would be anxious to see this girl in 25 years...

Animated Art

This video feed brought some hearty chuckles to me today at work. I am always a big fan of classic artwork, although by no means a world expert on it. I usually at least recognize the work of most Masters and always try to catch a museum if there is time during travel.

So this concept of taking classic pieces and adding technology to bring them to life  grabbed me. It could be something that would work as a full length feature on Comedy Central easily. And as I read up on the video, it was indeed from an Australian sketch show called the Elegant Man's Guide to Knife Fighting. These are clever and amusing if not inspired. Tell me which you liked best!

Men in the Alps

A quirky share here. I was intrigued to say the least even if I don't quite get exactly who they are.

We have all seen the objectification of men in addition to women in the last decade. Magic Mike was a telltale sign that men's naked bodies are finally just as in demand as T&A. Another tangent has been the onslaught of male calendars. Usually in the name of some benefit or other. But let's face it - they are still the equivalent of an old Spencer Gift's poster bordering on porn and no one is really buying them to pencil in birthdays on their kitchen refrigerator.

I'll admit that I have peeked at the St Paul Firefighters! But this is a new one called Men in the Alps. They are these very attractive men in leiderhosen and suspenders who are parading the snowcapped mountains in search of either a St. Bernard or the Von Trapp kids. The latest promo is them singing along to a Michael Buble track. Great eye candy that we have seen from GI's on duty or frat boys with too much time on their hands.

So I offer it up as a sort of traffic gawker situation. I found myself watching it, but am not sure why. :)

Seed Harvest

Likely the final garden post of the year. Bummer there. I got the last of the bulbs in to hopefully avoid squirrels. Garnished with both cayenne pepper and Irish Spring soap - both supposed detractors. I brought the plants in from the frost to adjust to dormancy. And, harvesting a few seeds and bulbs for next year. It is a small chore, but always appreciated come next spring when I am wanting to bring things back.

Which is how I came across a great resource for next year. A co-op of sorts from Iowa called the Seed Savers Exchange. I think of them as sort of a Sierra Club for horticulture. Their mission is to make sure heirloom species of flowers and vegetables are not lost to processed farming and mutation. Much of it relates to produce and I'd love to make a trip down for their squash, tomato or apple festivals at some point. But I'm looking more forward to their catalog as a member now. It will allow me access to rare varieties of flowers that come from their temperature controlled storage vaults. We can all go into any garden store and buy off the shelf, but this will allow me to be part of a garden heritage that borders on legacy. So with that in mind, I am trying to be more conscientious of my own "crop" in the garden and not letting it fall victim to transient birds and critters as well as harsh MN winters. Stay posted come next April and May for possibilities. Below is their link if anyone else cares to check them out.


http://www.seedsavers.org/

Sidewalk Dog

Waylon had another great outing last Saturday at Doggie Depot over in St Paul. They opened the beautiful new depot to dog traffic for the day and the hall was filled with vendors of every canine sort. Your were greeted on arrival by the aroma of carob fondue pots to make your own peanut butter dog-dipped treats. (They were good enough that I even took a bite.) After that - there were costume contests, adopt a pet, photo opportunities; a wealth of possibilities to behold. Most amusing was the scurry of paws on the tile floors which made more of a skating rink for the pooches than an atrium.

But one great resource I had not come across was SidewalkDog.com. It is basically one stop shopping for anything you could want to share with your pet. Need a groomer or chiro for your dog? Check. How about a dog friendly patio or apple orchard? Check. Fill up your Google calendar with dog events around town. It's all compiled into one handy area.

But in addition to the resource, we found that their token dog blogger, Kramer, is almost an identical match to Waylon. Although he was not there in person, the pics on the site would fool even myself. Here is hoping to a meet up at some point. Until then - find their link ad give them a good look/ see.

www.sidewalkdog.com/