QUIPS AND QUOTES

Sometimes, we need a little levity.

To be alive, not just the carcass
But the spark. That's crudely put
But if we are not supposed to dance
Then why all the music?
                                        By Gregory Orr

My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But, ah, my foes, and ah, my friends...
It gives a lovely light.
                                         Edna St. Vincent Millay

He who doesn't like
Wine,women and song
Remains a fool
His whole life long.

                                        Author unknown to me.

Fortune favors the brave.

                                        Virgil Aeneid 70 BC-19 BC

Anything too stupid to be said is sung.

                                          Voltaire  (1694-1778)

Aside:  Those oldsters didn't mince words.

The hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the earth;
The hand that holds four aces,
Bet on it for all you're worth.

                                           Author unknown to me, but it sounds good.

Ciao
 

GARY ALLEGRETTO AND IAN ESPINOZA

A concert featuring cowboys, Gary Allegretto and Ian Espinosa both songwriters and musicians who love the blues and western music put on an outstanding show at the Arts Center in Angels Camp yesterday.  But the standout performer, Allegretto, is not a guitarist, but a harmonica virtuoso.  Never in my life could I have imagined the sounds and range of "vocals" that come out of a simple  carry-in-your-pocket, harmonica.  After the show, the duo sold and autographed CDs.


A "people" person, Gary posed with a local admirer, Chris Doty. Some of the music he has written qualifies him as a comedian. His range of music from the foot stomping, "This Ain't My Last Rodeo," (number one on the charts for three years running) and a sing-a-long number, "But You Can't Stay Here", reflect his days as a bouncer in a Santa Fe bar. He reminds us that Santa Fe, when he worked there,  wasn't all "pinky boutique" but a pretty rough shod place full of hard drinkin', fists ready cowhands. His music is difficult to describe, a blusey-western mix; throw in an African American spiritual, and something akin to dance with Ian's singing and playing on a guitar older than anyone in the audience, and you have a rave collaboration.


Allegretto is internationally known for his humanitarian work with children. He brings to kids- be it Indonesia, Africa or Wales-the universal language of music. He can talk through that harmonica and leaves each boy and girl with a harmonica of their own with which they can play four songs. Now that is peace making on a very basic level.


Calaveras Arts Council Director, Mary Jane Genochio brought them to Angels Camp and then on stage, gave a tearful farewell. Her house was destroyed in the Butte Fire and she said, "I am building a house and I must turn this job over to another."  We will definitely miss her.


Equally loved, former Director, Penny West, who held the reins for at least 20 years brought us Mary Jane. We in Calaveras County owe so much to the wonderful leadership provided by these two amazing women. Our Arts are strong, and we are so lucky and grateful.


Another arts venue is involved in the simple act of story telling, poetry, writing and critiquing new writers. A powerful group also in Angels Camp under the Arts Council umbrella. Here Joy Roberts recruits wanna be writer, Lizz Emerson. The Arts Council begins its free music in the parks concerts in early June, just a mention here while I'm at it. But, back to Allegretto. You can listen to a sample of his music on this website:  garyallegretto.com. But more than that, this is one of the finest accolades I've ever seen:
"I cannot express enough gratitude for what you have done for the harmonica and for Hohner. 
Without you, we would be less of a brand."
~ Clay Edwards, CEO, Hohner Harmonicas Inc.

You gotta see this guy!

THE BAND PLAYED FOR CAROLE.

If you are going to have a birthday party as an adult, you expect to enjoy it. The band, dedicated their music to Carole Gordon, whose birthday was being celebrated.


I don't know who they are, which didn't affect my enjoyment of their music. I heard guest, Alan Test, say, "Oh, that's Lightening Boy."  Lightening Boy moved quickly and I never did get his picture.


Carole got up and danced-and the night was hers.


These two singers and players are personal friends of Carole's.


They each wrote a song about their experiences in Viet Nam and sang them. The man on the left wrote and dedicated a poem to her.


The fellow doing sound and lighting reminded me of Rumbledore from Harry Potter.


 Carole was a teacher at Michelson Elementary School when we moved to Murphys 37 years ago. As our kids grew up, we were both involved in AFS (American Field Service.)  My exchange student, Linda, from Indonesia and her exchange student, Phillip, from South Africa, were good friends during their year together in Murphys.  AFS is a bonding experience, much like a family. Jim and Alisha Riggs were at the party, too. Jim had a student from Ethiopia before my family got involved in AFS.


Of course, the party wasn't only about the band. Selections of wine, beer and water.  The hors d'oeuvres were fabulous, followed by a full dinner of ribs, chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes and green beans.


I missed taking a picture of this birthday cake before it got cut.


But, I did get a picture of one of the chocolate cakes. All came from our local bakery in Murphys. Needless to say, I went home stuffed and smiling with pleasure.


Where is that Lightening Boy?

MURHYS FREE CONCERT IN THE PARK.

The first Friday of each month, the Business People/Community Club host a free concert in the park. A local caterer provides a meal to buy, or you can bring your own food and drink and just enjoy the burbling creek, a bit of sunshine, the company of your neighbors and friends and have a good time dancing or just listening to the music.  I love Murphys. Above is Glorious Gloria and Dennis Graves listening to someone who stopped by our table to visit.


Jan brought a pesto cheese bread to snack on that was super delicious. She was about to take off her sweater and go swimming in the creek, I think.


The kids love it at the creek and don't hesitate to jump in. How many towns have a creek flowing through the middle of it for all to enjoy?


And Donna, with the cutest hat.


The Reagans, I never see anymore except at events like this. It is my fault because I travel so much.


I didn't dance this time, but, when I do get home, I'm soooo glad I live in Murphys.

CAMERON PRARIE WILDLIFE REFUGE VISITORS CENTER-LAKE ARTHUR

We spent the night in the parking lot of the Cameron Park Wildlife Visitors Center.  Employees coming to work  knocked on the door and told us there was no camping in their parking lot. Jim explained about taking refuge from the storm and told them we would be visiting the center before we hit the road.  There is a boardwalk to an observation platform.

There are no trails to walk here, just one huge wetland very busy with birds and ducks.  The center has  two films,  artifacts and information about wildlife in the area.


We were amazed to see about 40 roseate spoonbills huddling in a copse of trees at some distance from our lens.  Their feathers are all fluffed up in an effort to keep warm. It was still windy and cold in the morning.


Like the egrets they are such majestic birds and obviously hungry.


It was fun watching them eat.


One bird would fly back to the group and another would come out to eat. I tried to get a decent shot of them flying but by the time they lift off and you try to find them in your viewer, they are too far away.


Birds high in the sky made a pretty sight. I thought they were geese, but on closer inspection they have medium long curved bills and I don’t know what they are. If you left click on the photos they enlarge. Do it twice, and they get bigger still.


I caught this fellow just swallowing his food.


Each time I’d turn back and try to isolate a bird from the mob huddled in the trees, the clarity suffers from the distance. Fascinating anyway.


Then as we were driving away, I could see a path behind the copse of trees near the road. Jim turned around for me and I walked behind the birds and got a couple of crisp shots. They were edgy and most of them flushed somewhere out toward the wetlands.


The thick brush made photos difficult, but they are so beautiful, it was worth the effort.


We stopped for groceries in Lake Arthur and got permission to park at the American Legion Post 405. A very friendly group. In fact, when I came out of the grocery store, a gentleman coming into the store offered to help me with my groceries. A very friendly town. No one locks their doors. Very little crime. God’s country, we are told.


The other patrons wouldn’t let us buy a drink in the place. This is Norman, Joe and Sally. Sally looks much like Loretta Lynn. She loves her music.


Everyone I asked was born and raised right here in Lake Arthur. Norman loves to dance and he informed Jim that everyone there is staunch Catholic and we were living in sin, at which time the whole bar erupted into laughter. We could hardly get away. They’ve asked us to stay for their jambalaya feed on Thursday afternoon. We have another storm warning for Thursday, with a tornado watch, so we have no plans to drive anywhere on Thursday.

THE SHOE POLICE

Yesterday warmed a bit and we spent a restful day with a few small chores. Jim pumped up all ten tires and fixed a valve. I treated the sinks with a baking soda soak and scrubbed the cutting board covers on the sink.
Every morning, the little tree outside our window fills up with tiny flitting birds. We can’t see what they eat and they don’t stay long enough to figure out what they are.

It was warm enough for the jack rabbits to come out of their dens by afternoon. They are gangly; all legs and ears. You can tell this is a nursing female.

There appears to be nothing for them to eat, the grass is sparse.
We dressed up after dinner for a dance at the American Legion..

We arrived just as the band was setting up. I brought my pocket camera and the room here, especially after the music got started, was very dark with only the disco ball flashing lights about the room.

Jim has been promising to dance me. We dance about the motor home frequently but in public, he tends to be shy about dancing. He turned me around the dance floor and I lost my backless sandals on the first dance.  I’d never danced in them before and we struggled along twice, with my shoes wanting to come off, so I vacated the shoes and I danced in my stocking feet. Later, a gentleman asked me to dance, asking me if I like to twirl. I told him yes and he twirled and twirled me about the dance floor. He came back for a second dance and the shoe police made me leave the floor because I was in my stocking feet. The gentleman urged me to try again and I did, and again, the shoe police kicked me off the floor. I explained to him my shoes wouldn’t stay on my feet-to no avail. Jim and I danced once more, a slow dance where my shoes didn’t go flying, and then we left. It was difficult to understand why there is such a rule since most women’s shoes are scanty and thin, especially dancing shoes. In fact, this is the first American Legion we’ve been too where there was a security guard. Maybe they drink too much and get rowdy as the evening proceeds?

Could be, judging from this guy’s bottle, Machine Gun Kelly whiskey. He was very proud of his purchase and told me “I got the last one!”  He didn’t open the bottle, just showed it to everyone.
The American Legion here only sells beer. If you drink anything else, you have to bring it and the bar provides you a cup and ice and will sell you mix.
I was having a great time before I got kicked off the dance floor, a first for me. We wanted to get home early anyway to see if the Harlingen PBS station would be playing Downton Abbey. (They don’t even broadcast on Sunday.)  Darn!

NATIVE AMERICAN DANCE.

Norman Roach is a Lakota/Sioux Tribesman, his native name is To Chase Along. His wife Ramona is from the Dine’ Tribe. He presented her with a beautiful beaded shawl when he asked for her hand in marriage.  She wears it in the first,  traditional dance she did for us at the Cortez Culture Center Amphitheater.   Both are school teachers and they have danced and taught together  for 29 years.

The Beaded shawl weighs 30 pounds.

The shawl from the back and a clear look at her headpiece.

I was able to get a picture of Ramon’s beautiful matching boots  because the traditional dance is quite formal and slow.

Norman dances the Grass Dance.  His costume is supposed to represent the life giving grasses that the Lakota People are thankful for. It is an old dance. The grasses fed the buffalo they depended on, until the massive slaughters that were meant to drive the plains Indians to extinction. He reminded us that Buffalo Bill Cody, a wild western hero, bragged about killing 6,000 buffalo in one year, leaving the carcasses to rot on the ground.

Lakota language is not understood by Navajo people.  Navajo has more similarity to Athabascan People who came over the Bering Straits 30 to 40 thousand years ago.  Norman and his  wife studied the history of Native Peoples and interjected a bit of history as they explained their interest in Native Dances, and how they evolved.

Norman dances in moccasins. He plays flute;  songs that are traditional and some he has written. I find a haunting loneliness, like the howl of a wolf whenever I hear the high-pitched flute music.

Ramona played the drum and sang a song about a little goat, and a child. The costume she is wearing is called the  Jingle, Jangle dress.

It is easy to see why it is called Jingle Jangle with tiny metal noisemakers sewn on it.  A modern dance that evolved when a  grandfather dreamed of this costume while he was ill. He asked his family to make the dress and do a dance to make him well. They did, and he got well.

Norman talked about the Hollywood version of  Native American life, how women are portrayed as  subservient to their husbands. In fact, Native cultures revere their Grandmothers. They are the basis of first nurturing and learning and are the most respected individuals in the tribe.  One of his songs was dedicated to grandmothers.  He said only in the movies will you see an Indian covering his mouth back and forth and caterwauling.  He talked about the misnomer, Indian,  to the more accurate identification of Native Americans. Dances are sacred rituals, just as we find music and camaraderie healing and healthful. Then, the pow wows became popular as a venue and now some dances are allowed to be photographed and are public like those he and Ramona perform.

The shawl dance, is controversial. It was the  first dance where the dancer spins around in a complete circle. An energetic dance,  performed by a young woman.  Some of the elders did not like it, but now they accept it. The young have evolved their native dances and they continue to change. Norman quipped, we do not have Indian Dance Classes 101. All are learned from family members. They are invented to serve a particular purpose in their culture.

The Shawl Dance is very fast and as you can see, Ramona’s feet come right off the ground in jumps and twirls.

A good view of the back of the costume.

Norman performed a complicated Hoop Dance that was originally done with a single hoop.

It is a difficult dance, energetic and complicated.

This figure represents the wings of a butterfly.  For the last dance, the crowd was invited to join in a simple round dance which is a very Hollywood ploy to involve everyone, but welcomed by all and quite fun.  Then anyone who wanted, could have a picture taken with the couple. It was a fun evening
Norman’s grandmother was a survivor of the Battle Of The Little Big Horn.  She was five years old.  He is very proud of his ancestry and likes to promote the positive history of the Native Americans that the history books often avoid.
To view more pictures of the dances, click on the following link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/106530979158681190260/201268NativeAmericanDance?authkey=Gv1sRgCOPpytXpkKiCTA
Yesterday, we drove to Mesa Verde National Park to see the cliff dwellings and enjoy the high country scenery.