Sunday, April 1, 2012

And Make Us Happy In The Happy Bees

I enjoyed doing a Monkees post every day last month, and I'm hoping it will make me want to post in my blog more often. Hope everyone else enjoyed it as well.

I had a rather shaky week. I didn't feel well physically all week, but Friday night it finally culminated in some kind of stomach thing that had me up most of the night. Saturday went by in a blur, and today I've still felt tired. Worse than that I have been irritable, or should I say, easily irritated.

Also, a very good friend of ours was diagnosed with Stage Four cancer last week, a very big surprise to him and his family, as he had no notion that there was anything wrong until he got diarrhea that wouldn't go away. It turns out he has cancer in both lungs, his liver, his spine, and both his lumbars. He is not a smoker, although I think he may have been when he was younger. He's a wonderful man and a very close friend. It is hard for me, especially coming at this time of the year. My Dad's cancer was diagnosed in March 10 years ago, and we buried him in May that year. I remember that shock and the trying to come to terms with it that we went through and feel for his wife and kids and grandkids. It has hit Thomas hard, too, because this man has been like a father to him since he was teen. So mentally and emotionally, it hasn't been that great a week for me, and I feel guilty even writing that when I think of what our friend's family is going through.

And then, just about 30 minutes ago, the nicest thing happened. I had to run out to the grocery, and Andrew asked me if I'd pick him up something at McDonald's. He offered to pay, and I told him not to worry about it. When I pulled up to the window to pay, the cashier handed me a receipt and said, "She paid for you."

A lady, a stranger, in a little white Mini Cooper paid for my double cheeseburger and fries! How very sweet, and how little she knows what that little random act of kindness has done for me today. She waved to me as she pulled off after picking up her order, and all I could do was wave back and mouth "thank you" to her rear view mirror. Have no idea who she was, but I plan to pass along that kindness just as soon as I have the opportunity.

Needless to say, I burst into tears -- emotions just too close to the surface right now! But now I feel more relaxed and contented than I have all week. Hopefully I can keep a good attitude and demeanor for the rest of the day and make sure that my family has a comfortable and happy evening.

A Prayer in Spring By Robert Frost

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.

Have a great week everyone!!



31 Days of The Monkees:

"Goin' Down"

"For Pete's Sake"

"Theme From The Monkees"

Interviews With The Monkees

"HEAD" and "Porpoise Song: Theme From Head"

"I'm A Believer"

Fairy Tale

The Monkees Screen Tests

"What Am I Doing Hanging Round?"

"Star Collector"

"Daily Nightly"

"Love Is Only Sleeping"

"The Door Into Summer"

"When Love Comes Knocking At Your Door"

"Mary, Mary"

"No Time"

"Randy Scouse Git"

"Zor and Zam"

"Valleri"

"Mr. Webster"

"The Girl I Knew Somewhere"

"Zilch"

"Shades of Gray"

"She"


"Your Aunty Grizelda"

"Pleasant Valley Sunday"

"Last Train To Clarksville"

"Papa Gene's Blues"

"This Just Doesn't Seem to be my Day"

"I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog"

"Early Morning Blues and Greens"

Saturday, March 31, 2012

"Goin Down"

Day 31 of 31 Days of The Monkees:

Okay, first things first: KY just beat Louisville to advance to the finals, in a game where U of L did a great job and fought a hard fight, but the Cats just fought a bit harder!! And then Kansas upset Ohio State in a very surprising game! So it's Cats VS Jayhawks on Monday!

Okay, so this is my very favorite Monkees song, "Goin' Down", written by Diane Hildebrand, Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith, Davy Jones, and Micky Dolenz, with Micky singing lead. This was the "B" side of "Daydream Believer", and I always preferred it. "Daydream Believer" is a great song, but I never really liked it as well as so many others, and yet it's the one you always heard on the radio. "Goin Down" was supposed to be on the album, "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones", but was deleted after "Love Is Only Sleeping" (also a great song!) was included in the album. It was inspired by Mose Allison's song, "Parchman Farm" and began as just a free-form jam until Mike decided it should be recorded.

I'm posting two versions: the first has all the words in the right order; the second is the only live version I've found that I like, but Micky messes up some of the lyrics -- it's still fun to watch, though:



Thursday, March 29, 2012

"Theme from The Monkees"

Day 29 of 31 Days of The Monkees:

It's been so very pretty here this past week. We didn't get any of the rain that they said we might get. I mowed today for the first time this season, and Thomas got the weed eater out. I use a riding mower, but it still makes my lower back and hands hurt a little, especially when it's been a while since the last time I mowed. I love mowing, though. I like the solitude, and I like working away at the yard, section by section, until it's all done. Tree pollen is bad, so between that and mowing, it was Claritin D and naproxin when I finished.

Perhaps I'll get out and work in some flower beds this afternoon.

I guess it is time to highlight the theme song from The Monkees show, written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, with Micky on lead and Tommy Boyce doing backup vocals. One I never get tired of hearing:




Interviews With The Monkees

"HEAD" and "Porpoise Song: Theme From Head"

"I'm A Believer"

Fairy Tale

The Monkees Screen Tests

"What Am I Doing Hanging Round?"

"Star Collector"

"Daily Nightly"

"Love Is Only Sleeping"

"The Door Into Summer"

"When Love Comes Knocking At Your Door"

"Mary, Mary"

"No Time"

"Randy Scouse Git"

"Zor and Zam"

"Valleri"

"Mr. Webster"

"The Girl I Knew Somewhere"

"Zilch"

"Shades of Gray"

"She"


"Your Aunty Grizelda"

"Pleasant Valley Sunday"

"Last Train To Clarksville"

"Papa Gene's Blues"

"This Just Doesn't Seem to be my Day"

"I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog"

"Early Morning Blues and Greens"

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

"Head" and "Porpoise Song"

Day 27 of 31 Days of The Monkees:

I guess a tribute to The Monkees wouldn't be complete without mentioning the movie "Head." I saw "Head" once many years ago, and don't actually remember what I thought about it. Isn't that terrible? I do like a couple of the songs from the album, "Purpoise Song", in particular. I've read and heard good and bad comments about the movie, so I need to watch it again to make up my own mind. Click on the link to read about the movie in Wikipedia. Got some bad news today about a good friend of our family, and I just really don't feel like writing much about "Head" right now. (Think I've got a cold, too; feeling very lethargic.)

But below are the following videos: "Porpoise Song", the theme song from the movie; a trailer for the movie; a promo for the movie, and a Fan-Made trailer, which I actually like a lot better than the trailer Columbia Pictures made.

Porpoise Song:



Trailer:



Promo for Head:



Fan-made trailer:




"I'm A Believer"

Fairy Tale

The Monkees Screen Tests

"What Am I Doing Hanging Round?"

"Star Collector"

"Daily Nightly"

"Love Is Only Sleeping"

"The Door Into Summer"

"When Love Comes Knocking At Your Door"

"Mary, Mary"

"No Time"

"Randy Scouse Git"

"Zor and Zam"

"Valleri"

"Mr. Webster"

"The Girl I Knew Somewhere"

"Zilch"

"Shades of Gray"

"She"


"Your Aunty Grizelda"

"Pleasant Valley Sunday"

"Last Train To Clarksville"

"Papa Gene's Blues"

"This Just Doesn't Seem to be my Day"

"I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog"

"Early Morning Blues and Greens"

Monday, March 26, 2012

"I'm A Believer"

Day 26 of 31 Days of The Monkees:

Today has been a beautiful spring day -- bright sunshine, cool breezes, temps in the 60s/70s. There is actually a frost advisory for parts of the state tonight, but tomorrow we expect more of the same great weather.

I did a bit of yard work and spent time with my dogs today. I love seeing them out there rolling around on their backs in the new grass. You can tell that it just feels so good! Eler Beth got the rabbits out of their hutches today as well to let them graze on the new grass and clover. They really enjoyed that.

Today's song is "I'm A Believer", recorded in 1966, written by Neil Diamond, with Mickey on lead, and Peter, Davey and Mickey (also) singing back up; from their second album. I held off on posting this song, even though it is a favorite, simply because everyone knows it and I wanted to do a lot of lesser-known Monkees songs first.

"I'm A Believer" hit #1 on Billboards Hot 100 chart in December of 1966 and stayed there for seven weeks, and it was the biggest selling hit of 1967. The single went gold within two days of its release, and is one of fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. Diamond himself played the guitar for this recording.

It's the kind of song you never tire of hearing and singing along with.

Lyrics:

I thought love was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me.
Love was out to get me
That's the way it seemed.
Disappointment haunted all my dreams.

Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer

Not a trace of doubt in my mind.
I'm in love, I'm a believer!
I couldn't leave her if I tried.

I thought love was more or less a given thing,

Seems the more I gave the less I got.
What's the use in tryin'?
All you get is pain.
When I needed sunshine I got rain.

Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer

Not a trace of doubt in my mind.
I'm in love, I'm a believer!
I couldn't leave her if I tried






Fairy Tale

The Monkees Screen Tests

"What Am I Doing Hanging Round?"

"Star Collector"

"Daily Nightly"

"Love Is Only Sleeping"

"The Door Into Summer"

"When Love Comes Knocking At Your Door"

"Mary, Mary"

"No Time"

"Randy Scouse Git"

"Zor and Zam"

"Valleri"

"Mr. Webster"

"The Girl I Knew Somewhere"

"Zilch"

"Shades of Gray"

"She"


"Your Aunty Grizelda"

"Pleasant Valley Sunday"

"Last Train To Clarksville"

"Papa Gene's Blues"

"This Just Doesn't Seem to be my Day"

"I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog"

"Early Morning Blues and Greens"