Come Back, Shane! ... Come Back!

Good Evening Garlic Fans ...

Once again, we come (and being the day after the 4th), it can be said, with a firework barge-full of apologies, for our extended absence.

When last we popped in, some three-weeks ago (not counting the First Day of Summer, and our prognostication on the recently fired cock-waving, muscleheaded military commander, General Stanley A. McChrystal), we had been diagnosed with a Herniated Disc (in the L4 region), and was soon off to a second Ortho Guy, for a shot in the back.

Well, we received said shot-in-the-back, and since, only marginal improvement.

Some of the pain has been mitigated, however, numbness of the foot goes on, and, the cramping has been virtually unabated, disrupting sleep to the point of not being able to call it sleep (We would gladly pay you Thursday, for some sleep today).



We've been carrying on with our homefront project, as best we can (and that is behind schedule, as well), and none of this has had us in a creative mood to write, missing, for the first time since we started writing The Garlic, our annual tirade of a July 4th Garlictorial.

Most fortunately, and unknowingly, someone picked up the slack on that front for us.

Our good friend Barry Crimmins, who has an awesome post up for the Annual Pap Holiday, "Fourth of July Remarks For Any Occasion (in the form of notes for the platform speaker)";

Continued remarks about how we wouldn't be able to play golf or even go to a mall this morning without our supported dupes' absolutely needless sacrifice in inordinately far-flung places. Places where the locals have learned that, to Americans, appreciation for democracy can only come at the cost of the arms, legs, eyesight, mental health and even the lives of countless innocents whose only prior crime was to have never thought of our nation in any terms, at all. But now they know us, thanks to the, at times, literal human sacrifice of our very children to a heartless yet absurdly self-righteous foreign policy that is enforced by retaliation against almost anyone who makes the mistake of passing through somewhere, where someone we really hate might also pass through at some point.

That's what makes us different from the terrorists.

And if Barry's post wasn't enough, a War of Words erupted in the Comments Section, and a few dwarfs, finks, phonies and frauds perhaps Wannabe Flying Monkeys, since their blather was little more that the tired-and-tattered, Right Wing Dale Carnegie toast of "if you don't love this country, you should leave it", attempted to lecture and humble Barry with that tripe.

I mean, that's like showing up to a Rave, in a John Travolta-Saturday-Night-Fever-white-bell-bottomed-suit, and thinking you're major cool.

I think Barry handled, dealt with, and settled, that particular Right Wing lament back when Nixon was in office, so he swatted that away like a home run hit at Home Run Derby (easy-as-pie, for our baseball-challenged readers - you can go read our Special Essay to bone-up on the Grand Ol' Pastime)

So inane were these voices from Nitwitville, that James Wolcott had to use his Vanity Fair column, to call out, specifically, Darlene Click's vapidness, which will likely, draw in all of Click's Wannabe Flying Monkeys, to read Wolcott, and then click over to read Barry post, for the context.

Hum Stars and Stripes Forever to yourself, as those Wannabe Flying Monkeys suddenly feel like they don't whether to piss, or wind their watches.

Back to business, with a Heatwave settling in this week (ask me in a few days how that "God doesn't give you more than you can handle" thing is workin' for me), and the Back/Herniated Disc thing still playing havoc, and feeling like we have lost our writing mo-jo, we can't say when we will resume regular posting, other than the nebulous "soon".

So, go dig into Barry Crimmins' delicious holiday treat and keep checking back for any fresh post we sneak in.

Mi Ritorni in Mente

Bad allergy day, Garlic Fans, so we packed it in early, leaving a handful of posts partial written (or just some notes).

Hope to be back in the saddle tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's some nice licks, from Italian trumpet player, Enrico Rava.

Enrico Rava - Mi ritorni in mente




Here's Enrico Rava's website

Brown Street

Sorry, Garlic fans, we were jammed up today, leaving little time to hunker down, and delve into the abundance of things, big fat juicy items, to riff on.

So, as we typically do in this kind of situation, we turn to Jazz, and hip you to some incredible piece of music.



Tonight, we go with one of our all-time favorites, Weather Report, and a monster tune, from their legendary '8:30' album;

Many of the group's earlier albums had received the highest possible (5-star) record rating in Down Beat's record reviews. However, in 1978 the group recorded the controversial and experimental Mr. Gone, which received only a 1-star review from Down Beat magazine. The group arranged for a rebuttal interview with the magazine to defend their efforts. Zawinul and Pastorius were defiant in their responses to the interviewer, Shorter more philosophical, and Erskine the most reticent of the four. Some say this particular Down Beat review was the most controversial in the magazine's history.

They would make a comeback and follow up with their last album of the 1970s. 1979's 8:30 is considered to be one of their best, combining both live and studio recordings on a double LP release. The group won the 1979 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance for 8:30. Despite the Mr. Gone controversy, the band's follow-up 8:30 tour was probably their best attended. Zawinul has been quoted as saying there were more stage hands hired for that tour than at any other time in the band's history.

Put on your dancing shoes, as this tune is will get the toes tappin', and the hips a swayin'!

Enjoy!

WEATHER REPORT brown street 1979

In Memoriam ...

Good Evening Garlic Fans

I had expected to put up an Editor's post this evening, to explain our absence yesterday (due to a severe flu bug thing going around), however, we received much sadder news.

The Aunt that we have been caretaker to, who we made numerous references to, in our trials-and-tribulations, has passed away, at the age of 97.

She is the end of an era, the last of her siblings to pass.

Born to Syrian immigrants, she lived a rich, full life, living independently, until age 90 (and, fighting off a purse-snatcher, at, around, 87 or 88).

She was a prolific baker, sewer, knitter, and giver, always there, always giving of herself.

It is sad, but we know now, she is in a better place.

With this, we can't say, for sure, when we will resume posting, certainly not over the next few days.

So, busy yourself by running down the left sidebar, and read the highlighted post, or explore some of the other great writers out there via our Links Section.

Transitions

Good Evening Garlic Fans

Yes, we're popping up for air, this evening, with a few words about our extended absence.

It has been an extremely cumbersome time, here on the homefront, the past week (and more), as the Aunt (soon to be 97-years-old) we have been caretaker to has taken another downturn.

When we last appeared, she had been admitted to the hospital, but only held overnight, as she had been experiencing an increase in her dementia, as well as experiencing a small TIA episode.



She was released from the hospital last Sunday, and, in truth, should not have been.

Overnight, either from the dementia, or, the drugs given to her in the hospital, she lost her ability to stand up, and walk, which, as you can quite imagine, it was a heavy-duty task attending to her, without her walking, and still, heavily, in her dementia cloud.

The situation turned again, very early Monday morning, though in a better mental mood, less dementia, she experienced two additional TIA's in a short span of time, so it was off to the hospital again, and she was admitted, for the second time in two days.

A long talk with her primary doctor (who has been tremendous throughout our journey) that she may be entering her final phase of life and, certainly, more and more incidents are happening, the dementia has been increasing throughout the year, and due to her age, and overall condition, she is not a candidate for surgeries, or major, invasive treatments.

The decision was made to move her into a Rehab/Nursing Home facility (one that we had her in just a little over six-weeks ago).

As you can appreciate, I had more than a full-plate to deal with, and jumping on the computer to post was well down the list.

It is, likely, to be erratic this week, as more tasks regarding the above are already lined up, however, we will endeavor to attempt to put our glove on, and get in the game.

Many thanks to those who passed along good wishes, and vibes, as well as those who visit and read The Garlic regularly, or in passing.

Siento

Yes, a muy grande siento, for our missing-in-action this past week.

No, we didn't fall off the face of the planet, but, rather, we were inundated with tasks, for both The Aunt, and myself, on the homefront, that cut deeply into computer time, as well as leaving one tired, and very uncreative in the evening.

We're hoping to get a few posts up today, and use that to build back into a groove.

In the meantime, we'll let the great Hector Lavoe take it away!

HECTOR LAVOE - SIENTO




Visit the Hector Lavoe Website

Mystical Man

No Garlic Fans, no great insights coming with the title (we'll let your divine who may be today's "Mystical Man"), just putting down a music marker, as we have been burning on all-cylinders here on the homefront.

The Aunt that we care for will be discharged from her short-term rehab stint on Wednesday, and we've been full-bore on getting some things down in anticipation of that.

We should also say that the next few days could be light posted, as well.

Sooooo ...

We have a great piece of music that captures that anticipation (or, as the YouTube poster offers, "An appropriate song for watching the world go by on a rainy day"), courtesy of Young-Holt Unlimited.

"Mystical Man" by Young-Holt Unlimited



You can check out Larry Grogan, over at Funky16Corners for some back-up info on “Young-Holt Unlimited Play Superfly’

Flamenco Sketches

Well, it was Sunday, and another hot, humid day, so we didn't spend a great deal of time at the computer.

Rather then force anything, we found a pretty good tune to close down the weekend with (or, for that matter, anytime you need to chill out).

Back tomorrow, with, hopefully, a few posts.

Meanwhile, enjoy!

Flamenco Sketches-Miles Davis

Friday Night In San Francisco

Good Evening Garlic Fans

Our apologies, for the lack of posting the past few days - and not owning up to it with a clarifying Editor's Note.

As regular readers know, it's been an extremely hectic period on the homefront the past two-weeks, with a little extra added on the recent days, with some heavy-duty allergies riding in, with the summer-like weather we have had in the Northeast.

It has been tough, carving out reading, and writing time, this week, having to juggle doctors, visiting nurses, Elderly Services, and today, a follow-up doc visit.

So, we are taking the night off, and maybe tomorrow, as well.

And, as we like to do, we don't leave you empty-handed.

Another gem to groove on, from the tremendous (over 6-million copies sold world-wide!), album, ''Friday Night In San Francisco', with Al Di Meola, Paco De Lucia, John McLaughlin.

So, dig into "Mediterranean Sundance/Rio Ancho", while we throw up our heels, and chill out some.

"Mediterranean Sundance/Rio Ancho" - Al Di Meola, Paco De Lucia

Mediterranean Sundance - Paco de Lucía

Viva Tirado

Well, we're still pulling some heavy duty today, getting Aunt settled in.

Little time (and too tired) to get back in to the creative posting mood today (though, we have a few things lined up, sort'a like practice swings, limbering up, as it were, for tomorrow - hopefully).

With it being Saturday night, we figured we have to kick up the music offering, and we've got just the gem for that ...

Viva Tirado, from the Fania All Stars.

It's tune written by (more-or-less, a signature of) the legendary Gerald Wilson, one of the giants of Bebop, still fronting his own band, a monster composer/arranger.

So, put your groove on, and kick it up! ... This one definitely has some extra sauce on it ...

Viva Tirado - Fania All-Stars



(You can go HERE, to check out the Gerald Wilson Orchestra's rendition of it)

Home

Well, the Aunt is home!

We busted her out of the hospital last evening, however, we were too exhausted to post it

The check-out went fairly smoothly, the battle prepared for didn't materialize, and it all went very well.

She was happy, and laughing as she retired to bed.

Today was consumed with dealing with her, getting her settled in, start routines again (as best we could) and, for most part, it went better than expected.

She ebbed a bit, as the day wore on, but, otherwise, was in reasonably good spirits.

I can't predict just how the weekend will play out, however, we will endeavor to get some regular posting done

In the meantime, having had the pleasure to see the original cast, in NYC, we turn to Stephanie Mills for this evenings' musical offer, and her monster tune from ''The Wiz', to herald the occasion.

Enjoy!

Stephanie Mills - Home

Home - Stephanie Mills

Are You Going With Me?

Yes, another long, tough day at the hospital, Garlic Fans.

The Aunt, she's doing very well, and made it through her big test today.

She's resting comfortably, vital signs are good, and, if all stays well, will return home tomorrow.

The cumbersome part of this has been dealing with hospital administrators, their Social Services, who are attempting to railroad the Aunt into a "short-term rehab center" (that would be anything but), when the best for her is coming home.

They've been running various people at me with this dribble, and we have been beating them back (and, we fully expect another barrage from them tomorrow).

So, we needed something to chill out with this evening, and we turned to Pat Metheny for that ...

Likely, it won't be until the weekend, before resuming normal (or something like that) posting (not that we are empty on some ideas - there's some prime, head-slapping stuff happening, that is just begging for some riffs).

Groove on the music, and talk among yourselves ...


PAT METHENY GROUP: "Are You Going With Me?" (Live)

Cry Me A River

Sorry Garlic Fans, another long, rough day, and still, very much in hospital mode.

Tomorrow, already, is set-up to be another long day, so not sure what we will be able to do with getting any posting done.

So, in the meantime ...

Try visiting The Reaction, where we are a Contributing Editor, and, you will, always, always find some tremendous writing.

Or visit Open Salon, where we cross-post frequently, and, you will find a wide-range of topics, with a good, and entertaining, group of writers.

For the Bonus Treat to put up as our evenings' placemaker, we give you the smokey Julie London

Julie London - Cry me a river (HQ Audio)

With You I'm Born Again

No, were not riffing on Arlen Specter.

Rather, we are going Jukebox this evening, as we got sidetracked today, on the homefront, and rather then force things, decided to go-with-flow, and chill out.

We give you a great one, from the earlier 80's - Eric Gale's "With You I'm Born Again", off his 'Touch of Silk album (with killer sax work by Grover Washington Jr.).

This was, earlier, a big hit for Billy Preston and Syreeta.

You should enjoy it ... Nice tune to take us into the weekend.

Eric Gale " With You I'm Born Again " 1980

Meu Nome é Gal

Good Evening Garlic Fans

Once again, we have hat-in-hand, brim full of apologies, for the lack of posting the past few days.

We, more-or-less, hit a wall, needing rest, to recharge the batteries, after attempting to balance out the writing time, with all the activity we've had on the homefront the past few weeks.



And, we had intended to do some posting today, however, it turned into a "Comcastic" day, as our fabled service provider had, apparently, a nation-wide email outage.

Not that this, necessarily, should have prevented us from posting, however, if keeping Outlook open, after anticipating, per Comcast, resolution, almost on an hourly basis, this slowed things up, as our Outlook cycled, perpetually, often leading to time-consuming, computer-freezing, "file synchronization", and having a "Network Password" box popping up, about every five-seconds, all not anywhere close to inspiring creativity.

So, another day of chilling out (well, as best we could), with a eye towards a plan to start banging away tomorrow (Sunday).



To help buffer the nuisance today, we turned to one of our all-time favorites, vocalist Gal Costa, to drift away from it all.

Here's one of her classics - Enjoy!

GAL COSTA - MEU NOME É GAL (PROFANA)

It Never Entered My Mind

Lo Siento ...

Busy, full, bursting day on the homefront, leaving me completely drained ...

So, while we gather back our energy, check out a little George Shearing, with his monster rendition of a classic staple ...


George Shearing - It Never Entered My Mind

It Never Entered My Mind - George Shearing

New Math

A bit of a cumbersome day on the homefront (and perhaps, with the excitement of last weekend, a wee bit tired).

So, we're going to throw one out to those hardy, game nitwits in the PartyofNoicans.

After the ridicule they received last week, for there infamous "Budget with No Numbers", they had another bell-ringing today, calling attention to their new budget, which, well, it's barely an improvement of what they offered last week

Still few numbers, lots of tax cuts, a bigger deficit, and even more unanswered questions.

They are pathetic.

Here's a sampling you can wade through.

Steve Benen: A BUDGET PERFECT FOR APRIL FOOLS' DAY...

Josh Marshall: Reassuringly the Same

Bob Cesca: $4 Trillion

D-Day: New And Improved, With Numbers!

So, with the PartyofNoicans deft mathematics skills in mind, what better salute can we give them, but the classic Tom Lehrer tune, "New Math" (the audio is Lehrer, the visual, an actor).

Somebody, please, send the PartyofNoicans a copy of "Writing A Budget for Dummies", though, we realize, even with that, it also, may be above their capabilities.

Tom Lehrer: New Math

For The Want of A Catscan ...

Good Afternoon Garlic Fans ...

So sorry about the lack-of-posting the past three-days, as we ran into another emergency situation on the homefront early Friday morning, lining up, and setting the tone, for a cumbersome, time-consuming weekend.

The Aunt we care for took a little tumble (again), just after breakfast on Friday, and, while, seemingly uninjured, we felt the prudent course was to get her to the hospital, just the same, to be sure there was nothing wrong.

So off we went, and, in just under two-hours in the Emergency Room, we were informed that the Aunt's regular Doctor has ordered for her to be admitted, for overnight observation (more specifically, to monitor her bloodwork for enzymes, which would have indicated heart trouble).

All the tests (X-Ray, Echocardiogram, bloodwork, EKG and Catscan -which we will come back to) - were normal, no trouble indicated.

Of course, we had to contend with the Aunt not wanting to stay in the hospital.

Saturday AM, upon arriving at the hospital, all tests were still good and that the Aunt would be discharged.

However, would we mind doing another Catscan?

Seems they didn't do one the day before, due to the Aunt not being cooperative, so between that, and waiting nearly a half-hour for a wheelchair, to get her downstairs, we were a bit delayed in getting out of there.

It took her a bit of time to readjust back at home, and a bit more excitement Sunday morning (but all was okay), we had extra monitoring duty on her, leaving time, and energy, to write, by the wayside.

So, we will get back into the groove today, and tomorrow, both riffing on what's going on now, and a few posts that would have been put up over the weekend.

Once again, many thanks for continuing to visit and support The Garlic.

Come With Me

Yet, another lost day today, as a very cumbersome day on the homefront (and tomorrow is a hospital visit, so posting will, likely, be late).

We do have someone, jumping up and down, to take the IDOTW title - South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford... I mean, he's really going for it...

Citicorp are ungrateful pricks...

Or, how ignorant David Vitter is...

Beware of tomorrow - Friday the 13th!

Meanwhile, enjoy this old gem, from Tania Maria

TANIA MARIA, COME WITH ME, FROM THE COME WITH ME LP 1982 CON

Editor's Note: I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream ...

Say Hey Garlic Fans;

We hope you are all doing well (at least those of you not trapped in the heat and humidity, which is to be oppressive over the next few days).

I meant to post this last evening (see above heat and humidity), that I wouldn't be posting yesterday.

Things just got too jammed up on the homefront, and, then, too burned out (drained - see above heat and humidity) to sit down and be creative.

Something new (which goes to explain, to some extent, the odd-timing of posting) this month, is I got my Aunt a wheelchair, so as to get her out-and-about more often.

Since last year (the first hospital run, when, after getting her admitted and settled, 20-minutes later, she fell and broke her wrist), she has been reluctant to go out.

She walks fine (with the aid of a four-post walker), so it is more a dementia/mental thing, rather than physical, and I was loath to think of another summer with her sitting in the house all day.

Surprisingly, she has embraced it (that was a big worry).

There was some minor carping ("what will the neighbors think", or "people will think I'm crippled"), but that has subsided and she's groovin' on it.

(There has been a downside to it though, her dementia. More-and-more, she is getting confused, asking me to "to her home" referring to her childhood home. Now, with each wheelchair excursion, when we get home, it's a 15-or-20-minute thing, that she is in "her house", recognizing all her "things".)

Aside from walks around the neighborhood, we've taken her to the supermarket, out every morning down to Central Square, to get the paper, and, slowly, easing her back into going to the Senior Center.

And, that's where we where yesterday afternoon, for an "Ice Cream Social".

Yes, it was about as exciting as that sounds.

About 30+ elderly, gathered and sitting around tables (in their clicks, of course), being treated like kindergarteners by the staff person running this "Ice Cream Social" (including speaking in a, forced, patronizing, slow voice), and giving agonizing directions how all those 30+ elderly would get up, come to the ice cream table, and get their "two scoops", and then the choice of three different toppings (bowls, barely filled of Cool Whip, sat on the tables).

Though, no one asked, I expect it was verboten to put two, or all three toppings, on your two scoops.

And we definitely got tagged as subversive, when I only got my Aunt one scoop (which she didn't finish).

At least we left with party favors (small lollipops, and an even smaller bottle of Bubble Blowing something, which didn't work very well).

So, we'll try to play catch-up today (provided the heat-and-humidity doesn't overtake me) and, as always, endeavor to keep things sharp.

Many Thanks again, for visiting and reading The Garlic

Peace
JTD