Catching Up
Filed under: blogs, family, football, giving thanks, sports
So much to do, so little time…
When last I was here, I was happy that the election had ended and proud that Barack Obama was elected president. So much has gone on since then, so much so that I really haven’t had time to write about it. So here is another “catch-all” post.
First of all, since it is Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my family, friends, co-workers and everyone who has shown me a kindness or offered a kind word since last year this time. It’s not easy to go through life without any encouragement from those who love and care about you so any goodness that is extended my way is appreciated and hopefully, reciprocated.
As far as Football for Fools, I have lost each of the last three weeks on the Monday Night tiebreaker. Heartbreaking, but consistent. I guess I should be glad that I am doing so much better than I was last year this time. However, I can’t seem to gain any ground in my chase for the season to date lead. In fact, just last week, I fell two games further back. Knowing that I won’t get those games back all at once, I can only hope to get them a few at a time, but I’m running out of weeks. I will press on, hoping for good fortune. And yes, I am ahead of the wife-I couldn’t live with myself if I lost to her two years in a row.
Speaking of the Mrs., we recently threw a 40th birthday party for her. I was kinda backed into it, because she had been bragging that she was having a party to all of her friends. I suppose with that out there, a surprise party was out of the question. So one of her friends and I “hosted” a party for her and invited her friends and our families and a good time was had by all. However, organizing a party is a pain and the expense was a bit more than we planned. Nevertheless, we had a good time, and the person of honor was worth the effort expended. Love you, wifey.
My wife also had lap-band surgery in September and she is doing very well, even though she’s the last one to notice any progress. She insists that she is still eating too much, but I try to tell her to keep it in perspective; compared to what she was eating before, she is not overeating. She has already lost a sizable amount of weight, hopefully she will continue to do so and that will get me motivated to do the same (lose weight, not have surgery). We will try to inspire each other to exercise, which believe me, is not easy. Neither one of us were avid exercisers before the surgery so hopefully we both can get ourselves going.
For ES and the Inkognegro: hope your studies are going well. Unfortunately, I don’t have the excuse that you both have in not keeping my blog up to date. I will try to do better in the coming weeks and months.
Take care, everyone and Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Black Music Month: Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly
After recovering from watching the BET Awards the other night and reading (and laughing) at the live blogs done by SoulBounce.com, Inkognegro 1.75, and AverageBro, I needed a soul music fix. Thankfully, there were some moments in the show that fulfilled the need; notably from Al Green and Alicia Keys. The tribute to Mr. Green was a very satisfying affair, and while Jill Scott wasn’t necessarily at her best, Anthony Hamilton and the reappearance of Maxwell made it worthwhile. But when Al Green got up to sing “Let’s Stay Together” and “Love and Happiness,” you could feel the vibes, those good old soul/R&B vibes come alive. Considering that most of the show to that point (with the exception of Alicia Keys and her tribute to the girl groups of the ’90s) had been less than stellar, moments like those are what give me hope that R&B lives. Sorry that this opening was off-topic, but I had to get that out there.
To get to the point of the post, I came across an article in the Baltimore Sun by Rashod Ollison, the paper’s pop music critic, about the music of Frankie Beverly and Maze. In a roundabout way, this is related to my first Black Music Month post in that Marvin Gaye helped Maze get a record deal with Capitol Records. Ollison’s article really says everything that you need to know about the group, including how they continue to sell out arenas and tour, even without a hit record or even a recent album release. Some of their songs are considered classics in the R&B tradition, such as “Before I Let Go,” “Joy And Pain” “Happy Feelin’s,” “Back In Stride,” “We Are One,” “Silky Soul” (itself a tribute to Marvin Gaye), and many others.
I was fortunate enough to see this band perform in concert and they were worth the price of admission. They came out, they played their music, the crowd ate it up. Many of the people in the audience were still singing long after the concert was over. I saw them at the Convention Center in Washington, DC, not long after the release of the Silky Soul album. I remember that Regina Belle was the opening act and she hardly got any attention from the audience. The crowd was waiting for Maze; no disrespect for Ms. Belle, who was actually very good if anyone had bothered to pay attention. But when Regina finished, no one was milling about in the crowd; everyone was waiting for what was the “real” show to begin. And Frankie and the band delivered.
Again, it was my cousin and his record collection that introduced me to the band. He had the first five albums the group released, including the Live In New Orleans album that I wore out the grooves to. I bought the cassette (yes I know that dates me) as well and even the DVD of the show. I bought the rest of their output on my own; he paved the way and I followed the path. It’s a path that I’m glad I have followed. The music still doesn’t feel like it’s stuck in its time period, just as Ollison mentioned in his article. His statements regarding “Before I Let Go” are truly on point; anyone from any generation of black America is not only familiar with the song, it never fails to get people to sing along and dance. And I don’t know anyone who doesn’t sing along to the chorus of “Joy And Pain.”
Maze was a band that stuck with what they did, regardless of the trends of the time. They played music that was rooted in traditional R&B and told stories of love and relationships. They did not make concessions to disco, synth-pop, or hip-hop, and yet they still had hit records and gold and platinum albums throughout the time they released their music. They have been and will continue to be a favorite group of mine; their music is timeless.
From their Live In New Orleans performance, here is a version of “Joy And Pain”:
And a live version of “Before I Let Go”:
Twitter: @mindpinball
- @MyLobotomy That's what I figured. Cleveland is cleaning house...I guess that makes Seneca Wallace the starter for now lol.
- @MyLobotomy hey dude...so I take it you like the trade for Brady Quinn?
- @ninerchick05 LOL... re: Pac-10. I'll be surprised if either Cal or U-Dub makes it past the first weekend.
- @Tailgate365 anyone from the Pac-10 is suspect this season.
- @Tailgate365 I'm thinking the same...provided a)the right Louisville shows up and b) they can get by Cal.
- @ninerchick05 let me put it this way. Georgetown was #8 in the Big East and they destroyed Duke.
- @ninerchick05 the fact that they are seeded ahead of Syracuse is mind boggling to me.
- @ninerchick05 Recently you could say that Duke was a donut team. Even with Zoubek in the middle they aren't that great. Not dominant at all.
- @ninerchick05 but then, that's the case almost every year.
- @ninerchick05 they aren't as good as some ppl think.
- Powered byWordPress Twitter Widget Pro
Find Me On Facebook
Please Follow My Blog
-
baltimoresun.com – Sports- Ravens Insider: AFC North foe trading players left and right March 14, 2010[…]
- Beckham to miss World Cup with torn Achilles March 14, 2010British soccer star is injured during AC Milan victory British soccer star is injured during AC Milan victory […]
- Browns trade quarterback Brady Quinn to Broncos March 14, 2010Fullback Peyton Hillis and a 2011 draft pick go to Cleveland Fullback Peyton Hillis and a 2011 draft pick go to Cleveland […]
- NCAA TOURNAMENT 4th-seeded Terps will face Houston March 14, 2010Maryland opens NCAA tournament play with matchup against Cougars in Spokane Gary Williams and the Maryland men's basketball team will open NCAA tournament play with a first-round matchup against Houston in the Midwest Region. The Terps, a four-seed, will take on the 13th-seeded Cougars on Friday in Spokane, Wash. If Maryland beats Houston, it will face […]
- NCAA TOURNAMENT Morgan to face West Virginia in first round March 14, 201015th-seeded Bears will take on Mountaineers on Friday in Buffalo No. 15 Bears will take on Mountaineers Friday in Buffalo […]
- ORIOLES SPRING TRAINING Roberts to see back specialist March 14, 2010All-Star second baseman still says he will be ready for Opening Day on April 6 despite trip to Johns Hopkins Orioles All-Star second baseman says he'll be ready for Opening Day on April 6 despite trip to Johns Hopkins hospital […]
- Rachel Alexandra's race vs. Zenyatta is off, for now March 14, 2010Preakness winner's performance Saturday causes owners to re-think big race Rachel Alexandra's owner today put the brakes on a race between his horse and Zenyatta in next month's Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. […]
- No knockout, but Pacquiao puts on dominant performance March 14, 2010More than 50,000 see fight at Cowboys Stadium More than 50,000 see fight at Cowboys Stadium […]
- Rex Ryan undergoes lap-band procedure to help lose weight March 14, 2010Former Ravens defensive coordinator says weight may have contributed to missed bid for Atlanta job NEW YORK (AP) — Jets coach Rex Ryan underwent a weight-loss procedure Saturday to help him fight obesity. […]
- Pessimism starts to steal home for O's fans March 14, 2010The Orioles have reached the midway point in spring training, which is usually about the time every March that perception collides with reality. […]
- Ravens Insider: AFC North foe trading players left and right March 14, 2010
-