Archive for Indigo Girls

Random stuff: Someone liked my gas

Posted in History, Humor, Music, Odd, Politics with tags , , , , , , , , on January 2, 2009 by macmystery

Yesterday, New Year’s Eve, before Brooke went to work in the morning, she told me there were four pork chops in the refrigerator thawing.

“Cook them anyway you want to,” she said, “and eat one for lunch. You can take another to work for dinner and leave two for us.”

So, after feeding Ella lunch, I took my pork chops, which I had lovingly marinated in Italian dressing, outside to toss them on the grill.

I reached down to crank on the gas … and there was none. I mean none as in someone had stolen the entire tank right off my grill that sits right next to my house.

I think I was a little too shocked to even be angry. I was just flabergasted.

Brooke was more surprised than me when I told her about it. I grilled on Christlas Eve, so someone took the tank in the last week.

I’d like to think someone needed it really badly. For heat. Or money. Or because they had no electricity and needed to cook. But I doubt it. Likely some no good loser (like maybe my neighbor’s adult slacker son … can I say that?) who wants to save the money of buying his or her own tank.

So I guess we’ll refrain from grilling for a while, untile we get a new tank.

By the way, the pork chops were excellent baked.

Thank you, Mr. Pell

Former Democratic Rhode Island senator Claiborne Pell died New Year’s Day at the age of 90 after a long bout with Parkinson’s Disease.

Among Pell’s accomplishments was the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program, which passed in 1972 and provided direct aid to college students … better known to you and I as Pell Grants.

Millions of low- and middle-income Americans (including this one) were assisted in attending college because of Pell’s grants.

I, for one, would like to say thanks to Mr. Pell and say a prayer for him and his family.

Sharing gas (and other bodily functions) with the ones you love

I came across this story today about how different couples/families are open … or not so open … with each other when it comes to normally private bodily functions.

Enjoy.

“You and me, babe, how about it?”

The radio station I got hooked on this past summer in Reno, Nev., — KTHX 100.1 FM, The X — just played the Indigo Girls’ version of Dire Straits’ “Romeo and Juliet.”

That never happens.

Never.

First time I’ve ever heard it on the radio anywhere.

Remember they said it

MSNBC.com has put together a wrap-up of the five dumbest things said about the economy in the past two years by political and financial leaders.

Interesting.

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Let it Ring!

Posted in Music, Politics, Religion with tags , , , , , on September 13, 2008 by macmystery

I saw the Indigo Girls in concert Thursday night, Sept. 11, at the Spartanburg (S.C.) Memorial Auditorium. And, as usual, it was awesome. Nonstop goodness.

It’s the sixth time I’ve seen them … well, it’s the sixth time I’ve seen them at an Indigo Girls show. I’ve seen them numerous times in Atlanta at other shows where they’d show up and play with friends like Michelle Malone. And I actually sat directly behind them – I was in the eighth row with my sister – at Bruce Springsteen’s Ghost of Tom Joad show at the Fox Theater in Atlanta on the night of the Super Bowl in 1996 (Jan. 28).

I was turned onto the Indigo Girls my senior year in high school. My AP English teacher Bobby Crowson and our valedictorian, Tommy White, were having a discussion about their debut. And Tommy, Chris Robinson and I listened to them on the way to a long weekend at Mrs. McMullen’s (our science teacher extraordinaire – physics, chemistry, life, you name it) cabin in the North Georgia mountains not long after graduation. I was hooked.

Their last album, “Despite Our Differences,” is the first one I haven’t bought as soon as it came out, excluding their greatest hits-type release and their rarities album. For whatever reason (likely, lack of cash), I didn’t take the leap this time.

Ont thing I learned Thursday is I need to go out and get that album. And I’ll be buying the next one – due in February – as soon as it comes out, as well.

I had planned, thinking about during the concert, on writing about some of my thoughts on the show. But I heard something at the end of the show that made me alter my plans.

After the Girls played “Closer to Fine,” their “Born to Run” so to speak, to close the main set, Amy came out alone for the encore. Playing a mandolin (or possible a mandola?), she launched into a blistering rendition of “Let it Ring” from her solo project “Prom.”

While I have bought the Indigo Girls’  albums almost religiously, I’ll admit I haven’t listened to any of Amy’s solo projects. Though, I’m not sure why.

Anyway, “Let it Ring” is a powerful song and the highlight of the evening for me.

Here are the lyrics:

“When you march stand up straight.
When you fill the world with hate
Step in time with your kind and
Let it ring

When you speak against me
Would you bring your family
Say it loud pass it down and
Let it ring

Let it ring to Jesus ’cause he sure’d be proud of you
You made fear an institution and it got the best of you
Let it ring in the name of the one that set you free
Let it ring

As I wander through this valley
In the shadow of my doubting
I will not be discounted
So let it ring

You can cite the need for wars
Call us infidels or whores
Either way we’ll be your neighbor
So let it ring

Let it ring
in the name of the man that set you free
Let it ring

And the strife will make me stronger
As my maker leads me onward
I’ll be marching in that number
So let it ring

I’m gonna let it ring to Jesus
Cause I know he loves me too
And I get down on my knees and I pray the same as you
Let it ring, let it ring
‘Cause one day we’ll all be free
Let it ring”

If Amy’s lyrics aren’t powerful enough, belted frantically at the top of her lungs, at the end of Thursday night’s live take, she, almost defiantly, worked in a couple of choruses from “This Little Light of Mine” at the end.

Brilliant. 

Here’s the only similar version I could find on the Web. Enjoy. Or don’t. I think that is kinda the point. If it makes you uncomfortable, so be it.

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