When travelling, we enjoy going into churches – especially in Europe! The history, the design, the grandness, the paintings, the organ, and yes – the stained glass. This collection is from various churches in Prague, Krakow, and Budapest.
My favorites? There are two, but which are your favorites?
NOTE: Feel free to return Sunday to add your favorite Aretha songs that have not been submitted.
Welcome the Queen of Soul – Aretha Franklin – with “Chain of Fools”
Next Concert: Carole King
Past Concerts (Category): Beatles, Ex-Beatles, Moody Blues, Queen, Neil Diamond, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac
The Weekend Concert Series returns this Saturday at 1:00 am (Eastern US) with Aretha Franklin – The Queen of Soul!!!!
What timing! This Sunday night (9 PM Eastern US), CBS is broadcasting a special tribute to Aretha!
Five more OITS until number 400.
Sad to hear the news about baseball great Tom Seaver having dementia. When he played in Cincinnati, he lived in a condo on a golf course I worked at in the summer. He was very appreciative when I told him that when people asked me where he lived, I always lied. The man was a great pitcher. Wishing him and his family much strength.
Thanks to Holly @ House of Heart for leading me to this awesome poem about Tango.
Ever ask yourself this question: “Why did I agree to do that?” Well, our dance instructor asked me if I would do a showcase dance with another partner. (My wife doesn’t dance performances). With my wife’s approval, I agreed – but of all things – Quickstep! Fast and not only of my better dances. YIKES! … OK – head to the grindstone.
Embed from Getty Images
With more and more Democrats seeking to be the 2020 party nominee for president, I wonder who will be the first to leave the race. Too bad Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) decided not to enter the fray.
I have mixed feelings about the Democrats decision to bypass FOX News for their debates.
This remains my best explanation of President Trump: He’s a pathetic person and an even worse leader who brings the majority of problems onto himself.
Presidential Weekly Summary: Build the wall. No collusion. Witch hunt. Lock her up. Fake news. Obama’s fault.
To lead you into the weekly dose of satire, The Onion has a guide to blockchain technology.
Embed from Getty ImagesMan in rental car spends 20 minutes trying to find the steering wheel
Demonic spirit claws way out of Hell to flicker lights, throw some silverware around
Sperm can’t remember why it came into womb
Cursed ghost ship offers free room and board to anyone willing to join their eternally damned crew
God purges millions of souls from heaven now that sexual assault taken more seriously
Americans and Germans diverging thoughts
Travel pattern of text messages
Finding aliens
Politics and Dr. Seuss
Daring WW II raids
(Video) 5-minute history of the Internet in China
(Photos) Cherry blossoms
(Photos) Finalists Smithsonian Magazine photo contest
To send you into the weekend, the great response last week means another one from Linda Ronstadt. In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
Greetings from my home in Cincinnati. We recently returned from a 6-week stay as snowbirds on the Alabama coast, the place where I kept my little corner of the world in full swing. Travel time returning home (Friday and Saturday) is the reason for not having a weekend concert and for my absence – but Aretha is still schedule for this coming weekend … and the opening song is set!
That my walking beach to the west (and 2 miles/3.2 km to the rocks)
The weather during our stay wasn’t the best – but as I always say, no matter how cold it is in Alabama during our stay, it’s warmer than home! January had cold, but that was when Cincinnati (and many of you) were gripped by bitter cold. Plus, the only snow we saw was on news reports. Of the three years in Alabama, this year was probably the worst – and the first year without a good streak of sunshine – but hey – the overall weather was better than home.
Glad I captured the storm cloud
I always say these 6-weeks are for my alter ego – a time with minimal obligations – a time away from normal routines – a time when I can focus on walking the beach as much as possible. How much did I walk during the 43 full days? Here’s the tale of the tape:
I was hoping to lose some weight during the 6-weeks south. Then again, I know we will go out 2-3 times per week. Good news is that we were able to limit the snacks that my wife’s father enjoys. Bottom line is 8 pounds lost and my waist feels smaller.
Walking also means composing more beach walks. I don’t have a final count on the number of drafts, but it may be the most ever. I think over 40.
I love sunrises, but given the weather, I didn’t see many achieving the wow factor.
On the worst weather days, we like to go to a theater. This year we saw Vice, The Upside, and The Wife.
TIP: When at the beach, if you see something interesting, take a picture and then send it to a marine biology department at a local university.
Outside cylinders of tube worms
My wife is a prolific reader – but I read two books this time: both by diplomat Madeleine Albright – The Mighty and the Almighty and Fascism: A Warning. Reviews in the future. I’ll post reviews in the future.
On one of the questionable weather days, we visited the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. It’s very well done – and free. Compared to the US Air Force Museum in Ohio, it’s much smaller.
For the record, we only dance a few dances one evening – so it will take some time to regain ballroom form.
Outside our front door looking to the north at the intercoastal waterway
We were pleased with the gas mileage of our Subaru Outback. Over the 2800+ miles (4510+ km) covering 6 weeks, the Outback’s gas mileage was 31.4 miles per gallon.
As after arriving at home Saturday afternoon, Sunday provided a small dose of snow, Monday deliver the first of a two-day punch of frigid, plus I ordered my first hearing aids, AND began prep for Tuesday’s colonoscopy. Such a great way to return home! Hooray – no polyps! Next colonoscopy in seven years!!! – but a busy return has slowed my blogging presence.
We enjoy the Flora-Bama – truly a regional institution with national acclaim. (past post) The bios of some of the musicians are impressive. For instance, the only way we know Neil Dover is that he proceeded our favorite duo – so we typically only heard 15-30 minutes each time. Interestingly, his degree is in opera! He’s written a great song about this quirky musical palace. The lyrics and the video are perfect. Enjoy Neil Dover with FloraBama Time.
For some background music, click the video. This Jennifer Lopez song has a wonderful Samba beat. Listen to the rhythms.
Besides, Carnival 2019 in Rio de Janeiro has started!
Samba – some say SAM-ba, others say SOM-ba … I say the latter
Samba – a fun, lively dance to music of a distinct rhythm
Samba – a popular dance associated with Brazil; especially Rio’s Carnival
Samba – the fast dance associated with rocking, sexy motions
Samba – whose distinctive, energetic rhythm encourages people to move
Samba – the dance and music rooted in the African people who came to Brazil
Samba – a dance done by Brazilians since the late 19th century to music rooted in the 16th century
Samba – a ballroom dance since 1930, today it is one of the five Latin competition dances
Carmen Miranda helped popularize Samba in That Night in Rio (1941)
Donga & Mauro Almeida’s Pelo Telefone popularized Samba music in 1917 (click here for the recording)
Samba’s grew through the 1920s into the 1930s, eventually leading to the formation of Samba schools
Not all Samba music and rhythm is created equal – that is, there are different musical styles
In general, Samba music as a distinctive rhythm with pronounced percussion and played at a tempo of about 100 beats per minute
Different styles of Samba music include Samba Reggae, Samba Rock, and Samba de roda
Ballroom Samba music uses 2/4 timing with three weighted steps in two beats of music (more about that later)
Samba is not one dance, but a set of dances – yet no one dance is definitely known as the “original” Samba
Types vary in movements, solo vs partner, musical rhythms, formality, influence by other dances, geographic region, occasion, acrobaticness, intimacy, and steps/patterns
Different Samba styles/dances are Samba de Gafieira (partners), Samba Pagode (partners), Samba Axé (solo), Samba Forró (partners), Samba no pé (solo dance typically done at Carnival by sambistas), and Ballroom Samba (partners)
Ballroom Samba includes American style and International style – both of which are different from the original Brazilian variations
Because of the competition nature of Ballroom Samba, standards and commonalities are established
Ballroom Samba is a dance that can travel around the room (not staying in one spot/location), although some dance it as a spot dance
Ballroom Samba uses music with 2/4 timing, dancers use three weighted steps in two beats of music (for the musically inclined, the count is “one a-two”)
Ballroom Samba has one set (2 measures totally 4 counts) of 3 steps forward, then one set of 3 steps backward
The Leader steps forward on the left foot (that’s the 1 count), then the right foot forward to beside the left (that’s the “a” count), then changing the weight to the left in place (that’s the 2 count). (The Follower does the mirror opposite, starting with the right foot going backwards.) Then, both repeat the pattern in reverse and starting on the opposite foot.
Go back to the opening song to check if you can hear Samba’s feet rhythm.
The basic pattern can be done side-to-side (instead of forward then back) and in a box (forward, then to the side, together & weight shirt – back then to the side, together and weight shift). Also as a turning box.
In time, shifting weight and bending-straightening knees/legs create the body action while the upper body remains relatively still (except for arm movements)
Besides the Samba Basic, other common steps include Voltas, Bota fogos, Kick change, Runs, Promenade, Whisks, Struts, Taps, Locks, Rolls, Crosses, Step-ball-change, Under-arm turns, and more.
Here’s a very polished couple doing a routine with mostly basic moves. They are very good – although I’ve never seen anyone in my social ballroom world dancing Samba this well.
I’ll admit to several points:
Below are three different Sambas for you to enjoy. The first (from Dancing With the Stars) is well done, and highly choreographed. The second is competition level Samba. Choreographed as well, but done at a high level. The last (and not to leave the Brazilians out) are solo Sambas for Carnival. Let me know the ones you watched.
A Frank Angle 