“Lorraine’s Song” was written by Grayson Capps for the soundtrack of Love Song for Bobby Long.  The movie was based on the novel Off Magazine Street by his father Ronald Everett Capps.  This version is from Capps’ album If You Knew My Mind.  For more about him and his music visit his website, http://www.graysoncapps.com/.

Happiness is a warm pool.

Just add sunshine and soundtrack.

From the Black Key’s 2011 album El Camino, this has played non-stop in the studios since its download.  Thanks as always to the beautiful Cita for consistently bringing amazing new music to me.  Through her influence I listened to so many bands I now can’t imagine living without.  In the early 90′s moving to Louisville from New Orléans she was then, and has remained, on the edge of new music.  None of the stations here yet played the bands she listened to in NOLA.  Luckily for me she brought CD’s, a newfangled invention in those dark days, with her.  I would have found the alternative sound on my own eventually but it would have been a much slower introduction.  With her entrance to my life came this instant explosion of music, color and laughter.  

On that note I hope the two of us make it to the Speed later this morning. Today is the last day of the fabulous Impressionist exhibit from the Dixon.  Robbed of our visit on Friday, due to Derby and other madness, this is our final chance.  I usually avoid Sundays and particularly the last Sunday of any event at the museum.  But it is worth fighting the zombies, church people and million or so tourists in town for the race.  She must meet Ramon and see this wall sized beauty in person.  May the Force be with us.

Gaston LaTouche (French, 1854-1913) The Joyous Festival, ca.1906. Oil on canvas. Collection of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis; gift of Mrs. James D. Robinson in memory of James D. Robinson.

Image from Western Kentucky University’s website review of the exhibit, A Wealth of France’s Greatest Paintings is Now Showing in Kentucky.  Included in the article is an excellent slide show highlighting works from the collection.

The image below is from Mikey at the Utter Piffle Blogspot, who has set a unique challenge for himself this year.

In 2012, this intrepid reporter plans to watch, in chronological order, all of Walt Disney Studios’ 52 theatrically-released animated features, one per week.

Click on image to link to Mikey’s page, Utter Piffle. His movie reviews are excellently written and full of production details. Awesome!

I identify with Gus and his determination to acquire that strand despite the overwhelming odds against him.  For me, it wouldn’t be the only time I’ve almost died on a quest for pretty beads.

A million years ago, steady misting rain falling on Cherokee Park, we were this close to Bush as they played.  The park is a stunning Olmstead design but a poor venue for a free concert of a popular rock band.  Running late to the show, my best friend and I hiked in the through the back trails to avoid the huge crowd and parking madness.  Entering the dale from that direction, through the trees, we were automatically backstage.  Slipping in between two covered rigs at stage right we arrived just they started to play.  Planets and stars aligned, as they often do when we are together, and Gavin Rossdale sang their entire set directly to us.  It struck me simultaneously how outrageously beautiful he was, how unbelievably close he was and how sincerely modest he was on stage.  He offers songs to the audience as though it were an honor for him to be asked to sing.  At the end of this recent video he again shows that shyness and gratitude for success.

It’s funny about serendipity, if all had gone as planned that day we would have been out in the very front of the stage.  Tightly packed, crowded behind the barricades, slipping in the mud like everyone else.  Later, cozy and dry at the Bristol, noshing on green chili wontons and homemade black bean soup we simply couldn’t believe our good fortune.  Today, aeons later, we still can’t.

(Note: My children contend this is an embellished or entirely fabricated account of that day’s events.  They are wrong and possibly jealous they were too young to attend.)

Speed Art Museum’s current exhibition is composed mostly of pieces held by the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis TN.  Of the many works in the collection I was most intrigued with this small painting by John Singer Sargent. With the play of light and movement created by his brushstrokes one could almost see the fish moving in the water.  I’ll be back to visit you again before you leave us, my new friend.

John Singer Sargent (American, 1856-1925) Ramón Subercassaux in a Gondola, 1880. Oil on canvas mounted on panel. Collection of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Gift of Cornelia Richie.

Click on image to enlarge, photograph of work from wikipaintings.org, John Singer Sargent.  I’m in love with his spectacles!

University of Louisville’s Belknap Campus is an oasis in a sea of urban grey. Complete with priceless outdoor sculptures, gorgeous landscaping and giant trees full of friendly squirrels.  The college actually has a catch and release to the park system policy on our furry friends.  Relentlessly tenacious they return ready to feast with the students.  Squirrels for the win.

Click on image to enlarge.