November 2009 « Vichy Water

December 17, 2012

A Holiday Blog: March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934, Laurel and Hardy): a Modern SATIRICAL Interpretation. Eyewitness to a new classic Christmas song: Introducing ‘The Big Man,’ Clarence Clemons ‘There’s Still Christmas.’ Assault Weapon Ban in New Jersey? December 18, 2012

Filed under: November 2009 — Tags: Bruce Springsteen, Clarence Clemons, Dennis Bourke, Governor Chris Christie, Jim Nuzzo, Laurel and Hardy, March of the Wooden Soldiers, Newtown, There's Still Christmas, Toyland, Vichy Water — earthood @ 11:28 pm

I’m excited to be bringing a new old Christmas (vocal)song from Clarence Clemons. But first………

I started writing this blog last Thursday, the day before the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Now I’m filled with cardiac heaviness and sorrow throughout my cellular makeup. I’m a father and human. I can’t find words. I remember Columbine and Dylan Klebold and Erik Harris; the two kids who killed and wonder why their names are remembered by me but none of the victim’s name. I wonder.

This morning I watched New York television and saw a commercial for Walgreen’s Drug Store. Their catch phrase was “Walgreen’s “at the corner of happy and healthy.” The absurdity of it all forced my smile; Walgreen’s sells cigarettes; not a healthy thing. Last Night at Rite Aid drug store picking up a small bottle of stale hydrogen peroxide, I noticed the tobacco (cigars, cigarettes) section right next to ‘Stop Smoking Products.’ More absurdity and greed; the business of America is business. Life on earth is absurd. One in seventeen Americans suffer from mental illness.

My reputation as a New Jersey journalist grows daily; not absurd. I’ve plunged into the world of Jersey music, art, and environmental causes. Someone called me this morning and for a few moments, I felt like Bob Woodward or Carl Bernstein from ‘deep throat’ and Watergate/Washington Post journalism fame. That voice on the phone (no auditory recognition and heavy breathing) told me Governor Christie was thinking about enacting a New Jersey State ban on assault weapons. As I was listening, I thought a brilliant timely political (he’s running for re-election next year and is eyeing 2016 and Pennsylvania Avenue) move that might vault him to even more national prominence and broad-based respect for being tough in tough times with tough decisions in light of Newtown, Connecticut. States can ban assault weapons. I pondered the world and made a few phone calls. I’m a middle of the road kind of guy since 1969 (no political party affiliation); this paragraph is now over because my only concern (not politics or issues) is the universe and our planet’s sustainability; the really big picture.

Now to the holidays. I love this frenetic wonderful spiritual time of year. The depths of my affection for the holiday season are hard to describe but I’ll take a shot. In my first novel published three years ago, ‘Vichy Water,’ I wrote about a New Jersey man (I’m NOT revealing any plot) who found the need to journey to a remote northern Montana town and a small church on Christmas Eve and go to Midnight Mass; a purely ecumenical thing to do for abundant reasons. Funny thing; I share the same notion as my novel character; like a Hemingway story and I’m not an ambulance driver. Accomplishing this, for me, is the end of a long winding road journey and happy occasion. Complicated but I love the holidays and peace on earth.

Now for some light fun; I’ve been watching the March of the Wooden Soldiers with Laurel and Hardy (made in 1934) for the last 60 years in a row (mostly on WPIX channel 11 in New York). My father turned me on to the movie which aired on Thanksgiving morning when I was seven. Being a person of tradition and sentiment, I’ve watched it every year since 1952; don’t think I ever missed a showing. My watching this Christmas seasonal movie, even passing on Macy’s parade, bespeaks my sense of loyalty, tradition and love of Toyland, fantasy, comedy and simplicity in living with vestiges of Mother Goose. I love the architectural warmth of the old woman’s shoe who in the movie was Bo Beep’s mother. I did ponder for a brief moment that everyone who was in the movie is gone now; so are Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball and Louis Armstrong.

from March of the Wooden Soldiers. The first movie robot?

Laurel and Hardy opening scene of movie in bed together.

After 60 viewings, I had an epiphany on this Thanksgiving Day as I watched the movie with my 26 year old son. I forgot to mention that when my son was seven, I inculcated into him the need to watch this movie with me until the end of time. And he still does which means time is still hanging around and forget the Mayan calendar. The epiphany, as I pedaled on the exercise bike and watched the movie with my son, was that it’s incredibly and hauntingly contemporary to today’s complicated world. So here goes interpretation.

In the opening scene, Laurel and Hardy (Stannie Dum and Ollie Dee in the movie) are in bed together, sleeping. I thought immediately that this was Hollywood’s (1934) first example of domestic partners even as the Supreme Court takes on same sex marriage soon. They’re sleeping so close together (not in separate beds like Bert and Ernie) that a small white feather keeps floating between the two of them as they exhale. I think it was the same white feather that messed with Forest Gump at the end of the movie.

Tom Tom and Bo Peep. an item in mother goose.

old man Barnaby putting the moves on Bo Beep

Then soon we see Mr. Barnaby (a dirty old nasty bad man) chasing after young barely teenage BoPeep in an early expose of improper sexual advances; an old man and a much too young girl. I was horrified. And the laws of Toyland were not stringent enough to prevent this kind of behavior.

A little later, Tom-Tom, the piper, is looking for Bo Peep. They’ve got a romantic thing going; a perfect Mother Goose couple. Of course Bo Peep loses one of her sheep and Tom Tom helps her look. Then he gets amorous, serenades her, and she coyly resists the advances. Coincidentally they are standing by an old foot stockade and in a move reminiscent of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey,’ he does the old bondage technique, secures her feet and keeps her immobile until she relents and kisses (and who knows what else) Tom Tom.

The laws of Toyland with respect to punishment were rather strict in some areas. Sometimes it seems we’re headed down similar roads; perhaps the movie was futuristic in legal aspects.

hanging with the intellectual cool cat

the eventual same sex marriage in barnaby hall in 1934

If you are convicted of burglary in Toyland, you get dunked and banished to bogeyland for ever; a tough love punishment and borderline capital; because you’re not coming back alive with all the bogeyman there. Then I thought about equal justice initiative and the notion that it’s better to be rich and guilty than poor and innocent in America and Toyland.

I’ve been a student of futurism, Dr. Michio Kaku (‘Physics of the Future’) and have been reading about the advances in robotics especially in Japan and what’s coming in the mid-future. But the ‘March of the Wooden Soldiers’ has an army of six-foot robots who can almost think and actively defend Toyland from hostile invaders (bogeymen). Press of a button and they knew exactly what to do. When they rescued small children, it seems the Wooden Soldiers even displayed emotion and comforted the scared children. A hundred years ahead of its time. Emotions in robots are coming end of century.

Getting back to the notion of same –sex marriage; Stan and Ollie conspire to steal the mortgage for the little old lady’s shoe from Mr. Barnaby and then get caught, convicted and go through a public dunking before banishment to bogeyland. Bo Peep comes to the rescue and agrees to marry Mr. Barnaby if he consents to drop the charges. At the wedding ceremony in Barnaby Hall, Bo Beep is dressed in wedding gown and veil; the ceremony concludes. Ollie gets the mortgage and Barnaby goes to kiss the bride. It’s not Bo Peep but Laurel (Stannie Dum) dressed up. When Stannie wants to leave, Ollie says “You can’t, you’re married to Mr. Barnaby now.” Indeed same sex marriage in 1934.

I marvel at the advanced state of animal rights in the movie. If you’re convicted of pig-napping you’re banished to bogeyland forever. This kind of potent animal protection laws from 1934 Toyland is so needed today to stop poachers who kill elephants, tigers and apes without regard.

There is also strong evidence of feminism; When Tom Tom is framed and banished to bogeyland for pignapping, Bo Peep takes it upon herself to brave the alligator infested waters surrounding Toyland and Bogeyland and singlehandedly rescues her man, Tom Tom.

Finally there’s a need to involve DYFS in this discussion. Who leaves their baby rocking in a tree in a car seat in Toyland? I’ve already reminded my son that next year when we flip the Mayan calendar, he’ll be watching March of the Wooden Soldiers with me. I’ll be pedaling on the exercise bike; no iPhones allowed while viewing.

And now a great Holiday story about an amazing new old Christmas classic song:

Eyewitness to a new classic Christmas song: Introducing ‘The Big Man,’ Clarence Clemons ‘There’s Still Christmas.’

A long time ago in another state, in another city (which has alternate side of the street parking), I was aimlessly flicking television channels with an antiquated remote when I caught the black and white beginning of a movie that I’d never seen, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” It was early autumn. Within a few minutes, I was drawn into the mystique and charm of this movie; throw an angel into storyline and I’m hooked for the long haul. I loved the movie’s message; about friends, family and dreams. The movie became a Christmas classic but not for many years after it was made in 1946. It was actually released in the summer that year and bombed at the box office.

its a wonderful life great scene near the end.

its a wonderful life. when george bailey says, “atta boy Clarence”

When I finished watching the movie, I wondered why this wasn’t a classic with its timeless message of Christmas spirit, incredible cast and storytelling. Over the next few years, Ronald Reagan became President and the movie began surfacing on television during the holiday season with uncanny frequency. I said to myself, “I knew it would find itself holiday time;” and did it ever. Back in the Garden State, in the early eighties, a few weeks before Christmas on a Saturday afternoon, I was flicking channels again with a more modern remote and stumbled upon “It’s A Wonderful Life” on six different channels at the same time, staggered so that you could see the ending if you were so moved; six times. “Atta boy Clarence,” Jimmy Stewart (George Bailey) says near the end; witness to the multi decade birth of a Christmas classic movie. Television stations today conspire to only do one showing per season; but it’s still a certifiable classic. Segue to the title of this article, ‘Eyewitness to a new classic Christmas song.’ By the way, I find it particularly haunting in my microcosmic synchronistic world that the angel in this movie is a Clarence, and I’m writing about Clarence Clemons. Hmmm!!I told the story of the movie because in our crazy mixed-up, digital, smart-phone, fast food world, we’re likely to be witnessing the birth of yet another classic; this time an incredible Christmas song with such a moving emotional voice, the late ‘Big Man,’ Clarence Clemons. If you want to get in the mood before reading on, here’s the You Tube link to ‘There’s Still Christmas.’ Go listen and come back here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NZ__QNFP5U&playnext=1&list=PLB17BACDC89FDA3CD&feature=results_video

I love angels and synchronicity. Six weeks ago, I came to know Jim Nuzzo and Dennis Bourke who created this song with Clarence Clemons back in 1981. I’m a story teller so here goes.

a powerful memory of Clarence Clemons

Back in 1981, Stevie Betts (lyricist) and Dennis Bourke (melody) wrote this song, ‘There’s Still Christmas’ and teamed up with Jim Nuzzo (arranger, producer) and got manager Matty Breuer (assistant tour manager for Springsteen back then) to approach Clarence Clemons. They all met at Clarence’s Sea Bright, New Jersey home, had some wine and presented the words of the song to the ‘Big Man.’ Being on hiatus from touring with Springsteen, Clarence wanted to do it. He loved the message of the song; when things look down, there’s still Christmas; simple yet poignant. And Clarence’s rich baritone voice that is silenced now; propels this to classic status. At the first recording session in October 1981, Clarence arrived wearing a cowboy hat. The next day he was wearing a Santa Claus hat and red vest exposing a chubby belly. He had Christmas lights put on the music stand; he was so in the mood to do this song. They rehearsed the song at ‘Big Man’s West’ in Red Bank; Clarence’s club. Jim and Dennis both told me about getting chills being in the same room with him when he performed. “He was a gentle down to earth guy,” Jim said. To relax during the recording sessions, they played video games. To prepare for record company submission, Clarence recorded the other side on solo sax another Christmas classic “The Christmas Song.” The record company never picked up the song so it’s been sleeping all these years waiting for classic beams of particulate historic energy. Last year the song was released but like the movie, so few of us knew it existed. I listened and was blown away; his voice and persona holds me in a suspended state; like I’ve known him all these years; like it’s a special legacy to all of us to have him back in our lives at Christmas this year.

Bruce and Clarence. from Born to Run. one of my favorite pixs of them and its in black and white.

But there’ more to the legacy of Clarence Clemons and this song; Jim Nuzzo and Dennis Bourke (A Viet Nam vet) have affiliated with this amazing charity ‘Give an Hour’ http://www.giveanhour.org/Home.aspx a non-profit organization providing free mental health services to US Military personnel and their families affected by current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

All of which means as we move to make this wonderful song a Christmas mainstay and classic, proceeds from the sale of this song on I -Tunes, CD Baby will help our military. Imagine, after all these years; this song comes to us from Clarence at this holiday time of year; part of his enduring legacy.

Here’s some links to this wonderful life song/info:

http://www.oceangaterecords.com/

A percentage of cd sales from “There’s Still Christmas” by the legendary Clarence Clemons will be donated to Give an Hour, a non-profit organization that provides free mental health services to military personnel, their loved ones and hometown communities affected by conflicts abroad.

Please open up your hearts, honor Clarence and support our veterans by purchasing your copy for this holiday season.

Available for purchase on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, and Backstreets.com http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/theres-still-christmas-single/id474038459?uo=4http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/clarenceclemons

You can also find ‘There’s Still Christmas’ on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Theres-Still-Christmas-Clarence-Clemons/286246628066619?fref=ts

Bottom line. Please go listen and fall in love with the song. Purchase it. Sit by the fire place with a glass of wine or egg nog. Enjoy the Happy Holidays. Listen to his wondrous voice.

Thanks again to Jim Nuzzo and Dennis Bourke for their passion and time.

And Clarence Clemons.

HAPPY MERRY HEALTHY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

Calvin Schwartz

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November 13, 2012

Hurricane Sandy: A Few Words. Lenny Bruce. Asbury Park Comedy and Music Festival; (Thanks Nick Clemons) Is My Life Full Circle Now? Lenny’s House(Kitty Bruce) November 13, 2012

Filed under: November 2009 — Tags: Asbury Park Comedy and Music Festival, Hurricane Sandy, Kitty Bruce, Lenny Bruce, Lenny's House, Mike Marino, Nick Clemons, Paul Venier, The Lenny Bruce Foundation, Vincent Pastore — earthood @ 12:17 am

me in hurricane earl 2 years ago on jersey shore

Hurricane Sandy damage on Jersey shore

Lenny Bruce. I finally get to write about him. Been a long time. But first a word from Hurricane Sandy.

Twelve miles from the four steps that lead to my front door resides the Atlantic Ocean (Monmouth County) where Hurricane Sandy pushed a wall surge of water twelve feet high into the coasts of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. A billion words will be written over the next few weeks about this storm; I’ll add a few words now since I lived through it and heard the wind roar outside my window with a ferocity that petrified me. Sure, I’ve experienced wind in my face during my decades on earth, but never quite like this. Faster than a speeding locomotive, the wind screamed and bent trees in half. I could barely open my front door to absorb it all. I was really scared.

no wonder why the Battery Tunnel in NYC was closed because of Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy damage in Belmar NJ on A street. 5 blocks from E Street and Bruce Springsteen.

This was a big time major league hurricane like in Florida or Louisiana and it was making landfall in New Jersey; that never happens. We lost power and heat for six days but no other damage. It was cold; darkness and absence of electricity for such a long period of time plays tricks with your thought process. There’s no gas for your car and all the food has to be thrown out without refrigeration; an incarceration of the mind and spirit; a world without end. Again I use the word gratitude. No damage to house; Hurricane Irene did her thing to my house last year; like a Janis Joplin song lyric, there was nothing much left to lose. I wrote this to my friend Scott F. on Facebook the other day:

“6 days no power, no heat, not much food, no gas in car, no anything…..but i don ‘t have to tell you……you all lived it too…..i had a full house sheltering all week…..it still goes on……i worry about wednesday….more weather stuff……….it’s a funny thing when one goes thru this turmoil, there’s a tendency to withdraw, hide under covers to stay warm, stare out at the trees, sky and count minutes away till you can resume an electric life. i think in the future if someone asks me how old i am, i will say the year minus a week. but still hugely grateful.”

Lenny Bruce

There’s an addendum to all this. New Jersey got hit with a nor’easter snowstorm two days ago which means a week after tropical hurricane Sandy made landfall about 50 miles from me, we got 12 inches of cold white and wet snow. So I did some Google research and wrote this on Facebook.

“Perhaps never in history of planet earth has a place (New Jersey) taken a direct hit from a tropical hurricane (sandy) and a week later been hit with significant snow. Reminds me of a line from ‘Ghostbusters’ (which I’ll be doing for real soon enough) invoking the phrase ‘biblical proportions.’

I’m finished with hurricane and snow talk.

Producer of the Comedy Festival, Nick Clemons wearing my favorite Rutgers hat, addressing the audience.

This now becomes one of those interconnected blogs; everything locked together tightly like those Lego toys my son used to play with for six hours straight. It was a good sign that he could concentrate for that long. Back in my day growing up, who knew from attention and concentration deficits? I realized a few weeks ago, after six earthly decades, that I’ve always had a problem concentrating. Here in this blog for three years, I’ve been covering it up nicely, saying I write with a stream of consciousness. But I do. And my thoughts wander. You should’ve seen me on a tennis court (a regular pastime)two weeks ago; I thought about building a tree house in a vacant lot near my Newark, New Jersey house as a yellow tennis ball sailed precariously close to my groin without interference or interception by my tennis racket. My double partners yelled, “Calvin, come back to us.”

Ostensibly I’m heading down that consciousness stream highway. I want to remember the sixties even though I was there from a distance, a fringe, a surrogate to everything happening. All the lectures my mother deposited in my soul from second grade when she taught me to lay my clothes out the night before and I wonder now, why she never taught me to absorb life and to learn about the revolution of ideas that special people inspired. What does this all mean?

with comedian Mike Marino outside the Paramount theatre in Asbury Park

with comedian Paul Venier backstage at the comedy festival

Lenny Bruce, earth’s most quintessential comedian was exploding on the scene around 1961. I was 16 going on 17 with absolutely no idea who he was and what he meant to the world of freedom and social commentary. If only there was a couch and shrink professional now, close by, attending to me as I say, “I hate myself for not knowing or experiencing all that was happening back then.” So I never saw or heard or knew about Lenny Bruce through my formative high school and college years. How dare I not know of the funniest, hippest, coolest and most influential and incisive comedian ever?

I hate myself. I’ve hated myself ever since the early seventies when I discovered Lenny Bruce, long after he was gone, yet still shaping a world of expression, freedom and comedy. So for decades, self-loathing in suburban Monmouth county; I never had a chance to see or hear Lenny Bruce in person; more self-loathing; I should’ve seen and heard Dr. King talk in person in Newark in January 1963(six blocks from my house!). Certainly I was old enough but just not aware of the world. Curiously no cell phones, computers, DVD’s or other Japanese manufactured diversions were around. I just wasn’t aware; therefore self-loathing; resolved now as an adult; to be aware of the world.

a leg up on my Lenny Bruce vinyl album collection. its really my photogenic leg

How and when did I discover Lenny Bruce? It was late 1971 when my first wife got tickets for a new Broadway play, Lenny. The play was riveting; Lenny was portrayed by the late Cliff Gorman who won a Tony for his performance. I was mesmerized about his life and proceeded to gather everything I could about Lenny Bruce; I needed to learn and collected all his vinyl albums, listening incessantly. A few years later, I was on jet plane heading to Club Med Guadeloupe (obviously newly divorced then) and entertained the jet’s rear section with memorized bits from many of Lenny’s performances. Why my fascination; because Lenny championed freedom of speech and thought, battled the establishment, but mostly because he was a brilliant patriotic constitutional loving American. Lenny Bruce married Honey in 1951 and his daughter Kitty was born in 1955; the year the Dodgers won the World Series.

hanging with Ronald Davis(Good Morning with the Boss Club/Facebook) in front of Paramount Theater.

All these years, I admired Lenny Bruce; yes he endured hard times, legal battles and negativity; I’ll always wonder why the LA cops, who knew that Lenny acquired some bad drugs, didn’t stop him from overdosing. Lenny paved the way for almost every comedian since then. He championed causes of freedom; that means so much to me. And it’s synchronistical and curious that during all these years with Lenny Bruce as a hero of mine, I always wondered about his daughter Kitty and where/how she was. It’s very hard for me (even though I’m a writer) to express how I’ve been haunted by his memory; it grips me tight. Sometimes I just stare at his picture. Often I listen to Simon and Garfunkel’s song ‘7’0’clock News/ Silent Night’’ when you hear a news broadcast in the background over their singing ‘Silent Night,’ exclaiming “In Los Angeles today Comedian Lenny Bruce died of what was believed to be an overdose of narcotics. Bruce was 42.” As a result of listening to the song all these years, I know the words to ‘Silent Night’ and keep thinking about Lenny and his daughter Kitty, somewhere in time.

Cut to the summer of 2012. Being a journalist also covering music and entertainment here in central Jersey, I found out about the first Asbury Park Comedy and Music Festival to be held at the Paramount Theatre and Wonder Bar in Asbury Park to benefit the Lenny Bruce Foundation. Lenny Bruce was back in my life and I was thrilled. I was able to get a press pass for backstage to meet the comedians, Vincent Pastore, Mike Marino, Jim Florentine, Paul Venier and Margaret Cho. And I must mention everything Nick Clemons (Clarence’s son) did to produce this event. It was his dynamic energy, vision and commitment that made this first annual event possible. Later that night, I met Nick for the first official time, wearing a Rutgers hat like I always wear, and thanked him for the magic he created. Life is funny all over the place. Maybe that chance meeting Nick at the Wonder Bar might someday change the very course of flow of my life. Oh and a few weeks later I went to see Mike Marino and later, Paul Venier separately; I loved their comedy. Ah, Lenny would be proud, I’d like to think.

the picture with Kitty Bruce backstage which is my full circle of life. How thrilled I am. Still hard to process that I met Lenny and Honey’s daughter.

Just before the show began, I heard that Kitty Bruce was going to be there as The Lenny Bruce Foundation helps to fund ‘Lenny’s House,’ a home for recovering women in Pennsylvania and operated by her. I blinked my eye for a long time; one of those comprehension/disbelief blinks. Would it possible for me to meet Kitty and tell her my life’s story (albeit quickly) of how I’ve idolized her father’s accomplishments. So we did meet after the show and I was so nervous but excited; my life had come full circle, sealed with a unique and precious poignancy meeting this wonderful woman who gives so much back into her parent’s legacy. One of the most important photo ops I’ve ever been involved in, since even crossing the birth canal, was meeting Kitty and comprehending what it meant for the energies and exigencies of my life. I could become her friend and help in my way to creating awareness for ‘Lenny’s House.” Could I have ever imagined moments like this, back in 1971, worrying about Viet Nam and civil rights, finding Kitty Bruce later in my life’s journey? Life is a symphony of disbeliefs and wonderments. I love the universe for orchestrating and Nick Clemons for putting things together. I’m filled with gratitude to Lenny and Kitty and abounding spirits. I suddenly like life in a full circle.

I need to exhort and reach out to my many readers and ask you all to check out Lenny’s House:

And THANKS SO MUCH!!!! TRULY!!!

http://www.lennybruceofficial.com/donate-to-lennys-house/lennys-house/

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September 26, 2012

Asbury Angels Induction Ceremony: Asbury Park NJ Sunday 9/23. A New Film: ‘Just Around the Corner: The Story of Bob Benjamin’ screened at Bruce Springsteen Symposium at Monmouth University.September 26, 2012

Filed under: November 2009 — Tags: Asbury Angels, Asbury Park, Bruce Springsteen, Calvin Schwartz, Carrie Potter Devening, Clarence Clemons, Danny Federici, Kevin John Allen, Marc Ribler, Margaret and Tom Potter, Stone Pony, Tara-Jean Vitale, Tony Pallagrosi, Vini Lopez — earthood @ 12:53 pm

THE ASBURY ANGELS

My blog. My blog. My kingdom to find more time like the old days (2 years ago) when I blogged once a week or so. Life is beautiful and accelerating beyond comprehension. Sometimes I think that my writing and music journalistic pursuits are leading me to a non-snow covered mountaintop in Tibet where I’ll be able to see forever but it has to be a clear day. It’s a clear day right now in central Jersey. So I’ll get there and get back to my blog, my love, and my forest through trees and a babbling brook of streams of consciousness; in time. Meantime, I went to this most amazing ceremony in Asbury Park this past Sunday honoring the Asbury Angels, those who have passed on but have given their molecular energies and spirit to the phenomenon of Asbury Park music. Here’s some of what I took away. But also at the end of this Asbury Angels piece is a very unique review of a new film, ‘Just Around the Corner: The Story of Bob Benjamin.’ Why unique review? It’s just one word. “Riveting.”

Jackie Pappas from Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce with introduction to ceremony. not a cloud in the sky

part of the crowding of the boardwalk for the ceremony.

Twenty minutes before the Asbury Angels ceremony. Shooting down Asbury Avenue for the 78^th time this year; that’s an approximation but probably close. I’ve developed a love affair to remember with Asbury Park and find myself there three or four times a week; hey, I’m a music, art, environmental and evolving cerebral journalist and Asbury has morphed into a renaissance/ re-birth. I’ve been saying for some time now in my writings that part of this dynamic is the celestial descending of particulates of molecular energy from the living and past musical history of this town; I’m saying that the world knows about Springsteen, Southside Johnny, Vini Lopez, and the vast array of current performers whose roots came from Asbury.

Asbury Angels Founder Tony Pallagrosi introducing inductees/bios.

Yes, for me this energy is absolutely palpable. Last summer I remember walking down Cookman Avenue and looking across the street at several houses. One had a pastel green back porch; a young teenage boy was playing a guitar and gyrating. I was certain he was pretending /dreaming ‘Springsteen.’ I thought to myself; it’s the sprinkled particle energy of the living legends. I also thought while heading down Asbury Avenue, adhering to the speed limit, passed an Italian restaurant and beautiful red brick church, that I was heading to an emotional poignant ceremony honoring particulate energy of Asbury music history of those who have passed on.

cutting the ribbon. hugely moving ceremony to unveil Angels.

the plaque unveiled honoring Clarence Clemons

Iconic Tony Pallagrosi, so deeply involved in the musical and philanthropic composition of Asbury Park founded the Asbury Angels. “The mission of the Asbury Angels is to honor and memorialize the lives and history of members of the Asbury Park musical community, including but not limited to, musicians, tech support persons, DJs, journalists, club owners, record company personnel, managers and promoters.”

Tara-Jean Vitale(editor, producer at NJ Discover) interviewing Tony Pallagrosi

writer Calvin with Kevin John Allen(Lonely Teardrops Band) & Marc Ribler (& Friends ROCK tuesday nights at McCloones Boardwalk)

NJ Discover’s team, Tara-Jean Vitale (editor, producer) and I quickly slammed car doors in front of the Stone Pony, and joined the hundreds assembling on the boardwalk for the induction of the 2012 class (first one) of the Asbury Angels. Jackie Pappas from the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce introduced Tony Pallagrosi who read brief biographies of the inductees. Families and friends applauded each reading; the ocean glistened in the background; the sky was perfectly blue and the weather Gods cooperated. The night before, Pallagrossi hinted, Springsteen’s concert at Met Life stadium was rain delayed until 10:30pm.

writer Calvin with Kevin John Allen, Carl Tinker West (Bruce Springsteen’s 1st manager) Vini Lopez(with leg up) and Carrie Potter Devening (author of a amazing book “For Music’s Sake Asbury Park’s Upstage Club & Green Mermaid Cafe: The Untold Stories”) after a very poignant Asbury Angels Induction Ceremony on the boardwalk at Asbury on sunday. this day was powerful stuff

I listened to every word of each bio. These were legends and icons that did so much for Asbury music. I kept thinking in the midst of the throngs consuming the whole width of the boardwalk, that someday these Angels would’ve contributed to making Asbury Park one of the world’s music destinations. I want to think everyone thought like me. After all, look at the depth, range and impact of these Angels. Its two days later as I write this. I’m still intestinally queasy. I was so moved being there.

As each name was read, a plaque on a boardwalk bench was unveiled with the bio of the Angel. Huge scissors were summoned to cut the yellow ribbon to share the memorial for the ages. It was Asbury Park’s walk of fame. The 2012 Asbury Angels are: Arthur Willard Pryor, Bobby Alfano, Larry ‘Bozo’ Blasco, Bill Chinnock, Clarence Clemons, Danny Federici, John Luraschi, Joe Arthur Major, Arthur Morris, Tom and Margaret Potter, and Moe Septee. When the ceremony was over, I watched people hugging and shaking hands, photographers capturing plaques, old friends seeing one another after decades, smiles and bittersweet teary eyes; a panoply of emotions. I did my joyous deep inhalation/exhalation. “Hey Mah, look where I am,” and thought ten thousand people should’ve been here to experience this. (Or more)

You can find the biographies and information on the Asbury Angels here:

http://asburyangels.com/default/index/

INTRODUCING THE FILM “JUST AROUND THE CORNER” The Story of Bob Benjamin.

A POWERFUL RECOMMENDATION (I rarely do this) http://www.amazon.com/Just-Around-Corner-Bob-Benjamin/dp/B008B49FHG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1348600934&sr=8-2&keywords=just+around+the+corner+dvd

On a Thursday(first day of 4) night, two weeks ago I attended, ‘Glory Days, A Bruce Springsteen Symposium’ at Monmouth University. It was an academic, musical and geographical adventure into the world of Bruce Springsteen. On that first night in Wilson Hall at Monmouth University there were two special events as part of the symposium; a ‘Songwriters by the Sea’ concert with gifted singers, Joe Rapolla and Joe D’Urso; in a room of indescribable ambiance so their acoustical music lifted me a few thousand miles away. That’s what this ‘Songwriters by the Sea’ series does to me every time. The concert was preceded by a special screening of the new film, ‘Just Around the Corner: The Story of Bob Benjamin.’ Sometimes I’m less of a reviewer or journalist but a conduit of feeling emotions and expressing my environment when doing so. Thus an observation about the viewing audience and me: it was about as silent and intense absorbing/viewing a film as I’ve ever seen. A human interest and story of courage. So my only one word review so to speak, “riveting.” Probably means if you follow my one word lead; pick up a copy at Amazon and other places.

Pix: Bob Benjamin, Joe D’Urso, Joe Amodei at Q/A. at the screening at Monmouth University

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August 14, 2012

Olympic Memories: Flo Hyman. Royal Caribbean Nightmare. Please Let My Apples Turn Brown. Dr Sketchy Asbury Park N.J. I Am a New Word in the Dictionary: Flexitarian. August 14, 2012

Filed under: November 2009 — Tags: Arlan Feiles, Asbury Park, Bob Mathias, Calvin Schwartz, Carli Lloyd, Dr. Sketchy, Flexitarian, Flo Hyman, Jesse Owens, Maple Avenue School, Olympic Volleyball, Royal Caribbean, Rutgers University — earthood @ 5:09 pm

it’s me the blogger who is sometimes sporadically tardy

I can’t wait to talk about Asbury Park; it’s becoming a real love affair to remember; me and that Jersey shore town with all kinds of magical musical Springsteen energy and history. The Olympics are now over and I was glued to my television set just like I was back in 1968, 1972 and every four years (not 1980, Jimmy) through most of my relevant life. Speaking of glue, a dermatologist just told me a few weeks ago that when I get those little cracks in my fingers which annoy and cause depressing pain, I should get crazy glue and blast the suckers shut. I was a little hesitant about the crazy glue thinking it’s almost irreversible so instead I used hoof lacquer (the stuff for horses) and it worked. I just thought about the Jane Fonda 1969 movie, ‘They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?’ I think they take old race horses now and ship them to Mexico to be made into human food stuffs.

Olympic great volleyball player Flo Hyman. always one of my heroes.

I love watching the Olympics; every four years I get a generation older; could’ve started and finished another college education and the Olympics come back. I’m four years older, wiser and that far removed from ever being an athlete in the Olympics. If I lived to be 100 years old, then the most Olympics I could ever see would be just 25 summer classics and that’s pushing it.

Carli Lloyd scored the winning gold medal goal against Japan with seconds left. A Rutgers graduate too.

How I wish there was a bucket floating around a Jersey shore jetty that would lift and move me to attend an Olympics live. Imagine sitting in Wembley stadium last week and watching Carli Lloyd (Rutgers University) score two goals to give USA the gold medal in Women’s football (soccer) over Japan. I sometimes think about Olympian Flo Hyman. I wonder how many viewers of NBC’s Olympic coverage know who she was; yes, an Olympian and not that long ago. I lament that more folks don’t know who she was and what she contributed to team USA winning a silver medal. Flo passed away much too young yet she impacted me enough to be blogging about her now.

Jesse Owens. always an Olympic hero

In 1974, Hyman was a member of the US volleyball team, but the team did not play in the 1980 Olympic Games; the United States boycotted the Moscow Olympics because the Russians were messing around in Afghanistan. I still remember Flo Hyman’s fast, hurting volleyball spike that hits at 100 mph. I loved to watch her play just like I do now with Misty Mae and Kerri. At the 1984 Olympics, Hyman, the tallest and oldest member of the team, led the US to the silver medal.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Mayor Cory Booker at my grammar school, Maple Avenue where I was always tardy.

After the Olympics, Hyman moved to Japan, where she played for the Daiei team. In the summer of 1986, she intended to return to the United States permanently, but never got the chance. On January 24, 1986, Hyman collapsed while sitting on the bench. She told her team to keep fighting, then moments later slid to the floor and died. It was a condition called Marfan’s Syndrome which affects tall people. I’m 6’5” and I still think about Flo Hyman, Jesse Owens and Bob Mathias among others. With respect to universe connectivity, I wonder why thoughts of Flo Hyman are always with me. One more Olympic thought; international sport and athletes are a beautiful thing. I get all choked up watching humanity interact on playing fields. Its 1960’s love and peace and gives the species and our globally warmed world, hope. Wouldn’t it be lovely if the species all signed the Kyoto protocol a month after the Olympics?

Leaving Bayonne on Royal Caribbean under the Verrazano Bridge

Seemingly there’s always a reason why my blog gets tardy grades. I remember my Maple Avenue School in Newark in the 1950’s. Mrs. Obama visited my old grammar school a couple of years ago. The school report cards are still in my basement protected from rising hurricane waters so I can show grandchildren way in the future that their grandfather got unsatisfactory grades in tardiness. I was always late; still am. Even yesterday, in New York City hanging out with a social media guru, she told me that my tardiness may be a passive aggressive behavior disorder. I tongue and cheeked her (aggressively denying her notions) that I’ve been to a geneticist and my tardiness is chromosomal so I live with it and endear myself to readers, friends and family so my extant tardiness is overlooked. Therefore this blog is a little tardy (late) because I was away for 10 days on a cruise to the Caribbean.

a view from the deck. it’s big.

As I go through the maturation process like fine wine or cheese, I’ve grown less accustomed and enamored with flying; perhaps a fear too; perhaps a lack of control (back in June, 1974 for about a half-hour I thought about taking flying lessons). Recent vacations have been designed around avoidance of Newark Airport and leaving on jet planes. Enter Bayonne, New Jersey and the cruise ships which leave for points south. Bayonne is a mere 20 minutes and one Turnpike toll away. In July we boarded Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas ship for a 10 day cruise to Bermuda and the Caribbean. We subliminally thought this was an elegant cruise line; we didn’t do enough homework. My blogging herein is to convey the message ‘buyers beware.’

working out in the empty ship gym. where did all the flowers and people go.

No long laborious cruise diary necessary here; just the facts. Ten minutes in the stateroom, our olfactory sensation is bombarded by sewage odors. Three days later and a very uncaring, unresponsive housekeeping staff finally partially tends to the odors. We got a bottle of merlot for our troubled nostrils. I forgot to tell the housekeeping executive that since I saw the movie ‘Sideways’ a few Christmas vacations ago, I don’t drink “effen” merlot anymore.

the infamous towel line. all that humanity waiting to get or return towels.

Food presentation was better back in 1955 at Maple Avenue School. I know lettuce is lettuce but throw a doily and some creativity into presentation. Three thousand passengers got one partially working low fat frozen yogurt machine. And afternoons were partially consumed by long lines waiting to take out or return pool towels. They don’t trust us anymore and throw our towel names into computers. Failure to comply is a $25 charge/towel.

the boat in dock in bermuda

I wanted to wear a badge of honor: “I don’t drink so leave me alone and stop hovering over my lounge chair with melted iced concoctive drinks. I want peace in my time.´ Neville Chamberlain said that peace thing before World War II. They never stop hawking drinks. We didn’t have time to arrange a tour of San Juan that the ship provided for $49.95/person. It was a two hour bus tour around new and old San Juan. After leaving the ship once we docked in San Juan, a street tour service asked if we wanted a two hour tour of new and old San Juan for $10/person. We did. And this part of the blog is over. Oh and be careful of Royal Caribbean potato salad. It’s spiked with ham. And I am a flexitarian.

a cemetery in old San Juan

Yes, flexitarian is in the blog title. So this now becomes the perfect segue. Just this morning I was listening to the ‘Today Show’ and a segment on new words being added to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary. ‘F-bomb’ and ‘gassed’ (drained of energy), ‘tipping point’ (means we haven’t signed the Kyoto protocol and our earth is near tipping point so we’ll never be able to fix our planet so good-bye Miami and New Orleans and Key West. (Hemingway and Jimmy Buffet memories). Finally flexitarian. I am so redeemed. I’ve been calling myself a flexitarian for several years; way ahead of trending and lexicographers. A flexitarian is a vegetarian who sometimes eats meat, poultry or fish. I stopped eating red meat in 1975 (a long story) but I do eat chicken, turkey and fish. I’m so proud I’ve been officially defined now.

the bird is real. hanging around the pier. $10 to sit on your shoulder. i’m too tall i reasoned.

Finally along the health related thoughts (remembering I’m also a trans-humanist and aspire to live to 150 years). There is now an apple that has been genetically modified not to turn brown. The Arctic Apple created by Okanagan Specialty Fruits is an apple that won’t turn brown when cut or bruised, keeping its perfect appearance. The brown harmless hue that develops when you bruise, bite or slice an apple comes from polyphenol oxidase (PPO) The company science team replaces a variety’s PPO-producing genes with “silenced” (low PPO-producing) versions extracted from other apples, aided by time-proven biotechnology tools. This results in apples that don’t produce enough PPO to brown. And I wonder. Hey Mah, tell them to leave my apples alone. There’s this Russian scientist who someday will be able to take my entire cerebral essence (every cell, neuron, synapse) and transplant it into a Terminator cyborg and I get to live forever. By then, my blogs will never be late. Promiso.

public speaking in old San Juan. and i have no further aspirations.

Finally last week I attended this Dr Sketchy Asbury Park event at Asbury Lanes and I loved it for a myriad of journalistic and sociological reasons. Here’s my words (pixs) describing my observations. I’m smiling. It’s purist fun being a writer, blogger and a fan of Andy Rooney, Charles Kuralt and Flo Hyman:

the morning sailing back to Bayonne by the Verrazano. where was everybody. at the last buffet meal.

There’s a recurring theme to my words and explorations this past year. “I love Asbury Park.” Sometimes I feel like Winston Zeddemore, the character from ‘Ghostbusters’ when he proclaims at the end of the movie, “I love this city.” I do. But it’s Asbury Park. I’ve been saying for a long time as well that I keep feeling a magic dust constantly descending upon this New Jersey seaside city. Part of the dust is definitely a Bruce Springsteen affectation; pure magic and inspirational. You can feel it everywhere. Good old palpable dust that moves you to creativity and dreams. If you want a piece of it, to experience it, then come to Asbury Park.

asbury lanes, asbury park at night. scene of dr sketchy. and my shadow in in bottom of pix. how rod serling is that.

Asbury Park is becoming that iconic cultural hub for music, art, theater, food and walks on boards. I suppose there’s nothing quite like salt air, inhaled deeply to sweep you back to seeing news reports of President Eisenhower playing golf or Good Humor ice cream trucks pushing Chocolate Éclair bars; obviously my favorite; toasted Almond in second place. Part of the allure of diversity of culture in Asbury Park is Dr Sketchy Anti-Art School. I think it’s time to tell the deal with Dr. Sketchy and why I have so much fun attending (as a journalist).

sketching models at dr. sketchy

Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is both a burlesque cabaret and life drawing event originating in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and was founded in New York City in 2005, by illustrator and former artist’s model Molly Crabapple and illustrator A.V. Phibes. They’ve grown globally with branches all over. As of September 2007, Dr. Sketchy’s branches exist in 100 cities around the world. Branches vary in their conservatism and the skill of their artists. Asbury Park’s Dr Sketchy brings in eclectic, beautiful, charming, and fun models. I’ve been to several events which are always themed. Several months ago it was ‘vampires.’ The other evening was ‘horror.’ Sociologically speaking it’s quite an event; artists sketching and photographers capturing.

with dr sketchy models courtney wood and jess stroh. and i always thought i was 6’5″. are times changing??

Asbury Park’s Asbury Lanes has hosted several Dr. Sketchy events. For a small cover charge you’ve got up to four hours of sketching models and themes. Poses range up to five minutes and sometimes you feel as if you’re on a movie set. Props and music put you in the themed mood; sometimes the models even act as impromptu judges for a captured particular sketch. Tim, the franchisee has been particularly gracious and helpful in keeping me in the information loop.

Tim from Dr Sketchy presiding over a sketching contest with models.

candles and bowling balls occupying same rack at asbury lanes. and welcome back to the future.

Back to Asbury Lanes; as one donut chain advertises; it’s definitely worth the trip to set a bowling foot back in time to bygone days of the Lone Ranger, Pac Man, Photo Booths, Art Deco paintings and posters garnishing the walls and a bar that reminds me of Jack Torrance and red-rum and Stephen King. Even the water fountain belongs in a hip-hop museum. Everything about Dr Sketchy Asbury Park is in good taste and fun. The models are professional, outgoing, and intelligent and yes, beautiful. Usually a professional photographer takes part of the bar area and recreates scenes and themes with the models. I could learn to be a photographer if I keep hanging around.

a surreal look at the lanes. bowl a game?

more asbury lanes, asbury park back to the future props.

This particular night was ‘horror’ themed so I got to see a replica chain saw, a few skeleton face wall paintings and I even got a chance to personally administer a massage to a skeleton resting comfortably on a bar stool. Everybody goes out of their way to make your Dr. Sketchy time enjoyable and fun. So my advice as a fun journalistic advisor (consigliere) for central Jersey and the Jersey shore folks or even NYC, New Hampshire or Maryland folks is not to get thee to a nunnery but to a future Dr. Sketchy event preferably at Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park and have some sociological fun. You’re in Asbury Park, so grab dinner beforehand. And yes Virginia, you could probably bowl a few games. Speaking of the ‘Terminator’ before: this is a perfect time to close this blog by saying “I’ll be back,” but probably tardy. But isn’t this worth the wait?

More Asbury Park Calvin articles: http://www.njdiscover.com/wp1/2012/08/i-love-asbury-park-series-dr-sketchy-at-asbury-lanes-august-4-2012-by-calvin-schwartz/

dr sketchy theme ‘horror’ so i’m administering massage therapy to a skeleton.

yup the terminator and i too will be back but probably tardy.

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE OF ARLAN FEILES AND HIS NEW CD. “Weeds Kill the Wild Flowers” Arlan is a wondrous singer and lyricist. I keep listening and drifting all over my life and his words.

http://www.arlanfeiles.com/

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emily cook video she’s 102 years old: http://www.hooplaha.com/getting-better-all-the-time/

HooplaHa Videos and Article LINKS

Feinstein: Female Pilot:

Judy Feinstein pilot: http://www.hooplaha.com/no-rearview-mirror/

Fatherhood: http://www.hooplaha.com/fatherhood/

Ida Gonzalez: A Mother’s Journey to Light: http://www.hooplaha.com/a-mothers-journey-to-light/

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Flexitarianism: http://www.hooplaha.com/flexitarianism/

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website: http://vichywater.net

Facebook: Cal Schwartz

Twitter: Earthood

Email: earthood@gmail.com

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LINKS TO VIDEOS. Please Watch.

1. ZOMBIE WALK October 22, 2011

Zombie Walk Asbury Park

2. VETERANS DAY NJ VIETNAM MEMORIAL

Nov 11, 2011 Veterans Day at NJ Vietnam War Memorial

3. RANDALL HAYWOOD & VICTOR JONES JAZZ CONCERT

Nov 19, 2011

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July 15, 2012

Matecumbe Key and Global Warming. I STILL Hate the NCAA (Penn State Horror). Simple Gifts: Family, Jersey Shore Music, Universe Spiritual Connections, No Calorie No Salt Salad Dressing. Asbury Park. July 15, 2012

Filed under: November 2009 — Tags: Arlan Feiles, Calvin Schwartz, Danny White, Global Warming, Jersey Shore, Jim Valvano, Key Largo, Linda Chorney, Marc Ribler, Mario Casella, Matecumbe Key, NCAA, NJ Discover, Penn State, Rutgers, Simple Gifts, Slim Chance and the Gamblers, Southside Johnny, Stone Pony — earthood @ 12:14 pm

me in hurricane earl at the jersey shore

It’s my blog and I can say anything. I’m alerting the media (you all) that I’m in one of those moods, anything goes; my streams of consciousness are alive and well; so fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy blog but it’s by careful absurd design.

one of my heroes. Jim Valvano

Suddenly its summer and I remember what Vince Lombardi said: what’s important in life; your family, your religion and the Green Bay Packers. Another hero, Jim Valvano substituted Rutgers for the Green Bay Packers; he coached freshman basketball at Rutgers when he was in his early twenties. I miss Jim Valvano; his energy, humor and quest for excellence.

key largo movie poster. the movie saved my life

dream house matecumbe key

I love the word absurd. And I wonder who wrote the book of love and why the American Olympic Team is wearing uniforms made in China. There’s an old sewing group near me. A few dozen people; they’d love to make uniforms and for nothing and they’re retired. Even my 102 year old friend Emily Cook (she liked President Herbert Hoover) would help with the knitting of uniforms.

bogart and bacall in a scene from key largo. words can’t express the impact on my life

At President Obama’s inauguration, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, they played two songs; one of them was Simple Gifts which I’ve been listening to regularly for decades; both the instrumental(Aaron Copland) and song by Judy Collins. I was pleased when I heard the song played at the inaugural; was I this great visionary with music and relevancy? Simple gifts is also part of the title of this blog because when you reach that graying autumnal stage in life, you realize that life is not forever yet there are things so simple yet unappreciated that you wish you had.

global warming is doing this.

But first, carry me back to Matecumbe Key in the Florida Keys. Truth is; I just love the sound of Matecumbe Key. It haunts and pulls me soulfully to get there one day and for no particular reason other than to walk into a general store to ask the proprietor if I’m really in Matecumbe Key. Maybe buy bottled water made out of plant base and not BPA. My Matecumbe days began in 1973 when I saw the movie Key Largo with Bogart and Bacall for the first time. Much too involved to explain now, but that movie rescued and set me on a different life’s path.

Global Warming. all the posters in all the world won’t make a diffference. goodbye miami and new orleans

Strangely, in the past few weeks, I’ve been pulled by different parties to begin writing a memoir. When I do that, I’ll talk about the life saving qualities of that tech noir movie I saw in the summer of 73. In the movie, you hear mentioned several times about characters going to Matecumbe Key. I want my Maypo and Matecumbe Key and to walk barefoot on white sand. Maybe I could find a hammock between two aging palms and swing aimlessly for a few hours. I don’t drink much but perhaps a Jagermeister in a gentle breeze swinging on the hammock. The azure seas surround me in Matecumbe; I realize the good fortune of being in one of the most laid back places on our good earth; the Florida Keys.

jerry sandusky: penn state let this very bad man do very bad things for the money that football brings. shame on ncaa for doing nothing.

hey ncaa. the refs fixed this game. shame on ncaa

Actually, back around 1997 or thereabouts, I packed up my troubles spontaneously and went down to the Florida Keys for the first time. This whole adventure was simply gifted for me to put my bare toes on the dock in Key Largo where Bogart and Bacall stood in the movie Key Largo and absorb their energy. Strange as it may sound that’s exactly what I did and the only reason behind my long trip from New Jersey. I am quirky and haunted by universal energies which I don’t understand. I loved Islamorada and Key Largo and resolved to return to spend time in Matecumbe Key. But I worry.

still backstage at john eddie concert at stone pony in asbury park

I worry about global warming. Hundreds of scientists now have found evidence that global warming is really accelerating; sea levels are rising, as are greenhouse gases and the melting of glaciers. I think all the string and relativity theory in the world won’t be able to help us and therefore precious Matecumbe Key will sink into the sea and become a warped speed memory.

backstage watching southside johnny at stone pony

Global warming is causing some of our wild weather and the last 12 months have been the hottest ever on mother earth. I lucked out this past winter because I’m smart like Fredo(Michael’s brother) and I bet on a warm winter and no snow; I didn’t buy a snow blower (my source of snow removal, my prodigal son moved out a year ago) and it never snowed an inch. Hooray for global warming. Perhaps one day here in Western Monmouth county, I’ll have beach front property. I’ll make a fortune when it’s time to sell; of course the window of ocean rising will last a few weeks. But there’s always a buyer.

at wonder bar asbury park with mario casella (slim chance and the gamblers)

The trend towards a rapidly warming planet is accelerating. Last year was the second smallest area of ice (polar) on record. Glaciers continue to shrink. Greenland’s glaciers are melting 30 times faster than 10 years ago. By the year 2050, sea level will rise another 12 inches and goodbye Miami and New Orleans and my dream of a hammock swing on Matecumbe Key. And this was the first time ever that these scientific studies officially said global warming is due to man.

. with my dear friend 102 year old emily cook who could’ve knit some uniforms for our olymmpic team

john eddie with ralph notaro at stone pony asbury park

Optimism or denial; Have we reached the tipping point yet where we can slow or reverse the global warming trend? Maybe not this year or next but the scales will tip, the Yankees will win another World Series and maybe they’ll find that cigarettes are actually good for you.

Back in March 2011, I watched a basketball game between Rutgers and St. Johns at the Big East tournament in Madison Square Garden. I’ve blogged for the past year on and off about the game being obviously fixed by the referees so St. John’s could win. I’ve been watching basketball for five decades and you know when referees fail to call six egregious fouls and then walk off the court with almost two seconds left in the game; more than enough time for Rutgers to make a three point shot.

linda chorney at stone pony singing 19th nervous breakdown. she rocked.

hanging with marta and andra at stone pony after marc ribler & friends tribute to rolling stones.

I said it then and now: the NCAA hierarchy is archaic, perhaps even evil and seemingly interested more in keeping their high paying jobs. The system sucks. I hate them for not eliminating or punishing those referees. So now we have the Penn State scandal with their football program that is a huge scar on our national image and conscience and won’t go away until way after Matecumbe Key sinks into the ocean. Imagine the highest levels of the Penn State University administration, athletic director and coach Paterno all covering up the abuse and rape of young boys by Jerry Sandusky for many years; all to protect the image and money making ability of Penn State football. So let’s see what the NCAA does. What should be done is banishing their football program for many years and keeping them out of bowl play for a long time. It’s called crime and punishment and justice. But let’s see what corruption and money will ultimately do to the evil NCAA decision making process. Hah! And I’m off now to Monmouth Racetrack. I feel wise and insightful.

asbury park spontaneous boardwalk. the community drummers. pure magic people.

Now to Simple Gifts and serious thought; as I’ve aged, matured and looked through looking glasses and ponds of water (often I ponder why water is transparent), I’ve reached heightened awareness how wonderful it could be to have a family and people around you that genuinely care; people whom you share genes with. Down with mendacity and Big Daddy. Yes having a real family with siblings and cousins is a simple gift and I wish upon a star and before I head to the happy hunting ground that there was a family structure in my life. Sometimes I smell under my arms like Flounder did in the movie Animal House just before walking into Delta fraternity house to a rush party. Is it me or Memorex? And I just decided, I’ve said enough. Go read my future memoir to fully understand the depth of my family sadness. Could I make a comedy out of it all? Another Divine Comedy? I wonder.

marc ribler and friends at mc cloones asbury park

marc ribler and friends at stone pony. 50 licks. 50th anniversary of rolling stones.

But Jersey Shore music is another simple gift that I’ve embraced and realized. Asbury Park is a magical place of music, ocean, memories and culture. Often I can spend several days and nights a week exploring the boards of walking Asbury Park, sampling its plethora of food and music. Tuesday nights at McCloone’s for Marc Ribler and Friends in concert; we’re talking three or four hours of amazing music. I sit in the back and look out at the ocean and nearby Asbury Convention Hall, bathed in surreal lights and memories of Springsteen and I physically pinch myself. “Look Mah, where I am!”

Last Wednesday night, I was at the iconic Stone Pony for dozens of singers and Marc Ribler for a retrospective of the Rolling Stones. A week before, I was backstage at the Stone Pony for John Eddie and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes thanks to my friend and Grammy nominee Linda Chorney. Last night I was in Belmar watching accomplished singer Danny White and soon in Long Branch with Gary US Bonds in concert. Tomorrow night I’m in Brick at River Rock for one of my favorite bands, Slim Chance and the Gamblers. When they sing Harbor Heart, I melt into the real Jersey Shore. It’s a never ending story of atoms, molecules, gravitational pulls and music unlike most spots on this globally warming earth; Jersey music is a simple gift that I’m forever grateful for. Thanks to my son Neil for lighting my fire.

southside johnny at stone pony with marc ribler. tribute to rolling stones.

Being connected to the Universe is another simple gift that I am forever grateful for. When I meditate each day, I make sure the universe is thanked for the simple gifts of connection. These connections are elaborate and much too complex to even being to contemplate here and now. Yesterday, these abilities were recognized and I’ve been invited by higher ups to explore this simple gift. I’ll keep you posted.

singer danny white mentoring a young band in belmar (jersey shore)

And finally the simple gift of a tasty salad dressing with no calories or salt. Mostly a dream since I subsist on mainly vegetables and some poultry. When recently exploring a boutique supermarket and near the bin of mostly green bananas, I found a dressing that was real low in calories and salt. I don’t understand. I expect hidden ingredients of carcinogenic flavoring devices to hide out until some research arm at the turn of the next century says the ingredients are bad for you; but so far so good. Being a flexitarian (no red meat) I need excess lettuce and some chicken. So hooray for better living through chemistry and this Marie person’s dressing. I’ll keep you posted to see if I’ve lost several inches of height. I know New Jersey is going to lose several hundred feet of shore line once global warming closes in. I just realized the simple gift of Asbury Park and its music will have to move miles inland one day. And what will become of me and my small family?

http://www.arlanfeiles.com/

NOW HERE THIS: a bit of an advertisement. BUT there’s a very unusual upbeat funny precious 2 minute video involving 102 year old Emily Cook who talks about the life briefly and then invites me back to her room. Not to be missed especially the last 23 seconds. PLEASE check it out and share it.

emily cook video she’s 102 years old.

HooplaHa Videos and Article LINKS