Today is Mom's birthday

Though she passed away many years ago, I still think of her every May 1st.  I also always listen on this day, alone somewhere, this time in Las Vegas, to this song.




The sound isn't great, but the music is.  The song devastates me every time.

I miss Mom.  I miss Ed.  I miss Zevon.  I miss so many people I've lost.

I do keep them in my heart, and I plan to always do so. 

Now, back to not blogging until I finish that oh so late book.

Zevon knew

Sometimes, you just need to tilt back your head and howl.



His hair was perfect.

Damn, I still miss Warren Zevon.

A song that makes me ache

I love this song (though this recording of it is terrible), have loved it since I first heard it, but it makes my heart ache.  Warren Zevon recorded it when he knew he was dying.  I miss his music.  I miss Mom.  I miss Ed.  I miss so many we have lost.

For all of them, this song. 

For all of them, I did, I do, and I will.

One of those days

I promised I wouldn't whine, so that's as far as I'll go. Two songs flitted through my brain today, though, one in anger, and one in sadness.

Anger first, but more than that, defiance, because he did both so well and I'm still pissed that he isn't around to make more music: Warren Zevon.



Sentimental last, because I am, because I recently watched the episode in question, and because her voice is just that beautiful.



Enjoy. I have work to do and a book to finish.

Recent recommendations

In no particular order, here are bits of media I commend to your attention. I'm sure I've mentioned some of them previously, but I felt like doing a brain dump, so here you go:

Book: Black Man, Richard K. Morgan
The U.S. version bears the title Thirteen, presumably for the same reason the U.S. version of the British TV show, Spooks, bears the name, MI-5. If you don't know Morgan's work, give him a try. This one is a fine place to start, but so is Altered Carbon. Think Gibson of the Neuromancer era sharpened to a finer noir edge.

Video: Hustle
This British show won't strain your brain or teach you major life lessons, but it will keep you tracking the plot and entertain you enormously. A family favorite here.

Movie: Curse of the Golden Flower
Mara brought this over for Chinese and Chinese tonight, and it was big fun. Part court intrigue, part costume drama, and a small part martial arts flick--who could resist flying monkey men screaming down from the sky?--I enjoyed this one from start to finish. Its sets are amazingly beautiful, as is the framing of practically every shot.

Video: MI-5
I mentioned it earlier, and I've probably mentioned it here before, but for my money this is one of the best shows going. Start with the first season, and you'll quickly buy all the box sets.

CD: Stand in the Fire, Warren Zevon
I miss Zevon. The last song on his last album can tear my heart apart, but sometimes I have to listen to it anyway. This CD is a new issue of a live show that was hard to find for a very long time, and it showcases many of Zevon's best-known songs. I never got to see him live, so this is as close as I'll get. His hair was perfect.