Issue #1066

Heather takes the Rolling Stone magazine so we read it all the time. Never before has an article left Nate and I so irate as their choice of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.  We couldn't believe who they chose to be in the top 10, let alone the order they were placed in and which artists were chosen as best, never mind those that weren't even included in the top 100.  

 

I guess you have to take into consideration how they picked the top 100 singers, so I'll give the details of how they got the end result (which I got from the article). 

I counted a total of 169 voters, which included rock and pop artists like Rod Stewart, Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones), Chris Robinson (Black Crowes),  Nancy Wilson (Heart), but there were country western artists like Loretta Lynn, as well as Ysuf Islam (Cat Stevens) and Billy Joel, along with Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople) and Maynard James Keenan (Tool) to name a few. 

Some of the other voters were journalists, editors, producers, chairman and CEO's of music companies as well as filmmaker-writers like Cameron Crowe and Executive VP's like Rick Krim from VH1 .  How they came to be included in the vote was not reported in the article.

Each voter was asked to list his or her 20 favorite vocalists from the rock era in order of their importance (although some of the top 100 were country artists like Johnny Cash and Hank Williams).  Then the ballots were recorded and weighted according to a methodology developed by an accounting firm Ernst and Young and they tabulated the results for the Magazine. (I'd like to see just how this was done).

We couldn't believe Bob Dylan came within the top 10, he was voted 7th!!  Remember this was the top 100 "Greatest Singers of All Time".   We didn't question Dylan's talent in writing, but I buy his music when it's performed by another artist!  His singing SUCKS!  There is no way I would put him in the category of top 100 "singers"! 

Bjork was voted 60th, above James Taylor (74th), Art Garfunkel (86th), Don Henley (87th), Annie Lennox (93rd-------CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT), Karen Carpenter (94th- What an insult to a voice smooth as butter and sweet as rain), Stevie Nicks (98th) and insult upon insult Steven Tyler (99th)!  

Who the hell listens to Bjork? Bob Dylan is 7th, Steven Tyler 99th?  We are talking how one sounds.............. as in.........can they hold a tune.........COME ON!  Karen Carpenter under Bjork?

How come no one voted for Sting?  He isn't even  in the top 100 AT ALL! 

Billy Joel was a voter and HE isn't even in the top 100 best vocalists!

Where is Julie Andrews? Andy Williams? Can't say they didn't get voted for because they aren't "Rock", neither is Bonnie Raitt (50th), or Patsy Cline (46th).   Joni Mitchell (42nd) and Elton John (38th) came in under Bruce Springsteen (36th) and Howlin' Wolf (31st) and Nina Simone(29th)! 

Who are Howlin' Wolf and Nina Simone? Joe Cocker (97th) can't sing at all.  He sounds like someone's squeezing his balls too hard, and he came in before Steven Tyler (I am and always will be a tried and true Aerosmith fan!  Seen 'em, love 'em..... would be tempted to do naughty things with the lead singer even though I'd get lost in his gynormous mouth, I love his scream!) 

I've listened to music for a long time (47 years tomorrow) I'm not a musician or CEO of a music company, but............................... 

WHAT THE HELL! 

Who do you think Bette Midler or Yoko Ono voted for?

What about B.B. King and Carole King?  Who did they cast their votes for?

I'm not prejudiced, my boyfriend in 3rd grade was black.  But 7 of the top 10 winners were black artists.  This magazine came out November 27th............. how long after O'bama was put in? (And I am for O'bama!)  Look down lower on the article and see the list. Would you put some of those artists in the top ten? Yeah, they may be good but in the 10 best singers? Me either! 

I can't believe how much it bothers me that this article "BOTHERS ME"!  I walked around in a huff all day because some joe-blow voted for Elvis Presley and not Sting!  Elvis was a "Rock Star", his voice wasn't that great!  Sting plays multiple instruments, writes his own music and has a phenomenal voice!  He's a major talent.  Someone voted for Bjork, and not Sting?  This is madness!  

Billy Joel......NOT VOTED FOR!

Elton John.....under James Brown?

Here is the line-up for the top 50! (B=black)

1- Arethea Franklin (B)

2- Ray Charles (B)

3- Elvis Presley (copied B)

4- Sam Cooke (B)

5- John Lennon

6- Marvin Gaye (B)

7- Bob Dylan

8- Otis Redding (B)

9- Stevie Wonder (B)

10- James Brown (B)

11- Paul McCartney

12- Little Richard (B)

13- Roy Orbison

14- Al Green (B)

15- Robert Plant (hey hey baby say the way you move..gonna make u sweat, gonna make you              groove)

16- Mick Jagger

17- Tina Turner (B)

18- Freddie Mercury (Waaaaaaaaaaaay better than Elvis... tear drop....miss him....miss Queen!)

19- Bob Marley (B) (Makes me smile...makes me happy.....phenomenal person)

20- Smokey Robinson (B)

21- Johnny Cash

22- Etta James (B)

23- David Bowie 

24- Van Morrison

25- Michael Jackson (B) (He should have been way above Little Richard)

26- Jackie Wilson (B)

27- Hank Williams

28- Janis Joplin

29- Nina Simone (B) (looked her up on You Tube.......not impressed)

30- Prince (B) (He should have been waaaay before Dylan, Marvin and Elvis)

31- Howlin' Wolf (B)

32- Bono

33- Steve Winward

34- Whitney Houston (B)

35- Dusty Springfield

36- Bruce Springsteen (puke, barf, choke, gag)

37- Neil Young 

38- Elton John (I've lost total faith in the voters now)

39- Jeff Buckley (showing my ignorance.......who is he?)

40- Curtis Mayfield (B) (same as above)

41- Chuck Berry (B) (reminds me of Back to the Future)

42- Joni Mitchell (love her...love her...love her)

43- George Jones

44- Bobby "Blue" Bland (B) (again, showing my ignorance....)

45- Kurt Cobain (love Nirvana.....but top voice? Above Karen......again.....lost me for good)

46- Patsy Cline (miss you mom)

47- Jim Morrison

48- Buddy Holly

49- Donny Hathaway (B)

50- Bonnie Raitt (love her).

Now I realize I am letting my opinion go all out here.  I love music... of all kinds.  I absolutely love Stevie Wonder, own his music.  I love Marvin Gaye's voice and I dig Otis.  Many of the top ten artists, I don't doubt, were influences to many of the artists who voted.  But this was to see who were the top 100 "Singers", not top 100 "influences".  The votes are totally off line for best voice.  

Patsy Cline makes me think of my mother who, before she had her throat surgery, sounded very much like her.  I adore Patsy and agree she is one of the top 100 best singers.  I agree Aretha is one of the top 100 too, I'm not so sure I agree she's #1.  I mean, how long can we go on about R-E-S-P-E-C-T!  Have you seen Kelly Clarkson's version of this tune?  She nails it. Go to you tube and see for yourself! Compare Kelly and Aretha, you'll see what I mean.

I wouldn't put Elvis in the top 10 best singers even though he was popular.  Yes he made a ton of music, influenced people right and left and boat loads of people loved him.   Marilyn Monroe was popular too and all the men loved her (many still do), but that doesn't put her the category of one of the all time best actresses!  Christina Aguilera's voice cuts like a knife and she was 58th (gasp)!!.   She should have been in the top 25 in my opinion, above Brian Wilson, above Luther Vandross, WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY above Kurt Cobain and Nina Simone.

Where's Linda Ronstadt?  Ann Wilson (Heart) probably had her hopes up that someone would see her as the phenomenal voice that she is.......since her sister was a voter. But NO! Can you keep up with the notes she hits on Barracuda or Crazy On YOU?  NO!  Me either, but I try! Damn I try!

Well, there you have it. I've come out and spread my opinion all over the place. 

I must say, I feel better now.

Go to the magazine if you want all the top 100!  You'll probably be as surprised and possibly as pissed as we were!

Inherited Stranger Babble

I remember being in the grocery store as a child and was really embarrassed when my mother would break out into conversation with check out lady.  I thought it odd that both of them would seem to enjoy each other as though they had been friends forever.

At that point I silently vowed to myself I would not be like her and embarrass my kids in public blabbing on about some such nonsense with a smile and then go my merry way.   I was very shy in school, rarely started the conversation first and was pegged as  stuck-up for it most the time.     

I have become.............. my mother.  

I'll pretty much break out in conversation with anyone who has the gumption to listen, and make a comment back.  I think I do this mainly to break the uncomfortable silence felt when two people are in such close proximity, or if someone is going to be asking me to dig into my purse to hand them my hard earned cash.  

Standing in front of the teller, the checker, the postal worker or any other stranger face to face causes me to spout out into some such prattle and break the silence, calming the nervous jitter creeping up my spine.

Elevators are squishy little places.  Oversized boxes big enough to hold several humans at a time, moving them up or down all the while never requiring them to change position while staring straight ahead to a closed double door.  

I often picture myself being in the Star Ship Enterprise, waiting to be transported to the captains deck and that crazy pah-shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-T, sound going off just before doors part way for me to exit.  This eases the tension while being in such close proximity to a stranger who is also staring straight ahead waiting for the doors to open.

What an uncomfortable moment.  Where do you set your eyes?  Up at the numbers counting to your floor?  At your feet?  Do you play with your purse? Your cell phone?  Your lunch box or coffee mug?  Take a sip, that'll waste a couple seconds! If you look at the person next to you, a smile seems to need something to follow it.   That's a nice purse..........cute shoes.........has your floor been busy lately? Just as you start the convo, it's time to leave.

It's a different story if you know the person who got on with you or the person appears friendly or has an obvious something you'd want to start a conversation about! A new daddy carrying out the car seat and a number of full personal belonging bags and suitcases! Conversation is easier then!  Did you get a boy or a girl?  Are you ready for the long nights with a newborn?  Is this your first baby?  Those are easy victims for stranger-convo.  Running into new grandparents with the happy big brother or sister tagging along is rare. 

The ride to telemetry is shorter now having gone from the fifth floor to the third, so my time in the "vator" is less, but the discomfort comes in and settles right at the base of my neck when someone enters from another floor.

    

I was going down to the garden level for breakfast yesterday and this short, ponchy, well dressed woman entered at the first floor.  I don't like it when I get on and find out it's going up to the 6th floor when I wanted to go down so I asked her if she truly wanted to go "down" and she said she was and got in.

She stood just far enough away for comfort!  Right away I can feel my mom readying to sprout out of my neck and make herself comfortable through conversation with this woman.  I speak first.

    

Don't you think they should put t.v.'s in the doors, just so there is actually something to look at in cramped elevators!?....I laugh jokingly!  It'd make the ride less uncomfortable don't you think! 

Pudgy woman: It'd be kind of a waste....... she says and looks straight ahead at the door stopping the conversation cold. 

Silence........

The doors open to ground!          

Silence...........

We both get out.

That was stupid!  I felt worse than I had if I'd have just stayed quiet! 

Then she followed me right into the line-up for pancakes!  I turned around slightly to confirm it was her behind me pretending to look at someone else!  I had no desire to babble on to her this time,  and just stood there with my arms crossed waiting for breakfast.

I've been shy all my life and was pegged as stuck-up in high school never starting conversation first.  It was too embarrassing. It takes a lot for me to make the first move. But all the people I've made acquaintance with so far in this crazy life were strangers first.  So I don't think it so strange now to be like mom.

The Surgery is Done

My girl had her surgery.  I called her hubby Nate from work to find out how it went.  He said he didn't get any updates even three hours after the surgery was done and when he made the attempt to  get any info about her, they sent him to wait in a room that was already occupied.  Poor guy doesn't often take care of his breast fed son and two year old daughter alone.  He sounded a little fried! Not in a bad way, but a calm, fried way!  Sweet thing.  It does a man good right!

I just got off the phone with her.  They never did update either of them about how the surgery went.  I just hope the pain meds they give her keep the pain down cuz it's harder to get a doc to write a script for narcs later!

She sounded good. Now for a days recovery and Friday a five hour trip back home

Today, my oldest daughter and her hubby and two kids made the five hour trek to Detroit Michigan to meet with her surgeon, and have ear surgery this Wednesday! I'm pretty sick about it but haven't let her know it because I didn't want to scare her.  

She won't have Internet access for the next five days, so I can vent a little and not be too self conscious about her reading it.

Ever since she was less than a year old, this poor girl has battled ear problems.  She had recurrent ear infections and as a result, surgery to her little ear drums, twice per ear, and still suffered a hearing loss of 30-40% in her left ear.  

Consequently while holding the phone to her right ear she can hear nothing her husband says to her, or her daughter getting into the toilet or other such mischief of a two year old.

High pitched sounds are near to inaudible so her baby crying (while on the phone) or the door bell can pose a problem.  For these reasons I am glad she is seeing to getting it taken care of, however, I've been with her through most of the other surgeries, helped care for her post-op making her comfy, meeting with the docs before and after surgery etc. (surgeon and anesthesiologist).   I'm not there this time and it really makes me feel quite helpless.  

Not that my speaking to the doctor before, easing my fears, asking questions helped him perform his surgery any better than his ability would allow.  Still, somehow, it made me feel like I had an element of control or involvement. 

Not this time.

I'm scared.  I'm scared things will go wrong.  I'm scared of total hearing loss. 

She's scared of the anesthesia, something that I don't worry all that much about because I know they can reverse narcotic anesthesia if needed, or if she is not doing well.  But once you go cutting into the eardrum (of which has already been surgically cut into twice before), just how much can you fix?  Plus, she says they will need to shave down the bone inside the ear canal to allow for more room since hers is too narrow for surgery! 

Needless to say I'm nervous.  

I need to be positive.  Pray she will recover beautifully and regain her lost hearing.

I pray with all my heart everything goes well.

They meet with the surgeon tomorrow, and the surgery is set for Wednesday.  She'll recover on Thursday and then make the trek back to St Ignace on Friday!  

My prayers, thoughts, hopes and love will be with my own little girl today and throughout her recovery.

I love you Aub.  Mom

Does It Ever Get Any Better?

So I scuffed my way upstairs and put a cup of coffee in the microwave, hit the instant two minute button and walked away.  Down the hall to check on my young adults only to find a messy room with an unmade bed and no son in it and another room with a nicely made bed and no daughter in it. 

Did I miss something?  

No.  

No, I didn't get a call last night from either kid telling me where they are, where they'll sleep over or anything.

This has been an ongoing issue for each of my kids since childhood. The not telling me where they are going or where they'll be.  I have a hard time yelling at them now because one turns 22 years old today, and the other will be twenty in March.

Still, if they live here, don't pay rent, or their car insurance, don't I deserve to at least have my fears calmed by knowing where they are sleeping at night? 

I mean really.  I fix dinners and feed their friends fairly regularly, pay for electricity, food, laundry soap, toiletries, buy tires for their cars, help pay for repairs on their cars.  I help them out quite a bit. 

I've been asking for the simple courtesy of being told where they are and where they are going like FOREVER, and it just doesn't seem to sink into their tiny little skulls.  No really, this has been an ongoing issue since each child was old enough to open a door and go visit their neighbor friends.

I pretty much figure the Mr is at Tony's house. That's usually where he is.  Where Wink is I'm not sure.  She has a few girlfriends and a couple guy friends she stays at, and I figure if they have had anything to drink I don't want them driving.........AND THEY KNOW THAT!

But courtesy shouldn't have to be asked for every time they leave the house should it?

I mean, they rebel because they are over 18, so that means they are "adults" by American Standards.  So, shouldn't they ACT like adults.  This would mean, pick up their clothes, help around the house, and let their parents know if they are coming home or not if that is really the biggest request made to them?

My coffee was boiling over in the microwave, much like my temper on the inside.  Don't worry, I didn't throw anything or break a dish.  But I felt like it. 

I feel like I could threaten to make them pay for their car insurance.  This would scare them, they'd be afraid and help out around the house for a couple days.  They'd speak extra nice like, and show much more love.  But it would wear off and we'd be back to old habits.

If I bring up how upset I am to my spouse, he'll just go on and repeat how stupid I am for not making them pay their own car insurance, or how stupid I am for feeding their friends, or how stupid I am for being so undemanding of them around the house.  So I don't feel like being called stupid today.  Not to mention that I live with my in-laws, so when they get up, it's a sure bet they'll ask where the kids are, and I'll be on the defensive about my parenthood for the umpteenth time. 

It's snowing outside.  I have been dreading this since spring!  I hate driving in the snow.  I hate being cold, and believe me, this giant house gets so damn cold in the winter, I dream of California every day.  

It's the Winkers 22nd birthday today. Yeah, I know, I said that.  But what I didn't say is that I took the day off to make it special for her. I didn't even take off my OWN birthday this year. Then, she calls me at work last night to tell me that she was planning on going out to dinner with her boyfriend, then she and her friends and even the Mr and his girl friend have been planning on going ice skating.......... "but I reserved the whole morning for you mom and what ever you'd like to do!"  Right, like I want to get up early on my day off, and go out to some store or see movie before all her other plans take way. 

Like I want to rush around on my this day off.  I work thirteen hour days. This week I worked two days, have today off, work two days, one off, work two days, then have five off, then start that all over again. 

I read so many blogs by moms of small kids.  They have all these complaints about their bratty or sick kids.  If they only knew what's coming.  $1400 dollar car repairs, accidents, hospitalizations, and on and on with the expenses.

I've seen what my in-law's have gone through with their own adult children.  This had better get better or I'm thinking of running away to live on my own and stop feeding into the frenzy.

Laughs and Loves

I've been crying about my mom today.  I don't have any pictures of her scanned to this computer, that's why she isn't represented. 

Nathan and James

The best things in life aren't things...........

Heather

Nathan and Claralynne

Nathan and Claralynne

Aub, Whit and Heather

Sarah and Whit

Dad and I

Aubrey

Cisco

James

Claralynne

Nate with his C-Pap mask

Nate and Claralyne

Daddy

My Favorite People

Did You

VOTE?

I'm from Utah, where it doesn't matter if you don't want the Light Rail, don't want a socker stadium or you don't want the Legacy Highway. You can vote against it, be in the majority vote and they'll still build it regardless of what the majority of the public wants.

You can vote against Bush, be in the majority and he'll still be put in as president.

So what makes me think my vote will count?

Can't help but keep trying to be heard!

G'Obama!

The better of two evils? Not sure really.

They BOTH voted FOR the buy out!

I just don't want ANOTHER BUSH!

2008 Costumes Central

Halloween 2008

Just some highlights of my kids, grandkids and cousins Halloween this year. Boy do I ever miss dressing up myself. I told my cousin Scott that next year I'm flying to Utah and dressing for the Freakers Ball with them!

My Michigan Cuties

Claralynne stays warm as a Care Bear. Cute little cold nose!

James 1st Halloween trick-or treating.
My his mommy looks cute in that coat!

COLORADO KIDS

Whit decided to go all army this year!

Ain't he tough lookin'?

Heather put together this ensemble herself from second hand items. TOTALLY AWESOME!! Note the detailed work she did on the hat! The pearl pin belonged to her Great Grandma Fotheringham.She's Captain Morgans girlfriend!


Heather has a metal allergy so these lovely necklaces left some mean sores on her neck later!

PUMPKIN CARVING
Heather and her friends came over and had their own pumpkin carving night before Halloween!

Heather, Parker, Jessica and Luke

Heather is a true blue Pirate this year.

Her skull/sword carving was hand drawn.

Parker carved the scarey face above

Luke had a Christmas theme

Jessica carved this cool cross

UTAH COUSINS

Scott and Judy dressed up for Halloween, the first time in a looooooonnnnnng time.




Jeremy (L doing Scott's nails) rocks when it comes to dressing up every year for Halloween.

This year he got his parents involved and was the creator of this fantastic replica of Beetlejuice and his bride. Jeremy actually dyed the suit and wedding dress, hand made the ruffle, burning the edges to make it antique, and cut the wig to fit. I'm sure he did the make-up too.



They attended KBER's Freakers Ball at the Port O'Call in SLC and everyone thought they should have taken home the $1500.00 pot for 1st. Some other dude took it with his purchased/no imagination costume. This ensemble was created exclusively from second hand items, most of which were purchased at the D.I. (Deseret Industries is a second hand store in Utah).

Don't they just take the cake?