Downloading Aretha and Pearl

I started using my emusic ration last night. I get 90 tracks to download each month for 19.85. This month's selections are from Aretha Franklin... "Best of Aretha Franklin" and Pearl Bailey, and Friends.

Pearl Bailey has so many classic songs from the 40-60s. Like "That old Black Magic" and "When Sunny gets blue."

Aretha Franklin won so many Grammies (only one female singer won more. Alison Krauss) they called the female RnB the Aretha award. From I say a little prayer for you" to "Respect" was there. I looked here up in Wikipeda and bought her other number 1 on the Billboards 100 where she sang with George Michaels in 80's "I knew you were waiting for Me". I had to order it off of ITunes. It is so nice to be able to use ITunes to pull up a particular song and only pay 99 cents for it.

Even in the late 60's a 45 RPM single (it had 2 sides with a total of 2 songs on it cost 1.50. In todays money that would be about 7 dollars.

Leg is doing much better. No pain pills last night!

Take care

Pat

August Rush

The beginning of this movie is a little hard to follow. The viewer is a little unsure of the origins of the kid, the rock star or the cello player.

It all comes together in its own glorious rhythm as the characters try to find each other as their unique since of music is not embraced by their immediate peers. They are all geniuses. Robin Williams plays the bad guy, street hustler pimp who recognizes the boy as the source of some pretty awesome cash down the road.

The highlight of the movie is in the end with the concert at Central Park.

This one left tears of joy in my eyes and is an incredible cinematic experience even on the smaller screen. It has a significant indi feel, even with some well known actors in it.

Be patient with the beginning and enjoy the ending... Now in DVD

Love
Pat

Pork Enchiladas

The can said mild.

I bought some beautiful blue corn tortillas handmade in Sacramento. They are nice thick ones. Should have been great.

I carved off the meat from the pork baby back ribs that I baked in a new carne asada liquid marinade that I bought at costco. Sue prefers them regular rather than the overnight marinade in the chili citrus sauce.

So I shaved up the cheese and opened the can and made some enchilades out of the materials. They cooked and cooked and when they were good and dry and crispy the mild had cooked out of them and what was left was definitely on the hot side. Too hot to eat was the verdict from my dear wife. She actually asked for the reheating of the leftovers from the night before (the corned beef and cabbage meal) for her major meal yesterday.

Bob dropped by to pickup up a coat the Mikie accidently left at our house. He wasn't interested in pork enchilides either.. But.. this morning they made a great wake me up breakfast.

I guess it was one of those meals that was just waiting for the right occasion.

Have a great Tuesday.

Love
Pat

First Stawberries of the Season

While mom was over she pinned up a couple of very ripe strawberry baskets, Today I bought some vanilla bean ice cream and some little berry cups.. yum.. Its the quintessential Spring dessert.

We usually have great strawberries. I think that they are at least a month away, especially considering the wind is blowing and its really cool.

I have finished the "Basilica" a wonderful book about the building up St. Peters in Rome. It details the politics of the popes that were instrumental in building such an enormous place of worship. It went through many changes.

We were so fortunate to see it on our Rome journey Christmas of 2001. We were hosted by my best friend in high school, Francisco. Sue was most impressed by the pieta and of course the Sistine Chapel.

Hope you have a great week
Pat

Corned Beef and Cabbage Sunday

Monday is St. Pat's Day!

This family tires to do a corned beef and Cabbage Meal during this time. Today I made one for Sue and myself.

It used to be a cheap meal. It is not now. Mom says don't mess with the brisket it you can help it.. Corned beef Round makes a better less fatty meal. Mom is right. Corned round from Greely Colorado is now 3.50 a pound. But oh my what a meal.

I simmered it for 4 hours. I added the potatoes in the last 1/2 hour. I added the carrots in the last 20 minutes and the cabbage in the last 10 minutes. Yum Yum.. everything was perfect. There will even be some leftovers.

This is really not the Irish dinner tradition that comes from the old country, It is Irish American tradition. Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's day. Tomorrow is red hash day where the corned beef and the potatoes and cabbage become the hash of the day. Copped and refried with eggs to accompany it. Some in our family prefer this to the original.

My earliest memory of St. Pat's day occurred when I was in the first grade. I came home for lunch and mom had colored the tuna fish casserole green. Green tuna fish was not the most appetizing dish in the world, but she certainly got points for creativity. I also remember going to a San Francisco Saints basketball game on the St. Pat's weekend. At halftime I looked out the window and I saw part of the St. Pat's parade as it rounded Civic Center (where the basketball game was played) and headed down Market Street. There were lots of green cars and small groups marching in line.

St. Pat's day is always green in Northern California. There is a serious hint that Winter is sill not that far away. Usually in the form a a blustery windy day. Today is not an exception.

Ps. leg looking better.

Love Pat

Visitors, Workers

Mom and Dad and Mikie arrived today to have a look at the leg themselves. Mom put some aloeVera on it to keep it from cracking and Mikie bought me some new socks that will take the pressure off the area.

While they were here, Mikie and Dad put up two sets of drapes. Mom cleaned up the kitchen and cut up the strawberries. We all ate at home town. I spent the whole time on the kitchen couch with my foot up.

Mikie let me drive her new to her volvo SuV.. some slick machine.

The cats headed for the hinterland. They are all recovered now that they went home.

Its was good to see them.

Suzie is doing better. She got out and did the shopping trip with the girls.. overall everything is better.

I am going to get off my feet again so that the pills can do their jobs..

Love
Pat

A Song? A Movie?

When is a movie a song? or a Song a Movie.. I guess when it is called "Once." Once won the academy award for the best song this year. it should have.. it devoted its whole movie to it.. It has just a little plot.. The girl is Russian, the Irish guy is too old.. they don't get it on.. but what a synthesis when the music is put together!

She has these wonderful eyes. She is married with a cute little daughter, living upstairs in a foreign country with a mother that does not speak a word of English. He is scruffy red haired Irishman who fixes Hoovers for a living and gets a penny or two from playing outside.. his own compositions. Its got a making of a fairy tale.. and it almost makes it.. we don't really know what happens in the end. I must be going deaf but I missed most of the lyrics until they were cleaned up in the studio..

I bought it on Ebay.. so if you are family I will get it to you.. if you haven't seen it yet.

: ) Pat