Rocked out covers album

Who knew one of the most talked about "I don't do covers" covers album, actually sounds halfway decent?

I picked up a copy of Dolly Parton's Rockstar album the other day and was amazed with the list of musicians singing along with the Queen of Country. 

I mean when you put A-List musicians like Richie Sambora, Sting, Stevie Nicks and Waddy Wachtel, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Debbie Harry (and the list goes on) with someone who is creating an album out of their realm, what's the worst that can happen?

Nothing catastrophic considering each individual person on record has enough talent that they could have done their own compilation karaoke mix tape and sell it right next to this one. 

Okay, it's country gone mainstream rock, but at least it's better than William Shatner talking through some of his albums. There's another musician that I am blanking out on at the moment, but he too, is one of those people who did a couple cover albums and people talk about it even today, because it was totally not within this guy's project wheelhouse. I wish I could remember the guy's name. He's mainstream enough that you'd know him if I said his name, but I'll be damned if I can think of it now. 

It's the... second (?) day of Chanuka, so I'm sure I'll get some pretty interesting things put in my hands. Much like the aforementioned country-does-rock CD. Time will tell what the next six nights bring us... even it it's also a 2016 live album of Culture Club performing at Wembley (speaking of "Time"). 

Enjoy all the oil.... 

Cheers

Is it Passover?

Rosh Hashanah ended yesterday, so apparently we skipped Yom Kippur / Sukkot / Shemini Atzeret / Hanukkah / Purim. We've gone straight into Passover. It must be... March? April? What happened to "winter" "in Florida"?

Ian must be the new Eliyahu because the frogs are here.

Yup. We got rain (✅), we've had chrain for the brisket (tzimmus) and pot roast (✅), we've got challah (✅) and now we have the second plague of Pesach: Frogs (✅). Somehow we missed the water turning to blood (good thing to miss)plague, but we might end up getting the eighth (hail) and definitely the ninth (darkness) over the next 24 hours. 

Welcome to holiday chaos roulette challenges!

Seems that every time we have to close the shutters for storms, out come the amphibians. They hide in the bushes under normal circumstances and when they know there's something brewing happening, they start crawling in the shutters and live there until we open the shades again. At some point in time, they know it's safe to unsuction themselves and they disappear to the ground, so when we open the windows, they're gone.

If only the gecko's were that smart - we have to chase after those baby dinosaurs to shoo them away. At least the frogs know when they have overstayed their welcome. - Shrugs - 

Still all clear, but the day's still early. 

Cheers;

Groovy; dig it, birds!

 Well... Thanksgiving is over. Birds were pardoned and bellies were filled. Shopping has been had and Christmas lights are officially up. 

I was with family over the weekend, and we ventured out to a place called "St. Armand's Circle". Allegedly, it is part of the place John Ringling took a liking to, when he decided to grow roots in Sarasota. 

Lots of not super high end shops in this block of land, but the stores aren't cheap either. I mean, there are branded places like Huk, Chico's and the mall kiosk turned full store.. one of those "enter your favorite design here" shirt places. What was also available were mom and pop stores - boutiques, tea spots, hot sauce / pepper sauce place... list is on. There were also one off ethnic restaurants - Greek, Italian, themed bars (looked at a 1920s speak easy joint for a minute). There was even a life sized chess set to play with. Too bad no one wanted to try a round with me.

We didn't add a lot to boost the economy, but we decreased our waist size half a notch in our belts as we walked around. As no one could decide where they wanted lunch, we ended up back in the car and drove a couple miles down the road to Longboat Key. A little dive of a fishing pier shanty that is allegedly known for it's hamburger, not it's seafood. So a burger with onions rings, 2 orders of fish n chips and an order of clam strips was had by the group I was with. 

I was more interested in taking pictures of the webbed foot life on the water, so I have plenty to add to this post. The pictures were taken with a Canon EOS Rebel T7i DSLR Camera, where most snaps were using the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens. I'm linking broad links so that anyone interested in the camera / lens can choose the bundle they'd like to pick up, if they choose. I know there's an updated Rebel, but I'm not interested in it right now. I'm still getting to know my current iteration.

And I do have to say the Bluetooth / Wi-Fi connectivity from the camera to my phone (download the Canon app) has been a godsend these days when everyone demands they see the pictures immediately. They want "professional" shots and those pictures to be texted to the phones the second the timer goes off. 

The string lights pictures were taken with the kitted lens. 

All photos not edited. WYSIWYG. I just added my name to them. 

I've got far too many more pictures, but I think this is probably over kill. The pelicans were being fed scraps from a fishing boat that had just pulled in and were cleaning the haul. Red snapper is what was caught and pieces thrown to the pack of waiting pelicans, ibis, seagulls, and blue heron. 

It was an interesting adventure, to say the least. We went the longish way back to the house I was staying at, so we passed through a bit of a beach area. Coquina, Anna Maria, Siesta Key... places I've not heard of nor visited, and I've been in Florida a decade already (well... shit...). Everyone asks if I know of such and such or have been to X and Y. Sadly, no, as it's not my scene to really go adventuring and looking at places I've never heard of, since the first time I ever stepped foot in Fort Myers was when we moved here.. in 2011. Sure, I've been to Orlando for the theme parks, but that was twice when I was younger. Otherwise, Florida ain't my bag. Why go looking for things when the things really aren't calling you? 

Gotta make the best of it as it comes, it looks like. So when I get asked for a party, I go, and if we go driving somewhere, I'll have a camera. But otherwise, I stay more local than a lot of people would probably prefer. I'm waiting on a big lottery win from a dollar scratch off. Then I'll go places (like ship back to Boston). Unless I find a better employment opportunity, then I'm all in. Trust me, I'm looking for work and it seems like it's been in all the wrong places lately. But it's not stopping me. I'm willing to network if you know anyone! 

Until something major happens, I'll just post again here with other updates...

Cheers.

Mmmm.... Latkes....

Today was the annual Hanukkah get together in my house.... A small gathering my mother puts on every year, to invite friends over for dreidels, bagels, lox and latkes. And some other things in between. It's almost a pay back for a certain family, for inviting us to their Christmas dinner, but also serves as a general family hangout for a few hours.

Although most of the presents were gifted on Christmas (because, let's face it.. we are currently six days into the Jewish Holiday and some people needed their presents three days ago), it still is weird to be celebrating past the birth of someone's messiah. None the less, we lit some candles, lit the stove, and cooked potato pancakes.

Mmm... potatoes fried in oil.... smothered in apple sauce and sour cream....

My mom spares no expense when it comes to making her Hanukkah brunches. Or any brunch on a holiday. It seems like this is one of those meals where everyone comes hungry and leaves with tupperware.

For real. A 5 pound bag of potatoes got sorted out into 5 bellies, 3 plastic containers and a couple bags for lunch tomorrow.

Don't believe me?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The proof is in the pictures of how golden delicious they were. All photos shot on a Canon EOS Rebel T7i. I didn't do much of editing except throw my name in the photo.

I also made a video in case I needed to add more proof. Again, shot on the Canon, but edited in Pinnacle Ultimate Studio 18. Music is "Tradition" from the Fiddler on the Roof original Broadway ensemble.

Once the palates were satiated, the cleanup of the kitchen began, and now I make this post at 9pm. Shabbos is over, children, do as ye may. Rocky's got his tie on, so he's ready for the next dinner party. Go play!

And because the decor is back in the bins in the garage, I had taken pictures of some of the hanging stuff before they disappeared.

 

 


I promised a few people the video would be live by the end of the night, so I'm going to end the post here, send the link to "the family" and get to bed... my cold is almost finished and I don't want to make it come back.


Good night!

Cheers;