"Spooky" by New Order

Melahn, I, Sofia and Talia after the Shecock & the Rock Princess Halloween show

Shecock: https://www.shecock.band
Talia Keys: https://taliakeys.com

This is another song from New Order's "Republic" album.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qc-1spEDBI
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w333I0mbkQ
YouTube (32-bit @ 96Khz): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETjmUEEn1lM

"Angel On My Shoulder" by Shelby Flint

This popped up on YouTube when I was searching for yesterday's song and it's fun having this same song, but with a female vocal.  One interesting change was putting the four-leafed clove in her locket instead of his pocket.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CZgDW01kHY

"Angel on My Shoulder" by Jerry Wallace

Rewinding the tape on my Reel-to-Reel tape deck

This is a 45 RPM single that I distinctly remember from my childhood, that I loved both sides.  I wasn't really aware of the whole A-side, B-side thing back then.  Turns out this is the B-side.

YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk9ohGwvtpo

And the 45 I recorded on a reel-to-reel and then made a video of playing it back.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bvdiHiaNz4&t=44m11s

"Wild, Wild West" by The Escape Club

Rob and I DJ'ing at the Wasatch Mtn. Club, 17 years ago in 2001

First may I note that when you're cool the sun never goes down!  LOL

I bumped into Craig in Natural Grocers earlier this evening.  He said he was too sick this year to arrange for us to do the Halloween party at the Wasatch Mountain Club, so someone else booked a Techno DJ.  Craig said he didn't like it at all and can't wait for Rob and I to do it again this year.

Here's a great song that we usually play every year at the Halloween party...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ES3iNPcPL8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vE5ewvxdfo
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqrSYOVdPek

"Somebody's Watching Me" by Talia Keys and the Love

I went to Talia's show tonight.  It was so empowering!!  I felt like hell most of today.  I spent most of the day in bed, hurting all over.  Now I feel absolutely amazing, stronger and more powerful.  Music is so healing!!

I was Marz's date this evening, plus many of our tribe were there all dressed up.  Hillary was even wearing red high heels  :)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ6DGOn7Rbw

"Armor" by Sara Bareilles

Just came across this new song from Sara, I love it! 

"Only the little boys tell you they're a big man" - Amen sister!  Pay attention Donald Trump you tiny little boy!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igm2cMXrOZY

"What's Up" by Heather

My beautiful, wonderful friend Heather, performing the karaoke version of this 4 Non-Blondes song at The 5th in Bountiful, Utah.

I swear this is the song I have heard more than any other song at all of the places I've done karaoke this year.  My opinion is that Heather has done the best of them all.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi6uh_DmftQ

"Prey" by Rackett

This popped up on YouTube today.  This video is really twisted, but I love the setting.  I owned a yellow vacuum exactly like that one and we had that TV when I was a kid.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H6k6WcAReg

"Hey Good Lookin'" by Rachel Edwards

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fEBE01J2K4

"The Circle Game" by Tom Rush

I got out the Tom Rush album "The Circle Game" to record one of my favorite songs ("No Rush") to practice for karaoke.  I ended up listening to this song, written by Joni Mitchell, over and over and over.

This first video is beautiful and depicts the lines of the song.  I love the "Live 2016" video because Tom talks about Joni Mitchel writing songs and the events surrounding the song.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzXyoeKOcx4
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dURdp9tXa6k
YouTube (Live 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EVc5U5zpno

"Sweet Jane" by Cowboy Junkies

Yet another song from the second episode of "The Romanoffs" on Amazon Prime.  I love it!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa9nN3G2CSg
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGQp38_lzCg

"Sabre Dance" by Aram Khachaturian

I started watching "The Romanoffs" series on Amazon Prime and this tune was in the second episode.

Such powerful music!  I love seeing it played by the orchestra, amazing!!

And OMFG watching Liberace play this on the piano I'm awe struck!  How he can hit all those keys that fast is absolutely incredible!!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqg3l3r_DRI
YouTube (Classic FM Orchestra): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMczfLNoGYQ
YouTube (Liberace): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2t6SWG1vgo

"The Song From Moulin Rouge" by Percy Faith & Felicia Sanders

I watched the old film "Dressed to Kill" about a "transsexual" serial killer.  I think this song was played during the credits.  Has been stuck in my head since.

I didn't like the film very much.  I give it two thumbs down.  I didn't like the style of the film and I definitely didn't like the concept or the way a "transsexual" was depicted.

"Transsexual" is now referred to as "Transgender", but I can still identify as a Transsexual.  In her book "Whipping Girl" Julia Serano argues that we are transsexuals.  Transgender is more of an umbrella term.  (See my post from 22-Sep-2015.  Wow!  Over 3 years ago... how time flies...  This song a hit 65 years ago!)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSQqLef23HY
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPDF2ORPOFQ

"The Other Side of Life" by The Moody Blues

Choices for the Fundraiser

Genevera sent me the 3 photos on the above left as options as a picture of me for the fundraiser flyer.  The photo on the right was one I thought of as a possibility.

I decided this morning to go with the one where I was in red, that Cat Palmer took for her Transgender display last year.  After all red is my power color, I'm all about the RED!!

---

I was just thinking back over the last couple of days.  I fell yesterday trying to keep my MIDI keyboard and other shit from tipping over. (See yesterday's post)

Today I went into Trader Joe's and got a few things, and then into Natural Grocer's to get a few more things.  I had gotten a few cans of things and some spaghetti, when I suddenly felt so weak.  I could hardly move my legs and just picking up a can was hard.  In fact I dropped one can and one of the other shoppers picked it up for me.

I decided to cut the shopping short at that point, I needed to get home ASAP.  I couldn't even carry the basket at that point, I left it at the checkout stand while I found one last item.  After I checked out I asked if someone could help me by carrying my items out.  That same shopper said she would help me out.

When I got home, I didn't dare try to carry the small box of things into the house.  I left them in the car for Sue to get.  I thought I could carry the two bags from Trader Joe's in safely because it was with my arms at my sides and kind of balanced.

But just after I went through our back gate, I lost my balance, dropped the bags, spun slightly and started falling over.  I broke the fall by grabbing a pipe that supports one of the pergola's legs on my way down.  So I landed on my butt and my head didn't hit the ground.

However, I was too weak to pick myself up.  I pulled out my cell phone and called Sue.  She came out and tried to help me up, but I was in too awkward a position and could not get enough leverage to get my legs under me.  She finally went back in the house, got the walker and with it on one side of me and the pipe on the other I was able to get my legs under me and stand up.  Using the walker I made it to the stairs and was able to get into my room.

Sue made some spaghetti and I went to bed and slept until a few minutes ago.  I started thinking about how I've been facing the end of my life for most of this year.  I can't count the number of times, this year, I've thought that I should get my affairs in order.

Then the title of this song popped into my head.  For some reason I was thinking it was a Marty Robbins song, but this was the only song that popped out at me when I did a search on YouTube.

This has always been one of my favorite Moody Blues songs.  For some reason I kinda relate this song to Kim, I can't remember exactly why.  If I remember right, she really liked the album it was on.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPnAbx6sgOY
YouTube (Vevo): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USujNc5uPBs
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2dFmFLDnO0

"Rock Lobster" by the B52's

Marz shared my band's (FTP) practice with Shell and she said Shell was reminded of this song.  I thought gave it a listen and thought the keyboard part didn't sound terribly difficult and thought I would try playing along.

But the pins on the cheap-ass USB connector on my MIDI keyboard were still buggered up from last week.  I decided to try straightening them out again and borrowed a pair of needle-nose pliers from Sue.  The needle-nose tips were way too big to get down inside the USB plug.

So I got my tweezers and tried straightening them out as best I could.  I got them to a point where they didn't look too bad.  I was able to plug the USB cable in at least most of the way... as far as I could tell anyway.

I got my laptop and plugged the other end into it.  I was so excited that the power came on the keyboard and it showed up in the audio connections in the Jack dialog box on my laptop.

I hooked up my MR Rack synthesizer to the laptop and connected the keyboard to it.  Nothing!  No MIDI events were being sent to the synth.  :(  :(  :(

I installed a virtual keyboard on my laptop to test the setup.  After a bunch of fucking around with them, I was able to determine that the synth was receiving MIDI events and playing sounds.

I was pretty stressed out at that point and then the keyboard started to tip over, I tried to grab it and knocked some other junk over trying to catch it.  I lost my balance fell into my record cabinet, then tipped sideways, fell into my walker that was sitting there and landed in the middle of the floor.  I laid there and cried for a while.  Eventually, Sue came to see what the rukus was, found me and helped me up.

Later I went to get some groceries but remembered that it was the rehearsal for the Equality Utah Allies Dinner and realized I was going to be late.  I got all stressed because I couldn't remember if it started at 6:30 or 7:00.  So I took off, got there at exactly 6:30 and the parking lot was empty.

My knee was far too messed up after last night at the SunTrapp to do anything but sit there.  I came to the realization that with all the problems I've had with my condition this year there was no way I was going to be able to participate this year.  The odds of my being in a state to perform are extremely slim to none.

And I was in such extreme pain from the MS Hug that I finally couldn't even wait to talk to Mindy or say goodbye to Talia, Melahn and Lisa G.  I had to get home ASAP.

Anyway, this is such a fun song and the video is SO fun too!!!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofkzvM7Skxg

"Moon River" by Rachel Edwards

Again, I feel weird about posting my own stuff, but at this point in my life I feel like I have to do the things that make me happy.  They may suck, but they are mine.  They are part of me.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d28lL0gyDuU

"A Scary Time For Boys" by Lynzy Lab

A friend send me this video and it is spot on.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N34hehRgw9g
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2OBaE_T9K8
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN-3F8T4t5w

A video from some conservative asshole reacting to it popped up on YouTube and really annoyed me.  I'm not going to even validate it by adding a link.

"One Mint Julip" by The Clovers

I got the DVD of the film Carol and I love it.  This song came on the car radio in the film and I remembered the title but couldn't remember the group.

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_(film)

I believe there is at least one problem with the time frame.  The film is set in winter 1952-1953, but stereophonic sound is mentioned in two places in the film.  First, when Terez is in the department store there is an announcement to see the stereo console on display.  Second the desk clerk at the motel says there are stereophonic consoles in the rooms.

But according to wikipedia stereo didn't really become available for mass market until 1957:

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonic_sound

Anyway, this is a great song:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFZUC-GfwUY

"Lazy River" by The Mills Brothers

Back of Mills Brothers album and inner sleeve I tried to patch-repair

Sheet of notepad paper and 1207 S. Main today

See my post for Sept. 30th for the front of this album cover.

This is funny way back when I attempted to repair the inner sleeve by taping a sheet from an old note pad that my grandpa Gus had.  I was wondering what was at 1207 South Main now and found it was Nate Wade Subaru on Google Maps.

Note old style of phone numbers DAvis 2-1621, now 322-1621.

The live TV video is with Dean Martin.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zchVgfr9KI8
YouTube (live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rBBRePqMXg

"You Know I'm No Good" by Rachel Edwards

I never in a bazillion years would have thought I would be posting something I did here.  Mindy said last week this was the best female I've ever done with her, so I decided to make it the first female vocal I posted to my YouTube channel.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVJHuotD74Y

"In Between Days" by The Cure

Saw this car at the credit union today

I love the bumper stickers

I think this is my favorite

It seems that I have been having alternating good and bad days the last couple of weeks.  I have a really good day one day and then a really nasty day the next.  But today I told a friend that I feel like it's an "in between day" and it reminded me of this song.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p7uh2SxsZU
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Iw36ikgTvM
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDMDb8unsIA
YouTube (Digital 45): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23cGp3-7CYY
YouTube (karaoke): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6_DGNP5I3U

"Tattooed Me" by Tom Robinson

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUM1kZS4x5o&t=17m41s
YouTube (live 2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txS7foSEG1E

YouTube (full album): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUM1kZS4x5o

---

One of the best Stephen Colbert monologues EVER!

Brett Kavanaugh Screams About His Innocence:

YouTube (Late Show): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6Ng298HXcM

"Artificial Flowers" by Rachel Edwards

My cover of Bobby Darin turned out to be funky way of creating it.

Note to self: don't do that again!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AslWL0dBjvY

"Help!" by The Beatles

RedHat and Mandrake Linux

Open Linux

I was digging through old boxes in the garage today and found these old releases of Linux from all those years ago.  This year I celebrated 20 years of using Linux and being Microsoft free!  It was 2008 I decided that I would upgrade from Windows 95 to RedHat Linux.  What was it Microsoft said... there were something like 2,000 or 3,000 bugs in Windows 95?  I always got so much grief from Windows!  I've NEVER regretted switching to Linux!

I tried many versions over the years.  Around 2004 I started using Ubuntu and used it until I got frustrated with them adding features that made it feel more like Windoze.  So now I'm using Debian on my computers.

Linux: https://www.linux.org/
RedHat: https://www.redhat.com/
Ubuntu: https://www.ubuntu.com/
Debian: https://www.debian.org/

---

Anyway, I've relating to this song lately.  Really: "Help!  I need somebody!"

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q_ZzBGPdqE

"Tiny Meat" by Ruby

Always loved this song!  Great album too!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VErOaxgpGD0
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-uBzzT7LHU

"I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor

Funny, I have one bumper sticker that just doesn't fit in...

Update 25-Nov-2018: added photo of the back of my car ("Lily") showing my bumper stickers.

I woke up this morning at 2:30 AM with severe pain in my left foot.  Some sort of cramp in my left foot I suppose.  It lasted for several minutes, until I finally got some medicine and it calmed down.

But then I was fully awake and started thinking about things.  I realized I was definitely going to have to ask the "Good Vibe Tribe" and the "SL, UT Grrrl Gang" to help me with the Genderevolution Conference this year.

This will be my 4th year with the committee and getting the donations for the raffle, coffee, etc.  I've now decided that this will be my last year.  It has taken more and more effort each year and, given my deteriorating health, I just don't have it to give anymore.

I *LOVE* the Genderevolution Conference, but it is a LOT of work.   At the dinner with the keynote speakers last year I mentioned to Jenn about how much harder it seemed last year.  She said "I'm glad you said that" because she felt exactly the same.

I've also decided I have to severely limit my direct involvement with politics.  All the stress from the constant barrage of attacks on transgender and LGBTQ people and terrible acts from that fucker in the White House and his horrible administration has, without a doubt, negatively impacted my health.

I feel like music and singing have been the only things that have saved me this year.  Next year I feel like I must limit my activities to things that give back to me as much as they take, like the Rock-n-Roll Camp for Girls and Womyn (which is inclusive of transgender and non-binary people).

---

Last week Ducky and Bunny played "Karaoke Classics" at both Handle Bar and the SunTrapp.  The song I drew at Handle Bar was this one.  I haven't been sure I could call this a "favorite" song before, but I've decided now it is.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBR2G-iI3-I
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tth-8wA3PdY
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjNjplL6ayI
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OaEnA4diCI

---

Trump Holds Crazy Press Conference to Defend Brett Kavanaugh: A Closer Look:

YouTube (Late Night):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTgwbGWfGQU

"Basin Street Blues" by The Mills Brothers

Sam Crump took of me at the Local Women Who Rock show on Friday

I had no idea anyone had taken any pictures of me at the Local Women Who Rock show last Friday, until Genevra sent me this photo yesterday.  This is an incredible photo.  NOT because I'm in it, but because it is beautiful.  I cried when I saw it.

Since I was wearing my cowgirl hat I kinda feel I should have posted a country song for this post, but this song has been on my mind since I listened to that Mills Brothers album the other day (see my post from Sept. 30th)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGAoeyUKfTw
YouTube (live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK570mafAEU
YouTube (live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNOBrUITV4A
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWr0qIf-el8

---

One of the best Stephen Colbert monologues EVER!

Brett Kavanaugh Screams About His Innocence:

YouTube (Late Show): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6Ng298HXcM

"Engine Engine #9" by Roger Miller

I've been working on the wiring in the garage for the last couple of days trying to get the electricity back on before the bad weather.  It is SO NICE having lights again in the garage.  It is really nice having the flood lights in the driveway again too, although it is also kinda weird after around a year and a half with no lights to have them pop on again when they detect motion.

Anyway, I was using my little record player to test the new socket I added on the side of the garage and I played some of these 45's on it.  I love this song!  I sang it at karaoke a few weeks ago at the Handle Bar.

I also plan to record this song myself, changing the one line to "how I wish it was me instead of SHE that stands beside her", because I'm a lesbian.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR8uganFQWI
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaAqxYeukhc
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ3dcJZ_J3g
YouTube (live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiHDdVa25N0
YouTube (rerecord?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiHx6hRx9ZA