by Grania
Good morning! Welcome to November and the time when the Christmas Shopping Wars start to heat up in earnest.
On this day in 1993 the Maastricht Treaty formally took effect and the European Union was formed. In 1950 there was the failed assassination attempt of President Truman by Puerto Rican nationalists. In 1984 in India anti-Sikh riots broke out following the assassination of Indira Gandhi the day before by two of her bodyguards.
It’s also the birthday of Lyle Lovett (1957). [JAC: He once put up a note on Instagram admiring a pair of my cowboy boots.]
Here he is singing If I had a Boat.
Here’s a lovely tabby made entirely out of pebbles, and inset into a wall, sent by reader Su. Now that’s stonework.
In Poland today, Hili is hedging her bets. And who knows? She may have a point.
A: Don’t you think, Hili, that this bird can see you?
Hili: You never know with birds.
In Polish:
Ja: Czy nie sądzisz, Hili, że ten ptaszek cię widzi?
Hili: Z ptaszkami nigdy nic nie wiadomo.
If you ever get the chance to see Lyle live, please do it.
One of my favorite artists.
I don’t know if he’ll again hit the song-writing highs he hit early in his career (e.g. the song linked here).
My favorite two of his records are:
Pontiac 100% great tracks. This song, plus “Walk in the Bottom” and “L. A. County” are among my favorite songs (of any sort).
And my second album ( 🙂 ):
Step Inside This House, an album of covers of others’ songs (all of Texas origins) which are wonderful performed by LL.
A particular favorite is his rendition of the traditional “Texas River Song” (I sang my son to sleep with that song. (I have no Texas connections.))
Also: “Rollin’ By” (one of my favorite lap-steel solos), “If I Needed You” (Townes Van Zandt song – I prefer LL’s rendition), the eponymous track, and “Texas Trilogy”.
wonderfully performed …
“Walk Through the Bottomland”
Must. Proof. Read.
The EU is a Utopian notion. Quite a milestone, perhaps, on the journey toward a better, more unified, world. Some (George Will, etc) have predicted it’s dissolution based on a belief that human nature is hard wired for feisty independence (Brexit). Which view will hold?
The stone cat is amazing!
I’ve seen Lyle Lovett twice. He has a terrific show and a great “large band.” “If I Had a Boat” is one of my favorite songs of his. I especially like the verse about the Lone Ranger and Tonto, which always gets a cheer from the live audience.