INCIDENT ON RANDOLPH STREET, THE COOL THING ABOUT BLOGGING & MY FAVORITE MUSICAL PERFORMERS!

Upon my way back to the house (on the M train) we came to a complete stop outside of the creepy pizza joint on Randolph Street. There were only a few of us on the train. I noticed a few panic-striken faces looking toward the front of the train at what was blocking our way. And, me and this kid both stood up, walked forward to see what was going on. There were police cars (sirens off) and two big black police vans --- all blocking the street both ways. The train driver announced that we would need to be patient and that she was not going to open the doors. It was only about 7 or 8 minutes, but the black vans moved over and we were allowed to drive by --- there were a few people standing outside the package store looking very serious, a girl with a cell phone frantically pushing the doorbell to a residence next door to the package store and the owners of the new Mexican restaurant were standing outside, arms folded and looking serious.

This is my stop... I got down from the train, pulled my headset off and asked the restaurant folks what was going on. The eldest told me that they thought there was a shooting, but no one was hurt. There was a loud burst of laughter --- it was the cops gathered outside of the package store. Mostly white cops with two cops of color -- they seemed to be having fun. I turned to the restuarant guys and said, "All in a day's work, I guess" --- the eldest shook his head with a frown and said, "Yeah, I guess so." --- Not sure what happened but it was over so I walked down the street to the house wondering what had happened.

Well, Miss Marisol discussed this on her blog (scroll to the left and follow the link --- GREAT BLOG!!!) and there is no way I will be able to match her atriculate and insightful commentary as she is a REAL writer. However, blogging is an interesting experience --- as I am sure more than a few of you know. You begin to interact with fellow bloggers, read their thoughts and ideas on an almost daily basis --- and, you begin to feel as if you really know them. I even find myself talking about Miss Marisol, Mr. 8, Hot Toddy, Lubin and Tim (where has Tim gone to, by the way???) as if I do know them. And I've had the pleasure of really getting to know a few of my fellow bloggers like Fash Mag Slag (who is fucking awesome!), Thomas -- master of the Kung Fu Kittens and Underling (both of whom I can tell you I love dearly) ---- but how well do we really know each other? It is an interesting thought. The romantic in me wants to believe that I know them, but the realist in me knows that we all have aspects of ourselves we are not going to put out on the world wide web for all to read.

Even still -- these connections we make via our blogs are quite real. I find myself sending lots of positive thoughts to my fellow bloggers when they are going thru a rough time and I get a real surge of happiness when something goes well for someone.

So, esstentially, what started as a creative outlet has turned into a sort of social one. ...for me, that is. Not that I do not have friends outside of the blogging world. I do. But, the connection created via the www is really cool.

i am equally amazed at the number of people from around the world who read my blog and send me emails --- often opting not to post comments to my blog itself. Recently my silly posts about my iPod and its relevance to my days as I select shuffle have triggered interest in a number of people -- a lot of whom are from Japan and Germany. I received the 10th email this morning asking me to list out my 10 favorite musical performers --- or, rather, which 10 performers do I listen to most on my iPod. Granted, this one was specific in the sense of looking for 10, but the others have asked me to list out who l like to listen to the most. So, here follows a listing for my pal in Germany of the 10 musical performers who I seem to listen to more than any others on my iPod. Not much of a surprise for those of you who know me or read this blog. However, if the spirit moves you, please feel free to list out your fave 10 musical performers in the comments box -- or if you could list them on your own blog. No biggie, tho. However, I always feel that music is very often a better vision into a person's soul than the eyes.

So, there is no particular order here -- I am able to tell by looking at itunes and my iPod who I play/listen to the most. I like these performers for various reasons. Could be the sound of their voices, their lyrics or the feelings that their work stirs in me. One thing is for sure --- I tend to prefer the female voice more than the male singing voice. Hmmm...

1. Barbra Streisand (Big Surprise!!!)
2. Blondie
3. Led Zeppelin
4. Nina Simone
5. Billie Holiday
6. Joni Mitchell
7. Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac
8. Ryuichi Sakamoto
9. Tori Amos
10. Mylene Farmer/Marlena Shaw (they actually tie)

Of course there are other popular hits on my iPod -
Rickie Lee Jones, Janis Joplin, Kate Bush, Arthur H, The Who, Mitsuko Uchida, Robbie Williams, Kylie, Madonna, Linda Rondstadt, Carly Simon, Marianne Faithfull, Rollilng Stones, Andy Gibb (shut up! I can't help it!), Dianne Reeves, Stereo Total, Angie Stone, Jane Siberry, Pizzicato 5, Poe, Regina Bell and Meshell Ndegeocello (tho, her recent conversion to Muslim confuses me given her past ideologies -- I think Meshell is in crisis, but I down loaded her new CD (for free -- shhhhhhhhh!) and it is fucking awesome! When I have money, I shall buy it. Her song from back in 1999, "Beautiful" is one of the most sensual songs I've ever heard.

If forced to name a favorite genre of music --- I guess I lean toward "vocals/jazz/blues --- but my heart will always been in those mellow and, yes, disco sounds and vibes of the 1970's)