A few days ago I came across a blog called AFrogToKiss[dot]net and found a post about a lady named Susan Boyle … Susan Boyle, now I had seen that name and I knew she was a participant in a televised British talent search. Also, I remembered that at one point, I had made a mental note to find out more about this woman. Well, I lost that note … but after reading a very emotional piece by Beth, this time I immediately followed thru and YouTube’d her name and subsequently became ensnared in the SusanTailSpin. That spin left me emotionally high, enraptured by a performer and a performance which could only be describe as ‘charismatic’.
Her rendition of ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ which in the words of Amanda was nothing less than a ‘privilege’ to experience, was riveting. This Lady is both unassuming and unpretentious, that is until she sings and then she becomes this dazzling beacon that leads wayward souls home. And the songs that she chooses to perform are timeless, thought provoking and moving pieces.
And quite obviously, I am not the only member in the YouTube audience that has fallen prey to the charm of this ‘gentle spirit’ whose voice never fails too deliver a mesmerizing message and from the staggering number of views her vid’s are receiving, those numbers simply confirms the spell her music has woven. Give Susan a Song and she’ll weave it into MAGIC.
This story has the makings of a fairytale, and I can’t wait for the next chapter. Each time I view a video or hear her sing one of the songs that was performed in the competition, I smile a smile that completely engulfs me. Yep, this is truely a story that ‘dreams are made of’ …
During my daughters 4th semester at her university, she along with 3 close friends registered for an entry level piano class. What a fulfilling experience taking that class has been for her. Even now 3 semesters later she still visits the music lab and practices. She finds those moments that she indulges in this musical revelry, relaxing and a welcomed break in an otherwise busy and at times hectic schedule.
Just recently and completely by accident I found this amazing website that offered everything a neophyte or a seasoned pianist could wish for … and then some. Numerous courses are available covering a wide range of piano related pursuits for example; sight reading, hymn arrangement, jazz piano tutorials … also online piano lessons are available for the novice, the intermediate student and even the accomplished pianist. And this is just a short list, a very short list of what this site has to offer a ‘budding pianist’.
However, it doesn’t end there … I just wish that she and I were aware of the existence of this site a year ago … because there is an amazing list of Free Sheet Music which covers a varied selection of genre. There are classical renditions, soft rock and blues, Asian and Celtic pieces, not only for the advanced student but pieces aimed at developing the skills of a beginner.
Furthermore, this collection includes musical pieces utilizing the ‘major 7th chord’; compositions using the ‘pentatonic and minor scale’; melodies that commence with the left hand and there are other selections that establish a ’strong 6/8 feel’.
Free Sheet Music Just A Download Away
And all of this is FREE … and for those of you that are just beginning your musical careers … downloading this Free Sheet Music would not only lay a foundation for an amazing musical library, but you would have pieces that would help you hone your skills as you grow as a pianist and in the process save you a bundle of money.
Although, I did decide to dedicate my Mondays as movie musings days and writing snippets about cinema productions that have touched me in some way … this Monday there will be a slight change in venue. Instead, I will be spending time on researching ways of improving both the content and appearance of my blog. And no, I will not be changing my theme anytime soon, but I may play around with the placement of ADs and there presentation on my home page.
Before I go any farther … I hope all the father’s out there had an amazing and loving day and here’s also hoping that each day just snowballs and continues to blossom and produce all of those specials little things that you may have been wishing for.
In the Monday’s to come however, I will be posting and sharing my views on some of the following flicks …
Traitor
V for Vendetta
Dark City
Wall-E
Inside Man
Caveman’s Valentine
Just a short list, I know but there are loads more … until the next post … merry musings!
Finally, I think I’m ready to commit my Mondays to Movie Musings. Now, I may not have something to write about each and every Monday … but those movies that I have found to be moving; with the ability to stir up the writer juices in me … are the movies that will ‘hit’ these pages on Mondays. Let’s call it ‘Movie Musings on Monday’.
A few Monday’s back I did my spin on HellBoy II, that’s what got me to thinkin’ about writing something each week on the movies that I have enjoyed viewing. I guess just focusing on what appeals to me will be a bit limiting, but writing about the movies that have caused pleasant feelings to surface is a lot more satisfying than trying to pretend to be a critic and write about why I think a ‘pic’ shouldn’t have been taken out of the ‘can’. Oh, and the pieces that I may write about may or may not be currently showing in the cinema’s.
A Succinct Overview
Okay now, this week my spotlighted flick is ‘Taken’ … This movie focused on a real danger to young adults traveling overseas. … OMGosh was I ever drawn into this saga … It was as though I was abducted and subjected to the same terrors that those young ladies endured. And was I ever angry, outraged and definitely seeking retribution against each and every individual involved in the soulless acts imposed on those young ladies.
For those of you that haven’t seen this movie, it’s about a sex-trafficking ring centered in Paris that abducts young female tourist, turns them first into addicts and then either auctions them off too wealthy international moguls or uses them in their prostitution racket.
However, they slipped up when they abducted the daughter of Bryan Mills [Liam Neeson]. He was a retired CIA operative, who used his lethal skills to track down this criminal syndicate and eventually find his daughter. Bryan took no prisoners, everyone that he encountered paid the price with their lives for the crimes that they were subjugating on these innocent girls. The girls didn’t choose that lifestyle … they were selected by men … hold-up, monsters dressed like men who were totally without a conscience, then they were drugged to make sure they were compliant and subsequently handled as if they were nothing more than cattle … to be bought or sold; used and abused repeatedly.
However, the hero in this story totally annihilated the villain, what more could I ask for in a movie…
Everything’s right with the world when you have a roof over your head; and a little food on the table; and some pocket change to maybe spend on an occasional evening out with the family. But when you are having a problem with your computer and connectivity … things are a lil bit dimmer, and panic can immediately begin creeping in.
Guy/gals I am having some problems with my computer and I don’t know where to turn … sometimes it connects and them sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it takes it’s time connecting and after finally making that connection … it loads pages at a snails pace.
I guess my best bet is to take it one step at a time and try everything I can, to discover and correct whatever my babies problem is … wish me luck…
Have you ever become enraptured by a movie? Well, as improbable as it may seem Hellboy II was inescapably captivating. I was literally lost, totally immersed and greedily yearning to learn more about this subculture [a magical elfin race] as envisioned and brought to life by it’s creator, Guillermo del Toro.
I became so engrossed that I was nearly brought to tears by the death of a ‘forest elemental’ and ‘Prince Nuada’ [who was a champion for his people and although his pursuits were noble he was nonetheless a formidable advisory whose sole focus was humanities annihilation].
The imagery, detail of the sets and the mystical characters were dazzling, surreal and stunning. Even the story line was engaging and believable. It is a classic story of good versus evil, but in this scenario each side wore a dual mantle of both good and evil. Agreements that were reached between elfin and humans millennia ago, agreements that should not have been overlooked and forgotten were lost and so the current battle erupted.
I think of this saga as a very adult fairy tale, which includes suspense, drama, new love and love lost, death and pending birth but as with everything else that happens within this tale, it’s a story with a double edged blade. The ending has a happy but deeply tragic ending.
One of the joys of creating an online diary is the freedom and limitless posting options that are available. As long as your ideas are flowing your posts or entries will be ongoing.
Well, getting on with this entry … recently I started doing something that I haven’t really done with any regularity in a number of years and that was reading for pleasure. Actually, for the last few years I have been building a small library of hardcovers … something that I kept promising myself I was going to eventually indulge in … However, I am only now starting too reap the literary benefits of owning that small cache. Now, the size of this little venture won’t make the Guinness Book of Records but it will make the ‘Sadie’s Hall Of Wonders’.
And honestly, it’s quite surprising how sometimes such small things can produce so much joy … you see, just knowing that I possess my own private library is a source of both delight and pride. There is a lot to be said about things that have been created with your own hands, or developed due to your own personal efforts. And what makes this an even bigger BLAST is that at least 75% of the books in my collection were purchased from the Dollar Tree. Now, this isn’t a Dollar Tree promo and no, the books that I have aren’t from authors no one has ever heard of before. A few years back, DT was stuffing there shelves … I guess with overstocked items or maybe books from business that went under … in any case they had some really great titles.
Novel Purchases
So, every week I would buy one or two titles and before ‘you knew it’ I had a pretty impressive collection.
And another thing … I start gushing when I think of just how huge a savings I’ve generated by making these frugal purchases … it really brings a smile to my FACE!
TOO MUCH TO DO AND NOT ENOUGH TIME TOO DO IT IN?
An ingredient in the 'Holiday Madness' that could lead to a kitchen mishap. However, if you should burn yourself and wish to 'keep a burn from blistering'.~Apply cold water to the burn immediately~
SAY CHEESE...
Are you having a problem slicing the cheese?~A dull knife works much better than a sharp one~
