If you don’t recognize the name “Dion,” maybe this post is not for you. However, I find it difficult to believe that, even those who don’t instantly recognize the name (not the “Dion” preceded by the name “Celine”) have somehow managed to get through life without ever having heard “Runaround Sue,” The Wanderer,” “Where or When” or “Ruby Baby.” Well, Dion did those tunes and a zillion more.

I recently received Dion’s latest CD, called “Dion, New Masters.” As the CD Notes explain, not long ago Dion walked into a Miami recording studio along with the members of his road band, and “some of the best doo-wop harmony singers in the business” and proceeded to record new versions of some of his classic hits, along with some cover tunes and two new originals.

I have already listened to it at least a half dozen times.

Dion (real name, “Dion DiMucci”) began singing at age five and has been at it ever since. Some of the classics on the CD include:

Ruby Baby
Lovers Who Wander
A Teenager in Love
I Wonder Why (Perhaps Dion at his best)
Where or When
Drip Drop
Donna the Prima Donna
Runaround Sue
The Wanderer

They guy is amazing. By my arithmetic, he is on the wrong side of sixty, but his voice is as clear and true as that of a twenty-year old. He hits all the notes with laser-like accuracy, and his phrasing is hard to beat.

The new versions are true to the originals, but often with just a bit of added flair, born of maturity and a lifetime of singing.

I would be surprised if anyone could listen to these tunes and not end up tapping their feet. For me, the songs produced more than foot tapping. They brought back and jazzed up old memories, and they gave me goose bumps.

Goose bumps are the ultimate barometer of musical excellence for me.

Anyone who has ever owned a dog should take a look at Two Nervous Dogs and its handy guide that translates Dogspeak into English. For example, it points out the importance differences between “moof” and “moof.. moof” and how each differs from “Mmff.”

It’s funny. And, you know what? I think the author is absolutely right.

No one ever gave me a surprise party – that is, until last night.

My friend Ken, the anal-retentive “cruise director,” and the Original Bill (each with spouse in tow) picked us up last night for what was to be just a laidback dinner in a newly discovered, comfortable, family owned restaurant. It is a BYOB place, so I was carrying three bottles of nice red wine in a bag. We had the usual laughs in the car on the way to the place, and it promised to be a nice, friendly, quiet way to end what was a pretty busy week.

As we entered the place, I made the necessary right turn and then a second right turn in the direction of the table where we have been seated in the past. As I made the second right turn, I heard “SURPRISE,” and I could see that a bunch of the Usual Suspects had assembled in advance. I also saw that daughter TJ was there with her husband, J. Even one of the Usual Suspects, who was out of state playing lots of golf and drinking lots of vodka, called in at that moment to say “Happy Birthday.”

There were plenty of well wishes, hugs, handshakes and lots of laughter.

I was completely flabbergasted and very touched by it all.

After an excellent dinner, which was accompanied by, cocktails (some of the Usual Suspects brought vodka), wine and more and more laughs, out came a beautiful, enormous, custom decorated cake.

After the dinner part of the evening was over, we headed off to a local and most excellent VFW Post, where we had more than a few drinks, some primo cigars, courtesy of Bill the Ham, and a few rather hilarious games of shuffleboard.

It was a very special night – one that I will never forget.

First, I would like to thank all those who sent good wishes to me yesterday. I appreciate them very much.

So, here’s how it went on my essentially blog-free birthday night. I had a great dinner, along with a couple glasses of excellent sangiovese wine. After dinner, I had a wonderful, fattening dessert, which was eaten guilt-free, as calories don’t count on one’s birthday. I opened some presents, which consisted of some fine bourbon and a few primo CD’s.

I fired up a CAO corona and sat down in Mr. Recliner, to watch the Yankees play Boston. Admittedly, I am not currently much of a baseball fan, but when I was a fan, I was a rabid Yankees fan – the stuff of another post. I nodded off (after finishing the cigar) while the Red Sox were in the lead, and I woke up to a tie score, five minutes before the game winning homer. After the game and the post game hoopla, I fell asleep again in Mr. Recliner. Up to this point, the night was excellent.

However, when I awoke, the television was showing Suzanne Somers’ latest infomercial, which features her looking fabulous working out on one of her latest exercise contraptions. Then it dawned on me.

It was also Suzanne Somers’ birthday.

In fact, Ms. Somers and I are exactly the same age (although it is possible that one of is as much as twenty-three hours and 59 minutes older than the other). She looks absolutely terrific, and I…well……

Damn.

I’m kicking back tonight and takin’ it easy, because, well, it’s my Birthday.

Have a mahvelous evening y’all.

Jim
Another urbane, judicious, interesting, charming, multi-talented, witty, and just plain swell LIBRAN.

Yep, that’s the catchy title of an anti-American propaganda video put together by North Koreas and shown on television in South Korea and Japan. If the producers’ goal was to piss off Americans, they succeeded in spades with this American.

Note: The audio portion of the video is in Korean (except for the two words in the catchy title), but subtitles are provided.

via Attu Sees All

I had a very pleasant business-related dinner in a very nice restaurant, which resulted in my arriving home quite late. At first I blamed the long day and my fatigue for my inability to think of anything to write that is worth reading. Then I came across this bit of excellent medical advice from my friend Brian the Air Force vet, which was:

Never hold your farts in; they travel up your spine into
your brain…and that’s when you get shitty ideas.

It’s all clear to me now.

Super G, who is a civilian (Jersey guy) working in Iraq at helping the Iraqis to build a government from the ground up reports in Babal On! that there are now bagels in Baghdad. Another step closer to the goal line, methinks.

I’m too tired to do much heavy lifting, so I figure that this is a good time to make a few additions to the blogroll. There are just so many great blogs out there that I will simply have to learn to read faster. I still am able to get through the entire blogroll and another bunch that are bookmarked, but it is getting to be a bit of a challenge. But, a good challenge, methinks.

These are the new additions. If you haven’t already checked them out, please do. I think you will like them as much as I do.

The Accidental Jedi Deb spent some time in the U.S. Navy (OCS), and has had first-hand experience with drill sergeants (called drill instructors there, I believe), a favorite subject of mine. She also does a helluva blog.

Velociworld This guy’s got grit and a great sense of humor.

Straignt White Guy The author is a guitar picker with excellent taste in music, and a sense of humor that goes for the jugular. Good stuff.

The Cheese Stands Alone I took an instant liking to LeeAnn and her writing, even though the title of her blog reminds me of my kindergarten angst about the possibility of a bad outcome in a spirited game of “Farmer in the Dell.”

Go forth and read.

How often have you had a conversation with a non-blogger that goes something like this?

“You mentioned that you have a blog? Did you say ‘blog’ or ‘blob’?”

“It’s a ‘blog,’ not a ‘blob.’ It’s short for weblog?”

“Oh, and what is a weblog?”

“Weblogs are internet sites on which people write dated entries.”

“Oh, so lots of people write things on your blog?”

“No, I’m the only one who writes things there.”

“Are you the only person who has a blog?”

“No, lots of people have blogs. In fact, it is estimated that a couple million people have them.”

“And they all write things in them?”

“That’s correct.”

“Who reads the stuff?”

“It depends on the blog. Some bloggers …”

(Laughter) “Did you say ‘bloggers’?”

“Yeah, that’s what people who have a blog are called.”

“So, you’re a ‘blogger’?” (more laughter)

“Yes I am.”

“What kind of things do you write?”

“I write whatever I feel like writing on any given day.”

“You’re shitting me. You sit down and write something every day and put it on the Internet?”

“That’s right.”

“Why would you want to do that? Do you get paid for doing it? Is it some kind of club?”

“No, I don’t get paid to do it, and no, it is not a club.”

“So, then, why do you do it?”

“I like to write. It is both relaxing and stimulating at the same time. It’s a pleasant mental exercise, and it provides an outlet for creative impulses.”

(More laughter) “Creative impulses? You mean like an artist or something?”

“Yeah. Something like that.”

“And people actually read the things you write?”

“Yeah, some people actually do read the things I write.”

“Who are they?”

“Although I know who some of my readers are, mostly I don’t know who they are.”

“And, I suppose that you read things that other people write.”

“Of course.”

“Why would you want to do that?”

(Beginning to lose patience)“Listen. I read other bloggers’ writing because it’s damned good. That’s why.”

“Are you telling me that a collection of people sitting at computers, who are not professional writers, are writing things worth reading?”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you. Some bloggers focus on news and politics. Others share their thoughts and observations on a whole host of things. Sometimes the writing is very serious, and sometimes it is light and funny. You would be amazed at the amount of writing talent that is out there. Many bloggers are clearly talented enough to make a living writing, but, for one reason or another, they are not professional writers.”

“I dunno. It sounds pretty boring to me. I think I’d rather watch television. Don’t you miss lots of the new television programs by doing all that writing?”

“Yeah, but that’s OK, because I prefer to write and to read what other bloggers are writing.”

“OK, so how would I find your blog on my computer? You said it was on the Internet, didn’t you?. Do you have a website or something like that? Could you write instructions for me about how to find your site?”

“I’ll send you an e-mail.”

“Great. Nice seeing you. What do you say we do lunch sometime?”

“Yeah, sure. Sounds good. Take it easy.”

“Hey wait! Do you have my e-mail address?”

“I’m sure I have it somewhere. Bye.”

(Thinking to self) “What an asshole.”

(Thinking to self) “What an asshole.”