HOMAGE TO DADDY

Yeah, I know, *Sunday* was Father’s Day, but I don’t give particular attention to Father’s Day on the *day* anymore. Not because of any disrespect, but because everyday is Father’s Day for me now.

My Dad died some years back. He got out of the shower one night, had a massive heart attack and that was it. As bad as it was (and for me it was a great darkness), I still say that’s the way to go - so fast you don’t know what hit you.

Everyday is Father’s Day for me now, because there isn’t a single day that goes by that I don’t think about my Dad. Not in a morose, mopey way, but in all the best ways - the ways of remembering what he has given me. It may be some fleeting thought, but it is there every, single day. I can’t even get behind the wheel of a car without thinking of him. I don’t think like I do, or do what I do in life without remembering so much of it is owed to him.

My Dad was a mechanic and a machinest. He did the machinest thing as his main livelihood (the man could fix or fabricate *anything*), and he did the auto-mechanicin’ at night and on the weekends. When I was a kid, he raced go-karts. Before my time, he raced other stuff. All of it was just local - in Texas; but, I grew up with cars on my mind, and racing as my favorite sport to watch.


When I got old enough to hold a wrench (or any other tool), I was out in the garage learning from Dad, and when I got old enough to know what I was doing (about 15), I was actually working on cars with my Dad. He didn’t work on new cars - he restored and worked on old American cars (you know, the kind before they put computers in them). I was right there with him, up to my elbows in grease. It was great! Yes, I’m a chick, and I love to go shopping at Neiman Marcus, and take a nice, long day at the spa; but, I know what a gap-setter looks like, and I know how to use it! ;)

While hanging out with my Dad, I was learning a lot more than just cool stuff about cars and racing. I was learning about work ethic, integrity, the importance of approaching a project with organization, focus and the right state of mind. My Dad was a high-school dropout who later got his GED, but the man was wicked smart. He was an autodidact. He read anything and everything, and absorbed it like a sponge. He had a red-neck Texas accent, but you’d be a fool to think he wasn’t smart. He made straight A’s in high school English before he dropped out. He could speak perfect English if he wanted to, and he could discuss physics with you if you were smart enough to keep up. It was from this Renaissance man that I learned to value the acquisition of knowledge, and to strive for constant improvement of myself.

He also had a great sense of humor, and a terrific laugh. He was, and still is, the best Dad a girl could ever have. He was Louie - Father, Teacher, Friend and Hero.

He is with me still - every day. So, on a day that is *not* Father’s Day, I’m writing about him. I wish you could have known my Dad, because you would have been like every friend I ever had who knew him. You would have said “Your Dad is soooo COOL!” Yes, he was. Totally.

He was Louie, and I am lucky enough to be Louie’s Kid.

Every race I watch on TV, or go to live, I know he’s right there sitting next to me enjoying every second. I know he’s in my corner no matter what I’m doing. He’s ready to whisper advice in my ear and remind me about the right way to do things - anything. He stands by my side to be my champion when I’m brought low. His spirit will always be near me, because he’s there, and because he left so much a part of himself in *my* spirit.

He’s out there driving down Heaven’s roads, winding through Elysian fields, golden sun shining down, wind across his face, laughter in his wake.

Drive on, Daddy, drive on!

Polla Filia,
J.F.

JEFFFFFF BECKKKKKKK!!

I love Jeff Beck - love as in fanship devotion. :) My dream is that someday I will hear him play live, and get to meet him for an autograph. **sigh**

I like all kinds of music, as long as it is *music* - that is, it’s high quality, it exhibits true musicianship and talent, and it gives me a complex palette in the listening experience. Rock-n-roll is, as a general rule, music I like (although there is some of it that just isn’t - and I mean - Is. Not.). Great rock-n-roll is as good as it gets. Notice I said “great”. I don’t throw that word around lightly when I’m talking about any kind of music, but when we talk about Jeff Beck, we ARE talking about Great Rock.

Jeff Beck is one of those musicians who never ceases to take me way beyond that whole entertainment thing. Jeff Beck is inspirational to listen to. I can listen to five minutes of Jeff Beck and start feeling like I’ve had a few glasses of wine already - a heady combination of lightly buzzed mellow mood, mixed with some euphoria, and that “I can conquer the world” vibe, all rolled into one. And that’s *just* listening to his music, *without* the wine. :)

I am not old enough to remember him in his early days. I won’t even try to tell you anything about the Yardbirds, ‘cause I don’t know much about that. I have never heard recordings of the Yardbirds (don’t shoot me, music afficianados, I’ve just not had that experience *yet*).

In fact, I had not heard of Mr. Beck until in my twenties, when as a huge music fan I began to learn of great rock-n-rollers like him, and Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and the like. They were all slightly before my era of music. Anyway, I didn’t ever hear Jeff Beck play (at least not to my memory) until about three years ago. I was blown away. This was no “really good guitarist” - this was a truly great guitarist. This IS a Truly Great Guitarist. Jeff Beck has one of the most unique and amazing sounds I have ever heard on the guitar.

Performing with him lately have been the amazing Mr. Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, the wonderful Mr. Jason Rebello on keyboards, and the most astonishing Ms. Tal Wilkenfeld on bass (chick CAN play bass!). See the sidebar on the right and scroll down to my Fave Links, people - you'll find websites for all of them.

So, Jeff Beck has a new CD out now (and a DVD, too). All of the above-mentioned performers are with him there. It is a LIVE recording. He also has some tracks with vocalists Ms. Imogen Heap and Ms. Joss Stone, AND Mr.Eric Clapton (his own self) comes in for two pieces, and does vocals along with his most legendary guitar.

The CD is called Performing This Week: Live at Ronnie Scott’s, and you can get it here: Jeff Beck - Performing This Week: Live at Ronnie Scott's The CD

Or, if you really want the whole experience, almost like you were there AT Ronnie Scott’s, then get the DVD, which you can get here: Jeff Beck - Performing This Week: Live at Ronnie Scott's The DVD

Or, for the Whole Smash, do what I did, buy the CD *and* the DVD!!

Put that DVD on, crank it up with the surround sound system, pour that glass of wine (or your personal Listening-To-Music-Beverage-Of-Choice) and you are THERE!

BTW, if you don’t know what Ronnie Scott’s is, you can go here and see: Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club - London

People, this is not your average rock-n-roll. This is not even “good” rock-n-roll. This is Great Rock-n-Roll - as Good As It EVER Gets!! This is JEFFFFFFFFFF BECCCCKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!

Polla Filia,
J.F.

MUDSLIDES, WINE AND THE THREE-DAY RACE WEEKEND, or VARIETY REALLY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE

Today at the “day job” (which unfortunately is more like a “day career” in terms of seriousness - I work in the legal department of a Fortune 50 company) - today is a day I would liken to a mudslide downhill - a very, rocky, bumpy hill with a big gully at the bottom. I had high hopes today would be better than some of them have been lately, but hey, it just didn’t work out quite the way I had envisioned in my mind. Gotta work on that whole “envisioning” thing.

Add to that the fact that I’ve made no real progress tonight on my next novel, and the day was looking like a real washout. **grrrrrrrrrrrr** In the world of a struggling writer, some days are like this. **grrrrrrrrrr again**

Make no mistake, I came home from said sucky work day and had me a sit-down cry. So, I channel surfed until I found Matt Damon kicking some serious butt in Bourne Supremacy and I stopped my pity party long enough to enjoy that view (the view would be Mr. Damon, people). Add a little bike ride in there for my stress-relief, and my anticipation of the upcoming full-body workout at the gym tomorrow, and I was beginning to feel slightly more relaxed and hopeful.

In the end, though, the crummy day was no match for my wine of choice tonight, which is the 2007 Mönchhoff Estate Riesling - served in a proper wine glass (of course) - because we do things right around here at my establishment. Serving perfectly good wine in a cheap glass should be a crime. We should put that in the Texas Penal Code somewhere. ;)

Now that the wine bottle is open, the golden nectar is poured into the appropriate glass, and I’ve had a few sips, I am further mellowed. Edge on the day? What edge? Day? There was a day? Tomorrow? Who cares about tomorrow?

We Greeks have two kinds of time: chronos time, which is time you measure on your watch or calendar; and kairos time, which is the eternal time, the time of the now.

I would be seriously into my kairos time now, baby! Me and my glass of wine are only in the now!

Oh, wait a minute, we can slip into the chronos time for a moment, but only to happily contemplate my upcoming three-day weekend, which involves me being on a plane (first class, thank you), staying at a very fine resort hotel, doing some upscale shopping and visiting some long-time law firm friends of mine Friday night for cocktails, and then I will spend my Saturday night watching IndyCars duke it out at the Texas Motor Speedway. Those things may seem as if they don’t all go together, but hey, I would be a Renaissance chick (or that's my story anyway). I am as at home in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, or the city’s Metropolitan Opera House, as I am at the Mean Eyed Cat in Austin shooting me some pool, and drinking me some brew.

A writer and artist needs a varied palette from which to work. And a girl should be versatile.

Grandpa taught me about some of the finer things in life (like opera), and then Daddy taught me how to play pool, and change a spark plug. :)

There’s something to be said for both worlds. There’s a lot of joy living in both of them all at the same time. This weekend I get to do just that - live in both all at the same time, and experience some joy moments.

I’ll check back in on Monday with a wine update and some racing results. Meanwhile, I’m off to the garden tub for a good soak. ‘Night, y’all!

Polla Filia,
J.F.