Computer Painting (New Orleans, December 2014) and video by kenne
I was born on the edge of the big muddy flow my daddy was French, my mother creole I’m slow and heavy underneath the sun but I’m more than willing when the night time comes I’m a well known street, I’m a marching drum I’m a dancer, a preacher, a sophisticated bum I’m a wild tchapatoula, a dice rolling judge I’m a barker tryin’ to fool you into a late night club
I am the Big Easy I been hit by a storm brought to my knees have mercy lord I got soul I got heart all alone I’m coming out of the dark I am the Big Easy
— from I am The Big Easy by Ray Bonneville
Video: Ray Bonneville, “I am the Big Easy,” Ken & Mary’s Blues Project, Porter, Texas, November 2009.
We are hairy men who may be thought of a “Twit,” but I dare say, are not. Why you might ask? If you look closely, you will not see tasty morsels in our beards, while Twits upon close review will have tiny little specks of dried-up scrambled eggs.
So says Roald Dahl, and he should know of all the disgusting things found in the beard of a twit, but, no need to hold your noses.
So, what is it these hairy men are trying to hide? Is it an ugly face, you ask? No, not really, for we are two guys possessing good thoughts, which shone out of our faces like sunbeams, so we will always look lovely.
Again, Roald Dahl, should know: ‘If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until it gets so ugly you can hardly bear to look at it.’
Even so, on this sand grain day in the bent bay’s grave I celebrate and spurn my driftwood seventy-sixth wind turned age.
Yet, I remain steadfast in Shakespeare’s fifth stage in The Seven Stages of Man, still acquiring wisdom, enjoying the finer things in life and remain very attentive of my appearance, trying to live life to its fullest, preparing for the final stages of life. Shall seventy-six bells sing struck.
kenne
The above illustration is by Quentin Blake in Roald Dahl’s book, The Twits. Part of this posting contains copy from The Twits and Dylan Thomas’ Poem On His Birthday.
I can’t let this pass without again sharing Dylan Thomas’Poem On His Birthday.
The SCVN Friday hikes on Mt. Lemmon began June 3rd. Part of the hike was on the Meadow trail, which goes through a pine thicket that includes some very large Douglas Firs. On May 4th a 100 feet tall Douglas Fir crashed across the Meadow trail.
Tree ring experts at the University of Arizona estimate the tree was over 300 years old. There had recently been strong winds on the mountain, but it’s still anyone guess that this towering tree toppled. This tree was still relatively young compared to the largest Douglas Fir on Mt. Lemmon, which dates back to the year 1320.
A temporary trail now goes around the fallen tree.
A Forest Service volunteer has begun cutting away large limbs and a large section of the trunk, which will allow hikers to follow the original trail.
If I could be you And you could be me For just one hour If we could find a way To get inside Each other’s mind, mmm If you could see you Through your eyes Instead of your ego I believe you’d be Surprised to see That you’d been blind, mmm
Walk a mile in my shoes Walk a mile in my shoes Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse Walk a mile in my shoes
Now your whole world You see around you Is just a reflection And the law of karma Says you’re gonna reap Just what you sow, yes you will So unless You’ve lived a life of Total perfection You’d better be careful Of every stone That you should throw, yeah
And yet we spend the day Throwing stones At one another ‘Cause I don’t think Or wear my hair The same way you do, mmm Well I may be Common people But I’m your brother And when you strike out And try to hurt me It’s a-hurtin’ you, lord have mercy
Walk a mile in my shoes Walk a mile in my shoes Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse Walk a mile in my shoes
There are people On reservations And out in the ghettos And brother there But for the grace of God Go you and I, yeah, yeah If I only Had the wings Of a little angel Don’t you know I’d fly To the top of the mountain And then I’d cry
Walk a mile in my shoes Walk a mile in my shoes Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse Better walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes Walk a mile in my shoes Uh, before you abuse, criticize and accuse Walk a mile in my shoes, yeah
If there were no words, no way to speak I would still hear you If there were no tears, no way to feel inside I’ve still feel for you
And even if the sun refused to shine Even if romance ran out of rhyme You would still have my heart until the end of time You’re all I need my love, my valentine
All of my life I have been waiting for all you give to me You’ve opened my eyes And shown me how to love unselfishly
I’ve dreamed of this a thousand times before In my dreams I couldn’t love you more I will give you my heart until the end of time You’re all I need my love, my valentine
La la la la la la
And even if the sun refused to shine Even if romance ran out of rhyme You would still have my heart until the end of time ‘Cause all I need is you, my valentine Oh, you’re all I need my love, my valentine
Houston Legend, Earl Gilliam and Jonn Richardson at the Big East, (February 15, 2009) — Image by kenne
Lately I have been listening to an Otis Taylor CD. Coincidentally, my friend Jonn Del Toro Richardson posts on Facebook a Otis Taylor, Gary Moore & Jonn Richardson video from 2006 — karma!
I’ve followed the musical career of Jonn over the last decade. The Blues world has a lot of great Bluesmen, but few as good, yet not recognized as Jonn. Yes, among Blues musicians Jonn is admired for his talent, but for many Blues fans he is under the radar. For years Jonn has toured with better known musicians, and collaborated on releasing CDs, but no solo CD — it’s time for his own CD!
Now there’s an opportunity to help Jonn reach his funding goal to produce his first solo album. Click here for more information.
Here are three of videos of Jonn I have done — yes, he is the “REAL DEAL!”
IBC Blues Jam, 2010
The Real Deal with Rich DelGrosso at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project, 2011
Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy @ Rhythm & Roots Concert Series In Tucson, 2012 — Jonn and Diunna bring it on home in this video!
Alexa Von Bieberstein (December 17, 2014) — Images by kenne
Alexa Von Bieberstein has been a Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist since 2007, and I have had the pleasure of working with her since 2011 in the SCVN elementary school program on Thursdays. Last Thursday, we said goodbye to Alexa since she will be returning to Germany, although she and her husband will be keeping their home here in Tucson. As a “going away” gift, the Thursday group of naturalists gave her a print of Phil Bentley’s photo of Sabino Canyon with snow on the mountains. Although Alexa loves the Sonoran Desert, she also loves snow.
Phil and Alexa with Thimble Peak backdrop
Alexa is also an enthusiastic hiker. A little over a year ago, we hike to Thimble Peak, high above Sabino Canyon. Here Phil is taking her picture with Thimble Peak in the background.
On the Arizona Trail
In addition to Alexa, Phil, and I, Ed Rawl and Tim Ralph, completed the group hiking to Thimble peak. (Click here to see my posting on the Thimble Peak hike.) We will all miss her cheerful smile and look forward to seeing her again soon. Knowing Alexa has helped keep my thimble full.
A Thimble Full Of Life
All one needs
in life is a thimble full of this and that to experience life.
We determine
what makes up
THIS, what makes up
THAT.
80’s Rock Group, David & David, David Baerwald & David Ricketts — Google Images
One of my favorite 80’s rock tunes.
boomtown
Ms. Cristina drives a 944 Satisfaction oozes from her pores She keeps rings on her fingers
Marble on her floor, cocaine on her dresser Bars on her doors, she keeps her back against the wall She keeps her back against the wall
So I say, I say welcome, welcome to the Boomtown Pick a habit, we got plenty to go around Welcome, welcome to the Boomtown All that money makes such a succulent sound Welcome to the Boomtown
Handsome Young Kailob got a little off track Took a year off of college and he never went back Now he smokes much too much, he’s got a permanent hack
Deals dope out of Denny’s, keeps a table in the back He always listens to the ground Always listens to the ground
So I say, I say welcome, welcome to the Boomtown Pick a habit, we got plenty to go around Welcome, welcome to the Boomtown All that money makes such a succulent sound Welcome to the Boomtown
Well, the ambulance arrived too late I guess, she didn’t want to wait
Dedicated to Brother Tom (RIP) and Daughters, Vanessa and Lisa — Images by kenne
Marcy Now
My father could use a little mercy now The fruits of his labor Fall and rot slowly on the ground His work is almost over It won’t be long and he won’t be around I love my father, and he could use some mercy now
My brother could use a little mercy now He’s a stranger to freedom He’s shackled to his fears and doubts The pain that he lives in is Almost more than living will allow I love my bother, and he could use some mercy now
My church and my country could use a little mercy now As they sink into a poisoned pit That’s going to take forever to climb out They carry the weight of the faithful Who follow them down I love my church and country, and they could use some mercy now
Every living thing could use a little mercy now Only the hand of grace can end the race Towards another mushroom cloud People in power, well They’ll do anything to keep their crown I love life, and life itself could use some mercy now
Yeah, we all could use a little mercy now I know we don’t deserve it But we need it anyhow We hang in the balance Dangle ‘tween hell and hallowed ground Every single one of us could use some mercy now Every single one of us could use some mercy now Every single one of us could use some mercy now
Poet Miller Williams and Daughter, Singer/Songwriter Lucinda Williams — Google Image
I have six Lucinda Williams albums, which is a lot for my eclectic music tastes. Her music is so introspective with words that come from “down where the spirit meets the bone” — a line from her dad’s poem, “Compassion” and also the title of her latest album, “Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone.” The album begins with her adaptation of “Compassion.”
Compassion
Have compassion for everyone you meet,
even if they don’t want it.
What appears bad manners,
an ill temper or cynicism
is always a sign
of things no ears have heard,
no eyes have seen.
You do not know what wars
are going on
down there where the spirit
meets the bone.”
— Miller Williams
This two-disc album is, for me, her best. Like most of her music, it’s best listen to during quiet times — over and over, and over, over and over.
In a September 12, 2014 Billboard article, Lucinda was quoted:
“My dad was always adamant about the differentiation between poetry and songs,” Williams says. “In the past I’d send him a couple of things that I said, ‘Maybe this might be a poem,’ and he said, ‘Honey, I think this wants to be a song.’ I really want to look at some of his other poems and see if I can do that again.”
All I have to say is, what is it about those academic literary types that makes them the supreme judge of what is poetry? Listen to her songs, they are beautiful no matter what you may call them.
Leonard Cohen once said, “Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.” I hope Lucinda keeps spreading the ashes for a long time.
Having spent many a hot night in the southeast Texas bayou country, this Robbie Robertson song from the late 1980’s was one we love listening to — sexy and hot! This is one song that could be my anthem — “Look for me somewhere down that crazy river.”
kenne
Somewhere Down The Crazy River
Yeah, I can see it now The distant red neon shivered in the heat I was feeling like a stranger in a strange land You know where people play games with the night God, it was too hot to sleep
I followed the sound of a jukebox coming from a levee All of a sudden I could hear somebody whistling from right behind me I turned around and she said “Why do you always end up down at Nick’s Cafe?” I said, “I don’t know, the wind just kind of pushed me this way” She said, “Hang the rich”
Catch the blue train To places never been before Look for me Somewhere down the crazy river (Somewhere down the crazy river) Catch the blue train All the way to Kokomo You can find me Somewhere down the crazy river (Somewhere down the crazy river)
Take a picture of this The fields are empty, abandoned ’59 Chevy Laying in the back seat listening to Little Willie John Yeah, that’s when time stood still You know, I think I’m gonna go down to Madam X And let her read my mind She said, “That voodoo stuff don’t do nothing for me”
I’m a man with a clear destination I’m a man with a broad imagination You fog the mind, you stir the soul I can’t find, no control
Catch the blue train To places never been before Look for me Somewhere down the crazy river (Somewhere down the crazy river) Catch the blue train All the way to Kokomo You can find me Somewhere down the crazy river (Somewhere down the crazy river)
Wait, did you hear that Oh, this is sure stirring up some ghosts for me She said, “There’s one thing you’ve got to learn Is not to be afraid of it” I said, “No, I like it, I like it, it’s good” She said, “You like it now But you’ll learn to love it later”
I been spellbound falling in trances I been spellbound falling in trances You give me shivers, chills and fever You give me shivers You give me shivers I been spellbound, I been spellbound I been spellbound somewhere down the crazy river Somewhere down the crazy river
In 2016, the NASA New Frontiers mission (OSIRIS-REX) will be launched with the purpose to catch up with the streaking asteroid named Bennu in 2018. The University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Lab are leading this mission.
Bennu – Saturn — NASA Image
Yesterday, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center released an animated video depicting the solar system’s formation highlighting the importance of asteroids as 4.5 billion year time capsule containing the basic materials from which all matter came.
Ken & Mary’s Blues Project (On a humid east Texas night the rain forced everyone to move inside) —
Original Stage at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project (August 2005)
Computer Painting (New Orleans, December 2014) and video by kenne
Tom and Kenne Turner (October 2009)– Image by Joy
Images and video by kenne
Fairy Duster (February 9, 2015) — Image by kenne
Houston Legend, 
Computer Painting by kenne
Alexa Von Bieberstein (December 17, 2014) — Images by kenne
Phil and Alexa with Thimble Peak backdrop
On the Arizona Trail
80’s Rock Group, David & David, David Baerwald & David Ricketts — 
Dedicated to Brother Tom (RIP) and Daughters, Vanessa and Lisa — Images by kenne
Poet Miller Williams and Daughter, Singer/Songwriter Lucinda Williams — 
NASA Image
Bennu – Saturn — NASA Image
