Change Is A'Comin

There was quite a bit of talk the last few months about the end of the world, supposedly predicted by the Mayans. Well, obviously that proved to be untrue, or was it. There's now been talk that maybe what the Mayans really meant was that 12/21/12 was the end of an era and that a new era was about to begin. That whole idea has really intrigued me, kind of like a fresh start, a do over. We don't get many of those and we should take advantage of it if it does happen.

I've been thinking for a while now, but especially the last few weeks, of what I want to do and/or be in this "new era". Are there things I want to accomplish? Are there aspects of my life that I want to change or work on? What do I want my priorites to be?  Do I try to incorporate the things that I think are important into my everyday life?

There are things that I am passionate about, animals, the destruction of our natural resources and wild habitats. I also feel very strongly about our food system, the abuse of our food animals, the way a lot of our food is grown, using pesticides and chemicals, processed foods and "frankenfoods", which is another name for GMOs, genetically modified foods. I'm a great believer in local food, farmers markets and urban gardens
and organic foods. I am even thinking of starting a small garden this spring.

I am also interested in living a more sustainable life, reuse, recycle and restore, green energy. I read a small article a few weeks ago about a woman who at the end of a year, only had a lunchbag of garbage for the whole year. She recycled everything and when she went to the grocery, if the packaging of something she wanted couldn't be recycled, she didn't buy it but made the food homemade instead. She wrote a blog about it and I wanted to check it out but I misplaced the article, dang it. I also like the idea of buying gifts in local shops and businesses.

Is this a way I can live my life 100% of the time, probably not, but if I can incorporate some of these ideals into my everyday life I will happy. Some of the things will be easy, I do recycle, I do try to frequent farmer's markets. But some things may be a little harder to always accomplish, but I want to do my best to try. Will I always be successful, probably not, but it will be a learning experience for me and hopefully for you.

Starting next week, I will be changing the focus of my blog to chronicle my attempt to make some of these changes. The blog name will still be the same, but just a more defined subject matter. I hope everyone who has been a regular reader enjoys it and I welcome new visitors. Maybe I can teach you something and if you have an idea please leave a comment and let me know what you think or give me ideas.

Here's to a new era!


Kathy

70 And Rockin'

Everyone's buzzing about the big 12-12-12 fund raiser for the victims of Super Storm Sandy, put on by some of the biggest names in the music industry. From what I've heard, quite a bit of money was raised so by all accounts it was a success. It has be nice the last few years that celebrities have stepped up to lend their names and talents to helping disaster victims here in the United States.

Now my musical tastes are pretty eclectic, but I have never been a fan of heavy metal or rap. As talented as they are, I've never been a fan of The Rolling Stones or The Who. I just am not partial to their music. I am more partial to country, blues/jazz with a little bluegrass thrown in. Reba McIntyre, George Strait, Sugarland, Adele, John Legend and Michael Buble being some of my favorites.

All that being said and in the interest of full disclosure, I only saw some of the concert that played on HBO last night, but some of what I saw concerned me. I saw some of the Bruce Spingsteen and Bon Jovi performances and they were excellent, of course I am a fan of theirs. It was the other 70ish year old men strutting around on stage that kind of gave me the "ick" factor.

Now I know the Rolling Stones are an institution, but just seeing Mick Jagger, who at 69, strutting and prancing around onstage like he did 40 years ago, was just kind of "icky" to me. There is nothing wrong with still performing at that age, but it seems like he could tone it down a little. It's great that he is still in such good shape to be able to do that, but letting a touch of gray show in your hair and not trying to do all the sames moves as when he was younger, in my opinion, would be much more attractive. I really don't want to see a 70 yr. old man, thrusting his pelvis. Even Keith Richards has let his hair go gray and he still seems every bit the rockin' roller he always was, it hasn't hurt him.

Now Roger Daltry, that's a whole different story. Unfortunately, I turned it over just in time to see him performing with the rest of The Who. All I can say is that someone needs to tell him that the open shirt look is not a good look for a 68 yr. old man. It was like coming upon an accident, I couldn't look away, oh I tried, but I just couldn't.  Why do older men think they can still pull that off. A 68 yr. old man can only open his shirt in public if he is out cutting grass on a hot summer day and even then it's kind of iffy.  It still makes my shudder to think about it. And, at the risk of making his fans upset, I think he sounded more like he was shouting, and rather badly, the song rather than singing it.

Lots of performers and previous rebels and rockin' rollers grow older gracefully and still perform and still have their fan following. There is nothing wrong with that. But for god's sake, keep your shirt buttoned up.

But despite all that, thanks to all the performers who helped with this great cause.


Kathy