My eclectic thread!

[sammi]

For Puffin83

Did I miss the thread where you talked about your kitty?? You can post a picture later.

[Puffin83]

Originally posted by Frostfrog
First - thanks all for the kind welcoming comments. In answer to your questions, I live in Southcentral Alaska, one hour by car north of Anchorage, but the entire state is my stomping grounds. Mugsy, Alaska was my dream home up until 21 years ago this month, when I pulled up stakes and made it my real home. Once I arrived here, I realized that Alaska had always been my home, it was just that I had been living away from home.

The question as to whether or not I am a writer is a good one, indeed. Time will provide the answer. I would like to be, but I find myself so busy with projects that demand I write that I do not have time to write. With the help of the cats who live here and of other cats all around the world, I hope this will one day change.

Sometimes, when the stress overwhelms me, I put on a certain album on the CD player, turn the volumn on loud, then several chords blast out, followed quickly by a high pitched, trembling riff and then a raspy voice consoles... "There must be some kind of way out of here..." for I too am a fan of the Hendrix, even as I am of Mozart, who I see has been reincarnated as Cat of the Day.

I enjoyed the description of your home, Puff. I was in Florida in April. Had I have known about you and George - if, indeed, you and George were together then - I would have looked you up and immortalized you, although I could not have added even one minute to your lives.

As noted, I will post sparingly, if not shortly. That is the best I can do.

The black cat is curled up on my shoulder, nudging my nose with his nose, forcing me to raise my elbow in order to enlarge his platform of support, forcing me to type with my right hand only. He is wonderful, this little character whose name is Jim - Jim Slim Many Toes.

"And the wind cries, 'Mary!'" I am not a poet, but Jimmie is.

Oh, Jimis version of "All along the Watchtower" is stellar. He was a brilliant electric guitar player, I have a Stratocaster, like the one in the signature picture. He died young at 27...

[mugsy]

Yes he did die young, but by his own choice....remember it was drug related. Just like so many other music stars of the 60s...Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin,....etc, etc, etc.

[Puffin83]

Yeah, but he was brilliant!~~~

[mugsy]

Brilliance is a relative term here...he was brilliant on a guitar, but I'm not so sure how brilliant he was in making choices.

Don't get me wrong..I like some of his work. I thought his National Anthem was in extremely poor taste though.

[Puffin83]

Me too, I guess ye are right, elder!~~~DARN IT! j/k!

[Frostfrog]

Darn it! Now I reminded of why I resolved to limit my forum participation to Cat of the Day. On COTD, I can make one brief statement that needs no followup and with little risk of offending anyone. Now, I am on this forum and the topic has become not cats but Jimi Hendrix and I can either ignore what has been posted or say what I think and risk offending someone. Well, it is not my intent to offend anyone and I hope I do not, but I am here, the topic is Jimi Hendrix and I disagree with some of what has been said, so I will say my piece.

Let me preface my comments by noting that I do not use drugs, tobacco or alcohol, although at times I certainly have. I am a loyal American, am proud to fly the flag and I have no doubt but what I would die for this country.

Above, I referred to both Hendrix and Mozart in the same paragraph. In my opinion, of all the composers lumped in the broad category "classic," three stand out far above all the rest: Bach, Mozart and Beehtoven. Some like to include Brahams in there, but, personally, I do not believe he rises to the same level. And of those three, I think Mozart had the greater gift. Yet, like Hendrix, he too made some choices that one could say were not so wise and this ultimately contributed to his early death. Yet his music has been rightfully described as divine, as though Mozart were merely a conduit between the celestial realm and earth. It is appropriate to play Mozart at even the most solemn of church services, yet Mozart did not lead a holy life.

But he had a gift, and so did Jimi Hendrix, and both had vices that killed them but this does not diminish the music of either.

Now, as to Hendrix's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner: many people have tried to pin their own interpretation on his playing of that piece, though Hendrix himself never elaborated anywhere other than on the guitar, although he did describe the anthem as "beautiful" and in so many words said that because it was beautiful and because he was American, he had to play it and he played it in the way the way that he played in the time that he played. And when he played it, I believe, he rose to the very highest level of guitar mastery of his entire career and if anyone has ever risen higher, I have not recognized it.

He played in a way that some failed to grasp, and many still can not. But I grasp it, and to me, Hendrix's version of the Star Spangled Banner is the most beautiful and moving that I have ever heard. It brings tears to my eyes, it is so beautiful. There is no disrespect in it. It is American, 100 percent and when I hear it, I am both glad and proud to be an American. Only America could have produced that beautiful, rugged, fragile treasure known as Jimi Hendrix.

Listen to it again, and listen carefully, without prejudice.

There. I have said my piece on this subject and I will leave the matter behind. Perhaps I should retreat once again, and stick just to Cat of the Day.

[Puffin83]

I agree about the Star Spangled banner, but I tried not to get in an argument with mugsy...

[Aspen and Misty]

I also would have to agree that the Star spangled banner is a very beautiful and moveing piece.

[Puffin83]

Lets give a big, wonderful Woohoo for Hendrix! [Outside in the cold distance...the princess kept the view]

[kohala]

We sometimes tend to favor the traditonal. To listen to Hendrix's version you need to clear your mind and just listen to the exquisite guitar work. There is a depth of feeling when he played it that is rarely duplicated. Many people have emoted through it ad nauseum, but his rendition is truly a musical offering of the heart. Give it another listen sometime, Mugs! You may not care for the style, and that's OK; you may prefer traditional, and that's totally OK, too; I have always loved an eclectic (ha - there's that dang word agin!) variety of guitar styles, and likewise disliked some pieces that others like. It's all taste, and thank God for variety!!!!! Love you all!!
Grasshopper sez - meow

[mugsy]

First, FF, you did not offend me in any way shape or form. You are giving your opinion and that's kind of what this thread is about. Please don't retreat...I so enjoy reading what you write, you truly have a special gift.

As for Hendrix's version of the National Anthem, like kohala said, I guess I just favor the traditional when it comes to that. But, that's just a personal choice there. What makes this country great is that people are free to express their opinions and imagination without fear of retribution. Whatever makes your heart soar with patriotic pride is what you should identify with, not what everyone else does. The traditional is what does it for me...the same reason that I enjoy my Catholicism...tradition...just like Topol said in "Fiddler On the Roof."

FF...I truly admire you for standing up and saying that you would go and fight for this country...it's becoming a nasty thing to want to do that...this country has become very selfish also. I will say though that 9/11 truly woke most of us up.

I really enjoy this stuff...it makes my mind work and I love that.

[Frostfrog]

Thank you, Mugsy - and HOORAY, HOORAY, HOORAY for the miners and rescuers of Somerset County!

[sottice]

Don't know what I'm doing, but I'm trying to figure it out!





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My critters

[aly]

Use imagestation.com instead of photogra.com

Photogra won't link the pics anymore.