Peggy Lee: Black Coffee
Because some mornings, you just need a little Peggy Lee and no more needs to be said...
Peggy Lee: Black Coffee
Josephine Cameron shares books, music, & other delights for the whole family www.josephinecameron.com
Because some mornings, you just need a little Peggy Lee and no more needs to be said...
Peggy Lee: Black Coffee
Posted by Josephine Cameron
Labels: black coffee, music, music videos, peggy lee
When I was a kid, I felt like an author. I wrote book after book, stapling together pages from old invoice pads or receipt books that my dad would bring home from work. I illustrated my books. I gave them away as gifts. There was no doubt in my mind that I would always be an author. I would have a house filled with books and I would write all day.
And then somewhere along the way, doubts began to creep in. So I went to school for writing...who cares? Lots of people want to be authors...what made me think I could do it? What if I didn't have the chops? The drive? The stamina? Who could write a novel anyway? Even if I could do it, who would want to read it?
But today, as I sit in my house full of books, gearing up to work on a new revision of my novel, I have this picture hanging above my desk. My younger self, grinning at me, whispering "I know you can do it!"
Me, circa 1982ish:
Posted by Josephine Cameron
Labels: all those secrets of the world, books
I'm working on curriculum this week for my summer songwriting, fiction, and poetry workshops, so I've been thinking a lot about words and how we use them. The sounds of words, the definitions of words, the emotion of words. It's amazing that we can jumble letters together and convey so much.
I wrote a couple weeks back about The Dreamer, a middle-grade novel based on the life of Pablo Neruda, so here is an excerpt from Neruda's Book of Questions that plays with the concept of words and how we use them.
LXVI.
Do the o's of the locomotive
cast smoke, fire and steam?
In which language does rain fall
over tormented cities?
At dawn, which smooth syllables
does the ocean air repeat?
Is there a star more wide open
the the word poppy?
Are there two fangs sharper
than the syllables of jackal?
Posted by Josephine Cameron
Labels: book of questions, books, pablo neruda, poetry, the dreamer
Another blog rerun...this one is the most popular post I've ever written with over 6000 viewers since it went up. It was originally posted as part of my American Songs Vol. 2 "Stories Behind the Songs" series...
Goin' Home: Antonin Dvorak & William Arms Fisher, originally posted October 7, 2007
So if you can believe it, here we are at the final story behind American Songs volume 2: Goin Home.
If you've missed the stories behind American Songs volume 2 in previous posts and would like to catch up, please use these links:
Had Dvorak, who is learned in music, been long in this country, he would know, as nearly everyone else knows, that none of the so called "negro melodies" is of negro origin..."The Swanee River," "Nellie Gray," "Massa's in the cold, cold, ground," and the other accepted melodies pertaining to Afro-Americanism are the creations of white men. Dr. Dvorak ought to spend a winter in Blake Township, Colleton County, or on Hilton Head Island. There he would hear genuine negro melodies. He can't hear them in the concert halls of the North.
Posted by Josephine Cameron
Labels: american songs vol. 2, dvorak, goin home, josephine cameron, music, william arms fisher
Over the summer, I'll be posting some blog reruns to save a few extra minutes of summertime. Since Kevin and I will be celebrating our TEN YEAR anniversary in a month or so, I thought this one was appropriate...
Marianne Moore: What Are Years? originally posted November 17, 2008
Ten years ago when my husband and I first met, before we were even dating, he made me a birthday card with a Marianne Moore poem handwritten on the back. With my birthday coming around this week, I've been thinking about this poem again.
Moore asserts that courage lies in accepting our mortality, and within those confines, managing to find (if not satisfaction) joy. At the time, I thought Kevin's card was sweet and thoughtful (he knew how much I admired Moore's poetry). But now, ten years later--I woke up this morning, we went through the confines of our daily routine (teeth, face, hair, coffee, work), and laughed about some little thing or another. On our drive to work, I watched the sun glancing off the last surviving leaves dangling from the trees and thought: How pure a thing is joy.
What Are Years?
by Marianne Moore
What is our innocence,
what is our guilt? All are
naked, none is safe. And whence
is courage: the unanswered question,
the resolute doubt, --
dumbly calling, deafly listening--that
in misfortune, even death,
encourages others
and in its defeat, stirs
the soul to be strong? He
sees deep and is glad, who
accedes to mortality
and in his imprisonment rises
upon himself as
the sea in a chasm, struggling to be
free and unable to be,
in its surrendering
finds its continuing.
So he who strongly feels,
behaves. The very bird,
grown taller as he sings, steels
his form straight up. Though he is captive,
his mighty singing
says, satisfaction is a lowly
thing, how pure a thing is joy.
This is mortality,
this is eternity.
Posted by Josephine Cameron
Labels: books, marianne moore, poetry, rerun, what are years
This weekend, I'm attending my grandfather's memorial service, so I leave you with this gorgeous picture of magnolias from my cousin's photo feed. I love the sunbow arching over the flowers. We miss you, Papa.
This summer, I plan to spend a bit more time offline, so I'll be posting a few summer blog reruns. This post about one of my favorite lullabies continues to get the most hits out of any music-related post I've written over the years (with the exception of one other popular song, which I'll put up sometime later this summer)...
Lullaby: I See The Moon, originally posted March 7, 2007
Photo by Jamelah.
On Monday night, driving home from the studio, the skies were completely clear, and there was the most beautiful, just-past-full moon. It got me humming one of my favorite lullabies, "I See the Moon."
This old song has gone through many variations, and transformations (including the well-known rhyme I see the moon and the moon sees me/God bless the moon and God bless me) but according to Mudcat, one of my favorite sources of information about traditional music, the closest to "original" goes like this:
I see the moon and the moon sees meI love this song, not only because of the melody (which is on one hand very pretty and sing-songy, and on the other hand, very melancholy), but also because of these lyrics. They're so simple and true. When we're far away from someone we love, we try to look for the little things that connect us. It's somehow comforting to remember that the same moon that's shining on me as I go to sleep will be shining on you when you go to sleep, even if you are hundreds of miles away.
Down through the leaves of the old oak tree
Please let the light that shines on me
Shine on the one I love
Posted by Josephine Cameron
Labels: i see the moon, lullaby, music, rerun
I'm getting ready to teach my summer poetry workshop and to get in the zone, I picked up Pam Munoz Ryan's, The Dreamer
, a middle grade novel based on the childhood of poet Pablo Neruda.
I don't know what I was expecting, but this book is so delicately and beautifully woven together, it took my breath away in parts. It chronicles Neftali's (Pablo Neruda's given name) coming of age. Specifically, his conflict with his father, who wants him to stop dreaming and make something of himself. But it's Neftali's dreaming that allows him to find beauty and wonder in everything he sees. In the raindrops, in the call of a bird, in the shape of a pine cone, or the beauty of a word.
Munoz Ryan adds a bit of magical realism to the story as Neftali's mind shifts between dream and reality. Zeroes from his homework laze about and drift off the page. The favorite words that he keeps hidden away in his drawer sometimes work their way out and arrange themselves in interesting combinations before his eyes. The reader cannot help but be caught up in the same wide-eyed wonder as Neftali himself.
The climax of the story is gripping, as Neftali is confronted with the cruelty of the world and the decision to strike out on his own path. The afterword about the author's research and the inclusion of the Neruda poems at the end are just what the book needs to bring things to a satisfying close. It's such a gift to read about specifics in Neftali's childhood and then see his daydreams come to fruition in Pablo Neruda's beautiful poems.
Of course, I can't write about this book without mentioning that the illustrations are by one of my picture book heroes: Peter Sis. Who better to portray the surreal images and daydreams of a young poet's mind?
Certainly a must-read for kids interested in writing. And I would even say a must-read for anyone who has ever been a dreamer, or worried about pleasing others, or wondered how to discover who they will become.
Posted by Josephine Cameron
Labels: books, children's books, pablo neruda, pam munoz ryan, peter sis, the dreamer
I haven't posted a video from Improv Everwhere in a while and they have been busy creating hilarity as usual.
Their most recent prank, The Tourist Lane, is a riot. If you go to the webpage, be sure to scroll down and watch the actual news footage on the project.
And last month, I loved their reenactment of the New York Public Library Ghostbusters scene. The project was intended to raise awareness for the giant budget cuts (25%) facing the library. Once again, creative genius.
Posted by Josephine Cameron
Labels: comedy, ghostbusters, grab bag friday, improv everywhere, new yorkers
Last night, on the season finale of Glee (yes, I'm a fan, what can I say?) coach Will Schuster sang Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. It's a version that has exploded over the last decade and I suppose it's inclusion on Glee means that it has truly become ubiquitous.
Every time I hear the IZ version, I'm stunned that even a song so familiar can become fresh and new when you come at it with genuine creativity and honest emotion.
This video shows IZ playing the song and includes footage of the thousands of fans who came out to his memorial service in 1997.
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Posted by Josephine Cameron
Labels: israel kamakawiwo'ole, music, music videos, somewhere over the rainbow
It's summertime! Hurrah! To eke out just a little more time for gardening, writing, and other sunny day activities, I plan to post a blog "rerun" or two each week. Here's one from the wayback machine...February 2007...according to my blog statistics, this has been the #1 all-time most popular Please Come Flying post in the Books category to date:
Ruby Bridges: Through My Eyes
February 12, 2007
Most of us know the story of Ruby Bridges. The little girl in the Norman Rockwell painting who was the first black student in the all white elementary school in New Orleans. What you may not know is that in 1999, the grown-up Ruby Bridges wrote a stunning children's book about her experiences during the now-famous integration of that school.
I picked up Through My Eyes a few years ago and was completely swept up in the story told by the child who walked through so much hatred every day at 6 years old. Ruby Bridges takes you right back in history and in simple, eloquent text, lets you know what it felt like to be her. Not as an adult looking back, but as a child, right there in the middle of things, bewildered, hopeful, and sometimes scared. It's an absolutely fascinating book that will give any child or adult a fresh and very real perspective on an old story we've probably become too familiar and comfortable with.
To read more on Ruby Bridges and her efforts to promote diversity in her adult life, please visit the Ruby Bridges Foundation website. Ms. Bridges now works with elementary schools to fight intolorance and injustice in the schools. There are some great quotes from kids on the site, like this one from a 4th grade student in Los Angeles:
I used to be rude to people before being in the program. Now, I can start being nice to new people I meet. I also had some racist feelings toward a Latina who had hurt my feelings. When I was angry, the first thought I had was that I didn’t like her because she was Latina, not that she was just mean. Now, I think about not being racist, even when I’m angry.Now that's real work!
Posted by Josephine Cameron
Labels: books, children's books, rerun, ruby bridges, through my eyes
Okay, so this image has nothing to do with monkey bread. It's a glimpse of the cute fabrics you could win if you head over to my friend Amy Schimler's blog before Monday. Hurry, go! And when you finish entering the contest, then you should make some monkey bread!
A student recently gave me this recipe and my sister and I tried it out last weekend. We can report that it is super fun to make (anything that gets rolled into balls then coated in butter and sugar is right up my alley) and it tastes delicious. Imagine a sticky bun, only slightly less sweet.
We decided it's a great rainy day activity (especially good for kids to help with) and a perfect treat to bring to a potluck!
Tajuana's Monkey Bread
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
3 cups flour
1 pkg yeast
1/3 cup raisins
1 egg
1 cup warm water
2 tsp butter
Flour
¼ cup butter
1 banana – diced
Finely chopped walnuts
Bundt pan
Posted by Josephine Cameron
Labels: amy schimler, grab bag friday, monkey bread, recipes
I've been working a bit this week on a story about a janitor, so maybe that's why I got such a kick out of the new video from Recess Monkey (thanks to my favorite kids music connoisseur Zooglobble for the link). If you're in the market for some fresh, funk-influenced, space-themed kids music, the new RM album, The Final Funktier (due out June 15th) seems like it's going to be pretty fab, by the way.
Recess Monkey: Jet Pack
Posted by Josephine Cameron
Labels: jet pack, music, music videos, recess monkey, zooglobble