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The Lion King

Wow! What a great show. If you've never seen The Lion King, I strongly recommend that you go. We all know from the animated movie that the music is fantastic, but the sets and the costumes will blow you away. It's illegal to take photos during the show because everything is copyrighted, but I found this shot online:



Look for the actors in those costumes, especially the giraffe. You can see the actor's head at the bottom of the giraffe's neck. The front legs are the actor's arms, etc...
My sisters and my two nieces and I had a blast. We drove into New York City together and when we turned the corner into Times Square, we squealed like tourists, rolled down the windows and starting taking pictures.

You have to understand that we've been into the city more times than I can count, I've ridden the train in with friends, spent a weekend here and there with my parents while growing up, driven in for the afternoon. Still, seeing the bright lights and the movement of people on the streets is a thrill I'll never get used to. I love this city.





You can still see the ball from New Year's Eve behind "2009" in this photo:

The Chrysler Building:

The view of Times Square from inside the theater was even more spectacular:

And now, because I'm just that much of a nerd, I'll share a video I took by accident while we were on the phone with my Mom:

Long Island

It's Wednesday morning. I flew to Long Island on Monday -blissfully alone- and watched as the shoreline came into view from the plane. Empty ocean beaches slid underneath me as we passed across the island. And then the north shore was up ahead. It's a long, skinny island. It amused me to look back at the ocean and then straight ahead at the Long Island Sound. Home.

My sister met me at baggage claim, we bundled up and headed out to the car. Expecting a blast of cold, I was surprised by the dark calm. Not too bad. The parking lot was dotted with piles of snow which had been plowed out of the way. We drove to our older sister's house and enjoyed dinner with her family. My Mom is currently at my house and she left her car at my sister's, so after our goodnights I drove myself to Mom's empty house.

When my parents retired, they sold my childhood home in Commack (about the middle of the island) and moved out east among the potato farms and windy, shaded roads. Dad died about 5 years ago and it was this new house we all returned to after his funeral. Monday night as I pushed the door open, I remembered how empty the house felt that first time Mom and I walked in after leaving the hospital the day he stopped breathing.

I was up from Texas to offer support during Dad's surgery. He had been in and out of hospitals and physical rehab facilities and had developed a staph infection. A specialist was going in to remove an infection on his heart. (That doesn't sound right, but that's what I remember). But a couple of days before, his doctor told us Dad wasn't strong enough to survive the surgery. Suddenly, he was dying.

And so we all sat with him, my three sisters and my Mom, as his favorite music played, sharing our favorite stories. All of his girls were with him. On the second day, a nurse came in to bathe him, so we all left to have some coffee in the cafeteria. We barely sat down when we heard an announcement, calling my Mom back to his room.

I'll never forget the rush back, walking in pairs, arm in arm, our heels clicking down the hallway, knowing what we would find. He was gone. Mom threw herself on him and said, "I'll miss you so much!"

When I sat down to write just now, I had no intention of writing about Dad's death, but that was the last time I was here without my husband and sons. The house is eerily quiet once again. But it's a healing kind of quiet. Surrounded by familiar things -some from my childhood- and family photos, the quiet is a comfort, a gentle reminder of the firm foundation my life stands upon.

Today is Wednesday morning and I'm getting ready to go into the city with all of my sisters and two of my nieces. We're going to see "The Lion King" on Broadway. I can shrug off the mantle of mother and wife and be "Little Caryl" once again, the girl who got everybody into trouble in church for giggling, the one who cartwheeled through life without a care.

Craig Ferguson Got Married!

I'm a huge Craig Ferguson fan. The fact that he got married again is a shock to those of us who watch his show. He's been divorced twice and has never said anything good about marriage that I can recall. I wonder if the recent death of his Mom has changed his priorities?

Everybody Can Suck It

Merry Christmas, Baby!

I pulled off yet another Christmas! Gifts, decorations, good food. I even managed to look OK for church on Christmas Eve. I'm tired and am treating myself to a hot bath. Right now. Enjoy a little Bruce while I soak. See ya on the flip side!

Album Cover Ideas

Since I wrote about what I don't like for the cover of Taylor Hicks new CD, I thought I'd share some ideas that I DO like.

I posted these last April, so if you've seen them before, I apologize. I'm very big on recycling!

These first few are derivative of classic album covers:

Inspired by Led Zepplin's untitled fourth album:


Inspired by Michael Jackson's "Thriller":


But perhaps Taylor should be thinking of making a more obvious attempt to reach fans of genres other than soul. A few examples:


In that vein, maybe a "Duets" album, like the ones Frank Sinatra recorded? Taylor could really grab the youth with some well planned collaborations:


But, I suppose knowing Taylor as we do, he'll always return to the sound that sparked his passion for music: soul. Pop music may dominate the charts, but I believe there's a market for soul music as well. One very successful musician in particular has had a lot of luck with a distinctive look that just may work for Taylor as well. He might want to consider it:








Then again, I could be wrong.

Sinead O'Connor - You Do Something To Me (Red Hot + Blue)

This song has been swirling around in my head all day. It's a sweet old song, given a cool 45 degree turn with Sinead O'Connor's voice. Love it.

Bruce Springsteen- "I'm On Fire"

Here's a performance where the song is taken to another level by a bit of acting. It's often said that making the switch from emotive singer to actor isn't such a stretch because the greats are already acting when they show us what the lyrics make them feel.

Taylor Hicks seems interested in acting in the future. But, Taylor, before you take on a dramatic role, I want to see you act this song. (In my opinion, the sexiest song ever written in the history of music.) Though, I'm afraid if you acted as though you were quietly and desperately "on fire," the audience would spontaneously combust.

Do it anyway. I'm willing to risk it.