There is an old turntable in my garage and a box full of vinyl…records that is. It is a large collection of 33s and 45s and a dozen or 78s that complete it. Presumably the needle on the turntable is still good so there is no reason why I couldn’t take it inside the house and listen for the tell-tale hiss that it used to make just before the music started playing.
Not more than ten feet away from me is my kitchen and its blue pearl granite counters. We put those in five years ago when we remodeled the kitchen and it is one of my favorite features. There is something about the way the light reflects off of it that I really like. I think that it is because it reminds me of the ocean and that is always good for me. The feel of the sand beneath my feet and the sound of the surf are soothing.
There is a bottle of whiskey on the counter and I have this very strong urge to go pour myself a drink. I have this vision of myself recreating the scene in Casablanca right after Ilsa walks back into Rick’s life. Since I don’t have Sam to play As Time Goes By I think that it might be nice to set up the turntable and listen to something on it. Of course I am not really up to pulling the turntable out of the garage so that I can Macgyver a connection to my current sound system.
It is faster and more efficient to select a playlist on iTunes and to let that roll. I think that while I consider what to listen to I’ll share one of those clips from Casablanca, which is still my favorite movie. Since I can’t embed it I’ll have to provide you with the link and ask you to promise to return here after you watch it. Don’t worry, you won’t miss anything. Go watch and I’ll be here when you get back.
Are you back yet? Good. I have one more scene for you to watch. They jacked it up a little bit at the end, but it is still worth watching. One of these days I am going to have to do nothing but blog about Casablanca. Look at the quotes here and you’ll see some of the finest writing I have ever read. Granted the acting makes a difference but so does life experience and that is a story that isn’t going to be told today.
And now the first intermission
I learned a long time ago that indecision is a decision. Change is sometimes very frightening and it is often easier to try to stay where you are then to take a risk by making change. It is tied into that devil you know versus the devil you don’t thing. I am well qualified to talk about this because I have had several key moments in my life where I held still and didn’t make a decision. Since I haven’t been granted the gift of second sight I can’t say whether this was for good or ill. Still I can say that for someone who has lived a life of few regrets those that I have are tied into this.
Second intermission
I had the privilege of seeing 5 Ray Charles concerts and I only wish that I could have seen more. Ray was a fine artist who put on a fantastic show. I have a deadline looming over me so I am going to tie this up with one more Ray Charles video and one by Johnny Cash. I’ll be back later with another new post.
@cathy.reaves That is a fair assessment. As long as you know when it is time to pull the trigger and can actually do so it works for me.
I’m totally okay with indecision being a decision. Sometimes you are not ready to make that change and that’s okay. Doesn’t mean it will never happen, just means that it’s not right now.
@Leon
When I visit people I always pay attention to the music and books that they display. You are right about vinyl, there is something about it.
Blazing Saddles is an old favorite here. I never get tired of it. When my kids get a bit older I’ll watch it with them. I expect that they’ll enjoy it as much of that humor is simply timeless.
Thanks for coming by again Leon, enjoy your weekend.
@MimiMeredith That sounds like a wonderful vacation. One of these days I want my kids to get a chance to experience staying in a cottage on the lake shore. I have been privileged to have done it several times.
I remember 8 Track stereos and those giant cartridges. I thought that they were pretty cool. I have been thinking about hooking up the turntable but I need to get a receiver for it that can stay with it in the garage.
Not surprisingly, my house is filled with all sorts of gear for us and the kids. P.S. That last sentence really should read, “my kids have way too many toys.” 😉
Have a safe holiday.
G’Day Jack,
“Yeah Man” to use the title of the old Fletcher Henderson classic. We moved into a smaller place 10 months ago. I had to put a lifetime of vinyl into storage. I’d long since ceased playing them but they looked so reassuring parked on the bottom shelf of a large bookcase.
And when I asserted that Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines and Coleman Hawkins were the instrumental pillars of jazz or that Frank Trambauer was Lester Young’s favourite reed player, my little mountain of vinyl suggested that I was an authority. CDs just don’t have the same gravitas.
Not surprisingly, my favourite movie is “Singin’ In The Rain” closely followed by “Blazing Saddles.” BS must surely be the most outrageously irreverent hit movie ever made. Beside it, the “Monty Python” movies are merely workboots to ballet shoes. And SITR, apart from all the wonderful dancing and almost plotless plot, has not one original song in it: not bad for what’s generally regarded as the best musical ever.
Incidentally, when my kids were much, much younger they’d put on the video of BS and sit laughing at me as I laughed at it!
‘Casablanca” is one of my favourites too. It must surely contain the most famous non-quote in movie history. When you start that blog, count me in.
I agree that consciously deciding to do nothing is a decision. Whether it’s decisive is another question….
Avagoodweegend
Regards
Leon
I will love coming back to look at the clips. I wish I had time now, but I’m surrounded by loads of family in a small lake cottage, where the “it’s a special weekend” spirit is building even in the youngest among us…he will be two next month. I thoroughly enjoy the way you share these thoughts.
And I have one recommendation…just hook up the record player in the garage :). That’s what we did with my husband’s 8 Track player (yes…we still have it…). We listen to the radio (the tapes he still owns might be a bit too brittle to play and we’re not willing to risk it!) while we wash cars, do yard work or welcome Trick or Treaters. Our kids’ friends are always amazed to see what an 8 Track stereo actually looked like. And I don’t have to make room for it in the house ;)!