The Daily News

1  Wonderful ceremony for Vinnie this weekend. Neither Ponch nor I was completely sure we could get there, but we both did, and we loved all of it! I thank my daughter Nicole for opening the doors of her Santa Clara home, taking me over to the venue early so I could see where it was, and then taking me back to her place, where I was able to get ready for the tribute. This was the weekend she was finishing up her Masters, so I really appreciated it. I told her I would probably go straight home afterward, so she could concentrate on her work, and that I would text her when I headed back to Sac.

   I arrived, and within seconds, Ponch arrived. This wasn't planned. I wasn't even sure he could make it. We were both rushing around, but once we go there, it took off.

2  I am so thankful for everyone who put the event together. 

For Vince, it was one for the ages. I felt it from the moment I walked in. 

3  I was particularly impressed with how people could go through such pain, and still have time to create music, videos, memories, programs, and such eloquent speeches, all filled with the love and passion that was the essence of Vinnie. 

4 I can't, and I won't try to capture it all right here. I can say only what I already said on Facebook: if you missed this, or if you felt you weren't a part of it, well, you are mistaken. Vinnie made it clear in life he wouldn't forget anyone, and I felt him embrace everyone, whether they were physically present, or just feeling his love. 

5  What was fun was they opened with music, a lit stage, and Vinnie's classic drum-kit all set up at center, and flowers, pictures, rock 'n' soul instruments gleaming off the lights.

6  By about the third song, Ponch whispered, "There's something in that song that sounds like All Good Gifts." As a veteran of a few Godspells, I gave a listen, and indeed, it DID have a Godspell feel to it.

7  Godspell, for the layperson, is a musical by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) based on the Gospel according to St. Matthew.  

8  Yesterday I wrote Erik Luper, our bassist on JoAnn Olvera Trembath's Godspell, way back when. I directed the band, but really, I met Erik Luper that year. Everybody who played directed the band, and it was a blast, my first experience playing a rock show. I'll keep it short, but Godspell, and particularly All Good Gifts, always worked, every time, and on every level. I directed it years later, and loved it still more. It's fun to sing about Jesus. It just is. Because you are singing about love. Pure and simple. You are singing about love. 

9  I told Erik that I thought the Godspell sound may have been the FMaj7 chord following the chorus, "All good gifts around us..."chord (FMaj7). I brought this up to him, because when we first learned that song so long ago, we had to work on how to get through that pause. We must have screwed it up at least twenty times (I'm guessing I may have had a lot to do with that one!) before we finally nailed it. 

10  Erik wrote back and told me the name and structure of the song. I'll let Erik take over:

  "[The] last song was 'Revelation Song,' changes were based on D Mixolvdian, D maj. A min. to Fmaj. to C maj. to Gmaj, which we then used to get back to the D maj. for the chorus again."

11  Got that? Well, I sure did. I picked up my guitar and played those chords. Not sure what D Mixolvdian is; I presume it is a term used to describe an escape of a finger from the triad on which the chord is based, a sort of hammer on perhaps. But if we do that, and it moves to a D major, then the rest is all the opening chords to All Good Gifts. As of this publishing, I haven't seen a video of Vinnie's ceremony, but here is a video of Kari Jobe performing the Revelation Song live. If you know All Good Gifts, you could listen and plug in "We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land..." under her verse:

Kari Jobe Revelation Song Passion 13 Live

12  Powerful.

13  Somewhere in the midst of that I thought I heard The Edge in there. What a passionate, beautiful song, with a definite U2 influence. 

14  Sadly, both Ken and I had to leave just short of the entire ceremony's ending. I did stay long enough to hear Pastor Brad Easter summing up the similarities between the love Vinnie gave us with the love Jesus gives to us. 

15  For a second, he talked about differences in people: how he sees lots of people who wear ties with stripes, and even polka dots, but that when he shops for ties, he likes something with a little more movement, something with swirls, something unique, words to that effect.

16  I knew I had to get going, because it was near four, and I needed to get home before dark. I can drive okay in the dark, but Sacramento at around sixish, on a Saturday night? Nah. Even though there was plenty of food at the tribute, I decided to error on the side of safety, and get McDonald's on the way home. 

17  I pulled down Calaveras in Milpitas, to the McDonald's over by Orchard Supply, and saw there was no line. I pulled in, began texting Nicoley to let her know things were okay. I ordered, but I can't text and do wallets, and stuff comes at you fast when you at McDonald's.

18  I pulled out like two tens and a one. Who has tens in their wallet?

19  This guy.

20  I returned to getting a text to my daughter, when it hit me that I had ordered a McCafe with chocolate chips and caramel. It also hit me that those things are notoriously sticky, so I reached around to the back seat, where I keep paper towels for just such an occasion. I also knew that the McDonald's window was going to slide open any second, and that someone was going to hand me a glass of caramel and whipped cream stickiness, which I knew was going to get all over my steering wheel, as well as my reasonably new pants. 

21 I instinctively took all the stuff out of my cup-holder and tossed it all over my shoulder, as you would salt.

22  I looked up, the window slud open, and this really pretty server handed me a reasonably neat drink. I appreciated that she also gave me extra napkins. She then said, "I like your tie. I like how it has circular swirls." I looked up. Somehow the sun glowed brightly. "And I like your green shirt. I like green!" I looked up and all I saw was a cute smile. 

23  "I like green too. I'm Irish," I said, stupidly. I then said, "I got this tie for my daughter's wedding." 

24  "Okay!" she said. Such a McDonald's soldier. I got the text to Nicole, drove off, my head spinning, and then it caught me: that was Vinnie completely messing with me. I laughed.
Without a doubt, it was pure Vinnie. Consider this stuff: 

25  Pastor Easter's reference to swirly ties. My swirly tie. Easter is my birthday this year. My fear of stickiness. The move to the back seat and back with paper towels. The rescue napkins. The compliments. The smiles. All this stuff came at me at once, and I could only smile, because only Vinnie would be that good. 

26  And somewhere in all of that I got the text out to Coley letting her know I was okay, and heading home safely. 

27  I couldn't believe those McDonald's moves. I wasn't much of a fast-food guy growing up. My Mom was an awesome cook, and I always preferred cooking from scratch, and moving swiftly around the kitchen checking every burner, and trying to precision-time everything.

28  I'm not good at ordering fast food. I was astonished at how swiftly I made all those McDonald moves.

29  I finally caught up with the Twenty-First Century. 

30  Sweet.

31  And I got pranked by Vinnie. I'm sure of it. He had his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, and he had that mischievous smile that was mentioned several times at the tribute. 

32  Love you man. 

33 Thank you for that prank. Coincidences, I tellya.

34  Moving On, Part One: I had a bit I put together last night that was all about the Oscars. 

35  I decided to back off. 

36  I decided to stick with the warmth and humor of what I may always consider to be Vinnie's prank. 

37  That is where the light is focused this fine morning.

38  So I'll cut it short.

39  It is always nice to dance away with a humble smile.


40  And that's the way it goes.

41  Thanks again, everyone who put that all together. 

42  And thanks Vinnie, for pulling one last prank.

43  We love you, man.

44  Gottago.

45  See you all again.

46  Peace.

~H~

fin.

The Daily News

1  Friday slides into home.

2  Umpire: "Safe!"

3  So ends this week.

4  May there be many more.

5  So yesterday's DN kept time-traveling. I've had trouble with this thing lately, and it likes doing that. 

6  Time traveling. 

7  Occupational hazard.

8  Yesterday I tried making this travel with music. It semi-worked, once I tried it out. It's just that when I tested the Peer Gynt link, it worked fine. 

9  Once I launched yesterday morning, we piled into Josh and Caitlin's van and shot up to Auburn. Beautiful morning.

10 We came back, had some lunch, watched this show called Highway Thru Hell, about truck drivers in dangerous, snowy mountains during the Winter. The show depicts the treachery and danger that faces these guys 24/7. I can't believe just how dangerous it is. Scary stuff. Tough bunch, let me tell you. I got hooked. I also love it because a few of the guys in it are Canadian, eh, and they always say, "Eh?" eh? Right?

11 My kind of show. It requires little-to-no thinking, eh. 

12  Anyway, the girls got a bit bored with it and took off shopping yesterday. I stayed and kept watching, because it was becoming Spring, so I wanted to see how these truckers made money during the warmer climates. The lovely part of retirement is indulgence of useless stuff on a semi-regular basis. Semi-regular. Some pun, eh?

13  After a while I decided to return getting today's DN done. I went on Facebook and tested my link to a live concert of Grieg's Peer Gynt, which I posted yesterday. As far as I could see, the link worked, but you had to navigate back to the DN on your own. All apologies. I'll have that cleared up in say, six years, eh?

14  The worst thing that happened when I tested the video was that it paused on its own and for no apparent reason, the way videos often do. 

15  I goosed it, and it is back working it. As I write, Scheherazade is playing, and beautifully. Here:

Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade / Gergiev · Vienna Philharmonic · Salzburg Festival 2005

16  Service with a smile.

17  The links seem to be working. 

18  I may now return to listening to snow truckers and rescue units cuss profusely.

19  What a lovely day!

20  Makes one wonder.

21  Moving On, Part One: Paul Simon is touring. He will visit the Greek in Berkeley on June 3 at 7:30. I have included a link to his website if you want more info. It includes all tour dates. I'm guessing it will be amazing, even though he sort of looks like a guy selling shoes these days. Don't let the disguise fool you. The guy is an icon, and one of the hardest workers in rock. Look to a grand concert. Be sure to check the calendar. He is playing the Hollywood Bowl, and he will make an appearance in Santa Barbara, and those are just the Cali shows. If you can go, go. It is always fun enjoying an icon live.

Paul Simon Tour 2016

22  I would rather not peek at the tunes he will play, but you can bet he will deliver, particularly with his own music.

23  Funny how it all works. I did a bit on Paul Simon last week (or was it the week before?) and even broke down a few songs. 

24  I hope some of my EV students could gather and go watch. I had them listen to five or six songs by Simon, enough that they might recognize some. 

25  If they go, they should collectively listen to as many songs as possible. I would begin with the Concert in Central Park album beforehand. It has tons of songs, and almost all sound wonderful. 

26  And so the coincidences continue.

27  Moving On, Part the Two: I just wrote about the coincidences surrounding Dr. Wayne Dyer. Although I don't consider this a huge coincidence, yesterday morning I woke up to a presentation by him, the end of the presentation that began with his receiving birthday wishes from Beatles. 

28  He gave a wonderful talk about his Mom, and how much she kept his family together when his father abandoned them, and how she stayed strong by re-marrying a guy who was an all-day, all-night alcoholic who eventually passed, and how she still was able to put her kids first, and to teach them good values, and all the rest. He moved to the edge of the stage, where a few people looked right back up at him.

29  I kept waiting for him to tell us that his Mom had finally passed, and perhaps have a projection of her, with some music.

30  Instead, he looked down at a woman who was clearly moved, then he looked up, and said, "My Mom." Massive applause. I was exhausted, but I loved it. He brought her up to the stage and gave her a huge hug. 

   At this point I pulled up a comforter, and I drifted back to sleep. For the record, it was a nice hug, and a long one. He then gave her off to a guy with headphones, and she disappeared. Slight of hand. That moment bothered me. Why? Why wouldn't he have his Mom say something? Perhaps she didn't want that. He then transitioned to "Inspiration comes to us in many ways..." words to that effect. 

31  Only later did I wake up when he mentioned Vincent Van Gogh. You might remember the Starry Night recollections and coincidences.

32  He yammered a bit about Don McLean, and even had the audience join him in singing the verse, "So bye, bye Miss American pie..." One thing I can say about Dr. Wayne Dyer: he really can't sing. Mystery to me. Anyway, he went on to talk about how McLean had read a bio of Van Gogh. He told of how troubled Van Gogh was, and how one day the artist went to his painting place with paint brushes in one hand, and a revolver in another, sat, and then shot himself through the heart.  And when Don McLean read that, it moved him to write his classic song about Van Gogh titled simply, Vincent. In a nice transition, a pretty young singer came out with a mic, and a projection of Van Gogh's The Starry Night appeared behind her.  

34  I tried getting the excerpt from that to post here, but it was poorly done. Dyer doesn't tell the audience who she is, which also bothered me a bit. She sang beautifully, and at a much needed increase in tempo over the original by McLean.

35  I decided to post a live version by McLean from a concert in 1972. His tempo is much nicer, almost too quick, but I like his nervousness. It's human. The trouble with this video is it ends a bit abruptly. Still, it is better than another version I almost posted. That one has some thumping boushit come in right after he finishes, and so you would have needed to push pause after he was done, and spare your nerves. I said "no" to that version. Here is Don McLean, Vincent, live. I love the lyrics:

Don McLean Vincent Live 1972

36  Again, apologies for the fade. When people post videos, they need to let the song fade out completely before pausing.

37  And I am up against strong deadlines today. I need to send someone an email with some things I needed to dig up in my closets of archives, but that one is rewarding. I also need to get suitcase and travel bags together for my brief trip to the Bay Area tomorrow to be at Vinnie's memorial service. 

38 AND I need to get over to see my little miracles. 

39  So I didn't really have time to go through hundreds of Don McLean videos. 

40  I also realized too late that he has one "c" in his name, and a capital "L". I had to go back and eliminate/capitalize. Don, sweethaht, why didn't you just change your name so's it makes more sense? 

41  Moving On, Part Three: Speaking of Vinnie, here is the info once again about his services:

Services for Vinnie Richardson

When:  Saturday, February 27, 1 p.m.

Where:  Family Community Church, 478 Piercy Rd. San Jose, CA, 95138.

Phone: 408-365-0313.

Link:

Family Community Church 478 Piercy Rd. San Jose, CA 95138

42  Gottago. 

43  We'll see you again.

44  Have a GREAT day.

45  I hope to see many of you at the tribute.

46  Peace.

~H~

fin.

Push Snooze.

Then push this:

Grieg Peer Gynt

The Daily News

1  <yawn>

2  <Grieg Peer Gynt music up>

3  <second yawn>

4  Whaaaaaaa...???

5  Thursday. Whoa.

6  I had a dream that John Travolta's face froze into a fleshy mask, that he was stuck on an elevator with Johnny Cochran, and that he had David Scwhimmer photobombing in the background as Pepe Le Pew.

7  Turns out my TV was on "pause."

8  I'm not buying it. Not buying any of it. 

9  If we threw in Cuban Gooding, Jr. as O.J., it would be the first triumvirate in the history of casting to have been completely wrong.

10  If you know the case, and if you have been watching the latest series on it, you know that nearly all the other cast members resemble the characters they play. But Travolta, Schwimmer, and Gooding, Jr.? Are you serious? As Vinnie would have said, "Ain't gonna work; ain't gonna work!"

11  Okay. It's okay. It is off now. The Peer Gynt music mystically changed at the same time. 

12  It's now morphed back to last night, around 8:25. The Grieg music continues louder, and it is playing in my headphones. I settled in with some coffee and delicious candy. What candy, you ask?

13  Why, Dove chocolates, the ones with the messages, even though it is politically incorrect to have chocolate these days. Especially milk chocolate.

14  I apologize. I have been so swamped lately that I missed the moment when chocolate became politically incorrect.

15  Mars recalled candies from 55 countries because they contained plastic. I caught that one, and am on an instant boycott of Mars' products, even though I relate to Mars, I being an Aries and all. 

16  I wish to look no further into any of it. Not this minute, anyway. 

17  I am in the Hall of the Mountain King suddenly, so I'm more into frogs and things. I started the music long before you did, so don't worry about any of it. As long as great music plays, it is as pure as the music of a blackbird. 

18  Pardon my dust. And pardon my darkness about chocolate. Just make light of it, is all, and enjoy the ride. 

19  <snaps light off>

20  Moving On, Part One: "Right speaker on headphones going into a tailspin, Sir. We...uh...have a pair of HELLA expensive Apple headphones we could use instead..."

21  Me: "I copy that. I prefer my Big Lots phones, but if we have to, we may need to go to the Apple-brand ear buds, which fit nobody's ear comfortably. I'm out."

22  For the record, I'd rather have a speaker that is going out for a millisecond every fifteen minutes than any cockamamie 
Apple headphone.

23  Apple packs everything in these neat little boxes that slide magically this way and that. Blithe, and almost sexy in a James Bond sort of way.

24  Not my style. I'm not a Diamonds-are-Forever guy.

25  I like products I can open with a pair of scissors. This includes the fancy Ghirardelli milk chocolate w/ caramel squares I found earlier.

26  Whoops.

27  So I like a baggie of Big Lots earbuds I could cut open with a pair of scissors. Hmm. These look like they will do nicely...

28  And honestly? I can't listen to the fancy white box that Apple provides.

29  Big Lots, baby. Pure comfort. Listening to live concerts is fun, but there is always the audience cringe, that moment where they don't know whether to applaud, or to await the next movement. I'm the guy who coughs during those moments. If you go to the Theatre a lot, you are aware that the only time you need to cough is the second the curtain goes up. I sometimes line my pockets with plastic and put the cough drops on top of it so I won't make noise. And I nurse water bottles, sip them during applause. Little tricks of the audience trade.

30  And suddenly, we are listening to Bolero.

31  Some nights perform for you. If you are reading this, you won't be going at the same speed as I am. You are probably still listening to Peer Gynt. Don't think; just let it play the way birds play music when you are out for a walk. 

32  Comforting, and even jazzy, if you're into real jazz. Bolero, not the birds, although one can make an argument for both. 

34  Real jazz. Inside joke. Sorry. Don't do it often, but it was definitely a wink over to Ponch. 

35  Anyway, it is last night, and time has spun swiftly into the 9:45 slot.

36  Time gets distorted when I compose this nonsense, especially when something as whimsical as Bolero is marching through my frabjous brain.

37  Moving On, Part Two: Time travel. Yesterday: I'm stalling a bit because I know that before midnight I need to walk a little over a quarter mile in order to keep my challenge to go over four miles each day, and over 10,000 steps.

38  It's just that I over-achieved yesterday and did 5.48 miles and 12,813 steps, all without a horse.

39  It's funny, because when I walk around town, it is easier. If I go on a trail it is easier. But trying all this around the house: not so easy.

40  I have a method: the same way some guys think they have a method for beating slot machines, I have a method for achieving walking over four miles and over 10,000 steps a day. Seesly.

41  This one works, though. Once I throw the chocolate away, that is. All you need is an iPhone app that counts steps and miles. I'm not even sure which app I have, but my brother-from-another mother Jeff Joseph threw something on my phone. I'll find out tomorrow, but you do need that. Beyond that, here is my method for reaching 10,000 steps per day. 

42  Listen: If I walk from the corner of my kitchen out to the living room and back, it is exactly 65 steps. What I do is this: I locate an area, say, the right side of my kitchen counter, and clean it from right to left. If I see a fork or something, I must open the fork drawer, take a lap, clean the fork, dry it, take a lap with it, and then put it in the drawer. I start really slowly, my mission being not so much getting the house clean, but rounding the coffee table in the living room as many times as possible. Sidebar: If you pushed the Peer Gynt button at the beginning of this, you should be near In the Hall of the Mountain King right about now.

43  Honestly. I do that. If I see a spot that needs wiping, I grab a paper towel, wet it, squeeze it, walk back out to the living room with it, go around the table, and then wipe the area. If it needs drying, I will take another small paper towel, walk out to the living room, go around the table again, and return to wipe it. If I throw the towel away, I pick it up, throw it in the garbage, go back out to the living room, go around the coffee table, and return to the kitchen corner.

44  Of course I can detour at any time and walk down the hallway, doubling my steps. Standing in one place is a no-no, however. The feet need to keep moving for an entire hour. This is a bit tough if I decide to fold a blanket, or fold laundry, but I keep in motion at all times. 

45  Once I get the right side of the sink done, I move to the area next to the fridge, and then the area around Le Luge, the chair I kick it in when I write this. THAT area MUST be attacked all day. 

46  I have mentioned that most writers have a place where they write. The old cover of Stephen King's On Writing shows him doing what many writers do: they need a place. 

47  They don't, however, wish themselves a pig sty. So I keep all over that area, organizing plugs, headphones, computer wires, and all the rest.

48  It stays beautiful that way, as does the house. It sounds crazy, but once you get the way it works, it gets easier. And the closer you get to your steps goal, the lazier you could get, as long as you hit the goal before midnight. 

49  And yes, I do park as far off in the parking lot at stores as I can. 

50  So. That is my beauty secret. That's akin to taking health and beauty tips from Scrooge Mcduck.

51   Lovely stuff. I know what you're thinking: "I'm taking health lessons from a duck!" Well, yes, I imagine. 

52  Romeo and Juliet just popped into my phones. Tchaikovsky, not Shakespeare.

53  Perfect. It dovetails in some odd way with Bolero and all that real jazz.

54  Groovin' and movin'.

55  And headed out for Auburn this fine morning.

56  So. Gottago.

57  Gotta blow wherever the wind goes.

58  Have a GREAT day.

59  See you again.

60  Peace.

~H~

Services for Vinnie Richardson

When:  Saturday, February 27, 1 p.m.

Where:  Family Community Church, 478 Piercy Rd. San Jose, CA, 95138.

Phone: 408-365-0313.

Link:

Family Community Church 478 Piercy Rd. San Jose, CA 95138

fin.