15 August 2019

Summer Things: Thrifts And Thrills






















Moon Shot: 50 years ago...




As many of you know, I work in a public high school.
We are off for summer but I went in to do some curriculum revision.
When I arrived I saw first hand evidence of the TREMENDOUS amount of
physical labor that the different branches of our custodial staff do while we
are away. Contents of classrooms were emptied into hallways and carefully
cordoned off with tape while walls, floors and ceilings were being cleaned
and repaired. Custodians, maintenance staff, groundskeepers, tech support and
electricians are holding down the fort for ALL of us so students and faculty
can return to a well-kept, beautifully functioning school in September.
I am so proud to work alongside ALL of these fine men and women who
have our backs in every way. HUGE GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU!






Prince - Originals (2019) 
The purple vinyl was worth the wait. Hearing Prince’s versions of songs 
written for (or given to) other artists in high-quality mixes is pure magic. 
After hearing low grade bootlegs of some of these tracks over the years, 
these “old songs” that many of us have heard with other vocals have been 
presented anew. Every track contain’s Prince’s unmistakable voice and 
dynamic instrumentation. Each one stands as a further testament to his 
broad spectrum of brilliance. The double vinyl deluxe set is packaged 
like a hardcover book, containing a CD and booklet of his original studio 
and programming notes, photos, images of his hand written lyrics and 
other other primary historical documents. PRINCE FOREVER!











Flea markets. Antique shops. Diners.


When that cut is so fresh
a houseplant grows out of your shoulder








Teens. Twenties. Thirties. Forties. 
Years. Decades. Schools. Careers. Relationships. 
Kids. Changes. Laughs. Stories. Memories. 
Conversations. Friends... The kind you can go years 
without seeing and immediately reconnect with. 
It’s ALWAYS great to see Diane & Peter.
















More thrift and a skating rink...










One hundred degrees at high noon.


A very lucky 1969 flea market score


Blondie & Elvis Costello...
Because that concert was amazing.

Watching the watchers


ABBA always and forever.


Thrift shop reel-to-reels





Nature is such genius.


Return to the Valley Of The Dolls.


Herb Ritts is too hot for the thrift shop.





I dreamt about this graphic.
The next day I went to the thrift shop for no
apparent reason and was greeted by the graphic
in my dream. I swear these things choose me.











I went with my friends Steve and Tracey
to see the Kathy Griffin documentary 
A Hell Of A Story. The film was followed
by a live Q&A from The Paley Center in LA.
The film was good but the neon was better. 



...and it WAS a hell of a story.



The Cure... just because.


Things that get dislodged when
you rearrange your record and tape closet.


Before (above) and after (below)



Smashing Pumpkins...
Amazing live show (yet again) this summer.


Cousins... family fun.







Alyssa: "Wait. Let me fix my Jersey pony."




9 August 1969 - 50 Years Ago.
Remembering Sharon Tate, her unborn son
Paul Richard Polanski, Steven Parent, Voytek Frykowski,
Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Leno LaBianca and
Rosemary LaBianca. None of you have been forgotten.





I went to see Once Upon A Time In Hollywood twice.
The second time I went, I found myself in an empty theatre.


Woodstock happened 50 years ago also.











Closing Thought:
In case nobody told you lately, you’re amazing. 
You’re beautiful. You’re everything you need to be in THIS and 
EVERY moment. You don’t need to compete with anybody 
because you are ALREADY enough. Keep doing what you do. 
Keep creating yourself and keep loving who and what you are. 
As you do this, you will continue to become Future You. 
This moment sets up the next. And the next. And the next. So just 
take a moment. Think about how magnificent you are and just know that 
everything you want to do, want to be and want to have is already yours. 
If it’s within your mind, it’s already mostly within your grasp. 
Stay focused. Stay clear and the clearest path and best opportunities 
will open for you. Remember, we’re creating... not competing. 
There is a divine design in place which provides an infinite amount 
of everything that each of us could ever want. Project the right light and 
that light WILL be reflected RIGHT BACK AT YOU. 
Light it. Don’t hide it. All good wishes. Love, CDM