Saturday, September 22, 2012

Soundtrack For a Book

Yesterday marked one month till the book is due. Nothing exists outside of it--even writing this post is an extension of book immersion. The focus of my world has narrowed to the temporary detriment of family, friends, business, and world. But not the chickens; I still have attention for my girls.

In true obsessive mode, there is a soundtrack for the book. A drumbeat moving me along, a heartbeat keeping me alive and writing. I start every day with it and every night ends with it. I wake up daily to the refrain of "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes as sung by Loreena McKennitt running through my head. Daily. Really.

So here's the soundtrack of my narrow world. Share. Enjoy. Favorites are highlighted:

The Absentee Crooked Still
Adagio From Fantasy For A Gentleman Patrick O'Hearn
Ah! Lovely night N. Polozkov/Soviet Army Chorus/Soviet Army Band/Col. Boris Alexandrov
Ahi Wela / Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
All Souls Night Loreena McKennitt
Allegria Gipsy Kings
Ami Wa Wa (Solo Por Ti) Gipsy Kings
Amor de Loca Juventud Buena Vista Social Club
Amor, Amor Gipsy Kings
Angeline James McMurtry
Annachie Gordon Loreena McKennitt
As I Roved Out Loreena McKennitt
Baby, What's Wrong With You? Crooked Still
Backlash Love Affair Richard Thompson
Baila Me Gipsy Kings
Balanco Carioca Mikael Mutti
Bamboleo Gipsy Kings
The Band Played Waltzing Matilda The Pogues
Bandura I. Savchuk/V. Fedorov/Soviet Army Chorus/Soviet Army Band/Col. Boris Alexandrov
The Battle March Medley The Pogues
Bayou Tortous James McMurtry
Beeswing Richard Thompson
Before Gas and Tv Mark Knopfler
Bem, Bem, Maria Gipsy Kings
Beneath a Phrygian Sky (Gordian Version) Loreena McKennitt
Between the Shadows Loreena McKennitt
Billy's Bones The Pogues
A birch tree in a field did stand I. Didenko/Soviet Army Chorus/Soviet Army Band/Col. Boris Alexandrov
The Body of an American The Pogues
Bolero Gipsy Rayes
Bonny Portmore Loreena McKennitt
The Bonny Swans Loreena McKennitt
Boom, Like That Mark Knopfler
Border Reiver Mark Knopfler
Bottle Of Smoke The Pogues
Breaking the Silence Loreena McKennitt
Brian Boru's March Loreena McKennitt
The Broad Majestic Shannon The Pogues
Buena Vista Social Club Buena Vista Social Club
Caminando Por la Calle Gipsy Kings
Candela Buena Vista Social Club
Captain, Captain Crooked Still
The Car Was the One Mark Knopfler
Cé Hé Mise le Ulaingt? (The Two Trees) Loreena McKennitt
Chaharmezrab, Mahur Matthew Moadel, Said Moadel & Yahya Moadel
Chan Chan Buena Vista Social Club
Choctaw Bingo James McMurtry & The Heartless Bastards
Courtyard Lullaby Loreena McKennitt
Cry Me a River Richard Thompson
Cymbeline Loreena McKennitt
Dante's Prayer Loreena McKennitt
Danza Mora Matthew Moadel, Said Moadel & Yahya Moadel
The Dark Night of the Soul Loreena McKennitt
De Camino a la Vereda Buena Vista Social Club
The Death of Queen Jane Loreena McKennitt
Dickens' Dublin (The Palace) Loreena McKennitt
Did You Sleep Well? Crooked Still
Dirty Old Town The Pogues
Djobi Djoba Gipsy Kings
Don't Crash the Ambulance Mark Knopfler
Don't Sit on My Jimmy Shands Richard Thompson
Dos Gardenias Buena Vista Social Club
Down By the Sally Gardens Loreena McKennitt
Duende Gipsy Kings
Dusty Pages James McMurtry
Easy There, Steady Now Richard Thompson
El Camino Gipsy Kings
El Carretero Buena Vista Social Club
El Cuarto de Tula Buena Vista Social Club
The Emigration Tunes Loreena McKennitt
The English Ladye and the Knight Loreena McKennitt
Escucha Me Gipsy Kings
Este Mundo Gipsy Kings
Faena Gipsy Kings
Fairytale Of New York The Pogues
Far Away Evgeny Belaiaev/Soviet Army Chorus/Soviet Army Band/Col. Boris Alexandrov
Fast Food Richard Thompson
Fiesta The Pogues
Fire Line Road James McMurtry
Florence Crooked Still
For The Sake Of Mary Richard Thompson
Forro da Fruta (Bonus Track) Carlinhos Brown & Mikael Mutti
Freeway View James McMurtry
Full Circle Loreena McKennitt
The Gates of Istanbul Loreena McKennitt
The Gentleman Soldier The Pogues
Get Lucky Mark Knopfler
God Loves a Drunk Richard Thompson
Greensleeves Loreena McKennitt
Grey Walls Richard Thompson
Gwenlaise Scott Cossu with Eugene Friesen
Habla Me Gipsy Kings
Hands Like Rain James McMurtry
Hanohano Wale No Na Cowboy / Ka Huila Wai Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Henehene Kou 'Aka Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Hi'ilawe Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
The Highwayman Loreena McKennitt
Homayoun-Bidad, Soleares Matthew Moadel, Said Moadel & Yahya Moadel
Hotel California (Spanish Mix) Gipsy Kings
Huron 'Beltane' Fire Dance Loreena McKennitt
Hurricane Party James McMurtry
I Can't Wake Up To Save My Life Richard Thompson
I Feel So Good Richard Thompson
I Misunderstood Richard Thompson
I Ride In Your Slipstream Richard Thompson
I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day The Pogues
I've Got No Strings Gipsy Kings
If I Should Fall From Grace With God The Pogues
In This Life Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Incantation Loreena McKennitt
Inspiration Gipsy Kings
Iolanthe James McMurtry
Jaleandando Gipsy Flamenco Guitarras
Jesse James The Pogues
Just Us Kids James McMurtry
Kaleohano Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Kalinka Evgeny Belaiaev/Soviet Army Chorus/Soviet Army Band/Col. Boris Alexandrov
Kecharitomene Loreena McKennitt
Keep Your Distance Richard Thompson
King Of Bohemia Richard Thompson
La 'Elima Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
La Bayamesa Buena Vista Social Club
La Dona Gipsy Kings
La Rumba de Nicolas Gipsy Kings
La Serenissima Loreena McKennitt
The Lady of Shalott Loreena McKennitt
Lights Of Cheyenne James McMurtry & The Heartless Bastards
London Girl The Pogues
Low Down and Dirty Crooked Still
Lullaby Of London The Pogues
Madame Geneva's Mark Knopfler
Mahur-Reng Matthew Moadel, Said Moadel & Yahya Moadel
Main Title Maurice Jarre
Malaguena, Isfahan Matthew Moadel, Said Moadel & Yahya Moadel
Malaguena, Isfahan, Janeh Marayam Matthew Moadel, Said Moadel & Yahya Moadel
Marco Polo Loreena McKennitt
Marrakesh Night Market Loreena McKennitt
Mas Que Nada (2011 Rio Version) Sergio Mendes
Mascara Tears Richard Thompson
Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant/The Rocky Road to Dublin/Galway Races The Pogues
Memorial Day James McMurtry
Metropolis The Pogues
MGB-GT Richard Thompson
Mi Corazon Gipsy Kings
A Mi Manera (My Way) Gipsy Kings
Mingus Eyes Richard Thompson
Mona Lisa Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Monteleone Mark Knopfler
Moon Cradle Loreena McKennitt
Moorea Gipsy Kings
Moorea Gipsy Rayes
Mother Knows Best Richard Thompson
Mujer Gipsy Kings
The Mummers' Dance Loreena McKennitt
Murmullo Buena Vista Social Club
Mystery Wind Richard Thompson
The Mystic's Dream Loreena McKennitt
Navigator The Pogues
Never Ending Road (Amhrán Duit) Loreena McKennitt
Night Ride Across The Caucasus Loreena McKennitt
No Vivere Gipsy Kings
No Volveré Gipsy Kings
Oh Eh Oh Eh Gipsy Kings
Oh, Agamemnon Crooked Still
The Old Main Drag The Pogues
The Old Ways Loreena McKennitt
On a Bright May Morning Loreena McKennitt
Oops!...I Did It Again Richard Thompson
'Opae E Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Orgullecida Buena Vista Social Club
Oy Gipsy Kings
A Pair of Brown Eyes The Pogues
Panini Puakea Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
The Parting Glass Loreena McKennitt
The Parting Glass The Pogues
Passion Gipsy Kings
Penelope’s Song Loreena McKennitt
Pharaoh Crooked Still
Pida Me La Gipsy Kings
A Pistol for Paddy Garcia The Pogues
Planxty Noel Hill The Pogues
Poor Ellen Smith Crooked Still
Prologue Loreena McKennitt
Prospero's Speech Loreena McKennitt
Psycho Street Richard Thompson
Pueblo Nuevo Buena Vista Social Club
Punish the Monkey Mark Knopfler
Quiero Saber Gipsy Kings
Racing To The Red Light James McMurtry
A Rainy Night In Soho The Pogues
Read About Love Richard Thompson
Red Dress James McMurtry
The Rocky Road to Dublin (Live) The Dubliners
Ruby and Carlos James McMurtry
Sacred Shabbat Loreena McKennitt
Sally MacLennane The Pogues
Samain Night Loreena McKennitt
Samba de Orly Bebel Gilberto
Santiago Loreena McKennitt
Sapo Cai Carlinhos Brown & Mikael Mutti
The Scaffolder's Wife Mark Knopfler
Shane And Dixie Richard Thompson
Shenandoah Richard Thompson
The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn The Pogues
Sin Ella Gipsy Kings
Sit Down By The Fire The Pogues
Skellig Loreena McKennitt
Snow flakes I. Didenko/Soviet Army Chorus/Soviet Army Band/Col. Boris Alexandrov
So Far From the Clyde Mark Knopfler
Soldiers' Chorus (from The Decembrists) Col. Boris Alexandrov/Soviet Army Chorus/Soviet Army Band
Somewhere Over the Rainbow Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Song For A Deck Hand's Daughter James McMurtry
Song of the Plains (Meadowland) Col. Boris Alexandrov/Soviet Army Chorus/Soviet Army Band
Song of the Volga Boatmen Artur Eizen/Soviet Army Chorus/Soviet Army Band/Col. Boris Alexandrov
South Australia The Pogues
Soy Gipsy Kings
Standing Stones Loreena McKennitt
The Star of the County Down Loreena McKennitt
Starting All Over Again Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Streets Of Sorrow/Birmingham Six The Pogues
Taking My Business Elsewhere Richard Thompson
Tango to Evora Loreena McKennitt
Tell Her To Come Back Home Crooked Still
Ternuras Gipsy Kings
Theme from "The Absentee" Crooked Still
Thousands Are Sailing The Pogues
A Ti a Ti Gipsy Kings
Too Long In The Wasteland James McMurtry & The Heartless Bastards
Trista Pena Gipsy Kings
True Love Will Never Fade Mark Knopfler
Tu Quieres Volver Gipsy Kings
A Tu Vera Gipsy Kings
Turkish Song Of The Damned The Pogues
Ukrainian Poem Aleksei Sergeiev/Soviet Army Chorus/Soviet Army Band/Col. Boris Alexandrov
'Ulili E Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Un Amor Gipsy Kings
Undone In Sorrow Crooked Still
Valsa Carioca Sergio Mendes
Vamos a Bailar (Live) Gipsy Kings
Veinte Años Buena Vista Social Club
Viento del Arena Gipsy Kings
Volare Gipsy Kings
Wading Deep Waters Crooked Still
Walk Between The Raindrops James McMurtry
The Way That It Shows Richard Thompson
Where to Now Tristan Clarridge
Why Must I Plead Richard Thompson
Wild Cats of Kilkenny The Pogues
The Wind That Shakes the Barley Loreena McKennitt
Worms The Pogues
Y Tú Qué Has Hecho? Buena Vista Social Club
You are always beautiful Evgeny Belaiaev/Soviet Army Chorus/Soviet Army Band/Col. Boris Alexandrov
You Dream Too Much Richard Thompson
Zambra Matthew Moadel, Said Moadel & Yahya Moadel
1952 Vincent Black Lightning Richard Thompson

Monday, September 10, 2012

I Live

I can see the promise of fall from where I sit in the Sky chair on the front porch sipping a ginormous iced coffee (the ice is also coffee so it will not dilute--serendipity, not design). The morning is cool and sweet, and--like the promise of spring in Chicago in April--not to last. It will be hot again this summer, but for now, it's beautiful.

I have come up for air but briefly before being consumed by the book again. But I do not lament the coming plunge back into the deep. It may be taking more time than I ever thought possible to write, but it is also incredible. I cannot believe the joy and renewal I am finding in the techniques and projects. Even when I am exhausted (as I always am on Monday after staying up very late on Sunday to finish the weekly pages and send them to my editor) I dream both the creativity and science of glass so energetically and vividly that it is hard to stay asleep.

It's funny how when I look back on first dabbling in the alchemy that is kiln-forming glass I didn't really care about the how and the why; I just wanted what came at the end. But now when I look at a technique from a different discipline that I want to adapt to glass, I find myself wanting to know all about it--the history, the science of how and why it works, and how it is being used (or not) today. Only a tenth of that background will make it into the book, but that doesn't stop me from being Tom Petty: I Need To Know. (Side note: It's been so long since I've posted here that I forgot for a minute how to add a link to text... Brain full).

In spite of the book, or probably, becaue of it, I managed to do a piece yesterday to submit to the Niche Awards. It still needs a lot of coldworking... Actually it probably doesn't need much coldworking at all, but I need to (and am, indeed, looking forward to) coldwork it so coldworking it will get.

Enough of a break: There are lists to make and a few pesky life and studio tasks to get out of the way before I can submerge into the depths again for a few hours (days). Bliss.