On The Fly

In this episode - The Captain and the Kid . . . At 76, Elton John may not be able to vocally hit the high notes in  Bennie And The Jets . Still, his solo piano renditions put many a classical pianist to shame as his accomplished fingers flow freely over his Yamaha Grand. He will always be Captain Fantastic -  “A crazy kid becoming a better man.” Last night (11/20/2022), while watching Elton’s return to Dodger Stadium, 47 years later, his Farewell Yellow Brick Road, North American tour, streaming on Disney+, feelings of immense gratitude stirred my soul. The song -  Someone Saved My Life Tonight  from Captain Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy brought tears to my eyes. An LP vinyl album that shaped my youth. In 1976 I first experienced Elton John in concert ( see Captain Fantastic ) . Little did I realize at the time my dream of adult independence from small-town life took root during those impressionable years. Yes, Elton’s music and Bernie’s lyrics shaped the mi...

In this episode - Ole’ Fashion Thanksgiving . . . by Edgar Guest. Allow me to tell you a bit about the Poet. Edgar Albert Guest was a British-born American poet famous in the first half of the 20th century and became known as the People’s Poet. He began his career at the  Detroit Free Press  as a copyboy and then as a reporter; his first poem appeared on December 11, 1898. For 40 years, Guest was widely read throughout North America. From his first published work in the  Detroit Free Press  until he died in 1959, Guest penned some 11,000 poems syndicated in over 300 newspapers. Mr. Guest was named  Poet Laureate  of Michigan, the only Poet awarded the title. His popularity led to a weekly Detroit radio show we hosted from 1931 until 1942, followed by a 1951  NBC  television series,  A Guest in Your House. He also had three times weekly transcribed radio programs that began on January 15, 1941. We hope you enjoyed this special Holiday gi...

In this episode - Skimpier Thanksgiving 2022 . . . If the portions Grandma serves are a little skimpier this Thanksgiving, blame inflation (and maybe bird flu). According to an article in the Morning Brew e-News referencing the American Farm Bureau Federation’s yearly survey. The average cost of a typical Thanksgiving meal is up 20% from last year. It’s on track to be the costliest turkey dinner since the survey started 37 years ago. While we’re thankful that inflation finally started to cool last month, food prices are still sky-high—for the year, the government expects they could go up as much as 10.5% (compared to a typical 2% increase). And traditional Thanksgiving fixings are no exception, according to the survey: A 16-pound turkey costs 21% more per pound this year than last year. Prices for potatoes, pie crusts, canned pumpkin, and stuffing mix have all gone up. So don’t be surprised when you go shopping for your Thanksgiving groceries. The only holiday staple whose price w...

In this episode (179) – Yosemite Stories . . . Have you ever Googled Yosemite Stories ? If so, you will learn how Galen Clark and others lobbied to protect Yosemite Valley from development, ultimately leading to President Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the Yosemite Grant in 1864. How John Muir was instrumental in expanding the park’s boundaries, and many more. However, I would like to share a “not so famous” story after our recent visit—an experience from the ever-changing landscape of people who visit there and their grand expectations. When you arrive in Yosemite valley and get settled, the sublime way to enjoy the park is to stroll. Take in the  sights, sounds, and smells. For those who refuse to walk (and let me say there are a lot) or there comes a time when you can’t walk anymore - thankfully, they have free shuttles that take you to the most popular destinations: Yosemite Village, El Captain Meadow, Yosemite Falls, Curry Village, among others. The buses begin at 7:00 a.m. ea...

In this episode (179) - Fall Back . . . Going through the Farmer’s Almanac, I was curious about Daylight Savings Time (DST). Wondering why we “ Fall Back ”? Tomorrow, the first Sunday, November 6, 2022, at 2 a.m., is when Daylight Saving Time ends in most areas of the United States, returning to Standard Time. Be sure to set your clocks one hour back before bedtime on Saturday night! Listen carefully, and you will hear the cynics, “Alright! We gain another hour of sleep Saturday night; why can’t it stay this way? Moving the clocks twice a year is to take better advantage of sunlight. Face it; most folks get out of bed after the sun has risen and gone to bed after it has set. But what if the sun rose and set earlier? “Pull that shade down. I’m trying to sleep in.” When we fall back, we’re not really “gaining” time; we’re just giving up a little daylight in the evening and adding it to the morning. Just wait; soon, everyone will be complaining, “This getting dark at 5:...

In this episode (178) – Doing Nothing . . . I'm lost - it's our first morning, Monday, October 24, 2022, at Curry Village in Yosemite National Park. For those who follow my blog, you know I'm an early riser; yes,  up at 4:30 daily, with no alarm clock, wide awake and ready to start the day (five a.m. is my idea of sleeping in). However, let's do a reality check, an essential part of vacation is Lori's time to sleep in, and rightfully so. Sitting on the porch of the community building at Camp Curry with Nothing but my thoughts as if a bolt of lightning struck me; most people in the twenty-first century are allergic to silence and a lack of something to do. It's as if they're afraid of their thoughts. Don't believe me? Just look around; people on their phones, working on a project, watching TV, playing games, surfing the Internet, reading a book, preparing a meal, cleaning the house, flossing their teeth, you get the idea. They are always doing. I'm a...