I debated with myself whether or not to say something about this, but at this point I think it should be said. My twin sister Jean is having some personal problems, and she’ll be offline for a while. Please join me in wishing Jeanie Beanie a speedy recovery, and we look forward to her return as my #1 comment writer.
Day: May 17, 2009
Snoopy flies in space, lands in Washington state
It’s been forty years since Snoopy flew to the Moon on Apollo 10, the last mission of the program to intentionally not land on the surface of Earth’s nearest neighbor. “Precious” seems to be the best word to describe this photo of NASA secretary Jayme Flowers holding a big Snoopy.
Before Snoopy flew ’round the Moon he was a Sopwith Camel pilot, of course, battling the Red Baron in — what else? — dogfights. A traveling exhibit from the Charles M. Schulz Museum, featuring Snoopy’s most famous persona, which was inspired by a bit of boyhood whimsy by Monte Schulz, is now at the Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver, Washington. The origin of the hit song “Snoopy and the Red Baron” is murkier than is generally known, as I hope to explain one day, but for now I am pledged to remain silent.
In another bit of Peanuts news, there are apparently financial problems at the New York auction firm Illustration House, which needed a bit of nudging to make a good faith payment to the owner of a Schulz original.
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Lori McKenna, five times nervous
Lori McKenna, now 40 with a son of 20, put on a great show Friday evening. She was dressed well, but was reassuringly not larger than life.
Lori shares something with Elvis Costello. Her singing voice is strong, distinctive, and immediately recognizable, and it’s very different from her speaking voice. She really cuts through the clutter of many sound-alike women singers.
I have a couple of video clips, and I intentionally didn’t record any of her songs. I want to highlight Lori’s charm as a storyteller, which of course relates to her skill as a songwriter.
This is her entrance…
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…and here’s a fun story that any mom or dad can relate to. You get to see Lori engaged in one of my favorite activities — untangling a cable.
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