New Year, New Music

I want to wish everyone a healthy and a happy New Year.

What I do not want to do is post anything about the stop smoking; lose weight; get a better paying job; listen to my wife; tolerate my mother-in-law; take a painting class; buy a puppy; volunteer at a soup kitchen; clean the garage resolutions people fail to keep year after year.

What I would like to give you all is the gift of music.

I am in the lucky position where people find me on-line, laugh, and then email me just to say hi. I can’t tell you how great that is.

One such person did that. She emailed me to say how funny the ad was and wanted to wish me well. We got to chatting, and I found out she is a motorcycle riding, singer-songwriter. A kindred spirit! Two of my own passions. Imagine that.

She gave me her website address and MySpace page link. When I opened it up, she had one of her songs playing. I immediately liked it. In fact, I liked it so much I ordered one of her CDs.

Her inspiration, she says on her site, comes from Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, John Denver and other folk artists form the ‘60s and ‘70s. I am here to tell you that her music transcends eras.

I found her style to be broader than what she let on. When listening to her “Where’s the Moon” album, I got the distinct feeling I was listening to the love child of Michael Stipe and Natalie Merchant. Throw in her stepbrother Chris Isaak and you have what I consider to be an eclectic mix of folk/acoustic rock with intelligent lyrics and hooky chorus lines like, “In the company of friends, I feel strong, in the company of friends.”

Cyndi Fisher is this woman’s name. She has all three universal attributes – she is talented, cool, and hot (on her website, and one of her songs, she thanks her mom for her butt, which I consider to be, uh, well-rounded).

www.cyndifisher.com or www.myspace.com/cyndifisher

To my darling wife: If you are reading this, I will be home to clean the garage right after I stop at the store for some Nicoderm and Hoodia.

Good News Is No News!

Some items in the news recently (and my opinion about it):

News: David Copperfield was alleged to have raped a Seattle woman thereby having his Las Vegas house raided by police.
My View: David, the slogan isn't, "What happens to a Seattle woman, stays in a Seattle woman." Ah, it's all just a big trick anyway.

News: Legendary mime, Marcel Marceau, passed away a few weeks ago at the age of 84.
My View: Poor guy. He led such a quiet life.

News: NFL Roger Goodell sent a memo to all NFL teams prohibiting home team cheerleaders from parading around in front of the visitors’ sideline. He says it distracts the team.
My View: Roger just takes all the fun out of the game. Now Bill Belichick will have to video tape them.

News: Joey Bishop, one of the original members of the Rat Pack died on the 17th of October.
My View: Although long preceded by the death of his career, when it comes to the Rat Pack, Joey had the last laugh.

News: Kid Rock arrested after Waffle House brawl.
My View: You know you're getting old when… Actually I blame the establishment. They give everyone a carafe of coffee and then wonder why people are on edge when someone takes the last drop of Boysenberry syrup.

News: Researchers have identified a group of genes that not only prevent cancer but also slow the aging process in worms.
My View: PETA will be ecstatic!