A few things

First, I wanted to let you guys know that you should check out your local library for star biographis on tape. The autobiographies are often read by the actor, and they're great. I'm listening to Katharine Hepburn's "Me" (what else?) right now, and it's fascinating. I don't think she's actually reading anything (I haven't read the book in about a year), it just sounds like a one-sided conversation (which is probably the most you could ever get out of Kate). Anyway, it's a great thing if you do a lot of driving, it takes me 2 or 3 days to finish each book.

Also, I've decided to copy Kate Gabrielle and do this 30-day daily post/quiz thing. I've been really bad about blogging regularly, and hopefully this will get me back on track. So here goes:

Day 01 — Your favorite song
Day 02 — Your favorite movie
Day 03 — Your favorite television program
Day 04 — Your favorite book
Day 05 — Your favorite quote
Day 06 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy
Day 08 — A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 09 — A photo you took
Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11 — A photo of you taken recently
Day 12 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13 — A fictional book
Day 14 — A non-fiction book
Day 15 — A collection
Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19 — A talent of yours
Day 20 — A hobby of yours
Day 21 — A recipe
Day 22 — A website
Day 23 — A YouTube video
Day 24 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25 — Your day, in great detail
Day 26 — Your week, in great detail
Day 27 — This month, in great detail
Day 28 — This year, in great detail
Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 — Whatever tickles your fancy

My favorite song. That's a tough one. I think I'm going to present my favorite songs within a few genres, because I can't compare classical to jazz or rock.

1. Rhapsody in Blue: I can, and often do, listen to this piece multiple times a day. This piece gives me goosebumps, even on the hottest Oklahoma summer days. Here is Gershwin playing it the piano solo. My favorite version is the Chicago Symphony with James Levine, but Gershwin's playing is sentimental.

When my Uncle heard that I love Rhapsody so much, he gave me a CD with this piece. The Cuban Overture premiered at the Hollywood Bowl in 1936. I also visualize Fred and Ginger dancing to it when I hear it, and I often find myself dancing to it as well. I always see complete stories in Gershwin's compositions. They almost always involve someone arriving in a place, being enveloped in the culture, missing home, then reveling in the location once more . You can even hear a transposed reference to Rhapsody in Blue in the middle of An American in Paris, which describes how much he misses New York.

Here's a much more modern song by Husband-and-wife band Mates of State. I love them. I saw them last summer in Tulsa, and I hope they come back this year. I can't get enough!

Finally, another Gershwin song, probably my favorite standard. Without the intro, it's a great song. With the intro (which you will hear in this version), it tears your heart out and stomps all over it, but in a good way.

Fred Astaire - They Can't Take That Away From Me
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