RANDOM POST 20070328

The music that I'm sharing today is from The Killers. While their first CD was released while Bill was still alive, I can't remember ever speaking to him about the band. I'm fairly confident that he would have classified them with a term we would use for certain artists - "Greatest Hits Band" - which meant a band that would probably never release a CD that had many good songs but would someday release a really great Hits CD.

Since the title of the track is "When You Were Young", I thought that I would post a photo of Bill when he was young. I think he would find it ironic that the photo finds him between a bar and a turntable.


When You Were Young

MY BROTHER, THE CAMEL JOCKEY

I have no idea of where or when this photo was taken. The best I can guess is that it was either Morocco or Spain in the earlier 80s. I do know that if Bill were to read the title of this post, his comment would probably sound very similar to the title of the first song that I am sharing on this 2-for-Tuesday. Both songs are from The Cramps, one of Bill's favorite bands.


Kizmiaz

Psychotic Reaction

RANDOM POST 20070326

I hope you like the new look of the blog. There will be 1 or 2 more tweaks in the next week or so. Also, there should be more photos posted in the near future. Due to the fact that my company was aquired by another company last week, I am being forced to take my remaining vacation (eight days) by April 16. I plan on spending at least some of that time scanning more pictures and/or slides.

My musical share today is from Jack Johnson and it is accompanied by a picture that illustrates the title.


Upside Down

PARROT JUNGLE

As promised in the previous post, here are some pictures from our trip to Parrot Jungle, preceded by a picture of Bill with Boris and Natasha. From the pictures I will hope that you agree that he would have enjoyed Parrot Jungle.

My music share for today is a song from Voices Of The Red Heart.






















This is Sally (above). She was the most friendly of all of the birds. It is behind her perch where I placed Bill's hair.













Bullai Bullai (Green Parrot)

IN MEMORIAM (2007)

Cindy and I held our own little memorial for Bill yesterday by visiting Parrot Jungle Island, in Miami. I couldn't think of a more fitting way to remember my brother than by playing with the birds he loved so much. (Pictures will appear in the next post.)

When Bill died last year, I wanted a part of him to bury in a close-by place that I could visit. So, when my parents and my sister went to L.A. to close Bill's apartment, my mom sent me a hair brush so that I could have some of his hair to bury. I held the hair until yesterday. I believe that my brother would have enjoyed Parrot Jungle and so his hair has been scattered behind the second perch just off the Island Crossing section of the park (see picture).



On this, the day that we begin our second year without Bill, I hope you are all doing well. If you would, please say a prayer for my brother today.

During my last trip to the cemetery, I had a few moments alone in the car near the wall where Bill's ashes are interred. I rolled down the window closest to him and played "Dead Flowers" by the Rolling Stones. So, I share that song with you today, hoping that you will listen to it and reflect on the times you spent with Bill.


Dead Flowers

HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY

I'm not sure what, if any, meaning St. Patrick's Day had to Bill, but I'm pretty confident that at least during his New York days he celebrated the same way the rest of the city did.

I don't recall whether I told Bill what St. Patrick meant to me, and since you are part of what keeps Bill alive, I thought I would share that with you. When I was diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia a few years back, I really thought I was going to die. And, while I had returned to fully practicing my Catholicism a few years before, this event strengthened my faith. As I would pray, I would pray to St. Jude to help me return to health. But, it was to St. Patrick, to whom I prayer so that I would not fear death. I still pray to him so that I would be prepared whenever that time comes.

Since I mentioned that Bill may have celebrated this day in New York, I am posting a photo where he looks to be in his 20s, and therefore, still living in the city. Since this day (to me) always meant a day of immigrant celebration (not just Irish), my musical share is a song that Bruce Springsteen describes as a "immigrant" song.


American Land

PAUL ANKA - "PFFFF"

I can almost hear the "Pfff" sound that Bill would have made if I could have told him what my wife and I are doing tonight. I won tickets to see Paul Anka in concert at the Sinatra Theater in Sunrise, FL. Most likely he would have had a story about his youth and an Anka song. Ultimately, he probably would have agreed that Anka has had an impressive career as a songwriter. (Among his songwriting credits is a song that both Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley had hits with - "My Way".)

Here's a photo of Bill from a time (1966-67) when Paul Anka's "Put Your Head On My Shoulder", "Diana", and "Puppy Love" were still in the rotation on non-Odies radio stations. The shared song for today is a Nirvana cover from Anka's "Rock Swings" CD.


Smells Like Teen Spirit

IDES OF MARCH

You know, as I started to begin this post, I thought about the historical meaning of the ides of march. For some reason, the death of Caesar called to mind Jim Morrison, which made my mind draw a comparison of Morrison's death to Bill's death. I read once that the remaining members of The Doors and many of Morrison's friends found it hard to believe he was dead because they never saw the body. I never realized how someone could feel that way, until my family experienced the same thing with Bill. So often, when the phone rings, my mind (or maybe my heart) wants to believe it could be him...

My musical share today is from "Train". I was looking through some pictures of Bill when I first heard this song. One of the photos appeared (at least to me) to be a picture of Bill from the days he drove a cab. So, I thought it would be appropriate to post this picture with this song.



Cab

RANDOM POST 20070314

For my musical share, I've chosen a song by Ben Lee. If we were still exchanging cassettes, this would have been one of those times when Bill would have said, "Give me the 'Best Of' from the CD because I've already got too much shit."

The photo is obviously a picture of Bill and Boris (from an unknown date).



Catch My Disease

STORIES OF BILL

On Sunday, my stepdaughter Crystal received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Afterward, we had a gathering at our home. As the guys sat around the kitchen table exchanging stories, for the time I was able to share a few stories about Bill without breaking down. I was actually able to smile and laugh, which is a welcome change since I often found myself laughing when I spoke to, or spent time with, my brother. I'm sure there will be some tough days as the anniversary of his death approaches, but at least for one afternoon I was able to celebrate his life with laughter.

Since today is Tuesday, I will share two songs with you (Two-For-Tuesday). Neither of the songs is new, but I know Bill like both of them. Both are by Lou Reed - the second was recorded in Los Angeles in 2003. I'm not sure if Bill attended the show, but I do remember when we went to see Lou at the Universal Amphitheater back in 1984. "New Sensations" was out and Bill played the LP over and over. Needless to say, he thoroughly enjoyed the show. I'm sure most of you will remember the framed print of Lou that hung in Bill's home for years.

The photo below is from the mid-sixties, that me and Bill in front and our sister Suzie in the background. The photo is currently the desktop on my work PC.



Dirty Blvd.

Sweet Jane (Live In Los Angeles, 2003)

RANDOM POST 20070312

I'm really not sure of what Bill would have thought of Death Cab For Cutie, although I do know that I would have sent him a copy of the CD. You can listen to the first single from the "Plans" CD, which was actually released before Bill died. Also, here's a picture of Bill from our parents' backyard in 2000.


Soul Meets Body

MEMORIES OF JOSHUA TREE

Today marks the 20th Anniversary of the release of U2's "Joshua Tree". Bill and I would have definitely spoken about the anniversary. It was a CD that we both enjoyed immensely. I had become a U2 fan with the previous two releases. This was the first U2 release that captured Bill's attention. I remember visiting him during this period and remember that he listened to the CD frequently. I also remember telling him about the two shows I saw at the Meadowlands (a lame performance in the first one - one of my top fives in the second).

Here's a picture of Bill in the dessert (Joshua Tree maybe?) and a cut from the Joshua Tree CD.



Trip Through Your Wires


MEET THE BEATLES - I MEAN - MEET THE SMITHEREENS

In case you missed it, a few weeks ago we celebrated the 43 anniversary of the release of "Meet The Beatles". To mark the event, The Smithereens released "Meet The Smithereens", which is a complete remake of the Beatles' release. Here's a sample from that release:

I Want To Hold Your Hand

RANDOM POST 20070308

After posting yesterday, I decided that I will make an entry daily - even if it is just to share a photo and a song.

So, here's a photo of Bill from what would appear to be a prom or some other formal event. (Oddly enough, after I selected this photo of Bill when he was around 18 years old, I realized that I was posting it on my stepdaughter's 18th Birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TIFFANY!!!)

The song is from Willie Nile's "Streets Of New York" CD.


Cell Phones Ringing (In The Pockets Of The Dead)

LISTEN UP

Thanks for visiting. It's been a while since the last post, but it was time well spent. I've been spending a lot of time with Bill's things and I've learned a lot more about my brother. I am also starting to deal with the fact that there is so much about him that I might never know - but that all depends on those of you who do know more...

As you may or may not know, my brother and I had a music exchange going for what was probably close to twenty years. Early on, we exchanged cassettes and later I would send him copies of my latest CDs. It seems that we always exchanged information about music whenever we spoke. Those conversations are something I miss a great deal.

So, starting with this entry and continuing with every entry going forward, I have decided to attach a link to a song that I would have liked to share with Bill. The song link comes courtesy of Napster. You must have a high speed connection, allow Napster pop-ups (for the player), and you must register (free) to listen (once registered you can listen (free) to every song I post - or any of the over 2 million songs available - up to three times). Simply click on the link and following the instructions. When you listen to your first song, you will be asked to login. You can avoid doing this on subsequent listening sessions by marking the "Remember me" box.

This song has been around for the better part of a year. When I first heard it, my initial thought was that I have to ask Bill if he had heard it; then I realized that I couldn't. Since he was a White Stripes fan, it might have been him telling me about the song. Anyway, have a listen to Jack White's other band, The Raconteurs.

Steady, As She Goes