Seven Kicks for a Sunday in June

Every Sunday, Jules and Eisha of Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast host 7Imp's 7 Kicks, and invite all readers to do the same. It's a way to take stock of the week and recognize one's blessings. Thinking up seven positive things that happened each week is good for me, because I tend to be a grumbling camel. Fortunately, I can always finesse the list by listing "the first cup of coffee" if I get really stumped for blessings.

Here are my seven kicks for the week:

1) I had a lovely outdoor birthday party gig yesterday. It was chilly and grey, but it didn't rain, and that was a boon to the event. There were 30 children in attendance, so it was more of a "storytelling concert" that I'd do for general admittance audience. Afterward, I let the children come up for a little open-mike session. One little girl told a story, three children sang, "Twinkle Twinkle" and a few just wished the two birthday girls Happy Birthday. I'd had good communication with the mother over the past couple of months, too, so we both had a good idea of what the program would entail. She was a gracious and generous host who ended up inviting my husband and daughter to partake of the festivities (they had been exploring the park while I performed). I told "The Three Dolls" (a story from India that you can find in David Holt's Ready to Tell Tales), Joan Chase Bowden's Why the Tides Ebb and Flow, "Two Goats on a Bridge" from Margaret Read MacDonald's Three Minute Tales, plus a couple of string stories from Anne Pellowski's The Story Vine and a few of my standard songs. Toward the end of "Jenny Jenkins," the dresses began to blow off of the flannel board, and the children helped rescue them. (I had anticipated that the "wind fairies" might be mischievious that day, and therefore presented only one flannel-board song.) Oh, and I can't believe I almost forgot this: one of the girls in the audience played air-guitar during "Jenny Jenkins."

2) Jules of 7Imp just sent me four mix cds. I'm thrilled to be able to listen to so much new music. Contrary to the theory that mix cds cut into the music industries' profits, I end up spending more money after listening to mix cds because I find new musicians to like. Q.E.D.

3) We got a copy of Recess Monkey's new cd, "Tabby Road" a month ahead of schedule because we helped to record it. I'm working on a review, but will wait to post it until closer to the release date. I've got to say, it's their best yet, with a number of songs that are earworms. I've been singing, "S-L-Double E-P Over, it's Double-E-P Over with you/ feelin' kind of groovy with a pizza and a movie, it's a Double-E-P Over with You!"

4) Sam Phillips' new album, Don't Do Anything,came out last week, and I've been listening to it quite a bit. My Sam appreciation is credited to Jules again, who jumped for joy when I told her that "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" was my favorite song on the Alison Krauss/Robert Plant Raising Sand album. The song, penned by Phillips, is on "Don't Do Anything," and it's even better when sung by the original song-writer.

5) Speaking of Sam Phillips, Philip the Pun and I are planning to attend her Borders Books and Music concert on Wednesday evening. Join us if you're so inclined!

6) I just got a note that Dan Zanes' new album, “¡Nueva York!” is on its way. Huzzah! (I have a confession to make: jamming with Dan Zanes and his band is up there on my wish list. I'm not saying that I'd be any good, but I figure that Colin Brooks' drums, John Foti's accordion and Elena Moon Park's violin would cover my short-comings, and besides, in we'd be in someone's living room, not in Carnegie Hall.)

7) That first cup of coffee is quite nice. Thank you, Bede, for making it.