Saturday Night Serenade–Old Classic, New Take

Oh, Winter, you’re killing me!
Isn’t it time for Spring yet?

I suppose I shouldn’t complain.  South Florida has been spared the more brutal conditions to which most of the US has been subjected.  Still…

I’m ready for plenty of sunshine and balmy breezes, for shorts and sandals and sipping cocktails at an outdoor table and watching the world pass by.

Tonight’s serenade is a new take on a 1066 Simon & Garfunkel classic, Hazy Shade of Winter.  The Bangles covered it in 1987, and if I’m honest, this new version by Gerard Way sounds like the same arrangement.

That being said, I think the guitar is fresh and I’m thrilled that someone’s breathing new life into a great song here in 2019.  See what you think.

On this weekend in what feels like an unending winter, I hope you’re staying warm.  Be sure to hug those you love.

Happy Saturday night!

P.S.  I’m including the original Simon & Garfunkel as well as the Bangles’ cover.  Maybe it can be said that each version represents their own generation.

Saturday Night Serenade–Romantic September

It’s a rough weekend if you live in the Carolinas.  And it looks like Florence is going to push miles inland, impacting a huge swath of the east with tons of rain.  Take care, y’all, and pay attention to the what the authorities tell you.

The rest of us are looking on with our thoughts and prayers on this September weekend.  September always feels like fall to me, although fall doesn’t officially start until next week.

But I always picture leaves in brilliant colors, mugs of spiced cider, and people walking around in jackets.  That’s the way it was where I grew up in Tennessee.

Here in south Florida, the only fall color we get is in October, when the Methodist church puts a pumpkin patch on their front lawn.

I know everybody talks about special fall coffees, but I’m not a fan myself.  Mr. R wondered aloud this week if Pumpkin Spice was one of the Spice Girls.  I said yes, the round orange one.

Tonight, I’m feeling the romance of September, and I thought this song by the Corrs was fitting.

I hope wherever you are, you’re safe, dry, and surrounded by those you love.  Be sure to give them a hug.

And if you’re of a mind to, consider donating to hurricane relief.  It’s going to be a long haul for a lot of people.

Happy Saturday night!

Saturday Night Serenade–Summer Guilty Pleasure

It’s been a helluva week, hasn’t it?

Sometimes you need a little escape from real life.  Boy bands have always been my guilty pleasure.  I mean N’Sync and the Backstreet Boys, are you kidding me?

I love this song by One Direction.  It’s bubble gum and oh, so fun for a summer weekend.  I dare you not to still be singing it this time tomorrow.

As you enjoy this first weekend of Summer, be sure to hug your babies tightly, and pray for those who aren’t able to.

Happy Saturday night!

Saturday Night Serenade–Oh, For A Pint On A Fall Night

Happy November!  Can it be possible that the holidays are right around the corner?  Oh, it CAN be–judging by the sudden onslaught of Christmas displays in the stores and the commercials on television.

Last weekend was cool here in south Florida.  A/C was turned off, windows were opened, a fresh breeze whisked away all the stale air from the house.  We even had a fire in the fireplace a couple of nights.  This weekend is more or less back to normal for this time of year–bright sunshine and low humidity with high temps around 80.

But last weekend put me in a mood.  I want to escape to a pub in Galway, and sip a pint of Guinness while listening to a local band.

I love this song by Ed Sheeran, and I adore this video even more.  Join me for a pint, and celebrate this beautiful fall evening.  Be sure to hug those you love.  Happy Saturday night!

Saturday Night Serenade–Merry Christmas, Baby!

We’re two weeks away from Christmas and it’s a nasty December day here in south Florida.  The sky is gray and it’s been misting all day.  It’s not cold, really, the temp is 70, but it’s the kind of day that makes you want to stay home and avoid the rat race.

Which we didn’t today, because we needed to finalize our shopping so we can ensure all our loved ones have a holly, jolly Christmas.  Oddly enough, I found that other shoppers out there are not necessarily holly or jolly.  In spite of sparkly decorations, piped in holiday mood music, and huge bargains, folks are downright grumpy.  On the upside, I thought the clerks and cashiers were pretty pleasant.

But fighting our way through traffic on this wet, soggy day, only to be run over by other shoppers in their search for yuletide gold, we began to appreciate the miracle that is Amazon Prime.

So mission accomplished, we’re back in our decked-out abode, and I couldn’t be happier.  Tonight calls for a glass of wine in front of the fire, relaxing in the glow of the Christmas tree, with bluesy holiday music in the background.

I hope you enjoy Sheryl Crow and Merry Christmas, Baby.  Happy Saturday night!

 

Saturday Night Serenade–The Pretty Reckless

It’s been a frantic kind of week, between the hurricane that passed by, a little household emergency, and a bombshell that was dropped in the midst of it all.  I believe these words actually came out of my mouth: “Can’t we just enjoy a hurricane in peace?”  More on that when I can catch my breath.

Anyway, it’s Saturday and I couldn’t be happier.  For tonight’s serenade, I wanted something different.  Before all the hurricane drama, Amazon Prime sent me a “You might like this” message.  And they were right.

Here’s The Pretty Reckless with Take Me Down.  It’s rocking and it’s a change of pace from the moldie-oldies I’ve been posting lately.  I just need to clear my head and hit reset.

Hope you’re safe and enjoying this October weekend.  Keep watching for more October stories.  I have a little chiller to add.  Happy Saturday night!

Feeling All Literate Up In Here

Bah-hah-ha! Happy weekend, one and all!

Happy Friday Eve!

It has been a week!  You know the kind.  And I’m not going to kid you, my ass is dragging.  Maybe if we consider this Friday Eve, we can all get through one more day and then enjoy the weekend.

So raise your glass in a toast to Friday Eve!  May she never again be so long in coming around.

Friday Eve

You know, if you think of Thursday as ‘Friday Eve,’ it seems more like the weekend.  I’ll keep telling myself that, anyway.  That means it’s almost Date Night.

Mr. R. and I are attending a wedding on Saturday.  I’ve been kind of excited about it.  Who doesn’t love an an excuse to get all gussied up?  We couldn’t remember the when and the where so I dug out the invitation the other day.  Here’s the thing:  The service is at 2:30.  And the reception is at 6:00.  That’s an awfully long time.  I hadn’t planned on committing to a whole day for this thing.  Sigh.

I was thrilled by an opportunity we had for Sunday.  We were invited by one of Mr. R.’s work contacts to share a table at a fund-raiser for Big Dog Ranch Rescue, the largest no-kill animal shelter in Florida.

The event is called Wine, Women, & Shoes and it’s being held at Mar-a-Lago, the opulent Palm Beach estate-turned-resort of Donald Trump.  Jimmy Choo is the official shoe sponsor.  What’s not to love about this?

The problem is that Mr. R. works on Sunday.  I suppose it’s just as well.  It would be rough hitting the work week having been out all weekend.

I’ll keep telling myself that.  Just like I’ll keep calling today Friday eve.