Getting Through Another Chemo Treatment

Yesterday, my new oncologist prescribed dexamethosone.  It’s a long, nightmarish story for why that is necessary.  In summary, it is due to another oncologist administering a chemo drug to me that was unnecessary just because he had the authority to do so.  It started in October with this being a reaction to the same drug;

That’s necrosis, folks.  After it healed in late November, the oncologist appeared to not like that another oncologist jumped in leading to that healing, so on December 6, 2018, he had to try to undo it.  This time around, things did not end up with outright necrosis, but some of the skin texture did change, with purple swelling and burning pain.  The administration of that same drug did result in me being admitted to the hospital for 4 days because of life-threatening issues it caused.  That oncologist resigned his practice on January 17^th.

If This World Were Mine

Here’s some stress relief for the weekend.

If This World Were Mine is a song written by the late Marvin Gaye, who originally released it in 1967 as a duet with Tammi Terrell.   In 1982, Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn recorded the song.   Some songs never get old, and this is one of them.

 

Come Together

“He say, I know you. You know me. One thing I can tell you is you got to be free.”

There are times I feel out of touch; out of touch with new music artists, actors and movies.   There were once neighborhood movie theaters where you could take a walk and see what movies were playing and coming soon.  Now, they are located behind big parking lots.   Some previews are shown during commercial breaks on television, but they cannot be compared to the movie posters of old.

Why am I reminiscing?  Saturday evening, family got together to watch a movie.  It is not the movie that caused me to reminisce but the one song on the soundtrack.

I’m a Marvel Comic movie fan and not much into DC Comic movies.  Superman was once my favorite superhero and remains on the list.  I think I watched the 1978 movie ten times or more; twice at the theater.   I never cared much for Batman.  The movies are dark and dank and without his special gadgets, Bruce Wayne is no superhero. 

Power of Love

One of my favorite artists, Mike Farris, sings Power of Love.

 

Music For A Sunday Afternoon Or Any Other Time

The following videos are among some of my favorite inspirational music.   I grew up in church where the music was uplifting.  I also grew up listening to Blues and Jazz.

Around 1983, I discovered The Allies.  Some of you might have heard the name Bob Carlisle, and might be familiar with his award-winning song “Butterfly Kisses.”  But did you know that long before then, Bob was lead singer for The Allies?  I happen to own every album they made — on (ahem) cassette tape.  Yes, I still have several cassette tape players.

The first video is a remake of the song Manish Boy by Muddy Waters.   The Allies brought the Blues into Contemporary Gospel Music.

The next two videos are by Mike Farris.  The website, Mike Farris Music, says about Mike that “Out of the arms of defeat Mike Farris has done a victory lap…He takes people who are hurting, who are broken, who think they are alone and through just the sound of his voice he lets them know that they’re not.”

The second video is Mike’s rendition of the James Taylor song You Got A Friend.   The third video is Mike shaking the house with This Little Light of Mine.  Mike’s music awards include the 2008 American Music Award for new and emerging artist; 2010 GMA Dove Award for Traditional Gospel Album of the Year, and the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album.

I hope you enjoy the songs and are inspired to keep following the path of love and hope.   Now, please excuse me while I grab my tambourine.

Keep On Moving, Don’t Stop

Hope this helps to lift someone up.

Lyrics;

Written by Sean Conlon, Richard Breen, Jason Brown, Julian Gallagher, Richard Stannard • Copyright © EMI Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group

Keep on movin’
Don’t stop like the hands of time
Click clock, find your own way to stay
The time will come one day

Why do people
Choose to live their lives this way?

Keep on movin’, don’t stop, no
Keep on movin’

Keep on movin’
Keep on movin’, don’t stop no
Keep on movin’

It’s our time, time today
The right time is here to stay
Stay in my life, my life always
Yellow is the color of sun rays

A Racerrodig Thanksgiving

Racerrodig is a precious, consistent supporter of Blackbutterfly7. I call him “Racer.” Through the years, he has shared his profound wisdom and great humor with us. Racer has often spoken about playing music, and several months ago he informed us that he started a praise and worship band with his son. They have been invited to perform in other countries.

Racer entrusted me with three of his band’s original songs to see if I could present them in a format so others can listen to them. So, I put them on video. The first video has some glitches, and I ask that you don’t allow that to distract from the beauty and talent of Racer’s song.

It wasn’t feeling like Thanksgiving to me this year. With so much trouble in America, I had gotten down. Racer’s songs picked me up and I hope they do the same for you.  As well, it is such a pleasure to hear his voice.

Glow!

The Gift of Gil Scott Heron – Seeing the Present In The Past

Gil Scott Heron, Reflections

“Johannesburg” and “Gun” are the first songs I remember hearing by Gil Scott Heron. That was in the mid 1970’s. I’ve often listened to the vinyl that I still have of Gil. He was the voice of protest, the voice of reason, the teacher of truth.   Many of his lyrics written in the 1970’s and 1980’s, are true today.

Like many albums of that time, one song was more than 12 minutes.  It was not merely listening music; it was conversation  music.

Gilbert “Gil” Scott-Heron (April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011) was more of a poet than a singer. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Gil’s mother was Bobbie Scott-Heron, who was an opera singer with the New York Oratorio Society. His dad, Gil Heron, was nicknamed the “Black Arrow.” He was a Jamaican football player in the 1950’s and the first Black man to play for the Celtic Football Club in Glasgow.

As a teen, Gil earned a full scholarship to the private, prestigious Fieldston School in New York. He was one of five black students at the school and his experience lead to his boldness, which became his hallmark in poetry and song. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is one of Gil’s most popular songs, recorded by others, including LaBelle.  He used the words “not televised” in many of his other songs.  As Gil would have his listeners know, what the media reports is limited to who they interview; what they are told.  If you want to know the truth, you have to live it.