Some Jose Before Another Monday Morning

This is the Christmas song I love most. When you're a little Jewish kid, you might not have as much exposure to the wide range of celebratory song, but this one I adored. "Feliz Navidad" by Puerto-Rican singer-songwriter Jose Feliciano. This song just makes me feel young inside. Maybe you feel that way too.



And here's a more recent version. Super awesome.



Last summer, The Boy and I were privileged enough to hear Jose sing his famous and wonderful, personal version of "The Star Spangled Banner" before a baseball game at AT&T Park. If you've never heard it (and obviously this has nothing to do with Christmas), you should take a listen. I was so surprised to learn that this was controversial when he first sang it in 1968:



And then while looking for a video of Feliz Navidad to share here, I found his cover of "My Sweet Lord." Normally I never want to hear anyone cover the Beatles. Especially my George.

I like his version. I'm okay with it. See what you think.



But now I miss the Man. I guess I can only be so flexible.



This clip is from the Concert for Bangladesh which, if you haven't seen it, is a great concert film. Now I'm getting all teary-eyed. Such great music.

Weekend Update

No wonder I get tired on Mondays.

***

Saturday: One of my favorite views of San Francisco.

Because when I see this sight above, it means I'm sitting on my favorite stool in one of my favorite places in the Haight, looking out the window, and waiting for this...

A bratwurst with onions and a cream soda from Rosamunde's in the Lower Haight. (Next to this heaven, this grilled goodness is probably one of my other very favorite things in town.)

Yes, it is that good.

That was part of my reward for a four-hour walk in the Haight and through Golden Gate park (getting photos for a next book, of course.)

And then back home to meet The Boy in time to get to the 2008 California State Yo Yo Championships at the Exploratorium...

Let's just say that Championship level yo-yo-ing is very entertaining and certainly holds your attention. (If you want to get an idea of how fun, check this out. We saw this kid--he won last year.)

And then whizzing across town to catch a baseball game: the SF Giants vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates (we won), and a second bratwurst (this one with sauerkraut).

Jose Feliciano sang the National Anthem (which was wayyyyy cool and we were so thrilled and it's a very beautiful version--see clip below) and some little Boy Scouts got the game going.




(I am very proud of this photograph of the ballpark at sunset, btw.)

***

And then the next day:

To stumble upon this place (part of the next day's photo walk), in a store where I have no place being and should never return to. I was too overwhelmed to buy anything. I feel like I have dodged a bullet.


And then a walk along the Embarcadero, taking more photos.


Just another day...

Then, meeting up with The Boy (again)...

...who drove us to an for-sale/open house of a famous rock star he happens to know.

Downstairs in the room off the music recording studio, I found a folder that had some paperwork in it, so I pretended like I was a CIA operative and took this photo so you would know I was not making this up.

***

Sadly, the only thing left undone was to attend the Lebowski Fest 2008, but there's really only so much a person can realistically cram into a weekend.

That's okay. I'll just watch my favorite scene from the film a few times and that will be enough. Hope your weekend was mighty fine!

I'm going to collapse now. Nitey nite.


Hotel California - For more of the funniest videos, click here