The Valley Of The Sun

My work took me to Phoenix, Arizona today. I had to talk to some people about something someone said that offended a customer. My boss thought it would be better to do this in person rather than over the phone. I don't disagree. It's always better to have these conversations face to face. That way I can see body language, such as the employee whom never makes eye contact with you during the interview.

Besides, it's kind of a treat to travel because I don't get to too often. I'm behind a desk in an office most of the time dealing with a high volume of phone calls and e-mails. A day out of the office is a break from that routine.

Have you ever had the experience of holding up a whole airplane? Being the last one to walk on board, and walking past several rows of full seats with everyone looking at you like you did something wrong? Then finally finding the one open seat left on the whole plane, and two people had to move for you to sit down? Well that describes my return trip home today.

And mind you, it wasn't even my fault. A couple of the passengers booked for this particular flight didn't show up by the departure time. I was on the standby list (my flight wasn't scheduled to leave for over 1 hour - so I was technically EARLY). One other standby passenger was called before me. Several minutes later I was called and allowed on the plane. No one on the plane knew that I was on standby, and just assumed I was holding things up. Oh well. I'm sure they got over it - and I got home an hour earlier than if I left my office on a normal work day.

Do You Want To Know A Secret?

Do you promise not to tell?

Actually, I don't care whether or not you tell anyone. And actually, it's no big secret to people who know me well.

I'm a Beatles fan.

There it is; I'm out of the closet. If anyone has bothered to read the links on my blog or the interests I've listed on my profile page they would have been able figure out that I'm a Beatles fan. And if you're a Beatles fan you would know that the title of this post is also a Beatles song title, and that the first line of my post is a line from that same song.

So now that I've made this Earth-shattering announcement, what's next? Well I've been giving it some thought, and this is what I've decided to do. I'm going to share with you, my loyal readers, some of the things that I like about Beatles music. Please keep in mind that I'm not an expert, and I'm not a freak. I'm just a fan of their music and I'd like to put some thoughts down on this blog about the band and their music.

I wish I was able to add music to my blog. Then I could put a song up for you to listen to while you read about it. Then maybe it would be easier for you to hear why I like that particular song, or it's lyrics, or whatever. But I don't have the technical expertise to put music on my blog, and I don't personally know anyone who does. I've read blogs that have music on them, so I know it's possible. So if you're familiar with the song I'm featuring - great. If not, break out your old record album or 8-track tape, or just download it.

So how about if I start with today's blog title?

"Do You Want To Know A Secret?" is a song from the Beatles' first album, "Please Please Me". It was written by John Lennon just after he married Cynthia, and the "secret" was that this was the first time he was really in love. The lyrics were also inspired by a song John's mother used to sing to him from the Disney movie Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs. The recorded song is sung by George Harrison, who indicated in an interview that the inspiration for the music came from yet another song: "I Really Love You" by the Stereos. Reading the lyrics below doesn't give the song justice; you really need to listen to it.

You'll never know how much I really love you,
You'll never know how much I really care.

Listen,
Do you want to know a secret,
Do you promise not to tell, whoa oh, oh,

Closer,
Let me whisper in your ear,
Say the words you long to hear,
I'm in love with you.

Listen,
Do you want to know a secret,
Do you promise not to tell, whoa oh, oh,

Closer,
Let me whisper in your ear,
Say the words you long to hear,
I'm in love with you.

I've known the secret for a week or two,
Nobody knows, just we two.

Listen,
Do you want to know a secret,
Do you promise not to tell, whoa oh, oh,

Closer,
Let me whisper in your ear,
Say the words you long to hear,
I'm in love with you.

It's a good song from their early years. In general, I prefer songs from their middle years. I also prefer songs written and sung by John Lennon.

April Birthday Wishes (ammended)

Time for my monthly shout-out to all of my relatives and friends celebrating a birthday or anniversary this month. I've added to the list since the original posting.

Cousin Michael - on the 1st

Grandma - on the 2nd, but not a birthday (that's next month). My grandmother celebrates her saint's day. I don't know if this is a tradition in Mexico, but the only person I've known (or even heard about) who celebrates a saint's day is my grandmother. Now in our family we've always accepted this, and remember to acknowledge my grandmother on her saint's day. More about this topic later.

Nina Lolita (Aunt Dolores) - on the 7th

Laura's Grandpa Gil - on the 11th. Gil (& wife Bertha) are also our next-door neighbors.

Sister Donna - on the 19th

Nephew Henry - on the 20th

Diane - a regular reader / commenter of my blog - on the 28th. (It's because of her comment on this very post that I know her birth date).

Also on the 28th - Nina Lolita & Uncle Gilbert's wedding anniversary. Let me comment on this particular anniversary, which is my aunt & uncle's 45th. The actual date of their wedding is April 28, 1962, and it was the first wedding I ever attended. I, of course, don't remember a thing; I was only 3 months old. My mom has mentioned to me on numerous occasions that she can easily remember how many years her sister Dolores has been married because it's the same number of years that I am old.

I thought it would be cool to think about that date (4-28-62) and mention a few things that were current back then. So here are three things I came up with: My parents lived in Los Angeles and only had two small kids; President Kennedy was in the White House; and the Beatles were a small club band in Liverpool, England, and not yet heard of in the USA.

How times have changed!

I Quit! (April Fools)

I finally decided to quit blogging.



I just don't have time to do this anymore, and nobody reads this blog anyway.



Farewell cruel world. . . . .

I borrowed this picture from a company that sells decorative water fountains. They're going out of business too.

Thanks for the memories :-(

April Fools!

(I'm not a quitter - I don't think I've ever quit anything in my life, although I've thought about quitting)