More Snow

Yesterday afternoon, another snowstorm moved in and dumped three-to-five inches in a couple of hours, quickly icing over the roadways and turning these hills and hollers of Kingston Springs into treacherous toboggan courses. I was able to make it home, but poor Lizzy got stuck on bus for four (!) hours in downtown Nashville, which had become completely gridlocked. Thankfully, she was able to escape and stay in town overnight with a kind friend. Good grief!

I am so ready for spring! Unfortunately, we still have a ways to go yet.

Away With the Snow

OK, this is more like the Tennessee I know and love. At 6:00AM, the ground was covered with four or five inches of snow where I live, but the sun came out and temperatures rose up into the mid-forties so by the time I got home from work, the snow was pretty much all gone. Now, that's more like it! I really should not complain; folks back in New England are having to deal with snowstorms that dump three or more FEET of snow at a time. That is, of course, one of the reasons why I moved away! So I'm going to try to stop complaining about the weather.

Again With the Snow

Again With the Snow, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

I'm getting tired of the weekly snowstorms...and it's still only January! Ugh!

Cars On Ice

Icy Car, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

Here in Middle Tennessee, a couple of inches of snow will often turn into a sheet of ice overnight. We tried to get to work this morning, but upon encountering an accident on a surprisingly slippery main road, we decided to turn back. Lizzy's new Honda was a real champ getting us back up the windy, twisty hill and safely back home. Frankly, I was not sure we would make it, but she handled like a dream--with some finessing of its automatic transmission. I've been a Honda fan for a long time, but I was really impressed! Snow is one thing; ice is another. I was amazed how well the car handled in such trecherous conditions. Bravo, Honda--and thank you!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Cardinal in the snow, Christmas morning 2010b, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

It snowed enough to make it pretty, but not so much as to cause problems. Perfect!

Ice and Snow

Ice and Snow, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

This weather is starting to feel a lot more like New England than Tennessee. Pretty to look at; not so much fun to drive in.

Oh, No! Snow!!

Tomorrow could be...interesting.

More Snow!

Night Snow 2-8-10l, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

Looks like we're going to get another dumping of snow tonight. Snow, I can handle. Ice? I don't think so. We'll see what happens....

Playlist: Week of 1-30-10

* Biber: Unam Ceylum (Holloway/Mortensen/Assenbaum) (ECM CD)
* Vivaldi: Cello Sonatas (ter Linden/Mortensen) (Brilliant Classics 2CD)
* Venice Baroque Orchestra (Marcon/Carmignola): Concerto Veneziano (Archiv Prod. CD)
* Schoenberg: Piano Concerto, Op.42, etc. (Cleveland Orch./Boulez/Uchida) (Philips CD)
* Boulez/Barraque: Notations/Sonata (Pi-Hsien Chen) (Telos CD)
* Duke Ellington: Money Jungle (Blue Note CD)
* Duke Elligton Meets Coleman Hawkins (Impulse! CD)
* Duke Ellington and John Coltrane (Impulse! CD)
* Grant Green: Street of Dreams (Blue Note CD)
* Bobby Hutcherson: “Mellow Vibes” (Blue Note mix CDR)
* Sun Ra: The Warehouse, San Francisco, CA 6-10-71 (SBD CDR)
* Sun Ra: The Native Son, Berkeley, CA, circa. Summer 1971 (SBD CDR)
* Sun Ra: Unknown venue, circa. 1972 (SBD CDR)
* Sun Ra: Universe in Blue (Saturn LP>CDR)
* John Coltrane: Crescent (Impulse! CD)
* Miles Davis: The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions (d.3-4) (Columbia/Legacy 4CD)
* Miles Davis: The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions (d.1) (Columbia/Legacy 5CD)
* Herbie Hancock & Headhunters: Music Inn, Lenox, MA 8-31-74 (AUD 2CDR)
* William Parker Violin Trio: Scrapbook (Thirsty Ear)
* Susie Ibarra: Flower After Flower (Tzadik CD)
* DJ Spooky: Optometry (Thirsty Ear CD)
* Ethiopiques 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale 1969-1974 (BudaMusique CD)
* The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (stereo remaster) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour (stereo remaster) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Yellow Submarine (stereo remaster) (Apple/EMI CD)
* Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced? (Experience Hendrix/MCA CD)
* Grateful Dead: Public Hall, Cleveland, OH 12-6-73 (SBD 3CDR)
* Grateful Dead: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke Univ., Durham, NC 12-8-73 (SBD 4CDR)
* Jerry Garcia Band: Let It Rock: Keystone 11-75 (Rhino 2CD)
* Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Déjà vu (Atlantic/MFSL LP)
* Neil Young: Harvest (Reprise LP)
* Tom Waits: Nighthawks at the Diner (Asylum 2LP)
* Tom Waits: Glitter and Doom Live (Anti- 2LP)
* Guided By Voices: Propeller (Scat LP)
* Guided By Voices: King Shit and the Golden Boys (Scat LP)
* Yo La Tengo: Popular Songs (Matador CD)
* My Bloody Valentine: Isn’t Anything (Plain LP)
* Animal Collective: Archa Theatre, Prague 10-14-08 (FM CDR)
* Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino CD)

Commentary:

The big news here in Middle Tennessee is of course, snow -- lots of snow. It finally quit snowing around noon today after an overnight coating of sleet and freezing rain. All told, I’d say we got about five inches of ice and snow out here in Kingston Springs and it is seriously slippery out there! Great sledding conditions -- neighborhood kids are having some rare fun -- but it ain’t so good for motorized transportation (or walking around for that matter!). Fortunately, we still have electricity; that means Lizzy and I can enjoy being snowed in together in our cozy home, a fire in the fireplace, and records on the player. Life really doesn’t get better than this.

+++

I’m still on the fence regarding Animal Collective. The live set I dug up was particularly underwhelming and made me appreciate the artifice of the album even more. Nevertheless, Merriweather Post Pavilion seems to make promises it ultimately can’t fulfill. Or maybe it’s me; I’ll keep listening. One thing about that title that tickles my brain: when I think of Merriweather Post Pavilion, I think of a legendary Grateful Dead concert that occurred at this venue just outside of Washington, D.C. on June 30, 1985. Let me tell you, that “Shakedown Street” is mind-bendingly awesome. What does that have to do with Animal Collective? Probably nothing. Heck, these guys were probably not even born yet. But I think of it every time I put on their latest record. One thing Animal Collective shares with the Grateful Dead is an acid-drenched sensibility. That, I like.

Snow Day!!

Afternoon Snow 01, originally uploaded by Rodger Coleman.

It started snowing at 9:00 a.m. and hasn't stopped yet. I hope we'll be able to get down off this hill once it stops! The snow is beautiful, but dangerous -- folks down here aren' t used to this kind of weather. Please be safe! (More photos are on my Flickr photostream.)