30 Rock rocked tonight. Carrie Fisher played a 50something former TV writer role model, and now the reason women like me sell perfectly luxe Manhattan apartments, save money, regularly get our hair, nails and toes done.
Alec Baldwin was the funniest he’s ever been. Too funny. This a bit embarrassing but I have the tiniest of crushes on him. As I said, a tiny crush.
Robert Chambers is going back to jail for a long tim. He should have been serving life for the very brutal horrible death of Jennifer Levin in 1986. The trail became about her morals. Her life. Yes barely eighteen year old recent High School grad was put on trial. She was a loose Jewish woman. Chambers had the Church on his side. In New York there’s only one Church, and almost all my friends are Catholic, Roman, practicing or not. This in no way puts down the people but the leadership…Chambers mother had Cardinal O Connor involved.
This insulted Jennifer Levin and all women especially Jewish New York woman. They said we were loose, and tried to excuse Chambers behavior. He’s an animal, a brute one and that has been proven over and over again in the past 21 years. The case was personal and very easy for any woman with any past to relate to.
It was called The Preppy Murder Case and class played a large part. Jennifer Levin’s parents were portrayed as a spoiled rich divorced “couple.” Chambers mother the working class nurse was the saint who sacrificed so her son could go to prep school. That was absurd. Everybody was a product of the times, including Chamber’s mother.
Levon Helm is one of my new life idols. To teach himself to sing again after throat cancer is pretty amazing. To sing as well as he does–tighter than ever—is both a miracle and a product of much practice.
My sister and b-i-l saw him this summer. They felt they had found true religion. But I was the one who became obsessed with his music.
Something in me feels that Levon Helm hasn’t led the most extravagant of lives. They say he can’t hold onto money. Why do I feel that he has helped many people? Just a feeling.
For him, a founding member of The Band, and then a solo musician who spent much time helping other musicians reach their potential to become bankrupt because of a sickness shows how damn sick this country is.
I looked up youtube videos for “Ophelia” my personal favorite song. I came across this gem–listen to the words before the song. It’s wonderful.
Levon Helm and The Band’s—who aren’t on the greatest of terms but I won’t go there–home base is Woodstock. The town, not Bethel, home of the festival people assume I went to. Woodstock is quintessential upstate hippie New York. It has a lot in common with Sonoma though I have always worshipped Sonoma as it’s not in New York.
I don’t know how to talk about the fires in California without trivializing them. They make me sadder than sad. I’m not prepared to pass judgment on anything or anybody though I know I have a rep for doing that. Not in this case. Not now.
I don’t know how to talk about Levon Helm without trivializing him. He is a man, not in early middle age, who makes great music.
I write about him now not just because he was in New York Magazine this week but because he personifies the American spirit to me. America, land of can do. America land of comebacks. America land of becoming bankrupt because one sickness down the line sweet Jesus….
My sister and I hope to go to one of his biweekly rambles before I move. I know that it will be an experience I will hold in my heart forever.
Forgive me if I’m being sentimental today. I listen to the tight joyous sounds of The Band or Levon Helm and The RCO All Stars. Then I listen to the words. I am so in awe of these people who once backed Bob Dylan and made up a musical genre of their own.
The second song with Dylan totally personifies America to me. The third song is something you should all know by heart. Though the interview is with Robbie Robertson, it’s important to the history of The Band and rock music
In two weeks I’m taking my desktop in for its annual tuneup. Better minds than mine will figure out why the password that’s in the Imac key chain doesn’t work. Then I will begin an Imac youtube and photography blog. Just for fun and just because I can.
Levon Helm makes me believe in earned second chances. I so need to hold on to that lesson.
I know nothing of the “preppie killer” , but i do enjoy the “The Band”. That story was pretty amazing, you are right.
On Jenifer Levin, it always amazes me how the victim is desecrated and revictimized in trials.
On Robert Chambers………..THANK GOD!
Came by to see if you did a Friday Flashback, have a great weekend my friend.
Don’t be embarassed that you have a crush on Alec Baldwin. He’s the good one. Have you seen Billy’s new show? Wow, is that crap. And his acting is just atrocious.
[...] As Destiny doesn’t come calling Levon Helm and The American Spirit 30 Rock rocked tonight. Carrie Fisher played a 50something former TV writer role model, and now the reason women like me sell perfectly luxe Manhattan apartments, save money, regularly get our hair, nails and toes done. Alec Baldwin was the funniest he’s ever been. Too funny. This a bit embarrassing but I [...] Read More Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:58:04 +0000 in music on Courting Destiny http://courtingdestiny.com/archives/2007/10/25/robert-chambers-jennifer-levin-preppy-murder-case-the... - Original Article [...]
Secon chances? Levon, has had 18 lives. It is twice the 9 a cat has, and in the Jewish religion the number 18 means chai, life. Levon has no quit in him. Plain and simple. He just keeps on living.
I’ve been a fan of Levon Helm’s for 37 years. The Band is one of my top 5 favorite bands in history. And all the other work Levon did all through the years was absolutely wonderful. When Levon had his bout with cancer, and lost his voice, once he recovered he kept drumming, kept contributing musically. He played on many great records. A few Guy Davis records, one or two Louisiana Red records, a phenomenal Ronnie Earl album, titled Ronnie Earl and friends, a Hubert Sumlin album, About Them Shoes, a wonderful Larry Thurston album, titled School For Fools (Gravediggin Man is classic Levon drumming). Levon is a trooper, and a man dedicated to music. The gift he has, he shares with us all.
Now that Levon’s back singing, and recording his own projects, is nothing short of miraculous. I’ve seen a few of his Rambles, and urge that anyone who can find a way to see these great shows, get to as many as possible. Levon is an american treasure.
And noone should forget Garth Hudson. Garth is every bit as much a treasure as Levon. He may not sing, but he sings with his hands. Look up the pictures of Garth accepting the Grammy. I’m waiting to hear that acceptance speech. When it comes to session work, Garth may be the busiest session man in the US and Canada.
Reccomended lsitening or downloads. Burrito Deluxe (featuring Garth Hudson); The Whole Enchilada, Larry Thurston; School For Fools, The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album, featuring Levon Helm, and co produced by Levon Helm.
We love Levon & The Band & we caught his March 29th Midnight Ramble. During our long wkd trip we took a number of photos & started our Plochmann Lane blog (road Levon resides & holds his Rambles).
plochmann.blogspot.com