Changes After Marriage

I love my wife dearly. She is beautiful, a great person, and a great friend. I wrote about her after our first date. So, marriage is great. Now, with the preamble out of the way, I can say there have been a few changes.
I have been writing less. And publishing less. That is, apart form the recent Photo Challenge. I actually have 23 stories that I started but have not yet completed. There are also are certain things that I am no longer allowed to do.

For example,

1. I can no longer keep my furniture. 
2. I can no longer keep the clothes I bought in college. 
3. I am no longer allowed to wear the t-shirts I bought when I was in high school. 

And there are certain topics that are no longer approved topics for my blog. I can no longer write about the following items:

1. Bathrooms
2. Mean things about people
3. Ex-girlfriends, unless I am being mean to them. The only exception to #2.
4. Sexist comments
5. People who snore
6. Women who snore
7. Women who snore and sleep next to me

It is a good trade off. I am happy and I found someone who doesn't try to change me.

Much.

I may still write about bathrooms though. The possibilities are endless.

Gimme Shelter

Rolling Stones

I have been a fan of the Rolling Stones for as long as I could remember. There are a some songs that stand out more than others, Street Fighting Man, Gimme Shelter, 2000 Light Years from Home, and Angie, to name a few. With 29 studio albums, 18 live albums, 30 compilation albums, and 107 singles there are a lot to choose from.

One reason that Gimme Shelter stands out is the backing vocals of Mary Clayton. Listen to this piece - Clayton's isolated vocals from Gimme Shelter.

Stephen Davis writes in his book Old Gods Almost Dead: The 40-Year Odyssey of the Rolling Stones, “No rock record, before or since, has ever so completely captured the sense of palpable dread that hung over its era.”

Rape, murder!
It’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away

Released in 1969 with its Latin groove and rock theme, music by Keith Richards and lyrics by Mick Jagger, the world was set in war and this moody piece reflected the tension of the world closing in.

The song credits:
Mick Jagger - vocals, harmonica
Keith Richards - guitars, backing vocals
Bill Wyman - bass
Charlie Watts - drums
Nicky Hopkins - piano
Jimmy Miller - percussion
Merry Clayton - vocals

And if you are interested in Mary Clayton, or any of the backup singers who graced the recordings of so many favourite artists, watch the film 20 Feet From Stardom. As the tagline says, "meet the unsung heroes behind the greatest music of our time.

Outakes and Bonus Shots: 30 Days of Photographs

A handful of extra photos I took during September's photo challenge.

Based on his clothes I think this guy is in never never land and will live happily ever after.

Happily Ever After?

I wasn't driving when I took a picture of these circles.

Circle

Rising above us, another view of the Olympic Village.

Rising, Olympic Village

It's a tree.

Texture

That's a sidewalk. And a shoe.

Texture

The boutonniere I wore at my wedding. 

Soft

How do you like them apples?

Circle