2-14-25 - VALENTINES ALL OVER THE WORLD - ROMANCE & LOVE EVERYWHERE!

HAPPY VALENTINES TO ALL NOMADS EVERYWHERE!

Believe it or not Valentines is celebrated almost everywhere. This most romantic day of celebration was started in the USA in the 1840's. Of course, the cynics among us call Valentines Day just another day when retailers, women's clothing stores, places that sell expensive gifts, particularly jewelry, and other business make a lot of money. I used to be one of those sceptics concerning this worldwide holiday, but, as I have gotten older, I have come to realize the importance of treating my one and only special on this special day. 

First a Little History

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine and through later folk traditions, it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love the world over.

Valentines Day is celebrated in America, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, England Puerto RIco, Canada, Japan and even The Soviet Union. All these countries honor the day of Romance and Love on February 14. Other countries celebrate on different days. The day of Romance and Love is forbidden in Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia or Pakistan. Surprise, Surprise! The bottom line is that this day is celebrated in most countries on our planet. 

Shakespeare penned a nice little lyric back in the day.

"To-morrow is Saint Valentine's Day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more."

-William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5 1600-1601

So now that we know from whence this blessed celebration came, what do we Romantic Vagabonds do on this special day? After perusing some online lists and adding a few of my own, I came up with a relatively short simple list of activities you can celebrate with your significant other.

What Vagabonds Should Do On Valentines Day

• Always have roses around to set the mood for the day.
• Start a couple's bucket list or recreate a new one together.
• Eat breakfast in bed or a fancy dinner out.
• Make a tasty culinary adventure for your mate with candles, unique epicurean delights and throw in some roses to create the mood. 
• Slow dance to your favorite romantic songs.
• Book a romantic getaway.
• Have a picnic.
• Go to a nice Wine Shop or Winery & do some tasting.
• And last but not least:
• Tell your mate you love them from the depth of your soul & heart.
• Give your mate passionate kisses.

Of course, if you really want to impress your beloved, make some reservations to fly to the most romantic place on earth - Italy. You can find great places to kindle the fire in this romantic country all over this travel blog.

Joyeuse Saint-Valentin, Buon San Valentino, Feliz día de San Valentín, Alles Gute zum Valentinstag - Happy Valentines Day to Vagabond Lovers Everywhere!

D.L.Stafford

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For this special day - Paul McCartney shares a beautiful, simple, elegant tune with hand communication - MY VALENTINE.

02-12-25 TODAY IS NOT ABOUT TRAVEL - IT'S TAKING A LONG & SHORT VIEW OF THE WORLD OF POPULAR MUSIC

THE WORLD OF MODERN MUSIC NEVER STOPS EVOLVING. ARTISTS OF EVERY GENRE CONSTANTLY SEEK NEW WAYS TO EXPRESS LIFE THROUGH MUSIC. MODERN MUSIC NEVER STOPS ALLOWING NEW ARTISTS A PLACE IN LINE FROM THE ABSOLUTE BEST TO THE HEAD SCRATCHING ABSOLUTE WORST. 

FRANK ZAPPA, THE MASTER OF CULTURAL INCONGRUITIES SAID:

"MODERN MUSIC IS PEOPLE WHO CAN'T THINK SIGNING ARTISTS WHO CAN'T WRITE SONGS TO MAKE RECORDS FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T HEAR."

Just a tad cynical you might say. However, listening to Zappa's only Top 40 hit VALLEY GIRL featuring his daughter Moon Unit as THE Valley Girl helps us understand where modern music can take us - a different way of seeing our world - up, down and sideways. To be, as they say, all up front and real, I am a child of the sixties. I saw the BEATLES in '64 and Led Zepplin in '69. That is a wide slot from the greatest pop/rock ever made to the greatest pure rock and roll. I love all music genres from Texas Country to Beethoven when it's written and performed well.

The 2025 SUPERBOWL LIX displays modern music of today from the best to the absolute worst. Let's start with the worst. I also must say - I loathe Hip Hop, so my opinion of the worst of the worst this past Sunday is tinged by that opinion.

No. 1

The multi-Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar's performance of Not Like Us is in my "I Just Don't Get It Category of Music". His performance, with a crowd of dancers and other famous and not so famous actors and singers, was painful to my ears and my eyes. Opinions were positive and negative. Most of them negative. One X writer stated - By far the worst Super Bowl halftime performance I’ve seen from any artist! Sorry - No clip. You can find it on You Tube.

No.2

Lady Gaga is an amazing talent. as the late great Tony Bennet said - " Gaga is the Picasso of the entertainment world. She's very intelligent." The song she performed in the middle of downtown New Orleans just before the big game, with thousands watching, was powerful, emotional and enhancing in every way - Hold My Hand was completely inspiring, especially to the people of New Orleans.

NO. 3

And last but certainly not the least- I did not know who this artist was until this Super Bowl. I did some research and realized he is a major talent! Born in Louisiana, from a family of renown performers, he started playing drums at the age of eight then piano lessons started at eleven and lasted seven years. Ultimately, this multi-award-winning artist attended Julliard and received a masters degree in jazz studies. This incredible talent combines jazz, rock, pop and classical in his music. Jon Batiste performed a beautiful and inspiring National Anthem at Super Bowl LIX was beautiful and inspiring.

So let freedom ring. From Elvis to Mumford and Sons, modern music is in a constant state of change for all listeners to hear. 

IF YOU CAN'T HEAR THE MUSIC, YOU WON'T SEE THE LIGHT - Anonymous 

Spring is on the way my Fellow Nomads!

D.L.Stafford

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And one last number from one of my favorite bands performing at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Multi-award-winning British Folk Rock Band Mumford & Sons performing I Will Wait. This amazing rock-bound venue should be on every music lover's Bucket List.

01/24/2025 - WRAP UP, TAKE A WALK, DON'T DRIVE, WATCH BLUE BLOODS - DREAM OF SPRING MARCH 20, 2025

All Southerners, unless they are an anomaly weatherwise or a little kid, simply do not care for really cold weather, ice on the roads, snow/ice in the back yard (it usually melts by afternoon) and freezing to death watching the kids and the dogs go crazy romping in the snow. I was born and raised in my favorite part of God's Country - Tallahassee, Florida. I remember, around the age of ten, it snowed, and we built a snowman - it was gone by about 3:00 PM that day. Next day we returned to normal. The snowman to the left was constructed by my two grandsons, Hayes and Smith, with a little help from mom and dad. He looks like he's had a few too many hot totties, IMHO! 

But relax my fellow Nomads, it's only 55 days 'till March 20, 2025, the first day of Spring. The cool/warm temps, the azaleas, the woods, the trees we enjoy in this beautiful part of the world will make us quickly forget those 18–20-degree days of January. 

For some comparisons to other places near and far - here are some examples of Winter in places where people actually live.

Vostok Station - Antarctica / -13 deg F / 01/23/2025 / -128.6 deg F / 07/21/19 83  

Siberia Federal District - Russia / -13 deg F / 01/23/2025

International Falls, Minnesota / -3 deg F / 01/23/2025

Frazer, Colorado / -7 deg F / 01/23/2025

Hell, Norway / -28 deg F / 01/23/2025

Utqiagvik, Alaska / -6 deg F / 01/23/2025

Northern Wyoming / -27 deg F / 01/23/2025

Pensacola, Florida / 20 deg F / 01/23/2025

Tallahassee, Florida / 26 deg F / 01/23/2025

As you can imagine, it gets really cold on planet earth, and we shouldn't complain about our few days of freezing temperatures, icy roads and insane utility bills.

Here is some erudite commentary by Southerners on cold weather:

It's Cold enough to freeze the teats off a frog.

It’s colder than a brass toilet seat on the shady side of an iceberg.

It’s so cold, I saw a politician with his hands in his own pockets.

It’s so cold, we got dogs stuck to fire hydrants all over town.

So, enjoy these few days of brrrr! weather, warm is on the way my fellow Vagabonds. Warm weather brings out our desire to see and experience places old and new - so start planning your trips for Springs, Summer and Fall.

Happy Warm Trails to You!

D.L.Stafford

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For a nice tune celebrating love in winter enjoy the multiple award-winning British Folk Rock Band Mumford and Sons performing Winter Winds.

 

12/31/24 & 01/01/25 - HAPPY NEW YEAR'S TO ALL VAGABONDS, WANDERERS, ROVERS & NOMADS - 2025 WILL LIGHT UP OUR LIVES!

WOW! 2024 - AMAZING! INFLATION, WORLD IN CHAOS, NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE OLDER FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND BUT OUR SIX-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON USES LIKE WE USED ALL THREE OF OUR TV CHANNELS BACK IN THE DAY! LOL!  SOME THINGS JUST NEVER CHANGE. BUT 2025 IS WAITING FOR US TO VENTURE FORTH WITH OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILIES AND NEW AQUAINTENANCES WE MAKE ALONG LIFE'S EVER-CHANGING ROAD TO THE FUTURE.

To take all fervent readers of The Nomad Architect from 2024 to 2025 I have found some nice tunes that, hopefully, will motivate all nomads to stand strong and venture forth as we roll through our world as it is today and will be next year.

First Up - Keb Mo is a truly Unique Blues Artist. He brings interesting thoughts into his music. Here's one that is forewarning and humorous as we slide into the new year. The multi-Grammy winner gives us a nice listen - Keb Mo performing The Worst Is Yet To Come!

Next - I have become an ardent fan of Postmodern Jukebox. Their tag line is - Today's Hits Yesterday. Very cool music performed by a talented team of singers, dancers and players. Here is their take on the 1947 classic - What Are You Doing New Years Eve?

Last But Not Least - Enjoy the song that has been associated with New Years since 1788. The Tenors perform a unique version of the classic - Auld Lang Syne.

That's it for the 2024 Christmas Countdown, from The Nomad Architect, with a bit of New Years thrown in. Until next December 1, 2025, weekly posts will be made on travel and other subjects. And I wish every listener and reader a Happy New Year!

D.L.Stafford

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12-25-24 MERRY MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL WANDERERS, NOMADS AND LOVERS OF LIFE!!!

Merry Christmas - as we all celebrate this special day of the year. Christ was born on this day over 2,000 years ago. In addition, this day is celebrated all over the world except for a few malcontents! LOL! We celebrate this day in many different ways - some go to church, some light a fire and enjoy some hot chocolate, and all kids can't wait to open every gift with their name on their packages! I have a vivid memory of getting up way too early to play a small pinball game from Santa. My dad got up and said I needed to go back to bed so I did, but I didn't go back to sleep! Here's to all readers - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Selecting music for this day is reasonably simple except there is so much out there. But her goes - hope all Nomads will enjoy these special tunes on this celebrated day.

First Up - One of the greatest choirs in the world - With 360 singers, The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square performs The Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah written in 1741.

A Special Christmas Day Song - The great Andre Bocelli ,with a group of kids, performs a classic tune that became a big radio hit in 1934 - Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

A Soulful Take on a Classic - In 1992 master musical talent Quincy Jones produced this amazing arrangement of the Hallelujah Chorus with a talented lineup of great singers in a Gospel Choir from Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration Album - Hallelujah!!

And the preacher said - Somebody say Hallelujah!

It's my fervent hope that everybody everywhere has a great 2024 Christmas.

Merry Christmas

D.L.Stafford

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12/24/24 CHRISTMAS EVE -THE JOYS OF THIS HOLIDAY AS WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST & WATCH OUR FAMILY & FREINDS LAUGH & LOVE!

Tonight, December 24, holds a special place in our hearts. Cynics say it's over commercialized. But you can't be a cynic when you're still a kid. Tomorrow, I will enjoy watching my own kids and their kids opening gifts to celebrate this glorious day. Here are two tunes & a poem that express the meaning of this holiday for our faith and our joy.

First Up - Lady A, winner of 78 awards from Grammies to CMA's, gives a deep soulful version of the classic - The First Noël (On This Winter's Night)

Bonus Track - This brings back a memory of great singing by a great artist way before he said he was leaving the USA. December 7, 1984 w- Bruce Springsteen, winner of 20 Grammies, performed in my hometown at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. Back then he still had the great saxophone player Clarence Clemons and his best friend Steve Van Zant leading The E Street Band that could bring down the roof. They closed this killer concert with - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town!

 

BONUS TRACK 2 - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas is an alternative title of the 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas by the American writer and scholar Clement Clarke Moore. Here is this famous poem read by numerous actors as part of Mousetrap Theatre Projects charity.

To all Vagabonds everywhere North, South, East & West - Enjoy tonight and tomorrow with the ones you love and stay warm!

D.L.Stafford

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12/23/24 NO. 3 ON THE NOMAD ARCHITECT CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - INNOVATION AND COOL TUNES ON A MONDAY!

Here we are my fellow Vagabonds - the last Monday before the Big Day. Assuming all of you have your tree up, have wrapped all the gifts and bought all the food you're gonna' cook for family and friends then let's listen to one of the most innovative "music collectives" performing today. Post Modern Jukebox is known for reworking popular modern music into different vintage genres incorporating mostly swing and jazz. Founded in 2011 in New York, this group of players, singers and dancers has had over seventy artists perform a variety of songs from the early forties to current day on over seven continents with 1.9 billion views on You Tube!

First Up - Here is PMJB with award winning dancer Demi Remick hoofing strong - Sleigh Ride!

Bonus Track - Here is another talented singer with PMJB, Lauren Tyler Scott, giving a bluesy rendition of - I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas!

Bonus Track 2 - Von Smith is what I call an insane vocal talent. His multi range singing, sometimes in the stratosphere, combined with a unique style of performing, particularly with PMJB, makes him a talent that will make you turn up the sound. Take a listen as he performs a classic written in 1943 - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

Here's hoping all Vagabonds out there have a Bright Yuletide!

Merry Christmas

D.L.Stafford

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