Farrand Search

A search on "Farrand" through Google's Blog Search uncovers some interesting things.

The Familiars

No family members appear at all. I don't even appear until several pages in, and then only for my free online screenwriting course. With all my blogging done via Google's own blogger.com, that's what I'm noted for in their blog search engine?

None of the Farrands I've become aware of more recently, such as singer-songwriter Jim Farrand, appears at all.

The Famous Ones

The Big Farrands we always heard about growing up, such as Max Farrand the Constitutional scholar (wonder what he'd have to say about my Constitutional redesign?). Or Beatrix Farrand the famous landscape designer. Or Livingston Farrand, brother to Max, who became successively president of Colorado University then Cornell.

These all do in fact appear rather prominently here and there.

The latter is referenced solely through the places named for him, i.e., Farrand Field and Farrand dorm at the university he presided over. In fact, mentions of those two spots overwhelm all other Farrand references.

The Nitpicker

A certain Phil Farrand has become famous for his Nitpicker's Guidefor Star Trek fans (not to mention X-filers).

The Guru

Thomas Ashley-Farrand has become known for his expertise in the area of Healing Mantras: Using Sound Affirmations for Personal Power, Creativity, and Healing.He's a Vedic after all.

Female Athletes

There appears to be a Maggie Farrand playing field hockey for Georgetown University. Interesting as that's my alma mater (twice over). Her brother Andrew went there, too. Another female sports phenom of the Farrand moniker knocks in all the soccer goals somewhere out west.

Products

I became aware of Farrand organs when I first arrived in Texas 153 years ago. They had one cordoned off in a museum area in Nacogdoches. One appears to be for sale via blog for $150. They were made in Michigan, which plays in below.

What I could never have imagined, in a whole lifetime of imaginings, was that there could be such a thing as a Farrand birdbath. Perhaps it has something to do with Beatrix above.

Street Names

Seems to be a Farrand Road in Clio, Michigan where they want to locate some sort of "cultural awareness camp". Sounds gruesomely Marxian.

Watch Your Money

Jim Cramer's Mad Money: Watch TV, Get Rich

Getting Someone Sober

We must begin with the rather startling possibility that nobody can actually get anyone else sober. That's up to God. That being said, we still have an overpowering desire to do so when we see good people being churned up in a vat of alcohol, so . .

Books

Informationally we begin with Under the Influence: A Guide to the Myths and Realities of Alcoholism,followed by Alcoholics Anonymous - Big Book 4th Edition.You can actually just get the first 163 pages of this text in an abbreviated form, which might be a little less off-putting.

The first book is the finest documentary on the medical dynamic of alcoholism, the second the finest solution every proposed to alcoholism.

As to making an intervention on someone and his drinking, maybe start with something like Getting Them Sober: You Can Help!and branch out from there.

Treatment

The very best treatment anywhere might well be to walk into a nearby meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. It's free, it's everywhere, and it works.

Having said that, many still prefer the expensive route, those who tend to throw money at problems, of course, and those with sufficient medical insurance. There is also the very real possibility of dying in withdrawal from alcohol (which is one reason to head to a "detox" or "spin-dry" of the sort usually found in a hospital).

Picking a treatment program (or center) then becomes an issue. You might start with the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard Father Martin's program at Havre de Grace, Maryland . .

Ashley Inc
DBA Father Martin's ASHLEY
800 Tydings Lane
Havre De Grace, MD 21078
(800)799-4673

Primary Focus: Substance abuse treatment services
Services Provided: Substance abuse treatment, Detoxification
Type of Care: Residential short-term treatment (30 days or less)
Forms of Payment Accepted: Self payment, Private health insurance

Intakes: (410) 273-6600x213 (800)-799-HOPE Hotline: (800) 799-4673x213

Website: http://www.fathermartinsashley.org

. . continues to get raves. Nationally, and of international repute, you might consider the Betty Ford Center or Hazelden.

Most treatment programs can help you with an intervention strategy, if not the intervention itself.

Websites

--CRAFT: An Alternative to Intervention
--Getting Them Sober
--Sober.com

The only thing that has ever worked for me is praying for the guy, but I remain ever hopeful for other approaches.

Hello friends near and far!

We have an exciting new opportunity in our fair city, a space we can
use for getting together for just about anything:

--classes
--games (especially chess!)
--reading
--spoken word
--art
--acoustic music

This is a collective effort, meaning we're all in this together,
looking forward to a non-commercial free space where we can
collaborate on shows, fun-raisers, speakers, a library, movies,
poetry, and whatever else we would love to offer CVL and beyond.

Our goal is to have the deposit (equal to 2 month's rent) in the bank
this weekend so we can rely on event donations from here on out (not
to mention the continued generosity of patrons). Since we have
non-profit status under the umbrella of the Virginia Organizing
Project, Inc. all donations are 100% tax-deductible.

The space will be located underneath the Tea Bazaar on the downtown
Mall, at 414 E. Main Street, in what used to be an art gallery of
sorts. We're calling it "ourspace" because that's what it is, and
because we need a place where the cyber world can cross with our
real-live existence.

If you'd like to help make this dream a reality, and have a little bit
(or perhaps a lot) you can contribute, or know some folks who can
help, please send it/them to:

Ourspace
POB 233
Charlottesville, VA 22902

(please make checks payable to Virginia Organizing Project * put
Ourspace in the memo field)

*any questions please contact kaisafran@gmail.com

Thanks, and enjoy the Holidays!

King of My Living Room returns!

From http://www.devonsproule.com

Together.
On stage.
Simultaneously.
One night.
Two shows.
With lots of beer.
And furniture.

So says the website and so it will be. This Friday, November 30th at the Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville -- King of My Living Room returns!

The show features myself, current house guest Danny Schmidt, permanent house mate Paul Curreri, fatherly Browning Porter, motherly Jan Smith, struttin' Stratton Salidis, skinny-ass Lance Brenner, many-worded Brady Earnhardt, potty-mouthed Jeff Romano, and rockingly hair-cutted Joia Wood. These folks are also, conveniently enough, all tremendous musicians.

There will be two shows -- 7pm and 10:30pm. $15 for one show / $25 for both. The late show bonus is each of us performing a drawn-from-the-hat song of each other's. All proceeds go to the Gravity Lounge, to assist in its valiant effort to bring great
emerging artists to Charlottesville.

On December 11th, I'll be co-billing with Paul Curreri at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA. It's a lovely place, with splendid chili, and as long as y'all keep coming back, we can too. Please join us!

Finally, to close the year for ol' Dev -- Wednesday, December 12, I'll be helping my good friend Keith Morris release his wonderful new record Songs From Candyapolis (City Salvage Records) at the Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville. A handful of we friends will play our versions of a few Keith's songs to start out the evening, then join him and his band for his set (as we did on the record). I'm very proud to say that 'Songs From Candyapolis' is one of my favorite CDs... and that ain't just in the friend category!

Thanks for lending an ear. Hope to see y'all soon.

Devon

WEBSITES GALORE:

http://www.keith-morris.com

http://www.kingofmylivingroom.com - click 'artists' for funny stuff

http://www.jamminjava.com

http://www.myspace.com/paulcurreri - Handsome Huz Song-of-the-Week

http://www.devonsproule.com

CANDYAPOLIS RAVES:

"Few artists could walk you through the varied nooks and neighborhoods of Candyapolis and make them real, in all their grime and glory, and breathe them to life, without somehow stealing away their magic. Keith Morris leads this tour like a true street hustler/spirit guide."

- Danny Schmidt, Songwriter

"Keith Morris is an extraordinary songwriter. 'Billie Weir's Dress,' in which he is joined by the remarkable Devon Sproule, is a beautiful song, as dreamlike and riveting as the best works of Leonard Cohen and Vic Chesnutt....Songs From Candyapolis is an accomplished and ingeniously produced album, with a great variety of songs and styles. Morris is a born artist with unlimited potential and a songwriter to keep an eye on."

- Freddy Celis Rootstime

"I thoroughly love this album. Voice, songs, production--all classic. I was engaged at first listen. It sounds like Ryan Adams fronting some kinda alt-country-Leonard Cohen-introspective-grandeur combo (and I mean that in the best possible way.) He's onto something."

- Shannon Wells, Charlottesville Daily Progress

"Songs From Candyapolis is one of those albums you must give complete attention to in order to fully appreciate, and which reveals itself little by little. I think of 'Billie Weir's Dress' and 'Little Cameron' and their piercing melodies, of 'Candy Apples' with its impeccable guitar... [These songs] are little marvels... Happy discoveries!"

- Jacques Eric Legarde, Crossroads Magazine, France

Holiday greetings, chums!

From http://www.carsieblanton.com/

I'm writing to wish you a joyous cold snap, and to plant in your sweet head a phenomenal gift idea.

What better stocking stuffer/Chanukah present/solstice offering than a shiny new copy of "Ain't So Green"? Nothing, save St. Nick's own cocoa, and who can afford it these days? Thus, I offer this shockingly good deal.

1/2 price for 5 or more copies of "Ain't So Green", from now until 2008! That's:

* Five CDs for $25 ($5 each additional CD), or
* Five signed and personalized CDs for $30 ($6 each additional CD)
* Not to mention the free shipping!

"Swelterin' Cider, Carsie!" You may now say, shocked. "How can I partake of this shockingly good deal?" Simple!

Reply to this e-mail (at carsie@carsieblanton.com) with the following information:

* Your name
* Your mailing address
* Number of CDs you'd like
* If you'd like them signed and personalized, and how so (keep it simple, please)

Via Google Checkout, I will email you an invoice, which you can pay by credit card or check. Voila! In mere days (5-7 business after payment is received, to be precise), the requested CDs will appear on your doorstep, wearing their usual festive attire.

May your celebrations be jolly, bright, and merry with music!

Carsie Blanton
carsie@carsieblanton.com

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues."

– Cicero

Where I Bought My Mandolin

Lark in the Morning
They have an enormous collection of odd musical instruments, instruments you can make yourself, instruments you can buy without a bunch of money.

They're running some sort of special right now--10% off everything, I think--so jump in!

Offer Code: LITMNL110807 (be sure to join their e-mail list to make an honest man of me)

Remember, too, to check out their Closeout section and their Bargain Basement.

Story of the Orchestra : Listen While You Learn About the Instruments, the Music and the Composers Who Wrote the Music!

As the Holidays Approach

If you plan on doing any online shopping why not do it through Amazon.
If you click the link above, or search for something below, or click on anything that says Amazonat my site . .

http://www.empirecontact.com/

. . revenues accrue to the site, but it doesn't cost you anything more.





Not to mention . .



You'll be helping support the arts by just going about your daily business.

The Legend Continues

Too bad I couldn't make it.

“A devotee of truth may not do anything in deference to convention. He must always hold himself open to correction, and whenever he discovers himself to be wrong he must confess it all costs and atone for it.”

Mahatma Gandhi in “My Experiments With Truth"

Pass It On

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.

FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX.. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say "God bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson .

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.

Send the above to at least 5 people and your life will improve. 1-4 people: Your life will improve slightly.

5-9 people: Your life will improve to your liking.

9-14 people: You will have at least 5 surprises in the next 3 weeks.

15 and above: Your life will improve drastically and everything you ever dreamed of will begin to take shape.