The Calm Before the Storm

Russian Embassy, Reykjavík, 2018

Once again I am on the brink of a Flippist Icelandic Adventure™—my eighth and final* one.

I’ve had unfocused fears before previous trips; this time is no exception. Two new, and clearly delineated, anxieties are the lingering Covid epidemic (at least I’m fully vaccinated) and the Russian war against the Ukraine and the world (no vaccination available.) Disruptions in all aspects of world commerce is a reality now—I feel like I’m sneaking this “luxury vacation” in under the wire, just before everything turns to shit.

Regardless of vagaries of fate, I’ve committed to this agenda: music, theatre, visits with friends, as well as mornings spent soaking in the hot-pots of Vesturbæjarlaug.

THREE DAYS TILL ICELAND!


*possibly

Wednesdays in Iceland - #9

To set the stage for 2022 Iceland Airwaves, here are some memorable moments from 2018, artistically embellished. Gróa:

Gruska Babuska:

Soléy:

Ateria:

Jófríður Ákadóttir, Áslaug Rún Magnúsdóttir, and Nini Julia Bang:

FIVE MORE DAYS UNTIL ICELAND, EIGHT MORE DAYS UNTIL AIRWAVES!

Music Monday - #20

An inspiring kick-off to your week from two legends performing a legendary song.

Lifting the Shroud

Katla Vigdís, 2018, Iceland Airwaves

“In the future—not the distant future, but ten years, five—people will remember the internet as a brief dumb enthusiasm, like phrenology or the dirigible.” ~ Sam Kriss, The Internet is Already Over

I've read in the past that blogs are over; my site meter confirms that statement.

This situation begs the question: “Why continue persisting in this vainglorious enterprise?”

Answer: It’s a way of forcing myself to look at the meaning of reality in my existence.

I can (and do) consume plenty of internet content (and some of its discontent as well), but this blog is the stuff dreams are made of, a record of those dreams, three times a week. Whether it is worth looking at is another question. In ten days I’ll be in Iceland, the main reason is to catch The Iceland Airwaves Music Festival, a place where a bunch of other dreamers will show me their dreams. I was first made aware of the IAW in 2005, on the A woman without a man blog. I was intrigued by the idea that an international multi-day music festival, with well over one hundred acts, could be successfully held in a city of 200,000+ inhabitants in Reykjavík, the Northernmost capitol in the world. I went the following year and was enthralled. I’ve been to a couple more Airwaves since and have enjoyed them immensely. This year’s trip is a bit of an anomaly: I had an unused ticket to Iceland (due to a Covid cancellation) so I thought I would use it to revisit this three-day event, which has been on a two-year hiatus. It is back now, albeit diminished from five days in 2006.

So what keeps me doing it? Writing a blog and going back to Iceland to see and hear obscure musicians perform, often in unintelligible languages? My last visit (2018) had many memorable acts but also saw a disconcerting trend away from the quirky Icelandic music to more mainstream pop. There are fewer acts this year and, from the look of their videos, not many of them are promising. Still, a video is only a simulacrum of reality;  hope remains for a those few moments when the shroud of mundane existence is lifted and the miracle is made manifest.

Wednesdays in Iceland - #8

Þjóðleikhúsið

The National Theatre of Iceland is the home of Icelandic drama; the building’s architecture is also quite dramatic:

I’m planning to see as many as four performances there when I return to Iceland at the end of the month including: improv, drama, musical, and cabaret!

One memorable performance there that I will unfortunately miss (sure to be a sell-out) is the concert by Pussy Riot slated for the 25th of November.

TWELVE DAYS TO ICELAND!

Music Monday - #19

Paving Paradise

Honolulu, 2005

In case any of you might be suffering from dry eyes this morning:

My First Concert

My first actual professional musical concert experience was part of a Harlem Globetrotter exhibition that my dad took me to when I was twelve.

The festivities started with some world-class table tennis stars doing their stuff, truly mind-blowing for a pre-teen.

The Harlem Globetrotters came on next and did what they do best—comedic hi-jinks with a basketball and a few props (a water-bucket full of confetti was one of them.)

When they took a break Cab Calloway came out, doing a solo act singing and playing piano. He was, to my untutored ears, great. He ended with his signature Hi-De-Ho number, complete with audience participation.

The Globetrotters won, handily defeating The Washington Generals whose lifetime record against the Globetrotters is 3-16,000).

And then we went home.

A week later my dad brought home a ping-pong table.

A year later my musical needs would be filled by The Trashmen, The Beatles, and The Dave Clark Five.

But I never forgot Cab:

Wednesdays in Iceland - #7

Webcams

Via: Webcams around Iceland

The internet explosion of the early aughts brought with it a number of new ways of looking at the world.

Iceland was not averse to these trends, one of which was the webcam.

Most of these were short-lived, but some have persisted and some of them can now be accessed in the link above.

An armchair traveler’s delight!

Nineteen days and counting…

Music Monday - #18

Get Your Hat

John Beach with The Explodo Boys, circa 1979:



John Beach, circa 2012:

John is still active in the Bisbee, Arizona, area!

Flu Shot Saga

I’m afraid to get a flu shot.

I’m not a member of this “cool” club.

Most days I sit at home and plan how I’ll think ahead and don’t look back.

This plan doesn’t have a step called “get a flu shot.”

That’s why people that get a flu shot so easily just scare me.

My lack of knowledge makes me feel unwelcome and out of my depth.

Or maybe it’s just me?

---

Who got a flu shot today?

ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME

For you, it’s probably just the usual weekday, but my entire career just took a turn.

From this moment forward, I’ll get a flu shot every day for the rest of my life. It’s my commitment to you, my beloved fans.

PLEASE comment, like, and follow my profile, think ahead and don’t look back, and share this post!

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HR – “There’s a 2 years gap in your CV”
Me – “Yes sir I was in jail”

HR – “Why?”
Me - “I got really badly”

HR - “Please elaborate… What did you get?”
Me – “I got a flu shot. I got a flu shot several times.”

HR - “Welcome to the company. We think ahead and don’t look back here. Just like you.”

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Did you get a flu shot today?

Nah… You probably got something else.

Because you don’t know how to think ahead and don’t look back.

Wanna learn why I’m so awesome?

Sign up for my upcoming workshop: “I got a flu shot and hated every moment of it.”

Within 5 Zoom sessions you’ll be able to get anything! Agree?

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This is my last post.

I know, I can’t believe I’m saying this.

As I think ahead and don’t look back, it’s time too move on.

The reason?

My boss told me to get a flu shot…
And I actually got it.

Yup, I got a flu shot.

These posts were really fun, but the fact that I just got a flu shot is a real life-changer.

I don’t need you guys anymore.

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Note: This is a AI-generated post via Viral Post Generator.

 Because of this post, I will think ahead and won’t look back. Agree?

Wednesdays in Iceland - #6

Kolaportið

This week-end only flea market is a remnant from the old Reykjavík harbour days; it used to be a customs clearing house, now it is an outlet for goods, both used and new:

I always make a point to stop in, even if it is just for a tacky souvenir:

And it’s a very good place to pick up a delectable or two:

ONLY TWENTY-SIX DAYS TO GO!

Music Monday - #17

Lost and Found



Music in a melancholy mood from The Explodo Boys, this time a work-in-progress by Jimmy Derbis.

First run-through at rehearsal.