Friday, January 24, 2025

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

thenomadARCHITECT

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






 

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

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





Wednesday, December 25, 2024

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








Tuesday, December 24, 2024

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





Monday, December 23, 2024

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





Sunday, December 22, 2024

12/22/24 NO. 4 ON THE 2024 THE NOMAD ARCHITECT CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - ONLY THREE DAYS 'TILL WE CAN STAND & SING NOEL!

Christmas Day is coming sooner than we think. Only three days to celebrate the most astounding event in the history of our world - the birth of Jesus Christ. It's the last Sunday before the big day - this post has a couple of tunes about the feelings of joy as we celebrate the greatest holiday.

First Up - From Salina, Texas enjoy Grammy and Dove Award winner Contemporary Christian Singer Chris Tomlin perform with We The Kingdom - Christmas Day.


Bonus Track - Contemporary Christian Band MERCY ME performs - Our Lullaby (Christmas at the Cabin)

Only three days 'till the big day to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Merry Christmas

D.L.Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT


Friday, December 20, 2024

12/21/24 NO. 5 ON THE NOMAD ARCHITET 2024 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - TODAY, LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE FOR CHRISTMAS.

I have always been an obsessive music listener, singer and leader of singers since I sang K-K-K Katey in the fourth grade at Kate Sullivan Elementary in a place I always return to - Tallahassee, Florida. Solos, trios, quartets, ensemble, choirs - you name it I have been involved my entire life with music. Today, we're going to hear some REAL music from Texas, Nashville, North Carolina and Arkansas. These artists make music from the soul for the soul.

First Up - I've always said - there's something different about singers from Texas. Hayes Carll proves that beyond any doubt - Enjoy this pleasant simple tune - Hayes Carll laying down some tender lyrics bout family at Christmas - Grateful for Christmas




Bonus Track - From the Buckle of the Bible Belt Nashville - Dan + Shay give us a simple tune about love and Christmas - Take Me Home for Christmas.



Bonus Track 2 - Singing since they were kids in Concord, North Carolina two brothers Seth and Scott Avett formed a band in the late 90's and began delivering heartfelt music to the delight of their fans everywhere. We had the pleasure of seeing this talented folk/rock band at Cascades Amphitheatre in Tallahassee - The Avett Brothers - Away In A Manger.



Bonus Track 3 - This Bonus Track is not, strictly speaking, a Christmas song. It tells a story about the power of Jesus to make life loving and cherished. The duo of the Grammy Award winning Christian Rock Artist Zach Williams and the legendary Queen of Country Dolly Parton perform this powerful song and video - There Was Jesus.



I hope these simple tunes will give you a reason to smile as the big day approaches soon.

Merry Christmas

D.L.Stafford