Music Review: The Kelly Bell Band - Phat Blues

Aside from Pandora and the PBS channel, my musical horizons pretty much match what is acceptable for the preschool crowd.  So, when the hubby and I had the chance to go to the 44th Annual Maryland Seafood Festival without kids, watching a good concert wasn't even on the radar.

However, when I checked the listings and found a blues band starting, oh, about 10 minutes after we got there, I thought it would be nice to check out.  I love watching any live music.  And, after watching my fair share of kids entertainers and puppeteers at the mall, I'll sit through anything, especially if I don't have to chase after a few three foot groupies in the audience.

I was pleasantly surprised at the band that played.  So much so, that this festival, for me, will be remembered as the Maryland Phat Blues Festival, with seafood as a mere side dish.  The Kelly Bell Band, of Baltimore, was THAT good.

As we heard the strains of blues music playing and gathered to find a few seats on that clear sunny day, I was most impressed that this band was playing original music and no covers.  With funny one-liners, like, "I dedicate this next song to my ex-girlfriend, because I hate her...", lead vocalist Kelly Bell entertained the crowd with amusing social commentary and smooth, rich vocals.  Like an older, wiser Corey Glover, Bell's passion came through whether he was rocking out like Zeppelin or crooning like Lionel Ritchie.

Low and behold, the band that "didn't do covers" laid out an impressive juxtaposition of (but not limited to) BB King, Iron Maiden, The Commodores, Rick Springfield, Bo Diddly, The Jackson 5 and KC and the Sunshine Band. The passion for the music was clear as the band demonstrated a breadth of encyclopedic knowledge and deftly handled key changes, tempo shifts and whole, complete shifts in genre with sophistication and ease.

Covering Grand Funk Railroad's "We're An American Band", the Kelly Bell Band was a study in contrasts.  The six-piece multicultural ensemble included the lead vocalist rocking out his dreadlocks to a hard rock classic.  They looked nothing like the all-white Grand Funk, and yet, what they were doing was truly American - uniting different cultures, backgrounds and styles in a celebration.

This day was particularly memorable because it was also the tenth anniversary of 9/11.  While the Kelly Bell Band put on a great show with good music and lots of laughs, the final, tribute song was unpredictably fitting.  I'm sharing it here because Kelly Bell's a cappella rendition of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" should not be misread as some trite version of sorrow.

Those that only know the song as a punch line may not know the origins of the song.  An African American spiritual, the song is an ode to how suffering slaves looked forward to heaven, a much better place than where they were.  For those of us left to deal with the rubble left behind on September 11th, Kelly Bell's offering soothed our bleeding hearts with a salve of hope, as blues music was created to do.  Bell took a gamble on a song that might have been lost on most of his audience members.  But in the end, he shared his heart and allowed us all to grieve with the hope for a better tomorrow.

Saving Time and Your Sanity with Errand Angels

You are stuck in the house yet again with sick kids or maybe you are sick yourself.  You just had a baby and the relatives have all gone back home.  The emergency stash is dwindling and not only do you need to go to the store, you need to go multiple destinations criss-crossing town.

If you are like me, you don't have relatives nearby to lean on during these times.  You realize that the kids will start rioting if you give them any more goldfish crackers for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  You really do understand that newspapers are not for wiping, but, well...

Chances are, there are a bunch of us in that same boat.  A small army of women (and some men!) are currently driving around, frantically going from here to there to get all those errands done.  Now, what if we could marshall the troops and get it done more effectively?  How can we better use all this collective energy that is ALREADY buzzing around town?

I'd like to introduce the Errand Angel.  She passes by your house, drops off your food and is merrily on her way. You get the emergency stash you need at a time when you can't get it yourself.  Sound miraculous?  It could be, and it's easy to do.  All you need to do is ask.

You can harness the power of smartphones, texting and Facebook to accomplish this.  If you are going to a particular store, send a shout out letting your friends know.  You could even email your group the night before.  If someone has a need, they can let you know (privately) and you can pick up their items while you are there.  Still skeptical?  Here's my story:

After a week-long recuperation from illness, I needed stuff from Trader Joe's and ALDI on the same day.  The stores are in different towns, so I'd be hardpressed to make it to both with kids in tow.  Out of desperation, I posted a note on Facebook, asking if anyone was heading to either location.  I actually got two responses!  I was able to go to ALDI and my errand angel got me what I needed from Trader's.  Success!

I was so excited about my angel's help that I paid it forward when I went to ALDI and asked if anyone needed anything while I was there.  Since I run the same errands every week, along with other angels, this could start becoming something useful.  Errand Angels could easily stop by libraries, Post Offices and more.  I better start coming up with some ground rules.....

Errand Angel Guidelines:

1. The Errand Angel does not make a special trip.  They would have been going to the store, library or dry cleaners anyway.
2. The drop must be near the store or the angel's house.  The idea is to reduce driving.
3. Do not give a laundry list of items.  Max out at five shopping items in a cart total.  This is a favor, not a replacement for your regular shopping.
4. The recipient understands that the Errand Angel cannot guarantee that the stop will be made.  This is a courtesy service, aka favor, not a business transaction.  Life with kids is unpredictable, so it is understood that the Errand Angel is not obligated to complete the run if she encounters difficulty.
5. Make sure you pay for your stuff.  Give your Errand Angel cash beforehand or write a check.
6. Pay it forward and make an offer to drop-off or pickup something (if you are willing and able) when you are running errands.

Frugal Food Fast: Chi-candy

Every once in a blue, you find a recipe that is easy and tasty to whip up and allows you to have versatility as well.

Chi-candy is one of these recipes.  It's fast, adheres to the Frugal Writer Project Management Criteria, which also applies for recipes.  The original recipe can be traced to Hellman's Mayonnaise, but I've modified it to suit our family's taste.

My friends from a former playgroup called this Chi-candy because our kids would eat up this chicken like it was candy.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup Ranch Dressing
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/4 lbs.)
• 4 tsp. Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs

(The Puerto Rican in me may add Adobo/Sazon to the chicken beforehand, but it's not really necessary.  The chicken comes out that good.)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Combine Ranch Dressing with cheese in medium bowl. 
3. Arrange chicken in baking dish. Evenly top with ranch mixture, then sprinkle with bread crumbs.
4. Bake 20 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.  (If you use more chicken, it may take longer).

For a lower calorie version, you can skip the bread crumbs or use low-fat ranch dressing.  I've also stretched the dressing for 2-3 lbs of chicken.  You cannot burn this thing and the chicken comes out moist and tasty.  This recipe definitely gets two thumbs up because you can cook a lot of chicken fast and dice it up for use in other recipes. 

!Buen provecho!

I've Got a Girlfriend

Like a high school crush, I am blushing and excited over my new girlfriend.  Don't get me wrong.  I am a married mom of three kids and have no intentions of changing that status.  It's just that, well, gosh darn it, I have found an amazing girlfriend!

This is a huge development in my world because prior to kids, my goal oriented, Type A personality was well suited for an Engineering career dominated by men.  I may have had a few close friends growing up, but something always happened to derail those friendships.  People have a fascinating way of putting their best feet forward, then do a 180 when they can no longer keep up with the charade.  Like Holden Caulfield, my disdain for the "phonies" kept me at bay from really connecting with people.

I've always been a take-it-or-leave-it kind of person.  I'm strong.  Independent.  Self-sufficient.  (Hear the roaring in the background?)  I may have scared a few folks away with my strong, outgoing odor personality, but I was never good at pretending to be someone else.  And frankly, I didn't need anybody else, thank-you-very-much.

However, when the mind-bending event of motherhood overtook my life, I was left drowning in a stormy sea with no life raft.  Merely a few broken pieces of deadwood to hang on to while I scraped by to keep it together.  It's been seven years, and I still look on with envy at the "other moms" who met at a park and remained friends since their firstborns were babies.  I stare wistfully and lament that I don't have sidewalks or neighbors with kids that drift easily in and out of each other's houses.

Make no mistake.  I was not a wallflower waiting for someone to ask me to dance.  I was active.  I was the President of a MOMS Club, a playgroup coordinator, newsletter editor, cheerleader, lactivist.  I did it all.  Perhaps I was too good.  I'm reminded of the story of a beautiful girl who ended up staying home for the prom.  She was so attractive that no one had the courage to ask her out.  In the end, NO ONE asked her out.  In the same way, maybe my strong, "got-it-together" exterior has led many to think I don't need company or help.  Ahhhh, the irony.

So when I got a call from a mom of one of my son's classmates, I was happy but not holding my breath.  A playdate might lead to something more, but I was not going to get my hopes up.  I was so used to being on the other end of that phone line, asking about a playdate or meeting at a park, hoping I didn't sound desperate or crazy.

Like the teenaged orphan that is no longer cute, I feared that people would think something was wrong with me because I have older kids and still suffer from loneliness.  Between mamas going back to work, moving out of state or having kids at different ages and stages of life, my mama friendships never grew past the cordial greeting or Facebook post.

Even though it sounded cliche, I was "just about to call her" and told her such when she beat me to the punch.

Thank goodness the boys were such good friends because they demanded playdates.  I knew I found "the one" when "his mom" talked more than I did and unflinchingly told me about how hard it was to find playmates and the isolation that she felt as a result.  I was tempted to kiss her feet and burst into tears, but I held it just long enough so that she would not run for the door.

Like the rejected class nerd that has sudden popularity, I struggle with thoughts that this too, will not last.  Maybe next year, she'll move, get a job, pick her nose, or find something else better to do than to just hang with me (and my kids...)  At the risk of another broken heart, I'm plunging forward, enjoying our time while it lasts.