The Albino Alligator at The California Academy Of Sciences

The most famous resident at the newly designed California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco is Claude the albino alligator. Albino alligators lack the melanin which gives them the camouflage coloring needed to survive in the wild. Captive albino alligators must be kept in dark shaded areas away from the sun to prevent serious sunburn. They are also given vitamin D3 as a part of their diet to make up for their lack of UV radiation. They are also inherently visually impaired so they do not move around very often which could be dangerous for them.

I was happy to see that Claude had returned to his home. In January he had an infection in his foot due to his housemate Bonnie who had inadvertently stepped on his foot and as a result, Claude needed to be treated.



While I was there yesterday, I did not see Bonnie. Claude was lounging around by his heated rock. He didn't move very much. Every once in a while you'd see his leg or tail move. I think he just enjoyed the attention and wanted to relax a bit.



While I am not a big fan of alligators I have to say I grew very fond of Claude. He was the one main attraction I wanted to see during my visit and I was not disappointed.

I took many photos and video while at the Academy of Sciences yesterday so I will be posting more over the next few days with a complete review at the end of this series so check back daily.

BTW, clicking on the photos will give you a larger and detailed look. Enjoy!

Ghirardelli Square Uncorked?

Photo courtesy of www.ghirardellisq.com

Ghirardelli Square "Uncorks" on May 16th. This annual event in San Francisco is a favorite among bay area dwellers and tourists. With over 50 wineries participating in this palate pleasing soiree there is enough to go around for everyone.

I have been to this event many times and I absolutely love it. In addition to the wineries there are cooking demonstrations which are always a favorite of mine and live music which for me is the main event at this festival.

The event is free however if you buy tickets there is an unlimited availability of wine tasting throughout the festival.

I also want to personally thank Lyndsay Maxon for this fantastic annual event. So, come on out to the square on the 16th and join the fun.

For more information including a schedule of events visit the Ghirardelli Square website.

Wordless Wednesday - Fishing Boats @ Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco

Offering Rights To Your Poetry

When submitting your poetry to magazine or ezines the editors will usually stipulate what rights they acquire. I’m going to explain each of these so you’ll know exactly what they mean.

1. First Serial Rights. This means that the poem has never before been published and the poet is offering their poem for publication for the first time to the magazine.

2. One Time Rights or Simultaneous Rights means that the publication has nonexclusive rights to publish the poem once. So, basically you can submit your accepted poem to other publications at the same time. It means you retain all rights to your poem.

3. Second Serial Reprint Rights. This means that publications will accept your poetry which have been previously published elsewhere. With these rights you will have to indicate the name of the publication which first published your poem.

4. Electronic Rights. This means online magazines, CD poetry readings etc… Some online magazines also archive their issues.

5. Relinquishing all Rights. There are instances where a magazine or publisher will ask for “all rights” which means that you basically turn over your rights to the publisher and cannot publish that particular poem anywhere else. It’s not a good idea to relinquish all rights however there are instances when you can. It’s up to you. Example: Last year I entered a poetry contest where the winner received a round-trip ticket to Hong Kong. I won the contest and as a result had to give up my rights to that poem. Normally I never give up rights to my poetry but this was a free trip to Hong Kong so I gave up my rights to that particular poem. You have to do what is right for you and work with the publication on that issue. You normally won’t find many publications asking you for “all rights.”

Let me know if you have any questions regarding these rights.

Upcoming Performances With Sony Holland

Here is a listing of Sony and Jerry's performances for May and early June. Cafe Divine is a great venue and has wonderful food so I hope to see all you out there this month. Thanks, Jo

Sony and Jerry's new blog: http://lyricandmelody.blogspot.com
New Videos: http://sonyholland.com/sony_holland_002.htm
New Reviews: http://sonyholland.com/sony_holland_009.htm

A TIP for the budget conscious…(aren’t we all!)
http://www.goldstar.com sells discount tickets for many concerts, plays
and events in the Bay Area.

Performance schedule for May and early June:
* Please note the CONCERT at the Peninsula JCC on June 6th.

PLAZA BISTRO, 420 1st Street East, Sonoma, CA, (707) 996-4466
Friday, May 1st, 7:00-10:00

CAFÉ DIVINE, 1600 Stockton Street @ Union, San Francisco, (415) 986-3414
Sunday, May 3rd, 7:00-9:00
Sunday, May 17th, 7:00-9:00
Sunday, May 31st, 7:00-9:00
Sunday, June 7th, 7:00-9:00

CAFÉ ROYALE, 800 Post Street @ Leavenworth, San Francisco, (415) 441-4099
Sunday, May 10th, 6:00-8:00

RICKEY’S, 250 Entrada Drive, Novato, CA, (415) 883 9477
Friday, May 29th, 7:00-10:00

* PENINSULA JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
800 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, CA, (650) 212-7522
Saturday, June 6th
Doors: 7:30 p.m.
Concert: 8:00 p.m.

http://www.sonyholland.com

Those Dancing Days Are Gone

This song from the poem by William Butler Yeats, composed by First Lady of France Carla Bruni - Sarkozy and sung by vocalist Sony Holland is an absolute favorite of mine. This video was taken at the Sony Holland Rrazz Rroom concert in San Francisco a few weeks ago.
Enjoy!

Those Dancing Days Are Gone

Come, let me sing into your ear;
Those dancing days are gone,
All the silk and satin gear;
Crouch upon a stone
Wrapping that foul body up
In as foul a rag:
I carry the sun in a golden cup
The moon in a silver bag.

Curse as you may I sing it through;
What matter if the knave
That the most could pleasure you,
The children that he gave,
Are somewhere sleeping like a top
Under a marble flag?
I carry the sun in a golden cup
The moon in a silver bag.

I thought it out this very day,
Noon upon the clock,
A man may put pretence away
Who leans upon a stick,
may sing, and sing until he drop
Whether to maid or hag:
I carry the sun in a golden cup
The moon in a silver bag.

Lyrics - courtesy of www.seeklyrics.com

Sony Holland Quartet @ The Rrazz Room - Review

Photo courtesy of www.sf.eater.com



Photo courtesy of Terry Dudlley and www.sonyholland.com - All Rights Reserved


The Rrazz Room situated within the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco is fast becoming the premier venue for entertainment. It has been opened for a little over a year and has attracted some of the Bay Area's biggest names and talents.

The room itself is located in the lobby area of the hotel with a great little bar and lounge setting adjacent to the concert room. The lounge area is one of those comfortable settings where you can just relax and even doze off on one of those gloriously overstuffed couches. Although I don't drink, I've heard that the bar itself is a "drinker's paradise."

The most important aspect of a concert venue for me is the stage. The stage should be the focal point of the room. When I walked into the Rrazz Room I felt as if I were walking into a huge concert hall. The stage literally speaks to you as you arrive. The room itself has a mixture of small table vignettes which face the stage. There are actually three levels in the room yet no matter where you sit, you can enjoy an intimate setting with fantastic views of the stage. We were there three different nights for the Sony Holland show and had perfect seating each visit. The sound in that room is impeccable. Again, the sound is the same whether you are sitting up front or in the back.

I was so happy with the lighting in the room. I was able to see Sony and the band without any problem at all even while sitting further away from the stage. I was also able to get a decent snapshot without flash which never happens at other venues.

The service is outstanding in that they were not only friendly but available as well without being intrusive. They knew when to approach for your second drink order and had your bill ready by the end of the show. Service is important during these concerts and I have to say that the Rrazz Room has the best that I've experienced.

I also have to mention the seating. We arrived each night about a half hour before the show and received maitre D' seating. Believe me that there are not many venues out there who provide this service and if they do, they normally don't with a smile. The Rrazz Room gets top honors on this one for me.

After the show right outside the room by the lounge area there is a spot where you can meet the entertainer and buy cd's. It's a great little setup. The Rrazz Room gets a five out of five stars from me. I will definitely be checking out more shows at that venue.

SONY HOLLAND
Vocalist Sony Holland and her quartet - Benny Watson-piano, Jeff Buenz-guitar, Seward McCain-bass and Alan Hall-drums, dazzled the audience with their rock, reggae and jazz expertise. With rock classics like You Never Can Tell by Chuck Berry to pop favorites such as Honky Cat by Elton John and jazz standards like My Romance, each tune was perfectly suited to Sony's unique interpretation. Her vocal range and ability to flow flawlessly from one key into another is simply nothing short of perfection. Her passions ignite when performing haunting ballads like Sanssouci by Rufus Wainwright and When I Find You by Jerry Holland. While on the other hand she can rock out with the best of them on All I Really Want To Do by Bob Dylan.

William Butler Yeats was known for his obscure and mystical poetic voice. One of his poems "Those Dancing Days Are Gone" was set to music by Carla Bruni - Sarkozy (The first lady of France). This oddly delightful tune sung by Sony Holland and arranged with a reggae beat is an absolute masterpiece. I love it and it is a favorite among her fans. During her concerts I always look forward to a few special tunes and this is one of them.

The Jerry Holland originals are always a special treat for everyone including Sony. She sings his tunes with a passion in her eyes that can just fill your heart with love. While watching the show on Wednesday night during her performance of "When I Find You" by Jerry Holland, my friend turned to me and uttered "When I hear one of Jerry's new songs, I just fall in love all over again." It's true. That particular song stuck in my head for days after the concert. Being a writer myself, all I can say is I wish I had half his talent.

Seeing Sony perform is always a special occasion for me. Seeing her perform in a top notch venue like the Rrazz Room makes it all the more special. So, as a special treat for all of you here is a video of Sony singing the Rufus Wainwright hit "Sanssouci" during her show.



I want to thank the Rrazz Room for that spectacular concert series with Sony Holland and hope to see her there again soon. For more information on The Rrazz Room and Sony Holland, click the links below.

The Rrazz Room www.therrazzroom.com

Sony Holland www.sonyholland.com

My Photos Of The Dale Chihuly Exhibit @ The DeYoung Museum

Bolivian Rhythms

I remember these tunes
so vividly in my mind
Bolivian rhythms
wafting across the square.

Haunting flutes
echo against
once forgotten senses.

The memories linger
sweet incantations
swirling pulses
throughout my veins.

Ethnic vibrations
chanting strings
tell of the stories

hidden in my soul.

Sunday Dinner

3/29/24 - 7/9/94

Sunday Dinner
For Mom

Pass the parmesan, Uncle Louie

and let's toast with the family chianti!

"Mia familia mangia con gusto

Genovese pasta con pesto"

Papa, may I be excused?

"Hey Franco, chew your food"

Papa, but I have a date!

"If he respects you, he will wait"

Aunt Maria, you're sitting so quiet

"Forgive her, she's on a diet"

Mama can't hear herself think

she just smiles and sips her drink.

Her family is together.

Writer's Block

She awaits

the rise of the moon

when the call of the wild

imbues creative energies

waiting to be set free.

The notebook paper

stares back at her

naked, a desolate wilderness

desperately longing

to be clothed

in artistic garb.

Her pen

a broken instrument

with which she holds on for life

yet falls dead within her fingers

and the paper sits bare, alone

clinging to nothingness

devoid of essence.

With the slow demise

of her cerebral fashionista

the paper seems familiar

as it mirrors the blank corridors

of her mind.

Sanitized by it's emptiness

both mind and paper

And the silence is deafening.

A quiet oasis begging

for the wind to breathe life

into this mindless desert,

yet the wind stifled

and her thoughts stand still

going nowhere.

Though enticing as it seems

this recycled slab of wood pulp

lies undistinguished

a bare bones form

without meaning,

just as her mind

sits unknown

in skeletal remains

without image.

And she writes.

4:00 am madness

Startled, I awaken in an anxiety born stupor. It's 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning. In the distance a siren announces a 911 while a car alarm bellows out of control. Cars race an uncontrollable rage through empty streets. Light flickers through my window yet I know there is no light outside other than the moon displaying it's devilish grin. Is it a warning? I scare myself into blind paralysis. Staring into oblivion my body is frozen with fear. The incessant ticking of the clock - a breathing crescendo drowning my pulse. Paper rustling outside my door though the wind silent. Is it the house settling? A raccoon rummaging? Or, is it my mind damning my sensibilities?

Haunting memories invade speaking to me in tongues, unexplained. Nocturnal entities without form parade the darkness. I shrink under the covers yet the unheard and unseen more frightening than the perception of reality I cannot escape. A sudden scream wails from a neighboring house and my senses freeze. It becomes difficult to breathe and my body shivers. Fear surrounds me. I sit up in my bed afraid of what torture lies ahead within my mind, outside my door. The wooden gate within the yard slams shut. Still, there is no wind. My heart races. Each nerve a pulsating tendril. Embraced by fear all I can do is wait for the arrival of day.

The first commuter train barrels down the street and I know dawn is near. The distinct sound of a plane overhead reminds me of a friend half a world away and I smile. The restlessness of the night fades and I fall into an apprehensive slumber knowing there was something out there, but what?

Tired, I awaken from a dream of which I cannot recall. For some reason my ex weighs heavily on my mind though I don't know why. Maybe it's because I miss the perfect yellow rose I'd receive every Sunday morning. I walk across the room and open my door to the courtyard breathing in the crisp fragrant floral foliage. The sun shines with a positive arrogance leaving me optimistic of the day's journey. Stepping outside I find perched upon my doorstep, a withered yellow rose.

nameless faces

Walking foreign steps

to the rhythm of taiko

the pulse of erhu

dancing buddhas.

Cantonese croonings

lotus flower soft

silk smooth

operatic chants.

Lanterns parade

a welcome smile

nameless faces

yet known.

Humid mist

Eastern breeze

incense fog

scents of life.

and the journey begins