06 February 2009

Redemption Song + Happy Birthday Bob Marley

I have a very clear memory of listening to this song in my girlfriend Barbara's orange VW bus. We were rastabouting, then got quiet, turned the volume all the way up and solemnly sang every word to this great song, sunlight pouring in on our glowing skin, all of us staring straight ahead (lovingly looking from one to another at various moments), and Barbara Joy just driving on, up A1A, salt water air rolling over our heads and into our lungs. Today is Barb Marley's birthday. Praise Jah for a soul (and a voice) such as his.

Redemption Song, Bob Marly, circa 1979

Old pirates, yes, they rob I;
Sold I to the merchant ships,
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit.
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty.
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly.
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy,
'Cause none of them can stop the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look? Ooh!
Some say it's just a part of it:
We've got to fulfill the Book.

Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs.
---
/Guitar break/
---
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our mind.
Wo! Have no fear for atomic energy,
'Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look?
Yes, some say it's just a part of it:
We've got to fulfill the book.
Won't you have to sing
These songs of freedom? -
'Cause all I ever had:
Redemption songs -
All I ever had:
Redemption songs:
These songs of freedom,
Songs of freedom.


One love,
Ama

05 February 2009

I'm a Fan {Eating is an Art, Like Everything Else (I Do It Exceptionally Well)}


I read a lot. I read good books. Good writing. Which means I'm not often surprised by a book, not all that much anyway. So, I am happy to report, that while my news is late, Julie & Julia by Julie Powell surprised me endlessly, joyfully, sweetly, delightedly, and completely. Though I heard all the buzz when the book came out, I failed to get to it until last night. Ms. Powell is as much a joy to read as Ruth Reichl and David Sedaris, two writers whose works and lives are feasts of humor and hunger all by themselves. But put the two together? Out of this world. Julie & Julia will soon be a movie. Check out the video below:





Julie Powell still blogs (the book was born out of her "Julie/Julia Project, " blogging about conquering all 500-and-some-odd recipes in the wonderful Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking), and she has a new book forthcoming, titled Cleave. I am late to the Julie party, but I am most certainly a boisterous guest. Who won't leave). Go. Get. It. Now. xoxo Ama

04 February 2009

Papaya Art. So. Delicious & Juicy.










These amazing prints, calendars, canvas reproductions, file folders, magnets, and notepads, really make me feel like living a life I've always dreamed of. One that is colorful and warm and generous and sweet and certain. Check out more at the Papayalicious web site.

03 February 2009

For My Dear Friend, Dana

Who used to collect these Fisher Price people (via Pixie Gene on Flickr), is an amazing mom to the 2 cutie-patooties pictured above--3-and-almost-3-quarter-year-old Luca and the super-prosh, super-strong, very smart and sweet little 3-week-and-3-day-old buster named Matteo. I just felt like telling her she's awesome and I love her lots. Visit her here.

Sometimes, I Get Mad

And I have to look at pictures of cute cats to calm down. But sometimes, the cats are mad, too.

02 February 2009

Spanish Omelet + Vicky Cristina Barcelona

What a lovely Sunday afternoon I had. My friend Debbie, who lived in Spain for many years, made us a divine thing: The Spanish Omlet. Consisting of potatoes and yellow onions softened to smooth, velvet heaven whilst slow-fried in a pan of olive oil , mixed with whipped eggs and fine sea salt and baked into seraphic proportions of deliciousness. Absolute heaven. What made this dish even more sublime? Watching Woody Allen's latest, Vicky Cristina Barcelona. A wonderful, funny, touching, and stunningly gorgeous romantic comedy starring Javier Bardem (swoon), Penelope Cruz (amazing), Rebecca Hall (the character Woody Allen would play if he were a beautiful young woman), and Scarlett Johansson. (He's really redeemed himself from the slow torture that was Cassandra's Dream.) I am seriously considering getting a passport and moving to Barcelona to teach English (+ have torrid affairs with insanely charming Spanish men). Seriously. (Omelette Pic via Flickr. Recipe via Spain Recipes. Images via the Vicky Cristina Barcelona official site.)