La Dolce Vanessa

Monday, 19 September 2011

One Last Helping of Virgos ...

Interesting Virgos that I forgot in my earlier posts:

William Wilberforce (abolitionist: August 24, 1759)

Margaret Sanger (sex educator, birth control activist, founder of Planned Parenthood: September 14, 1879)

Siegfried Sassoon (World War I soldier, poet, memoirist: September 8, 1886)

David Dellinger (activist, former member of the Chicago Eight: August 22, 1915)

Benedetta Barzini (former actress and model, feminist activist: September 22, 1943)

"Brother" Jack McDuff (hard bop/soul jazz organist: September 17, 1926)

Julian "Cannonball" Adderley (hard bop alto saxophonist: September 15, 1928)

Howard Zinn (activist, writer: August 24, 1922)

Brigitte De Pape (freelance writer, actress, activist: September 14, 1989)

Coming Out, Taking Flight, On the Air

After five years on the air at a university/community radio station, and having been in transition for eight months now, I am ready to take flight ... on the air. Not take flight from my show, but rather take flight on it. On Sunday, October 2, I will be coming out, as DJ V, on the air, to my audience. And like almost all of my episodes since the fall of 2006, this one will be podcast for posterity.

It's very exciting! It's also unnerving, as I know that I'm inching ever close to disclosing my transition to my family. So "taking flight" is an apt description as I will be taking a huge leap this fall and will leave the security of the ground beneath me.

Wish me luck!

Saturday, 17 September 2011

`Miss You, Mom

It was a Saturday, September 17, 1994 when I, my grandmother and dozens of my mother`s friends stood and sat around her in her palliative care room and said goodbye to her for the last time. Today, I feel not so much sadness as reflection. Mom, this post is for you ... Love, Vanessa.

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

A Rose For Amy

Amy Jade Winehouse would have been twenty-eight today. Who knows which direction popular music would have taken over the next decade, had she still been alive. We will never know. With just two albums in her short career Winehouse, and music itself seemed destined for great things once again; classic soul and vocal jazz have experienced a renaissance as a result. In the current issue of MOJO, former Ronettes lead singer Ronnie Spector (herself a huge influence on Winehouse) paid a touching tribute to the soul singer-songwriter.

Also today, on MTV and VH1, Winehouse's duet with Tony Bennett on the classic jazz standard "Body and Soul" was released. The track is also featured on Bennett's upcoming album of duets with a variety of singers. Proceeds from the Winehouse and Bennett track will go to benefit to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, launched today by Amy's father Mitch to "raise awareness and support for organizations that help vulnerable, young adults with problems such as addiction."

Tuesday, 6 September 2011

Happy Birthday ... à Moi!!!

Yep, on this day in 1970 I entered the world (cue fanfare!!!)! 41 isn't the landmark that 40 was. It's kind of low-key actually; the way I like it these days. Needless to say, the last couple of years have been turbulent (not that the rest of the world hasn't been), so a nice quiet day in the garden (okay, maybe a couple of small errands) is in order. With my ongoing transition, there will definitely be more turbulence (and joy, of course) to come. All the folks on my obsessive Virgo-themed blog posts (it doesn't get more Virgo than that ;)) remind me that, past and present, I'm in great company! And thanks to everybody (you know who you are <3) for their birthday wishes!

Alors ... bonne fête à moi!