Sam LaHood and new bride Katie.

Current Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood’s, youngest son, Sam, is among 10 American and European citizens denied permission to leave Egypt.  I was instantly taken back to the day when Sam, our next-door neighbor (then aged about five), wandered down our court one day, while the family down the street was at the cemetery burying a family member. When the family returned and entered their unlocked house, they found little “Sammy,” who had climbed up on the counter-top to help himself to a snack. “Sammy” was a darling little guy and has grown into a handsome young man who was married to new wife Katie on September 5, 2011, in Bermuda.

Transportation Secretary LaHood told the (Moline, IL) Dispatch (Jan. 27, 2012, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services) that his son’s detention is “absolutely an escalation. It’s de facto detention.” Last month, Egyptian officials raided Sam LaHood’s Cairo offices where he was director of the Washington-based International Republican Institute’s Egyptian program.  This week, Egyptian newspapers announced that as many as forty foreigners were to appear in court next month on charges of “illicit foreign funding.”  The move detaining so many foreign nationals is viewed as a crackdown on foreign pro-democracy groups by the generals in power.

 When the LaHood family lived near us in East Moline, Illinois, Sam’s father, Ray LaHood, was director of the Rock Island County Youth Service Bureau and served for three years as chief planner at the Bi-State Metropolitan Planning Commission, (now called the Bi-State Regional Commission.) The elder LaHood, a Republican, also worked for former U.S. Representatives Tom Railsback and Bob Michel before serving in the House for 14 years from Peoria. LaHood has announced plans to retire at the end of Obama’s first term.

Ray LaHood’s oldest son, Darin, was  appointed to the Illinois State Senate on February 27, 2010, and took office on March 1, 2010, the day after incumbent Dale Risinger retired from representing the seven-county thirty-seventh legislative district in Illinois.

The Color of Evil, the first novel in a trilogy that focuses on young Tad McGreevy, a boy with paranormal abilities, is ready to launch on Amazon and Barnes & Noble very shortly. A review of it has already appeared here: 

http://wordalert1.blogspot.com/2012/01/color-of-evil.html

"The Color of Evil," first in a trilogy about a young boy with paranormal abilities, will soon be available as an E-book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Newt Gingrich in Davenport (IA) on Dec. 19, 2011.

Newt Gingrich spoke at Global Security Services in Davenport, Iowa at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19, to a small crowd of approximately 100 people. There was no press check-in, which was odd, but there was food, which was also unusual. Only 10 chairs were set up in what appeared to be a garage. And a garage across from the Col Ballroom—not the best part of town— an area which the national media following the campaign were photographing in all its paint-peeling glory.

Face the Nation Appearance

The day prior, Newt  appeared on the Sunday, Dec. 18 “Face the Nation” program with Bob Schieffer, where he discounted the Des Moines Register’s endorsement of opponent Mitt Romney saying it was from a liberal paper. He touted his own endorsement by the Manchester Union Leader. [Iowans would not  categorize the Register as liberal.] At that time, he dodged Schieffer’s charges (from Romney) that he was “an unreliable leader in the Conservative movement.” Newt laughed when asked if he had asked for Christine O”Donnell’s (“I am not a witch”) endorsement, which Romney also got. Newt also seemed proud when he said, “I’m not a lawyer. I call that an advantage.”

Newt Gingrich.

From that point on,  Newt rambled about the 1958 Warren Court, the Federalist papers (and the abolishing of over 1/2 of the judges that had just been placed in their posts, by Thomas Jefferson) and called the Dred Scott decision, extending a ban on slavery to the entire nation, bad. (So did Bachmann in the last Republican debate). Newt most famously and repetitively  attacked the 9th Circuit Court because of its stance on “one nation, under God” and repeated that assertion on Monday in Davenport.

Newt: “Everything you’ve heard is true.”

For a guy who’s been married 3 times (cheated on his first 2 wives and asked for a divorce when the first was in the hospital recovering from cancer surgery), who has now announced that he is Catholic (in deference to wife #3), he sure has a “holier-than-thou” attitude. [I'm Catholic, and I'm even wondering how a man who has already been married two times can BE married, as a Catholic. Plus, he's only BEEN a Catholic for 2 years.] And I’m not even going to get into his censuring by Congress or the lobbying charges hurled by Bachmann in the last debate.

Evangelical Voters in Iowa

Newt points the finger.

I don’t think Newt is fooling the Evangelicals in Iowa (or anywhere else.) In a piece entitled “Pastors: Newt Gingrich Is Empty Suit With Broken Zipper” by Tony Leys on 12/13, the Reverend Albert Calaway of Indianola wrote, “Mr. Gingrich is the Don Draper of 2012.  When it comes to his character record, he’s a very fine, empty suit with a broken zipper. Christians in Iowa—and I understand many of his old U.S. House colleagues as well—desperately want to see a changed man, yet we keep on seeing a glib, wordy cheater. On all fronts, Newt should just be faithful.” The Reverend went on, “When you endorse a check, you sign it.  When you get married, you sign the license. When you sign a contract or covenant, that means you are all in. But, Mr. Gingrich has yet to sign for many things which Christian Iowa cares about very deeply.”

Ouch!

The Courts

Larry Riney, author of the book on the "Effie Afton" and the Lincoln/Douglas debates, is this you in the crowd?

Newt also took some flak from Schieffer (on “Face the Nation”)  over Newt’s avowed intention to reform the courts. Schieffer wanted to know: “Wouldn’t your policies throw the courts into chaos?” Newt pointed out that there were 80 judgeships vacant out of 800 and continued his attack on judges, in general. “There is a fundamental conflict underway about what kind of country we’re going to be,” said the Now Holy candidate. This quote (from Dec. 5, 2011 “Newsweek”) is also telling: “A country which has been, since 1963, relentlessly in the courts driving God out of public life shouldn’t be surprised at all the problems we have because we’ve in fact attempted to create a secular country, which I think is frankly a nightmare.” Oh, Puh-leese. This from the same man who was having an affair while prosecuting Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky mess.

That statement was made at the FAMiLY Leader debate, where Vander Plaats, who ran unsuccessfully for Governor against Terry Branstadt said, “Though they don’t embrace or endorse or condone his (newt’s) personal past,. they might be more willing to get over that if he’s the best one to lead to preserve the America they want for their children.” Well, Bob, he’s not. Get over it. Newt is Newt, and, as he said on Monday—the day after his “Face the Nation” appearance—”I’m really different than what they’re (Washington, D.C.) used to.” I would say that this comment, as well, is quite disingenuous, since Newt has spent more time in Washington than any of the other potential candidates, with the possible exception of Libertarian Texas Senator Ron Paul, who’s got to be the oldest guy running for anything (born Aug. 20, 1935).

An unidentified audience member catches the mood of the crowd.

The Dec. 5 “Newsweek” article stated —erroneously, I feel—”The Bible makes room for complicated, morally compromised heroes. Now Christian conservatives, desperate for an alternative to Mitt Romney, are learning to do so as well.” That was Michelle Goldberg’s view in an article entitled “Let There Be Newt.” No, Michelle, Iowans are not learning any such thing, and if you were from these parts, you’d have picked up on that, but, apparently, you’re not and you haven’t.  Today’s Huffington Post polls show Ron Paul surging at 24%, Romney at 20% and Newt sliding into oblivion at 14%. The article was written by someone named Michelle Goldberg and accompanied by a picture of Newt with a halo light effect. I have a feeling that Ms. Goldberg is not from around here, she said wryly.

The Mainstream Media’s Take
The national media I spoke with today characterized Newt’s appearance this day as “Newt’s book tour” (he’s written 24) and a pushy woman in a red dress seemed to be barking orders about “the books” and getting the books out for purchase. There were precious few other workers apparent. Newt, himself, said in closing, “We need folks in every precincts.

Apparently Newt needs more workers to contact potential caucus-goers, since 60% had been contacted by Romney’s people, according to a poll by the “New York Times,” 47% by Ron Paul’s, and only 30%—-1/2 of what Romney has scored—by Gingrich’s workers. The comment made to me by the other press was that, “He’s disorganized.”

Newt quotes from his Davenport Dec. 19, 2011 appearance :

Zepelin, a guide dog for the blind, toughs out the speech with trainer Julie Hogenson of Princeton, Iowa.

On negative ads:  “The only person who profits from negative ads is Barack Obama, and I think that’s pretty reprehensible behavior.” (Meanwhile, outside in the parking lot, ironically enough, opponents were placing negative flyers under our car door handles.) Most of the carping was about Newt’s taking money from Freddie Mac as a “lobbyist” by some other name.

On Israel:  “I’m not prepared to see Israel annihilated. …We need to give a sense that we are a leading country and willing to defend ourselves.”  In watching GPS (Global Public Square) with Fahreed Zakaria on Sunday, December 18th,  all of the panelists. which included the Jewish editor of the “New Yorker” magazine and well-known Republican speechwriter Peggy Noonan, decried the constant harping by the Republican candidates on Israel as the sum and substance of U.S. foreign policy. All saw it as pandering to the United States  Jewish vote. All noted that foreign policy is notoriously complex and simply declaring one’s support for Israel ignores the complexity of modern foreign policy. Most of the panelists, in fact, were complimentary of Obama’s handling of the Libyan situation. Newt then added that he had “taught 1 and 2 star generals” and you just got the feeling that his giant ego could barely be contained. The man has a HUGE head and  a HUGE ego to go with it.

On North Korea (whose leader, Kim Jong II died recently): “We have no idea whether the new regime will be more open or worse.” [Well, gee, Newt. I'll alert the media to that insightful bit of hot air.]

This man spoke up about having to work into his 60s and 70s, not being able to count on Social Security, which Newt did not seem particularly keen on preserving.

On the economy:  “I believe it is possible to turn around the economy with amazing speed…That’s why we need a program for very dramatic job creation.” (No specifics offered.) Newt cited Ronald Reagan creating one million jobs in August of 1993 and unemployment dropping from 10.8 to 5.6% during Reagan’s years. Those were very different years, and I don’t see Ronnie (Trickle Down) Reagan anywhere around at this time. Nor do I see ANY president capable of turning around the economy “with amazing speed.” That includes Romney .

On Social Security:  “People should not have to depend on politicians, nor be threatened by the loss of their Social Security check.” Newt seemed to be in favor of letting people not pay in to Social Security and save the money themselves….which, of course, is problematic if they do not.

On college students and student loans:  “They (students at the College of the Ozarks, Newt’s model college for financial assistance) all do real work. I’m an advocate of real work.” Newt held up some College in the Ozarks to a student from Iowa State University in Ames who asked him a question about public education. The student noted that the average student debt for  Ames graduates is $48,000. She wanted to know if that was “public education.” Ames is a fine school. To tell Iowa State University that they should start taking cues from a college in the Ozarks that nobody has ever heard of sounded lame.

On gun ownership:  “Our rights will not be taken away from us by a dictatorial government.” Nice rhetoric. Again, no substantive policy discussion.

The sparse crowd. Only 10 chairs, and 2 of them are empty.

On  Freddie Mac and charges that he received over a million ($1.2 million? $1.6 million?) in payment for lobbying efforts for them:  “I should have had a much more coherent answer. The Gingrich Group was hired. I only made about $35,000 a year.  I make more than that for speeches.” Again, your ego is showing, Newt. Take it down a notch.

On his run for the White House:  “I am really different than what they’re used to.” About that time, as a joke, he said, “It’s tricky for me to turn to the left, but I’m trying.” Whatever Newt does seems “tricky,” to me, and I am not surprised that Donald Trump seemed to be his biggest supporter, while none of the 12 people he served with in Congress has come out and endorsed him, nor did John Boehner during his appearance on “Meet the Press” on Sunday, December 18th.

Would he propose a new Contract with America?  “Yes. I’d use executive orders to do away with 100 to 200 White House czars on my first day in office.” I wonder if he would bring up some of his less feasible ideas about Mars, et. al.? About this time, Newt began comparing Obama to Saul Alinsky. I doubt if many in the room knew much about Saul Alinsky. I did not, so I looked him up when I got home. Here are the results:

Saul Alinsky Reference

Newt signing books, which went on for quite some time.

Saul Alinsky was born in Chicago in 1909 and became a cracker-jack community organizer.  Adlai Stevenson said of Alinsky:  “Alinsky’s aims most faithfully reflect our ideals of brotherhood, tolerance, charity and dignity of the individual.” If you don’t like Adlai Stevenson, consider that William F. Buckley, that Conservative icon said of him that he was a near-genius at organizing.

Alinsky wrote, “What follows is for those who want to change the world from what it is to what they believe it should be. ‘The Prince’ was written by Machiavelli for the Haves on how to hold power. My book was written for the Have-Nots on how to take it away.”

Wikipedia goes on to say that Alinsky would not join political organizations of any kind, including those he formed. He said, when asked about Communist and Socialist parties, “I prize my independence too much. And, philosophically, I could never accept any rigid dogma or ideology, whether it’s Christianity or Marxism.  One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as ‘that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you’re right.’ If you don’t have that, if you think you’ve got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated. The greatest crimes in history have been perpetrated by such religious and political and racial fanatics, from the persecutions of the Inquisition on down to Communist purges and Nazi genocide.” When I heard the term(s) “intellectually constipated” and “doctrinaire” and read Alinsky’s description of someone who thinks they know everything, Newt’s name was used to illustrate this personality trait.

So, here’s my question: Why would it be a “bad” thing to be compared to a man who tried to help the poor and disenfranchised to organize and get their fair share? Newt’s comparison of Obama to Alinsky seems to be the fear of the rich white man who sees his grip on power threatened by the likes of the Occupy movement.

Debates Ad Nauseum

Newt Gingrich.

Last,  but not least, Gingrich told the audience (citing the Lincoln/Douglas debates) that, if he is the candidate, he wants to debate Obama constantly and that, if Obama will not agree, he would let the White House be his scheduler and arrive in the towns where Obama was to speak 4 hours behind him.  “Unlike the president, I studied American history,” crowed Gingrich. Right. And Obama studied law at Harvard and life in the streets of both Chicago, the Philippines and Hawaii.  Gingrich went on to say, “How can he say he is afraid to debate some guy who taught at West Georgia College?” (He hasn’t said it, that I have heard.) And Newt added, “I will concede in advance that he can use a teleprompter.” Wow! That old Speaker of the House arrogance just rolled off Newt’s back like water off a duck’s.

Woman Hurt at Rally

I hope this woman had an X-ray. Check out the bump on her forehead.

Gingrich then signed a book for a very nice elderly lady from Florida who fell down on her way into the garage (missed the step) and took a very nasty fall onto hard concrete, giving herself a huge goose egg on her forehead. I urged Lou Phillips to get an X-ray after she said, “Oh, the EMTs looked at it.” All I could think of was Liam Neeson’s loss of his wife, Vanessa Redgrave’s daughter, the actress Natasha Richardson, who fell while skiing and hit her head, but said she was “fine” for several hours afterward, ultimately dying from the fall.

After the rally was over, we were not allowed to leave until Elvis had left the building and we were sternly warned not to take any pictures or video. [Like anyone wanted to.] All the national press referenced this appearance as “Newt’s book tour.”

Polls Show Gingrich Falling; Paul Rising

Gingrich, put a brave face in the wake of the release of a new (Dec. 19) Huffington Post survey of 597 caucus-goers that shows Ron Paul at 23%, Mitt Romney at 20% and Newt sinking to 14% saying, “President Ronald Reagan was 30 points behind in the polls at this same time in his presidential run.”

That sounds about right, and it is what I predicted days ago: a Ron Paul surge. Let’s face it: Bachmann and Santorum are toast. Perry has done himself in with his “oops” moments. Cain was not able.  Romney may take the nomination, nationally, but Iowans are peeved that he didn’t come here and court them, as he did in 2008.

Romney in 2008

That year, Romney started with his $10 million of ads in March (of 2007) and visited all 99 counties (either himself or via his family members). This year, he spent only about a week in Iowa and had spent $3.1 million on TV and radio spots, but had only used about $868,000 of it, to date.

The Col Ballroom on W. 4th St., across from the rally, in a decidedly seedy part of Daveport, Iowa.

I did hear some rumblings about Perry’s ads from the locals, also. They don’t like them.

If Iowa could give their seal of approval to Huckabee in 2008, despite the fact that he didn’t win the party’s nomination, there is nothing to stop them from anointing Ron Paul this time. Yes, he’s ancient. Yes, he’s flakey. But he’s likeable and the young support him. He won’t win the national nomination, but anybody but Newt!

"Laughing through Life," a collection of humorous essays and anecdotes now on a Virtual Tour.

Just a reminder that December 7 at 7 p.m. I’ll be at the Bettendorf Public Library (Lillienthal Room, I think) both reading two short humorous selections from “Laughing through Life” (one only takes a minute and a half) but, also, playing carols (2 per instrument) on both accordion and piano for your sing-along pleasure.

Since one of the funny pieces is about a cat, that will be a logical segue for showing you my new Christmas book “The Christmas Cats in Silly Hats,” which is short. At 11 a.m. on Dec. 10th, Emily Marquez of Venezuela will be at Barnes & Noble with me to sign copies, which will be at a special pre-Christmas sale price of $10!

At 2:30 p.m., Emily and I will be at Razzleberries in LeClaire, because Mr. C, the store cat, invited us.

At 6 p.m., Emily and I will be in Geneseo in the window of the Four Seasons store for their annual Christmas walk. Come out and meet a girl from Venezuela who hasn’t seen any small-town Midwestern life (she’s been in Chicago) and welcome her to our local communities. She speaks excellent English and, as one of the illustrators, will happily sign our book for you at the bargain price of only $10 for the cat book and $10.95 for the humor book.

We wish that Andy Weinert could be with us (the other illustrator) but he is graduating from Northern Illinois University on December 11th with an advanced degree in Graphic Arts. Way to go, Andy!

A cool Christmas books for children aged 2-7.

"Laughing through Life:' humorous essays and anecdotes.

Although I’ve sent my schedule to both newspapers and the “River City Reader,” which has a nice write-up online right now, here is a reminder of when and where you can find me during the run-up to Christmas, with my two new books, The Christmas Cats in Silly Hats and/or Laughing through Life.

Both books are brand new. One is a collection of funny anecdotes and essays similar to Erma Bombeck or David Sedaris. I’ll be reading a couple short selections from that book at the Bettendorf Public Library during a free presentation on December 7 at 7 p.m., with free refreshments (delicious cookies from the Village Bakery) and piano and accordion accompaniment(s) for some brief caroling. I’ll also have the children’s cat book, The Christmas Cats in Silly Hats.

The next place I’ll be with the book is the District in Rock Island during the December 2nd Gallery Hop. (Atlante Trattoria restaurant). On December 3rd, I’ll be at the East Moline Public Library from 12:30 to approximately 1:30 before joining other local authors at Barnes & Noble at Northpark for a fundraiser for the Midwest Writing Center that starts earlier than I’ll get there. I’ll stay at B&N for about 2 hours (2 to 4, approximately) before relocating within the Woodland Gallery in the Village of East Davenport.

"The Christmas Cats in Silly Hats" for 3 to 5-year-olds; full-color Dr. Seussical book.

On December 7th, it’s the Bettendorf Public Library’s free “Readlocal” promotion. First floor room. On December 10th, one of the illustrators of the book, Emily Marquez of Venezuela (see article in the “River City Reader”) will join me at 11 a.m. at Barnes & Noble at Northpark Mall and again at the Victorian Christmas Walk in Geneseo.

Hope to see you there! If none of those works for you, the books are available online (Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites) and, in town, at the Watermark in downtown Moline for the children’s book only and at Barnes & Noble at Northpark for both.

Mariane Pearl speaking at the Jumer's Casino in Rock Island, Illinois, on November 10, 2011.

On November 10th, 2011, Mariane Pearl, the widow of slain Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl spoke in the Quad Cities (IA/IL). She spoke in the grand ballroom of a casino, which was different, and I signed up too late to have dinner. Tickets were $35 if you were alone, $30 if you were with a group and $20 to just show up for the speech, which is what I did.

I went to see exactly what a speaker on the lecture circuit commanding big bucks, no doubt, would use as props…what her technique would be. I don’t  know what I expected, but I know that, if I had been doing it, I’d have asked permission to use a 3-minute clip from the Angelina Jolie film based on her book. I might have considered reading a passage from the more intense parts of the book. Her topic wouldn’t scream PowerPoint, but exactly what would Mariane Pearl, noted journalist and radio hostess, do?

For openers, she’d have to exchange the original microphone, which almost deafened us all, for a different microphone. Good touch: 2 large screens to the sides of the podium, like at a rock concert. Room full. Probably 300 to 500 women there (you do the math).

Then came the speech itself. My impressions?

I have not read her book, primarily because I saw the movie. Not a good reason, I realize, but the only one I have.  Mariane Pearl and Angelina Jolie would, no doubt, get along very well IRL because they each seem to have that “la la land” attitude of “Let’s all be one big happy universe.” She sketched her early meeting with “Danny,” her husband who was kidnapped and beheaded by terrorists in Karachi, Pakistan, when she was pregnant with their first child Adam. She said, “If we gave up, then something was lost that was bigger than ourselves, so we could not give up.” She talked about living your beliefs by moving from Paris to India with her husband.

The crowd at Jumer's Casino in Rock Island for Mariane Pearl's speech on November 10, 2011.

I remember that Mariane Pearl, in the film, takes over the investigation, pretty much.  She admits that she had a computer that the authorities thought might yield clues to who had taken her husband, but she refused to give it up.

“Somehow, the question of life and death and survival became secondary.  I knew what terrorists were trying to achieve…All of a sudden it became like two visions of the future were fighting one another.”

For five weeks Mariane and her team “survived.” “It was a fight between two very extreme visions and it’s about justice. That’s unacceptable.”

Mariane told of the instant when she learned of the murder of her husband and grabbing an AK47 machine gun, but then realizing “how easy it is to kill someone who has virtue.  I was at that point. That would be defeat.  Whatever is the most difficult thing, I must do it. Revenge would be easy; dialogue would be hard. I put the gun down.”

Ms. Pearl then described, somewhat disingenuously, her writing of the book “A Mighty Heart” back in New York City. A major publisher was going to publish this book. She said, “I had no idea whether anyone was going to read that book.” That was the point where I decided that Mrs. Pearl was not being totally honest with herself or us. Saying that she “didn’t know whether anyone would read that book” would be tantamount to Jaycee Duggard (who was kept prisoner in a psychotic’s backyard for 18 years) saying she didn’t know whether anyone would read her book.

The view of the world as one big happy place also didn’t wash, for me.

The impressions I came away with from the speech were that Ms. Pearl looked a bit like a younger version of Imelda Marcos, was not totally being honest with us about her expectations for her best-selling book, and that I was glad I had paid only $20 to hear her, rather than $35 to sit at a table and eat dinner beforehand. I proceeded to meet my husband in the gambling area of the casino and we went to dinner.

All-in-all, maybe I’m just spoiled by presentations like the one Raymond Benson has crafted for his novelizations of James Bond movies. Or maybe I was just tired. Or maybe Ms. Pearl was just tired that night. And there were technical issues, at first, which were quickly overcome.

The new illustrated cat book "The Christmas Cats in Silly Hats."

I’m pretty excited: the proofs for “The Christmas Cats in Silly Hats” have arrived, and the book is really cool. I will have it at all the appearances I’ve booked here in the Quad Cities during the holidays, and, if you’re reading this in some far-flung part of the world, order a copy from Amazon or Barnes & Noble! (It does not exist as an E-book title, yet, but may, in the future.)

I wanted to put this out here to encourage any readers that are interested to please come to the signing(s). The December 10th signing at Northpark Mall will also feature illustrater Emily Marquez from Venezuela, who will come from Chicago for that signing. Other places I plan to be are as follows:

November 21:  4:30 to 10 p.m.- Sizzlin’ Soiree at the downtown Radisson Hotel in conjunction with the Festival of Trees.

December 2:  Gallery Hop in Rock Island from 6 to 9 p.m.

December 3:  12:30 to 1:30 at the East Moline Public Library.

December 3:  2:00 on at Barnes & Noble, Northpark Mall, for a Midwest Writing Center fundraiser

December 7:  7:00 p.m. at the Bettendorf Public Library, which is going to involve a humorous reading from “Laughing through Life,” a piano, an accordion and refreshments. Please come so I don’t bomb on Pearl Harbor Day.

December 10:  Signing at Barnes & Noble at Northpark that will involve Emily Marquez, one of the book’s illustraters from Venezuela, beginning at 11 a.m..

December 10:  The Victorian Christmas Walk in Geneseo, beginning at 5:30, in the window of The Four Seasons, again with Venezuelan illustrator Emily Marquez present.

If you have any interest in humor OR an illustrated children’s book with a good lesson for children to learn, come to any or all of the above events.

Tim Stopulos, Assumption High School (IA) & Wake Forest Musician, on tour with new album "Songs of Separation."

Tim Stop…used to be the Tim Stopulos Trio, then the Tim Stop Trio. Now, just Tim Stop (www.timstop.com) Whenever Tim plays in Chicago and I’m there, as well, I try to stop by, as when he played “Market” on Randolph Street. I wondered about band member Seville Lilly (the hat guy).  Justin Hooks and Michael Tahlier are still onboard. (Justin just for the album, it seems.)

Tim’s CD back when I first wrote about him was “The Long Drive Home.” Now, he’s released a new set of “Songs of Separation,” and the universal theme should hit home for anyone who has loved and lost. The 27-year-old Davenport Assumption High School graduate puts all the emotion out there on the tracks. Therapeutic.

 Most of Tim Stopulos’ new album “Songs of Separation” (released October 18th) focuses on the heartache and heartbreak that is  impossible to avoid when you’re young and in love. Or old and in love. Or young and falling out of love. Or old and falling out of love.Boy meets girl. Boy dates girl. Boy and girl have a long-term relationship. Boy and girl break up to go in different directions. It’s a story as old as Adam and Eve. 

The new CD out from Bettendorf’s Tim Stopulos (“Songs of Separation”) begins a favorite, a song entitled “Half A World Away.” Lyric:  “You’re safe at home, you’re safe and warm, And I’m longing for one day when I find my way.  I will find my place, even if it’s half a world away.” Melancholy. Minor key. One of my personal favorites on the album. Lyric: “Now I’m anxious as these thoughts inside my head begin to swirl about a history that’s only just beginning to unfurl. And I long for adaptation to an unfamiliar world.”  

Coming from Stopulos in a John Mayer pop ballad vein, the songs on this new CD  chronicle the age-old and familiar terrain of falling in and out of love. Influenced by such musicians as Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Ben Folds, Coldplay, Billy Joel, Radiohead (Thom Yorke) and Jeff Buckley, you can hear the Wake Forest graduate’s 22 years of piano lessons paying off in his composition and performance, and, more importantly to this writer, the lyrics are impressive, too. 

The rhythms pick up on “A Little Bit Better,” the second song, which has some interesting and expert guitar work. It’s one of the most upbeat songs, despite this lyric:  “It’s a different kind of alone when you’re locked and trapped inside your mind.” [Reminded me of a Sheryl Crow lyric: "I'm a stranger in my own life."]  

Third song on the CD, “Rollin’“, has the line, “I know I should leave you, but my heart won’t let me go.” Next up, “Unconditional:” “Wherever you are, I love you. Whatever you do, I always will.  I hope some day you’ll find me. My love is…Wherever you are, just call my name.  I’ll race across this empty state.  I’d leave tonight to find you, ‘Cuz my live is unconditional. It’s unconditional.” (Wow! You’re a better man than me, Charlie Brown. I remember some break-ups that left me feeling pretty bitter; this guy’s much more forgiving.)

Next up was “Something’s Gotta’ Give,” (which, judging from the sound of young Tim’s weekend at the Iowa Hawkeye game, written up on his blog, may well be his health. Sounded like a long, crazy weekend!) 

“Professional,” a song with a slightly more cynical slant about a girl who “doesn’t change for anybody” was less devoted than “Unconditional.” I liked “Professional” a lot. [Maybe I've grown more cynical in my old age. You think?] 

 ”Malaga,” the 7th song, is the only one that didn’t seem to focus on the break-up of a relationship. A bit more of a “carpe diem” philosophy, expressed musically.

“Whisper in the Wind” is a melancholy melody that references  the death of a young friend from cancer and wonders where she is (“Did she find God or does she wander in the wind to remind the world of a life that could’ve been but never was.”) After spending Halloween night at a local funeral home— [thankfully, not for a person cut down in their prime]—I could relate. (And, by the way, there’s no place creepier to spend Halloween night!) This song has a wistful air of melancholy, and is performed beautifully. 

“After You” opens with a ticking sound. Liked it. Lyrics:  “I recall she said that if I left I would go alone..she wouldn’t have the strength to follow me, and now I’m gone, so alone is what I chose to be.  But I didn’t choose this life, I told her, it chose me.” That one sounds very autobiographical for a musician on the road trying to make it in the music business. 

There is no mention of “Every Day” on my liner notes, but that is the last song on this impressive, original CD, “Songs of Separation.” Tim just played with Deas Vail at Legends of Notre Dame and he’s set to hit the following venues in the next few days or weeks: 

11/3 – Janesville, Wisconsin, Timeout @ 9:00 P.M.

11/4 – Lindey’s, East Troy, Wisconsin @ 9:00 P.M.

11/5 – Lindey’s, East Troy, Wisconsin @ 9:30 P.M.

11/9 – Crow Valley (Country Club), Davenport, IA

11/10 – Rockit, Chicago, IL 9:00 P.M.

11/23 – Jersey Grille, Davenport, IA

Time off for the holidays, then:

1/20 – The Livery, Benton Harbor, MI

1/27 – The Redstone Room, Davenport, Iowa

Stopulos wrote all the words and music on this expertly produced CD, with help from Michael Tahlier on electric guitar, Tim Seisser on bass, Khari Parker on drums, Matt Nelson on Rhodes/organs, Justin Hooks on percussion with Packy Lundholm on “Something’s Gotta’ Give.” The artwork is by Josh Nelson and photography by Matt Wince, with production by Tim and Bob DiFazio, Engineering/editing mixing by DeFazio, vocal production by El Thornton and Justin Hooks and mastering by Danny Leake at Urban Guerillas. 

Among other accolades thrown around about the handsome young singer are: “energetic, soulful, sophisticated songwriter, wonderful voice, mesmerizing stage presence” Hard to top those already-used descriptions. Let me just say: “Ditto.”

 Check out his songs on YouTube. Better yet, buy a copy at www.timstop.com or Cdbaby.com. But don’t worry about his broken heart. Something tells me there’s someone out there eager to help nurse it back to health.