CHOCOLATE COSMO FLOWER

Reading Writing & Arithmetic

Like the album's title, this music is about the basics. This seminal release from 1990 rerouted pop music for several years, and for the better. This simple guitar/bass/drum/vocal affair cut like a searchlight through the fog of tortuously overproduced music of the time, as The Sundays proved that more is often merely more. Harriet Wheeler's lilting, swooningly sweet voice is clearly the strong driving factor behind this debut's appeal, fore-grounded through spare arrangements and an almost timid rhythm section, though the timbre of Wheeler's voice is perfectly matched to David Gavurin's terrific 12-string guitar. Taken as a whole, the album bears repeated listening, even though some of the songs tend to blur together. The hit single "Here's Where the Story Ends" is rivaled by, if not equal to, "You're Not the Only One I Know," "I Kicked a Boy," and "Joy." --Alan E. Rapp

Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, commanding general of Installation Management Command, was the honored speaker at the All-Veterans Memorial Service on Sunday, April 17, 2011. He and his wife, Mrs. Sarah Lynch, attended the event along with Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola, held at the Monument for the Battle of Hill 881 South on Veterans Square Auditorium Circle in downtown San Antonio, Texas.

The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 366 hosted the service on the last day of Fiesta, an 11-day “Party With a Purpose” that donates all proceeds to local charities. About 100 people attended the service, including members of the military from units and commands based in San Antonio, veterans, members of the Vietnamese-American Community and those simply wanting to say “thanks.”

Lynch told the story behind the monument dedicated to the Vietnam War’s Battle of Hill 881 South, an image of a radio operator treating a wounded comrade. The operator’s face is lifted toward the sky, searching for the medevac helicopter to help his friend, Lynch explained.

“I think a lot about freedom and about how somebody paid for it,” he said to the multitude of veterans and servicemembers in the crowd. “Those somebodies are here in the crowd today. I’m humbled to be in your presence.”

Pointing to the medals on his uniform, he said, “These trappings mean nothing to me. What’s important to me is recognizing those who serve. I want to thank you for your service.”

Lynch also took time to recognize the difficulties both Wounded Warriors and Gold Star Families face during recovery and asked that Americans take time thank them for their service. He reminded the crowd of the tragedy they have live through every day since the attack on Sept. 11 and that the Army will be fighting that war for another decade.

“We took the fight to there so we don’t have to fight on the streets of San Antonio,” he asserted as the crowd applauded. “We need your continued support.”

Trong Pham, chief engineer of the personnel system at Randolph Air Force Base, the “Expression of Gratitude” speaker at the service, represented the Vietnamese-American Community of San Antonio. Born and raised in Vietnam, he told the story of his escape from his home country in 1977 at age 19. His boat was lost on the South China Sea until he and the other refugees were rescued by American C-130 helicopters.

“I can’t express in words how much this event means to me,” he said. “This event reminded me of how fragile freedom is without sacrifice. We can’t enjoy the life we have here without our veterans.”

After arriving in America, Pham went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, as well as a master’s and a Ph.D. during his 25 years of service with the Air Force. He continued to serve after his time in the military, working in civil service.

The event ended with a 21-gun salute and a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the memorial. Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, commanding general of Installation Management Command, was the honored speaker at the All-Veterans Memorial Service on Sunday, April 17, 2011. He and his wife, Mrs. Sarah Lynch, attended the event along with Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola, held at the Monument for the Battle of Hill 881 South on Veterans Square Auditorium Circle in downtown San Antonio, Texas.

The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 366 hosted the service on the last day of Fiesta, an 11-day “Party With a Purpose” that donates all proceeds to local charities. About 100 people attended the service, including members of the military from units and commands based in San Antonio, veterans, members of the Vietnamese-American Community and those simply wanting to say “thanks.”

Lynch told the story behind the monument dedicated to the Vietnam War’s Battle of Hill 881 South, an image of a radio operator treating a wounded comrade. The operator’s face is lifted toward the sky, searching for the medevac helicopter to help his friend, Lynch explained.

“I think a lot about freedom and about how somebody paid for it,” he said to the multitude of veterans and servicemembers in the crowd. “Those somebodies are here in the crowd today. I’m humbled to be in your presence.”

Pointing to the medals on his uniform, he said, “These trappings mean nothing to me. What’s important to me is recognizing those who serve. I want to thank you for your service.”

Lynch also took time to recognize the difficulties both Wounded Warriors and Gold Star Families face during recovery and asked that Americans take time thank them for their service. He reminded the crowd of the tragedy they have live through every day since the attack on Sept. 11 and that the Army will be fighting that war for another decade.

“We took the fight to there so we don’t have to fight on the streets of San Antonio,” he asserted as the crowd applauded. “We need your continued support.”

Trong Pham, chief engineer of the personnel system at Randolph Air Force Base, the “Ex

Our daily challenge - this is my daughters notebook for homework - in Grade 8 - Sundays mean HOMEWORK - The hearts are candy, we all need some sugar to get us through :)
I have to add that this was taken with her doing homework during the week.

For bands like the Sundays that put out albums very infrequently (only three in eight years), passing fads cannot exert undue influence; consistency is the key to staying power. Thank God the Sundays never went grunge. On this, their second album, the forthright and spare power of their debut has ceded somewhat to lusher production values and more complex arrangements, but the good news is that the rest of the band's presence has caught up with Harriet Wheeler's crystalline voice. Together they produce such marvels as "Goodbye," "Love," and an off-kilter version of the Stones' "Wild Horses." The Sundays here sound like a more integrated musical unit, and for that reason Blind is the rare sophomore release that not only holds its own against the first album, but actually outperforms it. --Alan E. Rapp

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