Wednesday, February 20, 2019

House Sold, Emptying A House and Cooking My Slumgullion for the Last Time




I sold my house.  I am delighted.  My children have been gone from the house since 2014 and the place is too much house for me. I engaged a neighborhood realtor. For two years my local realtor was unable to sell this raised ranch in need of work, because " It is too close to the CSX railroad tracks."

In January, I hired Doug Perry, a tall elegant African American gent,  of Property Consultants and he sold this "as is" property in three days, after conducting ten house visits.

A young neighborhood couple will move in here after March 8th and begin their adventures.  Mine are pretty much over.  Now, I spend my days bagging, boxing and shedding two decades of toys, books, clothing, furniture, utensils, bri-a-brac and bills.  I hired the Schuch Brothers of Total Clean to haul away - everything. They are outstanding.   I also make daily trips  with loads to the wonderful Goodwill site at 93rd & Western, which features a drive up bay to shed memories and household detritus.  Adios, to all that.

Mine was a single parent home, since July 1999 and I bought the place from a single mother of two boys.  Being a single parent is no bag of popcorn.

By the grace of God, my offspring are solid citizens living their own lives.

I tried to make their lives comfortable and helpful - the jury is out on that and will listen to opposing arguments from family and friends.

One of the things that I managed to do well was feed my family.  They had three squares a day and a roof over a heated, lit and cabled set of rooms.

One of my standard meals was Slumgullion.




As I wrote some time back :

Slumgullion is the food of the working people who built America!  Not Howard Zinn activists and trust funded hair-shirts of the 21st Century American History textbooks, but the real people, former slaves, black, white, brown, yellow and tawny.  They are Edna Ferber's Midwestern Jews, Bohemian, Alsatian immigrants; they are John Dos Passos' Portuguese, Irish, WASP, and Belgian adventurers; They are Theodore Dreiser's Sister Carrie, Richard Wright's Bigger Thomas and James T. Farrell's Studs Lonigan.  They are slumgullion eaters.
Slumgullion is a varietal staple that can include Chinese five spices, Mexican cumino, Japanese ginger, Hungarian smoked paprika, or just salt and black paper.
You need a cauldron, Dutch oven, iron pot or slow cooker of some volume.
Beef and Pork are the usual cuts of meat, but chicken, squirrel, turtle, or fish will work as well.
Root vegetables, or macaroni, pasta, rice or noodles will add substance to savories.


My Aunt Margarite was a master of this dish, which she often served to the denizens of the old St. Rita Augustinian Monastery at 63rd & Claremont Avenue.  Those black robed Austin Friars tucked away handsomely, back in the day.

I made her recipe with my own variations.

In celebration of my exit a a homeowner, soon to live a Spartan few decades in single room apartments, I will whip out my Slumgullion.

                                            Pat Hickey Slumgullion
two lbs - of Chuck Beef-cut like Fajitas - dredged in three good tablespoon of flour, smoked paprika and cilantro
One 1/2 cup of Mire Poix( celery,onion and carrots)
Five medium potatoes peeled - I use three Golden Yellow and two Russets
Five sprigs of Rosemary and five sprigs of thyme
One 16 oz. Can of Crushed Tomatoes and one small can of tomato paste
Two long dashes of Worcestershire sauce
A pinch of crushed Red pepper flakes
One five quart Hamilton Beach slow cooker
One skillet with three tablespoons of Olive Oil
Methode: À la manière de Hickey
In a large plastic bag add flour, smoked paprika and cilantro; Mix well and add the beef and roll it , bounce and knead the hell out of it  and let sit for about ten minutes.Add beef to the skillet and brown it.  When good and brown make room for the mire poix and saute and them blend all together, Cook until all vegetables are tender-ish
Peel and coarsely cut five potatoes and place them in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Pour meat and mire poix mixture over the spuds.
Add 16 oz. can of crushed tomatoes and then the tomato paste and mix them together over the meat and spud.
Squirt five dashes of Worchester and sprinkle crushed red peppers over the tomatoes
Layer rosemary and thyme sprigs and mushrooms on top.
Cook on low for twelve to 24 hours.  

 Image result for cornbread in pie tin


Serve with Pat Hickey Iron Skillet Cornbread -
Preheat oven to 425 degrees
2 cups of Aunt Jemima Corn Mealone Jumbo eggone can of creamed corn2/3 cup of milk two tablespoons of sugar, one tablespoon of good vanilla extract. Mixed and poured into a greased cast-iron skillet and baed for 25-30 minutes. 

Free at last! 

What You Really Need to Know About Chicago's Mayoral Election - Our Catholic Legislators Work for the Abortion Industry




These Illinois Legislators work for the Abortion Industry - Oh, and there is a Mayoral Election on Tuesday Next.

The Abortion Industry can count on their support and they are allowed to present themselves to southwest side and suburban Catholic voters as 'Catholics.'

Their pastors do appear to have a problem with their fealty to Illinois Murder Incorporated, or Personal PAC/ Illinois Planned Parenthood.  The Archbishop of Chicago has no problem with their pro-abortion votes any more than he did with defrocked Cardinal Ted McCarrick's sexual predations. 

I have a problem with abortion: if the willful murder of a living child is cool with you, anything else is gravy.

I voted for Jerry Joyce for Mayor of Chicago. He is anti-abortion.  Jerry Joyce's brother Kevin was the last true Democat in Springfield and fierce enemy of abortion .

His successor, a Tom Dart acolyte, turned his back on 19th Ward Catholic voters, knowing full well that Democrat voters generally do not hold to eternal principles in the voting booth ( e.g.  Daley, Durbin,  Obama votes won in the solid 19th Ward) . Toni Preckwinkle beat Todd Stroger thanks to the 19th Ward voters like me who worked in the sub-zero cold on her behalf in the vain hope that Preckwinkle would never stab a helper in the back - as if. 

Nope, on Tuesday at 7PM (February 26,2019) the polls will close and Bill Daley will face a run-off.  

Will Jerry Joyce be in the mix?  I pray so.  I also pray that abortion will end in Illinois, but we have elected JB Pritzker as Governor and a super-majority Democrat State Legislature poised to slaughter every common sense stay against Abortion in Illinois State Law. 

VOILA! 

Title: Senate Bill 1407 [SB 1407] – Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) for abortion
Date filed: February 14, 2017
Sponsor(s): Senator Heather Steans (D) 7th district

Summary: At this time, SB 1407 is a “shell bill.” Language for the bill still needs to be written, but it is suspected to be the same as the FOCA bill that was defeated in 2009. This bill creates a “right to abortion” in Illinois.  It negates all U.S. Supreme Court exemptions to its 1972 Roe vs. Wade decision, such as Partial-Birth Abortion Bans, Parental Notification, and other important regulations on abortion clinics. It also forces all Illinois taxpayers to pay for abortions of those under Medicaid, shields abortionists from civil and criminal penalties for botched abortions, and forces healthcare professionals to assist women in obtaining abortions.

Status of the bill: SB 1407 was referred to the Senate Committee on Assignments. The bill is dead, but will continue to be monitored.
  • Title: House Bill 3735 [HB 3735]
Date filed: February 10, 2017

Sponsor(s): Rep. Deb Conroy (D) 46th district, Silvana Tabares (D) 21st district, Gregory Harris (D) 13th district, John C. D’Amico (D) 15th district, Michelle Mussman (D) 56th district, Jaime M. Andrade (D) 40th district, Jr., Carol Sente (D) 59th district, Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D) 34th district

Summary: HB 3735 amends the Unified Code of Corrections. It makes “intimidation” of patients attending a clinic, or physicians or nurses performing services at the clinic, a crime. Intimidation is vaguely defined to include speech exposing any person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule, which can be used to target side walk counselors and clinic protesters.

Status of the bill: HB 3735 did not come up for a vote by the deadline required in the House. It was re-referred to the House Rules Committee. The bill is dead, but will continue to be monitored.
Rauner signed into law a fistful of murderous legislation already 

The Mayoral Election is Tuesday and Jussie Smollett is being written out of Empire.

To me, THAT is moral equivalence.

 Abortion Hero -Kermit GosnellCall Sen. Cunningham and Rep. Hurley's offices at 773-445-8128 for more information.)

I plan to do something about it.  I voted for Jerry Joyce a week ago.

This week I will think about how I can expose the votes of my State legislators as perpetuating a fraud on the voters of my neighborhood - their ( Cunningham, Hurley, Burke) constituencies.

If you go along with the murder of children, what will you not go along with?  Pension theft?

Oh, Heavens.

Remember to vote, now.

Friday, February 15, 2019

Chicago Mayoral Elections - Not Much You Can Do, But Vote.



I voted for Jerry Joyce.  

Bill Daley will be the next mayor, because we live in a 'fixed' City.

Bill Daley, Gery Chico. Toni Preckwinkle and Susan Mendosa are oligarchs.  They are the ruling class in this Banana Republic.

Illinois, Cook County and Chicago are all rigged by the monied interests and there is not a damn thing my vote can do about it.

The GOP - formerly a political party for the privileged progressive few became nothing more than a name a few decades back under Illinois Governor Jim Edgar.  Since then, The Illinois, Cook County and City of Chicago GOP has been an irrelevancy.

ILLINOIS GOP Clowns like Senator Mark Kirk stooge'd for the Daley family and helped shore-up its Russian investment empire that the Chicago media ignores.

Senator Mark Kirk appointed Efimova chair of the Eastern European Advisory Board. Three years later, she was appointed vice president (Midwest) of the U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce. It’s a 501(c) nonprofit established in 2009 to “promote business between Russia and the United States of America.”Through her work with Kirk, Bob Dold (Dist. 10, R-IL) asked her to help with his outreach to the Russian-speaking community for his 2012 campaign. She’s “participated in numerous interviews and promotions…and on mailers that were sent to every Russian-speaking household.” She’s worked on his last three campaigns.
Efimova was one of 70 prominent Chicagoans on the committee to host the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago. The hosting committee was headed by Mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s wife, Amy Rule. That same year, Rahm sent a delegation of the World Business Chicago and CSI on a trade mission to Russia to “ establish relationships with Russian companies and spur new business development opportunities.”

Fred Eychaner's Terry Cosgrove and Planned Parenthood control erstwhile Catholic Democrat State Senators and Representatives like Bill Cunningham, Kelly Burke and Fran Hurley with such force that all common sense anti-abortion statutes will be eliminated from Illinois law. 

In Chicago, labor caved to the oligarchs when the pipe-trades wildly endorsed Rahm Emanuel for his disastrous second term and doubled down with Governor JB Pritzker.

I am not cynical.  Just reporting.

Vote.  Believe.

The fact of the matter is this.  Bill Daley will be Mayor.  Abortion will rule Illinois, just like legal weed.

We can move elsewhere.  We can hunker down and take it.

OR we can step away from the all you can can eat buffet of bullshit put out by the oligarchs' media stooges and start to listen to good people like








  • Rev. Corey Brooks - Demand that genuine voices of the African American Community get equal time against grifters and clowns like Blonde Jesus Pfleger and Jesse Jackson. 
I plan to demand a town hall in the very Catholic parishes of each self-claimed Catholic Illinois legislator to ask why, Fran Hurley, Kelly Burke and Billy Cunningham offer fealty to Personal PAC Illinois that trumps Catholic doctrine on abortion and why their pastors aid and abet their hypocrisies.  Just to keep them honest, or least outed in public.  Hell, I admit my many manifold personal and public sins. 

It is a small thing and the least that I can do; that and cast my vote upon the waters. 

Thursday, November 22, 2018

A Bunch of Things You Might Or Might Not Have Known About Fred Chopin and George Sand, BUT Got Compiled Anyway So You How Smart I am

Related image




I hate lists.


I really hate lists.
Commies compile lists - for future exile or execution.


Image result for Communists make lists
People who admire Commies imitate them and make them mainstreamImage result for Communists make lists


Americans are too tolerant of Commies and the people who admire the Reds - they'll be sorry some day. Me? I'll be dead and long judged by God. God don't make lists.  He takes you individually.
The only guy who should make lists is Santa.




One Christmas I received the Book of Lists from three different people, who thought like millions of others that I would want to know about
  • Famous Freemasons with flatulence 
  • Whigs murdered on Christmas Day 1853
  • Cumquat eaters of Connecticut
  • Democrats who sneezed
  • Popes who break-danced for Lorenzo Magnifico
  • VD Victims of Cole Porter
  • Hemingway's Beat-Downs by Better Writers
Image result for Communists make lists for extermination

Likewise, I detest TOP TEN ( or any number)  Lists of anything.


Psychologists used to warn us about people who never recovered from potty-training - the anal retentive like the passive aggressive rules our world.


I go to restaurants and if the food is good and prices, as well as the service is good, I return for another meal.   Then, if asked by anyone, 'have a good meal anywhere?' I might mention the place.


People no longer tend to communicate with other people. They refer to pre-caste lists, or worse, go to an APP.


Why is it import to compile things like
  • 866 things we know about Donald Trump's inner ear infections
  • 5 Things We Do Not Know, But Will Guess about Race Relations in Cairo, IL
  • 7 Explanations for Michael
  • 9 Steps to Good Grooming That Do Not Involve Soap, Water and Alcohol
Santa is the only one who should continue to compile lists of any type.


Oh, by the way - Chopin dated George Sand for nine years and then died.


Here is a Lis. . . .catalog of Chopin's greatest works. That cat could tickle them 88s! Compiled by the good people of Wikipedia - I have no time for such nonsense . . .far too busy,


  • Op. 10, 12 Études:
  1. Étude in C major, Waterfall (1830)
  2. Étude in A minor, Chromatic (1830)
  3. Étude in E major, Tristesse, or L'adieu (1832)
  4. Étude in C minor, Torrent (1832)
  5. Étude in G major, Black Keys (1830)
  6. Étude in E minor, Lament (1830)
  7. Étude in C major, Toccata (1832)
  8. Étude in F major, Sunshine (1829)
  9. Étude in F minor (1829)
  10. Étude in A major (1829)
  11. Étude in E major, Arpeggio (1829)
  12. Étude in C minor, Revolutionary (1831)
  • Op. 25, 12 Études:
  1. Étude in A major, Aeolian Harp, or Shepherd Boy (1836)
  2. Étude in F minor, The Bees (1836)
  3. Étude in F major, The Horseman (1836)
  4. Étude in A minor (1832–1834)
  5. Étude in E minor, Wrong Note (1832–1834)
  6. Étude in G minor, Thirds (1832–1834)
  7. Étude in C minor, Cello (1836)
  8. Étude in D major, Sixths (1832–1834)
  9. Étude in G major, Butterfly (1832–1834)
  10. Étude in B minor, Octave (1832–1834)
  11. Étude in A minor, Winter Wind (1834)
  12. Étude in C minor, Ocean (1836)
  1. Étude in F minor
  2. Étude in A major
  3. Étude in D major

Impromptus[edit]

Mazurkas[edit]

  1. Mazurka in F minor
  2. Mazurka in C minor
  3. Mazurka in E major
  4. Mazurka in E minor
  1. Mazurka in B major
  2. Mazurka in A minor (1829, revised 1830)
  3. Mazurka in F minor
  4. Mazurka in A major (1824, revised 1830)
  5. Mazurka in C major
  1. Mazurka in B major
  2. Mazurka in E minor
  3. Mazurka in A major
  4. Mazurka in A minor
  1. Mazurka in G minor
  2. Mazurka in C major
  3. Mazurka in A major
  4. Mazurka in B minor
  1. Mazurka in C minor
  2. Mazurka in B minor
  3. Mazurka in D major
  4. Mazurka in C minor
  1. Mazurka in G minor
  2. Mazurka in D major
  3. Mazurka in C major
  4. Mazurka in B minor
  1. Mazurka in C minor
  2. Mazurka in E minor
  3. Mazurka in B major
  4. Mazurka in A major
  • Mazurka in A minor (No. 50; "Notre Temps"; 1840; pub. 1841 in Six morceaux de salon, without Op. number; B. 134; KK IIb/4; S 2/4)
  • Mazurka in A minor (No. 51; "Émile Gaillard"; 1840; pub. 1841 in Album de pianistes polonais, without Op. number; B. 140; KK IIb/5; S 2/5)
  1. Mazurka in G major
  2. Mazurka in A major
  3. Mazurka in C minor
  1. Mazurka in B major
  2. Mazurka in C major
  3. Mazurka in C minor
  1. Mazurka in A minor
  2. Mazurka in A major
  3. Mazurka in F minor
  1. Mazurka in B major
  2. Mazurka in F minor
  3. Mazurka in C minor

Published in Poland during early years[edit]

  • Two Mazurkas (unnumbered; 1826; pub. 1826, without an Op. number; B. 16, KK IIa/2-3, S 1, No. 2):
    • a. Mazurka in G major
    • b. Mazurka in B major
With opus numbers[edit]
  • Op. posth. 67, Four Mazurkas (Nos. 42-45; pub. 1855):
  1. Mazurka in G major (1833)
  2. Mazurka in G minor (1849)
  3. Mazurka in C major (1835)
  4. Mazurka in A minor (1846)
  • Op. posth. 68, Four Mazurkas (Nos. 46-49; pub. 1855):
  1. Mazurka in C major (1829)
  2. Mazurka in A minor (1827)
  3. Mazurka in F major (1829)
  4. Mazurka in F minor (1849; Last composition)
Without opus numbers[edit]
  • Mazurka in C major (1833; pub. 1870; B. 82; KK IVB/3; P 2/3)
  • Mazurka in D major (1829; pub. 1875; B 31/71; KK IVa/7; P 1/7)
  • Mazurka in B major (1832; pub. 1909; B. 73; KK IVb/1; P 2/1)
  • Mazurka in D major "Mazurek" (doubtful, 1820?; pub. 1910; B. 4; KK Anh Ia/1; A 1/1)
  • Mazurka in A major (1834; pub. 1930; B. 85; KK IVb/4; P 2/4)
  • Mazurka in D major (1832; pub. ?; P 2/2)

Nocturnes[edit]

  1. Nocturne in B minor
  2. Nocturne in E major
  3. Nocturne in B major
  1. Nocturne in F major
  2. Nocturne in F major
  3. Nocturne in G minor
  1. Nocturne in C minor
  2. Nocturne in D major
  1. Nocturne in B major
  2. Nocturne in A major
  1. Nocturne in G minor
  2. Nocturne in G major
  1. Nocturne in C minor
  2. Nocturne in F minor
  1. Nocturne in F minor
  2. Nocturne in E major
  1. Nocturne in B major
  2. Nocturne in E major

Posthumously published[edit]

With opus number[edit]
  • Op. posth. 72 (No.2 and No.3 are works other than Nocturnes):
  1. Nocturne in E minor (1827–29)
Without opus numbers[edit]

Polonaises[edit]

  1. Polonaise in C minor
  2. Polonaise in E minor
  1. Polonaise in A major, Military
  2. Polonaise in C minor, Funeral

Published in Poland during early years[edit]

Posthumously published[edit]

With opus numbers[edit]
  1. Polonaise in D minor (1825)
  2. Polonaise in B major (1828)
  3. Polonaise in F minor (1828)
Without opus numbers[edit]
  1. Polonaise in B major (1817)
  2. Polonaise in A major (1821)
  3. Polonaise in G minor (1822)
  4. Polonaise in B minor, Adieu à Guillaume Kolberg (1826)
  5. Polonaise in G major (1829)

Preludes[edit]

  • Op. 28, 24 Preludes:
  1. Prelude in C major (composed 1839)
  2. Prelude in A minor (1838)
  3. Prelude in G major (1838–1839)
  4. Prelude in E minor (1838)
  5. Prelude in D major (1838–1839)
  6. Prelude in B minor (1838–1839)
  7. Prelude in A major (1836)
  8. Prelude in F minor (1838–1839)
  9. Prelude in E major (1838–1839)
  10. Prelude in C minor (1838–1839)
  11. Prelude in B major (1838–1839)
  12. Prelude in G minor (1838–1839)
  13. Prelude in F major (1838–1839)
  14. Prelude in E minor (1838–1839)
  15. Prelude in D major, Raindrop (1838–1839)
  16. Prelude in B minor (1838–1839)
  17. Prelude in A major (1836)
  18. Prelude in F minor (1838–1839)
  19. Prelude in E major (1838–1839)
  20. Prelude in C minor, Chord or Funeral March (1838–1839)
  21. Prelude in B major (1838–1839)
  22. Prelude in G minor (1838–1839)
  23. Prelude in F major (1838–1839)
  24. Prelude in D minor (1838–1839)
  • Op. 45: Prelude in C minor (1841)

Posthumously published[edit]

  • P. 2/7: Prelude in A major (1834, published 1918; ded. Pierre Wolff)
  • A. 1/2: Prelude in F major
  • Prelude in E minor, Devil's Trill (recently found)

Rondos[edit]

Posthumously published[edit]

  • Op. posth. 73: Rondo in C major for two pianos (1828; arr. piano solo 1840)

Scherzos[edit]

Sonatas[edit]

Variations[edit]

  • Op. 12: Variations brillantes in B major on "Je vends des scapulaires" from Hérold's Ludovic (1833)
  • B. 113: Variation in E for Hexameron (1837; pub. 1839)

Posthumously published[edit]

  • B.9: Variations in E for flute and piano on "Non più mesta" from Rossini's La Cenerentola, KK. Anh. Ia/5, (? 1824; pub. 1955) [1]
  • KK. IVa/6: Introduction, Theme and Variations in D on a Venetian air, piano 4-hands (1826; pub 1965)
  • B. 12a: Variations in D major or B minor on an Irish National Air (from Thomas Moore) for 2 pianos, P. 1/6 (1826)
  • B. 14: Variations in E major on the air "Der Schweizerbub: Steh'auf, steh'auf o du Schweitzer Bub", a.k.a. Introduction et Variations sur un Lied allemand (1826; pub. 1851)
  • B. 37: Variations in A, Souvenir de Paganini (1829; pub. 1881)

Lost[edit]

  • KK. Ve/9: Variations, (January 1818)
  • KK. Vb/2: Variations in F, piano 4-hands or 2 pianos (1826)
  • KK. VIIa/3: Variations on a Ukrainian Dumka for violin and piano, by Antoni Radziwill, completed by Chopin (by June 1830)

Waltzes[edit]

  1. Waltz in A major (1835)
  2. Waltz in A minor (1831)
  3. Waltz in F major (1838)
  1. Waltz in D major, Minute Waltz (1847)
  2. Waltz in C minor (1847)
  3. Waltz in A major (1840, some sources say 1847)

Posthumously published[edit]

With opus numbers[edit]
  • 1852: Two Waltzes, Op. posth. 69:
  1. Waltz in A major, L'Adieu (1835)
  2. Waltz in B minor (1829)
  • 1855: Three Waltzes, Op. posth. 70:
  1. Waltz in G major (1832)
  2. Waltz in F minor (1841)
  3. Waltz in D major (1829)
Without opus numbers[edit]
  • 1868: Waltz in E minor (1830), B. 56, KK IVa/15, P. 1/15
  • 1871–72: Waltz in E major, B. 44, KK IVa/12, P. 1/12
  • 1902: Waltz in A major, B. 21, KK IVa/13, P. 1/13
  • 1902: Waltz in E major, B. 46, KK IVa/14, P. 1/14
  • 1955: Waltz in A minor (1843–1848), B. 150, KK IVb/11, P. 2/11
  • 1955: Waltz in E major (Sostenuto), B. 133, KK IVb/10 (not always classified as a waltz)
  • 1932: Waltz in F minor, Valse mélancolique, KK Ib/7, A. 1/7. Reattributed to Charles Mayer as Le Régret op. 332[2]

Miscellaneous pieces for solo piano[edit]

Posthumously published[edit]

With opus numbers[edit]
  • Op. posth. 72:
  1. Nocturne in E minor (1827)
  2. Marche funèbre in C minor (1827; B.20)
  3. Three Écossaises (1826; B.12)
    1. Écossaise in D major
    2. Écossaise in G major
    3. Écossaise in D major
Without opus numbers[edit]
  • B. 17: Contredanse in G major (doubtful) (1827)
  • B. 84: Cantabile in B major (1834)
  • B. 109: Largo in E major (1837)
  • B. 117: Andantino in G minor (arr. of the piano part of the song Wiosna; 5 different MS exist) (1837)
  • B. 129a: Canon in F minor (unfinished (1839))
  • B. 133: Klavierstück in E "Sostenuto" (1840; sometimes classified as a waltz)
  • B. 144: Fugue in A minor (1841)
  • B. 151: Album Leaf (Moderato) in E major (1843)
  • B. 160b: 2 Bourrées (1846)
  • P. 2/13: Galopp in A (Galop Marquis) (1846)
  • KK. Vb/1: Andante dolente in B minor (lost)
  • KK. Ve/3: Écossaise (? date; lost)
  • KK. Vb/9: Écossaise in B major (1827; lost)
  • KK. VIIa/2: 3 Fugues (A minor, F major, D minor; arr. from Cherubini's Cours de contrepoint et de fugue)

Piano and orchestra[edit]

Concertos[edit]

Miscellaneous[edit]

Cello and piano[edit]

Violin, cello and piano[edit]

Voice and piano[edit]

Posthumously published[edit]

With opus numbers[edit]

  • Op. posth. 74, 17 Songs (1829–1847; Polish)
  1. "The Wish" ("Życzenie") (1829)
  2. "Spring" ("Wiosna") (1838)
  3. "The Sad River" ("Smutna Rzeka") (1831)
  4. "Merrymaking" ("Hulanka") (1830)
  5. "What She Likes" ("Gdzie lubi") (1829)
  6. "Out of My Sight" ("Precz z moich oczu") (1830)
  7. "The Messenger" ("Poseł") (1830)
  8. "Handsome Lad" ("Śliczny chłopiec") (1841)
  9. "From the Mountains, Where They Carried Heavy Crosses [Melody]" ("Z gór, gdzie dźwigali strasznych krzyżów brzemię [Melodia]") (1847)
  10. "The Warrior" ("Wojak") (1830)
  11. "The Double-End" ("Dwojaki koniec") (1845)
  12. "My Darling" ("Moja pieszczotka") (1837)
  13. "I Want What I Have Not" ("Nie ma czego trzeba") (1845)
  14. "The Ring" ("Pierścień") (1836)
  15. "The Bridegroom" ("Narzeczony") (1831)
  16. "Lithuanian Song" ("Piosnka litewska") (1831)
  17. "Leaves are Falling, Hymn from the Tomb" ("Śpiew z mogiłki") (1836)

Without opus numbers[edit]

  • "Enchantment" ("Czary") (1830)
  • "Reverie" ("Dumka") (1840)

Lost works[edit]

  • Polonaise for piano, composed 1818. Presented by Chopin to the Empress Maria Teodorowna, mother of the Tsar, on the occasion of her visit to Warsaw on 26 September 1818.
  • Variations for piano, composed 1818. Mentioned in the "Pamietnik Warzawski" of 1818
  • Polonaise 'Barber of Seville' for piano, composed 1825/11. In 1825/11 Chopin wrote to Bialoblocki: "I have done a new Polonaise on the "Barber" which is fairly well liked. I think of sending it to be lithographed tomorrow."
  • Variations for 2 pianos in F major, composed 1826. Listed by Louise Chopin
  • Variations on an Irish National Air (from Thomas Moore) for 2 pianos, composed 1826. Stated to be "in D Major or B minor."
  • Waltz for piano in C major, composed 1826.
  • Andante dolente for piano in B minor, composed 1827. Mentioned in the list of Louise Chopin
  • Ecossaise for piano in B major, composed 1827. Mentioned in the list of Louise Chopin.
  • Waltz for piano in D minor, composed 1828. Given in Louise's list, with the date, and entitled (? by Louise) 'La partenza' ('The departure')
  • Waltz for piano (supposedly) in A major, composed 1830/12 (?).











Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Thank You and Thank God! Thanksgiving 2018







I wake up thankful everyday for the privilege of seeing, breathing, hearing tasting and touching for another day.


That first glass of ice cold water cascading its refreshing way through my vigorously brushed teeth and gums, down the gullet and sparking awake all of my biological electrical works is a reminder to me that God really knows what he is doing. The guy is a craftsman!


I pray on my knees each morning and try to meditate on my blessings and my sins - which are legion.  Then, I shower up, shave and dress for the day - usually a sport coat and tie, or suit for my day at the old bone orchard.


I take  Holy Communion at St. John Fisher with the usual baker's dozen of regulars, Lizzie, Joanna, Bill, Barbara, Carol, Ray, the two Mikes ( Tall and not so tall) , the other Bill, Mary Beth, Tall Mike's wife Patricia, Theresa, and Mr. Carroll.  


Aside from the regulars there is the constant - Mrs. Terry F, the most devout and generous woman in God's house.


I am thankful for this daily congress of Memorare saying saints.


Christ is for breakfast and sustains me and battles with my natural and unnatural demons all day long.


I am thankful for my large and extended family, especially my three healthy and productive children, my son-in-law and my beautiful granddaughter.


Then I am thankful for the following


  • People who never say "Veggies" despite the thoroughly exhausting necessity of saying tables
  • Men from countries like Ireland, Poland, Mexico, Greece, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Ghana who never, ever wear Greek Fisherman Captain's hats, berets, or Alpine hats.
  • Women of all races, ages, sizes and temperments who still manage to like men
  • Food, with the notable and discerning exceptions of beets, cauliflower and Zagnuts
  • Pets - normal pets like dogs and cats and the odd rabbit
  • People who maintain beautiful lawns and gardens, unlike me
  • Men who keep up with household tasks, chores, updates and projects, unlike me
  • First Responders
  • People of all political persuasions who know that it is all bullshit and politicians will screw you like a 40 Watt at every turn
  • People who like to cook for others, like me
  • Good writers
  • Jazz - America's greatest art form
  • People who can play the bagpipes and don't
  • Four Seasons - the year and not the hotel
  • Clancy's Pizza Pub's Pot Roast Eggrolls
  • Halloween
  • Real poetry - Milton, Yeats, Chaucer, Johnson, Pope and Horace
  • Real prose - Conrad, James Salter, Faulkner, Ralph Ellison
  • The day after Christmas
  • People who do not give me Christmas, Birthday, or whatever Hallmark scam holiday's requisite gifting day
  • People who ignore snobbery
  • Overtime pay
  • WDCB - 90-5 FM Chicago's Home for Jazz
  • A woman with the tolerance to be see in public with me these past ten years - go figure.
  • Turkey, corn bread dressing, cranberry sauce jelly, turnips and sweet potatoes.
  • Knights of Columbus Miserecodia Candy Sellers
  • Brother Rice Football 2018
  • Cable without news - Western Channel, or old movies
  • Joseph Epstein's prose
  • John Kass's courage
  • Shelby Foote's multi-volume Civil War narrative
  • My students ( 1975-2018)
  • Day's when I do not disappoint someone
Happy Thanks Giving Day!    Try that every day.

Friday, October 26, 2018

The Decline and Fall of the American Republic - Actors and Political Power








The first actor activist to appear in a starring role in American history was John Wilkes Booth.  He was the Resistance after Little Mac lost 1864 election to the Donald Trump of 19th Century divided America.  The man was an activist and shot Lincoln, stabbed Major Henry Rathbone when he attempted to stop the assassination, leaped to the stage of the Ford Theatre and shouted " Sic Semper Tyrannis!"  Michael Moore could not have staged it better.


Actors were considered social pariahs generally in the mid-19th Century: drunks, sexual predators, lay-abouts and spongers.  With exceptions of the few matinee idols, like Edwin and his brother Jogn Wilkes Booth.  Actors were treated much like Mark Twain's rascals the King and the Duke in Huckleberry Finn ridden out of town on a rail after a judicious tar and feathering.


John Wilkes Booth adapted the Byronic attitude toward the southern states succession as an act of heroic Republicanism and labeled Lincoln as an ape man intent on destroying the white race. John Wilkes Booth was not alone in his contempt for Abraham Lincoln.


Lincoln got the Trump treatment from both sides of the Mason Dixon line and from Boys in Blue as well as Rebs in butternut grey. The Irish Democrats voted against Lincoln, because they wanted a swift end to the draft and hated the Emancipation Proclamation which put them in hard competition with American blacks.


The majority of the northern Irish-American community were loyal Democrats, supporting the party that had accepted them in the face of widespread discrimination during the 1850s. Short shrift was given to any former community leader, such as Thomas Francis Meagher, who advocated Lincoln’s re-election. Issues such as emancipation and the enforcement of the draft remained emotive for many in November of 1864, particularly in New York. Election day finally arrived on 8th November, with Abraham Lincoln sweeping to a second term in office. The majority of Irish-Americans in the north had voted for what proved to be the losing side, a fact not easily forgotten by many of their fellow citizens in the years that followed Lincoln’s assassination and the successful conclusion of the war.


All that subsequent Rum Romanism and Rebellion that still tweaks Democrats of Irish origin stayed with Paddy and Bridey for generations.  George M. Cohan notwithstanding.



The first Hollywood star to become a political power in American government was dancer/actor George Murphy and Irish American - who ran as a Republican.  Murphy became a United States Congressman and was fierce anti-Communist from California.  Another actor followed his lead into the Party of Lincoln, Ronald "Dutch" Reagan.  Jimmy Cagney and other left leaning Democrats crowded around FDR and Harry Truman.


Hollywood loved mixing it up with political power.  Frank Sinatra reached out to Sam "Mo-Mo" Giancanna for help in getting Jack Kennedy in the White House.


Our Republic, like the Roman Republic of Shakespeare's cycle-dramas which the Booth Brothers starred throughout the late 1850's to the Civil War, was a proud tradition of manly individualists, until it was beset by a string of patrician demogogues ( The Gracchi, Marius, Sulla, Cataline and Caesar) all intent on one man rule to maintain the oligarchy. They succeeded - the jury is still out on the American - and the Empire took over with actors playing their parts.
Performers were among the infamis, and couldn’t call themselves citizens of Rome or get any of the associated benefits, like the limited form of political representation others enjoyed. This meant that most comedians who acted were former slaves or people who didn’t have any citizenship to lose.

For the rare comedian who worked their way out of acting into writing, there was no promise of keeping that higher social status. In 46 B.C.E., Julius Caesar demanded that one of the great mime writers of the time, Decimus Laberius, perform in a sort of stand-up battle of mimes. Laberius would face off against a Syrian ex-slave called Pubilius. Laberius wasn’t overly eager to forfeit his rank, but how could he say no to Caesar? So Laberius appeared, dressed in the outfit of a Syrian slave to mock his competitor, and said “Citizens, we are losing our freedom,” as well as, “He who many fear must fear many.” While Laberius lost the competition, he was actually rewarded by Caesar so that he could buy back his citizenship.


Early 21st Century Americans have witnessed the power of celebrity and rise of the actor, clown, mime and player as political arbitrator and moral censor.  B-List thespians like Martin Sheen lectured the nation on the dangers of the Elector College after the 2016 Presidential Election hurt the feelings of Hollywood. President Obama gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to friendly Hollywood Stars : Sidney Poitier, Robert DiNero, Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Ciciley Tyson, Tom Hanks and Director Steven Spielberg. Roman Emperors made Senators of actors when the real rot took hold.


Today,  Mega-stars threaten Americans who support Trump even tepidly in the wake of  The Caravan, Kavanaugh and Comic Opera bomb deliveries of the 'taint' of Trump.




Rome went its way, because everyone sold out.  Actors helped make that purchase.




 

Monday, October 15, 2018

It Was My Pleasure, Ladies!!!!!! Think Nothing Of It! Oh, I see you have already.


This handwritten missive came through my transom this morning.  I must reply.


Dear Girls, Madams, Damsels, Sheilas, Skirts, Twists, Broads, Babes, Ladies, Trollops, Doxies, Shrills, Xanthipes and Harridans,


I was only too happy not to force myself upon any woman - 6 to to 60; blind, crippled or crazy.  It is the very least thing that I can do.




For Sixty-Six years, it has been my policy to regard women with awe, wonder and healthy dose of fear.




Girls, you ain't got nothing to worry from old Patrick Francis.  Unless, of course, I become a movie mogul, a Democratic Senator, GOP Spin Doctor, Fox News Blow-hard, or Left Wing Academic.
You gals send me!


Your Devoted Slave,


Pat Hickey