Randy Elrod's Blog, page 14

Shut Up and Sing

Recently, I watched while conservatives told Taylor Swift to shut up and sing, i.e., stay out of their politics, i.e., stay in her lane. Of course, Republicans and Trump are afraid of her—so they try to intimidate her.  This worn-out trope sounded all too familiar to me. For decades, I was told the same thing...

A Portrait of The Artist as a Grown Man (Video and Text)

This post includes the video and text version, the art displayed on the easel in the video, and an exclusive 48-second look at my new atelier at Montecinos in Barcelona. Enjoy. Please click to SUBSCRIBE. A Portrait of The Artist As A Grown Man  (A Stream of Consciousness with Apologies to James Joyce) I did...

Forget Jesus, Give Us Trump

If someone had told me, when I was on the mega-church stage in front of thousands of adoring people, holding their hands when loved ones died, utilizing the arts to bring healing, encouraging them to hang on in a crazy world, personally mentoring hundreds of young artists, loving a wife monogamously for almost thirty years,...

Life in Spain: Two-Month Update

The moment I walked out of the Barcelona El Prat airport in December I felt a stimulating sense of belonging, it seemed to defy the angst of my life in fragmented America—a country I no longer recognize or feel comfortable in.  There seems always to be an inner breeze of excitement, joyful gratitude for Barcelona...

My First Tantric Massage (What a Surprise!)

Weary and sore from lugging heavy suitcases and assembling furniture, one of my goals when a free day arrived was to find a Chinese massage therapist like my therapist Wen in Dunedin, who walks on one’s back, a practice called Ashiatsu. After an extensive search online, I finally located a Chinese lady who offers Ashiatsu....

Sexy Fun—Our Trip to the Erotic Museum Barcelona

Warning: If you are offended by explicit sex acts, photos, and paraphernalia, do NOT read or visit this page. No kidding, do not go further. I have no intention of offending anyone, but I have every intention to enlighten and entertain those who feel free to express their sexuality and erotic desires.  Upon learning Barcelona’s Erotic...

Our Most Magical Day In Barcelona So Far (Museu Nacional d’Art de Cataluna and Maitea Tavern)

We finally had a free day and determined not to waste it, and voila! it was our best day here yet. Many years ago, I watched Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé perform the song Barcelona at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Cataluna. As I wept profuse tears of joy, I vowed one day to go there. Today...

Thoughts After One Month In Spain

It has been a fast and furious thirty days in Barcelona. When we settled into our temporary apartment, we received a message that our furniture was arriving overseas six weeks earlier than we thought. So, the scramble began to find the perfect permanent home.  Our real estate agent, Eva Gonzales from Engel-Voelkers, was a delight...

Why This Christmas Was My Best Ever

As Gina and I reflected on this holiday season while enjoying a festive cosmopolitan a few evenings ago, I told her it was my best ever. She asked why. Here are a few significant reasons. —I love new things. And moving to Barcelona has provided a multitude of them: new languages, new routines, new foods,...

A Day At The Barcelona Opera (Gran Teatre del Liceu)

I am still processing this magical day. Somehow, I got unbelievable seats to a performance of “El Conte De Nadal De Charles Dickens” (A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens) at the iconic Gran Theatre del Liceu in Barcelona. Honestly, I thought we would be most impressed with the grand theatre’s aesthetics and the incredible seats,...