mariah who?????

Driving home this morning I heard a news flash that almost had me curtailing down the side of the mountain. It seems that there is a particular "artist"(and I use this term very loosely) who is making history. This "artist" has more #1's on Billboard than any other "artist" on the scene today. What made me almost careen down to my death was the reference that this "artist" may eventually surpass the only 2 other acts before her:THE BEATLES and ELVIS.
I don't know about you, but I feel very strongly towards these 2. They were true "artists" in the way they went about sharing the wonderful gift of music to us all. They are both easily recognizable, and a true musical treasure. I hold THE BEATLES at the top because they are the only TRUE act which wrote and performed all their own songs. Unreal in todays market.
For those purists out there who think rock is dead, check out Brian Wilson's SMILE. WHOAHH!
I can go on and on with this subject. I truly believe that music is not dead, just stagnant, and that there are glimpses of a pure light of brilliance that shine and surely make me smile!

Captain,set a crash course!!

Looking over past news articles this week, I have discovered that the road to hell is indeed paved with bad intentions. You really have to sit back and shake your head at these 2 items.
1:Paris Hilton advertisement for a hamburger:
A)Is it too racy?? I don't know if you've seen this but this is something that you would see if one subscribed to the Playboy Channel. My God!! Where are we heading Jude Cleaver? I am a male and I am also a father and role model and I think this is just plain smut from an industry that feels the need to cloud our youngun's minds with pornography that sells.
A recent pole on MSNBC. Over 13,000 people were asked if it was too racy. 61%yes/39%no.


2:Giving Viagra to sex-offenders:
A)unbelievable but true. And our government is paying for it. Finding out this information not only makes me sick, but can really piss-off me off when it is in fact the taxpayers that are footing this ludricous, unconscionable expense.


To sum both of these stories up. I hope I don't offend anyone in the 39%, but don't worry , just move to New York and your Viagra will be free.

Hitting the wall

Well, I've gone and done it. With steph's new mini-van that is. We are so careful when we take it out. We make sure we park miles away from any human or machinery contact. If someone parks right next to us, which seems to be the case most of the time with this metal magnet, we check to see if they left a ding or scratch on our vehicle.
To get on with the story, I, who is the infallible driver(hey, I always brag how on my job I drive heavy machinery all night without ever an incident), put not only a scratch or a ding, but both!!
This happened while I pulled into the garage. I knew I was cutting it close(I even mentioned out loud that I was) but I still went ahead with the docking process. You could hear the scrape along the wall as if it was playing through our speaker system in the van. I said "oh *#!%. Steph jumped out and looked at the front quarter of the ship. I though she was going to breathe a sigh of relief and then shake her fist at me. Instead she said something similar to my outburst, but longer. She didn't shake her fist at me either.
She disappeared inside, leaving me to carry in the baby and the other items we had to carry in. Imagine the nerve!?!?
I looked at the damage and I almost threw up. I felt my knees buckle and held myself up before I put anymore of my insignia on the van. I made it through without at least denting it. I wasn't about to do that with my skull. I was sure steph would appreciate that, and somehow forget the whole event. She did..........Eventually.
Many thanks to Honda for including the touch-up paint they gave us when we purchased the van. How did they know!?!?
EPILOGUE:
We were out today looking at land with our new agent. She asked me how I liked the van. I went on to tell her of the main event on Saturday. She saw the humor in the story(why can't my wife see it!?!?). Of course Steph had the last laugh when she informed me of my much developed ignorance when she said "YOU KNOW, SHE WORKS FOR OUR LANDLORD!!"


DOHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

coffee & jazz

While Tony and the wife are catching up on some much needed z's, I'm sitting here in the sun-porch drinking java and listening to some jazz. It always seems to get my creative juices flowing. Java & Jazz-what a mix! I like to practice the bass to "beyond jazz" on XM radio. Some of the most interesting and flawless players can be found in this realm.
On a side-note, just bought myself a 4-cd package of Jerry's performance from his attack on Broadway in 1987 for a stint of 18 shows in 16 days at the famous Lunt-Fontanne theater. The performance I'm getting is the October 31'st(Halloween) performance. It is the complete performance, featuring both acoustic/electric-matinee/evening performances. If anyone is diverse in his musical tastes and styles, it is Jerry. Which makes this set a must have for the music lover in me. I cant wait to pop it in the portable, sit back and enjoy my favorite guitarist in action.
Tony is getting bigger every day. It's amazing this boy's milk consumption. Poor Steph. She is as proud as she is diligent in nurturing our boy as she has done with liam. She is the poster-child for the perfect mommy. I thank God every day for not only blessing me with 2 beautiful children, but also for blessing me with a wonderful, loving and giving wife. It all adds up to a recipe that is not only delectable, but filling as well.

Peace to Y'all!!

The system is really down!!

Just read an article where the band System of a Down used expletives while performing on a live broadcast of SNL. They were told not to use the words which are in their "new hit". What an oxymoron.. Or just plain, what a bunch of morons. SNL was able to bleep out 5 swears, but they snuck a fifth in. Where in the hell is the music industry going. They gave Elvis a hard time and Jim Morrison a hard time for piddly things. They, the sensors back then, would be rolling in their graves if they knew how far we have come. It's just disgusting that a band has to rely on vulgarity to get their "message" across.
This(the song listed below, not the crap from the system)is lyrics from a song that is true poetry in motion. This band has always been given a hard time(not because of vulgarity, but because of the counter-culture that followed them from their early roots and never let go. More power to them. This was taken off the back of a book I am reading on this band now. The writers are listed at the bottom. It should take no introduction.
This is where it's at, and where it should stay.

There were days
There were days
There were days I know
When all we ever wanted
Was to learn and love and grow
Once we grew into our shoes
We told them where to go
Walked halfway around the world
On promise of the glow
Stood upon a mountain top
Walked barefoot in the snow
We gave the best we had to give
How much we'll never know, never know


Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia, "Days Between"

ANTHONY HAS ARRIVED!!!!

Our 2'nd little angel has arrived into our lives and it is wonderful. He sleeps and poops, and sleeps and poops. This is normal so it doesn't concern me. If he's 14 and still maintains this cycle, then I'll worry a bit.
My boy's are my passion(sorry Steph, you're a whole different passion). Not a day has gone by where I've missed Liam's smile. Tony can't smile right now, but I am almost certain he will be soon.
Life is good!!!!
Life is ever changing!!!!
Life is good in packages of 4!!!!