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!!!!

A letter to the President from Liam

This is a letter to our President from my 8 year old son Liam. 3 points to consider:
1:This is soooooo cute!!(sorry Liam)
2:I in no way indorse this letter!(sorry Mom and Dad-in-law)
3:I am not going to use spell check on this one!
This is verbatim;
Hi Goge Bush,
I think you'r a grat President. I know your dowing great job for the contry. Your dowing a great job. I condint vote for you cus I moved to Noth Carolina. I also codin vote because I'm only 8 and I half to be 18. Ten more years. So have good luck.
Yore friend' Liam

Please, just take the urine.

Had an exciting time today trying to drop off a urine sample to the lab. Well, not just any sample, but a gallon of urine. To begin my story, my wife after having seen the doctor on Monday, was put on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy. She was also to submit a 24 hour urine sample. Needless to say with all the fluids she's been drinking and little Tony kicking her bladder, she goes a lot. I was expecting a little cup, and went whoa when she presented me with the gallon. She informed me that you have to save it everytime you go in a 24 hour period and then keep it on ice.
Well to move this tale along;We were on our way to the doctors and decided we should drop off the sample to the lab first, which is about 5 miles up the road from her doctors office. I will run the sample up to the lab seeing she is supposed to be on bedrest and really shouldn't overdo it in any way. Steph tells me the lab is on the 4'th floor. I got to the floor, carrying the gallon, and there is no lab. I ask, and it is on the 2'nd floor. I wait for the elevator-too slow--so I take the stairs. Get to the "lab", and it is a big room with a whole bunch of people waiting in line to see the receptionist. I think "this can't be it!". I ask and it is. wait in line. I stand behind about 4 people and wait to go up the glass window. Everyone's presenting insurance cards and filling out papers. I'm standing there looking at my watch and holding a gallon of urine.
I finally make it to the window. Hand her the paperwork and am about to hand over the increasingly heavy gallon. She says steph has to sign a consent form. I tell her that she is on level 4 and is not supposed to exert herself. She says I can run it out to her and have her sign it. What??? It's a urine sample for protein, not a DNA test. She then says that I can have a seat, there are 3 people ahead of me. What????
I'm getting hot at this point and keep telling her that this is making no sense. I look at my watch and in 6 minutes we are going to be late. Steph hates to be late. I storm out of there, holding the gallon I thought I could just drop off, and head for the stairs. One problem I can't find them(and I'm certainly not going to ask those bozos at the "lab").
This 2'nd floor is like a huge labyrinth, that leads to the same waiting area. I get frustrated and open a door that this no markings on it and hope that this is the exit. I walked in on a person getting a pretty intense exam. I closed the door quickly with a quick "sorry". How embarrassing for them and me.
I finally make it out. We get to the appointment fashionably late, tell them my story. They call over and then tell me that all I have to do is go back and drop it off. No more problems.
I go back after the appointment, and wait in line for a different receptionist this time. She says "oh yes", and then proceeds to tell me to have a seat and someone will be with me shortly.
AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to the show my friend.

I don't know why but today I am thinking about concerts that I have seen, and I have seen many. The one thing that irks me is having to stand when you paid for a seat. I go to watch the performers and find it very uncomfortable to stand for 2+ hours.
I go to shows to watch the music being performed(maybe it's the musician in me). I go to hear it as well. I don't see the point in treating it like one big party and standing with all the other patrons. Don't get me wrong, some music requires standing--Punk or Rap. If I ever attend a rap performance just bring the van around back, put me in a straight jacket and off to the padded cell I go.
I once bought tickets for steph and I to a Rush concert(still one of the few bands we both enjoy and love). Now I paid a steep price for these tickets because I wanted to get as close to the stage as I could get. I was so excited when the "scalper" said he had 2 in the 7'th row. Wow!!!
Well we got to show and I looked totally 80's, with my long blown-dried hair and especially my boots. Sort of a cross between cowboy and heavy metal.
We got to our seats on the floor(I felt so important), and we were so close to the stage.
Well when the lights went out and the show started, not only did we stand, but we stood on our chairs. I spent the whole show trying to keep my balance on this fold-up chair in my country-metal boots.
Needless to say I don't go to many big shows anymore; and I certainly don't want to get on the floor.
And to this day I have no hair or any idea where my boots are.

To ERR is in-human

Even though I oppose the death penalty at times, and at times I want it installed(totally wishy-washy Charlie Brown), I have to admit I wanted it for ERR(Eric Robert Rudolph). I try not to be too political or let you know what side I'm on. And I'd like to try for once and let things not bother me. But these type of individuals burn me up one side and straight down the other.
Nutjobs who take innocent lives to meet their agendas have no place in my world. I can still remember the day that the Oklahoma city bombing happened. Why would this happen?? I'm not interested in why did this happen? Seeing that picture of the firefighter carrying off the limp,lifeless body of an infant was too much for my human heart to handle. I'm disgusted in any type of terrorism. To go to an extent of taking an innocent life is unconscionable.
I don't care what ERR has to say for himself, or if he shows no remorse. He is a coward, and should be put down.
I'm sorry this is so dark, but as a human being with morals attributed to cosequences, I feel obliged to write my feelings down.
In my life every coward I have seen from Columbine to TWTC, has made me feel for victims, their families and everyone else on that downward spiral into WHY?, WHY?, WHY????.
I pray for peace.

Spotlight on the human condition

I was brought to the attention of a certain condition this week by my wife. I have to slow down and pace myself while communicating effectively. She couldn't be more right. She nailed it on the head. If we move too fast through life and don't try to stop and enjoy and figure things out at our own pace, we will never figure them out.
Now, I'm not preaching stop and smell the roses, but if we don't stop, we will be wondering what that beautiful fragrance is that just whisped up my nose.
On a sidenote, check out this article. God is not dead! If some of these folks in this article would slow it down, they might just see what the real human condition is, and how an important human being spent his life perfecting it.(I had to change this post because the actual article is under congressman joe)

lyme disease????

Well it's been a week since my last post. We did find our stroller.It's the first stroller that we looked at before we began our buying odyssey into infant retailers.
I have been feeling a little tired lately. I think it's due to our vacation and then the massive shopping spree in Greenville, S.C.. I know the one thing it's not due to, Lyme disease.
When we lived back in New England, it seemed the doctors answer to any ailment was lyme disease. I came down with a summer cold(which I caught from a co-worker, not a tick), went to the doctor and , after I told him what it was, he insisted I had lyme disease. He put me on medication immediately and ordered blood tests. While taking this medication, I was to avoid all contact with the sun.
Now this was in the summer. Imagine seeing a guy mowing his lawn in 90 degree heat, with longpants, a long shirt and a cowboy hat.
The real kicker was when I took our 13 year old chihuaha to the vet, because her hind legs were useless, and we thought she had a stroke. Guess what the vet's diagnosis was. Yup, you guessed it-Lyme disease.
I don't want to sound like the medical establishment in New England was made up mostly of quacks. My blood test came back negative, almost the time when I was to take my last pill. Maybe it was just being cautious, or paranoid. All I know is I'm starting to get a little more energy now!

On the hunt for strollers

Well, We're back from Memphis. Now we're off to Greenville on our continuing hunt for the right stroller for Anthony. No we didn't go to Memphis to look for a new stroller, although we did look in a few places. If we didn't, I never would have seen Guitar Center and bought my new Fender Bass.
Today we'll go off to Greenville,and hopefully find the one we're looking for. As usual Steph has done extensive research, so I'm certain if it's not found today, we'll be ordering on-line. It's so much easier that way, but you can't test drive a stroller on-line.
I'm off to practice my base, while waking the family up.

Greetings from Memphis

Sending this from the gorgeous city of Memphis, T.N.. Spent about 10 hours driving in the rain to get here yesterday but it was worth it.
Stopped by Elvis's house today. He wasn't home. Then went to Beale st., and took a horse and buggy ride around the section of barbecue and blues. During the ride, we found out about the "duck march" at the Peabody motel. If none of you understand this, I'm not going to explain it. Just hop on a bus, train or plane and see this.
Tomorrow we take Liam to the zoo.
We are so proud of him for not asking the tour guide at Graceland, where the famous toilet was.

Happy birthday Liam from the United States Post Office

Liam's birthday was this week and he has received a few packages in the mail. The last one we received was a little strange.
The package was from my sister, who always sends Liam really nice clothes. Liam at a younger age didn't care for things made out of cotton, he wanted plastic and metal. He's come around lately, and I must say when he dresses himself he is color-coordinated(even a color-blind person would agree).
Enough rambling, here's the meat. You can just imagine an 8 year old boy's expression when he opens his box to find a cute pink dress(I'm not making this up) with little buttons and bows sewn on it.
I repressed my whacked sense of humor and didn't make him try it on. The weird thing was it looked to be about his size.
The reason we received the little pink dress with little buttons and bows sewn on it, was due to the fact that the original box was somehow damaged, so I guess they somehow sent Liam's new shirt to a little girl, and a pink dress with little buttons and bows sewn on it to Liam.

Racing the clouds home

Well, woke up today about 1:00 p.m.(no, I'm not a rockstar, I work 3'rd shift), and after Steph and I picked Liam up from school we decided to go and look for strollers for Anthony who is still having fun using mommy's bladder for a punching bag. Right before we left I was watching the Weather Channel and noticed in the forecast they were calling for thunderstorms and possible hail. Being the great conversationalist that I am, I didn't mention this to my wife, who is still carrying the paranoid feeling of putting any kind of scratch on the new odyssey. I mentioned this "possible" weather report about 25 minutes into our drive. We debated whether or not to turn around and go home. We decided(well actually I decided) to venture on.
I guess I didn't help matters any by constantly pointing out the ominous black clouds that kept forming in all directions. Liam didn't seem to notice. That could be to the fact that he was only interested in the gameboy he was playing in the back of the van. Steph certainly noticed.
To make a long story short, we raced the clouds home, with a brief stop for our favorite grinders,and made it safely into the garage.

If it's too loud your too old!

I saw this statement on the back of a kiss tour shirt back in the late 70's, and it made me laugh. Well, after last night's Steve Vai show at the Orange Peel in Asheville N.C., I wasn't laughing anymore. I bought ticket's for myself and Phil, my good friend, last month. Now Phil is 54 and I am 37, so before the show I asked him laughingly if it would be too loud for him. To my major surprise it was too loud for even me ("the louder the better"). I asked Phil, on the way home, if it was too loud for him but I couldn't hear his answer.
Don't get me wrong, it was an incredible show with musicians who are into what they are playing. It was just too loud. Man, do I feel old!!!!!!
On a softer note, today is my son Liam's 8'th birthday. He is truly a gift from God and not a day goes by that I don't realize this. Happy birthday little buddy.
I have another gift arriving next month. The stork will bring us another boy named Anthony. Can't wait. Of course I'll probably want to take that back in 2 months, Just Kidding.
The moral to the top of this entry is if it's too loud, it's just too loud!

A new car for the wife, and a new hat for me.

Spent the last 2 weeks finalizing our decision after 14 years of marriage, 1 son and another on the way, to go all the way and buy a new car. Not just any car, but the dreaded mini-van.
My wife deserves this more than I can describe. It's not only just a "mini-van", but a Honda Odyssey.

To make a long story short, to seal the deal with the salesman, I told him to throw in a free Honda hat. My wife cracked up, as did the salesman, but when we were driving off the lot I had a goofy grin on my face and a hat on my head.

By the way, this first post is with great teaching by my father-in-law.