Ok, this is not news by any stretch of the imagination. You'd have to be living under a rock not to have heard about his hanging. To tell the truth I'm not sure how I feel about it. Yes, he was a bad man with a capital B. But a lot of the badness he did, to his own people and to others, we thought was ok when he was one of our "friends." It was only after he started acting in ways that didn't go along with our needs that he became such a terrible leader.
With everything that has happened over in Iraq and the way our government has acted I'd feel a lot better about the whole thing if I didn't feel as if it was all just a push by W to make people think he's acting decisive about the Iraq situation. Look he can say, we just killed the big bad man, now things will get better.
Unfortuantely things will probably get a lot worse.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Christmas Gifts
Christmas is fast becoming a memory and I haven't posted any of the great gifts I got. Before I left for my parents Heather and I exchanged gifts. She got me a lot of cool gifts. She gave me a Jimny Cricket coffee cup. When I went to Disney this past year I searched for anything with Jimny on it, to no avail. I was told that they don't stock anything with him except for around Earth Day. So this is just too cool. If I get a chance I'll take a picture and post it later. Also a Beatles coffee mug. This is the animated Beatles from their cartoon days. Really cool. And a Superman alarm clock. I haven't had a chance to use this yet, but I will. When the alarm goes off it is supposed to flash a big S on the ceiling. How cool is that?
My brother got me the Anthology of Folk Music edited by Harry Smith. This is a collection that I've been wanting to get for awhile, but just have never did. This is the folk music that inspired a generation, including Bob Dylan, to help shape their music.
My parents gave me mostly money, since I didn't get a list of things to choose from. But that's cool, there is nothing wrong with money. Now I just have to decide what I want to buy.
My sister got me a pile of books. Always a good choice.
My neice and nephew got me a book about John Lennon. One that I atcually don't have, which is a wonder in itself.
So all in all it was a very good Christmas as far as presents go.
My brother got me the Anthology of Folk Music edited by Harry Smith. This is a collection that I've been wanting to get for awhile, but just have never did. This is the folk music that inspired a generation, including Bob Dylan, to help shape their music.
My parents gave me mostly money, since I didn't get a list of things to choose from. But that's cool, there is nothing wrong with money. Now I just have to decide what I want to buy.
My sister got me a pile of books. Always a good choice.
My neice and nephew got me a book about John Lennon. One that I atcually don't have, which is a wonder in itself.
So all in all it was a very good Christmas as far as presents go.
This How I Am To Be Addressed From Now On:
 | My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Count-Palatine John the Pompous of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title |
Best of 2006
I'd like to make a best of 2006 in music, books, comics, etc. but two things may hold me back. One is time and the other is that I have a hard time remembering what came out in 2006. I pick up so much stuff, old and new, that I have trouble remembering if that cd came out in 2006 or did I just buy it in 2006. I'm going to try and go back and see what I can remember with my senility creeping in.
So I'd like to throw a question out to all you in blogger land. What do you think was the best movie, cd, book, comic of 2006?
So I'd like to throw a question out to all you in blogger land. What do you think was the best movie, cd, book, comic of 2006?
Blog Roundup for 2006
Well looking back over my blog posts for this past year I can say I started off with a whimper but ended with a bang. January was actually the worst month for posting, only two posts. I remember starting off the year wondering if I really wanted to continue this blog. It was a feeling that took awhile to shake. Sometimes even posting as much as I do now I get that feeling. I wonder if anyone is even reading this. I know I'm writing it for myself, but I also want people to read it. Sometimes I feel like this blog is all but invisible.
Feb picked up somewhat but I didn't really post much for the first half of the year, not much more than two dozen posts in one given month. July was even worse, with only 7 posts. August and Sept followed the same pattern, looking like I wasn't really going to get back into this blog that much. But somehow by the time Oct rolled around I was back to posting on a regular basis. October saw 45 posts, Nov even more with 48 and somehow with all that was going on Dec saw the most of the year with 66 posts so far. Now I will admit that you might think some of those posts are kind of a cheat, there were a lot of quizzes for the month of Dec. But I like taking those quizzes so I'm going to count them.
Still 2006 doesn't beat out my first year of blogging, and 2005 was short a month, I didn't start until Feb. 2005 I ended up with 368, so far for this year I am at 323. I might add a few more before the end of this year, but not that many more.
Still even with my carping about wondering if anyone is reading this blog I have to admit that I find it fun. I find it relaxing, after a hard day at work I enjoy sitting down at my computer and adding to this blog. It helps focus my mind as well as the same time as letting it wander and not feel so burdened by so many things. I enjoy the friends I have met while blogging and hope to meet many more.
None of these numbers mean much to anyone but me, but it's just one more way of my geeky nature.
For the new year I have some plans for some regular features on this blog. One is the SPOTLIGHT ON: which will feature some musical group or individual that I think deserves wider exposure. Another is the WORD A DAY. Last year I bought one of those word a day desk calendars and forgot about it. Every month or so I'd have to tear off twenty or thirty pages to get caught back up. I figure if I post the word a day every day on my blog than I'll be sure to read it daily. Also I have a rock and roll fact calendar that asks questions everyday that I think I will post to. This way will help me to post everyday, though I can guarantee there will be days I miss.
Well, I hope that those of you that do read this blog on any type of regular basis enjoy it. And I hope this year more people will stop by and enjoy it.
Everyone have a great NEW YEAR.
Feb picked up somewhat but I didn't really post much for the first half of the year, not much more than two dozen posts in one given month. July was even worse, with only 7 posts. August and Sept followed the same pattern, looking like I wasn't really going to get back into this blog that much. But somehow by the time Oct rolled around I was back to posting on a regular basis. October saw 45 posts, Nov even more with 48 and somehow with all that was going on Dec saw the most of the year with 66 posts so far. Now I will admit that you might think some of those posts are kind of a cheat, there were a lot of quizzes for the month of Dec. But I like taking those quizzes so I'm going to count them.
Still 2006 doesn't beat out my first year of blogging, and 2005 was short a month, I didn't start until Feb. 2005 I ended up with 368, so far for this year I am at 323. I might add a few more before the end of this year, but not that many more.
Still even with my carping about wondering if anyone is reading this blog I have to admit that I find it fun. I find it relaxing, after a hard day at work I enjoy sitting down at my computer and adding to this blog. It helps focus my mind as well as the same time as letting it wander and not feel so burdened by so many things. I enjoy the friends I have met while blogging and hope to meet many more.
None of these numbers mean much to anyone but me, but it's just one more way of my geeky nature.
For the new year I have some plans for some regular features on this blog. One is the SPOTLIGHT ON: which will feature some musical group or individual that I think deserves wider exposure. Another is the WORD A DAY. Last year I bought one of those word a day desk calendars and forgot about it. Every month or so I'd have to tear off twenty or thirty pages to get caught back up. I figure if I post the word a day every day on my blog than I'll be sure to read it daily. Also I have a rock and roll fact calendar that asks questions everyday that I think I will post to. This way will help me to post everyday, though I can guarantee there will be days I miss.
Well, I hope that those of you that do read this blog on any type of regular basis enjoy it. And I hope this year more people will stop by and enjoy it.
Everyone have a great NEW YEAR.
WORD A DAY
BROOHAHA: This is one of those words that doesn't seem to have a meaning it its history. It is likely imitative, that is, coined to represent the sound of a crowd. Not an English crowd, however, but French, because that's where it was first used, in the 1400s. According to some sources, however, it may have come from the French theater, where actors shouted this when they were playing the part of the devil.
Friday, December 29, 2006
See How Peaceful I Am
| You Are 74% Peaceful |
 You are a very peaceful person. All is good in your world, no matter what's going on. Occasionally you let your problems get to you, but you generally remain upbeat. Your inner strength is inspirational - much more so than you may realize. |
WORD A DAY
WEATHER: When this word emerged in English, it was not generic, but referred only to a certain kind of "weather" - the stormy kind. The background may extend all the way to Sanskrit, the word vata, meaning "wind." Similar words were wedar in Old Saxon, wetar in Old High German, and the Indo-European root word wetrom, meaning "storm." When it first appeared in Old English it was weder.
Christmas Day
It was still dark when I turned right at the totem pole and headed up the last road to my parent's house. This road was just dirt when I was a kid and it brought back many memories of pulling on it as the final leg to my grandparent's house. From here I was just minutes away. First I passed my Uncle and Aunt's house that sits on the corner next to the highway. Than their son Rabbit and the next in line is my parents. All this land belonged to my Grandpa back in the day, after his death it was split up among the two sons and three daughters, which one daughter was my Mom.
As I turned into the driveway and my headlights swept their house I noticed there were no lights on inside. Everyone was still sleeping. I was worried coming up that everyone would be up and all the presents opened by the time I got there. The day previous I had decided to leave at midnight and drive up to get here for around six to seven, which it was six thirty now. Originally my plan had been to leave right after work at two in the afternoon and drive up, which would have put me there at around midnight. But I was too tired to risk the drive and I figured that getting up there that late, everyone was going to be sleeping and I would just go to sleep to wake up I figured that if I got some sleep and drove up there in time for the unwrapping I would feel a lot better.
The trip up had been one of constant rain and wind. I would run into a storm that would last for ten or fifteen minutes to be followed by some more rain only to run into another storm within another thirty or forty minutes. The roads I took were little highways or not even that so there were no lights on them. So it was very dark and wet, which made for an interesting drive. There was almost no traffic on the way up. I guess not many people are traveling on Christmas night.
When I pulled in the driveway I opened the door and let Buffy out, who promptly ran up the porch to the front door. Someone must have heard us arrive because I saw the door open and Buffy disppear inside. I still had two boxes of Christmas presents to bring in. And it was cold. It was below freezing when I got there.
I made my two trip in and out with the boxes. My neice Shannon was the early riser. She sat on the floor letting Buffy lick her. That was a good sign. I was worried about how Buffy was going to react with all the people in the house and everyone bound to come visit. At the moment she was busy licking Shannon while she petted her. Everyone else was still in bed. My brother was sleeping on the couch so he was waking up with me tromping in and out. I took the presents out of the boxes and spread them around the tree. By this time my Mom was up and running around welcoming me and Buffy.
My Dad was awake but still in bed. I got my first look at him since he had gotten sick. I went in the bedroom. He had the blankets pulled up around him. His head was shaved almost bald. Now my Dad has always had short hair, he was a Navy lifer, and when he retired he carried the buzzcut with him. But this was different. At first glance he looked bald. His teeth were out, he didn't sleep with them, which gives his face a hollow fallen look. At first glance I was somewhat taken back. He didn't look too good.
Within minutes everyone else was up. My brother went to wake my nephew Sean and my Mom went and got my sister up. Before you knew it we were all gathered around the Christmas tree. Past Christmas' my Dad would get down by the tree and hand out all the presents. This year he was in his chair that he vowed to burn when he got better. He looked somewhat better when he was up, but I noticed the shake in his hands and how much weight he had already lost. My brother took my Dad's place at the side of the tree and handed out presents.
Before long we had a pile of littered wrapping paper and empty boxes on the floor. Sean got his box set of punk cds, Shannon a purse that my brother had to order online, my Dad got a bunch of books, my Mom a bunch of Elvis stuff, we all got a lot of goodies. Every year I get my Mom something Elvis, this year Sean and Shannon got her some Elvis stuff too.
The trash wasn't long for the floor, my Mom cannot stand a mess. Before long she was up with some big trash bags picking up all the torn paper and discarded boxes. One of the presents my Dad got was a Popeye watch from my neice. I watched as he took it out of the packaging and noticed how much his hands shook as he tried to get it free.
After the presents were over with of course conversation turned to food. My mom made us all some breakfast and afterwards my brother went out to cook the turkey. They were going to broil it with his burner and pot outside. I crawled back to bed for a few hours, the drive had taken its toll on me.
As I turned into the driveway and my headlights swept their house I noticed there were no lights on inside. Everyone was still sleeping. I was worried coming up that everyone would be up and all the presents opened by the time I got there. The day previous I had decided to leave at midnight and drive up to get here for around six to seven, which it was six thirty now. Originally my plan had been to leave right after work at two in the afternoon and drive up, which would have put me there at around midnight. But I was too tired to risk the drive and I figured that getting up there that late, everyone was going to be sleeping and I would just go to sleep to wake up I figured that if I got some sleep and drove up there in time for the unwrapping I would feel a lot better.
The trip up had been one of constant rain and wind. I would run into a storm that would last for ten or fifteen minutes to be followed by some more rain only to run into another storm within another thirty or forty minutes. The roads I took were little highways or not even that so there were no lights on them. So it was very dark and wet, which made for an interesting drive. There was almost no traffic on the way up. I guess not many people are traveling on Christmas night.
When I pulled in the driveway I opened the door and let Buffy out, who promptly ran up the porch to the front door. Someone must have heard us arrive because I saw the door open and Buffy disppear inside. I still had two boxes of Christmas presents to bring in. And it was cold. It was below freezing when I got there.
I made my two trip in and out with the boxes. My neice Shannon was the early riser. She sat on the floor letting Buffy lick her. That was a good sign. I was worried about how Buffy was going to react with all the people in the house and everyone bound to come visit. At the moment she was busy licking Shannon while she petted her. Everyone else was still in bed. My brother was sleeping on the couch so he was waking up with me tromping in and out. I took the presents out of the boxes and spread them around the tree. By this time my Mom was up and running around welcoming me and Buffy.
My Dad was awake but still in bed. I got my first look at him since he had gotten sick. I went in the bedroom. He had the blankets pulled up around him. His head was shaved almost bald. Now my Dad has always had short hair, he was a Navy lifer, and when he retired he carried the buzzcut with him. But this was different. At first glance he looked bald. His teeth were out, he didn't sleep with them, which gives his face a hollow fallen look. At first glance I was somewhat taken back. He didn't look too good.
Within minutes everyone else was up. My brother went to wake my nephew Sean and my Mom went and got my sister up. Before you knew it we were all gathered around the Christmas tree. Past Christmas' my Dad would get down by the tree and hand out all the presents. This year he was in his chair that he vowed to burn when he got better. He looked somewhat better when he was up, but I noticed the shake in his hands and how much weight he had already lost. My brother took my Dad's place at the side of the tree and handed out presents.
Before long we had a pile of littered wrapping paper and empty boxes on the floor. Sean got his box set of punk cds, Shannon a purse that my brother had to order online, my Dad got a bunch of books, my Mom a bunch of Elvis stuff, we all got a lot of goodies. Every year I get my Mom something Elvis, this year Sean and Shannon got her some Elvis stuff too.
The trash wasn't long for the floor, my Mom cannot stand a mess. Before long she was up with some big trash bags picking up all the torn paper and discarded boxes. One of the presents my Dad got was a Popeye watch from my neice. I watched as he took it out of the packaging and noticed how much his hands shook as he tried to get it free.
After the presents were over with of course conversation turned to food. My mom made us all some breakfast and afterwards my brother went out to cook the turkey. They were going to broil it with his burner and pot outside. I crawled back to bed for a few hours, the drive had taken its toll on me.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
I'm Back!
Drove back from Tennessee this morning and got in this afternoon. Of course I had to put up my Thursday Thirteen, tied in with my visit. I plan on posting more about my visit of course, but Smallville is coming on and after that last post I need to get away from the computer for a few. So I'll be back soon.
Thursday Thirteen #8: Christmas Pictures
 |
1.  My Favorite Picture, me and my Dad. 2.  My Mom and Buffy. 3.  My brother with Buffy and Sadie, behind him is my neice Shannon. 4.  My sister checking out a present. That's my nephew Sean in the background. 5.  I wasn't the only one taking pictures. 6.  Sadie was very interested in one of my Dad's gifts. Can anyone guess what this is? 7.  Not the neatest group are we? 8.  Buffy loves to get her picture taken. 9.  He actually wasn't trying to hide from getting his picture taken, he was just waking up, I tried to take it of him sleeping but he woke up as I snapped. 10.  The before shot. 11.  The after shot. 12.  My brother and Mother trying to decide what we are going to eat. 13.  My Dad opening presents. |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Saturday, December 23, 2006
The Start of A Long Line of Quizes
| You Are 64% Open Minded |
 You are a very open minded person, but you're also well grounded. Tolerant and flexible, you appreciate most lifestyles and viewpoints. But you also know where you stand firm, and you can draw that line. You're open to considering every possibility - but in the end, you stand true to yourself. |
Is This Good or Bad?
| You Are 30% Redneck |
 The wheels still turning, but the hamster's dead. You're just fakin' bein' a redneck. |
Under the Dog, it figures!
| You Should Have Been Born Under: |
 You are totally loyal, faithful, and honest. However, you don't trust others to be as ethical as you are! Straight forward and direct, you really aren't one for small talk. You are a great listener - and an agreeable companion when you're in a good mood! You are most compatible with a Tiger or Horse. |
How Well Traveled I Am (or not)
| Your Travel Profile: |
 You Are Very Well Traveled in the Southern United States (77%) You Are Well Traveled in the Midwestern United States (50%) You Are Well Traveled in the Northeastern United States (43%) You Are Somewhat Well Traveled in Canada (40%) You Are Somewhat Well Traveled in Western Europe (29%) You Are Somewhat Well Traveled in Southern Europe (27%) You Are Mostly Untraveled in the United Kingdom (13%) You Are Mostly Untraveled in the Western United States (11%) You Are Untraveled in Africa (0%) You Are Untraveled in Asia (0%) You Are Untraveled in Australia (0%) You Are Untraveled in Eastern Europe (0%) You Are Untraveled in Latin America (0%) You Are Untraveled in New Zealand (0%) You Are Untraveled in Scandinavia (0%) You Are Untraveled in the Middle East (0%) |
My Life
| Your Life is 65% Perfect |
 Your life is pretty darn perfect. You don't have much to complain about. Of course, your life is occasionally less than perfect. But you're usually too happy to notice. |
Blogthings
| You Are 50% Addicted to Blogthings |
 You're a Blogthings fiend - addicted but not totally dependent. So what if you know your personality type by heart? And while you may feel like Blogthings is crack... There are people much worse off than you! |
Merry Ho Ho Ho
Tommorrow is Christmas Eve and I don't know if I'll have time to post anything before I leave or not. I go to work at six and than after work I'm driving up to Tennessee. It's about a six hour drive or so. I'm supposed to get off at two, so hopefully I'll be on the road by three at the latest which will get me up there by nine, ten tops. So tommorrow plans to be a busy day.
I just want to take the time to wish everyone on here a MERRY CHRISTMAS. I owe some people out there some emails, some way over due (I'm sorry) and when I get back I'm going to try to get them out.
I may be silent for the next few days to week, as my parents have only dial up. I plan to take my lap top with me, but I don't know how much I can post on dial up or if I'll have a chance to. So I just want to wish everyone a Merry Ho Ho Ho and hope everyone has a great holiday.
I just want to take the time to wish everyone on here a MERRY CHRISTMAS. I owe some people out there some emails, some way over due (I'm sorry) and when I get back I'm going to try to get them out.
I may be silent for the next few days to week, as my parents have only dial up. I plan to take my lap top with me, but I don't know how much I can post on dial up or if I'll have a chance to. So I just want to wish everyone a Merry Ho Ho Ho and hope everyone has a great holiday.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Yep!
| You Are 4% Republican |
 If you have anything in common with the Republican party, it's by sheer chance. You're a staunch liberal, and nothing is going to change that! |
I Can Agree With This
| You Are 68% Democrat |
 You have a good deal of donkey running through your blood, and you're proud to be liberal. You don't fit every Democrat stereotype, but you definitely belong in the Democrat party. |
More liberal than Democrat I can agree with. I agree with a lot of the Democrat platform but I consider myself an independent.
Sometimes I Think I'm Too Honest
| You Are Very Honest |
 You tell it like it is, no matter what. Even if the truth hurts, you'll dish it out. And while some may get hurt by your honesty... At least everyone knows where you stand! |
I once argued with a waitress that she failed to charge us for an item we ordered.
I Wish This Was True
| You Christmas Stocking Will Be Filled with Money |
 You've either been really really good this year... Or Santa is trying to pay you off! |
This is kind of strange, cause it is going to be partly true. Normally I give my Mom a list of a bunch of different things that she can get me for Christmas, but this year I was late in getting her a list and with everything going on up there she told me that she was just mainly giving me money, so be careful in unwrapping my presents. Yeah, my Mom is going to wrap money.
Sleeping Tells Me What?
| What Your Sleeping Position Says |
You are calm and rational. You are also giving and kind - a great friend. You are easy going and trusting. However, you are too sensible to fall for mind games. |
What Type of Blogger Am I?
| Your Blogging Type is Artistic and Passionate |
 You see your blog as the ultimate personal expression - and work hard to make it great. One moment you may be working on a new dramatic design for your blog... And the next, you're passionately writing about your pet causes. Your blog is very important - and you're careful about who you share it with. |
I agree with this except the part about being careful who I share this blog with, I want to share it with everyone!
Very True
| Your Holiday Personality is Hyper |
 Any holiday activity is well suited to you - as long as you keep moving. Shop everywhere and anywhere. Create your own holiday cards. Make everyone on a your list a custom stocking of goodies! |
Weekend of Hell
This is it. The final weekend before Christmas. With Christmas on a Monday this year there will be lots more people out there shopping. As long as I've been in retail I'm still not sure why so many people wait till the very last moment to do their Christmas shopping.
Tis the Season
I have a sort of love/hate relationship with Christmas. I've worked in retail for twenty something years. Christmas is the holy grail for retail. The company I worked for before did about 80% of their total yearly sales in two months, November and Decemeber. So that was a lot of business in just sixty days. Where I work now is a little more spread out over the year as far as sales go. Of course a higher percent is done from Thanksgiving to the 25th of Decemeber.
If you work retail Christmas means long hours, little sleep, lots of work, customers that treat you like crap and no time for much else. I don't mean all customers, some customers are wonderful. I waited on a little old lady this week, she was eighty years old she told me, and she was a joy. Starting the day after Thanksgiving I've been wearing one of those Santa hats at work. So this little old lady called me Santa Claus (it couldn't have anything to do with my expanding waistline, could it?) when she asked for help. I found what she wanted and went on my business. About twenty minutes later someone else was trying to help her for something else and they didn't know if we had the item. We did and I went and got it for her and carried it out to her car. She said of course Santa Clause would be able to help her. She was a fun customer and helped me to remember the joy in the season.
Than there is the customer like one today who called to complain because she couldn't get her car out of the parking lot. There were too many cars and no one would let her out. What were we going to do? Jeez, maybe it's Christmas time so anyone who is doing their shopping with only three days left is bound to run into a little traffic.
The problem with certain customers this time of year is that they want everything and they want it yesterday. Some customers don't understand how we could not have something in stock. I had one customer come in with an ad and ask for a certain item, when I told him we didn't carry it he started having a fit and pushing the ad in my face and wanting to know how we could advertise something if we didn't have it. I calmly told him that it wasn't our ad. You think he apologized? Yeah, right.
Christmas Eve I used to go over to my parent's house and spend the night, so we could all get up early to open presents. I would stumble out of bed, open presents than go back to bed to be awaken for Dinner and than back to sleep until I woke up in time to go home. That was how tired I would be for Christmas. But that was when I was working 80-90 hours a week. Where I work now is nowhere near that bad. We put in a lot of time, but nowhere near that amount.
I don't put up a Christmas tree or any decorations at my house. I love buying presents for friends and family. I love trying to figure out what they would like. I don't like to just buy a generic present, I want something that fits their pesonality. I love going over my parent's and having a big Christmas meal. My parents are like little kids at Christmas now and it's fun watching them enjoy themselves.
So part of me really likes Christmas, but another part will be very glad when it's over.
If you work retail Christmas means long hours, little sleep, lots of work, customers that treat you like crap and no time for much else. I don't mean all customers, some customers are wonderful. I waited on a little old lady this week, she was eighty years old she told me, and she was a joy. Starting the day after Thanksgiving I've been wearing one of those Santa hats at work. So this little old lady called me Santa Claus (it couldn't have anything to do with my expanding waistline, could it?) when she asked for help. I found what she wanted and went on my business. About twenty minutes later someone else was trying to help her for something else and they didn't know if we had the item. We did and I went and got it for her and carried it out to her car. She said of course Santa Clause would be able to help her. She was a fun customer and helped me to remember the joy in the season.
Than there is the customer like one today who called to complain because she couldn't get her car out of the parking lot. There were too many cars and no one would let her out. What were we going to do? Jeez, maybe it's Christmas time so anyone who is doing their shopping with only three days left is bound to run into a little traffic.
The problem with certain customers this time of year is that they want everything and they want it yesterday. Some customers don't understand how we could not have something in stock. I had one customer come in with an ad and ask for a certain item, when I told him we didn't carry it he started having a fit and pushing the ad in my face and wanting to know how we could advertise something if we didn't have it. I calmly told him that it wasn't our ad. You think he apologized? Yeah, right.
Christmas Eve I used to go over to my parent's house and spend the night, so we could all get up early to open presents. I would stumble out of bed, open presents than go back to bed to be awaken for Dinner and than back to sleep until I woke up in time to go home. That was how tired I would be for Christmas. But that was when I was working 80-90 hours a week. Where I work now is nowhere near that bad. We put in a lot of time, but nowhere near that amount.
I don't put up a Christmas tree or any decorations at my house. I love buying presents for friends and family. I love trying to figure out what they would like. I don't like to just buy a generic present, I want something that fits their pesonality. I love going over my parent's and having a big Christmas meal. My parents are like little kids at Christmas now and it's fun watching them enjoy themselves.
So part of me really likes Christmas, but another part will be very glad when it's over.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
What Type of Gift Giver Am I?
| You Are a Practical Gift Giver |
 Your gifts are useful, appropriate, and custom tailored to each person. In your opinion, the best gifts are gifts that someone will actually use. Your gifts may not be the most glamourous, but they are always appreciated. |
Abraham Lincoln - Traitor!
In 1846 President James Polk declared war on Mexico. He claimed that Mexico invaded and killed American citizens on American soil. The problem was that the land in question was just that in question, between the two countries. What Polk wanted was more land, land to the west that Mexico claimed. Recently Texas had joined the United States, angering Mexico.
Lincoln was a new congressman at the time. He spoke out against Polk and the war. For his troubles he was branded a traitor by some. Most of the country was behind Polk and the war was popular. Lincoln went on to assure the populace that he did not habor ill feelings towards the soliders fighting the war, just those that instigated the war.
To let Polk go without questioning was "to allow the President to invade a neighboring nation...whenever he may choose to say he deems it necassary."
If Lincoln was alive today I'm sure he would be branded a traitor by Bush and his ilk, in opposition to the Patriotic Act and the War In Iraq. It's always difficult to guess what someone would say years later after they are dead and no longer around to clarify their statements, but read what you will in Lincoln's statements.
Lincoln was a new congressman at the time. He spoke out against Polk and the war. For his troubles he was branded a traitor by some. Most of the country was behind Polk and the war was popular. Lincoln went on to assure the populace that he did not habor ill feelings towards the soliders fighting the war, just those that instigated the war.
To let Polk go without questioning was "to allow the President to invade a neighboring nation...whenever he may choose to say he deems it necassary."
If Lincoln was alive today I'm sure he would be branded a traitor by Bush and his ilk, in opposition to the Patriotic Act and the War In Iraq. It's always difficult to guess what someone would say years later after they are dead and no longer around to clarify their statements, but read what you will in Lincoln's statements.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
13 TV Shows on DVD
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This is a list of TV shows that are complete and over with that have appeared on DVD. Oh, and ones that I own. 1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: anyone that knows me knows this is going to be on my list. Buffy is one of my favorite shows. I named my dog after Buffy. Buffy lasted 7 seasons. 2. Angel: Ok, if Buffy is going to be one my list, Angel can't be far behind. Angel really grew from its parent show and became a great show in its own right. Lasted five seasons. 3. West Wing: The seventh and finals season of this show just came out last month. This was my favorite show on tv while it was on. It had some ups and downs, but to me is one of the best shows ever done on tv. It made me proud of my country. Lasted seven seasons. 4. Homicide: One of the best police shows ever done on tv. A very strong cast with some great stories, it wasn't your typical cop show. Lasted seven seasons. 5. Sports Night: Not a well knows show. It was created by Aaron Skorin, the creatore of West Wing. It took place behind the scenes of a sports show. A really good show and it had to potential to be a great show. Only last two seasons. 6. Firefly: From the creator of Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy and Angel. He described it as a western in space. I really liked this show, but it only lasted one season. 7. Arrested Development: A very funny show. I just purchased this series recently and was surprised by how good it was. Lasted three seasons. 8. Alias: A show that just ended. The fifth and final season just came out on DVD. This was a spy show that was constantly re inventing intself. Just when you think you know what's going on, it changes everything. Five seasons. 9. Wonderfalls: Another show that almost no one knows about. A show about a young woman that has inanimate objects talk to her. Sounds stupid I know, but this is a great show. Lasted only one season. 10. The Comeback: An HBO series staring Lisa Kudrow from Friends. Lisa plays an actress that had a hit years ago and is now on a new sitcom and reality show about her comeback in the sitcom. This show was funny and profound at the same time. Kudrow made what could have been a one note character be real and believable and heart breaking and funny all at the same time. Another quality show that never made it past one season. 11. Quantum Leap: Sam Beckett leaps through time, trying to right wrongs and get back home. Lasted five seasons. 12. Guns of Will Sonnett: a western staring Will Greer from my childhood. I remember this show fondly. It lasted two seasons. 13. Dark Angel: Another science fiction show starring Jessica Alba. It only lasted 2 seasons. |
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Past the 10,000 mark!
I just noticed that I passed the 10,000 mark on my site meter. I don't know if this is a milestone or not. 10,000 seems like a lot and I'm glad for everyone that has come and read my blog. I hope everyone enjoys my mouthing off on subjects that I have no idea what I'm talking about sometimes.
What Book Am I?
You're Love in the Time of Cholera!
by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Like Odysseus in a work of Homer, you demonstrate undying loyalty by
sleeping with as many people as you possibly can. But in your heart you never give
consent! This creates a strange quandary of what love really means to you. On the
one hand, you've loved the same person your whole life, but on the other, your actions
barely speak to this fact. Whatever you do, stick to bottled water. The other stuff
could get you killed.
Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.
Got this from Skittles
New Orleans Musician Relief Fund
This is an important one. The link is New Orleans Musician Relief Fund
Check it out and if you can give something please do so. New Orleans has a rich and varied musical heritage that has influenced a lot of music. With Katrina unfortunately a lot of our musicians have scattered throughout the country. They need your help.
As soon as I can get blogger to work I'm going to post a link in my sidebar that will be there forever. Right now blogger doesn't want to download pictures.
Check it out and if you can give something please do so. New Orleans has a rich and varied musical heritage that has influenced a lot of music. With Katrina unfortunately a lot of our musicians have scattered throughout the country. They need your help.
As soon as I can get blogger to work I'm going to post a link in my sidebar that will be there forever. Right now blogger doesn't want to download pictures.
Wrapping Presents
Today is my day off. Or was as it is almost over. I ended up working about twenty four hours yesterday, getting off at eight this morning. So most of my day off was spent sleeping or just too tired to move. Now I have to get my presents wrapped. Today was my last day off until Christmas and right after Christmas Eve I'm leaving to drive up to my parent's in Tennessee so I have to get there presents wrapped. I'm one of the worst wrappers too. Anyone want to help?
Joe Barabera Died Monday
Forgot to mention it but this Monday Joe Barabera died at 95. Barbera was half of Hanna-Barabera, creators of Yogi Bear, Flinstones, Huckleyberry Hound, Top Cat and many others. The duo started their career in the movies with the cat and mouse team, Tom and Jerry. The cartoon duo won 7 oscars for their movie roles. Today most people probalby don't even realize that the cat and mouse were in the movies and not on tv.
These two creators, even more so than Disney, were responsible for a lot of my fond childhood memories. I grew up watching their cartoons. Disney cartoons didn't seem to be around as much on television at that time, but I could always find an episode of Yogi Bear or the Flintstones or Snagglepuss or Huckleyberry Hound or....
I can say that Joe Barabera will be greatly missed.
These two creators, even more so than Disney, were responsible for a lot of my fond childhood memories. I grew up watching their cartoons. Disney cartoons didn't seem to be around as much on television at that time, but I could always find an episode of Yogi Bear or the Flintstones or Snagglepuss or Huckleyberry Hound or....
I can say that Joe Barabera will be greatly missed.
A Surge?
After the report came back on Iraq Bush has been promising a new direction for the war. Now I've read that he is thinking of adding troops to the country. Gates, the newly elected Defense Head was just in Baghdad and telling the Generals that he wants to add more troops to help win the war. They're calling it a "surge". Of course Bush isn't going to admit that the whole thing has been a mistake and let's try to find a way to get out and bring the troops home. No, his answer is to throw more innocent lives at the conflict.
UPDATE: It's about an hour later and I just finished watching the evening news. It seems that the idea of adding more troops to Iraq is what Bush is leading with. There was an interview with his wife and the newscaster mentioned that "the President has said we are not winning in Iraq" and his wife was quick to point out that "he hasn't said we're losing either." Does Bush ever admit that he made a mistake? I don't think I have ever heard him say that maybe that was a mistake, maybe that path wasn't the right one, let's try something else. Once he picks a path he is going to stick to it no matter if it is wrong or not, no matter if everyone tells him it is wrong or not. Only he seems to know the right way to do it.
They also mentioned on the news that last year the requirment for the Army was down almost 10%, but so far this year it is up. Why? The Army lowered its requirments to be addmitted. No, I am not anti-military. I am just against what the President is using our military for at the moment. My Dad spent twenty something years in the Navy. The military can be a good career. But I don't think lowering our standards to get in is the asnswer. If we keep adding more people to the war and if Bush keeps rattling his sabres I fear what is going to happen is a draft again.
Even after the midterm elections basically showed Bush that the majority of the American public believes that war is not being handled correctly he is going to do it his way. I've said this before and I'll say it again...if this was Clinton Congress would have been working towards impeaching him a long time ago. Clinton gets impeached for a blowjob, Bush can lie to the American public about why he put us in a war and keeps us there and no one seems to care.
Isn't it time to get rid of him? I don't know if we can afford to wait for two more years.
UPDATE: It's about an hour later and I just finished watching the evening news. It seems that the idea of adding more troops to Iraq is what Bush is leading with. There was an interview with his wife and the newscaster mentioned that "the President has said we are not winning in Iraq" and his wife was quick to point out that "he hasn't said we're losing either." Does Bush ever admit that he made a mistake? I don't think I have ever heard him say that maybe that was a mistake, maybe that path wasn't the right one, let's try something else. Once he picks a path he is going to stick to it no matter if it is wrong or not, no matter if everyone tells him it is wrong or not. Only he seems to know the right way to do it.
They also mentioned on the news that last year the requirment for the Army was down almost 10%, but so far this year it is up. Why? The Army lowered its requirments to be addmitted. No, I am not anti-military. I am just against what the President is using our military for at the moment. My Dad spent twenty something years in the Navy. The military can be a good career. But I don't think lowering our standards to get in is the asnswer. If we keep adding more people to the war and if Bush keeps rattling his sabres I fear what is going to happen is a draft again.
Even after the midterm elections basically showed Bush that the majority of the American public believes that war is not being handled correctly he is going to do it his way. I've said this before and I'll say it again...if this was Clinton Congress would have been working towards impeaching him a long time ago. Clinton gets impeached for a blowjob, Bush can lie to the American public about why he put us in a war and keeps us there and no one seems to care.
Isn't it time to get rid of him? I don't know if we can afford to wait for two more years.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Doppler, A Roadies View
Someone rented my blog! Check it out...it's called Doppler, A Roadies View. It's about a roadie, tour manager, lightning manager for major music acts. Everyone that knows how much I love music will realize how much I am going to enjoy this blog. The funny thing is that I used to read this blog, it's been awhile but somehow I lost track of it. I'm glad to see it back. Everyone should check it out, it's a cool blog.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Arrested Development
I never watched this show when it was on TV. I caught part of one episode and to me it seemed stupid. The people in it were acting crazy and I just didn't see anything that funny. And I think the critics with their constant championing of this show actually turned me off. Everytime they mentioned it they called it the best show on TV, one of the best comedies ever. It made me think of what they thought of Seinfield, a show I hate and think is terrible.
They had a sale on the first and third season of the show right after Thanksgiving. It was cheap enough that I was willing to pick it up and give it a chance. I'm glad I did. This show is amazing. This time the critics got it right. This show is funny. I ended up having to go back and buy the second season for regular price, but it was worth it.
Michael, played by Justin Bateman, is the part the whole show hinges on. His is the part that makes all the weirdness work. Without him as a central character the show would not work. He allows the others to be so crazy in their characters.
If you haven't checked this show out, for whatever reason, I would suggest you do it. I rate it as one of the funniest shows done, it is that good.
They had a sale on the first and third season of the show right after Thanksgiving. It was cheap enough that I was willing to pick it up and give it a chance. I'm glad I did. This show is amazing. This time the critics got it right. This show is funny. I ended up having to go back and buy the second season for regular price, but it was worth it.
Michael, played by Justin Bateman, is the part the whole show hinges on. His is the part that makes all the weirdness work. Without him as a central character the show would not work. He allows the others to be so crazy in their characters.
If you haven't checked this show out, for whatever reason, I would suggest you do it. I rate it as one of the funniest shows done, it is that good.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Travel Guide Update
The Travel Guide on my sidebar has been updated. I put in New Orleans, so if you want to know some more about my home city check it out.
Seven Days Till Christmas
Just a week away. Christmas is almost here. It's going to be a busy week at work. And next weekend will be crazy, a full weekend of shopping before Christmas.
My parents had planned to drive down and spend the holiday at my brother's house. I was planning on driving across the lake and river to his house Christmas Eve and spend the night. But with my Dad getting sick he is no in shape to drive and my Mom doesn't like to drive the long, so they're not going to be able to make it.
My brother and I actually thought about this back when he first told us he was sick. We figured they wouldn't be able to make it. Now you have to understand, for my parents Christmas is a big holiday. Not so much a religious holiday, but just a holiday to be with family and give out presents. My parents are like kids on Christmas morning. They're up at six, waking anyone else trying to sleep to get up and open presents.
Now Christmas is a hard season for me to get anytime off. I'm lucky to get a day off once a week. And the week after isn't a lot better, returns are hard and heavy that first week. But my brother and I decided to see if we both could get off and go up to Tennessee for Christmas. Sean and Shannon were flying in to visit my brother so they could travel with him to see their grandparents.
I just had to figure out a way to get off work at the worst possible time in the world for me. I talked with my boss and explained the situation to him. He already knew what was going on with my Dad. He gave me the week after Christmas off. So I plan on leaving after I get off work Christmas Eve and driving up there so I'll be there Christmas morning and than spending the week with my parents. Pretty nice, huh?
So if the week after Christmas no one hears from me, I'll be up in Tennessee at my parent's where they only have dial up, I don't know if I'll be able to put it with something that slow to blog.
My parents had planned to drive down and spend the holiday at my brother's house. I was planning on driving across the lake and river to his house Christmas Eve and spend the night. But with my Dad getting sick he is no in shape to drive and my Mom doesn't like to drive the long, so they're not going to be able to make it.
My brother and I actually thought about this back when he first told us he was sick. We figured they wouldn't be able to make it. Now you have to understand, for my parents Christmas is a big holiday. Not so much a religious holiday, but just a holiday to be with family and give out presents. My parents are like kids on Christmas morning. They're up at six, waking anyone else trying to sleep to get up and open presents.
Now Christmas is a hard season for me to get anytime off. I'm lucky to get a day off once a week. And the week after isn't a lot better, returns are hard and heavy that first week. But my brother and I decided to see if we both could get off and go up to Tennessee for Christmas. Sean and Shannon were flying in to visit my brother so they could travel with him to see their grandparents.
I just had to figure out a way to get off work at the worst possible time in the world for me. I talked with my boss and explained the situation to him. He already knew what was going on with my Dad. He gave me the week after Christmas off. So I plan on leaving after I get off work Christmas Eve and driving up there so I'll be there Christmas morning and than spending the week with my parents. Pretty nice, huh?
So if the week after Christmas no one hears from me, I'll be up in Tennessee at my parent's where they only have dial up, I don't know if I'll be able to put it with something that slow to blog.
Payday
From the recent issue of Rolling Stone:
I don't think anyone begrudes the top men from making more than their average workers, but 300 times more? Especially when these same guys are the ones that don't want to raise mininum wage or pay their employees any type of health benefits.
According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, the hourly wage of the average American non-supervisory worker is actually lower, adjusted for inflation, than it was in 1970. Meanwhile, CEO pay has soared - from less than thirty times the average wage to almost 300 times the typical worker's pay.
I don't think anyone begrudes the top men from making more than their average workers, but 300 times more? Especially when these same guys are the ones that don't want to raise mininum wage or pay their employees any type of health benefits.
IPod Shuffle
This post I'm writing as the day goes on. I'm running around the house today, trying to get a million things done. It's my last day off before Christmas. I'm trying to do laundry, clean up, do some things on the computer and a whole bunch of other stuff. I've got my ipod on my speakers and have it on shuffle mode, so I thought I'd just list some of the songs as it plays them. Right now it's playing:
Wilco - Jesus, Etc.
Lucinda Williams - Lake Charles
Bruce Springsteen at JazzFest 2006 - Open All Night
Dion - In The Rain
Ryan Adams - Goodnight, Hollywood Bvd.
Julie Roberts - Chasin' Whiskey
Jessie Sykes - Toubled Soul
Bob Dylan - Mr. Tambourine Man
Joss Stone - Torn and Tattered
Scott Miller & the Commonwealth - Loving That Girl
Ani Difranco - Out of Range
Lori McKenna - Swallows Me Whole
Alejandro Escovedo - She Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Marah - The History of Where Someone Has Been Killed
Bob Dylan - Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat
Joss Stone - Security
Rancid- Wrongful Suspicions
Alejandro Escovedo - Velvet Guitar
Bob Seger - Manhattan
Shannon McNally - Brother Warrior (This was really strange. I was writing a post
about Shannon when this song came on.)
Lori McKenna - Paying The Price
Lori McKenna - Never Be Back
Tiff Merritt - Trouble Over Me
Everclear - AM Radio
Waifs - The Waitress
Alejandro Escovedo - The Ballad of the Sun and the Moon
Dion - Ruby, Ruby
Ryan Adams - My Winding Wheel
Joss Stone - Snakes & Ladders
Contintental Drifters - Get Over It
Bob Dylan - Talking John Birch Blues
Bruce Springsteen - Maria's Bed
R.E.M. - Nightswimming
Contintental Drifters - I Can't Make It Alone
Ani Difranco - Subdivision
Joan Jett - Everyday People
Ryan Adams - The Fools We Are As Men
U2- Numb
Lorreta Lynn - You're Looking At Country
Dixie Chicks - I Like It
Ok, that was the soundtrack for my afternoon. I love my IPod and the shuffle feature, I have over 1800 songs in it so far. The only problem, and you can tell from the above list, is that it gets into a few artists and shuffles between them than jumping more randomly. It is still a great feature when I hook it up to my car and just hit shuffle and drive.
Wilco - Jesus, Etc.
Lucinda Williams - Lake Charles
Bruce Springsteen at JazzFest 2006 - Open All Night
Dion - In The Rain
Ryan Adams - Goodnight, Hollywood Bvd.
Julie Roberts - Chasin' Whiskey
Jessie Sykes - Toubled Soul
Bob Dylan - Mr. Tambourine Man
Joss Stone - Torn and Tattered
Scott Miller & the Commonwealth - Loving That Girl
Ani Difranco - Out of Range
Lori McKenna - Swallows Me Whole
Alejandro Escovedo - She Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Marah - The History of Where Someone Has Been Killed
Bob Dylan - Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat
Joss Stone - Security
Rancid- Wrongful Suspicions
Alejandro Escovedo - Velvet Guitar
Bob Seger - Manhattan
Shannon McNally - Brother Warrior (This was really strange. I was writing a post
about Shannon when this song came on.)
Lori McKenna - Paying The Price
Lori McKenna - Never Be Back
Tiff Merritt - Trouble Over Me
Everclear - AM Radio
Waifs - The Waitress
Alejandro Escovedo - The Ballad of the Sun and the Moon
Dion - Ruby, Ruby
Ryan Adams - My Winding Wheel
Joss Stone - Snakes & Ladders
Contintental Drifters - Get Over It
Bob Dylan - Talking John Birch Blues
Bruce Springsteen - Maria's Bed
R.E.M. - Nightswimming
Contintental Drifters - I Can't Make It Alone
Ani Difranco - Subdivision
Joan Jett - Everyday People
Ryan Adams - The Fools We Are As Men
U2- Numb
Lorreta Lynn - You're Looking At Country
Dixie Chicks - I Like It
Ok, that was the soundtrack for my afternoon. I love my IPod and the shuffle feature, I have over 1800 songs in it so far. The only problem, and you can tell from the above list, is that it gets into a few artists and shuffles between them than jumping more randomly. It is still a great feature when I hook it up to my car and just hit shuffle and drive.
Rent My Blog
As you can see on the sidebar is an empty box that says Rent My Blog. If you would like to get your blog some extra notice, join Blog Explosion and you can rent my blog. I thought I'd give this a try. We'll see how it works out, if you don't see the box in about a week you'll know no one wanted to rent my blog.
Update on TV Shows on DVD
Awhile back I made a post asking what shows everyone thought should be on DVD. I got a few comments and I wanted to update on them. The following shows were ones that others wished were on DVD:
Mad About You: They did the first two seasons and stopped. Now the third one, years later, is finally about to be released this spring.
Waltons: Is out on DVD, at least the first four seasons. I was never a watcher of the Waltons so I don't know if it lasted more than four seasons or not.
Captain Kangaroo: Nothing so far. It was on for so long that I doubt they'd ever do a complete series of it, but it would be cool to see a best of. I remember watching the Captain every morning. There's talk of a collection of the Tom Terrific cartoons being done.
Dick Van Dyke: This is out. This is one of the series I want to buy, but it is just a little out of my price range at the moment. A classic series.
Green Acres: The first three seasons are out. Did it last more than three seasons I'm not sure?
Petticoat Junction: A few Dvds of different episodes, but nothing in order or complete yet.
Ok, sorry it took me so long to list this. I meant to do it right after everyone commented, but I just forgot about it.
Any other series that anyone would love to see on DVD?
Mad About You: They did the first two seasons and stopped. Now the third one, years later, is finally about to be released this spring.
Waltons: Is out on DVD, at least the first four seasons. I was never a watcher of the Waltons so I don't know if it lasted more than four seasons or not.
Captain Kangaroo: Nothing so far. It was on for so long that I doubt they'd ever do a complete series of it, but it would be cool to see a best of. I remember watching the Captain every morning. There's talk of a collection of the Tom Terrific cartoons being done.
Dick Van Dyke: This is out. This is one of the series I want to buy, but it is just a little out of my price range at the moment. A classic series.
Green Acres: The first three seasons are out. Did it last more than three seasons I'm not sure?
Petticoat Junction: A few Dvds of different episodes, but nothing in order or complete yet.
Ok, sorry it took me so long to list this. I meant to do it right after everyone commented, but I just forgot about it.
Any other series that anyone would love to see on DVD?
WKRP In Cincinnati
Good news for fans of Johnny Fever and the rest of the gang. I've heard that the series is finally going to come to DVD. Mark Evanier over at his site talks about it, POVonline.
He tells you all about it so go check it out. It's a shame if they don't use the original music, but I'll take it anyway I can get it. WKRP is one of my favorite shows and I'll be glad to see it finally complete and out on DVD.
He tells you all about it so go check it out. It's a shame if they don't use the original music, but I'll take it anyway I can get it. WKRP is one of my favorite shows and I'll be glad to see it finally complete and out on DVD.
New Ideas
I've decided that I've got a strange enough taste in music that not a lot of people share, but that I would like to introduce other people to some of these performers. So I've decided to do a Spotlight post at least once a month (maybe more if I'm doing good) on a performer that I don't think many people know much about.
Following this post is my first one and it's on Shannon McNally. I've mentioned her quite a few times in this blog and will undoubtably continue to do so. She is definitely an artist deserving greater recognitiion.
Following this post is my first one and it's on Shannon McNally. I've mentioned her quite a few times in this blog and will undoubtably continue to do so. She is definitely an artist deserving greater recognitiion.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Shannon McNally
Discography:
Boulder Than Paradise (EP)
JukeBox Sparrows
Ran On Pure Lightning (w/ Neal Casal)
Run For Cover
Geronimo
Southside Sessions (w/ Charlie Sexton)
North American Ghost Music
Shannon is a native New Yorker that has moved to New Orleans and made it her home. Shannon's style is a mixture of blues, rock, country, folk and that unquieness of New Orlean's music all rolled into one. Her voice is not your typical "pretty girl" voice, it is a voice all her own. She is not one to follow trends. Her musical influences would be people like Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen...people that did music on their own terms.
Her songs are stories about life and love. She calls her music North American Ghost Music and it as fitting a name as any I could come up with.
I was introduced to her music last year by my friend Larry. Larry is the New Orleans music expert. As much as I think I know about the music of the cresecent city I am a pygmy in my knowledge of the music scene of New Orleans compared to him. Larry told me about her.
Last year she was my favortie new singer. Maybe not new to the business, but new to me. She still ranks as one of my favorite performers. I've seen her live at least half a dozen times now and every show is great. She doesn't put on a bad show. It's a joy to watch her at the Louisiana Music Factory and be only a few feet from her as she sings and plays.
I can't even think of anyone that I could compare her to. Her vocal style is slightly similar to Lori McKenna, another singer that is not very well known. If you're a fan of Bruce Springsteen I think you'd like her. She sings from the heart and soul.
So many of her songs have become favorites of mine, but I really like one of her first, Jukebox Sparrows from the cd of the same name. It's almost not a song, more like a spoken monologue with music, but still very good.
Her new cd will be out at the start of next year. It was produced by legendary Memphis producer Jim Dickinson. She's been opening for Son Volt on tour and has even did some singing with Jay Farrar on the new Son Volt cd.
I don't know who else I'll do these spotlights on, but I can tell you now, that of everyone I spotlight I would urge you to take a chance on her music, she is that good.
New Additions To The Blog
I'm playing around with the blog today, trying to add some new things. I'm trying to set up some templetes for some ideas of some posts I want to make on a regular basis, but my computer skill is next to nothing so that's not going so good right now.
I have added some new blogs in my sidebar for blogs to read. These are some blogs that I find myself visiting at least every Thursday because they leave me comments. I'd like to visit them on a more regular basis but if it's not on my blog I find myself forgetting about it, so I've added some new blogs that I can visit more often now. If there's anyone out there that doesn't want to be on my sidebar let me know and I'll remove you, I'm never sure how to add people. I don't want to ask, than they might feel like I expect them to add me, which I don't.
I didn't delete any this time. After a cetain length of time if I find myself not visiting a blog on my sidebar anymore I'll delete it. There are a few that I visit that I don't comment on, but I still find it fun to visit them. I try to comment on as many as I can when I visit. I just feel it's polite if I'm going to visit your house that I at least leave you a message.
Before the day is over I'm not sure what I'll add to the site, but hopefully it'll have a few new features. I can't help but to keep tinkering with it.
I have added some new blogs in my sidebar for blogs to read. These are some blogs that I find myself visiting at least every Thursday because they leave me comments. I'd like to visit them on a more regular basis but if it's not on my blog I find myself forgetting about it, so I've added some new blogs that I can visit more often now. If there's anyone out there that doesn't want to be on my sidebar let me know and I'll remove you, I'm never sure how to add people. I don't want to ask, than they might feel like I expect them to add me, which I don't.
I didn't delete any this time. After a cetain length of time if I find myself not visiting a blog on my sidebar anymore I'll delete it. There are a few that I visit that I don't comment on, but I still find it fun to visit them. I try to comment on as many as I can when I visit. I just feel it's polite if I'm going to visit your house that I at least leave you a message.
Before the day is over I'm not sure what I'll add to the site, but hopefully it'll have a few new features. I can't help but to keep tinkering with it.
American Idol '06 CDs
Until last year I had never watched American Idol. Before that I saw a few episodes before they got to the final twelve. I found it to be a mean spirited show. The producers of the show seemed to enjoy showing people in humilating positions. And I'm not talking about Simon. I actually found him to be the most honest person on the show. At least he would just tell the person that they had no talent. The producers would pick some of the worst talent out there to put on the show so the auidence could see how bad they were. The problem I had was that these people truly thought they had talent and to be put in this situation, in front of millions of people, I thought was just cruel. I saw one show where a girl, no more than 16 or 17, was told she had no talent and got down on her hands and knees and begged the judges to pick her. I'm sorry I don't see much enjoyment in that kind of debasing of people.
Somehow I ended up watching it last year. After the twelve were picked. The show was about weeding out these twelve than, all who had some degree of talent. I found myself enjoying this half of the show.
I found myself pulling for quite a few of the contestants. My early pick and the one I stayed with for hope of winning it all from the beginning was Taylor Hicks. But I enjoyed Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and a few others. Now the cds from them have started to appear, these three have all just released cds in the last month and they all share some of the same problems. It's a problem that I see on the show and from what I've heard of past winners. All of them are over produced, trying more for a middle of the road in most regards. It wasn't until Kelly Clarkson quit the Idol producing team and got new people that she finally proved how good she can be.
Daughtry is by the rocker from the show, Chris Daughtry. At the start of the show he was one of my favorites. I loved his version of Johnny Cash's I Walk the Line. As the show went on I found myself disliking him more and more. Or just not caring. I really thought after his Cash song he went downhill fast. His new cd is the only one of the three that I haven't been able to listen to all the way through. He sounds like so many of these faceless rockers out there. I know his cd sold better than any other american idol than clay aikens, but I found it to be boring and just plain bad.
Kellie Pickler's cd is called Small Town Girl and we were beat over the head with the fact that she was from a small town and not too bright during the show. I'm not sure how much of her dumbness was an act and how much was real. I actually liked her on the show and was sad to see her get voted off. My biggest problem with her cd is that it is just too over produced. She actually writes some of the material on it and some of the songs tug at the heart strings, especially the one about her father. I think they were hoping for a repeat of Carrie Underwood with Kellie but Carrie had a more natural feeling to her cd than Kellie. I think Kellie has a future though, she might have to do what Kelly Clarkson did and find some new producers.
Taylor Hicks was always my pick to win from the start. But even of the show he had a problem, he was either the gritty, soulful singer or the slick, veags style singer. And that's the problem with this cd. He went for the slick version over the soulful one. There's no grit in this cd. My favorite song he did on Idol was his cover of Ray Lamongte's Trouble. That was the Taylor I wanted to see, a little country, a little rock, a little soul, all mixed up. This Taylor bored me for the most part. He gets closer on his own song Soul Thing on the cd. I also enjoyed The Right Place. It's not that this is a terrible cd, it's just not the cd I think Taylor is capable of making. It's one that probably won't get much play around here.
So of the three I would have to say I enjoyed Kellie's cd the most. I've actually played it more than once, the other two are going to have more trouble to get another play. I will probably listen to Taylors' at least one more time, a little later, to see if it sounds better after giving it a rest. Chris' will sit in my cabinet and probably never see the light of day again.
Somehow I ended up watching it last year. After the twelve were picked. The show was about weeding out these twelve than, all who had some degree of talent. I found myself enjoying this half of the show.
I found myself pulling for quite a few of the contestants. My early pick and the one I stayed with for hope of winning it all from the beginning was Taylor Hicks. But I enjoyed Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and a few others. Now the cds from them have started to appear, these three have all just released cds in the last month and they all share some of the same problems. It's a problem that I see on the show and from what I've heard of past winners. All of them are over produced, trying more for a middle of the road in most regards. It wasn't until Kelly Clarkson quit the Idol producing team and got new people that she finally proved how good she can be.
Daughtry is by the rocker from the show, Chris Daughtry. At the start of the show he was one of my favorites. I loved his version of Johnny Cash's I Walk the Line. As the show went on I found myself disliking him more and more. Or just not caring. I really thought after his Cash song he went downhill fast. His new cd is the only one of the three that I haven't been able to listen to all the way through. He sounds like so many of these faceless rockers out there. I know his cd sold better than any other american idol than clay aikens, but I found it to be boring and just plain bad.
Kellie Pickler's cd is called Small Town Girl and we were beat over the head with the fact that she was from a small town and not too bright during the show. I'm not sure how much of her dumbness was an act and how much was real. I actually liked her on the show and was sad to see her get voted off. My biggest problem with her cd is that it is just too over produced. She actually writes some of the material on it and some of the songs tug at the heart strings, especially the one about her father. I think they were hoping for a repeat of Carrie Underwood with Kellie but Carrie had a more natural feeling to her cd than Kellie. I think Kellie has a future though, she might have to do what Kelly Clarkson did and find some new producers.
Taylor Hicks was always my pick to win from the start. But even of the show he had a problem, he was either the gritty, soulful singer or the slick, veags style singer. And that's the problem with this cd. He went for the slick version over the soulful one. There's no grit in this cd. My favorite song he did on Idol was his cover of Ray Lamongte's Trouble. That was the Taylor I wanted to see, a little country, a little rock, a little soul, all mixed up. This Taylor bored me for the most part. He gets closer on his own song Soul Thing on the cd. I also enjoyed The Right Place. It's not that this is a terrible cd, it's just not the cd I think Taylor is capable of making. It's one that probably won't get much play around here.
So of the three I would have to say I enjoyed Kellie's cd the most. I've actually played it more than once, the other two are going to have more trouble to get another play. I will probably listen to Taylors' at least one more time, a little later, to see if it sounds better after giving it a rest. Chris' will sit in my cabinet and probably never see the light of day again.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
The Minutemen
I just finished watching a documentary on the life of the punk rock group the Minutemen. It is called "We Jam Econo" and it is great. Probably not a lot of people reading this are that familar with this group. They never reached the name recognition of a group like the Ramones, but they were a influence to many of today's performers, such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The group consisted of D Boon- lead singer and guitarist, Mike Watt- bassist and singer, and George Hurley- drummer. The group had just finished a tour where they opened for R.E.M. in 1985 when D Boon was in a car accident and died.
This was a fascinating documentary with a lot of information that I never knew. The Minutemen's songs barely were over a minute long. At one point Mike Watt talks about a song that they did that was over two minutes long and calls it their opus, half in jest. Most people think their name came from the length of their songs, but Mike Watt explains that the name was more political in tone.
Mike Watt still tours in a van, still pushing the D.I.Y. lifestyle.
As D Boon sings "Our band could be your life."
This was a fascinating documentary with a lot of information that I never knew. The Minutemen's songs barely were over a minute long. At one point Mike Watt talks about a song that they did that was over two minutes long and calls it their opus, half in jest. Most people think their name came from the length of their songs, but Mike Watt explains that the name was more political in tone.
Mike Watt still tours in a van, still pushing the D.I.Y. lifestyle.
As D Boon sings "Our band could be your life."
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Thursday Thirteen Number 6
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These were 13 cds that I just pulled randomly from my cd cabinet. You won't find Dylan, Springsteen, Wilco or some of my other favoriters listed here, as they are in another cabinet holding cds. 1. Drivin n Cryin: The Essential Live - This is a great southern rock band that never got much notice. The lead singer, Kevin Kinney, has went on to make some great solo records. Their song "Straight To Hell" is a great southern song. 2. Jesse Malin: The Fine Art of Self Destruction - The former lead singer of the punk band D Generation went on to record a solo album that was nothing like his former stuff. The cd was produced by Ryan Adams and falls in the singer/songerwriter genre, more similar to Neil Young and such. One of my favorite cds when it first came out. 3. Dave Alvin: Blue Blvd - The lead guitarist of the Blasters. The Blasters were fronted by brothers Phil who sang and Dave who played guitar and wrote most of the material. Like a lot of brothers who play in bands they had more than their fair share of fights, which eventually lead to them breaking up. Phil went back to school and majored in math, Dave went on to have a solo career. Dave's sound is what would best described as Americana. This cd has no bad songs on it. "Andersonville" is about the prison during the Civil War. 4. Cheap Trick: at Budokan, the complete concert - In the late seventies Cheap Trick put out their live at Budokan album and became stars. Twenty Years later they released the entire concert on cd. Cheap Trick was one of my favorite bands for years. I saw them when they were just getting out there, as an opening act. Later I saw them headlining and finally I saw them when they were back to just an opening act for Stone Temple Pilots. 5. Kelly Willis: Kelly Willis - A country singer, that borders on americana. This is her first album and not my favorite of hers, but still good nonetheless. She is a great singer. 6. The White Stripes: The White Stripes - Power duo. This is their first album. I actually was a fan of them before they became famous. I love their sound. 7. Robbie Fulks: SouthMouth - Another americana singer. Or a country singer if you want, the line is fine between the two in a lot of regards. Robbie has never been a big name, but he has talent to burn. On this cd is one of the most stinging indictments of the Nashville music business and town. 8. Eileen Rose: Shine Like It Does - I really don't know a lot about this singer. I have another cd by her. Both of them I bought when I was in England years ago. I don't think she is English, but she is more popular over there than here in the United States. A reviewer called her a cross between Marianne Faithful and Patti Smith. She is very good. 9. Patti Smith: Horses - I really did pick these cds at random. After the last comment about Eileen Rose and than following it with Patti Smith, it might seem like I didn't. Patti Smith is one of the founders of punk music. She is awesome. This is one of the best cds ever. I love her version of Gloria. All of the cd is great. 10. Dolly Parton: Essential Volumen One - This woman can sing. My favorite stuff by her is her more recent bluegrass cds, but this one contains a lot of the hits that made her famous. 11. Howlin' Wolf: Moaning In The Moonlight - this is actually a twofer, it has his self named cd and Moaning on it. If you like blues you have to like the Wolf. This man can sing the blues. 12. Nanci Griffith: Other Voices, Too - a sequel to a cd with the same name that came out a few years before this one. One both cds she does cover songs with other singers. This is one of my favorite cds. I love Desperadoes Waiting On A Train. This version has Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Eric Taylor and Richard Tompson on it. Now that's an all star line up. 13. Anti-Flag: For Blood and Empire - Punk Metal I guess. I'm not sure what genre it fits in, but it's loud and fast and very political. I love it. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! |
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Wednesday, December 13, 2006
He'll Be Missed
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| 'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com |
I got this one from the Queen of the Universe over at A Little Lagniappe
What Can I Say?
| You Are a Bow |
 You don't think of it as the holiday season - you think of it as the present season! |
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Ho Ho Ho
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Got this quiz from over at Skittle's Place
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Am I Crazy or What?
If you scan my sidebar you'll see I've added another blog/myspace/whatever you call it to my resume. Like I don't have enough with this blog and MYSpace page. But this one is called ComicSpace. It's modeled very closely after MySpace, but for comic book fans and creators. Originally that was what I was using MySpace page for, but this one is geared even more for that. I'm still going to use the MySpace page for more comic book related posts and such, it still has more options than the ComicSpace page. I'll just use the two of them for my comic book stuff and on this blog I'll talk about everything else. If you're interested check it out, but be warned it's not much to it yet.
Friday, December 08, 2006
A Life In The Day
When I was 8, 9, maybe 10 years old my brother and I used to spend the afternoons at my Aunt's house. Both my parents worked, so we ended up over there after school. My Aunt had two daughters and a son at the time. All three were older than my brother and me. The oldest daughter was a junior or senior in high school. The other daughter and son were about five to six years older than us. Needless to say my brother and I thought these three were the coolest kids in the world. What was really cool was that the two younger cousins let us hang around them. The oldest, Debbie wasn't around much, she was just this really cool older cousin.
Debbie was a big Beatles fan. This was around the time they were breaking up, but for her she grew up with the Beatles. I don't know if her liking the Beatles rubbed off on me or not, but I ended up a big Beatles fan.
The first piece of music I ever owned was a 45 from the Beatles. It was Eight Days A Week/I Don't Want to Spoil The Party. The first full length album (I know all these terms might not mean much to all you youngsters out there, but that's what they were called before cds) I bought was the Beatles 65. Most of my albums I owned were Beatle albums for a long time. As a kid, even at $3.50 an album I could only buy so many and that wasn't many.
I became a Beatles fan. I adored them. I checked out the biography of them by Hunter Davies. I couldn't afford to buy it at the time, not a hardback book, that was way too expensive.
The Beatles music was with me throughout my life. I've enjoyed their music throughout every even in my life.
For awhile I was confused by John Lennon. When he left the Beatles and started his bed ins and other ventures for peace I was ten, eleven and at that age I just really didn't get what he was doing. I thought he was acting pretty weird.
For awhile it was easy not to like him. He was saying the Beatles were rubbish. He wanted to ignore his past, tear down everything that I liked and thought meant something to me.
Still I couldn't hold a grudge for too long. He was putting out some great music. And after reading the interviews with him I started to see how he could think some things.
In a previous post I mentioned people that had influenced me. I listed John Lennon. I have few real heroes...John Lennon was one of them. At the height of his fame he wanted to try and help the world. He was willing to act the fool if he thought it might save the world. John Lennon wasn't perfect, he was far from it, but I think in the end it was his imperfections that helped make him the hero for me.
It was on this day in 1980 that Mark David Chapman stepped out of the shadows of the Dakota building and asked "Mr. Lennon?" before firing several rounds into the body of John Lennon. John and Yoko had just come for The Hit Factory where they were working on music for Yoko's upcoming release. After years of being angry with the Beatles, with the world...John seemed to be at peace. He had just released a new album and he was out giving interviews and meeting the press. In his interviews he seemed truly happy and content. His son Sean was five and John had spent the last five years helping to raise him outside the spotlight of being a Beatle or being John Lennon.
I heard the news that night, after the news had come on and went off. I was watching an episode of MASH when they cut in for a newsbreak to inform the viewers that John Lennon had been shot and was apparently dead in New York City.
The next few days were spent with the world mourning the loss. Very few people, much less a pop star, had touched as many people as John Lennon had. I rember that weekend when Yoko asked for a few minutes of silence in remembrance of her slain husband.
It's twenty six years later and it still hurts when I think of the loss. The loss of the music he would have created. The loss of the husband. The loss of the father. The loss of the man.
John Lennon...1940-1980.
Debbie was a big Beatles fan. This was around the time they were breaking up, but for her she grew up with the Beatles. I don't know if her liking the Beatles rubbed off on me or not, but I ended up a big Beatles fan.
The first piece of music I ever owned was a 45 from the Beatles. It was Eight Days A Week/I Don't Want to Spoil The Party. The first full length album (I know all these terms might not mean much to all you youngsters out there, but that's what they were called before cds) I bought was the Beatles 65. Most of my albums I owned were Beatle albums for a long time. As a kid, even at $3.50 an album I could only buy so many and that wasn't many.
I became a Beatles fan. I adored them. I checked out the biography of them by Hunter Davies. I couldn't afford to buy it at the time, not a hardback book, that was way too expensive.
The Beatles music was with me throughout my life. I've enjoyed their music throughout every even in my life.
For awhile I was confused by John Lennon. When he left the Beatles and started his bed ins and other ventures for peace I was ten, eleven and at that age I just really didn't get what he was doing. I thought he was acting pretty weird.
For awhile it was easy not to like him. He was saying the Beatles were rubbish. He wanted to ignore his past, tear down everything that I liked and thought meant something to me.
Still I couldn't hold a grudge for too long. He was putting out some great music. And after reading the interviews with him I started to see how he could think some things.
In a previous post I mentioned people that had influenced me. I listed John Lennon. I have few real heroes...John Lennon was one of them. At the height of his fame he wanted to try and help the world. He was willing to act the fool if he thought it might save the world. John Lennon wasn't perfect, he was far from it, but I think in the end it was his imperfections that helped make him the hero for me.
It was on this day in 1980 that Mark David Chapman stepped out of the shadows of the Dakota building and asked "Mr. Lennon?" before firing several rounds into the body of John Lennon. John and Yoko had just come for The Hit Factory where they were working on music for Yoko's upcoming release. After years of being angry with the Beatles, with the world...John seemed to be at peace. He had just released a new album and he was out giving interviews and meeting the press. In his interviews he seemed truly happy and content. His son Sean was five and John had spent the last five years helping to raise him outside the spotlight of being a Beatle or being John Lennon.
I heard the news that night, after the news had come on and went off. I was watching an episode of MASH when they cut in for a newsbreak to inform the viewers that John Lennon had been shot and was apparently dead in New York City.
The next few days were spent with the world mourning the loss. Very few people, much less a pop star, had touched as many people as John Lennon had. I rember that weekend when Yoko asked for a few minutes of silence in remembrance of her slain husband.
It's twenty six years later and it still hurts when I think of the loss. The loss of the music he would have created. The loss of the husband. The loss of the father. The loss of the man.
John Lennon...1940-1980.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Ain't Dere No More
When I first moved to New Orleans many, many years ago (ok, let's pretend it wasn't that many years ago) one thing I noticed about the city was that there weren't a lot of national chain outlets. Yes, there were Sears and JC Pennys and stores like that. But there were Time Savers instead of 7-11s, there were Popeyes (and this was before Popeyes became the big chain it is today) instead of Churchs, there were K&B Drugs instead of Eckerds...
New Orleans as a city held onto its own culture, it was its own bastion in the world. Now there are Hooters and Hard Rock Cafes in the French Quarter. I have nothing against either of these establishments, but you put enough of them in any downtown city and you can't tell which city you are in any more. New Orleans is a city unlike any, not just in the United States, but the world. You take a walk through downtown New Orleans, through the French Quarter you should be able to tell you are in New Orleans and not Atlanta or Denver or San Diego or any other city.
Yet time is taking its toll on the city. Like I said there are more places like I mentioned before setting up shop in the city. Harrahs is here, gambling keeps getting brought out and touted as the cure all for all the city's problems. Let's make New Orleans a mini Las Vegas.
The following two songs are by Benny Gruch and while they are played for laughs they really are very sad songs...and unfortunately too true.
And Schweggman's Gone Away AIN'T DERE NO MORE
(Benny "Grunch" Antin) Anzel Anzel, BMI
Where's the downtown stores
Ain't there no more
Where's the Schwegmann's stores
Ain't there no more
Where's all the stores
Ain't there no more
Everybody cried
On the Live Eyewitness news
McKenzie's got closed down
'Cause a zink was all mildewed
Well, they opened up again
But while I was in line
They all closed down, but I heard they're gonna
Open one more time
Just hotels, just hotels
More are on the way
Mr. Bingle quit at the Carlton Ritz
"Cause he can't reach the buffet..ay
Krauss is gone so you can't try on
No queen-size lingerie
But, watcha gonna do with K & B
And Schwegmann's gone away
A & G's ain't there no more
Mc Crory's ain't there no more
Waterbury's ain't there no more
Dailey's ain't there no more
Red Goose-'a ain't there no more
Them biddies shoes-'a ain't there no more
Godchaux's Mens …On the second floor?
That's the one! ain't there no more
Maison Blanche and Holme's
Was just like dinosaurs
That roamed out in Gentilly Woods
Before it was explored
Downtown a million years
Then gone in just a blink
MB's and Holmes and dinosaurs
Are mostly all extinct
(Just hotels chorus)
Lowes State show ain't there no more
Miller Wohl ain't there no more
Leonard Krower's ain't there no more
Claiborne Towers ain't there no more
Well, Kress's then ain't there no more
'Was a "five and ten" ain't there no more
Old Grocery store with the …double screen door?
That's the one! Ain't there no more
Paw paw shopped at Schwegmann's
Forty years or more
'Cause Schwegmann's had a bar-room
Right there in the store
Paw Paw got some French bread
Then he hung around
He'd walk home with the shopping cart
So he wouldn't just fall down
(Just hotels chorus)
Labiche's ain't there no more
Kreeger's ain't there no more
Stein's is great ain't there no more
Rivergate ain't there no more
Hey, look they're layin tracks
Canal street-car is back
And Rubenstein's and Walgreens
Still right there where they at
(Just hotels chorus)
Watcha gonna do with K & B
And Schwegmann's gone away
Schwegmann's gone away
Ain't there no more
Schwegmann's gone away
Ain't there no more
(Repeat and fade)
AIN'T DERE NO MORE - PART 2
(Benny "Grunch" Antin) Anzel Anzel, BMI
We're gonna go out 'most every night
Checkin out all the Christmas lights,
Ain't Dere No More's, got lots to say
Listen up fast or get out the way
I tried all night in Metry
At various locals
You can't catch oysters out the
West Esplanade canal
So-- Spray Rudolf with a can of Off
And set the house alarm
We'll go see lites in Metry
And what they got that's gone
JC's…Ain't dere no more
House of Lee's…Ain't dere no more
Metry Ford…Ain't dere no more
On Metry Road…Ain't dere no more
Pelican Bowl…Ain't dere no more
Wrap' N Roll…Ain't dere no more
How 'bout the Real…Superstore
That's the one…Ain't dere no more
If your lights in St. Bernard
Stay up the whole year then
Just wait at least till Trick or Treat
Before ya plug em in
So-Spray Rudolf with a can of Off
And set the house alarm
We'll go see lites in St. Bernard
And what they got that's gone
Atlantic Thrift…Ain't dere no more
Drug Store was Trist…Ain't dere no more
Jerry La Vie's…Ain't dere no more
Broom Factory…Ain't dere no more
Cow Town…Ain't dere no more
Whole thing burned down…Ain't dere no more
West's Lumber…Cut them boards
2 x 4's…Ain't dere no more
Lakeveiw's getting swank
Coffee shops and banks
And churches where they all give thanks
For the streets that ain't yet sank
So-- Spray Rudolf with a can of Off
We'll go see lites in Lakeview
And what they got that's gone
Rockery Inn…Ain't dere no more
Velvet Swing…Ain't dere no more
Lenfant's in the back…Ain't dere no more
Smokehouse smoke stack…Ain't dere no more
Don't Cook Tonight…Ain't dere no more
Call Chicken Delight…Ain't dere no more
Lakeview Show then…Harrison Drug Store
Studio-A…Ain't dere no more
On St. Charles Avenue
They need some more de¢cor
But Audubon Park wouldn't be so dark
If the Copelands lived next door
So-- Spray Rudolf with a can of Off
And set the house alarm
We'll go see lites in Uptown
And what they got that's gone
Eiffel Tower…Ain't dere no more
Loretta's Flowers…Ain't dere no more
Swan Boat…Ain't dere no more
A Schweikhardt's float…Ain't dere no more
Beaconette…Ain't dere no more
Frank's on Feret…Ain't dere no more
The Kiddie Store…No, that's Broadmore!
Wise's…Ain't dere no more
Whatcha wanna see now…Across the river
I'm goin back home..Comin with us
Bridgebowl…Ain't dere no more
Keyhole…Ain't dere no more
Coulon's, Borne's…Hardware stores?
Don't tell me…Ain't dere no more
Belle Promenade Mall…Ain't dere no more
The stores 'n all? …Ain't dere no more
Magnolia Grill…Ain't dere no more
Wego On The Hill…Ain't dere no more
Cellar Club…Ain't dere no more
It's The Last Roundup…Ain't dere no more
Jacobson Young…Where the lights are strung
We must be goin down…Carrollton
Jim's Fried Chicken…Ain't dere no more
Homeplate still kickin? …Ain't dere no more
Pelican Stadium…Ain't dere no more
Lemme guess…Ain't dere no more
Security's…Ain't dere no more
Rueter's Seeds…Ain't dere no more
Cloverlands' Cows…Ain't dere no more
Post Office Now? …Ain't dere no more
Gerard Chevrolet…(Impala 2-Door)
Let me drive…Ain't dere no more
Whatcha wanna see now…Out by the lake
I'm goin back home…Betta just wait
The Bounty…Ain't dere no more
East End Bakery…Ain't dere no more
Schult's got the…Fresh Hardware
Bart's…Ain't hardly there
Maggie and Smitty's…Ain't dere no more
And all those kitties…Ain't dere no more
The My O My…Ain't dere no more
Bali Hai…Ain't dere no more
Dancing Fountains…Ain't dere no more
Just keep on countin…Ain't dere no more
Rosenberg's…That's The Name!
18 - 25…Tu-lane
Gus Betat's, right…Ain't dere no more
Witcha' Paw Paw's bike…Ain't dere no more
Hadocol…Ain't dere no more
The Parades 'n all…Ain't dere no more
Topaz…Where that went?
Hi Balls…25¢
Miller The Killa'…A Real Killa' Dilla'
Ain't Dere No Mooorrre
New Orleans as a city held onto its own culture, it was its own bastion in the world. Now there are Hooters and Hard Rock Cafes in the French Quarter. I have nothing against either of these establishments, but you put enough of them in any downtown city and you can't tell which city you are in any more. New Orleans is a city unlike any, not just in the United States, but the world. You take a walk through downtown New Orleans, through the French Quarter you should be able to tell you are in New Orleans and not Atlanta or Denver or San Diego or any other city.
Yet time is taking its toll on the city. Like I said there are more places like I mentioned before setting up shop in the city. Harrahs is here, gambling keeps getting brought out and touted as the cure all for all the city's problems. Let's make New Orleans a mini Las Vegas.
The following two songs are by Benny Gruch and while they are played for laughs they really are very sad songs...and unfortunately too true.
And Schweggman's Gone Away AIN'T DERE NO MORE
(Benny "Grunch" Antin) Anzel Anzel, BMI
Where's the downtown stores
Ain't there no more
Where's the Schwegmann's stores
Ain't there no more
Where's all the stores
Ain't there no more
Everybody cried
On the Live Eyewitness news
McKenzie's got closed down
'Cause a zink was all mildewed
Well, they opened up again
But while I was in line
They all closed down, but I heard they're gonna
Open one more time
Just hotels, just hotels
More are on the way
Mr. Bingle quit at the Carlton Ritz
"Cause he can't reach the buffet..ay
Krauss is gone so you can't try on
No queen-size lingerie
But, watcha gonna do with K & B
And Schwegmann's gone away
A & G's ain't there no more
Mc Crory's ain't there no more
Waterbury's ain't there no more
Dailey's ain't there no more
Red Goose-'a ain't there no more
Them biddies shoes-'a ain't there no more
Godchaux's Mens …On the second floor?
That's the one! ain't there no more
Maison Blanche and Holme's
Was just like dinosaurs
That roamed out in Gentilly Woods
Before it was explored
Downtown a million years
Then gone in just a blink
MB's and Holmes and dinosaurs
Are mostly all extinct
(Just hotels chorus)
Lowes State show ain't there no more
Miller Wohl ain't there no more
Leonard Krower's ain't there no more
Claiborne Towers ain't there no more
Well, Kress's then ain't there no more
'Was a "five and ten" ain't there no more
Old Grocery store with the …double screen door?
That's the one! Ain't there no more
Paw paw shopped at Schwegmann's
Forty years or more
'Cause Schwegmann's had a bar-room
Right there in the store
Paw Paw got some French bread
Then he hung around
He'd walk home with the shopping cart
So he wouldn't just fall down
(Just hotels chorus)
Labiche's ain't there no more
Kreeger's ain't there no more
Stein's is great ain't there no more
Rivergate ain't there no more
Hey, look they're layin tracks
Canal street-car is back
And Rubenstein's and Walgreens
Still right there where they at
(Just hotels chorus)
Watcha gonna do with K & B
And Schwegmann's gone away
Schwegmann's gone away
Ain't there no more
Schwegmann's gone away
Ain't there no more
(Repeat and fade)
AIN'T DERE NO MORE - PART 2
(Benny "Grunch" Antin) Anzel Anzel, BMI
We're gonna go out 'most every night
Checkin out all the Christmas lights,
Ain't Dere No More's, got lots to say
Listen up fast or get out the way
I tried all night in Metry
At various locals
You can't catch oysters out the
West Esplanade canal
So-- Spray Rudolf with a can of Off
And set the house alarm
We'll go see lites in Metry
And what they got that's gone
JC's…Ain't dere no more
House of Lee's…Ain't dere no more
Metry Ford…Ain't dere no more
On Metry Road…Ain't dere no more
Pelican Bowl…Ain't dere no more
Wrap' N Roll…Ain't dere no more
How 'bout the Real…Superstore
That's the one…Ain't dere no more
If your lights in St. Bernard
Stay up the whole year then
Just wait at least till Trick or Treat
Before ya plug em in
So-Spray Rudolf with a can of Off
And set the house alarm
We'll go see lites in St. Bernard
And what they got that's gone
Atlantic Thrift…Ain't dere no more
Drug Store was Trist…Ain't dere no more
Jerry La Vie's…Ain't dere no more
Broom Factory…Ain't dere no more
Cow Town…Ain't dere no more
Whole thing burned down…Ain't dere no more
West's Lumber…Cut them boards
2 x 4's…Ain't dere no more
Lakeveiw's getting swank
Coffee shops and banks
And churches where they all give thanks
For the streets that ain't yet sank
So-- Spray Rudolf with a can of Off
We'll go see lites in Lakeview
And what they got that's gone
Rockery Inn…Ain't dere no more
Velvet Swing…Ain't dere no more
Lenfant's in the back…Ain't dere no more
Smokehouse smoke stack…Ain't dere no more
Don't Cook Tonight…Ain't dere no more
Call Chicken Delight…Ain't dere no more
Lakeview Show then…Harrison Drug Store
Studio-A…Ain't dere no more
On St. Charles Avenue
They need some more de¢cor
But Audubon Park wouldn't be so dark
If the Copelands lived next door
So-- Spray Rudolf with a can of Off
And set the house alarm
We'll go see lites in Uptown
And what they got that's gone
Eiffel Tower…Ain't dere no more
Loretta's Flowers…Ain't dere no more
Swan Boat…Ain't dere no more
A Schweikhardt's float…Ain't dere no more
Beaconette…Ain't dere no more
Frank's on Feret…Ain't dere no more
The Kiddie Store…No, that's Broadmore!
Wise's…Ain't dere no more
Whatcha wanna see now…Across the river
I'm goin back home..Comin with us
Bridgebowl…Ain't dere no more
Keyhole…Ain't dere no more
Coulon's, Borne's…Hardware stores?
Don't tell me…Ain't dere no more
Belle Promenade Mall…Ain't dere no more
The stores 'n all? …Ain't dere no more
Magnolia Grill…Ain't dere no more
Wego On The Hill…Ain't dere no more
Cellar Club…Ain't dere no more
It's The Last Roundup…Ain't dere no more
Jacobson Young…Where the lights are strung
We must be goin down…Carrollton
Jim's Fried Chicken…Ain't dere no more
Homeplate still kickin? …Ain't dere no more
Pelican Stadium…Ain't dere no more
Lemme guess…Ain't dere no more
Security's…Ain't dere no more
Rueter's Seeds…Ain't dere no more
Cloverlands' Cows…Ain't dere no more
Post Office Now? …Ain't dere no more
Gerard Chevrolet…(Impala 2-Door)
Let me drive…Ain't dere no more
Whatcha wanna see now…Out by the lake
I'm goin back home…Betta just wait
The Bounty…Ain't dere no more
East End Bakery…Ain't dere no more
Schult's got the…Fresh Hardware
Bart's…Ain't hardly there
Maggie and Smitty's…Ain't dere no more
And all those kitties…Ain't dere no more
The My O My…Ain't dere no more
Bali Hai…Ain't dere no more
Dancing Fountains…Ain't dere no more
Just keep on countin…Ain't dere no more
Rosenberg's…That's The Name!
18 - 25…Tu-lane
Gus Betat's, right…Ain't dere no more
Witcha' Paw Paw's bike…Ain't dere no more
Hadocol…Ain't dere no more
The Parades 'n all…Ain't dere no more
Topaz…Where that went?
Hi Balls…25¢
Miller The Killa'…A Real Killa' Dilla'
Ain't Dere No Mooorrre
When Do You Link?
I want to link to some more blogs in my sidebar, Blogs That I Read. But I was wondering, when do you decide to link to another blog? I don't want to link to a blog that I only visit every so often, but I would like to link to some of the blogs that I'm starting to visit more often. Especially with Thursday Thirteen I'm visiting some blogs that I haven't before and at least once a week. Do you ask the other blogger if you can link to them? Or just link them? What is the proper etiquette in these situations? I'd hate to link to someone that doesn't want to be linked.
13 Series Characters
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1. Travis McGee by John D. McDonald: This series is over forty years old and it still is my favorite. McGee is the best. McGee is a hero that is not going to change his principles for anyone. What he believes is right is what he will fight you to the death for. 2. Doc Ford by Randy Wayne White: Ford is the closest thing to McGee I've seen in a long time. He has the same type of principled character as McGee was. In this day of "dark" heroes it is refreshing to see someone do things because it is the right thing to do. 3. Philip Marlowe by Raymond Chandler: A classic and still great. 4. Lew Archer by Ross MacDonald: In some ways an updated version on Raymond Chandler, with a lot more psychology thrown in. Like Chandler Los Angeles in almost a character in a lot of the stories. 5. Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly: This is probably the best of the current mystery writers out there right now. Harry is a policeman, but there is so much more to his character. Connelly is one of the best writers out there. 6. Nathan Heller by Max Allan Collins: Heller is not always the nicest guy out there, but his stories are always a great read. Set in the 40s and 50s Heller is always involved with some famous case that has been unsolved, such as the Lindbergh case. In his cases Heller always solves the case. Collins does a lot of research on the cases and presents a believable explanation for his results. 7. 87th Preceinct by Ed McBain: This is not one single character but the entire police preceinct. Though Steve Carella is usually one of the main characters in the stories, all the other police detectives get their story told. One of the masters of the genre. 8. Tubby Dubonnet by Tony Dunbar: Tubby is a slightly overweight from New Orleans. Mixing as much laughs as suspense these stories are great. 9. Dave Robicheaux by James Lee Burke: Another series set in New Orleans and its surrounding areas. Burke has put Robicheaux through the wringer. He starts off as a drunk and than goes on the wagon. His wife gets killed, he remarries only to lost his second wife eventually and fall off the wagon. Burke has some of the most sylized writing out there, it's a joy to read. 10. Atticus Kodiak by Greg Rucka: Depending on your view, this is either the coolest name for a character or the strangest. I kind of like it. Atticus is a bodyguard. Another character put through the wringer by his writer. 11. Nick Travers by Ace Atkins: Ok, the writer's name sounds more like the name of the character. Nick is another series set in New Orleans. Nick is an ex Saint, now working for Tulane studying the blues. His stories always get involved in old stories from the blues, such as his first one looking for lost recordings of Robert Johnson. 12. Charlie Parker by John Connolly: This is the newest series I've discovered and really enjoyed it. In this series the writer mixes the detective with angels. 13. Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus by Faye Kellerman: I didn't read her for the longest time, reading her husband's Alex Delware novels. But a few years back when I had foot surgery and was laid up at my parents I needed something to read and my Dad had a copy of one of her novels. I was hooked, I think I stayed up most of the night reading it. I went out within the next few days and bought all her books to date at that time. |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Six Weird Things About Me
I got tagged by Mike from Mike's Place awhile back with this meme and I am just now getting around to it. Sorry Mike. I'm supposed to list six weird things about me. Hmmm, maybe the probelm was whittling it down to just six.
1. I still read comic books.
2. I'm scared of heights, really scared of them, but I don't mind flying.
3. My laugh. You'll just have to take my word on this one, I have a very unique
laugh. I can be in a different room and if someone that knows me hears my
laugh they know it's me in a second.
4. I mix rice and apple sauce together to eat. It sounds gross I know, but it
actually tastes good.
5. Whenever I buy a newspaper or magazine or book at the store I never buy the
one in front. I always reach behind the first one and take one from the back.
6. It took me this long to write this...I spent too much time thinking about it.
1. I still read comic books.
2. I'm scared of heights, really scared of them, but I don't mind flying.
3. My laugh. You'll just have to take my word on this one, I have a very unique
laugh. I can be in a different room and if someone that knows me hears my
laugh they know it's me in a second.
4. I mix rice and apple sauce together to eat. It sounds gross I know, but it
actually tastes good.
5. Whenever I buy a newspaper or magazine or book at the store I never buy the
one in front. I always reach behind the first one and take one from the back.
6. It took me this long to write this...I spent too much time thinking about it.
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