It's not quite midnight so I can still say that today would have been my Dad's birthday.
He died a little over four years ago from cancer.
You think in four years the loss would get easier. But a day doesn't go by that I don't think of him in some way. To be honest it didn't seem like four years had already gone by. The amount of time was reinforced recently to me. I was at Best Buy picking something up that I had ordered online. They asked for my drivers license for identification purposes. When the clerk handed it back to me I gave a glance at the expiration date, wondering when it was coming due. In Louisiana a drivers license is good for four years and expires on your birthday. This was back in July, a few weeks after my birthday. When I looked I saw that my license had expried that year.
The last time I had renewed it was four years ago, just weeks before my Dad died. I had to take a trip for work to Texas and my license was expiring and had to get it renewed before I flew. The week I came back from Texas was the week my Mom called to tell me to get up there, my Dad was not doing good.
So it had been four years.
Four years. I thought at first that couldn't be right. He hasn't been dead that long, it wasn't that long ago. Was it? But I guess it was. Time continues to pass and his death recedes into the past, if not in my memories.
One last thought of him I had recently. Last month I had to drive to Alabama for a meeting for work. Coming back I passed by the turn off from the highway that would have brought me to their old house when they lived in Mississippi before Katrina. When I lived in Florida and came back to visit that was where I turned to go to their house. A brief thought went through my mind of turning off and stopping by to say hi on my way home. My Dad would have appreciated the unannounced visit and insisted I get something to eat and sit and rest before I continued on my way home.
Damn.
I still miss him.
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs died today. Few people in the last quarter century left such a mark. Like Apple or not, the product that came from that company changed the world. ITunes changed the way music is sold. The Iphone changed the way we use our phones. And who knows what the IPad will change.
I don't have an IPhone. If Sprint had been an original carrier of the phone I probably would have made the plunge, but I've always liked Sprint and the people I knew that had AT&T weren't too happy with their services so I stayed where I was. A brief side trip to the Pre WedOS, but it's been Android and Google as the phones for me. Even now with the IPhone coming to Sprint I don't think I'll change. I have a Nexus S and if anything I'll probably update to the Nexus Prime.
But I do have an Ipod and an Ipad. Both are devices that I love. The Ipod for my money is one of the greatest inventions ever, I have over 40,000 songs downloaded on it and I can carry my music anywhere I go. The Ipad is something I'm learning to use more and more. I'll go a few months and use it almost everyday and than put it down and not pick it up for another few months.
Still whatever you think of Apple you have to admit that Steve Jobs left an impression.
Bert Jansch Dies
With the news of Steve Jobs' death his passing will go mostly unnoticed but Bert Jansch died today also. According to Wikipedia Mr. Jansch was:
Jansch was a leading figure in the British folk music revival of the 1960s, touring folk clubs and recording several solo albums, as well as collaborating with other musicians such as John Renbourn and Anne Briggs. In 1968, he joined the band Pentangle, touring and recording with them until their break-up in 1972. He then took a few years' break from music, returning in the late 1970s to work on a series of projects with other musicians. He joined a reformed Pentangle in the early 1980s and remained with them as they evolved through various changes of personnel until 1995.
Monday, October 03, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Five on Friday
Last week R.E.M. called it quits. This has been one of my favorite bands for years. I had the chance to see them in concert and they put on an awesome show. Besides being one of my favorites the group has been one of the most influential bands in the last two decades. As a college band they set the standard for other up and coming bands. As a "legend" band I think they showed how to be popular and famous with class and dignity. I'm sorry to see them go, but they went out on their own terms and as friends deciding to call it a night.
1. Everybody Hurts
Some people find this song too sentimental and sappy, but I think it was one of their most beautiful songs with some meaningful lyrics.
2. At My Most Beautiful
From their album UP which shows they were still making great music even later in the game.
3. So. Central Rain
Some old R.E.M. Doesn't that guitar at the start make you think of the Byrds? They look so young in this video.
4. Man On The Moon
This is when they were really popular, one of the biggest bands in the world.
5. Losing My Religion
My favorite R.E.M. song. I just love this song. The title refers to a saying from the south, I remember my Mom and some of her relatives using it. When you get mad enough at someone you tell them "Don't make me lose my religion."
Friday, September 16, 2011
Ringer
So far the show is a hit. It run its night and was one of the best nights for CW in three years. And even better was that the show is good. The first episode set up a lot and if you're not paying attention it can get pretty confusing. I'm not even going to try to explain what's going on. I'm just glad to see Ms. Gellar is in fine form and was great in the show. Here's hoping that the show continues to grow and get better.
FIve on Friday
For full details on Five on Friday go to Trav's site.
My Five this week is songs from Joan Jett. Recently I read a biographer of Cheri Currie, the lead singer of The Runaways, the all girl group that Joan was a member of. And today I just picked up a copy of Bad Reputation, a biography of Joan herself. I've been a fan of Joan Jett since she was a member of The Runaways, so I thought today I would just present five songs from Joan Jett.
1. I Love Rock and Roll
I love this song. Absolutely, completely, all-ending love this song.
2. Bad Reputation
3. Do You Wanna Touch Me
4. I Hate Myself For Loving You
5. And finally the Runaways and their song Cherry Bomb.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
10 Years Ago...
It was a Tuesday. I was working for Service Merchandise. I was the Store Manger for the store in Slidell. I was off for the day. Slidell is across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. It's about an hour drive into the city, maybe less depending on traffic. My plan for the day was to drive across the lake into Metairie and stop at Borders and CompUSA and a few other places. Tuesday is new music day, so the new albums for the week would be out. Bob Dylan's "Love and Theft" was scheduled to come out today. I got up around early enough so I could get out of the house and on the road before nine or at least not too late afterwards.
Sometime before nine, my friend and assistant manager, Billy called me. I figured something must be up at the store. He just told me to turn the tv on. What channel? It didn't matter. I had no idea what could be going on. If anything I thought of something along the lines of the Challenger disaster.
I had no idea.
I turned on the TV and saw one of the World Trade Center towers in flames and smoke pouring out. A plane had crashed into it. While listening to it the station the second plane flew into the other tower. I was standing in front of the television. I couldn't move. I just stood there, watching the scenes of destruction. I don't know how long I stood there. Somehow I found myself sitting on the couch, my eyes never leaving the screen. I sat there, watching and listening.
Finally I couldn't watch any longer. I had to get up and go out. I decided to still go across the lake. I needed to do something to take my mind off the images I had just seen. All the way over the water and into the city I listened to the news. I ended up buying the new Dylan but it never made it into the player that day. I'm not sure when I actually listened to the album. I had to buy something at CompUSA. I have no idea what it was today. I remember very few people in there shopping and that it was just so quiet. No one was talking. It was like everyone was in a state of shock.
Driving home I took the causeway. The Causeway was the longest concrete bridge in the world, I think there's a bridge in China now that's taken that title since. But at the time it held claim to the longest such bridge in the world, going over the waters of Lake Pontchartrain. The bridge is 24 miles from end to end.
I was in the middle of the bridge, with no end in sight, water all around me and for a brief moment I thought that if there was any targets in Louisiana that the terrorists might aim for, the worlds longest bridge might not be a bad idea. It really didn't take serious hold in my mind, it was too wrapped up in what was going on in New York and Washington, but there was a brief moment of panic.
As soon as I got home I was back on the couch with the television on. The rest of the day was pretty much spent in front of the screen, watching what was going on. I just remember the feelings of grief and sorrow I felt that day. And later as I continued to watch the feelings of anger. All that grief built up to an anger at those that did this. While the anger has taken other forms, the grief and sorrow are still there.
Now ten years later I still feel that grief and sorrow. I was listening to NPR and they had a young boy on that was around four years old on 9/11. His grandfather was one of those that died in the towers. He was talking about that day with his Mother and when he started to talk about when his Mother had told him that his Grandfather was in one of the towers and his voice was cracking with emotion I had to turn the station. Even now, ten years later, it is so hard to see those images and listen to those stories.
I really don't have anything more insightful or meaningful that you'll no doubt read or hear about that day on other sites. All I know is that I'll never forget that day.
Sometime before nine, my friend and assistant manager, Billy called me. I figured something must be up at the store. He just told me to turn the tv on. What channel? It didn't matter. I had no idea what could be going on. If anything I thought of something along the lines of the Challenger disaster.
I had no idea.
I turned on the TV and saw one of the World Trade Center towers in flames and smoke pouring out. A plane had crashed into it. While listening to it the station the second plane flew into the other tower. I was standing in front of the television. I couldn't move. I just stood there, watching the scenes of destruction. I don't know how long I stood there. Somehow I found myself sitting on the couch, my eyes never leaving the screen. I sat there, watching and listening.
Finally I couldn't watch any longer. I had to get up and go out. I decided to still go across the lake. I needed to do something to take my mind off the images I had just seen. All the way over the water and into the city I listened to the news. I ended up buying the new Dylan but it never made it into the player that day. I'm not sure when I actually listened to the album. I had to buy something at CompUSA. I have no idea what it was today. I remember very few people in there shopping and that it was just so quiet. No one was talking. It was like everyone was in a state of shock.
Driving home I took the causeway. The Causeway was the longest concrete bridge in the world, I think there's a bridge in China now that's taken that title since. But at the time it held claim to the longest such bridge in the world, going over the waters of Lake Pontchartrain. The bridge is 24 miles from end to end.
I was in the middle of the bridge, with no end in sight, water all around me and for a brief moment I thought that if there was any targets in Louisiana that the terrorists might aim for, the worlds longest bridge might not be a bad idea. It really didn't take serious hold in my mind, it was too wrapped up in what was going on in New York and Washington, but there was a brief moment of panic.
As soon as I got home I was back on the couch with the television on. The rest of the day was pretty much spent in front of the screen, watching what was going on. I just remember the feelings of grief and sorrow I felt that day. And later as I continued to watch the feelings of anger. All that grief built up to an anger at those that did this. While the anger has taken other forms, the grief and sorrow are still there.
Now ten years later I still feel that grief and sorrow. I was listening to NPR and they had a young boy on that was around four years old on 9/11. His grandfather was one of those that died in the towers. He was talking about that day with his Mother and when he started to talk about when his Mother had told him that his Grandfather was in one of the towers and his voice was cracking with emotion I had to turn the station. Even now, ten years later, it is so hard to see those images and listen to those stories.
I really don't have anything more insightful or meaningful that you'll no doubt read or hear about that day on other sites. All I know is that I'll never forget that day.
Friday, September 09, 2011
Five on Friday
Having problems with the playlist and it seems the internet today, so I'm just going to try and post some you tube videos for my Five on Friday. Today I'm going to try and just post five artists that you might not have heard of.
Trampled by Turtles:
Caroline Herring:
Town Walsh:
Trampled by Turtles:
Caroline Herring:
Town Walsh:
Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra:
Ike Reilly:
The Ending of Fringe Season 3
*************SPOILER ALERT****************SPOILER ALERT*************************
If you haven't watched the end of last season, season three of Fringe, and want to, don't read any farther. But if you have seen it I have a few questions.
When Peter vanishes at the end and the observers comment that Peter was not important, he didn't matter anymore and that was why he disappeared.
Excuse me though, isn't Peter the one person that is important as far as the two worlds are concerned? If Walter hadn't kidnapped him in the first place, none of the destruction would have started on the other world. If Peter wasn't there to go into the machine how did the two worlds come together at the end?
I'm hoping, and reasonably sure, that they have explanations for these questions, but it makes me wonder.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Happy Birthday JJ
Today JJ would have been 23 years old. My thoughts go out to his family Jason, Claire and Parker today.
Monday, August 29, 2011
The God of the Old Testement
Click here and go read Michelle Backmann's statements about Hurricane Irene. That's a pretty petty God if he's willing to kill people and cause that much damage just to tell the rest of us to stop spending. Maybe he could have just sent a Western Union.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Buffy Returns
Ok, not really, but Sarah Michelle Gellar returns to TV this Fall in the CW show Ringers. This is the show I'm anticipating the most. It's a very complicated show, with Sarah playing twin sisters and one twin is missing and the other twin is pretending to be her. Throw in some crime and someone trying to kill someone else and the FBI is looking for the sister that is pretending to be the other sister and already my head hurts. But I'm truly hoping that they pull this off. Ms. Gellar has been away too long.
New Wilco
Sept 27th is going to be a good day for music. Will Hoge's newest comes out and so does the new Wilco. The video is "I Love My Label" written by Nick Lowe and a bonus feature on the new album. And I guess Wilco does love its label. They started their own label which the new album will be released on.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Instructions
When did it become common to put the minimum information needed in instruction manuals. I remember years ago when I would buy some new piece of electronic the instruction manual would include how to set it up and than information on what you could do with said piece of equipment. Nowdays you barely get enough information on how to set up your new item. As little information as they can get away with giving.
And don't say you can go online to get all information you need. I shouldn't have to go online to get what I need from buying something new.
And I'm looking at you Logitech Revue....
And don't say you can go online to get all information you need. I shouldn't have to go online to get what I need from buying something new.
And I'm looking at you Logitech Revue....
Friday, August 12, 2011
Five on Friday
Just going to make it under the wire today. But here we are, with a new set for this Friday. Will Hoge, one of my favorite performers, has a new album coming out next month so I thought I'd feature Mr. Hoge in my Five on Friday today. This is the second time I've featured Mr. Hoge. The first song "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" is one of my favorite songs by him. The other four are cover versions.
Will Hoge is a talented musician from Nashville. His new album is simply called 7, which is how many albums he's released so far. If you ever have a chance to catch Will in concert, don't delay, make sure you see him. For a review I did of Will from Bonnaroo from a few years back you can read it here.
Monday, August 08, 2011
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Happy BIrthday Web
The world wide web is only twenty years old. It seems incredible that its only been around for twenty years. For more check out this link.
Friday, August 05, 2011
Five on Friday
This week's Five on Friday is in honor of the upcoming peace globes and the 100 reasons for peace.
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