Johnny Cash
December 22, 2009
December 19, 2009
December 11, 2009
December 10, 2009
Santa Claus Puddle
Driving home, there it was, in the front yard, in my neighborhood for the second day in a row. It's a puddle of red, white, and black. I wish they would either turn the damn fan on or leave the tacky inflatable Christmas contraption in the attic.
December 7, 2009
November 28, 2009
Chicago
While watching TV last night I nodded off but awoke to see the latest incarnation of the band Chicago perform their 1970 hit '25 or 6 to 4'. I read that the title came from the time they had remaining in the recording studio. Someone asked the time and the reply was "25 or 6 to 4".
I saw them in Louisville around '72. Whenever I hear a Chicago song it transports me back to that time.
Quiz...Can anyone tell me the name of the band as titled on their first album? They were threatened with a lawsuit by an municipal organization to change it.
From Wikipedia:
Chicago is an American pop rock/jazz fusion band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The band began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had a steady stream of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Second only to the Beach Boys in terms of singles and albums, Chicago is one of the longest running and most successful U.S. pop/rock and roll groups.
According to Billboard, Chicago was the leading U.S. singles charting group during the 1970s. They have sold over 120 million albums worldwide, scoring 22 Gold, 18 Platinum, and 8 Multi-Platinum albums. Over the course of their career they have charted five No. 1 albums, and have had twenty-one top ten hits.
I saw them in Louisville around '72. Whenever I hear a Chicago song it transports me back to that time.
Quiz...Can anyone tell me the name of the band as titled on their first album? They were threatened with a lawsuit by an municipal organization to change it.
From Wikipedia:
Chicago is an American pop rock/jazz fusion band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The band began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had a steady stream of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Second only to the Beach Boys in terms of singles and albums, Chicago is one of the longest running and most successful U.S. pop/rock and roll groups.
According to Billboard, Chicago was the leading U.S. singles charting group during the 1970s. They have sold over 120 million albums worldwide, scoring 22 Gold, 18 Platinum, and 8 Multi-Platinum albums. Over the course of their career they have charted five No. 1 albums, and have had twenty-one top ten hits.
November 18, 2009
November 11, 2009
He Ain't Heavy
While playing computer solitaire this morning the phone rang. I saw ‘South Park’ on the ID screen. It took me a second to realize it wasn’t a cartoon calling but my brother, who manages the golf course at South Park Country Club. He majored in agronomy in college, or as we used to say, he studied dirt. It was good hearing from him.
We switched gym memberships the other day to the new Powerhouse gym which occupies the space where the
former Metro Fitness was. Wife and I worked out there Monday for the first time. I used the weight machines and over did it. I’m still so sore; I can’t pull on a shirt without wincing. It’s a good sore though. I’m going over there again later today to punish my body some more.
Powerhouse offers a class called Body Pump and I’m thinking about giving it a go.
We switched gym memberships the other day to the new Powerhouse gym which occupies the space where the
former Metro Fitness was. Wife and I worked out there Monday for the first time. I used the weight machines and over did it. I’m still so sore; I can’t pull on a shirt without wincing. It’s a good sore though. I’m going over there again later today to punish my body some more.
Powerhouse offers a class called Body Pump and I’m thinking about giving it a go.
November 8, 2009
The Last Soccer Game
I was watching Tristan play his last game of soccer with all the other four year olds yesterday. Tristan said to me last week, 'I hate soccer papa bear.' He said it wasn't fair that he couldn't touch the ball with his hands. I know next to nothing about soccer, but hey, it's always fun to watch kids play any sport, learning organized sports and all that. Watching kids play always takes me back to my childhood when I played flag football and softball.
I didn't take to sports at all until I picked up a tennis racket...It was love at first volley. Although I never had a burning competitive nature, I loved the aesthetics of the game.
The soccer ball rolls along the field with all the kids in a knot, surrounding it until it's kicked out of bounds. A kid throws it in bounds with both hands over-head and the sequence is continued until it's kicked out of bounds again. The parents yell instructions...'kick it!...go the other way!...kick it!'...ad nauseum.
Tristan towers over the other kids. He's going to be a big bruiser when he gets older. He loves baseball and basketball. He hasn't played football yet but when he does, woe be to the kid in his way. It's uncanny how well he throws a ball. I can see him as either a quarterback or pitcher. If he takes up tennis I see many 120 mph serves in his future.
I didn't take to sports at all until I picked up a tennis racket...It was love at first volley. Although I never had a burning competitive nature, I loved the aesthetics of the game.
The soccer ball rolls along the field with all the kids in a knot, surrounding it until it's kicked out of bounds. A kid throws it in bounds with both hands over-head and the sequence is continued until it's kicked out of bounds again. The parents yell instructions...'kick it!...go the other way!...kick it!'...ad nauseum.
Tristan towers over the other kids. He's going to be a big bruiser when he gets older. He loves baseball and basketball. He hasn't played football yet but when he does, woe be to the kid in his way. It's uncanny how well he throws a ball. I can see him as either a quarterback or pitcher. If he takes up tennis I see many 120 mph serves in his future.
November 5, 2009
October 30, 2009
Ghostie Head
Last week I went to my local Red Cross to give blood. It’s been awhile since I’ve donated and the only reason is that a volunteer called me to make a date and time due to a blood shortage.
“Hello Mr. McClain this is the Red Cross and our records show that you’ve given blood in the past and currently we have a blood bank shortage. We were wondering if tomorrow at eleven o’clock would be a good time for you to donate at our Hubbards Lane office since you’re unemployed.”
I must have heard that last part wrong. Being out of work does strange things to your imagination.
I walk up the front desk and the guy in front of me says he’s way early for his appointment. The girl gives him information to read and says they’ll call his name when they’re ready. He walks away and I walk up, standing directly in front the girl.
She’s looking at something on her desk, not noticing me at all for about twenty seconds. I start to feel like an apparition and look down to make sure I’m visible and clear my throat which startles her. She apologizes and gives me the binder to read.
Giving blood use to be a simple affair as I recall they would stick you as soon as you walked through the front door and, BADA BING, you were finished and out the door. Now you sit in front of a computer and click on answers to a series of questions, some of which surprised me.
‘What political party do you belong to?’
‘Who did you vote for in the previous presidential election?’
‘Have you currently or in the past ever been associated with communists and/or socialists?’
‘Are you unemployed and do you feel like a ghost?’
I’m finally led to a chair by a guy who looks like Bela Lugosi and as I’m laying
there I notice there’s a fan nearby with dust and cobwebs covering the back of the wire cage. I’m thinking this can’t be very sanitary sitting close by with a needle in your arm.
My bag fills in five minutes flat and Bela comments how fast I was. I walk over to the snack table where there is an elderly man in his volunteer vest. He gives me a knowing, almost creepy smile and asks me if I would like some orange juice. This man attended Ole Miss College back in the days when William Faulkner taught there and has a first edition copy of “As I Lay Dying” signed by the author.
At least that’s what he told me.
“Hello Mr. McClain this is the Red Cross and our records show that you’ve given blood in the past and currently we have a blood bank shortage. We were wondering if tomorrow at eleven o’clock would be a good time for you to donate at our Hubbards Lane office since you’re unemployed.”
I must have heard that last part wrong. Being out of work does strange things to your imagination.
I walk up the front desk and the guy in front of me says he’s way early for his appointment. The girl gives him information to read and says they’ll call his name when they’re ready. He walks away and I walk up, standing directly in front the girl.
She’s looking at something on her desk, not noticing me at all for about twenty seconds. I start to feel like an apparition and look down to make sure I’m visible and clear my throat which startles her. She apologizes and gives me the binder to read.
Giving blood use to be a simple affair as I recall they would stick you as soon as you walked through the front door and, BADA BING, you were finished and out the door. Now you sit in front of a computer and click on answers to a series of questions, some of which surprised me.
‘What political party do you belong to?’
‘Who did you vote for in the previous presidential election?’
‘Have you currently or in the past ever been associated with communists and/or socialists?’
‘Are you unemployed and do you feel like a ghost?’
I’m finally led to a chair by a guy who looks like Bela Lugosi and as I’m laying
there I notice there’s a fan nearby with dust and cobwebs covering the back of the wire cage. I’m thinking this can’t be very sanitary sitting close by with a needle in your arm.
My bag fills in five minutes flat and Bela comments how fast I was. I walk over to the snack table where there is an elderly man in his volunteer vest. He gives me a knowing, almost creepy smile and asks me if I would like some orange juice. This man attended Ole Miss College back in the days when William Faulkner taught there and has a first edition copy of “As I Lay Dying” signed by the author.
At least that’s what he told me.
October 25, 2009
October 24, 2009
October 21, 2009
Up To Me
I was coming back from buying a metal cutting blade for a little home project I was working on this morning and Joni Mitchell came on the radio singing "Down To You". Sometimes you can hear an old song at a certain time of day or time of life and it's the best song in the world because it fits your mood.
Towards the end of the song it really had me feeling sorry for myself with my current unemployed circumstances and I turned the radio off. Now is not the time for indulging in feeling sorry for myself. I have a second interview with a company which will probably lead to a third interview and maybe employment again.
So screw you Joni Mitchell and the radio wave you rode in on.
Towards the end of the song it really had me feeling sorry for myself with my current unemployed circumstances and I turned the radio off. Now is not the time for indulging in feeling sorry for myself. I have a second interview with a company which will probably lead to a third interview and maybe employment again.
So screw you Joni Mitchell and the radio wave you rode in on.
October 20, 2009
Matisyahu
This is "One Day" by Matisyahu released just last August. Since he's become more popular he has more money to spend on production, making his sound richer. I love this song of hope.
October 19, 2009
October 18, 2009
Have A Mercator Projection Thanksgiving
My wife was reading one of her cooking magazines last night.
"Here's an article about spatchcocking. We should try it this Thanksgiving."
It sounded like it could've been either a finish carpentry trick or a technique used in making a triple X movie.
"Why wait until Thanksgiving? I'm willing to try anything once. Let's go to bed."
Spatchcocking is butterflying a chicken or turkey by cutting out the back bone and
laying the bird flat on the cooking surface in the oven or on the grill. Spatchcocking foul also reduces the cooking time to seventy minutes for a twelve pound turkey.
Looking at the picture it kind of reminded me of a Mercator Projection of the Earth
"Here's an article about spatchcocking. We should try it this Thanksgiving."
It sounded like it could've been either a finish carpentry trick or a technique used in making a triple X movie.
"Why wait until Thanksgiving? I'm willing to try anything once. Let's go to bed."
Spatchcocking is butterflying a chicken or turkey by cutting out the back bone and
laying the bird flat on the cooking surface in the oven or on the grill. Spatchcocking foul also reduces the cooking time to seventy minutes for a twelve pound turkey.Looking at the picture it kind of reminded me of a Mercator Projection of the Earth
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