Greetings from 2009, everyone! It's been
awhile since I've been in full blog format, but I don't really have much "required listening" anyone needs to specifically brush up on right at the moment. Just a few random notes for you folks I've
compiled from my 2-week vacation - re: plant shutdown. The economy is not looking good right now - folks were going to have to get out of this using our backs & not waiting on charity from Washington. The American worker is still the greatest asset we have as a country, and that asset is being severely underutilized right now. But I digress.
- It's been pretty quiet - not a whole lot of festivities over the holidays. I did take the family to see "Marley & Me" last week. Not a kids movie, BTW. Very sad at the end. What was even sadder was that I sat there the whole time wondering what Jennifer Aniston's character sees in Owen Wilson's. I guess there's hope for guys like me after all...
- Santa brought my oldest son a Fender Squier for Christmas. I really hope he takes to it. He's learned a few chords already & seems eager to learn. In some ways I'm sad that I don't know how to play myself so that I could teach him, but in others I'm glad I don't so there's no pressure & he can learn this all on his own. Parents, two of the best things you can do for your children is to make them learn a musical instrument & teach them how to play golf. I'm serious...these are two hobbies your kids will enjoy their whole lives, not just through high school. Plus these are hobbies you can share in with them. I get real furious when I see parents carting kids all over for sports (football, basketball, baseball, cheerleading) when they should be at home, just being kids. I think sports are great, don't get me wrong, but I also know there's more to life than the pipe dream of an athletic scholarship. Things have changed since I was a kid, but I want a better life for my kids - not to make it worse. I never learned an instrument as a kid, & I didn't start golfing until I was in my 30's. I feel like I'm way behind the curve, too. I sure spent a lot of time shooting free-throws, though. All I have to show for it is a Rio Grande Baketball Camp Free Throw Champion certificate though...signed by THE John Lawhorn himself.
- Got to check out the wonderment of Blu-Ray technology at my brother-in-law's on Christmas. My current entertainment system is now, of course, very inadequate & outdated. Tech wiz Jarret (also the bassist for Chillicothe rock band Mays Gone) first put in 2004's Chicago with Earth, Wind, & Fire: Live at the Greek Theatre. All I can say is...wow! I felt like I was right on stage. The colors were so wonderful, the sound was incredible. Not to mention, these two bands are national treasures on their own, but when they come together as one unit the experience is completely overwhelming (in a good way). Check out "Beginnings," "September," "25 or 6 to 4," & "Let's Groove," "Saturday In The Park." Great stuff...!
- Picked up a fantastic song off of Pandora Radio. Sun Kil Moon - "Carry Me, Ohio." Sun Kil Moon is a project of Massilon, Ohio's Mark Kozelek, formerly of The Red House Painters (yeah, me either). I checked out some other stuff by Kozelek, but they're mostly droning snoozers & bad Modest Mouse covers. For some reason though, this song resonates and I have to play it over & over. For those of you that don't use Pandora Radio, it's a great way to expand your listening horizons, BTW.
- Finished re-reading This Wheels on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of The Band. Just as before, no change. Robbie Robertson is still a soul-stealing, money-grubbing dick. One thing I took away from this reading was the "divide & conquer" approach of management then & now. They find a talented band, isolate one member, tell them how great they are, gain their trust & show them how to beat the system financially (publishing rights!), & get them to strike out on their own (2 acts for the price of 1...!) This book's a great read, though. I recommend it for anyone, especially those misinformed Robbie Robertson fans. Not that I'm totally down on Robbie though. I did watch Clapton's 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival on DVD over break, & Robertson actually SANG!! and played a tribute to Bo Diddley with "Who Do You Love." No Ronnie Hawkins, but not bad. Speaking of Hawkins, there's great quote in the book after he & Helm had finished screening The Last Waltz: To Helm - "Hey son, don't look so glum. The goddamn movie's be awright if it had only had a few more shots of Robbie. Haw haw haw haw haw!!!"
We may disagree on Robbie Robertson. I can dig that. But Helm's book is very good. There's another great book on the Band,"Across The Great Divide"...which I also like.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention, what you had to say about the American worker is quite spot on.