The anethema of political correctness strikes again.
2003-05-28
2003-05-23
Patton....
A selection of quotations from the man who once referred to himself as that "Son-of-a-goddamned-bitch named Georgie Patton."
Music from the past....
There was a lot of different kinds of music around when I was growing up. Mom and Dad shared some common music interests, including the rock and pop they grew up with, like the Beatles, etc. They had some eclectic tastes, as well. Mom seemed to be more into some of the more progressive sounds, being a big fan of the Moody Blues and Procol Harum, and one of her favorite albums was by a Brazilian group called Donato/Deodato that played Latin-Jazz Fusion. Dad had grown up with a lot of country music around, so he was a big country fan.
I think one of the biggest reasons Dad was a country fan is that he grew up with it. My grandfather and his family had grown up with it as well, especially since there was a lot of musical talent in the family. My grandfather, Lloyd, could strum a guitar, but his biggest talent was being able to harmonize with anyone. He sang with some of his brothers now and then, including Lester, Alfred, and Orville. Lester played guitar as well, and Alfred played fiddle. Orville played guitar and steel guitar, and was perhaps one of the most talented of the bunch. When I was younger I learned that he had done some touring, under the stage name Eddie Rivers, and had even met and played with Hank Williams, Sr. at one time, and had had a guitar autographed by him.
Unfortunately, country music wasn't mainstream back then the way it is now, and nobody made it real big. Even if the music had been more popular, I think it still would have been tough, as there was a lot of heavy drinking involved. My grandfather finally joined A.A. and gave it up, and his sponsors became close family friends, spending their weekends playing sheephead until they couldn't see straight to keep their minds off the booze. My great uncle Orville eventually gave up drinking as well, but not before he pawned that Hank Williams autographed guitar.
We had a few reel-to-reel tape recordings of Orville's band, and they'd sometimes play at our family reunions. I didn't appreciate the talent until I heard some less gifted players.
Now-a-days, of course, hearing some of the songs I heard back then reminds me of those days, the long lazy summers of youth when I didn't have many cares. Nostalgia seems to play a big part in the music we enjoy.
That nostalgia has been leading me to think about about a couple of songs by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Old Upright Piano, and Leon McDuff. I had been unable to find any information about either song from Barnes & Noble or Amazon, and finally did a Google search. It turns out they appeared on an album called Partners, Brothers and Friends, released by Warner Bros. in 1985, and is no longer in print. This is sad, really. I remember many of the songs from the album, including the two mentioned, as well as Redneck Riviera and Queen of the Road. Those songs were good foot-stompers. Old Upright Piano is a real tear-jerker; Leon McDuff is a good bluegrass song with a dark edginess to it. I couldn't appreciate their merits when I first heard them over fifteen years ago. Now that I can, the songs are sadly unavailable.
I think one of the biggest reasons Dad was a country fan is that he grew up with it. My grandfather and his family had grown up with it as well, especially since there was a lot of musical talent in the family. My grandfather, Lloyd, could strum a guitar, but his biggest talent was being able to harmonize with anyone. He sang with some of his brothers now and then, including Lester, Alfred, and Orville. Lester played guitar as well, and Alfred played fiddle. Orville played guitar and steel guitar, and was perhaps one of the most talented of the bunch. When I was younger I learned that he had done some touring, under the stage name Eddie Rivers, and had even met and played with Hank Williams, Sr. at one time, and had had a guitar autographed by him.
Unfortunately, country music wasn't mainstream back then the way it is now, and nobody made it real big. Even if the music had been more popular, I think it still would have been tough, as there was a lot of heavy drinking involved. My grandfather finally joined A.A. and gave it up, and his sponsors became close family friends, spending their weekends playing sheephead until they couldn't see straight to keep their minds off the booze. My great uncle Orville eventually gave up drinking as well, but not before he pawned that Hank Williams autographed guitar.
We had a few reel-to-reel tape recordings of Orville's band, and they'd sometimes play at our family reunions. I didn't appreciate the talent until I heard some less gifted players.
Now-a-days, of course, hearing some of the songs I heard back then reminds me of those days, the long lazy summers of youth when I didn't have many cares. Nostalgia seems to play a big part in the music we enjoy.
That nostalgia has been leading me to think about about a couple of songs by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Old Upright Piano, and Leon McDuff. I had been unable to find any information about either song from Barnes & Noble or Amazon, and finally did a Google search. It turns out they appeared on an album called Partners, Brothers and Friends, released by Warner Bros. in 1985, and is no longer in print. This is sad, really. I remember many of the songs from the album, including the two mentioned, as well as Redneck Riviera and Queen of the Road. Those songs were good foot-stompers. Old Upright Piano is a real tear-jerker; Leon McDuff is a good bluegrass song with a dark edginess to it. I couldn't appreciate their merits when I first heard them over fifteen years ago. Now that I can, the songs are sadly unavailable.
2003-05-22
A threat to your rights....
William Safire brings you news of potential infringement of Constitutional rights in 3... 2... 1.
2003-05-20
2003-05-19
Asshole....
So I had to stop at an ATM this morning so I could make a deposit. For whatever reason, I decided to use the ATM at the Anchor Bank branch ear East Town Mall. After I was done, instead of backtracking, I decided to get on East Wash/Highway 151 and follow it to the American Parkway exit. I'm not sure I'll do that again; Madison drivers are assholes. I needed to change lanes, so I turned on my signal. I checked my mirrors, checked my blindspot--all clear. I start changing lanes. That's when I hear the horn of a black Volkswagen. Where did he come from? He wasn't there when I started this process! Then the asshole has the nerve to flip me the finger while he speeds past.
2003-05-15
P.C. is P.U.
Political correctness runs amok in Arizona. Common sense is there, but predictably, not in anyone in a position of authority.
2003-05-06
Bad idea....
I don't recommend trying to get a table at a Mexican restaurant in Madison on Cinco de Mayo. The east-side Laredo's appeared to be packed, so we headed to La Hacienda. They were packed as well. Maryanne drove us to the west-side Laredo's, and they were busy as well, but we waited just under ten minutes. The food was much the same, but the restaurant wasn't nearly as comfortable. It's probably just as well we didn't try Casa de Lara.
2003-05-02
Boredom....
I have just been a blogging fool today. Of course, most of those entries don't say much, if anything, just a little blurb commenting on what I linked. I guess it's boredom, to some degree. It's been a quiet day at work, and I finished my book, not having another one on hand. I should have brought another one in with me.
Ignoring the Bill of Rights....
Liberal whack-jobs in Washington state want to define guns as weapons of mass destruction. Aside from the fact that there's all kinds of wrong with using the broad, intentionally vague definition of a weapon of mass destruction as they are, I think this does nothing but show their one-track minds and display their willful ignorance of both common sense and the law. Do they need to take a remedial civics class and relearn the Constitution?
2003-05-01
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