Finally, a Posting!

Finally, got around to making a post. Sort of burnt out, after the Mem Day holiday. Above is picture from southeastern Arizona, not exactuly sure where, but a nice little town in the sun. We are going to Tucson next week, for a getaway. Will haunt our usual haunts, I'm sure; Staying at the Windmill Inn, so we can eat every night at El Corale (sp?). Great steaks, mexican food, etc. Good and hot this time of year, of course. We love it. Mountains, desert, Native Americans, all good.

Friday - Memorial Day Weekend!

That's all for the working week, but not all for this blog! I will probably be at the salt mine on Monday, while everyone else is flipping burgers, and drinking margaritas by the pool. Oh well.

Thursday - Space Quest, and Rock and Roll!

This is the maintenance deck, on the Galaxy Queen. Note the robot maintenance guy. This was not to be first mission to another star system. There had been two prior, both since the discovery of fusion ion propulsion engines, in 2275. The first the Star Explorer mission, launched by the ISU (international space union), in 2300. The target was the closest star system discovered at that time to have a solar system, with possibly habitable planets. This was the Xperion system, about .5 light years distant, in the same general section of the Milky Way as our solar system. That mission was much smaller in scale, with a crew of about 200, and no colonists, since it was basically an exploration mission, with no colonization envisioned. The mission, which too about 6 months at near light speed, was a success, by all accounts, although no habitable planets were discovered. The system had 10 planets, four of them with detectable atmospheres, mostly of the hygrogen/methane variety, similar to our gas giants. The second mission, dubbed Star Trek, in tribute to the late 20th century science fiction phenomenon, was aimed at a system 1.5 light years distanct, closer to the core of our galaxy, and took almost 2 years to reach it's destination. At this time, in 2230, the reach of our space telescopes had extended our ability to assess the characteristics and potential of other system in a much more sophisticated manner. This solar system, include on planet that was definitely Earth-type, with with abundant carbon-based life in evidence, at least plant life, as well as extensive liguid water, and an oxygen-rich atmosphere. The mix of gases appeared to be different than Earth's, but might possibly be breathable. More in the next installment of this story......

This is the bass player, again, from The Subways. Please don't think I may be obsessed with her, but who doesn't love a female rock bass player, especially one who is a young redhead. Enough sexist rubbish for now. Nothing new and interesting to talk about today. I purchased a TV show from iTunes, only to discover I couldn't play it except in Apple gadgets and computers. I.E., I couldn't burn it to DVD, and have it be playable on by DVD Player, for the TV. Something called DRM encoding, basically Apples way to make sure we only use Apple products - diabolical! They need to make things a lot simpler for us old folks.

Tuesday

This is the inside of the Galaxy Queen, the 10-mile long lightcruiser that is set to take off from Saturn Station, from orbit, for the Salurian Nebula. Departure is scheduled for June 1, 2342, with an ETA of about 30 days. This is fast, even considering the ship will reach near-lightspeed for most of its voyage. Our long-range sensors have detected an Earth-class planet, about five times the size of earth, orbiting a sol-class star, somewhat larger than earth's sun. A breathable, oxygen-rich atmosphere has been detected, and ample plant and animal life. The planet's surface is about 1/2 covered with water, with polar ice caps, similar the those that existed on earth 300 years ago. The ship will include a crew of 500, and approximately 10,000 colonists, all men and women of childbearing age. It will probably be a one-way trip, at this point, although if things went south, a rescue mission could probably be mounted within a year. Our research has not detected any radio transmissions, or other signs of technologically advance life on the planet, so given human superiority in these realms, the colonists and crew should be able to handle any local opposition they might run into.

In the Basement Today

Here's some more guitar "pornography" for you. Don't know what it is about these things, but I can't get enough. I guess its because they are a great combination of style, form, and function. I love music, and I love wood. Also, the guitar is relatively easy to play.

The other picture is not guitars, although it has guitars in it. It also has a nice looking young blonde girl, although I don't want to sound like a D.O.M. I do appreciate the beauty of God's creation, though. (Nothing wrong with that). The band is The Subways. The wife and I have been watching The O.C. (I know, it's aimed at teenagers, but we like it because it's a pretty good soap opera). The adults are very good, too. Anyway, they had the Subways playing in their fake beachside nightclub, and their song, "Be My Little Rock and Role Queen", intrigued me. Their sound, like all great r&r is spare, intense, repetitive and hypnotic. Great grinding guitars, nice harmonies (with a raw sound), and good drumming. Rock On!

Lower Slobovia

Lower Slobovia is small country, just south of Upper Slobovia. People in Lower Slobovia believe they are superior to the people in Upper Slobovia, and any other country in the world, too. Several years ago, some outsiders raided Lower Slobovia, and managed to bomb and destroy Lower Slobovia's greates monument, the Terrific Tower. The Terrific Tower was built of old packing crates, in the days before the great budget crisis. It was a tribute to the country's great prowess in trade, of which the main product was yak butter. The President of Lower Slobovia at the time was Pappy Yokum. Based on the advice of his best advisors, mainly Mammy Yokum, Little Abner, and Daisy Mae, Pappy decided to attack and occupy Upper Slobovia. He had been wanting to do that for a long time, just looking for an excuse, since Upper Slobovia had a big Yak Butter supply, which he (and his business buddies) were itching to get their hands on. Lower Slobovia had a bigger army at the time (150 troops, and a mule), and managed to accomplish the ugly task in less than week, particularly given that Upper Slobovia's army consisted of 15 reservists, armed with muzzle loading muskets. All went well, until the Upper Slobovian's decided to leave all the yak butter out in the sun, and it predictably went sour fast. They refused to cooperate with the occupation, and did even less work than typical. The rest of the civilized world quickly turned on Lower Slobovia, and refused any longer to buy their yak butter, or anything else for that matter. In the next election, Pappy Yokum was voted out, the job then fallying to Pogo Possum, who promised quick withdrawel of the troops from Upper Slobovia.

1967

Jefferson Airplane was great, back in the day. I loved their quirky time signatures (3/10 of a mile in 10 seconds, or something like that), and it helped to be stoned to enjoy it, but not really necessary. I think this music holds up well today, and similar to some of the more offbeat stuff the kids do today. I got off on some of the later stuff, as well, particularly Long John Silver, and Baron Von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun - Grace Slick was the Chrome Nun, and Kantner was the Baron. Gracie could blast the paint off a 49 ford. These records featured Papa John Creach, an ancient, black fiddle rock and roll fiddle player (probably the only one). Playing with a bunch of white west coast hippys - now theres integration!

Wednesday's Post

For a while recently, I was on a Beach Boys kick - downloaded albums and bootlegs, and hit the beach. I still like the mid-60's beach boys the best, since I was in high school at the time, like In my Room, Dance, Dance, Dance, Help Me Rhonda, Be True to Your School, and Dont Worry Baby. I had a 45 of don't worry baby, which I played over and over again all summer between sophomore and junior years. There was a girl in my sophomore class that I was mooning over, but afraid to ask her out. Finally got up the nerve Junior year to talk to her, and she said I should have called her during the summer - she would have loved to go out with me. Thats what a looser I was with the ladies at the time, and not much has changed, except I got a little nervier in college. Back to the subject: Also like there late 60's stuff, like Pet Sounds, Good Vibrations, Heroes and Villains, even some of the Smiley Smile stuff, at least before Brian really went off the deep end. Brian truely is a genius, and I'm glad to see he's pulled himself together in recent decades, but for a while there, he could not produce anything coherent, musically. My wife and I saw them at the University of Arizona, in mid-70's, and they really had the place rocking. Of course, west coast kids were (and are) really tuned into the California, surfing vibe. At that time, they still had the full original crew, which was great -Brian, Dennis, Carl, Mike Love, Al Jardine, etc. They had reportedly lured Brian out of his torpor for that tour, by letting him bring a small sandbox onstage for the show, in which he kept his bare feet the entire time, as he sat at the piano. Never moved a muscle, but belted out the songs great. Dennis (rest his soul), was obviously drunk through the whole thing, and did a suitably boozy version of "you are so beautiful". I recall there was a scandal in the paper the next day, describing how he was aprehended with an underage girl in his hotel later that night. Dennis died not longafter by falling off his boat and drowning. A troubled, but talented guy. Carl, Mike and Al were, of course, the pillars of strength in that group, at the time, and Mike was obviously the M.C., and kept the thing glued together. Of course, Carl died not long ago, and Mike Love continues to tour as the Beach Boys, without any Wilsons, or Al Jardine. I haven't seen them for awhile, but hear they still put on a good show. Mike is a talented guy in his own right. Brian continues to perform, and issue different versions and collections of his music, as well as some new stuff, most of which I haven't heard, but will check up on some day.

Bo Diddley

Bo Diddley lives in Clearwater, Florida, I believe. Now theres a roots rocker, if there ever was one. Bo made his own guitars, and I particularly dig the square ones. The scooter is a trip, too. I heard Bo has had some serious health issues lately, and wish him well. I hate to see one of the orignals taken from us. Was listening lately to a boot of a Chuck Berry concert, from this year, somewhere in Europe. He now tours with his own bank, including his son, Chuck Junior, and daughter, the former a good guitar player, and the latter a good harp player and blues shouter. This is superior to the old days, when Chuck would tour by himself, and hire a pick-up band whereever he was playing on a particular night. That led to some rough mixes. Chuck always did things his own way, though, and continues to. He will quit or change a some in mid verse, if he feels a notion to. Chuck is 80+, and hope he goes on forever.

In the Basement Today

This here is a picture of a mahogany Harmony guitar, pretty much identical to one I had when I was in the Nav, back in the late 60's/early 70's. Not an expensive guitar, it had a nice, full tone, but kind of a hard action. This was probably because it had very heavy strings, and I never changed them. It was great to bang out a tune in the barracks. Unforetunately, like an idiot I sold it when I left Cuba, thinking it would be drag to carry it back to the states. That was before I was enlightened enough to realize I should keep every guitar I ever owned. Really, I have sold or given a way a couple of them over the years, but still have four - my Fender Custom Esquire, circa 1962, my Harmony Roy Smeck model, semi-acoustic, my Gibson Folk Guitar, circa 1966, and my Ibanez full-size acoustic, circa 1975. Love guitars, obviously.

Wednesday's Post

I posted this picture, mostly because it combines two of the things I love the most; rock and roll, and Arizona (the Sahuaro, or Saguaro cactus, depending upon your preference). The wife and I are heading for Tucson again in mid-June, to visit our favorite haunts, such as Sabino Canyon, Mt. Lemmon, Saguaro Monument, Old Tucson, Mission San Xavier, etc. It will be hotter than Hades, of course, but its a dry heat, as they say. The trick is to do your outdoor activity in the early AM, quit by Noon for lunch, a siesta and/or dip in the pool, and then come to life again in the early evening. We usually are exhausted by 7 pm, particularly given the two hour time difference from Florida.

Long May He Run

I have been on a Neil Young kick for about a year now. I guess I liked his work back in late 60s and early 70's, but then lost track of him; busy with life -college, marriage, kids, etc. I remember my brother, Matt lived for Neil Young, back in the 70's. Matt passed away at an early age (mid-30's), and had a difficult life, but Neil was his refuge for awhile. Neil is one of the few from the old days who has managed to evolve over the decades, but still keeps the same basic style. He has always done what he pleased, and can alternate between acoustic country, and hard rock, quite easily, and often does, within the same show. I have been listening to a lot of his bootlegs from over the years, which have a raw sound I prefer. Mostly like the hard rock side these days. Neil is currently touring Europe, and sounds as strong as ever, judging by the Berlin and Amsterdam shows I have heard. Rock On!

Mandatory Monday Post

Its Monday, and this is my mandatory daily post (except weekends). Here's a picture of our new house in the country.

It's Friday

It is Friday, at 4:30, and it's Time to Quit! (It's time to quit a lot of things, but that's another subject, for another time.....)

I guess I'm in kind of a funky mood today. Not depressed, but thoughtful. Not getting much done, but why should I? Found this great collection of unissued songs with Johnny and June together. Takes me back. I find that I want to reflect on the past more than I used to these days, maybe sign that my past now far outweighs my probable future. I'm not looking at the past as nostalgia, but trying to regain the intensity of feeling, the sights, sounds, textures of things in those days. I was thinking about my grandmonther's gift shop. She had a gift shop, in downtown Williamsport, Pa., for about 40 years. Started by her father and mother, at a different location. She, my father's mother, was quite a capable person, and independent. Divorced my granddad in the 40's (that's another story), and raised three kids on her own. Took over the family business, sometime in the early 1950's. When I about 10, she used to let me hang around with her at the store. I'm sure I was in the way, but she let me think I was helping. I was fascinated by how she dealt with the customers, and vendors, and seemed to really enjoy the routine. She used to let me help her unpack new merchandise, and pack things to send to customers. She had "high end" gifts, such as Lenox china, nice glassware, and other miscellaneous nick nacks. She had been the wife of a local doctor, and thus had at one time rubbed elbows for what passed for high class society in Williamsport, an older lumber/river town in central Pa. All the better families came to her for wedding gifts, anniversary gifts, etc. Once a year, she would take a trip to New York, for the merchandise show. She did this well into her 80's. I think she finally quit the businsess around 1985, after cracking up her car, and her kids pressured her to quit. She entered a nursing home in her early 90's, and lived to be 99. Sharp as a tack well into her 90's, and a great person. I still miss her, and think of her all the time. She made me think I was the "little prince", when I was a kid.

Trains, Etc.

I like trains, especially old steam trains. Like most guys (and some girls) my age, I had Lionel trains when I was a lad. I remember a steam train, as well as a diesal streamliner, in this case a silver Santa Fe engine, and matching cars. My dad disposed of them after I left home, and both of us now wish he hadn't. One of these days, the wife and I plan to take the train from Williams, Arizona, up to the Grand Canyon. The train stops right in the middle of the Grand Canyon Village, for the day, then takes you back (about a 2 hour trip), to Williams. I was a big Superman fan back in the day, as well, and eagerly awaited the next DC comicbook, with Superman, Superboy, Supergirl, Superdog, you name it. Also like Aqua Man. Not a big Bat Man fan, though, and not a Marvel Comics guy, although these days I like them all.