This may seem like an odd picture, but I guess it suits my current mood. I feel like I'm on a train to nowhere, and my train's probably going to continue right past this sad little outpost. I've been reading Comanchee Mood, by Larry McMurtry - a great Western story, plenty of brutality, a lot of humor, native american wisdom, and plenty of humor. I like that he develops the native americans' personalities- some are wise, some are foolish, mean, perverted, etc. Lots of torture, and just enough sex to keep it interesting. Lately was made into a pretty good TV mini-series, which I'm planning to acquire soon.
This is my first post in quite a time. We had the kids (daughter, husband, grandaughers 6 and 11) down for a short week. Lots of pool time, of course. We had a good time, although exhausting for us old people. Took the girls to see Wall-E, which was great. The kids enjoyed it, but there was enough satire of western culture involved to interest adults. Animation was superb, of course. The above picture is a shot of Mars, of course, with the latest addition of a Wal-Mart store. I'm sure this is in their long range plans, perhaps a hundred years or so out. That's all I can think of at the moment.
First entry in quite a while. I and the wife just got back from a 9 day trip to Tucson, Arizona, one of our favorite places. It was hot (hit 105 or so a couple days), and dusty, but we had a good time anyway. Started early in the morning to hike or other outdoor activity, and in the pool generally by 1 pm. The locals come out after 7 at night, when it cools down to around 85 or 90, but we were fed, and in bed by that time, given the 3 hour time change from Florida. Above is a picture of me (small chubby person in the center), at Tumacacori National Monument. It's a 15th century mission, in ruins obviously, located south of Tucson, about 45 minutes. A beautiful, peaceful place, redolant with history, and haunted with the ghosts of the Spanish friars, native indians and outlaws. Because of the lawlessness in the area, the mission moved to San Xavier Del Bac, in Tucson, now on the Tohano O'Dham (spelling?) reservation. San Xavier is very much a working mission/church, and undergoing continual restoration. It's called the White Dove of the Desert. We also did Sabino Canyon, Saquaro East and West, Mt. Lemmon (12,000 feet), and had great Mexican food and cowboy steaks. Will talk more about our trip later. But, glad to be back to the Swamp (only 90 degrees high). 
Bo Diddley passed away yesterday, May 2. I did a post about Bo a couple weeks ago. He was a real original, a pioneer of R&R. His influence can be heard in everyone from Buddy Holly, to the Stones, Beatles, and all the hard rockers. His was not a blues beat, it was a rock and roll beat - didn't swing, just propelled you along on the insistent rhythm, and pounding guitar. I still dig those square guitars! RIP, Bo - they aren't making any more like you.
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.
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. 
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.
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!
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.
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.
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. 
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!
