more on summer fun

I had a nice weekend and didn't go anywhere. Thursday night, I went to a community festival (Oakfest) where the kids could go on lots of rides. Then Saturday and yesterday, I went to the condo get-together and had a nice time w/ my neighbors. It's not about spending a bunch of money that I don't have, it's about having a nice time w/ people I care for. My kids were upset we didn't go to Oakfest more often, but if we don't have the money, then we can't go, that's that. We were going to go to Taste of Chicago, and see Buddy Guy. But they had him scheduled later in the evening & we would have only been able to see him for about 15 min. b/c our train left soon after he started his show. So we said, "no, doesn't make sense".

The money issue has been playing a more prominent issue because our refrigerator has been making very loud noises. It has always ran quiet before and now sounds like a buzzsaw, something is definitely wrong. In fact, MB told me just this morning that the motor is out and it's OPD! (officially pronounced dead). So we better start saving up money for that.

Which brings me to another issue. I was not looking forward to early morning today. I loved the relaxing 3 day weekend. But I am thankful for a job, and it logically follows that I'm thankful to get up go to work this morning. We need the money, and I plan on doing overtime to pay for all these additional expenses.

summer fun

part of the summertime festivities was our condo having a hula hoop contest. Brianna won 2 of the contests. Ted did not fare as well. I even entered. I wasn't the best but I wasnt the worst, believe it or not. The hoop stayed on me all of 2 seconds, lmfao!

An awesome concert from Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood

I'm going to have a difficult time writing about what transpired at the concert. Why? Because it clearly doesn't do justice to the fantastic, superior music I heard on June 17, 2009. As I write this, I realize sometimes the best gifts are the ones we give to ourselves. For my Christmas of 2006, I gave myself the Led Zeppelin DVD of them performing in concerts from 1969-1979. Frankly, I have a very difficult time thinking of a better Christmas present I ever received. Well, it wasn't the best. That would be the money my dear parents give me before every Christmas. The concert was exactly one week after my 46th birthday. What a sweet present it turned out to be. Chicago is only 1 of 14 places the Clapton/Winwood concert will play!! Clapton/Winwood set list Wednesday at the United Center

1. Had to Cry Today (Blind Faith) 1st impressions: Winwood and Clapton both playing guitar. Why the hell is Winwood wearing a white T-shirt underneath (Winwood is no nerd, but the picture of him above in that same t-shirt does look a little strange, doesn't it?!?) Don't you get hot playing in a rock n roll concert, you know those bright lights and all the activity? Well, he is 60, and older people like that sometimes dress warmer than someone younger (poor circulation and all). Winwood sings great! How the fuck does he hit every single high note when he's in his 60s? Must take great care of his vocal cords (no smoking??). Everyone knows how great Clapton is on the guitar, and everyone knows what a great keyboardist Winwood is. Not enough people know that Winwood plays some very good guitar, TOO! The notes I wrote on this song state that there is some "heavy riffing" on this song - just the way I like it!
2. Low Down (J.J. Cale) Damn! Another song I don't recognize! I didn't know the names of 7 of these songs until Greg Kot put this HEAVEN-SENT SET LIST ON THE WEB!!!!!!!!
3. After Midnight (J.J. Cale) Yes, finally a song I recognize!! Is this going to be like the studio version (the best one that expresses pure, unadultrated joy)? Or is it going to be like most of his concert versions where he sings the song with all the confidence of a man that's going to get laid at "midnight"? It's more like the usual concert version. The studio version has a faster tempo and this seems a little faster. "After Midnight" goes right into song #4 which I also recognize.
4. Presence of the Lord (Blind Faith) This is a song that Clapton wrote when he discovered and purchased his first house, Hurtwood. I don't really care for the harmonizing that they do, which isn't sung together but is some sort of muddled, echoish "call-response". This is only 1 of 2 disparaging things I have to say (& the only musical criticism) about this very hallowed and unforgettable concert!
5. Sleeping in the Ground (Sam Myers/Blind Faith outtake) Shit, another song I don't recognize. But here's the magic of an Eric Clapton concert that I soon discover. Clapton is a blues master! He has every right to draw not only from his very formidable catalog of songs he's built up for over 44 yrs., but he's a bluesman, so he can draw from these blues songs like this one and song #s 2,8, 9, 15, & 21. I was planning on getting an accurate set list whether I got it from the web or not. One method I planned on doing was writing down the lyrics of songs I didn't know. Then I would match them up with the lyrics sheet on the web. The lyrics to this song is a common blues theme of the double-crossin' woman cheating on her man. & Winwood sings, "I would rather see you 6 ft. in the ground!"
6. Glad (Traffic) What an awesome SWEET SURPRISE!!!!!FUCK YEAH!!! Not a Clapton song at all, but a song Traffic did w/o David Mason. One of my favorite songs by Traffic, and the very reason I bought the album it's on, John Barleycorn Must Die. Clapton's guitar substitutes for the saxophone very nicely. They don't play the final section of the song, but that's ok. I heard that Clapton told Winwood that he would pick the Winwood songs Clapton liked the most, and Winwood would pick out Clapton's. If that's the case, Clapton hit gold w/ "Glad".
7. Well Alright (Buddy Holly/Blind Faith) - back in mid 1990s, I went to Traffic's last concert tour. They had released the album Far From Home. During the concert, they played this song, and Winwood was playing lead guitar. It was the first song ever that made me realize, "Damn, Steve's not only great on the keyboard, but good on the guitar too!" This concert, Clapton plays the guitar solo.
8. Tough Luck Blues (Big Maceo) Didn't know this song but was aimin' to find out what it was. I wrote the lyrics on this one too. "It's too bad!", "I used to have a car & painted white & black" "I used to smoke cigars".
9. Pearly Queen (Traffic)
10. Crossroads (Robert Johnson) One of my favorite Cream songs and the only Cream song played in the concert. But it's fantastic blues, so a good choice. Wouldn't mind hearing "Sunshine of Your Love" but hey, who am I to be pickin Clapton's set list?
11. There’s a River (Winwood), slow ballad song
12. Forever Man (Jerry Williams/Clapton) DEFINITELY ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CONCERT! I was just pining for Clapton's guitar solo that starts w/ a beautiful long, sustained Bflat. When I heard it, it felt like euphoria washing over me.
13. Georgia on My Mind - Winwood solo (Hoagy Carmichael) Winwood is alone on stage. He very humbly thanks everyone and tells us how much he enjoys playing in Chicago. This is a little bit of a contrast to the very reticent Eric Clapton whose talking is a quick, high-pitched "thank you" after each song. I'm not complaining! The music is "front and center" of this very masterful concert.
14. Driftin' Blues – acoustic (Charles Brown) Don't know this song, but know that it's from Clapton's awesome album From the Cradle (which I proudly own). He's all alone on the stage.
15. How Long Blues – acoustic (Leroy Carr) This is also a From the Cradle song.
16. Layla – acoustic (Derek and the Dominoes) They play the acoustic version of this song, not the studio version. So, it's like the album Unplugged. Winwood plays guitar on this song for the 1st time since the 1st song of the concert.
17. Can't Find My Way Home -- acoustic (Blind Faith) Wnwd on guitar again
18. Split Decision (Winwood) Great choice of a song from Winwood's solo career! Clapton plays a great guitar solo making it a highlight of the concert.
19. Voodoo Chile (Jimi Hendrix) By far the longest song of the night, didn't even know the name of the song until Winwood sang the chorus. Another thing many people don't know is that Winwood played organ on the original version of the song done by none other than Jimi Hendrix. Clapton makes it 2 IN A ROW for ass-kicking, sweet-soaring guitar solos! I think I died and went to heaven!
20. Encore Sweet Home Chicago (Robert Johnson) Easily the most crowd-pleasing song of the night. 3 things come together to make the crowd so happy. Obviously, people wanted Clapton/Winwood back out playing music after they left the stage the 1st time. So when they did come out, everyone was happy. 2ndly, people were elated to see the great, legendary Buddy Guy, and finally, people were flattered at hearing a song that is so clearly a tribute to my great city.
21. Drowning on Dry Land (Al Jackson) Buddy Guy does a masterful version of playing to the crowd and "acting" humble when he talks about what his dad told him, then when he's about to sing about what his mom told him, he said something like, "I tell you what she said, and then I'll quit." We didn't want him to quit on June 17. When the lights first went on after this concert, you could hear a very clear groan from people who did not want this night to end. I was definitely one of them. It's got to be a pretty fuckin' uplifting concert if you spend over $100 to be there and believe that it's money WELL SPENT!

more to be written about this concert later.............. here's what a man who knows more about music than I, Greg Kot, is from the Chicago Tribune. I am putting quotes so that the reader knows exactly what was said by Mr. Kot. Concert review: Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood (and Buddy Guy!) at United Center By Greg Kot "Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood shuffled on-stage Wednesday at the United Center like a couple of golf buddies in loose-fitting jeans and untucked shirts. No introduction, a couple of waves, a brief smile, and then they got down to business. When the concert ended more than two hours later after a satisfyingly intense exploration of most facets of their careers, together and apart, they ceded the stage to a man who inspired them both: Buddy Guy. Without introduction, the shaven-headed Guy radiated testosterone and charisma, and Clapton and Winwood traded a knowing smile as the master in their midst tore into his solos with a violence that was jarring. The performance capped a night in which Clapton and Winwood renewed their vows to a style of music-making that is no longer particularly in fashion, a style of in-the-moment interplay that has been replaced by more choreographed brands of entertainment. But on this night, it was a love that burned, to paraphrase an old Peter Green classic cut in the mold of Chicago blues. A few years ago, Clapton was coasting as a live performer. The nadir was his defanged version of "Layla," a song once so intense it approximated a sob. Now it had been reduced to a cabaret parody. Clapton was touring with a big band of competent pros but nobody who could really push him, and he turned in rote versions of his hits. But then at his 2007 Crossroads Festival at Toyota Park in southwest suburban Bridgeview, he looked and sounded renewed, in no small part due to the brief but intense cameo turned in by Winwood. That energy translated to the stage Wednesday, with Clapton and Winwood fronting a relatively small, no-fuss, five-piece band abetted by two backing singers. The musicians were in excellent form, particularly drummer Abe Laboriel, who kept the rhythm oil flowing and stretched out with orchestral flair as the longer pieces ebbed and surged. The headlining duo opened by looking back 40 years to "Had to Cry Today," the first song on the first and only Blind Faith album, released in 1969. That was to be the only album-length studio collaboration between Clapton and Winwood in their long, much-acclaimed careers. Upon returning to it, they clung to every note with tenacity. Clapton took the first solo, then went toe-to-toe with Winwood on the second, and things were off to flying start. Winwood had his piano-pounding romp on "Glad," with Clapton’s guitar mimicking the original saxophone fills by Traffic’s Chris Wood, and got his Ray Charles fix (via Hoagy Carmichael) with a solo "Georgia on My Mind." Clapton indulged his obsession with the J.J. Cale shuffle ("Low Down," "After Midnight" --- though, thankfully, no "Cocaine"), ‘80s blues-pop ("Forever Man"), and the obligatory lounge version of "Layla." They were at their best putting their stock in Blind Faith: a yearning "Presence of the Lord," split open by Clapton’s wah-wah-pedal guitar solo; a celebratory version of Buddy Holly’s "Well Alright"; and an acoustic "Can’t Find My Way Home" with Winwood’s still pliant voice turning it into a hymn. Above all, there was the common vocabulary of the blues, from an acoustic version of Charles Brown’s "Driftin’ Blues" to Jimi Hendrix’s intergalactic "Voodoo Chile." The songs became vehicles for extended interplay, Winwood primarily on Hammond organ while Clapton leaned into his solos with purpose. There was no preening, just graying, grizzled grown-ups re-devoting themselves to their life’s work. It was inspiring to see, a throwback to an era when young manhood in Britain was defined by how well a singer or guitarist could emulate the scarifying spirit of Chicago blues. And then, Buddy Guy showed up. Not to be outdone, he tore through "Drowning on Dry Land" with a mixture of eerie poise and lion-like ferocity. School, even for sixtysomething British rock legends, was still in session."

A very nice birthday

I had a really nice birthday made very special by my dear family. MB gave me a card; the kids decorated our home, BOUGHT me my present and MB took me out to have my favorite snack: an awesome chocalate malt!

Earlier in the morning, one of the clerks that I manage at the law firm bought donuts for me and the other clerks. The clerks also got together and got me a card. I must be doing something right if they thought enough of me to do that!

There were a few donuts left at the end of the day and I was telling my son, Andy about that before I came home from work. Andy told me something special was going to happen and I came home filled with anticipation. They didn't disappoint me. As soon as I opened the door, they all yelled, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

As I noted, MB wanted to take me to Jack Frost, where I had my beloved malt and she also treated our kids. Earlier in the afternoon, MB had given my kids money when they went to McDonalds. My 3 awesome, dear kids decided not to spend all of it and the money they had left they would give me a gift card to a place that I go to often. They knew I would love their gift, AND I DO!

Having a wonderful family is indeed a blessing!

a variety of things

here's a few kinda sorta axioms I've come up with:

1. More often than not, people grow more taciturn with age. (and I know 1 unfortunate exception to that axiom, but it's not nice "to knock" the ex)

2. Never underestimate the power of routine!

3. Can anyone humble you more thoroughly and more easily than your ex??

4. Gaining weight and going into debt are both as easy as losing weight and accumulating wealth are difficult!

--------------------

So I joined Facebook (yawn, BFD). I really despise the fact that my office manager can google my first and last name and see me and all my glory on this "hallowed" website. & I really do love Kevin, my dear ofc. manager, but I don't like him having that extra bit of knowledge on me. I had every intention of NOT posting my picture up on there. & I'm not either. So, I decided to put my "hero" Keith Olbermann on as my profile picture. After all, it is my responsibility to disabuse everyone on our fair globe that I'm NOT a Republican. What is the one thing that I love about Keith Olbermann? His wonderful, venerable ability to rip Rush Limbaugh "a new one".

The thing I least like about him? His obsession over the Obama administration prosecuting Bush officials on torture. Look! They can't get that loudmouth former vice president DICK in prison soon enough. However, this isn't the most important thing our federal government can do right now. Really, it isn't. Let's talk about the effect of the stimulus package awhile back, let's talk about the progress being made or NOT made in kicking the nation's addiction off of oil. & by the way, the word "addiction to oil" were the words of our wonderfully-now-reticent-ex president, they aren't mine. Having your dear friend Professor Tully of George Washington University getting on there in the same tone of voice as our "neighborhood scold" and bitch out the Obama administration for being complicit to torture makes me yawn. by the way, Professor Tully, nice hairdo. I only say that b/c I'm jealous that I don't have that much hair.

So, Keith, please lose the "still Bush'd" feature. It's old. Who gives a fiddler's f*ck for the previous administration (not this blog!!!!!!!)? Create a feature about progress being made.

Hostile encounter on the train

I commute to Chicago by train. It's very nice b/c there are much fewer intersections (than when you ride a bus) and the only time we ever have to stop is if the "signal light" is malfunctioning. Well, my peaceful ride home was shattered soon after I sat in my seat. I sat next to this blonde woman about 5'4" and 90 lbs. I got out my paper and opened it up to read. Since her personal space extended about 2 feet past her skin, she lurched into the window to avoid my hand as it opened the paper. As I went to get something out of my bag, I barely brushed the fibers of her sweater and she lurched into the window again. She objected to the way I ate my apple. So I made damn sure that I ate my chips next to her too.

Toward the end of my ride, I started laughing. She knew why I was laughing so she said, "IGNORANT!" I looked at her and said, "HAUGHTY!" "You elbowed me 3 times and didn't say excuse me" (Ladies & gentlemen, I elbowed her 0 x 900 !) So I laughed at her again. Then she said I was "FAT"! So then I said, "You're haughty and I'm not the 1st time person that said that." She didn't say anything so I must be right. Think about it, I've ridden the train for 17 years and this is the first time I ever had a hostile encounter. & there's been other passengers that have been difficult to sit next to!

The only part that made me feel remotely bad was this nice looking young woman looked at me as I got off the train. I'm just wondering if that bitch convinced others that I elbow people. SO UNTRUE! Still, I think the whole encounter was funny. I was telling some of my friends about the encounter on my morning ride to work the next day. So one of my friends said, "Excuse me, Vince, but your arm is brushing against the fibers of my sweater." We all had a good laugh over that.

SEQUEL: I saw the very same woman the next day. It was on a train earlier than the one on Monday. On Monday, I took the train that leaves Chicago @ 5:40 pm. Tues., I took the train that left @ 5:20. There she was busily TMing much like she spend some of her time doing the day before. I had no desire to sit by her and there was no room in her car either. I walked away from her, and she didn't see me. I walked through car after car looking for a place to sit through the train.

Then there was an older lady who put her stuff on an empty seat. So, I said, "Hello?" and the lady knew she had to move her stuff and let me sit (it's not right to put stuff on an empty seat when the train is real crowded like it was). When she moved her stuff, I said "Thank you" sweetly as I didn't want a repeat of Monday's escapade. She sweetly said, "your welcome" right back and we had no problems sitting together. That's the way it's supposed to be, she was a nice lady.

I have a feeling I'm going to see the woman I had problems with Monday again and again. I figured I wouldn't see her much again. But she was on a different train. It stands to reason that you get out of work roughly the same time everyday to go home, so why wouldn't I see more of her? I certainly have no desire to sit next to her again or remotely in the same area again. Ewwwwwww!

a # of thoughts

Here are some views that I have been feeling lately":

1. I still like the political climate that is going on in the US. I don't agree with other liberals that the Republicans are weak and that their power is merely regional. For every action there is a reaction (Obama's bold moves during a recession provoke outrage by the rich and uncaring), and if there is no economic recovery by next year, the Republican party will be stronger than it is now. Even at the present, the Republican voices seem to be the loudest and most annoying. Thankfully, they are NOT the most influential.
2. I am struck at some of the ridiculous positions that Republicans are taking. Now they are trashing the Supreme Court nominee, Judge Sotomeyer. She is making history as the first Hispanic to be nominated to the Supreme Court; she has a very good reputation and any missteps on her part are not that disturbing. Before she was even nominated, the Republicans made it abundantly clear that the most noxious members in Congress from their party had no intention of giving Obama's nominee a fair chance at being nominated. They threatened fillibuster. They said that they disagreed with Obama's idea that a judge should have "empathy". Yeah, right, a judge nominated by Obama should be as uncaring and oblivious to the poor and struggling middle class as they are!!!! & to hear them describing Judge Sotomeyer, you would think that she was some pot-smoking, flag burning Communist. Will they ever learn that their shrill demagogery doesn't always work? It didn't work during the exhilirating election of 2008, and it won't work to derail Sotomeyer's confirmation process!
3. I don't think that the loudest-mouthed Republicans like Bill O'Reily or Rush Limbaugh are so much conservative or even reactionary as they are nihilists. Nihilism is the belief that social organization (like government) is so bad that destruction is desirable. That's why we hear Rush Limbaugh repeatedly and stridently saying he "wants Obama to FAIL". A notion that even an egoist like Newt Gingrich thinks is nonsense. Reagan, and others tried to convince us that government is the problem. That poor should be treated like the rich when in fact that's ridiculous when poor don't have the resources (especially educationwise) that the rich have. This view that if hard times befall you that "you are on your own, and if you suffer, tough shit" is a view that was discredited back in the 1930s during the Great Depression. History, of course, has never been the Republicans strong suit b/c they are constantly trying to rewrite it & distort what actually happened.
4. I find it encouraging that places where you don't see pictures of the president or displays of patriotism are now doing this. Here's an example. Every now and then I will take my father-in-law to dialysis. This clinic has a mix of nationalities that work there and you see pictures of the president where before January of this year or even November of last year, you would not have seen them. The thing that's encouraging is that some of these people have changed their thinking. It's not that President Obama is the president; he's considered by these people as our president. Let's hope the trend continues!