I've been playing guitar since I was 10 years old. I got started taking lessons from one of the guys in our Catholic church's folk group. I went on to be in that folk group for many years, until it was no longer 'cool' to be in a folk group.
I didn't play a lot during high school, I was a swim jock and played a lot of sports and of course, discovered girls(!).
I took it back up again senior year again and it's been a part of my life ever since. I played in a punk/new wave band in the late seventies/early eighties and had a bit of success. I think I've played every shit bar in Buffalo, NY anyhow. Played NYC, Toronto, Rochester, made a 'demo' tape, shopped it around. But seeing as how I'm a programmer, you can see that was pretty much as far as I got.
I played in several other bands since and played for many years in a worship band at church. This was a pretty rockin' version drums, guitars etc and was a lot of fun.
I developed an auto immune disorder that has rendered my hands and legs numb, and it makes it a lot harder to play now. I don't play much anymore.
We have a work thing (an awards banquet type deal) that is at the Convention Center and a guy I work with has a cover band that is playing the gig. So I'm going to sit in on a couple tunes tonight.
Last night was rehearsal, and once I got the rust off, I had a really good time. It was nice to play again with a full-on band. My hands are still a problem but I can push through on muscle memory ok...
So I'm back!! Weird how life works!
m.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
an original voice
Patti and I watched quite a bit of Neil Young's concert film 'Neil Young:Heart of Gold' last night.
That guy is the real deal. In the seventies, I was not a fan. I just couldn't get by the vocal style in general, and the general noisiness of the electric stuff. I never got into any of the folky artists that came out of the seventies. I was never a Dylan or Joni Mitchell fan. Patti, however, was a HUGE fan right from the start.
I remember seeing him on that MTV Music Award show with Pearl Jam and he was just sooo cool. He definitely has the cool vibe going. Over the last few years we've picked up a large chunk of his catalog and I really have become a fan.
He does a bunch of stuff from the old days in the film, some of it with just him, a harmonica and a guitar. And he sounds as good as the day he recorded the originals 30 some years ago. He's 63 years old now and is still writing and recording.
So many of the 60's and 70's artists are either faded into obscurity or just do reunion tours. They don't record and haven't stayed viable. I give the Stones props for at least recording new music and then touring. The Who, who I think peaked with Quadrophenia, haven't done anything in years and still roll out and tour.
Love him or hate him, Neil Young is still the artist Neil Young, and that's a rare thing after 40 years of the music biz....
m.
That guy is the real deal. In the seventies, I was not a fan. I just couldn't get by the vocal style in general, and the general noisiness of the electric stuff. I never got into any of the folky artists that came out of the seventies. I was never a Dylan or Joni Mitchell fan. Patti, however, was a HUGE fan right from the start.
I remember seeing him on that MTV Music Award show with Pearl Jam and he was just sooo cool. He definitely has the cool vibe going. Over the last few years we've picked up a large chunk of his catalog and I really have become a fan.
He does a bunch of stuff from the old days in the film, some of it with just him, a harmonica and a guitar. And he sounds as good as the day he recorded the originals 30 some years ago. He's 63 years old now and is still writing and recording.
So many of the 60's and 70's artists are either faded into obscurity or just do reunion tours. They don't record and haven't stayed viable. I give the Stones props for at least recording new music and then touring. The Who, who I think peaked with Quadrophenia, haven't done anything in years and still roll out and tour.
Love him or hate him, Neil Young is still the artist Neil Young, and that's a rare thing after 40 years of the music biz....
m.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
spring is in the air
And young men's thought turn to...
Yeah, springtime in Buffalo. It's a calendar thing, not a reality thing. Spring here is a bit of a tease. We'll get a good day here and again, maybe reach into the 40's but it's pretty much a couple weeks more of winter. We still have dirty piles of snow everywhere, the streets are fine and all, but there is still plenty of snow all over.
But you really can't tell if you're out in the world.
Everyone is getting a bit antsy. You'll see people out in shorts when it's 45. Because everyone WANTS it to be spring so bad. I saw one of my neighbors shoveling in a pair of shorts this weekend. Yes, it was 48, but I wouldn't let my bald head out there without a hat, let alone my legs.
Spring just makes people goofy. Maybe it's one of those hormonal things, I don't know. But I feel it. Just a vague sense of anticipation (?), mixed with a bit of perked libido, and a taste for grilled food. Does that make sense? I get a bit weird around September too, I think that's a hold over from going to school. And when you're a parent, you deal with the whole 'back to school' thing for a good chunk of your adult life. There is that sense of change like something new is coming.
so happy vernalequinoxanticipitorysexburger to all of you out there!
m.
Yeah, springtime in Buffalo. It's a calendar thing, not a reality thing. Spring here is a bit of a tease. We'll get a good day here and again, maybe reach into the 40's but it's pretty much a couple weeks more of winter. We still have dirty piles of snow everywhere, the streets are fine and all, but there is still plenty of snow all over.
But you really can't tell if you're out in the world.
Everyone is getting a bit antsy. You'll see people out in shorts when it's 45. Because everyone WANTS it to be spring so bad. I saw one of my neighbors shoveling in a pair of shorts this weekend. Yes, it was 48, but I wouldn't let my bald head out there without a hat, let alone my legs.
Spring just makes people goofy. Maybe it's one of those hormonal things, I don't know. But I feel it. Just a vague sense of anticipation (?), mixed with a bit of perked libido, and a taste for grilled food. Does that make sense? I get a bit weird around September too, I think that's a hold over from going to school. And when you're a parent, you deal with the whole 'back to school' thing for a good chunk of your adult life. There is that sense of change like something new is coming.
so happy vernalequinoxanticipitorysexburger to all of you out there!
m.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
oh, how the mighty have fallen...
Man, Spitzer is in a world of trouble.
I just don't understand this guy. I mean, this guy was an arrogant prick as Attorney General for New York State. And I think that is an excellent job for an arrogant prick. Certainly not for the faint of heart. Now their saying his dalliances go back as much as 8 years!!! (well into his term for AG). This guy was merciless in his prosecutions on Wall Street, the Native American community HATES this guy, and that whole immigration thing with the licenses he tried to pull off was a huge mistake. They are gonna crucify this guy, if he's looking for help, he won't get it.
How can an intelligent man, who knows the law better than 90% of the population, be so stupid?
More proof that the little head often thinks for the big head.
The other thing that just floors me is the up to $5500/hr thing. I have an excellent imagination and probably like sex more than the average guy. I cannot think of anything that I could ask for that would warrant (pun!) such a price. Ok, the girls are pros, and probably smoking hot (as far as that goes). I can rationalize a premium for that, but 5,500?? That's a used car, not a blowjob! Even if I go in a freaky direction (not for me, but I'm not judging) just exactly what crazy shit do you have to be into for that?
I feel really bad for his wife and daughters. By the end of the week they'll probably be moving out of the governor's mansion, her husband's political career over. And for what? Sex? Geez, get an internet connection for crying out loud...
And ya know, if I could come up with some crazy scenario that I HAD to have, I'd ask my wife. Yeah, she could say no, but as long as it wasn't illegal, it probably wouldn't be a problem, cuz when you're married you do stuff for one another, even if YOU don't understand their need for it. I know that, and I didn't go to Harvard...
m.
I just don't understand this guy. I mean, this guy was an arrogant prick as Attorney General for New York State. And I think that is an excellent job for an arrogant prick. Certainly not for the faint of heart. Now their saying his dalliances go back as much as 8 years!!! (well into his term for AG). This guy was merciless in his prosecutions on Wall Street, the Native American community HATES this guy, and that whole immigration thing with the licenses he tried to pull off was a huge mistake. They are gonna crucify this guy, if he's looking for help, he won't get it.
How can an intelligent man, who knows the law better than 90% of the population, be so stupid?
More proof that the little head often thinks for the big head.
The other thing that just floors me is the up to $5500/hr thing. I have an excellent imagination and probably like sex more than the average guy. I cannot think of anything that I could ask for that would warrant (pun!) such a price. Ok, the girls are pros, and probably smoking hot (as far as that goes). I can rationalize a premium for that, but 5,500?? That's a used car, not a blowjob! Even if I go in a freaky direction (not for me, but I'm not judging) just exactly what crazy shit do you have to be into for that?
I feel really bad for his wife and daughters. By the end of the week they'll probably be moving out of the governor's mansion, her husband's political career over. And for what? Sex? Geez, get an internet connection for crying out loud...
And ya know, if I could come up with some crazy scenario that I HAD to have, I'd ask my wife. Yeah, she could say no, but as long as it wasn't illegal, it probably wouldn't be a problem, cuz when you're married you do stuff for one another, even if YOU don't understand their need for it. I know that, and I didn't go to Harvard...
m.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
What it's worth
Patti and I watch a lot of home improvement/real estate type shows on HGTV and the like. We've always been do it yourself'ers when it came to the house. When we were first together, it was out of necessity, now we do it to put our stamp on things. Which is really fun!
Recently we've watched that 'What's my house worth' a bunch. The premise of the show, for those of you that haven't seen it, is to let people know if they've gone too far on their on their improvements for their neighborhoods. It's really entertaining to see what people have done and (geez) the money they spend.
I live in Buffalo, and the housing market here has always been much way below the average, so it's kinda hard to relate to 1400 square ft. houses going for 700k!
Firstly, there is an extremely annoying thing at the end of each review of the homes by an 'expert' where they say 'your house is worth'.... (pregnant pause - lots of stupid looking at each other replete with expressions) and then they give the number, and the people are happy/unhappy. Every time they do that pause I cringe...
The last couple of shows we saw the people wanted to see if the improvements have garnered enough money for them to 'upgrade' or do more improvements. So they'll say 'well, we're hoping for 1.5 mil, so we can remodel the basement (or buy a bigger home).
What is interesting to me is that the people NEVER will have any equity, and it doesn't seem to bother them in the least. So if your house is assessed for 30k more than you paid it's like someone gave them 30k cash. I just can't rationalize that. I just couldn't do it. I want to pay my house off, not perpetually run the mortgage to the legal limit (or more).
Does this make sense to anyone else? It sure doesn't to me. I couldn't sleep at night if I did that...
m.
Recently we've watched that 'What's my house worth' a bunch. The premise of the show, for those of you that haven't seen it, is to let people know if they've gone too far on their on their improvements for their neighborhoods. It's really entertaining to see what people have done and (geez) the money they spend.
I live in Buffalo, and the housing market here has always been much way below the average, so it's kinda hard to relate to 1400 square ft. houses going for 700k!
Firstly, there is an extremely annoying thing at the end of each review of the homes by an 'expert' where they say 'your house is worth'.... (pregnant pause - lots of stupid looking at each other replete with expressions) and then they give the number, and the people are happy/unhappy. Every time they do that pause I cringe...
The last couple of shows we saw the people wanted to see if the improvements have garnered enough money for them to 'upgrade' or do more improvements. So they'll say 'well, we're hoping for 1.5 mil, so we can remodel the basement (or buy a bigger home).
What is interesting to me is that the people NEVER will have any equity, and it doesn't seem to bother them in the least. So if your house is assessed for 30k more than you paid it's like someone gave them 30k cash. I just can't rationalize that. I just couldn't do it. I want to pay my house off, not perpetually run the mortgage to the legal limit (or more).
Does this make sense to anyone else? It sure doesn't to me. I couldn't sleep at night if I did that...
m.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
random thoughts
It was nearly 60 degrees here (!) yesterday. All the dirty snow melted away!!! Excellent!!!
It's 30 now and an ice storm is coming! er, ok, I guess bring it on!
As some of you know Patti and I are going through our dvd collection in alphabetical order. So this weekend was the Matrix movies. Ok, the first movie is really very good. Holds up very well and the story has a nice arc (beg, mid, end) Great special effects and and interesting, engaging story.
The next two movies. Just shit. They got caught up in their own bullshit for those two. So many conversations - 'I know you are, but what am I?" 'you know the answers, but need the questions'. Obtuse, contradictory dialogue doesn't make you deep. It's just stupid. What a ridiculous mess. And they made metric assloads of money on those.....
Finally, Patti and I are not sick!!! We both have a bit of a lingering cough, but it's nice to be in the land of the living again. February was a blur, and not in a good way.
I need some sunshine. I want to open up the windows in the house. It's been so bleak and so gray I really would love to see a bit of spring. But that's the way spring comes to Buffalo, in fits and starts. Having one good day, made it worse.....
We're talking about replacing an area of garden in the back with grass and putting up a swing set for the grandkids. We have a nice fenced yard, it would be great to just let them go outside and play.... that is if it EVER WARMS UP!!!! We're looking at those tubular metal (cheap) ones, any opinions about those wooden ones? Worth the money? We don't want a monstrosity, still has to be kinda small....
Kinda nice to feel better. I guess I didn't realize how run down I'd become....
Take care out there,
m.
It's 30 now and an ice storm is coming! er, ok, I guess bring it on!
As some of you know Patti and I are going through our dvd collection in alphabetical order. So this weekend was the Matrix movies. Ok, the first movie is really very good. Holds up very well and the story has a nice arc (beg, mid, end) Great special effects and and interesting, engaging story.
The next two movies. Just shit. They got caught up in their own bullshit for those two. So many conversations - 'I know you are, but what am I?" 'you know the answers, but need the questions'. Obtuse, contradictory dialogue doesn't make you deep. It's just stupid. What a ridiculous mess. And they made metric assloads of money on those.....
Finally, Patti and I are not sick!!! We both have a bit of a lingering cough, but it's nice to be in the land of the living again. February was a blur, and not in a good way.
I need some sunshine. I want to open up the windows in the house. It's been so bleak and so gray I really would love to see a bit of spring. But that's the way spring comes to Buffalo, in fits and starts. Having one good day, made it worse.....
We're talking about replacing an area of garden in the back with grass and putting up a swing set for the grandkids. We have a nice fenced yard, it would be great to just let them go outside and play.... that is if it EVER WARMS UP!!!! We're looking at those tubular metal (cheap) ones, any opinions about those wooden ones? Worth the money? We don't want a monstrosity, still has to be kinda small....
Kinda nice to feel better. I guess I didn't realize how run down I'd become....
Take care out there,
m.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
