( 12:39 AM )
Ramble On
Man - I've really been meaning to write a couple of times a week, but it just ain't happening. One part writer's block (I haven't been able to write anything for 2Walls in quite a while), and one part busy as hell as I've been filling in for my honeymooning boss at work and don't want to read or write anything more than I already have to.
But let's try to cover a little ground here. First off - Spitball rehearsed tonight and it started slow but picked up. We've been working on cover songs because we're too stupid to remember or relearn our old material. So we played through what could become very good versions of Smokey Robinson's "Tears of a Clown" (which may be my all time favorite song), and the Doors "LA Woman" (which is my fav Doors song - which isn't saying much cause I'm not a big fan. No bass player? - C'mon!).
After practice, our singer/guitar player and I started talking politics and argued about the war in Iraq. He's a righty - I guess. But the interesting thing was we agreed on several points, so I guess there's hope for the world if we stop worrying about classifications and start worrying about how to make hot rock'n'roll.
Reagan came up too, and I'll make my last simple point about the highly overrated dead prez. Reagan started his 1980 campaign in Philadelphia, MS where 3 civil rights workers were murdered in the '60s. Since Reagan was from IL, and was governor of CA, he easily could have chosen one of those states to make his presidential announcement. But instead he chose to send a not-so-subtle message to Southerners about "states' rights." So if you can't understand my deep dislike of the man, it's because I can't understand his signaled dislike of people of color like myself.
I spent the weekend in Atlantic Highlands, NJ which has a spectacular view of NYC. It's across from Sandy Hook which is basically the top of the Jersey Shore. Never been a fan of Jersey, but sometimes you gotta admit the extra space, serenity, stars, and stupendous view are good reasons to get outta Manhattan.
And while I was down there, I read an article in the Sunday NY Times (Jersey edition) that basically blasted Springsteen for being rich, but pretending that he was still a poor everyman. I'd link to it, but the premise was so stupid (what - Bruce can't be a poor boy made good who still writes about the poor boys who hope to make good?) that I won't bother.
Reading the Sunday Times also made me want to start to analyze it. But then I'd have to spend the ridiculous amount of money that the Sunday Times cost, and I'm just too cheap and anti-NYT to do that. However, I'm hoping to spend a week linking to their correction pages to show how awful their reporting can be. I know it's not exactly an original idea, but here's a sample from yesterday's NY Times. I'd call it mostly minor stuff, but in my college journalism program, we were automatically flunked for the project if you spelled a person's name wrong. And I've upset my editor to no end by mispelling (just kidding - misspelling) names in press releases. So it's not really minor. Plus - how can you screw up the purpose of a protest or how much money the Democrats raised for their conventions. Mistakes happen and no newspaper (or magazine) is perfect. But methinks this is pretty simple stuff and it certainly casts doubt upon their reporting.
Alright - that's enough rambling for now. Since Spitball keeps trying to find a Zeppelin song to cover, I'll just "Ramble On" outta here....
Later
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( 7:11 PM )
What Would I Do Without You
So Ray Charles and Ronald Reagan both died in the same week. Somehow I'm not surprised that the actor who played The Gipper in movies and in the presidency found a way to take the spotlight from the genius that really deserved it.
Ray Charles is the Prince of his generation. He expertly and easily explored rhythm and blues, country, jazz, gospel, pop and is credited with creating soul music. His handicap did not hinder his music as much as lead him to see music in a completely different way.
And though I'm still exploring Ray Charles Robinson's music, my favorite period spans 1953 to 1959 when he recorded such gems as "It Should've Been Me," "I've Got A Woman," "Hallelujah I Love Her So," "Lonely Avenue," "What'd I Say" and "Just For A Thrill." They're all essentially cuddling or dancing songs, sung with the conviction of a guy who knew how to have fun or had cried more than a few times in his beer.
His life will be well cataloged - warts and all - all around the Internet (such as in this AP story). But what surprises me is how few of the warts of Ronald Reagan's life are being addressed. If you are under 20, you're probably under the impression that Ronnie Raygun was a knight in shining armor. But he wasn't. The other side of Reagan's presidency can be found all around the Internet as well (such as at the terrific Nation magazine website!), so there's no need for me to launch into a diatribe here. And though my teenage fears of having to move to Canada to avoid Reagan's nuclear war never came true, I'm still surprised so many people remember him so differently than I do.
Oh well. I'm not gonna "Drown In My Own Tears" about it. I'm just gonna raise a toast to Brother Ray who was the most in my book. RIP my man, rest in peace.
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( 1:28 AM )
Shiver & Shake
Wow. I just got goosebumps. I just saw Mario Cuomo tell Jon Stewart that what Kerry needs to tell the American people is that - 'you don't know me, but I've benefited from the American dream and I believe in it deeply. I love this country - so much so that I volunteered to fight for it. I won medals for bravely, but the fact is I committed myself to kill for my country, so I know what that is like. So I'm as angry as you are that I supported this war on misleading premises. And I promise that I will never lead the country to war, etc. etc. (wish I could remember exactly what he said).
But it was amazing to watch Mario Cuomo riff like that. It was so good that it's obviously something he's said before. He delievered it with ease and passion. Which almost makes me mad at him because I don't quite understand why he never ran for president or accepted a judicial position.
He's one of the few politicians that I believed in. And it was probably because he seemed to speak so honestly. Meaning it most likely came from the heart. But I'm an optimist. I don't know why, but I'm a born optimist and I believe there are politicians who try to speak truthfully to people. So it was nice to see Mario go.
Save us Mr. Cuomo. Go get the nomination at the convention....
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( 7:13 PM )
Mama's Boy
So I hung out with my cousin Margaret this weekend to get a little family time in. It was good because I reconnected with her 18 year old daughter Allison who pretty much hasn't had time for me over the past 8 years, and her sister Erin who's learning how to play guitar and I tried to teach her a couple of Beatles songs.
But this was the 10-year-old boy Andrew's weekend. I've slowly been losing my status as one of Andrew's favorite relatives because he's getting older and developing a social life of his own. So no more big hugs when I come - just a hi. But we hit it off again this weekend because he's playing little league and his team is doing well (finished in 3rd place and in the playoffs next week). Anyway, what's notable about that to me is that he's always been something of a mama's boy. Which is not a bad thing - I pretty much was too, but wasn't in the grips of it so much that I didn't hesitate to move 2000 miles away when the opportunity came.
So it was funny to watch Andrew hanging out with his dad more than his mom this weekend. Father and son are "bonding" big time during batting practice, pitching practice, game instruction and during general tales of little league regalia.
So I learned a valuable lesson (beyond the fact that no human beings should have to put 3 kids through private schools and college at the same time). And that was the Field of Dreams will always provide plenty of future fodder for the couch head shrinks. Oh yeah.....
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