"Something just ain't right about that Boy"

This post is inspired in part by Nerak's cute little post Walking with Lonnie and Karen about an afternoon walk with her sweetie. Ok,Ok. I stole her idea.
So she can sue me!
____________________

Uptown with Aunt Tilly.





It was such a beautiful morning, we decided before we would leave
for town to have coffee outside. This is Aunt Tilly's patio garden.
Her green thumb never ceases to amaze me.........

Read more...

On September 1, 2008 I originally put up this post of thoughts I had written down while on the road. Since that posting, it consistently shows up on my HitsLink snapshots page at least twice a day as a destination of Google searches . If you Google "Rules for Rock and Rollers" it shows up as one of first search results, and if you search Google images with any combination of "naked", "guitar" or "amplifier' with "redhead" you get the picture embedded in this post as one of the first few image search results there also. And Needless to say, my musician friends who happen by these pages from time to time have sent me some very interesting addition to this list, but only the fear of being banned from Opera prevents me from adding them. So for those who didn't know me back then or didn't see the post, here is an oldie for you. Enjoy!

______________________________

Rules for Rock & Rollers
Over the years I have silently learned my lessons as well as observed my fellow musicians as I banged away from my little perch and taken mental notes of what I've seen and heard.
So now I share some of what I've learned from my experiences with all you inspiring future Rock Legends.
(Drummers pay special attention!)

Read more...

‘Amelia'

There are certain mysteries that place a stronghold on the world’s imagination. The existence (or lack thereof) of the Bermuda Triangle, Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, WTF is tipping over my garbage cans every night and UFOs are primary among these questions. And then there is a different sort of mystery, one in which we know someone really existed and then suddenly, simply disappeared without a trace.

The famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart was one of those people. The first woman to fly across an ocean who went on to attempt being the first woman to fly all the way around the world, when her plane encountered a series of problems and likely – but not definitively – crashed, with her never to be found again.

This film covers the decade between the time she captured the world’s attention for the first female transatlantic flight in 1928 until her attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 1938. Two-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank tries to bring Earhart and her impressive accomplishments to life, but is hamstrung by the fact that the act of flying a plane long-distance – even if one is setting records – has a limited visual excitement.

Combined with a cliched score by Gabriel Yared that veers wildly in tone from epic to tinkling-piano tragedy (sorry, but I do hear the music in a more critical sense then most) and a script that has surprisingly limited narrative drive and dialogue that often sounds like it’s coming out of a “Saturday Night Live” sketch in which people talk in clipped, snappy tones.

And another problem for me, and the person who viewed the film with me was that Swank’s Earhart never undergoes a major dramatic arc or change in her life; she’s tough as nails from start to finish, with only occasional glimpses of vulnerability. The consistent tough gal thing just doesn't fly (pun intended)and leaves you wishing for a more human character. That combined with the fact that everyone knows she disappears in the end, there’s really nothing to hold an audience’s attention span.

I was especially disappointed because I went to see this film only because it was directed by Mira Nair who did a wonderful job with the film “The Namesake” (Indian-American college student is torn between establishing his own unique American identity and honoring the heritage of his immigrant parents.) A very good film I recommend if you have never seen it.

After spending most of the previous 60 hours in a darkened recording studio, I really wanted to be visually entertained........didn't happen! "Amelia" crashes and burns in a sea of indifference.

I give it 2 of 5 stars.

Oh...BTW, Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor are in it too......

He is survived by Martha, his loving wife
to whom he left everything.
They were very happily married for over 55 years

Read more...

Amazing New Images from the
Recharged and Refurbished Hubble Telescope.

Read more...

A bathtub, a wolfhound and a pink rifle with banana clip.
What's a family portrait without them, huh?

Read more...

While in Brussels, my manager Sharon.......or as I affectionately call her " 12 percent " , dragged me to a performance of "Phantom of the Opera". Now look at that face (see picture).....would you argue with her???
After recently indulging in hard driving music, this was not necessarily my idea of fun. But I dressed up and off we went. And believe me, when I saw the dress she had on (see picture again) I said to myself "this is going to be worth it just to make fun of her dress for the rest of the night! Anybody missing your bedroom curtains? Needless to say I stayed in hot water all night, but with a smile on my face. But to tell you the truth, I really did enjoy the play. It was a bit soothing for this animal after all the hustle and bustle of the previous 2 weeks. The music was incredible and some notes very familiar to my ears, and we all know nothing beats a live performance.

The hardest part was sitting there knowing there is only one real Phantom!

Sharon found this summary of the play on-line and sent it to me today. The author is unknown and obviously a wiseass. I thought it was a hoot when I read it. It's not exactly as I remember, but close!

From the look of my inbox, you guys were curious as to where I ran off to. Well, I can say with all honesty I have been having a real blast! Problem was I decided to travel lite and wound up forgetting the Blackberry, so I was totally out of pocket and out of touch.

But, the warm up swing through the midwest went fast and smooth. Two nights in New York City, two nights in Cincinnati and three nights in Memphis, and now back home to repack and get ready to take flight across the pond for awhile.

Here's a few of the shots from NYC that were waiting for me when I got home, forwarded to me by my angel Janet.








So in a few days we're off to Italy and Greece for two weeks to bleed a few European eardrums, so I leave you with milk and cookies for those who choose to hang around while I'm gone.
( I may just forget and leave the wine cabinet open )....and PLEASE FEED THE KITTIES!
.........................

Please Explain This Picture to Me!

Read more...

Many years ago a friend and I walked into a small dusty bookstore in Norwich England and thus began a interest of mine that never ceases to amuse me. The walls of the little shop were lined with wonderful rare tomes in almost any European language you would want. But after a while it was the book titles that drew my interest.

As we all know, word meanings and language have changed over the years, and our public innocents have faded, leaving us to see some things from the past in total different light, and sometime in unintended humor.

In the 25 years since, as I travel, I always try to make time to swing by an out of the way used or rare bookstore to see if can spot a title or two to jot down and add to my growing “Strange Book Title” collection. These are all real books, some I couldn't resist buying myself, and many can still be found here Alibris .

Below is a representative cross section of my collection, and If you like, I’ll post more latter. Enjoy and have a laugh on me........and I apologize in advance!

Read more...

Earlier this week I had to go to Kansas City to do a little work ( well at least that's what we call it ) so I decided since the weather was going to be nice for awhile to make a trip out of it and just cruise up on my little scooter I affectionately call Bertha.
She was a gift and I don't get to ride her much as I'd like, so with her new makeup (she was originally black and gold) a chain replacement and new carbs, off we went.

Read more...

From correspondents in Auckland, New Zealand
AAP
May 11, 2009 02:25pm
News.com.au

CAT'S pee and sweaty passionfruit are hardly flavours to make your mouth water but it seems Kiwis can't get enough of them.
These are the core aromas of New Zealand's world-leading sauvignon blanc, according to a six-year study by a team of lucky wine scientists.

Read more...

Cops Gone Wild!

Read more...

Paramedic tries to buy wine wearing only his thong after supermarket staff refused to serve him in uniform.

Read more...

8:15pm......
The house lights come down and with the help of the stagehands flashlight I settle into place.

Read more...

Lidia G.
Feb. 14, 1962 -- Nov. 10, 2003
I couldn't let another year go by without expressing things I hold deep inside.

It’s been five long years since you were both taken from me, and it’s been my work and loyal friendships that have gotten me to the place now that allows me to write these words without pain. So many times have I started, but decided to wait. And knowing your Loving soul, I know you would not object to me doing so publicly.

You were truly a unique woman, never afraid to set yourself aside for the greater good.
You gave Love as easily as you were to Love.

I miss you so.

You knew the world in which I chose to make my living and the lifestyle that surrounded it, yet you trusted me implicitly. You gave me courage when I felt like not going on. And even though both our careers took us far away from each other at times, often to the opposite ends of the earth, you always managed to get away when you could, there when I needed you the most.
Like your father, you were always an encourager to me. I felt his death as much as my own fathers. He raised you well.

Your late morning phone calls from some far away corner of the world, just to see how that night’s sessions went helped me to get through the rough times without you. Just hearing your voice.

And yes, I do know something of the nights you cried yourself to sleep at the thought of the human misery and depravity you sometime witnessed as you traveled in your work, the feeling of helplessness to do anything about it. I could sometime hear it in your voice as you would say “I'm OK, stay focused, I just miss you.”

And how my heart danced the times I looked up after a long and difficult night in the studio to find you that you had flown in, and see you standing behind the engineer listening to the playback and moving in your own way to the beat, wearing your grin of approval. The guys always said you seemed to know when it was right.

I can still see the look of pride on your face, the kind of pride that resides only in true Love , the night the call came of news that Wild-Eyed had broke the top 20 album chart. That look made me realize the long hours and the grueling 14 months on the road was all worth it to you. Your eyes said it all, and you never looked more beautiful to me.
It was that night that I realized I could not, nor would have been who I was at the moment if it had not been for you.

And I still remember the taste from your cheek the tears of joy the night Julia was born. How you took my hand and said you would give up everything you had worked toward to be a mother to her like your own. And you were. You taught her your gentle Loving ways, and I could see in her all that I Loved in you. She would have grown to be the woman you were.

When in Europe I still sometime go to our special meeting places, and after all the one-nighters we spent in Paris, choosing to wait till we could enjoy it, I finally did see the city by day. I wish now we had not waited. I made a special trip to Chartres alone, because I knew I’d feel close to you there.

And I finally finished the house last year, just as you laid it out with only the necessary changes, and now regularly filled with our friends. The walls are lined with your best work, loving framed by Dee Dee. Your Geographic Covers hang proudly on each side of the fireplace. She cried the entire day she worked to hang them for me.
A Sister's Love is very deep.
And I plan to duplicate the garden from the old house best I can, where Julia played and you loved to spent summer afternoons .

Some people go through life accepting love as it comes, never knowing what it really is.
You taught me what love is by your words and actions. It’s not to be learn from a book.
You taught me to treasure the people and things that come to me, for they may be gone tomorrow.

I cannot put into words the joy and happiness you brought to my life.
With your Love, admiration and encouragement you helped make me the man I am now;I only hope you would still be proud.

Your strength, your courage to do the right thing, your patients and understanding allowed no doubt in me of your Love.

I adored you for all you gave me and admire you for being the woman you grew to be.

The days are now much longer without you both.
And there are no words to describe how much my heart misses you now.


G.