Happy Birthday Tina!

I would have to say the second half of my life has been a very happy one. Thanks to Tina.

Byron and myself had a gig at a Catholic Church Group dance. The leader, Marty, had a limited budget and we took the job. We used a combination of his and my stereo systems, Byron had built a full set of lights and plug in modules that allowed us some limited FX abilities. There was strobe lights as well. We could have brought a fog machine, if we had thought longer.

It was a lot of younger kids. We requested people bring in records (much easier to get an idea of what they listen too). And I went through creating play lists and checking albums for play ability. Byron pretty much ran everything else. I recall him having a good time. I had a better time when a couple of girls closer to my age (by estimation) arrived.

There was one in a cute short black dress and another in some 60's\gypsy garb. I should mention this was a Halloween dance.

I found out later that Tina (the black dress) had been corralled into the dance by her neighbor Rick. She and her sister (gypsy) were a bit taken a back by the general youth of the attendee's. Neither of them would give up an opportunity to dance, which was good news for me.

At this point in my life I my knee was recovering from a motorcycle wreck. I owed lots of $$$ to the ER and I had a job with two bosses who would constantly countermand the other. I had given up on Collage, due to my own unfocused attempt at sublime laziness.

Funny to think that I almost turned down the job out of too much Hassle. Also, I was not sure Byron would be available to help. Interesting how the universe lined itself up.

So I was impressed with her musical tastes and surprised that she had a record that was not released in the USA. We danced and I recall it being a good, good night. At one point she vanished and I was a bit sad, my mind trying to figure out how to get back in touch. She had gone out to get a soda, and returned later.

I ended up asking her to join me skating that Sunday.

I love you very much Tina. Happy Birthday and Thank you.

Connors Birthday Party at School.

Keep in mind that at 12 years of age certain social attitudes can prevail. Unless your Connor.

We got the following e-mail from his teacher:

Hello! We just had a little party for Connor. He wanted to dance for his party so we did! We had the party from 9:25 to 10:05 so that our PE and literacy helpers/peers could be here also! They all had a blast! I think it went well. Michael, our literacy peer, taught us how to do the moonwalk, the worm, and breakdancing! Connor loved the "spinning" that I did with him. I was taking his hands and sort of showing him how to swing dance and he turned in into a spin! It was fun but boy was I dizzy!

Connor never brought up dancing for his birthday at home. However, for the last week, in anticipation of his birthday, he has broached the subject at school with regularity. Most classes have parties in the afternoon. Connor, no doubt, pushed this agenda and God Bless his teacher for understanding and getting the helpers/peers involved.

Helpers/Peers are your typical everyday Jr. High students who have a period where they assist the special needs room. The fact that they enjoyed and participated above and beyond really speaks to the infectious nature Connor wields. (Just come to a family function where we pray before meals and Connor has us do a wave, to which my family lovingly complies)

BNL the Elf's Lament

Elf's Lament - Barenaked Ladie...

The Kinks for Christmas time!

Father Christmas - The Kinks

Music from on Highschool.

Leave it to the ulta-capable Krista (Schlesinger) Kausen, who somehow, someway tracked down Mr. B. Mister Edward Brahams has the distinction of being a molding influence on my life. As a music teacher at Costa Mesa High School he earned respect and, to me, was an example of what a teacher can be. Trust me that bar is set very high.

Krista sent me a message asking if his location was near mine, geographically. Sure enough he was living in the next town north, or 15 miles as the bike rides. It turns out he and his wife had fifth wheeled it up to a town called Cottage Grove and started looking for roots to set. He got a teaching position in Drain Oregon and eventually retired. Until recently he has been doing substitute work.

After my wife found his phone number I gave a call to his wife. Who recalled who I was, not that I am particularly memorable or anything. Well, Steve Vircsik and I did camp on his front lawn once, tent and all. The return phone call was very nostalgic as those synapses that recognized his voice re-activated. Along with have a dozen memory centers. We made tentative plans to meet.

My history with Mr. B is an nine year span. From seeing my sisters concerts, and finally seeing Steves last pops concert in 1980. My sister lives a good 90 miles to the south and she was eager to re-acquaint as well.

Some coordination of effort took us forward to today. A brisk October afternoon at a local Sizzler (his choice). You might recall a time when you were waiting to meet someone and that anxious feeling, eyes darting every which way trying to gather in that first glance. That was me, in the parking lot.

Through the wooden door and lo and behold. A very familiar face and beard! You can tell when someone recognizes you. Thank goodness I lost weight! It was a handshake with that toothy grin with an eye twinkle that hints of mischief.

The normal platitudes were given, we ordered and sat. Thirty years of memories started flowing and it was all I could do to pick and choose what to talk about. Myrna has kept in close contact with several Mesa Teachers, Art Viterelli(sp) and Don Utter to name a few. I went over several HS people who I am now face booking with, yes Dale Tracy was featured.

His recollection of the Mesa Years is filled with fun. He really enjoyed his students. He was very excited about Kathy Harbor's upcoming visitation. I had a wonderful feeling inside each time I got a laugh. Either recounting old stories, or new commentary. A few things that had nagging me came out in question. One of which was his impression of the 1979 pops concert. Todd Knipp, Steve Vircsik and myself had been the Masters of Ceremony. It was my first and last attempt at on stage comedy. My own dad had hated it. Mr. B had thought it was wonderful.

In retrospect what an amazing opportunity Mesa High provided. Heck, I think I knew it at the time!

Bus trips, Concert competitions, Knotts, Disneyland, Jester Harrison(rest in peace), the horrible treatment of anyone daring to substitute. It just goes on and on.

As the evening wore down we set up an invite for our Christmas Open house (anyone reading this is invited). He and his should be coming, which will be awesome. He proffered me a gift. A music CD recorded from our chior and madrigal days. Including a great outtake.

I had the tape but it had, alas, worn out. Now I have a CD and oh so many memories. The mind does swim.

My latest favorite pop song.

I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be a good night

That tonight’s gonna be a good night

That tonight’s gonna be a good good night (x3)

Tonight’s the night night

Let’s live it up

I got my money

Let’s spend it up

Go out and smash it

Like Oh My God

Jump off that sofa

Let’s get get OFF

I know that we’ll have a ball

If we get down

And go out

And just loose it all

I feel stressed out

I wanna let it go

Lets go way out spaced out

And loosing all control

Fill up my cup

Mozoltov

Look at her dancing

Just take it off

Lets paint the town

We’ll shut it down

Let’s burn the roof

And then we’ll do it again

Lets Do it (x3)

And live it up

I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be a good night

That tonight’s gonna be a good night

That tonight’s gonna be a good good night (x2)

Tonight’s the night

Let’s live it up

I got my money

Lets spend it up

Black Eyed Peas I Gotta Feeling lyrics found on http://www.directlyrics.com/black-eyed-peas-i-gotta-feeling-lyrics.html

Go out and smash it

Like Oh My God

Jump off that sofa

Lets get get OFF

Fill up my cup (Drink)

Mozolotov (Lahyme)

Look at her dancing (Move it Move it)

Just take it off

Lets paint the town

We’ll shut it down

Lets burn the roof

And then we’ll do it again

Lets do it (x3)

Let’s live it up

Here we come

Here we go

We gotta rock

Easy come

Easy go

Now we on top

Feel the shot

Body rock

Rock it don’t stop

Round and round

Up and down

Around the clock

Monday, Tuesday,

Wednesday, Thursday,

Friday, Saturday,

Saturday and Sunday

Get get get get get

With us you know what we say

Party everyday p-p-p-party

Party everyday

I gotta feeling that tonight gonna be a good night

That tonight's gonna be a good night

That tonight's gonna be a good good night

Radio Gaga

AM and FM Radio is having a difficult time. It could be they are obsolete.

Or possibly it is the business model that is broken? If I want to start up a radio station today, I need to get the okay to broadcast, get the equipment then the personnel. After a format is decided upon you would have to pay to play the music or some fee for broadcasting someones show. or you have local talent. Next you will need to sell advertising on your station to cover the capital, upkeep, fee's and salaries.

How much would that cost? No clue, but my best guess is considerable.

or

I could use my computer sign up with a web based radio company and pay $10.00 a month or so to be a DJ. Much less capital and expenditure. Probably low to zero return.

I am a radio fan. I love the history the genre. I am fascinated by the old shows and enjoy hearing new personalities.

Just seems to me that the given model for the business is difficult to sustain in the current market. What are the kids listening to? Ipods and Zunes. How do folks get local news? They don't, unless they have cable TV or something big enough locally comes to MSN or Yahoo.

If I want to hear music I have a dozen or so Internet stations I can tune into. If I am in my car, I will play an old fashion CD while the kids sit rocking out in their ear buds.

The more I think about it maybe this is one of those cases where something has to die in order to be reborn.

Entertainment

Inactive entertainment is: Watching television, sitting on the beach, sports (watching), movie.

Active entertainment: Board games, MMO's, Karaoke, sports (playing), reading, wii.

Oblique entertainment: Radio while driving, working, doing face book.

Each has a degree of passive to active that can be associated.  Likewise a certain degree of guild can be associated as well.  

How much entertainment do we need and of what type?  Even under the harshest living environment there is entertainment.  Spiritual hymns come to mind.  It is part of human nature to entertain and be entertained.   I have been witness to kids sitting around in a room full of high tech entertainment distractions and be bored with no inkling of how to change the situation.  I have also seen the same kids be amused for hours with a stick and flowing water.

Recently we re-assessed our passive entertainment options (dish network) and found a better deal.  It is still on the lower end, option wise.  I mean there are many many channels you can get, but only a handful that you care to watch.  Less if you pick something to watch.

Being a multi-generational kinda guy, my parents recall the first time they saw TV.  Further back they have spoken fondly of many radio shows of years gone by.  Prior to that, my Grandfather played a pretty mean fiddle and my aunts could out sing the Andrew Sisters on any Saturday night.

Entertainment is changing, and it is interesting watching the change as we become more connected and less connected at the same time.

Turning LoTR movie into the scariest film EVER!

Caramelldansen

Diana's flash video features Carmell Dansen. This, I understand, is the Pink girls that caught the attention of the web.

My current favorite Christmas song

Natasha Bedingfield (Another vid)

The concept of this song and video can make a guy burst into a cold sweat.

Natasha.Bedingfield.-.I.Wanna.Have.Your.Babies_
Uploaded by crazygirlka

Good Music video (they are rare)

Geeze, I am SOOOOO glad the 'being single' portion of my existance is long past.

Toby Keith - I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight
Uploaded by Toby-Keith

Online

Brad Paisley wrote this song about online personna's. It also has Jason Alexander, William Shatner, Estelle Harris, Maureen McCormick and if you look really quick, Patrick Warburton.

Cooler Online
Uploaded by twopugs