The same people post on Facebook day after day after day. Another group of same people reply to their posts day after day after day.
Other people, mostly ones that have lives, rarely post on Facebook. An entirely different group of people, that also have lives, rarely reply to those posts.
After a couple of years of seeing this in action day after day after day, I canceled my account.
I didn't like high school and the little daily popularity contests, and I didn't like Facebook and it's very similar day to day scene.
If you happen to read this and you happen to like Facebook, then knock yourself out.
It's just not for me.
I did enjoy finding some old friends, mostly those from my elementary school days and finding out what happened to them.
But, I found them and they are fine and it's time for me to move on.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Favorite songs
Like most everyone else, I really love music. This is a list of my all time favorite songs. I could add a few more and my list would change with my moods but these would always be in my list of top songs.
These are not in any particular order.
1. The Zombies; Tell Her No
Teenie Bopping screaming girls at concerts, British Invasion, Cool Brits with long hair from the days when I wanted long hair. The Zombies were an underrated band from the 60s but in reality maybe they were rated just about right because they had about 3 or 4 good songs and then dropped out.
Collin Bluestone was a suave lead singer much in fashion with many bands from his country and his time period. I could have picked any number of songs from this day and age and would have been all right with the choice but this one just means a little more to me.
2. Stevie Ray Vaughn- Mary Had a Little Lamb
Do I really need a reason to love this song? Stevie Ray Vaughn was a legend. The man could play the guitar with the best of them and his life tragically ended in a helicopter crash way too early. This song celebrates a man's life that was one of the best at what he did.
I think I liked all of Stevie Ray's songs and that's a rare thing for me.
3. Santana-Europa
Carlos Santana is another legend with the guitar. Not many better than this man, ever.
Europa is my favorite song of his, but you can throw in Samba Pa Ti because it's really similar
These songs take me back to a simpler and easier time in my life.
Santana could play with Britney Spears and I would instantly like the song, that's how good he is.
4. Creedence Clearwater Revival- Lodi
Everybody gets stuck somewhere sometimes. It's a matter of whether you stay stuck. Obviously, CCR didn't remain in Lodi, California for long all those many years ago. Truly one of the greatest bands ever.
Fogerty had one of the greatest rock voices of all time.
5. CCR- Long as I Can See the Light
Play this one at my funeral, not that I will be around to hear but the 5 people that are will enjoy this song and if you know me you will know my love for CCR.
I never really thought of Creedence as a Blues band when I was growing up, nor Led Zeppelin, but they both had a really great blues sound. This one exemplifies that blues sound.
6. CCR-Someday Never Comes
This is a really sad song made even more sad after I learned something of the history of CCR and of the sibling rivalry.
7. Fortunate Son
This may be my all time favorite CCR song and possibly my favorite all around. Vietnam song. If I was doing this list in order, Fortunate Son would probably be number one.
8. The Hollies- He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
This song is incredible. I know the song is about mankind and not about your own brother. But, to me it is about my own brother. Wish I could pick up my brother right now and carry him through his hardships. But, I can't.
If this song doesn't choke you up just a little bit, then you have a stone in the place of your heart.
9. Guns N Roses- Since I don't Have You
Cover song of a 1958 masterpiece by the Skyliners. I like Axyl Rose's and Guns N Roses version of this song the best. Hey, I like cover songs, what can I say.
Rose has an excellent heavy metal voice that really works well on this less than heavy metal song.
10. Muse- Can't Take My Eyes Off of You
Another outstanding cover song. This song was first done by Frankie Valli in 1967. The original was outstanding in itself. Something about this song brings a smile to my face. If you don't like Rock music all that much I would recommend the original version.
I like a lot of songs that start off slow and get a little to a lot faster.
11. Muse- Feeling Good
This one is a cover of a Nina Simone song. Muse is not a cover band, but they do at least a couple that I really like.
12. Led Zeppelin- Dyer Maker
I read that one of the members of the band detested this song and it's not like most of their others. But, I love it probably as much or more than any of their outstanding music.
There are several others that covered this one and I like most of them. Zeppelin has to be one of the best bands ever.
13. Stone Temple Pilots- Dancing Days
Led Zeppelin song. As far as I know the Stone Temple Pilot version is the only acoustical one out there and I really like it a lot. I love the original as well and it may be a toss up between the two. But, the Stone Temple Pilots did a slightly different version of this classic that caught my attention and I listen to it quite a bit.
14. The Ataris- Boys of Summer
The Eagles version was good, but I like this one better. Once again, going with the cover over the original.
It's just picked up the pace of the original and is a fun song to listen to.
15. Faith No More- I Started a Joke
This old BeeGees song has been done by a couple of people. Bob Dylan's boy, Jakob, did this but it sounded a lot like the original. Faith No More did it with a different twist and I like it.
16. Faith No More- Easy
Mike Patton is one of my favorite singers. Commodore remake, and I love the Commodores and Lionel Richie but really love this cover more.
17. Chris Rea- Fool if You Think It's Over
I don't know a lot about Chris Rea, but he's got a few good songs. I like this one the best.
18. Lemonheads- Mrs Robinson. Cover song of the immortal Simon and Garfunkel song from the equally immortal movie The Graduate. I doubt many have even heard of the Lemonheads. Bon Jovi covered this song as well and it's really good. But, I like the Lemonheads version.
I stumbled across this song accidentally and I don't know if I like any of their other songs. But, I do like this song a lot.
Like some others on this list, it is a modernized, possibly more punk version of this classic.
19. Van Halen- Right Now
I had to have one Van Halen song on here and I love this song way more than most of their overplayed stuff.
They can't make up their minds if they want David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar as their lead vocalist, but I've liked them with either.
20. Pearl Jam- Dock of the Bay
Eddie Vedder is one of my very favorites. I liked the original version of this song by Otis Redding a lot but Pearl Jam makes it special to me as they do a lot of their cover songs.
Otis tragically died before this song was released in 1967.
21. Radiohead- Creep
As a creep myself, I can really relate. This song has been covered by almost everyone because it's such a cool song, but Radiohead is the original and to me the best.
The guy sings this with so much pain and passion and I always find it moving. Most songs on my list move me in one way or another which is why they are on my list mostly. Creep moves me considerably no matter if it's Radiohead, or Pearl Jam, or any number of others performing it.
22. The Doors-Peace Frog
The Doors have many more well known songs that overshadow this one. But, I love Peace Frog as much if not more than the others. This song pretty much covers the times and the movement that went along with the times. Blood on the streets.
23. The Doors-People are Strange
Boy, are they. This song reminds me of myself in that nobody ever remembers me or my name. But, it's much more than that.
There were many good bands in these times but the Doors possibly stood out more than anyone. They had a rather unique brand and sound.
24. The Doors-Love Me Two Times
Hard to explain since I am not into drugs but a strange connection with Jim Morrison. Like Hendrix, I wish he had lived past 27 years old. He was nothing near the talent level of Hendrix but he was huge in his day.
25. Procol Harum- Conquistador
I've loved this song for something like 40 years. A true classic.
26. Procol Harum- Whiter Shade of Pale.
Who of my age doesn't like Whiter Shade of Pale? Rednecks?
Like Conquistador, I have loved this song forever. But one question remains in my mind. What is a Vestal Virgin?
27. Elvis- A Little Less Conversation.
My personal favorite Elvis song. I detest Elvis impersonators mostly because it is so overdone, but Elvis was cool. Elvis was the king, what else needs to be said.
28. Maroon 5- Pure Imagination
I think it's a killer cover of a Willa Wonka song performed by Gene Wilder. I'm not a huge Maroon 5 fan, but I'm glad they covered this song.
29. The Bangles- Hazy Shade of Winter.
Talk about the 80s and all girl bands and big hair. This song is that.
I can't say as I was a huge fan of The Bangles but I did like this song a lot. Hazy Shade of Winter was first done by Simon and Garfunkle back in the 60s and The Bangles covered it in the late 80s. The original was kind of slow but Bangles version was not and I liked it much better.
29. Me First and the Gimme Gimme's Rainbow Connection.
These guys are hilarious and do nothing but covers as far as I know. They have a lot of fun and I enjoy them having a lot of fun.
They do the old Kermit the Frog song with much more edge to it. I even kind of liked the old Kermit version.
30. Reel Big Fish- Drunk Again
This song is very powerful to me. The singer of this song is in a lot of pain and I can relate very well to his words.
31. The Screaming Jets- Folsum Prison Blues
Love the original and love Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash was larger than life and a personal hero. It's funny to hear this song and the Australian guy says 'hello, I'm not Johnny Cash' instant classic to me.
32. The Marmalade; Reflections of my Life
The world is a bad place. This song is about going home. I don't really know where my home is and I am not sure it matters anymore.
Great, great song.
33. Jimi Hendrix; All along the Watchtower
What really needs to be said. Hendrix was Hendrix. Quite possibly the best guitarist ever.
This song almost symbolizes Vietnam to me.
34. Ten Years After- Change the World
Who doesn't want to change the world, the song's good, too
35. The Strokes- Mercy, Mercy Me
The Strokes redid this song of Marvin Gay's and I like both versions. I just like the alternative twist that they gave it.
36. Simon and Garfunkel- I am a Rock
So am I.
This is one of my favorite types of songs as it starts off slowly and builds up. There are a lot of musicians that we were cheated out of more music by their untimely deaths. But, there were a lot of others that cheated us by breaking up. Simon and Garfunkel were pretty hot there for a while. Paul Simon did some good things on his own but not like he did when he was with Garfunkel.
Wish they had stayed together a bit longer at least.
37. Lynyrd Skynyrd- Freebird
Wow, what a song. I did not do this list in order but I probably will at some point. Freebird is definitely right up there with the very best of all time. No doubt these guys were the top Southern Rock Band of all time.
38. Lynyrd Skynyrd-Simple Man
I always have to stop what I am doing when this song comes on.
39, Lynyrd Skynyrd- Tuesday's Gone
They had several songs like Sweet Home Alabama that were way overdone and I don't care for them that much anymore because of that. But, the big three remain of Freebird, Simple Man and Tuesday's Gone.
40. Cake- I will Survive.
Remake of the old Gloria Gainor song. Cake is one of my favorite bands on a comedic level, not that they don't have musical talent.
41. Shades Apart- Stranger By the Day
Alternative Rock.
42. Nirvana- About a Girl
Kurt Cobain cheated his fans out of a lot of great music. Morrison and Hendrix, too, as well as Janis Joplin. Every one of those people died when they were 27 years old which is beyond bizarre to me. Every one of them could have made a whole lot more music.
About a Girl sounds like several of Nirvana's songs just probably a little better for me. I could probably interchange a couple of others here.
I missed out on the whole Grunge thing but I do like several groups from this era and Nirvana is probably the best of them.
43. Cold Play- Viva La Vida Wow, this one hits close to home and definitely is my song. Sweeping the streets you used to own? Nothing more humbling than that.
44. Duran Duran- Come Undone; This song is fantastic. I've come undone myself, and I can relate. Duran Duran were members of the so-called 2nd British Invasion in the 80s. They had several big hits but this was my favorite. Who do you love when you come undone?
Who or what do you turn to? I wish in my own life when I came undone that I had loved the right people and the right things, but unfortunately I did not.
45. Smashing Pumpkins- Disarm
I am a late Smashing Pumpkins fan. I didn't listen to them when they were famous and putting out big hits. But, I am making up ground now.
46. The Pogues- Dirty Old Town; I love the Irish and I love the Pogues. Not a pretty bunch of lads but Dirty Old Town is one of my favorites and I could listen to it every day Kind of reminds me of where I live in a lot of ways. I live in a dirty old town.
47. U2- Unchained Melody
The original was outstanding obviously, but there's something really cool with the way that Bono sings it.
48. Flogging Molly- Drunken Lullabies
I love these Irish bands. They do sound a lot alike other than U2, but still fun to listen to.
Drunken Lullabies is probably my favorite song by probably my favorite of these Irish bands.
49. Elvis Costello-Alison
The other Elvis is pretty good in his own right. I like a few of his songs and his nerdy glasses, too.
50. Men At Work-Overkill
Ghosts appear and fade away. This song hits me to my very core. I struggle to this day with the ghosts of mistakes past. I can't get to sleep sometimes, thinking about the implications. I didn't sleep right for 3 years unless I had some help.
These are not in any particular order.
1. The Zombies; Tell Her No
Teenie Bopping screaming girls at concerts, British Invasion, Cool Brits with long hair from the days when I wanted long hair. The Zombies were an underrated band from the 60s but in reality maybe they were rated just about right because they had about 3 or 4 good songs and then dropped out.
Collin Bluestone was a suave lead singer much in fashion with many bands from his country and his time period. I could have picked any number of songs from this day and age and would have been all right with the choice but this one just means a little more to me.
2. Stevie Ray Vaughn- Mary Had a Little Lamb
Do I really need a reason to love this song? Stevie Ray Vaughn was a legend. The man could play the guitar with the best of them and his life tragically ended in a helicopter crash way too early. This song celebrates a man's life that was one of the best at what he did.
I think I liked all of Stevie Ray's songs and that's a rare thing for me.
3. Santana-Europa
Carlos Santana is another legend with the guitar. Not many better than this man, ever.
Europa is my favorite song of his, but you can throw in Samba Pa Ti because it's really similar
These songs take me back to a simpler and easier time in my life.
Santana could play with Britney Spears and I would instantly like the song, that's how good he is.
4. Creedence Clearwater Revival- Lodi
Everybody gets stuck somewhere sometimes. It's a matter of whether you stay stuck. Obviously, CCR didn't remain in Lodi, California for long all those many years ago. Truly one of the greatest bands ever.
Fogerty had one of the greatest rock voices of all time.
5. CCR- Long as I Can See the Light
Play this one at my funeral, not that I will be around to hear but the 5 people that are will enjoy this song and if you know me you will know my love for CCR.
I never really thought of Creedence as a Blues band when I was growing up, nor Led Zeppelin, but they both had a really great blues sound. This one exemplifies that blues sound.
6. CCR-Someday Never Comes
This is a really sad song made even more sad after I learned something of the history of CCR and of the sibling rivalry.
7. Fortunate Son
This may be my all time favorite CCR song and possibly my favorite all around. Vietnam song. If I was doing this list in order, Fortunate Son would probably be number one.
8. The Hollies- He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
This song is incredible. I know the song is about mankind and not about your own brother. But, to me it is about my own brother. Wish I could pick up my brother right now and carry him through his hardships. But, I can't.
If this song doesn't choke you up just a little bit, then you have a stone in the place of your heart.
9. Guns N Roses- Since I don't Have You
Cover song of a 1958 masterpiece by the Skyliners. I like Axyl Rose's and Guns N Roses version of this song the best. Hey, I like cover songs, what can I say.
Rose has an excellent heavy metal voice that really works well on this less than heavy metal song.
10. Muse- Can't Take My Eyes Off of You
Another outstanding cover song. This song was first done by Frankie Valli in 1967. The original was outstanding in itself. Something about this song brings a smile to my face. If you don't like Rock music all that much I would recommend the original version.
I like a lot of songs that start off slow and get a little to a lot faster.
11. Muse- Feeling Good
This one is a cover of a Nina Simone song. Muse is not a cover band, but they do at least a couple that I really like.
12. Led Zeppelin- Dyer Maker
I read that one of the members of the band detested this song and it's not like most of their others. But, I love it probably as much or more than any of their outstanding music.
There are several others that covered this one and I like most of them. Zeppelin has to be one of the best bands ever.
13. Stone Temple Pilots- Dancing Days
Led Zeppelin song. As far as I know the Stone Temple Pilot version is the only acoustical one out there and I really like it a lot. I love the original as well and it may be a toss up between the two. But, the Stone Temple Pilots did a slightly different version of this classic that caught my attention and I listen to it quite a bit.
14. The Ataris- Boys of Summer
The Eagles version was good, but I like this one better. Once again, going with the cover over the original.
It's just picked up the pace of the original and is a fun song to listen to.
15. Faith No More- I Started a Joke
This old BeeGees song has been done by a couple of people. Bob Dylan's boy, Jakob, did this but it sounded a lot like the original. Faith No More did it with a different twist and I like it.
16. Faith No More- Easy
Mike Patton is one of my favorite singers. Commodore remake, and I love the Commodores and Lionel Richie but really love this cover more.
17. Chris Rea- Fool if You Think It's Over
I don't know a lot about Chris Rea, but he's got a few good songs. I like this one the best.
18. Lemonheads- Mrs Robinson. Cover song of the immortal Simon and Garfunkel song from the equally immortal movie The Graduate. I doubt many have even heard of the Lemonheads. Bon Jovi covered this song as well and it's really good. But, I like the Lemonheads version.
I stumbled across this song accidentally and I don't know if I like any of their other songs. But, I do like this song a lot.
Like some others on this list, it is a modernized, possibly more punk version of this classic.
19. Van Halen- Right Now
I had to have one Van Halen song on here and I love this song way more than most of their overplayed stuff.
They can't make up their minds if they want David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar as their lead vocalist, but I've liked them with either.
20. Pearl Jam- Dock of the Bay
Eddie Vedder is one of my very favorites. I liked the original version of this song by Otis Redding a lot but Pearl Jam makes it special to me as they do a lot of their cover songs.
Otis tragically died before this song was released in 1967.
21. Radiohead- Creep
As a creep myself, I can really relate. This song has been covered by almost everyone because it's such a cool song, but Radiohead is the original and to me the best.
The guy sings this with so much pain and passion and I always find it moving. Most songs on my list move me in one way or another which is why they are on my list mostly. Creep moves me considerably no matter if it's Radiohead, or Pearl Jam, or any number of others performing it.
22. The Doors-Peace Frog
The Doors have many more well known songs that overshadow this one. But, I love Peace Frog as much if not more than the others. This song pretty much covers the times and the movement that went along with the times. Blood on the streets.
23. The Doors-People are Strange
Boy, are they. This song reminds me of myself in that nobody ever remembers me or my name. But, it's much more than that.
There were many good bands in these times but the Doors possibly stood out more than anyone. They had a rather unique brand and sound.
24. The Doors-Love Me Two Times
Hard to explain since I am not into drugs but a strange connection with Jim Morrison. Like Hendrix, I wish he had lived past 27 years old. He was nothing near the talent level of Hendrix but he was huge in his day.
25. Procol Harum- Conquistador
I've loved this song for something like 40 years. A true classic.
26. Procol Harum- Whiter Shade of Pale.
Who of my age doesn't like Whiter Shade of Pale? Rednecks?
Like Conquistador, I have loved this song forever. But one question remains in my mind. What is a Vestal Virgin?
27. Elvis- A Little Less Conversation.
My personal favorite Elvis song. I detest Elvis impersonators mostly because it is so overdone, but Elvis was cool. Elvis was the king, what else needs to be said.
28. Maroon 5- Pure Imagination
I think it's a killer cover of a Willa Wonka song performed by Gene Wilder. I'm not a huge Maroon 5 fan, but I'm glad they covered this song.
29. The Bangles- Hazy Shade of Winter.
Talk about the 80s and all girl bands and big hair. This song is that.
I can't say as I was a huge fan of The Bangles but I did like this song a lot. Hazy Shade of Winter was first done by Simon and Garfunkle back in the 60s and The Bangles covered it in the late 80s. The original was kind of slow but Bangles version was not and I liked it much better.
29. Me First and the Gimme Gimme's Rainbow Connection.
These guys are hilarious and do nothing but covers as far as I know. They have a lot of fun and I enjoy them having a lot of fun.
They do the old Kermit the Frog song with much more edge to it. I even kind of liked the old Kermit version.
30. Reel Big Fish- Drunk Again
This song is very powerful to me. The singer of this song is in a lot of pain and I can relate very well to his words.
31. The Screaming Jets- Folsum Prison Blues
Love the original and love Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash was larger than life and a personal hero. It's funny to hear this song and the Australian guy says 'hello, I'm not Johnny Cash' instant classic to me.
32. The Marmalade; Reflections of my Life
The world is a bad place. This song is about going home. I don't really know where my home is and I am not sure it matters anymore.
Great, great song.
33. Jimi Hendrix; All along the Watchtower
What really needs to be said. Hendrix was Hendrix. Quite possibly the best guitarist ever.
This song almost symbolizes Vietnam to me.
34. Ten Years After- Change the World
Who doesn't want to change the world, the song's good, too
35. The Strokes- Mercy, Mercy Me
The Strokes redid this song of Marvin Gay's and I like both versions. I just like the alternative twist that they gave it.
36. Simon and Garfunkel- I am a Rock
So am I.
This is one of my favorite types of songs as it starts off slowly and builds up. There are a lot of musicians that we were cheated out of more music by their untimely deaths. But, there were a lot of others that cheated us by breaking up. Simon and Garfunkel were pretty hot there for a while. Paul Simon did some good things on his own but not like he did when he was with Garfunkel.
Wish they had stayed together a bit longer at least.
37. Lynyrd Skynyrd- Freebird
Wow, what a song. I did not do this list in order but I probably will at some point. Freebird is definitely right up there with the very best of all time. No doubt these guys were the top Southern Rock Band of all time.
38. Lynyrd Skynyrd-Simple Man
I always have to stop what I am doing when this song comes on.
39, Lynyrd Skynyrd- Tuesday's Gone
They had several songs like Sweet Home Alabama that were way overdone and I don't care for them that much anymore because of that. But, the big three remain of Freebird, Simple Man and Tuesday's Gone.
40. Cake- I will Survive.
Remake of the old Gloria Gainor song. Cake is one of my favorite bands on a comedic level, not that they don't have musical talent.
41. Shades Apart- Stranger By the Day
Alternative Rock.
42. Nirvana- About a Girl
Kurt Cobain cheated his fans out of a lot of great music. Morrison and Hendrix, too, as well as Janis Joplin. Every one of those people died when they were 27 years old which is beyond bizarre to me. Every one of them could have made a whole lot more music.
About a Girl sounds like several of Nirvana's songs just probably a little better for me. I could probably interchange a couple of others here.
I missed out on the whole Grunge thing but I do like several groups from this era and Nirvana is probably the best of them.
43. Cold Play- Viva La Vida Wow, this one hits close to home and definitely is my song. Sweeping the streets you used to own? Nothing more humbling than that.
44. Duran Duran- Come Undone; This song is fantastic. I've come undone myself, and I can relate. Duran Duran were members of the so-called 2nd British Invasion in the 80s. They had several big hits but this was my favorite. Who do you love when you come undone?
Who or what do you turn to? I wish in my own life when I came undone that I had loved the right people and the right things, but unfortunately I did not.
45. Smashing Pumpkins- Disarm
I am a late Smashing Pumpkins fan. I didn't listen to them when they were famous and putting out big hits. But, I am making up ground now.
46. The Pogues- Dirty Old Town; I love the Irish and I love the Pogues. Not a pretty bunch of lads but Dirty Old Town is one of my favorites and I could listen to it every day Kind of reminds me of where I live in a lot of ways. I live in a dirty old town.
47. U2- Unchained Melody
The original was outstanding obviously, but there's something really cool with the way that Bono sings it.
48. Flogging Molly- Drunken Lullabies
I love these Irish bands. They do sound a lot alike other than U2, but still fun to listen to.
Drunken Lullabies is probably my favorite song by probably my favorite of these Irish bands.
49. Elvis Costello-Alison
The other Elvis is pretty good in his own right. I like a few of his songs and his nerdy glasses, too.
50. Men At Work-Overkill
Ghosts appear and fade away. This song hits me to my very core. I struggle to this day with the ghosts of mistakes past. I can't get to sleep sometimes, thinking about the implications. I didn't sleep right for 3 years unless I had some help.
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Super Bowl
We've all seen the commercials with the older men that have been to every Super Bowl and they are going again this year and never intend to miss one.
I kind of lost interest in the NFL a few years ago and I haven't even seen every game on TV. But, I do like their enthusiasm and admire what they have done.
I have been to one NFL game in my entire life and to be perfectly honest I was bored. I would rather watch on the television if I watch at all.
College football is another story.
It is my passion.
I will admit that I did not watch all the bowl games on this bowl season because frankly many of the teams playing in these games did not deserve to be there at all.
My passion as a college football fan is sort of similar to these older men and their Super Bowl quests.
I would like to travel around the country and attend games between big rivals.
Other than the Texas schools, the only one I have made so far is the USC-UCLA game played in the Rose Bowl. That one was a thrill, but I have more games I would like to make.
Michigan/Ohio State is one of the bigger ones, but there are many long time rivalry games I would love to see up close and personal.
Alabama vs Auburn is one. Tennessee vs Florida would be another.
But, I would like to see everything from Yale vs Harvard to Oregon vs Oregon State. There are just so many and so little time.
I want to catch the passion of the game. I want to see the intensity that goes on in the stadiums and get a feel for the feelings of the fans and the players involved with both sides of the game. I want to go as a neutral and as a person that just loves the game and the atmosphere of college game day. I want to mix and match with the people that are tailgating and see what they have to say and what they have to eat. To smell the food and maybe take a bite out of something to get a taste of their lives and lifestyles during the Fall of every year.
This has been a dream of mine since the 1970s and probably will never come to pass. If it doesn't, I will be all right.
I kind of lost interest in the NFL a few years ago and I haven't even seen every game on TV. But, I do like their enthusiasm and admire what they have done.
I have been to one NFL game in my entire life and to be perfectly honest I was bored. I would rather watch on the television if I watch at all.
College football is another story.
It is my passion.
I will admit that I did not watch all the bowl games on this bowl season because frankly many of the teams playing in these games did not deserve to be there at all.
My passion as a college football fan is sort of similar to these older men and their Super Bowl quests.
I would like to travel around the country and attend games between big rivals.
Other than the Texas schools, the only one I have made so far is the USC-UCLA game played in the Rose Bowl. That one was a thrill, but I have more games I would like to make.
Michigan/Ohio State is one of the bigger ones, but there are many long time rivalry games I would love to see up close and personal.
Alabama vs Auburn is one. Tennessee vs Florida would be another.
But, I would like to see everything from Yale vs Harvard to Oregon vs Oregon State. There are just so many and so little time.
I want to catch the passion of the game. I want to see the intensity that goes on in the stadiums and get a feel for the feelings of the fans and the players involved with both sides of the game. I want to go as a neutral and as a person that just loves the game and the atmosphere of college game day. I want to mix and match with the people that are tailgating and see what they have to say and what they have to eat. To smell the food and maybe take a bite out of something to get a taste of their lives and lifestyles during the Fall of every year.
This has been a dream of mine since the 1970s and probably will never come to pass. If it doesn't, I will be all right.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Downtown Dallas
I like to think of myself as a well rounded guy. I feel comfortable in the wilderness and I feel comfortable in the big city.
Just as I am fascinated with natural things such as big mountains, I am also very interested in the architecture and construction of huge buildings.
Recently, when I had surgery, if that's what we want to call that ablation procedure I had done recently, we had to be at the hospital really early in the morning.
The hospital is located just East of downtown Dallas. So, we got a room in the Magnolia Hotel in downtown Dallas.
Now, I have never been a fan of downtown Dallas or Dallas in general. But, I have to say that I really enjoyed this experience.
First of all, the Magnolia is a pretty nice urban hotel. It is the old Mobil Oil building with the huge lighted Pegasus on top. That building was one of the early old Dallas skyscrapers built in 1922.
I wasn't around back in 1922 but when I was a kid we always drove by downtown Dallas and marveled at the Pegasus and how tall the building was.
Now, it's surrounded by much bigger and taller buildings. But, it's still a landmark as is the Adolphus Hotel located right next door. Our room in the Magnolia overlooked the classically done roof of the Adolphus.
As we did our tourist thing, walking around with the camera taking pictures of the beautiful buildings downtown, I noticed we were being followed.
It wasn't that obvious at first as we were going slowly and stopping to take pictures. But, I kept noticing one particular fella kept hanging around. We would move and he would slowly move behind us kind of keeping pace and not really looking at us directly.
After a while, I approached him and asked him if there was a map available of downtown buildings in Dallas. He was very friendly and finally I asked why he was following us.
Turns out he was working as a security guard for AT&T and he was making sure no pictures were taken of the AT&T buildings which basically surrounded us and our hotel.
He helped us find a map and was really nice, but it was an interesting experience and I briefly felt like a spy. :)
Even though I have lived in Texas my entire life, I had never seen the exact area where JFK was shot back in 1963. As a history buff, that was a fascinating experience in itself and I highly recommend a trip down there.
There is plenty to do in downtown. Plenty of sites to see and plenty of places to eat. The Magnolia Hotel is worth a stay and is reasonable if you reserve a room in the right way. They have a free Happy Hour and free milk and cookies later in the evening.
Only negative is all the panhandlers and assorted beggars hanging around pestering a tourist for money.
Just as I am fascinated with natural things such as big mountains, I am also very interested in the architecture and construction of huge buildings.
Recently, when I had surgery, if that's what we want to call that ablation procedure I had done recently, we had to be at the hospital really early in the morning.
The hospital is located just East of downtown Dallas. So, we got a room in the Magnolia Hotel in downtown Dallas.
Now, I have never been a fan of downtown Dallas or Dallas in general. But, I have to say that I really enjoyed this experience.
First of all, the Magnolia is a pretty nice urban hotel. It is the old Mobil Oil building with the huge lighted Pegasus on top. That building was one of the early old Dallas skyscrapers built in 1922.
I wasn't around back in 1922 but when I was a kid we always drove by downtown Dallas and marveled at the Pegasus and how tall the building was.
Now, it's surrounded by much bigger and taller buildings. But, it's still a landmark as is the Adolphus Hotel located right next door. Our room in the Magnolia overlooked the classically done roof of the Adolphus.
As we did our tourist thing, walking around with the camera taking pictures of the beautiful buildings downtown, I noticed we were being followed.
It wasn't that obvious at first as we were going slowly and stopping to take pictures. But, I kept noticing one particular fella kept hanging around. We would move and he would slowly move behind us kind of keeping pace and not really looking at us directly.
After a while, I approached him and asked him if there was a map available of downtown buildings in Dallas. He was very friendly and finally I asked why he was following us.
Turns out he was working as a security guard for AT&T and he was making sure no pictures were taken of the AT&T buildings which basically surrounded us and our hotel.
He helped us find a map and was really nice, but it was an interesting experience and I briefly felt like a spy. :)
Even though I have lived in Texas my entire life, I had never seen the exact area where JFK was shot back in 1963. As a history buff, that was a fascinating experience in itself and I highly recommend a trip down there.
There is plenty to do in downtown. Plenty of sites to see and plenty of places to eat. The Magnolia Hotel is worth a stay and is reasonable if you reserve a room in the right way. They have a free Happy Hour and free milk and cookies later in the evening.
Only negative is all the panhandlers and assorted beggars hanging around pestering a tourist for money.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Some Day
Some day is the code word for never.
Wish I had thought of that line, but I didn't. It was in a movie I watched today.
Some day I am going to go to Europe. Some day I am going to run the bulls in Spain.
Some day I am going to learn to fly a plane.
Some day I am going to learn Spanish and German.
Some day I am going to hike the Appalachian Trail all the way from Georgia to Maine.
Some day I am going to drive the Pacific Coast Highway.
Some day I am going to write a novel.
Some day I am going to connect wind and solar to power my house so I don't pay an electric bill.
Some day I am going to cross Africa in a hot air balloon.
Some day I have to stop saying some day.
Wish I had thought of that line, but I didn't. It was in a movie I watched today.
Some day I am going to go to Europe. Some day I am going to run the bulls in Spain.
Some day I am going to learn to fly a plane.
Some day I am going to learn Spanish and German.
Some day I am going to hike the Appalachian Trail all the way from Georgia to Maine.
Some day I am going to drive the Pacific Coast Highway.
Some day I am going to write a novel.
Some day I am going to connect wind and solar to power my house so I don't pay an electric bill.
Some day I am going to cross Africa in a hot air balloon.
Some day I have to stop saying some day.
Come Undone
The Rock Music Group, Duran Duran was big in the 80s. They were a big part of what was called by MTV the Second British Invasion. I can't say that I was a big fan but I liked a couple of their songs.
The Duran Duran song, Come Undone, is one of my all time favorites.
Like any Rock n Roll song there is debate about what it actually means. But, to me it seems to be exactly what it appears to be about coming undone.
Life is hard. Life is tough at times. It's hard in the heat of battle sometimes to keep from falling apart. It's difficult to keep it together at all times and not fall apart at the seams. What do you do when you heart is falling to pieces? What if everything bad in your life is nobody's fault but your own?
Like the song says, who do you need when you come undone? Who do you love? Where do you turn? Who do you need?
I know what my answers should be.
But, it's not what happened in my own life.
I hate to admit it but I am a recovering Coming Undoner.
Takes a little time to become done again.
Whatever in the world that happens to mean.
The Duran Duran song, Come Undone, is one of my all time favorites.
Like any Rock n Roll song there is debate about what it actually means. But, to me it seems to be exactly what it appears to be about coming undone.
Life is hard. Life is tough at times. It's hard in the heat of battle sometimes to keep from falling apart. It's difficult to keep it together at all times and not fall apart at the seams. What do you do when you heart is falling to pieces? What if everything bad in your life is nobody's fault but your own?
Like the song says, who do you need when you come undone? Who do you love? Where do you turn? Who do you need?
I know what my answers should be.
But, it's not what happened in my own life.
I hate to admit it but I am a recovering Coming Undoner.
Takes a little time to become done again.
Whatever in the world that happens to mean.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Worst Movies of All Time
1. The Cotton Club
I honestly can't tell you what this yawner was about because I tried to tune it out as best as possible. I never liked Richard Gere ever again after sitting through this horrible mess. I refused to watch him in anything for years.
I think at one point my head was on the seat in front of me while I caught a few winks. I was with other people or I would have walked out and I never walk out of anything I paid to see.
One of the worst movies I can remember seeing and it was a running joke for years.
2. Rocky Horror Picture Show
My goodness, there used to be a lot of people that went to see this movie apparently every week. They knew every line in this thing.
I hated every second of it and hated the people that took me from that night forward and hated all the other movie viewers for having it memorized.
This was one of the worst nights of my life. It was sick and twisted in every way possible. This thing, and I really don't want to call this a movie because Braveheart was also a movie and they shouldn't be said in the same paragraph ever even though I just did, could easily switch out with the Cotton Club as the #1 worst movie ever.
3. Funny Girl
I went to see this with my parents as a kid. I finally forgave them for it years later.
It may have not been all that bad but I was a kid and I wanted out of there in the worst way. I like Barbara Streisand and I hate to blast her. But, I remember being very, very bored in this.
4. Any of the Jason/Friday the 13th/Freddie Krueger movies except for the first Halloween.
Halloween was actually pretty good, but it should have ended there. Let the poor guy die already.
All of these movies are mindless slasher movies that are designed to steal people's money that are actually silly enough to waste their time with this garbage.
Can I call these things movies? Like Rocky Horror Picture Show, I hesitate to call these anything that closely resembles something that would have starred Clint Eastwood.
Just not something I feel comfortable with.
5. Tom Cruise flicks
I don't know why, but there are certain people that no matter what movie they are in, the movie usually turns out to be pretty good. These certain people are Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Clint Eastwood and probably Tom Hanks.
These certain people are not Tom Cruise. In fact, I would say after Top Gun most everything he has played in has been pretty bad. I might give him Color of Money and a couple more borderline shows but the guy seems to be a douche bag and plays one mostly in every movie.
I have heard his new movie is good and I do like Cameron Diaz so I might have to change my opinion later. But, as of right now, Mr Scientology is a destroyer of all potentially good movies in my book.
6. Dude Where's My Car
Where do we start with this mess? It has a couple of funny scenes in it but even those are way overdone so they become unfunny almost as quickly as they become funny.
I took my son to see this with his friend and they liked it or else that might have been the first movie I walked out of.
Just a horrible movie from start to finish.
I will think of others and may add them at some point and time.
P.S. I just saw Day and Knight and it was actually really good. May have to remove Mr Cruise from my list.
I honestly can't tell you what this yawner was about because I tried to tune it out as best as possible. I never liked Richard Gere ever again after sitting through this horrible mess. I refused to watch him in anything for years.
I think at one point my head was on the seat in front of me while I caught a few winks. I was with other people or I would have walked out and I never walk out of anything I paid to see.
One of the worst movies I can remember seeing and it was a running joke for years.
2. Rocky Horror Picture Show
My goodness, there used to be a lot of people that went to see this movie apparently every week. They knew every line in this thing.
I hated every second of it and hated the people that took me from that night forward and hated all the other movie viewers for having it memorized.
This was one of the worst nights of my life. It was sick and twisted in every way possible. This thing, and I really don't want to call this a movie because Braveheart was also a movie and they shouldn't be said in the same paragraph ever even though I just did, could easily switch out with the Cotton Club as the #1 worst movie ever.
3. Funny Girl
I went to see this with my parents as a kid. I finally forgave them for it years later.
It may have not been all that bad but I was a kid and I wanted out of there in the worst way. I like Barbara Streisand and I hate to blast her. But, I remember being very, very bored in this.
4. Any of the Jason/Friday the 13th/Freddie Krueger movies except for the first Halloween.
Halloween was actually pretty good, but it should have ended there. Let the poor guy die already.
All of these movies are mindless slasher movies that are designed to steal people's money that are actually silly enough to waste their time with this garbage.
Can I call these things movies? Like Rocky Horror Picture Show, I hesitate to call these anything that closely resembles something that would have starred Clint Eastwood.
Just not something I feel comfortable with.
5. Tom Cruise flicks
I don't know why, but there are certain people that no matter what movie they are in, the movie usually turns out to be pretty good. These certain people are Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Clint Eastwood and probably Tom Hanks.
These certain people are not Tom Cruise. In fact, I would say after Top Gun most everything he has played in has been pretty bad. I might give him Color of Money and a couple more borderline shows but the guy seems to be a douche bag and plays one mostly in every movie.
I have heard his new movie is good and I do like Cameron Diaz so I might have to change my opinion later. But, as of right now, Mr Scientology is a destroyer of all potentially good movies in my book.
6. Dude Where's My Car
Where do we start with this mess? It has a couple of funny scenes in it but even those are way overdone so they become unfunny almost as quickly as they become funny.
I took my son to see this with his friend and they liked it or else that might have been the first movie I walked out of.
Just a horrible movie from start to finish.
I will think of others and may add them at some point and time.
P.S. I just saw Day and Knight and it was actually really good. May have to remove Mr Cruise from my list.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Have a Nice Life
You have to be a guy to understand my love for the movie, Fandango. That's probably not totally true, but I did notice it was on the list of top 50 guy movies of all time.
This movie is about a group of guys that either just graduated from UT. Or, in the case of the main character Gardner Barnes, all of his friends graduated from UT while he partied.
The main group of characters in this memorable flick have named themselves the Groovers during their college days.
At the beginning of this movie, the Groovers are throwing a party to celebrate their graduation and the upcoming wedding of one of their members.
Instead of just disappearing into the night and beginning the next phase of their lives, they decide to go on one last great adventure as a group. Mostly, the epic adventure is the idea of Gardner Barnes, the leader of this merry band of college dudes.
They set out to "dig up Dom".
It seems years earlier as a group they went out to the Big Bend area of Texas and buried a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne with the idea that some day they would come back and dig it up.
On the surface this is a silly movie but if you pay attention it has much deeper tones.
It is set in 1971. The Vietnam war is the number one topic in America in those days and you are either for it or against it. But, either way, if you are a young man in this time and age you are going to be thinking about Vietnam.
As in most groups, there are a lot of different opinions in the Groovers. Gardner Barnes plans on skipping the war. Another member of the Groovers is hard core and willing to get to Nam as fast as possible.
The symbolism in this movie is fun for me to watch.
But, the main thought for me as I take something from Fandango is about saying goodbye to a certain time of your life and moving on to the next time. In this case, it's about going from boyhood to manhood.
I am a little younger than the characters in this movie were. I was a mere lad in 1971. In junior high and thinking about working up the nerve to talk to some cute young girl in my class. Vietnam was also on my mind.
I would come home from school and play and a lot of times there would be the news on and Vietnam dominated. There was the daily body count and other things the news reporter brought and it was a scary thing.
I just knew I would grow up and have to go fight. Would I have gone? Would I have skipped off to Canada as many did?
I'll never know because Vietnam ended before I had to deal with that, thank goodness.
The title of this blog was 'Have a Nice Life' because at the end of the movie one of the Groovers said his probable final goodbye to another Groover. The Groovers reply was to "have a nice life".
That reminds me of feelings I have gotten from catching up with very old friends on the website, Facebook. Especially, since one of my oldest friends in the world, Bobby Hernandez, finally found me.
Life is not over for us, but did we have nice lives so far? If not, is it too late to do something about it now?
That's my question of the day. Have you had a nice life?
This movie is about a group of guys that either just graduated from UT. Or, in the case of the main character Gardner Barnes, all of his friends graduated from UT while he partied.
The main group of characters in this memorable flick have named themselves the Groovers during their college days.
At the beginning of this movie, the Groovers are throwing a party to celebrate their graduation and the upcoming wedding of one of their members.
Instead of just disappearing into the night and beginning the next phase of their lives, they decide to go on one last great adventure as a group. Mostly, the epic adventure is the idea of Gardner Barnes, the leader of this merry band of college dudes.
They set out to "dig up Dom".
It seems years earlier as a group they went out to the Big Bend area of Texas and buried a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne with the idea that some day they would come back and dig it up.
On the surface this is a silly movie but if you pay attention it has much deeper tones.
It is set in 1971. The Vietnam war is the number one topic in America in those days and you are either for it or against it. But, either way, if you are a young man in this time and age you are going to be thinking about Vietnam.
As in most groups, there are a lot of different opinions in the Groovers. Gardner Barnes plans on skipping the war. Another member of the Groovers is hard core and willing to get to Nam as fast as possible.
The symbolism in this movie is fun for me to watch.
But, the main thought for me as I take something from Fandango is about saying goodbye to a certain time of your life and moving on to the next time. In this case, it's about going from boyhood to manhood.
I am a little younger than the characters in this movie were. I was a mere lad in 1971. In junior high and thinking about working up the nerve to talk to some cute young girl in my class. Vietnam was also on my mind.
I would come home from school and play and a lot of times there would be the news on and Vietnam dominated. There was the daily body count and other things the news reporter brought and it was a scary thing.
I just knew I would grow up and have to go fight. Would I have gone? Would I have skipped off to Canada as many did?
I'll never know because Vietnam ended before I had to deal with that, thank goodness.
The title of this blog was 'Have a Nice Life' because at the end of the movie one of the Groovers said his probable final goodbye to another Groover. The Groovers reply was to "have a nice life".
That reminds me of feelings I have gotten from catching up with very old friends on the website, Facebook. Especially, since one of my oldest friends in the world, Bobby Hernandez, finally found me.
Life is not over for us, but did we have nice lives so far? If not, is it too late to do something about it now?
That's my question of the day. Have you had a nice life?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Still sickly
I would like to be writing something but am still struggling with some issues. Maybe tomorrow, I will be feeling a little better and can throw something together.
I want to thank those that know me for the continued thoughts and prayers.
Still working on that full time subject and can use some help.
I want to thank those that know me for the continued thoughts and prayers.
Still working on that full time subject and can use some help.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Blogging Ideas
Here are some things I am considering for a full time blog.
I am thinking of blogging on one topic and keeping with it and trying to pick up some sponsors.
One topic is investing. I have a lot of interest in this subject and was once a professional investor of sorts. I can teach from my success and possibly even more from my failures.
Another possible topic is travel. Problem with that is that I have not been a lot of places overseas so my blog could be limited or about American travel mostly.
I dig sports, especially college football. I could easily write on football. Problem with that is the incredible passion that some have about it and the possible problems that could come from that including my own stress levels.
I love food, but my knowledge on the subject is limited.
I love working out topics in spite of the fact that I rarely practice what I preach. I have been around it a large part of my life and even if I have much I could learn, I do know something about the subject.
I plan on keeping this blog as a hobby and to write about my personal feelings on many things. But, would like to take blogging to another level and write in my spare time which is plenty.
Any thoughts? I sure could use some help.
I am thinking of blogging on one topic and keeping with it and trying to pick up some sponsors.
One topic is investing. I have a lot of interest in this subject and was once a professional investor of sorts. I can teach from my success and possibly even more from my failures.
Another possible topic is travel. Problem with that is that I have not been a lot of places overseas so my blog could be limited or about American travel mostly.
I dig sports, especially college football. I could easily write on football. Problem with that is the incredible passion that some have about it and the possible problems that could come from that including my own stress levels.
I love food, but my knowledge on the subject is limited.
I love working out topics in spite of the fact that I rarely practice what I preach. I have been around it a large part of my life and even if I have much I could learn, I do know something about the subject.
I plan on keeping this blog as a hobby and to write about my personal feelings on many things. But, would like to take blogging to another level and write in my spare time which is plenty.
Any thoughts? I sure could use some help.
Mariah Carey? Oh, please......
Over the Christmas holidays I got a little too much of Mariah Carey than anyone with even a slight touch of sanity would care for.
Kids wanted to watch the Christmas parade and it was one Mariah Carey performance after another. She sang and she sang and then she was in the commercials as well.
On New Year's Eve it was more of the same. She sang Auld Lang Syne at the changing of the new year.
One of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite, websites is Youtube. I am there all the time looking at videos for one reason or another. One of my favorite pastimes is looking for new music and there is plenty of music on Youtube.
Youtube also has a feature that recommends certain videos.
I'm not sure why but Youtube had Mariah Carey singing Auld Lang Syne on New Years Eve.
I should learn to just ignore the comments on Youtube. Life might be a little easier if I did.
People, and I have no clue as to what kind of people I am talking about, actually think that Mariah Carey wrote this song.
Google is our friend. Search Google and you can easily learn that Auld Lang Syne was written in the 1700s originally as a poem but was put to the tune of a traditional folk song.
Makes you kind of wonder about people.
Kids wanted to watch the Christmas parade and it was one Mariah Carey performance after another. She sang and she sang and then she was in the commercials as well.
On New Year's Eve it was more of the same. She sang Auld Lang Syne at the changing of the new year.
One of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite, websites is Youtube. I am there all the time looking at videos for one reason or another. One of my favorite pastimes is looking for new music and there is plenty of music on Youtube.
Youtube also has a feature that recommends certain videos.
I'm not sure why but Youtube had Mariah Carey singing Auld Lang Syne on New Years Eve.
I should learn to just ignore the comments on Youtube. Life might be a little easier if I did.
People, and I have no clue as to what kind of people I am talking about, actually think that Mariah Carey wrote this song.
Google is our friend. Search Google and you can easily learn that Auld Lang Syne was written in the 1700s originally as a poem but was put to the tune of a traditional folk song.
Makes you kind of wonder about people.
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