So the boys found my DVR recording of KISS performing on Letterman last week... so I let them watch... it really didn't take that much arm-twisting... anywho... after answering a couple of rounds of 'who's that man?' My oldest, B, says 'Oooh, look at that guitar! it looks like an ax! He's my favorite, what is his name?... my second favorite is the drummer... then my next favorite is the man on the right (Tommy... almost said Ace several times).... and my last favorite is the man in the middle.'
'Daddy, who is your favorite? and what order are your next favorites?'
"Son... my favorites, are the same as yours, in the same order."
'Really?'
"Yes." Now, I didn't want to get into explaining the whole revolving door of lead guitarists and changes at the drums, no need to confuse them.
But, I did have to laugh to myself that B ranked Paul last. I don't really talk about KISS with the boys all that much, they know I have a collection of DVDs, and they've watched just a few minutes of the concerts when they are played on VH1Classic.
I just find it funny, I've been a KISS fan since I was B's age, and I've never been all that keen on Paul. Just a necessary part of the group, I guess, but never a favorite of mine, he always came across as being way to cocky. Which is ironic, because I can't think of anyone in rock and roll who is as cocky as Gene, but his character has always been way too cool. Plus, Gene, to me always comes across like he is in on the gimmick, and just playing it up for the enjoyment of the fans. Whereas, Paul always acts like he really believes he is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
That is what struck me I guess. I've had this opinion for 30 some odd years, and my son, who has really only seen KISS a handful of times, developed the same basic thoughts on his own.
So, should I be proud?
Me thinks it might be time to share my interst in books on science and medicine...
Monday, October 12, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Overheard
"Mommie, will you wipe my heiney?"
Not all that uncommon a phrase in house with small kids, but this made me chuckle more because of its anecdotal similarity to a running gag in college. Two or three of you who are in the know were probably laughing long before you even read this far. Funny stuff.
Not all that uncommon a phrase in house with small kids, but this made me chuckle more because of its anecdotal similarity to a running gag in college. Two or three of you who are in the know were probably laughing long before you even read this far. Funny stuff.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
random thought
Here is a challenge for you... ever try to throw out a trash can?
I tried for weeks to get the garbage men to take this wreck of a can that blew into the yard one day. It all happened about a month ago, a stray plastic garbage can finds its way into the front yard one windy afternoon. No big deal, polite neighbor that I am, I leave it outside of our garage, sheilded from the wind, figuring the owner would spot it and reclaim it. Of course, I'm naive, because honestly, if you had seen this thing.... it had the notched bottom clueing me in that it had at one time, but no longer possessed wheels.... it also had a really big gash down the side that would allow you to look through the can to read yesterdays discarded newspaper. If it were made of metal, and were on a desert planet in a galaxy far, far away... jawas wouldn't take this thing.
but, yet I kept assuming that the owner would come looking for his p.o.s can... well, I hoped that he would, it would be the decent thing to do... I wouldn't want someone else to be stuck with it if it were mine.
and yet, each week, I would drag it , empty, mind you, down to the street on pick up day, with the hope that the owner would see it and take it home or, that the garbage men would pause for a second and notice the empty, crumby, broken garbage can and take it away from my yard.... but NOOOOOOOO.
so the next week rolls around, pick up day comes, and I'm rushing around helping get the kids in the car for school and daycare and then I remember to take out the trash... so I scramble to grab my clean bins full of properly bagged trash, and there is this eyesore.... cue: 'Three of these things belong together.... one of these things is not the same..." I grab it and think: "how can I get the men to take it away?" I spot a can of Krylon on a nearby shelf, grab it and spray across the side "T-R-A-S-H"
yeah, that didn't work either... me thinks, the men are assuming I wrote that, so that I would know what sort of material should be placed inside.
another week passes... really getting tired of seeing this ugly plastic thing everyday, especially now that it had become stained with blood-red spray paint identifying what it originally contained long ago, and had now become, for all the world to see.
last minute scramble again on the morning of pick up day... this time I hurry and grab a sharpie and a sheet of paper, oh no it is raining...... what to do? I grab a zip-loc bag and stuff my little note about how the can is broken, not even mine, but rolled into my yard ages ago in a storm, so please take this plastic hunk of junk with you and put it out of my misery.... ...now the search is on for tape or staples or anything I can use to affix this despairate plea to the side of my nemesis.
It shouldn't be hard, I have tape.... somewhere.... now, where is the duct tape?... no idea, I guess I'll have to turn in my Macgyver fan club card, blast!
Hockey tape! I'll use hockey tape, my old equipment bag is right there on a shelf in the corner.... wouldn't you know it... the zipper is rusted and won't move..... Mr McGee, please don't make me angry... you wouldn't like me when I'm angry...
this is really starting to affect my blood pressure...
eventually, I find an old end-roll of black electrical tape.... success!!!
Except, now... the rain has picked up in its intensity, my jacket and gilligan hat are getting soaked, and imagine that, the tape doesn't want to stick to the wet plastic.
its like I just finished the old 96er and I'm feeling great until the waiter says that I now have to eat the gristle and fat.
So, I find a rag, wipe down a dirty, nasty, broken down, piece of garbage, garbage can.... until a large section of it is clean... and dry.... just so I can tape a note to its side... begging the garbage men to take this filthy abomination away and out of my life forever...
and on we go with my day.... I'm nearly soaked, I end up being just over a half-hour late for work, and I still have no guarantee that this will be the day the dreaded can will finally fade away.
fast-forward to the evening... I turn into the neighborhood... fingers crossed.... will this be the day that it is finally gone? Yes.... YES..... YESSSSS!
Thank the maker!... I love it when a plan comes together!... knowing is half the battle!
however you want to say it... really, the end of the story, honestly pales in comparison to the frustration that getting to this point brought on... but it is finally gone....
and that is my tale of how incredibly difficult it was to successfully throw out a trash can.
I tried for weeks to get the garbage men to take this wreck of a can that blew into the yard one day. It all happened about a month ago, a stray plastic garbage can finds its way into the front yard one windy afternoon. No big deal, polite neighbor that I am, I leave it outside of our garage, sheilded from the wind, figuring the owner would spot it and reclaim it. Of course, I'm naive, because honestly, if you had seen this thing.... it had the notched bottom clueing me in that it had at one time, but no longer possessed wheels.... it also had a really big gash down the side that would allow you to look through the can to read yesterdays discarded newspaper. If it were made of metal, and were on a desert planet in a galaxy far, far away... jawas wouldn't take this thing.
but, yet I kept assuming that the owner would come looking for his p.o.s can... well, I hoped that he would, it would be the decent thing to do... I wouldn't want someone else to be stuck with it if it were mine.
and yet, each week, I would drag it , empty, mind you, down to the street on pick up day, with the hope that the owner would see it and take it home or, that the garbage men would pause for a second and notice the empty, crumby, broken garbage can and take it away from my yard.... but NOOOOOOOO.
so the next week rolls around, pick up day comes, and I'm rushing around helping get the kids in the car for school and daycare and then I remember to take out the trash... so I scramble to grab my clean bins full of properly bagged trash, and there is this eyesore.... cue: 'Three of these things belong together.... one of these things is not the same..." I grab it and think: "how can I get the men to take it away?" I spot a can of Krylon on a nearby shelf, grab it and spray across the side "T-R-A-S-H"
yeah, that didn't work either... me thinks, the men are assuming I wrote that, so that I would know what sort of material should be placed inside.
another week passes... really getting tired of seeing this ugly plastic thing everyday, especially now that it had become stained with blood-red spray paint identifying what it originally contained long ago, and had now become, for all the world to see.
last minute scramble again on the morning of pick up day... this time I hurry and grab a sharpie and a sheet of paper, oh no it is raining...... what to do? I grab a zip-loc bag and stuff my little note about how the can is broken, not even mine, but rolled into my yard ages ago in a storm, so please take this plastic hunk of junk with you and put it out of my misery.... ...now the search is on for tape or staples or anything I can use to affix this despairate plea to the side of my nemesis.
It shouldn't be hard, I have tape.... somewhere.... now, where is the duct tape?... no idea, I guess I'll have to turn in my Macgyver fan club card, blast!
Hockey tape! I'll use hockey tape, my old equipment bag is right there on a shelf in the corner.... wouldn't you know it... the zipper is rusted and won't move..... Mr McGee, please don't make me angry... you wouldn't like me when I'm angry...
this is really starting to affect my blood pressure...
eventually, I find an old end-roll of black electrical tape.... success!!!
Except, now... the rain has picked up in its intensity, my jacket and gilligan hat are getting soaked, and imagine that, the tape doesn't want to stick to the wet plastic.
its like I just finished the old 96er and I'm feeling great until the waiter says that I now have to eat the gristle and fat.
So, I find a rag, wipe down a dirty, nasty, broken down, piece of garbage, garbage can.... until a large section of it is clean... and dry.... just so I can tape a note to its side... begging the garbage men to take this filthy abomination away and out of my life forever...
and on we go with my day.... I'm nearly soaked, I end up being just over a half-hour late for work, and I still have no guarantee that this will be the day the dreaded can will finally fade away.
fast-forward to the evening... I turn into the neighborhood... fingers crossed.... will this be the day that it is finally gone? Yes.... YES..... YESSSSS!
Thank the maker!... I love it when a plan comes together!... knowing is half the battle!
however you want to say it... really, the end of the story, honestly pales in comparison to the frustration that getting to this point brought on... but it is finally gone....
and that is my tale of how incredibly difficult it was to successfully throw out a trash can.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
Ah, my allergies are starting to bug me... the neighbor's little black car is starting to look a little green in the sunlight... its A's birthday, (3 already, how can that be?)... promos for the Stanley Cup finals are playing on TV... the O's still look promising (as of this morning, they are not only tied for first.. heck, they're undefeated!)... {and it wasn't until I typed that last line that the promise of disappointment to come entered my brain}
It is finally Spring, that wonderful time when my two favorite sports overlap, and I'm filled with optimism for the potential of my two favorite teams... I can now start wearing two shirts with short sleeves, instead of three shirts with long sleeves... my knees, ankles, and now neck and ribs don't ache nearly as much with the lingering reminders of long ago sports, and auto injuries.
Ah, Spring... playing in the yard, laughter, the smell of grass clippings and an well oiled ball mitt...
Friday, March 06, 2009
Flush this music
I've been compiling this list of artists (term used loosely) and groups, in my head for years.
It starts off innocently enough, you know you just keep hearing this song on the radio. Its catchy, nothing profound, but catchy. Then it is embraced by critics, or worse celebrities, as being 'ahead of its time', or cutting edge.... and then it is on the same radio station every two hours, argh!
I know, the solution is simply, change the station... sorry, the stations here are terrible; or get XM or Serious... sorry, I'm cheap and I'm not paying for radio; or listen to an MP3 player, well I do have one of those, but I'm decidely very 20th century, plus digging through all my CDs will take longer than I'd care to spend just to load music.... Plus, most of my favorite songs are on cassette, and again... I'm cheap, I'm not buying this stuff again on CD unless the tape wears out, oh and the time investment to transfer a cassette into the computer.... forget it.
So, I gripe, and complain. In an older post, I ranted on the talkative nature of idiot DJs who wish they could be a third rate call screener for a real radio show of the calibre of Don and Mike, hey I guess its just Mike now isn't it? Crappy local stations don't carry it. This is my rant on music itself.
So here is my list, and I warn you, it might just upset many of you. You'll say: "How dare he not like ____? They are/were genius" Well, blame it on overexposure on the radio, or maybe I bought the cassette and listened to it too much, or had a friend who wouldn't stop playing it, whatever... the point is, its my rant, and I've heard these singers and/or songs way too many times, and I'd be happier if I never heard them again. Or, in the odd case where I might have a particular album, I'll listen to it if I want, when and if, but probably never, I want to. Because, really there is enough good music out there to offer some variety.
Here goes, My list of stuff I hope to never listen to again, and would be much happier if I didn't:
Nickleback
Green Day
Jimmy Buffet
Live
Red Hot Chili Peppers (really, everything since Mother's Milk has stunk anyway)
INXS
U2
The Beatles (yeah, I said it)
Prince
Michael Jackson
Madonna
AC/DC
The Eagles
Kid Rock
Bruce Springsteen
Elton John
Billy Joel
Lynrd Skynrd (or however you spell it)
The Scorpions
to be continued.
so please, enjoy cinderella, urban dance squad, kiss, james taylor, elvis, dean martin, the beach boys, dick dale, young mc, pm Dawn, 3rd base... heck anyone that hasn't been on the radio in the past half-hour.
It starts off innocently enough, you know you just keep hearing this song on the radio. Its catchy, nothing profound, but catchy. Then it is embraced by critics, or worse celebrities, as being 'ahead of its time', or cutting edge.... and then it is on the same radio station every two hours, argh!
I know, the solution is simply, change the station... sorry, the stations here are terrible; or get XM or Serious... sorry, I'm cheap and I'm not paying for radio; or listen to an MP3 player, well I do have one of those, but I'm decidely very 20th century, plus digging through all my CDs will take longer than I'd care to spend just to load music.... Plus, most of my favorite songs are on cassette, and again... I'm cheap, I'm not buying this stuff again on CD unless the tape wears out, oh and the time investment to transfer a cassette into the computer.... forget it.
So, I gripe, and complain. In an older post, I ranted on the talkative nature of idiot DJs who wish they could be a third rate call screener for a real radio show of the calibre of Don and Mike, hey I guess its just Mike now isn't it? Crappy local stations don't carry it. This is my rant on music itself.
So here is my list, and I warn you, it might just upset many of you. You'll say: "How dare he not like ____? They are/were genius" Well, blame it on overexposure on the radio, or maybe I bought the cassette and listened to it too much, or had a friend who wouldn't stop playing it, whatever... the point is, its my rant, and I've heard these singers and/or songs way too many times, and I'd be happier if I never heard them again. Or, in the odd case where I might have a particular album, I'll listen to it if I want, when and if, but probably never, I want to. Because, really there is enough good music out there to offer some variety.
Here goes, My list of stuff I hope to never listen to again, and would be much happier if I didn't:
Nickleback
Green Day
Jimmy Buffet
Live
Red Hot Chili Peppers (really, everything since Mother's Milk has stunk anyway)
INXS
U2
The Beatles (yeah, I said it)
Prince
Michael Jackson
Madonna
AC/DC
The Eagles
Kid Rock
Bruce Springsteen
Elton John
Billy Joel
Lynrd Skynrd (or however you spell it)
The Scorpions
to be continued.
so please, enjoy cinderella, urban dance squad, kiss, james taylor, elvis, dean martin, the beach boys, dick dale, young mc, pm Dawn, 3rd base... heck anyone that hasn't been on the radio in the past half-hour.
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