Seems as if it was only yesterday!Grateful Dead at the Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco - July 18, 1976!!!
That's me on far left, "Miss Keith"
Saturday, July 18, 2009
33 Years Ago This Very Day
Seems as if it was only yesterday!Grateful Dead at the Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco - July 18, 1976!!!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
What IS It About Fast Food Restaurants
Or the way I speak... or something. No matter what I order, I get something else entirely!
Thirty odd years ago, my friend Edith and I were driving through a place called Tijuana Taco in San Rafael (Oh I wanna, gee I wanna Tijuana Taco...). I asked for a taco and an orange soda and was told "We don;t have any orange soda tonight." Smart ass that I have always been, I said "Them's the breaks..." We pulled up to the window and I was handed my taco and a GRAPE soda,,, fir months afterwards, Edith and I would say "Them's the grapes" when expressing sympathy to someone who had just had a bad experience. Now, fast forward thirty-odd years to this evening...
All of a sudden, I got a craving for a Big Mac. Usually I do not eat this stuff but I really wanted one tonight and besides, I thought maybe I could swallow it because they are usually so full of fat and juice. I ordered a Big Mac and a sprite. "Don't you want a value meal?" "Really not, just the burger and drink. Pulled up to the window thinking "That's strange that he didn't ask what size sprite." I paid and opened the bag to find a large order of French Fries, the Big Mac and no drink. I said, "Where's my sprite?" "You didn't order sprite." "Yes I did. What I did NOT order is French Fries,,, I cannot swallow them." Trade made and I left.
Moral of story? I should stay away from drive through restaurants if not all fast food.
Thirty odd years ago, my friend Edith and I were driving through a place called Tijuana Taco in San Rafael (Oh I wanna, gee I wanna Tijuana Taco...). I asked for a taco and an orange soda and was told "We don;t have any orange soda tonight." Smart ass that I have always been, I said "Them's the breaks..." We pulled up to the window and I was handed my taco and a GRAPE soda,,, fir months afterwards, Edith and I would say "Them's the grapes" when expressing sympathy to someone who had just had a bad experience. Now, fast forward thirty-odd years to this evening...
All of a sudden, I got a craving for a Big Mac. Usually I do not eat this stuff but I really wanted one tonight and besides, I thought maybe I could swallow it because they are usually so full of fat and juice. I ordered a Big Mac and a sprite. "Don't you want a value meal?" "Really not, just the burger and drink. Pulled up to the window thinking "That's strange that he didn't ask what size sprite." I paid and opened the bag to find a large order of French Fries, the Big Mac and no drink. I said, "Where's my sprite?" "You didn't order sprite." "Yes I did. What I did NOT order is French Fries,,, I cannot swallow them." Trade made and I left.
Moral of story? I should stay away from drive through restaurants if not all fast food.
Bicyclists
Yesterday while driving through San Francisco (we were in Parnassus Heights but it could just as easily have happened closer to Golden Gate Park (and it did) or anywhere else in the City of Self-Entitlement, my friend Deb and I encountered several different cyclists or groups of cyclists, only one of whom obeyed the traffic signs. All others barreled right on through, completely ignorant of the fact that the State of California vehicle code includes bicycles as wheeled vehicles (which they are) and can thus be held accountable for causing traffic accidents, damaging property, injuring pedestrians or passengers of other vehicles, etc.
Bicyclists in California are governed by the motor vehicle code. Below you will find sections of that law that apply directly to bicycles. Certain points should be clear:
Bicycles have the same right to use the road as cars do.
Bicyclists are required to obey traffic rules, signs and signals; and like motorists, should not operate a bike while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Now I just know had one of those bike riding idiots been involved in accident involving a motor vehicle (such as a car), the car would most certainly be found at fault. This happens all the time. I cannot tell you how many bikers I see NOT using the bicycle lanes, not following the rules of the road, and not sharing the road, all the while blissfully ignorant of the great potential for damage. Get a clue, folks!
Bicyclists in California are governed by the motor vehicle code. Below you will find sections of that law that apply directly to bicycles. Certain points should be clear:
Bicycles have the same right to use the road as cars do.
Bicyclists are required to obey traffic rules, signs and signals; and like motorists, should not operate a bike while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Now I just know had one of those bike riding idiots been involved in accident involving a motor vehicle (such as a car), the car would most certainly be found at fault. This happens all the time. I cannot tell you how many bikers I see NOT using the bicycle lanes, not following the rules of the road, and not sharing the road, all the while blissfully ignorant of the great potential for damage. Get a clue, folks!
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
COMCAST
My internet access (and telephone service, VOIP) has been down for the past several days on an intermittent basis. Yesterday, I received a voice mail message from my ISP, Comcast, stating that the service would be down last night after midnight for about 30-90 minutes. When I got up this morning, NO ACCESS. I called and was given the usual party line that it must be something that I am doing on my end and was further told if they send a technician, I will be billed $49.95. For their fuck up!!! No way. I went ahead and scheduled the appointment but said I would NOT pay for it.
Two hours later, I come in and the system is magically "fixed" (again, through NOTHING that I did). I check my email and find the following:
Please accept our sincere apology for the trouble you have been experiencing with your Comcast service and thank you for taking the time to bring your concern to our attention. We are committed to providing you with the best possible service and want to resolve this matter for you as quickly as possible. In order to resolve your service concern, we will need to send a Comcast technician to your home.
This e-mail serves as a confirmation for your service repair appointment. The technician is scheduled to arrive on 07/08/2009 with an arrival window of 2PM to 4PM.
My point here is that if my service was down, how was I expected to receive this message, through osmosis? I am tempted to call and cancel because I do not want to be charged by these idiots. However, what if it goes down AGAIN?
Two hours later, I come in and the system is magically "fixed" (again, through NOTHING that I did). I check my email and find the following:
Please accept our sincere apology for the trouble you have been experiencing with your Comcast service and thank you for taking the time to bring your concern to our attention. We are committed to providing you with the best possible service and want to resolve this matter for you as quickly as possible. In order to resolve your service concern, we will need to send a Comcast technician to your home.
This e-mail serves as a confirmation for your service repair appointment. The technician is scheduled to arrive on 07/08/2009 with an arrival window of 2PM to 4PM.
My point here is that if my service was down, how was I expected to receive this message, through osmosis? I am tempted to call and cancel because I do not want to be charged by these idiots. However, what if it goes down AGAIN?
Thursday, June 25, 2009
RIP Farrah
RIP Farrah Fawcett: She was never my favorite "Angel" (that honor always belonged to Jaclyn Smith) but she was a wonderful person and she will be missed. In this day and age, this news is heartbreaking. So sad that she and Ryan O'Neal never married and so tragic for their son. well, now she really IS an "angel."
Sunday, June 21, 2009
REAL ESTATE AGENTS - OFFENSIVE AS HELL
As far as I am concerned, they are lower than pond scum. And here's the proof - I photographed vehicles PARKED ACROSS MY DRIVEWAY (6-8 feet) and I am posting here for people on YELP to see.
And OKAY, the station wagon is not blocking my driveway. But she parks here all the time and opens her passenger door into my plants.
But what about the Range Rover, huh? That bitch refused to move her car so that I, a cancer patient en route to treatment, could back out of my driveway. The agency? Brown & Company Realtors. NEVER use 'em.
And OKAY, the station wagon is not blocking my driveway. But she parks here all the time and opens her passenger door into my plants.
But what about the Range Rover, huh? That bitch refused to move her car so that I, a cancer patient en route to treatment, could back out of my driveway. The agency? Brown & Company Realtors. NEVER use 'em.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Eureka!
The name of club to which I took Jesse was 14 Below and it WAS on 14th Street (whether Los Angeles or Santa Monica, I could not say).
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Jesse Means
I found Jesse on Facebook - haven't seen him or heard from him for several years - not since we went to dinner at the French Market Cafe in LA and then to see the Nelson Band somewhere in LA (I wanted to say 4th and B but that is in San Diego and I KNOW that is not right - I think it was somewhere on 14th Street maybe?). Anyway, I found the following cool video link and thought I would share - that's Jesse on the far left, playing the banjo during
Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine" (from Showboat, one of my favorites) and Jesse yodelling and playing keyboards, etc.
Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine" (from Showboat, one of my favorites) and Jesse yodelling and playing keyboards, etc.
NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE: THEN AND NOW
I am currently listening to the original NRPS album, released in 1971 - you know, the one with John Dawson, David Nelson, David Torbert, Jerry Garcia and Spencer Dryden, with additional help from Mickey Hart and Commander Cody. Damn that was a good record and it still holds up 38 years later! Earlier, I was listening to the NRPS' current release, "Where I Come From." While that is also a good album, I do not believe that we will still be playing it 38 years from now (if we should live so long). The songs on the new record are reflective of the new band and the new direction it has taken, and I have to say, man for man, the current lineup probably beats the hell out of the original in terms of musicianship - but it is really apples and oranges out there in the fruit basket of life known as NRPS.
Don't get me wrong, "Where I Come From" has some excellent material but some of it is obfuscated by the extensive and, in my mind, unnecessary jams whereas the 1971 recording is tight and concise. The title song, one of many written by Robert Hunter and David Nelson, is really good and other standouts for me include Johnny Markowski's "Higher" (a logical next step in NRPS terminology), a song which, when I have seen the band in person, appears to be the new anthem for the band. "Carl Perkins Wears the Crown" is another wonderful song and Michael Falzarano is spot on with this composition which actually reflects the late composer of "Blue Suede Shoes." The only song on the record that holds true to the original NRPS sound is Ronnie Penque's "Olivia Rose." "Olivia Rose" sounds as if John Dawson could have written and/or sung it but by now, pretty much everyone knows that Olivia was Ronnie's daughter who passed from heart disease at age 5. Still, the song is not maudlin at all but upbeat:
OLIVIA ROSE
(RONNIE PENQUE)
Do you know Olivia Rose?
Do you know the way the story goes?
Good things will come to those who know
Angels sometimes fly down this low
She's been gone all day
I know she's gonna do it her way
People calling all night, I ain't got nothing new to say
A change of heart is all that she's feeling
It's OK, it's OK
Smile for me Olivia Rose
Butterflies are landing on your clothes
Ever since the day that you came
I knew life would never be the same
I brought you a picture for your table
I'm lying on your floor trying to write my song
You'll be coming home just as soon as you're able
Don't take long, don't take long
Straight to the heart, Olivia Rose
The world is at your feet and you know
You are the warm morning sun
you blew in like breeze and you're gone
Your phone's been ringing and blues been singing in hallway
But you don't answer,
I'm waiting just to hear you say
I'd do it all again if I only had the chance to
Everyday, everyday
I cannot help but think that little girl is beaming down from Heaven, very proud of her daddy. I found the one disappointing cut on the record to be another Hunter/Nelson ditty (yet another song about Garcia's passing and the legacy he left behind), "Ghost Train Blues," which sounds less like a tribute to Garcia and more like a combination of guitar work by The Ventures, Dick Dale and The Beatles ("Things We Said Today"). On the other hand,I could just see Garcia out there, catching a big one off the coast of Maui, Telecaster in hand.
Don't get me wrong, "Where I Come From" has some excellent material but some of it is obfuscated by the extensive and, in my mind, unnecessary jams whereas the 1971 recording is tight and concise. The title song, one of many written by Robert Hunter and David Nelson, is really good and other standouts for me include Johnny Markowski's "Higher" (a logical next step in NRPS terminology), a song which, when I have seen the band in person, appears to be the new anthem for the band. "Carl Perkins Wears the Crown" is another wonderful song and Michael Falzarano is spot on with this composition which actually reflects the late composer of "Blue Suede Shoes." The only song on the record that holds true to the original NRPS sound is Ronnie Penque's "Olivia Rose." "Olivia Rose" sounds as if John Dawson could have written and/or sung it but by now, pretty much everyone knows that Olivia was Ronnie's daughter who passed from heart disease at age 5. Still, the song is not maudlin at all but upbeat:
OLIVIA ROSE
(RONNIE PENQUE)
Do you know Olivia Rose?
Do you know the way the story goes?
Good things will come to those who know
Angels sometimes fly down this low
She's been gone all day
I know she's gonna do it her way
People calling all night, I ain't got nothing new to say
A change of heart is all that she's feeling
It's OK, it's OK
Smile for me Olivia Rose
Butterflies are landing on your clothes
Ever since the day that you came
I knew life would never be the same
I brought you a picture for your table
I'm lying on your floor trying to write my song
You'll be coming home just as soon as you're able
Don't take long, don't take long
Straight to the heart, Olivia Rose
The world is at your feet and you know
You are the warm morning sun
you blew in like breeze and you're gone
Your phone's been ringing and blues been singing in hallway
But you don't answer,
I'm waiting just to hear you say
I'd do it all again if I only had the chance to
Everyday, everyday
I cannot help but think that little girl is beaming down from Heaven, very proud of her daddy. I found the one disappointing cut on the record to be another Hunter/Nelson ditty (yet another song about Garcia's passing and the legacy he left behind), "Ghost Train Blues," which sounds less like a tribute to Garcia and more like a combination of guitar work by The Ventures, Dick Dale and The Beatles ("Things We Said Today"). On the other hand,I could just see Garcia out there, catching a big one off the coast of Maui, Telecaster in hand.
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