Alert The Neighbors!

Heaven help us all....Mike and his Son have instruments and only one of them really knows how to use em! :-)

Here is hoping that all of you have a wonderful christmas

Mike & Family

Progress

I have learned to play with a pick ( no thumb blisters!) and have learned my first song. " Love Me Tender. Granted, its not at a breakneck pace, and I hit clinkers...but it makes me smile to hit a few notes in a row! Enjoying the journey and not trying to get too frustrated too quick!

Baby Steps

Ok, this wont be a daily update kind of thing but thought I would share my progress. I bought a piece of software called "Teach yourself guitar" ( uh huh, I bought it just because of its very creative name!) and its a great way to start off learning.

I spent about 2 hours last night learning how to play my first notes and putting those notes into a couple of songs. The nice thing is that you get to play with a prerecorded track that you can slow down and speed up according to your skill level. Granted, I only learned on the high E string and played only about 3 frets, but still very fun to me.

I guess its all about just getting rolling and putting in the time. I think I am gonna like this!

Plus...I have a nice blister on my strumming thumb. Ahhhh progress!

The final choice!

Decided to ditch the starter pack in a box concept and just get a guitar that "spoke to me"! :-)

Its a Samick Torino TR1 . A much cheaper ( and yet not a crappy version) version of the Gibson SG. I have always loved the look of that guitar and was thrilled to find a decent priced one.

In the end. I spent about $25 more than the starter Laguna in a box. Got the same fun amp and had the sales guy throw in the other stuff that I would have got in the box. I spent tonight just fooling around with the amp and the tone. I really wish I would have done this about 20 years ago, but the moment is now and I aint gonna look back! :-) ( thanks no interest financing for giving me the excuse to get it early!)

I am happy with my choice, and that is all that matters at this point.

Ps- Look on the upper left top. Kinda looks like mine. Dont think I can leap like Pete or dream of playing like him....but still ....very fun to hit some power cords and enjoy the roof rattling power!

Early Favorite

I went over to Guitar Center today and talked to a very nice guy that thought this would be "killer" for a dude like me! :-) I let him show me what it could do and I was impressed. At the quality and the sound and price! Could be a keeper. Its a Laguna Electric guitar w/ a LINE 6 amp ( loved the amp...lets you play with all sorts of effects and also with a nice clean sound.) gig bag, strap,pics, tuner etc ....for about $350.

I have been thinking!

Yes, this comes as a shock to many. But I have been thinking! Actually wondering. Wondering if it would be possible for a 40 something man to learn to play a instrument. One he has always wanted to play, and yet never took a step towards just doing it.





Being such a music minded person ( have you noticed, frustrated readers?) I have always loved to sing and dont have a horrible voice. But, its always bugged me that I havent ever learned to play music. There was a comical period in my life where I tried to play trumpet. I faked it for a couple of years,but never really learned anything other than how to look stlylish while clearing out my spit valve! :-) Ask my Mom or Dad about this nightmare! :-)





My main interest has always been to learn to play a guitar. I think it would be great to be able to accompany myself while I warbled out a song. I have got to the "doorstep" a couple of times and found something else to pursue. I have the itch again....and its strong. Watching my son learn piano and drums has got me wandering around guitar shops and asking questions! Do I play a accoustic or electric? Being a lefty...should I buy a left handed guitar ( they are much more expensive!) or learn to play righty ( like I have done with many things!).





Now my question for you readers is-----





1. ever played a instrument?


2. ever wished you played a instrument?


3. any advice about my choice of guitar and how much should I spend?

Toyota Disses my hometown!

FRESNO, California: Toyota Motor Corporation pulled an ad that likened this inland California city to an outdated pit stop after Senator Dianne Feinstein wrote the car company to complain.
The commercial depicted people driving the fuel-efficient Prius in an imagined future in which "gas stations will become nothing more than low-budget tourist stops. Like ghost towns ... or Fresno."

That slap got no mileage with Mayor Alan Autry, who asked Feinstein to intervene.
Unlike other, more famous, California cities, Fresno has grappled with a reputation of being a dangerous and boring city in the middle of the state's agricultural sector.
On Friday, Toyota officials recalled the spot produced for auto dealers in the Southeast U.S., and edited out any mention of the word Fresno.


Justice prevails!!!! :-)

The night after.

Here is a review that I posted over @ mulearmy.com

Even though I leaked the word that this was gonna happen. I was still floored by
the performance of "Houses of the holy". Audley had the Jimmy Page tone down
perfect and really added alot to the set. I loved "the rain song", the boys did
it proud and it made the hair on my arms stand up. "The Crunge" was impossibly
funky! and yes they did find "The confounded bridge!"So many highlights from
this set. You could tell that they had a great time playing this. Lots of smiles
from the band. The stage had signs on it with little logos of each members sign
( ala the zep zozo logos etc.) I hope they post some pics soon over at net,
cause it was cool.

The opening set was great also. Lots of dark tunes....and
played fierce!I enjoyed Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. They were dressed up
for the occasion. Grace had a nice 'Liger" leotard on...that was very flattering
;-) her drummer dressed like a lion tamer..w/ stuffed animals all over the kit.
Bass player was the "f@#$%^& toothfairy" and the lead guitarist was a "pimp
daddy". They had a nice mix of blues and rock that made the muleys around me dig
it.

I dressed as a rasta mon. Met some very cool fellow muleys, and get this.
watched the entire second set with Grace P and her band right next to me. They
were lovin the Mule as much as the rest of us. A magical night. Get the Mule
Tracks of this one ASAP! A classic!

Pic of Grace is from the show a couple nights before.

Govt Mule- A Great Night

So much to write about...but it will have to wait.

Here is a setlist from what I saw tonight. Still stunned.



10.31.07 O'Shaughnessy Theatre - St. Paul, MN

Set 1:
Play With Fire
Time To Confess
Million Miles From Yesterday
Rocking Horse
Birth of The Mule
Larger Than Life
Fallen Down>Other One Jam
Blind Man In The Dark w/ Zeppelin Medely Tease Jam

The Holy Haunted House
Setw/ Audley Freed on Guitar
The Song Remains The Same
The Rain Song
Over The Hills and Far Away
The Crunge
Dancing Days>Drums
D'Yer Mak'er
No Quarter
The Ocean
Encore:Come On Into My Kitchen> w/ Audley Freed on Guitar
32/20 Blues w/ Come On Into My Kitchen Jam w/ Audley Freed on Guitar

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals opened. ( she watched the 2nd set of the show standing right next to me. Guess that rasta outfit is magical!) :-)

More later.
Goodnight

RIP Bob Goulet

A little comedy from Will Ferrel. Love this.

A little Bob trivia. Elvis once shot out his TV watching Mr. Goulet . Bob knew how to wrech out the emotions!

halloween

This year I am wearing a costume for the first time in years. Yes, for the halloween show with Gov't Mule. I am donning the Rasta Man look ( ironic for mr. drug free!).

My son is pleased with his creation of a character called "Black and White". Its his favorite time of the year!

Sorry for the blurry photos.....but it captures the moment!

My Dog and Leaves

Last night we had our first kinda cold night. The leaves are falling off the trees fast and the colors are very bright. Reggie and I went out to investigate and I took some pics!

Halloween

My fave band will be doing a special show. Playing Zeps Houses of the Holy in its entirety.

Cant wait.

due to popular demand- REALLY!

Here are a couple more CR Black crowes pics from the other night.
Going to see Drive By Truckers tonight @ First Ave. Sorry, no pics!

Ellen

Most of you know what a dog lover I am. I find comfort in dogs that I dont always find in humans. Its the unconditional love thannng and giving that love back to some one that is always there. You get me in front of a book or a movie screen that has a story about a dog and I can guarantee you that I will be blubbering. So it can be said that I have a big soft spot for dogs.

That being said. It brings me to the latest meltdown of a celeb. Ellen. I heard audio clips of this all day today. I really felt sorry for her and could tell that she does care for animals. However, I also felt sorry for how out of touch she is. The impression I got after listening to debate and also watching this clip was one of privelege. She thinks she can bend rules, rules that are there for a reason because she is a celeb. ( a minor one in my book...never have liked her and her crappy dancing thing, but that is for another type of blog!). She has numerous cats around her home and has had several dogs that she has brought into this situation. If a dog doesnt adapt to her cats....its gone. In this case, the dog was a puppy and was given away in a two month period. Hardly a reasonable amount of time to train a dog. I have heard that this has happened on 9 different occasions...where she "saves" a dog and then just gives him away. There is a reason why these adoption agencies make you sign documents stating that they will take control of the dog if it is given to another home. To prevent things like this.

The reason for my ire is. I just finished a book called "Marley and Me". Its all about a dog that is nothing but trouble and destruction and yet makes a powerfull imapact on a family. The reason for the impact is....they never gave up on this dog.
Ellens heart is in the right place, but she does more harm then good when she does things like this. A dog or a cat isnt like a pair of shoes that you can change at a whim. Its a commitment that takes a lot of thought, patience, and understanding.

Her national blubbering just made me cringe. A staged "breakdown" for her own benefit. I hope if anything it brings awareness about the huge problem we have with overbreeding of dogs and cats by people that just want to experience the gift of backyard breeding. So many dogs and cats never find a home....and some do with nut jobs that think having 90 cats and 50 dogs are a humane place for a animal to live. Its very sad.

Black Crowes 10/16 State theatre

Enjoyed the show! Keeping it simple. Setlist and pics! I have some non music stuff to write about. Stay tuned.





Don't Do It


Sting Me


Twice As Hard


Jam -> Black Moon Creeping


Seeing Things


My Morning Song


Sometimes Salvation

Ballad In Urgency ->Wiser Time

Soul Singing ->Thorn In My Pride

Remedy-

encore -Boomer's Story

Nature, a camera ,and a empty park

We have a very nice park down the road from our house. Its a old park, that at one time was very popular. It has a lake that doesnt have much fish in it ( I have tried and cant find them!) a swimming beach that doesnt get used because the water is not always "chlorine clean" and large picnic areas that sit empty.

People have moved on to newer and more exciting places. I am guilty of it also.

But this morning I decided to stop by and take some pictures of the stunning fall leaves we have. I was the only one there as I snapped away at the natural beauty that surrounded me. Photography is so easy when you have such a easy subject.

A lost love

Its October. Halloween, changes of season, colored leaves and highschool football games. But what I used to think the most about October was baseball, playoffs and the fall classic- The World Series.

As a young lad, I would huddle in front of the TV on Saturday afternoons to catch a glimpse of my heroes. Back then there wasn't 24 hour sports channels and the Internet to bombard you with info. The newspaper, radio, the nightly news, and that one prime time game were the pulse you would have to take to get your info. I knew every player and could give you a scouting report on all of them. I LOVED BASEBALL! I played ball with my friends in the street and also played organized ball. I loved the fact that this was a team sport and yet it was a individual sport. I loved when I would walk up to the plate and look that pitcher in the eye and play the mental chess game that hitting is. Would he throw me a curve? Would he throw me the fastball that I hit the last time I faced him? It was exciting for me and I couldn't get enough of it. My room was full of pictures and I would play Strat-o-matic for hours ( a baseball board game). It was a source of entertainment for me for many years. Even when I had to switch allegiances and become a Twins fan ( when I moved from calif to minn) I was fortunate enough to see tons of games in the plastic dump ( the HHH metrodome...not a good baseball park!) and root my Twins on to World Series victories in 87 and 91. These were great times. I loved my baseball...I was still playing baseball ( no slow pitch softball for me!) into my 30s and still knew all of the professional players and could give you info ad nausim. Then it happened. The game changed and I did too.

One of the main things that changed was the fact that baseballs sacred history changed. The fact that Roger Maris record of 61 homeruns is now almost eclipsed yearly is saddening to me. The fact that it is known that most of these athletes that passed these records were on performance enhancing drugs at the time has tarnished what was the one thing Baseball had going for it. HISTORY. We all know about Barry Bonds breaking Hank Aarons record for homeruns a couple of months ago. I hate to admit that I sat there with no emotion as I saw him circle the bases. It seemed so empty to see this "machine" break the most hallowed of all baseball records. It just seems like the heart has been torn out of the game because of this tainting . Another thing is that today its hard to really latch onto a team and really become attached to it. Free agency has turned baseball rosters into a revolving door of players. Back in the day, you had players that spent 15 -20 years in the same uniform. Most players today play for a average of 4-5 teams in a long career. It just makes it different.

I still watch baseball. I still know most of the players. But its not the same. I feel more detached about it. I don't feel the passion for it like I used to. But every once in a while I see something that makes me miss it like I used to. Like a couple weeks ago, I saw a young mother and her son playing catch in the yard below me. I sat there and smiled. It was so simple and powerful. The game is still those things in its most simple form, but its hard to look past the other junk that tarnishes it. Maybe its what getting older brings and you see those kinds of things.

Baseball, thanks for all that you gave me over the years. I am still out there, a little more cynical...but still believe in ya!

To Blog or Not To Blog

That is my question.

I need your help out there. Does this blog still seem interesting to you? Is it too slanted with my own musical stuff that I love? Would you rather I write more about day to day stuff?

Please let me know what kinds of things you like about this blog...and some things you would like to see.

I know its a blog that is created by me and for me. But.....I would like to make it more fun for the 3 people out there that read it.

SPEAK UP!

Or else!

(or else, I will write more about govt mule!)

Leave a comment please.

Thanks