So, you ask, what gets under Phil's skin? What eats at him? What is it that really rubs him the wrong way? OK, the list goes on and on. But let me give you a little enlightenment on ONE of the thing that bugs me. BAD BUSINESS MANNERS! I think I'll just let you read a little letter I sent off to the Liberal Harley-Davidson store speak for itself. You might catch my drift. So, here goes:
To Whom It May Concern:
Mark me down as a disappointed ex-customer of Liberal Harley-Davidson. Here's why.
Saturday, 12/13/08, I stopped at your store with the intent of buying a couple of T-shirts as Christmas gifts as well as checking on an exhaust heat shield for my Deuce. I had with me a small handle bar tool bag that I had purchased a couple of weeks ago at Tripp's in Amarillo. When I walked in, I wanted to be sure that they knew that I was bringing in the item for exchange and hadn't picked it up off the shelf, so I went directly to the counter. There were two people at the counter. I don't know exactly who they were but I suspect that the lady who "helped" me may have been the owner. The other person was a young man. As far as I could see, I was the only person in the store. There was one car parked out front and two or three vehicles parked in the service area, so it wasn't really busy.
Anyway, as I approached, I assumed that there would be no cash refund. I didn't anticipate it and didn't really want cash. I did, however, expect to be able to exchange a "genuine Harley-Davidson" item at a Harley-Davidson store. So, I explained that I had purchase the tool bag in Amarillo but it wouldn't fit my bike, so would like to exchange. The lady picked up the bag and stated in a matter-of-fact manor that I would have to take it back to Amarillo. I picked up the bag and told her, "That works for me!", and I left. Yes, it pissed me off. But I wasn't going to argue with her.
However, the more I thought about it, the more disappointed I was. And I still am really disappointed with the way that this was handled. First off, if someone walks into my place of business and wants to buy the product I sell, I want them to feel like they are in the right place. I want there business. In the current business climate, I would certainly think that it might be good business for Liberal Harley-Davidson to do the same. Chances are, if someone walks into your store, that person has an interest in HD. In fact, I have been a Harley owner for several years and have frequented your store on a regular basis for those years. You have worked on my bike several times in the past and I have purchased parts, clothing, helmets and clothing in that time frame. Chances are that it will be a cold day in hell before that happens again.
Let me give you an example of how business works in the real world. If I go to JC Penneys and purchase a pair of Levis and then discover when I get home that I picked up the wrong size, you can bet that if I go back to JC Penneys, they will let me exchange the item for whatever I want. And I don't have to go back to the same Penneys store! If I buy the jeans in Amarillo, I can exchange them in Denver or Oklahoma City or even LIBERAL, KS! Go figure! Here's another thought: I'll guarantee you that Stage would be delighted to exchange the Levis for the correct size even though I bought them in Penneys! Why? BECAUSE THEY WANT MY BUSINESS!!! They sell the same product that JC Penneys sells so why not cultivate our relationship? It is GOOD BUSINESS!
I can't for the life of me imagine a scenario where it wouldn't have made perfect sense for your store to exchange a GENUINE HARLEY-DAVIDSON item for something else that you had in your store. Do you not understand that you are chasing away business? Even in an attempt to justify this action by reasoning that perhaps you don't handle this particular item, it still doesn't make sense. I know that you handle tool bags because I purchased one for another bike from you! How hard would it be to simply set the bag on the shelf and let it sell itself? I have to tell you, I am more PO'd NOW than when I started the letter!
In conclusion, what you do for your clients is entirely your business. I understand that. The other thing that I understand is that if you treat ALL of your clients the way that I was treated Saturday, you should go ahead and move back to that little hole-in-the-wall place that you were previously in on the south end of town. Based on the "crowd" you had at 4PM on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, everyone would still have plenty of room. You won't have to worry about me crowding your isles any time soon. I will be exchanging a $24.95 tool bag in Amarillo.
With all due respect, have a good day. Phil Walrod
--
OK, I'm glad THAT'S over with! Do you know me better now? 8-)
Playlist
Monday, December 15, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Hello In There
Hello In There - John Prine
We had an apartment in the city,
Me and Loretta liked living there.
Well, it'd been years since the kids had grown,
A life of their own left us alone.
John and Linda live in Omaha,
And Joe is somewhere on the road.
We lost Davy in the Korean war,
And I still don't know what for,
don't matter a
nymore.
Ya' know that old trees just grow stronger,
And old rivers grow wilder ev'ry day.
Old people just grow lonesome
Waiting for someone to say,
"Hello in there, hello."
Me and Loretta, we don't talk much more,
She sits and stares through the back door screen.
And all the news just repeats itself
Like some forgotten dream that we've both seen.
Someday I'll go and call up Rudy,
We worked together at the factory.
But what could I say if he asks "What's new?"
"Nothing, what's with you? Nothing much to do."
Ya' know that old trees just grow stronger,
And old rivers grow wilder ev'ry day.
Old people just grow lonesome
Waiting for someone to say,
"Hello in there, hello."
So if you're walking down the street sometime
And spot some hollow ancient eyes,
Please don't just pass 'em by and stare
As if you didn't care, say,
"Hello in there, hello."
We had an apartment in the city,
Me and Loretta liked living there.
Well, it'd been years since the kids had grown,
A life of their own left us alone.
John and Linda live in Omaha,
And Joe is somewhere on the road.
We lost Davy in the Korean war,
And I still don't know what for,
don't matter a
nymore.Ya' know that old trees just grow stronger,
And old rivers grow wilder ev'ry day.
Old people just grow lonesome
Waiting for someone to say,
"Hello in there, hello."
Me and Loretta, we don't talk much more,
She sits and stares through the back door screen.
And all the news just repeats itself
Like some forgotten dream that we've both seen.
Someday I'll go and call up Rudy,
We worked together at the factory.
But what could I say if he asks "What's new?"
"Nothing, what's with you? Nothing much to do."
Ya' know that old trees just grow stronger,
And old rivers grow wilder ev'ry day.
Old people just grow lonesome
Waiting for someone to say,
"Hello in there, hello."
So if you're walking down the street sometime
And spot some hollow ancient eyes,
Please don't just pass 'em by and stare
As if you didn't care, say,
"Hello in there, hello."
---
There will be those of you that can relate to this song by John Prine. For those of you who don't, well, someday you will. This is just a reminder for all of us to not forget those of the greatest generation who are passing away every day. Our parents and grandparents. And for some of us getting a little "long in the tooth", it may hit a chord a little bit closer to home. Anyway, don't forget to take a break every now and then to say "Hello in there, hello". I can assure you, it will mean more than you can imagine.
PW
Monday, September 22, 2008
Ridin' the Range
Today, 9/22, is my birthday. That's not exactly a big deal. I will most likely go home tonight after work and mow the yard. Woo! Woo! However, it is a measuring stick. I've been hangin' around for a while now. One thing I've discovered in the past few years is how much I enjoy riding my motorbike. As I have mentioned before, I bought a bike back in 2005. At my "advanced age", I kinda thought if I was ever going to get a bike, I'd better hurry up and "get-r-done". I had the bike for a couple of years, then decided that maybe there were other things more important. I know: noble thought, but STUPID! I didn't regret selling my bike until about 3 minutes had passed.
I ended up buying another bike this June. It's a nice one as far as I'm concerned. It's a 2002 Harley-Davidson Softail Deuce. 
I had decided early in the summer that I was going for a ride. Since I had already been to Stugis for the 2005 Rally, I decided I'd head south and catch up with some old friends, see some places that I hadn't seen in a while and just clear my head. Did I mention Hurricane Eduardo was headed that way?
I had decided early in the summer that I was going for a ride. Since I had already been to Stugis for the 2005 Rally, I decided I'd head south and catch up with some old friends, see some places that I hadn't seen in a while and just clear my head. Did I mention Hurricane Eduardo was headed that way?Anyway, August 1st I took off and headed out to Fort Worth. I left home at about 7:AM and rode into the sunrise. Beautiful, cool morning for a ride. The full leathers felt pretty good in the crisp air. I tried to stay on the smaller, less-traveled state highways where it was possible. I rode across the Oklahoma Panhandle and on into the Texas high plains. The country was fairly familiar as I had worked in the area around Perryton, Canadian and Pampa back years ago. It always looks better on the bike. You feel the breeze and smell the freshly cut hay. The tractor working the field kicks up a little whirlwind as I pass. I spotted turkey just as I came up to the Canadian River crossing and saw deer in the woods off to the side of the road. I was glad they stayed put. I road on south toward Wheeler and Shamrock.
I stopped by a river bridge north of Shamrock to read the historical sign relating to the adventures of Bonnie and Clyde. Apparently, back in the day, they had a little drive in this part of the country and ended up driving the car that they were in off the bridge into the river. Then they walked up to the nearby farmhouse and "borrowed" the local farmer's vehicle. The little sign didn't explain if the brought the car back when they were finished. 
About that time, I was finished with my business, if you know what I mean, and made my way on south. At Childress, I turned southeast toward Wichita Falls. The sun was beating down pretty good by then and I had come out of the leathers. It had turned into a good day for a sunburn on my nose. I made it to Wichita Falls and headed south to Jacksboro. I had heard of Jacksboro for many years but had never ventured there before. As are many of these older Texas towns, Jacksboro was built with the old courthouse in the middle of the square. Looked like a lot of oil and gas activity in the area. I would liked to have spent a little more time exploring but I still had miles to go. So, onward to Fort Worth.
About that time, I was finished with my business, if you know what I mean, and made my way on south. At Childress, I turned southeast toward Wichita Falls. The sun was beating down pretty good by then and I had come out of the leathers. It had turned into a good day for a sunburn on my nose. I made it to Wichita Falls and headed south to Jacksboro. I had heard of Jacksboro for many years but had never ventured there before. As are many of these older Texas towns, Jacksboro was built with the old courthouse in the middle of the square. Looked like a lot of oil and gas activity in the area. I would liked to have spent a little more time exploring but I still had miles to go. So, onward to Fort Worth.I came in the backdoor to Fort Worth. In fact, I had spent a little time researching the back roads, so I didn't even get into the city limits. My old buddy, Mike, lives just outside the loop on the west side of town. I think he officially lives in White Settlement, a suburb on the extreme western edge of town. I made it to Mike's place without even calling for help. For you ladies, we aren't lost! There's still fuel in the tank! After a cool, adult beverage, Mike and I decided that we might need to go to town for dinner. We called my sister-in-law, Dee, and she met us in town for dinner. The restaurant was in the old Montgomery Wards building west of the downtown area. I don't remember the name of the place but they fed us pretty good. Mike and Dee knew just enough Spanish to order enchiladas. I thought to myself, "Aint that handy! I bet they could never have figured out what I was saying if I had ordered a burrito and beer!". Anyway, a good time was had by all as we feasted on the fixin's outside on the sidewalk cafe. It seems it was "too cold" to actually eat indoors. We enjoyed the evening then headed back to Mike's place. I was ready to hit the rack after a 400+ mile ride.
Mike and I spent the next day, Saturday, just catchin' up on lies and other important BS, eatin' some good Texas BBQ and seeing a few sights around town. We went by Dee's place to check out her recently restored home. Pretty interesting house in the older part of FW. She had moved there from Guymon, OK, a few years prior and purchased a couple of houses to restore and then sell. As it turns out, she restored two houses but has yet to sell either. Sounds like some of my own business ventures! Anyway, had a good visit then made it back to Mike's place for the evening after a stop for dinner at a local spot. A good time had by all.
Sunday morning, I rolled out early and said goodbye to Mike. I rode in to Dee's for morning coffee and a short visit before rolling on down the line. I ventured south to Waco, then cut off the beaten path, taking the back roads to Brenham, Texas, to see an old friend and her new husband. Brenham is located between Austin and Houston in a really beautiful part of the state. The highways are tree lined for the most part and, according to the sign by the side of the road, this area was historically significant to Texas coming to be. The original government of Texas was originated in this area. I really don't know. I wasn't around at the time! I guess it's OK with me, though. The most famous item on the menu for the area that I could identify was that it IS the home of Blue Bell Icecream!!! Now you're talkin'! 
Kate and Steve live in the SE suburbs of Brenham in a nice, new home. I had my own guest room and access to the shower. Life is good! Kate is working for Blinn College, the local community college that is most famous for sending Michael Bishop to K-State a few years back. OK, maybe Blinn is famous for other stuff, but who's writing this post? Me or you?!?!?! GO STATE! Kate grew up just down the road from my hometown in Eastern Kansas and we have know each other forever. We went to Juco together back in the olden days, then were in Manhattan at the same time. She has been a friend of the family for many moons. Steve was kidnapped from England a few years back and decided to stay with his captor. I think they are doing fine. And I appreciated their hospitality for the two days in Brenham.
Kate and Steve live in the SE suburbs of Brenham in a nice, new home. I had my own guest room and access to the shower. Life is good! Kate is working for Blinn College, the local community college that is most famous for sending Michael Bishop to K-State a few years back. OK, maybe Blinn is famous for other stuff, but who's writing this post? Me or you?!?!?! GO STATE! Kate grew up just down the road from my hometown in Eastern Kansas and we have know each other forever. We went to Juco together back in the olden days, then were in Manhattan at the same time. She has been a friend of the family for many moons. Steve was kidnapped from England a few years back and decided to stay with his captor. I think they are doing fine. And I appreciated their hospitality for the two days in Brenham.By Tuesday morning, Hurricane Eduardo was coming into the Houston area and since Brenham was in line to catch the storm later in the day, I though it would be a good time for me to exit town. I left and headed south with short stops in Columbus and El Campo before hitting the first sight of the Gulf at Palacios. The scenery had changed from the tall trees up around Brenham to the grassland and coastal plains along the Gulf Coast. Palm trees were now showing up everywhere. Dorothy, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore! I rode on down to Port Aransas where I caught the ferry over to Mustang Island. I stopped into Shorty's, the Oldest and Friendliest bar on the island at the urging of my buddy, Mike. He had been down this way many times and assured me that I wouldn't want to miss this stop. Well, after stopping, it was hard to argue the point. It was definitely the oldest. It was friendly, too. The only two people in the bar were the owner and the barmaid. Both were sipping an ice tea and both greeted me with a smile when I walked through the door. I told them about my friend recommending the establishment to me and explained my adventure. They both were a hoot. The owner had actually inherited the bar from her mom, the original "Shorty".
But daughter must have been much like mom. I think she stood every bit of 4'10". The barmaid had served in Iraq with the army and was from Oklahoma. She had been there for a year or so and just couldn't bring herself to leave the coast for the red dirt of Oklahoma. Can't say that I blamed her for that! I couldn't see the ceiling in the place. Every square foot was covered by "donated" caps from all over the world. Mostly baseball caps with company logos but each had a scribbled note as to the time and event when the hats made it to their new home at Shorty's. Interesting. I visited for a few more minutes and kindly thanked them for the invitation to return in October for their annual "big party". But I told them it might be a little bit longer before I made the 900 mile return trip. Onward to Corpus Christie!
But daughter must have been much like mom. I think she stood every bit of 4'10". The barmaid had served in Iraq with the army and was from Oklahoma. She had been there for a year or so and just couldn't bring herself to leave the coast for the red dirt of Oklahoma. Can't say that I blamed her for that! I couldn't see the ceiling in the place. Every square foot was covered by "donated" caps from all over the world. Mostly baseball caps with company logos but each had a scribbled note as to the time and event when the hats made it to their new home at Shorty's. Interesting. I visited for a few more minutes and kindly thanked them for the invitation to return in October for their annual "big party". But I told them it might be a little bit longer before I made the 900 mile return trip. Onward to Corpus Christie!I rode south on Mustang Island to the bridge connecting with Padre Island and continued south for a few miles just so I could say that I had been there. Then, I turned around and rode back to Corpus Christie. The day was pleasant and I enjoyed the windshield time, the scenery and the Gulf breeze. I stopped for a while at a park by the beach and just relaxed for a few minutes; then I made my way into town and found the building where my buddy, Ronnie, was working in Downtown CC. I gave him a shout, knowing that he would still be at work but wanting to let him know that I had made it to town. He insisted that I come on up to his office while he was finishing up his day. I made my way to his office and after a short visit and greetings to his boss and a couple of co-workers, we headed to his place west of town. By this time, the weather had changed a bit and we ran into some pretty heavy rain as we were getting to the edge of town. I had stopped to put on rain gear but Ronnie didn't seem to mind the rain too much. It may have been because he was in the pickup! Anyway, it rained heavily for the ride to his place. Even with the rain gear, I was soaked to the bone by the time we arrived at the house. But Melissa, Ronnie's better half, greeted me with a dry, jumbo sized towel and all was well.
Ronnie and Melissa had lived in Kansas for 20 years (+/-) and had been great friends to my family and I as our kids grew up together. They had transferred to South Texas when Ronnie's job made him an offer
he couldn't refuse. Melissa works at a local post office a few miles from their home. Their daughters are both working and out on their own. The youngest is engaged and will be getting married next year. Interesting factoid: The wedding will be in Georgetown, Texas, the birthplace of our oldest son. Small world. Ronnie and Melissa are the best parents. These girls are spoiled rotten and that's the way it ought to be. They are great kids. To this day, I have a photo of them on my wall of when they stopped by my office in roller skates and helmets to say hello. Their smiles are just a beautiful today as they were in 1992! I wonder if they still have the helmets?
he couldn't refuse. Melissa works at a local post office a few miles from their home. Their daughters are both working and out on their own. The youngest is engaged and will be getting married next year. Interesting factoid: The wedding will be in Georgetown, Texas, the birthplace of our oldest son. Small world. Ronnie and Melissa are the best parents. These girls are spoiled rotten and that's the way it ought to be. They are great kids. To this day, I have a photo of them on my wall of when they stopped by my office in roller skates and helmets to say hello. Their smiles are just a beautiful today as they were in 1992! I wonder if they still have the helmets? Ronnie took the day off on Wednesday and we went in to CC for a look around. Melissa joined us at the Harley-Davidson dealership and Ronnie came home with a catalog of the new models. I think that if it were left to Melissa, they would have left the catalog and brought home a bike! However, there was something about financing a wedding that gave ole Ronnie-boy cold feet. I think in time I will have to ride back down and we can go for a cruise together. Thursday morning, it was back on the road.
I headed north toward the hill country on Thursday, winding my way through George West, Three Rivers, Pleasanton and Hondo. Then, onward to Utopia! This was
actually a destination point when I planned my ride. I had worked in Utopia back in the olden days and couldn't wait to check out my memory bank. Sure enough, it was just the way I pictured it! This little village is like a picture postcard. The hills that surround the town are covered with live oak, cedars and mesquite. The town center has several small businesses, a doctors clinic and a home town bank. Pickups lined the main drag in front of the local watering hole and beanery. All is well. I made my way on up to Bandera and noted that I was a few weeks early for the Texas Hog Rally that was scheduled for the area. Maybe I can make it next year. I stopped into a local BBQ place to try out their wares and was well satisfied with a nice, tangy brisket sandwich and cool drink to wet my pipes. I wandered around amongst the tourists for a spell, then back in the saddle and on to Kerrville for the night.
actually a destination point when I planned my ride. I had worked in Utopia back in the olden days and couldn't wait to check out my memory bank. Sure enough, it was just the way I pictured it! This little village is like a picture postcard. The hills that surround the town are covered with live oak, cedars and mesquite. The town center has several small businesses, a doctors clinic and a home town bank. Pickups lined the main drag in front of the local watering hole and beanery. All is well. I made my way on up to Bandera and noted that I was a few weeks early for the Texas Hog Rally that was scheduled for the area. Maybe I can make it next year. I stopped into a local BBQ place to try out their wares and was well satisfied with a nice, tangy brisket sandwich and cool drink to wet my pipes. I wandered around amongst the tourists for a spell, then back in the saddle and on to Kerrville for the night.Kerrville is the spot that people think of when you talk about the Texas Hill Country. It is again and beautiful place surrounded by ranches small and large. I was amazed at the number of people here from all over the country. This was my one night in a motel during my trip and I saw vehicles from nearly a dozen different states. There were vehilcles from North Carolina to California; from Montana to Mississippi. The next morning as I was packing my bike to leave, I was stopped by a guy from Hesston, Kansas, who had noticed my Kansas tag and had a need to visit. I spent an hour listening to his life history before I hit him in the head with a rock and explained that I was not going to write his biography no matter how many times he repeated himself! Other than that, we had a great visit! I headed out from Kerrville and on to Fredricksburg, another of the Hillcountry's finest. I didn't spend too much time there as I had another "must see" destination on the agenda: Luckenbach! Luckenbach was made famous is a song by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings in the 1970's then "Outlaw Country" 
became the IT thing. Luckenbach was founded in the mid 1980's by German settlers. The old timers had moved there with their families and the town really hadn't changed much for a hundred years. When things started to break apart, a local legend, Hondo Couch, stepped in and bought the town, complete with Post Office/General Store/Bar and it became a hangout for the locals as well as the outlaws from the Austin area, about 100 miles to the east, who found Luckenbach the perfect place to disappear from the crowds. There is still the same PO/Gen. Store/Bar as well as the dance hall next door. I arrived just before 9:AM but the proprietor was more than happy to welcome me in so that I could purchase my souvenir T-shirt. Then he took a quick picture for me in front of the PO and sent me on my way. Thanks!
became the IT thing. Luckenbach was founded in the mid 1980's by German settlers. The old timers had moved there with their families and the town really hadn't changed much for a hundred years. When things started to break apart, a local legend, Hondo Couch, stepped in and bought the town, complete with Post Office/General Store/Bar and it became a hangout for the locals as well as the outlaws from the Austin area, about 100 miles to the east, who found Luckenbach the perfect place to disappear from the crowds. There is still the same PO/Gen. Store/Bar as well as the dance hall next door. I arrived just before 9:AM but the proprietor was more than happy to welcome me in so that I could purchase my souvenir T-shirt. Then he took a quick picture for me in front of the PO and sent me on my way. Thanks! Onward from Luckenbach to Johnson City, the home of LBJ Ranch; then Marble Falls, Lampasas, and Brownwood. I made it through Rising Star and then stopped in Cisco for another sample of Texas BBQ. This time, it was in a little main street mom and pop joint off of the main drag. I was a little late for lunch which was just fine with me. The owner sat down and we visited for a spell about life in general. He had retired from his "real job" and had taken up his passion: BBQ! Good choice! The food was great and the company better. He sent me off with a handshake and a "ride easy" and away I went again. I cut across country this time to he northwest, riding through Albany, Old Glory and Aspermont. Then north to Guthrie and Paducah. I stopped in Paducah and filled up with gas and thought it would be a good time to catch the weather as the locals in the coffee shop had the weather channel on the tube. I could see the clouds gathering in the west, so, even though I had planned to head west and stop for the night in Clarendon, I wanted to be dry as long as possible. I headed on north instead and on to Childress.
A few miles before I arrived in Childress, I could see it was time to dig out the rain gear. I stopped beside the road and geared up. Sure enough, less than a mile later, the rain began. Not too bad, though, so I continued on north toward Wellington. The sun came back out and I thought it was safe to get out of my gear. I rode on through Shamrock and stopped by the side of the road one more time at the Bonnie and Clyde sign. It seemed like a nice place to pee, errrr, to be! Back on my bike, I made it to Wheeler, then on to Canadian. Stopping for gas, I had now decided that I would just keep riding for the night. Home was within reach at this point. Less than 200 miles to go. I jumped on and crossed the Canadian River and up the road toward Perryton. The clouds were getting really nasty to the west but I thought that if I stayed the course, I had a good shot at making it home dry.
I was wrong about that one! Everything was fine until the highway all of the sudden makes a left turn. Now I'm heading right into the storm. I could tell this wasn't a good thing, but there isn't much between Canadian and Perryton so I didn't have much choice. Again, I pulled off and geared up in my dry suit. Less than a half mile up the road I hit it. I was heading west and the wind roared in from the south with heavy rain. Actually, the rain was blowing cross-ways and the bike was being pushed underneath me, sliding on the pavement as I rode. Now, I'm thinkin' "wouldn't a motel room in Childress be nice!". However, there's not too many choices at this point. I said a quick prayer and did my best to keep the shiny side up. After what seemed an eternity, I came out the other side and the rain let up. It was probably less than 5 miles, but it took me 15 minutes to bust through the storm. Finally, the road turned back north and before long, Perryton City Limits was in my sight. Woo! Woo!
From Perryton to Guymon, OK, it's about 60 miles. The bad part is that it's beginning to get dark by now. I am committed at this point to riding on in tonight. Even though the heavy rain has stopped, it continued to rain on me for the next hour. All the way to Guymon, I battled my goggles. Water contiually accumulated on the inside of my glasses. Not terrible in the daylight but at night... not a good thing. I stopped a time or two a cleaned the lenses and eventually made it Guymon by about 9:PM. A final gas stop and onward to Elkhart!
I rode into town at 10:PM on Friday night. 8 days on the road and I will sleep in my bed tonight! 1992.3 miles later, it was good to see my town again. What a great time! This last day, over 600 miles from Kerrville, TX, to Elkhart, KS, with several stops in between. But it was a really good trip. Fresh air. Sunshine. The coast. Old friends. New aquaintences. The cleansing rain. Home at last. Needless to say, I slept pretty good that night. I may take a break from riding for a while. At least until next weekend!
Until then, ride easy!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Into The Wild
Well, my son, Ty, has been after me to watch the movie, Into the Wild, for several months. He even sent me the soundtrack for Christmas. The music is by Eddie Vedder, who is the lead singer and front man for Pearl Jam for those of you who may not know who he is. I have already posted a little from PJ, including one of my favorite songs, Off He Goes. That song hit me like a ton of bricks. It's like reading a bible verse for the 100th time but all of the sudden it hits you that it is different than you thought it was. There is something special about that passage, or, in this case, the song. Anyway, that's the way Off He Goes hit me. That song was my song. Most likely, nobody else pictured me as the guy in the song. That's OK with me. It wasn't about them identifying me. It was about ME identifying me. Check it out.
---
I know a man, his face seems pulled and tense. Like he's ridin' on a motorbike in the strongest wind. So I approach with tact. Suggest that he should relax. But he's always movin' much to fast. Says he'll see me on the flip side. It's like his thoughts are too big for his size. He's been takin' too much on. There he goes with his perfectly unkept clothes. There he goes.
---
Anyway, the song was about me. It really doesn't matter what anyone else sees in the song. It hit a chord with me. It still does every time I listen to it.
So, the movie came out late last year but it never hit the local movie house. AND THEN... My brother-in-law decided to clean out his extra "stuff" a few weeks back and he sent a box of DVD's home with us along with a whole lot of other "stuff". As I was rummaging through it, I discovered the movie previously mentioned in the box. So, my wife and my other son, Zac, decided to have movie night and watch the flick. If you haven't seen it, take the time to rent it and have a watch. It's based on a true story about a guy who finishes college and heads off to find himself. He ends up travelling from Georgia to the Alaska wilderness with stops along the way. Sean Penn is the director and he hand picked Eddie Vedder to write the music for the movie. I have since found out that Eddie also wrote the soundtrack for Dead Man Walking, another good flick.
The movie hit me right between the eyes. I couldn't sleep that night. I kept seeing myself as the parent who had all the wrong priorities. In the end, it drove the son away. The son took off for points unknown, basically disavowing his previous existence and even adopting a new name. He didn't want any part of the world that his parents lived in. So, off he went, into the wild. The saddest part is that he realized at last that they all needed each other. You must SHARE happiness in order to be TRULY HAPPY. But the discovery came too late.
One of the songs on the soundtrack is Hard Sun. Here's the lyrics:
When I walk beside her
I am the better man.
When I look to leave her
I always stagger back again.
Once I built an ivory tower
So I could worship from above.
When I climb down to be set free
She took me in again.
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beating on the big people
In the big hard world.
When she comes to greet me
She is mercy at my feet.
I see her inner charm
She just throws it back at me.
Once I dug an early grave
To find a better land.
She just smiled and laughed at me
And took her rules back again.
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beating on the big people
In the big hard world.
When I go to cross that river
She is comfort by my side.
When I try to understand
She just opens up her hands.
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beating on the big people
In the big hard world.
Once I stood to lose her
And I saw what I had done.
Bowed down and threw away the hours
Of her garden and her sun.
So I tried to want her
I turned to see her weep.
40 days and 40 nights
And it's still coming down on me.
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beating on the big people
In the big hard world.
There are a couple of other songs on the CD that are really good. But I'll let you discover that for yourself. As I mentioned in an earlier post, this blog is for my ramblings. The movie and the soundtrack was good for me. It opened my eyes to some things that I sometimes tend to skip over. Such as the key to happiness. It is really hard to be happy by yourself. You need somebody to SHARE your happiness with. Otherwise, it doesn't really amount to much. Think about that for a while.
I am planning a bike trip in a few days. I bought a new bike. Well, a new bike for me, anyway. It's a 2002 Harley Softtail Deuce. Actually, it's the same as the bike in the picture except black and more chrome. And, I won't sell this one! I decided to sell the first one and didn't regret it until about 5 minutes after I sold it. But after a year, I found a better one! So now I am planning a trip to Texas on August 1st to the 9th or 10th to re-aquaint myself to some old friends. I will be in Fort Worth, Austin, Brenham, Corpus Christie and other points during my 2000+ mile adventure. I hope to share a little happiness with some old friends. I'll let you know how it turns out!
Until then, ride easy! PW
---
I know a man, his face seems pulled and tense. Like he's ridin' on a motorbike in the strongest wind. So I approach with tact. Suggest that he should relax. But he's always movin' much to fast. Says he'll see me on the flip side. It's like his thoughts are too big for his size. He's been takin' too much on. There he goes with his perfectly unkept clothes. There he goes.
---
Anyway, the song was about me. It really doesn't matter what anyone else sees in the song. It hit a chord with me. It still does every time I listen to it.
So, the movie came out late last year but it never hit the local movie house. AND THEN... My brother-in-law decided to clean out his extra "stuff" a few weeks back and he sent a box of DVD's home with us along with a whole lot of other "stuff". As I was rummaging through it, I discovered the movie previously mentioned in the box. So, my wife and my other son, Zac, decided to have movie night and watch the flick. If you haven't seen it, take the time to rent it and have a watch. It's based on a true story about a guy who finishes college and heads off to find himself. He ends up travelling from Georgia to the Alaska wilderness with stops along the way. Sean Penn is the director and he hand picked Eddie Vedder to write the music for the movie. I have since found out that Eddie also wrote the soundtrack for Dead Man Walking, another good flick.
The movie hit me right between the eyes. I couldn't sleep that night. I kept seeing myself as the parent who had all the wrong priorities. In the end, it drove the son away. The son took off for points unknown, basically disavowing his previous existence and even adopting a new name. He didn't want any part of the world that his parents lived in. So, off he went, into the wild. The saddest part is that he realized at last that they all needed each other. You must SHARE happiness in order to be TRULY HAPPY. But the discovery came too late.
One of the songs on the soundtrack is Hard Sun. Here's the lyrics:
When I walk beside her
I am the better man.
When I look to leave her
I always stagger back again.
Once I built an ivory tower
So I could worship from above.
When I climb down to be set free
She took me in again.
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beating on the big people
In the big hard world.
When she comes to greet me
She is mercy at my feet.
I see her inner charm
She just throws it back at me.
Once I dug an early grave
To find a better land.
She just smiled and laughed at me
And took her rules back again.
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beating on the big people
In the big hard world.
When I go to cross that river
She is comfort by my side.
When I try to understand
She just opens up her hands.
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beating on the big people
In the big hard world.
Once I stood to lose her
And I saw what I had done.
Bowed down and threw away the hours
Of her garden and her sun.
So I tried to want her
I turned to see her weep.
40 days and 40 nights
And it's still coming down on me.
There's a big
A big hard sun
Beating on the big people
In the big hard world.
There are a couple of other songs on the CD that are really good. But I'll let you discover that for yourself. As I mentioned in an earlier post, this blog is for my ramblings. The movie and the soundtrack was good for me. It opened my eyes to some things that I sometimes tend to skip over. Such as the key to happiness. It is really hard to be happy by yourself. You need somebody to SHARE your happiness with. Otherwise, it doesn't really amount to much. Think about that for a while.
I am planning a bike trip in a few days. I bought a new bike. Well, a new bike for me, anyway. It's a 2002 Harley Softtail Deuce. Actually, it's the same as the bike in the picture except black and more chrome. And, I won't sell this one! I decided to sell the first one and didn't regret it until about 5 minutes after I sold it. But after a year, I found a better one! So now I am planning a trip to Texas on August 1st to the 9th or 10th to re-aquaint myself to some old friends. I will be in Fort Worth, Austin, Brenham, Corpus Christie and other points during my 2000+ mile adventure. I hope to share a little happiness with some old friends. I'll let you know how it turns out!
Until then, ride easy! PW
Saturday, February 2, 2008
I Lost a Friend Today...
I lost a friend today. It happens to all of us. I'm not special in that regard. But she was special. She was older. OK, quite a bit older. She had a few years on most of us. And she had a beautiful, young heart. She brought so much to so many. She was a poet, a musician, a mom, a sister, an aunt and so much more to so many people. She was a wonderful wife to a great man for a good many years. When she lost Henry, or Hank as I liked to call him, it was tough for her. But she was surrounded by friends who cared deeply for her and kept an eye out for her. She had a good ear for looking out for other people's hearts, too. And a heart as big as the Western Kansas sky. I will miss her dearly.
Ruth played the piano at church for so long that most of us who knew her couldn't remember a time that she didn't play. That is, up until these last couple of years. Her health began to fail and it became more and more of a challenge for her to play. But on occasion when she did, she never failed to make everyone's heart sing. She connected to people and people connected to her. Music is beautiful like that. Her poetry was just as good as her piano playing. The only difference is that many of us didn't even know she wrote poetry for the longest time.
I remember when my son, Ty, was younger, he had a small computer business that he operated, selling and servicing computers. Ruth had bought or been given a funky old computer that she used to write down her poems. It was easier than using a typewriter but it was certainly not easy for her. Ruth must have been close to 80 years old when she started using her computer. Well, she called Ty one day and wondered if he could come by and have a look at her computer. She just couldn't get it to print. Well, I drove Ty over by her little single-wide and she invited us in and showed us the way to the little office where the computer sat on a small desk. It didn't take Ty long to figure out that the problem was simply a case of the printer being out of ink! Ty didn't have the proper cartridge on hand but he ordered one that evening. The cartridge came in and we went back by and he installed the cartridge for Ruth and had her back in business. You would have thought that he had reinvented the wheel. Ruth was so tickled that he got her up and running again. I remember that as being the first of many times that Ty went by to check on Ruth just to see that she was getting along alright. At the time, he was in middle school; probably not more that 12 or 13 years old. Today, Ty has graduated from Washburn University with a degree in Business and is living and working in California. But in between middle school and now, Ty has kept in touch with Ruth, even going by to see her when he was home on school breaks or vacation. She always referred to him as "my friend, Ty". That makes me very proud of him. I probably haven't even told him that I was proud of him for that, but now I will. Thanks, Ty, for being a friend to my friend. She loved you, too, ya know!
Friends are funny. Sometimes you don't realize what they even mean to you until they aren't around anymore. I fear that maybe I have neglected too many friends over the years. Friends from school. Friends that I have worked with over time. Old college friends who have drifted away. Occassionally, someone will drop a line or give me a call and I will think, "it's great to hear from my friend". I wonder why we let friends go so long without getting in touch? My friend, Mike, from Fort Worth. My friend, Chuck, who's grandparents lived next door to me when I was a kid. My cousins who are to numerous to mention! Friends who I have known over the past twenty years and more who have come and gone. It's not that I don't care. It's just that time slips away. Pretty soon, it's ten years gone and I haven't heard anything from R.G. and Sherri or Ronnie and Melissa. I guess that we all must be somewhat alike, because if I haven't talked to them, well, they haven't talked to me, either! Funny how that works, aint it!
Maybe I can change. Maybe we all can change. I remember when I was a kid going to Bob and Marie's house on Friday nights. The folks would play Pinochle and us kids would play Crazy 8's. That's card games for you that might have questions. But everything stopped when Gunsmoke came on TV! Actually, The Flintstones came on first, but the "old people" weren't as interested in The Flintstones. EVERYONE stopped for Gunsmoke! It was a big deal, ya know! People actually stopped by for visits back when I was a kid. That doesn't happen much anymore. If you stop by someone's house unannounced now, you had better have Girl Scout Cookies! (Made from real girl scouts!) Friends shouldn't have to have announcements to stop by and say "hi"! What the heck has happened to us?
We need friends. I need friends. You need friends. We all need friends. Friends help us when we need a second opinion or when you need to bounce an idea around a little. You see, two heads are better than one. Someone, somewhere said that several times. It just took me a while to get it! It's really good to be married to a friend. Things work better that way! You don't have to drive so far for someone to give you that little tidbit of insight to the worlds problems. The spouse might be the a good source of information! What a concept, huh! " friend in need is a friend indeed." I'm not sure who said that but it sounds heavy. I do remember a friend from "the olden days" who had a similar line: " A friend with weed is a friend indeed". Gosh, I wonder what he meant by that??? ... Nevermind. Steve, we won't name names, OK!?!?!
Anyway, I think I will make a point of getting hold of a few of my old friends. Katie, if you are out there, it was good to get your email a couple of weeks back. And if I can get to Brenham, I'll take you up on the place to throw my nap-sack! Jeanette, how's St. Paul? Hey, Mike! This may be the year we really go to Mexico! Hey, Dana! How are things in Leveland? And I hear there's snow in St Louis, but I'm sure it will melt by the time I get my bike tuned up and running!
We will all miss you Ruth. Thanks to all my friends for listening! I love you, ya know, even if I haven't told you lately. Sorry if I haven't been in touch enough.
IF YOU SEE HER, SAY HELLO
Bob Dylan
If you see her, say hello; she might be in Tangier.
She left here last early spring, is livin there, I hear.
Say for me that I'm all right though things get kind of slow.
She might think that I've forgotten her, don't tell her it isn't so.
We had a falling-out, like lovers often will.
And to think of how she left that night, it still brings me a chill.
And though our separation, it pierced me to the heart.
She still lives inside of me, we've never been apart.
If you get close to her, kiss her once for me.
I always have respected her for busting out and gettin free.
Oh, whatever makes her happy, I won't stand in the way.
Though the bitter taste still lingers on from the night I tried to make her stay.
I see a lot of people as I make the rounds.
And I hear her name here and there as I go from town to town.
And I've never gotten used to it, I've just learned to turn it off.
Either I'm too sensitive or else Im gettin soft.
Sundown, yellow moon, I replay the past.
I know every scene by heart, they all went by so fast.
If shes passin back this way, I'm not that hard to find.
Tell her she can look me up if shes got the time.
Peace. Out. PW
Ruth played the piano at church for so long that most of us who knew her couldn't remember a time that she didn't play. That is, up until these last couple of years. Her health began to fail and it became more and more of a challenge for her to play. But on occasion when she did, she never failed to make everyone's heart sing. She connected to people and people connected to her. Music is beautiful like that. Her poetry was just as good as her piano playing. The only difference is that many of us didn't even know she wrote poetry for the longest time.
I remember when my son, Ty, was younger, he had a small computer business that he operated, selling and servicing computers. Ruth had bought or been given a funky old computer that she used to write down her poems. It was easier than using a typewriter but it was certainly not easy for her. Ruth must have been close to 80 years old when she started using her computer. Well, she called Ty one day and wondered if he could come by and have a look at her computer. She just couldn't get it to print. Well, I drove Ty over by her little single-wide and she invited us in and showed us the way to the little office where the computer sat on a small desk. It didn't take Ty long to figure out that the problem was simply a case of the printer being out of ink! Ty didn't have the proper cartridge on hand but he ordered one that evening. The cartridge came in and we went back by and he installed the cartridge for Ruth and had her back in business. You would have thought that he had reinvented the wheel. Ruth was so tickled that he got her up and running again. I remember that as being the first of many times that Ty went by to check on Ruth just to see that she was getting along alright. At the time, he was in middle school; probably not more that 12 or 13 years old. Today, Ty has graduated from Washburn University with a degree in Business and is living and working in California. But in between middle school and now, Ty has kept in touch with Ruth, even going by to see her when he was home on school breaks or vacation. She always referred to him as "my friend, Ty". That makes me very proud of him. I probably haven't even told him that I was proud of him for that, but now I will. Thanks, Ty, for being a friend to my friend. She loved you, too, ya know!
Friends are funny. Sometimes you don't realize what they even mean to you until they aren't around anymore. I fear that maybe I have neglected too many friends over the years. Friends from school. Friends that I have worked with over time. Old college friends who have drifted away. Occassionally, someone will drop a line or give me a call and I will think, "it's great to hear from my friend". I wonder why we let friends go so long without getting in touch? My friend, Mike, from Fort Worth. My friend, Chuck, who's grandparents lived next door to me when I was a kid. My cousins who are to numerous to mention! Friends who I have known over the past twenty years and more who have come and gone. It's not that I don't care. It's just that time slips away. Pretty soon, it's ten years gone and I haven't heard anything from R.G. and Sherri or Ronnie and Melissa. I guess that we all must be somewhat alike, because if I haven't talked to them, well, they haven't talked to me, either! Funny how that works, aint it!
Maybe I can change. Maybe we all can change. I remember when I was a kid going to Bob and Marie's house on Friday nights. The folks would play Pinochle and us kids would play Crazy 8's. That's card games for you that might have questions. But everything stopped when Gunsmoke came on TV! Actually, The Flintstones came on first, but the "old people" weren't as interested in The Flintstones. EVERYONE stopped for Gunsmoke! It was a big deal, ya know! People actually stopped by for visits back when I was a kid. That doesn't happen much anymore. If you stop by someone's house unannounced now, you had better have Girl Scout Cookies! (Made from real girl scouts!) Friends shouldn't have to have announcements to stop by and say "hi"! What the heck has happened to us?
We need friends. I need friends. You need friends. We all need friends. Friends help us when we need a second opinion or when you need to bounce an idea around a little. You see, two heads are better than one. Someone, somewhere said that several times. It just took me a while to get it! It's really good to be married to a friend. Things work better that way! You don't have to drive so far for someone to give you that little tidbit of insight to the worlds problems. The spouse might be the a good source of information! What a concept, huh! " friend in need is a friend indeed." I'm not sure who said that but it sounds heavy. I do remember a friend from "the olden days" who had a similar line: " A friend with weed is a friend indeed". Gosh, I wonder what he meant by that??? ... Nevermind. Steve, we won't name names, OK!?!?!
Anyway, I think I will make a point of getting hold of a few of my old friends. Katie, if you are out there, it was good to get your email a couple of weeks back. And if I can get to Brenham, I'll take you up on the place to throw my nap-sack! Jeanette, how's St. Paul? Hey, Mike! This may be the year we really go to Mexico! Hey, Dana! How are things in Leveland? And I hear there's snow in St Louis, but I'm sure it will melt by the time I get my bike tuned up and running!
We will all miss you Ruth. Thanks to all my friends for listening! I love you, ya know, even if I haven't told you lately. Sorry if I haven't been in touch enough.
IF YOU SEE HER, SAY HELLO
Bob Dylan
If you see her, say hello; she might be in Tangier.
She left here last early spring, is livin there, I hear.
Say for me that I'm all right though things get kind of slow.
She might think that I've forgotten her, don't tell her it isn't so.
We had a falling-out, like lovers often will.
And to think of how she left that night, it still brings me a chill.
And though our separation, it pierced me to the heart.
She still lives inside of me, we've never been apart.
If you get close to her, kiss her once for me.
I always have respected her for busting out and gettin free.
Oh, whatever makes her happy, I won't stand in the way.
Though the bitter taste still lingers on from the night I tried to make her stay.
I see a lot of people as I make the rounds.
And I hear her name here and there as I go from town to town.
And I've never gotten used to it, I've just learned to turn it off.
Either I'm too sensitive or else Im gettin soft.
Sundown, yellow moon, I replay the past.
I know every scene by heart, they all went by so fast.
If shes passin back this way, I'm not that hard to find.
Tell her she can look me up if shes got the time.
Peace. Out. PW
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
All I Really Want
I like all kinds of music. OK, some more than others, but pretty-much all music at least. As I discussed in an earlier post, I awake to music every day. I've still had Joni Mitchell running around my brain for the past 10 days or so, but the last couple of mornings it was Crosby, Stills & Nash. If you haven't heard their music for a while, well, you should. Dark Star was on an album that they put out in the early 80's, along with another song, Shadow Captain. They have stuck with me for a long time. I received a Best Buy gift certificate for Christmas so instead of buying something sensible, I "invested" in a Crosby, Stills & Nash CD, titled Carry On. It had a ton of their early work on it, including my favorite song while I was in high school, Suite, Judy Blue Eyes. (Yes, it WAS a long time ago!) I've always loved their harmonies. Thanks to Sher for getting me started on groups singing harmonies back in the Dark Ages. I remember Frankie Valle and the Four Seasons and their goofy harmonies. But CS&N was better. It was Rock with harmonies, not some lame, east coast crap sung by guys in suits and thin ties. These guys were at Woodstock!
Neil Young was the fourth member and he sang on many of their songs, too (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young). However, Neil always had his own band, too. Crazy Horse was putting out music in the late sixties at the same time that CS&N was making music. Young and Crazy Horse was more in-your-face guitars and jam-band music and CS&N continued their style of harmonies, peace and love music. In fact, the song "Woodstock" was a hit by CS&N, but it was actually written by Joni Mitchell. Funny how that works, huh. Anyway, my morning music for the past several days has been Shadow Captain and Dark Star. It's kinda Caribbean Island, Jimmy Buffet style "boat music". If you heard it you would like it, I think. And if you don't, hey!, it's my blog!
So, another song that has been going around my head is a Bob Dylan song, Meet Me In The Morning from his Blood on the Tracks CD. Gotta be one of his best albums ever. Ask Scott Myers, another Dylan admirer. Scott actually invited me to a Dylan concert a couple of years back, then he chickened out. What a wussy-boy! OK, he did invite me again to go to KC and see Dylan and I couldn't make that one, so I guess we are even. I love Dylan. He is one of my heroes. I don't have many heroes. I take my heroes very seriously. More on that later.
Anyway, the first few lines: Meet me in the morning, 56th and Wabasha, Honey we could be in Kansas, by the time the snow begins to thaw.
You know it's gotta be good. Hey! It's Dylan!
I like lots of music. Jerry Jeff Walker did a great song that reflects a vision of life that many of us think about but few of us can put into words. Have you ever thought that maybe you weren't making the kind of progress in your little walk of life that you wished you would? Or have you, like me, thought maybe your efforts were maybe in vain? Jerry Jeff penned a song that addresses that line of stinkin' thinkin', called "Pissin' In the Wind". Jerry Jeff is a country boy who sings country music like it should be sung: Behind a chicken wire attached to the front of the stage! (Example: Pissin' in the wind. Bettin' on a losin' hand. Makin' the same mistakes we swear we'll never make again. ... We're gonna sit and grin and tell our grand children.) I have a friend who told me that this was one of her favorite songs. I never would have guessed it, but was pleasantly surprised that there at least was someone out there with a sense of humor, warped as it is, that's running on the same tracks as mine. I'll get that one down for you sooner or later.
Right now I wanted to share another one with you. Alanis Morissette sang a song on her album, Jagged Little Pill. It was full of interesting questions and comments. I like the music. I like the words, too. Maybe it will make you think about what you really want.
All I Really Want
Alanis Morissette
Do I stress you out
My sweater is on backwards and inside out
And you say how appropriate
I don't want to dissect everything today
I don't mean to pick you apart you see
But I cant help it
There I go jumping before the gunshot has gone off
Slap me with a splintered ruler
And it would knock me to the floor if I wasn't there already
If only I could hunt the hunter
And all I really want is some patience
A way to calm the angry voice
And all I really want is deliverance
Do I wear you out
You must wonder why I'm relentless and all strung out
I'm consumed by the chill of solitary
I'm like Estella
I like to reel it in and spit it out
I'm frustrated by your apathy
And I am frightened by the corrupted ways of this land
If only I could meet the maker
And I'm fascinated by the spiritual man
I am humbled by his humble nature
What I wouldn't give to find a soulmate
Someone else to catch this drift
And what I wouldn't give to meet a kindred
Enough about me, lets talk about you for a minute
Enough about you, lets talk about life for a while
The conflicts, the craziness and the sound of pretenses
Falling all around... all around
Why are you so petrified of silence
Here can you handle this?
Did you think about your bills, your ex, your deadlines
Or when you think you're gonna die
Or did you long for the next distraction
And all I need now is intellectual intercourse
A soul to dig the hole much deeper
And I have no concept of time other than it is flying
If only I could kill the killer
All I really want is some peace man
A place to find a common ground
And all I really want is a wavelength
All I really want is some comfort
A way to get my hands untied
And all I really want is some justice
---------------------
OK, as I mentioned on an earlier on the blogspot, don't forget that you can go to http://www.seeqpod.com/ and you should be able to find any one of these songs for a quick listen. NO, it's not that hard to do!
Thanks for listening!
Peace. Out.
Neil Young was the fourth member and he sang on many of their songs, too (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young). However, Neil always had his own band, too. Crazy Horse was putting out music in the late sixties at the same time that CS&N was making music. Young and Crazy Horse was more in-your-face guitars and jam-band music and CS&N continued their style of harmonies, peace and love music. In fact, the song "Woodstock" was a hit by CS&N, but it was actually written by Joni Mitchell. Funny how that works, huh. Anyway, my morning music for the past several days has been Shadow Captain and Dark Star. It's kinda Caribbean Island, Jimmy Buffet style "boat music". If you heard it you would like it, I think. And if you don't, hey!, it's my blog!
So, another song that has been going around my head is a Bob Dylan song, Meet Me In The Morning from his Blood on the Tracks CD. Gotta be one of his best albums ever. Ask Scott Myers, another Dylan admirer. Scott actually invited me to a Dylan concert a couple of years back, then he chickened out. What a wussy-boy! OK, he did invite me again to go to KC and see Dylan and I couldn't make that one, so I guess we are even. I love Dylan. He is one of my heroes. I don't have many heroes. I take my heroes very seriously. More on that later.
Anyway, the first few lines: Meet me in the morning, 56th and Wabasha, Honey we could be in Kansas, by the time the snow begins to thaw.
You know it's gotta be good. Hey! It's Dylan!
I like lots of music. Jerry Jeff Walker did a great song that reflects a vision of life that many of us think about but few of us can put into words. Have you ever thought that maybe you weren't making the kind of progress in your little walk of life that you wished you would? Or have you, like me, thought maybe your efforts were maybe in vain? Jerry Jeff penned a song that addresses that line of stinkin' thinkin', called "Pissin' In the Wind". Jerry Jeff is a country boy who sings country music like it should be sung: Behind a chicken wire attached to the front of the stage! (Example: Pissin' in the wind. Bettin' on a losin' hand. Makin' the same mistakes we swear we'll never make again. ... We're gonna sit and grin and tell our grand children.) I have a friend who told me that this was one of her favorite songs. I never would have guessed it, but was pleasantly surprised that there at least was someone out there with a sense of humor, warped as it is, that's running on the same tracks as mine. I'll get that one down for you sooner or later.
Right now I wanted to share another one with you. Alanis Morissette sang a song on her album, Jagged Little Pill. It was full of interesting questions and comments. I like the music. I like the words, too. Maybe it will make you think about what you really want.
All I Really Want
Alanis Morissette
Do I stress you out
My sweater is on backwards and inside out
And you say how appropriate
I don't want to dissect everything today
I don't mean to pick you apart you see
But I cant help it
There I go jumping before the gunshot has gone off
Slap me with a splintered ruler
And it would knock me to the floor if I wasn't there already
If only I could hunt the hunter
And all I really want is some patience
A way to calm the angry voice
And all I really want is deliverance
Do I wear you out
You must wonder why I'm relentless and all strung out
I'm consumed by the chill of solitary
I'm like Estella
I like to reel it in and spit it out
I'm frustrated by your apathy
And I am frightened by the corrupted ways of this land
If only I could meet the maker
And I'm fascinated by the spiritual man
I am humbled by his humble nature
What I wouldn't give to find a soulmate
Someone else to catch this drift
And what I wouldn't give to meet a kindred
Enough about me, lets talk about you for a minute
Enough about you, lets talk about life for a while
The conflicts, the craziness and the sound of pretenses
Falling all around... all around
Why are you so petrified of silence
Here can you handle this?
Did you think about your bills, your ex, your deadlines
Or when you think you're gonna die
Or did you long for the next distraction
And all I need now is intellectual intercourse
A soul to dig the hole much deeper
And I have no concept of time other than it is flying
If only I could kill the killer
All I really want is some peace man
A place to find a common ground
And all I really want is a wavelength
All I really want is some comfort
A way to get my hands untied
And all I really want is some justice
---------------------
OK, as I mentioned on an earlier on the blogspot, don't forget that you can go to http://www.seeqpod.com/ and you should be able to find any one of these songs for a quick listen. NO, it's not that hard to do!
Thanks for listening!
Peace. Out.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Onions and m&m's
Don't you hate it when someone assumes that you think the same way that they do? (Note: Prior sentence is a prime example of what I'm talking about. By simply asking the question, I am assuming that you agree with me.) When people assume to much about what's going on inside someone else's gray matter, it can be a little awkward/troubling/irritating/etc. So, generally speaking, you will find that I tend to write about stuff from my point of reference rather than assuming that you will be thinking exactly like me. First of all, it would certainly be a boring world if we all thought alike. Also, we might think we know what someone else is thinking, and in fact, they may agree (on the outside) with a thought that we share. However, on the inside, we never know what they are really thinking for sure. Stay with me.
As the Beatles put it (back in the Olden Days for you pups), "Everybody's got something to hide 'cept for me and my monkey". Fact: EVERYBODY has something that they keep to themselves. Take it to the bank. You may think you know all there is to know about someone, but it's never that simple. In fact, we don't even know all there is to know about ourselves, let alone someone else. Am I right, or am I right? But there's nothing wrong with that.
Who among us really wants to know everything about the other guy or gal. With knowledge comes responsibility. If you know that the person who you are desperately in love with has a thing for sniffing toe-jam, it may change your mind about a long term relationship. If you knew your neighbor wasn't just a handyman/bricklayer/carpenter, but was also an excellent marksman who could put a bullet through a button hole at 100 yards (because he has the body buried in concrete under his basement floor to prove it!) it might tend to make you a little uneasy about borrowing the hedge shears that you should have returned long ago. All I'm saying is that people have a tendency to keep some things just to themselves. People tend to have that m&m "hard candy outside" or perhaps they are layered like an onion. The more you peel back, the more your eyes burn. I'm tearing up just thinkin' about it!
Over the years, I have had a good share of friends and acquaintances. I'm a "people-person". I grew up in a big family. There were seven of us growing up together. I was a middle child. I'm not a psychologist, so the implications of being a middle child escape me. However, I do know that I have always had a knack for listening and, for lack of a better term, counseling. I remember back many moons that friends found it easy to talk to me about "issues" that they may not be comfortable talking to others about. Most of the time, you don't really have to say to much. You just have to listen. I think that must be what counselors do. Just listen. I really don't know why they always show the person going to the shrink and then lying on the couch while they tell the shrink their life history. Seems like the shrink could just have a little nap and let the person blab on until they run out of words. But, I guess there are schedules to be followed. So the shrink sits in his chair and doodles, thinking about golf or girls or grilled salmon or whatever. The idiot on the couch is babbling on and on (kinda like me right now, come to think of it!)
It's OK, though. The best part is when we realize that we can be alone together. I am no better than you. You are no better than me. We are just different. We are hiding our own stuff. In time, maybe we can peel enough of the onion away that the tears won't sting so much. Give yourself a hug. You don't need to know everything about everybody. Get to know yourself.
Pearl Jam did a song a few years back called "Off He Goes". I really identified with that song. I first got familiar with it when I was going through a tough, personal time. I was this guy. I still see a lot of myself in the song. Find it and have a listen.
Off He Goes
- Pearl Jam
Know a man, his face seems pulled and tense
Like he's riding on a motorbike in the strongest winds
So I approach with tact, suggest that he should relax
But he's always moving much too fast
Said he'll see me on the flipside
On this trip he's taken for a ride
He's been taking too much on ...
There he goes with his perfectly unkept clothes
There he goes...
He's yet to come back, but I see his picture
Doesn't look the same up on the rack
We go way back
I wonder about his insides
It's like his thoughts are too big for his size
He's been taken, where, I don't know?
Off he goes with his perfectly unkept clothes
And there he goes...
And now I rub my eyes, for he has returned!
Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned
For he still smiles, and he's still strong
Nothings changed, but the surrounding bullshit
That has grown
And now he's home, and were laughing like we always did
My same old, same old friend
Until a quarter-to-ten
I saw the strain creep in
He seemed distracted and I know just what is gonna happen next
Before his first step, he's off again
As the Beatles put it (back in the Olden Days for you pups), "Everybody's got something to hide 'cept for me and my monkey". Fact: EVERYBODY has something that they keep to themselves. Take it to the bank. You may think you know all there is to know about someone, but it's never that simple. In fact, we don't even know all there is to know about ourselves, let alone someone else. Am I right, or am I right? But there's nothing wrong with that.
Who among us really wants to know everything about the other guy or gal. With knowledge comes responsibility. If you know that the person who you are desperately in love with has a thing for sniffing toe-jam, it may change your mind about a long term relationship. If you knew your neighbor wasn't just a handyman/bricklayer/carpenter, but was also an excellent marksman who could put a bullet through a button hole at 100 yards (because he has the body buried in concrete under his basement floor to prove it!) it might tend to make you a little uneasy about borrowing the hedge shears that you should have returned long ago. All I'm saying is that people have a tendency to keep some things just to themselves. People tend to have that m&m "hard candy outside" or perhaps they are layered like an onion. The more you peel back, the more your eyes burn. I'm tearing up just thinkin' about it!
Over the years, I have had a good share of friends and acquaintances. I'm a "people-person". I grew up in a big family. There were seven of us growing up together. I was a middle child. I'm not a psychologist, so the implications of being a middle child escape me. However, I do know that I have always had a knack for listening and, for lack of a better term, counseling. I remember back many moons that friends found it easy to talk to me about "issues" that they may not be comfortable talking to others about. Most of the time, you don't really have to say to much. You just have to listen. I think that must be what counselors do. Just listen. I really don't know why they always show the person going to the shrink and then lying on the couch while they tell the shrink their life history. Seems like the shrink could just have a little nap and let the person blab on until they run out of words. But, I guess there are schedules to be followed. So the shrink sits in his chair and doodles, thinking about golf or girls or grilled salmon or whatever. The idiot on the couch is babbling on and on (kinda like me right now, come to think of it!)
On the other hand, I have always tended to keep a lot of "crap" to myself. I know, that's not healthy. But, as they say, "facts is facts". I'm not sure who said that, but I'm sure somebody did. Anyhowz, sometimes I wish it were different. It would sometimes be nice to be able to just tell the truth and not be judged. To say something stupid. To say something that nobody else has said (at least in your hearing). Most of the time, I think that we hold back our feelings for fear of embarrassment or ridicule. And the older I get, the harder it is to "let it all hang out". There is too much at stake! What if someone finds out that I live in Kansas City but I'm secretly a Raiders fan! (OK, I know that's overboard, but it could happen!) The point is, we all have secrets. We all have a little "m&m" complex. We all are onions.
It's OK, though. The best part is when we realize that we can be alone together. I am no better than you. You are no better than me. We are just different. We are hiding our own stuff. In time, maybe we can peel enough of the onion away that the tears won't sting so much. Give yourself a hug. You don't need to know everything about everybody. Get to know yourself.
Pearl Jam did a song a few years back called "Off He Goes". I really identified with that song. I first got familiar with it when I was going through a tough, personal time. I was this guy. I still see a lot of myself in the song. Find it and have a listen.
Off He Goes
- Pearl Jam
Know a man, his face seems pulled and tense
Like he's riding on a motorbike in the strongest winds
So I approach with tact, suggest that he should relax
But he's always moving much too fast
Said he'll see me on the flipside
On this trip he's taken for a ride
He's been taking too much on ...
There he goes with his perfectly unkept clothes
There he goes...
He's yet to come back, but I see his picture
Doesn't look the same up on the rack
We go way back
I wonder about his insides
It's like his thoughts are too big for his size
He's been taken, where, I don't know?
Off he goes with his perfectly unkept clothes
And there he goes...
And now I rub my eyes, for he has returned!
Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned
For he still smiles, and he's still strong
Nothings changed, but the surrounding bullshit
That has grown
And now he's home, and were laughing like we always did
My same old, same old friend
Until a quarter-to-ten
I saw the strain creep in
He seemed distracted and I know just what is gonna happen next
Before his first step, he's off again
Thanks for listening! Now I gotta get off this couch!
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