Life
Not to get too ahead of myself, but you can look for an update to the Parks and Pastimes website pretty soon. Not sure what I’m talking about? Well, this is a site I’ve been maintaining for a friend and associate for several years now. If you are into a big barker or little nipper, you may want to know more. Among other things, Parks and Pastimes is the home of a leading dog park expert and consultant. Love your four pawed friend? So do they!
Life
Got a great spam message this morning with this subject: New Pope Announcement Has Major Impact On Your Auto Rates!
Who knew? This guy has been Pope for like half a day and he’s already saving me money? I love this guy!
Noise
Veteran readers know just how much I love my Dearmonds. They’re just such great guitars, but alas they haven’t been manufactured in… a decade or so. So, if you want an alternative in a reasonable price range, you might look at the affordable Ibanez Artcore. model. They’re good looking guitars, and Ibanez can be counted on to make a pretty decent instrument. I mean, I remember the days when Ibanez was making knockoff Kramers. But then the Kramer dude went to prison and Kramers were gone for a while and Ibanez guitars went from being second rate imitations to top notch contenders. Most youngsters these days have no idea of the history. So, just rock it with classic semi-hollow body style is what I say.
Life
When I committed to massive regular exercise to keep from, well, dying from the reality of my less than stellar genetic profile, I decided I should get an elliptical. I mean, I knew that a public gym or health club wasn’t my thing, so buying my own equipment was more or less a requirement. There was a good deal on a nice machine at Sports Authority and I bought. So, I guess in an indirect way I can thank Martin Hanaka.
Life
I recently saw one of those bridal supplements in the paper. You know, where they get a bunch of caterers and DJs and banquet halls to advertise amidst editorialish content about trends in the wedding business. There was an interesting short piece about alternatives to traditional rings. Apparently engagement necklaces or bracelets are becoming more common. Increasing in popularity, as well, though at a slightly slower rate is the engagement tattoo. Why say it with jewelry when you can commit your love in ink that an only be removed with lasers. Unless you cleverly choose a tat with maximum future editing potential.
I admit that I’m a bit of a traditionalist on this one. It’s one thing to hire a planner or consultant to help you find a cocktail hour performer or the perfect cake or great deals on bridesmaid gown. It’s a whole other story when your supreme challenge is where to find pandora charms that really say “til death do us part.”
Life
As my daughter zeroes in on the ripe old age of 4, I can’t help but think about her teenage future. I mean, she’s such a handful now… am I doomed? What about when she starts dating or GASP! heads off to college. Well, I think Daddy’s Little Lady will rock it in www.safetygirl.com style!
Dude! Or maybe in this case I should keep it pink and say Dudette! My sweetie can carry a pepper spray gun in hand while looking particularly sporty in her pink work boots!
And seriously, I’m not making fun. I think it’s really cute, of course, but that doesn’t reduce the importance of safety gear – whether it’s work boots or personal protection devices. The touch of femininity, if that encourages women to wear protective gear or carry saftey devices, I think it’s cool.
Life
Speaking of the upcoming Pinewood Derby, I’m not convinced that we have to go plain and simple and old school. We’ve been talking about kicking this thing up a notch or two. I’ve got hese ol checkerboard sheets from when I was a kid, for example. I think one of those is going to be tricked out into a quickie collapsible photo booth. All we’ll need is a camera and a kid with a car and FLASH instant winner’s circle!
Life
If you know anything about Cub Scouts you know that one of the biggest events of the year is the Pinewood Derby. Ours is coming up this week and I’m pretty psyched about our newest addition. We picked up a new aluminum track. This weekend I got together with the Cubmaster and set it up in the garage. Well, we started in the garage and it went right out onto the driveway. 32 feet long… that’s a lotta feet!
So this year our Pinewood Derby event may be in the same old cafeteria with the aluminum bleachers and stage the kids can’t go on, the linoleum floor and improvised track protection barricades, but the track itself – shiny and new!
Noise
In getting back out there, doing the acoustic gig thing, I find I wish I had a little accompaniment. Not necessarily a lot of accompaniment, but something. I like the guitar, voice, and drums combo. Maybe if I could hook up with a multifaceted drummer. Like all congas and bongos and djembes. Maybe some tambourine. A bitchin’ train bell even. That would be so sweet. You’d want to hear that, right?