Top 6 Concerts of the Aughts

Posted on December 20, 2009 by Frog

We saw somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 concerts from 2000-2009. Some years we only saw one show all year and some years we saw about 9 shows. I know for some folks 50 concerts is what they see in one year, but we live in Richmond and up until recently we haven’t really had venues that people over 30 should go to…meaning we have small clubs/bars but we’re not looking to hook up so we don’t generally go to those. One of the city’s major venues was closed for an eternity while the city and people with large pocketbooks argued over how to renovate and expand it. It has only just reopened. We also traveled out of town for almost 20 of the shows we saw.

Last night I compiled a list of all the shows we saw and we picked our top 6. Here they are in no particular order, but they are grouped by year:

1. John Mayer, Charlie Hunter and Guster (2002). This show was on Brown’s Island and it was before John Mayer exploded. His guitar playing was outstanding and that’s what has kept me listening even when it seems like he’s on the cover of the tabloids way too often. I know he plays like a guitar god. Also, Charlie Hunter!

2. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (2003). We’ve seen him twice but this was the first time and with the E Street Band. I had, before this show, been kind of on the fence about Bruce. It all changed after seeing them perform live.

3. Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, Dar Williams and Patty Griffin (2003). They called it a guitar pull which basically means it feels like you are hanging out in someone’s living room while really amazing music happens.

4. Blind Boys of Alabama with John Hammond (2003). John Hammond was so-so. Jimmy Carter and the other members of the Blind Boys burned down the house. It’s probably why that venue I mentioned had to close for renovations.

5. Eric Clapton with Robert Randolph and the Family Band (2004). There’s really nothing I can say other than Eric. Fucking. Clapton. and Robert Randolph smoked.

6. Patricia Barber (2009). Old speakeasy bar in Chicago with nothing but drinks on the menu, people wedged into tables and bar stools and then Patricia Barber sings. A nearly perfect night.

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Can You Hear Me Now? Actually, No.

Posted on December 19, 2009 by Frog

Verizon has a great wireless network. I can use my cell nearly everywhere.

My home phone, not so much. The line is dead again. It dies frequently especially when there’s a speck of wet outside. Verizon home service is about to get a swift kick to the groin. Then when it is down I will deliver a volley of kicks to the ribs and then hock a loogie into its face.

Hi Comcast Digital Voice. Nice to meet you, will you be my friend?

Posted in General Spleen Venting | Comments Off

Snow

Posted on December 19, 2009 by Frog

From the horrible picture of the ruler:

To the picture of the back of the house:

You might guess that we were on the right side of the storm.

Liquid is falling now which is supposed to turn back into snow later today. The wind has picked up so I hope we keep power for most of the day but I’m not really that hopeful.

Posted in Watching | 1 Comment

Head scratching

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Frog

I am lucky to have a job. I know that. I’m in a semi-secure position. Even though my project is grant-funded, it is federally mandated and funds are available. I am lucky.

We just got a press release from our Governor and there will be no pay increases for state employees in FY2011 and 2012. I looked it up and the last time I got a change in my pay was 2007 and that was for COLA (which is a tiny 2 or 3 percent).

In other head scratching news, there’s someone who works on the other side of the building who sits in an interior office. The only light that is ever on in her office is the small florescent directly over her desk. How does she not snooze through the day?

I’ve been to the restroom twice this morning and both times I’ve been in there there’s been someone camped out in the second stall. I realize it probably isn’t the same person each time, but if I go in there one more time and someone is parked in that stall then I’m going downstairs for the rest of the time I’m here today. By the way, I know she’s not dead…although the way things are around here that’s not a stretch.

Today we close for winter break for two weeks. The head scratcher for this bit o’ news is why I decided to come to work at all. I should have planned better. There’s absolutely nothing I can, in good conscious, start today and then drop for two weeks and I’m finished with everything that had to be finished before break.

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You got a hubcap diamond star halo

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Frog

Last night driving home from babysitting the nieces, Get It On by T. Rex came on (it’s also called Bang a Gong). I have no idea what that jumble of lyrics mean but I love that song. Actually, the lyrics are pretty simple–he’s hot for someone but the whole being built like a car? Does she have fins? A nice grille? What?

The kids were super awesome and I really like how our Lil Elvis has seemed to come out of her shell with us. We’ve always known she’s liked us, but it seems like she’s decided we really are OK. And, maybe a little bit cool. Of course, by the time they are in their teens we won’t be cool anymore. But, I can dig being cool to a seven and a three year old.

We got to see some pretty hilarious zombie/Frankenstein attacks which sort of devolved into a giggling fit of wrestling in the middle of the kitchen floor. I couldn’t stop laughing.

Then I was nearly crushed by the cute when the better-half and the girls went into the other room to get ready for movie night. When I came back with popcorn, all three of them were lumped together in one corner of the couch. I could only just make out the better-half’s face. He was covered in kids. When I sat down, Lil Elvis’s toes crept over to touch my leg. We were all connected while watching holiday movies.

Posted in Listening, Watching | 1 Comment

Might as well be walking on the sun

Posted on December 14, 2009 by Frog

I just saved $22 at the grocery store. I would have saved an additional $.70 if I hadn’t stood there like an idiot with a coupon in my hand instead of handing it over. I didn’t even buy anything that wasn’t on my list so that’s a savings of $22 on regular stuff we always buy.

Our work holiday party was today and I ate some awesome Little Smokies, meatballs and BBQ with some vegetables thrown on the plate so it wasn’t all Meat, Meat, Meat. There was also some sort of jello salad that I can only describe as red with a cream cheese/cool whip top. I have no idea what fruit was supposed to be in that thing but it rocked the casbah. I guess its sweetness helped lighten up the meat, meat, meat. I also managed to escape before the “singin’ and clappin’ man what the hell happened” started and I missed getting yet another ugly logo-ed lunch bag.

The better-half and I went to a Christmas party on Saturday night at a grad school classmate’s house. The gathering was small but the folks were friendly. At one point we were holed up in my friend’s office watching digital stories and I think an hour passed while we were in there. Excellent conversation, skulls on bookshelves and good company will make the time fly.

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I am an old fart

Posted on December 12, 2009 by Frog

I pulled either the right pectineus or adductor brevis Tuesday night horsing around with the nieces. Apparently picking both of them up and walking about is a bad idea.

I’ve never paid any attention to that muscle group but now, whoa mama, they have my attention.

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Fa-La-La-La

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Frog

I finally broke and I’m listening to Christmas music this afternoon on WOXY. Where else can you hear “Elizabeth & The Catapult – Christmas With The Jews”? I’m sure there’s not a radio station in my area that’s playing that little ditty.

I’ve been amusing myself today by attempting to build a Hollywood Squares game in PowerPoint. I don’t know that we need it, but it keeps me out of trouble and if it turns out I know someone will eventually use it in a class.

We’re due for some more rain tonight and I just can’t tell you how thrilled I am to hear that news. It wouldn’t be so bad if we just got some sprinkles, but the forecast is for a 1/2 – 1 inch of rain. We’ve had too many days of inches of rain and so we don’t really need this set of showers tonight.

There is a bright spot in the evening in spite of the rain. I’ll be going to The Niece’s holiday play. The better-half is working so he’ll have to miss it. He didn’t get home until after 10pm last night and it will probably be like that this evening too. He’s really been hustling lately with work, but when you are a one-man band you play a lot of instruments. I think that metaphor could have come out a little better, but I was going to say something about when it rains, it pours but that would have reminded me about the weather.

Which would lead me to the insanity that is Virginia weather–we’re already worried about what might happen in the Roanoke Valley Thursday night/Friday morning. One of my courses is piloting there on Friday and I’d be sick if we have to cancel because of the weather. Cancellation of the pilot would mean it won’t happen until January which means the course won’t be published until late Jan/early Feb and that’s way off schedule. I’m going to be optimistic because typically the weather folks can’t predict what’s going to happen this afternoon much less what might happen in a few days.

Update:
The holiday play was very cute and the kids did a good job. The second best part of the day was having ice cream at McDonald’s afterward. Now the nieces know about fries in a chocolate shake. Not as super-awesome as a Frosty, but I have to ease them into magnificent snacking.

Posted in Generic Thoughts, Listening | 1 Comment

I’m pretty sure I’m 500 months old

Posted on December 7, 2009 by Frog

When do parents stop referring to their kids in months and just switch over to years? If a kid is over 2 and nearly 3 shouldn’t the parents have the balls to just start saying the kid is nearly 3? And not 33 months old?

If I have to get out an abacus to keep up with the conversation, it’s not worth it to me.

Posted in Generic Thoughts | 2 Comments

This Portland area hospital rocks

Posted on December 5, 2009 by Frog

Posted in Generic Thoughts | 1 Comment