THREE DOWN, TWO TO GO

I suspect that if I had been a bit more cooperative, I might’ve become more than I am, I might’ve really gone places instead of painting myself into that proverbial corner called “prison employment.” Don’t get me wrong—I’m grateful to be working, I’ve heard the same first line of a Tom Petty song each weekday morning for the past two years, She’s an American Girrrrl, and have never hit the snooze button. I kill the alarm and get up immediately. I've got bills to pay. I’ve even done my part to stimulate the economy with that dreaded activity called: Christmas Shopping.

This year, for reasons I’ll try not to delve into, I’m forced to celebrate Christmas FIVE times.

A week ago, we exchanged gifts at my parents’ house, this past weekend we celebrated SA’s homecoming. In case you may have forgotten, SA (I Am Batman) is my wife’s cousin from Chicago. She’s also the one who discovered a common, yet subtle theme throughout my blog—The Voice of Reason. Now I’m more deliberate regarding whom that voice is. But I digress.

Christmas #2 was spent in the Grosse Pointes so SA could reunite with family. As we traveled west on I-94, I gave her my camcorder and some brief instructions on how to use it; thus the following short video footage. I’ll warn you now: I had my braces tightened the evening prior; The orthodontist stuffed my mouth full of gauze due to an abscess that wouldn’t stop bleeding. There’s no arguing that my teeth and upper gum line contributed to my weekend-long, crabby disposition and perhaps played a part in the edited selection of photographs and Christmas music. But I’m much better now.

I included very little footage of Christmas #3—just me clanking my Miller bottle against some holiday knick-knacks.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope to visit everyone’s blogs soon.

TRAVELIN' ON

I should’ve agreed years ago with the voice of reason: “There’s no need for you to keep all those cassette tapes. Get rid of them.”

Where was my rebuttal? I could no longer say, “I listen to them on the way to work.” Damn auto companies—shame, shame, shame—Why’d they quit installing tape decks in their vehicles? And what of those foreign automakers? As for my Sony Walkman, I had no problem tossing it; Every time the batteries weakened it made pasta.

Approximately ten years ago a friend donated all his cassette tapes to me—a sizeable collection, considering he at one time owned a record store near 9 Mile and Ryan Road.

I was running out of options. I was running out of room. The voice of reason had sold all our store-bought videotapes just before the DVD tsunami. “You haven’t listened to those tapes in years.”

I strategically placed a cheap GPX dual cassette tape player in my office and made the claim that I enjoyed the occasional song while writing. Truth of the matter: Too much racket, music or otherwise, and my so-called thoughts never made it to paper. Still, it doesn’t mean I’m not plotting.

Those big wheels keep on turning . . .

Now the possibilities are endless. I’ve figured out how to plug that cheap GPX player into my computer. It’s all about my “I” toons. Bob H.’s guitar sings once again. Enjoy the music while watching the slide show of my family (circa 1920’s - 1960’s).

Trivia Question: What famous country singer helped Clinton River Road choose their name?

I AM A WALKING MAN, not a Walkman

I cut back on Pop Tarts for breakfast. Way way back. And why shouldn't I? Kellogg's quit running a special Sony promotion which guaranteed a free song download with every box purchased. Besides already knowing that Pop Tarts have very little nutritional value, I also learned that you had to download Sony's CONNECT music player to your computer in order to play the songs. I grew suspicious. Sony has a shitty track record in the music industry; they were caught with their pants down when consumers downloaded purchased CD's onto their computers and discovered that Sony infiltrated their operating systems with a rootkit. Still, a man's got to have his free music. Ironically, after a few dozen songs, I discovered that I could only play them on the Sony music player, even though I prefer a different source. As for my MP3 player, anything but those F'N free Sony songs would download.

On August 30th, Sony sent me an email. I'll spare you all the bullshit and get to the meat and potatoes of their message:

Dear Valued Sony CONNECT Music Customer:

Today Sony announced its intent to move to a Windows Media Technology platform for Walkman products (they included a trademark symbol here). We strongly believe that the decision to embrace a more open platform for these devises will enable us to provide you with a better overall experience. Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, BLAH.

They would have been better off apologizing for their greed. Thanks for the headaches.

I did receive a much nicer digital message this week regarding David Lee Gilbert, the rock and roll singer for The Rockets. Last month I did a special tribute to him and the band, including a slideshow with their song "Born In Detroit." Here's the comment:

Hi, it's me, Dee Gilbert. I just loved this tribute to my late husband. He would have been so honored by this. You are the best.

Now I'm walking proud. And burning calories too. I am The Walking Man. At least for the moment. Unless it's been copyrighted.

JUXTAPOSITION

SQUID JIGGIN' (HOW TO CATCH THE BIG ONE)

SUMMERTIME

GET A HAIRCUT, GET A REAL JOB

CATFISH AND SUNSETS