Heat & Death

Rain falling soothes the dry envelope of heat that August has dealt. Temperatures taper and the tattoo of the air conditioning unit slims. Nomadic within our households moving based on the Sun's position moving to rooms out of the Sun-Ray's finger-tips. As the polar ice caps melt continue to drive gas hungry cars denying the world's environmental outcome. Your comfort above all is important and preserving the environment is meaningless. Bathe in excess preserve nothing. Die and be forgiven by all means.

Coffee

The first time I sipped coffee was probably under the supervision of my mother & father and was coffee loaded with sugar and creamer. I remember the energy rush that came along with it and liked the increased energy level. I remember in my late teenage years drinking coffee in the morning. The true coffee days came when I discovered whole bean coffee ground the moment before brewing. At that time I was working for Pueblo To People an organisation that imported goods from Central America. Coffee was naturally a popular product in the mail-order catalog this business produced.I became hooked and enjoyed dark roast coffees eventually moving along to espresso and cappuccino. Presently I have returned to the mundane blends that populate the grocery store shelves. From time to time I will go to a local book store and enjoy coffee of high quality. The only item that I add to coffee these days is milk. Milk softens the bitterness and balances the flavor by my opinion. Check out the link below and order some of the coffee this group offers. The producers are paid a fair price for their product so be prepared to open your wallet wider. Starbucks does not pay a fairer price I am sure.
www.equalexchange.com

The High-Tailers

Greetings,

Summer is hopefully tickling your tootsies and the smell of the back-yard barbecue is invading your nostrils. This is a wonderful time of year when grass mowing is practically a sport and walks and hikes are a fun way to enjoy the outdoors. Now we would not want the barbecue to tickle your tootsies and the smell of "specific tootsies" to invade your nostrils.

Summer-time reminds me of the delightful band the High-Tailers. This band is the eminent Dead cover band from Houston. I danced many a Thursday night at the Last Concert Cafe to "Bertha" and other loved Dead songs. This band has quite a following and I followed this band wherever they chose to play. It kinda went like this - Thursday night dance until 2:00 am and work hard Friday. Friday evening eat Greek Food at Niko Niko's. Saturday search and find the party or festival of choice. Sunday afternoon chill-out at EMO's listening to the High-Tailers and watch skate boarding on the tube and Sunday night mellow to Reggae before bedding down for another hard week of work.If ever in Houston check out the High-Tailers.

2704 Navigation Blvd, Houston, Texas 77003 713.228.1175. Remember this address in Houston when satisfying the souls with pure food of Mexican descent. The address is of Ninfa's Mexican Food Restaurant. You can eat at the other Ninfa's locations in Houston but this place has existed for 30 years or more. The food is outstanding and the margaritas are potent and just what a rita should taste like. Jump back an try the pickled carrots and onions along with your salsa and chips and dig the tortilla making lady near the entrance. I have visited this restaurant since the 70's I think it the best. Whenever I get back to Houston I make a run for this wonderful place.
www.mamaninfas.com. Muy Bien !!

The Dead

The first Dead show I witnessed the band played "Terrapin Station". My friend that introduced me to the Dead claimed that this was a special night and indeed it was. The Dead became a very important band for me that year. This was back in 87 and life was good. I followed the band from New Jersey to other destinations on the east coast. I listen to this very day to the music that stirred my inner-soul. This band is great and underrated and over-rated at times. The paradox of the band is the ultimate power and weakness that co-exist. I love all the tunes and miss Jerry Garcia. His soul is as strong today as it was then. Good night Jerry and may I fluff your pillow before you roll-over. www.jerrygarcia.com

KVLU - Beaumont, Texas 91.3

Hello all ! Radio again in cyberspace and more pubic radio. KVLU in Beaumont Texas is a wonderful little station. This station plays some nice jazz on weekday afternoons that borders on big band and Dixie-land, something to sit and enjoy along with chicory coffee or Seaport Coffee. When I lived there - on Saturday evenings a wonderful show named "At The Hop" played a nice mix of "50's, 60's & 70's -wanna-be your parents music". You know the drill Big Bopper, Elvis and Tony Orlando & Dawn. This music tended to be so old that if rebellion was hinted at; before by the playing on this station it was irrelevant and safe by the time of broadcast now. This show was great and rebellious against the ultra-hip crowd. Out of The Blue was another show that played traditional, modern and rock versions of blues.I heard Nantucket Sleigh Ride by Mountain on this show and considered that it was a damn important show if it played this song. "Make Believe Ballroom" was a masterpiece of radio and played some great big band stuff. Salute KVLU!!!

KTSU - Jazz In All Its Colors

Hello to all. When I think of the years that I spent living in Houston and surfing the radio-waves the one station that comes to mind is KTSU 90.9 FM. Well you might have lived in Houston all of your life and may have never have tuned longer than .01 of a second. This station picked me up on the fringes listening to some Parliment Funkadelic on a Friday afternoon. I then began tuning in over and over sopping up the smooth, cool jazz riding those waves. Listen on the Internet and be aware this is a black university that serves its community so if you can't get with it, get on down the road. I have so many great memories of this station accompanying me at Herman Park in Houston on hot summer days. Listening to Acid Jazz on Saturday nights and social commentary sprinkled in and about. When I moved to Beaumont, Texas I had KTSU on in the moving van and to my dismay 15 miles outside of Beaumont the signal died along with my yearning for its great programming. A few years back I tried to listen on the Internet and could not. I just tried recently on my Firefox browser and could not listen. I then tried IE and jackpot cool jazz. Thank you Texas Southern University for this beautiful gift that you give the community and the world.