J.Tull.com

"Feeling alone as he bends to pick a dog-end" was an excerpt from the lyrics of Jethro Tull's Aqualung. The lyrics were written by Jeannie Anderson the wife of Ian Anderson at the time. Tull is a great band with many great performances and recordings. Ian Anderson is a great lyricist and it is quite odd that the most popular lyrics were penned by his first wife.
Check out www.j-tull.com for updates on performances and recordings. Jethro Tull's 1999 release of Dot.Com was the most recent studio recording other than the Christmas Album and a new recording is due in 9/07. Ian's solo albums are good listens as well so don't miss out.

Danny Pamuk

I met Danny Pamuk at Pueblo To People's warehouse location on Montrose Boulevard at West Gray in Houston during the early 90's. Danny was a happy-go lucky artist - living in the Heights neighborhood of Houston as a modern blacksmith artist creating metal works like the one pictured >>>>>>>>>>>>>over "dere">. Danny was a guru-like figure for me during a period of my life when organized religion could not fill that emotional gap. I needed a life experienced Buddha with a resume void of miracles and historical text. A Buddha who resided in the present and drank Olympia beer not micro-brewed "look at what I'm drinking" beer. Danny was accessible with no tithing and public displays of devotion. Yes God lives next door to you and is your unemployed uncle that looks like Greg Allman and teaches when school is out for summer and can't even reach the chalkboard.

Yellow

The yellow star was worn by Jews in Nazi Germany and throughout time to bring attention to them. The Always Save brand's yellow packaging cries I am impoverished and cannot afford a better brand. Other store brands have opted for less attention in packaging for customers. If your grocery cart is yellow and you know it clap your hands.

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.

Good Eats

Some folks enjoy taking their automobile and driving no where in particular and finding the "down home dive" restaurant that most other drive by and not notice. In Houston on Old Spanish Trail there is a burger joint that has 1/3 pound burgers that have been smoked. I would line up on Fridays and fill the gut with beef & bun. In Beaumont a dive named Dirty Dan's had the best fried pork chops and a chicken plate that always assured left-overs or the gift to "jaw-dropped" observers. In Bryan, Texas a dive that I cannot even recall its exact location became quite the affair. A biker named Phillip took me there one day. I was skeptical at first looking at the clientele that consisted of "near-boxing" Hispanic women worn out looking black & white businessmen and some folks not to be gauged simply. The food held the customers at bay and provided a calm caloric retreat. Once in Key West Florida while walking back to the navy ship from whence I cam we found salacious solace at a small Cuban restaurant that had flavorful sandwiches and steaming soup. We sailors came back every day finding a diamond in the rough. My brother had a knack for driving that back roads of east Texas navigating the roads like slot machines looking for the barbecue joint that would pay-off in jack-pot flavor. I remember many a wonderful meal spent with him. Enjoy down home uncommercialized food.

Paper or Plastic - Cotton or Disposable

My first child was born at home with a nurse mid-wife. Velcro-cotton diapers followed with organic baby food and good intentions. Child # 2 : c-section,disposables, conventional baby food and thread-bare intentions. Both children were funneled through home schooling and their destiny remains cloaked in dark fabric.
We talk of our earthly endowments but fall silent about perceived spiritual gifts because of our limitations in communication and perception. Our limitations are "paper or plastic, sir", "hello sir?".

Guantanamo & Scooter

Guantanamo Bay is a nice place to spend Halloween. Iguanas are scarier than the Cubans on the other side of the fence. Cubans not less scarier not because of a perceived military impotence but because Cubans are beautiful people living industrial-free lives unfettered by commercialism. Human Rights lacking for these folks is in need of addressing. The human rights missing is something the people of this country must weigh for themselves. The details of how a US military base continues to operate in this country still is obscure to me.
The land is beautiful and the memories of it are wonderful. Mountains and hills against the water, lush plant life and sub-tropical temperatures thrive to the "commo-beat". Fidel's health may be flagging but let the people raise the flag that is true to the heart not to interest groups or communist strong-arming. Thanks George for freeing the criminal named "Scooter". Damn I was hired to be Scooter's cell-block guard !!!

Monopoly, Scrabble, Steeleye Span & Children

Another weekend has passed and the new week has begun. This weekend my son returned from camp where rain dampened some activities but at least the heat was no too bad. We enjoyed a Monopoly game on Saturday evening and Scrabble on Sunday morning. I watched the end of a baseball game on the television Saturday evening and did not do much else. This week will begin with a nice walk this morning. My dog ran loose this weekend product of excellent digging skills. My lawn continues its track of being named a national preserve though Bush will not risk being seen in a working class neighborhood to preside over the ceremony. Lately I have enjoyed listening to Steeleye Span as weel as Fairport Convention over Pandora Radio. Check out Pandora www.Pandora.com create a radio station based on a group you like and off you go. It will play songs by that artist and others like the artist often times fleshing out other artists that you might not have heard of. Your local Cd shop is very limiting so let Pandora do the work.

Thinking about the snow in July

I was always a creature of thinking about a lake in the middle of the dessert. Never appreciating the sand while I was there in the dessert. I used to hate summer while I lived in Texas the land of eternal air conditioning. Now I enjoy each season and the cards life deals me. Not lazy or lethargic just happier. This picture was taken from my driveway looking at my front yard back in November 06. For Winter Solstice music check out www.livingmusic.com maybe wait until Thanksgiving Holiday has passed.

Leon Hale

Do you know who Leon Hale is? Leon Hale is a columnist who writes for the Houston Chronicle. He tends to witter on about fairly normal agendas with a home-spun flavor. Leon has been writing for the newspapers on Houston for as long as I know. I had such a like for his work that I reveled in the accessibility that the Internet brought. I used to transfer to different locales with a company that I worked for and missed reading his work. The Internet filled that void. Check him out at the Houston Chronicle online, http://www.leonhale.com/ is the link. He also writes books and the books are OK too.
Leon and a buddy of his used to get in a car and drive south until they found the line where spring was on one side and winter on the other (Primavera). The trip usually involved stops for food that old men should not be eating but it was high entertainment. A talking mule appears in the column from time to time to give his view on politics and organic apples versus conventional ones. Trips to a beer joint with talkative regulars came and went and the mysterious Madame Z a fortune teller that lived on the river caught the eye sometimes.
Leon is getting up there in age so check him out before his beautiful light is dimmed.

Water, Humidity, Clouds and Rain

Here in Oklahoma the rain has fallen for 8 days straight or more. When I arrived in Oklahoma lasr spring the draught was all the "small change talk". The rain allows some folks to sleep as a hibernating bear during a dark winter. Some wander in a depressed mire only seeing the "half-empty pitcher while others revel in the cooler temperatures brought on by the cloud cover. My lawn has enjoyed the frequent watering sessions. The 4th of July is on our heels again and burgers will be flipping and corn crunching. Think of the country and its infrastructure that day -truly reflect about the positive things. Vote in the next election don't let unpopular presidents push unpopular agendas and hide in the brush of deceipt. Remember brighter days are ahead your dreams cannot be taken.

Let's order pizza or do we have any yeast?

At $3.17 a gallon - gas is crippling the US economy. The consumer has not made the change to better fuel efficient cars and still lusts after what US Automakers have marketed for years "Big is Better". In a class the trainer asked everyone in the room to state their dream car. Everyone in the class had gas guzzling wanderlust dripping from their chins. I said my dream car was a hybrid - period. America does not dream of efficiency it dreams of emptiness marketed on their televisions and magazines. Create culture and sell it to someone. Maybe another revolution is in order to win back the American dream.

High Ho (Kurt Vonnegut)

Memorial Day Weekend

God Bless the troops away from American Soil suffering George Bush's toil. Not a president of the people but a president for the corporations. I was in the military and know the difference between supporting a lame campaign and supporting the troops. Patriotism doensn't mean waiving a flag with a glazed look on your face. It means being an engaged citizen who questions the government. How many of you voted in the last election or ever? This war has driven our country farther away from the world of nations and for no good reason. I will keep the troops in mind both present and past. Thanks to all the veterans from all campaigns who have kept freedom ringing.

Anonymity

• Released from 1 master to find that captivity is the net always about your self. Live well in this harness, move with confidence. Run without a limp and the favoring your hurt leg. Is the leg hurt or hampered? You choose your adjective and sit down beside it. Hiding in a mire of words that hold shoes to the mud showering feet with muddy water. You choose your cross and the path to it. Your flower will grace your headstone. Will you remain anonymous ? Anonymity

Animal Bingo

I name this blog "Animal Bingo" after witnessing this game at Nursing Home Activities. There are beautiful souls that have come to reside within nursing homes. These individuals continue to smile daily because they have not given up on living. I loved my daily interaction with these folks whether they were coherent or not. Though the same stories were repeated often the stories still cleared away clouds from my soul. One resident was angry at a nursing aide and rectified the problem by having a "Donkey Barbecue" (a whole lot of ass-chewing). I laughed heartily at this aside.