Nez....

Happy Birthday to Mike Nesmith! Mike's 62 today (born 12/30/42). Nesmith is best known as the son of the woman who invented liquid paper, but he also was part of the 60's pop supergroup The Monkees, as well as work pioneering the music video world.

Arched

My older daughter, Christmas morning, doing some knitting on Christmas morning....

Climbing

My son playing at Miner Park, taken last February. Playing around with selective coloring.

Police, Police Give Me A Chance........

6 years ago today (12/28/1998) Atlanta Rhythm Section singer Ronnie Hammond of the is shot twice in the chest by a Macon police. He allegedly lunged at an officer with a broken guitar handle and a hammer. Police were responding to reports that the singer was trying to commit suicide.

Ouch. But at least he survived.

A Spot To Sit and Think A Bit....

So, sit I did. Or should I say sat? This is the lobby of a Hyatt Hotel in Shaumburg, IL, the Chicago suburbs. We were there for meetings, and I finished a while before my wife. So I hung out here, and pondered.

Never Reaching The End.........

Happy Birthday to Mike Pinder, keyboardist and vocalist for the Moody Blues. (12/27/1942)

On a related note, for Christmas I recieved a dics of Moody-Bluegrass (thanks Hank!). This is a "Nashville Tribute" to the Moody Blues, featuring bluegrass versions of Moody Blues' songs. I was a little worried (who wouldn't be), but it's actually very cool, featuring muscians who are willing to list their names on the liner notes (unlike the similar-concept "Pickin' On" Lynyrd Skynyrd disc I have)... Some real names too, like Tim O’Brien, Larry Cordle, John Cowan, Sam Bush,.... It's definitely a fun disc, though I'm still a bit troubled by the mere concept of a Bluegrass version of "Legend Of A Mind"......

Ard!

Kinda of says it all, huh? You have to say it like a pirate, though: ARRRRRRRD!!!

Christmas Birthdays:

Besides the obvious, here's some music people with Christmas Birthdays....
Cab Calloway (Bandleader) - 1907 in Rochester, New York
O'Kelly Isley (Isley Brothers) - 1937 in Cincinnati, OH
Jimmy Buffett - 1946 in Mobile, Ala.
Barbara Mandrell - 1948 in Houston, TX
Annie Lennox (Eurythmics) - 1954 in Aberdeen, Scotland
Shane McGowan of the Pogues - 1957 in Kent, England

D70!

The very first photo taken with my brand new Nikon D70 DSLR! OK, so it's a boring picture. That's not the point. It's a D70!! This was just the initial "make sure it works" shot. I did crop it and convert to B&W to emphasize the graphic elements.... I'll be reading the manual on this baby to figure out how to make it do all it's tricks. then I'll turn them all off and use Manual Mode!!!

Wim O Weh, Wim O Weh

43 years ago today (1961), "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" becomes the first African song to hit Number One on the U.S. pop chart. The American version, recorded by the Tokens, is a translation of a South African folk song known as "Mbube" and "Wimoweh."

More Holiday Cheer....

With my son, everything works back to super heros (or occasionally dinosaurs). So Batman hangs just above Spiderman on our tree, keeping the gifts safe from whatever trouble may come our way.... Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Serene Solstice, Cool Kwanza...... Hope you have a good one of whatever you celebrate!!

Intruded Upon

This Robin was guarding her nest and eggs, and wasn't at all happy when I poked my camera into the pine tree to capture the moment. Nikon FM2, scanned, cleaned up in Photoshop Elements.

Train, Tain, Take Me On Out Of This Town.......

On this day (12/23) in 1979 The band Blackfoot cracked the top 40 with their song "Train, Train". Like MTB's "Searching for a Rainbow", this southern rock classic would peak at #38. A great song, written by Shorty Medlocke and featuring him on harmonica. Shorty was the father (some sources say grandfather) of Blackfoot leader Rickwy Medlocke, a pre-stardom member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who rejoined Skynyrd during their post-crash incarnations.

Merry Christmas, etc......

Whatever holiday you celebrate this time of season, I hope you have a happy one!! We're in the Christmas spirit, and getting closer to ready. It's supposed to snow today, then get cold, so it looks like a white Christmas is a possibility!! Kodak LS443 digital, Effects in Printshop Elements 2.0.

Fire On The Mountain

Ok, I'm a day late.... It's that time of year. On yesterday's date (12/20) in 1975, Marshall Tucker Band's song "Fire On The Mountain" hit the top 40 charts. It would only make it to 38, but isn't really pop material anyway (unlike Donna Summer's "Love To Love You Baby" also hitting the charts 12/20/75, and peaking at #2). I remember years ago (maybe 35 of 'em), as a child, driving through the Kanawah River valley at nigh while there was a foerst fire along the ridge, and watching the flames along the top of the mountain..... "Fire On the Mountain", indeed.

Mom....

This is the first Christmas since my Mom passed away (9/11/04), and I'm wishing she was still here. I was digging through a box of old photos last night and came across this one. A candid from the "Castlehedge" days, in the kitchen, just chatting. Probably taken around 1987-89. Not a glamour shot, but real. Nikon FM2 35mm SLR, scanned, cleaned up in Printshop Elements 2.0.

Living In The Past...

37 years ago today (12/20/1967) the band Jethro Tull was formed by vocalist/flautist Ian Anderson and bassist Glenn Cornick, in Blackpool, England. The band was named after the 18th century inventor of a number of farm implements. Anderson & Cornick had been in the John Evans Blues Band, Evans would later join Tull as Keyboard player...

Brrrrrrrrrr........

It's cold here in the heartland, in the low teens and windy today. So, I decided to post a shot of Mendenhall Glacier, just outside Juneau, Alaska. This shot was taken from the area of the visitor center. The lake is frozen.... Kodak LS443 digital, Effects in Printshop Elements 2.0.

I remember finding out about you.....

"Day After Day" by Badfinger hit the charts today in 1971 (12/19). This is another of those outstanding songs from the early 70's, and made it to #4 on the pop charts. A great band that looked to be on the verge, with "Day anfter Day", "No Matter What" and "Come and Get It", they would fade quickly from the charts, perhaps doomed by the business end of rock and roll.

Back Door

An oldie, from the Dexter house. The first place I lived after school, site of the first couple of "Inappropriate theme" parties. This was the gateway from the house to the wiffleball field, or the way to take out the trash. I guess you had to be there. The picture is from the early 80's when I took a photo course at the Smithsonian. I think the assignment was "door". Nikon FM2 SLR, scanned. Cleaned up in Printshop Elements 2.0.

Frozen Harbor

March 2002, I had the opportunity to take a businees trip to Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska. On morning, we were running early on the way to KPU, and stopped at the docks in the center of town. I thought this was pretty cool (cold, actually) with the glaze of ice over the water. Heavy use of Buzz simplifier effects here, trying for a painted look....

Scottish Tape

The assignment was to create a photograph with the theme "Tape Dispenser". This is an "almost, but not quite good" attempt. But I thought it was interesting enough to post here. Trying to capture the curve of the dispenser, with the plaid background to accentuate the "Scotch" in tape. We'll see if I can come up with something better by next week . My biggest problem is that my digital camera died, so this was shot with my 6 year old 1.3 MP camera. Which doesn't do close ups very well. This shot simply doesn't have the "oomph" to display at the size necessary for the task. Oh well....

See the Man With The Stage Fright.......

Born this day (12/9) in 1943, Rick Danko, bass player for The Band. Danko would've been 61 today, except he died in 1999..... Happy birthday anyway, to one of my favorite bass players.

Walking Down This Rocky Road.......

Short Mountain way, near Maryville, TN. At the home of the Tennesee family. Taken last year at Thanksgiving.

Starts and Stops

Today (12/8) has been a busy day in rock history.
Happy Birthday Jim Morrison (1943) of the Doors, and Gregg Allman (1947)!! These guys are both icons of 60's/70's rock. On the other hand, John Lennon (Beatles, in case you don't know) was killed on this day in 1980. Also, the Grateful Dead formally disbanded on this day in 1995 following the death of leader Jerry Garcia.

Cades Cove

One of my favorite places in the world, Cades Cove, on the North Carolina side of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. This shot is from 7/02, when we took a family vacation down that way. This is from my old Kodak DC210, cleaned up in Photoshop Elements, Effects are Buzz Simplifier and Virtual Photographer-Mountain

You came and you gave without taking...

Thirty years ago today (12/7/74), Barry Manilow's first hit entered the Top 40. "Mandy" would go on to reach #1, and launch BM as a pop force. Manilow, of course did NOT write this song, despite his 1975 hit "I write the songs" (which he also didn't write).

Day Of Infamy

63 Years ago today (12/7/1941), Japan bombed the US military base in Peal Harbor, Hawaii, killing over 2,400 (and wounding another 1,200). As noted at TheHistoryChannel.com; we knew that a Japanese attack was probable, but did nothing to increase security. I had the opportunity to visit the Peal Harbor memorial several years ago, and the overriding message was the cost of not being prepared, and not taking the rising threat seriously enough. Today's photo is from a Pearl Harbor re-enactment at the Scott AFB air show, summer of 2003.

Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow

That's got to be one of my favorite song titles from the psychedellic era. This is from Strawberry Alarm Clock, on the same album as the hit Incense & Peppermints. I wonder what they meant, though? Not quite like "Rainy Day Crossroad Blues".....

Slice Of Life #8327

We were sitting at the dining room table, at the in-laws' house, during our Thanksgiving visit... My wife was talking to her mom, discussing their (the in-laws') pending move, and she (my wife) asked if they would be taking the ceiling piece above the light fixture (which is apparently an antique from someplace...). So I took a picture of it.

Don't want to discuss it

Don't want to discuss it, I think it's time for a change, You may get disgusted, And start thinkin' that I'm actin' strange. In that case I'll go underground, Get some heavy rest, Never have to worry, About what is worst and what is best . . . hit it: Oh, oh, Domino
Van Morrison's masterpiece Domino was released on this day (12/5) in 1970. This top 10 song (#9) was Van's best chart performer in through the 70's.

Winter On The Way...

Snow on pine needles... This shot is from last winter, and was actually taken just outside a hotel in metro Chicago where we'd been for a Sewing Machine sales meeting. I managed to not catch the paring lot or the building, looks like it could be in the middle of the wilderness!!

Cell Block Number Seven

31 years ago today (12/2/1973), members of the Who were arrested after trashing their hotel. A little wound up after a show at the Montreal Forum, I suppose... John Entwistle's song "Cell Block #7" immortalizes the incident...

Gotta Get Away....

"Gotta get away from this day to day running around...." This is the last shot from our Thanksgiving trip to Lake Arrowhead, GA. This is the hind of hillside that's (sadly) rather uncommon around home....

Radios Appear

Happy Birthday, Eric Bloom (12/1/1953)!!! As frontman for Blue Oyster Cult, E.B. is part of some of the fun-est rock music of the late 70's. I saw these guys a couple of times, but the best was at the old Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh, when their equipment truck had a problem, and they went on using the warm up band's stuff. We were in the 1st row of the balcony, and watched them building a new drum set while the (rather bad) warm up played. BOC was no-frills that night, but they really clicked. I enjoyed them much better this way than later, when they had their laser show, motorcycles on stage and all the other flash. "And don't forget my dog, fixed and consequent"

Lake Arrowhead

This is a view of Lake Arrowhead, from the road to my in-laws' place. A great place to spend Thaksgiving, along with my wife's family, and had a god time with the crew. It was a swan-song of sorts, as they moved back closer to Atlanta this week.