Monkeying Around...

Back when I was in high School, one of the local radio stations (probably WDVE, but maybe WYDD) did a contest on the weekends. Listeners would send in set-lists, of 3 songs that went together well. They’d pick one, play it on the air, and the winner would get an album. I won once, with some southern rock set, and got The Outlaws' Hurry Sundown as a prize (early 1977)… Years later, when I lived in Washing DC area, the local “community radio” station (WHFS) would occasionally play great sets, like a group of songs by “all girl acapella groups from the 60’s” or various remakes of " I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”….

Anyway, I always though this was a cool, fun concept. I’m not really set up to post music here (especially copyrighted music!), but thought it would be interesting to (occasionally) post proposed song lists. Three or Four tunes that are linked in some manner, taken from my collection of stuff. Feel free to add you own suggestions in the comments. Let’s start with Monkeys (not to be confused with Monkees), and immediately overshoot the rules with 5 songs:

Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except For Me and My Monkey – the Beatles
(Siamese Twins) The Monkey and Me – The Knack
Monkey On My Back - Aerosmith
Shock the Monkey – Peter Gabriel
Space Monkey - Patti Smith

World's Largest Catsup Bottle

One of the landmarks of nearby Collinsville, IL, it's the World's Largest Catsup Bottle!! Check out the links at their site, it has a bunch of fun stuff, including the World's Largest Roadside Attractions site.... Find out what's near you!

Wind on the water…

Reflections of trees on the lake...

Choice Motel?

The Cardinal Inn, aka the Choice Motel, in Highland Illinois. This little spot was my first “home” when I moved to Illinois in 1989, and it hasn’t changed a lick in 16+ years. Imagine my joy at arriving here after driving 850 miles from Washington, DC. I only stayed here 3 nights before moving to a Days Inn in Glen Carbon, nearer the house we were buying. I lived in that place 2 months, till the townhouse in DC sold, and the family headed out. The Days Inn was ever-so-slightly nicer than the Cardinal Inn, but was torn down better than a decade ago. Meanwhile, this place soldiers on…. . .

Never Mind....

It seems the surviving members of the Sex Pistols won't be digging out the black ties and tails, after all. Johnny Rotten and the lads will be following Sid Vicious's example, and staying put, "politely" declining the invitation to their Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame induction. Give 'em full points for style. I was kinda looking forward to Johnny Rotton singing "Sweet Home Alabama" in the jam session.....

Crystal Gothic

My neice Beth took this photo in of the PPG Towers in Pittsburgh. Pretty cool shot!!! WTG Beth!!

Give A Little Whistle (revisited)

The announced the January Finalists over at BetterPhoto.com, and I managed one. This was a repost from late December… It’ll be interesting to see if it does anything in the subsequent judging. .

Tangled Up In Blue

Music theme day at the Yahoo Group, today was “Bob Dylan”. I wanted to do “Buckets Of Rain”, but I couldn’t find the time to make it work. So I reworked this shot from 2 years ago….

NASCAR!!!

Happy Daytona 500 day, everybody!! Yep, they'll be firing up the engines in a couple of minutes and racing around in circles for the next few hours. As a long time race fan, I can only say YEE HAW!! Nascar is kinda funny in that they put their biggest event (the Daytona 500) at the START of the season! My yahoo-fantasy racing team for this week: Jeff Gordon, Dale Jr., Jeff Burton and Kyle Petty....

Al's Barner & Golf Shop

On the corner of the main square in Highland, Illinois, and just down from the post office (the big brick wall in the background) is Al's Barber and Golf Shop. Seems like a logical combination, doesn't it?? Of course, in 15+ years living in the area, I've never been into this (presumably) fine establishment. . .

OO Ah Ooo Ah Ooo Ah Ooo......

On this date (2/18) back in 1987, the No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit was "Livin' on a Prayer," Bon Jovi. My (not quite 6 year old) son loves this song, and plays a mean air guitar.....

St. Jacob, Illinois

When I take the "back roads" home, it's a straight shot across Rt 40, at least as far as Troy. St. Jacob is probably 1/2 way between Highland and Troy... This shot is looking southeast.

I've always liked the "Funk's Hybrid" sign on the side of this old grain facility. It makes me think of some new (or old) style of music... Perhaps Sly Stone meets David Johansen?? "Funky funky but Chic" indeed!

I Went Away For A While, But I'm Back Now.....

Well, sort of back.... I was finally getting over a nasty respiratory virus, when my work computer managed to catch a virus of it's own. I was too distraught to post the last 2 nights. So, I just got it back from our comapny computer guys, they had to wipe it all clean and start over. It'll take a while to dig through all my backup disks, and get repopulated, and I'll have to reload my photo software.... if I can find the disk! Oh well, that's life, I suppose. I'll try and post a photo from home tonight.

She Came From Planet Claire.....

On this day (2/14) in 1977, the B-52s give their debut performance at a Valentine's Day party in Athens, Ga. It was spring of '79 when I discovered these guys, when I was helping my older brother pack-out from completing his college career. Riding in a Mazda-GLC from Richmond VA to Pittsburgh PA may not be the best environment to first experience the B-52s....

Blackbirds Fly.....

We get huge flocks of starlings around here, they fill the sky in a steady stream around this time of year. The other day a billion or so landed in the field behind our house, and a snapped this shot when a couple dozen were circling through my trees. I was hoping to catch them when they all took off, but they headed away from the house, and didn’t present themselves. . .

Love Is understanding.....

Happy Birthday Peter Tork!!! 64 years old today (2/13/2006)!
Peter and Mike Nesmith were the "real" musicians in the Monkees, and Tork was my favorite Monkee, back when I was 7-8 years old. Peter was the first to leave the Monkees when Mickey refused to go back in the studio to record music (after the "real band" experiment of Headquarters)... Said Peter: "that was the end for me of any hopes of having a real live group, which is what I wanted all the time. At that point I had had it. I was utterly disappointed. So when I had the chance, I quit". Headquarters, of course, is my favorite Monkees album.

Ice Edge

The lake is still frozen in the backwaters, with a little "chop" in the open from the breeze... The edge of the icy area made the coolest sound, almost like a millinon distant cicadas..... reposted from 2/13/05

On The Edge

Tuscarora Hiking Trail, in South Central PA. The trail runs right along the ridge. This was one of my favorite places, during later high school. Reposted from 2/10/05.. Canon TX SLR, Slide, Scanned.

Tonight I'm Gonna Break Away.......

It doesn't seem like 27 years since 1979, but it is.... 2/10/1979, Poco had their first Top 40 hit, when "Crazy Love" made it's debut. It's amazing that with all the great stuff Poco put out through the 70's, they didn't break the charts until '79. "legend" was actually Poco's 13th album released in the 70's, including 2 live albums and a best of....

Purple #544

A little abstraction. Close up shot, converted to purple, and “buzzed”…Anybody want to guess what this is in “real life”???. . . .

Steelers 21, Seahaws 10

One of my friends from Pittsburgh was able to get last minute tickets, and take his son to the Super Bowl. I am SOOOO Jealous! They did the whole thing in one stretch, drive to Detroit, go to the game, drive back… Quite an undertaking, but very cool! Here’s some pictures they took, thanks to MikeW for the chance to post them!

Steelers line up for the extra point……:. .

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Seahawks looking at a long way…

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Go Steelers!!

It's Super Bowl Sunday, one of the major cultural events of American society. And even more important, the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing!! I grew up in Pittsburgh, and learned football watching the 70's era dynasty. I'll ALWAYS be a Steeler fan. Hopefully, in a few hours, I'll be a happy Steeler fan!!!

Me and Iggy were giggin' with Ziggy and kickin' with the MC5

In honor of the Superbowl: Happy bithday today to one of Detroit's classic rockers: Vincent Furnier, aka Alice Cooper. This minister's son was born in the the motor city, though he's more associated with Phoenix. I'd rather see she him play the superbowl halftime show than the Rolling Stones!

Pandering??

BetterPhoto’s monthly theme is “Purple, Pink or White”… After my initial revulsion, I decided to try and come up with something... So I went for the trifecta, an image based on all three. This is actually from last November, and it took a touch of photoshopping to get the purple. See, the yo-yo was really pink… . . .

A long, long time ago, I can still remember, how that music used to make me smile...

February 3, 1959, the day the music died. Rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson are killed when their chartered Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashes in Iowa a few minutes after takeoff on a flight from Mason City to Moorehead, Minnesota.
The accident was importaized in Don McLean's 1971 hit "American Pie"

You Really Got Me!

59 years ago today (1947), Dave Davies, guitar player with the Kinks, is born. Happy Birthday, Dave!! Meanwhile, I just got (via iTunes) the Kink's "Muswell Hillbillies" yesterday. Gotta love that instant gratification!

More Muddy Dead Leaves....

I’ve been sick for 3 days, with what my mom used to call the crawling crap. Low grade fever, aches and pains, sinus pressure, junky lungs… blah, blah, blah. I suppose it’s a lot better than being really sick, but I have no patience for it. SOOO........, no bright and cherry photo today. ” . . .

Stop & Watch

As the day’s are getting longer, we’re at a point where I’m often driving home during sunset. Pretty cool.. . .

First Place Win at PhotoShowdown!!

I won a Fisrt Place in PhotoShowdown's "Best Picture Of The Month" for January!! That's my 2nd 1st in 3 months (at PSD)!! Check out all the winners, mine is the top right of the 1st place shots.

Give A Little Whistle

Me Gotta Go Now

On this date (2/1) in 1964, the governor of Indiana declares the Kingsmen's hit "Louie Louie" to be pornographic and asks the state's radio stations not to play it. (coutesy of Billboard).. Oh yeah, like he had any CLUE what the lyrics were....

Washed Out....

Well, I figured I’d start February with a bright, cheery shot to get us all ready for spring!! Or not. Our back yard is still torn up from work we had to have done back in early December, it’ll be a mudhole till things dry out, probably June…. On the other hand, it’s provided several opportunities for Leaf-in–puddle shots. . .