The old stuff never sounded so flat

I meant to post this days ago, but got sidetracked. I watched Garth Brooks' concert on Friday, Jan. 21, on CBS, which was part of one of 5 concerts he played over the weekend at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. As a long-time Garth Brooks fan, it pains me to say, but Brooks was not in prime form, or great voice. In fact, he was frequently off key.

I admire the fact that the so-called retired Brooks' put on the concerts to benefit Southern California's firefighters after last fall's devastating wildfires. But it also smacks as grand promotion for Brooks' new collection, "The Ultimate Hits."

I do like the two (of three) news songs in the collection that I've heard so far, including a remake/duet with Huey Lewis of "Workin' for a Livin'." But I don't know if I'll buy the collection, as I own all the other songs in the collection, and I don't have much interest in the music videos in the collection, as I just don't watch music videos that often. Unfortunately, Brooks does not have a deal with iTunes to allow for the purchase of just the songs I would want. I mean, Garth, I like you dude, but you've got enough money, and I don't have any need to spend more money on songs I already own.

And Garth, after such a long hiatus, I'd suggest next time you don't do a national broadcast of your first concert back on stage. Perhaps the screaming fans in the Staples Center didn't notice, but my friend, it was not your best outing on stage. The firefighters benefited, and perhaps the fans in the arena did too, as you don't get out much anymore. But for this fan watching on TV, it was a disappointment, as is the fact that I can't now buy your music how and when I want to buy it.

Fortunately, for fans of Garth Brooks' music, his exclusive distribution deal with Wal-Mart has now ended, so if you want to buy his new album you can find it at other music outlets.

Just not iTunes.

Having keys doesn't mean you can get the engine started

I've been sitting here, looking at a blank screen. Classic case of writer's block. I can't figure out what to say, or how to say it. But I've been feeling guilty for not having made a post in a week.

I'm still here. Still breathing in and out. Just not good at tapping text out on the keys. I guess I need to clear out the cobwebs.

But it's not just writer's block that has kept me from posting. I had a busy weekend with family. And I feel no guilt for that. I'd much rather spend time living life than writing about a life I wish I was living.

That should make for some good writing fodder. But now, today, I just don't have it in me to pour it out of me onto the digital page.

A visit from the Salty Dog

When I was in college I took a three-course sequence in music appreciation. The classes covered the genres of classical, folk and jazz music.

I thought the classical music class would make me more sophisticated. I thought the jazz class would make me cooler. And I took the folk class because it was part of the sequence and needed to take it to fulfill the sequence for credit toward my liberal arts degree.

The classical music class did not make me more sophisticated. To be honest, I never really acquired a taste for classical music. But I know I got more out of the class because the instructor, Rachelle McCabe, a concert pianist, conveyed her love for the music through the expressions on her face as she would play part of a piece on the piano. It's the kind of look that you only see on a woman's face when she's passionate about something, like enjoying a rich chocolate dessert. Her passion for the music was contagious and it kept me paying attention. But the interest in classical music faded when I wasn't seeing her face several times a week.

I don't remember my instructors for the folk and jazz classes, but those genres of music became more engrained in my day-to-day musical tastes. I found I liked music, regardless of label, that is rooted in the blues. You can find it in various genres -- rock, folk, country, jazz.

The reason I got thinking about all this stuff now is because I got a comment on a recent post from one of my favorite radio/podcast personalities. Salty, aka Dennis Trevarthen, from the Salty Dog Blues N Roots show found the post somehow, through the magic of the Internet, and was kind enough to say a few words (as was Pat McDougall from PDXBluescast).

If you like blues, folk, blues-rock and related styles, I urge you to check out Salty's show. He plays great music and also features interviews with artists from Down Under or artists touring Australia. It's great music for road trips and air travel, as each show is 2-hours long and there's a new one every Saturday.

Thanks for stopping by Salty. And more importantly, thanks for sharing so much great music with us "all across the globe."

Don't wake me, I'm dreaming

She's a beautiful young woman. And there she was, in my dream. She's a former coworker. A friend. A woman I haven't worked with in years and who I haven't seen in almost a year. We never dated. We never shared a moment of intimacy in our life. But she showed up in my dream in a most intimate way.

I don't remember much of the dream, but what I do remember has haunted me pleasantly for the last couple of days. I don't know how we got where we were or why, but somehow, some way, she was topless, and I was sucking on her nipples.

I'm not sure if waking from the dream was a blessing or a curse. It feels like a curse, because I did not get to experience more of her exquisite charms. But perhaps it is a blessing, because I remember the thrill of tasting her sensitive nubs in my sleep. Perhaps I would not remember if I slept on. The only dreams I ever seem to remember -- and remembering dreams is a rarity for me -- is those dreams I have just before waking.

I tried to go back to sleep. Tried to go on, licking and sucking and nippling, but the sensuous moment was lost.

Lost, except for the memory of a moment shared only in a dream.

Let's get the f---ing blogging started!

Thanks, 3T, for pointing out my pathetic blogging habits of late. At least you admit that your efforts aren't any better.

Actually, I've been spending a fair amount of time working on websites of late. Just not this one.

Sorry.

I'm not sure if I am ready to admit this or not, but those of you left reading this site are friends, so I guess I can admit that I have started a new blog. The new one, is more public in that I don't use a nom de plume. It's just me. The me behind the G-man.

I am not interested in cutting this site loose though. I have put too much time into it at various points over the last few years. It has been an important outlet for me and think it still will be. It's where I can wear the half-mask and be the bolder, cruder, ruder, version of myself that I don't let casual acquaintances or blood relatives see.

I need this version of me. I need the escape.

Now, with that said, I have a favor to ask those of you who know the other me and who find (I whom I tell how to find, in a moment of weakness) the "other" blog. Because minor members of my family (and my mom) may be visiting my new site, I would like to avoid link to this site, given the fact that I've been know to fucking write about fucking (or the lack thereof) and use fucking colorful language from time to fucking time.

And for the fucking record, there better be some fucking in 2008. This is getting ridiculous!

All offers will be given serious consideration.

The vampire within

The date on the calendar says it's a new year, but something hasn't changed. I'm still dealing with insomnia.

Obviously, I haven't been using the sleepless nights to make blog posts though. I did use the time to update some things on the blog. I added some iMixes through iTunes.

But the rest of the time has been spent watching a lot of movies mostly late at night. During the work week, the insomnia means I get less sleep at night. On weekends though, I get plenty of sleep, it's just not during nighttime hours.

Last night for example, I ended up staying up pretty much all night. I finally turned in about 7 a.m. So I pretty much ended up sleeping through the daylight hours of Sunday, waking up shortly before sundown. I guess if I ever seek a new profession I should put vampire, or anything involving a graveyard shift on my potential jobs' list.

The sleep schedule doesn't cause any real problems for the weekend, but now that the work week is getting ready to start again, I'm a little concerned. Especially since, here it is midnight, and I'm still awake (and just had dinner).

Clearly, I should be roaming the streets looking for warm-blooded mammals to suck dry for sustenance.

Hugged in the New Year

Happy New Year everyone. I hope your year is off to a fantastic start. I have to say, so far mine's been right fine. The holiday season has certainly been a bit busier than I'm used to, so I am sorry I haven't been around to post very much lately. But I thought I better check in and say howdy and let you all know I'm alive and well and survived the holiday season.

I hope you had plenty of good memories to toast to on New Year's Eve and were surrounded by people important to you, or at the very least were with people who were fun!

I have no New Year's kiss to report, but I was surrounded by loved ones -- family and friends -- and got some great hugs! I never really appreciated hugs much when I was younger. My family was not the hugging type. In fact, I must confess, I was not (and may still not be) a good hugger. Whenever I encountered a hugger I used to feel very uncomfortable and give that awkward back pat hug with my ass sticking out.

In recent years, I've learned more to appreciate and welcome hugs. I must say much of the credit for this probably goes to my daughter's family, who is a great group of huggers. So to all my friends out there who I haven't had a chance to see in far too long (and you know who you are), I wish I could have given each of you a hug for Christmas or the New Year.

Happy New Year one and all!