SPP as the bruises heal.

Well, having discussed the progress of our new behavior plan with our behavior therapist, it looks as though we are making progress.  Whether it is what we told him verbally, or the fact he saw less bruises and bleeding I have no clue.  So maybe this SPP is not all Hocus Pocus after all?My wife let one of our Personal Service Workers (PSW) go in Wednesday.  You can only ask for so many days off and take off early so many times before your boss realizes you're not dedicated to your job.  People who are in real need depend on you to be there, depend on you to help keep people safe.  Last minute requests which are actually demands for time off are not an option.  So, we are a worker short, but refuse to focus on any negatives.  Humans by nature seem to be negative, so trying to "be" positive goes against our nature, inherent internal conflict.   Focusing on the positive however is a subtle difference, and what we are attempting to do. So there is you philosophy lesson for the day.  And it was a good one!
Rock on!

Going Out With A Bang!

Well, a few days since the unfortunate accident.  Everyone seems to be healthy and uninjured so praise to God (or Joe Pesci) for that.  Hopefully the other driver won't show up to court with a fake neck brace, because I don't have Mike Brady to drop a briefcase in the courtroom.
The car was indeed totaled; and our insurance company was actually generous in reimbursing us for the car.  I am still waiting for the other shoe to drop, since no free lunch is a given.....just like death and taxes.  So long good 'ol  Ford ZX2 you were a great car, really.  At least you didn't fade away, you chose to go out in style.  
Well, all thing do seem to pass since everything seems to be healing physically, emotionally and spiritually. George Harrison was right and thanks Joe Pesci for looking out for us!

Unconditional Love?

Just got back from the scene of an accident.  My 19 year old daughter was making a left hand turn and bam!  She was hit by the oncoming car.  She says she had plenty of room, but  the oncoming car was speeding....it is what it is. She got the ticket.  I am happy she is safe (most importantly), but am extremely upset also.  My 2003 Ford ZX2 is most likely totaled; we will  have to see how far the insurance company wants me to bend over.   I hope George Harrison was right, "All Things Must Pass", because my dials are all in the red zone.

Road Rage? Cut The Audi Driver Some Slack.

Don't you know....people who drive an Audi are winners. They are entitled to any position they want on the road. VW owners are Audi owner wannabees and frustrate a bit more easily.
Anyway, they need to be winners behind the wheel because deep down they must feel inadequate in all other areas.
Female  Audi drivers are usually trophy wives or former trophy wives who got the car in the divorce settlement.
Female VW drivers are trophy wives in waiting.  They are still single and looking for Mr. Audi; but they still have the potential to  possibly turn away from the four ringed, dark side and find that Mustang SVT Cobra of their dreams.

The Ultimate Roadtrip.....

Yesterday,  as I was driving home from my daughter’s college orientation at NIU, I hit a major  traffic snafu on Eastbound  Route 88 which dropped my mph  from about 75 to 5.  So be it I thought, his will be done,  all things must pass.  As I crawled along between the huge orange drums ,  The Rolling Stone’s “Time Waits For No One” came on my cd player; and tears came to my eyes.  Tear of joy for being so proud of my daughter for where she has been, is now and will be; but also tears of sadness for all those places my sons will never visit.

As  I gazed across the grassed ditch median strip and saw traffic zipping along the other direction, a thought came to me.  Life is like a road trip (profound huh?).   Everyone starts at point A and eventually their journey ends at point Z, same 26 letter for everyone  (whether there is a new alphabet which begins after point Z is debatable and a topic for another day).    Sometimes the road is a straight shot,  set the cruise control enjoy the ride.  Other  times  it is an asphalt smelled, bumper to bumper  crawl  which requires one to draw on  patience reserves and reflect on something positive.   Sometimes we need a pt stop at the oasis, other  times we can hold it just a bit longer.  Often we stray off the main road either intentionally or by accident, but we eventually will find our way back and reach point Z.  Some may get through their alphabet rather quickly, other it may take decades  before their journey is complete.  We can try to hit the brakes now and then, but can never stop completely.  And, unfortunately, no reverse gear is available.

The end of the journey is will come, we really never know when.   So just live in the now and sit back enjoy the ride.  Look around you and  focus on the beautiful scenery before it passes.   Ignore those obnoxious Audi drivers you will inevitably encounter along the way.  The stress they create can get you where you’re going way to fast.  Make sure   you have plenty of food and drink onboard   for  any passengers who may join you along the way.   Routine maintenance is a must, so check  the oil, tires and spare tire on a regular basis.  And, make sure you have a kick ass stereo and plenty of music to last a lifetime.  Rock on!

Pass The Oil Tin Man!

Well, my first "official" work out at BLAST! Ftiness was yesterday and I was able to get out of bed today in less than a few minutes without any assistance! Bonus! A bit sore and stiff, but no rips, tears or breaks....everything is WNL (within normal limits)!! Stretched out a bit to oil up the ol' joints and I was ready to tackle a new day...both figuratively and literally (see SPP post below). For anyone out there who live near Downers Grove, BLAST Fitness! is really an above average facility...especially if you do not need any special help or instruction. There were maybe 15 people in the entire place during my afternoon visit yesterday and I was able to whip through my "baby steps" work out in about 30 minutes. No waiting for machines to free up or wait for those 40 lb. dumbbells, which will hopefully be 50 lbs next week, to be put back on the rack. I am a free weight person more so than machine for upper body, but for leg work outs they have advantages; and BLAST! has a mother load of machine equipment. My biggest fear, yes fear, is my body will break down, seize up or develop some sort of vascular "issues" due to higher mileage. Why the concerns? My father dropped dead from a heart attack at age 45. I am not a smoker, he smoked 2 packs a day. My mom did not cook Pork 5 times a week and put a entire stick of butter on everything served for dinner....another plus. And, I've never asked anyone at the dinner table to pass the fat they trimmed from their meat for my own personal consumption. I have also exercised pretty extensively in the past, something dad never did. So I have that going for me. Finally, I am going to start praying for the environmental factors in the environment vs. genetic debate every night before bed. Now I just have to figure out who to pray to. Is Joe Pesci available?

SPP....and a few bruises too.

Well, the newest behavior plan for our boys...and I guess for our entire household is starting out a bit rough in more ways than uno. Support, Prompt, Pause (SPP) is going to take a bit getting used to because it is the total opposite of the direct command, "drill sergeant" type of approach. No more "orders", "requests" or "directives", just simple, calm statements like "could you use some help?" or "what would you like? Nigel Tufnel's laid back approach "what size are you?  I think we have that" comes to mind.    I need to find my Spinal Tap DVD, my copy of Thaddeus Golas's book "The Lazy Man's Guide To Enlightenment" and well as Ozzy's first solo album for physical, moral and spiritual support. Anyway!! Today was better and more calm than the Thrilla In Manilla yesterday, plus Ted was telegraphing his punches more than usual so I was able to dodge more effectively. I need to totally erase the "Me", "Myself" or "I" mentality from the equation. Come to think about it, doesn't one need to ditch the "world revolves around me", I drive an Audi mentality to mature in life anyway? Rock on!

Blast! More Appropriately, Blast?

Well....after years of slothdom, I finally raised my ass from this very chair beneath me and  joined a gym today, BLAST! Fitness in Downers Grove.  I walked into BLAST! Fitness at about 9am this morning and took a really, really good look around.  The place was  cool and clean with a lot of brand new shiny equipment; and most important, it was nearly empty with three lonely free weight benches in the corner whispering my name...perfect!  I joined on the spot with the hope my Discover Card doesn't start ringing up unapproved charges.    Will I ever get to bench those big numbers again?   I think my shoulders will fall off before that ever happens....COL (Cry Out Loud), but I can dream!  Realistically, if I can drop 20 pounds and pump 4 plates for 12 reps without ending up in the repair shop,  I'll be happy.   I am also hoping my expectations don't cash any checks my muscle memory can't cover.  Heck,  I'll even throw in some cardio work a few days a week to keep my system honest.  So to Schwerty, Tillman, Laich, Harry-O (God bless you Harry, I still think about you often) and all my other old school "lifting" compadres over the last 34 years.....BLAST!!!!

Hum...wondering aloud if all the pageviews listed on the Blogger's statistics page are me just visiting myself....that would be a bit disturbing although not too surprising.  If you do stop by....even by mistake...drop a comment in the box even if it is a simple "(insert your name here) was here". Thanks!

Virtual Kids?

Too bad I can't have virtual kids instead of "real" ones.  The last few days have been brutal.  My patience has been tested on a repeated basis and my sleep cycles have morphed into a unicycle (a unbalanced ride that lasts about 2 hours tops).  Sanity is dripping away and I hope I can mop it back up before the dogs lick it up off the floor.  Prayers?  Hey, they may help, so I sure hope the man in the sky  has enough bandwidth for me.
Rock on!

Awesome Father's Day Gift Arrived Early....

Well, I decided it was time I take a crack at playing guitar again.  I dusted off the old Eric Clapton Strat and plugged it into my trusty ol' KMD GV60 Amp.  Well, should I say  "used to be" trusty, because my baby was DOA.  No sound, no crackles, nothing, nada, zippo, etc., etc.
My original plan, which has since become my backup plan, was to find some forums and get advice on how to fix the KMD.  In the meantime, my wife and daughter, decided to order me a new amp for Father's Day.  Delivery was listed as 7-8 business days....it only took 2!  My Kustom  Defender V50 is here!  My wife and daughter rule!  Sorry KMD, sometimes you just need to move on...I will still try to repair you, buy you've become plan B.
NO pictures yet, but check this out!  No, I am not that good, but only post I could find showing the amp.

Clean Those Contacts!!!!

Listen closely....scratch that.....read closely!  Do you wear contact lenses?  If your answer is yes, chances are your Optometrist fit you in silicone hydrogel contacts.  Yes, they are "soft" contacts, but not the traditional soft contact lens material which has been around since The Beatles.  Silicone hydrogel lenses  have been increasing in popularity among eye doctors for about a decade.  These lenses contain silicone which helps increase the amount of oxygen transmitted through the lens by about 500%!    These types of lenses are much more healthy for the eye, allowing it to "breath" more efficiently throughout the day.  The caveat of these lenses is they may get more dirty, coated, and more filmy if not taken care of properly. Silicone, like the stuff you use to caulk your bathroom,  has a tendency to be "sticky" or "tacky".  The silicone in the lenses allows the "stuff" which is normally floating around in your eye to adhere to the lens more quickly.  So, if you have allergies, the  mucous (aka eye boogers) produced in your eye will have a tendency to stick to the lenses.  Ladies, who wear slightly excessive make-up, will have a tendency to dirty their lenses quicker and consequently be replacing them sooner than recommended .  And....you guessed it, ladies who wear make-up and have allergies may get their lenses really, really, really dirty....DOA as I notate it.

So...what's the plan?  First, always use a name brand solution; and make sure it says "for silicone hydrogel" lenses on the box.  Inexpensive generic solutions are in cheap for a reason.  They are old formulations which are not compatible with the newer contact lens materials.  Have you ever bought cheap gas for your car or tried giving  generic Fruit Loops to your toddler?  'Nuff said.   Second, gently rub your lenses, gently  rub your lenses and then gently rub a bit more.  "No Rub" solutions were a marketing  fad which disappeared a few years ago.  You need the mechanical action of rubbing to get the surface debris (mucous, make-up, etc.)  off the lenses before soaking them for the night.  Third, if your allergies are bad, wear your glasses.  Hey, they look really nice on you and can give your eyes a much needed rest.  Fourth is for you wonderful ladies, just  back off a bit on the make up (an occupational hazard, I know, but try).
Finally, if all else fails, several companies manufacture excellent daily wear disposable lenses.  Patients can wear them  full time, in place of there 2 week or monthly replacement lenses.  Or you can wear daily disposables in the height of allergy season and switch back to your two week or monthly lenses when appropriate.  Ask your Optometrist if a one day disposable lens is appropriate for you.
Finally, I never recommend sleeping in your lenses; but if you do, never sleep in them when your allergies are flaring up or you have a cold.  Common sense over stubbornness & vanity wins every time.
Oh...and see your Optometrist every year!

American Dog - Poison Smile CD

First of all, this review is based on the sound of the actual cd. A cd album which is fraggin' unbelievable. I am listening to "Old Dog" right now and how American Dog managed to channel ZZ Top, Brownsville Station, Uncle Ted and Rocks era Aerosmith with their own beer drenched twist is beyond me! This really, really rocks....foot stompin' rocks. If you prefer Budweiser and burgers over microbrew beers and sushi....this one is for you!!
The overall sonic quality and production is really great too. I hear a lot of Martin Birch type production from those classic albums by Deep Purple and Iron Maiden; and, other "old school" albums like Powerage by AC/DC and, like I mentioned previously, Jack Douglas/Rocks era Aerosmith. The guitars form a wall right in your face and you can separate each one of them. The drums are centered perfectly just behind the wall of guitars. The drummer seems to have a simple, grooving John Bonham type approach that fits in well. Hannon's vocals blend in the mix seamlessly....no to low, not too high, just right in there with the guitars.
The bass seem more subtle and deeper...lower frequency than previous albums. Yet when you single it out it is right there in your face like a Joe Frazier left hook.
All the instruments and vocals seem to be separated and mix perfectly
with none overpowering the other.
And then the songs! I love the Motorhead type guitar solo breaks! A lot more bluesy based solos and riffs. The entire album seems to have more of a bar room boogie swagger which I assume anything involving a bar suits this band just fine!
And last but not least.....after listening to the new Cult album "Choice Of Weapon" in all its brickwalled sonic glory for the last week, an album that is just way, way too loud with no Dynamic Range, this album just sounds good. 70's-80's era rock n' roll with 2012 production...if that makes sense. Great job!!
Grade? 8/10       

The Cult - Choice Of Weapon CD

As a long time Cultist, a fan who owns all the bands albums and box sets, including all the Instant Live Recordings from about a half a decade back (I know, you're happy for me), I feel I can speak with some authority as well as write a excellent run on sentence. COW is an obvious return to form when you compare it to the last "pink" release, I forgot the name, in which Billy Duffy was sonically MIA, Ian sounded winded, the songs were well below par for the band and most importantly it did not respect "The Rock".
Personally, I may hear more of a rebirth, reincarnation or regeneration having listened to COW about 5 times over now (and listening at a reasonably loud volume, through real speakers. The Cult are not an earbud, mp3 player band). The songs, their sound, the mix, the lyrics and the entire vibe of the album seems to incorporate everything the band has ever done...including the early Death Cult albums. COW for me, moves the band to an entirely new level...more mature & less pretentious while still being able to rock out and have something important to say. So, if you are a Cult fan, this album is pretty much a done deal (I got mine at Best Buy yesterday for $9.99 and it is the 2 disc version). I rate it 4th in the same tier as "Electric", "Love" and "Sonic Temple". Because I have a tendency to listen with my "Electric" tinted glasses, I rate COW at 4.5 stars instead of 5. If you are more of a "Love" person, then it may rate a 5. 'Nuff said on that point if you really know this band. For new fans, this is really an excellent place to start. "Place to start" is a phrase very few older rock bands can boast on their current releases. After spending a few weeks digesting this release, you can move back in time to the 3 albums mentioned previously.
And last of all with no disrespect to Jamie or Matt, this is the best rhythm section the band has ever had.
So either add to cart or head over to Best Buy before they close up for good!
****Car experience update - Having listened on my Bose computer speakers for the first half a dozen or so listens, I did not realize how "loud" this recording is. In loud I mean sonically challenged, similar to Metallica's "Death Magnetic". I have read the dynamic range on this recording is very low and some have used the term "brickwalled". I really needed to turn the volume down in my car considerably and found my ears a bit "pissed off" after about 20 minutes of listening. Again, no slam on the music, just the overall "listening experience". I am interested to read if anyone else has noticed this or has any thoughts.....rock on!****
Grade? 8.5/10    

                  

Hey!  Brand new here.  Not that anyone gives 2 sh&ts on what I have to say, but you may!  The Blog title says it all.  I am a guy, so I like sports.  I consider myself somewhat of a "music" person, just as knowledgeable as Eddie Trunk from That Metal Show, possibly moreso.  I have a decent, wry, cynical sense of humor; and, I have an ability to see humor where others may not.  Finally, sometime you just have to say "WTF"....that'll be here too!   Throw in the occasional "midnight rambling" and there ya go! BTW...."The Woj" from over on Amazon.com, Dr. Wojciak from allexperts.com and I are all best of friends, so read between those lines.  Thanks for reading...see ya!
Well, here is a 06/20/2012 Blog Title Update....since there are more ramblings than music and sports, those two subject have been deleted from my blog title...for now anyway.