Snow?

So it looks like Dallas and north Texas may be in for a dusting tomorrow evening and Wednesday morning. If so I'll be in at the station early to work with school closings. The funny thing about those are that you always get beauty shops and vacuum cleaner stores and the such that want to be listed for closings as well. They just want the ad mention.

I worked at the radio station tonight for the first time. I cut about 29 spots for a concert series. I'll probably be hoarse tomorrow...

Rainy Sunday

Sure feels like January today, finally. We went to eat at the Olive Garden after church, it sure was cold then. Afterwards it started to rain. We had both kids in the car with us today so we took a tour of model homes. Some of them sure are pretty. Maybe some day.

I got a couple of responses from my postings in looking for a mandolin and guitar player. I'll set up some meetings and see if I like what I hear and of course vice versa. You would think that in a city this large, players would be plentiful, but no. There are alot of people out there who want to "start" bluegrass bands, but frankly not the kind of music I'm looking to make a go at. So much G-C-D stuff, that frankly, the way it's played, all sounds close to the same. And I should know after 32 years of pickin grass.

I've been feeling stressed the last couple of days. I gots to calm down and simma, just simma.

So, I got some feedback from a couple of surfers on my last post. Cool! Someone is out there, someone?

Hmmmm...

I have had a blog for quite a long time. You can look at my archive and see big spaces between posts, but, I've really been trying to keep it up since the first of the year.

Now my pondering...

Does anyone ever read my stuff? I have little to no comments and wonder if I'm just writing to self. Anyone out there?......If I just quit writing would anyone notice?

Irritated Entertainment

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Originally uploaded by banj.

What is it with some musicians? I went to this acoustic jam last evening in Plano - scouting I might add. There were 4 banjo players, 3 guitarists, an autoharp (very good) and a mandolin picker. One banjo picker I believe really thought that he was sooooo good that he continued to work on his licks and technique after EVERY SONG. No time to revel in the excitement of a song well played by all. This guy went right in to "practicing" what he had just played...and practicing very LOUD!!!! I guess he thought that he could play fast and accurate. Uhmmmmmm. I hate to be sarcastic so I won't, but at times he was pitiful. I take that he had never had the opportunity to play with anyone that knew the etiquette and unwritten rules of musicianship. There was one guy that came in very late and had to finally leave the room in order to simply tune his guitar. All because the banjo guy couldn't shut it up for a moment! I'm venting, I do that sometimes. This accompanying image is a real treat. The great Sam Bush. What a mando man. I'm sure he knows the rules.....

Thinkin' Out Loud

So a new week ahead. Lot's to think about for me. Lot's going on. Lot's to pray about.

I might get in on a jam tomorrow evening. Last time I went I didn't even flash the jo (banjo for those who don't know). I may just have to pull it out and rip off a couple of barn burners, but we'll see.

Got the Christmas lights down today. My son and I did the work. Ms. Banj had already gotten much of it off of the outside wall and the trees that were decorated. We're known as the "green house" in our little town. We're all green, but very unique and very festive. It's good to get it all down, now to get it packed and put back in the attic for another 10 months.

Chicken soup w/ califlower crowns, pasta, and panini's are the menu for tonight. We cook the vegetables for the sandwiches on the grill. It's such a good, wholesome menu when we do this and so very unique. I'm looking foward to it, as always.

Inauguration

I finally got to watch the Inaugurational ceremonies last night via TIVO. The one thing that stood out was Laura Bush. How long has it been since we've had that kind of class in a first lady? Jacque? She carries herself so well, and has such a look about her. An absolutely gorgeous woman, a real southern belle.

The songsters were a little disappointing to me. I enjoyed the first man that performed "Heal this Land." The ones to follow were too much. I don't know why we don't have someone with a more contemporary type of voice sing at these ceremonies. The tenor and sopranos are reminicent of an opra, just not appealing to the masses.

I enjoyed seening all of the ex presidents and their spouses. Jimmy Carter sure looks old and Hillary sure looks good. I feel like she'll run in 08 for the job, but don't expect a nomination by the libs.

Technology NOW!

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Originally uploaded by banj.

Ive gotta do this. I ran across it today. It is the epidemy of what I believe is happening as we speak (see the 5 Strings opening slug top, left of page). And this...is only the beginning:

We stand at the brink of a transformation. It is a moment that echoes the birth of the internet in the mid seventies, when the radical pioneers of computer networking had machines talking to each other and hijacked the telephone system with their first digital hellos. Or that jaw dropper a decade later when the FCC official whose job it was to track the growth of communications networks suddenly realized that his neat tabulation of local and long distance had been made moot by the unforeseeable rise of local-area networks: an unregulated, unmonitored, uncontrollable phenomenon of the upstart PC industry that would soon shake the telecom world. Or the arrival of the web browser, which blew millions of minds, making a mouseclick feel like teleportation. This time it is not wires but the air between them that is being transformed. Over the past three years, a new wireless technology has arrived.

President George W. Bush

On Thursday January 20th, 2005 George W. Bush will become the 43rd President of these United States of America. I hope and pray that this country may at least return to some sort of cohesion, and that the existing myopia which takes such a toll on our citizenery and OUR presidential administration begins to finally collapse, leaving a harmony complete with a bipartisanship that has made this the greatest nation on earth. May the Lord bless George Bush.

Texas Music

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Originally uploaded by banj.

What about "Texas" music? Do you know what I'm talking about? I listen to the "Americana" sound now and then because it envelopes bluegrass, most comtemporary acoustic, folk and other stuff. I think that the "Texas" type of sound has alot of stuff thats, well....kinda' crap. There are many artists who can't sing, and many that can't write. Some of it is absolutely great, but that's a few. When I do listen, I get into this set of music and after about three songs or so it becomes....crap. Sorry Texas music lovers, I can't dance with you on EVERY song. Since I was again talking music, here's a treat. It's the cover of Flatt and Scruggs 1st album after leaving Bill Monroe in 1954!

Work

That's really all I can come up with for this posting. The weeks been full of frustrations which I am dealing with. All of them career oriented. I know that I am the only one in my small circle that understands some of the problems we all face as broadcasters, advertisers, marketing people and promo writers. Things in this world are changing so very fast. Buyers are not loyal to brands as they used to be. In fact of a number of buyers surveyed who said that they were loyal to a certain product or brand after one year were loyal no more. Everyone is looking for a better deal. The same goes with presenting a news, information, weather, sports or entertainment product. It has to remain good in order to sustain years of viewer/buyer loyalty. They shuffle so much under the table for later, I am sure that it won't continue to work that way, for small market television will soon go the way of the newspaper, local radio, and black and white televisions, not to mention the tyranosaurus rex. We're slowly losing numbers. It's kind of like someone taking away a penny at a time. After a few years they're millionaires! I could change so many things, but... Oh I could go on and on and probably write a book on it, but I won't. I am trying to learn to chill.

So my sister is coming today to stay the evening, eat, and probably attend church tomorrow with us. It's her birthday on Monday (she's 10 years older than me), and I shall be 45 (yikes!) this year. I've got get this place picked up, head to the store, and, find a good deal on steaks. Remember, I am a gourmet, and thin, charred, well done, tough steaks don't cut the mustard yall. They gots to be thick, easy to tenderize, juicy and better than Ruth's Chris or any other place in Dallas for that matter.

Sunday

So I do think that the Texas Tornado is some pretty good hockey. Most of the kids seem to be faster than they are big. This is the same type of hockey you'd find in Canada in the Juniors. For those of you that don't know, the Juniors are usually where most of the NHL guys have come from at one time or another. It's equal to the NCAA in the U.S. The Tornado beat Springfield last night 4-1. There were a couple of pretty nasty fights with 4 on 4 in fisticuffs during one session. I'm not into hockey for the fighting, but I surely am not against it either. I think it's just part of the game.

Sunday services were very inspiring today. "There is something about that name, Jesus" was the sermon. I didn't know that Jesus was such a common name throughout the New Testament, but it is. "Christ" is what makes and made him unique in the Bible. That's what makes him the Messiah. I feel so very blessed to learn new things, and today once again, I did.

The AXE!

CIMG0036
Originally uploaded by banj.

This banjo was built in Blanchard Oklahoma in 1975 by a luthier by the name of Ty Piper. Ty built many banjos, but it is said that his earlier ones (such as this) were actually the higher quality. Notice the inlay down the fretboard. This instrument has been my primary banjo since 1976. I bought it from Charlie Clark when I was 16 years old and have played it ever since. This banjo has been on stage with Bill Monroe, Chubby Wise, Mac Wiseman, Josh Graves and others. It's got a sound that most musicians can't help but comment on, cause it can't be the picker behind it!!

Friday!

Well it's the weekend. The first REAL ONE of the new year. I had a long day at work, editing a promo that really should have been done a couple of weeks ago. i spin so many plates as a manager over operations, creative services director, production manager, and promotions person that it's hard to fit it all in. That is the life of small market television.

So for everyone that is looking for the warmer weather, looks like you will get it this weekend. We are due for anther cold snap around Tuesday so enjoy your springtime in January. I know that I write alot about the weather, but I do like the cold when it's supposed to be cold and the warmth when it's supposed to be that way.

We get to see the Tornado Hockey team play tomorrow night. With the NHL down and nothing to look foward to in the forseeable future, I'm looking forward to a back checking, fore checking, icing, boarding, hooking, 2 minute minor and 5 minute major HOCKEY GAME!! Yes I do miss it. So game on.......

Wintertime, Again!

So the rain and cold temps return. It's about time. That's one of the things I really dislike about living in north Texas. It seems that we go some years without a real winter. I am a cold weather person. Coats, fog off the breath, cold steering wheels, fireplaces, blankets on the bed and low electric bills! The past few days since new years have been in or near 70 degrees. That's way above normal. Oklahoma actually has some ice and mixed precip today and yesterday. We're not looking for ice or snow here but the temps and rain are surely nice.

Rain, rain

Man what a bunch of rain! it started yesterday, Sunday the 2nd of January and has been going on and off ever since. One of my "personal resolutions" is either to work on my blog more...or....publish a better one. Hmmmmm we'll see....oh yea, Happy New Year.....!