Workingman's Blues...

Yes, the title is musically inspired and not a comment on life in the corporate trenches! I'm an "aspiring" guitarist...actually, I'm trying to learn several stringed instruments, but mostly focusing on the 6-string guitar...and I bought a new axe yesterday. It's a Johnson, and a copy of the old Les Paul "Gold Top" model. Very well done, tone and sustain for days, and fits into the collection very well.

I was raised in Michigan, and my folks knew a bunch of people who came up from both Appalachia and the Delta area to work the auto plants. We had (have) a large farm, and these folks would come out on the weekends to shoot skeet and play music, and eat. Consequently, much of the early memories I have of people playing music are grounded in America folk, bluegrass, and blues.

Now that I'm old(er) and have embarked on this "try to figure out how to play the guitar" journey, I'm finding that what interests me is - for lack of any better term - "roots" music. Listening to the old Delta blues legends like Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson or to the banjo/mando/violin tunes from the Eastern hills and hollows is simply incredible.

It's also pretty discouraging...until I remember that Eric Clapton said in his autobiography that he played/practiced guitar for FIVE YEARS before he ever played out anywhere...so if it takes that long to be decent, so be it! ;)

Cap'n

A "Political" Note

Ok, just thought I'd let y'all know where *I* stand on the 2008 Presidential election. In my opinion, there is no better candidate for America than John McCain.

Could the other choices BE any more frightening to a thinking person? Ms Clinton will stop at nothing to force her 'vision' of "healthcare" on us, and Mr Obama has about as much practical experience as....oh, say, any OTHER "junior" Senator from a fairly insignificant state.

Yes, the problems in Iraq and Afghanistan - and the Middle East generally - are significant. Yes, they need to be addressed somewhat better than the current adminstration has done. Yes, there are other foreign policy 'problems' on the horizon (North Korea, China, the other 'stans'). Wouldn't someone the rest of the world respects be the best choice to lead us in resolving these issues?

McCain 08

Summer "Fun"???

Well, my old friends are going back to Hawai'i this summer to recapture their 'lost/misspent youth' and another couple I know is off to Kodiak Alaska for a week of fishing and bear-watching.

So, what am *I* doing this summer? Putting on a 50th wedding anniversary celebration for my folks! ;) Don't get me wrong y'all - I think it's a fantastic thing for them and it will be really nice to see many of my older relatives again. BUT.......it just isn't in the same league as far as the 'fun factor'!

I hope everyone that's off to exotic destinations takes LOTS of pictures so I can put my imagination into overdrive and at least pretend it was a 'fun' summer!!!

BV