drewby's world

Our boy Miles

2011-03-13T11:23:00.001-04:00

One my Grandmother Louise's favorite movies and ours too!

2009-12-02T03:05:00.005-05:00

The Bishop's wife starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven is a great Christmas movie that is little known and under rated. My Grandmother watched it with me many times while she would visit at my Mother's home. I bought it on DVD when it came out and have tried to turn as many people on to it as I can.

Movies such as this are just full of goodness, comedic moments, moral teachings in God and Christmas and finding your way through life with God's influence.

Click here to watch the entire movie in several segments. They should start automatically when one ends the next should start.

There is a reason that people today all over the world have a feeling that something is missing in their lives, missing in the U.S. especially. Once God had a place in people's families, government, work, school, society and entertainment. Now the radicals have bullied people into not mentioning God in public for fear of a lawsuit. There was a long time in our country when people used Christian values in their everyday lives. They did it because the teachings of the church and Jesus were right and people knew it. Now with the loss of God in our society our country has lost much of it's conscience and soul and people yearn for it's return.

Reject the evil ways of the radical that denies God and goes against everything he teaches and commands. In doing so they also reject through their intolerance of anything that challenges their self serving agenda, any benefit from those teachings.
Shut off the TV shows that teach hedonistically selfish impulses are alright, especially to children. Show them programs, movies and books that promote values and morals influenced by God and you will give them a base of what's right and wrong to guide them through life.

I will admit that I'm not a practicing Christian, but I do believe and I know what evil is because I know who God and Jesus is. I am not suggesting you do anything I am not, like attending church weekly, I'm just suggesting that the lack of God in our lives is making our souls and our country sick. The attack on God and Christianity in the U.S. has entered every aspect of our society and I believe there is a backlash brewing against it. People instinctively know something is not right in the country now and that's why movies like the Bishop's wife make my wife and I feel good inside and I'm eternally grateful to my Grandmother Louise for introducing us to it!

I hope you enjoy it and pass it on to your loved ones!

Merry Christmas! - drewby

Jeff Dunham

2008-08-15T09:39:00.009-04:00

A group of us went and saw Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham last night at the South Shore Music circus in Cohasset, Ma. It was myself, Maureen, her sister Jean and brother Rich and his wife Michelle and Maureen's parents, Ann and Dave. We had seen him probably 11 years ago and we have always thought his characters were very funny. He has several, but the newest rage is one named Achmed the dead terrorist. Because of Dunham's comedy central specials and his videos being posted on youtube he has quite a number of new followers. The show was sold out after all.

There is also another guy that is part of his show and does the warm up act named Brian Haner. He is affectionately known to Jeff Dunham fans as "guitar guy". He did a great job warming up the crowd by narrating his own comedic biography and how he got his start in show business. I especially liked his funny song, "Carney man". Posted below is Haner performing this song at the Improv in California.
Haner is called on stage a few by the "puppets" to help with a song or a story. Last night you could tell that Dunham was improvising with him through the puppet characters on stage as Haner could hardly contain his laughter. It was funny to watch. He is a very talented guitarist and a great straight man for Dunham's characters.

We were afraid that Dunham would basically do all the same stuff we saw on the comedy central specials. We were surprised that almost everything was new material! He also told us that there would be a new comedy central Christmas special this year and he did some of that material last night. His characters Peanut, Walter, Bubba T, and Jose jalepano on a stick were all very funny. The crowd favorite was Achmed though. Everyone loved his time on stage. I actually bought a T shirt for Maureen and I with his picture and famous quote, "I keel you!" on it. Posted below is his video from youtube as well. If you get a chance I recommend seeing Jeff Dunham and all the whacky characters that come straight from his own imagination.
- Enjoy. Drewby

Brian Haner - "Carney Man"

Achmed, the dead the terrorist

My Dad's 80th Birthday!

2008-08-10T10:48:00.003-04:00

To the right is a picture my Dad, Leo. He turned 80 on July 15th 2008 and as you can tell by the look on his face as he looks at his cake, he probably can't believe it himself. He doesn't act 80. He certainly doesn't act elderly. Hey, he just bought a Chryler 300. Myself, Maureen, My brother Peter and his wife Katerina, and brothers Dennis, Joe and Mark took him up to the Granite links golf course tavern in Quincy, Mass for lunch. It is a very nice place with a great view of Boston. Maureen, Dennis and I chipped in for a gift certificate for 18 holes anytime of the week with a cart.
We had a very good lunch and then they brought out his cake which was a Kalua torte cake from Konditor Meister bakery in Braintree. Everyone loved it. We then went back to Dad's place for a few hours or so and talked. It was a good day. He seemed to really appreciate the effort everyone made to be with him for this day.

The next week he surprised Maureen and I at home by showing up at 6pm with a big container of his meat sauce with meatballs, sausage and pork mixed in that he made the night before. He came by to thank us for putting the day together. It was a 45 minute ride for him to do this. He had a few cups of coffee with us and then an hour or so later said he wanted to get home to watch the Red Sox even though he was invited to watch it with us here. It was a nice surprise and nice that he really appreciated us making a big deal of his birthday. It was always a given on our part.

Blueberries

2008-08-09T06:42:00.009-04:00

Maureen, Dennis and I are supoosed to go blueberry picking again today. We found a nice pick your own blueberry farm a few towns over in Rochester, Mass. The blueberries were almost the size of small grapes and they are all the high bush varietie. Which means, and you will know this if you have ever picked blueberries from low bushes, that everything was at almost eye level which means no aching back at the end of the day!! Plus, they were a very reasonable $1.50 a pound!

Anyway, Dennis uses them for his juice drinks. He bought a really nice juicer to help him eat better and has now gone strawberry and blueberry picking with us this year. He came down that day with a good strawberry/peach concoction he devloped. It was pretty good! After today the next outing will be apple picking in September or October.

We picked 20 pounds of blueberries last time!! I know what your thinking W.T.F? 20 pounds and you need more?! Well, we do. Maureen has made two batches of blueberry jam that she cans, three pies that are in the freezer. A blueberry and yellow squash bread, like zucchini bread but with yellow squash. I was skeptical of how that bread would come out, but I liked it a lot! We also made blueberry ice cream that came out really good! I had her put in whole blueberries at the end of the process and that was a mistake. They are like small ice balls, but they melt in your mouth fast enough. Maybe chocolate chips next time? Chocolate chip bluebery ice cream. That sounds good!

She will make more pies to to keep for later and maybe more jam or maybe she will just freeze the new berries until she is ready to use them. It's up to her.

Blueberry picture above taken by wife Maureen the same day.

Manny's replacement

2008-08-03T09:18:00.006-04:00

Well, what a difference a day made in the life of Jason Bay, the ex Pittsburg Pirate outfielder. One day he is the star player on an under performing team in the National league and the next he is the starting left fielder for the defending World Champion Boston Red Sox. His Father who is a diehard Red Sox fan according to Jason, must be pleased with what fate has brought his son. He got a standing ovation as he stepped to the plate for the first time at Fenway Park in Boston. A warm welcome from the Boston fans to a guy who has just kept his head down and played for the last 5 years. He was the rookie of the year in 2004 and has quietly maintained a respectable .281 batting average,.376 OBP, .517 Slugging percentage with 733 hits, 141 home runs and 547 RBI.

In two games with the Red Sox, Bay has come to bat 7 times and has had 2 hits and 3 walks and has crossed the plate 4 times. He also has had a triple and a home run and has been credited with 3 RBI. He also made two great run saving catches in left on Friday night.

Bay, admittedly, doesn't know how to handle all of the new found attention here in Boston. On the standing ovation he said, "It's all new to me". He stood at the plate and tipped he cap a little and then waved to the crowd. He ended up with a walk and the Red Sox fans were satisfied with that. "I had numerous people try to help me with my bags at the airport," he said. "It was very overwhelming." In the 12th inning, tied 1-1 with Oakland, Bay came up and hit a high triple off the Green Monster that everyone thought was a home run at first. Two batters later Jed Lowrie hit a single and Bay scored the winning run. His new team mates swarmed him at the plate like he just hit the walk off home run in the Worlds series. Asked about it later, Bay said "Having met these guys eight hours ago, everybody's been extremely positive, You jump around with those guys, I felt like I'd been here all year. We were like little kids."

Welcome to Boston Jason Bay.

Batman: The Dark Knight

2008-08-02T15:22:00.005-04:00

I went and saw this movie last week. I don't really go to the movies much, but I thought I would like to see this on the big screen after all the hype of how well Heath Ledger did in his final acting appearance. I have to say that this Batman was the darkest yet, and I loved it! Ledger was incredible as the joker. He wasn't the goofy joker we are all used to. He was dark and menacing. You never knew what his character was going to do next. This movie isn't for kids though. It is rated pg-13. There is a lot of violence. It really is more for adults.
Christen Bale does another good job as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Michael Caine is again entertaining as Batman's/Wayne's Butler,friend and advisor Alfred. The only down spot in the movie I thought was Maggie Gyllenhaal as Batman's old flame. I thought they could've found someone much better.
Gary Oldman returns as James Gordon still a lieutenant on the Gotham Police force. Morgan Freeman returns as Lucius Fox, Wayne's/Batman's friend and specialized equipment innovator.
The movie cast Aaron Eckhart as Gotham District Attorney Harvey Dent. In doing so they brought back Batman villian, Two face.

There have been reports in the news that Christen Bale assaulted his Mother and Sister in England. It was assumed that he physically struck them, but under English law you can charge someone with assault by being verbally attacked by someone. So the claims that he physically struck them were false from what is being said now. I have heard that they asked him for $200,000 and he refused. it was reported that he has been estranged from them for some time for some reason.

Anyway, I recommend this film. Action, and suspense are strong attributes to this movie. Hey, maybe I'll start a movie review section of this blog? Who knows.

Good bye and good riddance Manny Ramirez!

2008-08-02T08:09:00.003-04:00

7 and a half years after Manny Ramirez signed his 160 million dollar contract with Boston Red Sox he has finally worn out his welcome with the Red Sox and their fans.
Manny has always been just about Manny. He has pulled one stunt after another, made up one vague injury that couldn't be confirmed after another to get a day, a week, a month off while most of the time his team and his team mates were fighting to get into the post season. The final straws as it were was the shoving to the ground the Red Sox traveling secretary Jack McCormick in Houston on June 18th. Manny asked for a large amount of free tickets with almost no notice for Mr. McCormick. When McCormick, who is 64 by the way, told Manny he couldn't do it with such short notice Manny told him "Just do your job" and shoved him. McCormick hit the ground. Both men reported that Manny apologized and wanted it to all just "go away". Unfortunately, the fan's memory would not be wiped out so easily. Even the Red Sox front office wanted it to "go away" without penalty for Ramirez, showing how they think. It wasn't until public outcry for the Red Sox to penalize Manny in some way was at a deafening point did they come out and fine Manny at all. As the 2008 trading deadline approached and Manny got more amd more disrespectful and brazen. During a Yankees series he took himself out of the first game complaining of knee pain. Skeptical management sent him for MRI's on both knees, when they came back clean they told him to either play or be suspended. He did play, but went 0-4. He tells reporters the next day that "enough is enough" and that he and the team are fed up with each other. He also told papers that ownership and the front office were "liers and backstabbers" and that "they don't deserve a player like me". It was then reported that team majority owner John Henry took great offense with Manny's statements. It was also reported that after a few deals fell through for Manny, Henry told GM Theo Epstein to get a deal done to get Manny out of Boston. He did. On July 31st at the last possible moment before the trading deadline, a three team deal was enacted that would send Ramirez to the L.A. Dodgers. In exchange Boston would get outfielder Jason Bay from Pittsburg and Pittsburg would receive 4 prospects. 2 from Boston and 2 from L.A. In the end Boston paid a great deal to get Manny and a great deal to get rid of him. They gave up two top prospects in their system already, including number 1 pick, pitcher Craig Hanson. Hanson hasn't worked out yet, but his upside is good if he could improve his control to go along with his 98 mph fastball. The Red Sox also had to pay the remainder of Manny's contract for this year that is 7 million dollars. Also, by trading him they gave up the two draft picks they would have gotten if he refused salary arbitration which he most certainly would have done and another team gave him a contract. To Manny's credit he is a terrific offensive player and will be a hall of famer. I think that the Red Sox wouldn't have won the World Series in 2004 or 2007 without him.

My analogy of Manny and his antics is this. Manny is like a big, dumb dog that is a lovable goof, but does things once in a while that makes you mad or makes you scratch your head for a moment. You put up with the bad things because he is a good dog and you love him and you know he loves you or you think he does. Then one day he turns on you or a family member one time to often and then you know he has to go live someplace else. All you can think is that it's too bad that you and that once lovable dog are now headed down a bad road together and something has to be done.

When it's all said and done though, I'm glad he's gone. He doesn't have respect for the game of baseball, the Red Sox or their fans who had put up with his antics for years. He doesn't care about anybody but himself, and that's just Manny being Manny!

I'm Back

2008-08-02T07:52:00.002-04:00

Well, I hadn't added any new posts on my blog since March. I can attribute it to a combination of procrastination and my having to have a surgery to repair a hernia that put me out of commission for around three weeks. I thought with all that time off I would have been writing on here all the time and reading all my books that I never seem to have time to read. Well, that obviously wasn't the case. I just didn't feel like writing. Oh well, I'm back now and I'll try to add more to this more frequently. Andy

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss June 5th in Boston

2008-08-02T06:28:00.010-04:00

Well, my friend Mike and I went to the Robert Plant, Alison Krauss concert on June 5th in Boston and it didn't disappoint! It was an incredible night of mixed music forms as on their Raising sand cd that I have promoted on this blog. They did all those songs plus some Led Zeppelin songs that were reworked to fit this band. Adding a little country/bluegrass element to those Zeppelin classics. They also did 3 or so bluegrass/gospel tunes that the crowd really responded positively to. That positive reaction to songs referencing God and a belief in God and the promise of a life after this one was wonderful to hear from the crowd here in liberal, take God out of everything Boston. Anyway, the show was wonderful and I would go see them again. If you get the chance to see them I would recommend it and to pick up their cd as well.

Below is the set list from that show and a video of them performing "Please read the letter" Enjoy.

Rich Woman
Leave My Woman Alone
Black Dog
Sister Rosetta
Through the Morning
So Long Goodbye to You
Fortune Teller
In the Mood
Black Country Woman
Shut It Tight
Bon Temps Roule
Trampled Rose
Green Pastures
Down to the River
Killing the Blues
Nothing
Who Do You Love (Bo Diddley tribute)
Battle of Evermore
Please Read the Letter
Gone Gone Gone
---------------------------------
Don't Knock
One Woman Man
When the Levee Breaks
Your Long Journey

Satellite radio companies to merge

2008-03-24T18:25:00.008-04:00

Yesterday the news came down that the Department of Justice approved a merger between the two U.S. satellite radio companies, Sirius and XM. I have been very interested in this merger as I am a Sirius radio subscriber and a stock holder. The merger, that still needs to be approved by the FCC will save the two companies hundreds of millions of dollars it is reported. Instead of both companies launching new, separate satellites and endlessly competing with one another they will now pool their resources into making satellite radio a real option in consumer entertainment. This merger was vehemently opposed by terrestrial radio and it's parent groups like Clear channel entertainment. It was found out though that Clear Channel inc. is a large contributor to the campaigns of key Congressmen that just so happened to also oppose the merger and have caused multiple delays in the approval process. It has become the longest proposed merger of two companies to date in the U.S. Not even the Exxon/Mobil oil merger took as long as the proposed Sirius/XM merger to approve or deny. On another front, the National Association of Broadcasters continuously stated that the merger would be a monopoly and said it was unfair to the public because the merged companies would raise rates and limit service. Now, this is the same industry that has been losing listeners to competing technologies like Cd's, MP3 players, Internet radio and now Satellite radio for ten years. If satellite radio would be a monopoly when the two companies merged then why would the NAB and Clear channel oppose it so much? If satellite radio didn't compete with them and their industries then why would they care? The answer is that they do compete with them and they don't want to lose anymore listeners and in turn lose advertisers money. Jim Kramer of MSNBC's Mad Money program was so incensed by this prolonged delay in approval by legislators he started doing his own research. He started looking into politicians campaign donation records and almost every politician that was against the merger had accepted money from terrestrial radio parent companies or the NAB itself! He then started "outing" those politicians on his show. Kramer says he has no financial stock in either satellite radio firm, but was pointing out an example of Washington being corrupted by corporate interests. He did an excellent job to date and without him putting the spot light on the rats in Washington this merger probably would be dead already. The FCC still has to give it's own approval and hopefully it will do so soon. why do I care? Well, like I said I am a stock holder. I don't own much, but what I do own I want to go up in value. Also, with the merger there will be double the listening choices. Sirius has all NFL games, it has the NBA and Nascar and Howard Stern. XM has ALL MLB games and it has the paranormal, Art Bell founded program, Coast to Coast. It's about paranormal experiences, conspiracies and cryptozoology such as bigfoot, etc. I find that show interesting enough to want to hear it again on satellite radio which probably plays it all day. So as a consumer I want the merger to go through for expanded listening choices as well as my making money.

Restaurant review - The Fat Cat Cafe - Quincy

2008-03-09T18:16:00.000-04:00

My friend Mike and I went yesterday (Saturday) at about 1:00 for his Birthday. We were offered only one choice of table when there were clearly other's open, but they sat 4 people and there were only two of us. So instead we took the pub table near the door that also sat, 4 people. Don't ask. Ok I thought, it's only the two of us and it was getting busier so it was no big deal. I thought the bar set up was nicely done. They are definitely going for the younger crowd with all the industrial looks and graphics on the walls. By the way, I'm only 40!!

They also had digital picture displays on the partition wall facing the bar at hip height flashing pictures of people no one knew. I thought the concept was good, but the reality was that I didn't care who they were. So finally our 20 something waitron comes over and asks us about drinks. I was surprised how good the tap beer selection was. It's not that there were many choices, just quality ones. So I ordered a Belhaven scottish ale. It took about 15 minutes for her to come back with two drinks. As we sat there at our pub table the one thing I noticed right away and didn't like was that there was no thought put into protecting the tables at the front of the restaurant from the cold breezes that chilled everyone whenever someone came in. That was check mark number 3 in the CON column. They will have the same problem in the summer with the heat. So our waitress comes back to take our order about 20 minutes later. I had the half rack of baby back ribs with home made cole slaw and fries for $10, not a bad price I thought. My friend had the flank steak with mashed spuds and grilled brocolitini for $16. Now I know it is a new restaurant and it was getting busy, but I wasn't too happy that our meals finally came out 40 minutes later! All the while I'm watching people milling about in the open kitchen window. I asked my friend if he thought they had to go kill the cow out back? So our meals finally come... to the wrong table by a different waitress. So that was straightened out and my ribs tasted pretty good. They were slathered with bbq sauce. That is fine, but I should have asked for it on the side because it was added after the ribs were cooked. The fries were just typical fries probably out of a sysco box and the home made cole slaw was nothing special. My friends flank steak was good he said. He ate most of it. He then ordered the apple crisp for dessert for $6. It came in a large ramican with two spoons. A note to waitstaff everywhere. Most men don't share a dessert unless that other guy is your father or son! She just assumed and brought two spoons. I was just having fun there. It was no big deal. Looking at it I don't even think the top was crunchy, but my friend seemed to like it well enough. I think prices of desserts are ridiculous anyway so I usually don't order any just on principle. So then I am finishing my beer as he is eating his apple crisp and I decide to use the men's room. So while I was in there I took note of that too. It was nice enough. Bright colors. Eternal painted flowers growing from the floor and a square vessel sink that I thought was out of place here. They are trying to be hip remember so things like this must be the rage in Boston now I guess. I did really like the river rock stone floor though. I thought that was a nice touch. The one thing I didn't like is that the toilet was pretty dirty. Obviously, there was no one ordered to mind the cleanliness of the bathrooms. So, we paid the bill and he then said he wanted to take the rest of his apple crisp home with him, but seeing that we already paid and that we would have to wait for another 15 minutes or so for the waitress to come around again we decided to just leave. In conclusion, I have to say that I wanted to like this place, but I won't be in a big rush to eat here again. The combined factors of wait times, the cold breezes, the dirty bathroom, the meals to the wrong tables and the crowd because it is the "new place" made the fat cat cafe somewhat of a disappointment. Would I go there in the future? Perhaps, maybe for a drink and an appetizer. I'll save my rib eating for other places that do it right.

Trivia night

2008-03-07T22:50:00.001-05:00

My wife Maureen (in the middle), her sister Jean and I went to wicked trivia night at the Bristish beer company in Cedarville (Plymouth), Ma last Tuesday night. Our team named Miles corner (we were in the corner and no I didn't make that name up. Jean did after our dog Miles.) We came in third in a room with about ten teams. It was alot of fun and we'll be going again soon.

More live music after Symphony hall? Yes.

2008-03-01T14:31:00.001-05:00

I met my wife and her sister Jean at Kilroy's pub (the old Yardrock cafe next to the shipyard) to hear my step son Matt's girlfriend, Jess, in the band she sings in. The Mike McHugh band. They were still playing when I got there, which was at around 11pm. They did sound really good. They have a full band with a brass section which I liked. They sound alot like a band called Deep banana blackout I thought. They are a lively, funk type band that plays small venues, but have a large following. They don't sound as strong as them, but they are probably still developing their sound and I think they have a bright future especially if they start writing their own songs. Jess, did sound very good and I was glad I got to see her! There are 3 videos on you tube of them. It is a little dark because it was shot in a club, but the sound is good. Here is a link to one of the videos of them covering Three dog night's song "One"
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R23OMUWXc60

Here is their myspace website link if you are interested. - http://www.myspace.com/themikemchughband

On a side note, this was the first time I had been to the new Kilroy's pub after they remodeled the local legendary blues bar the Yardrock cafe. I have to say that they turned what was a place full of personality and it's own character into just another cookie cutter bar with tables and a band area. I wasn't impressed. Especially, when I asked for a Johnny Walker black with a few ice cubes and they charged me $7 !!! I could see if I was in a nice place in Boston or something, but I wasn't. I'm not cheap for those who know me. I just don't like getting ripped off. Anyway, I could take or leave that place.

Chick Corea & Bela Fleck at Symphony hall, Boston

2008-03-01T12:40:00.000-05:00

Last night I went to see one of my Jazz heroes, Chick Corea. He was playing with Banjo virtuoso, Bela Fleck at Boston's symphony hall in support of their CD "The Enchantment". This was a terrific night of mixed musical genres in jazz and bluegrass with a little classical mixed in. The music comes together so smoothly when listened to on the CD or live that you end up asking yourself why you ever questioned if such a project would sound good. The live performance does add some improvisation to the tracks on the CD, but that in itself was really interesting as well. Symphony hall was sold out by the looks of the place. I went by myself as I couldn't recruit Maureen or Mike to go. Neither one of them are big fans. That didn't matter to me though. I wasn't going to miss their only Boston appearance for a lack of company. It was one of those times in a Jazz fans life that you can look back and say "Yeah, I was there for that". I have seen Chick Corea four times now and each time I ask myself as I look around the venue, "I wonder if these people realize what they are seeing here?" Kind of in the same way I wonder if the people that saw Miles Davis in the mid to late 50's with John Coltrane understood that they were witnessing musical history being made? I think some of them did. Well, Chick is at the level of honest to goodness Jazz icon! These shows with Bela Fleck will be stuff of legend for Jazz fans in the future and I was glad I was able to witness it live! Now if only I could find a time machine to bring me back to New York city,1958 so I could walk into the Café Bohemia, order a scotch and see Miles Davis and his quintet live!

Mission: Tickets - Accomplished!

2008-03-01T12:17:00.000-05:00

As you know from my first post in this blog I was trying to get tickets for the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss concert here in Boston in June for my friend Mike and I. Well, Mike came through and got us each a ticket after realizing there was an American express presale going on until March 2nd. So we are looking forward to that being another great night of live music! Way to go Mike!

Why am I blogging?? An example.

2008-02-24T09:12:00.001-05:00

I guess this should have been the first post I wrote. I kind of jumped right in because this is a free blog service through Google and I liked the way the templates looked. So I said "What the hell". As most of you know who are on my email address book I have no problem sending political emails about stuff that I think is important to us as Americans. I am a history buff and I think that what is happening in this country today politically is as important as any attack from any outside enemy of this nation. The only thing is there are two enemies of freedom and liberty loving citizens of the U.S.
1) The liberal politicians and their attack dogs. i.e. The media and the liberal, socialist groups that fund the attacks on the Constitution, the Military and people's freedom's and rights such as Moveon.org and Mediamatters.org. Not to mention the communist founded group the ACLU, who would rather defend the Homosexual child rapists of NAMBLA than defend U.S. citizens against injustices say of illegal taxations or anti gun groups trying to take away our Second amendment rights both federally and state wide.

2) The complacency of the American people. Listed is the definition of it.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) -
Com·pla·cen·cy Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuhm-pley-suhn-see] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -cies.
1.
a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.
2.
Archaic.
a.
friendly civility; inclination to please; complaisance.

You see this complacency every day in people's lack of interest in today's real dangers of our politicians non actions on issues that the answers to are elementary for the well being of the country. You see it when you speak to them when their eyes gloss over on certain subjects. People (our elected officials especially) make issues too complicated. Sometimes things ARE black and white. Many times there ARE simple answers to complicated questions. The problem is that many politicians are doing and have done whatever it takes to stay in power on both sides! That means they take money from groups and individuals to help them get re elected and in return they have to DO something for that money. That's where they get in trouble and they get taken off course. Of course if there were really moral men and women in these political offices this wouldn't be an issue. The problem is that the really good, smart and qualified people in this country that would return us to small government either don't want to go through the scrutiny of themselves and their families from the media to get elected or they don't want to take the pay cut. Who can blame them. Then you have people like me and most of you I like to think, who would do the right thing for the country, but can't afford to run for public office. I'll get into that more in the future. So there is a perfect example of why, just on a political stand point, that I am blogging. I welcome opposing political views if you have them. I would just ask that you are civil in your opposition and if you have any proof of what you are stating that would be good too. Also, by proof I don't mean an opinion piece from someone at the New York Times. I mean facts. Well, like I said before this blog won't be all politics. Signing off -for now. drewby

Dog's nose weekend alarm clock

2008-02-24T07:24:00.000-05:00

Here's how every weekend morning begins. At 5:30am or so I get our dog Miles nose in my face. Saying "Hey, wake up! You've slept enough. I wanna go out." Sometimes Maureen, my wife, will intercept him if she happens to be up before me, which isn't very often. You see, Miles goes to work with me everyday and we get up around 4am. So I guess 5:30 is sleeping in to him. I'm only writing this because it's actually funny. I couldn't sleep much more anyway. So I get up. Get dressed and load up the two wood stoves with more wood and then proceed to make coffee and then and only then I take the furry pain in the arse out. Of course we have to bring one of his toys so he can play before he eats. I do this just so it will take a little energy out of him so I can relax and drink my coffee when I get back in.

Also, on a serious note, you shouldn't play hard with a dog after they eat because I have heard horror stories about dogs stomachs flipping over inside them! Basically, now causing an obstruction which if not corrected by either a non invasive method which I can't remember here, means very expensive surgery and that's not guaranteed. It can lead to death of your beloved friend. So, we just don't do that.

So after he plays and does all his business it's back in to drink and eat his wonderful meal of dry dog food from Nutro. Life doesn't get any better than that. It's now his job to bark at nothing from the back door waking Maureen up if she isn't already up. Then it's back to priority number two, sleeping. At least until he hears something hit the kitchen floor.

Well, I get a treat this morning anyway. Maureen has made blueberry pancakes made with some protein powder for me. Signing off - for now. drewby

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss tour & cd

2008-02-23T17:03:00.001-05:00

So, I am not an insider.

I went on Alison Krauss' website yesterday to see if there was any more info about her and Robert Plant's upcoming "Raising sand" tour to support the CD of the same name. There WAS more info. There was a pre sale going on for members of her "community" so I went and signed up to be part of the commune to get the password to get tickets early. Well, I was supposed to get a email newsletter with the password. No luck yet. So I did the next best thing. I went and found password online and have been trying to get tickets through Ticketmaster using it throughout the day and I have been denied. Others are having this same problem. Tickets go on sale officially March 3rd at 10am. So much for being part of the "community". I will try and get tickets with all the rest of the common folk on the 3rd for their Boston show.

I have been a huge Led Zeppelin and Robert Plant fan for years. I started hearing them being played by my brother Scott in the 70's. Since then I have loved their music and all of the solo stuff from Plant and Page. I've seen Page solo and Plant and Page together twice some years ago now. The first time I saw them together was one of the last shows to be held at the old Boston Garden before they tore it down with my brother Scott. It was a great show!

I had heard of Alison Krauss before, but hadn't really listened to her until I bought the album "Home on the highway" with her band Union station. It is very good CD done for Cracker barrel. She has won more grammy's then any other female artist. She is a bluegrass icon with a very strong voice with much soul. Often she sings softly instead of over powering the song. That's what I like about this cd. Both of these artists can put the vocals into over drive, but don't.

The collaboration between the two of them and producer T Bone Burnett on "Raising sand" is no less then great! It is unlike any album of music I have ever heard. The low volume, countryish, Americana filled songs here take you off the track of today's mindless, so called musical "artist's" renderings that fill the radio and people's ipods today. I have been a fan of many different kinds of music and I had an instant liking to this CD. At the same time, I had to get "used" to hearing these songs. I couldn't appreciate them all at once in my first listen. Now, it has become one of my favorite Cd's in years.

I fear that people won't give it a chance or put the time into actually listening to this wonderful collection of songs. That would be a shame because in a world filled with gangster rap, vapid pop stars, and gold grilled hip hop "singers" a real piece of art like "Raising sand" doesn't come down the road every day. Get this CD. Then sit, drink in hand (mine is Maker's Mark bourbon), close your eyes and just LISTEN to what real music and musical interpretation sounds like!!!

My favs. featuring Alison Krauss is "Sister Rosetta goes before us" & "Trampled Rose" Hauntingly simple with Plant in the background.

My favs. featuring Robert Plant are "Please read the letter", "Rich Woman" & "Fortune teller"

All the songs are great though. Listen to samples on Amazon.com

I would like to credit Pamela Springsteen from the bluegrassjournal.com for the Picture of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Hopefully she doesn't mind me using it.