Tom Haverford is tremendous

Eat it up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkvPVGcpthc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Outlaw Skate Race

"Outlaw" as in street traffic was in direct competition with the skaters. No bigs, really, as it was a Sunday afternoon in downtown LexVegas where nothing much really happens.

Jack had fun in the fountain and I pushed for four miles. Good day.

Day 28 – A song that makes you feel guilty

Geez.
How about this:

Bob Schneider, "2002"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_Uh68FEVY8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 27 – A song that you wish you could play

So so so so many! Where to start?

It'd be totally rad to be able to manipulate time and melody with my fingers the way he does it here:

Willie Nelson, "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3DxVVfTifg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 26--a song you can play on an instrument

I haven't played anything since the seventh grade.
I can make cookies, though!

My favorite oatmeal raisin cookie recipe:
Prep Time:
15 Min Cook Time:
10 Min Ready In:
1 Hr

 
Original Recipe Yield 4 dozen  
Ingredients
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups rolled oats
1 cup raisins
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In large bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually beat into butter mixture. Stir in oats and raisins. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. Cool slightly, remove from sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.
Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving  Calories: 92 | Total Fat: 3.4g | Cholesterol: 16mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

Day 25 – A song that makes you laugh

Not sure about this one.

Perhaps because he tells such good stories at his shows that lead into the songs;
Todd Snider, "Statistician's Blues"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUK6zjtUj00&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Happy on a Friday/Saturday???

Been a bit, but I'm still working on sucking the marrow...

1. Reds are off to their best start since 1990, which happens to be the last time they won the World Series (remember Mom?)!

2. The gym: totally dig getting to go w/Carrie three times a week and I'm down 10+ pounds since after Valentines Day when she got us the membership (Jack has unlimited run of the playroom there while mommy and daddy work out)!

3. Making shit. I thoroughly enjoy building and painting whatever needs to be or whatever I just wanna make. Scrap piles are my friend and Jackson is always down to make art or watch daddy dumpster-dive for new lumber/canvases.

4. Outlaw Race this Sunday. Doing a 4-mile skate race for shits and giggles downtown this Sunday w/some friends from out of town. Skating is rad!

5. Skating/camping trip is only two weeks away!!! In just two weeks Wes and I will be hanging out a few beerages deep with two (perhaps more) other skater friends of ours around a campfire after a nice long day at the Knoxville skate park!! Gonna stay Friday and Saturday night while hitting-up the skate park throughout our waking hours. Get some!!

Support your Indy record store

...if you have one...

Tomorrow is the annual Record Store Day and here in Lexington we are fortunate enough to have My Morning Jacket hanging out for the afternoon (thanks for going corporate Ear-X-Tacy!).
So go to your own local shop and scoop up something that Target and Wal-Mart won't have 350 copies of next week. I'm looking forward to the exclusive vinyl singles from MMJ and my main man Steve Earle!
What are you getting/what'd you get?

Day 24 – A song that you want to play at your funeral

And after searching and finding this I do believe I'll be taking Jackson on a daytrip in the next couple weeks to the Ohio (my own Green River) for a little father-son time.

John Prine, "Paradise"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDCsc3CU5ww&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 23 – A song that you want to play at your wedding

Already did it. And it was great.

Ryan Adams, "Come Pick Me Up"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRnoh86FD2A&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 22 – A song that you listen to when you’re sad

Wallow music:

Merle Haggard, "Footlights"

Day 21 – A song that you listen to when you’re happy

Sooo many choices (just wait until I do a 30-day thing with pop music!)...

Todd Snider "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues"
Although most any Todd Snider will do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rijCrZOpj_Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 20 – A song that you listen to when you’re angry

This one chills me out:

My Morning Jacket "Where to Begin"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIFWQUaR8wg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 19 – A song from your favorite album

I've got a few favorite country albums:

Willie Nelson "Red Headed Stranger"
Dwight Yoakam "This Time"
Waylon Jennings "Honky Tonk Heroes"
...and so many more,
But I'm gonna say

Steve Earle "Guitar Town" from his album by the same name.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBQVlzKwgFg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 18 – A song that you wish you heard on the radio

I think the local classic country station should play more...

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band "Fishing In the Dark"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh3ml8gzrd4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 17 – A song that you hear often on the radio

The classic country station here is rad, but they do repeat a bunch:

Dolly Parton, "9 to 5"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpKAA2VxWY8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Not that I mind, of course.

Day 16 – A song that you used to love but now hate

Hate is rough, but a song I just don't have a taste for anymore, maybe.

Johnny Cash, "A Boy Named Sue"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1BJfDvSITY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 15 – A song that describes you

Err....idk. Depends on the day, really.

How about:

John Conlee, "Common Man"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-N7aiNRG3o&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 14 – A song that no one would expect you to love

Hmm...I don't know whom would be doing the expecting or what their expectation would be, but I'm pretty much opposed to the practices of organized religion, so I suppose this will do. His voice is just so soothing and strong at the same time.

Don Williams, "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWR78buhHbI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 13 – A song that is a guilty pleasure

I've got lots of them.

How about...David Frizzell, "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ8cEuEgF-U&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 12 – A song from a band you hate

I'm a shit, so I hate all kinds of bands/songs. Not sure on this one.

That said, Go to Hell, stupid fake punk band that played downtown last night!!!!

Day 11 – A song from your favorite band

So many favorites to choose from...

Bob Dylan, "Romance in Durango"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo4jpv2nkVo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 10 – A song that makes you fall asleep

I can pretty much fall asleep at the drop of a hat if I'm left alone with a blanket, so this one isn't necessarily the best example but it's still a good sleeping song.

Son Volt, "Windfall"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRVMdMXbrK4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 09 – A song that you can dance to

I'm not much for dancing unless it's slow-dancing and sticking with the country theme on the 30-days exercise:

George Strait, "The Chair"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceoh9Y_Ixug&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 08 – A song that you know all the words to

It was pointed out that I never give a link to a video or anything...um, yeah I do. See the song title (or whatever, ie "Junkie Wisdom" post) in a different color (signifying a Hyperlink)? Just click it and your YouTube wishes will come true! I'll make it easy for you though and start including the link in the body of the posts, too.

All the words??? Geez, there have to be at least a thousand as I haves love music ever since I can recall dancing to Bob Seger records as a three-year-old.
For this exercise I shall choose: George Jones, "Choices"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQMI7TksYo0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Day 7--song that reminds you of an event

When W sent troops to find weapons/secure oil relations/clean up his father's mess...

Steve Earle, "Rich Man's War"

Happy Monday, er...Tuesday!

Still happy just a day late:

1. Happy that my wife's very favorite team (UK, my life-long most hated team) has made the Final Four.

2. Opening Day is only hours away! Reds repeat in the NL Central? Doesn't matter, really... as baseball is a sign of Spring and life and renewal.

3. Skating is rad! Saturday I got a morning session on my ramp where I got some new stuff happening, re-learned some old stuff, and just had a great time. Then I took the dog for a run on my cruiser board. And finally, I met up with one of the Kooks for a two-mile cruiser push through the Arboretum.

4. My wife. She's just great and is so better than anything I ever imagined a marriage being.

5. DVR because Carrie and I get to watch stuff together and Jack can watch cartoons he wants to see instead of whatever is on at the time. Wish this was around when I was a kid.

Go find your own happy.

Seen any good movies lately?

As a matter of fact I have...

"Please Give" was excellent and well-acted.

"Life as a House" was very touching.

"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" was quite entertaining and fast-paced.

"Up" was a bit sad (Pixar makes tear-jerkers), but a sweet story and enjoyable for even a three year old.

"Julie & Julia" was very well made and I loved each of the principle actors' performances.

"Zombieland" was fun and gory.

"Hurricane Season" was very stirring and Forest Whitaker was terrific.

"Zack and Miri Make a Porno" was hilarious and clever just like a Kevin Smith film is supposed to be.


Just some stuff I've enjoyed, no particular order. Let me know if you saw something I should see, too. Or tell me you disagree if that's the case.

Ra

So the other day I was working on a terrible in-grown toenail (gross, I know, but essential to the story) and Jackson was looking through the nail maintainence/polish kit I had gotten out. After I finished painting his toenails the requested "plum," although he called it "pink," he wanted to paint mine. So I now have a basecoat (he was over it and wanted to watch Ratatouille) of the same plum color but also a wonderfully enlightened and curious son whom I couldn't be prouder of!
Luckiest dad in the world each and every day!

Day 06 – A song that reminds you of somewhere

Heehee! Not totally, but I do so generally do not care for the country...

Dylan, "My Wife's Hometown"

Day 5--song that reminds you of someone

Used to sing Jack to sleep with this one as he is, no doubt, my favorite memory of all.

Merle Haggard "My Favorite Memory"

Wisdom from a junkie (I LOVE this guy!)

It's still wisdom...

Day 04 – A song that makes you sad

Yeah, I'm still a couple hours early but I had the time so...

Johnny Cash "Hurt"

Skate dads??

So I'm watching the Hosoi documentary (yeah, for the umpteenth time) and the film touches on not only Christian's father, Ivan, but also Tony Hawk's father who were both hugely involved in their sons' lives and completely supportive of their career choices.
The comment was made that, "they knew who their sons were" but it struck me that Christian eventually went to prison for drug possession as a complete addict. Tony, although immensely successful and relatively clean, after having yet another affair recently filed for his third divorce.

The question that arose for me was:
So what good did the heavy paternal involvement do either of the boys?
Could the poor decision making somehow have been influenced by the role the fathers played?
Completely unrelated?
Is this thing on?...

Day 03 – A song that makes you happy

Makes me smile on many levels every time I hear it.


Bob Seger "Rock and Roll Never Forgets"

Day 02 – Your least favorite song

Gotta be this idiot:

Billy Ray Cyrus "Achy Breaky Heart"

I'm in--30 songs/30 days

Here is the 30 Songs in 30 Days list:

30 Songs in 30 Days

Day 01 – Your favorite song
Day 02 – Your least favorite song
Day 03 – A song that makes you happy
Day 04 – A song that makes you sad
Day 05 – A song that reminds you of someone
Day 06 – A song that reminds you of somewhere
Day 07 – A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 08 – A song that you know all the words to
Day 09 – A song that you can dance to
Day 10 – A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11 – A song from your favorite band
Day 12 – A song from a band you hate
Day 13 – A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14 – A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15 – A song that describes you
Day 16 – A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17 – A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18 – A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19 – A song from your favorite album
Day 20 – A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21 – A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22 – A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23 – A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24 – A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25 – A song that makes you laugh
Day 26 – A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27 – A song that you wish you could play
Day 28 – A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29 – A song from your childhood
Day 30 – Your favorite song at this time last year

So here goes:
Day 01 – Your favorite song

For a myriad of reasons, Steve Earle "Little Rock and Roller"

DOG Saves, fo sho!

So I made a stencil set a couple years ago of Duane "Dog" Chapman which read "DOG SAVES" because he, in fact, really does.
I've been watching the show since it's beginnings and I'm somehow always amazed when at the end of the episode the fugitive, having been caught and turned over to the authorities, is somehow redeemed in being caught. Dog gives them a smoke and talks about what got them to the place they are now as they head down the highway to the local detention center and the prisoner has some tear-filled epiphany about how dad or mom wasn't there and they own-up to their horrible decision making all at once. If you're not watching it the shit is amazing!!! I completely recommend it for the spiritual (don't worry about any religious affiliation--you'll be fine, just go with it and it'll make sense by the end of the hour) good it invariably does each and every episode.

Happy List

Top 5 things I'm stoked on today:

(stolen from my friend Sarah's blog )

1. My beautiful, amazing, inspiring son. Every single day is an absolute treat; I never dreamed being a father could be this wonderful. I will try the rest of my life but I'll never be able to communicate to him just how perfectly wonderful he is--guess that's just how that goes.

2. My ramp restoration is finished and I'm getting to skate more regularly thanks to it. Keeps me alive.

3. Baseball season is just over a week away! Hoping for a Reds repeat in the NL Central (although the Brewers did some serious reloading in the offseason).

4. Two great interviews over the past week give me a nice sense of confidence that once I get in the door I can at least make a good impression.

5. I love my family and I know how truly fortunate I am to have such a tremendous support system.