The New Years Evening Rambler

Apologies to my few readers for the small number of posts here the last month or two. There are things I've been meaning to post about, but I've been easily sidetracked with other activities.

I have another installment in my "Astronomy Stuff" writings on the way.

And I need to finish posting photos and comments from the 2009 California vacation trip.

And rumor has it, there's another unofficial Marty story in the works.

And of course, I need to look through more recent photos from this Christmas season. We had a great visit from our California family - granddaughters and all, along with a fun day trip to Branson, where I had a good though short visit with other family members (and I got to ride in a small plane)!

At least it's not like I've been sitting here all by my lonesome. Check back here on The Porch for updates these next few days.

I had a couple of observations about New Year's Eve today. I saw this AP headline for a Yahoo News story...

"Millions gather worldwide to ring in the new year".

So now, what would happen if all the celebrations were cancelled, and the millions did not gather? Would the approaching 2011 stop in its tracks and say, "Hold it...what now?", or would it arrive anyway? If I were a betting man, I'd bet on the latter.

Then another thing. Holidays have colors, right?
Valentine's Day: red and pink
St. Patrick's Day: green
4th of July: red, white and blue
Halloween: orange and black
Christmas: red and green

I think New Year's needs official colors! It's wide open, so I'm going to start something, right here, right now. I took a poll of my family, and from now on, the official colors of New Year's will be...

purple and silver.

Who's with me on this?

Finally, I hope you all have a Happy, Safe, and Healthy New Year!

Christmas Eve 2010

These may not be scripture verses that you usually associate with Advent or Christmas, but they've been on my mind a lot lately.

Mt. 9:11-13

v 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
v 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
v 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus didn’t come only for those who appear righteous, but as we sing in the hymn Amazing Grace, He “saved a wretch like me”.

That gives me hope. Merry Christmas!

Laugh if you must, but what's in Your junk drawer?

Yesterday morning I had need of a pair of pliers, there were some hard shelled nuts that desperately needed cracking. I was in the kitchen, so I looked in the tools / scissors / tape drawer first; we always keep pliers there. Didn't find them, so I thought, "Well, it's a long shot, but I'll check the junk drawer".

Admit it, we all have one of those.

So I went to open that drawer, got it about four inches out when it jammed, but good. I reached in and tried to push down whatever the obstacle might be, removed my hand, pushed the drawer closed, and tried to open it all the way out again. No joy...what all's in this thing, anyway?

Well it was time...nothing for it but to unload. I got a cardboard tray (formerly a box, cut down), and the amazement began. Some things I fully expected, birthday candles, kids watercolor sets, twist ties...I knew those were in there. When I started to find some odd, and in some cases really old - as in decades - items, I figured an inventory was in order.

Now, for your entertainment, an alphabetized list of what was in the Wingate junk drawer. Some of the items have been thrown away, many of the rest have been relocated.

The list:
35mm film container (contents: key, pins, small fasteners) 1
Adapters (light fixture to plug in socket - one scorched) 3
Aquarium air tubing - short 5' length 1
Bamboo skewers 2
BB 1
Belt buckle 1
Birthday candle holders - Flowers 10
Birthday candle holders - Train cars 5
Birthday candles - novelty (2 ea. spaceships, UFOs, planets) 6
Birthday candles (regular - including 2 broken) 35
Bobby pins (one large, one small) 2
Bolts - flat head 1 1/2" with 2 nuts & 2 lock washers 3
Bracelet - toy beaded 1
Brush - misc. (could use for paint splattering effect) 1
Cake decorating icing tip 1
Cake decorations - small plastic evergreen trees 2
Candle wax (irregular lumps) 2
Candles: regular 5
Candles: small or thin 5 1/2
Candles: tea light (two slightly larger) 5
Candy - Osco Wild Cherry (25 cents) 1 roll
Chain (short, thin) 1
Chalk piece (1/2 inch) 1
Clothes pins (wooden two piece with spring) 2
Coaster - red plastic, part of our set (that's where it was!) 1
Coffee stir stick 1
Container (plastic - contents: 2 straight pins) 1
Cookie cutter (small cross) 1
Cork 1
Crayon - light yellow (not Crayola brand) 1 half
Cup hook (large - in cork) 1
Cup hook (medium size) 1
Curtain ring 1
Drain Stopper - Rubbermaid 1
Easter egg dippers (copper wire) 6
Easter egg dry transfers (bunnies and chicks) 1 pkg.
Easter egg kit parts (1 "Dudley's magic crayon", 2 squeeze bulbs for dye) 3
Fels-Naphtha laundry soap 1 bar
Finger "sizer" - size 4 ring (blue plastic) 1
Fireworks sparklers 4
Floor protectors (put under chair legs, etc.) 8
Fuse - 40 Amp Slo-Blo (air conditioner) 1
Glaze - Small cup with lid (from paint by number set?) 1
Gob (melted rubber or plastic, 1" by 2") 1
Gum - Trident Sugarless Original (two sticks left in pack) part 1 pkg.
Instructions for air mattress / beach ball repair patch 1
Jingle bells (small) 3
Keys (small) 2
Lids - (1 ea.: Sour cream, Yogurt, Maxwell House & Pringles) 4
Lids - plastic gallon milk jug 3
Lock washer (large) 1
Marble (small) 1
Moist Towelettes 2
Nails - Finishing 22
Night light cover 1
Outlet tap plug (not polarized) 1
Padlocks (one Slaymaker) 2
Paint brushes - foam 3
Paint brushes - kids watercolor / hobby quality 17
Paint can openers / roller scrapers 2
Paper clips (one small and one large) 2
Parafin disks and half-disks (canning?) 5
Pencils - colored (short; one yellow, one yellow-orange) 2
Pencils - stuck in Gob (ruined) 2
Pencils (one ea. #2 & #4) 2
Picture hangers 2
Pipe cleaner - short piece (loose in drawer) 1
Pipe cleaners: Dill's- partial package (15 / 32; Osco 49 cents) part 1 pkg.
Plastic - clear curved piece (from broken plastic cup?) 1
Plastic bag (small - contains old mini lights, fuses, suction cup hooks) 1
Popsicle sticks / wooden craft sticks 3 1/3
Pressure cooker top 1
Rubber bands (broken) 3
Rubber bands (good - various sizes & colors) 13
Rubber stamp & ink pad set (Dino-World) 1
Safety pin - large 1
Safety plug (to keep children from sticking things in electrical outlet) 1
Screws (various) 9
Shoelace 1
Sponges 2
Spring (from click type ball point pen) 1
Steel Wool (small wad) 1
Straight pin (loose in drawer) 1
Syringes without needles (watercolor project) 2
Tinker toy (2" yellow) 1
Toothbrush holder (small plastic box - goes around bristles) 1
Toothbrushes - used (Crest: 1 in shape of Shamu the killer whale) 3
Toothpaste tube roller (plastic key) 1
Toys - small; one aluminum, others plastic (various) 5
Tupperware cheeze "knife" gadget 1
Tupperware tiny bowl with lid (from keychain?) 1
Twist ties 11
Twist ties - oversized (from produce?) 2
Various and sundry hard to categorize objects 10
Velcro (short strips with hooks) 3
Water color sets (including old Prang set in metal case) 7
Window blind plastic pull piece 1
Window shade end piece attachment 1
Window Sticker - No Solicitors, No Peddlers (City of Lee's Summit, MO) 1
Window Stickers - Neighborhood Watch (We Call the Police) 2
Wires (somewhat stiff yet bendable; bent in half) 3

I'm happy to say the drawer is much cleaner and better organized, and opens easily.

For now.

Happy Thanksgiving!

3:45 p.m. CST: I've decided to use a kind of "facebook" approach this year; several small entries to mark the day. I will be adding more; they'll all appear here under the same date. For now, I'll wish you all a healthy and thankful day...whether you're with extended family, just your own family, friends, or by yourself. Even when we think we don't have a lot to be thankful for, especially then, we have a lot to be thankful for even if we don't realize it right away.

I'm thankful for the last two days. Our family has had a couple of get-togethers with my wife's sister's family. Great people, and two enjoyable visits. They're on their way back to Houston now, so Tuesday and Wednesday were Thanksgiving previews, or trial runs, you might say.

Looks like our big dinner will be during the four o'clock hour.

6:30 p.m. CST: This Thanksgiving dinner, it was the five of us - including our second Daughter home from Missouri State in Springfield. We gave thanks, and the food was great...turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy (for those who wished), stuffing (again, some partook, some didn't), rolls, corn, cranberry sauce, celery, and baby carrots.

And I left plenty of room for pie.

Since then, I've turned on the outdoor Christmas lights, and done most of the dishes.

6:50 p.m. CST: Not long after I posted last, the announcement went out, "Time for pie"!

Pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Yummy.

9:45 p.m. CST: Some of my readers know though others might not, that my family and I live in the house I grew up in. Well, from age 5 1/2 until age 29 anyway. I'm thankful for my wife and children, and it's great to celebrate holidays with them. But living here, I can't help but remember past Thanksgivings with other family members, some scattered, some since departed.

So that thought got me started on a search for an old slide of Thanksgiving 1973, when my sister, her husband and their first daughter, my grandfather Ira "Poppy" Moore, and 5/6 of the Scowden family came for a visit. I took a picture of everyone, including my mom and dad. I haven't found the original slide yet, but when I do I'll re-scan that. The earlier scan I did find has issues and I know I can do better. When I find and re-scan the slide (maybe tomorrow), I'll post the image here.

10:45 p.m. CST: Of course, I thought of the WKRP episode with the turkeys...you know the one. One of their better episodes, and Hulu has it. When you have about half an hour, give yourself a treat by clicking here. Funny stuff.

Well, we had food left over. So maybe in a week or two we ought to have another get-together...like this guy.

Have a thankful weekend.

The Evening Rambler for November 10, 2010

I've been thinking about the last entry of the Music List Project. It bothered me for a while and I wasn't sure why; now I think I have the answer. The top 39 songs (including ties) I'd still say were my favorites for the year. The other songs on the list I like well enough when they come on the radio, but to describe them as "favorites" would be stretching the point. So I'll go back and edit that post a bit, and in the future, I'll try to keep the lists simpler.

How about a couple of fall photos?

The colors weren't as intense as last year, but it would have been hard to beat 2009. Anyway, here's our maple.


I didn't go on the pumpkin patch outing this year, so I'm seeing this picture for the first time.



My son, doing a great job carving...


...Pumpkin Bubs! You know, the Jack-'o-lantern version of this character, from the Strong Bad e-mail "Original", from the Homestar Runner site.

That's about all for now, other than a friendly reminder that tomorrow, November 11th, is Veteran's Day. By all means, if you see a veteran, thank him (or her) for his (her) service!

The return of the Music List Project

A little over two years ago, I posted about my ongoing interest in the question, "if I were to make a list of my favorite songs, what would they be, and in what order?" I wrote, in part...

"I started to compile such a list…and took a break when I noticed it had grown to 448 entries...the task seemed daunting...I returned to a different idea. What if I could make a "best of" playlist for just one year? Such compilations exist, and most of them I’ve found to be disappointing. Simply put, I’m not interested in what sold the most. I just want to hear what I want to hear.

I found a site that listed virtually every song released by year...I’ve worked on this on and off when I could make a few moments. It could be the best method might be for me to work on each year separately, then eventually combine all the lists into one. Talk about a long term project."

(And if you want to review my list for 1973, go here.)

I didn't claim then, and I'm not claiming now, that these were the "best" songs of the year, just a ranking of what I like. And so without further ado, I now give you my favorite music from...

1969

1. Sea Of Joy – Blind Faith
First of all, find the “Blind Faith” album with the “B” cover, the one with the photograph of the band. The “A” cover I will not describe here, except to say it was a terrible choice, and turned off a lot of people from listening to the album. Pity, they missed some great music. I enjoy the first five songs almost equally well, but I’m a bit more likely to listen to this one. Maybe it’s the electric violin.
2. Ramble On – Led Zeppelin
My favorite of theirs, I like both the music and the Lord Of the Rings references.
3. Badge – Cream (with George Harrison sitting in).
My favorite song from the “Goodbye” album.
4. Can’t Find My Way Home – Blind Faith
Steve Winwood’s vocals are great here.
5. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band
A great song, and this original version is the one I like most.
6. Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
My favorite from “Abbey Road”.
7. You Never Give Me Your Money – The Beatles
Then again, this might be my favorite from “Abbey Road”…it’s a close call. The piano intro and vocals here just might be John Lennon’s best moment.
8. (tie) Oh Well – Fleetwood Mac
Before the Beginning – Fleetwood Mac
I can’t choose, they’re both great. Before the Beginning (the last track on the US release of “Then Play On”) is the same music as “Blues in B Flat Minor”, an earlier release - but with lyrics this time. And nothing else quite sounds like Oh Well. You might have heard that before, at least the first couple of minutes. Most radio stations cut off the slower, more quiet part 2, with the Spanish guitar. Peter Green wrote this, and I’ve read that it’s about his conversion from Judiasm to Christianity.
9. Cinnamon Girl – Neil Young
One of his best. Listen all the way to the end to hear that nice guitar harmonic (often cut off on the radio).
10. Black Magic Woman - Fleetwood Mac
You’re more familiar with the Carlos Santana cover, but this original is great too. It has much more of a traditional blues ending.
11. Green River – Creedence Clearwater Revival
To me, this is the definitive CCR sound.
12. With a Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker
His best, in my opinion (they used this for the TV show “The Wonder Years”). The original by The Beatles is great of course, but if anything, I like this cover a little bit better.
13. What a Bringdown – Cream
Another great song from “Goodbye”.
14. Dreams – Allman Brothers Band
One of their best.
15. Baby It’s You – Smith
I like this “one hit wonder” a lot. The original is good too, but this cover is another song that doesn’t quite sound like anything else.
16. Coming Your Way – Fleetwood Mac
“Then Play On” was quite the experimental album, and while some of the tracks didn’t do much for me, this is another one I really like.
17. (tie) Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End medly – The Beatles
Sun King / Mean Mister Mustard / Polythene Pam /
She Came In Through the Bathroom Window medly – The Beatles
“Abbey Road” strikes again – I like these two medlys equally well.
“Sunday’s on the phone to Monday, Tuesday’s on the phone to me, oh yeah.”
18. Albatross – Fleetwood Mac
An obscure instrumental, and perhaps the smoothest song I’ve ever heard; from Peter Green, the king of sustain. If this one doesn’t relax you, well I’m sorry, I can’t help you. Probably not a good choice for driving music, if you need help staying alert behind the wheel.
True story…one evening in September 1977, a local rock station was airing an early Fleetwood Mac special, and this song came on. I was enthralled, but was called away before I could hear the title. It was the evening of the great Plaza flood. While we weren’t in a low lying area, we were on our way to 16 ½ inches of rain in 24 hours, and the ground was more than saturated. The sump pump was backing up, and I spent the rest of the night taking turns with my mom and dad, frantically bailing the basement. 30 years later, I made a lucky guess on the song title, heard a clip from the internet, checked out a CD from the library, and was able to enjoy the entire song again.
19. The Israelite – Desmond Decker and the Aces
One of the first – if not the first – reggae song on “Top-40” radio. It’s fun, I like it, and “I don’t want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde” either.
20. Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Another great Creedence song.
21. (tie) Something – The Beatles
Oh! Darling – The Beatles
More fun from “Abbey Road”.
22. Presence Of The Lord – Blind Faith
Another great song from the album. Eric Clapton expresses his Christian faith here.
23. Had To Cry Today – Blind Faith
First track on the album.
24. Living In the Past – Jethro Tull
One of their better early efforts, I think.
25. Well…All Right – Blind Faith
A good, if unusual, cover of a Buddy Holley song.
26. Doing That Scrapyard Thing – Cream
If you don’t recognize the title, you’re not alone. You’d have to have gotten deep into the “Goodbye” album – the next to the last track. Fun song.
27. Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ – Crazy Elephant
More “top-40” fun from another “one hit wonder”. I have this one on a 45 rpm record.
28. Cowgirl In the Sand – Neil Young
Ranked here more for the combination of the sound of the music with the lyrics, than for the lyrics just by themselves. If that makes any sense.
29. (tie) It Came Out Of the Sky – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Down On the Corner – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Commotion – Creedence Clearwater Revival
All good, fun Creedence music.
30. Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Probably the most recognizable CCR song to most people, and maybe the most copied. I rank it a hair behind the others; nothing wrong with it, but it’s been played So Much.
31. Pinball Wizard – The Who
From the rock opera “Tommy”, of course.
32. Eli’s Coming – Three Dog Night
One of their better efforts, I think.
33. Born On the Bayou – Creedence Clearwater Revival
34. Rock Me – Steppenwolf
35. The Court Of the Crimson King – King Crimson
Yes, it has an oppressive feel…not what you’d call cheerful. Interesting moment in progressive rock / art rock though; I figured it ought to make my list right about here even though I listen to it very rarely these days. Nothing else that I’ve heard sounds like this one. I read once somewhere that the band toyed with the idea of recording this as a country song…that would have been something to hear.
36. Astronomy Domine – Pink Floyd
While on the subject of progressive rock / art rock / space rock, this is early Floyd from two years into their tenure. Bought the Ummagumma album right after it came out; thought this was pretty wild. Still have the album. By the way, I’ve heard “Domine” here pronounced as three syllables “Dah-min-ee”.
37. Whipping Post – The Allman Brothers Band
As I’ve revised this list several times, this one has floated up and down a couple of points. I’ll peg it here at number 37.
38. Feeling Allright – Joe Cocker
“…Cause every night I have the strangest dream”
39. She Came In Through the Bathroom Window – Joe Cocker
His cover of The Beatles (see list number 17, above). 1969 really was his year.
************
It might be a bit of a stretch to call the rest of this list "favorites" for the year, but I like them well enough that if they come on the radio, I don't turn down the volume or change stations, at least not usually. They're worth mentioning here, anyway.
************
40. Come Together – The Beatles
I used to like this more…it’s another song that’s been played a Whole Lot.
41. You Can’t Always Get What You Want – The Rolling Stones
I’ll admit I’m not much of a Stones fan. But this one from “the bad boys” is listenable.
42. Hawaii Five-O – Ventures
A great TV show theme.
43. (tie) The Last Steam Engine Train – Leo Kottke
Crow River Waltz / Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring – Leo Kottke
Easter and the Sargasso Sea – Leo Kottke
I didn’t hear these until maybe 1972 or 1973, when I became a Leo Kottke fan and listened to any record of his I could get my hands on. I like some of his later stuff better.
44. (tie) I’m Free – The Who
Amazing Journey – The Who
Go To the Mirror! – The Who
Three more I like equally well from “Tommy” (see note number 31).
45. (tie) Lodi – Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Midnight Special – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Poorboy Shuffle / Feelin’ Blue – Creedence Clearwater Revival
More good Creedence music.
46. I’m So Glad (live version) – Cream
The only reason I don’t rate this higher is that I prefer the studio version.
47. Trouble No More – The Allman Brothers Band
48. Marrakesh Express – Crosby, Stills & Nash
49. Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye – Steam
50. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
Creedence would go on to cover this later, for another excellent version.
51. One – Three Dog Night
52. Bouree – Jethro Tull
53. This Magic Moment – Jay and the Americans
I once had a conversation with a college friend who worked at a radio station. The subject “which year had the most change in rock and roll” came up. I suggested 1969, starting early in the year with “This Magic Moment” and ending with the “Led Zeppelin II” album. He agreed I might have something there…maybe.
54. Evil Ways – Santana
If Carlos Santana hadn’t done anything else, I’d rate this higher…but in my mind, I can’t help comparing it with some of his other songs I like a lot better.
55. Up On Cripple Creek – The Band
“…we had Spike Jones on the box, she said ‘I can’t stand the way he sings, but I love to hear him talk’”
56. Communication Breakdown – Led Zeppelin
57. A Saucerful Of Secrets (live version) – Pink Floyd
Floyd’s early “space rock” was…different. I have to be in the right mood these days to want to hear this one.
58. Nothing Is Easy – Jethro Tull
59. I’m a Man – Chicago
60. Get Together – Youngbloods
61. Leaving On a Jet Plane – Peter, Paul and Mary
Nice.
62. Atlantis – Donovan
I used to like this more; have it on a 45 rpm record.
63. I Say a Little Prayer – Aretha Franklin
64. Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
65. I Can’t Get Next To You – Temptations
66. Smile a Little Smile For Me – The Flying Machine
Another one hit wonder. As my tastes – especially back then – ran more towards classic rock than pop, I don’t really know and can’t explain why I like this one, but I do.
67. Crimson and Clover – Tommy James and the Shondells
At the end of the song (the”over and over” part), close your eyes and imagine that you and the band are under water. Yes I know…that was ornery of me.
68. Ma Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder

Honorable mention:

All You Need Is Love (re-release) - The Beatles
I will put this on my 1967 list when I get around to that one.

Like Crying – Fleetwood Mac

Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley

Kentucky Woman – Deep Purple

Wait a Million Years – Grassroots

Hot Fun In the Summertime – Sly and the Family Stone

Somebody To Love – Jefferson Airplane

Barabajagal (Love Is Hot) – Donovan

Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head – B. J. Thomas

Someday We’ll Be Together – Diana Ross and the Supremes

Galveston – Glen Campbell

Kozmic Blues – Janis Joplin

Crystal Blue Persuasion – Tommy James and the Shondells

Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Ruben James – The First Edition

The Evening Rambler for October 13, 2010

I'm back.

It's been a long time since I've posted, shame on me. There hasn't been a lot on my mind that I've thought was "Porch-worthy", or that wouldn't be much improved by waiting, word processing and editing a time or two. On the other hand, if I ponder all the details and wait too long, I lose enthusiasm for it and nothing ever gets posted. So I have a few comments in mind...and it's time to let fly!

I haven't been just sitting around though; at least not all the time. I've spent quite a bit of time on a garage de-cluttering and cleaning project. It had gotten really bad, stuff had just been dropped on the floor or stacked or leaned against the walls for a long time. So my goal was a makeover. Throw out the obvious trash, recycle what I can, and actually put the shelves to good use so I can find what I need in the garage. One thing that I will enjoy this winter is being able to easily open and close my car door. That should be obvious, I suppose, but it wasn't a reality last winter.

Without boring you with all the details I'll just say that today I cleaned a wall mounted tool case (folding doors that swing open to reveal an expanse of pegboard and hooks), began arranging and putting the tools back, and removed old weatherstripping from the bottom of one garage door. My wife sanded and painted the bottom edge of the door, and after the paint dried we nailed up the new weatherstripping.

The rescue of the miners in Chile has been an ongoing news item and really caught our attention. Today's successful conclusion was inspirational, and I applaud all the smart people who planned where the shafts should be drilled, how the rescue capsule would work, what would need to be done in what order; in short, all the preparations and the operation of the rescue. Every one of these people deserve a bonus. A big bonus.

What I'm still not clear about is how many paramedics went down into the mine and when. My guess is that the first thing that happened - after the capsule was tested - was that one paramedic rode down to where the men were, then the first man was put in the escape capsule and lifted out, and so on. I wouldn't be surprised if someone else was sent down to assist; I haven't read anything about that one way or another.

All that to say, after the last miner was brought up to the surface, were there still paramedics or engineers down there to be brought up? Also, is there anything down there worth retrieving...lights, food, medicine, things of that nature that were sent down? Or did they just get All the people out? Which also begs the question, will that mine, or at least that part of it be closed and sealed?

Now, I've been in caves before; it was interesting and I might even do that again. Maybe.

And I have a lot of respect for miners.

But I would never go down a mine shaft. Well, maybe if Bill Gates gave me half his money on a dare. But maybe not even then.