Playlist #1

So what does a Jackrabbit listen to while he's working out? Here's one of my playlists that I listen to on my phone/mp3 player.

1. "A Girl Like You"-The Smithereens
2. "Why Can't I"-Liz Phair
3. "Perfect Situation"-Weezer
4. "Follow You Down"-Gin Blossoms
5. "Behind the Wall of Sleep"-The Smithereens
6. "Black Magic Woman"-Santana
7. "The Rising"-Bruce Springsteen
8. "The Promised Land"-Elvis Presley
9. "Hazy Shade of Winter"-The Bangles
10. "The Wicker Man"-Iron Maiden
11. "Time Won't Let Me"-The Smithereens
12. "Blues Before and After"-The Smithereens
13. "Hold On"-Santana featuring Ian Thomas
14. "Brilliant Disguise"-Bruce Springsteen
15. "Gimmie Some Lovin'"-Spencer Davis Group
16. "I Feel Love"-Blue Man Group
17. "I Want To Hold Your Hand"-The Smithereens
18. "The Devil"-Hoyt Axton
19. "Dancing in the Dark"-Bruce Springsteen
20. "I'd Wait a Million Years"-Grass Roots
21. "The Letter"-Joe Cocker
22. "London Rain"-Heather Nova
23. "Open Invitation"-Santana
24. "Mary's Place"-Bruce Springsteen
25. "Lonesome Day"-Bruce Springsteen
26. "She's Not There"-Santana
27. "Born in the USA"-Bruce Springsteen
28. "Human Touch"-Bruce Springsteen
29. "Jingo"-Santana
30. "Soul Sacrifice"-Santana
31. "Lucky Town"-Bruce Springsteen

Okay... so it's a little heavy on the Santana, Springsteen and Smithereens. But that's just one playlist, mind you!

Oy Vey!

Well, the wonderful roller coaster that is my life took a couple of odd twists this morning...

Actually, the twisting started last night. I got my new car (pictures coming soon), but I'm having some issues with the radio. Mainly, I can hardly get in any stations! So I have to get a new antenna AND probably a new radio, to boot! I still have my Pioneer from a couple of years ago, so that should work (Come to think of it, I think I still have a Bruce Springsteen CD stuck in there! BONUS!)

On my way home, I got pulled over for speeding. Got a warning, and I also found out that I have a back-up light out.

And this morning, I lock myself out of my apartment when I left for work!

Like I said, more twists than a Chubby Checker song!

A sense of peace...

With finalizing schedules, trying to get board ops to come to meetings, and dealing with people who want me to document every time I take a nap, I can get a little overwhelmed. Add on to that my relationship issues, money issues, and family issues, and I can be one stressed-out Jackrabbit!

But tonight... a sense of peace. Something I haven't had for a while.

Today I got all my stuff done at the station... on time I might add! Then a quick change into my workout gear (note to self... time to do a load of laundry!) and a jaunt over to the Community Center.

I was able to get some lifting in tonight... something I hadn't been able to do last week since I was overworked and under-rested. A hard walk/run on the treadmill and I was looking like I just stepped out of the rain!

Then home for a quick shower, a quick supper (Lemon Chicken Piccatta... from Weight Watchers), and a little chatting with friends and for a while, all my stress is inconsequential. Not a bad feeling, mind you.

Of course, in three months, I'll be going on a week's vacation. I'm pretty sure I'll be heading out to Wisconsin to spend time with my family. To be honest, I'm kinda looking forward to taking my new car out and getting some good mileage on her. But I need to replace the antenna cable so I can actually listen to the radio! LOL

The last time I saw my aunt and her family was when Grandpa Hendrickson passed away. That's one of my big regrets, not spending more time with Grandpa. But when you're an 8-hour drive from him, a quick jaunt over to visit wasn't very feasible. But I've been to Nasville twice, to Chicago twice; there's no good reason why I can't pack up the Malibu and hit the open road to Sturgeon Bay!

But as much as I'm looking forward to seeing my family, I'm looking forward to the drive itself. To be able to spend 8 hours with me and my thoughts... there's a certain peacefulness in that solitude. That, and listening to my Bruce Springsteen and Buck Owens CDs! LOL

In fact, I feel so peaceful now, I think I'll turn in.

Sleep well.

The Boss is Back!

Last Thursday, at the Harvard Square theatre, I saw my rock'n'roll past flash before my eyes. And I saw something else: I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen. And on a night when I needed to feel young, he made me feel like I was hearing music for the very first time.

Jon Landau, Rolling Stone magazine (1974)

Some more....

So here's some more stuff that's been floating around the ol' brain-box.

1) Fred Phelps... Okay, who is this guy? Some demented little crackpot who's rooting for our enemies because, get this, we are tolerant of homosexuals! Dude, up your dosage!

I consider myself an almost religious person. I try to follow the principles of my faith, although I don't get to church as much as my dear, departed grandma would like. But I guess the God I believe in is a God of love and who does not hate. So when I see signs like "God Hates F@gs", I really get upset. And these inbreeders even go and protest at soldiers' funerals!!!

Let me get this straight... because of your beliefs, you're going to go and preach your hateful message to families who are hurting and in pain because they lost a loved one... That is sick and sad. What a bunch of morons!

2) New Projects in South Dakota... It's funny. 15 years ago, a popular publication called us the "outback" of the United States... elitist pricks! But it seems we're in position to become a major economic player outside of just agriculture.

It looks like we're about to become a major leader in childrens' medical research, thanks to the Sanford initiative, we have the natural resources to become the "OPEC" of wind energy, a new oil refinery that'll bring oil down from our good ol' friends to the north in Canada, and now the announcement today that Western South Dakota is going to get its props with the old Homestake Mine being named the new site of the National Underground Lab and South Dakota could be a real economic player.

3) This weekend... two things about this weekend... Lemonade and CCR! I actually bought a CCR greatest hits CD this weekend (only 12-bucks at Pamida!). Since it was going to be too hot out of doors last week, I needed a little musical diversion...

The 60's had a lot of breakthrough groups and performers... the Beatles, The Who, Janis, Jimi, Clapton, Jefferson Starship, and more. And I think Creedence Clearwater Revivial gets lost in that mix. There's nothing fancy about their music... it reminds me of a group of friends jammin out on a front porch and there's a group of folks sitting around in lawn chairs or on the ground and sipping their favorite adult beverage.

But they influenced quite a few "roots rockers", Eagles, Springsteen, Mellancamp, and even Tom Petty. And they didn't use reverb, or distortion or re-mixing... just straight ahead, clean rock and roll. And I love anything that is NOT pre-produced!

Oh, and my drink of choice this week... Country Time Strawberry Lemonade! Yum! Unfortunately Jubilee was out of it when I stopped on on Sunday, so if anyone sees it on the shelves, could you drop me a line? Thanks!

Tech... No Logic

Guess what? I'm taking a break today from railing against the gang teaming up on my Harrisburg Basketball co-announcer. And I promse not to use FCC-unfriendly language today, too!

For as much railing as I did aginst Twitter, I now twitter... I'm such a sell-out! By the way, here's the shameless plug... http://www.twitter.com/jackrabit1

So with this neat little thing, I've decided that I'll keep the personal stuff on there and keep this more that are on a larger scale... especially things that pi- I mean torque me off (WHEW!)

I've also done some housecleaning. A few weeks ago, I got rid of my MySpace page. Frankly, I never go there anymore... there's too many bad memories, and I like Facebook a heck of a lot better. And frankly, MySpace has become too much of a "little kids" shill site. Sorry.... never was a fan of the Jonas Brothers and I never will be. Though if they do a set with Bruce Springsteen, I might develop a little respect for them.

So here's another shameless plug... http://www.facebook.com/jackrabit1. Boy*, it's a good thing I own this little piece of cyberspace... with all the shameless plugs, I'd have to charge myself advertising!

So there's the post, and no swearing either. Heidelberger would be so proud! :P

*I used the word "boy" as common means of expression or emphasis... nothing ethno- or peno-centric about it!