Losing that Christmastime Sense of Wonder

Like for probably everyone else, Christmas when you get older, is never the same as when you were little. You get older, you just get what you want, whenever you want it. But I woke up today, on Christmas, with just the sense, that it's all another day. Only getting four hours of sleep, doesn't help either. But after watching ''A Christmas Story,'' in the end sequences Christmas Eve, where they wake up to the white Christmas and Ralphie, gets the Red Ryder B.B. gun he wanted, it got me to thinking about how Christmas has lost most traces of that magical wonder.
I mean apart from the presents and gifts, just getting together for the family get-togethers doesn't even seem as fun. Again the four hours of sleep and not on my regular sequence played a part today. But I remember the greatest part of Christmas or any holiday, was getting to see my cousins and going outside and playing football. And a lot of times it was hit or miss, if they'd make it as they lived so far away or they had to work, so that made the time and discussions even more special. There was just that sense, especially during Christmas and Thanksgiving, that these were special times.
Maybe it is just the getting older. Or maybe I just need kids... Or maybe, it's the fact that with all family members and friends I have, we don't do gifts, only for the little kids. So, I miss out on the shopping and lose the sense of a countdown. I hate the cold weather, but there's something I like about being out on a cold clear December night, like when I went to the movie the other night. There was some of that feeling of Christmastime starting to show, but for the most part that feeling just eludes me this time of year. Maybe "A Christmas Story" had it right all along...

Still Loving What They Do; Alabama at the Fabulous Fox 11/9 Concert Review

When my brother became a fan of Alabama, I used to give him so much crap, because their songs sounded all the same in sound and theme. As the years have gone, I've come to appreciate them more. And though they went on a "Farewell Tour" in 2004, they decided to embark on a 40 Year Anniversary, Back to the Bowery Tour(The club in South Carolina where they got their start). After tickets sold out months ago, for their show at the Fabulous Fox in St. Louis, on the first day or two I figured I wasn't going to see this one either, but they added a second show and got pretty good seats, in sixth row back in left front orchestra(no obstructed view!).
Me and Zane got there with about 50 minutes to spare, but the line was curled around both sides when we got there. After the wait and the lights dimmed at 8 PM on the dot, a young guy came out and I said aloud "Aww, douchebags." I don't mind opening acts, but hate that disappointed feeling when they don't announce them and you're not expecting having to sit through one. 
Michael Ray was the opener and he played seven songs acoustically with a percussionist, or more a guy beating on box he was sitting on. He talked about about a record deal and Zane said, "Maybe he'll be able to afford his band a drum set."
Ray's songs sounded all the same and he looked to be in the Blake Shelton or Chris Young mode of douchebaggery, so my first thought was right. Tattoo covered and he did the obligatory classic country cover and totally butchered He Stopped Loving Her Today. Thankfully he was only on half an hour. 

After a half an hour set change, Alabama took to the stage with Brad Paisley's Old Alabama playing, and talking into If You're Gonna Play in Texas. The first few songs the sound was muddy, like Randy Owen was speaking away from the microphone too much, but they charged into the classics early on. The first half of the show was the highlights, with Tennessee River and Song of the South, two of the songs I wanted to hear more than the rest. 
After a messy split from their longtime drummer, the group was augmented by a four piece band.
This was the first time, I've ever seen a multiple night stand show of any artist. The Post's Friday night review was right about a few things, but the group must have read some of it or still in the process on fine tuning the tour. 
For starters it's refreshing to see a group just play music and not play up the douchbaggery aspects of modern country "shows" and put on a concert. During on the new songs, he was going through the redneck checklist(Trucks, tractors, etc), which I'm sure most modern acts stole from Alabama, it still seems contrived and dumbing down, I've seen too many times. During the redneck checklist though, he mentioned, "...it's like the uniting together, that Obama talks about," which got a chorus of boos, and Owen backing off laughing.
Some of the later bits that featured Jeff Cook and Teddy Gentry seemed like forced humor entries. During the song of each of them got, Owen drifted toward the back of the stage, when he was by the keyboard player, I couldn't tell if he went back their to take a drag off of a cigarette or was just bs'ing. Zane noticed he dropped something when back there.
Randy Owen did his part as front man with quite a few good chuckles, "I can't see very well, but I can see plenty of people sitting on their asses up there," during Dixieland Delight, when trying to get people into the show. Or when he spotted a man in the pit with a Heineken, telling him, "You better get a Budweiser." He also chided a massive bald security guard for not getting a special guest they brought on stage and serenaded Happy Birthday to for at first not helping her up on stage. He also tossed in a few Missouri references as song lyric changes.
The second part of the show was sort of a drag, as they delved into the newer songs and the slower tempo songs, that seemed to drag the mood for me. it didn't help I was running on five hours of sleep and should have taken a vacation day Friday night as well...
And though they picked theaters for the "intimacy," and getting back to their beginnings, when Owen tried rousing a group(a decidedly older crowd) in the front pit to "get off their asses" to no avail, it was clear Alabama is more an arena and amphitheater type band.
And the one area where I agreed with the Post's review was that the concert, even with it seeming to drag in the second half, was too brisk at only 90 minutes. A few more songs and closer to two hours isn't too much to ask for a headliner. 
Naturally they aren't the band at their peak from 30 years ago and a step or two slower. Hence having more backing musicians when I'm pretty sure it used to just be a four piece on stage. Closing out with their best song, Mountain Music, it was still an enjoyable show and I'm very glad I got the chance to see them. 

 Set List (As best as I can remember)

If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)
Tennessee River
Dixieland Delight>Will the Circle Be Unbroken>Dixieland Delight
Song of the South
Happy Birthday
New Song by Jeff Cook Angel?
Turn It Off, Turn Me On? sung by Teddy Gentry
Born Country
Dancin', Shaggin' on the Boulevard
Lady Down on Love
All American 
Love in the First Degree
Rocky Top
High Cotton
That's How I Was Raised 
My Home's In Alabama
-------------------
Mountain Music 

Fuck You MySpace!

Well, I guess time has fucked them over pretty good anyway. But out of a whim, I was going to go look at my old page, or more specifically my blog over there. But a quick search and from following my link, that I posted here four years ago, it appears my blog has been deleted.
The kick is I still have a profile, but no clue on the password. I sent for the resend button, but nothing has popped up in my inbox. So, real geniuses there, I have a profile but can't access it. It's no wonder whatever MySpace has sunk into, it rightly deserves it and needs a death. The only reason I marginally liked it better than Facebook(which I was actually on before MySpace) was that it had a blog. But eventually the stylings of it I didn't like and eventually made my way here.
I guess it's my fault for not copying my posts or transferring copies here, like I was going to do. It held a bunch of concert reviews and a few other thoughts. In a sense, it houses my memories of experiences and what I was going through at that point in my life from 2007 to early 2009. I remember the combing through various set lists of other shows to figure out concert set lists that I went to, just so I'd have an idea of what was played.
It's a pretty low blow move. Fuck you you ancient dinosaur.

Never Hot for Teacher

We got one of the local papers today and they featured an article on the new teachers at school, with them all pictured together and write ups on them. Most of the the new female teachers were both younger and attractive and led me to comment to my brother, "How is it I never any good looking teachers in Elementary school?"
Seriously, most of the ones I had were in or close to their forties. I think I had two younger ones and one of them probably would have been more attractive with a better high style.
And thinking harder about it, even after going to Junior High and High School, there was only one teacher that I had for classes that was attractive. I believe there were a few in my junior high days and then in junior and senior years, but I never had them as teachers.
What it all boils down to, was I got depraved of the young American male experience of having a hot teacher to gaze upon.

Solid FM Gold; Sail Rock 2013 Concert Review

I had last night off for the past couple of months and was planning on going to see Shooter Jennings, who finally made his way back to Mid-Missouri again, for the first time in four years. But I kept procrastinating on getting my ticket, Lord only knows why. And then on Monday my dad was talking about going to see the Sail Rock Tour that was happening on the same day in St. Charles at the Family Arena, which featured late '70s soft rock artists like Christopher Cross and Orleans among others.
 I thought about it and said, "Yeah, I can," thinking it would be something different from what I had planned and what I was used to. So, I ordered the tickets for the three of us(my mom decided she would go too) and scrapped by original reasoning for taking the vacation day.
After getting there well in advance of the 7:30 start time, which my parents love to do, we made our way to our seats up in the rafters. There were floor seats open when I bought them, but the old man decided the cheap seats would be good enough. $30 seemed a tad high for me for these nosebleeds, for an act like this. And as my dad correctly predicted they'd be lucky to get the place half full. We ended up moving to the next section over due to speakers that were partially blocking the view of the stage.
The show didn't start until about quarter til Eight, when Robbie Dupree, who acted as the master of ceremonies, introduced the tour, and the first singer, John Ford Coley, with Orleans serving as the house band for every act on the bill. Coley was pretty good coming out playing three songs, with I'd Really Love to See You Tonight, being the most recognizable one for me. He even gave a shout out to having been in Eureka playing at Six Flags at some point early in his career. And he talked about a time he lived in that divided our country, you were either for it or against it, seeming to be something about the Vietnam War era, before saying, " I'm talking about the Disco era, which I was always against," which got a chuckle from everyone. 
The next act was Robbie Dupree, for two songs, which were so so for me and then Player, or two members of the group more precisely. They played two songs as well, with their hit Baby Come Back being another one I had heard before. Dupree did give a shout out about having supposed to have played a gig with some of these guys in Hannibal, at some point, but the gig got canceled because of a tornado warning.
Next up was Orleans for five songs. They were probably the act I was most familiar with. One of the biggest surprises was their cover of Dancing in the Moonlight, which their original drummers brother wrote and they recorded early on, which is a song I've always really liked. I had to give both parents crap about paying money to see a Liberal rock star and one that was actually a Democratic Congressman, in John Hall. The only rock band that has a former Congressman in it according to Dupree. After their big hit, You're Still the One, they left for a twenty minute intermission.
After they returned, Gary Wright took the stage, who was another strong point with his two songs, Love is Alive and Dream Weaver, which always makes me think of Wayne's World. He talked about his friendship with George Harrison, and how the latter song was inspired by some Eastern literature and poetry that Harrison gave him.
Next up was the dullest act of the night for me in Firefall, for three songs. I don't think I'd ever heard of them before or any of their songs. The last one, featured one of the side musicians playing the flute and featured a five minute solo, with him running round the stage. Yes, seriously, a flute solo. There's only so much of it you can take before it becomes ad nausem. It got a good ovation, but seriously how do you know if it was actually good and he didn't fuck up the whole time?
Finally the big draw for most in attendance, was Christopher Cross for  five songs. He played one new songs mixed in with his expected smashes, Sailing and Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do). He seemed very shy even though he talked in between songs, mentioning how St. Louis native Michael McDonald sang back-up on Ride Like the Wind.  Cross still has the high voice from thirty years ago.
For the finale, everyone sans Cross and Wright I believe, came out and the jammed on Take It Easy, which fit into the '70s laid back soft rock vibe.
Overall it was pretty enjoyable. I probably would have had more fun seeing Shooter Jennings again (and getting the new issue of Astro City, which has to wait another day), but this was something different like I said. The concept was interesting too, which began as a joke with the derogatory term Yacht Rock. Not to mention the fact, as it was "Nothing But  the Hits." And as my dad said, "Look at how many number one songs you're seeing being played tonight, by the original artists." 

Set List 

We'll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again  (John Ford Coley)
I'd Really Love to See You Tonight  (John Ford Coley)
Love is the Answer  (John Ford Coley)
Steal Away (Robbie Dupree)
Hot Rod Hearts (Robbie Dupree)
This Time I'm In it for Love (Player)
Baby Come Back (Player)
Let There Be Music (Orleans)
Dance With Me (Orleans)
Dancing in the Moonlight (Orleans)   
Love Takes Time (Orleans)
You're Still the One (Orleans)
----Intermission-------
My Love is Alive (Gary Wright)
Dream Weaver (Gary Wright)
Just Remember I Love You (Firefall)
You Are the Woman (Firefall)
Strange Way (Firefall)
Never Be the Same  (Christopher Cross)
Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) (Christopher Cross)
Sailing (Christopher Cross)
Dreamers (Christopher Cross)
Ride Like the Wind (Christopher Cross)
Take It Easy (Everybody)

My First Visit to Astro City

I'd been meaning to do more posting and gathering my thoughts and favorites about Astro City, prior to the first issue of the new monthly coming out, but I never got around to it. And doing a little walking tonight during a free night off work, it got me to rethinking some of those ideas. I originally was just going to do some rereadings and do some favorites and least favorites lists and characters I'm most curious about. But  I figured the best place to start, was my first journey into Astro City.
I was 12 at the time and it was late 1996, in either late November or early December, and definitely what you could call a time of change. I was in my first yer of junior high school, had just recently became a Christian by belief and my grandfather had just recently passed away. My grandparents also used to own a newsstand/bookstore, that they closed up that summer due to my grandfathers declining health. Along with cousins on the other side of my family, that is where is picked up my interest in comics books(and reading in general), having a vast disposal during summers and weekly trips to pick up new magazines and comics.G.I. Joe was the comic that got me hooked and eventually after it ended helped me branch out into superheroes.
At the time though, I was mostly picking up random books that looked interesting or trying to fill in gaps of storylines I was missing. I was digging the one shots of Amalgam Comics, that Marvel and DC made during, DC vs Marvel, and Generation X from Marvel was the only book I was following, but my interest was starting to wain there.
On that chilly dreary looking day, we were out shopping on a Saturday in Jefferson City, mostly antique stores, we made our way to the Antiquarium, a comic book and book store. After doing some perusing and making notes of what stuff I wanted to get or was interested in, I eventually started getting my haul. I had a bad habit in those days of not picking up what I wanted right away and often forgetting what I wanted. I don't know if it was just if my parents weren't going to get anything, I didn't want to waste time of getting some or what. I remember that day Grant Morrison's first issue of the rebooted JLA was on the spinner racks and was one of the books I was going to get, but never did. I kicked myself for years for not getting that then. I was a sucker for starting on new books anyway...   
One book I did pick up was Kurt Busiek's Astro City issue number four(vol. two). I didn't have much of an impression about the book, other than I thought it was Kurt and Alex Ross trying to recreate comic characters in their own world. I actually thought Alex Ross did the interior artwork. Though that should have made me pick it up sooner; I had enjoyed the Marvels trade paperback collection. But the fact it had someone who looked like the Thing on the cover, only reinforced that belief, but hey, I liked trying a bunch of different stuff...
After getting back home, later that night in the cozy confines of the den, where I could enjoy my days haul of comics in solace, I stepped into the world of Astro City.
Kurt's said that Astro City and its heroes are just as unrealistic as any other comic universe and it's not a realistic view of heroes. But the realistic emotions of what it would be like traveling to a metropolis full of superheroes is. Riding along with Brian Kinney in those first few pages, it felt real and unique to any other comic I had read.
And then there were the Crossbreed, a group of evangelical Christian superheroes preaching the Gospel on a street corner, with realistic and derogatory responses from those passing by. That's when I was really blown away, especially after just recently becoming a Christian. Other than a few glancing elements of Catholicism, you wouldn't find this at DC or Marvel. It felt like I was experiencing everything with Brian, rather than being a passive observer.
Then came the history. There's a hero that's been active since 1862?! Who's the Air Ace and Leopardman?  Was I supposed to know who they are? How does the universe have so much built up after only eleven stories? Everything was intriguing and I wanted to find out more.
Thankfully, that day I also bought the year end issue of Wizard, which happened to have an article, A Visitor's Guide to Astro City. It gave me an insight to a few of the things, but gave me more questions too.
The other major drawing point? Brent Anderson's artwork. It wasn't Alex Ross, it was possibly better. Again there was just the realistic element in the details of everything, from faces to the backgrounds of the beautiful city, from city blocks to the secluded museum areas.

A brief aside, but Brent's pencils never looked better than those first twelve issues of volume two, when he was inked by Will Blyberg. Anderson's always had critiques of being somewhat inconsistent, with one great panel, then a so-so one, which I can see to a degree. But, when Blyberg was inking him, it let Anderson bring out the detail a lot more, which the first volume of the series and all the later incarnations feature Anderson doing his own inking. I don't know if it was that combination, plus being on that grittier, darker paper versus shiner, glossier paper later or what, but it was beautiful.

Even though, there were several good jumping on point first issues for Astro City, this one just seemed perfect, entering into the city the same time as Brian Kinney started his journey. I read later responses that it felt like a coming out story for someone who was gay, which I could see as a I got older. But more it felt like the country mouse comes to the big city to try and make a name for himself, but more to find his place. I related it, as someone who was coming out as being a fan of comic books.
I lived in a small rural community and in the country to top it off. I had no internet access at home for another two or three years. Heck, we still only had the Big Three networks, until we got satellite the next Fall.  There was no one around I knew, that liked or even read comic books, apart from my aforementioned cousins. But I really only saw them on a couple of holidays. So, I never really had anyone to talk to about comic books or even really want to mention that I read them, for fear of being an outcast. Wizard was really the only information source I had, when I picked up a copy.
I never really found a place until later high school years, with message boards and information at my disposal where I could discuss my comic book interests. I also found a group of friends, in the class below me, who enjoyed most of the geeky things I did as well, Star Trek, sci fi and one even was a pretty big comics fan, but I still never shed the loner mentality.
Within the next month or so, on the next comic book store run, to a different store though, I picked up the next issue, number five and the first issue of volume two. The continued story of Brian Kinney and another stellar introduction issue, fueled the fire for my interest in the series.
This was my Silver Age of comic book reading, I suppose, if G.I. Joe was my Golden Age. There have been solid and great stories told by Kurt and company since and even before, but there is still something magical in those first thirteen or fourteen issues of volume two for me.

A 2008 Collegiate Men's Olympic Basketball Team

And this is the final installment of playing make believe with the USA Men's Olympic Basketball team, if they always made of college players. I left off with a 2004 team, that would have seemed a little short on talent compared to the other Olympic years. But this 2008 team would have a little more fire and star power. The implement of the "one and done" rule for the NBA surely helps out, in making the most talented players go to college for a year.
I think the coach would have been Ben Howland for leading UCLA back from being a solid program, to an elite program fighting for Final Four berths. And I think a lot of the talent for this team would have been on display at the 2008 Final Four and I don't doubt Howland would have brought a good number of his Bruins.


Starters 

• C/PF Kevin Love (UCLA)
• PF Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina)
• SF/SG Brandon Rush (Kansas)
• G Derrick Rose (Memphis)
• PG Darren Collison (UCLA)

Bench

• C Roy Hibbert (Georgetown)
• PF D.J. White (Indiana)
• F Michael Beasley (Kansas State)
• SF Chase Budinger (Arizona) 
• SG/SF Shan Foster (Vanderbilt)
• SG Stephen Curry (Davidson)
• G Russell Westbrook (UCLA)

 This team and the talent pool to choose from would have made for a very strong team. This group here has a good combination of talent and versatility. And there is depth and strength at every position, height and size wise. There is also a good number of upperclassmen to go with young phenoms. I even left off a couple of the Freshman stars that year in O. J. Mayo and Blake Griffin and a couple of First Team All Americans, to fill in a few role spots.
Making up these rosters were fun, whenever I found the time and got around to it. Looking at various All-American and NBA Draft lists, as well as Olympic practice teams gave me an idea of who were the players around for each year.
The biggest fault I know is that its star player heavy like the Olympic teams since they allowed professionals to play. Looking at the actual collegiate Olympic rosters of the past, many times there were a handful of stars, a few skilled role players for certain spots and a lot more mid major talent. And even throughout the history of USA Men's Olympic Basketball, there was even chances stars wouldn't turn out, like Alcindor and Walton and the other UCLA players in 1968 and 1972. Or even like Pete Maravich and others who didn't make the cut for the 1968 team.
And there is no way to know who would have been announced as coach a year or two before and what type of team they would try to build up before the the Olympics even got close.
But it's been fun and I guess I can do it again in three years...