Jun 24
2005
Tony| Category: General, Music and Movies |
Here comes the rant, here comes the rant!
At the point, I’d like to remind you, faithful 6.2 readers, that I recently purchased the latest lack of effort from the Dave Matthews Ba(n)d. I bought because I consider myself a long time fan (Has it really been almost nine years since my first DMB concert? Yikes…) and, well, I have the rest of their studio albums, and I do like to collect stuff. (Including Busted Stuff. Sorry, joke just for myself…. and done.) So I purchased the new album, entitled “Stand Up.” Before I get more in-depth, let me give you a preview by ranking the studio efforts (as decided by me.):
1. Before These Crowded Streets
2. Crash
3. Under the Table and Dreaming
4. Recently
5. Remember Two Things
6. Busted Stuff
7. Everyday
8. Maroon 5– Songs for Jane
(Wait, how did that get in there? Oh right, it’s still better than…)
9. Stand Up
One or two of you are saying, “Oh Tony, he’s just an elitist throw-back DMB snob.” Not true. One of my favorite songs by tDMB is Grey Street, a relatively new tune in the scheme of things.
At first listen, it’s a very poppy album, that uses a lot more beats and samples than any of the other albums. This is a new direction for the band, and I was willing to give them a chance, because for a long time, they were my favorite band.
(another day, another topic) I like “Old Dirt Hill” and “Hello Again” and even “Stand Up.”
Then I asked the lovely and engaging Mrs. K. to take a listen to it on our way to Porter to see the Amessssesss.
I’m lucky to be alive, gentle readers.
TLEMK did not like the album. Not only did she not like the album, she proceed to systemically prove why I should never listen to the album again.
Try to compare the verbosity of “The Last Stop” from BTCS, and “Stand Up” from Stand Up
The Last Stop:
Silence is poetry
Fire
The sun is well asleep
Moon is high above
Fire grows from the east
How is this
Hate so deep
Lead us all so blindly killing killing
Fools we are
If hate’s the gate to peace
This is the last stop
For raining tears
War
The only way to Peace
I don’t fall for that
Raining tears
You’re righteous, so righteous, so righteous
You’re always so right
Go ahead and dream
Go ahead believe that you are the chosen one
Raining tears
Oh no
Gracious even God
Bloodied on the cross
Your sins are washed enough
Mother’s cry
“Is hate so deep
Must a baby’s bones
This hungry fire feed?”
As smoke clouds roll in
The symphony of death
This is the last stop
Scream
Right is wrong now
Shut up you big lie
This black and white lie
You comb your hair to hide
Your lying eyes
You’re righteous, so righteous, so righteous
You’re always so right
But why your lie
Go ahead and dream
Go ahead believe that you are the chosen one
This is the last stop
Here there’s more than is showing up
Hope that we can break it down
So it’s not so black and white
This is the last stop
Here there’s more than is showing up
Hope that we can break it down
So it’s not so black and white
You’re righteous
You’re righteous
You’re righteous
You’re always so right
But there you are nailing a good tree
Then say forgive me, forgive me
Why
Go ahead and dream
Go ahead believe that you are the chosen one
Raining tears
This is the last stop
Here there is more than is showing up
But I hope that we can break it down
It’s not so black and white
and…
Stand Up (for it):
Boys
Get up y’all!
Stand up!
I woke up to the angels
Singing in my head
You look so good naked next to me
(There’s) an angel in my bed
Stand up!
I feel like a drug is cookin’ in my veins
Still I’m so out of my mind
I’ll shoot you up again
Stand up! etc…
[mumble man]
Water save my soul
Stand up!
Smell like smoke and fire it’s burning in us all.
You dropped me in the water
Lift me up save my soul
Stand up!
——————–
Though it’s possibly an unfair comparison, (Stand Up is the least lyrical song on the album, The Last Stop is not even the pinnacle of lyrics on that ALBUM) I hope you get my point that DMB may be in trouble.
If I had the time or inclination, I would go into how the degradation of the lyrics has unfortuately contributed to the tarnishing of my much beloved band. I know, the songs are better live, just like Phish. But I’m used to much better lyrics, and meaning. This kinda sucks, to paraphrase TLEMK (it’s a PG site) I know I’m biased, but song for song, Before These Crowded Streets blows them away. It sucks that 1998 was seven years ago.
I want this band to be good, because I’ve championed them for years, and I think they have tremendous talent. I even appreciate them trying to do new things, reinvent themselves, keep it fresh. I will continue to buy their albums, but overall I’m getting more skeptical. Prove me wrong, DMB. Bring that beat back. 
Soooon, before TLEMK and I both give up.
Jun 23
2005
Tony| Category: Music and Movies |
Paste Magazine :: Feature :: Ben Folds :: Outgrows the Industry of Cool
Great Article on Ben Folds. Good reading for those of us going to Ravinia. (Kenny, don’t forget you’re going) In all my CD buying mania, how did I forget to pick up the one I know I’ll listen to the most? *sigh*
Jun 20
2005
Tony| Category: General, Music and Movies, Entertainment Tonight |
I gathered up all the gift cards I had accrued for Barnes and Noble. And I went…
and I still went $10 over.
Highlights… I boutght the 2004 Bonaroo CD. This gives me a chance to sample some bands, and decide if I want to buy their whole CD.
I bought The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, which included a CD of Shel reading the story. I still think I’ll cry. Call me a softie, but you’ll cry too if I read it to you.
I also bought a couple other kids books, and a Pulitzer Prize Winner; Guns, Germs, and Steel as a warm up while I wait for 1776
Lowlights:
I walked into the CD part of B&N and immediately grabbed these three CD’s; DMB, Coldplay, and Bruce Springsteen.
Let me repeat that, because it bears repeating:
DMB, Coldplay, and Bruce Springsteen
Now, I’m not on the cutting edge of music–I haven’t explored Emo or punk or indie bands as much as I’ve wanted, but I dabble. How did I become so frickin’ mainstream. It made me feel a little sick. To compensate, I bought the aforementioned 2004 Bonaroo CD. (and if I think about THAT too much, it gets even more depressing… keep thinking, keep thinking… there, isn’t that sad?)
The final lowlight: The store clerk who rang up my stuff said, and I QUOTE:
“Yeah, if I marry some rich guy and I didn’t have to work, I would totally be a teacher. It would be so fun to set up the room.”
My brain, which was at that point trying hard to not to jump out of its skull and strangle the girl with its spongy brainstem, muttered something polite. And then I left quickly, so as not to commit a crime. I will rant about this at another date.
Talk to you tomorrow… or will I?
Jun 20
2005
Tony| Category: General, Exploring |
(Tentatively subtitled: On One Man’s Journey Through the Suburbs as it Relates to Hades)
As some of you may have noticed, I mentioned that I am going to try to get back in shape by riding a bicycle. So on Saturday, I took my bike out of the storage shed (it hissed at the daylight…) and brought it to get it tuned up at Rich’s. (Rich would have a link, but he’s too lazy to blog.) After an hour of tinkering and teaching, the bike was deemed temporarily road-worthy.
Sunday rolls around, and V and I are going separate ways to cover Father’s Day, so I decided in my finite wisdom that I should ride my bike from my place to my mom’s place in Warrenville. Now if you drive from Casa del K to the G Compound, it’s a little over 10 miles. But to bike there, along trails such as the Geneva Spur (see the map here ) might take me way out of my way.
And out of its way it did take me. I picked up the Geneva Spur on Kirk Road, right near IL-38 (Roosevelt) Keep in mind that I could SEE Roosevelt from where I decided to go east. I wound through several great parks and marsh areas, through the DuPage Airport, and next to Prairie Landing Golf Club. Now please remember, gentle readers, that I haven’t been on a bike in a year and change. I have no stamina. I’m tired 35 minutes into it, because that’s how long I usually am on the elliptical in the clubhouse. And, I don’t really know where I’m going, because I figured I would have to make it up as I went.
Back to the trail. I’ve been riding in relative solitude, down shifting whenever I’m tired, when all of a sudden I run back into normal civlization. What all the research fails to tell me is that a good chunk of the Geneva Spur goes through downtown West Chicago, including through back alleys and around firestations. It is not the prairie path that I am used to. Thankfully, someone spray painted blue arrows to show unprepared people like me where to go. I was also surprised to see the downtown of West Chicago, since I didn’t really know it existed. So, to be a man, I have to ride my bike, and not take a break, and not walk with it, even though I was tired. Very sleepy. After about 10 minutes of navigating through the downtown area, I made it to IL-59 and Main St. (who knew there was a Main St.?) I regained my stamina and continued on. The path continued to wind through the neighborhood, eventually spitting me back out onto the peaceful crushed limestone. (Thank you, blue arrows for getting me there!)
Since I didn’t know where I was really going, I wasn’t paying attention to the direction that the path was taking me. After about an hour of riding total, the path spit me out at Geneva Rd. and Winfield Rd., which is TWO MILES NORTH of where I started. (I MapQuested it.) Needless to say, I went way out of my way, and started biking through downtown Winfield. (all sidewalks) I gave in when I saw a big hill. My body was Very Angry with me, and told me in no uncertain terms that I’d better walk for a bit. The conversation went something like this:
Brain: We’re getting closer. Just get through downtown Winfield and we’ll be 3 miles from home.
Body: NO. Stop or I will kill us.
Legs: Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow
Brain: Should I lay down in the fetal position?
Body: You will never get up.
Legs: Ow ow ow ow ow ow
Brain: Ok, I’ll suck it up and lose face by walking my bike.
Body: Then I think we will live.
Legs: walking, walking, wal-King!
So I became the sally fat guy that I like to make fun of as I’m driving; The Guy Who Had to Walk His Bike to Recuperate.
Finally, I got to Winfield and Roosevelt, and got back on my bike. I was determined to finish the last 2 and change miles with my butt in the saddle.
It hurts to get back in the saddle.
Somehow, someway, I made it. Once I got to Butterfield and Winfield, it was easy. The last mile took me maybe 5 minutes, because I knew I was in the home stretch. (Also, possibly because it slants ever so gently downhill, the whole way.)
Things to do next time:
Carry water with me.
Don’t bring giant backpack.
Know where I’m going better.
Overall, it was worth it, but I need to be better prepared, and have a more direct plan. This made me think…
My great idea for the month:
There needs to be a website that can create directions for bike trails. It would incorporate forest preserve, city, and county trails, and keep people on trails or rideable sidewalks. I think I figured out a better way to get there next time, but there should be a BikeQuest.com to plan it for me.
Either way, it was good to ride again, even if I did have to be a sally in the middle. I went by three public libraries. (West Chicago, Winfield, and Warrenville) My legs aren’t sore today, for some very odd reason. Now if I could just shave a mile or two off of the 17 plus miles that I did, we’d be in good shape.
Back to The Plan today.
Jun 17
2005
Tony| Category: General, Entertainment Tonight |
The other part of The Plan:
Go to Great America, using our season pass.
Today we went with two of V’s teacher friends. We were there by 9:45. Though the park was busy, we got in line for Superman, and were on it by 10:15. Then we went to Batman, and didn’t have to wait for front row.
I need to lose weight. (But I still fit.)
Other rides we got on: Raging Bull, Viper, the Revolution (just like a giant tire swing…) and my nostalgia coaster, the Demon.
After a funnel cake sundae (ice cream, whip cream, hot fudge) we headed back home, because well, we have a season pass, and can go back next week.
BTW, I have a free ticket. First person to respond gets it, but has to go with me and the lovely and engaging Mrs. K.
Or, you could get a season pass. Then you would be really cool.
“All for now.”
Jun 17
2005
Tony| Category: General, Sports and Wine |
A busy day in the life of a lazy summer…
4:30am. — Alarm goes off. LAWDY that’s early! Snooze. ( Have I ever mentioned that I think we have the world’s only 8 minute snooze? Stupid 8 minutes.)
4:38– Snooze.
4:46– Snooze.
4:54– Finally, I get my sorry behind out of bed, look for golf clothes. Stumbling out of the blocks. This is not a good sign.
5:08am.– On the road, headed to pick up Rich. After a stop at the cash machine, and the White Hen for water (hydration is important) I marveled at the heavy amount of traffic on Rt. 59 at 5:30 in the morning.
5:35– Rich is waiting in the driveway for me. We head for Country Lakes Golf Club. It’s all of 5 minutes away, so we’re their easily by 5:45. And NO ONE ELSE is there. So we hit the extremely wet putting green. At 5:59am, the pro shop opens.
6:03– tee time. Lawdy, that’s early. First hole, 9. I hate golf.
Second hole– 4 (and that’s par, folks.)
After that, it was a lot of sixes and sevens. I played a lot better last week in Woodstock. Next week, it’ll be better. It WILL be better, right?
9:15– home, stumbling back into bed. The lovely and engaging Mrs. K stirs, the resumes her coma-like slumber.
10:15– Phone rings. V informs me that our friend Leslie is here, to engage in The Plan**.
11:00– We workout. I love the elliptical.
11:45– We’re at the pool, laying out. I get crispy, with only 20 minutes on a side.
(lunch, shower, other unimportant things)
4:30– We go to pick up V’s car. How does $150 turn into almost $700? By going to the dealer. Never again.
6:00– At my final golf lesson. I learn how to hit a driver.
(Now I can’t wait to go golfing again!)
7:15– Meet the K family at Danelli’s, a local italian joint in Oswego. Had a great time. I miss the Ks– but we’re getting better about seeing each other.
9:45p.m.– We stop at the gas station, and a weird looking dude asks for some money because “I came down from NIU this morning, and I don’t have enough gas to get back… ”
I’m too jaded to give him money. I felt terrible, but I saw him filling up at the next station. Hope it wasn’t God, testing me.
After that, we got home, I played online poker, then went to bed.
Great day. I love summer.
** The Plan: Sleep in, work out, lay by the pool. Repeat as necessary.
Jun 15
2005
Tony| Category: General |
First, go here. Then, go there.
Today was overcast, and the heat wave that’s been in Chicago finally broke, so the temperature was about 65. Located on the North Shore, the Chicago Botanic Gardens has lots of plants and flowers. (That was possibly the worst sentence I’ve ever written… so we leave it up for prosperity.) It really was amazing. It made me wish we had a digital camera. Lantana flowers are spectacular. The lovely and engaging Mrs. K. and I made it through more than half of the gardens, but we were cruisin’ pretty quickly. We both loved the Japanese garden, and I thought the model railroad garden was neat. (Though not worth the extra $4 a person.) Traffic was great. Afterwards, we went by my school to finish moving my classroom stuff to the next room over, since I’m switching classrooms. (Such a silly idea…) Chipotle for dinner (thanks for the gift cards, students!) and now watching Six Feet Under, which finally got here after nearly a month of dealing with Amazon. (See if you can find their customer service line on their website.) Good day.
6:00 am tee time. Am I crazy? No, just have some golf-itis. New course, nine holes.
Looking forward to the weekend— gonna get my bike out and start working on getting me arse in shape.
Jun 14
2005
Tony| Category: General, Sports and Wine, School Daze, Unfortunately Serious, Music and Movies |
Folks, it’s June 14th. You know what that means? Summer vacation is here. It means the updates are coming quickly. Instead of posting separate entries, I’ll just update the mailbag…
Dear Tony,
How was the end of your school year? Did you cry like a baby?
Sincerely,
Teacher Let This Monkey Out a Week Ago
Dear Monkey,
As usual, the end of the school year came much faster than I am ever ready for. We had a terrific time at the picnic, at field day (I still ran faster than the eight year olds, despite being fatter than ever), building a fort in the classorm, and through the last days of school. The kids seemed to love the books I chose for them, and I’ve gotten emails from a couple of them already about how summer is going. There are so many things that go through your head, things you want to say to the kids, but it’s hard because the kids are thinking about summer. This was a terrific group of kids–> I just hope they remember some of the things I tried to teach them this year. In case you’re wondering, here are the three biggest ideas I try to instill on the kids…
1) You have potential…
2)Think deeper!
3) Don’t panic. (they don’t really know about the Hitchiker’s Guide yet.)
You would be surprised how well these ideas apply to most of the classroom activities.
On the other hand, I am enjoying summer, despite the fact that I have to finish moving classrooms sometime this week.
Regards,
~Teacher Tony
Dear Tony,
How’s that fantasy baseball team of yours doing? You still comfortable being in the middle of the pack?
~The Boy of Summer
Dear Boy,
After a VERY shaky start to the year, Canseco’s Disciples have rebounded nicely, and are rounding into form for the mid-year stretch. With Rolen and Mark Loretta on the shelf, it’s been an interesting lack of real offense in the last few weeks, but Bobby Abreu is an amazing fantasy machine. Pitching-wise, my pick ups of Mark Redman and Cliff Lee have been okay, but Roy Halladay is making every-thing gravy. That, and the duo of Isringhausen and Wagner cleaning up make my pitching probably stronger than my offense. Currently, I’m in fourth place, strengthened by the schedule where I play people who haven’t touched their rosters all year. I’m guessing I’ll finish in third or fourth place, unless my offense really starts to pick it up.
In other baseball news, I purchased 5-game pack of Kane County Cougars tickets for my live baseball enjoyment this summer. I’ve been to two games now, and have been really impressed with what my $9 gets me. I brought along the gang the last time– 8 of us went to see the Cougars lose, but we had the Jesse White Tumblers, fireworks, and thousands of children screaming about SpongeBob. Can’t go wrong with that. Great to see all the guys, especially since we played cards afterwards!
~Manager Tony
Dear Tony,
Seen any good musicals lately? Listened to any good music lately? Done anything besides sit on your duff? (No, not Hilary, or Kaylie either, for that matter…)
Scratching an itch that cannot be named,
Nosy Nora.
Dear Nosy,
Why, yes, I have been to the theatre recently. Last Wednesday, McGirr, the Lovely and Engaging Mrs. K., and I travelled to Ford Centre Orienta l Theatre to see Wicked If you enjoy alternate timelines, and prequels/sequels, you will really appreciate this story. I am not a huge fan of the original Wizard of Oz, but this was a beautifully well-written and produced show, complete with outstanding cast and music. Even if you don’t like musicals, you will like this one. The most enjoyable part for me was figuring out how everything ties in to what we know, or what we THINK we know about the land of Oz. Truly spectacular for science fiction/fantasy fans, and a grand production for musical fans. Sorry, even thinking back to it now makes me want to go back, and I don’t even like musicals that much.
We’ve also been watching movies a lot, because, well, it IS summer. I would highly recommend the movie “Crash” which had Don Cheadle in it, as well as many other decent actors. I liked “Flight of the Phoenix” even though it was very poorly written. The L and E Mrs. K. enjoyed “Neverland”, and we both were intrigued by “Kinsey.” Next up: The third season of “Six Feet Under” has arrived, so we will be hunkered down for the next few days (13 episodes to watch)
That’s the entertainment update.
~Plugged in and drooling Tony
Dear Tony,
How about the rest of the summer? What have you got up your sleeve for fun?
Stalker Steve
Dear Stalker,
Well, we’re going to Great America this week, and maybe once a week during the summer (We have renewed our season passes) We also have date days/nights planned for lots of fun.
Concerts the summer include Coldplay and Ben Folds/Rufus Wainwright.
Right after our anniversary (July 6th for those of you playing at home) we’re going to the Smoky Mountains for a three-day cabin “retreat.” To quote Josh, we watch the mountains “in the haaaaaaaaaaaaooooooooot tuuuuuuuuuub!!!!!”
Grad school starts for me on July 11th. Three days a week, five hours a day. Could be worse. I’m looking forward to learning about new theory and applications in litearacy. Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be hearing all about it as it starts.
Other ongoing tasks for the summer include: work out and get myself less fat than I am currently. Try and actually be tan this summer. Read as much as I can, watch as many movies as I can, and enjoy life. More than you wanted to know, I’m sure.
~Tony
Other than that, things have been busy. Unfortunately, I had to put on funeral socks for a distant member of V’s family, so we got to discover how scary Bloomington, IN, is *without* the college kids there.
Well, that just about does it for this round of mailbag. Stay tuned for quick anecdotes later in the week that include:
Strawberries and cream (or, how I got crispy in fifteen minutes flat)
The Stupid RC car guy in my apartment complex
How my couch potato-ness almost ended the potato famine.
Thanks for reading. Comment if you want, especially if you made it this far.
