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What a fun two week stretch of Olympic viewing.  Controversy, competition, complaining, and athleticism all concluding with that great overtime hockey game.  Now what do i do?  I know.  Listen to all the new music I’ve purchased lately.  My music listening habits have narrowed of late so I am stepping out with some of my new discs.  Jewish jazz, African lute, Scandinavian lute, blues, bluegrass, rock, and roll.  Many new artists and a few old favorites.  I have recently come into some extra cash (courtesy of 55 hour work weeks) so i gave some away, saved some, and spent some on (what else) music.  Now that I’m not glued to the TV (or, hopefully, cashed out in the chair) I’ll give some of my hard earned booty a spin and report back to you.

A brief observational comment:  What kind of world do we live in where a person cannot find a copy of the latest Newsweek magazine for purchase but could buy thousands of copies of People, Cosmopolitan, the Enquirer and a plethora (love that word) of similar mags?  I looked everywhere (except Walmart) in Austin yesterday for one copy of the March 1st Newsweek.  NO WHERE TO BE FOUND!  Says something about modern America and it ain’t good.

OK!  Now get out there and enjoy the first day of meteorological Spring.

Posted on March 1st, 2010 by BigBob
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And so another birthday for Dustin comes and goes.  Yes, this one stung a bit more than some others.  A milepost, I suppose, his 30th birthday.  A decade passed without him and a new one begun, without him.  It seems I will never get used to the idea he is dead.  10 years not having him around and still it’s hard to adjust.  Before you think it’s all doom and gloom let me quickly tell you how I spent my day.

Up at 4:15am to get an early start to the Cities.  Make some coffee and get cleaned up be on my way.  Of course, I took some poignant music with me and some tears were shed on the way but the drive was pleasant and therapeutic.  The whole idea was to surprise Sydney at her school door.  Which I did (after getting some wary looks from parents-who is that weird guy hanging around the school door).  It was fun to have her show me her school.  We followed that with church at her school.  William was great and the service had new meaning as it was directed at the kids.  Madonna, William, and I went out for breakfast at the Grand Grille.  A Cajun meal that can’t be beat (no hot powder and a bathroom story this time) and then back to the house.  William and I played Leepster and after a short nap the dogs and I headed back to the Creek.  A short stop at the Electric Fetus (I am programed by a foreign power to stop whenever I am near it) and a Fleet Farm bird and dog food resupply stop and home we were.  Oh yah, I had to have a cheeseburger (known locally as a Dusty burger for Dustin).

Last night was spent watching Olympics, listening to music, having a drink or two, and a cigar with some birthday cake thrown in.  I also checked out some heavenly bodies (Mars, nebula, The Beehive cluster you of dirty minds) thru the telescope.  A quiet night and off to bed.  Not all sad and weepy but reflective and melancholy.

So, I launch into a new day with it’s joys and sorrows ahead.  It always surprises me how fast these days come up and how swiftly they go while the world hardly misses a beat or notes the significance of the day.  The way it is, I guess.  The day was significant to me.  Always will be.

Song Of The Day:  Steve Winwood-Vacant Chair.

Posted on February 18th, 2010 by BigBob
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Couldn’t sleep so I’m up just thinking about the last 30 years.  The good the bad and the ugly.  Most of the good happened in spite of me.  Much of the bad I caused or helped along.  The ugly…well…have you ever seen me after just getting up?

Dustin would have been 30 today.  My heart aches when I think of him and how much I miss him.  It hangs, heavy, as if by some strained tendon, beating it’s mournful rhythm.  I’m not sure how this day will play out.  How do you celebrate the birthday of someone so young who is gone?  I’ve already mentioned, in past blogs, the rememberings of his life and the wonderings of what has been missed.  I have not see him in almost 10 years or heard his voice.  His laugh.

I believe I’ll go for an early morning drive.  Perhaps to the metro.  Surprise my grandkids and go to church with them.  It’s Ash Wednesday.  Just get out of town for a while before settling in tonight with my memories and tears.  And laughter.  With Dustin there was always laughter.  It’s strange how real love never dies.  It just stays alive even when nothing is done or can be done to nurture it.  I still love Dustin without so much as a note or phone call or appearance in 10 years. 1 Corinthians 13.  I guess I miss him so because I still love him so.

So be it.  Happy birthday Dustin.  Forgotten?  Not a chance.

Posted on February 17th, 2010 by BigBob
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As I reflect on the years we had Dustin and what we were blessed with and what we may have missed I don’t want to neglect the signs of better days ahead (weather anyway).  Cardinals and Chick-A-Dees are singing their Spring songs.  Any sunny day you will notice some snow melt on streets and sidewalks.  And in the morning sky, before sunup, you can spot the Northern Cross and Summer Triangle in the eastern sky.  Can warmer weather be far behind?

All available hands work today and that means me.  I’ll be thinking of Dustin with a tear.  And William with a smile.  Happy birthday William.  All of 3.

Posted on February 16th, 2010 by BigBob
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So.  Here I am, alone, with the music turned up to POW! and the blinds closed.  Time for my children to slowly turn away from the computer and seek professional help.

Now, the rest of you can watch.

I’m here tonight in an empty house.  Me.  And the ghosts.

Wiliam’s birthday is tomorrow (16th) (3rd) and Madonna is with the grandkids with the dogs.  Me?  I have to work tomorrow.  The 17th I’m off and I think I’ll head for the Cities to just mess around for a day.  I can’t help but think of him now.  Almost continually.  He would have been 30.  What kind of family would he have?  What kind of house?  Where?  Friends?  Occupation?

The patented Bobby method of relief is…MUSIC!

A bottle of shiraz and the music cranked up high.   Let’s see what’s first?  Alright, I’ll tune in the World Cafe radio program and hear what’s up… Really, some good songs on today’s show (Xpn/worldcafe.org)

The Cafe is over.  I’ve cleaned the drain.  Worked-out.  Shoveled (again-enough already).  Time to watch the soft white blue light pull in the night and I’ll start with a great Paul Simon record, Hearts and Bones.  A warm under appreciated record.  Follow that with Burning Spear and the reggae fest was underway.  But, hold on there Babalouie.  After the Spear came Peter Tosh.  Lots.  To be followed by the obvious choice of…

Waylon Jennings.

This is musical comfort food.  Deep.  Rich.  Adult.  Real.  I could listen to this for hours.  Where is that bottle of bourbon?

The Dukes Of Hazzard and weekends at my parents.  Mom.  I miss Mom.  Well, Mom would love the kids coming over.  She was the best.  I could be such a stoic kid.  I told her I loved her before she died.  I should have showed her more.  I think she knows.

I’ll finish the night with some Dave Matthews Band.  If you know you’ll know why.  Don’t think for a minute I don’t miss him or think of him often.  And I love those who are here with us now.  No one knows how long we have.  Grab those who mean the most to you and let them know somehow.  And go out and buy Patty Griffin’s latest, downtown church.  It’s really really good.  Sing it, Waylon.  Honky Tonk Heroes like me.  Yee Haa!

But the last song was…Waylon…Dreamin’ My Dreams.  Amen.

Posted on February 15th, 2010 by BigBob
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Hoar frost on the trees and bushes gives Winter such a peaceful feel.  The soft blue light of sunrise on the snow gently drawing in the new day.  Fog shrouds the sharp landscape and my thoughts drift back 30 years to 1980.  The Olympics had just begun and we were about to greet our second child.  Our new son.  Dustin.

It all seeps back now.  Shards of memory pleasant and jagged.  A happy thought here a broken memory there.  The blue lights on the deck left on in his memory and blue stars in the house to remind us of him and where he is and where he is not, now.

Too much time to think and reflect these days on the mail route.  Walking the old neighborhood where I grew up each day with the sights and sounds of my youth running thru my head and heart.  Walking up the steps of my old house, tears in my eyes, feeling my parents and missing them.

I’m not sure how these next days will play out for me as we approach the 17th and Dustin’s 30th birthday.  Perhaps laughing.  Maybe crying.  Probably both.  I’ll try to write about it but I understand if you don’t want to witness my journey down this path of recollections and heartache.  The truth is, my feelings will be indescribable.  My thoughts incomplete and shaken.  For the brave,  I’ll see you here again.  If only I could say the same for him.

Posted on February 13th, 2010 by BigBob
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11 hrs and 45 minutes.

Record for what?

The longest day working at the post office in my 24 plus years.  Punched off the clock at 8 pm after carrying mail in subzero temps all day.  Last week.  Long week.

Let’s hear it…auuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh.

OK.  Pity party over.

To lift my spirits I went to the ole musical library and yanked out T Rex The Slider.  Did the trick.

Of the new music I’m enjoying the latest from Ray Wylie Hubbard and Ziggy Marley.  Took a shot at a Bryan Ferry disc of all Dylan tunes and it is surprisingly good.  The David Rawlings Machine is predictably excellent and I’ve just purchased the latest copy of the Oxford American (I used to be a subscriber) and their always top notch Southern Music issue.  I’ll let you know how it is.

Last night watched the blue-ray version of Roy Orbison’s Black and White Night.  WOW!  What a sound and what a great performance.  Do yourself a favor and rent it.  You’ll see some of our top musicians kicking back into the band and just reveling in the moment of playing with Roy.  Really great show.

Alright.  It’s hi ho off to work I go.  Maybe only a 10 hour day today.  Or, saints be praised, even less.

Posted on February 3rd, 2010 by BigBob
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What a game.  Back and forth.  Up and down.  Too bad the end is down.  Still, from soap opera to reality show to sweet romance to falling out to reconciliation to…the end, the Vikings season was quite a thrill ride.  Hope you don’t take the loss too hard.  It’s only a game.  My biggest question is about the clock management and play calling at the end of regulation.  Now, I’m a Saints fan.  Who Dat?

You know, the Vikes saga is a lot like life.  Ups and downs with some victories and losses and mistakes and misfortune along the way.  Seems change is the only thing that is constant.  More changes to come, I’m sure, at work and with relationships and with our ever revered or reviled (depends on the moment) sports teams.  But, I’m not going to get into that stuff now.

It’s been tough getting enough energy to write these blogs this Winter.  Brutal cold, deep snow, or body breaking ice wear me out almost every day.  By the time I get home I’m ready for sleep.  Last week the work days were 11 hours, 10, 10, 10, 10.  This is not to complain but explain.  Hopefully, once the weather warms a bit I can get on some kind of blogaliscious schedule.

Finally finished John Adams, the book.  Great read.  I really enjoyed it and now I can watch the HBO show without it screwing up my imagination.  I’m going to tackle The Brothers Karamazov next.  And a book on Dylan and the recording of Highway 61 Revisited.  I’m taking bets on which one I’ll finish first.

Bought some new music lately and got some for Christmas.  I’ll be spewing my always pithy and relevant comments on those very soon.  Spoon, Vampire Weekend, and the Eels newest End Times (keeping with my theme) among others are up for review.  Any comments?  Tell somebody who cares.  Like me.

Let me add that yesterday (Monday the 25th)  we worked 11 1/2 hours.  My final letter delivery was after 7 pm.  So, if you don’t have your mail and it’s getting late, leave the light on near your mail box for a while.  The mail may still be on it’s way.

Posted on January 25th, 2010 by BigBob
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Oh yeah, Kaya finally got her cone off and she is one happy canine (I can too tell she’s happy.  She told me.).  I wish I could figure out this scanner and I would post a picture or two of her “coned up” but I’m stymied by the device.  I’m not giving up on it yet (but soon).

Interesting couple of days for me.  Last night another church budget meeting to approve the final 2010 budget (talk about a leap of faith).  And today I give our pastor his job review.  Yes, I’m the head of the personnel committee.  This should be interesting.  Could be a new reality show.  Bob and the Reverend.

The weather is warming and some new music is on it’s way so things are looking up.  Figured out who RWH is yet?  Stayed tuned for the answer.

Posted on January 13th, 2010 by BigBob
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I know it’s been a while since my last post.  Sorry, but my fingers have just thawed from last weeks vicious cold weather.  I’ll be back on board here soon with some reviews and previews of some, hopefully, new releases by artists who haven’t put out some new music for a few years (hint: RWH).

Posted on January 12th, 2010 by BigBob
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