Good Sunday morning everyone and happy 4th of July. The 4th of July is typically a little bit of a let down for my wife and I. She grew up in northern Michigan and I grew up in the area around Columbus, Ohio. We live in the Phoenix, Arizona area now. This means a few things. It means that our tax dollars will soon be supporting an ethnic cleansing effort characterized by racial profiling (a major reason behind our desire to relocate). It means that every year my football team beats the living snot out of hers. It means that we wish our kids had a life filled with more grass covered meadows, more forests, more bass filled ponds and lakes, and a summer that means outdoor frolicking rather than days spent hiding from the sun. It also means that 4th of July fireworks displays fizzle in comparison to the ones that my wife and I enjoyed as children. Phoenix is simply too arid for any such display. So, if you are in a location that has a serious fireworks display (such as the Red, White & Boom displays that I enjoyed growing up), enjoy it a little extra for us.
On the positive side of things, in the last year I have managed to take my wife on a vacation to the city where I would love for my children to be raised and where I would love for many of my remaining days to be spent. Better still, it took her very little time looking around to agree that she too would like us to live there. That's progress. As I've said many times before, I don't mind if everything in my life isn't exactly as I would prefer it in every regard. What I do mind is if I am not making any progress in changing those things a little bit more to my liking. So, this year.... a weak fireworks display (and hopefully some great sales on barbecue related groceries) and a location more amenable to a major fireworks displays (and to sailboats) in a few years.
All of that is secondary. Today, is Sunday! (I know, I know. We covered that in the first sentence.) Sunday's in my house mean music and dancing children. I sleep until closer 6:00 am instead of getting up at 4:30 to shower and head off to work. My wife heads out for her weekly shift at the deli and the kids and I enjoy some breakfast and some quality time. Today it's 'Honey bunches of oats', the music in this diary, and whatever you add in the comments section. As usual, we really do hope that you will participate. We love to see and hear whatever you feel like posting. Our Sunday morning quality time is made much more valuable and enjoyable by sharing it with you. We hope that sharing the time and affection with us will help to make yours a great day too.
Let's start off with something a little Red, White and Blue shall we?
Those of you who are regulars here at our Sunday morning jam session are likely very well aware that I am a fan of the blues. Today is a fitting day for enjoying some blues. Why? Because the blues is American art. When it comes to the blues, it's hard to do any better than The Velvet Steamroller himself. Albert King:
If we are going to enjoy youtube blues videos, here's one that I made with pics that I took here in the valley. Arizona isn't all bad:
To demonstrate that one doesn't have to be born american to play the blues, here's a Charlie Mussellwhite tune off of the 'Rough Dried' album. The guitarist is Kid Andersen who is an immigrant (GASP!) from Norway I believe.
Of course the blues isn't the only American music popular in my home. My Petunia particularly likes this one:
You had to know that your weekly dose of live ABB was coming, right? This one provides some fireworks.
Here's some more american music for my friend who is just discovering the virtues of combining David Grisman with Jerry Garcia:
Speaking of American Music. The subject made this one a necessity. (So the video is dorky, but the sound quality is better than the other videos available.)
Ok I had to come back to some more live ABB because... well.... just because...
We hope that you have enjoyed yourself as much as we have this morning. We encourage you to show someone that you love them today. Telling them is nice. Showing them is even better.
We invite you to please participate in the comments section where we intend to continue the shaking of little cabooses.
Remember, Todd and Lila love you.