Bang the Drum Slowly

Gotta give tribute to all of the great drummers down through the history of rock and roll. Time goes by, but their basic function never changes. Keep the beat. However, some have moved the drums into a contributing instrument. Yet, they are overlooked, or never truly listened to.

Many times, I find myself physically tuning out the guitars, singing and keyboards and focusing on the drum track. I encourage you to try it with your favorite bands, and get a new respect for what these amazing people do.

Ron Bushy - Iron Butterfly
Nick Mason - Pink Floyd
John Bonham - Led Zeppelin
Danny Carey - Tool

Play these albums and tune out everything but the drums. Listen hard, but you will be amazed and have a new respect for what these guys contribute.

Juneteenth

How was your day off? What, you don't get a day off on Juneteenth? Us lucky folk at TxDOT do. It is one of those weird holidays that were bestowed upon us in the 70's in lieu of a pay raise.

I spent the day in Andrews, battling the evil hordes of Odessa TxDOT-ers in the annual Lubbock-Odessa Golf Challenge. All I can say is the folks in Odessa play golf too much and work too little, as they bested us for the third straight year. Didn't matter, as I got to play golf at Chad Campbell's home course and had a great day.

Meanwhile, back at the home front, the chore list is a little smaller. Got the armoire painted, and planted 105 new Vinca plants in the dusty dry dirt 'neath the towering elms near the driveway. Just 40 more to go, and then vigilant watering. Thinking about attacking those unpainted adobe walls this weekend.

Getting the undone done a little at a time.

Getting the Undone Done

I have been in the house on Manioca Road for nearly six years now. You would think I would have the place pretty much finished at this point. After all, it feels like all I have done is work on it constantly. I added on a master bed and bath, put in a new front door and back door, built the flagstone patio, insulated the attic, built the dog runs, built the garden, renovated the garage and painted the damn place to name a few.

Last weekend, the wife mentioned that the elm trees needed to be trimmed up. I told her I was planning to get to that. To which she replied..."the only way you are going to get to that is by picking up the phone, and calling someone who knows what they are doing." Of course my first feeling was one of indignation. What the hell does she mean by that? I can trim fucking trees for crying out loud. A few more glances up into the upper branches of these massive trees, and I had to admit she was right. Well, I can sure as hell cut down that ailing Arizona Cypress by myself. Khiva's response? "How about you finish up some of these other things you have been meaning to get to before you start on something else?"

Again...massive indignation. I have worked my ass off on this house for six years. What could possibly be started, but not finished. I challenged her..."Like what?", I sneered. Bad move...bad move, indeed. Women have much better memories than men. Never challenge them with something, unless you absolutely know the answer.

The short list includes:

1. Fix the brick wall that has been on the ground since we moved in.
2. Paint the adobe walls you were supposed to paint two years ago when you painted the house.
3. Work on the landscaping in the front yard we have been talking about for three years
4. Finish the armoire.
5. Strip and re-finish the Adirondack chairs.
6. Paint the gates.
7. Pour the concrete behind the garden you said needed to wait til the winter (this was said last summer...Oooops).

Anyway, I told Khiva I would begin to attack these things, and ,By God, get 'em done. So far, I have finished the Adirondack chairs, and started on the landscaping. Oh yeah...I almost forgot...I also made that phone call to get someone who knows what they are doing to take care of the trees. They came out today and did one hell of a job. They even managed to get that Cypress down without my help. On the flip side, I put in a bunch of yard lights without their damn help.

The View From the Tundra

What the hell got into me? What am I doing driving a brand new 2007 Toyota Tundra? I have always been the grumpy, somewhat odd, bald headed guy in the old clunker. I have not bought a new car for myself since the 1984 Pontiac Fiero. That might explain my hesitance to try another new car. While I thought that was the hottest chick magnet to ever roll out of Detroit when I bought it, it turned out to be a sheep in wolf's clothing. Traded that one for a 1973 Mercedes 450 SL. Great car till it broke. Then my bank account followed suit.

Since then, I have driven the following:

1985 Nissan pick up - 208,000 miles when sold
1991 Nissan Maxima - 250,000 miles when sold
1992 Nissan Maxima - 145,000 miles when wrecked
2000 Nissan Maxima - 113,000 miles when sacrificed to the God's of Consumption.

I had gotten used to driving cars I didn't have to care about. Oddly, the less I cared about them, the better care they took of me.

Now I find myself in this great truck, and I am having a hard time getting comfortable with the idea. I think it is a combination of buyers remorse and the strange feeling that yet another part of me has sold out in my quest to join the Clone Army. Can't get ahead at work if you don't drive the right vehicle. I know this is crazy, but it still nags at my core.

Well, I better get comfortable with the idea, because Toyota Finance Corp says I have about 60 months to enjoy it. Who knows...maybe 10 years from now I will be adding this entry to the previous list...

2007 Toyota Tundra - 249,000 miles when owner was incinerated in a fiery crash.