Songs for My Brother - 2020 Version

Every year I offer up a list of things that have been under heavy rotation for me for the past year and gift them to my brother in honor of his birthday.  This year is no different; virus be damned.  Here's the list:

• Red Hill Mining Town - U2: This is the live version from their Joshua Tree tour of a couple of years ago.  The band played it in front of a Salvation Army brass band superimposed on the screen, with the Edge replacing his guitar for the keyboard.  At the concert, it was simply beautiful.  A great band and a great moment.  Perhaps the highlight of the concert for me.

• Me and Your Ghost - Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles: The best toe-tapper of the mix.  Part surfer tune, but taken to a whole new level with the chorus harmonies.  Love this tune.

• The Mermaid Parade – Phosphorescent:  I love the lyrics of this song; just so real.  The end is so heartfelt, you can just feel the guy’s sense of loss and heartbreak “yeah I found a new friend too, And yeah she's pretty and she's small, But God damn it, Amanda, Oh, God damn it all.”

• Sunday Driver - The Raconteurs: Jack White is just a damned good guitarist.  This just feels like a 70's deep track from Grand Funk or BTO.  Fun to hear this kind of music again.

• Dancin' Til Dawn - Lenny Kravitz: It is too bad this guy got as popular as early as he did.  He is such a talent, and his musical playbook so diverse.  This is just one example.  His library is worth a deep dive - lots of gems there.  Super talented.

• Drunk II - Mannequin Pussy: A really good Philly indy band worth a listen.  This is their best-known piece.

• Lowdown in the Street - ZZ Top:  I know, ZZ Top?  First, this is some fine blues.  Then, just really listen to this and some of the tricks Billy Gibbons does around the chorus.  Plus, I just love me a three-piece band (Rush, Nirvana, etc.) 

• The War on the Terror and the Drugs - Ike Reilly:  Probably the most entertaining of the mix.  Ike Reilly is a really good songwriter, and while this is pretty simple, there is a lot of good stuff waiting in his library if you're so predisposed.

• I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine – Bob Dylan: An alt take from the famous John Wesley Harding album, and easily in my top five Dylan songs of all time (and that is saying something).  Pretty much if I find a cover of it, I buy it, regardless of the artist.  I just like the picture Dylan paints with this one.

• One of Us - Liam Gallager: I don't know what it is about those Gallager boys, but they make music that just crawls into your ear and lives there.  Just consistently good.

• Good Love - The Bros. Landreth:  Love these guys.  They're kind of this generation's cross between the Eagles and the BoDeans.  I just wish they were more prolific in what they cranked out.

• Dark Night of the Soul - Van Morrison:  From his latest, this is 100% pure, undiluted Van.  Could have been done by him 40 years ago.  Just love this tune.

• Feel It Still – Pomplamoose: Known more for their incredible mash-ups, they also do true covers, but always with their own spin.  They take this incredible Portugal. The Man tune and really make it their own.  It would be so fun just to hang in their studio and watch their whole process come together.

• If I Loved You - Delta Rose: Really like what she does with the chorus after she builds.  Lots of incredible bands doing music like this now.  Hard to peg from a genre standpoint - kind of country but kind of not.  Just good.

• Missed Connection - The Head and the Heart:  Latest from one of my more favorite bands.  I saw them in Green Bay, but have to believe that I travelled to Milwaukee to do it.

• Fire Walk with Me - The Black Keys:  Can it be that these guys have been doing this for damn near 25 years now?  Hard to believe.  They still sound so fresh, and so solid to me.

• On Graveyard Hill - The Pixies:  This sounds like it could come off one of their heyday albums.  Frank Black is underappreciated on so many levels.  Love this band, love this sound.

• On the Luna - Foals:  Easily a top 10 bad for me right now.  This is pretty representative of what I really dig about what they're doing.  Have not seen them live and would totally have a ball doing so, if we ever get back to live music again.

• Born Under a Bad Sign – Jimi Hendrix:  Recently released.  Hendrix does this Albert King standard as an instrumental, and it is downright amazing.  Consider he was probably just screwing around at the time – there was no intention that this was going on an album.  I was just a jam.  My goodness, what a talent.

• Neon Wound - Silversun Pickups:  Just an OK last album, but this tune, in particular, stood out and represents what I respect about them as a band.  Just a driving, pounding sound that is perfect for running.

That's the mix for this year - eclectic as ever, I fear.  I hope some of these ring your bell.  In the meantime, happy birthday.  I love you.

Is the Cure Worse than the Virus?

Our economy has come to a screeching halt, and there are some out there demanding that Trump suspend everything for an entire month (although I can't understand what more can be suspended.  Basically, the only things open now are grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies.  Shuttering those would lead to abject anarchy.)

Through this, tens of millions will be put out of work.  Untold thousands of businesses will not survive.  Our already outrageous national debt will balloon and our currency inflate.  We're flirting with a self-imposed economic depression that could last for a decade or more.

I understand smoothing the curve extremely well, but can't we do that and still leave the lights on?  The ones impacted most by this virus and the ones eating up most of the hospital resources are the old and the medically compromised.  Can't we just lock them down (and I mean really down - tight), and put the rest of the world back to work?

I don't say this as someone that pines for my old life back.  I say this as someone that is deathly afraid that the self-imposed emergency dive we've put our economic plane into is something that we will not be able to pull out of, and that our crash is just a function of when.

Is the cure worse than the virus?  We're all going to find out.

A Wing or a Weight?

Some good words for today's environment.

Long, but stick with it:

Stuff Just Got Real

It is hard to believe that just a week ago life was fairly normal.  Fast forward to today, and all sports are cancelled, schools are closed, the stock market has plummeted, and the next shoe to drop will include the closing of all public places short of grocery stores, banks, and pharmacies.  

Sheltering in place is the mantra, and this article provides the best explanation as to why.

In one week's time, I'm worried about our finances, worried about my job, worried about our economy (the ripple effect of all of these closings is going to be massive), worried about my family, and worried about my neighbors.  

This is 9/11, albeit in slow motion.  What took a morning then is likely going to take a month for us now.  We don't know what's real, what's hype, and what we don't know.  Most of all we don't know how bad it is going to be.  The fog of war is thick, and we're looking for some kind of stable footing.  Unfortunately, we're not there yet.  How long will it take?  Who knows?

What I do know is that this week at work will be a very hard one.  We have hard decisions to make, and they might even involve yours truly.  

I have no idea what the future will bring, but I do know things are going to get worse before they get better.  About all we can do at this stage is to keep our heads and pray for deliverance.     

Only in Minnesota

For months and months now I’ve been exiting the gym to the pitch black. Today I see twilight and I feel exactly like I just won the freaking lottery.

That's what life is like in Minnesota...

Herb Brooks Miracle Speech

Because it never gets old...

The Puppy Project

Deuce has been gone a couple of months now, and I'm really missing having a dog.  I'm fortunate that where I work, we've got dogs galore walking around, so I get my canine fix on a regular basis, but there's nothing like having your own dog.

Hence, I've started reaching out to start the process on landing a new puppy.  If I had my druthers, I'd land a yellow labrador female with a pointing pedigree that I could take home sometime after May.

I'll be sure to keep you posted.  In the meantime, wish me luck on landing my new hunting buddy.

Saturday Song Share: Jackson Browne - Love Needs a Heart

This is the most underrated Browne song in his library, and one of the most underrated songs of the era.

The harmonies are incredible, and the "vacancy sign" line is virtuoso:

Coroniavirus and Winning

Our politicians - both sides - are attempting to make political hay out of a pandemic (and make no mistake, we're already at the pandemic stage). It's repugnant, vile, and shows just how far we've fallen.  Where is our humanity?

However, one side is cheering - CHEERING - market crashes, recession, illness, and death.

Here's a hint: If you need people to die in order for you to score political points, that makes you evil.

Abjectly, definitionally, and sickeningly evil.

A Brush With Greatness - The Gastronomic Version

Last month, as Fuzzy and I were flying home from our bayou hunting adventure, we happened to glance across the aisle from us there in first class and happened to spy Andrew Zimmern - the famous TV food personality.  You know, this guy:

As a Minnesota native, it should not have surprised us to find him there, flying from ATL to MSP.  What did surprise us was his choice in food.  Did he choose the salmon or the chicken salad that was being served in first?  No, he did not.  As the flight attendants brought out our appointed meals, he whipped out a bag of Arby's and chowed down.

Arby's.

It was just recently announced that Mr. Zimmern will be starring in a new series on MSNBC on politics and food.  Ah, just what the world needs - another show about politics!

Let's hope his choices of editorial for his show are better than his choices of what to eat when sitting at the front of the plane.

Caribou Coffee and Customer Service

After my brutal experience with Delta Airlines losing my firearm, I had achieved my fill of shoddy big-company customer service.  Hence, when I arrived at my local Caribou for my pre-ordered coffee which I got 2-3 times every week and found it not there waiting for me, I was more sensitive than usual.  

The reason why I pre-ordered was that I just want to pick up my black brew coffee without waiting for a long line of lattes and foo-foo drinks.  Yet, this morning my usual waiting order was missing - likely picked up inadvertently by an inattentive patron.  I was fired up to complain, but found the line too daunting and my work start time too near.

I departed, fired up like I slammed a triple espresso.  

I found my way to work and penned off a quick note to Caribou's customer service, demanding a refund.  Truth be told, I was spoiling for a fight.  I had it, and woe be to the customer service rep that chose to hide behind their corporate policy of "apologize, but don't give an inch."  I couldn't wait to get into it.

Instead, this is what I received:

Hi Yellowdog,

Thank you for contacting us.  Our apologies to you for the disappointment with your mobile app-order ahead order.  

We have refunded $2.60 to your account.  Your current balance is now:  $61.92.  

We have also added an any size coffee of the day perk to your Caribou Perks account for you to enjoy.  (perk expires 2/6/20)

If you have questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to call Customer Support at 1.888.227.426 select OPTION #4. Our phones are open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm Central Time.

Thank you for choosing Caribou Coffee!

Doris/Caribou Coffee Customer Relations
1.888.CARIBOU | 1.888.227.4268-Option #4
Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm Central Time.

If Delta Airlines ever needs to hire some customer service agents, I know where they can find some...

Sunday Gospel - Matthew 5 38:48

Jesus said to his disciples:
          “You have heard that it was said,
          An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
          turn the other one as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
          hand over your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
          go for two miles. 
Give to the one who asks of you,
          and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.
“You have heard that it was said,
           You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
          and pray for those who persecute you,
          that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
          for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
          and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
          what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

This Sunday is a famous Gospel, likely because it's one where Jesus asks us to do the near impossible.  How often to we actively pray for those whom we consider our enemies?  How often do we dare let ourselves love those that hate us?

It's brutally hard.  Grudges are easy.  Returning fire with fire is easy,  Hate is easy.

Love - like the kind God shows us - ALL of us - that's hard.  But that's the expectation.  That's what we're being called to do.  

We're not God, and we fail this test often.  Regardless, we're tasked with being God's presence here on Earth; to be His hands, His example, and yes, His love.  

That's what's being asked.  How will we answer?

Saturday Song Share: Boz Scaggs - Miss Sun

Perhaps the best song from this incredibly underrated artist:

Cayman Chicken (and Cat)

We're down here in the Caymans, and our place comes complete with a suite of pets:

Meet Nick the cat and Parm the rooster.  We also have (although not pictured) Bucket and Blackie the chicken, as well as Sanders the rooster.  Parm chased Sanders off a couple of days ago, so he's been scarce, but even with him missing, there's still a ton of activity on the patio.

Nick didn't want anything to do with us the first day, but a box of Cat Chow brought him around big time.  Now he's a staple, just like the sun and the beer.

I keep expecting Nick to take a run at Parm (who'd make a hell of a meal), but Parm does have about 3" spurs, so it'd take Nick's A game.  Besides, they seem content to share the Cat Chow and leave it at that, although it is chicken flavored (which would be pretty uncomfortable for Parm if he could read labels...)

Running with AirPods Pro

My bluetooth earphones finally gave up the ghost (at least one side did), so I needed a new option for something to provide music while working out.  Working out and running is incredibly boring, and if I don't have something to listen to, I can barely do it.  That being said, a good mix or the right song played at the right time can take my workout to a whole other level.  Hence, if I was going to keep working out, I needed a replacement.

I opted to go with AirPods Pro, as I'm developing into an Apple fanboy.  I've got the HomePod, Apple TV, Apple Watch, iPhone, and about 4 iPods.  I think the only thing I have missing is the Mac (and I used to have one of those, back in the late 80's).

I love the sound quality of the AirPods, but struggled mightily in keeping them in my ears when I run.  I have a terrible heel strike which is quite jarring to everything - especially the earphones in my ears.

I tried the regular size tip covers - no go.  Went larger, and the situation got worse.  I found hints online that suggested turning them in your ears - better but still not a solution.  I tried foam covers - nada.

I was about to the point of returning them when I replaced the tips with the smallest size they sent.  Perfect!  They were small enough to fit deep into my ear canal and stayed in as snug as a bug.  Counter intuitive, but effective.

Having trouble with your AirPods fit?  Try going small.  It just might work.

Cayman Islands Bluebill Decoy

We've been on vacation on Grand Cayman since Saturday, and it's been glorious.  The weather is perfect - highs in the mid 80's, sunny, humid, but with a big north wind to keep you comfortable.  It could not get any better.  

I've been running every morning, and what a joy to be running outside again.  It's tough going - the humidity really saps you, likewise half of my daily run takes me into a really stiff wind.  Despite the crappy results, I won't complain.  I'd craw if I could do it in this weather.

I was out for my daily yesterday morning, and enjoying my route which boarders the sea for most of it.  It's an incredible view.  Anyway, as I was slaving away, something caught my eye.  I stopped to verify, as I couldn't believe it.

There, bobbing in the rough seas, still attached to its string and weight, was a bluebill decoy:

What is that doing down here?  There's only teal hunting in the Caymans, Bluebills don't migrate here in any kind of numbers, and this wasn't something that was placed there - the waves were too big, and it will be on shore by the end of the day.

It had to come from some gulf coast duck hunter.  But what a trip!  Consider the map:

What a journey that thing has been on!  Over 1,000 miles, especially since it had to navigate its way around Cuba.  

When I was a kid, I was enthralled with a move called Paddle to the Sea, about a carving a guy made of a native American chief in a canoe.  He dropped it in a winter stream, and we followed its journey to the sea.  This bluebill decoy is a lot like that, and I can't imagine the adventures it has had.

Bad Lip Reading - NFL 2020

It's like heaven in a pickle
Heaven in a pickle...

16 Curling Rocks in Play

Two weekends ago I spent the entire time at the Curling Club, trying to come back via the losers' bracket after dropping our first match.  A good effort was made, and we actually took second, but it was a long slog - both mentally and physically.  It was a lot of damned curling over three days!

Note to self - don't lose the first game next time...

On Saturday, in the lane next to ours, a group pulled together an incredibly rare feat - all 16 curling stones were in play.  We have a number of old-timers at the club that have been playing for decades, and nobody had ever seen anything like it.

I wouldn't have believed it myself, but we actually stopped our game when they had 13 in play to watch the end.  They didn't disappoint:

It ended up scoring two red, but nobody will ever remember that.  What will be remembered is the time when all the rocks in the end had the potential to score.  

Good curling, indeed.

Saturday Song Share: Neko Case - Hold On, Hold On

I just love her voice - it reminds me of 50's country.  She's just incredible.  Enjoy

Happy Valentine's Day from Fr. Don

This week, Father Don had a really incredible post about love, and given that's what this day is all about, it seems only appropriate to share here:

The 60-year-old attorney, well-known for his pro bono work and passion for justice, died of cancer diagnosed about 6 months earlier. During the months of hope and treatment, he was lovingly cared for by Jane, his wife of 30 years. At one point, while not yet immobilized, Jim eulogized her on his CaringBridge site. “She drops me at the office in the morning and picks me up at the end of the day. Fixes my breakfast, packs my lunch, serves me dinner, and cleans the kitchen. She keeps track of my medical appointments and hauls my sorry ass around to every single one of them. The bulk of the house cleaning devolves on her. Oh, did I mention that she also works full-time outside the home? That she spends every Saturday with her 92-year-old mother, doing her shopping, bathing her, tidying up and just being with her?” When people marvel at this, Jane says: "He would've done the same for me." Witnessing the loving relationship they had rules out wishful thinking on her part.


The same week as Jim's death, a letter came from 28-year-old Tom telling of a frequent experience in a person's quest for a partner: "It was a trying year for me personally. A year ago I went through a very bad breakup with my girlfriend of two years the week I started my new job, and it has been hard to stay focused. Without getting into the details, the circumstances surrounding the ending of our relationship really shook my confidence in people, relationships, God, and myself."  He found it shattering enough to seek counseling in regard to his faith, heretofore pretty sturdy. When we love others we make ourselves vulnerable to such almost inevitable and disheartening moments. Without underestimating the pain and sadness of breaking up, the relationship of 30 years described above makes such experiences worth the risk.

Here's wishing all of you the kind of love the attorney and his wife enjoyed.  Happy Valentine's Day.