Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

[Al Kraft]

Everyone's commented on how it's getting hotter every year and there's more pollen starting earlier and lasting longer. When we were young, summers were always temperate-- cool. Winters were snowy. This winter we had barely 6 inches of snow altogether.

I won't start the debate on whether global warming is real or imaginary, but global climate change (specifically meteorological deviation for historical norms in specific geographic regions) and associated effects are undeniable. FWIW, after 42 years working with the US Navy and DoD community, I'm convinced that additional heat in the equation is a driver...so I guess I'm actually a global warming believer as the driver.

 

[Stumbo]

Friday, Friday, so good to me. Mostly present and accounted for, yet again.

So last might was the "official" public debut of my new slide bass thing that I've been working on for several months now. It was at an extremely busy open mic and I went very early just to get a slot. Because of potential thunderstorms they moved the stage indoors, which made for a rather intimate setting. It meant three dancers instead of thirty, but that actually suits me fine. Every slot was filled with working musicians, save mine. No pressure...

I typically choose to play near the end of these things, as I don't want to scare the paying customers out, especially at a place like this that has a big dinner crowd. Once I have a slot I often canvas friends who didn't get one, but both the guitarists I approached passed. Turned out that one of them was playing the set right before me, which he neglected to mention. No worries, solo bass set it is. The house band had the last slot and for reasons unknown they invited me to to stay up with them as well, as second bassist. So with a good dozen or so pro guitarists in the house, the last set featured me on slide bass as the lead instrument, go figure. After my solo set I switched from the bass rig (Ampeg PF=500 and Eden EX112) to the PA (QSC K10s), nothing but a DI and my active bass. Oddly enough, it worked perfectly and the alpha guitarist who was sitting right in front of me was highly complimentary. And then the venue owner and staff, even more so. PT Barnum was right, allsimsayin'.

Cool, Charlie. Great gig report! A few pics and @BassCliff's got nothing onya! Food pics, fer shure.

Reporting in for the Friday head count. Seems like more head and less hair every year!

 

[GwenOnBass]

I wish you all the best.

Thankee sai.

Going to say this is about as optimal as might be wished for. That's two big ones and just going to say celebration is in order.

Friday, Friday, so good to me. Mostly present and accounted for, yet again.

So last might was the "official" public debut of my new slide bass thing that I've been working on for several months now. It was at an extremely busy open mic and I went very early just to get a slot. Because of potential thunderstorms they moved the stage indoors, which made for a rather intimate setting. It meant three dancers instead of thirty, but that actually suits me fine. Every slot was filled with working musicians, save mine. No pressure...

I typically choose to play near the end of these things, as I don't want to scare the paying customers out, especially at a place like this that has a big dinner crowd. Once I have a slot I often canvas friends who didn't get one, but both the guitarists I approached passed. Turned out that one of them was playing the set right before me, which he neglected to mention. No worries, solo bass set it is. The house band had the last slot and for reasons unknown they invited me to to stay up with them as well, as second bassist. So with a good dozen or so pro guitarists in the house, the last set featured me on slide bass as the lead instrument, go figure. After my solo set I switched from the bass rig (Ampeg PF=500 and Eden EX112) to the PA (QSC K10s), nothing but a DI and my active bass. Oddly enough, it worked perfectly and the alpha guitarist who was sitting right in front of me was highly complimentary. And then the venue owner and staff, even more so. PT Barnum was right, allsimsayin'.

You said "alpha guitarist"

An early report in by our one and only @Passinwind Charlie. Thank you sir!

All GOF's please report in status of all appendages counted and accounted for or mostly there. Well it got to the mid 70's in little Sitka Alaska and that's a scorcher for us. What people don't realize is that in Alaska 75 is more like 105 for us because our blood is so thick (colder the region, thicker the blood) so the perceived temperature is always much hotter than the wet stick. Played hookey yesterday and did some chores around the house. It makes it so much easier to clean the shed and the house when we can put everything out in the yard without fear of rain! Carey has a bit of wheezing going on as do I, the pollen seems to be getting thicker by the year up here. Everyone's commented on how it's getting hotter every year and there's more pollen starting earlier and lasting longer. When we were young, summers were always temperate-- cool. Winters were snowy. This winter we had barely 6 inches of snow altogether.

But, wife is enjoying the weather so when she's happy, We're ALL Happy! .

So what does everyone else have on the up and coming? What say ye, GOF's?

Looks like this one is going out for dinner and drinks tonight

 

[mikeoso]

Present, appendages accounted for. Both weekend volunteers are otherwise engaged, so I get zero days off from the shelter this week. Anyone up for helping feed the birds?

Also, since my heart surgery, my lungs cant take much humidity...and it's been in the 90% range all week. Thank gravy for air conditioning! Just not getting any yard work done. Sad.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I won't start the debate on whether global warming is real or imaginary, but global climate change (specifically meteorological deviation for historical norms in specific geographic regions) and associated effects are undeniable. FWIW, after 42 years working with the US Navy and DoD community, I'm convinced that additional heat in the equation is a driver...so I guess I'm actually a global warming believer as the driver.

The earth's climate is always changing, events go in cycles. At some point, we may have another ice age. Last winter was the coldest on record in my area, last summer more people died of excessive heat. Extremes are pushing the limits.

What scientists need to definitively determine is what's causing it. We don't really know what the answers are. Research should continue and changes need to be made.

One problem with global warming is that a lot of money is made off it and stirring people up is part of the process. Researchers spend their entire carrers studying it, they often cry wolf to aid in getting more grants. A bureaucracy doesn't resolve anything. Cool heads need to prevail. North America is doing well with emmissions and it is always improving. That's a good thing.


I'd like to see the world take a serious approach to recycling. Certain countries are polluting the earth without meaningful limits, well beyond what others are accomplishing by addressing the issues. This comes down to money and people wanting improvements but not wanting it to impinge on their lives.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Going to say this is about as optimal as might be wished for. That's two big ones and just going to say celebration is in order.

Looks like this one is going out for dinner and drinks tonight.

Look up at the cosmos and smile, it's a good day.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Checkin' in. My ears are still in recovery mode from seeing Tower of Power yesterday evening. And.................I'm on my way right back tonight to the same venue and seats to see John Scofield/Combo 66, and Bela Flack & The Flecktones (I hope they have a far more audience sympathetic sound engineer, this time!).

 

[beans-on-toast]

Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for a place to go
Where they play the right music
Getting in the swing
You come to look for a king..............

I read that ABBA is planning a reunion.

The A*teens did a good job on that song. They introduced a new generation to ABBA in the late 90’s early 2000’s.

 

[G-Dog]

... ... All GOF's please report in status of all appendages counted and accounted for or mostly there. ... ... So what does everyone ... have on the up and coming? What say ye, GOF's?

Present and appendix counted.

For a couple days this week I thought I had an unexpected Bluegrass Jam called for this weekend, in honor of the late Bluegrasser who's funeral cancelled this month's regularly scheduled Jam. I read about it in the paper. Then I texted another Bluegrasser to see if they were going. He replied, "I don't think that date's right. Lemme check." So, I re-read the article. Dang! Turns out The Memorial Bluegrass Jam is the regularly scheduled July 27th Jam!! I originally read what I wanted to read, without regard to what was printed. (sigh)

But I still have my weekly Sunday morning gig to look forward to. It's always enjoyable and usually quite uplifting. Ain't nothing wrong with that!

Oh, and Saturday wraps up a week with one visiting granddaughter and starts a week with a visiting grandson! They love getting [more] spoiled at MawMaw's house! Eh, PawPaw's OK. MawMaw keeps him in line and makes him do whatever they want.

 

[Al Kraft]

The earth's climate is always changing, events go in cycles. At some point, we may have another ice age. Last winter was the coldest on record in my area, last summer more people died of excessive heat. Extremes are pushing the limits.

What scientists need to definitively determine is what's causing it. We don't really know what the answers are. Research should continue and changes need to be made.

I could not agree more. I also recognize that observations made by me or others during my own lifetime, while not necessarily innacurate or invalid, don't even equate to milliseconds in geological time. What I will say without any reservation and feel I could back up with existing, peer adjudicated, unclassified studies is that the human race in its increasing numbers on the planet (and concommitant monkey businss without regard to global consequences) is not doing the earth (or mankind) any favors.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Checkin' in. My ears are still in recovery mode from seeing Tower of Power yesterday evening. And.................I'm on my way right back tonight to the same venue and seats to see John Scofield/Combo 66, and Bela Flack & The Flecktones (I hope they have a far more audience sympathetic sound engineer, this time!).

What great bands! Saw Bela Fleck when I had no clue who they are and they fairly blew me away.

I read that ABBA is planning a reunion.

The A*teens did a good job on that song. They introduced a new generation to ABBA in the late 90’s early 2000’s.

The most persistent Eurovision Song Contest winners, ever. Felt like every time I was on a bus the driver played ABBA. Let us not delve into this [finger quote marks] evidence, what interesting .... is I observe the general population is a great deal happier listening (and dancing) to ABBA than to Little Feat. Field Tested.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Why do guitarists prefer to play guitar over riding their bicycles?


.... Because with a bike you only get two pedals

 

[LBS-bass]

Present and accounted for!

Got a gig tonight with one of my originals bands. We're going on late, so I don't expect a big turnout, but we're also reorganizing the band and not booking any new shows right now, so I am trying to stir up some interest by making sure people know they might not be able to see us for a while. It seems to be fueling rumors of a band breakup, which is funny. We're not breaking up, at least not that I'm aware of. But rumors and buzz tend to be good for business so maybe it's not so bad.

This show will be at one of the clubs in town that's known for hosting original acts. Sadly, it was recently announced that this club, which has been in Sacramento since the 40's under the ownership of the same family, is now up for sale. No one knows what will happen to the live music or any other part of it once it's sold. So for now, we still have music at Old Ironsides to look forward to, but it may not last much longer. First link is the venue, second link is our show announcement.

Old Ironsides | Family owned restaurant and bar since 1934

 

[LBS-bass]

Oh, the pollen. Yeah, about that. I have a yard full of privet and it's full in bloom right now.

I'm one of those weird people who is allergic to almost everything; when I did allergy testing there were four things out of 40 that didn't provoke a reaction on my skin. So this time of year used to seriously disable me to the point at which I would hide inside with the A/C on full blast, wearing a face mask. I also had to wear nasal filters, which is not very attractive, but it kept me from being miserable. This was before I got back into music, so you could forget about singing or performing, just not happening with all that going on.

But then I discovered something called quercetin, which is a supplement you can buy over the counter. There's research on it, it's not snake oil, and I won't bore you with how it works (short version: it's a mast cell attenuator; mast cells are the cells that produce histamine, which is what causes allergic reactions), but it does an incredible job of keeping my allergies at bay, as long as i keep it in my system. So for the past several years I have been able to be outside in the swimming pool as the privet pollen rains down, something I never thought I'd ever experience. And I have my singing voice back, too!

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Oh, the pollen. Yeah, about that. I have a yard full of privet and it's full in bloom right now.

I'm one of those weird people who is allergic to almost everything; when I did allergy testing there were four things out of 40 that didn't provoke a reaction on my skin. So this time of year used to seriously disable me to the point at which I would hide inside with the A/C on full blast, wearing a face mask. I also had to wear nasal filters, which is not very attractive, but it kept me from being miserable. This was before I got back into music, so you could forget about singing or performing, just not happening with all that going on.

But then I discovered something called quercetin, which is a supplement you can buy over the counter. There's research on it, it's not snake oil, and I won't bore you with how it works (short version: it's a mast cell attenuator; mast cells are the cells that produce histamine, which is what causes allergic reactions), but it does an incredible job of keeping my allergies at bay, as long as i keep it in my system. So for the past several years I have been able to be outside in the swimming pool as the privet pollen rains down, something I never thought I'd ever experience. And I have my singing voice back, too!

Thanks @LBS-bass , I think we'll try that out! Heading over to Amazon now!

 

[shadowtippy]

I'm grumpier than usual. On Sunday, my wife, daughter, grandson, two dogs, and I went to Galveston for a short vacation. It rained Monday and Tuesday, the car broke down on Tuesday and the repair shop couldn't get the part until Thursday so we had to get a rental car because we had to be out of our accommodations on Wednesday. I had to go back to Galveston today to get the car and return the rental. It's only 150 miles so the drive shouldn't be too bad but...going to the island we had a wait of almost an hour to get on the ferry, coming back there was a wreck that caused such a traffic jam it took two and a half hours to travel the last 40 miles on the freeway. That was with the car full of less than happy people. Today's drive was less eventful with only about an hour delay, total, due to road construction.
Something good about the week: I was going to get a fishing license at Walmart while my wife grocery shopped there. As I was nearing the sporting goods a woman called me by my name. I had worked with her and her husband, who was getting a fishing license, about five years ago. They live in Nevada and had brought their grandson to Galveston on vacation.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Attended an awesome BBQ tonight, and enjoyed homemade Slovenian čevapčiči for the first time.

GOF content: My mum had a series of ischemic attacks about 15 years ago, which cost her most of her short-term memory. She's a uniquely resourceful and determined lady, and has managed to continue to live independently thanks to a variety of memory aids and tricks.

Unfortunately, progressive hearing loss, a recent fall that cracked her pelvis, continued erosion of her memory, etc. are finally robbing her of her independence.

She is an introvert, a passionate gardener, and an avid walker. At 95, she still likes to walk the couple of kilometers each way to the bank, pharmacist, grocery store, doctor's office, etc. at least 3 or 4 times a week. She also likes to tour the neighborhood, checking out gardens with a 65 year old friend and walking partner.

We are in transition at the moment, coming to recognize that all of her favorite activities are being threatened by the prospect of needing to leave her condo apartment, and move into a long term care facility.

Needless to say, she's finding it hard to accept this, and so am I.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Reporting in, again. Sound levels were much more sane tonight.

This was the first time seeing the Flecktones with Howard Levy (all the other times were with Sam Bush, Paul McCandless, and Jeff Coffin). Howard was truly amazing and made the Flecktones so much better than with the above mentioned stellar musicians, as great as they all are. Sco even did a song with them (John Scofield & The Scotones!)

Edit: spelling

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Attended an awesome BBQ tonight, and enjoyed homemade Slovenian čevapčiči for the first time.

GOF content: My mum had a series of ischemic attacks about 15 years ago, which cost her most of her short-term memory. She's a uniquely resourceful and determined lady, and has managed to continue to live independently thanks to a variety of memory aids and tricks.

Unfortunately, progressive hearing loss, a recent fall that cracked her pelvis, continued erosion of her memory, etc. are finally robbing her of her independence.

She is an introvert, a passionate gardener, and an avid walker. At 95, she still likes to walk the couple of kilometers each way to the bank, pharmacist, grocery store, doctor's office, etc. at least 3 or 4 times a week. She also likes to tour the neighborhood, checking out gardens with a 65 year old friend and walking partner.

We are in transition at the moment, coming to recognize that all of her favorite activities are being threatened by the prospect of needing to leave her condo apartment, and move into a long term care facility.

Needless to say, she's finding it hard to accept this, and so am I.

God bless you and your mom. I hope she can avoid that as long as possible.

 

[GonePlaid]

An early report in by our one and only @Passinwind Charlie. Thank you sir!

All GOF's please report in status of all appendages counted and accounted for or mostly there. Well it got to the mid 70's in little Sitka Alaska and that's a scorcher for us. What people don't realize is that in Alaska 75 is more like 105 for us because our blood is so thick (colder the region, thicker the blood) so the perceived temperature is always much hotter than the wet stick. Played hookey yesterday and did some chores around the house. It makes it so much easier to clean the shed and the house when we can put everything out in the yard without fear of rain! Carey has a bit of wheezing going on as do I, the pollen seems to be getting thicker by the year up here. Everyone's commented on how it's getting hotter every year and there's more pollen starting earlier and lasting longer. When we were young, summers were always temperate-- cool. Winters were snowy. This winter we had barely 6 inches of snow altogether.

But, wife is enjoying the weather so when she's happy, We're ALL Happy! .

So what does everyone else have on the up and coming? What say ye, GOF's?

No gigs this weekend, visiting family in Orlando.