Christmas 2012

(There will be no KUPL Listener Blog words for the rest of 2012.  The words will resume on Tuesday, January 1, 2013.  Thank you for your understanding.)

Just a quick note to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! 

Hopefully you'll be with family and friends on this glorious day.  If not, I wish for many warm thoughts and memories to surround you this day.

Above all, remember what Christmas is meant to be, a time of peace, love and caring.  I wish this to all my friends and family everywhere this Christmas of 2012.

The End of the World Is Here!!!

Well, we've been hearing about it for awhile now, the end of the world.  Yes, it's been predicted before, and obviously we're still here.  This time is different though.  This time the end of the world is based on the Mayan calendar that says today is the end of the world; so it must be true, right?

Eh, not so much, I'm thinking.  As many people, in person, on Facebook, on Twitter and other social media, and broadcast media have been saying, "hey, we're still here"!  Like I said, I'm guessing that's how it's going to stay.  It's like getting snow, make a big hype about it, it fizzles out; don't, and usually it's a major thing.

What's my reason you ask?  It's the same as others, I'm guessing; I mean, I can't be the only one who thought of this simple fact:

The "world" can't end all at once on the same day, it's not possible; too many time differences.  By the time the final time zone makes it to 12-21-12, the first one is already into 12-22-12.  I'm thinking the world can't just end a little at a time; either it ends, or it doesn't.  Since it's not possible for everywhere to be on the same date at the same time, we're safe.

Just my opinion and theory of course; but one I'm choosing to stick with.  Besides, if I'm wrong, who will be around to know any different?!

Games People Play

(Today's word will be in red and bold.)


From the time I was little I've always liked playing games.  Like anyone else, some kept my interest for a long time, while others went by the wayside fairly quickly.

Of course, when *I* was younger that meant card games, board games and the like.  For kids, (and adults), nowadays, there are still the "old fashioned" games available; though computer games have become the new norm.

As an adult, I'm not immune to the games on the internet, take"Farmville" for instance.  I hadn't planned on playing, however, a co-worker talked me into it.  It was fun, and I played for quite awhile, at one point even signing our dog up for an account, so I could have more neighbors.  The idea came from one of my cousins, who had signed her dogs up also.

Anyway, after a few months, "Farmville" seemed to be getting a bit out of control.  Not only did someone have one farm, soon they were trying to earn points, etc., for a second farm, and on and on.  For myself, it got to a point where, if I wanted to work that hard on a farm, I'd have a real one.  One day I quit cold turkey, deleting my farm and the dog's as well.

After that, I vowed I wouldn't get caught up in a game like that again.  I'd still play other games, just not any like "Farmville".

Even before "Farmville" though, I'd found a game I really liked, called "Bubblez!".  Supposedly there are 45 levels to this game; though I honestly don't know if that's true or not.  It seems that once I've gotten to level 40, I've stalled out.  I'm not even going to admit how long it's been; it's been that long!  A few times I've had to start over at level 1, (when getting a new computer, etc.), and still no luck getting past level 40.  I like the game enough though that I haven't given up yet!

Sometimes I find games by accident; that's the case with "Pegland".  I don't even remember how I found this game; I just did, and it became one of my favorites.

Unlike Bubblez!, Pegland resets all online scores at midnight, eastern time, daily.  It's a game where players play alone, however their scores are shown to all who play, if it's within the top 10 of the day.

My only problem with this is, I find myself NOT playing if someone has already gone in and made a ridiculously high score for the day.  I guess I'm just not competitive enough or something.

Then there's "Words With Friends".  I've always been fond of word games, and now I can play online with others who do also.  I also like it because it's not timed,  and you don't have to play every day.  Nothing will happen if you miss a day or two for any reason.  I'm also finding that I'm learning new words by playing "Words With Friends", I like that.

Then we come to the reason for this post, "Farmville 2".  A co-worker, (not the same one that got me hooked on the original "Farmville"), is playing and showed me the differences between it and the original version; so much for vows.

Yes, I DID start a farm, though only one; and with the understanding that, if it becomes a hassle like before, I'm deleting it.

If I knew why I started it up again, I"d tell you here; since I don't though, your guess is as good as mine!  I guess we'll have to wait and see if the farm stays or goes.  

Don't Forget Them

(Today's word will be in red and bold.)



To say the least, last week was a rough one for this nation, especially in two states.

On  Tuesday, December 11, 2012, a day of holiday shopping for 10,000 people was abruptly halted when a gunman entered Clackamas Town Center in Portland, Oregon, and opened fire, killing two.

Only three days later, on Friday, December 14, 2012, another gunman went on a rampage, this time in Newtown, Connecticut, ending the lives of twenty innocent children, and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

I realize, by now, this is old news;  you'd have to be living under a rock not to know about either of these incidents.  My reason for writing this post is to emphasize a lot of what I've been seeing and reading on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, as well as KUPL's own "Simon in the Morning" program.

While it's generally agreed that none of the victims should be forgotten, it's also agreed that too much attention has been given to those who created these horrible events.

Instead of dwelling on the gunmen, give the facts, tell the story, then don't mention them anymore; they're not worth it, evil never is.

Focus instead on those who lost their lives on those two days, Steve Forsyth and Cindy Yuille in Oregon, and the twenty children, and seven adults in Connecticut.

Yes, the media says six adults were victims in Connecticut, though the gunman's mother was also found dead in her home that same day.  Though she wasn't at the school, Nancy Lanza should also be in our thoughts and prayers.

For those that can, do something to help the victims' families, even if it's only to offer a prayer of comfort, or to attend a vigil.

KUPL has set up a fund for the Oregon victims' families through Key Bank.  They will also be holding a benefit concert on Saturday, December 22, 2012.

While it's true that none of these things will bring those lost back; it's a way to help those affected, and the nation as a whole to heal.

Let's hope the rest of  the year passes peacefully.

Chris Janson @ the Bing Lounge--12-11-12

(Today's word will be in red and bold.)

Chris Janson is a name most people probably aren't familiar with.  Like many artists that come through the Bing Lounge, Janson is an up and coming singer/songwriter, trying to make it big.  His time in the Bing Lounge was the evening of December 11, 2012.

It was easy to tell from the moment Janson took the stage that he's the real deal.  He does things the only way he knows how, his way; he doesn't try to be who he's not, and he's not apologetic for who he is.  It was refreshing to hear someone admit that, and be proud of it.

Janson's enthusiasm for what he does is contagious as well.  You couldn't help but tap your toes and dance in your seat to each song he performed.  In fact, the ONLY *slight* drawback to Chris Janson's performance that evening was  that it was impossible to get a photo of him while he sang.  The man is in constant motion during every song.  Not that this is a bad thing, it's very cool, unless you're trying to get a photo of course.  For this post I settled on using photos of when Janson was talking with the audience; less blurry that way.  It's a fair compromise, considering how entertaining Janson was.

As with most country acts in the Bing Lounge, Phil and Lyssa Davidson, of Davidson Specialty Printing, made t-shirts for a few lucky audience members, that said, "I Met Chris Janson..."; as well as a shirt for Janson himself that said, "I M Chris Janson..."  Janson thought the shirts were so cool, that he put his on right then and there.

Up to this point I've told a lot about Chris Janson, without actually telling of his performance that evening.  Let's just say, once you've seen Janson perform, you won't soon forget him.  He's definitely not one of the "cookie cutter" singers that seem to pop up everywhere.  Janson has a unique voice and style that sets him apart from others, yet suits his personality perfectly.  

At the same time, he can remind one of other country artists that have come before him.  For instance, Janson started off his set with his soon to be released single, "Better I Don't".  The song had a lot of the same key elements of Blake Shelton's "The More I Drink", but rowdier; and still different enough to not be a direct copy.                                                                                     

At other times during the set, Janson also reminded many in the audience of Hank Williams Jr.  Again though, while there was a similarity, Janson's showmanship proved he's his own person.  He can borrow bits and pieces of the best of other artists, take them and make them into something new and all his own.

As a songwriter, Janson co-wrote Tim McGraw's "Truck Yeah".  He ended his set with his version of the song, as well as incorporating songs by other artists, like Johnny Cash and Garth Brooks.  If anyone disbelieves that old school country and new country can't blend together in perfect harmony, take a good, long listen to Chris Janson; this is one redneck country boy who proves by example, it can be done!

Here's hoping Janson gets that big break and show the world what he's capable of.

Holiday Gifts & Daily Jokes

Normally I try not write posts that are "downers"; sometimes though, as with the shooting at Clackamas Town Center, I have to get my emotions out.

Before the shooting, I'd had another post planned for today.  Not *quite* a downer post, just not as upbeat as I try to be.  Again, until I get the emotions out, it will gnaw at me.

With that said, today's post is what I'd originally intended to write.  It was inspired by talk on "Simon in the Morning" yesterday, involving two separate subjects.

The first thing that had me thinking about writing this post had to do with gifting certain people at Christmas time.  The discussion had to do with should you "tip", (for lack of a better word), the mailman, your garbage man, your hairdresser, etc., extra at this time of year; and how much?

Now, I'm not an inconsiderate person; I understand tipping people, etc., for a job well done, on a daily basis.  But $10 to $25 per person, because it's Christmas time; as a gift?  I for one can't afford that; I barely make it through getting for my family, let alone others.

Okay, yes, if you're really close to the person, then yeah, why not?  However, if you're not, you're supposed to give them something anyway? To be honest, I don't have a clue what my garbage man looks like.  For all I know, it's not even the same person from week to week.

A newspaper delivery person called in to the show, saying how he counts on those "tips" every year, to help him buy his Christmas gifts; that kind of struck a nerve with me.  While I understand that this person's job isn't easy, (up very early, having to deliver papers no matter what the weather is like, etc.), why is anyone expected to give this person even $10, so they can buy Christmas presents for their family?  Yes, I realize, it's the season of giving, and I sound very selfish; it's not meant that way.

How about instead of cash, or a check, the money is donated to a charity in that person's name?  At least that way the money would go to those who need it even more than myself, or the person waiting for the gift.  Yeah, we're probably both strapped for cash; but the money would at least be going to those who need it even more than we do.

Now that I've said my piece on that, (just my opinion of course), on to the next subject from yesterday's "Simon in the Morning":  Practical jokes.

Practical jokes have been around for eons.  Most are harmless fun, though some aren't.  A lot of that, I think, has to do with the person, or persons doing the joke, whether it's done in jest, or with malice, and how far the joke is taken.

For awhile now, the "Simon in the Morning" team have been doing what they call "Simonizers".  A listener will call, or email asking Scott, Jolynn and Jake to pull a joke on a friend, family member, or co-worker. The morning team then set up the joke, make the phone call, record it, and play it back on the air at a later time.

Since the prank call of someone impersonating the Queen of England, and the resulting suicide of the nurse who took the call, people have been questioning the practice. Several people emailed the morning team saying they should stop.  Others said they shouldn't have started it at all.

Because Scott, Jolynn and Jake truly care what their listeners think, they opened the subject up to their audience.  While there were those who said it should be stopped, there were several callers who said no, it's all in fun, keep "Simonizing" people.

And as the morning team was quick to explain, they never mean any harm, they always stop the joke before someone gets too upset, (if they do), and most importantly, they get everyone's permission to air the end result on the radio.

To be honest, I'm not sure yet whether the "Simonizing" will continue; the mall shooting has been the current subject since then.  We'll have to see, once things settle down and get back into a normal routine.

So Sad...

Well, it's happened again; another shooting where innocent people have been hurt or killed.

We hear the stories almost every day now, it seems, from one corner of the world, to the other, about gunmen opening fire in any number of public places.  The most recent of these shootings took place close to home for me, at Clackamas Town Center, just outside Portland, Oregon.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, December 11, 2012, a man wearing a mask, bullet proof vest and carrying a gun entered the mall through Macy's, making his way to the food court.  Eyewitnesses reported at least sixty shots being fired.

In the resulting aftermath, at least three people were killed, including the gunman, and at least one injury was reported.

My  question is the same as anyone else's in a situation like this:  Why?  At this point the question is rhetorical; it's going to take time to comb over every detail of the crime scene, interview witnesses, etc., to try to find the answer.  When all is said and done, there may not be any concrete answers as to why this happened; the person who could tell the police exactly why, has already turned the gun on himself, ending his life.

Again, why?  If someone is going to kill themself, why go to a public place, and take it out on innocent people first?  That question may be one that's never answered.

As I write this, I can tell I'm rambling.  I'm confused, and like others want answers that aren't readily available at this time.  Maybe somewhere inside I think if I had answers it would ease the confusion, or something, I don't really know for sure though.

I do know that my heart goes out to every person that was at Clackamas Town Center when the shooting occured; and to their families and friends as well.

At the moment, as far as I know, no one I know was there; however, it doesn't stop me from feeling for those who were.  As with any tragedy, please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers during this sad time of what should be a happy and joyous season.  Thank you.

The Henningsens @ the Bing Lounge--12-6-12

(Today's word will be in red and bold.)

All genres of music have had their fair share of "family acts" over the years.   In country music, The Louvin Brothers, The Gatlin Brothers, Harold and Don Reid, (half the members of  The Statler Brothers), The Judds; are just a few, going back through the decades.  More recently, the Band Perry have stepped up to this spot.  Then there's the Henningsens.

Never heard of this country act?  Not surprising, as they're fairly new to the country music scene; though you've probably heard some of their music recorded by others.

On Thursday, December 6, 2012, the Henningsens, (made up of dad, Brian, son, Aaron and daughter, Clara), performed for an intimate crowd at the Bing Lounge.

Originally from Illinois, where they have a 60 acre farm, the trio explained how they came to write and perform country music.

Brian explained that Aaron and Clara are just two of ten children he and his wife have.  A lot of joking was done about how many kids there are, and speculation as to whether it took that many to get enough for the group.  It was all tongue-in-cheek of course.

Whether it was that natural family harmony, a lot of hard work, or most likely a combination of both, the Henningsens definitely put on a great performance that day.

Among the handful of songs they did, was their soon to be released first single, "American Beautiful".  (Unfortunately, there were problems with uploading the video for this.  As soon as it's fixed, the video will be posted.)

While listening to the music, I kept thinking how much this group reminds me of the Band Perry; so it wasn't too surprising to learn that they've written two hits for Kimberly Neil and Reed, including, "All Your Life", which they performed in the Bing Lounge.  (Unfortunately, there were problems with uploading the video for this.  As soon as it's fixed, the video will be posted.)

What's refreshing about the Henningsens is, though they sound familiar to other country acts, they're unique enough in their sound and style not to blend in and be lost in the crowd.

Here's hoping that "American Beautiful" will be a hit for this family band, so they'll be as recognized for their singing as for their writing.

Commercialism

We're all familiar with ads; whether on TV, the radio, or in print.  Anything that can be bought, sold, or traded can be advertised.

For the most part, these ads come and go; occasionally though, some stand out and become classics. Who doesn't know the line "Where's the beef" from Wendy's commercials?

Or Bill Cosby hawking Coca-Cola, Jell-O and Kodak among other products?

Though I'm not a fan of Dr. Pepper, I loved the series of commercials in the late 70's and early 80's featuring David Naughton.

Radio advertising, for the most part, is a bit more localized it seems, than TV.  One of my all-time favorite radio commercials was for the Oregon Coast Aquarium.  The ad was so popular the aquarium put the commercial on their website.  It's also one of the only commercials people would actually call the radio stations months, (and years), later asking if it could be played.

In recent years, Pemco insurance has been branding themselves as "a lot like you, a little different", in radio, TV and print ads; they're known as "Northwest Profiles".   Past profiles have included the "Urban Chicken Farmer", "Sandals & Socks Guy", and "Goosebumped Beach Bum", among others.

The one that has me writing this post is "Northwest Profile #1, The First Snowflake Freakout Lady".  Though I'm not *quite* this bad, it hit close to home, and still has me laughing.

Another Year of Rudolph

(Today's word will be in red and bold.)

This past Tuesday, for the umpteenth year in a row, I watched my favorite Christmas show, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".

And once again, I realized, as much as I love this program, I am getting older.  I notice all kinds of things that I didn't notice as a child.  What a great thing to write a post about!  One problem; I did just that LAST year.  In fact, it was a year to the day today that I wrote it!  So, no post of that this year; though if you're interested in last year's post, I've provided the link here:

http://kuplramblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/rudolph-red-nosed-reindeer.html

(Yes, that IS a shameless plug!)

Since I'm on the subject of Rudolph though, I'll take a moment to mention something I'd never seen until this year:  A commercial that does a take-off of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer".

It seems there's a commercial for insurance that features Rudolph, his family and friends all using the same stop-action animation as the show.  *I* thought the commercial was new this year, though upon further investigation, I've learned it's actually at least four years old.  Don't know how I missed it before now.

Rather than "review" it, or write more about it though, I'll post the video here for anyone who wants to watch it.  Never thought I'd see Rudolph replaced by a duck!

Charlie Worsham @ the Bing Lounge--12-2-12

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CHARLIE WORSHAM.

Read that name over, and over, until you have it memorized; you're going to want to remember it.

Charlie Worsham made an appearance at the Bing Lounge Sunday, December 2, 2012; and though the crowd may have been small, they were blown away by this talented young man.

Worsham began his set playing a bit of bluegrass; which was a medley of his YouTube "Cover Challenges", before being interviewed by KUPL's Earthquake Jake.

During the interview, it was mentioned that Worsham has a YouTube channel where he posts his "Cover Challenges".  As he explains it, fans tell him what song they want him to cover; he then has one week to learn it, play and record it, to be posted on YouTube.  In addition to these challenges, Worsham has also posted videos of songs he's written. 

 Worsham was totally entertaining; not only with his talent for singing, but his personality as well.  As he said at one point, "usually we just play for radio people, but every so often we get to play for radio listeners as well; that's a highlight for us".  If every show Worsham does is as good as the one in the Bing Lounge, then it's a highlight for the audience as well.

Another bit of information Worsham let the crowd in on is that he'll be releasing his first single to radio in the near future.  He then performed the song, "Could It Be".  I'm thinking this song is going to be a hit for Worsham.

Towards the end of his set, Worsham explained about an instrument one of his band members was playing.  He said there are only a handful of them, and that he's the first person to have one used on one of his recordings.  He further explained that what used to be an old, (and in this case, pretty beat up looking), guitar, had been transformed into a percussion instrument known as the "shuitar".

 To be honest, as much as I've tried, I don't think I've done justice to Charlie Worsham's talent in this post.  He's definitely someone to watch for, and go see if you get the chance.

In the meantime, check him out on YouTube, and again, remember his name, CHARLIE WORSHAM; you'll be hearing it a lot in the near future!

That Wonderful, Glorious Time of Year

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Thanksgiving 2012 is past, and we've moved on to my absolute favorite time of year:  Christmas time!

For me, Christmas isn't about presents and getting stuff; it's about the *feeling* of Christmas. It's the sights, the sounds, the smells, and all the warm fuzzies the holiday is supposed to encompass.

It's the Christmas trees, the lights, the decorations; everything that helps make this time of year seem magical.

Whether it's tradional things, or a more modern approach to something, this time of season embraces, and shares it all.

Like Christmas carols/songs.  Radio stations play all genres of music at this time of year, from big band, to new Christmas tunes; from classics, to new twists on classics.  Until I heard them, I never knew how many versions of "Last Christmas" there are out there!



I myself lean more towards nontraditional Christmas music, my all-time favorite tune being Elton John's "Step Into Christmas".

Yes, I did use this same video when I wrote about Christmas last year; that's how much I love this song!

Phil Vassar just came out with a new Christmas tune this season, "Santa's Gone Hollywood".  While I realize that some people may not see this as a true "Christmas" song, it is a fun, and funny little ditty that adds a new meaning to "holiday spirit".

I love the whole Christmas spirit thing!

Okay, not so much the one of the future.  Even the one in the Mr. Magoo version of "A Christmas Carol" kind of creeps me out.

Aside from that though, as I said, I love this time of year!

There will always be those who are Scrooges, or Grinches about the season; some for legitimate reasons, and others just because that's how they are.   Nonetheless, Christmas time is a wonderful time of year; so forget the commercialism, and consumerism, and just soak up all the good cheer the season has to offer.

That's a Rap

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Nowadays a lot of people are saying country music is no longer country; that it's more pop, more generic.  I understand that; there are quite a few songs that do sound more pop than what's considered country.  However, even what's considered "traditional" country,  (Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, etc.), isn't what "true" country started out as.  If it comes right down to it, even country isn't the root of music; classical, and other music was being made long before it went country.

It seems logical then that, like other genres of music, country is going to evolve, and incorporate other sounds and styles into itself; yes, even rap.

The first time I ever heard "country rap", was when Neal McCoy did "Hillbilly Rap", the Beverly Hillbillies theme done rap style.  Though the song is on one of McCoy's CD's, it was never a single on radio.

 Then there's Cowboy Troy, a member of  Big & Rich's Muzik Mafia; he calls his style 'hick-hop'.  He's released some of his music to country radio, most notably, "I Play Chicken with the Train".

Last year Jason Aldean had a hit with "Dirt Road Anthem", a song co-written by Colt Ford.  The song is mostly country, with a few lines done as rap.

Though known mainly as a songwriter, Colt Ford has put out several CD's that incorporate his southern views and values with rap.  Currently he has a single on the radio called "Back", which features Jake Owen.

"Back" is one of my favorite new songs right now; it's almost a perfect mix of country with rap.  Though Jake Owen is the better known name, Ford definitely can hold his own; and the two of them together do a great job.  Here's hoping Ford has a hit for himself with this song.

A Quick Post

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Well, it's finally here for 2012, the day Americans get together to give thanks for all they have.  At least that's what the holiday is supposed to be for.

Nowadays, it seems, it's more about gorging ourselves on turkey, stuffing, potatoes, pie, and anything else edible.  Then there's the parades, and football games, with more food involved.

Once we're as stuffed as the turkey, it's nap time; especially for those with big plans early the next day.  Well, it used to be the next day; anymore, there's no time for napping, because some stores are opening that very evening.  And by golly, that's important!  When else can you get absolutely everything you do and don't need on sale at wonderful prices?  So wonderful that some give up the food, parades and football, just to stand in line, (anywhere from a few hours to a day or so), for a chance to get their coveted item(s).

Truthfully though, all of what's been described is fun, for most people. So, on this day, please do have a great time with friends and family; just remember to be thankful for all of it as well.

With that said, I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Getting to Know Him

Once again a new song on KUPL's overnights has caught my attention.  The cool thing about this song is, until the artist started his country career, I'd never heard of him.  Now, I can hear a song and at least have a guess as to who it is. I'm talking about Stain'd lead singer, Aaron Lewis.

Lewis' first single, "Country Boy", was one of the most country sounding songs I'd heard in awhile.  His second, "Endless Summer", had me stumped as to who was singing, it sounded so different from Lewis' first hit.  Unfortunately, "Endless Summer" never made it outside the overnight shift on radio.

Now, Lewis has a third single on country radio, "Forever".  As I said, I'd heard it the first time on KUPL's overnights, and kind of thought I knew who sang it.  Lewis really has a versatile voice, and "Forever" combines the rough sound of "Country Boy" and the smooth flowing feel of "Endless Summer" beautifully.

I'm really hoping that "Forever" takes off for Aaron Lewis, like his first single; his voice and music are definitely worthy of being played on country airwaves.

Life is Suite

(Today's word will be in red and bold.)


The Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon, is host to many events throughout the year.  Concerts; ice shows; hockey games, and much more.  It's also the home court of the NBA Portland Trailblazers.

I like basketball, for the most part, though I rarely watch it.  Most of the time I watch if Portland is in the playoffs, or if I have a chance to go to a game.  That was the case the evening of Friday, November 16, 2012.  A friend and co-worker had an extra ticket for the game in our company's suite, so he asked if I wanted to go.

It had been awhile since I'd been to a game; the proof being that I no longer knew any of the players' names, except LaMarcus Aldridge. There was no more Rudy Fernandez, Joe Prizbilla, or any other names I recognized.

No worries, I figured I didn't really *have* to know the players' names to enjoy the game; and I didn't, though I do know one or two more names now.

(The view from one of the suites in the Rose Garden Arena.)

Before the game started, I asked my friend if he thought the Blazers had a chance of making it to the playoffs this year; he said no, they're too young of a team.  Once the game got started, I had to agree with him.  Our team was having a hard time making shots and scoring points.  When they did, the other team, (the Houston Rockets), would score almost immediately after that.  I was thinking it was going to be a bit of a letdown of a game.

By the second half though, things had picked up, the Rockets were still doing better at making their shots, but the Blazers were at least making more of theirs.  At one point in the first half our team was down by more than ten points.  In the second half, not only did we make up the deficit, a few times we actually were ahead of the other team.  When it came right down to the wire, the game actually went in to overtime.  Long story short, the Blazers came out the winners!  YAY!

So, not only did the Trailblazers win, I got to watch the game from a great spot, and the team scored over 100 points during the game; which in Portland means coupons for a free Taco Bell chalupa for everyone at the game.  Life was definitely sweet in the suite that night!

The Twangshifters @ the Bing Lounge--11-16-12

Rockabilly music is proof that the rock and country genres can coexist in this world.  While usually a bit more rock than country, there's still enough of a twang to the tunes to set toes tapping.

Currently, in the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington area the rockabilly flag is being flown proudly by The Twangshifters.

The band performed in the Bing Lounge November 16, 2012, bringing their orginal style and songs to the small group that was gathered.   They were also quick to point out that what they do isn't a "gimmick"; that they really do live and breathe what they do for a living.  This was brought up because of how their guitar player was dressed, wearing what's considered a rockabilly style of clothing.  It was also mentioned that he drives a Buick from the 50's.

The Twangshifters played several songs from their current CD, telling the stories behind the songs, etc.  As mentioned earlier, they do have their own style; yet they stay true to the rockabilly music of days gone by.

If you're a fan of rockabilly, and live in the the Portland/Vancouver area, try to catch one of The Twangshifters' shows, I think you'll have a great time.

You Can't Please'em All

No matter the situation, or circumstances, there will always be those that are happy about certain things, and those that aren't.

Music, movies, cars, sports, books, clothes; the list could go on forever and guaranteed, everyone would have a different opinion about any of it.  It's why there's variety in life, so there's something for everyone.

On a daily basis, most of these opinions don't affect the masses; they're personal idiosyncrasies in each of us that make us who, and what we are.

Then there are those things that do affect the majority of the population, like politics.  If there weren't differences of opinion, there would be no need for politics, religion, you name it, because we'd all agree, and we'd all be happy.

Sometimes, because of something that happens, people's opinions and feelings can change.  Those that were happy with a situation the way it was, are now unhappy because things have changed.  It's kind of like, "if it's not broke, why fix it"?

Likewise, those who weren't satisfied with something may embrace the change, and see it as a good thing.  What some saw as fine, others now see as something that was broken now being fixed.

Again though, no matter what it is, not everyone will be pleased with it.  Some will go in search of what they had, hoping to find it somewhere else.  Others will stick with the new situation, at least for awhile; either adapting to it, or eventually moving on as well.

No matter what it is though, life will go on, and things will change; it's how the world works.

Heidi Newfield--"Why'd You Have to Be So Good"

(Today's word will be in red and bold.)


Heidi Newfield first rose to fame as one third of the trio, Trick Pony.  The group scored a few country hits, ("Pour Me", "On A Mission", etc.),  before parting ways in 2006.

In 2008 Newfield released her first solo effort to country radio and scored big with the hit, "Johnny and June".

It's been four years since Newfield's debut solo CD, "What Am I Waiting For", was released, and a lot has happened professionally and personally to her in that time.  In fact, when I first heard Newfield's latest single, "Why'd You Have to Be So Good", I was certain it was written about the breakup of her marriage.

As it turns out, the song was actually about the parents of her co-writer; they'd been in a motorcycle accident, resulting in the death of the stepfather, and the mother having to have her leg amputated.

Newfield herself however points out the song is universal when it comes to the pain and suffering we've all been through.

If the rest of Newfield's upcoming sophomore CD is as good as it's first single, it's going to be worth the four year wait.

Welcome to a New Week

(Today's word will be in red and bold.)


There's nothing quite like waking up to a new week, only to discover you're still not feeling well since the weekend.  You try to get up and get ready for work; however your body decides otherwise, and you end up just laying there feeling miserable.

Sleep is what you need, lots of sleep, sleep is good.  Your body has no objection to this whatsoever, so that's what you do, you sleep most of the day away.  And guess what?  It helps!  You still don't feel totally great, but you feel much better than you did.  Yep, sleep is good; though if you keep sleeping, you won't be able to sleep at night and get up for work the next day.  Yet, you don't feel like going on the computer, or reading, or anything else.  The solution?  Television!  You can just lay there in your easy chair and relax.  You don't even have to really pay attention to what's on TV, it's really just there as a distraction.

Then, after a few hours of mindless television and catnapping, you suddenly have a realization; it's Monday!  Okay, no big deal, unless you're supposed to have a post with a word for the next day!  What do you do in that case?  Simple, you're reading what someone does when they have that problem.  They write about their day, finish the post, then pick a random word as the word of the day.  Problem solved!

Tis the Season...Almost

Everyone has their own timeline as to when the "official" Christmas season begins.  A lot of stores have decided the middle of summer is the time.  Some say the day after Halloween.  Most however deem the start of the Christmas season as the day after Thanksgiving.

In some cases though, it takes time to be ready to start the beginning of the Christmas season.  For instance, the lighting of the tree in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square; the tree doesn't just magically appear the Friday after Thanksgiving.  In reality, it takes days of hard work positioning the tree in the middle of the square, adding all the branches to fill it out, and adding thousands of lights

Even before the work begins at the square, the tree has to be chopped down, loaded on a semi truck and readied for it's trip to the square.  It's not just a "ho hum", (or would that be "ho, ho, ho hum in this case?), trip though, not in the least.

Nope, once the tree, (provided every year by Stimson Lumber in Forest Grove, Oregon), has reached downtown Portland's streets, the slow procession of festivity begins.

Portland police block the streets at each intersection of 6th Avenue, and provide a motorcade for the two semi's bringing the tree.  In front of the semis is a marching band playing Christmas songs.  And who but Santa himself is riding shotgun in the truck carrying the tree.

You'd think, as adults, those working in downtown Portland wouldn't get overly excited about watching a Christmas tree go through the streets at about 5 miles an hour; yeah, you'd think that.  However, there are those who still think it's pretty cool to watch, especially when it goes right by your office during your lunch time.

Those adults are the ones who go outside, and take pictures of the procession; or just watch, so they can blog about it.

Yep, you guessed it!  The following photos were taken by my co-worker, Doug Baker.  Thank you Doug for taking these so I could watch and write about it!

(Click on the photo for a larger view.)

Here We Go Again

(Today's word will be in red and bold.)


It's hard to believe that only two and a half weeks ago, my friend, Patty, and I were seeing New York City for the very first time.

We had such a good time, and the weather was so nice; perfect in fact, with temps in the mid 60's.  That was the week of October 22, 2012.

The following week was completely the opposite of the previous one.  Sunny skies and warm temperatures turned into gray skies, rain, and wind, lots of wind, thanks to Hurricane Sandy.  Millions were left with no water, or electricity; places were flooded, or destroyed by Mother Nature's wrath.  Even now tens of thousands are still without basic necessities; with no quick relief in sight.

When it seems like it couldn't get any worse, what happens?  NYC and other east coast areas are set to be blasted with a nor'easter.

As I'm writing this post, photos are showing up on the internet of various places the snow has begun to fall.  The photo above was taken at Staten Island.  People are still in the middle of trying to clean up from Hurricane Sandy, and now they're getting snow.

It makes me sad, and my heart goes out to everyone that's been affected by these storms.  For those of us fortunate enough not to have had to go through what the east coast is experiencing, I ask that everyone keep these people in your thoughts and prayers; I know I will be.

"Red"--Taylor Swift

(Today's word will be in red and bold.)

It's been six years since a teenager named Taylor Swift hit country music airwaves with "Tim McGraw".

Fast forward to 2012, Taylor is almost 23 years old and has just released her fourth studio album, "Red".

While many have always felt that Swift is too "pop" for country, others have embraced her music as "new country".  Either way, Swift has always had the reputation of writing about what she experiences in life, especially when it comes to her former boyfriends.

With "Red", Swift hasn't strayed too far from the subject of love gained and lost.  What's the most noticeable on her most recent offering is just how "pop" it is, even in comparison to her previous CD's.

For instance, "We Are Never, Ever Getting Back Together" was released to country radio, and almost immediately listeners were saying it was too pop to be played on a country station.  Some country stations are still playing the tune, though KUPL and some other stations began playing "Begin Again",  instead.  Of the sixteen regular tracks on "Red", "Begin Again" is probably the most country.

Not that Swift's new CD isn't good, it is.  For those wanting more country from Taylor however, they really won't find it on "Red".  Track one, "State of Grace", definitely sets the tone for the rest of the "Red".  It starts with a hard driving, almost techno dance beat; and plows straight into the listener's ears.

On the deluxe edition of "Red", (exclusively at Target), the bonus CD offers six extra songs, including a stripped down, acoustic version of  "State of Grace". This acoustic version would be excellent for country radio, and sets a different tone than it's counterpart on the regular CD.  It wouldn't be surprising if pop stations picked up the regular track, while country played the alternate version.  Might just be a great marketing ploy in there somewhere.

Another bonus track, "The Moment I Knew" is a true heartbreaker of a song.  As with most of Swift's songs, it's about a former boyfriend.  Though no names are mentioned, the timeline of the tune gives the listener a good idea of who it's about.

The heartbreak of the song comes from how she found out the relationship was really over; when the boyfriend didn't show up at her 21st birthday party.  Swift exudes anguish in the song; showing fully the pain that was caused on what should have been a milestone birthday for her.

Probably the best track on the regular CD is "The Lucky One".  Not so much a love story as telling the story of someone who's become famous, then lost the fame, and how the singer feels this person is the real "lucky one".  Quite interesting to listen to.

Though some may be tired of Taylor Swift's songs about her love life, etc; she writes about what she knows, and how she feels; and her writing shows it.   "Red" does at least prove Swift has matured in the last six years both in singing and writing; while still letting her be her 22 year-old self.

And The Award Goes To...

(A quick note:  I've provided a word for today, however it may not work.  My fault, I forgot to give the words to Jake before he left for Nashville; my apologies to all.)

(Today's word will be in red and bold.)

Halloween is over, though in country music, artists, songwriters, producers and others in the industry are waiting to see if they'll garner even bigger treats.

Yes, it's that time of year again, time for the CMA Awards.  The 46th year of this program airs tonight on ABC.  Once again, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley will host the show.  There will also be plenty of performances and presentations during the three hour event.

What culminates on this one day however has actually been going on all week.  Radio personalities from all four corners of the U.S. have descended on Nashville, to interview country artists and nominees.  KUPL's own Earthquake Jake, and Wrongway Danny Dwyer were sent to do this task for the station.  Their interviews with various artists have been running during the "Simon in the Morning" program yesterday and today.  The ones I've heard have been very entertaining and some downright funny.

Hopefully tonight's broadcast of the 46th Annual CMA Awards will be equally as enjoyable.

"It Must Be A New York Thing"

(A quick note:  I've provided a word for today, however it may not work.  My fault, I forgot to give the words to Jake before he left for Nashville; my apologies to all.)

(Today's word will be in red and bold.)


Despite the novel I wrote for the post about my trip to New York, I realize that I left out a funny story; so that will be today's post.

While waiting for the subway to go to Staten Island, I kept hearing this faint, "beep, beep, beep".  I couldn't figure out where it was coming from, and neither could Patty.  At one point she suggested it was my cell phone.  I was sure it wasn't, since my phone wasn't on; I even pulled it out of my pocket to show her.

We get on the train, and we still hear the "beep, beep, beep".  It's faint, but just loud enough to be annoying.  I'd already checked my phone, so I knew that wasn't the source.  Patty's phone wasn't the culprit either.

At Staten Island, we don't hear the sound anymore, at least for a little bit; then it starts up again.  At this point I've come to the conclusion that it must be a "New York" thing; like a security system or something.  Thankfully it didn't last too long, and we didn't hear it the rest of the day.

Don't think anymore about it, since we didn't hear it anymore.  Then Wednesday, we get to the airport, and we start hearing "beep, beep, beep", again.  Same as before, faint but loud enough to be annoying.  By that time my curiosity had taken over; so the next airport personnel I saw, I asked about the sound.

The first thing the woman says is, "it's your cell phone".  I say no, because I'd checked the day before, and it wasn't on when I'd heard the sound.  She insists that it is, and says she knows it is, because her phone has the same alarm.  I was STILL positive it wasn't my phone though, since I've never set the alarm on it.

In the meantime the sound has stopped, but started up a minute later.  The woman says, "yeah, it's your phone".  I pull my phone out of my pocket, and guess what?

Not only is my stupid phone on, it's happily beeping away; even louder now that it's been released from the confines of my pocket!  Talk about embarassing!  ACK!!!

What's worse, I have NO idea how the alarm got set in the first place; I know I didn't do it.  Even worse than that; I had no idea how to get it to stop going off!  Seriously, I checked my phone, got to the clock setting and still had no idea how to make it stop coming on at the same time every day!

Lucky for me, Josh understands this stuff.  He took my phone and in less than five minutes he had the alarm turned off, hallelujah!

As you can tell, I use my phone a lot...NOT!  And I don't think I'll be getting another one any time soon; I mean, if I can't figure out this phone, heaven forbid what would happen if I had a smartphone!  That's all I need, a phone that's smarter than me!  

From Portland, to Texas, to New York & Back

A week ago today my friend, Patty, and I were both finishing up last minute details in preparation for our trip to New York City.

Since Patty didn't want my son, Josh, to have to be driving us to the airport in the wee hours of Monday morning, it was decided that we'd spend Sunday night in a hotel.  Around 6pm, Josh dropped us off at the Portlander Inn, which is part of the Jubitz Truck Stop in Portland, Oregon.

The plan was to settle in, try to relax and get some rest for our trip the next day.  That was the plan, what happened, not so much.

We'd gotten special t-shirts made by Phil and Lyssa Davidson, of Davidson Specialty Printing, to wear when we met Taylor Swift; as well as one for Taylor.  I'd given Patty hers the previous Friday, so she had time to wash it first.  However, at the hotel Sunday, I'm looking at the two shirts that were the same size as Patty's and both said "I Met Taylor Swift...".   That wasn't right, one of them was supposed to say, "I M Taylor Swift...", which was the shirt for Taylor.

Come to find out, I'd given Patty the wrong shirt, and neither of us had noticed!  ACK!  Thank goodness we were staying at Jubitz; since it's like a little city all it's own.  We ended up taking two shirts, and Patty's jacket to the laundromat on site.   While the things were washing, we went for dinner at the Cascade Grill. Part way through dinner, time to put the stuff in the dryer.  Dinner done and time to retrieve the laundry; crisis solved!

During our ventures between our room, the laundromat and the restaurant, we'd been talking with the guy working the front desk of the hotel.  DeJuan Sanders is one of the nicest hotel staff members you'll ever meet!  Funny, and friendly, and interested in everything going on during his shift.

I hadn't originally planned on starting my post about our trip until we got to New York, however, after the t-shirt debacle, and meeting DeJuan, I decided the story should really start sooner.  I mean, we hadn't even left Portland and we'd already started an adventure in laundry!  The bright side?  I told Patty now she can tell everyone she's done Taylor Swift's laundry!

As far as the "getting a good night's sleep" goes; let's just say that was the intention.  Excitement however can cause good intentions to go out the window!  Needless to say, 3am came very early!  We did it though!  Got ready, got everything together, and hopped on the shuttle to the airport. Got to the airport, through security, and to the gate we needed; no problems...so far. 

Time to get on the plane; made it.  Time to take off; problem!  Seems there was something wrong with the fuel pump filling the plane with fuel, so we couldn't leave until it was fixed, and the plane was fueled up. That set us about 30 to 45 minutes behind schedule getting to the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, which presented problem number two. It was almost guaranteed we'd miss our connecting flight to New York.  Long story short, we did miss it; however we didn't know it until after the woman at the gate in Texas told us we "might" still be able to make the flight.  She sent us to the original gate we were supposed to have gone to.  Nope, not a chance; the woman at that gate was very apologetic, and said the other woman should have known the plane was already gone.  She felt bad for what had happened, especially since Patty is still walking with a cane a lot of the time; (due to fracturing her ankle in February).  The woman headed us in the right direction, explaining we had to ride the Skylink to get to the gate we needed.  Talk about a HUGE airport!  You know it's big when you have to ride a little train to get to your gate, and it's in the SAME terminal!  WOW!    We made it to our gate and on to the plane though, so another crisis avoided.

During this time, I had called Christine Drexel, from Big Machine Records, to let her know our flight was late.  Then it was just a matter of another plane ride, before we got to New York.  Thankfully the flight was uneventful.

Landed in New York, went to baggage claim, per earlier instructions, to find our ride to the hotel.  Lots of people holding signs; none that say "Big Machine".  Another call to Christine.  In the meantime, one of the other girls helping Christine, called, asked where we were, and said she'd come get us.  None of us had ever been to New York before, so that in itself was an adventure!  Another phone call, and letting each other know what the other was wearing and we did finally find each other and make it to the van!

On the ride to the hotel, everyone introduced themselves and where they were from.  Also found out that there were approximately one hundred contest winners that were coming into New York, and they all had to be picked up and taken to the hotel.  Christine and her team had been in New York since Saturday, getting everything set up and ready.

One of the funniest moments of that ride was when Lauren, (one of  the Big Machine interns), was talking with someone named John from Grand Avenue Transportation, (the company hired to pick up people for Big Machine).  The driver of our van asked her if the person she was talking to was John, something, (I don't remember), and Lauren said yes.  The driver then said, "tell him Bill pay says hi".  Lauren asked if he said "Tate"; no, "Pate"; no.  Turns out, this guy is a true New Yorker, with a thick accent!  While we all were trying to figure out this guy's last name, all he'd really been saying was "Bill P."!  It made everyone laugh, and the guy said he felt like he was driving the Clampetts around!  

Made it to the hotel finally, beautiful place; the Millenium on Broadway.  Get inside, set our stuff down, and go check in with Christine and another woman, Mandy, to get our instructions and wristbands for Tuesday.

That done, we get checked in to our room, and head for the 23rd floor.  Whether it was my warped sense of humor, lack of sleep, or both, upon entering the hotel room, I couldn't help but laugh.  Here we are on the 23rd floor of this deluxe hotel in the middle of Times Square; what's the first thing you see when you open the hotel room door?  The bathroom!  Seriously!  You almost walk right into it, unless you take an immediate right into the room instead!  Too funny!

Speaking of Times Square, Patty and I got settled in, then went exploring Times Square, to get a feel of where we wanted to go the next day, and to find food.  There's so much to see there!  The best way I came up with to describe Times Square is, it's like the Las Vegas strip, without the casinos.  Especially at night, everything is lit up.  Though I know it's definitely the place for "tourists", it's still a cool place!

 Found food, wandered around a bit, then headed back to the room for some sleep, since we had to be ready and in the lobby of the hotel at 5:15 the next morning.  Alas, still no solid sleep in sight; dang all the excitement anyway!

   Once again, up early, get ready, and head to the lobby.  5:30am, head the half  block over to the Good Morning America studios.  Stand in line with everyone else. Cross the street, go through security, go back across the street, wait.   Final okay, cross the street again, go through the entrance that's set up by the outdoor stage.  Stand in the massive crowd of people, all waiting for Taylor Swift.  Probably walked a good two blocks just crossing and recrossing the street!  Worth it though!
 

Before Taylor's actual performance on Good Morning America, she came out to do a sound check, and say hi to the crowd.  In between time it was just a lot of standing, waiting, and watching the Good Morning America crew do their job.  Over all, pretty interesting.

Once again though, Patty and I hadn't eaten, or drank anything before heading out.  Too early, and also, no way to use the restroom if needed; too compacted standing in the crowd!

Finally, it was time for Taylor to perform live on Good Morning America.  Over all, she performed three songs, and talked with the hosts of the show.  Since her spot was in the last segment,  once Taylor was done performing, she was taken back into the Good Morning America studio, and the crowd on the street was being dispersed.

Those of us with black "Taylor Swift" wristbands were told to stay where we were, while the rest of the crowd was cleared out.  We were then taken inside the Good Morning America studio where we were to meet Taylor.  Those in charge explained that Taylor was on vocal rest, except for performances and interviews; therefore she wasn't able to talk with anyone that day.   The person said Taylor really wanted to talk with everyone, but wasn't supposed to, so if she did try to talk, we were supposed to tell her to stop!

The actual meet and greet was very quick.  Each winner and their guest stepped up and had their photo taken with Taylor, then moved on.

There were no autographs that day, however Taylor had previously signed photos for everyone in Nashville.  Unfortunately the photos were left in Nashville, so everyone will be getting them mailed to their home instead.  Again though, little sleep, no food or drink, and five hours of standing outside...Definitely worth it!

Once the meet and greet was through, everyone was on their own for what they wanted to do until it was time to head home the next day.

For Patty and myself, we hit the nearest Starbucks first.  It also happened to be the Starbucks next to where the Good Morning America side door is.  We're in this tiny Starbucks, crowded with people on break, those of us just leaving the set, and a lot of teenage girls.  The teenage girls are all in one corner of the store, waiting to get a glimpse of Taylor as she's leaving.  It wasn't hard to tell when that moment came, since they all started screaming hysterically!

From the Starbucks, back to the hotel room, so Patty can get off her foot, and get some ice on her ankle.  Then to find food.  We'd splurged the night before, and gone to Ruby Tuesday's.  This time we decided to just go with Subway, which was directly across from our hotel; well at least the one you could eat at was!

It seems that some of us who had never been to New York before October, 2012, could be easily confused about Subways.  I mean, I'm a Pacific Northwestener, born and raised; you say "subway", I think "sandwich". 

So, I was a bit surprised when I saw a "Subway" sign and it was different than the ones back home.  Yet, there were also the "Subway" signs like I was used to.  Odd, but maybe it was a Times Square thing.  Maybe they had different signs for their stores in that area; with those on other streets being the usual type.  Yeah, that's what I was thinking; until I got a good look at one of the different "Subway" places.  Leave it to me to get the *actual* subway confused with "Subway" restaurants!  I plead too much excitement, and not enough sleep for my error.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Patty and I did experience both types of subway though.  After eating at Subway, we went to the New York City Visitor's Center, to find out how to get to Staten Island.  While there, we also wrote on scraps of tissue paper, and added them to the rest that others had written on.  All these scraps will become part of the 10,000 pounds of confetti that will float down on Times Square when it hits 2013.  It'll be cool to watch the ball drop, and know that somewhere my little scrap is out there.

After getting instructions how to get to the subway, and which train we needed, Patty and I headed off.  Found the station with no problem, waited for the train, got on and rode it to the last stop, so we could catch the Staten Island Ferry.

We'd both decided it was okay if we didn't actually go inside the Statue of Liberty; that if we got to see it, we'd be happy.  And that's what we did.  We took the ferry over to Staten Island, taking pictures of the statue along the way.

We then took some time wandering around the building at Staten Island, before getting on a ferry back to the subway.  Another "must see and do" crossed off our list!

With having such a short amount of time in New York City, we decided what we had to see, and what we'd have to skip.  The Statue of Liberty was at the top of that list.

When we got back to the Times Square area, we decided to explore a bit outside of it to see what we could see.  Saw some interesting things, like the Fox News Building, CBS studios, and the thing that made me the most excited; Radio City Music Hall!

I know a lot of people probably don't think it's a big deal; I've always thought it was a cool place though; with a lot of history, including the world famous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.  So when we found it by accident, I was happy!

A bit more wandering, then it was back to Times Square.

I've always been a big kid at heart, so there was no way I was going to miss three specific places in Times Square; M&M World, Hershey's and Toys R Us!  Yes, we made it to all three places, and had a lot of fun.  Patty and I even rode the ferris wheel at Toys R Us; very cool to do!

We were getting tired, and hungry by that time, so we decided to get something to eat and take it back to our room.  The whole time in New York, I kept remarking how sometimes Times Square smells just like a county fair.  Every corner has different food vendors, primarily hot dog stands.  We decided that was going to be our final thing to eat while in New York;  great idea, and bad at the same time.

Great idea, because you get a lot of food for the price. Bad idea, because now that we've had authentic New York hot dogs, all others will never be as good!  We still haven't figured out what made them so good, we just know they are!

With the majority of the excitement behind us, Patty and I finally got some good, solid sleep that night.  Then it was up, get ready, pack, and be in the hotel lobby by 11:15am for our ride to the airport.

Pretty much the same thing as leaving Portland for New York, without the fueling problem.  One difference was a plane I spotted sitting to the side of the runway at Laguardia.  I knew it had to be Donald Trump's private jet, so I took a picture of it, so I could look it up when I got home.

Sure enough, it is the Donald's, though it's his old one.  According to what I read, Trump upgraded to a newer jet.  This one is a 1968 model, and used to be run by American Airlines.  That explains why it was sitting on the tarmac where American Airlines flies from!

Fairly uneventful flights back, both from New York and Dallas/Fort Worth.  I did take a few pictures from the windows of the planes coming and going on our trip.  The last picture I took however was unintentional, yet, pretty well sums up how Patty and I were feeling after our whirlwind adventure.

It's funny, because I never really cared if I ever went to New York or not.  Now that I've been there though, I want to go back!  At least long enough to see the things we didn't get a chance to see this time!