Childhood Memories – Country Roads

6 Jan

When I was a kid, there was a restaurant on the outskirts of town called El Rancho. Everyone went for the barbecue, but I wanted to go for a couple of other things. I loved their french fries and was fascinated by the little jukeboxes on the tables. Flipping the silver tags to scan the pages of the songs, I pleaded with my parents to let me drop in a nickel.Jukebox

They always relented, and I always played “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver.

I am not sure if I sang, but I knew all of the words.

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains
Shenandoah River –
Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Growin’ like a breeze

Country Roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

All my memories gathered ’round her
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine
Teardrops in my eye

Country Roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

I hear her voice
In the mornin’ hour she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
And drivin’ down the road I get a feelin’
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Country Roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

Country Roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads
Take me home, now country roads
Take me home, now country roads

There were a bunch of things about the song that I liked. The guitar part was cool. The words made me visualize going down a country road, and country roads were a big part of my life. My dad’s family lived in the country, and we had to go down small, winding roads to get to them.

When we were not going to see my dad’s family, we were taking my mom’s parents on Sunday drives through the country. The highlight was always stopping at an old store to get a Coke and a snack. I remember people sitting on their front porches and my dad waving at all of them as we went by.

John Denver’s song hit home for me. It wasn’t until later that I realized that the song was wrong. While there are plenty of country roads in West Virginia, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah River don’t go into it all that much. It seems that a guy that took his name from a city would know something about geography.

Concerts of Interest

4 Jan

I have written a lot about concerts, so you can probably tell that I am a concert-going freak. I will see just about anybody perform. Some of the shows were great. Some of the shows were not as great. Many of them have been forgotten. However, a few have stood out because I found them different and interesting.

Undoubtedly, Luciano Pavarotti provided the most interesting concert experience. He was past his prime, but his power and talent could be felt throughout the arena. I have no idea how someone got him to perform in Nashville, but I feel privileged to have heard one of the Three Tenors.Luciano Pavarotti

Seeing Dave Brubeck play at the Ryman Auditorium was also a privilege. I wanted to hear his most famous work, “Take Five”, but I came away with more than hearing one popular Jazz number. I spent the evening mesmerized by a legend who turned a Country music shrine into something completely different.Dave Brubeck

Speaking of Country music, I have seen Willie Nelson several times, but the most interesting took place in a minor league baseball stadium. He and Bob Dylan toured stadiums throughout the country and had their stage positioned behind second base. People packed the infield as the two legends played throughout the night. It was interesting, but I kept thinking that the show going on backstage was probably more interesting.Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan

Dudley Moore came to Nashville many years ago to play a Valentine’s Day show with the Nashville Symphony. He was a great comedian, but he was also a classical pianist. What do you think he played? If you guessed “Bolero”, then you would be correct.Dudley Moore

I saw Leonard Cohen because I wanted to hear “Hallelujah”. I heard “Hallelujah” and a few more songs that I recognized. Actually, one is sung by Don Henley on my iPod. There were several aspects of this concert that I found interesting. First, those that love Leonard Cohen really love Leonard Cohen. Second, those who don’t, like my date who feel asleep on my shoulder, really don’t. Third, he came out for encore after encore. It had to be some kind of a record. I wouldn’t know because we left after about four of them.Leonard Cohen

Charlie Daniels lives in my county and can be seen hanging around all of the time. His concert was interesting because I watched it from backstage. My friend worked for him and invited me along to sit how a concert works from the other side. I met Daniels around the buffet table, and we talked about people that we both knew. I remember that he had a hard time getting around, and  wondered how he was going to perform. That question was answered as soon as he got in view of the audience. He ran, jumped, and played. When the show was over, he went back to moving around slowly.Charlie Daniels

There have been many interesting concerts, but the last one I will write about was a live performance by a dead guy, Elvis Presley. I went to Elvis Week on the 30th anniversary of his death and attended the reunion concert. The original band and backup singers performed on stage while a video image of Elvis sang along with them. The sold out show was better than 90% of those I have seen with living people. However, the audience reaction was the interesting part. People were crying, shrieking and screaming like he was really there. I saw the living Elvis when I was a kid and remember that audience acting the same way. ELVIS LIVES!!!Elvis in Concert

If I see more interesting concerts, then I will let you know.

Movie Wisdom – Don Johnson Edition

3 Jan

Occasionally, I delve into movies to find lessons to live by. There have been examinations of movies by Burt Reynolds, Don Knotts, Kevin Costner, Paul Newman and George Peppard. This post will look at the worldly wisdom that can be found in the movies of Don Johnson. Wait, that’s not right. It will look at the worldly wisdom of one movie starring Don Johnson, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man.Marlboro Man

The movie was released in 1991 but had the 1980s written all over it. Don Johnson (Marlboro Man), and Mickey Rourke (Harley Davidson) are buddies on motorcycles in the future of 1996. An evil banker – bankers have been used as villains throughout the generations – is foreclosing on their favorite bar. To fight back, they rob the bank’s armored car to get the funds to pay off the bar’s note.

It turns out that the banker is also a drug dealer, and they rob the wrong cargo. Along the way, the get girls, get shot and get most of their friends killed. Some of these friends have product names like Virginia Slim, Jack  Daniels, and Jose Cuervo.

I must admit that it is one of my favorite movies, and I watch each time it shows up on the Direct TV guide. It’s not the best movie ever. It may even be one of the worst. But, it’s cool. It has Big John Studd, a professional wrestler; it has two of the hottest women of the 1980s, Vanessa Williams and Tia Carrere; and, it has Marlboro quoting stuff that his old man used to say.

My old man told me, before he left this shitty world, never chase buses or women, you’ll always be left behind.

My old man told me, before he left this shitty world, the right woman can make ya, and the wrong woman can break ya.

My old man used to tell me before he left this shitty world, five rules of playing pool for cash. Lesson #1, always shoot with a cigarette in your mouth. Lesson #2, always know the table before you shoot. Lesson #3, make sure you chalk that stick… real good… before each shot! Lesson #4, never make a bet… if you can’t pay the debt. Lesson #5, if you lose, make sure you stand up straight and tall like a man.

There it is – wisdom according to one of the best 80s movies made in the 90s.

Miracle at South Bend

2 Jan

While reading this blog, some of you may have realized that I am a fan of the University of Tennessee. However, I am not just a fan. I am a fanatic. As a certified fanatic, I have been lucky enough to attend numerous football games throughout the country. I don’t know how many games I have attended. The best way to describe it is to say that if there has been a game played over the past 38 years, then chances are good that I was there.

Bunches of games have been forgotten, but a few, both wins and losses, stand out. One of those is the 1991 game against Notre Dame. It has gone down in Tennessee history as the Miracle at South Bend. Tennessee fans throughout the nation remember that game and have a story that goes along with it. However, my story is a little more supernatural.

My brother and I took an RV with some people that we did business with. The trip northward was filled with food, drink, laughter and anticipation. Notre Dame, coached by Lou Holtz, came into the game with an 8-1 record, while Tennessee stood at 5-2. It was the 300th game to be played in storied Notre Dame Stadium and was Senior Day for players like Jerome Bettis.

We arrived in South Bend to find temperatures in the single digits and snow spitting from the sky. Most of our group, including my brother, wanted to hang around the RV and tailgate. I remember one of our crew wearing a short-sleeve shirt, thin khakis, loafers without socks and a windbreaker. He should have been cold, but I’m sure that he wasn’t.

I didn’t want to tailgate. I had never been to Notre Dame and wanted to walk around the historic campus. There was Touchdown Jesus.

After the last field goal attempt, he was crossing his arms.

After the last field goal attempt, he was crossing his arms.

There was the grotto.

It's a beautiful place.

It’s a beautiful place.

Of course, there was the stadium.

It was filled with people when I was there.

It was filled with people when I was there.

I walked into the stadium as soon as the gates opened and found my seat in the end zone. There was an old man sitting in the seat next to mind, but I was too busy taking in the scene to say anything to him. Finally, he spoke and said:

“What part of Tennessee are you from?”

“I live close to Nashville. Do you live close by?”

“You could say that. How do you feel about the game?”

“I don’t feel very good about it.”

He smiled slightly and said:

“Don’t worry. Your team is going to win 35-34.”

That’s the last thing we said to each other. As game time approached, more people filled the seats, and my brother showed up. Then, the game began. At least, it began for Notre Dame. They ran and ran and ran. Up and down the field they went. With the first half coming to a close, Notre Dame was up 31-7 and was lining up for a field goal. My brother said that if something dramatic didn’t happen, then he was going back to the RV.

Something dramatic happened. Craig Hentrich, who would later punt for the Tennessee Titans, had his field goal blocked and Tennessee returned it for a touchdown. Everybody went crazy, but the man next to me never moved. Throughout the game, he never stood. He never talked. He never did anything but watch.

At the half, Notre Dame led 31-14, and my brother did not go back to the RV. It’s a goog thing because the second half belonged to Tennessee. They gradually cut into the lead, and, for some reason, Holtz abandoned the run and started throwing. Tennessee crept closer and closer. Coming toward our end zone, Tennessee scored to go up 35-34. I remembered what the man had said and turn to tell him that he was a genius, but he never looked at me.

Notre Dame got the ball and went back to the run. They should have been doing it all day because they drove straight down the field. With a few seconds left, they lined up for a short field goal to win. However, Notre Dame had a problem. Hentrich had been injured on the earlier field goal, and the backup kicker had to come in.

The snap. The hold. The kick. One of our guys flew in, and the ball hit him in the hip. The ball kept going but was wide left. Tennessee fans went crazy. We were jumping, hugging, giving out high fives. Tennessee won 35-34, just like the man said we would. I turned to hug him, but he was gone. The man had vanished into thin air.

Then, my brother was pulling at me. As the Notre Dame band played, Tennessee fans were storming the field. We had to go with them. We hugged players, coaches and other players wearing orange. We mingled with the band and Notre Dame players. We grabbed grass to keep as a souvenir.

It was the greatest ever comeback against Notre Dame. It was one of the greatest wins in Tennessee history. It was a game that made me wonder. Who was that guy? How did he know what the score would be? How did he suddenly disappear? I have always heard that there are ghosts in the stadium at Notre Dame, and I am convinced that I met one of them.

How I Spent the End of the World

22 Dec

Ok, the world survived. Never mind that the world was not going to end, and the Mayans never said that it was. The Internet, pop culture, social media, and people in general took something (the Mayan calendar) that they didn’t understand and made something out of it that it never was. Shocking, I know. That never happens in modern times.

Some people prepared for the end that never came. Others joked about it. Some people had clever things to say on Twitter and Facebook. I spent 12/21/12 doing the following.

I was awake at midnight surfing the Internet and playing Slingo on my iPhone.

This is the guy that's going to cause the end of the world.

This is the guy that’s going to cause the end of the world.

In essence, I was succumbing to the same addictions that I succumb to every night.

I woke up to find the sun shining and the wind howling. In other words, it looked warm outside, but it was actually cold.

I took a shower, got dressed and did the only thing to prepare for the end of the world. I put on the t-shirt with “12.21.12.” printed on the front. In case it happened, I wanted everyone to know that I knew it was coming.

Once I was prepared for the day, I met the usual folks for our weekly Friday lunch at Gondola, the local Italian restaurant that is owned by Koreans.

I could only find a picture of the Gondola sign. I wonder if that is a sign of the apocalypse.

I could only find a picture of the Gondola sign. I wonder if that is a sign of the apocalypse.

We talked about sports, local politics, national politics and the end of the world. The end of the world part went something like this.

One of Them: When did the Mayans go extinct?

Me: They didn’t go extinct. They still exist. In fact, I read an interview with a few of them on CNN.

One of Them: You mean the Spanish didn’t kill them?

Me: No, the Europeans did not kill all of the Native Americans.

One of Them: I thought they killed all of the Indians.

Somewhere along the way, I changed the subject.

After lunch, I went to my parents because their phone lines had been knocked out. It was that howling wind that I mentioned earlier. It knocked lines down everywhere. Unfortunately, it also knocked out their Internet, which is almost like the end of the world.

After that, I sold 6 tickets and a parking pass for the Music City Bowl. Vanderbilt is playing in the bowl this year, which means that Vandy made a bowl game two years in a row. That’s a first for them and is a sign of the apocalypse if there ever was one.

Let’s see. Then, I bought one last Christmas gift before meeting my friends to go to a University of Tennessee basketball game.

They play here. It doesn't look like a Mayan pyramid, but it's a pretty good place to watch a game.

They play here. It doesn’t look like a Mayan pyramid, but it’s a pretty good place to watch a game.

We made the trip to Knoxville and got there just before tip-off. It was a victory by the Big Orange over Western Carolina.

We made it back safely. Now, I am writing this end of the world post while still wearing my end of the world t-shirt.

Choices

18 Dec

My nephew is home from his first semester of college, and we decided that tonight would be a good time to get together. The question was – what to do?

Our first choice was to watch Monday Night Football.

Are you ready for some football? Not really.

Are you ready for some football? Not really.

I don’t mean watch it on television. I mean watch it at the stadium. Tonight’s game was our Tennessee Titans against the New York Jets. Both teams suck, so we went with another option.

That option included a meeting of the Agriculture Center Management Committee. This is government at its highest level as we discussed putting in a bid for a championship rodeo. The presentation went on and on until I finally asked if we needed to vote on this. My comment included something about how we had been talking about it for 45 minutes. It was time to vote.

As soon as it passed, my nephew and I left. On the way out, he said that we didn’t follow parliamentary procedure and could have taken the vote about 40 minutes sooner. Look, if it takes that long for a county level committee to decide something, then think about all of the crap that goes on in Washington. It’s a wonder that anything gets done. Maybe, we would be better off if it didn’t.

After the meeting, we went to an Asian restaurant for fried rice and sweet and sour chicken.

I wonder if they really eat this stuff in China.

I wonder if they really eat this stuff in China.

Once dinner was devoured, we saw “The Hobbit”. My nephew has not seen the original trilogy, and I wondered if that would make a difference. It didn’t. He kept talking about how cool the special effects were and asking how long the movie was going to last. It did last a long time. They spent a lot of time talking in the middle of spending a lot of time fighting.

I won’t spoil the movie for those who haven’t seen it or read the book, but a few things stood out. First, no matter the situation there is always a magical or miraculous way out. Second, Gandalf seems to want people to struggle.

You must struggle before I save you.

You must struggle before I save you.

With a little magic, he could make things a lot easier. Of course, that’s the way it is with all magic stories. It is a struggle throughout but turns out to be simple in the end.

After the movie, I told my nephew that he should watch the trilogy. His first question, “Is Dumbledore in them?” I told him that Gandalf cam before Dumbledore and that Dumbledore was probably some kind of copy. I ended my little speech with, “Yes, Dumbledore is in them.”

History from the Past

17 Dec

As a historian, it is imperative that I stay up to date on the latest scholarship. However, I also find it interesting to read what earlier historians wrote. Several years ago, I was in a bookstore that specializes in older publications and found Our First Century: Being a Popular Descriptive Portraiture of the One Hundred Great and Memorable Events of Perpetual Interest in the History of Our Country, Political, Military, Mechanical, Social, Scientific and Commercial: Embracing also Delineations of All the Great Historic Characters Celebrated in the Annals of the Republic; Men of Heroism, Statesmanship, Genius, Oratory, Adventure and Philanthropy by R. M. Devens.

Our First Century

Man, they really knew how to title a book in those days. In short, the book, published in 1879, chronicles the first hundred years of United States history. My favorite part of the title is “the One Hundred Great and Memorable Events” in our nation’s history. What did historians in 1879 think was important? I have read different passages of the book and have been surprised by some of the choices. These are some of the more interesting chapter titles.

“Appointment of the First Minister Plenipotentiary, from the New Republic to the English Court” – an entire chapter about John Adams meeting King George. Interestingly, there is just as much about this as the Articles of Confederation, our first government.

Did he cut his hair before meeting the king?

Did he cut his hair before meeting the king?

“Greatest Defeat and Victory of American Arms in the Indian Wars” – one section of this chapter is called “Death Knell of the Savages”.

“Death of George Washington” – an important event but one that is not covered much today. I believe that the life of a person is more important than their death, unless their death affects history directly.

I have always heard that he was bled to death.

I have always heard that he was bled to death.

“Total Solar Eclipse at Mid-Day” – which I am sure was important on that day, but I am not sure why it would be included in a book about the history of an entire nation.

“Career, Capture, and Execution of Gibbs, the Most Noted Pirate of the Century” – a pirate that I have never heard of, but he most have been a bad ass.

No parrot? No patch? He was a pirate?

No parrot? No patch? He was a pirate?

“Sublime Meteoric Shower All Over the United States” – is something else that past historians found important but may be fading into history now.

“Expected Destruction of the World” – is something I cover in class. William Miller predicted the end of the world in the 1840s. It didn’t happen. Here’s some advice. If you start your own religion and want to predict the end of the world, then predict it to happen a long time in the future. When it doesn’t happen, you won’t be around to take the heat.

He miscalcelated slightly.

He miscalculated slightly.

“Invention of that Wondrous Piece of Mechanism, the Sewing Machine” – a lot of fingers were happy about this.

“Expedition to the River Jordan and the Dead Sea, by Lieut. W. F. Lynch” – was it important? I don’t know.

“Murder of Dr. George Parkman, a Noted Millionaire of Boston, by Prof. John W. Webster, of Harvard College” – Dead Certainties: Unwarranted Speculations is a great book about this event and the profession of history.

“Brilliant Musical Tour of Jenny Lind, the “Swedish Nightingale” – Who was Jenny Lind, and did she sound like a nightingale?

Later, Little Richard would sing a song about her.

Later, Little Richard would sing a song about her.

“Appearance of the Marine Monster Known as the Sea-Serpent, Along the Atlantic Coast” – already looking for monsters in 1851. Bigfoot would be proud.

“Unrivaled Performance by Paul Morphy, the American Chess Champion” – eat your heart out, Bobby Fischer.

His home is now Brennan's, a great New Orleans restaurant. Now, that's important.

His home is now Brennan’s, a great New Orleans restaurant. Now, that’s important.

“Astonishing Feats of Horse-Taming Performed by Mr. John S. Rarey” – sometime between the firing on Fort Sumter and the Battle at Bull Run, the horse whisperer showed up.

He's no Robert Redford.

He’s no Robert Redford.

Are these important? I reckon everything that has happened in the past is important.

Serbian Underwear, Choking on Quail, and Dreaming About Nikola Tesla

12 Dec

Once again, it is time to check in with Inspiro, the app that creates scenarios by throwing out random phrases. It is supposed to help with writer’s block, but it often comes up with nonsensical combinations that would be difficult to fit into a story. Usually, I pick a few weird phrases and comment on them. This time, I am going to Google the phrases and see what images appear.

From “Muse”, we have:

Mongolian skywriting in the daytime

Put the smoke on the falcon and let her rip.

Put the smoke on the falcon and let her rip.

Serbian underwear for lunch

Edible underwear, I guess.

Edible underwear, I guess.

Norwegian harmonicas with Bela Bartok

I don't know if it's Norwegian, but there is an actual harmonica album of Bartok's music.

I don’t know if it’s Norwegian, but there is an actual harmonica album of Bartok’s music.

Over in “Scenarios”, there is:

a blonde sitting on an ox

Hey, what's that thing on your back?

Hey, what’s that thing on your back?

a quail choking a gangster

I got him right where I want him.

I got him right where I want him.

your co-worker walking toward a bull

And doing this.

And doing this.

“The Daydream Machine” has come up with:

Satan is probably dodging bullets with a fallen angel.

I really didn't think it would end up being him.

I really didn’t think it would end up being him.

The unknown is easier than facts.

Let's do it the hard way.

Let’s do it the hard way.

Dreaming contains traces of Nikola Tesla.

I've never dreamed about him, but I think Christopher Nolan did once. Or, was that David Bowie?

I’ve never dreamed about him, but I think Christopher Nolan did once. Or, was that David Bowie?

Finally, It’s Finals Week

11 Dec

Exams started today, and there is always a different feeling during finals week. Part of it is due to the change in schedule. Everyone, both teachers and students, have been operating under one schedule for a few months, and, suddenly, it has been altered. If a class met at 8, then the final is at 9. If a class met at 12:30, then the final is a 1. Sometimes, I think it would be better if the schedule stayed the same. People get into a routine, and a change in that routine can affect how they function.

I notice the schedule change as soon as I pull into the parking lot. When I arrive in the morning, it is empty. When I return from lunch, it is full. During exam week, it is half full. It may sound crazy, but a lot can be learned about a school by studying the cars in the parking lot.

This is the coolest parking lot picture I could find.

This is the coolest parking lot picture I could find.

Maybe, I will write a post about that one day.

The different feel can also be felt while walking into the building. During finals week, Student Life provides donuts for the students. It doesn’t take long for the table in the lobby to be filled with empty boxes rather than boxes full of donuts.

This looks about right.

This looks about right.

However, the schedule, parking lot and donuts are only part of the change on campus. The real change can’t be found in a physical form. It is in the air. It is in the mannerisms of the students and the teachers. It is a sense of finality and pressure.

I was going to use a picture of Queen and David Bowie but was afraid some people might not understand it.

I was going to use a picture of Queen and David Bowie but was afraid some people might not understand it.

Throughout the semester, students know that there is always another chance. Make a bad grade on the first test, and it can be made up on other tests. Mess up on an assignment, and other assignment grades can pull it up. Bomb the exam, and there is nothing else that can be done.

It’s like a field goal at the end of a football game. Make the winning kick, and everyone talks about how clutch it was. Miss the winning kick, and everyone talks about choking. No one notices all of the plays that brought the game to that point.

This is the coolest picture of a field goal that I could find.

This is the coolest picture of a field goal that I could find.

When people see that final test grade, they automatically think that the exam was make or break. In reality, all of those other grades contributed to the final tally. Sometimes, I think if people realized that, then the pressure of the final would not be as powerful.

The students are not the only ones who feel the pressure. Teachers have to grade the tests; turn in completed grades to the registrar; and, prepare for the emails from students wondering why they got a C when they knew that they were going to get an A.

Today, I gave one test and spent a long while getting it graded. I haven’t turned the grades in to the registrar because a student was confused by the schedule and missed the test. He will take it tomorrow while I am giving another exam. When he takes the exam, I will turn the grades in for that class. Once those are sent, I will start grading the exam that I am giving tomorrow. When I am finished, I will check my email inbox to explain to people why they made the grade that they did.

During this explanation, I will help them understand that I did not give them that grade. Simply, I calculated the grades that they earned.

Yes, final exams week is different.

My iPod Has Issues – The Top 25

10 Dec

iPod’s have all kinds of lists, and one of them is the “Top 25 Most Played”. This could mean a few things. These are the ones that I like the best and tend to play over and over. Or, some of them are dialogue samples that are really short (which have been omitted and made the Top 25 more like the Top 19). Or, these entries have offered payola to the iPod shuffler to get more airtime.

If payola can get Alan Freed, then it can get anybody.

If payola can get Alan Freed, then it can get anybody.

Either way, here is the “Top 25 Most Played” on my iPod.

“Way Down Under” by Charles Bernstein

“Across 110th Street” by Bobby Womack

“For a Little While” by Bobby Goldsboro

“Father Ramirez” by Ennio Morricone

“Arriving in Deadwood” by Michael Brook

“Numb” by Linkin Park

“Alone Again” by Dokken

“A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum

“Ballad of Gator McCluskey” by Jerry Reed

“Running Like the Wind” by The Marshall Tucker Band

“New Dawn Fades” by Moby

“Sons and Daughters” by The Neville Brothers

“Take You Back” by Valentine

“Anvil of Grom” by Basil Poledouris

“Wasted Time” by The Eagles

“Early Morning Rain” by Elvis Presley

“Still…You Turn Me On” by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

“Ecstasy of Gold” by Ennio Morricone

“In My Life” by Jose Feliciano