Tabishland

Okay, I had to do it. We were taking publicity shots for the band last week and I made them do the Styx thing. Although I think we look more angry than serious. Except Dave, the drummer, on the right, who can't completely keep a smile off his face.

I suspect Big Brother has been reading the blog again. Did anyone see last Friday's New York Times? Under the headline "Road Trip: In the Land of Fallingwater and Flight 93," a writer describes ten destinations in western PA, finishing in Indiana at the Jimmy Stewart Museum: "For a straight shot of nostalgia (hold the ice)," she writes, "drive north from Johnstown on Route 56 to Stewart's eerily retro hometown..." So far, so good. It was when she mentioned a subculture of Styx look-alikes that I started to worry.

At the risk of looking foolish because maybe I'm the only one still here (but then: who cares? Nobody sees me but me anyway!) I heard a great song on the way to vacation and it occured to me, we did bad song lyrics but not good. So here it is , from the song "Searching for a Heart" by Warren Zevon:

They say love conquers all
You can't start it like a car
You can't stop it with a gun

Anyone else have lyrics they're particularly fond of?

I thought we could take advantage of Tim being out of town by endlessly giving him a hard time in his absense. You all remember the famous picture of Tim in Junior High Trapping Club - which he claimed he joined as an attempt to fit it - well, Ian, Nell, Ginger, and I found this lovely photo in another Junior High Yearbook. Yes, Fly Tying Club. Captions, anyone?

And who could ever forget Pino's six-month stint as the Bassist for Styx. Joe rocked then, he rocks now and will continue to rock into the future (although his rocking heretofore may be more intermittent).

what suprised me about this one was not so much the occasion, but I had no idea "W" was so tall. He looks so short and stumpy on TV.

Anyone hazard a guess as to what Mr. jenkins said to make the President laugh?

"I lived in Minnesota for 6 years. Everyone seemed nice. It was later that I discovered that midwesterners can disguise themselves for years waiting for the right moment to pounce. "-Ian

Goo Goo ka Joob!

Not only are most people from Indiana smart-asses (in my opinion) but it turns out their children are, too.

Sitting on the front porch a few evenings ago:

Mom: I love summer evenings. It reminds me of when I was a teen-ager.
Rhys: Oh, they had summer evenings back then?
Mom: Very funny.
Rhys: Of course, you probably had a lot of them, it being the dark ages.

Har har. For the two of you reading this, tell me: which Sendracian would you vote for as being the most sarcastic or sardonic? That was a category that was sorely missing from the Senior "best" thingies. What were those things called? I'm really losing it.

This could also count toward the title of the last post.

Enough cute kids. Four guys with lots of cigarettes sticking out of their faces.

Okay, I KNOW it's not midsummer. But we can dream, eh? Family Magee - Jeff, wife Gayle, children Ellen and Miles - stopped by briefly on their way to New York City.

Here they are, a fine looking family, eh? That's my dog Andrew to the left, saying, "Pst!! Hey! Adopt me, please? Please? These people are crazy. I'm not kidding. Take me with you."





Here we all are, except, of course, for Karl who always has to take the picture. This shot looks posed, but it wasn't, trust me. We were caught just standing like this. In fact, a few moments earlier, we were all leaning in towards Jeff.







In a tribute to Mealy, you guessed: "Swingin' High!"


Finally, here he is at last: the long-suffering Karl

All kidding aside ('cause really, Karl doesn't suffer much, trust me), we loved seeing Jeff and family and encourage all who are travelling through New Jersey to stop on by.

In one month, I turn 45. It occurs to me that many of you have reached this milestone and some are almost two years ahead of me of this one. It's coming soon, isn't it? This is weird. This, is something with which I don't feel comfortable (although I'm feeling more comfortable with going to great lengths to avoid dangling participles). I'm really clinging on to 40 and I don't want to trade it in for 50 yet.

I rememeber dreading turning 30 starting when I was about 27, but I looooved my thirties. Anyone have any wisdom to share? (Or at least mockery that will make me laugh about this and start worrying about REAL things like the manifold on my Jeep or if I've cut off too many dead vines on my tomato plant)

I found my 1979 yearbook this morning. I thought I'd share one of the photographic gems from 1979.

These two would show up randomly at assemblies at IASHS. Jeff, is there anything you can add about the creation of these two characters? Was there any sort of method approach to your presentation?

We started keeping track of hits two months ago today (11 days after starting the blog). To date, over 6000 hits from 28 countries. One could attribute this to a) the legend of DRT being more far reaching than any of us imagined, b) we're as entertaining as we always thought we were, c)a lot of people use the "Next Blog" randomizer.

Or maybe Roseann has her international posse driving up our numbers.

Making boys sweat since 1975.

It's called- put words into Hansmann's mouth. I like the sweater look in this picture so much that I thought we should invent a game around it. I'll go first.

Hansmann: "I'm not wearing any pants."

Smokin' lead guitar, bigger-than-Nugent banks of amps, pink spandex, nymphs cavorting in the verdant English countryside. Really, when does it get any betterthan this?

You gotta love a 70's style glam/hard rock band that can reference Proust or make a Frampton-esque video where they battle space squids with laser guitars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd__IJW3YZ0
(the video download is slow, but worth sticking it out, in my book.)

Singing horses. I like their lips.

I have a real love for bad song lyrics. Anyone care to share their choices? I have three that I love above all others:
"Your butt is mine" - Bad, Michael Jackson
"They headed down to, ooh, old el paso
Thats where they ran into a great big hassle" - Take the Money & Run- Steve Miller

and my all time favorite:

"There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago "- It's the most wonderful time of the year

Yeah, 'cause I know there's nothing that says Christmas more than a scary story about the zombie with a hook instead of an arm.

Share your favorites!

Data trumps Norm the nerd.

Oh...KAY. 1976 was not a very good year for some people. 1977 is the e-mann year, so we should have something for him. Disco is starting to really get into gear now....Rod Stewart has sold out...but there are still some alternatives. Howzabout it, folks? 1977:

1. Tonight's The Night, Rod Stewart
2. I Just Want To Be Your Everything, Andy Gibb
3. Best Of My Love, Emotions
4. Love Theme From "A Star Is Born", Barbra Streisand
5. Angel In Your Arms, Hot
6. I Like Dreamin', Kenny Nolan
7. Don't Leave Me This Way, Thelma Houston
8. (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher, Rita Coolidge
9. Undercover Angel, Alan O'Day
10. Torn Between Two Lovers, Mary MacGregor
11. I'm Your Boogie Man, K.C. and The Sunshine Band
12. Dancing Queen, Abba
13. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, Leo Sayer
14. Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffet
15. Telephone Line, Electric Light Orchestra
16. Whatcha Gonna Do?, Pablo Cruise
17. Do You Wanna Make Love, Peter McCann
18. Sir Duke, Stevie Wonder
19. Hotel California, Eagles
20. Got To Give It Up, Pt. 1, Marvin Gaye
21. Theme From "Rocky" (Gonna Fly Now), Bill Conti
22. Southern Nights, Glen Campbell
23. Rich Girl, Daryl Hall and John Oates
24. When I Need You, Leo Sayer
25. Hot Line, Sylvers

I love when writers of kids shows sneak in references kids will never get until they're 40. The legacy of the old Warner Brothers cartoons. Miranda and I were watching Kim Possible tonight and this particular episode is chock full of really funny stuff. The best gag though, is a secondary story involving a "Heather-esque" cheerleader named Bonny. Kim's sidekick Ron keeps referring to this as "The Bonny Situation" and "The Bonny Problem". If that's not ringing a bell, you need to take a look at PULP FICTION - the "Bonny Situation" is the section with where they're trying to clean the really messy dead guy out of the car before Quentin Tarentino's character's wife Bonny gets home from the hospital. The fact that it's in a Disney cartoon makes it even funnier.

Sorry, I had to share it with someone. Back to the regularly scheduled blogging....

"Romper, bomper, stomper boo. Tell me, tell me, tell me, do. Magic mirror, tell me today. Have all my friends been good at play?" Those of us, who grew up in Indiana from infant-hood, were scared whenever Miss Patty didn't see us in her magic mirror. We then went out and had a white elephant sale for Muscular Dystrophy, so maybe Paul Shannon would mention us on Adventure Time. (I think the kid in red was Jacob Creps)

Okay, simple question. Top 25 songs from 1976, then we'll do the years after. Which is your most favorite, least favorite, and which do you not remember AT ALL?

1. Silly Love Songs, Paul McCartney and Wings
2. Don't Go Breaking My Heart, Elton John and Kiki Dee
3. Disco Lady, Johnnie Taylor
4. December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night), Four Seasons
5. Play That Funky Music, Wild Cherry
6. Kiss And Say Goodbye, Manhattans
7. Love Machine (Part 1), The Miracles
8. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, Paul Simon
9. Love Is Alive, Gary Wright
10. A Fifth Of Beethoven, Walter Murphy and The Big Apple Band
11. Sara Smile, Daryl Hall and John Oates
12. Afternoon Delight, Starland Vocal Band
13. I Write The Songs, Barry Manilow
14. Fly, Robin, Fly, Silver Convention
15. Love Hangover, Diana Ross
16. Get Close, Seals and Crofts
17. More, More, More, Andrea True Connection
18. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen
19. Misty Blue, Dorothy Moore
20. Boogie Fever, Sylvers
21. I'd Really Love To See You Tonight, England Dan and John Ford Coley
22. You Sexy Thing, Hot Chocolate
23. Love Hurts, Nazareth
24. Get Up And Boogie, Silver Convention
25. Take It To The Limit, Eagles

Sounds like an oxymoron, yes? If you know where to look, there can be some real delights out there. Ian nudged me to offer a list in a comment on a recent post. Rather than bury it there, I thought I'd just create a new post so you can find and read this easily. Here are a few I enjoy on the high-speed connection in my office cubicle. These all offer free listening:

WYEP, Pittsburgh
WFUV, New York
WFPK, Louisville
KEXP, Seattle
BBC 6 Radio
This last one is truly amazing as it is soooo professional AND non-commercial. Some of you may even have LPs or CDs by one of the DJs - Tom Robinson hosts a great segment each day. The six hour time difference can throw you, but it's pretty cool stuff.

College radio:
WWVU, Morgantown
I am really spoiled as this is set in my car. DJs may be shaky but they deliver the new tunes that may blow-up big a few months from now. It's naot all the latest stuff. They mix in three to four cuts and hour of tunes that go back to the mid-80's. A few times a year, I sit in and spin my faves for a few hours AND I get to break format! WoooHooo!
WARC, Meadville
I gotta include my alma mater. This is old-style free-form radio. Right now I think a computer is picking the tunes as it is summer on this 2000-person campus. DJs are a bit rough, but they play most anything. It could go from trance to Dead to punk in three songs. It can be a real adventure. I returned last fall and did four hours on a Saturday morning. I was on an adrenaline high the whole time as this is where I started with my first radio shift in Janury 1980.

One other option to check is Pandora Internet Radio. You can customize your own personal stations by keying in bands you like. Pandora scans their extensive databse of tagged music to find matches then lines them up to play. You can boot a tune if it doesn't fit and Pandora fine-tunes the picks. Kinda neat.

Feel free to add your own recommendations in the comments. It's a big world out there.

Having gotten interested in the sociology of blogging, I've been poking around the internet tonight. Some have described this phenomenon as a "playground for the opinion-elites". Many are waiting to see what influence the blogosphere has on the Conn. Senate election. But the most fascinating thing I found was this site. Not being a comic fan, it's stunning how detailed and intense this thing is. Puts the Star Trek and Tull stuff to shame.
(The link, of course, is in the title.)

Enough with the import record bin. See what you think of the link in the title.
Have a nice day ;)

This old chestnut has been making the rounds for quite a while, but it assumes a certain degree of poignancy when you're a native Pittsburgher living alone in downtown Chicago. I've made a few refinements, based on personal experience. Thanks to my former Dec Pro editor Lou Pilla for jogging my memory. And my apologies to those of you who don't get all the references.

You know you're from western Pennsylvania when:

The first day of buck season is a school holiday.

There are only three spices: salt, pepper and Heinz ketchup.

You have gum bands on your desk.

Driving is easier in winter because the potholes are filled with snow, even though the roads are slippy.

Words like hoagie, crick and pop actually mean something to you.

The phrase "fire hall wedding reception" is redundant.

You constantly refer to Pennsylvania as Pee-Ay.

You know where Blue Ball, Intercourse, Climax, Bird-in-hand, Beaver, Moon, Virginville, Paradise, Mars, Wall and Slippery Rock are, or at least you've heard of them.

You remember that there was no Winky's in Wilmerding from the ads on the Groovy QV.

You know several people who have hit deer more than once.

You often switch from heat to AC in the same day.

You routinely eat cold pizza for breakfast and know others who do the same.

You know what Reymer's Lemon Blennd is.

You've never seen a Walgreens in your life.

You immediately check your fly when told that "Kennywood's open."

The only place to get real jumbo, chipped ham and Klondikes was at Isaly's.

Your childhood dream was to cross the bridge with Ricki and Copper. Barring that, you wanted to meet Nosmo King or Rodney and Knish.

The experts call it North Midland U.S. English, but you know it's Pittsburghese.

You know city chicken contains no chicken.

If Shakespeare had been from Pittsburgh, Hamlet's soliloquy would have been "Or not."

You know what a State Store is.

Your waitress offers to redd up your table and hotten your coffee for yinz without axing her because she's being nebby.

You knew what a jagoff was before Dennis Miller made the term mainstream.

Your town has a Kerneggy liberry.

Duquesne is "du-Kane", but DuBois is "Doo-boys" and North Versailles is North "verSells."

You liked Josie Carey more than Mr. Rogers.

You consider Rolling Rock to be a second-rate beer from an obscure brewery. The only good thing in Latrobe is the Stillers Training Camp. Real men drink Arn.

You know "Casey" is Pennsylvanian for "Kennedy".

New Yorkers go to the Hamptons. Pittsburghers go to Tionesta.

There is a great little music fest over Labor Day weekend in Johnstown, PA. My wife and I attended for a day back in 2004 and had a wonderful time. The fact that I got to see amazing blues-folkie Chris Smither on a small stage in a parking lot under the stars was the best part of all. Since Labor Day is just a few weeks off, I thought I'd send an alert for those who enjoy blues, folk, zydeco and other non-mainstream forms of music. The admission is an amazingly low price - FREE! The post title is a link to the fesival site with loads of info on performers, parking, food and Johnstown.

Just across the river from the festival site is the Johnstown Flood Museum. I paid my first visit there a couple of years ago and was amazed at the presentation. It's gripping stuff, even if you did help dig out after the Johnstown flood of 1977. Be sure to catch the movie on the flood that was done in the early 1980's. I think Ian, Joe, and Chip are in the movie, but I did not recognize them. Was Mr Tabish in this? I think I saw someone who looked like him, but can't recall now. I did recognize a few IUP theatre people.

In any event, since a couple of yunz are in Indiana and a few others aren't too far away, you may want to check out the Johnstown FolkFest on Labor Day weekend.

You know, Tim is the one that's always crying conspiracy. Maybe it's all just a smoke screen. Tim, can you explain this picture of Ricky Wertz with a very young...who could it be? Perhaps someone receiving the answers to a future Jr. High Quiz broadcast? Has anyone seen the film Quiz Show? A son trying to live up to his Father's example? Mmmmm.

Has anyone noticed how Tim is suddenly absent a lot from the Blog and Gracie is suddenly around alot? Is Tim Gracie? Is Grace Timmie? What are they up to? Has anyone seen them in the same place at the same time?

This is an awesome song.