John Mayer made me do it.

(In honor of the new CD release, here is something I wrote a few months back.)

I think John Mayer is responsible for my entire relationship. Judge if you will, but before you do, listen to a live set and tell me you don’t think he is talented if not brilliant. It was 2001 and Napster was still illegal and we used the hell out of it. The first week of college was a contest between the four roommates to see who could download the most songs/movies and graphic pictures as possible. (Congrats go to Randy Clark, sorry to put you on blast but I was just so darn proud of you.) Within the first week of dating, Jessica brought over a burned CD of live John Mayer songs and said she thought I might enjoy. We sat in separate chairs holding hands in no way touching inappropriately and started listening. I was already a huge fan of singer songwriters and admittedly struggled at first with Mayer’s breathy tone but enjoyed the lyrics and the guitar. By the end of the CD we were engaged. (Don’t take that the wrong way, sickos.)

It became a regular staple in the truck CD player (before Ipods. Well, before I had an Ipod) and in the dorm. We knew all the words and couldn’t wait to see him in concert. Our first out of town trip together was to Kansas City to see John Mayer and Guster. We made it a group outing and hopped in my best friends Durango without tickets and headed to KC. Mayer hadn’t hit the national spotlight just yet and you could tell by the semi-small crowd gathered in the City Market. City Market is a lovely outdoor venue in the heart of KC surrounded by restaurants and shops and as the name says is a huge farmers market. We arrived on site and began looking for free tickets. A radio station was set up out front and as it turns out if you are a fifteen year old girl with jean shorts and a tank top with any degree of glitter, you get a much better response from obese radio disc jockeys. Sure we failed, but worse case scenario, we stand outside or in one of the bars and get to hear the concert right? Not us my friend.

We found a major flaw in the hand-stamp-gate-pass set up for the show. All we had to do was walk in the front of a bar that had access to the inside of the City Market square, rub a stamp on our hand from somebody already in the concert area and walk back out and around. This worked to perfection.

I am aware that at this point in the story we have stolen illegal music online and failed to pay for a concert ticket, sorry John. It was completely worth the little work it took to beat the system. As the sun faded away, a muggy evening broke way to a cool breezy night of all the songs we had grown to love. In an added bonus they were shooting the live segments for the “Your Body is a Wonderland” music video. We walked away life long fans. For all of those artists out there that think that pirated music is hurting your pocket books I should let it be known that we have purchased each and every John Mayer album and DVD since, not to mention T-shirts and concert tickets to 6 more shows over these last 8 years of our marriage. One special concert was the central focus of our brief honeymoon to Chicago in June of 2003.

After having an enormous wedding (300+ people, and we knew most of them) and both still enrolled in college we knew we couldn’t do something to big and elaborate. It was then that I started looking for a concert we could attend within reach of Tulsa, OK. Neither of us had ever been to Chicago and a short 12 hour drive seemed perfect. As soon as I purchased the tickets I began researching online about contacts surrounding John and his team. Between his website and management page I found a wonderful woman who emailed me back. I asked a simple question would it be possible for us to meet Mr. Mayer. I explained we were driving up for our honeymoon and would love to meet the man behind the music. Weeks passed and she replied with ‘keep following up with me’ and so I did. A week before the show she emailed me saying there would be two fan passes waiting for us at the gate with our will call tickets and please enjoy the show. Proof that if you don’t ask you will never receive. We arrived in Chicago and made a few great stops. Uno’s pizza, Shed’s Aquarium and the Sears Tower were among the wonderful city highlights.

On the day of the concert we arrived early at the Tweeter Center and as promised our passes were at will call. Before the show we joined a small group of fans for a meet and greet.(those damn girls in short shorts and glitter again.) We brought along our copy of “Any Given Thursday” his first concert DVD and he signed it, we took a picture and got to chat for just a brief moment. He wished us luck on marriage and was very friendly. We were both excited for the show and headed to our seats. Luckily we saw him before the show because upon finding our seats we realized they were perfectly placed behind a concrete pillar. The music made it worth it and the awesome older couple beside us buying us beer didn’t hurt either.

As his music matured and grew so did our relationship. We made trips to Dallas and saw him in our own back yard at OKC and Tulsa. We joined the fan club and have had front ten-row tickets at most shows. As an Oklahoma boy, Garth Brooks is the only artist that takes up more space on my Ipod. When Preston was born we introduced him to John’s music almost immediately after returning home (possibly in the car on the way home from the hospital). It was only natural that seven short years later we would plan a trip to see John back in the same place it all started, Kansas City. This time we paid for all four tickets (my little sister is a huge fan also) and loaded up for a road trip for Preston’s first concert. (I remember my first concert, Boys 2 Men with Brandy opening, terrible audio, amazing performance, I was ten.)

Times had changed and John wasn’t playing a small outdoor venue in front of 1500 people, instead he was headlining to a sold out crowd at the Sprint Center in downtown KC. Our seats were perfect. Far enough back for comfortable audio levels and straight back from the stage. Preston stood on the back of the chair in front of me for most of the show and sang along to the ones he knew. Jessica and I couldn’t stop smiling at our little creation enjoying music we dated to, got married to and vacationed to. It was a fun experience that brought us full circle on our journey of Mayer. I am sure we will enjoy many more concerts and albums but this will always be our first concert as a family. We await the next album and tour, come out and join us, but only if you love guitars, melodies and musical mastery.

-- I wrote this a while back and now we have to wait no longer. His new album came out yesterday and we have been enjoying it via itunes. (Paid for them all ever since, promise!)

When TV Theme Songs Ruled the World

I was inspired by a video last night that really got me thinking. What ever happened to the TV theme song? Are we all so A.D.D. we can’t handle a minute or two theme song? Or is it just a waste of time in the eyes of television executives? Either way I miss them.

I was born in 1982, a magical time when we still celebrated Saturday morning cartoons and Disney still made musicals. TV show theme songs originated from radio and continued evolving or devolving depending on your opinion. No more than a clever jingle of sorts that got you in the mindset and mode, ready for an adventure or a laugh. If you were two rooms over and heard the first few notes, it was time to come running. No TiVo or DVR to start it over, if you missed it you missed it.

There have been hundreds of theme songs over the years. It’s funny how certain theme songs are just a part of the American musical landscape and in fact reach more people than radio ready hits.

Jumping back in television history we find classic black and white shows with theme music such as Rawhide http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ndInEV3CS4.

1959-1965. This song takes you to the old west and is catchy as any pop hit on the radio. Through films like the Blues Brothers Rawhide has reached beyond its original audience and is known around the globe.

One of the most popular theme songs from the 1960s would have to be the Batman theme - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qP-NglUeZU. With only one word in the lyrics, BATMAN, it was simple and again known to this day, some 50 years later.

A new show in 1969 rolled into the second season and into the 70’s.The television theme song would change forever.

The Brady Bunch told their own story in their own words. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85jKDa2zpus With only five seasons on the air, this song is one of the most well known songs in American history, tied with the Star Spangled Banner, ha-ha.  

In the 1980s TV theme songs became standard for the biggest hit shows. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WHIRFqWx8I – Family Ties 1982

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MxGC1j2ogM – Cheers 1982

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPfZVSgpclw – Who’s the Boss? 1984

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1fcB3QlW_g – Growing Pains 1985

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ob59hsRaFU – The Wonder Years 1988

The 1980s had countless theme songs and many shows crossed over into the 1990s. As I began watching more and more TV, the popularity of the theme song hit its peak. This brings me back to the reason for this blog topic. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. If you are a human under the age of 45, odds are you have heard or know this theme song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBe0VCso0qs – Original Theme rapped by Will Smith (AKA The Fresh Prince) This version has an extra verse that was cut from the on-air show to save time.

Will Smith was recently on a BBC show called The Graham Norton Show. Even in England the audience was quick to rap the words as if it hadn’t been 22 years ago since the show premiered.

http://www.wimp.com/rapstheme/ - Will Smith on Graham Norton

It was also in the 90’s when hits like Friends, Full House and Family Matters ruled the primetime sitcom universe. (Is it just me or do the Full House and Family Matters songs sound the same?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO5oDScu4ps – Full House 1987-1995

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBqcEo5CNTQ – Family Matters 1989-1997

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esJPVkJDgAU – Friends 1994

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ng0yS_Jl5I – Step by Step – 1991

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtY2RC9mTbE – Drew Carey Show 1995

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BUH3Gd9qAA – Frasier – 1993

In recent years theme songs have been chopped down to a few seconds or a few notes depending on the show. Major hits like Modern Family, The Office and 30 Rock don’t even have lyrics, just short instrumental numbers enough to show the title screen and maybe the cast. I don’t know if a theme song adds to a show but it sure makes it easier to remember.

I am proud to be a child of the 80s and not at all ashamed to tell you I pulled 95% of these from memory. Hope you enjoy your Monday look back at TV theme songs. Let me know which one stays in your head all day!

 

Afterthoughts – Gilligan’s Island, Happy Days, Andy Griffith, Adam’s Family, All in the Family, Family Guy, The Simpsons et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Retire - by Travis Peck

Retire
by Travis Peck

If I could find a porch to just sit and rock,
you could find me whenever you need me.
That would be my place my one and only spot,
you could stay away if you can’t stand to see me.

Watch the twilight fade to dawn and
sunshine take over the night light glow.
While the morning breeze rocks me,
rocks me soft and slow.

I wouldn’t break to eat or smoke or drink,
my thoughts would be of you.
So someday when the work is over,
I know just what I’ll do.

Find a porch of crisp wood grain,
pounded by the snow and rain,
with my chair swaying back and forth,
Til the next thought strikes my brain.

As I search and seek for perfect serenity,
In the woods near the lake I see,
Nothing short of miraculous divinity,
In my spot for rocking and letting peace be.

Are you talking to you?

Everyone talks to themselves. Sometimes you need to listen; other times just let it go.

I don’t know about you but I talk to myself all the time. Internally, externally in note form sometimes I even leave myself messages so I don’t forget something. I guess it comes in many forms but if you really think about it you are your biggest critic, cheerleader and hopefully inspiration.

Anger seems to be the most obvious case of self-reflection that leads to more action. Think about the times you have been the angriest in life, now think about how you stew on it and talk it up in your head until you are so irate you decide to do something about it. That can work for the positive just the same.

Maybe you are about to run a race, you say to yourself out loud, ‘you got this.’ This doesn’t make you crazy everyone does it. (If you get stuck on an island by yourself and talk to volleyballs, well you get a free pass.)

If you have children or have ever been a child you might recall imaginary friends, somebody that always has your back and gives you great ideas. It’s not a mental health condition just your brain using imagination as a tool for building relationships. I think we talk to ourselves for comfort.

Even if it is an inner monologue, you contemplate the outcome of situations by discussing with yourself the different possibilities. ‘If you do this you will get this, or this might happen.’

I recently watched a movie called Kevin Smith: Burn in Hell. This Q&A in Austin, TX is his third such movie. He said we should all live a “why not” lifestyle. If you surround yourself with people saying ‘why’, why would you try that, why would you do that, why?, you are less likely to take a chance and more likely to miss an opportunity. If you say ‘why not’ it opens up doors. I am going to write a blog, why not, I am going to video myself singing, why not, I am going to run the Warrior Dash, why not.

I think that you should be a why not person. Let that imaginary friend back into your life and the next time you find yourself talking to yourself encourage you and say why not.

I know I say more words in a day than the average male, but I hope most of them are positive and when I talk to myself it never fails I find myself hilarious and charming. I hope you are equally kind to you.

Smart Kid that Preston

Today, I am completely bragging about my son. (If you are offended, too bad.)

Preston is one of the coolest kids on the planet. I can’t believe he is already eight years old and stands 4’9”. He has played soccer and basketball and has a major league arm. His physical abilities are only shadowed by his academic achievements thus far.

A few weeks back he took a test for what we used to call the gifted and talented program, now known as PEP. He scored in the 99th percentile and only missed 4 questions on the entire test!

In the same week he took a reading test and his score placed him at an 11th grade level.

I’m not saying the kid is a genius but he remembers things from when he was three years old. I don’t remember things from three minutes ago.

Preston will finish up the school year this Friday and I can’t wait to see what he teaches me during the summer.

Next stop MENSA. http://www.us.mensa.org/

P.S.

What a great Warrior Dash trainer he has been so far this week! That kid is the best!

 

Caught my son...

I don’t know what to do. It is something you fear as a parent, walking in on your son and seeing such a blatant display of self expression. He was enjoying himself so much and yet how did he learn this? Maybe I let him search the internet too much or maybe this was just something you are born knowing. The worst part was he didn’t stop when I caught him. He looked at me and said do you know how to do this?

Of course I know. I’ve been doing that since long before you were born. In fact we used to do that in large groups. It was very popular to do and not only guys but girls enjoy it just as much.

There he was, over and over, again the same motions the same groove... dancing the Macarena.

I didn’t teach him this, how on earth? That song came out in 1995! Who is spreading these terrible habits amongst our children?

“How do you know how to do that?” Just like most any bad habits he replied, “I learned it at school.”

I guess not every hit song is a Beatles classic. But why do we as a society find so much pleasure in stupid dances? The Twist, Hand Jive, The Macarena, Da Dip, Humpty Dance, Solider Boy, Teach me how to Dougie, line dancing as a whole, and most recently any unknown hip hop group trying to be heard (cat daddy).

I guess there are worse songs out there. Honestly with the “quality” of radio music these days, why not a 90s throwback dance craze. Generation X, it is official our classics include Sir-Mix-Alot- Baby Got Back and Mariah Carey – Dreamlover. I guess we can still claim Michael Jackson, just don't tell the kids the bad stuff.

Here are a few links for your viewing and listening pleasure.
Links in case you don’t know:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqVFJNcQ4X0 – The Twist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-Rb_AHBvMQ&feature=fvst – Hand Jive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anzzNp8HlVQ&feature=related – The Macarena
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZPQdZLyHYE – Da Dip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj9_yW8tZxs – Humpty Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UFIYGkROII&ob=av2e – Solider Boy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZglqkCRNt8 – Teach me how to Dougie

Sure I’ve tried all of these, so what. Don’t judge me.

NO BLOG POST TODAY!

Sorry folks, parks closed. The moose out front should have told ya.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjCwm4ryvYs&feature=related