Sunday, July 31, 2005
Mac McAnally
I had the privledge last night of seeing Mac McAnally in a solo show at the Freight and Salvage.
Mac is a singer/songwriter from northern Mississippi who has managed some small fame on his own, and some additional success through songs he's written that have been recorded by others, and by his longtime participation as a member of the Coral Reefer Band. In other words, he's in a position to inspire me.
And he does. He is warm, friendly, and humble on stage, with stories that touch your heart or make you laugh, depending. His guitar work is excellent - I may never play guitar that well. And I was surprised at how many of the songs in his nearly two-hour set were familiar to me, particularly songs that Buffett hasn't covered.
I'm going to have to buy his CDs online, as he'd sold out the night before in Sonoma County. All I can say is that it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy, and that I hope he sells through at all his shows.
I'm sure that in his shoes I might occasionally feel outshined by the glow that Jimmy casts. But somehow, Mac managed to shine quite well on his own last night.
Mac is a singer/songwriter from northern Mississippi who has managed some small fame on his own, and some additional success through songs he's written that have been recorded by others, and by his longtime participation as a member of the Coral Reefer Band. In other words, he's in a position to inspire me.
And he does. He is warm, friendly, and humble on stage, with stories that touch your heart or make you laugh, depending. His guitar work is excellent - I may never play guitar that well. And I was surprised at how many of the songs in his nearly two-hour set were familiar to me, particularly songs that Buffett hasn't covered.
I'm going to have to buy his CDs online, as he'd sold out the night before in Sonoma County. All I can say is that it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy, and that I hope he sells through at all his shows.
I'm sure that in his shoes I might occasionally feel outshined by the glow that Jimmy casts. But somehow, Mac managed to shine quite well on his own last night.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Go, baby, go!
I just watched the successful launch of Space Shuttle Discovery, marking the return to flight of NASA's shuttle fleet. CNN had, in addition to the traditional launchpad and chase plane views, a feed from a new NASA camera mounted on the main fuel tank. The views from this camera were breathtaking, looking down the belly of the orbiter and fuel tank as Florida receded, then as the curve of the earth became visible. They even had live footage of the Shuttle separation from its fuel tank - I believe that's a first.
I've been a fan of our space program for many years. I've never been fortunate enough to witness a launch in person, but I was there at Edwards AFB in California when Discovery came back from the STS-26 flight - the return to flight after the Challenger accident. It was awesome, watching an honest-to-God spaceship returning to Earth, seeing the shock waves of the double sonic boom characteristic of Shuttle reentries, even seeing Air Force One. Somewhere I may still have my parking placard from that event.
And living in southern California as I did, whenever a Shuttle landed at Edwards I'd get to hear that distinctive double sonic boom. I even got to recognize it after a while.
Want to keep an eye on the Shuttle and Space Station Alpha? Check out www.skyandtelescope.com or www.jpass.com for times and locations of transits in your area. I've watched the ISS pass overhead many times, and also saw the next to last Shuttle to visit the ISS, shortly after they separated a few years back.
Here's hoping for a successful mission and a safe return home for Discovery and her crew.
I've been a fan of our space program for many years. I've never been fortunate enough to witness a launch in person, but I was there at Edwards AFB in California when Discovery came back from the STS-26 flight - the return to flight after the Challenger accident. It was awesome, watching an honest-to-God spaceship returning to Earth, seeing the shock waves of the double sonic boom characteristic of Shuttle reentries, even seeing Air Force One. Somewhere I may still have my parking placard from that event.
And living in southern California as I did, whenever a Shuttle landed at Edwards I'd get to hear that distinctive double sonic boom. I even got to recognize it after a while.
Want to keep an eye on the Shuttle and Space Station Alpha? Check out www.skyandtelescope.com or www.jpass.com for times and locations of transits in your area. I've watched the ISS pass overhead many times, and also saw the next to last Shuttle to visit the ISS, shortly after they separated a few years back.
Here's hoping for a successful mission and a safe return home for Discovery and her crew.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Show cancelled - 7/23
Just in case y'all were thinking about coming out to see me Saturday night in Sacramento, the show has been cancelled. Apparently there was some difficulty with the venue. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Sad day
I wonder how many blog posts there are about the London bombings today?
Sad thing, that people can't find better ways to handle their differences or express their opinions than to make life scary for many thousands of people. Very sad thing. My sympathies go out to the families and loved ones of those affected.
I'm a firm believer that if we begin to fear all the time, then the terrorists have won. So go out and do your usual thing tonight, tomorrow, the next day. Live your life the way you *want* to live it. If Shit Happens, at least it's happening while you're fulfilling your purpose on the planet, not cowering in fear.
Loren
Sad thing, that people can't find better ways to handle their differences or express their opinions than to make life scary for many thousands of people. Very sad thing. My sympathies go out to the families and loved ones of those affected.
I'm a firm believer that if we begin to fear all the time, then the terrorists have won. So go out and do your usual thing tonight, tomorrow, the next day. Live your life the way you *want* to live it. If Shit Happens, at least it's happening while you're fulfilling your purpose on the planet, not cowering in fear.
Loren
