Regret

Tuesday got off to a bad start. I had some words with a co-worker. We UXO techs tend to wear our emotions on our sleeve and most of my fellow Shaw employees are close enough friends that we don't hold a grudge. We vent and get over it later. I was pretty pissed though. I took off to run some errands and went into Conway. At the intersection by Walmart there sat a car broke down in the middle of traffic. The woman was waving people around and I got into the turning lane and went into the Walmart. I stop to help people quite a bit. Just last weekend on the trip to Clarksdale I stopped to help two guys. Well, I was still angry and the crappy Conway drivers didn't help. I get into this self-feeding rage.

I stopped at the edge of the lot trying to decide whether to go help the woman. I remember thinking at the time that she would probably feel better just having someone offer assistance. I finally convinced myself that she would be fine, after all in that situation I would be fine. I went in, picked up the supplies and headed out. I had put it out of my mind trying to remember the items I needed (memories going quick, but that's for another time, if I remember). As I went through the light there were now two police cars assisting the woman. I got a better look at her, she was an older woman, probably in her mid to late fifties, someone's grandma. I could see her red, puffy eyes from across the lane of traffic between us. It hit me hard right than and now the only person I was mad at was myself. I would be for the rest of the day too. I think I'll make an effort to stop and help when I have the chance.

By Popular Demand

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My Ol Lady

I flew to Denver this weekend for Lisa's 30th birthday. It was a great weekend but way too fast. Because of a scheduling mistake on my part I only got about two and a half days with her. Fortunately it was quality time. I got in at midnight Friday night which was lucky as the flight scheduled before us (also going to Dallas) was cancelled and there were delays galore. I was only an hour late. The next day we started off with breakfast at Village Inn because Lisa loves the Belgian waffles. After that we packed up from her Mom's place and headed to the Cherry Creek Holiday Inn Select where I had a room reserved. We usually spend at least one night at a hotel when I come in to town. The room was nice but the elevators seemed to be suffering from gremlins. On the way to the hotel we stopped at the Shane Company first, where I picked out and purchased my wedding ring. Lisa was excited and relieved. She was sure I was going to end up with a twist tie-wrapped around my finger for the ceremony. It's a nice ring, very understated and simple. I was pretty excited too. I'm really looking forward to being married.

After a little nap at the hotel we headed off to the Tattered Cover, an impressive bookstore in Denver. There are actually two of them and I could get lost there forever. Lisa's sister Jennifer bought her a book called The Decade of the Wolf by Douglas W. Smith & Gary Ferguson about the effort to return wolves to Yellowstone. We went to see a talk by Gary Ferguson. It was really interesting and moving. Mr Ferguson was an excellent speaker, and Lisa was excited to get her book signed. After the signing we headed to Lisa's sister's house. Jennifer had construction paper signs with "Lisa's 30" printed on them, hanging everywhere. We had some cheese, fruit and wine (I had Red Stripe) and Lisa opened her gifts, than it was on to Pasquini's, one of Lisa's favorite restaurants. She loves the Pesto Penne with pine nuts. I had the spaghetti with Italian Sausage against my better judgement. It was delicious but I was suffering with heartburn the rest of the night.

Sunday, her actual birthday, we went to see "Eight Below". Boy what a great movie. I welled up and Lisa cried (and she never cries at movies). She had seen it before but really wanted me to see it. After that we headed down town to Old Chicago for dinner. Jennifer had got Lisa tickets for Christmas to the NHL team, the Avalanche for her birthday so we were going to eat and walk over to the Pepsi Center. As we were walking to Old Chicago we noticed everyone headed to the game. We thought it was kind of early but before we could order the game came on t.v. The tickets said 7:00 o'clock but the starting time had been changed to six! We settled up and headed over. We had a great time even though the Avs got the tar knocked out of them 5-2 by the Minnesota Wild (whatever that is). Jennifer arranged to have the ushers sing Happy Birthday to Lisa, she was embarrassed but a good sport. The fans sitting in our area even joined in. After the game we finally got to Old Chicago for dinner, a little late but better than never.

Next month I'm hoping Lisa will make it out here to Arkansas for my home leave, but it's going to be hard to top this one.

A New Blog

I like the fact that you can have multiple blogs on your Blogger.com account and I've decided to take advantage of that. I started one called Riding to post details of motorcycle trips I've taken. I was going to do that on here but I've decided I would keep the two seperate. Maybe Riding will be of more interest to people who are otherwise annoyed at my crazy posts or bored by my mundane ones. My brother turned me on to Wayfaring.com which looks like it will be a useful tool for documenting my rides. I may use it to keep track of all the places I work as well.

I've decided to start another blog for several different reasons. On here I just write emotionally with little correction for grammar. Everything here is of the moment and once it's posted it goes into the archives never to be read again (except by me maybe). I'm going to try to structure the Riding blog to be useful to people in certain areas looking for a good place to take a trip. Of course I'm not deluding myself, I installed a site meter on the blog last month and the numbers are less than impressive. But like I said, I'm hopeful that this will appeal to more people. Life's Been Good has always been more for my own entertaiment anyway.

I'll keep posting here though for the two people that read this blog.

Mac News

Mac introduced Bootcamp. I didn't really ever see the need for Windows in my life, especially since I got a promotion to management. I've been using it on the computer at work. For all it's refinement over the years it still sucks. But Bootcamp comes along at a good time for me, saves me the cost of a PC laptop just for work. And I'm all for anything that helps spread the Mac love.

Next Ride

Well, it looks like I've got a few places to pick from for my next motorcycle trek. I like the blues but I wouldn't consider myself an aficionado or anything. I mostly know of Rosedale from Eric Clapton. Since there seems to be a point of contention on the origins of the crossroads, I'll just hedge my bets and hit them both.

Last month, while I was driving down the Mississippi River on a magazine assignment, I had a curious experience in Rosedale, Mississippi. As I was eating lunch in a place called Leo's Market, a waitress mentioned that Rosedale is the place where the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for musical genius (an event alluded to in -- among other places -- the Cohen brothers' movie Oh Brother, Where Art Thou). As if to prove it, the waitress handed me a wrinkled, typewritten transcription of a "vision" about Johnson's fateful moment that had appeared to bluesman Henry Goodman as he was traveling the road from Rosedale to Anguila. For the sake of posterity (and because I have never seen it elsewhere), I am publishing Goodman's "vision" in full below, as well as a postscript by Rosedale's Crossroads Blues Society.

Interestingly, there are other contenders in the myth of Robert Johnson's devil-purchased soul -- and the crossroads of US 61 and US 49 in Clarksdale is where most blues tourists pay their respects (the newest Romantics album is called "61/49" for this reason). Of course -- as with ancient Roman tourists setting off to find "sites" from Greek myths -- the location of Johnson's crossroads is not exactly something that can be proven. He was born in Hazelhurst, and his supposed grave is in Quito (near Itta Bena) -- but Rosedale did figure in the lyrics for one of Johnson's most famous songs, "Traveling Riverside Blues".

It'll probably be a few weeks before I'm able to go but I'm already excited. Check here for the details.

Illegal Immigration

The crises du jour seems to be illegal immigration. The people supporting the illegal immigrants feel that they do the work we US citizens are too pampered to do. This opinion is especially true in California. My opinion (just an uneducated one) is that just isn't true. I think we risk creating two classes, of course this isn't provable. However, I know that when I was working around Avon and Vail, Colorado there was a trailer park the size of a small town outside Edwards Colorado full of Mexican Americans. It was obvious they were the cooks, waiters, houskeepers and grocery store employees that were keeping the resorts running. In the cities it was July but still white as snow. I'm not saying the people in the trailer park were all illegal or that they had a bad life but this segregation always chafed me a little.

The notion that whites won't do the work doesn't seem to hold true to me either. If that were the case, nothing would get done in my hometown. There are very few immigrants (illegal or otherwise) there and the hotel rooms still get cleaned. I know I run the risk of being labeled a racist. I don't think everyone for non-residents is a shady contractor or Hollywood mom looking for a nanny, and I don't believe everyone concerned about the illegals is a xenophobe. Of course Bush's work permit thing was tried already back in the forties I believe. During World War II there wasn't enough labor in the US so a deal was made with Mexico to allow workers in the country. I can't remember the details but I understand it was a sucess. So who knows. I really don't care either way on this issue. Just like everything else that people blow out of proportion there is a middle ground that's the most benefical for the most people. Too bad I don't know what the anwer is.

First Official Day Of Spring

It was a glorious day today. Every year, for as long as I can recall, I have a special day that signifies the beginning of spring (for me anyway). I can't explain what makes that day special. It's usually the first really warm day. I usually notice the buds on trees and the grass getting green. I had to make a run for some parts at work and while driving to Home Depot spring officially began. It's always a bitter sweet occasion. I feel great but I'm reminded that I'm not in high school. One of the first Spring Days for me was in high school. It was the tenth grade and I had a class with just three students in it. The teacher was also the girls' softball coach. One day the three of us went with the teacher to set up the field for that night's game. We rode around getting gear and laying down the lime for the baselines. Plus it was the first time I heard "Take It On The Run" by REO Speedwagon. I'm showing my age and lameness here but that was the song that defined the summer for me. That used to be another element to Spring Day. A new song. Today I had to settle for "classic rock". I don't really look back with nostalgia. I'm at my optimum age right now. I was a mess from about 20 up to 35 or so. Spring Day is one of those days when I do get a little misty eyed at the past. I wish I wasn't so old that my knees hurt when climbing out of the truck or that I grunt when I bend over to tie my shoes. And I wish I wasn't so old that all my favorite bands were still around. I miss the excitement of new music in the spring. Back before the marketing wizards decided when an album would be released you could count on Van Halen releasing an album every May. Followed by a summer of Foreigner, ZZ Top and Cheap Trick. I wish I could feel the thrill of hearing "Let's Get It Up" by AC/DC for the first time again. I remember where I was the first time I heard it. As glad as I am when spring comes, I'm glad it only comes once a year.