Master of What?

Well well! I just finished my final Action Research Proposal to the University of Phoenix online Master's program. After beginning it in February of 2004, It took less than two full years to complete. It ended up costing me quite a bit, financially and personally. I will have no regrets because I strove to complete it, ended with a solid A average and will probably get another Master's, beginning the New Year, because I am sadistic! No, I want to get to the top of my district's payscale before I retire. Yes, retire! Because I've been teaching for 18 years in my district, you add that to your age and that's how many points you have earned for district retirement. I have to date 65 points out of 80. I'd have had 71 points if I hadn't taken my retirement out in the mid-80's, when my district riffed me, and I used the money to buy a house. Things have worked out for the best because now I'm using my last years to get to the top of the scale to increase my retirement benefits. As far as the Master's goes, I have a degree in Technology in Education. It opens up a field of education I am interested in and can finish being a lab tech coordinator or something along the lines with any district! Sale-ability! I love my current job, but I've been in Special Education since I was a Junior in High School. My family would say I should have been in it from 1st grade on! ;) Time is my ally and my enemy at this point of my life. My near future is exciting but there isn't as much left as there used to be.

Going to church!

Some people believe in attending service every Sunday with an organized religon. I do that, sometimes, but I want to share the time I feel the most spiritual and at peace. In my history on this planet, nature is my chapel. An open field in a heavily wooded forest, on top of a rock in the middle of a creek, on the shore of an uninhabited beach, on a mountain overlooking the countryside, and sometimes just listening to meaningful music while driving. These places lead me to clearer thought and self re-evaluation. Being brought up Catholic gave me a bible based history and routine of practicing religion, but it has never been enough to reach into my heart and force change. Granted, I've made a lot of mistakes, but when I get to visit my "church" it opens me up to more truths and honesty than I feel I deserve. Maybe that's "Catholic" guilt, or my mother's voice ringing in my ears. Whatever it is, nature does nurture. Freedom, purity, passion, insight and reflection are tools I need and I don't use them enough. The most perfect religious opportunity I dream of is listening to a sermon in the woods or by the waterside. Simple, clean, and without the "things of man". Songlines are a way for my mind to travel. It gets me out of the corrupt shell of my body and gives me focus. Being Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish, or whatever are not as important to me, as much as if you believe in God, and direct yourself towards doing good and striving to constantly go forward. When I question why are we here, I always come back to reasoning and I do believe we are here for a reason. If science were the only reason for our existence, then why do we have emotion? Why do we love? Why do we create art, or poetry, or songs, or offer help to others in need. These are the types of thoughts I get from my church. I will end this personal sermon with a prayer: Dear Lord of the Ages, Please guide us to treat each other with love, and passion. Forgive us our sins and make us whole. Guide us to the light of truth, honesty and right. Help us to remove the things that way on us daily and turn them into a driving positive nature that leads us to you. Love to all! Mike

Why R U a Parrothead?

It started back in June of 1978. I took this hot chick to see Jimmy Buffett at the Celebrity Theatre. My best friend Dan and I had been listening to Buffett's albums; "Son of a Sailor" and "Changes in Lattitudes" for almost a year and he was coming to town, ticket cost: $13.95. That's 4 hours of work @ Pizza Inn! .... and I needed two tickets! I met this girl @ summer camp and asked if she'd go, and without a hitch she said yeah. Dan and I planned for about a month. At that time the songs we liked were "The Last Line" + "Coast of Marseilles". We always had a penchant for songs that weren't on regular radio. He had his hot date and we planned dinner and after we'd go to Farrell's. I had never been to a concert before, so that may have something to do with it, but Celebrity was it, man it had a rotating stage, tropical plants and even a ship's bell on the stage. The smells, the clothes people were wearing were different than on most dates. Most guys had tropical shirts and women dressed in whatever. I didn't know about concert shirts so I was crappin' that I didn't have enough to get one or any of Buffett's other albums. I also didn't know that there would be lead in entertainment. Danny O'Keefe was great! He sang "Goodtime Charlie's got the Blues", "Magdalena" and "Angel spread your wings"! Some of my all-time favorites. I still listen to them today off of the "Breezy Stories" album, circa 1978. My date had on one of those long peasant dresses, cool, but outdated in '78. She was hot so it didn't matter! I had never smelled some of the smells before, from people tokin' to women's perfumes that lifted my feet off the ground. Buffett came on to the ship's bell and "Son of a Sailor", my son Brandon's fave, and I was taken away to the Carrribean, a place I never thought of before. Hell, until I moved form Massachusetts, I thought Kentucky was the state directly south of New York. He played all the songs we loved, including his first hit "Come Monday". I still like that song after a billion listens! Jimmy had previously broken his leg for the second time in a year, playing softball. He sat on a stool and had long scraggily hair and a huge Mark Twain style 'stache. The women seemd to love him, so why not me! "Cause I loved them! At an intermission he hobbled out and said he was going to sing Happy Birthday, Well, the girl he was singing to was a back-up singer and she and the other singer came out in their birthday suits and kissed him on his cheek! Man, that sealed the deal! Then, not to be outdone this girl in the audience had to share her credentials, which were very impressive, and they shoved a spotlight on her. Heaven was on Earth at that moment! I thought, Hey, I might get laid! My music taste has never been the same, and that helped me start selecting what I liked in music. Screw MTV videos, we had the real thing(s)! Since then I have kept Jimmy from the poor house! I've seen him 11 times at various venues, been to the Vegas Margaritaville 3x, purchased goods at Margartiaville.com and listen to RadioMargaritaville daily. You can listen to it online @: http://radiomargaritaville.com/. The music is quite diverse and the same song isn't played 5 times an hour! Buffett's words and lifestyle are an important part of my life and definitely soothed me through some difficult times! My daughter's name is taken from Jimmy and I know I want to have my last days on this planet, with a rum drink in one hand, a stoggie hanging out the side of my mouth and a fly-rod in the other, in a little skiff, on a salty flat, with the sun lapping off of tiny waves! A Parrothead forever and I just wanted to share the head-onisom with you!

That's Amare' !

Anyone who knows basketball knows who Amare Stoudamire is. The Phoenix Suns young stud just signed a contract for $70 mill. all well and good, so the next day he goes to the doctor for a knee ailment and within 2 more days has surgery that requires 4 months of rehab and healing! I want my money back! I hope that the Sun's stay in contention that long, but most players that have had this surgery in basketball are never the same. Ever hear of Grunt Hill? No, it had nothing to do with the American Revolution! In Phoenix we had hopes of doing it all this year. Now we hope for a chance to slide into the playoffs. The big question here is: Why did the Sun's sign him for that much if they knew he was hurting? or Why did Amare' wait until after he got the cash, when he could have done the surgery before the Summer break? Greed is rampant in pro sports and maybe they should throw away every form of integrity we hold for our sports idols. I think the state of sports reminds me of an old film, rollerball. Character lacks in most superstars and those that have it aren't recognized for it! When I was a kid, I dreamed of the heroics of Brooks Robinson or mammoth homers from Pops Stargell. What does my son see? Athletes with unbelieveable physiques that come form more than working out. I'll rant about steroids another day, but greed is just as bad, because it makes things unfair for those that live by quality standards. Heal well Amare', you have youth on your side, but remember this, you'll only win a title when you put the team first!!!!

This Century

Okay, just watched Anaheim beat the Yankmes! Since the millenium change we are even with the Brinx bombers! Randy Newman sings, "It's money that matters!" Not in baseball brother! George has shown that greed can make you competitive by buying an all-star team. Has it been cost effective? Hmmmm.... Randy Johnson may have helped them 2 years ago, not now! A-Rod, the punk, that should've come to Beantown and we would have killed, now ... how many rings does he have? Anaheim has pitching baby! colon, under-rated Lackey, R-E-L-I-E-F, and got timely hitting. We should see good championship series, but I don't care anymore so, Go Bruins, Suns, Coyotes, Celts, Pats and ...oh we don't have a football team in Glendale yet...? SuperBowl 2008 will be in my town and maybe, just maybe we'll see the, oooh crap... I can't even say Card... no... Patriots. The next question is...when will the Celtics regain their Basketball savvy again, I don't have as much time in this century so, I stil have that to live for. I thought I could die in peace after the Sox's win last year but, my boy's have only heard of the Celtic dynasty. I want them to see it!

BoSox need Botox!

I guess we were just satisfied to win last year, but a lot was missing form this year's team. Understandably injuries take their toll but so it does for everyone else, look @ Houston! Hey, look @ Houston! A little botox to the name Boston and you get Houston. What does Houston have that we didn't .... yes, pitching. Granted we had the best 1-2 punch around in Manny + Papi, but a team makes a championship. We did not have a killer starting rotation, Schilling was more like filling, Wells was alright I guess, Wakefield always seems to pass expectations, but the more they see him the more they hit him, and the rest were here and there. Playoffs call for the rest of the team to produce and the Sox did not get that this year in the ALDS. Graffanino brought back burning memories, no bull pen, no key hits. If we look at last year we got Bellhorn's clankers off the pole, worldy performances from looney Lowe, and timely hits. We had opportunities against the pale hose, but are they really that good to sweep the defending champs, me says no! We lacked the luster of being hungry this year, we got by on power and not much else. I was really shocked that we didn't make any moves at the deadline, why couldn't we have filled the needs this year, as we did last year? Think of it, we needed defense and speed...enter, Mentkiewicz ? and Roberts, Foulke for relief. this year poop!? no answers or adjustments. Was it money? Maybe. Oh by the way, Manny, where are you going to play, where it is as much fun and people allow you to screw up because they know you'll hit a 3-run job the next inning. I've never seen another player like Manny. I saw that one play last year that looked like he was Hellen Keller in a rearranged living room! Dorktime! Then he drove in key runs and was absolved! Who else does that? Anywho.. we need youth, and pitching to compliment the BIG TWO and keep Damon more than anyone else that's a free agent! Big Papi would not see a decent pitch if it weren't for Manny, so stay put brother! We have an opportunity to be a yearly upper echelon team and dominate the beginning of this century, if we want. Do not forget, this century we have as many championships as anyone else, including the !$^&#@@&@$^ Hankees, that is unless Anaheim or NY win this year. Pray for a 40 inning game tonight in Anaheim! Both teams will be exhausted for the next series and lose!

News flash: After hearing the Red sox won the World series last year, Ted William's chriogenically frozen melon healed itself! The head is now talking to reporters and admittedly still can see the seams on the ball approaching the batter!

Hockey's back!

After what seemed like 4 years, the hockey season is finally back on the ice. I understand why it happened, but again it's the fans who must endure the absence of the high speed sport. What I really hate is that I no longer know who's on my teams! Most NHL rosters are filled with free agent signings and trades. Besides being gone a year i have to watch for almost that amount of time to know who's where, what there number is and believe me, it will take them that long to adjust to their new teams and mates! One of the things I love about hockey is that, it is fast, not everyone can play it, and it brings you out of the cold. some of the most thriving teams now are located in states that cities that do not have snow, is that irony or what?
I welcome hockey back whole-heartedly, but wait another ten years to strike or I"m going to start watching regular programming! Aaaargh! Just the thought of that makes the single hair on my head stand up!

Welcome my friends to the Runrummer's first blog! I wanted this first topic to be about music, the soundtrack of our lives. With Buffett and "the" lifestyle that he details, the fillers are what I'd like to share with you. Most of my closest friends wonder about the music I have in my collection. Although most built on an "Island Personna", most have not heard the names of others I listen to. I'll submit 2 lists today; my parrothead island getaway artists (non-top 40) and my "other" or "filler" time.


Parrothead list of artists you may want to listen to:
1. Aswad - reggae
2. BahaMen (Pre-letting the dog out) - Nassau
3. Black Uhuru - reggae
4. Bakra Bata' (1st heard them at the Tempe Festival of the Arts) - afro-steel pan
5. Marcia Ball (Nawlin's style)
6. Bellamy Brothers - country-reggae (who'd have thunk it!)
7. Dennis Brown - reggae
8. Ali Campbell (lead singer for UB40) - reggae
9. Paulinho DaCosta - tropical rhythm
10. Gregory Isaacs - reggae
11. Dr. John - Nawlin's sound
12. Jack Johnson - (now popular, ex-surfing champ turned musician) tropical
13. Lord Kitchener - old, original reggae
14. Ottmar Liebert - flamenco guitarist
15. Mark Mulligan - (AZ singer, buffett style)
16. Andy Narrell - steel pan
17. Willie Nelson - (Yes, the country guy, and he put out a Pot album!)
18. Neville family - They play it all!
19. Zachary Richard - Nawlin's
20. Sade - Well she's beautiful and velvety!
21. Santana - In the 80's he had 2 albums I love, Shango and Havana Moon)
22. The Specials - Ska
23. Steel Pulse - Reggae dynamos!
24. Sublime - California reggae
25. Third World - reggae
26. The Toasters - ska
27. Toots + the Maytalls - classic reggae
28. Peter Tosh - Another dead reggae king.
29. Jerry Jeff Walker - does great beach music too!

Fillers
1. Ambrosia - mellow rock
2. Angela Bofill - velvety soul
3. Karla Bonoff - mellow songstress
4. Bobby Caldwell - mellow jazz
5. Bill Champlin - pre-Chicago singer
6. The Clash - British rock-ska rhythms
7. Corneilius Brothers + Sister Rose - 70's soul
8. Dennis DeYoung - Styx vocalist
9. Firefall - mellow rock
10. Julia Fordham - British songstress
11. John Hall - ex-lead for 70's band, Orleans
12. Keb Mo - rhythm + blues
13. The Mills Brothers - mother's influence
14. Danny O'Keefe - mellow rock
15. David Pack - mellow-religious + rock
16. Jerry Riopelle - Southwest rock
17. Lee Ritenour - jazz
18. Spyrogyra - progressive jazz w/tropical undertones
19. Jesse Winchester - mellow rock
20. Michael Johnson - mellow rock, pre-country turn
21. Jesse Colin Young - mellow rock
22. Pure Prairie League - country rock
23. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - country rock
24. Warren Zevon - excitable boy!

Just a few comments. Phoenix radio sucks, so I invested in Sirius radio and now i am in heaven, when I get tired of RadioMargaritaville, I turn to the reggae channel or many others. Variety makes it so valuable. the last time I enjoyed radio in Phoenix was in the middle to late 70's. KBBC was it! Album rock provides so much more than the redundant, commercialized pukecrap that is on today's free airwaves! Let me surf the satellite!
Please try some of the artists I've mentioned and let me know what you like or don't like! Thanks for stopping by!