I went to pick up my car which was in the shop for about 5 days. I was ecstatic! All was cool...

Then I got home to hear my neighbor's little guy screaming and crying. It happens all the time but it affected me. He is in 1st grade. Mom is a bit unstable. Mom's boyfriend moved in a month ago. They sit on the porch smoking dope most of the day. When the little man needs attention, he has learned to do what mom does - scream, cry, slam things, and go crazy. It works for mom; grandma gets hooked everytime. The little guy was being told to go to bed at 7:30 pm, too early. It's so mom and friend can be "alone".

No noise from 8:00 p.m. until the next morning at 7:30. I heard the little guy in the driveway of our apartment complex, sobbing. I asked him what was wrong through my screen door. He said he didn't feel too good. He was slightly surprised that I was asking and the way he answered I could tell he was relieved to have a non-relative who was watching over him. The crying was not angry crying. It was from total resignation and surrender. He didn't know what words to use to ask for mercy. I heard grandma say to let him stay home if he needed to. From another open window I heard the softer but harsh voice of boyfriend say, "f//king s/n of a /it//!" I wanted to jump out the window and choke that bum. Within 20 minutes, I had wet, red eyes, too. I could feel what the little guy was going through too well.

I want to sort of apologize to you guys for what moms can say and do to make you feel awful. I also sort of apologized to a Native American for what my ancestors did - take away their land.

So I am telling you guys here and now that I think you rock. I have 2 sons and I wouldn't have it any other way.



No boy should have to deal with the crap that little guy has to. But I know a lot of boys do. Boyfriends come into the picture, you feel too small and young to have to compete with a grown-up. Not all moms are like that; not all women are like that. If I had energy and room, I'd adopt you and take care of you myself. Maybe I'm just a good guy's mom. I like sports, fishing, cars, loud music, and reptiles.



Thanks to you, I now know the name of every tractor and piece of construction equipment there is. One of my greatest memories was watching you out in center field or running around the bases, sliding across home to win. Life doesn't get any better for me than that!

Hearing your guitar playing gets me choked up. Seeing you walk away with your friend on the way downtown makes me very proud of how independent you are.


So, ladies, if you want to join me in appreciation of the little guys of the world, please do. You grown men, don't make your wife's son have to compete with you for attention. I can imagine that my neighbor's boyfriend probably had his mom ripped away from him when he was young so he thinks it's no problem for him to do the same thing. That's so pathetic.

From me and the other females that silently sigh when you walk by, you rock and make my world! Thanks!

WHEN IT HURTS, I ONLY LAUGH...Lulublue


Santa Barbara High School Jazz Ensemble, Novice

Today, Sat. March 10

In the Marjorie Luke Theater, Santa Barbara Junior High School

Time: 3:00 p.m.

The event: Dos Pueblos Jazz Festival

Lulublue

P.S. Please don't tell me to get the word out earlier for these kinds of things. My son only told me an hour ago!

Here is the (list of) song(s) for the chainsaw category:

Lumberjack ~ Jackyl

I saw Jackyl for the first time on Headbanger's Ball on MTV. What I liked about their music was the hard blues-y feel, original yet along the Southern rock line of Lynrd Skynrd, Molly Hatchet, and the band that has been the loudest I've heard yet coming from that sweet lil ol' Santa Barbara Bowl, ZZ Top.

If you haven't heard the song "Lumberjack", you're missing something. It totally kicks. It has been difficult to satisfy that need to move to heavy metal/hard rock while a toddler wants to hear songs from Thomas the Tank Engine. With the chain saw in the song, it was actually my child who got me to go buy the tape. Never regretted it. This kind of music gets the soul revved up better than coffee when you don't need anything illegal, thank you anyway. Jackyl's site has been added to my links list over on the right. It reminds us why the reputation for some of the heaviest stays with the rebellious Southern rock genre.

I was lucky enough to win not just one but 2 different trips to LA to see Cinderella in 1989. One of them was at Irvine Meadows with Badlands opening for Cinderella. After the blazing talent of Badlands, Cinderella did not disappoint. The encore was memorable because of the giant Confederate flag unfurling to hang behind the drum sets as Cinderella played the Southern rock anthem, "Sweet Home Alabama", with honored "supporting" musicians, if memory serves me correctly (sometimes it doesn't), Tommy Lee, and some members of Poison as well as some members of Guns 'n Roses! They had to quickly pave a new parking lot to accommodate all those limousines!

Lulublue

Keyboard ~

Come On In - Music Machine*

Foreplay - Boston

Layla - Eric Clapton

Funeral for a Friend - Elton John**

Chest Fever - The Band

Liar Liar - Castaways

Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson

Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine - Country Joe and the Fish

Light My Fire - Doors

Piano Man - Billy Joel

My son and I started this discussion this afternoon. We will add the vocals, guitar, drums, harmonica, and chain saw lists pretty soon so be sure to BM this!! *Any song by Music Machine would qualify. **Any song by Elton John would qualify.




This keyboard list is based on what we thought were songs with that awesome identifying progression or riff that is just unforgettable. Between us, we have 70 years of rock music listening experience. My son is in his first year of jazz band at a local high school, playing keyboard. He plays the guitar, too. The very first song he actually sang the lyrics to was "Bohemian Rhapsody"! (Sure beats "Eentsy Weentsy Spider".) He sang "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen in the grocery store! Have you ever tried to shut up a 2-3 year old? It's impossible without making others very suspicious. I currently do not play any rock songs on an instrument. I make the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

If you have suggestions, please add them as comments or e-mail them to me! This is in no way an ordered, methodical list. It is some of our favorite songs, plain and simple. These are the songs that we hear playing and say, "Ooohhh, I luuuuuuv that!" We actually stop what we were doing to go listen to the song. But we think the "best" list is still valid.

Lulublue

Oh, yes, yes, yesss!!! My heart's beating faster! The sun is shining and birds are singing! And - in an hour the Dodgers exhibition game is on TV!!!!

I've waited months for this day. Although I love the excitement of the World Series of Baseball (notice all caps???!!), it is a bittersweet time that says goodbye to a sweet thing in my life.

I have always been a Dodger fan because I was born in Riverside, California, and now I'm in S.B. I did go undercover for a few years while living in the Bay Area so I wouldn't get ganged up on. But I'm a True Blue girl from childhood.



Although I didn't post a song last night, I was cruising around at the party and, I must say that was one of the best, I can use a few hours in front of the TV. My car's in the shop so I have nowhere I have to run off to! Yeay! Even kid chauffeurs need rest now and then! Hey, it means I can't go grocery shopping! Yeay! BOR-ingg...

Dealing with the mega-wealthy team owners (developers?) and the egos and drugs going along with some of the players can be tedious but is interesting at times. I used to go to games in LA a few times per season but it kills my back to just sit in a car for the couple of hours there and back.

The LA freeways are legendary in their ability to turn into a parking lot at a minute's notice. The fact that I was in an accident that messed up my lower back in the LA area (Malibu Canyon Road by Pepperdine) doesn't exactly work in my favor either. I get stressed driving around there.


I much prefer a trip in one of those nice tour buses with air conditioning and comfortable seats even if it DOES feel like going to the bathroom in a roller coaster to use the potty.

Santa Barbara is still Santa Barbara. Now they're starting to build a "small" apartment building (!!???) right next to the $25,000,000 parking garage that wasn't built right. Someone is trying to put cement on every last square foot around here. But the city council is considering a limit on the height of buildings at 3 or 4 stories.

My X is a building inspector for realtors doing business. Someone just bought an estate along Padaro Lane for around $20,000,000. It would be right by the "3 fireplaces people". (Read that post.)



Apparently the "lot" next to theirs was ALSO for sale, so the buyer bought both of them. That'll be $50,000,000. please.




Too bad for the people who have so much that they must control everything in their physical world to be "just SO". Have they no appreciation for spontaneity and the chance to just see who ends up living next door???

Be well! Blessings to all. lulublue

Hey, where's the remote??? Is it raining in Florida???