Idol Predicted

In my February 23rd blog, Idol Predictions , I predicted that Taylor Hicks would be the new American Idol. Three months later, my prediction came to fruition. Neener Neener to all of you nay-sayers!

(Yes, it was a long weekend and I am tired. Get over it.)

Gordon

The Secret Language of Husbands

My niece Amber was upset that her new hair cut wasn't quite what she had hoped for. She wanted it cut like Racheal from Friends, but instead it looked more like a longish page boy.

Earlier in the day Amber called Brandee complaining about the new do and Brandee decided we needed to cheer her up.

We found Amber curled up in a ball on the couch, hiding her head behind her lounging son. She was snivel-crying and tried to blame the whole fiasco on her husband, Steve.

"He made me do it. He said I looked like a church lady and needed to get a haircut!"

I, being the naturally caring individual that I am, tried to comfort her.

"Honey, let me tell you something. Steve will probably kill me for revealing this Husband-secret but he probably does not care about your hairdo. The old one was just fine with him."

"Really?", she perked up, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Certainly", I nodded sagely.

"When a husband tells his wife she needs a haircut, what he is really saying is, your boobs are too small and your butt is too big. Since I can't do anything about either of them, please cut your hair."


.....

I am pretty sure I made Amber feel better.

Gordon

Bruce and the 'Verse

(Warning!! Extreme gamer geekiness ahead. Those with known Gamer aversions should depart the ride at this point. Proceed with caution.)

I was recently gifted with a copy of Bruce Springsteen's Seeger Sessions CD. While I am not a huge fan of Springsteen, I did decide to give it a try as 1) I had heard it was more folksy and acoustic in nature, which fit in fine with my recent Johnny Cash fixation, and 2) I had a long car ride with little to do but drive and fight with the vacillating broadcasts of YOOPER AM stations.

I am surprised to say I liked it. I like it very damn much. I play it on the way to work, then bring it home and listen to it some more. It is playing in the background as I write this.

The music itself is (from what I have been able to discern via goggle) popular folk music. Most of it should be familiar to anyone raised on American TV shows like Little House on the Prairie or the Grand Ole Opry. I remember a lot of it from my elementary music classes and many stumbling attempts to teach a bunch of fourth grader's how to square dance.

Being the gaming geek that I am, the first thing that struck me was how appropriate much of the music was for Firefly. The banjo, fiddle, guitar and percussion lines are especially reminiscent of the Firefly sound track.

Here is a track by track listing and my thoughts on the Firefly appropriateness of each:

1. Old Dan Tucker - not very FFish, maybe for a campfire song. It is a staple in the square dance circuit

2. Jesse James - has a very Hero of Canton feel, only this time the mudders get nothing but a fat lot of indignation and rage over the coward who killed their hero.

Here are a few especially appropriate lyrics from the song:

He stole from the rich
And he gave to the poor
He'd a hand and a heart and a brain

Then later:

A friend to the poor
He'd never rob a mother or a child

Note that when Springsteen mumbles "Mother" it sounds like "Mudder".

3. Mrs McGrath (pronounced McGraw) - anti war song if there ever was one (original intent as well). With a little work it could be a screed railing against the warmongering purple-belly bastards killing our good and faithful sons.

4. O Mary Don't You Weep - nothing really jumps to mind

5. John Henry - fun song but nothing really jumps to mind

6. Erie Canal - folksy-bluesy song extolling the daily toils of dock workers or cargo hands. That said the intermittent use of horns really wreck the FF feel.

7. Jacob's Ladder - nope

8. My Oklahoma Home - Acoustic and percussion. Sounds like a traveling song.

9. Eyes on the Prize - played during a tense, dramatic moment when the captain/crew is being sorely tested. I can see many cut scenes with the Mal staring out to space jaw clenched, Wash and Zoe comfort-cuddling, Book praying and Jayne somberly cleaning his very favorite gun. Here the horns near the end really bring the feeling home.

10. Shenandoah - Song about missing home. Applicable in many situations. I can see Browncoats in the field, singing this around a fire.

11. Pay Me My Money Down - sea shanty-ish song about getting paid for work done. Probably a favorite of any independent cargo hauling ship Captain.

12. We shall overcome...nope

13. Froggie went a courtin - Fun song but nothing comes to mind.

Gordon

My Bag

This is totally my bag, Baybe....Yeah!!

Don't freak, its a dice bag. Eric and Laura made one for each of the players in our Serenity game as parting gifts. Each bag has the character's name on it. (Mine says GM although you can't see it in the picture). Very cool, very unexpected, and very much appreciated. This has become one of my favorite pieces of gaming memorabilia

Gordon