Sometimes

One of my favorite albums of all time is titled "Laid" by the band James. Many people know them because of their early 90's song "Sit Down" and also for the title track of the album I just mentioned.

The album "Laid" is a very atmospheric trip through hope, sadness, falling into love, falling out of love, unrequited love, loneliness, and loss of hope. A lot of emotion to cram into a 13 track album, but James accompanies very personal and heartfelt lyrics with music that is full of sound, but in a quiet kind of way. Brian Eno produced this album for James back in 1993, and his production touch is noticeable in the way that the songs become sonic landscapes as he layers sounds and instruments over one another to create beautifully full songs. The music is so good it often makes a song about sadness sound positive.

This is an album I listen to in a quiet room or with headphones. The words are amazing and in many cases so familiar in that I know when Tim Booth (singer) says "the human touch is what I need", it's a feeling I know. It's eerie how the songs on this album ring true to me. It's why I love to listen to it.

I get depressed sometimes. This is the album I listen to when I am. Not to imply that the album is depressing, it's not, it's a stunning piece of music, in my opinion. When I listen to it, I just feel....comfortable.

Lately, I've been listening to this album a lot.

"We made you feel the way you are is wrong,

We made you what you are, you are afraid,

If you don't play the game, we'll make you change.

Oh, I've changed"

It's Not My Thing, But I'll Give It A Try

Last night was the draft for the Fantasy Football League I joined this year. It was put together by friends at a former company I worked for in Philadelphia, and after 3 years of them asking me to join, I decided to give it a go. And I figured what better way see what all of these people who are in these leagues are so obsessed about.

I like the NFL. I like to spends Sundays in the fall and winter watching games in the afternoon, and now that I'm finally back in Maine, I'll actually be able to see every single New England Patriots game on TV again.

However, I don't have any problem missing a football game if there is something better to do. Sunday afternoon shows up and something awesome to do comes up, I'll go do that, even if it means missing the game or games. So in that sense, that's why I like football, and I don't love football. (Note: I will NOT miss the SuperBowl.....)

So it's always been easy for me to avoid fantasy football. Quite frankly, I hope the Patriots win when they play, but don't ask me about stats. I'm not a stat guy. I don't care how many yards so and so had, or how many tackles this guy had. I just don't care about that stuff. I care about the most important thing: the final score. That's what I need. Now, if in the process of getting to that final score there's an awesome 75 yard touchdown run, or a huge hit between players, well, that's good too. But stats? Not my thing.

Fanstasy football is all about stats, though. So now I'll have to keep track of the players I drafted to make sure they're producing for the team....The Mooses. And if they're not pulling their weight, CUT 'EM! Or trade 'em. So now I have to become a stat guy. I'm not good with numbers, so I'm doomed before we even start. The weekly game totals are calculated automatically by Yahoo, the site where out league is located. But I'll still have to pay attention to make sure that my team is performing to its potential.

So now on Sundays (and Mondays, and the occassional Thursday) I'm going to have to pay attention to the players in the NFL who are on my team. Which means that I'll be locked in the house on those days watching football.

Unless something better comes along.....

Differences

Since my return to Orono, Maine, my hometown, from Philadelphia, where I lived for the past 12 years, I've noticed some things that are so different between the big city and the small town.

In Philadelphia, and many parts of the country, ATM/MAC machines first ask you to select your language, English or Spanish. However,up here in Maine, at least in Central Maine where I'm located, the ATMs ask you to select English or French. Why French, you ask? Well, Maine gets a lot of its tourism from Canada where many residents speak French.

In Orono, people actually STOP to let people cross in the marked crosswalks. In Philly, you put your life on the line with each street crossing.

One of the sore spots of living in Philly was the enormous amount of trash that littered the streets. It was a bummer to see because I always heard how the people in Philadelphia loved their neighborhoods. It didn't show by the amount of garbage that was in the streets. Up here in the great Northeast corner of the good ole US of A, I see hardly any trash at all. A soda can here, a plastic grocery bag there, but it's a sight that is rare. And I'd like to point out that I have yet to see a used condom laid out on the sidewalk. Those were sighted a couple of times a week in Philly.

People actually smile and say "hello" back to you when you give them the same. It's awesome.

But, do I miss Philly? Even with all of these little pluses I've experienced living back in a small town, you bet your ass I miss Philly. I hope to be back there for a week at the end of Oct/early Nov. I can't wait! And with any luck, I'll be leaving a used condom on one of the streets. Maybe two.....

I'm Not Lost or Missing, So Don't Report Me as Such, Please

Hey gang! I'm still alive here in Orono, Maine. The moving in process has been keeping me busy, but you should see what I've done with the house so far. It looks great (inside) with the painting and other ticky-tack things I've done. The outside needs work, but that'll come with time.

I just wanted to say hi, and let all both of you readers know I haven't been chased down and eaten by a black bear.

Happy Birthday!

Here's a birthday wish to an acquaintance of mine, Kitty.

She's beautiful, she's smart, she's kind and she's funny. And, she never reads this blog, so this message will never be seen by her.

I hope it's a great one.