Children Running Through, Old Guys Sitting Home

I was talking to my friend Will Briarwood. As Will mentioned recently, now that we’re out in the suburbs, neither of us go to shows in Chicago as much as we used to.

“ Patty Griffin played two shows in the city last weekend. I was thinking of going, but didn’t.”

She played at Schuba’s, right?

“Yeah. That’s one reason I didn’t go – Schuba’s is a great club, but there aren’t many places to sit.”

Something to consider for those of us with occasional back problems.

“General admission shows just don’t appeal to me anymore. And once I hesitated about going, the shows sold out right away.”

There’s quite a buzz about her new cd, which is due out next week.

“Yeah, I saw someone in No Depression raved about it. I ordered it from Amazon already. So, anyway, I thought I would check online for reviews of the Schuba’s shows. I couldn’t find anything from the local papers, or at Google News – but then I learned that you can search blogs through Google.”

I just learned that myself.

“Someone named unglaubliche caitlin was at one of the shows. And sakistore was at Saturday’s show. And Patty’s webmaster was at both shows, and took some great pictures.”

I suppose that us aging suburbanites will have to enjoy some of these shows vicariously.

“Good thing we know how to use The Google.”

"Television, say you care."

Will Briarwood and I continue our discussion of tv in 2006.

“In addition to Battlestar Galactica, Veronica Mars and Lost, which we discussed already, we watched Gilmore Girls, 30 Rock, Jericho, Heroes, Project Runway, Supernatural, Desperate Housewives, Queer Eye, Eureka, Numb3rs, The 4400, Threshold and Invasion.”

We seem to be watching more tv than ever.

“I know. It’s because we’re getting older, it’s moving to the suburbs and going into the city less often, and it’s the damn DVR.”

But it’s also true that there are some good shows these days. Let’s go through your list.

"Gilmore Girls is in their seventh season, and it’s probably their final season. And this season is even weaker than last season. I can’t believe they married Lorelai to Christopher.”

They’ve jumped the shark, as the saying goes. Do you want to discuss that Ausiello debacle?

“You mean the major spoiler he threw at us before the end of last season? Nah, don’t get me started on tv writers and spoilers. Let’s just go through our list.”

30 Rock is a new comedy. Alec Baldwin just won a Golden Globe.

“Great show. I wonder how they get all those jokes on, the ones about GE and NBC and product placement.”

Jericho is a new drama.

“I enjoy Jericho, but I’m not sure they have the writers or actors to keep it interesting.”

Ashley Scott is as attractive as ever.

“I think Heroes is my favorite new show this year. It’s the first show that I was able to get caught up with via the internet – I think I watched like seven episodes online.”

They do seem to have plenty of talented actors.

“Project Runway had their third season last summer. I hated the ending.”

Yes, I do recall you expressing your distaste for Jeffrey. Have they said whether Tim Gunn will be back this year?

“Not yet. He’s got his own show, his own book – I don’t know. Yeah, Jeffrey was even more of a jerk than Santino was.”

Supernatural is in its second season. How’s it holding up?

“I think I like this season better than last year. The new supporting cast helps a lot – I don’t think either of the lead actors is good enough to carry the show.”

It does have its scary moments.

“Desperate Housewives , yet another show in season number three. Better than last year, not as good as the first.”

Marcia Cross had her baby yet?

“Babies, plural – she’s having twins. She’s on bed rest, and apparently they’re going to shoot her scenes at her home.”

Queer Eye finally reaches the end.

“Yeah, they’re kind of out of ideas. TV will be much straighter without The Fab Five.”

Lots of friends and family watch all those CSI shows, but Numb3rs is the only cop show we watch these days.

“Numb3rs has a good cast, and some interesting stories, but sometimes they do lapse into those stupid cop show cliches. And I can’t believe a show that violent gets those family-friendly tv awards.”

The science fiction shows: Eureka on SciFi, The 4400 on USA, and the cancelled Threshold and Invasion.

“Eureka was pretty good in its first season. I think Colin Ferguson carries that show. The 4400 had its moments, but I think the first two seasons were better. And I still can’t believe I watch this much tv after the networks jerked me around by cancelling Threshold and Invasion.”

And they jerked us around with Firefly and Point Pleasant, and Wonderfalls, and Kitchen Confidential, and Love Monkey, and even Buffy and Angel had plenty of life left in them when they were ended.

“If Bill Gates gave me a couple billion, then I would start a network and have shows like those. And you know who I would get to run things.”

Help me, Joss Whedon, you’re my only hope…

"Television, say you love me..."

My friend Will Briarwood and I were discussing tv in 2006. Warning – there may be some spoilers below, if you have not watched current episodes on USA tv.

“The best show on tv is Battlestar Galactica.”

So say lots of critics.

“There was a story line, in which one of the Cylons, played by Lucy Lawless –“

She’s excellent, by the way.

“—she is excellent. Almost made we want to go back and watch some episodes of Xena. So, she’s trying to see the face of God, by killing herself over and over.”

The Cylons that die are reborn in a new body.

“Right. So, in last week’s episode, she does see part of what she was seeking, but because of what happened to her when she reincarnated, no one will know what she saw.”

And?

“That’s a metaphor, kind of, for people who watch the show. We know it’s the best show in many years, but no one – well, not enough people – are seeing what we see on the show.”

I did hear that their ratings were pretty bad this past week.

“Part of that was the football game on that evening. And part is that people like my brother, who would like to check out the show, don’t think they can figure out what’s going on in the middle of the season, and don’t have the time to get caught up on all the previous episodes.

So they watch football. What else did we watch in 2006?

“The next best shows were Veronica Mars and Lost.”

Both in their third seasons, and both supposedly not quite as good as they used to be.

“Veronica is adjusting to college, and so are the show’s creators. I worry that they’re not getting support from the network – I heard they’re going to stop with the multi-episode mysteries, and just go with one mystery per week.”

Another situation where they don’t want the new fans thinking they’ll be lost if they show up midseason.

“Which is also part of the declining ratings for Lost. And they have the most convoluted storylines in the history of television.”

What was their deal this year – they did six new episodes in the fall, took three months off, and they’re going to do all new episodes February through May?

“I think so.”

What else did we watch last year?

“Gilmore Girls, 30 Rock, Jericho, Heroes, Project Runway, Supernatural, Desperate Housewives, The 4400, Queer Eye, Eureka, Numb3rs, The 4400, Threshold and Invasion.”

Let’s continue this conversation in another post.

Body Blogs

I also talked to my friend TS Elmwood the other day. I mentioned to her that I had started this blog a while ago.

“A few years ago, I read a bunch of blogs, but I realized that most of them were what I called Bodily Function Blogs.”

I hate to ask.

“There are three kinds of Bodily Function Blogs. The first is the Navel Gazer.”

Is navel gazing a bodily function?

“Close enough. If you are a good writer, you can use an interior monologue. But most of these blogs reminded me of the things I wrote in my diary when I was thirteen.”

Dear Diary, I wish that cute guy in math class would notice me. Ten Joni Mitchell Songs That Make Me Feel Better.

“It was The Moody Blues in my diary. Second type is the Diarrhea Blog.”

Again, I hate to ask.

“You know what I mean. Long rants about nothing. Crap, crap, and more crap.”

And the third?

“The throat clearer. The blogger who might have something to say, but cannot seem to say it.”

Ahem. I haven’t really gotten my blog going yet.

“I know you, and you have plenty to say. Find some focus and discipline, which are the writer’s friends.”

I once had someone summarize my posts as “terse and cryptic.”

“If you intend to be terse and cryptic, that’s fine. I assume you actually want to communicate, so it’s not fine.”

Focus and discipline.

“You can do it. I’ll be checking up on you.”

The Vulcans Are Coming, The Vulcans Are Coming

I talked to my friend Sherry Maple the other day. She was my next-door neighbor many years ago, when I lived in Evanston. After updating each other on spouses, kids, pets, jobs, etc., we discussed the important stuff.

“Can you believe it’s the year 2007? And can you believe the Vulcans will be here in only fifty-six years?”

You’re referring to the Star Trek version of the future.

“Of course.”

And that would be the events depicted in Star Trek - First Contact?

“Yes, the one where the Next Generation crew stops the Borg from messing up Earth’s future.”

Planning on being around to greet them?

“I wish. Let’s see, if the Vulcans show up on April 5, 2063… I’ll be not quite a hundred and five years old.”

I’ll be almost a hundred and seven. Although we might not be there, your kids will probably be around that year.

“Makes you think. You know, about our place in the planet’s history and all that. What do you always say about the three ways to understand things?”

You don’t remember?

“Of course I remember. I just think you like saying it outloud.”

There are three ways to understand the world: through baseball, through Star Trek, or through Buffy.

“Speaking of which, I saw that the Buffy singalong phenomenon has reached Chicago.”

At the Music Box.

“Are you going?”

Probably not. It would probably be fun, but it’s way past my bedtime.

“Past your bedtime, past our lifetimes… what’s that saying, when you’re young, the days are like years, and when you’re old, the years are like days?”

Talk to you next year, Sherry.

“Live long and prosper, Kalikoolin.”

Charity in 2006

Looking back on 2006 – before posting the lists of best tv shows, best cd’s, etc., I wanted to make a list of charities that deserved my money this year.

Taking care of animals and the environment:

Defenders of Wildlife

Elephant Sanctuary

Fund For Animals

Greenpeace

Humane Society of the United States

Illinois Prairie Path

Jane Goodall Institute

Tiger Haven

Wildlife Land Trust


Taking care of cats and dogs:

Two of our cats came from The Animal Care League.

My brother’s cats came from The Anti-Cruelty Society.

Merry Christmas to Sister Marijon at Cats-Are-Purrsons-Too and Touched By an Animal.

Birds:

Cornell Birds

Hoping to visit the International Crane Foundation in 2007.

Raptor Center

The universe:

I’ve been a member for years, just wish I could make time to visit The Adler Planetarium more often.

And I wish we could get to visit the Lowell Observatory in 2007.

Helping people:

The Brady Campaign

International Campaign to Ban Landmines

Doctors Without Borders

Greater Chicago Food Depository

Merry Christmas to Manny, Barbara and the people at Koinonia House.

MADD

Old Town School of Folk Music

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Merry Christmas to my sister, and everyone else who walks for Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization.

Election News

Well, it's a nice day-after-the-election, unlike 2000, 2002, and 2004.

Stuff I learned while following election results…

Tammy Duckworth is working on a Ph.D. I sure wish she had beaten Roskam.

Jon Tester is an organic farmer.

Katherine Harris spent a lot of campaign funds on Starbucks.

Environmental groups are happy that Richard Pombo lost.


And Britney filed for divorce .

Climbing

There’s an election tomorrow here in the US. The Chicago Bears lost yesterday, for the first time this season; Northwestern won for the first time in over a month. And my friend Will Briarwood wanted to talk about what’s most important to him these days.

“My cat’s doing pretty well after his surgery. For the first time in a month, he climbed to the top of the cat tree.”

That’s pretty impressive.

“And he wasn’t in pain this morning, as he has been sometimes after exerting himself.”

Did you see Mutts today? It’s Shelter Stories week again.

“Yeah, I did. I think I read that the cat in the comic lost his leg from a trap, rather than from cancer. I tell you, I don’t have too many heroes these days, but Patrick McDonnell is definitely one.”

I know you’ve mentioned that Bruce Springsteen is a hero. Who else?

“Ummm. Let me get back to you.”

Signs For Tammy

My friend Will Briarwood gave me an update on his quest for a yard sign for Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth.

“So I had gone over there to campaign headquarters at 8am, and there was no one there yet. Someone called me back later that day, and let me know that their hours were 9am to 10pm.”

So you went back?

“Yeah, and a very friendly woman gave me three signs.”

So what’s the score now on your block?

“I think there’s about a dozen Roskam signs. With my signs, there’s now a total of four Duckworth signs.”

I guess the vote total will be more important than the sign total.

“We’ll find out next Tuesday, assuming the votes get counted, and the electronic voting machines don’t screw us.”

Who Are You?

Listening to the new Who cd, Endless Wire, and my first reactions are that Pete's guitar still sounds great, but Roger's voice sounds pretty damned old...

On the other blogs…

The Six Degrees of Bob Dylan game is coming to a close. My entry which connected SpongeBob to Bob Dylan via James Dobson, Arlen Specter, Rick Santorum and U2 had better get an honorable mention for creativity.


Nothing new at Tim’s Take since season three of Project Runway ended. There is a long interview with Tim at the Chicago Tribune.


Gapers Blog writes about The Damnwells.


Nominations are out for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Everyone writes about who should be in, who should be out. Desolation Row has some interesting suggestions (T. Rex is a great idea).

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Are Roskam Signs

My friend Will Briarwood, who doesn’t generally vote for Republicans, was telling me why he might vote for them next week.

“The people next door to us have a Roskam sign in their front yard. The people across the street have two Roskam signs. And the people on the other side of us have five, count ‘em, five Roskam signs in their yard.”

Peter Roskam is the Republican candidate for Congress in Illinois’s Sixth Congressional District.

“I e-mailed the Duckworth people a couple weeks back, asking about a yard sign. They finally called me back on Monday, and left me a voice mail, telling me where their campaign office is, and telling me to come by for a sign. The guy on the message said there would be someone at their office pretty much all the time, between now and election day.”

Tammy Duckworth is the Democratic candidate. Polls show the race is just about even.

“I went over to the Duckworth office this morning. There was no one there.”

You probably should have called first.

“Well, I did, about twenty minutes till eight. There was no answer, and I was hoping that maybe they had just gone out for coffee.”

Maybe there was a line at Starbucks.

“I guess. So I called again, and left a message, and told them I was sorry I had missed them. And I suggested that Roskam’s volunteers were probably already at work at 8am.”

You’re not really going to vote against Tammy because of a yard sign.

“Probably not. Hey, I know I’m not George Soros, donating piles of money to the Democrats. But I did send a donation to her campaign, and all I ask for is a yard sign.”

Cat Vets

Following up on my previous post, I should mention that Will and I highly recommend these veterinarians, who take care of only cats:

College Station Cat Clinic in Wheaton, Illinois

The Cat Practice in Oak Park, Illinois

Show Me the Way

I was talking to my friend Will Briarwood about his cat, who had some fairly serious surgery recently.

“It’s strange,” he said. “There’s so much to think about, worrying about him, hoping he’ll be ok, trying to understand what’s happening with him. I keep hearing Peter Frampton in my head.”

Peter Frampton?

“Yeah. A couple lines from ‘Show Me the Way’ -- ‘I wonder how you’re feeling’ and ‘I can’t believe this is happening to me.’ “

You’re hearing the live version, I assume.

“Yeah, from Comes Alive. What’s that called, dissociation?”

I think so.

“And I started thinking about how they had to shave so much of his fur, that he’s starting to look like Peter Frampton.”

You have to give Frampton credit for not doing a combover, or wearing a hat 24/7 like The Edge, or wearing a rug.

“Yeah. There’s a lesson here somewhere, something about accepting what happens to your hair, or to your cat.”

She Kissed a Girl, She Saw a Cop, She Got Booed

There’s a good article on Jill Sobule in the latest issue of No Depression magazine. Her latest cd is Underdog Victorious.

A couple quotes…

On a new song, “I Saw a Cop”:

“Wouldn’t it make a great video? But we need to get someone famous to play the cop. Let me think about that one. Teresa Heinz Kerry! That’d be awesome! There’s something kind of old-time sexy about her; she’s got that Marlene thing going.”

On getting booed as an opening act for Don Henley:

“Maybe ‘cause the t-shirt I had on said ‘My Bush Would Make a Better President’…

Dumbass Hunters

The War On Wildlife continues…

There are only about two hundred whooping cranes left in the world. Dumbass hunters in Kansas just shot one percent of the entire population.

“Seven Kansas hunters have admitted to last weekend's shooting of two endangered whooping cranes in Stafford County, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent said Wednesday.

One of the cranes died Wednesday morning at Kansas State University's veterinary hospital. The other is recovering from a broken wing and several body wounds.”


And Defenders of Wildlife has this appalling story from Alaska:

“The anti-conservation Board of Game has just voted to allow up to 900 wolves to be killed by the barbaric practice of aerial gunning. This is six times as many as were killed last winter.

Easy targets against fallen snow, wolves can be gunned down from airplanes or chased to exhaustion, then shot at point blank range.”


But once in a while, the wildlife does win a small battle .

“NORTH VERNON, Ind. - When hunter Jim Mick went into the woods to bag himself a deer, he never expected to come out empty-handed — and badly bruised.

The 69-year-old bowhunter was treated for injuries he said he suffered during a wrestling match with an angry buck. Mick, of North Vernon, said the deer attacked him Monday while he was hunting alone in rural Decatur County in southeastern Indiana.

"He came out of the tall grass and briars," said Mick. "When I realized it, he was on me already."

Mick said the animal, which weighed about 150 pounds, struck him in the chest and knocked him to the ground, goring him in the thigh. "All I had time to do was throw my hands up and grab his antlers," he said.

After about a 10-minute struggle, Mick said he managed to put a tree between himself and the deer, and the animal retreated.”

Another Bird of the Week -- Great Horned Owl

With the time change, it’s just about dark when I leave the office out here in Geneva, Illinois. We’re right by the Fox River, and the area still has plenty of forest.

Last night, as I was leaving, I could see two owls together in a tree north of our parking lot. I could not identify them by sight, but they were hooting, the both of them, and they sounded exactly like this recording of great horned owls.

Purple People Meters

Lots of post-election maps…

The pretty purple one at boingboing.

Wonkette has the striped one .

These guys have red, blue and purple in various shapes.

And I found the free vs. slave state map at miscellaneous meanderings.

11/11 update --
Another map, one with big blue towers.

Bird of the Week -- Red-Breasted Nuthatch

We have seen an occasional white-breasted nuthatch at the feeders out back, and the other day we saw a female red-breasted nuthatch.

Anne McCue

Saw Anne McCue open for Dave Alvin this past weekend at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music. Her new album, from which she played several good songs, is Roll.

Amazon has free downloads of a few songs from a previous record:

"Walking Devotion"

"My Only One"

"Arcane"

She opened her set with a great line, and excuse my attempt to reproduce her charming Australian accent:

“It’s noice to be heah in the blue stite of Illinois.”