Monday, May 16, 2005

Commencement

Here are some selected activities surrounding Commencement Exercises for UWM's Graduate Students in the rigorous Wind Conducting program:



MONDAY, MAY 16
Football Party
4pm
Corley's House
Our last football party.
Bring a tailgaiting item and your beverage of choice. The last party for
Dwayne and Elyse! Bring a tape of your favorite college football game or
we'll be stuck with ESPN Classic or the Brewers. I think the grill is
going to be burning some meat too.


THURSDAY, MAY 19
White Trash Day
12pm
In front of Arial Place (the corner of Webster and Prospect)
Josh and Kati are getting rid of their couch so we're going to sit down in
front of Arial Place like a big trashy group and hang out until we get
kicked out.
Bring your own shitty beer (or other beverage for those that don't).
Avoid glassware. Bring your own lawn chair or reaonsable substitute.
Bring a chip-type item that can help the beverages flow. Bring your own
sign that says "Honk and We'll Drink!" Wear your wife beaters and flip
flops or just generally dress white trashy. Somebody should bring some
type of really crappy radio so we can listen to country music or hog
prices or baseball games.
The dog will be in attendance as any gathering of white trash folks would
definitely have a dog.

Friday, May 13, 2005

Makin' Music for Money

This is the lead-off track from what many believe to be Buffett's first album. In fact, A1A (1974) was his third; the first two were on an obscure (and now defunct) label called Barnaby Records. A1A is probably the most quintessential "buffett-esque" (meaning "dirty" country, tropical/Key West references, etc..) collection until One Particular Harbor in the early 80's. I think about this tune alot. Though it doesn't refer to exactly what I do, the principle of music as priority remains.

Makin' Music For Money

By: Alex Harvey
1974

When I woke up this mornin'
I was tired as I could be
I think I was countin' my money
When I should a' been countin' sheep

My agent he just called me
And told me what I should be
If I would make my music for money
Instead of makin' music for me

Chorus:
I said, "I know that this may sound funny
But money don't mean nothin' to me
I won't make my music for money
No, I'm gonna make my music for me"

He said, "The people only buy the love songs
Rock n' Roll that's not too long"
He said, "Son, you got to be commercial
If you want to turn the people on"

And I said, "Turnin' on the people,
Now that's a beautiful place to be
But if I spend my time makin' them up a rhyme
Well, hell, who's gonna turn on me?"

Repeat Chorus:

Well now I went up to Country
And I'll tell you all about the scene
I found a place with much charm and much grace
That wasn't touched by the music machine

Whoa, the people were havin' a good time
Makin' music all day long
And nobody cared if they ever got paid
One penny for playin' a song

Repeat Chorus:

Repeat Chorus:
Whoa, I know...

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Brain dead

There's so much activity going on here right now: so much to get done before the end of school; so much to plan before taking vacation; so much! I have hesitated to post anything for a while because I wanted to really devote some time to something meaningful.....yeah right. Given this time, place, and circumstances, tough nuts. Ain't gonna happen. Any mental or physical energy I have at the end of the day now, I just want to call and talk to the lovely young woman or just completely tune out and watch one of the "Family Guy" episodes I've recorded on TiVo.

May 23rd I'll be on the road (starting at midnight until about 4pm eastern) and travelling home toward my 4 week cultural reimersion in glorious Dixieland. It's time I made some coastal confessions and have a good sweat in the Carolina sunshine. A definite bright spot of this respite will be seeing a number of you.

This has been a stretch to put this much together. Anybody need anything from Wisconsin? I can pick it up for you.

PS: If you think about it on Monday the 23rd, give me a call while I'm on the road.