Eric Clapton Concert

And I was there...

I missed most of Los Lobos except the last medley of La Bamba and Doctor Doctor, which was peppy.
Sometime around 8:45 or 9:00, Eric Clapton came onstage and began a concert that was all about the music; there was no banter - at all.
Because of the big screens giving us plenty of close-ups of the guitar riffs, it was easy to appreciate the virtuosity and talent of Eric Clapton.  Not to mention the two guys on keyboard Chris Stainton and Tim Carmon, both of whom were givien multiple solos.
I found myself really getting into the flow of the song during the extended solos.
Since I'm not familiar with Eric Clapton's songs, I'm not entirely sure which songs I especially appreciated, but I think it was Key to the Highway, Hoochie Coochie Man, Old Love, River Runs Deep, Rockin Chair, and Before You Accuse Me.
Here is a link to the setlist.
I'm glad I was there with LJB and JYRG, although I drove myself because they went early and LJB is staying over at JYRG's for a couple nights.  There was some talk in the news about snow coming through again in the evening.  I forced myself not to worry about it during the concert.  I did okay with that.  And it turns out the roads were dry...yay!
I left before the encore song Crossroads because I was parked in a spot I figured would take me awhile to get out of if I waited for all the rest of the crowd to stream out.  I made a good choice - they were streaming out as I exited the parking garage and with one quick little jaunt through a neighborhood I managed to avoid much of a traffic jam.
(Although, sometimes avoiding traffic and missing the opening act isn't the most important thing; spending time with friends makes an experience more memorable.  It may have been convenient and less of a hassle the way I did it, but I missed out on bonding moments...plus, I gave into my fear of loss of control.  Sigh.)

How will I live this day?

I'll be writing about Oprah as her final season winds down, but for today I want to share what I learned in a scene shot for her Behind The Scenes show on OWN.  Here is a link to the video.  Every morning, even if its only for a moment, Oprah stops in her meditation room...

Usually before the sun comes up, I offer myself to somthing greater than myself.  If it's for one minute, or ten minutes, or twenty seconds, I at least stop in that space in my house every morning.  I have a little meditation space where I just go.  I have beautiful spiritual readings there, I light my three candles there, daily word, or something.  And I express to this greater energy field than I that I don't want to be alone as I move out into the world.

I appreciate her intention to offer herself to something greater than herself, and not wanting to be alone in the world. 
For Christians, the image might be that they're walking the steps of Jesus today.  How would Jesus want me to live this day?

For me, I want to be so free and open that the energy of the universe flows through me as I walk through my day.  In my visioning, the energy of love is in the universe and it flows around and it comes down into me through the top of my head and then comes out of me through my eyes and mouth and hands and feet and every action I take in my physical world.  That's where I create and engage and communicate - that is where the energy of love in the universe takes form, through me.
Wow - I think that will be my meditation for this morning...I like that!

You may think I have no sense of humor, I should lighten up, and I'm a killjoy...

Cover of Joe Nichols album "III"

I went out with workmates on Friday night to a country western bar where the music was really loud and nobody gave me grief for trying to line dance with little interest in learning the steps.
Fine and dandy.

Then I heard the song "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" and my prudish sensibilities were offended.

I'm lousy at discerning lyrics so I'm glad to say the true lyrics are much less horrifying than I imagined (drunken date rape).
Though no less problematic.
What do you suppose happens after her clothes fall off?

The song is intended to be humorous because it's sung from the point of view of the boyfriend who recognizes there will be more clothes to buy since his girlfriend loses them all when she's drinking Tequila.

However, drinking to excess so a person is doing something they wouldn't normally do is not funny or humorous, a phase all people go through, or anything to be proud of.
It shouldn't be taken lightly because when people drink alcohol to excess...

• they can be more easily manipulated and manipulative,
• men take advantage of women in ways they wouldn't dare to otherwise,
• mental illness is misdiagnosed,
• they could get alcohol poisoning,
• they might drive a car, risking their own lives and the lives of innocent people around them,
• fights are more likely to break out,
• relationships/families can be destroyed.

This morning, I saw an article in the NYU newspaper about how to get fake id so underage university students (and high school students I guess) can drink alcohol.
I'm sad that underage drinking (and binge drinking) is so acceptable in the mainstream there's no need to hide it.

Alcohol won't go away, it's legal, and it doesn't always ruin a person's life.
I love a lot of people who drink alcohol and may have been drunk to excess.
But I wish we could at least not act like underage drinking or being wasted at any age is something that should be celebrated, hollered and whoo-hoo'd about, or acceptable.
I wish some people didn't think they need alcohol to have a good time.

That's my opinion.

Update I: I just watched the video of the song (linked above) and I hate it even more.
Update II:  This is what REALLY happens when Tequila makes her clothes come off...not a pool party with a leering guitar player.  Ugh - I'm really hating this song right now.

Election 2012

Tim Pawlenty is OFF the presidential candidates list for me...

(this picture is from a 2010 conference appearance)

At CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) today, Tim Pawlenty said:

"We appease and accommodate Iran, Russia, adversaries in the Middle East, including Hamas, and the Muslim Brotherhood. Mr. President, with bullies, MIGHT makes RIGHT."

Uh-huh.
That's what bullies say...might makes right.
His statement was followed by enthusiastic applause from the CPAC crowd who don't want to be taxed to death but apparently don't mind using taxes to make war and cause the death of other people.

When the force of your argument can only be made with the force of your fist...you have no argument.
(I just made that up!)

Egyptian Protestors

Mohamed ElBaradei, before President Mubarak's speech today

Mohamed ElBaradei, after President Mubarak's speech

I copied this from The Rachel Maddow Show blog.

For the record, I say "Power to the Protestors". Mubarek will not resign. He wants the protestors to go home because the Egyptian economy can't handle this unrest for very long. The argument bothers me to no end. If the Egyptian economy can't handle the unrest, and it matters to Mubarek, then he will resign. He shouldn't pretend he cares about the Egyptian economy; he's trying to define the story so it seems the protestors are the disruptors. It's sad that all over the world - in the USA, Egypt, Germany, Argentina, and everywhere humans are in charge - many of us can be convinced by the prospect of a disturbance to what we've gotten used to - even when what we've gotten used to isn't in our best interest.

While I'm hoping the protests will continue until Mubarek leaves, I support the United States staying out of this as much as possible. I'll change my mind if an overwhelming military force starts killing protestors. It seems unlikely at this point, but it also seemed unlikely that Mubarek would reassert his position in a speech today.

UPDATE 2/11/2011 - And there he goes...Mubarek is no longer the President of Egypt and a peaceful regime change has taken place in the Middle East. A model for the future? Let's hope so!