Some Catching Up

I learned yesterday that my insurance is going to pay a significant chunk of the repair costs of my "wreck" some two weeks ago.  They're also going to pick up my lodging and the costs of the rental car.  The ball joints themselves are considered "maintenance" items and they're not covered, and I really have no quarrel of any with that.

To be honest, I didn't think they'd cover any of the repair at all.  I went in to office of my State Farm agent to get reimbursement for the towing.  I didn't know that they'd cover some of the damages under the "collision" coverage.  The word "collision", to me, suggests two vehicles colliding and causing damage to each other.  My collision, so to speak, was with US 95.  Anyway, the check is on the way, and kudos to State Farm for coming through.

As for the aborted trip, well there's been a lot of bad weather in this part of the country as well.  California got hit with a series of winter storms during the week that I would have left, and I would have arrived yesterday, with the inclement weather affecting Arizona.  We had steady cold rain for a good part of yesterday and the mountains to the north have a good dusting of snow (the mountains to the east are under cloud cover but I'm sure there's snow there too).  It's in the upper 30s outside as I write this, unusually cold for Tucson but not unprecedented.

In the meantime, we have one more night of madness left to contend with, then it's all over.  We can get back to normal.  I'm staying in tonight, and will probably listen to the police scanner as I find out where the drunks and crazies are.  I'm not going to blow $40 so that I can go out and drink in a bar tonight.  If I want to, I can knock off some Guinness here at home, or maybe some wine.  But that's it.

I guess I could have the TV on tonight.  The Sci-Fi Channel is running a marathon of commercials all day long today, interrupting it every now and then for three minute excerpts of The Twilight Zone.  The History Channel has a marathon program of "Pawn Stars" or "American Pickers" or something like that.....they just won't do history programming anymore, and that's a shame, because back when they did they were giving me a reason to sign up for a satellite package.

I don't have much in the way of reflections as this year ends.  It had some great moments and it had some disappointments.

As for what I want to do next year, I haven't bothered to figure that out.

Meantime, here's a picture of my "collision":

No Christmas in San Jose this year

Early Sunday morning I started my road trip to San Jose.  I left my driveway at 1:30 AM, or maybe it was 2:00 AM.  I popped awake, full of adrenaline, and was eager to get going on my annual Christmas road trip.  Initially my biggest concern was traffic delays at the Hassayampa River bridge on I-10 as that the Arizona Department of Transportation was warning that 90 minute backups were expected at peak travel times.  So, it was either start then, or take the long way 'round using US60 thru Wickenburg.

Anyway, I crossed that bridge in the early morning hours, and continued on.  Inclement weather in Southern California was in the forecast, and the L.A. radio station I was listening to was warning that the Southland would be getting their worst pounding in ten years.  I had already made the decision to turn north at Quartzsite, cross at Parker, and then catch I-40 at Needles and to do what I could to make Barstow or Buttonwillow or some such something town with a reasonable motor lodge.

I stopped off in Quartzsite for a quick breakfast of two hot dogs (OK, so I like hot dogs better than "normal" breakfast.....so what?) and for gasoline.  I noticed something not quite feeling right with the right front wheel, as if it was mushy or something.  I got out, thinking I might have had a flat, but it looked normal, so I was back on the road.  It acted normally then, so I thought nothing of it for the next half hour or so.

I crossed at Parker, and some ten miles later I was at the junction of highways CA62 and US95.  The steering wheel seemed to shimmy somewhat upon leaving the State of California Agricultural Inspection Station which is at that junction, but then it behaved itself.  I remember thinking, did it always act this way? 

One mile after that it happened.

I'm zipping up US95 at seventy miles per hour, when there was this jolt, like I had hit a pothole.  The right front of the truck dipped down somewhat and it wasn't steering any more.  I went along this nice long 200 foot skid thinking I had had a blowout, and that I was in the process of losing my rim.  It wasn't good.

Well, it wasn't a blowout.  I got out and saw that the tire had separated and had buckled underneath the truck.  By doing so, it protected the truck from undercarriage and body damage, but it was still not good.  I mean, I'm looking at my destroyed front suspension and brake fluid leaking along the roadway, and noticing this nice gash in US95 that's going to be there for a long time until someone comes along to repave it.....and it was recently repaved too!

For a few minutes I stopped to process my latest problem.  I wasn't quite sure what to do.  I had my cellphone on me, which these days is a necessity, and I called 911.  The dispatcher arranged for a tow truck, and within ten minutes an officer of the California Highway Patrol was on the scene to render assistance.

The CHP officer was a cool guy.  He set up cones to divert traffic away from my truck, as that I was only halfway off the roadway and his attempts at pushing me off didn't work.  We conversed about a number of things.  He told me about some pursuits that he had been on, with one of them having ended right where we were.  There was another one that started in Arizona on I-40 that the CHP had to take over when the big rig being pursued crossed over at Topock.  The Arizona Department of Public Safety had spiked the tires, but the big rig continued on that put a gash in eastbound I-40 that lasted for several miles.

Anyway, my truck ended up being towed to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, which is where I am at as I am writing this.  The guys at the Toyota dealership already have been able to fix my truck, and I get it back tomorrow after they've had a chance to road-test it themselves.  I have spent the past three days here in LHC, known for being where the old London Bridge is now at, and tomorrow I get to go home.

There won't be a Christmas in San Jose this year.  It will take me two days to get there from here, and by the time I'm there it will almost be time to drive back.  Plus, northern California right now is being slammed by some bad winter storms, my mother has a severe cold that she doesn't want to give to me, Chip has the flu which he doesn't want to give to me, my sister and niece are in Lake Tahoe with my brother-in-law, and my inclination tomorrow is to return to Tucson where I can sleep in my own bed.

These are no doubt circumstances that are somewhat more adverse than what I'm normally used to dealing with, but I find myself in good spirits.  I am grateful to the Good Lord for commanding His guardian angels to watch over me throughout my wheel coming off, because had this happened on the interstate surrounded by traffic......well.......I might not have lived to have posted this entry.

I'm going to call this one of the best Christmases I've ever had........ because I'm still here.  There hasn't been one like this since 1978, when I survived an armed robbery that was, if I'm not mistaken, 32 years ago as of tomorrow. 

What more can I say?

Stay safe, everyone.

Odds and Ends, 11/27/10.

Our hunting trip was cut short the very next day.  When we woke up the next morning, we discovered that Todd had a flat tire on his Explorer, so we went out in my truck.  We returned to N-O Canyon but this time there weren't any wildlife sightings.  We went back to where we were staying, Todd changed the tire, and we called it a year.

We do know that we want to hunt that same unit again, and I'm sure that will be choice #1 on next year's tag application.

* * * * * * *

Thursday was Thanksgiving, and I was up and Todd and Annette's.  We had a really good time.  It's too bad that this holiday only comes around once a year.

Annette did a fantastic job on the turkey and the rest of the meal (with some help on the stuffing from daughter Amber).  Me, all I could do was bring a bottle of wine and a pumpkin pie bought from the catering company who services our cafeteria.  Both pie and wine were good too.

We also watched some football.  I'm not much of a football watcher, but the Saints/Cowboys game was holding our attention.  By all rights the Saints should have wiped up the field with the Cowboys, but that's not how it happened.

Both teams made their fair share of mistakes.  I could tell that the winner was going to be the team that did not make the last mistake.  It went down to the wire, but the Saints pulled it thru.  They nearly beat themselves.

I'll say this for the Cowboys:  they put up a good fight.

* * * * * * *

With Thanksgiving behinds us, the retailers are already reminding us that it's time for us to go out and buy gifts for everyone else.  Turkey Day itself was chock full of ads reminding us to get our wives/girlfriends diamond jewelry and a brand new luxury car in the driveway.

Right.  Like we've all got that kind of money.

I guess in a way we do; we can run up charge cards and debt like crazy, creating money out of thin air, and worry about the consequences later.

After all, it's what the government's been doing for years.

* * * * * * *

I have continued with the science fiction reading.  I'm on the third book of the "Caliban" trilogy by Roger MacBride Allen.  It's a series of novels set in the Asimov universe, with the story outlines themselves having been blessed by ole Isaac himself before he left us.

I'll admit there was a bit of trepidation on my part as to whether or not I should read these.  When I was in Portland, I picked up the first of the trilogy (I already had the other two) and I started reading it there.  I was engrossed in it; I had the first one finished in two days.

I've since read the second and I'm well into the third, and I'm enjoying them.  I don't think these three books are in print right now, but if you're an Asimov fan you'll want to pick them up.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.

* * * * * * *

There are a few undercurrents of a rather personal nature that are right now churning beneath the surface of what has been a relatively calm sea in my life.  I won't say what's on my mind right now or fill you in on what's been going on.  I am blessed to have the counsel of my friend Mark in this matter, and I'll be drawing upon a few others before this latest situation runs its course.

What I am learning is that life can and will present you with situations where it is a bit of a challenge to make up your mind on some things.

Regardless, I am content with my present situation.

Again, if I may steal that line from Randy Bachman, "That's what it is."

You know, I really identified with some of the songs he wrote/played with BTO in 1975, and I'm identifying with that new one that's now with us some 35 years later.

I couldn't have picked a better band to be a fan of back in my high school years.

* * * * * * *

I probably should write the Christmas letter tomorrow, but I'll be honest.  I don't feel like doing that just yet.

I instead want to get my .25-06 out to the rifle range for some target practice.

* * * * * * *

I'm done now.

Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat.

Deer Hunting, Willcox AZ

Todd and I are in Willcox, Arizona this evening.  We drove down yesterday and checked into the Days Inn and this morning we were out looking for deer.  This is our first time hunting in Unit 32, and we like what we see so far, even though we didn't spot any bucks.

We decided to check out the Allen Flats area, and spotted a doe and her yearling fawn crossing at Muleshoe Road.  We watched them for about five minutes, after which they disappeared into some brush.  We continued on, pulling off at N-O Canyon.  First off we spotted a coyote trying to get a drink from a watering hole.  He changed his mind about that when he saw us.  Further up the canyon we spotted two more coyotes, both of which quickly disappeared over a ridge to the north of us.

We drove back to town for lunch, but first conversed with another pair of hunters who gave us some tips on where to locate deer.  While on Muleshoe Road near mile marker 4 we spotted a herd of antelope!  There were 20, maybe 25 animinals in that herd, and they were clearly spooked by us.....though they did stop to look back at us.  We watched them thru binoculars before they ran off.  I didn't know there was an antelope herd near Willcox.  I know there's one near Sonoita but neither of us have any desire to go after antelope, not that it matters, since Game & Fish does not issue very many antelope tags for southern Arizona.

We went back to N-O Canyon for the afternoon posting.  Hunter pressure there was light.  We glassed the southern facing slope extensively but no deer were sighted.  Right at sunset I spotted a coyote.  I'll never forget that sight.  He was silhouetted right against the skyline.  He was a good 600 yards away and I never would have seen him without optics.  He was scoping out the area too.  He disappeared and then re-appeared, though that second sighting might have been a second coyote.  I think there's a good chance that it might have been that same pair we spotted earlier this morning.

Deer season continues thru Thursday, though tomorrow will be our last day out.  Todd needs to get back home tomorrow night, so tomorrow afternoon's attempt will be last until next year.

From a wildlife sighting standpoint, it's been excellent.  I'll admit that I'm glad that we were out there again this afternoon.  Seeing the coyote(s) at sunset was a neat experience.  Yeah, I've seen more here than I can remember, but seeing one out in the wild like that is something you'll never forget.

I'm tired, so I'll sign for now, but not without mentioning two restaurants in Willcox.  One is La Salsa Fiesta Mexican restaurant.  That's right off of I-10, exit 340, Rex Allen Drive.  It was my second time there and last night's meal was one of the best Mexican I've had in some time. 

This evening we went to Big Tex's BBQ near the intersection of Maley & Haskell (Haskell is the old Arizona 86 that served as the main drag in the pre-I-10 days).  I had the Albuquerque Burger and it was a good choice. 

OK, I'll mention a third place.  There's that pie place north of I-10 and its name escapes me as I write this.  Their pies are too good to be legal.  I may stop off there before heading out.

We're having lots of fun, but it would be nice to be bringing home some venison.  Hunter success is about 20%.  It's a difficult state to hunt in, mainly because of terrain.  But we have fun making the attempt.

OK, this time, I'll really sign.

Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat.

Remembering Jim Clench

Jim's passing has generated a lot of discussion on the April Wine webforum, as well as on Randy Bachman's site.  Many of us fans are still in a state of shock over this, and in a funk.  A few more details have emerged.

* * * * * * *

I recently learned that I had a "Stats" tab on this blog, and I learned that my previous posting generated a lot of pageviews from Canada.  One referring site was from a blogger in Montreal who knew Jim Clench.  He had some interesting posts.  Apparently Jim was thinking of getting a band going last year, to cover some of his songs with April Wine and BTO.  They were doing rehearsals in West Island, a section of Montreal.  If I'm recalling what I read correctly, they had about 12 or 15 songs that they were going to do if their plans on breaking the Montreal club scene were to come to fruition.

Unfortunately, it never got off the ground.  Jim's sense of humor and wit were noted, but it was also noted that he was a heavy smoker.  The others involved in the project, from what I can gather, went back to doing what they were doing.

One of the posters last saw Jim some three weeks ago.  He wasn't looking too well, but he figured that Jimmy would pull out of it.  Likely at that point, it was too late.  Per April Wine guitarist Brian Greenway, Jim Clench had stage 4 lung cancer.  His bandmates did not find out that Jimmy was ill until the day before he died.

Tragically, they were not able to visit him in the hospital to personally say goodbye.

* * * * * * *

In 1974 I became a fan of Bachman-Turner Overdrive.  I was in high school, and living in New Jersey.  "Takin' Care of Business" was making several audio appearances on WABC, and when I heard that song I thought "WOW!"  I bought the 45 RPM single, took it home, and played it lots of times.

One night I flipped over the TCB single to listen to that song "Stonegates".  That was the first time I had heard a Fred Turner song.  I found myself playing that one again and again too.  I was hooked.

BTO was also making audio appearances on FM, namely WPLJ, which I was also listening to.  I was hearing some other songs of theirs, songs that weren't in the top 40.

As I said, I was hooked.  I never had a favorite band before.  I had one now.  Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

I have followed them since.

* * * * * * *

In 1977, Randy Bachman left BTO.  Fred Turner, Rob Bachman, and Blair Thornton decided to continue.  But how do you replace someone like Randy Bachman?  How do you pick up and continue after that?

They found their answer in Jim Clench.  I had never heard of him until I saw his name on the back of BTO's Street Action LP.  He was now on bass guitar, and Fred Turner had moved over to rhythm guitar.

* * * * * * *

I took the Street Action album home.  In the first track, I knew that they were getting back to their sound that I liked, the sound that they had abandoned on their Freeways album.

Track #2 was a song called "Down the Road".  That was the first time I had heard singing by Jim Clench.  I still had no idea that there had been this band called April Wine that he used to play in.  I had no idea where or how they had found him.

But I liked his singing!  It was distinctive.  Smooth.

The good news was that BTO was continuing.  And, they found the right guy to help move them "Down the Road".

* * * * * * *

In early 1979, what was then thought to be BTO's final album came out.  It was a February night, the 21st, and Bay Area FM radio was playing a new song.  It had Fred Turner on vocals, and Fred's also got a distinctive voice.  That was good news, BTO was still going.

FM radio also played other tracks off this new album.  "Jamaica", "Amelia Earhart", "Rock and Roll Nights", all of which had Jim Clench on lead vocals.  KMEL-FM was very good about giving BTO some airplay.  I was really rooting hard for them to succeed.

Unbeknownst to me, BTO was burning out.  It had been a good run.  Eight albums, nine if you count the live one that wasn't released in the U.S., ten if you count that and their "Best of".

* * * * * * *

Also in early 1979, I was hearing two songs by this "new" group called April Wine.  They were "Roller" and "Get Ready for Love".  I picked up the 45 for "Roller".  That song was sung and written by Myles Goodwyn. The B side had a song called "Right Down to It" that was written and sung by Brian Greenway.  Decent song, also a good vocalist to go along with Myles.  I thought of how this was similar to partnership that Randy Bachman and Fred Turner had with BTO.

Of course, I didn't know at the time that April Wine had started ten years previously, and had been trying and trying and trying to make it stateside.  They were well known in eastern Canada, but not here.

That was soon to change.

* * * * * * *

One Sunday night in October 1979 I was listening to FM radio.  I was in my first semester at San Jose State, having transferred from Evergreen Valley College.  I was trying to "catch"songs off the radio onto my stereo cassette deck. Hey, I was a college student, had some funds, but not enough to my liking.  I wanted to finish this tape that I had started with off-air recordings.

The announcer said something about a new April Wine song that he was playing.  I started rolling tape.  The song was "I Like to Rock", and boy was that hot!  I really got off on the lyrics; "Journey to the Stars!  Rock and Roll Guitars!"  I thought then those were the greatest lyrics ever written.  I guess I still think that now.

Anyway, a new fan was born.  That song hit me like "Takin' Care of Business" had five years earlier.

Bachman-Turner Overdrive was my favorite band in high school.

April Wine would go on to become my favorite band in college.

* * * * * * *

In early 1981, I had already owned two April Wine albums, and a new one called Nature of the Beast was released.  I ended up purchasing that.  Dang, that one was comparable to BTO's Not Fragile album!  By then I knew that there had been other April Wine albums that existed from their earlier days that could be found in the import section.  I was becoming a big April Wine fan, and I decided that it was time to go round up all those earlier albums.

* * * * * * *

On my first visit to Tower Records in Campbell after I decided to start the roundup, I noticed that in the import section there was a copy of Electric Jewels.  I looked at the personnel.

"Great Hornytoads!" as Yosemite Sam would say.  I said something different though.  Something that I can't really remember.  Jim Clench used to be a member of April Wine!  Now I really needed to round up those records!

I remember calling up Hal Liming, "Hal!  Guess what!  Jim Clench used to be with April Wine!"

I did not, at that time, buy Electric Jewels.  There were some other things going on then.  I had found my faith, I had passed a difficult placement test to get admitted to the upper division electrical engineering classes at San Jose State, and there was this girl named Pam that I was carrying the torch for.

* * * * * * *

While in some other record store shortly thereafter, I noticed that there had been a re-release of an earlier April Wine album called Stand Back.  Jim Clench was in the band and on this record.  The track listing on the back showed that he wrote and sang lead on two of them.  I bought that record along with the Foreigner 4 album which had also been released that very same day.

I didn't like Stand Back as much as the other April Wine albums, but there were some good tunes on it.  I took an instant liking to "Baby Done Got Some Soul" though.  I still like that song.  I've made some girlfriends over the years listen to it.  I made Kathleen listen to it.  I made Lynette listen to it.  And some others.

I've also made them listen to the BTO song "Madison Avenue", from their Street Action album.

Anyway, that night I went to visit Hal.  I was telling him about Foreigner 4.  And Stand Back.  We then went out to drive around some and to shoot some silly photographs of each other.  We had a great time too.  It was a Monday night in July 1981.  Monday the 13th.

That would be the last time that I would see Hal Liming alive.

* * * * * * *

Hal's accidental death the next month hit me hard.  I was out of school for the summer, working part time, and had to take a few days off of work. I didn't go back until after his funeral.  Then some time after that, I picked up Electric Jewels and On Record by April Wine, both of which Jim Clench appeared on.

I didn't like Electric Jewels very much.  I felt that a lot of the songs were depressing.  Jim did about half the vocals on that one, with some being duets with Myles.

Oh, the songs were well-executed, but the sound of it seemed a little over-produced.

I liked On Record much better, but Jim Clench only sang lead on the last track.

My regret about the On Record album was that Hal was no longer alive to share the music with.

I think he would have liked that album.

* * * * * * *

Fast forward now to 1993.  I was married, and we were in the process of moving into the new house that we had bought together.  I learned from perusing the club ads that April Wine was back!  They were going to appear at the One Step Beyond in Santa Clara.  The ad said "All Original Members", but what could that mean?  April Wine had had several lineup changes over the years.

I took that to mean the lineup that they had when I first became a fan:  Myles Goodwyn, Brian Greenway, Gary Moffet, Steve Lang, and Jerry Mercer.

Anyway, it would be my first time seeing them.  I was looking forward to it!

Journey to the Stars!!!!!!  Rock and Roll Guitars!!!!!  I could  hardly wait!

* * * * * * *

We had arrived early before the show.  My wife had been wanting to meet Jerry Mercer, as had I.  I wanted to meet all of them!  But my wife had a special liking for Jerry Mercer.  We hung around the exit, somewhere near the tour bus.  I happened to spot Brian Greenway leaving the exit and heading to the tour bus.  I said "excuse me, you're Brian Greenway, aren't you?"

Yes he was!  I was meeting Brian Greenway!  I was chatting with him, and I had brought along my copy of his 1988 solo album, Serious Business.  He asked me what my name was, so that he could personalize it.  As he was signing it, I said "you know, when I bought this, I had no idea that you would end up autographing it!" He said "I had no idea I would end up autographing one in California".

In further conversation with him, I learned that a new album called Attitude was coming out.  I also learned that Gary Moffet was not in the band this time around.

What blindsided me though, was the news that Jim Clench was in the band.

"You mean Jim Clench is back in the band??!" Boy was I excited about that news!  I was going to get to see Jim Clench!

Myles and Jimmy had not yet arrived; they were driving down separately from San Francisco.  Brian went and got Jerry Mercer out to meet us.  I had a lot of fun talking to Jerry Mercer.  I was the first American he had met who had had all of the April Wine albums.  We were rattling off all the names to them.  Then we went over to the van so that he could sign some albums.  He offered to come with us.  That was when Chip and his wife Gabriela came by.  Jerry Mercer was in our van, sitting down, and autographing some albums for me.

"Chip!  Come over here and meet Jerry Mercer!"

Chip thought I was joking.  We've played some jokes on each other over the years.  He saw a pair of feet in tennis shoes from the back of the van.  When he got there he was astonished to learn that those feet belonged to Jerry Mercer!

* * * * * * *

I didn't get to meet Myles and Jim until after the show.  I hung around with some other fans at the exit.  After what seemed like a long twenty minutes, they emerged.  I remarked to Jim, "Jim, if I had known I was going to be meeting you, I'd have brought along some BTO albums for you to autograph".  He smiled.

Neither Myles nor Jimmy were very talkative that night.  They had played their hearts out, and it was time to get on the tour bus and get on down to Fresno.  But they didn't leave us until everybody who wanted an autograph got one.

The last thing I said to Jim was, "stay in good health!".  He smiled, thanked me, and then got on.

I would never get to see him again.

* * * * * * *

Some years later I got into exchanging occasional email with Fred Turner.  I asked him once how they found Jim Clench.  Did they audition thirty or forty bass players?  What made them decide on Jim Clench?

Fred wrote back to say "we heard that he was available".  He also told me that he felt Jim Clench made a good contribution to BTO.

Some time after that, both BTO and April Wine played the same bill in Quebec City.  I asked Fred if he got a chance to chat with Jim Clench.  I wanted to know how he was doing.

Fred said that Jim looked healthy, and seemed very happy.

* * * * * * *

After the New Year's Eve concert by BTO in Tempe at the end of 2003, my friends and I were invited by Robbie Bachman to a private reception at the hotel they were staying at.  Sometime during that, I asked Robbie if he was in contact with Jim Clench.

Robbie said no; they did exchange a few words in Quebec City but that was about it.  Robbie then said something about Myles being somewhat protective of the other April Wine personnel.

Yes, Myles is the leader of April Wine.  He wants only the best to be on stage with him.  A good chunk of his life has been invested in April Wine.

Yes, he's somewhat protective.

* * * * * * *

After Jim Clench left April Wine in early 2007, we would ask Brian, via the webforum, about how Jimmy was doing.

Brian didn't know.  They had had a long friendship of about thirty years, but Jimmy wasn't checking in with his former bandmates.  We had no idea what he as up to.  April Wine was out touring, and had a busy schedule.  Jimmy was somewhere in Montreal, doing who knows what.

There was speculation that Jim Clench had become a realtor, but I doubt that that happened.  There were some posts made in jest about how he was working at a 7 Eleven, and about how he had been seen with Elvis Presley, or something like that.

We liked him, we didn't know what he was up to, but we were all wishing him well just the same.

* * * * * * *

On Wednesday we got the news.

One of Canada's finest bass guitarists was no longer with us.

Jim Clench died in a Montreal hospital at 9:30 that morning.

As one member of Randy Bachman's forum has since stated, it was a kick in the gut.

* * * * * * *

As I said, a lot of us have been in a funk this week.  This was unexpected.  A favorite musician of ours was gone.

Myles asked Brian to post this on the April Wine webforum:


The news of Jim's death has left me numb and like many others I`m sure.. melancholy. I meant Jim in 1970 the year April Wine came to Montreal from Nova Scotia. When Jim Henman left April Wine in 1971, I asked Jim to join the group which he did, and so began an amazing 19 year fraternity.

He was a hell of a bass player and possessed one of the most unique voices in rock. I had the pleasure of writing songs with him in the 70`s , although my most-liked songs of his, he penned alone... Oowatanite, Cat`s Claw and my personal fave, You Opened Up My Eyes. 

Jim was one of the smartest, funniest and most giving persons I ever met. When Jim passed, on Monday, he left a lot of friends and fans saddened. His illness was sudden, and a surprise to myself and to the other members of April Wine.. 

I`m sorry that I didn`t have a chance to personally say goodbye. Perhaps we`ll get the chance to say hello again some day... and write some more tunes together.

rest in peace Jimmy.

* * * * * * *

Goodbye, Mr. Clench.  May God give your family, friends, and bandmates strength and peace.

Jim Clench, R.I.P.

This evening I am extremely saddened to report the passing of Jim Clench, vocalist/bass guitarist for April Wine and BTO.  He had been battling lung cancer, and lost his fight with it at 9:30 this morning at Lakeshore General Hospital in Montreal.  He was 61 years old.

Jim Clench was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on May 1, 1949.  In 1972 he joined April Wine in Montreal, replacing Jim Henman on bass guitar.  He appeared on April Wine's sophomore album, On Record, and went on to contribute significantly to their Electric Jewels, Live, and Stand Back albums.  At the end of 1975, he left April Wine, and the following year he was recording demos with then future April Wine guitarist Brian Greenway.

In 1977, Brian Greenway was asked to join April Wine, and Jim Clench was asked to join BTO to replace Randy Bachman.  He appeared on the BTO albums Street Action and Rock N' Roll Nights, contributing heavily to the latter as that he sang lead on six of the nine tracks.

After BTO disbanded in 1979, he moved to Calgary, joining up with the band 451 Degrees.  After that effort, he was a member of the first incarnation of the Vancouver-based Loverboy, and after that what he did is largely unknown.

By 1992 he had moved back to Montreal, and re-joined the re-formed April Wine.  He sang and performed with them until the end of 2006, having appeared on the albums Attitude, Frigate, Back to the Mansion, Live 2003, and Roughly Speaking.  Shortly after the release of Roughly Speaking he left April Wine to pursue other interests.

The song that he will always be remembered for was "Oowatanite" from April Wine's Stand Back effort, though my personal favorite has always been "Baby Done Got Some Soul" which was from the same album.  He sang lead on the Bryan Adams-penned "Wastin' Time" which Bryan Adams himself did one year later in 1980.

Not much is known about his interests.  We know that he really enjoyed playing golf, and that's about it.  He was never one to seek the spotlight.  He was well liked by both April Wine and BTO fans, and those of us who are fans of either or both of these bands are right now in a state of shock over this.

In his honor, I am including some YouTube links with some of his songs.

R.I.P. Jim.   You are already being sorely missed.

Oowatanite

Baby Done Got Some Soul

Don't Walk

Jamaica

Rock N' Roll Nights

Weeping Widow (Live, August 2003 concert, from an audience member)

You're Gonna Miss Me (and we're gonna miss you, Jim)

Are You Part of the Problem?

Here we are, just one week away from the midterm elections of 2010.  I think that these elections are the most anticipated since the 1994 midterms.  No matter what your political persuasion is, I think you'll have to grant that  next week will see a sea change amongst the electorate.  I have not seen this level of anger since 1994; I myself have not had this level of anger since 1994; however there is one significant factor in this midterm that did not exist in 1994:  and that is, the Tea Party Movement, as they are called.

The Tea Party is not a political party in a strict sense that the Republicans or Democrats are.  Yet they are a movement that has galvanized millions, and inspired people from all walks of life to run for office for the first time in their lives.  The Tea Party is ridiculed by the Democrats and the so-called "Mainstream Media", but what you are not being told by either the Democrats or the MSM is that both entities fear the Tea Party.  And they're not the only ones.  The Tea Party movement is also feared by the Establishment Republicans, and likely more so.  Make no mistake, the Tea Party is here, the Tea Party is real, and the Tea Party means business.

Whether or not you agree with them, I think you'll have to agree that one week from today, you will have an opportunity to bring about real change, provided of course, that you're qualified to vote.  I am not going to, in this post, tell you how to vote in terms of specific candidates, but I will make my very best attempt to give you something to think about.

Are you fed up with the direction that the country is going in?  Are you concerned about double digit umemployment?  Are you worried that your job, whatever it is, is going to be outsourced to China?  Does the amount of the federal deficit concern you?  Does the amount of the national debt concern you?  Do you know what your share of the national debt is?  Do you want to do something about some or all of the aforementioned?  Do you want to read on, and ask yourself the same questions that I'm about to ask of you now?  If so, please read on.  What you're about to read are some questions/musings from someone who is a registered independent.

Has the person that you're about to vote for contributed to our national debt?  Has that person, in Congress, voted for, at any time in his her career, for an increase in the statutory limit of the national debt?   If so, then you may be part of the problem.

Is the person that you're about to vote for, sympathetic to illegal aliens who are overrunning my state, my neighboring states, and possibly your state?  If so, then you may be part of the problem.

Do you think that in general, Congress is a corrupt institution stuffed to the gills with practicing criminals, but you somehow think that your incumbent Congressman/Congresswoman is one of the "good" guys?  If so, then you may be part of the problem.

Do you think that we need term limits, in order to ensure turnover in our Congress, but you yourself are too lazy to vote out your so-called representative?  Do you simply rubberstamp your representative back into office out of party loyalty, or because you think the person you're voting for is one of the "good" guys and not one of the "bums" that need to be voted out?  If so, then you may be part of the problem.

Did you stay home in the last election, thinking that your vote did not matter?  In that case, you're definitely part of the problem, and I would rather that you stay home next week and sit on your fat lazy ass and stay out of the way of those of us who give a damn about what's going on., and shut the H E double hockey sticks up the next time Congress does something that you don't like!

Now let's look at some other questions.

Is there a candidate, incumbent or not, who you feel accurately represents your values?  If you do not vote for that candidate, then you are part of the problem!


You have a choice next week.  It's right there in front of you.  If your choice is the lesser of two evils, and yes that frequently happens, then vote for the lesser of the two.  If you sit that one out, the worst of the two is likely going to get in.   Even if that other one is way ahead of the polls, what if everyone who felt the same way that you do shows up to vote the same way that you do?

In the meantime, get ready for the robo-calls.  Get ready for the gaffes.  Prepare yourselves for the literature in your mailbox that smears someone.  Prepare to get harassed by the exit pollster who demands to know how you voted, even though how you voted really isn't anybody's business but your own.

Before then, know this:  if you do not participate, then you are most definitely part of the problem!

To Portland and Back

Last weekend was the occasion for my annual trip to Portland.....the one in Oregon, that is.  Maybe some day I'll make to the one that's in Maine, but the one in Oregon is the one that I go to and I think I've now been there eight or nine times.

My flight left Tucson at 6:00 AM.  I took Southwest Airlines this time, mainly because Southwest doesn't charge for checked baggage.  Southwest also has the reputation of getting you where you need to go and getting you there on time, and they've never failed me in that regard.  You're not going to get an assigned seat from them, which at first I didn't like but now I think it's great that you have that option.  If you're walking down the aisle and you see some weirdo sitting at the window, you don't have to sit next to him if you're on Southwest.....unless of course, you're the last one on and that's the only seat available.

The flight landed at Las Vegas later that morning.  I've passed thru more airports than I can remember, but this was my first time at McCarran International Airport.  Yes, it's true, they have slot machines there.  I don't like to admit that I use these machines, but that morning I played a machine, set it to 1 cent plays, and walked away $2.00 richer.  You just have to know when to say when.

I found myself at PDX, that is, Portland International Airport right around noon.  I rented with Avis this time, and  I can't remember the make and model of the car that I got stuck with but I have to say that it was satisfactory in all respects except for one:  the brakes were squeaking, and with only 13 kilomiles on the odometer I figured that the manufacturer (now that I think about it it was a Chevy) has some problems with either their quality control, their reliability engineering, or both.  (OK, I have to digress.....in 2003 I was working with a former GM reliability engineer and he was the tops in his field.  He taught me a lot about reliabliltiy predicitons in digital circuits.  I don't think he wrote any books, but he should have....he knew that much).

After picking up my rental car, I made my way to Powell's Used Book Store in downtown Portland.  If you're ever in Portland, this place is a "must see".  Imagine a five story bookstore taking up a whole city block....well, that's Powell's.  And across the street from them is Powell's Technical Books, with new and used books in every technical field imaginable.  I filled in some holes in my want list with that visit (some sci-fi titles), and around 4:00 PM I was at the residence of Ken & Gillian and family.

They are all doing very well!  My godson, Alexander, is now 11.  Meredith is I think 13 this year (or will turn 13) and Felicity is 15, or will turn 15.  It's really been neat watching them grow up, and watching them practice their God-given talents on musical instruments.

The next day, Friday, saw me at Powell's again.  I know, I can't help myself in a used book store.  We have a chain in Arizona called Bookman's, and you'll see me there too, but Powell's is the undisputed granddaddy of used book stores.  I picked up a copy of Dracula which I read back in high school, and a new one called The Ruin of the Roman Empire.  I'm going to have to stop visiting bookstores so that I can work on the backlog of what's waiting to be read......and that's not a bad problem to have.

After my Powell's visit, I had lunch with Ken, and we had a neat discussion on the Universe where we discussed our beliefs in how it was created.  I wish Lynette's son Austin had been there to hear this discussion, and I'm also wishing it had now been recorded.  I could go further here, but that's beyond the scope of this trip report.

Saturday Ken and I went to the Portland Zoo, and later on we went bowling with Alexander, and Alexander's friend Gavin.  Gavin was very well-behaved, just like Alexander.  I think Alexander is hanging around with some very good people.

Sunday it was church, but on this occasion I did not get to meet my namesake.  He may have been off in Nigeria doing some mission work.  The pastor delivering the sermon though was a namesake to a famous drummer, that being Carl Palmer of Emerson Lake & Palmer fame.  Anyway, this Carl Palmer delivered a good message.

After church it was the Cedar Mills Cider Festival, which is an annual event for that weekend in October.  There's nothing like sipping on cider from fresh-pressed apples.  All of us walked back to Ken's house save for Gillian, who had to attend a church meeting.  It was a good walk and a means to burn off some calories.

On Monday I returned home, getting back here around 8:30ish.  I had to connect in Las Vegas again, and on the return leg home I walked off from this one slot machine some $4.85 richer.  Again, that was a case of knowing when to say when, but I also think that the outcome on that one would have been different in an adverse way if I had played dollars that time instead of nickels.

I've now been home for a few days, the Arizona weather is great, and we are now heading into fall.

Next weekend I'll be in Phoenix on Saturday, as that I've accepted an invitation for a Halloween party.  Costumes are optional, which is good, as that I'm not one to dress up for Halloween.  I think it's great that other people do that, but for me, well it's just not me.

I'd personally rather have people dress up for Halloween than to go out and rob liquor stores.

I think that's going to be it for now.

Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat.

Wild Animals in the Neighborhood

One thing that happens with living in Tucson are sightings of urban wildlife.  Urban wildlife sightings are much more prevalent where I'm at than they are downtown, as that I'm on what used to be the eastern fringe of Tucson.  Walks in my neighborhood will usually result in sightings of rabbits (not really native to Arizona), desert quail, and mourning doves.  Once in a while I'll see a coyote on my street.  Coyotes are notionally nocturnal creatures, but they can and will operate 24/7.  I've seen them in broad daylight, in the early morning hours (which is when I usually see them) and at night.

This morning I finally got to see javelina!  If you don't know what javelina are, they are piglike animals that are native to the Southwest.  There are javelina populations in New Mexico and Texas, and as far south as Central America.  The English name for them is "peccary" but here we call them javelina.

Javelina travel in herds, typically seven to fifteen in a herd.  This morning there were two of them.  It was daylight; the sun had not yet broken over the rim of the Rincons, but a new day was dawning and a beautiful one at that.  After I had backed out of my driveway, I saw some motion in the corner of my eye and I thought some dogs had gotten loose.

Instead it was two javelina, and rather big ones at that.  They were right next to my next door neighbor's house!  He usually leaves for work at the same time as I do, but apparently he had already left or had not yet left.  Meantime, I'm in my truck, and I'm transfixed at what I'm seeing.

The javelina went under the iron gate that the City of Tucson installed to wall off the wash that's behind my back wall.  I know javelina have been back there before but now I actually saw two of them get back there.

OK, so how do I know javelina have been back there?

Javelina like to eat prickly pear cacti pads.  When you're out hiking in the desert, prickly pear are common, and if you look closely you'll notice that some pads look like someone or something has taken a few bites out of them.  That's a sure sign that javelina live in the area, though a herd I think has a territory of a few square miles.  The prickly pear behind my back wall have been feasted upon by these interesting creatures, but it's hard to tell how recent a feeding has taken place.  The prickly pear just goes on as normal, not seeming to care that some wild animals have come up to feast on it.

There is one way to tell though if a javelina herd has recently been in the area.  They smell.  They smell bad.  They smell really bad.  They smell like skunks.

I wasn't aware of javelina smell until a few years ago when Todd and I were out hunting in Graham County about ten miles south of Safford.  We were on a hillside, and I smelled skunk smell and concluded that Pepe Le Pew had been in the area recently.  That's not necessarily an erroneous conclusion, as that we have skunks in the desert too, and I've seen them here before.  I mentioned something to Todd about it, and a half hour after that we were at my truck which was some 400 yards away.

We were fixing to leave; I think I was having a cold beverage while Todd was glassing the hillside.  (Glassing means using binoculars.....we hunters depend on specialized optics to spot game).  He said "Dave, there are javelina on that hillside!"  I took a look, and sure enough, there were, right where we had been just a half hour before!  There were about seven of them, and the apparent "boss" of the herd was the one on the far most left.  We watched them for about fifteen minutes or so.  Dusk was approaching, and they were out feeding.  We couldn't help but watch them.  I mean, how often do you get this kind of opportunity?

It wasn't my first time seeing them in the wild, and this morning's sighting won't be my last.  I've seen them in the grasslands near Harshaw, I've seen them over the back wall at a co-worker's place, I've seen them on resort grounds in the northwest of Tucson and I've even spooked one of them before while out hunting.

They can be very difficult to see in the wild.  During the day they tend to rest, and they're quite skilled at bedding down under trees, where their coloration blends in excellently well with the shadow of the tree that they're sleeping under.  It's possible to look right at one of them to not even know that they're there.

Javelina are considered game animals, and Fish & Game have a spring and fall season.  You have to get tags, and the seasons are two weeks long in the spring if my recollection is correct, and only one week in the fall.

I don't know how their meat is.  I've heard conflicting stories.  Some say it's good, others say it's gamey.

What I do know is that they have scent glands on their hind legs, which accounts for the skunk smell that they leave behind.  If you bag one, you have to cut that gland off before you field dress them.  If that gland squirts out and sprays the meat, then the meat for all practical purposes, is ruined.

Todd and I missed the boat on javelina tags this past spring, and for this fall, we decided that mule deer would be a better choice.  We should pay stricter attention to next year's seasons and get our tag applications in this time.

10/10/10

Around the world over, it is 10/10/10 as I write this.

I'm going to start off by wishing my brother Steve a happy birthday!

* * * * * * *

In Tucson this weekend, we had the "Tucson Meet Yourself" festival, which has been an annual event since 1974.  I didn't hear about this until last year, when I went with a good friend of mine from the singles group named Talena.  Talena and I went again last night, and this time we were joined by my housesitter Barb, who I also met from the singles group.

Barb called me on Friday, wanting to get out of her house at one point during the weekend to go "do something".  She mentioned the festival, and I thought yeah, let's do it, and I invited Talena to join us.

Tucson Meet Yourself takes place downtown, near the county and city government buildings.  They have booths set up with almost every kind of cuisine imaginable, from every ethnic group that's represented in Tucson.  A lot of these booths are set up by foreign students attending the University of Arizona, but other communities who are resident here get involved as well.  I saw food booths representing Mexico, El Salvador, Hungary, Greece, Croatia, Colombia, Lebanon, Sweden, Thailand, France, Denmark.....I know I'm leaving out several nations here.  I sampled an empanada from the Colombian food booth, which was manned by personnel from a local Colombian restaurant.  I didn't know that we had such a restaurant here but after that meat filled empanada last night I want to go check them out.

The highlight, in my opinion, is the Scottish bagpipe band sponsored by the Seven Pipers (? I hope I got that name right) of Tucson.  A parade of bagpipes and drums came up center aisle where the stage was set up, they got on stage, and treated us to a familiar bagpipe song which you know you've heard if you've ever listened to bagpipe ensembles.  I think it might be a national song of Scotland.

There were also some singers, dancers, a band with flutes, guitar, and percussion.  It was a real treat and a big hit with the crowd.  I saw them last year, and I definitely wanted us to see them this year too.  After that we wandered over one block, briefly watched a Cuban band, and then wandered over to another venue.

* * * * * * *

Also last night was "Second Saturday".  This is a monthly festival that started up downtown a few months back, and on the second Saturday night of each month downtown is treated to more booths, more food, street performers, and cars decorated in ways that you wouldn't think possible.  It's too bad we didn't have a camera with us!  The highlight of that was this street band called the "blahs".  They were all painted in silver paint, along with their musical instruments all painted in silver.  They stand stone still like statues, looking like statues with their paint, until someone drops a donation in the kitty.

Then they spring to life.  They play, and they sing, but all lyrics have only one word repeated over and over.  That word is "blah".  I couldn't help but think of The Gong Show; these guys would have been on it if they had been around in the 70s.

The three of us are planning on going downtown again next month for "Second Saturday".

* * * * * * *

The job situation is still unresolved, but I'm being kept busy.  I'm doing some work for a project that I did some work for in the front half of 2008.  My previous experience was a big help in landing this assignment, and the other help is that they have someone leaving the project and so I'm backfilling his position.

It is likely temporary as that funding alignments aren't done shifting, and I may find myself doing something different in three weeks.  Thus I'm identifying with the new Bachman & Turner song, "That's What It Is".  The nature of our business is in some churn right now as we're waiting for a new equilibrium to set in.  Yep, that's what it is.

* * * * * * *

It looks like I'll be heading up to San Jose for Christmas this year, and not Thanksgiving, as originally planned.  For a while I really thought I'd be having my first Christmas in Arizona since 2000, but it's easier for everyone if I come up for Christmas.

It's somewhat easier for me too, as that I will have a longer string of days off.  I may leave on the 17th again, like I've done the past two years, and arrive up there on the 18th, though it's possible I may wait until the 20th before leaving.  I don't know.

For the return, my plans are to leave on the 27th, and to stop in Barstow.  That will then give me the next day to drive the old US 66 from there to Needles, where I would stop again for the night, unless I get inspired to go to Kingman or down to Parker.

Day three would have me back in Tucson.

I've wanted to drive Route 66 for some time now, but my biggest regret about doing it will be not having company with me.  But that's my situation.   That's what it is.

* * * * * * *

Monsoon season finally wound down.  We had rain earlier this week but the clouds to the south have since stopped forming, and the temperatures are starting to ease down.  October can be a beautiful time to visit southern Arizona.

Meantime, I'm gearing up for my annual trip to Portland.  I'm really looking forward to it.

If I can, I'll check in from there next weekend.

If I can't, then this will be auf wiedersehen for now.

And don't forget to pet a dog or a cat.

Happy Birthday to Randy Bachman!

Randy Bachman is 67 years young today!

He was born on this date in 1943 in Winnipeg, and per one of his songs "I was born standing up with a guitar in my hand!".  He's best known for being the founder of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, but he was also a founding member of Al & the Silvertones, who later went on to become The Guess Who.

I was searching YouTube to see if I could provide a link to one of the songs off of his Axe album, which was recorded in 1970 (and also one you'll want to pick up if you stumble across it), but can't find any.

So, I'm going to leave you with another one of his tunes.

Undun (Live)

Bachman & Turner!

After a week of turmoil on more than one front, I couldn't have asked for a better end to this week, as that in the mailbox this afternoon were the five copies of the new Bachman & Turner CD!  I haven't yet listened to all the tracks (I'm listening to it now as I type this) but I can already recommend this as a "must purchase".

The first thing that leaps out at me was how the essence of the 70's heavy duty rock has been captured by this.  There's a definite Hendrix influence on "Moonlight Rider" and a Not Fragile influence in the leadoff track "Rolling Along".  "Rolling Along" has been described as the "sequel" to "Roll On Down the Highway" and "Slave to the Rhythm" as a sequel to "Takin' Care of Business".

I look forward to emailing Fred Turner to tell him "well done, and can we have ten more like this please?"

Five thumbs up on this one!

On the Road....in Tucson?!

Greetings from the Coffee Xchange on Tanque Verde Road, near Camino Principal! Why am I here?

It's like this. A computer virus/malware infection surfaced on the home computer on Saturday, and after spending a lot of time yesterday trying to fight it I've decided to take it in. I'm taking a break from file backup to come out to the Coffee Xchange, so that I can download protection updates and at least keep the laptop as a viable option for maintaining what I can of being connected to that online realm we call "cyberspace".

My computer will be in the shop for a few days; they want to make sure that once the fix is in, that the fix really fixes the problem. At the worst I'm in for a complete disk wipe, at the best it'll be resolved quickly tomorrow.

* * * * * * *

On a more positive note, I placed an order for five copies of the new Bachman & Turner CD.

Yes, five copies.

One's for myself, and two others will be given as gifts to my housesitter/catsitter Barb and to my stepson Richard. That leaves two extra; hopefully I can get both those guys to autograph one of them if I can ever catch one of their shows.

They are playing in Coachella, California next month, where I can easily get to, but I'll be in Portland. Well those good people in Portland that I'm visiting are folks that I consider family, and family is more important. And Fred Turner told me several months ago that he thinks they'll play Arizona sometime.

* * * * * * *

I was about to report here that the monsoon season in southern Arizona is winding down. Rain is forecast for tonight, around midnight. We still have clouds gathering from the south and some wind gusts like it's about to start raining.

As it is, I think the monsoons are on the fade. This means that I can get some more outside painting done and perhaps a scouting run for mule deer down by Willcox.

* * * * * * *

Willcox is a small town along I-10 in southern Arizona. It's at a higher elevation than Tucson, and thus has different vegetation. You won't see saguaro cacti there.

Willcox is best known for its proximity to the Willcox Playa, which is where cranes come to visit, during the winter, I think. There's also an awesome pie place just north of I-10 that sells killer blueberry (and other) pies.

South of the freeway, on Rex Allen Drive, is La Salsa Fiesta Mexican restaurant, featuring New Mexico style cuisine. That comes highly recommended by two friends of mine and I will give this one the thumbs up too.

* * * * * * *

Willcox used to be linked to Tucson via the old Arizona state highway 86. A remnant of that old highway peels off from I-10 at exit 344, and passes to the south of Willcox until it rejoins Willcox some eight miles later. Along that strip are some buildings that used to be motels, back when 86 was the main drag thru town. I think that maybe one of them might still be in business but most of them folded, being overtaken by the chain hotels that are alongside I-10.

Whenever I drive by buildings like that, I can't help but think of what kind of stories those buildings would tell me if they could talk. They are from an era that is largely forgotten....an era of classic V-8 powered Chevrolets and Fords, and era of prosperity, an era where many of our greatest generation had been home from fighting the Nazis for a decade and were busy raising families.

The question I'm tempted to ask here, is what happened? Where did it all go?

Sometimes I ask that same question when I think about the 80s, the decade where I was launching my career and pursuing my aspirations. I'm still in my career, still pursuing aspirations, but sometimes there's this sense that some things are getting away from us, and I wonder if we'll be the better for it.

* * * * * * *

When I return home later this evening I've still got some work ahead of me, backing up photos and then getting in a little reading. Supper is also coming late as that I have not yet eaten aside from some light snacks. The computer repair place doesn't open until nine so I get a rare opportunity to sleep in......that is, to the extent that the cats will let me.

My cats are wonderful boys, but they like to manipulate the people that they own, and Moe especially can get quite vocal in the morning.

Whenever the food dish has one square inch of visible bottom surface, the cat considers the dish to be legally empty, and the cat reserves the right (and often exercises it) to let you know about it.

* * * * * * *

That's it for now. Good night.

The Saturday Evening Post, 9/18/10

There's been more than my fair share of turmoil recently.

On the job front, I'm in the process of looking for work internally within the company. We have been in the position for several months of overrunning the budget in my group, and well, those chickens have now come home to roost. It was unexpected, and I can't say that it is to my liking, but if the past is any guide I'll end up with a better assignment once the dust has fallen into place. I've already landed something temporary, and I hope to have something "permanent" lined up in a couple of weeks.

* * * * * * *

In all the confusion this week, the new Bachman & Turner CD was officially released, and I hate admitting that I haven't placed an order for it yet. I got wind that Barnes & Noble was carrying it; if they were, the nearest store is out of stock as of this evening's visit.

I'm going to have to go online to get this one, and while I'm at it I'm going to order five copies as that I will give some of these away as gifts. I've heard some of the tunes already and I can already tell you that this is going to get some heavy airplay in my household.

* * * * * * *

I booked airline tickets yesterday. Yep, it's coming up on time for my annual trip to Portland to see Ken & Gillian, and their children Felicity, Meredith and Alexander. I arrive Thursday the 14th, and return home on Monday the 18th. If I had more PTO on the books I'd make this a few days longer and visit some friends in the Seattle area.

As it is, I'll have to settle for a drive up the Columbia River Gorge on Friday (which I enjoy doing) and a visit to the small town of Mosier, Oregon.

Well, you'd go to a town that's been named after you, wouldn't you?

* * * * * * *

I have made the decision to get my house into sellable condition.

No, I am *not* planning to leave Tucson.

What it is, is that I've lived in it for ten years, and I've decided to make it look as nice as I possibly can, in case a situation emerges where I do have to sell.

A much-needed roof repair was done this week. I spent yesterday, one of my off Fridays, doing some painting on the exterior. I worked on the trim on the back patio, as that my back yard faces south, and the sun has been taking its toll on the surfaces to the south. I spent about three hours working on it and I'm pleased with how it looks so far! I figure that the next few weekends will be spent working on the exterior trim, though I'm going to have to hire part of that out as that I live in a two story house and I'll let the pros work on the second story.

After the outside painting is complete, I'll work on the inside painting, which I envision taking place during the winter holidaze. Next March I want all the carpets ripped out and new ones put in.

The dishwasher needs replacing, and the stove may be replaced too. Both are fully functional but the dishwasher door lost a spring. The stove just simply looks "old" and getting a new one that looks more modern will help bring the kitchen up to 21st Century Snuff.

* * * * * * *

I finally finished that Hitchcock anthology some time ago. The "fireball" novel was quite the story, with an ending that I wasn't quite expecting. I thought it would end with the human race on its way to a slow extinction, but that wasn't the outcome. However the human race did end up taking its toll and ended up never really knowing very much about what was after them.

I'm now working on an Asimov collection called "The Rest of the Robots". These are stories that were not originally included in I, Robot, but a few of them were included in Robot Visions.

I'm not sure what I'll read after that, but I'm sure I'll come up with something.

* * * * * * *

And now, to close this out for this evening, I'm going to present the new video from Bachman & Turner......"Rolling Along"

Rolling Along

Arizona Political SITREP, 9/4/10

The Arizona primary results have been in for several days now. I figured that I would weigh in with a report and pass along some thoughts on the results. Please note that I have never intended this to be a political blog, as that its prime mission is for people who want to know what I've been up to can find out what I've been up to.

However, what you read here is best described as, "I calls it as I sees it". I read commentaries and letters to the editor, I read emails and other blogs, but what I write here is from my perspective as a resident of the Grand Canyon State and from someone who hasn't been inside the Beltway since March of 1991.

As expected, the Republicans nominated incumbent Jan Brewer for Governor, while the Democrats selected Terry Goddard, who is presently our Attorney General. Terry Goddard can't stay as Attorney General forever as that we have term limits here, and like his opponent he's been involved in politics for quite some time.

I think Mr. Goddard is a competent Attorney General in most respects. In one respect he isn't. Governor Brewer could not trust him, as a Democrat, to fight the federal government's lawsuit against Arizona regarding SB1070, so she removed him from the legal team. Of course he raised something of a stink about that, but if he supports SB1070 then he risks losing support of the Democratic Party, and would not be well regarded by them in the event that he decides to pursue a federal office.

Anyway, before SB1070 emerged, I'd have bet my mortgage on him defeating Governor Brewer. However, SB1070 changed things dramatically, and with Governor Brewer defending it, I'd bet on her winning the race. The flip side is, is that November isn't tomorrow, there are some sixty days or so remaining in the campaign, and if she says or does something stupid then it will be a tight race.

For U.S. Senator, John McCain (Mr. Campaign Finance Reform), spent $20 million to win the GOP primary whereas J.D. Hayworth spent $2 million. I've been told, but not have not independently verified, that Senator McCain spent money left over from his run for the Presidency. We do know that he outspent Mr. Hayworth by a factor of ten to one, mainly working on a revisionist history that he's been for a secure border all along. He'll go back to fighting for amnesty on day one of the next session of Congress and will not remember the crocodile tears that he cried when that rancher in Cochise County was murdered by an illegal alien that he wants to give amnesty to.

McCain's opponent is Tucson City Councilman Rodney Glassman. Rod Glassman emerged out of nowhere, won election to the Council in a ward that's somewhere on the other side of town, a "blue" ward, if you will. Immediately upon his election there was speculation that he would run for Senator, which gathered momentum when President Obama nominated then-Governor Janet Napolitano to be the Secretary of Homeland Security, thus removing her as a challenger to John McCain.

Mr. Glassman hasn't cultivated much of a reputation for doing anything while on the Council. Once elected, he viewed himself as entitled to a higher calling, and he sought that higher calling once Primary Season was under way. He won the Democratic nomination with 34% of the vote, and faces an uphill challenge this fall. I don't normally make predictions, but I think he'll lose, as that there are several Democrats who would rather see Democrat John McCain in the Senate rather than Democrat Rodney Glassman. John McCain is an extremely vile traitorous rotten bastard who can be reliably counted upon to sabotage his own party when the Democrats need him the most. The Democrats might want to think twice about replacing him with Rodney Glassman.

Now we move over to the Attorney General's race. On the GOP side, Andrew Thomas launched a series of vicious attacks on Tom Horne, who is presently the incumbent Superintendent of Public Education. Mr. Horne is being forced out of that slot due to term limits, and thus decided to run for Attorney General. From what I can gather Mr. Horne has been a competent Superintendent, and not deserving of the smear campaign that Mr. Thomas ran against him. Andrew Thomas could not spend one minute telling us why he should be Attorney General; instead his focus was on why Tom Horne should not be Attorney General.

That was a close race, which finally resolved in the favor of Tom Horne. Personally, I would rather see him remain as Superintendent, but again, the term limits are forcing him out, which is that other edge of that double-edged sword.....you don't get to keep the people who you like in the office where you want to keep them.

I can't even remember now who the Democrats nominated for AG; whoever he or she is, doesn't have name recognition, and if I'm a bellwether then that bodes well for Tom Horne. I personally think he would do well as AG, but I'm going to have to ask myself if I'm going to be getting a good AG or a career politician for AG. If Mr. Horne wants my vote in sixty days, he's going to have to make a good case for it, although he might not have to work hard if his opponent is anti-SB1070.

For the state senate, the person who I most wanted to see win the nomination, Frank Antenori, has won the nomination. Marian McClure, who calls herself a Republican, can best be described as a McCain Democrat. She mounted a challenge to Mr. Antenori, and could only manage to collect one third of the primary vote. Marian McClure used to serve in the lower house of the Arizona legislature, and I even voted for her at one point, which I came to regret when I learned the hard way that she would never answer constituent email. She was termed out of that slot, ran for Arizona Corporation Commission, finished last in a state where the Republicans dominate, and she should have gotten on her broom to go ride off into the sunset, into the direction of California, which would be a better fit for her. I don't know what her plans are, but I would hope that she would pursue a career at Burger King bagging orders behind the counter, as that even someone like her would likely not fail at such a vocation.

Frank Antenori is facing Todd Camenisch for state senate, who I never heard of until this year, and Mr. Camenisch again is suffering from lack of name recognition. We here in Legislative District 30 know who Frank Antenori is, and we sent him to Phoenix. I plan on donating to his his campaign and it is my intention to contact his campaign to get a yard sign....which will be a first for me. I don't know yet if I'll be getting any other yard signs.

No, I did not forget the primary for Congressional District #8. I was intentionally saving that one for last.

On the Republican side, we had Jesse Kelly as the first to enter the race. He got his ads on the Drudge Report, and was out there early on to announce that he was taking on incumbent Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat who reliably enjoys support from those vile traitorous bastards who are in leadership positions of the Republican National Committee. This district is 31% Republican, 27% Democrat, the rest independent or other/no party affiliation. By all rights Giffords should never have won in the first place, but that's really a subject that should be addressed on another day.

What Giffords did do against the wishes of this district, were to vote for the so-called stimulus package, and for ObamaCare. Her "town hall" meetings this year were contentious, and she became vulnerable. She has carefully tried to cultivate the image of being a "Blue Dog Democrat", but has been an even better Democrat than John McCain has.

But getting back to Mr. Kelly, he was the best known in the race, until state senator Jonathan Paton entered the race.

At that point I would have bet my mortgage that Mr. Paton would have won the nomination. He had the backing of the Republican Establishment, experience as a state legislator, was on leave from the legislature since he was (maybe still is) a reservist who was called up for military duty in Iraq (Frank Antenori's been over there too as a reservist). That's an impressive track record.

In the final days, there was all of a sudden a campain against Jesse Kelly. We don't know who funded it. It may have come from the Giffords camp, maybe from the Paton camp, or maybe even from the Republican National Committee itself. What I can tell you is that Paton was the Establishment candidate and Jesse Kelly wasn't. I didn't vote for either one, instead casting my ballot for Brian Miller since I felt that Mr. Miller was the best of the lot, but Jesse Kelly won with 49% of the vote, and Jonathan Paton is now wondering why he didn't win, and doesn't even want to speculate on it. If he's throwing his support behind Kelly, I am not aware of it. I don't know if his backers will close ranks and support Jesse Kelly, or if they'll take orders from the RNC and throw support to Giffords.

Anyway, Jesse Kelly has won the nomination, and I think he stands a chance at unseating Giffords. If Giffords had voted against the stimulus and against ObamaCare she'd be a shoo-in, but she defied the wishes of her district and got in bed with Nancy Pelosi.

The thing of it is, is that even though conventional wisdom says that the GOP will take the House in November and may even take the Senate, we as a nation will only be marginally better off with this kind of outcome. The Establishment Republicans will be in charge, and the Establishment Democrats will be in charge of a minority party that really isn't much different.

The reality is that the Republican Party is an extremely serious threat to our national security, as is the Establishment Democrats, and as is Al Qaeda.

Al Qaeda wants to bring down the United States with terrorist attacks and nuclear detonations, taking advantage of lax immigration policies put forth by both the Establishment Republicans and Establishment Democrats.

Establishment Republicans and Establishment Democrats also want to bring down the United States, but from within. They both agree that this is best accomplished by open borders, destroying the dollar, sending as many jobs as possible to China and by appointing judges who regard the Constitution as toilet paper.

This is something to think about as you enter the voting booth in early November.

Visitors!

Yesterday afternoon my brother rolled in from Santa Fe. He lives in the San Jose area, but decided to take a vacation touring the western states and stopping off to get in some serious bikeriding. He stopped off in Nevada, again in Colorado, then New Mexico, then he came here to Tucson.

It wasn't his first time here, but it has been a long while. Cousin Todd came down last night from Gilbert to visit, and the three of us were up late last night knocking off a New York style pizza and a few rounds of Corona.

He would have stayed one more day, but needed to get back to San Jose in time to resume work. I advised him to take two days to drive back instead of one, and that San Bernardino is the halfway point between here and San Jose.

Tomorrow afternoon I'm meeting two friends for dinner at one of Tucson's fine Mexican restaurants. One is in from Pennsylvania and another is in from Queen Creek. We'll probably be there for a few hours. Then Monday it's back to work.

* * * * * * *

I'm finally at that "fireball" story in the Alfred Hitchcock collection! This time I've gotten farther into it than I did some 37 or so years ago. It's building up nicely, and I hope to complete it this weekend.

The other stories were also good, with a few of them quite chilling. I didn't remember them all but the scariest ones I did remember, particularly "One of the Dead" by William Wood and "Journey to Death" by Donald E. Westlake. The "fireball" story is called "Out of the Deeps" by John Wyndham though Google research says that this was published as a different novel called "The Kraken Wakes".

* * * * * * *

On the world scene, we have Iran starting up their nuclear capability, a rumor that Israel will strike, and I have a sense of uneasiness that something big is going to happen in the very near future and it ain't going to be pretty.

The 1970s/80s rock band Styx had this song called "Borrowed Time", and I'm now wondering if we, as a nation, have been living on it a little too long.

* * * * * * *

That's going to be it for this evening. I don't have very much else to say right now.

So What Have I Been Up To Lately?

There's been some more spare time on my hands these past few weekends than I've been used to. Yes, a new normal, for lack of a better term has set in, and there are probably a few friends and family members wondering if I'm becoming a recluse.

Well, recluse would have been a fitting term two weekends ago. I've been busy working on getting my coin collection better organized, getting some clutter taken care of, getting some projects done, some barbecuing, some reading.....actually, a whole lot of reading. What I haven't done is catch up on my DVDs though I may take in an episode of Hawaii Five-O later on this evening.

* * * * * * *

My reading selection has been short stories. Before my trip to Wisconsin I found in a used bookstore an anthology of science fiction stories written in the 1930s, and compiled by Isaac Asimov. I found myself amazed at how well written these stories are. Dr. Asimov included some commentary on these stories, as that these were his favorites when he was a young teenager working at his father's candy store. They influenced some of his writing style, and as I was reading one of them I was wondering if that's where he got the idea to have the team of Greg Powell and Mike Donovan field test robots in I, Robot. After that story he mentioned that yes, that's where that came from.

I finished that anthology some two weeks ago, and now I'm working on an anthology compiled by Alfred Hitchcock.

* * * * * * *

When I was in the sixth grade or so back in Titusville, Florida, one of my favorite places to visit was the local library, where I would check out books on a regular basis. I read lots of science fiction and lots of mysteries. I was particularly drawn to the recurring characters called "The Three Investigators", and these were presented by Alfred Hitchcock. My thinking is that he wrote them, but I may be wrong on that.

Anyway, one book that I checked out was "Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Stories That Scared Even Me". I read all of them save for the last one, which was a novel at the very end of the book. I started that story, but never finished it. It had something to do with fireballs falling from outer space and landing in the ocean. My dad read that book too, and said that that last story was the best one of them all.

Some time ago, within the past year I'm sure, I had a dream where I got hold of that book again so that I could read that one last story. Yes, it got away from me, and when I would visit bookstores I would look in the mystery section, hoping that this long out of print collection would return.

I then forgot about trying to find it until a few weeks ago. Someone put the bug in my ear that maybe I could find it on amazon.com, and sure enough, there were several used copies available from various used book dealers around the country. I selected one, ordered it, and it quickly arrived.

It's really interesting re-reading some of these stories again as an adult, some 37 or so years later. Some of them I remember well; the one I read today I didn't remember it until I got to the very end. I haven't yet gotten to that very last story, but I figure on getting there soon. I will finally get to read it, and I think I'll tell you about it when I'm done with it.

* * * * * * *

While on the subject of books, I found my original copies of the "Foundation" trilogy by Isaac Asimov. I had them all along; they were in the bookcase downstairs! Oh well, it's just as well that I was forced to re-purchase a few of them as that that's got me going again on the robots, the Galactic Empire, and the Foundation series. I am trying to get the last book I need for the "Caliban" trilogy, which was not written by Asimov, but word has it that he approved the outline before he passed away. That will at least fill in some of the "history" between the Spacers and the Settlers before the Galactic Empire came into being.

As you might be guessing, I find the concept of a long series of novels tied together to be fascinating. Once I'm done, I should probably read another trilogy that I've been meaning to do for some time: The Lord of the Rings.

* * * * * * *

Last weekend I wasn't a recluse, although I wanted to be one. I went out and renewed some friendships last weekend, and there are a few folks out there that I need to touch base with. I have a standing invitation to share dinner and company with a good friend of mine who spends half her time in Tucson and the other half in Cochise County, and I really should give her a call tomorrow.

* * * * * * *

I learned of the deer tag drawing results two days ago. Todd and I were drawn for antlered mule deer, the middle hunt, and in the very unit that was our top choice! You have to select five "hunts" to apply for, and I'm pleased that we got our top choice. It's down by Willcox, which is some 75 miles or so from here.

Once the monsoon season winds down, we're going to try to get in some scouting runs. We've seen muleys north of I-10 before, halfway between Willcox and Safford. That was from a state highway, and of course they weren't in season.

* * * * * * *

Starting two days ago, it's been legal to carry a concealed weapon in Arizona without a permit. I've been reading the newspaper and listening to the scanner.

We have not had any shootouts, nor have we had an increase in people wanting to pick fights with someone else so that they could shoot them.

What we have had is some protests over SB1070, and no one got shot at the protests either.

* * * * * * *

And speaking of SB1070, it's been largely nullified by a federal judge. As is usually the case with a law that an overwhelming majority of the population is in favor of, a minority segment of vocal malcontents go out of their way to find a judge who will short-circuit the process of legislation and enactment.

In other words, the will of the people be damned.

* * * * * * *

One argument against SB1070 that its critics like to cite is that it isn't right for a state to enforce federal law.

Well......consider this.

A sheriff's deputy stops a car for speeding down the county road. He has probable cause to search the trunk, and asks that it be opened. He finds that the speeder has a suitcase stuffed to the gills with counterfeit $100 bills.

Should the deputy simply cite the driver for speeding and then send him on his way, since counterfeiting is regulated by federal law, which a state has no business enforcing?

* * * * * * *

The Tucson Unified School District has announced that they are not going to enforce immigration law. In their view, they don't want to be the eyes and ears of law enforcement.

If that's the case, then how come they don't raise similar objections when the state wants them to report suspected cases of child abuse to the authorities?

* * * * * * *

The next time you're on the interstate, please drive in the right lane, and use the left lane for passing.

It's the courteous thing to do.

It's also the law in some states.

America's Ruling Class

Ever wonder why things are the way they are in our nation's capital? I mean, we have a ruling party acting in arrogance, passing unpopular legislation, and fearing that they're about to turned out of office they're talking about ramming more laws we don't want down our throats.

On the other side of the aisle, we have an impotent-by-design minority party with just as much contempt for you as those in charge......why aren't they doing anything? Why do they resist an opportunity to be an alternative? Why do they join with the Democrats in raising spending, the national debt, and in providing "amnesty" to those in this country illegally?

Well there's an excellent article in The American Spectator which analyzes this. It's a long read, but well worth it.

America's Ruling Class

Fred Turner Interview!

I just stumbled across this a few moments ago. It's a telephone interview with Fred Turner, discussing Winnipeg, his latest collaboration with Randy Bachman, and some other interesting insights.

If I ever make it to The Peg, I'll have to try one of those Greek hamburgers he was talking about. I'm on a diet as well, but one won't kill me, right?

LINK

Tuesday the 13th of July (Odds and Ends this evening)

I'm one of those people who can forget the name of someone five minutes after being introduced to them, yet I never forget a face nor do I forget a name that's in print. When it comes to dates, my memory is near photographic, so to speak.

Twenty-nine years ago this evening was the last time that I saw my good friend, Hal Liming, alive. I remember it; it was a Monday, the new Foreigner album was out, and I rushed out to get it since I was really big into them at that time. I also picked up an April Wine album that day, Stand Back, mainly because Jim Clench (who later joined BTO) sang lead on two of those songs. "Oowatanite" was a hit in Canada, but I've always been partial to "Baby Done Got Some Soul". If the latter were on YouTube, I'd post a link.

The world lost Hal Liming due to accidental causes on the 7th of August. I know the details, but do not feel at liberty to post them.

As for the 12th of July, it was 25 years ago yesterday that I met longtime friend Chip when I became his co-worker at Lockheed Missiles & Space Company in Sunnyvale, California. We became partners in test equipment design and remain friends to this day. We went on to write some songs together and to play in a garage band.

On the 12th of July 1995, I was in Vatican City, witness to an audience granted by Pope John Paul II. He preached a message in several languages on Christian unity, calling for it, and I have to agree in principle with such a call......however it falls apart on how that's done, and as it is, I think several denominations isn't such a bad thing in and of itself.

The 11th of July, 1988, was the first day I ever set foot in Canada. I was dating a schoolteacher from Wisconsin at that time, and I was invited to meet her parents that summer, which I did. We went off to see her aunts in Michigan, and we did a side trip to Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. I haven't been back to the Soo since, but that city holds a place in my heart for some reason. And, I scored two April Wine CDs that were not released in the United States.

The 10th of July, 1980, is remembered for a beach visit that I did near Santa Cruz, California. It was a Thursday, an average day for beaches, and it wasn't crowded.

The 10th of July, 1990, I was at a working group meeting on a Navy base near San Diego, in Coronado I think it was. It was a four day trip, I was dating the lady who became my wife, and I had made promotion to Senior Engineer even though I was not yet eligible for the five year pin.

I draw a blank for the 9th. Tomorrow is the 14th, Bastille Day, and in 1995 I was still in Rome.

The 15th? I draw a blank.

On the 16th of July, 1969, I stood on the shore of the Indian River in Florida that morning with my family as we watched, in person, Apollo 11 lift off to start her journey to the moon. Yes, I can say I've seen history, in person, in my lifetime.

If I could go back in time, I would visit Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina to watch the Wright brothers, Tombstone Arizona in 1881 to watch the Earp/Clanton gunfight, and to the Last Supper some 2000 or so years ago.

I'll stop here as far as dates go.

* * * * * * *

In Arizona politics, the last primary challenger to Governor Jan Brewer dropped out of the race, making her a shoo-in to win the primary. Six months ago I'd have bet my mortgage that she stood no chance against Terry Goddard, who is the shoo-in for the Democrats. SB1070 will prove to change that, in my opinion, as that Governor Brewer has some newfound admiration around the country for having the intestinal fortitude to sign that legislation and then fight for it.

Of course, Mr. Goddard doesn't like it, and I don't think the voters here will trust him to enforce that law. I don't see him winning, but November isn't yet tomorrow, so we're in for some more drama yet.

In my state legislative district, I learned that Frank Antenori has a challenger, in the form of Marian McClure, who was termed out of her seat in the lower house, and then lost election to the Arizona Corporation Commission. I can tell you from personal experience that Marian McClure routinely disregards constituent email, while Frank Antenori, in spite of his busy schedule, took the time to answer mine.

I plan in voting in the Republican primary, currently allowed for registered independents, to support Brewer and Antenori and to vote against McCain.

I will vote for McCain's Democratic opponent should he win the primary.

* * * * * * *

An exceptionally fine day at work today! I am blessed to find enjoyment in my job. I get the sense that I am making my lead very happy, and she's excellent to work for, and with. As my first lead at Lockheed would frequently say, "I can't believe they pay me to do this!".

I can identify my first lead as Clarence "Lumpy" Smith, Jr. Sadly, he is no longer among the living, having passed over a year ago at the age of 57. He was a great guy to work for.

* * * * * *

Plans for the weekend are slowly emerging. I'm hiring a plumber to fix a minor problem on Friday morning. I may drive down to Arivaca later that day to enjoy some scenery. I don't think I'll go out dancing on Saturday though, as that the Maverick ain't the fun place that it used to be.

Then again, I have only been there once this year, and if it weren't for some quality company I would not have gotten in some fun dances.

* * * * * * *

If you like what you're reading here, please feel free to drop me a line. I do not make received email about this blog public; if people want to comment publicly they have that option. What you say to me will be kept private, though I may acknowledge your first name only here.

Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat.