Competition

In case you haven't caught on by now I love my iPod. And I'm totally into getting music via digital downloads. I'm not one for going to stores, "shopping" and standing on lines, so the Internet delivery system is right up my alley. And to do this with an iPod you were kind of locked into the iTunes store. But Amazon introduced a new MP3 service this week, selling music that is digital rights management free so it can be used on any player, burn CD's (this does not mean you're getting free music, Joe) and use as the buyer sees fit. And they have seriously undercut Apple's price ($.89 per single compared to $1.29 for iTune DRM free). And undercutting box stores (Pink Floyd's The Wall is $8.99 on Amazon MP3, $16.73 on iTunes and $29.99 at Best Buy).

I'll have to see how this will play out but the winner for me wil be the low bidder.

New Music Tuesday

A new album from Melissa Etheridge is coming out today titled The Awakening. I went to see her a little over a year ago (the girls let me hang out with them). They had been raving about how good she is in concert, and that is no lie. There is a lot of passion in her music and her connection with the audience really brings that out. If you have the opportunity to see her perform I highly recommend it.

From the new album this is a song called Message to Myself.

New Music Tuesday

Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits fame has a new album (disc)coming out called Kill to Get Crimson. I've been sampling some of the songs on the iTunes and he has some really nice stuff on this one. I've been a fan since Dire Straits first came out in the late 70's. He has an easy flowing guitar style which I admire and enjoy listening to. It's music you can have on in the background while doing just about anything. It doesn't require your full attention to enjoy.

From this new album is True Love Will Never Fade, recorded live in Germany a few weeks ago.

It's Over

It’s been over 2 weeks since my trip to Chicago. I’ve called and left messages, sent emails and there has been no response. The agency I’ve been working with has done the same and has not been responded to (and they have other people working there and know the position hasn’t been filled). At this point I don’t think I’ll be hearing from them.

And that’s OK. They have been completely un-professional for these last few weeks, even leading up to the Chicago meeting, that if they made an offer I wouldn’t accept it. They strung me out for two months and then disappeared without a word. Cowards. The respect points they were starting to gain are gone now. I couldn’t work for someone I don’t respect.

So time to put this behind and learn from it. Rest up over the weekend and hit it hard again Monday.

Tricky

So there was a bit of good news yesterday (no, not that good news). Sitting with Scott last night, watching some TV, when suddenly he says "Oh yeah, we're going to get free lunch at school."

"Really? How's that?", I say.

"Well, the school got all the lunch forms in on time so the whole school is getting free lunch"

The lunch forms are federally mandated and provide those familys with lower incomes free meals at schools for their children. I've filled out the forms every year but my income doesn't qualify me. I explain this to Scott.

"No, the principal announced today that everyone in the school gets free lunch. For the rest of the year."

Sweet. That will save me over $500 for this school year. Glad I filled out that form on time.

A little while later Sean comes down from out of his room. We're sitting for a little while when I say "That's pretty cool that you guys will be getting free lunch at school."

He immediately glares at Scott. "You idiot. We could have been scoring that $20 he gives us every other week for lunch if you didn't open your mouth."

At least I have one honest son. Watch them as they get older, people. Your replacements are out to get you.

New Music Tuesday

Dave Matthews is another of my favorite musicians with a new album out. On this one he is playing live with his friend, Tim Reynolds, at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. I have a preference for live music recording so this one is on my short list to get. Here's the link to a new song called Eh Hee from this album.

Grrrrrrr

187 this morning. At this rate I should be good just in time to feel those heated seats.

And I'm still waiting. It's getting hard not to be frustrated. I need to start exploring more options.

New Music Tuesday

I got the day right.

This one is actually a little new. On Tuesdays iTunes sends out emails and offers a free single every week. Even though I'm not Scottish I download them every week (you can usually download the whole album at a dicounted price if you get the single). You take your chance with them, I've received a few bombs. This one wasn't bad: Jon McLaughlin(not Mahavishnu - mental note to look what he is up to these days). He's a piano-based songwriter from Indiana whose songs talk of the mid-Western life(think John Mellencamp). I can't embed the video (seems his record company requested this) but here's the link to Beautiful Disaster, the first song I downloaded from iTunes.

School Daze

Well, the boys headed off for the first day of school today. Sean is a senior and Scott is a freshman. Today they went in at the same time but that will change. Sean will have a much longer day due to extra periods of shop class. And even though they are in the same school they probably will not run into each other much. Which will be good for Scott, Sean can be a big PIA to him.

Since they have been home my weekly food bill has increased substantially. So has toilet paper consumption. You people with younguns just wait until they become teenagers.

Chris checked in, he's back from his field training. He says the base is boring, it was much more fun blowing stuff up. But they'll be going back out in mate October for 2 months of training. After the training he'll have some leave so he'll be homre for Christmas and New Years. Deployment has been put off at least until March. I detected a little bit of sadness in his voice. He said he was OK but I don't know, just one of those things a parent might feel.

One thing that puzzled me during our talk. He said he bought a guitar online through a company here in the states. They ended up shipping him the wrong one so it's being sent back. It seemd odd that he would buy it this way. Is it actually less expensive than just buying one there in Germany? We got cut off before I could find out but I will check this out with him.

Me? I'm still waiting.......

Wake Up Call?

Tipped the scale at a robust 190 this morning. That didn't take long. I guess I have to stop hanging with my new summer friends, Ben & Jerry, and go back to spinach and broccoli.

And here, all I thought I had to fix was my personality. Damn.