A Bloy and his Blog

When I was at the grocery store today I heard someone’s cell phone ringing using Bach’s Fugue in D minor as the ring tone. I got to thinking about all the cell phones out there that use compositions by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc. I wonder what those composers would think if they could hear the music they created being played with those tinny, annoying, electronic tones. I can just hear them now… “Who’s cell phone is that?? I can’t stand that song now! Turn it off!”

Or in Beethoven’s case: “What? There using Fur Elise on that thing? Thank goodness I’m deaf.”

After my last entry ranting about cell phones, this joke is pretty appropriate.

Update: The eaglet in the eagles nest I mentioned a few weeks ago is getting bigger everyday. Today was the first time I was able to catch the eagles feeding the eaglet.

Yesterday I bought a new CD by one of the best singer / songwriters around, Neil Finn. He writes intelligent lyrics, beautiful pop melodies and he can also rock out a bit. The new CD, One All is his second solo album. Listening to music has always done a lot for my psyche and my sanity. Since Neil’s early days with Split Enz and later with Crowded House, his music has always been a big part of my “sanity maintenance collection.” It’s amazing to me that an artist of his caliper doesn’t seem to get the recognition he deserves, a least here in the United States. Hopefully he does better in his native country of New Zealand.

Last night I saw a baseball game at Miller Park for the first time. I must admit I was impressed. The retractable roof was very welcome on a cold, damp evening in Milwaukee. The Brewers even played a good game, beating the San Diego Padres 2-0. Too bad they lost today though. One of these days Major League Baseball has got to adopt some type of revenue sharing, like professional football and basketball do. It’s the only way small market teams (like the Brewers) will be able to compete. I admit I’m not the worlds biggest baseball fan, but I might be if there would be some hope of different teams playing in the World Series, instead of the same ones that keep buying championships year after year.

I spent all last week in the great outdoors, camping at Perrot State Park. It was the first time I was at Perrot and I was pretty impressed.

read the rest of: Camping at Perrot State Park

From today’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Al Gore searched twice during Wisconsin trip. First when he left the airport in Washington and the second time when he flew from Milwaukee to New York. What a perfect illustration of the lack of common sense these newer measures are from the office of homeland security. I’m sure that the former vice president was considering an act of terror on the plane, yet the possibility of a random screening dissuaded him from carrying out his plan.

Oh look, an elderly woman is getting on the plane. Make sure she doesn’t board with that crochet needle!

Sometimes I feel lucky to live where I do. Tonight after supper I took myself outside and hopped on my bicycle. Just a short three blocks away and I’m riding along a parkway, more specifically on the Oak Leaf Trail here in Milwaukee County. Just a few miles later and I’m pedaling along the part of the Oak Leaf Trail that goes through Grant Park — one of my favorite bike trails to ride on. On this section of the trail you ride through numerous combinations of woods (including a few with a delicious pine scent), open grassland and along bluffs with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. While cruising along tonight I was fortunate to see a beautiful sunset in the west and a blue heron sitting with his head high in the middle of a pond. And to think I was considering not going out for a ride tonight because it was too warm and muggy…

It’s been pretty warm and muggy here lately. Last night I decided to wait until late to get out on my bicycle and get some exercise (until it got cooler). This was about 10pm. It was amazing how many other people were out so late jogging, biking and walking their dogs. I even saw whole families with young children riding around the neighborhood on their bikes. It was a little surreal — it almost felt like I was living in a town full of vampires.

Yesterday was day two for me at the biggest music festival in the United States, Summerfest. What an excellent place to hear live music, eat great food, have a beer or two and people watch. Summerfest is yet another reason that I feel lucky to live where I do (which is about 10 miles from the grounds). I’ve been there for two days and I’ve already seen five excellent bands, the best being Guided By Voices — what a great live band. Looking at the schedule this year my favorite band name is “Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys.” Sadly (or maybe fortunately, I don’t know what they sound like) I did not see their show.

Summerfest is over and I ended up going five times this year. I must admit I thought the musical line-up was a little weaker compared to years past. Some of those same old acts are definitely due for a break next year. Seeing a group like the BoDeans headline the main stage year after year is getting a bit stale. On the other hand I did see (and hear) some great concerts. My favorites this year (starting with the best) were Guided by Voices, Midnight Oil, Femi Kuti, Train, Third World, Yellowman and R&B group Christopher’s Project. How’s that for en eclectic group? Oh, and in case you’re interested, just 352 days until Summerfest 2003.