Second Visit

Second visit to OU. This time to check out the music and aviation programs. 

 

Where’d You Park…

I was dubious. Rob Bell doesn't write fiction and especially science fiction. But I'm a big Rob Bell fan and gave it a shot.

And no joke, it's one of the most powerful and inspiring books l've read in a long time. A must read. And apparently they announced a second in this new series today!

 

Devastating. Hopeful. Inspiring. Poignant. Sad. Revolutionary.

 

All of it. In this book. Read it. So good. Sorry @realrobbell for doubting you!

The Old Days are Long Ago

Around 11:30 pm on May 18th, 1991 the Kansas Highway Patrol stopped me and my two best friends, Paul and John (who were brothers) as we were driving between Kansas City and Severy, Kansas on our way to my high school graduation which was the next day. Six patrol cars and a helicopter were involved. In the middle of the night. They thought we were carrying a dead body in the trunk of our car on I-35. A prank of ours gone wrong (no one actually died but when someone saw Paul's arm hanging out from the car's trunk they called the cops). We were cleared to go after a search and we made it to my high school graduation. It's a long story for another day.

John was always the driver. I was the idea man. Paul put the ideas into action. They were my best friends since I was five. I lived with them for three summers when my parents moved away from KC so the three of us could work at Worlds of Fun Amusement Park.

Well, John passed away last night. Cancer. Leaves behind a wife and two sons. Honestly, feels like a part of me has died as well. Rest in Peace, John. We had good times.

Oops

 

Spice

 

Blunderbuss

The Half Price Bookstore mothership location on NW Highway in Dallas is one of my favorite places on earth. I went last Saturday but I didn’t even look at books! I was record shopping and came away with another Jack White record. 

Summer Believer

Always a good day when The Believer arrives in the mail box, but especially when it comes at the end of the first week of school. Gonna relax and read a bit. 

Senior Sunrise

 

First Day

 

Fish Camp

 Freshman Orientation was a success!

Paris 2024

The Olympics ended last night. We watched the opening and closing ceremonies. We didn’t watch hardly any of the actual athletic events. I guess it has become harder to get excited when you know that the U.S. should win almost every sport they compete in because of America’s vast wealth and emphasis on sport. If they don’t win…it’s a disappointment, an underperformance. 

I used to love the Olympics as a kid. But now, I’m kinda meh. It was fun seeing Paris in the highlights.  

How Not to be a Politician

This is an entertaining yet depressing read. Depressing because it details Britain's lurch toward the absurd right of Brexiting Boris Johnson, the same path America took with its lurch toward the absurdities of MAGA. I've followed Rory Stewart’s career for 20 years and this was a sobering look at how intelligence and pragmatism became upended by the tsunami of asinine populism and the archaic political structures of the United Kingdom. What a shame that someone as talented as Mr. Stewart fell victim to the darkest impulses of a supposed democracy.

A Year of Lasts

Last Summer Band Preview concert. Senior year might be tough! 

Snoop

Never woulda imagined in my adolescence that Snoop would be one of the big stars of the Olympics. 

New Turntable

My Dad's old turntable stopped working. Seems like a power issue and I may try to get it looked at it sometime but repair on a 1983 turntable could be expensive. So I ordered a new one. Audio-Technica last month released the AT-LP70X and it looks sharp. More importantly it sounds great. Easy set up. I went without the bluetooth that so many new turntables offer this year. I thought, what's the point? If I want to listen to digital music I'll use Apple Music. For the true analog experience I went with my 1980 Pioneer that I got off ebay several years ago.

In honor of my Dad who got me into records I played one of his old albums I inherited. The Beach Boys Today! When he was fourteen years old he was grounded for buying this album without permission from his parents. Even as an adolescent my Dad took great care of his records.

I then played Weezer's Blue Album. My favorite album from college years.

And third (of course) was Lazaretto by Jack White. I bought this last week when the record store was out of White's new release. But I've wanted this one because the vinyl is unique. It plays from the label outward. An angel hologram appears when you play it. There are secret tracks under the label and one groove will play the acoustic version of a song and another the electric version.

 

Cool Lunch Box

 Saw this Sun Records lunch box at Josey Records. Pretty cool. 

Records

On my last Friday before going back to work next week my daughter and I went to Josey Records. They claim to be the largest independent record shop in the world. It is pretty massive. I was hoping to score the new Jack White album that dropped yesterday but they had sold out the 20 copies in 30 minutes. I bought one of my other favorite Jack White albums instead. 

 

Last Day

Last weekday of summer. It was a nice break. School stresses have already begun even though I’m not at work until Monday. Same-o same o. This year will be my son’s last in high school. He’s applying for colleges as we speak. My daughter will be a freshman. Things a changin.  

Aug

Well, it’s August. Hottest month of the year. And end of summer vacation soon. Ugh