What A Wonderful World

Got off work this morning, had a kinda crappy night, and I got in the truck and this song was next in line on my CD.

What A Wonderful World

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shakin' hands, sayin' "How do you do?"
They're really saying "I love you"

I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself, what a wonderul world
Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world

Not the Louis Amstrong version, which I love, but a versoion that I think is just as strong. It's the version by Joey Ramone.

Joey Ramone covered this song on his last album called "Don't Worry About Me". He recorded this album while he was dying from cancer. I believe that it is one of his best albums ever. He knew he was dying, yet he put out a very positive album, very full of life and very moving. Especially this song. I think he made a very good choice in covering this song. It lets everyone know that he had come to terms with the end of his life and that he could just look around at the beauty that filled it.

Great song. I recommend anyone to find it. Download it, buy it. Just find it. It's great.

Gotta Go

Kenny

To drink or not to drink.... Not really a question.

I'm just wondering. Why do people just assume that people like to drink? And why do they appear shocked when you tell them that you don't? I just don't get it.

What drives my pondering was a short discussion I had at work last night with a guy on my crew. Here's how it went (the time was about an hour before quitting time, so approximately 6:30 am):

Him: Boy oh boy, that cold beer is going to taste good.
Me: (shake head) "nope"
Him: What? You don't drink?
Me: Nope.
Him: Then you must smoke up? Do a little weed?
Me: Nope. Don't drink or smoke. Got no problem with anyone that does. I just choose not to.
Him: You've never drank? Why not?
Me: I drank for a very short time when I was like 21. But none since. I just can't stand the taste of it.
Him: Really???? Hmmm? (while giving me this odd distrusting look)

Now, as I said, I've got no problem with people who smoke up or drink. That's their choice. Not the wisest choice, but theirs to make.

I just don't understand why people can't understand why I made my choice. Alcohol tastes like shit to me. And, truthfully folks, it's a poison. The only thing keeping some people alive are their overtaxed stomachs and liver. And, the money that some people spend on their habits, I can use for something a bit more constructive.

This isn't the first time that I've had this discussion with people. It's just the first time that I've had a forum (this blog) in which to bitch about it after the fact.

Gotta Go

Kenny

Can't sleep.

It's around 1:30 am, on a Sunday morning, and I can't sleep.

It's rough working nights, because you work all week, sleeping the best you can during the day, then the weekend comes around and you try to switch gears so you can sleep with your wife at night, and what happens? You (I) can't sleep. It sucks.

Thankfully I'll be switching hours soon. Not the greatest hours mind you (2nd shift), but at least I'll be home by midnite everynite and be able to get some sleep AT NIGHT for once. I truly believe that 5 hours of sleep at night are better than 8 hours during the day.

As I said the working hours are not the best. But I'll be able to take my daughter to school and I'll be spending (hopefully) quality time with the boy at home during the day.

I will miss spending as much time with my wife (love you Nikki) and I hope that our son isn't a horrid beast for her at bedtime. That's my main fear about this change. He's a great kid, but more than a handful. I realize that I've got a short temper with him at times, but I do love him. I just really hope that this change does him good at bedtime. Maybe without me lording over him to go to sleep he'll be better able to wind down and just do it.

Nikki is more than just my wife. She's the love of my life and truly the best friend I've ever had. I couldn't make it through this world without her. She keeps me balanced, even when I'm going off the deep end about something our son has done, or something that's going on at work or on the boards I'm on online. She's there for me.

She's there to tell me to shut up and she's there to just listen if that's what I need. I'm going to miss her something terrible, since our time together is going to be cut drastically. But, she knows I love her and I know she loves me. That's all that matters.

She'll probably smack me for writing this, but oh well. It's all true.

And it's nearly 2:00 am and I keep looking at the most beautiful woman in the world to me sleep and I'm feeling a bit blue.


Gotta Go.

Kenny

Music...... Again.

Read a little something today that really bothered me.

As everybody who knows me, or who reads this regularly (yeah right, who am I kidding), knows, I like music, mostly of the heavier persuasion. But, I do like other stuff, despite my wife's insistance to the contrary.

Anyway, as I stated, I read an article today that bothered me. While reading the articles at Blabbermouth I read a story about Korn. Now Korn isn't my favorite band. I liked them alot for their first two albums, then they lost their luster and became secondary to other music. I saw them a couple of times on their first couple tours, they put on a great show. But, now for the thing that bothered me. Recently they lost one of their guitarists to religion. More power to him. If that's what he needs, good for him. That's not what bothered me today. They've announced his replacement. His name is Rob Patterson. He used to play in the band OTEP. They are a decent band, not my favorite but not bad. Good at what they do. Anyway, that isn't what bothered me. Here IS what bothers me. While on tour with Korn this replacement guitarist WILL NOT BE ON STAGE. He will be playing from offstage, unseen by the crowd.

HOW FREAKING LAME ASS IS THAT???? I don't understand it. Why, in any stretch of the imagination, would Korn think this is cool?

Why would the guitarist agree to it? For the money? Screw that.

Korn is just lying to themselves and the fans that will be there to see them. If you are going to have 4 musicians and a singer performing, they damn well better all be on stage.

I couldn't, as a guitar player myself, agree to this. This guitar player has spent, most likely, years perfecting his art. He deserves to be on stage with the other musicians performing. Receiving the adoration of the fans. And showcasing his ability. He didn't spend years holed up in his bedroom and practice rooms, just to end up holed up backstage, performing to the stagehands, who are too busy to care.

Korn, you really need to do the right thing, as a band, and put him out front, with the band. He deserves your respect. If you think he's talented enough to play FOR your band, he's damn well talented enough to play IN your band.


Gotta Go

Kenny

Music

Not much new music is making it's way into regular rotation in my CD player. I'm not sure why. Even the new Clutch, "Robot Hive/Exodus, hasn't started being a regular play. Clutch is one of my favorite bands, but for some reason this new album isn't hitting me like their last one did. It's not that it's a bad album, it's just not nearly as good as "Blast Tyrant". "Blast Tyrant" still gets played a bunch. That album is purely amazing. If you haven't given it a listen, do.

The new Pro Pain, "Fistful Of Hate", is a great album also, but not really getting much play time. Again, not sure why. Pro Pain is a great band. One of the few that I find to be just as good on the CD as they are live. But, for some reason, this new album just isn't getting played.

What is getting played? The latest Lamb Of God, which is around a year old by now. "Ashes Of The Wake" is Lamb Of Gods greatest album so far, and my choice for greatest metal album of the past 5 years. "Blast Tyrant" by Clutch is still getting it's spins. I'm listening to a bunch of older Pantera stuff. I think this is probably my way of dealing with Dimebags death. Listen to his amazing playing and just come to terms that he's gone.

That's pretty much it for what I've been listening to. I think I'm in a rut. I think I just need to force myself to start listening to some of this new stuff. Put away the older stuff for awhile and see if one of the newer ones hits me.

Cheap therapy.

Gotta Go

Kenny

Moody? Me?

Briefly,
Annoyed, angry,blue,crazy,happy,pissed,joyous,pensive,wierd,difficult......

All describe me these days. Don't know why. Just does. Whatever. Lots of stuff and nothing.

Moody? Me? Nah.

Don't ask my wife though.

Gotta go to work.

Take care everyone.

Gotta go.

Kenny

New job.

Well, I got the job that I had bid on. Not sure yet when I'll be switching shifts. Hopefully it's soon. Sometimes it takes awhile for the changes to happen at work. They have to fill my position, then they have to fill the position of the person who takes my job and so on down the line. So, who knows. I just know I'm ready.

Gotta Go

Kenny

4 O'clock

That's the time of my interview today for the second shift position I bid on. I really hope I get it. I'm really burned out on my current position, been doing the same job for around 5 years now. Time for a change I do believe. I'm also really burned out on 3rd shift right now. When I first started with the company I got hired on on third shift. I worked it for around a year and a half that time. I don't remember it being this rough on me. Now I'm getting around 5 hours of sleep, average, per day. Not enough for this guy. It's really taking a toll on me. I know I'm way more cranky because of it. And I know I tend to take it out on my family way more than they deserve. Hopefully changing shifts will help me get enough sleep to level my moods out a bit.

Or, maybe, I'm just naturally cranky and their isn't a damn thing I can do about it. :)

Take care everyone.

Gotta go.

Kenny

Job stuff, again.

Bid on another position at work. Interviewing for it sometime this week, hopefully.

The only problem I have is, it's a second shift position. I know I can do the job. The hours are horrible for someone with kids in my opinion. But, if I want to get out of the drudgery of my current position, I need to take some risks. Hopefully it won't affect family life to badly.

Can't think of anything else to babble about.

Gotta go.

Kenny

London

Wow. Don't know what to say. It's been a crazy day.

Last night I wasn't feeling well, so I took the night off from work. Get up this morning to find that London was attacked. Went looking for online friends that I knew were in or around London. Thankfully everyone's OK. If you see this Maz I hope you get home when planned. Looks to be a rough week for travel out of London.

Watched the news all day. Very tragic chain of events. They knew what they were doing, that's evident. I don't think anyone has ever accused the terrorists that pull off these attacks of being stupid. But their level of hatred and vileness is beyond me. I just don't get it.

Another thing I noticed, when you watch some of these news channels, they have the anchors sitting in front of windows facing on an active street. People were walking up and down the sidewalk looking in the windows trying to get on camera. Waving their arms, making stupid faces and just generally acting foolish. Does the average American not realize what's going on in the world? Here we have a news anchor doing his job, reporting on some very tragic events and we have a bunch of idiots in the background jumping around looking like morons. Kinda detracts from the solemness of the reporting.

Gotta Go

Take Care

Kenny

My son is out to get me.

Had a great weekend. Spent it with good friends. Had a fabulous time.
Went to a hotel here in town and spent Friday night and Saturday with them. They have two kids also, a boy and a girl, and our kids get along wonderfully. It was good fun had by all. Though, 10 minutes after getting in the pool on Friday evening my son bashed me in the head with a pool toy, giving me a nasty head wound. Yes, I did somewhat cause it. But, roughhousing isn't supposed to get the daddy hurt. Is it? I just think my son is out to get me.

Anyway, Sunday we went over to these same friends house and had dinner. We were then supposed to go shoot off fireworks outside of town with them, but it ended up storming and that got canceled.

Today, Monday the 4th, we went back to their house and had a bar-b-que and hung out with them some more. Great people, great fun.
Tonight we went to the river to watch the cities annual fireworks display. I'm not a big fan of fireworks, but I sat through them. The big fun was getting to watch and listen as a couple got in an arguement in front of us. In between fireworks explosions you could hear him yelling at her. Big fun. Nothing more American than watching a redneck idiot scream at his wife with the flash of the fireworks serving as punctuation. Brought a tear to my eye.

Gotta Go

Kenny