A Book Review....... of sorts

My daughters bought me some interesting books for Mother's Day this year. One was a book of drink recipes...yes the alcoholic kind. The other was Screw Calm and Get Angry (resigned advice for hard times), pictured above.


I am not quite sure how to take these gifts. The daughters know me too well? Or not well enough. I have a feeling it's the first. Either way I got a good laugh out of this book, although some of the quotes are thought provoking.

The book is divided in sections, Politics, Politicians, The Art of Politics, Democracy, Work, Stupidity, Money, Business, Banks, Debt, Life, Civilization, Happiness, Unhappiness, Deceit, Hypocrisy, Morality, Rat Race, Curmudgeon, Anger and Protest. Phew, all very relevant topics over the span of human existance.

Each page contains one quote and the author's name, if known. It is an easy read and fun to just skip about randomly. Below are a few of my favorites....

From Politics:

"Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first." Ronald Reagan

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it, and then applying the wrong remedies." Groucho Marx [a favorite of mine]

From Politicians:

"We hang thieves and appoint the great ones to public office." Aesop

"Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks." Doug Larson

From The Art of Politics:

"If you can't convince them, confuse them." Harry S Truman

From Work:

"Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?" Edgar Bergen

From Money:

"The easiest way for your children to learn about money is for you not to have any." Katharine Whitehorn

From Banks:

If you owe the bank $100, that's your problem. If you owe the bank $100 million, that's the bank's problem." J. Paul Getty

From Happiness:

"Happiness is a perpetual possesion of being well deceived." Johnathan Swift

"What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I had realized it sooner." Colette [a thought to consider]


So how have you been?

Success....

Scored my tickets for Beady Eye... soo excited [see previous post]. It will be cold waiting in line but with GA tickets I want a great spot to HEAR and SEE the band.

Tomorrow tickets go on sale for Mat Kearney I have seen him before as an opening act but this time he will headline. When I listen to his music I don't skip ANY songs.

Undeniable


What acts do you want to see in concert?

picture source

Sooo Excited.....

As my regulars know [if I have any left] I love music and live concerts [my list to date]. I go to as many as I can...and can afford. I saw Augustana earlier this summer, and the music was great, but there was a bit of disconnect since their interaction with the crowd was minimal. I don't necessarily like overly chatty acts but some give and take lets me know they appreciate us. I also have tickets to see Motion City Soundtrack, one my youngest favorites. We will also be seeing Maroon 5 with Train and Foo Fighters in the fall. I am not a huge fan  but I hear they put on a great show and it wouldn't be the first gig to convert me. [Green Day]

Why am I sooo excited? Beady Eye will be playing in Boston at the House of Blues. Beady Eye is Liam Gallagher's band, basically what is left of Oasis since they broke up. [brother Noel quit the band] I am a huge Oasis fan and was lucky enough to see them in Madison Square Garden. Our seats were in the rafters but we could hear the band, and with a few beers I was happy.

I knew they were touring and playing NYC. I looked up the venue to see if it was "doable", it wasn't. I follow the band on Facebook and twitter and when I read about the Boston date, my heart literally started beating faster.... I know........ I know. I have already figured out where I want to stand at the gig. The House of Blues is a great venue, small yet big enough to have a great atmosphere.

The tickets go on sale Friday at 10am......... I will not be taking any calls, texts or tweets.

[check out the links for my reviews and pictures]

Enjoy some of my favorite Beady Eye songs below.

Kill For a Dream


The Roller [definitely shows Liam's love of Beatles]


Four Letter Word

What I want to be when I grow up....

When my youngest daughter was little she was infatuated with cement trucks and cranes. She would tell people she was going to be a crane operator when she grew up. When they were building a new research building, where I work, we took her to see the crane being used. It was the tallest one I had ever seen. I thought it was cool too. She is almost 17 now and instead of cranes is in love with boys and video games, but the memories are good.

I'm not sure when my fascination with large equipment started but I think it would be a great job to operate a bull dozer or crane or back hoe. The power these machines have would be liberating. Think of the aggression one could get out pushing and hurling dirt around.

I remember reading an article in the news paper once when the Big Dig was still going on in Boston. [a hugely controversial project] Someone in the article suggested they use the site as an adult amusement park and let people pay to play around on the equipment. What a great idea that would have been. The project is finished and alas no play ground. [still not sure driving around Boston is any easier]

What would you want to do if you could start over? What is your whim?