Sending out an S.O.S.

Someone today said Roswell was like an oasis. I thought about it for a few minutes and came to the realization that she was right. It's just like an oasis. Think about it. If you were traveling in the desert for days, no water for you or your camel, and all of a sudden there was Roswell, you would thank Allah (or insert whatever diety you wish). You would think you died and went to heaven.

Here's the problem. When I think of an oasis, I think of an answer to my prayers as well. The difference is, when people come upon an oasis, they are usually travelling somewhere else. The oasis is great for ten or fifteen minutes. Get a drink. Rest your sore feet. Motivate yourself to keep going. It's a turning point. A show of encouragement. A sign that things are looking your way.

Another thing. Nobody is at the oasis. Ever. It's only you when you get there. No hot-dog stand. No custard. No beerhaus. Just you, the water hole and a long road ahead of you. Nobody stays there for the week or plans to relocate there.

So here I am. At the oasis. Somebody send my a stinking pizza! Maybe I'll shoot down to Dallas for Labor Day weekend. Cheers.

Man in a suitcase

No picture today...sorry. Believe it or not, my things have yet to arrive here in Roswell. The movers are exactly one week late (according to their guarenteed last day they will get here). So...I am still doing the hotel thing. I had to move hotels though from the Best Western to the Frontier Motel, a definite move down. I don't think I have internet there, so posting a picture might be difficult for the next few days. The movers told me they should be here Thursday; I won't hold my breath.

In other news, the semester started yesterday and I have now met with all of my classes. So far so good. The students here seem very nice and willing to work. All of the classes but one laughed at my jokes while the other class just kind of stared off and thought I was nuts (not that the other ones don't).

The on-line class is interesting and to be honest, it will take a few weeks for me to get used to it. I go on-line at least three times a day and check to see if there are new message or discussions and respond to them. Right now they don't have much to do. They are just learning about the course and how to use Web-CT. Once the assignments start rolling, I would imagine that this course will keep me busier than the on-site ones. Either way, it should be interesting.

How bout them Eagles?

Not the last Dragonfly

For those of you I have not spoken to this week, I have yet to get my stuff delivered. They are now five days later then what they promised would be the latest they would be here. It's dang frustrating! But, let's not focus on the negative when there is just so much darn positive going on.

With that said, I went to the world famous Dragonfly Festival on Saturday. Luckily, it was just about as close as necessary to make me actual go to a dragonfly festival: 10 minutes. Keep in mind though, 10 minutes in any given direction out here and they might never find the body! So I woke up bright and squirlly and made my way out to Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge. And, no, I don't know if the lake is bitter; it hardly even seemed perturbed.

When I got there I realized that you needed reservations to be part of the festival (of course I had my reservations of a different kind about the whole thing). So...I did not get to go to the mysterious, usually closed to the public parts of the refuge. No worries though! They just can't keep those dragonflies in the private tour spots. They were everywhere. It was kind of cool (from the car). I took the scenic drive through the refuge and saw a bunch of dragonflies. Heck, the grill of my car saw at least twenty!

Cable or satellite...

That is the question. I just don't know. I got my digital cable and cable modem installed today and then regretted it immediately. Call me crazy but when I found out the NHL package was not available through my cable company, and is through DirecTV, I just about called them to take the cable back. I think I am going to switch, but I'll wait a month so I don't look like too much of a jackass. Problem is, can you have satellite and a cable modem? Or will the cable guy rip out the modem when I cancel the TV? DirecTV offers internet services, but it is 100 dollars a month! No freaking way!!! Hmmnnn...Suggestions?

Welcome to Roswell, home of....

The completely sane and rational variety of loonies. Yes, so here I am. The Big R. Roswell, USA. Home of the Whopper; dairy capital of the south west; home of the spiders from Mars; the town everybody has heard of and nobody knows; a place where you can hear people say "beam me up Scotty" and wonder why they are still here.

Ah...where is Bert Campbell where you need him? I have been trying his trick of turning invisible in hopes to attract the attention of some intelligent life, but so far to no avail.

Before I forget, here is a segment of the top story in the news from the 19th to let you guys know what I am dealing with:

WHEN POLICE OFFICERS DIDN'T FIND MEADOWS AT HOME, THEY CHECKED THE TEXACO STATION, WHERE HE WORKS. THE NEW RELEASE STATES THAT MEADOWS REVEALED A LARGE MACHETE STYLE SWORD ATTACHED TO HIS ARM WITH VELCRO. AFTER NON LETHAL OPTIONS FAILED, MEADOWS ADVANCED ON ONE OF THE OFFICERS WHILE SWINGING THE SWORD IN AN ATTACKING FASHION. THAT�S WHEN MEADOWS WAS SHOT. HE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A LUBBOCK HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF HIS WOUNDS. HE IS EXPECTED TO RECOVER.

Now granted, I have mentioned to a few of you out there that I have my machete and am prepared to use it against any creepy crawlers that are bigger than my hand, but I am not to the point where I will attach it to any part of my person for actual defense.

Besides that little bit of excitement, I don't have much to report yet. I got here yesterday and checked into a hotel until my stuff gets here. I watched a little preseason football yesterday at the hotel bar. Here's something for the football fans out there. Mountain time...11:00 football games! This bar has the NFL package which was good to hear (gotta watch those Eagles games), but they don't open until 12:00 during the season. So...Uh...I guess I watch whatever "local" slop I get on the TV at home and then catch the second half at the bar? Ugghhh,.

Some Don't on the green

So...back from my little trip out to Ocean City, Md, I had the opportunity to play with "Some Don't" on Thursday. Usually when I play with them, I split the bass duties with Noel, but since he was still in O.C., I got to play the whole gig. Of course it was fun; that goes without saying. But, it was also hot. It was an outdoor afternoon gig. 95 degrees and humid. Yuck. Hey cuz, how'd you end up on vacation the week of the outdoor gig?

Under the boardwalk....

Sorry it has been a little bit since my last post. I was in Ocean City Maryland with my cousin Noel, his wife, and his daughter. I went for more of a visit rather than to do the beach thing, but it was nice to see the ocean and taste the salty air for a few days.

We didn't do a whole bunch except catch up. But, we did go out to eat at a nice seafood place. I was totally out of my league though (no nautical pun intended). I just can't do the crab leg thing. It took me so long to get any meat out of those suckers that I just eventually gave up. Bastards!

The other outwardly thing we did was go on the Sea Rocket. This is one of those giant speed boats that seat about 200 people and take you on a wild boating experience. Well...it was fun, but it's not too rocking. First sign...no seatbelts on the seats. You just sit on a chair or a bench. So you know right away you are not going to be travelling at any mind-blowing speeds. Second, the kids don't have to wear any life jackets. How crazy a ride can it be if there is no chance of a kid getting thrown overboard!?!? The best part was the unexpecting sighting of lots of dolphins playing in the ocean. They stopped the boat so we could watch them frolic for a bit. And...it was only 12 bucks for the hour ride. Well worth it really.

Today I am heading out to play an afternoon gig with Some Don't. Noel is still in O.C. so that leaves me to do all the bass work. More later....