Wednesday, March 25, 2009

From Sir Paul to Edyta



October, 1969, I was 18 years old. I was a freshman at Louisiana State University (in Baton Rouge). My roommate was a guy by the name of Steven Simmons. Steve was also from Shreveport and was a graduate of the local Catholic "boys" High School. I must have known the entire Senior Class of Jesuit, but for some reason I never met it's Class President, Steve ,till I met him at LSU. I know that everyone sort of looks like someone else. Steve could have passed for a twin of the bass player for the Beatles (Billy Shears?). It was uncanny. He was also left handed (as is Paul McCartney) and he was a true wizard on the guitar. I was receiving $ 25.00 per week from my parents for living expenses. I spent most of it on beer actually. But then again I guess that IS living expenses. I had recently returned from Kadairs Records and Tapes with a new album. It had been recorded between July and August of the same year. In our dorm room in the basement of Johnson Hall, Steve and I listened to side two of the last actual album the Beatles ever recorded. He listened to it one time and proceeded to teach me how to play all of it on the guitar. I learned more (musically) from him than anyone before or since. I know Abbey Road was not the last one released but it was indeed the last one actually recorded. "And in the end, the love you give is equal to the love you make".

Now I like good music.I love many different genres of music. My portable music player has tunes from Ray Davies to Ray Willie Hubbard. From Uriah Heap to Imogen Heap. From Abba to ZZ Top. Country to Hip Hop ( I like T Pain's I'm on a Boat) .The Chairman of the Board to The Boss. The Arc Angels to The Killers. I am a musician. I admit I am not anywhere close to being as good as I think I am or I wish I was. Since 1971 I have played in multiple bands and groups and I actually got paid to do so. I even have laid a few tracks down for a couple of CDs. I also admit that the music I like is my own prerogative and everyone else is entitled to the same choice as I. Modern day "hip hop" and 'Pop" music, as a rule of thumb, insults me. It offends me not because of the language, but the actual complete lack of real talent. But then again, some hip hop really impresses me. Ridin Dirty is a masterpiece. I do not care if some street thug sings and "raps" about his impoverished life or how he and his "kind" never gets a break. That asshole is probably making more money in one year than I will ever see in my entire lifetime. I admit you got a have the blues to sing or play the blues.I do admit that I like some "Country" music. "The Jim" says that I am "more tolerant of it than he. I am probably more than tolerant. There are very few tunes better than one found on an old juke box in a shit hole beer joint. " And that's when it all happened and her heart turned cold as ice. That's why they call her the fallen angel of Trucker's Paradise" Well first of all I refuse to call it "Country" . I prefer to refer to it as C & W or Country and Western. The talking heads of Nashville have attempted for years, to remove the word Western I will not fall into the Nashville trap. I will still call it Country and Western. Yee Haw!!!


A few blogs ago I mentioned my distaste for reality shows on television. Call me old fashion but give me a story about a fictional kingdom named after a mountain range in Israel, with a king named Silas, who has an English accent over three hotties living with and going ga ga over an 80 year plus curmudgeon. Several years ago, I was passing through Lafayette, Louisiana. At the time, my oldest daughter lived there. Now let me say ,that now, one of my "other" daughters lives there now. (see Tina I did mention you) Anyway, when I was visiting J.R., I offered to take her out to eat at a really nice place.(Prejean's) After we finally were seated I was informed that we really needed to hurry in order to get back to her place to watch American Idol. A damn reality show. Although we did not get home in time to see the entire show, we did get back in time to see another poor soul being cast off by the American public leaving some fellow named Bo and a cute singer name Carrie to fight it out in the next week's finals. As you know I do enjoy a good rasslin match and I could see one brewing between the two finalist. The following Spring, on a lark, the Mrs The Third and I began watching American Idol. We did not miss a single episode. That year's winner was the one I picked from the very beginning. (Soul Patrol). Most of my "rocker" friends were pissed that Chris Daughtry did not win. Well...... think about it. Didn't he? As much as I dislike reality shows, I try to never miss the weekly installments of the show. I admit I think I am finally getting pretty tired of it. Of the remaining "top ten" singers, there are really only two I think have a realistic chance to win. Of those two, one is some West Coast Gay Boy who essentially has only one style. even when required to sing tunes from different genres, He arranges them to his style. If anyone else tried that stunt they would be sent packing for not being able to adapt. But this guy is praised for his actions. If I were to bet, I think he will actually win. The most talented singer is a Worship and Praise singer. His wife died a short while before he tried out for the show. Of course this is sad and makes a good storyline. The fact is, he is actually very talented and deserves to win. Randy Jackson is from Baton Rouge and because he is a cousin (pronounced cuu zan) I tend to tolerate him. The fact he played bass in Journey does not impress me. Journey songs are slightly better to my ears than a five year old going into a tantrum at a super market . I know you are probably saying Dawg, Journey is awesome. Come on, dawg is about as hip as saying " 10-4 good buddy or Dy no Mite! Paula is just plain strange. She is not an impartial judge. It is like she needs to get her hormones in check. Kara, what ever her last name is is "just there". She is cute but I am not really sure that her making Pink a big star qualifies her to impress me. I am not sure Pink is a big star. By the way I do not have any Pink or Journey tunes on my personal audio device. Simon comes off as the arrogant English Bastard. Think about it. The four of them and the lackey Ryan, are classic examples of kayfabe. Since that first year I began watching and seeing Taylor Hicks start his path of vilification from American Idol, I have endured a steady stream of talentless hacks. You know the more I think about it, I think that the entire show is a sham.

So I think I have clearly expressed my disdain for reality tv shows. I am sure the show with little people is appealing to many. The Roloffs seem to be a good family. My wife sure likes them. Check their web page. They actually sell containers of dirt from their farm. Yes for a mere eight bucks you too can own some of their farm. But then there is shows about entitled trophy wives or the family married to an Olympic hero. How about shows revealing families with a lot of kids or about wife swapping or nanny swapping etc. How about the one that fixes houses up or the one that fixes at least one room. But wait. What about the shows about cops or bounty hunters or the seemingly endless amount of courtroom shows? Then there ones showing people racing across the planet or living in a house with several other people or living in some distant wilderness. How about the one about fat people trying to loose more weight than other fat people? Then there is a show showing yesterday's news trying to ball room dance. I actually called in a voted on this one (one time) I voted for Master P. One of the contestants on the currents season of that show is a co founder of Apple Computers. Think about it, as rich as The Woz is he could buy Disney/ABC and have himself declared the winner. You can watch multiple reality shows about people attempting to be professional chefs or models. You can choose between several show about building motorcycles costing in excess of $ 100,000.00 reconditioning classic cars or tricking trucks. What about girls vying to be the number one groupie for a washed up rock star? Or men and women trying be chosen and sometimes dumped by the current bachelorette or bachelor. Then we have rehab shows and intervention shows and shows with celebrities or quasi celebrity attempting to avoid being fired, or former child stars looking for mates or having babies (at least two of those). There is the show about an exotic resort with a bunch of twenty somethings shacking up together for a week at a time. Yes we did have game shows and the Dating Game back in the day. Hell we had the ultimate reality show, Fishing shows. There were and still are a steady stream of them. The Mrs The Third thinks there are more boring than watching paint dry or two dogs humping. My favorite is and will always be the one hosted by Bill "By Gawd" Dance. The list is getting longer and longer each day. Bring back Car 54 or My Mother the Car. Bring back Have Gun Will Travel (my uncle Calvin's favorite) or Mannix.......

Holy Crap!!! I have an idea. Forget what I said about reality shows. Make me, The Third into a reality show. I bet the gig pays pretty good. I work cheap, just ask my in laws (my employers.)

Picture this. A real life television show showing me starting a brewery and brew pub from scratch. We could start from the very beginning. Season One would show me visiting several brew pubs and breweries. It would show me interacting with brewers and owners etc. It would follow me as I attended various beer competitions. The show would center on me and the way and course I take to build my dream. Of course I would express my opinions of some of the beers that I try. As the seasons pass, different phases will be revealed. Perhaps I can sell left over wort or something, Just as OCC builds theme bikes, the show could detail how a new beer is derived. We could have "theme beers". Hell we could have OCC Beer. Perhaps have the Tuttles visit the brewery or I could visit their shop and they can build a theme bike for me. Paul Sr, Paul Jr. & Mikey all look like beer drinkers to me.The possibilities are endless. I could interview the big names in the industry. I could chronicle the financing and building and marketing of the facilities. Ok, I would hire some little people and hob nob with some semi famous celebrities such as the Lovable Larry Ryan.(Former DeeJay KEEL AM, Shreveport, Louisiana), Master P or Hugh Hefner and his twin girlfriends. You know, the more I type here, the more I am actually getting excited. This really is not a bad idea and why not me? Just imagine me, The Third, a reality television star setting across the board room table with The Donald or dancing the Paso Doble with Edyta Sliwinska.

I am submitting a list of beer blogs you can visit. They are listed at the end of this blog.I am very much in awe of all of them. I would be so honored just to have mine listed among theirs. But if I get the reality show gig I will blow past all of them at light speed.

I have an idea for the name of my new reality show.

The Brew Chronicles.



Being that today is Haiku Wednesday I offer a few....


Hops, malt, yeast, water.
Combine them and you get beer.
And proof God exists.

or

See my beer blog at

Bee double e double r

You in blogspot com



As I have mentioned from time to time, I actually have four daughters. There is no way that I can describe here how much love I have for each of them. As I look back at my life each of them are the greatest joys of my life. At times, I disagree with each of them but my respect and love for each of them never waivers.... In an abstract way, this blog is a way I can still connect to them. However, it has been pointed out by a substantial portion of my readership, that I tend to mention or refer to my oldest daughter significantly more in my blogs than the other three.

I must admit that this observation is indeed correct. I am sorry. So to Kristina, Kimberly and Sarah. here is your big moment. You are now mentioned in my blog of which I expect to be "huge". And to you Kristina. I have now mentioned you twice in this blog so man up and stop being such a girl! Your dad is a big time blogger and a soon to be Reality Television Star. He does not need any additional stress or controversy.


I love you Kristina (that's three times)


The Third


The Beer Blogs I mentioned are here below

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