42 is the new 72 and 32

I've got to say, after over a week of snow and temps in the teens, (I won't go into windchill, it always seemed so subjective, "with the wind chill it will "feel" like 5 below", well excuse me, I'm from Florida, so it "feels" like 0 Kelvin, ok?) on a day with sunny blue skies and 40 degrees, being outside is like enjoying a spring day in the 70's (the temperature, not the polyester puke producing decade)

So that's exactly what I did, I got up, late....(another weird night's sleep of going to bed at 11:00 PM, waking up at 1:30 AM, taking a Tylenol PM, and waking again at 10:30 AM) but made my way to Penn's Table for breakfast. (No sign of a recession going on there, packed, had to wait for a stool at the counter)

Then I had been meaning to buy the latest album by Blues Traveler "North Hollywood Shootout" so I went across the street to the Mad Platter to pick it up. It's pretty good, but I'm biased. On another musical review note, I finally got Ben Folds latest work, "Way to Normal". My opinion, not so good. A shocker review I know, given the kind of drooling fan of his that I am, but it seems he's working out his 3rd divorce on this album, and well, I guess I'm not in the same place at the moment where he is in life, so I have a hard time relating to the music on this album .

So after my musical purchase, I made my way to Carlino's, the closest thing WC has to a supermarket. It's a great place, for all your catering needs as well as fresh vegetables or pasta!
I was going to maybe pick up a nice steak, as recommended by mom, as she wanted me to treat myself to a nice steak for my birthday. Oh, did I mention today is my birthday?

Yes....it is......oh, thanks.....oh nothing, I'll just watch the Superbowl, and hope for a wardrobe malfunction....oh Bruce Springsteen is playing the half time show? Oh then forget the malfunction thing then...
(Imaginary conversation with the person who finds out today is my birthday)

Anyway....they only stock steaks during the summer months, for all your outdoor grilling needs. So as I made my way back to my perch above Gay and High, I noticed some clearly insane

people gathering on the corner of Market and Church, so I took photos of them. Turns out they were "runners" running in a "5K". I'll have to check out Wikipedia later to find out the deal on that.

Actually, at 42, I may join them. I find myself feeling pretty good lately, and you know living in the USA is not a bad thing. I'm reading, "Why We Hate Us" to understand why we who live in this country are so unhappy, what with the material riches, education, access to information, Disneyland on both coasts, and the myriad of other things we've got going for us. If I figure it out, I'll let you know.

On second thought, there are plenty of other blogs you can go to read up on that. I'll just keep it to the things going around here, and keeping a smile on my face. (Which isn't as easy as it looks!)

Blues Traveler in West Chester

I'd write a much longer post, but I wanted to do this while the memories were still fresh, and besides I'm sure the ringing in my ears won't go away for a while.

I'm a big fan of Blues Traveler, not an obsessive fan to the degree I am with Barenaked Ladies or Ben Folds, but I do enjoy their music, and own several albums, so even though it's a school night, and I went by myself, I still wanted to check them out at West Chester's newest venue, "The Note"


I'll give you the briefest of reviews, since it's going to biased because I'm a fan and all, but man were they good! Set started at exactly 9:30, so that meant only standing around for about 20 minutes, and I was right up front! I'd figure there was about 200 people there, very intimate setting for a jam band. They played songs from the new album "North Hollywood Shootout" and they were catchy songs for having never heard them before. They reached into their complete catalogue, and had the obligatory extended improvisation jams. They played until Midnight, so for 25 Bucks for 2.5 hours of music, it was well worth it!

You know I love it when a band plays their hits of course, but I really love it when a band that's well known and yet feels comfortable in their own skin by playing cover songs. The Devil Went Down to Georgia by Charlie Daniels Band, Blister in the Sun by the Violent Femmes, and I Want You to Want Me, by Cheap Trick. Hearing them played live, sung by John Popper, man it was cool! (Especially since all these songs are already on my iPod) As if some of Blues Traveler's hits like Hook and Runaround aren't sing along enough, those covers were great additions to an evening of loud rocking blues rock music!

Bam Margera was there, and he looked like a very proud papa watching them play at his place, and I don't want to spoil the surprise for my brother Joe who met John Popper when he was assigned to Al Udeid Airbase in Qatar in 2006, but to drop a hint, Oscar says hi, and one of us, (either Joe or I) "rocks", if John Popper is to be believed.