Just look over your shoulder, guess who'll be standing there...

The other day, I was in a Monkees kinda mood. So, I rummaged through my videotape collection and proceeded to watch "Daydream Believers," the VH1 Movie that was made about them a few years ago, followed by the VH1 Behind the Music episode, and lastly "Hey Hey, We're the Monkees," the television special to promote "Justus," the most recent reunion album, and the only reunion album to feature all four members, and (it's a safe bet to say) the last album that will ever feature all four members.

Still feeling that Monkees groove, I updated my Amazon Wish List with practically every Monkees album released that involved at least three members of the band. See, if Mike or Peter aren't involved, there's no point. Davy and Mickey will always be a couple of actors playing musicians, but Peter and Mike have always been great musicians whose reputations were damaged by the whole "Monkees don't play their own instruments" scandal. The truth for those who don't pay attention to these things (that would be everyone but me, right?) is that they weren't allowed to play their instruments. The music was put together so quickly to keep up with the series that there wasn't time for them to film the show and record the music, so they just recorded the vocals. This was all fine and dandy for the actors in the group, but the musicians, Mike especially, weren't thrilled. So, yeah, the first two albums, the Monkees didn't play. The first album which they produced and on which they played, "Headquarters" was unfortunately released a week before "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and kinda tanked in the shadow of the Beatles.

I'm not sure what the point of this post is. Tork and Nesmith. Great musicians. If you ever get a chance to see Peter Tork's current band, "Shoe Suede Blues" play, go. You'll see what I mean.

Anyway, I've just sort of been in a Monkees kinda mood lately.

Crap

My portable CD/MP3 player has finally, officially died. (Unless I want to listen to my music too loud and with static.)

There goes the money I was going to use on a rear rack for my bike. Oh well. I can manage two more weeks without a rack. I can't manage two weeks of no music at this job.

Fun Day... (written over the last few hours)

Well, today's gonna be productive. Our internet connection keeps crapping out every half hour or so, leaving half the staff incapable of doing their jobs, myself included.

I have resolved to spend the time at least looking productive, typing away at future LJ entries in WordPad, until the time comes that I can access the web and post.

My weekend should be fun. Going to the Gilroy Garlic Festival on Saturday. I was originally going as part of a group excursion, but the group self destructed and the excursion was cancelled. I, however, had already made plans to hook up with my friend James, the Texan, while there, so I'll still be going, possibly with bridgeweaver and erisian_fields and family. (lograh, if they can't go, or if the kids don't go and I have room in my car, you're welcome to come along if you still want to. I'll let you know as soon as I know if there's space available.)

I'm really looking forward to seeing James. I saw him last year when he was working in San Mateo, and we had a lot of fun. He and I went to high school together in Oslo. We were never really close friends then, but then a few years back, I got a random email from him, and we've exchanged a few letters back and forth. When he was here last time, we really clicked. We seemed to have a lot to talk about, and we had a lot of similar views on the world... It was easy to talk to him. I thought about that after seeing my friend Patricia last summer, also from Oslo. Trish was one of my best friends when I was in Oslo. Yet now, after about a half an hour with her, everything seemed forced. We live in such compeletely different worlds now, and we really couldn't seem to find anything in common. When she left, I felt that I wouldn't hear from her again, and that that was perfectly okay. Whereas James, who was practically a stranger in high school, is now someone I consider a good friend. It's an interesting world.

Sunday, I'm thinking since half the riding group is going to be unavailable, maybe to do a short ride down to Arden and catch a movie. It'll be annoyingly hot on the way back, but it's not that far. I hate to go the weekend without riding at all, especially since I won't be riding next weekend while Kevin's here, but I'm not feeling the motivation for anything terribly challenging or long. Of course, I should check and see if khanfused is feeling terribly motivated and wanting to do a regular ride, huh? Whatcha think, Khan? What do you want to do?

Friday, I think is mostly open still. Yoga, maybe. (ktbee?) Or maybe laundry and cleaning. The house is a mess.

Aw, hell, it's going on an hour now with no work to do. I'm running out of things to say.

Make that 2 hours now. Apparently the problem is with SBC.

And it's back. Now, I'm hopelessly behind work.