"What Can I Say"

Happy New Year! 
These years, they do go by quickly. I was just thinking about life and the uphill and downhill rides we take- specifically how the past couple of years made the first 50 years seem easy. For the moment, I am doing well and hopeful that I can lower the stress I put on Yvonne and my family. I have been off of the last steroid I was taking for over a month now, so have no excuse for blowing up or being aggressive anymore! My blood tests continue to improve but there is always something out of whack. My white blood cells were up in the 8+ range this week (very normal) but my red blood cells and platelets were both below normal. I will try to improve nutrition and continue to exercise in hopes that normalcy comes sooner than later.

What can I say, it was 1976. Nixon was gone from public life in 1974, Watergate just a memory. The last helicopter carrying last minute Vietnamese refugees left the rooftop of the Saigon US Embassy in 1975. Jimmy Carter rode the wave into the presidency as there wasn't a lot of positive news for the U.S.A. The Cold War was freezing along while yours truly was enjoying my junior year of high school. For those who can remember the mid 70's disco was just becoming to get big, the Beatles and the English invasion impact was over. Popular music boiled down to easy listening stuff that was played on AM radio. As an example of the topsy-turvy times, one of the most popular songs of 1976 was Paul McCartney and Wings "Silly Love Songs" wow, how low could we go? I hadn't embraced disco yet, trying to find musical artists that still played catchy light rock or pop. I was stuck in a time warp myself, still accumulating Beatles and other 60's music as fast as I could via the used records stores.
Boz Scaggs came out with Silk Degrees and for at least a month or so my prayers were answered. There were many great songs including Lido Shuffle, Lowdown, and "What Can I Say." A song about unrequited love. I can say that 2011 will be different than 2010, I hope you and yours see improvements, peace, love, and as Elvis Costello said- understanding.     LH Greg 

"Happy Christmas"

Merry Christmas, or as John Lennon and company said, "Happy X-Mas, War is Over."

Mikhael, Yvonne, Greg, Sadie in the hills above Enumclaw

John wrote the song in 1971 and released it in the USA in 1975 on the Shaved Fish album. John's song is a Vietnam protest song, but the melody became loved enough for this tune to become a modern day Christmas classic.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Our household grew to four today with our youngest son Mikhael joining Yvonne Sadie and I. Rain has encircled our western Washington locale. Sadie has already had her Christmas Eve walk, we are looking forward to playing Christmas scrabble, and maybe seeing a movie later. Santa has been here already and left a few presents. We hope you and yours remember the reason for the season this year. A nice little dose of compassion to our fellow man and woman sure goes a long way. Hmm... maybe that compassion and concern should last more than a week! My New Years resolution is being formulated but I know it will include being kind to others.
Thank you to everyone who has helped me through tough times. I owe my current health to science and your prayers, support, and kindness. 

"Dogs"

With Roger Waters being in town today for a big concert performing "The Wall" at the Tacoma Dome, I had to post a Pink Floyd song that is probably my favourite. "Dogs" was released on the Animals album in 1977. The concert tour at the time had to be the biggest production to date in the rock and roll world, with lots of pyrotechnics, and huge animal balloons floating around in the arenas. I saw the concert in the Portland Memorial Colosseum... I remember most of it- I do recall saying a big fat  "wow!" at the conclusion.The lyrics are written to describe how Roger Waters saw the corporate culture of the time. There are so many good lyrics that I had to relate two stanzas: "And after a while, you can work on points for style
Like the club tie, and the firm handshake
A certain look in the eye and an easy smile
You have to be trusted by the people that you lie to
So that when they turn their backs on you
You'll get the chance to put the knife in

You gotta keep one eye looking over your shoulder
You know, it's going to get harder, and harder, and harder
As you get older
Yeah, and in the end you'll pack up and fly down south
Hide your head in the sand
Just another sad old man
All alone and dying of cancer"

This group in the video is Roger Waters and friends, not Pink Floyd. My hope is we don't emulate the message, but learn from it and try not to act like dogs       
or sheep.
I am still doing fine, as is Yvonne as we go to her work Christmas party tonight. Merry Christmas, Live Happy! Greg