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1. Yeah, I know, I suck. I’m a sucky blogger. I post nearly every day for a bit, then I disappear for three weeks. The past few weeks have been extraordinarily busy, but all the activities I’ve been involved with are either not blogworthy, or are too private to blog about. Today’s post would fall into the former category. It is only for the benefit of you, my friends, who have kindly been inquiring as to my whereabouts, and if I’ve by chance run into Jimmy Hoffa. I’m still here, haven’t seen Jimmy, and I’m sorry that I don’t have something better to offer you than this random rubbish rolling around in my head.

2. I am inspired by Barack.

3. I feel like I’m not good at anything anymore. This feeling really sucks.

4. I’ll be really glad when this is over.

5. Composing text messages is WAY too slow on my phone. I need a mini keyboard model. But then my phone bill would be even more ridiculous because of the increased efficiency of excessive texting.

6. I think I’m allergic to my own cats.

7. Standard Time SUCKS ASS. I don’t really care that it gets dark at 5:30, but each work day this week has seemed like it’s about 19 hours long. I mean, Jesus!

8. Fall 2008 produced four of the most anticipated days of my life. The wait was so worth it.

9. I am completely out of pointless, random thoughts for this post. It’s actually to the point of sitting here like David Putty, squinting and staring blankly at the screen. Let’s just end this, shall we? I’ll be back when I’m feeling less obtuse. If that ever happens.

10. I leave you with a great song. Not a great video, but a great song. It’s the least I can do, and the most I can presently offer you.

I’ve loved Billy McLaughlin ever since I first saw him play Helm's Place in the 90s. Considering his personal journey, to call him a virtuoso is an enormous understatement. He was a virtuoso before.

In 2001, he was diagnosed with Focal Dystonia, an incurable neurological disorder that affects different body parts. It rendered him incapable of playing his own music.

Two years ago, he accomplished what almost no one else ever has. He had re-learned to play all of his music — note by note — left handed.

He learned to do this left handed:


See his comeback story on YouTube.

Friday night at JPJ

Madman Across the Water ~ Tiny Dancer ~ Levon ~
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ~ Sacrifice ~ Daniel ~
Sad Songs (Say So Much) ~ Candle in the Wind ~ Bitch is Back ~ Rocket Man ~ Bennie and the Jets ~ Philadephia Freedom ~
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me ~ Honky Cat ~ I'm Still Standing ~ Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting ~ Pinball Wizard ~
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word ~ Crocodile Rock ~ Your Song

And the man never broke a sweat.

HE. WAS. AWESOME.

Photos courtesy of Jack Looney © Copyright 2008. Click to enlarge.

Tonight, and for the second week in a row, I had the pleasure of being one of the judges in Charlottesville's Top Amateur Chef Cook-Off. That's right, friends. Now, in addition to pretending to know stuff about websites, lawn mowers, hybrid grasses, oceanography, surfing, truck driving, and crocheting beautiful doilies, I wield judicial power over deliciousness. I could write volumes of legal mumbo jumbo about the proceedings this evening, but you wouldn't have the slightest idea what I was talking about, nor would I.

How about I just show you the food. Click pics to enlarge the deliciousness.

Tuna Capriccio in a Punzo Sauce
by Jacob Floyd

Chicken Saltimbocca
by Tim O'Brien

Fusion WonTon with Wild Rice Pilaf and Mushroom Ragu
by Tom McCrystal

Bone Dog Chili
by Fred Jordan

White Macadamia Nut Cheesecake
by Michele Conry

Milk Chocolate, Semi Sweet, Raspberry, Peanut Butter,
Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Chili, Cappuccino, and Caramel Truffles
by Carolyn Esau

Verdict: Yum. : )

Ray: D'you know that the human head weighs 8 pounds?

Jerry: Did you know that Troy Aikman, in only six years, has passed for 16,303 yards?

Ray: D'you know that bees and dogs can smell fear?

Jerry: Did you know that the career record for hits is 4,256 by Pete Rose who is NOT in the Hall of Fame?

Ray: D'you know that my next door neighbor has three rabbits?

Jerry: I can't compete with that.

~~~

Dicky: If this (heart) is empty, this (head) doesn't matter.

I love this mashup of these old tunes. Though the concept of mixing pop songs is about as original as barbed wire around the bicep, I thought this arrangement was particularly clever. Who would have EVER thought to dig up Bread's "Everything I Own" - I had to Google it to remember who DID it - ha! It's Jason Mraz and Chrissy Hynde.

Jason Mraz is in town this Sunday. : )