Don't Judge God's Wisdom!

I will never forget that little meeting that Mark Fogarty called when he found out that I am gay.  He started 'throwing the book' at me, and I hurled it back at him.  When he realized that he was not gaining any ground, he tried to squelch me by saying, "Oh, Son!  Don't judge God's wisdom!"  I said, "Sir, I think you are a little confused.  I am a mere 7 yrs younger than you.  I am not your son.  And.... I'm not judging GOD's wisdom.  I'm judging YOURS.  And you're only a man.  And barely that."

Both of my parents were at this meeting, as was Diane, both Diane's parents, both my parents, and Mark Fogarty's wife (the poor, beat down thing!)  In all, there were 8 people at this little meeting, and the agenda was to discuss my sexuality.

After I politely said (with a smile, of course!", "You're only a man, and barely that!"  He said, "Meeting's ajourned!"  He stood up, and I rose out of my chair to shake his hand.  He closed Good Book, and I went to the door. I turned and said, "Call me when we can do this again some time.  I'll be looking forward to your call!"  That was the last time I ever saw that man.

From what I understand, he has been busy since that meeting:
http://www.spiritualabuse.org/experiences/lawsuits/mark_fogarty.html

I have always had a guiding hand on my shoulder.  When I first laid eyes on that man, I told my mother, "There is something about that man that I don't like.  Look just beneath the skin, and you will know what I'm talking about."  Of course, I was once again squelched.  After he left that church in a much bigger hock than he found them (which included selling the church's organ and piano to buy himself a Hammond B3 and a digital keyboard, which he took with them), he left town, and left them in a mess.

The moral of this story:
A man (woman and child) is just that. A human being. Human beings are capable of doing anything they set their minds to.  A title that had been bestowed on them (or one that they have bestowed upon themselves!) doesn't mean squat to me.  In my humble opinion, a person is judged by his / her actions, and not a title, if you know what I mean.  :)

What's with this 'music thing"?

Where did I get my musical passion from?  The short answer:
It is my salvation that was sent to me to spare me the twisted antics of my family while I was growing up.  (The creative adult is the child that survived!)

The long answer:

The Albert / Willis family that were the ministers of the Hannibal Pentecostal Church in Hannibal, MO have  been the most influential people in my entire musical life.  They are the sole responsibility for the reason that I have 18 keyboard instruments in my home, and since my birth (no exaggeration!), I have tried to mold my playing style to match Phillip Willis '!


I have seen this family play music several time a week since I was 2 weeks old, until I was 11 yrs old. Then.... My family dragged me from Hannibal to Quincy, and I was confronted with that poor, lowly Hammond L-100 (with no Leslie!), instead of the Hammond C2 with a Leslie 122 that I grew up listening to!


Until I was 11 years old, I had never been to another church in my life, other than the First United Pentecostal Church of Hannibal, MO.  I had never even walked through the doors of another church, much less attend a service there.  I had never heard of ANY other type of organ than that 'fabulous, mystery box that was full of power' that sat in front of me, my entire life.  I had never heard of Allen, Thomas, Baldwin, Moller, Wurlitzer, etc, and I couldn't even imagine another type of machine, especially a pipe organ! I didn't see my first pipe organ until I was 17 years old.


Through competitions, and their musical accomplishments, in general, I had one of the best seats in the **country** until I was 11 years old.  I didn't know that not everybody in the world was not regularly having the same experience as myself.  


When I moved from Hannibal to Quincy, I was glad that I moved to a bigger city (!!), but I will never be able to convey to you the shock, horror, and ultimate dismay when I saw the 'band' at the UPC in Quincy!  I didn't know a spinet organ existed!  The only piano that I had ever seen in a church was the black grand piano in Hannibal.  They also had an upright bass, 4 accordion players, a couple guitar players, at least one banjo, a trumpet player, a trombone player, and someone usually played a tambourine.  Those folk made a huge, joyful noise, and they did so with pizzazz and much spirit.  Then...oh, then.... We moved to Quincy, where everything was squelched under the thumb of Charles / Shirley Mitchell.  I cried, and I cried often.  Not because I was emotionally touched, but because I was musically deprived!  I had tasted the best, and at the time, I didn't know it was the best.  




I now know I had the best THEN, and I will never take it for granted NOW!  :)

- Michael

(Musical) variety. It is, after all, the spice of life!

Just this last week, I went to Jackson Pianos, which is a privately owned local St. Louis piano dealer. They deal in used pianos, and they buy, rebuild and resell them.

Jackson Pianos' Home Page:
http://jacksonpianos.com/

I met one of their technicians this past summer while standing along South Grand street, watching the Gay Pride parade. This technician was watching her daughter walk in the parade, and she was attending the parade to show her support for her daughter.  I will have to add, "Good for both - the mother,  for having the sense to support her child, and the daughter for having a loving mother!  Such a relationship should be treasured, and not taken for granted. Trust me when I tell you that not everybody has such a family... but I digress....)

At any rate, Jackson Pianos recently moved their shop from the Cherokee St. district to Olive Street - the Central West end area. Unfortunately, I missed the open house that they held at the beginning of December, but I still wanted to see their new shop.

(Incidentally, this past July, while I was shopping for my new piano, I stopped by their old shop on Cherokee to give a few of their pianos a test drive. In the space of about 30 minutes, I played 8 different pianos, ranging from a sweet little Baldwin Acrosonic to a Steinway.
**NOT** simply because it is a Steinway, the Steinway AND the Acrosonic had the specific tone that I like, but their 'touch' was a little too light for my playing style.

A Stenway Upright piano

A 36" Baldwin Acrosonic Piano\

(Note how short the Baldwin Acrosonic piano is. It's 36"!  A lot of the 'action' is below the knee level, instead of above the keys.  This makes for a short, more-portable piano, but it also makes the 'touch' much too light for me, "Edward Heavy Hands!"  HOWEVER...they do have probably the best tone of any spinet piano!)
 

Back to the story:

 The owner of Jackson Pianos was in an adjacent room, working on another piano. When I finished playing, he told me that the repertoire of music that I played was one of the most diversified sets of songs that he has ever heard played in the same sitting! :)

 Depending on the piano that I was seated at, at the moment, I played everything from Classic Rock to Classical music, to Jazz....to Country....to Modern Rock....to Gospel!

When he told me that I was the most diversified musician he had ever heard, I smiled and said, "Thank you! I intend to keep it that way! :)

To make a long story even longer (!!), in the end, I ultimately decided to buy a brand new piano from Lacefield Music. I had done business with them before, when I bought my Hammond A-100 (B3), and they know me well. We decided that I needed an Institutional Piano, which is one that was built to be played for hours on end by students, they are of very sturdy construction, and they can 'take a beating', All of the used pianos that I test drove had actions that were too light for my playing style, and we decided that a new piano with a new, tight action was the type of piano that I needed.

ANYWHO.... Back to my second (recent!) visit.

Last week, I dropped by Jackson Pianos to pay their new shop a visit. Janet, the tech that I had become acquainted with, was in the front of the shop, disassembling and rebuilding a piano. (BTW - I could have watched her for hours. Her skills are flawless, and her attention to detail is impeccable!)

I started to tell her (Janet) that I was looking for a vintage Rhodes electric piano as my next purchase. I already have a full-size digital piano, a full-size acoustic piano, a 6 keyboard MIDI computer setup, and a 1966 vintage Wurlitzer electric piano (think "Supertramp" music), and now, I am looking for a Rhodes piano to complete my collection. (I know...I know...those are famous last words!)

If I am lying, I am dying, and my soul is going straight to Hell! I am here today to tell you that when I started talking about Rhodes or Wurlitzer electric pianos, and Hammond organs (a B3 - the KING of all electric organs, for Crissake!), this woman looked at me as if I had just landed from Mars! She had **NO** idea what any of these instruments are! 

A Wurlitzer 140 Piano, the same model that I own.

A video of a gentleman playing a recognizable Classic Rock song, "Goodbye Stranger" on a Wurlitzer electric piano:

See!  There are TWO jobs that need to be done, and two very different, distinct tools (pianos!) that can do this job!

A Rhodes piano, hard at work:



No.  These are not standard, acoustic pianos. They are electric (but not electronic!), and they have a very specific job to do.  An acoustic piano has it's own task, and electric (And electronic keyboards!) have their own tasks to accomplish. Personally, I wouldn't want to be involved in the music world if I had to choose "Either / Or", rather than to make my favorite choice, "That and MORE!"

Back to Jackson Pianos:

I love Janet. I love her dearly. She knows I do! With that being said, I looked her straight in the eye, and I said, "Janet, I have never owned a huge Dodge Ram truck - but I know what they are! Likewise, I have never owned a Dodge Viper or a Corvette - but I sure the Hell know what they are! Along similar lines, I have played a handful of pipe organs in my life, but I have never owned one, BUT... I know what they are!"

For the life of me, I can't imagine anyone who is not diversified within their own field. But.... there are millions of people out there that are secluded in their little corners, and they never venture out. If *I* ever get that way, please shoot me! I hereby give you permission. But...until then.... I am thankful that I am diverse in the clothes that I wear, the food that I eat, the places that I go, the instruments that I play, and the music that I play and listen to. There is definitely a 'down side' to not being diverse, if you know what I mean. :)

- Michael

(Conrad) Cake, anyone? :)

No.... I'm not feeling 'Holiday Festive", nor have I turned into Miss Suzie Homemaker that Mark so desperately wishes that I would morph into.


This is Conrad Cake! Yes. That's right. It's 100% BIRD FOOD! :)

These squares, along with the rest of the cookie sheet pan (used as a short sheet cake pan!) are Conrad's daily food rations. I feed him 'Conrad Cake' along with a supplement of... whatever his daddy is eating!

I'm tempted to leave this pan out on the counter until Mark gets home. He might walk by and take a piece. Would it be considered cruel (but funny!) if I let him eat the entire piece of Conrad Cake before I told him that it was bird food? he he he

Unfortunately, he has wizened up to my antics, and he usually asks before he takes a bite! :)

This diet is especially effective when Conrad decides to change his diet to 'just peanuts, sunflower seeds and marshmallows!" I will offer him THIS recipe for a few weeks, with no exceptions. Yes. I will get my ass cussed out, and get glares from across the room, but I can hold out longer than he can, and he will eventually break the stand-off, and eat the more nutritious food that I offer him.

Ingredients:
(Expensive, finely ground parrot pellets!), and Flour, Cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, Cheerios, Captain Crunch, Fruit Loops, 2 eggs, vegetable oil, pureed fruit and water.

About once a year, I get the large bag of ZuPreem FrutiBlend Flavor parrot pellets from PetSmart, one large box of Honey Nut Cherrios, onf large boxy of both Fruit Loops and Captain Crunch Cereal, and one box of yellow cornmeal I put the cereals and the parrot pellets in a food processor, and in SEVERAL batches, I return them to finely ground bits - almost a dust. About once a month, when Conrad runs out of his daily rations, by eye, I put several cups of the dry mix, two eggs, water and vegetable oil in my 5K Kitchen Aid Professional Line Stand Mixer, and I make a fairly stiff cookie-like dough. Then, I roll it out to a 1/4 - 1/2" thickness onto an oiled cookie sheet, and bake it for 25 - 30 minutes at 350 degrees. While it is still hot, I use a pizza wheel to cut it into tiny squares.


More information on this parrot pellet:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3111896


When I am making Conrad's staple food, if I want to make more of a hard square or cube, rather than a soft cookie or cake-like consistency, I leave out the baking soda and baking powder, and I make it the consistency of a stiff cookie dough.  If I want a lighter, more cake-like consistency, I add the baking powder / baking soda, and add more water to make the batter the consistency of a muffin batter.

In this manner, I accomplish 2 things:
1) I stretch a bag of expensive parrot food.
2) I can get a spoiled parrot to eat more than just peanuts and sunflower seeds!

- Michael

Oh, deer..... DEER!

I know I don't have to be a renowned soothsayer with advanced capabilities to predict that one day in the near future, a deer is going to kick the crap out of one of our dogs in their own back yard!


The subdivision that we live in is just 3 miles from the St. Louis Galleris Mall, and only 8 miles from the center of St. Louis city.  Our neighborhood is completely and immediately surrounded  by some of the largest thoroughfares in the St. Louis area.

I present, for your consideration, a visual aid:


(The white box in the middle of this pic is my back yard. )
The sound barrier for Interstate 40 / 60 is the back fence to our yard, Lindbergh Blvd. is just 3 blocks west, Clayton Road is just a few feet from our home, and Warson Rd. is 3 blocks east.  


Our back yard is completely fenced in with chain link fence, with no ungated openings.  The clincher is that the entire fence line is thick with the tree / bush type of Honeysuckle.  That honeysuckle is so thick in several places in back yards in our area that I know a human hasn't been in that area of their yards in probably decades.  It would be impossible to navigate through that honeysuckle.


My questions are, "How the Hell does a deer survive crossing I-270, I-40, Lindbergh, Clayton Rd. or Warson Road - to climb over a bush-laden fence, to get in OUR yard, with 3 large dogs that love a good challenge, and a little mouthy dog that will encourage them?"

We have also had a large number of wild turkeys in our back yard.  They are notoriously bad flyers, and they prefer to walk / run, rather than fly, but they will fly for short distances if they are forced to do so.   Do you know what's on the other side of that barrier that is in the back of our yard?  200,000 cars a day moving at 60+ MPH!

Can you imagine the mess that they make when they jump that fence, only to be taken by surprise by 8 lanes of traffic?

The general (human) population needs to stop encroaching on these animals natural habitats, so they won't be forced to kick in Amanda's skull!  Amanda is our 13 year old Yellow Lab / Chow mix.   After that deer ran head-on into the chain link fence, she fell down, and Amanda moved in.  I saw that doe get in one good kick before she jumped back on her feet, and headed in the other direction.  THEN....  She ran into the other chain link fence, and fell, once again.  Amanda was standing across the yard, wondering what the Hell just thumped her skull, so Denver, our Black Lab / Sher Pei mix picked up the chase.   When she hit the dirt again, Denver moved in, and he, too, got his head smacked.  I didn't phase him one bit.  He has a thick skull!  At that point, both dogs chased the doe into the back corner of the yard.  I think she found a small spot through the honeysuckle, and jumped into the neighbor's yard.  I hope she did, anyway.  If she jumped the sound barrier, somebody has a dead deer sitting in their lap, as they were driving down I-40!

 I swear to you: I scan the back yard before I let the dogs out, but we have a heavily wooded 1 acre back yard.  I often don't see wildlife out there until it is too late: The chase is on!

- Michael

World's Longest Piano (built by an untrained teenager in New Zealand!)

...and a pipe organ built by a man with no formal pipe organ-building training.

First up:


When he was 16 years old and despite having no formal training, Adrian Mann of New Zealand decided that he was going to build a piano. Not just any piano – but the world’s largest and longest grand piano, built from scratch entirely by hand. Four years later, he completed his masterpiece …


The World's longest piano....  18 ft. 9 inches long.

A couple videos:

(The quality of this video leaves much to be desired, but it will get the job done.)

The Making of the World's Longest Piano (did I mention that this was accomplished by an untrained TEENAGER? )  :)

The bass that these long strings must produce would have to be a treat not only for the ears, but it will also get in touch with your entire body - the vibration!

This is a link to Adrian Mann's YouTube channel, with more videos and more information:

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheAlexanderpiano?feature=watch#p/u/2/6PI8RYIeypM

Second:

A 5 rank home-built pipe organ.  Granted:  This man, Raphi Giangiulio, comes from a musical family, but trust me when I tell you that these skills are not obtained through genetics, but are available through hard work, curiosity and determination!

He had no formal previous pipe organ building experience.  In fact, he has a BSME, a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and worked for Texas Instruments.
His website, with lots of audio and video samples, as well as a lot of information re: building a pipe organ:

http://www.rwgiangiulio.com/

An organ recital on this particular pipe organ (in his home):

You can learn more about Raphi Giangiulio by Googling him, or searching for him on YouTube.  Since he built this organ, he has built a couple continuo's - smaller, self-contained organs:

Raphi Gianguilio has since taken a job with an organ builder in Tacoma, WA.  Where can I get it?  There is nothing comparable to doing something that you absolutely love to do - and you get paid to do it.

These are just 2 examples of people who are self-taught, and have had no formal training.

Personally, I have taught myself how to read music and I am a self-taught, advanced-level knitter.  Please don't misunderstand me.  Learning to read music or knitting it by no means comparable to building flawless, breathing instruments, both from scratch and with no formal training..... however......  The intent of this blog is this:

"You can learn anything you want to learn, and the best way to finish any task is to BEGIN."

I heard someone once say that "The love of money is the root of all evil."  I challenge the author of that statement to take just ONE look at 'laziness'.  In the league of 'evilness', Laziness trumps Money all day long!  :)

GET BUSY AND DO IT!

(And congratulations to these 2 gentlemen, and many more that I have not listed, for their hard work, determination, attention to detail, and for your passion.  The world sorely needs less physically and mentally lazy people, and more people like you!)

- Michael

Let's Talk TWAIN!

Today's Google front page cover art is dedicated to Mark Twain. Today is his 176th birthday. Most of his family (with the exception of his immediate family - wife and children!) are buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in my hometown of Hannibal, MO.  Their graves are not too far from the graves of the people who were the inspiration for the characters of Injun Joe and the Widow Douglas. Mark Twain's parents (the inspiration for Aunt Polly and Judge Thatcher), as well as his siblings and in-laws are all buried there.  My biological paternal grandmother is buried just a few feet away.

The grave of Injun Joe in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Hannibal, MO  The Widow Douglas' grave is immediately to the left of Injun Joe's:



My grandmother, Rose Lee Keller, is buried just a few feet away from this stone. (Note that Injun Jo died in 1923 - at the age of 102 !)

These are the headstones for the rest of Mark Twain's family, in Mt. Olivet cemetery, Hannibal, MO:

A link to John M. Clemens' ("Judge Thatcher") FindAGrave.com:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21749

Mark Twain, his wife and children are all buried in Elmira, NY:


Mark Twain's FindAGrave.com entry:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=1048

Unlike Mark Twain (Tom Sawyer),  Laura Hawkins Frazer ("Becky Thatcher") never moved from the Hannibal area, and is buried just 11 miles outside Hannibal, in the small town of Rensselaer, MO:


Laura Hawkins Frazer / Becky Thatcher's FindAGrave.com page:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21754

I'll never forget my high school English teacher, Mrs. Nona Long-Clark , running into the classroom after the tardy bell rang, slamming her text book down on her desk, throwing her head back, and yelling, "OK! Let's talk TWAIN!" We had an entire semester dedicated solely to Mark Twain.

But then, on the other hand, while reciting an entire piece from Edgar Allen Poe, Mrs. Long-Clark would turn beet red, her eyes would roll back in her head, she would go into convulsions, and throw herself backwards over her desk, and ultimately end up flat on her back on the floor, all the while never missing a word, and keeping an entire class full of high school juniors absolutely spellbound by reciting Poe. I was an adult before I realized that this feat - holding the attention of an entire class full of juniors by reciting Poe - is TRUE TALENT!

(Coincidentally, Laura Ingalls Wilder, of "Little House on the Prairie" fame is buried not far outside Springfield, MO.  Walnut Groves was a small town in Missouri, not Minnesota, as depicted in the TV series, that is another blog for another day!)

- Michael

Christmas Eve in Sarajevo - New York ?

This video contains many of the reasons that I wake up each morning: It's magical, mystical, passionate and powerful.

Watch the little girl at 1:26 - 1:30, as she moves in on the conductor's job, to the extent that she even reaches around him to direct the music. I have cried more than a few times - every time, actually - watching her entire body release the passion as she is standing on top of that grand piano, directing music from 2:19 - 2:26. Go Girl! 

Whowouldathunkit? (Me! Me! Me!)

A progressive rock band from New York City (not Siberia!) that combines the voices of an orchestra with a metal rock band? Both Billboard Magazine and Pollstar have ranked them as one of the top ten ticket-selling bands in the first decade of the new millennium.

Throughout the years, many musicians have had the opportunity to play with the Trans Siberian Orchestra. For more information on this New York City-based band:




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_Siberian_Orchestra


I went to my closest Guitar Center yesterday to check to see if there was a deal that I didn't know that I couldn't live without, until I laid eyes on it! They were busy with Black Friday shoppers. I went into the keyboard room, and played Roland's Fantom-G8. At first, I started playing Carol of the Bells (the main theme in "Christmas Eve in Sarajevo") using a light music box sound. As I began playing more rounds of the song, I changed the music box sound into a bigger-than-life 16 ft grand piano sound, and eventually added a screaming electric guitar and a violin with an attitude. After a few rounds, I added the beat.

The Guitar Centers:
(they carry much more than guitars:  Keyboards, drums, amps, etc)


Their website:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/?source=4WWRWXMT
While I was playing this Fantom-G8, out of the corner of my eye, I could see several people peeking in the door of the music room. I know my arms were stretched straight out in front of me, I never hit a note that wasn't either a full-block chord, or an octave, and my head was going 100 MPH. As Mary J Blige says, "My soul temporarily left the building."

There were several rad-looking salesman lined up watching me. When I wound the phantasmagoria down to a whimper, I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and as I left the keyboard room, I whispered to the line of salesmen, as I passed: "Thank you! I needed that!" At that moment, they all turned into my own personal applause box! I think we were all 'rode hard, and put away wet', but every one of us would admit that a damned good time was had by all! :)

The Roland Fantom-G8:




For more info:

http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=918&ParentId=83

And a video:

Finally!  A computer-mouse driven keyboard!  I WANT ONE!

- Michael

Black Friday.. The Blackest!

"Black Friday", a 1975 song by Steely Dan:

First and foremost, I will admit that I love Macy's.  The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a must-watch for me on Thanksgiving morning.  That is one tradition that I have faithfully upheld since I escaped the house that I was raised in, and moved out on my own. (That is a long story, which is another blog for another day!)  You will have to trust me when I tell you that my parents were ass-backwards, and I did not have a television in my home until I was 18 years old, which was when I moved out of the house, and I bought my own television.  **EVERYTHING**  that I now know about pre-1986 television AND secular music, I have had to learn after the fact, and I had to learn on my own.

Anywho.... back to "Black Friday".

Macy's is opening their doors at 12:00 PM Midnight, Friday morning.  They aren't the only store to do such foolishness. I heard that Kohl's was committing the same act.

If you're opening your doors to shoppers at 12:00 AM, why the Hell even close at all?

When we combine greed with our #1 need (acceptance), the outcome is a toxic brew, indeed.

Yes, I am going out on Friday.  I am going to St. Louis' old Crestwood Mall ("The Art Mall"), and I am stopping by the adjacent Guitar Center to see if there are any bargains that I can't pass up.  Today, I am rearranging my music studio, and I might need some more cables to complete the connections.

HOWEVER.....

Right here and right now, I will swear to you that I have *NEVER*, and I mean *NEVER* bought anything from a "Black Friday" sale.  And I never intend to do so in the future.  Why not, you ask?  The answer is simple:

First:

I am secure enough in myself that I do not need the 'latest, greatest' gadget to feel accepted by my peers, or to feel complete.  I can make myself feel everything I need to feel, and without outside efforts.  Additionally, the things that I now have in my possession work nicely, thank you..

Second:

I have worked diligently to make sure that I do not feed into current 'trends', especially those that assist in feeding the ravenous pigs: Retailers.

Third:

By feeding into this silly frenzy, you are encouraging retailers to further abuse their staff.  I mean. C'mon.  Really!  There aren't too many employees that are willing to say, "Sure!  I want to go to bed on Thanksgiving day at 3:00 PM, because I have to be at work at Midnight for some stupid sale to make you (the retailer) more money!"

Retailers:  You should hope and pray that there is no such thing as an 'afterlife'.  If there is an afterlife, I would love to be a 'fly on the wall' when you are being judged for the way you mismanaged innocent employee's time, only to feed your never ending greed.

Fourth:

After *I* die, as an example, I personally do not want to have to rationalize how I spent my only non-renewable resource:  Time.

Did you spend that time wisely and efficiently, or did you wait in long lines - in the dark - for an item that will be obsolete in a year an a half/. (And.... you could have spent your time more wisely by shopping during normal shopping hours (avoiding lines), and spending your money more wisely on a better quality item that was NOT a part of the Black Friday sale, but one which has more features, and is of better quality.  Sure.  You will spend more money on the better item, but you only have to spend it ONCE.  If you buy an item that will be obsolete in a year and a half, you will be spending more money then.  (Which will make you more of a sucker,  while simultaneously thrilling the ravenous retail pigs!)  As another example, I have a Harmon / Kardon GPS that I finally had to replace this year.  This GPS is 5 years old, and the only reason I had to replace it is that it has a faulty plug.  **5 years**, I said.   I also have my original MP3 player: 7 years old, and I use it daily.  On the other hand, Mark has 4 MP3 players sitting on this very desk that he has spend much more $$ on, and they have a much larger memory capacity than the one I bought 7 years ago. HOWEVER.... they won't hold a batter charge for more than a few minutes. Therefore, all 4 of them are sitting on this desk.  They are unused, and are taking up space....and they are annoying me.  I will continue to use the 7 year old MP3 player that I continue to use on a daily basis.  Incidentally, I only use size AA batteries in this MP3 player that I first 'depleted' in my camera.  I wait until the camera will no longer switch on (because the batteries are so low) before I replace them.  Then.... I take these batteries and use them in my MP3 player. ONE battery that is supposedly spent will last me 4 - 6 months of daily use in m MP3 player.  These 'new' MP3 players that Mark has sitting on my desk can't hold a charge for 10 minutes.  What gives?  I can't tell you what gives, but I can tell you what takes!  Ravenous retail pigs.  I guess I really do know what gives.  Gullible shoppers who are too lazy to think for themselves, and those that think they have to buy the 'latest, greatest' thing to 'fit in'.  You can fit in WITHOUT IT, and you most likely don't need it!


If you will, please allow yourself to think of it this way:

If not one, and I mean *not one* person would walk into any of these silly retailers until normal shopping hours (and if the shoppers  would refuse to wait in long lines for hours!), with 100% accuracy, I can guarantee you that these retailers would not do this foolishness one more year.  Not once more!  They will stop doing the behavior if the shoppers will stop feeding the ravenous pigs!

- Michael

Local St. Louis Food icons in the National Spotlight

Congratulations to the local St. Louis (and the St. Louis area) restaurants and food sources that have earned their "15 minutes of fame", and have been featured in national media:  Food Network and Oprah's list of Favorite Things in her "O" magazine.


First up:

The Blue Owl Restaurant

The Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery is located in the quiet, sleepy little river town,  Kimswick, MO (located 45 minutes from my home).  I ate at this restaurant after their second appearance on the Food Network.  If you go to this restaurant, it would be in your best interest to either put your name on the waiting list to get in, or call for reservations.  If you do not have reservations, you can shop while you wait. It will be about a 2 hr. wait to get a seat if you don't have previous reservations.  They were featured on this channel for their famous Levee High Apple Pie:

Recently, this restaurant - and their pie - has been featured in Oprah's "O" Magazine, as one of her Favorite Things:

Since their appearance in the "O" Magazine, their website has crashed often due to the high volume of hits. I did get on this site this morning.

The Blue Owl's website:

http://www.theblueowl.com/

Second up:

Jilly's Cup Cake Bar
(4.2 miles from my home!)

"Chocolate Thunder"

A few years ago, I was introduced to Jilly's Cupcakes at the annual Best of Missouri Market at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.  Jilly's started out in a small shop in a strip mall on Delmar Blvd in the St. Louis area.  They have since expanded their shop - twice- and now occupies 3 shops in that strip mall.  Jilly's was a contestant on Food Network's "Cupcake Wars",  and they won that episode.  (Was there really any question that they wouldn't win?  :)  )

More info on their Cupcake Wars appearance:

http://www.jillyscupcakebar.com/cupcake-wars.php

Jilly's website - take a look at their cupcakes!  Bet you can't eat one - in just one sitting!  These are "not yo mamma's cupcakes!"  Not even close.

http://www.jillyscupcakebar.com/

Jilly's - because of you, and my generally weak constitution, I now live on an exercise bike!

Last on this list: (but the list could continue....)

Sweetie Pie's on the Mangrove
(8 miles from my home!)

Ronnie Montgomery, the founder and chef at Sweetie Pie's started her career as an Ikette.  For those of you have been born since then, an "Ikette" was a back-up singer for Ike and Tina Turner, who got their start in East. St. Louis, IL - just across the river from St. Louis.  Ike and Tina worked in many clubs St. Louis' Gaslight Square district "back in the day".  Ronnie has several photos on the walls of the restaurant of herself, along with the other Ikettes when they are a part of the Ike and Tina Turner Revue.

The food at this restaurant is billed as 'Soul Food', but the only 'Soul' that I can find in this food is that that originates from the core of her own heart.  This food is more 'Southern comfort food' than 'Soul Food'.  I have read many review that were written about Sweetie Pie's, and many of them state, "Your mother only wishes she could cook like this!"

The food is served 'cafeteria style', and feature several different meats, sides, and a couple desserts each day.  I have been to this restaurant many, many times.  Even though Ronnie is famous for her Mac & Cheese, I was put here on this Earth to tell you that I have never in my life tasted better Fried Catfish!  It does not have a "muddy, river" taste, and will stay crispy several hours after you take it home.  Their serving portions are HUGE, and it is almost expected for you to ask for a take-home container at the end of your meal.  

The service at the restaurant is almost uncomfortable and uncanny, in the fact that they are definitely on their job!  It has been several decades since I have seen such good service in any restaurant.
If you go to Sweetie Pie's on a weekend, while you eat,  you will often be entertained by live jazz music, provided by a small band, and often played on the grand piano that is painted to match the decor of the restaurant.

Recently, Sweeties has secured a spot on the OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network), and she has her own show - "Welcome To Sweetie Pie's!"  The show airs on Saturdays at 8 PM Central.

More info on "Welcome To Sweetie Pie's" on OWN Network:

http://www.oprah.com/own-sweetie-pies/sweetie-pies-blog.html


Robbie's appearance on Food Network's  Diner's Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri:

This clip is a longer interview, and goes into a bit more depth.  This Ronnie Montgomery's appearance on Channel 9 (Public TV), making her Famous Mac & Cheese, and a couple other delights:

These are just a few local food finds that have made their way into the national spotlight.  There are many more notable food and drink spots in this area that I have not covered that will include (but are not limited to):

1) Crown Candy Kitchen:
  Although the candy is featured, there is more to this spot than the candy.  In fact, I have never bought candy from them...because I go to eat in the attached diner.  If you go to this are, you must be aware of the area that you are in.  They know they are in a bad area of town, but as the owners / operators have said, "We have been in this area since 1913.  We were here before the area turned bad, and we are staying here."  My advice:  Go early.  The line to get in will literally go out the door at lunch time.  Park as close to the door as you can - and always get an old-fashioned Malt!  Great diner food.  Great nostalgia.

 Their website:
http://crowncandykitchen.net/

2) Anheuser-Busch (self-explanatory!)

3)  Schlafly Brewery (AKA. The St. Louis Brewery).
  Located in the Maplewood area of St. Louis, this brewery has it's own bar and restaurant, and you can get a clear view of the process behind the process of beer making.

 Schlafly Brewery's website:
http://www.schlafly.com/

As I have previously stated:  These are just a few of the food and drink spots in the St. Louis area that have had national coverage.

We could cover the Central West End, The Grand South Grand and the Delmar Loop (featuring the stars of the St. Louis walk of fame!) shopping and restaurant areas....

In summary:
I have said on more than one occasion that if we are going to kill ourselves from over-eating, don't be lame in the way that you go about it.  After all, isn't killing yourself murder?  In my belief system, murders go to a bad place (Hell?) after they pass from this Earth.  If you kill yourself, whether it be from a self-inflicted gun shot wound, or overeating, the results are the same:  you murdered yourself.  I believe that if we do such a thing, we will arrive in that Inferno.  Upon our arrival, we will be surrounded by "Hell Royalty", such as Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, Fidel Castro, Adolph Hitler........  When they ask you, "What brought you here?", are you going to embarrass yourself by answering, "I ate a Twinkie?"  or "I had a store-bought, pre-packaged cupcake?" or "I put too much mayonnaise on a plain ham sandwich?"  Good God, I hope you don't have to answer in that manner!  I want you to be proud of yourself!  I want you to be able to answer, "I ate the Cadbury Egg cupbake from Jilly's!" or "I had the Mac & Cheese from Sweetie Pie's!"   However you decide to answer, I would hope that you won't have to answer, "I ate a super-sized order from McDonald's!"

If you are going to do it - do it right, and do it with style!  :)


Happy Eating!

- Michael  

There is no better way to get your adrenaline flowing....

I'm willing to bet that the nice, young utility line workers that met 3 of our 4 dogs in the back yard are probably wishing that they would have notified me that they were back there before I let the dogs out to go potty!

My dogs won't hurt anybody, but they sure will bug the Hell out of them!

We live on a fairly heavily wooded acre, and I can't see all the way to the back of the property. These gents were cutting trees away from utility lines in our neighbor's yard, and I thought I had plenty of time to let the dogs out one more time before they came into my back yard. HOWEVER....I couldn't see back there, and...they had already crossed the chain-link fence, rather than go through the gate to the back yard.

By the time I heard the commotion, and I got back to the back fence, I know one of the lads had the pointy top piece of the chain link fence up his butt, because he was sitting, perfectly balanced, on top of the fence! The other lad was as close to the top of his ladder as he could get!

I am not horribly territorial, and neither are my dogs. Once I got back there to the action, I only had to point to the house, and say, "GO!". All 3 went back home, like they were trained.

I turned to the man with the grimace on his face (the one sitting on the pointy fence!), and I said:

"None of us really cares that you are back here. I know you are just doing your job, and I am thankful that you're here. **IF** there is a 'next time', you might want to come through the front door, and meet the dogs so they won't be taken by surprise by a stranger that suddenly appeared in their own back yard. If you cover those bases, you might not have to do such fancy fence hopping the next time!"

I tried to make good by them, by telling them that they could leave the debris that they cut from the trees in the pile that I already had started in the back yard. It is a LONG WAY to carry all that cut wood back the wood chipper on their truck. I offered them a deal: If you leave the wood in fire place-sized pieces, they can leave it where it falls.

I don't know if offer truly made up for an Olde English Bulldogge nipping at his ...testicles..... (and a Black Lab / Shar Pei and a Yellow Lab / Chow helping him!), but it's not like I didn't try! :)

- Michael

Waiting for the Bus, and Wormwood's Last Hurrah

It is a beautiful November day.  November 14, 2011.  

The time is currently 11:45 AM, and by at least three degrees, the St. Louis area has already exceeded the predicted daily high temperature of 74 degrees.  The temperature is now 77 degrees.  I have seized this opportunity to go outside and clean up the few garden and planting beds that I have around our home.  We had a hard freeze a few days ago that took my Heavenly Blue Morning Glories that was growing thick on our back fence.  I started those seeds indoors earlier in the spring, and these vines decided to wait to bloom until early fall.  I only had a couple months of seeing them in full bloom, but they were beautiful.  That freeze also took Zucchini plants that were still flowering and bearing fruit, and tomato plants, some of which had manage to remain hidden from the squirrels and chipmunks long enough to remain as loaded as possible with flowers and small, green tomatoes.  I will allow no waste.  That is against every fiber of Hindu belief in my body.  I harvested all the small green tomatoes, and I will use them in the vegetables that I eat daily.  

I have also harvested some sprigs of Wormwood (Artemisia), and the French Lavender that did amazingly well this year.   Dried, the sprigs of Artemisia are thin,soft sprigs and they have an earthy, comforting fragrance, which I will not allow to go to waste.  I was surprised to see the beautiful, pastel colors displayed by this plant, as if to give one last "HURRAH!" on it's way out, and in the middle of it's death throws.



(I hate the use of a flash in my photography.  The use of a direct flash is, at best, rude, but it is SOMETIMES an evil necessity that should not be used with any regularity.)

I was pleasantly surprised by the colors this plant exhibited at the dying stage in it's life cycle:  The pastel pinks, yellows, light greens, and ultimately, silver.

In good Hindu fashion, I always thank the plant for it's service, for it's beauty, and for it's sacrifice before I cut it.  I do the same thing with every vegetable I harvest, and for every weed I pull out of my gardens while they are growing.  You have to admit that the tenacity, fortitude, resilience, and the will to survive while combating every means to extricate it are the qualities that a weed possesses that should be admired. If we could only adopt the same values, character and strengths, we should be much better for it.

These unseasonably warm temperatures brings me to an interesting observation.  

Picture it: 

You drive by a bus stop, and see (anyone!) standing there on a day like today.  Even though the calendar clearly states that It is November 13, and that we definitely have had some freezing overnight temperatures, and actual temperature is 77 degrees.  Tonight's low is forecast to be 51 degrees. Chilly - yes.  Cold - no.

I know as sure as I am writing this blog that if there are bus stops in your area, you have passed a bus stop on a day like I have just described, and you have seen more than one person standing there:  Heavy coat on, wearing gloves, and perhaps a stocking cap, or some other type of heavy head protection.  Even upon taking into consideration personal deviations for temperature variances, you will have to admit that wearing HEAVY winter gear on a 77 degree day is over kill.  This is not an unusual or rare phenomenon, dear readers.  I could get in my truck at this very moment, and take a drive through the streets of St. Louis, and I **guarantee** you that, most likely, every bus stop (or shopping mall....grocery store, etc) will contain hot, sweaty folk who have overdressed for today's temperatures.  

Now that you have admitted to yourself that this does, indeed happen, let's examine why they do it.  The reason is simple.  They rationale is this:  The *calendar* says that it is November, so I have to "dress like it is November.  Never mind the fact that it is damned near 80 degrees out there!

Last weekend, Mark and I went to one of our favorite Indian restaurants.  (Yes, another November day!)  The temperature was, once again,  in the 70's.  I was wearing a tank top, shorts, and sandals.  Mark, on the other hand, was wearing a heavy winter coat, long a long sleeved flannel shirt, a pair of heavy jeans, and tennis shoes.   Can you just imagine, if you will, the "sight for sore eyes" that we must have been - sitting at that table?  I was dressed for comfort, and according to the temperature.  He was dressed merely by the calendar.  Then, we got in the car - and he turned the heat on!  He turned it on HIGH!  Why?  "It's November, and we need the heat on!"  I was in full summer garb, and I had to roll my window all the way down.  I thought I was going to suffocate.  Mind you, I LOVE WARM, BALMY temperatures!  I would love to live as close to the equator as possible.  I am very cold-blooded, and would rather life my life being a 'little too warm' rather than 'a little too cold."

Are people really nailed to a calendar so firmly that they can't use the rest of their minds to determine how to live their life as comfortably as possible, and to take full advantage of as many wonderful opportunities (a great, warm day in the middle of November!) as possible?

1) Don't be influenced by others.  You are the one that is living your life.  When it comes time to "do the dying", other people are NOT going to do it for you.  You are going to be "doing the dying" all by yourself.  You should be the one "doing the living", too.  They're not going to be "doing your dying", and they shouldn't be the ones "Doing your living", either.  Don't be afraid to live your own life.  

2) A calendar is just a few pieces of paper. How silly it is to be it's slave!

3) "What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Don't forget to stop and consider the Lilies - AND the dandelions!

4) "I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it." -
by Alice Walker
from The Color Purple, 1982

From Michael:
"I think it pisses God off when you don't consider other blessings in your world, and when you overdress on a 70+ degree day!  You were given a rare day with good temperatures, and you fight it!  I think that pisses God off!"

Now, if you will excuse me, I am going back outside to finish my yard work.  I am wearing no shirt, no shoes, and a pair of shorts... in November.  Thank you, God.... Thank you, Ganesha!

- Michael

Lime Cornmeal Glazed Cookie

Lime Cornmeal Glazed Cookies

My favorite cookie recipe, the Lime Cornmeal Glazed Cookie:
The cookie that bites back!


Incidentally, and for no particular reason, this recipe contains no leavening agents (baking soda / baking powder) and no salt.


If you don't consider the time it takes to zest those limes, this recipe is very simple and fast.  The night before I plan to bake these cookies, I take the limes, my favorite zester and a bowl into the living room, and I 'zest the night away' in front of the TV!  The only liquid in the glaze is juice from the limes.  Pucker up, buttercup!

They are definitely a wake-you-up cookie. Take one bite, and your eyes pop wide open!

Unless the limes are HUGE, I find that I need a lot more limes to get the right amount of juice and zest than the recipe calls for. I often use 12 - 14 limes.
I let the glaze that drips off onto the parchment paper dry, and I eat it like candy!
Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature.
     If you use margarine, I will come to your house and beat you!
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
4 teaspoons freshly grated lime zest, plus 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (about 6 limes total).
      If you use lime juice out of one of those plastic squeezy-thingys, I will come to your house and beat you TWICE! 
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest (2 medium oranges)
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal


Directions


In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add egg; beat until just blended. Add citrus zests, lime juice, and almond extract.


With the mixer on low speed, add flour and cornmeal. Continue beating until well blended. Transfer dough to a piece of plastic wrap. Shape the dough into a disk, wrap, and chill until firm, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using your hands or an optional 1 1/4-inch ice-cream scoop form balls from chilled dough. Place balls on prepared sheets, spaced about 3 inches apart. Spray the bottom of a medium drinking glass with non-stick cooking spray. or moisten the bottom of the glass slightly with water, and  flatten balls with the bottom of glass until dough is about 1/4 inch thick.


Bake cookies until crisp and light-golden brown around the edges, 14 to 16 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to a wire rack, and let the cookies cool completely.  From personal experience, I find this baking time a bit too long. Watch the first batch of cookies closely.  They can burn quickly!


Place a wire rack on top of a piece of parchment paper. Pour the lime glaze over the cooled cookies, allowing the excess to drip off the edges. Let glaze set. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
  Lime Glaze

3 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
8 tablespoons fresh lime juice, plus 2 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated lime zest (about 6 limes total)

Directions

Sift confectioners' sugar into a medium bowl. Add lime juice; stir until smooth. Stir in lime zest. Your proportions of lime juice to confectioners' sugar will vary, depending on humidity, the size of the limes, and the amount of juice they yield. You might have to use more or less juice or confectioner's sugar, accordingly.

Use glaze immediately.

Me & my cell phone:

Me & my cell phone:


1) I check my voice mails.  Maybe twice a month.


2) My cell phone is *not* my hobby.  I have real hobbies, and I'm good at them.  It shouldn't be your hobby, either, but you are responsible for how wisely you use your time, and that is your own business.
  
3) I don't read text messages.  I don't sent text messages.  


   To paraphrase a well known game show, "If you can't afford to buy a vowel, and use complete sentences, proper puncuation and proper grammer, you can't afford my attention." (I also don't respond instant messages who are written in the same duck-speak.


3) If I missed your call, there are several reasons why:
  a) I will take your call if I am expecting it.
  b) I hate the damned thing (cell phones)!
  c) I didn't hear the damned thing ring.  It is not now, nor will it ever be, attached to my hip.
  d) You say you left a message?  See #1.


4) I do not take pictures with my phone.  That is what a real camera is for. I have a real camera, and I am pretty good at using it.  While I am on the subject, like the damned plague, I try to avoid looking at pictures taken with cell phones.  They hurt the only eye I have left, and I think it is in my best interest to protect that lone retina.
  
Isn't that "Facebook Button" that is located on some 'smart' phones quite the invention?  At the moment, I can think of no other gimmick that encourages fast, ill-thought out photography that is quickly posted by people who are too lazy to crop or to other wise properly prepare a photograph before it is made viewable by the general public.  At an alarming rate, the internet is splattered by random acts of "BLAH!"


5) I won't even talk on a cell phone while driving my vehicle.  Never. Not even for you.  In fact, I usually turn it off before I get in the car, and I don't turn it back on until I exit the vehicle. (And that is if I remember, or I care to turn it back on!)


6) I will not talk on a cell phone while walking through a store, and especially while waiting in the check out lane - or any other public place, as far as that is concerned.  That is rude.  If I would be waiting on an important call, I will quickly excuse myself and get to a more private area before continuing the concersation.  If people taking loudly on cell phones in stores / check out lanes annoy the Hell out of me, why wouldn't I think that the same behavior would annoy the hell out of someone else?  It does!


I do answer messages sent to me on Facebook or e-mails faster than any other mode of communication.  The reason is that I am probably already on the internet or on my computer, and thus I can kill 2 birds with the same stone.  My precious resource - time! - is saved.

For additional reading:
http://mrtoadslivingoutloud.blogspot.com/2011/03/buying-live-digital-chicken-in.html

- Michael

Michael, The Animal Whisperer

I don't know how I developed this particular skill, but I do know that when I go to Grant's Farm here in STL, there can be over 100 people standing by a fence looking at the Clydesdales in the distance. All their whistling, whoopin' and hollerin' won't bring the horses over to the fence to see the spectators. I gently make my way through the crowd, and give a particular whistle. A stampede ensues! Those Clydesdale colts, who are still HUGE compared to other adult horses, come galloping across that huge pasture, high-spiritedly over to the fence, and in particular, over to me! I don't know why! What gives? Mark and several of his relatives were with me on this visit.

When I go to the St. Louis Zoo, if I am the only person in the 1904 Flight Cage, there is a particular Egret that is fond of me. All birds in this cage are free-roaming, contained only by the large wire frame of the flight cage. I do have this particular event on video. This Egert will fly down to within just a few feet of me. I squat down to his level, and he will jump up and perch on my fore arm, and gently explore my upper quarters with his bill. He was sitting on my arm for probably 15 minutes, before I had to gently persuade him to go on about his way, so I could continue through the Zoo.

If I go into the Bird House, the Toucan will slide down the wires of his enclosure, just to visit me. He ignores everybody else in the bird house.

A similar event happened when I was at the Chimpanzee enclosure. There were several Chimps down near the large observation windows in front of their outside enclosure. This was a nice, busy fall day at the Zoo, and any time a chimp is near the glass, he draws a large crowd instantly. I was standing 2 - 3 people deep from the windows in this crowd when I caught the chimp's eye. He approached the glass, and motioned with his hand for the small children in front to move out of his line of sight. The kids didn't understand him at first, so he again motioned with his hand for them to step to the side. I walked through the part in the crowd that the chimp made for me, and he looked into my eyes for what seemed to be the longest time. Then, he pointed at the plugs in my ears, the choker made of nuts 'n' bolts that I always wear around my neck (visible in my profile pic), and he pointed down at my bright, glittery raspberry shoes. It might be my imagination, but he did seem to smile! Then, he put his knuckles gently against the glass. I put my knuckles, in the same fashion, against my side of the glass, against his knuckles. We paused for a moment as he once again looked deep into my eyes. I know I saw another smile cross his face, and then he scampered off into the distance!

I know I had tears in my eyes, as I turned to the crowd that was standing behind me. Many of them had their hands over their mouths, and their eyes were WIDE with astonishment. I heard a few gasps. I intentionally raised my eyebrows at them, in a "So, there! Take THAT!" sort-of fashion, as I made my way through the crowd. Like Moses and the Red Sea, they automatically parted as I walked on!

Animal Whisperer? I dunno. You tell me. :)

- Michael

The Passing of the Greats (Andy Rooney, Stan Kann, Virgil Fox)

(Andy Rooney - What is Art?)

RIP Andy Rooney.

He died one month after giving his last address on 60 Minutes.
Mr. Rooney had gone to the hospital for an undisclosed surgery, but major complications developed and he never recovered.

In my mind's eye, he was a champion in my "The Emperor's New Clothes" campaign. He, too, realized that the 'Emperor' was stark naked, no matter what other people tried to talk him into believing, the Emperor still wasn't wearing any clothes! I have definitely suffered from saying so, especially at the hands of my own family, but since I was first able to speak, I have always been the little boy that noticed that everybody was putting on an act - when in fact, the "Emperor" was still neekid! The difference is that I was brave enough to SEE the truth, and honest enough to TELL it.

I don't know whether to attribute my premonition to general life experience, or to my nursing background, but I had a feeling that after he gave his last address on 60 Minutes, he wouldn't last long afterward.  


I don't know the details of his surgery, but I suspect that Andy did the same thing that St. Louis' own Stan Kann did.   I personally knew Stan from the St. Louis social circles.   


Even though Stan was (I believe) the nation's last full-time working theatre organist, restoring and playing St. Louis' Fabulous Fox Theatre's 4 / 36 "Crawford Special"  Wurlitzer organ, Stan Kann was more famous for his record breaking 77 appearances on the Johnny Carson Show, and 89 appearances on the Mike Douglas Show.  


Stan Kann was 83 yrs. old when he passed away. He waited too long to have a heart cath, and died on the table during the test.  I suspect Any Rooney's story is similar.  


Here are some Stan Kann videos.  With a latency of 1.5 - 2 seconds, he could accompany a silent film, for example - for 3 hours, non-stop!  That accomplishment is just a drop in the bucket.  Not only could Stan keep up with the activity on the screen, considering that LONG latency, he could also whistle another entirely unrelated tune - at the same time!  In essence, he was playing 3 songs at the same time:


1) the one that his FINGERS was playing
2) the song that came out of the pipes 1.5 - 2 seconds later
3) the 3rd unrelated tune that he was whistling.  


I asked him, "How the Hell do you do that?" The little man whipped, "Your problem is that you are actually listening to what you are playing!"


Pure Genius!


But then again, the late great Virgil Fox once arrived at a concert venue the day before the scheduled event, and he  sat down to play an organ that he was playing for it's inaugural concert.  The organ was newly installed, and the organ company had to hire temporary help that was unfamiliar with their work, to get the job done in time (BAD IDEA!).  This new, hurried tech accidentally wired the pedals backwards!  As was his custom, Mr. Fox played a practice tune with a flourish, and barely missed a note.  A representative from the organ company was with him, awaiting his approval on their instillation.  He turned, look at the organ tech and said with a chuckle, "I can play it as you have it, but I would prefer that you rewire it before tomorrow!"


Stan Kann YouTube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Stan+Kann&aq=f

Additional Stan Kann info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Kann

A tribute to Stan Kann, compliments of Channel 9 Public TV:

An interview with Virgil Fox:

Today, I'm missing Stan Kann, Virgil Fox, and now - Andy Rooney.  More and more genius is leaving this planet, and it's not being replenished at the same rate.  

- Michael