Big Leather Couch

I LOVE YOU MOM AND AM BLESSED 

TO HAVE YOU IN MY LIFE

NO, that is not me..but had to share

one of mom as a young girl...

Christmas 1956 - Mom, me and Brother Richard

who would join us one month later

My High School Junior prom

High School Senior Prom

I think we had the same hair style! 

Thanksgiving my freshman year of college

Cruise to St. Thomas

My wedding to Nancy

76 years old and she still hits the

dance floor with her 22 year old grandson

Mom and Dad's Anniversary last year

42 days!

42 days since the last post here at Big Leather Couch. There have been times when I have missed a day or two and probably a week once or twice...but 42 days!?!?!?!

Wow...

I guess the International Blues Challenge shows for Music On The Couch got in the way...and this is my busiest time of year at work...but 42 DAYS!?!!?!?!

And I guess I just have not had my mind in a place to write...but I have also missed 5 FIVE ON FRIDAY'S...and it is music!

Well, today I received an email from Mom Joan and it really hit me.

The email said:

Hi, I have a suggestion about your blog, why don't you put up a sign -

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
or
GONE FISHING

It is so sad for me to see an old blog still up.

Just saying,

MOM

Wow...OK, so I have had the jitters to begin sharing my opinions on what is going on in the world...sports, entertainment, news...

So, I truly believe...

I'M BACK

A tiny plug here for this week's show on Music On The Couch. Not only were both my guests (Paul Thorn and Kelly Richey) excellent musicians, they both proved to be incredibly insightful, interesting people. They both talk about their philosophies on life and how they are both trying to help others in many ways.

Not many days left until Christmas and I am further behind this year than I have been in many many years.

Christmas cards are almost ready and should be out the door by Thursday - fingers crossed

Have a few more gifts to purchase and that should be done this week - fingers crossed

We have Nancy's family's Christmas celebration this Saturday. Should be a fun time.

Then Sunday morning, breakfast for about 10 kids...a little tradition we began two years ago, inviting some of Peter and Ernie's friends over. That afternoon we will have our Christmas meal with Peter and (hopefully) Ernie.

Next Wednesday morning we wake and get on the road by 6am to Boynton Beach, Fl and Mom Joan and Dad Vince. Nancy and I will drive the 14 hours straight through.

While there we will get to hang with my best friend Andy and his wife Janice and my fraternity big-brother Mike and his wife Lucille. Mike and Lucille live close to mom and dad and Andy and Janice are coming down for a week (their plans were finalized when they realized we would be down there...very cool).

Hoping the weather will be nice...it looks to be in the 70's when we get there...so I can fall into the ocean. If the water is too cold for that, I will at least have the chance to go for a walk with sand in my toes and 10-billion gallons of salt air invading my lungs and reviving my insides.

Dad is doing well with his radiation treatments. he says he is a little tired but that seems to be from the shot they gave him a few months ago to put the cancer into remission so he could enjoy the cruise.

I will not be around much through the end of the year. Work is insane right now and with my vacation I have put even more pressure on myself to get it all done.

We get back home on the 30th and it looks like I will be flying back out to Los Angeles on the 2nd or the 3rd for about 7-9 days.

My last Music On The Couch show for the year is this Monday and then I will be off-air until January 10th.

One last comment here today...even though he might never see it I want to say that it still bothers me that Matt-Man and I had a falling out over something silly this past year. Maybe in 2011 we can put this situation aside and repair the friendship we had built prior to that.

Before we can begin the new week, a review is in order...

• Saw Annie Fitzgerald at the Java Cabana on Friday in an increbily intimate setting and she was fantastic - CHECK
• Then headed to Beale Street to see the Eric Hughes Band at Wet Willies - CHECK
• 2 gallons of gravy made - CHECK
• 27 meatballs made - CHECK
• 12 Italian sausages made - CHECK
• Replaced Wireless Router as ours had crapped out of Friday - CHECK
• Returning the two adapters for the TiVos as the old ones worked - CHECK
• Correcting the clerk when she tried to refund all the money and not just part - CHECK
• Finding out the original clerk had not charged me for one of the two adapters - CHECK
• Just glad that whole thing is over - CHECK
• Finding out the Oncologist Radiologist (I got that part wrong) is confident dad will react great to the radiation they will begin as soon as the cruise is over - CHECK
• Deciding to go to Florida to be with Mom Joan and Dad Vince as they will not be able to go to San Antonio for Christmas - CHECK 

phew...think that is it..OH WAIT

• Heading to the The Levitt Shell this evening to see Keith Sykes with his band including Leo Goff (I suggest you take a few minutes and learn about one of my new friends - his history is rich), Reba Russell and Josh Roberts (guitarist for the Reba Russell band). A beautiful evening under the stars with fantastic music and a beautiful lady beside me - CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK

Take out the clock and the 'real time' premise and the finale of 24 was non-stop action which I thoroughly enjoyed. They certainly left the door open for the talked about 2-hour movie (each hour will be one day as opposed to the 'minute by minute' concept the show was formulated under).

The finale of LOST, also made me smile. I know there are many discussions over the ending but this viewer thought they did a heck of a job wrapping it all up.

Let's set something straight right now, just because this guy is a relative does not mean I am sucking up to him or anything, but in the course of the last 18 hours I learned things about Dad Vince that I had never known.

This weekend is huge in homes all over the US, being Mother's Day. In our home growing up it was doubly special since Mom Joan's Birthday always fell right near Mother's Day. This year they are one day apart with Mom Joan celebrating her ***garbled*** Birthday on Saturday.

She and Dad Vince have been on Sanibel Island all week and are spending the weekend with friends at their home.

Love you Mom...HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

I know my Mom Joan was one and many of the ladies who visit on The Couch are also..so this is for all the Super-Moms this day...

A Mother's Day project for Nancy's mom took my attention tonight - I like how it came out too! - and I forgot about Five On Friday. Because I respect Travis so much, I will not just throw one up...

Was turned onto this blog yesterday by an old college chum...very cool music stuff and the commentors are some of the biggest names in the industry.

It is called The Lefsetz Letter. Bob Lefsetz has been writing this for over 25 years, first as a hard copy, then emails and now a blog. This is a brilliant post on the Grateful Dead inspired by Bob's visit to the new Grateful Dead exhibit at the New York Historical Society.

I highly recommend your checking it out if you love music.

Now I received this from Mom Joan who received it from an old family friend....this guy is hilarious and hits some of these out of the park...enjoy

Today - a new post:
Part 3 "Saturday In The Kitchen" -
Ground Beef & Macaroni Medley
and Stuffed Flank Steak

Come Take A Seat At My Table

Before the season begins, let's see what Jack has been up to over the last month or so...

So I am back in Dallas on press printing some collateral material. In the past, I have not had to do these press runs, but the CMO has asked I get involved with all of his print now...

Long story, but an honor in the end, so here I am!

Not sure I will be available for the Radio happy Hour tomorrow, but if I have a window of opportunity, I will be calling in from the road.

Been booking guests for Music On The Couch and am beginning to focus on Memphis area guests as well as national artists. I like the idea of featuring artists from the Memphis area and am working on one specific guest that will amaze all y'all.

The cold that has gripped the entire country seems to be pulling back up north. Today - Sunday as I write this - we will even get a tad above freezing for the first time in a week and today - Monday as you read this - it is supposed to be in the mid 40's and mid 50's in Dallas where I am (will be? - LOL)

A shout-out to Mom Joan, who took a spill this past weekend as she was watching her grandson Joe at his swim meet at the University of Scranton. Feel better mom!

Love you!

Spent Saturday with Nancy and I cooking two big pots of gravy and meatballs and sausage in preparation to make Lasagna to be served at her mom's 85th birthday party in two weeks.

Love having all the help in the kitchen and we are a well-oiled macheine when we get going!

Basically, taking the "New Music Monday" theme from here on The Couch and moving to a broadcast medium. I hope y'all find time to listen, either live or in archives or from iTunes (where the shows will be made available)...and I can get back to doing radio once again.

I will continue to be a part of The Dr. Blogstein Radio Happy Hour each Tuesday evening at 9:00pm Eastern time, as I thoroughly enjoy the show and the excitement we present each week.

I am in the middle of a project for Mom Joan and Dad Vince, where I am scanning all of their slides in preparation of creating a DVD for them to have as a memory of their life.

The continuing saga of digitizing my music continues. As I sit here writing, music is being transferred over and my iTunes library continues to grow (currently at over 7,000 songs - with the final total be be at least 10 times that much).

Once I am done with the DVD for mom and dad, I have the wedding DVD to produce. I have a few hundred pictures from the wedding and honeymoon and three individual videos of our first dance to edit.

I also began transferring the VHS tapes I have of Matt's life last year and I need to complete that task to ensure my son has his life to share with his future off-spring.

All are intense projects and I know they will not all be completed this calendar year, but I want to spend time trying to get as much done as possible.

Nancy and I are talking about a trip up north this coming summer so I can show her my life before I moved here. I want to show her my New York, the beaches of Long Island that I miss so much and to allow her to meet the friends and relatives who were not able to make it down for our wedding.

We also have the Blogfest in Atlanta in July this summer.

Will we be able to do both? Time and finances will tell that story...

Do you have plans for your blog for 2010? What about your personal life? These are not Resolutions...because that is a BS concept in my mind...

When you really want to change something in your life, you do not wait for a certain date to make it happen...you just do it...

Having goals is important. Striving to achieve those goals is what keeps us all focused on the future.

This week on the
Radio Happy Hour:



Funny guys Dave Ahdoot and Ethan Fixell created an internet phenomenon, challenging pairs of women to double date them, and documenting the hilarious results for YouTubers everywhere.

www.daveandethan.com



Prentice is the morning DJ at X1FM, an innovative new way to enjoy music on internet radio. A fusion of audio and visual, X1FM emanates from San Diego, CA.

www.x1fm.com

Also this week:

• Collette McLafferty, lead singer of edibleRed, cohosts
  

• Co-host Vinny Bond sits on his Big Leather Couch to chat live with the listeners

• The Burl of Annie and Burl Live works behind the scenes as pro-doucher

• Shawn Amos tests our Pop Culture IQ
  

• and we’ll take your calls at 646-652-4804

LIVE BROADCAST: January 5, 2010 @ 9 PM ET

PODCAST AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD: Immediately following the live broadcast

CLICK HERE! –> All from this link <–CLICK HERE!


Become a Radio Happy Hour subscriber

for free !

Take two...I began to write off the cuff just now and got about two paragraphs in and had no idea where I was going - or why I had even started the words I put on the screen.

We are all ready - well almost all ready - for our Yard Sale this Saturday.

Took out a 4-line ad in the local paper for Thursday and Saturday...

Have signs that will go up on the main roads at either end of the road we live off...The garage is set up with shelves containing items of like price... Buckets of sporting equipment all at different price levels...Clothing for sale...Electronics...Furniture...

Now we need some decent weather - i.e. no rain, and people! LOL

Anything that is left at the end of the day will end up on a Salvation Army or Goodwill Truck.

Big doings in the Mayer household...

John Mayer will kick off a North American tour beginning February 8th in Charleston, SC and feature special guest, Michael Franti & Spearhead in support of his about to drop Battle Studies.

Tickets for the majority of dates are planned to go on sale to the general public on Nov. 21.

Something very cool on this day after Veteran's Day, Fuse TV today announced that their “Fuse Presents: John Mayer Live From the Beacon Theatre,” broadcast will now be sent to U.S. troops and their families by AFN, The American Forces Network, to reach those stationed in 175 countries and on 140 U.S. Navy ships at sea.

Mayer’s performance will air live on Fuse, in HD and SD, on November 17th at 9pm ET in the U.S. and will be simulcast live that night via AFN Radio. Additionally, AFN Television’s “Spectrum” channel will air the concert on December 6, 2009 at 8pm and on New Year’s Eve.

I have begun a new project. Mom Joan and Dad Vince sent me over 500 slides that encompasses most of their life together.

I am scanning and creating a slide show that will be burned to DVD for them. This is a massive project that will take a few months to get done and then I can continue on working on the wedding DVD I am scripting.

On top of that, I am still digitizing the music, working on the cassette collection at the moment.

Then I will re-tackle the vinyl...good thing I quit smoking since this all will take me quite a while and eventually I want to be able to enjoy the fruits of my labor.


See y'all tomorrow folks!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

Have a great weekend for your birthday and for Mother's Day!



And to all of you Mom's out there...
May your special day be filled with family & love...

I am totally amazed that Manny Ramierez used the "I got something from the doctor, I did not know it was a banned substance" excuse.

Gee Manny, are the dreads causing your brain cells to shrink? After everything that has happened over the last few years why would ANY athlete ingest ANY medication from ANY doctor without finding out what it is, what it contains and whether or not it is banned by your professional sport?

Hell, bring it in to the team and ask the trainers. Bring it to the freakin' league office and ask them...

And how could this doctor, who has a huge client like this, be so lax?

So, the Dodgers loss his services for 50 days and Manny loses somewhere near $7,000,000.00 dollars!

My good bud Travis had something funny to say...his comment was "So that's why he wears that stoopid baggy uniform! He's hiding the body effects of being a drug cheat!"

A number of years ago Matt and a friend had to be in Baltimore for a Baseball Camp. The friend's dad and I went to an Orioles game and had seats in left field.

They were playing the Red Sox and Manny was in left field. The entire game he spent more time making sure his pant legs fell on his cleats than watching the game. I finally yelled at him "YO MANNY, THIS ISN'T A FASHION SHOW, DO YOUR JOB!"

At the end of the inning Manny actually turned around to look into the stands to see who was giving him grief.

Sorry the Dodger's are going to lose an offensive power, but maybe this is the final straw and the athletes will realize that what they put into their bodies should be monitored.

Exhausted, since I set the alarm in the room lost night and went to sleep. I rolled over at one point and wondered why I had only been asleep for 3 hours since the clock said 2:00am.

All of a sudden my cell phone rang. It was my sales person telling me we would meet downstairs. I asked, "What time is it?" and he said "It is 7:45am"

I was out of bed, in the shower and downstairs 10 minutes later...but the day has been hell since.

Have a fantastic weekend folks...

See y'all on Monday and sorry that I have not been around to visit.

An email showed up yesterday and this is what it said:
Sorry kiddo - you got that part of the Christmas Eve meal tradition all wrong.
It was the Marini side of the family (or as you should have referred to it) - Dad's side of the family that did the Christmas Eve "thing" or actually Grandma Amelia who annually prepared the seven fishes etc. etc.
Love, Dad, representing Amelia's side of the story (which has been acknowledged by Mom :)

PS If you wish, you may print this in the comment column
I really do not have clear memories of Christmas Eve's with Grandma Amelia and Grandpa Ernest...I do remember the Christmas Eve's at Cousin Donnie and Linda's...

At least we got that straightened out!

The back is still giving me problems...Making me crazy after 10 days. I can not sit for long. Standing and walking (and even laying down on my side) works, sitting...not so much.

Yesterday I visited the Chiropractor again and had a massage there and that really helped. It has kept me out of the gym for two weeks and I actually miss it. Plus I can feel poundage sticking to my ribs and I hate that.

Yesterday the music players were not there for a period of time. The website was down and that was the cause. They seem to have reappeared around noon or so.

Remember to check out Part Two of the Radio Happy Hour beginning today.

Some funny stuff in Part One...and more during Part 2...

OK, well work for a while today and then it is time to get into NEW YEARS EVE DINNER PARTY mode...

OK, I know I told you that you would have to wait until after the party, but because I don't want to seem like a real pi**ant...the Appetizer Course will consist of Mini-Antipasto Plates...These will contain a couple of slices of Genoa Salami, a couple of slices of Prosciutto, a few green olives and a few black olives, a strip of roasted red pepper, a chunk of Parmesan-Reggiano cheese, a tomato and mozzarella Bruschetta, one or two anchovy fillets and a slice of mozzarella cheese.

The rest you will have to wait to hear about...

Be safe, watch out for the other people on the roadways...Enjoy those you are with for the coming of the New Year...

2008 ended up being a very special year for me. My relationship with Nancy grew beyond my dreams...my son Matt has had a good year and other than my not seeing him enough, he is doing wonderfully...

My family has been healthy (for the most part) and other than the back thing, I have made strides in getting my weight and health better.

Part 1 of our New Year's Eve Concert for y'all...I just selected 6 songs from the Warner/Chappell Collection. Now, understand that these were arranged in alphabetical order, so I am only into the "C's"...
"Careless Whispers" WHAM!; "About Quarter To 9" Al Jolson; "And She Was" Talking Heads; "Beat Goes On" Sonny & Cher; "Ain't We Got Fun" Doris Day & Danny Thomas; "Begin The Begine" Ella Fitzgerald

Part 2 will be up tomorrow...See y'all in 2009!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!