Free For All

It's been six years since I quit. I used Zyban to help me (and it was a big help), but the main reason I was successful was because ***I*** wanted to quit, not because anybody was pressuring me to quit. That's really the only way you can succeed at behavioral changes. I got through my divorce w/o starting up again, so I think I'm done with it. Next up: weight loss! Congrats to those who have quit, and good luck to those who are in the process.

HBPQ!

Thanks for the information, Julie. I'm so sorry to hear about Dave's passing, and will keep his friends and family in my thoughts..

Happy Birthday Peter!

I just heard from Bobby Watson (I'm in KC this week) that Slide apparently has suffered either a heart attack or stroke. I haven't heard any details about his condition, and if anyone hears anything, please share it here. I hope he can be with us awhile longer- I just played with him in April and he seemed to be in great shape and spirit. Let's keep him in our thoughts. This week is turning out to be a rough one.

I last saw him at a concert featuring the orchestral compositions of Vince Mendoza. He was in the core group (set up in the middle of the strings) with Alan Pasqua, John Abercrombie, Bob Sheppard and Peter Erskine. It was a fantastic concert. I am so sad to hear about this. Carp was a MF.

What?? Dave Carpenter the bassist? Wow, that's horrible news! I was on the road with him for quite awhile. I am so sorry to hear this. What a MF drag. Dave was a great guy and a great musician. And too young to be gone already. Damn, this sucks. RIP, Carp.

Matty Birthday!

Papsy Birthusday!

HBPT!

Happy Birthday Rosco!

I thought this was going to be a thread about getting a timely colonoscopy. What a relief.

I'm very sorry to hear or Ron's passing. He was a great guy and a fine musician (I played many gigs with him in Chicago). He was also a music copyist (in the days before computer notation programs) and copied several of my arrangements. RIP, Ron..........

Isn't that from a Tex Avery cartoon?

I didn't see him, but that would explain why there were so many close-up shots of Phil Jackson & the Lakers bench during timeouts.

Great news! I've been waiting to pick this up. Thanks for the info.

I think the Lakers win tonight, and then the Celtics win Game 6 on their home court. Looks like you called it, Agg & Jim. Man, what an ass-whuppin'! Has there ever been a finals game this one-sided? (my condolences to Noj, SS1 and any other Laker fans)

So whattaya think, guys? Will it end tonight?

Homemade pizza w/sausage, green pepper, onion, garlic and kalamata olives. And a salad.

I had to rent a car last week, and all they had left were big ol' SUVs. Used to be you couldn't get one because they were in demand. No so much any more, I guess!

That Hunchback thing is kind of a hot bondage fantasy....not mine, of course. Also, dig that crazy green bong by the Bride's side. Someone did a great job of painting those models!

So why is Frankenstein standing on a grave that's marked "Frankenstein"? I mean, he was made from spare parts from other people and was still obviously "alive" at this point, so why the grave?

Sure, I was totally into the monster models. I also built model cars, planes, tanks, whatever. Like all good pyromaniacal teenagers, I eventually blew them all up with explosives. I still have scars from my Xacto knives, and I think I probably have braim danage from sitting at a table for hours with all that Testors glue and paint (probably worse than all the things I smoked/ingested in college).

This one's purdy good.