Free For All

All these great sales..........I don't know whether to be excited or concerned.

It's actually COLD here tonight, probably down into the teens overnight. I have to say I'm lovin' it! I've been waiting for some good winter weather. It won't be here long, though. If it's that cold this far south, you northerners are probably REALLY cold! We're talkin' "hamster sac" cold!

It means your body is worth $4729 and your snake ate a golf ball, but you don't like Oscar Peterson.

Me too. Woohoo!

Wow, Georgia killed Hawaii. I didn't think it would be THAT much of a blowout. The Hawaii team seemed very tense and intimidated from the git-go, kind of what one might have expected. I would have loved to see 'em kick Georgia's ass, or at least made a respectable showing. The schedule-strength issue definitely has some validity. Welcome to the big leagues, boys! USF got wiped out too.

"It's a little thing we like to call "Chicago", and it goes something like this........"

Maybe that's the reason there's no age after neveronfriday's name down below. I was wondering. Oh well.

A few I can think of: Stan Getz West Coast Sessions ('55) Hamp & Getz ('55) Frank Rosolino Quartet ('57) He was a solid sideman on so many great recordings.

That's what I was thinking. It could be a very good side!

Were either of you the "first babies of the new year" when you were born? Happy Birthday!

Some good games today. The Florida/Michigan game has been fun to watch. One of the marching bands (not sure which, I was in the other room) was playing "Springtime for Hitler" (from The Producers) at the halftime show. I thought that was an interesting choice- not sure what the theme of the show was.

I actually didn't attend this one with you guys....it was a last minute decision to skip it and just meet up with ya'll the next day. And from the multiple horror stories I've heard, I'm very glad I didn't go. Listening to Jim Neumann describe the experience was very funny! Was there discussion here about it? I don't remember. If not, details please! EDIT: When I was on Woody's band we often would back up singers- most of them great ones like Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Tony Bennett, Billy Eckstine, Cab Calloway.......but once we backed up Jack Jones, Mr. Love Boat. Extremely jive- for example, he sang "Bess, you ARE my woman now" because he said he didn't like the poor grammar of the original lyric. Of course, there was the inevitable Love Boat theme. Needless to say, we were glad to get that finished and move on. Big band HOs, we were. Definitely a career low.

I've been enjoying the Anthony Bourdain marathon on Travel Channel. But then again I have no life.........

A lot of Basie and other big bands because that music always makes me feel good. I've been enjoying "Chairman of the Board" a lot lately. Many of my other "binges" are often based on artists being discussed here. Recently I've been fortifying my Lockjaw and OP sections. I remember getting pretty much all the Jimmy Heath Riversides & gaining a renewed interest in 70s Miles based on discussions here. The AEC box, the Bird & Diz, the Frank & Carl CD....thanks Chuck!

Is that the Phil Moore East or the Phil Moore West? (sorry, someone had to say it)

Here's to the board being around for awhile yet..... Here's to the end of a hard year for some, a good year for others, with hopes of a great New Year for all....... Here's to our friends and the strength to put up with them...... C H E E R S !

Jeff- Sorry to hear about your stroke- I'm sure everyone here wishes you a healthy and prosperous 2008! Come by and hang out a little more often, why doncha?

Hope it was a good one! Have a great 2008!

I've been following this thread and haven't really known what to say that hasn't been said already. Many nice posts already....... Really sorry to hear about this, Mark. I think the resolution of a bad situation is always a step forward, but that doesn't make the process any more bearable. I feel like the pain I've experienced from my own divorce has become "manageable", but may never completely go away (of course I'm only about a year and a half into it). In addition, you just had to deal with Moose's passing recently, so you've had a full plate! Loss of friends, family and pets is a tough one to deal with. I hope you have someone (friends, family, therapist) to reach out to- I know that helped me to figure things out a bit (and generally just vent). I also understand the frustration of following a spouse to a job and suddenly being cut loose. I've lately become aware of SO many marriages that were ended by the wife. I'm still at the point where I have no interest in starting a new relationship, mostly from a general lack of trust and also fear of getting hurt again. I hope this changes someday, but I'm not trying to fight it right now and just allowing it to resolve naturally. I hope you use this opportunity to think about what YOU want and go after it. It sounds like the move to Oregon might be a good plan. And by all means keep your sense of humor, it's one of your many strong points and will save your ass! You obviously have a lot of friends here. The support of the board members when I shared my situation was very helpful, not something you'd expect from the "impersonal" internet......but then this place is special. I think once you get to wherever you're going and start to reclaim your life you'll feel better. In the meantime take care of yourself! And please let us know what's going on! Much love for you here my man! Paul

Man, now that you're not a moderator you just don't give a flying fuck about thread drift, do ya?

Waiter, I'll have what he's having.....

So much for us evading the mental tattoo of commercial TV.

Maybe he just saved a bunch on his car insurance.