Just got back from J's bachelor party.  I've known J since, well, forever, but high school for sure.  We played in the same rock band in high school, and went through all the typical high school stuff.  I feel its a blessing to have old friends you keep in touch with, friends with whom you share more than the old times.  It was great to meet a bunch of J's post-high school friends, and to see him so happy and relaxed.  As he is a musician, we got time at a recording studio and made our own version of "Keep Your Hands To Yourself."  The rhythm section and singing were solid, and it allowed J to play fun, loud blues solos - he definitely looked like a rock star in the studio.

Other than that, it was a quiet day... that did take up most of the day.  Went out to dinner with a friend last night at the A1 in Gardiner and then had drinks at the Liberal Cup.  I'm told my sister and our dear friend M had drinks in the GBA tonight - while I wouldn't have missed the bachelor party for much, I was sad not to be able to spend time with those two fabulous women.  But I digress - so much goodness, its hard to complain.

If you haven't done so, I highly recommend checking out the Keith Jarrett Trio Blue Note box set - worth every penny.  Even if you get the single disc that was released (which has a stunning recording of Autumn Leaves) it is a trip.  This box set has been my sound track for the past few weeks - fantastic.

B

Well, this is my first real update to flogistan.net in quite a while; its not a lot, but its a start.  I've added a photo page, as well as a links page - and even made the navigation a bit easier.  I hope that in the coming months there will be fun and exciting things happening here at flogistan.net - but until then, enjoy the Zen-like simplicity of all that is flogistan.net.  If I can bring myself to spend more time on my computer after work (which is 8 hours on a computer), then fantastic.  If not... well, so be that as well.

Tomorrow is my good friend J's bachelor party; his wedding is Labor Day weekend.  I am so happy for him that he's found someone to share his time with, someone he obviously loves very much.  I'm looking forward to a good time with J and cohorts tomorrow, and then the privilige of being in his wedding in a few weeks.  Next week is also a Dar Williams concert with my sister and good friends D and B, and then on Friday a Steve Miller Band concert with my cousin A and brother M.  This is what summer should be about... drinking and concerts.

Alas, it is late, and its time for bed.

B

I've recently been obsessed with the Billy Joel song "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant."  I am, in fact, obsessed with the middle section, the "Brenda and Eddie" section.  At first I thought it was because the piano playing is bad-ass in this section (which it is).  Then I thought it was because there's some really great rhythm section playing (which there is).  Then I thought it was because its about high school sweethearts who get divorced, and my 10th (scandal!) high school reunion is just around the corner.  But, alas, no.  I think the real reason I'm obsessed with this fine piece of work is because, to my delicate ears, it sounds to me like Billy Joel is singing "Brender and Eddie."  Yes, Brender.  It sounds like Brender is from Maine, possibly somewhere in Western Maine - Oxford Hills, or maybe even Lewiston.  Am I the only one that hears "Brender?"  Did Brender move there from Chiner?  Does she have a sister named Sylvier?  I wonder how Brender got to New York City?  Eddie must be a pretty cool cat if he's going to the prom with Brender, and Brender must be pretty hip herself to have transplanted from rural Maine to the City.  I suppose its possible that Brender's parents moved to the City from Maine, although I doubt the pronunciation of her name could have survived from grandparents down to Brender, unless of course Brender goes back home to visit her grandparents in the summer time, possibly to ride horses on their farm and meet her cousins for Pizzer and then the races at OPS.

B

Well, here I am with my own blog out on the Web.  In my minimal understanding of the 'blogosphere' it seems like people 'blog about' certian subjects - i.e. a friend of mine blogs about here experience as a medical student who knits.  Well-read and reported on blogs cover politics and music and I'm sure every other subject imaginable.  So I feel a certain amount of social pressure to blog about something in particular, not just ramble on incoherently about life and guacamole.  But I am also under no illusions that anyone else other than myself will be reading the flogBlog, so I suppose that gives me a wide latitude of things to discuss under said moniker.  I also suppose since this site is free and open to the masses that I will remain some semblance of composure in case some day down the road someone reads it and actually asks me a question about what has been written.  The printed (?) word is a dangerous thing.

Today I will just say that I am very happy to have my dear friend K visiting this weekend.  It has been a breath of fresh air.  To spend a limited, intense amount of time with someone who sometimes knows you better than you know yourself is a wonderful thing.

B

This is the first update to flogistan.net since March 2005.  What an event in the Web and the blogosphere.  Let's take a moment of silence.

Okay, enough.  So there's now a definition of "Phlogiston" which is the predecessor of "Flogistan," as well as a link to some pretty grooooovy music from the 1960s.  Dig it, man.

B

Well hello there folks, its Tuesday 22 March, we just had a relatively uneventful lifeboat drill, and after I finish doing a quick update to webFlogistan I'll be going down into town for food (chix fajitas, to be exact) at my favorite restaurant, Chosa.  Its a bit cloudy here today, but all in all I can't complain as I have the day off... not to bad for my first Cozumel.

The gig has gone fairly well so far, although this cruise is COMPLETELY DEAD and my bar has been empty for most of the time.  So its been kind of a blessing in disguise as its allowed me to get to know my bar (Rick's Cafe American), to get used to how my voice sounds out in the bar, and to also get my repertoire up and running.  Today if I'm lucky enough to get online with my laptop I'll download some more tunes and be good to go with "Stars Fell On Alabama" and such local favorites.

I suppose that's most of the news that's fit to print.  I have my own cabin and that's a beautiful thing.  Everyone out there on land take care!

B