Bnutz

Papa Smurf!

     Cheers!  I'm a new Daddy to a  6 lb. 8 oz. healthy baby girl!  Baby B has been nothing but a gift thus far (wait until shes a teenager).  My wife is healthy and so is my daughter, what else can I ask for. 

     Its so cliche.......  but......  This is what is really important in life (at least to me).  Everything else is just trivial materialistic feedings to our need for instant gratification in the society that we were raised in.  As humans we have a want, and once that want is met, our satisfaction is only quenched for a moment until we want something else.  The life of a baby is a big thirst quencher.  I can honestly say that for the first time in my life that the quench is satisfied.  Happy New Years to all!!!

AXL Guitars!

     So my old man in Chicago is a guitar nut!!!  He instilled in me early in my life the power, beauty, and wonder that music can bring to one's life.  My love of guitar music specifically (electric and acoustic) has been a lifelong journey through different musical styles begining with classic rock.  Furthermore this meandering road has led me through musings in Jazz, Blues, Alternative, and ultimately to my true love of percussive acoustic music (John Mayer, Dave Matthews, Rusted Root, Ben Harper, etc.).  Anyways, like I said, my pops is a guitar nut!  I think its fair to describe him in this fashion as he personally owns close to 100 guitars.  He has taught me the joy and appreciation of vintage american made guitars such as Fender, Gibson, Taylor, Rickenbacker and so on and so forth.  In fact he owns at least one of most of these.  Maturing in his lifelong journey to play, own, and critique guitars, he has recently began leaning towards those closet classic no name guitars that nobody knows, but are diamonds in the rough so to speak. 

     this brings me to the point of this article.  He recently sent me (as he has a habit of sharing the wealth via our friend UPS) an AXL guitar.  From the onset, it looks like your typical strat copy guitar.  On the contrary, this son of a bitch jams.  The neck and hardware feels like a quality instrument.  I can tell if I like a guitar (for the most part) in the first minute or so of holding it.  It speaks to you.  This guitar speaks to you!!!!!  The best part about it is that it retails under $100 (check ebay for the best deals).  Also, it has some kickass EMG pickups on it.  The hardware is quality!  

     If you are a begining guitar player, this guitar is for you.  Not only is this guitar tailored to a beginners needs (especially in the wallet area), but it gives feel and soul to some of the most seasoned guitar players out there!  Check it out!

http://www.axlguitars.com/

Circle Screw!

Sad Day!

This is a very depressing picture!!!!

Going To Have A Girl!

Sorry!  I haven't been keeping up with my rants and raves as of late.  I've had a busy few weeks.  The wife and I have been expecting a baby, and we just found out that we are going to have a girl.  We're very excited.  Being a guy, you kind of hold on to that I want a boy thing, but I have to say I was every bit as pleased to find out a girl is on the way.  Time to start saving for a wedding!!!:)

Manny Can Go Screw!

The Red Sox Season!

Swept by the Angels (new best team in the American League)!

Why does Manny Have To Be Such A BITCH?

     Its a very sad night for me.  One of my most beloved baseball players manny ramirez looks like hes going to get bounced out of town in a trade.  Manny ramirez is definately one of the best pure hitters of the game in my lifetime.  He has been the nuts & bolts of the previous recent winning seasons for the Red Sox.  He is by far my favorite player on the team.  His easy going demeanor and goofy tactics makes him a likable guy. 

     Ha!Ha!Ha!  Who am I kidding.  Its his damn sweet swing that makes me and everyone love him.  Its the clutch effortless hits that he makes in a jam that makes us fans forget that he is a whiny little brat.  He went on the record before the game and said that the Boston Red Sox "Do not deserve Manny Ramirez"!!!!  WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Are you kidding me??????

     This is the part in the rant when i start to get pissed when I really break it down and think about it.  Manny has got away with more horse shit than anyone else around because he can hit the ball.  This city has loved and supported him through all his "Manny -being-Manny" anctics.  This city allows Manny to get a free pass and never talk to the media.  An unforgiving hard ass media all in your shit city like Boston has given this guy a free pass, and he turns around a starts talking trash and asks to be traded.

     Lets think about this.....  He makes count em' $20 million a year.  He is teflon here.  He is on a winning team with a great chance to make a run for the World Series again.  How does he repay Boston?  He says " I don not have mental peace here anymore"

     I think I speak for everyone here at this point when i say "Manny RAmirez can go f%$K himself and shove his childlike act far up his a#%!"  We're sick of it.  If he wants out, then send him out.  You're damn right its going to hurt the team, but if he wants to be a selfish little bitch the see your ass out!!!  We'll make it without you!

I'm not bitter or anything!  :)

The Angels Are In Town!

I think the whole Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim thing is a bunch of crap if you ask me.  They will always be the Anaheim Angels to me.  The Red Sox are taking batting practice right now.  Gates are just about to open, and I'm close to calling it a day.  Rush hour traffic home! YEY!!! (click to enlarge pics)

Love em' or Hate em'

      I've listened to the Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds cd "Live at Radio City" over and over for the past month and a half.  I personally love it.  What can I say.  I am a Dave Matthews fan.  I hate to admit this, but it was the ladies that turned me on to this dude back in 1995.  "Oooh I love Dave" and all that B.S. that goes with it.  As a muscician (guitar player), I was way into Dave's cool drummer rhythm type guitar style.  Very different, and very new.  So Mr. Dave Matthews has come up with a multitude of albums since my beginnings in 1995, and I have been a rather loyal follower.   Given, I kind of fit the stereotypical college frat boy Dave follower of that particular time period.  That being said,  I felt I was different (maybe not) as a person that could actually strum most of his tunes.

     To beat to the punch...........  Whether you like him or not, as a person that appreciates music, you need to listen to this guy.  His approach is so fresh (even 13 years after my stumble in) and unique compared to other musicians.  To clearify even more, I think it is Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds that you need to concentrate this effort towards.  The Dave Matthews band itself can be a little long winded and "Jam Band Wannabe'" without the meat sometimes.

      I come from a Chicago style blues influenced background where you play your music from your soul.  As Buddy Guy once told my dad in person, "You have to live the blues to play the blues".  Think about it...........?????  Thats a true statement..... Don't ya' think?  The "Live at Radio City" DVD  with Dave & Tim may not be specifically blues oriented, but it hits your soul in the same way that the blues does.  It makes you feel.

     To make a long story short....  I'm not getting any sort of kickback from anyone, but watch the DVD of Dave Matthews and tim Reynolds at Radio City Music Hall in NYC and tell me if it doesn't make you feel like your alive?????  Any challengers?  What can I say, I am a sucker for duel acoustic sets!!!  listen and learn my friends!