Just to lighten up the holidays, I just found this gem on Youtube...

Here is a great tune from the Beach Boys. One of my favorite bands for many years. In My Room. Their harmonies were always top notch.

Took a "vacation" last week. I say "vacation", because. I ended up doing some work every day but Friday. I did, at least, finally get out a couple of days and took some pictures of an old unused train station with my camera that I had previously posted pictures of using an Iphone. Much better pictures.





This next shot shows some of the detail of the roof line.


Some more nice detail of the angled supports.


A shot down the tracks that run next to the station.


I have an image of a postcard from 1913 showing this station. Unfortunately, someone has the rights to it and I hesitate to show it here. A shame to see such a historic structure in the shape it's in. Trains used to play a large part in the survival of these little towns.

From the band Elf, featuring Ronnie James Dio. I find it interesting exploring pre Rainbow Dio. I really enjoyed this tune.

Here's a great old tune by Charlie Daniels, Uneasy Rider. Had this on a good ole' 45 RPM record.

I understand Robin Williams taking his life. Depression is a Demon that is hard to fight off. Folks that complain about the nerve of someone of his fame or anyone else taking his own life do not understand what depression is. What it does. How it gets deep into your head in such a way that it is difficult to notice how your thinking is changing. How it twists your thought processes around. Saps your will. It sneaks thoughts in like an anonymous voice. It becomes difficult to ignore and sometimes may convince you that the things it is saying are true.

I understand because I have been there. I am there right now. There are too many things going in the wrong direction in my life. Not my marriage. I'm not making enough money to keep things going. The car is in need of repairs. The house needs some major work. My wife and I are neglecting our health. Living check to check. We are not meeting all the bills. It's getting to be too much. The Demon has awakened and is hard at work. Suggesting things. Subtle things. Thoughts of how much more I am worth dead than alive. How easy it would be to drive a little to the right and take a telephone pole dead center. How much a failure I am as a father, husband and provider. Music and humor is usually my refuge. It is helping less and less. I feel I should be in a different place at this time of my life. Sadness, anger and rage is almost always just below the surface. There is often a smile on my face, but many days the smile does not reach my eyes. I'm not enjoying life. I'm fighting it, though, always fighting it. It's a tough one, this Demon. Relentless. Heartless. Soulless. Tells me I don't deserve happiness. Love. Friends. Always standing behind me, poking and prodding with little thoughts that it wants to make me believe are my own. I'm not buying it... Yet. It's a dark one, this Demon. It knows how to get to me. It has not gotten the best of me yet. I'm still fighting it, but it's becoming difficult. More so every day. Sorry for unloading such a thing here. I felt the need to express it in a tangible way. The Demon hates that. It wants me to keep everything inside. As long as I recognize this, I can fend it off. When it all stays inside, the Demon may win. If the Demon wins, that means I must lose. But you ARE a loser, the Demons whispers. Not yet, Demon, not yet.

Thank you for reading this. I'll try to drag myself up and be more upbeat tomorrow. The bed is calling.... maybe a good night's sleep will lighten things up a bit.

Here's something I found on YouTube. Ronnie Dio and the Prophets. Dio like you've probably never heard him. Before he was with Rainbow, before he was with Elf. Nearly unrecognizable in the accompanying pictures. Has to be early to mid '60s. I kinda like it...

RIP to my comedic hero, Robin Williams. I've loved him since Mork and Mindy. I thought I would share a clip of him and HIS hero, Jonathon Winters. The clip is part of an interview of Jonathon that Robin appears at spontaneously. This is how I will remember him. Enjoy... and remember one of the best improvisational comics ever.

This is a great tune from David Coverdale. Not your typical Whitesnake rocker, but a more laid back tune.

In contrast to my last post, here is one of George Harrison's best songs. Quite different from Deep Purple.. A wonderful song.