Tug On This
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
  Records You Should Own - Part I
Here are 5 records every music-loving person should have in their personal collection. Not maybe, not opinion, simple fact. Go buy them. And if you have at least three of them, then you know what the fuck you're doing and don't need my help.

1. Songs In The Key of Live by Stevie Wonder
Magnificent from top to bottom. A double-album that showcases one of the greatest songwriters/musicians/singers ever to grace the planet. And for you hip-hop fans, at least 50% of this record has been sampled into huge rap singles.
Songs you know: Saturn, Sir Duke, Isn't She Lovely
Songs you should know: Love's In Need of Love Today, Ebony Eyes

2. The Beatles (White Album) by The Beatles
A true masterpiece. One of their three finest moments. And to think that John, Paul, George and Ringo were rarely in the studio together while it was being recorded. Another double-record. Genius.
Songs you know: Rocky Raccoon, Birthday, While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Songs you should know: Piggies, Sexy Sadie, Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey

3. Aja by Steely Dan
One of the top 10 records to come outof the 70s. Strange jazz-based rock, it's amazing it was ever popular at all.
Songs you know: Deacon Blues, Josie, Black Cow
Songs you should know: Aja, Home at Last

4. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
The story of two couples that were breaking up at the time of the album's writing. It went on to sell a buggabillion copies.
Between Christine McVie's singing, Stevie Nick's singing and Lindsay Buckinham's guitar stylings -- man. It never gets old.
Songs you know: Go Your Own Way, You Make Loving Fun, Gold Dust Woman
Songs you should know: Songbird, Second Hand News

5. Ghost in the Machine by The Police
My pick for their 2nd best record (behind "Synchronicity.") It has it all: examples of their odd punk/ska mix, strange singing and even a song written in French.
Songs you know: Spirits In The Material World, Every Little Thing She Does is Magic
Songs you should know: Invisible Sun, Hungry For You (j'aurais toujours faim de toi)

That is all for today's lesson. Go buy some records.
 
Thursday, September 15, 2005
  Murphy 1991 - 2005


Originally uploaded by Tug.
Murphy came into my life on a beautiful and Sunny day in September of 1991.

I was a senior in college and my Drake soccer team had driven down to Kansas City -- my hometown -- for a game against Rockhurst. As I recall, the details of memory are often sketchy, we lost the game 3-2. I played sparingly, the Coach was "rebuilding" for the future and myself and a couple of other seniors saw precious little playing time that year. It was unfortunate that I had played so little, for both my brothers and my Mom had come to the game. Hey, I figured, at least they'll have a care package for me.

And what a care package it was.

After we had emerged from the locker room, my family was all standing around in the parking lot with a new member of the family. A tiny red ball of fur no bigger than a loaf of bread. "Tug," my Mother said, "this is Murphy. He's your college graduation present."

Now, as I stated earlier, I was really just into the beginnings of my senior year, and while I was on track to graduate on time that May (which I did) you still don't normally get graduation gifts 9 months before the fact. But that's my Mom, unconventional to say the least.

The way she figured it, she'd take Murphy for the school year and get him house-trained and all that crap (with a focus on dog crap) while I was finishing up at school, then, when I came home -- there here would be for me.

And there he was.

For the past 14 years, Murph has been a best friend, a companion and a pain in the neck (and parts lower). He has been a barker, a whiner, a heavy breather, a snorer, a puss and a pillow. He has had goopy eyes, has worn the lampshade, has been on a chain, a leash and in a number of big, green yards. He has had trouble with wood floors, with linoleum, with decks and with stairs. He has slept with me, near me or all the way downstairs from me. He has been called Murphy, Murph, Fee, Phlaah, Mr. Furry Pants, Mr. Furry Pantalones and Mr. Furry Lederhosen. He has been the Shaggy D.A. and has had the summer cut. He has run after balls, sticks and bones. He has swum in baby pools and in ponds and even once, in a lake. He has sniffed other dogs, has eaten dirty underwear and once had a big thing for stinky socks. He has licked my face, my friends' faces, my loved ones' faces and other dogs' faces. He was gentle as a feather to my two infant sons Sean and Nick, was a wonderful friend to my wife Sarah and was ever faithful to me.

Unfortunately, the past few years he has also had bad hips, a bad back, a tumor on his side and other issues with his digestion and general heath that I won't go into here. Yesterday, we awoke to find that Murph's back-half was paralyzed. His hind legs were as stiff and staight as reeds, and they were utterly uncontrollable. I kept on trying to get him to stand up, but he simpy couldn't. All the time though, that his body was giving out on him, he stayed Murph. He wagged his tail till the end, friends. He wagged his tail to the end.

To add to all this, he also hadn't been drinking water for two or three days and yesterday, wouldn't eat. Even from Sarah's hand. We took him to our excellent vet, Dr. Brock Exline, who, thankfully, didn't judge us or try to tell us that he could fix this. So, the proper medications were procured, and we pet and held him for the last moments of his life.

And then, at the last moment -- I promise you that this is true -- he lifted his head off the floor, put it on my knee, looked into my eyes and sighed. Then he lay down and went to eversleep.

We stayed with him for a few more moments. Then slowly got up, dried our eyes and walked away.

I love you Murphy. Now and forever you are my best boy.

Go, run now and fetch a ball.
 
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
  Time Flies When You're Alive

Sweet fancy Moses, this was 8 years ago.
Originally uploaded by Tug.
No, seriously, this was eight years ago. I was just getting through my first year at Barkely Evergreen & Partners, was just two months away from my first anniversary with Sarah and was four years away from Sean being born. Wow.

I am struck by this lyric from track 1, "Whatever I Fear."

Did we expect these things to change
By waking up and suddenly there they are
And all I need's a starting place
And nothing ever seemed so hard
 
Mainly I've been driving. Alfa Romeo. First to four in under sixty. Seconds. Gears. Dig it.

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Location: Kansas City, Missouri, United States
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