What the Devil Happened?

I know the "Old Farts" reading this will understand. You "kids" out there, don't worry, your time is coming!

It recently hit me, I'm "Old!" How did I figure it out? Well....

First, I get cold now. I used to keep the temp in my office on "meat locker," but now it's uncomfortable and I have been pushing the thermostat up to (GASP) 70! I'm pleased to say, I still don't enjoy the heat much higher than that, which means I won't be able to wear long sleeves all winter (again) since I have to keep the heat up to 74 for Pa.

I like gloves now. Until last year, I very seldom ever gave in and wore gloves. Now, my hands start to hurt when I'm out in the cold, and my gloves are in my coat pockets to make sure I have them. I'm thinking about getting one of those string things that goes through the arms of your coat to hold your mittens/gloves. I may have a heart attack if I lose them! I know my hands would fall off...

I used a hood! Traditionally, I hate things on my head. Have not been a fan of hats, hoods, any of that stuff. I left the office today with the temperature sitting at 29, the wind blowing like mad, and used the hood on my coat for the first time ever. Of course, I was also cussing the construction people who have the sidewalk blocked for the next 3 years which makes us have to walk way out of our way to get to the parking lot. (Just dawned on me, I will be retired before that stupid construction fence comes down!)

My feet get cold. OK, they got cold before, but now when they get cold, they cramp and hurt. Which means I can't run around barefoot in the snow any more. (Yes, I did.)(I know, Mom said that, too.)

My sciatic nerve is a pain in...well... the rearend. Literally. Yes, it's been a problem for the past, oh, 30 years, but when did it get to be better at predicting the weather than the "weather men?" It was not a happy moment when I realized the more my butt hurt, the better chance we had of having rain or snow.

My eyes. Oh, yes, let's not forget them! How nice it was to hear the opthamologist tell me my cataracts are getting worse. Cataracts? Worse? Excuse me? Seems he thought he told me about them last year. Nope. But thanks for letting me have one more year of ignorance. I'd really rather not know. I think?

But now that I know about the cataracts, I understand why some lighting conditions give me a fit. And why driving at night is a pain in the tush.

I used to be worried about "cute" clothes. We all know our parents told us that some day being comfortable would be more important than being "cute." Danged if it didn't happen. And even if they are comfy, if they aren't washable and permanent press, forget it! (Iron? What's that? Wait, I'm sure I have one in the basement...somewhere!)

Shoes and I have never been good friends. Even less so now. There will be no heels, no pointy toes, none of that "fashion" nonsense. I want comfort!

There are some little things, like balance, that I miss. OK, it isn't that bad. But when I was a kid, I could spin in a circle, stop, and walk a straight line. No more. While the doctor doesn't know the cause, I have this little friend "Vertigo" that visits occasionally. First time I noticed it, the [jerk] doctor said it was just because I am "old and dehydrated." Yep, found me a new doctor.

Is losing patience a sign of getting old? It never used to bother me when I sat waiting forever for someone or something. Which is really a good thing since during the past 30 years I have spent a significant amount of time waiting for attorneys, judges, criminals, or all three. It gets on my last nerve now, tho. I start fantasizing about what evil thing I might be able to do, and get away with, to get even. Wait, is that passive aggressive?

There are some things that confuse me, tho. I have a touch of asthma now. Why is it most "normal" people have asthma as kids and outgrow it? Not me, I first had that little issue a couple of years ago. Isn't that regressing?

And my face. Or, more specifically, the oil on my face. When I was a teen, everyone said when I hit 25, my skin would dry out, so I better enjoy it. Well, THAT was a lie. Then it was supposed to be 30, then 35... Now, most of you know how old I am (or have a pretty good idea) and danged if I still don't get zits! Sink an oil well in my face and end all oil shortages!

I know, I'm really pretty lucky, my health is pretty good, but some days you just need to vent!

Kudos for On the Rocks

Wow, it's been a long time! I really don't know why. It certainly isn't because I have become any less opinionated. Maybe I just haven't thought of anything worth talking about for a while?

But now I have! Back to music! One of my favorite things. A few weeks ago, I saw a link on FaceBook for a YouTube video of an acapella group from the University of Oregon. On the Rocks. I always check out YouTube links, you can get some great laughs and find some seriously good stuff there. I checked out the video, and was absolutely blown away. We all know I was a "choir geek" in high school, I was a member of our "Acapella" choir (strangely enough, we seldom sand anything acapella.) I love tight harmonies, I love listening to male vocal groups. (I don't know why, but there really aren't many female singers I like.)

When I listened to On the Rocks, I was reminded of a group from a few years back, The Nylons. A Canadian acapella group. In 1989, The Nylons put out an album titled Rockapella. On that album, they talk about "taking acapella into the 90's." Yes, I know how old I am. Give it a rest! I love The Nylons, and yes, I had the pleasure of seeing them in concert twice. They are not only fantastic vocalists, they have a great rapport and are fun to watch. You know making music, singong with each other and entertaining their audience is fun for them. That's what makes it fun for everyone.

Would it ever be possible for acapella to break into "mainstream" music? I only wish! What is more exciting, more intriguing, or more impressive than a handful of guys getting up in front of an audience and using the original musical instruments, their voices, and only their voices, to make music?

I believe On the Rocks can take acapella into the new millennium! They have the outstanding voices, the showmanship, the instinct for entertaining their audience. I have spent hours listening to their YouTube videos. Oh, who am I kidding. I have ripped several of them to put on my iPod so I can torture people with them! I now have all of the albums they have produced over the years. On the Rocks has taken on a wide range of styles and moods. They have made me cry and laugh and amazed me by "out gaga-ing" Lady Gaga. (Yep, I think their arrangement and performance of Bad Romance is better than the original. Sorry!)

Perhaps when you think of acapella, you think of barbershop. Yeah, it's that, too, but these guys are so much more. Their vocal percussion is amazing. Using voices for the instruments is fantastic. This isn't grandma's acapella. This type of music deserves to be heard by a much larger audience. After their YouTube video of Bad Romance went viral, they seemed to be shocked at the attention. I could explain it to them. They are fresh, they are new, they are talented, they just plain ROCK! They do weekly concerts on campus during the school year, which is where a number of their videos originated. I confess, I like those weekly shows, just them hanging out and singing their hearts out, better than the "official" performance videos. I understand it's tradition for them to do a midnight concert at the end of the school year. I'm tempted to book a flight to Oregon.

Of course, I want everyone to check out On the Rocks on YouTube. My favorites?


Kyrie Eleison
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgvVme1zRB8


Bad Romance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8PAuvxCZuM&feature=related


Afloat (by Caleb and Sol Rexius, Caleb a former On the Rocks member)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP0VVNebbSM


Eye to Eye
http://www.youtube.com/user/yankeessuck8991#p/u/4/73qNHYhfA3g


Lullaby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaQ51pOlJXM


For the Longest Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbLgJTycnHA&feature=related


Ah, there are too many to list!

I truly hope those kids know how good they are, I hope their exposure with Bad Romance results in many new fans of the genre. I hope one, or some, of you reading this will "get it" and understand my excitement!

Now, I think I need to go make a donation to some school music program. Perhaps if more people appreciated music, the world would be a better place to live...

What was I thinking? I forgot the most important link, the link to their website!
http://www.uoontherocks.com/

Could someone please tell them their current group page needs to be updated? We also need new YouTube videos to see what they are up to this year!