Hand me Down - Matchbox 20

I like the musical progressions within this song, the phrasing and the melody.



If only you could just wind the "whiny" down a little.

I've known too many people who like to play the victim. I dont tolerate them anymore.

One lesson learnt - God knows how many to go...

Rock of Ages

Question: Is it better to burn out that to fade away?

Pre Rick Allen's Accident

I've been thinking about Def Leppard a lot lately.
OK - You can stop laughing right now!

If you stop to think of the other music around the 80's, Def Leppards' music actually hasn't dated too horrifically, at least compared to the other dross we were inflicted with back then.
Those who led the charge with critical musical passion may have started with Bauhaus or Shakespeare's Sister, but quickly strayed to Michael Bolton, Milli Vanilli, and Wet Wet Wet whilst dating. Yes - Many fine men were lost, some perhaps, never recovered .... (not thinking of anyone in particular, ya understand?)
The 80's were indeed a troubled time musically - sure you could struggle through with The Stones or Led Zep on your turntable, but listening to Uriah Heap or Motorhead didn't get you laid. Come to think of it - it probably still doesn't.

While the local AM (Yes - AM!!!!) radio station pumped out such classics a Centerfold by the J. Geils Band, or Let's Hear it for the Boy by who the fuck cares (I still shudder with that memory) - finding a more rockier sound was harder than you'd first believe. You could go the New Romantic route, and face it, most of us did - but lets just forget that ever happened OK?

So - In the meantime a little album by Def Leppard called Hysteria sold shit-loads of Cassettes and CD's in New Zealand . I recall being in Wanaka over the Christmas it was released , playing Animal on a minuscule battery powered ghetto blaster in the back of my Capri, all this because CD players weren't really about then.

Years later I still listen to this album - maybe not the syrupy tracks like "Love Bites" or "Throw some Sugar on Me", but "Dogs of War" still rates highly, as do a few other tracks.

And lest we forget, back in the day, if a guy just happened to be a bit of a bogan, and he just wanted to show a sensitive side to his bogan girlfriend, (in the faint hope she's throw him a shag) there was always this track.




If you think I'm still taking the piss, take a listen to this. Just goes to show you, although we all get older, our talents still remain.

First thoughts

We've reached an impasse, Alcohol and I.
She's a lot of fun, and gets me into a lot of fun situations. Although we don't always see eye to eye the next day, she's been around a long time, so we tolerate each other.
Hanging out was always fun in the past, but truthfully I don't drop by to visit much any more. Although I've changed over the years I notice she remains pretty much the same. The problem arises when I think I haven't changed - she bites viciously if you don't pay attention.
She brings me out of my skin; I'm usually more reserved. She makes me more honest than I should be, but frankly I don't care about that any more. Honesty is almost always a good thing.
Time to say goodbye for another year tho'. Enough time to remember the fun, yet still time to forget the consequences.
These are the best of times, after all.

Thanks NFG

It's never that easy in real life - but sometimes courage can be found when or where you least expect it.



[click image to enlarge]

Why it's not easy

“The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another.”

-James Matthew Barrie

Thankyou Lady Di

No - not that one - this one.



Go here. I laughed my head off - and at the same time felt more than a little sad.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.... He's talented 'tis all, and very very honest.

I'm fine. Just angry.

If I were to try and consolidate my thoughts of late, I'm sure I'd go mad during the process. I'm sure I wouldn't keep cutting off my nose to spite my face, if i didn't studiously keep gluing it back on afterward. The same traps I allow myself to fall into, are severely starting to get me down. It's like I'm suffering some sort of mental malady that ensures I follow the same tortured path time and time again - in hope that an outcome will be different. So when it isn't, and I'm just the littlest bit surprised, I just wonder how many more times i have to learn this lesson.

Anger at my inability to move on, I cant help but wonder if this is as good as it gets - and that any attempt to do it differently will create an ever more intricate path to yet again the same outcome. I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking this.

The problem is, I know who I am - and I know I'm not ill. In the cold light of reality it's my heart that's causing the grief - and not my head. And there in lies the kicker.

Anyone for the tropics? I really need a holiday.