Beta-Pi-Blog: June 2008

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2008, No.30 - D.C. Tick-a-lo's / The Wharton Files

Beta Pi:

IS "BETA PI BLOG" JUNK E-MAIL?: Yes, and no! It is not this e-mail. This e-mail contains some written content of the "Beta Pi Blog", not the entire content. The "blog" is actually a web-site, it includes pictures, links, Archives of previous issues, and other time-wasters. To get there, simply "Click on" the web address: http://journals.aol.com/lasimons4law/beta-pi-blog/ .

Just in the last few days, there is much to write about. Let the floodgates open . . .

THE WHARTON FILES: So I get a "cc" of this really cryptic e-mail from Bedroom Boy Chuck Wharton:

"Thanks again for the great trip - the Heartfields are wonderful hosts.

Here's a few of the pics - not the best results on some of the other ones."

It was sent to Chip Heartfield, Don Scott, and Clone-of-Bedroom-Boy,

Bedroom-TwinDavid Haines, Dick a.k.a. EzekielStoner, Gregg Qualls, Mark McGann

and Ed Oppenhiemer, with photos attached. Looks like the D.C. Boys threw a big wing-ding. Here are the shots:

Looks like the D.C. boys and their women had a memorable time.

BUCK TICK-A-LO HONORED ON FATHERS’ DAY: Buck sent me some pictures of his kids a few days ago. Those of you who know Buck (since the infamous days-o-yore) know he is a devoted family man who loves his kids - and having personally met them, I can attest - they are beautiful.

Old Topper, I note that your son Jack has red hair and blue eyes. I have blue eyes, and before I became a gray geezer, my hair was red.Red-haired, blue eyed people rule!

And I have a few shots from when Buck brought his daughter Mary to visit Vanderbilt a few years ago, but I can't find them. We had dinner at this great place called Rumba. Mary had my step-son William and his friends charmed. They were in a high-school-daze, being in the company of such a pretty, vivacious girl. Buck, my friend, you have a beautiful daughter.

BETA PI BLOG ROSTER STATS: As of June 13, 2008, the Blog roster total is 90 Beta Pi brothers, 82 of these Tick-a-lo men have e-mail addresses. If you have an e-mail address on a Brother - fugetaboutit!

VTL,

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, 72

Friday, June 13, 2008

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2008, No.29 - Bozino Does Memphis

Beta Pi:

So nothing is new with any of the Brethren, and I’m thinking I have writer’s block again, and then I remember the cardinal rule: write about what you know.

But then, I’m thinking, what the hell do I know, anyway? I know very little - in fact, the more I learn, the less I realize I know. No matter. A few weekends ago, I was on my way down to New Orleans, when I stopped in Memphis . . .

BOZINO DOES MEMPHIS: A few of you might have received an e-mail from me, sent by my Blackberry, from the Hi-Tone Nightclub in Memphis, Tennessee. I was there for the Release Party of a band I am producing, Groundspeak. My son Andrew Simons is bassist in the band - it is a jazz fusion band.

The opening act was great, they had an awesome horn player. The crowd was stoked! About 11:00 p.m., Groundspeak started, and they cooked! Crowd was great, kids were dancing. One of their fans, a dude with a hat, and his girlfriend (quite a babe) were rockin’-in-the-U.S.A., I mean this dude was pumped - he was enjoying the show so much. So excited was he that after an up-tempo number, dude yelled out (over the applause) "MAN - YOU GUYS ARE FREAKIN’ AWESOME!" - and he used that other f-word. Of course, that got a big, big laugh. Seizing the moment, Andrew went to the microphone and said "Somebody get that dude another drink!" - which got even more laughs.

A good time was had by all.

Their album, Local Language, is available on CDbaby and I-Tunes. Here are the links:

http://www.cdbaby.com and http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/ . Just type in artist name Groundspeak - that should work. Their plan is to sell CD’s at their festival gigs. For those of you who, like me, are approaching geezer-dom, Cdbaby is a site where you can buy CD’s online, and you actually get a CD. I-Tunes is where you "download" music. That term "download" always makes me think of a certain thing humanoids do, every morning. Whatever.

Groundspeak is actually a good band. So good, they were selected to be on a CD called "This is My Memphis" - one of a dozen bands picked. Tomorrow night, they play a gig at the Memphis Hard Rock Café as part of the promotion. Very cool, no? Check out their YouTube Video "Groundspeak at the Hi-Tone" (link on the right).

CLARKSDALE UPDATE: So, I headed down to Clarksdale after the gig. We had the exterior painted recently, so the 149 Delta got a face-lift.

I got this really cool CD by one of my favorite blues artists, Fred McDowell, put out by Rounder Records. Bottleneck slide guitar is a beautiful thing.

The blog will fall silent during June 20 to June 30, Ann and I and the kids are going to Mexico (we love it there). Be well.

NEW FEATURE - "TICK-A-LO FEEDBACK CORNER": I was talking on the phone with Pierce Hodnette a few days ago, and Pierce said: "Larry, there’s been lots of cheesecake featured on the blog - too much. Think about putting up just one piece of cheesecake, instead of a dozen. Too much of a good thing." Point well taken. I was simply doing that much cheesecake because of favorable feedback I got from LOVE-MAN, who liked the photos of female-archers so much, he requested more of "those bow and arrow pictures." One man’s ceiling . . .. So, your Blog Editorial Staff convened, and the verdict is . . . Pierce be damned - if the cheesecake is really good, let the banquet begin!

BETA PI BLOG ROSTER STATS: As of June 13, 2008, the Blog roster total is 90 Beta Pi brothers, 82 of these Tick-a-lo men have e-mail addresses. If you have an e-mail address on a Brother - fugetaboutit!

VTL,

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, 72