...And CruiserMel Takes The Mic Again

Hi there. You good? Excellent. Who me? Well, as my boss at my paying gig would say "A little bit better than outstanding."

Okay - maybe not quite that good, but good, nevertheless.

I'm pretty pumped about tomorrow night. See, Doug from RundgrenRadio (my non-paying gig) is letting me take the helm of the radio show this week and I'm thrilled about my guest.

His name is Brent Bourgeois. You may not immediately recognize the name, but if you were around in the 80's (or even if you're into the retro thang) (or even if you're into the CCM thang, too), he was the Bourgeois of Bourgeois Tagg.

What? You don't recall that name either?

They were a band out of northern California, via Dallas (just follow me here), who had some success on MTV with a couple of tunes. And yes, they've got a Todd connection. Todd produced their second album, which spawned their Top 40 hit "I Don't Mind At All." No worries, you'll recognize it when you hear it. See below.

Todd liked them so much he stole them as his own band for awhile! Attaboy, Todd.

Anyway, Brent's had a storied career which took him from 80's pretty-boy pop all the way to a solo career where he took the spotlight alone, doing a duet with Robert Palmer, then to Nashville, writing with the likes of Michael W. Smith, 4Him, and four #1 contemporary Christian hits.

So yeah, I'm a little excited to be interviewing him Wednesday night - 8:00 Eastern. Be there, aloha!

Girls Rawk-N-Rule

I had something planned to tell you guys, I really did, but somehow I ran out of time over the weekend and so, unfortunately, I'm phonin' it in just so you'll keep coming back. I promise to tell you all about my bday weekend (Wow, was that like almost two week ago? Shit, that means I've got a bday in 11 and a half months!), but for now, I can just show you a portion of what I got to see last night.

I'd never seen Heart performing live and to be frank here (quit calling me Frank), I was going to the show to see 2 of my musical lifetime loves (Cheap Trick and Journey), but Heart was sandwiched between the bread, so I gave the girls a chance.

Man, oh man! Girl power, indeed!

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Today is my birthday. Why, thank you. And you, too. You're the best.

The day started off just dandy, with CruiserDog's fuzzy butt in my face on the pillow next to me. Then somehow I completely missed the glass as I was pouring some left-over iced tea from a pitcher, drenching my feet and kitchen floor. It all improved as I got to the office and handled a couple of problems that had been hanging over my head (well, more like piling up on my desk) with finesse and lightning speed. By the time I left the office, I was smiling, looking forward to a four-day weekend filled with a couple of Todd shows in Austin and Dallas. Life was great!

I buzzed through some errands and headed home to find several bday cards, mostly insulting, the way I like it. Life really is great, indeed.

And then...what's this? A catalog I've never seen before. Hmm. Two lovely women on the cover, smiling at the camera with a look that seemed to say in some condescending way: "I understand."

WTF?

I leafed through the pages a little and discovered a pattern. This was a catalog entirely aimed at middle-aged vain women! Vain, I might be, but I'll be DAMNED if I'll ever admit to being middle-aged! I might cave-in when I'm rounding 70, but not now, no way. And certainly not on my frickin' birthday!

The cover says "As We Change" in a typeface that just looks like it "understands." Good grief! If you truly understand, you would most certainly not time your mailings to arrive at a woman's mailbox on her birthday; I don't care if it's her 29th or 69th! F you and your understanding font!

I must admit I did check out what they were selling and most of it was nonthreatening, in an aging sense. (moisturizing creams, satin pillowcases, magnifying mirrors, etc.) Then, as I got further into the magazine, it got a bit scary. There were pajamas designed for women who suffer hot flashes. There were vitamin supplements to make one feel sexy again. There were at least 3 pages of girdles. Girdles!

And then, they cut to the chase with "personal massagers." Oh. My. God. Pages and pages of "personal massagers." It was bordering on soft-core porn. Right here in my house! Then it hit me - these people are reminding women of a "certain age" that they can't get any from their men anymore at their advanced age. Way to go.

Such trash! Appalling! For shame!

I'm planning on throwing it away as soon as I place my order.

He's Baaaack

OMG, the trading baby's back! I wish I needed an advertising company, because this whole campaign is frickin' brilliant!