Saturday, November 13, 2004

Better Luck Next Time

From the AP wire:

NORTH VERNON, Ind. - When hunter Jim Mick went into the woods to bag himself a deer, he never expected to come out empty-handed and badly bruised.

 

The 69-year-old bowhunter was treated for injuries he said he suffered during a wrestling match with an angry buck. Mick, of North Vernon, said the deer attacked him Monday while he was hunting alone in rural Decatur County in southeastern Indiana.

 

"He came out of the tall grass and briars," said Mick. "When I realized it, he was on me already."

 

Mick said the animal, which weighed about 150 pounds, struck him in the chest and knocked him to the ground, goring him in the thigh. "All I had time to do was throw my hands up and grab his antlers," he said.

 

After about a 10-minute struggle, Mick said he managed to put a tree between himself and the deer, and the animal retreated.

 

Mick put a makeshift bandage on his leg and returned to his vehicle to call family members for help, he said. His son-in-law took him to a hospital in Greensburg, where he was treated for the gash and other minor injuries and released.

 

"It was probably a draw, but I think I got the worst of it," Mick said. "I don't think he had any gouge marks on him."

Friday, November 12, 2004

Things I Think About While Running - Come to Jesus Edition

It was a little too wet to run in the woods today, so I drove over to Umstead Road Park instead. On the way I popped in the latest sampler CD from Harp Magazine and was blown away by the very first song - Mindy Smith's Come to Jesus. Now you may have guessed even if you only know me from this blog that I'm not a particularly religious person (although I do consider myself quite spiritual) but by the end of the song I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat and I swear if the song had been 60 seconds longer I'd have been bawling like a baby. I don't know why it hit me quite like that - no question that it is a powerful song, but I'm not usually quite so susceptible to that kind of emotional appeal. Maybe after the last few weeks I've had - politically, sure, but more career-wise - I really needed someone with no real ties to me to tell me that it's all going to be okay. Man, I believed her this morning!

For many years now, JennySlash and I have gotten all dressed up for New Year's Eve and gone and done something fancy. Yes, I own a tux - two actually. Don't you? There've been a couple of exceptions, like the Y2K party we had here a few years ago, but for the most part we've either gone to the symphony in Raleigh or more lately to the Carolina Club for late dinner and dancing. Might have to make a little change to that this year, since I just saw on the Cat's Cradle schedule that the Sex Police are playing there New Year's Eve. I'm assuming it's John and Norwood and Shoney and Jai and the guy that played trombone who's name I can never remember - the only detail on the Cradle website is the cover of their second CD, so it's at least not someone totally different that's stolen the name. Might not be able to convince JS but I think I gotta try!

Speaking of the Cradle ('cause I'm tired of talking about politics), is there a sweeps month for clubs like there is for TV? They've got John Hammond, Suzy Bogguss, Matthew Sweet, Badly Drawn Boy, Papa Roach, Junior Brown and Ralph Stanley all coming in November, with Chris Stamey showing up December 1 with Mitch Easter in tow. Jeebus!

Monday, November 8, 2004

In the Disc Player - Por Vida Edition

Over the last few years, I seem to have lost any ability to focus on any one thing for more than a couple of seconds. In other words I now seem to have the attention span of a Sobe-drinking fourteen year old who's off his Ritalin. One of the symptoms of that lately is that whenever I get a new CD, I tend to listen to it the first time through by hitting the Next Track button about every 45 seconds. I am making myself NOT do that the first time through Por Vida, the double-CD that was put together to raise money for the medical bills of Alejandro Escovedo, who was diagnosed about 18 months ago with Hepatitis C and who, like many, many musicians, has no health insurance. Seeing as we live in a country that apparently doesn't give a shit about people that can't afford health insurance, a bunch of benefit concerts were held last year and this CD was produced with some pretty damn fine musicians. From locals Caitlin Cary, Chris Stamey and Tres Chicas to stars like the Jayhawks, Sun Volt, Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams and legends like Ian Hunter and Lenny Kaye, it's a freaking amazing compilation. As I am really listening (and I mean listening, not just playing it while I'm doing other things), I'm only up to the Cowboy Junkies' cover of Don't Need You. And so far, it's all good. Go buy it. You'll feel good about it.

If you're in the area, Southern Culture on the Skids is doing three night in a row at Local 506 and recording a live album/concert DVD starting Wednesday. I'll be too busy working and trying to wrap things up before taking some time off, so I'll miss my chance at immortaility, but you should go.

Speaking of music DVDs and benefits, I understand Sir Bob Geldof is allowing the Live Aid concerts to be released on DVD after all, since apparently there are 1000s of bootleg copies floating around. The British government has apparently agreed to refund the sales tax to the foundation, which is pretty cool (and a vast change from the Iron Maggie days). Yeah, a lot of it was pretty cheesy, but what the hell.  I watched it and you know you did too.