Hello, friends. A couple of years ago, Brother Dan bought me a Cutty Sark on the rocks at a little place across the street from his store called the Doo Drop Inn. It was a charming little place that looked like it hadn't been remodeled since the '70s. I went to his old store yesterday to pick some stuff up & I saw that the Doo Drop had been torn down. Dan is long gone, & I just found out that his replacement will be gone soon, too. That's what happens I guess, people & places move on down the line.
It's kind of depressing, really, the way things change. Change isn't bad on it's own, but sometimes the things that cause the change is bad. I think of the changes that have occurred since I've lived in West Michigan. When I first got here, 28th Street east of the highway was the prime retail space in Grand Rapids. Now, that area has gone downhill & the prime areas are heading farther east & farther west leaving the spaces in between to be unused strip malls. Here in Grand Haven, there are a million condo units that have been built, many of them vacant after a couple of years. There's a huge project right on US-31 right as you come into town that has more condos & retail space. I can imagine the planners of this project as they were trying to convince the city to approve the project by saying that it would bring in new businesses in town, helping the economy. Well, that hasn't really happened, instead, existing businesses have moved into the prime spots, leaving buildings in older, less desirous parts of the city vacant. It all seems terribly irresponsible. Oh well, what do I know?
Speaking of retail, I went to Lowe's today to buy a new toilet, vanity & sink for the store bathroom. After a half hour of figuring out which toilet would be best, I got to the checkout lane only to find out that they wouldn't take my store's checks. That is an hour of my life that I will never, ever get back. I don't mind wasting time, but I'd rather waste my time blathering on & on in a silly blog or watching Seinfeld reruns then wasting my time at Lowe's.
Five Favorite Songs of the Day
It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)-Bob Dylan, Amsterdam, 2007
This gets my vote for the performance of the year. It was a new, sped up arrangement with a great descending guitar riff that bookends the verses perfectly elevating Bob's singing. The violin plays a great role as well, creating a repetitive uneasy sound that suits the lyrics perfectly.
Oh My Lord-Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, No More Shall We Part
Ain't Talkin'-Bob Dylan, Amserdam, 2007
Mind's Eye-Josh Ritter, the Historical Conquest of Josh Ritter
Naked as a Window-Josh Ritter
No Cars Go-Arcade Fire, Neon Bible
Happy Wednesday, friends...
andrew
5 comments:
Amen Brother
You could say you flushed that hour right down the toilet, but if you can't buy the toilet then what? :)
I was in Frankfort this past weekend and picked up a Dylan book for Matt for Christmas. I need help with suggestions for him and his elceltic music taste. He will be coming to Thanksgiving with his vegetarian girlfriend so you won't be alone in that department. See you then
Isn't that mean of Lowe's not to take the check? Is it because they sell a competitor's paint?
heidi sounds like her dad
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