Grateful Dead

....I didn't buy one to be trendy. I bought one because they're smooth and comfortable in the hand. And they expand and contract. Calligraphy, here I come!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=afzmwAKUppU http://www.deadlists.com/posters/1960s/19680311.html http://www.deadlists.com/posters/1960s/19680329.html ~ 8.6.82 ~ "Little Red Rooster" "Bird Song" ~ 9.27.81 ~ "Candyman" ~ 5.2.81 ~ "Scarlet Begonias" ~ > "Fire on the Mountain"

have become a very trendy gift among teenagers due in large part to the popularity of Hamilton.

80 minutes each way. I have the entire Grateful Dead catalog on my phone (with kick-ass music app that includes EQ), and a Blu tooth hookup to a good sound system in the car. I decide what to listen to pretty much on the spot. I usually try to stick with the same show, but sometimes I jump around. I'll say what I don't do on the car ride, and that's listen to many Roses, China Dolls, or Row Jimmy's. Once in awhile I'll let that ethereal Stella Blue from 11/4/77 wash over me; but generally, I want to economize on those precious 80 minutes, and let the uptempo, jammy, and moody pychedelic stuff pave the road. It's the best time for my Dead listening, because there are no interruptions and it's loud. Here's to fountain pens and random shit.

11/5/702/20/71 2/21/71 2/23/71 3/24/71 10/21/83 10/31/83 11/1/85 Miles Davis Bitches Brew Acid Mothers Temple Acid Mothers Temple X Los Angeles

....treated myself to a sweet fountain pen the other day. Anyone notice that real ink is hard to find? It's all gel pens. Screw that noise. Gel sucks. My opinion. Random shit.

Even though I have a better gig than most have to deal with, it is still rife with its own inherent none-sense. 2-21-71 has a nice warm-up-by-the-wood-burning-stove feel to it and is going perfectly with the sunset behind the hills here in Colorado. Already built the next weeks playlist, does anyone else prepare themselves for the coming week in such fashion? Hope everyone is having a remarkably good Sunday!

I live 2.2 miles from work, generally takes 10-12 min but can be worse some days. I found that there is less traffic at 9:30 than 8:30, so I go in later and stay later.Due to my short commute it takes a few days to get through a show. Last week was 6-9-84, then started 6-10-84 on Friday, will finish that this week. Definitely need GOGD when in the car. Now watching Bob and Phil 3-3-18. Really miss Phil’s bass. No offense to Oteil who is great. But Phil is Grate. https://youtu.be/JORI6sK-OTY

....work is seven minutes away. A blessing and a curse. At least I make more than five dollars a day.

When I'm in it I'm fine with the Dead on. To work is about 35 min and home is about 40-50 depending on the day. I'm also fine in Traffic with Traffic on, esp. Low Spark or John Barleycorn. Traffic Live has it's moments. Those 40 min + of Dead in the car are nirvana. I have about 100 Dead cd's just burned into paper slipcases in a shoe box that rides shotgun. All randomly ordered, of course. Show after show. Pure listening bliss... Like now, in my office at home. The kids are up playing in the new bunk bed I put together yesterday (three beers, three hours, Dave's Picks on the whole time). My family lets me get away with playing the Dead here pretty much from when I wake up in the morning until bedtime. Every day. I don't think they even hear it anymore, though sometimes I'll notice one of them grooving. Once in awhile, someone will holler out a non-Dead request. Of course, knowing how good I have it I'll indulge them. This could be anything from Fun Lovin' Criminals to Ray Charles to - gasp! - Journey, but I'll play along for a song or two. Everyone loves The Who and the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, and no one listens to rap. I get more of a Jerry tone out of my middle pickup or, on a dual-humbucker guitar, the middle position (both pickups). Just opened up a box from Sweetwater the other day with an Electro Harmonix "Q-tron." Within this box lies the fabled Jerry-tone that sounds like a wah dripping off every note... like on "Estimated Prophet" and tons of late-period work. It's addictive as hell. Recommended for the electric guitarist into the Dead. You'll just stand there endlessly plinking notes, getting your inner Jerry on while the family looks at you like you're crazy. Going outside to play basketball now. Must pause Dave's Picks 2. Happy Sunday everyone. \m/