My Beautiful Wife sent this to me, and I have to say I just love this. I've watched it 5 or 6 times in a row.

This morning I came across this article in BusinessWeek about the 10 oddest iPod Acessories. I really have to agree with their list.

1. Stereo Dock for iPod with Bathroom Tissue Holder - For Those that need their iPod at all times...even in the bathroom
2. iPode Sholder Bag - It's a purse, it's a iPod boom box, it's both!
3. CE0 Card Wallet for iPod Nano - For those that believe their iPod is like their American Express card, they don't leave home without it.
4. Bullet Proof iPodCase - I assume this is for the secret agents iPod, whoelse would need a bullet proof aluminum case for their iPod.
5. iPod Nano Thong - Now this one is just wrong, it a thong for your iPod. I would guess that large quantities of alcohol where involved in the design process.
6. The iPod Nano Belt - Because everyone wants their iPod on their belt...don't they?
7. iPod Cases - This cases look more like a Muppet at your iPod.
8. Mobile Security Lock for iPod - I'm not really sure what this does, but I think I feel more secure...
9. iSticky Pad XL - Now it maybe just me, but I really don't think that sticky and iPod should be used in the same sentence.
10. Gloves with Playpoint Technology for iPod Click Wheel - Not only is that a lot to say, but I don't get it. I get batting gloves, I get driving gloves, I don't get iPod gloves. Are people getting blisters from over use of the iPod Click Wheel?

You have to give this a listen. As a guitar player this guy is just simply amazing to watch. He's developed his own style, and sounds like three people playing at once. I was impressed.

I have my iPod sitting here next to my laptop, and I am listening to Ravel's Bolero. The first piece of classical music I can remember listening to and simply loving. Bolero has been in my music collection ever since I've had a music collection, and I've had one for a long time. I was the kid in Jr. High that saved his money up to buy music. Tonight I was reminded of this amazing piece while reading an article in Wired. The article is entitled: "My Bionic Quest for Bolero". "With one listen, I was hooked. I was a 15-year-old suburban New Jersey nerd..."  The article is an amazing piece about a man who lost his hearing, but not his drive to hear Bolero again and all of the trials he went through to hear it again.

That first line in the article reminded me of my first time listening to Bolero, I was at my Grandparents house, my Dad's Mom and Dad, standing at my Dad's side, in their leaving room and Granddad put on this record and turned it up loud. I could feel the drums in my chest, and I had goose bumps on my arms and legs, I couldn't believe the sound that was coming out of the speakers. I kept looking up at my Dad and Granddad, they stood in the middle of livingroom, eyes closed and I could see that they could feel every note, and there was a smile that came when a new instrument would coming in, the oboes came in and it was subtle and yet felt like getting hit with a ton of bricks, this music was just so intense, and it kept building. The build up in the piece is so intense that I kept waiting for it to end and wishing it wouldn't at the same time. I was 8 or 9 at the time, so I wasn't able to put my feelings about this piece of music in to words, or the wonderful feeling of sharing the music and the moment with my Dad and Granddad.

Granddad and Grandma are moving back up to our neighborhood, they'll be a block or so from Mom and Dad, I feel certain one of the things we'll do while moving them in to their new place will be to dust of the albums set up the turntable and give Ravel's Bolero a quick spin.

Pop Quiz: What do you get when you stick a guy that has been trained in classical guitar infront of the TV too long?

Slowly I have started to collect a new genre of music. However today I have started adding to the collection with a little more interest. Those who know me, know I have a very wide taste in music, classical to rock, flamenco to country. So what is the new genre? Childrens music. Yes childrens music.

 You see today The Little Boy got his first mp3 player. I got it for him from Frys yesterday. It's the iRock MP3ez. It is a sturdy little play that is impressively expandable, and durable. It's also very easy to use.

Anyhow I gave it to the Little Boy this morning and we had to take it off him tonight as he fell asleep. Seeing him walking around the house and singing along just brought a smile to my face all day.

Walter S. Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal has some nice things to say about the new iPod with Video Playback capability. He says "Our verdict is that this new iPod is an excellent music player. It has all of the strengths that have made prior iPods monster hits, and a few subtle refinements. Plus, it's a surprisingly decent video player, with crisp, smooth vivid playback of TV shows, music videos, short films, video podcasts and home videos." Check Out the Review.

You have to see Jake Shimabukuro play to believe your ears. This artist can play things on a ukulele that most guitarist would like to be able to play with 6 strings, and Jake is playing it on 4. You have to see Jake play “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”.

So there is one song that I keep listening to over and over again on the train ride into work.  It makes me think of all of the things I see each day and want to share with my Beautiful Wife but cant', because I can't describe what I see well enough to paint the mental picture, or life gets in the way and makes me forget. 

3X5 by John Mayer

I'm writing you to
Catch you up on places I've been
You held this letter
Probably got excited, but there's nothing else inside it

Didn't have a camera by my side this time
Hoping I would see the world with both my eyes
Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm
In the mood to lose my way with words

Today skies are painted colors of a cowboy's cliche'
And strange how clouds that look like mountains in the sky
Are next to mountains anyway

Didn't have a camera by my side this time
Hoping I would see the world with both my eyes
Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm in the mood to lose my way
But let me say

You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes
It brought me back to life
You'll be with me next time I go outside
Just no more 3x5's

Guess you had to be there
Guess you had to be with me

Today I finally overcame
Tryin' to fit the world inside a picture frame
Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm in the mood to
Lose my way but let me say

You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes
It brought me back to life
You'll be with me next time I go outside
No more 3x5's
Just no more 3x5's

So the other day we got the Jason Mraz album "Waiting for my Rocket to Come". The only song I had really heard from the album is "You and I both". This was poppy and had a beautiful acoustic ring of a up and coming Signer song writer. So we got it. I listened to this album over and over again today. I couldn't stop. Mraz has to be one of the best lyricist to come around in a long time.

There some song on this album that you will just finding yourself singing along by the second verse. (to the horror of my co-workers). I was amazed at the diversity on this album. I expected acoustic pop, and I got that, but I also got funky groove, regae moves and outstanding lyrics and one of the best new voices to come to rock in a while. Songs like "Curbside Prophet," have the great feel, of classic J. Love, with some Nashville funk thrown in. While "I'll Do Anything" has an amazing reggae beat, with smooth lyrics flowing in to a melodic chorus, while avoiding lyrical cliches`that would of been easy to fall into. I think the song "The Remedy" will be the next song that gets radio play from this album. It has that pop rock feel, with out feeling like a teen bopper hit. It's obvious from this album that Mraz influences are many and diverse. Which for me is really nice to hear.

The other thing that impress me is Mraz website, someone was smart enough to figure out you have to give some music away to sell it. There are seven mp3s for the download. But I'm telling you that after listening to those songs you are going to want the album.

Yesterday afternoon, I was kind of restless, so I drove over to the local music store. While I was there I walked around a little bit and a tried a couple of guitars. Mostly feeling smart, because so far mine at home sounded much better then the ones I played. (And mine is less then half of the cost of the ones in this store) I walked over and played a couple of classical guitars.

I love the sound of nylon strings. There is a warmth to the tone, that I find so wonderful to listen to and to play. Anyhow, I pick up this acoustic classical, with a cutaway body so that you can reach high in the fret scale. I just strummed an E chord and all of the sudden, my ears said 'that sounded good, do it again!'. So I do, again my ears go, 'do that again!'. So I must of sat there played that beautiful guitar for close to 20 minutes. So by this time, I am in love, ready to take it up to the man behind the counter and ... put it on layway (what? You know you have to do that too!).

So I find the little card thingy that is the price tag and look. Once I regain consciousness... I looked at it again. $1,600.00 ... On Sale. So of course I put it back really gingerly, holding my breath until it is back in the guitar stand. Come to find out it is a Rodriguez C Cutaway. If I listen to the tale from the website, it is a handcrafted guitar made from the trees that Mr. Rodriguez grandfather planted many years ago.

Well, short story long, the guitar got to stay at the music shop. I got to come home and complain. I mean, I have a family to support, bills to pay, I can't talk myself in to buying something like that! That thing cost more than our rent (Though not by much). Though I have talked to the guy at the music shop and he says I can come back to visit, just as long as it's not to often.