rush hour

rush hour
Originally uploaded by rod lewis

the latest chapter in the Rush tour attendance story was written last night.
This time, a newbie live Rush inductee, an R30 veteran, a couple of folks with several shows under their belts, but I think I still hold the world record for perfect attendence at the most consecutive tours, and possibly at the most diverse venues. This was my 11th consecutive tour, I think. You can read the complete rod/rush concert chronicles here.
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This was in Charlotte. The pic was the after concert, 1:00am, waffle house coffee redneck debriefing.

Set List:

(vid intro with alex, neil and especially geddy)
Limelight
Digital Man
Entre Nous
Mission
Freewill
The Main Monkey Business
The Larger Bowl (eh?)
Secret Touch
Circumstances
Between The Wheels
Dreamline
Video Intro (with alex)
Far Cry
Workin Them Angels
Armor and Sword
Spindrift
The Way The Wind Blows
Subdivisions
Natural Science
Witch Hunt
Malignant Narcissism
Drum Solo
Hope
Summertime Blues
The Spirit of Radio
(southpark vid intro)
Tom Sawyer
One Little Victory
A Passage to Bangkok
YYZ

happy father's day dad!!

happy father's day dad!!
Originally uploaded by rod lewis

I've not always been old and paunchy with white whiskers on my chin. No No No. I was once 12 years old and skinny as a rail and had a brand new, non-motorized bike.
As you can see, my dad helped me assemble it (read, "assembled it for me"). He is, in this photo, 6 years younger than I am now. I am very happy that at my ripe old age, I still have very young parents.

Never before in the history of fathers and sons, has a man imparted the epitome of manhood and masculinity (however inadvertently) so strongly, unmistakably, and certain, upon his progeny. I'm certain my brother would say the same. No one else's father should have even worn pants when our dad was around. We wanted to be him when we grew up, and we're still trying to grow up so that we can be him.

it'll rain a sunny day

sharp, wet, and fluffy
Originally uploaded by rod lewis

I don't remember the last time it rained. The water has even evaporated from my rain guage on the deck. Ironically, we haven't experienced heavy duty heat, at least not by local standards, but it has been dry, and the grass is brown and struggling.
I've got dead spots in the lawn. I've watered everyday, but it's not enough to reverse the effects of the dry sunshine.
That is until a very tired tropical Barry made his way to us. It started raining yesterday morning. Just a slow, steady, soaking, cooling rain. It hasn’t stopped yet. The frogs are singing in every yard, not just at the pond. The birds are extraordinarily musical. The grass is basking in the nourishing water and breathing a sigh of relief.

I slept with the windows open last night. It felt as if I was sleeping outside. The rain was for the most part steady, but regularly it suddenly would rain harder for about a minute and then just as suddenly slack back off to a tempo. This also became a part of the pattern of the night. The harder rain would wake me and I’d find myself confused as to where I was. Once, I awoke in the woods by the Cranberry river listening to the water rushing over the rocks. Once, I awoke in a luxurious lean-to, open to the night air, high on a bluff overlooking the Caribbean, listening to the waves crash against the rocks below while the moon set.
The wind and rain can take one places during a night’s sleep. I appreciate when it takes me to treasured places that are thick with meaning. We desperately needed rain. My mind needed to travel, to remember, and to rest.

The clouds broke this afternoon while we were at Jack’s violin recital. We walked out of the dark building into the bright afternoon sunlight. I thought of the places I revisited last night. The grass is green, the oleander is bending low, heavy with blossoms and raindrops. I’m standing tall. Refreshed by the rain, and lightened by sunshine.
It’s raining a sunny day, sunshine pouring down like water. For the most part steady, but with regular surges of short lived brilliance.