Dear A&F,

Please please please please bring back my favourite cologne, 'Woods'. This is the perfect scent! I love it! I've been hoarding my last 1/4 of a bottle for three years now, down to my last few squirts. This is the only scent I've had where strangers have come up to me on the street and said I smell great. Please! Bring back 'Woods'!! PLEASE!

Classic Crystal

My 4th Crystal Gayle concert did not disappoint. The first two times I saw her I was 15 years old, in Tahoe. Then I saw her in 2000 in Reno. Last night I saw her perform at the beautiful Gallo Center in Modesto. Crystal still performs her classic songs with that soothing voice that brought her to the top of the charts with such hits as "Why Have You Left The One You Left Me For", "River Road" and the timeless classic, "When I Dream". I've noticed as the years go on, she gets a little more jazzy, which works with the format of her show. Her sax/horn player 'Blue Jay' is amazing. Her sister Peggy Sue, while hard to understand when singing, continues to provide the comic relief of the evening. Last time I saw her show, she signed autographs and posed for pictures. The Gallo Center holds over 1200, so I knew she wouldn't do so this time, and left my camera at home. WRONG! While the hundreds of concert attendees filtered out, I got in line to purchase a CD I didn't know about when it first came out, and heard someone say they're trying to figure out her signing autographs now. So I stayed. She did come out for photos and autographs. By this time nearly everyone was gone, so there wasn't a wait at all and I got the cd signed. On a footnote, Colin Raye opened the show. I of course, had heard of Raye, but was not at all familiar with him - he put on a good show. He has lots of energy. I expect this concert is the final performance in the "Sprummer" of music. It was a classic end to my self proclaimed music series.

BART

Okay, so what's the deal with BART proposing fare increases during peak travel times. After reading the articles in the Chronicle and the CC Times, it sounds like they want to DISCOURAGE people from using public transit. Yes, the trains are overcrowded. I've had to stand from Civic Center all the way out to Walnut Creek in the past. Hey, here's an idea: add another car to the train.

Backwoods Barbie: Different Everywhere!

I hope this is not a new trend in CD's. I purchased 'Backwoods Barbie' at Target, because the Target version has two live Bonus Track, 'Jolene' and 'Two Doors Down'. The iTunes version has 'I Will Always Love You'. Score! Got all three. I'm at Best Buy the other day and I don't even know why I looked at it, but their version has 'Baby I'm Burnin''. So I get on line and check WalMart, their version has '9 to 5'. Gee wiz! Can't we just have a version out there with a bonus cd of live tracks!

Dolly, Delightful!

It almost seems silly to write a post now, but I do want to mention that the 'Sprummer of Music' continued with Dolly Parton at the Greek Theatre on Tuesday, August 5th. The first surprise was an ugrade from our lawn seats to an actual seat, much closer! There was no opening act, just slightly more than two hours of pure Dolly! She sang a wonderful combination of songs from the new CD and Dolly standards. My only Dolly-Downer was when she sang 'Little Sparrow', from her bluegrass stint - a song that seemed to go on and on. I wish she would have replaced it with 'Think About Love' or 'Potential New Boyfriend'. Dolly dazzled in her high-high heels, played a sparkling violin and other instruments that a hunky "hillbilly" in overalls brought to her as needed, she told jokes as good as any comedienne, and of course, gave the obligatory, you are the best audience that I'm sure they all hear! Dolly closed the first half with a fantastic gospel medley that included Neil Diamond's 'Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show', I've always loved her version. Dolly opened the second half, in a red dress, with another favorite of mine, 'Baby I'm Burnin''. One could tell the night was coming to an end when 'Here You Come Again', '9 to 5', 'Islands in the Stream' and of course, 'I Will Always Love You' rounded out the set. Dolly closed with 'Jesus and Gravity'. I wish I could remember all the songs she performed, but she also included: 'Backwoods Barbie', 'Shinola', 'Drives Me Crazy', 'Better Get To Livin', 'Coat of Many Colors', and 'Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That'.

Lack of postings

There haven't been any postings as of late because my computer is either very ill, or dead. We'll soon see.

Saturday Morning Randomness

I have a six figure salary if you count the decimal point....

Why does the freeway have pay tolls....

I love my job if that I love not being there counts....

Why do the morons and evil people get all the high paying positions....

Days of Our Lives sure has gotten boring....

Why are there no good movies for months and now I want to see SIX....

Why does the tallest person in the city always get seated in front of me....

Why do I keep watching Days of Our Lives when it's been boring all year....

Why don't any of my friends live in walking distance anymore, I miss that....

How come a bad cold makes you feel like you've got a hangover, with none of the fun of getting there....

I want Lynda Carter and Bernadette Peters to record a duet....

I've been sick for a week, and I really want a Cosmo!

I wonder what Drew Barrymore is doing right now....

How do I get a travel show? I'd be an excellent host. Travel Channel, hey, it's me, Steele, South America, great pair here...