tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6728865398625972322024-03-05T23:47:00.112-08:00Still Singing SomehowAn odyssey of one soul's karma and insights, this inspirational memoir will make you laugh, cry or maybe even angry at times. It will take you to faraway place and bizzare situations, written with the self-honesty of John Lennon.Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-10308535235128225402012-05-28T15:47:00.000-07:002012-05-28T15:47:53.089-07:00DreadlocksWell, after 40 years of listening to others advice, I've finally made the big decision to join the Dread Family. I now am on day number 4 of this ongrowing, labor intensive hair trip. My God, what did I get myself into? However, I already love the look, as dreadful as it appears at these early stages of growth. Each of my 34 Medusa snakes is different and I daily palm roll each one; praying for them to "lock". It takes about 3 months of this kind of tender care to get those rocking dreads that look cool later- like for the rest of my life. So now, it's very weird with the new appearance- I feel self conscious much of the time. But I do feel like a diffent person too, as these dreads do a real number on your head- literly!Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-6609389923046015412012-01-09T10:00:00.000-08:002012-01-09T10:00:17.577-08:00Another Near Death ExperienceI had another near death experience today, but not the kind you are probably thinking of. I thought that my beloved black Manx cat Olive had died, as she wasn't around yesterday, last night or this morning. She is very small, and coyotes and hawks are a part of her world, but unbeknownest to her. So when Olive didn't show up at feeding time this morning- as she <em>always</em> does, due to her voracious appetite- I knew something was amiss. It hit me in the heart, when I felt the deep emotions of just how very much I treasure this particular cat; she's my baby! Just the thought of losing her, triggered other sad memories of losing other pets, family members and loved ones. Then as I felt my heart breaking again, and being on the verge of crying over her, she suddenly appears out of nowhere like a little black shadow. Good God Olive, don't ever scare me again like that! <br />
This is my third near death experience with my cats, as Baba and Maya have both disappeared in the past too, but always returning in their own good cat time. Cats! They are my teachers and my fur kids that have taught me so much about love."Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened". Anatole France Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-39089752970444222452011-12-31T08:50:00.000-08:002011-12-31T08:50:41.425-08:00An Author's KarmaWe all know about the law of karma; every action has a reaction. After nine years, Mariah, from my book, found me on Face Book and messaged me, "Are you still drunk?" If you've read about her, you know how dangerous she can be. Everything I wrote about her years ago still holds true. I wouldn't change a thing I said, except choose better adjectives to describe her. Anyway, she read what I wrote, and in her typical vindictive style, she wrote a scathing one star review on Amazon to slam me. This is <em>my</em> karma for being an author and writing something heavy about a very negitive person in my life. I totally accept my error. But I see Mariah hasn't changed at all in the past ten years. I know I have, because I laugh at her reaction now and don't let her upset me, where once I would have been fighting again with her- exactly what she wants me to do! Both Mariah and my deceased mother thrieve on the adreneline rush of fights and negitive encounters. I must say she is a great writer, much better than I; maybe she should write a book, instead of only negitive reviews that only mirror her anger and jealousy over somebody who has greater discipline than her. She displays all the behavior of a bi-polar person. I pray she seeks treatment in 2012.Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-81791599801534650812011-12-10T07:53:00.000-08:002011-12-10T07:53:02.153-08:00My New SongsI just recorded 13 new songs, which can be heard at <a href="http://www.soundcloud.com/">www.soundcloud.com</a> or <a href="http://www.musicxray.com/">www.musicxray.com</a> under my name, Rob Rideout. I'm quite proud of these songs. It's just me and my guitar, as I recorded them for my agent to pitch my lyrics. However, after hearing them, I'm tempted to release a CD of them in this raw version and maybe title it, "Alone".Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-80937638344806049312011-12-02T10:31:00.000-08:002011-12-02T10:31:20.799-08:00More About Babaji<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ONA0aTHeODDO_R726qK7gqHbAg7Jl85c6sRusUccvVM4__Tj7IW99GYSjbkcyyp6dPjgnkm9oBWFfbEW6sEWKmhaxpKuZUrwqFAE7fY7K6TfV55XkLKCidOHAtnKz9si0Qle6NQ9mkeq/s1600/392371_2550757441215_1022235157_32814390_243820696_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ONA0aTHeODDO_R726qK7gqHbAg7Jl85c6sRusUccvVM4__Tj7IW99GYSjbkcyyp6dPjgnkm9oBWFfbEW6sEWKmhaxpKuZUrwqFAE7fY7K6TfV55XkLKCidOHAtnKz9si0Qle6NQ9mkeq/s320/392371_2550757441215_1022235157_32814390_243820696_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>Recently this picture of Babaji has been on Youtube and Facebook. I first saw this picture in 1994 at Babaji's ashram in Haidakhan. I was told by Har Govind, the Swiss doctor who was acting as pugari at the sacred fire, that an American took this photo during a vision of Babaji. Swami Vishwananda claims it came from Badrinath and that all true Babaji devotees have one. Is this the Babaji that nodody ever really sees? He certainly looks other-worldly! Maybe this is the Babaji who appeared as His living murti in Haidakhan Babaji. Who konws? Still, I am fascinated by the continual mystery of Babaji. I've always been a devotee of Babaji, in all forms, since first reading about Him in 1971.Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-91274809629503732802011-11-17T08:55:00.000-08:002011-11-17T08:55:14.342-08:00The First SnowToday, November 17, 2011 we got our first snowfall of about five inches here in Colville, WA. It was beautiful to wake up to the quiet, and then look out the window at the new fresh white powder. Snow seems to have a spiritual power to it, covering all with its immense statement that winter is upon us. I love snow; the common denominator that we all have to deal with, ever reminding us to be alert and cautious, to avoid an accident. Last year the snow and black ice took out my car. So this year, I plan to be extra cautious and hopefully avoid any accidents. As I'm now "retired", I stay at home much more anyway. So that alone should reduce my odds of an accident- hopefully! Now the sun is shinging on the virgin snow, making sunglasses a must! I got the walk ways and back deck all shoveled off. It's a start anyway and gives me some exercise. And as I look out my window now, I see cat tracks in the snow. Olive and Baba are out there already hunting for mice, regardless of the snow. So let's enjoy the beauty that snow brings; it's the only choice I see!Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-70687285591368013752011-11-01T13:44:00.000-07:002011-11-01T13:44:45.728-07:00Focus Group Feedback to My SongRecently I exposed my song,<em> I've Got To Let You Go</em> to a focus group on MusicXray.com for feedback. Here are some of the comments that I received: <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"This is a little too dragging for me. I understand it's a slow piece, but its too repetitive and plain to keep my attention. I like the vocals but wish the track matched the more mature and somewhat rough timbre of the male voice. Nice recording quality though."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Reminds me of Sinatra."</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"No it doesn't. I find it quite boring."</span></o:p></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"This is a slow and sweet song."</span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"The lyrics are so great! I love it. Although it may be sad, I really want to listen this again-a good product!"</span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I really like this song! Its got a great feeling to it! Very nice work :=) It definitely touches in many ways!"</span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> "<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This song gets you very emotional. The lyrics have great meanings. It is a very beautiful song."</span></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"It was a likeable song but nothing special about it."</span></o:p></span></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Reminds me of HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT."</span></o:p></span></o:p></span></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"The song really needs different vocals or better vocals. The lyrics are awesome, but the production needs work. The simple lyrics are great and something not heard enough on radio today. The song needs to be longer - maybe add a bridge and/or instrumental. Some piano would be great."</span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"The singer's voice reminds me of John Mahoney, the actor that played Dr. Frazier Crane's dad on the TV show Frazier."</span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well, there you have it. I personally don't care for the last two comments, but I respect their constuctive criticism just the same. You have to develop a tough skin to put yourself out there as I've been doing in trying to promote my book and CD. Everybody has their own opinion; that is just life!<o:p></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 17pt 10pt 29pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"> </div>Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-89496595791455818322011-10-05T14:06:00.000-07:002011-10-05T14:06:38.747-07:00Early Thoughts on RetirementI'm still accepting being quote, "retired". It has been a month now, since I lost my job. I've decided to live off of my Social Security benefits and, hopefully, Unemployment benefits, while receiving food stamps too as my retirement. This isn't the kind of retirement I pictured, but it's my start anyway. It's my start to relaxing- about life, God and myself. When your job is gone and you are home alone, then you must face who you are now, not who you used to be when you worked. I see now, I have all the time I need to recreate who I really want to be. I am faced with doing the real spiritual work of watching my thoughts daily. Now I have the time to find part-time work that I might enjoy to suppliment my income, instead of just accepting any job to stay alive. We all have choices to make, of course, but with all this free time and space in front of me now, I feel I'm more conscious of some of the choices I make. After working hard my whole life, now it's time to live and savor life; without guilt that I should be working like everyone else. I've done that, but this is all new! These are just some early reflections on my retirement, nothing more.Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-10491389347277094052011-10-03T07:56:00.000-07:002011-10-03T07:56:27.006-07:00My Survivor audition videoAs many of you know, I went to the casting call for Survivor in Spokane but my number wasn't picked. So now, I am applying online. Here is my video: <a href="http://youtu.be/QzF9bWGfAYQ">http://youtu.be/QzF9bWGfAYQ</a> It could have been better, but I think they will get the point- I AM a survivor!Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-5308510275531446732011-09-22T12:36:00.000-07:002011-09-22T12:36:55.431-07:00The Beauty of YoutubeYoutube may just be one of the best archives online for seeing old video footage of bands back in the 1960s and '70s. I just discovered <em>It's A Beautiful Day</em> performing their classic song, <em>White Bird</em> in 1970. I never got to see this band live back in the day, so to see them now was like a total dream comes true! Of course the filming may not be the best, but you get the point anyway. Some of the comments posted below the videos are interesting and informative too. Like I never knew that <em>Badfinger</em> wrote the song made famous by Harry Neilson, <em>Can't Live</em>. Sadly, these heir apparants to the <em>Beatles</em> were screwed over bigtime by their management, resulting in the suicide deaths of both songwriters! So, now I cry when I see <em>Badfinger</em> performing that song on Youtube. Such is the power of this information hiway online. It's all out there like you've never seen it before!Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-72475316708496539662011-09-20T13:55:00.001-07:002011-09-20T13:55:58.531-07:00The Real Stories behind My CD Songs<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now that I have a CD available, online at my website and at local stores in the Colville area, I thought this would be a good time to relate the stories behind each song. So, here they briefly are:</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Somehow</i> This song is about how I feel about each day of life. Composed early January 2008</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Party Is In My Mind </i>I wrote this song out of my mind at 4am, living alone in a friend’s cabin during a year separation from my wife and child. I’ve been trying for 20 years to get it to Willie Nelson. Winter 1992</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Laugh At The Blues </i>Written after the Fat Lady sang, when I was asked to leave my home on a restraining order and took refuge in another friend’s cabin with a bottle of red wine. This song just came to me instantly. Written February 1991</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Healing The Holes In My Heart </i>Written in Kingman Prison in March 2005, this song is about the healing that was occurring during in my incarceration.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’ve Got To Let You Go </i>Written in March 2005, just prior to my release from 25 months of prison in Arizona. I wrote this song with my son in mind. I knew that I would <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">only</i> be seeing him for a matter of hours after my release, as I had to leave immediately on an interstate compact for Washington.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">She’s There </i>This song is about every single person’s longing and hope for love, to come back into their lives. Written January 2007</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dave Is On The Moon </i>A true story right out of my book, written on Christmas Day 2004, after I got the letter in prison informing me that Dave had died of heroin.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Last Call For Alcohol </i>Written in Kingman Prison January 2005, this is my testimony of why I quit drinking. It’s definitely a country song!</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nothing More I Can Say </i>Written in May 1991, after my accident that broke my body in 12 places. I was finally able to hold my guitar again, and this song was penned. It is about my soon-to-be ex-wife, and mother of my son, and all the feelings of hopelessness that were surfacing; knowing that I was going to lose her.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You’re Already There </i>Penned again in Kingman Prison January 2005; this song reflects what I was learning from my studies of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Course In Miracles</i>- a highly recommended course! This is one of my favorite songs and very dear to my heart.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Just The Thought Of You </i>Written in September 2010 prior to going in the recording studio. This is my most recent <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">recorded</i> song, but I’ve written many more since then for my next CD. This song is about my first real girlfriend Jeanne, whom I’ve not seen in over 40 years and couldn’t locate anywhere. However, after the song was released on my CD, I did locate her on Face Book but she didn’t accept my invitation to be a friend. So, now she has no idea I wrote such a pretty song for her.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Still Singing, Somehow </i>Written on my porch June 2010, this is the musical nut shell version of my inspirational memoir of the same title. The melody is catchy and stays in your head. I especially love the mantra <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Om Namaha Shivaya</i> being chanted to this melody, at the end of the song. It translates, “Lord, Thy will be done” or “I take refuge in God”.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-83531672044468677692011-09-04T17:15:00.000-07:002011-09-04T17:15:27.916-07:00North Columbia Monthly's Review of my CDWorking like a soundtrack to his self-penned memoir, Rob Rideout's <em>Still Singing, Somehow</em> CD draws from his storied life in melancholy fashion. Home-spun recordings with backing from local musicians that flesh out Rideout's acoustic guitar musings, this disc is partly album, partly scrapbook.<br />
<br />
Most chapters here begin with Rideout's mid-tempo acoustic guitar and plaintiff vocals before opening up into tavern-esque, basement excursions like "Laugh at the Blues" or "Healing the Holes in My Heart" with subtle infusions of guitar texture by local artist, Clifford Ward, to give songs expansion and color. On "She's There", the standout moment is a poignant sax solo by Jai Ram Rideout, almost transforming the number into something like an early Pink Floyd demo.<br />
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It's great to see local musicians coming together to help turn ideas into an album, and at least four or more local bands are represented on <em>Still Singing, Somehow</em>.You can find out more at <a href="http://www.stillsingingsomehow.com/">www.stillsingingsomehow.com</a><br />
The CD is also locally available @ Reflections in Colville & Meyers Falls Market in Kettle Falls.<br />
Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-29142627844722869362011-07-29T19:45:00.000-07:002011-07-29T19:45:15.686-07:00Concerts I Saw Back in the Day<div style="border-bottom: #4f81bd 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 4pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;"><div class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 15pt;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: Cambria;">CONCERTS I SAW BACK IN THE DAY</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE BEATLES<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3X<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BOBBIE HEBB</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DUSTY SPRINGFIELD</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">RIGHTOUS BROTHERS<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE YOUNG RASCALS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">LITTLE STEVIS WONDER</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DIANNA ROSS & THE SUPREMES</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE JEFFERSON AIRPLANE</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">TINA TURNER</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">CREAM</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">13.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE SEEDS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JAMES BROWN</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">15.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">VANILLA FUDGE 2X</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">16.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JIMI HENDRIX</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">17.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">LED ZEPHLIN 2X</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">18.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">RICHIE HAVENS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">19.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE 5<sup>TH</sup> DIMENSION</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">20.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">COLD BLOOD WITH LYDIA PENCE</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">21.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JOE WALSH & BARNSTORM</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">22.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JESSE COLIN YOUNG & THE YOUNGBLOODS 5X</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JOHN McLaughlin & THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA- this was by far <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the</i> best concert on this list!</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">RODNEY CROWELL</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">25.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">SANTANA</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">26.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE GRASSROOTS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">27.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">RAY CHARLES</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">28.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BILLY PRESTON</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">29.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE COASTERS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">30.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">SAM THE SHAM & THE PHAROS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">31.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">32.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">KNICKER BOCKERS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">33.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE SHINDOGS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">34.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BREAD</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">35.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE ROLLING STONES</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">36.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE ELECTRIC PRUNES</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">37.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE TURTLES</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">38.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">QUICK SILVER MESSENGER SERVICE</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">39.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ARTHUR LEE & LOVE</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">40.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">LOVECRAFT</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">41.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">EMMYLOU HARRIS 2X</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">42.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GLEN CAMBELL</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">43.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ROY CLARK</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">44.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">TIM BUCKLEY</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">45.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BONNIE RAIT</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">46.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JERRY JEFF WALKER</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">47.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WAYLON JENNINGS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">48.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WENDEL<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ATKINS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">49.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WILLIE NELSON 3X</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">50.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ALBERT COLLINS </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">51.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">B B KING</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">52.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JIMMIE DALE GILMOORE</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">53.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GORDON LIGHTFOOT</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">54.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JIMMY BUFFET 3X</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">55.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">HARRY CHAPHIN</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">56.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DEEP PURPLE</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">57.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MICHAEL DOUCET & BOSELEI</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">58.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">KODO DRUMMERS OF JAPAN</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">59.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GYOTO MONKS OF TIBET</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">60.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BOZ<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SCAGGS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">61.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JANIS JOPLIN WITH BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">62.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">COUNTRY JOE <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>McDonald & THE FISH</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">63.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">PETER, PAUL & MARY</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">64.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">65.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JESSE COLTER</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">66.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ROBERT MIRABAL</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">67.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">R. CARLOS NAKAI</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">68.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BOXCAR WILLIE</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">69.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DON WILLIAMS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">70.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">PAUL WINTER<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CONSORT</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">71.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">IAN TYSON</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">72.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JOHNNY PAYCHECK</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">73.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">TAJ MAHAL</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">74.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ALABAMA</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">75.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DELBERT McClinton</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">76.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE JOY OF COOKING</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">77.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">FREDDIE FENDER</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">78.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ALBERT LEE</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">79.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">JERRY DOUGLAS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">80.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE TIME MACHINE</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">81.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE FABULOUS WAILERS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">82.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE VICEROYS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">83.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE DIMENSIONS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">84.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE SONICS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">85.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DON & THE GOODTIMES</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">86.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">87.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE DAILY FLASH</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">88.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">CHILLIWACK</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">89.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MERRILEE<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>RUSH & THE TURNABOUTS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">90.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">LINDA WATERFALL & THE SKYBOYS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">91.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">TINY TONY & THE STATICS</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">92.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">K.T. TUNSTALL</span></div>Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-64173570574832100392011-07-17T13:44:00.000-07:002011-07-17T13:44:39.856-07:00The Naked Truth About My Book CoverI recently became aware that the cover of my book, <em>Still Singing, Somehow,</em> and the cover of the CD of the same title that accompanies it, has made some people feel uncomfortable; all because of my quote "nakedness"! How I am viewed here as "naked" is beyond me. It looks like I have no shirt, granted, but naked? It makes me question the perception of those offended. John Lennon was totally naked on the cover of his album, <em>Naked Virgins</em>. Now that's bare naked. <br />
Just to set the record straight, this cover picture of me was taken by a Frenchman named Alexis with my camera on the sacred bathing day at the 1995 Kumbha Mela in Allahahbad, India; right after I walked out of the Ganges River. Just to be at that gig, is the equivilant of a thousand other pilgramages. To bathe on the astrologically predicted sacred bathing day, increases that ten fold! <em>That </em>camera image was copied and super-imposed into the river mountain scene that graces my book's cover today. This new image strongly resembles the way to Haidakhan and Babaji's ashram, or the Nooksac River flowing off Mount Baker, where I grew up. I was in a very high spiritual place when this photo was taken. This is a picture of Hari Om, my spiritual name and self. I'm sorry if it offends anybody. I'm totally naked inside the book, so you make up your own minds if I'm naked on the cover!Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-74448893706003841692011-07-10T12:25:00.000-07:002011-07-10T12:25:50.741-07:00My CD Release PartyMy CD Release Party for "Still Singing, Somehow" at Northern Ales Brewery in Kettle Falls turned ot really well. The three musicians backing me, Mark, Terry and F, played my songs with a lot of energy and feeling, producing a profound sound. Hilary Ohm video fimed most of the gig and had my song going out for Wille Nelson up on FaceBook the next day! Hopefully, if enough friends pass on the YouTube link about this song, "The Party is in my Mind" to their friends, Willie just might find it somehow. This gig was the very first time I have ever had other musicians playing my songs along with me. It felt incredable! I never knew my songs could sound so powerful, as I'm so used to playing them alone to the cats. Just type my name, Rob Rideout, in on YouTube to see "This one goes out to Willie."Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-85336985810936578272011-07-03T14:05:00.000-07:002011-07-03T14:05:57.910-07:00Casting Call for "Survivor"I've decided to do it- go to the casting call for <em>Survivor</em> that is being held this coming Friday @ Northern Quest Casino near Spokane airport. I'm sure many hopefuls will show up, just like me but much younger. However, only 100 names will be pulled on KREM news @ 5:30, for interviews; so to me, it is really up to fate or God. But I'm going just the same, in hopes that my name <em>will</em> be drawn or one of the <em>Survivor</em> staff will somehow pick up on me. Hell, I AM a survivor, to say the least! And the oppertunity to have this audition show up in my own backyard doesn't happen everyday. I'm also a firm believer in synchronicity, so armed with my survivor's tale, <em>Still Singing, Somehow</em> and my CD of survival songs, I'll drive the two hours south this Friday to see what destiny holds. Who knows? I just might make it. Wouldn't that be an incredable life changer?Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-1851630892794806432011-06-11T13:35:00.000-07:002011-06-11T13:35:22.271-07:00Reflections on my Friend's VisitLast Sunday, my friend Tim from Bangkok came for a visit. We go way back, having met in Fiji in '79. Tim has stayed in touch with me through the years: seeing me play music in South Dakota, seeing my cabin before it burned down, seeing my baby boy and wife after the fire, and then having me visit him and his Thai wife Aoy in Thailand. in 1995. Since then, he and Aoy birthed three kids. The last time we saw each other was six years ago, about a year after my prison release.<br />
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His visit was way too short, four and a half hours, but ever so dear. True friends open my heart! After Tim left, it all seemed like a dream that he was even here. The next day at work, I thought about our friendship and what it means to me, all day. I feel so blessed to have him come so far to see me.It really made my work day, to say the least. He emailed me that he really enjoyed our simple dinner of steamed vegtables and rice. I thought about what Tim's diet is probably like. Living in Bangkok, he has some of the best food on the planet at his doorstep. And traveling on international business as he does, he gets wined and dined on god-only-knows-what at business parties and banquets, not to forget the airplane food too. That sounds like fun, but I'll stick with my simple diet right here at home.<br />
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Tim and his family would really like me to return to Thailand, but I don't see it happening any time soon, if at all. But maybe someday they will be able to come here and eat steamed vegs and rice with me in Colville. Tim will come through; he always does!Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-41726568373529899832011-05-28T17:58:00.000-07:002011-05-28T17:58:24.842-07:00Children’s Happy Acres – Heaven on Earth<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back in 1959, when I was ten years old, I spent two weeks of my summer with my sister in a child’s version of heaven on earth. I’m talking about the Pony Farm, or “Children’s Happy Acres” as it was officially called. North of Bellingham Washington, forty boys and girls came together for a week of living on a farm, and having their own Shetland pony to ride everyday and learn how to take care of. The price tag was forty dollars per week, considered high back then, and included three square meals a day of the best fresh farm produce and livestock I’ve ever tasted- and all organic, of course. This was way before chemicals made the fertilizer scene. And way before insurance companies made it impossible for something like this to even exist. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This Shetland pony farm came complete with a very rustic bunkhouse to accommodate us forty boys and girls, a miniature Dodge City, fruit orchards, organic vegetable gardens, dogs, cats, barnyard critters, chariots, a stagecoach and a real covered wagon. This place was major fun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had Ben-Hur-style chariot races on Wednesday nights in our Circus Maximus arena, with two ponies each on the chariots. We weren’t allowed to drive the chariots, but we were on our knees inside peeking over the tin side, and hanging on for dear life as the dust was flying! The massive hayloft, in the red barn, had a great Tarzan rope swing and a tunnel complex safely built for us little people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owner’s children, John, Jerry and Teri, knew everything about horses and ponies, and were dearly loved by all of us young, aspiring cowboys. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their parents, Roy and Julia, showed us how to butcher chickens, milk cows manually, care for our ponies and ride like Indians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my first week there, I started out on old Pee Wee but progressed quickly to Prince, the Indian pinto pony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d be my regular pony in future summers, and I always rode him bareback, just like the Indians.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Playing guns here was like out of a movie set- way too good to be true! All of us kids were raised on <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TV shows like<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bonanza, The Rebel, Maverick, Have Gun, Will Travel, The Rifleman, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Cheyenne, Wagon Train, The Real McCoy’s, </i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gun Smoke</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">, Stagecoach West, Rawhide, Zorro, </span></i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> The Virginian</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder our heroes were always cowboys!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Playing out our dreams in a small cowboy town built for children was heavenly. I had a Johnny Yuma/The Rebel sawed-off shotgun hanging from my saddle- the total envy of all the other little cowboys. They were packing Mattel Fanner Fifties, which actually shot spring loaded plastic bullets. Before going home, we had a campout in the woods, with our covered Conestoga wagon and individual ponies, sleeping on the damp ground around a roaring bonfire. You could hear the ponies peeing loudly at night. I remember getting my first taste of live music around these campfires, as Roy and Julia played guitars and sang nostalgic cowboy songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little did I know then that the seeds had been planted for my later love affair with country western music? Or that fifty years later, I’d be a singer/songwriter, as well as a published author, with a CD and book testifying to the power of this Pony Farm.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then sadly, on Sunday morning from the hay loft, we’d see Mom’s red rag-top VW coming to pick us up. This was not good! Our week in heaven was over. Upon arriving home, my sister and I would cry nonstop, like babies, until our parents agreed to send us back for another week. Yes! So that is how we worked our parents in the early 1960s, to get another week back in heaven on earth- heaven for a kid raised in a world so different than today. “My heroes have always been cowboys”, thanks to the Pony Farm and TV heroes back in an age that is now gone with the wind. I’m so glad I grew up then! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Om Namaha Shivaya</i></span></div>Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-32796153725300739912011-05-22T16:24:00.000-07:002011-05-22T16:24:53.399-07:00I Live In Heaven<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When my eyes are spiritually open, I see that I live in heaven. It took a very long time for this realization to come to me, but it is so true. I DO live in heaven. Gratitude for everything is what opens the door to this vision of heaven.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I look out my kitchen window, I see two llamas and a donkey in the field across the street that belongs to my neighbor. Off my back porch presently is a very flooded valley from all the snow melt. However, this newly created wetland has drawn much wildlife and many water fowl. I now see ducks, gulls and loudly squawking Canadian geese doing their thing out in my backyard. Cool. Living on a Black Angus farm draws the wild turkeys out of the woods; down to peck at the hay the farmer feeds his cows. I daily see many tom turkeys herding their brood of hens across the street into our farm. Or I see them all fly out of the tall pine trees across the street where they roost at night. Yes, turkeys can fly and it is a sight to see them land! I have red tailed hawks and bald eagles who hang out in our large old cottonwood tree on occasion. I even saw a pair of bald eagles telling their immature offspring to find its own territory, as it’s time to leave the nest. I love where I live and all it brings to my doorstep.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My three cats have it made here, to say the least. To see them so happy in their natural world lifts my spirit and opens my eyes. I’ve been walking my two bobtailed Manx cats Baba and Olive across the field up in the big woods- the Wildwood- for a very long time. They get all excited just like dogs when I mention the W word- walk. As I change into my hiking boots, they prance around the front porch in anticipation of crossing the big field together, into a world of trees to climb and new scents to smell; all left by deer, coyotes, turkeys and geese. Then I walk slowly with them on a voyage of discovery; another discovery that this is heaven, here, in the deep dark woods with my two very aware cats. I’m glad cats go slow and are quiet in the woods. With dogs, it’s a whole different energy as we all know. I so wish people gave more respect to cats. They are incredibly spiritual beings in my book! They help me see the Presence around and within me. And being aware of the Presence is being in heaven, here on earth. That is the goal of each and every one of us. To remember God, now, is our daily task. This takes continuous mind training, the watching of one’s thoughts constantly. Are you judging or are you at peace? When we listen to the voice of the Presence, we will see that we do live in heaven as we are finally home with nowhere to go. It is all here, right now. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Om Namaha Shivaya</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Singer/songwriter Rob Rideout is the award winning author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Still Singing, Somehow</i>. He lives on a farm overlooking Colville, WA with his three cats Baba, Maya and Olive. He just released a second book of poetry, based on his song lyrics and has a CD of original songs scheduled for release May 2011. These songs of three decades are meant to accompany both books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rob’s books can be viewed or purchased @ </span><a href="http://www.stillsingingsomehow.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.stillsingingsomehow.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> He can be contacted there too. Be sure to check out his blog on the home page of his website.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-69553960862753383502011-05-22T14:10:00.000-07:002011-05-22T14:10:28.447-07:00Smoking with Shiva<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Romans", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In 1994, I was at a major turning point in my life. I had just survived a near tragic accident where I broke my body in twelve places, my father and best friend had recently died, and to top that off, I was now being forced to sell my house and land in the woods due to divorce. My soon to be ex-wife was taking my young son with her to New Mexico, so we really needed to sell our home, as neither of us could afford to buy the other out. As the house was off the grid and on a 12Volt system, this cut out the majority of possible buyers for us, as far as the banks were concerned. In desperation, I prayed to Mahavatar Babaji to help sell our home, promising that I would go to his ashram in India if this happened. Well, the very next day the house miraculously sold! I was soon off to the foothills of the Himalayas, to give thanks to Babaji and seek guidance for my troubled life</span><span class="Heading1Char"><span style="font-family: "Romans", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="color: #365f91;">.</span></strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I arrived here, just prior to Christmas, rehearsals for the Christmas play were well underway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Babaji respected all religions and had told Westerners years ago to “do the Christmas thing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was immediately asked to take part in the Nativity play and assigned the role of one of the three visiting wise men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Christmas arrived, I was very excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This proved to be a Christmas I would <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i> forget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At dress rehearsal the day before, I was told to come to the ashram office for part of my costume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, an Italian devotee named Ganga lent me Babaji’s silver silk waistcoat to wear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was floored when she stated that this particular vest had been His favorite. Wow, I get to wear it! All of my dorm mates had to smell and feel it, for a contact high</div><div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0in;">Our play went off very well, in front of hundreds of hill folk with children. Almost everybody was wrapped up in those, now familiar, blankets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This ashram gig was very special for them, with free food and lots of festivities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many had walked a very long way to be here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was much chanting of songs in praise of God and, of course, a lot of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Om Namah Shivaya</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, when I returned the special vest, <place w:st="on">Ganga</place> mumbled something I couldn’t clearly hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I asked her kindly to repeat, she said, “the vest is now yours to keep; Merry Christmas, Hari Om.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow! I’ve got Babaji’s vest. What a day. Thank you Ganga…I’ll never forget you! It didn’t even seem to be a big deal to her but it sure was to me. Some of these women here who have lived with Babaji are very intriguing. I sometimes wonder where their heads are at, as they’ve lived here on and off for a very long time- living the same program of devotion, work and ceremony... day in-day out, year in-year out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also on Christmas Day, Muniraj, who was Babaji’s right hand man, and many high-profile Indian political devotees arrived for the big <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yagna</i> or fire ceremony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Babaji had said, “If you want to worship God, worship the fire.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both East and West Indians have sacred fire ceremonies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, only the upper echelon got to participate here, while everyone else looked on enviously.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0in;">As the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yagna</i> fire was crackling away, a small wondering sadhu, who distinctly resembled Babaji and seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, called me to join him in his cave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This cave was for sadhu only and located next to Babaji’s sacred cave, where He manifested His body in 1970.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After he smoked me up with his chillum, he let his hair down- literally, as his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">long</i> dreadlocks hung like serpents cascading to the earthen floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was, and still is, the most profoundly beautiful man I’ve <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ever</i> seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like I was seated beside Babaji, on Christ’s birthday. I’d just smoked with Shiva. I involuntarily knelt and kissed his feet. Was this Babaji seated in front of me, looking exactly like Lord Shiva? I had secretly always longed for darshan such as this. Be careful for what you pray. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was meditating now, automatically in front of him, I opened my eyes to see him point at me and exclaim, “Babaji!” Now who is Babaji?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a blessing this day had been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This sadhu was named Mukunda Baba Bramachari.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lived solely on curd (yogurt) and fruit and had never experienced a woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His purity was awe-inspiring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spoke little English, but gave me a picture negative of him that I developed later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To really see the divine in human form, so beautifully manifested, is beyond words. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ironically, he mysteriously moved on before I could give him my blanket. This small Shiva sadhu was headed to the source of the <place w:st="on">Ganges</place> to see a fabled ice <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lingum</i> of Shiva in a cave. I’m sure he probably made it. I know too that he gave me a memory of a Christmas that I will never forget. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Om Namaha Shivaya</i>!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Singer/songwriter Rob Rideout is the award winning author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Still Singing, Somehow</i>. He lives on a farm overlooking Colville, WA with his three cats Baba, Maya and Olive. He just released a second book of poetry, based on his song lyrics and has a CD of original songs scheduled for release May 2011. These songs of three decades are meant to accompany both books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rob’s books can be viewed or purchased @ </span><a href="http://www.stillsingingsomehow.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.stillsingingsomehow.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> He can be contacted there too. Be sure to check out his blog on the home page of his website.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-25747996300887327062011-05-22T11:34:00.000-07:002011-05-22T11:34:59.817-07:00Scars As Karmic Reminders<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most all of us, if we’ve lived any length of time here on earth at all, carry some bodily scars from accidents. Are accidents karma? I certainly believe they are; the scars we carry are constant reminders of those incidents that happened long ago.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I shave in the morning, I see a small line on my chin where I cut myself on a broken baby bottle back in my infant toddler days. I certainly don’t remember this accident, as I was too young, but my face remembers. It remembers my mother telling me how I fell as a baby with my bottle that broke.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My first self-created scar is on my right knee, where I had the cartilage removed back in 1975. This accident was caused by me, a Western man, trying to be an Eastern man. I’d been practicing yoga heavily and longed to master the full lotus posture; but way too early in the game. From pushing my body too hard, I loosened everything around my knee. Then I twisted it getting out of a small pup tent. Luckily I had insurance, but this was my first time in the hospital with major surgery and being put under. It wouldn’t be my last!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another three inch long thin scar adorns my right thigh, just above the knee. This scar has the most unusual story behind it of all. Back in 1979, I spent six months in Fiji Islands traveling all over many islands in the archipelago and living with the natives in their villages. As chance would have it, I took a cargo ship on a three day voyage to the remote island paradise of Rotuma. I was the first American hippie musician, looking like Jesus Christ, to ever visit this distant island. It hadn’t been discovered yet. No tourists ever came here and few had even heard the word “Rotuma”. My stay here was special beyond words. When I was riding on the back of a motor scooter with my friend Ian driving, I felt something gently brush against my thigh, above the knee. I didn’t look down at the time and just thought it must have been a leaf that rubbed against me. However, when we finally came to a stop back in the village of Juju, I was bleeding! It looked like a paper cut. What did this? I gave it no thought what so ever until years later; I noticed that it is still there- reminding me of magical Rotuma. This is a happy scar for sure.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other scars on my body aren’t so happy. I have a scar that extends fifteen inches long from the top of my hip down my femur. There are nineteen screws there holding the eight breaks in my leg together. I fell twenty feet off a roof, breaking my leg and shoulder. The shoulder scar runs from the top of my collar bone down into my arm pit. Both of these are karmic reminders of a horrible time in my life. I had just gotten back with my estranged wife after a year of separation when this accident happened. Those scars remind me of three months in a wheel chair, then crutches and a cane as I learned how to walk again all over. And they remind me of the painful divorce I went through at the same time. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The scars on my left ankle carry five screws underneath, from an accident caused totally by alcohol. Bad karma! In a drunken stupor, I slipped off two steps on my porch, trying desperately not to squash my small Siamese kitten, Mister Blanco. This was a compound fracture with the bone exposed. Of all scars I carry, this accident hurt the worst. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So there you have it. As every picture tells a story, every scar does too. Can you remember the stories behind your scars? Everything speaks to me. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Om Namaha Shivaya</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Singer/songwriter Rob Rideout is the award winning author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Still Singing, Somehow</i>. He lives on a farm overlooking Colville, WA with his three cats Baba, Maya and Olive. He just released a second book of poetry, based on his song lyrics and has a CD of original songs scheduled for release May 2011. These songs of three decades are meant to accompany both books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rob’s books can be viewed or purchased @ </span></span><a href="http://www.stillsingingsomehow.com/"><span style="color: #2288bb; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.stillsingingsomehow.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> He can be contacted there too. Be sure to check out his blog on the home page of his website.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 6.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-44827858748839401132011-05-22T09:21:00.000-07:002011-05-22T09:21:08.579-07:00OliveIt's nearly been a year now since I brought home a small female black Manx kitty that I named Olive. She was obviosly the runt of the litter nobody wanted. She looked up at me from her cardboard box at the feed store, as if to say, "Here I am for you!" She stared at me like she knew me deeply on some level alraedy. This blew me away. Then when I brought this petite little fur girl home, all hell broke loose when she met the other cats, Baba and Maya. I called the feed store and told them that I might have to return this runt kitty. I was afraid the big cats might kill her, especially Baba. She was so small that I fed her water through a baby bottle. Maybe I should take her back? Then I got down on my knees at her level, and asked her, "Olive, do you want to be a part of this family?" She instantly screamed back a very loud affirmative cat voice answer of "Yes!" It even sounded like "yes". Well, long story short, Olive turned out to be the most incredable of all my cats! She is still my little girl, but has surpassed the other two cats in catching mice by light years. Maybe it's the small cat complex over compensating but this small black runt has stolen my heart. Three cats is way better than two, especially if you're a cat lover like me.Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-86515520828418905542011-05-15T16:21:00.000-07:002011-05-15T16:21:26.239-07:00The Value of Journaling<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess you could say I started journaling when I was seventeen years old and took a sailboat trip up the coast of British Columbia with my friend’s dysfunctional family. I chronicled our trip, calling it “To Hell and Back in a Sailboat”. This was my first attempt at writing; my mother loved it and encouraged me to do more. I did two years later, at nineteen, when I traveled through all of Western Europe in a VW bus and kept a daily journal of that experience. I can’t remember exactly when I started daily journaling, but it was in my early twenties when I got married. I’ve pretty much been writing daily now for about forty years, with a few lapses during my lifetime where I just didn’t want to write anymore or was too messed up to write; at one point, I couldn’t even hold a pen due to alcoholism.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, the written record I now possess of my life is incredible, and all written down by my own hand! Many times I have used my journals to look back and find some exact date or other info I needed; and there it was written down long ago. Daily writing keeps me sane, as paper is patient, and I can write out any feelings or frustrations I may have- to get them off my chest, so to speak. Writing is therapy to me and the more you write, the more you’ll be amazed at who you really are. When we talk, we use one part of our brain that responds automatic ally. But when we write, we stop to think before writing what we are going to say. The more you use your writing muscle in that creative part of your brain, the more it will develop and grow, showing you different ways to express yourself with words. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I recently published two books, after many years of rewrites. It was a long, slow process but now I can say that I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">am</i> a published author and semi immortal, now that my inspirational memoir is out there in cyberspace and Amazon. And I never could have written my books without the years of practice I acquired through journaling. My old journals came in handy again when looking up the spelling of some village in India or Fiji. What is really amazing, however, is that what I actually wrote was often times far different than my memories of the experience! I see that our memories often get distorted and exaggerated over time. That must be the nature of the human mind. But when you can go back and read what really happened in your journal, you’ll be amazed at what you wrote!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is an example from my 1979 journal in Fiji Islands:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Dec. 21- I actually slept okay on the floor last night. The three bachelors taking care of us had coffee and pineapples all ready upon waking- taking care of us greatly. We are presently at a beautiful white sand beach south of Savusavu where I went snorkeling with Bruce in the clearest water yet. A lone horse is next to me as I write this. He accidently smashed all of my bananas when he smelt them in my pack. We ran into red haired Don from Canada again- what a small world! Laid out in the sun some more, to keep that tan that I so adore; how egotistical is that? Then I read some pages out of Paul Brunton’s book about holy men in the Himalayas. It seems to keep me aspiring spiritually here. I tried to meditate by the ocean but my attempts were futile. Maybe someday I’ll be the yogi I really want to be.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can barely even remember writing these words years ago, but there you have it and there it is- all thanks to journaling. In fact, when I’m dead and long gone, somebody could take my years of journals and create many movies, stories or books just from the written legacy I’ve daily recorded. Think about it. It is never too late to start writing out your thoughts about your life, as nobody thinks like you do and nobody can do it but you. So, my advice to you now is to start writing daily what is going on in your mind, heart and life. It is one of the greatest blessings you can bestow upon yourself!</span></div>Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-65115565604208217552011-05-14T22:06:00.000-07:002011-05-14T22:06:44.655-07:00Hanging Out, Upside Down<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gravity inversion, or hanging out, upside down, has been a way of life for me for many years now. It all began with learning the headstand pose of Hatha yoga back in the early 1970s. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, knew all about the benefits of inverting the spine; he hung patients from ladder rungs on ropes back in antiquity.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After finely getting my balance for this headstand, I was told by a chiropractor <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> to do it, as x-rays disclosed that I’ve had whiplash in my past that did some damage to my neck years ago. This was not a good pose for me, anymore. What to do? I used the shoulder stand pose instead for a number of years as a substitute but then, in 1983, I purchased my own cabin and piece of land in the woods and noticed that the beams supporting my front porch could easily support me too; you guessed it, upside down!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My gravity inversion device was simple, crude and very cheap but proved to be a hassle to get into. I tied two rope circles off of the large horizontal beams for my feet to go in, and then stood on a tall wood stump chopping block so I could pull myself up to the beam and hold on with one hand, while the other hand quickly attempted to get my work boot through the rope circle- whew!!! After finally getting into this basic harness, I let myself slowly invert by lowering my body down holding a rope tied off with knots. Then I would hang out, sometimes for up to twenty minutes. I would be so relaxed that I nearly fell asleep once. Pulling me back up those rope knots was not so easy! And the hassle of holding my body weight with one hand, while quickly trying to get my darn thick work boot back out of the rope circle, was making this form of yoga a real hassle. There must be a better way!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was. It came into my life much later, in 2006, as the “gravity inversion table”. My roommate and I happened to purchase one on sale at K-Mart for around $120. That had me off and hanging again. All you do is just pull your arms over your head and lean back on this apparatus. I swear my hair grows faster from the increased blood flow to my scalp and brain. And talk about relaxing! Once you get used to this device and learn to really let go in every body part as you relax into the passing minutes, you’ll find this to be way cool and very meditative. But like anything else in life, this device takes daily practice to measure results. As we age, our spines slowly collapse. That is why really old people look so small. By inverting on a regular basis, you can reverse this aging problem; you will stand straight and walk tall as you grow older.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My mom always told me to walk like I was a puppet on a string, holding me straight up and tall. She’d been in the Army in the second world war, so I’m sure she understood the scream, “attention!” and the value of standing tall with a straight spinal column immediately. The spinal column is the tree of life in our body, period. All yogis know this is where the sacred Kundalini energy is stored, and will one day begin its climb from the base of the spine up the column to the pineal gland in our brain. This channel must be straight. Nobody likes seeing hunched over depressed pathetic people. Stand up straight as you walk through life; it inspires others and you’ll feel better about yourself. If you need help doing this, you might consider hanging out, upside down for awhile. It works for me and I’m sixty-two, with my same height as always- 5 feet, 11”. Hang in there!</span></div>Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-672886539862597232.post-17946985486599865112011-05-13T13:36:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:36:04.560-07:00OLive and the gooseMy beloved little black Manx cat, Olive has a new friend in our field- a Canadan goose. This goose hangs out with her nearly every day now for over two weeks. I took some pictures but black cats don't photograph as well as tabbies, as all you see is black and yellow eyes. I often wonder if these two communicate together on some level? Anyway, the goose seems to like Olive and our back forty. The best things in life are free and this proves it.Still Singing Somehow by Rob Rideouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03779296940612603707noreply@blogger.com0