"Blow up your TV, throw away your papers. . ."

After years of adoration and idolization of the major songwriter to come out of Chicago, in my opinion, I finally got to see John Prine live in Rochester, MN. I thought who else could possibly be as obsessed with this ghoulish icon? How wrong I was! More than a thousand fervent fans packed the concert hall, and also knew ALL the words to John's great songs. After his bout with cancer ten years ago, I was worried he wouldn't sound the same. He did, and maybe even better. It was like coming home to a comfortable chair and having it enfold me.

His opening act, Paul Thorn, was a great surprise, too. With his kooky song writing ("Joanie, the Jehovah Witness stripper", for one), he made an impression and made me think maybe Tupelo, MS, wasn't all bad.

"The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world's joy."

My beloved Phoenix Suns. . .once at the top of the western pack, now relegated to the 5th place spot. But, down and definitely not out, I say. They now have the longest win streak (6 games) in the NBA and seek to lengthen it against the Rockets tomorrow. Laying low until the playoffs, I think. Getting used to having Godzilla there to swat planes away from the Empire State Building. Getting used to letting Amare shine, and finally using Boris and Leandro to their full pontential. Steve Nash, the most dedicated NBA mastermind of strategy and game play, is beginning to get back on his game and making an impression on the naysayers; the Kobe lovers; the Celtic bandwagon jumpers. Bring on April, I say, when the Sun really starts to shine.

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn."

It seemed like spring was almost here. The ground was starting to smell like soft dirt, the snow was almost gone, and yesterday it was 50. Then, as if on cue, the last gasp of winter, the Easter snow blast. They're all out there jogging in it, as usual. Still one more week until spring break--WAAAHHH!
It has lasted forever, it seems, this one. Piles and piles of snow, days and weeks of sub-zero temps, wind. . . the robins have already come back.
TV is starting to cooperate, too, after the long winter's writers' strike. It almost seems bearable again.