el mol

el mol introduces mol jr during CF Concert at Granada

Read More Here:  LakeWood Heights

not so deep thought

It was a pretty normal Sunday after thanksgiving.  Tryptophan keeping the congregation under control but I had a bit of a zenith moment just the same.  I realize that I have become under the spell of the protestant expectation for Sundays.  Growing up Catholic, going to church was simply what you did . . . it was a part of life as Tuesday was a day to go to work.  The downside of this is of course the risk of it becoming simply another thing to check off the list.  However, I think it is beautiful because you have no expectation of Sunday being anything more than a game of Mexican Train with your friends (a tad bit of hyperbole to draw the attention of the evangelicals).  Instead of looking at Sunday for something “special to happen” it is a part of the rhythm of a week.  Maybe the origins of the alter call has made Sunday all about some big event that has now metamorphosed into pastors driving Mercedes on stage to make a point.  I think in some ways it misses the point.  Sure there is communion and God’s presence but I am sure I could argue for his presence outside the church building as well.  To me, the gathering becomes transformative not from Sunday to Sunday but in a lifetime of Sundays.  I am sure this makes no sense.  Carry on

Good Black Don't Crack

Joe Posnaski is a sportswriter who understands a narrative.  He ain’t a one schtick pony like Jim Rome who has jumped the shark so many times since the turn of the century I have lost count.  He also disappears in this book and as a sportswriter apparently always stays out of the way of the story.  This is hard to believe in the era of guys like Bill Simmons (I enjoy) who have mastered the art of wearing their heart on their sleeve.

But in this book he has no option but to stay out of the way.  This story is about Buck O’neill who was a better than average baseball player in the negro leagues and a heavenly human being who advocated for the redemption of the forgotten negro league players until his dying day at 94.  He was a tireless road warrior and ambassador for the game of baseball.  For all the struggle he experienced as a black man in the pre-integrated world of baseball and America he was full of gratefulness and hope. 

To anyone who loves history or baseball this is a genius book because you get to see the influence baseball actually had on American history and the civil rights movement.  This book points out that Jackie Robinson indeed came before Rosa Parks.  And this book does not end with any sense of justice either for Buck personally.  But it does not stop him from turning it into a ray of sunshine.  In a world dominated by deconstruction and cynicism (of which I have been a significant contributor) it is refreshing to read the story of a man who deserves the right to bitch but refuses to.  It is quite an inspirational and informative read.

In the middle of the book I ran into this quote by the then commissioner of the National League Ford Frick upon hearing that there may be a strike by the St. Louis Cardinals players after the introduction of Jackie Robinon into the league.  I only wish any politician or commissioner today would have the balls to be as definitive and bold as this statement reads:

If you (strike) you will be suspended from the league.  You will find that the friends you think you have in the press box will not support you, that you will be outcasts.  I do not care if half the leagues strikes.  Those who do it will encounter quick retribution.  All will be suspended and I don’t care if it wrecks the National League for five years.  This is the United States of America and one citizen has as much right to play as another.  The National League will go down the line with Robinson whatever the consequences.  You will find if you go through with your intention that you have been guilty of complete madness.

viva la paz

Always Good to be with Family

As we snuggled around the beautifully adorned table with enough food to feed an army there was a sense that it was good to be with family.  My brother in law offered a kind Thanksgiving prayer, el mol elbowed his nephew and Grandma asked that my nephew calm down.  To which LLPH would offer, tell uncle Jason that he needs to calm down.  Repeat this scene over and over and you get the dinner table vibe with one very notable exception. 

After the prayer my brother in law was reviewing all the “changes” that had taken place around the house.  AT one point before he was interrupted he offered “the house is not the only thing that got worked on this year”.  IN between elbow shoves to my nephew, I was horrified wondering if this would be the moment he detailed his wife’s breast augmentation surgery.  Now, I am not an expert in this field but she had lost a lot of weight and was now sporting a low cut shirt for the first time ever.  In my head I kept thinking, I don’t think she had the surgery but it sure as hell sounds like he will be telling us this in just a minute when he can re-gather the discussion. 

He manages to get attention and offers again, “ the house is not the only thing that got worked on”.  El Mol shoves his face towards his stuffing ready for anything when

he continues with:  “yes, J (his wife) had her tummy tucked”
Rest of table:  CRICKETS
El mol (awkwardly):  “good for you”

Here's to life.

Happy Thanksgiving

   
Happy Thanksgiving lets not eat out for dinner
I checked off that ten too many times
Besides on the fourth day God said:
Let there be turkey and let there be stuffing. 
Let there be middle aged brother in laws
And let there be rude comments
And let there be too much whipped cream
And plenty of Tryptophan
So pull out the Nat King Cole
Get overscheduled for a month
But today sit back and relax
Because the Packers and Cowboys
Will put us to sleep

Working Backwards

I am learning that sometimes the most wheels off moments in life end up being the most memorable.  Going in to last nights first ever Cystic Fibrosis Concert Series put on by the Breath Easy Foundation, the committee had met just a few times and a ton of loose ends remained as I walked in the Granada Theatre at 5:30 last night.  For intstance because LLPH, Slay, Tim and I were the first ones in the door apparently that made us qualified to run the Merch Table. 

I was shaking a bit from the monster drink that I was shoving down my throat as I was exhausted from the short nap I took as a result of the festivities the night before.  It seems in the last week my dream job has metamorphosed into a dream company that now partners with record companies to produce bonus DVD’s for rock bands.  Simply put:  unbelievable.  We were present for one of the greatest parties ever in Dallas according to Danny Balis of the Ticket where the Old 97’s did four 30 minutes mini sets that included new songs from their upcoming CD in a garage studio in lower Greenville.  Just to let you know, the songs I have heard are really good and at least a couple of them have a bit of a new musical slant to them that I think will make this CD really interesting.  Salim Nourallah is a kind soul with a genius producer touch who asked me to move his backyard couch no less than four times preparing for the party.  He thanked me each time.

So last night when the chairman says “we don’t have an emcee so I think it is you Mitchell”, I am not sure I was fully prepared for what that meant.  Nevertheless, I got to get up front at a rock show and introduce two of the most life giving souls I have been around.  Rhett Miller and Murry Hammond both lent their time and talent to raising money for CF and just as importantly I got to go on stage with my friends and give away the raffle prizes.  There were moments of panic each time.  The first round Bob and I  could not find a ticket who was not owned by an organizer . . . that changed in round two when the rooster had the genius idea of selling tickets from stage.  The second round I rolled up with MOL Junior and we small talked about him grabbing Rhett’s guitar and busting into God Made Chicken.  And the on the third go around two homeless Gen Y guys joined me and I had to force one of them off stage at the end because apparently the microphone made him drunk with power. 

As far as the show goes, it was pretty great. Murry pulled out traditional instruments I had no idea how to pronounce and sang everything from traditional country to traditional Appalacian music.  Frankly I was stunned.  He sang a moving song about his Dad’s death and we had people asking for all kinds of Murry gear that we did not have at the merch table.  Rhett of course is a tremendous showman but had not really seen him by himself with just an acoustic.  Let me say he did just fine.  And while I love the Old 97’s as a band, Mr. Miller is most definitely worth taking in as a an acoustic set as I think it allows you to appreciate his song writing genius in a very different way.  I certainly felt the spirit of my brother last night and know that the spirit of another man’s father was there as well. 

So that’s it.  Just another weekend in Dallas

Tomorrow:  the happening metropolis of Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

Here’s to Life

 

Cannot Say I Disagree

  The Yearly company poker night rendered a string of emails with one series of genius breakdowns by this bright young man. 

Here is what he had to say about yours truly:

Primary Skill: Fake Apathy. Jason Mitchell exudes am extremely convincing and 100% fake aura that says,

"Not only do I not care what I'm doing right now, or what cards I have in my hand, but I don't even know my

own name, and I don't care to know yours. In fact, why am I not sleeping or hunting right now?" While this

aura will immediately deceive you, do not be fooled, as he knows the depths of your soul and will use his

knowledge to destroy you utterly.

Secondary Skill: Jokes. He will make you laugh during a crucial moment, and cause you to either spill your

cards, or blurt out your hand to the entire room. Don't ask me how it works. My guess is magic.

Primary Weakness: Hunting discussion. Act like you care about hunting, specifically duck hunting, and you

have a small chance of rendering his fake aura a real one. If you can distract him long enough, you may

have a chance to end his reign of terror.

Secondary Weakness: Camouflage. He will immediately see you, but will be so distracted in comparing your

pathetic array of hunting gear to his own, that his mind will be taken off of the game.

el mol announces Rhett Miller and Murry Hammond at CF Concert Benefit

el mol proudly announces and invites all friends and future friends to a benefit concert for Cystic Fibrosis at the Granada Theater in Dallas put on by the  Breath Easy Foundation.  The show will feature Rhett Miller and Murry Hammond of the Old 97's.  Each will do a solo acoustic set and an appearence of the Ranchero Brothers has been promised.  Come and be generous.  Supporrt the Cause

Give Away What You Want To Receive

You would join me if you could.  You certainly approve as you should. 

I invite you my friends.  A wonderful combination:  music and meaning.