We're not in Kansas anymore...

...but maybe we should be.

I was lucky enough to see these guys live in 1983, shortly after Steve Walsh left the band. They were perhaps the best instrumentalists I had ever seen, and still are to this day. Hyper-talented. Everybody playing everything. And singing at the same time in multi-layered harmonies.

This came back to mind recently because my 13 year old daughter likes a band called Panic at the Disco. They did a cover of the song Carry on My Wayward Son for all the old dads in the audience who brought their daughters to the concert. Not a bad thought, and not a bad version. Relatively.

Panic at the Disco - Carry on My Wayward Son (2011) - Not bad for a bunch of young pups... Song starts at about 1:40.

Carry On My Wayward Son  (1976) - The real deal. Raw magnificence.

And again in 2009 - Not bad for a bunch of 60 year olds. So much for panicking at ye old disco. Steve Walsh. Kerry Livgren. Richard Williams.

No offense Grace.

OK. Some offense intended. Don't question your elders... Sometimes old school is the best school.

Hence... Miracles Out of Nowhere (43 minutes in). Old School is the best school.

I rest my case.

Yellow Perch

We made another brief trip to the River today to check on progress with the house.

Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, not too much progress has been made on the house in the last couple of months, but Grace did get some fishing in while Dave and I checked out the house and talked with the builder.

Snagged yellow perch

Using a simple spinner lure, Grace snagged a beautiful yellow perch (no harm done). We don't see a whole lot of yellow perch in the Sassafras, but they are definitely the prettiest fish you can catch in the River.

Well done, Grace. Seeing you gleefully catch fish at the River makes my heart swell in a way that you won't understand until many years from now...

Gratuitous Dog Pictures - Early Fall Edition

So it's been a little while since our last batch of gratuitous dog photos, so here we go...

Ryder loves laundry baskets

Ryder is a bit quirky.

...and loves nesting on my bed

And a little bit nuts.

...and loves a good sun spot

But he's ours...

...and loves a nice warm fall day

...and I wouldn't trade him for the world.

The girls and I have this conversation frequently:

• But dad, you said you didn't want a dog.
• I don't.
• But you love Ryder.
• Of course I do.
• So you want a dog?
• No.
• But you love him?
• Yes.
• And we're keeping him?
• Of course we are. He's family. Ohana means family, and family means no one left behind... (thanks Lilo).