Why is Ecto such a (small-g) god among men?

I get asked that question all the time. The answer varies with the day. Today, the answer is:

Because he hasn’t smoked a cigarette in 242 days (i.e., since December 31, 2004).

Way to go, Ecto!

On boring, lame music and those who make it

Why, oh why, do all the bands I used to love make such boring, lame music these days?

Michael Stipe and R.E.M., I’m talking about you. Bono and The Edge and U2, I’m talking about you.

Around The Sun? (2004’s R.E.M. album) You’ve got to be kidding me! Are these the same guys who rocked my world on New Adventures in Hi-Fi and Monster and broke new ground with Out of Time? I don’t think so! Someone has kidnapped them and replaced them with evil zombie clones from outer space, who make albums where every song is the same (painfully slow and boring) tempo and goes essentially nowhere, dynamic-wise.

I really wanted to like this album, because 2001’s Reveal was a high point – a reclamation of their long-ago title as America’s best rock band (or so I thought at the time). But try as I might – and I’ve listened to the darn thing several times now – I can’t find it in myself to want to ever hear any of the songs again.

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb? (2004’s U2 album) I am not technically qualified to speak on this subject, as I’ve only listened to a handful of songs from this disc. But hey, this is pruitt-life v1, so I have the floor and will speak my mind ; )

I guess the songs are “okay”. Not as mind-numbingly boring as the aforementioned R.E.M. travesty. But you know what? “Okay” doesn’t cut it for a band as great as U2. There was a time – heck, there was an entire decade in the 1990s – where I eagerly awaited each new U2 release. And with each release, I was rewarded a thousandfold with new, exciting, and different sounds from a band at their creative peak. Achtung Baby!, Zooropa, Pop – what a trilogy of great albums. (okay, “great” is a bit of a stretch for Pop, but it’s not as bad as conventional wisdom would have you believe)

But Pop was considered a failure and the PopMart tour saw them playing to half-empty stadiums. They were lambasted for the excesses of the giant lemon and mirrorball.

(But you know what? I’ll say one word to you – a song title – that by itself makes Pop a worthy part of the U2 canon: “Gone”. )

So they decided to reel it in, get back to something safe and comfortable – U2 Classic! Like Coke Classic, it’s a feel-good blast from the past, almost as good as we remember the original being. Forget experimenting and trying new sounds and studio techniques – forget keeping it fresh and real and original and not repeating themselves – no, throw that all away and try to recreate the Joshua Tree-era U2 sound that first sold a zillion records.

The new stuff, like I said, does sound “okay” (anyone remember OK Cola besides me?) but honestly, I just don’t care. I didn’t buy Atomic Bomb when it came out – the first time since, let’s see, The Unforgettable Fire in 1984 that I haven’t rushed out to get the new U2 disc as soon as possible. Because I didn’t expect to hear anything on there I hadn’t already heard before from them – and after listening to almost the entire album, I have to say, sadly, that my expectations have been fulfilled. Blaaahh.

I will say this for U2, however, so I won’t come off as a hater. You will never see a better concert, so if you get the chance, see them live while you still can.

Ladies and Gentlemen... Aquaman!

Jackson went for his first-ever swim this afternoon. He seemed to enjoy it. Except for one time when Mommy got his tummy under the water, he was just relaxed and going with the flow of this strange new, extremely large bathtub. He dangled his legs in the water, and then later Mommy put him in a little raft and helped him sit up in it.

We were happy that he seemed to have a good time. Hopefully next summer, he can spend a lot more time in the pool and also maybe go to the beach!

Here are a couple of pics from Jackson's first pool outing, hot off the presses:

Gilligan's Island lyrics (for Jackson)

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale
a tale of a fateful trip,
that started from this tropic port,
aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailin' man,
the Skipper brave and sure,
five passengers set sail that day,
for a three hour tour,
a three hour tour.

The weather started getting rough,
the tiny ship was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
the Minnow would be lost.
The Minnow would be lost.

The ship aground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle
with Gilligan,
the Skipper too.
A millionaire and his wife,
a movie star,
the professor and Mary Ann,
here on Gilligan's Isle.

(Ending verse)

So this is the tale of our castaways,
they’re here for a long long time.
They'll have to make the best of things,
it's an uphill climb.
The first mate and his Skipper too
will do their very best,
to make the others comfortable
in their tropic island nest.
No phone, no lights, no motorcar,
not a single luxury.
Like Robinson Crusoe
it's primitive as can be.
So join us here each week my friends,
you're sure to get a smile,
from seven stranded castaways
here on Gilligan's Isle!

Why Does MusicMatch On Demand Rule The Universe?

Because instead of just having Christmas songs playing in my head throughout the year, with On Demand, I can get a quick fix of Perry Como's "Home for the Holidays" or Judy Garland's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" -- or practically any other Christmas song you could think of -- anytime Iwant.

Jackson keeps on growing

Jackson keeps on growing. It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever witnessed. He hardly seems like the little baby we brought home from the hospital a little over three months ago. Now he’s chunky!

He used to have a little pointed chin. Now, he still has his original chin (although it seems less pointed) and has added an emergency backup chin below it. The emergency backup chin is designed to fill in for the regular chin, should the need arise. It has already proven useful. For instance, when the regular chin fails to collect the milk that dribbles out of Jackson’s mouth, the emergency backup chin steps up to take care of the situation.

Jackson really likes it when I sing to him. That is really cool for me because I love singing, and getting rewarded with smiles from my sweet son makes it all the more fun! Some of his favorite songs for Daddy to sing to him are:

• Green Acres theme song


• Gilligan’s Island theme song


• Jackson, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

He’s also been enjoying listening to music with me. Lately, we’ve been listening to Zooropa by U2 and some assorted Johnny Cash. He likes me to hold him and walk around the room in time to the music.

Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth

I thought it might be cool to name our son Jackson Kamandi. Strangely, Dina didn't think that was nearly as cool of a name as I did. So we settled on Jackson Douglas (which sounds presidential, so that might be a plus down the road -- particularly if Jackson runs for president someday).

Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth was a comic created by Jack "King" Kirby in the early 1970s. It may well be my favorite comic book of all time. Or, it may just be my favorite comic from my childhood -- even though I never got to actually read it till last year.

I hope Jackson will enjoy reading Kamandi when he's a little bigger. Well, a lot bigger, I suppose -- he probably won't read much better at 6 months than he does at 3!

Wet Clothes x 3

Jackson did not sleep as well as he normally does last night. He woke up three times, and each time his PJs were soaked through. Poor baby – I hate it when that happens. But not, I’m sure, as much as he hates it.

Hopefully tonight will be better.

Skittlicious Love

I must confess something.

There is a new love in my life. It's not my (beautiful and smokin' hot)
wife. It's not my (sweet, chunky, smiley little) baby.

It is

New! Smoothie Mix Skittles Bite Size Candies
(Artificial and Natural Flavors)

"Like a Fruit Smoothie Drink in a Candy Shell!"

Yes, I am hooked, lined and sinkered on these little bite-size delicacies.
It's sad, really...

But hey, it beats cigarettes!

Which reminds me -- it's day 230 of my new, improved, SMOKE-FREE life. Congratulations to me! And pass the Skittles.

It has begun

My life has been catapulted into the 21st century = I have a blog.

Two, in fact.

This first (lame) post is simply a test of the emergency pruittcast system. If it had been a real emergency... well, you know.

See ya!
D-don't wanna be ya.
Lunch meat ... pond scum.

(Yes, it's a quote from R.E.M.)