Goals, guitars, and Champagne

So, tonight is a celebration for me. Last January 23rd, I said I was going on a diet with a goal or losing 61 lbs and going from 247 to 185. Quite the task and I wasn’t sure I could do it. But this morning, I weighed 184. Success!! That calls for a celebration so I’m breaking the usual $25.00 price cap on my reviews and presenting Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut Champagne. It’s one of France’s best and ranges in price between $37.00 (my price) and $50.00. Wine magazines rated it as follows:
Wine News Rating: 92
Wine Spectator rating: 91
Wine Enthusiast Rating: 92

One of the marks of high quality champagne is the size of the bubbles: the smaller, the better. The Perrier Jouet is fresh and lively with tiny, spiraling bubbles, delicate citrus and honey bouquet, and subtle complex flavors of dry fruit, vanilla, and nuts with a hint of shortbread and butter. Very clean taste with no bitterness or aftertaste. A truly grand champagne…and I deserve it!

And to complete the celebration: some of my favorite electric guitarists. Jimi Hendrix version of Watchtower is, in my opinion, one of the greatest songs ever performed, although I still ling the studio version best. Stevie Ray’s Crossfire is one of his best songs and Scuttle Buttin is some seriously amazing picking. I’ve included a non-video memorial to him with Life By The Drop, which symbolizes his life and recovery from drugs and alcohol. Jeff Beck is one of the most creative guitarists I’ve ever heard. Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers is a classic. Also found a couple of duets of his with Eric Clapton, another of my fav’s. And last but not least, one of my blues favorites, Robin Ford. I love his song, “Start it up.” By the way, all you bassists, Robin’s bassist is Roscoe Beck, also one of my favorites. Hope you enjoy them.

Cheers!

P.S. if the links don't work, click on the link to my myspace site at the bottom of the page. tose seem to be fine.

Jimi Hendrix:
All Along The Watchtower: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCwCBh0z3Hs
Purple Haze: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hSW67ySCio
Red House: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjOQ9r35uiU&feature=related
Machine Gun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVvtIS2YGVI&feature=related
Who Knows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6znd7ud6Cw8&feature=related

Stevie Ray Vaughn:
Crossfire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYIjgl9xiUY
Scuttle Buttin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLKxvjbWULQ
Texas Flood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWLw7nozO_U
Little Wing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAG-kX_IlUw
In Memory of Stevie: Life by the Drop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7ZPMScX9-k
Willie the Wimp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLZI2z19vbQ
Mary Had A Little Lamb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nFRi3TSkY8&feature=related
Superstition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37-yFGJngPs

Jeff Beck:
Cause we’ve ended as lovers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msPiKYuuRiQ&feature=related
A Day In The Life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuhnEcSm5sU&feature=related
Freeway Jam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etzBXz30LQU
Scatterbrain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgCbZdLhE1s&feature=related
With Eric Clapton
Further up the road: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZBeerUD-zc&feature=related
You Need Love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcEQlWcYS_4&feature=fvw

Robin Ford:
Rumba Blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V7mZtHZZuo
Misunderstood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcUXm3GKe2Y&feature=related
Start it up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIi0GF6K3yE&feature=related
You Cut Me to the Bone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixOm4WTupfw&feature=related
Talk to your daughter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8yo5eymK5I&feature=related