...well, as with most things in life, change is a natural progression... so it is with SWG... I have just changed my DNS server entries to point me to the beautiful land of Munuvia... I have my passport ready... plenty of chewing gum for the flight... and, an old copy of Military History Magazine to read in the departure lounge.... so, if my site acts more fucked up than usual over the next 24 hours, just hang in there... soon, all will be well with the world... that is all...
… I have a painted glass USMC emblem hanging from the window of the blogroom… the window faces out towards the woods behind the Straight White House… no one can see the little EGA, so, I really don’t know why I hung it… still, it gives me pleasure to look up occasionally and see it… however, just five minutes ago, it provided me with an unexpected bit of slapstick humor…
…I was just sitting here drinking the morning’s coffee… enjoying my membership in the Congress of Nekkid Bloggers… and reading some blogs… when I heard a faint tapping on the window… I looked up to find an emerald colored hummingbird trying to get to the red and gold USMC emblem… the poor thing seemed a bit confused… he must have thought himself one lucky bird to have such a large red and gold feast all for his own pleasure….heh.. that bird tried from every angle imaginable to suck the nectar out of it… in desperation, he actually threw himself against the glass a few times… and, hummingbirds aren’t exactly built like linebackers… so, the glass withstood each onslaught… but, one thing can be said for hummingbirds… they are tenacious little bastards.. he wanted his nectar, dammit, and he was gonna GET it…. still, he failed in the end… and, even if he HAD breached the defenses… there was no nectar to be had… I suppose a life-lesson can be found in this, children… but, I’m confused as to which one…
… perhaps it is simply, “be careful of what you wish for”…. or, “drive, and motivation are crucial, but you must understand your goals”… hmmm… nahh.. what about, “what you want might not always be good for you”… “the golden ring you reach for is not as shiny as you thought”…. or, perhaps it is something deeper.. and the Stones were right… you can’t always get what you want… sometimes, you just get what you need…
…in any case, caveat emptor, gentle people… as is with this blog… hummingbirds and readers are shipmates here…
... Thursday night... after the long drive to Nashville... we didn't venture too far from the Hotel.... fearful of getting too far from our beds, we chose instead to dunk ourselves in the local libations of the cozy Mariott bar... it was quite pleasant... friendly... quiet.... and, we talked till nearly Midnight....
...when Friday morning dawned, the Wife set off to do her business... this, of course, left me alone to do an early morning recon for the upcoming night's festivities... so, I walked around scoping things out.... after checking out Nashville's librarians, I wandered down to 2nd Avenue.... then, up Broadway towards the Ryman Auditorium... and, I came up with a plan... since I had spent 3 hours walking around downtown, I went back to the room to draw a strategic drinking map of the area...
...we began the afternoon by visiting Tootsie's Orchid Bar.... Carley was our bartender, by the way.. and, yes... she IS the "sweetest woman in Nashville"..... anyway, most of the patrons, as it turned out, were former Jarheads... and, I actually had a good chat with a regular named Mike... he'd lost his right arm in Vietnam, but it didn't seem to slow down his beer opening (or drinking) ability one little bit... and, we all had a good time...
...a few drinks later, we arrived at The Stage on Broadway.... there, we found Clay Canfield playing cowboy music... we ended up staying there longer than I had planned... he was awesome.. his ability on the guitar was incredible... I was hooked... so, I went up when he paused his set, and bought a CD... he signed it for me.... people, I just have to tell you... music played live is so different than just hearing it on a CD... and Nashville, my friends, is indeed Music City.... if you want to sample some of his stuff, go over here... I highly recommend it....
...so, three sheets to the wind, we find ourselves at the banks of the Cumberland River.. and, dinner is enjoyed at the Big River Brew House.... afterwards, we stagger past three policemen on horseback... up 2nd Avenue... towards Mulligans... and, a few more pubs that we can't exactly remember the names of... in short, good food... good music.. and, probably a wee bit too much good booze... still, in spite of our over-indulgence, a wonderful night was had by all.... so, if you are ever in need of a recon for drinking venues in any given town, I'm your man... and, I'm cheap... hire me...
....as I started to mention earlier, it is WINDY today... not exactly the kind of day I would volunteer to ride an hour in a 6 seater Piper... but, alas, duty called, and I answered.... still, I suppose it beats the 4 hour drive... but, as I was telling my partner-in-crime today, the drive was actually really nice.... us hillbillies don't get a chance to see cotton fields very often... anyway, to cut to the chase, the plane jumped around the whole damn way back... serious jumpin' around.. SERIOUS... and, I loved every second of it... firstly, I met the pilot this morning, and helped him stow some cargo.. and, he was the kind of guy who immediately instilled confidence.... so, I figured I was in safe hands... and, I was.... secondly, I always figured that as soon as the plane took off, you were "dead"... so, you might as well enjoy it... you aren't going to be "alive" again until the thing lands... so, relax... enjoy the view... I mean, it's not like I could fly the damn plane if the pilot suddenly slumped over the yoke, right?... so, in my mind, why worry?... you're dead till you land... so, just relax...
...well, I was hungry as we boarded the plane... and, I had bought myself some good ole Middle Tennessee healthfood.... 2 corndogs, and a BBQ Pork sandwich from a local gas station... all to be chased down with a Mountain Dew... hey, shut up.. I know how to ride in style.... anyway, as we taxied, I was busy eating... as soon as we took off, I had already eaten the corndogs, and was busy with the greasy pork sandwich... the plane was jumping left.. right.. up...up... down... and, my Boss turns around... almost green, and says to me... "How can you EAT in a situation like THIS??"... what was my reply?..
.."Dammit... I sure as HELL ain't gonna die HUNGRY!"...
...well, that didn't do much to soothe their mind... so, we continued the rest of the flight with me trying to sleep... which I couldn't do... mainly because the shaking plane kept bashing my noggin against the headrest... and my Boss crossing the line between oaths, prayers, and some pretty damn good profanity every 30 seconds... heh... turbulence... you gotta love'em... ya know.. I don't mind being a passenger... but, I sure as HELL would not have wanted to be the pilot today...
...well, here I sit... fresh back from visiting my Bro in Nashville.... he looked really good.... he is coming through his surgery really well.. but, he has one helluva scar.. still, he looked good.... he's back to bench-pressing 245.... and, he can still dunk a basketball left-handed... so.. cancer can kiss his ass, at the moment... two bouts of chemo.... two surgeries.... and, the boy is jumping around like a squirrel on crystal meth.... heh... he continually amazes the shit out of me....
...the drive, once again, was fabulous... Spring is incredible up on the plateau.... wild Wisteria was everywhere along I-40... purple and lilac blossoms the whole way.. my Mother drove her new "French Silk" colored LS, and therefore, she had control of the radio... which, normally is a problem.. but, she had been shopping.... so, we had the Eagles, Billy Joel, and Credence Clearwater Revival on display for the 7 hours we spent on the road...
...in any case, I'm back now... and, I must do my duty... during the drive today, I tried to think up some worthwhile prizes for you bastards who donate to the Glorious Fighting Fusiliers for Freedom campaign... and, I have come up with the following... (as prescribed by the Straight White Wife).... oh, and by the way, they are STILL taking volunteers....
...anyone who can prove that they donated monies.. ANY monies.... from a link on my site to our cause... will be allowed to propose a topic for a post.. all offers will be obeyed.... if you donate money, then request a topic, I will write at LEAST a 100 word post, in your honor... on that topic.... there... satisfied?...
..so.... now.... donate!
...last week, I had new tires put on the ole buggy that I drive... that means that I only got 20K miles out of my Pirellis.... which sucks... it came from the factory with Pirelli tires...
...so, being busy at work one day, I relied upon my old Cousin, Big Daddy C, to help out a fellow traveler... I, you see, know nothing of machinery, cars, tires, and such... I have always found it easier to take the car to a professional mechanic... whereas; Big Daddy always performs his own maintenance.. it only seemed natural to let him choose my new tires... plus, he is notoriously tight.. so, I figured he'd get me a good deal... heh...
...well, like I said, I was inundated with helpdesk calls that day... and the Mail Server was down... so, I just tossed him my credit card, and directed him to Tirerack.com... told him to pick out some good ones, and go ahead and purchase them online...
...a few hours later, he arrived in my office with a big smile on his face... "I got your tires, Eric... they should be here in two days... I didn't choose those Pirellis, though... the Michelin ones seemed to be a much better tire... so, I got you for of them.. I got a pretty good deal, too... 188 bucks..."
...now, my dear ones, I was overjoyed with this news.... I knew that the Pirellis were almost 150 bucks each... so, having stared a possible 600 buck Vulcanized Rubber bill in the face, I was thrilled....
..."That's great, man! How'd you get them so cheap?"...
..."Well, I called up the dealership, and they wanted $230 for the same tire that was on Tirerack.com at $188... so, I bought you four of them.... I did some looking around, and that is the absolute BEST tire you can buy for your model of car..."
...and, that is when the penny dropped, quite literally... $188 each... yes, I said each... the sweet elation I had felt earlier.... the idea of getting a quality tire at a cheapskate rate.... was crushed by Big Daddy's words.. there was almost an audible "crunch" noise when it died... like the one you hear when placing the heel of a well-polished penny-loafer on a scrabbling Junebug.... then applying a little pressure.....
...but, upon further inquiry, he confessed that he was only looking out for my best interest.... you know what I mean.... the most comfortable ride... best - and safest - in all weathers... least road noise... etc... etc... so, I let him off the hook... but, I did learn one thing about people you perceive as tight with money... they are usually only tight with THEIR money... your money?... well, hey, that's a different story all together
...damn... sometimes, I just LOVE living in the South... and am PROUD to be a Southerner... here are a few snippets of Wisdom I overheard today during my various and sundry travels...
..."He was busier than a three-peckered puppy"... I have absolutely no idea what this means... so, don't bother asking...
..."He's his father's Son... kind hearted, but half retarded".... heh.. I know the kid.. AND the Father... and, yep... that was putting it mildly....
..."people around here?... well, they can be broke down into a few different categories... Creekers, Hillbillies, Knobites, Rednecks, Townies, and Foriegners"... in a simplistic way, it pretty much sums up the denizens of rural East Tennessee... present company included, of course...
...alright, people... whoever the hell invented the goddam Women's Entertainment Channel should be located immediately, and shot right between the eyes.. or, double-tapped gently with a 9mm... Military style... either way is fine, I don't care... THEN, we need to find the no-good sonofabitch who invented the Lifetime Movie Network... THAT Bastard should get it next... except, with them, they get slowly boiled in a vat of white vinegar first.... then, pulled out at the last minute to have their skin peeled off... out and out Death is too good for that prick/bitch... I want THEM to fucking SUFFER....
...the line for the lynch mob starts on the left, folks... these insidious chick flicks must be culled, and I mean NOW... evil is truly among us now, children..
...all able-bodied troops are ordered to form in the Kitchen at 1900 tonight for a briefing... Operation "Get Back The Fucking Remote Control" will kick off at 1930 sharp... after the victory, all wounded may retire to the Blogroom to await medicinal Scotch....
..I did this post back a few weeks ago... and, enjoyed it completely... the music.. the ride... the weather.... wonderful... and, just this morning, I get a message from someone who liked it too....
From Bob's e-mail.... after I told him that I "discovered" Bechet about 10 years ago...
Hi Eric: I've played clarinet since age 13 and I'm 75 now. I "discovered" Sidney around 1949 via his recording of Summertime on the radio program Midnight Special, then hosted by Chicago's Studs Terkel. I recently finished reading John Chilton's book "Sidney Bechet, The Wizard of Jazz" and can recommend it highly to anyone interested in SB's work and life. If he had only recorded Summertime and Petit Fleur it would have been sufficient legacy for music lovers. I came across Leonard's cd while searching on SB's records. I must say that it is a rare find and refreshing in its style. Also for SB admirers is Bob Wilber's Tribute to Bechet at the Smithsonian vhs tape. SB's few movie appearances are not highlights of his life by any means! Best Regards, Bob
..ladies and gentlemen... this e-mail made my day.. proof positive that there is a link between the ages..... I am 31... Bob is 75.... and, both of us can recognize the genius of Bechet... I don't play clarinet... but, Bob does.... maybe musicians like Bob - and I hesitate to call myself a musician - have a propensity for acknowledging THE TALENT.... I ain't got it... but, Sidney did... so, without further hesitation.... here is another selection of Bechet.. enjoy...
..the flirty... seductive... "Blues in the Air"....
..the deep.... crying.... "Blues in Thirds"....
..and, my personal favorite... the "Texas Moaner Blues".... to which, I often imagine is being played whilst I kick ass in my poolroom...
Update:.. all of these songs were recorded between 1940 and 1941... just in case you were wondering..
...a lot of reminiscing has been going on over at Velociman's abode.... and, I just read what Acidman had to say... hell... you know what?... both of them are right... Tom and Jerry can kiss my ass... Bugs and Daffy... they were the shit... I was brought up watching them... and, I was just remembering my personal favorite Bugs Bunny episode... Super Rabbit... I dare anyone to find a better episode featuring Bugs.... here is a little tidbit on the episode that I found over here... enjoy, children... enjoy...
The second short of the year was Chuck Jones' Super Rabbit, first released on April 3, 1943. In parody of the influential superhero Superman, who was at the time starring in a series of animated shorts by Fleischer Studios, Bugs gained super powers. This was a result of his consumption of super carrots, developed by Professor Canafrazz. His first mission was to face Cottontail Smith, a Texas cowboy notorious for his hatred of rabbits. This was also the last mission of Bugs as a superhero. In a bit of patriotism prevalent at the time Bugs abandons his colorful costume and proclaims. that "This looks like a job for a real super hero". Then he reappears wearing a uniform of the United States Marine Corps, at the time still involved in World War II.
..oh, and ... here are some quotes.....
..Cottontail Smith.. any relation there, Rob?
... well, I journeyed up to Knoxville this morning... I stopped at the McDonald's on the Airport Motor Mile, and purchased two of everything on the menu.. hell, you never know what people are gonna want to eat... and, I didn't actually know how many people were going to be there... so, I bought a bit extra.... better to have too much... than not enough...
...I arrived at the UT Medical Center around 11:30... had a chance to see him at the 2 O' Clock visitation... man, he was hammered... he's gonna live.... he's gonna survive.. but, damn, he was hammered... broken left hand & wrist... broken left femur.. three broken ribs.. punctured left lung... crushed pelvis... broken hip.. he's one lucky man.... so, yeah.. he's going to survive.. but, learning to walk again is gonna be a real blast... still, he's cut from some fine cloth... and.. he will endure.... that much is in our blood....
...the time before visitation was spent talking to his Mother and Father... they are handling things very well... and, I swear, my Aunt should have a damn blog... when we went out to have a smoke, she ranted to me for almost half an hour about EVERYthing.. from idiots who can't afford to clothe their children for buying lottery tickets... to the difference between a Harley Sportster and a Suzuki Crotch Rocket.... she was pissed... and, she vented... it was cool.. hell, her son was up on the 2nd floor busted all to hell... so, she was given a wide berth as far as I was concerned... my family gets like that, I suppose... we don't start any shit... and, rest assured... 100% of the time... we certainly ain't gonna TAKE no shit.... we've always been fighters... but, sometimes... life throws some shit your way that you can't fight back to... I guess my family just has a hard time dealing with being utterly helpless...
…I owe one of my Uncles a great debt of gratitude…. He gave me a gift once… one that no one else could have… what was the gift?… well, because of him, we dug my Father’s grave…
…while my Father was battling cancer…. the Men of the family all decided that when my Dad finally passed… we would honor him by digging his grave by hand.. we had everything prearranged… the day after he died, we would all meet at the cemetery, and put in a full days work…. It would beat sitting around the house… it would give us something to do… and, in one way, it would be fitting for us to labor so hard for my Father.. he was always an incredibly hard worker… and was more well respected than any of us ever realized… but, when the day finally arrived, we had a meeting with the Undertaker, he convinced my Mother and I that it was not a good idea for us to dig the grave by hand…
…well… after we left the Undertaker’s office, we decided to drive by the cemetery to see the plot… it was a beautiful, sunny day… and, as we turned onto the little path towards his gravesite, there was my Uncle… digging… all alone… as we approached, he looked up and said… “I sure hope this is the right place…”… I couldn’t tell him that we’d changed our mind about digging… he had the whole grave about 6 inches deep… so, I just nodded to my Mother… told her to start making calls when she got back home… then, I took Uncle Ronnie’s shovel from his hands with tears in my eyes, and began digging…. Within half an hour, there were thirty Uncles, Cousins, and Friends helping dig… some manning shovels and wheelbarrows… some brought sandwiches… some brought drinks… some just came to be part of it…
…so, that was the gift that Uncle Ronnie gave to me… if he had not been there… by himself… digging alone… we would not have dug my Father’s grave by hand… we would have missed that wonderful day of brotherhood… that day of shared grief… that chance of giving tribute in work to my Father’s memory… and, until my dying day, I will be grateful to him for giving me that gift..
…I just received a call from my Mother… it seems that my Cousin has been in a bad motorcycle accident, and is currently up at the UT Medical Center on a respirator… so, we will be heading up there in the morning to relieve my Aunt and Uncle Ronnie for a few hours… but, as I sit here right now… after just hanging up the phone… I remember how grateful I am to my Uncle…. my Father’s Brother-in-law…. for the gift he gave me… we all have some debts that will never be paid in full…
...things often burst in upon us... be they good.. or bad... life usually is a bull in a china shop.. the key is to roll with the punches.. don't freak out.. maintain your cool... deal with the pressure of the moment... and just maintain, man... yesterday was such a day... coolness was maintained... but, the after effects were very interesting... sometimes, it seems, calmness can be viewed as indifference...
...once I arrived home last night... long after the day's situation had passed... a mood fell over me... I get it sometimes after the pressure is gone, and the mission has been accomplished... kinda like a post-incident boredom... hard to explain...
... what is the cure for me?.... well.... last night, a combination of fine Scotch... relaxing music... and good company... all brought me back to the fore.. as I mentioned here, way back in December, this song depressed me... last night... with the Wife and I singing it together as we cooked dinner, it had the opposite effect... funny, that... same song.. same singer... different outcome.... so... enjoy, people....
...here we go again, Boys and Girls.... Wednesday evening is upon us... the Wife is baking some Halibut.... my proverbial last meal of fish before meeting the Roman court... so, I shall at least be well fed before being thrown to the lions and jackals that visit my garage on every 7th day...
...as is the norm, I will post the results of tonight's bloodbath either later today... or.. in the sober light of the morning.. either way, I fear that the news shall not be good.. my pool playing ability, much like my guitar playing, has been in a funk as of late... I just gotta get inspired, I suppose....
...I had my taxes done today... and man, they must have seen me coming... as has happened the past two years, I was raped... viciously... by a sweet, gray-haired old lady named Betty.... of course, it wasn't her fault really.... but, the outcome was the same... I owe 1.5K to be paid by tomorrow's High Noon...
...I don't mind paying taxes... I really don't.... as long as I have enough money to stay warm, dry, keep myself in plenty of Single Malt, and purchase the occasional Porn Website access, I'm cool.... hey, what can I say?... I'm a simple kind of guy... but, what gets me is that after LAST year's fiasco, I thought 2003 would be a walk in the park... and in all truth, Brothers and Sisters, I was mistaken....
...a conspiracy is afoot, I'm afraid... way back in the day, I lived overseas for 8 years... blissfully ignorant of the long arm of the IRS, I never filed my US Income tax... in my simple Tennessean mind, I had not earned any money in the US, so why the hell did I need to file taxes?... well, 8 years after the fact, I begin proceedings to get the Wife's paperwork in order for Legal Alien status... (yeah, I still get loads of mileage out of calling her a Alien... Legal, of course)... and, lo and behold, the US Embassy asks me for my last three years Tax Forms... "Tax Forms?", says I, "WHAT Tax Forms??".... it would be a gross understatement to say that they were not amused...
...so, to cut a long and cheerful story short, I had to file my taxes... all 8 years.... in the same damn envelope.... so, I kinda figure that I am on some IRS Shitlist somewhere...
...last year, being Income Tax Virgins, we filed our first time... and, like most stories of Virginal Innocence being lost, it was a nightmare... the outcome? ...seemingly, neither of us had enough withheld... so, we had to cough up 1.2K... so, being that one painful lesson usually teaches your dumb ass, we decided to get our employers to up the Gov's skimming of our weekly wages... thwart those evil bastards by topping up their coffers 10 bucks at a time... and then, laugh come April next year...
...well, that was the plan... and, unlike Baldrick's, it was not cunning in the least... we let slip our overtime.... raises.... etc.. and even with extra money coming out every week, we STILL fell short... dammitalltohell... so, here I sit.. wondering where my plan fell apart... taxes... damn... the absolute ONLY reason I can think of to hate Spring....
...today was a break from tradition here in Tennessee... as far back as I can remember, the various holiday grubfests were hosted by the great Matriarchs of the family... Great Grandma Delcie.... Great Aunt Louise... Grandma Ruby... but, in the past 10 years, the baton has been passed to the generation of my Mother and her Sisters... today however, a new page was turned... Cousin Scott hosted the Easter Feast.. that's right, children.. this very day, the baton of responsible hosting was passed to MY generation...
...sure, it is one thing to have a party at your house... invite a few friends over, and booze it up... being a cordial host for your extended family during the holidays?... now THAT is different story... I sat there today... watching 5 generations of my kin... fill Scott's home with stories and laughter... maybe we are indeed coming of age, our generation... he and his Wife did a helluva job... no one went hungry... no one got shot.... and Easter was celebrated... sure, the day had it's hiccups... faulty grill... running low on drinks... etc... but, in the final analysis, it was a great day... all problems were taken in stride... no dramas... smiles all around... even though the gentle April rain kept the young Cousins from hunting Easter Eggs... they didn't seem to mind...
...being a good host is an art... today, the job of familial hosting was passed to me and my Cousins.... I hope to handle my task, when assigned, with such grace and dignity...
...Happy Easter, everyone....
...some women just glow…. They radiate…. I know you all have heard people say things like… “she walked into the room, and lit it up”… well, it is true… I have seen it…I see it every day… and, some people do just that… what am I going on about?… well, I just read this, and I agree.. but, only partially….
…I don’t know exactly what it is… and, I’ve tried to pin it down in my mind… but, the old adage of beauty only being skin deep is flawed…. Beauty comes from a deeper place.. you can keep your damn Max Factor commercials…. I have seen beauty… and, no amount of make-up or fine clothes can make it happen…
…what is attractive?… is it the slight pupil dilation that you notice when She looks at you?…. is it the quickening of your heartbeat when you see Her smile?…a smile that is born of complete trust?… of complete joy?… is it the way that She never realizes she is utterly stunning?…. these things are attractive, people…
…beauty is pheromones… beauty is seeing joy reflected in Her face…. beauty is seeing strength of character hidden behind swimming blue eyes… beauty is the courage in Her face as she bites her bottom lip… beauty is the way Her ass sways when she walks.. (and that you are gonna love to watch no matter HOW big it gets).... beauty is an attitude…. beauty just IS… so, what makes women attractive?... I really don't know... what makes them beautiful?... a lot more things than we realize.. it's hard to describe... but, some women just glow…
... I'm heading up the beautiful Hiwassee River today to meet some friends... I plan on spending the day playing guitar and drinking beer.... so, no blogging until later tonight... hey, I'm a selfish bastard sometimes... oh, and trout shall be cooked later tonight, and consumed on the riverbank... there will be much rejoicing... so, bye for now, kiddies.... play amongst yourselves....
...damn.. I just realized something.... friends.. music... beer... fresh trout... blue skies... springtime... man, sometimes, my life just really is shit...
...you know, as far as holidays go, Easter is one of my favorites... not because of the religious connotations... but, quite simply because Spring is here... I like Spring... I like Autumn better, but Spring will do.... right now, as I sit here, the dogwoods are blooming... two crazy bluebirds are chasing each other around all over the lawn... I'm not sure if one is chasing the other off... or chasing it down... after all, Spring IS the time for love...
...oh, that reminds me.... remember the friggin Easter Bunny?... well, last night "Ginger The Cat" produced the prettiest little bunny you've ever seen... yep... laid that sucker right down in the garage... and then, he looked up at us with those creepy green eyes.. as if to say... "what?.. you had a burrito last night, you bastard... hey, this is the same thing.. except for cats..."... of course, at least my cow-filled burrito was yummy.... the bunny didn't look that damn appetizing...
...so, standing there in my garage... looking at a steaming bunny... freshly missing a head... I suddenly found myself wandering through thoughts of Spring... you know what I'm talking about.... newborn bunnies... blooming dogwoods.... calm and balmy weather.. tulip bulbs... daffodils... and, love in the air... then, it suddenly hit me....
...I guess... as we trundle through our lives.. most of us never see Ginger closing in.... ahhhh... Spring... what a wonderful time of year.... sucks to be a bunny, though....
...well, what little street cred I had is gonna be GONE after tonight.... this little box just keeps popping out classics... I remember this one so well... She was a beauty, by the way... and, no, I never even spoke to her...
Sudden Light
I have been here before,
But when or how I cannot tell:
I know the grass beyond the door,
The sweet keen smell,
The sighing sound, the lights around the shore.
You have been mine before,--
How long ago I may not know:
But just when at that swallow's soar
Your neck turn'd so,
Some veil did fall,--I knew it all of yore.
Has this been thus before?
And shall not thus time's eddying flight
Still with our lives our love restore
In death's despite,
And day and night yield one delight once more?
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
...oh, and the hits just keep on coming... for those of you who are anti-poetry, you might not want to come around tonight... because, at the rate I am finding this stuff, we are going to have a steady stream.... heh... this one is a beauty, though... ahhhh... the theme?.... universal... Unrequited Love, baby... I was one sappy 16 year old.... but, upon finding this poem in my stack of papers... I was suddenly moved again... so, with my box of memories open for all to see... I give you Mr. Arnold...
Longing
Come to me in my dreams, and then
By day I shall be well again!
For so the night will more than pay
The hopeless longing of the day.
Come, as thou cam'st a thousand times,
A messenger from radiant climes,
And smile on thy new world, and be
As kind to others as to me!
Or, as thou never cam'st in sooth,
Come now, and let me dream it truth,
And part my hair, and kiss my brow,
And say, My love why sufferest thou?
Come to me in my dreams, and then
By day I shall be well again!
For so the night will more than pay
The hopeless longing of the day.
Matthew Arnold
... why? ... because I'm just in that kind of mood, that's why... yesterday, my Mother called me... she asked me to come over for a visit.... when I arrived, she had a box of old papers... letters... newspaper clippings... photos... stuff from my childhood... and, she said that she wanted me to have them... so, I spent most of yesterday afternoon... and all of this morning... going through all of it.... it has been a real trip down memory lane...
...here is just one of the gems that I re-discovered... I had written it down in an old notebook...
To One in Paradise
1834
Thou wast that all to me, love,
For which my soul did pine-
A green isle in the sea, love,
A fountain and a shrine,
All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers,
And all the flowers were mine.
Ah, dream too bright to last!
Ah, starry Hope! that didst arise
But to be overcast!
A voice from our the Future crise,
"On! on!"- but o'er the Past
(Dim gulf!) my spirit hovering lies
Mute, motionless, aghast!
For, alas! alas! with me
The light of Life is o'er!
No more- no more- no more-
(Such language holds the solemn sea
To the sands upon the shore)
Shall bloom the thunder-blasted tree,
Or the stricken eagle soar!
And all my days are trances,
And all my nightly dreams
Are where thy grey eye glances,
And where thy foorstep gleams-
In what etheral dances,
By what eternal streams.
E.A. Poe
...well, I'm fresh back from my journey... absolutely wonderful drive down I-24 from Chattanooga towards Nashville... then, onto I-64 to Winchester... beautiful country... the weather was incredible... Middle Tennessee... near the Alabama border.... Cotton Fields.... Antebellum houses... and, Sidney Bechet sounding out the Bose... one helluva a pleasant drive... both ways...
...for those of you cretins who haven't had the pleasure of ole Sid, let me attempt to educate y'all a little.... Mr. Bechet was born in New Orleans in 1897… by the age of 11, he was playing with Bunk Johnson’s Eagle Band… with permission from his Mother, he played the infamous Storyville clubs up until meeting King Oliver at the tender age of 16… later, he became King among the New Orleans clarinet and soprano sax players…
…THIS, for instance… is one of my favorites… Blues in Thirds is the name… and, for your listening enjoyment… I give you… Blues in the Air… an incredible piece of early Jazz…. But, my all time Bechet fav is Texas Moaner Blues…. Listen to it, children.… as I discovered on a two lane road flanked by cotton fields, Bechet was in touch with God…. and God loves the soprano sax….
..once again... Wednesday is upon us... tonight's ordeal promises to be an International Incident... 1 Columbian... 1 Uruguayan... 1 Scot... and a couple of Hillbillies... mix in a liberal dose of alcohol, music, and pool-shooting... then just sit back and watch... as usual, I will give you the after-action report tomorrow....
..actually, I will be going to Middle Tennessee for work early tomorrow, and I might not make it back in time to post... so, you may not get a chance to hear the tales till Friday.... either way, I'm sure you'll be on the edge of your seat in anticipation...
...a Storm rolled in last night... but, it didn't last very long.... a lot of Thunder... but, not much of a lightshow.... so, instead of blogging, the Wife and I embraced the Storm together on the couch... we watched a DVD of the Rolling Stones doing their 40 Licks concert in London... I cooked up some Spaghetti in between songs.... no pasta, though... just garlic bread for dipping.... and the Storm boomed through "Sympathy for the Devil" as we sat practicing a few of our Seven Deadly Sins.....
..last night we reminisced about seeing the Stones in Atlanta in 2002.... it was an incredible night... we met up with the Gang at the Swissotel.... checked out our suite... had an early dinner at The Palm.... one of the guys had brought a bottle of high-dollar Tequila.... which was passed around the table.... Limo service to Turner Field.... watched the concert of a lifetime... sang "Honky Tonk Women" until I lost my voice.... bought the tee-shirt.... barhopping by Limo afterwards.... back to the Hotel... drinks in rooms... back to our room... and we argued... after all of the fun, excitement, and happiness... we argued... I don't even remember what we argued about... but, we did....
..last night, we didn't argue... we just sat back and watched Jagger twitch his twitch... the Wife would say... "remember when they played that song? It was incredible!".... and I would agree.... indeed, the concert was a blast... but, it is strange what we remember... I didn't mention to her that I remembered us arguing at the end of that fabulous day... .maybe she remembered it too... but, like me, didn't want to bring it up....
...maybe our memories change and morph over time.... we forget the bad things, and only remember the good... I just don't know... but, I do hope that it never happens to me... I want to remember the good with the bad.... I think it is more real that way....
....the storm is coming here... no blogging.... gotta get offline for a while.... see you all in the morning....
...well, the experimental dinner menu worked pretty well... last night, beef/mushroom/onion kebabs were grilled at Straight White House.... they were a real treat... a lot better than I had expected.... also, a Greek Pasta Salad with Feta Cheese was consumed... along with two excellent bottles of a 1997 Rioja...
...it was interesting because I always cook the same things... Chili... or Spaghetti.... and, anything that needs worked over on the grill... but, normally, that's it... so, this little leap into the unknown was a lot of fun... I think I will start doing it more often..
...anyway, Sunday is always a pretty good day here at Straight White House... morning coffee was devoured while reading blogs... the second pot of the morning was enjoyed while sitting on the deck starkers... one of the nice benefits of living in the countryside is that you can enjoy a spring morning as nature intended... hell, it was 74 degrees by 9:30 this morning... the Wife was up by 10:30, and I prepared a meal of biscuits, butter, cheese, and raspberry jam... we ate it all on the deck...
...the Wife started reading a book, and I got my old guitar out... we spent the rest of the morning getting sun burnt on the deck.. as an aside, I saw a woodpecker that was incredible... that thing was the size of a chicken, I swear... the biggest damn Woodpecker I've ever seen... it landed on one of the Poplar trees, and when it started pecking, it sounded like a Browning 1919 going off... I don't know what kind of Woodpecker it was, but it was friggin HUGE...
...about noon, we decided to get cleaned up and head into town for lunch... my Mother had called last night and invited us to meet some of her friends from California... so, we drove into town and met up with them around 1:30... the Church-going crowd was out in force, and it was nice to see all the Old Men in Suits... and Ladies in Sunday Dresses.. just out for their Sunday ritual-after-church-lunch...
...the Californians were an interesting bunch.. a Mother, Father, and three buxom lasses... talking a hundred miles an hour.. acting as if I was an old friend... instead of someone that they'd just met for the first time... they, like my morning sunburn, were a very refreshing experience....
...Spring is here, people... just as tomorrow is another workday, soon Summer will be here... so, get out there and start enjoying it... in a few weeks, it'll be too damn hot to sit outside.... right now, it is perfect... carpe diem, and all that stuff.. just get your ass outside....
...ten years ago today, I found myself standing in front of 250 people.... while wearing a kilt... a skinny 21 year old with a shaved head... scared out of his mind..... standing in front of total strangers, cat-calling Sailors, and belly-laughing Marines... all waiting on me... standing there in my skirt... to deliver a speech... it was quite a day, boys and girls.... quite a day.... and, sitting here now... a few memories of that day are starting to ooze to the surface.....
...I remember that my Best Man gave a terrific speech... without notes.... without stuttering... AND while totally sober... a real kickass job of public speaking...
...he and my family had flown over from Tennessee three days before the event, and my soon-to-be-Bride and I had given them all the tour of the area... I remember watching my family be shocked for the first time by the everyday happenings in Scotland... Dad's first taste of McEwan's Export.... Mom's laughter at the traffic jam caused by a flock of sheep in the road.... Mike, Calvin, and Joshua's utter contempt for being forced to wear a skirt (kilt), and purse (sporran).... heh... at least they enjoyed having a dagger (sghean dubh) hidden in their knee socks.... traditional Scottish dress... Tennesseans always get happier when they are carrying concealed...
...I remember being banned from ever wearing a kilt again at the end of the reception.... actually... come to think of it, that is the first "Command" ever given to me by new Wife.... "You are NEVER allowed to wear a kilt EVER again.".... I remember it distinctly... I brought it on myself, I suppose... after about 6 pints of McEwan's, I'd had enough of the ole line... "What is worn under the kilt"... so, by the end of the night, when someone would ask, I would lift the kilt in their direction, and say... "Nope.. everything is in perfect working order...see?".... and, just like that, I was banned from wearing the kilt... ahhh... the things drunk Marines will do....
...I remember the little scream of terror that my new bride released at the end of the Cordon... heh.... you ever seen a real Marine Corps Cordon in action?.... it's a sight to behold.... arm in arm, we approached the front door of the church... I heard the Lieutenant give the command... "Arch!.. Swords!!"... we took a step into the threshold of the door, and the first two Marines lowered their swords.. blocking our path..... the Lieutenant then said the immortal words.... "Announcing in public for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Straight White Guy".... the two Marines whispered to me... "KISS HER!".... so, I did.... they raised their swords.... we stepped forward, and two more came down to block our path... "KISS HER" came the whisper again.... this happened all the way along the Cordon of Dress Blues.... until we got to the end... heh.... Sgt. Holland had vied for this position....the last man... the left side.... and, as we started to walk away, he quickly lowered his sword behind us, and bellowed, "WELCOME TO THE MARINE CORPS, MA'AM!!", and whacked her ass with his NCO Sword... heh... she screamed like she'd been shot... the crowd that had gathered on the street to watch were laughing and clapping.... ahhhh... what a day....
...I remember lots of things about that day... a day which changed my life forever.. and, continues to do so every day that I breathe...
...so, tonight I will be celebrating my 10th Anniversary with my darling Wife... how she's put up with me this long ... remains a mysterious miracle to me... so, I will make dinner.... we'll open some champagne.... and we will enjoy this evening with each other.... Happy Anniversary, My Wife... you are incredible...
...you ever meet someone, and know right away what kind of person they are?... walk through a crowded street, and secretly pigeon-hole everyone you see?... Hippie there.. Serial Killer there... WASP... Old Marine.... sometimes you actually CAN tell a lot about people by the way the walk... dress... talk... or, even their attitude...
...well, I used to be a firm believer in this approach... until today, that is... I have a friend that I work with... a young woman... petite... two children... divorcee... always smiling... always upbeat... just generally, a nice young lady... goes to church on Sundays... etc...
...what did I get in the e-mail from her today, children?... a chainletter with fluffy bunnies and angels?... nope... today, I was sent the photo attached below... I'd say it is worksafe, but only just... but, this photo is most assuredly not for the squeamish among you... so... Baby, if you think you can handle it, dare to be grossed out...
....oh, and the text of her e-mail, in it's entirety... consisted of..... "BWHAHAHAHAHAHA Look at this! BWHAHAHAA!!!"
...that's right... this is what she sent me... she's one sick puppy.... I think she must be about to snap at any moment... so, if you don't hear me blogging anymore, it will because she went Postal and machinegunned us all....
...I don't know how this happened to the poor gentleman, but I'd say it ruined his day fairly well... for those of you who really want to see the Big Picture, it can be found HERE at Rotten...
...ok, dammit... I just got home... I know I said 5pm EST, but I had to WORK... anyway, it's harder than you think to take a photo of your back... try it sometimes... it's hard... anyway, I have the photo now, and I will be posting it shortly for all you psychotic scar fetishists out there... you know who you are, people.... so, keep yer knickers on... it will be posted shortly...
Update: ..did I tell you it was hard to take a photo of your back?... well, it is... and, I am already stacking up a shitload of excuses for you retards who don't like my photo taking ability.... so, I don't want to hear your shit... first off, from looking at the photo, I can tell that it was much too small of a pendant to have tried branding with... (so, note to self.. if I ever try this fiasco again, do it with something BIG).... the hot gold burned enough to obliterate the cross in the center... after the scab peeled, the cross went with it.. I am not sure of the mystical ramifications of this, but it sounds bad... so... shortly, I shall post the pic... and.. (cue drumroll...)... a closeup with little lines to help you see the star better... after all, it was just a friggin necklace... oh, and I should probably point out that I have freckles.. lots of freckles... every-fucking-where... they are a goddamn menace... so... don't say you haven't been warned, you rubberneckin' bastards....
Update #2: Here it is... you freaks... as I referred to in this post, this is all I have left of the lady in question... enjoy, you pervs.... behold... the Shooting Star of David...
ok, kiddies... here it is... not a word... not a fucking word...
...and a close-up.. I even drew little lines to help you see it... much like kudzu on an abandoned Dairy Farm, my quaint little scar is quickly being overtaken by freckles... being red-headed... and Southern... the sun is not our friend... and, exposed flesh quickly succumbs to the fearsome freckles...
...I swear unto all that is holy... there is a frog under a plastic bag of ice... in my garage.. here is the deal...
...the cat.. Fred, in this instance, dragged home a frog.. all legs akimbo... slightly chewed... (one leg was covered in cat hair.. and, I might add, half eaten).... but, there it sat... green... croaking... both in the literal AND figurative sense.. meekly blinking at us... almost as in some kind of disappointment... as if to say, .... please... Meester, Eric... keeeel me now.....
...so, I asked the Wife what she wanted done... a quick size 10 stomp on the bastard?.. dammit... I hate to see animals suffer... and, if you ever own cats, trust me... you are GONNA see animals suffer... oh no, not the cats... their VICTIMS... anyway.... she didn't want the stomp method... so, I asked her what she wanted.... "put it in a bowl.... and microwave it"... she said.... DAMN, girl... that would be torture... you can't microwave a poor frog.... shit, if you think the stomp-method was bad, the microwave method is even fucking worse... so, I said.. "why don't you just leave it for the cats to finish later".... and, she didn't like that outcome either....
....finally, she said... (which, I am impressed with her creativity here).... "fill a plastic GLAD bag with ice, and bring it to me... we'll freeze it to death.. it will be just like going to sleep... as the hypothermia begins".... yeah.... I know what you're thinking... I married a goodun.... so, I did as instructed... and now... as I sit here typing... a frozen, half-eaten froglet is dead in my garage.... both cats have circled many times... but, I think they are afraid of the cold.. in any case, the fact remains.... I was party to a henious murder tonight.. murder by ice.. in a way, it is remarkably Hitchcockian.... then again, maybe it is just warped...
...I've got one... I take it with me everywhere... I'm not Jewish, but I've got a lot of friends who are, and I read a lot of blogs by Jews... what brought this up?.... I just saw my back in the mirror, and there it was.. on my left shoulder..
...I met a girl in Pensacola once... a Jewish girl from Long Island.. she was doing her bit for Uncle Sam just as I was... her Army, and my Corps.. we hit it off... she was a beautiful, tough, streetwise and aggressive girl.. and, I was a skinny 17 year old country boy, fresh from the tobacco fields... a match made in heaven, no doubt.. so, we dated for a while, and romance bloomed...and then, when I received my orders for the Pacific, we parted ways... I was heartbroken...a bit more crushed than she, you might say...
..but, I must have made an impression of sorts during our 2 months together...because, after 4 months of sitting alone on a rock in the Bering Sea, she wrote to me... thus began my first "Long Distance Relationship"... we'd call... we'd write... but, in the end... it didn't work out... it was entirely my fault.. the idea of caring for someone.. and being so far away that you couldn't do anything about it contained too much agony... so, in the end, I decided having nothing was better than pining... so, I broke it off... but, that's not what I wanted to talk about... so, back to the Star of David...
...one day I received a package in the mail.. from my girl... but, this time, it was a box instead of a letter... when I opened it, I was surprised to find that my girl had mailed me a gold necklace and pendant... the pendant was in the shape of the Star of David.. and a Christian Cross was in the center of the Star... I loved it.. I never wore jewelry of any kind… and our regs said that you couldn’t wear anything unless it was religious in nature.. so, this was perfect.. I wore it every day for almost two years…
…a great Friend at the time was deeply into the religion of an American Indian tribe… I don’t remember which one, but he was hooked… he had a little leather bag of trinkets that he kept with him… it had a little sage… some tobacco… some pebbles… and various other strange artifacts… I thought it was crazy… but, he enjoyed it…
…so one night we were drinking at the club, and he mentioned that he wanted something of mine when I got transferred.. something to remember me by… something that he could keep in that little leather bag… not knowing much about his religion, I thought it was a pretty cool idea… but, when I asked him what he wanted, he pointed to the pendant.. he said that the pendant spoke most to him about how he would remember me.. I was floored… for one, I didn’t want to give it away… after all, it was a gift from my girl… I used it to help ME remember HER… not to mention the fact that if I gave it away, she’d probably kick my ass…
…however, after a few more drinks, as always happens, we began talking about this swap with more and more seriousness… I suggested we fly to Anchorage and get a tattoo of it… but, we didn’t have time for that… I suggested cutting it in two… but, he didn’t like that idea… and then, we came up with THE IDEA… to this day, he still claims it was my idea… which is totally insane.. I KNOW it was his idea… I think… anyway, we decided that since the pendant was made of gold… and it transferred heat very well.. we would hold it over a candle… get it really hot… and then stick it to my shoulder blade… that way, I’d have a nice scar.. in the shape of the Star of David.. with a cross in the middle… and he could have the original in his leather bag of trinkets… heh.. sounds like a plan.. we’d both have our copy with us forever… drunks think up some weird shit sometimes…
..well… that’s exactly what we did… I took off my shirt, and lay down on the floor… that way, I wouldn’t be able to jump away when I got branded.. after all, we didn’t know how long he was going to have to hold the red hot pendant against my shoulder to get some good scar action going on…we figured at least ten seconds for maximum effect.. he held the pendant over a candle with a pair of needle-nose pliers… and then, he did the deed… it didn’t hurt that much… the only problem was… in the process of holding the pendant, he also heated the pliers…. So, when he touched the pendant to my back, the pliers burnt me as well…the effect?… well, the pliers gave the Star a tail of sorts… heh… so, I now have a Shooting Star of David… with a Christian Cross in the center… on my left shoulder… it is indeed a most interesting scar..
…we all have scars of one sort or another.. emotional or physical… our scars made us who we are… I love my scar.. the girl behind it is long gone, of course… but, she is still part of what made me who I am… scars aren’t ugly… scars aren’t something to be afraid of…scars are signposts of where we’ve been… what we’ve done… scars, whatever their source, are there for a reason… I saw my scar again this morning… sometimes I forget it is there… I don’t have very many, but the ones I DO have are worth remembering…
...a storm blew in last night... the first thunder of the year... a day of balmy Spring weather was coming to an end... and, just as dusk approached, the wind picked up... the open windows were for Spring scents.. but, they permitted the wind as well.. a day that dawned bright and clear... with a T-bone and fried eggs... ended with lightning being admired from an unlit room while the Storm wind whistled through the house...
...perhaps I need to rethink my purpose here.. I think I am confusing myself.. maybe I need to lift a sheet from Cool Hand Luke's playbook...
.."smokin' it up here, Boss?"
... I just gotta find a way to change what inspires me..
...I drove up through the mountains today... into the Cherokee National Forest.. the weather was beautiful... no traffic....sunroof open... the scent of the hardwood forest... it was refreshing... but, my little transcendentalist romp fluffed for little.... and so... I find myself still without my Muse... the one I've had in the past has jumped ship now, it appears...
...so, I am going to do as instructed by Mr. Martin, and just "Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter"... I shall polish off the remainder of my Macallan that survived the ordeal last night.. and listen to music...
...as I was driving back, I started thinking of writing a blog about having nothing to blog about... and, dammit, just as I was pulling into the drive, I remembered this post from Velociman.... well, hell.. that killed that idea... so, instead of attempting to fill you all in on my situation, I will leave you with the words of Mr. Crawford... no one could have said it better....
MY KINGDOM FOR A MUSE
Thalmia is obviously making sex romp videos with Shannon's ex. Calliope moved to Starke, where she is cruelly toying with anti-death penalty activists. Erato has been jerking my chain for years. Feels good, but there's little output, if you know what I mean. Clio, Euterpe, Terpsichore, and Polyhymnia are banned from Velociworld for personal reasons, although Clio gets a pass on Nostalgia nights. Urania is an air-head.
That leaves Melpomene, my great go-to gal, and she's in a worse funk than me.
...yeah, yeah... I know it is bad etiquette... or netiquette... whatever.. to link to a post so old, but I'm doing it anyway...
...what a week... broken servers... broken procedures... broken dreams... heh... par for the course, I suppose... just when you think you've gotten one fire put out, another one rises from the smashed out ashes... heh.. such is life, dammit...
...as for me?... ahhh... 'tis nothing that a fine Ribeye from the grill.. a nice potato from the oven.. and copious amounts of 12 year old Macallan can't straighten out... that combination has the almost supernatural ability to straighten even the most crooked things... and... most assuredly... crooked things have been afoot as of late...
...anyway, right now... I've gotta go and sort some stuff out in my head... marinate the steaks... break the seal on the Scotch... and howl at the World for a while... I guess it's true what the Stones said... "ya can't always get what you want".... bastards...
...well.... poolfest Wednesday took a little longer than normally scheduled.. initially, it was just Steve.... and THIS time, I beat his ass... it was the first ever recorded match between Steve and I... at Straight White House, where I had a resounding victory... 7 to 2... in 8 ball... damn.... heh... I rocked... then, Gary and his son showed up... they were a good match.... but, the Macallan was beginning to show.. so, as they prepared to leave, Brad and Jason show up..... I managed to fend pretty well for myself against them... but, the damage was done.... I had missed the REAL treat of the night... speaking with a friend...
...see, I had arranged to speak with a friend tonight.... and, after my schedule was thrown off, I missed their call.... and e-mail... and, for that, I am truly sorry... hell, I was psyched all afternoon... I wanted to hear from them... I needed to speak with them.... but, circumstances being what they were... I could not be rude...... and, now... I sit here... content in the knowledge that I kicked ass tonight on the pooltable..... but, I feel a great sorrow and loss...
...so, as I sit here..... I begin to ask myself.....what is more important?.... taking care of friends... being with them?... if only for a few moments of email or conversation?..... or, playing pool?.... (don't answer that... I already KNOW the answer...and, I chose wrongly)....
....but, don't get me wrong.... I enjoyed tonight.....and still, I have my reservations..... still, a part of me... a BIG part that I don't indulge nearly enough.. is sad... because... I may have hurt a true friend.. while trying to enjoy a "night with the boys"....
...Dear Friend.... I'm sorry... please accept my sincere regrets..
... where I work, everyone dresses casually... from the Owner... to the General Manager.... to the Accountant... to the General Manager's Assistant... all of us dress down... it's just the laidback culture and management style of the place... I like it... I get to wear jeans, boots, and tee-shirts every day... but, even though it is comfortable, sometimes it gets boring....
..in my last job, suits were worn.... hell, when I moved back over here, I had four pair of "casual" pants... a pair of OD BDU pants for hiking... a pair of Woodland BDU pants for hiking... a pair of "khaki" denim trousers... and a wore out pair of jeans... that was it... why?... well, I wore a damn suit EVERYWHERE... going out to dinner.. going to work.... going to visit friends... suits, suits, suits...
.. today, I wore a suit to work.. a nice hand-tailored job that I had made while I was in Bangladesh a few years ago... every time I wear it, I remember standing there in the steaming heat.. being measured by Rashid... with the strains of the evening prayer being blasted from the Mosque 100yds away.... and, he never stopped measuring... I guess he was more of a capitalist than a Muslim.... anyway, I picked out the cloth... the buttons... told him exactly how I wanted it... and, 12 hours later, a courier delivered it to me at my Dhaka Club suite... now, that is service.... but, to make a long story short, I wore that suit today... to work...
...Tan suit.. baby blue, tab collar shirt... black crepe silk tie with gold crescent moons on it...black belt... black wingtip shoes... gold tie clasp with the EGA on it.... and gold cufflinks... I spent ages last night... polishing and buffing my shoes.... scrubbing my tie clasp and cufflinks... ironing my baby blue shirt.... unwrapping my tan suit from the dry cleaner's plastic... it brought back memories of the military... carefully preparing your uniform for Dress Blues Alpha inspection... not a thread out of line.... everything to regs... attention to detail....
...I don't know why I wore that suit... maybe I just wanted to see if the suit still fit... heh, maybe... maybe I wanted to make myself feel better in some way.... maybe I did it to see if I could get a rise out of the "management"... maybe I did it to show myself off.... maybe I did it out of boredom.... maybe I did it as a treat... maybe..
...all I do know is this... it felt good to wear that suit today... I'm glad I did... but, tomorrow... I'll be wearing my boots, jeans, and tee-shirt again, and loving every minute of it... but, I will wear that suit again... yes, to work... I think I need to wear it sometimes.... it takes discipline to wear a suit well... and, I need to remind myself of that... from time to time...
..ok, kiddies... time for a SWG Original.. yeah.. I wrote this on Dec 30 1991... hey, I'm in a sharing mood... I found one of my old journals... heh... and, it's torture time, baby...
"Gently"... by ME....
..gently, the music plays a waltz in the shimmering candlelight...
..gently, two lovers twirl together in a dance they are sharing...
..and, gently, the young Gentleman's hair ruffles as his Lady whispers into his ear..
..gently, she turns and glides away across the ballroom...
..gently, the flickering light shines on her face as she chooses another partner...
..gently, she begins to dance..
..and, gently, his heart breaks as the music continues to play...
...so, now that I've suitably depressed all of you with my rejection poem, have a good night...
... I was talking to a friend at work about THIS article from CNN... it seems that this year is special... every 17 years, the Periodical Cicada (Magicicada septendecium) emerges from the soil of much of the United States.... mates for a few weeks... then dies... of course, these are not to be confused with 13 year Cicadas... they are only active in the Southeastern US... or, the "Dog Day's Cicada" with emerges yearly.... anyay, I took it upon myself to find some more information on these darling little bugs...
...after surfing the net for literally MINUTES looking for Cicada information, here is what I've come up with.... here are some handy tips to help y'all cope better with your friendly Periodical Cicada neighbors... after all, they are only around occasionally, so, it's best to enjoy them... instead of trying to run them off... or getting mad about all the noise they make... so, here are some random tips... in no particular order...
1. Cicadas are often called locusts, but they aren't.... (locusts are part of the grasshopper family) ...Periodical Cicadas are insects of the order Homoptera, which also includes aphids, leafhoppers... so, when they arrive, don't call them locusts...
2. Male Cicadas make a deafening buzzing noise to attract the females... so, planning an outdoor activity is uaually not a good idea when they are all worked up in a sexual frenzy.. it has been said that females sometimes dive-bomb cars, mistaking the sound of a revving engine for their paramours.... so, if you really get pissed at your Cicadas, go out and start your car... and test this theory... let me know if it works...
3. Cicadas are mostly harmless - they don't sting, bite or eat plants.... but, they make one helluva noise...
...and, with all that said... enjoy your Periodical Cicada invasion this year... it's nature in action... I will leave you with the words of Professor Mike Raupp...
"This will be a big, crazy horde of loud insects," said Mike Raupp, a professor of entomology at the University of Maryland , College Park . "It will be an extravaganza."
....and...
"There's nothing that rivals this in North America for scale or grandeur," he said. "You only get a few of these in your life."
Even casual observers will be able to see the stages of development and hear the various mating songs.
"Try not to panic. Try to sit back and relax. Enjoy it," Mr. Raupp said. "It's a unique opportunity to see nature in its glory."
...so, there you have it... don't panic... just sit back, and enjoy your bug extravaganza...
...there... the last thing off my Friday 5 is done... I blogged about Cicadas... heh...
... well, good Sunday morning, folks... it's a beautiful day here in Tennessee.. the sky is blue, the birds are chirping.. yadda, yadda... anyway, I've got a few updates on my Friday 5...
...I mentioned that one of the things I had to do this weekend was to cook dinner... I said that my chili was working on the stove, so I was cool... well, it was, and it was great... it went down like Gangbusters... but, Saturday morning, I realized why I hadn't made my chili in so long... why?.. well, it came OUT like Ghostbusters... (think ectoplasmic slime)... dayum, people... I came to the conclusion that I should patent my recipe, and sell it to the military.. the Marines in Cuba could feed my lovely Mexicanesque delight to the detainees... they'd grub that shit like it was going out of style.. it tastes so damn good.... then, the next day, remove all water and toilet paper from their cells... give each detainee one single napkin from Taco Bell... and wait... ladies and gentlemen, by 12 O'clock high, those bastards would tell you ANYthing you wanted to know.... you'll just have to trust me on that... hell, I'd rather have my fingernails pulled out than have to suffer another Saturday morning-after session like that... which reminds me.. I think I need a new chili recipe... I'm open to suggestions...