"JUST FOR AMERICA: Shame on you America: A country where we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going without needed meds, and mentally ill without treatment - yet we have a benefit for the people of Haiti on 12 TV stations. 99% of people won't have the guts to copy and repost this." is what a friend has as her FaceBook update and ya know, I bet she's right!
Don't get me wrong, I'm not belittling the recent tragedies in Haiti. Far from it! But let's put things into perspective shall we? The networks saw a chance to boost their ratings. The performers saw a chance to boost their popularity. And the folks in Haiti are most likely going to be waiting a good while before they see any of that donated money. If you want to help, donate to the Red Cross. They've always been above reproach in my book. (unlike many fly-by-night "charitable" organizations)
Yes, what happened in Haiti was horrible. Almost as horrible as what happens HERE on a daily basis. But Haiti gets the press. "Trouble In Paradise" stories always do. But what about OUR fellow Americans in need?
The ultra-freaky right will tell you it's their own fault. They shouldn't be homeless! They should've gotten a better job! They shouldn't have had kids. They should've planned ahead better. They shouldn't be mentally ill. The gooey-eyed left will tell you that we're 'developing programs' to help them. (from experience on both sides of the desk, I'll tell you that alot of these programs are bloated, top-heavy wastes of funding) But what happens when things go wrong here at home?
Most Americans don't find out until its too late. It's not "good press". Sure, some smart media big wig could develop a TV special to help our fellow Americans in need...but unless its a hurricane in New Orleans or 'trouble in paradise' elsewhere in the US, you're not going to hear about it. Or worse, you'll cast a deaf ear and a blind eye to it.
I've spent the majority of my adult life working to help people in need. There are times when ALL of us need help. Some need more help than others. But the money doesn't come pouring in like it does when there's good press coverage! Maybe the homeless/hungry/elderly/sick/mentally ill all need to carry puppies with them. Now THAT would warrant press coverage! The cameras would zoom in on the puppies and everyone would empty their wallets! "Oh no! Look at that poor (American) puppy! I have to donate money NOW!"
Please, donate some money to the people in Haiti. Preferably via the Red Cross. But when you do, add an extra $10 and ask that they use it to help people here at home. If you can, add an extra $10 and ask them to use it anywhere else in the world where someone is in need. The Red Cross will! And you'll know that the money is going where it's needed. Here's another idea: volunteer in your community! If you have an hour a week (and yes, you do!) consider spending that hour helping someone less fortunate than yourself. If you're reading this, you have access to the internet...you should have no trouble finding programs to help...but I bet 99% of you won't have the guts to!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
In/Out of My Head
Its a new year and life is good! That said, time for a few things that've been running in and out of my head...
I decided to quit smoking & drinking & to try to go semi-vegetarian. Not drinking has been a breeze. I don't eat much meat anyway so going semi-vegetarian has also been a breeze. But the quitting smoking has not been going well. I was born addicted to nicotine (aaaaah that lovely month-long stay in the incubator...just like a chicken) and if I'd known when I puffed that 1st ciggie all those years ago just how much of a slave I'd become, I never woulda done it! But we live and learn and I'm too damned stubborn to quit quitting.
Pets: ya gotta love them...even when they "F" you up! Case in point, my cat Day-Z likes to hang out on the edge of the tub when I take a bath. She will usually splash me with her tail and she acts like she has no fear of the water...until she comes into contact with it! Yesterday, I just barely saved "my junk" from a fierce shredding! Day-Z was stretching out on the edge of the tub while I was bathing when she lost her balance and went headlong into the tub! Needless to say, cats don't like water and removing herself from it was Priority #1. She flailed and scratched the hell outta me! My hand and foot were bleeding pretty good and the water had these unsightly streams of blood in it. Had to start over...but I was too busy laughing at the cat. If it hadn't been for my cat-like reaction time, she mighta shredded me in 'bad places'. No harm, no foul.
Aging and music: I like to think that I have pretty varied tastes in music but my girlfriend will probably argue that one with me. I'm 43, she's 28. We rarely, it seems, enjoy the same music. As she points out I like "good music" and usually get a good laugh at what she listens to. I think I'm slowly turning into my dad! I remember him saying that the punk rock I listened to back in the day "all sounded alike". I catch myself saying the same about the "metal" she listens to. I don't even consider most of it metal...its just...um...mum always said if you can't say anything nice, best to shut keep your trap shut and smile. So I'm smiling. That said, I have introduced her to some music she DOES enjoy. Old Queen, Tom Waits, The Blasters, etc... There's hope for her yet!
Big News: After a 2+ year blacklisting from my chosen profession (the MH/MR field) it looks like I'm back!!!! I'm supposed to start my new position on Tuesday morning. I was originally going to take my medication practicum today and start tomorrow but my program director called and asked if I could come in Tuesday instead (no sense in paying me holiday pay for my 1st day! HAHAHA). She asked if I could come in at 9:00am, take the test and then asked how late I could work...I told her all day if needed. Needless to say, she liked that answer! They can work me 75 hours a week if they want! I miss that life and now I'm back!!!!!!!!! Bring on the crazies! Bring on the med charts! ISPs! Behavior Programs! Paperwork! I AM SOOOOOOOOOOO READY!!!!!!!! At this point, everything else be damned, I AM BACK!!!!!!
At the risk of sounding self-important and preachy, if you want something bad enough and are willing to work hard for it, you CAN achieve it! Life will throw you curves. You just have to have enough backbone to stand up and do what you need to when that happens. No one is going to hand you anything in life nor should you want them to. I can only speak for myself here but I enjoy things more knowing that I've worked hard to get them. I'll also be damned if anyone will ever take what I've worked hard for!
So its 2010 and life is looking up! I hope it is for YOU out there too! BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!
A GINORMOUS Thank You to my family & friends (old & new) who have stood by me. You have all eased my burden in ways you can't imagine. Again, Thank You!
.
I decided to quit smoking & drinking & to try to go semi-vegetarian. Not drinking has been a breeze. I don't eat much meat anyway so going semi-vegetarian has also been a breeze. But the quitting smoking has not been going well. I was born addicted to nicotine (aaaaah that lovely month-long stay in the incubator...just like a chicken) and if I'd known when I puffed that 1st ciggie all those years ago just how much of a slave I'd become, I never woulda done it! But we live and learn and I'm too damned stubborn to quit quitting.
Pets: ya gotta love them...even when they "F" you up! Case in point, my cat Day-Z likes to hang out on the edge of the tub when I take a bath. She will usually splash me with her tail and she acts like she has no fear of the water...until she comes into contact with it! Yesterday, I just barely saved "my junk" from a fierce shredding! Day-Z was stretching out on the edge of the tub while I was bathing when she lost her balance and went headlong into the tub! Needless to say, cats don't like water and removing herself from it was Priority #1. She flailed and scratched the hell outta me! My hand and foot were bleeding pretty good and the water had these unsightly streams of blood in it. Had to start over...but I was too busy laughing at the cat. If it hadn't been for my cat-like reaction time, she mighta shredded me in 'bad places'. No harm, no foul.
Aging and music: I like to think that I have pretty varied tastes in music but my girlfriend will probably argue that one with me. I'm 43, she's 28. We rarely, it seems, enjoy the same music. As she points out I like "good music" and usually get a good laugh at what she listens to. I think I'm slowly turning into my dad! I remember him saying that the punk rock I listened to back in the day "all sounded alike". I catch myself saying the same about the "metal" she listens to. I don't even consider most of it metal...its just...um...mum always said if you can't say anything nice, best to shut keep your trap shut and smile. So I'm smiling. That said, I have introduced her to some music she DOES enjoy. Old Queen, Tom Waits, The Blasters, etc... There's hope for her yet!
Big News: After a 2+ year blacklisting from my chosen profession (the MH/MR field) it looks like I'm back!!!! I'm supposed to start my new position on Tuesday morning. I was originally going to take my medication practicum today and start tomorrow but my program director called and asked if I could come in Tuesday instead (no sense in paying me holiday pay for my 1st day! HAHAHA). She asked if I could come in at 9:00am, take the test and then asked how late I could work...I told her all day if needed. Needless to say, she liked that answer! They can work me 75 hours a week if they want! I miss that life and now I'm back!!!!!!!!! Bring on the crazies! Bring on the med charts! ISPs! Behavior Programs! Paperwork! I AM SOOOOOOOOOOO READY!!!!!!!! At this point, everything else be damned, I AM BACK!!!!!!
At the risk of sounding self-important and preachy, if you want something bad enough and are willing to work hard for it, you CAN achieve it! Life will throw you curves. You just have to have enough backbone to stand up and do what you need to when that happens. No one is going to hand you anything in life nor should you want them to. I can only speak for myself here but I enjoy things more knowing that I've worked hard to get them. I'll also be damned if anyone will ever take what I've worked hard for!
So its 2010 and life is looking up! I hope it is for YOU out there too! BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!
A GINORMOUS Thank You to my family & friends (old & new) who have stood by me. You have all eased my burden in ways you can't imagine. Again, Thank You!
.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Good-bye Yvonne!
I hadn't planned for my 1st blog of the year to be such a bummer...but sometimes life goes it's own way.
Local newscaster/consumer reports editor Yvonne Zanos passed away this morning from ovarian cancer and I, for one, will miss her. She was an "email buddy" of mine. We would bounce ideas off of each other (usually me emailing her my latest schemes for political reform or consumer rights) and she was instrumental in my starting this blog.In life she was a wife, mother and grandmother, a former Miss Pennsylvania, an Emmy nominee and Gabriel Award and Patti Burns Award winner. She was committed to warning consumers about shams and recalls and was well known locally for her "Does It Really Do That?" segments on KDKA.
Her family has asked that in lieu of flowers, for people to please make a donation to The KDKA Turkey Fund in care of The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
Yvonne, you were a good broad and I, as well as many others, will miss you.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Listening to the ghosts...
OK, I was planning on writing my year end VENT but decided against it. Why? Just not in the mood. I've been too busy listening to the ghosts of the past.
Now before you start thinking that I'm a schizophrenic in dire need of his meds, allow me to clarify. I love music of all kinds. A friend put music in a different perspective to me last night. As a non musician, she perceives it thusly: Music is what makes all of us move. To the song writer, its what we create. To the musician, its what we learn. To the dancer, its what we listen to and then translate into physical movement. If we're depressed, music lifts us up. If we're feeling good, music takes us to an even higher ground. Music is all around us and it runs through us...at all times.
That said, I've been indulging my love of old 1920s-30s blues lately. Damn there's some great stuff out there. These are the ghosts of today's 'popular' music. Without these geniuses, caught somewhere, somehow on tape, would music really be what it is today?
I'm listening to long dead musicians. Men and women from a different place and time. No frills, just thrills. These weren't intensely schooled musicians...they didn't spent hours alone in a room practicing scales and modes. They learned to play what those around them shared with them. The music was passed on person to person. You weren't likely to turn on a radio and hear Robert Wilkins singing "I'll Go With Her" but if you were in the right place at the right time, you might hear the man himself singing it. If you were a musician, you listened intently and watched his fingers and caught his idea...and then you would recreate it yourself. Or if you were truly lucky, he would sit you down and teach you.
I'm pretty sure that these cats had no idea that what they were laying down would last so long. They were living in the moment. They were making their own music. Most of them got ripped off financially but they weren't in it for the big money. They were in it for the music. These musicians, if they made a living from it at all, made their money doing live performances. Juke joints, house parties, fish fries, dances, street corners...where ever they could. For the real musicians out there...not much has changed.
These cats were playing mostly cheap instruments...whatever they could afford. And yet, here I am, 80-90 years later, listening as intently as those early audiences did...maybe more so. To hear Blind Willie McTell playing on an old 12-string Stella, decades upon decades after his demise, there's a magical quality to it. I get to hear the ghosts of the past. If Blind Willie's ghost appeared right now in this very room, I would expect to hear exactly what I hear on this ancient old recordings. Luckily, there were a handful of people who knew how special this music was...and they found ways to record it.
Take for example, Blind Willie McTell's "last session". He was old, sick and drunk and playing for loose change on a street corner. A shop owner recognized him, gave him some money and brought him in to play for him. Thankfully, he had the foresight to record it...on whatever big old bulky recorder he had. He recorded not only the man's musical genius but he also recorded the conversation with him. More ghosts! We are treated to a long forgotten conversation between 2 men about the one thing they loved...music.
As this year ends and we head into the New Year, I'll be listening to the ghosts. We have a lot to learn from them. The man who refuses to learn from history is doomed to repeat it.
Happy New Year y'all!
Now before you start thinking that I'm a schizophrenic in dire need of his meds, allow me to clarify. I love music of all kinds. A friend put music in a different perspective to me last night. As a non musician, she perceives it thusly: Music is what makes all of us move. To the song writer, its what we create. To the musician, its what we learn. To the dancer, its what we listen to and then translate into physical movement. If we're depressed, music lifts us up. If we're feeling good, music takes us to an even higher ground. Music is all around us and it runs through us...at all times.
That said, I've been indulging my love of old 1920s-30s blues lately. Damn there's some great stuff out there. These are the ghosts of today's 'popular' music. Without these geniuses, caught somewhere, somehow on tape, would music really be what it is today?
I'm listening to long dead musicians. Men and women from a different place and time. No frills, just thrills. These weren't intensely schooled musicians...they didn't spent hours alone in a room practicing scales and modes. They learned to play what those around them shared with them. The music was passed on person to person. You weren't likely to turn on a radio and hear Robert Wilkins singing "I'll Go With Her" but if you were in the right place at the right time, you might hear the man himself singing it. If you were a musician, you listened intently and watched his fingers and caught his idea...and then you would recreate it yourself. Or if you were truly lucky, he would sit you down and teach you.
I'm pretty sure that these cats had no idea that what they were laying down would last so long. They were living in the moment. They were making their own music. Most of them got ripped off financially but they weren't in it for the big money. They were in it for the music. These musicians, if they made a living from it at all, made their money doing live performances. Juke joints, house parties, fish fries, dances, street corners...where ever they could. For the real musicians out there...not much has changed.
These cats were playing mostly cheap instruments...whatever they could afford. And yet, here I am, 80-90 years later, listening as intently as those early audiences did...maybe more so. To hear Blind Willie McTell playing on an old 12-string Stella, decades upon decades after his demise, there's a magical quality to it. I get to hear the ghosts of the past. If Blind Willie's ghost appeared right now in this very room, I would expect to hear exactly what I hear on this ancient old recordings. Luckily, there were a handful of people who knew how special this music was...and they found ways to record it.
Take for example, Blind Willie McTell's "last session". He was old, sick and drunk and playing for loose change on a street corner. A shop owner recognized him, gave him some money and brought him in to play for him. Thankfully, he had the foresight to record it...on whatever big old bulky recorder he had. He recorded not only the man's musical genius but he also recorded the conversation with him. More ghosts! We are treated to a long forgotten conversation between 2 men about the one thing they loved...music.
As this year ends and we head into the New Year, I'll be listening to the ghosts. We have a lot to learn from them. The man who refuses to learn from history is doomed to repeat it.
Happy New Year y'all!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tis The Season
I'm not very good at holidays...never have been. I always become extremely introspective and melancholy. However, I do tend to sweep that mess under my karmic carpet and at least make an attempt to make the holidays special for those I care about.
This year is no different. Sure, I'm still broke (thanks in no small part to the ongoing legal battle) but I've found that money doesn't necessarily buy the best gifts. (don't worry...if you're on my gift list, you're still getting a present! HAHA)
But the past few days, I've been giving thought to the things that are truly precious. Just the other night, my neighbor's house burned down. While there is no good time for that to happen, I think that the holidays has got to be the worst time for such a tragedy. My heart just goes out to them. Everyday as I pass the burnt out shell of a house, I think of all the times I saw this family in and around their home. Their noisy little yip yip dog would bark at me and everyone/everything else that passed the house. It was a houseful of life. Now it just sits there, staring at the world through blind eyes...the yellow tape around the perimeter keeping out the uninvited. I see the scorch marks on the brickwork. I see the shattered, boarded up windows. It's a darkness that eludes even the sunshine of winter.
Seeing this has made me question things in my own life. Have I failed in some aspects? Has my damnable pride kept me from realizing my own potential and my potential for helping others? Has my innate need to go my own way cost me a "normal" life? I think of that poor family that lost their home but still have each other and I have to ask myself, what do I really have?
While many of my questions are still without answers, I have reminded myself of this: I have much. I have many friends. I have people who love me, in spite of my being me, and most importantly, I have tomorrow.
Take a moment and look at your own life. Think of all of the things that you really do have. So many of us are truly blessed. Sure, we are all imperfect and live imperfect lives...but that is what differentiates the good times from the bad. Absolute bliss would be a bore.
To those I love and to those I will one day come to know and love, I wish you all a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Have A Good One Regardless! If you're reading this, you're alive. There's time to shorten your chain Ebenezer!
This year is no different. Sure, I'm still broke (thanks in no small part to the ongoing legal battle) but I've found that money doesn't necessarily buy the best gifts. (don't worry...if you're on my gift list, you're still getting a present! HAHA)
But the past few days, I've been giving thought to the things that are truly precious. Just the other night, my neighbor's house burned down. While there is no good time for that to happen, I think that the holidays has got to be the worst time for such a tragedy. My heart just goes out to them. Everyday as I pass the burnt out shell of a house, I think of all the times I saw this family in and around their home. Their noisy little yip yip dog would bark at me and everyone/everything else that passed the house. It was a houseful of life. Now it just sits there, staring at the world through blind eyes...the yellow tape around the perimeter keeping out the uninvited. I see the scorch marks on the brickwork. I see the shattered, boarded up windows. It's a darkness that eludes even the sunshine of winter.Seeing this has made me question things in my own life. Have I failed in some aspects? Has my damnable pride kept me from realizing my own potential and my potential for helping others? Has my innate need to go my own way cost me a "normal" life? I think of that poor family that lost their home but still have each other and I have to ask myself, what do I really have?
While many of my questions are still without answers, I have reminded myself of this: I have much. I have many friends. I have people who love me, in spite of my being me, and most importantly, I have tomorrow.
Take a moment and look at your own life. Think of all of the things that you really do have. So many of us are truly blessed. Sure, we are all imperfect and live imperfect lives...but that is what differentiates the good times from the bad. Absolute bliss would be a bore.
To those I love and to those I will one day come to know and love, I wish you all a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Have A Good One Regardless! If you're reading this, you're alive. There's time to shorten your chain Ebenezer!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thanksgivus
This is the 4th year in a row that I've posted this blog. I hope y'all enjoy it! A lot has changed in my life since the 1st time I posted it but all in all, life is good! Cheers!
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!!!!! 4th YEAR!!!!!!
Thanksgivus
Thanksgivus: that's what she called it. The 'she' in question would be a very short, loud, middle aged black woman with retardation who I supervised for years. Her name is Omega...fitting because she truly is THE END!
Omega didn't exactly have a speech problem but I think her hearing wasn't 100% on the mark, as certain words would get slurred together such as "Thanksgivus". Another fave was her version of Social Security, which often sounded more like "sociable secretary" (of which I've known a few).
Thanksgivus (which is what I now prefer to call the US holiday Thanksgiving) is the last Thursday of November (this is for my overseas friends who may not be fully knowledgeable of the subject). It is the holiday where we Americans give Thanks to God for giving us BIG tasty birds, punkin pie & cranberry sauce...all courtesy of a tribe that we soon took great pains to wipe out. In short, when those Pilgrims (essentially English religious nuts) 1st landed at Plymouth Rock, they didn't have a CLUE what they were doing or what they were in for!
After that 1st winter (what do you mean "No Central Heating"???), most of the Pilgrims had died off. A few hearty ones remained (probably by eating the others...but that story seems to have vanished in the annals of history) and it was looking bleak for them, as they didn't know SQUAT about farming North American soil. Luckily, the Indians (bite me, I will NOT be PC) took pity on them, showed them what to do and the Pilgrims survived. They did sooo well, in fact, they had a big feast and invited the Indians. When the Indians showed up, they realized that white folks are either really bad at planning feasts or are just stingy, so they sent some braves to go kill a half dozen or so deer....gotta make sure ya don't leave the table unless yer ready to burst....STILL an American Thanksgivus tradition. NOWHERE on the menu was green bean casserole....PLEASE make note of that! (the Americans reading this will get the humor)
Finally, sometime in the 19th century, after decades of confusion as to what this "New England" holiday was and when it was supposed to be observed, some mad woman wrote everyone in the colonies suggesting the last Thursday in November...just in time to mark the start of Xmas shopping season!
Now, contrary to what some of my English colleagues have been lead to believe, Thanksgivus is NOT the American Xmas. Trust me, NO ONE on this planet overdoes Xmas like the Americans! Here it is, the Sunday BEFORE Thanksgivus and I'm looking out my front door at my neighbor's Xmas lights! 1 month 5 days before we celebrate the Man's b-day (even though we have the date wrong)...1 month 5 days of looking at those damned lights! Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays as much if not more than most people...but I like things to be done for the right reasons...not just to be the 1st, best or brashest.
For the holidays, I wish you all peace, happiness and a full belly. May your homes be filled with laughter (and not just the canned version coming from your TV). May your pockets never be empty, maybe your fridge always be full (with at least 1 6pack of decent beer...in case I should stop by lol) and may your troubles be few & far between.
In fact, I don't just wish you these things for the holidays...I wish them for you all EVERYDAY.
I'm having a few friends over (as usual) this year for Thanksgivus. It might not be the fanciest dinner but I hope to guarantee all a good meal, a full belly and someplace to sit and digest and enjoy some good company after (and before...as long as they stay OUTTA MY WAY in the kitchen...Chris...take note).
We will revel in the death of a turkey. We shall take delight in the taters, which will be mashed. The rolls will hopefully not be slightly burned on the bottoms...but if they are, that's what butter, gravy & butter knives are for! The veggies will be plentiful and not overcooked. The pie will be chocolate cream...NOT PUNKIN! (my tradition...not yours, OK? ) And yes Virginia...there will most likely be cranberries of some sort...JUST NO DAMNED GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE...PLEASE!
NOTE: I'm actually going to visit my parents this year for the holiday
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!!!!! 4th YEAR!!!!!!
Thanksgivus
Thanksgivus: that's what she called it. The 'she' in question would be a very short, loud, middle aged black woman with retardation who I supervised for years. Her name is Omega...fitting because she truly is THE END!
Omega didn't exactly have a speech problem but I think her hearing wasn't 100% on the mark, as certain words would get slurred together such as "Thanksgivus". Another fave was her version of Social Security, which often sounded more like "sociable secretary" (of which I've known a few).
Thanksgivus (which is what I now prefer to call the US holiday Thanksgiving) is the last Thursday of November (this is for my overseas friends who may not be fully knowledgeable of the subject). It is the holiday where we Americans give Thanks to God for giving us BIG tasty birds, punkin pie & cranberry sauce...all courtesy of a tribe that we soon took great pains to wipe out. In short, when those Pilgrims (essentially English religious nuts) 1st landed at Plymouth Rock, they didn't have a CLUE what they were doing or what they were in for!
After that 1st winter (what do you mean "No Central Heating"???), most of the Pilgrims had died off. A few hearty ones remained (probably by eating the others...but that story seems to have vanished in the annals of history) and it was looking bleak for them, as they didn't know SQUAT about farming North American soil. Luckily, the Indians (bite me, I will NOT be PC) took pity on them, showed them what to do and the Pilgrims survived. They did sooo well, in fact, they had a big feast and invited the Indians. When the Indians showed up, they realized that white folks are either really bad at planning feasts or are just stingy, so they sent some braves to go kill a half dozen or so deer....gotta make sure ya don't leave the table unless yer ready to burst....STILL an American Thanksgivus tradition. NOWHERE on the menu was green bean casserole....PLEASE make note of that! (the Americans reading this will get the humor)
Finally, sometime in the 19th century, after decades of confusion as to what this "New England" holiday was and when it was supposed to be observed, some mad woman wrote everyone in the colonies suggesting the last Thursday in November...just in time to mark the start of Xmas shopping season!
Now, contrary to what some of my English colleagues have been lead to believe, Thanksgivus is NOT the American Xmas. Trust me, NO ONE on this planet overdoes Xmas like the Americans! Here it is, the Sunday BEFORE Thanksgivus and I'm looking out my front door at my neighbor's Xmas lights! 1 month 5 days before we celebrate the Man's b-day (even though we have the date wrong)...1 month 5 days of looking at those damned lights! Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays as much if not more than most people...but I like things to be done for the right reasons...not just to be the 1st, best or brashest.
For the holidays, I wish you all peace, happiness and a full belly. May your homes be filled with laughter (and not just the canned version coming from your TV). May your pockets never be empty, maybe your fridge always be full (with at least 1 6pack of decent beer...in case I should stop by lol) and may your troubles be few & far between.
In fact, I don't just wish you these things for the holidays...I wish them for you all EVERYDAY.
I'm having a few friends over (as usual) this year for Thanksgivus. It might not be the fanciest dinner but I hope to guarantee all a good meal, a full belly and someplace to sit and digest and enjoy some good company after (and before...as long as they stay OUTTA MY WAY in the kitchen...Chris...take note).
We will revel in the death of a turkey. We shall take delight in the taters, which will be mashed. The rolls will hopefully not be slightly burned on the bottoms...but if they are, that's what butter, gravy & butter knives are for! The veggies will be plentiful and not overcooked. The pie will be chocolate cream...NOT PUNKIN! (my tradition...not yours, OK? ) And yes Virginia...there will most likely be cranberries of some sort...JUST NO DAMNED GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE...PLEASE!
NOTE: I'm actually going to visit my parents this year for the holiday
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Last Few Days...
In the last few days, life has shown me some things about myself. I can honestly say that I like who Ive become. Being in my 40s is nowhere near as dreary as I thought it would be! It's definitely never boring!
Friday, I debated all day whether or not to go see SUN Records legend, Sonny Burgess and his band The Pacers. Normally you'd think that I'd jump at the chance to see one of the originators of the music I love...but I've seen Sonny a bunch of times over the past 14 years and I can honestly say, he was best the 1st time. I was also reticent to spend $15 to see him...but as my friends Wes & Mike's new band was also on the bill, and I'd come into some extra cash, I decided what the hell.
My friends' band ARR, were really good. Just good old fashioned rockin' hillbilly boogie kinda stuff. No showboating, just good music. Then Sonny and Co. came on and I knew life was about to get weird.
When Sonny put The Pacers back together in 2001 or so, I shared billing with them on a few festivals down south. I was not impressed. Down there, they did their 'casino' show...lots of "oldies" and only a few ventures into Sonny's own great repetoire. Alas, this gig was much the same...although thankfully they left out the Charlie Daniels covers. But to see a musician of Sonny's reknown opening with "Wooly Bully"...and then sleazing into one predicatable cover after another was just disappointing. Granted, Sonny & Co. are all in their 70s...so I wasn't expecting psychobilly or anything...but did we really need to hear his bass player warble his way through "Okie From Muskogee" (a personal fave song of mine BTW)? The guys looked like they'd rather be watching Matlock than putting on a R&R show (which they did in name only). Much to my chagrin, they opted to NOT play "Red Headed Woman" (if they did, I musta missed it!) or "Sadie's Back In Town". All in all, it was a good night though. I got to see a bunch of good friends, was entertained by at least the 1st band, and got to have a few frothy cold ones. I was even slightly embarrassed by my friend Lisa's repeatedly bragging up my voice to her friend as "the sexiest she's ever heard". I highly recommend she broaden her listening pleasures. LOL I most often think I sound like a hog caller who's gargled broken glass...but I digress...
Saturday...always a good day to sleep in. Which is exactly what I did. Made a few phone calls when I got up and started making plans to purchase a new gee-tar (but more about that later). The SO was heading outta town to visit the fam, so I had a night to myself. I'd already made plans to go see my friend Andrew's 2nd show after his return to the world of drag performing. (drag as in men dressed as women, not hot rods at high speeds) I view drag as performance art. Nothing more. Most of it is just AWFUL but every now and then, ya see a good show. Andrew does such a show. The lil redneck really should become a professional dancer! I don't know anyone, male-female-or otherwise undecided, who can move like he does...and in 4-5" platform heels to boot! The other performers on the bill, knowing full well there was no way to really compare to Andrew, opted for "grotesque" rather than talent. But they did it with humor and a certain amount of flair (which one would expect at a drag show LOL). With Thanksgiving upon us, food was the theme of the show. And food was everywhere. From the one queen throwing sugar every where to another dry humping a box of Stove Stop stuffing, to another pouring milk all over himself...it was a mess! LOL Cake and pie was added to the mix and I'm sure you can guess the outcome. Stage sludge EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!! It was like Rocky Horror meets Animal House! The queens did a finale where they had a food fight onstage and wound up slipping all over themselves and landing in a heap (unplanned). While odd, it was an entertaining show. And I'm glad that I'm secure enough in who I am to be able to go out and enjoy that kind of whackiness! Mind you, its not for everyone.
Sunday...up around 10:30 and looking out at a beautiful day. Low 60s and sunny. Who says we never have good weather in Pittsburgh?! The deal was made to go pick up my new guitar (Gibson-made Epiphone dobro...now dubbed the Dobrophone. Had to drive to Washington, PA to make the transaction. I was A-OK with that as I got the guy to drop $75 off of his asking price! WOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!! The drive to Washington was smooth sailing...nary a cop in sight! The sun was out, I had the windows down and I really enjoyed the ride. I don't know why, but I always catch myself doing 75+ mph on this particular stretch of I-79! Sunday was no exception. I made it there and back in under an hour. No sooner was I home with The Dobrophone than I planted myself out on the porch and played old country blues for an hour or so. As the sun was working it's way down, I moved my impromptu performance indoors and kept on playing until the phone rang.
My jubilant mood was depressed a bit by the phone call. A dear friend, and some would say "ex" of mine, was calling from the county jail. Long story short, she has some issues. Those issues are why we're just friends now. If you've ever received a collect call from the Allegheny county jail, you know that you get 30 seconds of talk time, followed by a prompt to set up an account so the inmate can call you. The prompt, however, didn't work and I was never able to set up the account. My friend had to keep getting back in line to call over and over again. She wanted me to call her mum and see if she could post bail. (NO, I will not go into detail about the alleged crime here...that's far too private) I tried repeatedly to ring her mum, but never got an answer. My friend kept calling and I could tell she was upset and worried (as one should be in jail). Finally, around 1:00am or so, my friend calls to see that she's out of jail and explained the situation to me. It was obvious that she was crying as she told me that she loves me and thanked me for all the help. I feel good knowing that I'm someone a friend can turn to when they need help.
Monday morning. 5 hours sleep is just not enough...so I beat the snooze button mercilessly for an hour. So much for my morning walk. Work was uneventful, thankfully, as after last night's mayhem, I wasn't in the mood to be there. After a blissfully short day, I'm driving home and I see this church sign which reads: "Even in the bleakest time, Christians have the brightest hope". Sounds very positive, right? Well I took it differently. I still, at age 43, don't understand the whole "our church/faith" is better than yours mentality. Just seems decidedly un-Christian.
OK...almost 2 miles from home, I pass a cemetery. I pass this daily. Hell, half of my family is buried there. But what got me this time is this: when the hell did BALLOONS become standard grave decorations????? I noticed a number of graves visible from the road adorned with festive, brightly colored mylar balloons! THAT'S JUST TACKY!!!!!!!! Do the people that do this think that their dearly departed is going to be pleased with this? Maturity seems to have become a thing of the past. But I've been saying that for years....
Made it home (no balloons there! LOL) and played The Dobrophone for a good 2 hours. Ahhhhhhh....life is good.
What? You expected there to a be a point to all of this? LOL
Friday, I debated all day whether or not to go see SUN Records legend, Sonny Burgess and his band The Pacers. Normally you'd think that I'd jump at the chance to see one of the originators of the music I love...but I've seen Sonny a bunch of times over the past 14 years and I can honestly say, he was best the 1st time. I was also reticent to spend $15 to see him...but as my friends Wes & Mike's new band was also on the bill, and I'd come into some extra cash, I decided what the hell.
My friends' band ARR, were really good. Just good old fashioned rockin' hillbilly boogie kinda stuff. No showboating, just good music. Then Sonny and Co. came on and I knew life was about to get weird.
When Sonny put The Pacers back together in 2001 or so, I shared billing with them on a few festivals down south. I was not impressed. Down there, they did their 'casino' show...lots of "oldies" and only a few ventures into Sonny's own great repetoire. Alas, this gig was much the same...although thankfully they left out the Charlie Daniels covers. But to see a musician of Sonny's reknown opening with "Wooly Bully"...and then sleazing into one predicatable cover after another was just disappointing. Granted, Sonny & Co. are all in their 70s...so I wasn't expecting psychobilly or anything...but did we really need to hear his bass player warble his way through "Okie From Muskogee" (a personal fave song of mine BTW)? The guys looked like they'd rather be watching Matlock than putting on a R&R show (which they did in name only). Much to my chagrin, they opted to NOT play "Red Headed Woman" (if they did, I musta missed it!) or "Sadie's Back In Town". All in all, it was a good night though. I got to see a bunch of good friends, was entertained by at least the 1st band, and got to have a few frothy cold ones. I was even slightly embarrassed by my friend Lisa's repeatedly bragging up my voice to her friend as "the sexiest she's ever heard". I highly recommend she broaden her listening pleasures. LOL I most often think I sound like a hog caller who's gargled broken glass...but I digress...
Saturday...always a good day to sleep in. Which is exactly what I did. Made a few phone calls when I got up and started making plans to purchase a new gee-tar (but more about that later). The SO was heading outta town to visit the fam, so I had a night to myself. I'd already made plans to go see my friend Andrew's 2nd show after his return to the world of drag performing. (drag as in men dressed as women, not hot rods at high speeds) I view drag as performance art. Nothing more. Most of it is just AWFUL but every now and then, ya see a good show. Andrew does such a show. The lil redneck really should become a professional dancer! I don't know anyone, male-female-or otherwise undecided, who can move like he does...and in 4-5" platform heels to boot! The other performers on the bill, knowing full well there was no way to really compare to Andrew, opted for "grotesque" rather than talent. But they did it with humor and a certain amount of flair (which one would expect at a drag show LOL). With Thanksgiving upon us, food was the theme of the show. And food was everywhere. From the one queen throwing sugar every where to another dry humping a box of Stove Stop stuffing, to another pouring milk all over himself...it was a mess! LOL Cake and pie was added to the mix and I'm sure you can guess the outcome. Stage sludge EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!! It was like Rocky Horror meets Animal House! The queens did a finale where they had a food fight onstage and wound up slipping all over themselves and landing in a heap (unplanned). While odd, it was an entertaining show. And I'm glad that I'm secure enough in who I am to be able to go out and enjoy that kind of whackiness! Mind you, its not for everyone.
Sunday...up around 10:30 and looking out at a beautiful day. Low 60s and sunny. Who says we never have good weather in Pittsburgh?! The deal was made to go pick up my new guitar (Gibson-made Epiphone dobro...now dubbed the Dobrophone. Had to drive to Washington, PA to make the transaction. I was A-OK with that as I got the guy to drop $75 off of his asking price! WOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!! The drive to Washington was smooth sailing...nary a cop in sight! The sun was out, I had the windows down and I really enjoyed the ride. I don't know why, but I always catch myself doing 75+ mph on this particular stretch of I-79! Sunday was no exception. I made it there and back in under an hour. No sooner was I home with The Dobrophone than I planted myself out on the porch and played old country blues for an hour or so. As the sun was working it's way down, I moved my impromptu performance indoors and kept on playing until the phone rang.
My jubilant mood was depressed a bit by the phone call. A dear friend, and some would say "ex" of mine, was calling from the county jail. Long story short, she has some issues. Those issues are why we're just friends now. If you've ever received a collect call from the Allegheny county jail, you know that you get 30 seconds of talk time, followed by a prompt to set up an account so the inmate can call you. The prompt, however, didn't work and I was never able to set up the account. My friend had to keep getting back in line to call over and over again. She wanted me to call her mum and see if she could post bail. (NO, I will not go into detail about the alleged crime here...that's far too private) I tried repeatedly to ring her mum, but never got an answer. My friend kept calling and I could tell she was upset and worried (as one should be in jail). Finally, around 1:00am or so, my friend calls to see that she's out of jail and explained the situation to me. It was obvious that she was crying as she told me that she loves me and thanked me for all the help. I feel good knowing that I'm someone a friend can turn to when they need help.
Monday morning. 5 hours sleep is just not enough...so I beat the snooze button mercilessly for an hour. So much for my morning walk. Work was uneventful, thankfully, as after last night's mayhem, I wasn't in the mood to be there. After a blissfully short day, I'm driving home and I see this church sign which reads: "Even in the bleakest time, Christians have the brightest hope". Sounds very positive, right? Well I took it differently. I still, at age 43, don't understand the whole "our church/faith" is better than yours mentality. Just seems decidedly un-Christian.
OK...almost 2 miles from home, I pass a cemetery. I pass this daily. Hell, half of my family is buried there. But what got me this time is this: when the hell did BALLOONS become standard grave decorations????? I noticed a number of graves visible from the road adorned with festive, brightly colored mylar balloons! THAT'S JUST TACKY!!!!!!!! Do the people that do this think that their dearly departed is going to be pleased with this? Maturity seems to have become a thing of the past. But I've been saying that for years....
Made it home (no balloons there! LOL) and played The Dobrophone for a good 2 hours. Ahhhhhhh....life is good.
What? You expected there to a be a point to all of this? LOL
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