Santa's Bad Night (a poem)

I wrote this for my nephews a few years ago. I intend on publishing it someday, so it's copyrighted already. If you want to illustrate it, let me know. It's a bit juvenile so, deal with it. Oh yeah, have a Merry Christmas. 

Santa’s Bad Night  

One snowy Christmas Eve,  many years in the past,

Santa had a major problem, known as large-scale gas!

It started in Europe in Sweden, I think.

It smelled like rotting eggs, oh such a stink!

Over the Middle East, Santa couldn’t stop the toots!

They continued, unabated, even over Beirut!

The reindeer complained as they flew over China

He even had stop somewhere to use the restroom in a filthy old diner.

The toys were delivered, Santa wouldn’t let up

But neither did the bubblers, even after the dump!

Then, it happened again in the city of Kalamazoo.

Santa couldn’t help it, once again, he had to go poo!

It hit him all at once in the house of the Cardoo’s,

Santa quickly and quietly snuck past the kid’s bedrooms….

Then suddenly he let out a surprise salute!

It was so loud it woke up the Cardoos!

The children saw Santa and started to give him a hug

but then they smelled Santa and they began to run!

Santa was discovered this one and only time…

And he made Mrs. Claus promise to never again make Christmas bean pie!

 

How 2020 Didn't Suck (a personal and incomplete list)

2020 has been a terrible and tragic year. My condolences to anyone reading this that has lost a loved one due to COVID. My wife's grandmother was a victim this past summer. 

That said, 2020 could have been worse. One of my constant strivings is to have more gratitude in my life. So here are the ways 2020 didn't suck for me (somewhat in chronological order). 

We moved into our new home the first week of January. Hard to believe it's been almost one year. We had a ton of help from wonderful people. So glad we were here during the pandemic. We needed the room when all the kids were here for school. 

We went to an amazing Ben Folds concert in February. He played a great set, basically, what I thought a Ben Fold concert would be...he was funny and we had a blast.  It was a bit of an indulgence but he is one of the last performers I want to see before I die (still have Sloan to get to one of these days). 

We were able to take a family trip to New Orleans right before (or as) the pandemic was starting. In retrospect, if we knew then what we know now, we would have never gone. However, the world was different and it all felt so far away. Our trip included a visit to the Whitney Plantation. I whole-heartily recommended it to all Americans.  It is the only plantation in the US that focuses exclusively on the lives of slaves, it is ugly and sad but also beautiful. Check it out if you ever find ourself in NO, it's just a little ways out of town.  We also got to eat really good food and had fun exploring the city including getting caught in a rain storm one evening.  We had a lot of fun taking the trolley from our hotel to the city park and had a lovely time there (including riding a two-person bike that carried our whole family).  We were soooo lucky we were able to have a family trip before the pandemic. It was a family trip that we'll remember forever. 

It feels like a different world doesn't it? 

The pandemic hit and the first few weeks, we made the most of it. We had our own art show in the house, had a Chip Dinner, with pretzels, chips, nachos, etc. (this will become an annual event at our home) and had a fun game night with prizes. 

I also let my oldest daughter shave my legs for five bucks. Yeah, I charged her for that.  

We were outside a lot more. The natural world was my wife's refuge and she and my son bonded over fishing in a park about 40 minutes away. They went there nearly once every two weeks at some point. Closer to home, we explored our nearest park and discovered a back trail with a ton of wild blackberries (dubbing the path "Blackberry Way").  

I admit I do not know the name of this variety but they were delicious. We made several trips over late March-early April. Stuff just tastes better when you are finding it yourself! 

I watched some good television. My favorites included The Plot Against America and The Watchmen (which was outstanding). I started The Good Place and it's fine but I kinda got bored sometime in Season 2.  I'll finish it up soon (maybe). The Mandorlarion season 2 was just okay, too much fan service at the end though. 

Another photo from a Mother's Day outing. 

This photo comes from a nature walk June. This was a serene, lonely walk I was able to take as I snuck away from the fam for a few minutes. I could hear the echoes of people far away as I sat down to enjoy the view of the water. It was wonderful. 

I was able to write about Carl freaking Barks for a graduate course and I will be presenting that paper on a panel this summer at a conference (crossing fingers we can still go). I might post about this when it happens. 

I was also able to write about Confucius for my second class, which was great. It felt good to dive into something I know well and I learned a ton as well. I wrote about the relationship between Yan Hui and Confucius for those scoring at home. 

Overall, my wife planned many outings and I have to say she was definitely one of the better things of 2020. 

We went to the beach in June and later in July to celebrate my wife's birthday. Both times, I must admit, I had a great time. Usually, I am not a huge fan of the beach but these trips were special. We splurged a bit on the second trip at a stay at a very nice Airbnb (although we spilt the cost with my inlaws). 

At sunrise, me and the boy (age 8).

I did a lot more of the cooking the last 10 months, in part because I wanted to and in part, because my wife has more voice lessons in the late afternoon/early evening. I think the best thing I made was Chicken Parmesan. I did some other stuff that was good but just not as outstanding as this dish...shoulda taken some pics! 

Oh yeah, Trump lost. Think of it, the guy has lost the popular vote in two elections by a combined total of over 10 million votes. What a big, diarrhea-faced baby. I don't usually wish bad things to happen to people, its kinda of a personal value of mine, but I'm not rooting for this guy's health. Trump is a dangerous cancer to our society and I'm hoping the patient undergoes chemo and radiation soon. 

I played a bunch of retro games since the pandemic and I added some Genesis classics to my SNES classic. I finally beat  Rocket Knight Adventures. I had that game as a kid and it beat the crap out of me back then. Why were games so hard back then???  Of course, I beat it with save states, do you think I am insane and I have the time to dedicate my life to the game? 

I broke down and got the little Game&Watch: SMB this fall.  What can I say? I own the portable Oregon Trail and a mini-key chain Galaga. It's right up my alley. It was too expensive for what it is, but I had a blast with it and my kids and I are still fighting through SMB 2.  

I think the family has gotten closer in many ways (sometimes too close) but it's been a blessing to spend more time with the kids. I have a freshman in HS for goodness sake, she won't be here forever. I am a little sad she didn't get the full experience (she's in marching band which just wasn't the same) but also, it's cool to eat lunch with her or check in on her day randomly at 2:30. 

I have been starting to feel hope for next year and started planning (at least in my head and a few peeks on Google Maps) to the Grand Canyon, Colorado, etc. We'll see. 

It's been a tough year and I didn't list all the sad stuff or challenges we have faced. I hope you can also find gratitude for the good in your life this year, stranger. In the meantime, call your Mom this week and don't forget to do that thing you keep putting off. 

Catching up on Falling Behind Fragments

 It's almost December and I felt obligated to write a little ol' blog (I do it for the fans, of course).

A nice cold front finally hit us and it finally feels like the fall. The holiday season can be tough on my wife, and that's a toughie because I enjoy the holiday season.   I like the novelty of it all, it just feels different than the rest of the year. I think I have blogged something like that every year. 

I am in the middle of my last grad class for a good while, I am burnt out but I finished up a project at work and my last few weeks of this class will be when I am done with my teaching load, so that will be great! It's like burning the candle at both ends. I'm excited about the various projects I have in mind for the winter and spring. I will have free time again! 

Dreams do come true. Rivers Cuomo released his vault of demos. Thousands of demos were released a few weeks back. I am still processing this insanity. Sure, the vast majority are notes, scraps, chords, etc. but there are hundreds of songs and multiple versions of some songs. A treasure trove. I will have thoughts on this but I am still taking it all in. I will say the man has quite a work ethic, pushing up the stone up the hill, indeed. Some have seen this as the end of hard-core fandom, as we all love to speculate about demos....and yet, there's plenty left to wonder about and look forward to including....all the co-write demos (that were not shared), especially the early Pat co-writes,  band demos and rehearsals, a deluxe Green Album (unlikely but not any more unlikely than Rivers releasing his demos), any band archival released (special editions, concerts, etc.) and of course, new demos from the last five years and in the future. If you could have told me this would happen in 1998, I would have screamed like a little girl. 

Oh yeah, the last time I wrote the US presidential election hung in the balance. As expected, Trump will wreck or democracy and institutions like a big baby on his way out the door. He is like a baby, in that he can only think of his own benefit and only in ht short term. Even his own judges can see through this nonsense. Utter incompetence and stupidity that is defended by most of the GOP. Now we have over 70% of the GOP that believes corruption helped Biden win (with no evidence)! Surely he has laid a template for a more skilled fascist in a few years. It is terrifying we elected this cruel, narcissistic fool and it is even more terrifying that we have a cult of personality surrounding this walking trashcan. 

I started writing a blog series that ranks the Spurs five championships and.....of course, I fell down the rabbit hole of information, stats, videos, etc. It was hard to boil down an entire season into two paragraphs. I have a whole mathematical formula that helped me understand why I ordered the championships the way I did. I just couldn't stop writing, so it turns out each championship will get its own blog post. I must admit, this raises the possibility of me never finishing the series....but I just couldn't do each year justice with only a paragraph. # 5 on the list is 2007 and I am about halfway done with that. My goal is to have that one done by 2021 and the series done by May of 2021. #optimistic 

Is there really light at the end of the tunnel with vaccines being developed? It feels like normalcy is on the horizon and yet, with the holidays there are dark days ahead. What a time to be alive, make sure you stay that way and stay safe folks! 

Take a deep breath, hold on to your dreams and put a few extra masks in your car so you don't forget to take one with you on your travels! 

K-Mart Radio Network Mix CD

A few years ago, I discovered a tracklist of a mixtape I had made back in the '90s. It inspired me to wax nostalgic on the value of mix-tapes but it also inspired me to go back and find more tracklists in scattered notebooks or on the tapes or CDs themselves (here and another CD here).

This summer I realized I had forgotten about an important mix CD I had made in the late '90s My K-Mart Radio Network Mix CD!

This image just screams 90's to me. You have to admire the effort here, go on, admire it with me. By the way, although a second volume was planned I never got around to it.

This CD demands a little more explanation. My first job was at the neighborhood K-Mart because my friend Philip worked there.  I worked there from December 1994 through January 1995. I had to briefly quit as I was planning on being in the school musical and wanted to enjoy the last of my senior year. One of the mangers was nice enough to hire me back in June 1995, I kept the job until June 1997.  It was a long two years. 

The pay and management were horrible but my friends made it worthwhile (as Philip got most of our friend's there a job at some point).  At any given point while working there, there was a good chance I had a friend clocked in when I was there. Soon enough, I got to know more people and it was its own little community. Although we had much to complain about at the time, it really was a perfect "first job". I have many great memories of those days.  I can still smell the place in my head. I'm surprised I have never written "K-Mart Fragments" but it's due to happen one of these days....

I started as a checker and ended up working at almost every department, at least a few times. I spent some time at Service Desk (which was stressful and overall awful) but mainly I spent my time in Lay-A-Way. That was the sweetest gig at K-Mart because it was in the back of the store, surrounded by hardware and auto accessories. Basically, you could hide back there. We might get busy on Saturdays or for an hour or so, but otherwise, there was plenty of time to relax. I could grab a video game magazine and read it in the back or study for an exam and no one would be the wiser. 

No matter where you worked though you could not escape the "K-Mart Radio Network" that played while the store was open (I always found the store to be eerily quiet once we closed). 

In between store promos and announcements, the "network" played classic '60s tunes including rock and Mo-Town. There was also a heavy dash of '70s R-n-B and pop-folk with good dose of '70s and '80's adult contemporary songs.

In the beginning, my friends and I complained about the "lame" music....but after being forced to hear these songs over and over AND over again, our attitude began to change.  I don't want to dramatize this but the K-Mart Radio network forced me to re-evaluate my snotty 19-year-old attitude towards music that wasn't '90's alt-rock. It got me to admit that maybe I didn't know it all, it challenged me to have more of an open mind to music than I did before. 

This was in the infancy of the internet, it wasn't that easy to figure out the artists or song titles. Googling song lyrics didn't even occur to us because Google didn't exist yet. Over the next two years, my old buddy Philip and I would track down the songs and purchase entire CD's often to get to just one song. 

Honestly, I think Philip picked up the vast majority of them, he would usually surprise me by playing a new CD in his car when we were out cruising around town. Once we had compiled numerous CD's it was just a matter of time before this puppy came along. 

Here was my mix CD of the K-Mart Radio Network, Vol. I. 

1. Doobie Brothers - "Without Love"
2. BJ Thomas - "Hooked on a Feeling"

3. The Buckinghams - "Kind of a Drag"

4. Paul McCartney - "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"

 5. The Spinners - "I'll be around"
6. Eric Clapton - "Layla"
7. The Chi-Lites - "Have You Seen Her?"
8. Madonna - "Borderline"
9. Beatles -"Lonely People"
10. Peaches & Herb - "Reunited" 
11. Neil Diamond - "Sweet Caroline"
12. Chicago - "Saturday in the Park"
13. Stylistics - "Betcha By Golly Wow" 

14. Chi-Lites - "I'm gonna make you love me"
15. Simon & Garfunkel - "El Condor Pasa" 
16. Roy Orbison - "Pretty Woman"
17. Prince - "Raspberry Beret"
18. Peter Frampton - "Baby I Love Your Way"
19. Buffalo Springfield - "For What It's Worth"

I would be happy to make a playlist for you but I know the odds of someone listening to it is between slim and none. So, get YT or Spotify and look up some of these oldies. They won't let ya down. 

It's true you can never really go back home again.  The old K-Mart shut down in the '00s and I've lost contact with most everyone that was at the store. I found one of our friends back in the early days of FB but I don't think he posts much and besides, I deactivated my account awhile back too. 

To be honest,  I haven't really talked with Phil in over four years (Phil, are you there, man? I miss ya).  I'll never see that K-Mart community together again and that makes me a bit sad. I know annoying Chris passed away in a car accident in the early '00s and I am sure some of those older folks have passed away too (old Marvin in gardening and the ancient German lady who smoked like a chimney, Heidi). I would pay good money to go back to re-live a few hours working at K-Mart. Time is like that, your brain can take you back in a flash. Geez, I'm getting old.  

At least I still have the music to help me reminisce and remember...and now you do too. 

Stuff O' Fragments

 It's October, so let's celebrate by writing a blog. 

Or ya know, have a beer, whatever floats your boat.

Life Update/Fragments

I went camping with my son this past weekend for Cub Scouts, it went great. Although the worst part of camping continues to be sleeping (or rather staying asleep), just an awful night of sleep. I used to think the Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts was a fascist organization meant to brainwash our children. In my honest opinion, it kinda is. But our pack is laid back, and honestly, as one friend put it, it would be fascist to refuse my son to join. He just adores outdoor stuff, knives, camping, playing outside, etc. Also, I am my son's father. I can nip some of the worst brainwashing elements out and embrace the fun stuff. 

I got some good news. I will be presenting a paper at a national conference in June after all.  Barring the pandemic getting even worse, both the wife and I will be going and making a vacation out if. Yay. One day I might have an official site for some of my projects (which will not be connected to this blog in any way, shape, or form). Until then, I am a man of mystery, readers. 

Privacy Aside

Okay, look, I know it is extremely unlikely for anyone to connect the dots back to my real identity (in fact, if one was so inclined an observant reader could figure out who I am if they really wanted to or were bored out of their mind)...but I would rather not push my luck to include rando's in real-life tracking me down or former students reading some of my private thoughts.

Okay, look, I am aware that it's a little weird that I don't mind if random people on the internet know some of my deepest private beliefs but don't want people that actually know me to find out about the blog? That feels like a major contradiction. It's not like I am hiding some deep dark secret in plain sight, but I must admit I would feel like if someone's reading this, I have to be okay with them essentially reading my thoughts. That's not something I am willing just to let go of easily. 

Basketball Fragments 

It was weird rooting for the Lakers, but I did. I actually did. I like and respect Lebron, especially his stance on social issues. Obviously, his game is incredible and speaks for itself.  I also really like Danny Green & Caruso (I am an Aggie after all). I liked their whole rag-tag bench of has-beens and loveable losers. 

Okay, look, except Dwight Howard. He's still annoying and unlikeable. 

Looking forward to the draft for the Spurs. The first lottery in 20 odd years for the Spurs....this draft is supposed to be weak but ya never know. It will at least be interesting. The Spurs have an interesting array of young talent but really no superstar potential. White may be a fringe all-star at best. The jury is out for Keldon Johnson, but as stacked as the West is, I think the Spurs will be in the lottery for the next three years (bare minimum). 

Election Anxiety Fragments

I am not as anxious as I was a month ago as I am holding out hope Biden can blow Trump on election night, so badly, he just has to concede the next day. That is the best outcome for our nation. Otherwise, riots, looting, people dying, and the the further erosion of democracy and social norms. It really is that dramatic. If the GOP sows the fascist field and keeps embracing the alternative facts of Trump world, we will be in a scary state of affairs. 

So, ya know, I'm holding out hope for a Biden blowout. 

Okay, look, I am not saying it's in the bag because we've never had an election during a pandemic, there could be delays with the early mail vote, and of course, Trump himself will claim it's rigged against him, so who knows what will happen? But I'll be waiting with bated breath and hoping with prayer all goes well. 

Okay, look, that's the end of the blog. I hope you noticed a pattern. 

Go enjoy a nice cup of coffee, sit on the back porch, and think about all you're grateful for. 

I'll be back to post my election recap (probably but maybe not). 

Fragmenting into Fall

I'm back with more fragments of my life. 

Today I started another eight-week graduate course. Hooray (except not really). 

It turns out I am going to attempt to present some of my research from this summer at a conference in June 2021. If it gets rejected, I won't be following up on it on the blog. I'm crossing my fingers because it's at a cool location and if my presentation is approved  (and the pandemic isn't still raging like crazy and the whole thing gets canceled)....I will take the wife and make a whole trip out of it! I don't think the school will have the cash to pony up for travel, but I will apply for it. 

My own classes started a few weeks ago. So far, they are great students.... but with Zoom I just can't remember who is in what class, what face goes with what name, etc. until their little faces populate the screen. Even then, some don't have their camera on and I really don't know anything about them. Oh well, it's the new normal. 

I started a soft re-watch of Star Trek: Voyager. It's underrated... What I mean by "soft re-watch" is that if I am not feeling the episode or I hated it before, I just skip it.  I did a soft re-watch on DS9 two years ago but never quite finished my soft re-watch of TNG. So far, it's a great comfort to watch mindlessly at night (and my wife makes fun of me all the time and I don't mind). I just started season four and I have probably only skipped 4-5 episodes a season anyway. STV has some clunkers, but honestly, that's just ST. There are always some bad episodes! 

I was partially inspired by Renegade Cut's excellent video below: 

Almost all of Renegade Cut's stuff is great, especially his political videos and film analysis Give the channel a try. 

COOKING NEWS (yes, COOKING NEWS)

This past summer I started to cook a little more for the fam. Well, I always could follow directions and do the necessities.  Although I took particular pride in my grilled cheese sandwiches (secret ingredient to make your life complete: put a thin layer of bean dip in there and you will thank the Lord your read this blog after your first gooey bite). 

Some Highlights included: 

I think I perfected my mashed potatoes (admittedly, it's easy, just add a ton of butter). 

I make pretty decent home-made biscuits now.

I also pan-grilled some decent cheeseburger sliders in the house.

I also really messed up a cookie recipe and the cookies crumbled like crazy (in part because I was trying to wing a bit of it). 

All that to led to last night's masterpiece. I followed Adam Ragusea's recipe on Chicken Parm (just go to YT and look his channel up, soooo good!)  and my family loved it. I felt like a pro and I admit it was a  very satisfying feeling that I don't get at work or anywhere else.  I got some ideas for my next recipe, should be fun. 

End of COOKING NEWS, yes COOKING NEWS......

School at the house with three kids, while my wife juggles two part-time jobs and I have a full-time job is, well, not fun. Especially tough dealing with our 3rd grader, and look, I can't blame the kiddo all that much either...they need less Zoom time and more flexibility. Again, can't complain too much as we're all struggling in this brave new world (that sucks). 

I read a lot of news and now I will be reading for grad school, but I have started a re-read of The Silmarillion last week, cuz I guess I like slow, dense storytelling? I dunno, it feels right and safe late at night to forget the troubles of the world. 

That's all I got for ya. 

In the meantime, be sure your butt is registered to vote this fall, don't let it worry you too much, and don't forget to do a load of laundry tonight (you won't regret that you have clean underwear in the morning). 

4 More Underrated 90's Albums

Last summer I wrote a post about six underrated albums from the 90's and I'm back with four more underrated 90's gems.  I suppose this is a series now, so look for another few of these underrated 90's album blog posts in the future. 

The point is, I love 90's music and so should you. 

Sloan - Twice Removed (1994)

Sloan made my list of underrated albums last summer with its masterpiece, One Chord To Another. While Twice Removed is less well-known than OCTA, it should be considered an indie classic. If you enjoy 90's rock n' roll with beautiful melodies that will stay stuck in your head for the rest of your life, then I recommend this album.  There's a neat degree of diversity on this album, from fun rockers, "Penpals", "I Hate My Generation" and "Deeper than your Beauty", to mid-tempo rockers, "People of the Sky" and "Worried Now"; along with forlorn love songs that still take me back to my own heartaches and longings ("Bells On" and "Loosens"). For many years, this album was my therapy. The song I proposed to my wife is no other than "I Can Feel It". This album is so underrated, even I underrate it when I haven't listened to it in a while. From back to front, it's a great album. I love it, please give this album a shot. 

Standout Tracks for the Lazy: "I Can Feel It", "I Hate My Generation", "Loosens", "Bells On" 

Frank Black & The Catholics - S/T (1998)

 

There's something wonderfully weird when Frank Black isn't writing with the Pixies. It doesn't always mean success either, for every gem on Teenager of the Year, there are two more clunkers (although I do love "Speedy Marie" more than I can put into words). In my next "Underrated 90's Albums" blog series, I may get into The Cult of Ray, which is also good...but this self-titled album of Frank Black and the Catholics is just the bee's knees. It's rollicking and rolling and you will be sure to have your head bopping to every track. It's an all-time great cathartic sing-along album in the car on a warm summer night.

Famously, the band had sent a demo tape to a producer and the producer said, "you're already done...there's no need to record this in the studio"...and boom, just like that the album came into existence. There's is definitely a live feel for this album, it's a little messy but it makes for an endearing experience. It's one rocker after another (with "Dog Gone" being the exception) often the lyrics blend mythical creatures, biblical imagery and a mishmash of world geography and history. For all the uptempo rockers here, there's an underlying sadness and quiet anger in the songs. 

Standout Tracks for the Lazy: "All My Ghosts", "Do You Feel Bad About It", "Dog Gone" "I Gotta Move"

For Squirrels - Example (1995)

 

 

If you're not familiar with the story of For Squirrels, it's a sad tale of tragedy and unfulfilled promise.  Two of the four band members died in an accident while on tour for their first major-label debut album. I just can't divorce my mind from this tragedy when I listen to this album. Ironically, their single "Mighty K.C." exemplifies the album. The song was about the death of Kurt Cobain. It's got this classic 90's alt-rock verse (that are frankly nothing to write home about), builds to an okay pre-chorus and then....it hits you will this sugary pop chorus that is amazing. Given what happened to the band, I think it's best you listen to the chorus for yourself, but it might very well bring tears to your eyes.  The album has a classic (one might say "typical") 90's alternative rock album sound and I don't mean that in a bad way. Some songs haven't aged as well ("Superstar" and "Stark Pretty") but many songs have only gotten better with age, especially the more REM-influenced tracks like "Smithville" and "Orangeworker". It's a solid all-around album. This album won't crack your top 30 albums of all-time but it's a solid album. If you like 90's rock with a dash of REM, go for it. 

Standout Tracks for the Lazy: "Smithville", "Mighty K.C.", "8:02 AM", "Orangeworker"

Fig Dish - That's What Love Songs Often Do (1995)

   

 Just search for the full YT playlist, this is only "Lemonader".

 If you're looking for that classic, loud-soft-loud 90's power-pop sound, then I've got an album for you. I was first introduced to this album from my radio show in college. We regularly played "Seeds" and "Chew Toy" off the album but in the years that followed, I admit I forgot this band existed. Sometime in the mid-aughts I was reflecting on the old show and I remembered this album and purchased it online. It's a bit like if Jawbreaker and Fountains of Wayne had a baby - it's heavy, catchy and an all-around great rock album that delivers sardonic delivery and romantic lyrics. The Chicago-based band only released two albums but I found the other album didn't capture my attention quite like this one. If you're a fan of "power pop" in the truest sense of the term, check it out. 

Standout Tracks: "Weak and Mean", "Seeds", "Chew Toy" "Quiet Storm King", "Lemonader" 

I'll be back in a few months with EVEN MORE underrated albums from the 90's. Until then, stay safe, stay cool and next time you're at the store get yourself an ice cream treat.

Thought of the Day

 You're better than a masterpiece, because you are capable of change.  An art object is forever frozen in a  static existence. You're capable to growth, change and transformation so make the most of it. 

Time Travel Blues (poem)

I have written on and off for the past few years and yet when I review my document, I have barely kept anything from the last 5 months. Lately, I have felt creatively bankrupt. I have started writing blog posts only to give up in disgust or boredom. 

When I review my old poems from the last two years, I can see themes that come in waves, sometimes subconsciously. There was a motif of pirates on the high seas (often ending in disasters or being eaten by sharks), clouds, dreams and stars. But I have also have a theme of wrestling with the past. Of course there are heavy doses of nostalgia but more importantly, themes of the futility of living by the past, in the past, or the folly of living the answers of our past history. Anyway, here's one that I don't hate. 

Time Travel Blues 

You tell me you can travel back in time.

I'm telling you you might get yellow fever and die.

You're fumbling around in a dusty library

that never used the Dewey decimal system.

I’m sorry I can’t join you on your mission to the past.

You're traveling but your die is already cast.

Stop wondering about the history that never came about 

And start thinking about your future scars.

It's the Summer of 2020 and it Sucks Fragments.

I don't have many words to say about the murder of George Floyd that hasn't' said before but I'll start and end with:

Black Lives Matter

and 

Defund the Police.

Also, we're living in a pandemic, that sucks. I am convinced Donald Trump's leadership has cost the US tens of thousands of lives. What a disaster. I am predicting at least 200,000 dead by the end of the fall and depending on developments/treatments/a vaccine possibly 250,000 by the end of the winter. I might be low-balling it too and this would not include the tens of thousands that we will likely never count in the official numbers. I still feel like we hit an alternate universe in 2016. Sigh.....well on that uplifting note:

Here's some fragments on life: 

I am back in grad school for promotion purposes. I had an opportunity to write about Carl Barks in a big long paper and I have learned a hard lesson. By taking something you love and turning it into a research paper can drain some of the fun of it away.  I still think it's fun but ya know, there was one night that I didn't want to read a Barks' story that I had never read before....that was weird. I am quite proud of my work but I don't want to reveal too much here (also I may get feedback that it sucks and then, never mind, I won't be proud of it anymore). 

I don't even want to take another grad class right away but given my schedule, I will start another in August, with one week off. Blah. 

My wife gave me a haircut. It was fun. Overall, given her inexperience, I have to give her an A for effort and C for the job. I'm wearing caps a lot when I go out. :) 

I watched the Watchmen HBO series...was really great but I wasn't crazy about the ending. (SPOILER ALERT). I really wanted her to just throw the egg in the woods. 

Also watched The Orville.....and not too shabby. I went in with low expectations. I would recommend if you know it's a homage to TNG and you know it's going to be just "okay"....you'll like it. It's not groundbreaking but I would be lying if I didn't laugh a few times and I am looking forward to the next season (apparently, they had to stop filming but they are done with at least seven episodes...maybe they can release what they have in the fall??).

One of my best friends might be moving out of state. I am really bummed and now I realize even though we were both busy raising families, doing life, we never spent as much time together as we should have. I am having major regrets as I figured they would live here for the long haul. That's life for ya....you don't appreciate people or opportunities until they're gone. 

Kids responded as well as kids could respond to the pandemic/school at home. It's been tough and yet, we're survived in large part due to the efforts of my lovely wife. 

I hate Zoom. 

My birthday is coming up, yipee, According to my calculations, I will be 43. I still feel like a young 36. I am not sure I am all wiser than I used to be. I am still fumbling, bumbling my way through life with usually a smile and a sarcastic remark. My goal this year is to be kinder, more forgiving, less prone to yell at the kids and more thoughtful. Lofty goals, I admit....time will tell if I can do it. 

I have been in contact with two people from work via texts/phone calls since the pandemic broke. Also, another one by email (occasionally) and everyone else just dropped off the planet. I kinda was hoping one friend would reach out (we exchanged emails in April, when I emailed her)...but now I am playing the whole, "it's your turn to contact me"...and finding out she probably doesn't care...lol.  Kinda a bummer but it is what it is. 

I am supposed to be grading papers or I could be working on my big paper due next week...and I just don't have it in me tonight. Sigh. 

That's it. Stay safe out there, kids. Wear your mask, wash your hands and after that don't forget to give your cat a good pet down once in a while. 

Confucius Didn't Say That: Find the Right Focus

There's not a person who wonders what life would be like if they were wealthy. Who hasn't dreamed of winning the lottery? Why couldn't have life just turned out a little bit differently?

Well, buckle up, my fellow Confucius Fanatics, on this post of "Confucius Didn't Say That", I enter unprecedented, new territory... a quote that isn't quite by Confucius, but it's the closest we've ever come on the series.

You'll see, I don't want to spoil it just yet.

Here's today's gem:


"Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven." - Confucius 


Unlike most quotes on the series, which are largely pulled out a black hole of Google ignorance and idiocy, this quote is ACTUALLY IN THE ANALECTS.

Tim & Eric to the rescue. This .gif has aged like fine wine. It's a classic. 

Yeah, it shocked me too. It's as if the top ten Google quotes have been getting better of late..so yes, we have our first quote on the series that is actually in the Analects and yet I still scratched out Confucius in the quote above because.....wait for it.... he didn't actually say it.

This is as close as we've come on this blog series to an actual quote from Confucius but let's make this absolutely clear,  the quote actually comes from Zi Xia, one of Confucius' disciples, not Confucius himself.  Zi Xia was a pretty big deal too, it seems after Confucius' death, he opened up his own Confucian school and was quite successful....but the truth is even more complicated than that because once you see the quote in context, the quote really isn't even from Zi Xia! 

Zi Xia is actually quoting a (traditional) proverb. There's no evidence to suggest one or way or the other if Confucius would agree with this proverb (although I have a few guesses below). 

So, while it's as close to having a "real" Confucius quote on this blog series....as far as I am concerned it's just as bad as the others. Not only is it not from Confucius, but the quote is also completely and utterly out of context. So much so, it renders the actual passage to mean something nearing the approximate opposite of its intention.

Here's the full context, again from my favorite online translation, AC Muller, it's from 12:5:

"Sima Niu, upset, said: “Everyone has brothers, I alone have none.”

Zi Xia said, “I have heard this proverb: "Life and death are up to Fate. Wealth and honor are held by Heaven."

“If the noble man is reverent without lapse, and courteous to everyone within the frame of propriety, everything within the four seas will be his brother. Why should a noble man be concerned about not having brothers?”

The quote taken out of context seems to be saying that your birth and death are fated but your wealth is a blessing from Heaven. To Western ears, the idea of Heaven would likely be associated with God.  One might get the impression that Confucius had similar ideas about God/Heaven that many Westerners have. One might think Confucius is like the ancient Joel Osteen, health and wealth, baby!

Look, I have nothing clever to say here, just that Joel Osteen is an idiot.

Even if this quote was 100% true, I find it neither insightful nor helpful. It's the worst kind of advice or "wisdom" proverbs.  It reinforces the idea that you have no control over your life. Life and death? Fated. You're not rich? Too bad, God doesn't want you to be rich, you greedy butt-hole. You play the role of a victim in a game where you didn't set the rules and can't even control your own game piece.

I disagree with the quote on the merit of its claims as well. I don't think your life or death is fated, I don't think God wills people to be wealthy or poor. While free will is limited, it's also a fact that we do have at least some free will. And before you get technical on me, even if it turns out we don't have free will in any meaningful way, it's certainly better to believe it.

Let's unpack the analect selection a little further but I should point out I am only an amateur Chinese philosopher fan (I bet you haven't heard that very often). I freely admit I don't have a firm grasp of the Chinese language used here nor am I an expert on the concepts or historical background. On one hand, I am not sure if it's "fate" or "Fate" (I've seen this translated differently) and I am honestly not sure what the difference between my death being ordained by Fate (or fate) and my wealth determined by Heaven might be, given that they are both out of my hands. Although I could explain Confucius' conception of Heaven better than his idea of "Fate", I don't need to bother because it neither help us really understand the meaning and message of the passage.


Okay, so that's just getting the theoretical stuff out the way, hopefully, this next part won't be so boring. 
Now we gotta talk about Sima Niu.  Trust me, it's important, just bear with me.

Sima Niu is described as being "upset" when he pathetically states, "Everyone has brothers, I alone have none.” You might be thinking this is an exaggeration for effect because, after all, we all have felt alone in the world at one time or another. However, it turns out he really did "lose" his brothers (at least in some sense).

According to Edward Slingerland (his translation of the Analects is clear and his additional notes indispensable), one of Sima Niu's older brothers had caused trouble for Confucius previously and had planned a revolt against his sovereign, while his other older brother had already carried out an unsuccessful revolt earlier in his life.

As Slingerland states, "The comment 'He alone has no brothers' is not meant literally; the point is either that he has no brothers truly worthy of being considered brothers, or that all of (his) brothers are in exile...and therefore as good as dead" (Slingerland 127). Meaning, Sima Niu is feeling lost and without a center. He is in need of good advice.

Zi Xia's first response to Sima Niu's suffering is that traditional proverb we've already read... but he immediately follows it up with the wisdom of his own. This immediate response might be read as a slight rebuke of the proverb. It implies the old proverb is at least not applicable in this case and at worse it implies the proverb to not be useful at all.

The advice that Zi Xia does give focuses on what the upset Sima Niu can do. And the advice is really good:  

“If the noble man is reverent without lapse, and courteous to everyone within the frame of propriety, everything within the four seas will be his brother. Why should a noble man be concerned about not having brothers?”


In other words, we shouldn't focus on the past or things you can't control, we should focus on what we can control. We have to realize that life, death and riches are largely out of our control. All we have are our choices. The advice is almost existential. 

Of course, Zi Xia isn't an existentialist at all and he proves it with a VERY Confucian claim that if you are good, good things will surely follow. It's a hopeful and quite naive point that Confucius and his followers constantly make. It's possibly seen most clearly in 4:25:

"The Master said: “If you are virtuous, you will not be lonely. You will always have friends.”

Confucius had an almost unhealthy faith in the power of a good example or righteous character. When the right things were being done (by the right people)....things would fall into place for everyone.

 It was almost as close as the usual grounded Confucius gets to magical or religious thinking.  This quote is  from 16:2:

"The Master said: “When the Way (just government) prevails in the realm, then ritual, music and military campaigns are all initiated by the emperor. When the Way declines in the realm, then ritual, music and military campaigns are initiated by the nobles. When these things are initiated by the nobles, the ruling house will usually lose its power within ten generations. When these things are initiated by the high ministers, the ruling house will usually lose its power within five generations. When they are initiated by the lower officers, the ruling house will lose its power within three generations. When the Way prevails in the realm, the common people do not debate politics among themselves.”

All in all, I think Zi Xia gives good advice but I wouldn't go as far as Confucius in my faith that my good examples and choices will be rewarded. I do agree with the sentiment that if we focus on our choices and we work on building character, we will find more doors opening for us than if we don't.

Humans have always excelled when we focus on what we can do, not what we can't do. We need to follow Anna's advice from Frozen 2. Anna had it right, all we can do when things get tough is to "do the next right thing".

To be clear the movie is pretty okay but this song "Do the Next Right Thing" is amazing.

Yeah, I did it, I wedged a Frozen 2 and a The Fiddler on the Roof reference in a single blog post about Confucius. Life achievement unlocked!! Thank you Good Night!!!

Cute Things My Kids Said A Long Time Ago

I've been going though my drafts of blog posts I never finished so here's one I polished up today.

Here's a short list from my memory banks that my kids mispronounced. We still say them around the house sometimes. I am writing this because I don't want these to escape into the ether of memory. So, here ya go.

My oldest daughter called granola bars,"Gorilla Bars"

My oldest daughter called hand sanitizer, "hanaitizer"..which I think is pretty ingenious. 

My middle daughter called coyotes, "COY - otes".

My middle daughter told us the toilet was "flooding up" and used that term several times, again, I think it really describes what was happening quite well. 

My son called the Ninja Turtles as "Engine Turtles". I think one of the only words he did not pronounce correctly, so we let him mispronounce this longer than we would have usually. 

My son started calling Parmesan cheese, "Parmish".  I think he could say it but he couldn't remember the word for it...so he got "Parmish"...we think it's perfect.  

Thought of the Day

Comparison is usually a terrible means of evaluation.

Decade Old Fragments: 10 Years of Blogging

In my very first blog post, I wrote,

"If I write something, it will be posted here. Just don't expect too much. I'll probably abandon it sooner or later."

Well, ten years later and the blog is still chugging along. I undersold the blog because, well, I didn't quite know what it would become (I also tend to undersell everything as I find there's wisdom in doing so). Additionally, I was so haphazard, unfocused and busy that the best one could hope for, would be a blog featuring just the bare fragments of ideas. A blog not themed on any one topic but serving as an outlet for random ideas, memories, musings, etc.

Well, by no planning and almost zero foresight, today marks my tenth year (and 372 posts) of blogging. 

So, uncork the champagne and order cake and balloons and celebrate my first decade of blogging. 

Just a pic of me and some buddies having the time of our lives. We had a big party for the blog last weekend, the rule was we all had to wear black and get our teeth whitened. Don't get your feelings hurt because you weren't invited. It was a pretty exclusive party. I couldn't invite all my readers.

Sure, it's not like I blog every day, but still, nothing to sneeze at either, bub. You know anyone else  that has a blog after 10 years of almost zero readership?

Yeah, neither do I......um...erm...(sigh)....yeah, not many of us left.


Anyway, I started the blog at the tail end of the Golden Era of personal blogs (2003-20011).  During that time, MySpace was a thing but with the ascendancy of Facebook, blogs changed. When my wife and I had our first baby she blogged about motherhood and the kids and it was a damn good blog. I think she blogged for about  3-5 years, but when kiddo # 3 came around, the blog became defunct (I mean, a lot of things become defunct when you have three kids).

FB changed everything. After all, it was a hell of a lot easier to update and to maintain a profile than to blog.  In the early teens, there were still a good number of news blogs, but alas, many of those have fallen by the way side as well.

I'm sure there's plenty of personal blogs out there but as much as I joke about having no readers...I'm not reading anyone else's blog either (but seriously, I'll follow yours if you follow mine).

I and the blog have changed over the years, but one thing hasn't changed. I still find it enjoyable to write. I might have a beer tonight to celebrate. Here's to another ten years of blogging about whatever weird stuff strikes my fancy. So, click around if you'd like or not and just go along your merry way.

Either way, cheers.

My Personal Favorites

Confucius Didn't Say That! (on going blog series in which I explore fake Confucius quotes)
Death, Birds, Hope 
Spurs Memories from the 1980's (find out how I met Coach Pop)   
The Problem with Truth 
Ode to Weezer's "Across the Sea"
Death is like... 
Life is like...
Six Underrated Albums from the 90's

A Poem for my Children
A short story entitled "The Execution of a Komodo Dragon"


Weird Stuff I Blogged About

I lived like a Muslim for a Week
An abandoned idea from college for a cartoon entitled, "Burrito Boy"
I wrote a whole post about the Wiggles, that's pretty weird.
I review Google Reviews of Machu Pichu 
I ask a lot of questions about Disney cartoon characters, like good questions.


The Best Detours in Philosophy/Religion

A blog in which I rant about existentialism, Horton Hears a Who, Steven Hawkins, etc. 
Deep Dive on Forgiveness as seen in Jesus and Mohammad
Stories Before the Big Bang
The Ineffability of Life
Truth as a Object/Truth as a Journey 
My blog about going to a Skih Center. 
 
Best Comic Book Posts

Comics Stories: Fragments on Comics and 1986
My Five Favorite Comic Book Cliffhangers
Lies, Damned Lies and Comic Books

The Best of my Bio Blog posts/series
A series of posts on mix-tapes and CD's I made back in the 90's
I had cancer once
Reflecting on my days as a DJ in college
Fragments on going to Lollapooza in 1996
I taught in Peru in 2014
I miss my friend  
Old Sketch becomes a Treasure
How I Met Your Mother (series on how I met my wife)
The Wonder Years (High School Retrospective)
I was in a local production of Wizard of Oz

Favorite Art Posts 
Barbar the Elephant
I Like Stars 
Trolls, lots of 'em 
Old Photos 2005-2007 
Self Portrait (2014)
Dr. Seuss' Sleep Book

Favorite Music Posts
Breeders Concert Review
Weezer's Tragic Girl
Weezer Concert Review
Insanely Detailed Conception of what would be on my Deluxe edition of Weezer's Blue Album should have been.
Six Underrated Albums from the 90's


Best Spurs Posts 
Spurs Memories from the 1980's (find out how I met Coach Pop)  

Some of my favorite Sports moments 

90's Spurs Memories

If you're still reading this, why? Just click around or be on your way. I'm pretty sure I'll be around blogging till Google folds Blogger into internet oblivion or I die. In the meantime, while we face the pandemic, talk a nice walk outside in the evening, take a deep breath and stare up at the stars and wonder.

Art Post: Donald Duck: The Black Pearls of Tabu

It's been awhile since I've shared an art project. Given that I have had a little more time to be home  (as we all do), I started doodling a scene from a Carl Bark's story, "The Black Pearls of Tabu Yama". I have love of Carl Barks, so it was just a matter of time when I found the right thing to re-create. The image comes from the first page of the story, and I found it quite captivating.

So, I went for it. I was hampered by two major things. First, I didn't have enough paint to paint it, so I decided on using map pencils. I also couldn't scourge up a small enough ink point and being that we are in quarantine, I didn't have the patience to just wait for an online order, so I worked ahead anyway despite my limitations.  While map pencils have their own unique, child-like charm, it is still an imperfect medium. Nevertheless, it is what it is: a fun project to waste the hours of the day, to day-dream about an adventure on the high sea.

I added a few more seagulls and clouds as well to fill up the now vacated space.

I'd give you a close up of the ship but man, I really goofed up those ducks.

Nirvana: Best/Worst/Favorite/Overrated/Underrated - Album by Album

 Hello All,

I started a new series reviewing some of my favorite artist's discography. Last time I did the Beatles and that was really fun, so I'm back to revel in my own self-righteous opinions. This time I'm covering another big favorite of mine...Nirvana.

 As always, here's my overly-detailed definitions of terms:

Best - this is obvious, what I think is the best track on the album in terms of composition and what it sets out to do.

Worst - also obvious, although, this definitely has more bias in it than "Best".

Overrated/Underrated - As I typically don't talk to people about the Nirvana nor am I reading much about them these days...so, this is just a general, what I think others think. Also, the Underrated category acts as another way for me to shoe horn one my favorites into the list.  Finally, if I place a song in the overrated category, it doesn't mean it's a bad song, it just means it's overrated. No more, no less.

Favorite - My personal favorite, not always the best track but the one I connected with the most or have a special memory associated with.

Bleach

Best: "About a Girl"
Worst: "Paper Cuts" 
Favorite: "About a Girl"/"Love Buzz"
Overrated: "About a Girl"
Underrated: "Love Buzz"/"Blew"

Nevermind

Best: "In Bloom"/"Drain You" (this was tough, this album has so many near perfect gems)
Worst: "Stay Away"
Favorite: "In Bloom"
Overrated: There's the obvious choice, and that that would be correct but I'm going to go with every beginning guitar player's go-to "Come As You Are" (and for the record I love this song)
Underrated: "On a Plain"

Hormoaning

Included because, hey, why not? Let's do an unnecessary deep dive on a EP that was only regionally released and consists of mainly cover songs?

Best: "Aneurysm" (such a cool tune)
Worst: "Even in His Youth" (and this is a decent track too)
Favorite: "Turnaround" (maybe my favorite cover of any song by any band)
Overrated: "Aneurysm" (just here because it has to be the only song the general public knows about) but this was
Underrated:Everything except "Aneurysm" but I guess "D-7"

Incesticide

Best: "Aneurysm" (well, this is awkward but yeah, it fits the bill again)
Worst: "Big Long Now" (yawn)
Favorite: "Turnaround" (again, it's here but it's that good) & "Son of a Gun"
Overrated: "Sliver" (I still love it)
Underrated:"Beeswax"

In Utero

Best: "Heart Shaped Box"
Worst: "tourette's" (it ain't that bad either)
Favorite: "All Apologies"/"Dumb"/the first 30 seconds of"Scentless Apprentice"
Overrated:"Rape Me"
Underrated: "Very Ape" and "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter"


Unplugged in NYC

Best:"Where Did You Sleep Last Night?"
Worst: "Pennyroyal Tea" (ok sorry, it's not the greatest but if you've heard the rehearsal footage with Pat Smear trying to sing backup vocals, this is X1000 better...it's like they were too afraid to tell him he was off key).
Favorite:"Man Who Sold the World"
Overrated: "Pennyroyal Tea"(gotta pick something)
Underrated: "Oh Me"

From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah

I don't wanna do this album. It's a fine compilation of live tracks, I mean it's good but I don't listen to it much anymore. Off the top of my head, my personal faves are "School", "Spank Thru" and of course, you guessed it, "Aneurysm"

With the Lights Out - Box Set 
After pining after a box for almost a decade, the box set finally came out and by then, I was not the hardcore Nirvana fan I used to be. I couldn't really justify spending hundreds of dollars on the set and the "Best of" set I had already heard 90% of it on bootlegs. So, suffice to say, I don't have a list of either. I'm tired and can't list anymore Nirvana songs this late either!

The Beatles: Best/Worst/Favorite/Overrated/Underrated - Album by Album

Hey I'm bored during a pandemic and I got idea for a new blog series.

 I am happy I'm not dying (yet), and I hope you're staying safe as well! We're in a new world and frankly, I want the old one back.

Anyway, with this series, I will be exploring my favorite artist's discography with quick lists off the album. The good news is, if you think my opinions stink, the blog itself will be a pretty quick read. Suffice to say, this was pretty hard to do. There were some amazing Beatles songs that didn't make the cut and singles like "Rain" that aren't on a proper "album". That said, the challenges made it more fun too.

As always, here's my overly-detailed definitions of terms:

Best - this is obvious, what I think is the best track on the album in terms of composition and what it sets out to do.

Worst - also obvious, although, this definitely has more bias in it than "Best".

Overrated/Underrated - As I typically don't talk to people about the Beatles nor am I reading much about them either, this is just a general, what I think others think. Also, the Underrated category acts as another way for me to shoe horn one my favorites into the list.  Finally, if I place a song in the overrated category, it doesn't mean it's a bad song, it just means it's overrated. No more, no less.

Favorite - My personal favorite, not always the best track but the one I connected with the most or have a special memory associated with.


-----------------------

 Please Please Me & With The Beatles 

Given the lack of original songs, I am just combining these and adding another category. Already with the first two albums and I am already breaking my own rules, I am god of this blog and I do as I like.


Best: "All My Loving"
Worst: "Little Child"
Favorite: "All My Loving"
Overrated: "I Saw Her Standing There" (ducks tomatoes being thrown...something had to go here)
Underrated: "Love Me Do"

Best Cover: "Twist & Shout" (Overplayed? Overrated? Maybe - but still an amazing performance)

 
A Hard Day's Night 


Best: "If I Fell"
Worst:"I'll Cry Instead"/"You Can't Do That"  annoying and "You Can't..." is gross lyrically)
Favorite: "If I Fell"/"I Should Have Known Better" (look, it's my blog, there's two, get over it)
Overrated: "And I Love Her"
Underrated:"Things We Said Today"


Beatles for Sale 
 
Look, I never really listen to this album...so, I'm skipping it, although I am partial to "I'm a Loser" and "I'll Follow the Sun".


Help! 

Best: "Ticket to Ride" (it's just such an amazing pop song, I can't deny its placement here)
Worst: eh, I dunno,"The Night Before" ? That kinda sucks.
Favorite: "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" (another vocal home run- I'm in love with this song)
Overrated: "Yesterday" (duh)
Underrated:"You're Gonna Lose That Girl"/"I've Just Seen A Face"


Rubber Soul

Best: "In My Life"
Worst: "Run for Your Life" (it's just so gross lyrically but I admit it's an ear-worm)
Favorite: "I'm Looking Through You" (one of my all time fave post break-up songs)
Overrated: "In My Life"
Underrated: "Michelle" (Just a perfect twinge of sweetness and wistfulness that makes me feel warm and fuzzy)

Revolver 

Best: "Here There And Everywhere"
Worst: "Doctor Roberts" (it's good but goofy)
Favorite: "I'm Only Sleeping"/"And Your Bird Can Sing"/"She Said She Said" (also like three other songs, I had to stop somewhere).
Overrated: "Eleanor Rigby" and "Yellow Submarine"
Underrated: "Good Day Sunshine" (pure cheese by Paul, but damn, it's good cheese)

Sgt Pepper's 

Best: "A Day in the Life" (someone might track me down and hurt me if I didn't place this here)
Worst: "Within You Without You" (I'm the kinda Beatles fan that gets bummed by a Indian-inspired tune - just too drone-y and boring).
Favorite: "When I'm Sixty-Four" (What can I say? I'm a romantic)
Overrated: "A Day in the Life" (it's true)
Underrated: "Fixing a Hole"

Magical Mystery Tour (I know, I know this barely counts as an album)

Best: "Strawberry Fields Forever" (one of the best songs in the history of pop music)
Worst: "Blue Jay Way" (one of the worst songs in the history of pop music - just kidding but it's bad).
Favorite:"Strawberry Fields Forever"
Overrated: "All You Need is Love" (it hurts me to write this but it's true)
Underrated: "Hello/Goodbye" (not sure if this is even possible, but I'm putting it here)

White Album (I'm cheating, so sue me)

Sides 1 & 2

Best:"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Worst: "Rocky Racoon"
Favorite: "I'm So Tired"/"Happiness Is A Warm Gun"
Overrated: "Glass Onion" (fun but ya know, a little too cheeky)
Underrated: "I'm So Tired"/"I Will"

Sides 3 & 4

Best: "Long Long Long"
Worst: "Revolution 9"  (Should I apologize for this? It was a great choice for the time though)
Favorite: "Long Long Long"/"Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey"
Overrated: "Birthday" (for lack of a better selection...?)
Underrated: "Honey Pie"/"Helter Skelter"

I refuse to do Yellow Submarine. 

Abbey Road

Best: "Here Comes the Sun"
Worst: "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" (this song should not exist and it's everyone who has a brain's least favorite Beatles song)
Favorite: The Melody the ends the album/"Here Comes the Sun"
Overrated: "Something"/"Come Together" (Have you heard the Elvis cover of "Something"? - Don't do it, just don't, it might make you hate it)
Underrated: "Oh! Darling!"

Let It Be

Best: "Two of Us"/"Across the Universe"
Worst: "Dig a Pony"
Favorite: "Two of Us"
Overrated: "Let it Be" (duh)
Underrated: "Two of Us"

Well, there ya have it folks, next up I'm going for Nirvana.

Poem Post: An old poem

Hey poem lovers!

I haven't posted an old poem here in a good long while. I was digging around in my old favorite poetry book and here's a poem I still quite like. I am pretty sure this was written late in college, trying to inspire myself to do something with my life. Because I can basically never stop (Excuse me, I suffer from GLS - George Lucas Syndrome)...I just added a few lines to make it "better".


and if they try to frighten me with tales of woe,
so be it I say,
for it is better to have lived
than to walk amongst the dead.
and if I fall and fail,
so be it I say,
for it is better to have fallen
than to be scared away.
and if they tell me I will learn to regret and only turn grey,
so be it I say,
for it is better to hope even if you've lost your way.


It's kinda got all my hallmarks...and honestly, there's still in my writing style today... it's a heart-on-my-sleeve, simple and, well, adolescent in outlook.

It just happens that way. I wish I could be deep, smart and moody (I'm just that way in real life).

Cheers to all of you in the nether-world of the internet, may this good will wishing find you well and may you day be easy and warm. 

Fresh Start Fragments

It's been a good while since I've caught up with my imaginary readers on this crazy thing called life, here's the latest.

Yeah, we finally moved and all went well. It still feels like someone took all our stuff and we live in someone else's house. It will take awhile to feel like home. I have driven back into the old neighborhood on accident a few times and reach for a string for the closest light that is no longer there.  Still, I like the new house. We got some space now and we ordered a foosball table. Oh yeah. That's a dream come true.

We were driving to dinner out one night and as we passed a sea food place, I was like, "Hey, how about sea food?" and H, our 7 year-old said, "Oh, I hate sea food, except fish, I love fish".

Here's some more kid updates:

C is in 8th grade and amazes me all the time with her humor and heart. She's so talented at playing flute and she's always working on a novel.

E is in 5th grade and getting too old. I love being weird with her, tonight I told her that when you meet someone with the same name as you, you exchange boogers and place their boogers in your nose. She didn't believe me. She's doing great in ballet and is in musical revue at the church theater this spring.

H had a hard time adjusting to the new house but is doing better now. He's loving our new neighborhood is full of boys and having fun playing outside. He's getting obsessed with football, but he knows he is not playing in middle school or high school. We're getting a Switch soon and I am very excited. 

I started binging The Twilight Zone on Hulu (yes, the originals from the 60's). So good and weird and sometimes cheesy. Maybe I'll post my top ten when I'm done. Don't hold your breath.

Lots of excited stuff going on at work but I can't really share it here as I would prefer to remain as anonymous as possible (ya know, just in case some creeper is looking for me, still pretty sure if someone was actually motivated, you could figure out who I am).

Finally, I just realized in April, I will enter my tenth year of blogging. That's nuts. I'll list my favorite posts and have a proper retrospective when the time comes.

That's all for now, kids. Don't forget to double-knot your shoes and drink plenty of water.

Poem For My Children

Advice is a dangerous thing. It's usually given for free and circumstances and individuals can vary wildly, rendering given advice useless.

Anyhoot, I am throwing caution to the wind. The poem came to me in two separate pieces over a 48 hour period. It might be a little smug and cloying but it comes from the right place, I hadn’t intended for it to be written for anyone in particular but it became “advice-cy” driven and halfway through, I knew what it was.

As always, your mileage may vary.

For My Children 

When the world calls out, with her sirens calling,

hold tight and laugh at her insignificance. 

This meaningless piece of dirt has nothing on you.

When money whips you with its displeasure, 

smile at its weakness, for all it can buy is future trash.

When the red tide comes in, give it the finger, 

because there is good in this world and it’s easy to miss.

The chemicals buzzing in that brain of yours are as real as love, 

as real as you and me. 

Reality might be twisted in knots and puzzles, 

but its mazes have their own rewards. 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found my way out,

so I admit, I’ve been lost more times than I can count. 

I can’t tell you how to live with the knowledge of your impending death,

only that you must balance knowing you will die with living fully until that time.  

If you wonder why things are the way they are, then you’re on the right track,

and if you know it’s better to be kind than right then I tip my hat.

My children, I only wish for sunlight on your days and moonlight on your nights.

May you dream with your eyes open and sleep with your hearts held tight.