The Original Blog

Whoa, are we moving too slow? Have you seen us, uncle remus? We look pretty sharp in these clothes (yes, we do) Unless we get sprayed with a hose It aint bad in the day If they squirt it your way cept in the wintah, when its froze And its hard if it hits, on your nose (on your nose) Just keep your nose To the grindstone they say Will that redeem us, uncle reemus? I cant wait til mah fro is full grown Ill just throw away my doo-rag at home Ill take a drive to Beverly hills Just before dawn And knock the little jockeys Off the rich peoples lawn And before they get up Ill be gone (Ill be gone) Before they get up Ill be knockin the jockeys off the lawn (down in the dew) -Frank Zappa

The mystery man came over And he said Im outta sight! He said for a nominal service charge I could reach nirvana tonight If I was ready, willing and able To pay him his regular fee He would drop all the rest of His pressing affairs and devote His attention to me But I said look here brother Who you jiving with that cosmik debris? Now who you jiving with that cosmik debris? Look here brother, dont waste your time on me The mystery man got nervous And he fidget around a bit He reached in the pocket of his mystery robe And he whipped out a shaving kit Now I thought it was a razor And a can of foaming goo But he told me right then when the top popped open There was nothin his box wont do With the oil of aphrodite, and the dust of the grand wazoo He said you might not believe this, little fella But itll cure your asthma too And I said look here brother Who you jiving with that cosmik debris? Now what kind of a guru are you, anyway? Look here brother, dont waste your time on me (dont waste y...

Support your local emperor Pay him tribute every time Let it be known he holds your fate From his fingertips shall flow the wine Tell him when he speaks the air is sweet Wherever he walks rosebeds be laid So that he may always feel secure In the vast empire that he's made But could you tell me what he's ever done for you? I'm not the one that needed an army I'm not the one that needed respect I'm not the one that hopes they'll remember I'm not the one they'll likely forget It seems one's going to walk Where he's willing to walk And with the ears of a bat And the eyes of a hawk You can see in the end It's just a little bit of talk But a rodent's always looking For some cat he can stalk To meow for him, to meow for him... Remember once when you were young It really was not all that long ago You reached out your hand and it was met If you let your heart will tell you so So bow your head don't meet his eyes When royalty speaks you then re...

I saw the new Bat Man movie on Monday.  Me and the rest of the country.  Now I'm not going to sit here and right a review.  Don't worry about that, friends and neighbors.  But I would like to chat for a minute about how good Heath Ledger was in the movie.  I know, jump on the band wagon. But, truly, he was really good in the movie.  And you got to know that's a tough role.  One of the ultimate villains.  But before, the Joker was always a comic book villain.  Kind of hokey.  Not very believable.  Like the rest of the movie.  But this one is different. First off, the movie is incredible.  And its dark.  Not a feel-good kind of movie.  Doesn't leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.  And then lump on top of that the Joker's performance.  Wow! I'm pretty much at a loss for words as to how to describe him.  Suffice it to say, I was moved.  I was shaken.  And I remember driving home excited about the possibility of seeing the Joker again in a new Bat Man movie.  And th...

Hey now, little speedyhead, the read on the speedmeter says you have to go to task in the city where people drown and people serve. Don't be shy. Your just deserve is only just light years to go. Me, my thoughts are flower strewn ocean storm, bayberry moon. I have got to leave to find my way. Watch the road and memorize this life that pass before my eyes. Nothing is going my way. The ocean is the river's goal, a need to leave the water knows We're closer now than light years to go. I have got to find the river, bergamot and vetiver run through my head and fall away. Leave the road and memorize this life that pass before my eyes. Nothing is going my way. There's no one left to take the lead, but I tell you and you can see we're closer now than light years to go. Pick up here and chase the ride. The river empties to the tide. Fall into the ocean. The river to the ocean goes, a fortune for the undertow. None of this is going my way. There is nothing left to throw of Gi...

I really enjoy dusk.  There are about a half dozen bats that live somewhere near my apartment building.  They come out at night.  I watch them from my open window at dusk as they fly around. What cool little creatures.  I drink my Budweiser and smoke my cigarettes and listen to my music and watch the bats.  Its a nice time of day...

One could make the case (a very, very good case) that this is in fact my theme song.  And while I wasn't in the crowd that night to hear Norah's angel voice singing my song to me, I'm sure I was on her mind as these fine lyrics were sung...

Hell of a song.  Real good story behind this one.  Sonia.  Aspen.  Up all night.  Got in all kinds of crazy trouble the next day.  Missed work.  Thought to be dead.  But one hell of a night.  This song will always be Sonia's.  Wonder what she's up to these days?

If you haven't seen "The Commitments" yet, then shame on you.  Fabulous movie.  Great music, like in this scene...

she's got diamonds in her eyes that she likes to hide seek and you will find the hidin seeking kind she's got rings wrapped around her precious things and what the day brings oh it's no surprise Don't you ask me how I'm doing when everything I do says I miss you Don't you ask me how I'm doing when everything I do . . . when everything I do . . . when everything I do says I-I miss you she's got diamonds in her eyes that she likes to hide seek and you will find the hidin' seeking kind she's got rings wrapped around her precious things and what the day brings oh it's no surprise Don't you ask me how I'm doing when everything I do says I miss you Don't you ask me how I'm doing when everything I do . . . when everything I do . . . when everything I do says I miss you she's got diamonds in her eyes that she likes to hide seek and you will find the hidin' seeking kind she's got rings wrapped around her precious things and...

When we moved to Fayetteville in 1980, my sister and I both enrolled in the private school in town.  I stayed at the Academy until the 8th.  That year I decided to go to public school.  Hillcrest. It was grades 7-9.  I didn't really know anyone there.  I had some tennis buddies in the 9th grade and some basketball buddies in my grade.  But all in all, I was pretty much alone.  And scared.  And timid.  And way out of my element. Some of my "friends" from the Academy had also switched to Hillcrest.  These guys had found no problems in fitting in.  They had friends and girlfriends and everything was good for them.  They were in my English class.  They wore tie-dyes and listened to the Dead.  So of course, I started listening to the Dead.  Actually, I was already listening to the old stuff (anything hippie), but I made it more known that I was into that kind of stuff. But still things weren't happening for me.  At the Academy, I had been one of the smart kids.  There were...

Im goin out to denver See if I cant find Im goin out to denver See if I cant find That lovin colorado girl of mine The promise in her smile Shames the mountains tall The promise in her smile Shames the mountains tall She bring the sun to shining Tell the rain to fall Its been a long time, mama, Since I heard you call my name Ah, been a long time Since I heard you call my name I got to see my colorado girl again Be there tomorrow Mama, dont you cry Be there tomorrow Now, mama, dont you cry I got to kiss these Lonesome texas blues good-bye Im goin out to to denver See if I cant find Im goin out to to denver See if I cant find That lovin colorado girl of mine That lovin colorado girl of mine -Townes Van Zandt

I was reading my favorite blog last night from a young lady, who as it turns out lives about 50 yards from me.  I ran across her blog as I was looking at people from the Raleigh area.  Hers immediately popped out because she is such an amazing writer.  So since finding her blog, I check it every day to see what she's written. Her latest entry was about her best summer.  And that got me to thinking about my best summer.  To be honest, I can't remember a good or great summer.  I haven't truly had a summer in over a decade.  Once you get out of school, summer is reduced to the hot months of your working year.  Any notion of a summer vacation is quickly shot down. I have had some pretty good times during the hot months.  Some good concerts, some good beach trips, some good nights out at the bars.  But trying to pick a favorite summer from start to finish is a tough one... I turned 16 on June 6th, 1989.  I was the only one out of my group of friends to have my license. I was the...

One of the funniest TV episodes of ALL TIME!!!  X-Files is my favorite show to date.  They don't come any better than this.  And this is the funniest one they ever did.  And its a thinking kind of ending.  You gotta really get it, or else you'll definitely miss all the INCREDIBLE humor with this ending.   But just watch this clip, because, (pardon my french), "It fucking rocks!!!" 

I don't normally write about books that I've read on my blog.  I've got a separate reading journal where I write a quick page about the book I've just finished.  I'm going through 2 0r 3 a week, so I always thought that the blog would just turn into a book report kind of thing.  Better to save it for the reading journal. I just finished a book, though, that I've got to mention.  Its entitled "Orpheus Lost" by Janette Turner Hospital.  I'm spinning right now.  I just finished it a few minutes ago.  Started it yesterday.  A short one, about 370 pages.  But I'm pretty blown away by how good it is. The writing is definitely top notch.  Dialogue flows, descriptions are dense, pace moves.  But the story itself is amazing.  Simply amazing.  I haven't read an actual story that good in a long time.  Yeah, the more I think about it, I haven't read a story that good in a long time.  I'm going to definitely be thinking of this book for a while ...

Come away with me in the night Come away with me And I will write you a song Come away with me on a bus Come away with me where they can't tempt us With their lies I want to walk with you On a cloudy day In fields where the yellow grass grows knee kigh So won't you try to come Come away with me and we'll kiss On a mountain top Come away with me And I'll never stop loving you And I want to wake up with the rain Falling on a tin roof While I'm safe there in your arms So all I ask is for you To come away with me in the night Come away with me -Norah Jones

This is getting sad, friends and neighbors!  I wake up in the morning and sit down to drink my pot of coffee and read some news online.  I don't own a TV and I don't get the paper, so my entire source of information and entertainment is online.  My google home page is packed with news, sports and entertainment sources, so that I can be current on everything that's happening. Like most men, I go for sports first.  Actually, the first thing I check is email.  This way the first thing I read is my Get Fuzzy daily comic strip.  Then I check my horoscope and the days weather.  This little tradition started in high school when the first thing I'd read every morning was Calvin and Hobbes and my horoscope.  OK, then its sports.  Then I go into the news and end with entertainment. Yesterday I mentioned that the news and the sporting world were a little dull.  Things are so dull, in fact, that I can't even get through 1/2 my cup of coffee before I'm done.  And then I face...

One of my all-time favorite movies.  This scene goes right to the heart (pardon the pun) of my the post just below entitled, "The Heart Gets What the Hear Wants..." And it also gets to my incredible desire to see my angel again soon and kiss her and hug her tightly....

As I get older, I am able to look back with more experience and knowledge at things I might not have done so well in my youth.  I could fill many volumes with my stupid mistakes and thoughtless actions.  But, in my defense, that is more or less the trademark of youth.  You're supposed to be stupid, aren't you, friends and neighbors? But what is your excuse when you get older?  We're supposed to exercise caution.  We're supposed to exercise patience.  After all, we've been burned before, have we not?  And we have greater responsibilities and expectations.  Right? I would agree, with one serious exception.  I have never argued with my heart.  I have followed it with reckless abandon.  I have thrown away any trace of rational thought and followed what my heart wanted. Has my heart my gotten me in trouble?  I would answer no.  Has my heart made mistakes?  I would again answer no.  Now I will grant you, friends and neighbors, that things have pretty unanimously ended poo...

I will stroll the merry way And jump the hedges first And drink the clear Clean waterfall to quench my thirst And I shall watch the ferry-boats and they'll get high On a bluer ocean Against tomorrow's sky And I will never grow so old again. And I will walk and talk In garden's all wet with rain. Oh sweet thing, sweet thing Oh my, my, my sweet thing. And I shall drive my chariot down you streets and cry 'hey its me, I'm dynamite and I don't know why'. And you shall take me strongly in your arms again. And I will not remember that I ever felt the pain. We shall walk and talk in gardens all misty wet with rain. And I will never, never, never grow so old again. Oh sweet thing, sweet thing. My, my, my, my, my sweet thing. And I will raise my hand up into the night cloud's sky. And count the stars shining in your eye. Just to dig it all an' not to wonder that's just fine. And I wil be satisfied Not to read in between the lines. And I will walk and talk...

Bet you don't know you stole my heart away Bet you can't tell that I'm under your spell Haven't a clue what you do to me That I long to be more than friends Innocently, you came to me one day You didn't mean to make me feel this way Ever since then it's been so hard for me I long to be more than friends I'm waiting for you to give me a sign Been waiting here a long lonely time You've always been a good friend of mine And when you're near I always watch and I wonder If you can hear my heart beat like the thunder And when you go clouds go over me I long to be more than friends I wanna be more than friends -Edie Brickell

Chef's Menu Yellow Tomato Gazpacho with a Lobster Salad Chateau Langlet, Graves, Blanc, France, 2006 ~ Curry Poached Scallop with Smoked Chicken, Cauliflower Puree and Parsley Crumbs Au Bon Climat, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc Blend, Santa Barbara County, California, 2006 ~ Seared Foie Gras with Pain d‘épice, North Carolina Peaches, Hazelnuts and a Sweet and Sour Reduction Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Gewurztraminer, Alsace, France, 2006 ~ Angus Beef Tenderloin with Organic Beets, Fondant Potato, Baby Turnip and a Red Wine Jus St Supery, Elu, Napa Valley, California, 2003 ~ Midnight Moon Goat Cheese with Fig and Beet Chutney Elk Cove, Ultima, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2006 ~ Pre-Dessert ~ Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Meeker, Fro Zin, Zinfandel Ice Wine, Russian River Valley, California, 2004

George Carlin on aging! (Absolutely Brilliant) IF YOU DON'T READ THIS TO THE VERY END, YOU HAVE LOST A DAY IN YOUR LIFE. AND WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED, DO AS I AM DOING AND SEND IT ON. George Carlin's Views on Aging Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions. 'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key. You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. 'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life ! Youbecome 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!! But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! H...

My paralegal program is now done.  Well, it will be officially done tomorrow.  But today is a sort of "day week," so I'm playing hooky.  It supposed to be in the low 80's today.  Good beer weather. But paralegal being done means that I can bring my focus back to the blog no one reads!  Last month I only managed a few entries.  But this month, dear readers, I promise to win back your loyalty and devotion with near daily insights, observations and mundane, trivial facts. Yes its going to be a good month.  I think.  I never really liked July all that much.  Historically, its always been so damn hot.  And I'm trying this very minute to remember if our Cloister trips of old were in June or July.  I can't remember.  But there again, for people who actually have a summer vacation, July represents the very heart of the fun.  When I was a youngster, I think I really liked July. But I'm not a youngster anymore.  I'm a working stiff.  And July is pretty much a la...