i begin tonight a new blog within a blog! While my regular blog (less/more) celebrates my ever evolving relationship to the world. My first blog within a blog (behold!) is a list of some of the things that make a good day better.
The title of this new blog is- .... that guy. (as in" don't be that guy") Beware! it is a cautionary tale! a clarion call! a cry in the wilderness!
A year ago I went to a concert at the Bethel Woods Performing Arts center, site of the original Woodstock festival. A terrific venue to see a concert,great sound, wonderful atmosphere, . The show i saw was called Hippiefest and was a gathering of a half a dozen acts from the 60's playing short sets of their hits (or in some cases,hit)
Lots of bald,paunchy, middle aged guys- myself included. But there was a difference, lots of these guys were wearing tie dye t shirts. Bright multi colored t shirts that in most cases were strained over the mid section.
middle aged men in tie dye-- don't be that guy.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
lessons learned
In the past year I have been watching an awful lot of those true life murder shows - 48 hours Mystery, Dateline (ah the glories of Keith Morrison, but that's another topic for another time.) and I have learned two very valuable lessons:
1) when you are stabbed and the weapon is still imbedded in the wound,DON"T TAKE IT OUT! Leave it there until medical attention arrives.
2) After you commit a murder and are questioned by the authorities make sure you weep and wail and perhaps cry out "Why? Oh WHY?" Otherwise everyone, authorities,neighbors,casual passerbys will comment on your lack of affect. " He was strangely quiet" lack of emotion= obvious guilt
1) when you are stabbed and the weapon is still imbedded in the wound,DON"T TAKE IT OUT! Leave it there until medical attention arrives.
2) After you commit a murder and are questioned by the authorities make sure you weep and wail and perhaps cry out "Why? Oh WHY?" Otherwise everyone, authorities,neighbors,casual passerbys will comment on your lack of affect. " He was strangely quiet" lack of emotion= obvious guilt
Thursday, March 19, 2009
behold!
" I am orange today, loud and messy like fingerpaint"
A great lyric from a wonderful song played behind a Dell computer commercial
A great lyric from a wonderful song played behind a Dell computer commercial
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
a missive
The other day I was coming out of Stop and Shop with a basket full of groceries and as I was approaching my truck I saw something on the windshield!
A Ticket?!
A "Hey I smashed into your car but I don't have any insurance so I left this note" note?
No, It was a note from someone complimenting me on the selection of bumper stickers festooning the back o' the truck. In particular they were quite smitten with my musical taste.
a quick tour : Levon Helm Studio, Home of the Midnight Ramble
Asleep At The Wheel, Western Swing Ain't Dead, It's Asleep At the Wheel
Bob Dylan
The Fab Faux (the pre eminent Beatle tribute{?} band)
One Punch Nelson (my Brother Rob's Band)
Kings of the Wild Frontier, Rock and Roll, Good and Loud (my nephews and I)
Also: A New York Yankee Logo
READ (from the late Runaway bay Book store)
and a blank spot where someone stole my peace symbol (how low) Who do you think stole it? A Hippie down on his luck but who wanted to spread the good word or a conservative wingnut who felt personally betrayed by me flaunting the cause of peace.
So I thank this admirer of automotive expression for taking a moment out of his/her day to jot down a quick kudo and deliver it to my windshield
next time I'm at Stop and Shop I'll have to get me some Kudos. they're mighty tasty.
A Ticket?!
A "Hey I smashed into your car but I don't have any insurance so I left this note" note?
No, It was a note from someone complimenting me on the selection of bumper stickers festooning the back o' the truck. In particular they were quite smitten with my musical taste.
a quick tour : Levon Helm Studio, Home of the Midnight Ramble
Asleep At The Wheel, Western Swing Ain't Dead, It's Asleep At the Wheel
Bob Dylan
The Fab Faux (the pre eminent Beatle tribute{?} band)
One Punch Nelson (my Brother Rob's Band)
Kings of the Wild Frontier, Rock and Roll, Good and Loud (my nephews and I)
Also: A New York Yankee Logo
READ (from the late Runaway bay Book store)
and a blank spot where someone stole my peace symbol (how low) Who do you think stole it? A Hippie down on his luck but who wanted to spread the good word or a conservative wingnut who felt personally betrayed by me flaunting the cause of peace.
So I thank this admirer of automotive expression for taking a moment out of his/her day to jot down a quick kudo and deliver it to my windshield
next time I'm at Stop and Shop I'll have to get me some Kudos. they're mighty tasty.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Old Chums
When i was a kid (10, 11, 12) I adored The Hardy Boy Books. All the boys in my neighborhood were fans so we would trade them back and forth. Mystery, Intrigue! and it all took place in Bayport! I lived right near Bayport! Of course my Bayport was real and Frank and Joe's was Fiction but that didn't stop me from imagining that all this derring do was happening a short bike ride away.
When I was 12 we spent the summer in the Catskills and one Sunday after Church we came upon a yard sale where they were selling 10 or so Hardy Boy books. I was set for the whole summer.
They had the checklist in the back of the book- How Many of these have you read? I took great delight in checking all the titles that I owned or read. But there was one title I could never find;The Hardy Boys Detective Handbook. I looked forever and could never find it....until about three years ago when I found four copies in a Barnes and noble . I bought them all. I gave two away as gifts but i kept the others- it gives me something to fall back on-maybe one day I'll be a great Detective like my chums.the Hardy Boys.
Of course what was the single greatest thing about all Hardy Boys Books? Why the last page or two of course ,when they were wrapping up the story and telling you that if you thought this tale was exciting wait til you read the next one! We're almost embarassed that we even wasted your time with this one because the next one........!!!!!!
When I was 12 we spent the summer in the Catskills and one Sunday after Church we came upon a yard sale where they were selling 10 or so Hardy Boy books. I was set for the whole summer.
They had the checklist in the back of the book- How Many of these have you read? I took great delight in checking all the titles that I owned or read. But there was one title I could never find;The Hardy Boys Detective Handbook. I looked forever and could never find it....until about three years ago when I found four copies in a Barnes and noble . I bought them all. I gave two away as gifts but i kept the others- it gives me something to fall back on-maybe one day I'll be a great Detective like my chums.the Hardy Boys.
Of course what was the single greatest thing about all Hardy Boys Books? Why the last page or two of course ,when they were wrapping up the story and telling you that if you thought this tale was exciting wait til you read the next one! We're almost embarassed that we even wasted your time with this one because the next one........!!!!!!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
once more, with feeling
About a year and a half ago I had a odd gig. A woman was having a birthday party and she wanted someone to come to the Party and do some readings. No particular theme- just some readings. And if the person doing the readings could arrive at the party while it was already in progress and mingle a bit and then read all the better.
Now usaully I run from these gigs at top speed (god knows I've done my fair share of these "trained chimp" gigs) But she's a lovely lady and a big Supporter of the Northport Community Theater so I agreed. (oh... and the pay was quite generous.)
The gig went very well- I put together a selection Of Tennessee Williams letters, Some Thornton Wilder,and of course... Shakespeare. The audience was a smart Lively bunch and we had some great conversation after the presentation. (one of the old gents at the party also made me a very robust scotch and soda- he had decided that scotch had to be my drink.I didn't have the heart to tell him that chocolate milk is my drink. So when I returned to rehearsal after the party it was very ....loose)
Anyway, I went to the party in the guise of "Mr. Broadway!" ,a character I had created a few years back for a cabaret show "curated" by a wonderful singer/actor/impresario Frank Russo."Mr Broadway!" is your classic ,know nothing-know it all. I have since discovered that some guy has trademarked the title "Mr. Broadway" so you'll notice I added the all important exclamation mark so that "Mr Broadway"tm and "Mr. Broadway!"will never be confused.
ANYWAY...as I was cleaning up a bit the other day I found my notes for "Mr. Broadway!"'s opening remarks at the party. they made me laugh.
here they are:
Wherever there are three or more people gathered together-I'll be there!
Wherever people celebrate good times with good friends-I'll be there!
Wherever there is the sound of laughter and the spirit of joy in the air- I'll be there!
Wherever there is free food and/or liquor-I'll be there!
For I am MR BROADWAY!
Yes,Mr Broadway! noted wit, buff, raconteur, gourmet, gourmand, bon vivant, lothario, part time stock clerk at the Rite Aid near Columbus Circle.
Mr.Broadway! Filled with an insatiable lust for life! A joie de vivre! a je ne se qua!
Mr.Broadway! Filled with the brisket from the Carnegie Deli!...late lunch.
Ah the sights and the sounds of the Great White Way! There's a broken heart for every light burning bright along that Glittering Gulch! And Mr.Broadway! is responsible for more than his fair share of broken hearts! (at this point of the party I hinted at some torrid nights spent with the birthday girl)
So many memories of nights spent on that Naughty Thoroughfare. I remember the first night I met Tennesse Williams at Sardis! What an unforgettable evening. The food, the wine! A star studded evening, I'm sure he never forgot it either. I confused him with Tennesse Ernie Ford and forced him to sing "16 Tons" 3 times in a row before Arthur Miller knocked me to the floor and told me to stop making goo-goo eyes at Marilyn.
--- at that point we moved into the readings.
a nice evening- even though i was the "trained chimp" a well paid chimp.
Now usaully I run from these gigs at top speed (god knows I've done my fair share of these "trained chimp" gigs) But she's a lovely lady and a big Supporter of the Northport Community Theater so I agreed. (oh... and the pay was quite generous.)
The gig went very well- I put together a selection Of Tennessee Williams letters, Some Thornton Wilder,and of course... Shakespeare. The audience was a smart Lively bunch and we had some great conversation after the presentation. (one of the old gents at the party also made me a very robust scotch and soda- he had decided that scotch had to be my drink.I didn't have the heart to tell him that chocolate milk is my drink. So when I returned to rehearsal after the party it was very ....loose)
Anyway, I went to the party in the guise of "Mr. Broadway!" ,a character I had created a few years back for a cabaret show "curated" by a wonderful singer/actor/impresario Frank Russo."Mr Broadway!" is your classic ,know nothing-know it all. I have since discovered that some guy has trademarked the title "Mr. Broadway" so you'll notice I added the all important exclamation mark so that "Mr Broadway"tm and "Mr. Broadway!"will never be confused.
ANYWAY...as I was cleaning up a bit the other day I found my notes for "Mr. Broadway!"'s opening remarks at the party. they made me laugh.
here they are:
Wherever there are three or more people gathered together-I'll be there!
Wherever people celebrate good times with good friends-I'll be there!
Wherever there is the sound of laughter and the spirit of joy in the air- I'll be there!
Wherever there is free food and/or liquor-I'll be there!
For I am MR BROADWAY!
Yes,Mr Broadway! noted wit, buff, raconteur, gourmet, gourmand, bon vivant, lothario, part time stock clerk at the Rite Aid near Columbus Circle.
Mr.Broadway! Filled with an insatiable lust for life! A joie de vivre! a je ne se qua!
Mr.Broadway! Filled with the brisket from the Carnegie Deli!...late lunch.
Ah the sights and the sounds of the Great White Way! There's a broken heart for every light burning bright along that Glittering Gulch! And Mr.Broadway! is responsible for more than his fair share of broken hearts! (at this point of the party I hinted at some torrid nights spent with the birthday girl)
So many memories of nights spent on that Naughty Thoroughfare. I remember the first night I met Tennesse Williams at Sardis! What an unforgettable evening. The food, the wine! A star studded evening, I'm sure he never forgot it either. I confused him with Tennesse Ernie Ford and forced him to sing "16 Tons" 3 times in a row before Arthur Miller knocked me to the floor and told me to stop making goo-goo eyes at Marilyn.
--- at that point we moved into the readings.
a nice evening- even though i was the "trained chimp" a well paid chimp.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
tell him your plans
well it has been quite a while since i've spent some time here at the ol' blog. i cheated a bit last night and posted some video. i did that because i discovered i could and that its really pretty simple, which is perfect for me.
when i started this in november, my idea was to jot down some eccentric little ruminations on the petty day to day nonsense that dominates my life. an excuse to sit for a few minutes a couple of nights a week and just write. a few minutes at night, get into the rhythm of writing again and who knows
that was my plan.
right from the first post i was balking at the permanent nature of the beast.an idea that's kicking around in your head gets a pass. but once it's printed it gets scrutiny. of course deep down what i was really leery about was the unspoken demand that a blog be personal, that it reveal. i'll admit it. i am surface boy (not circus boy, that was mickey dolenz) i'm happy to deal with the world in an intellectual way, with a certain distance, a certain reserve. the blog demands that reserve become reveal.
on feb 7 at 8 am , after 3 weeks in the hospital fighting pneumonia and infection my dad passed away, those three weeks were the longest of my life. time came to a standstill. the outside world faded away.
for three weeks my world was the couch in the playroom, the couch in the icu waiting room and the chair at my dads bedside. the sound i dreaded most was the phone. at all hours of the day or night.
especially at 2am feb 7.
i will now resume writing this blog. i will resume examining the odds and ends. and every so often i will write about the change(s) that started that morning.
how do you make god laugh? tell him your plans
when i started this in november, my idea was to jot down some eccentric little ruminations on the petty day to day nonsense that dominates my life. an excuse to sit for a few minutes a couple of nights a week and just write. a few minutes at night, get into the rhythm of writing again and who knows
that was my plan.
right from the first post i was balking at the permanent nature of the beast.an idea that's kicking around in your head gets a pass. but once it's printed it gets scrutiny. of course deep down what i was really leery about was the unspoken demand that a blog be personal, that it reveal. i'll admit it. i am surface boy (not circus boy, that was mickey dolenz) i'm happy to deal with the world in an intellectual way, with a certain distance, a certain reserve. the blog demands that reserve become reveal.
on feb 7 at 8 am , after 3 weeks in the hospital fighting pneumonia and infection my dad passed away, those three weeks were the longest of my life. time came to a standstill. the outside world faded away.
for three weeks my world was the couch in the playroom, the couch in the icu waiting room and the chair at my dads bedside. the sound i dreaded most was the phone. at all hours of the day or night.
especially at 2am feb 7.
i will now resume writing this blog. i will resume examining the odds and ends. and every so often i will write about the change(s) that started that morning.
how do you make god laugh? tell him your plans
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