Prerogative

Yes, I have been adding and deleting photos in former posts. It keeps me amused.

Let it rain

Planet Soap

It's a peppermint-scented world.

Killing Me Loudly

Roberta Flack's Killing Me Softly was a popular song when I was in 7th grade. I thought it was boring and melancholy. Ick. Nope. Didn't like it. When it came on I'd twist the dial of my Tootaloop radio hoping for Three Dog Night.

Years later I learned what the song was about, and I got it in no uncertain terms. It remains a favorite to this day.

Tt's about the singer's experience at a Don McClean concert. As she sat in the front row listening to him sing one of his ballads, she fell in love with him. That others didn't consider McClean a sex symbol, or that she didn't know him is completely irrelevant. What her heart knew was profound and absolute.

This part of the song gives me chills, especially her delivery: He sang as if he knew me, in all my dark despair. And then he looked right through me as if I wasn't there.

Yes, I've been there and felt that.

But perhaps because I like roller coasters and spicy food and other exciting things, I don't get killed softly. I get killed fiercely and loudly and it's agonizing and I love it.

I experienced this at the Beat Farmers concerts I fervently attended in my thirties. When Country Dick was fully in the zone, totally living the moment, larger than life, I wanted him. I wanted him badly, as though he were a breath I'd die without taking. But I also wanted his zone. I wanted to be him, to connect immaculately with the music, the energy, the fury, the can't-go-any-farther-than-this. I'd get close- forbidingly close, going-toward-the-light close, a step away from where he lived, a chance away from being with him, and it was wretched and delicious.

I had a moment like that last night.

I know the singer personally. He's a sweet guy. But for one moment when the band had the whole audience in the zone in a hard-driving classic rock song, he was singing with such joy, such talent, and such power, I knew more about him than I ever expected to know and he killed me.

It felt great to be that alive.

Kaleidoscope II

I think I like this one better.

Just Your Everyday Balloon Man

Confession

I joined Rhapsody a few weeks ago. $14.95 a month for all the tunes you care to gorge on. It's the musical equivalent of brunch at the Rio.

All that music...every genre you can think of. A music guide to help you discover new music. 'Similar Artists' choices to connect you with additional choices you might like. All that, and the last song I downloaded was Fool for the City by Foghat.

Uh huh.

In my defense, is it possible to not be happy while listening to Fool for the City?

Of course it's not. The song demands a response of drooly, inane, imbicilic happiness.

Ok, don't look. I'm going to download Slow Ride.

If I mention The Bay City Rollers, you're welcomed to become concerned.

Going Places

I'm going to go to Portland and the Oregon coast sometime this summer.

Sometime in late July or early August I'm going to Denver for a memorial service for Adam. It's turning out to also be a reunion of the Jewish singles crowd Adam and I were part of in the early to mid 90s. I think it's good that the memorial service will be combined with a happy event. Why not?

By September (in a perfect world July) I'm going to be in another job. It's time for me to move on from my current position. Actually, it's been time for a long time. If you have any ideas for me, and / or know anyone who might want to be dazzled by me, please let me know.

I Love Coming Home to a Pink Mountain

It was a cotton candy pink; a very becoming shade for a 14,000 foot stratovolcano.

Was it Voters in Florida...?

I'm not a Kris Allen fan. Who is Kris Allen? He barely made it onto my radar screen. Talented, sure, but in a way that many thousands of other singers are talented. He didn't particularly impress me as a musician, but I have to say he was likeable when he won. I loved that he admitted Adam Lambert deserved the win.

I know most people put a premium on technical perfection. I tend to gravitate more toward originality. Adam Lambert is one of those rare performers who has both. He's the only American Idol contestant it would even occur to me to see in concert. The guy is an incredibly exciting performer. I love people who do what others can't or won't.

I'm not going to cry into my chocolate milk over the results (And no, I don't drink chocolate milk. If I did it would be soy). It was an interesting season. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Adam Lambert, and Allison Iraheta too.

Abstract Thinking

Grammar Martyr

I was not in a good mood as I walked to work today. I passed a young pregnant woman who was smoking a cigarette and ranting on her cell phone. "I don't got it!" I heard her wail as she spewed out a fresh cloud of poison. I furiously batted away the smoke, walked a few steps, then turned in her direction.

"I don't HAVE it." I barked at her. Not "I don't GOT it."

I quickened my pace, then threw it over my shoulder one more time: "I don't HAVE it"

This took place in downtown Tacoma. I'm lucky I didn't get shot.

Seven Seconds of Saturday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7j8iCAIOqA&feature=channel_page

Dumbcation All I Ever Wanted

Life been demanding too much of you lately? Tired of all those original thoughts? Saddled with a high IQ?

You need a dumbcation. Dumb + vacation = dumbca...wait that involves thinking. Don't do it!

Do some of these instead:

1. Watch American Idol

2. Care about American Idol

3. Go to the OPI website and try on virtual nail polish: http://www.opi.com/ Don't stop until you've sampled at least 20.

4. Take as many Facebook quizzes as you can in 15 minutes.
Love the results from the 'What is your Princess Name' quiz ('Wendy the Merry, Princess of Mondeburgh!').Consider the 'What Color Crayon are You' quiz result to be cause for introspection ("Am I really burnt orange...?")

5. Vow to ask other people how they choose to spend their dumbcations.

Yep, It's the American Idol Post

Why do we have to suffer through countless warbly and mediocre renditions of You are the Sunshine of My LIfe when the show should be comprised entirely of high-octane, consistenly exciting talent like Adam Lambert?

Where I Live

I want to go back to Las Vegas sometime soon. I'm seriously in need of thrill rides and mind-altering visual stimuli.

First 30 seconds or so of this Fremont Street Experience video are boring; you might want to forward a little bit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WItitCzX-B4&feature=related

I know, when you see these next two clips you're going to think 'It's just a ride; get over it'. I can't. The first few seconds was one of the most interesting experiences of my life. The physical experience was so jarring my mind couldn't catch up to it. Where was I during that time?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g0K5Gq1eFg&NR=1

Next time I want to go at night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5iy1KuCKNQ

This is an insane roller coaster. I'm dying to ride it again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxHHPPjmg5k&feature=related

And while I'm providing links, here's another. It's Bollywood, not Las Vegas but whatever. It's great in so many ways.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA1NoOOoaNw

Who is this man?

Sometimes its the little things that drive home how much I miss Adam.

Whenever I was interested in a new guy from an online dating site, I'd copy over his picture to Adam and title the e-mail "Who is this man?"

Adam loved playing Who is this man? He was often amazingly accurate on the basic parameters of age, profession, and hobbies. Of course from there we'd often get quite silly, speculating on all matters of the individual's private life and desires.

There is a new guy I'm interested in.

I really need to send Adam a "Who is this man?" e-mail.

Damn.

I miss him.

I like this

"You have to take yourself seriously. So what I did was concentrate on the song."

- Susan Boyle

We all know her story by now. Unforgivably old Scottish woman comes out onto the stage, looks and sounds like Shrek when she talks, and then launches into the most angelic vocal performance of all time. When asked in a talk show interview later how she felt when people initially laughted at her, her answer was the quote above.

We are but conduits for what we can deliver.

Oy. That sounded cheesy.

Let me try again: She focused on the song, not herself.

When you start getting close to 50 -if you've made any kind of spiritual progress at all- you start to realize the song matters more than you do.

There's talk on the internet of Susan Boyle needing a makeover. Yes, her eyebrows could use a little work (perhaps with the help of a lawnmower), but other than that I really hope she continues to be herself. She's a great reminder that the plain people can be more beautiful than the beautiful people. And it's just kind of cool knowing she could kick Paris Hilton's ass.

Savon

I crave color so I make soap.

I have no idea why I'm posting this

As mentioned in my last post, when I lived in Denver I often used to take Pearl for long walks. Washington Park was one of our favorite places. One day we ran into my friend's 12 year old son. He asked what the dog's name was and I told him Pearl. He looked at me and said "Are you serious??!"

An hour later my friend called me, laughing. "Louie told me you have a dog named HURL!"