So it was a freakishly hot and muggy day in my little corner of creation and I didn't really want to go outside, but darned if I just wanted to sit and rot. So Chad called up and we convened an impromptu (if minor) road trip. Below is me heading to the Casa del Chad: and here's Chad doing his happy dance at my arrival. The picture doesn't do it justice. So from Chad's we headed in southerly direction to a mom and pop restaurant down the highway a ways. One of those "Home of the Greatest Burgers" kinda places. We were promptly served by the surliest, most unpleasant S.O.B. that I've seen that wasn't in handcuffs. It was a treat. Local color. And it was the color of poo. Food wasn't bad though, I guess. After that we went to check out the damage a tornado had wrought. It wasn't quite as complete and utter devastation like we had been led to believe, which is a good thing. Still was impressive in that "Mother Nature can kick your ass" sorta way.
And then we headed back to Chad's place, shot the breeze for a while and then I went home. This is the picture I took on the way home: Don't you feel better now that you know that?
Well, currently watching the crap-fest that is game 4 of the Cards/Cubs series. I'm probably a little tired and cranky anyway, but sloppy games (both by the Cards and the umps, IMO...) plus watching Victor Zambrano (the guy probably #3 on the players I can't stand list...) win. Blech.
Like I said, I'm probably just cranky because I didn't get a lot of sleep. Anyway, I ran across this little jewel so I'll throw it up. Made me think of someone (and I think you know who you are... or, um, not, whichever...) but it's nifty for kids of all ages. Dig it.
Gosh, is there ever enough you can say about a true American cinematic classic? I'd rather let it speak for itself:
For fans of the amazing Mr Campbell, he did drop by out own beloved Features section a ways back.
In other Joe-Mammy.com alum news, John Lurie still has some limited edition signed prints available. Kari Wahlgren is going to be a guest at ComiCon in San Diego this weekend. Check 'em out if you get a chance.
You know, if it weren't for lovely embedded videos I just might have to start posting actual content here on the site. Whee. In either case, I ran across this. If you didn't know who Tess Wiley was before her Feature, then here's a chance to see a video from her "Rainy Day Assembly" album. It's a nice little tune. Enjoy.
Hey kiddies. Another weekend at the ol' website o' love. Still plugging away on a bevy (a bevy!) of stuff, but not much you'll notice on the face of anything here. So, yeah, be patient.
In the meantime here's one of the greatest most messed up videos of all time:
Ever had one of those days were life seems like it should be easier than it's been. Yeah, that's kinda the suck.
Today's important life lesson is brought to us by the nice men of Monty Python.
There's not much going on here, or at least nothing interesting. I'm personally busier than a one-legged man at an ass kicking contest (and amusingly enough, I actually have a story about that...) so hopefully I'll be able to give you all a fun update about something. Ya'll should check out the new interview with John Lurie. It's good for you. Gives you strong teeth and enhances your lymph system. Honest.
I'm not sure where this will end up, but here it is:
If I could paint I’d paint a picture of a little featherless bird with big closed bug eyes and open beak.
I’d call it “You can hear my heart breaking and it sounds like a hatchling breaking from its shell.”
And everyone would say they hated it.
But they’d all know what I meant.
Just a reminder, there's a new interview with John Lurie in the Features section and to the left there's a little link to check out his artwork. Here's a performance from back in the day. Good stuff Maynard...
So, I've been a bundle of frustration and moodiness lately. Hooray for me. A few of know the whys, most don't, and that's fine. I'm not looking for sympathy or advice or a pep talk or money (...well, money...) I'm old enough to know better, but every now and then it would be nice to have a foreseeable (good) ending to something.
And now I'm fumbling towards self-pity, which while I may do, I refuse to do publicly. In either case YouTube has become one of my best friends. If you hadn't heard Over the Rhine before (or checked out the spiffy interview with Linford Detweiler I did a spot back...) here's the title track from their most recent album, Drunkard's Prayer. Enjoy.
You ever buy bottled water like Dasani or Aquafina or whatever? You ever bother to check out the nutritional information? It lists that it has 0% of everything (because, you know, it's just water...) which is fine. I understand that. What I don't get is the fact that it lists two servings per bottle.
Two servings of what? Last I checked 2 x 0% equaled 0. So congratulations, drink a bottle of water and get twice as much of nothing. Careful, don't overdo it. You'd hate to have to work off all that nothing with twice as much inactivity as normal. It's your health after all...
So I'm watching the Cards and listening to some newly acquired tuneage. Ignorant schmuck that it might make me, I hadn't actually heard much of Miles Davis' older stuff (I have some of the expiremental/fusion stuff) and had heard smatterings of Ella Fitzgerald, but at the urging/recommendation of one Ms Kari Wahlgren, I took advantage of my iTunes account and picked some up and tis freakishly good. So good I feel embarassed for not having picked it up sooner. So let me say thanks Kari for settin' me straight.
I also picked up the just released Johnny Cash album. It's a great album. Part of it is because for me it's impossible to divorce the music from the mythology of Johnny Cash, but there are parts that are nothing short of heartbreaking. His take on Gordon Lightfoot (yes, that Gordon Lightfoot) is really sad and poignant to me. I liked "The Man Comes Around" but "Hundred Highways" seems much more cohesive and a fitting tribute to Cash's own reflections on his life and mortality. Again, it could be me just reading Cash into my perception of him, but good stuff.
Anyway, hope everyone had a kickin' 4th. Here's the last video from the man himself.
...I feel compelled to post this. It's a really great song and doesn't sound nearly as dour as the lyrics might suggest. If I had an audio link I'd post it, but I don't so you might just have to satisfy yourself with reading the interview with author, one Mr Michael Roe.
The Jig is Up (Roe/Harmon) I am a troubled man Trouble is what I am I am a troubled man And I'll take all you can give me
I walk alone Hand in hand with my trouble But still nobody's home
I'm in the poorhouse forever I'm in the doghouse forever And ever with you
I am a simple man Simple is what I am I am quite simply mad And not particularly glad to be You were a simple friend I complicated you, then I lost a simple friend All complications unending
I think alone I could use some good help With my thinking It's so far from home
I could think of you forever I could think of us together But never mind
I am a lonely man Lonely is what I am Heart broke and lonely I think of you only Are you with me?
I wasn't ever that smart No, and I wasn't clever To think I had hold of your heart
I could break your heart forever I could break mine and yours Both right in two after you
I won't go gently into that bad earth I will fight for you with all that's in me For all that it's worth
Can I run to you forever? 'Cuz if I can't run to you forever How can I run to you now?
You live on my doorstep Is there room in my house?
So from Chad's we headed in southerly direction to a mom and pop restaurant down the highway a ways. One of those "Home of the Greatest Burgers" kinda places. We were promptly served by the surliest, most unpleasant S.O.B. that I've seen that wasn't in handcuffs. It was a treat. Local color. And it was the color of poo. Food wasn't bad though, I guess. After that we went to check out the damage a tornado had wrought. It wasn't quite as complete and utter devastation like we had been led to believe, which is a good thing. Still was impressive in that "Mother Nature can kick your ass" sorta way.
Don't you feel better now that you know that?