June 29, 2010
Hydrangeas Out The Yin Yang
The Summer after the ice storm, we had zero Hydrangea blooms out of all plants we have in our garden. This year we have a bumper crop. It looks like a funeral home around here.
June 27, 2010
History Lesson
Yesterday we had a birthday dinner for my mother-in-law, who turned eighty-nine
years of age. To put her life in historical perspective, here are a couple of fun facts.
She was born in 1921, 57 years after after Abraham Lincoln was shot by Edgar Allan Poe.
When she was twenty years of age the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor, drawing the U.S. into World War I.
....Or something like that.
years of age. To put her life in historical perspective, here are a couple of fun facts.She was born in 1921, 57 years after after Abraham Lincoln was shot by Edgar Allan Poe.
When she was twenty years of age the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor, drawing the U.S. into World War I.
....Or something like that.
June 25, 2010
Friday Night Sound Clash
Every Friday night on WFPK there is a show called the Friday Night Sound Clash. It's a lot of experimental type music, mixing jazz, hip-hop, and a dash of everything else.
Otis Jackson Jr., known professionally as Madlib (short for Mind Altering Demented Lessons In Beats), is a Los Angeles-based DJ, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, and music producer.
Here is MADLIB's Young Jazz Rebels with 'Forces Unseen'.
Otis Jackson Jr., known professionally as Madlib (short for Mind Altering Demented Lessons In Beats), is a Los Angeles-based DJ, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, and music producer.
Here is MADLIB's Young Jazz Rebels with 'Forces Unseen'.
June 24, 2010
June 23, 2010
BLT's and Little Green Apples
Wife and I were eating BLT's and she said she was in a cooking rut and nothing sounded good to her. It's not surpising because she's cooked and baked everything under the sun.
"Oh, We have to eat June apples and sausage biscuits, it's that time of year again."
"What are June apples anyway?"
"They're those little green apples that you can find only in June."
I started humming a tune from a long time ago as we were cleaning up after our BLT's and couldn't think of the artist who wrote it and went to look it up.
"Little Green Apples" was written by Bobby Russell. It's been recorded by Roger Miller, Burl Ives, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Goldsboro, and countless others.
'Little Green Apples' Roger Miller.
"Oh, We have to eat June apples and sausage biscuits, it's that time of year again."
"What are June apples anyway?"
"They're those little green apples that you can find only in June."
I started humming a tune from a long time ago as we were cleaning up after our BLT's and couldn't think of the artist who wrote it and went to look it up.
"Little Green Apples" was written by Bobby Russell. It's been recorded by Roger Miller, Burl Ives, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Goldsboro, and countless others.
'Little Green Apples' Roger Miller.
June 21, 2010
My Toy Too
I occasionally hear this song on the radio and this morning, on the way to work, I finally caught the name of the band. When I got home I found it, downloaded it, ripped it to windows movie maker, and posted it. I went through all this trouble, so you'd better listen to it if you know what's good for you, sonically speaking.
.
My first was a hand held plastic silver Magnavox but as I recall it took four triple A's. As proof you can find anything using Google, I found a photo of this exact same radio I had as a kid.
The Iguanas are a band out of New Orleans and they've been described as sounding similar to Wilco with a Tex-Mex bent
The Iguanas 'Plastic Silver 9-Volt Heart' 2003.
.
My first was a hand held plastic silver Magnavox but as I recall it took four triple A's. As proof you can find anything using Google, I found a photo of this exact same radio I had as a kid.
The Iguanas are a band out of New Orleans and they've been described as sounding similar to Wilco with a Tex-Mex bent
The Iguanas 'Plastic Silver 9-Volt Heart' 2003.
June 19, 2010
Ischemia in HD
My cardiologist called wife a couple of weeks ago and said my part two stress test results showed no surprises and the scan of my heart showed what he expected to see, namely ischemia (god bless you) around my circumflex coronary artery which was blocked about five years ago.
The part two stress test involves eating something fatty (they recommended a big
sloppy burger) and the heart scan would take better pictures. I ate a double decker Baconator from Wendy's. Ben said a baconator might produce images in near high definition quality.
I had a couple of stents placed in my circumflex about six years ago and one year later the artery blocked again. They can't re-stent what's been stented before so now I take a hand full of pills every morning. I can't say I don't have the occasional angina pain but I feel lucky that the circumflex is a relatively small artery.
A good joke to tell a cardiologist:
A man and woman were getting to know each other at a bar and soon turned flirtatious. The man suggested they go to his place and they leave. Things got hot and heavy and the woman says,
"Hold on, I think I should tell you something. I have acute angina."
The man replies,
"That's great, your boobs look pretty good too."
Well, at least my cardiologist thought it was funny.
The part two stress test involves eating something fatty (they recommended a big
sloppy burger) and the heart scan would take better pictures. I ate a double decker Baconator from Wendy's. Ben said a baconator might produce images in near high definition quality.I had a couple of stents placed in my circumflex about six years ago and one year later the artery blocked again. They can't re-stent what's been stented before so now I take a hand full of pills every morning. I can't say I don't have the occasional angina pain but I feel lucky that the circumflex is a relatively small artery.
A good joke to tell a cardiologist:
A man and woman were getting to know each other at a bar and soon turned flirtatious. The man suggested they go to his place and they leave. Things got hot and heavy and the woman says,
"Hold on, I think I should tell you something. I have acute angina."
The man replies,
"That's great, your boobs look pretty good too."
Well, at least my cardiologist thought it was funny.
June 17, 2010
Memorial
I had the pool to myself, that is, without anyone with me. A party of one, my last day before I go back to prison so to speak.
I chose a lounge by the adult pool where there is less noise away from the kiddies. I lathered myself up with SPF and plop myself on the lounge to read. There is a woman sitting on the other side of the table who I've seen before but I can't recall how I know her or how she knows me.
We fall into conversation and it turns out she knows my wife, of course, and knew my sister very well. She asks how my parents and the rest of the family are faring since her death.
My sister was cremated and the funeral was a memorial service. "Your sister was cremated?" I had assumed she knew. I told her that my sister's death didn't seem finalized or real to me without the more traditional funeral with a casket surrounded by flower arrangements.
During my sister's eulogy a lone tear crept out the corner of my eye. My granddaugher looked up at my face and reached over and held my hand.
My sister, in her youth, danced in the ballet and I went with mother to take and pick her up from ballet practice and the recital productions. My brother and I would always sit in the front row to watch them dance, and make faces at our sister.
Last night I was watching PBS and there was a kind of documentary on choreographers and a Paris Ballet Company. It made me a little sad watching while thinking of my sister.
I chose a lounge by the adult pool where there is less noise away from the kiddies. I lathered myself up with SPF and plop myself on the lounge to read. There is a woman sitting on the other side of the table who I've seen before but I can't recall how I know her or how she knows me.
We fall into conversation and it turns out she knows my wife, of course, and knew my sister very well. She asks how my parents and the rest of the family are faring since her death.
My sister was cremated and the funeral was a memorial service. "Your sister was cremated?" I had assumed she knew. I told her that my sister's death didn't seem finalized or real to me without the more traditional funeral with a casket surrounded by flower arrangements.
During my sister's eulogy a lone tear crept out the corner of my eye. My granddaugher looked up at my face and reached over and held my hand.
My sister, in her youth, danced in the ballet and I went with mother to take and pick her up from ballet practice and the recital productions. My brother and I would always sit in the front row to watch them dance, and make faces at our sister.
Last night I was watching PBS and there was a kind of documentary on choreographers and a Paris Ballet Company. It made me a little sad watching while thinking of my sister.
June 16, 2010
An American Poolside
Some people I know think it's boring lounging around at a pool. There's certainly time to think about wherever your mind, or a good book, takes you. I've been reading 'Undaunted Courage' by Stephen Ambrose.
Certain aspects of American life in the 18th century and America today are similar as far as waste of natural resources. Virginia plantation owners of that time wasted their land growing mainly tobacco using slave labor. Your average wealthy, land rich-cash poor plantation owners rode their horses about their land directing their
slaves while drinking rum and whiskey most of the day.
Thomas Jefferson thought slavery was a blight on America and had hopes it would be abolished, but not in his lifetime, as he owned slaves and thousands of acres himself.
The pool opens at 11:00 and I've got to get back to the poolside and lay back in a lounge and read; No rum or whiskey allowed.
Certain aspects of American life in the 18th century and America today are similar as far as waste of natural resources. Virginia plantation owners of that time wasted their land growing mainly tobacco using slave labor. Your average wealthy, land rich-cash poor plantation owners rode their horses about their land directing their
slaves while drinking rum and whiskey most of the day.Thomas Jefferson thought slavery was a blight on America and had hopes it would be abolished, but not in his lifetime, as he owned slaves and thousands of acres himself.
The pool opens at 11:00 and I've got to get back to the poolside and lay back in a lounge and read; No rum or whiskey allowed.
June 12, 2010
Melanoma Be Damned
I've been off work now for four days and have five more left due to over 200 hours of comp time I've earned working overtime. I've re-painted the wrought iron table and chairs on the deck, worked in the garden, prepared the front porch for painting
Monday, and plan to re-paint the wood trim on the back porch. This is called a workation.
It hasn't been all work though as I've been to the pool a lot and getting brown as a nut.
Monday, and plan to re-paint the wood trim on the back porch. This is called a workation.
It hasn't been all work though as I've been to the pool a lot and getting brown as a nut.
June 11, 2010
Al Fresco
We dined on the deck with friends and spoke of
time off work
St. Agnes
St. Margaret Mary
Passionists
Hydrangeas
British Petroleum
oil and water
responsibility
water features
fountains
appendicitis
appendectomies
colonoscopies
funerals
vaults
caskets
holes six feet deep in the ground.
time off work
St. Agnes
St. Margaret Mary
Passionists
Hydrangeas
British Petroleum
oil and water
responsibility
water features
fountains
appendicitis
appendectomies
colonoscopies
funerals
vaults
caskets
holes six feet deep in the ground.
June 10, 2010
Not Limbaugh
I heard on the news last week that some polititian was using music from the band Rush during his campaign appearances. Rush's spokesperson said stop it or we'll sue your ass.
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart.
I use to like 'em alot during the early eighties. They're still making music today.
Rush 'Digital Man' 1982.
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart.
I use to like 'em alot during the early eighties. They're still making music today.
Rush 'Digital Man' 1982.
June 7, 2010
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
The other day I was listening to the radio and there was Jimmy Dale Gimore covering 'Mack The Knife'. I love Gilmore's classic country voice and his spooky version of the famous Bobby Darin classic.
June 3, 2010
Tastes Like Chicken
I was driving down my neighborhood street today and a hawk with a robin in it's claws swooped past my windshield ten feet in front of me. It landed and the robin skidded against the asphalt. The hawk just looked at me, as if daring me to take his lunch away.
It probably tastes like chicken.
It probably tastes like chicken.
May 31, 2010
The T Man
Tristan is five years old....It's not possible...again.
Tristan & Rachael, his new step-sister.
Tristan & Rachael, his new step-sister.
May 25, 2010
May 19, 2010
Gravel to Concrete
I went to see my cardiologist three weeks ago. I had the appointment at the new branch hospital they had built off of Old Henry Road. When I was much younger, Old Henry Road was a one lane gravel affair out in the boonies. Now it's a four lane concrete affair with plenty of traffic.
My brother and his roomie used to live on the one lane gravel Old Henry. They hosted huge keg parties outside in the summer. Winter parties featured bon fires. Under age beer hounds from miles around would come, pay admission, and get tight to their heart's content. It was quite a money making operation. The last keg party featured several police cars and a police helicopter.
Looking out of the exam room two on the fifth floor the cars were flying east and west on Old Henry. The tires were making a muffled breathing sound from behind the window glass. I tried to imagine where my brother's old house stood and surmised that it was approximately where I stood, five stories beneath me.
I jumped when my doc came in the room. My EKG was fine but he wanted to do a stress test in three weeks.
On my way to the stress test this morning 'Suzanne' was playing on the radio, calming my nerves. In the back of my mind I had thoughts of the worse that could happen while on the treadmill such as tachacardia or another heart attack. They want your heart pumping fast. I made it through without incident. Tomorrow's part two test involves an injection of a tracer, after which you eat something fatty. They recommended a big sloppy cheeseburger. A fatty meal makes the pictures show up better.
When I told my wife this, she told me I was lying in order to eat a big sloppy cheeseburger but I have the instruction sheet to prove it. It's true, I swear.
Leonard Cohen 'Suzanne' 1966.
My brother and his roomie used to live on the one lane gravel Old Henry. They hosted huge keg parties outside in the summer. Winter parties featured bon fires. Under age beer hounds from miles around would come, pay admission, and get tight to their heart's content. It was quite a money making operation. The last keg party featured several police cars and a police helicopter.
Looking out of the exam room two on the fifth floor the cars were flying east and west on Old Henry. The tires were making a muffled breathing sound from behind the window glass. I tried to imagine where my brother's old house stood and surmised that it was approximately where I stood, five stories beneath me.
I jumped when my doc came in the room. My EKG was fine but he wanted to do a stress test in three weeks.
On my way to the stress test this morning 'Suzanne' was playing on the radio, calming my nerves. In the back of my mind I had thoughts of the worse that could happen while on the treadmill such as tachacardia or another heart attack. They want your heart pumping fast. I made it through without incident. Tomorrow's part two test involves an injection of a tracer, after which you eat something fatty. They recommended a big sloppy cheeseburger. A fatty meal makes the pictures show up better.
When I told my wife this, she told me I was lying in order to eat a big sloppy cheeseburger but I have the instruction sheet to prove it. It's true, I swear.
Leonard Cohen 'Suzanne' 1966.
May 13, 2010
Recondite
The other day a man I know said to me, "Was it you who told me that all bodily cells communicate with each other by light?"
I told him I couldn't recall.
I told him I couldn't recall.
May 3, 2010
By Gawd
I guess it has to do with the military. At work everyone is known by their last names. Some of the names have a nice ring to them; Airington, Mellick, Roller, and Payton.
Payton is one of the first guys I worked with at the prison. We're contemporaries of each other and antiques to most everyone else. One day I asked if he knew the town of Franklinton, where my grandparents had a farm. It's pronounced 'Frankleton' by natives and people nearby.
"Yeah, I know Frankleton, my uncle, Cecil Payton, lived there. Every other word out of his mouth was 'By Gawd'. He was known as 'Growler'.
My jaw dropped. I knew Cecil Payton when I was a little kid. He and my grandfather were farming contemporaries of each other and antiques to most everyone else. They were also drinking buddies...by gawd.
Payton is one of the first guys I worked with at the prison. We're contemporaries of each other and antiques to most everyone else. One day I asked if he knew the town of Franklinton, where my grandparents had a farm. It's pronounced 'Frankleton' by natives and people nearby.
"Yeah, I know Frankleton, my uncle, Cecil Payton, lived there. Every other word out of his mouth was 'By Gawd'. He was known as 'Growler'.
My jaw dropped. I knew Cecil Payton when I was a little kid. He and my grandfather were farming contemporaries of each other and antiques to most everyone else. They were also drinking buddies...by gawd.
April 29, 2010
Sea Change
'End Of The Day' from Beck's 2002 album 'Sea Change', one of Beck's best albums.
End Of The Day
I've seen the end of the day come too soon
Not a lot to say, not a lot to do
You played the game, you owe nothing to yourself
Rest a day, for tomorrow you can't tell
You can't tell
I've seen the end of the day come too late
Seen the love you had turning into hate
Had to act like I didn't even care
But I did so I got stranded standing there
Standing there
It's nothing that I haven't seen before
But it still kills me like it did before
No it's nothing that I haven't seen before
But it still kills me like it did before
I've seen the end of the day come too soon
Like the prison dogs they set out after you
You owe nothing to the past but wasted time
To serve a sentence that was only in your mind
In your mind
It's nothing that I haven't seen before
But it still kills me like it did before
No it's nothing that I haven't seen before
End Of The Day
I've seen the end of the day come too soon
Not a lot to say, not a lot to do
You played the game, you owe nothing to yourself
Rest a day, for tomorrow you can't tell
You can't tell
I've seen the end of the day come too late
Seen the love you had turning into hate
Had to act like I didn't even care
But I did so I got stranded standing there
Standing there
It's nothing that I haven't seen before
But it still kills me like it did before
No it's nothing that I haven't seen before
But it still kills me like it did before
I've seen the end of the day come too soon
Like the prison dogs they set out after you
You owe nothing to the past but wasted time
To serve a sentence that was only in your mind
In your mind
It's nothing that I haven't seen before
But it still kills me like it did before
No it's nothing that I haven't seen before
April 24, 2010
Super Lump
Last night wife asked me if I wanted crabs cakes for dinner tonight and I said sure. She just called me from Highland Fish Market.
"Guess what a pound of lump crab meat costs"
"I'll take a wild guess and say fifteen dollars."
"twenty-four dollars a pound, and the super lump crab meat is thirty-nine! Do you still want crab cakes for dinner?"
"Nope, and I guess I won't be watching anymore 'Deadliest Catch'."
"Guess what a pound of lump crab meat costs"
"I'll take a wild guess and say fifteen dollars."
"twenty-four dollars a pound, and the super lump crab meat is thirty-nine! Do you still want crab cakes for dinner?"
"Nope, and I guess I won't be watching anymore 'Deadliest Catch'."
April 22, 2010
Hailee's Favorite
Whenever Hailee rides in my truck she asks to hear Beck's 'Que Onda Guero'. She loves it. Que Onda Guero is Spanish for 'What's up white boy.' or 'what's up whitey.' Beck Hanson grew up in southern California and was often referred to as Guero by the Hispanic community. Guero can also be translated as 'blonde' or 'blondie'.
Beck 'Que Onda Guero' 2005.
Beck 'Que Onda Guero' 2005.
Plantation
I grew up in a subdivision called Briarwood and across the road was a swim club called Plantation Country Club. Known simply as 'Plantation', it had a fifty meter pool divided on one end by a bulk head. On the other side was the sixteen foot diving well and the diving tower which had thiry-three and sixteen foot diving platforms.
I used to do some crazy stuff off those platforms. You first worked up the nerve to jump and proceeded to can-openers, butt-busters, cannon-balls, flips, and suicides. I could do it all except anything involving my back to the diving well. It gave me the heebie-jeebies.
I was on the Plantation Swim Team, which at the time was the biggest and best swim
team in the Eastern United States. The head coach was Ralph Wright who founded Plantation in 1957. He was quite the swimmer in his day, breaking many records. He swam at the age of 15 being only one of 14 swimmers to swim the perilous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco's Bay at the dedication of the bridge in 1937.
I remember, after swimming one of my first events on the team and doing poorly, Ralph Wright was there to pull me out of the pool, told me my time and encouraged me to remember it and improve upon it. At the time I didn't even know who he was.
It wasn't long after that, Ralph Wright was shot to death in Plantation's parking lot in 1966. He was shot by an unstable man who was angry about his son not getting a job at Plantation's dining room. He was eventually convicted and went to prison for the murder. I was only eleven years old but I remember the shooting well, although I had to call my parents to get the details.
I used to do some crazy stuff off those platforms. You first worked up the nerve to jump and proceeded to can-openers, butt-busters, cannon-balls, flips, and suicides. I could do it all except anything involving my back to the diving well. It gave me the heebie-jeebies.
I was on the Plantation Swim Team, which at the time was the biggest and best swim
team in the Eastern United States. The head coach was Ralph Wright who founded Plantation in 1957. He was quite the swimmer in his day, breaking many records. He swam at the age of 15 being only one of 14 swimmers to swim the perilous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco's Bay at the dedication of the bridge in 1937.I remember, after swimming one of my first events on the team and doing poorly, Ralph Wright was there to pull me out of the pool, told me my time and encouraged me to remember it and improve upon it. At the time I didn't even know who he was.
It wasn't long after that, Ralph Wright was shot to death in Plantation's parking lot in 1966. He was shot by an unstable man who was angry about his son not getting a job at Plantation's dining room. He was eventually convicted and went to prison for the murder. I was only eleven years old but I remember the shooting well, although I had to call my parents to get the details.
April 21, 2010
Pollen Avenue
I was sick today and see the Doc tomorrow morning. Symptoms: Coughing, lethargic, low grade fever (D-), that sick taste in my mouth. Self Diagnoses: Bronchitis brought on by allergies, (I'm allergic to every known tree in the universe.)
Joni Mitchell 'Cotton Avenue' 1977.
Joni Mitchell 'Cotton Avenue' 1977.
April 17, 2010
April 16, 2010
Might Makes Right
This morning they announced the bridge closings for Thunder as I was drinking my coffee and reading the newspaper. I kissed wife goodbye and wheeled the yard waste can out to the front yard and started edging the front garden, weed, and prune things that needed pruning.
Bent over, I heard the loud drone of the military plane approaching. I quickly stood up and scanned the sky but couldn't find it, even though I could tell it was very close. It turned to be a phantom plane, I guessed, making secret Thunder preparations.
Thundered Over Louisville, where they show America's military's might during the day and burn up a million dollars worth of fireworks at night. Wife asked me a few nights ago if I wanted to go to Thunder. Not in a million years. That's what Hi-Def is for, I told her, and besides, the jets that fly down the Ohio river heading east, end up screeching over our neighborhood fifteen seconds later.
During the day of Thunder, Louisville's the safest city in America. If some Taliban tries to light his underwear on fire here, we're covered. We'd blow his ass to Kingdom Come.
Matt Morris 'The Un-American' 2010.
Bent over, I heard the loud drone of the military plane approaching. I quickly stood up and scanned the sky but couldn't find it, even though I could tell it was very close. It turned to be a phantom plane, I guessed, making secret Thunder preparations.
Thundered Over Louisville, where they show America's military's might during the day and burn up a million dollars worth of fireworks at night. Wife asked me a few nights ago if I wanted to go to Thunder. Not in a million years. That's what Hi-Def is for, I told her, and besides, the jets that fly down the Ohio river heading east, end up screeching over our neighborhood fifteen seconds later.
During the day of Thunder, Louisville's the safest city in America. If some Taliban tries to light his underwear on fire here, we're covered. We'd blow his ass to Kingdom Come.
Matt Morris 'The Un-American' 2010.
Steely Dan
I've been listening to alot of Steely Dan lately and even their old stuff doesn't sound dated. I remember the first time I heard them on the radio I thought 'Wow, who are these guys?' They were like nothing I'd ever heard before. Even their straight ahead pop tunes had an underlying difference.
They've been around since '72 and still putting out their almost unclassifiable sound with the cryptic lyrics.
Steely Dan 'Pixeleen' 2003.
Pixeleen
Our man Abu squeezes off twenty tracer rounds
And that's when she jumps the turnstile
And as she clings to the roof of the speeding train
The Double A down to Sheridan Square
Her cell phone rings
It's, like, her stupid father
Be in the door by ten -- again
Pixeleen
Dream deep my three-times perfect ultrateen
Pixeleen
Born in the bogs of Jersey
Trained how to love and spy hard
Dropped on the streets of Roppongi
Soaked through on the floor of a noodle shop
And when Abu rams the clip in the miniglock
Up on the catwalk inside the warehouse
You whip a knife from the top of your go-go boot
With just a flash of spectacular thigh
Your pager starts to throb
It's your as-if boyfriend Randall
Better keep it real -- or whatever
Pixeleen
Rave on my sleek and soulful cyberqueen
Pixeleen
Penned by a hack in the Palisades
Backed by some guys from Columbia
Shot all in digital video
For a million and change
Flashback to cool summer nights
Freddy can we cut to the chase?
In the room above your garage
Everything about me is different
Symmetrical and clean
This is what I see
Just a girl in girlie trouble
Dancing in the video with gun and tambourine
Pixeleen
Be good my three-times perfect ultrateen
Pixeleen
Born on the floor of a noodle shop
Dropped in the bogs of Jersey
Shot by a guy from Columbia
Soaked through all in digital video
Girl with the sweet backstory
Pitched in a trailer in Burbank
Cast by a cool-enough yes-man
Screened at a festival in Utah
They've been around since '72 and still putting out their almost unclassifiable sound with the cryptic lyrics.
Steely Dan 'Pixeleen' 2003.
Pixeleen
Our man Abu squeezes off twenty tracer rounds
And that's when she jumps the turnstile
And as she clings to the roof of the speeding train
The Double A down to Sheridan Square
Her cell phone rings
It's, like, her stupid father
Be in the door by ten -- again
Pixeleen
Dream deep my three-times perfect ultrateen
Pixeleen
Born in the bogs of Jersey
Trained how to love and spy hard
Dropped on the streets of Roppongi
Soaked through on the floor of a noodle shop
And when Abu rams the clip in the miniglock
Up on the catwalk inside the warehouse
You whip a knife from the top of your go-go boot
With just a flash of spectacular thigh
Your pager starts to throb
It's your as-if boyfriend Randall
Better keep it real -- or whatever
Pixeleen
Rave on my sleek and soulful cyberqueen
Pixeleen
Penned by a hack in the Palisades
Backed by some guys from Columbia
Shot all in digital video
For a million and change
Flashback to cool summer nights
Freddy can we cut to the chase?
In the room above your garage
Everything about me is different
Symmetrical and clean
This is what I see
Just a girl in girlie trouble
Dancing in the video with gun and tambourine
Pixeleen
Be good my three-times perfect ultrateen
Pixeleen
Born on the floor of a noodle shop
Dropped in the bogs of Jersey
Shot by a guy from Columbia
Soaked through all in digital video
Girl with the sweet backstory
Pitched in a trailer in Burbank
Cast by a cool-enough yes-man
Screened at a festival in Utah
April 13, 2010
April 12, 2010
Acini di pepe
Walking in the door from work I was greeted with "I can't find Acini di pepe anywhere." I knew wife was making her Frogeye Salad recipe to have after Diane's memorial service tomorrow, it makes a washtub full. We called Lotsa Pasta and they had it in stock. I drove all the way to St Matthews to get it but I didn't really mind. Everyone loves it.
Acini di pepe is a form of pasta. Italian for "peppercorns", they look like tiny beads. Also sometimes referred to as pastina (Italian for "tiny dough"); however, some pasta makers distinguish pastina as smaller than acini di pepe. That's hard to imagine a pasta smaller than Acini di pepe.
Here's the recipe:
1 pkg Acini di pepe
2 cans (15-20oz each) crushed pineapple
2 cans (15-20oz each) mandarin oranges
3 egg yolks
1 cup (240 mL) sugar
1 tub whipped topping
1/2 pkg miniature marshmallows
1.Cook pasta in a large saucepan.
2.Drain & rinse pasta.
3.Drain cans of pineapple and oranges, reserving juice.
4.Mix juices, sugar and egg yolks in a medium saucepan.
5.Bring to full rolling boil, then pour over pasta.
6.Refrigerate overnight.
7.Next day, add fruit and mix well.
8.Fold in whipped topping and marshmallows.
Acini di pepe is a form of pasta. Italian for "peppercorns", they look like tiny beads. Also sometimes referred to as pastina (Italian for "tiny dough"); however, some pasta makers distinguish pastina as smaller than acini di pepe. That's hard to imagine a pasta smaller than Acini di pepe.
Here's the recipe:
1 pkg Acini di pepe
2 cans (15-20oz each) crushed pineapple
2 cans (15-20oz each) mandarin oranges
3 egg yolks
1 cup (240 mL) sugar
1 tub whipped topping
1/2 pkg miniature marshmallows
1.Cook pasta in a large saucepan.
2.Drain & rinse pasta.
3.Drain cans of pineapple and oranges, reserving juice.
4.Mix juices, sugar and egg yolks in a medium saucepan.
5.Bring to full rolling boil, then pour over pasta.
6.Refrigerate overnight.
7.Next day, add fruit and mix well.
8.Fold in whipped topping and marshmallows.
April 11, 2010
Over the Rainbow
Tonight I heard my grand-daughter singing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' when she thought no one was paying attention to her. She knew all the lyrics from music class in grade school. She sounded so sweet.
Diane Barnes Tanselle
The last week has been surreal. It was like watching a movie but the person who's murdered is someone you know, a cousin, a daughter, a sister, and a mother. It was real enough though and the horrible week dragged along as in slow motion.
Early Thursday morning Diane's van was found parked in an apartment complex. The police towed it to a stolen vehicle compound, opened the van, and found Diane's badly decomposed body. What the family knew in the back of their minds was now shockingly realized.
Diane was raised by her aunt, my mother-in-law, and was more like a sister to my wife. Last night we got together with all Diane's brothers, nieces, daughters, son, and grand-children. It's a huge family and was an emotional evening.
The Louisville Metro Detectives put in alot of work, and are still working, gathering evidence against Thomas Kessinger and another "person of interest" building the case for the person(s) responsible for this senseless murder. It will be a long process.
My 88 year old mother-in-law said that if she were in a wheelchair by the time of the trial, that we'd better get her downtown to the court house somehow. We promised her we would.
Early Thursday morning Diane's van was found parked in an apartment complex. The police towed it to a stolen vehicle compound, opened the van, and found Diane's badly decomposed body. What the family knew in the back of their minds was now shockingly realized.
Diane was raised by her aunt, my mother-in-law, and was more like a sister to my wife. Last night we got together with all Diane's brothers, nieces, daughters, son, and grand-children. It's a huge family and was an emotional evening.
The Louisville Metro Detectives put in alot of work, and are still working, gathering evidence against Thomas Kessinger and another "person of interest" building the case for the person(s) responsible for this senseless murder. It will be a long process.
My 88 year old mother-in-law said that if she were in a wheelchair by the time of the trial, that we'd better get her downtown to the court house somehow. We promised her we would.
April 8, 2010
Sad News for The Family
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - After searching for her for nearly a week, Louisville Metro Police said they have found 50-year-old Diane Tanselle. On the morning of April 8, Tanselle's 1997 Chevy Astro Van was found parked outside the Post Oak Apartment Homes in Lyndon. Her body was found inside.
According to Sgt. Aaron Crowell of LMPD, the Tanselle's van was found by an officer with the Graymoor-Devondale Police Department around 5:30 a.m.
"The vehicle was transported to the Louisville Metro Police auto theft garage where a search warrant was conducted and the body of Diane Tanselle was recovered inside that vehicle," Crowell said.
Crowell believes Tanselle had been dead for days, but did not say how long her van sat abandoned in a parking space. Valentine Bates, a resident of Post Oak Apartment Homes, said she noticed the van for the first time on the night of April 7.
"It just showed up. I assumed someone was visiting 'cause there's nobody in my apartment building that drives a van -nobody," said Bates. "I don't know where it came from. [I don't know] who dropped it off. We didn't see nobody. [I] didn't really think much of it."
While Crowell is keeping many of the details tight-lipped, he said a person passing by the van wouldn't have been able to see Tanselle's body. Crowell said there are a couple of people named as persons of interest, but the only one they are identifying is Thomas Kessinger, Tanselle's business partner.
Kessinger is currently being held in the Clark County, Indiana Jail held on drug charges following a chase that began April 5 at his Lyndon home. LMPD officers had gone to Kessinger's home to talk with him about Tanselle's disappearance and possible drug activity. Tanselle's van was discovered about three blocks from Kessinger's home.
Indiana court documents reveal that investigators found Tanselle's cell phone in Kessinger's backyard and a large amount of suspected blood inside Kessinger's home. While detectives are not saying any more than that, Crowell said he has talked with Tanselle's family.
"This is a difficult time for them," said Crowell. "They've been extremely cooperative in our investigation. Our prayers go out to them."
An autopsy will be performed to determine how Tanselle died. At the current time, Kessinger is not charged in connection with Tanselle's disappearance or her death.
This week has seemed unreal for our family and now comes the trial. Probably The People vs. Thomas Kessinger. Who knows how long it will take.
According to Sgt. Aaron Crowell of LMPD, the Tanselle's van was found by an officer with the Graymoor-Devondale Police Department around 5:30 a.m.
"The vehicle was transported to the Louisville Metro Police auto theft garage where a search warrant was conducted and the body of Diane Tanselle was recovered inside that vehicle," Crowell said.
Crowell believes Tanselle had been dead for days, but did not say how long her van sat abandoned in a parking space. Valentine Bates, a resident of Post Oak Apartment Homes, said she noticed the van for the first time on the night of April 7.
"It just showed up. I assumed someone was visiting 'cause there's nobody in my apartment building that drives a van -nobody," said Bates. "I don't know where it came from. [I don't know] who dropped it off. We didn't see nobody. [I] didn't really think much of it."
While Crowell is keeping many of the details tight-lipped, he said a person passing by the van wouldn't have been able to see Tanselle's body. Crowell said there are a couple of people named as persons of interest, but the only one they are identifying is Thomas Kessinger, Tanselle's business partner.
Kessinger is currently being held in the Clark County, Indiana Jail held on drug charges following a chase that began April 5 at his Lyndon home. LMPD officers had gone to Kessinger's home to talk with him about Tanselle's disappearance and possible drug activity. Tanselle's van was discovered about three blocks from Kessinger's home.
Indiana court documents reveal that investigators found Tanselle's cell phone in Kessinger's backyard and a large amount of suspected blood inside Kessinger's home. While detectives are not saying any more than that, Crowell said he has talked with Tanselle's family.
"This is a difficult time for them," said Crowell. "They've been extremely cooperative in our investigation. Our prayers go out to them."
An autopsy will be performed to determine how Tanselle died. At the current time, Kessinger is not charged in connection with Tanselle's disappearance or her death.
This week has seemed unreal for our family and now comes the trial. Probably The People vs. Thomas Kessinger. Who knows how long it will take.
Missing
My wife's cousin, Diane Tanselle, has been missing since last Friday. Here's yesterday's news story.
This morning they found a van near Tom Kessinger's home; Emily just called and said the detective working the case told her they suspected that there is a "deceased person" inside the van and they're waiting for forensics to arrive before opening the van.
Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) - WHAS11 News has learned that a van police say is connected to the case of a woman missing since last weekend, has been found.
The van was found at the Post Oak apartment homes in the 8100 block of New Lagrange Road.
Diane Tanselle was last seen Friday evening at her tanning salon in Lyndon.
Evidence found in the home of her former business partner, Thomas Kessinger, may place Diane Tanselle near or inside his home around the time she was reported missing.
Kessinger is a person of interest in the case.
Court documents show blood was found in his home and a cell phone-possibly Tanselle's-was found in his backyard.
People who work near the salon also say they saw signs of a struggle behind Tanselle's business.
Kessinger is being held on a $100,000 bond.
WHAS11.com has a crew at the scene and WHAS11.com will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
This morning they found a van near Tom Kessinger's home; Emily just called and said the detective working the case told her they suspected that there is a "deceased person" inside the van and they're waiting for forensics to arrive before opening the van.
Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) - WHAS11 News has learned that a van police say is connected to the case of a woman missing since last weekend, has been found.
The van was found at the Post Oak apartment homes in the 8100 block of New Lagrange Road.
Diane Tanselle was last seen Friday evening at her tanning salon in Lyndon.
Evidence found in the home of her former business partner, Thomas Kessinger, may place Diane Tanselle near or inside his home around the time she was reported missing.
Kessinger is a person of interest in the case.
Court documents show blood was found in his home and a cell phone-possibly Tanselle's-was found in his backyard.
People who work near the salon also say they saw signs of a struggle behind Tanselle's business.
Kessinger is being held on a $100,000 bond.
WHAS11.com has a crew at the scene and WHAS11.com will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
April 6, 2010
Twilight In A Tower
I had drawn a Tower during roll call and spent all day thirty feet in the air. The day started sunny then dark clouds rolled in with the wind. It tried to clear and then a second wave of rain. At the end of the shift the clouds were blowing across the sky ragged and torn to shreds.
Later, wife and I were at Kroger. She held up a bag of shredded cheddar cheese with one hand and with the other waved her fingers, pointed down, in a sprinkling motion. I knew exactly what this shorthand meant. I smiled in agreement. It's funny how such a simple gesture can have such a subtle significance.
That night I dreamt.
In the Tower I was looking at Venus shining through the fading blue. I was thinking of my grandfather. He called it the Evening Star and told me when I was a little boy how to find it in the sky.
I was on the cat walk and, looking inside, there was my wife eating cheese nachos and watching a flat screen television. There were end tables, lamps, and all the comforts of home. I looked east and there was no prison buildings and I felt that it had somehow become underground.
There appeared a small group of men in prison garb clumsily throwing spears at me which I easily dodged. As they came closer their numbers and accuracy increased and I was throwing spears back at them. I became increasingly alarmed the closer they approached the tower.
The men started to climb the tower and onto the cat walk. I was inside handing them tables, chairs, and anything I could find of value which seemed to pacify the men. My wife sat in the recliner asking me if I wanted to give them the computer which was no ordinary computer but a state of the art, bleeding edge, super computer.
The men heard her and started raising hell again, clamoring for the computer. I woke, my heart beating fast. It took awhile to get back to sleep wondering if the Evening Star was out at 1:30.
Later, wife and I were at Kroger. She held up a bag of shredded cheddar cheese with one hand and with the other waved her fingers, pointed down, in a sprinkling motion. I knew exactly what this shorthand meant. I smiled in agreement. It's funny how such a simple gesture can have such a subtle significance.
That night I dreamt.
In the Tower I was looking at Venus shining through the fading blue. I was thinking of my grandfather. He called it the Evening Star and told me when I was a little boy how to find it in the sky.
I was on the cat walk and, looking inside, there was my wife eating cheese nachos and watching a flat screen television. There were end tables, lamps, and all the comforts of home. I looked east and there was no prison buildings and I felt that it had somehow become underground.
There appeared a small group of men in prison garb clumsily throwing spears at me which I easily dodged. As they came closer their numbers and accuracy increased and I was throwing spears back at them. I became increasingly alarmed the closer they approached the tower.
The men started to climb the tower and onto the cat walk. I was inside handing them tables, chairs, and anything I could find of value which seemed to pacify the men. My wife sat in the recliner asking me if I wanted to give them the computer which was no ordinary computer but a state of the art, bleeding edge, super computer.
The men heard her and started raising hell again, clamoring for the computer. I woke, my heart beating fast. It took awhile to get back to sleep wondering if the Evening Star was out at 1:30.
April 4, 2010
Duncan Sheik
I found this to be a pretty good song for Easter. Weird considering Duncan Sheik is a Buddhist.
Duncan Sheik 'The Dawn's Request' 2006
Duncan Sheik 'The Dawn's Request' 2006
April 1, 2010
Long Run
The day was seventy something degrees and today is supposed to climb to eighty-two. This morning I walked out to get the newspaper, the sky was clear and the birds were riotous.
We went to Long Run Park yesterday evening and cooked out. I met a woman by the name of Beatrice who had moved here from New Jersey with her husband. She works for IT in the Corrections Department at a prison close to the prison where I work. So there is hope that I will eventually move up into IT, I just have to be patient.
The other day I had my massage by Ms. Hieronymous, it was heaven. My advice to those with or without back pain is head to your friendly neighborhood masseuse and indulge yourself.
Here's a sardonic little tune I like that's been getting alot of radio air time lately.
The Magnetic Fields - 'You Must Be Out of Your Mind' 2010.
We went to Long Run Park yesterday evening and cooked out. I met a woman by the name of Beatrice who had moved here from New Jersey with her husband. She works for IT in the Corrections Department at a prison close to the prison where I work. So there is hope that I will eventually move up into IT, I just have to be patient.
The other day I had my massage by Ms. Hieronymous, it was heaven. My advice to those with or without back pain is head to your friendly neighborhood masseuse and indulge yourself.
Here's a sardonic little tune I like that's been getting alot of radio air time lately.
The Magnetic Fields - 'You Must Be Out of Your Mind' 2010.
March 28, 2010
March 24, 2010
The Week That Was
What a week at work. A few fights. Last night (my Friday) we went to the gym and as soon as I hit the weights a tune rose from the speakers from Sirius, XM or whatever the gym subscribes to. It was the perfect song as if played on cue for the end of the week. It's been forever since I've heard it and I sang along while pumping the iron.
The Rolling Stones "Street Fighting Man" 1968.
The Rolling Stones "Street Fighting Man" 1968.
March 10, 2010
The Thrill of Gibberish
baut new cell phone last week
plan came w/ un-lmted txting
nver txted much bfor
dout Ill txt much on it
dont c much point in it
Has camra
watch tv on smll screen.
web conected
can roll lital dicies
hole spektrum of time waister apps
plan came w/ un-lmted txting
nver txted much bfor
dout Ill txt much on it
dont c much point in it
Has camra
watch tv on smll screen.
web conected
can roll lital dicies
hole spektrum of time waister apps
March 3, 2010
Mr. Kite
I don't know why but lately I've been listening to a lot of Beatles music. It started when I heard 'Being For the Benefit of Mr Kite!' on the radio.
It's from the 1967 Sgt Pepper album. Lennon wrote the song taking inspiration from a nineteenth century circus poster for Pablo Fanque's circus which he purchased in an antique shop shortly before recording
the album. Mr. Kite is believed to be William Kite, who worked for Pablo Fanque from 1843 to 1845.
One of the most musically complex songs on Sgt. Pepper, Lennon wanted the track to have a "carnival atmosphere", and told producer George Martin that he wanted "to smell the sawdust on the floor." In the middle eight bars, multiple recordings of fairground organs and calliope music were spliced together to attempt to produce this request; after a great deal of unsuccessful experimentation, Martin instructed Geoff Emerick to chop the tape into pieces with scissors, throw them up in the air, and re-assemble them at random.
It's from the 1967 Sgt Pepper album. Lennon wrote the song taking inspiration from a nineteenth century circus poster for Pablo Fanque's circus which he purchased in an antique shop shortly before recording
the album. Mr. Kite is believed to be William Kite, who worked for Pablo Fanque from 1843 to 1845. One of the most musically complex songs on Sgt. Pepper, Lennon wanted the track to have a "carnival atmosphere", and told producer George Martin that he wanted "to smell the sawdust on the floor." In the middle eight bars, multiple recordings of fairground organs and calliope music were spliced together to attempt to produce this request; after a great deal of unsuccessful experimentation, Martin instructed Geoff Emerick to chop the tape into pieces with scissors, throw them up in the air, and re-assemble them at random.
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