Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

I'm late to this, as My Music Monday and 12 of 12 got in the way. 

I do not want to hear one fucking word from anyone - republican or democrat (though mostly the former) - about any football play taking a knee, in regards to it being disrespectful to 'the troops'.

FUCK THEM.

You have a dick knob president who got deferments, mocked a gold-star soldier and his family, has yet to visit any troops, has sent them to the border with no power or hot food, and yes - was a no-show to a Veteran's Day commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.......................because it was raining!

Let that sink in.  Water.

Elphaba was smarter........and kinder.

This "man" has shown nothing but disrespect for the military, past or present, so spare me your faux indignation for football players not being patriotic.

BTW......I might love Emmanuel Macron, for purposefully or not, putting BLOTUS in his place regarding nationalism.  Of course it is all for naught, as BLOTUS wouldn't understand such language, nor would he care, after his sycophants got him up to speed later.

I mean, he'll care. No doubt has already tweeted about how stupid France is.

Let us not forget that the leaders of the world walked a half-mile towards the Arc de Triomphe, except for BLOTUS.  He took his motorcade, like the spoiled child he is. Millions of people who died in service, who he was there to honor, and it became all about him........like always.

I've said it before and no doubt will again, can he sink any lower?



Song by: Creedence Clearwarter Revival

12 of 12

So I'm doing my 104th 12 of 12.

Normally it is 12 pictures taken on the 12th of the month. Since I only post once per day, you get my images the following day. All pictures taken with my iPhone. Click images to enlarge, if you choose.

Created by Chad Darnell and picked up from, what I can tell, any number of random bloggers who then link back to him and vice versa. Chad is no longer doing this, nor is successor coordinating the linking of other 12 of 12'ers anymore. Now it's just Erik and myself - that I know of.....as it's the only blog post he's still doing......for now.  

I still continue to do this, because of all my consistent post topics, I actually like this one the most.

05:30.  Doggie b'fast. 

I overslept by half an hour, but he got fed on time. 

06:20.  Strapping on the brace. 

06:35.  Dragon on the stairs.

I make sure that it is on place for when 710 take Shep to his apartment. 

06:50.  Arriving to work. 

07:30.  Payroll. 

09:45.  Taking a new employee on a small tour.

11:23.  On way to a lunch meeting. 

11:35.  Said meeting.  Late to start. 

13:05.  Lunch. 

I never eat it at that meeting.  And, yes, I was given two cupcakes, which I accepted. 

I did not eat the cookies. And only had one of the cupcakes. 

14:50.  Physical Therapy. 

Anna was mean to me today. Lot of hard work. 

16:50.  FitBit needs juice. 

18:40.  Shopping. 

Mostly for cat and dog stuff. 

.....and that was some of my day. 

My Music Monday

There is some Mark Wahlberg movie (isn't there always?) that the studios are forcing far too many commercials  - so you know it sucks.

Well, it's a Mark Wahlberg "comedy", so you KNOW it sucks.

Usually I change the channel or mute commercials. Yet this movie uses George Harrison's "What is Life" as the background music.

This song could arguably be the best post-Beatles song by any of the fab four.  And yes, I include the woefully overplayed 'oh, wow man that's deep' song, "Imagine", on which I also hit mute.

George never got his due in the Beatles, almost always limited to two songs per disk (still better than Ringo got)  though most of his songs were widely played, mostly "Something", "Here Comes the Sun" and my possible favourite of all their songs, "Why My Guitar Gently Weeps".

Harrison hits all the right marks on "Life", with rock and pop.  The tempo, the guitar, the vocals, are all great. It might be the horns that make the song though.

If "What is Life" is actually played in the movie, without ever seeing the film, I can guarantee you it's the best thing in the flick.

When I Get My Wheels

There are defining moments that make one an adult:

Your first real job. Buying a house. Marriage.  Kids (or so I hear). Making a will. Burying a parent.

.....and now buying your remaining parent a mobility scooter / chair, is on the list.

Yesterday, I took my mother to a medical supply store to check the out.  At her "independent" living complex, she has not been so independent.

With being on oxygen, those portable canisters are pretty heavy - 8lbs. That's a 10th of her weight. So an aide has had to take her by wheelchair to and from the dining area.

She can walk, but for limited periods of time and distance. So to help gain some additional freedom, one of my sisters invested time to get her a concentrator that is only 2lbs and doesn't need refilling. My "job" was to look at scooters.

The place she's at - everyone has them. Four or three wheeled transport. Red seems to be the colour of choice. Those are nice, but the baskets on them are fairly useless. They take up some amount of room and don't roll under a table.

My mom liked the chair versions. Easy get on and off. But it drives with a joystick. As she's isn't proficient in Grand Theft Auto or Myst, this would be new to her.

As it turns out, she did really well around the showroom. We tried out a few. My mother - being my mother - was immediately drawn to the cheapest one. It was a new, but discontinued model, hence the $500 markdown.

It would have been fine actually. The newer version had better wheels, a better seat (allegedly) and could be taken apart into more pieces for transportation. And it is more expensive.......and it came in Envy Green.

She liked the upper model but with the cheaper one's seat.  And in a matter of minutes (plus the first hour), we were signing the receipt and loading it into my car. Sure they could deliver this upcoming week, but if it could fit in a car, why would I deny her any more time to be stuck in a chair like Baby Jane?

After a nice lunch out, I had her back in the lobby of her place while I unloaded the scooter and drove it in from outside.

What was great that a man who was in the lobby goes, "you got new wheels!.  you're going to love them!".   That made my mom feel great.  I laughed (inside) because either after almost two weeks, they know who she is or it was a wild guess.  I'm guessing this is like Senior Peyton Place.  Everyone talks about everyone.

Still, she was thrilled to be able to go down to the laundry room, the library, 4p happy hour, dinner - all without anyone taking her.

....and before you ask, yes, I made sure she could get in and out of the door and made her plug it in (and unplug it) to make sure she could do that too.

So, we will see what this week brings. But I suspect she might like this place a little more now that she can get out of her room whenever she damn well pleases.



Song by: Walter Egan

Comfort

Another extremely busy week, but I still managed to get a few decent pics of the kids.

Walk after work...before it turns dark. I made sure 710 knew we ere on said walk, so shot him a snap. 

Visiting Nana at her new abode. 

Shep wasn't sure about it all - he knows my mom, but the place was strange. 

It's cooler now - so Sophie sleeps with me all night. 

I love Fall and Winter for this reason alone. 

Polo field rest stop. 

....but on top of a picnic table.........with his tongue out. 

Song by: Alanis Morissette

Murder by Numbers

Once again, I cannot and will not, delve into the who, why, what, where crap of the last / latest mass shooting.

I saw one link - one - and it mentioned mental health. But you know, he is white, so........

I am sure my faithful readers can tell me who, if anyone, was sending "thoughts and prayers".  I'm sure you can relay the borderline vile thing the NRA has said.

There is nothing new under that propaganda sun.

Mental illness aside, there is no good reason to shoot up a room full of people, unless one certain BLOTUS was in said room. 

Sorry - collateral damage. It's for the greater good, and all. If a certain press secretary happened to be in the room, well, so be it.

Oh calm your tits, Secret Service.  I don't have the energy to take that on myself, but I wouldn't be crying is someone else did.  g-d it must suck to have part of your job description being to take a bullet for that fat-ass.  They don't pay you enough. They really don't. 

These acts are murder. It's "domestic" terrorism. It's somewhat preventable

The one thought I had on this atrocity was if it had happened on Monday - the day before the election. How would it have changed voting habits?  Would Ted Cruz - the NRA's biggest congressional recipient of NRA funds - would have that that extra 1.9% over Beto?  I'm thinking there'd have been a strong showing of support to not cast a ballot his way.

12 more dead. Apparently, enough is not enough.



Song by: the Police

Getting Away With It

Jeff Sessions is a weak piece of shit.

This is not news. 

He had to see his "resignation" coming, right? I mean, even BLOTUS said he'd wait till mid-terms were over.

.....and technically, to like the second, mid-terms were over and the eldest Keebler elf was "quitting".

And that's why he is weak. Make the scumbag fire you. Make him do the work. But no - you take one final pucker to his tuchus. 

Well done Jeffey, well done.

BLOTUS has put a loyalist into the position. Someone who might - just maybe - wants to derail the DOJ and a certain investigation(s) that are currently in progress.

If Matthew Whitaker makes any move on DOJ employees or appointees, he will (or should) be challenged in the courts. He has not been confirmed by the Senate for any position; therefore, he cannot simply slip into the Acting AG position with anything other than managerial duties.

Only a confirmed appointee (doesn't matter where in the administration) can do this. Not that any of this is going to stop BLOTUS or Whitaker from trying to shut down this "hoax".

....and can Rod Rosenstein be far behind Sessions?

Since there clearly is little veil between Executive and Judicial, is there anything this shmuck isn't going to get away with?



Song by: Electronic

Blue

"Hopeful" is not the adjective one would normally put towards me - unless it was the mid-80s and the bars were letting out and I was horny, or if there is a $1.6 billion dollar lotto to be had.

Of course, one has to be hopeful these days, or it just becomes the largest murder-suicide pact known to mankind outside of Jonestown.

See what I mean about me not being naturally hopeful?

Unfortunately for all, I'm more of a realist than an optimist. While a wave of blue would be nice, I'll settle for an estuary.

The Senate would be great, but that would mean winning, I think, every race and that doesn't seem realistic. The House seems a better bet.

Here it is 21:48 and I don't have a clear picture on so many things. My besties and I are texting for fun, but then it gets real when someone refuses to talk about going to Mexico or seeing Peter Murphy in February of next year. 

The House is still possible. At the writing of this, 82 / 89, so we need some catching up.  ....and then just like that it went to 84 / 95.

IF we don't make a dent in this election, it is over. How can the Dems expect to win anything in 2020?

I was hopeful when I started this post.  Now I'm turning off the TV and not looking at another news site. I just don't understand. For the life of me, I cannot figure this country out. There will be no way to rebuild / recover any of this in my lifetime - which is hopefully short.

Sorry to have brought you all down.  Maybe it will somehow all turn around by the time I wake up. 
.....and I'm back to 'hope'.



Song by: Joni Mitchell

Free Life

Seriously.

If you're registered and haven't yet voted - get the fuck off your ass and get to your polling booth!


NOW!



Song by: Natalie Maines

My Music Monday

Once again, the iPhone did the selection for me. Not in as such the 10th of random shuffle, but the recent reload of some older music that had not even been in rotation for a while.

Garbage came up with "I Hate Love' from 2012.  The album, from which it came, was totally underrated, so it was nice to see some of the songs pop up.

I'd say this music isn't for everyone, but what music is?

The song has elements of pop and rock in there and the to are easily blended so it's not over the top either way.

As usual, there is no official video and some of the fan ones just became too creepy.

Man on the Moon

Let's just start out - if you're going to make a movie about astronauts - and they have to wear helmets a lot of the time - don't use Ryan Gosling. It's a waste of Gosling face.

Yesterday, we went to see First Man (see Raybeard, you weren't the last to see it).

The film was better than Interstellar (but what wasn't) but not as good as Gravity or the Martian.

I guess the difference is: this was real - unless you buy into the whole 'the moon landing was a hoax' conspiracy. So, it was better than Apollo 13 but not as good as the Right Stuff.

While director Damien Chazelle had some eye popping shots in his La La Land, there weren't many here. Sometimes, quite the opposite. I found many of the shots dark and visually hard to catch what was, or was supposed to be, going on.

Now and again, there was an outstanding shot - so I know Chazelle was at least trying.

I get the decorating style of the time was wood paneling, but many interior shots were so dark, they came off as depressing even when they weren't meant to be.

That said, I have zero idea of how Neil and Janet's actual relationship was, but 'warm' isn't the way you'd describe it from this portrayal. I get they had early tragedy in their marriage, but I had a hard time caring about anything Claire Foy was trying to project in the way of 'concern'.

I totally get the 'stoicism' of the era and the profession, but there is so little emoting from Gosling, save for one or two scenes, it just played as flat.

Like Raybeard, I enjoy a good training scene and how a launch gets operationalized, but they had more of it, and better, in the Right Stuff.  I thought the Apollo 1 tragedy was both a harrowing scene and yet extremely well done.

Oh - and Kyle Chandler is in it, so he never sucks to look at for any period of time.

First Man was ok, but there's a reason it's been out a month and only playing at limited theaters and at odd times (3p or 9p).  Like La La Land, it is not going home with best picture. Or actor.



2018 Movie Count / Goal:  15 of 12


Song by: R.E.M.

Upside Down

That time of week folks.

No set up.  I might be drunk.

Same rug, different animal - pt. 1

....with the ever-present dragon.

I see you!

Same rug, different animal - pt 2. 

This is Shep's new go-to pose with 710.  It's cute as hell. 

Until I downloaded the image, I didn't even know Sophie was in the picture. 

Song by: Miss Diana Ross

Ad of the Month

As you well know, it's voting season.  This, of course, means tv ads. Lots and lots of tv ads. 

I will say, most I just ignore - and mute.  Or change the channel. Or all of the above. Thought something made me watch Ken Harbaugh's ad.

You'd think with the flags, military aircraft and demolition derby footage that he has to be republican.

WRONG.

Imagine my surprise.

While the ad is not intentionally funny, it kind of made me laugh.  I can't vote for him, as he's not in my district, but at least it much more of an original ad than trashing one's opponent.

Going to a Go Go

I gotta tell you - it's tough road being a democrat.  You just lose so g-ddamned often.  It is just so demoralizing.

As there might not be a "blue wave" in 2018, I thought I would just cut my losses and finally be on a winning team.

And you know what they say: if you can't beat them; join them.

So on Monday - the day before the mid-terms, I am going to a BLOTUS rally.

Oh, I should probably stop calling him that, right?  Old habits die hard.



Ok. Ok.  I can't do it anymore. Why isn't it April Fools?  WHY?

I am, but am not, going to the rally.

I registered. I got two tickets.    ............just so two other twisted motherfuckers cannot attend. Yes, that is how I spend my time. Thwarting the GOP at whatever turn I can take. It's the little things, really.

Sure - now they have my phone number, but so fucking what. It's a small price to pay for continually fucking with them for as long as I can stand it.

Oh - and there's a website and everything, including a 'store'.  ....and a 'Promises Kept' link, that I cannot cannot cannot bring myself to click on.

Truth be told - I considered for a nanosecond to go, to see what it would be like, but I have a feeling I'd be murdered. Or maybe like Boston, it'd be more than a feeling.

....and it's on a school night. Who can be bothered, except for all those out of work auto-workers who will go because BLOTUS is bringing car jobs back to America?  They've got - and will continue to have - nothing but free time.

Me? I have beer to drink from the confines of my own sofa.



Song by: the Rolling Stones

Bust a Move

"It was the worst of times, it was the worst of times."

I'm pretty sure that was Dickens' first draft.

It really isn't 'worst', but it is change, and if we have learned anything in life, it is that change is bad.

Monday, my mother moved into independent living. It's a big move for her. A huge one. In many ways.

My mother had been in her current house for 49.5 years. I swear that house behind that truck doesn't look 50 years old to me.

Emotionally I get that it's a difficult situation for her. For me, safety took precedent over sentiment. Let's just say my mother and I did not see eye-to-eye.

As much as I do for my mom, moving her was not one of them. I helped coordinating things remotely from my office, but since I had been out of town and just back to work, I couldn't immediately take off from work, as it was a hastily arranged transition.

That said, two of my sisters and their husbands did the heavy lifting - literally and figuratively.

In bigger news: two of my sisters stayed in proximal distance for 7-8 hours. I'm sure Guinness World Book of Records is looking into this phenomenon as we speak.

On moment's notice, they loaded a truck of some of her furniture and moved it into her new two bedroom one and a half bathroom place. The layout is nothing to write home about, but they made it look it extremely decent.

I heard that my mother cried a little when she arrived. I'm sure some were tears of sorrow and frustration, but the verbal was that it "looked like home".

So, now it the settling in period, so I'm expecting highs and lows. That's expected.

I'm hoping the socialization at meal time will help her. She's been alone in that house since my dad died - and the last year, it's been almost around the clock as it has not been easy to get out.  I think this will do her a world of good and someone will be nearby at all times.

It's on to a new chapter. We will see what this brings.



Song by: Young MC

Hate on Me

Can someone tell me where the dipshit first daughter (no, not you Tiffany.......not this time) and her creepy automaton Jew of a husband have been holed-up for the last few days?

Let's pretend the pipe bombs to current and previous government leaders didn't happen (or that somehow mid-level 1990s Three Doors Down somehow didn't get dragged(?) into that scenario) or that some white guy shot black folks in a grocery store because he couldn't work a door at black church.

I would say it's harder to ignore 11 killed at temple. I'd say when it is the deadliest attack on Jews in the United States.

It should be said again:  THE deadliest attack on Jews in the U.S.  Ever.

News programs aren't really saying that. Here and there, but they're kind of burying that fact.

The media and the FBI called the mail bombs 'domestic terrorism'.  You can slap that this motherfucker in Pittsburgh too.  It's religious terror too.

The Anti-Defamation League logged a 57 percent rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States in 2017, compared to the previous year - and the largest increase since they started tracking 30 year ago.

Pop Quiz, hotshots:   What happened in 2017 that might allow for the meteoric rise in Jew-hating?   It may or may not have happened on or around January 20th.

BLOTUS' comment this not happening if the temple and it's members had just been armed themselves.


What. The. Fuck.


As someone on the interwebs said:  if the freedom to practice your religion requires a gun for protection, it's no long freedom of religion.

This rhetoric is nothing new for this shell of a 'man'......or anyone else in the NRA's pocketbook. Yet people buy it hook-line-sinker. Or enough of them do.

710 accurately said the other day - there is disbelief and no longer a call to action. There was plenty for a school in Florida just eight months ago - but where it is the outrage now?  Could it really be because it was Jewish related?  If so, I'm horribly sickened. 

So I'll ask again:  where is the faux-Heeb first daughter?  Where is that dweeb-heeb of a son-in-law? They're Jewish when it suits them, but not enough to stand up - publicly - to denounce this behaviour that her father won't. They don't dare not tow the line

No doubt the two of them will tag along on a trip to Pittsburgh - a trip the city and the synagogue don't want to happen - and make a display and mockery of themselves and their faux-caring.

While some Jews do not believe in Hell, Jared better hope one doesn't exist.......because if there is, they got a place waiting for him.  Ivanka too, but in the shiksa section.



Song by: Jill Scott

My Music Monday

So, I was O'Hare this weekend, waiting for my 09:00 flight. The gate was by the Goose Island brewery bar / stand.  Mind you, the flight was a 09:00, so this was like 07:50.  I'm no angel, but there were far too many people sitting at the bar consuming beer.

Yes. I judged.

Sure, I got in at 12mn from a party where I consumed all of three beers. Yes. I was NOT drunk when doing karaoke. Wonders do never cease.

Anyhoo......since Doug and I were deep into '80s tracks for our sing-a-long, maybe it was the fates, but standing near gate B1 was Oingo Boingo playing "Dead Man's Party",  which is possible I hadn't heard in, I dunno, 1988?

I didn't know there was a bad video to go along, but apparently there is.

A Singer Must Die

What does one do when out of town on a Saturday night? 

Well, it's Halloween weekend (kind of), so you tag-along as a third wheel to a party that is centered around Halloween...and
karaoke.

Yes. You read that correctly.

Longtime friend, Doug, and his relatively new husband, Erik, really wanted to see me yet had plans. Their solution was to have me go. I kind of tried to beg off, but they were hearing none of it - with Doug even driving in rush hour traffic to get me.

It did beat sitting in my hotel room for another night with room service.

The party was costume related.  I went as out of town tag along who didn't know he was coming to a costume party.

Nailed it !!!

But they had a room - a ROOM - for karaoke.

Morty, Becky and Dith can attest to the first (and last) time I sang karaoke. I'm thinking 1992. This was not that.

It used to be you did it from a book of pre-selected tunes you'd not normally want to sing....or hear. Now, we have the intertubes with versions of ANY song. Some well done, some not so much.

Doug, seen there, kicked off the festivities with Bauhaus' "Bela Legosi's Dead" .  You don't get that song on most play lists.

Save Doug and Erik, I knew no one, though everyone was super nice. I had nothing to lose by singing.  I started with "Girlfriend in a Coma" by the Smiths. The pseudo host (it's a long story) had never heard it. He said to me afterwards, "there should be a lesson in Ethics with that one".

I joined in on a horrible version of Petty's "American Girl" and Doug and I dueted on Split Enz' "I Got You".  I took solo for "There is a Light that Never Goes Out".  I didn't suck.  There is no video (of which I know), so you can't say otherwise.

It was fun. But more fun hoping in an Uber not worrying about getting to point B.

Now it's time for bed.




Song by: Leonard Cohen

I've Just Seen a Face

It's a short deck this week.  I haven't really been home - be it work, checking in on my mom, or this conference.

No worries, you know we'll rectify that in the coming weeks.

Giving Dad #2 affection. 

Dad #2 is loving it.

Shep at his most frequented place: the Solstice Steps

Animated Shep.

Apparently you have edit features now in FaceTime.  Who knew?

Song by: the Beatles

Windy City

I'm on the road. Kind of.

Chicago. For three nights.  And let's be clear, it's not 'the Loop' Chicago. It's the airport hotel Chicago. For a conference.    .......one that goes until 18:00......on a SATURDAY.

This is my first work travel since taking this job three years ago. As you know, my last gig, I was away more than I was home. I was so used to the airports, shuttles, etc, that I was numb to it all.

As I stood in line for group 4 to be called (oh, the HORROR!), I had a hard time remembering how I did it all and for so long.

The non-first class seat didn't help, nor did the person next to me with her 4" nails playing clips from her Facebook page - without headphones, thank you! - of people saying 'fuck' every three seconds.

I'm fine with vile language, but I wasn't getting this  - let alone on a plane. But it's a BLOTUS world now, so these are the kind of miscreants we walk amongst.

Day one - so far so good. 

Last night I FaceTimed with 710 and Shep. I'm 99% sure I haven't used FaceTime since my last travels. Petey was still alive then.

On one slight slight slight hand, I miss travel. I can pinpoint which part, but I do. Except for the fact that I want to be home nightly with Sophie, Shep and 710.

I stayed and ate in my hotel room, like old times but over the weekend, I plan to take the train into the city for dinner with friends - or even by my lonesome.

We'll see.................




Song by: Alison Krauss

Not Sorry

Song by:  the Cranberries

the Kids are Alright

I don't usually promote tv shows.  Oh sure, once in a while I'll write about one here or there, but the chances of my attention span latching on to something is slim to none.

I guess the Kids are Alright latched.

I have zero brothers - and this is a family of all boys. So maybe it is the nostalgia of the '70s, though I don't think that's it at all.

There were previews over the summer and I figured - wrongly - that I'd never bother to watch. But then it was on and even with a remote I was too lazy to turn the channel.  I'm glad I didn't.

There have only been two episodes, but of the eight (?) kids, four are hilarious. Well, 3.5. The main kid, you know is the protagonist so he only gets a half star rating.

If you watched the Real O'Neals a few years back, it's kind of like that, though that main character was gay.  You're just kind of assuming this one is too, but it's the '70s and no one is saying that.  As I IMDB this thing, it made more sense that writers and producers of the Real O'Neals ran this show too.

That's a good thing, since I thought the show never got its due.

The Kids have made both 710 and myself laugh out loud.


Song by: the Who

Love Hurts

I swear, this dog is costing me an arm and a let. Or at least a knee. 

MRI results are back, and as I began to suspect from my continual pain was a tear of the meniscus. And that MRI I got last weekend, the results confirmed my self-diagnosis. 

The irony was, the two days after the MRI, while not perfect, my knee felt the best it had in weeks. 

Ruckiry (?) (not Jon's boss), the pain came back full force (no Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam), last Wednesday.  On Thursday, I still hadn't heard my results so I called the doc, who told me what I kind of already knew. 

The red arrow I provided shows where the tear is. 

I say 'ruckiry' because, if you're spending that much on a diagnostic test, you almost want to know you didn't get - "oh it's nothing", I mean, unless they were looking for a tumor.  I'm a weird guy. I get it. 

So the day after emailing the doc, I was in his office. Thank g-d he's cute. I don't mind the fees. Well, I do, but..........

Anyhoo......no surgery needed.  Physical Therapy - which I'd already started. A cortisone injection in the knee - which was done perfectly by he.  

And a knee brace. 

A fucking $900 knee brace. Yes, insurance covers it, but that's not the point. I'm sure had they given me the make / model, I could have gotten it at Walgreens or amazon for about $43.  Yes, there are intricate levers and straps, but you could say that about any gay man's play room.............I've heard. 

We never did say how long I had to wear it. He doesn't need to see me back again - to which I asked if his kids (I'm assuming he has them) didn't want to go grad school, as with my elbow and shoulder and now knees, I have to assume I've paid for their undergrad education. 

He laughed.  So it was all worth while. 

Song by: Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris

My Music Monday

I've reloaded my iPhone with music that had just been languishing in my music liberry.  So I'm rediscovering songs - some for better, some for worse - but at least I'm trying "new" stuff out.

The Go-Go's last studio album was in 2001. Yikes.

I mean, they're still out there plugging away - though they 'retired' from touring. They do one-off shows, because heroine is cheap but it ain't free, but they don't tour per se.

And they don't record new music, which I always found odd, because it's not like anyone is asking for another Jane Weidlen solo album, and there is only so much French vibrato (or worse - eastern mantra songs that sold probably 18 copies?) that one can take from Belinda Carlisle.  What DO they do with all their free time these last 18 years?

Sure, there is a Broadway show with their music, but it doesn't date past 2001 and they're not in it, so..that's not sucking up studio time.

So from their last album, G-d Bless the Go-Go's, which I thought was decent, but not great, I've discovered one of those songs I used to hit 'skip' on the CD player, "Apology".

Part of my rediscovery phase is to force myself to sit through all the songs, to see what, if anything, I missed. And I did miss really good parts of some fair songs.  And founds song that were good.

I'm really liking today's selection and I don't know what I missed the first time around. Written by bassist Kathy Valentine, who has always been one of the more interesting writers in the band, it has a good cadence and some interesting vocal runs - mostly with the verse "in the meantime / I live, I work, I wait, I hope, I still have faith / That what was mine / Can still be mine".   Valentine wrote it, but Carlisle makes it work.

I now find myself hitting 'repeat' instead of 'skip'

There is Nothin' Like a Dame

It seemed like it would be fun, if not TOTALLY gay.

There was going to be one showing of Tea with the Dames, and I figured the Gosling / Moon movie will be around a few more weeks, and ugh, I suppose I'll have to do the husband a solid and see the Cooper/Gaga movie (though root canal sounds more fun).

Anyhoo - Dames Judi Dench (she's a national treasure!), Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright and Eileen Atkins allegedly get together a few times per year, and this one time they allowed cameras in.

On paper, it sounds fun. In reality, it had its moments, but it needed to strive for more.

710 has known my friends for decades and still he feels now and again, he's joined a conversation of which he's not apart. This movie was like that to a degree.

There were some questions for them to answer - what did they think of reviews?  how did they meet?  etc.  Dench, by far, was the one most howling with throw her head back laughter.

I know way more about Dench's and Smith's work than the other two. Honestly, except for being married Lawrence Olivier, I'm pretty sure I couldn't tell you a thing about Plowright. And I know Atkins from sight, but save the Crown,  I don't her work. I'd have to IMDB her.

But looking at their work, their paths crossed:  Dench and Smith in Room with a View and the Best Exotic Marigold Hotels. They were with Plowright in Tea with Mussolini.  And Atkins and Smith were in Gosford Park - which lead to Downton Abby.

Smith was hilarious about Downton. She's never seen an episode and while they've sent her a boxed set, she says she hasn't the time to "watch that wretched show".   They also picked on Dench, that she gets all the film offers first -and if they're in any, it's because Dench turned it down.

There were some great laugh-out-loud moments and some introspective ones too. I mean they are all in their 80s and single, some by choice, some by death.

All claim to be surprised at their movie careers and how terrifying it it to be in front of a camera every single day. They just assumed they'd be stage actresses only.

The movie was ok, but not as good as expected. There was far too much of repeating things to Plowright who had a bad hearing aid (and is seemingly blind).

We were by far the youngest in the theater........and the only two gays. Imagine, for Professor McGonagall and M - and only two homos.




2018 Movie Count / Goal:  14 of 12

Song by: original cast recording from South Pacific

Family

Pet Porn: Family Edition

Shep at Horseshoe Lake.

Sophie stealing my breath.  As usual. 

Boomer.  I haven't seen him for months. He was so happy to see me and vice versa. 

Wally.  Honestly, I don't know why he likes this so much - but he does. 

Siggie.  A man with a mission.  

He is SO fricking cute. 

Song by: Rolling Stones