Out of Time

Before the post, play the below clip.

Go ahead......do it.

What the clip leaves out (at the start) is a reference of Michael asking Lucille Bluth something or other about Jimmy Kimmel. What you see is her response.




This was when Kimmel first got his own televised talk show (as opposed to his radio show or that horrid tv show with Adam whatshisface).

Now, I'd alway laugh at anything Lucille had to say, but it was especially funny because Kimmel started off (for me) rather poorly. He has changed quite a bit - in terms of delivery, tenor, and content. He's funnier than the rest of the late nighters - though I'm guessing Anne Frank was funnier than Seth Meyers.

Like Colbert, Kimmel is spot-on with his take on the SCROTUS administration (it's been two weeks since I've had a semi-political post....and not by accident). Unlike their "peers" Colbert and Kimmel are not just about the punchline. There is commentary and thought behind what they say and how they say it.

Kimmel took it a step further and called Bill Cassidy - co-author of the new healthcare bill up before the Senate - a 'liar' on national television. Twice. On two separate broadcasts.  And had tape to back up the lie from a Kimmel broadcast where Cassidy was a guest.

As you'd expect, Cassidy said nothing, but Ms. Lindsey Graham stepped into to defend his honor. Then Cassidy spoke up saying that Kimmel knew nothing of the healthcare bill.  Which was kind of a mistake. Kimmel took to the air the second night and thrashed Cassidy again.

I'm hoping for a third night.

Jimmy speaks not just as an entertainer, but in the context of a father with a newborn who needed open heart surgery - and who will now have a pre-existing condition for life. He is aware he can afford the 'luxury' of paying for surgery for his child, but few others can - let alone the insurance to do it.....assuming a carrier would take on a high-risk patient.

Kimmel (and Colbert) are doing what the mainstream media isn't:  calling these hypocrites out on their lies, half-truths or shirking the questions all together. In that regard, they are fake news organizations.

I can only hope that others take this approach. It is the only way we can win.


So while I was totally with Lucille from the start, I've come around to Team Jimmy.



....and you have to love him just for ragging on Matt Damon nightly for the last decade (which is where I'm getting my post title reference).




(call your Senators about Cassidy-Graham.  it's fiscally irresponsible to move this forward with no CBO audit or projections. And let's not forget McConnell is only allowing 90 seconds - yes, that's right, seconds - for Senate debate.)




Song by:  the Rolling Stones

Record of the Month

I figured I'd do a monthly 'what I'm listening to' kind of thing. This could be viewed as a lame placeholder kind of post. And probably it is. But it's my blog! So there!

I've noticed with their last three disks, that Arcade Fire and the National are on similar release schedules. Perhaps it is coincidence, perhaps not. I'd say it would be nice if they spaced out their disks so we'd have something new(er) to get to more than every 3-4 year.   ....I say that, and then I think of how bad the new Arcade Fire disk is.

The National fair much better with Sleep Well Beast.

Is it Boxer or High Violet?  No.  But it doesn't suck........and right now, that holds more weight than it should.

Like Arcade Fire, the band released four songs prior to the album release. Unlike Fire, these were not all misfires. And as I found out with Trouble Will Find Me, I have to spend time with a National disk (sometimes) to start to appreciate what might initially seem mediocre.

First off, Bryan Devendorf still makes me smile with his drumming. There is nothing over the top about it in the slightest, but it is possibly even more expressive than Matt Berninger's vocals.

The band straddles their standard approach with some experimentation, and with varying degrees of success. It took me a while to warm up to "the System Only Sleeps in Total Darkness".  I think Bryce Dressner really does some guitar work he hasn't attempted before. It works.

I wish "Turtleneck" had been half as interesting as its first 30 seconds, but it kind of falls apart. Berninger does hysterical (not ha-ha funny) angst, but it doesn't seem to fit.  "Walk it Back" works, with its spoken word and voice modulator stuff.

They certainly stretch a bit with "I'll Still Destroy You" and it's almost disconnected musical interludes that work around Berninger's singing. You don't think it would work, but it actually does.

I'm digging "Dark Side of the Gym", which actually has guitar work that is more than reminiscent 60's beach movie music (and it has Lisa Hannigan too!).  At first I thought "Nobody Else Will Be There" was too well timed....too understated. It took a while, but it is a great song, though not sure it's the song to lead off the disk (or open their concert), but they do. Don't know why, but love how Berninger phrases "hey baby" during it.

Their experimentation doesn't quite work with the title / closing track. There are times in their entire discography where Berninger sing/talks, but this is just talk/talk. The music is more adventurous than the vocal or lyric, but it's a song for an outtake album.

While many of their disks have used horns, there are more strings here than in the past. And piano / keyboards seem to be more prevalent as well ("Carin at the Liquor Store" which is good - even with the clumsy John Cheever reference). Still there is the familiar too keep the folks who need that:  I like "Guilty Party", "Born to Beg".

It could be wrong, and it might take time, but I don't see defining moments with most of these songs - no "Brainy", "Ada", "Conversation 16".......but Sleep Well Beast is a good album. And sometimes good is good enough.

Little Man

It's been a year and three days since this man came into our lives.

Maybe a little longer  - as we saw him before he acquired us.

A year.

It really seems so much shorter than that. It almost feels like 2-3 months since he's been crashing at our house.

The Little Man (one of my names for him), has come a long way in said year. He no longer tries to steal Sophie's fud - not that he can get to it.  He doesn't turn over area rugs or chew on them. He has somewhat access to our shoes, yet no longer eats them....or my belts....or his leashes.

His manners are better......though he has a way to go with jumping on folks. I wish he'd stop his-once-a-day lunge at Sophie. And I can do with out the wanting to get to deer and skunks. I'm somewhat ok with the squirrels and bunnies.

Shep's mouthing is a thing of the past too, as is his semi-aggressive behaviour when we used to tell him 'n-o'. We still use that word, but sparingly. We have other commands to get him to quasi-do what he quasi-wants.

I wish he were better with other dogs. He used to be. I want him to be. But anymore about 50% of the time he is just kind of a dick.

We cannot get within 300 feet of a small dog from down the street before he is just apoplectic. We haven't actually talked to Ken & Ron for months....as we cannot get near to them. And he's now taking on the Rhodesians.....so Suzanne and Dan time is extremely limited.  It's a bummer.

The dog walker says he's a big dog in a little body........and you just can't change that. I beg to differ - though I know I'm doubting the word of a lesbian.....and you really don't wanna fuck with those.

Shep is a super good sleeper. He konks out right between 710 and myself...even has his own pillow, because....well.....he's Shep. His 04:30 toss and turns and kicks have ceased, though he still rouses me around 05:00-05:15.  And instead of jumping down and doing lord knows what downstairs while I dress, he lies in bed until I'm done and summon him.

He makes us smile and laugh daily. He is so attached to 710 and vice versa....it is great to watch. I know he loves me too, but I'm just the 05:00 and the 17:30 poop-picker-upper-dad...and the dinner and breakfast guy.  Trust me, that's good enough for me. Whatever makes his life easier.

Shep has brought joy into the house and I love seeing how much of a "dog person" 710 has become. He was right that Petey was a good starter dog for us, and that helped us right to our Little Man.

Oh - and he burbs.  Like people burbs. Maybe he should be Morty's dog.  Wait.....no.  That's farts.



Song by: Sia

You Can't Win

For whom the bell tolls.  It tolls for.......(not) me.

Ok....ok......I drafted part of this before the televised event, so I had to use a strikethrough, though I could have just deleted.

The 'you' in the title refers to me, of course. I'm not sure how many more loses I can endure, though I think Mike seems to like keeping me around for this reason only.  ....and I buy the drinks.  Probably in the reverse order.

Probably.

The television academy has spoken, and folks.........THIS is what a virtual sweep looks like.

Drama Series - Blobby wins. 
Actor, Drama Series - Mike wins
Actress, Drama Series - Mike wins
Supporting Actor, Drama Series - both win
Supporting Actress, Drama Series - both lose
Comedy Series - both win
Actor, Comedy Series - Mike wins
Actress, Comedy Series - both win
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series - we both win
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series - Mike wins
Limited Series - Mike wins
Actor, Limited Series or Movie - both lose
Supporting Actor, Limited Series or Movie - Mike Wins
Actress, Limited Series or Movie - Mike wins     
Supporting Actress, Limited Series or Movie - Mike wins
Television Movie - Mike wins
Variety Talk Series - both lose
Variety Sketch Series - both win

Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuckidy Fuck Fuck. 

Mike and I chatted during the telecast, but it wasn't as lively as previous shows. I dare say, neither of us were as witty as usual, though I'm all sure he'd claim he was.  (pssssst........he wasn't.)

He took an early lead - two of the first three categories - and kept it. 

I know I said this contest was a game of chance, but even I have better luck at roulette. And I know that Mike's were all guesses as he didn't even know many of those shows for which he voted, and he is so short attention span (see, what I did there?) that he has never actually finished VEEP, Master of None, Little Big Lies (hell, I didn't even start that), or I dunno....Three's Company (though I hear he's an avid fan of the Ropers). 

That Mike is a kind soul though - so don't believe everything you read on-line about him. He says we can go double-or-nothing for the Oscars, so I don't have to pay up now. 

However, I did ask him what double amount of cookies looked like, other than diabetes and a 38" waist.   (though you know I will win the Oscar race only because that means I get the 'nothing'.  Balls!)

.....I'm still waiting on that response. 

Song by: Kelly Clarkson

My Music Monday

Honest that this is just coincidence.  I'm just semi-randomly picking songs for My Music Monday.

I've always been a fan of John Mellencamp's "Rain on the Scarecrow", the partial title track to his album Scarecrow.  I was so tired of his "Jack & Diane" and "Pink Houses", I found this a great change.  32 years later, it still holds up.

Back in 1985 when it was released, the album's theme of trouble in the heartland had taken hold. The intro in the video is no accident, but a well thought out and articulated piece by the folks who were being hit the hardest by Reagan's domestic economic policies.

It's also no coincidence that Farm Aid debuted that year - which was spearheaded by Mellencamp, Willie Nelson and Neil Young.  {Fill in the Blank} Aids were popular that year......after the success of the Live one.

Since it was the Reagan era, the only one not touted was AIDS, though allegedly said the word in 1985.

The coincidence to which I referred in my opening is that Saturday was the 32nd (!!!!!!) Farm Aid concert.

Mellencamp-Young-Nelson have not let this die. 32 years and counting they have been supporters of the American farmer. At least one of the three have been at every concert. Many-a-time, all three.

Untitled

I have little blog time it seems. It's been budgets all the time at work.........plus my every day duties. Yesterday was just a Shep day. All day......all the time. But I got good shots for next Saturday.

So, I'm just leaving you with a cartoon.  I mean, why not?

Walking Slow

It's the weekend. That means more dog and cat pictures.

a walk in the park with out Dad #2.   710 and Shep went out without me. 

a walk win the ravine with Dads 1 and 2. Shep was diggin' it. And he loved the brook. 

Ottoman for 2.25.  710 is the .25. 

A thousand places to sit and they all cram together.  Love it. 

Shep's second lobster.  Our neighbor gave us two - and this one we stowed away for later use. ....or so we thought. Shep found it and now he carries it all around.  Though the duck is still his fave. 

Song by: Jackson Browne

Play the Game

Somewhere between my third margarita and me Sammy Jo'ing his unfinished (too warm, he whined!) , and then the eventual beer, I somehow agreed to be Mike's (should I even bother linking a long forgotten about blog.....because he can't remember his password??) dessert enabler by doing the 2017 Emmy awards thingy.....no year...no trademark.

I'm not winning this one. I watch TV, but not Emmy TV.

While I know all contests (and friendships) are a game of chance, this one (the contest, not as much the friendship....though it is always on shaky ground) is a complete shot in the dark.

As mentioned, this is just a way for Mike to get dessert delivered to his door, because he cannot be bothered to go to 7-11 for his 3-pack of Suzy-Qs.

Like I said:  100% guesses.   .....maybe with some comments along the way.

DRAMA SERIES

Nominees: "Better Call Saul"; "The Crown"; "The Handmaid's Tale"; "House of Cards"; "Stranger Things"; "This Is Us"; "Westworld."   (because I "heard" it was good.)

ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES

Nominees: Matthew Rhys, "The Americans"; Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul"; Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"; Liev Schreiber, "Ray Donovan"; Sterling K. Brown, "This Is Us"; Milo Ventimiglia, "This Is Us"; Anthony Hopkins, "Westworld."  (I dunno. Because it's Hannibal?)

ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES

Nominees: Keri Russell, "The Americans"; Claire Foy, "The Crown"; Elisabeth Moss, "The Handmaid's Tale"; Robin Wright, "House of Cards"; Viola Davis, "How to Get Away With Murder"; Evan Rachel Wood, "Westworld."  (because she was good.  I wouldn't rule out Moss.)

SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES

Nominees: Jonathan Banks, "Better Call Saul"; John Lithgow, "The Crown"; Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland"; Michael Kelly, "House of Cards"; David Harbour, "Stranger Things"; Ron Cephas Jones, "This Is Us"; Jeffrey Wright, "Westworld."  (because I didn't see any of the others.)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES

Nominees: Ann Dowd, "The Handmaid's Tale"; Samira Wiley, "The Handmaid's Tale"; Uzo Aduba, "Orange Is The New Black"; Millie Bobby Brown, "Stranger Things"; Chrissy Metz, "This Is Us"; Thandie Newton, "Westworld."

COMEDY SERIES

Nominees: "Atlanta"; "black-ish"; "Master of None"; "Modern Family"; "Silicon Valley"; "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"; "Veep."   (I wish Silicon Valley or Master of None would take it.....but I don't think they shall.  ....and is it just me or is Modern Family o-v-e-r?  Veep is still worthy.) 

ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES

Nominees: Donald Glover, "Atlanta"; Zach Galifianakis, "Baskets"; Anthony Anderson, "black-ish"; Aziz Ansari, "Master of None"; William H. Macy, "Shameless"; Jeffrey Tambor, "Transparent."  (I'd like to see Ansari win, but one should never bet against a transgendered character.....ever.)

ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES

Nominees: Pamela Adlon, "Better Things"; Tracee Ellis Ross, "black-ish"; Jane Fonda, "Grace and Frankie"; Lily Tomlin, "Grace and Frankie"; Allison Janney, "Mom"; Ellie Kemper, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep."   (c'mon! It's fucking Selina Meyer.)

SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES

Nominees: Louie Anderson, "Baskets"; Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"; Alec Baldwin, "Saturday Night Live"; Tituss Burgess, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"; Tony Hale, "Veep"; Matt Walsh, "Veep."   (I ain't bettin' against Baldwin's SCROTUS.)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES

Nominees: Vanessa Bayer, "Saturday Night Live"; Leslie Jones, "Saturday Night Live"; Kate McKinnon, "Saturday Night Live"; Kathryn Hahn, "Transparent"; Judith Light, "Transparent"; Anna Chlumsky, "Veep."  (this is for the win, not the want. Still want Chlumsky to win.)

LIMITED SERIES

Nominees: "Big Little Lies"; "Fargo"; "Feud: Bette and Joan"; "Genius"; "The Night Of."  (because the camp of Bette and Joan can only take one so far.)

ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Nominees: Ewan McGregor, "Fargo"; Geoffrey Rush, "Genius"; Riz Ahmed, "The Night Of"; John Turturro, "The Night Of"; Benedict Cumberbatch, "Sherlock: The Lying Detective"; Robert De Niro, "The Wizard of Lies."   (because it's Ewan. And De Niro was blah.)

SUPPORTING ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Nominees: Alexander Skarsgard, "Big Little Lies"; David Thewlis, "Fargo"; Alfred Molina, "Feud: Bette and Joan"; Stanley Tucci, "Feud: Bette and Joan"; Bill Camp, "The Night Of"; Michael Kenneth Williams, "The Night Of."  (because I just don't know.....or care.)

ACTRESS, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE     

Nominees: Felicity Huffman, "American Crime"; Nicole Kidman, "Big Little Lies"; Reese Witherspoon, "Big Little Lies"; Carrie Coon, "Fargo"; Jessica Lange, "Feud: Bette and Joan"; Susan Sarandon, "Feud: Bette and Joan."  (maybe Reese Withherfork can EGOT someday.)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE

Nominees: Regina King, "American Crime"; Laura Dern, "Big Little Lies"; Shailene Woodley, "Big Little Lies"; Judy Davis, "Feud: Bette and Joan"; Jackie Hoffman, "Feud: Bette and Joan"; Michelle Pfeiffer, "The Wizard of Lies."   (I adore Jackie Hoffman, but.......)

TELEVISION MOVIE

Nominees: "Black Mirror," ''Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love," ''The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"; "Sherlock: The Lying Detective," ''The Wizard of Lies."  (I know Mike will pick Dolly, because well, he's a breast man, but....not me.)

VARIETY TALK SERIES

Nominees: "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee"; "Jimmy Kimmel Live"; "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver"; "The Late Late Show With James Corden"; "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert; "Real Time With Bill Maher."  (all are worthy - but Colbet's been more critical of Dump. That will by a lot of Hollywood votes.....and everyone knows girls can't be talk show hosts!)

VARIETY SKETCH SERIES

Nominees: "Billy on the Street"; "Documentary Now!"; "Drunk History"; "Portlandia"; "Saturday Night Live"; "Tracey Ullman's Show."  (I want it to be "Billy on the Street", but SNL had Baldwin and Melissa McCarthy)


The Emmys are Sunday night. Winner will be announced on Tuesday. 

Song by: Queen

Winning Streak

I have been hesitant to write this - and I'm about 86% sure this will be my downfall.

Yesterday, the Cleveland Indians won their 21st game in a row.

Actually, there should be exclamation points with that last sentence. A lot of them.

While we've been in first place in our division for almost all of the season, this is a real feat.

21 consecutive games is an American League record. "We" beat Oakland's 2000 record (as seen in the movie, Moneyball) of 20 games.

...but that's just the American League. The National League has 26.....with those stupid non-existent New York Giants.

To get the record record - "we" still have 6 more games to win.............in a row.

This is where writing about this, I fear I've jinxed it all.   Even the "fake news" NYT titled the win: "Ho Hum".  Maybe it was tongue in cheek, or maybe it was a big 'fuck you'. .....because that's what I'm saying to that failing paper.

As we are 14 games up (or possibly 13 1/2 if Minnesota wins), there is little (read: no) chance we are not going in to post season.  Yayyy for "us".

So, I'm happy with the 21 record. If we can make it 27, even better. If we can add to that a World Series appearance, totally excellent.  If we win that..........well, I can die.  Happy even.


I know............I've gotten ahead of myself.......again.




Song by: Glen Hansard

12 of 12

So I'm doing my 90th 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.

05:05. Lighted leash. 

Not yet attached to dog. 

05:10.  Waning Half Moon. 

Looks fuller than it actually is. Just a shitty shot while walkin' the dog. 

06:20.  Brushin' before work. 

06:35.  Votin' before work. 

Primary - only thing on ballot was democratic candidates for mayor. 

09:40.  Pistachioin'. 

I'm still on my mid-morning nut eating kick. 

10:25. Headed to my monthly meeting with my bosses boss. 

13:23.   Bummer #1

But I SO want the iPhone X.  I'm just not sure I $1,149 want it. 

13:55.  Meetin' in the trailer. 

17:10.  Walkin' to the parking garage. 

17:40. Walkin' the dog. 

He likes it up on the wall. More squirrel potential. 

18:30.  Crud. 

Shirt I bought in Columbus still had the security tag on it. They said I could send it back - they'd pay for postage and reimburse me. 

19:05.  Bummer #2

Credit Racket

Honestly, I've been trying to bury my head in the sand on this whole Equifuck debacle. But returning home on Sunday, 710 brought it up.

Yes, he went a-checkin' and found out we'd both been compromised.

Fuck.

So that's the second time in as many years (give or take) that I've been hacked. This is beginning to get old.

Equifuck at first said they'd give free protection for a year, but you'd waive your right to sue them. They relented after a media shit storm, so now you can sue them and sign up for their pseudo-protection.......as their service worked so well for them in the past.

I won't personally sue them, but if there is a class action one, I'm happy to hop aboard that train.

So now whatever didn't have a fraud alert is now going to get one. The stories on the larger impact - is depressing. I can't change my birth date or SSN. I suppose I could petition the state to get a new driver's license number.....but I've had RUxxxxx for years.

I love that someone had the nerve to deduce that maybe there was no hack at all, and that everyone is putting their personal info into Equifuck to see if they were victimized, only to have that entry siphoned off to identify theft.

I guess I'll start reaching out to places tomorrow to start a more secure me.




Song by: Laurie Anderson

My Music Monday

Whilst in Columbus, and still at the Out-R-Inn, Blobby, the would be sociologist, was taking in the surroundings of the crammed into the back patio.

There were the guys/gals that just didn't care. I didn't know that white guys

Then the ones who tried too hard. There were the two unfamiliar (with each other folks) who danced with each other, but atop different picnic tables to some hip-hop song I had never heard.

Usually you only see stripper moves like this from community college girls. Still if she brings this guy home, it's gonna be an awkward Thanksgiving.

But it was the music to which I really took notice. There was the aforementioned hip hop song, plus a few others like that. Then for the most part the rest were just from our era - which we were (almost) older than most anyone else at the bar.  You had your AC/DC, your Steppenwolf, your Stones.

For the youths, they threw in a little White Stripes (but honestly, even that pre-dates these kids) and some other stuff on which I am now blanking.

Yes, they did the requisite "Shout".  Yes, any number of these youths did the whole Otis Day thing of going lower and lower with the "a little bit softer now..." lyric. I turned to my friend Pat and said, "isn't it funny how every generation (because now it's generational) to think this song belongs to them, as if they were the ones to discover Animal House?

Then, to me, something odd happened - "Mr. Brightside" from the Killers came on.

Now, I like the song and all, but this group LOVED it. I have never seen so many people semi-spontaneously burst into singing a song at the top of their lungs (at least when it wasn't at a concert).  Now assuming that the majority of the folks there were still attending Ohio State and factor in that you need to be 21 to get in this bar.....and that the song is 14+ years old, it did make me stop an think.

I had read in Billboard (I think) that this song has never not been on the U.K. - at least in their top 100 songs.  For 13-14 years. So this song has something going for it....at least in the U.K. and the Out-R-Inn.

On the Outside Looking In

It seems every two years I head back to Columbus for not a friend's weekend, but a friend's weekend.

Yeah - that sounds.........confusing.

You always read about my Columbus friends. The ones I've spent the last three decades cultivating and nurturing: Georty, Becca, Jon and Dith.

But just like 30+ years ago I was living a double life, so to speak. While I was knocking boots with a guy from Beta Theta Pi, my actual fraternity brothers knew none of this.

Eventually I broke off from the place, but with the advent of the Facebook, I got roped back in. And it's not bad or anything, just weird playing catch-up after such a long time.

Now some of these guys I've seen more than other over the years. The ones in these pictures?  Not since 1984! There were other guys who separated from this pictured group - those were the ones I see or to whom I talk.

Two years ago I went down for some fraternity event - kind of. I went down for some of the folks, the event was just the excuse, one of which bailed. That would be Bono Jeff, in the sunglasses.

Jeff, of most all of us, is the least changed. He was a frighteningly handsome man in his 20s and is in his 50s. Though Tim and Dan are remarkably similar. Maybe it's only I that have changed.

Like my fraternity days, this weekend I felt just out of place.

We had - and have - great stories, but it is amazing how theirs eventually revolve around women....and girls (well.........not mine!). Then and now.  While at the Out-R-Inn (yes....that's what it's called), Jeff talked-up just about every female he saw. And a number of guys too, but mostly chicks. He was an ex-fraternity president and really knows how to schmooze and turn on the charm. He's like Eric Stratton personified.

Still, I told him, one ill-placed 'daddy' or 'grandpa' comment from the under 20s co-eds was going to massacre him. He told a story of some chick he met that while doing some mundane thing, it gave him a semi.  He laughed and laughed and laughed when I said, "you're 56.....a semi is your best case scenario". 

I love Jeff - and his brother. I can honestly say, Jeff's brother (Gary) is the only person I know who was custom fit for his job and his passion. The rest of us fall into what we do and trudge through. Not Gary. Jeff couldn't be prouder of him.

Dan was the biggest surprise. I never felt he liked me back in college. And at first the conversation between us was stilted. But it had been 33 years.........and that whole not liking me thing. That might have just been in my head, as he couldn't have been better. But maybe that's just aging and maturing.

Tim - another ex-fraternity president and my 'big brother' (and who went out with one my sisters a few times) -  showed up almost unexpectedly. He's almost never participated in anything, even though he's been asked and even though he says he will. Talk about a guy who has not changed.......in looks or demeanor.  Or possible misogyny. You expect talk like his from a 19 year old.   .....well, a 19 yo in 1981.  Today's 19 year olds are a little more enlightened.


This is where I felt out of place, as I did back in 1981-84. I have almost nothing to add to these conversations about Sandy's 'perfect tits' (though I could comment on her multiple personalities) and trust me, they didn't want to hear me talk about the cute male co-eds that were at the bar.

While I've known them forever, and they are friends, they are not FRIENDS. They're not the ones I'd ever go to talk about anything substantial or to bounce ideas off of.  Oh - and for some reason, they are now all calling me 'Bob'.  Never have I gone by that. Never have they known me as that. It was fine and all.

Still, we had a lot of fun, a lot of laughs and a lot of 22 oz beers. ...and Fireball shots, of which I did not partake.

The game itself?????    ehhhhhhhh......I'm sure these Buckeyes could have beat almost any Division III high school team.   ....but on the plus side, we couldn't have had better weather.



I'm planning on having b'fast with two other brothers who could not make the game. I think I'll like that scenario more.



Song by: Alison Krauss + Union Station

Every Time You Go Away

It's Shep, Sophie and Bella this week.   ....and my mom.

Labor Day walk on the beach for Mr. Shep.  He so enjoys his days out. 

Shep and his best girl.  Allegedly she was very excited to see him, and vice versa, even though it had been weeks.  Doggie Daycare Lady says he has incredible stamina - just played all day, no resting. 

Stripey McBrownerson chillaxing.

My mom - or the Treat Lady - and Shep.  

I think he likes here even if she didn't have treats. But she does. She always does. 

Bella watching 710 take Shep away. 

I wanted her to go with us. 

Song by: Paul Young

Houston

While sometimes it is hard to see the good in disasters like Hurricane Harvey Fierstein or the impeding Irma LaDouche.

People.

Well many people. Not all of them.

Friends, Andrew, Becky and Sam are three such folks.

Taking almost no time off from work, they coordinated getting supplies - personal hygiene, clothes, medical supplies, etc - rented and loaded a truck and drove it from Ohio to Texas.

After unloading, they immediately turned around and drove back.

They kind of make you feel like you're a worthless turd in a situation like this - don't they?  Cause I kind of do.  Most people talk. They actually did.

The three had trouble with the truck rental.  I'll let Becca relay the story....via a Facebook entry.

It's nice and all. Truly. Of course, being the cynical me, I'm all like - who the fuck carries $500 in cash on them?  No one who isn't a Soprano. Or a meth dealer.

But if the latter, even meth dealers have a heart.



On the Irma front - a friend of mine, Tim, thought he and his husband would ride out the storm in Miami.  Ruckiry (not Jon's boss), he finally came to his senses and took an excruciatingly slow commute / evacuation up to Orlando....of all places.

I suppose it's dead center where you won't get water from either side of America's wang. But Tim was one of thousands who had this idea. There are nothing but fleabag motels (not even hotels!) left....and that was yesterday. Probably nothing available today at all.

I do love seeing how Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz want handouts. The fucking freeloading Socialists.

THEY could learn a thing or two from Bo.  ....and Sam, Becky and Andrew.



Song by: Mary Chapin Carpenter

Dreamer

Is there a bigger pussy than SCROTUS?

....again, the question is rhetorical. Naturally.

I get (well, kind of) that he has to semi-make one of his campaign promises are reality. Cuz he certainly hasn't done it with a wall, healthcare, ISIS, voter fraud, tax reform or American business growth.

All the man has is: Deport.

.....well, and hate. .....and lies.

So I guess he has three things going his way.

The lie?  Dump says he has “a great heart” and “a great love” for the Dreamers.

Bull-fucking-shit.

I can't even call it his biggest lie, as there are so many. But this one is a doozie. Let's call it, "the biggest lie of the week"......and by 'week', I mean Tuesday.

The hate is obvious.  And he spreads it.  I totally get your vengeance for those families of the Dreamers that totally stole that job picking crops right out from under you for which you never even applied. Ditto with the ones where you didn't clean office buildings from 8p-2a.  You should be furious at them for taking a lower than legal wage that has zero benefits!  That job was PERFECT for you!

Of course, the biggest pussy maneuver of all is that he didn't even announce it. It was partially leaked to the press that is was coming and then he had AG, Beverly Leslie do the dirty work...........only to dangle the, "maybe......it won't happen if Congress can do x, y and z".

The pussy couldn't even stand up and take the heat himself......and then wouldn't totally commit to it.

Is it any wonder that that he couldn't get any traction for anything on that list I mentioned earlier in this post?

Another part of this "joke" is: many of the 'dreamers' pay taxes. Not all are freeloaders and looking for loopholes..............unlike some presidents I know.  And some will be separated from their families....like the man who was brought here at a three year old.  His brothers and sisters were born here, but he could be forced to leave - to a place he's never really been. And he pays taxes, has a job and is going to college.

Where is Dump's "great heart" with this?  Daddy didn't give that kid a millions bucks to "make it on his own".

Yes, there are some "bad hombres" squatting in public housing, taking handouts from the government they didn't earn and not paying taxes. That hombre and his Section 8 clan just happen to reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.




Song by: Supertramp

Other Voices

So over the weekend, Deedles left a blog comment regarding my Cedar Point video post that said  - and I quote - "your voice always startles me. You look like you should sound like James Earl Jones."

Naturally that got me thinking.

Then worrying.

Then I was wringing my hands.

....and then of course, the inevitable tears.

Clearly, I know I don't sound like Darth Vader - though I've considered purchasing the Vader voice changing mask. But the 'startles' part of the comment made me think:  do I sound like Charles Nelson Reilly?   Rip Taylor?  Gilbert Godfrey?

I don't mean to make Deedles second guess any comments she might make in the future or feel bad about the one she made. I'm actually joking about the entire thing.

Kind of.

I'm a big boy. I know I don't come off as hyper-masculine, vocally, that is. But I don't drop an excessive amount of esses either. I don't think. It's a happy medium.

Still, who likes to hear the sound of their own voice?


The comment did spur thought of an SNL clip.....which exactly plays to what is probably my reality....and my insecurity.....and my sense of humour.


Larry's voicemail greeting by Matt2h




Song by: the Cure

Sick Muse

A movie review, you say????

Remember those?  I haven't seen a movie in a theater since March!

We totally underestimated how much we don't want to take time during our weekends to separate from Shep.  We are totally whipped.

I totally overestimated how many movies we could do in a year. Last year's 25 was a total anomaly. I got over-confident and unrealistic. I'd be surprised if we hit 10 this year.  .....but a goal is a goal and the denominator of 24 will remain.

This failure will keep me humble.

Honestly, we fucked around so long, we thought for sure we missed the Big Sick, as it's been out since June and it's already September.  I mean, Baywatch came out afterwards and that's already closed out and on DVD.

The Big Sick wasn't a barn-buster in the first place, so it's more surprising that it is still playing, though it's got a 98% Rotten Tomatoes score........and with good cause.  It's a good movie.

Based on the true story of the star and co-writer, Kumail Nanjiani. The other co-writer is his now wife, who is portrayed in the movie by Zoe Kazan (yes, granddaughter of Elia Kazan).

The movie also has Holly Hunter (whom I almost never see in anything anymore) and Ray Romano.

For just the short synopsis:  it's how boy gets girl.  Sure, there are cultural and medical complications that get in the way, but why nitpick.

I only really know Nanjiani from Silicon Valley, where he's great. He's good in this too. All are, actually.

I won't spoil much of anything - should you choose to see it on demand or stream it (as I have to believe it will be there soon, I mean, if Baywatch already is!), but the film has possibly the best and most inappropriate (and unexpected)  9/11 reference. Honestly, I don't know if anyone in the theater was laughing, as I was doing it so loudly. I fear I might have gotten stares.

Holly Hunter was Holly Hunter. That's not to say she wasn't great, but she doesn't veer too much off her normal role. Romano was less Everyone Love Raymond......which ain't a bad thing.  I liked Kazan too, but the few things I've seen her in, they've always worked.

The star is Nanjiani, no doubt about it - and he carries the film....and does it well.

I know my numerator is low, but it is what it is.  So far the Big Sick is the top of my 2017 movies.


....there were a number of good previews out there too. I told 710 not to get too attached to those, as we're already so attached to Shep, that odds are not good we will see all of them in the theater.



2017 Movie Count / Goal:  05 of 24



Song by: Metric