Music is Magic

I've been convinced music is magic for a while. I've alluded to it multiple times in hopes it would inspire me to explain myself. 

So far... nothing.

But - as that is also what I had planned for today- here goes!

Personal Experiences With A Carlin Home Companion

Likely for the same reason as many of his fans, I read the book by George Carlin's daughter, Kelly, to learn more about him. A Carlin Home Companion did provide a great deal of insight into her father, but provided much more about the amazing person Kelly Carlin is and where her life's journey's have taken her. 

Left Handed Thinking

 A short diversion before the next ongoing series of Monday posts.

When we were kids, it became clear that my sister was left-handed.  My grandparents didn't understand fully, leading my Dad to (calmly and rationally, which he excelled at) explain the genetics of the situation and that she had to get the left handed genes from both sides of the family.

Immediately, both Grandparents proclaimed in a highly offended voice:

"No one in MYYYYY family was left handed!"

Why I Should be Legally Barred from Keeping a Dream Journal

Introduction:

My dreams are usually weird enough to begin with that there should be injunctions against me trying to record them.  A few weeks ago, however, things went completely off the rails.

I had a nightmare.

I Miss the Circus

Lately, I've been missing my childhood's annual arena trips to see Ringling Brother's and Barnum and Bailey Circus. We did take Anabelle to see it one of the seasons shortly before it closed down, but she doesn't have a connection to it, and doesn't understand mine. 

Yes, these pictures are terrible and I could have gotten better ones online. (But hey! So could you!) However, going through these old programs really brought back the memories, and more importantly the wonder, into sharp focus. (Even if the pictures are not in sharp focus.)

Childhood Australia Flashback

Some things aligned recently, probably far more due to the human brain's predisposition for pattern recognition than any kind of cosmic synchronicity.

Wear. A. Mask.

 My initial instinct for this year's G I Joe battle village was to have all the masked action figures in normal (for me) poses, and all the unmasked ones laying dead on the ground.

The problems with this were

A) The figures are old, and I have very little control who can stand up anymore.

B) It's not a set up that lends itself to a joke filled narrative.

Most Importantly

C) It revealed that me being pissed off all the time about what's going on is affecting my ability to write in a way that relaxes me.

I need to get this out, then I can go back to the creative process in my skewed definition of normal.

Subliminal Film Crew: The Revenge

I wasn’t planning on writing other dream posts, but  I seem to have insulted someone.

Yes, I have apparently offended my Subconscious Set Designers.

Why I Should Never Keep a Dream Journal

My subconscious was, and remains, an extremely bizarre place to visit. I certainly wouldn’t want to live there.

Due to the nature of trying to cram in family, work, exercise, writing, and other hobbies, getting enough sleep for me is sporadic at best.

I know when I am getting enough, because then the memories of dreams cascade in.

Frankly, it may be better for everyone if I stopped sleeping all together.

“Being Foolish on April First…

Is like getting drunk on Saint Patrick’s Day. It’s strictly for amateurs.”

I’m not sure where I stole that quote from nor do I have the energy to check at the moment, but I'm going to adopt it (a day late, I suppose) in order to talk about a couple of serious things I’ve been thinking about lately.

Political Rant

(Image from onesquarelight.wordpress.com)

Most of the time I completely avoid politics in favor of pointless things I enjoy taking far too seriously.

This year, I’ve had enough.

Why I Don’t Keep a Dream Journal

Click here for childhoodreasons.

I still don’t have recurring dreams.

All the “recurring dream concepts” from my childhood (gliding, twisty tree transport, giant bathrooms) still hold true.

This is why, when I exited the ENORMOUS (yet abandoned in February) rest room along the Atlantic City boardwalk I was twitchy and confused for the rest of the day, as I half expected potato aliens to steal my family.

Why I Didn’t Keep a Dream Journal

Recurring dreams are a common phenomenon…

Except in my head.

Instead of recurring dreams, I’d have “recurring dream concepts.”

Needed: a Sharp(ie) Retort

I need some help forming a proper response.

Everything Needed...

Long ago in a faraway land:

KFC WTF

I met my wife during lunch hour from work at our lawyer’s office to sign away our souls for some home financing stuff.

Afterwards we stopped for lunch at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

We picked that location because we wanted to eat chicken.

This becomes important shortly.

Twittering About

I've been doing this blogging thing for three years, and it is about time I've done some work on my "platform."
Twitter is now an established and powerful form of social media. Knowledge of how to use it is completely vital to anyone wishing to create and maintain an online profile and base.  While I understand all of these concepts, I’m still terrible at implementing them.

In fact, it has taken me more than 140 characters to explain why I have issues with Twitter.

Therefore I need to practice.

Apparently, snarkiness bordering on offensiveness is also expected, as well as the overuse of impenetrable hashtags.

In that spirit, here are some semi-rude comments concerning recent developments in the mountain states. 

Overly Long, but Amusing Joke

Three guys, a female jockey and a monkey walk into a bar.

The monkey orders a Mai-Tai.

The bartender says:






Read more »

Mourning For a Friend Never Met

I joke a lot about the frequency of my visits to the Bronx Zoo, claiming to have been practically raised there, and knowing the animals on a first name basis. However, visiting twice in less than a week recently was unusual, even for me.

Because of shifting schedules we ended up going just before Easter with my sister’s family, and right after it to bring two of my daughter’s friends.  When picking one of the girls up, the couple watching her said that “The oldest gorilla in the Bronx Zoo just died,” adding “He was a really big guy.”  My heart leapt into my throat because I knew the oldest gorilla was not a “guy.”

Aside: I am continually amazed at how many people assume all the adult Gorillas in the Bronx and other zoos are male.  The mind boggling size and power of a true silverback is not something anyone could mistake easily.

Once I got her safely to the car, I did a quick internet search on my phone and confirmed my fear.  Pattycake had died after a lengthy battle with coronary troubles on Easter Sunday at age forty.  A long run for a gorilla, but as with any passing, all too short.

LASER PRINTER HEALTH HAZARD:

Rooters- Once again, a seemingly harmless and commonplace piece of technology has brought a new heath hazard to the workplace.  A new and experimental laser-printing cartridge has been prematurely released into offices around the country, which can pose serious health threats to users.