War Obssesed??

What, me : WAR OBSESSED?

I AM NOT......

...except frenz (well, Vito mentioned it last nite and Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия telegraphed me these here lists) like listing long loved films on der krieg to me.

From Kreigsmarine Z en clair

"Maybe interesting to you...
Channel 4's 100 Greatest War Films (tho the inclusion of Rambo II all but invalidates the list)

http://www.channel4.com/film/newsfeatures/microsites/W/greatest_warfilms/results/100-96.html

history of war films

http://www.filmsite.org/warfilms.html

Berkeley too

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/Warfilm.html

The [British] national archives have archived film from pre-WWI to the Cold War.

http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/focuson/film/film-archive/ "

Now I'm not having seen these yet, but I swear to God, if Sink the Bismarck! (Read the historical innaccuries in this article= I knew them all as a tiny child) is not on any list, then we have to go to a non BCS type pl;ayoff system.......wait, do I write for dcs or what?

Family

Sorry for the delay, and it's not worth the wait. So we got a family of crows in the 'hood. I've mentioned them before, lord Knows where; but what I've read of them is that if you see a few hanging around, it's family. For the last year or so, we have had a flite of 3 crows constantly cawing about. They are my welcome frenz.

Imperial Army Z imforms us that not everyone likes the crows. I believe those people belong with Tojo.

Say hello to Rocky senior.

My Dad died in 1993 on this date. Yeesh what a day that was. I miss him, and wish I'd'a just listened more or imitated his behaviour more.

We are unhappy with the state of our basketball team

We are unhappy with the state of our basketball team.

@@@.com

Not exactely what yr looking for, @@@.com, but a great article on muthaflockers like you. Bless the nyt for its good writing/ damn the nyt for its role in the manufactiuring of consent.

Almost certainly the birds you saw were the good old starlings, one of my favourites. Crankface (i think) sent a link to swarms.

I love the swarms. I have a lot of film now on them swarming the backyard that in 4-5 decades Ill get offa my assa and ewetube it. Also not know why they like a certain tree, but the swarm deal is meant as a defensive mechanism against Hawks etc. I love watching 150 pigeons do their deal for no explainable reason other than practice.

Yes, I click yr lynx. Say, don't you have 2-3-4 of them recording devices already?? In digital, tape, reel to reel, etc etc etc???

and

What are you doing up @ 3.45am on a school nite?? That sounds like me ten years ago.

Waterloo

Spurred by Spliffs talk of trees in Belgium, I share my favourite Belgium story for all. And Paris, I guess.

My favourite battle, which came into my heart w/ the reading of John Keegan's Face of Battle in 1994, is Waterloo. Longbred on the history of the glorious military of the United States of America, I always loved Midway and D- day and Wake and Coral Sea and the Bulge (En Belgique aussi): but that summer of long remember gave me both Face of Battle and Ulysses.

This is not the time to go into Waterloo ( A Rolling Stones Week type of endless memories and etc's of that battle. of my life, etc... not up to it rite now), but that battlefield was fer certain one of my 'tourist destinations' destinations. Summer of 1999 I spent the second longest time in Europe ever - 1972 it was 3m, 1999 it was 6w. 55% of the time was spent in Ireland, took the boat to London for a bit, then to Amsterdam, Waterloo, and Paris. Then back to England for my Manchester relatives. It was such a glorious trip, but there was a disaster.

My wee little cousin O. was the chicken pox when I was in Belcoo. Took about two weeks to turn into shingles . London was fine, Amsterdam was fine, but when I got to Belgium....well, lets do the battle usa today style first.

I got off the Holland bus and into a hostel, but was restless- I wanted to go to the battlefield that day, then return the next. Wanted to walk it all. And guess what?? Walking that field really helped me understand the battle a billion times more than if I hadn't gone. It's funny- when I got back to the States and looked into one of my Waterloo books, my coup d'oeil upon looking @ a map was stunning towards my understanding of what happened.

The distance between the French and English lines was slite- fuck, Juan Uribe would be able to gun a runner out from one side of the valley to the next if it was the last out of the World Series. And until I actually SAW how close the lines were, I really didn't fully appreciate that Napoleon really was fucked from the morning on- unless something crazy would happen. The English led army was there, and coming up on the side of Napoleon was Blucher and the Prussian army. This important= history books, except for the last 20y or so, always tell us the English won the day and they bore the full brunt of napoleons army. A Prussian army under Blucher approached on napoleon's right and eventually was the deal breaker for Napoleon's comeback: but they have never received much acclaim (again, revising history these last 20y, there is a much new emphasis on the Germans)

Instantly I realised that the Prussans had much more influence in this battle than the English writers ever gave them credit for. The distances on the map were not that big a difference, although the approaches to the battle field were famously muddy and extractable from the German position near Wavre. I got it, and if I wasn't there, I wouldn't've. One of the greatest writers on the Napoleon Wars, Jac Wellar, is really big into visiting the fields to fully understand battles. Things change a lot over time- even Wellington , visiting Waterloo in 1816, remarked on how changed 'his battlefield' had become, in one year. This is the starting point in this post= Spliffe had things about Belgium trees in her today's post, and this is what I add: The most famous tree on the battlefield was one near the center of the English(Allied) Line. Ellington is said to have spent parts of the battlefield there. Tourists, however, cut and cut and cut pieces of the tree until it was lumberjacked into nothing. But, changes or not; it's important to visit these places.

1815== meet 1999 again. Sorry...my mind, y'know. I was walking the battle field (Let me put it this way= there==THERE= was the Hougemont. There= THERE was la Hay Sainte. There= THERE= was La Belle Alliance plateau. Heaven.) and getting.........tired........a little more tired.....sweaty.....scrztchy................shit, I feel like shit. I was on the field for a longtime, but soon I was just too sick to carry on. Fuck did I get sick. I still had to battle my way to the train, take it back into Brussels, get to my hostel, and collapse. I remember walking into a 'cornershop' 'cause I was just so thirsty= and it was fucking Perrier or shit like that with bubbles.

Heaven? It was now Hell.

I got back, collapsed, and sweated the whole next day. Stumbled outta bed, called Mom, and she said "calamine lotion". Sister.3 (the very responsible one, a former nurse) was told of my condition, and she got real worried. By myself, loaded down, sick as hell- read the thing on shingles and see what danger I was in.

Slept that day, and awoke early the next day to catch the bus to Paris. What a horrid ride- crossing the Styx, just not as serious. I'd broken out ( I have a fofo that should be scanned and included in this post, but Spliffe didn't give me any warning, so I'm not that prepared) all over- suddenly I got 200-300 pimples or whatever all over my body. I spent the whole trip dabbing calamine lotion onto my sores. I felt bad for the other riders- I'd dab some onto my fingers, then dab it onto a sore under my shirt, repeat, repeat, repeat.

Got into Paris late and metro'd my way to my hotel (Hotel esmerelda, rite near Norte Dame. This was not my room, but looks like it without the door to the toliet - none in my room). Got in, like 11pm, and the guy @ the desk took one look @ me and allowed me to stay that nite, but he said there was some difficulties w/ the rest of the days (Yeah, rite... he knew how sick I was). I crawled into the room, but wanted drink. I crippled myself down les rues de Paris, finding beautiful Coca Cola in one of Spliffs tin cans (which was kept because it was to be used as a tool later) and.....went back in.

My room was a cheap solo room w/ no toilet or shower but......a bidet. Quickly it reverted to its use as a urinal. Dusty room, old furnishings, and a very sick boy. With a can. And supplies from Holland. Life saving fucking supplies brought from Holland. God Bless Holland*.

Oh, wait- now my favourite Paris story. So there I was, itchy and scratchy and sweaty and Godfully jenky, lying in bed, but below there were the singing soccer supporters. Through my opened window and past the heavy dusty drapes (from 1815 prob.) came the singing joyous sounds of whatever soccer team they supported (not in English). For forty five seconds they would full blood the song, which would then dissolve into their cheers for their song well sung.....and then before the cheers and clapping died down, they next 45s snippet heralding whoever popped up...again and again and again. One of my favourite memories.

I cleaned myself up the next day, showerd, and went to the receptionist to book for the rest of the week. I was clean enough and their was a new person, so i got my room. Thank God.

Now, what was the point of this post again? Oh, yes, the tree in Belgium. My favourite belgium story. And my favourite Paris story. Now, what of my 2d favourite belgium story? That girl? The circling of La Hay Sainte? Maybe later...

........................................................................

*= Webster, one of the Band of Brothers, said upon parachuting into Holland in 1944 how much he loved Holland- "They all love us, and they all speak English"

the Walking Subarbs

Enjoyed hanging out w/ Gf on some special day for us or other that was delayed for two weeks. We went to La Grange to eat @ an Italian rest. that we go to a lot. It a 2/1 place, but they did in the discounts do it was all full price. We were going to go see a movie @ the theatre, but time got to our semi plans. Gave her some nice gifts- wait, only one- but she loved it. I was suprised. No I wasn't. She loves everything. Spent a long time in Borders looking @ manga, war books, bird books, Sox stuff (covered up all the Cub books w/ Sox ones- it'll be changed soon, but I always think I'm clever.), Chicago stuff, before I forced myself out. Gf was patient, though of course she's not Patience.

We went out for a drink @ the James Joyce. Never been there before, but I knew of it because teachers @ the last school I was employed @ had the Joyce as their "Friday affternoon drink place". Most schools have some dedicated sopt for that Friday afternoon drink. The school I taught @ in the late '90's had their place in Bridgeport= Puffers. Rite on 33d and Halsted, it was alsoa great place for a pre Sox drink - I always park the auto in that part of the neighbourhood.

Puffers is now something else, but I bet they still serve cider. The place to go around there now for an after Sox drink (and after Bulls and after Blackhawks games @ the u.c.) is of course the 'South side Rainbo' = skylark. Gf like sit a lot, as do I.

But wait= it's La Grange that's the title to this post. Since my intro to La Grange in 1988, I've always loved it. First for the times of hanging out w/ frenz, proximity of train tracks in heavy use, and the wash of cicadeas in '90. But now a days, I like it becaus it's so built up. I know it's ad nasuem by now, but I so dearly love the 'walking city' effect, and Lagrange downtown has it. We drove up Ogden Ave., and it so built up as well. There is such a push to build in the downtown areas or wherever the train stops. So L.G. and along Ogden near the stops, these giant condo's have grown up. Bulky big time for the subarbs, topping out @ 6-8 floors and massive across, I enjoy the prsence they give to the street scene.

It wouldn't be a bad place to live, no? I always believed that if I ever had kids, I'd want them to grow up in as close an enviroment to what I experienced. Marquette Park, where we grew up, is gone forever as the 'hood of my youth, so Mt. Greenwood is the 2d best hood. maybe Rogers Park. we'll see.

The walking subarb.

Rare birds...

...would, in another context, be the beginnings of yet another post about 'some olde love/or other'. However, there was a story last nite on then local news about a 'rare bird' being found walking across the street in Chicago. The rare bird? A Coopers Hawk- meaning, it's about as rare as p.... well, many ,many mnay pigeons here, but this type of hawk is not rare. Or even unusual.

http://securityout.blogspot.com/2007/02/hawk-in-de-kitchen-wat-ima-gonna-do.html It died after I brought it to the City vet. Maybe I should have called one tof the networks and had meself on TV. But I did see one such hawk today. Again it's not that unusual, but @ least once a week I see the aerial dogfites in the air as the heavy weaves and wheels and tries to get attack position on the pigeons or starlings it's after. I actually got some footage, but of course it takes me so much time to do anything, that it;'ll be awhile before you guys see it.

turns out he's pretty interesting

One can read about his political views here.

Voting...

I have decided who i am going to vote for: I'm voting for...

Hall
of
Fame

nyt and some

Interesting story about the real workings of Bee's and J.Seinfelds new movie.

and

Interesting story about the expected surge in homeless vets from the Iraq Wars


and

the dishonesty of the Republicans

A scene from The Last Patrol

wartime photographics by liz

Anarachy

anarchy continued...

I'm Virgil Hilts and I approve of these messages. (NYT errata)

Here's a cool one from October about dansing. Me likes.

But wait, I though Guy Fawkes was a terrorist, correct??

A bit outdated, but still funny.

And I love the foto of Arnold.

20 June, 1980 / Rolling Stones Week 5/5

Although I really didn't know it @ the time, Some Girls was a really big deal. And not just me- check out the first (1 & 2) of the blogs I instantly check out when I get online. When "Some Girls" was out that summer of '78, it was just the hit LP out @ the time. It was good, and one heard it all the time on the radio or, as we see, SNL.

But what I learned about the LP later was that it was a comeback LP of sorts. I know that there are other sides, but the Stones had a real down time in their career after their super-acclaimed 'best lp' "Exile on Main Street". My first LP, "Goats Head Soup", was the follow up and it was terrible. Ditto the even worse "It's only Rock 'n Roll". Then "Black and Blue", which was more of a rehearsal for a replacement guitarist for Mick Taylor. Many people compare "Some Girls" to Dylans "Blood on the Tracks" for good reason- supreme artists from the 1960's who had years of below average work now reclaiming the heights.

Now, not to go too far. "Hand of Fate", "Time Waits for no one", "Hot Stuff", "Dancing with Mr. D. " etc are all great songs......but I'd never be put to write an "Aftermath" type love letter to any of them. "Some Girls", however, was special. Maybe not the greatest of Stones LP's, but it's definitely one of their best. "The Rolling Stones", "Out of our Heads", "Aftermath", "Between the Buttons", "Beggars Banquet", "Let it Bleed", "Sticky Fingers", "Exile" - Looking back, I've always loved it simply because people responded to it after the dreggs of the earlier few LPs. I was a fan of the Stones, and just like reading about the Black Hawks championships of the 1930's, I feel good for the home team to be successful- even if I really couldn't fully share in that "comeback". For me, there was no 'comeback'- I came into to the Stones scene 'round "Some Girls", with the songs on the radio all the time, they were in the news all the time- even the Sun Times and Trib ran special "Stones" sections for their summer tour: so from the beginning, the really were "The Greatest Rock and Roll Group in the World".

Man, what an LP. Think it's just me and the critics that tout this work? How many rock LP's have, generally, ALL their songs played on the radio. Some are, of course, famous rock songs= "Shattered", "Miss You", "Beast of Burden", "When the Whip comes down", "Before they make me run" ( a New Barbarians version- watch it !!) and "Just my imagination" are all 'classic rock' staples to this day, and one often hears the odd playing of "Respectable" and "Far Away Eyes". One really doesn't have to play this LP often because it's on the radio so often. And if one hears them still a lot to this day, the summer of 1978 was replete with these songs. All the time summer soundtrack sorta deal.

And it was such a great LP. Like "Aftermath", it totally fit to-gether as a complete work. But, again, @ the same time the songs were so different and distinct. "Shattered" ? Man, what a sound. Where did that come from. And the solo! "Miss you" was a disco-y sounding song that really sounded great. I remember that was one of the first songs where there appeared tonnes of different mixes and extended versions. "Whip" and "Lies" were all out rockers. The country of "Eyes", a Temptations cover ("Imagination"), and the ache of "Burden" showed them the masters of many styles. The group sounded perfect to-gether. Some of Charlies best drumming comes on this LP. And they pulled off all these styles perfectly. Mick often can sound........ disingenuous, but there is conviction through the whole work. Mick believes, Keith believes, I believe, we all believe. Nice piece of work.

By the time 20 June, 1980 came around, I had my record collection rolling. I'm too lazy to undue all that blocks up a closet that contains my skeletal diaries from this period that contains the necessary information, but I probably had 15-20 LP's @ this point- mine, my sisters, or borrowed from frenz. I was branching slitley from the Stones, but they were the center of the musical universe. So much Stones stuff to explore @ this point as well - I'd barely touched their catalouge @ this point - when I got the breathless call 20 June 1980 from the New Association's guitarist JJK-

"TURN ON THE LOOP- THEY JUST RELEASED THE NEW STONES LP AND THEY ARE PLAYING IT !!! "

Instantly -I think it was Chemical Man who was over that day- we turned on the radio and listened all day as the d.j. would play a song from the new "Emotional Rescue" ....talk for 10-15 minutes, play some commercials, play an old song, talk some more, play another new song....etc etc etc all day. Late that day they started over again, and other stations did the same. It was different time, when a new Stones could actually stop rock radio for a day. It was an all day carnival that was only duplicated twice in my life, and then not with the radio play*.

It was a very exciting day. All that had gone on before in the Stones history relly didn't contain me. The glory of "some Girls" came @ a time before I really i.d'd myself as a music fan. But June of '80 I was fully in the gang- I was a Glimme twin.

And, I will admit, it wasn't quite as good as "Some Girls". It's a great LP,no doubt; but it's definitely "Some girls" lessor. Now this isn't some sorta Plan A type disillusionment with the Rolling Stones, but there was the bit of a let down. Where "Some Girls" was a deeply distinctive work from the first track on, "Rescue" wasn't. Oh, there were some great Stones songs. The third of my "All time favourite Rolling Stones", for example is on this LP -- " She's so Cold". Nothing to that point in their career sounded like this song. I loved the crisp clean beats by Charlie, the 'lead' bass, and, of course, Keith. The title track is something else, although when it originally came out, I didn't quite know what to make of it. That falsetto was strange, but it's pretty unique. Personally, I like "Let me go", "Send it to me", and "Dance", but it's kinda thin after that. OK; but no "Some Girls". Unlike the grandly arching 1978 LP, this LPs songs like "Where the boys go"and "Summer Romance" sound more or less like toss offs- actually, they sorta sound like the same toss off. "Indian Girl". Another toss off. "All about you" is one of the worst Keith tracks ever, and "Down in the hole" sounds ....disingenuous... Again, I really like this LP, but its certainly a comedown from the last one, a masterpiece. Sorta like "Daydream Nation" after "Sister". Yes, I basically just dissed the LP, but I do place it in the Stones "resurgence" time. "Emotional Rescue"- as slite as it is- is way better than the three before "Some Girls".

The next LP was "Tattoo You", another very good mega hit that contained lots of radio songs. A pretty good LP, a #1 single "Start me Up", and another world tour put the Stones back on top of the charts and news cycles. It was received a lot better than "Rescue", and many songs became radio staples, though not to the extent of "Some Girls"; "Waiting on a Friend", "Hang Fire", "Neighbours", and "Little T & A" are all gret songs, but that beat kept popping up 2-3x every LP now- "Respectible" beget "She's so cold" and "Let me go" and "Hang Fire" and "Neighbours" and "Litle T & A". There were too many songs beginning to sound not all that distinctive.

The next LP, considered by some a disappointment- "Undercover" -is pretty good. I like it more than "Rescue" and "Tattoo", and I like those two a lot. But again, that sound krept in: "She was Hot", "Too Tough" (my favourite song on the LP), and Keith's "Wanna hold you" all had that crisp clicky soundalikesound. "Too much Blood" was great- nice beat and funny Mick lyrics and delivery. But also clicky. I think it was their last GREAT LP. The next LP, "Dirty Work", I'm not sure I even own. I do have "Steel Wheels", but.....

The Stones as new music makers had left my mind. Generally, they represent a classic songs machine to me nowadays, although I'll still give a listen to anything they still put out. Since "Undercover" LP, they have had @ least two excellent songs- "Mixed Emotions" and the 'sounds good in a stadium live' "You got me Rockin". But a new Stones LP doesn't send me into daylong celebrations where the uppermost thought in my mind is "THE NEW STONES IS OUT" !!

But by this point, summer of 1983-I'd become a real music fan. The Stones and Beatles were joined by Zepplin and Public Image and the Yardbirds and the Clash and the June Brides and Selector and the Jam and the Buzzcocks and the Undertones and etc... I was just on the advent of the Smiths revolution and my university years and etc etc etc... My interests had expanded, like all of us, and things I never woulda thought I'd like- DISCO??- I came to adore.

But the Stones were to come back and fairly dominate again my turntable and consciousness in the late 1980's. It's a weeklong lenght of stories for another time, but the confluence of one of my favourite jenkenites with Keith's solo tour in December of 1988 (my favouite single concert show of all time) sent me and many other off in a Stones frenzy for several more years. It's funny- when I was into my heavy Beatle period 2 years ago, I looked to the Stones career and thought "Man, strange" Although I was not in any sorta Stones mood when I started these columns now ended (I had one long story on tap, and decided to cut and expand)- I find myself kinda obsessed again....
.....................................................................................

*=in the fall of 1987 with the release of the Smith's "Strangeways here we Come" and in Spring of 1988 with the release of Morrissey's "Viva Hate".

"And....It's a goal!!!"

The kids did well. Neice.1 and nephew.2 set up a post Thanksgiving Day game of soccer and it turned out to be a big success. They had put out the message to their frenz and also on Section 8 message boards about the game and they got 26 or so people to play Friday afternoon. They had a field, nets, and a not too cold day to play. I was really happy, because they put a lot of effort into gettin g people to come, and it was a nice mix of people from the neighbourhood and Section 8 people from beyond. Kids did well.

I was watching the Rita game (nicely updated!) so I got there late, but I still got to play an hour and a half. Exhausted me, and I took a five minute break on the sidelines- but I held up pretty well. My team won on the proverbial 'next goal wins'- the game ended 9-8.

And guess what? I wasn't that bad! Remember- I was playing with 20 yo kids who play in college etc. I was seriously overmatched. On any listing, I would have ranked 23 or 24 on the list of best of the 26 players. No longer can I attempt to run with these kids, and they are all more skilled than I am. But given the context-I had my part.

Everyone was really skilled and knew how to play the game. The field was large, so there was room if only for a few seconds. And if I have a single strenht ign soccer, its that I have a nice first touch. I'm sure I've handled this before, but I spent next to no time playing soccer as a youth because we rarely played it (two hands can I count the times...). However, I had a huge soccer jones, so I'd take the soccer ball out into the alley and play with the ball for a long time. I took to using the garage door surface, surrounding fences, garbage cans, utility poles, etc to bounce the ball around in strange speeds and angels and spins. Lotta time and effort in essentially an exercise of passing time, but having the react to weird ball movements and spins and then kicking the ball back off the wall- it made my feet real comfortable with that first touch- No Dennis Bergkemp*now, but...

My ego got a bit of a kick when I got to a spinning ball that I realised I could outsprint the other player to. It still had a click of energy in it, so when I got to it it backheeled it diagonally onto the foot of my nephew (who I'd shouted to) perfectly, there was the mumble of nicely done across the field. Again, I was #23 on the skill level, but I had my times.

So, my first use was as an outlet in crowded spaces so our team could keep control. I'd win the ball, get a pass from a teamate besieged, or simply hustle up to a lose ball and dribble one, twice, then make the short pass to whoever I could get it to. Sometimes just a backpass, sometimes a throughball. I was happy, recognized my role and limitations, and tried to keep it @ that. Twice did I try to dribble more than four touches, and both times was dispossesed. I deserved it.

My next use was moral. I know I've coverd this before (Lynk when I find it/ bored), but when iIm on the field, I like to talk. With soccer, you absolutely have to chatter to each other, constantly- watch behind you!, free !! free !! (or the spanish solo ! ), mark him! i got him, you take him !! When we coach, we're full of it, trying to force our kids to talk when they so often don't. However, when I'm on the field, it's just so natural. And the kids? Bit by bit, they get chattier and chattier. @ he end of the game, when it was called out "Last Goal !!", both teams became real serious, covering hard, and very very loud.

Oh, and I had one last part to play. I almost forgot. For the first half of my time on the field, I played a left mid with a mind to defense. However, there was just so much unmarked territory to attack into when my team was on the attack, I naturally drifted up to see what I could do in empty- but - dangerous areas in their zone. On one of these attacks, I drifted into the six yard box while one of the talented players workd it up the rite and sent to me a perfect soft cross. BAMM spot on, my hat coming down over my eyes so I never saw it go into the net, but yes yes yes. No chance to do my Alan Shearer ' hand in the air celebration ' or the Ante Razov ' jump in the air and punch ' (it's there- you have to wait till second 52 to see it), either.

I had a good game, on many levels.

...........................................................................

*=that Bergkamp goal? Nice- but as I've descussed, it's emminantely doable by me or anyone with anysorta skill level. The control of the ball, the push ahead for space- i could do. The blast? Probably not. The thing abput control like that is is that th greats exhibit it on every play- me just once a year.

One of my cousins in the hood.

My cousin on t.v. today .

"Look @ that Stupid Girl" -Summer, 1980/ Rolling Stones Week 4/5

To this day, a transistor radio has found use around the house. There always seems to be a huge premium about them about them coming from my father. When we went to Ireland in 1980, Dad sent one along for his brother Pete- it was my mom who sent along one to Pete when I visited first time as a man in 1997. They were handy for many reasons, but one reason over arched- portable access to all Sox games. Back then all games were on TV, but there were many times one was away from Ch. 44 and needed to hear Harry's mid game call. Since I don't have cable, to this day I always have it handy for all games- Sox, Bulls, Hawks, etc etc etc... In times of emergencies I have even listened to Fire games in generally incomprehensible Spanish on AM 1200. It's a great and valued tool.

And the transistor had another jury rigged purpose as well, especially happily for our purposes today; in the summer of 1980, it helped me successfully hunt for another of the reasons I got into the Rolling Stones: the song "Stupid Girl". And although I went in looking for “Stupid Girl”, what I found instead was Aftermath.

Aftermath was the first whole body of work which I flipped about- instantly, and for a real long time afterwards- this beacme the LP to spin. There were many others to follow, but one remembers especially the first, n'est pas? I love this LP, I think it's their best (but yes; I nod to the 'time and place' argument on this one- it's one of their best though), and it's always fresh even today.

But first- 'the song of the moment', before this post turns into 'the LP of all time'. It was one of those “Rolling Stones Weekends” they used to have on The Loop or WMET. These radio stations used to devote a whole weekend devoted to just Stones stuff. Intoxicating, exotic; a presentation of all these wonderous far off songs way more comprehensive than my pitiful little collection of Summer 1980. I loved these weekends, but summer of 1980 I had a real real special mission: to hear that “Stupid Girl” song I wasn't sure yet- but I strongly suspected- was by The Stones. But I had to make sure.

So, all weekend. Friday nite, early in the morning Saturday, listening, listenng, listening. All this new shit, glory times. But no "Stupid Girl". Yet. But Saturday afternoon presented a difficult callenge: I had a little league game baseball game that afternoon. "What to do"? I really did't know.

So, I brought my radio along. On the bus. No song. Game starts. No song. I listen to it during the game, putting it down when I was on the field and when I batted. And then it happened. right when my team got th third out, on came "Stupid Girl". Confirmation- it was a Stones song. Confirmation- it was as perfect as I remembered. Confirmation- from the coach- GET ON THE FIELD!! Halfway through, I put down the radio and went out to center, sad I couldn't hear ir all but happy I knew it was a Stons song. Got it!!

But what actions by me. I guess in my years of coaching I've let things slide. But I'd've been assualted if it was football. Coach made a point of saying “we have to pay more att’n to game. Some of us are playing, talking, listening to radios during the game, joking around, anything than watching the game." It was the last time i did it- It was just enough to capture "Stupid Girl".

There were a number a strange things about this LP. One was it's contents. It was standard practice in the mid 1960’s for two LP’s- both with the same title, but one released in America and one in England-- to contain vastly different material. Why? I dunno- just the record industry still being young and trying to figure itself out. Something about the latest singles for the American market....... or something. "Aftermath" is a perfect example. The two different versions share nine songs but the UK vesion has 14 total to the American 11. Not only that, but "Aftermath" was their 4th UK release but their sixth American. This resulted in a confusion of releases from all the bands- from the stones and beatles to the lessor groups.

Another was the huge "stereo ness" of this LP. I’ve always loved to play big time with the balance on this track. I’m sure they’ve balanced this out on later CD mixes, but it’s super pronounced on my vinyl copy. In fact, “Stupid Girl” sounds best on the track that has minimal organ. On my fave half of the balance, the drums are incredibly powerful shoving the song along, and the lead guitar sounds great. The drum intro sounds echoy great. Then put it over to the organ side. Slow. Disjointed. Missing the other half. If you have a copy of “Aftermath” that allows yuo to fuck well with the balance, try it on “Under my thumb”

With “Aftermath“, the Stones finally recorded a LP with all songs their own compositions. Like most rock groups, they started out mainly with covers. Although they mixed in more and more “Jagger/Richards” compositions on their releases as time went on, even around “Satisfaction” they still had a lot of covers on their LP’s. Then the Beatles released an all Beatle penned LP. Often in the ‘60’s it seemed that the Stones had the attitude “Why, if the Beatles did it, then we must too!” But the decision to record only their own songs for “Aftermath” almost certainly was based on the fact that they were in the midst of a prolific period of writing- witness the mad stash of songs spread over the two different versions.

Whichever version of “Aftermath” one has, it has that flowing flowering consistency over its length - like “Sister”, “Inflammable Material”, “The Specials”, “London Calling”, “Kings and Queens”, “Hatful of Hallow”, “Holiday” or any similar LP of great stature. The songs all just seemed to fit to-gether seamlessly - completely seamlessly. And yet, the songs didn’t sound like each other- from a deep dependence on the blues, the Stones now displayed country elements (“High and Dry“), Elizabethan Era stylings (“Lady Jane”), and the sitar- played by one Brian Jones- on “Paint it Black”. This is especially impressive for “Aftermath” because there were so many tracks spread over the two different versions- substitute "What to do", "Take it or leave it", "Mothers Little helper", "Doncha bother Me" and "Out of time" for "Paint it, Black" and it's essentially the same fantastic LP- well, actually it's a lot better. But, my "American" version was potent enough to this piker at the time. Still is.

The Stones were not just prolific in both number of songs and style - this LP was incredibly good. The songs were just great, and it never quits over the whole 40m or whatever. Sounds so good- the drag of the bass in “Under my Thumb” (the "Gallo" version of "Thumb"- play it!!), some of Charlies best drumming in “Stupid Girl”, great use of piano throughout; track after track after track. There have been many great Stones LP’s and I’m not going to claim this LP as uberLP of all time. For me, surely it is the greatest of ALL Stones LPS. But in no way will I attempt to dictate to y’all and say “But you must accept this as the best Stones as well !! ”- there are too many great choices over the decades. However, as I was developing into a proper music fan, the stunning breath of this Lp hit me hard: I knew great work when I heard it. I had developed enough taste to know that my somewhat recently bought “Goats Head Soup” and “Love you Live” were well below the standard of “Aftermath”.

Although “Stupid Girl” is one of my three absolute favourite Rolling Stones songs- it’s one of just three- it is “Aftermath” in its entirety that truly has left me with the biggest impression.

………………………………..................................................
some notes
two nice wiki lynx- a patty smith art part on "Aftermath", and a web site for fans of the LP- Me, I guess.

The Beatles around this time humorously talked of using “After Geography” as a title for their next LP.

Thanksgiving

Hung out mainly w/ Gf's relatives. We drove up 294 way north w/ her daughter to her older bro's widow's crib. I went last year as well. Lots of people, felt a little outta sorts. Actually, I was somewhat anti social- I'd gone to bed @ 0500 and I was woken @ 0900. Ug. So I was in no mood to be that chatty, esp after an hour drive. Mainly I read one of the Sin City graphic novels and nyt. also watched whatever football gme was on. Made a belated late attempt to turn to McNeil- Leherer news hour or whatever it's called. I like her relatives a great deal. I'm no stranger to her relatives; last year we were here also, and I remember being bimble- err, talkative. Promised Gf I'd be better socialized come Christmas. Looking forward to the food.

Food was incredible. Sweet potatos were the best- why didn't I take some home? Corn great. Gf had done a roast, and that was the best meat. It was so good- I liked the skin and must amidt to supping up the fatty bits slubby. Turkey goodtimes. I'd membered from the year before how good it was, and was looking forward to dinner. Rewarded.

Gf and I did the long drive south and was dropped off by the daughter. Next legg was to my house. We walked in to-gether, and lots were over. Everyone was over, and the kids were loud. We had a lot of fun, esp. since I was in a silly mood. @ one point I put up the camera movie going to catch their reaction: @ the kitchen table with ten around listening to him, Nephew.2 was telling a humourous story of Sister.4's old boyfriend's drunken reaction to a friendly hello from him when I burst onto the scene shouting my AH-AH -AH AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH mock machine gun fire sound while I have three long extended leggs 'shooting' them extended over my moms walker. They appreciated it.

There was a special guest here- Neice.1 had brought an exchange student from Ireland over for Thanksgiving. This is the first instance of this sorta behaviour from any of my neices, so I was suspicious of the young man, a junior @ the university. He talked well with the strangers-to-him who were over. I was wondering if he was using his fancy foreign accent and his several years of college life behind him to get girls. Funny- he's a good kid, but there was that instinct in me. Both he and neice.2 ended up staying here it was late and the Irish kid had to come all the way south again for a socce game.

Wasted time before going to Lanigans for a double crown. I wasn't there late, gulped down both, and went home. sleep.

Classic Sounds - February, 1980 / Rolling Stones Week 3/5

Marquette Park was a pretty cool place to grow up for a variety of reasons; shopping, fer instances. It was distinctly the walking city; all along 63d, 59th, 55th, Western and Kedzie were corner shops,taverns, tiendas, used book shops, pizzerias, thrift stores, and lots of places to buy records. I'm old enough to remember the drug stores stocking singles, as well as places like Sears and Woolworths. There were a lot of mom and pop record shops across the neighbourhood- one on 59th just east of Kedzie on the north side of the steet; Yardbirds, on 63rd near Homan, was the shop I saw the Eddie Money LP in; and the Kroozin Music's on Archer and California or 79th East of Pulaski. But the first LP's I bought were from Classic Sounds, 63d and Whipple.

I had a few ways of making cash back then. A local grocery store's - The local grocery store's - owners would give me a pile of newspapers. They had a special coupon section that used to come in Wednesdays or Thursdays papers back then. I would get a huge pile of those sections and then cut out the coupons from each one - so if I got 50 sections, I'd get 50 15 cent soup coupons, 50 30 cent cheese coupons, etc etc etc. I'd bring the pile back to the store when I was done, and bingo = $25 this week, $18 the next, etc etc etc. NIce scam, nice paycheck for an 11-12-13 yo.

The more steady stream of cash came from a paper route I had for many years. Money from them came in the form of "collecting"- I'd walk around to the customers to get what they owed that month.

It was Feb. of '80 when it finally came time to constitute my initial record collection. Now sisters had tonnes of LP's and '45's, but more importantly they had two Stones objects: Sister.2 had "Some Girls", and they collectively had the "Tumbling Dice" (and live)/"Sweet Black Angel" 45. But I needed more. El Greco came up with "Hot Rocks", the stunning to a 13yo collection of what then seemed to be the GREATEST HITS OF ALL MUSIC OF ALL TIME- and most importantly "Get off of my Cloud". But I needed "(Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo) Heartbreaker", and that meant a trip to classic Sounds.

First was collecting. I went w/ my bandmates in The New Association*: Straw**, JJK, El Greco, and Mick Guinness. I rang the customers door and we settled accounts for the last month or two months or whatever. I remember those jokers were being loud and rude while they waited for me on the sidewalk. But again, it was in a spirit of celebration that cold dark Feb. nite- we wer gonna have some brand new music to play, and we were all excited.

I settled on three records, and fuck were they strange choices:

“Goats Head Soup”= I wanted Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker), and this ws the LP that had it. As time went on, this became one of my least favourite of the 55, 236 Stones LP's that were released. However @ the time, doo doo doo was all that mattered.

“Love you Live”=Very very very strange choice, to this day. I dunno. Maybe that it was a double LP and was priced nicely (I suspect). It mita been also that there were a bunch of live songs, and I wanted to hear the alternative versions. Strange choice.

“The Early Beatles”= Always loved the early rather than the late Beats. Got it from growing up- those Beatles cartoons? This LP was had lots of the songs they used to play on that cartoon, so this was a natural choice. Had to have “Twist and Shout”.

Now, yesterdays post was very much into id'g the bowling alley days as an important step in my becoming a rocker. However, I have always dated THIS DAY- the day I fianlly speny $$ on music-- I really id as THE important day in my rockerness. I spent the $$. I made the decision to spend the $$. This really was the before/after day.

It was in this period immediately after buying these records that I really became a music fan. I had my little record collection, and it expanded bit by bit. It was all Stones and Beatles these early days, but soon groups like......heh heh heh laughing @ my training as a youth..... the Who, The Doors, The Kinks, Cream, etc started to be bought. My initiation into an area beyond classic rock would come, but for now....

And I had a litle record player to play it on. My sisters had graduated to a real stereo, and handed me down a portable little grey thing. It had attached speakers that could be detached and didn't sound so bad to this 13 yo. It could play in 16, 33, 45, and 78 speeds, which were useful when trying to understand lyrics in the internet days. It was pretty crappy even by then standards, but it got the job done. The important deal was that I could close my door, break out my LP's, and just go.

The events of Feb. were an important milestone in my life. I wasn't just saying that I like this shit. I was buying it, and looking for more. And back then, it was all Stones. I have no great overarching theory of what happened or why: I assume it was just the hormones and whatever else goes on oin our bodies etc... but I accepted music as one of the things that expresses myself those following weeks and months and years. I dissolved myself into the music, and since my collection was dominated by the one band , I found....I don't know what I found.....wait, I do....I little part of the context that is Life= and I loved what I found. It was me.

..............................................................................

*=The New Association are very important to the general story of music @ that time, but......for another time. Videos of that groups few remaining songs that are still in existence will be made.....but when?? Lansing 5 first.

**=BCD

dcs lynx

there's one of three done.

there's two of three done.

there's three of three done:

Hooooooooolllllleeeeeee Cow !!!

nitewalkers

Gf, Bolo, and I out late

Baking the Thanksgiving Bullog (sic)

" (Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo) Heartbreaker " / Rolling Stones Week 2/5

Although fully 95% of that stupid piece of literature I like so much-Ulysses -falls under this category, but one of my favourite lines/parts of Ulysses occurs in an early scene- it's one of the three early Stephen led scenes before the book centers on Bloom*. Stephen, in full "Plan A" type glory, is talking to his boss in the school he teaches @. They stodgy stolid old man (maybe not best word- I'll dictionary myself later) and the young vibrant man are discussing the meaning of God or what God is. The older man drones on and on but is suddenly interrupted by the loud joyous shouts though the open window of the school children @ recess. Stephen immediately interjects "There- that is God". I've always agreed.

Despite my frenz egging and egging me on (I- just-didn't-listen) , it took until the PENTUMULATE bowling nite of my classes grammer school career to finally go and check it out. So, fall of 1979, I took that long bus ride w/ frenz to the bowling alley @ 63d and Central- rite across from Midway. The other kids had been playing in bowling leagues for years, but it was all new to me (One had to pay to bowl, so of course I grew up never having bowled- my cheapness didn't start w/ me- it was all learned).

But what a site**- what a fucking site:

there were cute 7th grade girls, the slam of the ball into the pins, running kids, yelling kids, shouting kids, lites and flashes, the buzz of hundreds of people in the alley, there were 6th grade girls- of who I probably had a crush on seven of them- and there were strangers and strange places to stick our noses in, blurs, there were 8th grade girls - and all those girls were wearing that uniform- people @ the bar, the shoe bazaar, movement, chasing, chances to write stupid frases on the overhead lite, shouting, frenz and frenz and frenz, and, of course, girls and girls and girls..........and a certain 7th grader that held precedent over all other girls @ St. Rita of Cascia Grammer School.

WOW!!

As I wrote, the first time was the pentumulinate bowling nite (after school, really) of our 8th grade class. Fuck if I wasn't lucky for finally going and experiencing it - and the last nite of bowling I was fully ready and waiting for the reexperiece. Usually, the second time is a disappointment- but we all knew that THIS WAS IT, and the last nite of bowling simply put is a day I put amongst my favourite days of my life.

It was really a replay of the previous week- wilde, wilde, Oscar Wilde. Extra Wilde. WOW Wilde. I think all of us knew that a point in our seriously short lives was passing by us (damn that touchy march of time that binds us !). For me fer sure, I knew and felt this. My endemic impulses to romanticise the past- this exercise here, I guess- was very alive @ that moment. I realised that we as a crew would never go down this path again, so we were especially "young and alive" that day, and never more than on the bus trip home.

All of grammer school was a wilde ride, but the 3.5 mile CTA bus ride from Central back to Marquette Park was a fucking riot-wilde ride. Jam packed with kids, the oldest of which were graduating and needent need to behave that well, it quickly developed into a free for all. Running, screaming, playing, throwing, windows open: God was very apparent in us that day. The bus ride and the day ended with me and another kid trying to get off @ the Francisco stop, but the whole crowd of kids on the bus shouted to the driver to ignore us and drive on. He listened. The bus went on an extra two stops before the driver- not wanting to lose his job, I'm sure- finally stopped the bus when we opened the back doors- wind whistling in- just to make the point that we wanted off.

Of all things, it was that last frenzied pandenomic ride home- 15-20m @ most- that I remember. It especially left me with a stunned exhausted exhilaration as I dazed my way back the extra two blocks home from the bus stop.

I didn't know it @ the time, but in Stephen's terms, God surely was there. I think I felt her. I think he moved me. But one thing was sure. I absolutely knew, rite then and there, and without any doubt, what God SOUNDED like: Her presence was revealed to me in......the bowling alleys juke box. They had many 45's longtemps forgotten, but they also had one that started me on my path as a fledgling rocker- it was the Rolling Stones mid Seventies '45 " (Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo) Heartbreaker". I played it both times I was there, and forever more, that exciting mix of mayhem and music, of girls and growing up, of experience and romantic times, was forever associated with, I guess, The Rolling Stones. As stated above, I liked the group before and they were heavy in my mind, but the fortnites experiences forever made me cross the Rubicon and never look back.

The next step was to convince them to come live with me- so I could play them all the time on my record player. But that's to-morrow.

.......................................................................
*=and the weird thing is, I actually expect people to know what I'm referring to- not that I'm saying I'm some especial divo who knows the book, but it so much a part of whatever inside me @ this point....please bear w/ me)

**= and please remember, I'm writing from the perspective of a 13 yo.

Scattered NYT stuff

I have bits of papers and scrapes of chaff w/ a kool nyt art or other on them.. Once in awhile, I get them some of them and rec. them to you. Have mercy.

Mechinakal roaches

This looks like a cool book, and in 2362 a.d. I mite get to it.

And today= the happy news from Iraq is that up to 20,000 people have moved BACK to the capitol- but that still leaves FOUR MILLION refugees. But hey, nyt reported it as good news, so i guess we must be making real progress there, rite??

Have mercy on me.

Sunday day

Was a day of celebration. Drove to Evanston and dropped off GF @ Lucia di Lammrmores. It was a nice ride up and an easy find after a shot not rite cut to find.... the shower place. HAuled up GF and presents, then off to Rocky Int'l. Crankface and the Bears game was there, as well as old siders to slip under not as fridgis guinness for me to make sure I'd feel it Monday. Yum.

Watched the game, ate the pizza, planned the a, picked the jax, and laughed a lot. Bears lost.

"Get out of my Head" / Rolling Stones Week 1/5

For all the talk of Morrissey and the Beatles and Sister and "Making Groovy Movies" and the National Trust and the New Association and all of that, Virgil Hilts owes an especially steep and deep debt to The Rolling Stones. When it became time for me to cross the Rubicon and officially declare to the world that I identify'd part of my self in that strain of art called music, it was the Rolling Stones who were the ones that gave me the strenght to say "This is me".

But before this happened- and especially the final and official stampp in Feb. 1980 - there is a bit of a back story. It involved a song, a concert, and lots of reading material.

There was lots of music @ home. Mom had tonnes of Irish folk stuff, so I had a fair appreciation of Irish folk and IRA ballads, like my self declared favourite song "The Men behind the Wire"*. And then there was my older sisters. They listened to WLS and pop stuff, so I had - and do, to this day- a real weakness for pop. So, my liking of the Spice Girls I blame on my sisters. It was around Summer of 1977 that I started to search for songs and stuff as well.

Along with the title song of this post (corrupted spelling, I know), the other "fabled song" was Eddie Moneys's "Baby hold on." I heard it a couple of times, knew that i loved it, and even went to one of the mom and pop's in the hood and was transfixed @ an LP- wait- THE EDDIE MONEY LP WITH "BABY HOLD ON"- on the wall up above the counter. Magic, but the other side of the world to a penniless 11 y.o. True, it was that song that had me declaring that I loved a rock song- but it was another song that had me declaring myself a rocker.

Growing up, I knew and liked this song ("Get off of my Cloud", y'all) even though it was unfamiliar enough with it for me not to be sure of its exact title. Now I'm talking about 9 , 10, 11 year old me who was hearing this song once a year from someones car radio in Marquette Park or an open window= that's how fucking exotic music was to me back then (I really did hear : "Baby hold on" coming out of a window one day walking back from little league baseball and stood outside this persons window- in full, baseball uni.- until it was over). But there was this song.....sounded kool.....

Yes, yes, yes: such a big classic rock hit then and now, but I was a child that took a long time to put two and two to-gether. Sometime only in the late Seventies and connected the Stones with this song. I can't remember exactelty when, but there was a time where I can remember thinking "Is that one 'Look at that stupid girl song''- is it the Stones? It sure sounds like that 'get out of my Head' song I like so much".

I have a guess as to when it was. It was the Summer of 1978, "Some Girls" had been released, and the concert tour that stopped in Soldiers Field that summer was the real turning point. “Some Girls” was beyond hot: and it was such a hit radio played every song endlessly that summer. Remember the disco version of "Miss You"? "Shattered", "Beast of Burden", "Before they make me Run", "When the whip comes down"- collosale LP. And it was GREAT. I wasn't hip enough to realise it @ that point, but it really was a return to excellence by the band after the shitty post Exile LPs of the mid 70's.

But the biggest deal mita been the tour. The Stones stopped in Soldiers Field. I didn't go- what, me? I was 11 or 12, and would have to wait another year or two before my first show. But as important as the tour and the LP, it was that the Trib and Sun Times had special separate newspaper editions about the band and the tour which I saved and cherished. Anything w/ reading, especially @ that age, hooked me into things I still love to-day. With these sections, I could read about the bands history and be a fan-albeit in a casual way @ this point.

So, summer of '78, I was aware a bit of the history of the group, had a song I loved by them, and knew their contemporary work as it was on the radio and Staurday nite live and Kenny Everett-- but I hadn't made the leap yet where when people around thought of the Rolling Stones, they thought of me. That's coming.

.......................................................................

*= "armoured cars and tanks and guns/ came to take away our sons/ but every man must stand behind / the men behind the wire" - I realise that only one of the readers will know the song- maybe more- but I have no recourse to youtube in CPS, so...)

that's my passionate writing

anarchy on a sunday, not a monday.

What a charming nite

Oh, such delicious plans for the Parrot Cage (believe it o no el believo*). We usually go to the 1/2's, so going to a 100%er indicates 'especial nite'. That nice pieco' jewelery I got her- she likes stuff like that a lot. It's nice.

That was my charming Saturday nite.

...................................................................................

*=I know= now I'm coining mots dans Espangol......et french aussi, n'est pas?

On returning

Wasn't the Suet they made for- three of them were crowding the seed feeder. I got some film of it, but for now a picture will have to suffice. I've said before, I've counted up to 23 of these Monk Parakeets in the yard @ one time. Now that winter is setting in, my guess is that they will start showing up like they did last year- lots of times throughout the day. Welcome back- it's the first siting of the season.

Grackles= I'm pretty sure they have flown the coop South.
Cardinales cardinales still around, thankfully. The local pair whose territory my feeder is in* usually flies south for winter.

Now: I wonder if I'll ever see the rose breasted grosbeak I saw once 4-5 years ago on the feeder. Will I ever again? And: when will I see the first of the dark eyed juncos? It's about their time now.
..........................................
*=there have been hysterical cardnal 'fites' over the feeder. There are times when their are two couples in the yard, and it's four birds chirping and the males flying rite after each other.

Hawk Man

This foto just in from Nas. A. Nice. It gives me a chance to relte a very short hawk story. 87th and Kedzie has a wide open area on 3/4 of the corners. It has a few trees- smallish 20-30 footers. I was returning from school on afternoon and realised that something was going on w/ the birds. A couple of seconds, and I spotted him.

But the behaviour- it wanted to roost, I guess. He kinda maneuvered around a bit to place himself in a kinda of an anti-stall underneath one of these trees- the leaf line could be touched by an adult standing underneath the tree. Then he swooped up and disappeared into the tree. All in one motion- swoop under, stall, then flap up- gone.

Oh wait, I can now go on and on about birds- it's been a longtime since I bored y'all. Thanks, Nas. A., fer the excuse.

I have just put up the Suet feeders again- I got sick of starling after starling chewing it all up- summers for me no suet now- and instantly the woodpecker came back. Still waiting on that most magical of treats, the Monk parakeets crowd, to come back. Winter, y'know- just not yet. But welcome back the W-pexx and even the starlings.

And man do the Starling flock these days. Winter for whatever reason causes them to flock n the states and overseas.

And a warm welcome back to a flock of grackles. They conquered the yard sometime last week- i've got lots of film, but I'm using it in for something, so y'll see it @ some point (still need to actually set myself up on ytube and flixxer- i will, i will== didn't i get a lap top and a diga me foto machine??).

wait- I do have a flicker page now= a bit lame, but...

Friday Nite - and yes, that's Army Medic

Went to Lanigans. What a nite. We were out w/lots of people - Originally went w/ GF and Good Kixx, but since Lanigans is sorta like Cheers- walk in and I immediately know 10 people (last nite 25)- we hung w/ lots. One of these frenz was chatting up an old almost-lover (never happened) when his present girlfriend suprisingly walked in. A Situation.

Batten down the hatches, lite and noise discipline, general quarters - it was for me to try to defuse the situation that had he potential to become a non-kool situation- jealousies abounding for no real reason. Now, nothing was going on-however, some present lovers are driven nuts by old lovers of their present lover- even though they never even kissed etc.

It was on my shoulders to defuse. Imm. started talking to the girl (she was @ our table for the moment- she was making the rounds) to take the heat off. Funny too- his girlfriend is one of those who loves public displays of affection- although I'm sure the PDA's meaning was "HEY- THIS ONE'S MINE- NE TOUCHEZ PAS!! " Friend explained it that girl was his hairdresser- truth.

The topper was when the girl went out to her car to get a 750 ML bottle of - this is true- Paddy Flaherty's Whisky. Bet it's the best sauce ever. I went out to get it, and we talked to her friend Mattaeo Jenke fer a bit. Lovely. But this was also good because it established that she was a friend of mine as well.

Again= my friend is not seeing Matteao (yeah, that's gotta be her name from here on out), has not cheated on his girlf. w/ someone else (I'd know), is not planning on it- but sometimes old loves and new loves do not mix.

For me, it was "once more into the breach". Again, I did my duty.

A note to single men: The women @ Lanigans on a Friday nite- karoke nite- are incredibly outgoing. We had a constant stream of bubbly young women 'interupting' us to talk. Like me, Goodkixx has a bigtime girlfriend, and he said to me "Man, where was all this when I was single?" Funny. I realise I should get to-gether people to come here one of these days (of the non southsiders, I believe only Vito and Rocky have been here. North Side Irish has been to Keegans, as well as those two. Who am I missing?

I am presently missing Dragon and Jimie, who have been to both. Sandra, who hung a couple of times in Lanigans. Nas A. had a drinxx in Keegans. Has not Issac as well? And Lazers? 50th and California will always take precident over whereever else you have lived since 1989- you don't count in this.

Nausicaa

Here's some creepy voyeristic video vixens, vun of vich ist rite zere nexx t'us, no?

And, hopefully, this is the correct lynx to the Sun Times story.

And a very few more pix of her.


Long ago I understood the inherent truth of this statement:

"Ah, and if we were never introduced to Gerty, where would we all be?"

On on the fireworks
the strand's awash with colour
on on he wanders
soddenly draped with honour