Scooterito

So they’ve got some charges for Scooter. Now my friends who understand these things better than I do are quick to say – look it’s not treason – but the obstruction of justice charge is a big deal. What’s interesting to me – if Hot Karl and everybody else skates – and the only charge that sticks is the obstruction stuff – then Scooter stands accused (as far as I can tell) of covering up a conspiracy that never existed. I’m glad I have friends that understand this better than I do.

On a serious note – how much of a threat can a guy named Scooter be??? And, if our regime is threatened by a game named Scooter – we have bigger problems than Scooter himself.

I’m not going to say anything about the nomination of Judge Ito other than – NPR broke into their morning news coverage with the announcement early this morning. I was up so early today, I felt like I was on DC time (Bush the Younger DC time – not Clinton/Reagan DC time)…I’d still be sleeping – or something…

I know it sounds weird to say that NPR broke into the news with a NEWS story, but hear me out. With every SC nomination that’s come out since I’ve been somewhat aware of these things…I’m always struck by the seriousness that news outlets – as a whole - have for this business. It is like the sacred appointment of some high priest of the realm or some such junk. I’m not a big one for the old, boring: ‘Look how the media shapes our perception of X or Y!!!!’ – but look how the media shapes our perception of the Supreme Court!!!!

…man, I’m an idiot.

When news outlets – from across the board announce acts of Congress – or actions of the executive branch – whatever – we often get to hear some of the dirt, fighting, or other stuff associated with such things. But when CNN or whatever announce a Supreme Court decision – we always hear: “The Supreme Court handed down today”…spoken in the most reverent of tones. It’s like nine immortals allowed us to touch their mystical shit from the top of Mt Olympus OM-10 (bad old camera joke). Maybe this is too much of a personal confession here. I teach that Religion and the Constitution class – and I spend a lot of time trying to put the inconsistencies of the Court regarding the 1st Amendment – (as well as the 20th Century interp of the 14th) – on the table for discussion. It takes several weeks just to get most of my students to even consider the possibility that the Constitution might mean something other than what the judges say…

…maybe those judges need to help me figure out what I’m trying to say – that would certainly distract them.

Read Josh's Post Because It's More Interesting Than This

After reading Josh’s post about the SW greatest hits record – I went to their site just to take a trip down memory lane. I remember getting a few of those records when Billy and I worked at KDI – either that or I dreamed the whole thing. I like some of those songs. While I was looking around I saw that HopeAndNothings is putting out a book that’s sort of about the Weasels (did anyone ever call them that?) and sort of fiction…A Hard Day’s Weasel? No one ever made that.

HopeAnd Nothings is a cool publishing house (if that’s the right terminology). They put out books written about (and usually by) Chicago punk rockers. This was the only publisher I seriously considered sending the now scrapped floatingBasement book to…I mean I fully intended to publish that piece of crap myself – but I thought that if there was one publisher out there…

Enough.

bigDrag is probably going to change its name to Action City. Chris B has some cool artwork that I’ll talk about more (and maybe post here) later. I just want something to use for our first CD single. I want it (as if I matter) to come out sometime in December or January. I hope the song we put out will be this thing called Dil – but since Dev and I can’t even agree how to spell the song’s name…

…have I talked about this before?

One last thing on Josh’s most recent post - he ended talking about what it takes to shock people. What he suggested makes sense – and reminded me of that part of the Aristocrats explaining why the joke was no longer shocking and the only way to “save” it would be to include racial slurs etc…Again, saying these things isn’t crazy. But I think – no matter what the context – or the mores of the day (I’m making a fool of myself again) – the ability to say something horrific quietly always carries with it the requisite shock value – and then some. It’s what makes Xenophon’s work – even in the translation of a limp-dicked 19th Century British philologist who doesn’t understand the book – powerful and full of surprises (even of the unwanted kind) in any time – for any audience. Maybe I should’ve posted this on Lies and Exaggerations – but I guess I didn’t want to waste his space with this shit.

More on Stuff That I Don't Know

I may have inadvertently, or advertently pissed off the Prairie Dawg (and a few others) with my stupid blog about the rock. I also got a few personal e-mails on that crap about where making rock records is on the “creative food chain” – or some shit like that. First, let me say that I’m pretty sure that I didn’t (and don’t) know what I’m talking about when I bring up such things. Someone pointed out that those statements sounded like bullshit false modesty (as opposed to sincere false modesty?). I don’t know about all that. What I do know is when I say that stuff about the rock – or art in general…it probably has more to do with what I’m doing and how I perceive the process. Maybe I’m trying to wiggle my fat ass out of trouble (and believe me getting my fat ass in or out of anything lately – is not easy)…

…maybe I say the things I do about the process of making records because I have so much fun doing it (even when shit goes horribly wrong) – and maybe because I have so much fun being in a rock band and doing rock band shit somewhere in the back of my head I think it must not be too important if it’s this much fun.

By the way – I’m not saying making records comes easy to me. I’ve made a lot of fucked up decisions in the recording studio leading bands I’ve been in to waste time, money and even the opportunity to “get it right” – whatever.

One of the reviews for the first You Know What album said (in reference to a few of my songs) that the melody lines (I think?) were catchy but familiar. I took this as a compliment regardless of whether the reviewer meant it that way or not. The music I’m involved w/ should be familiar…should be something that a person can make a part of their life. Seeing a movie (the right way) is an event – reading books too – even if you’re just killing time, a book can transport your ass right out of your seat into wherever – whatever. You can rock out in your car to a great record, but the record is part of what gets you to where you’re going, part of the journey – unless it’s Journey – then you do what I do and get the fuck out of the car. I love the White Sox and I’m glad that their love of crappy music formed a bond that helped those guys play as a team and have fun – but fuck fucking Journey.

While I can’t say anything that makes sense on the subject – I apologize to the PDawg and any of my other friends who make (or defend the making of…as high art) rock records. Hey – I don’t know what the heck I’m talking about. Oh, here’s what I do know – the Tall Grass Captains album is very well made and worth listening to. I’ll put a link to the TGC site when I redo my links stuff. Peaceout.

'Topes Win! 'Topes Win!

He who fusses over anything spoils it.
He who grasps anything loses it.
The Sage fusses over nothing and therefore spoils nothing.
He grabs at nothing and therefore loses nothing.

In handling affairs, people often spoil them just at the point of success.
With heedfulness in the beginning and patience at the end,
nothing will be spoiled.


God Bless you Chicago White Sox, Ozzie G, KW and even JR…
…thanks for making this summer so much fun. I will never forget it.
Comcast SportsNet – you can go to hell.

Thoughts on the Rock (not Tim Raines, or the Rock)

Some more good news. Talked to the Old Dog on Monday and there might be another opportunity for us to open for Curbside Life. They offered us a gig at the “Blank” (I forgot the name) Theatre. We couldn’t make that show because of prior commitments. I think they replaced us with The Commitments. While I’m on The Commitments…

Q: How many times can you play Mustang Sally before it loses all meaning?
A: One.

I like doing stuff with Joe’s brother. He certainly is tenacious. I wish I had his business sense – I mean, I can be a sort of hustler when it comes to raising money to make a record or do some sort of fucked up project. I’m good at that. But as far as being a hustler to promote a record or a band – Ol’ Gill is slicker than me. Meh, whatttaya gonna do? What the hell was that?

The last thing I think we need to think about doing (wha?) – with these shows coming up – I think we need to talk to the Dark Squirrel about doing live recordings. This isn’t just because I wrote (a coupla blogs ago) that I had so much fun making records with DK Squirrel…and I miss our misadventures…This has more to do with what I think our record should be. I’m the first guy to say – making rock records – pretty far down on the creative food chain relative to writing a book, making a film, painting, and/or art made via technology. The one thing that is cool (possibly cooler, or at least I like it more) is that a rock band is a thing that can make recordings and also play live. Rock bands can do two things. They can almost have two different identities. I mean good filmmakers and good authors can take different approaches from project to project – whatever. But once the book is done – that’s it – it is what it is and the author can’t change it…unless they add a new preface celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the first printing – “An Attempt at a Self-Criticism” – whatever. The same thing goes for the filmmaker. Once the dopey rock band makes it’s record (and let me repeat rock band – probably lower form of art than the book guy or movie guy…I hope that makes this sound less pretentious than it already is) – but once rock band makes it’s record that’s only part of what the song is (whatever). I should give up on these thoughts. I’m sounding like a real fool. Hey, has that ever stopped me before?

Maybe a new paragraph will help. Ahhh, that’s better. Once the band starts playing live there is a lot of freedom to fuck around with the songs…to get direct feedback from an audience…to fuck around with feedback…to fuck around with an audience. See – it all sounds fun. Many times the ‘fuck around factor’ has led bands I’ve played in – into (What is this? The middle of the list of 40 Commonly Used Prepositions?) – into some trouble. The You Know What shows that went really well, and people talk about – nobody remembers what songs we played. And they don’t just remember the show because I barfed on stage. The most memorable shows were ones where friends and strangers were joking around with us on stage. We took chances with songs and were able to laugh at the attempts that fell short and smile and use that shit to our advantage when something went well. After saying all that – and discrediting myself henceforth and forthwith suffice it to say: I like being in a band because I like recording and playing live and I think since our recordings kick ass maybe live recordings will kick ass in a different way.

I’m so bleeping tired after last night/this morning. What am I complaining about? All I did is sit on the couch and watch a baseball game – and drank one beer. Pathetic.

Boys of Blummer

The Blummer just went yard.
Then he went Flock of Seagulls.
I do not know what the fuck is going on.

Greek to Geek and Light Years Between Us

I have no predictions for the rest of the World Series – other than: I will let my students go home from the Nietzsche class early on Wed – and that’s it.

I predict that bigDrag will have it’s name change soon. I can’t predict what that new name will be. I think Action City is the leader in the clubhouse. I’m not sure if Dev has really weighed in on the Action City name – although, when I said we should be bigSoda, Dev was pretty quick to say: “No dude. I thought we’d changed the name to Action City.”

I also predict that (whatever our name is or will be) we will have a CD single out long before our full-length CD is completed. I’d like to have one new song (from the Elgin sessions) and then add some other tasty treats. More on that at some other time.

My friend Paul H sent something out on our little e-mail chain thing regarding some scifi lit and topics that are of interest to some of us…and stuff Paulie and I have talked about. The stuff Paulie showed me was interesting – but it also got me thinking about something else. When the Greeks wanted to manipulate time for the sake of telling a particular story they usually turned to the past – history – whatever. They would manipulate these events that most of their contemporaries knew about – or had some sort of awareness of…whatever. Now some of the scifi works Paul has talked to me about manipulate the future and the present to make certain points – or to make the reader see something that is not apparent. Is it fair to say that this sort of storytelling is more indicative of modernity – or modern rationalism – and the Greeks showed some of preference or predisposition to (for the most part) manipulating the past? I dunno.

Somebody sent out a sort of slam at scifi on the e-mail thing. Now while I am not an avid reader of scifi – I am not a fan of making fun of something someone likes and tries to share, with a note in front of everyone else. I hope our little neighborhood isn’t getting e-pissy…although the fact I feel the need to write about it here suggests I am being e-pissy – or at least e-gossipy. I’m not sure which is more pathetic.

On a happy note: the Josh mix tape rules! Everyone get yourself some!

More Unbelievable

SWEET, SPARKLING BAGS OF SHIT!

Peter Pan just went yard.

Bring in the Big Fat Guy

White Sox win WS Game 1

5-3

I will spare everyone the dopey "Houston You Have a..." b.s.

bigDrag is still bigDrag

No one wants to change the name of bigDrag to bigSoda. I love the images on Dev’s site…I’ve got stupid visions of my wife wearing a tee shirt w/ a soda cup and a straw on it…call me a dumbass. We practiced last night – and it was a nice break from recording. (oooh my life is so hard) Maybe there’s a better way to say this. It is more fun to play one song and then play a different song – rather than trying to keep the same energy through six takes of the same song. Someone sound the whiner siren FOR ME!

Chris B came up w/ the name Action City a few weeks ago (on the way to Elgin – I think). I like Action City. I googled Action City. It is the product name of a really cool play set w/ a fix-it garage – car wash – police station – cool vehicles and figures – ALEX WOULD LOVE IT! If we don’t change the name of bigDrag to Action City – I’M GONNA BUY THE PLAYSET!

I should never bitch about being a dad. I have a legit excuse to think about buying toys. Cool.

Chris told me that – internetwise – we’re ready to start putting up shit that our friends can download…basically whenever we want. I don’t think we’ll put rough tracks from Elgin up (at least not right away). We’ll put up the Me Drive Car single – hopefully we won’t use the name and we’ll just put the songs up. Why am I questioning the name of a CD single we made a thousand years ago???

That’s what I do.

Anyway, we had a good time hanging out and joking about the time Chris killed a monster…and someone confessed their secret love for Sarah Silverman. Devin wants to do a golf thing – even if the weather is not good so I think I’m going to try to set up something at the Buena Vista for next Saturday…call the fellas and then – whatever. Will we become another golfing band a la Hootie and the Blowfish? I hope not…although I hear Darius Rucker(sp?) has monogrammed golf shoes – you’ve made it when you have cool shit like that.

My Last Words?

Strength...dissipating...
...sense of humor...fading...
...brain, bleeding

...must finish blog entry

I Gotta Call Larry

I've got to call Larry at LNL - as opposed to Lauren(sp) at SNL. I need to give him a heads up on the status of the bD record. Status: I don't think we're going to do anymore until after the next gig - Nov 12 at Phyllis' Musical Thing.

Realistically, we're half way done. There's a lot about these tracks I like - I think I love the process...I don't have to write anything down. I carry my guitar around w/ me - not a bunch of dog-eared (or Old Dog-eared) notebooks. The one thing that's missing (if missing is the right word) is the adventure of doing a record the Dark Squirrel way.

"Why can't we have a no-name tape?!?!?!?"

DK Squirrel and I had some moments making the last you-know-what record. Some of those moments were fucking hilarious. Old Dog's van was running funny half way between DeKalb and the mixdown place in Springfield. We realized he had enough change (that we scrounged from the Old Dog's van) for two quarts of oil - or one quart of oil and one quart of beer (Powermaster). Hey - we could've just spent the money on beer. We got to the mixdown place and nobody died. It's why I related to the Blair Witch Project (the 1st one) when it came out. The poor, scrappy little filmakers just wanted to get the rented DAT machine back to the place by Monday. Then, some dicked-up shit happened.

That has been my record making experience until doing the breather record @ Smart Studios and now working w/ Larry in Elgin. I guess I'm too old to make records while I'm fighting artsy-craftsy monsters in the middle of the woods with a map that one of my collaborators just kicked into the river and no cigarettes...

...but I'm not too old to miss it.

More from Sunday - On Monday

This is some non-White Sox stuff left over from Sunday…

My dad’s dad never used the words “pretty close” or “pretty near” or “nearly.” His word for those things was “purd’near”. Today was purd’near a perfect day. (I guess this is my way of trying to make amends with my grandfather almost twenty years after his death.) Mass w/ Msg. Nelson this morning - is Msg. the proper abbreviation for Monsignor? I noticed an interesting connection between the famous “render unto Caesar” Gospel and the O.T. reading – the 1st Reading – whatever…dealing with the “relationship” (I know that’s the wrong word – between the God of Abraham and Cyrus. So the selections from the Old and New Testaments deal w/ the greatest conquerors of their respected times. No less of an authority than Xenophon (I know he has nothing to do w/ the Old Testament) – refers to Cyrus as a “hegemon” and, by this he means a “natural” leader (I think). You’ve got the first (I think) guy to “rule the world” – or most of the known world…and a New Testament reading that….waitaminute…

Now that I think of it – I’m not sure if the coin Jesus talks about has Julius or Augustus Caesar on it. Forget I said anything.

Came home and Alex, Kim and I cleaned the heck out of the house while the Bears beat the Vikings. Then Alex and I did some crazy bike riding, back and forth in front of the house. It was some f’d up, danger-daredevil shit! Pretty neat – and we purd’near crashed a couple of times. Alex is a “play-it-safe” kinda guy. It was good to see him get a little crazy.

Then, let see – what else happened? Oh, we took a sex cruise w/ Fred Smoot…uh, just kidding.

The White Sox punched their ticket to the World Series and I got to watch the end of the game with Kim. I spent most of the game in the basement w/ the downstairs TV on…and I watched when I could – cleaned the playroom when I couldn’t. Man – what’s my problem?!? It’s just a baseball team playing the GAME of baseball. I called my father-in-law – Al’s been a Sox fan since back-in-the day. I kissed my beautiful wife goodnight, went back downstairs and cried.

I Don't Believe It!

I don't believe it. The Chicago White Sox are going to the World Series. That doesn't happen too often.

GO!

Took Alex to Goebbert’s(sp?) today. He had a blast. This year he wasn’t afraid of the haunted house. I’m pretty sure that’s a good thing. The exit? A bulbous, rubbery inflated flap…as we pushed our way out I told the boy: “This should remind you of your birth.” He said: “What Daddy?” Then Kim hit me in the back of my fat stupid head.

The pumpkin-eating dinosaur did not start shit with me this year so I didn’t have to throw down on his punk-ass!

I rode a camel and felt no urge to smoke it. There may be hope for me yet.

I have more thoughts on the bigDrag name change but I am still to gutless to talk about them on my blog. That’s pretty gutless. Bill Garver offered a suggestion on the e-mail daisychainseesaw he started for everyone (he’s less gutless than me). Bill said he likes MIDDLE FINGER ACTION (I’m pretty sure he was talking about band names).

Two to One

No one cares about my observations on the down-to-earth, fight-you-to-the-bitter-controversial end White Sox...so I will say nothing other than WHOOOPIE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun night last night and fun morning today - Trace and Rilez were in down. Little Tracey Brown is someone's mommy and she's a good mommy. I bitch and moan about my family (from time to time) but it was close to a pure pleasure to have 'em at our house this weekend. Alex loved playing w/ his cousin - so that made me pretty happy aussi...

I've got some thoughts on bigDrag band names - but I'll save that shit for later.

After 88 Years, the Sox Can Use a Break

I have nothing to say about Wed night's Sox game.

Today was Daddy and Alex day and we had a blast. Swim lessons this morning - then Tommy O's. He smelled the grilled cheese and didn't want to eat it. This is the second time that that's happened. This is no knock on Tommy O's because my beautiful boy is a really picky eater...but we probably won't be going back (at least for the forseeable future). Sure, it's 'kids eat free' day - but that still doesn't give us the right to come there and have the joint throw away an uneaten plate of food. There's starving people in....

...man, I really have become someone's dad. Oh, Alex and I read a really cool Marvel Team Up, the Human Torch and SpiderMan take on the Super Skrull. It totally kicked ass.

No rock tonight. Dev called me and said: "Dude, I'm sick. I can probably make it out to practice but can we call it?"

I said (actually, I left him a message that said): "Dude, you're about to be somebody's daddy. You don't get to be sick when you are somebody's daddy. (unless they get a nanny or some shit like that - but Dev and Laura don't roll like that) Take a sick day while you can - and feel fucking better."

Hey - I made it through a whole blog entry w/out saying Bill Garver's name once...

...dammit.

What's Official?

It’s official: I’m killing the floatingBasement book. Sure, it’s sort of a bummer, and I’ve put a lot of work into that thing. Jeez, I’ve been working on it (on and off) since the band broke up in ’95 (it started as “The floating Basement Scrapbook - $2.00 a Pound at Scrap Dealers Everywhere!”). But, I reached a point where I realized that the only way the thing would work is with contributions (“literary contributions”)(?) from Bill and Cousin Mike. The big problem is Billy – I mean he’s not being a jerk about it – I haven’t even asked him…

….but his book is done (or really close to being done). I joked w/ him a couple of weeks ago about the Old Dog ‘n I doing a fake William T. Garver blog – and he didn’t think that was too funny. He said: “I’m going to be sending my book out Ed.”

He’s got a good point – and I don’t think he’s being too uptight about it. A blog can be sort of like a writing sample – and who wants somebody else (especially me ‘n the Old Dog) writing their writing sample? Well, I might want somebody writing my writing sample – more people might be impressed w/ my writing – and the elimination of the passive voice alone would save so much space….

…not to mention space wasted by ellipses…

…or questions about spelling…

...

AND – if I could get someone else to write my blog, think how much time I would have to write something else!

Anyway, if a fake William T. Garver blog might diminish the thing he’s put all this work into…just think how being a co-collaborator on a floatingBasement book ‘n record would effect things in the negative…

Although it would be impressive if such a thing got enough notice to detract from something – anything – I don’t want to do that to Bill. He’s been working on this thing (I think) for a long ass time…I remember him working on this while the Ambersons thing was still going.

Gee, I write a lot about Bill in my blog – what’s my problem? I have a life, right? Um, maybe I’ve hit on the problem.

So, fuck the fB book for now. “Now” isn’t forever, right? I can return to that thing at some point. Maybe Bill will get a “book guy” (literary agent – whatever?) and then I can kiss his ass and beg him to show the “book guy” my writing sample…Or maybe, if Bill becomes a professional writer, he could write my writing sample…

In the meantime, I don’t need to keep writing, or try finishing the fB scrapbook thing. I’ve got this blog…

…oh, God help me!

Til His Puzzler Was Sore

I'm not good at making decisions, even bad ones. I think we need to shut down the bigDrag recording sessions until after the Nov. 12 show. Even saying that sounds lame. We're sort of limited to one night of rock a week - and for the past several weeks we've been focusing on recording one, maybe two of our songs. Whatever the limitations of the band...we've always tried to make each show interesting - and if we're going to be able to make this one worth a damn...we need to pitch a simulated game. (I'm not going to explain that)

I think it'd be good to shift gears and concentrate on playing live shows again (this one and maybe a couple others if we can swing it). Then we can come back fresh, finish some of the tracks that still need work - record a few more songs and bingo - a rock record.

Anyhow, this show fell in our lap - why wonder and/or worry about what to do? What we have to do is in front of us. We've got this gig - we'll play it and everything will sort of take care of itself...

...or it'lll all go to shit like it usually does.

Phillizzzz's

I think the Nov 12th bigDrag show is going to be at Phillisysysysysy's Musical Lounge. I'm not sure if I've told the other bigDrag guys...I am a bad bandmate. Well, maybe they will start reading my blog. Uh, I'm not sure if I want that.

Listened to a bunch of the fB stuff on CD as I drove out to the OF last night. Hung out w/ Kim's family...more of her cousins came out from the OC - or somewhere in Cali to see Leet. In spite of the fact that each time may be the last any of us see her, she's wonderful to be around. Lolita Peotter is bringing her family together one last time.

I drank too much beer and whiskey last night (if such a thing is possible).

Man Ram is Really Big Sloppy

I cheered for the bleeping RedSox last year...especially after they went down 0-3 to the Yankees...but f 'em now! I'm glad they're gone. I'm walking around w/ perm-a-grin on my stupid face. If the WhiteSox keep winning like this, I'm gonna get wrinkle lines.

...actually if they get in another jam w/ the bases loaded and no outs late in a game - I'm just gonna have a friggin' heart attack and collapse in a fat heap.

Everything I do these days seems to end up in a fat heap.

I won my dispute that I sort of talked about in that dopey Peanut Butter and Jelly entry. Right now it's just bad karma for me to say anything negative about anything. I am no longer being robbed by some bureaucratic teratoid...the WhiteSox won their first post-season series since 1917 (yes, I know there was no such thing as the ALDS in 1917 - but there was no cure for polio either...wha?)

I just need to shut my mouth...

...and smile.

OK - Anyone Can Post Comments Now

Elise was nice enough to send me an e-mail (there's a link over to the side where you can read all about her 'n Peapod's Great Goonie Adventures)...

...but she was also nice enough to say: "Hey dumbass! Make it so anybody can post comments on your blog!"

So, I made it so.

Anyone can post comments now, so feel free to tell me how boring this entry was - is - whatever.

I Can't Believe What I Just Saw

Saw Tadahero's homer again and I don't believe it. I missed it live because I was teaching the Nietzsche class. The kids are really into the Gay Science and I couldn't end class early...I'm a slacker for even thinking about it...

Seriously, when I have students that are enthusiastic for the material - I don't want to end class five seconds early. I hate to admit it, but I love reading the this stuff w/ students for the first time.

I'm not going to get worked up about missing the White Sox game, or about the Sox being up 2-0 to the other Sox team. Pride goeth before the something something...

What I will get worked up is a possible bigDrag gig w/ the Shifties on Nov. 12th in the big city!!! Um, I can't get too worked up because I'm not 100% sure where the show is...it could be in front of the Picasso - and that shit's cold in Nov! I don't care, we need the gig, Greg S seems pretty cool - I like him and that's what counts.

Oh, I've got to make sure that Old Dog is clear to play the show before I e-mail back. Everyone got clearance from the tower except for the Dog...Barrrooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Going Down with Guns Blazing and Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches Flying

I am being shaken down - shook down - (shaking down?) by some institution and its group insurance office. While people are doing their jobs...the process that they are defending is a bastard and it's set up to (potentially) screw me over - with no remedy. I'm trying to do an end-around, but it probably will not work. They may continue stealing $300 from me every two weeks. One thing is clear...I'm not going down without a fight...a fight that could make things worse for all parties involved. In my sick, fucked-up mind - that may be a win.

When I was a kid (5th grade or something like that) there was an older kid who threatened to beat me up if I didn’t give him my hot lunch money (this story would be sad if it wasn’t so hackneyed…wait – maybe that makes it even sadder). I said: “This is my money. I’m hungry.” We fought, I tried my best but he kicked my ass and got most of my lunch money. The next day I ran into the kid again. When he threatened me, I said: “Hey, you took my money yesterday.” The dick kid, er, big kid said: “I don’t give a care. I’ll take your money every day. In fact, tomorrow, if you look for me and give me the money, I might not beat you up.” Then he beat me up…but as he was kicking my ass, I threw my hot lunch money away. I knew I was going to get my ass kicked anyway, why let him have my money? By the way, where are the morning recess teachers when you need ‘em? The third day I brought my lunch. I asked my mom to make me a really gooey peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I looked for the big kid, snuck up on him and smashed the peanut butter and jelly sandwich in his face. He screamed some B.S. at me. I’d like to think I had the presence of mind to ask him: “What, you don’t like peanut butter and jelly?” I can’t say I said that but let’s pretend that I did. After he beat me up and was walking away, I told him, while crying a little: “I’m going to look for you everyday and do the same thing. Peanut butter and jelly is all you’re going to get.”

There were a few more fights and I am unsure who won the overall standoff. I’d like to think I did because he didn’t steal any more money from me – and I got to smash a few more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in his face. However, the one thing that is clear is - I lost all the fistfights.

I’ve got a bad (good?) feeling the same thing is going to happen in the current situation. I better buy some jelly.

My Soul's Back

...blah, blah, blah...something about the vanities of this world. One thing's for certain - I didn't spend much time (Sunday or today) thinking about the projects I am or should be working on (uh sorry about the preposition bullcrap there). Visited Kim's Gram on the South Side. She is dying but she is still funny and wonderful to talk to (and DOESN'T end sentences w/ prepositions).

What else mercifully took me away from my plotting and planning this weekend? I wrote several letters of recommendation. A few of the students gave me their paperwork pretty f'in close to the deadline...but if you're asking ME to write a letter of rec - you must've asked everybody else...or you have bigger problems.

Actually, I felt good about writing every letter this weekend. They were all worthy students...one in particular really stood out in the History of Social Thought class. She went in HATING Aristotle. She left HATING Aristotle...but now she knows why she hates him. Yep, that's me changing the world 'one Aristotle hater at a time'.

Kim and I got back from the OF pretty late on Sunday. She changed her schedule around so I could still go to the 9pm student Mass at the NC. That Kimberly Jo is always looking out for me...she's got my soul's back.

Afraid of Nothing

Saw Bill Garver at work today. He bought a new car. He said he's almost done with his book. I'm very happy for him. In fact - I was so happy that I decided NOT to tell him about the great (cheap-ass) analog to digital software I bought - and I decided NOT to tell him that I used that kick-ass (er, cheap-ass) - (something-ass) software to transfer the original four floating Basement albums (not to be confused with the Original Six - that's hockey and now hockey is even less popular than the floating Basement - WE FUCKING WIN!!!) to my computer and put 'em on CD. I also didn't tell Bill that I wasted all that time (10 minutes or so) learning the software so I could release the original four albums under the title: We Got Nothing: the Recorded Woiks of the floating Basement .....

Yeah, I'd like to make it sound like me being a good friend - but I pretty much know that's bullshit. I'm a lousy friend...that's why I write this blog.

I didn't tell Bill about We Got Nothing because I'm afraid to...

...I'm afraid of Nothing...what am I? Larry David?

There's a bunch of good shit going on so I shouldn't dwell on what I'm afraid to do. bigDrag is behaving like the fucking Monkees in the studio. We're having a great time (now if we could only get someone to play our instruments). Dev brough a camera and we did some stupid crap for him. He is making an "orientation movie" for the kid on the way - I think the movie is titled: "So You've Decided to be Born".

Whatever his shortcomings...Devin is certainly funnier than this blog.

Oh, somebody named Michael K bitched me out via e-mail for forgetting his birthday. What's up w/ that?