Marx and Junkies I Have Known

Dropped off the Brooks Food Drive foodstuffs. Mark, Willie and some other guy helped me unload everything. Did some good, spent no money of my own and didn't even break a sweat. My work here is done.

Sorry

Did some writing/editing tonight. Reread my encounter with Fr. D from all those years ago.

NOT THAT YOU SICK BASTARDS!

Punched up our conversation about a mutual friend of ours who was in deep trouble...not spiritually, because this friend (as fucked up as she was) had two things in which her faith never wavered:

1. the Catholic Church
2. Quantum physics

Marx said that religion was the opiate of the masses. Unfortunately that opium-related products were pretty fucking good opiates as well. More proof that Marx was a dumbass or at least his theories do not necessarily account for junkies I have known.

Took Alex to the library to do research for his Ali paper. I don't have anything against the wiki, but only using the wiki is bad mojo as far as I am concerned. When embarking on a research topic now and in the future, I want him to consider going to the library early in the process for some different perspective.


Wed Feb 29

I'm kicking ass editing a bunch of shit for TINaM/Kish so very little writing will be done here in the coming days.

Bye Bye Magic Birdie

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird's rivalry is coming to the Broadway stage! If I'm in charge of casting it's Don Cheadle and Dana Carvey playing the leads, dialogue by David Mamet and music (again) by Bono and the Edge...or maybe Bono and me (The Ed) since the poor fucking Edge must be totally embarrassed by Spider-Man.

Why else would a grown-ass man always be wearing a stocking cap?

The name of this masterpiece: "Bye Bye Magic Birdie"

It's really the worst idea I've had since the last one I had.

These Boots Were NOT Made for Walking

Dropped off my car at Illini Tire after work and walked home. Beautiful day to do it. Sure it snowed like hell last night and early this morning and DeKalb was coated by that white stuff

NOT THAT YOU SICK BASTARDS!

But it was warm enough to walk by the time I dropped of the card but cold enough to leave snow covering the ground in its most dreamlike form. Hobo Park with the river and snow chunks flowing and snow on both banks of the Kish, the path flanked by snow but without a freezing wind to blow it in my face...I almost didn't even need gloves...

I certainly need a better grasp of the language for describing the beauty God has given us...

The point, poorly described above is the walk was wonderful. The only bad part was making the trek in my crap-ass snow boots. They do not fit properly and now my heel is all cut up It's not painful but just enough to be annoying. And they're perfectly positioned to bug me no matter what shoes I am wearing. Swell.

Family Movie Night was Episode One of the original Fugitive and Ship in a Bottle from Star Trek the Next Generation.


Saturday February 25 Why Don't They Shut Down the Holodeck

Last night Alex asked, "Why don't they just shut down the holodeck. It's given the Star Trek guys a lot of problems and almost destroyed the ship a bunch of times."

I've gotta a theory about that, but mercifully for all concerned, I am not going to go into it here. I just love that the boy asked the same question I did. You go boy!

John and Janine took us to see the Ice Hogs. Shaw won it in a shootout, right in front of us. We were three rows off the glass. I don't think I have ever seen Alex more excited at a live sporting event. It was pretty cool. A. Shaw's actually played in the NHL and we saw him take on the goalie one-on-one...we had killer seats on top of it all.

Oh, one of my friends from work was Ice Hogs Season Ticket Holder of the Year. Someone from the Metro Center (or whatever corporate entity claims this space) gave her a beautiful bouquet of flowers. It was nice.

The world needs more nice.



Sunday Feb 26

Worked on taxes. I've got some pages that need to be copied just in case I do the wrong thing with the first set. That should always be the plan no matter what I do.

8am Mass. Before I went to Newman I saw an ambulance and fire truck our neighbors' home. Yes, the ones who I have complained about over the years for being too nosy. There was nothing I could do at home. Went to church, making sure I took a route that would be out of the way of any other emergency vehicles.

When I got to Mass, Kim and Alex were already there (the boy had religious ed, and Kim chilled out at Newman after dropping A off) I told Kim what I saw. Tears quietly fell from her eyes. We went right over after Mass and knocked on the neighbors' door. They were fine. It was the woman who lived kitty corner from us.

I know I've painted a vivid image here with words and emotions - I suck, by the way - I just want to remember this the next time I get frustrated with what I pereive to be the nosiness of a neighbor. The Lord wants us to love our neighbor, and while I think it's a metaphorical neighbor we read about in the NT it still apploes to an actual neighbor...

....and even Jim Nabors

Hey St. Jude

I am going to try and make this post as obscure as possible and not going to name names, but last night during and after Ash Wed Mass, I prayed to St. Jude for a friend of mine who has been, for lack of a better term, incapacitated for some period of time.

Today, I saw them out and looking healthy and relatively happy. I don't know what this means but I am thankful. I don't expect to use this as evidence that rational people should pray to and honor St. Jude. But, for the record, I pray to and honor St. Jude. Many years ago my beloved grandmother told me she prayed to St. Jude. I asked her, "The one who turned in Jesus?" She said, "No Eddie. The other one." She said she prayed to and honored St. Jude and that I should consider doing this as well. She said, "If you are lucky enough to not be a lost cause you will know someone who is and this is how you pray for them."

Thanks for the beautiful words from all those years ago Grandma V.

Now on to more petty matters, which after all is the business of this blog. Last week I was foolish enough to think I was getting better at my new job and somehow I could combine my new job with my other responsibilities. Reality has set in and how. Due to circumstances beyond my control I have to be engaged in other activities for large parts of my day making me fall hopelessly behind with things I am responsible for, every day. I guess this life is not for finishing things.

Ashes to Fat Asses

Tipped the scales at 186 on Tuesday night. The dead months and winter fatness have taken their sorry toll on my body and mind. That all changes, beginning today.

Met Kim and Alex at Newman for 4:30 Mass. The place was packed. They needed to have people park on the rectory grass.

I hope I spelled all that correctly.

Lunch and My Propensity for Sin and Judgement

When a film is advertised as being in 3-D, it's a good indication that the characters will all be one dimensional.

Took a half day off. The plan was to get stuff together for tax meeting with NK, but Alex was sick again. So I got shit done. At least I got to spend time with the boy and now I have things to do on the weekend. Great.

Alex felt better later in the day and we had a big lunch. Too big. Fucking fat daddy. I am enjoying my last day of tolerating my winter fucking eating habits. Beginning tomorrow, consider this my mantra: "Lunch is breakfast for fat people." or te less judgmental "Lunch will make me fat and on insulin."

Who am I fooling? It's too late for me to stop being judgmental. Sadly, that is not even my greatest sin.

Two Words: Not Good

Is that a two word or a four word review? More on that in a matter of moments. Allow me to begin with more weighty matters...

My only thought on the weekend's "festivities" in New Jersey - I've been to Newark, WH is lucky nobody shot at her casket.

Poor dead broad.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Whittling down the options for the upcoming GaH show. If anybody could be considered a "whittler" of music it's me...and Flat & Scruggs.

...or is it Flats & Scruggs?

No, I think that's the Indigo Girls.

Sorry ladies

Baseball Prospectus has a feature that reviews each MLB team's farm system in 20 words or less. DeKalb resident and prominent baseball blogger Kevin Goldstein offered this up for my beloved WhiteSOX: "Two words: not good." The only review that was better and more parsimonious, "Shit sandwich."

Dammit! I'm not even to most insightful WhiteSOX blogger in DeKalb. Every decision I have ever made is wrong.

Decided to take 1/2 day on Tuesday to get my tax shit together. Also got up in the middle of the night to be the tooth fairy.

NOT THAT YOU SICK BASTARDS!

Long-Haired Rabbi Freak

Thursday & Friday

Alex is trying to get caught up on his schoolwork and he included this thought in a paper on evolution and adaptations: "Some adaptations are really cool and some are just nasty."

Awesome.

Last Friday of drinking before Lent begins. These are my priorities. I sort of earned drinking time. Busted ass at work...came home, took my check right to the bank and busted ass on bills. Ran errands today on lunch and after work.

Enjoyed wings, whiskey, pizza and Star Trek with my little crew.

Rascals and a Fistful of Data


Saturday Feb 8 A Few Lasts

Good news from Chris. He's interested in helping with the May 12 gig. That makes things easy or allows for the opportunity to simplify the set so we can reel back and have some fun.

No way we can get D. He is in LA for the duration. It's a wonderful duration, but he will be missed.

Last Spurs game Their record remained perfect for the season. Took the kids to Flippin' Eggs. The waitresses sang "Happy Birthday" to Bryce. Alex had Finn over after the game and the late breakfast.

Last live post for This is NOT a Memoir for awhile. Spring Break of that year was the last time I really descended into 'I don't know or care where I am, what the fuck I am doing or what's going to happen next' and it still amazes me I came through it. It is not a testament to my strength. It is grace, and probably a lot more than just a little luck.

Kim and Alex went to the South Side and I did some writing. Sent a message to Bill. I asked him to consider debuting his new song at the Blind Staggers' show. He demurred. "Demurred" is too strong of a word. He just didn't want to play his banjolele and offered good reasons for not wanting to do it. He suggested that he might be interested in singing a number. I want that too...we'll see what we can put together.

Kim and Alex came back and we watched another Star Trek. Nice way to end the day. Together.


Sunday February 19

Mass @ 8am, then we sat with the Smiths while the boys did Stations of the Cross. Keegs was Pilate and Alex was an itchy and uncomfortable disciple who was supposed to be sleeping as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Someday I want to travel to the house (now a church) in Capernaum where Jesus cured Peter's mother-in-law. I bet she still bugged Peter to get a real job instead of following that long-haired rabbi freak around.

Watched the Knicks, then Alex and I played hoops. I walked down to mail Kim's OSF bill I was cold. I am an old-ass man.

Kim, Alex, Cookie and I went to Brooks. Kim and Cookie worked on school while Alex and I shot hoops. Alex and I went to the music building for his lesson with Garth. Garth told us about his audition for the Chicago Civic Orchestra. It was a recorded audition. You go in this awesome sounding room with your horn and you play into the mic. Wild.

Came home and watched Parts I and II of Star Trek NG Change of Command. Alex hit the hay and Kim and I finished Midnight in Paris. Owen Wilson is more Woody Allen than Woody Allen, and I am still wondering if that is a good thing Fun, imaginative picture so that's always a good thing.

I'm Rick Perry, Bitch

IM'ing with the D last night. He is on a business trip in Big D. I offered the following advice in the first several messages:

- Stay away from knolls with grass anywhere on them.

He responded, "Even Beyonce?"

- Say "no thank you" if the governor offers you a ride downtown in his convertible

- Don't look directly at Jerry Jones' face, it might fall off

- If you see Josh Hamilton in a bar, buy him a drink. He might tattoo your face on his scrotum.

Ok, I think we covered everything worth mocking in Dallas. Wait! I can think of at least three more things to mock.

No I can't.

I'm Rick Perry, bitch!

No I'm not.

Dropped off a demo with Joe and visited little Charlotte. These days my demos are more of an excuse to visit my goddaughter than they are works of any import.

Or export

Or Special Export

Special Export may be the most unremarkable beer I ever tasted. Of course, I may be the most unremarkable beer drinker who ever lived. I am certainly not the most interesting man in the world. I may have once been in the running for most interesting man in DeKalb, but since I stopped throwing up in public...not so much.

Charlotte was sweet and it was great to see Joe and Steener's little lady. Such a beautiful kid. Life is good, despite what I may say from time to time.

Worked on some edits and e-mailed Larry about the latest mixes. Minor bumps and ruffles in the road. Shit will get worked out.

Or it won't

Kim made the mosta and we washed it down with some Ditka Kick Ass Red!

BEARS!

Walking with My 'tines

Busy at work. It will take this week and the beginning of the next to get caught up. Of course I am at work as I write this in my little journal so there is some question as to how dedicated I am to the proposition of getting shit done in a timely fashion.

Proposition?

Maybe I should be dedicated to being a better writer.

Little late for that now I guess.

Twins with the whole family. Food, cards and laughing. Then we came home and took Cookie on a Valentines walk. Her little pink coat with the hood bouncing on her sweet, brown head marked the festive occasion.

Shallow

Worked a full day for the first time in what seemed like forever. It felt great. I must be a very shallow person, taking that much satisfaction in my job.

Shallower than I thought.

Hod Dogs, Vegan Soup and Superman Cake

Alex hung out at Al & Judi's during the day. TR, Riley and Shayla were in town. The cousins couldn't wait to see each other. Kim called TR last night and asked, "Are you sure it's ok he hangs out with the girls? He has strep."

Trace: "Kim, no offense, but after living and being pregnant in India I'm just not worried about strep."

Good enough

Perfect birthday dinner for TR's beautiful three-year-old complete with hot dogs, vegan soup and a Superman cake.

Note to any moms or dads thinking of serving Superman cake at a child's party: There will be conflict when it comes to who gets to eat the "S".

After dinner we had a dance party for Shayla! Alex loaded up a YouTube clip with hamsters dancing around a Kia Sol. Fun, even though our dance party was mostly a shameless plug for Kia.



Saturday February 11 X is in Motion Vendonah

1) Feb 11 X is in Motion
2) Feb 11 Vendonah

Got up and did some organizational stuff...did not take care of Alex's bank situation and I suck for forgetting that. I'll take care of it on Monday at lunch. Can't beat myself up, just do it then. That's all I can do.

Recording session went ok although I am going to have to talk to our friend Larry about some minor overloads. They're just demos but I am going to play them for other people. My singing on demos is distracting enough. There is no need to add to the distractions with some digital overloads.

Easily fixable

Came home and did a ton of writing and music/organizational crap. So excited to have a gig in front of me. Haven't had something like this to look forward to in a long time. Not going to allow distractions or little bumps in the road kill my enthusiasm.


Sunday Feb 12 Oft Mangled Banner

8am Mass, writing, then drove to the South Side and picked up the family. Got the boy back in time for trumpet. Good lesson. He's been assigned Finlandia and Oh Canada.

Hopefully the beauty of these pieces relative to the Oft Mangled Banner will not undermine his amor patrie.

wha?

Missed the Bulls game. No D Rose. His turf toe made his back go all out of whack. Anyway, with out #1 in the lineup I was in no mood to see CJ Watson and John Lucas III look foolish at the hands of Rondo and the Celtics. I was a better man for doing something else during that time.

Something Not Natural

Home again with Alex (went in to work for an hour in the morning and then worked 3 1/2 hours after Kim's school day ended)

Loving being with the boy during the day. When he has energy we play checkers or watch our serialized youTube doc on the American Revolution. The one downside, I've eaten lunch three days in a row and I feel like shit. There is something not natural about lunch.

Breakfast too for that matter

Bad Dad

Tuesday Feb 7

Alex is home sick for a second day in a row. He's perky but still has a fever and sore throat. Kim's been a trooper but if the fever persists and he's home again tomorrow, I'm gonna have to be the trooper.

Drama in the halls of our local government. It appears someone who has always called for more transparency may not have been competent enough to comply with existing transparency statutes. Hopefully that wasn't the case. I also don't care to speculate about the possibility that this ouster was the result of some intrigue. How much mischief can one get into in DKgovt?

I'm not going to speak ill of the hopelessly annoying. Lord knows I can be just as annoying, and I am not even a public servant.



Wed Feb 8

Home with Alex. Took him to see the physician's assistant at KMA. He has the strep. Dammit. Kim thought we should've taken him to the dr. as early as Monday but I was like, "Ahhh just rub some dirt on his throat or something. He'll be ok.

I'm a bad dad.

I feel like calling DCFS on myself, yet again.

Sherry @ KMA put him on an anti-biotic for 10 days and he has to be fever-free for 24 hours before he can go back to school.

Ten years into this parenting racket and I still suck!

A Waste of My Time and His

During yesterday's SuperBowl halftime (the halftime is something we normally don't give a shit about, but it was on for some reason)...Alex noticed Madonna about to launch into some number and he asked me, "Dad why's that old lady dressed like Odin?"

I laughed and didn't feel like making the case for any sort of trans-generational value of Madonna or her music to the boy. Seemed like a waste of my time and his.

We checked out the Puppy Bowl's Kitty Halftime and we were both better for doing so.

Best Kitty Halftime Ever!

Sooooo much confetti

Kept Alex home today. He ran a bad fever last night and it was back again this morning. My sainted wife stayed home with him and by all reports, Cookie never left his side.

I don't know if she's totally devoted or just lazy. Like most things in this life, it's probably a little of both.

Did some shopping. KJ made a turkey. Hell yeah! Day After the SuperBowl Turkey - life is certainly fucking good. Ate turkey while the boy and I watched the Bulls kick the asses of the soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets. I don't know if the team can't wait to move to Brooklyn, but they sure didn't look like they wanted to be in their New Jersey home facing the Bulls tonight.

Brought home a copy of Real Steel for Alex. Hopefully he can find some entertainment or diversion while he's resting on the couch.

After the boy sacked out for the day, KJ and I watched the last episode of the Borgias (Disc Two)...I'm so old timey, still watching DVDs and shit.

Tales of Brave Milwaukee

Friday Feb 3rd Revoking Your American Freedoms Is No Longer Free

I knew I should've revoked my citizenship last week while it was still free!

Still waiting from the boxes from MN. They didn't show up today so I guess we all have to wait for Monday. That's going to make Monday busy as hell and that's ok with me.

Finn came over to hang with Alex while his parents went out for a dinner date. I did the Aldi shopping and made some phone calls. Picked up pizza for the boys and chicken for KJ and I. Dennis S. came over to pick up his kid...

AND GIVE ME A SNOWBLOWER!!!

I'm pretty damned excited.

Family Movie Night continues with Star Trek TNG Season Six. Alex was glad there were no "brain bugs" on tonight's episode.


Saturday Feb 4 Buck You

Our Spurs played the late game this morning. Kim stayed home and packed everything for our trip to Milwaukee. Met the Smiths just after 1pm and headed north.

The kids did some swimming with Rick. I was stupid and forgot my trunks. I know my mother always says, "Nothing good happens by the airport!" - - but me swimming in the raw would bring all sorts of trouble that the Milwaukee Hilton (by the airport) didn't need on this fine Saturday.

Made it to the Bradley Center and got to our seats minutes before the tip. D Rose came out on fire, dropped 18 on the hapless Bucks in the first quarter. Then Kelvin Quarter took over from beyond the arc. It was such a blowout, fans were calling for Scalabrine five minutes into the 3rd!

Back to the hotel for fun and beer and cards!


Sunday Feb 5

Alex woke up with a sore throat and not from cheering for D Rose and the Bu! He had fun at the game and afterwards with his friends, but he looked like crap this morning. It wasn't fro staying up late with the gang. Poor kid was el sicko.

Made it to St. Josaphat and the Mass was beautiful. Learned more about the history of the building ad the neighborhood. Parishioners took out 2nd mortgages to see that the building was finished. I have no concept of that sort of faith and dedication to the community.

Breakfast at Denny's and then road trip home. Chilled with the boy who had the chills and a fever by the time we got back to our blue heaven. Poor kid. Flipped back and forth between Bowls (Super and Puppy). Both were great and went right down to the last minute.

Somehow I managed to lose money on both.

A Boy's Energy

Alex aced his unit of measure test. Proud of that kid. Ms. B talked to Kim about Alex's behavior. He's not disruptive while she's teaching but he talks to Blake a lot during in-class time. Alex loves his friends. We'll work on the talking.

@ least he's not blurting out like he did last year. He loved 4th grade a little too much or displayed a little too much enthusiasm...and not always at the most appropriate times. That had to get annoying for poor Mr. Sp.

I took two hours off today and dealt with bank issues. No, they're not taking the house back. I'd like to see them try. Did a bunch of editing. I also have to start getting my tax shit together.

Sucks to be a grown up.

Success and Shit

Success (at least in terms of "completed") creative projects requires at least these things

- A decent idea
- Energy/bullheadedness
- Execution
- Organization
- Luck

One or more of these components has been missing from everything I've tried in recent years. The ideas are good (at least good relative to my tastes or better than anything I've tried in the past), once I get a few talented folks together to help me with a track, their skills led to successful execution of most of the material we tried.

I've got energy, but it's the wrong kind. That is the big part of my current problem. I keep writing/starting new things and can't find a way to stop - hence this undermines the energy and organization needed to finish and release the material that is ready to be consumed by tens of people.


Wednesday February 1 Newtered or Is It Newturd?

Newt's toast in Florida but he says he's not done. I'm sort of done with him. Not going to take anything from those who love him or hold out hope of him being the R's nominee, but I'm through following the daily ins and outs of his campaign.

Swafford and I took the boys to see Huskie basketball. Bad basketball, but not as bad as I thought...and more importantly it was a fun night out with friends.