The Fruit

There's a new commercial for underwear that is apparently only appearing on a tivo machine near you. Usually I don't check these things out but this time I did. Good thing, too.

According to comments on youtube this is a parody of a Coldplay video or videos. Regardless, the song is pretty good. Check it out here.

You can also watch their country music video/commercial here.

Troy

I'm not really in a funk but the second offering I make is along the lines of the last. It might be the saddest song ever. From the opening line, "It's the same with men, as with horses and dogs, nothing wants to die," to the last line "the well is full of pennies" this is pound for pound the most tragic, horribly sad, and moving song in my collection.

The song starts with Mr. Waits explaining to his live audience that this song is based on a newspaper article that he read. Therefore we can assume there is a story here, but his lyric is anything but a narrative. It is as though he only studied the pictures that accompanied the article and not the article itself. Gleaning every ounce of detail from them, he creates a painfully real world, the honesty of his uncomplicated words making the whole matter all the more terrible. His story more gut-wrenching for the fact that we fill in the missing pieces to the story with our own versions of tragedy, hurt, and loss.

The worst of all; the final verse. First sung from the point of view of a son watching his mother despair, and in the last lines switching to the mother's voice. She only wants her son back. And "the well is full of pennies."

The link to the song is in the right column of links on this page simply labeled: "Listen."

For Your Listening Pleasure Too

I intend to continue to offer a new song every week. However, due to the fact that these blogs are searchable I can't list the song title. If I did the website hosting the file might become flooded with requests for a "free" download of copyrighted material.

That said let me reiterate that my intention is to expose you to music you might not have heard. It's merely a taste. If you like it I strongly encourage you to support the artist by purchasing the song or album. Think of it as being a patron of the arts.

Anyway, the link will be in the right hand column with the other permanent links. It is labeled "Listen." Whatever is the most recent featured selection will be linked there. Old posts will not be available due to the fact that space on my host is limited.

For Your Listening Pleasure

As some of you know, I have a very extensive music collection. And with a collection so large you end up listening to artists in cycles. You might not listen to something you love for a long, long time. And then you come back to it, sometimes by choice sometimes by accident. And it's magical. It's like hearing it for the first and five hundredth time all at once. You remember sublteties to the song you had forgotten while you sing the lyrics, which flow effortlessly from your mouth.

So it goes for "Not The Girl You Think You Are." Crowded House is my desert island band. Given the choice of a band to listen to forever it would be them (if limited to a single album of theirs it would be Temple Of Low Men.) What can I say? This music strikes me in a very deep and emotional part of my mind. It moves me to my core.

This particular song is horribly tragic with lines such as, "the bathroom mirror makes you look tall." It starts, to steal a phrase, like a rusty squeeze box, and it paints a picture of denial so vivid and familiar, that it makes me hurt. But before it ends I hit the repeat button and can't escape it for the next hour.

And I guess that's what good music is supposed to do; move you in ways you can't control. It sounds hokey, but it anchors me.

No More

Due to overwhelming lack of interest, the journal entries covering my trip across the country fourteen years ago are to be discontinued. Lack of interest coupled with the daily effort to type up an entry and find photographs to accompany it. The photos had to be scanned, photoshopped for scratches, dust, color, etc. and then entered into the blog. A lot of work with, as of now, no comments for encouragement.

Not angry. More relieved.

France Loses By A Nose

So I've spent the last few weeks championing the Futbol cause at the ol' firehouse. I have explained how I appreciate the game's simplicity; the fact that there are only about ten rules. I have explained how I appreciate the game's purity; no time outs, no intentional grounding, no intentional walk to avoid a good hitter, etc. I have also been heard remarking that a billion fans worldwide can't be wrong. It was hardest to defend the prat falls to draw fouls but I always countered that the greatness of the game was that it was the referee's decision to be made, right or wrong, without consulting a video monitor.

So how do I explain this? The "beautiful" game was anything but that Sunday after what can only be described as a very ugly final bow. A player who was spoken of as one of the truly great athletes the game has known was red-carded (ejected) from what was to be his final game before retirement afer he headbutted the other team. Instead of possibly leading his team to victory his actions may have cost his team the championship.

That's my problem. In match after match I found myself rooting for the underdog. Ghana surprising the Czechs was a real treat. But my approach to soccer has been of this same philosophy. I have gravitated toward it out of all of the sports because it is the underdog of American sport. I want it to succeed.

But this World Cup match will be remembered for one thing. Not for what it was but what it might have been if one player had been there in the end. And that's a shame.

Day Seven, July 5, 1992 Somewhere in Texas

[Director's Cut: This journal entry was actually made on July 8th but has been restored to its intended place in the journal.]

All we did was drive. We drove from Denton through Fort Worth and down to San Angelo. We stayed right at the Twin Buttes Park on the San Angelo Reservoir. Needles to say, we got there after dark (we left Denton at 3:00 p.m.) Being so close to the reservoir, the mosquitoes were horrible. We set up the tent and went to sleep.

[I remember this day being difficult. Where we camped was almost in the brush. It was very, very hot and like I said the mosquitoes were unbearable. You tried not to inhale to deeply for fear of sucking in a few. Setting up the tent was a race to get out of the swarm. Then we had to kill all of the ones that had gotten inside.

I remember being surprised by how hot, flat, and almost desolate Texas was in this area, although the picture is much more green than I recall this area being.]

Day Six, July 4, 1992 Denton, Texas

Today we got up late again and then did two loads of wash. Around 4:00 we went into Dallas to Dealy Plaza. It's really cool. We took a lot of pictures, fifteen each [fifteen was a lot on our pre-digital camera era budget]. Standing behind the fence on the grassy knoll, it would be impossible to miss [a shot on a person only as far away as the president was at the time of the shot]. Makes you think.

After that we went back to the West End Market to the JFK Assasination Information Center. From there we came back to Denton. On the way back we passed the Word of Faith Church with its thirty foot satellite dish. Drew said, "they're beaming the word of God around the world."

We went to the fireworks show at the University of North Texas in Denton. [This was the best Fourth of July I can remember. It was very small town and the marching band played as the fireworks were set off above the stadium.]

We came back to Drew's apartment and played Scattergories. One of the categories was National Parks and Drew said "Jellystone." Drew was on a roll. We started to watch Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead but everyone was falling asleep so them we put on The Muppet Movie and still everyone was falling asleep. We went to sleep.

The Human Element

"For each of us there’s a moment of discovery. We turn a page. We raise a hand. And just then in the flash of a synapse, we learn that life is elemental. And this knowledge changes everything. We look around and see the grandness of the scheme. Sodium bonding with chlorine, carbon bonding with oxygen, hydrogen bonding with oxygen. We see all things connected. We see life unfold. And in the dazzling briliance of this knowledge, we may overlook the element not listed on the chart. It’s importance so obvious its presence is simply understood. The missing element is the human element. And when we add it to the equation the chemistry changes. Every reaction is different. Potassium looks to bond with potential. Metals behave with hardened resolve. And hydrogen and oxygen form desire. The human element is the element of change. It gives us our footing to stand fearlessly and face the future. It is a way of seeing that gives us a way of touching; Issues, ambitions, lives. The human element. Nothing is more fundamental. Nothing more elemental."

I wish I had written that. It's from a new ad for Dow Chemical. You can see the commercial here. For me, it perfectly expressed how we yearn to be part of something greater and that in rare and sometimes simple moments our best shines through.

Day Five, July 3, 1992 Denton, Texas

Today we slept in late. then we got up and waited for someone to decide what to do. Around 5:00 we went grocery shopping and I bought a cool book on American Indian Myths and Legends [I bought this book looking specifically for a legend of the creation of the dog. The story I heard on televsion was that some Native American cultures believed that the creator gathered all of the animals and then a chasm appeared that seperated man from all of the animals. But at the last instant the dog jumped the chasm and took his place by man.] In the grocery store Rich kept wanting to buy things for the woods that were totally and completely impractical.

We had spaghetti for dinner. It was good and had turkey in it instead of beef. At about 10:00 we headed down to the West End. It's kind of like a party every weekend. Bands in the streets and tons of police. The Marketplace, a shopping center not unlike Underground, had some cool shops. The Autograph Store had a wonderful Unforgettable Fire photo for $399.00 or you could purchase the Davy Crockett for $63,000.00. Paula Abdul's she signed on her breasts. There was a William Shatner, a beautiful Winona [Ryder], and an incredible Jim Henson.

After the Marketplace, we went to find the Main Bar in a place not unlike Buckhead. We drove around for at least an hour looking for a parking space. Finally we got one and made it to the bar for Ten Hands. They had three songs that I liked. They were very loud. There was, however, an incredibe young woman that I believe may have been my cosmic other. Tonight we chanced upon each other, but we didn't meet.

On the way home we stopped on Harry Hines Boulevard. There we saw a billboard for the Satin and Silk Modeling Studio located on [wait for it] Harry Hines Boulevard, Fragrance World, and Janitor's World. Then I fell asleep. Oh, we also saw Dealy Plaza. I never knew it was so hilly. I always thought it was flat.

Day Four, July 2, 1992 Denton, Texas

We got up really early this morning and began the drive for Denton. We took the back roads. This is definitely the best way to travel. We got so far and then we had to take interstate highways due to time limitations. Today was Rich's now infamous drum solo and the ultra-hip "O" rap. Called Mom, she just said, "okay, call Sunday." Cool. Mailed two postcards from the Texarkana rest stop. There was a possible transexual behind the counter. We ate our first "real food" prepared by the McDonald's in Morrilton. The burgers there were pretty bad because the sandwiches were made with wonder buns. It was 8:00 when we arrived at Drew's. We got to take showers and I was very happy. We ate pizza and I drank three cokes. Drew has tablas [a kind of drum] that he's learning to play. The last part of the drive, down 380, I was pelted from the driver's side by a steady southernly wind that was blowing my glasses off. I was very oily and dirty after the approximate 12 hours with only a few stops. We're close to hitting the 1000 mile mark for the trip. One really cool thing about Arkansas was that there are yellow wildflowers everywhere.

Day Three, July 1, 1992 Buffalo Point, Arkansas

Our second day in the Ozarks. We moved out fairly quickly this morning. My first time of shaving in the side mirror of the jeep. We travelled early morning over to Buffalo Point. The guides were really nice and helpful. Rich made a twenty minute phone call home after we waited ten for another man to get off. My chain, I wrapped my chain around the horn and it accidentally set it off twice while the man was talking. We took a 3 or 6 mile hike (6 when we relate the tale to others, tall tales and all)downt he Indian Rock House Trail. We saw an old mine, a small cave (absolutely amazing because it felt air conditioned to at least 50 but very humid), and this old indian rock house which is actually a huge cave with a spring running through the bottom. Rich said it was very cold. It is incredibly humid here.

After the hike we drove out to rent a canoe. rich wanted to do it today, I wanted to do it tomorrow. Rich was right in insisting. Turns out most people canoe in the morning. When we went we were the only people on the Mighty (slow) Buffalo River. The trip down river was 11 miles and took 3 hours. A fun day but now I'm paying for it. My legs are killing me.

After the canoe trip we treated ourselves to cokes. That was probably the coldest best tasting coke I've ever had. We then headed down to the campsites to stake a claim. Their 113 sites were nearly full but there were 3 tent only sites left. Rich had some particular in mind when all I wanted was a place to lay down, sleep. and leave at daybreak. I think we were both just tired and hungry.

The sound of vans, RV's, and kids, along with the nature pavillon's PA can be heard in the distance as the 4th grows closer. The skies have grown cloudy overhead but I don't think it will rain. We can't seem to figure teh weather channels on the CB out.

We saw many butterflies, lizards, tiny frogs the size of frogs [?], turtles, giant fish, and a horsefly that bit Rich.

By the way, the canoe trip was from Maumee back to Buffalo Point. We took pictures at the falls, the small cave, and the big cave, Tomorrow, we hope to eat real food. That means anything prepared by anyone else. Then we will mail and write post cards at the post office on our way to Dallas, to see Drew. Dallas should be ok. We'll get to take showers there. I used some of that skin-so-soft and now regret it. I'm sweating oil. Water gets really hot in a plastic container. The burn on my leg blistered up with sweat and I got my first Teva [the particular brand of sandals I wore} tan today.

P.S. Tim The Manic drove us to Maumee doing about 75 miles an hour on a gravel mountain road. "Hey Tim, where's the best swimming?" "Wherever the most girls are! Did you see that girl with the tied up shirt? Whoa! She scared me." Tim pointed out a roadrunner on the way and then tried to run over it. We, however, on the way to Buffalo Point stopped to help an upside down turtle who wanted nothing to do with Rich or his efforts, and scurried to the side of the road, and possibly to his death over the cliff. It's dark now. Goodnight.