Interviews

I've got an interview tomorrow for a possible purchasing position. And then perhaps another one next week. And all I can think about is the Osmonds for some reason. The rock and roll gods have spoken.

Johnny Panic & the Bible Of Dreams (Nashville Band)

I am looking for any information at all about the Nashville rock band from the 80's called Johnny Panic & The Bible Of Dreams. I have their 1 album release and I saw them play a gig at the Glass Onion way back when. And of course, I used to see the Johnny Panicmobile all over Nashville back then too. Great band. I would like to do a big ole blog post on them, but info is almost non-existent. So if there is anyone out there with info let them come forward. Comment here or send an email to me (you can find that address on my profile page). Let's make this happen!!!

Descendents

I've been listening to the Descendents a lot lately. Never gets old.

Every Which Way But Loose

Right turn Clyde. Every Which Way But Loose was on TV last night. The Clint Eastwood comedy where the funniest thing in the movie is the idea that Sondra Locke could actually act much less sing. Kids; if you grow up to be a big movie star, don't put your girlfriend or boyfriend in your movies just because you can. Anyway this is a movie I fondly remember. I was into the whole trucker/redneck/working class thing as a child since that was the environment I grew up in. Heck; I wanted to be a trucker for awhile. I saw this film the night it was released in 1978 at the Martin Twin in Jackson Heights Plaza. It wasn't planned which is perhaps why I remember it so well. My mother and I just happened to run into my cousin (technically 1st cousin once removed) Freddy and his parents and I talked my way into staying to see the movie. Freddy and I sat on the front row. Which was unprecedented for me. The screen was huge. And it was soon filled with beer drinking, cussing, fighting, Ruth Gordon (God bless her), and the most amazing sight: an orangutan named Clyde. He was the perfect pal. I wanted one! He was by far the star of the show. Eastwood held his own against him, especially with the fight scenes, but the show really belonged to Clyde. Which is why I was predisposed to the Librarian in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series being one of my favorite characters. Does the movie hold up? Sure. I've never been too keen on the overt cartoonish aspects of the Black Widows biker gang, but they are as unthreatening as most current yuppie biker gangs albeit wearing much cheaper clothes. Most the country is still strongly working class even if bar fighting and bare knuckle brawling will most likely get you thrown in the slammer and facing lawsuits instead of admiration from your peers. I did have some long spontaneous thing in my head about working class versus my white collar (former) life, but haven't had time to really formulate it. So this is it for now.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Besides my family here are a few of the things that help me face the day: Simple Minds Sparkle In The Rain U2 The Unforgettable Fire Descendents Louise Fitzhugh's Harriet The Spy Ken Kesey One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Lewinsohn's Tune In Adventure Time Community TCM NHL Hockey And soon this will all pass away and I don't know what I will do. I did watch Shampoo today for the first time. Man, that's an under appreciated classic 70's take on farce cinema. I absolutely loved it.

Carbs make you fat and stupid

I seem to be living proof that carbs make you fat and stupid. I wish I could get back to my lean bicycle riding days just 7 years ago, but back injuries and depression have conspired to do a number on me. Thoroughly.

Great Music Site to get you through the darkest winter

http://jthymekind.blogspot.com

Marcos Valle to vanquish winter

TS Eliot had it wrong

April is not the cruelest month. February is. We sometimes get teasers of spring during February in Tennessee, but this year we haven't even gotten those. It's just cold and gray. Day after day. Couple that with a broken down automobile and no job. It's been a very cruel month. Looking forward to the respite of a few warm days. They have to be on the horizon.

Solace

Solace is Elvis Costello. Especially his Armed Forces album. I have had a love and hate relationship to him and his music. The pendulum swings. Right now it's his music getting me through the day. Saving my life little by little.

Red Rocker

I just can't help myself. I really do like the blue collar rock of one Mr. Sammy Hagar.

Blue Sky

A small bit of blue sky is peeking through on this cold day. Mother nature making me feel good. Now to just figure out what to do with my barely mobile life these days.

careening

Careening off the rails Down to one car And no regular trips Feel unvalidated.