Yes that silly quote is from the Quadrophenia album by The Who. The main character of this "Rock Opera" was Jimmy, who at different times personified 4 different personalities, each associated with one of the band members of The Who. As Kristin and Kaila are currently in London, I thought it relevant to mention this amazing story of a young lad in 1960's London who is torn between being a Mod and a Rocker, and whose life is complicated by alcohol and drugs (leapers), difficulty with the opposite sex, parents who both drink and fight too much, and seeing his hero sell out to "the establishment". An incredible work of songwriting and music, the movie version starring Sting as the leader of the Mod's is an incredible period piece. Timeless, as they say, the general story being just as relevant today, and told hundreds of times in various forms. Enough rot about the bloody UK! You allright?
You are your Ipod: Can one really learn all there is to know about you simply by discerning what mp3 player you use? OK, yes if you are still using a Walkman, be it tape or CD, we know you are either a refugee from a culture that uses time machines or live in a third world nation. But otherwise, whether it is Zune, Iriver or Ipod, really your total personality does sit on the other end of those earbuds. For example I am using the Ipod shuffle that Kris gave me a few years ago and it is so me. I never have a clue what song is next, the music is of all different types, and occassionally a song comes on that I have never heard. What mystery and chaos. Oh boy is that my life! Linda will readily admit that I am very disorganized, proceed in random directions, do not have a specific plan for the next moment, no less my life, and often seem totally surprised by things that have been occurring in my life for decades. What music machine do you use, and does it represent your psyche?
To 10cc with Love: We watched the classic movie "To Sir with Love" the other night and it was awesome. I have seen it 5 times at least but this time with no commerials! I am going for the record today of most exclamation points used in a blog! There's another one! and another! aaaagggggghhhhh. Whew, punctuation gets me riled up. Ayway if I were to change my saintly habits and wind up in hell, I think that's what it would be, endless commercials. Back to the movie, yes it was awesome but the amzing thing is that at the end during the party where Lulu (the singer not Norton's dog) sings to Sidney Portier, there is a band of mod looking Brittish guys. They sounded familiar so of course I went to Wikipedia. They were "The Mindbenders" and they had 2 very big hits with "Game of Love" and "Groovy Kind of Love". BTW what's with the UK theme, oh yeah Kay and Kris are in London, forgot. You allright? Anyway Eric Stewart was one of the original Mindbenders and Graham Gouldman joined in 1968 or so. They later teamed up with Lol Creme and Kevin Godley to form 10cc, a fairly major band of my youth. Yes we, they and you are all connected.
The Dimensions: Yes time, space and our minds and souls connect us all. This helps in a few ways. No matter how low or high anyone feels, they are never alone. Never. And two, whenever we need help or want to collaborate in a creative or spiritual way, we can reach out across several different dimensions to friends, family, loved ones (alive or dead), forest animals (alive or roadkill), former teachers, janitors, reptiles, insects, origami instructors and unemployed talk show hosts. If you can find the answer you're looking for from this diverse group, it doesn't exist.
Truthful Rex: Rex Ryan, the coach of the Jets is my hero. He is upbeat, honest, loyal, emotional and funny. Other than the fact that he is rather obese, I want to be just like him. Should the Jets win tomorrow, he becomes The King of New York. Go Jets!
New Year?: For how long can I continue to greet people with Happy New Year!? If I am seeing a friend or co-worker for the first time since Jan. 1, I have been using that slogan. When does it become too late? By the upturned eyebrows I am seeing from my readership, I would say it's time to stop. Glad I asked as I had marked June 1 on my calendar.
Happy New Year! and Keep the Faith!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
It's a New Year and My Resolutions are Coming
Wow, it's 2010 and I feel so much better already. Not sure if it's because I can now distance myself from all the mistakes I made in 2009, or just that I drank too much wine last night. At any rate January is the month where I make a genuine effort to come up with important resolutions that are forgotten by February. This is such a cathartic process that I encourage all of you to do the same. Not in any particular order and accompanied by the stream of consciousness that each absurd resolution evokes:
1) I will not cut my hair! I don't mean never even get a trim, but that I will keep my hair long in general even though it looks even more gray and Kristin refers to it as a "semitic fro". On this topic please see the David Crosby song "Almost cut my Hair" from the CSNY "Deja Vu" album and "Cut My Hair" from the Who's Quadrophenia disc. Oh yeah you have the song "Hair" from the play "Hair" (I think) but that's not my cup of tea.
2) Get in Shape Fat Boy! Hey easy, self, that's not really necessary, but Oh yeah I get it, sort of the boot camp motivational "suck it up plebe" motif. "Yes Sir!" I am ready and I really need to make this happen. 50 now, 50% of the way there, perhaps the most important aspect of one's quality of life. Helps to maintain sanity and keeps one from going daft, greatest stress reliever this side of yodeling.
3) Save the world, please. Really I am so bad in this regard, in a selfish way. We are too lucky, living a relatively easy, comfortable life. Soldiers, homeless, Mets fans, hungry kids are way worse off and perhaps we can make their life a bit easier by devoting a little time, money or compassion to them. I am sure we will find that it helps us out a heap as well. In addition, become more ecologically aware and sensitive. I am officially cancelling my plans to have our house sided with styrofoam.
4) Write more posts you lazy lard bottom! Yes I swear I will do this no matter how painful it is to the scores of people forced to read and comment on them.
5) May Laughter Reign- Yes this is another key to health and long living. There are so many serious things going on in our lives and the world. It is very easy to be too serious, and too negative. All the more reason for stupid, witty, absurd, disgusting, immature and silly jokes. Laughing keeps you young and is also good for the abs. Laugh long and hard, except when you are at piano recitals, funerals, or when you are being scolded by your parent, spouse or boss. Actually, cancel that last sentence, just laugh!
6) The Arts, not the Farts- the true sign of an advanced society is the quality of their technolgy and their art. Art, be it painting, singing, TV, film, sculpture, writing, cooking, allows us to be who we are, and connect with our soul. Throughout the years, cultures have believed one of the best ways to honor their God is to create great art. So expose yourself to it, enjoy it, and create it. Truly Zen is "in the art of...."
Got to take care of that hyper-flatulence too.
7) Be more / less sensitive- Yes society, the media and interacting with other self-important idiots like me makes everyone sensitive to criticism. Be it criticism of ourselves, our kids, our cars, our pets or our neckwear, in general we are too sensitive. Do you care that someone cut you off on the way to the starbucks drive-through, or moved in front of you on the line to pay your late fee at the library? Just think Iraq. As in you are not there risking your life, so thank God, shut up and smile. On the other hand, we all need to be more sensitive to each other, our spouse, kids, old people and animals. Get tough on yourself, but be kind to others. They need it more than you anyway, admit it.
8) More spirituality- I know I need this, and it probably would not hurt most people. It may pertain to religion, it may not. Bottom line, connect with who you are, and who created you. It may be God, Yahweh, Allah, Mother Earth or simply the Universe. Take time each day to realize that there is a force greater than you that can fix things no matter how bad they seem, and comfort you when you feel you are alone. Don't forget to give props and pay back to "The Force" of "The Lord" in the best way you know how. If you need stuff, this is where to go too, sort of like your parents when you need cash or a ride.
Please note certain of these 10 go together. 3,7,8 are the Holy Trinity, and 4 and 6 pertain to each other, although it is a stretch to say that my posts are art. 2 and 5 for me work well, because the better shape I am in the more I laugh, and remember that laughter works the abs.
At any rate, the key is to make 2010 the best year it can be. For yourself, family and friends, and even that idiot who just spilled coffee on my Newsday. Matt, remember #7. Who, Mickey Mantle? Oh yeah, right.
"Oh sure sir, that seat is open, let me move my bag, no that is no problem at all, Hazelnut coffee matches perfectly with my tie. Oh here let me get that for you, you dropped your turben".
Keep the Faith y'all.
1) I will not cut my hair! I don't mean never even get a trim, but that I will keep my hair long in general even though it looks even more gray and Kristin refers to it as a "semitic fro". On this topic please see the David Crosby song "Almost cut my Hair" from the CSNY "Deja Vu" album and "Cut My Hair" from the Who's Quadrophenia disc. Oh yeah you have the song "Hair" from the play "Hair" (I think) but that's not my cup of tea.
2) Get in Shape Fat Boy! Hey easy, self, that's not really necessary, but Oh yeah I get it, sort of the boot camp motivational "suck it up plebe" motif. "Yes Sir!" I am ready and I really need to make this happen. 50 now, 50% of the way there, perhaps the most important aspect of one's quality of life. Helps to maintain sanity and keeps one from going daft, greatest stress reliever this side of yodeling.
3) Save the world, please. Really I am so bad in this regard, in a selfish way. We are too lucky, living a relatively easy, comfortable life. Soldiers, homeless, Mets fans, hungry kids are way worse off and perhaps we can make their life a bit easier by devoting a little time, money or compassion to them. I am sure we will find that it helps us out a heap as well. In addition, become more ecologically aware and sensitive. I am officially cancelling my plans to have our house sided with styrofoam.
4) Write more posts you lazy lard bottom! Yes I swear I will do this no matter how painful it is to the scores of people forced to read and comment on them.
5) May Laughter Reign- Yes this is another key to health and long living. There are so many serious things going on in our lives and the world. It is very easy to be too serious, and too negative. All the more reason for stupid, witty, absurd, disgusting, immature and silly jokes. Laughing keeps you young and is also good for the abs. Laugh long and hard, except when you are at piano recitals, funerals, or when you are being scolded by your parent, spouse or boss. Actually, cancel that last sentence, just laugh!
6) The Arts, not the Farts- the true sign of an advanced society is the quality of their technolgy and their art. Art, be it painting, singing, TV, film, sculpture, writing, cooking, allows us to be who we are, and connect with our soul. Throughout the years, cultures have believed one of the best ways to honor their God is to create great art. So expose yourself to it, enjoy it, and create it. Truly Zen is "in the art of...."
Got to take care of that hyper-flatulence too.
7) Be more / less sensitive- Yes society, the media and interacting with other self-important idiots like me makes everyone sensitive to criticism. Be it criticism of ourselves, our kids, our cars, our pets or our neckwear, in general we are too sensitive. Do you care that someone cut you off on the way to the starbucks drive-through, or moved in front of you on the line to pay your late fee at the library? Just think Iraq. As in you are not there risking your life, so thank God, shut up and smile. On the other hand, we all need to be more sensitive to each other, our spouse, kids, old people and animals. Get tough on yourself, but be kind to others. They need it more than you anyway, admit it.
8) More spirituality- I know I need this, and it probably would not hurt most people. It may pertain to religion, it may not. Bottom line, connect with who you are, and who created you. It may be God, Yahweh, Allah, Mother Earth or simply the Universe. Take time each day to realize that there is a force greater than you that can fix things no matter how bad they seem, and comfort you when you feel you are alone. Don't forget to give props and pay back to "The Force" of "The Lord" in the best way you know how. If you need stuff, this is where to go too, sort of like your parents when you need cash or a ride.
Please note certain of these 10 go together. 3,7,8 are the Holy Trinity, and 4 and 6 pertain to each other, although it is a stretch to say that my posts are art. 2 and 5 for me work well, because the better shape I am in the more I laugh, and remember that laughter works the abs.
At any rate, the key is to make 2010 the best year it can be. For yourself, family and friends, and even that idiot who just spilled coffee on my Newsday. Matt, remember #7. Who, Mickey Mantle? Oh yeah, right.
"Oh sure sir, that seat is open, let me move my bag, no that is no problem at all, Hazelnut coffee matches perfectly with my tie. Oh here let me get that for you, you dropped your turben".
Keep the Faith y'all.
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