This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: Geezer Alert!

  • Wherein Zero Comes Clean -You Heard It Here First

    Background: “The Wife” here is turning *5 (not allowed to say it)  later this month and has decided how she wants to spend her birthday  “points”.  If you’ve been married 40+ years that term needs no further definition. Addendum: “The Wife” read this and noted that with the “40+ years” mention everyone will know her age. Is that true??? More “POINTS”!

    So we are headed for Key West on New Years Eve.

    We were there sorta by accident a few years ago.  At the time it was a genuinely fascinating experience. The “Gender Optional” crew was out in force.  Duval Street was closed to traffic and THEY were quite literally hanging from  the balconies all along the street.  Imagine clowns in lace petticoats, etc.

    Little did I know that I was witnessing a transformation of the nation and our military (sadly) as well.  As Jonn noted with his post, and others – I shoulda seen it coming.

    How was I to know that “In the Navy” was a genuine look at the future?  After all, back when I served even REAL women didn’t serve on warships.

    So… “The Wife” and I will be spending time in Margaritaville on Duval Street on New Years Eve and hoping to catch glimpse of Jimmy Buffet.  Then we will venture out among the other   celebrants with  bit of Tequila in out systems to  watch and enjoy the lifestyle choices of others with newly jaundiced eyes.

    Note: If my use of the term “The Wife” above and my choice of topic leads to any confusion for you lot, fear not!  Jonn is the only living man I love.  He still allows me to post here!

    So I’ll leave you with your choices and:

     

     

  • It Is a Sunday…

    Sometimes simple words just don’t do enough. I’ve been spit at and called a baby killer. while in uniform. I AM Bad Company!

    I’m gonna offer a tune that captures a thing.  If you’re a Nam vet and/or did GoE this probably echos for you as well.

    Just a tiny thing in a broader reality, and only a cover song… Don’t think we can argue  the Been There/Done That element.

  • A Velvet Hammer

    Since others here are offering various tunes I’d like to offer something new that, for better or worse, captures a thing worth sharing.

    I’ve seen those faces, but some of the charities referenced  at the end are suspect –  to me anyway. Also I wanna hope that the numbers mentioned in this tune are way wrong.

    This group has been there and done that, the songs in their playlist will attest.

     

     

  • Zero and the Giant Thumping Machine – A Tale of Almost Terror

    I approached the imposing building quite late in the day with some trepidation.  The doors were inviting enough, I guess, and they did swing open as I neared, but there were no humans in sight.

    I was there for a test – a special sort of test where any METAL is evil indeed. I’d already shed every trace of the foul stuff. I was clad only in sweat pants and a tee-shirt. No keys, not even a wedding ring. I was ready, or so I thought.

    As I made my way through the brightly lit halls it seemed those few humans I encountered were staring at me; some with pity and some with a touch of awe. Maybe the drugs I’d been given earlier had somehow heightened my sense of awareness. I dunno.

    Far back in a corner of the building I came upon a seemingly armored door. No windows nor any glimpse of what was beyond. Just a push-button and a sign that said “Ring Bell for Admittance.” I pushed the button and the door was slowly opened.

    Inside were three apparent humans dressed in medical garb. They were not masked, which I took to be a good sign. The tiny entry area itself was quite plain but I could almost feel something large just beyond the wall.

    (more…)

  • A Blast from the Past: Cults Aren’t Always Bad

    The 1970s were an . . . . interesting time in music. In truth, some of it was crap – remember that abomination called disco? And towards the latter part, punk?

    But some of the music of that era was good. The Stones did some wonderful stuff during the early 1970s. Ditto Deep Purple. The 1970s was Bowie’s heyday – along with that of Alan Parsons and Al Stewart.

    And in particular, I got a chance to reconnect with one band from that era recently.

    So be forewarned – yeah, I’m rambling off-res again. (smile)

    . . .

    New York City isn’t generally thought of as a musical Mecca. Yet in the 1970s, a fair number of influential bands hailed from there. KISS is a NYC band. Before KISS made it big, there was a thriving punk scene – of which some was even listenable! The New York Dolls, the Ramones, and Patti Smith all hailed from the Big Apple in the 1970s; ditto Blondie and the Talking Heads.  CBGBs was there, and was legendary. And for better or worse, Asbury Park isn’t that far away either.

    Of that group out of NYC, KISS eventually became the best known and most successful. There was, however, another NYC rock band out of NYC that made it reasonably big in the 1970s as well. They were also pretty good.

    Besides, ya gotta love a band that has the stones to write a song about freaking Godzilla (and use some clips from the Japanese movie as part of the video) – then actually make it work pretty damn well. And they may have had the absolutely neatest band logo of all time:

    They called themselves Blue Öyster Cult. And while they weren’t as flashy as KISS – and didn’t end up being as big – their music is IMO worth a listen.

    (And no, the logo is not an occult or Satanic symbol. It was created by the artist Bill Gawlick for the band’s first album, using the ancient symbol for Chronos/Saturn as a pattern and modifying from there.)

    I won’t bore you with a longer write-up. Here’s a sampler of their work:

    Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll

    Career of Evil

    Dominance and Submission

    (Don’t Fear) The Reaper

    E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)

    Godzilla

    Burnin’ for You

    Maybe it’s not your “cup of tea”. Or maybe you just had to “be there” in the 1970s. But hell, I liked them. Still do.

    Had the chance to see these guys once live in the late 1970s, before they’d released “Godzilla” and “Burnin’ for You”, unfortunately (IMO those are two of their best).   They really could play – and put on one helluva good show.

    Oh, and for what it’s worth: they’re still touring (3 of the original 5 members – the band’s creative core). They’ll hit Laughlin, NV, Thanksgiving weekend; Mount Pleasant and Milwaukee, WI, in Dec and Jan; and Everett, WA, and Leesburg, VA next Jan. Plus a load of other places later in the year. They’re still “rockin’ on”.

    Well, I think I’ll be heading back to the res . . . .

  • Oh what a tangled web we weave

    Everyone knows the second line of the quote attributed to Sir Walter Scott. I’ll leave it to your Google-Fu if you are curious enough to explore.

    My small point is a reflection of OUR current news.  And the phonies dancing when they are called out. I’ll leave the latter to Jonn et al here at TAH.
    My primary premise is kinda based on the old joke: “How do you know when a politician is lying? His lips are moving.”

    Even with the recent elections we are left with the simple idea that those in DC are, at least, suspect.  How do we properly approach a system that is broken? Term limits for Congress Critters has been mentioned. I dunno, but I am skeptical.

    No pragmatist could successfully argue that our current system works. Our military and VA system are so top-heavy that they serve as very real and very negative examples.

    I’m not prepared to offer anything easy, or maybe even useful, but few can argue that we are better off today as a country than in the past.  Do keep in mind that our country once went to war over what was considered an arguably not simple notion.

    I’m old enough that I am genuinely only peripherally involved in what will come. You younger folks better start learning the dance.

     

  • Beware: I Usually Get It Wrong….

    Spent time yesterday with some young folks at my local grade school.  It went well.  Actually got a medal?

    Read Jonn’s post about today…

    His post is/was moving, It captured my feelings rather profoundly, BUT even though it ain’t Memorial day I just can not feel free to easily celebrate.  No free meals, etc.

    This  has been ringing in MY ears for a coupla days.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Nine of the Deepest Holes in the World

    This IS a real story but oddly disappointing  in some ways? When I saw the headline my geezer brain made some obvious connections.

    Then I realized it only said “Deepest” NOT Biggest.

    Oh well, it Is  Sunday evening.

    ETA:  If this stays up – Visit the Stolen Valor page for references to BIG holes.