Sometimes, old is better

Even music. Old songs, old voices. Both or either. There's something moving about listening to Johnny Cash sing "Hurt" (a song originally sung by Trent Reznor). Hearing that age roughened voice makes the words more heartbreaking for me. "Everyone I know goes away, in the end." Watching his hands shaking, seeing his face, aged and seamed with a lifetime's worth of experience gives more depth to his work. This song speaks of pain and regret and (imho) is more believably his than anyone else's.

Willie Nelson has the same effect - his cover of Dave Matthews "Gravedigger" is more poignant, an elderly man requesting his grave be shallow "so I can feel the rain."

One last video - another of my favorites. B.B. King singing "One Kind Favor" from his latest album, although it's listed as "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" on the link. The album is named One Kind Favor also. He's 84 years old and still going strong. And his blues are the blues for me.


Their voices are still beautiful, just different.

My giggles for the day

I can't tell you how many times I've heard this on the radio without paying a bit of attention. Usually I listen to CDs while driving but this evening coming home I finally got over the 3 day fixation with Flogging Molly. I ended up switching over to the radio just as this song came on. Damn near died laughing. It's the ultimate stalker song! Immediately reminded me of the story How The Wench Got Her Very Own Stalker Boy (no, I haven't told it, probably won't, it's a fairly typical story of my beloved BFF gaining a stalker . It was funny for us, because we laugh at inappropriate stuff, but not exactly something you can't fill in the blanks on). I kinda like the song, but seriously:

"You gotta spend some time love, you gotta spend some time with me/And I know that you'll find love, I will possess your heart"

"there are days when outside your window"

"You reject my advances and desperate pleas/I won't let you let me down so easily"

Y'know what? I'm gonna make plans to hang out at The Wench's house, drink real coffee and talk trash about everyone we know. And let her know I've found a song that's gonna make her cringe and laugh. And just enjoy her and appreciate the fact that she's a part of my life.
And any guy who ever says he wants to possess my heart is gonna get smashed in the face with a hammer. Sorry, formaldehyde is so not my scent and really, I like my organs just where they are, thankyouverymuch. Not in a mason jar in granny's basement.

And just a few hours after I posted this, guess who I almost ran over? Stalker Boy. That "almost ran over" was literal btw, cuz the skeezy lil fucker was standing in the middle of the road. I didn't run over him, I'd have hated to mess my car up.

Christmas is coming!

Speeding at me like a derailed bullet train. (Do bullet trains derail? And if they do, do they keep going so fast? Eh, who cares, I like it so I'm using it.)

Anyways, I've been a bit Scroogey this year. Well, a lot Scroogey actually, but I'm working on it. Now if I can just figure out a way to make everyone cooperate...

Hello, is this the Acme Corporation? Yes, I'm interested in mind-control gadgets? You have them? Great! How powerful? Weeelll...
Oh. Nobody makes one powerful enough to handle last-minute shoppers and neurotic relatives?
Sigh. Now I'll have to think up something else for Santa to bring me.

At least I can listen to my all time favorite Christmas song without getting weird looks. People really do think you're strange if you sing carols in July. Especially this one:

Christmas in Louisiana

Happy Holidays!

Well, I was going to post some stories, but I've changed my mind. I'm feeling rather sweet for the moment. I've spent most of the day with T, visiting his mom. I'm still a bit bubbly, so instead of telling stories about work I think I'll do this instead. My favorite thing about Christmas is the music. I don't think any other type of music manages to cause tears and laughter simultaneously quite as well as any carol does. I'm not particularly religious but I love Christmas carols. So I wanted to share one of my favorites

Hope everyone has a great time celebrating! Peace, love and joy to y'all

Fruitcake never gets stale

We are so busy at the store I don't have time to breathe, much less think about anything besides the next thing I have to do. Still, sometimes stuff just sticks in my head. Like this:

Most Useless Purchase:
The elderly lady who bought Cliff Notes. First off, she asked me for "that book, you know, I think it was a love story, by Dan Tees. Someone told me about it a long time ago, must have been several years, and I want to read it. It's something about heaven and it's a funny love story." I finally figured out she meant Dante's Divine Comedy, but she had only ever heard of the first part, "the one about the fires." I figured that meant Inferno, so I told her we didn't have a copy on hand and I could order one for her. She said no, she really didn't want to read the whole book, was there a movie or a short version? Her grandchild told her there was a short version of all of those books, some kind of notes some people made. Yep, she wanted Cliff Notes for Inferno. While she was paying for that, she told me she wanted to know what the book was about, but she didn't feel like wasting all that time reading it. WTF??? She is so going on my list.

Free Advice for Drivers:

• Everyone here drives like a maniac, an idiot or an asshole. Get used to it. Your best bet is to figure out the most common habits and join in. Really, it's safer that way.
• Learn how a four way intersection with stop signs works. Hey, you're out in the boonies, we don't have many traffic lights in the woods. Please don't just sit at the intersection for 10 minutes. Racing through it without stopping isn't a good idea either, someone is gonna get hurt. Probably you.
• If you don't drive more than once a month the rest of the year, Christmas is not a good time to change. Call someone for a ride, walk, or stay your ass home. I watched some guy in a land barge block three lanes of traffic yesterday. On Main Street at noon. Trying to turn left as he came out of a parking lot. People got just a little upset.
• Shortcuts are not a good idea unless you are native to the area. Trust me on this.
• Low slung little sports cars are cute and fun to drive. However, they are a really, really bad idea for holidays in the country. They just don't work on gravel roads. There are potholes on these back roads you could lose a cow in, and that's during a dry spell. After two days of rain, those holes will swallow a car and look for seconds. Hope you kept up your AAA membership, you're gonna need it.

Favorite Holiday Music:
Every year, I have a different favorite. Last year it was Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas. This year I'm enjoying Have a Merry South Louisiana Christmas. Various Louisiana artist singing genuine swamp pop Christmas carols. Think zydeco meets Bing Crosby, then throw in some blues, a dash of country and a pinch of rock. Like gumbo for your ears. This is a great album to listen to in the car. Turn it up and sing your heart out. The song that has stuck in my mind the most this year isn't on the album. I love Ray Charles' duet with Betty Carter Baby, It's Cold Outside. Not really a Christmas song, but perfect for winter and wonderful to hear anytime. Those two were artists and it shows. Here, have a listen

Ok, I'm ready for some cocoa and cookies now. Hugs to y'all.