One year ago today: April 13, 2018, I can sing 52 songs.
Five years ago today: April 13, 2014, it sells books.
Nine years ago today: April 13, 2010, ePinion = boring & cheap.
Random years ago today: April 13, 2008, the Zola, $8.
Last day I featured a link to a cigar box fashioned out of lapis lazuli. In response to where that came from, look to Geo Classica, a site I know nothing about. It seems to be some exclusive shop of articles made from such abstruse materials as petrified wood, meteorites, and fossils. The only contact info given is two telephone numbers in England. It appears to be an association of second-generation rich kids with enough money to sponsor mining expeditions. The owners come with a list of qualifications and experience most of the working class never even knew existed.
This photo panel is a bit of shoreline on the reservoir that I all the alligator rocks. They are only visible like this under two conditions. They are the right water level and the right degree of imagination. If you can see the turtle in two of the panels, then you’re on the right track.
I’d like to touch on a topic that has gossip-like elements normally avoided by this blog. The human interest side says at least we take a look. To the outside world, it looks like I’ve materialized and this is to the consternation of some individuals. All men. There is something I would like to explain to all men, and that is how 99% of them are exactly alike to me. I don’t just mean somewhat similar, I mean exactly alike. My viewpoint on this is very wide, very deep, and my few acquaintances are the other 1%. Thus, it was a source of constant amusement for me to witness the reactions of the locals, especially those who at first took me for an outsider.
I have not said a thing to any of them, except the pushy couple of neighbors. My presence was enough. I think you know what I’m talking about. But if not, let’s just say anybody who thinks they are making good time are in for one rude shock of how far they have yet to go when they see what it really takes.
Maschen marshalling yard.
Remember to use BACK ARROW to return to blog.
We opted for a movie over at Opryland, getting away a half hour late. This entailed fighting with the gigantic Grand Ole Opry money-making operation on the site causing us to park a ten minute walk from the theater. Note that in 2017, the Opry I attended was the former location in downtown Nashville, the original. Today we opted for the movie, “Shazam”. I had originally rejected it, as I’m overall weary of comic book hero movies. The Reb had determined from the review this one was different, and it was. Rather than shun it, I would now recommend it to a degree—as perfectly good lite entertainment. For clarity, it’s a kid’s movie that most adults would enjoy.
The movie has a different twist, although laced with entirely predictable stretches. It’s your beginner’s level geeky teenager becomes reluctant superhero. The audience also has to suffer through millennialism throughout the entire feature. Crap like a household full of token ethnic adoptees and the utter avoidance of skinny white sexpot females under the age of, what should I say? Nineteen? Okay, call it nineteen. Even in the obligatory high-school lunch room and hallway scenes, all teen women are tom-boyish, far in the background, and in dire need of orthodontics. I was also going to suggest fashion consultants, but scratched that when I recalled the movie was filmed in Philadelphia.
ADDENDUM
Weekends, being precious at my age, meant we wound up at “Shooters”. Yep, the place with the pool tables, but also the long and narrow room. Thus, you can get away from the smoky bar area to the far end of the room, where we found to my delight there was Karaoke. Usually Saturdays mean a big and noisy band. But who should be there but the guy from the Karaoke at the “Rusty Urinal”. He had us up on stage within minutes. We had stopped for one but did not get out of there until 1:00AM.
And sure we danced. Too bad that’s another joint they don’t allow “unauthorized” video. To put the place in it’s place, so to speak, for the longest time some counties around here were dry, which made the others popular on weekends and paydays. I don’t know which side of town we were on, but it was my sort of place. I was easily the oldest man in the room, which of course led to all manner of antics around my date. She went through perfect renditions of Roberta Flack and Janis Joplin. The staff picked up on all this so the free drinks were flowing. I had five beers, sweetums had two martinis. And of course, my dates always need a lot of congratulations from single men in the audience whenever my back is turned. It’s a fact of life.
Yes, we were the stars of the show, but it was still the DJs gig and we did nothing without being asked. I’d made a mistake about that guy, which I admit. When I first saw him blurry eyed on stage, well, you know what I thought. But as the evening progressed and there were not that many singers, he had to fill in and the man is remarkable talented. He explained to me that he suffered badly from pet allergies and his appearance of being blotto was from his meds. I paid more attention and you know, the guy is good enough to front a band.
