Marc Cohn once again – “She’s Becoming Gold”. Please - go listen to it.
I have listened to that song for nearly 20 years. At times, very intently; with headphones on and trying to hear every nuance of the music. Given that the background singers include David Crosby, it’s no wonder that I wanted to hear every note played or sang by anyone.
I’ve concluded that maybe I missed the message in the lyrics. I’ve been under that conclusion ever since I got a very short and simple email from my lovely wife earlier today.
I had asked her, regarding another matter, how she’d managed to get so smart before she even turned 50. Her two word response: “becoming gold”.
The song is about… well, it’s about a lot of things, but mainly I’ve concluded that it’s about acquiring wisdom. Which really only happens as one ages. Wisdom is something one either inherits or acquires. In TLMK’s case, I think it’s a combination. Mac & Theany were/are wise, - from lessons hard learned and a toughness earned from a hard life. The same can be said of ML and Edna.
Through their struggles, they became “gold”. Quiet, unassuming, and filled with wisdom.
And joy. Everyone reading this can remember laughing with their parents. Good times.
So go become gold.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Walk Through This World
OK – the title of this post is the song that’s not only playing in my head, but also playing on the computer at the moment – “Walk Through This World” by Marc Cohn. Great song.
It got me thinking about various places to which we travel. There are some cities that I would classify as “walking” cities. Meaning it is a joy just to walk the streets, hear the sounds, take in the local sights… Those cities would include San Francisco (which I have walked from Fisherman’s Wharf to Market Street, and from the Presidio to the Financial District – love that town!), Seattle, downtown LA (seriously!) San Diego, Boston, and Washington DC. We’ll be in DC in May, and I’m looking forward to strolling the Mall and the length of Pennsylvania Avenue. Also looking forward to going back to Johnny’s Half Shell for lunch, but that’s another story.
While in DC I’ll be getting plenty of exercise. I even have a pair of Gnu Shooz for me! I plan to make my usual stops at the Navy Memorial and Dupont Circle – which leads into Georgetown and some very cool shops and eateries. And this time I’m planning to spend some time at the National Archives. It’s been a while since I’ve been there, and it’s probably time that I went to visit the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence again. Standing in front of documents that are well over 200 years old and contain the tenets of this experimental government known as modern democracy, (as opposed to ancient Greek democracy), is a bit of a humbling experience. Especially when you know that a lot of the men who signed those documents died defending them.
Walking the streets of these towns – or cities, if you must – gives you a sense of the tenor of what the Average Joe like me is feeling, thinking, experiencing. We were in DC in March 2002. National Guard troops on every corner within a 10 block radius of the White House, armed with M-16’s, locked and loaded with the safeties off. (Yes, I know enough about weapons to be able to tell.) It was just plain scary. A year before, it was tranquil, peaceful, and the cherry blossoms were just starting to bloom. All was calm. Late March in DC can be an absolutely beautiful time in that town.
I don’t know what DC is going to feel like when we spend four days there this May.
I just know I plan to walk.
It got me thinking about various places to which we travel. There are some cities that I would classify as “walking” cities. Meaning it is a joy just to walk the streets, hear the sounds, take in the local sights… Those cities would include San Francisco (which I have walked from Fisherman’s Wharf to Market Street, and from the Presidio to the Financial District – love that town!), Seattle, downtown LA (seriously!) San Diego, Boston, and Washington DC. We’ll be in DC in May, and I’m looking forward to strolling the Mall and the length of Pennsylvania Avenue. Also looking forward to going back to Johnny’s Half Shell for lunch, but that’s another story.
While in DC I’ll be getting plenty of exercise. I even have a pair of Gnu Shooz for me! I plan to make my usual stops at the Navy Memorial and Dupont Circle – which leads into Georgetown and some very cool shops and eateries. And this time I’m planning to spend some time at the National Archives. It’s been a while since I’ve been there, and it’s probably time that I went to visit the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence again. Standing in front of documents that are well over 200 years old and contain the tenets of this experimental government known as modern democracy, (as opposed to ancient Greek democracy), is a bit of a humbling experience. Especially when you know that a lot of the men who signed those documents died defending them.
Walking the streets of these towns – or cities, if you must – gives you a sense of the tenor of what the Average Joe like me is feeling, thinking, experiencing. We were in DC in March 2002. National Guard troops on every corner within a 10 block radius of the White House, armed with M-16’s, locked and loaded with the safeties off. (Yes, I know enough about weapons to be able to tell.) It was just plain scary. A year before, it was tranquil, peaceful, and the cherry blossoms were just starting to bloom. All was calm. Late March in DC can be an absolutely beautiful time in that town.
I don’t know what DC is going to feel like when we spend four days there this May.
I just know I plan to walk.
Friday, March 20, 2009
And then things got a mite Western…
Hank Snow. Pure Country. “Under Western Skies”. Texas Swing.
Well now that the required song reference has been taken care of, the subject refers to a couple of things. One – it’s a colloquialism we use out here, understated, of course, to basically say that things are getting pretty wild. And B: that would pretty much describe my jaunt down Floyd Hill yesterday.
Floyd Hill runs down (westbound) from Genesee to Idaho Springs. About 13 or 14 miles. Drop in elevation is somewhere around 2,000 feet. And you also need to know that I-70 is THE major route across Colorado east to west or west to east. I-25 is the north-south route, but that’s another story. Anyways, I-70 carries a lot of semi-trailer traffic. And because it’s Colorado, a lot of 4WD pickups and SUV’s as well. Lots of large vehicles.
And there are some places where it gets a skosh bit tight, with lanes ending, acceleration ramps merging, etc. Floyd Hill is one of those places. Your basic little Toyota or Honda looks pretty dang small in the I-70 crowd.
So, going down Floyd Hill yesterday, trying to keep Steve (our Yukon XL) from running over 80 mph, dodging the 18-wheeler traffic, and then I find myself behind a large truck… and suddenly a lot of smoke is coming from his rear wheels. Then I can see that the rear wheels are “chattering” – locked up and hopping down the pavement instead of rolling. I had about ½ a second to hit the left lane and the gas pedal. Some sort of small vehicle behind me in that lane had to hit their jammers pretty hard, but there was no way I was going to drive into the rear end of a semi.
Eventually I got back in the right lane, and the little hontoyhyundaewatsun-something passed me. The driver even “communicated” with me (think Top Gun here). Steve left that car way behind while cruising up to the Tunnel and over Vail Pass locked in at 70 mph without breathing hard.
But yeah, for a moment there, things got a mite Western…
Well now that the required song reference has been taken care of, the subject refers to a couple of things. One – it’s a colloquialism we use out here, understated, of course, to basically say that things are getting pretty wild. And B: that would pretty much describe my jaunt down Floyd Hill yesterday.
Floyd Hill runs down (westbound) from Genesee to Idaho Springs. About 13 or 14 miles. Drop in elevation is somewhere around 2,000 feet. And you also need to know that I-70 is THE major route across Colorado east to west or west to east. I-25 is the north-south route, but that’s another story. Anyways, I-70 carries a lot of semi-trailer traffic. And because it’s Colorado, a lot of 4WD pickups and SUV’s as well. Lots of large vehicles.
And there are some places where it gets a skosh bit tight, with lanes ending, acceleration ramps merging, etc. Floyd Hill is one of those places. Your basic little Toyota or Honda looks pretty dang small in the I-70 crowd.
So, going down Floyd Hill yesterday, trying to keep Steve (our Yukon XL) from running over 80 mph, dodging the 18-wheeler traffic, and then I find myself behind a large truck… and suddenly a lot of smoke is coming from his rear wheels. Then I can see that the rear wheels are “chattering” – locked up and hopping down the pavement instead of rolling. I had about ½ a second to hit the left lane and the gas pedal. Some sort of small vehicle behind me in that lane had to hit their jammers pretty hard, but there was no way I was going to drive into the rear end of a semi.
Eventually I got back in the right lane, and the little hontoyhyundaewatsun-something passed me. The driver even “communicated” with me (think Top Gun here). Steve left that car way behind while cruising up to the Tunnel and over Vail Pass locked in at 70 mph without breathing hard.
But yeah, for a moment there, things got a mite Western…
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Yesterday, I could commiserate with Alexander in Judith Viorst’s children’s book from 1972. Or Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day”. And you thought I might not be able to come up with a song! Actually I like that song… pretty much a “hey, it happens – get over it” song.
It began with me going to the Sears Auto Center to get Gnu Shooz put on Phred. (Thanks Dan!) I have gone to them several times in our 18+ years here in Happy Valley, mostly after being quite ripped off by Big O Tires (don’t know if you all have that chain in your area or not – if so, stay away!) And I’ve had very good service from Sears. Until this time.
I had gone in about ten days ago to get them at the sale price (buy three get one free PLUS a $75 mail in rebate.). They rang it all up, and Jody and I left Phred to be re-shod and went about other errands. Half an hour later my cell rings and it’s Sears, telling me they only have 3 tires. Grumble grumble grumble… Back to Sears, put the tires on reserve to hold the price and go on about our business. And wait for Sears to call again.
Which they did on Monday. So Tuesday around 10:30 AM I got Phred into the shop. I get to deal with a clerk for whom English is possibly a third language. I told him my name and that I was here for a new set of tires. So he’s on the computer looking up customers and passes over my name twice. So I actually had to spell my last name letter by letter in Spanish (one learns rudimentary Spanish after living here so long). Finally he got it. Print out the work order. Sign here. And then “your vehicle should be ready in about 2 hours”.
Well crap. Two hours to kill in the Mall in the middle of the day. On a Tuesday. OK, I’ll take advantage of this and do a “Mall Walk” (circle the Mall and walk about 1-1/8 miles) and stop in places that I can think of where I may actually have some business. First – stop at Herbergers (department store). Do a bit of pre-shopping for Jody for a few new duds for her upcoming trip to DC. Find a few things, make a mental note that a 20% sale starts on Wednesday (today) and resume my walk.
Cutlery USA. I remember they offer sharpening services. Walk in, inquire, am assured it’s overnight service, and then hand over the two blades I’m carrying. Scare a customer in the process when I snap open my Blur to show the owner of the shop that the black anodized finish isn’t holding up as well as I thought it would (there’s a reason they call it a Blur). Wouldn’t trade it for anything, though. Settle up and resume my walk.
Hit Target, because my eyes are itching and watering so bad it’s nearly blinding me. Between everything our 40 mph winds kicked up on Monday, and all the scents from the perfume counters, candle shops, Body Works shop... my allergies are going like 90. Buy some Visine-A eye drops and apply several times. I can see again. Resume my walk back to the other end of the Mall. Arrive back at Sears when the two hours are up. Peer out the window to the shop and see Phred up on a hoist with no shooz on his hind feet.
Find out that all tires had been removed from the rims, new tires installed, and now a tech was balancing them. Sit in the waiting room and read a boring car magazine from 3 years ago. Just before 1:30, Phred was ready. But wait… why are there 2 of his old tires being loaded into the back of Phred? Well, someone had written up the order to reflect that I wanted them to dispose of (and pay the disposal fee for) only 2 tires. No, I don’t want to haul home 2 used tires, so just add the extra $4 and take those 2 as well. Sorry, this ticket is now closed. Fine. I’ll give you $4 cash – just take them out of Phred. I can’t do that – ticket is closed. Write a new ticket, then. I don’t know how…. MANAGER! They removed the tires and comp’d the $4. Big spenders.
OK – now to Wally World to pick up one prescription and go home. Walk up to the window to find a sign “Pharmacy closed until 2:00 PM while the Pharmacist is at lunch”. Great. 25 minutes to kill wandering around The Evil Empire. I’m hungry, a bit low on blood sugar, getting crankier by the second… So I hit the McD’s embedded in this place for a quick burger and a milk. Kills enough time to then go back to the Pharmacy counter. Where I find a line a mile long – stretching all the way back into the greeting cards with people waiting until their digital watches strike (metaphorically, of course) 2:00 PM. I get to wait several minutes, having to listen to a seven year old open and hear every musical greeting card on the shelves. At least the line moves quickly (starting at 2:01 according to my digital watch) and I’m on my way.
Home. Next on list – call Humana, my Medicare Part D provider. I find out they still have not canceled my membership and have been taking $42 bucks from me every month, even though I chose a new provider in December and told them to cancel in January. “I don’t see any notes that you’ve called us this year…” selective amnesia. Get it canceled for sure, only to find out on the next call that my new Part D may not qualify. In which case I get to choose a different provider, but be penalized with a 1% surcharge for not being able to understand, or worse, follow the convoluted rules set up by W’s administration. Finally, after 45 minutes on the phone, get it straightened out. All is well in W’s “Magical Prescription Drug Plan Mystery Tour”.
The day was not a total loss. We enjoyed a very nice dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant, with a couple of representatives of a contractor with whom Jody is working – they're doing an energy audit and installing a lot of “green” components on a very large HVAC system on one of GJHA’s properties. The meal and the company were good. I even got complimented on my Italian pronunciation of the dishes. "You must have taken Italian courses." I bit my toungue, recalling all the various phonetic lessons necessary to sing operas in Italian, German, French, Italian... and said, "no... but mille grazi."
Today should be a better day. Without having to move to Australia…
It began with me going to the Sears Auto Center to get Gnu Shooz put on Phred. (Thanks Dan!) I have gone to them several times in our 18+ years here in Happy Valley, mostly after being quite ripped off by Big O Tires (don’t know if you all have that chain in your area or not – if so, stay away!) And I’ve had very good service from Sears. Until this time.
I had gone in about ten days ago to get them at the sale price (buy three get one free PLUS a $75 mail in rebate.). They rang it all up, and Jody and I left Phred to be re-shod and went about other errands. Half an hour later my cell rings and it’s Sears, telling me they only have 3 tires. Grumble grumble grumble… Back to Sears, put the tires on reserve to hold the price and go on about our business. And wait for Sears to call again.
Which they did on Monday. So Tuesday around 10:30 AM I got Phred into the shop. I get to deal with a clerk for whom English is possibly a third language. I told him my name and that I was here for a new set of tires. So he’s on the computer looking up customers and passes over my name twice. So I actually had to spell my last name letter by letter in Spanish (one learns rudimentary Spanish after living here so long). Finally he got it. Print out the work order. Sign here. And then “your vehicle should be ready in about 2 hours”.
Well crap. Two hours to kill in the Mall in the middle of the day. On a Tuesday. OK, I’ll take advantage of this and do a “Mall Walk” (circle the Mall and walk about 1-1/8 miles) and stop in places that I can think of where I may actually have some business. First – stop at Herbergers (department store). Do a bit of pre-shopping for Jody for a few new duds for her upcoming trip to DC. Find a few things, make a mental note that a 20% sale starts on Wednesday (today) and resume my walk.
Cutlery USA. I remember they offer sharpening services. Walk in, inquire, am assured it’s overnight service, and then hand over the two blades I’m carrying. Scare a customer in the process when I snap open my Blur to show the owner of the shop that the black anodized finish isn’t holding up as well as I thought it would (there’s a reason they call it a Blur). Wouldn’t trade it for anything, though. Settle up and resume my walk.
Hit Target, because my eyes are itching and watering so bad it’s nearly blinding me. Between everything our 40 mph winds kicked up on Monday, and all the scents from the perfume counters, candle shops, Body Works shop... my allergies are going like 90. Buy some Visine-A eye drops and apply several times. I can see again. Resume my walk back to the other end of the Mall. Arrive back at Sears when the two hours are up. Peer out the window to the shop and see Phred up on a hoist with no shooz on his hind feet.
Find out that all tires had been removed from the rims, new tires installed, and now a tech was balancing them. Sit in the waiting room and read a boring car magazine from 3 years ago. Just before 1:30, Phred was ready. But wait… why are there 2 of his old tires being loaded into the back of Phred? Well, someone had written up the order to reflect that I wanted them to dispose of (and pay the disposal fee for) only 2 tires. No, I don’t want to haul home 2 used tires, so just add the extra $4 and take those 2 as well. Sorry, this ticket is now closed. Fine. I’ll give you $4 cash – just take them out of Phred. I can’t do that – ticket is closed. Write a new ticket, then. I don’t know how…. MANAGER! They removed the tires and comp’d the $4. Big spenders.
OK – now to Wally World to pick up one prescription and go home. Walk up to the window to find a sign “Pharmacy closed until 2:00 PM while the Pharmacist is at lunch”. Great. 25 minutes to kill wandering around The Evil Empire. I’m hungry, a bit low on blood sugar, getting crankier by the second… So I hit the McD’s embedded in this place for a quick burger and a milk. Kills enough time to then go back to the Pharmacy counter. Where I find a line a mile long – stretching all the way back into the greeting cards with people waiting until their digital watches strike (metaphorically, of course) 2:00 PM. I get to wait several minutes, having to listen to a seven year old open and hear every musical greeting card on the shelves. At least the line moves quickly (starting at 2:01 according to my digital watch) and I’m on my way.
Home. Next on list – call Humana, my Medicare Part D provider. I find out they still have not canceled my membership and have been taking $42 bucks from me every month, even though I chose a new provider in December and told them to cancel in January. “I don’t see any notes that you’ve called us this year…” selective amnesia. Get it canceled for sure, only to find out on the next call that my new Part D may not qualify. In which case I get to choose a different provider, but be penalized with a 1% surcharge for not being able to understand, or worse, follow the convoluted rules set up by W’s administration. Finally, after 45 minutes on the phone, get it straightened out. All is well in W’s “Magical Prescription Drug Plan Mystery Tour”.
The day was not a total loss. We enjoyed a very nice dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant, with a couple of representatives of a contractor with whom Jody is working – they're doing an energy audit and installing a lot of “green” components on a very large HVAC system on one of GJHA’s properties. The meal and the company were good. I even got complimented on my Italian pronunciation of the dishes. "You must have taken Italian courses." I bit my toungue, recalling all the various phonetic lessons necessary to sing operas in Italian, German, French, Italian... and said, "no... but mille grazi."
Today should be a better day. Without having to move to Australia…
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Coincidence? I think not...
Ok, so I actually do think from time to time. Most of the time when I do that, either
a) my brain hurts, or
4) I get in trouble. Thinkerating is overguesstulated.
BUT! (put in your clutch here...)
I got a new Burton Cummings CD last week titled “Above The Ground”. It is great. Especially the title track, which I have ripped, shared, emailed etc. to many in my family. Good stuff.
So the story (ok, Harry, the back story first, as always…) goes as follows.
The lyrics include a couple of lines:
“Just tryin’ to stay ahead of the danger,
And the ticking of the thin red hand.”
So Jody and I are at Dr. Dan’s office this week. She needs to have a mole removed… but I had this song going through my head. And I look at Dan’s wrist and see a new watch – black with a red second hand. I look at my watch – black chrome with a red second hand.
Yes, boys and girls, it was pretty much a Twilight Zone moment.
And that’s the rest of the story. Well this one anyway. Just in this quick missive there are about 8 more stories…
RIP, Paul Harvey.
a) my brain hurts, or
4) I get in trouble. Thinkerating is overguesstulated.
BUT! (put in your clutch here...)
I got a new Burton Cummings CD last week titled “Above The Ground”. It is great. Especially the title track, which I have ripped, shared, emailed etc. to many in my family. Good stuff.
So the story (ok, Harry, the back story first, as always…) goes as follows.
The lyrics include a couple of lines:
“Just tryin’ to stay ahead of the danger,
And the ticking of the thin red hand.”
So Jody and I are at Dr. Dan’s office this week. She needs to have a mole removed… but I had this song going through my head. And I look at Dan’s wrist and see a new watch – black with a red second hand. I look at my watch – black chrome with a red second hand.
Yes, boys and girls, it was pretty much a Twilight Zone moment.
And that’s the rest of the story. Well this one anyway. Just in this quick missive there are about 8 more stories…
RIP, Paul Harvey.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Lent and the "A" word...
Personally, I’m waiting for a Catholic song writer to come up with the Lenten equivalent of Adam Sandler’s “Hannukah Song”… (“pull out your yarmulke, here comes Hanukkah!”)
We are in the seventh day of Lent. As of last week on Ash Wednesday, we Catholics don’t get to say the “A” word until Easter Sunday. The “A” word being the one that begins with “a”, ends with “a” and has “llelui” in the middle. (that’s the sneaky Catholic in me coming out… )
Well of course there’s a reason for this, just as sure as I know you were going to ask “But Jay – what’s the reason for not using the “A” word during Lent?”
Glad you asked.
Lent is a time to reflect on our Lord’s suffering. His betrayal, His undeserved trial, His unwarranted death, and most of all, His cry of “Eli, Eli, lama sabbacthani?” The one moment when God actually turned his back to His only Son.
It’s a time for us to try to understand the magnitude of His sacrifice, as well as the anguish – mental and physical – that He went through. It is a time to contemplate, not celebrate. Hence, we don’t use the “A” word for 40 days.
But on Easter Sunday, it’s just about the first word we use! As Mr. Dictionary on ABC’s “1 Saturday Morning” used to say, “Look it up!” Use it! Wear it out!”
Which we will do during the Easter season. But for now, we’re “A”-less.
We are in the seventh day of Lent. As of last week on Ash Wednesday, we Catholics don’t get to say the “A” word until Easter Sunday. The “A” word being the one that begins with “a”, ends with “a” and has “llelui” in the middle. (that’s the sneaky Catholic in me coming out… )
Well of course there’s a reason for this, just as sure as I know you were going to ask “But Jay – what’s the reason for not using the “A” word during Lent?”
Glad you asked.
Lent is a time to reflect on our Lord’s suffering. His betrayal, His undeserved trial, His unwarranted death, and most of all, His cry of “Eli, Eli, lama sabbacthani?” The one moment when God actually turned his back to His only Son.
It’s a time for us to try to understand the magnitude of His sacrifice, as well as the anguish – mental and physical – that He went through. It is a time to contemplate, not celebrate. Hence, we don’t use the “A” word for 40 days.
But on Easter Sunday, it’s just about the first word we use! As Mr. Dictionary on ABC’s “1 Saturday Morning” used to say, “Look it up!” Use it! Wear it out!”
Which we will do during the Easter season. But for now, we’re “A”-less.
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