Music

One of my big annoyances this year, indeed something my wife and I have equal disgust for, is North Face winter coats. Now I’m sure they make fantastic coats. If their prevalence in the Minnesotan wilds is any indication, they are a fine maker of winter garments. With this, I have no issues. But what possesses them to put their logo on the back of the jacket in an area which suggests that the wearer has put on their coat backwards? It’s placed high on the back right shoulder. If it’s “North Face” why is it facing what is commonly thought of as the “south end” of a person’s body? Honestly.

Is it wrong that I have no desire to participate in every new social networking site that comes out? I signed on to a few of them purely out of curiosity, peer pressure or sheer boredom. But I have yet to set up a Twitter account. I refuse.

I know this may sound strange and perhaps a bit tinfoil-hat-ish, but I don’t understand why people want to electronically chronicle their lives moment to moment so that any halfwit on the internet can follow along like their witnessing history in the making. Am I the only person who cherishes the modicum of privacy that my government and society allows me?

And to those who do enjoy publishing every inane detail it needs to be said: I really don’t give a shit what you’re making for dinner tonight. If it was new and tasty, send me the recipe or invite me over for dinner. Now if squirrels by the dozen burst through your door eat your dinner and leave, by all means Tweet that shit. Pictures would be nice too.

My wife’s job was recently eliminated, setting us up for rough times along with a good number of people in the country. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried, but I am taking a “wait and see” approach to this. If I learned anything in my few orbits around the Sun it’s that all things pass and the only constant is change. It’s best to be realistically positive about things and make strides in the right direction when the tide shifts.

One of the wonders of the world is going down
It’s going down I know
It’s one of the blunders of the world that no-one cares
No-one cares enough

I was rummaging through my collection of musical memories and stumbled across a track that many of my old band’s fans would love to have, I’m sure. And being the sentimental old fool that I am, I thought what better place to share this than right here.

I take no responsibility for the level of alcohol involved, nor the quality of the recording (if such is to be found) — I just loved playing this and listening to it made me smile. Please take note of the rock and roll ending.

And this one goes out to all the ladies out there…

You have made me what I am and I’m yours…

Patton and I hit the Hennepin County Library yesterday to check out the PostSecret Exhibit. As fascinating as it was, it seemed to me that a good number of these people didn’t have secrets so much as frustrations they needed to vent or cheerful observations about the world they wanted to share. I mean, it’s not like people ask about such things. Nevertheless, there were a couple of nice ones. I think my favorite was one done with the US Marines logo tiled in the background with something handwritten over it to the effect of “Because you think this is the best use of your talents, I feel like a failure as a mother.”

Anyway, I thought I’d share the link to the site and even some music to listen to while you’re there.

And when you hurt from the weight of the world
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do
And on the day you leave the world
I go with you

I got on another of my Sting kicks again. I thought I’d share.

In his imagination she’s a universe away
Too many of his promises got broken on the way
So she wrote it in a letter, all the things she couldn’t say
And she told she was never coming home

Okay, so this song isn’t exactly uplifting…I like it anyway. The truth can be painful sometimes.

Oh, there are cracks, in the road we laid
But where the temple fell,
The secrets have gone mad!
This is nothing new,
But when we kill it all,
The hate was all we had!
Who needs another mess?
We could start over!
Just look me in the eyes
And say I’m wrong
Now there’s only emptiness…
Venomous, insipid!
I think we’re done
I’m not the only one!

And the rain will kill us all,
Throw ourselves against the wall
But no one else can see,
The preservation of the martyr in me