Ashes, ashes we all fall down

"Ring around a rosie, a pocket full of posies. Ashes, ashes, we all fall down."

This nursery rhyme began about 1347 and derives from the not-so-delightful Black Plague, which killed over twenty-five million people in the fourteenth century. The "ring around a rosie" refers to the round, red rash that is the first symptom of the disease. The practice of carrying flowers and placing them around the infected person for protection is described in the phrase, "a pocket full of posies." "Ashes" is a corruption or imitation of the sneezing sounds made by the infected person. Finally, "we all fall down" describes the many dead resulting from the disease.

And also, long long ago (before I had this plague of Catholics in my life.) I saw a guy out on the street on Ash Wednesday. He had a mark on his forehad. I had totally forgot it was Ash Wednesday. I almost walked up to him and said, "Excuse me sir, you have a schmutz on your forehead." Luckily, the Catholics I know and love will hear me say that today. "So when are you getting that schmutz on your forehead?" It's also best to say it in a thick Yiddish accent. Why not?

Bee cloud

He is just like this bear,
And a little cloud
Floating in the blue.

I'd like to be the one
to make him settle

down.

Goofus

I trying to see all the Oscar nominated films. I mean ALL. If the Lagoon, LA GOON theater in Minneapolis had had their shit together. I could've seen ALL the Oscar nominated animated films shorts. The "Maestro" played twice and they tried to tell people that's how it was meant to be shown. Nice try, guys. Most of us stormed the ticket counter like the passengers of United flight 93 (see the movie if you need a visual) and we pounced on those bastards. With knives, took control of the... oh sorry...lost my thought.. Those who complained got a free movie pass. Me, included. And there's only a tiny few seconds of "Lifted" online. Who's got an AVI?

Anyway like United 93, it seems there are alot of brutally violent films to watch. Even the animated films had some death. A character hangs himself. Geez!

Is that what you are looking for?

Is that what you are looking for?
Originally uploaded by amber_b..

But how will I find him?
And how will I know it's him?
And where is he now?

Premonition

I've been seeing way way way too many movies. There are some movie trailers, that I already hate. Like "The Hitcher." It's loud and I hate gory slasher films like that. There's also, "Premonition", starring Sandra Bullock. She's tormented because she keeps seeing her husband's death. She also alternately wakes up alone then wakes up with him. It's coming out on my birthday. I will be intrigued to find out how it winds up. Because that's my life. I wake up and I am with someone, I wake up and I'm alone. I wake up and I have a possible future, I wake up and it's a dead end. Which is the correct reality?

I am counting on you Miss Bullock to tell me how you figure it out. It will be great birthday present to me.

Single Girl Valentine #2

Single Girl Valentine #2
Originally uploaded by Wendy Mc.

Check this girl out. She's a great writer as well.

Bitter Valentine

Why not. Happy Valentine's Day from me to you.

Crazy

Long long ago, there were two men in my life. And I loved them both. One was the good guy and one was a dirtball.
I'd play this song and try to figure out which one I loved more. Which one should I be with? I was tormented.

And now I'm crazy for trying and crazy for crying and I'm crazy for loving you.

Battery Fairy

Ok magic battery fairy. Be nice and let me make it to my destination today. I promise not to do weird stuff like start the car in reverse. But I swear Miss Fairy the battery was dead. Uh, oh and please DON'T leave me a battery under my pillow - thanks.

Violins on tv

Emily: Whats all this fuss I keep hearing about violins on television? Now why dont parents want their children to see violins on television? Why, I thought the Leonard Burnstein concerts were just lovely. Now, if they only show the violins after 11:00 at night, the little babies will all be asleep. And they wont learn any music appreciation. Why, they'll end up wanting to play guitar, and bongo drums. And go to Africa and join these rock and roll outfits. And they wont drink milk! (Slams fist pn desk.) I say there should be more violins on television! (Chevy taps her on the shoulder.) and less game shows! Its terrible! the way they...what, what?!

Chevy: Miss. Litella, that was violence on television. Not violins. Violence.

Emily: Oh, well thats different.

Chevy: Yes.

Emily smiling: Nevermind.

I may have been seeing alot of violent movies. Or violin movies. Ha ha ha.

Service Station

Signal Service Station
Originally uploaded by Roadsidepictures.

I feel lonely like this gas pump. The Oscar nominated movies are dragging me down. And I haven't even seen Apocalypto. That's supposed to be one violent film. I'll just double or triple up on the meds. And bring a flask to spike my drink. Or bring Ryan Gosling's character from "Half Nelson."

Leaving on a jet plane - not yet

I had hoped to be taking off to visit a friend in San Francisco. I was checking in on Spec's Twelve Adler Museum Bar where I was taken to zillions of years ago. I will always be in gratitude for a bad date and finding a great bar. And it is my all time favorite bar. In the world. Honestly. I was planning on taking Route 66 there and maybe the Lincoln Highway back. And then the plans changed (which is why I didn't get a plane ticket to begin with.)

If I could do that route alone, I'd be the one to drive through the snow and the mountains. And I'd have new memories to replace the old. It would be only me. My old memories seem to do me no good.

I was hoping on that on Valentine's Day that I'd take a bunch of gumball machine rings and throw them out the window somewhere along I-80 and never look back. Maybe I'll still go.

Amy Louise

Back in 1984, when Purple Rain was released, I was in college, at UW Stout. I had just gotten to know this girl in my dorm, Amy. She talked me into seeing Purple Rain at the State Theater in Menomonie. It was great. We were both big Prince fans and the live music in the movie really rocked. She was a motorcycle nut and she loved seeing him ride. I know we went back a few times to see it. We'd drag other people to it but they didn't love it as much as we did. Watching Prince tonight as the Super Bowl took me back to seeing Purple Rain with Amy. I hadn't heard live Prince probably since the movie. It took me by surprise and made me cry. Really hard. It's been three and a half years since she's been gone and I really miss her.

Fuck you, you fucking fucker! And I mean that with all my heart.

Ice House - Crazy

I had the cable hooked up to my stereo in my tiny apartment
in college. I used to make audio tapes from that hook up. My tapes would be of the music videos. I remember having this one. I had forgot why the DJ-like opening.

And I used to sing this and think of my boyfriend, Jake, far away in Milwaukee. I thought he was crazy for dating me and eventually he left.Geez, where is he now?

Where The Streets Have No Name

The video rocks and it is my all time favorite song.

It's best to listen to it in a car when you can crank up the sound and the accelerator. The back roads in Wisconsin work well. If you are on Cty Rd B - it's both deserted and unnamed.

Thin line

Storming around this afternoon, I hated everything. Everyone. The whole world sucked. I came home to find happy families on Oprah. I actually hoped she'd have a depressing show. If I'd had a gun, my tv would be dead. Just pissed off and mad. Fuck you world.

Then after a nice phone call, where no one got mad or upset I was in love again. But how long will it last?

Simple Kind of Life

The lyrics from the song, "Simple Kind of Life."

For a long time I was in love
Not only in love, I was obsessed
With a friendship that no one else could touch
It didn't work out, I'm covered in shells

And all I wanted was a simple thing
A simple kind of life
And all I needed was a simple man
So I could be a wife

I'm so ashamed, I've been so mean
I don't know how it got to this point
Ooh I always was the one with all the love
But you came along, I'm hunting you down

Like a sick domestic abuser looking for a fight
And all I wanted was the simple things a simple kind of life

Oh if we met tomorrow for the very first time
Would it start all over again?
Would I try to make you mine?

I always thought I'd be a mom
Sometimes I wish for a mistake
The longer that I wait the more selfish that I get
You seem like you'd be a good dad

Now all the simple things are simply too complicated for my life
How'd I get so faithful to my freedom? A selfish kind of life
When all I ever wanted was the simple things a simple kind of life

The Little Engine That Could

The Little Engine That Could
Originally uploaded by Roadsidepictures.

But I don't think I can. Not for all the scotch in the world.

Luck be a lady tonight

I used to play this song before dates with a certain guy. He was (and still is) hard to schedule.Sometimes I'd have little or no warning if he was free. So when I got the word - I'd play this. I hope I get lucky tonight!

We'll be together tonight

Yes we will!