Spitball Army

I haven’t logged onto the Laser’s Edge myspace account in weeks, perhaps months.  Then, today, I finally did, and discovered a message from my friend Jesse Payne, who also happens to be a musician in the local scene.  In it, there is an embedded YouTube video advertising an upcoming show, with the most hilarious voice-over ever!  Sadly, the show took place on May 9th.  Sorry I missed it, Jesse…I’m really wanting to hear some of your newlywed-and-blissful songs.  How are those turning out, anyway?

Check out the aforementioned monster-truck video here:

May 17, ’43
Monday  8 p.m.

Hello Sweetheart:

I love you to-night too.  It is such a gorgeous night – one of the lovely, beautiful Minn. spring nights – and you know what those are; especially do we know on the St. Croix; for there never was a lovelier spot.  It holds so many dear memories of happy times together.

Aud. and I just came back from a hike down by the creek, as usual.  We picked some very fragrant wild plum blossoms, and have them for our centerpiece.  After the birthday party yesterday, I really had a house to clean and then too, we did our laundry today.

Honey, thanks a million for two more of your letters.  I was hoping so that I would receive some today, and everyday I wait and hope for the same thing.  Some day, though, I can look for you to come and how wonderful that day will be.  Hmmmmm!  Staying out so late that you can’t even find the camp when you get back!  I’m surprized!  What were you doing??  Oh Honey – only teasing – rec’d a letter from Mrs. Thomas of Brawley today.  She says they have a lot of flowers in bloom in the court.  She said she rented our house to the Christian Church minister 30 min. after we left.  She inquired about you and said Mr. Thomas always got such a kick out of hearing you!  Bye now.

Love,
Bev

I have no hesitation telling anyone that I enjoy watching Hardball with Chris Matthews.  Folks that have engaged me in political discussions probably know that I greatly admire Matthews for his intelligence and energy and boundless curiosity.  This sometimes throws people because – it seems to me – the same attributes I admire in Matthews are characteristics that annoy the hell out of them (especially the over-the-top energy and shrillness of his speech).  But I am a Chris Matthews fan, and I do believe that he attempts to be a universalist and non-partisan on his show, even though he fails at that from time to time.  He is also a history buff, and demonstrates frequently how well he knows his stuff.  I’d hate to have to face him in a debate.

Last night, he rhetorically eviscerated Kevin James, a conservative squawk show host, by calling him out on not knowing the historical facts to back up his comparison of Barack Obama to Neville Chamberlain.  The exchange had me practically hiding my eyes behind my hands.  It’s a classic.

The full segment is contained here, and runs nearly ten minutes.  The first four minutes are great fun but, if you want to skip directly to the fireworks, begin around 3’55:

It was a really, really big deal the year that both Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson were scheduled to play Birmingham’s City Stages music festival (May 16-18, 2003).  Like most years, we at Laser’s Edge would attempt to capitalize on the festival and the attendant rise in interest in all things musical.  That particular year, our friends at Sony Music were also excited, seeing as they are the purveyors of the entire back catalogs of both of these legendary artists.  They put together a banner, taller than any man, to hang in our front window.  I had given them specific instructions to not let it read as “Dylan Willie” anywhere, as it was just a short step from there to the more anatomical “Dylan’s Willie.”  It just sounded too comical – and music is a serious business, right?

Here is what we got:

Mr. Bruce Sullivan deserves credit for this ingenious, hilarious artwork.

May 14, ’43
Friday  8:30 p.m.

Dearest one:  I love you.

How are you to-night?  Am still thinking of you and loving you – always.

Really worked hard today at the hospital and practically have the stencils systematized.  Feel rather proud that they are in as good order as they are; for now the stencils themselves are numerically arranged and then the subjects listed alphabetically in a card index with the corresponding number.  Received my Red Cross certificate from Washington showing that I graduated from the course as a Staff Ass’t., and Hon., it’s even signed by the President of the U.S.!  I’ve become well acquainted with the nursing instructors at N.W., and do enjoy their company a lot.

We’ve really had such a cold spring in Minn., compared with other years.  How I’d like to be on the Pacific Beach!  I’m surely glad you decided we should take that little apt. – and here I hesitated about it; and we had such a wonderful time there.  Wonderful – yes, because you, who are so wonderful, made me so very happy – you were so sweet in remembering how well I liked flowers, and in bringing me so many lovely bouquets – then too, you rented the piano for me – seems as if you were always doing something nice to please me and to make me happy.  I appreciate every minute I was with you.

Love,
Bev

Beverly’s Red Cross certificate was mailed in an envelope that looked like this (above), and was likely mailed from the regional chapter headquarters, rather than from Dallas, Texas.  This sample was acquired on the eBay auction website.  Note the date (21 August 1943) and the cost of postage (2 cents!).

An example of the certificate that Beverly received, signed by then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (actually a printed signature, rather than a true signed name).

another sleepless night awakened
by a dream that could not be recollected
onto floor the bare feet landed
halting and weaving
carried the body down a darkened hallway
across hardwoods and rugs
to the cool door
opening with a blaze of light
and the sight
of a dancing milk carton
splashing droplets upon the spinach leaves
cats appear
asking for a meal at 2:00 a.m.

May 12, ’43
Wed.  10:30 p.m.

Hello Wonderful One:

I love you so very, very much and am today again a very happy person.  You made me that way, Darling, because I rec’d two more of your beautifully written letters.  Each letter seems lovelier than the preceding one – they’re all wonderful though and are so precious to me, because the one who wrote them is the one I love and the one I’m waiting and living for.

Yes, Hon., I could even see the marks left by the raindrops on your stationery.  It must have been quite cozy inside that tent while it was raining.  Brings back memories of the night on the St. Croix when we shared a tent together.

Darling, you certainly did get a lot of writing in on the typewritten letter.  I’ll have to see if I can find a second-hand typewriter for it is certainly the way to send V-Mail.

Had a swell time with Helen Joeck today.  I really like her a lot.  She went to a doc. as wasn’t feeling well – seems to be suffering from nervous exhaustion.  Guess maybe I went thru that once too – guess she and I do have so much in common!  I’m feeling fine now, though miss you more with each passing day and night.  Don’t catch cold – and be careful!  Take good care of yourself!

With all my love and flutes of kisses,
Bev

May 11, 1943
Tuesday  10 p.m.

Dearest:

I’m still loving you so much – and even more as time goes by.  I sure do miss you, Honey: but it’s going to be so wonderful to have you home again some day soon.  I appreciated every moment we did have together and know I’ll love every moment with you that is to come, because I do love you, Darling.

Audrey came home today raving about how terribly small and tacky Mpls. looks compared to New York.  She had a wonderful time, and says it sure is a let down to come home.  Of course, it is nice to have a home to return to, but boy, it was a let down for me to start living the old routine all over again without you!

Marge, Helena, and I had fun down town last night.  Had our dinner together and then saw a cute movie, but I’ve seen enough pictures now to last me a long time.  We’re all planning on playing golf this summer.  We girls back home have to think of things for amusement, but, Honey, it seems so dull here without you.  I mean that too; because the only time I truly enjoy myself is when I have you right here beside me enjoying the same things.

Helen Joeck will be over tomorrow for lunch and the afternoon.  I always like visiting with her.  If it is nice out, we’ll probably hike a bit.

Thanks, Sweetheart, for being such a wonderful hubby – so understanding and so lovable – you’re all I’ve ever wanted in a man – and I wanted a lot!

Love,
Bev

[A few of the movies released stateside during the first four months of 1943:
A Stranger in Town,
Star Spangled Rhythm,
Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt,
Cabin in the Sky,
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man,
Journey Into Fear,
The More the Merrier,
Hello, Frisco, Hello,
and Crash Dive.]

I walked past just yesterday
And I couldn’t bear that new mall no more.
I don’t expect you’re gonna feel my way,
But you don’t know the trees that were there before.
Now I want them to put back that old corner store.

I walked past just like I say
And I felt a hurt that would not go home.
I don’t expect you’re gonna see it my way,
But you may not know the trees I’ve known,
And I want them to put back that corner store.

Bam a nib a nib a nib a way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store
Bam a nib a nib a nib a way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store

I don’t care if it costs more money to shop there,
‘Cause this was love, because this was love.
I don’t care if you have to walk longer,
I’ll walk further, I’ll pay more.
I don’t really want what the new mall’s got,
I want what they got in that corner store.

And what did I feel when I walked by slow?
I felt sorrow, sorrow, all around.
Why I would feel that way? I know:
I smelled a ghost smell from the ground,
That old wooden smell of the corner store.

Bam a nib a nib a nib a way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store
Bam a nib a nib a nib a way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store

I walked past to survey the scene
And I wished the worst for the place I shop.
I don’t expect you’re gonna know quite what I mean,
But I spot a trend that has got to stop,
I want them to put back that corner store.

Bam a nib a nib a nib a way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store
Bam a nib a nib a nib a way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store

I walked past just one last time
And I couldn’t soothe my poor heart’s pain.
I don’t expect for you to feel like I’m,
I just want you to dig what I now name:
I want them to put back that corner store.

Bam a nib a nib a nib a way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store
Bam a nib a nib a nib a way oh
Bam a nib a nib a way oh web oh
Bam a nib a nib a no Corner store Corner store

[audio:Jonathan_Richman___Corner_Store.mp3]
“Corner Store” written and performed by Jonathan Richman,
from It’s Time for Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers (1986)

Today I was sidelined with the incapcitating numbies, which is what I am calling the non-specific dizzyness and lethargy that I am associating with a cold.  I also can’t sit still in one place today.  So I am taking the opportunity to spend the afternoon in my office, clearing out the crap.

I have a wooden built-in desk that stretches most of the length of the room, an attic of sorts above the garage.  Half of the area is for working and sitting.  My computer is at that end.  The other half is the perfect height for either standing at, or working at while seated on the wooden stool.  My time is pretty equally split between the two halves of the desk.  Things had obviously gotten to a sad state when I realized that there was no room left at either end where I could spread out my materials and work.  So, I started boxing up the detritus and then sorting through it.

Here are a few of the many interesting things that I found:

–  An index card with the same basic sentence written two ways:

“On cold dry nights, sound travels farthest”
and
“On a cold dry night, sound travels far.”

Beside each sentence was a score:  four marks for the first sentence, two for the second.  I think I was going to use this to begin a story that I never wrote.  I probably got hung up on which first sentence to use, then got distracted and moved on to some other frivolity.

–  Three price tags, stapled together.  They were previously attached to a rocking chair that sits in the corner of the office.  There are five different prices written on the tags, none of them crossed out.  I have no idea which one of them represents what I paid for the chair.  No matter, because I love that chair!

–  Another index card.  On this are written two names that I encountered during my adventures selling inventory on eBay.  I fancied them as particularly Dickensian, and thought that they may one day serve me well as character names, assuming that I ventured into fiction writing.  The names:  Merkilee Smeed and Zachary Schnock.  Don’t you dare use them!

–  A note from my mother, written on stationery designed by my nephew, Nicholas:

–  The second page of Walter Kirn’s New York Times Book Review essay on The March, a novel by E.L. Doctorow, which contains this vivid sentence:

Most of the action in “The March” takes place in this creature’s elongated gut as it traces its infamous historic course from Atlanta to Savannah and beyond, excreting smoke and rubble from its hindparts as well as thousands of indigestible skeletons.

–  A three-star review by Josh Wilson in The Birmingham News of the November 23, 2002 show by Hem at Workplay.  Oh, Josh.  This was probably the show with the screaming, drunken woman in the upper balcony.  Anybody else remember her (how the hell could you forget her!)?  I might have shaved a star off my review because of that, too.

–  Several set lists, none of them dated.  I can tell you what the shows were, though:  The Damnwells in-store at Laser’s Edge; Josh Ritter at Workplay (the Hello Starling tour); Hem’s in-store at Laser’s Edge, which was their first visit to Birmingham.  The Hem set list is as interesting for the songs that were crossed out as for what they played:

–  A hardbound copy of Will James’ Lone Cowboy.  This is the 1946 reprinting of the 1930 book, lavishly illustrated.  I thought I had mailed it to someone.  There is a really good story here, which I will eventually write as a post.  Maybe that will get me to mail the book to its intended recipient.