Spitball Army

We sit in Mom’s open garage on rollators, like old folks. Deaf Guy across the street belches periodically; we laugh, then wait.

One of several watercolor picture/postcards that were apparently scissor-cut from a postcard book featuring scenes in and around Birmingham, Alabama.

This card pictures “U.S. Post Office and Federal Building, Birmingham, Ala.”

I should like to paint the way a bird sings. -Claude Monet

The possum trapped overnight on my porch yesterday left behind a three-inch turd. For some reason, I assumed possums doodied like rabbits.

Loud, violent, bleak, unintelligible, overlong. Did I leave anything out?

Two Moleskines for Sister Sara.

One of several watercolor picture/postcards that were apparently scissor-cut from a postcard book featuring scenes in and around Birmingham, Alabama.

This card pictures “Vulcan on Red Mountain, Birmingham, Ala. Showing Veins of Iron Ore in Mountain Side.”

Hey, listen: I didn’t say it.

But, buried subtly (and, in a few cases, not so subtly) within these eighteen very fine pop songs, is the dreaded f-bomb, used mostly in an understandable context and without gratuitousness. If I wanted to put together a playlist that carpet-bombed the listener, it would contain only rap and metal. You will find none of that here. I myself was somewhat shocked to hear Joni Mitchell drop the bomb many years ago in a live recording and, only recently, realized that it wasn’t improvisation – it’s on the studio recording, as well (heard below).

Needless to say, this playlist is NSFW. There may also be appearances of the s-bomb and the c-word (in “Never Say Never”), so be forewarned.

Approximate playing time: 77 minutes.

1. Ben Folds  “Rockin’ the Suburbs”  (2001)
2. Destroyer  “European Oils”  (2006)
3. Steely Dan  “Show Biz Kids”  (1973)
4. Radiohead  “Creep”  (1993)
5. Pretenders  “Precious”  (1980)
6. Romeo Void  “Never Say Never”  (1982)
7. World Party  “I Want to Be Free”  (1994)
8. Harry Nilsson  “You’re Breakin’ My Heart”  (1972)
9. Joni Mitchell  “Woman of Heart and Mind”  (1972)
10. Lucinda Williams  “Essence”  (2001)
11. Amy Winehouse  “Me and Mr. Jones”  (2006)
12. The Rolling Stones  “Some Girls”  (1978)
13. Wilco  “Ashes of American Flags”  (2002)
14. John Lennon  “Working Class Hero”  (1970)
15. Elvis Costello  “Suit of Lights”  (1986)
16. Aimee Mann  “Long Shot”  (1995)
17. The Flaming Lips  “The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat)”  (2006)
18. Red House Painters  “Have You Forgotten”  (1996)

The Researchers.

This film has got me terrified. Had to pause to catch my breath. So glad I didn’t see it in the theater.