Spitball Army

Eleventh of 20 watercolor picture/postcards from the postcard book titled: “Official View Book, A CENTURY OF PROGRESS EXHIBITION, Chicago, 1933.”

This card pictures “‘Shooting’ a scene in Hollywood” at the 1933 World’s Fair held in Chicago, Illinois.

The accordion-style postcard book’s cover:

A change (slightly for the better) in my employment status this week got me thinking about the rather obvious theme for today’s playlist. I was somewhat overwhelmed to find nearly two hundred songs in my collection with direct references to work, jobs and pay. Guess it’s always on folks’ minds.

Approximate playing time: 75 minutes.

1. Sondre Lerche  “It’s Our Job”  (2004)
2. Tennessee Ernie Ford  “Sixteen Tons”  (1955)
3. ABBA  “Money, Money, Money”  (1976)
4. Bruce Springsteen  “Man’s Job”  (1992)
5. The Contours  “Do You Love Me”  (1962)
6. The Flying Lizards  “Money (That’s What I Want)”  (1979)
7. Hank Ballard & the Midnighters  “Work With Me, Annie”  (1954)
8. Laverne Baker & Jimmy Ricks  “You’re the Boss”  (1961)
9. Eric Essix  “Hard Work”  (2009)
10. Boz Scaggs  “Payday”  (2001)
11. Lady Sovereign  “9 to 5”  (2006)
12. The Moody Blues  “Lunch Hour: Peak Hour”  (1967)
13. They Might Be Giants  “Boss of Me”  (2001)
14. The D’Oyly Carte Opera Company  “When a Felon’s Not Engaged in His Employment” (from Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance)  (1990)
15. Culture Club  “Time (Clock of the Heart)”  (1982)
16. Merle Travis  “Payday Comes Too Slow”  (1963)
17. Tom Paxton  “A Job of Work”  (1964)
18. Jimmy Reed  “Big Boss Man”  (1960)
19. The Bear Quartet  “I Had a Job”  (2000)
20. Talking Heads  “Found a Job”  (1978)
21. The Silhouettes  “Get a Job”  (1958)

You can also listen to this playlist in an abbreviated form (17 out of the 21 tracks, and two substitutions) on Spotify. Here is the link.

[Letter addressed to Mrs. Harry V. C., c/o Mrs. J. W., 20 Block Street, Dundee, Scotland.  Return addressed to Cpl. Harry V. C., 33428766, 1409^th A.A.F. Base Unit, E.D.A.T.C. A.P.O. 741 c/o P.M., U.S. Army.]

England
Jan. 14, 1945

Dearest Mary:

Well here I am again darling writing you a few more lines.  I am well and getting along as usual.  I miss you more and more all the time Darling.

I received three letters from you yesterday and I never was so glad to hear from any one so much in my life.  Dearest your letters mean every thing to me, but I think you know.  The letters that I received were sent on the 6^th, 8^th and 9^th.  I was looking for some today from you Darling but I guess I will get some tomorrow.  I am sorry Dearest, that I did not write to you on Friday, but I guess I made up for it last night.  Was that all right, Dopey Darling?

Darling I like the name a lot.  Don’t you forget it Dearest for we might be using it some time before too long.  Darling if you want it the way you said, it will be allright.  You would not want to have something like you said the other girls have, would you?  It would be kind of bad so soon?  Don’t you want me to ever catch up on my kisses?  You don’t know me Darling since I have not seen you for so long will start as soon as I get there, and Darling if every thing goes all right I will get there about 9 o’clock Sunday morning.  But Dearest please don’t be there looking for me.  I might not get there then the way they are changing the passes around.  Darling I will not be there with Hank the last of the month.  Werth and Hank have their time off together.  Darling I only hope that I can get my seven days off before very long, for I can hardly stand being away from you so long and there is no place close around here that you could stay.

Darling there is no way that I can describe my first night up there.  I never felt that way before in my life.  I guess you felt the same way didn’t you Dearest?

Darling how is your supply of chewing gum getting?  You better make it last Dopey Dear, for I will not have any this time.  What will you do then Darling?

How is Mom and Jimmie getting along?  Tell them that I said Hello.  Tell Jimmie I will wind up his train for him all the time I am there.  Just keep it running steady.  Do you think you can stand all the noise we would make with it Darling? or do you think I should forget about the train for a while?  Let me know when you answer this.

Darling I will have to say Good Night for it is getting late.  I love you so much Dearest that I can not find words to say it but you know don’t you Darling.  I will be thinking of you all the time Darling and loving you more all the time.

Your Loving Husband
For always.
Harry.

J. Edgar (2011):

• Bleak from beginning to end. Couldn’t escape noticing Leo DiCaprio’s capital-A Acting, even though it was fine Acting.

Tower Heist (2011):

• Who cares if it is full of plot holes? Tough to argue against a film that’s enjoyable, funny and sticks it to the rich.

A Separation (2011):

• Incredibly decent Iranian people desperately trying to do the right thing. It gets complicated, as it would anywhere.

He raises a hand from beneath the small spider until it comes to a gentle rest in his palm. Then, with the other, he crushes it.

[Letter addressed to Mrs. Harry V. C., c/o Mrs. J. W., 20 Block Street, Dundee, Scotland.  Return addressed to Cpl. Harry V. C., 33428766, 1409^th A.A.F. Base Unit, E.D.A.T.C. A.P.O. 741 c/o P.M., U.S. Army.]

England
Jan. 13, 1945

Dearest Mary:

I am going to try and answer a few of your questions Darling.  I am sure sorry Dearest that I did not get to write to you last night.  I received five letters from you Dear that I have to answer.  I received three from you today Darling and you don’t know how glad I was to hear from you.  Your letters mean every thing to me.

I am glad Darling to know that you are getting along allright.  I am well and getting along as best I can.

Hank and I went to the movie here on the base Thursday night and Dearest you should of seen it.  The name of it was “Casanova Jones.”  If it ever comes up there be sure and go to it.  It was the best show that I have seen for a long time.  So Darling don’t miss it.

Darling I am glad to hear that you are going to quit Draffins.  He made you work too much for all he paid you.  Dearest I am not going to tell you not to join what you and Anna were but I would sooner you would get a job in Dundee some place.  Darling you can do what ever you want to as long as you are there when I can get a pass to get there to see you.  Darling the short times I am with you means every thing to me.  I don’t know what I would do if I could not be with my Darling Sweet Wife once in a while.

Darling you know what you said about the three of us?  Well Darling I think the three of us will have a wonderful time this time next year.  I only hope every thing is over and I am out of the army, so I can spend all of my time with you and the family.  I could stay with you all the time Darling but I guess I would have to leave you to get to work some time.  I am sure glad to hear that you have finally started to eat at last.  I want to see you gaining weight and be heavier every time I get to see you.  If you don’t Darling the wind is just going to blow you away some time.

Darling when I received the 21 page letter and the other one, I only had time to read the one before I went back to work so I just sit on the wing of the plane and read the other one.  I am going to try and answer two of your letters this time Darling but I don’t know if I can answer every thing you wanted to know.  The letter I am answering now was mailed on the 6^th.

I told you before Darling that I don’t mind what ever you do Dearest and I only wish that you would of spent more for the flowers.  If you ever buy any more for any body spend all you want to for them.  It is all right with me.  I only hope Darling nothing happens like [it] did.

Darling you make me hungry telling me what you had to eat.  I only wish that I could have been with you to share it.  I see you are getting a lot of practice putting people to sleep.  Darling don’t try to put me to sleep when I am up there.  I want you to try and keep me awake.  I will only be there for a short while and Darling I want to be able to look at my Darling Little wife all the time, and to feel her sweet lips on mine.  Do you think you can keep me awake Dearest?  It will be a big job.

Darling two of the fellows just got back from up there today.  They were up for seven days and they said it was just like being at home.  Dearest it is home for me.  They brought a radio back with them and while I am writing this I am hearing all kinds of music.  Germany and every other country is on tonight.

Darling I still haven’t been out looking for a place for you yet.  I am going to save up some money first Darling, then I will get you a place to stay.  Darling you will not have to worry about me not holding you in my arms when I am up there.  You will be getting tired of me for I will be holding you all the time and trying to catch up on my kisses.  Do you think I can get caught up on them in such a short while, my sweet Darling Wife?

Darling I am not going to ask you any thing this time when I am with you.  I am only going to hold you in my arms and kiss you all the time, I think.  I will be thinking all the time I am with you Darling so I can not say what I will do.

Darling I received a nice card from my cousin.  It was about our wedding and it was for both of us.  I am bringing it up to you when I come.  I am sorry Darling that I can not get up there the last of this month with Hank.  I do not get my seven days for a while yet.  You know Darling I had a few days the first of December.  I will be up there as soon as I can Darling the sooner the better for me.  I miss you so awful much.

Darling I am not going to toss a coin or any thing else I am going to do what ever I think is best.  Will that be allright with you Darling?

I will have to close for this time Darling so I will say Good Night Dearest.  Keep praying that I will be with you before long.

All my love forever.
Your Loving Husband
Harry.

“The Hustle” on MP3: 99 cents. The irreversibly grounded sensation one gets while dancing to a disco song as it fades out: free.

Tenth of 20 watercolor picture/postcards from the postcard book titled: “Official View Book, A CENTURY OF PROGRESS EXHIBITION, Chicago, 1933.”

This card pictures “The Belgian Village” at the 1933 World’s Fair held in Chicago, Illinois.

The accordion-style postcard book’s cover:

[Letter addressed to Mrs. Harry V. C., c/o Mrs. J. W., 20 Block Street, Dundee, Scotland.  Return addressed to Cpl. Harry V. C., 33428766, 1409^th A.A.F. Base Unit, E.D.A.T.C. A.P.O. 741 c/o P.M., U.S. Army.]

England
January 10, 1945

Dearest Mary:

I am going to try and answer your letter that had 21 pages.  Darling I could write like that Mary just telling you how much I love you and how wonderful you are.

I hope that you are well and getting along allright.  I am getting along just fine Darling that is as good as I can with out you Dearest and I feel just fine.  I am looking forward for my pass so I can get to see my Darling sweet little wife again.  Dearest Hank and I went to the show here at the base tonight, and Darling it was good.  The name of it was Marriage is a Private Affair.  If it ever comes up there be sure and see it.  Darling I am sure glad that we did not do like they did when they got married in the picture.  Dearest they had twin beds one on one side of the room and one on the other.  If it would have been me I would of dumped one of them out the window.  Darling don’t forget what it was about, the show that you and Betty saw that you did not understand.  I want to know Darling what it was.

Dearest I am glad to hear that you have started to eat again.  Dearest I told you that I wanted to see you getting a little fatter.  I don’t know if I am gaining any or not.  I might if I don’t have to drill every week.

Dearest I still think that you should go and see the fellows that I wanted you to, for Darling it might get worse before (somebody) would get to visit.  Dearest I know you try and keep me from knowing, but Darling you know it is no use.

Dearest I guess I will have to just set and read when I am up there the next time and not cause you any more excitement, for I can not stand to have any thing hurt you Darling.  So Dearest if I just sit around and read you will know the reason.

Darling you need not worry about the order I have but one is all ready I am just waiting till it is filled.  Dearest how long will it be before the package arrives?

Darling you said in the letter that I am answering now that you have a bad cold.  Please Dearest take good care of your self and get over it soon.  Darling I sure hope that it gets better soon for I don’t want any thing to hurt you not even a cold.

Darling I am thinking of you all the time.  I had a wonderful dream about us last night.  I will tell you when I see you.  I hope Dearest that you don’t dream and almost choke Mom like you did once.  Dearest just wait till I see Jimmie.  I will have to bring him some candy for making you be still when you are in bed.  Wouldn’t I have some time sleeping with you talking in your sleep all the time.

Darling tell Sheila if she wants herself a Yank git some one else.  Tell her the Dearest Sweetest girl in the world has me all ready.

Darling you can thank them for introducing us the first night, but Dearest I saw you any way and afterwards there was nothing that could of kept me from seeing you, for I loved you the first time I saw you, and Darling I love you more all the time.

I will have to say Good night for now.  I will write tomorrow night.  All my love forever.

Your Loving Husband
Harry.