Spitball Army

Girl with a cell phone inserted into the left side of her face:

He was like, “Ugh,” & I was like, “What?” & he was like, “That’s right,” & I was like, “No way!” & he was like, “Okay.”

Card is titled: “South Entrance to Red Rocks, Denver Mountain Parks, Colorado.”

Printed on back of post card:

The south entrance to the Park of the Red Rocks leads through many of the large red rock formations which abound in the park. Located only fifteen minutes ride from Denver, this park is Denver’s most popular scenic attraction.

Publishing information:

Pub. by Elmer C. Clark, 739 Marion St., Denver, Colo.

It is that favorite season of the year for me: Autumn. Two years ago, I put together a playlist that suited the Fall, then reposted it the following Autumn. I couldn’t think of a better time to post it again, so I guess this has become an annual event. What follows is the Autumn playlist post from last year:

Today’s playlist was actually posted about one year ago on this website, before the Fred FM playlists had become a regular feature. At that time, Autumn had already given way to Winter, and that most freeing of seasons was only a memory. This year, Autumn once again hit me like a big therapeutic whack in the head and heart, jolting me from the physical and emotional coma that I enter once the Alabama humidity – that unwelcome guest – settles in for its exagerratedly long visit. What I wrote in December of 2009 is true again this year:

I’ve lived in three vastly different geographic areas in my life, each of their shortcomings almost completely redeemed by meteorologic characteristics. In Boston, though I loved the snowy, frigid winters, the coming of Spring was like a physical awakening each year, as I traded my subway passcard for a bicycle that would take me to work along the blooming Charles River, or just into the Squares of Cambridge for a coffee or a movie. Southern California has few shortcomings, really, but my rare grievances with the place – such as the seemingly endless sprawl – are erased by the year-round spectacular mildness of the weather. In the American South, I’ve become sadly accustomed to three months of indoor, air-conditioned living. And, like the emergence of the Bostonian from the stranglehold of Winter into the freedom of Spring, I emerge from my cool Alabama refuge (read: house) to a crisp, outdoor wonderland of dying leaves, mulch piles, harvest holidays and, again, bike riding.

In this state, and of all the seasons it’s shown me, I truly love Autumn the most. Despite all the dying leaves and musty piles of mulch.

If I were to make playlists for the seasons of California, each would likely sound like the others: sunny, bouncy, relatively happy. A playlist for Spring in the Boston/Cambridge area would be peppered with references to new life, greenery, and things that glide (sculls on the river, bikes along the shore). A playlist themed around Autumn in Alabama – much like a similar playlist for Autumn in Massachusetts – would be about serenity, changes (in the sports seasons, the weather and colors in nature), a new academic year, my favorite holiday (Thanksgiving), contemplation, and an awareness of the temporal state in which we exist.

The Autumn playlist I put together this year has a purposeful musical shimmer to it, a nod to the delicacy of the natural world here which, to me, is the constant thread through all of these songs – more important than any specific lyrics, melodies or artists. You can hear that “shimmeriness” most strongly in Calexico’s “Two Silver Trees,” Daniel Lanois’ instrumental “In Crystal,” and in the otherworldly organ and background vocals in Bamboo’s “Girl of the Seasons,” but if you listen for it in any of these songs, you’ll surely hear it. And there is a loose narrative thread in this playlist, as well, if you’re looking for it.

It is now December, we’ve already had snowfall in Birmingham, and the winter solstice is but two weeks away. I’m hanging on to my shimmering, jangly favorite Southern season by spinning this playlist on a CD in my truck every day.

So, before Autumn escapes us once more…

1. American Football “The Summer Ends” (1999)
2. Volebeats “September Spell” (2005)
3. Whiskeytown “Empty Baseball Park” (1995)
4. Neil Young “Dreamin’ Man” (1992)
5. Nick Drake “Cello Song” (1969)
6. Bamboo “Girl of the Seasons” (1968)
7. My Morning Jacket “Golden” (2003)
8. Ryan Adams “Halloween” (2000)
9. Norah Jones “Carnival Town” (2004)
10. Ana Egge “Apple Tree” (2004)
11. Cat Power “Wild is the Wind” (2000)
12. The Handsome Family “The Winding Corn Maze” (2009)
13. Billie Holiday “Gone with the Wind” (1955)
14. Calexico “Two Silver Trees” (2008)
15. Great Lake Swimmers “I Am Part of a Large Family” (2007)
16. Ray Davies “Thanksgiving Day” (2005)
17. Josh Ritter “You’ve Got the Moon” [acoustic] (2008)
18. The Bees (aka The Silver Seas) “Sea of Stars” (2004)
19. Graham Nash “Sleep Song” (1971)
20. Daniel Lanois “In Crystal” (2008)

[audio:Autumn_Playlist.mp3]

Approximate playing time: 80 minutes.

[V-mail addressed to Ralph N., Richmond, California.  Return addressed to E.R.G., C.M. 3/C, 55th Battalion, Company D, Platoon 4, c/o FPO San Francisco, California. Envelope postmarked 7 March 1944 at 10 p.m.]

March 1 – 44

Hi ya Ralph –

Got your V-mail a few days ago so reckon it’s about high time I was answering it.  We never know how much mail is coming in so I hate to get too far behind on my answers.  One of these nights I must write to an Army nurse I met on Xmas day and had my picture taken with.  I understand they would like copies of the pictures so that’s a good excuse for writing.  They live (in peacetime) just south of S.F. so who knows what may work out from it.  Thanks for the news on my post-war chances of surviving.  We don’t get much late dope on those things.  Glad to hear I’ll have a fighting chance anyway.  Fact is, I even wouldn’t mind getting on as a crew member on one of your new Victory ships.  Sea life appeals to me quite a bit.  Hard to tell though, this far ahead of time.  Watch out for those female welders and chippers, if any!

So long
Bud.

Was alarmed to hear that someone axed the President, then realized that it was merely a linguistic offense on “Politics Nation with Rev Al Sharpton.”

Alison Krauss is a pop-oriented bluegrass singer. Alison Krause was a victim of the 1970 Kent State shooting.

[V-mail addressed to Ralph N., Richmond, California.  Return addressed to E.R.G., C.M. 3/C, 55th Battalion, Company D, Platoon 4, c/o FPO San Francisco, California. Envelope postmarked 27 February 1944 at 8:30 p.m.]

Feb. 21 – 44.

Dear Ralph –

Yes, it’s time, we are actually getting seven more days of leave.  Aren’t you jealous?  How’s about after our leave and our possible next job?  Are you jealous and want in on that too?  It looks like our Navy is really beginning to go to work up north, doesn’t it?  Of course, you realize that each step they take means more work for us guys, don’t you?  Maybe if we’re lucky we’ll be home next fall.  Your letter sounds like they are really clamping down around there.  I guess it’s about time something was done.  No more sleeping in the double bottoms now I guess.  There’s always room in the New Guinea jungles for those that don’t like the new system (at a much smaller salary).  Things are sure looking up over here, morale is high, lots of activity, in fact the push is on at last.  Hope we get in amongst it before long.  Take it easy in the meantime and lots of luck.

So long –
Bud.

Want to be endlessly entertained on Twitter? Do a hashtag search for #phew and be amazed at all of the drama. Or just follow this link: http://twitter.com/#!/search/%23plhew.

Card is titled: “V550:-The Seven Bends of the Shenandoah River and Shenandoah Valley, Virginia.  45507.”

Handwritten on the front of the card:

This is like the views coming here on train.

Text of written message:

Dear Mom, Paul & Julia

Am sending $20.00 by registered mail. Hold this for me – I know I’ll need it before next pay day – ore some of it. Will write as I need it. Have been receiving a letter from you about every day. I can’t find much to write about – P. Barrett is in the Pacific – he’s only been in about 6 months – Hope it stops raining out there – I bet you got a lot of weeds growing out at farm. Can’t think of any thing I need – if that swim suit is full of moth holes don’t send it – I’ll buy one here – I wrote Jim Chapman a card about 1 week ago. On Federal stamp for Car – didn’t have to fill one out last time either – There is only one swimming beach near town. Will not swim in any old creek. Received a carton of Chesterfields from those 3 at Laclede – Jack Jones  Helen G. – Miss Lonergan. Mailed you copy of Camp Pickett news book on last [indecipherable] for my outfit page.

6/29

Publishing information:

Published by Asheville Post Card Co., Asheville, N.C.

Sunday: the first day of the week, the last day of the week, or, if you work at Lowe’s Home Improvement, the second day of the week. And, somehow, despite its temporal confusion, it’s still the day of the week that seems to inspire more songwriters than its six counterparts.  Here are a few of the products of that inspiration.

Approximate playing time: 77 minutes.

1. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass  “Never on Sunday”  (1962)
2. Laura Nyro  “I Met Him on a Sunday”  (1971)
3. ‘Til Tuesday  “On Sunday”  (1986)
4. Morrissey  “Everyday Is Like Sunday”  (1990)
5. The Beach Boys  “Sweet Sunday”  (1978)
6. The Velvet Underground  “Sunday Morning”  (1967)
7. Tom Rush  “Rockport Sunday”  (1968)
8. Moby  “Sunday (The Day Before My Birthday)”  (2002)
9. The Doobie Brothers  “Another Park, Another Sunday”  (1974)
10. Spanky & Our Gang  “Sunday Will Never Be the Same”  (1967)
11. Paul Simon  “Sunday Afternoon” (from The Capeman)  (1997)
12. Peppermint Rainbow  “Will You Be Staying After Sunday?”  (1969)
13. Neil Diamond  “Sunday Sun”  (1968)
14. Bing Crosby  “Sunday, Monday or Always”  (1943)
15. Mel Tormé  “Gloomy Sunday”  (1958)
16. Kris Kristofferson  “Sunday Morning Coming Down”  (1970)
17. Charles Brown  “A Sunday Kind of Love”  (1994)
18. The Monkees  “Pleasant Valley Sunday”  (1967)
19. Joe Jackson  “Sunday Papers”  (1979)
20. Kiki Dee  “The Day Will Come Between Sunday and Monday”  (1970)
21. The Doors  “Blue Sunday”  (1970)
22. Blondie  “Sunday Girl”  (1978)