I’ve been inspired by creative kids to come up with lyrics to fit these trying times.
The song in the video below came to me this morning and I wrote another verse for it. If I could play an instrument or carry a tune in a bucket I’d perform for you. But, here’s my verse for you to sing.
I know a guy who dreams of work
He’d love to be there
About to go berserk
He doesn’t have gloves
He doesn’t have masks
He doesn’t have toilet paper
Although he asks
He uses Quarantine
Quarantine
Quarantine
I wasn’t sure what to title this or how to start. Right now I am typing on my chromebook as I listen to a virtual concert on my laptop. I have been a subscriber to Garden and Gun for a number of years. Today as I read their email I found out there was going to be a virtual concert live tonight. I was able to pass the word along to people I thought might be interested, and then I settled in to listen and I’m having a grand time!
http://luckreunion.com/tilfurthernotice
This whole COVID-19 thing has brought with it a lot of different emotions.
Joy in the way people have pulled together for the good of all – like this free concert. I did donate a little because I was grateful for the entertainment and generosity of the musicians.
Disgust in the way people have gone crazy hoarding toilet paper, and more importantly, meat and potatoes. What are they thinking?
Gratitude for all who have been kind and offered help to others. Including advice on how to schedule the kids at home and stuff like that.
4:00, wallow in self-pity. 4:30, stare into the abyss. 5:00, solve world hunger, tell no one. 5:30, jazzercize; 6:30, dinner with me. I can’t cancel that again. 7:00, wrestle with my self-loathing. I’m booked. Of course, if I bump the loathing to 9, I could still be done in time to lay in bed, stare at the ceiling and slip slowly into madness.” — The Grinch
Community in the conversations I’ve had when I did venture out. Like the woman in Aldi who was clearly trusting in Christ and we shared Bible verses with each other. And the couple in Sprouts – the woman told her husband she was buying “Stress flowers” so I just started a conversation with them. Turns out they were from New Orleans and we agreed that this was worse than how people act when a hurricane is coming. Then there was the lady in the Dollar Tree who told me all about the psychic who predicted all this and then told me all about her bladder infection. I just listened and nodded until I could politely get away. I figured she’d been quarantined a bit and just need to talk.
Doubt about how all this has gone down. Something just doesn’t seem right.
Claude Lacombe:
Mr. Neary, what do you want?Roy Neary:
I just want to know that it’s really happening.From Close Encounters of the Third Kind
In the introduction of Here is New York (originally published in 1949) by E.B. White, Roger Angell, White’s stepson, describes television as, “the biggest altering force of our century”. This was in 1999. I’d say now it’s internet and smartphones.
In the 1950s, TV was considered a form of family entertainment. Today it seems rare for families to sit down watch a show or movie together.
Studies have been made that link childhood obesity and attention disorders to “screen” viewing. This includes television, ipads, game systems, and especially smartphones. Smartphones — now that’s an oxymoron.
There is much debate about the issue of violence on the screen and its influence on viewers, but my opinion is that it numbs the viewer to reality.
As a substitute in high schools I see the downside of the smartphone. I watch students sitting side by side, faces glued to their screen. When they do converse with a classmate, it so often is just to share and laugh at something on their phone, I am not saying all this in innocence. My smartphone has dumbed me down, my computer has wasted so many hours. I take that back – I have done this to myself.
Please turn it off, I’m tired
Of bang bang bang shoot ’em up movies — Bang Bang by The Avett Brothers
So, the Avett Brothers concert last night was great! I’ll write more about it later. They played a song that I wasn’t real familiar with: Distraction #74. There was a verse that took me back to my freshman year of college.
So give me a try at describing just how difficult it is.
When you kinda love two girls to figure out which one you miss.
Stumble away from your stairway with your perfume on my clothes.
Well I kinda loved two girls but now I’ve kinda lost ’em both.
This could have been sung by Jack, though he didn’t really love me. He came to school on the heels of his high school girlfriend, Kathy. But, she was having none of it. Kathy and I lived in the same dorm, same floor, and were familiar with each other.
So, Jack and I met and started dating. His fraternity “Big Brother” and my sorority “Big Sister” were engaged, and that threw us together even more. By and by he and Kathy began dating again, also. Around Valentine’s Day he had the bright idea to send us both flowers. On the same day. To the same dorm. The girls at the front desk figured out what was going on and called us both down to get our flowers. Instead of the expected cat fight, we talked it out, decided he was an idiot, and we became friends. Jack did not like that one bit!
The following year (1978) I got married and Kathy was there to help serve the cake and punch. The last time I saw her was in 1985. I would love to find her now. I haven’t seen Jack since I left school in 1978. All that hilarious drama came flooding back last night when I heard that song.
Thanks, TAB. 🙂
In last week’s Monday Music #11, I introduced you (if you hadn’t heard of them before) to The Dustbowl Revival. I promised to continue down the trail I started, so here goes. This week’s video not only features their song, Never Had to Go, but also one of my all-time favorite actors, Dick Van Dyke, along with his wife. Take a watch/listen!
This next video is of Arlene – watch until the end…
And lastly the cute wedding video…
The summer is gone and along with it a lot of my free time for movie watching. But, I did get some viewing in and here are some of my brief reviews.
A Girl Like Her ( PG-13)
I’m not sure why I picked this one, but I think it is one that could and should be shown in middle schools. It is a much more realistic portrayal of bullying, girl style, than movies such as Mean Girls. You may actually end up with some sympathy for the bully, like I did.
Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)
I just enjoyed this romance, as much for the the lovely clothing as the sweet story line. It also gives a beautiful view of Rome.
The Great Gilly Hopkins (PG)
In view of becoming a foster parent, I wanted to watch this movie. (We are now offically approved foster parents.) I also have great respect for Katherine Paterson, who wrote the book and has a bit part in the movie. There were a few plot points that needed to be fleshed out, but overall it was good and it did move me to a few tears.
That Sugar Film
This documentary will make you really rethink how you look at sugar, unless you already have given it up.
Paper Man
My husband stumbled on this and it was a hit with me! “A washed-up writer forms an unlikely friendship with a teenager from Long Island.” It stars Jeff Daniels and Emma Stone.
Almost Famous
Another movie dealing with a writer, but oh so much more. And I sit here wondering, how did a kid in 1973 gets offered $35 for his first article and here in Alabama in 2015, it was all I could do to wheedle $25 out of the editor of a local magazine for my articles, pictures included?
Mothers and Daughters
Watched this at an emotional time. I cried .
Now, between teaching, fostering, and hurricanes, I haven’t had as much time for movies. I did, however, see May It Last, the Avett Brothers’ documentary, at the local theatre. That’s deserves another post all on its own.
Not In This Soup Alone 