Rants

Middle Age Angst

~ Cave_Guy ~ 15 Comments

I had a road rage incident recently that scared me.

Mainly because after all the years of driving and experiencing every kind of foolish transgression possible to experience

I thought I was immune.

I am not immune and I harbor deep wells of anger

What?

Bad day – happens all the time – it doesn’t matter what I was doing or where I was doing it. Enough to say that on this day I was giving it all I had and seemed to be getting nothing but aggravation back.

But this does not make me special or unique- many people have tougher paths to walk and life is not fair

I know this – I embrace this – I live this

There is nothing I can do about it

So somebody passing me on the road just to pass me should not bother this beat-down hombre

But it did

I punched the pedal to catch up to the offender – I did not know that my poor engine could respond like that – I am surprised that it did not blow up –

Then when he/she (I don’t know who was in that pick-up truck of doom) pulled in to a convenient store I almost pulled in right behind them (thankfully, I did not).

So I could go eyeball to eyeball with the offender.

This would have been bad – logically I knew that nothing good could come from this

Logically, I knew that there was nothing I could do about all the bad stuff that happened to me earlier in the day

But on the road I could –  two vehicles going mano a mano – I have control and I do matter.

This scared me – because I have not felt this anger for 30 years – not since I was a young nerd/punk at a Clash concert – not since I started to know better.

But when we are beat-down and unable to express it we lash out in other ways —–

I get pro-wresting and looting now – I am not above both if my situation was different.

And all of this got me thinking about Paul Westerberg  and how he proclaimed on one summer night when no one was listening.

“Here is one more song —–  if anyone cares”

And The Replacements played this classic.

the crowd was not impressed.

But I was.

And still am.

They were just the warm-up band for Tom Petty – who would follow and play for the faithful and I left early. To this day I still don’t like Tom Petty.

I have angst.

Last of the Buffalo

~ Cave_Guy ~ 11 Comments

buffalo-header

The last great buffalo herd was shot in 1898 yesterday.

I saw it on the news before I went to work – 15 bison running next to the highway in frantic formation.

A taste of what we lost.

I know this is a just a small glimmer of what these beasts once meant.

In a former time they were free to roam and they were legion.

And now we got a few “escaped convicts” from a local meat farm answering their instincts and on the run.

They swam across the Hudson River. They ran across interstate highways.

They moved as one – the adults and the young – these tremendous artifacts of a bygone era.

I have to admit when I saw them running – it made me feel good.

This is what they are supposed to do – run from place to place – in a big country that lets you go forever – they are made for this – battering-ram-monsters of freedom.

“Give me a home where the buffalo roam”

This is friggin’ awesome!

But the wheel has turned

Their time is done.

The farm they escaped from employed a few hunters to gun them down (as was their right, according to officials on the scene) – The State police called it “an ugly affair”  – with one hunter possibly facing criminal charges for refusing to “finish off” a wounded animal. In all, 22 animals were slaughtered if you include a few shot earlier. All agree– there was no other choice – these animals are too big to contain and too dangerous to let run free.

The meat could not be cared for and got to the buffalo butcher for three months, (not many buffalo meat cutters around, I guess) – so it was deemed no good for human consumption.

This is shades of Buffalo Bill and the other wranglers that forced the land to submission by killing and leaving the skinned carcasses to rot where they were dropped.

No food and clothing – no life for the native people that depended on this animal for countless generations.

Build the railroads and build the new America.

The wheels are turning – progress – industrial might and other stuff all coming to a suburb near you.

But first the buffalo had to go.

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/15-buffalo-killed-in-albany/

The last remaining landline will be at my fixed location

~ Cave_Guy ~ 43 Comments

“I am not going quietly into this mobile era of constant and instant availability.”

I am not cool with it.

Everyone I know except me has ditched their landline. I am the last of the Mohicanslandlinians.

When you reach someone on a home phone in a fixed location – they just might have time to connect and have a discussion in a very human and important way – at least they could have – in a bygone era.

That is gone.

“OK Cave guy, you sound like a Neanderthal now – progress is progress – either get on the bus or get run over.”

Here is what we got with the smart mobile era:

First – what is a “good” number for you? They change so often, it is impossible to keep current unless you are in the “circle” who gets the “new number update” – which I didn’t get because I am still on three numbers ago — My bad.

Second – are you a talker or a text-er?… “Oh, I don’t talk anymore or answer voice mails –  Pls txt me btch.”

Third- if I make it through those first two hoops and don’t get a response … now I am being ignored … which means insulted.

And I still haven’t talked to you.

Yeah – this new system is so much better.

And I just want to talk – you know because we are family or friends and that is how we stay that way.

I JUST WANT TO TALK

(sorry, I’m yelling now)

And here is what happens when you do finally get to the mighty castle of “Connection”.

“Oh Hi Wayne, what’s up – I’m just sitting on the toilet at a thruway rest stop, but I saw it was you so I picked up – no problem, just a little stomach bug – go ahead –  what you calling about?”

“Dude- I was just checking in, nothing important”

“Oh-then you should just text me”

“Thanks-I’ll remember that for the next time (which will be never) – sorry to catch you indisposed”

That is how it goes for me so I have basically given up talking to my friends.

Talking on the phone is a lost art.

Gone.

It is replaced by this endless barrage of texting.

And by texting – I think I mean gossiping with words.

We get inane texts to interrupt our work and become inefficient – then while we are enjoying free time – we get inane texts from work to interrupt that. We are always working and always texting. There is no separation of church and state in our lives.

And it is driving us all mad.

This is so much better – “here let me show you another cat video and I just got this app that makes my face look like a squashed pumpkin- this phone is so cool – my whole life is on it.”

I love this phone

I hate this phone

I just wanted to talk– you know about how things are going for you and how things are going for me, and then maybe we feel more connected – and maybe we can help each other if help is needed. You know life – and how to get through it and stuff – but only when you have a few moments.

And that can’t happen anymore – soooo

That is why I blog…It is as close as I can get.

Here is a 5-pack of my favorite Telephone songs.

 Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman

Jim Croce – Operator

E. L. O. – Telephone Line

Rikki Don’t Lose That Number – Steely Dan

Lady Gaga – Telephone

Am I insane on this? And did I miss a great telephone song for my 5-pack? Would love to hear what you guys think.

Can we still be friends? Blogworld

~ Cave_Guy ~ 11 Comments

Can we still be friends?

wpworld

This post is about a failure – I cannot get this sketch to full color illustration (at least, not yet).

I can shelve it for now or throw it out to the world.

Wait!

Nobody is paying me here  – in fact, this blog thing is done mostly as a way for me to journal the progress of me, a regular guy, who likes music – and also takes some photos and draws a little.

Does that make me a music critic or photographer or artist? —-No! … It makes me a blogger in a sea of bloggers doing the same thing.

We are many and we are taking over the world.

This sketch was my attempt at figuring out this crazy world we bloggers operate in.

All these awards, likes, follows and prompts falling from the clouds of blogland.

Brand new bloggers with no clue in their tents writing one simple post and waiting for the magic to happen – here is a hint: It won’t happen by itself.

BUT – that brand new blogger that lights a little campfire by leaving some comments and spreading a little joy by throwing “like” buttons like candy from a parade float.

That guy has a chance.

Looking around this sketch – you might find my website in the neighborhood with the other friendly music bloggers (many thanks to them for letting me move in). 🙂

Here is another hint: If you make your blog about something—-anything—- and tag it as such—the other folks that do that same something/anything will try to help you if you let them.

Let them and visit them.

They will become your friendly “shire” in this crazy world – you will be like Winnie the Pooh having Tigger and Eeyore stop by——-you will move from your tent to a neighborhood on WordPress —NOW- you have a great chance at finding your voice and becoming a real blogger.

Whatever that means?

I think it means that you feel at home with your site and move forward with conviction and passion.

“It’s not much of a tail, but I’m sort of attached to it.” – The wisdom of Eeyore explains how most of us feel about our sites.

So whether you are: music, photo, flowers, conspiracy theory or erotica. Whatever you are – there is a place for you here.

AND – thank you my friends – I am not going to list you and leave people out because this post is about inclusion. But you know who you are!

This sketch will need a follow-up post.

Hopefully I can add some color.

Cheers from the cave!

Buddhism and accepting my Ox-ness

~ Cave_Guy ~ 7 Comments

wall-4

Chichén Itzá wall: photo credit Wayne at Cave of Fame

Road to to Chichén Itzá part 2:

“There are no accidents, there are doorways that will open to change your situation but there are no accidents”.

I am paraphrasing what the Chinese man said to me on a bus ride through the Mexican scrub-land. This is how he, as a Buddhist, approaches his day and his life.

This led to a brief discussion on the linear nature of Christianity and the circular nature of Buddhism with a heavy dose of Chinese Zodiac thrown in the mix.

My animal is a Spring Cow according to this deal.

I am destined as a hardworking-unappreciated-oxen with a life of struggle – strike one up for his religion … pretty much nailed my existence to this point—-“What about those doorways again?”

He was not looking to convert me and I was not looking to convert him – We are just two guys from different cultures having a discussion on a bus over a beer.

I found it fascinating down to my core.

No accidents

Not even one minor slip on the traction of fate?

No.

No accidents.

Weeks later that is still starting to sink in – concepts that hold deep validation tend to churn around in my brain over and over until they find a place to rest.

Less thinking and more doing is always the right path for me – my brain is going to spin endlessly with little result if I let it. Maybe I better get back out in that field and pull that plow? – That is where I am at my best — maybe the dude is right?

The bigger part of me says that all things work together for the good of those with faith.

I have been running on faith for a while now – I got to say that you find yourself in some amazing places when you do that.

Places like this.

When you meet up with other pilgrims on roads to discovery; clashes of thought leave deep impressions. Even different cultures and different beliefs become splashes in the same river of universal truth.

Good is good and bad is bad and we are better helping each other than hurting each other.

My Chinese friend said we get along in this life because we treated each other well in a previous life.

I am really glad I met him and made a new friend (my perspective), which is reacquainting with an old friend (his perspective).

Either way – it works

No accidents.

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/wall/

 

You marking me, Mate?

~ Cave_Guy ~ 8 Comments

ocean-55

You marking me?

That is what the athletic Australian dude said to me in the pool – He said it again, or more like half-yelled it with a little disbelief and disdain thrown in – “You marking me?”

“For as long as I can”  I finally answered and my mind raced around the track of how I got here.

Here is:  Playing a game of football in a pool in Cancun. This did not seem possible – I mean regular people don’t go to Cancun – We go to *Hampton Beach or some other dinky-little-past- its-prime tourist ghetto. We upgrade from McDonald’s to Red Robin and think we are living the dream.

We don’t end up in a pool in Mexico trying to out-swim an Australian—especially one with twenty less years and thirty less pounds of body fat on him.  I think by “marking him”, he means “covering him” – which is indeed what I am trying to do because his team is destroying my team.

This madness must stop – I am going to give it all I got. I could not “mark” him for too long, but at least he went back to his section of the pool.

And my mind is still racing.

Two week-long hospital stays for me with the last one including major surgery since this trip was booked.

There was also about three weeks of recent on and off hospital time for my wife – waiting until two days before we leave before the doctor gives his blessing on the trip. She was in real bad shape only a month ago. We must be insane to leave the United States at a time like this.

We were insane – this is not practical- this is not a good choice.

And we are not financially secure enough to do this: we are just at the point that we are starting to turn the tide – instead of the wolf barking at the door – he is out in the drive-way yelping. But he ain’t going away for a few years yet, even if we stay on track.

What will our neighbors think? – What will our family think?

We should be home and miserable.

This is insane.

My wife simply stated that we have no idea what the future will bring and that we have never been anywhere tropical and that her one wish for this family is we do that please-and that we do it now, while we still can.

So that is how I found myself on the blue team for gametime in a pool in Cancun. We got shellacked by the red team by the way. I mean – you must be crazy to try an’ out-swim an Australian, right?

Yeah, we were crazy.

And we still are.

Thanks to my wife for making us take the best vacation this family has ever had.

 

*Hampton Beach, New Hampshire – a dinky-little-past-its-prime tourist ghetto.

 

 

Hozier – Wondier or Wankier?

~ Cave_Guy ~ 5 Comments

When I first heard “Take me to Church” – I completely lost it – “What is this crap spewing forth from my new favorite radio station?”

And it kept spewing:

It made the song of the day

It made the song of the week

It made the friggin’ song of the year

Hozier is the anointed saint of music for 2014 and I hate this song!!!!

hate-this-song

A hymn about sex – and it is not subtle

Not even a little bit

It blends two things that don’t blend well in a clunky and brutal manner – like say — one of those weird Japanese desert flavors.

Grab two scoops of == Whale Shark Ice Cream ==

I love Whale Sharks – soothingly beautiful giants gently coasting in pristine blue tropical waters —- and who doesn’t like ice cream?

But together? – I get a reaction like I get from this song. It is a queasiness in my spirit.

And this fish is not even cooked – just chopped up and mixed in.

Yuck!  Stop it!

I hate this song and all it stands for.

 

And now for something completely different:

Angel of Small Death & the Codeine Scene – Hozier

This is soulful and rich. It has nodes of gospel and blues. It is intense – this dude is from Memphis, right?

No—-Ireland? —- And it is that same guy who perpetrated the gratuitous crime of a song detailed at the start of this post?

Huh?

Color me with a big ol’ paintbrush of converted to this beat.

This is a great song.

Yes, it mixes genres up – but the blend is tasty this time around.

This is ===Raspberry Swirled Vanilla with a Chocolate drizzle === [or whatever epic flavor you want to add].

Bitter raspberry on cool vanilla with quality rich cocoa – does not get better than this.

Cheers from the Cave!

 

 

Notes on the title for this post:

Wondier is “Wonder” with that Hozier “i” added. (I know, hilarious wordplay)

Wankier is “Wanker” with that Hozier “i” added. For further explanation of the word “Wanker” – I suggest you move to England or simply watch “Spinal Tap” —in fact, everyone should watch Spinal tap at least once every 5 years to remind themselves of the beauty and tragedy with humor in all of rock music.

This year’s nominees are (mostly) wack!-Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame 2015

~ Cave_Guy ~ 9 Comments

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – Here starts the “one hit wonder” phase for the hall.

“Hey dude-Joan Jett rocked and she was hot-I know she had another song after  I love Rock and Roll – I just can’t think of it –hang on let me google this.”

If that is the typical reaction- I ask you – Hall worthy? – I think not.

Bill Withers – at least his “one” hit was so good that I almost don’t have to list it.  Ain’t no Sunshine is something else –but again –I have to google to find something else.

Before you say that I am not a dedicated music fan because I don’t know the catalog of these important artists — really —- seriously —- Music fans are crazy and subjective —but find me one – just one— that had either of these “classic-serious-music-stars” tattooed on them anywhere – I don’t care how drunk they were!!!

It has not happened.

 

Now let’s get to serious Artists:

In the spirit of: We need to add Ringo because all the other Beatles are in separately and we need the complete set.

“Let’s make up an award that will fit him.”

Hey- I got it – he always chooses excellent musicians to hang out with- how about AWARD FOR MUSICAL EXCELLENCE—Really RRHOF? If Joan Jett gets in for her insightful lyrics—why not man up and put Ringo in for his great writing like … “no no no no I don’t smoke it no more, I’m tired of waking up on the floor.”

I blame the  Kiss induction of last year for these “treasures” going in. It lowered the bar and declared open season in Cleveland for all the flash.

The others I have no problem with:

Lou Reed and SVR are icons. If you ever heard “Sweet Jane” on the radio or were ever lucky enough to be there when Stevie stepped on a wah wah pedal—MAGIC BABY, MAGIC!

Paul Butterfield is good honest hardworking blue-collar blues.

Green Day is an actual successful rock band in an era devoid of actual successful rock bands.

I don’t know -The “5” Royales – but I will give the hall the benefit of the doubt.

 

BUT-deny “The Smiths”?  Whatever you think of Morrissey- this band was a game changer.

I also would have put Kraftwerk in ahead of that first batch I mentioned.

But hey- I am just a simple blogger.

Cheers from the cave!

 

 

 

 

New York and a Radiohead Mood.

~ Cave_Guy ~ 6 Comments

Item One:

Some dude walks around N.Y.C with a hatchet and takes random whacks at people in uniform- we think he might be a terrorist, or maybe a whacko—or a combo of the two—–and this could be a copycat deal that will spread across the country like the ice bucket challenge.

Not only are we afraid of an isolated brutal act—we are afraid of it trending on twitter and turning into a plaque of insanity.

Item Two:

A doctor risks his life to go to Ebola ground zero and work with “Doctors without Borders” – helping those that are in more trouble and lack more resources than us reasonable people can imagine.

This guy is a hero.

No wait-he caught that crap-The dude brought that shit back to Brooklyn—his neighbors are calling him a big jerk face scumbag.  Ebola is here.

Shut down all flights in and out of Africa right now!

This and other reasons (which I don’t wish to discuss) make me reach for something to pour on my wounded psyche.

Radiohead works.

I love you creepy bastards- I am starting to feel better already.

Muted Cheers from the Cave!

In other news: I have been working on my blog by taking the “Blogging 201” thingee that is going on now-

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/courses/blogging-201-branding-and-growth/

You may notice some changes as I clear my vision and put a little pizazz in my “brand”—Oh yeah- I am a brand baby!