all my powers of expression & thoughts so sublime could never do you justice in reason or rhyme...

Christie's birthday is tomorrow, & I've thought about 10 different ways to start this blog about her, but they all seem rather silly to me. First, I wanted to tell a story about the first time we met, but I don't think a story about how she was expecting me to be my friend Ryan would really do her birthday justice. She says that I never talked to her too much, I just think I was scoping her out & playing hard to get. I was trying really hard not to beat her in darts. I also won't tell you about how on our third date I took her to see a crude movie (Clerks II, not nearly as brilliant as the original), or how I thought the place we went on our first date was perfect but she didn't think so. I was going to compare to the 1984 Detroit Tigers since she was born that year, but that probably wouldn't come off right. So, I'll just tell you how happy she's made me. Had you told me when I was 25 that I'd have a dog sleeping in my bed, a stereo with country music presets, that I'd some day see Carrie Underwear in concert, that I frequently watch What Not to Wear & that I'd be enjoying every minute of it, I'd spit in your eye. That's just how she is, though. She'll make you enjoy something you never thought you would. She's beautiful, intelligent, loving & compassionate & I'm a very lucky man.

Happy Birthday. Haha, you're going to hate that I posted that picture, but Winston really wanted it included.

Five Favorite Songs of the Day

Our Town-Iris Dement

Under the Red Sky-Bob Dylan, Masonic Temple, Detroit April 12, 2005

Gimme Shelter-The Rolling Stones

Suzanne-Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

Chicago-Sufjan Stevens, Illinois

Happy Monday, friends...

andrew

Advances on spirit & your soul

At a time when I think our company might be better served to condense it's hours of business due to slumping sales, it does the opposite, making it mandatory for every store to be open Sunday & an hour later during weekdays. That's an added 11 hours a week with no more hours added to the budget, probably to be absorbed by yours truly. I've been told that nobody higher up than me wants to hear any complaints or arguments as to why this might not be a good idea, that's usually a good indicator that it's not a good idea. But what do I know?

In other news, our castle is in a state of transition as we prepare to put our floor in next weekend. I can't fully enjoy sitting in my favorite chair knowing that the ominous stack of flooring next to me needs to be reckoned with.

Five Favorite Songs of the Day

Billy-Bob Dylan, Stockholm, Sweden March 23, 2009 Bob Dylan debuted this song from 1973 at his first show of 2009, a mighty fine outing, if you ask me.



One More Cup of Coffee (the Valley Below)-Bob Dylan, Oslo March 25, 2009

To Go Home-M. Ward

Northern Sky-Nick Drake, Bryter Later



I Believe In You-Bob Dylan, Stockholm, Sweden March 23, 2009



Happy Thursday, friends...

andrew

What am I gonna do when I run out of lawn to mow?

One of the trade offs of being happily married is that the break up & unrequited love songs just don't have the same sting to them. I've been listening to the George Jones classic A Good Year for the Roses a lot lately, though. What a perfect country song, it paints such a clear picture I can see the table that the ashtray sits on & the baby's room down the hall & the unkempt lawn.
The second verse tells you that a wife is leaving his husband, but the facts of their marriage don't tell nearly as much as the inanimate objects of the first verse. I'm not sure what happened to country music since this song came out, but I wish it would more closely resemble this.

I can hardly bear the sight of lipstick
On the cigarettes there in the ashtray
Lyin' cold the way you left 'em
But at least your lips caressed them while you packed
Or the lip-print on a half-filled cup of coffee
That you poured and didn't drink
But at least you thought you wanted it
that's so much more than I can say for me

What a good year for the roses
Many blooms still linger there
The lawn could stand another mowin'
Funny I don't even care
As you turn to walk away
As the door behind you closes
The only thing I have to say
It's been a good year for the roses

After three full years of marriage
It's the first time that you haven't made the bed
I guess the reason we're not talkin'
There's so little left to say we haven't said
While a million thoughts go racin' through my mind
I find I haven't said a word
From the bedroom the familiar sound
Of one baby's cryin' goes unheard

What a good year for the roses
Many blooms still linger there
The lawn could stand another mowin'
Funny I don't even care
As you turn to walk away
As the door behind you closes
The only thing I have to say
It's been a good year for the roses



Along the same theme is a song by Wilco, in which the singer tries to tell himself that if he only cleaned the house & did the laundry & kept the small little details of the house going that it would bring back the wife that's left him.

Hate it Here I try to stay busy I do the dishes, I mow the lawn I try to keep myself occupied Even though I know you’re not coming home I try to keep the house nice and neat I make my bed I change the sheets I even learned how to use the washing machine But keeping things clean doesn’t change anything What am I gonna do when I run out of shirts to fold? What am I gonna do when I run out of lawn to mow? What am I gonna do if you never come home? Tell me, what am I gonna do? I hate it I hate it here When you’re gone I caught myself thinking I caught myself thinking once again Have to try to keep my mind out of this Try not to pretend I’ll check the phone I’ll check the mail I’ll check the phone again and I call your mom She says you’re not there and I should take care I hate it here When you’re gone I hate it I hate it here When you’re gone I try to stay busy I take out the trash, I sweep the floor Try to keep myself occupied Cause I know you don’t live here anymore

Five Favorite Songs of the Day

Hate it Here-Wilco, Sky Blue Sky

I just read there's a new Wilco album in the works soon!

A Good Year for the Roses-George Jones

If Anybody Gets Funked Up (It's Gonna Be You)-George Clinton & the P Funk All Stars, The Totally Awesome Power of a Fully Operation Mothership

If I Should Fall From Grace With God-The Pogues, If I Should Fall From Grace With God

Bertha-the Grateful Dead

Happy Wednesday, friends...

andrew

I'm ready to go anywhere...

Before I met Christie, I'd never seen the ocean, let alone take a week long vacation. So, here it is, two vacations within one year. I'm off to Florida, today. I hope the ocean is still blue.

Five Favorite Songs of the Day

Overpowered by Funk-The Clash, Combat Rock

Watching the Detectives-Elvis Costello

Caroline-Old Crow Medicine Show, Tennessee Pusher

This Side of the Blue-Joanna Newsom, The Milk Eyed Mendor

White Winter Hymnal-The Fleet Foxes

Happy Sunday, friends...

andrew