Hi and welcome to the Attic, I'm Frankenberry of said Blog Title and I write of just my everyday here, sometimes funny, sometimes heartfelt, sometimes angry, sometimes funny again because, well, who don't like funny, thoughts on getting older and sometimes stuff that's just kinda shit. I pen and sing the occasional parody tune and other songs, sometimes I even get a little bit poetic or short story-etic or something like that. If you're joining me here I thank you, but just mind your head and feet and keep an eye out for my little Bella and Cricket The Blind as well as the memories of Raspberry (Razzy), Mimi the Quirky, of Blink The Lil' Kit, Grayson the Mighty, Shoes the Big Orange, Shana-Girl, Benny Good Man Benny Brown, Merlin & Bob. Wouldn't want you step on them or anything … 'cause then I might just have to throw you down the stairs … damned humans.
Earlier in the week I came across someone new to me through Sadje, a friend at dVerse Poets.
She is GirlieOnTheEdge and offers prompts for Six Sentence Stories, an idea I liked, like some of the 144 word Flash Fiction prompts you can find at dVerse, though with six sentences allowed that gives me a bit more room. I also knew I liked Girlie from the get go as this particular prompt mentioned “The Alarm” as part of her inspiration, an old fave band reminded from my undergrad and then graduate school days (in the current season and for other reasons I suddenly longed for “Rain in the Summertime”).
The Prompt?
PROMPT WORD: WIND
//////////////////////////////////////////
The Wind and the “Epistle”
Coming up from below deck after a lengthy search, top to bottom, of what appeared an abandoned fourth-rate named “Epistle”, Martins declared across bows to his Captain that she was indeed abandoned though he marveled that he had never seen anything quite like this ornate fitted construction, with nary a nail, nor some of the letters he had found in the captain’s empty quarters.
Captain Richard, with a curious though determined look, turned and directed the crew of “The Resolution” to board and see what could possibly be salvaged, if anything, just as Martins heard a voice from behind him saying “but I am here” though, on a turn’s look inspection, he saw not a soul.
Just then a sudden unexpected and fierce wind picked up and roiled what had, only moments before, been serene, placid seas below blue white speckled skies but those skies came to a sudden dark clouded anger, the sails filled flush, puffed out like the deep breath chest of an unnaturally sized, large winged vengeful bird to rival those of ancient sea beasts beneath the waves that seemed to stir with this wind’s dark cries of anguish and fear telling of stories warned.
Lightning crashed and stung about the tops of the sail masts, torrential rains drowned cries and pleadings of God, water beast tails as large as their own ship’s sails rose from above the waves only to dive out of fear, the heavens blackened loud and bellowed louder.
Captain Richard lost footing on deck, fearing his grip, slipping confused and disoriented, as did his crew, but, regaining his balance for a moment he turned to warn Martins to return only to find that he and the “Epistle” were no longer there and that the seas and skies, only seconds earlier filled with a storm’s rage, such as he had never witnessed in all his years at sea, came to a sudden calm again almost as if they hadn’t been changed at all, as if they hadn’t ever been anything other than what they were before in their calm, with skies returned to the blue of white floating speckles, as if in a languid painting, the sea flat again, but Richard swore, to his end of days spent in the throes of madness, that he saw the waters of the ocean drop off the edge of the world in the distance, off of a flat earth, just as he heard Martins, faintly, in the wind implore “but I am here”.
Standing in uneasy stunned silence Richard took measure … before then realizing that they should turn back, quickly, pointing “The Resolution” towards home but also before the knowing of the court martial and subsequent murder trial he would face of a missing crewman, Ross P Martins, upon his return.
Did you know that Donald Trump wears a Top Hat to bed and old time megaphones in his sleep from atop a box in a center ring?
Did you know that JD Vance dreams of how to match his collection of brown shirts with the right tie “Black, no Black, Black, dammit!!” to really make the outfit work.
Did you know that Kristi Noem played war games when she was a child?
Did you know that Kash Patel spells FBI “F’in’ Beeaatch Investigations” and would never seek unwarranted retribution for his boy?
Did you know that Senator Bill Cassidy isn’t actually a doctor? He just plays one, poorly, on the Senate floor?
Did you know that RFK Jr is a horrible dancer? I mean that’s obvious as he has two left foot truths for everything.
Did you know that Karoline Leavitt wears a cross to ward off evil leftist thoughts like they were vampires and keeps a clove a garlic in her purse? (and also because she is just superstitious … religion’ll do that … she wears the same embroidered cross socks to every press brief just in case and to cover herself from the bottom up)
Did you know that Mitch McConnell will never EVER be able to redeem himself for what he has wrought, no matter his votes? (yes, I said “wrought’ … what of it?!)
Did you know that Elon Musk dreams wistfully and longingly of days of Apartheid?
Did you know that to highlight his bonifides as a President of the people Trump and his disciples have put, and put, as many people out of work as they possibly can?
Did you know that I boiled eggs last night? I’m selling them for 5 bucks a pop. The hot sauce is extra.
Did you know that Marjorie Taylor Greene thinks Big Bird is real but a leftist plant, a tall one, indoctrinating kids with letters from A to D that that are sent from Jewish spy laser letter satellites burning coastal elites to learn them some biblical letter vengeance, only from A to D though. The rest she just finds confusing.
Did you know that the Gulf of Mexico just flat out disappeared? I mean, it’s not there, it’s just a really big coastal hole now, so much for vacationing, somebody call the FBI to investigate! … oh, wait
Did you know that Vladimir Putin likes Vodka and plays a drinking game with all his consonant heavy friends at the ongoing news?
Did you know Elon Muck-about, though some call him Leon … hold on, he’s already here on this list, is still dreaming white supremacist dreams like he did as a kid.
Did you know that Tucker Carlson is not out of sight out of mind (though the world can dream) and is a Russian State Hero?
Did you know that Jesse Watters has the IQ of a house plant and house plants are pissed off at the correlation. Not fair says “Spider” I know says “Ponytail Bonsai” and “Dieffenbachia” concurs at a google search of house plants.
Did you know that DOGE also stands for Day Of Gross Elon and Self Interest and Making Shit Up While I Rake In The Dough of All of My Conflict of Interest Government Contracts but DOGEDIMSUWIRITDOAOMCOIGC was a little long.
Did you know that Pam Bondi was the second choice for Attorney General AFTER Matt Gaetz, you were AFTER Matt Gaetz Pam. that’s gotta hurt a little, “But at least I didn’t traffic her across state lines” was her defense in confirmation hearings
Did you know that Tulsi Gabbard was Russian operative?
Did you know that Sharks shouldn’t be concerned with plastic straws as they’re eating, as they’re munching their way through the ocean?
Did you know that Canada would gladly give up universal healthcare and autonomy and a national identity to become our fifty third, or fifty first state depending on who falls first after Greenland and a stretch of water “What? A canal can’t be a state?”
Did you know that the sky is whatever color we tell you it is?
Did you know that Netanyahoo-whoooohoo was on board with some ethnic cleansing and is already dreaming of his toes in the sand?
Did you know that all of this true, that Karoline Leavitt said it was so, ok maybe not in so many words but she did promise to not tell a lie right from the get go, and we’ve seen how spectacularly unwell that has gone thus far and right in front of us too at a podium with some sort of seal while Sarah Hucksterbee Sanders surely cheered her chutzpah at selling poison in a bottle of cure-all lie tonic. At a podium with a seal. At a fucking podium. Podiums are huge!!
While she silently thanks the heavens for that clove of garlic in her purse, and her superstitious Christian socks from the bottom up, I’m sure she is questioning her life choices, unless she isn’t, then, sadly, she is lost to us.
Been a while for a tune, I have a couple of new things ready to go as there is plenty of end of freedom and liberty days material to work with right now, attempts at destroying democracy’ll do that, but it seems that I am a bit of a Diva and am not quite comfortable yet in my new station digs (plus I still have to figure out how the hell to configg’r one of the studios available to me to get it just right).
Anyway, though a year old with a few dated moments, and one I have posted here a couple of times before (if you’ve already heard this feel free to just ignore me, I get that a lot so …) but this one still works … and is still pretty catchy if I do say.
Cheers Bob
/////
May 11, 2024
Earlier this week I was searching YouTube for something from a tribute band for a show of theirs coming up around here that I could use for building a commercial and Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody” was on the YouTube page. Don’t know why (maybe the YouTube gods were trying to tell me something) but it popped up among all the other “Steve similar things” that are always there, cat and dog rescue videos, movie and show trailers, sci-fi short films, new tunes alien to me but maybe in my “like-house” of artists etc, etc. (that knowing of me, even though I/we should all be well accustomed to such by now, can still be a little unsettling).
Anyway, it’s a Dylan tune I had never heard, or at least I can’t remember that I had but when I played it for a few bars I thought, well, ok, I think I might actually know this and it just happened to be right in my song wheelhouse and could definitely work for a new something if I could find a workable instrumental version.
After getting that tribute band’s spot done I did then find an instrumental version of it and, while referencing that two part Trump interview where he layed out in stark detail his plans for a new dictatorial reign, I got to workin’ …
Gonna Wanna Rule Somebody
You may be a wished dictator who’s scripting a dream
Of what to do in year 25 with a right’s loyalist team
Who’r mapping out a dire plan where democracy it seems
Is no longer a real player in the grandest of red schemes
.
And you’re gonna wanna rule somebody, yes indeed
And you’re gonna wanna king somebody
It may be those already on the devil’s dark page
Or those forced to take new stage
.
Body vessels are the targets in this new SCOTUS age
The ones who stand up try prevent women in a cage
The ones who had temerity to think body autonomy
But in this new world order legislating you’s the rage
.
Yeah, you’re gonna wanna rule somebody, yes you are
And you’re gonna wanna lord somebody
You’ll make women understand that they just don’t have a say
Instead monitored by state
.
You may be undesirable in this grand U S of A
An invader less than human is all he will have to say
To rile up the base while he drives all you away
The military will be called upon slap down to make point’s sway
.
Yeah, you’re gonna wanna rule somebody, yes you are
You’re gonna wanna lord somebody
You’ll make those who just don’t belong go back to where they’re from
Yeah, you’re gonna wanna king somebody
.
You may be a protester on campus wantin’ say
You hate the inhumanity that you’re seeing day by day
That you’re not an anti this that or even a pro that
You just hate women and children wearing dead pawn hats
.
But they’re gonna wanna rule somebody, yes indeed
They’re gonna wanna use your naivete
To gain an in ground against hated college elites
They’re gonna wanna rule somebody
.
And you may be example of future disputes
To quell freedom of speech tear it out by the roots
Teach that protest is only what they will agree
You are no patriots like Jan 6 ones who would see
That he gets chance to rule somebody, yes indeed
Gets chance for a new autocracy
That there will be no dissent that doesn’t come with intent
To help him rule somebody
.
You might like use projection to describe your enemies
Accuse them of harboring fascist wills and dreams of tyranny
You’ll even claim reverse discrimination of dear whitey
You’ll say that anti-white feeling can’t happen in this great country
.
And you’re gonna wanna lord somebody, yes you are
And you’re gonna wanna take us back
To a time where white man ruled
And others minded their P’s & Q’s
You’re gonna wanna white everybody
.
You may call yourself disciple of the MAGA ways
Protect yourself on his good side fearful of vengeful days
You may even say that fascism’s not that bad just give it play
As we’ve heard too often now from MAGA’s praying new Trump day
.
Well, you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes it’s him
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil, while the lord sits this one out
Been a bit of a, I won’t say weird, but weird week (Jesus, those pipes doing pipe things in old houses sound like someone was just finishing up a shower upstairs) though I’ve surely heard weirder in other times, the usual solitary ones, in other old houses, but I have been in this one alone since Tuesday (and who the fuck is in the shower? Beck didn’t warn me of any old haunts like someone died in this place but just wants to stay clean in the limbo life and thus the great deal she got) just me and the cats, mine and hers “No Arthur you are not going out, I don’t care which door you sit at, that shit is not happenin’. You ain’t goin’ out. I will NOT be accomplice to you being an Arthur that is no longer an Arthur before Beck comes home! I already announced to you, days ago, that while I’m the new Momma cat guy ’round here you are a house cat!”
My sis, Beck, took off on Tuesday earlier this week, along with nephew Matt and Beck’s guy Buck whose last name is Rogers, he was a pilot, and they called him “Buck”, Buck Rogers, get it? that’s just cool, to see my other nephew, Jake, graduate from basic in the Navy and be all Mom proud amid coughs and sniffles and frog throats like the devil had found a voice and trips to the Walgreens cold and flu aisle before she left, damned if she wasn’t going to be allowed to cough anything up on him other than tears of that said pride. “No Jake, my tears of joy are just a little gloopy, sticky green is the color of love, you’ve made me so proud!”
And he did and he does.
But the weird was the silence. I’ve grown so accustomed now, new, over the last six months or so, to the loud of the garage door announcing me when I come home to Beck in the kitchen doing a Beck kitchen with pots and pans and loud smells, to the loud of Ricki, aka chunky pants, if a bowling ball were covered in tortoise cat fur and had a head, meowing at me in her smoker sounding kinda way when I open the door to the house from out the garage hoping for a treat from this guy, while Beck reminds that Cricket the Blind was doing her loud Cricket meowls from downstairs earlier, calling for me, to the loud jingle of collars of Sephira running away from me and Arthur just staring at the interloper, who might or might not let him out whatever door he keeps sitting at with an equally loud jingly collar, but there was a kind of silence the last few days and it was a bit jarring.
I mean, the loud of jingly collars and smoker cats was still loud around the place but it was a bit muted, subdued, minus that Momma human cat or a nephew to hold Arthur like a sack of beans until a squirm’s gleeful angry meow says “enough”
There is also that this coming week is the one where we lay my mom to rest “Oh, bloody hell Stephen will you all just get on with it already!” after she passed away a couple of weeks ago now with us on hand, almost, Matt, Buck and I, but Beck? She was the true witness of time passed with an Ok allowed thankful exhale.
And I don’t even know what to wear, well, I do, but I really need to bring that suit out of a storage bin and air it out or maybe even buy something new, fresh. Now that is a daunting thought as I don’t really do clothes, not well anyway.
But Jake looked fantastic and picture proud in a text from Beck of him having survived to get to shiny shoes and a tie perfect Navy collar and hat you could roll a cat ball around for some fun. I sent a dearest of friend a pic of him in the midst of our radio show prep together in his blues … is that what they call them in the Navy, blues? I’m just guessing as I have no clue, but she said it made her want to cry as she saw that he was the “IT” in his proud and his shiny shoe’s cat ball spin hat stance.
But this silence of a Beck home, it is hers, I just live here at her pleasure, with of course some managed litter boxes and feedings of her gang in her absence, cracked cans under cat noses, a thing I do with Bella and Cricket, that seems to have ingratiated me a bit as a new, to assure that they are cat seafood stinky enough to pass muster for cat consumption and also a couple of bucks to pay my way, but this silence? This particular silence? It was new and I didn’t like it.
I have spent so many recent years receding from sight and sound and something about furies that I forgot how much I like loud, even though I did do loud at my most recent spot before here, sometimes even a howling combine of multiple dogs that would just make me laugh at their off key song to the hills and perk a Bella ear but I played that off with headphones or just a bit of volume on the tube, but this loud that has been lacking here? It’s different. Even Arthur agrees as he has found himself at my feet while Mom is away to grab a belly at the washer/dryer for fresh sundries and even brave a Bella nose while just wanting to hear me talk to him.
Beck will be home tomorrow, Arthur will forget that he looked for me, though I hope not, Sephira will skitter and zoom under or on top of beds away (though she does mind me and gladly’ll take a quick pet when she is not zooming if she wishes … she is a bit of a Diva) Ricki will always sound like she wants me to run to the convenience store for a pack of Reds and I will get back to true loud silence. With company. I WILL like that.
Mom will get laid to earth for that true silence and I will cry quietly, again “Oh Hell’s Bells Stephen, enough with the drama. We had a good run, this Mom and Son thing right?”
“Now, just go tend to those cats of yours, yours and Becks, and grandsons, just get back to being loud in your quiet way along with your sister”
Hi and welcome to the Attic, I'm Frankenberry of said Blog Title and I write of just my everyday here, sometimes funny, sometimes heartfelt, sometimes angry, sometimes funny again because, well, who don't like funny, thoughts on getting older and sometimes stuff that's just kinda shit. I pen and sing the occasional parody tune and other songs, sometimes I even get a little bit poetic or short story-etic or something like that. If you're joining me here I thank you, but just mind your head and feet and keep an eye out for my little Bella and Cricket The Blind as well as the memories of Raspberry (Razzy), Mimi the Quirky, of Blink The Lil' Kit, Grayson the Mighty, Shoes the Big Orange, Shana-Girl, Benny Good Man Benny Brown, Merlin & Bob. Wouldn't want you step on them or anything ... 'cause then I might just have to throw you down the stairs ... damned humans.
Sundarbans,The sunderbans, Sundarban Tour, Sundarban Travel Guide, Mangrove Forest, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Royal Bengal Tiger, Tiger Sighting, Wildlife Photography, Bird Watching, Sundarban Safari, Houseboat Tour, Ecotourism, Adventure Travel, West Bengal Tourism, Bangladesh Tourism, People of Sundarbans, Local Culture, Bonbibi, Mowal, Honey Collector, Sundarban Legends, Mangrove Ecosystem, Conservation, Climate Change, Biodiversity, Sundari Tree, Sundarban Itinerary, Travel to Sundarbans, Kolkata to Sundarbans, Sundarban Boat Trip, Wildlife in Sundarbans, Saltwater Crocodile, Spotted Deer, Indian Python, King Cobra, Sundarban National Park, Sundarban Tiger Reserve, Bay of Bengal, River Cruise, Nature Photography, Forest Life.
A personal exploration of autism from a brother’s perspective, including family relationships, philosophy, neuroscience, mental health history and ethics
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